Reviews

Rowoon and Jo Bo Ah bring out the best in each other

I'll start out with what I didn't like:

1. Hong Jo deserved better friends. There were plenty of strong female characters, but I am disappointed none of them were HJ's age.

2. Shin Yu's mom deserved a better partner. It bothered me that she didn't go through with the divorce. SY's dad being nice for 10 minutes doesn't make up for him calling her stupid. She was such a sweetheart and I think that makes it even worse.

3. There was way too much time spent on HJ'S senior coworkers relationship. Those are the only scenes I skipped during rewatch. It wasn't poorly written and they are decent characters, but I would have liked that time spent elsewhere.

4. They should have made it explicitly clear whether or not the spells worked. I feel like the director left it up to the audience and basically asked us...do YOU believe in magic lol

What I liked:

There is so much that I liked, that I'll have to be broad and brief or I could go on forever:

1. The flashback scenes paired perfectly with the modern day story. None of these scenes felt like filler and the tragedy of Aeng Cho and Mujin was heartbreaking. Sometimes Joseon flashbacks can feel like an extension of the modern day filming...idk if that makes any sense lol But the Joseon scenes had a magical quality and seemed to be from a completely different show. I loved that they were shot on location and that there was minimal green screen used. The snowy scenes were especially beautiful.

2. The chemistry between Rowoon and Jo Bo Ah really made their characters come alive. Do yourself a favor and watch the bts on YT. HJ and SY almost seem like an extension of Rowoon and Bo Ah. Literally everything about their scenes together made me smile. Even in the beginning when SY annoyed the sh-- out of HJ lol That's why this drama is a 10 for me. I want a rom-com that makes me smile.

3. Believe it or not I liked the "love triangle" between HJ/SY/Kwon Jae Kyung. I think it's because HJ and KJK played it off without any true toxicity. The scene where they are both racing to HJ's apartment is one of the funniest I've seen. Rowoon and Ha Joon played really well off each other. It's not obnoxious and you get the sense that these two men actually like and respect each other. It also helps that KJK isn't a sore loser.

4. An OST can make or break a series and the Destined with You OST was perfect. Delicate and gentle are two words I would use to describe it.

At its heart, DWY is pure romance with sub plots of supernatural and comedy. The point of the show is HJ and SY were destined to be with each other. The storytelling never wavered from this trajectory. The only way I see this plot falling flat is if they didn't end up with each other or if someone died. The spells, the curse, etc. were all minor plot devices made to push HJ and SY towards their destiny.

Leia Mais

Dark, toxic love with obsessive & abusive male lead

What the hell did I just finish watching, was my first thought as the end credits rolled. This is the darkest and most disturbing cdrama I’ve ever seen. You are not only getting an angsty, toxic love story but a full on psychological thriller.

The drama is about the female lead who pretends to be a Princess to avenge her family and the male lead, a Prince who is mysteriously scheming behind the scenes.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Love-hate relationship. In fact it’s more of a lovers to enemies trope.
- Beautiful aesthetics and cinematography.
- Strong-willed female lead.
- The epitome of red flag, toxic, obsessive, abusive and pretty much psychotic male lead.
- 1000% angst. Check the trigger warnings below. Nothing is sugar coated here and not many can stomach it.
- Republican era cdrama vibes but in historical style.
- Fantastic acting from the main leads. I watched this for He Xuan Lin and she didn’t disappoint with her fantastic aura on screen.
- Hot kisses (only those that were consensual). The male actor looks like a great kisser.
- Sped up politics/revenge. The focus is on the love story so the actual plot stuff is kind of glossed over.
- A very fitting ending that brought me to tears.
- A big contrast between the first and second half of the drama. After ep 12 the plot turns 180.

OVERALL:
Horrible things happen in this drama and yet it’s written well for the most part. Only the last few episodes felt quite draggy. I loved the aesthetics and the female lead as a character. My big complaint is that I didn’t truly understand why the male lead became so deeply obsessed and toxic with her but who knows, I might have missed that detail. Anyway, to be honest if I knew how dark the story would get, I probably wouldn’t have even started it.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Disturbing scenes of abuse, r*pe and forced kisses.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“I hope you never meet someone like me again” by the male lead.

