THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH PART 1&2:

I did not expect to like this drama more than I did, mainly because I was ho-hum about Yang Zi as an actress despite watching a few of her dramas, but she was much better in this one, IMHO. The show definitely benefitted from the acting prowess of the cast, with Cheng Yi in particular. He was more subdued here and not a long-suffering idiot like he was in "Love and Redemption," which I liked.

Though a bit convoluted, the drama was fast-paced and rarely boring. There's a few downsides though: I do not know how much more repeated reincarnations that I can take. This seems to be the go-to tropes of historical dramas, but this one is a bit much, especially with the same evil resurrecting a few times, it became annoying AF. Also, the CGI is not the greatest, I would say even to the point of particularly bad and laughable in some instances. But all in all a good story about love and sacrifice.

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Easily becoming my favorite contemporary Chinese drama, "Falling Into You" does the Noona-romance trope right. Coming on the heels of "Why Women Love", Gina Jin again plays as the "older" woman being courted by a much younger man, it's no wonder that she has this role down pat. It's my first time watching Wang An Yu and he's pretty convincing as a love-sick puppy who's chasing around his master/mentor. Bonus points that he also acts the part of an all-around "jack-of-all-sports" who has to overcome the prejudices of being short-statured to compete in an event that usually favors taller profiles.

This drama maybe about the romance between an unlikely couple, but it focuses on the hard work and determination of athletes to turn their dreams into reality despite obstacles. I also liked the fact that they included a secondary pairing that's based more in realism, where Jiang Tian and Yu Xia gave up their dreams of competing nationally to open a noodle shop.

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I almost passed on this drama because of reviews that say it was boring, the FL looking too old and homey for the ML, etc. etc. But I gave it a chance, and I was glad that I did. Right of the bat, I must say, that it took some getting used to the style of the drama, particularly not so much as the FL isn't your typical hottie older noona with the unfashionable clothes. But I have to put her wardrobe choice down to its context, and when we see the FL as the unmarried lady, who single-handedly took care of her mentally-challenged brother and her young niece since she was a teen, with very little money to her name, we can see that her lack of fashion sense was befitting. She had no time to be up-to-date with current trends, with so much responsibility in her hands. Kudos to the writer and production team to cast Jeon Do Yeon as Nam Haeng Seon. She was down-to-earth and at the same time quirky.

The rest of the cast were amazing as well, in particular Oh Eui Shik and Roh Yoon Seo as Nam Jae Woo and Nam Hae Yi. The drama carried a hodge-podge of themes: the noona-romance, the bestfriends-turned-lovers trope, a murder mystery, the political machinations behind the private education system, the prejudice towards "lower" social classes, the adverse effects of rumor-mongering, the treatment of those who are mentally-ill.

Some may claim that the FL does not deserve the "princely" ML (because of the disparity in looks and age), but I have to disagree. Choi Chi Yeol was set up since the beginning to be a person who values emotional ties, than superficial ones. He gets teary eyed just from eating the familiar flavors of Haeng Seon's cooking, despite not knowing who the chef is. He rejected the blind date set up for him, even though the woman's qualifications look good on paper and she was easy on the eyes. People bashing on his taste in women is the typical reaction of some fans who took issue with the FL's "unattractiveness."

News Flash: Not every body can look like a model and have a "perfect" personality. I like this drama that is rooted in realism and it is about time that we get more of these type of shows.

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I almost passed on this drama because of the bad advert (looking at you, poster) but I'm so glad I didn't. This for me is an almost perfect enemies-to-lovers romance, with a side of celebrity/commoner trope.

Having known each other for a decade, Nation's boyfriend Tae Sung and Hot Shot PR Manager Han Byeol are constantly at each other's throats through a series of misunderstandings. Their rivalry is widely-known and some figured it was mostly due to unrealized sexual tension and rumours about "are they/aren't they dating" are circling throughout the company.

I didn't realize that Han Byeol is being portrayed by the same woman in Weightlifting Fairy and she is so much better here (maybe because of the bad hair in the latter) and Kim Young Dae is adorable as the love-sick Tae Sung who belatedly realized his feelings for his nemesis. It was so fun and a hoot to watch this show and it certainly is a must-watch.

