Noctis

There is no logical explanation for why I liked this.. On an objective scale, there is nothing special about it.. It’s just a quiet, slice of life drama with a warm, reflective tone.. But the gentle pacing, rural setting, the subtle theme of healing and how can I not mention the irori?? The cooking scenes and the whole atmosphere created a soothing vibe that felt simple yet beautiful.. The drama doesn’t try to be flashy or overly dramatic but encourages us to slow down and go with its gentle rhythm..

The moment I realized how much I liked Alice-san Chi no Iroribata was when I finished it and immediately thought, I need to find more dramas like this..

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I wish I could start by saying “ I was pleasantly surprised by how good the drama was.. " But I can’t.. I will just join the echo of others and say this was a mess of intentions.. The drama tries to look smart and progressive in the Hollywood way, without actually being either.. It ends up being visually dull and emotionally empty, filled with the kind of ' look at us ' choices clearly meant to impress a certain crowd rather than serve the story..

It’s astonishing that so many people were involved in the production of this drama and nobody had the brain to tell them, “Don’t air this mess yet.. At least work on it more and refine it before throwing it out there to get criticized and torn apart..” I honestly don’t know what they were trying to achieve here.. Anyone with half a sense could predict this would end up as a mediocre drama, if not a dumpster fire.. Had some fun moments that made me laugh and some mild intimate scenes as well.. But that's it.. The dialogues, with all those coding jargon was a complete disaster.. They tried way too hard.. The script had no real substance.. I am pretty sure they were counting on the trendy inclusions to give the show a boost, to make it seem more modern and appealing but it just came off forced and unnecessary.. With some rewriting, better dialogues and decent improvements in the characters, this could have avoided being such a mess.. It still wouldn’t have become anything great, but at least it wouldn’t have been received this poorly..

It starts out okay, though right from the beginning you have to forget logic to go along with the plot.. By halfway, it falls apart into a series of cliched, silly plot points.. This is just my opinion, the vibrator scene was funny, yes but it also felt unnecessary and a bit out of step with what you would normally expect from a Korean drama..

And that flashback scene generated with AI?? What even was that?? Horrible.. I was also curious about what she would have done with her ex’s number if the ML hadn’t shown up.. She looked hesitant to delete it.. If you are going to throw in a scene like that, you should at least close it off with a clear answer.. Leaving it hanging like that just makes the girl look bad..

The ending was even more absurd.. I hope they are not planning a season 2, because that just won’t work.. Not because they don't have any story left to explore, but because with how disastrous the response has been I doubt anyone would greenlight another season.. So we are just left with, whatever that ending was..

I had hopes for Kim Yo Han after The Winning Try, but he really disappointed me with this script choice here.. He is obviously better than this.. Both of his upcoming dramas look promising, especially Starry Us.. I just hope it finally sees the light of day instead of getting pushed back indefinitely without any updates.. And Hwang Bo Reum Byeol?? She is yet to prove herself.. Maybe in the next project??

So unfortunately for me, the drama collapses under the weight of its own premise.. While a handful of the jokes work, the larger concept feels empty and sometimes even a little strange.. The drama tries to create a feel good illusion of ' freedom of choice ' where identity, desire and romance are treated like trendy accessories rather than genuine human experiences, decorative add ons with no real emotional weight..

Okay then, my verdict?? if you are watching it just for the vibes and don’t think too deeply about what’s happening, you might have some fun watching the comedy and a few cute moments between the main leads.. But that's it..

Oh, and if you are a programmer, please stay away from this.. You might need therapy to recover from the coding jargon alone..

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I Would Just Be The Catcher In The Rye And All..

Was it as good as the first season?? No.. But sequels rarely are.. However, if you watch this drama without comparing it to the first season, it might not be a masterpiece but it's still a well executed drama that evokes a range of emotions.. The friendship remains a standout element as it was in the first season, but this time with new characters..

Park Jihoon is an outstanding actor.. The way he portrays sadness, agony and melancholy is crazy.. But in this season, it’s a bit hard to say Park Jihoon was the true main lead.. Two other characters completely outperformed him, Baku and Na Baek Jin.. They were the highlight of the drama for me.. Si Eun was the anchor of the drama.. But thats it.. This whole season was carried by Baku and Na Baek Jin.. This season had a genuinely talented cast and they delivered.. These are the kind of actors the industry should be promoting, not those overrated ones riding on the hype of obsessive fangirls.. It’s the truly talented people who deserve the spotlight..

