KelpiView : Angsty love at its best.
Overall Impression:I had to stop for a while to ponder on the words that I might use to describe my overall impression of Love Mechanics, but in my totally unbiased opinion, I have settled for a few words. Awesome. Perfectly paced. well casted. Enough romantic and comedic scenes to go around. Adequate amount of skin. In my totally biased opinion, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.
What i liked about it:
Awesome cast!
The cast has done an awesome job of bringing the characters to life. Main leads, Yin and War, was perfect for their role. Other notable cast members that has left a good impression on me was Ormsin (Yiwaa), Got (Bar), Bonz (Yoo). Pharoah (Tee), Saran (Lee). Apart from good acting, the production team's choice of actors/actresses are well placed as well. Usually when a series's character get complimented that he/she looks like their mum/dad.. I would often give a slow chuckle and roll my eyes because they look nothing alike. BUT! this series, for the choice for Mark's mum.. it was funny how i feel that both of them has a similar smile / facial structure. They did not even need to go on the "you look like your mother" route for me to take notice.
Not to slow, nor too fast!
The pacing of the whole series was done well. it wasnt too hasty at the end nor was it too slow to watch. there's something in almost every episode. be it either a major issue or some character development. I guess this is as far as it can get from a slow romance. lol. i appreciate the pacing that kept me wanting more. Honestly even though i have watched the first tester series (En of love : Love Mechanics), meaning i know most of the plot already. But with the little addition and changes feels refreshing and it was like a totally new series to me.
Great flow in terms of storytelling!
Part of a good show is not only the cast members, but also how the story is told, how it unfolds and how it would be perceived. In terms of storytelling, Love Mechanic has a top spot in my rankings. Story climaxes are dealt with resolution as it comes one after another. In turn, i would need to credit the production team for their good choices in terms of cuts and placements. it was totally coherent and made the story more impactful than it already is.
What i disliked about it:
Inadequate side couple moments.
Ok, this may be just a personal preference, but i wished the side couples are shown a lil bit more than what is was shown. I know the story centers around VeeMark, but having a lil more side couple moments would make my heart fuller than it already is. GunBar could use a few more scenes. oh! i liked that fact that they showed tidbits of their upcoming shows namely Future (AnaFuse) as well as Call my name (YooKamphan) which i wish was also teased a lil bit more, but i shall wait patiently for the release of respective shows. though, my side couple syndrome aches. like a lot. lol.
Did i enjoy it?:
From the way i was gushing over the show up above, yes. I think i enjoyed the show a lot. a time well spent.
Would i recommend it to others?:
If angsty love is your favourite trope, then definitely give this a try. you will definitely fall in l ove with Yin and War for their character portrayal. That being said, I do think the show might not be for everyone, due to its angst. Yes, there are sweet moments in the show, but the most impactful scenes are the angsty ones lol. But give it a try if you have not, you might find yourself liking it more than you should. maybe. i guess.. hopefully. do what you want LOL. :shrugs:
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I'm a fan of Park Min Young and that was the main reason for picking this one to watch, she always delivers an amazing performance and does a great job creating a realistic and believable character on the screen.
First drama i've seen with Kim Jae Wook and I enjoyed his performance as well, initially he came across as a bit of an arrogant twit (which is fully intended I suspect) but as his character develops it quickly becomes one you can really understand and believe.
The title of this one is "Her Private Life" and it implies focus on the dual life of the main character - as a museum curator professionally, and a fangirl for a pop idol privately. She has a separate name when fangirling and it's a completely separate part of her life. In reality, this same concept applies to other characters when you consider the hidden pasts and different lives.
I thought the overall pacing was really good, if perhaps let down in the tiniest of ways by a slightly *too* drawn out conclusion. Seeing the directors husband get out of jail was pointless, I had no real care for him (first time you'd seen him) and honestly the directors character herself was one I was happy when she wasn't on-screen anyway (though I do like the Actress in other things).
