Reviews

“A Wholesome Journey of Love, Family, and Dreams

In a time when many dramas chase flashy plots and dramatic twists, Love Story in the 1970s stands out as a quiet, heartfelt story that deserves far more praise and higher ratings than it currently receives.(Currently 8.5)
What makes this drama special is its beautiful writing and well-crafted characters. Every character feels real and meaningful, and most importantly, each of them receives a satisfying emotional closure. No one feels unnecessary or forgotten. Their journeys—small or big—are thoughtfully explored.
One of the most heart-warming aspects of the drama is its portrayal of relationships beyond romance. The story beautifully highlights family bonds, in-laws, and even the warmth of neighborhood communities. Instead of focusing only on the couple, the drama shows how people grow together—supporting one another through hardships, celebrating achievements, and slowly building their dreams.
The romance itself is gentle and mature. Rather than relying on exaggerated confessions, the drama teaches that love is expressed through actions, responsibilities, promises, and everyday care. Watching the characters grow closer through behavior and sacrifice feels natural and deeply touching.
I’ve heard that the original novel contains even more story beyond what the drama shows. Still, the adaptation does a remarkable job. One common issue with many C-dramas is that they struggle to maintain interest until the final episodes. However, Love Story in the 1970s is one of the rare exceptions for me. From episode 1 to episode 29, I enjoyed every moment of the journey.
The drama captures a pure slice-of-life atmosphere—wholesome, nostalgic, and emotionally comforting. It doesn’t rely on unnecessary drama; instead, it gently reminds us of the beauty of ordinary life, love, and human connection.
A warm, nostalgic, and wholesome drama that truly deserves more recognition. Highly recommended.

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a genuine wholesome powerful drama that is absolutely worth watching!!!

At first glance it may look like a simple story, but once it starts, it pulls you in so smoothly that you don’t even realize how attached you’ve become to the characters. The drama balances comedy, emotions, and powerful moments in such a cool way that every episode feels entertaining and meaningful at the same time.
The biggest strength of this show is its characters. Not only the main lead, but even the side characters feel real and memorable. Their personalities, struggles, and growth are shown so well that you start rooting for them naturally. The acting from the entire cast is absolutely amazing and the chemistry between the characters makes many scenes feel both funny and heartfelt.
Another thing that makes this drama stand out is its vibe. It’s not just intense or serious all the time. It has many fun, light, and wholesome moments that make you smile (hyped up too) while also giving you scenes that hit emotionally when you least expect it.
And beneath all that entertainment, the story carries a really strong message. It reminds you that life can change if you don’t give up, that courage and determination matter, and that even difficult situations can lead to growth.
Overall, this drama is cool, entertaining, emotional, and genuinely satisfying from start to finish. It’s the kind of show that makes you laugh, makes you care about the characters, and leaves you feeling inspired by the end.

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Honest n critical review- what u shud know before making it ur next watch!

Let's start with my opening statement - actors and visuals are GREAT.. storyline uhmm.. debatable. I'll tell you why.

The reason why I watched this drama was because Dashing Youth, The Blood of Youth and Blood River were fantastic dramas.
Into the details!
1. The actors: all the main actors did a fantastic job overall, and I especially loved the female villain. Even though the scope was limited as it is a short/mini drama, the actors did their best and it can be seen.
2. Storyline/plot: there isn't much to the story tbh, so if u r expecting a plot like the three dramas I mentioned earlier, get ready to be disappointed!
3. Scenes: many a time, the scenes seemed unrelated making it hard to follow the plot. Also, the opening of the next episodes could be completely different from where they left off in the previous episode.
4. Chemistry/brotherhood: written and portrayed very well! Hats off!

In short, if u r bored and hv nothing to watch at hand, u can try it out. I didn't find anything really attractive in this drama to put it in my rewatch list. For ppl like me who value storylines more, it was kinda disappointing.

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So fun, visually stunning, emotionally deep and living up to its potential!

