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Excellent acting by two newcomers as we follow along their journey of Forbidden Love

The bar was set high for all Historical Thai BLs as I have been searching for the next “I Feel You Linger in the Air”. You will hear me say that repeatedly for every single review I write of a historical Thai BL. 🤣 I am sure I am not the only one who got excited when we first saw the trailer of “The Edge of Horizon”. The reviews were great as well when it was airing. So, my expectations are very high.

So, how was it? It doesn’t have the same feel as IFYLITA, but I still like it. However, I was a little taken back by the first episode and needed to warm up to the main couple. The romance comes fast and furious, and not the slow-burn romance that I was expecting (like in IFYLITA). Are they cute? Definitely. I am not opposed to cute and fluffy, just somewhat unexpected.

After a little adjustment, I found my bearings and slowly learned to appreciate the story. The plot is not complicated to follow and not unique either: forbidden love, family disapproval, concerned and protective parents. Add in the changing political climate and the difference in beliefs and opinions, there’s plenty to cover during these 11 episodes.

This is my first time watching the leads. Ongsa (as Thin) is so handsome and sweet. He really embodies Thin’s softer yet strong personality. I was quite impressed with his acting, especially in the earlier episodes. Thin is such a green flag and a character that makes viewers want to protect at all costs. Inn on the other hand has that strong, chiseled facial features that makes him stand out as a captain of the army. He doesn’t have Ongsa’s more typical handsomeness, but once he’s in a suit and in an army uniform, his charisma shines bright. I found his acting as the young Phob not as good as in the later episodes. I really enjoy his acting after the time skip when he’s an adult. He managed Phob’s complicated feelings really well. The pair of them is so young and quite new to the industry. Yet, I am very impressed with their acting and look forward to more of their future projects individually, or as a ship. The chemistry is great. I enjoy the development of their romance from early sweet fluffiness, to the playful yet aggressive romantic approach from Phob, and the mature, somewhat defeated understanding of divided beliefs and realities. The kisses are good. They are so appropriate for each stage of their romance. There’s no eating-your-face with massive tongue action, nor reluctant fish kisses. The kisses make me feel what the characters are feeling at that moment. Oh, and I love their hugs equally. Thin hanging onto Phob’s neck, while Phob embraced him with his long arms and big, strong hands on his back.

The veterans are great either. I’ve seen Chai (Thin’s father) in many lakorns before and I love him SO much in “To the Moon and Back”. You just can’t hate on him because his character is not necessarily evil. In that era, what he believes in and how he acts are totally normal. Disapproval of the romance is understandable. Wanting to fight back after the government change, is also totally understandable. Another familiar lakorn veteran is Mam (Phob’s mom). I’ve seen her as the evil mother so many times that it’s so refreshing to see her in a different role. Again, totally understandable actions as a protective mother and a loyal servant. I’m just glad I finally don’t have to hate her.

On the other hand, I cannot say the same about Pond and his character, Chat (Thin’s brother). He’s so infuriating. I’ve seen Pond in different projects before and his acting can teeter on the edge of overacting. But matching this overacting with a character like Chat makes me want to strangle him. I don’t know if I can ever love Pond again after his performance here. Maybe that’s a kudos to his excellent acting and his character is supposed to be insufferable???

The ladies in this drama, for once, are all so lovely. From Grandma to Princess Siri and reporter Jan, they are women that we can root for. They are the supportive team that our leads need to help them through this forbidden journey. Also, did I sense some baited GL chemistry between Siri and Jan?

“The Edge of Horizon” is an easy binge. There’s nothing that hurts my heart too much, and nothing that I hate. I also can’t say I am totally in love with it either. There are a few cheesy shots, and a few cheap production and questionable shots. But as a whole, it’s a lakorn BL done right. You know it’s a lakorn BL when you see the amount of tears coming down our leads’ faces. You know, snot and all as well. I am also especially happy that there’s no over-the-top comedic moments in this drama. The twist in the end might not be too surprising, but I welcome it.

Overall, I had a good time watching “The Edge of Horizon” and will recommend it, even though it didn’t quite surpass my love for IFYLITA. Ongsa and Inn deliver great acting and chemistry. Their romantic journey is believable (just need to be more careful with their rendezvous!) and the drama did a good job in weaving this forbidden romance with so many complicated feelings within a politics-heavy plot.


Drama Completed: 8/29/2026 Review #717

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This Never-Ending Summer tested my patience

Subjective Enjoyment Rating: 7.75
Objective Rating: 8.0-8.5

I can see why so many people love “Never-Ending Summer”, especially when you are a romance lover. Romance is the main focus in this drama from start to finish. Unfortunately, I think the execution and writing could have been better. The last episode raised my rating from 7.5 to 7.75. I lost my focus and was bored for about 50% of the drama. When it’s good, it’s really good. When it’s repetitive, it’s really repetitive.

Plot/Pacing
Rich man/Poor woman is not a unique plot. The family drama is not a unique plot. The business part, well, it’s the weakest plot of the drama. But luckily, the main romance is solid and the chemistry of the leads is great. I actually really like the first few episodes of the drama when the leads first started getting to know each other. And I understand and empathize with the tough choices FL has to make, and she’s only 18 years old. I just wish the writing is better so it doesn’t feel so repetitive. I commented on my Friends Feeds that the first 11 episodes feel so draggy and are the slowest 11 episodes I felt in recent months. I was hoping the storyline would go back to the present-day timeline soon, but I had to wait for a very long time. I was looking forward to the angst of the break up, because you know it’s going to happen when you have a rich boy and a poor girl. I waited and waited and almost gave up. Finally the breakup happened and we’re back to 2026. I was stuck in that never-ending summer for a very, very long time. I am interested in the main romance again, but the investigation and business plots bore me. “Never-Ending Summer” really feels never-ending and it tests my patience. Additionally, the parents are annoying. There are illogical plot holes here and there (not enough to dock big points from the rating, but enough to be noticeable and for me to roll my eyes).

Main Romance
I actually like both the leads as characters. I like that they are both flawed and hurt. I actually prefer ML to be more of a playboy or fake red-flag, but he’s very green from start to finish. I like their dynamics, their chemistry and their interaction. But as I said earlier, the repetitive back-and-forth with lying and not lying, taking advantage of someone, avoidance, forgiveness, etc…. It was just too much for me to fall in love with the main romance. I love the breakup scene. It was beautiful, emotional and well-acted. Many criticize ML for forgiving FL in a heartbeat. I don’t fault him for that as he’s always been like that since he’s a teenager. It’s apparent that he’s never stopped loving her and his meanness towards her is really nothing serious. I do agree I wish there’s a little more push-and-pull, and I wanted FL to work a little harder to earn the forgiveness. “Never-Ending Summer” does reward romance lovers, like myself, who stuck around till the end. Once they got together again, it was sweet, fluffy and rewarding. The last episode is worth my extra 0.25 rating. It pleases my hopeless romantic heart. Did I mention we have an amazing drunken confession scene full of emotions and amazing kisses?

