This review may contain spoilers
The relationship between Son Young Jun & Cho Myeong Gyun
I think this season was the hardest to watch. But it was honestly a great season. It was a really emotional season.my heart just really hurt for Younjun and Myeongkyun. They had been in the flirting stage in the past and it sounded like they both thought the other wasn't that interested in them and agreed to not pursue dating. And it's obvious they both actually liked each other and felt hurt. It's obvious upon watching them in this show that things were never fully resolved and they still have some feelings for each other. At first I thought it's because their personalities handle situations so opposite that they misunderstand each other and maybe it would never work because of this.
This show was a bad environment for them to work it out, even though it made for good tv. Obviously, a dating show that takes place with a 7 day time period is not the place to try to resolve it.
During the show, they did end up sitting down and really talking. They were able to communicate their misunderstandings and feelings. It was vulnerable and beautiful. Yeah...I just feel real hurt for them because the lack of communication between them during their past just hurt their relationship and the lack of communication from the moment they were on the show together sent their relationship to the bin. And it just feels like such a regret...because there is this big what if...
I watched a video on Hisman official youtube that was posted a year after this season aired and actually YJ and MG were getting along. But who knows. They are not following each other on instagram. Sometimes too much happens and it just never works out. But, I think they did like each other and both did feel hurt. Hope they are both doing well and are happy in life.
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Such a sweet romantic tale
Started watching it randomly and was blown away and got hooked BADLY, finished it in 3 days and just wish I could experience it all again for the first time.The acting by the main leads is amazing, this was my first ever time watching Dylan Wang and I am amazed by how good he is. I think I am gonna watch more dramas of the two main leads.
The story is amazing, I honestly wish there was more. The tracks are all so nice to hear as well.
I never skipped the ost track because of how beautiful it was.
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This review may contain spoilers
A story about loneliness and the struggles of everyday life...
Many viewers won't like this series much, because first it's not a BL, secondly there is no real drama but many heartwarming/heartbreaking moments in this story. It's a slice of life where two people drawn together, fight their past baggage and come together in the end.It depicts the struggles especially in Japan where social pressure and expecations are a real burden. The last episode Azuma describes that best: "I feel like I've just been running in circles. I kept telling myself I'd take a real break when things settle down. But "settling down"... if you don't force yourself to take the time, it feels like it'll never happen."
We see the disconnect of families like Kuji and his brother, who takes the house Kuji is living in, not just because he inherited but despite his hate for his father. He does not really need that house but he kicks Kuji out of it regardless. Azumas mom is struggeling with loneliness because many eldery people left alone because their spouses already left and their children are struggeling themselves not investing the time to be there for them.
This is slow pacing, some may say boring, but life itself is not an action movie. It's running in circles and to break out of that circle is the real challenge both of them faces. And in the end, they manage to do it.
These are veteran actors not needing a queer role to stay relevant. Of course Takeda Kouhei is best known to us for his role in "Oldfashion Cupcake" while for Shibuya Kento it's his first stop at such an series as a main role (he was a guest in Ossans Love). Both did an amazing job and overall the cast was strong. Production quality and cinematography was on point with slow movements and great pictures to punctuate the actors characters and performance.
If you are tired of the 100th school BL this is something completely different, a mature look of two people struggeling and a sensitive composition of how two people can find to each other without the usual drama and silly scripts. I can't do no other as highly recommand you to watch this. But this is not for escapists, this is for people who want to improve their understanding.
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This review may contain spoilers
Incest or not
Honestly the whole time I was watch the show the only thing I could focus on was yooha and his “brothers” relationship. First it never gave brother it was giving more couple vibes than anything. Unpopular opinion but they lwk had more chemistry than the people they were actually paired with. The “fights” they had gave old couple arguments. They made the brother the bad guy at the end which kinda made no sense since we seen him as this kinda caring and overbearing character. I feel like the main couple was good but it wasn’t giving chemistry if that makes sense. I never want to watch again.Was this review helpful to you?
A Dog And A Plane is chaotic, silly , unhinged ,heartfelt and TayNew make it all work. Newwiee makes Kanit’s emotions so real, the hesitation before he speaks, the disappointment he tries to hide,the way his face falls,the joy on his face when he thinks of Lion or even the annoyance yet intrigue he shows towards Toto, his face say everything before a dialogue does. Tay Tawan as Toto doesn’t feel like a performance at all.He is so natural that everything he does feels like he exists. A character that could have been so over-the-top instead feels very alive , grounded and surprisingly warm.
