The bads: The plot is extremely predictable, to the point where it borderlines unrealistic or simplistic. The way some events play out, it gives a 'are the characters idiots!?' or 'are you for real!?' feeling.
You can tell it's adapted from a BL novel and they try to force it into a 'brotherly love' thing. Worth watching at least once? Heck yes. Re-watching? Not really, lol.
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I won’t talk about the excellent casting & acting, or amazing production quality, of how well they included authentic traditions and customs of that period, because these are 10/10, and other reviewers have already attested to that.
No, what I’ll talk about is something much deeper, lessons that one might never even get in a lifetime.
This drama is a lesson about kindness. Her kindness saved a nation, and you’ll understand what I mean when you watch it. Her kindness was inspiring, encouraging, nurturing, and selfless, and so the history of an empire changed its course. She was able to recognise when she should be grateful to somebody from a very young age. She was also able to forgive when forgiveness was to be given, because in her heart she found the ability to love somebody, who had never been properly loved before. She hadn’t experienced proper familial love as a child, but when she finally did, she defended it with her entire being. She’d go the extra mile for those she loved, without fear and without expecting something in return.
She has done some crazy scheming, and she wasn’t always a saint, but she knew when to stop, or at least learnt to do so. She was able to find peace in her heart, and it’s that light that so attracted other people, just like sunflowers to the sun.
This story is also about devotion. His devotion, something he never received in his family home, was so great that it made him fearless, ready to jump even into fire, defend under a rainfall of arrows, and charge ahead with determination. His devotion was his saving grace and so he was rewarded by destiny with her kindness. Her kindness saved him, just like his devotion saved her, and it saved a country.
To forgive is really hard, but the both of them were able to do so, to let go of the hate and anger, and instead open their arms to welcome those who have not been lucky enough to know true kindness and devotion. It resonated with me, because I once had to forgive as well, and I know how hard it is, and so I cried. For an entire hour I was sobbing, reminiscing not the bad memories, but the good ones. The finale of the drama, reminded me that in this world, it is love, kindness, devotion, steadfastness, patience, and being able to go through the ups and downs of life with dignity that will make or break you.
There were of course many other lessons, that are likely to touch your heart. Truth be told even when some of the not-so-good characters were in pain, I also teared up for them. In this world who is faultless, who is perfect...
May you watch this drama and learn from it. Learn about kindness and devotion and how the love of two people united & created a family. Not just a clan, but a family.
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First, the story line is absolutely brilliant. It has many twists that'll keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the 11 episodes.
Second, the cast did an amazing job. The characters had tons of chemistry etc.
The music was pretty good. It served its purpose very well.
For Rewatch Value, generally im not someone who rewatches dramas or movies, but i'd have to give this a 7 because it has enough twists that after a year or so you can definitely rewatch it.
Overall, im giving this drama ten for its relatively unique storyline, wonderful acting, and generally for being such a great drama.
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Tale of the Nine Tailed: An Unfinished Story
26 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
This is perfect to watch after finishing Tale of the Nine Tailed...
I watched this after finishing the drama and I'm glad I did after Lee Rang's death this was perfect and helped healing my heart a bit. I'm still very sad with ending because I loved Lee Rang's character and Kim Bum did a phenomenal job pertaining him. This is compiled my 3 episodes my favorite was the one with Yu Ri. It was great to see how he found her and helped her live as human. I loved their relationship in the drama and I was so happy to receive this extra content. Everyone should watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
The drama started off interesting as many awesome characters were introduced. For example, I have to talk about the actor Choi Min Soo as King SukJong. He played the character so well, I could literally feel the chills whenever he was on screen. One of my favourite aspect of the show was when his scenes came on.
Jang Geun Suk as Baek DaeGil, started off as a good for nothing young boy who eventually becomes a great swordsman as he takes revenge. I feel that he executed his character well and seeing him was a delight and definitely made it worth my while.
It was my first time seeing Yeo Jin Goo in a main role and I was pleasantly surprised. As a young actor, he acts very well and he definitely stole the limelight whenever he graced our screens with his presence.
