Stunning

This is SO good! I loved every second. Amazing production, packed with action, great characters, effects, costumes and stunning sets.
Loved the cast (especially Aloys Chen as Qin Ming).
There is humour, warmth and good v evil. Fab monsters too . The main supporting duo of Bo Ya and Shen Lee provided the lighter comedic moments (as did the various animals and 'familiar' monsters) with their youthful personalities and bickering.
The character of Qin Ming is a dual personality to a point and I really liked that even though he'd been let down, he remained loyal to those he loved. He was confident and aloof, but not arrogant. The family vibe of the various monsters he took as 'familiars' was heart warming and quite moving on occasion.
Really very entertaining and a feast for the eyes. I'd love a follow-up!

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The concept of this drama is so refreshing. I loved the 'reality interviews' with the main cast individuals, and their supporting stories, all different yet laced together.
Great characters and I was surprised by how several that I found really irritating and/or unlikable, I ended up rooting for, as their real personalities and reasons for behaving as they do, emerged.
The cast were excellent (all favourites) and I totally fell in love with all 3 main guys and a certain shining Police Officer ;)
It was also an absolute joy to have couples behave naturally ~ no gawping eyes-wide-open females in the numerous kiss scenes. No reactions on hand holding that would be more fitting to being groped! Realistic bed scenes (doesn't need nudity to portray sex) and almost all experiences and issues being pretty representative of the highs and lows of falling in and out of love.
I only found 1 character's reaction to breaking up somewhat overdone. A particular scene where a dumped boyfriend was humiliated in public, was a step too far. I absolutely hated her at that point.
The OST is great, the locations varied (surfing never looked so appealing) and even the ending was good... true to life, which is rarely neatly tied up.
I don't feel a second series is needed, but they could easily make one, featuringing the characters whose love lives weren't concluded and maybe a couple of new ones to fill in those that were; I'd definitely watch it.
Very enjoyable and hard to turn off (binge addicts like me, beware).

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Classic

The synopsis here on MDL is not really accurate for the female lead character at all. There is more to her than that. Anywho....

This is what I consider a classic all-round, entertaining sageuk. There is plenty of humour, action, intrigue, tragedy, drama, villains, simple folk and good people that fight for justice.
The plot isn't completely new, with disguise as the opposite sex being needed to clear the FL's name, having been framed for murder. However, the portrayal of an intelligent woman, actually supported by their family and a benevolent Crown Prince not afraid to wield as much influence as he's able, is nicely done and feels different.
PHS must be a go-to for such roles, with his flair for natural humour and good looks, as the righteous Crown Prince.
Type casting, however, is also the bane of any drama and once you see some actors, you know the evil character is them the minute they show up. Directors and casting, please take note! Some, though, were far less obvious... round of applause for that.
I loved the characters though, including those I wanted publicly flailed for being so vile!
There are a smattering of clichés, but not to the point it annoyed me... balled fists and catching the falling FL being the main ones.
I thought the mystery that needed solving, which drew together many characters throughout the story, was very well done and kept me glued. I watched this drama over quite a short period and never got bored or lost concentration.
There were a couple of times when the comedy was too obvious and didn't fit... There were no microphones in the 1400s, so pretending to use one in 'interviewing' the Crown Prince, for example, just stood out as totally inappropriate, even though very brief. That is real shame, as there were laugh out loud moments much more natural. It was not needed.
The romance aspect is very light, which for me fit with the story perfectly, but if you are looking for lots of deep snogs etc, you will be very disappointed. However the affection shown between several characters with just a look, is lovely.
I so enjoyed this drama and would really recommend it. The ending was very nicely done and the soundtrack complimented what was being watched too.
The core friendships and trust between characters, even when tested, was also so nice, with no accepting allegations at face value, when a person's true personality should tell those nearest, differently.