I am pleasantly surprised. 18months was worth the wait because, if this is how things are starting, I can’t even imagine what’s coming next. I absolutely cannot wait.
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had the potential to be so much more!
this has to be one of the most beautiful locations and cinematographies I've ever seen in any drama!unfortunately, the plot felt pretty disappointing. it felt very rushed and disconnected. we know very little about the character, so it's hard to feel connected to them. i really wish they made it clear how much time has passed so that we could actually understand how they fell in love. it felt like they met each other one day, and the next day they were somehow head over heels in love. the "conflict" felt pretty nonsense to me.
the actors did a pretty good job, despite the limited scope. both of them are very good looking. especially Wang Chen Rui, he is so damn handsome😩 and such a good actor too! i would love to see him in full length BLs!
the only reason why I'm not giving this a lower rating is, considering the duration of this entire show is less than an hour, overall it was still enjoyable for me because of the cinematography and the actors!
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This review may contain spoilers
Hmmm
The scriptwriter needs to be a little bit more creative in the conversations because some actors are really not good from shifting to calm and suddenly blow up. Yes they have tears in their eyes but the Jody and the face does not show the emotions of their words.Tgw story line is good. Male. Lead is pretty good. Female. Lead... Im not so sure.
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Great Ideas, Untapped Potential
I thought this drama was okay, but it never became much more than that for me. On paper, it has everything I usually enjoy. I liked how it explored loneliness, low self-esteem, and that feeling of existential emptiness through characters who are just trying to get through life while carrying the weight of their past choices and struggles. The drama handles these themes with empathy and ultimately delivers a comforting message about healing, self-acceptance, and finding the strength to move forward.The two leads were easily the strongest part of the show. Dong-man is deeply flawed and often his own worst enemy, which makes him feel incredibly human and relatable. Eun-ah carries a quiet sadness tied to her past and her mother's abandonment. What I appreciated most about their relationship was how grounded it felt. It wasn't some idealized romance; it was built on mutual understanding and support. They accept each other's flaws, stay true to themselves, and refuse to let other people's expectations define who they are.
One of the most interesting aspects of Dong-man's character was his struggle to fit in, even among people he's supposed to call friends. As those around him become more successful, they gradually turn him into the group's scapegoat, constantly pointing out his failures while ignoring their own flaws. He's loud, impulsive, and frustrating at times, but the more I watched, the more those traits felt like defense mechanisms against the judgment he's constantly dealing with. Despite all his flaws, he remains authentic and unapologetically himself, and I often felt that's exactly what the people around him resented.
The cinematography and soundtrack were also great and added a lot to the overall atmosphere of the drama.
That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. While the drama touches on several interesting and sensitive topics, it rarely goes beyond the surface. A lot of the ideas it introduces are compelling, but it never fully commits to them or explores them as deeply as it could have. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I was hoping for a more nuanced approach to some of these themes, but it never quite got there. In the end, it felt like a salad without any seasoning: all the ingredients are there, but it's missing that extra layer that would bring everything together.
The writing also feels uneven at times. Some subplots are introduced only to be sidelined later, several narrative threads feel underdeveloped, and the pacing can be a bit choppy. The dialogue is often fairly simple and occasionally falls into cliché territory.
The acting is also inconsistent. While some performances are solid, others feel exaggerated and unconvincing. There were quite a few moments where I became too aware that I was watching actors rather than real characters, which broke the immersion for me.
Despite its flaws, I still think it's a well-intentioned drama with likable characters and meaningful themes. I appreciated what it was trying to say, but I couldn't help feeling like it only scratched the surface of the story it really wanted to tell...
