Reviews

A Love That Heals: A Drama That Teaches Us to Choose Ourselves

To the Moon and Back is one of those rare gems in the world of drama — a series that stays with you long after the credits roll, leaving a lasting imprint on your heart. It’s the kind of show that mixes laughter, tears, and introspection in the most seamless and natural way, taking viewers on an emotional rollercoaster that’s both rewarding and deeply moving. From the very first episode to the final scene, this drama manages to captivate, heal, and inspire in a way that’s so authentic, it’s impossible not to fall in love with it.

The Story: A Beautiful Journey of Love, Family, and Self-Discovery

The plot centers around Penneung, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, who, despite his success, is emotionally repressed and suffocated by his father’s controlling influence. He’s lived a life dictated by expectations and the desire to please others. In contrast, Mata, an illustrator raised by a vibrant and loving family of drag queens, is the embodiment of freedom, kindness, and acceptance. Their meeting — which starts off in a hilarious misunderstanding with a Halloween cake — sparks a connection that is as unexpected as it is profound. What follows is a beautifully developed relationship between these two opposites, as they help each other heal, grow, and become the best versions of themselves.

The journey they embark on isn’t just a romance; it’s an exploration of self-love, healing from past wounds, and learning to accept both yourself and those around you. Every moment in the show is purposeful — every gesture, every word, and every silence speaks volumes about the emotional depth the characters are experiencing. The show does not shy away from the darker aspects of life — the trauma, the family struggles, and the painful journeys — but it handles these themes with sensitivity, humor, and grace, making the process of healing both uplifting and touching.

Characters: Deep, Multifaceted, and Real

The cast of To the Moon and Back is nothing short of spectacular, with each character bringing their own unique charm and complexity to the story.

Mata (played by Toey) is, without a doubt, one of the most memorable female leads in recent drama history. She is not loud, overdramatic, or flawed in the typical ways we often see in rom-coms. Instead, Mata is a beacon of light — cheerful, caring, and incredibly kind. What sets her apart is her ability to love without judgment, to accept people for who they are, and to create a space where others can grow. Toey’s performance is nothing short of brilliant — it’s clear that Mata was made for her, and she brings the character to life with such authenticity that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else playing her. Mata’s warmth and generosity are palpable, and watching her support Penneung as he learns to embrace his true self is incredibly inspiring.

Penneung (played by James Ji) brings a quiet strength to his role, which is perfectly complemented by Mata’s radiant energy. His character is someone who has been emotionally stunted by his upbringing, and watching him open up and transform over the course of the series is a beautiful journey. James Ji’s portrayal is effortlessly natural — there are moments when you forget you’re watching a character, and it feels like you’re simply seeing him in his truest form. He brings a soft yet deeply emotional vulnerability to Penneung, and that makes his character arc one of the most touching in the drama. The chemistry between Mata and Penneung is undeniable — it’s the kind of relationship that feels organic, built on mutual respect, understanding, and growth.

Supporting characters, like Father Grace and Aunt Vee, elevate the story in such meaningful ways. Father Grace, with his unconditional love for Mata, is the pillar of strength and wisdom in the story. His teachings about love, kindness, and honesty have shaped Mata into the person she is, and his presence in the series brings so much warmth and depth. Aunt Vee, too, plays an important role in shaping Mata’s worldview, and their family dynamic is truly something special. The Cage gang, with their lively and fun personalities, adds another layer of love and support to the narrative, proving that family isn’t just about blood — it’s about love, care, and acceptance.

Themes & Messages: Healing, Growth, and Love Without Judgment

The beauty of To the Moon and Back lies in its ability to tackle heavy themes with grace and sensitivity. It addresses issues like mental health, self-acceptance, family dynamics, and love without judgment in such a way that it feels like a warm hug for the soul. The drama showcases the importance of being true to oneself and supporting others in their own journey of self-discovery. The characters are not just navigating love but also the pain and scars from their past. As they heal and grow, so does their love — it becomes stronger, more honest, and more supportive. This drama teaches us that true love isn’t about perfection; it’s about embracing each other’s flaws and strengths and growing together.

