Reviews

Great story not so great characters

Overall I would say this story was a good one to watch but I had a couple of issues with it. Number one is how bad Kamins character did not develop, what I mean by that is how he fell for Jade. To put it simply he just didn't. There was no concrete reason why he decided to get with Jade now I get there doesn't have to be a solid reason for it but there at least has to be signs of admiration, which did not happen. This left it feeling very awkward to me because in mind it didn't make sense how they even got together. They did it for Jade, tho it is cliche, we saw that he fell for Kamin at first sight. Kamin did not have a similar scene instead he went from being the cold harsh boss to being soft and warm within an episode without any explanation. It really did just throw me for a loop I've seen this problem with Zees characters whenever he is working with Nunew but I never expected Dunk and Joong especially since their last series together was so good and did well in that aspect. The second problem is the fighting scenes. I know that you can usually tell with GMMTV their fighting scenes are fake but usually it's only a little off. However this time it was really easy to tell like painfully so. This might be because the cameras were higher quality this time around but if that is the case I feel like they should've played around with it and made sure the show still turned out okay. Lastly the ending, it felt out of place in the story especially running on the beach part I don't know why they felt the need to do that when they could've just ended with Kamin and Jade being comfy in their own home and having a wholesome moment to show that they are finally past everything. I feel that would've been more fitting than going on a vacation right after they saw several colleges kids die horrific deaths.

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A Nostalgic Friends to Lovers Journey

This is a youthful story that centers around self-discovery, with a plot driven by the ways the lines become blurred between love and friendship, often unnoticed at first. Set in the early 2000s, it's a throwback to an era of adolescence familiar to millennials like myself. As our characters meet and friendships blossom, a soft, slow-burning affection develops. Fed by quiet, lingering encounters, a deep yearning becomes spellbinding, leaving both the characters and viewers aching for the next gentle moment to nudge those feelings into full bloom.

The story is beautifully written and guides us through a passionate romance that feels less like a drama and more like someone reminiscing about their youth. It is one of my favorite BL dramas. A pure love story that I could watch again and again.

This story has been a victim of censorship in China multiple times since it's creation, rewritten across various platforms with alternate endings. Getting my hands on any of the original prints has been impossible thus far but as soon as I find one, I will link it below. There are speculations that the author wrote this story based on their own life experience and gave it an ending they themselves never received in reality. I don't know about you, but that makes me even more invested in the story. It was already compelling enough without knowing that, but after getting 6 episodes deep and learning that detail, the yearning somehow became even deeper for me.

Today I finished episode 8, after a week-long wait with a foreboding trailer forshadowing the worst. I can admit without spoilers that the ending is deeply satisfying and leaves you without unanswered questions.

I hope this encourages you to watch, it certainly delivers.

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The BEACH scene

STILL as good as the first episode. I stand on this. This is gold honestly. I'm not gonna go deeper on the beach scene but iykyk. And MAYBE unpopular opinion but the forest scene was for me waaay better 😍😍.

I'm just gonna come clean I am love this actor after this show. I have never seen him before in any other drama this is my first time, but the way he delivers emotions and his lines ughhh, this is exactly what I missed in other romcoms, the feelings I needed from the main actors.

Sooo im bit angsty cause what is gonna come with his half brother or cousin or whatever cause honestly, the actor for him needs applause too im actually scared of him 💀💀.

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A good retelling of the original, but not flawless

Minor spoilers?
Unlike the chinese one this doesn't have a clif hanger ending, which is a plus, but there is a lot of questions not really answered and the pacing is a bit bizare at times, with details that were present the whole time in the other show just kind of appearing at random a few episodes in, such as Hero and Poppy's girlfriends. Hero is also a lot less aggresively horny than Gu Hai, but even dialed back about 900% he is still very much insane. But still, the shows pretty good, and i enjoyed it enough to give it a 8/10. A lot of the reviews here have issues with the acting and chemistry and maybe i have low standards, but i thought they all did ok. If anything the worst part was the side couple that just kind of phase in and out of the story at random. I'm aslo still not sure what was up with the opening flash forward either, but maybe the extended version answers that.

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Could not handle the voice overs

The acting was okay- knowing the production budget etc were limited, the acting isn't that bad.
Music- normal, nothing memorable.
Storyline- too bland..? The couples were showing interest in each other which was good to see, however the storyline did not feel complete. The general idea is vague, with the main couple having troubles, random hospital moments, sudden love confessions. The second couple did not get a clear ending, felt rushed, and although the actors did their best the story was not enough to get an overall good score.
It is watchable but I'm sure there are way more Chinese/Taiwanese bl that are better and have a more complete story line.