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Longer episodes please

I liked the story, which gives vampires a modern twist; day walkers and no cowering at crucifixes. Minimal blood and no fangs, so great for the squeamish.
Vampirism at its most romantic, with a beautiful character that gives all for love after a tragic mistake.
The acting was fine, but as usual with too many S.Korean BL dramas, the episodes are far too short. I'd rather have that they were fewer and longer, so I can really get into the story. That would also give the actors a chance to show their skills and get into their characters better.
Perhaps the film will be more satisfying in that respect.
A few times the sound quality was poor and the filming felt a bit low budget, but that is not a reflection on the story or acting.
Overall, however, I thought it was a neat drama with a poignant finish. The soundtrack wasn't bad either.
Worth a look.

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Ridiculous ending spoiled it

I absolutely loved this drama, up to the point where Joon left Ra Ra. Things then proceeded to get ridiculously out of hand. What on earth were the writers thinking?!
The bulk of this strangely inviting drama's episodes, were quirky, amusing, wonderfully cheesy and entertaining. The kind of silly-in-a-good-way drama that many of us crave at times.
I'm not a huge fan of Go Ara's work; not because she isn't a good actress, but because many of her roles put her in either frumpy, gaumless, or just plain irritating characters.
For me, this was one of her best roles, besides Ms Hammurabi, which I LOVED! (although she seemed to live in her coat in it).
Totally cosseted by her father and piano teacher, it's like she grew up in a bubble. When that bubble is burst, we are left with a character that has a child-like innocence and outlook ~ though by no means stupid, she is naive, coupled with amazing determination and an incredibly optimistic outlook. Although she is more ga-ga than Ra-Ra, I found her very likeable through her outlook and how she said what she thought, without filtering it.
Supporting characters were mixed ~ wealthy, controlling parents; an idyllic community with gossipy, good hearted middle-aged women; childhood love/hate friends; a villain; inept though menacing private investigators; suave doctor; slow police; and a sweetie of a grandpa figure.
There was lots of comedy, some very touching scenes, romance, lots of cheesy bike rides, piggy backs etc. and a mysterious element of threat for good measure.
It was also a welcome change to have a younger male, older female couple that weren't unnatural. Lee Jae Wook and Go Ara worked well together.
However, the last few episodes descended into the worst kind of melodramatic chaos, which left me feeling so disappointed in the script writing and, to a certain extent, the direction.
First there's the very nasty breakup... why? Then that's simply brushed to one side as Jun apologises via his excuse for it, of leaving the country to 'study'!
We soon find out why, whilst Ra-Ra is kept in the dark. Yet she seems to forgive him, as he leaves, even though she's told his going abroad to 'study' may lead to him settling there. What?!
Eventually, he's due back, only for Ra-Ra to be told he's passed away. Very moving and sad.
The writers should have had him cured instead, or left it at that, but no....
A whopping 5 YEARS later, he turns up fully cured, out of the blue.
What woman, after having her heart broken twice already (3 times if his departure is included), could forgive that?! Yet she welcomes him and comically punches him multiple times on the arms for deceiving her.
I'd have punched his lights out. Yes, I'd be so happy he was alive, but that would quickly be replaced by sheer anger at being allowed to suffer in grief. What if she'd married someone else?
There was also the bizarre giving of couples rings ~ Jun gifted matching rings, which for all intense and purposes were made to look like couples or wedding rings. Then Ra-Ra buys wedding rings with the intention of proposing to him, but that never happens. Bizarre.
Jun's overbearing father simply disappears from the entire story and his mother has a change of heart.
I am SO disappointed in this terribly lazy, badly written conclusion. What could have been a witty, charming rom-com, got mashed up with a dreadful melodramatic climax that ruined it.
I still think that apart from the latter episodes, it's an otherwise enjoyable watch, hence my rating not being 2/10.
However the end of it was its ruin. The writers should be fined and made to apologise for treating the viewing public like idiots!!!

