VERY CRUCIAL PART THAT ALL XIANXIA, WUXIA, XUANHUAN NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE A PROPER CONCLUSION
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY XIANXIA AND WUXIA NEEDED TO COMPLETE THEIR ENDS. I HOPE IN FUTURE SCREENWRITERS COULD LEARN THIS ND IMPLEMENT IN THEIR OWN SERIES IF NEEDEDThe marriage scene how jxn said to xw that it's their marriage they can have it anyway they want... Imo they must have celebrated it again next time with everyone around... When she expressed to XIE WEI that I have seen you completely I might even know you better than yourself I have seen your darkness your struggles your light your care now I will slowly and properly teach you how to love properly and receive it... This convo was so much needed from JXN to Xw. If someone is not rating it 10 idk I can only think that they aren't SOKP LOVERS
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Not Like Other Korean BLs That's For Sure!
I would say watch it if you're hesitant to do so, the actors had great chemistry and the story line was good.I know Korean BLs existed before 2019 and gave us better kissing scenes(e.g: long time no see)than the recent Korean BLs(e.g: Mr heart and Where your eyes linger). To My Star set high standards for the next Korean Bls to come when it comes to kissing scenes.
I was expecting the characters to just place their lips on one another and just stand still, so imagine the high pitch scream that flew out my mouth when the boys gave us lip action. I fell off my bed and turned into a happy wiggling worm because WOW! I'm blushing as I write this tbh! To prove that they set the standards high, You Make Me Dance did not disappoint as well when in came to the kissing scenes(AND THEY EVEN DID A WHOLE: IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE, SO TAKE OF ALL YOUR CLOTHES!! I AM GETTING SO HOT I'M GONNA TAKE MY CLOTHES OFF!)but enough of me talking about the kissing scenes, the show was more than that.
I'm not gonna lie though, I had to rewatch the last 2 episodes in order to understand what happened. Out of nowhere this reporter showed up to warn our main protagonist. I was so confused but after I watched it the second time it all made sense(not saying it'll be the same for you though).
The antagonist and the reporter talking in English was also very weird and somewhat funny for me. No let me be honest, I laughed my head off because it was so sudden and awkward.
I wish we found out more about why our main lead was terrified of breaking glass. That's (I think)the only thing they didn't explain and I feel it would have made the story even more wholesome.
I would recommend this bl.
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Prisoner of Beauty - just WOW!
I’m honestly blown away. I’ve never been a huge fan of period dramas, but I decided to give this one a try after seeing the good reviews. I honestly expected to drop it after ep 1 - but I was completely hooked from the very beginning.Acting is top-notch, and visually an absolute feast for the eyes. Very palpable chemistry between the leads. The way they looked at each other melted my insides each time without fail. Despite the lack of skinship until the last few ep, it was still insanely romantic - every episode made my heart flutter like crazy.
Plus, plenty of funny moments to balance out the drama. Honestly, I either giggled, ugly cried, or sat on the edge of my seat biting my nails through all 36 episodes - but mostly giggled.
What I loved most was the strength of both main characters and their unwavering devotion to each other. They went through so many challenges, but their love just kept growing stronger. The awful things they endured only made them closer. No silly misunderstandings or over the top drama - just two people who were refreshingly honest about their feelings and never afraid to express them.
I’m the kind of person who usually skips the side plots or any scene not involving the main leads, but not this time. I watched all 36 episodes straight through, no skipping, no fast-forwarding - which is quite rare for me. That hasn’t happened since Hidden Love. Every second of this drama is pure gold. Pacing is just right. Binged all 36 episodes in 3 days, while working full time - well worth my panda eyes.
This is going straight into my rewatch list.
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Total run time: approx 5h 23m. Each episode is around 18-22 minutes long but have 5 minutes of credits and in some cases another minute of what happened last episode. Take that all out and the run time is a lot shorter. Easy to binge in one setting with the fast-forward button.
ACTING/CAST: Same basic cast that is in Love Is More Than a Word. So it was nice to see them in different parts. They all do a great job. I totally loved Lu Zhou in both dramas and in this one he's a gun-wielding bad-ass. Also, the villian, Gu Han, from The Fairy Fox makes a cameo in one episode; see if you can spot him.
