Reviews

The elements are there but in the end is unsatisfying

This is a drama about love and men's obsession with women. We are given many examples of this, the primary one being our ML and FL's relationship; but also the FL1 and her first husband; the FL and her first husband's brother; and the second couple. Although there are many other little subplots about marriage and courting that I won't go into here, but suffice to say it is about showcasing these dynamics more than the plot that is the central theme of the show.

Can you count the plot holes? The story at times jerks along dropping plot lines willy nilly while introducing another new character that isn't around long enough for you to care.

Holy Batman, the amount of rescues in one episode is off the chart! Attacked, kidnapped, drugged, etc... that this FL goes through in a very short period of time feels like you are on a bullet train. Most of this is so vertical drama cringe tropey that when the ML climbed the mountain for the Special Flower in an early episode I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. Totally ridiculous. Which again means you can't really care about these characters.

The ML and FL's best moments were in the beginning when they were working along the same lines and thinking out loud the same things. That gave me hope, but this was quickly thrown away so she can be clever and icy to everyone.

Why I dropped it (and speed watched about 10 episodes before quitting):

1.) Why did the soul of the FL1 return? There is no compelling reason for her to come back such as revenge. I was expecting the show to go into why the Gu family was exceuted. I found this lack very strange and it prevented me from caring for the icy lead.

2.) The relationship between the FL1 and her first husband was never fully explored or even justified. We are led to think that he didn't save her family and that was why but in a flashback we are shown that he did try and the emperor refused. Why doesn't she hate the emperor instead?

3.) If Fl1 couldn't care for first husband because the relationship was arranged by her parents for power (heavily implied since he found her in a woodshed (!!) during a rainstorm when he was returning from a trip) that's fine but you need to show us more of that past relationship. I can't help but think of The Double when we were shown clearly the dysfunction of the FL's first marriage and how that relationship split apart.

In the end they try to redeem the first husband and this further destroys the FL's character. "Why couldn't she like such a nice, misunderstood guy?"

I actually like the actress playing the FL and loved her in Blossom (which is a rewatch for me) but the script writers did her dirty in this one. They made her cold far too long, and never gave us an explanation on why she was that way. Some flashbacks to Fl1's parents, showing they were manipulative or always seeking power would help to explain this or give us a reason to sympathize.

They also did the ML dirty. The same old trope of 'sick poisoned prince' is tiresome. We are supposed to believe he is giving free will to the heroine and that is how he differs from first husband. BUT in the end the ML is just as manipulative, but more open about it. On New Years he pressures her to give him the knot that she had made for her father; he again pressures her to set a date for the wedding (I'm going to dieeeee, marrrry meeee!).

I was really hoping this might become my next great Cdrama watch but it was not to be. It's a decent enough watch (I guess) but the plot holes, the lack of depth in the characters, and the silly ending will make you sigh (and not from love).

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Deep In the story. Deeper in their feelings.

I had been looking forward to Deep In ever since it was announced, and somehow it still managed to exceed my expectations.
On paper, the premise sounds relatively simple. Zhang Zhun and Zhen Xin are two young actors cast as the leads in a BL drama. One plays the brilliant Dr. Fang Chi, the other his patient, Gao Zhun. As filming progresses, they become increasingly immersed in their roles, and the emotions they portray on screen begin to seep into their real lives. Suddenly, rehearsals no longer feel like rehearsals, every glance carries a different meaning, and the line between performance and reality slowly disappears. What starts as acting evolves into something far more complicated—filled with longing, confusion, obsession, and feelings neither of them knows how to define.

The "drama within the drama" concept is easily my favorite aspect of the series.
We constantly switch between the fictional drama—where they become Dr. Fang Chi and Gao Zhun—and the behind-the-scenes reality of filming. Normally, this kind of structure can become confusing, but here it's executed beautifully. Every transition serves a purpose. As the episodes progress, you almost stop noticing whether you're watching the characters or the actors because, little by little, neither can they.