Ryeo Un's performance was incredible.. He brought so much heart to the scenes with his friends and undoubtedly he totally owned the action scenes..
Bae Na Ra.. Wow.. He was exceptional.. Really gave those villainous vibes.. The fact that they showed there was goodness in him was a nice touch.. He had a past.. But that doesnt justify his actions.. [ Major spoiler incoming ] I wish they hadn't killed him off at the end.. If there is a third season I hope they build on that.. Because that was such a loss..
Lee Jun Young, even with limited screen time he just gave another really strong performance.. The bad guy rebel vibe is something he pulls off effortlessly as we have seen before.. But man he was thrilling to watch..

This drama had an amazing roster of talented yet totally underrated actors.. I hope we get to see more of them in future dramas.. It’s unfortunate that the industry often chooses overrated actors over true talent..

Jo Jung Suk's cameo was a surprise.. While I liked the cameo and it was nice to see him in that role, he didn’t leave much of an impact.. I felt the character could have benefited from a stronger, more commanding negative presence.. Which unfortunately didn't come through as powerfully as it could have..

In Ep7, Si Eun says sorry to Beom Seok when he was in a coma like situation after his accident.. I honestly don’t understand why.. Beom Seok is one of the main reasons Suho is in the hospital and yet Si Eun says sorry?? What's the logic here??

This might be a bit of a controversial opinion.. But if there is a season 3, I do wonder what role Suho would play in that circle.. Now that we have Baku who I would say not only filled his place but did it even better.. It’s hard to see how Suho fits into the dynamic from here on..

Overall, I can't deny that this drama did everything it set out to and to a very high standard.. I do wish the finale was a bit stronger.. The final clash felt underwhelming.. But it was a thrilling watch.. I am confident there are more compelling stories to tell in the Weak Hero Class Universe, so expecting a third installment as well..

I should mention Park Ji Hoon again.. The nuance with which he creates such a melancholic character who you can't help but feel sad about is awe inspiring..

P.S.. The drama started off with a quote from one of my favorite books.. The catcher in the Rye..

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Let me start off by saying this, Newtopia deserves more than a 7.5 rating.. Sure, May not have had a unique storyline or offered anything different from what we have seen from other dramas except the comedy maybe.. Had way too many flaws and had issues with the screenplay and the pacing.. But still this drama is worth the 6+ hours you spend watching it.. It’s got this vibe that makes it feel different in a good way.. This might be a funny show but it has some serious undertones.. I started this drama without much expectations but ended up feeling it was short.. It deserved at least two more episodes..

Park Jeong Min and Ji Soo were were solid.. Ji Soo felt bland at times but honestly she was pretty fun to watch.. And I absolutely loved the supporting cast.. Kim Joon Han as Aaron Park was super cool..

I liked the Express Bus Terminal Arc, thats the final episode.. Her illusion about that Bus terminal staff which leads her to safety and a moment of peace on her journey to Jae Yun.. The team not giving up on Aaron park.. The ML, who spent most of the drama fumbling his gun suddenly started nailing every shot as he got closer to finding her.. And The friends going back to save Jae Yun and Yeong Ju.. I think the final episode made me feel that even in the middle of madness there are people who still try, still care and still show up for one another..

Overall Newtopia is a good drama that is underrated.. I don’t think it’s just a comedy or horror.. I think its about people who feel a little lost, a little weird, a little clueless and are doing their best anyway.. The script doesn’t try to judge or solve anything.. It just captures that messy, stubborn will to keep going.. Even when the world’s gone to hell.

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I am not exactly sure why this didn’t impress me more.. Maybe it was the blunt way they tore down the ML’s character or maybe it was just my disbelief at the direction the script chose to take.. Either way I just wish I could have loved this more.. I admit giving this a 7.5 might feel a bit unfair but that score reflects my personal distaste more than the drama’s quality.. By the end I couldn’t help but ask myself “Why did the writer choose to butcher the second half like that?”.. When I think about what this drama took away and how it treated the character Yin Zheng till the end, I honestly wonder what the point of it all was..