MUSIC: It was great actually. It made this show seem like a sweeping epic.
REWATCH VALUE: Of course! This is a great show with so much intrigue I need to watch it again.
OVERALL: Amazing production value. Shot in full 1080p! The sets and costume design are spectacular. It's a gorgeous production. I wish each episode was longer: credits just chew up so much screen time. For those looking for the BL aspect, there isn't anything overt but maybe something will happen in season 2.
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This review may contain spoilers
When I first read the plot I wasn’t interested in this drama at all. Per coincidence I watched the first episode and was instantly hooked. The atmosphere of the show was amazing. Calm, lovely and honest. The leads deal with their very own problems and lived their lives by the rules.Lee Jung In, the female lead, knows what she wants. Her happiness grounds in staying independent. That’s one reason why she dates the selfish bank employee Gi Seok. But when he’s interested to tie the knot after four years different views crash. The characterization of this relationship is very honest and brutally cold told. The motivations of each collide with their happy relationship. When Ji Ho enters the stage Jung In experiences for the first time deep emotions that make no sense at all. Her inner fight is worth seeing and reflects realistic behavior at his best.
Ji Ho is a single father in a conservative society. His role symbolized the tolerance in korean society. It was interesting to see the moral standards of Koreans and how they deal with strange problems. The whole portray of this society was exciting to watch and made me fall in love even more with the characters.
The family members of both symbolizes different point of views and have to deal with problems of their own that aren’t less interesting. I loved everyone besides her dad. He was annoying from the start.
Seeing every episode made me happy. Each one was worth 10 points. I wasn't Ever invested in a drama like this one. I also give rarely 10 points but this drama clearly deserves it. I can just recommend it and will watch it again...soon. It’s a delight!
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This review may contain spoilers
I have just finished watching this drama after 20 days of happiness I got from them. I have watched ever made me this addicted. What really made me first watch this drama was I did have love at first sight with Han ShangYan character in the PC Room. At first I thought this was going to be a typical drama with cutie girl and cold ass boy and girl that can never stand up for herself and needs the guy to protect her but it was totally different. It was beyond my expectation towards this drama. STORY:
The plot follows your basic, this made the drama a lot more watchable because I wasn't constantly frustrated and think a lot with the characters and story. The story-line also progressed very smoothly and still in their pace without changing or adding character's point of view. I love how they chose the flashback and telling a story of Han ShangYan's past that made his emotions unstable. Nian Nian is a lovely girl who really damn smart and its really hard for her to not get in touch with someone she is really idolize the most. So we can feel the barrier of communication, feeling development and each moments of their relationship growing up beautiful together. I love how The actors were very convincing in their role and the chemistry was offcharts. The friendship bond between Nian Nian and her friends&family or Han ShangYan with K&K, family and Solo Team. Their friendship felt so real. It was simply gorgeous . Although we are ready knew the story ending but still this drama is full of surprises and still making us craving for curiosity about their romantic scenes and humors.
ACTING/CAST:
The characters have their own color and very much relatable. They have advantages and disadvantages that we dont have to mind since their advantages covered their disadvantages. There were many times when he was clueless about how to please her or what to do in a relationship, so he needed someone to tell him. I enjoyed the character development of each actors episode by episode.
MUSIC:
I love the BGM fresh and have a fighting mood since it is for a competition drama.
RE-WATCH VALUE:
I don't think I can re-watch the entire series from beginning to end, but I might re-watch some cute scenes
OVERALL: Overrated drama but Korean and Japanese drama cant beat Chinese simplicity drama with just a simple actor and acting .This drama was definitely a refresher for me in the abundance of dramas, that I can't seem to find interest so much, premiering nowadays. The storyline was simple yet beautiful and was one that guided the audience through the life of the main character's love story. honestly didn't have any problems with the storyline until the end and I enjoyed every episodes since the begining till end.
HANDS DOWN TO CHARMING HAN SHANGYAN.