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Emotional ride of 1,000 years

I love supernatural, fantasy and folk lore, so together with a dream cast, I was waiting very impatiently for this drama.
Overall, I really enjoyed it a lot. I thought the acting was very good, with neither Lee Jin Wook nor Lee Joon overplaying their roles. Lee Joon gave wonderful facial expressions and could make me feel such sympathy and sorrow for him, just with his eyes. He had great presence in this role and really made OK Eul Tae come to life.
LJW lent very subtle humour to his role, when called for, again with facial expressions alone.
A lonely, bitter, vengeance-led character whose childhood scenes really pulled at my heart strings.
Gong Seung Yeon was also excellent and a character who possessed great strength, I thought, even though she couldn't exercise it in the earlier time lines.
I didn't have a problem with Kwon Na Ra's acting at all, but found her character a little too 'goody-goody' in the present day. She could be quite naive and at times just didn't seem to grasp aspects of the Bulgasal's history or dynamic (and that had nothing to do with memory loss). She did display guts on many occasions though. In fact that's one thing this drama didn't do... present weak, inferior female characters.
The only character that infuriated me (in all his lives), was Jung Jin Young's. He was a total idiot, especially in the present day. His reasons for hating the Bulgasal were just ridiculous and his inept actions constantly put everyone at risk ~ really irritating!
A lot about this story is very sad and tragic, spanning timelines ~ the most important events happening 1,000 and 600 years ago, and the the main story taking place in the present day.
This obviously means there are flashbacks and that is one of my few criticisms.... the same ones were used far too much. In the final few episodes these were thankfully enlarged on, as the true events emerged of the Bulgasal's origin and curse.
The reincarnation of characters I found quite fascinating.
It was not always obvious who was telling the truth and who was lying, either; especially when one character made me feel sorrow for how he ended up the way he was.
The ending didn't really surprise me, but I found it slightly confusing in some respects... hard to explain without any spoilers!
There were some scenes where I felt like the drama was written as the story went along. If less time had been devoted to playing the same flashbacks multiple times and more to developing the ending, I think it would have been an even better watch.
The cast and their acting definitely propped up the less than perfect script, but I would watch it again one day, just for that.
OST was pretty good too and suited the drama well.
I'd recommend giving it a watch and deciding for yourself whether it's a love, hate or indifference vote.

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Visually Stunning

I'd waited with my breath held for this film to arrive on Netflix and wasn't disappointed.
The story, cast, acting, costumes, sets, cinematography and pace were so good. An absolute pleasure to watch.
There's great sarcasm and not a few sparks between Qing Ming and Bo Ya. The chemistry between Mark Chao and Allen Deng's character portrayals made for fab viewing.
Loss, revenge, love, hate, frindship and trust, it's all here.
I'd like to have been led into the beginning of the story a little more clearly, as it felt a bit like beng dumped into a moment, but as the film progresses, all becomes clear. There were some other scenes that could also have been built on a little more, which would have enriched the story.
Ovetall though this is a stunning film to watch and I shall be sitting through it again shortly!

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Seasons 1~4 combined review

I'm a more mature viewer, but was so captivated by this story that I binge watched all 4 series, back-to-back.
The cast were so good and the overlapping stories of the individual characters' growth, development and experiences through every episode was very natural. Friendship, crushes, love, heartbreak, struggles, commitment and laughs, are all here.
Some great advice and lessons are delivered through each episode, from the importance of communicating and honesty, to overcoming feelings of inferiority, all by watching others go through it. I could empathise with so much.
I love that the characters are far more open in terms of their mixed gender friendships and the story is far more mature than many dramas aimed at slightly older audiences, which I've watched.
Sex isn't shameful, but at the same time not to be taken lightly, when young and contemplating a first time. This series handles it all so naturally and without being judgemental.
I'm hooked and hoping for another instalment!

