Flawed but good!

OVERALL
An imperfect drama that still much better than average! Watch it if 1) you want some perfectly balanced romance and palace drama, 2) you like smart and strong female leads. Maybe think twice about it if 1) you can't stand surreal or incoherent plot elements, 2) you're looking for lots of smexy scenes.

THE STORY
The first 20 mins or so of this drama are absolutely horrid. Luckily, it was a good day when I was watching and I decided to skip and keep going. If I hadn't, I would have missed a quite good drama!

The Good
- Female lead is so cool! Of course, we get more and more of these female characters that are smart, pretty, skilled, and everything you could ever wish for. It's almost becoming a cliché. But it's fine by me, I like that!
- Although a historical, this drama is pretty generous with the romantic scenes. Lots of cute, fun and tension-filled scenes here. Sure, most of them aren't realistic because they would never happen at that time, but it's fine by me. I like that!
- The fact that Male lead doesn't know Female lead is his childhood crush means we actually get a "falling in love" storyline and that's great because I hate the "I liked you when I was 10, so let's get married" romance.
- There aren't any hateful characters in this drama. All the characters, villains included, are quite likeable. They're likeable because they're well written, not because they're all nice and you can root for them. But still, it counts!
- Last but not least, this drama is just filled with action. It's one thing after another, which totally makes it binge worthy!

The Bad
- Top of the list is the absolute worst of the drama: the ancient-plastic-surgery plot device. Female lead getting a new face and a new life in that time is weird enough (makes zero sense), add to it 1) the fact that Female lead before and after surgery act like two different people, 2) Female lead honestly struggles too little with the fact that she literally became someone else, which is not realistic, 3) everyone just takes in the news like people wake up with a different voice and body every day, 4) there's just a lot of drama that should have come with this that doesn't and makes the plot device kind of useless?
- The OTP is cute, okay. I actually liked them a lot. But the writers of this drama obviously never heard of "show, don't tell", because once the leads get together, we don't see them in love, we just see them talking about being in love. ALL. THE. TIME. It's not too cool.
- I'm not too much about realism in dramas, I care more about a good storyline and a concern for social issues like gender equality. Still, when there're just too many things that feel unrealistic, things you know would never happen back in the day, it kind of becomes...a bit annoying.
- The ending feels a bit lackluster, in my opinion. Nice, but bland and too easy. The final showdown seems like a cheaper version of Nirvana in Fire's. Which reminds me that many scenes in this drama feel like they were taken from other dramas. Mm...

THE ACTING
Good! I always say there're four kind of performances: amazing/impressive, good/memorable, lackluster/not distracting, terrible/ruining the show. Here I think the two leads fitted the good/memorable category. I liked Female lead more than Male lead, but he was also okay. They had pretty good chemistry, which totally made up for the cringe "I love you" scenes the writers would throw at them. The rest of the cast was good too, especially the king and the 2nd (or is it the 3rd?) love interest of Female lead, LYQ.

THE MUSIC
Also quite memorable! I'm not sure it's playlist material yet, but I was vibing with it!

REWATCH VALUE
Honestly, pretty high. This dramas has all you can ask for when in the mood for rewatching a drama: it has romance, palace drama, war, medical situations, and a whole lot of adventure! I'm sure I'll be rewatching it sooner or later, but skipping the beginning :)

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Great 1st half, not as great 2nd half

OVERALL
This drama is one of those light, fluffy ones. Watch it if 1) you're all about looks, 2) you want to see a real, gentleman-like male lead, 3) you like female leads with a backbone. If you 1) don't like esports, 2) are not into college dramas, 3) can't stand plot holes, skip.

THE STORY
It took forever for me to give this drama a try because it had two things I'm not really fond of: a college setting an esports. But now that I've watched some pretty good dramas with esports I was ready to give this one a try, and while it's not great, it's not that bad!

The Good
- Female lead has her own edge. She fights back when people attack her and she can playful too. She was nice!
- OTP's parents are all cute. Loved that none of them were the unbearable, cliched crazy in-laws.
- First half of the drama (the "falling in love" part) has a good pace and is actually interesting, including the esports parts. I binged it all in one night!

The Bad
- Typical, cliché third wheels who can't take no for an answer and make everyone's life miserable. I've said it before and I say it again, at this stage, this cliché should have been long dead. It's boring and unoriginal.
- Male lead is okay (though not really special), but he keeps making decisions without consulting Female lead, and I don't think that's anything we should aim for in a relationship. It was uncomfortable to watch.
- The obsession with looks in this drama is also uncomfortable to watch. Part of it is cultural, I know, but I'm still bothered. In this day and age, shouldn't we encourage putting importance on less superficial things, like, I don't know, personality? Skills? Not to mention that they keep praising Female lead when the actress looks malnourished...it's really not promoting healthy bodies.
- The relationship between OTP and their friends is cute, but the friends themselves can be annoying. Especially one friend on Female lead's side (whose the supposedly-cute-but-actually-childish-and-immature type of character).
- Some things are clearly plot flaws, and it's off-putting. Like when there's a misunderstanding and Female lead can't think about why there is even though she's the reason for it.
- The second half of the drama just feels lackluster in comparison with the first. When the leads get together, the relationship just turns kind of bland. They tried to play it too cute and it didn't cut it for me.