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Dedication, Devotion & Sacrifice
This is a story of a dedicated friendship to an Emperor, a devoted love to a “shifu” (teacher) and the sacrifices of the main characters for the greater good. The romance is heart breaking and the bromance is heartwarming. Adapted from a novel which I haven’t read, some of the characters are said to have tamped down to make them less ruthless and more likeable according to some readers. All in all, this is a high quality production with recognizable actors and a beautiful storyline.In recent months, there have been a few dramas with the theme of romance between teacher/shifu and student/disciple. This is one of them, and I can’t help thinking, “Is this a recent fad?” I don’t want to get into the morality of such a relationship and will leave discussions to the viewers. Without having read its plot in the novel, how the adaptation turns out here is very plausible and palatable for most viewers.
Ye Hai Shi (Yang Mi) is rescued and adopted by Fang Jian Ming (Chen Wei Ting aka William Chen) when she is very young. Under adoption, she's disguised as a man and changes name to Fang Hai Shi. He teaches her everything from academics to combats. In the process, she admires and falls in love with him, and he is also attracted to her as she grows up. Whenever he detects danger, he always comes to her without fail, as she is precious to him. But he cannot be what she wants, a lover or a spouse, because he is a “baixi” for the Emperor, an invisible link whereby he would endure harm, pains and death for the Emperor. It is this type of love-and-pain relationship that propels the story and makes the characters lovable and the viewers empathize with them. Together with Zhuo Ying (Wang Sen), another Fang Jian Ming’s adopted disciple, they form a spy ring cum secret service for the Emperor.
I love the young actor who plays the juvenile Ye Hai Shi. She has an innocent face, and yet exudes a charisma of a boy - among others, strong, forward, fearless. Yang Mi plays the adult Ye Hai Shi / Fang Hai Shi with a different charisma, giving viewers a different feeling for the character. Here under her, Fang Hai Shi is still headstrong and valiant, at the same time, very feminine even when she dresses as a man. When leading her soldiers fighting the enemies, Yang Mi’s acting is passable but lacks the robustness of a male general. When facing her shifu, Yang Mi is like a little girl secretly admiring a lover, peeking at him under her lush eye lashes - that, she scores 100%. Many complaints of Yang Mi stem from her using her own voice in the dubbing. Though she has a very unique and nice voice, as a commanding general, her voice sounds too girly, and as a woman, she sounds too mechanical and lacks the spontaneity a woman normally possesses.
As a veteran actor, it’s not a coincidence that most of Yang Mi’s co-stars for her major works are not from mainland China. In this case, Chen Wei Ting is from Hong Kong. Though part of China, Hong Kong has its own movie industry and actors, and has very different values and styles. Very popular as an actor, however this is my first Chen Wei Ting’s work. I love the Fang Jian Ming character he plays here. I also love his styling though some viewers complain about his look as well as his acting. Despite not being 100%, I still like Chen Wei Ting’s portrayal as a calm, scheming, dedicated, strong fighter character with great physique cladding in white.
Xu Kai Cheng’s portrayal as the Emperor seems on and off. The strong friendship he has with Fang Jian Ming is heartwarming but at times, confusing due to the inconsistency in Xu Kai Cheng’s acting. Playing a supporting character Zhuo Ying, in fact, I’m most impressed by Wang Sen’s acting. I love the dynamics he has with Fang Hai Shi as siblings. I also love the devotion and commitment he has with his shifu and the Emperor, and not least, I love the undying love and dedication he has for a woman he secretly admires. Acting also as his cruel look-alike brother, Duo Luo who has a totally different personality and demeanor, Wang Sen aces in both characters he plays. I am particularly impressed by the scene when he has a hand-to-hand combat with his brother. The fighting is so real and heart-pounding that it is one of the best scenes in the drama.
There are multiple villains here, most are right there in the open with blatant disguises. Compared with the original version in the novel, these villains seem to have died of easy and quick deaths.