I always make my decision on whether a drama is good or not based off of my willingness to watch all the scenes and story in which the main leads are not in. If I just skip through, then the drama hasn't been done well enough to keep me interested in the other characters and story plot points. But I'm loving every part of this drama! It has been so much fun.

I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing the editing and storytelling and saying it is done poorly. But there are different variations and methods to directing and I think we should be careful before saying 'it is done bad', when really it isn't done the way you normally like it. Bad editing has to do with clipping shots, incomplete motions, going from one angle to another and not having the depth and angles line up so that it jars on the eyes. I haven't seen these things. The issue I think they really have is the story boarding, and this is referring to how the story gets told.

This drama is storyboarded more like a shounen than a romance drama. I think many people thought that it was going to be more of a romance drama than a heroes adventures drama. I really enjoy the heroes adventure type dramas which focus on painting a bigger picture than just the story between the main leads. The story is going to be moving from many different characters perspectives and often, and certainly in this case doing back storytelling. It can feel like jumping from one scene into another. I get that some people don't feel this flows well. But I disagree. Especially after now having rewatched it twice. It's actually really well done.

But I will say I have noticed we don't get as many long scenes like in romance focused dramas do and I confess I would have liked many scenes to be a just little longer. But I think they did a fantastic job overall. I was super interested in the older generation's stories just as much as our main leads story. They wove all of these generations together into one big story that was truly exciting to watch.

So our main leads are viewers themselves of the stories of the older generation, and we are getting told piece by piece as their present story unfolds. I swear, never has a title 'generation to generation' been so on point with telling us exactly what this drama revolves around. If you don't force the story into a box, you will absolutely enjoy it. The way the story has been given has constantly left me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next without drawing things out too long. With long dramas it is normal to feel bored or just be trying to get through the episodes but I'm not feeling that way with this drama. I'm just wanting more!

For the directing, storyboarding and editing, truly it's rated at something like a 8-9. It isn't bad. But it's also not doing anything exceptional or new. But its solid work.

I think the main leads in this drama have so much chemistry that feels natural. This just makes watching them together a wonderful and fun experience. I love the characteristics of the main leads. They also feel refreshing and new. So many dramas really give the main leads the same temperaments and it can feel boring or trivial.

The sets are actually really nice. They feel new and expansive. The colour and toning is gorgeous, giving this drama a dark moody vibe yet also a with a bright magical vibe. The world feels fantastical and vibrant. So many gorgeous epic shots of this magical landscape. The CGI is done well. Even though a lot if it I can tell is CGI, I think what they created is very beautiful to look at (ah if only it were truly real). The costumes have a new feeling as well with the styling. And the fabrics and colours are wonderful. They play a wonderful part in setting the vibe and creating that 'this is new world' I've never seen feeling.

And excuse me! But Zhou Yiran were have you been all my life!!!!!! So happy for him that he is starting to get more lead roles and I believe and hope that this drama will and is setting his career on an upward trajectory. He is super talented! And literally looks like an anime character come to life! I went and did research, that is his voice! It isn't a voice actor, which a lot of dramas use. Oh! I'm a big fan of his now and just loving seeing him do his thing. Great acting, truly.

Bao sheng En is lovely as well. I really enjoyed her acting and bringing a new quality to the main female lead. She is not that overdone clumsy or bubbly girl, nor is she the overdone go getter, strong, I can do it on my own girl. She is very beautiful and is truly giving us a great character to fall in love with. She feels insightful and careful while being laid back. She is strong, and it naturally comes through but hasn't made that the main focus of her character.

Also, the main leads are, one from the demon sect and one from the righteous sect. The story also has a unfolding of uncovering the righteous sects' secrets and in turn seeing the demon sect in a different light. There is a theme through making the characters and viewers look at what is good and what is evil - it isn't about what sect you are in but the individuals intentions and actions. Can our MLs face dispelling prejudice from both sides and find a harmonious solution?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this drama. It is my favorite so far this year. Episode 22 is the best!!!! I loved this drama. The ending was perfect. What a phenomenal job the actors and crew did! Thank you so much!