THE ACTING
To be honest, I wasn't impressed. The good news is that it's not distracting to the point that you have to stop watching (except for Male lead's rival, he's so bad it's ridiculous). The bad news is that the chemistry between the leads is...very questionable, which contributes to the 2nd half feeling so tame.

THE MUSIC
No comment. Can't even remember any of it and just finished the drama.

REWATCH VALUE
Not that high. It was okay as a first-time filler, but there was no "wow!" scene I'll be dying to rewatch. If I need to, there'll always be other options.

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Just a decent filler

OVERALL
This drama is nothing out of this world, but it's worth the watch if 1) you're looking for a drama that delivers romantic scenes and isn't false advertisement, 2) you like super sweet and nurturing male leads, 3) you dig assertive female leads. Still, if you 1) get super annoyed by clichés, 2) find age-gap romances hard to swallow, 3) are looking for lots of comedy, maybe skip.

THE STORY
Not sure why the last few dramas I've watched were all just kind of average. My Fated Boy isn't bad at all, but I wasn't dying to watch it before I started, I wasn't dying to keep watching while I did, and I'm not dying to rewatch it now that it's over. On the positive side:
1) Female lead has a backbone. She can stand up to herself.
2) Male lead is very sweet and nurturing towards female lead, which is really the best way to pursue a girl, in my opinion.
3) the drama has super nice and caring parents, no crazy in-laws.
4) the friends (well, at least one) have interesting stories of their own that you won't feel like skipping.
5) the drama gives the OTP some cute scenes and coherent development.

On the negative side:
1) the drama is literally just a mashup of clichés. Everything about the OTP feels like something you've seen or heard five hundred times, all age-gap conflicts and their resolution are super predictable.
2) Female lead is deep but the drama doesn't give her a good backstory to explain her depth or give her any character development.
3) Male lead doesn't exist as an individual, all he cares about is Female lead, which makes him super flat.
4) the drama really goes full on with cliché, two-dimensional female stalkers that can't take no for an answer and make everyone's life miserable. There's just one after another.
5) the best of the OTP is the "falling in love" part, the "being together" part feels lackluster.

THE ACTING
Ok, I guess. Wasn't super impressed but I think everyone did well enough, given that it's not a drama to show extraordinary skills. I must say though, that after the last few dramas I've watched with scenes of crazy chemistry between the leads, the OTP in this one feels a bit tame. Not forced though, they still look fine. There just isn't as much chemistry between them.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
Not really high. The drama's fine to watch, but it's just too average for rewatch. I only rewatch dramas with unforgettable, gripping, emotional or thrilling scenes. This one had none of the above.

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Good confusion!

OVERALL
This drama is probably one of the best mystery dramas, in my opinion. Watch it if 1) you're looking for a well-written plot, with little to no loopholes, 2) you like fantasy/time-travel dramas, 3) you want a emotional and touching love story. Think twice if 1) you don't like getting confused by a drama plot, 2) age gaps between the OTP bother you, 3) you want to see lots of smexy scenes. But then still give it a shot. This drama is really something!

THE STORY
There's mystery like the whodunits, in which you're still kind of in control of what you're seeing. The puzzle is basically over and you're just missing a piece or two to have the full picture. And then there's Some Day or One Day, where you basically only have one or two pieces and you have no clue what the full picture is going to look like. I was lost and confused for most of this drama, and I LOVED every second of it!

The Good: The best thing about Some Day or One Day is obviously the writing. Time travel plots are easy to mess up, but the writing was tight. Every detail went full circle and made complete sense down the line. I also loved the female characters of this drama. Male lead and second male lead were fine, but common. Female lead was a no-nonsense, straightforward kind of girl and I loved her attitude. And second female lead was so real, making every scene about her feel extremely significant, even though we aren't meant to care about her until quite late in the series. Oh, and the interactions between all characters, and especially the OTP, are absolutely awesome. Male lead is an example that other dramas should follow, instead of constantly repeating the cold, mean, narcissistic lead. There's a lot to like about Some Day or One Day.

The Bad: There isn't a lot I didn't like about this drama. I wish there'd been more cute, sweet or smexy couple scenes, but I understand why there isn't. I can also mention the fact that one mystery in the series isn't that much of a mystery - it's pretty obvious from the start, or the fact that the ending of second female lead is unrealistic and not very coherent - I didn't feel super comfortable with what the drama implies about people like her. But overall, these are small weaknesses compared to all the strengths of this drama. NOTE: For the best experience of Some Day or One Day, make sure you watch the supplemental ending sequence they made and uploaded on Youtube, and don't end the drama with the last episode.

THE ACTING
Very good. I'd seen the actress before in at least two dramas and I think she's one of the best in Taiwanese television. Here her skills are more apparent since she plays two different people and you can tell, in her mannerisms, that they're entirely different. Male lead was also very good. There's one scene (opening sequence of episode 8) that particularly shocked me and made me realize he's not so far behind. He's pretty good too. I don't know what to say in terms of chemistry, but the OTP is still pleasant to watch and you totally root for them. It was all good!

THE MUSIC
Perf. This drama is one of those in which the music almost steals the show. So many of the songs ended up in my playlist, it's crazy!

REWATCH VALUE
Because the best part of this drama is the mystery and that feeling of being confused, I don't think it's a drama you can rewatch many times, regularly. But it's definitely a drama you can rewatch after some time, when you've forgotten the details of the drama and you can rediscover them and get surprised again. I did. This is my second time watching!

