This review may contain spoilers
If I had to compare it to regular dramas, I would, of course, find it very lacking. But for a shorty short web series? Not bad, not bad at all. Jing Yuan was so devilishly mischievous and so in love with Fusheng. Fusheng was all, "Oh, pretty men, gimme!" And Qing Chen was... well, a Victorian virgin ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This was pretty much a drama about a devil and an angel in love with a goddess but the devil actually had balls and the angel was a wishy-washy dude who wanted the cake and eat it, too.
It honestly felt like a fanfic where the writer couldn't be bothered with things like world building and broader storytelling and simply picked the "good" scenes they actually wanted to write about and bounced from one to another. Too bad. It could have been a great real drama.
PS: Li Fei suffers very nicely - and a lot in this drama. Also, his eyes sparkle so wonderfully when Jing Yuan goes around, spreading mayhem.
PSS: My favorite line? When Fusheng pummeled the girl who bullied her, actually pummeled her with her fists. Jing Yuan's reaction! "Tsk, so bloody... I like it!"
For what it's worth - and though it wasn't as good as The Killer Is Also Romantic, the best short web series I've seen so far - it was a actually good one.
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Now I will be honest and say that I started this drama because I watched Devil Beside You and wanted to see more of the chemistry between the main leads.
I am fully aware that the two have nothing to do with each other. That being said I still like Devil Beside You more.
I loved Why Why Love up until episode 11 and then I wanted to die. The twist in the story happened way to late in the drama to be effective. If they were going to use that twist then they should have done in earlier in the drama. So because of that I dropped this drama at episode 11. However, because I am a person who has to finish a drama once I start it. I trucked through it and finally came to the ending.
I will give this a solid 8 overall because I did enjoy it up until the last episodes. Will I ever watch it again? Probably not, unless I'm doing a Mike He marathon.
Since I did enjoy the drama for the most part, I recommend this to anyone!
Happy Watching :)
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So much potential!
Legend of Anle was undoubtedly one of my most highly anticipated dramas for this year. I knew I liked Gong Jun after his remarkable performance in WOH, and the accolades surrounding Dilraba also intrigued me. I was eager to witness their talents in this new series. The captivating synopsis and intriguing trailer further fueled my excitement.From the moment the drama premiered, I was religiously invested, watching the episodes daily and meticulously jotting down notes as the story unfolded.
Initially, I must commend the strong start the series had. The first ten episodes were brimming with potential and skillfully set the stage. Ren Anle, the female lead, instantly won my heart as one of my all-time favorite leads. Her wit, charm, strength, and humor had me laughing and thoroughly enjoying every moment. Han Ye, although quite different, proved to be an equally impressive lead, portraying a gentle and kind character whose personality complemented Ren Anle's perfectly, making them an endearing couple. His unwavering loyalty to Di Ziyuan revealed the essence of his character and set the tone for his development.
A notable aspect that pleasantly surprised me was the abundance of strong female characters who were not the main lead. The drama skillfully portrayed numerous women with strength and intelligence, be it in martial arts or other aspects of life. This contrasted with typical cdramas where the focus tends to solely revolve around the female lead's strength, making Legend of Anle stand out in this regard.
The early stages of the drama also excelled in presenting captivating investigations led by Han Ye and Ren Anle, showcasing their intelligence and establishing a profound bond that played a pivotal role in the rest of the story.
Regrettably, my enthusiasm took a hit as we reached episode 12. From that point onward, the plot began to lose its momentum, becoming sluggish and uninteresting. To my disappointment, the main leads received less screen time, while secondary characters dominated the narrative. This shift hindered the story's progression, leaving me feeling like nothing substantial was happening, and even the leads' charisma seemed to wane amidst the prolonged focus on characters like Di Cheng'en, Luo Mingxi, and Anning.
Speaking of secondary characters, Luo Mingxi, the second male lead, failed to resonate with me. Despite his importance to the story, I found his personality dull and unengaging, struggling to form any meaningful attachment. Di Cheng'en, while intentionally unlikable, became an excessively detestable character, though I admit her role served the plot effectively. Anning, initially introduced as a strong and high-ranking general, fell short of her potential, often coming across as dim-witted and uninteresting during the stagnant episodes.
Nevertheless, Wen Shuo's character was a bright spot. His endearing relationship with Han Ye and his developing bond with Ziyuan were a pleasure to watch, though I felt some emotional scenes in the final episodes could have been better portrayed by the actor.