Jun Kwang Ryul as Yi In Jwa was a menacing character that we as the audience were all meant to hate and I do feel that he did justice to the role and many times, his cunning ways made me dislike him so much.
Although there were all these interesting characters as well as amazing actors playing them, there were many pointless characters in this drama too. Characters that made me scream WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE. That aspect was a downer because it seemed that they were just inserted for filler scenes and had no connection to the story whatsoever.
As I mentioned earlier, this drama STARTED off well however, as episodes went on ,the story had just spiraled into a totally different direction. There were many times I got confused and bored. There was no character development in some parts.The character would be saying something and then doing completely different later on with no specific justification for what and why they changed their minds. Many pointless deaths that made no sense and didn't add to the story at all. Basically, the plot went haywire at some point.
The music was actually very enjoyable, I found a couple of the songs stuck in my head and had to go and download them.
Overall, I would say if you really like sageuks and would love to see Jang Geun Suk doing amazing sword fighting then go ahead and watch it but be prepared to question the justification for certain characters or scenes.
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Maybe a Masterpiece for the regional audience¿¿..??
Historical dramas could be a lot more meaningful to regional audiences who may have lived through it. However for a global audience looking for pure entertainment this may not have such a deep impact.Everything was okay for me and I would've given it a 7 or 8, but there was a jarring situation.
Taking the risk of being cursed by the star -obsessed fans of the region, I must say that the lead couple was JARRING.
They were mismatched and uncomfortable with each other, there was no chemistry, in fact there was a certain distance or coolness to the relationship that went against the storyline.
The FL - as brilliant as I've seen her in other dramas- had one singular expression throughout. She looked like a 12 year old obstinate child. That's it. It didn't waver.
All the 3 male leads falling in love with her was a bit ridiculous to watch.
The romantic thread between these 2 totally mismatched and chemistry-less leads just messed up the drama for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
Started watching serial thinking it would be a bubbly not-so-taxing series. But boy was I surprised. Up to episode 20 everything about the drama was top-notch. I liked the general and tian qi's gradual interactions while low key pining for Marquiz Marvel to win it all (happiness, girl, you know the typical whole yard for the second male lead)... But boy o boy from ep 21 things went so weird....so weird that the final happy ending felt a blasphemy and an irritating slap to viewers. I can't go onto describe every single detail that went wrong but I will still list a few
1. Tian Qi's revenge is nothing but a joke. She does literally nothing at all to take revenge except dressing up as a boy to enter J mansion. From then on viewers can see next to no effort of her getting any revenge done. The sorry excuse that we see in the name of revenge here comes through the intervention of the J brothers who punishes the culprit for things the villains did in general and not for tian Qi or her grievances.
2. The actual villain of the drama goes Scott free by the end of it all. The perpetrator of tian Qi and Marquiz Marvel's suffering aka General J's mother is never given any punishment or confrontations at all. The woman is just portrayed a product of her surroundings which excuse me??? Is not a good enough reason . Just to pave her son's way to become the next general and to solidify her position... she goes on a spree to kill her husband, his consort ( Marvel's mother), and tian qi's parents. And her punishment?? She becomes a Nun!!!! Like yea right that is some next level writing bullshit If there was ever any...
3. General J the character at best is wishy washy and at worst downright selfish. His selfishness begins when refuses to give tian qi to zheng even though he can't accept his homosexual feelings. And from then on his obsession with tian qi was cringe to watch (not cute). It's like he can only love tian qi if she is a girl. And he won't hear it or let his brother hear it if there is any homo matter. Now some people will argue that zheng knew tian's identity. But for those people I would say... A guy who's mother was murdered by the woman he was "made to love and respect", a guy who has every reason to bring down the family still forfeited his everything including the girl he loves to his brother because of his obligations (but more like his big heart) ... I don't think a guy like him would have chickened out like the General because of the word homosexuality thrown in. But then tian qi is not the only flaw in the general's character. His character in itself comes out as this overbearing personality who only knows how to command and be served every time no questions asked and two pivotal points in the drama proves it. a) where he tried to punish marvel according to family traditions when the later lost his temper in front of him .b) when he shouted at marvel instead of humbling down and apologizing sincerely for what his mother did to zheng . Nowhere in the entire serial do I find this general-mother duo ever feeling sincerely sorry to anyone except for themselves.
