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The murder plots had each their own twists, so it was difficult to guess who the real murderer was. It is not quite as dramatic as Bones or one of those major Hollywood crime stories. I attribute it to the less dramatic music. But I like the ending theme song and it seem Zhang Ruo-Yun wrote the lyrics and sang it - very talented.
Each episodes is only about 30 minutes and there are only 20 episodes - it easy to complete it.
However, the images are blurred off whenever gory parts of the bodies of the victims were removed - perhaps to overcome the broadcast ratings.
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And of course, those of you who had watched Xu Kai in Yanxi Palace and liked him would enjoy watching him again in this drama. I must say there are a lot of excellent acting talents in China and good-looking as well. Every Chinese drama I watched, which was rated above 8 on mydramalist did well on this point. This is no exception.
Music was not highly impressive. A theme song was consistently muted in the drama whenever it was played - I could only suspect that it was awful or had copyright issues.
The ending was a little sad as of all the couples in love in the story, only 1 couple eventually live happy ever after. But it could hardly be rated as a tragedy and I should not say the reason so as not to be a spoiler alert.
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To enjoy this drama, do not read any spoiler.
This is a fantasy romance and power-fight story. If you are to enjoy this, do not read any spoiler. There are some interesting twists in the story. You might be able to guess that some people were not what they seemed to be but you would have to wait until later in the story to find out.It has all the nice elements of Chinese dramas of recent years - good looking cast, excellent acting skills, nice costumes, good cinematography, interesting story line. The story line is interesting and it would keep you wondering what is going to happen at the end. Unfortunately for me, I read the Wikipedia write-up which was a spoiler and it spoiled some of the suspense and surprises.
But it has also the same weaknesses with parts of it illogical (or sometime I think it's cultural). There is always these male or female characters who refuse to see that their love is not reciprocated but continue to harass and stalk to the detriment of either themselves or their love. As usual, the ending may not be entirely all you wish for, although it is not a tragedy.
Also, may I say that the title should be 'Fighter of Destiny'. Destiny is not countable nor is it definite. There the extra 'the' is not appropriate. There are often all these small errors in English in titles and subtitles which do not look professional.
Gülnezer is very pretty but there does not seem much on-screen chemistry with Lu Han. The 'intimate' scene between them does not invoke any romantic feeling watching them (quite unlike Ten Mile Peach Blossom, Pillow Story, Journey of Flower, Nirvana in Fire, Sound of Desert, Ashes of Love, Princess Agent or any of those in their league). Instead, you might find that the hero and second lead were more loving. Or perhaps, I am desensitized after watching so many romance story.
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A very interesting story
This is an drama is excellent on most measures: story, acting, computer graphics, costumes, fighting scenes etc. The story is very interesting as the drama keeps you wondering who is the Prince of Hell and is darkness going to overcome the world.But as with a lot of long dramas, there are a lot of time fillers to lengthen the story, which spoiled the excitement and suspense as parts of it becomes boring and dull. Trim 5 episodes of these off and the momentum of the story would have been very exciting.
Synopsis of the sequel however spoiled the ending for me as I know whether the hero and heroine would die. However, I look forward to the sequel as there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
It is one of those generally good pieces - you enjoy it but it leaves very little recollection of any impressive scenes where you may wish to re-watch and re-capture, or music pieces you want to listen again. The actors and actresses did well but there were no intense expressive moments like those you see in Nirvana in Fire, Journey of Flower or The Untamed.
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The best Chinese war drama I had watched.
I do not usually watch dramas of the second world war as they are too painful. I watched this drama because I was mesmerised by Wallace Huo and the drama was very well rated. I must say it is a very well produced drama. Wallace Huo had very good chemistry with the lady counterparts in the dramas he had acted. He was terrific in the Journey of Flower and Chinese Paladin 3 which I had watched as well.The plot and character development was fantastic. We see the different facets of the characters - the rascal died a hero, the immature grew up, etc.
The fire of ChangSha happened but ChangSha never fell into the hands of the Japs - but I can condone the inaccuracy. :) Some of the running and shooting scenes were not realistic although that of the war looks pretty well filmed.
Probably after watching this, I am not going to buy Japanese products as far as I can for a long while, in addition to not buying American products - half of Americans voted for Trump.