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Fluff & Games

OVERALL
This drama is basically a more basic and slightly more childish version of You Are My Glory. Watch it if 1) obviously, you've watched You Are My Glory and you liked it, 2) you're looking for a pretty light, slice-of-life type of love story, 3) you want a cute romance with several smexy scenes. Maybe skip if 1) you want to see a well-written plot, 2) you like strong female leads, 3) you're looking for an emotional drama.

THE STORY
I'm kind of dead at how similar this drama is to You Are My Glory: the e-sports, the celebrity FL, the scientist ML, competitions, dumb friends....The worst thing is it's made by the same folks (Tencent), and it was released the same year. WTH?!!! In my opinion, You Are My Glory is absolutely superior to Love Scenery, but this drama was still a very decent filler. On the positive side, the love story is coherent; the 'falling in love' part is long enough and written well enough to be believable, and the 'being in love' part is cute and at times very hot. The ML's friends are actually a fun addition to the drama, and their misunderstandings are hilarious. And just like in You Are My Glory, the third wheelers are there but not super annoying...or at least, not for too long. In fact, there aren't any bothersome characters like crazy in-laws, everyone's pretty cool, or at least bearable.

On the negative side, the main characters are not the best. ML is like every single ML in Cdramas, zero originality there, and FL is so spineless and without character, it's kind of annoying to watch (for someone who likes the smart, strong, assertive or even just mischievous and quirky type of FLs). She's supposed to be the oldest and most experienced of the OTP, but somewhat acts like a preteen 90% of the time. Expect second-hand embarrassment with her as well. Secondly, contrarily to You Are My Glory, there's a secondary couple in this drama and their love story is not too cool. I ended up skipping their parts because...yikes. And then finally (but most importantly), the writing is...pretty sloppy in this drama, more so than in You Are My Glory. There're things that aren't fully explained, there're weird cuts between sequences or scenes that don't quite make sense (I'm thinking of one in particular, a love scene, that started out SO random, I can't). And there's just not enough drama in this drama! So much time is wasted on songs and e-sports instead of giving some depth to the series. There's almost no conflicts, no character or relationship development...The drama's all fluff and games, it doesn't have much more to offer.

THE ACTING
Okay! I liked her more than him, I wasn't always impressed by him. They did have good chemistry though, I felt it more than with Yang Yang and Dilraba. The rest of the cast was fine in general, though some more than others. Overall, this isn't a drama that goes deep in emotions so it's not really a drama that showcases the cast's skills. Can't say that much about their acting.

THE MUSIC
Annoying. I personally didn't like the OST - at least, the songs. Somewhat made the show look like a teenage series than something anyone could watch...at least, in my opinion. It reminded me of stuff I used to hear in shows when I was in high school (like Rebelde or High School Musical). Background instrumental music was okay.

REWATCH VALUE
Okay. Not up there, there're better shows to rewatch, but I could see myself watching it again at some point - or at least, some of the scenes!

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A downward slope

OVERALL
Season 2 of Fox's Summer starts out great...then descends into madness. Watch if 1) you're desperate to know what happens after Season 1, or 2) you REALLY like backstories. Think twice if 1) you're looking for well-developed romance, 2) you like well-written plots, 3) you hate repetitive, unnecessary flashbacks.

THE STORY
This review is only for SEASON 2 of Fox's Summer. This season starts strong, really strong. But by episode 4 or 5, things begin to look weird. First, I recently have been complaining about romantic dramas that don't show the "falling in love" properly to jump right into the "we're in love" stage. Fox's Summer 2 does the complete opposite. After an entire season of "falling in love", when the "we're in love" stage begins, the romance turns into nothing. Absolutely nothing. If it weren't because the couple keeps reminding us that they're dating (but literally reminding us, with "but I'm your girlfriend!" or "but we're dating now!"), we never would have known, because they don't look like it at all. I'm not saying this because I think heavy skinship is a must in dramas. I don't think lots of skinship is necessary in romance (even though it's welcome!). But with or without skinship, you need to show some cute, fun, juicy couple scenes. How can we root for the couple otherwise?

Secondly, While the OTP backstories were interesting in season 1, they were essentially that, BACKstories. A bit of extra info about the main leads. Somehow, in season 2, the backstories become the primary plot. A drama that was pretty much a rom-com in season 1 turns into a workplace/melo drama out of nowhere. Another thing I couldn't stand were the flashbacks. They were already bad in season 1, but they become unbearable in season 2. Lastly, there're the skyrocketing inconsistencies. FL ends season 1 living in some place and starts season 2 living somewhere else, no explanations given. Characters with good communication decide not to communicate anymore, others continue to go from good to evil and back. People on their deathbed end up in conversing in their living room in the next scene. Mmm...what? It feels like season 2 was written by entirely different people from season 1, and didn't get the memo about what the drama was about. Such a disappointment.

THE ACTING
Same as season 1. Tan Songyun is fine, male lead is not, and they have zero chemistry. There was hope of some chemistry in season 1, there is nothing at all in season 2.

THE MUSIC
Same as season 1.

THE REWATCH VALUE
Definitely low.

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Quirky but fun!