Perhaps what I love the most about this drama is how they have adapted for the fate of both the main characters, Fang Hai Shi and Fang Jian Ming. From the novel, the Emperor somehow develops feelings for Fang Hai Shi and forcefully takes her away from his best friend to become his consort. Such action does not go down well with today’s viewers. The adaptation is swift and brilliant such that, though Fang Hai Shi still becomes a consort, it is a plan by Fang Jian Ming to protect her by stashing her away with the Emperor for safe keeping. So in the end, both couples - the Emperor/Ti Lan (Chen Xiao Yun) and Fang Hai Shi/Fang Jian Ming - are still faithful to and for each other only. This is a big relief for all romance buffs.
I just wish the sub plots are more prominently told especially with the Zhuo Ying’s arc, instead of the scenes being played out in his communication with his shifu and Hai Shi. Zhuo Ying is indeed a very impressive character and his story captivating.
My Verdict
This is a fantasy story that involves supernatural beings like a talking mermaid (and a few others), and dark magic. The CGIs are very good with very convincing sceneries, people and fighting scenes. There is no need to watch other Novoland series before this one as they are not related. The pace is very fast especially with the wuxia fighting scenes executed with heart throbbing beating drum.
Half-way through airing, the drama has a very low rating of 4.9 on Douban. It’s gone up slightly at the end of airing at 5.1. Many viewers do not like Yang Mi for various reasons - her look, her acting, her voice. Others don’t like Chen Wei Ting. Online criticism is ferocious. Don’t be disheartened by such poor ratings and negative comments because, flaws there maybe, this is still a wonderful and beautiful story with amazing characters, a lot of great scenes and commendable cinematography.
A great watch! Don’t miss it. Two Thumbs Up!
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This review may contain spoilers
More disappointing as expected and as overrated as expected
Cherry Magic (Thai) was bad enough, but it can get worse with this remake.I don't get the forced comedy with it's stupid soundeffects and the over-acting. This series has the charm of a bulldozer. The most annoying thing was the overall childish acting in most scenes. There are only some scenes where you can think, this could have been a good show, but sadly it wasn't.
I don't need to compare to the japanese "original" verison, because on it's own merrit this show is not good, but fangirls are fangirls and they overrate as hell because of two actors they like. I also bet my review will be downrated, as it happened with Cherry Magic (Thai), but I could not care less.
Objectively this show is not good, the characters are mostly one-dimensional and childish. The actors had no script to work with which couldn't challenge them in their acting. Besides that, also the chemistry between the MLs was nothing to write home about. "My School President" had a good story, good acting, good chemistry and an grandious OST and all the other things a good BL should have. This series had only lot's of advertisments up your face (again). I don't get it, why they need to do that. Are the actors that expensive or are japanese rights much more expensive compared to thai novels? Even compared to Cherry Magic (Thai) the production quality was not top notch, so I guess it's just maximizing profits.
Other reviews will depict the show in more detail but I'm too lazy for that. It was a grand disappointment and I would wish the fangirls would objectively rate such shows, because as long it is upvoted that high, such crap will be produced again which is sad to the whole industry and unnecessarily lowers the quality of such shows. You should skip it and watch "Only Boo" instead which is not brilliant on the acting but makes up with cuteness and also a very good OST.
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If the only thing that keeps you from watching this drama is the title, just ignore it. Give it a chance and you may be surprised by it. It's a story that tells about doctors who try to protect their ~romantic ideals and about doctors who yet have to come to their own ones as they grow with their difficult tasks day by day (and sometimes have to be pushed into the right direction). It's a story that shows what doctors can be like if society and power-ruling wouldn't interfere and darken single souls. Though this doesn't mean the drama is free from money-driven betrayals that go along with the main plot. It's still a k-drama thing.
Some of you may already know Han Seok Kyu and some of his works. If so, you might already belong to his fans. If not, this drama would be an excellent first try to get to know this wonderful, brilliant actor. His acting alone is worth a 10 and I have no doubt that he will also cast a spell over you - like he did with me some time ago.
His co-actors and co-actresses shouldn't be disregarded either. Though they might not yet reach the level of this acting senior, they did a very good job themselves in supporting the story. I liked many of the face to face dialogues as they gave special light to the respective characters and left quite the impact sometimes. But what I really loved and appreciated in this drama were all those small cases that happened all the time (and that helped keeping the pace and suspense of the story). Most times the guest actors were great with their short appearances and their stories really touched my heart. And I was pleased to see doctors deeply care for their patients in a way I imagine a doctor to be.
