I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this despite its (many) flaws! Despite all the nonsensical and frustrating aspects, I was still eagerly awaiting each new episode.

I wouldn't consider myself a Bai Lu fan, but she was just so playful and charming when her character Shu Yi was flirting shamelessly with Dylan Wang's Shi Yan. Dylan Wang felt miscast because he didn't pull off the CEO aura and his expressions were sometimes lacking, but he does have a pretty face and he looked good with Bai Lu.

But I had too many issues with the plot and characters. Shu Yi was (supposedly) an intelligent, insightful, and hardworking journalist, but it seemed like 100% of her work was focused on Shi Yan and his company, and when it was time to get serious about her relationship with Shi Yan, she totally failed at communicating. Even after her friend Yu You explained how her actions were coming across, she still didn't change her behavior! It was like she was too used to being the center of attention and spoiled by others to understand how to communicate and apologize.

It was delightful when Shi Yue came into the picture and I cackled every time she was trying to help Shi Yan or be his spy. It was nice to see a lovable rich girl for once, but my one complaint is that I didn't like how her romantic storyline was developed. She became a relentless, obsessed stalker after one extremely brief encounter?! I wish she'd been given room to grow and mature before a romance developed and I didn't like her love interest's sudden 360-degree turn either. I'm not saying they weren't cute together, I'm just saying I didn't like how the progression was written.

And then there's Guan Ji and Bi Ruo Shan, who had a setup I loved and so much chemistry! Friends with benefits who fall in love! I even understand why initially they would be hesitant to take a chance and open up their hearts, but they just looked depressed separately for far too long. Especially while Bi Ruo Shan was giving Shu Yi the worst advice on the planet. There were too other minor couples that were very pleasant though, which showed the writers WERE capable of writing mature relationships with good communication!

My last complaint is Yi Yang, whose entire character was unnecessary, or at least the romantic aspect was completely unnecessary. He literally came out of nowhere just to create opportunities for Shi Yan to get jealous??? The actor who plays him was great though and I'll be keeping an eye out for him.

It's been too long since I watched this so I probably had other complaints but this is what I remembered most clearly. But like I said, I still found this immensely entertaining and have no regrets about watching it.

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I loved the 2021 drama of the same name that this is the sequel to, and am so glad to see more of Liu Jing, Fang Xin and Xia Meng. Thankfully, this movie does not waste time with flashbacks and just moves full steam ahead, and you could probably enjoy it even if you haven't watched the drama. The trio continues to navigate their careers and love lives, but above all else this movie is an ode to their friendship. I did feel like Xia Meng has a more substantial storyline than Liu Jing and Fang Xin, and there were some things left resolved at the end, but overall it was a delight to see the cast together again. There were a couple of new characters I really liked as well. If they made another movie, I'd absolutely watch it.

By the way, don't miss the three scenes within the credits.

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I really enjoyed this drama about a highly skilled female assassin who has mostly been alone, and a very intelligent leader who values his relationships with his subordinates above all else. The plot is well-developed and multilayered, and although I've watched very dramas in this genre of power struggles, political intrigue, and battling kingdoms, it didn't feel predictable or boring. Liu Shi Shi is fierce, elegant, and absolutely magnetic. Liu Yu Ning is solid; I've yet to see enough of his work but he holds his own here with Liu Shi Shi, which is not easy.

The biggest surprise for me was the humor and how much I loved the supporting characters. Ning Yuan Zhou's team of Yuan Lu, Sun Lang, Qian Zhao, and Yu Shisan are absolute treasures. (In the scene where they first assemble and walk out together surrounding Ning Yuan Zhou, I called them Journey's F4, haha.) Fang Yilun (Alen Fang) as Yu Shisan is this drama's biggest scene stealer--I've seen him in several other dramas and he's never been as memorable as he is here, even when he's played the lead. His comedic delivery is impeccable but he also nails the emotional scenes. Yang Ying has another memorable character arc, although I didn't completely vibe with He Lan Dou's portrayal. Chu Yue is another surprising gem of a character; another female character who bravely pursues what she wants and defies the expectation to simply become someone's wife.

