Reviews

Best C-drama of June & July 2026.

Royal Betrothal is without exaggeration, one of the best C-dramas I have watched in 2026 and easily one of the most compelling historical dramas to come out of the genre in recent memory. This drama doesn't lean on tired tropes or lazy power fantasies instead, it builds a world where every alliance is fragile, every victory is earned, and no character is safe from the machinery of power.

The storyline was unique and genuinely peak television. We so rarely get a show where the male lead is an emperor and when we do, the narrative usually collapses under the weight of either too much romance or too little substance. Here I genuinely wondered where the plot could possibly go with an emperor at the center, but Royal Betrothal delivered at every turn.

What impressed me most was how the show balanced its dual worlds the glittering, treacherous court and the gritty streets where corruption bleeds into ordinary lives. The emperor's vigilante identity adds a layer of moral tension.

The villains, too, were excellent. From the brutality of the Tiger Roar gang to the cold, calculating ambition of the Right Chancellor to The Blood Moon Society

Both Chen Zheyuan and Wu Jinyan did exceptionally well in their parts. I will be honest I always thought Chen Zheyuan was somewhat overrated. I had seen his work before and never fully understood the hype. But Royal Betrothal proved me wrong, completely and emphatically. He deserves every bit of praise.

Shen Zhishu wow. At first, I genuinely thought he was just a scholar from a noble family with no martial arts skills, destined to be the polite background character who occasionally offers exposition. But as the show progressed, he surprised me at every turn. He proved himself not just capable but indispensable as the emperor's right hand. His strategic mind, his quiet loyalty, and his willingness to get his hands dirty when necessary made him one of the most satisfying character arcs of this drama.And his relationship with Yan Fuzhi was genuinely enjoyable to watch. It had none of the forced melodrama that plagues so many secondary couples. Instead, it felt like two adults who see each other clearly and choose each other anyway.

Di Nian deserves better than Shen Zhili and I say this with real frustration. Even though Shen Zhili was one of my favorite characters overall, I cannot ignore how poorly Di Nian was treated by the narrative's romantic geometry. Di Nian deserved someone who would choose him first, unambiguously, not keep him as a second option or a consolation prize. Shen Zhili's moral complexity made her fascinating, but her treatment of Di Nian was one of the show's few genuine missteps. He gave everything to a woman who could not fully commit, and watching him realize that slowly was heartbreaking.

If you have been waiting for a historical C-drama that respects your intelligence Royal Betrothal is that drama.

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A Shop for Killers: Season 2 (2026) — 10/10 Masterpiece!

Bigger stakes, intense retaliation, and a mind-blowing continuation."
​Season 2 took everything that made the first season amazing and escalated it to a global level! With Jeong Jin-man back in action alongside Ji-an, the dynamic counterattack against Babylon was non-stop adrenaline from start to finish.
​🌟 What Made Season 2 Outstanding:
​The Dynamic Duo: Seeing Ji-an officially step up as the CEO of Murthehelp alongside Jin-man’s long-awaited comeback was pure hype! Their chemistry and tactical coordination were top-tier.
​Expanded Universe & Babylon Conflict: Expanding the story beyond the original novel to introduce international threats and new characters (like Masaki Okada as J) added incredible weight to the narrative.
​Next-Level Action Choreography: The action sequences were even more explosive and brutal than Season 1, keeping the high-stakes tactical realism we loved.
​Fast-Paced & Gripping: Just like the first season, zero filler episodes—8 episodes of pure storytelling, payback, and tension.

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Filipino Superstition Turns Deadly in Rosario

I have to start by admitting that Rosario was never supposed to be my kind of movie. Horror is not a genre I normally seek out, especially when it involves the devil, Catholic rituals, religious imagery or anything that starts with Latin chanting. So when I was invited to the premiere night, I was honestly hesitant. I still went because I like the cast, I wanted to support them, and I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to watch a movie with friends. What I didn't expect was to spend most of the film genuinely scared.

