I decided to watch this after seeing a lot of the reels from different moments of the show. I grew attached to the characters after seeing them in those little snippets so many times and wanted to watch the show. Unfortunately it felt like the reels that I saw were the best moments of the show. This just did not live up to the hype for me. It was enjoyable enough but missed the mark in other ways.

Story: the basis of the story and the title is about how the main female lead Joo Gyung was always called ugly for having an acne filled red face, big glasses, and large eyebrows. She was maliciously bullied in school for her appearance until one day when she was able to transfer schools. At the new school she had learned how to apply makeup and wear contacts which changed her appearance so much that she was then considered a real beauty. Life was dramatically different for her because of the makeup and she was always worried that her true face would be revealed. Of course she meets someone that finds out about her secret and he ends up falling for her and not caring what she looks like with or without makeup. This concept last until about the halfway mark. Then the second half of the drama focuses more on the love triangle of the 3 leads where the 2 male leads are best friends and an unexpected event separates the main couple for years but the secondary lead stays by her side.

In terms of story it has a very simple concept that has been seen many times. My gripe with the concept however is that while makeup can completely transform your face, it can't change the texture so often when they show her without makeup and she has acne but somehow has perfect skin with makeup I tend to roll my eyes. Also when her secret finally gets revealed its like all of a sudden her 'ugly' no makeup appearance is not that different from with makeup. She adds a pair of glasses and her skin is slightly pink but that is it so calling her ugly for that seems offensive. While her new skin care routine would have helped improve her it was still annoying to watch everyone around her act like she was so dramatically different without makeup.

The love triangle. This is one of the shows where I fell hard into second male lead syndrome. While the main male was fine and everything, I still felt myself leaning far more heavily into the second. His character was so endearing and relatable that it is impossible not to like him. And while you understand the ending I actually found that I did not like it very much because it felt like the female lead did not care about his feelings at all. It felt callous since he has stayed beside her for 2 years and they had gotten so close that even all their friends expected him to care for her when she was drunk. But her care of his affection was not handled well at all. While she did not need to return his affection she could have handled it so much better. It left me mostly just feeling sorry for the second male lead all the way up until the end.

Acting: as far as acting goes it was acted fairly well. I was especially drawn to and impressed by Seo Jun. He was by far my favorite character throughout the entire series. The actor portrayed him so well and he was so entertaining to watch in all of his scenes. Su Ho was also acted well and the actor did a good job of transitioning the character from arrogant jerk with a chip on his shoulder to shy and nervous teenager in love for the first time to the more grown up version. The side characters also all held their own and did great. Joo Gyung was the one that got on my nerves the most. The actress often used this baby sounding voice that I really did not like but other than the voice she did act the part well. I also had a very hard time liking the character very much pretty frequently.

This series had several fun and memorable moments but the writing really let the show down. Joo Gyung was a very hard character to truly like for me so this show holds little rewatchability for me.

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best version out of 5

I have seen all five versions of this story and this one is my favorite. This is a complete story that felt fairly believable, with good character growth and appropriate suspense. The production of this drama was done very well making it enjoyable to view and very aesthetically pleasing. The OST was good and the acting was done well by all the actors. If deciding to watch only one version of this story then I would recommend this one but also if you want to watch another version of a familiar story then you won't be disappointed in this one.

Like all of them this has slight variations in the story to make it different from the others. It starts off with their relationship being a bit different. They meet and spend time together before the accidental night (versus in all other versions he is drugged and photographed as blackmail). The male lead takes longer to warm up to after their marriage than other versions as well but once he figures out his feelings and makes a decision then he stays firm and true to them. This version also has the best/ most heartwrenching scenes and the male lead really carries those moments very well. You get pretty annoyed with the female lead toward the end because her character growth goes from being too soft and pliable to too stubborn and unreasonable. But the male lead saves it and keeps you watching to see how far he is willing to go.

