When the leads match each other's freak on an intellectual level ??

Xue Fang Fei taking her revenge was so important to me and reminded me so much of Kang Ji Won from “Marry My Husband” – I rooted for these characters so, so much🧡. I think this show offers really great characterization; the mains are all very complex and compelling, and you can interpret so many interesting things.

Wan Ning and Fang Fei were literally two sides from the same coin. Both experienced traumatic events because of men/a man, however, the way they dealt with those experiences was very different. Fang Fei said it best: she never targeted innocents. But can we really blame Wan Ning? She was not a very kind character whatsoever, but was she treated kindly? Her actions cannot be excused, but her backstory made it easier to understand her and her pain. She was used and abused, humiliated and treated like trash. Her retaliating and using men/people however she wanted was her way to assert back dominance over the very same sex that had oppressed her.
Fang Fei was such a smart character yet so sensible, Wu Jin Yan’s performance reminded me a lot of Wei Ying Luo from “Story of Yanxi Palace” (which I am currently rewatching🤭🤭), she just knows how to do revenge. Her acting in this was so, so good. I cried when she cried, I was mad and happy with her – she delivered a nuanced performance, I really enjoyed it.
Shen Yu Rong… drowned in an inferiority complex and a river of self-pity. There’s more to say about him, but I don’t want to waste energy typing about this loser. I share Duke Su’s disgust about this man.🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅
The overall acting in this was really good, there was so acting hole, everyone pulled their weight and added something to the scenes.

The styling, sets, OST (!!) were also so stunning (the flowy dresses!!)!

The revenge was great too. First half was to reclaim Jiang Li’s tarnished reputation, the second half was to use that reputation to advance Fang Fei’s own revenge. I really liked it even though we had to be a little patient, I wasn’t bored. The romance with Duke Su🪭 was also so good. The subtlety, their word plays… just ahh😈😈! The chemistry between them was so good, the tension they created was crazy to be honest (the rain scene…💀💀🤭🤭). Their reunion at the end felt a little underwhelming though… We didn’t even get to see his face😭😭But at least everyone got their revenge and our main couple got happily together💮🌸

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Good start, lost its momentum

“Like you. Care about you. Pine for you.” – Jiu Chen.

I cannot help but make a comparison. While “Eternal Love” pierced my heart, this one only gave it a little nudge that was forgotten just as fast as it came. I was immediately sold, episode 1 had an engaging start and I knew I had another banger on my hand. I think the show was nice up until Ling Xi was killed (episode 23 I believe). The beginning of her mortal arc was good too, but in the middle of the 30s, I started to get impatient. Starting episode 40, I started skipping like hell🫣.

The villains are a little more interesting here than they were in “Eternal Love” – at least for the most part. At first, I thought no one could outdo Su Jin, but Yuan Tong gave her a run for her money. YT is delusional on a different level because she was irrational and simply the cause of all her problems. Instead of accepting the fact that she was responsible for all bad things that happened to her family, she put the blame on others. Her victim complex got on my nerves so quickly, and of course, the stupid Heavenly immortals who put up with her crap for so long. The Shan Ling tribe adoptive daughter was annoying from start to finish, I skipped her parts a lot. She was just a spoiled and childish brat, and did not add anything vital to the storyline.
Another unfortunate thing is the female lead being such a reduced character. Supposedly a High God by the end of her three trials, we do not get to see her in action that much. Generally, I felt like she could have been stronger overall. Ni Ni’s acting was impeccable though🔥.
I really liked Qing Yao a lot – she was such a good big sister. Loyal and focused and always standing on business. She was a very consistent character💪🏻!

The acting in this was pretty nice. I think the leads had a good amount of chemistry, however, “Eternal Love” felt so much more sizzling and passionate🤭💞. EL had me in a chokehold, even with its annoying characters and plot. L&D on the other hand… after episode 40, I started getting a little tired of its length, meanwhile, I could not have dropped EL at that point – not even at gunpoint, that’s how obsessed and invested I was with the leads. I must admit that I skipped episodes 56-59 and watched episode 60 to be done with the show. The story would have been better if it had less episodes. Ling Xi’s second and third trial took so long to come after her first, the middle 30s to middle 40s episodes just… kind of dragged. Bit of a shame😪.

The sets, costumes, and CGI looked stunning – maybe even a little better than in EL; it just looked so good and fresh. Truly an eye candy! The OST… reminded me a lot of EL, but not as good. EL is so recognizable and iconic to me that this one felt like a cheap copy…🫣

The ending… it’s okay. How did Jiu Chen get out? A secret we’ll never know. The fact that they’re gatekeeping this part of the ending is a little annoying, but at least we can say it’s a happy ending, right? Overall, I’m a bit disappointed. Good start, weak middle, annoying and tedious in the end😞.

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Quite nice!