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I am not a big fan of time travel dramas but this one surprised me. Lin Bei Xing inexplicably travels back in time after breaking up with her fiancé. Thinking that this was her chance for a re-do, she jumps at the opportunity to alter her future fate so that she will end up with Zhan Yu. Coincidentally, Bei Xing was brought back into an alternate universe where a stranger dies by apparent suicide. Each instance of her time travel seems to end at this point and after subsequent visit back to the past or alternate universe, Bei Xing gets to know that stranger before his death.

Unbeknownst to Bei Xing, the stranger is a schoolmate of hers, Wan Sen, who has been in love with her for ages, but was too timid to approach her and can only look at her from afar. Bei Xing does not realize that Wan Sen has been by her side, protecting her while she was oblivious with her obsession with Zhan Yu. This drama is about letting go of the past, and you cannot change the future by spending your time wallowing in regrets. This show is bittersweet and give poignant reminders that we must live life to the fullest before it's too late.

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THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH PARTS 1 & 2.

Such an entertaining drama, no less expected from one of the rising actors in China, Zhao Lu Si who chooses good scripts. Her portrayal of a smart but unruly young woman is a hoot, as she captured the interests of many highly eligible young men, including the icy, cold General Ling Bu Yi. Because of her antics, Shao Shang managed to irate many of the ladies that have been vying for Bu Yi's attention for years, as well many of her elders who thought they can undermine Shao Shang's "lowly" position in the society, despite being the youngest daughter of a general.

Though her father dotes on Shao Shang, perhaps feeling guilty for the years of abandonment, her mother, on the other hand, is very strict on her daughter, leaving the latter to think that she was unloved. For her part, Shao Shang does absolutely nothing to make up for loss time as she still held a grudge for the neglect and had become wary of anybody who shows her affection. Bu Yi is the same, as he plots and plans his revenge upon the death of his clan, even at the expense of others.

I loved the intricacy of the narrative and the political/familial/societal drama is riveting, aided by a talented ensemble and diverse characters. I also liked the show's attempt at humor, for example, Shao Shang's dad, the King and Bu Yi's sidekick serving as comedic relief. For all the people in the court that are conniving and greedy for power, I appreciated the fact the the Queen and the King's consort (mistress) get along well and respectful of each other.

The only drawback in this drama is that there are some instances where, to me, the happy ending seems forced and neatly tied in a bow. I would have been fine with Bu Yi's death, as it was for me, so farfetched that he managed to survive despite the dangers befalling him. Also for me was Shao Shang's self-righteousness and how she treated Bu Yi. Her character development seemed weak for me, and sometimes wished she was her bright, spritely self like she was in the beginning. Otherwise, a very good drama.

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THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH PARTS 1 & 2.

Such an entertaining drama, no less expected from one of the rising actors in China, Zhao Lu Si who chooses good scripts. Her portrayal of a smart but unruly young woman is a hoot, as she captured the interests of many highly eligible young men, including the icy, cold General Ling Bu Yi. Because of her antics, Shao Shang managed to irate many of the ladies that have been vying for Bu Yi's attention for years, as well many of her elders who thought they can undermine Shao Shang's "lowly" position in the society, despite being the youngest daughter of a general.

Though her father dotes on Shao Shang, perhaps feeling guilty for the years of abandonment, her mother, on the other hand, is very strict on her daughter, leaving the latter to think that she was unloved. For her part, Shao Shang does absolutely nothing to make up for loss time as she still held a grudge for the neglect and had become wary of anybody who shows her affection. Bu Yi is the same, as he plots and plans his revenge upon the death of his clan, even at the expense of others.

I loved the intricacy of the narrative and the political/familial/societal drama is riveting, aided by a talented ensemble and diverse characters. I also liked the show's attempt at humor, for example, Shao Shang's dad, the King and Bu Yi's sidekick serving as comedic relief. For all the people in the court that are conniving and greedy for power, I appreciated the fact the the Queen and the King's consort (mistress) get along well and respectful of each other.

The only drawback in this drama is that there are some instances where, to me, the happy ending seems forced and neatly tied in a bow. I would have been fine with Bu Yi's death, as it was for me, so farfetched that he managed to survive despite the dangers befalling him. Also for me was Shao Shang's self-righteousness and how she treated Bu Yi. Her character development seemed weak for me, and sometimes wished she was her bright, spritely self like she was in the beginning. Otherwise, a very good drama.

