Engaging Story, but Ending Described as Confusing
I enjoyed this drama, but I stopped watching it a few episodes before the end. Several people described the ending as confusing and I didn't want to go through that. I had watched too many finales that made the stories feel unfinished. So instead, I read the ending of the book.Overall, the storyline and visuals are great. I loved the different arcs and plot twists, especially the villain played by Wang Haoxuan, and I found some of the lighter character moments genuinely funny. The only caveat is that the ending has been described as confusing.
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Why I Decided to Stop at the Halfway Point
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season. No numerical ratings, opinions only.This wasn’t my cup of tea. I don’t want to get too deep into specifics since I’ve already shared my thoughts on the drama a few times in the group, and after a while, repeating the same points feels less like reviewing and more like criticizing.
I will say that I was immersed at the start, and I enjoyed the characters, their roles, and the dynamics between them. But as the story progressed, the characterization started shifting in ways that didn't land for me, and the plot gradually lost my interest. I stayed with it through to the midpoint because I wanted to remain open to where the story was heading. But after that, I was mostly just keeping up with the parts I was drawn to, mainly the political aspects.
That said, I do think the performances themselves were wonderful from what I watched, and the cast really stood out in their roles. We don't see enough of Ci Sha IMO and Winwin delivered a masterful performance with his character.
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A Smart and Stylish Drama That Delivers in Two Pieces
This drama is split between two distinct tones, and I loved each one. The first half is edgy and gripping, with avant-garde cinematography that draws you in through scenes filled with anxiety and intrigue. The second half shifts toward self-growth and character development, focusing on personal improvement and learning—all delivered with a sharp sense of humor. The performances and narrative were outstanding. My only wish is that the drama had circled back to some of the edginess I appreciated so much at the start. That said, it was still an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Revenge and Hidden Identities. Exceptional Performances in a Difficult Watch.
This was a difficult watch for me. I thought it was a powerful production that really showcased Li Muchen’s talent. Not many actors can portray trauma with the level of authenticity and emotional depth that she brought to the role. Unfortunately, I ended up dropping the drama somewhere between the halfway point and the final stretch because the abuse and emotional intensity became too overwhelming for me. While I appreciated the performances and understood what the story was trying to accomplish, it ultimately crossed a line that made it difficult for me to continue.Themes like these are fairly common in short-form dramas, and both Li Muchen and Deng Kai frequently take on roles with darker or more emotionally challenging dynamics. I’ve found that my enjoyment often depends on how those themes are handled and presented. In this case, the content ultimately exceeded my personal comfort level, even though I could recognize the quality of the performances and storytelling.
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Should Come with a Trigger Warning
Oh gosh—how do I say this? No. I’ve always tried to remain respectful in my reviews, even for dramas I didn’t enjoy. But this one crosses the line when it comes to healthy and safe boundaries. In my opinion, it should come with a trigger warning for dark, toxic, and unhealthy romance centered around violence—and the novel is even worse. While certain intense scenes can serve a narrative purpose, many in this drama felt more like shock value or, worse, a glorification of violence against women. I dropped it by episode 15, and even getting that far took effort. Personally, this just isn’t my cup of tea. I don’t mean to yuck anyone’s yum, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it.Was this review helpful to you?
Strong Characters, but Not a Complete Match for Me
This is a partial review covering episodes 1–20 only.I would probably enjoy this drama more if I watched it in pockets rather than straight through, because it has been a mixed bag for me. The palace intrigue and revenge themes are exciting, and I love Bai Lu’s role. Her character is incredibly intelligent and compelling, and I enjoy watching her navigate political challenges. The mystery surrounding her past has also been one of the aspects that keeps me most engaged. However, for every arc that lands for me, there is another that misses the mark.
What initially drew me in was the sense of intrigue. I enjoyed piecing together clues, uncovering hidden connections, and gradually learning more about the characters and their motivations. The drama creates an atmosphere filled with questions and uncertainty, which I find gripping. Bai Lu’s character is especially fascinating because there always seems to be more beneath the surface. Hints about her experiences and emotional struggles add depth to her portrayal and make her one of the most memorable parts of the series for me.
