Reviews

First of all, when you are watching this drama prepare for heartbreaks. Now that's out of the way, I have to say this is my favourite Kimura role to date (and I'm the type to pick a good romcom over any melos). Kimura and Eri as Ryo and Yuko have chemistry that absolutely sizzles onscreen and unlike any other romance you will find in most jdramas. But more than their chemistry, the supporting casts also does a great job rounding out each of their characters. You will find that this is not just a drama written in black and white, everyone is more than they seem and no one walks out innocent and unscattered. The drama starts off puzzling and slow but picks up and positively explodes toward the end.



I rated the re-watch value quite low because this is still a mystery drama so once you know the big revelation, the impact won't be quite the same as the first time but there are plenty of compelling scenes that makes up for it.





Overall, I'd definitely recommend it to any Kimura fans who haven't seen this yet, as well as anyone looking for a compelling story about love, betrayal and redemption.

Leia Mais

A Good Watch, but could have been so much better

BL needle score: 6.5 - Moderate but adorable BL-ness

I used to look forward to this series with a lot of anticipation...the amazing chemistry and connect between the main leads, good acting, good production values, and the realistic storyline, it had everything going for it...and it successfully created these hooks that made me wait with a lot of anticipation and concern for the the two young boys, Qi Lu and Qin Xiao, who were trying to keep their love alive despite powerful adversaries like that disgusting piece of shit, Qi Lu's Father, and one hurdle after another that came their way....the way they watched out for each other, often quietly, and at the cost of their own selves, the way they were ready to give up everything in their lives just so that the other could go ahead, was heart melting...in other words, I was very invested in the story and the characters.

But with all those positives, one major problem with this show was how it just seemed to focus on the build-up, the challenges and one blow after the other for the leads, till the very last 10-15 minutes of the show...and then it seemed like an underwhelming and abrupt end....like we didn't really get a full closure...as a friend said, it was '12 episodes of pain and build-up, followed by some quick text explaining the next 7 years of their lives, and just 5 minutes of happiness'...leaves you feeling kinda betrayed.

It ended with Qu Li and Qin Xiao being reunited and leading a happy life, but it felt like a lot was left unsaid, particularly in terms of resolving a lot of angst and resentment that the show built for some of the characters like Qu Li's father...there were hardly any payback for that, or even a plausible explanation of how Qi Lu managed to really get past the clutches of his powerful and oppressive father so easily...if he could go on to study Film-making in the US right after he went to Russia, why couldn't he do so even earlier? Also, the storyline of the second couple kinda got diluted towards the end and their scenes started to feel gratuitous to an extent. Maybe they had to censor some scenes out when the series got held up for some months in between (the routine thing that happens to BLs from China I guess)? I would have wanted to rate this as a 'Great Watch', but due to these flaws I'm giving this a 'Good Watch' rating.

Anyway, at least it has a happy ending, and it was comforting to see them be a loving couple, doing everyday nice things that loving couples do ....the lines at the very end were beautiful, when they revealed that Qi Lu and Qin Xiao had wished the exact same thing for each other - 'In the future, you must do what you love'...

Leia Mais

Skip Beat has to be one of the greatest Taiwanese dramas I have ever seen. The story is really amazing. It's all based on REVENGE!!! Which, you know, isn't the best thing, but the way the theme of revenge is played out throughout the drama really makes it worth it. The importance of this drama is the fact that it is about friendship, and finding your dreams. I loved the focus on determination and perseverance the drama had as well. There wasn't really any focus on romance, being the romantic I am, that's what I was looking forward to, but I don't think Skip Beat needs it. The story was perfect without it, and it does have some ;). This drama was hilarious, and not hilarious in the "haha...that's funny" sort of way, but hilarious in the "What the....what...wha....HAHAHAHA" and it was perfect. I have to give HUUUGE props to the lead actress. She was amazing! Her character was so strange and eccentric, but at the same time amazing. She did a fabulous job! I loved Seeing me some Super Junior!! but I wish that Skip Beat incorporated more of the cast members besides Gong Xi and Lian. It would have been awesome to see the cast members play in with the drama together more. The music was by far the best music I have ever heard for a drama before. I will be purchasing the OST before the week is up. I'm not sure about rewatching though. I mean the drama was amazing, but for some reason the thought of rewatching it is..."ehh" but that's just me. I'm sure a lot of people will think it is worth rewatching a lot more than I do. Overall!! great drama. I enjoyed watching every crazy moment of it.

