Reviews

WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL

What i want to understand is how you can go from being practically the best unexpected K drama of 2025 to one of the worst in a matter of 7 episodes????
This show had the strongest first half I've seen in a korean drama for a very long time it had the old school vibes with ur cliche characters who had charm. So how the hell did it manage to go wrong? THE WRITERS THATS WHY

Here are a couple of rewrites that would have made the drama better

First of all there was absolutely no reason for the both male leads to like Go da rim ,Writers need to understand we are comfortable in a world and situation where all the men don't love our female lead i mean it practically made no sense u had 20 years but u didn’t confess until she found someone else HELLLLLLLL TO THE NO, the 2nd male lead should have liked the 2nd female lead and both begin a relationship while still trying to keep Go da rims secret

second of all the whole misunderstanding arc i understand is the basline of the drama but was dragged on too thoughtlessly only for a rather unclimatic reveal, instead the writers should have revealed it during the time he thought the 2nd ml and the 2nd fl we're having an affair. They all should have told him in a funny way they were a couple and him and Da rim would be free to date privately the show would have been 100 percent better if it followed the 4 couples hiding their relationships each pretending to be with the others parthner in public

Third of all
The sister and the chairman and the very uncessary practically useless to the plot brother in law, why were any of these characters given half the screen time??? the completely ruined any potential of character depth with the sister when that BIL was introduced,she truly would have made a perfect addition to his mom and him group to take down the chairman and he would have given her the company without issues???? And honestly that slap the chairman gave Go da rim was completely disgusting and off-putting literally no reason to do that its FKING ASSAULT

Last of all
the whole 2 last episode needed to be thrown out because why are we adding every kind of random uncessary drama cliches known to mankind? i was so baffled i even expected them to add a they met when they were children trope to wrap the huge Christmas present up since they were so keen of destroying any kind of sensible thought process i mean LEAVING THE CITY , YOUR HANDSOME BOYFRIEND WORKS TO WOO YOU BACK,CAR ACCIDENT, AMNESIA they should have made her pregnant instead of her co worker if they knew they wanted to endorse such nonsense

To sum it up
I am truly disappointed in this drama i was in a very big depressing slump this year and the first half of this show really changed that for me it hurts when a drama you know has so much potential just crumbles down due to Lazy writing i mean gather 5 k drama watchers on this app and they could think of a better Second half than this show i know my ideas are probably not the best but in my opinion they are 90 percent better than what we watched on screen it felt like a complete time waste to even invest in such a drama when it all comes burning down. But still kudos to the actors they did an amazing job and kudos to the First episodes writers. I guess we are ending the year with another When the phone rings kind of failure IYKYK.
Merry Christmas people and Happy new fking year

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Phenomenal! Zhao Lusi & Wu Lei Rock!

月升沧海 (Love Like the Galaxy Part 2) is the continuation of 星汉灿烂 (Love Like the Galaxy Part 1). Therefore, viewers must watch Part 1 first before watching this Part 2. Adapted from a novel, the background is set in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD) during the reign of Emperor Guangwu (r. 25–57 AD) (this is not explicitly stated, and the names have been altered). Like Emperor Guangwu, the Emperor in this story is also a founding emperor who does not kill and is benevolent to his subjects. Some of the events taken place in the royal palace are written based on the actual historical events, and many of the characters are based on actual historical figures.

My review here combines Part 1 and Part 2, giving my verdict for the overall drama.

In the novel, a girl time-travels back to ancient time and into Cheng Shaoshang’s body. After 23 chapters later, then only Ling Buyi appears. In the drama version, Ling Buyi aka Ling Zhisheng (Wu Lei) appears in the opening scene of the first episode. According to readers, the story is beautiful but extremely slow burning. I can see that in the drama: for the first 25 episodes of Part 1, the main couple is still at odds with each other though Ling Buyi has already fallen head over heels in love with Cheng Shaoshang aka Niao Niao (Zhao Lusi) because she is so different from all the girls he knows.

Ling Buyi, a dark character with a secretive background and few words, is cold and expressionless. Inside, he is full of anger and vengeance, seeking justice against those who had caused the death of the entire population, including his family, of a city he used to live in. He was adopted by the Emperor and treated like a prince. As a fearsome warrior and a powerful general that everyone respects and fears, he is the most eligible bachelor every girl in town covets, but his eyes on none as he despises those pretentious, bitchy, bratty, and unlikable girls, until he meets Cheng Shaoshang.

Wu Lei grows rapidly from the adolescent in Nirvana in Fire to a man with chiseled good look. His acting skills have also improved markedly by the years and in dramas he acts. Here as the 21 years old Ling Buyi, Wu Lei fits into the description of the character near perfection. Though at times he looks a bit stiff trying to walk like a commanding general, his subtle facial expressions are done very convincingly especially when he transforms from a cold character to a soft and caring character while gazing into his love. He looks emotionless but when he turns to look at her, his face softens, his eyes exude love and care. Despite being a military man, he’s gentle, caring and attends to details. It’s really hilarious to see how a formidable general who would find excuses so that he could stay close to the one he loves in secret. Wu Lei is spot on. I have thoroughly enjoyed all his scenes and wanted more.

Cheng Shaoshang is an unconventional girl. Left to fend for herself since she was born, she becomes very strong and fearless. She has a sharp tongue and is quick witted. She would hit back whenever she is being hit. Her motto is “an eye for an eye”. I love this character to bits, probably because deep inside me, I wish I could live as such a character, punching back whenever being punched, with no regrets nor fears; I have always taken such characters as my role model, to the horrors of many.