Rosario takes a familiar supernatural-horror story and makes it feel distinctly Filipino by centering the narrative on a funeral superstition involving a rosary. The belief is that when a rosary is placed in the hands of the dead, it must be cut before burial. If it remains whole, something bad can happen to the family. After Magda, James, Beth and Ave's mother dies, that ritual isn't properly completed, and the family soon finds themselves dealing with a terrifying series of supernatural events.

What I enjoyed most about the concept is how recognisable the beliefs are. There were several moments when I found myself thinking, "Ah, so that's why," or "We have that belief in our family too." These are the kinds of superstitions many Filipinos grow up hearing from their parents and grandparents, so seeing them incorporated into the horror made the story more relatable. I also liked that the film eventually explains where the belief stands in relation to Catholic teaching and makes it clear that the superstition itself isn't actually a Roman Catholic doctrine.

The horror is surprisingly effective. The opening immediately had me uncomfortable because of the Latin chanting, which was basically the film announcing that it knew exactly which buttons to push. From there, the movie builds tension through atmosphere, sound design and dark settings, while throwing in jump scares at just the right moments. Some of them genuinely caught me off guard.

Aubrey Caraan is one of my favourite parts of the film. Beth is loving, protective and willing to do almost anything for her family, and Aubrey gives her enough warmth and determination to make her easy to root for. Her scenes with Lance Carr are also a welcome change of pace. Their chemistry brings some lighter and sweeter moments into an otherwise frightening story and gave me a much-needed chance to breathe.

Jairus Aquino was my standout performer. He brings confidence and emotional weight to James and, for me, gives the strongest performance among the cast. He has a natural screen presence that makes his character believable even when everything around him becomes increasingly chaotic.

The cast isn't entirely consistent, though. Yumi Garcia's Ave has plenty of importance to the story, but I didn't think the emotional material was handled as strongly as it could have been. Her relationships, especially with the woman who raised her, needed more depth and stronger emotional exchanges. Meg Imperial's character also feels underwritten and doesn't get enough material to make a stronger impression.

Suzette Ranillo, however, has fun with her role as the sharp-tongued and easily offended aunt whose actions unintentionally help trigger the curse. Rose Van Ginkel also leaves an impression despite having limited screen time. I just wish the film had explored Rosario's backstory further because there was clearly more story there.

Where the movie loses some momentum is in the climax. Without spoiling the ending, some of the deaths feel more like consequences of characters making questionable decisions than the curse itself. That makes the final stretch a little frustrating because the film had built up such a strong sense of dread earlier.

Still, Rosario succeeds at what it sets out to do. It may not reinvent horror, but it creates an effective supernatural thriller by combining Filipino superstition, family drama and Catholic imagery. Roni S. Benaid clearly knows how to build horror around Filipino beliefs, and Rosario feels like one of his more polished efforts.

And here's the funny part: I kept saying that I hate horror movies, yet I have already watched Rosario three times. I saw it during the premiere and later attended a block screening, so apparently being scared hasn't stopped me from going back.

Would I call Rosario perfect? No. Would I recommend it to Filipino horror fans? Absolutely. Just don't expect me to volunteer for another movie with Latin chanting anytime soon.

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Casting

The series started off interestingly. Unfortunately, it's unclear whether we should view it as a comedy or take it seriously. Both TaeHa and EunSae have separate storylines, but they're not given properly.
Even before the story, the casting mismatch bothered me. Jung Hae In, with his strong dramatic acting skills, deserved to be partnered with a better actress for the female lead. While I found Hae In's scenes realistic, Ha Young's acting, which is still unclear, unfortunately disconnects me from the scene. Sometimes her gestures and facial expressions don't synchronize with the dialogue, and sometimes they fall short of conveying emotion. Ultimately, I'm trying to watch what Hae In brings to the scene through his individual efforts, and I hope that in his next project he'll be with a partner who complements him and at least delivers acting at his level.

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perfeito do começo ao fim.