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The young may enjoy this.
This drama was produced over a decade ago. It is high quality for its time. I think young people would love this story as it is highly idealistic and portrait a bunch of young high-spirited lovely people setting on a journey to discover the world, and finding the love of their lives.This is the first drama Hu Ge acted in. I must say he was good but he has got better over time. His acting in later years was outstanding as shown in Nirvana in Fire and Sound of the Desert - his portrayal of emotions was heart-wrenching. By comparison to his later Chinese dramas, this is more of the older wuxia story and style - entertaining but does not show much depth.
I think a young cast set it back as the expression of emotions is rather superficial and does not bring out the emotional reaction in me. However, young viewers may like it more as the young good-looking heartthrobs (at that time) are definitely appealing.
However, if you have not watched the newer epic Chinese drama production, you may still appreciate and enjoy this, and be less critical.
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If you are into romance stories, this is a must-watch.
Wow... An amazing combination of romance, wuxia and fantasy, this is a must-watch. I place this drama in the same league as Ten Mile Peach Blossom.The story development was filled with twists, turns and revelations throughout. The double twists in the ending were both heart-wrenching and beautiful. The script writer did an excellent job with the ending. I am a sucker for the underdog - for the couple who had gone through so much denial and trials... I shall not reveal too much of it. I felt really good after watching it and highly recommend it.
I love the music pieces especially the ending theme song, and the instrument pieces written for the zither and harp. The instrument music is very calming and the ending theme song is very sentimental.
And of course, the dashingly handsome Wallace Huo definitely mesmerises. He looked so cold throughout the drama until towards the ending when he broke down and a torrent of other emotions emerged. Zhao Liying was great too - you see her character develop from a playful silly young girl into a mature smart woman. MaKe was also very outstanding with his portrayal of the demon king.
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Following the footstep of 'The Untamed'
This drama follows very much in the footsteps of 'The Untamed' - a bromance, a cheeky 'fallen' hero, 2 gorgeous male leads, theme songs co-performed by the male leads, and the list goes on. And in a lot of pre-broadcast reviews, it has been marketed as its parallel. So I cannot help but make the comparison.Although I enjoyed this drama, I still think 'The Untamed' is much better produced - who could beat a combination of Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan? Also, the dark scenes were a lot better crafted - the death valley Wei Ying (Xiao Zhan) fell into was eerie. The entire production was much better edited with the mystery and suspense very well built up. Wei Ying's fall off the cliff was dramatic - the Wei Ying's heartbreak at the death of his 'sister' and Lan Zhan's desperate attempt to save him. I must also say the theme song was very well sang.
In some of the early episodes in Word of Honor, I was about to write it off as just another average wuxia drama. But it got better. There were some humor in the drama, and some of the plots actually got me really mad. And the story was interesting.
Gong Jun's (Simon) acting was really good. One of the greatest skills of an outstanding actor is in his facial expression and Gong Jun is excellent in this. Mischief, anger, evil, caring, flirting - he did all of these remarkably.
Although I am not homophobic, I really do not appreciate romantic scene between same genders in dramas or movies - do not work up any sentiments in me. I respect the rainbow community but I do not share their romances. This drama was a little bolder in this regard but it did nothing for me. Any production of such dramas must make up for this lack of empathy with the general audience (other than the rainbow community) with good story, cast, scenery, cinematography and editing.
Considering all of these, I rated it a 9 overall.
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This review may contain spoilers
Who is the Dark Lord - the hero or the villian?
I watched this drama because of Joe Xu, after encountering him in Journey of Flower and Lost Love in Times. He acted really well in all these 3 dramas, besides being good-looking. He brought out the mischievous yet scheming character of the hero in this drama. This drama was entertaining and I burst into loud laughter during the comic scenes although some were quite slapstick. It captivated me to keep 'chasing' episode after episode. Overall, as with a lot of well produced Chinese drama, acting was excellent, story was interesting and scene setting was great. It is interesting to see how the hero of the story tricked the bad guys and upheld justice. The final episode was somewhat disappointing and more of an introduction to a sequel. Until the final episode, I still could not figure out who is the dark lord - the hero or the villain - since both were cunning and underhanded.To give some feedback to the production team if they were to read this, some areas could be improved. Music was not that great - the attempt to reproduce music of the south was dismal - it was neither opera nor folk music.