Leia Mais

Letting Go, Not Letting Go, Hope, Love, and Loss

"Snowy Night Timeless Love" is a poignant and heart-wrenching Chinese drama that blends romance with themes of duty, sacrifice, and the bittersweet reality of missed opportunities. The story follows HZB, a swordsman, and XZY, a calm and compassionate doctor, who meet by chance when HZB seeks medicine for a friend's child. What begins as a simple encounter gradually blossoms into a deep, unspoken connection over the course of eight years. However, their love remains just out of reach due to the burdens they each carry.

The drama shines in its subtle approach to romance. Rather than relying on grand gestures or dramatic confessions, the drama focuses on the quiet moments shared between two people who grow to understand each other deeply. HZB rough exterior softens as he spends more time with XZY while her composed, steady nature is shaken by the bond they form. Their relationship is a slow burn, and the passage of time is felt in every glance, every word unspoken, and every moment of silent companionship.

What makes this story so powerful is the tension between their love and their sense of responsibility. Both characters are bound by duty—HZB to finding every way to save Mo'er, and XZY to finding every way to save her brother and everyone else but her. Despite their growing feelings for each other, neither feels free to truly pursue a life together. Their promise to meet under the plum tree the following year symbolizes their shared hope, yet there's a sense that they both know their love might never come to fruition.

The emotional weight of the drama lies in its exploration of MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. The snowy night setting adds to the atmosphere of longing and melancholy, as the falling snow becomes a metaphor for time slipping away. The visual beauty of the drama, with its serene winter landscapes and quiet moments of reflection, only heightens the emotional impact.

When the inevitable separation arrives, it feels all the more heartbreaking because of how deeply I have come to understand these two characters. Their farewell, marked by a thousand miles of distance and the unspoken understanding that they will never truly be together, is haunting.

The drama did very well in its visual storytelling. The snowy nights, quiet scenes by the plum tree, and the soft glow of lanterns create a world that feels timeless and emotionally charged. These images, combined with restrained performances, allow the drama to convey a depth of emotion that lingers long after the final episode.

I think that what this drama did the very best was how it explores the theme of hope, particularly through the characters' personal struggles. XZY, as a doctor, holds onto the hope of reviving her dead brother, tirelessly searching for ways to undo the irreversible. Her deep grief and unwillingness to let go of the past reflect the emotional weight of this hope. On the other hand, HZB spends years searching for the ingredients to create a cure for his friend’s dying son. Both characters are driven by their desire to change fate, which underscores how hope can sustain a person, even when the odds are impossible. However, the drama also shows the darker side of this hope—how it can blind someone to the present, causing them to lose what is right in front of them.

Li Qin was perfectly cast, embodying a sense of calm intelligence without ever crossing into arrogance. Her character is compassionate and protective, but never naive. She brings a quiet strength to Xue Zi Yue, making her both relatable and admirable. And then there is Joseph Zeng who played Huo Zhan Bai with equal depth. JZ portrayal of the renowned swordsman is filled with charm—he’s handsome and carries an aura of experience and quiet confidence that feels true to the character's background.

Their chemistry is a slow burn—it takes time to truly feel it, but once you do, it really is captivating. Just as their connection deepens, they are bound by duty and force to part, making their separation even more heartbreaking. The gradual build-up of their bond makes the inevitable ending all the more emotional.

Ultimately, this is a story of love that could have been—a bittersweet tale of two people who, despite their feelings for each other, prioritize their responsibilities over their own happiness. For people who appreciate slow-burn romances and emotionally complex narratives, "Snowy Night Timeless Love" offers a deeply moving experience that explores the quiet pain of unspoken love. It’s a story that stays with you, not because of dramatic twists or high-stakes conflict, but because of its tender, aching portrayal of love and loss.

Leia Mais

“Not impressed” would be the right expression to describe my overall feelings about this season. It wasn’t a total let-down but God’s Quiz 4 failed to deliver that last blowing punch like its prequels.