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Very easy watch

I love these kind of drama's. Beautiful people, striking landscapes, exciting fight scenes. Yes please!

This drama has all that, paired with a slow-burn brimming with chemistry romance of an out-of-the-ordinary couple.

I loved everything about it. Until the marquis' identity is revealed to Changyu. Up until then we have been watching a quirky, female empowering story. But suddenly we are in a standard historical cdrama. Court shenanigans, poisonings, marriage stuff. It's still good, but the edge and grit are gone.

The story has to rely on far-fetched coincidences, shock value and comic relief to stay on track. Bummer!

The fact that for reasons of censorship the face of the actor playing Song Yan has been replaced and we have an actor credited for 'body only' and 'face only' is a damn shame. Shame! Ziyu deserves so much better. And we as viewers deserve better.

The first half of the drama is a solid 10. The rest is just above average.

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It’s Really Good—But It Could’ve Been Incredible

I honestly agree with the general opinion that this show had so much wasted potential. And that’s what makes it frustrating—because it’s actually a good drama. I would still recommend it and say it’s worth watching, but I don’t fully understand the level of hate it gets. I feel like a lot of people who dropped it early (like within the first 5–10 episodes) are the ones who ended up disliking it. This is definitely one of those shows that gets better the more you watch.

The biggest issue is the beginning. The first episode is insanely overwhelming—probably one of the most crowded premieres I’ve ever seen. It feels like they threw everything at you all at once. Within the first episode (and honestly the first few episodes), you’re introduced to 20–30 important characters, expected to remember their names, understand their roles, and follow the plot at the same time. It’s just too much information too quickly. The show does live up to its title—“generation to generation”—with multiple generations and interconnected characters, but the way it’s introduced is messy and confusing.

That’s really the core problem of the drama: the execution. The story itself is strong, interesting, and has a lot of emotional pull—it does make you want to keep watching. But the storytelling? Not great. It’s messy, poorly paced, and sometimes just not engaging enough. The editing especially is rough. You get moments of beautiful cinematography, then suddenly very choppy transitions or scenes that feel out of place or even ridiculous. It’s inconsistent, and it really holds the show back from being something amazing.

The relationship is another mixed point. The leads had amazing chemistry—honestly, they carried the show. They looked great together, acted well together, and had that natural compatibility that makes you want to root for them. But the writing didn’t do them justice. Their relationship felt very push-and-pull, but not in a satisfying way. She forgives him too easily, he keeps using her or keeping her in the dark, and somehow every time they meet, it’s like nothing ever happened. There’s no real emotional consequence. I also felt like their relationship was never clearly defined, which made it frustrating to follow. I really wish the show had explored them more deeply instead of just giving us scattered moments.

That said, I did like how much the people around her cared for her—that was actually really nice to see. And I liked the second male lead as well. The cast overall felt very fresh, with a lot of new faces. Some were really impressive and I’d love to see more of them, while others were just okay. But the youthful energy of the cast definitely added something to the show.

Visually, there were some strong points. The costumes were beautiful and sometimes quite unique, and certain scenes had really nice cinematography. And Zhou Yiran—this was my first time seeing him in a historical drama, and he really suits it. He looked amazing, and you can tell a lot of people noticed that too. His styling was great (even if those two random flying hair strands showed up way too often… seriously, what was that). As for the female lead, Bao she was very cute and did a good job. I personally prefer her in softer roles, but she still worked here and matched well with him.

There are definitely flaws beyond the structure too. Some acting wasn’t the strongest, some scenes felt unnecessary or over-the-top, and certain plot justifications—like everything being done “for Pingshu”—weren’t convincing. It felt like they leaned too heavily on that excuse.

Despite all that, I still think the show is worth watching. Once you get past the first 5–6 episodes (which you really have to push through), it becomes a much easier and smoother watch. The episodes go by quickly, and the chemistry between the leads keeps you invested. It turns into something light and bingeable, even if it never fully reaches its potential.

At the end of the day, it’s frustrating because this could have been so much better. With stronger direction, better editing, and more focused storytelling, it could have been incredible. Instead, it’s a good drama with great moments, carried heavily by its cast and central couple—but still very much a missed opportunity.

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The Most Emotionally Unforgettable Historical Romance Drama to ever exist!