☆My summary rating:
● Script — 6.8/10 :
- Narrative Structure: 7/10
- Development: 7.5/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Subplot Management: 6/10
- Predictability: 6/10
- Dialogue: 6/10
- Originality: 7.5/10
● Acting — 7.4/10 :
- Individual Performances: 8/10
- Emotional Delivery: 6.5/10
- Chemistry: 8/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Supporting Cast: 7/10
● Execution — 7.9/10 :
- Directing: 7.5/10
- Cinematography: 8/10
- Editing: 6.5/10
- Production Design: 8.5/10
- OST: 10/10
● Pacing: 7/10
● Enjoyment: 6/10
Final Score: 7.2/10 ⭐⭐⭐½
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In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube: "Betrayed, she married a powerful man on impulse—only to find he was a prince who adored her!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0jfyGQDoWM) or:
"[MULTI SUB]【完整版】《青篤未寄誤紅妝》姜時願的烏龍婚途：把裴徹當沈律初侄子，卻在政治聯姻裡，讀出他藏了多年的愛#film #精彩影视 #最火短剧推荐 #短剧全集 #movie"
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x78e9hcFG6k)
"青笺未寄误红妆 | 常喆宽&石雪婧，姜时愿遭沈律初背叛后，误将联姻对象裴彻认成其侄子，闹出乌龙，她起初视婚姻为政治交易，后逐渐知晓裴彻多年深情" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66nlPrd_3ZA)
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Average time travel cringe romcom with historically inaccurate FL
This drama disappointed me even though I was very much looking forward to it. I have cringed multiple times while seeing the FL act the way she does.The ML is acting okay but he doesn't have a meaty character for a good first half of the show. His character is palatable but there are times when the director and writers have demanded him to act like a full blown anime which is hard to watch.
The FL DOESN'T ACT LIKE HISTORICAL CONCUBINES at all . "Park's marriage contract" is a decent example of how even an average joseon citizen adapts to the modern world. More finesse is expected from a concubine WHO HAS SURVIVED PALACE POLITICS. She doesn't have the tact and cunning charm of the old school concubines who know how to MANIPULATE people. Instead, she acts like a spoiled bratty princess/prince who has grown up with a silver spoon and cannot bend the knee even for her own good.
Of course, these things are done to give the drama a colorful and funny flavor but I feel that it gets somewhat irritating after a while. I think the problem is with the writing and direction because i believe that the actress had quite the range to give justice to any character.
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This review may contain spoilers
An entertaining watch
I love this series, it has the right amount of humour, action and drama, not heavy on romance which is perfect for me. I like the action sequences and love the strong female character. However I do feel the pairings are a little odd, mainly due to the age gap, I'm not even talking about the age of the actors, but the age of the characters. To me Cho Yeo Hwa is very mature and feel older than Park Su Ho, and Park Yoon Hak are much older than Yeon Seon (not sure if the mention of the pairings is considered spoilers btw), and I wasn't sure whether this is actually part of the story as it was never discussed in the drama. I thought it would've been really cool if the age gap is part of the drama tbh. Overall this is a great watch though.Was this review helpful to you?
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Insane Face Card Royal Romance That’s Not Quite Hitting Its Mark
Perfect Crown was undoubtedly a highly anticipated drama backed by an incredibly talented cast, yet despite doing so many individual elements well, it ultimately feels like it missed that special something for me despite me mostly enjoying it as I watched.That being said, don’t assume immediately that it’s bad. By all means, it’s not. If anything watch it for Byeon Woo-seok serving us his insane face card. All his previous modeling experience is very much needed here because he does a lot of fashion style walking along various palace corridors and grounds.
Let’s get to it now.
Set in an alternate-universe constitutional monarchy, the story follows a illegitimate prominent chaebol heiress and a prince who enter into a high-stakes contract marriage. For romance lovers this is a very clever and interesting premise supported by a decent script. On the surface, this has a lot of potential to be very good since royal romance in contemporary setting is not something we get a lot. And it does start out really well.
But is we continue watching you keep on waiting for something to happen and it’s not quite getting anywhere. While the top-notch cinematography and production design create a beautiful aesthetic, the romance itself leaves some room for improvement.
Seong Hui-ju and Grand Prince I-an certainly showcase their professional dedication, but writers really did 5hem dirty because they are rarely placed in the kind of uniquely engaging, chaotic situations that define classic K-dramas. It’s there, but it’s just not enough. Because it was distributed through Disney, the final product feels overly scrubbed and specifically prepared for a Western audience, completely missing out on much-needed comedic relief and other over the top situations couples usually get into in these romantic dramas.