Posso dizer, com toda certeza do mundo, que esse cdrama marcou a minha vida.
Tudo foi criado de uma forma linda e ao mesmo tempo complexa, porém que você vai se envolvendo com toda história e de repente não consegue mais sair dela. Se vê simplesmente apaixonada por tudo e maratonando os 40 episódios sem nem ver o tempo passar.
Eu sinceramente não sou gosto de assistir séries chinesas de época, assisti muito poucas e não gostei tanto, mas dei uma chance pra esse, porque uma amiga insistiu que eu assistisse, e que delícia….
Uma protagonista forte, que não abaixa a cabeça, um amor predestinado, que encontrou o seu caminho mesmo com as dificuldades, todo elenco é trabalhado de uma forma Especial e dinâmica, as cenas de guerra são muito bem feitas e respeitando os limites, não mostrando e não usando a a violência somente por violência.
No fim, tudo é muito bem explicado, no decorrer da história, além de ser muito bem desenrolada, o casal principal é lindo, com uma química perfeita, com uma dinâmica muito bonita, e principalmente, a protagonista que é forte, determinada, cativante, engraçada e envolvente, não tem como assistir essa série e não se apaixonar por tudo que ela é e representa.
com certeza perfeito do começo ao fim, a única coisa que me deixou triste foi o final do vilão, queria que ele tivesse uma nova chance, queria que ele se tornasse bom, queria que tivesse a oportunidade em uma nova vida de conseguir a família que ele merecia, mas isso é algo particular meu…
Com certeza esse tornou-se meu cdrama de época favorito desse ano e da minha vida.

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Officer, on what grounds do you say that?

In episode 4, a suspect states "Officer, on what grounds do you say that?" when the lead investigator throws out theories about how and why this suspect could have murdered the victim and made it look like an accident. The audience feels this sentiment from beginning up until the last episode where two or three leaping twists are thrown in. If a dramas are supposed to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride this attraction has glaring gaps in the tracks where the speed is supposed to get the audience to the other side despite the huge unsettling leap from track to the next.

Episode by episode, I tried to dissect the merits of the drama and I just think the amount and the subject matter of the content they tried to cover in a 20 episode in 15 mins per episode was too much for it to be created in any substantive way. It was a disservice to the actors, the scriptwriter, and director. It is a low budget production but I don't think the locations were poorly done. The uniforms and offices were ok. But the scripts and dialogue were a disservice to the main cast. Some of the best lines and most sound logic came from the witness, victims, and suspects. Only three of the main four investigators were able to spotlight their skills. The lead investigator is somehow supposed to be naive and green but somehow put in enough years that she is supposed to be leader of this new accident squad.

The merits of the casting and writing of this drama actually happen with the accident squad is not on screen. The dramatic narrative surrounding the reveal of the crimes are very compelling. This is especially true of the first crime when the actions of the victim and assailant are revealed. The squad actors never found their chemistry together and played individual characters in the same room. The result is that they in some circumstances looked like comedic parodies of their characters. I think there was a lot of effort made the concessions that were probably made on the script, direction, and time were costly on the final product.

4.5 - the drama never found a consistent tone for the 4 main squad members but the dramatic narratives and performances of the guest stars carried the show into something watchable. The leaps in logic were egregious for the crime/mystery drama. The end was abrupt and had too many twist occurring in the last 15 min episode.

The outro was not great. The musical score was ok for dramatic performances and over the top for scenes with a bit of comedy. I'd give the re-watch value a 0 if I could.

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A Love Forgotten, but Never Truly Lost

OVERALL IMPRESSION🌟
• An emotionally intense and surprisingly addictive amnesia romance elevated by compelling performances and beautiful chemistry.

WHAT I LIKED💖
• The leads share a connection that appears to survive even when memories and circumstances stand between them.
• The ML’s instinctive concern for the FL suggests that his heart remembers what his mind has forgotten.
• The FL’s devotion is understandable because she remembers the loving man he once was.
• Their striking compatibility and emotionally charged interactions make them fascinating to watch.

