Completed
Love a Lifetime
16 people found this review helpful
by E3ri
Dec 8, 2020
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Probably the best drama of all time

After binge watching Yanxi Palace in three days three nights it has done quite some damage to my emotions towards dramas I watched after that. My feelings getting attached to dramas takes time but this.. This drama had me hooked instantly like never before? The romance really saves the drama honestly

STORY: 9.8 It's not face paced nor slow paced but perfectly right in the middle. I feel like if more characters died I would've been more emotional but it's a good thing that the drama didn't lose too much of the characters like xueman and yizhou. Ngl I do enjoy dramas that contains misunderstandings and jealousy. Just brings spice into it, this drama didn't had much but it's still really good. Nothing bad about the story, I'm honestly happy about the ending, still sad that the main couple lost their first unborn child so was wishing to see them have kids or have some scene in the future! (Really really hope they have a S2) in general and overall, no complaints

ACTING: 10 The acting is just *chef kisses* allen's acting did NOT disappoint. I love how he fits the young, free, and funny role to a more darker mature role. He rely suits it, and I'm looking forward to watch Under the Power after this! Zhang Hui Wen's acting is wiite good, may need some more skills and practicing but she has a lot of potential! All the other characters wether its support or the main role did an AMAZING job. not to mention the martial art scenes where they fight is so fucking clean and high quality. It's almost like it's very different from other dramas, its so cleannn. In geberal and overall: 10 would'e took 0.2 points off bc of zhang hui wen's acting but I'll just let it slide

MUSIC: 10 Loveeeee the osts!! Absolutely beautiful!! And the bgm really fits the situations. And the sounds are very high quality too. No complaints honestly

REWATCH VALUE: 100/10 There were SO many memorable scenes I can't even count how many times I've replayed it before even finishon the drama. (Never knew facial expressions would make me replay it 10x tehe) From my journey of starting to watch C dramas actively from 2017 until now, I'd never thought of finding a drama that I get so attached to until now. It's been a while since I've felt like this. Debating if this is #2 or #1 favorite dramas of all time..

Overall: 10/10 It was good, although didn't make me cry from previous dramas (probably because of after watching yanxi palace) Until the final episodes where rong hua got killed and nalan yue running towards her crying just made me so emotional to drop a tear. What really got me was rong su and yizhou. They deserve a happy ending.. (Can we talk about how pretty rong su is in that formal *lady like* costume?? The baby blue and flower pins and that hair downnn suits her so well *ched kiss* She looks so good :() I'm really satisfied with this drama but will take me a few days to get over with. I reay wished to see them with their future kids tbh was really wishing that, then I would've been completed.

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Completed
All the Liquors
16 people found this review helpful
Mar 2, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

cute but rushed

Overall: this was cute but they tried to cover too much plot and it felt jumpy/rushed. 8 episodes total, about 20 minutes per episode. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- that opening scene isn't super common in fiction (but very common in real life)
- funny moments
- the characterizations/opposite personalities
- the friendships especially Han Ji Yu and Ji Hoon, that's the friend who tells you honestly that you got a bad haircut lol
- need a spin off with the friend and the new character introduced at the end

Room For Improvement
- they needed to narrow the plot because scenes would quickly jump from 1 to another and it felt rushed overall, they didn't clearly explain some parts
- I thought that scene at the end of episode 1 was a preview for next week but it was actually an extra scene in the first episode. The second episode had it as well with an extended scene before the next week's preview. This was a bit confusing.
- having a conversation while someone is on the toilet
- too many falls
- the dead fish lip presses

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Completed
Un Chocolatier de l’Amour Perdu
16 people found this review helpful
Mar 27, 2014
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0
Don't get me wrong- I enjoyed watching this drama as it aired. It was a nicely written drama, not too long and the storyline was good enough to have me want to watch it each week.

The story is a fairly basic one, but I thought the actors in the show played their parts very well. I haven't read the manga, but I thought each of the actors looked great (love you MatsuJun!) and at no point was I cringing due to wooden acting. I really hated Saeko, and I thought Ishihara Satomi played her part to perfection. However, I felt the strength of this show was in it's supporting characters- Rikudo, Sekiya, Kaoruko etc. They provided the comedy when the main storyline got a bit too much.