That psychological blur is what kept me completely hooked.
Then there are the performances.
I honestly couldn't believe how young the two leads are. Ollie and Shu Yuan deliver performances that feel incredibly confident and emotionally nuanced. They don't rely on exaggerated expressions or dramatic monologues to sell their emotions.
Their chemistry is, without question, one of the strongest I've seen in a Chinese BL.
It never feels manufactured for fan service. Instead, it develops naturally through stolen glances, awkward silences, quiet conversations, and the growing uncertainty of two people who can no longer separate their characters' feelings from their own.

And yes... I have to mention that snow scene.
There's no grand declaration of love, no dramatic speech. Instead, everything is conveyed through silence, trembling voices, teary eyes, and one simple sentence that says more than "I love you" ever could. It felt intimate, painfully honest, and incredibly cinematic. I genuinely rewatched it several times before moving on.

The pacing is another reason why I enjoyed the drama so much. Every episode left me wanting more, and Fridays genuinely became something to look forward to. I also loved that the post-credit scenes weren't just bonus fan service—they often added meaningful little moments that made the characters feel even more real.
If you enjoy slow-burn romance, psychological tension, blurred realities, and stories that trust their audience, this is a series I couldn't recommend more.

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A Trope I Always Wanted To See

If you've ever wondered whether actors fall for each other for real, if they ever develop real feelings, then drama is definitely something you'd enjoy! It might be my favourite drama of 2026! And I don't hand out 10s willy nilly. PS. Every episode has an end credit scene!

Trigger Warning: rape depiction; mild spoilers ahead

From the very first opening shot, Deep In (the Act) had me hooked. One must note that it doesn't perfectly follow how actors on sets are managed. The focus is on how 2 actors dive into their roles in order to get intimate and lines start to blur between fiction and reality. Both actors are straight and these feelings make them feel confused.

The drama really upped the game for all Chinese BLs with their NC scenes. Going from watching BL stories turned into bromance to no holds bar drama was quite shocking. At the same time, there is no nudity and yet you can feel the sexual tension and chemistry between the characters! The intimate scenes were really done well.

The shift between the actors' lives and drama scenes at times are really seemless and watching the drama scenes were quite enjoyable. It was like watching 2 dramas for the price of one.

Regarding the rape scenes, I do want to mention that this was dealt as a serious topic rather than an act of love by a partner. It was treated as negative and not romanticised in anyway. It was important to the story of the drama they were starring in. However, it can be uncomfortable/traumatic to watch, especially ep 6.

Deep In really sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, including anger and disgust. I found myself waiting excitedly for each episode's release. This is a drama that is best binge watched because waiting became hard.

The actors, Ollie and Shu Yuan did a great job creating a distinction between themselves as actors and the roles they were playing, especially Ollie. He's only 20 but I was really taken aback by his talent. I can't believe he was the same kid from Boys Planet. The improvement has been spectacular! I genuinely hope both of them get flooded with more projects after Deep In. All the supporting actors did a good job even when they made you hate them and made the show a fun watch!

The drama's cinematography and OST are brilliant. Back To You and Tiger In My Love (sung by Ollie) are my current favourites but Titanic is another lovely song. Also the ending song in ep12 was amazing.

I hope everyone gives this drama a fair chance and hopefully you'll also experience the charm of Deep In!

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THIS SERIES IS SOO GOODD

I enjoyed every episode it's sooo good like the actors and actresses are soo goood looking the plot, the story, etc. all soo good they had a budget very well spent.

The story flow was also good I need to see more asap very good series ☺️👍

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Had so much potential, but fell short of my high expectations

This is a drama I’ve been waiting for a long time. There were rumors it wouldn’t air for another year, so I’m glad it finally came out. Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi are also two of my favorite actors. To be honest, after finishing it, I felt quite disappointed. If it weren’t for the last two episodes, my rating would have been even lower.