I am really a good fan of the God’s Quiz series; it’s one of rarest medical dramas that I can handle with full joy. It also focuses on forensic medicine which is my real life field of study. Although they can dramatize it but centring the investigation procedural on finding criminals and the blowing mystery for each season were definitely my favourite parts of the whole series.

At some point, I began to wonder if it’s the same writer who delivered the previous thrilling mysteries. Did he lost his touch or something? Maybe stretching the story to four seasons’ length can actually affect his writing style and ideas. For starters, the rare diseases weren’t exactly that complicated but I can be lenient with that side because I am medicine major so I could’ve figured most of them in one glimpse and they didn’t write this for people who know about the field. However, what I could not forgive was the main plot; it was plain boring and predictable that you can’t call it a mystery any longer. It’s unlike the previous seasons where the two (or three) last episodes were too exciting and suspenseful. God’s Quiz 4 was unsuccessful in building the thriller suspenseful part.

The individual cases were pretty much acceptable, many of them managed to reach the satisfying level and even went further above it. I believe that what gives this season a good slack but it’s a fact that some of them weren’t even that interesting. Something else bothered me on a personal level: Romance. I know that many people like to insert that part everywhere but I always thought that OCN crime thrillers don’t need that, because most of the people who come to watch are here for the thrills not for the lovey-dovey part. That’s one of the reason why the 3 rd season is my favourite.

The acting was fine; Ryu Deok Hwan and Yoon Joo Hee were good as usual. Even their characters witnessed some pretty good developments such as Dr. Han’s background and Detective Kang’s feminine side. I can’t say the same about the two idol additions; I really don’t see why they were casted for this type of drama. Idol acting don’t suit this sort of drama at all even if their characters were well-written. That super Junior dude was so awkward throughout the whole drama and the girl next to him wasn’t any better.

The cinematography played a very good part in this drama even of it wasn’t different from the previous seasons. I can’t exactly remember the music note so you can guess the rest.

Watch if:
-You liked the previous season but don’t expect a lot from this.
-You like Medical/Forensic/Mystery dramas.

Do not watch if:
-Just don’t watch this unless you saw all the previous seasons.

God’s Quiz Season 4 wasn’t exactly that captivating but it wasn’t a total bore either. Now, I would like OCN to make an end for this series; stretching it more than this will be over-doing in a very bad way. It was a good run; I hope this will be my last goodbye with the God’s Quiz series.

Leia Mais

Not the ‘Perfect’ Drama

The reason I am watching this is because Yang Mi is so pretty. Other than that the drama just delivers a fake relationship storyline that is honestly pretty easy to read. It’s going to go exactly how I think it is, but that doesn’t make it horrible. Yang Mi is so pretty and beautiful here I can’t ignore the drama, I have to watch.

So far it’s not offending me. Yang Mi looks incredible in every scene… she is so gorgeous and as a lawyer she gets to wear the best outfits.

That’s really all I can say. It’s predictable, but it’s pretty fun. Although the whole domestic violence being acted as comedy isn’t, so the drama really looses out there. I hate that China likes to act like because a woman does it it’s fine and funny. It’s not funny, it’s so not funny. Very unfunny.

I’ll end it saying Yang Mi is gorgeous and two gorgeous people together sells. That’s why the reviews are high. But for me I’m being honest and I’m going to say it’s really not amazing, it’s alright.

I really am enjoying the nature of this series being all fluffy with the romance scenes. The two leads are very cute together and I like the pace that things are going at.

For the drama as a whole I must say, I really like the relationship between the leads. Anything outside of that is not good or interesting to me. Although Tao Jun Hui is an interesting character. He is Qin Shi's ex, and isn't your typical evil ex. He is honestly a good person and cares for her.. so that made Yuang Hua have some competition. Neither of them were petty though. Adults acted like adults for the most part.. outside of Qin' Shi's brother and sister in-law, those two were the worst and were so dumb and immature. I did not care for them and they made this drama worse ok.