Her constant pushing him away just went on for far too long.. By ep 22, I honestly felt like skipping through it.. He worked too hard to win her affection.. Well she already loved him, yet his reassurances were never enough for her.. At first it was fine, but after a while it felt like they should just divorce and let her go back like she wanted.. Forty eps were just too many, with a lot of unnecessary subplots that didn’t really add much.. The first half was okay.. There was comedy, story development and it all flowed well.. But then it dragged and I got tired of the repetitive plot..

If you notice, almost all the male characters in this drama were problematic.. Power hungry, sex obsessed, spineless or just plain pathetic.. That’s pretty much what most of them were like.. On the other hand, the female characters were all good.. There wasn’t a single one you could really criticize and I liked that.. It felt different from other dramas.. But turning the flaws and pain of the male characters into comedy felt a bit hypocritical..

Especially with how the ML was treated.. I really felt his character deserved more.. After all he went through it always seemed like he was the one putting in all the effort, while she never truly matched it.. Even His father in law belittle him.. Till the end of the drama it felt more like he made all the efforts in the relationship.. In the finale, while everyone else stayed with family she chose to go for business, even though it was his birthday and she still hadn’t told him she was pregnant.. She arrived late with noodles for him and somehow that was supposed to be enough?? I really don’t understand why the writer ended it that way.. And I also hated the jealousy part.. Seriously, the crown prince jealous of a chef?? A nobody?? What was the writer even thinking..

Overall it was insanely forgettable even though it had some solid performances.. By the end I was very disappointed.. The second half was a rather underwhelming snore.. If you are watching for the romance, just skip to the last 10–12 episodes.. But if you are here for the sisterhood, then you will probably enjoy it a lot more..

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Most of the time while watching this, I was like this is so stupid but still totally enjoyed how absurd things were.. Honestly, the brand of humor here will decide whether someone enjoys this drama or not, but I am pretty sure most of us will... I was here to enjoy the stupid comedy, I wasn't looking for logic.. Do not come here seeking logic or sanity because in dramas like this, neither has any place.. Instead just enjoy the ride..

Non as Nishino Kanako was so much fun to watch.. Her comic behavior, attitude and expressions were all spot on.. She works perfectly as a comedic protagonist because she isn’t overpowered or overly confident, her strengths come gradually.. The absurdity of being an assassin paired with her somewhat gentle, awkward personality gives the story its charm.. She is the best example of a character who can balance the tension between ' this is ridiculous ' and ' I can see why she feels the way she does ' energy, which is hard to pull off but this story seems to manage.. She literally walks into a hitman agency while job hunting and just, rolls with it and somehow it works..

Sakurai, played by Fujigaya Taisuke is the classic ' grumpy senior with a soft heart ' character.. He seems allergic to emotions but secretly worries about her.. He is stoic, sharp but also there’s this faint warmth that we see when he is stuck babysitting Kanako.. Simply put he is that exhausted coworker who has seen too much.. Sakurai’s calm composure makes the show’s absurdity even funnier..

The assassinations done by Kanako?? Well It’s dark satire disguised as comedy.. The kind that makes you laugh one second and squirm the next, a weird mix of ' they kind of deserved it ' and ' wait, this is still murder '.. Her targets are the types you meet every day.. Toxic seniors at work, abusers and toxic humans, basically the kind of people who make you jokingly say “Ugh, I could kill them,” except in Kanako’s world, someone actually does..

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable watch.. I had genuine fun watching some parts and others just made me go,
' Wow, this is dumb ' but in the best way.. The final episode was a letdown but the funny moments, the FL and her weird charm win out and my rating reflects that.. Shiawase Kanako no Koroshiya Seikatsu thrives on an absurd contrast, an everyday office worker trying to find meaning and work life balance, except work involves contract killings.. It was fun watching her discover her passion, it just happens to be murder..

P.S. I am not asking for much, just two or three more seasons of Kanako committing morally questionable murders with a smile.. Let Kanako keep killing her way through toxic people, please..

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Yup.. Just Another Propaganda Drama..