The first part was pretty fun, but the middle to the later episodes were really boring. The female lead’s character is quite annoying — she’s gullible and overthinks everything. That said, I can understand her because the male lead keeps hiding things and doing stuff without telling her. However, the second male lead was the most annoying character in the entire drama for me. Song Weilong looks handsome and cool, and his acting is decent. Ju Jingyi is very beautiful and adorable, but her performance in this drama feels repetitive — like she plays the same character in every series. Still, I’m okay with it. Their chemistry is passable, but I secretly wished there were more romantic scenes between them. The editing is not very good; it feels messy and confusing at times. The visuals, CGI, and some costumes look quite dated, but I understand since it was filmed a long time ago. The supporting cast is fine. Personally, I really liked Liu Mengrui as Ge lin — her acting was cute and charming. I hope she gets to play a lead role soon. The last two episodes feel like a summary wrap-up. If the story had been handled like this from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been a need for 33 episodes lol.

Overall, If you’re a fan of Ju Jingyi or Song Weilong, I’d say go for it. Their presence definitely carries the drama and makes it more enjoyable. However, if you’re not particularly a fan of either, this one is pretty average and skippable. The story starts off strong with good potential, but it drags heavily in the middle, has pacing issues, and some annoying characters that might frustrate you. The last two episodes help tie things together nicely, but it still feels like it could have been much tighter. Watch it if you have time and don’t mind a slower-paced xianxia romance, but you definitely won’t miss anything groundbreaking if you skip it.

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Good Chemistry, A Fun Watch!

Now, did I fast forward through most of the show? Yes. But still, here I am, writing a review about this one.

I FF'd it because I was not in the mood for any business politics/rivalry etc. Not that the drama does a good job depicting that. But it had chemistry. Logic, not so much, but very good chemistry, and it had entertainment value. All the reviews mention a lot about making fun of romance drama tropes, and it is fun when you recognise them, but at the same time the drama stands on some of those famous tropes as well.

All in all, it was really entertaining. SML was good, but everything works out for the best in the end, so we don't feel too sad for him.

AND I ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE CAMEO AT THE END, an actress I really like! The FL in this drama is really good, but I wish it was the cameo actor who did that role instead.

Did I mention I really liked the Chemistry between the leads?

Just turn off the critical logical part of your brain and enjoy the butterflies.

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I read the manhwa before so I knew what to expect going in. I might have given a lower rating if I watched this as it's own thing because there are definitely some things that could have been done differently but it's very accurate to the manhwa, as an adaptation it's honestly perfect.

Things I enjoyed:
-The actors are doing an amazing job! I love all of their performances.
-Made me both laugh and cry.
-Love the chemistry between Sun and Jay.
-Jay's uncle. Such a comforting character haha
-Pretty satisfying ending. At least there weren't loose ends left altho I feel like some characters deserved worse after everything they did.
-Opening ost.
-Didn't make me cringe like a lot of dramas usually do.
-Solid episodes from start to finish.

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Familia Goblin

Terminei o último episódio e que felicidade foi ver eles 4 juntos, se divwrtinhdoa amizade que croaram apos o drama, tantas memorias que construiram. Goblin é eterno e sempre vai ser uma parte boa da minha vida e meu favorito, assim como os telespecadores, eu tambem sonho em conhecer quebec, a ponte que eles visitaram e oytros locais que foi fravado o drama. Tem um carinho espevial pelos atores ate hoje, desde que vi prla promoera vez em 2020, acompanho e torco pelo sucesso deles.
Foi otimo revisitar tantas memorias boas com goblin e sei que vou viver bastante ainda pra rever e criar outras lembranças. 😭

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✨Light Shop - “two sides of the light”?