I really liked the development of the early antagonist Cindy / Kim Hyo Jin played by Kim Bo Ra (she was also in SKY Castle and I enjoyed per work there too). Starting out as a typical Ssaesang fan and see her character develop when around the right people and influences was really good to see. It was good to see her product design make it to being sold but some kind of "we sold out already!" would have been a really good reinforcement that not only did she deliver the product but it did actually sell well too, just to back up the reward for the hard work that was put in by her character.
The main leads chemistry was spot on, their relationship was believable and natural, there were never bad moments or stupid breakups. The story does get to the inevitable "throwing popcorn at the TV" moment for a while where you just want to slap them both upside the head because they're drawing stupid conclusions - but otherwise they both resolve problems easily through good communication, it's a blueprint for how all couples should be with each other in my view.
Aside from the romance storyline there was an undercurrent of sadness through a tragic past which bubbles up eventually and creates some tearful moments late in the story, as with the rest - it was all handled superbly by everyone. It's a bit convoluted and unlikely - but hey - this is kdrama, put those thoughts outside and just sit back and enjoy the story.
There was only ONE thing that didn't happen that I wished had, I won't say what it was because technically I guess that would count as a spoiler, and in the grand scheme of things it's minor.
The final episode did feel a bit like the air was now all out and we were coasting a bit. It didn't have the remarkable intensity the rest of the series had but honestly i'm exhausted from the emotional energy that this series demanded anyway :) It's not an ending to be disappointed with at all, just compared to every other episode it felt a bit loose.
Great to see Park Jin Joo in a lead role and I hope to see more dramas coming out and utilising her skills and instantly recognisable and unique face.
Should you watch it? If you want a fluffy romance, positive, no stupid breakups, tons of emotions throughout and some really great and believable characters, imo it should be on your watch list, yes.
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So I recommend watching it when you want a romance and you've seen all the others. This is just an opinion, you may love it.
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Anatomical humor aside though, this series does a great job of balancing fairly low-brow humor against thought-provoking mysteries. While in one moment you may find yourself genuinely pondering how this alleged psychic’s “trick” could have been accomplished, your train of thought might be suddenly broken upon glimpsing the inappropriately shaped bento box on the table. I actually enjoyed this dichotomy, because it helped to keep the series interesting, and from taking itself (and the characters) too seriously.
Dr. Ueda, who is a bit like a handsome mad scientist, is one of the oddest characters I’ve seen in a drama. He takes himself seriously, but then again he doesn’t at all. He has confidence, and yet, maybe not. It’s hard to pin point who he is as a person, because if nothing else, he is consistent in his inconsistencies. Is he a genius or is he an idiot? I’m genuinely not sure, but for me he’s just a lot of fun to watch!
Naoko is more the “straight woman” in the series. Naoko sees the big picture in the mysteries and is usually the one to solve the case. Even so, she can’t help but get wrapped up in the awkward hi-jinks that occur all around her. But she handles it with frankness and confidence and I adored that about her character.
Be warned though that this is not a particularly exciting series. Often, the mysteries unfold slowly (over the course of two episodes, sometimes) and there is a slice-of-life quality to this drama that deflects any air of fantasy or whimsy. But I actually like it this way!
Sometimes it’s good to watch a drama that is enjoyable, but not necessarily crack addicting to where it consumes your life. Trick is a pleasant refuge from the cracky, high-intensity dramas out there.
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This review may contain spoilers
an energetic and relaxing sitcom
Overall, I don't think this is a bad sitcom. Yes, it has its flaws, but I think this is a great show to watch if you want to cheer up and want something easy to watch. (at least lately, Doom At Your Service and Hospital Playlist have been stressing me out so this sitcom was a breath of fresh air). Also, can we talk about the diversity in this cast? I loved the concept of international students in a Korean dorm and it brings a very nice spin to your typical school setting TV show.While the story has some clichés and jokes that fall flat, it also has great and hilarious moments. The story touches on friendship, relationships, and family and (most of) the characters are not their initial one-dimensional stereotypes. I thought the plotlines were interesting for the most part and they definitely made me want to keep watching. A few of the plotlines were pretty predictable. However, I couldn't stop smiling pretty much throughout the entire show.