Leia Mais

Cold Guys Falls Hard for Heartbroken Guy

This show will not be for everyone. If you want real BDSM, it isn't here. If you don't like animals in entertainment, wave goodbye. If you hate fake tattoos, see ya later. If you want the 2nd couple to have a story, another pass because one of the partners in the source material is still under 18, and they probably didn't want to deal will the complaining.

I have a bias for cold man/normal guy would can be a BAMF, when need be. I find both Yoon and Ton attractive, and like their chemistry together. Both Yoon and Ton have emotional baggage - Kamol was raised as an orphan, and Kim is still in love with his ex from high school. That ex has moved on and has a boyfriend he is in love with, causing Ton extra heartache.

Kamol is from the underworld, and his main enemy is Danai. Unlike most mafia dramas where the lead is the godfather, Kamol has a godfather, Evan, a Russian-Thai gangster who primarily lives in Russia. The are fights and shootouts in this series, but it isn't high budget like Kinn Porsche.

This is a simple BL and I enjoyed it very much. Many people on MDL didn't care for it, but I form my own opinions of the shows that I watch. I did walk in with a bias toward this type of couple, so I think each individual viewer will need to decide if they like it or if they don't.

Leia Mais

Story: I admit I enjoyed this season more than the 1st one (which is also very very good) because rather than concentrating on pure crime scenes and using Prosecutor Min's ability to solve crimes, this one mixes crime solving with additional arc on history of vampires, (which of course is related to the first season, so you should definitely watch), humorous teasers on the should-be-romance, funny, cute bromance between Dong Man and Soon Bum which I love and some heartful and touching moments with the dramas' side characters. The crime cases were good as expected; and this drama caught my attention from the very first episode, it's getting better by the next. I have no words for the ending, I just need a quick answer if there would be season 3 because I'm definitely there. The main team remaining is all I plead if ever there would be third season :)

Acting/ Cast: The best asset of this drama for me was the characters. I love them all. They are so adorable together. Seriously, Soon Bum rocks! He is the light of the show for me. No complaints for the acting, Min is always a standout and I'm glad despite the new looks of Yoo Jung In (which I also prefer) she remained Bad-ass! I have to give credit for the little girl who played Ji-Hye, she's so cute, and she never left my heart at ease, great acting kid! Did I also mention that I also love Soon-Bum-Dong Man bromance?:)

Music: Danger was so fitting in the enhancing action scenes, and yes, I loved it!

Rewatch Value: I had already rewatched some scenes, My faves aside from the ending where episode 4 and 6. Fun scenes between the dark tone of this drama were the best!

Overall: Loved this drama. I think I had an obsession over it. Season 3, chebal! :)

Leia Mais

WOW. Absolutely love love love and recommend this drama!
- It's fun, dark and full of mystery. Plus has an amazing story that twists and turns. Keeps you on the EDGE your seat and wanting answers! So many moments I was like WHAT? WHO?
-It breaks the mold of usual K-dramas, it is definitely mature (adult) and not afraid of doing so! Despite explicit scenes it maintains a high level of quality throughout.
- The acting! I have so much respect for the actresses for taking on such challenging roles. They were phenomenal.
- The cinematography! Wow, the mood lighting, camera angles that draw you in, beautiful sets and locations. All were so wonderfully styled, you can't hep but find yourself immersed in the world of mistress.
- The FASHION. The designers and stylist did an amazing job at giving each actress their own unique style. Personally I loved what the character of Han jung won wore.
- The sound? I know a weird one but the shows maintains this high clarity of sound throughout, like tapping of heels, typing on phones. It all comes together to almost be asmr? I can't really describe why but it just works!

Now the only, ONLY thing I would change..... is the music. While the overall scoring generally goes well with the scenes, there can be moments where it can seem "too much" or out of place. While the soundtrack is great it's just the selection of scenes with certain music that just sometimes is off putting? But this can be unnoticeable and I don't think it affects the overall quality of the show.