Well I have no idea why I watched this now.. I have plenty of other dramas on my list that I am dying to get to.. But somehow I ended up checking my watchlist, saw this title and decided to watch it.. Maybe I just wanted something different or maybe I wasn’t in the mood for anything too intense.. I went in without any expectations.. Because well it’s Jin Han as the ML for starters and the teaser already screamed low budget production..

Everything in this drama looks and feels so amateurish.. No joke, every five minutes there was propaganda being pushed.. This was an outright propaganda drama.. No doubt about it..

I spent most of the drama bored but not hating it.. I liked the main leads and their relationship.. It was nice to see a couple that’s actually mature.. They had their flaws but I wasn’t disappointed.. I just wish they had skipped the whole “we have to break up because my job is dangerous and I might die” thing.. Like what were you doing before getting into the relationship and making the girl fall for you?? Anyway, it gets solved soon.. So thats that..

The other parts in the drama.. Be it military drills, underwater activities or similar stuff were just so poorly poorly executed.. It’s obvious they didn’t hire a proper consultant.. Everything felt completely out of touch with reality.. Forget about the sloppy gunfights, have they even heard of suppressors?? It felt like they were either allergic to them or had no idea they existed.. How do you go on a stealth mission and not use suppressed weapons?? it feels like they didnt even hire a Military advisor..

I don’t want to be too hard on the actors.. They worked with what they had and most of them did a decent job.. The real problem was that the drama lacked a strong antagonist.. They were so weak, you could almost say there wasn’t one at all.. And the SML.. I really can’t stand characters like that.. The ones who act all righteous and saint like but can’t handle rejection.. Like how do you ask a girl who is already in a relationship to be with you and then ask her not to reject your proposal?? The guy didn’t even back off after she told him she’s engaged.. Seriously??

Overall, this feels more like a propaganda drama made to appease a certain section of people, you know, if you know.. It’s a shame, because there is some substance here.. If only they had used it properly.. My suggestion?? Watch it only if you have a lot of time to kill or if you are into this kind of drama..

P.S. Jin Han really needs a better agency.. Someone who actually understands his strengths and picks roles that suit him.. Because honestly I don’t think even Jin Han is the best at choosing for himself.. I have seen actors far worse than him get lead roles in dramas with good scripts..

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The East Palace is built on an irresistibly wicked, sinister premise and the actual experience of watching it fully delivers on that promise.. The teaser made it feel like a series perfectly tailored to my tastes and it turned out to be exactly that.. It's rare for anticipation to survive reality, it's even rarer for reality to surpass it..

This drama seems to have taken some obvious inspiration from Stranger Things.. It has its own version of the Upside Down, The Realm of Gwi.. And honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing.. It's basically their version of the Upside Down, just set in the Joseon era with hanboks instead of 80s aesthetics... The core idea is similar, a parallel dark dimension bleeding into the real world.. Thankfully they didn't just copy paste the aesthetic.. Instead they made it feel like it genuinely belongs to Korean folklore..

Storywise it's pretty much classic, nothing wildly original.. The whole idea that he has to die to enter the other realm?? That was intense.. The transitions between both the worlds are executed perfectly every time without losing its impact.. The story sort of gives us an idea on who the villains are early on itself but it never reveals all its cards.. As it progresses, it keeps peeling back one layer after another and with each reveal there is another story hiding underneath.. There were quite a few surprises, and a couple of them I genuinely didn't see coming..
Spoilers ahead.. I never expected the King's mother to be the one behind the deaths of the previous King's children and also the FL's mother.. She never felt like someone capable of something that horrific.. And then the Crown Prince being the actual spirit behind all the chaos?? He wasn't even on my suspect list because the story presents his death as a suicide.. I really liked how every reveal led to another instead of wrapping everything up at once..

Honestly, the visuals of this drama are utterly gorgeous.. The cinematography is just crazy good.. The atmosphere almost feels like a character of its own.. The aesthetics are absolutely stunning with some marvelous color grading.. And thanks to that the action and fight scenes in the other realm were absolutely brilliant to watch.. And I believe that to make a story like this come to life it needs a strong soundtrack and they absolutely nailed it here..