4. Tian qi. My god where to start? I would just say the writers did a very bad job here. From beginning to end it's all about her.. there is no room in her thoughts for any person other than her. In a way she is like the general too.. selfish and self centered till the end. She had no business going for that revenge if she was going to produce children with the enemy's son anyway. I mean who comes up with these plotlines??? Also she never really thanked zheng for all he did... Bollocks she never even acknowledged it except to say thanks as lol service!!! And what about her lie to the made she almost married?? Did she ever say sorry to her??? Nope
The only good character in the entire drama was Marquis Marvel aka Zheng's but he was also the only character who was made to unjustly suffer till the end. Which was one of the cruelest moves of the writer's ever.
The overall problem of the whole drama lies in its tone. For the first 20 episodes viewers are made to think it's a bubbly drama with no major brain jerkers. But from ep 21 this light hearted cute as a rainbow drama takes a 180 turn. The story gets so dark with the mom and general and everything involved that there is no turning back from there except a sad or at least bittersweet ending. But nope the writers just had to ruin even that probability of saving the drama it's grace by forcing a happy ending. As an audience I didn't feel happy with the comedic happy ending. Nope respected writers (sarcasm) not even one ounce.
The moral of the story is if you want to make a happy drama make one like (meng feng comes across) and if you wanna make a sad drama then legit make it sad (like goodbye my princess) . But please don't make a sorry mixture of both and end up writing one so utter bullshit that it only wastes viewer's energy and time... just because you can. Cause I take my dramas seriously and whenever I see a potentially good drama with a stellar cast ruined because of writers/directors experimentations with their creative licenceing, and that too with a half hearted attempt... It's feels like an insult too close to heart and damn melancholic :/
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Surely not worth of waiting, but was enjoyable.
Being one the most anticipated c-dramas of this year, and being in my ptw for a long time I expected very much from 'Love Scenery' though it doesn't have any factor which specifically disappoints me there was nothing that could impress me so it was just an average show for me, wasn't really worth of waiting for ages. It was just an enjoyable ride nothing much.In the first episodes, we didn't get anything more than just gaming scenes with 'A big amount of missed encounters'
Story:
A predictable filled with cliches plot. 'Fate' and 'Unrealisticness' bothered me a bit. It was too unrealistic and hard to believe many events. The first half of the drama gives slow-burned romance vibes but later it turns out to be totally opposite. Another thing that bothered me in the plot was unnecessary twists and surprises because it just felt it was just for sake of 31 episodes. Surely plot isn't a key point as it's nothing different than most Chinese rom-com.
Characters:
Lu Jing being perfect in every way possible an ideal ML. Though his character is really good as I prefer more realistic character it wasn't that great for me. But he is mature more than his age but can be rude too sometimes. Talking about Liang Chen she is just unrealistically naive and sweet, to be honest, I'd expected her character to be badass and 'A strong FL.' Not being a fan of any side couples but I really liked leads chemistry.
Pros:
1. Cinematography: It has beautiful cinematography, one of the strong points of the show. The camera angles are perfect though the editing of the first few episodes of the show wasn't that good it gets better. Being good throughout good still didn't impress me in the gaming scenes.
2. Music:Here's a thing which is done properly 'Music' surely suits the main genre as it has. The OSTs and background music, soundtracks are really really. I really love the opening song 'Never Stop' in its rock version.
3. The chemistry between leads is good and they look great together
4. Perfect if you like sweetness and fluff.
Cons:
1. Annoying and unnecessary SML. His character was kind of creepy too.
2. The amount of gaming scenes in the starting become the most boring part for me.
3. The voice dubbing wasn't that good.
4. I've a little problem with FLs acting which feels like really overboard and too much.
5. It's too predictable, cringy and cliche.
6. None of the characters were dimentional
So overall it have both good aspects and bad too! it could have been better in many ways. Still didn't had memorable experiendce but it was fun and interesting ride for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
I am glad it ended.