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This is the fifth version of this show I have seen. Looking strictly at this adaptation alone I will say that it was done well. The actors were great, the characters mostly likeable, and the story fairly realistic and believable. If you only end up watching this version then I am sure you would like it. The characters grow on you pretty quickly, the story is interesting enough to hold your attention and make you want to keep watching, the conflicts feel believable as well as most of the character growth and decisions. It is shot beautifully and is aesthetically appealing. The OST was good, although not very memorable. My one major gripe would be the random abrupt shifts in scene and music. That happens alot. The ending also felt rushed and was not completely satisfying. Still an enjoyable watching experience albeit just slightly above average for a drama.

Now if I were to compare this to all the other versions available to for you to see then I would say this one is okay but not my favorite. This is most like the Korean version as far as the storyline goes. As with them all there are slight variations in this compared to the others. What I preferred the most with this version is that the female lead was more realistic and likeable. She is soft, a people pleaser, and a push over but in a much more believable way that makes her character feel more fleshed out and not just dumb like some of the other versions have portrayed her as. The male lead is also softer and gentler in this version and his expressions begin showing his emotions much earlier though he is again most like the Korean version of this character. I also really like that he figures out what he wants pretty quickly and sticks firm to it. What I did not like about this version compared to others is that their attraction to each other was almost to quick. There was not enough moments between them to make you truly understand why either is so crazy about the other but thats a small gripe and pretty easy to get over.

If I had to rate this story and say which one I prefer the most it is probably the most recent Chinese version. So if you were going to watch only one I'd probably recommend that one. This one and the Korean version feel about the same as far as enjoyment to me though I do like the main leads in this one more as he is not as eccentric and she is not as boring as the Korean version of their characters. The Japanese version was the worst purely because it was cut short so you don't get the full story. I did like the original Taiwanese version but the end felt too dragged out.

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Weakest remake of them all

First I will look at this drama subjectively by itself even though I am familiar with the story. If you go into this never having seen this story you would just find an average drama. Nothing that stands out but nothing that really make you hate it either. The production is fine, the visuals are nice, the actors did an okay job with the script, and the OST was okay. But honestly none of it was really memorable except that one scene that will break your heart every single time. One of the biggest problems is that the characters were not given time to develop. Aya was such a weak character and you never got a chance to see her grow since this was cut so short. Its length also plays heavily on my ability as a viewer to feel invested or connected to the characters. If you are looking for something short to just pass the time then this could fit the bill though you may end it feeling dissatisfied.

This is the fourth version of this story that I have seen and it is the weakest. The length played a heavy role in that. By the intro and outtro you can tell that they had intended or possibly even shot the full show with the same ending as all the other versions but then decided to stop airing the show so it was condensed and the last episode rewritten. Because of this you end on a sour note with no real feeling of closure since the misunderstanding isn't completely explained. Aya was a weaker character in this version and her interactions with both male leads felt forced and awkward because there was no time to create a believable relationship with either one. For the same reason it was also hard to believe Kei's change in feelings because it was like a switch for the purpose of moving the story forward but as a viewer it did not feel genuine since all the interactions up until the abrupt change of heart did not give you enough of a sense of depth in his relationship with Aya.

I watched this out of curiosity since I had seen the 3 previous versions but I would not have if I was not familiar with the story previously.

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Disappointing sequel

If you are like me and you went in to this season right after finishing the first season than you most likely also feel like you picked up a completely different show. This season does not feel like the previous season; especially if you are going in to right after watching the first and it is fresh in your mind. If you are picking this up after having seen the first season when it first came out then you might find it more enjoyable.

If you are coming into this season hoping to feel the magic of the first then you'll be disappointed like I was. The first season did an excellent job of setting up the plot and characters that you kept you bound to the screen. The characters all had depth and their own stories that made them all endearing to you as a viewer. The main plot was well thought out and executed with the subplots contributing well to the overall picture. While So Mun is the main character and you do find yourself attached to him and his story the writing for the other characters was also done very well all the way down to the side characters that had little screen time. I rate dramas based on my enjoyment and season 1 kept me captivated from the first episode and I never wanted to fast forward through any part of the show which is very common for me to do in kdramas.