One aspect that disappointed me was how Han Ye discovered Ren Anle's identity. The potential for a profound and emotional revelation was squandered, culminating in a montage of memory scenes and a shocked expression. Similarly, the revelation of Di Ziyuan's true identity diminished the intrigue of her character.
Fortunately, the last ten episodes were better, even managing to make warfare engaging despite it not being my preferred theme. However, the plot involving Luo Mingxi and the loss of Qingnan city felt convoluted and lacked courage to make him actually do something wrong, which made it feel like a missed opportunity for compelling storytelling and cowardly writing.
The final three episodes were strong and provided a satisfying conclusion, though I regret not seeing all the scenes of Di Ziyuan and Han Ye that I knew had been filmed.
On a more technical note, the OST was good, with some tracks earning a place on my playlist. The visuals, while generally appealing, occasionally bordered on being overly exaggerated. The CGI, though, met my expectations.
In conclusion, Legend of Anle possessed considerable potential that remained untapped. While not a terrible drama, it did not live up to its promise. I wouldn't rewatch it, but for those with patience and the willingness to use the skip button occasionally, I recommend giving it a chance.
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Not as cute as Only Boo and a red-flag character...
As always when "New" Sijaw is directing, most series glide into childishness and cringe. In this case it was more subdued then in most other series (Fourever You Part 1, Perfect 10 Liners) but it's still there especially in the first two episodes. There are times when childish beheaviour is appropiate but in most cases it's not.The script is a mixed bag. The solution of the time-travel was a bit weak and Mr. Redflag (Van) side-couple felt a bit unrealistic. How he handles the situation is dispicable but also the script was quite lazy depicting it. Also there was not the budget to "age" the actors to make them distinguishable from now and the future selfs. So the production is ok, but it looks constraint by the few locations they had. Of course there are a lot of stupid things in it and the direction is bad.
So overall it's on the "good" side of BLs we had last year. At least Sea "Junior" did improve a lot with his acting which is also a plus for me. Keen has the talent, it looks like it's easy for him. I will not criticize too much in this case, it's pleasant enough to watch and many will have fun with it.
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HIStory 3: Make our days count is following the steps of HIStory 2: Crossing the Line that is, by far, the most loved story from the series. When HIStory 3 was announced, everyone was expecting another masterpiece and some got disappointing with the road Trapped took, with its no ending, repetitive storyline of "i almost died". Make our days count, by other hand, took us back to high school with the puppy romance and teenager hormones going over the board.
The story, that at first presented the overused trope of "enemies to lovers", surprised everyone when the characters started to act completely different from the stereotypes expected. The "bully" isn't really a bully. The "shy" guy isn't shy. The "bad girl" isn't bad.
There's no "I'm not gay, i just like this one guy", there's an "I like guys too". There no "I don't feel bad for hurting this one person", there's an "I feel so bad I feel like dying".
The characters are so incredible real, you sometimes forget it's a story that will end at some point. The chemistry of the main couple is so strong that, if you are single, you'll definitely feel jealous.
The story talks about the struggle to conciliate senior year with part-time work and the first love. Coming out to a homophobic family and acceptance of friends. Age difference (not the illegal type) from someone that lost faith in relationships to someone who's experiencing his first love.
The year didn't end yet, we never know what's going to happen, but, for now, HIStory 3: Make our days count is the best gay series that came out this year.
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When "Youth C-drama" Director and Writer wake up and decide to do something differently good
CLOSE TO YOU (2025) | CN DRAMACast: Liu Xiao Bei, Zhu Lin Yu
Rating: 8.5(Ignore the current 7.4 rating and make your own judgement)
Hear me out...
Yes, I know. I said very loudly and confidently that I wasn’t watching another high school drama again. I’ve seen enough of those rinse-and-repeat arcs, carbon copy characters, where the writers repeat after themselves “we are not trying to be Lighter and Princess (2022) but we low-key are” setup like Forever Love (2020) or When I fly Towards You(Yes I skipped WIFTY,the same way I skipped Lovely Runner) that’s a rant for another review.
Yet here I am. Again. Why? Because I belong to that very niche group of people who can commit to 24 episodes based on a single 1-minute clip floating on the cursed but irresistible streets of social media. I even left a comment on the post: “If this drama flops, I’ll be back kicking and screaming.” Spoiler: I did not kick or scream. In fact, I quietly binged the whole thing.
So what made Close to You different from every other coming-of-age drama we’ve seen?