Leia Mais

"Saikou" refers to the "greatest" or "best" of something. So with the title referencing a "Great Divorce" how does everything measure up? While divorce itself isn't all that great, this is a great divorce drama.

Though sometimes one may see it advertised as such, Saikou no Rikon cannot be called a true "romantic comedy". It watches more like a slice-of-life, centering around two couples (whose respective relationships may or may not be crumbling). The comedic aspect hits as often as it misses, despite passable delivery from involved actors and actresses. Emotionally rich and intense scenes outweigh these in sheer remarkability; in fact, the levity issues are approached with at times (such as the occasion divorce is brought up for one of the couples) actually leaves the whole product feeling a little inconsistent. Am I watching a zany Japanese relationship lark or this heavy treatise? Because some elements did not wholly jive (at least for me), those thoughts popped up frequently over the course of the series.

Where the drama excels must be dialogue, which is razor-sharp and surprisingly natural. These characters speak like real people, even showing pop cultural awareness. An engaging way speech is used is also in the way characters loose their frustrations to others; they tend to tell strangers and service-providers in these long-winded monologues, unable to vent to anyone closer. What it lacks in stunning backdrops and visual candy, Saikou no Rikon makes up for in thoughtful camera work. With a sharp focus on the inner workings of married life in mind, shots often adopt voyeuristic qualities. For instance, we might see an argument from a fly-on-the-wall perspective in the kitchen, overlooking the entirety of a small apartment made for two.

Eita headlines a solid cast, swinging all his powerful versatility behind the (initially) repellent Hamasaki Mitsuo. This is a character that embodies everything wrong in a husband, from his incredible pettiness to the selfish way he views most everything. The first time he tells his wife something between them was her "personal problem," even threw me back into some bad memories of my own. However, Hamasaki exhibits incredible personal growth throughout Saikou no Rikon (with Eita totally inhabiting the role). Ono Machiko, as his polar opposite and somehow wife Yuka, has a fantastic showing also. Whenever Yuka showed weakness or had something big to say, Ono-san knocked it out of the park. Her role, despite early episodes showing her through her husband's perspective, is lovable and sympathetic; women will definitely identify with her best.

Ayano Go and Maki Yoko portray strange duo Ryo and Akari, whose tale most interests at first glance yet slowly is overcome by that of the main couple. Both are fine actors and do beautifully in their scenes. Unfortunately, paired with the "that's just how things are" attitude the characters take to one another and themselves, the too-fast wrap to their story leaves the entire relationship a little hard to watch and slightly unsatisfying to finish (unlike that of the main couple).

If Saikou no Rikon is a hero wielding dialogue as its best weapon, music will be its Achilles Heel. Having just come down from a marathon of the series, I can scarcely remember any specific tracks. There was at least one quirky instrumental number, but the only truly memorable song is ending theme "Yin Yang" provided by the amazing Kuwata Keisuke. Despite not being a song to my taste, it suits the drama exceedingly well. And that wild ending sequence that accompanies it? Positively awesome.

Leia Mais

Jing Boran is the Hottest Officer in Uniform

He is a man who cooks, does house chores, and protects the country. What more do we want of a man? The writer gives the viewers a perfect man who loves quietly, hurts quietly, never complains, never seeks glory, is courageous and always wants to help and protect. This is a lovely series which can be boring for some for its slow, everyday life story, but lovely for many for its quiet romance, a romance many can relate to - no fanfare, just love and devotion (if such elements still exist). It is the romance story of a special force police officer.

“Road Home”’s Chinese title, “Gui Lu” (means return road), is coined from both the main characters’ names. This is a story with beautiful scenes of the canyons and touching moments, spanning from high school in 2008 to the present time 2020.

Lu Chen aka Lu Yanchen (Jing Boran) is a special force police officer working under the explosive unit. He fell in love with Gui Xiao (Tan Songyun) in high school but they separated when they both sought different career paths. Years later they meet and fall in love again, this time for real. Knowing how dangerous Lu Chen’s work is, Gui Xiao embraces him wholeheartedly because she loves him. For once in Chinese drama, Lu Chen is not the type that says, “I leave you for your own good because I love you so much.” Lu Chen is delighted that Gui Xiao wants to marry him, knowing that there may not be a tomorrow.

