Bad, but somehow entertaining
This series follows the classic "poor girl, rich guy" story, but the execution is flawed. The male lead’s behavior is indefensible: he constantly forces her into situations, grabs her arm, and even takes away her passport and phone. The show tries to frame this as "protection" or "interest," but in reality, it is a complete lack of respect for her freedom.On the other hand, the female lead has no agency. She starts off as a woman with goals, but ends up being just an ornament, moving according to what the men around her decide.
My Conclusion
It is a superficial story full of cheap soap opera clichés and questionable behavior. However, I admit it was addictive. I watched most of it almost without realizing it (though eventually, I got tired and finished it just out of commitment). It’s the kind of show that doesn't have many positives, but it fulfills its purpose of being entertaining to a certain point.
Was this review helpful to you?
First Impression
The production quality is excellent, and the soundtrack perfectly matches the dark atmosphere of a revenge-driven series. The cast’s performances are outstanding, with subtle expressions that clearly convey the characters’ pain, fears, and inner conflicts. Each episode manages to close its narrative arc beautifully, giving the feeling that we are watching a complete filmWas this review helpful to you?
Shan Hun Hou Bei Fu Ye Chong Shang Tian
0 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Shan Hun Hou Bei Fu Ye Chong Shang Tian(2024) is a nice childhood connection romance miniseries with ML: Li Bo Yan (as Fu Han Chi) and FL: Lu Lu Lu (as Shen Nian) in the leading couple’s role. The cast did a good job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple had such a great communication that made their relationship captivating to watch.; they were both strong and determined and from the moment they got together, their bond was unbreakable. On this drama, the plot also centers on getting retribution from unresolved wrongdoings and injustice done by family members. This could have been a great romance miniseries but, even with the fantastic chemistry between the leading, their romantic scenes were cut the second they were being intimate. The drama could’ve gotten a better rating if only the intimate scenes were not abruptly cut since the leading couple had such a great rapport.In the meantime, this drama can be found in YouTube under the caption:
“The homeless girl was stunned when the CEO, who'd secretly loved her for 15 years, proposed!” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBG-Eia8gzE)
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
One of the best police cdrama!
Very good performance from the 3 leads.I love the main couple and would have loved to see just better flow and maybe more moments between them in the show. Their relationship should have been more developed, I would have loved to see how they progressed from newlyweds that did not know each other to a couple in love with each other's. I feel like they did not give them enough time before the reappearance of Jiang Cheng. However, you could see the struggle for Zhou Jin, when it came to the reveal of Jiang Cheng as the under cover police. I felt the conflict and the hurt in her when she had to tell him that she moved on. He expected her to wait and not to move on. Maybe it would have been the case if it wasn't Hansheng that proposed to her. If there was someone that loved Zhou Jin more than Jiang Cheng, it's Hansheng. He said it himself to Zhou Jin, that "he loved her too obsessively" but he still was willing to let her go if JC was going to make her happier. I liked that ZJ reassured HC and told him that she loved him. Overall, the acting was great!! The tension was so good.
The villain was very convincing. The actor did such a good job! I feel like the director could have just added a bit more tension and played with music to make his performance more intense. The actor did however an amazing job.
The actor playing Jiang Cheng was not a discovery for me but his role and performance was really not a let down. I will remember his performance for a long time, the fear of this never ending mission, guilt for the sacrifice of the other officer for his mission, the feeling of despair, of being stuck, of not being able to live as himself... his character's ending was happy but at the same time, I feel like he lost everything.
This drama is a ten for me but the ending was a bit rushed. Overall pleasantly surprised. I also discovered Elvira Cai and I love her. I already was a fan of Jing Boran.
Absolutely recommend everyone that likes crime drama and romance to see it. I will also read the book. I am a fan!
Was this review helpful to you?
Mini BL (10 x 10 min.) Mix of romance and tennis
PLOT: Tian Xiang saves a little girl on his way to a job interview. The manager, Lin Xiao Nan, fires him for being late. However, Xiao Nan contacts Tian Xiang after learning he saved her sister. She demands Tian Xiang's presence. The two men grow closer (despite Tian Xiang's ex and his schemes), win matches, and become a family.+++ The visuals are beautiful and the format is very short.
