Reviews

Wasted potential

It was indeed an " enemies to lovers" story but tbh I didn't feel the chemistry that much, the story itself was mid, not too bad but not the best, almost everything was expected ,felt boring in the beginning after ep 3 and kept getting more and more boring..
Well I finished it because I really liked the story of the ML's sister esp with the crazy empror, he is my favourite character after fu yixiao which made me sad that he didn't have a proper ending even if he was evil but we all agree to not dislike him , and her ending was also not the best..
Another reason that made me continue watching is that this series had more potential, with the story of the alliance of rain and wind, the FL , the strong charismatic general with unknown past before she got to know the the other two brothers, .. ok Fu yixiao is fine but everything else isn't , fang suige's could have been more charismatic with different actor ( i have nothing against him, i like him from hidden love but still)

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A real outstanding drama with a genius plot and brilliant acting

this drama gave me the chance to taste and experience real power and authority through a drama at its most, it is the first drama ever who was able to give me this feeling, what an amazing plot, brilliant acting, heartfell osts, and breathtaking cinematography.
the chemistry between ding yuxi and deng enxi was absolutely amazing, the plot is really so genius, the idiom and wisdom in the drama were a real life lessons, and this drama is the only one who depict the reality of ancient china ministers rise to authority and power, instead of focusing only on doing the things through virtue and righteous, this drama showed you that these people's road was full of mischievous act, blood splatting and heinous acts.

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Sofrimento puro!!

Este dorama é melancolia pura! Mesmo tendo bastante violência, traição e assuntos que são como um gatilho na gente, acabou sendo um dorama de confronto.

​A questão apresentada pelo Si-eun é algo vivido por muitos jovens na escola: validação, pressão acadêmica e o bullying cometido pelos que se acham os valentões e donos da escola. O personagem passou por muita coisa, e então eu entendo o porquê dele ser tão violento. Não é fácil viver diariamente com pessoas te atormentando e fazendo você de "gato e sapato".

​O que nos deixa com um sentimento de melancolia é a forma de viver do Si-eun e a curta amizade do trio que, infelizmente, acabou com uma tragédia enorme. Ver o Si-eun, o Beom-seok e o Su-ho vivendo e fazendo coisas de jovens normais nos deixa felizes. Ver eles vivenciando momentos felizes foi bom demais. Porém, o que é bom realmente acaba rápido!

​Sobre o Beom: nunca vou perdoar o que ele fez! Eu sei muito bem que ele sofreu muito e que tem um passado e presente muito obscuros, mas nada justifica o acontecimento terrível que ele provocou. Como é que uma pessoa machuca alguém que estava próximo há alguns dias atrás? Conviver com pessoas ruins que fazem bullying com seu próprio amigo e ainda contratar outras para MATAR o Su-ho? Não entra na minha cabeça. É difícil controlar a mente, porém, se você realmente fosse são e empático, não cometeria tal ato tão agressivo.

​Foi difícil ver essa obsessão que ele tinha pelo Su-ho crescendo cada vez mais e se tornando uma bola de neve. Muitas pessoas falaram que foi só porque ele não o seguiu no Instagram, mas já havia questões pendentes, como a inveja, o ciúme, os traumas falando mais alto e claramente a obsessão pelo amigo. Ele não queria ser tratado com desdém. Ele tinha medo da rejeição do Su-ho, pois ele era "bacana" demais.

​A cena do Su-ho todo machucado no ringue de luta passa pela minha cabeça toda hora. Ver os outros jovens rindo e com satisfação pelo ato me dá vontade de entrar na cena e mudar tudo. Também foi muito doloroso ver o Si-eun depois de tudo aquilo! Ele realmente gosta muito do seu amigo, e ver o que aconteceu faz ele pensar que a culpa toda foi dele. Como é que se vive depois de saber que seu amigo está internado e que quase morreu por conta de outro amigo que fazia parte do seu próprio trio? Entendo todo o sofrimento que ele passou e toda a raiva também, a ponto de machucar todos aqueles que machucaram a sua pessoa amada.

​Agora, não posso deixar de fora as trilhas sonoras incríveis que este dorama tem. Dou honra especial à OST da abertura, que é absolutamente sensacional!

​Com as cenas do último episódio, já dá para saber que terá mais uma temporada e que o coitado do Si-eun vai sofrer novamente. Espero que na segunda temporada o Su-ho acorde e tenha o reencontro tão esperado deles dois!!!

