This review may contain spoilers
The Warmest Surprise of the Year
I started Dazzling with absolutely zero expectations. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to like it at all. I hadn’t seen many people talking about it, and since it’s from the same writer as Speed and Love (which I personally didn’t love), I went in with very low expectations. Somehow, it completely blew me away.
This ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year for me.
The drama has such a warm, comforting summer atmosphere. The seaside setting instantly reminded me of Welcome to Samdal-ri, but with a much younger and more youthful energy. At its core, it’s a story about friendship, family, community, dreams, and growing up, with romance naturally woven into it rather than dominating the story.
The relationship progression is one of my favorite aspects. It’s not really enemies-to-lovers; it’s more enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. At the beginning, I know a lot of viewers found the female lead bratty, but honestly, I completely understood her reactions. Imagine going from a comfortable city life with your own room, air conditioning, and privacy to suddenly living in a crowded seaside community with shared bathroom and a completely different lifestyle. I’d be struggling too.
What I loved most was how Xing Wu treated her from the very beginning. Even when he teased her or acted annoyed, he was always looking out for her. He constantly took care of her, protected her, and put her needs first. That’s such a huge part of who he is as a character—he takes care of the people he loves, and she was no exception. One line from later in the drama really stuck with me: even when they had almost nothing, they would still offer what little they had to her. That warmth and generosity perfectly captures the spirit of this show.
The drama balances so many elements beautifully: friendship, family, romance, hardship, perseverance, and personal growth. Xing Wu’s journey was especially inspiring. No matter how many times life knocked him down, he always found a way to get back up again.
One thing people should know before watching: this is an incredibly slow burn romance. And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. The leads don’t officially get together until very late in the story, and for a long time you could easily interpret their relationship as best friends or even sibling-like. Normally that would frustrate me, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it here because their bond was so genuine and heartwarming. Their friendship alone was enough to keep me invested.
This was my first time watching GXT, and I absolutely loved her. She fit the role of the spoiled rich girl perfectly. More importantly, her character growth was fantastic. Her bratty attitude doesn’t last forever, and watching her become more humble, empathetic, and connected to the people around her was incredibly satisfying. I also loved that she consistently stood up for herself. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.
As for Xing Wu, he completely stole my heart.
His story is heartbreaking, but what impressed me most was his resilience. This man goes through absolute hell, yet he never lets bitterness consume him. He keeps getting back up, keeps trying to be kind, and keeps giving people second chances. He genuinely has one of the biggest hearts I’ve seen in a drama.
And honestly, this might be my favorite Li Yunrui role so far.
I’m usually used to seeing him in historical dramas, so this was my first modern drama with him, and he felt incredibly natural. He wasn’t the bad boy I expected him to be. Instead, he was basically a walking green flag disguised as a red flag. His smile, his warmth, his quiet devotion—I loved everything about him. Also um the blond hair :)
Most importantly, he got to live his youth because of her.
Before she entered his life, he was surviving rather than living. She pushed him back toward society, encouraged him to dream again, and reminded him that he deserved happiness too. They changed each other’s lives in the best possible way.
The chemistry between the leads felt incredibly natural. Whether they were friends or lovers, every stage of their relationship felt believable. Nothing felt forced. They clicked from the very beginning, and I loved how supportive they were of one another throughout the entire drama. I enjoyed every second of them as the chemistry was amazing!
My biggest issue is Episodes 26–28.
I actually didn’t mind the separation or time jump itself. I understood why it happened and why Xing Wu needed time to grow. However, I think the writers completely wasted those three episodes.
Instead of spending so much time keeping the leads apart, they could have used those episodes to develop their adult relationship. Since the romance is already such a slow burn, it felt frustrating to lose valuable screen time that could have been spent showing them reconnecting, falling in love, and building their relationship.
When they finally do get together, I absolutely loved their scenes. That’s exactly why I wish we had gotten more of them. Their relationship felt a little rushed simply because we spent so much time waiting for it. I would’ve loved a wedding, an epilogue, or just more time with them as a couple.
One thing I really appreciated is that there are no unnecessary love triangles, annoying second leads, or pointless characters. Every character serves a purpose, and even the people who make mistakes remain understandable. I never truly hated anyone because the drama takes the time to show where everyone is coming from.
The friend group was wonderful, the family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved how the story portrayed life in a close-knit seaside community where everyone looks after each other. By the end, every major character receives a satisfying conclusion, and seeing everyone achieve their dreams felt incredibly rewarding.
The cinematography is also gorgeous. The seaside views, the lavender fields, the sunsets—everything looks beautiful. And of course, having songs from Liu Yuning on the soundtrack is always a bonus. The OST perfectly matches the bright, comforting atmosphere of the show.
Overall, Dazzling is not a fast-paced romance. It’s a calm, comforting, character-driven drama that feels like a warm summer by the sea. It’s wholesome, emotional, funny, inspiring, and full of heart.