The music was great- not only did I LOVE the Arashi song, the other music was very well suited to the show.

I probably won't rewatch this show again- hence the low rewatch value score, but overall I enjoyed this drama. It's definitely a great one to watch when you want an interesting mix of melodrama and comedy.

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Completed
Perfect and Casual
16 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2020
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Not all “idol romcoms” are equal: Or “The kind are rewarded”

This was a show which had it all, good writing, direction, fantastic performance and visuals. Was it full of cliches and tropes, and seemed cut from the mold of other dramas with similar tropes? Both yes and no. While I have not watched others to be able to make any substantial comparison, just on its own merit this was a drama which can stand tall amongst others of its ilk.

After a few rewatches, it became clear to me that more care, consideration and thought than what was common (for an idol romcom/pure romance) were given to the script/screenplay, and the whole production as a whole. There was a coherent theme/message, and recurring motifs, simplistic as they were. The small details mattered in this show.

It was also a showcase in how to go about achieving a wholesome, healthy, mature and loving relationship (for the leads). Communication, communication and communication. They took the time to talk with and reassure each other, tried to understand the other’s perspective, apologise when in the wrong etc. They did it often and habitually. It was especially stark when put against that of the other secondary couples.

There was not much unnecessary conflict, and any devices - i.e, misunderstandings or “love rivals” - for the development of the leads’ relationship were never utilised beyond their usefulness to the story. The respective dynamics were also a vehicle of growth for the leads. It was all very utilitarian. It could either be a plus or negative. In any case, I appreciated the straightforwardness. It resulted in a breezy, romantic and heartwarming drama experience.

While riding on the common tropes and cliches distinctive of its genre, it also tried to subvert some of them. It was a show “aware” of itself. It poked fun at the aggressive-CEO-tropes, and made fun of itself as a “mindless idol drama”. There was sarcastic and dry humour. There was also lovely usage of old movies to make its point across.

Having watched the ending and then returning to the first episode again, I was really struck by how coherent, cohesive and consistent the whole storyline was. The writing was truly solid.

Performance wise, suffice to say that WZM portrayed Prof Zhang impeccably, playing a staid, aloof and wooden character with much warmth, sensitivity and nuance. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Prof. Zhang. XRH was the perfect foil for him, playing Yun Shu naturally in all her adorable, sweet, effervescent and optimistic glory, subsequently blooming into a stronger and more mature character as the show progressed.

The secondary characters gave memorable performances too, and I especially loved ZLR’s portrayal of GZY. It was an organic and dynamic performance, giving the character a realism which I found particularly compelling.

In defense of the “Mary-Sue” female lead:

Was she absentminded, naive, too trusting and not particularly smart nor streetwise. Yes. Was she stupid. No.

Her being kind, generous and trusting might be looked upon by some as idiocy, but the show itself - via the character of the grandfather - clearly told us, it’s both her strength and weakness.

The show was not shy in letting us know that her helpfulness to others have garnered her opportunities which she would not have had just based on her academic or work skills.

Of course, as a viewer, what one thinks of the old-fashioned message itself is up to themselves, but the show was at least unapologetic in promoting the adage: “Nice girls finish first”, or that “compassion will be rewarded in kind.”


Conclusion:

For being a purely romance driven drama in its particular sub-genre, this was an example of fine writing, production and performance, as cliched and trope-y as it was. I feel fortunate in my encounter with this gem of a romcom. It’s undoubtedly a favourite now.

(All my thanks to the production/writing team, cast and crew).

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Completed
4 Kinds of House
16 people found this review helpful
by yaboi
Jun 24, 2019
4 of 4 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
When I saw this show was only 4 episodes, I started to contemplate if this would even be worth watching, but man was it. The male lead was so cute, I must say. He starts out very cold and grey, but as he spends time with his new roommates he becomes just down right adorable! The female lead was also very enjoyable. She had a down to earth and an enjoyable personality.