Furthermore, our couple occasionally looked a bit too "plastic" in terms of visuals. While both are very capable actors, there were crucial scenes—with the exception of the final episode—where their facial expressions felt restrained when the emotional stakes demanded much more. Byeon Woo-seok, who was absolutely spectacular in Lovely Runner, felt unusually stiff in a lot of scenes, first leaving it unclear whether this was a strict directorial choice for a rigid prince or a limitation of the performance itself. Or the actual performance itself. But after watching the final episode, I think this was the direction the producers were going for to actually showcase the restrictions that were posed on our prince by the weight of the titlel. I think because he didn’t break through his limitations even once through the first 11 episodes to actually let us know that he was in fact human, it made me think that the acting was somewhat lacking, which I know is usually not the case because I’ve seen Byeon Woo-seok in few other dramas and he does well outside of being just a great fit for a romantic role.
The pacing also suffers heavily in the latter half. The drama starts strong and builds great momentum, but the narrative drags considerably after the divorce decision, lacking any truly exciting moments to carry the final episodes. Everything that’s happening makes total sense, but for some reason, it still feels draggy. I don’t know if it’s the way some of the scenes are shot where they add extra few seconds here and there without the music or the actual lack of exciting events both leads are involved. All of a sudden, other characters are starting to get extra screen time while we actually want for our lead couple to do things together. The second half of the last episode redeems the pacing a little bit, but it’s just not enough.
As far as romance goes, it is good. Not fire hot but still very satisfying. IU and Byeon Woo-seok have great on screen chemistry. The intimate moments feel very natural, but I just wish they would actually had more interesting on screen interactions. There are too many wasted opportunities for them to make the romance even better and more exciting. In some scenes, the relationship feels platonic, even after they confess their feelings.
On a side note, I find it extremely funny that 10 years ago both IU and Byeon Woo-seok were in Scarlet Heart whereas she played a lead role (she was pretty famous already back then) and he had a tiny role of her ex-boyfriend and literally less than a minute of screen time in the entire show. UI’s character ended up with some other prince then. In Perfect Crown, she is the one who is trying to marry a prince Byeon Woo-seok plays. Made me laugh a little. But he deserves all the acknowledgment he’s getting right now because he has been in the industry for a long time and he’s been working very hard.
The real highlights of the show belong to the phenomenal supporting cast. Gong Seung-yeon delivers a standout, stellar performance as the Queen Dowager, masterfully portraying a morally gray woman forced into a dark corner by her circumstances. She has a compelling character arc. And you hate her at the beginning of the show, but you start to understand her a lot better in the last three episodes. Equally impressive is Noh Sang-hyun as Prime Minister Min Jeong-woo; his transition from a dependable good guy into a calculated antagonist over the course of the show was brilliant, offering a transformation you absolutely would not have guessed from the start.
Lastly, Perfect Crown requires a massive suspension of belief to enjoy—such as overlooking the absurdity of a palace fire where not a single firefighter attempts to save an actual prince. Or husband and wife calling each other “your highness” even in private when no one is watching them. They could just use their real names. Otherwise it just removes the feel of intimacy between them. Or the fact that a nine-year-old child king has to actually perform official duties, despite having a regent.
If you can ignore basic common sense and turn off your brain, this serves as a decent "guilty pleasure" gateway drama for casual romance fans or devoted followers of the main actors. It’s certainly worth checking out and easily clears the bar compared to some far worse, unwatchable streaming originals, but seasoned K-drama veterans looking for over-the-top, classic storytelling may find it somewhat lacking.
If you like the idea of monarchy in a contemporary setting and wanted to watch a better K drama with this setting, I highly recommend to check out The King: Eternal Monarch with Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun. It’s a by far better watch with fantasy elements that gets hate for no reason. This was one of my first K-dramas with fantasy elements and I still think it’s a much better story.
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Eerie, Horror, with Di Renjie Guesses his Password
If there is a museum dedicated to atmospheric Chinese mysteries, The Tang Mist belongs in the exhibit titled "The Illusion of Deduction." It serves as a fascinating case study in how far striking cinematography and gothic horror aesthetics can carry a narrative before the audience realizes the legendary detective is essentially just guessing.And to be fair, the illusion holds. At first.