I finally watched this – been wanting to do it since it first aired! Overall, this was an acting masterclass from Shin Hae Sun, she was so marvelous to watch; the best performance of the show to be honest. I don’t mind the ending all that much because Ji Eum finding peace and happiness without the burden of her past lives felt very right and important to me. This show also made me cry so much!! The first 3 episodes were really nice, but after that… the middle did not feel as good anymore, it picked up again towards the end. I am overall a little bummed that I didn’t love it, but it is not a bad show by any means. Brownie points for the stunning cinematography and the beautiful OST!

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Good, but expected more

I finally finished this after a month! Overall, this was good, but I expected a little more. Some parts felt long and draggy because I didn’t care too much about certain characters after a while.

The acting of the leads was amazing though. I loved their chemistry a lot, and understand why everyone went crazy over them🤭🥹. I wasn’t a big fan of our Black Dragon because 1) he was kind of bad at his job, 2) kind of dumb and 3) we never saw him as a dragon except for, like, two times. That’s so annoying. I also didn’t like Jie Li to be honest. Her character was really annoying.

The cinematography and CGI were amazing though. Such a feast for my eyes, I really loved it. The OST is also so beautiful and catchy!!

Now, where can I get a Dongfang Qing Cang for myself?

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First Xianxia done :)

My first Xianxia🥹 Done✅

I love my girl Lu Si, so I was very excited to start this, and she delivered. I loved her acting in this, especially her crying scenes – she had me BAWLING. I think her on and off-screen chemistry with Wang An Yu was great too, and I loved seeing their characters together💞🍀.

The second couple was cute too, but I think they developed the romance so late. Hong Yi only starts chasing Yan Shuang in episode 36… of 40!!! That’s too late, we deserved to see them as a cute romantic couple 😭
I also think the ending scene between Feng Yin and Yuan Qi was too short. I feel like it would have been great to at least get a hug, no??? Regardless, I’m satisfied with how everything wrapped up overall.

Visually, the show was very pretty. Most of the CGI was very impressive and nice, and the costumes and styling delivered a 10/10 as well. The OST was really pretty too, such beautiful songs and voices that emphasized the story perfectly.

Overall, a nice show with
- Fun
- Heartbreak
- Some stupid immortals with 1 brain cell (honestly, after so much time you’d think they’re smart, but these old immortals were all so dumb😭😭)
- Romance
- Pretty costumes and OSTs!

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Too long, but still good overall

Damn. I finished this. The middle and the last couple episodes were… long, and I admit that I skipped a ton to get ahead. I think 35 episodes would have sufficed to tell the story; I don’t know why it was nearly 50😭.

HaoYan is indeed an incredible couple. Hao Du is like a pillar, a rock, that’s always been there to protect her. I think it’s because he was also so consistently there that she kind of didn’t think more of it. The competition changed everything though 😏. Even when their feelings weren’t as strong, his highest priority was ensuring her safety, something Wei Shu Yu simply didn’t do. He was so useless in general: losing Le Yan, losing the Crown Prince, losing Chang Ge, not speaking up when he should (Le Yan confessing her love and letting her think he accepts her feelings only to sister-zone her???) etc. Hao Du had to clean up WSY mess, AND he would die for Le Yan, and gladly so (as we see when he joins the competition for her marriage, he does so because he didn’t want her to marry someone she didn’t love – even if it meant she would reject him). Both Le Yan and Hao Du grew over the course of the show, they matured and learned to communicate their feelings and how to trust one another.

I also enjoyed Chang Ge’s and Ashile Sun’s relationship. They were each other’s safe place, and a very smart, calculated couple. It was nice to see them have some sweet moments towards the end of the show.

What I didn’t like:

- The camera work and editing felt very sloppy and unflattering sometimes. Very disappointed in that department. How do you make Dilireba, Wu Lei, Liu Yu Ning or Zhao Lu Si look kinda bad? And why would you waste pretty scenes with a weird light??? Shining brighter than the sun damn.

- The show was too long, and I really didn’t care about the Ashile tribe. I liked A’Sun, but the whole tribe and its inner politics?😬 After a while, I got tired of it, and I also felt like those parts of the middle dragged the most.

Overall, a really nice show that shines due to its stellar acting, great costumes and sets, and amazing music that underlines every situation perfectly. It should have been a little shorter though, and the camera work/editing could have been better….!

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Sad now that it's over ...

Ah, now that I finished this drama, saying goodbye is hard 🥹. This show is such a beautiful gem among the C-Dramas that I have watched. I am more and more excited to start historical dramas, and this one made my excitement even bigger. A beautiful and light-hearted show that did not shy away from diving into serious topics such as a woman's independence, domestic/spousal abuse, mental health problems and more.