Secondary Romance
Well, this couple is disappointing. They could have been so much fun, but not enough time is given to develop their storylines. In high school, they acted as props for the main leads. When they finally have some screen time about their problems, I am not invested in them enough to care.

Acting
I do like the acting of Bao Shang En and Daniel Zhou. Bao Shang En made me love her and also wanted to strangle her. I’ve been a fan of Daniel since I first saw him in “A Moment but Forever”. The two of them gave us youthful energy, and also maturity as professionals, and giddiness when in love. The younger supporting cast did fine, though not amazing. I was especially surprised to see Ke Chun here, as I’ve had many late night dates with him watching YouTube verticals. Seeing him here as a loan shark/hooligan was fun and he did a great job. I’ve seen Fu Wei Lun in so many supporting roles and I felt he’s underutilized here as ML’s best friend.

Production
First of all, I love the OST. There are many beautiful songs, and they complement the show and scenes very well. Having said that, songs are played way too often. There are times when I couldn’t hear the actors’ conversation when the background music was played loudly. The music is great, just the usage could be better. Bao Shang En and Daniel Zhou look great visually. Bao Shang En has such an amazing wardrobe. I love her high school casual wear (and thank goodness she’s not in uniform all the time). And as a professional, she looks absolutely stunning. Did you notice she keeps on wearing off-shoulder tops?


Do I recommend this drama? Mm… I don’t know. I think either you love the romance and the couple, or you hate the repetitive back-and-forth. It's only 29 episodes, so it’s not too long if you are looking for a rewarding romance. But if romance is not your cup of tea, don’t bother.


Drama Completed: 7/14/2026 Review #703

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Underrated CBL Dark horse with excellent Leads Acting & Chemistry, but with Production issues.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I believe “Blue Lips” is the underrated darkhorse this year amongst a sea of Chinese BLs. It was a short web series (20-min episode) that had to compete with other more popular BLs. This drama is obviously very low budget, as most of my criticisms are targeted at the production quality.

Let’s start with the obvious and one of the main reasons people are not watching “Blue Lips” - the frequent use of AI generated images and scenes. If you oppose using AI, please do not attempt to watch this drama. You will be completely upset and frustrated. But if you are like me, who generally are OK with the use of AI during transition scenes and images only, and especially for a low budget production, then I recommend this drama. I don’t want to turn this into a debate. But AI is a big deal in China and it’s not going away and we will only see more. But as viewers and consumers, we have the right to not support such productions. Because CBLs have a hard time already, and need to jump through hoops to avoid censorship and be produced overseas, I am more lenient in this regard, especially for low-budget CBLs. “Blue Lips” is still acted by real people and written and adapted by real people.

I’ll continue with the criticisms. The dubbing for the actors is not good. The dubbed over singing is even worse. I am sorry, who decides it’s a good idea to poorly dubbed over Wu Shi Xian’s singing and sometimes with songs unrelated or changed all of a sudden? The songs themselves are actually great (and a couple songs are sung by Wei Lin Yu) and I even enjoy the punk rock/heavy metal songs at the bar. But the editing, the background music, and the use of music in general is the one of my main criticisms. The transition scenes are choppy (whether they use AI-generated scenes or not).

The ending also isn’t very satisfactory. I am not sure if they are planning for a season 2, or if they ever will have enough funds for another season. A somewhat major plotline about one of the leads is not resolved. While waiting for the last 3 episodes, I was curious how the drama is going to close out on 2 major plot points. In the end, they left one of them as a somewhat to-be-continued…..or never-to-be-continued.

Now, why am I still giving this a pretty high rating? Because I LOVE the two main leads. I LOVE them as actors, and as characters. I cannot believe this is Wei Lin Yu and Lan Shao Yun’s first acting gig. I tried to search for their info but came up empty-ended. This can’t be their first time acting right? They are just too good!!! As characters, the older Teng Mo is funny, sexy, broken and also very mature. The younger Shi Xian’s early thorny and prickly exterior is attractive and inviting in a way. His vulnerability in the later episodes make me want to wrap him in a big bear hug and protect him at all cost. No wonder Teng Mo can’t help but fall in love with him despite a 9-year age gap. They both have so much chemistry together. From the early bickering, teasing and fighting, to the later attraction, controlled feelings and undisclosed facts and secrets, both actors did a fabulous job. Their relationship develops at a really good pace with enough comedy, sexual tension, controlled emotions, angst and honesty. Those episodes when the two of them are trying to protect themselves, withholding information yet all done in a noble-idiotic way, I was more moved than frustrated. Instead of saying they miscommunicated, maybe they just decided not to communicate. But once they do, it’s all honesty and support for one and another.

Speaking of comedy, episodes 2 & 3 are hilarious! The umbrella scene will forever be an iconic moment. Teng Mo’s parents in episode 8 are just as funny. You can see why Teng Mo is Teng Mo, because he grows up in such a fun and loving family.

The supporting characters are fine. I can’t decide if the sister’s acting is emotionless, or her character should be acted that way. The sister definitely acts and looks very sickly. Brother Hao is an interesting character. I wanted to see more of him and I am so happy the direction the story has for him. I really don’t need a love triangle or love square.

Without any expectations, “Blue Lips” captures my heart because of the story of Teng Mo and Wu Shi Xian. As a romance-lover, I enjoy their story, their interaction, their chemistry, kisses (for the most part) and intimate scenes. I enjoy how they push-and-pull and their heartfelt conversations. I was rooting for them from beginning to the end. I just wish the drama had more funding to fix a lot of the production issues. And I wish the episodes were longer so that they can better allocate time to give “Blue Lips” a proper and deserved ending. I am giving "Blue Lips" a somewhat high 8.25-8.5 rating despite all my criticisms, since it's a low-budget production.



Drama Completed: 8/19/2026 Review #714

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A fine drama but not hitting me with all the feels

A Japanese drama rated 8.9 on MDL is rare, so I have got to check it out. Unfortunately, I might not share the same enthusiasm as many. I don’t dislike “Our Youth” nor do I love it either. I think it’s fine.

There are many individual elements that I like. I like the two lost, lonely souls finding each other and healing each other. They are the best kind of soulmates. I have always been a fan of Japanese dramas which are not afraid to use silence to convey emotions. Two good-looking young men play the main roles. All these are great. But for some reason, when these elements are added together, it’s not working for me. Silence only works when there are deep and profound dialogs for the audience to take a breather to think and feel the unspoken emotions. But the conversations in this BL aren't that deep and they actually don’t talk much. Then, silence slows down the pace of the drama and eventually I find the story somewhat….boring?

I do feel the chemistry and I think the acting is quite good. The drama just doesn’t hit me with all the feels as much as I would like. It’s probably a “me” problem.


Completed: 1/22/2025 - Review #537

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Great first half but loses its steam (and my attention) in the second half.

1st half - 8.0
2nd half - 7.0

I already lowered my expectations for “The Story of Pearl Girl”, yet I am still somewhat disappointed. This is a well-produced drama with beautiful costumes, decent sets and cinematography. I don’t think objectively this is a bad drama, but I lost my connection to the leads in the middle of the drama, and was unable to regain my attention in the second half.