I'm mostly impressed by how they were able to fit sweet character development and a good plot all into 4 episodes. Nothing seemed rushed and it was overall very satisfying. Because it was short, there wasn't any drama with other characters getting in the way of the main characters' love and the relationship came overall really nicely. Which is honestly very refreshing after watching so many series with crabby side characters that are hellbent on making main characters split.

In conclusion, this was a fun and sweet little drama that warmed my heart and I would really recommend it.

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Completed
Remarriage and Desires
16 people found this review helpful
by minji
Jul 16, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0

Enjoyable short watch!

This 8-episode drama was enjoyable for me. I went in with 0 expectations but simply knowing Kim Heesun is in the cast. The story was not over-complicated but my only complaint is there were many characters to keep up with.

The tension between Hye-Seung & Yoo-hee was building up throughout the drama. Both Kim Hee-sun & Jung Eugene did wonderfully in their roles. Jung Eugene literally took on the role of Yoo-hee and basically acted out such a horrible character that makes you hate her

Overall, I enjoyed the plot twists the writers dropped in but I think towards the end I expected/predicated things would end that way. Good resolution to the drama!

It was an enjoyable watch and if anyone wishes to watch, give it a try!

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Completed
Graceful Family
16 people found this review helpful
by SieL68
Aug 31, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

Are you ready to meet the Delulu (Delusional) Family?

After a long time, I finally decided to watch this series. I was convinced after watching a couple of clips and when I went in I got so excited. I was too determined that I even used my sick leave thinking I could finish it in a day. That's how fascinated I am with this rich/chaebol drama. Unfortunately, the fun started fading midway as it felt too stretchy. Small wins then big blows which is not that bad, it's just not as exciting for me. I finished the series just for the sake that I want to see how things ended.

Acting-wise, I feel like Im SooHyang carried most of the series together with Bae JongOk. They're both powerful actresses that made their characters come to life which is the main reason as well that I kept going.

I personally don't know someone as rich as the same level as this family but the whole drama going on is so fascinating that I'm actually relieved I'm not as rich as them. There's a lot of twists here and there making it interesting but I kind of feel sad how the ending was rushed.

I'd still recommend this if you're into crazy rich dramas/scenarios or if you want to see rich people fight each other with class but might not be everyone's cup of tea.

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Completed
Irresistible Love 2
16 people found this review helpful
by say it
Feb 8, 2017
Completed 1
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 3.5
This is one of the most popular and captivating Bl series out there. However, if you are into romance developing then you should stay away from it.
I for one could not get myself to like this drama no matter how many times I watched it. It is honestly an abusive relationship, all that the Master sees of Nian is a toy that he got at the orphanage and a toy that deserves to love him and satisfy all his pleasures to show gratitude.

Even though the master shows some compassion in some ways, he is short tempered and throughout the movie, he is basically abusing Nian having mutual feelings like him.

I would recommend it for some people, but it's not my cup of tea as the whole movie at times made feel uncomfortable or sympathetic towards Nian.

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Completed
Mother
15 people found this review helpful
Jul 2, 2013
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I've just finished watching the Finale moments ago and decided to write a review right away.
I know this drama's already got a high rating, still at first I was hesitant to watch it.
At times it was because I was in no mood for family dramas, at times I was in no mood for melodramas and preferred comedies, but I'm so glad I decided to watch it.

I rarely Give a drama a perfect 10, but this one SURE deserves it.

The Story: A very well written story and script, that not only moves you greatly but also makes one think and reconsider the meaning of a lot of things that may seem obvious, it makes wonder what you would have done if you were in each and every character's shoes (which is by the way one of the greatest proofs of a great story) and wonder whether what the character actually done was the right thing or not.
It's a story about maternity and what it really means, what makes a woman turn into a mother and what makes a girl into a daughter, the unconditional love that both share, "love free of charges" as the main character call it.