The tricks of the hero were quite underhanded and somewhat brutal. For example, he killed the five serial rapists - while I agree that since they were so unrepentant and arrogant, they might as well be dead - it is a little harsh by western standards - even though I am not a fan of western standards. I am highlighting this out of concern about the influence of such dramas on the moral values of young impressionable generations. Working in a university, I have seen some bad behaviours and questionable moral values. Themes of successful dramas tend to be emulated by later dramas and the consistent re-enforcement of this value is not necessarily good. I can tolerate the occasional drama for entertainment value, I am not keen on seeing a perpetuation of such production.
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A far-cry from series 1
This sequel is a far cry from its prequel, not only because of a change in some of the cast but in the tempo and ending. The first 15 episodes were filled with time fillers as Ning Que and Sang Sang tried to escape persecution as her identity was uncovered. The new lead actor is good looking and acted well but does not make up for the lack of other elements. The last couple of episodes were a drag - with me hanging on just to find out the conclusion.There were intense moments as the battle against the Tang and the academy were underway and possibly the best part of the story. The story very much climaxed at this battle and then went downhill again. The ending was unimpressed.
The only thing that I am happy with this sequel is that the story is a continuation from the prequel, unlike a lot of other sequel where the sequel is an attempt to leverage on the name of its predecessor.
To make it worse, I was watching the Pillow Book along with this as they were released around the same time. I was glued to YouTube for the Pillow Book and watched this only to fill in the time in-between the releases of the Pillow Book. The contrast was immense. Although the Pillow Book had its occasional slow moments but it held my attention to the very end.
The script for all dramas should be carefully reviewed before production. This script did not keep up with the grandeur of the set and investment, and not worth the time of the audience.
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Romance, Mystery and Enough Frustration to Make You Want to Punch Someone
First Frost makes you laugh out loud, swoon over a romantic moment, and then suddenly feel like punching a villain in the face. It is an emotional roller coaster, and that is precisely what makes it so entertaining.First Frost can be seen as a companion drama to Hidden Love. While Hidden Love focuses almost entirely on the sweet, youthful romance between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu, First Frost shifts the spotlight to Sang Zhi's brother, Sang Yan, and his complicated relationship with his high-school sweetheart, Wen Yifan. They are two separate stories, but both are immensely enjoyable.
Where First Frost is particularly effective is in the way it combines romance with mystery. Sang Yan and Yifan clearly have a history, and their reunion after years apart is filled with awkwardness, denial, and unresolved feelings. They pretend not to recognise each other, which immediately sets the tone for the deliciously uncomfortable humour that follows.
But the central question is: why did Yifan leave Sang Yan?
Why would she reject Sang Yan when it is obvious that he was deeply devoted to her? The drama gradually reveals that there is far more behind their separation than a simple change of heart, and this mystery gives the romance an emotional depth that keeps the story moving.
The drama succeeds because it takes the audience to emotional extremes. One moment, I found myself guffawing at the sheer awkwardness of Sang Yan and Yifan's encounters. The next, I was exasperated by Sang Yan's obvious jealousy. He claims that he is completely over Yifan, but whenever another potential suitor appears, he suddenly becomes cynical, resentful, and thoroughly unable to hide his feelings.
His behaviour may not always be admirable, but it is very entertaining to watch.
The coincidences that keep throwing them together are, admittedly, rather convenient. In a crowded city, what are the chances of constantly walking into the same person? And eventually ending up under the same roof? Coincidence—or perhaps something a little more deliberate? Realistic or not, these situations create much of the awkwardness and humour that the drama captures so seamlessly.
Then there is the darker side of the story.
The appearance of Yifan's harasser is enough to make your blood boil. You may find yourself wanting to punch him on her behalf. It is immediately obvious that there is a disturbing history between them, but the drama keeps us asking: What happened? Why is Yifan so frightened of him? And how much did this part of her past contribute to the breakdown of her relationship with Sang Yan?
The drama also deals with family relationships in a way that can be deeply frustrating. I found it difficult not to feel disgusted with a mother who makes so little effort to protect her daughter when she is in despair, yet still expects unquestioning respect and obedience.