For me, this is probably Zhao Lusi’s best acting thus far as the 15-year-old Cheng Shaoshang. Her mischievous behavior to take revenge against whoever wrongs her is fun to watch and satisfying. Her rebuttals and unforgiving tongue make the viewers love her and so does Ling Buyi. I love Zhao Lusi’s innocent look, the huffs and puffs she makes when she clumsily climbs onto the horse or up the ladder over the wall, and her sweet smile beams like a blooming flower. Zhao Lusi is simply amazing, and her acting skills have improved leaps and bounds since the first time I watched her.

The writers have brilliantly brought out the personalities of the Empress and the Consort through their conversations with the Emperor, contrasting their characters, setting the stage for eventual development. Consort Yue is upstanding and badass, and denounces even her own children if they don’t get in line, whereas the Empress is soft-hearted and forgiving, even to those undeserving ones, which are depicted vividly in the actions of her own son, the Crown Prince, who is said to take after her.

My Verdict

Not having read the novel when I first watched the trailer, I thought this was a slapstick comedy and another Zhao Lusi’s rom-com. But as I watch the drama, these outrageously funny scenes appropriately fit into the overall story; they are genuinely hilarious and intriguing. I have re-watched those scenes multiple times and each time, I still laugh out loud and relish every moment. Though very comedic and funny, the plot is dark and bloody.

This is a very slow burning story. Despite so, it is not boring as it captures all the details of the events with lighthearted dialogues (most very funny, cute and unexpected), in-depth development of each character, and an appropriate pace in unfolding of the plot. Every action taken by the characters has a purpose that leads to the final consequences. So, nothing is redundant.

The writer has a great sense of humor in telling the story and resolving the conflicts. Insanely exaggerated, all the characters are realistically written. This is perhaps the first drama I watch with so many shameless characters. Grannies and young girls alike, simply throw themselves on the ground to demand their wants like some bratty kids. Greed, selfishness, hatred, indifference, cowardice and evil versus generosity, selflessness, love, compassion, valor and good are all vividly depicted in every character, and their ultimate outcome. With the bad ones being horribly bad, it is satisfying to see their eventual endings and lessons learned.

This drama gives us some of the greatest official sound tracks. The tune, Sigh of the Galaxy (星河叹) (Cheng Shaoshang character song), played by Cheng Shaoshang on the flute is one of the most beautiful tunes I've ever heard. It sounds melancholy when she is sad, and it sounds serene when she is out in the beautiful countryside. The other orchestral pieces and songs are equally well composed and performed to greatly enhance the mood of the story.

With Zhao Lusi around, the fun never ends! For romance buffs, this is a must-watch. The chemistry between Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei is simply the best of all the romantic couples I've seen. Unlike most lazy writing with endings where everyone dies, this drama let the bad characters die a slow death, and reward the good guys. Having said that, many of the details have not been properly explained, and towards the later part, many scenes are choppy. This is most likely due to the later editing, trying to fit in the approved length (some say about 10 episodes have been taken out). All in all, the first part (ie. Part 1) is full of details and super slow moving, and the second part (ie. Part 2) is action packed and faster pace. Though it has its flaws, this is still a better drama than many. As of the writing of this review and the drama still airing, it has garnered over 5 billions views already. Everyone seems to be talking about the drama because it is so absorbing.

Brilliant storytelling, great acting, excellent camera work and directing. This is a worthwhile watch, definitely a TWO THUMBS UP!

BRAVO!

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Every vacuous cliché in every vacuous episode

When you’ve already hit the record for maximum clichés in an episode in the first week of broadcasting, you know where it’s going. Recycled cheese.

Accidentally falling into ML’s arms? Check: so many times I lost count.
Toilet joke. Check: in your face x 2
Mean work colleagues. Check: 100% all round.
Ridiculously unbelievable “heroism”— look no rope. Check: (give me strength).
Umbrella in the rain scene. Check x 2
Pulling FL out of the path of an oncoming scooter: Check.
FL carried bride-style for no good reason. Check x 2
Wall to wall, endless, inappropriate PP. Check.

And on and on and on…

I really looked for something original in there but totally failed to find it. (No actually, come to think of it, the fully and explicitly enunciated English language, “What the Fuck!” in Ep 8 was pretty original.) Even compared to other productions in its genre I don’t think it stands up.

The script is the sort of random mess that doesn’t have any highlights except for the obligatory stepping stones of a common or garden romcom which it forces onto the characters regardless of character integrity. It manufactures ridiculous scenarios in order to include endless PP (episode ten was unbearable, just skip it) or linger endlessly on eyes gazing longingly at each other. A teenage dream fantasy fulfilled at least once in every episode and twice on Sundays. I was just sooooo bored.

The majority of the characters were cookie cutters with no discernable defining characteristics and no opportunities in the script to show depth. Were there secondary relationships? Maybe, it was so long between interactions I’d almost forgotten who the characters were.

So is there a saving grace? Well yes there is, but it’s the only one I can find. Fantastic, sizzling chemistry and eye candy. All those years of idol training haven’t gone to waste, Jun Ho is pose perfect in every close up and Yoon Ah knows very well how to melt into an embrace (no ironing boards here). Seeing as that is probably the number one requirement for many viewers it would probably explain the ridiculously high rating for the show (8.4 at time of writing). Will it up the rating as far as I’m concerned? Well… no.