On the surface, the show delivers a potent dose of eerie, horror-adjacent dread. The opening sequence—featuring 42 young women dying with unsettling smiles—is a masterclass in Chinese-style gothic horror, backed by striking cinematography and a genuinely superb opening animation. The pacing is brisk, resolving each mystery in about two episodes, with roughly ten minutes of actual new plot content per installment. Feng Shaofeng’s portrayal of a middle-aged Di Renjie is dignified, his voice anchoring the character. And, to my relief, no forced romantic subplots are derailing the crime-solving.
There is a distinct line between being charmed by a spooky facade and being actively drained by a hollow core. The Tang Mist manages the rare and impressive feat of being both visually arresting and intellectually vacant.
The issue is that the writing eventually stops functioning on even basic detective logic.
Di Renjie is supposed to be the Chinese Sherlock Holmes. Yet, instead of rigorous, methodical deduction, he solves cases through sudden, convenient "flashes of inspiration" or dramatic exclamations of "I know!" The script bends over backward to validate his genius without actually making him earn it.
Almost the entire cast is one-dimensional, offering no depth nor emotional resonance. I get it. Given the short 10-minute core episodes, there's no time to develop the characters. Wu Zetian, despite her minimal screen time, is reduced to a caricature, literally, saddled with ugly makeup and styling that serve no narrative purpose other than to distract.
And then there is the historical world-building.
The show throws around supernatural dread, bloody deaths, and eerie Jiangnan folklore with absolute confidence, while possessing zero percent of the historical discipline required to ground it. It is bizarre to watch women casually strolling alone outdoors in bright red clothing in the middle of the night, and they were eventually murdered. This isn't just a minor oversight; it directly contradicts the strict, well-documented curfew systems of the Tang Dynasty.
At times, it feels like the writers vaguely remembered "ancient China" but forgot the actual rules of the era.
Condensing mysteries into ten-minute chunks of actual plot per episode makes the show feel less like a cohesive narrative and more like a beautifully edited highlight reel. The gothic aesthetic is fantastic, but it becomes a veneer. Great historical storytelling feels tactile and grounded. It has grit, uneven shadows, and lived-in textures. Instead, the atmosphere here feels like a haunted house ride: thrilling for a minute, but entirely artificial once you step off.
Eventually, the facade cracked for me.
I realized I was no longer watching a brilliant detective unravel a complex conspiracy. I was watching well-lit actors wander through a gothic-themed escape room where the detective just guesses the password, and the script aggressively applauds him for it.
The production team bets that if the gothic aesthetics are eerie enough and the opening animation is gorgeous enough, audiences will happily forgive almost anything—they are so wrong.
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I loved seeing grown men in their late 30s early 40s dealing with loss, falling in love, the burn out of society, job and expectations, taking care of elderly parents and figuring out who they are again. It felt realistic. and I know we already have enough realism in our daily life but it felt necessary and beautiful and calm. there was no unnecessary bs or drama, it was just them living their simple life.
Maybe is because I'm in my 30s. Maybe is because you need to be in their shoes to appreciate it. Maybe is because I could see pieces of myself in them.
10/10
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Ji Chang Wook??
The entire cast delivers — Nam Ji Hyun brings warmth, humor, and quiet depth to Bong Hee, and the supporting ensemble adds texture at every turn. But this drama belongs to Ji Chang Wook. His portrayal of Ji Wook is layered in a way that transcends the role: brooding without being cold, vulnerable without losing strength. The on-screen chemistry between the leads is electric, and their comedic timing together is just as impressive as the emotional scenes.Ji Chang Wook genuinely stole the show — and not just through acting. The man is the definition of handsome. Even in the most serious or heartbreaking scenes, it was impossible not to get distracted by how beautiful he is. Every frame he is in becomes a little harder to focus on, in the best possible way. He is a rare kind of screen presence — one where you are simultaneously watching the story and just... watching him.
The direction handles tonal shifts with real confidence — switching between a murder investigation, courtroom tension, and lighthearted romantic moments without ever feeling jarring. The pacing is thoughtful, the OST is gorgeous, and the cinematography gives the leads space to breathe and feel. This is the kind of drama where production quality quietly elevates everything.
The only thing I felt a little lacking was the pacing, it felt very dragged and could have easily ended at 16 episodes.
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