When you suddenly discover that you have a half-brother you never knew existed, that is rather a lot to take in. Filial piety should not simply be expected; surely, to some extent, it should also be earned. Yifan asks a very good question: as her mother, can she simply disregard her daughter's feelings?
Against all this darkness are moments of extraordinary tenderness. Returning to places filled with memories, finally confessing feelings that have been buried for years, and allowing oneself to be loved again—these scenes remind us why romantic dramas remain so popular. Falling in love is, after all, a beautiful thing.
There is also a satisfying element of karma in the story. People do, to a certain extent, reap what they sow.
And, of course, the cute cats and dogs provide that extra tug on the heartstrings.
A Few Things the Drama Made Me Think About:
- Communication matters.
If Sang Yan and Yifan had communicated more openly, they could probably have spared themselves years of pain. However, I also understand why this was not so simple. In a reserved culture, expressing one's deepest fears can be extremely difficult—especially when someone has been conditioned to believe that they will be despised for something that was not their fault.
That said, I still found myself becoming annoyed with Yifan for keeping so much to herself. Surely Sang Yan would have helped her if he had known.
- Being mean is not a good strategy for winning back a lost love.
Sang Yan can be needlessly mean to Yifan. His sarcasm and coldness may conceal his hurt, but they do not exactly make reconciliation easier.
- Running away does not always solve the problem.
Sometimes, removing yourself from a dangerous situation is necessary. But simply running away from unresolved problems can also leave the perpetrator with too much power. It allows them to remain the cat while you continue to live as the frightened mouse.
And, Because No Review Is Complete Without a Few Nitpicks...
- Sang Yan and Yifan seem destined to walk into each other wherever they go. In a city with millions of people, what are the chances? But then, without these highly convenient coincidences, we would lose much of the drama's humour and awkward charm.
- Chinese dramas have a remarkable habit of showing waitresses, government officers, and police officers as exceptionally kind and helpful. Personally, based on my own experiences travelling in China, I am not entirely convinced that this is always the reality.
- And finally, I have to ask: does this country not have an anti-stalking law?
Overall Verdict
First Frost is a highly enjoyable drama that successfully combines humour, romance, suspense, mystery, anger, and tenderness. The central romance works because it is not simply about two people falling in love. It is about what happens when love is interrupted by fear, secrets, trauma, pride, and years of silence.
The drama can be frustrating. The characters can be frustrating. Some of the coincidences are decidedly improbable. But these flaws are more than compensated for by the chemistry, emotional tension, humour, and genuine tenderness between the characters.
Overall, I rate First Frost highly.
After all, it is always beautiful to fall in love—even if, years after marriage, you may eventually find yourselves at each other's throats.
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From Tears to Laughter
Twinkling Watermelon has one of the highest ratings on MyDramaList, and after finally watching it, I can see why. Strangely enough, I had put it off for ages. The synopsis mentioned time travel and I thought, "Oh great... not another Back to the Future copy." With so many time-travel dramas around, I was not particularly excited.The opening episodes did not help. Ha Eun Gyeol is the only hearing member of his poor family. His parents and brother are deaf, and he endures relentless bullying from the neighbourhood gang. It was so gloomy that I nearly gave up after two episodes, unable to withstand the emotional torture.
Thankfully, that is when everything changes.
Eun Gyeol is sent back to a time before his parents met and runs into his teenage father, who has absolutely no idea this strange boy calling him "Dad" is actually his future son. Watching his father's growing annoyance every time Eun Gyeol blurts out "Father!" is hilarious.
From then on, the series is a delightful mix of comedy, romance and heartfelt family moments. It keeps you laughing one minute and reaching for the tissue box the next, while keeping you guessing how every change in the past will affect the future.
Things become even more complicated when Eun Gyeol discovers his father was not born deaf. Determined to prevent the accident that changes his life, he soon realises he has another problem—his father is in love with the wrong girl. Suddenly, saving his father's hearing is no longer enough. He also has to make sure his parents actually fall in love, or he and his brother may never exist. Yes, it sounds a little like Back to the Future, but the drama takes the idea in its own heartwarming direction.
He also discovers that his mother endured a miserable childhood, mistreated by her cruel stepfamily while her father, consumed by his business, was largely oblivious to her suffering. Now he faces yet another impossible mission: how can he rescue her from this living hell?