WHAT I DISLIKED⚠️
• The FL endures an uncomfortable amount of emotional suffering.
• The ML’s circumstances explain his behavior but do not excuse his cruelty.
• The plot relies heavily on familiar amnesia, misunderstanding, and scheming-rival tropes.
• Certain emotional developments needed more time, while the short runtime made parts of the story feel rushed.

PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCES🎭
• Tian Xu Ning portrays the ML’s coldness, inner conflict, and buried emotions remarkably well through subtle expressions.
• Teng Ze Wen convincingly communicates the FL’s pain, tenderness, and restrained desperation despite having limited dialogue.
• The leads’ chemistry is one of the drama’s greatest strengths.
• The attractive styling, polished locations, and beautiful cinematography give the production impressive visual quality.

FINAL THOUGHTS💭
• This is not a flawless drama, but it is one of the more compelling versions of this familiar storyline.
• Recommended for viewers who enjoy intense, melodramatic romances filled with angst, devotion, and powerful chemistry.

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Health Is Sexy!!! AF

What a DELIGHT this was. A true ROM and COM, and yet I also bawled my eyes out several times. I’ve seen some reviews say that this show is fatphobic, but to be honest I expected something much worse. The core message was emphasized so many times that “health is sexy,” and the female lead never lost the weight because of her ex, but rather because she had serious health concerns. Also, her progress is slow and steady, with a healthy diet and workout routine. The only thing is that I wish the show had a healthier approach to food and dieting. Eating a balanced diet also means that you get to eat or drink something unhealthy without making such a big deal about it being unhealthy. Eating healthy also doesn’t mean that your food has to be unseasoned and bland, or just consisting of salad and greens. In that regard I agree with Ju Eun that she was like a rabbit🤣I also found it a bit disheartening that they had her gain the weight back because of her pregnancy, and 26kg at that. That’s just unrealistic especially because the male lead was only gone for a month.

Other than that I loved the main couple so much, they were adorable and so much fun. Loved how much he loved her dimples, and I am so sure that he was the one who wanted that little “pop-the-dimple” game to be their thing🤭. So cute🥰🤩! There was so much love and devotion between them, but also so much teasing and bantering, they were a fun couple. I am also glad that any trouble was communicated quickly and that there wasn’t any opposition in regards to their relationship! Now the second couple… In that equation, U Sik was the problem both times (with Ju Eun and Su Jin). I didn’t like Su Jin at first, but even with her sly remarks and annoying behavior towards Ju Eun, I grew soft for her. What the show did well was showing that skinny doesn’t immediately equal healthy. Su Jin still used chocolate specifically as a coping mechanism to stress (maybe a means to binge on the low), and she seemed to suffer from body dysmorphia. Her strict dieting also impacted her fertility. U Sik though is trash🚮🗑️ (as is Mr. Choi—he literally almost killed the male lead and barely got any harsh punishment other than losing his job temporarily).

As a whole, this show was honestly so, so good. Some of it is not super great to be honest, but I still had such a marvelous time watching it. The couple was *it* for me, as were the male lead’s friends—they made a cute quad—and the takeaway that “health is sexy and beautiful” is in fact encouraging. Especially because the female lead wasn’t wallowing in self-pity all the time, but still confident no matter her size.

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taynew have done it again

the opening scene to this show is the most unexpected thing ever. I was so shocked. but I knew immediately this was going to have a more mature and adult tone and I was excited.

this is a cute, fluffy rom-com that will make you laugh out loud and cry (at least I did...).

it showed adults going through their lives and finding people they want to spend the rest of there lives with.

toto was such a pookie bear and was so funny. Tay did an incredible job making him believable and just the most precious thing ever. kanit was also hilarious and it was so fun watching him begin to love Toto and himself. new did a great job making him posh but likeable. and their chemistry just put the cherry on top (cherry magic reference? yes yes). this could've been mid but their chemistry and the clear strong relationship between them just made the characters real, funny, and relatable.