“The Story of Pearl Girl” has an exciting start. The story of our female lead’s struggle to leave the pearl farm might not be realistic, but at least it’s interesting. Time spent on the ship and Duan Wu’s climb from the bottom of the crew to being a partner-in-crime are well-paced and exciting. The first half is able to balance Duan Wu’s story and Yan Zi Jing’s revenge plot pretty well.

Although the chemistry between the leads is not sizzling, at least they have some interesting and fun scenes together in the first half. I also enjoy the friendships of the crew members and especially Duan Wu’s tight bond with young Xia Mi/Little Shrimp. The first half has a good balance of angst, suffering, adventure, and humor. There isn’t anyone too irritating in the drama and the leads are all quite smart.

Unfortunately, the heartbreaking mid-drama episodes came much earlier than expected. After that, everything goes downhill. The leads are separated for way too many episodes when they’re off to their own adventures. The little chemistry that they had, disappeared in the second half, and was never recovered. Well, at least I never felt their chemistry anymore. During this time, the focus shifted to Duan Wu’s business plot. The male lead becomes a wallflower or an unimportant supporting character. The drama loses the balance of revenge excitement and business shenanigans. Eventually, it also loses my attention all the way until the end. The downfall of the villains in the last couple episodes is very anti-climatic. I expected more, when revenge is such a big focus in this drama. The last episode should elicit a lot more emotions from me because of the lead couple, but I think I felt more for the secondary couple, Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng.

The general acting of the cast isn’t too bad. I don’t think this is Zhao Lu Si’s best role. I still like her more in “Love Like the Galaxy”. But she’s good enough. The same could not be said for Liu Yu Ning. He lacks screen presence and charisma as a male lead. His acting also seems to have regressed from when I last saw him in “Heroes” (2024) where he acted alongside two very strong male leads. He’s still not very good with romantic scenes, and seems to be best when he’s with his band of brothers/bromance, such as in “A Journey to Love” or “Heroes”. The second male lead, Tang Xiao Tian, is a more experienced actor and it shows. There’s a scene when they’re side by side digging through the soil, and you could see the difference in their acting when displaying the same emotions. Fortunately, the rest of the supporting cast deliver solid acting.

I am not sure if I would fully recommend “The Story of Pearl Girl” to everyone. My criticisms are very personal due to me never recovering the interest after it’s lost in the middle of the drama. Normally, I would have rated a similar drama an 8.0. But if you are a fan of Zhao Lu Si, it’s worth checking it out. Her acting is still solid and she looks beautiful with different hair/makeup and costumes.




Completed: 12/19/2024 - Review #528

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Too long for an uneven pacing SLOW healing drama.

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

“Meet Yourself” is a beloved drama here on MDL and I can see why so many people are in love with it. I was hoping to love it too, but unfortunately, I only like it. I hesitated to watch this due to its rave reviews and I need time to ensure I am in the right mood to watch this drama. Objectively, this is a great drama but for my subjective rating of my personal satisfaction and enjoyment, I can only give it an. 8.25. I have two main criticisms only but they are enough to prevent me from truly enjoying the drama.


What I Like:

1. Grandma Xie - Who doesn’t love grandma??? She’s witty and funny, and it’s a ray of beautiful sunshine. I love how she defends her loved ones both verbally, physically and emotionally. I love her intelligent way of pulling strings behind the scenes to get what she wants. We need more grandmas like her!

2. Sceneries - Can’t really argue with the picturesque landscapes and relaxing sceneries in this drama. I want to visit this little village and take a long vacation as well. I really like the boarding house with the courtyard, even if it doesn’t have good soundproofing and I might fall on my face when walking down those cobblestones.

3. Acting - Great acting all around… from the youngest to the oldest. Those four child actors are amazing and I believe they use their own voices and speak the lines themselves. The main cast did not disappoint, nor the supporting cast.

4. No annoying characters -Oftentimes, dramas set in the rural areas or countryside will have annoying side characters or villagers. I actually like all the aunties and grannies in this drama. They are loud, but they are not annoying and each of them has their own personalities.

5. Chemistry - Though I think the romance is a little too slow burn, I do think once Xu Hong Dou and Xie Zhi Yao get together, they have really good chemistry. Their display of affection and skin feel natural and mature.


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Slow Pacing - My biggest criticism is the pacing of the drama. I understand this is a healing, relaxing slice-of-life drama. I’ve seen my share of them as well. But the first 20 episodes really are slow with nothing much happening. 40 episodes for a healing drama is too much. I feel that the drama could have spent some time on the stories of the supporting cast in the first half, instead of jamming them all in the second half. There are so many interesting stories that could have been explored more instead of doing so half-heartedly.. The romance can be slow-burn, but when everything is slow, the slow burn romance feels even slower. I am a binge-watcher and I keep on falling asleep (I am also tired from work). Even though I stopped binge-watching and watched only a couple episodes a day, the drama still doesn’t hold my attention throughout. I find myself not tempted to hit the “play” button for the next episode. If I wasn’t persistent in continuing, I could have easily dropped it within the first 20 episodes.

2. Music - I actually quite like the songs in the soundtrack. BUT, they play the songs waaaay too often and too loud, and often the same songs repeatedly for many episodes.. For a healing drama in the countryside, I would have liked to have fewer songs with lyrics blasting when the actors are speaking their lines. Maybe some relaxing instrumental background music to complement the tranquility of the drama (but will I fall asleep more? Mmm….). I was quite annoyed with all the singing.


I would definitely recommend this drama if you are in the mood for a slow, healing, slice-of-life drama. It has beautiful scenery, excellent acting and a very fun supporting cast. The drama is just too slow for me. Additionally, this drama should not be compared to the Korean drama “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. HCCC is a rom-com with annoying characters. “Meet Yourself” is totally different. Two very different genres and feel to them.


Other Random Observations:
1. FL has so many pairs of sunglasses.
2. There’s a lot of cooking and eating.
3. There are some pretty funny moments, and lovely conversations.
4. Those 4 kids warm and break my heart.
5. Ep 19 is one of my favorite episodes - the mushroom episode brought out so many different emotions.
6. Reminds me of the Taiwanese drama “A Thousand Goodnights”. Both dramas are like promotions from the local Tourism Board.



Completed: 9/12/2023 - Review #353

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Not good enough to be a great political, romance, or Novaland Wuxia/Xianxia drama

Completed - 12/25/2021

I am disappointed that I don't love "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse". I have such high expectations for this big production historical drama with Yang Mi, William Chan and Xu Kai Cheng. It took me about 15 episodes to get into the story and overall acting and leads chemistry are lacking. I feel that it tries to have everything in this drama - court politics, romance, friendship/loyalty, wars/battles - but it doesn't excel in any of them.

