Reviews

An enemies to lovers story into a political slice of life drama.

This drama is part of the influx of well-made Cdramas within recent years. This script, cinematography, and chemistry between all the actors are incredible to witness, so much so that when I finished it the first time, I had to take some time to think about what about it affected me so much... And then I rewatched it again and again. This is one of my most rewatched Cdramas yet.

As someone in this day and age, I managed to sit through each episode at a time WITHOUT skipping.

Somehow I understood who these individuals were on a fundamental level within the first few episodes.
Of course, that didn't mean I could predict what would happen.

It pulled me in slowly with its incredible storytelling.
It is a concept that has been done many times in the past, and there will be many more to come: a general and a lady. They felt complex, layered and real to me, as both of them were strong and weak, as they were both emotionally complicated, but incredibly smart and capable, in their own ways, but they balanced each other out. The way this relationship is shown, their stories are told, their history, individual personalities, motivations, aspirations and their promises felt real. Experiencing the events unfold with them, the raw emotions, even the way they spoke, left me intrigued; almost like every single word and its meaning mattered, they didn't lie, but they did scheme.

The most intriguing thing about this story was how it set up certain expectations and clichés and then flipped the script in multiple ways, sometimes subtly or directly, but all believably and in character driven ways, as most clichés and tropes exist purely because it is a historical drama, but the way the script handled these clichés is admirable, and in turn, so is the way the two main characters handle them. This story, for me, isn't about the "villains" and "stupid side characters". It's about the relationships and the development of them; what each values individually and how agency works within relationships.

A story I watch come back to over and over again because it is a comfort show, a slice of life, growing together in love.

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I am FL defender on this drama.

I had watched this on the day this drama was released and found so many boy-moms scold FL character and pitied ML. But I am here as FL defender. She always stated she didn't want to pursue romance and only need physical relationship. ML knows what he is doing and should know the consequence. I need more of this kind of drama in duanju.

An excellent contemporary romance drama, ML and FL go from initial attraction to genuine affection, a truly captivating physical attraction. It's been a long time since we've seen them kiss so much on screen. I quite like the intimate scene between Jinzi and Zhong Zheng, it feels like Zhong Zheng devours her. The entire drama revolves around the main couple's relationship; the chemistry is strong, the acting is excellent, and Jinzi and Zhong Zheng surprisingly have great chemistry. This type of role is also perfect for them, making it a powerful combination. The viewing experience is quite comfortable because there's absolutely no element of female-centric suffering; it's all about the ML who suffering because of HIS OWN CHOICE. There is other men wants to pursue our FL and FL is stern as stone while ML burn with undisputed jealousy.

Jinzi has always been well-suited for roles of independent, wealthy heiresses, and this character perfectly embodies that. The female lead is independent and clear-headed throughout, clearly defining her relationship with the male lead. ML also consciously falls into despair, and after realizing he has feelings for someone else, he tries his best to win her back. However, FL is really hard to win over and i suspected she is Aro woman while in drama her psychologist saying she lacks emotional attachment which is perfectly embodied in this drama. Those who like to watch ML abuse will enjoy it.

The cons is how comes she suddenly have change of mind on the last of 2 episodes. It feels so abrupt.

I still recommended this since this kind of drama was RARE to be found on duanju.

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It was entertaining enough

I really liked the storyline of the AI boyfriend concept but I think they could have done more with it if they were a little braver. I am not talking about sex but they could have explored a bigger variety of boyfriend types rather than the stereotypical kdrama boyfriend/date.

The main lead actor did a fabulous job of his character, showing a man who was introverted and not quite the normal, to me with all those little habits he was screaming autism at me. If you know you know.

I did like that no one was being followed by a serial killer for a change. No big dramas but misunderstanding because of lack of communication. It is understandable with him, but the female lead had already significant relationship experience yet she had no idea how to communicate? So it made any misunderstanding too cliche and well I really thought the lead actress was too cliche given that. Not like she is a young woman with no idea. And I didn't think the lead actress did a great job of being that character, the acting was a little dull for me.Her crying acting was very poor to me.