What I did watch was good though. Not spectacular. Just good. I really ate up anything between our two leads though, so that's how this drama became just a little better than average for me. Maybe I am just a simp for Yang Mi.. or maybe Xu Kai did play the perfect husband roll and it got to me....

either way I don't think I wasted my time. I liked it, pretty harmless. For a Chinese drama that is a lot for me.

Leia Mais

If you're thinking about starting on this drama now that it's done, let me just share with you on what I thought about it.

First of all, reading the plot summary got me real interested in the drama. I mean it involves demon hunting so if you like action, this one is for you. If you want romance, then give this one a skip. There's no romance at all. Instead, there's more of a growing family & friends relationship.

Story: It's a slow beginning but picks up pretty quickly afterwards, especially when the counter's backstories come into play. I think only two counters backstories played a main role to the plot. The other two is more for a viewer to understand how they became a counter, which is unfortunate as the spotlight for these two seemed limited. For the first half of the drama, the plot moved at a good pace, numerous demon hunting scenes which is great because this is what the drama is about, and mysteries and unanswered questions were revealed.

But after the halfway mark is where a drama either make it or break it. I say more of break it because right around ep 9 or 10, plot holes began to occur.
* What a surprised (sarcastically)............... this involves political corruption. Figures.... since everything happened because of this. This is nothing new when it comes to figuring out the villain.
* A lot of questions came to play that seemed like the writers didn't focus on, which would've made scenes more understandable. I'm not sure what happen with the writer here because I found a lot of episodes a drag or stalling after ep 8. A lot of those episodes (especially ep 10) should've been handled differently, as you really could've just skipped some episodes and you wouldn't even know you missed out on something. I knew they changed the writer at Ep 13, which at least showed plot progressing a little bit, but even then, there were too many random things thrown in and only one or two sentences (if any) to describe what happened for the final half. You could also blame the announcement of season 2 for this mess that occurred after ep 8.
* We went from the counters hunting for demonic spirits in order to protect humans to just focusing on 1 for the rest of the drama. If this 1 demonic spirit was the head leader and the other evil spirits they hunted were under him, then this would've been okay but since this wasn't the case, this seems like the writer or director lost direction in the second half, like he was the only demonic spirit left, no one else in their area was demon possessed.
* Useless spirit partners. I mean I guess they lend them their powers (and wands) but all they do is sit at the table and discuss things. They only worry about their world partner if something happens to them physically. I just didn't see an importance to them, besides getting the counters (except for So Mun) out of a coma.
* The most evilest villain in this drama never had a demonic spirit in him until the last few episodes, even though he has committed murder and has thoughts of murder. According to the spirit partner's statement, anybody who has committed murder or desire to murder attracts a demonic spirit. So why wasn't he possessed a long time ago? That doesn't make sense.

But even after all of that, I still enjoyed this drama. I love the action, the closeness of a family the counters had for each other, the dramatic scenes of the demonic spirits being cast out, and the comedy this drama showed (more in the first half of the drama, fewer in the second half). Though they may have thrown some random stuff in and missed out some important details for us viewers to understand, at least I can say that the ending is satisfying and that there's closure.

Leia Mais

So just as a starter: If you liked season 1 of Love Sick for it's story and music and the cute and sweet moments as well as the comedy scenes, then season 2 will definitely be a good choice to watch.

Story: The story of season 2 finally resolves some of the issues and problems which came up in season 1. How exactly...that would be a spoiler ;D For me, season 2 seemed a little bit more mature and detailed than season 1. Also the producers finally decided to concentrate on the main couples and only show some scenes (for fun and entertainment) of other couples and storylines (still if you only like one couple or so, you're gonna end up skipping a lot).
Season 2, It goes a little bit away from the 'just romance' feeling and connects different elements of life with the romantic and friendship relationships between the characters. Nevertheless, season 2 is just as sweet as season 1.