Maybe I’ve missed the point. Perhaps the whole raison d’être of the genre is to be a sucky blanket of repetitive clichés with no discernible plot to showcase pretty faces, and I’m doing that unforgivable thing of criticising something for what it never set out to be. But I’m stupid enough to live in hope that somehow this genre will one day produce something clever, witty, memorable, funny and original. Just give up why don’t you!!

I think my problem is that I really want a funny-romantic sucky blanket too. Who doesn’t? But just not like this. I want something more sophisticated and worthy of the quality of the actors that star in it. ‘Cause I’ve been a fan of Jun Ho ever since “Just Between Lovers” and consider that the guy can act and has taken on some non-standard roles. (He was the only reason for considering watching this in the first place.) I was cringing with secondary embarrassment for both of the leads at least once an episode. Jeez these guys earn their living.

Okay, next time you see a romcom on my Currently Watching list, kindly do me a huge favour and msge me a reminder that I’m going to spend the entire time rolling my eyes and pushing myself to the end of the episode, so not to bother however much I might want to consider it as a reviewer.

What may rating means: 3+ Totally unbearable, but often compulsively watchable as you really can’t believe that it can be this bad.

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The ship didn't just sink, it imploded under the weight of its own melodrama and bad writing!

The central plot of the drama revolves around trauma and its handling, set against the backdrop of a war zone in Eastern countries. However, it failed to evoke any emotions in me and just felt bland and boring.
The only saving grace, which is why it even gets a 6, is thanks to Benjamin and Saxin, who helped me sail through all 38 episodes of this aesthetically pleasing mess!

For a drama where trauma is the main plot, there was no real sense of warmth, depth or emotional resonance.
At first, it gave off the impression of aiming for something deep and thoughtful, but it quickly lost its way. The plot meandered aimlessly, leaving what should have been powerful moments feeling strangely flat and forgettable.

FL Song Ran was supposed to be a reporter, but she spent more time doing everything except her actual job. It was hard to believe how she was just wandering around and taking pictures in a war zone army base, it just felt completely out of place. Most of the time, all I saw was her trailing behind the male lead.

ML Li Zan's character left me with mixed feelings. I appreciated how the show portrayed his trauma and the denial he was stuck in, it felt raw, real and authentic. However, as time went on, it seemed like his reluctance to open up was more about convenience than anything else. The constant addition of trauma without any real growth or resolution made it feel like there was no light at the end of his tunnel.

I am a fan of both the actors, but I just couldn’t feel any chemistry between them. Maybe it was because their romance developed in so many illogical situations like having a heart to heart conversations on the bomb site before even getting medical aid , that it felt hard to buy into.

Most of the drama was set in a war zone, but the seriousness , urgency and consequences of it were largely missing throughout especially in the first half. The logic was often flawed and there were many instances that could have been fixed if they paid a little attention to detail. For example, why were people moving so freely in the war zone? Why were people just lying down and hugging when there had been a bomb blast only minutes before and why couldn't they do that in hospital to make more sense ?

When it comes to handling PTSD, don’t get me wrong - they did attempt to show the real vulnerabilities, denial and the struggles people face after being in such a traumatic environment. However, the portrayal became a repetitive cycle, with no significant character growth. It doesn’t make sense to me that after 8 episodes of dealing with the issue, there was still no real development.
You would expect them to be open and communicate with each other, especially after everything they’ve been through together. But no, we are still stuck in that non-communicative phase, where life-threatening and life-changing decisions are made without even informing the other person.
In real life, while PTSD can have long-lasting effects, people do tend to make progress over time, whether in small steps or through moments of realization. The drama's absolute refusal to allow characters to experience this type of growth feels unrealistic, as it disregards the possibility of healing and moving forward.

At one point, the hero complex from both of them actually diminished the impact of those serious scenes!

Acting wise both the leads did a good job with what was given to them. Chen Zhe Yuan can act and time and again, he shows that! Liang Jie did a great job too but CZY stole the stage when vulnerable scenes were on the screen!
The emotional scenes were executed well ( the man cries so pretty) but the problem wasn't the acting but the writing!

Now coming to the good part, Benjamin and Saxin ! This was a perfect enemies to lovers trope! The constant bickering , the eye contacts , the jealousy, the unwavering trust and support for each other was just the chef's kiss.If the drama had focused more on them or given them even half the screen time, I would have rated it much higher.
Censorship wants you to think it is brotherhood, but they ain't fooling us. Initially I thought it was me who was on team delusion, but they kept hinting us that we weren't wrong. They know what they are doing ! They know we know what they are doing ! Everything is out there yet still between the lines. We need a masterclass so that we can have those shelved dramas out !

I want to keep this review spoiler free but let's just say the ending was just bizzare and lazy writing. It was as if they ran out of ideas to how to make this mess right which they made, grabbed the nearest piece of paper, scribbled something random, and called it a day.

Overall, this drama was incredibly disappointing and fell flat despite its ambitious premise. It seemed to aim for something grand, but ultimately, it failed to deliver. The plot lacked depth and the pacing dragged, making it hard to stay engaged. It was a slow burn with little payoff, leaving much to be desired and leaving me feeling bored.

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Amazing

What an amazing drama. Honestly, what can I say that's bad about it? Nothing. It was completely new and like nothing I've seen before. It was really different and fantastastical. It had romance, humour, fight scenes, and fantasy elements. All in all, it was just a really great drama. I loved it a lot and the ending was perfect and made sure everyone got their happy ending. I would for sure rewatch it and recommend it to anyone. Don't let the bad reviews get to you and stop you from watching because we all have different tastes and to those who are up for trying it out, I would definitely back you up! Good luck and enjoy.