One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the music. Eun Gyeol and Yi Chan form a band, and their performances are fantastic—good enough to give many contemporary pop bands a run for their money. I was so impressed that I even looked up whether the actors are from musical bands. Nope! They simply did a remarkably convincing job.
I watched the drama on Netflix with the English dub. While the dubbing was well done, I do wish Netflix had also provided English subtitles for the songs, especially when Yi Chan was serenading the girl he loved. Those lyrics would have added even more emotional depth to some already memorable scenes.
My only nitpick is that the younger and older versions of Cheong Ah (Eun Gyeol's mother) do not resemble each other very closely. Both actresses were excellent, but a better physical match would have made the transition more convincing.
To borrow another reviewer's word: wacko. The title is wacko, the story is wacko, the characters are delightfully wacko—and it is all incredibly entertaining.
With excellent acting, charming leads, convincing period settings and an engaging story, Twinkling Watermelon is one of those rare dramas that I almost dropped but ended up thoroughly enjoying. Definitely a thumbs-up from me.
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Puppy Love - a Slow-burn Romance across 25 episodes
Hidden Love follows the journey of Sang Zhi, whose childhood crush slowly blossoms into a mature romance over the course of several years.As a child, Sang Zhi is a spirited, slightly spoilt girl who is forever bickering with her older brother and getting into trouble at school. When her teacher insists on meeting her parents, she recruits Duan Jia Xu—her brother's university friend—to pretend to be her older brother and rescue her from the situation. It is an amusing beginning to a relationship that neither of them realises will shape the rest of their lives.
From that moment, Sang Zhi quietly develops feelings for Jia Xu. Years later, they meet again while he is at university and she is a young teenager. Her childhood admiration gradually turns into genuine love, but like many teenagers, she is far better at hiding her feelings than expressing them.
When Jia Xu graduates and returns to his hometown, rumours begin circulating that he has a girlfriend. Heartbroken, Sang Zhi travels there hoping to find out the truth, only for a misunderstanding to spiral completely out of control. The consequences linger for years, driving them apart and causing them to lose contact altogether.
Watching this unfold, I could not help thinking, "If the two of you would simply sit down and have one honest conversation, we could save about eight episodes!" But then there would not be much of a drama. Miscommunication is hardly unique to Chinese culture, but in societies where people are generally more reserved about expressing their emotions, small misunderstandings can snowball into major heartbreak, especially during the early part of a courtship when each are uncertain of the feelings of the other.
Fate eventually intervenes when Sang Zhi enrols at a university in Jia Xu's hometown. They meet again as adults, and although they remain polite on the surface, old misunderstandings continue to cast a shadow over their relationship. As Sang Zhi cares for Jia Xu when he falls ill, his feelings for her deepen. Winning back her trust, however, proves far more difficult than falling in love.
The romance is filled with delightful moments of humour. Jia Xu is wonderfully smooth when it comes to flirting, alternating between subtle hints and bold declarations. One memorable scene sees him casually asking Sang Zhi about her "relationship status"—she nearly chokes in surprise while the audience is left grinning. At times, the drama feels like a masterclass in modern courtship: how to flirt, how to tease, how to pursue someone... and occasionally, how not to communicate.
Of course, once the flirting begins, so does the classic game of playing hard to get. Fortunately, neither lead becomes frustrating enough to make you want to throw your remote at the television.
The drama also explores a more serious lesson: making life-changing decisions without consulting the people you love can cause enormous damage to a relationship. One well-intentioned decision almost derails a romance that has taken years to bloom.
Several obstacles stand in their way.
First, Jia Xu carries an enormous financial burden because of his irresponsible father. I found this storyline particularly moving. Jia Xu spends years paying for mistakes he never made, and when he finally confronts his father, he says almost exactly what I had been thinking throughout the series.
The second obstacle is the five-year age gap. Personally, I never found this particularly convincing. Five years hardly raises eyebrows in today's world, so I felt the drama made rather more of it than necessary.
Hidden Love is, above all, a slow-burn romance. Very slow burn. It takes around twenty-five episodes before the relationship truly blossoms. I will confess that my streaming speed mysteriously increased to 1.25× somewhere along the way—not because the drama was boring, but because I was simply too impatient to find out what happened next!