OVERALL
The first season of Fox's Summer is at times over the top, but still gripping enough to binge. Watch it if 1) you like strong, capable female leads, 2) you appreciate deep backstories and 3) you're looking for slow but realistic relationship development. If you 1) are easily bothered by inconsistencies, 2) don't like slapstick, over-the-top humor, or 3) can't stand bad acting, then skip.

THE STORY
I need to specify my review here is only for the FIRST SEASON of Fox's Summer. This season, I binged in one day. That's right, one day. It's not crazy good, but if you come in with low expectations, first season has enough cool elements to surprise you and grip you until the end. These elements are: 1) interesting backstories for the lead (lots of drama on FL's side and lots of mystery on ML's side), 2) FL's sassy, quirky, street-smart personality, 3) fun dialogues that show writers actually spent some time on the script, 4) the potential for an epic love story, as evidenced by fun scenes between the OTP and a couple of cute ones too.

On the negative side, the drama isn't the most consistent. One second, the secondary male lead looks like a potential abuser, the next we're supposed to like him. One second, FL's mom is acting like a gold-digger who couldn't care less about her daughter. The next, we're supposed to believe she does. One second, FL is a total boss, and the next, she's acting like a clumsy preteen. It definitely gets frustrating as the episodes go by. And then there's excessive bad use of flashbacks. However, the worst, in my opinion, was the childish, slapstick, over-the-top humor that was barely there at the start but increased steadily throughout the season. I don't enjoy having second-hand embarrassment over the FL. I don't find FL acting silly funny. I'm also very tired of the fact that 99% of the time, we're supposed to have a laugh over the FL and not, I don't know, the ML. I find it very distasteful...and sexist. But anyway, if you can skip these parts the drama isn't bad!

THE ACTING
I've seen Tan Songyun before in Sword & Brocade and I really liked her in that drama. In this one, not so much, but I could see more versatility in her acting. Male lead looked like a piece of wood to me, I was really unimpressed by his acting. Chemistry was close to inexistent between them, but I was hopeful for the future with a few scenes.

THE MUSIC
Loud and inappropriate. First time I hate hearing piano in the background, all the time.

REWATCH VALUE
This season has no ending, so I wouldn't watch it again unless I loved the second season. You can find out why if you look for my review of Fox's Summer 2!

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Pretty good for a harem story!

OVERALL
This drama has a lot of things going on: murder-mystery, slow-burn romance, harem drama, political intrigue...but somehow, they combine nicely into a plot that is, if not the best, definitely entertaining enough to keep you watching until the end! Watch it if 1) you like smart female leads, 2) you need plots with few holes, where everything serves a purpose to the story, 3) you want to be surprised by a few plot twists. Think twice if 1) you need fast-paced, smexy romantic scenes, 2) you hate harem drama or political intrigues, 3) you are easily and greatly bothered by repetitiveness in dramas.

THE STORY
This drama has a lot more strengths than weaknesses, but the weaknesses weigh a lot, so they are worth considering. Let me start with the good. First, one thing that's clear about this drama is that it pushes a feminist agenda. FL is gifted in embroidery and wants to work for the people, but women at the time had to marry and stay at home, and that's one of the main conflicts of the series. I found this to be one of the best aspects of the show because the drama depicts the condition of women and Shiyi's frustration and avantgarde personality in a very realistic way. She's the odd sheep in the herd and it's really hard work for her to try to do what she likes to do. Secondly, I really enjoyed FL, Shiyi. What's great about the FL of this drama is that she's strong and smart, but in a feminine way. These days we see lots of strong FLs but they tend to lean more towards typical masculine traits (eg. Changge from Long Ballad, FL of Oh My General of My General and I), or be somewhat non-gendered and not caring about either masculine or feminine stuff. Shiyi is absolutely feminine. Her hobbies are typically female and she does all typically female tasks well. I think it's great to show that femininity can come with the strength and the smarts too. Another thing that's cool is that you can see how much power and influence she has over everyone around her, because all character and relationship developments in the drama are linked to her. She's just boss. And then one last positive aspect of Sword & Brocade is the romance. I personally am very bothered by love lines with crappy development, and it's kind of on the rise these days. It's common to see the OTP fall in love out of nowhere or go through a decent "falling in love" period, but the falling in love doesn't actually make sense. That's not the case with this drama. It takes FOREVER for the love to bloom, but it's realistic, and I was living for it. The journey is just as important, if not more, than the destination, and I'm glad this drama got it.

On the bad side, for someone like me who's not particularly fond of harem stories, Sword & Brocade feels EXTREMELY repetitive. It's literally 40 episodes of scheming evil women. The murder-mystery and political intrigues spice it up a bit, but by the end, I was kind of getting tired of the never-ending harem drama. It felt like more of the same. Always some girl trying to shame, frame and ruin another girl's life, and sometimes with no valid reason. The ML's mother was not helping at all; she was like a broken record. 40 episodes of her doing and saying the same thing, over and over again. Another think that irked me a bit were the few inconsistencies. There aren't a lot, but there are one or two instances in which the behavior of a character (especially FL at some point) seems extremely out of sync with how the character's been portrayed, or an event felt too forced/ridiculous. These issues aren't bad enough to make you stop watching, but they do make the experience of watching Sword & Brocade less enjoyable with time, especially the harem drama, so beware!