My only gripe is that although every other character is well-developed, someone really dropped the ball on Li Tongguang. Li Tongguang is a central character in the drama, yet his character arc is constantly one step forward, three steps back. Just when you think he's finally overcome his obsession, he does WHAT??? It completely took me out of the story because it felt so out of place. His last story arc also made no sense?! Chang Hua Sen played the role well though and is certainly on my radar now.

As for the ending, I'm fine with it but perplexed by the character they decided to focus on in the final scene.

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Giving this such a high rating might make me seem like an untrustworthy reviewer, but I genuinely enjoyed Heart Signal 5 so much! I initially just started this as something to listen to in the background while I was doing other things, but once they moved into the house I was hooked. I had not seen any other seasons so I didn't have anything to compare it against, but I'm now watching season 2 and see that the rules were different.

Heart Signal 5 is filled with many sweet and heartwarming moments, and I loved every member of the house. They all seemed very genuine and friendly, they pursued love so bravely, and they reflected on themselves and grew from it. Without spoiling any couple(s), my favorites were probably Li Wan Qian, Zhang Gen Yuan, and Sun Xin. Surprisingly, there weren't as many dates as I thought there'd be, but that's also fine because my favorite parts were when people cooked together or went to the grocery store together. I loved the awkward moments because it felt so real! I laughed so much at the randomly-drawn car assignments for the overnight trip.

The panelists were a fun group with some great insights, and often expressed exactly what I was thinking. Sometimes the part where they guess the messages felt a little too prolonged. There is much blatant product placement (definitely made me want some Oreos) but I can overlook it since the show was otherwise so enjoyable!

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The chemistry between Vin Zhang and Janice Wu absolutely carried this drama. If I didn't love them so much both individually and together, I might not have finished this. It's sweet how they fall for each other over and over again; it really feels like they only have eyes for each other.

Janice Wu's Xiang Yuan makes a bet with her grandfather and takes a job in a struggling branch of his company, where she unexpectedly finds herself working alongside her childhood crush, Vin Zhang's Xu Yan Shi. It's nice to see that although Xiang Yuan has grown up spoiled and getting her way, she's kind and hardworking and does take her job seriously. I liked how the events of the past between Xiang Yuan and Xu Yan Shi were gradually revealed through flashbacks. I was really glad that they cast actual teens as the younger versions of their characters--the teens did a fantastic job.

Xu Yan Shi has really faced a lot of hardship in his life; your heart will hurt for him. He's unaccustomed to sharing his burdens with others, and that's the biggest obstacle between Xu Yan Shi and Xiang Yuan: communication. They really needed to be better at talking things out, although on the plus side they did usually resolve their issues quickly. The last six episodes really disappointed me though, because they stopped communicating entirely. They should've worked to find a solution together! And, Feng Jun gets thrown back in the story and his actions and motives made so sense. What was the point?!

I enjoyed the storylines about the company's struggles; it's unsurprising for there to be office politics and rival factions, and there were some surprises I didn't expect. I loved the team that Xiang Yuan and Xu Yan Shi worked with and the friendship that they formed. Gao Leng was a bit over the top but still brought a lot of humor to the story. However his relationship with Chen Shu did become annoying later on and I wish it had developed differently. It felt like everyone just pressured Chen Shu just because Gao Leng was a caring person--but just because someone is caring towards you doesn't mean you have to be in a relationship with them! It would've been fun if there had been more of Xiang Yuan's brother instead of the Chen Shu/Gao Leng storyline. Also, I can't forget Lao Qing, who was probably my favorite character besides the leads! His humor was on point every single time.

I enjoyed the OST, especially Chen Xue Ran's opening song and 心里的流星 (Meteor In My Heart) by 周蕙 (Zhou Hui).

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It's a 100/10 for the friendship between Geon Woo & Woo Jin, the excellent definition of their muscles, and the red shorts. Although overall this is a very violent kdrama, the two of them brought so much warmth and humor. I loved how Geon Woo remained true to himself. I was not expecting his character to be so precious!