The female relationships in this drama were sooooo great: support and love, and it did not matter whether they were blood related or not. To have such strong relationships was so beautiful to watch. The female characters loved and appreciated each other, supported each other unconditionally, and were true friends. Thank you to the writer for giving us such a show.

The actors did such a good job playing their characters. The comedic timing of the leads and secondary characters was always spot on, thanks to that the show was a delight to watch!

I felt like the show was a little too long, and the leads' relationship seemed to stall for a little bit, but honestly the last 15 episodes were very good and some even made me cry. The emotional attachment to the characters and their fate is veryyyy strong haha!

Li Wei is such a sweet bean, who grew into such a smart and capable woman without losing the essence of who she is. When needed, she was the boss, but with Yin Zheng she always knew how to be her carefree sweet self, and I appreciated that a lot. Seeing Yin Zheng's unconditional love for her was so sweet too, he could be so silly around her. The team work between him and butler Su was always very fun to watch🤭👍🏻

Overall, a very nice show that I thoroughly enjoyed. At first, I didn't think I would rewatch it, but the last episodes made me change my mind. I would probably opt for the latter half for a rewatch, simply because of the lead's relationship progressing a little more, and them committing to their feelings for each other more fearlessly. But the entire show is definitely highly recommended!💗

Rewatch November - December 2024: changed my 9 🌟 rating to a 10 🌟:
Ah, this rewatch was amazing. I cried so many happy tears, and actually loved it even more than my first time seeing the show last year. I just love-love-love the women and their beautiful relationships in the show🥹💗💗. And the romance is fun and so, so sweet 💗 + the OST is just pure magic!!

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Mostly good!

I quite like the different cases as well as the characters, buuuut there are just a handful of things that annoy me...

1) I did not like the episode about the leaked exams, I know it was probably the whole point, but I did not feel bad anyone lmao. These kids and parents are already rich and privileged and then just decide to be even greedier, and then complain about having to face the consequences of their entitled actions. And I am supposed to feel bad, or have some empathy? No. Same with Eun Seok being the "whistleblower" for ratting out the previous head judge. Like, if SHE doesn't do it, the coward wouldn't have done it either since his own life mattered more. For years he was known as an impartial judge, but NOW that it concerns HIM, suddenly he wants to bury the case since he wouldn't benefit from it because he wanted to go into politics. Sir, you should have been more decent to your son!

2) The fact that Cha Tae Joo just always stands there while Eun Seok is getting CHEWED the fuck out? Sir? Either, she tells him to leave, or he really just stands there, while someone yells at her? His submissive nature is kind of annoying seven episodes into the show like say something man!

3) Eun Seok victim blaming the girl in that one episode. Listen, yes, the girl(s) should not have run away, but blaming the 14yo girl that was forced into prostitution that this is the consequence of her not following the law after she got assaulted and nearly raped was kind of very much unnecessary and heartless in that scene , i don't know. On one hand, the girl was a culprit because she did previously beat up another girl, but on the other hand she was a victim as well. It's just two different situations. But being forced into selling her body as a minor (by girls that are hardly older than her) to grown ass men and then blaming her lowkey while she's still shocked and bloody, is just wrong.

4) Lack of character development. In my opinion, the characters more or less stayed the same. I also thought that Eun Seok's speech at the end was contradictory. She says she will not be biased in court yet admits that she still despises juvenile offenders. That's.... biased lmao, but whatever.

Other than that, the quality of the show is great as well as the acting and the cases are interesting and quite diverse.

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great start but got a bit draggy towards the end

I finally watched this show!! And hardly cried more during a show (okay, maybe >Tomorrow< is a strong contender for the show that made me cry the most....). The emotional delivery was excellent, every episode had something that made me cry. I also loved the bond the characters had and found family trope - it was so good. So Mun barely joined the counters, and they already considered him their baby😭. Speaking of So Mun, he is such a sweety cutie pookie bear, i love him so much, what a sunshine! Mo Tak was my second fave because I, too, have anger management issues sometimes lmao! I loved Mo Tak's and Mun's bond that developed over the show, they seemed like one and the same person sharing one brain cell, and I loved it.

I also see Mun and Ha Na more like siblings, I don't quite see why ppl shipped them romantically to be honest. Ha Na as a character was cool and badass, and I liked Se Jeong's delivery for the character most of the time. But sometimes I found her acting a bit too much, it felt too much like she was acting and just a bit unnatural whenever she was acting all tough. But her emotional scenes were excellent, she made me cry so much. Her character's story was really sad :(.

I also disliked the female evil spirit a lot, I felt like she was kind of point/useless for the plot? She didn't really add anything, she was just super annoying, shrill, loud and unhinged lmao? The last couple of episodes dragged a little, which was really annoying, but the last episode was nice,Ii liked it. The partners in the other world were super annoying, I especially disliked Wi Gen and Mo Tak's partner lmao. Their decision in episode 10 was super dumb, made no sense and actually pissed me off so much that I had to finish the episode a day later, skipping through the annoying bits and watching in double speed💀.