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This could almost be a perfect romance for me only if the SML and FL ended up together, and since they didn't (as expected), I wasn't as blown away by this drama as I would be. I was more invested in watching the scenes between Fan Xing and Lu Ming; their banter are so funny and their bond more natural than between Fan Xing and the male lead. There were so many misunderstandings between Yuan Song and Fan Xing, mainly because of Fan Xing constantly putting her foot in her mouth. I get it that she has never been in a relationship before, but she's a grown woman; she should act more mature than the young man she's dating. It was sometimes frustrating to watch the main couple argue over silly things, and it mainly stems from them keeping secrets from each other, not a good basis for a relationship.

Despite this, there are a few things I liked about this drama: there are no overbearing mothers, evil stepmoms, or annoying sisters. Even the rivalry between some of the characters were not as intense and hateful as in some other dramas. Healthy competition for the win. I also admired the close-knit relationship of some, for example, between the three best friends who support each other in times of need, or how close Yuan Song is to his stepmom or MinMin to her uncle, or how the work colleagues will go and visit people who are ill. Fan Xing is also close to her brother Canyang, who is sometimes jealous of how their parents treat the siblings differently, but helps his sister anyway. The show's internal monologuing also provided a lot of Fan Xing's self-discovered truths, where she hopefully matures towards the end of the story.

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This show definitely exceeded the hype surrounding it, what's not to love?!? Park Eun Bin is damn amazing as the autistic attorney who was struggling to fit in a cut-throat industry where everyone sees her diagnosis as a hindrance, rather than as a gift. Young Woo's tenacity to be self-sufficient was partly thanks to her father who has devoted his life encouraging Young Woo to be the person she wants to be. Kang Tae Oh delivers as Lee Joon Ho, the kind litigator who does not hold any prejudices (unlike most people in their society) and sometimes find Young Woo's quirks endearing. I love the camaraderie among the legal crew although some of them may have ulterior motives in befriending Young Woo, but in the end, they put aside their selfish wants to become better people. The drama is nail-biting to watch as Young Woo unravels case after case with the help of her colleagues, and it was fascinating to see how Young Woo matures and overcomes her social disability to reach her full potential.

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I went into this thinking this would be a noona romance as it was labelled as such, but for me, a one-year age gap does not constitute a noona romance. For me, the difference would have to be greater than 5 years to be even called that. Despite this, it was enjoyable show because not only it centered on the romance, but also focused on different familial relationships. Rowoon is adorable as the patient trainee who was overeager to please his mentor. We see him struggle with his feelings and also with the knowledge that his crush has a two-timing boyfriend. Won Jin Ah isn't so shabby as the no-nonsense manager who was very private about her relationships, that she had wool over her eyes, if it weren't for Hyung Seung.

As for the other characters, the sisters of Hyun Seung stood out for me, and their relationship with their brother was endearing. While I find Lee Hyo Joo a cloying biatch who gaslights a spineless Jae Shin into a forced marriage, her odd-ball brother Jae Woon became more of a decent character as the show progresses. One setback for me was the numerous characters this drama introduced with the many side arcs, and some of which were predictable like I can spot the backstory of Yun Seung's husband from a mile away. Otherwise, a decent drama.

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I would not have finished this drama if not for the fast-forwarded button. Nothing but the main couple was worth my time. The secondary couples were so bland and boring, and I could even care less about their individual lives. The only other aspect that I did watch besides the romance of the main CP was the office politics. I was rooting for Ruo Xin to get her comeuppance and well-deserved executive position. The only other character besides the main couple who I liked was Qi Xiao's mother. Compared to Ruo Xin's mother (the stereotypical Asian mom), Li Ting is a breath of sunshine in terms of mothers in Chinese-drama land. I was also excited about the arrival of Xu Ming Jie, not in terms of a rival suitor, but as an intuitive and supportive boss who wants to see Ruo Xin's career flourish despite being rejected.

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What a fun drama this is. In the beginning, I was not really sold on the lukewarm, almost non-existent chemistry between the male and female leads, but the main father-son tandem more than made up for it. If you are expecting romance, this is not the drama, but if you are fond of intricate schemes and a hodge-podge of quirky characters, this is the show for you.