I just finished watching it, and all I can say is: #Don'tWatchItAloneAtNight ^^ 😊
Light Shop was never about ghosts or fear.It was about love,loss, and the people we cannot let go of.💡✨
( ความมืด •การหลงทาง•แสง•ความหวัง )✨🙃

#JuJiHoon •โลกหลังความตาย
#ParkBoYoung•โลกของคนที่ผ่านความตาย
**•[ ทั้งสองคนคือสองด้านของแสง]•**

➖➖🖊️📚➖➖
Every soul walks through darkness at some point in life. Some find their way back. Others remain lost. And somewhere between life and death, there is a place called the Light Shop.

The bus accident becomes the turning point of the story. While some survive, others remain suspended between life and death. As their loved ones wait outside the ICU, their souls begin to gather at the mysterious Light Shop.

Among all the stories, one particular moment stood out the most. Ju Ji Hoon's performance was the emotional peak of the drama—quiet, powerful, and unforgettable. It was the moment when Light Shop truly revealed its heart.

There was also another character who left a lasting impression on me: Park Bo Young. She represents those who continue to live in the world of the living, despite having once stood at the threshold of death herself. She understands, accepts, and has learned to live with that experience. More importantly, she becomes a source of comfort for those still wandering in the darkness, encouraging them to keep going, endure, and never give up—because perhaps, the light is still waiting for them at the end of the road.

Light Shop is yet another drama that beautifully contrasts the two sides of life—the living and the dead, despair and hope, and letting go and finding one's way back.


**Ju Ji Hoon is the heart of Light Shop in the world beyond death - a quiet yet powerful presence that represents the souls waiting in the darkness.✨🙃

**Park Bo Young represents the world of the living. Having once faced death herself, she understands those who are still wandering through the darkness and becomes a source of hope, giving them the chance to find their own light once again.✨🙃

➖➖🖊️📚➖➖
*( When the lights finally went out, I realized that Light Shop was never about ghosts or fear. It was about love, loss, and the people we cannot let go of. And it left me wondering—when our time comes to walk through the darkness, will we be able to find our own light? )*
-----^^-----
In My Humble Opinion💞
-
**"Wishing everyone happiness and fun while watching dramas. 💛"**
-
**But trust me... watching it alone at night takes some courage. ^^**
✨💡Light Shop was never about ghosts. It was always about finding the light within ourselves. 💡✨
#AWarningFromAFriend (Haha).^^ 🤫🤭👻💡🎥🙃🥰🩷
#MasterThepor
🖊️July 31 , 2026 📚

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Nunca irrite os caras de óculos

Assim como no primeiro episódio, ri e chorei nesse último. To muito feliz que deu tudo certo 🥹, mesmo ele aparentemente seguindo o rumo de um "agente" no trabalho mas espero que agora sem perigos. Gostei muito da atuação de todos 🥹, os personagens do jin cheol e do han soo trouxeram a parte comica que nao foi exagerada. Eu vibrei muito e gostei do final dos personagens ruins. O que os pais nao fazem pelos seus filhos? A unica coisa que faça perder o sentido é o fato da min ji ter perdido muito sangue, nao ter morrido e nao ter ido ao hospital, mas eu relevo pelo meu final feliz. O ji sub ARRASOU!!! E a atriz da Min ji também. Um otimo drama

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When The Both Stars Align.

I loved it.

What caught my attention from the start was the opening song. Seriously, with a chinese series, it set the tone immediately to expect something different and different is what we got.

For the most part, I enjoyed both stories. Admittedly, the ending was a surprise. Seeing, the switch was more rewarding than the 'main' story. Worlds in reverse. That was more original than the kiss on stage. Then are we to assume that Mr Qin was in the script too.... as I said different. I was happy with the switch, else the change of response of Zhang in the 11 ep would not make sense.

I can't pull apart Ollie's acting. He was interesting to look at and in either script, he delivered on his assignment. I wasn't expecting much so I was not disappointed. I wanted more from Shu Yuan. His doe eyes weren't doing what he thought it was. Yes, he could cry but other than that, it felt stagnant and stifled outside of being sad or scared.