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FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROUPE DONE RIGHT!!!

"You're My Lover Friend" is a refreshing take on the friends-to-lovers trope, bringing depth and authenticity to a story that often misses the mark. This drama beautifully captures the essence of a long-term friendship, where the bond between the two main characters feels both special and heartwarming. The writers have done a commendable job of portraying their relationship as something that goes beyond mere friendship, yet remains just shy of crossing into more intimate territory.

What I particularly appreciate about this series is how it highlights the characters' internal conflicts as they begin to realize their feelings for each other. The slow burn of their relationship makes perfect sense; it allows viewers to witness each step of their journey—from deep friendship to the complexities of newfound feelings. While some might find the pacing slow, I believe it adds to the realism of their transition. The fear of losing what they already have is palpable, making their eventual acceptance of their feelings all the more rewarding.

Overall, "You're My Lover Friend" successfully showcases the nuanced journey from friends to lovers, emphasizing the importance of communication and taking things at a comfortable pace. It's a heartfelt exploration of love that resonates with anyone who has navigated the tricky waters of evolving relationships. This drama does justice to the friends-to-lovers trope in a way that feels genuine and relatable.

What I found particularly thoughtful about "You're My Lover Friend" is how the writer dedicated time and importance to the characters and their relationship. It’s refreshing to see a series that centers more on the emotional journey of the main characters, especially amidst the various subplots. The casting choices were spot on; having two real-life childhood friends, Steven Zhang and Wang Yuwen, added an undeniable charm to the series. Their chemistry was palpable, and their interactions felt so natural and fun to watch. You could genuinely sense the familiarity and comfort they shared, which made their connection all the more believable.

The acting was impressive, as expected from such talented leads. The side characters also contributed positively to the overall charm of the series, adding depth without overshadowing the main storyline.

I loved the laid-back vibe that permeated the show; it felt heartwarming, relatable, and beautifully crafted. While some might perceive the pacing as slow or draggy, I appreciated the intentionality behind it. The series did a fantastic job of portraying the complexities and challenges of transitioning from friends to lovers, showcasing the emotional turmoil that often accompanies such a change.

Overall, "You're My Lover Friend" was an amazing watch, and I had a great time going through this journey with the characters. I applaud the series for doing justice to the friends-to-lovers trope in a way that feels genuine and true to life. It’s a beautiful exploration of love that resonates deeply, making it a standout in its genre.

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Went from one of the best 2025 dramas to an average drama

The drama started out great and it was interesting to watch an absolutely irredeemable character who was evil and selfish to the core. I know some people think a lot of what she did can be justified but I don't believe that harming good and kind hearted people who cared for you and driving those people to death just so that you can get more famous is justifiable. It's not. No matter what anyone says, Ahjin was always written to be a selfish character. And in the original manhwa she was even worse. I still prefer the manhwa over the drama because not only does the drama deviate from the original story and make a lot of plot points and characters inconsistent, it also absolutely DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE in the end. The ending in the manhwa was also darker but sort of satisfying too since Ahjin gets her kamra but the ending in the drama makes no sense in any way. Ahjin also suddenly stops using her brains in the last 2 episodes which is so out of character for her. Overall, it was a good start but a bad finish

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“It hurts because you seem so comfortable leaning back into sadness.”

Butterfly instead of white rabbit, magician instead of Mad Hatter, magical world and a lot of unresolved emotional trauma - get ready for it all. The Sound of Magic delivers both the enticing fantasy and the harsh reality.

A lot of the things I liked about it, the details in the created world, were the result of the hard work of the webtoon writer Ha Il Kwon. The best examples are the names of the main characters - 아이 (child), 일등 (first; if we add his surname to the mix, it would literally mean I am first) that represent the internal conflicts the characters were facing. Seems on the nose? Maybe, but it fits the story and the approach they took with presenting it.

Ai was forced to grow up fast because of her family situation. Her dreams, hopes, wishes were all focusing on gaining money, as she believed being poor was the reason for her misery. She viewed every situation in her life from the perspective of her financial situation. She did not want to believe in magic, since for her, magic symbolizes hope for better life. All the good things end, like waking up from a beautiful dream, so why even start when you are deemed to be disappointed at the end, when you are back to unfair reality?

Ildeung follows the path his parents picked, doing his best to stay at the top. This takes a toll on his mind and his body. He realizes how trapped he was, yet he wasn’t sure if he is brave enough to stop chasing after the future his parents chose, and try to find his own path. His whole arc was built on small things that might seem like non existing issues, but in reality can take away your sense of individuality and self-worth: things like his dad not calling him by his name, but “Na Jin Man’s boy” - first he is his parents’ son, then he is himself.

Both main characters do not know how to be happy, feel free, make personal choices, act like children their age. And this is the story of them slowly freeing themselves from the cages they were locked in.

It’s hard to talk about Ji Chang Wook’s character without diving into spoilers, since we are mostly kept in the dark about who he is and his past till the end. That adds to the thrills though, creating that mystical and magical aura around him, making the viewers question if the magic is real till the last moment. I was invested in the simple question: who is this magician?

What I also liked about the show is how it spoke about the faults in adults while also not truly making the adults into villains (mostly). Some of them were annoying, sometimes acted unfair or selfish, but most of them were not evil, they were just humans.

The performance from the cast was great. Yes, some movements and facial expressions during the musical numbers were rather cringe and awkward, but it happened only a few times. I was quite surprised by all the emotional scenes, since they all hit me hard (yes, I cried), especially any scene with Ji Chang Wook in the second half - been a while since I enjoyed his performance so much.