Acting
I can't help but keep on comparing William Chan to Allen Ren in "One & Only". Allen Ren has such big expressive eyes that he can convey his emotions really well, even when he played a self-controlled, reserved general who can't express his love for Bai Lu. On the other hand, William Chen has dead and bored eyes for most of the drama, except for the last couple episodes. His eyes are unable to convey how tortured he felt inside. And unfortunately, that makes his character even less likable to start. I did not root for him for the most part. Fortunately in the last couple episodes, he was able to portray a more free-spirited Jiang Ming and a really sad one in the end. Yang Mi did fine as she always does. I wouldn't say she was excellent, but fine. This my first Xu Kai Cheng drama and I felt that he overacted a little bit in the beginning when he was this crazy king. He toned it down later on and I start to enjoy his acting more. The other supporting cast was fine but not excellent.

Romance
I thought romance is a big driving force for this drama. We have 3 different romance storylines, but I am not satisfied with either of them.
*** Hai Shi (FL) and Jiang Ming (ML) - I don't feel their chemistry at all. I am supposed to root for them and to suffer with them. But in the end, I didn't feel anything. Although they are both smart, their romance is built on secrets. ML might have FL's best interest at heart, but this secretive protectiveness lasts too long. It didn't make for good drama and didn't make me root for their happily-ever-after ending.
***Emperor Di Xu (2ML) and Ti Lan (2FL) - their relationship started of as abusive and it was hard to watch. I understand why so many condemn such a romance. I might be a little more forgiving and I understand 2ML's heartbreaking past and also being the all-power emperor. I actually enjoyed their romance in the first half of the drama more than the main romance. I like that 2FL, though quiet, has the internal strength and stubbornness to passive-aggressively fight with 2ML. But the romance went downhill once 2FL forgave the emperor's wrongdoings too easily. She should have waited and let him beg for her mercy or at least use actions to show that he's sorry. But no, 2FL forgive and forget and move on. Then she becomes a useless character for the rest of the drama lost her little spunk.
***Zhuo Ying (3ML) and Zhe Liu (3FL) - I really like their sweet and innocent romance. They were a breath of fresh air when the other two romances are disappointing. Unfortunately, the drama did not give them the proper goodbye in the end. I wanted to see how they re-unite but it was all glossed over. I wanted to see more of them!

Bromance
This bromance between ML and 2ML is the best part of the show. It's deep, complex, frustrating and saddening. I enjoy scenes when the two of them are together. First when 2ML is always angry and ML has to calm him down. Then as we know more of their friendship, the dynamics becomes more entertaining. I think they have the best chemistry, even better than with their love interests.

Court Politics
***spoiler****
The reveal of the fake prince is underwhelming. Actually, he wasn't a good villain to begin with. Then at the end, how General Tang can so easily be deceived in rebelling is so dumb. He's supposed to be a great General, and he didn't care to do his own investigation and just blindly believe? I thought he had something evil brewing from the start, but there's nothing!

Production Quality, etc
It is without a doubt a drama with money. The costumes, accessories, and sets are elaborate and beautiful. That's why I was disappointed when the execution isn't there. We do not see cheap fabric or flimsy sets. We see beautiful rooms with wooden fixtures and soft candle lighting. It also has decent CGI with the sharks and mermaid. The OST sounds nice but not too memorable. I do appreciate that they don't overplay the theme songs nor use the BGM to force me to think and feel a certain way. As part of the Novoland universe, I was hoping to see more fight scenes. In the first few episodes, they had simple and slow-motion fights. A few better fight and battle scenes sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to satisfy my wuxia/xianxia thirst. The only "Novoland" part of this drama is the mermaid. I guess it might be too much to ask for the Winged Clan. It seems like almost all actors and actresses use their own voices, except for William Chan. People complain about Yang Mi's voice not being the same as in her other dramas. I guess fans are disappointed that she has such a young voice. I am all for actors using their own voices, but I do have to admit it was quite distracting and annoying to hear Yang Mi's young voice when she's supposed to be a boy/man. Her voice does sound deeper when she became a soldier/general. I also find the voice and the way Zi Lan (3FL) talks a little annoying.

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A drama that requires your full attention with excellent acting by the whole cast

"Legend of Zang Hai" is not a drama that I can binge. It has a combination of a lot of serious talking and subtle facial expressions and body language. This is not a drama that you can only listen to but actually have to watch and pay attention. As I was so tired from work each day, I had to watch it in small doses and rewind a couple times as I’ve missed some details.

Xiao Zhan did a great job here. I think his acting is elevated as he's acting alongside such a great veteran cast. It’s also nice to watch a drama full of smart characters. This is a beautiful production with realistic sets, costumes and lighting without artificial blinding white light. I am also pleasantly surprised at the fight choreography in this drama. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Zhang Jing Yi fight, and I have to say she looks good and believable.

Romance, as expected to be a side plot. The leads’ relationship is central to the story, but not the romance itself. I liked the chemistry between Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jing Yi in the earlier episodes when they were bickering and outsmarting each other. But later on when they are actually confessing feelings and become a pair, I am not feeling the romantic vibes, more like good friends.

One of the disappointing elements for me personally, is that Jiang Zing Yi was the only one who was dubbed, even though it was done well. The pacing of the drama was fine for the most part, but I did find it a little slow in the second 1/4 of the drama, yet the last 5 episodes were jam packed.

“Legend of Zhang Hai” did keep me guessing who was the 3rd villain. If you are interested in the revenge theme or political scheming and power struggle, this is a good one to watch. It has excellent acting and high production value. Try not to binge and pay attention to fully enjoy the drama.


Completed: 7/4/2025 - Review #597

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Strong and Likable Characters in a Historical, Political Romance Drama

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75 (warning: long review)

I did not read the novel, so my review is based just on the drama itself. “Are You The One” covers many different topics - lies, fake marriage, business, politics, fight for the throne, amnesia and of course romance. For the most part, the drama strikes a pretty good balance. Except for the amnesia plot that’s taken a little too long (more about this below), this drama holds my attention for all 40 episodes.

“Are You The One” is a dark horse favorite for me. I came in without expectation as I was in some sort of drama funk. A lower budget production without a big blockbuster cast doesn’t attract too much attention. But the popularity of Zhang Wan Yi from “Lost You Forever” probably drives some traffic. I personally didn’t watch that drama. Instead, I really like Zhang Wan Yi in “The Bond” and that’s also what prompted me to try this drama out. Let’s start with the ‘negatives’.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

1. Length of the Drama/Amnesia/Plot
As mentioned above, I felt that the amnesia plot lasted way too long. I was waiting for Liu Mian Tang (FL) to gain her memory back and was anticipating a big showdown and blowout. As much as I enjoy the slow development of the lead romance, I can’t wait for more to happen. The business plot was fine in the beginning, but it drags on. I was also a little unclear in the beginning about the political strife between Cui Xing Zhou (ML) and Zi Yu+party. I wonder if these factors would be the reasons why many think the drama is slow and drop it. I think 30-35 episodes would be sufficient to cover all storylines and make the pacing better.

2. Sun Yun Er
She was so badass for half of the drama. She might be obsessed with Zi Yu and did crazy things to jeopardize her original plans, but at least she was interesting to watch. In the latter half of the drama, she is sidelined to become a petty and useless puppet. She was at least a ruthless puppet before.