I will warn if you hate when shows resolve a problem in the same episode you will hate this. I do feel some of the issues couldve been dragged out longer, especially cause they weren't miscommunication. I think 12 episodes would've honestly worked well too. but it's also supposed to be funny and fast paced so I get the choice.

akki and veha were cute but I've seen better side couples. and GMMTV what the actual fuck was that hairstyle you put on veha in ep10. crime. actual crime.

it did not top cherrymagic for me, but It was so entertaining and I had a great time. if I ever needed something to rewatch when I just finished something that ruined me. this is a perfect option.

thank you taynew, you have never disappointed me.

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Ep 1-5 are CLASSIC masterpice, a real rom-com, THEN it becomes shallow cheap usual sexist script

wow this is the old trope - a cold man and a kind woman who melts his heart - BUT this particular drama is different and refreshing. For most part :)

He is not poker faced all the time, he is lively;
and she talks back and at him and keeps putting him into his place.
FOR THE FIRST HALF. Then the old sexist trope kicks in and he is overly controlling and possessive and pushy, and she is overly chaste, naive, and stupid damsel in distress. Unfortunately - the script writer did not know how to keep creating fresh script.

So the script **** almost always, in almost every drama **** becomes an elementary school girl with a sugar daddy. And she keeps avoiding s.x and he pushes for it.
I think it is ok for like 1-2 episodes, but when it drags for sooo many episodes, it becomes super stale and stupid

AND SHE KEEPS LYING. And she is insecure and ignorant - a CEO's job is not 9-5 and he is a public figure. She is too stupid to even try to understand. AND he doesnt explain. THEY DO NOT COMMUNICATE. That is awfully immature

It would be more productive to show a mature relationship between two adults. Without skinship and nc. But with deep talks, sharing, intimacy that is not deeply physical, but hinting at. It would be sexier and more realistic.

Bc ... we had like at least 5 episodes of them dating but never sharing their past, their concerns, dreams, ... their plans for future... their likes and dislikes... So that is SHALLOW

=====

ML actor is really fun; and his poker face disappeared very fast - and even when he was poker faced in the beginning of the drama, he was not lmao How come there arent more actors like that.... I saw him / heard of him for the first time in current Love on the Menu weekender, and I was impressed, so I started watching his older dramas. ML actor is a gem.

This drama has a fantastic and realistic FL script
and a super lovely, expressive, fantastic FL actress. How come there arent more actresses like that. I have never seen her anywhere else. FL actress is a gem.

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to every kind of love and faith

we needed this. society needed queer people in love, with religion being shown for what it should be and what it represents.

this was in every way a show that a lot of queer people needed. there are very little representation of religious trauma in queer media and this did it incredibly well.

first, I want to say all compliments to the casting and acting Gemini and Fourth did an actually phenomenal job. I was sobbing every episode it was like actually kind of bad. The way they portrayed kids falling in love, in a world that doesn't accept them was really beautiful and felt so real. and unfortunately happens to kids everywhere.

as someone who grew up religious specifically Christian, all the religious symbolism was making me geek out the entire time. the cinematography was absolutely beautiful and there was so so many small things that you picked up on being hints to religion or hints to certain themes. The way that they portrayed Barth as being kind of the symbol of sin and going away from God and Kongdech as the symbol of faith, I thought was really really smart. AND THE APPLE, and that one scene that made an ode to the painting of the 'creation of man' it was the best thing ever.

My only complaint was that I was really disappointed to see that it was only six episodes. just with the budget and people that I know GMMTV has. I think we could have had a really good fleshed out 12 maybe even 16 episodes series about these characters. of course this topic is very sensitive and is going to offend a lot of people no matter how you do it. I think at times it did feel like they were pulling punches a little bit. I think a true big statement would be really seeing a series that's long and emotional and even more intense. Cause from the original pilot episode a lot of people thought it would be more intense and it was kind of made a bit more happy. and yes, there was a lot of really really intense things in this show already. I just think a lot of queer people kind of saw the shorter episodes and really happy ending as a cop-out.

now let's talk about the ending. I'm not mad about it. it just does feel very sunshine in rainbows. I think of course it is possible for for a queer person to have that experience with the religion and be that welcomed by a church. but a lot of people didn't have that experience. it does kind of feel like they were scared to have these characters either deconstruct or have characters throughout the show that just straight up don't accept Barth and Tanrak for who they are. I think they were little scared to have religon or a church viewed in a bad light. They could've had a conversation on how churches often represent a hateful and manipulated version of God. And a million other yes, tough conversations on how so many (not just queer) people feel about the way people have used religion to justify and treat people horribly. it was a beautiful ending but it did feel a bit cookie cutter at points and bit unrealistic.