I thought the acting wasn't bad at all. I personally liked Park Sewan's acting. I was pleasantly surprised by Minnie and Youngjae's acting, and the actor who played Jamie did a pretty great job for a newcomer. Han Hyunmin was hilarious. I thought the other 3 (actors of Carson, Terris, Hans) had okay acting for the okay plotlines they were given. Overall, nothing bad enough to ruin the whole thing.
This show has its good moments and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an easy watch and lots of cheerful, positive, youthful energy. :)
And of course, I have to talk about some extremely memorable scenes in this drama that will probably live in my mind for the next year.
- the kimchi slap
- Hyunmin's rap
- Minnie and "Captain" (actually Private) Yoo
- Jamie declaring his love for Sewan to the reporters
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Melted my cold, cynical heart
When I started to watch this series, I didn't expect to love it this much. This series may not be perfect, but it definitely becomes one of my favorite series this year.[Story]
The plot is actually very simple, you can literally summarise it in one sentence lol. This series is more on character driven rather than plot driven, so some people may find it frustrating at how slow the development was. However, I love how this series portray (almost) realistically the inner struggle of gay-teen couple in conservative country. The other strong point of this series is how lovable all the characters were, even the supporting roles, that I ended up care for all of them. It is the first time that I love both main leads equally, usually one of them will annoy me at some point. Ida and Aoki are truly the bestest boys.
[Acting]
Surprisingly, I love the acting in this series. Usually the acting in Japanese drama bother me a lot as it's kinda 'anime-ish'. Kudos for Aoki for having so many silly expression without making me cringe. I also love Ida's acting, his character is actually the one that more tricky to be portrayed. I am glad he wasn't just a stoic, one-dimensional calm character. The acting of all supporting roles are also superb. Shout out for Rumi and Hiromu, the first het cp that I truly enjoy in BL lmao.
[Music]
I love both the OSTs, and how fitting the lyrics are. Wish there were more OSTs, though
[Rewatch value]
Man, the number of rewatch that I have done is sickening lol. I am usually the type that move on so fast to another series, but this series managed to make me rewatch it so many times without skip.
[Overall]
I gave this series full score for how much serotonin it gave me. This from a person who is usually very picky and cynical about romance drama as I am easily cringe at sappy romance. I do hope there will be season 2 for this series, but for now I am satisfied with how this series end.
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Best Chinese Action Drama watched so far
The story was well executed. I love how mature the characters are, coz most of the cdramas I have watched were all bunched of immature people may it be a school or business setting. I love how they portrayed unity, camaraderie, and professionalism despite the fact that they were rivals in the training. I love that even the support characters have also their own spotlights and were not treated like flower vases like on the other movies/dramas. This one exceeded the "You are My Hero" for me. Kudos to the cast and the director.Was this review helpful to you?
If you think what you can only take away from "King of Dramas" is the knowledge of making dramas, then you're wrong. It's so much more than that. It's quirky, and freaking hilarious, and there's also romance. Also, when you have such a cold, independent, pill-popping hero in Anthony (or Ansony? pfft.) who's so desperate in squizzing a juice advertisement in his drama's finale no matter how much it just doesn't make sense, and a money-crazed actor who values his CF's more than the drama in Hyun Min, this makes for some rich character developments. I'm still astonished by how they were in the begginning and how much they've grown. And it's not like they all changed in one finger snap and got possessed by someone else (I'm looking at you, DH2). Their growth is believable.
This drama also does a good job of making us care. You're all wrapped up about wanting them to succeed, that when the moment comes when they announce the ratings, you end up holding your breath right with them, and just smile unknowingly when they got what they wanted.