3. Too Perfect Leads
This point is very subjective. It could be good or bad, or maybe you don’t care. Are Cui Xing Zhou and Liu Mian Tang too perfect? They are both intelligent, courageous, loyal, have a sense of justice, good-looking, and basically are better than anyone else in the drama. Additionally, Liu Mian Tang is a business savvy woman, learns medicine and poison from books, can support in war strategy and be the perfect wife and daughter-in-law. This woman can do no wrong. Are they too perfect for you? Even though they don’t bother me that much, it’s worth noting this down.

4. Part of the Ending
The villain has been calculating, cautious, detail-oriented for so many years. Yet he was triggered to act rashly in the end due to a few angry words from ML. It seems a little uncharacteristic but it’s the end of the drama, we gotta close it out. There’s a really nicely choreographed fight scene in the end. I was enjoying it until the slow mo romantic looks happened. I then can’t take it seriously. I also don’t think that scene is necessary in the grand scheme of things. It’s more of a fan service.

5. Dubbing
This is very subjective as I am a big fan of actors using their own voices. It’s a little disappointing that Wang Chu Ran and Chang Hua Sen were both dubbed. I think the drama would be more intriguing and captivating if the lines were recorded live on scene (even if partially). The acting of the cast is pretty good, so I think being able to hear their emotions when acting would be so much better. Nevertheless, this is a lower budget production, so I shouldn’t expect too much. I think money is spent on other areas (more about this in the positives section).

6. Makeup
Also subjective here because I can’t stand the ugly white makeup on the male characters. And at times, Wang Chu Ran’s eye shadow reminds me of the racoon eyes that Luo Yun Xi has in “Till The End of the Moon”. Zhang Wan Yi also continues to look quite clean when he’s in a war battle (a few smudges here and there don’t count), or when he’s hurt and in prison. His white makeup is the most distracting, especially when he’s not ill.


What I Like:

1. Strong and Likable Characters
Despite my ‘complaints’ about the leads, they also make the audience want to root for them. Who doesn’t like a power couple? They are fun to watch when they are steps ahead of everyone. And it’s not just the main leads. The two supporting couples are also very easy to root for, especially, when they are not as perfect. They feel more real. They make mistakes but also evolve throughout the drama. With all three couples, they are likable individually but even better when pairing up to be better versions of themselves. I also like how the drama gives equal screen time to the female and male characters to have their own storylines.

2. Acting
Coming in, I wasn’t sure of Wang Chu Ran. She’s pretty and elegant. But is she capable of carrying the show on her shoulders? I think she did a pretty job and no less than her performance in “Fireworks of my Heart”. As I mentioned, I already like Zhang Wan Yi and I enjoy his portrayal of Lord Huaiyang. He’s charismatic as the lord, and lovely has a doting husband (he has a cute pouty look). Comparatively, I find Chang Hua Sen a little less charismatic as Liu Yu, but elegant and scholarly as Zi Yu. A surprise find for me is Yuan Yu Xuan’s portrayal of the timid and shy Shi Xue Ji. She is one of my favorite characters in this drama. Additionally, this drama has a large supporting cast by many veteran actors. Their acting is top notch.

3. Romance
If you are a romance lover like me, you might be pretty happy with this drama. There are 3 romance storylines and each of them is unique and special.

- Liu Mian Tang + Cui Xing Zhou - this power couple started as enemies/strangers and slowly developed feelings for each other in a fake marriage. I can’t lie that I wasn’t frustrated with the treatment of ML to FL during the amnesia plot. I think the fake identity dragged on for too long, but from a romance point of view, the hesitation can be viewed as reasonable. I also enjoy them supporting each other, being able to openly communicate their feelings for better or for worse. Their initial romance is calm and constant, and then it’s a little angsty in the middle before becoming sweet and supportive. It was a great journey.

- Shi Xue Ji + Zi Yu - we don’t see a relationship like this often in C-dramas. Political marriages are either portrayed as the couple hating/ignoring each other + a love triangle/square, or they fall in love during the process. But their relationship is different. They are not quite friends but more like partners and comrades. I hope true feelings develop in that very last scene.

- He Zhen + Marques Zhennan - they are the fun pair who bicker from start to finish. I actually think they got the short end of the stick, as their romance somewhat happened behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see the guy chasing after the girl and be as supportive as possible.

4. Meaningful Conversations + Implied meanings
Because the leads are quite communicative, there are many meaningful conversations throughout the drama. The drama also uses many ‘old language’ with idioms and poetry. I am not sure how they are translated in English since I was able to read Chinese subtitles. But when a drama is able to convey a secretive message with just a few words, it speaks highly of the writing of the drama or its source materials. I especially love ML’s confession to FL about how he loves all about her, and not just the adoring housewife that she was. Another favorite is the love birds analogy Shi Xue Ji told Zi Yu in persuading him to let go.

5. Costumes + Hair Accessories
I am a big fan of beautiful costumes and hair accessories. If this is not a high budget production, it’s dedicating enough money to have simple and elegant costumes for the characters. Zhang Wang Yi looks dashing in his simple attire, and only a little fancier in the latter episodes when he’s moved back to the city. Wang Chu Ran looks elegant and sophisticated with minimal makeup and hair accessories. But when needed, all the women in the palace have elaborate and not-faking hair accessories. I also appreciate the use of the hair pins in this drama. They don’t necessarily serve as a mere ornament, but contribute to important scenes and storylines.
- Hair pins are used to show the social status and hierarchy in a family
- FL’s hair pins are used as a weapon of convenience in a few scenes.
- FL’s special glow-in-the-dark hair pin was used in a couple storylines
- A 12-piece set contributed to the downfall of a character



This drama is definitely not perfect. But I think it strikes a pretty good balance in most of the topics it wants to cover. It has a strong and likable cast (ok, except one annoying auntie). The politics are not dry or boring. I would definitely recommend this to those who love romance in historical, political dramas. But if you are looking for a serious political drama, this might not satisfy you. I was tempted to give this drama a solid 9.0 when I finished it, but held back after I detailed everything in this review. Nevertheless, I had a fantastic time watching “Are You The One”.


P.s this is a long review. Thank you for reading until the end. 🙂


Completed: 9/8/2024 - Review #482

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Surprisingly entertaining short web drama

Completed - 4/15/2022

MangoTV has been churning out these short web dramas that are surprisingly entertaining. I am not sure why this drama is called "The Killer is Also Romantic" as the Chinese title is the combination of the leads names, Nian Nian Wu Ming. It could be loosely translated as Missing/Thinking of Wu Ming.

In a little over 3 hours, this drama is able to tell a funny and interesting story about a couple who each has a hidden identity. The fun is when each of the leads tries to hide their real identity and personality, and of course, we want to find out what happens when the secrets are out. As another reviewer said, it's like the Chinese historical version of Mr & Mrs Smith. Coming into this, I have pretty low expectations, just like the other MangoTV drama "Emperor or Boss", which has the same male lead, Yang Ze. The plot is simple, but the chemistry and acting are decent. For a low budget web drama, I am pleased to see that nothing seems cheap. There is no annoying character, two smart and capable leads and we got some decent kisses (and many almost kisses).