Acting/Cast: The casting choice, I think, is perfect. The acting...maybe not so much. It is definitely better than season 1, especially in later half of season 2. You can see how the actors and actresses learned and became better at acting. So compliments to the cast :D

Music: I've never seen a show or real life, where the songs are sooo accurate to what someone is feeling...I love the music in Love Sick but sometimes I just have to laugh when I think about how they always seem to find a song which resembles their feelings exactly to the point o.O XD Still the music itself is great, catchy and suitable for the show.

Rewatch: Oh, I'm soooo gonna rewatch this!!! XD

So overall, if you get over a little bit of awkwardness and some annoying characters (I think there is no one who watched the show and didn't find at least one character they don't like) then I definitely recommend watching this. The story itself is definitely worth it!!!

Leia Mais

Story: Two Weeks is an exciting, easy-to-marathon drama that can easily grip the viewer from first minutes of the first episode. I love the pace, it never lags, it never drags and has a well-planned story from start to finish. Prepare for an adrenaline rush from D-14 to D-day, as it showcased a very thrilling struggle of the protagonist against all odds. The cliffhangers are built strong and will make you wanting for more, so if you have the chance to marathon this unlike I did, you’re lucky. The romance doesn’t take the greatest part, more of the touching father-daughter relationship as this one makes the motivating pull to keep the story more engaging. I love every little yet meaningful moments shared between Tae San and his daughter. I’m satisfied with the ending it gave, I find it realistic, as true redemption and acceptance to oneself require time.

Acting/Cast: Overall, I love the four main leads. Yes, it’s a shame but this is the first drama I’ve seen Lee Jun Ki as a main lead and he did an awesome job not only on the action-scenes but as well as a mature actor portraying a father. Kim So Yeon, Park Ha Sun and Ryu Soo Young played their respective roles in a great and convincing way also. I love the daughter, cute, adorable and has a simply irresistible presence!

Music: I only remembered the song Run from Nell and I had already downloaded it for I really love it. It fits as beginning and the cliffhanger’s song. It is actually a great OST for a thriller drama because it enhances the tone of each episode.

Rewatch Value: Repetitive as I may say on every review, but I don’t rewatch as possible.

Overall: Great drama that will keep you on edge from beginning to end. If you’re currently selecting drama to marathon, this one’s for you. The drama is very enjoyable, engaging at the same time touching as our hero, once having a direction-less living overcomes everything for the sake of something significant in his life.

Leia Mais

Life may not be what it looks like - Masterpiece

This is by far the best Cdrama ever. Starting from one accident and gradually everything gets out of control, the feeling of depression and hopelessness in this drama is real, not even because the plot is dark but also because there are so many things shown in this drama might've happened to many of us in childhood. And I'm thrilled how they make the children to act so on spot for these highly gloomy and creepy scenes. The eyes of both the main adult leader Zhang Dongsheng and the child lead Zhu Chaoyang speak a ton of their malice. I got constantly scared by Zhu Chaoyang's expression even if he's just 13 yo in the drama. But when you come to think about it, if you were him, would you ever stop yourself from making that expression? Rated it 10/10 not because I'm psychotic person liking creepy plots but the sympathy I felt when watching the drama.

Instead of putting this drama into "thrill" or "psychology"or "crime" genre, I'm more inclined to describe it as a "family" one. Simply because every event happened in this drama resulted from tragedy inside each one's own family. Zhang Dongsheng killed his wife's parents and wife later because of their betrayal; Zhu Chaoyang's tragedy was a direct result of a divorced family and his sister's death; Yan Liang and Pupu came to this city in order to seek help for their long parted family members.



This drama depicts how the social and familial pressure could affect a child who has already developed a fracture of darkness inside his heart due to family issue, and with lack of care from parents side, it eventually turning his character to one he himself doesn't even want to be. It's heartbreaking to watch some of the scenes, especially episode 6 and 10 when Chaoyang confronting his divorced parents. It's so resonant to those who are raised by a single parent. Those kind of parents are already stressed out enough by the parental responsibility, and, what's more, every single piece of misfortune in their daily adult life converts into domestic abuse towards their child at night. But for the kids, in order to be recognized as a "good kid", they are forced to endure all the negativity their parents threw at them and behave so forth. The occasional "I'm proud of you" "you are such a good kid"phrases can be everything to children with innocent minds, but in the meantime, it's also a curse for children to shackle themselves from letting out their true childish characters only in exchange for that "praises". They think as long as they act according to the what they are told, they will get loved more; however in reality, parents did the opposite to what they told their kids, when kids realize all their parents care is themselves, the feeling of betrayal starts brewing inside them. If parents are the ones that break your illusion, how are they possibly going to repair your mind after that? The drama shows one of the possible answers to this question in the hidden storyline.