Visually they did more than I ever expected. A few times the special effects, especially in terms of the motion, were slightly off, but nothing that would take away from the stunning pictures created.

A lot of the songs had stage-like performances that just sucked me in and I could not take my eyes off it. The A Curse of Asphalt scene was especially breathtaking, even though compared to some other songs, it had a more simple approach. Yet, with how instrumental, lyrics, vocals, visuals, set design, arrangement, all fitted perfectly like puzzle pieces, this song became my favorite performance.

Were the musical aspects all that perfect? No. Some songs just felt awkward with how they were placed in the story, at times feeling unnecessary. I understand why it became a musical-like drama, some lyrics had a really strong message and the performance features added to it - which would not be possible to achieve with simple dialogue. That said, at times I would skip a song or two as they felt redundant at that specific moment.

Speaking of music - all the instrumentals are to die for. Some melodies reminded me of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie (2010) - which fitted the theme perfectly. Even the sound design at times surprised me - taking into consideration the place the songs were sung in and mixing the vocals according to it.

Overall, I truly enjoyed it a lot. Had some questionable choices, acting and directing wise, but I still believe it’s a solid drama. While at first I was not sure about making it into a semi-musical, after seeing all the episodes, I understand the value that was added with some numbers and I appreciate the rather bold move they took with it (let’s get real, musicals are not exactly a mainstream genre loved by all). Ending review with a quote that I loved:

“Flowers don’t bloom on smooth asphalt, but on bumpy dirt”.

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Cinematography is giving.

I guess I’m just so used to a certain standard of quality when it comes to Thai BLs that when we actually get high production values—and none of those cringy sound effects—I’m always blown away.

This was honestly a really strong start. It’s clear this series is going to be gritty, raw, and emotional, and honestly? I want that. It’s rare that we get stories like this, so I’m absolutely here for it.

Also, this might be one of my favorite dual-language mashups we’ve seen so far—though, honestly, that dad probably should’ve just spoken Korean. But I’ll forgive it.

I also have to give a shoutout to Top. I know he’s only in a supporting role here, but dang, he’s such a good actor. He blew me away in Every You Every Me, and this just proves even more how talented he is.

And let’s be real—I'm here for the eye candy too. This whole cast is seriously easy on the eyes.

After an intense first episode, I'm officially locked in and seated. Let’s watch this raw, emotional, gritty drama... and probably end up booking a few extra therapy sessions afterward.

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? The Romance Was On But Went Off In The Middle ?

Question: are you here for pure romance and justice? Then you can watch from EP 1 to 28 and exit as soon as possible, but if you are not bent on the pure romance and justice then this review is not for you.. And you will have no problem watching to the end.

The series is masterful from ep 1 to 28, the chemistry is second to none and the FL was on a different level that you can't help forgetting the existence of time when watching her on the screen. Those episodes are the ones I saved on my device which I can rewach many times without getting bored...

#Importance notice 🔔

I gave any reviews with no bias and under this review, you get the most honest answer to whatever your curiosity on the romance Arc. And how the writer wants to manipulate and fed the audience with Lies while showing the opposite. You can check my bio to get a clear picture on how I write critiques on fiction with my standards and respect in relationship...

NOTE: this review is solely on the Romance Arc and the injustice done to the ML which is helpful to those who came for pure romance and justice. Other than that and the dramatic illogical ending, every other Aspect of the show are super good which you can judge from my star rating 🌟

#Quick info:

。First half of the show ::: FL and ML got more screen time (With A decisive FL)

。Sec. half of the show ::: FL and SML got more screen time (With An Indecisive FL)

。Throughout the show ::: Obsessive, Manipulative, Simpin, Stalker and Annorying Evil SML (With a manipulated Love Triangle)

。Marriage ::: SML and FL got married in Ep 30 in a forced marriage by the Evil SML which the FL shows no resistance to it.

。Star crossed and Fated Love Arc ::: The writer claimed this is a star crossed lovers and fated lovers Arc between the ML and FL. But is a lie, this is about the Evil SML and FL. They have been companions for generations of years in ambiguity.

。Injustice ::: The biggest injustice was done to the ML in this drama, all his heroic work and credit was given to the Evil-SML who was suddenly whitewashed from all his evil.. He was a last minute made up Artificial-Hero. An evil villain that is above consequences and retribution.... The writers force-feeded manipulated lies towards the audience...

。Ending EP 39 40 is not a Plot-Twist but Lies ::: A Dramatic ending with no existence of logics. What happened with the sudden Artificial-Hero (Evil SML) is not a plot Twist, is an utterly force-feeded manipulated lies against the audience, making us look stupid....... Waited for his deadly punishments for his evil, but the writer sudden made him a "misunderstood hero and misguided lover" in the last minutes.... Story for the kids 👎


⚠️____ EP 29 to 40 reviews specifically____⚠️

#Any Love Triangle?:

. FL's only realistic Feelings are only when she is with SML and her sympathy and care for him (she is comfortable with all intimate and ambiguous interactions with SML).... But Her interactions with ML seems fake and unrealistically forced,. No matter how they forced it on the screen, It looks absolutely Fake.
|--
. Even though the writer want to deceive us with no love triangle, but in reality this drama is a love triangle and the Relationship with FL and ML feels cheated due to FL's ambiguous interactions with SML... The atmospheric tension for romance became different whenever she's with SML

. This show is a good definition of (say the opposite and does the opposite)
On the way, Every thing the writer want to prove to the audience on the screen was totally lies... (force-feeding us with "white" when the real intension is "black") the illicit action and ambiguous interactions of the FL and SML says otherwise.
Especially in how the show portrayed the Evil-SML toxic behavior. Here's a clearer and more straightforward review:

#The Second Male Lead’s Dangerous Psycho Obsession:

. The SML wasn’t just a psycho jerk; his actions were dangerous and toxic. He committed terrible crimes including many evil deeds against the male lead (ML), who was a true Hero and supposed to be the true love interest of the female lead (FL).
|--
He does every stupid things out of jealousy and his obsessive love for FL, even though the serie wants to prove otherwise while whitewashing him, but his actions and emotions proved the opposite. And only kids will fall for those manipulated fed lies by the Writer.