BUT I think this is an incredible starting place for future queer media that involves religion. I think this is a perfect example on symbolism and making a quality piece of queer media.

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It's a refreshing change from having a cold male lead to a cold female lead this time, In essence, Shen Xihe's body was possesed by Gu Qingzhi's spirit when she died and the two spirits merged into one, with Qingzhi being the dominant figure, essentially almost taking over Shen Xihe entirely. It definitely is creepy but I've got to give them credit for their creativity for flipping a horror angle into a love story. A lot of things don't make sense though. The story seems forced. Things happened just to make it convenient for the storyline. So you defintely have to let go of some logic in order to enjoy this drama. What made me watch this until the end was the Crown Prince's cute antics and wanting to know who poisoned him and why. Yet, when it was finally revealed, it was a bit of a disappointment. It felt like they just made up an excuse in order to get a storyline going. And the ending - it was so unexpected. He miraculously just came back without any explanation. So did Xihe know he was coming back? For sure, she should've known if there was a body in the coffin or not. It would've been better if she was in the know that he faked his death. They made it seem like she didn't know and that was just too stupid and not fitting for her character's persona.

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Shameless ML + Smart FL = My Instant Favorite of the Year

This series was already on my watchlist because it’s exactly the kind of drama I love. Having Meng Ziyi as the female lead made it even more interesting, since she often plays revenge-type roles that suit her so well. Some people might say it’s repetitive, but I personally love her in these kinds of characters. One of my all-time favorite series of hers is Bossom, where she played the female lead, so my expectations for this one were high. After watching it, this has become one of the best series of the year for me.

I love dramas where the male lead is highly skilled but hides his true abilities and pretends to be weak. The male lead in this series, Xiao Huayong, is exactly that. He’s an excellent fighter with brilliant schemes—someone great and powerful whom other capable people respect and obey. He controls everything from behind the scenes. He’s a shameless ML who’s clingy and loves the female lead deeply; every action he takes always considers her. The female lead, Shen Xihe, is intelligent, careful, and sharp. Both lead actors, Meng Ziyi and He Yu, performed excellently, and their chemistry is outstanding. The secondary couple, Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai, felt average to me—just a bit funny. The supporting cast did a good job overall. The people around the leads—Zhen Zhu, Mo Yu, and Tian Yuan—were great and very funny whenever they were with the main couple. Among the princes, besides the Fifth Prince, the others didn’t have much screen time but still did well. The Fifth Prince was especially annoying in a good way. The scenes looked realistic and grand, the costumes were beautiful, the music was good, the palace politics were entertaining, and the story progressed well and stayed interesting every episode. The later episodes might have felt a bit rushed, and the male lead’s return wasn’t explained very clearly. Even in the special episode it wasn’t clarified—I can only guess it had something to do with the male lead’s personal physician because he aged a lot—but none of that affected the main enjoyment of the story.

Overall, this is one of the best series of the year for me. Meng Ziyi and He Yu acted wonderfully, and their chemistry is perfect. Meng Ziyi looks elegant and majestic in this role—the costumes make her look even more powerful. He Yu is handsome and cunning in this character, and he’s probably the most shameless ML ever. The supporting actors also did well. I don’t usually rewatch dramas much—I only rewatch ones I really love after a long time—but this is one I want to rewatch. As I said, if you like a highly skilled male lead who hides his true power and pretends to be weak, a smart and unyielding female lead, and a couple who love each other deeply, then you’ll like Blossoms of Power. It’s definitely worth watching.

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