The show also highlights the power of found families. Mata’s relationship with her unconventional family is a prime example of this. Despite being rejected by society, they continue to support and uplift each other, proving that love and support can come from unexpected places. Similarly, Penneung’s journey with Mata and her family shows how love can help heal even the deepest wounds, and how being surrounded by the right people can help you find the courage to embrace who you truly are.

One of the most powerful lines in the drama — “I love Mata because she gave me strength to choose me” — encapsulates the core message of the show. It’s a reminder that love should empower you to choose yourself, to be the best version of who you are, and to never settle for anything less than what you deserve.

Cinematography & OST: Beauty in Every Frame

The cinematography in To the Moon and Back is stunning, with each frame carefully crafted to highlight the emotional depth of the story. The warm tones, the soft lighting, and the beautiful locations all contribute to the calming and soothing atmosphere of the series. The visuals perfectly complement the gentle pace of the drama, enhancing the emotional experience.

The OST is another standout feature. The music flows seamlessly with the story, elevating the emotional moments without overwhelming them. Yindi, in particular, is a song that perfectly captures the essence of the drama — soft, melodic, and full of heart. The music never feels out of place, but rather enhances the intimacy of the relationships and the emotional arcs of the characters. It’s one of those soundtracks that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching, making it even harder to let go of the world of To the Moon and Back.

Final Thoughts: A Drama That Heals and Inspires

In conclusion, To the Moon and Back is more than just a drama; it’s a beautiful reminder of the power of love, growth, and self-acceptance. It teaches us that love isn’t just about being in a relationship; it’s about growing as individuals, supporting each other through the highs and lows, and embracing who we are, flaws and all. The acting, the writing, the themes, and the cinematography all come together to create a work of art that resonates deeply with viewers. It’s not just about romance — it’s about healing, finding peace within yourself, and being surrounded by people who love and accept you for who you truly are.

This drama has made me laugh, cry, and reflect on what it means to love and be loved. It’s one of those shows that stays with you, leaving a lasting impression long after you’ve finished watching. If you haven’t seen it yet, I encourage you to start from episode 1 right now. You won’t regret it. It’s a journey worth taking, one that will fill you with warmth, joy, and a renewed sense of love and acceptance.

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A very cute way to advertise.

If we could get rid of many commercials and have adorable video ads like this more often, then I wouldn't be skipping ads all the time. lol

Episode 1: Zero Photography
This was really cute and it was nice to see Milk and Love play Ink and Pa from Bad Buddy again. The story makes you think that taking photos and preserving history should be important in our lives. It was really sweet.

Episode 2: Zero in the Moonlight
I always thought Tu had more chemistry with Dew than with Bright in F4 Thailand, and this episode shows that. It was cute, a bit odd, but cute. They acted well together though.

Episode 3: Zero Supporter
This is another opportunity to see Earth & Mix play as Korn & Win from Cupid's Last Wish. It was sweet and considering the plot of Cupid's Last Wish it had some ironic humor. They are just good actors, so they can pull off most roles.

All in all it's worth watching. Don't expect anything groundbreaking or stories that are too deep, because they only have roughly 50 minutes to tell each story and ultimately they are still advertisements for Oishi honey lemon green tea.

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Nice Watch

This was a good easy watch even though most of the characters went crazy at some point; I did not find it angsty. Most of us are looking for happy endings when watching dramas. Yes, this one has a happy ending. In my opinion too happy. I think most of the crazies had it too easy at the end for the gravity of the things that they did, it would have been more satisfying if they were at least punished in some way. Though I did like how Noh Go Jin and Park Yang Tae became frenemies at the end.

I liked how Noh Go Jin and Lee Shin A's relationship developed, there was no push and pull, it was like go all out hating each other at the beginning - got it all out of the way, discovering that they like each other and from then stuck and supported each other despite everything - not even the two faced ex could come between them.

I liked the OST too :-)

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Being bad never looked so good.