The Cast: The acting in this one leaves you utterly speechless. If I say it's PERFECT it definitely won't be an exaggeration. Above all Ashida Mana was spectacular, an acting prodigy for sure. Matsuyuki Yasuko also proved just how great an actress she was, she was really very convincing with her facial expressions saying a hundred things without needing any lines. All the other characters however big or small, they all delivered a very good acting especially all three mothers (Takahata Atsuko, Ono Machiko & Tanaka Yuko)

The Music: I loved the OST in particular and found it really fitted the drama's atmosphere a lot. The theme song was however the best part, the moment it played was always the moment you found your tears flowing without you even noticing.

Rewatch Value: This is a drama I will SURE rewatch, I believe it deserves rewatching it with a family member!!

I totally recommend this drama to everyone, even drama fans who don't really fancy Family dramas and believe them too melodramatic for their tastes, give this one a try and I assure you WON'T REGRET IT!!

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Completed
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace
16 people found this review helpful
Nov 17, 2020
87 of 87 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

An Amazing Qing Era Series

RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE (Ru Yi Zhuan) was a really well made series. I watched it right after I finished Story of Yanxi Palace, back to back, and at first I had very mixed feelings. But instead of letting my love for Yanxi interfere with my love for Ruyi's story, I decided they were both great and equally lovable, albeit different perspectives of the same era, during Emperor Hong Li (Qianlong Emperor) reign.

Personally, I really loved that Ruyi's story tells almost the complete opposite story than that of Yanxi. Both are such amazing series and two of my top favorite historical dramas now. Both are stories of equally strong women and how they survive in the Forbidden City. Both drama's are almost perfect in their own ways.

Some reviewers criticize UlaNara Ruyi (Xun Zhou) for being a weak portrayal of women, but if anything, it is the exact opposite. She is exceptionally brave to endure all that she did, all the twisted schemings, and hidden dangers of the palace. Never does she whimper and try to flee, or worse-join in on the twisted schemings herself-instead she becomes a woman worthy of respect and honor. For Ruyi, there was so much brutality and backstabbing around her. For her to endure with grace, humility, and even optimism all that she did-well she's all the more a strong woman for it. She fought for her love and yet, stood up to him when it mattered most. And, compared to Yanxi's heroine (who I equally loved in her own way), Ruyi offers a more realistic portrayal of historical feminism in China. Neither should be seen as lesser.

I agree, with those that criticize the Emperor Hong Li (Wallace Huo), as it was difficult to watch as his character degrades throughout the length of the series. It became harder and harder to see what Ruyi saw in him, but the fact that she stood up and held her own made the ending so much sweeter and poignant. It was so moving. Honestly everything was so great, the cast, characters, visuals, story, music, etc. I loved this series.

For those that wish to compare and contrast it to Story of Yanxi Palace, as if the shows were rivals, don't let that make you miss out on a great historical drama that is Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. This was a unforgettable series. Brilliant.

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Completed
The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
16 people found this review helpful
May 19, 2023
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Not what I expected in the best way!

"The Secret Romantic Guesthouse" is nothing like what I expected it to be. It has a lot of elements that are in some of my favorite sageuks but has a unique balance between being seriously dramatic and comedically lighthearted. The story does take a few emotional turns without ever becoming too heavy. The title definitely doesn't do this drama any justice. Yes, romance is a big part of the story but there are also revenge plots, a tyrant king, a secret rebellion, and some truly great characters. This drama is definitely more about the whole ensemble than one particular couple, and I loved the chemistry between all of the characters as chance and fate brought them all together to become a makeshift family in a random Inn for aspiring scholars.

The owner of Ihwawon Inn is Dan Oh played by Shin Ye Eun. I loved that she is a brave, independent, and outspoken character even though sometimes her antics were frustrating to watch. I also love that the plot wasn't just the usual one girl choosing between 3 suitors trope, as the poster suggests. She really has a unique relationship with each male lead and they have the same unique relationships with each other as well. Ryeoun plays the aloof fighter Kang San who doesn't warm to people too easily, but I loved his smile whenever he did. Jung Gun Joo plays the thoughtful and scholarly Jung Yoo Ha, the most straight-laced of the bunch without being boring. And Kang Hoon plays the silly Kim Shi Yeol who never seems to take anything too seriously, and definitely became my favorite. It was easy for me to really start to care about each of the leads from the beginning, but what I loved most is that none of them were exactly as they seemed and always kept me guessing. With each episode, we learn more about each character's past and motivations, which kept every episode interesting till the very end.