What kept me from giving the story a ten, was the sudden turn the drama went in the final stretch. It went to this melodramatic turn that did not fit the drama's tone and earlier episodes. It was out of place and given that Anthony's redemption arc was already done quite well, it was unnecessary. I find it weird that Director Oh, a character that was the main source of conflicts for most of the episodes, suddenly left the spotlight. The writers dropped the initial plots and changed the storyline in an attempt to salvage the poor ratings and fill air time to make up for the extension. What a shame since no matter how cartoonish of a villain (plotting his schemes in his office and making constipated faces) Director Oh was, it was much more enjoyable to watch rather than touch the melodramatic turn the the drama went with a ten-foot pole. It was such a shame to witness given how well this drama was avoiding standard drama tropes.
Acting: Amazing. Just as you would expect from Jung Ryeo Won and Kim Myung Min. Honestly, what made the melodramatic turn worth watching was because of their top-notch acting skills. They acted the hell out of it. Siwon actually surprised me. I never knew he was capable of such funny faces and his Hyun min character never failed to make me laugh.
Music: I thought the music is such a significant addiction to quirky tone and comedy of the drama.
Rewatch value: This is a drama that you would enjoy the second time around. There are some golden hilarious scenes and some heartfelt moments that would be worth watching the second time around.
Overall: It's a nice look at the drama industry with stakes that are high, rich character developments, and hilarious moments. Despite the melodramatic turn the drama went, the overall quality didn't suffer that much (thanks to some winning acting by the leads). This drama deserves to be right at the top of your to-watch list.
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First, the story: I gave it a ten, because this is definitely one new plot in Korean Drama Land... Just reading the initial description of this show made it immediately into my plan to watch..... Young Handsome Guys turning into Wrinkly Old Grandpas trying to solve the mystery to return Young Handsome Guys again. So we have mystery, police getting some bad guys, a little notch of romance, a huge bucket of bromance (my fav), and so many ROFLing. The ending was just heartwarming. I wouldn't mind a couple more episodes :D
Second, the acting: Seriously, old, REALLLY OLD, men acting 30's, you don't see that everyday, do you?!!
the acting was spot on, for our F4... You really gotta watch to know.. That's all I gotta say.
Finally, I am gonna wrap up by music, which was synced beautifully, and not to forget the little noises popping every once and a while (make you laugh even more)
So.... WATCH THIS DRAMA PLEASE, it's just 12 episodes... not much time wasted
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1"The winner's desire becomes The Great Cause"
After waiting for years for Six Flying Dragons to be available to watch legally in my region, I was finally able to see this highly recommended drama. Like its characters, I found it to be entertaining, if flawed. Because the story follows historical characters, a few of my comments may be spoilerish for some, though I don’t spoil who makes it out alive and who doesn’t or other pertinent spoilers.What worked for me: The acting was strong with a few exceptions. The music, sets, costumes, fight choreography, and scenery were on point. The characters, even the heroic ones, were flawed and showed the conflicts of the time. Unlike some historicals, the writers incorporated women into the story.
What didn’t work for me: There was a lot of repetition and way too many Very Important Speeches. A VIS is when the character’s eyes become dewy, the camera moves in, the dramatic music is cued, and the spittle flies. Used judiciously, they are rousing. Using them several times an episode is exhausting and diminishes their impact. One scene had not one, not two, but three VISs back-to-back! Massive exposition dumps were often incorporated in these or speeches were largely repeated. Lastly, by the halfway point I was already suffering from political intrigue fatigue. Some of the adversaries were just not compelling enough all while Yi Seong Gye was dragging his feet through mud trying to avoid his destiny. Make up your mind, man!
Six Flying Dragons was stretching things. There were two dragons and several geckos. (I posted the original poem Six Flying Dragons at the end of this review referring to Bang Won and his familial predecessors. My dragon/gecko critiques are in reference to the movie poster and inferences. )
Dragon One-Yi Bang Won is one of those controversial characters from history. He made improvements to the country but will leave you wondering if the ends justified the means. Women also lost out when they were forced into Confucian roles in the new Joseon society. Yoo Ah In gave a solid performance as the emotionally complex Bang Won, the man ever struggling with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I wasn’t invested in the romance and was disappointed they didn’t explore his marriage more. He had 12 children with his intelligent and politically savvy wife which was never touched on.