I watched this in two days, driven by the fast pacing and intensity. Choi Tae Ho, Hyeon Joo, Yang Jung, Doo Young, and Da Min were all so lovable. The entire cast was amazing, and Park Sung Woong plays a very formidable villain which made it a high stakes story. Although I fast-forwarded through the violence sometimes I did feel like the fights were choreographed and executed really well. The reason why my rating is lower is for two reasons:
1) It's sometimes baffling when the good guys underestimate the threat they're up against. Some of them should've known better!
2) The plot of the last two episodes was underwhelming (but bless those red shorts & training scenes). Choi Si Won's character especially felt like a missed opportunity; he really fell flat.

But overall, so glad I watched this because I'm an even bigger fan of Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi now.

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The Starry Love was such a satisfying, entertaining drama that gave me the kind of story I've always wanted! When I first saw the trailer, I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it because it looked too comedic for my tastes, but I soon realized that the comedy also served to offer insights into our characters. The four main characters are so well-developed that I truly loved each of them.

The twin princesses who have a strong & loving bond, always putting each other first and supporting each other; Yetan is tough on the outside but has a fierce & loyal heart, Qingkui is gentle and kind and doesn't hesitate to speak up for others. I especially liked Qingkui because sometimes kind-hearted characters are made out to be naive damsels in distress. Qingkui played to her strengths, was always clear-headed, and could speak so eloquently.

Finally, a Heavenly Prince who is decisive and remains true to his heart; typically this sort of character is torn between responsibility and love, the world vs one person. Shaodian Youqing had so many memorable lines. And lastly, a Void Prince whose scheming is actually always for the sake of those he cares most deeply about. The romance between Chaofeng & Qingkui won me over first, but at the conclusion of the second story arc I was so moved by the main romance!

Not only do Li Lan Di and Chen Xing Xu do an excellent job with humorous scenes (it's not easy to avoid being cringey!), they have excellent chemistry and capture the emotions of their characters so well. (I hated Chen Xing Xu's character in Goodbye My Princess and thought I'd associate it with him forever, but his performance here has proven me wrong.) I have probably watched every Chen Mu Chi and He Xuan Lin scene at least three times. Chen Mu Chi looks so good as Chaofeng that I'll really need an adjustment period the next time I see him in a drama. In addition, the supporting characters were all great, Hai Chao was *hilarious* and totally spot-on, Fei Chi was funny as well, Yetan's friends were wonderful, the villains were immensely hateable, Wu Dai was adorable.. The only annoying character is Biqiong but don't worry, she has very little screentime.

The last ~10 episodes are so fast-paced, but I'm not complaining. It's a nice change from 50+ episode dramas where half the episodes feel like a slog. I do hope for an epilogue/bonus scene, but if we don't get one I'm still satisfied, as this drama brought me so much joy. It feels very rewatchable and it's making my all-time favorites list.

Regarding the OST, I played Mao Buyi's version of 天地无瑕 ('Flawless World') on repeat for weeks. A beautiful song, and I didn't feel like it was overused in the drama.

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The part of this review with spoilers will be at the very bottom and clearly marked.

I was initially very excited for this drama because I liked Jeremy Xu in The Autumn Ballad last year, and the description of star-crossed lovers caught my eye. Unfortunately, after watching 17 episodes, I do not see this as a romance, and found it too repetitive, frustrating, and uninteresting to proceed with.

This is a story about a teenage girl who is destined to suffer from prejudice, at the hands of those who claim to be righteous. Born with "evil breath" (this is how the Viki subtitles translate it), Chong Zi constantly faces suspicion from immortals. While Chong Zi is sometimes a bit rash, she is straightforward and speaks her mind, and stands up against injustice. Luo Yin Fan, a powerful immortal of the Nanhua sect, accepts her as his disciple to try to prevent her from becoming a demon. Some have an issue with Yang Chao Yue's acting but I thought her emotional immaturity was true to the character, who was isolated and sheltered by Luo Yin Fan.