Lu Chen is a very serious person. He is strict, doesn’t crack jokes, doesn’t laugh, and has few words. Most of the sentences he speaks are one-word sentences. For him, actions speak louder than words. He also has a complicated family story that torments him since childhood. Jing Boran has perfected his role. With a face that is not pretty but handsome beyond words, and a physique perfect for a tough law enforcement officer, Jing Boran tells the story through his facial expressions that say a thousand words which cannot be spoken. In reality, Jing Boran has a rather similar family story like the one in the drama. Perhaps he can feel the pains of the character better than the others can.

I love to watch how Lu Chen uses his coat to wrap around Gui Xiao from behind and gently holds her. These types of hugs are the most soothing, sensual and romantic; the warmth emanates through the screen, making the viewers soaked in peace, love and security. This is Jing Boran's amazing power and charisma; immersing in his embrace is so reassuring and warm.

Gui Xiao comes from a wealthy but broken family just like Lu Chen’s family. She is independent but when in front of Lu Chen, she becomes a little girl, totally dependent on him. With a face that passes easily as a teenager, Tan Songyun’s juvenile Gui Xiao is very believable and as an adult, her character becomes mature and continues to grow to be even more understanding and loving.

Official Sound Tracks
Two OSTs impress me the most - Youth is Well (青春无恙) and The Dust Maiden (灰姑娘). The former is touching with beautiful lyrics and tune that stays in one's mind. The latter is an old folk song that Lu Chen sings for Gui Xiao. The lyrics are appropriately expressing his feelings for her, and the tune is lively and cute.

My Verdict
This is a down-to-earth type of everyday life romance story. It portrays the life of a police officer on the front line, his love life, family and his sacrifices. There are quite a few episodes spent on just the natural and beautiful scenery of the north-west desert at the border. The pace is rather slow - there’s a lot of looking and waiting, but every second is precious to watch because the story is being told on the characters’ faces. There are no flowery speeches; the dialogs are rather common like things people would say everyday going about their life. All the characters are lovable, and there are no antagonists, though Lu Chen's father was initially thought to be one.

The story reminds the viewers of the sacrifices a country’s protective forces have to make, putting their personal safety on the line to ensure the safety of others. Their valor is admirable. Though the main character is a law enforcement officer, there are limited action scenes as the focus is on the romance development. Throughout, there are a lot of flashbacks, giving viewers the backstory of their romance.

The writer works hard to show the viewers how much the couple is in love with each other. There are a lot of kissing and intimacy scenes. One of the scenes even shows Gui Xiao staring at Lu Chen's naked body when he comes out from the shower. I wish she had gone up to hug him, or better still, gone into the shower with him. But this is a Chinese drama, and it has to pass censorship. Just some wishful thinking. The allusion that she is staring at his nakedness is rare in Chinese dramas.

This is a great drama for viewers who prefer a slow pace story with nothing much happening, for romance buffs who love a mature and quiet romance, or for anyone who just wants to look at Jing Boran.

Don’t miss it. Great Watch!

Leia Mais

Cute Idiots in a Fluffy Romance

Before watching this drama, viewers need to first understand the age of the female lead, Wen Su Jin, because this is pivotal to the enjoyment of your viewing. Accordingly, Wen Su Jin should be only about 14 or 15 years old, very much younger than female leads of 18 to early 20s in other dramas. Therefore Wen Su Jin’s behavior, mental capacity and actions are immature, very appropriate for a young girl of her age. With that perspective, hopefully viewers will find her funny and cute instead of annoying and stupid.

This drama is about a young girl who runs away from a forced marriage, trying to save her sister who stands in for her, and her family which may be prosecuted if the impostor is exposed. The plot is simple and the dynamics light. The storyline is not that original either, and the plops are minimal without lavish settings. Putting together, however, this unpretentious drama makes a very fun watch. Despite complaints from viewers about the female lead, the cuteness of the romantic pair really captures the viewers’ hearts, making this an addictive watch.