For starters,it’s not set in high school. (Pause for applause.) The writers actually upped their game and placed the story in a private college. Now, I don't fully understand the Chinese education system,maybe this is the A-Levels equivalent? Who knows. All I know is: we left behind the tired old tracksuits and stressful university entrance exam trope that make you hate every parent in C-dramas and upgraded to blazers, sports festivals, swimming pools, and fancy tuition fees.
Jiang Cai College is the setting of an elite private school where students are handpicked from upper-class families. There are music clubs, sports teams, and yes, a basketball squad that serves as the beating heart of the story. Our ML, Jiang Bo Han, is the team captain. Tall. Calm. Respected. Leadership unlocked.
Enter Yu Ming Xi, our FL. She’s not rich. She didn’t get in because of her bank account, but because of Plot Reasons and a mysterious backstory linked to the school. She’s backed by a bubbly and ride-or-die bestie Wang Chu Nian (SFL),who got plenty of spark but let’s be honest she's mostly in this school for one reason: the basketball boys. And I don’t blame her. At all.
Together, these two form a surprisingly balanced pair in a school full of pressure, privilege, and plot-relevant bullies. It’s like they live in their own little pocket universe inside Jiang Cai’s perfectly landscaped gates.
Our Leads' first meeting? No fireworks. No dreamy background music. Just a street brawl and one girl who refuses to mind her business. She jumps in to help, standing at maybe 5’5” and ready to throw hands. And folks..that’s how Jiang Bo Han met Yu Ming Xi. From that moment on, his world does a full 180 and begins to orbit around her.
He becomes her protector, not that she needs one, because sis can defend herself just fine but he fills in the cracks she can’t always seal up alone. Especially when a certain villain (yes, we have those, obviously) starts stirring the pot.
One thing I really appreciated about this drama: the leads broke out of the usual mold. Jiang Bo Han is not your average rich boy who folds every time his parents show up. No. This one argues back, stands firm, and will absolutely defy his mother for the girl he loves. And Yu Ming Xi? She’s no helpless kitten. She fights, speaks up, and works her tiny frame to the bone to stay afloat.
The side characters? Surprisingly useful. They actually did what they were meant to do: support the main storyline without hijacking it. Even the villains served a purpose and didn’t just exist for chaos points.
And don’t be fooled by the private school aesthetic and ¥1200 blazer(which is a story on its own)—these kids aren’t just walking Hedge Funds spoiled brats. They carry pain, trauma, and secrets. Each of them is fighting their own painful past and as they stand at the messy intersection between adolescence and adulthood, they’re forced to make choices that hurt more than they should.
If I could describe Close to You with one analogy, it’s an onion. The more layers you peel, the more it hits you in the feels. You’ll cry a little, not because it’s sad all the time, but because of how deeply some of their emotions are buried under all that schoolwork and basketball practice. (Also, none of these kids are visiting the school counselor, and it shows.)
OST:
Let me talk about the music. Whew. Someone in production got a blank check and used it wisely. The soundtrack? A banger. I haven’t made a playlist for a drama since… ever. And I’ve watched over a hundred. But this one? Had me in a chokehold. RIP my replay button. I’ll drop the link somewhere below. You’re welcome.
What could’ve been better?
– Each episode is just 18 minutes, which is cute until you realize some scenes were clearly cut short. Like we blink and suddenly we’re in a whole different vibe with zero transition.
– That twist near the end? Blame the writer for giving us a slap that we didn't see coming and also blame me for believing youth equals peace.
– The time skip... kinda flopped. Characters looked the same. Their future selves were just vaguely mentioned in passing. Not a single grown-up makeover or career montage in sight.
– The final 10 minutes? Unhinged. Old characters randomly reappeared for no reason, and the “ending” felt more like a deleted scene they threw in last minute.
Final Thoughts:
I went in expecting fluff, maybe a height difference and a few cute moments from two lesser-known leads. I came out emotionally invested, unexpectedly teary-eyed, and with a whole playlist. This was more than just another youth drama. Think Always Home, sprinkle in Hierarchy, and season with a dash of Weak Hero Class 2 energy.
Highly recommended if you’re stuck in a drama slump, craving something new, or just in the mood for an emotional but sweet ride through growing pains, love, and a whole lotta basketball.
