Started great and then fizzled out
It started out strong. Smart and independent FL. Powerful but not overbearing and super BF material. Their chemistry was good and the balance between romance and other genres was great. Somewhere after ep. 20ish it lost its original spark and FL started becoming too emotional. ML was awesome all the way through- the character was written well and the actor did fantastic!The story really fell apart during the last 2-3 episodes. All reasoning fell out the window and things felt clumsily wrapped up. The investigations always required some suspension of disbelief with the flimsy “evidence” and leaps of logic but I was willing to let it slide. The big climax and ending was just too cringe though. I am still sitting here and asking how no one else suspected the antagonist when he was so not low key about his attempts at influencing the court and the young puppet king. So much eye roll. Ultimately I started this as a 9, it dropped to 8.5 midway and by the end, we’re at 7/7.5.
The only thing I’m walking away from this drama with is that I’m glad to be introduced to a great new actor and I’m excited to see what he does in the future.
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Painfully Beautiful
It was a rollercoaster ride. Legit sad one minute and giggling next minute. The OTP were tragic couple but so amazing together. I usually don’t do sadness in dramas, but I enjoyed every minute of this one. ML is incredible- smart, sweet, sensitive, sensible and, most of all, selfless in this love. FL showed growth and strived to love ML as much as he loved her and in striving for that, loved him just as much. No toxic relationship here. The time traveling was not confusing and very few loopholes compared to usual time travel dramas and the story overall was so good that I can’t even pick at the loose threads because I’m too busy reminiscing the chemistry of OTP and growth of individual characters. Even the side characters were fantastic where second couple was cute but didn’t take up too much screen time and antagonist were bad/annoying but just enough to move story along rather than create unnecessary angst. Even rando side characters like the teachers and parents are absolutely lovable. A beautiful love story and I would knowingly live through the painful parts again just to watch ML quietly support and love FL and FL realize her feelings for ML are actually deep care, respect and adoration.Was this review helpful to you?
Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of lovable kdrama cliches which give it that lovable lightheartedness. Fate, destiny, etc.
The drama just successfully stays away from the ones where the girl becomes dependent fool / arm accessory. Or the meaningless misunderstandings because of third party.
I truly enjoyed this one. I highly recommend you watch it!!
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Amazing! MUST watch!
I usually don’t bother writing reviews but this was so good, I had to. This was everything! Everything I wanted in a rom-com drama. (So my review is with that in mind - this isn’t ground breaking plot, but just super sweet, lovable romance.). Good actors, ultimately a loving family and in-laws and without constant interference by third wheel/SL, or to many arcs with annoying antagonist. I loved both the FL and ML. There was so much chemistry and they look good together. No repeated breakup/makeup. They maturely love each other and the story shows the bond without SL, jealousy plot lines or w/o obsessive behavior. There is great character growth in almost all characters, especially FL. I love how she goes from being calculating business woman to such a warm person who lets go of her past ghosts and learns to open up and accept others around her. The ML is just perfection! The sweetest man a woman could wish for. LOVE it! I can’t wait to rewatch in a couple of months. Yup, that good!!*SPOILER*
Don’t even get me started on the most adorable child actor! I love this drama not only a wonderful married life arc but also had an arc with life with child.
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The couple had great chemistry. I ship them for real <3
The sisters’ relationship was phenomenal and made me miss my sister.
Strong female roles, especially FL. She spoke her mind, stood up for what she believed in and didn’t put up with anybody’s bs, including her own father’s.
Every character’s acting was on point! The dialogue was written so naturally and all of the actors delivered.
I loved the little kid. In fact, I wish there was more “family” scenes because it was just so heartwarming.
I am sad it had to end and I can’t imagine finding another drama as sweet as this drama was. I seriously looked forward to every episode!
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The torture
If I ever have to torture someone slowly, I would force them to watch this show for hours. It's such a dragggg. Nothing really happens in the story. Stakes are never really raised and there's no impactful character development. There aren't even clear arcs in the story.I can deal with fluffy dramas where there's legitimate chemistry between the characters and no real plot. Unfortunately, this also does not have that. FL is soooo whiney that I got shivers down my spine at some points from the cringe. I think she completely spoke from her nose and that mouth was just for decoration. No joke with that last bit. She was bad at lip syncing and at reciprocating kisses. Also, she would act coy alllll the time. She's a grown woman! She should know how dating and skinship works. With all this, Ling Yi ended up like a wall. A very tall, beautiful wall, but no real action since he couldn't bounce off of good chemistry. This drama was unnecessarily long. Could have just stopped - straight stopped at ep 18...maybe 20. Part of the issue is the start of the drama focuses way too much on the game world and the connection just didn't feel real. Ugh. So glad this torture is over. I wish I had the ability to drop dramas.