. Instead of showing all his evil actions as unacceptable, the series tried to frame them as "Misunderstood Hero and misguided lover," in the guise of doing his Benevolent duty which was very misleading and contradicting from his evil actions.
|--
By doing this, the show made it seem like stalking, manipulation, lies, deception, framing and obsession could somehow be excused as Heroism and misguided love or Some made up last minute Artificial-Hero.

#The Female Lead’s Poor Boundaries:

. From Ep 1 to 28: The FL was able to set a clear boundaries with the obsessive psycho by not sending any wrong signals to him. Making the first half of the serie outstanding and super fantastic with the leads-focus and electrifying chemistry ⚡

. From EP 29 to EP-40: The FL fell from the ladder and character inconsistency. Her response to the SML’s actions made things worse. Instead of setting clear boundaries or condemning his actions, she often sympathized with him and even supported him.
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For example, in episode 36, she allowed the SML to romance her face while she seems to be enjoying his romance. She also transferred half of her powers to him only just to heal his injuries (she can't afford to see him hurt), even when he had killed and hurt the ML and caused his immense suffering multiple times throughout 10,000 years.
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Her every decisions to help and care for the Evil SML, despite his terrible actions, felt unrealistic for some one who keep advocating how much she love the ML in her speech but does the opposite in her emotions and actions. Which begs the authencitic of her commitment in a relationship with ML

. Her grief and deep emotional cry-out in EP 40, when the Evil-SML dies in his Hypocritical Noble-Sacrifice, she showed a deep emotional connection to him, even though he had caused so much harm to ML who she claimed she love. This portrayal made her look indecisive and even confused about what she truly wanted, she didn't grieve this way when SML killed ML, in fact, she didn't grieve at all but still help SML and even married him.
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I don't want to talk about EP 29 30 where she shows no resistance against the forced marriage with SML after the ML died, they even had the audacity to call it "Marriage Funeral"... Oh yes! They are Officially married couple for completing the last bow in the Chinese marriage culture.

# Redemption Without Accountability and Injustice towards the ML

. One of the biggest flaws on the drama was how it handled the SML’s redemption. Throughout the serie, he was clearly the most veil evil villain, but at the last minutes, the story suddenly later tried to whitewash and present him as a "Noble misunderstood hero and misguided lover".
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He then Suddenly became An undercover hero sacrificing everyone including ML to save the world Oh! that's normal isn't? Yet another manipulated fed lies by the Writer while portraying the opposite.

. Instead of giving real consequences or regret for his evil actions, the SML’s redemption came from one dramatic, sacrificial Hypocritical Noble-Act that was supposed to make up for every evil things he had done.
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Such a Hypocritical Noble-Act of dying to save the FL and the world despite all his evil actions is an utterly nonsense and garbage move by the Writer. Logics was no where to be found...

. This ignored all the pain he have caused to the world, especially to the ML, who had suffered for 10,000 years because of him . The show failed to hold him accountable for his actions, making it seem like forgiveness didn’t require any real change or apology, just so he is a last minutes made up "Artificial Hero" and so be it. Every reason is justified.
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The injustice done to ML who is the real example of "Hero" was defeating and there was no retribution towards the master evil who have killed him multiple times through different reincarnational circles, only for the purpose of jealousy and his obsession towards the FL which the writer wants to blush to fool everyone by proving the otherwise.

#Confusing Love and Relationship Loyalty

The FL’s feelings were inconsistent and confusing throughout the 2nd half of series and At the same time, her affection for the ML only seemed clear when he was still "Xie Xue Chen(XXC)", making her love feel conditional and selective, debunking any true-meaning of reincarnated and fated love Arc. This left me unsure of who she truly loved, creating frustration instead of emotional depth.
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Ironically but the FL couldn't accept all the versions of the ML but she can accept SML in every form. Which is enough to prove she didn't truely love ML deeply the way she advocate it, is just the writer forcing things the opposite way.
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The biggest plot mess at the End and the dramatic illogical Ending will be highly remembered, the writer is the most laziest of all time.
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Overall FL's only realistic feelings on the screen are her sympathy with SML and the ambiguous Intimate interactions between them which she enjoys.. At this point who cares if she ended up together with ML, which is almost none because there was only 5 minutes happy ending after all this nonsense..

# Problematic Messaging and Conclusion

To sum up things, The 2nd half of the serie couldn't tell a satisfying or meaningful love storytelling. It did not provide justice for the characters, especially the ML, and sent troubling messages about love and forgiveness.
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By excusing harmful behavior and justifying all the evil actions of the SML and his unhealthy manipulated-relationships while at the same time misleading and denying the true-meaning of what is showing to the audience, the show missed the chance to tell a powerful and positive love storytelling.
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In the end, the series did not only just failed in romance Arc but also damaging in its portrayal of relationships and personal accountability. Which left me frustrating with psychological disorder. Justice for the ML!!! ⚖️ ⚖️

Tips ::: you might want to read the extended spoilers...
Direct-Links to important extended (spoilers) under this review comment area 🤗🤗
1) https://mydramalist.com/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20419488
2) https://mydramalist.com/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20412406

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Unbearable to watch!!!