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It's not real life, but an enjoyable drama

Quite an unusual story. Experiences and negative situations in their childhoods provide us with 4 main characters as adults who carry some baggage.
Broken families, white lies, naivety, tenacity, bonds, expectations and anchors in the past, are the mainstays.
I liked every character, as the well matched cast were so good.
Do San (NJH) is a drama typical geek; desperate as a child to not let his parents down, naive, self conscious, low self esteem, feels a failure, doesn't quite fit in and very soft.... but, somehow very likeable. His 2 best friends and business partners are great characters and their friendship is heartwarming.
Dal Mi (BS) family was split, with her childhood becoming a polar opposite to that of her sister's, which leads to fractured, competitive, cold and distant adult interaction. She wants to make her father proud, beat her sister and take care of her grandmother.
Ji Pyung (KSH) had a tough childhood, found guidance and support from Won Dook (wonderfully played by a favourite, Kim Hae Sook) and provided emotional support, as a favour to her, through letters to someone.
As adults the planets align and all these characters, plus some, are brought together.
We journey through shifting expectations as compromises have to be made for dreams to be fulfilled.
We occasionally come across characters that value their personal reationships, love and loyalty over money and there are several of those here.
There is a fast forward of 3 years in the story line, but I felt this drama was more about relationships, trust, consequences and the main characters' lives together, than their businesses, so I wasn't too bothered about that.
However, I felt the final episode was very rushed and the ending of it very crammed, however I still enjoyed the drama overall.
I laughed out loud and shed a few tears.
NJH's acting is very understated. He can play a cold, arrogant character (like in Bride of Habaek), attractive boyfriend (Weight Lifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo), 'out there' (School Nurse Files) and awkward/soft (this one), with ease.
Don't believe all the negative reviews, try it with an open mind and make up your own about it 😊

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Sexually Explicit, Raucous and Hilarious Ride

This is for adults. Anyone who does not like seeing sex, sex toys, nudity and love making on screen, DO NOT watch it and then complain!
This story is warm, open and often touching, as well as being achingly funny.
Relationships and people's lives are not always what they seem, as is shown here.
I absolutely loved how whilst funny and really quite explicit, it was never seedy or vulgar (at least not to me). The topic of women's sexuality is not often portrayed in K-drama and film at all. Women are too often doe eyed, coy and desperate for the love of a good man, which for me gets a bit old. Here they are assertive, clever and living life on their terms. The mother of the main female character is fabulous, as is her second husband.
Whilst not exactly deep, it is emotional enough for the good story to come through. Great characters and great fun.
Recommended if you want to occasionally gasp in surprise and then howl with laughter.
On a personal note, give me sex and love making in a normal, healthy, realistic setting like this, over blood, violence, foul language and sexual violence and abuse, any day. The ratings system is quite often completely twisted, as are the reactions to consensual, loving sex over murder, violence and gore.

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Gripping stuff!

Gripping from the first episode. Excellent characters with perfectly fitting cast of actors. I really liked that they chose an actor who had similar features to Dong Jin, to play his father.
I loved the camaraderie between them as soldiers and the relationship between Dong-jin and both his canine partners was very believable and realistic.
There was no overacting, but lots of tension and mystery. Tiny bit of romance, which didn't get in the way of the main plot, but actually added to it.
I also really liked actress Moon Jung-hee and her more mature but tough yet understated character. We need more like that!
I feel it's a shame there were only 10 episodes though, as I am not clear on exactly what happened to the item being searched for. I thought it was found and handed over, yet it eventually appeared not.
An investigation should have been filmed to at least round up things a bit more clearly, which would have benefited the drama as a whole. The ending was quite abrupt for some of the story line, which is a shame.
Having said that, I found the 3 different elements of the story really intriguing and binge watched the whole series! There was far more I loved than didn't and it's one I'd happily sit through again.