One final nitpick: the English title.
How many Asian dramas have already been called Hidden Love? Surely we can do better. The original Chinese title, 偷偷藏不住, carries the meaning of quietly hiding one's feelings for someone. Titles such as A Love Kept Secret, The Boy I Secretly Loved, Love in Silence, My Secret Crush, or The Secret of My First Love would have captured that meaning far more beautifully while avoiding yet another generic English title. Come on, translators—if inspiration fails, even AI can help these days!
Overall, Hidden Love is an excellent portrayal of modern courtship in China. It captures the awkwardness of first love, the pain caused by poor communication, and the joy of watching two people gradually find their way back to each other. The cast is outstanding, the chemistry between Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan is irresistible, and the story is both heartwarming and surprisingly relatable.
If you enjoy gentle romances, plenty of butterflies, and enough flirting to make you smile from ear to ear, Hidden Love is well worth your time. And who knows—you might even pick up a few dating tips along the way.
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A Beautiful Blend of Fantasy, Mystery, and Romance
A joyous wedding at the Wei Manor is intruded by six highly skilled, uninvited guests: two cunning nine-tailed fox spirits, two Shilin guards from the temple of the Dragon Deity, and two formidable demons. Each serves a different master, each has their own agenda, yet all have come searching for the same person—Xiao Wei, a fugitive from the Formless Moon Fox Shrine and the prime suspect behind a series of brutal murders.The Shilin guards are particularly intriguing. One is the temple's respected commander, while the other appears to be an ordinary, seemingly powerless young man. Yet behind closed doors, even the commander obeys his every command. Who is he, and why does he command such unquestionable authority?
Their investigation soon leads them to a temple devoted to the God of Matchmaking, but this murder case is merely the first piece of a much larger puzzle.
What I enjoyed:
Veil of Shadows is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance and mystery, wrapped in gorgeous costumes, impressive visual effects, a beautiful soundtrack, and a cast that both looks the part and delivers strong performances.
The story is its greatest strength. Rather than ending with the resolution of Xiao Wei's case, that investigation opens the door to an even greater mystery. Powerful factions are secretly competing for the Dragon Deity's divine power. Can the current Dragon Deity—the last survivor of his dragon clan—protect that power with only a handful of human Shilin guards? And what terrifying force is Xiao Wei really running from?
The plot is cleverly layered. There is never just one secret waiting to be uncovered. Nearly every major character hides another identity, another past, or another truth—sometimes even from themselves. As the story unfolds through multiple timelines and repeated attempts to change fate, each journey reveals new consequences. Every solution creates another problem, keeping the suspense alive throughout.
Visually, the drama is a feast. Joseph Zeng and Tian Jia Rui are effortlessly charismatic, while Ju Jing Yi and Chen Du Ling are absolutely stunning in their costumes and styling. There are attractive actresses throughout the cast, but this is one drama where the handsome male cast almost steals the spotlight. More importantly, both lead couples share excellent chemistry, making the romantic moments genuinely enjoyable.
What I did not enjoy:
There are only a few shortcomings.
One mystery near the ending is left unexplained. Ji Ling brings the nine-tailed fox fairy back to the present, yet the present-day Ji Ling is still the innocent young man who has never experienced the tragic events of the earlier timeline. So what became of the older Ji Ling who brought the nine-tailed back? That loose end left me wondering whether it was intentionally left open or simply overlooked.
The plot can also become confusing at times. With its multiple timelines, intertwined storylines, and numerous hidden identities, it occasionally demands your full attention. Fortunately, most of the confusion is eventually resolved as the pieces gradually fall into place.
Final thoughts:
Although I would not place Veil of Shadows among the absolute top-tier fantasy dramas, it is still a thoroughly enjoyable watch. It offers an engaging mystery, memorable characters, beautiful production values, and enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end. If you enjoy fantasy dramas filled with hidden identities, ancient legends, romance, and time-bending mysteries, this one is well worth your time.
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Power, Corruption, and the Hunt for Big Mouse
I expected very little from 'Big Mouth'. From the title and synopsis, I imagined another light-hearted legal comedy in the style of 'Boston Legal', but featuring an incompetent lawyer stumbling from one lost case to another.I could not have been more wrong.
