Isabitcliche

exactly my point. the ml being a softie was a disappointment especially when he is supposed to be a gangsta

thank you! i didn't know this would gain so much traction lol

The problem isn't that the drama is so generic, which it is, no matter how trope-aware or satirical it might be. The problem is that it’s still so painfully under-stimulating.

like i feared, it's very slow and uneventful if we look at the bigger picture.

i thought this was just five episodes but im glad its 22 episodes long. i wonder how they will explore this plot for so long without dragging the investigation. for now, im immensely engaged with the plot. i was shedding tears every episode. i don't know if it is supposed to hit this hard.

so we can't handle even the slightest nuance in the ml? this is the healthiest rivalry i have seen on screen and people are still complaining.

This was so embarrassing to watch, honestly. I love the girls. The guys are... interesting.
Personally, I'd feel so embarrassed and guilty if multiple guys were following me around while the other girls were left standing alone. That's why i liked how Hewen handled the situation by not becoming the fourth guy to follow the same girl around. The rest seemed more clueless than competitive.
Time and time again, dating shows lose their charm when one guy or girl ends up getting almost everyone's attention. I can already see where this is headed, since only Yiheng (and maybe the guy with glasses?) seems uninterested in Sha yu'er. The dates might shake things up, but first impressions usually shape the rest of the season, and this one feels even more one-sided than usual.
I feel bad for the other girls, but i'm also relieved that they all seem confident and secure in themselves. I like Sha Yu'er too, but i also feel like she's gonna have a tough time because of all the attention.
Favourite participants-
Cui kaiyi
Meng meng
Hewen
Yiheng (the independent guy)

there's honestly a severe scarcity of good zombie thrillers, but if you haven't already watched the big ones, here's what i'd recommend:
kingdom (both seasons) – easily one of the best zombie series ever made. historical setting, political intrigue, and terrifying zombies. one of my favs.
all of us are dead
happiness – more zombie-adjacent, but it's a confined survival story set in an apartment complex. currently watching this.
sweet home – not technically zombies (they're monsters), but if you like survival horror and constant tension, you'll probably love it. my favourite.
#alive – got mixed reviews, but i really enjoyed it. it's a fun watch, and the cast might interest you.
train to busan (movie) – if you somehow haven't seen this yet, definitely watch it.
i'm pretty sure you've already watched most of the korean ones, so here are some hollywood bangers too:
the walking dead – the classic.
fear the walking dead – a great companion series to twd, especially the earlier seasons.
the walking dead: daryl dixon – watch this after the main series.
black summer – my favourite. very bleak, really fast-paced, and the stakes are always high.
the last of us (season 1) – one of the best adaptations in the genre. the zombies are terrifyingly fast.
28 days later, 28 weeks later, 28 years later (films) – amazing infected films.
world war z (movie) – the scale is massive. there's a lot of military involvement, which isn't really my thing, but the production value is great (plus brad pitt).
resident evil (film franchise) – more action horror than pure survival, but still a fun zombie franchise.
z nation – a much more comedic, over-the-top take on zombies with loads of action. not really my favourite though.
shaun of the dead (movie) – one of the funniest zombie comedies ever made.
there are a few more, but i wouldn't really recommend them because they're just not that well made.

it's a solid movie but nothing out of the ordinary. felt very monotonous the more i watched it. the peak of the movie was at the end when the zombies fell into a death spiral. there was a lot of creativity, which i appreciate, but the tension and stakes didn't feel real. as a zombie genre fan, i would have watched this anyway, but i'm not sure i would recommend it to everyone.

it's lowkey bland

what for? i don't think they have done anything remotely controversial

the cast is already more likable than the Korean version. everyone seems open to a conversation. i can see everyone becoming friends.

This might be the most disappointing drama of the year. i actually liked the first few episodes, but the more I watch, the less I want to continue.
The downfall is genuinely impressive because why do I feel like I'M the one losing brain cells every time the LEADS interact? It's so frustrating watching them return to square one after every single miscommunication. Any progress they make is immediately undone.
On top of that, it's become incredibly corny. The writer keeps relying on awful plot devices to create tension and keep viewers hooked, but all it does is make the story feel disjointed. I mean can we get some solid chemistry on screen? i have seen angst done tastefully, but here it's just annoying.
Instead of any character development, we just get scattered progression of whatever the plot is left. yeah, im dropping this as well.

I'm still confused about why people aren't getting what this drama is about. It's clearly centered on women's empowerment, an emperor establishing a firm footing in the court, the fl's ambitions, and a romance. That's a pretty clear idea of what the drama is trying to deliver.

personally, i'm enjoying the drama as im not really familiar with the cast in the first place. i loved it from the first episode because the plot about women empowerment was intriguing. everything feels very refreshing.

this is as realistic as an emperor-subject romance can get.
the poster looks great as well.

this drama might be exactly what i've been looking for beyond the usual chinese dramas i've come across in recent years. while the plot isn't reinventing the wheel, i'm more than intrigued to keep watching. there are certain plot devices i loved being used here.

the relationship between the female lead and her friend is the first. their friendship is genuinely heartwarming, and it's refreshing to see such a supportive female friendship in mainstream media. the execution is a bit juvenile, but it’s still lovely to watch them interact.

i'm also really enjoying the slow-burn romance. i tend to lose interest once it's too obvious that both leads like each other, but here the writer does an excellent job of keeping those emotions restrained. their growing connection feels much more natural and convincing. i've dropped countless dramas because they rushed the romance, but this one has managed to avoid that pitfall.

normally, i prefer romance to drive the story rather than the plot itself. but here, the fl's backstory and the drama's refreshing opening were compelling enough to hook me anyway. i also appreciate that both the female and male leads are capable, self-sufficient people who don't constantly need rescuing. the story avoids the cliché of uniting both leads around the same villain or conflict. instead, they each have their own battles to fight, which makes them feel like complete individuals before they become a couple.

that's why i was genuinely surprised by the lukewarm reviews. this is one of the few dramas i haven't wanted to drop after the first five episodes.

FINALLY

respectfully, romance is the only interesting thing about this drama.

The problem isn't that people can't skip the intro. It's that a production with this kind of budget chose to use gen AI instead of commissioning artists. people are holding the studio accountable for a choice that affects artists and the creative industry. they aren't necessarily refusing to enjoy the drama and even if they are it's their choice and is completely justifiable. Being excited for the show doesn't mean every production decision should be above criticism. i, myself am watching the drama despite hating the intro.