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Gripping stuff

Excellently written, directed and acted.
Fab cast who all portrayed their characters so well.
I loved the dynamic between the leads and also the sibling relationship between Hyun-soo and Hae-soo.
The story twists and turns, is gripping, sad, but also humorous at times.
Moon Chae-won's portrayal of Cha Ji-won, I thought was excellent. Her trust in her husband was harshly tested and even though she had moments of self-doubt, she was determined to uncover the truth. She was sometimes vulnerable, but also strong willed and very emotional. I felt she was an anchor for her husband and a massive part if his emotional development. Her investment in him and their family was, I felt, one reason she was easily brought to tears when all might be lost.
The only reason I didn't give a 10 for re-watch value is because being a thriller, I now know what's coming and who's who. However, I would happily revisit it one day.
A definite one to watch.

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Too long a promise

March 2024
A cursed yet fated love, scheming and treachery within Royal families, clans, strategic alliances and marriages, a higher realm, cultivation, tragedy, Merfolk, and Gods, kind of wraps this up in a nutshell.

The title is very apt. This drama went on for way too long, being really drawn out at times.

However, the sets were gorgeous, as were the costumes and the main cast. I loved the idea of the story, but goodness me it was chaotic at times.

Xiao Zhan's (aka Sean Xiao) character as male lead, Shi Ying, reminded me a little of his co-star's role in The Untamed, at times. In honesty, he was what got me through this drama. A tragic and wronged childhood, leading to a monastic life cultivating his spiritual power.

The female lead (Ren Min as Zhu Yan) character, whilst exuberant, stubborn and spoilt, but kind hearted, I unfortunately found REALLY irritating. She was also too immature, clueless, had the usual childish voice and always thought she knew better. Many of her antics were devoid of any thought process at all and, frankly, eye rolling. I wasn't keen on the actress either, finding her kind of amateur at times (her dancing was beautiful though). Zero chemistry with Xiao Zhan.

The supporting cast and characters were rich and varied. Besides XZ , I had some favourites... Fang Yilun (Alen Fang) as Zhi Yuan. He was captivating and portrayed his part really well, I thought. Marcus Li as Chong Ming was amusing and lent the drama a fair bit of light heartedness. Wang Zi Qi as Qing Gang, had the patience of a saint and was a really steadfast and humble character that I liked.

The more mature females were strong characters, but as fitted with the times, the younger ones were powerless pawns really; only 1 stood out to me and it wasn't the headstrong lead.

There were lengthy and contrived build-ups to quite a few of the storylines within the plot, almost all of which culminated in rushed conclusions, that I found disappointing and unsatisfying.

There were also a number of occasions when continuity was lacking and the plot was poorly adapted to move the story forward. The FL's character was all over the place.

It's a real shame, because this could have been excellent; it had all the right ingredients to be.

The ending was unexpected. I wasn't entirely happy with it either, but that's a personal taste thing.

I found the music didn't always match and the C-drama habit of dubbing the actors for accent purposes, was very 'breathy' in this.

If you can overlook these things and enjoy a quite sumptuous, melodramatic romance Xianxia, then you may well love it.

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Hugely disappointing writing & directing compared to S1

4 Sep 2023
The last 2 episodes were the best of series 2.

The cast have, again, been brilliant and if not for them, I would never have finished this, as for me, the direction and writing have all but killed what was a fabulous series 1.

S1 saw great characters, who all grew with each episode. From So Moon, his grandparents and his 2 best friends, to the other Counters. We got background stories on all of them. We got support from and friction with, their Guides. We got a variety of possessed bad people, with the story(ies) of the souls they consumed and then their release, enabled by the extracting of the evil spirit, which was unmasked and sent to its swampy prison. The humour was genuinely funny, usually coming from natural interactions between characters.

We got next to nothing of that in S2 at all. Everything has focussed on one group of evil spirits, with extremely little about their history. The Counters aren't stronger, or better, but often disorganised and ill prepared.