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I know a girl who's soft and sweet / She's so fine, she can't be beat / Got everything that I desire

The web series Candy is a small and curious television production, which fits into the GL (girls love) rom-com genre. With its eight episodes of about half an hour each, it is easy to follow and manages to intrigue the viewer, even if it does not always fully explore its characters.

The story focuses on the reunion between Lin Can, now an established actress, and Nuan Nuan, her school friend from years ago. The two girls had been very close in the past, but a scandal linked to their relationship and hostility from their families had led to a painful separation. When they meet again as young adults, their feelings for each other seem to have not faded at all: Lin Can appears determined and direct, while Nuan Nuan remains shyer and more cautious. Under the pretext of hiring her as a personal assistant, the two begin to live together, slowly reopening a relationship that had been left unresolved.

Alongside the main couple, another romantic dynamic develops between manager Si Han and famous actress Jiang Wan. This quartet of characters gives rise to a narrative made up of skirmishes, subtle jealousies and romantic moments, in which the drama alternates between light-hearted comedy and more melodramatic passages.

One of the most interesting elements is the frequent use of flashbacks, which gradually reveal the characters' pasts and the reasons for their break-up. These flashbacks also paint a rather critical picture of the adult world: autocratic fathers, possessive or violent men, and unscrupulous figures of authority represent the main obstacles to the women's freedom. In this sense, the series introduces, without fully developing it, an almost “social” dimension linked to the difficulties the young women have had to face in their lives.

Not everything, however, always appears perfectly harmonised. Some narrative developments – such as episodes of sudden violence or situations bordering on thriller – introduce stronger tones than the prevailing romantic lightness. Even the psychological construction of the characters sometimes remains barely hinted at: many emotions are suggested rather than fully explored, probably also due to the relatively short length of the series.

The urban setting, on the other hand, is interesting: modern, clean and almost futuristic cities, often shown with surprisingly empty streets. This visual choice creates a particular, almost suspended atmosphere, which contributes to giving the show a fairly recognisable visual identity.

The overall tone remains delicate, however. The scenes between the main characters are constructed with restraint and discreet sensuality, without ever slipping into vulgarity. The title itself, “Candy”, refers to a small recurring gesture between Lin Can and Nuan Nuan: the exchange of sweets to soften difficult moments, a simple but effective metaphor for their bond.

Of course, we are not dealing with works as structured as queer cinema classics such as “Desert Hearts” or “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love”. However, Candy remains a curious and enjoyable little series, capable of functioning exactly like the gesture of giving sweets: simple, discreet, but able to sweeten the viewer's experience. The ending is beautiful and compensatory.

7/10

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AI proganda in the year of our Lord, 2026

I was taught to keep to myself if I have nothing good to say. But perhaps if the good and the bad are mixed together, we can come up with an honest review.

Positives 👍
It’s really visually nice to look at. Everything is clean, bright, and colorful. You will never have to turn your brightness all the way up like in those HBO shows, but I digress. The actor lineup is impressive. I believe the casting director might have asked how many love interests the female lead needed, and the production team just replied with a yes. (I know that’s the whole point of the drama—the multiple love interests.) The music, production, and acting were all okay.

Negatives 👎
The downfall was probably the plot. I wasn’t sure if it was plot-driven or character-driven. Either way, I did not care about the plot or the characters, which is a shame because it’s a visually stunning drama. The drama had so many romantic encounters, but somehow none of them felt earned. Therefore, it was hard to connect with or root for anyone.

Personal opinion (you can skip this part)
I hate to do this. I could just leave my score and scram, but here we are. The main thing that I struggled to sit with was the propaganda of virtual reality and AI. We know AI dating is becoming a thing, and it’s preying on human loneliness to feed the AI companies with annual subscriptions. Somehow this drama is promoting all that. I think the vision of the crew behind this drama was: we can either join the movement of AI or fight it and we all know which road they took.
Another thing I was wondering is how destructive the Boyfriend on Demand reality was to her actual life. She was constantly having to escape reality to be in this fake world that she had to pay for. This could have worked as a thriller or horror although i believe black mirror already showed us this.
I will stop now. ✋️

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Rom-com lovers, rejoice—romance comedy is officially back!