Big Mouth quickly transforms into a gripping conspiracy thriller that keeps you guessing almost until the very last episode.
Park Chang-ho is a third-rate lawyer with an embarrassingly low success rate. Nicknamed "Big Mouth" because he talks a big game but rarely delivers, he survives only because of the unwavering support of his devoted wife. An orphan with no influential connections, he struggles under mountains of debt while trying to keep his tiny law practice afloat.
Then comes the case that changes everything.
The city mayor unexpectedly hires Chang-ho to defend a group of wealthy elites implicated in the mysterious death of Professor Seo. The assignment seems suspicious from the start. Why would powerful men choose the city's worst lawyer unless they wanted him to fail?
Desperate to seize an opportunity, Chang-ho attempts to blackmail the man he believes orchestrated the murder. Instead, he walks straight into a carefully laid trap. Overnight, he is framed as the infamous "Big Mouse"—a legendary criminal mastermind and swindler who has manipulated the city's most powerful figures from the shadows.
From that moment, his life becomes a nightmare.
Thrown into prison, Chang-ho finds himself surrounded by dangerous criminals, corrupt prison officials, and inmates who either fear him or worship him. Outside the prison walls, his courageous wife risks everything to clear his name, unknowingly placing herself directly in the crosshairs of people who would kill to protect their secrets.
The drama becomes an exhilarating game of cat and mouse, where nobody can be trusted and everyone seems to be hiding another identity.
What keeps viewers hooked is the central mystery:
**Who really framed Park Chang-ho?** **Why did they frame him?**
And perhaps even more intriguingly:
**Who is the real Big Mouse?**
The drama constantly plays with your suspicions. Every few episodes, I found myself changing my mind. Could it be Jerry? The Mayor? The prison warden? One of the inmates? One of the city elites he was hired to defend? Someone inside the prosecutor's office? Every clue points in a different direction, while every witness who gets too close to the truth mysteriously disappears or dies.
At one point, I even wondered whether Chang-ho himself might unknowingly be Big Mouse. The way criminals obey him and events unfold around him makes the audience question everything they think they know.
Adding to the mystery are the bizarre incidents occurring inside the prison. Healthy inmates suddenly collapse. Others lose their sanity without explanation. Strange nutritional supplements are distributed throughout the prison, supposedly for health benefits.
But are they really just health supplements?
Or is someone secretly using prisoners as human guinea pigs for illegal experiments?
The deeper the investigation goes, the darker the conspiracy becomes. Politicians, prosecutors, businessmen, doctors, and criminals all appear connected through an invisible web of corruption that reaches the very top of society. Some wear expensive suits. Some occupy positions of authority. Some are respected influential member of society. Yet beneath their respectable appearances lurk monsters every bit as dangerous as the gangsters behind bars.
Despite the constant tension, the drama also provides moments of unexpected humour. Watching the terrified Chang-ho desperately trying to convince others that he is *not* Big Mouse, only to have everyone around him bow respectfully to their supposed leader, is genuinely hilarious.
Of course, there are moments that require a suspension of disbelief. Some characters make astonishingly foolish decisions, such as running towards explosions rather than away from them. The subplot involving terminal leukaemia developing almost immediately after exposure to radioactive waste water also stretches credibility well beyond reality.
Fortunately, these flaws are minor compared with the overall quality of the story.
Just when you think the mystery has been solved, the drama shifts gears again into a tense race between good and evil, where every move could cost someone their life. The suspense rarely lets up, and every revelation only uncovers another layer of deception.
I was completely hooked.
Despite a few far-fetched moments, I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate plotting, the constant twists, and the satisfying blend of legal drama, prison survival, political corruption, and psychological mystery.
Although justice is not entirely served. In one of the drama's most frustrating moments, a villain responsible for horrific crimes dies before his deeds are exposed and is posthumously awarded one of the nation's highest honours by the country's President. Instead of being remembered as a criminal, he is celebrated as a hero—a bitter reminder that truth does not always prevail and that appearances can outlive reality.
For me, this is an easy **10/10** and a highly recommended watch. If you enjoy dramas where nothing is as it seems and every episode leaves you questioning who can truly be trusted, **Big Mouth** delivers brilliantly.
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