Overall, a nice action-heavy show that made me cry way more than I thought it would!

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cute

This is probably the first romantic jdrama that I watched that wasn't unbearable! :) The others that I have already seen were just hysterical but this was actually sweet although it did not have much depth or real development. It was simply a cute and fluffy romance between two adults who kinda get to know each other over 7 episodes. The jealousy scenes were kinda nice for once because they weren't unrealistic and you could understand where the male lead was coming from (it helps that he also reacted appropriately and not like a psycho). Misunderstandings were cleared very quickly and I think this was one of the rare times that a flashback scene was done right without taking a whole episode. In 3 minutes, they showed how the couple met and what the male lead was thinking during the wedding photo shoot, just the right amount of time to give more insight in the opening scene of the show. Overall, nothing super crazy, but the acting was decent, the characters not too stupid and annoying, no weird antagonists and the right amount of spice :').

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What a sweet youth drama this was. This made me feel so happy and like I caught up my teenage years (not that I'm super old...), thanks to XianXian, I experienced so many sweet things through this drama. I liked how the vibes were "feel-good" and how the focus was on the main couple and their friendship. The second couples and side characters didn't take too much space either and were fun and sweet, and I overall enjoyed their friendship a lot. XianXian is such a sweet girl, she is my favorite silly little cluelesss girly: yes, maybe a little more independence would have been nice, doing things for the sake of doing them for herself instead of doing things with the male lead in mind, but overall, she was so cute I couldn't be mad. And, I mean, she was like 16, you will be clueless and a bit silly at that age (even though the characters age over the course of the drama, I still cound't mad at her). The mother got on my last nerve in the first half of the show, I am glad we got to see less once XianXian went to college, but at least she was nicer in the few scenes she had in the second half. The romance was really sweet without being too much, but I really wish the wedding would have been in the last episode ( I know there is a special, but still...). I looooved the OST and the fact that every episode had a title. Felt like chapters of a book. Overall, sweet and entertaining drama that made me feel at ease!!

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This show surprised me (in a good way). This was like a wattpad story coming to life lmao, but the male lead carried hard with his acting. I also liked the female lead, but the excessive breathing was a little weird and annoying at times. Man Ning was a mix between a naive damsel and badass: sometimes, she was so air-headed that she'd follow a stranger or put herself in danger, and on other occasions, her good memory would serve to safe the company, or she'd actually stand up for herself and be strong(willed). I think it was more or less well balanced, if I were her, I would have panicked too, so I don't blame her for being a lil dumb sometimes haha. Xing Cheng... wow. I really liked that even with bumps in his revenge plan, or falling in love, he didn't lose his calculating, ruthless persona. The action scenes were a bit goofy (cue ep. 17 in the parking lot, but at least it made me laugh), but overall the ratio between (very thin) plot, romance and action was pretty even. The music was to die for, I really loved the OST! The secondary couples/characters... Mei Na.... baby girl, who instructed the actress to act like a child sometimes? I honestly skipped most of the scenes that did not include the main couple, cause the rest really just annoyed me. Overall, a surprisingly decent show - the plot was a bit thin and nonsensical though. The male lead was great and I hope he'll get more leading roles in the future.

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Kim Nam Gil, the new love of my life??? This was such a funny and entertaining show omg, Kim Hae Il might be the only priest in existence I can tolerate, he was so fucking fun!! I can relate to his anger issues because, honestly, sometimes you just wanna do some damage, you know lmao? I gotta say that I thought the investigation was taking a little too long at first, but the second half of the show was really great and especially the last couple of episodes had some fun and shocking surprises and twists that I really liked. Loved seeing the teamwork and idiocy of the characters and I love this chaotic bunch so much, like they're family to me. I'm quite excited for that second season, hopefully we'll get some news on that soon since 2019 is a lttle while ago already. Also, the OST was perfect for this show, really caught the vibes of it 100%. Overall, really fun and stole some tears of mine too ... Anyway, Kim Nam Gil can get it 🧍🏻

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This was my first Song Hye Kyo drama and in my opinion, this was excellent. Her acting was great, Dong Eun radiated melancholy, dark, mysterious vibes. You could feel that she was a rather lonely woman, which I really liked. Everyone is a major red fleg, but I am Jae Joon ;)). I gotta say the men's styling in this show was immaculate, like wow. Everyone looked polished and amazing, gotta give it to them. The story itself was extremely intriguing and I personally really liked how the revenge plot itself moved so slowly as it represented the time that Dong Eun took to carefully come up with her revenge. She planned it for 18 years, and I am happy that we get to see glimpses only. I am excited for Pt. 2 of the show but also really scared. I NEED her plan to be successful. I need her to have her revenge!

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