I loved seeing Zhang Ruo Yun portray the cunning heir to the Northern region, who uses his dumb, playboy persona as a cover, but he is really a thoughtful person who values friendship, family and loyalty. Hu Jun as Xu Xiao is so freaking adorable as Feng Nian's loving father who, out of good intentions, plans his son's path to the throne, but does so with more shrewdness and usually at other people's expense. Feng Nian tries to outwit his father's well-intended machinations while his merry band of martial artists travel across mountains and seas to meet his brother and sisters. On the way, Feng Nian meets more allies and enemies while on his quest to fight for peace and justice.

Side characters are very well-fleshed out and memorable. I especially loved Lao Huang and Li Chun Gang who are Feng Nian's mentors/companions. The fight scenes can sometimes be over the top some times but are quite entertaining to watch. Can't wait for Season 2.

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This drama started out really good, until it dragged halfway through. I liked Yuan Bing Yan here better than in "My Sassy Princess" but her character became annoying towards the second half. I mainly plowed through this drama because of Cheng Yi's portrayal of a devoted man who sacrificed everything for the sake of love, including multiple deaths in several lifetimes and realms. How much more a guy can take is beyond me, but apparently a lot if you are to base on Si Feng's actions. This was supposed to be a tragic love story, with heart-wrenching moments, but what I found ridiculous are the numerous times characters are brought back to life, some who I even have long forgotten. Also, I found myself inappropriately laughing during scenes where Si Feng implores with Xuan Ji in the body of the Devil Star, as if they are starring in a body-swap BL drama. I just can't.

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I don't know what it is it lately with Wuxia Chinese dramas that are hitting the mark. And "Who Rules the World" is one of them. This frenemies-to-lovers historical romance stars Zhao Lu Si and Yang Yang as martial art masters from opposing lands. My favorite Chinese actress Lu Si delivers as the buoyant trouble-maker who enjoys her freedom despite undisclosed ties to one of the ruling state. Yang Yang is not so shabby himself as the calm and collected prince-slash-fighter-of-justice who occupies two seats of the renowned "Four Gentlemen" with his two personas. Together as Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi, they make an unformidable team, and their constant bickering reminds me of a married couple in love (though they did not know it yet, or perhaps they do, but are in denial).

Aside from the MC's visuals and flirting though, what makes this drama so good is the wealth of multi-dimensional characters, dramatic intrigue, political twists and turns that kept me on my toes. The cinematography is also something to be admired, especially the seamless battle scenes. What I also liked about this drama is that there are no overtly annoying secondary characters that I want to wring their necks or slap them across the face. Yes, there are pretentious villains, there are ambitious eggheads, and murderous mistresses but what historical Chinese drama does not? At least, in this drama, they were more than just stick-figures. I also liked how compact this drama is, that they managed to condense this story in 40 episodes with hardly any fillers.

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One of the better Noona romances out there. Zhao Jiang Yue and Gu Jia Xin sizzles on screen and their chemistry makes their romance so believable. I like the irony of an unromantic, no-nonsense woman being the tech director of a dating app, which relies on big data analytics to match potential partners. Jiang Yue's and Jia Xin's relationship really began with the ML's intention to help the FL in pursuit of her old boss. The banter between them was easy-going and friendly.

The FL's practicality clashes almost with the impulsiveness of the pro-racer ML, it also maybe due the fact that her immunity to the ML's charms has something to do with pining for her supposedly-unrequited crush. Former boss Ning Yuan's agonizingly slow and subtle romantic interest barely registers with the oblivious FL, that he required the help (or not) of an unlikely advisor in the form of FL's love-rival Yan-Ran. The SFL/SML interactions are awkwardly funny together that it works, although the SFL is equally unforgivable as the cloying chick clinging to the ML. I hate this trope in Chinese Dramas: the desperately stubborn SFL who wouldn't take no for an answer and stalks the ML everywhere. To Yan Ran's credit, at least she does it without sabotaging the FL, but instead focuses her energy on getting the Ning Yuan and Jiang Yue together.

The other couples also have their own bittersweet stories. FL/ML's BFFs Duo Xi and Qi Heng reunited after years apart and learned to work through a long-distance relationship. Social Media Influencer Jing Jing and her on/off hubby Zhang Hao had more problems that turn out to be solvable in the face of love. The love advice at the end of each episode is also cute and note-worthy. Overall, this is such a fun and flirty drama.

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