Rose Finch unfolds like a dark, chilling, and morbidly sensational penny dreadful set in Republican-era Shanghai. The story opens with a bizarre and graphic double murder involving an elite showgirl at Rose Finch (Zhuque Pavillion/朱雀堂), the hottest nightclub in town. Detective Tang Zhenyun is hot on the case, enlisting the aid of talented forensic scientist Xia Mo. Their paths cross with Gao Ying, the enigmatic and deadly boss of Rose Finch, who alternately aids or obstructs their investigation as suits her agenda. She seems intent on uncovering who is murdering her "songbirds" while protecting her family's interests. Is Gao Ying friend or foe?

This is a fast-paced, gripping crime thriller that, with its 20-minute episodes, has no time to waste on romance or typical drama digressions. The plot remains tightly focused on one major case, delivering relentless momentum. It’s more violent than expected, unflinchingly portraying the lawlessness and rot festering beneath the era’s decadence.

Wan Qian anchors the narrative with her awe-inspiring portrayal of an inscrutable, powerful, and ruthless mobster’s daughter who lives by her own code. Being bad never looked so good! Zhang Cheng also impresses as the pugnacious, hot-blooded Detective Tang, always ready for a brawl. I was surprised to see Qin Junjie in such a haunted, nerdy, and low-key role, but as a team, this unlikely crime-solving trio clicks perfectly. My only gripe is the dead spouse trope, which feels a bit maudlin and out of place.

The ending has some mildly unsatisfying aspects—it’s dark, cynical, yet oddly fitting for the era. A fantastic short watch. 7.5/10.

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A feel-good teen drama about loving yourself and being the best you can be

I'll be the first to admit that this is no masterpiece. But if you liked dramas like True Beauty, then you will definitely enjoy this one. The writing is full of cliches but enjoyably and the love triangle is quick and painless! The comedic scenes are hilarious and the chemistry between the different characters is amazing!

Also, like all of the cast look gorgeous? And the opening song and sequence is one of the best I've seen in dramas lol. We also got positive representation of a trans character!
This dramas also has a lot of heartwarming messages about loving yourself and having good self-esteem. The main message is that no matter how you look or what you think of yourself, you can change yourself for the better and find love, you just need to put in the hard work and have a positive outlook. I found it touching personally.

I would definitely definitely recommend this drama if you wanted something light and fluffy to watch! :)

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You'd love it if you watched the anime

I watched it only because I watched the anime, and honestly it tremendously exceeded my expectations. The level of care and heart poured into the story completely destroyed my regard for the anime. The anime was very relaxing and sweet, but the drama actually brought me to tears on multiple occasions. The main characters, especially Tokitaka, were so much more interesting and fleshed out. Their relationships were more substantiated and it was easier to see why they're so close. Highly highly recommend it if you were a fan of the anime. You won't be disappointed, 10/10.

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Feelings rehashed

And just like the original 50 episode version, I was left saddened and unmotivated after this viewing. It's like certain dramas, when they're done, just leave this gaping hole in your life because they went on and had this huge impact on you- this drama did that to me.
This was nice to watch after completing the OG a couple months ago and still feeling a little empty inside. Of course with this story being as popular as it is, there are many ways to continue to get my LWJ and WWX fix but still, the live action was just so... *le sigh* There are just no words.
I get that they had to cut a lot of the story because this was more about the mains but unless you're seen the OG then this version is obviously really incomplete. The bright side though is a lot of added scenes that weren't in the drama can be seen here.
Obviously I highly recommend this but watch the original first.

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a pleasantly relatable watch

Kudos to this series for being straightforward when it comes to the uncomfortable but relatable topics it chose to tackle in it’s short run. Ofc more could have been explored, but I am impressed with what I saw. Korea, can we have more types of these shows with these types of characters? this was a pretty good show.
The show focuses on three teenagers experiencing different issues in life and figuring out how to get through them. My personal favorite story was Jaemin’s. The bits with the online class he was taking had me laughing. Not only was it relatable but I can totally picture a guy doing a no-fap challenge to get a girl he likes. Yu Ri’s story hit close to home with me because it’s kind of what I’m going through currently in my life. I’m sure a lot of girls out there are waiting for a genuine guy with good intentions to come their way but instead end up feeling disappointed and used. I’ve yet to see the last episode but the ending to the first two stories are satisfactory. I’m glad to have finally found a show with teens who have realistic issues that are relevant to their age because you don’t see that much in the kdrama world.
The acting is good too despite the no-name cast(except for Miyeon). All the actors involved seemed to genuinely portray teens in an approachable way, which was fantastic for the viewer. If you’re looking for something quick, lighthearted, and not too silly, then this show is for you.