This second season however ignores many of the rules that were established in the first season while also abandoning the original character profiles for the main cast. The characters are supposed to be 2 years older in this season and obviously SO Mun has grown both mentally and his powers have also grown quite a bit. The writers firstly did not do a good job of explaining the power growth as it does not feel very reminiscent of the first season. While psychokinesis was touched on last season, this season it is now in every move all the characters make, even the villains, making the production feel more cartoonish and over the top. This season is also more about the villains from the very first episode to every episode after that. The villains are also made to be the evil version of the counters and while villains are not meant to be likeable these are downright obnoxious to watch. They get so much screen time but no backstory or explanation for how or why they are doing the things they are. Even Mr. Ma became more powerful so quickly that it did not make sense based on the rules you previously understood in season 1. While the first season made you feel like these people could actually exist, this season has turned them into super heroes instead. The humbleness that you felt in all the characters before is no longer present. The addition of the comedic relief new counter just leaves you frustrated any time he is on the screen instead of finding him funny.

I wouldn't recommend you watch and just let the end of season 1 be the end for you.

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Did we even watch the same thing?

I am utterly flabbergasted at the high rating for this show. I went into this thinking it would be a light-hearted and fun love story with a side of palace politics and power struggles. What I ended up watching was a show with ridiculous characters and nonsensical plot that circled around the frustrating love story of the two main characters. I am under the impression that Xu Kai fans are what has inflated the rating for this show because the drama itself is not worth watching.

To address Xu Kai; I actually liked him in this drama and thought his acting was done much better than I have seen in many of his other works. He had great chemistry with Jing Tian and the other male cast members in his army. His stage presence is great and he pulls off the carefree soldier that is being forced into his role of royalty. Jing Tian also acted her role well according to how she is written. I did not like the character very much but she was acted well and the chemistry between the two helped tremendously. The character herself was just frustrating and I often times wanted Li NI to just give up because she was not worth it.

But having two great main actors will not make a show great if it is written and directed poorly. And that is exactly what this is. It is so poorly written that it is laughable. Almost all of the characters are cartoonish in their representations of their roles. The main lead's father that becomes the emperor is spineless and ridiculous. He acts and reacts in ways that are childish. His two older brothers are witless and ambitious but just plain dumb. The writer of this show obviously does not have a firm understanding of politics because the way this drama moves in circles with with nonsensical reasoning for their moves and countermoves. Every villain that is introduced, and there are quite a few, are one dimensional characters making decisions based on one specific desire and the people around them just follow along as if that person is not dumb. And these actors were even directed to make the most ridiculous facial expressions that make them cartoony to portray evilness.

I was already struggling to get through this after the main leads father, whom you can not convince me is a person that could have ever held power, became emperor. Even if he was a puppet king he was so ridiculous that I could no longer watch scenes with him in it. Then came the tedious and LONG storyline where the female lead is angry that the Li Ni did not save her useless Young Master. I could have gotten past it and said it was her grief reacting but it went on for soooo long. When they finally find that cute and watchable area where the two are clearly in love you have the intrusion of the love scorned Young Master returning as a villain but in a way that made absolutely no sense. Did no one ask where he had been for months? No one questioned anything and just let him back to lead the army with authority higher than Ying even though she was very close to the general. The forced wedding episode was unbearable to watch for its nonsense. Move on and you have the female lead then forcing the unwilling male lead to become crown prince in order to marry her. It is one ridiculous plot point to another with no connecting strings or firm reasoning for their actions.

The only reason I am giving this a 5 is because the costumes are pretty, the main actors do well, and the OST is nice. But the CGI is horrible, the rest of the acting is bad and the story line is ridiculous.

I really just can't tell you enough to please skip this drama.