THE ACTING
It worked! In general I have no complaints for the main cast. I liked Wallace here more than in General & I, his character was MUCH better. Same thing for Songyun, I tried watching Under the Power before but couldn't stand her character. Shiyi is much better. Chemistry-wise, there are some sparks between them but it's not the most impressive couple in the chemistry department. They make up for it with cute and fun scenes though, so it's fine! I didn't like the stereotypical character of Consort Qian, but the acting was okay. Honestly, my only complaint is the acting of one of the kids - but it was kind of hilarious too, so I let it pass!

THE MUSIC
Quite good. Won't keep listening to anything now that the show's over but it actually left a positive impression on me!

REWATCH VALUE
I'm writing this review after watching the drama a second time, so it definitely is a drama you can watch again. However, maybe not without skipping some parts!

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Smart people everywhere, yay!

OVERALL
This drama has got to be one of the deepest, most aesthetically pleasing historicals. Watch it if 1) you are looking for smart, complex characters (good and evil), 2) you like revenge plots 3) you don't mind the odd fantasy element. Reconsider if 1) you care too much about the age and looks of the cast, 2) you're looking for romance, 3) conversation-heavy dramas bore you. I would still give it a try though, but it's up to you!

THE STORY
I'm writing this review after watching this drama for the 3rd time, actually. I watched it once four years ago, and then again right away with my parents, but watching it once more years later is like watching it for the first time. I had this drama on a pedestal for the longest time, and while I still think it's an absolutely amazing drama, I can now tell some of its flaws too.

The Good: The best thing about NIF are the characters. They're all SO well-written, not always with a crazy amount of depth but always with consistency and SMARTNESS - which is great, especially for the villains, who are often reduced to dumb, unrealistic caricatures in dramas. Also, one thing that many, including myself, deplore about NIF is how it is extremely male-centric, but the drama kind of (just kind of) makes up for it with a whole bunch of smart, badass female characters. The plot comes in as a close second in my list of best things about NIF. The drama is one big chess game and there isn't one move out of line. Everything has a purpose for the story, every character as well, and it's so cool to see things come together. Lastly, I have to say NIF has down periods that can be a bit slow-paced, but it has just as many segments that are super sensational, making you feel excited or getting you to cry buckets. So while it's not the best binge material, it definitely sends you on a rollercoaster ride. Oh, and I have to mention the visuals in this drama, because the sets, costumes and shots are so beautiful. There's definitely a lot of high quality in NIF.

The Bad: On the negative side, we have a very poorly managed love story in this drama. Romance is not the center of NIF and it makes sense that it recedes to the background, but the drama goes beyond that. What we see is a main lead CONSTANTLY dismissing the girl he is supposed to like. He lies to her again and again, never consults her before he does anything (even something that will impact her as well as him), never includes her in his plans (but he includes every other person that may not even be able to protect themselves as well as her), almost never is shown feeling/thinking/longing for her (he seems to care more about every other character than her), etc. Overall, I ended this drama feeling like female lead liked him a lot more than he liked her and that he did not deserve her. On a similar note, I didn't appreciate how women were so overlooked in this drama. Sure, it has boss female characters who, while they don't do much, manage to steal your heart when they do appear. But why can't they play a bigger role in the plot? Some might say 'oh, but at the time...', but it's not really a valid argument. While some women couldn't move freely about, many could and the drama does show that. And in any case, it's not like they couldn't make them bend the rules through secret passages and such. So not including women in the plot seems like a deliberate, male-centric move. A final thing I didn't particularly like in this drama is the incorporation of fantasy elements. They're not enough to ruin the whole experience, but they could also have been removed/replaced by realistic elements and it wouldn't have made the drama worse (quite the opposite).

THE ACTING
Pretty solid by everyone. This is why the cast's age should never be a factor to decide whether to watch a drama or not. NIF has an older cast but their experience makes their perform top notch. The roles that most caught my attention in this drama were the Emperor (absolutely the best, I would say) and the villains, but they all play very well. Several scenes are just goosebumps-worthy!

THE MUSIC
Absolutely amazing. Nothing I'd listen to now that the drama is over, but compared to other dramas in which the same happens, the music REALLY stood out for me. It's like in a film, carefully selected and placed to boost the scenes but not overwhelm you or distract you from what's going on. And it's just SO beautiful!

REWATCH VALUE
Well, I watched it three times already, enough said! But I must say, I did do some fast-forwarding this time...

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Trying characters

OVERALL
Give this drama a try if 1) you have high tolerance for annoying characters, 2) you like dramas with heavy second-hand embarrassment. Skip if 1) you can't stand the above and 2) you are looking for a realistic, well-written love story.

THE STORY
I recently noticed that C-dramas sometimes don't start well but redeem themselves later on, so even though it's not my style, I really tried to push it and watch as much as I could of this drama, despite not being impressed by episode 1. I toughed until episode 5. Why? First, there is absolutely no likeable character in this drama. FL is a mess who takes one bad decision after the next. Although she's good at what she does, there really isn't any aspect of her character that would aspire love so it's hard to understand why ML suddenly (really, out of nowhere) seems to be falling for her. ML is just your typical cold and aloof guy, but with a negative twist: he's also clumsy and kind of...silly? So he's also not that likeable and you're also not sure why FL suddenly starts to care about him. FL's friends are absolutely HORRID, of the worst secondary characters I've ever seen in C-dramas. I wasn't able to care about anybody in this drama. Second, the humor is everything I hate in dramas. Lots of second-hand embarrassment, mostly on FL's part but also on ML's part. Some slapstick too.