The entire supporting cast is just as great as the leads, although I won't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. The King and Chief Administer, however, were so irredeemably evil that I loved to root against them, yet even their single-minded goals made me empathize with them during some of their evilest moments. I think that's because the characters were really well written even if they all weren't necessarily complex. None of the characters felt like filler, and no scene felt useless either. There may have been a few minor moments that made me roll my eyes but it all came together and made sense in the end.

Would I watch this again? Definitely. Mostly I would want to watch knowing what I learned about the characters from the beginning. I already rewatched the first episode and certain scenes hit differently once you know how the story will evolve. Maybe some moments will drag watching it for the second time, but I liked the characters so much I would still be entertained.

My only real complaint is that the kiss moments were so disappointing. All the chemistry in the world just feels ruined by dead fish emotionless lip touch where a passionate kiss should be. Ryeoun tried his best to make it sexy, but Shin Ye Eun... just yuck.

Overall, this drama tells a great story and I think it will appeal to people who don't want a historical drama that is too depressing or a romcom that is too silly. This is directed by the director of The Princess's Man, one of my favorite sageuks of all time, so the action scenes are great too... especially the Watchman battles. If you like dramas that will keep you guessing. this one does a great job of always introducing a new and unexpected element even when you think you have it all figured out. I say this as a person who is easily bored by fighting for the crown plots but the pace was great so I didn't have a chance to be bored.
I was sad at the end of 18 episodes to say goodbye to these characters, and that's more than enough for me to recommend this drama. I didn't cry, I don't have any new favorite couples to add to my list, but by the end, I felt like I went on a journey with these characters with them finally living the lives they were meant to and that's the best kind of ending for me.



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Completed
Punch
15 people found this review helpful
Feb 18, 2015
19 of 19 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
"I want to show the people that even those in high positions are equal before the law."
Punch is a fantastic drama that shows how hard it is to take even one more step towards a world like that. The writer Park Kyung Soo's previous dramas also dealt with corruption and the fight against powerful people and with Punch he delivered another amazing drama on this topic.

What first drew me into Punch when I started it was that our protagonist is just as cold-blooded and ruthless as the main villain. He is the one who helped the villain to get his position, but when he discovers that he only has a couple of months left to live and people start to mess with him, he decides that he can't be the only one going down. His journey of trying to take down the other corrupt people leading the prosecutor's office is thrilling to watch and kept me glued to the screen not wanting to miss even one second! The plot moves fast, giving you twists and turns at every corner. It might even be frustrating to watch, because for every step the lead comes closer to winning he gets pushed back just as much. Since most of the drama takes place in the prosecutor's office it could have become dry, but the plot was always presented with just the right amount of feelings that I was 100% emotionally invested in the story. Punch also has one of the best final episodes and endings that I've seen so far. It wrapped everything up realistically and I can't think of anything I'm not satisfied with!

Aside from the story itself the strength of this drama are its fascinating characters. This drama doesn't have the usual black or white characters; they come in all shades of grey and it was captivating to watch and see in which direction of the good and evil scale they would develop. Our anti-hero Jung Hwan actually does some really despicable things at the start of the drama that usually you'd only see a villain do. Tae Joon, the main villain, is one of the most fascinating villains I've ever seen (I'd put him up there with Mishil, for those of you that have seen Queen Seon Duk) and I loved that he wasn't the usual cold guy without feelings who has never even heard of the word loyalty before (although that doesn't necessarily mean he can't throw it away). I actually have so much to say about the character development, but it is one of the points that make this drama so awesome and I don't want to spoil it.
The actors and their portrayal were as awesome as these characters deserved and especially Jo Jae Hyun as Tae Joon stole the spotlight for me. Kim Rae Won also showed an engaging performance as the anti-hero, which caused me the dilemma of wanting him to take everyone down but at the same time hoping that Tae Joon's downfall wouldn't be too hard. The only small complaint I have is that the female main character seemed less complex than the rest. She was pretty much the only non-corrupted character in this show and therefore very much needed as a good example, but in my opinion that also caused her to fall a bit flat compared to the others.