It's very mind-boggling to find out that all of the adults in this drama are extremely unreliable and selfish. Chaoyang's father's preference for his new family made him suspect his own son, and he also made Chaoyang lie to the police in order to protect his new wife, even though he's been teaching his son never should he tell lies; Chaoyang's mother is a control freak, she made his son to charge his own father in front of the police out of her personal grudge, only to be protested by Chaoyang about the truth of their divorce which his mother had lied to him over the years thinking he was too young to remember the detail. All his parents do is to blame the fault on the other; they never cared about what Chaoyang wants them to do. Yan Liang came to the city to seek help from that old guy with a fan, but was immediately reported to the police, even if he's YL's father's most reliable friend; when he wondered how severe a charge of blackmailing could be, he turned to Old Chen for help but was questioned his innocence without even letting him explain the situation. This adds to the gloomy tone of the drama, making it more reasonable of the motivation of what these children had done.


Having that Descartes's fairytale hinting here and there throughout the drama, it leaves an open ending to the audience quite resonating to the fairytale, asking yourself to decide if it's a good end or a bad end. After I watched for the first time I was about to believe in the fairytale although some of the obvious hints suggest otherwise, but still not strong enough to convince me with an alternative ending. But then after another couple of times of rewatching, sorting out all the hidden clues, I'm finally reaching the cruel truth, however, a cruel truth that makes so much sense. I really enjoyed the whole rewatching experience, but I guess mostly people stop after the first finish and proceed to find clues in other people's reviews to see the true ending. Or simply forget about it and agree with the fairytale ending. It's all up to your choice because it IS an open ending without many conclusive clues and you decide how far you want to go for the interpretation.

Music is elegant and one of a kind. A perfect match to a heavy story like this. Cinematography is so beautiful I'm capturing screen all the time.

Watched 4 times now and each time I found new details that enrich my view of the characters. Last time I focused on the leading child character Zhu Chaoyang, I was surprised to find so many underlying details even starting at episode 1 that point to his later change. Truly a masterpiece. I dare to say it's even much better than most of the crime dramas (eastern or western)I've watched so far. Please give it a check! Totally worth the time!

Leia Mais

WORST ENDING EVER

After watching the 1st episode i thought they might abolish whole spheres and go military basement or something i thought may be some of them may die and i might cry after seeing those moments. actually don't feel a thing even after watching the whole class die .
After knowing that CSAT got cancelled the 1st person who got into my mind is yeong soo and after he gone crazy i thought I feel really ba- ,then this assault happened . I thought he may die because of this and their friends may remember him in good way and feel bad for him. but he f**king killed the whole class. I feel bad for those two who left alone .but they should have shown more fighting scenes and more adventurous things than emotional scenes because 90% of part 2 is all about emotions even though this is action drama.lol.I think if the radio didn't break they might've known that CSAT didn't cancelled because those science students already left there group so they didn't know what happened later . 😮‍💨 I shouldn't have given 10/10 for part 1.
And that ending credit scene 😮‍💨😮‍💨 why that song 😮‍💨 after that shit .

Leia Mais

Entertaining but Predictable, A Solid Yet Unoriginal Revenge Thriller

This series is undeniably entertaining, offering all the key ingredients that keep an audience engaged, friendships, romance, suspense, mystery, and a touch of violence and action. It’s a formula that works, but it's not groundbreaking.

At its core, it follows a familiar narrative: a protagonist seeking revenge or trying to uncover the murderer of a loved one. In this case, the setting is a school, which isn’t particularly original either. The “high school murder mystery” trope has become a trend, where students must uncover the killer among their classmates, each hiding dark secrets.