The 2nd lead actress did a great job of a interesting character. She expressed the emotions of the character really well and made her pretty classy and funny as well without being slapstick.

It had a lot of good acting in it, and some fun scenes but It isn't on my rewatch list unfortunately.

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Not Bad, Not Amazing

I tried watching this again several times and even fast-forwarded through a lot of parts. First, I’m not really a fan of the whole virtual world concept, although I can’t deny that I loved all the amazing actors who made cameos in the drama. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it didn’t seem to encourage the use of AI and instead explored its psychological effects. But of course, the tone of the drama is more comedic and seems to cater to single and lonely women.

Second, about Jisoo’s acting. I’m not hating on her or on BP, but she still has a lot to improve, and I believe she could really nail it in her future projects. Her acting isn’t bad, but sometimes it feels like she gives off more of a supporting-role vibe. Her performance can come across as a bit flat, and at times she has the same expressions. Her chemistry with Seo In Guk also feels a bit lacking. However, this might also be a problem with the plot, since she dates several different men in the story. It’s difficult to maintain strong chemistry with the main couple while also building chemistry with the other characters.

Overall, this could still be a great drama if you don’t mind the things I mentioned and are just looking for something fun to watch, especially if you’re here for all the oppas. And if you’re single, feeling lonely, and work is stressing the hell out of you, you might actually enjoy this.

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set the standards for me!!!!

smart FL x smart ML? YES PLEASE!

it was my second cdrama, after In Blossom, so i have my expectations set on low and decided to just enjoy the ride instead of setting a certain standard. and boy oh boy, did it DELIVERED!!! i was not disappointed and i'm sure i have never devoured all 34 episodes so quickly before—it's just that addicting!!

as a plot-centered girlie, i can say that i am truly satisfied. yes, it can get overwhelming at times, but that's the advantage of watching it on a streaming platform, no? i can always rewind to catch myself up. but. then again. i didn't do that often—most of the time, the plot itself flowed smoothly like a river. there's no obvious 'scene-chopping' that i could notice, and so i believe that everything had been carefully and meticulously planned so that every single arc could be told without losing the audience's attention.

the romance tho? UGH. don't even get me started!!!! even on the first episode, the chemistry between ML and FL, despite being strangers, had already shone through—it captivated and amazed me at the same time, because HOW?! you were strangers, guys, how did you pack up SO. MUCH. emotion into a single scene??! it took me a while to realize that this was one of those type of dramas in which the romance was a slow-burn so i was crossing my fingers (some dramas just don't do the slow-burn trope justice), but to my relief, it was done so beautifully, infused with so much yearning, with that depth of emotions that hit just right, and so many moments that practically screams "oh my gosh, they're soulmates!". so yeah, needless to say that by the time they finally got together, i erupted a loud cheer that my mom scolded me for (but worth it!)

song mo was basically an enabler and i love to see him cater to every single one of his wife's plan and strategy. that man was down bad! only to have his feelings returned tenfold by dou zhao? soulmatism i say! no, but, seriously, in this second life, even without the reminder of their past lives, they made a very powerful couple, a healthy one at that too! with clear communication, unconditional trust, and all-encompassing love. ugh, I love to see romance done right!!

that aside, i don't know the budget but the vibes told me that it's probably a handsome amount—the production had that elegant, lavish kind of vibe. the VFX was done beautifully too. the acting was impressive, needless to say. though, some missed their marks, it didn't stain on the rest. the cinematography? well, they didn't show it that often, but when they did, it was beautiful that some scenes are practically engraved to your brain (example being that infamous kissing / departing scene, song mo on the horse with dou zhao on the ground?! GAH THAT WAS EPIC!!!!).

so yeah. a balanced amount of good plots and slow burn romance, with the gritty scenes of action and the fluffiest of slowburn romance—what more could convince you to watch this masterpiece?!