### Everything rings false: mediocre acting, but above all, a poorly written story, full of clichés, irrational character behavior, and overly obvious plot twists...
### Is it because of the format? Weird editing with abrupt cuts, no flow or transitions.
### Obviously a very limited budget: few sets, few costumes, few outdoor scenes, etc.
### Excessive product placement.
=> Only watch this if you have 90 minutes to kill (in a waiting room). It's funny, because some scenes are so ridiculous :)
*********************************************
Mini BL (10 X 10 min.) mix de romance et tennis
PLOT: Tian Xiang sauve une petite fille en allant à 1 entretien de recrutement. Le manager, Lin Xiao Nan, le vire à cause de son retard. Cpdt, XiaoNan recontacte Tian Xiang en apprenant qu'il a sauvé sa sœur. Celle-ci exige la présence de Tian Xiang à ses côtés. Les 2 hommes vont se rapprocher (malgré l'ex de Tian Xiang et ses ruses), gagner des matchs et devenir une famille.
+++ Les images sont belles et le format très court.
### Tout sonne faux : acting moyen, mais surtout story mal écrite, bourrée de clichés, comportements des personnages irrationnel, twists trop évidents ...
### A cause du format ? Edition weird avec coupures impromptues, pas d'enchainement ni de transition
### Budget visiblement très limité : peu de décors, peu de costumes, peu d'extérieurs, etc.
### Placements de produits abusifs.
=> A regarder uniquement si vous avez 90 minutes à perdre (dans une salle d'attente). Amusant, tellement certaines scènes sont ridicules :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Epic, gripping, fabulous!
April 2026.Where did those 40 episodes go?!!! Apart from The Untamed, this is the first C-drama I actually found it REALLY hard to stop watching! In fact I only just completed it, after binging in 3 days... my excuse for neglecting everything else?... I wasn't well either and slept on the sofa! 😅
Fabulous story, full of intrigue, lies, palace politics, secrets and cover-ups, and a near perfect pace. It's 100% one of the easiest-to-get-through, of the lengthy dramas, I've watched.
Stunning cast and characters ~ the women in this are all 💯 as are the men.
I was hooked from the start, and loved Fan Chang-yu. Another self-reliant, stubborn, practical, motivated character. Whilst not educated, lacking in etiquette, and very often misunderstanding proverbs (hilariously at times), she is very clever in a practical way, tactical and savvy. She is also sharp tongued when needed, and fabulously outspoken.
Our ML is drop-dead gorgeous, as a character as much as the actor is facially. He's so down to earth, his back-story (like our FL's) is one of tragedy, but again like her, he doesn't play the victim.
Supporting characters are many and varied; some that have developed into absolute ba5tards by their circumstances, with others driven by the usual craving for power and absolute domination... some a bit of both.
The vibrant (but seeming to be eternally in winter) village that a lot of the earlier story is set in, has a wonderful array of characters. There's hardship, gossip, spite, camaraderie, and many laughs, too.
This is another story busting with appropriate (and excellently written) humour, warmth, action, emotions and love of family/friends, as much as romance... which whilst an important part, of course, does not swamp the story.
There are some aspects that might have been a bit better done... mostly around a few storylines that felt incomplete, or 'buried', which I thought could easily have been incorporated/addressed at little to no extra time. However, for me these weren't enough to spoil my viewing.
I seriously loved it, will definitely watch it again, and it's another firm favourite now.
.....juicy BONUS ~ in the latter part of ep38 and early ep39, are 3 linked, seriously smoking scenes, between our leads. Their chemistry throughout was really good, but here it was 🔥. I was almost melting! At one point, he looks at her like she's his about-to-be-devoured favourite food 🫠
I just feel the need to add, that recent articles and comments around how the Marquis character is too good looking, is ridiculous. This is an action romance, not an historically correct story. It's fiction! When does anyone complain that the FLs are too attractive for their role?! Paradoxically, if the Marquis, being the ML, were less than attractive, that would prompt complaints, too, for sure. This is escapism, not real life... surely we all get enough of that!