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So Bad but So Good; I watch this drama not for the plot but the male lead.

"I fell in love with the most dangerous man, why can't I let go?"

The lyrics above definitely describes my feelings about the male lead in this drama. His character is indeed portrayed to be a typical "Dangerous Man" that is mysterious, dark, intense, and toxic. Ngl, if it's in a real life, he would've been canceled because he's such a red flag 😭. However in this drama, despite the toxicity, the male lead is also very charismatic, good looking, charming and intriguing that you can't help but fall in love with him. It's all thanks to the actor who has successfully delivered the character to be that attractive. His acting is top notch and is totally on point. I can say the male lead and the actor are the best part of this drama.

One more thing that I like about this drama is the romance between the male lead and female lead. They have great chemistry and there are a lot of steamy kisses. I read some comments saying they don't like the female lead character because she's clingy but I think I have different opinion about this one. Yes, the female lead is clingy and looks weak but she's not a passive person. She made the first move to pursue the male lead, confessed her feeling first, comforted the male lead and she always ensured the male lead that he wasn't alone. The female lead gave the male lead the sense of security and he could find solace in her. I think their characters complete each other.

As for the story, this drama obviously has many flaws. To be honest it has so much potential but unfortunately the writing is weak that there are many loopholes in the plot. I suggest you not to use your brain when you're watching this drama and you can ignore all the non-sense things.

Overall, I think this drama is not perfect but it's still worth to watch and I totally enjoy watching it despite all the flaws. As for rewatch value, I think there's possibility that I might rewatch it again only for the male lead (lol). However, if you're typical a so called "woke" person or if you're looking for a solid plot, this drama isn't for you.

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I picked up this drama, because I wanted something light and fluffy. My Little Lover isn't anything mind blowing but it is sooo enjoyable. I was surprised myself at how much i liked this drama, because I am super picky. I am going to briefly introduce the pros and cons of this show.

Advantages:
*The cast. Actors in this drama are very young and their acting skills aren't magnificent but they are more than good and the fact that the characters and actors ages mach which is rare makes it more realistic.
*Nakagawa Taishi's acting skills are pretty good but there were some moments where I just wanted to clap, because he expressed the emotions perfectly. Actors in KDramas are always like angels fallen from the sky, unrealistically beautiful, but Minami was like a cute classmate, still very handsome, but more relatable, more human. His character was realistic and just so close to heart.
*Horikiri is a character that actually has some personality. Only after watching this drama did I notice that in a lot of dramas the main female lead has no hobby, nothing she likes and it just feels like the girl exists so she could create a romantic relationship with the main female lead. Chiyomi Horikiri is a character that has actual hobbies, ambitions like a real human being.
*The supporting roles weren't left out. Sure they couldn't get a lot of screen time, because the show is short, but every character had at least one scene where they personality developed.
*Pleasantly surprised that I didn't hate the second girl who was trying to get Minami's heart, Nomura. Sure she was a little bit bitchy, but never did I hate her, actually I kind of liked her.
*In the aspect that the main character lead is shrunk down to a tiny person the story is pretty original.
*That one kissing scene that made my heart beat like crazy. You'll know what I am talking about when you watch this drama. That's why i love JDrama's, because the kissing scenes actually have some feelings of intimacy.
*It isn't supposed to be a comedy, but the situations the main characters got themselves into were just so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh. And be prepared for a lot of embarrassing moments. I can't even count how many times I had to pause an episode and do something else, because I just couldn't handle the embarrassment. Some might think that this is a flaw, but for me it was a plus. This drama made me feel with the characters.
*Some people thought that it was draggy. Well i didn't. I hate when dramas get dragged on for too log and that happens way to often but this drama was so short it had no time to get draggy.
*The opening song <3
*No unneccessary and stupid drama.
*It is so freaking relatable. Since my native language isn't English it is hard for me to express myself and I don't know if i am using the right words, but uhhh this show even with the fantasy element was more realistic than any KDrama i have ever watched. Maybe because I am in high school myself, but My Little Lover just hit the right spot in my heart for me.