Jisoo absolutely shines in Boyfriend On Demand on Netflix. The story is light, cute, and full of charming moments that make it impossible not to smile while watching. It’s the kind of series that reminds you why rom-coms are so comforting and fun in the first place.

What really makes the show work is Jisoo herself. She is gorgeous and brings such a natural warmth and charisma to the role, and her chemistry with her co-stars really feels effortless. Whether the scene is sweet, awkward, or lol funny, she makes it feel genuine and engaging.

It’s the perfect easy watch—adorable, entertaining, and full of heart. Plus the numerous eye candy is also worth mentioning. The casts are all pretty.

If you’re looking for something that will brighten your mood, Boyfriend On Demand is definitely worth adding to your Kdrama and Netflix list.

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It was OK

Feb 2026
Not memorable at all.
I liked the cast, and that's what carried this drama... just.
The story started ok, but was too drawn out.
The way characters were written made something of a mockery of specific women in the work place, for me. The FL character wasn't stupid, but her fixation was ridiculous, and held her back.
I also find it totally unacceptable, in this day and age, when K-dramas continue to include workplace violence (in this instance from the mature company head to a low ranking female employee), with no consequences at all. It makes S.K. look so archaic. Bullying is not funny, or something to be portrayed like it's normal behaviour.
I watched to the end, but wouldn't watch it again. I'm already struggling to remember the ending already!

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A Little Too Much Chemistry and A Little Too Much of Me Being Obsessed with RomeRaffy

Season One had a different kind of chaos... the unapologetically messy kind. Everyone was engaging, clashing, spiraling.. it was messy in the best possible way. This season feels more restrained, like everything is simmering just beneath the surface instead of boiling over. I won't say I didn't enjoy watching it because I absolutely was enjoying it but there was a part of me that kind of missed that full blown, unapologetic mess.

That said.... I was/ am still completely hooked.

Only Friends: Dream On is not trying to give you perfect love stories or clean resolutions. Instead, it hands you complicated people, blurred boundaries, and emotions that spiral just a little too fast... and somehow makes it impossible to look away. What makes it work so well is that every couple brings something completely different to the table. No storyline feels weaker than the other; instead, each dynamic pulls you in for entirely different reasons, making it dangerously easy to get invested in all of them. My personal favorite being RomeRaffy.

Major Spoilers Ahead!!!

Starting with Rome, my absolute favorite character, and his nose ring, if you ask me, the ultimate show stealer. The moment Rome appears on screen, he completely conquers it. I am absolutely not his strongest soldier. I have surrendered without a fight. I genuinely don't even have the words to describe him. In my eyes, he's just perfect. And when he gets hurt? I cannot sit still. Something in me just snaps. It makes me want to jump into the screen and personally deal with whoever caused it. And Raffy... oh, Raffy. Watching him feels like equal parts affection and frustration. One moment I want to defend him with my whole heart, and the next I'm yelling at my screen because sir, please open your eyes and stop hurting Rome. Also, every time Jack gave Raffy even the slightest bit of hope, I was sitting there in full frustration. Because no. Absolutely not. I am far too emotionally invested in RomeRaffy to calmly handle that kind of mess. And the worst part? Raffy himself was no saint in this situation... he was out there being a full menace. And yet, when it comes to him and Rome, I suddenly lose all objectivity and I become completely color blind. RomeRaffy are my personal Roman Empire and I am hopelessly soft for them. And those punches were so satisfying, I have watched and rewatched it so many times and I know it's not the last time I am watching that scene.

RomeRaffy's journey from "I am not your backup plan" to "I am your backup plan" had me in shambles. I absolutely love them very much.