Dragon Two-Kim Myung Min was given free reign to chew the scenery as the revolutionary leader Sam Bong Jung Do Jeon. I actually came to despise him as much as the “bad” guys because many of his methods were the same. Does the person being tortured or murdered care if the leader giving the orders has idealistic plans for the country? He had no problem winding Bang Won up and pointing him like a loaded crossbow at people that needed to be dealt with while ostensibly keeping his hands clean and leaving BW to suffer the consequences. His "idealistic" country completely left out human nature and was bound for failure, even from his own actions. He didn’t want a powerful royal family but yet took all the relevant power for himself, altruistically, of course.
Cute Gecko Who Reads-I wasn’t crazy about the female lead but she was the avatar for the “common” people or peasants. Not the slaves mind you, because the peasants looked down on the slaves whom they had much more in common with than the nobles they were aligning themselves with. Boon Yi was a magical female lead who managed to look stunning while eking out a living as a peasant farmer and had time to teach herself how to read and write in a non-phonetic language. (Lee Bang Won’s son would make it much easier for people to read in the future.) Boon Yi was also financially and physically protected by numerous men, dimming our window into the commoners’ precarious world. But at least we could see how their hopes and dreams were alternately raised and dashed by both the bad guys and the “good” guys.
Cute Geckos with Swords- Lee Bang Ji and Mu Hyul. Both suffered from moral conflict about what they were doing but still managed to flash their swords when necessary. Byun Yo Han lifted his narrowly drawn Bang Ji off the page heroically through an emotional performance. Yoon Kyun Sang was saddled with the dim, sweet, if lethal, Mu Hyul. I’m not casting shade on our bodyguards, if there is a class of characters I have a special affinity for, it’s the ponytailed, loyal, sword wielding guards.
Tired, Wishy-Washy Gecko---Yi Seong Gye. The first king of Joseon was usually portrayed in reaction shots looking shocked and was continually reluctant to do anything. Sam Bong must have chosen him not only because he had an army but he knew he could lead him around.
Honorable mention gecko—the ever loyal bodyguard Jo Young Gyu.
Honorable mention enigmatic characters—Yoon Rang, and the twins Gil Tae Mi and Gil Seon Mi. Park Hyuk Kwon gave two powerful and very different performances, somehow managing to elicit a measure of sympathy for both.
Overall, Six Flying Dragons was an entertaining drama and well made. I would have rated it higher if I hadn’t found myself checking out emotionally and mentally as it went on. The repetition and slow crawl to the finish line had me wishing for someone to find the strength and ability to burn it all to the ground. Aside from the syrupy epilogue, I largely got my wish. Though my review is written over 10 years after the drama’s debut SFD holds up well, I could easily recommend it for people who enjoy historicals and like me, are just now finding it available to watch in their region.
This drama was the epitome of a problem that continues to plague us:
"The reason poverty exists is not that we can't feed the poor, it's that the rich cannot be satisfied." -Anonymous
13 January 2026
The original poem written in 1447 in Hangul:
Six Flying Dragons in Haedong (* the east of the Sea = Korea)
Everything they did was blessed by Heaven
Their pasts coincide with ancient sages.
A tree with deep roots,
Because the wind sways it not,
Blossoms Abundantly
And bears fruit.
The water from a deep spring,
Because a drought dries it not,
Becomes a stream
And flows to the sea.