Disadvantages:
*Some times the acting is kind of weird, but I feel like it's just the Japanese style.
*Besides the fact that our main lead is a tiny person, the story is not that original.
*Riku Takagi was kind of creepy. :D
*Sometimes it felt like the drama itself didn't know if the scene is supposed to be funny or serious, because I laughed a lot of times when serious music was playing in the background. Maybe I just have a weird sense of humour wich I dont think I do or it could be that the Japanese are the masters of sarcasm.

While writing the advantages the things that I liked came to my mind in a second, but when I had to write the disadvantages I really had to think for a minute so I want you to know that these "disadvantages" didn't really bother me while I was watching the show.

Overall:
I have no idea why I liked My Little Lover so much. Might be because I am a girl in her teens that just likes cheesy rom-coms. But you know I gave Full House (Thai), which is known for its cuteness, a 6, so I don't think that is the case. I don't really care if this show is cliche, because it is a really well done cliche. And If you are looking for something cute and fluffy look no further.

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Surprisingly fresh with real life characters

Okay so apart from the ML's one drama (Psychopath Diary) I haven't seen any other dramas by either of the leads. Honestly, I started watching this drama while I was waiting for the weekly episodes of Its okay to not be okay and Backstreet Rookie. Hence I began with zero expectations or idea about story, lead actors, reviews.

This is such an underrated gem of a drama. So many of the 2020 big actor dramas have been kind of disappointing or not really left a lasting impression. However, this drama and its main characters leave a mark and I was sad to have the drama end.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS DRAMA. One of my most favourite in 2020 and will also make it to my All-time favourites. The acting is so fresh, goofy yet natural. The comedy is not forced, great flow of storyline with perfect transition from one plot to another. While having the element of politics this drama is not over-the-top with confusing political sub-plots and schemes. The romance part is also great and I liked the fact that the FL takes matters in her hands most of the time while dealing with their relationship. ML is good in supporting the FL and yet not overbearing as some other K-drama ML characters. A special mention about the 'camera angles' which some people might find unsettling but you get used to it and in fact it adds an interesting storytelling facet especially in the comic scenes.

I urge everyone to watch this drama for its story, acting, comedy, romance, politics and slice of life vibe. Its a must watch of 2020.

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Perfect Movie To Start New Page

If you are looking for a simple romantic story, this is for you! The director behind this movie is famous for that genre and A Year End Medley won't disappoint you. In this cold weather, we get to watch 7 different heartwarming beautiful tales from 7 different couples on Christmas day setting.

Every character here are individually interesting and has a well written background to build their personality. I thought 2 hours movie wouldn't be enough to show every character's details, we don't have only 2-3 people to introduce, but a whole 14 characters! Despite the duration, they managed to show each of their layers, goals of the couple arc, and how they are linked to one and another.

I must mention out of all the couple, my favorite couple here goes to Yong Jin x Lee Young. Such a cute mature girl with supporting boyfriend! Beside fav couple, I love all the characters plot but if I have to choose, I will pick Kang Haneul's character as the best arc! From depression to comedy and move to breaking down, what a journey from his acting! Of course all the actor & actress also delivered the plot well, but Kang Haneul is just beyond.

I love the production team took care the clothing. They are all so pretty to look at. The cinematography in this movie also well taken. What I dislike from this movie might be the soundtrack only, they use a cliche classical music *cough* canon in d *cough* and that kinda ruin the flow for me, i just wanna laugh at that part.

Anyway, this is a nice movie to start the year, I wish there will be a sequel or maybe make it into drama series instead, all the stories are interesting to watch and they still have many to reveal.

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Gold

I love watching dramas with older cast, because they still gives me the same vibes of old romcoms I used to watch mid 00s, and I'm glad they still have the knack of it considering it's been a while since I've seen UJH and SSH in a drama.

That been said it's not a perfect drama and in some parts I got bored but I blame my busy schedule that made me watch each episode in parts, so even if I like it I definitely got distracted while watching which made me lose interest eventually ~
So this part is on me 🤦

Story is simple, young woman's mind in old woman's body all over again, but this is a case of memory loss so there is a twist to it, overall nicely done slightly illogical but good enough to entertain.

