An Engaging and Haunting Drama
I greatly enjoyed this drama and would wholeheartedly recommend it. The characters have depth, are likable, work well together, and deliver engaging performances. The scriptwriting and filming choices are thoughtful and effective, and several viewer expectations are successfully met. The narrative is nonlinear, moving back and forth in time, while the setting alternates between dark and brooding and bright and hopeful. These contrasts provide visual variety and effectively convey mood, atmosphere, and psychological states.The plot contains multiple layers, and the cinematography helps reveal them without making the storyline feel repetitive. What works particularly well is how easily the show could have relied on familiar, clichéd subplots, yet instead it takes a different approach, presenting a typical narrative in an atypical way. This keeps the storyline fresh and engaging, with conflicts and resolutions remaining unpredictable. As a result, it is easy to become invested in the characters and to sympathize with their struggles.
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Dark, Moving, and Intense: Hard to Stop Watching
I absolutely loved this drama and hope it continues with a second season. I was so engaged in the subplots that I couldn't stop watching. The stories are poignant, and I was easily invested because they were thought-provoking and captivating. The subplots are centered around family loss, marriage dynamics and regret, power struggles, domestic violence, and refugee trafficking. If you enjoy mystery and social commentary on difficult and insightful topics, you might want to give this drama a chance.Was this review helpful to you?
I Am Nobody: The Showdown Between Yin & Yang
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A Rich Sci-Fi Sequel and 2025 Favorite
This was also one of my 2025 favorites. I know many people were disappointed by how short it was, but I welcomed the brevity, as it allowed me to fit it into a hectic schedule and still finish it within a reasonable timeframe. I didn’t feel like the show suffered from the reduced length, as it was still rich with intrigue, poignant themes, and compelling backstories, all while exploring original and nuanced sci-fi plots.Although it didn’t provide answers to the questions left unresolved in season 1 and took a different turn by introducing new narratives and characters (with a few original cast members carrying over), it offered stepping stones that will likely lead to the core of the next season. While I don’t think it’s necessary to watch the original to follow this sequel, I recommend watching both.
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Quirky, Clever, and Far Deeper Than It First Appears
I can’t praise this drama enough, and I was fortunate not to have to wait long for Season 2 after finishing it. It stands out from others I’ve come across in our community, but its uniqueness isn’t what makes it a great watch. Personally, I had a great time watching this drama for its witty dialogue and quirky humor. I also found the narrative dynamic. For beneath the humor, the story explores darker themes centered around a multi-generational mystery involving hidden identities and foreboding prophecies. I’ve already watched the sequel and I hope there is a Season 3.Was this review helpful to you?
A Love Story That Defies Convention
I absolutely loved this. It is a unique love story that doesn't follow tropes or cliches. The narrative is endearing and captivating, with many scenes choreographed to further your engagement. It offers a great commentary on acceptance, and what defines life and love. It's a short feature I could watch again.Was this review helpful to you?
A Love Story Without Illusions: A Drama That Stays With You
This is one of the best dramas I’ve watched with a romance angle. It’s far from an idol or commercial production—there are no typical tropes or fairytale endings here. Instead, it’s a truly heartwarming, grounded story that draws you into the characters’ lives and captivates you through their experiences.The drama takes you on a journey through several relationships that you know from the start are doomed, yet you become invested in how they began, how deeply the characters loved each other, and how hard they fought to preserve that love—sometimes at the cost of their own happiness and life pursuits. You witness their growth from hopeful college graduates, to young adults in their twenties struggling to find their place in a competitive industry, and finally to individuals in their forties who have made peace with the choices that shaped their lives.
The story explores inner conflict and turmoil—balancing love and survival, self-love and devotion to a partner, security and dreams. I thought this was a beautiful drama that lingers long after the final episode.
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Long Watch That Lost My Interest. Couldn’t Connect with the Story or Characters.
In the same vein of reminding myself not to feel pressured to finish everything I start, it’s time for me to move on from this. I initially started it as part of a personal project to watch everything Yan Zixian has starred in. However, I haven’t been enjoying it and I can't bring myself to watch the final four. So it feels like the right time to put this one to bed.Based on 60 episodes, it’s simply not my cup of tea. While the overall concept—a bar run by a dragon in modern times, a demon slayer appearing as a customer, and cases that involve traveling back in time—is interesting in theory, the individual stories just didn’t hold my attention, and I never became attached to the characters.
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Dropped Midway: Struggled with the Trajectory
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season.I’m halfway through and have decided to stop here. I wanted to drop this sooner TBH, and I even skipped through episodes 19-20 to gage if the story picked up at all. Unfortunately, this just isn’t my cup of tea. For most of my watch, it has felt like there’s been a significant amount of filler. While the core story is interesting, some of the subplot choices make it seem as though the narrative is being paused and I would like to see more development.
I suspect this is intended to support character growth, and cement burgeoning relationships, but it doesn't land for me. And I've been struggling with the overall trajectory, even bringing it up on MyDramaList to see whether the drama might deviate from the novel. No one has responded to me so I am in limbo.