Moving on, we have Tua. I am so soft for him. Honestly, I just want to wrap him in a blanket, cocoon him away from the world, and protect him at all costs. He deserves gentleness, reassurance, and at least five business days of uninterrupted happiness. This boy is so painfully, hopelessly down bad for Arnold... and somehow I am equally down bad for him. And Arnold ...I will simply say clueless for almost more than half the series. Respectfully, but also not respectfully- all he needed was to be clear and sincere with Tua but all he gave were mixed signals, hesitation, emotional confusion and unintentionally hurt Tua a little more than a few times. I spent every earlier episode wanting to shake Arnold by the shoulders like "Be clear for god sake." But then they'd look at each other for a second too longer and suddenly I am gone. Like damn, their chemistry. Every scene together had me seated, and emotionally invested. And as they got more and more softer and sweeter with each other, I just melted completely. Also, can we talk about Tua's anger? Because when it finally unfolded, he DEVOURED. The intensity, the outburst, the emotion behind it- terrifying in the hottest way possible. That is one person I would never willingly anger. I would apologize immediately even if the weather was bad.

Dean brings in a completely different flavor of chaos. He's bold, intrusive, unapologetically present- the kind of character who stirs things up just by existing in the same space. And yet underneath all that, there are glimpses of something more beneath that surface, moments where the sharp edges soften just enough to make you curious about what's underneath all that bravado. And then there's Jack- standing right in the middle of all that unresolved tension like a man trying to survive an emotional hurricane with a paper umbrella. He is caught in the middle of complicated histories and unresolved emotions, which makes his dynamic with Dean especially layered. Their connection feels like unfinished business, constantly balancing between past and present, between what was and what still lingers. One second they feel like two people trying to move on, and the next they're looking at each other like the universe personally trapped them. And honestly, the tension alone could probably power an entire city.

Also, just when the story starts to feel like it might find its footing, it reminds you exactly what kind of show it is. Stability is never guaranteed here. Emotions shift, dynamics change, and there's always someone or something ready to disrupt whatever balance has been built. Even the soundtrack understands the assignment. Every track feels carefully placed, heightening the emotion of a scene without overpowering it. It doesn't just accompany the story... it amplifies it. And I loved all the cameos from season one. They had me screaming. And I absolutely cannot not mention Nick's cameo because damn I was visibly shaking.

At its core, Only Friends: Dream On is about people who don't always make the right choices, emotions that don't follow neat timelines, and relationships that exist in all their complicated, messy forms. It's chaotic, a little frustrating, sometimes overwhelming but undeniably engaging.

And maybe that's the point. Because no matter how messy it gets... you're still watching. Highly recommended!!!

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There is many hole in ML character.

I watched this year ago and this is pleasant surprise from Du Yafei., i liked how he potrayed the ML. This is my first ever Wu Jialu drama's and her acting is quite comfortable to see.

FL disguises herself as an ugly woman to go on a blind date for her best friend, only to find that her blind date is actually her college classmate whom she has secretly loved for ten years. FL is filled with regret, thinking the blind date has failed, but unexpectedly, ML wants to take things further. What was thought to be a one-sided unrequited love turns out to be a cautious mutual affection and unrequited love. Facing various external interferences, such as misunderstandings and third-party intervention, their relationship goes through many twists and turns . Ultimately, they overcome the difficulties, bravely confess their feelings, and get together.

The biggest problem is that the ML is a scumbag. He's surrounded by women, has no boundaries whatsoever, and claims to treat them all like sisters. He even gets together with one of them for three months because she's his best friend's sister. How can he have the nerve to claim he love FL for 10 years. He cannot talk to FL to clear the misunderstanding.

Kissing scenes are good, lack of good certain atmosphere beforehand? I prefer to see kisses that develop naturally, rather than those spontaneous, impulsive kisses. These kinds of kisses feel cheap and it only used for marketing. This drama contains simple secret love which is common formula in short drama. What this drama better, were the leads delicate acting and chemistry.