I would recommend it if you miss old 00s dramas, seeing those same old actors is a breath of fresh air now that most actors are Gen Z or younger watching some Gen X makes me reminiscence good old drama days when me and only five others in my country were watching kdramas and it wasn't as popular as now lol ~

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Before I get into my review, please keep in mind that my thoughts about this drama are based on what I understood from the raw episodes and my knowledge of the language itself is limited. Not zero, but limited. I had been waiting to watch this drama for a long time, but it was never subbed even up until now, so I ended up just watching it without them. If you're okay with that, then feel free to keep reading :)

STORY: The synopsis, although it is correct, had me confused while watching because the marriage to the leader of the rivaling country does not happen until the last portion of the drama. And I mean last. I literally watched 40 episodes and the marriage still hadn't happened yet. Everything seemed to get jumbled together in the final episodes which is something that I do not care for as a viewer, especially when I'm watching a drama that is 50 episodes long. When I read the synopsis, I was under the impression that the marriage was going to happen sometime in the beginning or the middle of the story, and maybe show how she managed to thrive as a chef and survive living amongst the enemy, all while watching her first love fight to save her, but I was very wrong (lol).

The story itself was familiar, with a royal having a birth secret and living as a commoner since childhood, as well as having a childhood sweetheart. The nice twist to this story is that Yu Die is a fantastic chef thanks to the talent of her adoptive mother and throughout the drama, she is cooking delicious food as she journeys through the country after an unfortunate event separates her from her adoptive family. Through her experiences and after spending time at the palace with the royal prince, whom she had met before, she eventually comes to learn her true identity as a royal princess. While I was interested in how/if her adoptive mother and her lover Li Ma would find her again, there was a lot of scheming both in the palace and at war between the rivaling countries that seemed to make up a good portion of the story. And of course a lot of cooking scenes which isn't helpful when you're hungry (lol). After so many episodes of the same thing, I started to lose interest and eventually stopped watching this drama for quite awhile before picking it up again. I really wanted to like this drama, especially since I loved the cast, but that was not enough to hold my interest. The way it ended was odd to me as well, I think they could've executed a better closing had they not crammed all the action to the final 10 episodes.

ACTING/CAST: I love both Zheng Shuang and Ma Tian Yu and was excited to see them together as main leads, but I can honestly say that this wasn't a stand-out drama for either of them. I believe they were in a previous drama together in the past as potential love interests, but I haven't watched it so I can't compare their performances. In this drama though, I wasn't able to get invested into the romantic relationship between their characters because most of the time they were separated. The characters would long for each other, but when they'd see each other, they would only hug and seemed a bit distant at times, which made me feel they had more a friend/sibling relationship rather than one of lovers. But they did look very cute together during their scenes. What I did like about Yu Die though is that she was persistent with her love for Li Ma, even after becoming royalty. Li Ma's character was different, in a sense that he seemed to feel unworthy of her love after learning about her birth secret even though he still loved her. Overall I did enjoy seeing how their love story played out. Steven Jiang played his part well as a royal and I liked how his character showed a different kind of love and affection for Yu Die. At times I felt like he had more chemistry with Zheng Shuang than Ma Tian Yu, but it might've also been because he had more screen time with her. This was my first time seeing him in a drama and his performance left a good impression.

MUSIC: There were only a few ost songs played and they were decent, but most of the time traditional instrumentals were used. Sometimes all you need are nice instrumentals to help carry the story of historical dramas and this was one of those cases.

REWATCH VALUE: I don't think I would sit down and watch this drama again even if it was fully subbed because I felt like it was too long . I don't think it needed to be 50 episodes, especially with the way they crammed everything together at the end. There are better historical dramas out there and I didn't feel there was anything that made this drama stand out on its own to set it apart from other dramas with similar themes. Fans of Zheng Shuang, Ma Tian Yu, and Steven Jiang might enjoy this, but they have other works that are more superior both story-wise and performance-wise. Nevertheless, it was still a decent watch and I'm still glad I decided to check it out.

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