The third aspect I really loved about this drama is the dialogue! Coming from this writer intelligent dialogue is a given, but I want to point out how creative his metaphors are. A lot of them were related to food and I always found myself looking out for the next one, because they brought across the points of the characters so well. In line with the drama's title there were also a lot of hard-hitting lines that must have felt like a strong punch to the stomach to whoever they were directed at. (Oh, and since I'm already talking about the title, be aware that some things the characters do or say might make you want to punch your screen!)

Now since my review is getting too long and in case all of my rambling was too much to read, here's the tl;dr version:
Thrilling drama with brilliant writing and acting, awesome dialogues and fascinating characters! In my opinion a must watch for everyone who likes dramas dealing with serious topics!

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Completed
Egg and Stone
16 people found this review helpful
Sep 11, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Anthing can be achieved if one is persistent and determined.

Message from this drama is that being weak doesn't mean you are useless... Be resolute never give up and victory shall surely be yours.

Xing chen, FL says if it doesn't work once, I will try 10 times, if it doesn't work 10 times I will try 100 times and so on.. Attagirl!!!👍

If a person doesn't give up, then with multiple attempts even weak eggs can break a stone.



The story started on a light hearted note, first 12 episodes focused on the character development and their relationships..... These episodes were humouros and had many noteworthy hilarous dialouges.


Quoting a few humourous situation from these episodes

Episode 2 - how NOT to select a good matrilocal husband. 😉....jiang buting, ML drew an egg in the second round of selection hoping to get disqualified, but it was interpreted as ' bold and powerful' so he was advanced to the final stage of selection. ( presumably the FL's family was advancing a cripple to allow Mu Binghe their favoured future son-in-law to win)

Episode 4: Xing chen, FL taking a job of a janitor because she is the head of her family and needs to provide for 'two useless men in her family' 🤣( useless men referring to her would be husband BuTing and her would be brother in law BuYing

Episode 11: xing chen, FL to Bu ting, ML......."since I can't hold your hand, we both can just hold the branch"... Bu ting keeps walking on holding the branch while xing chen gets kidnapped. 😛



Some enlightening issues brought forth in the latter half of the series. (Which slightly changed the tone of the series)

1. Women Empowerment:
It was difficult for Xing Chen, FL to be accepted as the head of wuyue sect in a patriarchal ancient martial world... However she had strong backing from her father and other loving members of her sect also BuTing, ML always supported her to achieve her true potential... Every woman should be self sufficient and is capable of achieving great heights was the dominant theme of this series in my opinion... Apart from the FL, other FL characters were also shown to be aspiring, SFL Mu YaoGuang secretly wrote manuscript and published articles... Other minor female characters were also depicted as endeavoring to stand out in the community.

2. Greed for Power:
Doctor Song a brilliant scientist was corrupted due his ambition, he poisoned the person who loved him the most throughout BuTing's life as the doctor was consumed with greed for knowledge.. He played with peoples' lives and made them nothing more than his puppets to be sacrificed to realise his dream of being a superpower... I am glad he did get some absolution in the end and saved BuTing's life who trusted him whole heartedly.

3.Obsession and Weakness:
SML, Mu BingHe became obsessed with the idea of saving the FL, xing chen due to his failure to protect her in their childhood... However this plauged him to such an extent that his desire to protect her changed to stifling and caging her... He too got some redemption when he was at last able to protect her by sacrificing his life.



There are two OSTs that standout in this series for me, one is the song 'Is this the end' and other is 'kilig love' the ending credit song.. Both have good lyrics and catchy tune.


Ceasar Wu was amazing, playing the character of Jiang BuTing a physically weak man who defied the odds and fought back against his limitations.. BuTing was a character who was supportive, compassionate and retained a sense of humour.


Xu Lu was equally good at portraying Xing chen's character and managed to depict the changes in her character from being frivolous to a dependable sect head.


Overall, can be watched when your mind is preoccupied with other matters and you need some light entertainment with simple plot.