What can you say about a show which does start with sexual harrasment and mentally abuse?It's a trope nobody needs, a trope nobody asks for and a trope which was lame 10 years ago.
Besides the cinematography and the title song this shows has nothing really likable. The characters are plain, the story is awful and everything is so full of clichés. If you want to know more other reviewers will detail all the points which are bad, but I have no time to waste on this show anymore.
It's one of the dissapointments of 2024. Nice production quality meets aweful script, boring acting, some fan-service and nothing more. You should avoid it, if you haven't watched it yet.
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“A Soft and Healing Story That Shines in Silence”
In Your Radiant Season feels less like a typical drama and more like a quiet moment you sit with. It doesn’t try to grab attention with heavy twists or dramatic conflicts—instead, it gently tells a story about healing, loneliness, and the slow process of finding comfort in someone else’s presence.What really stands out is how natural everything feels. The story moves at its own pace, focusing on small details and everyday interactions rather than big events. The relationship between the leads develops softly, without forced drama, which makes it feel more real and relatable. Their chemistry isn’t intense or overwhelming, but calm and steady, fitting perfectly with the tone of the drama.
Visually, the drama is beautiful in a very subtle way. The warm lighting, quiet settings, and soft color palette create a peaceful atmosphere that matches the emotional depth of the story. It almost feels like every scene is meant to make you pause and reflect. The OST adds to this feeling, with gentle tracks that blend smoothly into the background and enhance the mood without taking over.
However, the slow pacing can be a hit or miss. There are moments, especially in the middle, where the story feels like it’s not moving much. If you prefer fast-paced dramas or strong plot twists, this might feel a bit dragging. The storyline itself is also quite predictable, and some of the supporting characters don’t leave a strong impression.
Still, what makes Your Radiant Season worth watching is its sincerity. It doesn’t try too hard—it simply tells a heartfelt story in a calm and honest way. It’s the kind of drama you watch when you want something comforting rather than exciting.
Overall, it’s a soft and emotional drama that stays with you quietly rather than leaving a strong impact.
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To My Star Season 2: Our Untold Stories
26 people found this review helpful
But i was wrong. Turns out the 2nd season was filled with angst. I didn't hate it. I'm just not a fan of it.
However i ended up liking this season.
At first it was really frustrating to see how Ji Woo just left and ghosted Seo Jun for a whole year. But then in the end everything make sense. I wish Seo Jun could play hard to get for a little longer though.
Comparing to S1, i could see they had more budget for this season. Better cinematography, setting, styling, and more casts. The duration and pacing were good, but i feel like some parts could've been shorter. They also explains the plot holes from S1.
I dislike the idea of ex coming back, but they done it well.
I like how the side characters also had development.
My favorite character is Pil Hyun, he did great as Seo Jun's CEO. I feel bad for him since S1, everyone hung up on him first and now in S2 he's left alone. He deserves a better ending.
The acting was great. All the actors portray their roles perfectly.
I love the chemistry between the leads, they were perfect together. But i must mention Son Woo Hyun would do great as a singer. He truly had the talent for that. His singing part on ep 4 is amazing.
The i love the music that were used.
My favorite is "그럴때, 나는" by Son Woo Hyun & Kim Kang Min.
Overall it's a great sequel. I won't rewatch this as much as the prequel because of the angst, but in the end I really really liked this drama.
If you're in the mood to cry I'd recommend this.
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Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) Season 2
26 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
If that was the ending then NO
***Spoilers***I did not invest all that time and emotion in these characters for the writers to treat us as test subjects. If this is really the end then I won’t watch anything else they write. Ever. We followed this show and these characters through two seasons and deserved a better ending for all. Some did deserve to find happiness and some obviously did not. The ghost plot was dumb and I ignored it through most of the series anyway. I’ve been disappointed in endings before but nothing like this. It seems the writers went out of their way to shock us unnecessarily.
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This review may contain spoilers
Roundabout plot, weak acting. Last few episodes were way better.