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They got the mystery fantasy romance right

I watched this on the day this drama was released because of Wang Haozhen but ended up praising Zhai Yiying on this drama because she makes the character alive despite many flaws from scriptwriter and i quite like their dynamic in here. I remember most of recent Wang Haozhen those days were mediocre and this is one of my exceptions. If the scriptwriter could polished this premises more.....

This kind of genre scam is common. But the final product was a false alarm. It's rare to find a drama that isn't just a fake CEO romance. The theme is unique, the setting is special, the plot is novel, and the story development is consistently captivating, making it hard to stop watching. There's redemption, touching moments, humor, and sweet interactions between ML and FL. The casting of leads are quite fitting. The story begins with ML being a descendant of Nuwa, who is unexpectedly bound by a blood pact with the FL and controlled, which is quite interesting. However, the subsequent plot developments are all predictable. The villainous is particularly stereotypical traditional one dimensional character. The misunderstanding is not tragic, ML and FL trust each other enough. Wang Haozhen's character switches between a domineering CEO and a clingy puppy at will, which is kind of cute.

Kissing scenes are just right—not forced, and the atmosphere is perfect. The only problem is that the premise might be a bit complex, and the foreshadowing wasn't handled perfectly at the end. For example, it was mentioned at the beginning that the FL would be in danger after breaking the seal 10 times, and the ML's abilities would improve after each intimate moment, which seemed like important foreshadowing, but the writers seemed to have forgotten about it later. FL's dual personality and memory loss also felt poorly resolved.. I feel the scriptwriter still needs to minimize the plot hole to make more refined mystery fantasy romance drama

I still recommend this because its rare to found decent mystery fantasy romance drama in duanju.

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Thank God to make Younger sister less annoying

There is too many version about , sisters mistakenly enter the wrong bridal chamber that i watched and i should said this one was completely making me devastated since i like 3 of the actors in here: Chen Zhengyang, Duan Meiyang, and Han Jiahui. Whoever cast Han Jiahui and Cheng Zi as siblings has eagle eye.

The strength of this version the younger sister aka Cheng Zi character was less annoying while other version always making younger sister looks like 5 years old spoiler brat and it was the best Younger Sister in all version that i watch. Han Jiahui may not have alpha woman aura but the chemistry between her and Duan Meiyang are quite enjoy to watch even their intimate scene was not too steamy but it feels warm. Finally, a family drama series understands the concept of "family matters are handled by family," and doesn't let outsiders meddle. For the styling, i have no problem with that.

This version has a smooth plot and solid logic. Finally, there's no villain with a father who goes crazy for no reason and whose intelligence seems to drop. The behavior of each character is logically sound, and the emotions develop gradually. As you watch, you naturally accept that the two couples love each other. MLs mother also got divorced, which cracked me up. The ML's father deserved it; he was always emphasizing rules and being domineering and unreasonable

But there are no real kissing scenes in this drama, I don't understand why Chen Zhengyang and Cheng zi used camera tricks since i know both of them can kiss. It was my biggest letdown in this version. If they add the kissing scene it would be perfect

Did I enjoy this? Yes. Will I recommended it? Plot wise, i still recommend this.

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The best dual transmigrating story, no argument needed

I watched many dual transmigrating story and for me this one tops everything. I've been traumatized by a bunch of low-quality ensemble dramas, and this one has been a real healing experience. The four people chemistry were most natural from every aspect and you could mix match the CP even the same gender one. Their harmony were too perfect and I need to appreciate Chen Tian Xian, Liu Nian, Zhang Chi and Zhi Chun He for this drama. The interactions between the two couples are equally sweet, Essentially, it includes all the elements viewers want to see. I can relate with Nian and Chun He on their first scene. So fujoshis coded. I am on Chun He's mind want to make the Male Leads kissing each other. Zhang Chi's costume remind me of Seungho from Painter on The Night.