EDIT:
As promised,It took me a second to put the playlist together but here it is.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iKhX935lp2UYb9RNLIWJ1?si=bNC28tq7TMGvy8GjISdK4w&pi=qFbEFqnaTp-N2
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Story: When I first started watching this drama about a year ago, I really didn't want to watch it. At all. In the first episode, it was really difficult to like Hye Mi or any other characters. Hye Mi was overly proud and felt unrealistic, Baek Hi had no personality other than being Hye Mi's follower and I didn't have much sympathy with her and Jin Gook came out of nowhere and randomly decided to be the knight in Shining Armor and confused me. If you asked me what I thought about this drama back when I had only watched episode one, I would say that it's a waste of time and that there's much better out there. I understand that the writers were trying to set us up for the inevitable "change" in which everyone becomes better, but there's different ways of doing it so that the audience doesn't start out hating every single character. *Sigh* That was my biggest problem with this drama. The writers wanted to show how *much* the characters changed, going from one extreme to another. But the thing it, real people don't change so dramatically. We do it in subtle ways, so slowly and so quietly that we can't even tell unless we're forced to realize it. Months later I finally got around to watching episode two. It wasn't much better, but I have a policy that no matter what, I have to finish anything I start. I was pretty much prepared to give this drama a five and move on with my life, so my expectations were pretty low. Episode three was a little better, and so was episode four. It went on like that for a while, until I finally found myself liking "Dream High" instead of merely tolerating it. The main romance story really surprised me, because I had no idea who Hye Mi was going to wind up with until episode 15. I liked how the writers showed her interactions with both Sam Dong and Jin Gook and how all three of them slowly developed feelings. I also liked how the writers made it so that you could wind up liking characters you hated in the beginning- or at the very least wind up respecting them.
Acting: Taecyeon and Suzy were okay actors. They forced themselves sometimes, but they managed to decently convey the story when called upon. Kim Soo Hyun was amazing and pretty much carried the entire show with his portrayal of Sam Dong, Wooyoung and IU were cute, and everyone else ranged from good to amazing.
Music: As a music drama, music is the primary focus of "Dream High". The music here was targeted to a very specific age group, people from the ages of about 13-24-ish. It was young and upbeat, with all the actors' voices to carry the music.
Rewatch Value: I'd say there's a fair chance of me rewatching parts of this, but I probably won't for a while.
Overall: "Dream High" is an acquired taste. It sort of grows on you as you move along through the story. It's not the most amazing drama out there, but it brings something new to the table.
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It will touch your heart and soul
Whenever I watch a movie or series, somehow it's important to me that the characters looks good (I know I might sound shallow but who doesn't like good looking characters?!) and the places they shoot should be attractive as well to keep me watching. This exceeds my expectations!Cliche in every story cannot be completely ignore. So this is a classic love triangle and the struggles that comes being born rich and powerful. I love the cinematography! They do justice in shooting their scenes in Cuba. It makes me want to visit the place. I also love the beach and the tall wooden tower they have visited.
So far, I don't find it boring. Their lines are well delivered and some poetic. I love the phase on how the series is moving. The acting for me is just fine. Meaning, they are not exaggerated at all. Some of the scenes are very emotional and heart breaking. It does made you wonder from time to time if rich people do really have this kind of problem lol!
Supporting characters are not bad either. Park Bogum's friend Kim Jooheon and Song Hyeko's secretary Kwak Sunyoung are someone you need to watch out too! They are cute. The friendship between Hyeko and Sunyoung is something to be admired too. I also find the driver, Ko Changeseok funny!
Hopefully this series will not keep me interested till the end.
UPDATE:
I finished the series long back but forgot to update. It was great! There are several funny scenes as well. What I really admire in this series is the fact that Park Bogum never gave-up. Though it has hinted, he opted not too. In other drama, that will be case and the partner will chase back. In this case, he showed he will stay until Song Hyeko realise his worth. I love how he used the shoes as a symbol. I love it so much that I repeated some of the memorable scenes. There are several lines from Park Bogum that find very poetic.
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Story- The first episode had potential so I was excited to watch the rest of the episodes but they turned out to be just average writing. It’s your typical predictable romcom but they kind of let me down with the entertainment theme cause they could’ve did more with it. The romance was a letdown also with an ending that had no resolution and basically brings our heroine back to square one.
Acting/Cast- So Yi Hyun basically carried the show. Her character was awesome and just so magnetic. As for the male leads their acting was passable but they just weren’t able to get me to care about their characters. The supporting cast was good enough but their characters were forgettable.
Music- I actually ended up liking the OST and will download when I get the chance.