But although the drama itself was pretty good, I just had to take off a point. I got irritated every time an emergency occurred and they just stood there, arguing with themselves, arguing with others, having the whole staff watching them while nobody is actually working. I do get that doctors are humans, too, and they can have a bad day or feel bad or whatever. But the whole thing doesn't work when everyone plays along and nobody sees the actual emergency right in front of their eyes. A problem many medical dramas face and sadly, Romantic Doctor couldn't escape that cliché either. Although it's not as bad as I've already seen it in other dramas - this one is still bearable.
So, overall a great show worth watching - either you get bothered by the flaws mentioned above or you just ignore them. Your choice on missing out this wonderful drama or not ;)
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Watch It!!!!!.
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This review may contain spoilers
fire chemistry, lackluster plot (watch suggestions)
Overall: the plot was a mess, but the leads' chemistry was good. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each (episode 1 was 45:51). Aired uncut on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/the-boy-next-world-episode-1-1dszq3d8c3o?lang=en_usContent Warnings: blood, violence off screen, non con touching, manipulation, coercion, child abuse, past harassment, past cyber bullying, past suicide, past death, non/dub con kiss, punch, slap, non con picture taking
Watch Suggestions (focus on sweet/steamy parts)
- episode 1 skip 5:30-18:45
- episode 2 watch 8:30-11 and 13-40, 44:30-end
- episode 3 skip 18:45-31:30, 27:30-32 and 40-42:45
- episode 4 skip 20:50-44:20
- episode 5 skip 23-30:30, 31:40-39 and 47-end
- episode 6 watch 20-25, (can go to 27 if you enjoy singing), 35:40-38 and 43-52:30
- episode 7 watch beginning-52:05
- skip episode 8
- episode 9 watch beginning-9, peck at 28:50
- episode 10 watch 13:30-18:10, 42:45-43:15, 50-53, 57-end
What I Liked
- intro got my attention
- excellent chemistry/intimacy
- sweet moments
- in episode 3 the blue vs orange lighting for their apartments
Room For Improvement
- Cir was extremely manipulative and never told the truth, the other lead found out at the end of episode 9
- Phu acted like a child (who calls their university friends to complain about not finding their underwear), update, this wasn't as bad in future episodes and Phu questions why Cir likes him/brings up valid points but his room is filled with stuffed animals and he still has a child-like persona
- extremely disappointed in the world building, (random superpower appeared in ep 4), exposition dump in episode 8 to explain the world building
- in episode 2 the friends argued way too long
- the mom character/drama, can't believe that was how they resolved things with her
- nonsense: someone who is very ill who would want to do that, he's an adult and does not need to maintain his "deal" with his mom
- cliche, 'I need to tell you something important', 'I don't want to hear it now' (plenty of time to say was it was)
- cliche evil wannabe wife
- cringey singing in the apology video
- (neutral) there were some comedy sound effects but at least they weren't the entire time
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Best xuanhuan of 2026
My experience with "Love Beyond The Grave" feels a bit personal, mainly because I went into it as someone who had already read the novel. That always comes with expectations—sometimes unfair ones—but this time, I was genuinely impressed. The drama stays surprisingly faithful to the source material, making only small changes while preserving the emotional core of the story. As a reader, that meant a lot.What really elevates this drama, though, is the acting. Dilraba as He Simu was nothing short of captivating. There’s a quiet strength and depth to her performance that makes the character linger long after the episodes end. After being a little disappointed with her previous work, I was hoping she’d get a role that truly lets her shine—and she absolutely does here.
Chen Feiyu also deserves credit. His portrayal of Duan Xu might not fit the typical image of a hardened general, but that’s precisely why it works. Duan Xu isn’t supposed to be some untouchable war hero—he’s young, impulsive, and full of life. Chen Feiyu leans into that, and it pays off, especially in moments like the North Cheong camp infiltration. And together? Their chemistry feels effortless. You don’t just watch them—you *feel* with them. I found myself laughing one moment and completely wrecked the next.