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incredible atmosphere and acting

this is truly one of those movies you want to come back to just so your eyes can enjoy the beautiful cinematography and incredible acting (i adore apo, he constantly makes me cry), it’s absolutely amazing

I also learned something new about thai culture and history thanks to this movie, which was such a lovely bonus. I really love when a movie doesn’t just tell you a story but also gives you a chance to discover and understand a little more about the culture behind it

the plot might not be perfect, and there were definitely moments I wish had been explored more deeply, but that didn’t take away from my overall experience at all. It’s such a beautiful, atmospheric, and emotional movie that leaves you wanting to come back to it again if only to admire the cinematography and the actors all over again.

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I have concluded that actual magical wizards made this show.

The question here isn't "Is it good."

The REAL question is "HOW is this so good."

I have thought a lot about this. And I think I've figured it out. Now hear me out, I know it sounds crazy. But it is the only answer that makes logical sense:

There was a group of wizards that got into watching c-dramas, and they were like "Dude, we should make a c-drama." So they gathered around a magic cauldron and were like
"We found this hair stylist we could use, what do you think."
"Good enough. Throw em in the pot."
(other wizard throws stylist in the cauldron, POOF! big burst of light)
"What about this director?"
"He's pretty good. Throw him in the pot too. And that ML, close enough, he's fine, throw him in."
(Other wizard looks at ML skeptically) "You sure?"
"Yeah, throw him in. "
(POOF!)
"We picked up these costumes whaddya think"
(Barely looks at them) "Sure. I trust you. They seem fine."
(POOF!)
(They throw all the other stuff in the cauldron, cameraman, lighting, music, makeup, script, actors, etc etc...... point their magical staffs and start chanting 'mekka lekka hi mekka neinie ho.... mekka lekka hi mekka heinie ho....' and then BOOM the cauldron explodes in a blinding light)
(wizard raises his hands to the sky)
"BEHOLD! FOR WE HAVE CREATED PURE GOLD!"

Because I mean how else do you explain it!? How did all B+ ingredients turn into an A+ drama?!?? Magic! It has to be!!

* How am I this addicted to a show that doesn't even have a spice factor, with an ML I don't think is that hot? Magic
* How am I not put off and distracted by the dubbing? Magic
* I don't care that much about the salt trade, the politics, the romance, the intrigue... so why tf is this story just GRIPPING me and not letting go? Magic
* If the production quality isn't anywhere near as good as Rise of the Phoenixes, why am I so enchanted by it? Magic

CONCLUSION: This is a TOP-TIER BINGE WATCH, created through actual sorcery by literal wizards.

CAVEAT: There's a very slight ramp-up till it truly gets going, you need to give it like maybe 2 or 3 episodes before the addiction begins to set in. But after that it's like pushing a snowball down a hill, it packs it's own momentum before too long and then boom you're up at 2AM with dark circles under your eyes like "Just one more episode!"

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Started off strong but fell flat in the end

I was very excited to watch this drama when it was first announced because of the cast. I had seen them in previous works and liked them. The first episode was intriguing and I was excited, but then the story just started going downhill. A random kiss in episode 4 after a 15-year separation made me pretty pissed—like, where was the angst? It was like there was no emotional weight to their long separation. There were also lots of plot holes and subplots that were not resolved, fell through, or added nothing to the story. To be honest, the second leads carried the show, and their storyline was one of the only reasons I rated it a 7.5. Overall, it's a pretty mid show with nice visuals, but the story just couldn't carry it.

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I Need Therapy After Watching Peng & Zhe Yuan Scream Like Little Girls

I Need Therapy After Watching Peng Yu Chan & Cheng Zhe Yuan Scream Like Little Girls (And I Mean That as the Highest Compliment)

If you haven’t watched Great Escape Season 7, do you even know what true fear looks like? Because I just spent 13 episodes wheezing, crying, and choking on my own saliva—and 90% of that is thanks to the absolute comedic goldmine that is Peng Yu Chan, Cheng Zhe Yuan, and Xue Kai standing in a dark room together.

Let’s start with the holy trinity of terror. When Peng, Zheyuan, and Xue Kai are huddled together, it’s not a variety show—it’s a nature documentary about three meerkats who just spotted a hawk. Peng Yu Chan, who I now affectionately call "The Little Boy", looks like a middle schooler who got lost on a field trip. He puffs out his chest, yells "GET IN FORMATION!" like he’s about to lead troops into war, and then the moment a prop door creaks, he levitates two feet in the air. Sir, you played a fierce immortal in I Am Nobody! Where is that energy?? I want to rewatch that drama just to remind myself you’re capable of being cool, because right now I can’t unsee you clinging to Kai’s arm like a koala with abandonment issues.