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Found family will always heal the soul

This show is a sweet slice of life about struggle and finding a home and overcoming difficulties. Three children raised as siblings but not by blood find themselves navigating life without mothers and with prejudices placed on them due to their circumstances that were beyond their control. Ju Won who lost her mother before she even knew her to death, San Ha whose mother abandoned him after being stuck in her own grief, and Hae Jun who was left behind and taken in by a stranger. All three raised by Ju Won and San Ha's fathers creating a tight knit family of 5 for 10 years. But as life has a tendency to do things begin to unravel when the boys are seniors in high school and getting ready to graduate. They find their situations changing again and taking them in different directions separating the three 'siblings' for 10 years before the two men find their way back home.

I actually really liked this show a lot. It was really very beautiful and acted very well. The child actors in the beginning were fantastic and the adult actors all embodied their roles with near perfection. The drama also makes a point to show early on in the series the difference in how Ju Won treats San Ha and Hae Jun while growing up which makes the romance later in the story more palatable for some viewers. I like how their struggles are often handled with grace and understanding between the close knit family of 5.

I also like how they made this story their own but stayed true to the characters and their personalities. Ju Won here is much more reserved in this version and I actually like that for her character. She doesn't come off as spoiled or naive but strong and independent which makes sense and fits perfectly as someone that was raised by someone that loved them so well and worked so hard. She learned from him and met her own difficulties with determination and grace. I also prefer this version of Hae Jun as well. His trauma of being abandoned and feeling like he had to earn a place and the way that trauma molded him works here. He is strong and soft hearted like Ju Won's father who raised him but his fear of being thrown away is shown to perfection here. I also really loved Dal in this show and wish she had been shown more, especially her interactions with Hae Jun which were some of my favorite. I actually preferred this pair over Ju Won and San Ha.

What did not land perfectly for me was the chemistry for the romance and I will forever hate San Ha's mother no matter version I watch. I watched this show through the eyes of having seen the original so that knowledge I think fills in some gaps that may be missing in this show because of the shorter run time. There were some things that felt rushed and others that felt too slow. Like the wedding at the ending felt rushed and unnecessary though I thought the same in the original. The last episode also felt so long and boring to me which is not a good feeling when it comes to a finale.

But overall I enjoyed this and would recommend for the found family and even for the dialogue. Some of the advice given to the characters throughout the show hits emotionally even to the viewers who may be able to see themselves in some of the aspects of the characters. Well written script, seasoned actors that are great at their craft, beautiful OST, and stunning visuals make for a good show.

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Enjoyable ride

All in all this is a perfectly fine drama. Well thought out plot that is mostly well executed with characters you can root for and villians you can hate. Beautifully shot and styled with stunning cast. A story about a woman who is given a second chance to go back and change her life a year before her death so she chooses to make those responsible pay and finds a man that is willing to help her do just that.

I have nothing bad to say about this drama. I enjoyed watching it and was fairly happy with the progression and conclusion of the story. I liked the main characters and felt like for many of them their motives were understandable and rooted in a believable way. Greed is one of humans most toxic traits and it will make some people do anything. Yi Joo's personality was also believable with her trauma clouding some of her actions in a way that makes sense and isn't as frustrating as I have seen done in other dramas.

My one complaint would only be that my curiosity about the ending for the villains was not completely fulfilled but they did at least give you a shadow of an answer. This is a fine drama. Not mind blowing or one of a kind but an enjoyable way to pass the time.

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interesting plot but lacks the charisma needed

I personally really like transmigration/ time travel type of dramas and the plot for this one is really intriguing. The female lead is sucked into her own novel because of the backlash of the horrible ending she gave it. The ending she wrote gives the character she becomes a quick death and the villain ultimately winning in the end. In order to get out of the novel she needs to rewrite the ending and do that by not being killed by her now husband, the villain of the story.