The supporting cast adds even more flavor. I genuinely couldn’t stand Yan Ke—and I mean that in the best way possible. Miles Wei did such a good job that my frustration with the character was even stronger than when I read the novel. Zhang Li as Jiang Ai was equally memorable, perfectly embodying that polished, “wrapped in luxury” presence without ever feeling flat.
That said, the drama isn’t without flaws. The middle portion does drag a bit, just like in the novel, and I had quietly hoped the adaptation would tighten that up. Instead, some choices—like changing the Duan Jingyuan discovery scene—left me slightly disappointed. The original version had a charm and humor that the drama couldn’t quite replicate. And I’ll admit, I really wish they had included the extra chapters from the novel. A more concrete happy ending would have made the whole journey feel even more complete.
One thing I can’t overlook is the music. The OSTs are beautiful in that understated way—they don’t just accompany the story, they stay with you afterward, almost like echoes of the emotions you felt while watching.
At the end of the day, this is a story that grows on you. It’s not perfect, but it’s sincere. It makes you care—about the characters, their choices, and everything they lose and hold onto along the way.
If you’re in the mood for something emotional, character-driven, and quietly intense, this is absolutely worth your time.
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Geometry, abs and lots and lots of people who need to learn about boundaries.
Watching this drama is like watching a collection of more or less every trope available for a c-drama but without the Rio and the cruel grown ups as I am sure you could fill a whole game brick of cliches and stuff you have seen before. The use of water in this show is as overwhelmingly beautiful as the use of abs as the show has a variety of umbrellas, drowning and people caught in the rain, the scenes themselves are not really special but the umbrellas are innovative, gorgeous and given the love they deserve, caught in slow mo and what not.The male lead is more or less he typical god with a one track mind and complete lack of understanding of the word consent as he forces his kisses on the female lead more than once as well as pretty much stalkes her both online and IRL just to be near her (without the whole imagining stuff and violent tendencies) as this guy is very much aware of her not wanting him to get close to her. The guy does however do all from stalking her online, follow her from behind and go wherever she goes and collect mementoes of their interactions... Lovely to watch but so many red flags mayday in china seems flaggless... Still the guy does have a pure heart and good intentions that will make you forget all that... Oh and his voice sounds like a 45 year olds...
That and the second male lead is even worse when it comes to boundaries, respect and reading the room... it seems his job in this drama is to show off his abs (yes he shows them in about 80% of his scenes). And is there to annoy the audience and make us forget all the flags shown by the male lead, as chances of getting SLS in this show are slim to none. I am sure the writer loved abs as she wrote in a whole lot of scenes where the potential love threats, friends and whoever could got their abs shot from a bunch of angles and close up (including the male leads) . In short the writer seemed to love abs, geometry, and water...
The ML roommates are dumb and dumber, annoying most of the time and only there to prolong the show. The FL roommates are kind of meeh but the friendships over all in this are nice, especially the female friendships who have few traces of jealousy and seem more supportive than the typical C.
The female lead is mostly cool and pretty decent, she is not super stupid, and is rater a girl who with the right help from the ml can do anything,,, she does however seem a tad oblivious, defensive and while she keeps telling people she is not that vulnerable, people seem to treat her as someone in need of constant protection ... Which feels a bit (a lot) out dated.
The second couples female is called persistent... I would call her lacking boundaries, needs to learn about consent and how to take a no... The guy here is however pretty good looking, and the type who seemingly needs that type of girl... yes very out dated indeed...
Annoying characters: A lot
Consent:What is that?
Trust: What is that?
Communication: What is that?
Abs: 999999
Water:99999
Bingabilaty: 9
All this said, it was pretty entertaining most of the time so it gets 8 for entertainment and abs...
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The best competition kshow of all time
Definitely worth the hype for all it has to offer, an ultimate journey of food porn topped with extremely classy cinematography and fiery soundtrack all cooked in an unimaginable scale. The thrill and suspense of the matches are so flavorful, it is truly engaging to watch. This is really hands down the best competition kshow of all time, so well made and a huge feast well served for the eyes.Was this review helpful to you?