Recommended to watch despite the flaw logic about ML

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Cozy but serious period drama

For me this drama exceeded all of my expectations. I personally am not big on crime genres, but this show balances the stories it is telling against that framework well, so that I never felt like it was just "procedural".

I found the characters all very interesting and likable. This gave me a "the crew" vibe, where the team is also kind of like a family, each bringing a different flavor to the ensemble.

The cases themselves were pretty interesting and tackle some pretty complex issues. Also it has been a while since a show has actually surprised me with a reveal, and a couple times I was pleasantly surprised that I had been taking certain things for granted in a given plotline. I guess this quality feels to me like someone really thought through each individual plotline and plot point so that they *really* make sense. And to do so for complex intrigue plots is extra nice, tbh these days many dramas just take for granted that tropes are all they need for a plotline, but if the audience gives it more than half a thought then the whole premise of a given plot point doesn't hold up to scrutiny. This show did not have that problem.

The leads are interesting and we get to spend a bit of time with them "living their lives" which was really nice to kind of flesh them out more beyond just showing them solving cases. I definitely would have liked to see more of this, but I thought what there was, was pretty good in this regard. The last "sismance" crime show I watched, did not do this as well as Duet of Shadows did.

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came for the romance, but stayed for the friendship

This drama had made me cry nonstop. I was already crying by the 2nd episode until it ended. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

I would admit, the love story part of this series isn’t strong. There wasn’t a strong memory or experience for the female lead to suffer all that for the male lead. But what made it so beautiful isn’t the romance. It’s the friendship.

The friendship the female lead had with her childhood friends. Their loyalty and love to her. It was proof that what they have surpasses any kind of romantic love. It was a kind of soul bond that was so beautiful I can’t help but wish everyone experience that kind of friendship.

Trust me, the series is toxic- with male leads parents and the teachers more focused on math trophies and recognition than a childs welfare. It was toxic in a way that the male lead is so prone to ghosting and to just being so bad at communication that the female lead suffered 90% of the time. It was also so bad that the male lead got away with everything because the female lead was so in love with him. I actually am angered by the fact that she had to do everything for them to workout.

The truly saving grace of this show was the friendship.

I can proudly say, I came for the romance, but stayed for the friendship.

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Endless torturous drama

Okay this is my first drama that i watched when i know short drama. I quite didn't like Yuyin acting in here but the most despised one was the ML . Bai Fang Wen is good at playing scumbag ML He obsessed over FL and got affair with SFL so FL wants to leaves him but he torture her physically. I quite like Chai Huixin and Liang Siwei performance in here so i tried to torture my self by watching this and this drama has no sweet moment.

I dropped this drama after i see no character redemption nor development between the lead; ML was quite most toxic person while FL was the stupid damsel in distress character cannot do anything at all.

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I enjoy this drama

I watched this last year and finally Chen Gang gets a proper good drama with good chemistry. I was repeated this drama since it was quite simple more than the synopsis.

The whole cast has excellent acting skills, good looks and intelligence. The romance between Qin Tianai and Chen Gang is sweet and they have an interesting sparks. Before the amnesia, FL pursued ML. After the amnesia, ML pursued the FL. The revenge plot is intricate and step by step. The villain is intelligent and non-traditional one so it was quite good. The dual-strength setup is amazing, and the final gunfight scene is the coolest I've ever seen in a short drama.

ML's younger brother was the unfortunate people. He was caught up in the feud between the ML and their father. ML probably only saw the younger brother as the child of the couple who forced his mother to commit suicide. ML's younger brother just wanted to be with the ML, but was always getting pushed away by ML and every action that he did was quite understandable.

The plot is fast-paced, with not a single unnecessary episode. FL is incredibly intelligent; unlike some dramas where things seem obvious, she investigates immediately upon noticing something suspicious and quickly uncovers the truth. There are some heart-wrenching moments, but because they are presented in reverse chronological order, they are completely acceptable. The kissing scenes are natural and well-filmed.

Recommended to watch some action drama.

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