Xiao Yu (Chen Jing Ke) is a governing prince and Wen Su Jin (Xu Ya Ting) is the general’s daughter. As a very young girl of 14 or 15, Wen Su Jin is bold, naive, innocent and kind. She’s given an edict to marry the prince whom she’s never met, so she runs away. The Prince is aloof and a suspicious person. His previous wife dies mysteriously so he refuses to take another wife. But they meet and fall in love without knowing each other’s real identity for a long time even as they're living in the same mansion. She can’t tell him about herself for fearing the truth may cause the demise of her family, and he doesn’t want to tell her about his own identity for fear of losing her.

As a very young girl, Wen Su Jin’s actions are understandable. She is fixated to save her sister and her family before their identities are exposed. In her desperation, she creates lies after lies to protect herself and her family. It’s really hilarious to see how she handles the Prince who seems to condone her actions. Though not lying to the Prince intentionally, she's always in a dilemma - to tell or not to tell him about her real identify.

So, more than half of the whole drama revolves around both hiding their own identities, but showing mutual affection for each other. There are mild palace politics, non-serious struggle for power and light conspiracies, but nothing too deadly or serious.

I have really enjoyed the dynamics between this couple. It makes me laugh and love the characters, especially Xiao Yu. With Wen Su Jin, he’s always protective and doting on her, and in return, Wen Su Jin has a mind of her own and always acts out of his expectation. The moments and scenes are endearing and hilarious.

This drama deserves a higher rating than what it’s getting right now because many viewers dislike Wen Su Jin’s character. With a better perspective of the character, I hope viewers would enjoy this drama as I have.

Leia Mais

Healthy relationship between the leads, good chems, no breakup n unnecessary angst...

What I like:
- The leads chems was good... they look comfortable with each other n they look natural... the skinship r lots n there r even some steamy ones...
- The leads have a healthy relationship, they trust each other, it’s an adult n mature relationship... so eventhough there r some other parties trying to mess it up, it never works, their luv is strong...
- There is no breakup or unnecessary angst... yes it took some time for the leads to be officially together, till halfway I think, coz FL’s ex keeps wanting to reconcile... but ML fell for FL early, n the pursuing part was already an interesting thing to watch...

What I’m not satisfied with:
- The sidecouples... one is FL’s bro n her BFF... their story just took too much screentime for something so uninteresting... it’s an older woman kinda story, which I don’t like, plus the bro is just so childish... the other one is ML’s assistant n ML’s pursuer... it’s boring n she is just too annoying... so honestly their stories I skipped most of the times...
- I wish the leads didn’t have the relationship a secret till the end... there could’ve been more potential cute office romance scenes...
- The business part is not that interesting... I’d prefer to have the leads n even with their colleagus, work together side by side facing problems/a crisis... they mostly have separated work scenes, esp after they r in a relationship... when actually ML is the investor of FL’s company n they r even working at the same building... I wish it was mixed up a bit more, in a light fun way...
- The ending... it’s a HE so don’t worry... it’s just that they were building it up to have FL’s ex last final effort to mess with ML, so I had expected something more... but in the end it fell a bit flat to me... there r some major consequences, but for me the way they tell it is just mehhh...

Anyway, I enjoy watching it while ongoing... IMO just watch mostly for the leads, n u’ll enjoy it more... it’s almost angst free, just both exes popped up here n there, but they r irrelevant since the leads’ luv is strong... so it’s a suitable drama for u who just got out of a max angst kinda drama...

Leia Mais

A contemporary love story with bonus fashion

I always wonder why some dramas have extremely low ratings. I have found out that it is best to watch most of the drama yourself and then rate independently of low reviews. This drama is another example of a diamond in the rough. From the beginning to end it started with strong characters and a substantial storyline that took the viewer beyond China to France and back. In addition, the story is a treatise on Chinese clothing styles and heritage. So many times I went to Google to research different terms used and regional cultures based on the introduction of different sewing styles and fabric choices that were indigenous to China. The fashion designs were over the top beautiful and the runway presentations made you feel like you were personally at Fashion Week.

The second unique quality of this drama was the romance. This drama bordered on "Restricted" viewer use for a Chinese format. This is the first drama I have watched that the man was truly a sexy back type of man - (both lustful and romantic) as compared to the endless "cold - unemotional men portrayed so often in romance dramas. This drama continues to mature and mature and evolve into an addiction daily since the episodes were translated 7 days per week until the conclusion. That was a major treat.