On the positive side, I love how good FL is at her job, and all the scenes linked with cooking were the best. I also have a feeling FL is meant to start the drama on the low and grow into a better person, learning to break away from the bad influence of her nasty friends. In that sense, the drama is quite promising. The problem is that she's starting too low, and I have low tolerance for second-hand embarrassment. This is the end of the ride for me.

THE ACTING
I suppose it's okay. No chemistry between the leads, from what I could see, but I also just saw the beginning.

THE MUSIC
Too much background music, all the time. Childish quirky sounds too. I think it wasn't helping.

REWATCH VALUE
Low.

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Pure thriller

OVERALL
This drama handles suspense very well and can easily be binged in a few days. Watch if you like thrilling, sensational plots, with a fast pace and lots of action. If you are looking for well-developed characters, character growth or romance, skip.

THE STORY
I binged the first ten episodes of Kairos in two days (with some fast-forwarding, but still). The fantasy aspect of the plot, and trying to save lives across temporal lines, are the two things that keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting more. Another is the production. Episode opening sequences are great at setting the pace and the suspense, and the use of sound and camera angles is very impressive in some scenes too.

That being said, from the very first episode, I was not able to get emotionally invested in this drama, and as episodes went by, it just got worse - until I eventually just skipped episodes 11 to 15, and went straight to the finale. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is that there is not enough character development. Kairos doesn't make you feel attached to the main leads. The action starts too fast, without giving you time to get to know the leads well, and it never slows down enough to give you the chance later on. Strangely, I liked the antagonists more than the leads. I didn't root for them but I liked how they were more fleshed out and had more individual character. The main leads felt like empty shells. Another negative thing I can mention about the drama is the few plot holes here and there. They're not major, but some happen relatively early on and keep on popping up in your mind as you're watching (eg. why didn't this happen instead?), distracting you. I have to say, the drama isn't bad. It's just very action-focused. For anyone who requires more than thriller and suspense, you may be disappointed.

THE ACTING
Quite good, I would say. I don't think I was blown out of my mind, but there is a lot of crying and intense emotions in Kairos, and the actors deliver. No need to talk about chemistry or anything here, since relationships are underdeveloped.

THE MUSIC
I liked the use of sounds and OST in this drama. It's very deliberate and works well with the plot. Nothing I would listen to now that the drama is over, but still.

REWATCH VALUE
Very low. There is nothing about Kairos that will make me feel like watching it again.

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Watch without thinking

OVERALL
This drama is a decent filler; flawed but with enough cuteness and fluffiness to watch until the end. Watch it if 1) you are looking for an all-round cast of good-looking actors, 2) you like youthful humor, 3) you want a drama with lots of cute couple scenes. If you 1) care a lot about good plots with no incoherence, 2) hate clichés, 3) need sizzling chemistry between the leads, then skip.

THE STORY
I will be honest. The plot of this drama is really unimpressive. First, it's a complete melting pot of clichés, and not the kind you don't mind seeing again and again, the opposite kind. Accidental tripping and kissing, predictable antagonist moves, savior complex of the ML, etc. Second, it's full of elements that don't make sense: characters acting out of character, conflicts that appear out of nowhere or end randomly, events that aren't realistic, etc. One inconsistency that particularly drove me crazy was the bad character development of FL. The drama couldn't decide if to make her strong and outspoken or weak and influenceable, so she kept on changing from one scene to the next. Third, there's the fact that at times the drama felt a bit...immature? I guess it targets a relatively young audience. In short, there are lots of issues with this drama. HOWEVER, I still watched it until the end, and it was not a very painful experience.

Why? Well, mostly because the drama is so generous with the couple scenes. The relationship development (falling in love part) isn't the best, but you get tons of cute scenes between the leads and that's enough to keep you going (if you're watching mostly for romance). There are also one or two interesting plot twists that pleasantly surprise you, and the secondary couples get decent love lines too. Overall, I get the sense that although the drama has lots of issues, they're not THAT bad. As in, the quality isn't that rotten, even if the quantity of bad stuff is huge. You can ignore them without too much effort and just roll with it. At least, I did.

THE ACTING
Okay, I guess. OTP is convincing, even though I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between the leads and some of their scenes felt quite cringe to me. Not "I can't watch this" cringe, just "It doesn't feel real" cringe. It was fine, just not great. Older cast was fine too, but the secondary cast (except for one or two actors) did not impress me.

THE MUSIC
Also okay. It's decent, even though I didn't get the urge to listen to any of the songs once the drama ended.

REWATCH VALUE
Pretty average, not that high. It's light but still has lots of scenes that get on your nerve; it has lots of cute couple scenes but without much chemistry. I feel like there will always be better options when I feel like rewatching a drama.

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Fluff for days

OVERALL
This drama is the perfect filler! Watch it if 1) you need something light and fluffy, 2) you're looking for romance with smexy scenes, 3) you dig a more slice-of-life style of drama (with no real storyline). If 1) you want to see a well-developed plot, love story and characters, or 2) you're craving an emotional drama, maybe skip.