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Completed
Mengfei Comes Across
16 people found this review helpful
Nov 27, 2018
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 10
If you're sick of cliche chinese dramas, this is why you MUST watch this:

to anyone who's sick of the typical annoying FEMALE LEAD, i totally recommend this drama. She's tastefully childish and quirky at times (sometimes on purpose as she tries to make the emperor not like her) but she actually acts her age, likes to help her friends, is kind but not unreasonably so to the point it makes her look stupid or a pushover. It's so refreshing, she's cute without acting 5, realistically clumsy (but not annoyingly so) and doesn't run away from her problems (thank the heavens)

the ROMANCE. They are so cute. It doesn't just start immediately because this is a romcom and theyre the leads . There's an actual buildup, and its super cute, heart fluttering and realistic. They take their time to get to know each other. they become friends first. They actually get along and have things to talk about. The king notices her because of her "uniqueness" but that's not why he falls for her. I like this the most about it. I feel like even the romantic tropes used are uniquely done and never go where you expect.

the MALE LEAD is not a jerk. He messes with her as enemies do (and later as friends), but it's nothing extreme (eg. making him a purse - which he just wants cause he likes her anyway) In fact, I'd say he's very careful about being too abrupt with his feelings and scaring the female lead away, especially as he funnily enough becomes friendzoned in a way. But hes the most reasonable person in this drama, and an actual good ruler.

Also the PALACE DRAMA AND POLITICS is very few and totally tasteful. Also all the concubines/escorts are BFFs instead of trying to kill each other, the main character's squad is the best and they get along like you're watching some youth drama with all the shenanigans they get up to around the palace and gardens.

The PLOT is well written, nothing that drags. It's short. 36 episodes that are about 30min when taking away intro/outro songs.

SIDE CHARACTERS are likeable, cute. everyone in the palace gets along like family. I think it's stylised this way. I think if it was more realistic, the servants wouldn't be able to behave like that, but that's its charm, it's very warm.

I 10/10 recommend if you're bored with the typical progressions of both modern and ancient dramas. I feel like this one has a lot of heart with the romantic relationships and the friendships.

Also the COMEDY is really unpredictable, is it only me who thinks this?? the jokes never go where i think they'll go, and I have watched.... a heck load of dramas.

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Completed
How to Buy a Friend
16 people found this review helpful
Apr 16, 2020
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This show is such a standard for mini-dramas. The pacing of the drama was perfection and didn't feel rushed but was also substantial and managed to tell the story it aimed to tell within its 8 episode span.

The Characterisation: So wonderful. I still don't know how they managed to effectively portray and explain the motivations and personalities of the characters and develop them so well within 8 episodes. With the exception of one minor character, everyone is so beautifully captured and explained in this story.

The Plot: Amazing and really intriguing. It was a pretty crazy ride but it was completely realistic. One major credit to the drama is that it deals with some really H E A V Y topics but it is still hilarious and respectful. The way in which the drama unfolds this story is so realistic but also enjoyable without weighing you down. In this regard it is a similar watch to Sky Castle, there are really touching moments, very dark and sad moment amongst very important lessons while maintaining a fresh, light air to it. (Disclaimer: it is a very different drama from sky castle, I am referring here to the feeling of watching)

The Music: This was forgettable for me, didn't feel like I wanted to listen to the songs outside the drama. I will say that the music matched well with the show and there was never any songs that felt out of place with where the story was going at all.

Personal Fave: A lot of the script is very beautiful and poetic. This is stronger if you have a relatively good understanding of Korean but also translates into English really beautifully. Perhaps because one of the main characters was a budding poet it was a stylistic choice? The best part about it is that its poetic without ever being pretentious r feeling disingenuous to the setting of High School.

Overall: I am not a big fan of high school dramas as I am older and sometimes find the writing of teenagers quite unrealistic and overly juvenile. This drama was so wonderful in its portrayal of both teenagers, the people around them and the less flowery events that sometimes young people have to deal with. It is highly recommended to anyone that likes touching shows but also want to laugh. Great Quarantine watch!!

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