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One of the best art/story/drama of 2020
Its been a while since I have cried buckets watching a drama. Iam a fujoshi so I was well aware of this novel getting made into a series but was really hesitant to watch it because its china and for sure, the plot would be altered to exclude anything homosexual. But then when I realised that the script writer is the same as the original writer, I felt like the characters will be given justice. And boy I was right. Iam so glad I watched this show. From production to direction to acting to storytelling....and the mesmerizing portrayal of art, war and history..everything about this show is beautiful and full of emotions. And the best part, it did not hurt my fujoshi heart as did some of the other chinese bl adapted novels.... The first thing I fell in love with is the characters. Mr Cheng and Boss Shang will forever live in my memory. Even the supporting characters hold a special place in your heart...you laugh when they laugh, you cry with their sorrows...you may hate some of the characters but still cannot dislike them. Like a relative of yours that you hate but cannot exclude them from your lives. Second, the actors......Ill flip my brains if Andrew Yin is not nominated for awards this year. He became Boss Shang!!. His dedication is amazing and I have utmost respect towards him for portraying Shangs love for opera, his work, his madness, his devotion towards Cheng and so much more. So did Huang Xiaoming . His portrayal of Cheng as a wicked in a good way, full of love but typical rich guy and maintening the emotions flowing from certain corners and his devotion towards Shang was on point. I must say every actor/actresses in this show have done a wonderful job. I really felt like they were the real characters....need I say more?. Next the production and direction, I was so happy that the production did justice to this show. Every antique, clothing, jewellery, architecture,scenary was so beautiful and did not look artificial. You feel like you are actually living in that era. The direction was clean, pacing of scenes and the storytelling was as if you are reading the novel. And yes beijing opera.....i did know a bit about it before watching it so it was easier for me but never did I thought I would love listening to opera tbh. Also the amount of knowledge they have portrayed via this medium is amazing. Yes... Opera is dying and I really wished people would pay more attention to it. And this show places this emotion/concept into the younger generation in such a subtle manner. Claps. And the music...I have always been into ballads, and traditional instruments so this was a heaven for me. I could listen to this music for ages. For me, I know that Iam really into a show, when I actually pay a lot of attention to each and every dialogue. I could not miss any.... And thats whats beaitiful about this show. Now the only issue I had with this show was the portrayal of the japanese. I know they did really really really horrible stuff and its something none of us can revert. Sadly this world is a cruel place and war makes you into a horrible beast. I can understand the emotions of the people as my own country had several attackers too but I really wished they would put some effort in bringing some emotions in the japanese cast which was probably chinese. I felt like i was watching robots sometimes(thats just a typical japanese stereotype)...and had trouble when they spoke in japanese...did they use vocaloids hah..jk.It was very plain be it fighting or their cruel actions. I could only feel emotions from kazuma at the end episodes. And let me mention that reporters wife too while iam at it who seemed to come out of a horror show featuring fox possesed humans. I also regret the ending a bit.... I wished they would provide us a ending scene with old shang and cheng after their separation..and a bit of post war insights and the opera culture impacts. I feel that would be wholesome. But yes, I knew i had to deal with such an ending in the first place before begenning so iam fine.Now my biggest take from this show...... The light fluffy heart warming interactions between cheng and shang. So basically they are lovers in the novel but because of you know who, they made it soulmates and brought in a wife to fortify it. But it dint upset me becuase the writer gave us all the implied feelings and emotions. I personally hate the word bromance.... And frankly speaking, this story does not give you bromance nor BL.....it gives us more than that, the bonds. The bonds between soulmates...which cannot be broken be it in this life or other. Love can be in different forms and need not be just between lovers or friends. Its hard to explain what I feel but iam sure you guys will feel the same watching this. Its not empty, nor satisfying nor dirty.......its just pure beautiful in so many levels. Emotions and bonds, not just between shang and cheng but also the bonds with the shui house, cheng family, the opera circle and lives basically...is what holds this show together. Hatsoff to the writer, the creators and the actors.
I just hope in future we live in a place where the writer does not have to alter their contents to fit the society however iam just glad for now that BL novels are getting more achkowledged for their art and plots. Lets support the novel too. And Andrew Yin....I love you...you tore my heart apart during this whole show. Boss Shang and Mr. Cheng will forever remain soulmates in my heart.
PS: Everytime boss shang ran my heart skipped a beat thinking that he would trip.
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Watered down tea...