Gelli's OTT cackling and unhinged personality, both became really irritating. Paired with Joo-sook's demon that was like a bad Gollam (Lord of the Rings) rip-off.... a long sigh.

The most awful character annihilation has to be that of Ga Mo-tak, who has gone from tough outside/soft inside, cheeky but serious about his 'work', strong and agile; to becoming a ridiculous, thick, clown-like figure, on too many occasions.

There were several shocking scenes, which were too often criminally smothered by inconsistent writing and woeful plot development.

The intrigues and arcs of S1 were all but forgotten... how So Moon was able to accept Wi Gen was never addressed. The aging effect Mae Ok's healing power has on her every time she has to exert herself to do it, suddenly just made her a little tired; and, no one avoided getting seriously hurt, to try and prevent her having to use it. We almost never see So Moon's friends (they were randomly reintroduced in what felt like an after thought) and have hardly any meaningful interactions with their Guides.

The humour, instead of being a natural response to deadly situations to lighten the story (which people actually do), or the previously mentioned banter between characters, is instead contrived, childish and often totally inappropriate...

For example, someone bizarrely sitting on a toilet having a pooh, whilst having a go at his lacky, who's stood outside the wide open door, holding his nose. YUCK! So out of place... like why include that?!

Don't even get me started on the new recruit, Jeok Bong... very little help at all, weak, stupid, childish; basically made to act like a stereotypical country bumpkin, who smells-out evil spirits in such an obvious and clumsy way. Absolutely dreadful. His Guide is as bad, another character that stereotypes, this time gay/effeminate people, as shouty, bitchy and flouncy.

I am so utterly disappointed in all this, especially after having waited so long. I've never before gotten so upset when a S2 can't quite equal a brilliant S1.

However, S1 was one of my most favourite dramas and the stark contrast between the two, is just too great. The director and writer should be apologising to the cast, crew and fans of S1 that are as disappointed as I am.

Where was Treasure in the end?  What on earth did the scene in Germany have to do with anything of relevance to any part of S2 and so what was the point?

I really missed S1 after it finished, but whilst I love the actors, I won't miss S2 at all.

If I had never seen S1, then as a stand alone drama, maybe I would not have criticised this one so harshly. However, S1 does exist and is SO much better.

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Even a great cast could not save this failure

Aug 2023.
I was really looking forward to this , but found it so disappointing, apart from Taec-yeon and some other cast members who kept me watching, it was pretty poor.

Great idea, but such lazy writing and poor direction, ruined it.
Such childish humour, that frankly I see starting to pop up in too many K-dramas where it doesn't fit, and woeful plot failures...
No heartbeat means no breathing is necessary, so stuff getting up their nose and making them sneeze just would not happen.
Sensitivity to the sun was completely forgotten from one episode to the next, depending on what the story needed from the scene :-/

Both female characters were the most irritating of all. The FL veered from doe-eyed and mushy, to petulant, spiteful, loud (lots of shouting that was way more than necessary for the scenario) and aggressive. I get she was meant to be cold and distant as a form of protection, but her reactions were overdone. There was a mace/pepper spray incident that was like, WHAT?!!! So not funny, at least not to me.

The supporting female character was dull as dish water, not to mention psychotic/delusional, which we see far too often in poorly written K-dramas.

Inappropriate reactions, drawing out parts of the story until they were so thin they were transparent and a woefully weak baddy.
The humour this show craved was witty dialogue, subtle looks that can speak a thousand words and make us laugh, not the overreactions, characters getting hit, shouted at and generally acting stupid, which is what we got.
Also, there's a guest house that never got a guest, which would not have been a profitable business, me thinks :-/
Lots of clichés too, which again were not necessary; there was far more that could have been done with those moments.

The sets were nice.
The cast were nice to look at and did their best.
I honestly could have done without watching and not once did I shed a tear, when there were times I should have, as the story was definitely aiming for that.
I never tell anyone not to watch something, as we're all different and you might love it; many others did.

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