Rewatch- Since the story wasn’t boring it’s rewatchable but I have no intentions of watching it a second time.
Overall while Glowing She wasn’t boring or anything it’s one of those dramas that had potential but fell flat. You won’t remember it down the line.
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Aiba Masaki indeed do a great job as Masamune-kun. He fully showed the anxiousness and uncertainty that Masamune-kun was feeling about the changes in his life. Masamune-kun did his very best in his own way to show his daughter her value to him, realizing along the way how the little girl changed his life for the better. He loved Yuuko-san, tho the way she left was kind of a cliche, I still think that it's a nice way of using those predictable conflicts.
Ishii Momoka-chan was just so good in this :') Every time she cries, I would feel tears in my eyes. She portrayed her role magnificently, showing the viewers how mature and independent Koharu-chan is at such a young age, even after the loss of her mother and a faithful meeting with the father she only knew from stories. She would do her best to help Masamune-kun take care of her.
Other characters really helped build up this great drama and helped the two connect, like father and daughter. The music was great, as well.
It's definitely worth to re-watch this drama. It's warm feeling and sweetness will bring you guys smiles :)
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Like in many dramas of this writer (and ahem, director) there are so many details which are kind of ridiculous, at some point the show becomes a bit boring but there is this magical feeling which makes you to come back to finish.
This is a typical drama about gambling, revenge and first love which never dies. There is a lot of plotting and action but the romance is left on the backseat, I wish there was less of it because the romance part is also the most boring. But anyway, if you are sick of all the romantic stuff and want to entertain yourself with action give this show a chance.
The beginning is slow, the whole drama is kind of slow but it doesn't matter much. I really like the feeling, the atmosphere of this drama, it is very addicting. Even if I don't understand why some Koreans were hired as hitmen and sent to Africa to save a prince of some tribe. What? Yeah... The ridiculousness is part of the charm.
Acting is okay, I mean Ji Sung is in this show, what else do you need more? Well, except Sung Yu Ri, I totally hate her because whatever character she plays becomes really annoying and she can't really act. Then So Yi Hyun, Lee Wan, Jun Kwang Ryul and Ma Dong Suk. I freaking love Ma Dong Suk! The cast is just wow and they do a great job!
The plot is entertaining and complicated even though some things become pretty obvious as episodes pass and then you just wish for them to be revealed sooner.
Give this show a try, it's not like all the other dramas out there. But if you must choose, All In is better.
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I also love the OST. The music sang by Nakashima Mika were very inspiring and emotional I really enjoyed her performance.
I would recommend this movie to anyone, especially NANA fans.
Happy Watching :)
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Brilliant
First of all, Shin Hye Sun deserves the highest actor/actress award. She was magnificent in it. Great story that keeps you interested from the beginning to the very end. Many hilarious and laugh-out-loud moments. Good soundtrack, great acting and casting. Cha Chung Hwa who played Court Lady Choi was my favorite character. I looked forward to every scene she was in.I am surprised at some of the lower ratings. I think it's one of the best KDrama I have ever seen. It's certainly one of my all-time favorites now. Highly recommended.
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genre this is really worthy to kill your time off and to pass it is your loss.It has everything what a thriller or mystery movie should be and doesn't lack anything IMO.
Thriller element:This was executed nearly perfect! As the story progresses you will get more thrilled and more suspense. You have no choice but to stimulate your sympathetic nerve activity and at every turns to keep guessing what had happened. XD The feeling is like when you're watching someone's running from the one who have an intention to kidnap her.They got pretty close and dangg! The victim fell down over the medium size tree branch and you as a viewer will crazily hastily wish for the victim to stand up faster and to continue running but.....( Use your creative imagination to illustrate what will happens next :P ) Yeah, you will get that kinda feel. Maybe this situation is not good enough to explain how good this movie was. Blame it on me.I really want to explain this practically but my english is'nt that good either so to avoid unnecessarily talking just watch & judge it by yourself.
Moreover all the plots and the acting is done very well (I especially love Uhm Jung Hwa's acting :D ) also I don't find any flaw with the story. Overall I really enjoyed watching this movie & I'd highly recommend this to fellow MDL user :)
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A MASTERPIECE
If u could erase ur memory and watch a drama again this woukd ve it perfection in every order combines whit humour and passion into one drama words cannot describe how incredible this drama is only put a 9 because i didn't like the ending besides that it was very good a tearful yet humorous drama it was amazingWas this review helpful to you?