However, as the story progresses, the focus shifts more toward the central romance. While I understand that character growth and relationship development are expected, this has been the least engaging part of the drama for me. I find myself much more invested in the mystery, strategic maneuvering, and larger conflicts than in the main love story. In fact, some of the secondary relationships and character dynamics have captured my interest more.
For these reasons, this hasn’t felt like a well-rounded viewing experience. I think it’s time for me to put this one to bed. But I will check back to see how everything comes together because there is one storyline I am super curious about!
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Started Strong, Fell into Formulaic (Dropped)
This is a drop review—commentary on more than half the season.I thought this started strong but then gradually settled into okay. I’m not sure if it became sleepy or too predictable for me.
What initially drew me in was the theme—a powerful demon controls dreams. But I’ve probably watched too many dramas that follow the same formula: betrayal, revenge, and a misunderstanding. Then a brief reconciliation, a second separation, and the rest of the story focuses on reuniting. So, I decided to stop watching once it felt like the story was looping back into the same pipeline.
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Palace and Revenge Themes That Didn't Hold My Interest
This is a partial review covering episodes 1–20 only.I can’t continue with this one. After watching half of the drama, I can confidently say this isn’t my cup of tea. The main storyline and sub-arcs don’t interest me, and I struggled to stay engaged in the entire first half. Wen Zhengrong and Jeremy Tsui's roles are the most interesting to me, but Wen Zhengrong isn’t in a substantial number of scenes, and Jeremy Tsui as Pei Yan alone isn’t enough to carry the drama forward for me.
I also found the situations that set the story in motion a stretch, and the romantic conflicts aren’t engaging or compelling to me. There is a hidden backstory, delivered as Easter eggs in the first half, and that aspect does interest me. However, because so much of the screen time is dominated by elements I find sleepy, I’ve forgotten much of that thread. At this point, it’s time for me to put this one to bed. I gave it a fair chance, having watched half of the series. But it is good to mention that many people did highly enjoy this one.
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Dropped: Heavy on Interpersonal Drama, Light on Mystery (For Me)
This review is based on half the show (episodes 1–18).I’m sorry, folks, but this isn’t my cup of tea. What hasn’t worked for me so far:
. Certain relationship-focused plot lines have taken up more space than I personally enjoy, which affected my engagement.
. The story leans heavily into internal conflict and interpersonal scheming, which just isn’t my preference.
. Some of the character dynamics didn’t fully land for me.
. Overall, it feels more centered on family and relationship drama than the type of mystery-driven storytelling I was hoping for.
I usually enjoy smart, layered mysteries and intricate plotting, but this just didn’t connect with me in that way. After getting through half the series, I’ve decided to move on.
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Dropped: Fresh at the Time, Less Memorable in Hindsight
This is a drop review—commentary on the first two-thirds of the season. No numerical ratings, opinions only.This is a fantasy romance set in a world where the supernatural and mortal realms intersect. What initially drew me in were the mysterious atmosphere, the fantasy elements, and the intriguing cast of characters. At the time, the drama felt fresh, and I enjoyed following the unfolding story as new pieces of the narrative gradually came into focus.
However, at its core, this is very much a romance-driven fantasy, and many of its storytelling choices rely on genre tropes that felt novel to me when I first watched it but have since become much more common. As a result, it didn't leave a lasting impression once I moved on to other dramas.
While I enjoyed it during its original release, I never felt compelled to revisit it. It's been six years, and although I considered returning to finish it, I realized I've simply outgrown my investment in the story. Ultimately, this isn't a drop due to quality—it's just a case of moving on from a drama that no longer holds my attention the way it once did.