(After watching Love in the Clouds, and then this, I fear it's going to be hard for my next C-drama to match up!)
Was this review helpful to you?
Great cast.
April 2026.A decent watch for the most part, but I just felt the story lacked any 'punch'.
Carried very well, though, by a great cast and mostly nicely written, varied characters.
A balance of humour, intrigue, emotion, and corporate crime, during the late 90s, and incorporating the IMF crisis of the time, into the story.
I did get irritated at times, by how No-ra's character was written as such an airhead; especially when given a prominent position in Daddy's company... doing quite what; who knows!
Another I watched whilst airing, but wouldn't be able to binge watch, and wouldn't watch again.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Waste of time
Really, what a disappointment!!!When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be melancholic and romantic—but what the hell was that???
First, the story was way too simple. The characters were even worse. The female lead was incredibly toxic and immature—basically two-timing, completely self-centered, and ignoring both male leads’ emotions. She behaved like a teenager, not someone in her 30s.
The first male lead was actually pretty cool, but I couldn’t understand how someone with his personality—honest, straightforward, and sometimes impulsive—could hide his feelings for 10 years. That felt like a major plot hole. And the forced kiss? Not okay.
The second male lead was good. His relationship with his ex was problematic, but he handled it well. I honestly don’t find him creepy like some comments say. He felt grounded and knew what he was doing—the only issue was the female lead being… well, frustrating.
The side characters were meh. Not interesting at all—just there to fill time, very flat and two-dimensional.
I was honestly fed up while watching this. I only continued because I hate dropping shows midway, and it was a miniseries. But yeah… I don’t recommend it at all.
Was this review helpful to you?
A classic feel in its style.
April 2026.I really enjoyed this. Nice cast, usual sageuk characters, and a 'classic' style.... apart from the body-swapping twist!
Unusual choice of actress for the FL, I thought, given the character's scenes when in their hidden identity. I do like the actress, however, and it didn't spoil my viewing; just something I contemplated at the end.
FL character is the type I often like; positive, pragmatic, sharp and clever.
I found the ML character interesting, and open.
There's wit, action, romance and a pace that fits. An engaging watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Complex main characters, slow pace.
April 2026.I had high hopes for this drama, as I love Jin-young's acting. I actually thought both leads gave good performances, as both characters were incredibly complex, and with reason.
This will definitely not be for everyone, and I imagine it splitting opinion quite widely, just like 'My Liberation Notes' did (which I didn't enjoy).
I thought this was well written; there were no real extremes in the story, and it felt quite true to life, in terms of the ordinariness of the every day.
The ML character has, what feels like, the weight of the world resting on him ~ he feels overwhelming responsibility for his family, seeing himself as the most able provider.
He is often withdrawn, doesn't say unnecessary things, and doesn't talk about how he feels, to anyone.
The FL character also feels similarly about family responsibility, but for very different reasons. She is somewhat more outgoing, but at the same time has no friends.
The two connect whilst nearing the end of High School, sharing a study space, and become close friends. They seem drawn together and provide one another with often unspoken comfort.
The pace may be crippling for some, and the story at times stagnant. I personally felt that fit. They were healing slowly and beginning to think of themselves more ~ Eun-A was definitely a shining light for Tae-so; and Tae-seo a rock and guiding light, for Eun-A
At this point I liked her character; quirky and quite focussed. However, some actions towards an adult female character earlier in the story, especially when coupled with later behaviour as an adult, made her seem an incredibly selfish character, to me, byvthe end of the drama She put herself first, and I got the distinct impression she was desperate for a way out of her young adult life, which she was successful in getting ~ again through someone else's guidance and involvement.
The two grow apart, as happens, with college/Uni and maturing. They reconnect later, and it's from this point I really grew to dislike Eun-A. I felt she used people, from beginning to end~ maybe it wasn't intentional, but the feelings of others were secondary to her, from where I was sitting, it was mostly about her own aspirations, and needs. Yet she allowed herself to be pushed around in work settings. Infuriating.