However, some aspects felt underdeveloped. Certain characters lacked presence, compelling secrets, or even a true sense of revenge. Despite the title, Revenge of Others focuses on just one primary revenge arc. The series does, however, emphasize violence more than similar shows, with students resorting to torture and brutality, treating death as less of a taboo.

The female lead, Ok Chan Mi, often came across as overly naive and impulsive. She frequently jumped to conclusions based on speculation rather than evidence, acting as if her assumptions were facts. One interesting element was the portrayal of her twin brother, not as an innocent victim, but as someone with his own flaws.

The final two episodes felt somewhat unsatisfying, which is often the case with series like this.

Overall, Revenge of Others is an engaging watch with solid production, acting, and a dark tone. However, it doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre. It’s enjoyable but predictable.

Leia Mais

Watch it for ML (Chen Zhe Yuan). Light-hearted, goofy, a bit of beauty and the beast vibes.

The plot is Chen Zhe Yuan. Not really but he is phenomenal in this role and the drama is worth the watch for him. If you want to see the most loving, patient, protective, kind, loyal and unconditional loving ML, this drama is for you.

PLOT:
Most of the plot is how the ML tries to win over the FL so he can receive her true love kiss and get his pearl back meanwhile the FL keeps making elaborate schemes and crazy plans to escape from him. The backstory is that ML is the King of a hidden place called the Beast City. Every character in that clan has animal characteristics. ML is searching for the Holy Pearl which will help him regain his powers and continue to protect his clan. While escaping his enemies with the newly obtained Holy Pearl he opens a portal to the FL’s world. He accidentally clashes into FL and she absorbs his Holy Pearl. 5 years later, he finds the FL and kidnaps her. And this is where the first episode really starts.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
- ML is playing two roles. A day (handsome version) of Li Xiong that pretends to be a palace guard and protects the FL and a night (beast version) of Kui Mulang that is the King and FL’s kidnapper. His day version is his real look but his night version is his real identity. His character is loyal, endearing and protective. He is a wolf and only loves one person in his life. For the majority of the episodes the FL believes there are two different people. She first falls for his day version and towards the end of the drama for his night version.
- FL is a Princess from a mortal kingdom. Smart and well-spoken, her background also makes her a quirky character. The prequel tells us that her mother was a man that was transported from the modern times to historical. His soul (as a man) went into her mother’s female body, fell in love with a man and had the FL. So FL has a modern outlook on life, speaks english and uses modern terminology. She definitely brings in the comedy aspect in the drama.


POSITIVE:
- Chen Zhe Yuan - honestly, he is the highlight of the drama, his character is so endearing and loving. I’m repeating myself but he is worth the watch.
- Acting is 10/10 for everyone and especially ML as he fantastically plays two different characters and I’m guilty for falling in love with his beast look more.
- Goofy and very light-hearted drama, it doesn't take itself too seriously and I like that. The humour is done well.
- A bit of beauty and the beast retelling vibes which I love.
- Romance is slow burn, playful and cute.
- 4 side couples (which is the most I’ve ever seen in a cdrama) but they are all really cute and don’t take too much screen time.
- The drama has a happy ending for the main leads and a nice conclusion to the story (almost the whole final episode is the epilogue of them being together).

NEGATIVE:
- FL’s plans to escape are hilarious and the highlight of the drama however there is not much plot beyond that. Her trying to escape takes more than half of the drama which makes it a little draggy.
- The reveal of ML being the same person happens towards the end of the drama so I feel the leads don’t get enough opportunities to spend time together as their true selves. I loved his beast look more and I wished FL had more romantic moments with him.
- Villains are very weak and they add nothing to the story. However their screen time is also very short so they don’t really annoy you.

OVERALL:
Watch it if you want to see more of Chen Zhe Yuan as he is a heart candy and if you need a drama to lift up your spirits after a long and stressful day as it will definitely make you laugh and keep you entertained.