THE STORY
I've been struggling to settle on a rating for this drama. To be honest, there is nothing really special or great about it. The characters are nothing out of the ordinary, the plot is nothing out of the ordinary (except the ML's job, that's kind of cool!), the script is nothing out of the ordinary. It's not a drama that will make you cry or die of laughter either. But it's definitely super cute and fun to watch, and I would have binged it all in one day if I didn't have to wait for the last 6 eps!

The Good: First, there is no annoying character in this drama. Literally NONE. No bothersome third-wheels, no overwhelming parents, no archenemies...nothing. Secondly, we get to see what happens after the wedding of the main leads (aka after the 'happily ever after'), and it's always cool when we see glimpses of life after the ceremony. Thirdly, the drama really doesn't go cheap with OTP love scenes. Lots of cute, funny, smexy scenes between the leads - especially in the last third of the show, which is the best part, in my opinion. Lastly (and most importantly), this drama's is one of those that give good role models. We have two people who not only like each other but support each other's careers, even if it means that they don't get to hang out that often; that they're really busy and dedicated to their jobs. At first it doesn't seem like a major part of the show, but it gradually becomes clear that it is, and I honestly lived for it. Nobody should have to compromise their dreams for marriage. I think they're my new relationship goal haha

The Bad: I never thought I would say this, but I didn't like how there's almost nothing bad going on in this drama. The OTP always get what they want and almost never have to sweat for it. No hard obstacles to overcome, no relationship (or individual) growth, NOTHING. It makes the drama feel kind of...empty. I guess that's why I just couldn't be that emotionally invested in the story. Another big flaw in this drama is the lack of relationship development. It's never clear why FL fell for ML in high school, it's not clear why she falls for him in the present, and it's not clear when (or why) ML falls for FL in the present either. Flashbacks are useless to give us the backstory of their high school days, and while the leads spend plenty of time together before they become an item, we just see them playing video games. We don't see them falling in love. Which leads me to the third thing I didn't like about this show: the emphasis on appearance. It looks like the drama's answer to all the above holes in the plot is 'oh, but ML is SOOOO handsome!'. It's true (he is), and it's also true that looks matter (unfortunately haha), but looks shouldn't be the foundation for love. Even the FL's looks are emphasized to explain why ML likes her. There are a few other flaws here and there (eg. characters keep coming and going, and they're never mentioned again), but they're small compared to these three.

By the end, I would say that the good outdoes the bad, but only because the last third of the drama is SO cute, it makes up for the bad and how 'meh' the drama felt in the first two thirds haha

THE ACTING
Okay, I guess...I think Yang Yang and Dilraba did well with what they were given, considering both of their roles are cliché and don't have much depth. The only thing is, the chemistry is on and off between them. In some scenes you can feel it a lot; in others, I legit felt pulled out of the fiction when I saw them together (like they reminded me it was all an act). Also, all second leads were pretty unimpressive to me, but they barely have the chance to show much.

THE MUSIC
Not my style, but nothing distracting or annoying.

REWATCH VALUE
Pretty high! Like I said, it's the perfect filler. It's all good stuff, no drama, so it'll be perfect to rewatch in between heavier shows or when there's nothing good on the horizon.

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Deeper than it looks!

OVERALL
While not perfect, this drama is definitely high quality! Watch it if 1) you're looking for a smart and strong FL, 2) you like to see dramas centered on character growth, or 3) you have a thing for dramas that show some depth and complexity. If you 1) suffer from ML bias (always siding with the male lead), 2) are looking for some love action, and 3) want to see lots of fight scenes, maybe put this drama aside...and reconsider it later. It's worth a try!

THE STORY
The synopsis of The Long Ballad is very misleading. First, it makes it look like the story is about revenge. IT'S NOT (most of the time). If you expect a revenge story, you will be disappointed. Secondly, the summary makes it look like FL and ML are going to team up the entire drama. THAT'S NOT TRUE. In fact, I would say most of the time they're working AGAINST each other. Basically, The Long Ballad is the story of two super patriotic characters, from two nations at war with one another, who struggle between their personal goals/feelings on one side and the greater good of their nation on the other (just like a Romeo and Juliet story). This means that for part of the drama, FL and ML are EACH doing things that have negative consequences for the other, until they somewhat find ways to neither betray their personal desires nor betray their people. I came across some critiques of the drama that seem to be due to misunderstanding what it's about. If you can see TLB for what it is and you are not prone to ML bias, you will surely appreciate it!

The Good: The best thing about TLB is the amount of character growth in the drama. Out of four main leads (the OTP and the secondary couple), three of them transform over the course of the series - only ML doesn't (or he does, but it's subtle). The secondary leads go through rather conventional/predictable growth, but FL goes through the kind of slow transformation that causes plans to get dropped and goals to change, and that's realistic. That's life. I loved it. Another great thing about TLB is the character contrasts. FL and 2nd FL are both strong by the end of the series, but one in a boyish way and one in a feminine way. ML and 2nd ML both learn to break away from their dad's influence in different ways too. TLB is about diversity and I appreciate that, especially in the relationship department. Have you ever heard of love languages or attachment styles? It feels like dramas always show the same kinds of love. Well, not in TLB. Here we get on one side the sizzling awkwardness between Changge and Sun, two aloof people who just don't know how to be together (especially her), and on the other side, the cute and romantic love story of 2nd FL and ML. Other great aspects of the drama include the pace, which only really slows down once (and it quickly picks up again), the bit of mystery thrown in, because we don't know some secret regarding the coup and only find out about it much later, and the respect and equality between Changge and Sun. Compared to other dramas in which the guy will often end up being the rescuer and smarter one of the two, here we see that they mutually show smarts and help each other. There're also a lot of emotional scenes in the series, a few lines that make you think, nice visuals...There's honestly a lot to like about this drama. Plus, it's totally binge material!