The idea of this is really nice, the setting and costuming is also really pleasing. What this show lacks however is the right kind of female lead to carry it. Since the entire show hinges on her then all your attention as the viewer goes to her. Unfortunately this actress does not pull it off. I saw and liked her in Ever Night so I know she is a capable actress, this role just does not suit her. They needed someone that has a stronger presence. Unfortunately in this setting the costuming does not flatter her figure which makes her come off as childish and not as appealing as you would expect from a character in this role. I also dislike her facial expressions and interactions with the male leads. I think they wanted to go for a more comedic approach but ended up with her feeling immature and annoying. She often gives strange facial expressions and the way she carries herself and moves seems so odd to watch.

The male leads are impressing me a bit, especially Ji Chu, most are unknown to me so this is my first time seeing them on screen. The poor choice for leading lady and weak comedic attempts unfortunately detract from this drama and make it difficult for me to be interested in how it continues.

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I'm finding myself in the minority on this one but I pushed myself to get through 13 episodes and found I just could not do it anymore.

Things I like:
The costuming and casting
The premise and overall plot kine (I bet I would probably enjoy the book)
The CGI and sets are amazing
The soundtrack is phenomenal

Things I hate:
The slapstick comedy they use by making characters be dumb: Aunt and Uncle, Princess, etc
The main is too perfect; he solves cases so fast, his martial arts progresses too quickly, he is the best at literally everything
The lack of world building and the way they 'explain' Dafeng and the magic system too quickly and incoherently

I thought this show would be one of my favorites after watching the trailer and the first couple of episodes but the type of comedy used in this show sank it for me. Slap stick comedy or comedy done by making characters stupid just is not my cup of tea. It makes it feel forced down my throat and I end up gagging on it. If they had toned down their reach for comedy and focused on the plot movement then this would have been ten times better. The story itself is very interesting but the way it is shown is a miss for me. Xu Qi An is too perfect and progresses too quickly in a way that I feel cheapens him a bit. This a highly intelligent and compassionate character that does not want glory but instead cares for the people so he can't be bribed or swayed from his morals. But they make everything come easy to him instead of allowing him the chance to work for his successes especially when it comes to skills.

Overall if you enjoy that kind of comedy then I think you would really like this but if you find that it detracts for you then I would skip this one.

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master class in emotive story telling

Very much like my review of the first season you will find yourself emotionally invested in this second half of the story. The characters have survived the invasion but that does not mean the war is over. The remnants and all the things that follow are equally as brutal and painful to watch but so beautifully done and acted to perfection. I hated the King and is paranoia and cruelty. I sympathized with the Crown Prince and his struggle to survive a foreign land to finally make it home and find himself having to struggle to survive again. His want to keep promises and fear of what that would mean. I hated the Princess and her selfishness but empathized with her want to be loved. Every character, no matter how big or small was written and portrayed in a realness that will take your heart and pull it in a hundred directions.

Cons:
-the timeline: I found the timeline on this hard to follow and still do not completely understand how long things happened and how one character had his hair turn white but everyone else looked exactly the same
-the constant push and pull of their relationship
-for me there was too much focus on the political aspect with no real follow through conclusion
-the ending did not give me closure, I felt like I needed more. Jang Hyun's past was almost glossed over, you don't get answers about Ryang Eum and why he ended up where he did, for how long, or what happened after, and while they tied the first and last episodes together by making the show as if it was the story being told from the character in the beginning I would have liked to understand the why a bit more
-amnesia used not once but twice on the same person

Pros:
-character development from start to end for all the characters was phenomenal from the main characters down to the side characters. Everyone went through change in whichever direction and it made sense according to their characters
-beautifully shot with appropriate camera angles
-the aesthetic for the post war world and the gradual change in colors that shows the maturity and aging of the characters was done well
-music was beautiful and accompanied their scenes very well without ever feeling repetitive or too much
-Jang Hyun is a major reason I watched this show because I am a sucker for a man that will do literally everything for his person

I can not say that this is a favorite of mine but it is a powerful work that will stick with me for a while.

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