Basic premise in one sentence: The main character is pursuing freedom and strength in a specific way that is disclosed from the very beginning—so that isn't a spoiler. But from my perspective, I translate this to devolving—and that’s not something I enjoy watching. I know some viewers appreciate this kind of arc, but a bunch of us would prefer a different direction, and I fall into that camp. Ultimately, this drop comes down to personal preference—what I enjoy watching and how I prefer dramas to be portrayed and executed.
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A Miss for Me (Drop Review)
This is a drop review—commentary on a partial watch.I tried watching this several times. The pacing felt off and the main lead’s storyline never really pulled me in. I found myself far more interested in the supporting arc, which is why at one point, I started skipping to scenes I enjoyed to keep up with the supporting story.
In the end, it really just came down to personal preference. This wasn't my cup of tea and I let it go.
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From Caricature to Self-Discovery
This is a fun, campy drama, yet it also tackles heavier themes that really resonated with me. I found myself enjoying the kitschy moments and not minding the heavy tropes, since it’s meant to be theatrical and outlandish—kind of like watching Bruce Campbell in Army of Darkness. At the same time, I connected with the more cerebral arcs. It somehow transforms two-dimensional caricatures into a meaningful exploration of self-identity and breaking free from life’s constraints to become your happiest, truest self.Was this review helpful to you?
A Visually Strong Martial Arts Drama, but a Gradual Loss of Engagement
This is a partial review covering episodes 1–26 only.There’s a lot to love about this drama, even though I ended up dropping it around episode 26. I thought it had a strong main and supporting cast, with great characterization and powerful women in both major and minor roles. The narrative itself was incredibly engaging—there was plenty of well-timed comedy mixed with more serious, impactful moments, making it an excellent watch for the episodes I stuck with. I also loved the action and martial arts sequences. They really highlighted Liu Shishi’s dance roots.
However, as the storyline progressed, I began to feel less comfortable with certain narrative directions. One recurring subplot became increasingly prominent and, for me, felt a bit overextended, which affected my engagement with the story. I also found certain relationship dynamics between key characters to be difficult to watch at times, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested. Because of these aspects, I eventually decided to step away from the drama. That said, this is a highly rated series and remains a 2023 favorite for many viewers.
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From Promise to Disappointment: Dropped
This is a drop review—commentary on over half the season.I hosted an end-of-year poll rating the best dramas of 2023, and this one was among the winners. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a favorite of mine, and I ended up dropping it around episode 26. While I loved the opening story and narrative, the strong female characterization, the comedic banter and chemistry between the leads, and especially the villain played by Liu Xueyi—who was beautifully layered and morally gray—I felt that by the midpoint, the rich and compelling story began to devolve. The narrative shifted to focus heavily on the main and second male leads, leaving what was supposed to be the female lead’s story in the background.
Of course, these are just my personal impressions of why it didn’t work for me. As I mentioned, it did win a group poll, so I’m simply offering the other side of the coin for this watch.
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Dropped: Struggled with the Writing and Pacing
I’m sorry, folks, but this just wasn’t the drama for me. I made it a little past the halfway point but couldn’t bring myself to continue. I struggled with both the pacing and the writing.The story didn’t really draw me in, and I didn’t feel particularly engaged with the lead dynamic or the overall direction of the narrative. The humor didn’t land for me, and the conflicts didn’t feel especially compelling. I kept watching, hoping it would pick up or become more engaging, but it ultimately never clicked for me.
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A Halfway Drop After a Promising Beginning
This review is based on episodes 1–15 (roughly half the series).I thought this one started really strong. There was a solid forensic element, and the investigations covered a series of cases with a folklore-inspired, almost mystical tone. It also delves into a deeper layer of trafficking and disappearances, with powerful elites at the center. The performances are strong as well—if you’re familiar with Wan Qian or Qin Junjie, they don’t disappoint.
However, I think I’m going to let this one go. Once the main twist becomes apparent and the forensic aspect is minimized, it settles into a more standard investigative drama. Even though I usually enjoy detective stories, this one has lost some of its impact for me now that I’m halfway through, and there are other shows I’d rather spend my time on.
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Standard Cases, Slow Pacing: Dropped Halfway
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season.I love investigative dramas and watch quite a few of them, and I’m also a big fan of Li Fei—I’ve seen almost all of his costume dramas, including some of his earliest work. Unfortunately, this one just isn’t a win for me. I find the stories fairly plain and, at times, slow-moving. I was only pulled in when Jueming’s origins were hinted, and across the first 15 episodes, I was only moved for about five minutes near the end of one case. If you watch a lot of investigative dramas, the cases here feel pretty standard, and I haven’t found anything that really sets them apart. I also think this drama struggles with pacing, which might have worked better for me if the episodes were shorter.
The character portrayals didn’t quite work for me either. While Li Fei delivers a strong and natural role, I think the script often limits him, and I find that some of the dialogue comes across as unintentionally awkward rather than funny. Likewise, despite standout performances in other dramas—He Hongshan in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and The Glory, and Lu Xingyu in Xuan-Yuan Sword: Han Cloud and Legend of Yunxi—I thought their roles here feel somewhat artificial and unconvincing to me.
Now that I’m a few episodes past the halfway point—a stage where I usually stop and reevaluate whether I want to continue a watch—I’ve decided to drop it here.
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