The Bad: The worst thing about TLB, and probably the only flaw I really had trouble swallowing, is the fact that many action scenes are animated rather than shown in live action. It's an aesthetic choice, I don't think it had anything to do with money or COVID, but it just didn't sit right for me. Some of these scenes were supposed to be epic, and turning them into animation just took the epicness away. Luckily, the drama doesn't do this for ALL action scenes, and it's not so bad that you want to drop the show. Apart from this, I wasn't bothered by much in the drama but I have to say there are plot holes here and there, which may bother those who are picky about these. Also, the ending is a bit of a let down. Not the worst out there, not incoherent or bad, but it's not super satisfying; it feels rushed and incomplete.

THE ACTING
Pretty good! I liked Dilraba more than Leo in this one. It was my first time seeing her and I was impressed! She has a way of making a character strong but also vulnerable. Leo was great too though, it's just that the character doesn't allow him a lot of versatility in acting. You could see he had more potential in the few emotional scenes he had. The main OTP's romance isn't very expressive (kisses, hugs, cringey lines and the likes), but Leo and Dilraba still manage to make you feel the chemistry in the stares and moments they have together. The secondary couple has more conventional romance scenes and the two characters do look cute together, even if I didn't feel too much chemistry between them. I have no complaints regarding the rest of the cast, except maybe one of the villains's acting that felt a bit cliché.

THE MUSIC
This drama's music really stands out, and it feels SO great! It really makes wonders when the production actually invests in a good music director to make sure not only the song but even the instrumentals slay. My favorite OST is Dingding's If you Come Back. Still listening to it regularly!

REWATCH VALUE
Very high. I watched it two times within a month of my first watch, and watched it again just now, about three months later. Pretty sure this won't be the last!

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Enjoyable...with some skipping

OVERALL
This drama is really the prototype of "slice of life". Watch it if 1) you like dramas with a mature feel, 2) you're looking for a fun couple and cute lover antics, 3) you're a fan of character development. Think twice if 1) you can't stand a drama with no main plot, 2) you easily find small holes in plots and that annoys you, 3) you are expecting a FL like the one of Yanxi Palace.

THE STORY
I feel like this drama is very niche. Only the true fans of slice-of-life series will appreciate all of it. I'm not one of them...so I could only watch it with consistent fast-forwarding. On the plus side, it's gorgeously done and feels very mature and natural. No childish, quirky background music like in many historical C-dramas. No slapstick comedy or in-your-face jokes. THAT I like A LOT. It takes ages before the OTP gets going, but when it does, you fall for it. The romance is definitely the best of the show, not just because they have fun scenes or they're cute, but because there is some relationship growth (which almost never happens in dramas). I wish the drama had spent more time on it! FL is depicted as a mature, smart, strong character, and the best part is that we really get to see her evolve throughout the drama, resolving traumas she has due to her upbringing. There's really a lot to like about Story of Minglan.

But, but, but...it's WAY too long. I understand why the drama includes certain parts (to set up the character development), but many of them could have been much shorter - like maybe 2-3 episodes long instead of 10-15. Honestly, apart from the first 5 episodes or so (which are fast-paced because they're about childhood events), I almost get the feeling that the story only begins around episode 30. That's nearly halfway through the drama! If you know anything about storytelling arc, that's like spending half of your story on the exposition/introduction! It's too much. Something else that bothers me about Story of Minglan is the obvious decline of FL after her marriage. As a single girl, she's smart and cunning, always five steps ahead of others, but as a married woman, she can't even see what's in front of her and constantly needs the help her husband *sigh*. There are smaller issues with the drama, such as some aspects that seem unbelievable, some repetitive lines or the very unsatisfying ending scene (the ending isn't bad per say, it's just kind of random?), but these two are the most serious problems in my opinion. If you're fine with the pace and the decline of FL, the drama is definitely worth you giving it a try.

THE ACTING
I heard FL and ML were played by a married couple. That explains a lot haha I didn't feel that there was chemistry between the leads but they looked comfortable and natural with one another and that's what sold the couple. Individually, I liked her more than him. Minglan goes through hell, and because Zanilia is expressive, she really makes you feel that. Secondary cast was also quite good, especially Minglan's legitimate mom. I just have a problem with the villains. It's just so stereotypical the way they act, I don't like it - but I'm sure it was on purpose and isn't a reflection of their acting ability.

THE MUSIC
Mild and fitting background music. Cute opening too. There's nothing I'll listen to now that the drama is over, but I was digging how music was so scarce, and you had lots of scenes with only silence or ambient sounds in the back. Such a breath of fresh air, when compared to the excess of sound we get in many dramas!

REWATCH VALUE
Completely? Not very high. I think I will definitely go back to this drama but I'll skip the first 1/3 and start when the real action begins...and even then, there'll be skipping involved. That's the problem with slice of life. Since it's not a story, but just a collection of episodes in someone's life, you don't necessarily care about all of them.

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