If you need a palate cleanser from a serious drama and got a few hours to kill, this is perfect.

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Completed - 3/6/2022

When “Bad Buddy” was airing, the MDL feeds were spammed with comments, screenshots, reviews, and everyone was praising this drama. I thought I would pick this to be my first Thai drama (I ended up watching “I Told Sunset About You” first). Maybe the expectations were too high, and I fail to see how the drama could justify a high 8.6 rating. As reviews are very subjective, please do not hate me for not loving it (I like it OK). I am a new Thai drama watcher, so maybe I am not getting some of the cultural or BL references/biases. I am judging this based on my enjoyment level.

What I Enjoy:

General Plot - I do enjoy this modern and BL take of “Romeo and Juliet”. Even though for the most part, I was confused about why the two families hate each other so much. The reasons given in the beginning of the show didn’t seem to justify the animosity. But I like the premise and how our main leads break that tradition. I enjoy the development of how Pat and Pran compete with each other since childhood. This sense of competition never goes away, even when they become lovers. I have always been a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and I think the transition of the different stages of their relationship is done relatively well.

Chemistry - Pat and Pran really do have great chemistry together. I love their bickering and the continued competition throughout their relationship. This I-am-not-losing-to-you spirit adds spice to their chemistry.. I like the embarrassed and twist-my-arm looks that Pran always has on his face. I also like the smitten looks that Pat has when he’s looking at Pran. They complement each other very well. Their few emotional scenes were done really well. The couple gives off a very rom-com vibe - cute, fluffy, sweet and fun. However, at some point, the flirting became a little too much (more in the negative section below).

Love who you want - I am not sure if other Thai BL dramas are like this, but this drama doesn’t make a big deal when someone is in a homosexual relationship. We have heterosexual, gay, lesbian couples in this drama. No one was alarmed, no one was criticizing or judging. It’s giving a message of “I don’t care who you love as long as you are happy”. It’s different from “I Told Sunset About You’. There’s no coming out of the closet angst, stigma or prejudice. We really need more drama like this to present a healthy, supportive message to the world.

Songs - I like all the songs in this drama. I always look forward to scenes when Pran picks up the guitar and sings.


What I Don’t Enjoy:

Excessive Flirting+Shirtless Pat = Fan service - I love flirting as much as the next romance watcher. However, the flirting in this drama is excessive and cringey to me. A whole episode was dedicated just to the leads’ flirting before they are officially an item. At times, I also find Pat annoying when he keeps on pestering Pran and just repeating these cringey love lines. I wish the drama had toned down on the flirting, and focused a little more on the family drama/history and not just waited till the last couple episodes. Additionally, are we having too many shirtless scenes of Pat? Don’t get me wrong, he’s hot and has a great body and I do enjoy seeing this handsome guy. But I feel like the excessive flirting and shirtless scenes are just for fan service to create buzz when the show is airing. It “cheapens’ the quality of the drama.

Faculty Rivalry - I also feel that the drama spends too much time on the Architecture/Engineering rivalry. These college students are acting like high school kids, with no self-control whatsoever. When you get busted so many times, it’s time to think before you act. With the excessive flirting and rivalry scenes, the drama could be cut down to 10 episodes only.

Product Placement - There are so many products being advertised in this drama. We have the usual suspects of drinks and snacks. I’ve never seen a printer advertisement by a male lead before (I guess we still need to change ink cartridges these days), and the multiple scenes of our leads cleaning each other’s face with makeup remover.


Other Observations:
1. Pat’s father looks Chinese and his character’s name is Ming. It’s also interesting to see him reading a Chinese newspaper.
2. Do Thai beers really have such light color and no foam at all?
3. The ending is good enough for me and we don’t need a Season 2. Love the subtle acknowledgment of the parents.
4. To show that the kids are adults, you just need to get their hair styled back - no more hanging fringes.
5. My first time seeing and listening to a Thai Xylophone. It sounds great!

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A slow-paced romance that gives us the happy ending we needed

9/25/2021

Just like many, I have been waiting for the happy ending after watching "One and Only". O&O is a beautiful, tragic romance where no one got a happy ending. I am eagerly waiting for Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi's happily every after. This drama is not a romantic comedy and one should not expect cute and fluffy romance and lots of kisses. Instead, I feel that it has a very similar vibe to O&O. It's mellow and romantic in its own way. The romance is developed very slowly, even though they are engaged early on in the drama. Some might find the pace too slow because of ZZC's character and his awkward dorkiness. One need to be patient for the romance to develop and it's the central part of this whole drama. I do think that the drama could have been a little shorter.

What I like:

1. Zhou Sheng Chen/Allen Ren - One of the main reasons I enjoy this drama is because I enjoy a male lead like ZSC. I have a soft spot for a ML who is a little reserved, loyal, a little dorky, and shows his affections through quiet actions and not cheesy lines. I like how ZSC could only manage to utter a few words in the beginning of the romance. Then you slowly see that he speaks in phrases, then in complete sentences and then able to joke and tease. The way he talks shows the progression of their relationship. I am a fan of Allen Ren, but I never find him super attractive unless he's in uniform. But I find him VERY attractive in this drama. He looks good in a sweatshirt, in PJs and in suits, well, and topless. He looks especially good with his wet hair :)

2. *Spoiler* Ep 23 Bathtub scene - This is the most intimate, heartbreaking and romantic scene. It breaks my heart that ZSC was devastated from his grief. I felt Shu Yi's helplessness in not knowing how to comfort him. The washing of his hair feels so intimate and comforting. I love that ZSC asks Shu Yi to hug him and she immediately climbs inside the tub and give him a big, tender, loving hug. We don't need a passionate kiss here. All we need is that quietness and understanding of each other. This scene gives me the same vibe as my favorite nose-touching scene in One and Only.

3. Main Romance - I love how Shu Yi complements ZSC so well. They are both quiet people but Shu Yi is honest and straightforward, very similar to Shu Yi in One and Only. She's the one that always initiates and shows affection first, and that's what ZSC needs. I like how inexperienced our male lead is and the way he's always trying to ask Shu Yi to teach him. I agree with Shu Yi, he is absolutely adorable in his dorky self. The romance is mature and healthy. They trust each other and there isn't any silly misunderstanding between them. I also like their subtle color-matching outfits, esp. the yellow/tan sweater that Shu Yi wears and the yellow/tan jacket that ZSC wears (he looks so good in that outfit!).

4. Acting - Of course Bai Lu and Allen Ren are amazing and have great chemistry. I enjoy the supporting cast as well, e.g. Grandma, Uncle Lin, FL's parents and Little Ren.

4. Costumes - Everyone in this drama dresses very well. Our leads have a wonderful wardrobe of casual wear, formal wear and evening wear. It's hard to find a C-drama that I agree with the costume choices, as I've seen too many oversized clothing. Bai Lu looks absolutely beautiful in everything she wears. And of course, Allen Ren, who I gushes so much about already.