The third quality was the background music. It never overwhelmed me and was always appropriate and never distracting.

Costume design A++++++ The fashion designs were excellent but the person or group of people that designed the attire for the actors throughout were very talented and added a higher quality to the drama. Award winning choices.

Kudos to the actors - all of them. They all hit home runs in their roles and this drama is highly recommended.

Leia Mais

The Best Kdrama I Have Ever Watched!

I have wanted plenty of Kdramas, but none have pulled me in quite so much as this one. I have a thing for fantasy, romance, and historical pieces, so this fit the bill for me right of the get go.

I'd never watched a Kdrama that wasn't fully released, so this was a first. I waited with anticipation for the next updates, and I truly cried during the ending.

Shin Hae Sun is the best actress I have ever watched, and that is not just for a South Korean actress. She is my favorite actress overall. I feel like, without her, this Kdrama would've massively flopped. She is now my queen, and I feel like I've fallen in love. Everything she acts in is impeccable.

The music was really fun here, and you immediately recognize the funny, romantic, and tearful scenes.

The story wasn't that easy to follow regarding the politics, during the first watchthrough. But the second and third time I followed it perfectly.

I spent weeks attempting to get over this Kdrama, therefore, I had to write my very first review. Watch it, it is truly amazing.

Leia Mais

Buns of Steel.

Blossoms in Adversity / Xī Huā Zhǐ/惜花芷 is the story of superwoman Hua Zhi's feel-good romp through feudal China. When Imperial Censor Hua dares to criticize the monarch, he is exiled along with all the men in his family. A bevy of helpless women and young children are left to fend for themselves. Hua Zhi takes charge and rallies the women together to triumph against overwhelming odds. When she flexes her buns of steel, no feat is beyond Hua Zhi! She parleys a candied hawthorn business into a pastry and restaurant empire, picks up stray royal children, foils a few palace plots, build schools and a canal, rescues the Hua family men and even manages to find time to fall in love! All in the space of a 2-3 years!!! Phew! Even superwoman would surely stagger from sheer exhaustion!

This narrative paints a distressing picture of how oppressive life was for women in hierarchical ancient Chinese patriarchal society. The best part of this drama is how in order to survive, the women defy social conventions, set aside petty differences, learn to trust each other and work together towards shared goals. While the sheer scale of their financial and other achievements are preposterous, there is something very cathartic and satisfying about how flamboyantly they flourish. The storytelling is squarely centered on Hua Zhi and speeds through many of the supporting character arcs, leaving their motivations and struggles under-developed. This is a pity because family dramas like this are most compelling when important supporting characters are given enough agency to be the main characters of their own arcs.

This is one of those dramas that is best enjoyed superficially and with heavy suspension of disbelief. Upon closer scrutiny, the overarching empowerment theme is contradicted by some of the sub-plots. I was disturbed by the different treatment of domestic abuse in Hua Jing and Hua Xian's case. But what I disliked most was what happens to Hua Rong and her child. It is as if she learned nothing from her family's struggles about resilience in the face of adversity. There are a few poorly developed sub-plots like this that the writers raced through without thinking carefully about the messaging.

As much as I like Zhang Jingyi, this is not her best role. Her interpretation of Hua Zhi is too perfect, too calm, too understanding and too reasonable. This has led to many Mary Sue comments about the character. But Hua Zhi is actually written to have many flaws - she can be over confident, she cannot mind her own business, she is reckless and like her grandfather, she cannot hold her tongue. In the canal arc, she is the architect of her own downfall but because everyone unites around her, she never suffers any consequences for her actions. This character has too much plot armor and is already so smart and capable that she shows virtually no growth from beginning to end.

Hua Zhi's relationship with Gu Yanxi is similarly whitewashed to the extent that it appears too ideal to be true; it lacks passion, conflict and intensity. Hua Zhi lets Gu Yanxi off too easily for deceiving her in the beginning when any normal person would be at least a little bit angry at him. She also never communicates any discomfort with his role at the Security Bureau; indeed she seems quite happy to use his authority there to serve her purposes. Thus, it came as much as a surprise to me as it must have to Yanxi that it could be a deal breaker for her! So much for their so called mature, open and communicative relationship! I don't know why young actors like to make their characters so perfect all the time and have such a hard time embracing more complex but perfectly natural human relationship dynamics and emotions.