Tea that look like cocktails brighten up this otherwise bland, and I mean really bland Altdif commercial, yes I checked there is such a brand and they have a tea house you can visit and probably try all the tea you see in this show if you ever go to Seoul.The tea house is as sterile as sterile gets feeling more like a lab than a cozy place to drink tea.
However being completely starved by lack of GL it is nice to see girls interact, and slightly awkwardly flirt in what I would not go as far as call enemies to lovers as it is more of a slightly disagreement to flirt kind of deal.
The 3 characters seem to do what they are supposed to do without much drama, as the supporting character truly is there to support the leads to get closer and does not really do much more.
There are no annoying elements here, but then again there is not much of anything here... having the highlight of the show include some foam on the lips and an indirect kiss...
It is not bad, it is not good, it truly just is a cup of water someone dipped a tea bag in for like 2 seconds leaving some colour but not much taste...
Still since it takes about 30 minutes to complete this, I will say go watch it support the little GL we get, as there is nothing wrong with it, nothing annoying and it is a pretty smooth watch. Just do not expect much of anything and all will be fine!
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So Sweet It Can Never Turn Sour!
The comment section is on point for this series - It's Crack in an oven turned to a 1000 degrees.What ties this short series so beautifully; The Acting and definitely the Chemistry. The two leads held a 3 episode series with practically no assistance from side characters, and no actual "plot-line" to go by.
This series went all in on the concept "HaHaHa! Rolling on the Floor Laughing" type of feel;
With it's well known fourth wall breaks from the first season, the numerous parodies of romance tropes, the bonus of having us the viewer as one side of a hilariously insane love triangle, making fun of blatant product placement and using it to their advantage, and of course using current world events - In their case the I-TOW virus - as a means to a successful end.
But more than that, and under all that crack there is an absolutely heartwarming message; Be genuine, speak your truth and make sure to let the people in your life know that you undeniably love them.
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I didn’t expect to get this attached to The Rise of Ning✨
At first, I thought this would just be another “pretty average” historical drama—you know, noble family, internal conflicts, slow-burn romance. But somehow… it’s addictive?The story itself isn’t something super groundbreaking, but the way it’s delivered is what makes it so engaging. The pacing is neat—not too rushed, but never boring either. And most importantly, every conflict actually feels like it matters, not just thrown in for the sake of drama.
And the chemistry… honestly, this is the slow-but-hits-hard type. It’s not explosive right from the start, but as the story progresses, it gets deeper and deeper. The interactions are subtle, but that’s exactly what makes it feel real. The glances, the small gestures, the quiet presence they have for each other—it hits more than just sweet dialogue. Visual-wise? Very safe. Costumes, sets, color tones—everything is pleasing without being overwhelming. It’s not overly extravagant, but it’s enough to make you believe in the world.
Of course, it’s not without flaws. Some parts feel a bit dragged, especially in the middle when conflicts start piling up. And if you’re someone who prefers fast-paced plots or big shocking twists, this might feel a bit slow. But honestly, that’s where the charm lies. This is a drama meant to be enjoyed slowly. Not something you rush through, but something that keeps pulling you back because you’re curious about the characters’ growth.
So in conclusion… this isn’t a drama that screams for attention, but one that quietly makes you fall in love with it. “okay… just one more episode” and suddenly it’s already dawn 😭
If you enjoy historical romance with family intrigue, well-developed characters, and a slow but deep chemistry… this is definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Another Xianxia drama that will bring tears so get your tissues out. The story/plot was well written. Wasn't predictable and the plot flowed smoothly. I found myself counting down the days and waking up excited for another episode. The acting. One word. Awesome! As I said in the first sentence, you need tissues. The crying scenes did their part well. The acting was a little rough on some parts but overall, the acting was amazing. I'll be honest, I didn't really pay much attention to the music, but on the parts I did notice, the music fit the scene perfectly. For the re-watch value, I give it a 10. I will definitely find myself re-watching this drama until I find another drama that's as good as this one (which is unlikely). Overall, This one was spectacular. Give it a go and I PROMISE you won't regret it. Was this review helpful to you?