Situations on the plot on the business and romance department are way too forced... Awful.

Don't get me wrong I do enjoy fantasy/romance/comedy and teen stuff ... geez I had lots of fun watching 'Good morning call' but this drama tempers with one's patience.

The main actress (Dilraba Dilmurat) got my full attention therefore from now on I will stir far away of any work she does. Also, this drama even spoiled Deng Lun a bit ... Totally lost my interest in him, Ashes of Love was the luck shot!

The only good thing was seeing Chen Yi Long for the first time... really liked his performance and charisma.

Unfortunately when I start a drama I never drop it so it was painful!

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It starts big, it remains strong and it ends big! Consistently perfect!

From the very first episode, the scene is set. We meet characters and we know who's gonna be nice, who's gonna cause trouble and who we are to dislike forever. There are twists and turns obviously and there are surprises and shocks. But no one acts out of character, no one does things just for the plot going against their characterization.

An exceedingly well-written drama, beautifully shot and excellently well acted. There are no flaws, there are no lulls, there is no weak arc or filler episodes. I didn't like all the storylines, unfortunately, but this is where the lead couple shine. Even in the most frustrating moments the lead couple keep the viewers engaged in their personal and marital journey. I could not have loved this drama had I not fallen in love with the Lord and Lady of Wei.

I just wish there was one more episode, the last one seemed a bit rushed and a bit incomplete. We need reunions, we need funerals, we need celebrations, we need apologies and reconciliations. There are plenty of conversations that I needed to see.

Alas this is the issue with writing and directing an amazing story- the readers are often left wanting for more.

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I have probably written only two review this year, and both of them were for shows were I deemed that one fanbase simply ruin the drama experience. I truly feel that it is sad when fanbase undermine the hard work that goes into putting a drama or movie together. That being said let me try to objectively review All Out Of Love.

All out of love for me was not a romance drama, yes it was a drama about love but not necessarily romantic love. It was more to me a drama about the different type of love out there, familial ( blood relations), the family we make for ourselves ( non blood relations) and friendships. And the importance we give all those relationship throughout one life.

This drama truth strength got buried beyond unnecessary censorship, meaning lost in translation and unruly fanbase.
Before writing my thoughts on the drama I did a lot of googling to understand the drama backstory and familiarized myself with plot points that when I was watching made no sense to me. And of course to understand the all controversy in regard to the character played by MTY.

So from the get go I want to say that it has been clarify by the author of the book that the character of TY is the main the lead, although when she started writing her books LS was the main, hence why the book title had his name in, and that by the time her novels change gear well her fan base already knew the book by that title and there was no point changing it. So to me the all hate MTY fans were throwing at Wallace just seems quite displaced. Especially when you truly dig into both their respective characters. While Wallace character YT got a lot of character washing by pretty being turned into a one dimensional perfect good guy instead of the multifaceted guy that he supposedly his in a book. After all in the book he is a driven ceo, loyal to a fault to his family while still being a feared and respected underworld boss who cuts LS two fingers out of jealousy. But that is clearly not who we get in the drama, in the drama we get this perfectly saintly guy with a patience and resilience that puts all human to shame, with his only flaw being a out of this world trust for his brother when everyone else can tell his brother it clearly a closeted psychopath. Yet it would be a disservice to Wallace to say that he did not own his character, although one dimensional Wallace's acting gave the character depth, even the choppy editing was not enough to dampen the depth of YT character, it was truly as if we were watching another drama within the drama.
And sadly that is not the same case with LS character, his character got the less cleanup but MTY was not able to bring depth to his character, if you are not a fangirl it was actually hard to be pull into feeling sorry for LS. I'm saying this because I watched the drama with my husband and mother-in-law. And the three of us had pretty opposing views, my husband and I have seen MYT in other dramas , and his acting his usually on par with some and sometimes like this time very underwhelming. This was my mil first encounter with him in such a prominent role and she was not impress. When you watched the drama the most that comes to mind when going through the character of LS is the overwhelming sense of depression. Throughout the drama MTY has this I'm super depressed look on his face even when the emotions he was supposed to convey was one of anger. I do get that there is a lot of grief going around in this drama but there is so many ways to express grief without looking depress the most starling difference is probably seen in the scene where JS tells YT about her abortion, with just his eyes since he has no dialogue you can see YT go from Joy to despair to simply undiluted anger. VS that scene were LS learns that JS and him are not related MTY fell to bring in people to feel is pain right there, when he is going to the most painful realisation of hs life that he can now without restraint go after the woman he love. No what come out at that moment his pretty much a robotic renditions of his line and once that dead in your soul emotion that his been sorting all along. And that is carried through the end where instead of seeing a guys that sacrifice his own happiness for his sister, all we see his a controlling man that choose to isolate himself from his friends and family and live in the past when he realize that he could not control any of them.

And that truly is the feel that we get at the end of this drama that was truly big at sending the vibe that if you decide to let go then you can be happy in life. When you don't learn to let go then life get pathetic for you.

The biggest contrast of love for me was truly between the way LS and YT loved JS. LS wanted to control her and seems quite content to have JS be is emotional sounding board. And he seemed to be content that she was totally and utterly co-dependent on him. While YT approach to loving JS was to let her go. He allowed if not pushed a little hard sometimes for her to make her own decision over the place she should have in his life, She was in control even when it seemed he was making the decision for her.