I just wish we’d gotten more time with the couple in the final stretch—but despite that, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s one of those dramas that simply makes you feel good while watching it.
This ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year for me.
The drama has such a warm, comforting summer atmosphere. The seaside setting instantly reminded me of Welcome to Samdal-ri, but with a much younger and more youthful energy. At its core, it’s a story about friendship, family, community, dreams, and growing up, with romance naturally woven into it rather than dominating the story.
The relationship progression is one of my favorite aspects. It’s not really enemies-to-lovers; it’s more enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. At the beginning, I know a lot of viewers found the female lead bratty, but honestly, I completely understood her reactions. Imagine going from a comfortable city life with your own room, air conditioning, and privacy to suddenly living in a crowded seaside community with shared bathroom and a completely different lifestyle. I’d be struggling too.
What I loved most was how Xing Wu treated her from the very beginning. Even when he teased her or acted annoyed, he was always looking out for her. He constantly took care of her, protected her, and put her needs first. That’s such a huge part of who he is as a character—he takes care of the people he loves, and she was no exception. One line from later in the drama really stuck with me: even when they had almost nothing, they would still offer what little they had to her. That warmth and generosity perfectly captures the spirit of this show.
The drama balances so many elements beautifully: friendship, family, romance, hardship, perseverance, and personal growth. Xing Wu’s journey was especially inspiring. No matter how many times life knocked him down, he always found a way to get back up again.
One thing people should know before watching: this is an incredibly slow burn romance. And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. The leads don’t officially get together until very late in the story, and for a long time you could easily interpret their relationship as best friends or even sibling-like. Normally that would frustrate me, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it here because their bond was so genuine and heartwarming. Their friendship alone was enough to keep me invested.
This was my first time watching GXT, and I absolutely loved her. She fit the role of the spoiled rich girl perfectly. More importantly, her character growth was fantastic. Her bratty attitude doesn’t last forever, and watching her become more humble, empathetic, and connected to the people around her was incredibly satisfying. I also loved that she consistently stood up for herself. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.
As for Xing Wu, he completely stole my heart.
His story is heartbreaking, but what impressed me most was his resilience. This man goes through absolute hell, yet he never lets bitterness consume him. He keeps getting back up, keeps trying to be kind, and keeps giving people second chances. He genuinely has one of the biggest hearts I’ve seen in a drama.
And honestly, this might be my favorite Li Yunrui role so far.
I’m usually used to seeing him in historical dramas, so this was my first modern drama with him, and he felt incredibly natural. He wasn’t the bad boy I expected him to be. Instead, he was basically a walking green flag disguised as a red flag. His smile, his warmth, his quiet devotion—I loved everything about him. Also um the blond hair :)
Most importantly, he got to live his youth because of her.
Before she entered his life, he was surviving rather than living. She pushed him back toward society, encouraged him to dream again, and reminded him that he deserved happiness too. They changed each other’s lives in the best possible way.
The chemistry between the leads felt incredibly natural. Whether they were friends or lovers, every stage of their relationship felt believable. Nothing felt forced. They clicked from the very beginning, and I loved how supportive they were of one another throughout the entire drama. I enjoyed every second of them as the chemistry was amazing!
My biggest issue is Episodes 26–28.
I actually didn’t mind the separation or time jump itself. I understood why it happened and why Xing Wu needed time to grow. However, I think the writers completely wasted those three episodes.
Instead of spending so much time keeping the leads apart, they could have used those episodes to develop their adult relationship. Since the romance is already such a slow burn, it felt frustrating to lose valuable screen time that could have been spent showing them reconnecting, falling in love, and building their relationship.
When they finally do get together, I absolutely loved their scenes. That’s exactly why I wish we had gotten more of them. Their relationship felt a little rushed simply because we spent so much time waiting for it. I would’ve loved a wedding, an epilogue, or just more time with them as a couple.
One thing I really appreciated is that there are no unnecessary love triangles, annoying second leads, or pointless characters. Every character serves a purpose, and even the people who make mistakes remain understandable. I never truly hated anyone because the drama takes the time to show where everyone is coming from.
The friend group was wonderful, the family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved how the story portrayed life in a close-knit seaside community where everyone looks after each other. By the end, every major character receives a satisfying conclusion, and seeing everyone achieve their dreams felt incredibly rewarding.
The cinematography is also gorgeous. The seaside views, the lavender fields, the sunsets—everything looks beautiful. And of course, having songs from Liu Yuning on the soundtrack is always a bonus. The OST perfectly matches the bright, comforting atmosphere of the show.
Overall, Dazzling is not a fast-paced romance. It’s a calm, comforting, character-driven drama that feels like a warm summer by the sea. It’s wholesome, emotional, funny, inspiring, and full of heart.
I just wish we’d gotten more time with the couple in the final stretch—but despite that, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s one of those dramas that simply makes you feel good while watching it.
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