Hu Yitian delivers a more nuanced portrayal of Gu Yanxi as the emperor's sharpest knife. His fight scenes are phenomenal and he is menacing and ruthless as the commander. He shows us he is a different person; more open, at ease and happier when he is with Hua Zhi. While this is one of Hu Yitian's better roles to date, he shies away from showing us the true extent of his affection for the emperor and his inner conflict. This is a missed opportunity because Hai Yitian delivers a compelling portrayal of the lonely, paranoid and manipulative emperor. Because Hu Yitian's portrayal of Gu Yanxi does not meet him halfway, the emperor's affection for his nephew comes across as borderline obsessive and a lot more one sided than it really is.

Even though it seems her character Shaoyao is dumbed down from the novel, Lu Yuxiao is once again a scene stealer in this drama. This kind of beguilingly innocent, simple minded savant kind of character is extremely difficult to portray well but Lu Yuxiao pulls it off brilliantly. She doesn't get enough screen time to steal the show but I was more invested in her character than I was in Hua Zhi who is too perfect to be relatable.

The ending of this drama really cracked me up. It is one of the few times that the villain actually saves the day by doing what Hua Zhi and Gu Yanxi could never have done. Although it is also possible that Gu Yanxi learned his lesson not to look for needles in hair stacks and had the good sense to show up a just a tad late at the ceremony. Despite some flaws, this is a very appealing feel-good drama for those seeking light entertainment. My rating 8/10.

Leia Mais

enjoyed it more than expected!

This romcom started with every cliché there could possibly be for a cdrama: cold male (traumatized) CEO, dumb, childish, poor girl, contract marriage, accidental kisses .... You might need some time to get into this drama, but since it's always that way for me, I didn't mind too much.
The FL doesn't turn out as dumb and annoying as probably expected. At some point, I really started to like her.
I had a harder time adjusting with the ML. No matter how incapable of dealing with other people, their and his own feelings he was supposed to be, this was definitely no way to treat a girl lol.
There were some way too obvious plot holes you just can't miss, even to me, who watches dramas for pure entertainment and always oversees them. But it's okay, the overall story is good, and I especially loved the development of their feelings, so I guess you can just ignore some other things :)
The acting is so good! The ML's amazing, and the FL does so much better than expected. It's her debut drama, she's only 19 (!!), so let's be kind to her!
Also great chemistry between the first couple! Can't wait for further development :))
The FL always gets herself in trouble, and there were some issues that made me feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes, but they were surprisingly solved quite comfortably.

I just finished Ep14, and I'll do an update once I finished the whole thing. By now, it's far better than expected :) (Don't mind the rewatch value, I usually don't rewatch dramas)

EDIT: Okay, finally got to finish it! Sooo there's few things I'd like to add:
- Whoever said a good drama HAS to be non-cliché like, unpredictable and intense, I FUNDAMENTALLY diasagree with that!!
- Regarding my last aspect before the edit, this was definitely one of the things I enjoyed the most about this. Issues didn't take up years to build up and again years to solve, they came and went quickly, making the journey of watching quite comfortable and pleasant. However, the only waaay too consistent thing were the 2 more or less nasty sideleads who lowkey (or better highkey) tried to ruin their relationship. And there was no way you could ignore them because they were there ALL THE TIME :(
- This drama definitely focusses on character development, not business or the ML's phobia or anything else.
- The chemistry was OVER THE TOP. Won't say too much about this because I don't want to spoiler on this, but I don't doubt at all you'll feel it too.
- Second couple got only little screentime, I enjoyed their storyline a lot tho. It's not that I refuse "too much cliché" (lol don't watch this if you do), but I liked that they didn't make the second couple to that "one chasing the other" cliché too.

Last thing (I promise hahaha): It's a very very short drama. And the beginning was by far the worst part. It has 30 Eps of 30 Minutes, so that'd be 20 Eps (!!!) of 45 Minutes. (Not me actually sitting down and calculating that oops.) It's no shame to drop a drama if you don't like it, but here, it's also not that hard to stay through it for the ending :)

Leia Mais