2016's "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is one of the most emotionally unforgettable historical romance dramas I have ever watched. It is an exceptional blend of romance, heartbreak and political tension, that stays with you long after the final episode ends. This drama is not just a love story, it is a powerful journey through fate with a message that love can transform even the most wounded hearts. 💔


This show was recommended to me by two of my friends who both said I need to keep my tissues ready because by the end of the show, my heart is sure to break! And they were definitely right because by the end of the show, I was crying so hard due to the heart breaking ending and the events that lead up to it.😭 I felt really empty after finishing the last episode but this show gave me everything I could ask for! It had a beautiful storytelling, unforgettable characters, intense romance, tragic moments, stunning visuals, excellent OST's and acting performances that completely pulled me into the ancient world of Goryeo.


The story itself is really interesting. It follows a modern Korean woman who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty as Lady Hae Soo where she becomes entangled in the lives of princes fighting for power and survival. This drama explores royal politics, conspiracy's, conflicts, betrayal, brotherly love and romance while making us realize that sometimes love alone is not enough to change cruel circumstances. The story is well written and engaging which is why it leaves an impact on your heart even after ending and stays with you. Honestly, this reminded me of anime shows like The Apothecary Diaries, Colorcloud Palace and other Historical Drama's. The storytelling is very simple with a few impactful plot twists that help build this simple story into something stronger. The pacing was well maintained and nothing felt rushed. The first 10 episodes also had many light hearted moments in between all the political conflicts and blooming romance but the last 10 episodes of this show literally kept me on the edge of my seat and pulled at my heartstrings!


The best thing about this show is how well each of the characters are written. Since this show has a big main cast so it was necessary to portray each of the characters differently through the writting and this show does that perfectly. Each of the princes have significantly different personalities and traits that makes it easier for us as audiences to understand each of them properly. We mainly see the Journey's of the Crowned Prince Wang Moo, 3rd Prince Wang Yo, 4th Prince Wang So (Main Male Lead), 8th Prince Wang Wook, 9th Prince Wang Won, 10th Prince Wang Eun, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah and 14th Prince Wang Jung alongside our Female Lead Character Lady Hae-Soo and Princess Yeon-hwa. No one exists just to fill space. Every supporting character has depth, purpose, and emotional weight in the story. Each of them take decisions that have direct consequences shown in the story which is why the royal politics aspect of the show feels so personal from their perspectives. I loved each of the characters and they all did things and made choices that are appropriate for their characters. Even characters that were in negative roles did an amazing job bringing out their characters motivations on screen. Yes, I did despise many of the negative characters but I did also understand that from their perspectives they are just trying to survive in between the royal political conflicts and achieve their ambitions of becoming powerful. But of course my favorite characters from this show were 4th Prince Wang So, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah, Lady Hae-soo and 8th Prince Wang Wook. Although, 8th Prince Wang Wook and Lady Hae-Soo made some questionable choices near the end of the show, I cannot deny how well they were written and how great their contribution was in shaping the entire story.


For me, the absolute highlight of the drama was 4th Prince Wang So, one of the most compelling male leads I have ever seen in any show! He is portrayed on screen by actor Lee Joon-gi and absolutely nailed this role! 🖤 I honestly became his fan after watching his portrayal of this complex character. His character journey was extraordinary to say the least. I went from not liking him to feeling pity for him to loving him to ultimately being completely crazy about him as the story progressed. By the end of the show I was heartbroken and bawling my eyes out because of the cruel lonely fate he had to endure. 💔😢 He starts off as someone who is feared by all and seems very ruthless because he grew up without love or affection from his mother that he craved a lot. But as he starts getting closer to Lady Hae-Soo and builds a beautiful connection with her, he becomes a gentle yet strong human. He values and cherishes her love because it is the only affection he has felt in all his life and that's something I could feel while watching this show. Seeing a man who never knew love become someone willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves so deeply was both beautiful and heartbreaking. His transformation was powerful and I was completely invested in him from beginning to end.🫶🏻


The second highlight for me of this show was the romance! ❤️ Hae-Soo portrayed by IU and Wang So portrayed by Lee Joon-gi had such great chemistry that I was deeply rooting for their love. The way Wang So literally calls Hae-Soo his "person" is so dreamy and sweet that it made my heart flutter! 🫶🏻 Their iconic rain scene when Wang So protects Hae-Soo using his cloak made me completely speechless and that was the moment I fell in love with Wang So as well. There are so many moments of sweetness, longing, jealousy, tenderness, and heartbreak between them that hit so deeply because the connection between them feels genuine. Their love story is not simple and it develops gradually but it is full of obstacles, misunderstandings, sacrifices, and tragic timing. That is exactly what makes it so memorable. It shows how deeply two people can love each other even when the world seems determined to tear them apart.