As Luo Yin Fan's only disciple, Chong Zi inevitably grows close with him, but I never saw it as romantic nor did I want it to be. Luo Yin Fan's role is a teacher and parent/guardian figure. Even without romance, I would've been fine with continuing this drama had it not been for Luo Yin Fan making several choices that I couldn't forgive. I can't bear to see the same conflicts occurring again and causing Chong Zi to be on the defensive and suffer again. If Chong Zi becomes a demon later on, I would consider watching from that episode because that'd be a more interesting turn of events.

What I did enjoy was the heartwrenching and captivating story of Chu Bu Fu (and I'm happy to see Gao Han here after last year's LLTG). His interactions with Chong Zi were always my favorite scenes. Qin Ke is a potentially interesting character, but he didn't get enough screentime in the episodes I watched. Instead, we get Miao Yuan vehemently hating Chong Zi from the start and Zhuo Hao repeatedly bothering Chong Zi, which made me cringe. This supporting cast full of familiar faces had much potential but is really underutilized.

***SPOILERS BELOW***

As the person who was closest to Chong Zi, Luo Yin Fan should've known the kind of person Chong Zi was, trusted her and stood by her. But I understand, that's the whole point of the first arc, so I was expecting it to end like that. I felt that he truly regretted it when he secretly allowed her to be reborn--but then what does he do? He barely hesitates before accepting her as his disciple again, and despite hiding her appearance from others, decides to give her the name "Chong Zi." Instead of an ordinary, peaceful life, he is the one who throws her in the path of suspicion and suffering once again. Instead of choosing to give her a second chance, he is choosing to give HIMSELF a second chance, to prove that he can prevent her from becoming evil this time. I had no interest in seeing history repeat itself, without Chu Bu Fu this time, and with Luo Yin Fan more overbearing and controlling than ever.

By the way, Wang Yue tells Chong Zi "I'm a good person" so many times I thought my eyes would roll out of my head. He looked good in the role though.

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I'm giving this a 10 because it absolutely succeeds in what it sets out to do: a true slice-of-life story about the residents of a small village, with some absolutely stunning scenery. (I hear that it's increased tourism in Yunnan and I completely understand!) There's a tragic event in the beginning that sets up the story: a grieving Xu Hong Dou (Liu Yi Fei) decides to leave Beijing to spend a few months in the small village of Yun Miao.

Although the first few episodes in the village are a bit slow, as more about each character is revealed I gradually found myself appreciating every single person! The aunties, the grannies, the adorable children, the other short-term residents. Each character has depth, their own struggles and challenges, hopes and fears. The friendships were truly heartwarming. I loved Xiao Chun's straightforward demeanor, Da Mai gradually opening up, and Xia Xia maturing. A romance develops between the leads quite naturally, but if that's what you're primarily watching for then it'll require some patience. Liu Yi Fei and Li Xian had great chemistry and were very cute together.

I really enjoyed watching this almost every night and unwinding, just a perfect way to end the day. I'm such a fan of this director & writers team, as Find Yourself and Go Ahead are both among my favorites. (Noting that they have a different feel to Meet Yourself--Find Yourself is a bit more comedic and Go Ahead is more melodramatic but all three have a lot of heart.)

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For Tan Song Yun's character Cheng Xiao, I give 10 stars! Although in the beginning she was a bit rash, I admire her confidence, perseverance, and sense of humor. She worked hard to be the best pilot she could be and didn't disregard feedback and criticism. She stands up for herself and stands up for what's right, even if she's standing alone. And refreshingly, she's not afraid to express her feelings!!

As for the drama itself, I loved it up to episode 24, at which point a turn of events annoyed me so much that it took me a while to finish the series. Wang Kai and Tan Song Yun had really great chemistry and I loved all their scenes together. I gained so much insight into pilots, flight attendants, and how airlines operate. For the most part, I liked the supporting characters (and disliked the ones that you're supposed to dislike) and my only gripe is Xia Zhi remaining angry for too long when she was clearly in the wrong.

Overall, a good watch but could have been better.