There is so many examples throughout the drama of the danger of not letting go of your obsession Bei's wife and mistress loose's their minds waiting for him to return to them and both died being insane. Even BWX obsession with JX , even if they try to give it a positive spin at the end with them ended together and waiting for the arrival of their child, we still see that in their desire not to let go he loses arm. And we can pretty much say that his life is quite in shambles while he was holding to his obsession. Then we also see it with Tianen because of hate he not only appears as the psycho, only once he decide to let go does he character actually take a turn were viewers somewhat get interested in his backstory.


I have so many thing to say but I feel like I should turn into an article. So what I'm going to say is that this is a really good drama if you go in focusing on the story and not the fan base. Because yes there is a story being told here, and it's a story of love, growth and forgiveness. My biggest regret is that the story truly suffered from censorship, and the negative connotations it send people with disabilities. There seemed to be an underlying tone that somewhat suggested that people with disability were not capable of love or making others around happy. And that irked me a little. And wow in watching this be ready to see a lot of hospital scene. I'm pretty sure this drama had been sponsor by hospital and apples selling merchant.

I kinda of went on quite a rant here , what I'm saying go watch the drama it 's good don't get swept into the controversies ad make your own opinion.

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Law is a social construction

"You're not handling a case, but someone's life"

I thought Justifiable Defense would be another investigation drama, mainly focusing on who is the real culprit and how the crime was committed.

In the end, it seems like it was never about finding the big bad wolf, but about how complicated people can be, how experiences shape their personalities and their actions and how there is truly no black and white when it comes to law and justice.

The series manages to make the audience think about what constitutes justifiable defense and whether the law is almighty.
What this drama hints at is that the final verdicts and conclusions will always be affected by personal beliefs and biases and that in itself is the vulnerability of the law, which, after all, is a human fabrication.

It's a well written series, with good directing, interesting plot and characters. Without it being overly complicated or shocking, it portrays masterfully multi-faceted characters focusing on their psyche.
I do think the music was overused and the acting could be better in some parts, but that is negligible for a series that is undeniably a gem and a must watch for people enjoying character-driven stories.

Lastly, I firmly believe that there would be differences in some parts of the plot, if the drama didn't have to pass the censorship board. Some things felt a bit too idealistic, and forced to follow a specific route. However, it wasn't something that ruined the final result and it wasn't as evident compared to other series of the same genre. Nevertheless, I do think that people having a bit more freedom in these types of series would create not just good dramas like this one, but unforgettable stories that will linger in one's mind for a long time.

"Absolute justice exists only in concept"

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love, for love's sake.

*the review does NOT contain major spoilers and is in my opinion fine to read before starting the show*

im so at loss for words its hard to even start writing this review (literally finished the show like 5 minutes ago) but regardless, ill try my best.

1. first of, the plot for this show is incredible. i was really afraid they wouldnt have enough budget or runtime to execute this story well, but i worried for nothing. the moment i watched episode 1 i knew that this show wouldnt disappoint me, and it didnt. the story was amazing, start to finish, and it was better than i could have ever imagined. the video game concept was so well done it almost made me feel like i was playing the game myself. continuing, due to the concept being done so well, every time something happened with the game it had me feeling a lot of emotions myself. especially in the scenes where we can see myungha in the black void, or the ones with the time running out or him having to make important decisions, those gave me the chills. really a surreal experience. another thing i loved is the lack of toxicity in this show. not a single time did i think "oh, this seems a bit wrong" or "there could have been a better way to resolve this" because even though secrets were kept, communication was also present, and all the main characters were absolute sweethearts. no unnecessary misunderstandings and all that. also a thing i want to mention is how i love how homophobia was dealt with in this show! usually i just prefer if they dont touch that topic at all, since most of the time in these shows it just ends up being "oh haha ur gay f**k u" and they do nothing to stop it, but i love how they approached it here with the characters defending themselves, snapping back at them and going "so what? whats wrong with it?". theres one scene that was super iconic but i wont spoil anything else. honestly i could say a lot about this show but this review is already getting long and ive only covered the story/plot part, so ill leave it at this.

tldr: they couldnt have done this plot better and i wouldnt change a thing about it.

2. the cinematography and overall quality of the show here was incredible!! no clue what kind of budget they had but whatever it was they did an amazing job with it. every single shot was stunning and the scenes were so pretty i couldnt stop myself from screenshotting every single episode, seriously its beautiful. i saw someone say this felt like watching a kdrama that just so happens to be a bl (since the quality of it is so good) and i definitely agree, this is in my opinion the best shot kbl yet. hoping the quality just goes up and up from here, although i doubt any kbl will be able to top lfls' cinematography, at least for the time being. a few of the shots also reminded me of the eighth sense (aka what used to be my no.1 kbl before lfls came to dethrone it) which is one of my favorite shows ever in terms of cinematography.

3. this is going to be very short but the acting was great. not a single character/actor was lacking. just incredible acting!

to sum it up, this show is absolutely beautiful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, fluffy, sad, bright yet dark all at once in the best way possible. theres not a single thing to complain about and this is hands down the best kbl i have ever watched (and i have watched almost every single one of them as of the time im writing this review). loved everything about it, the acting, the characters, the story, the quality, the cinematography, everything was incredible. all i can say is that this show is an absolute masterpiece that EVERYONE should watch. words simply cannot describe how good this show was.

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