Now can we talk about Cheng Zhe Yuan? Oh, my sweet, dramatic prince. I just finished three period dramas where this man stares down armies with a sword and a cold, deadly glare. He plays fierce generals! Assassins! Men who wouldn’t flinch if a volcano erupted! And yet, in real life, this grown man gets jump-scared by a fake spider on a string and screams at a pitch only dolphins can hear. The whiplash is insane. I can’t look at his stoic period drama face anymore without hearing his little shriek in my head. He’s a scared baby in a handsome man’s body, and honestly? That’s the content I live for. He gets scared at everything. A flickering light? Scream. A NPC breathing? Scream. His own shadow? Believe it or not, straight to scream.

And then there’s Kai, who has allegedly “gotten braver” this season. Lies. Sweet lies. The only thing that’s changed is that he now knows to yell for Bibi faster. "BIBI! BIBI! COME CLOSER!"—because apparently, if Bibi stands next to him, the ghosts will think twice? The funniest part? He plugs his ears like a toddler before entering a dark room. As if the monsters are scared off by his inability to hear them. Sir, that’s not how sound works! But it’s okay, because when he screams, we all laugh.

And through all this chaos, who holds the group together? Bibi, the undisputed QUEEN. She’s solving quadratic equations in the corner while the three boys are having a group hug over a mannequin. Without her, no puzzles would be solved, the boys would be crying in the fetal position, and the show would just be 90 minutes of grown men whimpering. She’s the rock. She’s the mom. She’s the only reason they escape.

Wowkie Zhang is the dad who pretends he’s not scared but you can see him sweating. He’s the "calm" one, but deep down? He’s mentally reciting his last will.

Final verdict: The puzzles? Brilliant. The sets? Cinematic. The editing? Give that editor a raise and a vacation, because the slow-motion replays of Peng jumping into Kai’s arms are pure ART.

I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing. I don’t know why Peng looks like a cute little boy. I don’t know why Zheyuan’s shrieks bring me so much joy. But I’m here for it.

Now excuse me, I’m off to watch Season 8. Pray for my abs—they hurt from laughing. And pray for Cheng Zhe Yuan’s vocal cords. He’ll need them.

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Une suite très attendue et qui tient ses promesses.

J'ai toujours un peu peur quand j'entends qu'il y a une suite à une série, car en général elle est décevante.
Et puis, de temps en temps, on tombe sur une suite comme celle-ci. On enrichit un contenu existant, on n’entre pas dans les clichés par facilité et on reste fidèle aux personnages ainsi qu’à la réalisation.

On voit l'évolution personnelle des personnages dans un mélange de moments mignons, de réflexions, de choix logiques et agréables à regarder.

J’apprécie qu’ils n’aient pas cherché à rajouter des longueurs pour faire huit épisodes ou plus, ni qu’ils condensent à l’extrême pour en faire un film ou un épisode spécial unique.
Ils ont pris l’histoire voulue et lui ont attribué la durée nécessaire.

J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à revoir la série avant de regarder cette suite, et j’ai eu l’impression de rester plongé dans l’univers, ce qui n’est pas souvent le cas avec les suites.
Donc à voir absolument si vous avez aimé la première saison.

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Melancholic but somehow good ending

It started off really good, he du & fl the most carefree they can ever be, the way the fl raising from the worst situation to an official, the way her life filled with great aspirations & desire for power just to protect people but damn it she really has loads of trauma, fu zhi being there for fl in life or death situations, always being there for her & she herself wanted to get out the regular path for women & wanted to be a business woman despite having a lot of struggles they made it to the capital, emperor struggles with corruption & keeps a office & keeps the fl & some other people there, wants to not to be controlled by anyone & maintain peace and prosperity of the realm, definitely there's a lot of opposition for women but step by step defying the general rules like women can't do official duties, enchantress cause emperor is standing up for the office & established that could women participate imperial exam, she's makes the faith kept on her by emperor worth it, he used her once, she acted bold, questioning the authority & acting on her own, their childhood comes to light I would say thanks to emperor for guiding the fl on the right path & kudos to her for following it, she avenged her sister & somehow got out of it, she was sexually assaulted but didn't blamed or let rumours stop her but learned self defence which is admirable, every evil person has a story it's like they didn't had a better choice but need to pay for their actions but that chancellor gu is most disgusting & despicable guy, he got his retribution, in the end the xu ting also realised about his self centred & narcissistic behaviour which is great but sacrificed himself for the nation, shen zhu li I was annoyed by her but she got beguiled so understandable but the love she got is pretty rare in reality & fleeting, fu zhi & shen zhi shu a really cute love story, nian was mad in love, full of devotion & loyalty for the emperor & the guard in initial eps he was just experiencing love but let's just say fate had other plans, the shen family parents are pretty inspiring, bofeng house competitor owner is good too & many other characters & many stories, they added a bit more past to fl character it was messy & draining despite the fine acceptable ending. Everyone did their best in their acting. The production lost their budget many times. The pace & story went south in later episodes, fl & ml made pretty mature choices at the end, that shangguan & situ xue - no words & but that shangguan was blinded by hatred, the gu chancellor was blinded by power, there was no happily ever after, somehow they were able to capture the depth of the characters, soo much happening if you binge watch, you're going to be numb but the effort for feminism, making own choices, sacrifices, pain, killing, infamy all for one thing change. Yes, the peace is achieved in the end but it had blood, tears & sweat & it felt it's fleeting & empty.