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A Midway Drop Due to Lack of Interest
This review is based on episodes 1-44 (roughly half the series).I have such a soft spot for Wu Tianhao. I tend to give his dramas a chance, especially when he’s in a lead role, since much of his work has been in supporting or guest appearances. I’ve watched him in My Lady General, Only Love You, Supervisor Husband, Secrets of the Shadow Sect, The Legend of Shen Li, Hard to Find, Lovesickness, and The Princess Royal—though, to be honest, I don’t remember his role in the last one. Unfortunately, I decided to let this one go for no other reason than the fact that the storyline just didn’t excite me. With so many dramas already on my watchlist, I have to be mindful of how I spend my time—I can’t watch dramas all day, every day.
This is a vertical drama that follows the short-content formula, so it feels a bit choppy, and the narrative isn’t especially complex or highly produced. The storyline is a familiar palace revenge and power struggle, presented in the usual microdrama fashion—very soap opera–like. The script isn’t new, and if you’ve watched enough vertical or microdramas, the characters and tropes will feel instantly recognizable.
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A Romance-Driven Court Drama with Weaker Political Emphasis
I really enjoyed this drama at first, but the closer I got to the middle, the less it worked for me. As I was also reading the source novel alongside my watch, I noticed that the original story places more emphasis on palace and political intrigue, as well as deeper internal reflection on past regrets. In comparison, the drama adaptation shifts more strongly toward the central romance, with the political elements taking more of a background role. Because of that, I personally felt less connected to the direction the story took over time, and I eventually decided to drop it around episode 20.Overall, it just wasn’t my cup of tea, even though I appreciated the premise and the early setup.
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A Strong Forensic Start That Shifts Away from Its Best Strengths
This review is based on episodes 1–18 (roughly half the series).I originally started this drama about a year ago, but long gaps between viewing sessions made it difficult to stay fully engaged. I was initially drawn in because I enjoy forensic and investigative storytelling, and the early episodes delivered exactly that. The focus on careful observation, reconstruction of events, and evidence-based reasoning was especially compelling, and I enjoyed following the investigative process step by step.
Alongside the individual cases, there is also an ongoing political storyline involving court factions and broader power struggles. As the series progresses toward the midpoint, this larger narrative becomes more prominent, shifting the overall balance away from the forensic elements that originally interested me. Because of the long break in viewing, it also became harder for me to keep track of the political developments, which affected my overall engagement.
Overall, I did find the early part of the drama enjoyable. The characters are likable, and the investigative work is particularly strong when it takes center stage. However, as the focus shifted more heavily toward the political storyline, I found myself less connected to the direction of the series, and ultimately decided not to continue.
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Dropped: A Nostalgic High School Watch
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season.I’m halfway through and have decided to stop here. I was really curious going in, especially after seeing how often this drama gets shared. Alongside Hidden Love, it seems to be one of the modern dramas people connect with most. After being impressed with Zhou Yiran in Generation to Generation and enjoying him in Twelve Letters, I’ve been going back to some of his earlier work—I also recently finished him in Reborn.
Main thoughts: I appreciated the nostalgic tone and was immediately pulled into its high school setting—the light, social atmosphere and familiar rhythms of student life. However, the central storyline focuses too heavily on the main relationship, which ultimately doesn’t land for me. That said, the supporting cast is a highlight. I love the community of friends, and the second leads. The school-life elements are genuinely enjoyable: watching them grow through ordinary, everyday moments in a suburban town evokes a sense of familiarity and longing for the past.
However, the core romantic dynamic just isn’t for me and it takes up too much screen time. It may resonate more with viewers who enjoy soft and innocent relationships. Still, I’m glad I gave it a chance.
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First Half Impressions: Offbeat Storytelling, Worth Trying, Not Finishing (For Me)
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season.This is a fun watch if you have time to fit it in. It’s very quirky and offbeat—not meant to be polished or riveting. I’ve watched about half of it, but I’m letting it go for now, even though I genuinely praise it. I need to let go of a few shows and become more discerning about what I actually want—and reasonably can—spend my time on.
That said, based on what I’ve seen so far, I do recommend it. The characters are kitschy, but they have real depth despite how unserious the tone can be. There are narrative layers that haven’t been fully revealed yet, and different episodes introduce new stories that orbit the main one while maintaining consistent themes. Because of that, the show manages to deliver satisfying plot development within a relatively short run
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