Leia Mais

When I was little, I wished I was born a cartoon character or that I'll magically find myself inside my favorite story under the influence of an uncanny occurrence. Along came W with the scenario of my dreams and mostly ruined it.


But I learned my lesson: "Entering a cartoon is no child play!" It's not a messy writer's mission either.


Here's the problem: W aspired to be a lot of things: a mind-blowing, thought-provoking fantasy, a boundary-breaking love story, a thriller and a creeper, and perhaps a journey of finding oneself...


Unfortunately, it failed on most fronts, but I'm not surprised. First and foremost, we have to accredit the writer for tackling such fresh premise and attempting to explore the themes of creator/creation and free-will/predestination in such a creative way. However, unlike her previous works the writer failed to create clear and sound rules governing the travel between these two worlds. You might scream: "But, it's a FANTASY!" Then, I'll scream back: "Even fantasy has to have solid rules; otherwise, it's magical realism or Deus ex Machina conveniently controlling events."


It's hard to highlight this part without giving up the story. One might claim that the rules of entering/leaving the world were clear from the beginning. It's not true, though! We were never told why and how Yoon Joo was going in when the tablet wasn't involved. Then, there's the fact that the rules changed over and over again! They worked only when it was appropriate for the narrative. Many times, major dangers could've been avoided by simply using the rules. In all honesty, I have attempted to rationalize the show's plot more than once; I always ended up with a severe headache. It's either the plot is a collection of holes bridged by Deus ex Machina or I'm too stupid to get it.


But I could've still enjoyed the show, lapses of logic and all, had the writer tried to make her characters realistic. Isn't it ironic that the writer who criticized other drama writers for resorting to cliches to move their stories, didn't bother to give her own characters identities of their own?!


Take Yoon Joo for example. What is she other than the love interest? What do we know about her other than she'll do anything to be with Chul? For the love of God, the girl had cotton candy for brains and I was supposed to believe that she's a surgical intern. Yoon Joo was willing to desert her ENTIRE universe so she can play romance of the day with her fictional crush. How am I supposed to respect her? I'm a fangirl, mind you! But I still can tell the difference between fangirling and falling in love. The writer and Yoon Joo obviously couldn't. If I were to believe that Yoon Joo fell for Chul because he's her forever crush, why did he fall for her (over and over again)? There was a painful lack of buildup for that romance. The show ended and I was still wondering: Why were those two a couple? Why the hell I'm supposed to root for them?


They might've been cute together. But that was all they ever were!


Then, there was Chul. His life, his whole existence was a tragedy but he was a protagonist who had free-will in a predestined world. In his journey of finding himself, Kang Chul was supposed to prove his humanity. Curiously enough, I found his reactions to the world and to everything to be human in the first half of the story. However, the more he approaches the real world, the more he becomes robotic. Ultimately, he became so bland it was dull to watch him, much less to care for him. (again it's hard to explain without spoiling).


The most interesting and the only well-acted character was Oh Song Moon. I want to take a moment to applaud the acting. The levels of darkness and petty he fell into were very well acted. Unfortunately, the depth of this character was never fathomed. He was shoved away in favor of the stupid never-was-romance. His relationship with his daughter, his fears, his failures, his love were all thrown down the drain. He became a walking plot-device himself.


The acting in the show was uneven. Kim Eui Seong did wonders with his characters where Han Hyo Joo moves around with 3 annoying facial expressions (maybe four if you count her sleeping face :P). W certainly uncovered Lee Jong Suk's acting limitations. He fairs well in cute and playboy, but other than some particular scenes, his acting grew cumbersome to watch, even cringe-worthy at the end. Those crying scenes anyone?!


A shout out to Crazy Dog and Soo Bong: those two were my rays of the sunshine in the dark! Crazy Dog spoke my mind and Soo Bong was the only one who played bewilderment and every other shocked emotion well.



In short, visually captivating, definitely mind-boggling and occasionally a bit creepy, W might have started with a promise but ended with a letdown. Watch it if you're a fan of the actors or of twisty-twisted plots that leave you with more questions than answers, but don't expect any character to come off as human.

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