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I started this drama out of curiosity and immediately felt overwhelmed by all the action, the fast pace, and the number of characters continuously being introduced. The mysterious Xiao Se (Li Hong Yi) and the charismatic & powerful Wu Xin (Liu Xue Yi) convinced me to continue, and I was pleasantly surprised by the heartwarming friendship that soon formed between the main characters. I'm giving a special shout out to Lei Wu Jie (Ao Rui Peng) because I initially thought was just a silly kid. He has a silly charm and a pure heart!

This drama tells the story of several 'youths' who are honing their skills in the martial arts world, as well as the stories of their elders and the alliances and rivalries between different sects. Although there are a lot of characters throughout, I found myself interested in every single one of them. There wasn't a moment where I felt like anyone was filler. (And the powerful characters aren't all male either.) I don't usually pay much attention to fights in c-dramas but the ones here were very exciting to watch. The struggle between princes in Tianqi city becomes the primary plot later on, and it was a thrilling series of schemes that didn't drag on for too long.

40 episodes didn't feel long at all, and I enjoyed this from beginning to end.

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I watched this as it aired and I enjoyed waiting for new episodes every week and analyzing every detail. However, it was a mess!!! Every episode just added to the mystery without answering anything; the more you watch, the less you know. There were plot holes all over the place, and Chan Mi's rashness will keep you shaking your head from beginning to end.

Why did I keep watching, you ask? The show did a good job of building suspense, and the cast was excellent. Lomon's acting really stood out, and Ji Soo Heon is a character you won't want to give up on.

Some of the events in the last two episodes felt like they came out of nowhere and just didn't make sense. But it was only 12 episodes so I have no regrets.

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This is a very emotional love story about youth and adulthood, hopes and dreams, heartbreak and unforgettable connections. I loved the discussions of fate and of space. It did a beautiful job of taking inspiration from the song 'First Love', and the song itself was incorporated beautifully and made me tear up. The cinematography was stunning. That roundabout, the tree, the snow.. so much beautiful imagery. There are a lot of lovely details, some that you may not understand the significance in the moment.

There's a secondary storyline with Tsuzuru and Uta, and it worked really well to add contrast & to inspire nostalgia for the leads. The supporting characters are memorable, too. Yae's colleague Taro, Harumichi's sister and best friend, Yae's mother. Even Tsunemi, who I was prepared to dislike, was ultimately quite relatable.

The ending was satisfying, although I do wish that we'd seen some of the supporting characters one last time. I'm rating this so high because it brought me joy & succeeded in the story it wanted to tell.

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If you're looking for a rom-com that is fun and cute, without annoying second leads and misunderstandings, then I absolutely recommend this. Watching this made me laugh out loud many times and never stressed me out, although I did feel a bit bored in the middle.

Shen Yue is really charming as Nan Xing; she manages to make some cringey moments funny instead of unbearable to watch. The drama's premise is that Xiao Wu Di is a character that Nan Xing created who comes to life, and I loved the way that this drama resolves this in the last 3-4 episodes. I felt so moved by the back story, and the way that Nan Xing's trauma and guilt were addressed. It really exceeded my expectations. I also appreciated that Nan Xing doesn't have a crush on her boss, a writer who she's a big fan of. As for Chen Zhe Yuan, he was fine here but I didn't find him particularly memorable. (I loved his previous drama Our Secret though.)

The reason for my lower rating is that I found myself bored in the middle of the drama and had to force myself to continue. Obviously, I'm glad I did because I loved those episodes at the end. Part of my boredom was due to the second leads' relationship feeling very lukewarm, and Lu Zi Chen taking too long to get his act together. Him asking Nan Xing for help was supposed to be funny but it just made me feel like he was way too immature. I loved Ye Qing though! So intelligent and graceful.

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I wanted to check out the first episode out of curiosity and ended up watching all eight episodes within 12 hours. It was 100% Park Jihoon's portrayal of Si-eun that hooked me. Those sad eyes and that emotionless voice expressed so much intensity. Choi Hyun Wook was also so charismatic as Soo-ho; his energy is infectious and the two of them together really warmed my heart. However, to be clear, this isn't a warm drama! This is intense and violent, the eight episode length gives it such a fast pace although still allowing character development to be evident. Every cast member played their part so well.

I truly hope this gets a second season. Noting that I have not read the webtoon.

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