The ending, I thought, was fitting.
Made me want nothing but love for Tae-seo in his future, and for Eun-A to grow up and think of others, as well as herself.
If you don't mind an at times snail pace, with a contemplative focus, you might like this. I didn't dislke it at all, but watched alongside others, as it aired, which I think helped. Not one I could binge, nor would I revisit it.
Was this review helpful to you?
OK, but not a memorable story.
April 2026.I watched this as it aired ~ definitely not one I could binge watch, and tbh, it hasn't been memorable.
I didn't dislike it, but I wasn't wowed either.
Nice cast, and an interesting twist on the usual Gumiho stories.
I found the second Gumiho's storyline (and character), to be weak and somewhat pointless to an extent.
I didn't find anything particularly funny, moving, or gripping.
Not bad, certainly not perfect, but worth a look, perhaps as a filler.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fabulous!
April 2026I loved this drama ~ Xanxia is my favourite C-drama genre.
Great production quality, and beautiful to look at in every way, including the cast.
Both leads were excellent, and I am so relieved that I'm seeing less of female lead roles lately, where they behave, and worst still, speak, like 5-year olds!
Definitely not the case in this one. She's feisty, focused, practical, and often very funny.
ML character is stunning, mysterious, accomplished, powerful, feared, equally focused, and with a very sad back story, which has left him somewhat convinced he'll always be let down.
It's an epic tale, with some very moving moments that brought tears to my eyes, and others that had me laughing out loud; a proper roller-coaster of a ride.
It has plenty of humour (not slapstick), but also lots of action, breathtaking moments, and a great love story to boot.
Often with C-dramas, even good ones, with so many episodes, it isn't surprising when the story gets somewhat drawn out at times. With this, however, I never felt that, and the episodes flew by.
I would definitely watch this again, very happily.
Highly recommended.
Was this review helpful to you?
.....mostly, is the answer.
April 2026.I enjoyed this drama overall with a good cast and characters.
There were aspects of the plot not to my taste, mainly parts I felt dragged, or weren't convincing, and seemed somehow out of place.
It also got quickly wrapped up, and the storyline around the ex, I found bizarre for a number of reasons (not to be confused with "I didn't understand it" ☺️).
Nice locations, and I liked it more than didn't,
Was this review helpful to you?
Need to wear a thinking cap, it keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I have watched 20 episodes out of 29.Pro:
- If you like thought-provoking drama, this is a great one.
- Top-notch chemistries. I thought JJY would be paired with JZ, I was worried. But I was wrong, the actual pairing works best.
- Everyone is visually attractive. The best one is the Moon sister in their original form..... JJY and CDL did a great job.
- Fight scenes with computer tech are addictive and keep you on the edge of your seat.
- As predicted, if you are a fan of GJM, it is not disappointing.
- Choice of BGMs for the story segments is perfect. CDL's and JZ's love stories in the ancient world always have a perfect BGM, pulling your heartstrings.
Con:
- Some segments feel dragged (you can FF them, and you are missing nothing), but some are too fast.
- Some story segments jump from one to another, a little bit confusing
- This director, you've seen one, you've seen them all. You just have to be a fan of GJM in order to appreciate it
- Some of the CGI looks cheap (or more like not believable, you know it's CGI)
Was this review helpful to you?
Start to finish great!
So, I rewatched, on binge, this drama three times while airing. Each time I took a little something more from it! I paused to watch the whole thing until I had the time to deal with the unraveling I knew was coming. And I am so glad I did! This drama deserves nothing less than the stellar rating it is receiving. Beautifully cast, fantastically acted. Love, hate, rich, poor, black and white, right and wrong-and every shade of all things in between. It even paid homage to the book without needing to delve fully into it and losing the story it set out to tell. If I had to nit-pick, I would say that the exquisite world cut scenes could have been cut back to give the story a bit more character time at the end. I also know that the music was not loved by all, but thought it fit well for the emotions it needed to carry. Overall, my final binge, from start to finish, delivered the amazing story and characters I knew I would love. In fact, I many need to watch it again soon!Was this review helpful to you?