Now, the characters.. Nam Joo Hyuk was so good as Gu Cheon.. It's honestly sad that it took him three years to return to the screen but he definitely didn't disappoint.. Roh Yoon Seo also did a really good job as Saeng Gang.. There were a few scenes where she was just outstanding.. I was probably the most curious about Cho Seung Woo's character before I started the drama.. I kept wondering what made him choose this role.. But yeah, the man did what he does best and gave us a fantastic portrayal of King Ju Sang.. Was he the bad guy?? Or was he just a man who was pushed too far and ended up doing cruel things to protect what he believed mattered most??

Before this review turns into a novel of its own, I will just say this.. The East Palace is a captivating watch till the end.. It has some of the best visuals I have seen in a KDrama in a while.. I loved the chemistry between the two leads and their performances.. I just wished that they had pushed it a little further and made it a 10–12 episode season.. There's still more to explore and I would love to see more of this couple.. So, are the chances of another season high?? I honestly hope so..

P.S. Ggeomeoksali was a cute little scene stealer..

Note:

Just to clarify what I meant above.. I felt that the drama seemed to take some inspiration from Stranger Things in its visual representation of the Realm of Gwi.. That's simply my personal interpretation.. The comparison was only the closest visual reference that came to mind while I was watching.. I wasn't trying to say that the script or its concepts were influenced by Stranger Things or any other work..

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Trigger is a story about what happens when stress, inequality and buried trauma collide with easy access to guns.. But it’s not just about the weapons, it’s about what drives someone to reach for one in the first place.. When grief, injustice and silence build up over time, anyone can reach a breaking point.. It’s less about who’s holding the gun and more about what pushed them there.. Trigger explores a bold and unsettling scenario.. How quickly chaos spreads once a long standing taboo is shattered.. I liked how the main leads are shaped by their contrasting beliefs and personalities.. They are people on opposite ends of a moral line..

I think the drama presents a really interesting moral dilemma and plays it out in a provocative way.. The concept itself is terrifying.. What Trigger does well is show the darker side of human nature and what people are capable of when pushed too far.. And honestly the scariest part wasn’t the drama itself, it was the thought that something like this could actually happen.. Hopefully it never will.. Right?

" If you want to be loved.. Always wear a smile.. "

Both MLs were great.. Kim Nam Gil really stood out.. His action scenes had an aura that's undeniable and everything he did felt natural.. Him with a gun was too good, looked professional.. Kim Young Kwang as Moon Baek was menacing.. I really liked his character.. He was quite good as the antagonist, bringing a Joker like joy to his madness.. But his English accent was a letdown.. I think he could have worked on it more.. It didn’t feel convincing..

" I want to live in a utopia of equality where everyone owns a gun."

I liked how they paced the first episode.. Slowly building the world and introducing the characters.. By the end of it, it was intriguing enough to keep you going.. Its 10 episode length is both a blessing and a curse.. It’s a fairly breezy watch and doesn’t feel draggy but because of that, the story ends up feeling a bit underdeveloped.. We don’t really get much characterization for anyone besides Lee Do and Moon Baek.. Some characters completely disappeared by the end and I am not sure why.. They could have been used better.. Especially during that riot scene..

Not saying this was the right way to handle things.. But people do need to be held responsible for their words and actions.. You can’t just go around hurting others and get away with it.. There has to be consequences.. Is it really that hard to treat people with basic decency?? I felt like the message of the drama is clear, Be Good To Others..

From a darker perspective, many of the people who were killed deserved it?? And honestly, the one person who probably deserved some serious reckoning but didn’t die was Kang Seong Jun, the bully.. I just hope whatever happened has given him enough trauma and shook him enough to think twice for the rest of his life..

Bullying.. It’s something we have seen in so many Korean dramas and movies that it almost feels like a normal day to day thing over there.. And that’s what makes it even more disturbing.. You can’t help but wonder why is no one ever seriously punished or held accountable??

It was a bit disappointing how the show portrayed the Government as hopeless and the cops as completely tactless in the final ep.. Realistically you would expect the authorities to handle a situation like that much better.. I get that it’s a drama and things need to be exaggerated for impact.. But still it felt a bit too far fetched..