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The Perfect Drama. Timeless like it was made yesterday.

This show is clearly the greatest ever do it. Everyone showed up to set firing on all cylinders. They were in the studio recording that OST locked in, handled. Only the baddest on the floor. God was in the writer’s room that year. There hasn’t been anything to even tilt the crown. Dramas TO THIS DAY bend their knee to the queen. I’m so serious about this drama they could put my name in the credits. Feel free to send complaints to me directly. This is now OUR drama.

What makes a contemporary drama beautiful is leaning in to life and what makes life beautiful. Life is already hard and crazy enough just follow it. They didn’t have to exaggerate Samsoon’s characteristic, they just honored it. This show thrives because of his dedication to the characters. She gets to be silly like a person in love, but not clumsy as a character trait. She’s talented in what she does not because she’s born with it but because she works at it and is passionate about it. She gets to be magnetic without being mystical so when she has these moments of insecurity or doubt it doesn’t feel misplaced. She’s dreamy but is not ditzy. She doesn’t get hardened by her experiences in love. She remains hopeful. She’s just a girl and she’s MY girl. Watching this show is like watching your best friend fall in love with a guy you love to hate. At the end of the day she is a Cancer stuck in a situationship with a Virgo coming hot off the heels of a three year relationship with a commitmentphobic Leo. She’s doing the best she can with what she got.

Even though this show has some crazy #prettygirlpunishment the love triangle was so natural. Dr. HIPAA violator definitely had the right idea but he couldn’t communicate that to anybody, not that they would listen. Still, you watch them all learn that same lesson. I like to think of the famous Langston Hughes poem “Harlem”, what happens to a dream deferred? They clearly evolved and went through their lowest point in life without each other. However, they just needed a minute to explore what could’ve been to understand that it will never be. I hate when people complain about how his character just sits there pretty and silent, but he’s just as crazy as hee jin. He is sticking beside the person he loves just like her. He knows they’re on borrowed time. So when it all fell apart, which it inevitably did, she didn’t have to go through it alone. That’s why they’re so compatible.

I watch it every year like a Peanuts’ Christmas. In my living room on the TV December 24th, I am sat like clockwork. (And maybe twice or three more times throughout the year.)

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Soup Boy

Our Fanfan and our Gege!! If there is another title for this series, it's going to be "Soup" or "Porridge," hahaha. Did you know how much stress I felt while watching this? A lot!! But in a good way. We all love angst and, of course, our helpless little Fanfan. If you love that "taken for granted" main lead trope, then this one is for you.

In the middle, though, I felt like it was very repetitive. No one was getting out of the cycle. We know that they both love each other, but then what? Are we not going to do anything about it?? I almost tapped out while watching, buuuuuuut who would have known that the final episodes would serve up that twist? Our little Fanfan became the dust in everyone's eyes, and I'm so proud. Even if it was just a misunderstanding, they still deserved it for treating our Fanfan like that, especially considering the process of how it all happened. It definitely will make you stick with this series.

And of course, we didn't get a bitter ending, but instead a sweet one. Kudos on that!! Everyone say "SOUP"!

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bittersweet food for thought and an art of letting go

It might be hard to believe, but I find myself returning to this drama from time to time. It offers me the right perspective when I start to lose myself and spiral out of control. Although the pacing feels somewhat slow, it’s actually quite well-balanced - the episodes are short, and the story flows smoothly. I love that everything is centred around food-it adds a warm, comforting touch. This series is filled with as much heartbreak as it is with warmth and heartfelt healing. By the end, I’m left with a bittersweet longing and a deep appreciation for a simple, ordinary life and familiar daily routines. Yes, it’s sad, but it’s also so incredibly lovable! The actors are just wonderful! Especially, subtle and understated Han Seo Kyu's acting made me tear up. I really do hope for more slice of life dramas like this-not necessarily about this topic but about slow, mundane reality of our lives. Would be lovely to see something cosy, unassuming ,revolving around simple joys .Nonetheless, Recipe for Farewell really seems like a piece of poetry

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