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Read if you want to know what MAGIC awaits you
I loved this drama that I had to drop all my thoughts about it out into the world T-T My love for this cannot be HIDDEN >-<I don’t think I have any dramas rated as a 10, but this was such a gem after a long time that I had to bump it from 9.5 into 10!
Everything was perfect for a nice rom-com. They didn’t spend too much time on the innocent youth part so they got to develop the sizzling chemistry. NGL FL’s voice was super annoying as a teenager. She tried to make herself seem young, but I can’t imagine a teenager acting that meek and naive. Luckily we got our normal Lusi by ep 13. No conflict lasted long. They respected each other’s wishes and worked to make each other their priority. The way he asked her permission to “woo” her was absolutely adorable! He also clearly started the relationship by explaining his life and the problems he is facing. They communicated as a couple. The way she empathized before knowing his backstory and even more so after he told her.
Her bro is such a real bro that the writer had to have modeled him after someone. He was always bullying but with all the love in the world and is her most fiercest protector.
The way the parents were protective of her is completely understandable and weary of her being with ML. They showed she grew up like a princess in their eyes.
There were no backstabbing friends (at least after middle school) unlike other cdramas. Even that friend that liked the guy that liked FL. They were all so supportive and loving.
The acting was spot on by every single actor! The way Lusi cries is so real. She had me in tears with her. ML’s cries were like all the IRL dudes I know. Trying to keep it in and wiping tears in secret and when it’s really emotional, letting out in the most heartbreaking whimpers.
None of the bad clichés. It was refreshing to not have the last minute break ups, the stupid accidents and crazy second leads.
They were truly adorable together. Relationship goals. No joke. They were cute and hot…sometimes all at the same time…when together. The marriage proposal was so cute too. I totally fell for it and thought her friend was going to get engaged.
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Don’t waste your time
The driving plot lines of him stalking her "out of live" were over the top. Her suddenly falling for him, felt cheap after all that he had tried to do (good and bad) to get her attention. The grandma's strong disapproval felt hollow. The chemistry wasn’t even that great to save the drama. The fact that EVERY kiss was stopped by random bells and ppl was ridiculous. Then just the last ep had a kiss but I was so over the show.I didn’t feel FL fully move on from side she like before starting to like ML so it felt like rebound. There was nothing showing why he was so stuck to the temple when his grandma was so against the FL - he could have just left and with his qualifications, he would have gotten into a different temple. Grandma’s deep disdain for FL just because her DIL was like her and got into an accident (along with ML’s father) because she went out of the temple is completely irrational. She was so vile for something with such a loose correlation. The one thing it had was when they were going to work through it together but ended up breaking up the next ep. Then they got back together without anything really changing. Just a silly letter moved grandma?
The side relationships were messy and felt superficial.
Also, the climax and major inciting incident was dont haphazardly. It made absolutely no sense how younger bro could just try to sell the temple. Even if he were to become chief priest, doesn’t mean land would immediately transfer to him.
What a joke of a drama. I wish I was better about dropping dramas.
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Fluffy Drama with Hot Couple
Chill. Super fluffy. ML’s acting left much to be desired but he was dang easy on the eyes. He did get better over the episodes. Kinda. FL was awesome. She was authoritative and cold boss lady without being obnoxious and warm in the right places. The chemistry was not on fire but the kisses started and dang!! Explosion. They were so touchy that it was like how new couples really are. There were no silly misunderstandings. The couple communicated and supported each other. It was a fun light watch. The side couples didn’t take over the stage. The one office girl and ML’s friend did get a lot of screen time but they at least weren’t overly annoying and you could easily skip their scenes.Was this review helpful to you?
What really did it for me was the atrocious, toxic, selfish trash of a woman who does not deserve to be called a mother. I could I have tried to reason with it if there was a valid reason, but there was NONE. She was horrible even before the incident that supposedly caused her to be such a hateful mother to ML. When she finally does the reveal, I instantly regretted the time I wasted on this drama. Then the last three episodes barrel roll to wrap lose ends up and it’s a hasty retreat to finally get to a semi-sweet cliched confession with a random we actually met way in the past crap that I saw coming from a mile away because of the repeated flashbacks to her past. They don’t get screen time as an actual, official couple.
I do have to end with - those were some damn good kiss scenes. Makes my feels about this drama so much sadder. Ugh. I shipped the couple so much.
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If only the amazing chemistry was the focus
The OTP had amazing chemistry! ML really went after FL and tried to fix his shortcomings when she was hesitant and tried to reassure her that they could have a good ship. FL not getting it at first (as usual) was annoying but her hesitation once she understood was realistic. Then comes all the side story and SLs to make a big mess and drag the whole show. The usual jealousy shtick - although warranted this time as SFL and especially SML were obsessive. The antagonists justification were absurd and they really needed therapy for their made up issues with FL. It really could have been 24 eps and an amazing story with a great cast. I’m only giving it 7 because of the chemistry and Zhang Han doing a phenomenal job of showing he really had the hots for his gal.Was this review helpful to you?