Like I said, the drama started off good stayed good all the way through.. Until the final episode.. That’s where it lost me.. The conclusion was not satisfying at all.. After everything that built up, it felt like the story ran out of steam right when it mattered most..

Overall, it’s an impressive drama with Kim Nam Gil delivering a stellar performance.. Is it perfect?? No.. But for me, the issues I had, some unrealistic scenes, a bit of awkward dialogue here and there.. Don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things..

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It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Good..

This was quite the watch honestly.. It was an entertaining experience filled with a good cast.. I found the storyline to be interesting even though it's not unique.. At first glance I thought this drama would tread the familiar path of fantasy and romance.. But no, it pulled me into a story more captivating than I expected.. And It came with a well defined theme and had effective visuals.. The drama never felt lagging yet not overly frenetic either..

It’s honestly hard to believe that some people called this boring or even called it a copy of Goblin, Doom at Your Service and whatnot.. No offense, but how can anyone seriously say it resembles those dramas?? other than sharing the same fantasy genre?? What exactly is it similar to?? It really feels like people judged this one before even giving it a proper chance.. The hate it’s getting has nothing to do with the actors, their performances or the drama itself..

The breaking of the fourth wall and the mention of Marvel and Disney were a nice touch.. I liked it.. It was funny..

The acting in this show is pretty great, that much is obvious.. The most captivating part of the drama was easily Suzy.. Her performance as what many called her, a psychopath was nothing short of brilliant.. Not only is she so pretty, she also carries the emotional weight of the protagonist effortlessly.. She portrays the many facets of Ki Ga Yeong’s complex personality while making her so likable.. Kim Woo Bin, on the other hand has a slightly easier role as the witty mythical character Genie.. Still, he manages to add depth and nuance to his portrayal.. They both share an effortless chemistry and for a fantasy based drama, their romance feels nothing short of sublime..

The cameo cast was absolutely dreamy, but their potential wasn’t fully utilized.. I especially wish the costume for Song Hye Kyo had been better.. Something about it just felt off.. With how beautiful she is, they could have made her look even more stunning but instead went for a rather dull look.. Honestly a bit disappointing..

The supporting cast was good too.. Steve Noh as Ejlael was exceptional.. I really hope he gets more opportunities as a male lead in the future.. He definitely doesn’t deserve to be stuck playing second lead roles.. He is clearly underutilized in the KDrama industry.. I understood why Ahn Eun Jin was cast in that particular role the moment she appeared, she was genuinely convincing.. Sade and I Rem deserve special mentions as well.. As for Choi Min Ji, I understood her importance to Ki Ga Yeong and her emotional connection but her character arc included elements that felt unnecessary.. Her feelings for the younger version of the grandma were honestly uncomfortable to watch, that part added nothing meaningful to the story..

Some parts of the CGI were definitely weak, but that Jaguar sequence in ep12 was just superb.. The fight between Ejlael and Genie felt a bit underwhelming at first, maybe because of all the CGI, but then I rewatched it on my not so small TV and realized, ah, this is how it was meant to be watched.. Nothing extraordinary but still pretty good overall..

Overall, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for me, it certainly was.. Even if all the mythical and fantastical layers were stripped away, the drama would still remain a visual treasure.. It’s not exactly the drama I wanted it to be, but that doesn’t make it bad.. It’s a fine piece of work with beautiful filmmaking and at its peaks, it truly soars.. In the end what remains in my view is not a perfect drama, but an imperfectly beautiful one.. I am glad my Uncontrollably Fond couple got a happy ending, even if it’s in another story, another life..

P.S. KDrama writers really need to start being more cautious when dealing with sensitive topics and characters.. They are becoming a bit too casual with things that can easily hurt sentiments..

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Nothing much to say here.. The drama doesn’t bring anything fresh to the table.. Just the usual fantasy role swapping.. One character ends up in the past while the other takes her place in the future.. I actually liked how it started.. The first six episodes were good.. But after that, you could honestly just skip to the last two.. Episodes 7 to 10 felt like a drag and I genuinely hated a couple of scenes which served no real purpose other than making you question the FL’s character..

Acting wise, everyone did a decent job.. But still there weren’t any standout performances.. Just okay overall.. Loved the FL’s family.. And the FL herself was fun and chaotic to watch.. The couple was good.. Their chemistry was good.. Barring a couple of scenes, I think I liked pretty much everything else about them..