The chaotic atmosphere, support cast, Qin and the director, 'Honey', were a nice rounded cast. I will reiterate, do not go in with high hopes and you will thoroughly enjoy it. The wardrobe: Hit and miss....more miss than hit. Ollie being that slim and tall proved to be a challenge but there was no excuse for Shu Yuan . Mr Qin, the dramatic diva was appropriately attired.

The drawbacks were limited expressions, usual tropes, the terrible kisses and circular story lines but given a pass as it was entertaining enough to show up every week to see what's next. I'm always reminded it's China.

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La serie que no sabía que necesitaba.

A veces no hace falta grandes efectos especiales, ni alardes tecnológicos de los que estamos acostumbrados actualmente, sólo una buena historia, unos buenos actores, una buena dirección, fotografía, etc... Esto es "Key to the Phoenix Heart", una de esas raras joyas escondidas. Esta serie no tuvo una gran campaña de marketing detrás, y una publicidad praticamente nula, pero tampoco lo necestia, se vende sola. En mi caso, cualquier serie protagonizada por Hou Minghao, merece la suscripción a al plataforma, que por cierto, se emite exclusiva, no hay contraparte internacional.
Volviendo a la serie, se nota el cariño y respeto que le ha puesto todo el mundo su producción. Los guionistas, Wu Mengzhang y Shi Ruomin, se merecen todos los elogios. Crear una trama tan rica, de echo tienes que volver a ver la serie desde el principio, para descubrir nuevos detalles que se te pasaron por alto la primera vez. Los personajes, todos ellos, perfectamente desarrollados, con su espacio para brillar.
El personaje central Xiao Wuji, es excepcional. Creo que si no lo hubiera interpretado Hou Minghao, no hubiera sido lo mismo. Para representar todas las aristas de este personaje, se necesita una gran destreza interpretativa. Wuji tiene una imagen pública: arrogante, cruel, vanidoso y frío; y otra privada, de bajo perfil, protectora, gentil con su gente. Cada mirada y gesticulación de Hou, es de premio. Además tiene un increíble carisma y encanto natural innatos, que se los trasmite a sus personaje, y es más fácil empatizar con él, incluso cuando los ves matar con la espada de forma despiadada. El arco del personaje de cierra de forma magitral, pero al mismo tiempo, esta serie daría para una segunda temporada. La química con el personaje de Aimee, es increíble. Muy buen trabajo de esta joven actriz.

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NOW THATS HOW YOU DO A BL

Not even going to hold you gagaoolala lost my trust after that fuckass ending of 'lost to you'. but this one was sooo good the plot was 10/10, i loved it so much and i also really liked how when they were acting in the show the screen would get slimmer so you would know whats outside of them acting in the show, i really liked the ending it was cute that he kept his ring but the ending also did have me on the edge of my seat because i wasnt exspecting a breakup nor for that fake priest to scam granny out her money now that was just dead wrong, the acting in the beginning of episode 12 was so fucking amazing i loved the sob homeboy let out like it was very realistic i just dont like how they let that girl use that f word and im not talking about cigs.

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Not all secrets can be buried.

I watched the drama because of the male leads. I really loved their pairing on "Kill me, Heal me", which lead me to watch this drama. Aside from that, I got curious after reading the reviews.

I'm really not a fan of melodramas, so I honestly find the drama boring and, of course, slow-paced. I did not find the drama "great" but it was "good". There's a lot of scenes that I find unnecessary, making the drama feel dragged out. But the side characters somehow helps me get pass the boredom. The drama OSTs are okay, but not really impactful for me.

For Min Hyeok, Yoo Jeong, and Do Hoon — I have no words for how well they played their characters. The emotions are always there and spot on.