Within its limited runtime, it almost achieved perfection. It has a main plot, a coherent storyline, a complete narrative structure, laughter and tears, plot twists and redemption, rich content, and a tight, smooth pace. The screenwriter has achieved what is most difficult for an ensemble drama –complete dish! Moreover, the supporting characters aren't just plot devices; the villains' scenes are also entertaining, and the emperor is a source of amusement. While the ending leaves a cliffhanger, the story is already very complete (I am waiting for season 2 too). The costumes, makeup, and props are excellent, the visual quality is good, the filters are natural. The only drawback might be the lack of original voice acting; dubbing really detracts from the overall quality and the system voice was quite to squeaky for my personal taste. Overall, it's quite enjoyable.

Recommended if you like dual couple story with light tone drama.

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Incredibly stupid.

I started this because it looked like a good "filler" for in between my real dramas. Sometimes these types of dramas end up being pleasantly surprising. Not this one.
It wasn't just underwhelming or cheesy. It was infuriatingly stupid. I can't stand it when people force themselves on others. If someone says they don't want to have anything to do with you, that means HIT THE ROAD. It does not mean that breaking and entering is now an acceptable pasttime.
The annoying level of this girl was off the charts! The whining, the ugly cheese grins, the complete disregard for others wants, privacy, space, possesions, HUMAN RIGHTS. Ahhh! I cannot fathom how this drama was funded, staffed, signed on to, distributed...anything. And as I was trying to determine how this could possibly have an overall score above 3, I discovered that there are additional problems just waiting around the corner. Thank goodness I didn't make it far enough to witness that.

The main actors (ML, ML brother, ML bestie, FL destined to be devastated friend) did a good job of making their characters interesting to watch. The actresses (except the FL) just filled the typical roles, but no one stood out. The Porsche was nice. The special effects makeup aspect of the show felt very simplified after having seen an episode of two of "Glow Up." I can't think of anything else to add.

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That's how it's done, son!

This series has ruined other shows for me! I get to the end of another program and I'm like, why wasn't that resolved as well as Khemjira? Why wasn't the music as good? Why wasnt the acting as good? Why wasnt it as visually appealing? Why wasnt the chemistry as fire as Khemjira? You know, maybe don't watch it because it will set the bar so high you cant enjoy other series!

First couple is obviously great, but the second couple had me living for every interaction. The actors seemed really comfortable, which made the chemistry between the onscreen characters 10 of 10. It was chemistry so good I can't wait to see them in a future project.

And the music! OMG! I almost never comment on the OST, but this time I gotta. Mantra? Just wow. The version with Keng singing lives in my soul now. The instrumental version may be even more transcendent. It sets the mood perfectly, and when I rewatched the series I was filled with anxious anticipation each time I knew it was coming. It may have outflanked Why Don't You Stay from KinnPorsche and the OST for Thundercloud Rainstorm (both of which I really love).

Bottom line, I need a shaman, an amulet, and friends like these in my life right now! I'll pass on the vengeful spirit, though.

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This is my happy place

I loved this so much! It was cute and funny. The actors took their job seriously but didnt take themselves seriously. The support roles were also well done. I want a tutor this cool and I also want to be friends with Toru-san and his delinquent crew. Even the grumpy teacher won me over! I watched every episode twice. True comedy. Can't wait for special episodes, which seem almost certain.

UPDATE: special episode #1 has arrived and I'm very excited to see where this is headed! I know folks are saying this isn't BL. Maybe that's true for the main series, but unclear that that will continue to be the same for the extra episodes. And I'd make the argument that it is, in fact, BL in the main. Read on if you're interested in my take, but know that there's a spoiler involved.

SPOILER ALERT--STOP HERE IF YOU CARE: Also, I would argue that it's BL in the main (albeit unfulfilled) because they already established mutual attraction that I think goes beyond bromance. Toru-san at the very least wants a kiss (and probably more, although that doesn't have to mean physically) and Kishi-kishi wants...well we don't know exactly what he wants but he's clearly smitten because he already confessed--つきがきれいですね？(Tsuki ga kirei desu ne? Translation: The moon is beautiful, isn't it?) That phrase is a poetic and indirect--and beautiful--way of saying I love you. Right now, Toru-san, Kishi-san, you, and I are all on the same page about that. Let's see where that leads.

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