However, because of how much I felt their bond the conclusion of the show broke me down emotionally! 💔 I truly was not prepared for how devastating it would be. It left me heartbroken and emotional long after the final scene. I cried so much because by that point I had become deeply attached to these characters and everything they had endured. The tragedy of the ending does not feel cheap or forced rather it feels like the painful conclusion of lives shaped by cruelty of fate. It was very hard for me to accept the ending because of how heartbroken and empty I felt upon watching it! But this ending was necessary because this tragic ending also made the story more meaningful and memorable in the hearts of the fans including me.


The technical making of the show is also perfect. The screenplay was tight and there were no unnecessary scenes. The visuals were beautiful and it brought the ancient world of Goryeo to life beautifully. Every frame feels elegant and cinematic. The colors, lighting, and attention to detail make it easy to believe you are witnessing another era. The cinematography of the scene when Prince Wang So does the rain ritual and it really does start to rain was one of the most noteworthy moment from this show. Apart from this the royal palace and every moment taking place surrounding those areas felt grand. The production left no lackings in designing the sets of the scenes. The costume and hair department also deserves praise! All of the Princes looked manly and princely because of their outfits and hairstyles.


But I must praise the music and sound department separately because of how amazing the BGM's and OST's are in this show! ❤️ Seriously, the songs are to die for they are that good! The music is absolutely beautiful and enhances every emotional moment perfectly. Whether it is a tender romantic scene, a painful farewell, or a dramatic confrontation, the soundtrack always knows how to elevate the emotions. Many songs stayed in my mind long after I finished the show. My favorites are "For You", "I Love You, I Remember You", "Wind", "My Love" and "Can You Hear My Heart"🎶


In the end, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is a mix of beautiful emotional storytelling and tragedy that will forever remain one of the most memorable K-Dramas I have ever watched. It reminds us that even the strongest people can be broken by pain, and even the coldest hearts can learn to love deeply!🌙

📌Personal Rating: 9.5

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Episode 9 is disappointing

First, they leaned hard into the overused "second lead syndrome" trope, with the Prime Minister getting involved and trying to come between the lead couple. It feels so old and predictable at this point.
What frustrated me even more was the female lead. She's supposed to be this savvy businesswoman who fought her way to the top of a company despite all the obstacles thrown at her by her father and brother. Yet in this episode, she behaves like a bumbling idiot—someone who’s supposedly survived the cutthroat business world suddenly can’t think of any smart way out of her predicament. Instead of strategizing or fighting back, she just cries the whole time. I expected so much more from her character.
And then her big solution is just… divorce? It feels like the easiest, most convenient way out instead of something that matches her established strength and intelligence.

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I really couldn’t get used to was the dubbing

A bromance heavy drama with just a tiny hint of romance.

The first half of the show was honestly great. It had that gang/gangster world vibe that made everything feel intense and exciting. But somewhere in the later episodes, it suddenly shifted into more of a crime investigation story with police cases, corruption, and political drama. The change wasn’t necessarily bad, but it did make the overall feel of the show a bit inconsistent.

It’s a short watch, so it’s easy to binge, but personally, I don’t think it’s the kind of drama that gets you deeply invested in.

One thing I really couldn’t get used to was the dubbing. The mismatch between the lip movements and the audio was super obvious and honestly pretty distracting at times. I genuinely don’t understand why they chose to dub it instead of using the original language.

If there’s a season 2, I really hope they keep the original language and voices, move the story into a more modern setting, and of course give us more romance or at least stronger chemistry between the leads, Inspector Xie, Officer Lu, and Dong Dong.

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Tried my BEST to remain interested in this show but unfortunately it's TRASH

Chanced upon this drama because of the leads being Chen Duling and Joseph Zeng, naturally with these talented actor and actress, I assumed the show was going to be good. It unfortunately turned out to be trash here's why:

1. Story
The story and motivation behind it is nearly non-existent. Characters seem to pop out of nowhere, get a short and quick introduction and they are suddenly part of the main cast and mission. The mission itself pops out of nowhere as well.

2. Character Interaction/Dialogue
The script is very "unserious", each of the characters in this show communicate between each other as if they were part of a sitcom setting, Less Show More Tell. There's way too much dialogue without the necessary action to accompany it making the entire show really extremely dry/boring.

To summarize, while this show has decent quality VFX, Cinematography and Action scenes AND not forgetting great actors like Chen Du Ling and Joseph Zeng, the dry/awkward/boring script and story ultimately makes this unwatchable.
If you're looking for an actual quality Wuxia show check these 2 series out: Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber (2019) AND Pursuit of Jade

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