5. The Sites/Cinematography - What a beautiful traditional-style big house we have in this drama. The shots of the view of the lotus pond is especially beautiful when the red lanterns were up. I love all the rooms, all the yards and especially the library. I am also glad that we get to see sights in Shanghai and Xi'An as well.

What I don't Like:

1. Reincarnation Ban - I read that China bans dramas of reincarnation and I think it affects the story-telling of this drama. For fans of One & Only, Forever and Ever lacks the connection between the two. As much as I like the dream sequences and the voice dubbing, they are not enough to provide viewers to feel the emotional connection and the leads past lives. That's why I find it hard to believe that Shu Yi would fall in love with Zhou Shen Chen at the airport because of a name.

2. Plot holes - Did ML tell FL the real reason for his proposal, that he needs to get married to inherit everything? Did I miss that part? How can a boatman not know how to swim? Didn't the crabs stay with FL's parents house and the cute dad was fanning the crabs? How come the little girl brought the crabs back to ML?

3. Lack of kisses - I did not feel that One & Only needs any kiss scene. But, I do feel that we need at least one or two more in Forever and Ever. We only get one in the car and it was going so well until it was interrupted. There were quite a few moments when I felt that a kiss will enhance the scene, e.g. when they were both soaked in the rain and got back to the hotel before their first night together. Or when they're in the snow on top of the tower before or after they whisper the "I love you"?

4. Family Drama at the end - I am not sure how I feel about the family drama in the last few episodes. It feels a little out of place.

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Can you really change your fate when given a second chance?

Completed: 9/28/2022 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

Choosing to watch this drama is because of Jing Chao. I’ve liked him since his role as General Fu in “Princess Silver”. I am glad that he did not disappoint and is the star of the show. The story of rebirth could be a tricky one. It could become repetitive and boring when not done right, but I think “Lost Track of Time” did a pretty decent job.

What I Like:

1. Jing Chao - Without a doubt, this drama would not be the same without Jing Chao as Mu Ze. Even though he was listed as the second male lead, he shines the brightest amongst the whole cast. He might not give me second lead syndrome in his role here (he did in “Princess Silver”) but he has a commanding presence and I can’t take my eyes off him when he’s on the screen. He has great chemistry with both the male lead and female lead. While I pity his character, I am glad that he was not portrayed as a cartoonish villain, but one who is smart and cunning.

2. Scheming Duel - I enjoy watching how Lu An Ran (FL) and Mu Ze try to outsmart each other every step of the way. When you think one of them has the upper hand, the tides change. The drama keeps me thinking if Lu An Ran really can successfully seek revenge and change the fate of everyone. I particularly enjoy the first ⅔ of the drama.

3. Brotherhood - Mu Chuan and Mu Ze’s tight bond is the best relationship in this drama, outshining all the romantic storylines. I am glad we get an extended and deeper look into their childhood life and why they become each other’s favorite person in the world in the rebirth timeline. Despite having very different personalities and goals in life, and Mu Chuan questioning his brother’s true character, I am happy with this bromance all the way till the end.

4. General Plot - Though I still don’t know why Lu An Ran was given a second chance, I enjoy how the rebirth story is told. At first, I worry about repetitiveness (like time lapse or time travel storylines) but am pleasantly surprised that the drama is able to create different storylines for different characters, though whether their fate was changed or not is the big question.


What I am have Mixed Feelings or Don’t like:

1. Main Romance - It’s unfortunate I don’t really feel the chemistry between Lu An Ran and Mu Chuan. And because of this, I am not moved by the angst and their sufferings. Mu Chuan, on paper, is the perfect guy. He’s caring, sweet, thoughtful, considerate and supportive. He doesn’t force Lu An Ran to disclose all her secrets, but patiently waits for her. I love the meaning behind the rice crop. He would make my list of Ideal Man. I am not sure if it’s because of the acting of both Xing Fei and Zhai Zi Lu, something is missing. I think both actors did a fine job, but not great. Xing Fei’s emotionless face is bland at times. Zhai Zi Lu is not animated or sweet enough. Or maybe because Jing Chao is just too good that they pale in comparison.

2. Dubbing - It’s unfortunate that none of the actors used their own voice in this drama. Everyone is dubbed by voice actors, and the voices are not well synced with how the mouths move. Most of the voices are fine, but the most annoying is the high-pitched voice of the maid, Ling Xi. Her character is already quite annoying and her dubbed voice makes it worse.

3. Production - I understand that this is not a big budget production. However, even a mid-budget production should be able to use a green screen effectively. There are scenes when the characters are in the grass fields or rice fields, and you can obviously see that the background is fake. And what is up with the fuzzy, slow motion camera work? I can understand if you’re trying to distinguish one timeline from another, but there are some regular scenes where such ‘unique’ fuzzy camerawork is not justified. The costumes and set design are of decent quality and on par with the budget. I do enjoy the songs in this drama. They are not overplayed and the music complements the scenes very well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the OST on Spotify as I really enjoy the song, 今夕何夕 by Xian Zi 弦子.

4. Inconsistent pacing and scenes - For the most part, this drama has pretty good pacing, especially the first ⅔ of the drama. But towards the end, it becomes inconsistent. At times it seems like everything happens too fast, other times, I feel that it drags. I wonder if the drama would be better if it’s only 24-26 episodes long and not 30. There are also a few scenes that are inconsistent with a character or illogical, e.g. 1) a prisoner tortured and still in possession of a dagger, 2) a cautious character disclosing somewhat confidential info to another character, 3) people not running out of a room when there’s a fire and explosion erupted but continue to roll out subsequent events.


Overall, this is a pretty decent drama and should have a higher rating than 7.7. I quite enjoy it even though the romance did not move me as much as I wanted. I am giving this a a generous 8.25 (rounding up to 8.5 because I love Jing Chao, and I want to pull the average rating up a little). I think the current ending is realistic and good enough. I don’t think we need a special episode with an alternate (unrealistic) ending.

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A light and fun drama about the common folks. Follow the leads journey of love and growth.

Completed - 5/30/2022

“The Lady in the Butcher’s House” might not be a masterpiece, but it brought me joy with its comedic moments throughout the drama. But in order to truly enjoy this drama, you can’t take it too seriously. Also know that our FL might come off as crude and violent in the first few episodes. Many commented on her hitting her husband, and that is true. If the role is reversed and her husband is hitting her, we would be crying foul and calling the police. If you can move past this, you will be rewarded with a heartwarming and funny drama, and witness how this couple complement and support each other through good times and bad times.

Acting is decent overall. I recently watched Baby Zhang in “Delicious Romance” as a 30-year sophisticated, divorced woman, so it took me a few episodes to get used to her character here as a loud, a little violent tomboy. I do think she does a pretty good job acting as a teenager and growing to be a wife. On the other hand, I never would have recognized Tong Meng Shi as Uncle Wu in “Joy of Life”. I really like his portrayal of a timid husband, weak scholar and a just official. He is also hilarious with so many embarrassing scenes.