The drama started out intriguing for me, especially first 14 episodes. It seemed mysterious, like a solid story is about to be told. However thereafter, it was very drawn-out and constant repetition of certain scenes: the love story between FL and ML, the side view of the ML's face, the FL being strong-headed and suddenly acting weak, the ML always knowing where and when to rescue the FL and the FL/ML who are the only know-it-all.' After 20 episodes or so, I've been skipping the scenes involving the ML due to his mediocre and boring acting and chemistry with the FL.I would like to compare this drama to Ashes of Love and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. All three have great costumes and amazing filming location. However, both AoL and TMPB went on to develop the roles of all the supporting roles instead of killing them off. The part whereby PS lacked is the development, it seems that PS is advancing based on the aesthetic value of the ML, as the ML's acting ability in this show is rather weak. If Fu Chou had more scenes, he will overpower the ML for sure. FL and ML's love story does not seem realistic, as they constantly hid secrets from each other at the start and remained inseparable. FL is supposedly skilled in martial arts, but does not exhibit her ability when ML is around. Their love story is very forced upon the audience, whereby we have to accept that those two come as a whole. Then, why do we even have two separate characters if they appear to have the same mind? I find that as a watcher, I could not empathize with their relationship and when they break up I just go 'oh lol, there they go again'. This is unlike in AoL and TMPB, whereby in AoL, when the ML left the FL, it made me so upset since their love was very real.
The FL in PS acts more like a man than woman, and the ML acts like a wimp, especially when he revealed to the public that he had sex with the FL when the FL was about to marry Fu Chou. He is not a gentleman at all. The things the FL and ML are incomprehensible, mostly because they always do things to the extreme ie the FL for her own selfishness caused her servants to die and FL/ML ganging up to kill Fu Chou who showed real love for the FL. These make the audience unable to understand their harsh actions. In fact, this is the drama whereby I wished for the ML to die and for someone to teach the FL some manners. In short, apart from the lovey-dovey and sex scenes, as well as the ML showing his side view of his face and always appearing out of nowhere, the FL/ML roles remained sorely under-developed.
Moving on, Fu Chou acted brilliantly in showing a conflicted person who was hurt by his past and yet tries to love someone. The character development for his role is rather good and FC has got amazing acting skills. When he caught FL and ML together in the bath while the FL was married to him, his expression caused me to really cry. He is a good-hearted and loyal man who constantly endures betrayal from people around him and tries to put up a brave front. In my opinion, he deserves more screen time and can even be the ML. The ratio of screen time the ML has is 8:10, meaning that whenever other supporting roles are kissing/hugging, he strolls right into the scene. (Like, wait what? What does it have to do with the ML even.) As such, many scenes involving the supporting roles are cut out. That was what made me give this drama a low rating. As I continue watching, the disappointment increases.
In fact, I watched this drama for Leo Luo aka Emperor Qi. Leo never disappoints with his acting even though he seldom appear. Makes me wonder why since the production team is always using his fame and face for advertisements on Weibo (even Leo himself is helping to promote). This is so unfair since he had very little screen time and almost no character development. It feels like this drama is just riding on his Ashes of Love fame instead of giving Leo the recognition he deserves. (He acted brilliantly in AoL and I watched AoL twice.)
Conclusion: I will not watch this drama again as I am watching it for Leo, but now I have a new bias which is Fu Chou. Previously I have watched Leo's drama the Fox in the Screen, and even though the production wasn't as good, they gave all the roles equal screen time. I find that if PS cut down on showing off the ML's long face (I don't appreciate his face since I am seeing it so regularly it annoys me), it is likely PS will just go down to 30 episodes, though I think with a story like this, 20 episodes is good enough to make a strong plot. There is nothing memorable about this drama as the twists are too many in certain episodes and it is plain confusing. The music is nothing special unlike those in AoL and TMPB. I find the acting of the ML is boring enough and a major turn-off while the FL is too bratty. Wonder why is this drama called White Hair though. It seems like a clickbait...
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The story, the characters, the music,the actors, i will never forget this drama, it actually opened my apetite for dramas.
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