One thing I want to complain about in the drama is the "partner exchange" pace. It felt rushed. Yoo Jeong was so in love with Do Hoon, then she says she loves Min Hyeok after learning the truth. The same thing with Min Hyeok, but his case felt more possible since he'd been keeping tabs on her for a long time and eventually grew feelings and fell in love. Then there's Do Hoon — he's in love with Se Yeon? Just wow. Yoo Jeong and he had a 7-year relationship, almost got married, and even had a son, but how quickly he turns his back on her. Meanwhile for Se Yeon, he protected her till the end?! Unbelievable!

~~~
This is a story of love that started as revenge.

Min Hyuk lost his pregnant lover in a hit-and-run accident. He seeks revenge to Yoo Jung, mistakenly thinking she was the one who drove and killed his girlfriend. What he didn't know is that Yoo Jung is innocent. He makes her suffer both inside the prison and even after she served her time — reasonable, yes.

Yoo Jung loves her prosecutor boyfriend, Do Hoon, dearly. They had been in a relationship for 7 years and is planning to get married when the car accident that killed Min Hyuk's lover, Ji Hee, happened. The accident occurs when the two are heading home on a rainy night from their anniversary slash wedding proposal dinner. Do Hoon was driving and Yoo Jung sat on the passenger's seat when they hit some—someone. Yoo Jung took the blame to protect Do Hoon's reputation, leaving her own father alone. I can never understand how she came up with the idea of leaving her father and taking the blame for such a grave sin, only to later realize how trashy and scummy that man was!

Prosecutor Ahn Do Hoon started off as a man of justice. When he was cornered and forced to choose between being human and a monster, he willingly became the beast. I know he had a lot to lose, and he did tried to turn himself in, but Yoo Jung insisted on going to prison instead, so I won't hold that against him. However, he shouldn't have done what he did to Yoo Jung. As if sending her to prison wasn't enough, he even took their one-year-old son, San, away from his mother. After taking the child, he sent him to what...? An orphanage?! Then he didn't even know that his evil mother was plotting something against his own child. To top it off, he abandoned Yoo Jung's father to die — the man that treated him as his own. There's nothing even good with Do Hoon — his love sucks, his logic sucks, he sucks, and his whole family sucks!

Se Yeon is a character that doesn't really do much in the drama except earn my annoyance. She's one of the characters that makes the show feel exaggeratingly dragged out.

Where did it really starts to go wrong? If only the accident hadn't happen. If only Ji Hee wasn't there that night, or Yoo Jung and Do Hoon had just celebrated at the bakery. If only Ji Hee did not saw Gwang Soo, then she wouldn't have needed to run. If only the car wipers weren't broken, or the truck hadn't appeared. Ultimately, what if Do Hoon hadn't turned his back on the bleeding Ji Hee?

In my honest opinion, I think all characters — specifically Min Hyeok, Yoo Jeong, and Do Hoon — are a victim of circumstances. They were put in a difficult situations and forced to make a decision to protect what they want to protect. One thing I like about the drama is that it chooses to show reality instead of some beautifully written fairytale.

Through Se Yeon, we get to see how obsession can be disguised as love. Learn to love and respect yourself, because no one can do that for you unless you do so. You cannot have what you are not bound to have and you cannot lose what you never had. It was never the responsibility of the person you love to love you back — those are your feelings, and it is your responsibility.

Through Do Hoon, we are shown what happens to a person when faced with difficult situations and impossible choices. How monstrous a human being can become just to get want he wants, even to the point of sacrificing the people who truly loves and cares for him. With him, I realized the sad truth of how a man cries for justice when he has nothing, but sets aside justice when he has everything.

Through Min Hyeok, we are encouraged to take courage and fight for what we believe is right and for what we truly want. That we don't have to choose between family and love — we choose both. Those who truly love us will stay and accept us no matter what we choose to do and be.

And finally we have Yoo Jung. She taught us how powerful love can be — not just the kind of love for a lover, but also the kind of love of a mother to his child and the love of a daughter to his father. She was a character that was both weak and strong at the same time. She was weak because of the decisions she made that mades her life miserable, and strong as she never backed down no matter how hard and painful it was. She showed us how beautiful and ugly love can be if too it's much. When you love, love wholeheartedly, but never ever forget to love and respect yourself in the process.

~~~

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