I would have rated this an 8 because it was enjoyable overall.. But one scene in particular irked me.. The FL lets another guy sleep on her lap.. And she falls asleep too.. This is the same guy the ML has issues with and had clearly told her to stay away from.. It felt completely out of place for a character who had been shown as deeply dedicated to the person she loves.. I mean imagine what would have happened if the ML had seen that?? I know it probably shouldn’t cloud my judgment but I can’t help it, it does.. Still the drama is worth watching if you can overlook a stretch of draggy plot.. For me?? Meh.. Overall a one time watch when there’s nothing better to do..

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How Do You Say Unforgettable in Chinese??

I waited quite a while for this drama.. Due to several delays, it kept getting pushed back.. But it was finally released.. When you see Allen Ren in the cast, you know you are in for a performance that's worth the wait.. The Demon Hunter’s Romance also marks the return of Song Zu Er.. Her drama Legally Romance is one of my favorites.. I am glad to see her back..

The drama’s strength lies in the chemistry between the leads.. You can feel it right from episode 1.. The first few episodes really set a high benchmark with the music and visuals.. And just like that it became twice as interesting.. The world building was done exceptionally well.. The cinematography, costumes and CGI were all solid..

The Mirror Demon arc was good.. I really liked how it explored themes of obsession with beauty and immortality..

The Puppet Demon arc was my favorite.. I absolutely loved episode 15.. Especially the first time we see him use the fire sword.. It was intense and thrilling.. I just wish the final fight scene had been a bit longer because it was really good..

The Puppet Demon Feng Wu Niang was eerie and special appreciation to Zhang Zi Xin who played that role to perfection.. Her performance was downright chilling.. This arc sort of amplifies XuanYe and BanXia's chemistry and highlights their unspoken feelings.. The whole resort setting was gorgeous, all shadowy and haunting.. And the music for this whole arc was just too good.. This arc has everything that makes the drama addictive.. For me Its the moment the show truly hits its stride..

The Painting Demon Arc was equally good even though it didnt have the same intensity like the previous arcs.. I think this arc was more about the emotional depth and strengthening the main couple's feelings for each other.. As she falls for him again and again even without her memories.. The twist about the demon and actual creator of the painting being right beside them was a nice touch..

This arc poses an interesting question.. Is a perfect, repeating moment heaven or hell??

The final arc, Who am I?? was good until the last 15 mins.. The whole arc screamed tragedy and pain.. Honestly there were lot of dumb things done by both the main leads.. She should have told him about his demon identity sooner.. And he for God's sake should have talked to her and his friends before rushing off to the underground city to confront his uncle.. That was stupid.. I understand he wanted everyone to be safe but what did he think?? They will just let him go die alone.. They could have made a proper plan and defeated his uncle together instead of going in blindly.. And that to me, is what led to their deaths..

Now.. The ending.. This drama had no right to be a sad ending.. None at all.. It deserved a happy ending.. He literally said
" No matter what plans i make, I will always include you in them" in ep 32..
And..
" Dont worry.. no matter what happens.. I will always be with you.. " in Ep 33..

And he just goes off after that perfect reunion?? Honestly no way this was supposed to be a sad ending.. And that Mr. Fu telling her to Go after him after she regains her memories.. What was the need for that then?? It was setup to be a completely satisfying happy ending.. They knew the audience wouldn’t be okay with this but they just didn’t care.. There were so many ways to write a better ending.. I heard its iQIYI who forced the change from a happy ending to a sad one.. Well, iQIYI can go to hell..

There are rumors about a second season but nothing has been confirmed yet.. Fingers crossed for a direct sequel.. We definitely need one after that ending..

Overall it was a banger of a drama.. Flaws and all, I absolutely loved it.. The firefly scene was beautiful.. Reminded me of Alchemy of Souls Season 2.. Her little nod acknowledging his help was a really nice moment.. Their romance progress felt so natural and their chemistry was exceptional.. Now give us that season 2..

P.S.. I don’t know if its just me but the drama had an uncanny resemblance to Tale of the Nine Tailed..

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