I enjoy stories about commoners and how they live through their everyday struggles.. Although this drama still has a subplot about court officials and the royal family, the majority of the drama is about our main couple’s journey. We follow them as they grow closer to each other, falling in love and working hard and supporting each other. They might be different on the outside, but they have the same values and ethics, and complement each other. They make for a very fun couple to watch. Although there are many comedic moments, mainly from Xu Qing Jia, there are also many heartwarming scenes. They have a rough start as a contract married couple, but they have very honest and open communication, and are there to support each other. Along the way, they make new friends, start up new businesses and save and help fellow commoners.

When you look at the romances/relationships in this drama, you will notice a role reversal here. The women in this drama are smart and strong. They are go-getters, savvy business women and often take the lead in their relationships. The men, on the other hand, are shy and quiet, and don’t know how to respond to their women’s advances or teasing. Actually, all the women in this drama are pretty independent and smart.

As much as I enjoy this show, I do have to say the plot and storylines are quite predictable. This could be a comfortable watch, or one that is lacking excitement/twists and turns. The pacing is pretty good in the first ⅔ of the drama, but it slows down a little in the last ⅓. There are some plot holes but they do not affect the main storylines. I would have loved to see more on how the second leads fall in love. I was told that they are attracted to each other but I wasn’t shown how. I also wonder how our female lead, who is only a butcher’s daughter, is so business savvy that she knows so much about tea and medicine to open different businesses. I thought she only knows about pigs.

Other Random Observations:
1. Love the animated opening theme.
2. Love the way ML looks at FL.
3. Putting a black covering over a rooster’s head? Genius and Hilarious! (PETA, don’t hate me).
4. No annoying character is a big plus.
5. Decent music and not overplayed

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Watch it if you have doubts about Yang Yang's acting

Completed - 4/29/2022 - 9.25 rating
(minor spoilers at the end of the review)

“The Glory of Special Forces” is one of the few realistic military dramas and it follows the character and career development of a young, self-centered, genius soldier, to become an outstanding team captain of the Special Forces. Just reading the synopsis, it seems like any other military story. But this drama excels in its amazing acting performance by everyone, esp. Yang Yang, and the high production value and realistic portrayal of the military. It’s not a perfect drama for me, because I have mixed feelings about the last 5 episodes which I will discuss at the end of the review with minor spoilers.

What I Enjoy:

Yang Yang - If it wasn't for Yang Yang, I would not have watched this drama. I have seen my fair share of YY dramas. He melted my heart in “Love O2O” and “You are my Glory” as the amazing boyfriend. I’ve also enjoyed his cool, calm and collected personality in “The Four” and finally a funnier side of him in “The King’s Avatar”. I understand others questioning his acting. But if you are in doubt, please watch this drama. Yang Yang is AMAZING in “The Glory of Special Forces”. You can see his usual, calm and cool self, and also the pain he endured when battling the demons of a traumatic incident, losses in life and the confusion of why doing his best is just not enough. You don’t see the idol Yang Yang anymore. I see a soldier struggling to be the best, learning to believe in his teammates and being a proud member of the Special Forces.

Plot/Pacing - The pacing of this drama is excellent. Each episode is packed with action and thrilling events. 45 episodes flew by just like that. There are many mini-climaxes throughout the drama that keeps me entertained. As we follow the character and career development of Yan Po Yue (ML), I am happy to see that there’s enough progress and setbacks. The drama also deals with PTSD after a soldier’s first killing, the death of a comrade, and survivor’s guilt. Each character’s background story is compelling and different, so you get to understand what it takes for young men and women to enter and stay in the military. I do have a few criticisms about the plot which I’ll discuss later on.

Acting/Supporting Cast/Training - There is no weak link in the supporting cast. The overall acting is amazing. I am sure this is not the only military drama where actors have to train off and on camera. But through this drama, you appreciate the actors dedication to their craft and the effort they put into making every scene believable. They walk, talk, march, salute, just like a regular soldier. For most of the drama, each soldier is in armor training or completing missions. Only a very small part of the drama is when they are just hanging out and chatting. Moreover, even the teen version of the main characters look like the adults! Good casting!

Guo Xiao Xiao - I want to single out the only female main character, Guo Xiao Xiao, played by Jiang Lu Xia. GXX is such a cool and badass sniper/soldier. I realized that Jiang Lu Xia is a martial artist and it really shows. Most of the time, actresses portrayed as soldiers still don’t act soldier-like. But not GXX. Her training, missions, and fights are so realistic that could put some male actors to shame. I also really enjoy her backstory and really sympathize with her character. I am also glad she remains a good team member/comrade. No love story. Just plain friendship.

Production Value/Fight Scenes - Not sure if the drama is sponsored by the government, but to my untrained eyes, this is one of the most realistic military dramas I’ve watched. I also recently watched “Operation: Special Warfare”, which I enjoyed, but comparatively, “The Glory of Special Forces” is definitely a more realistic portrayal. On another note, I really enjoyed all the physical fight scenes, and there are quite a few in this drama. They are hardcore fights which seemed to be shot in one frame (not piece together fake fights with wide angle shots). I like the fights here more than in some wuxia dramas. Nothing seems cheap - from settings, equipment, uniform, training and missions locations.


What I have Mixed feelings about (Minor spoilers)

I think the drama might be better off ending at episode 40 when the drug cartel storyline ended. That was one big, explosive mission and was so exciting. However, the drama continues with sending the Special Forces to the academy to be trained as leaders. I understand this is the next step of career advancement. However, after the initial reluctance and dissatisfaction to learn about new military technological advances and the importance of languages, the drama does not show us how the Special Forces eventually realize and accept all these important lessons. They are quickly sent off to the international competition. The competition should be the perfect setting for the crew to appreciate lessons learned in the academy. The episodes in the academy went completely lost and went down the drain. The only thing it did is to send one soldier home, and to introduce another elite team. Oh, and also to let Li Yi Tong to show up on screen again. I read that the drama was cut short due to censorship, and I wonder if that was why those last 5 episodes felt a little off.

In these 45 episodes, most of the time was spent on training and competitions. There are actually 2 real-life missions. One about a drug dealer in the village and the big drug cartel mission. I would have loved to see more real-life missions. Maybe those were cut as well when the episode count was reduced?


Other Observations:
1. No, there is no romance and it’s not needed. This is from someone who LOVES romance. There’s enough going on to keep me entertained.
2. Yes, there are many handsome men in uniform. Eye candies galore! LOL
3. There are few songs that complement the drama well and not overplayed.
4. Don’t watch this for Li Yi Tong. She has a small role and is definitely not the female lead.
5. I do find it annoying that Leng Jing kept on mentioning Guo Xiao Xiao is a female soldier when GXX doesn’t care.
6. I know they are Special Forces, but sometimes I feel that they need more people in the team to fight against the drug cartels.
7. All soldiers recover quite quickly from the injuries
8. They must have super, duper, powerful bulletproof vest.

Overall, this is an amazing drama. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. If you are a fan of Yang Yang, this is a must-see! If you have doubts about Yang Yang’s acting, please watch this as well.

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