A Fun VR Game Time-Travel Watch: Predictable Plot, But Very Entertaining
I didn’t know what to expect, but this turned out to be a fun watch. It’s one of those VR-game-based time-travel stories where the female lead has to complete missions to return to her modern world. We’ve seen dozens of dramas like this, all following the same basic formula, so there’s nothing new in terms of narrative. But what made this one enjoyable, was how entertaining it was—the comedic one-liners and the funny situations. It didn’t feel like a true repeat because the specifics were fresh enough, and the short runtime helped. I will say it could have been trimmed down to about 20 episodes; several tropes felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing. And the finale left me a bit confused. Overall, though, this was a great Le Geyang watch to fit in between my more serious dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
What a ride it was!
I can’t critically review this one effectively. I agree with them, so can’t add any more to the other well written 9 & 10 star reviews.All I can say is, for someone who shies away from horror and zombie movies, I loved Train to Busan! I highly recommend it to anybody who likes this genre.
The acting was perfect but honestly, the Zombies were the best. I believe the reviewers who said this is the best Zombie movie anywhere.
As a side note:
I cracked up during Episode 7 of Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) where Kim Sin and Eun Tak go to the movies to see Train to Busan. Kim Sin cannot contain his fright at watching Seok Woo trying to protect his daughter from the zombies.
I read where that scene was an inside joke by the writers. For those who are unaware, Kim Sin and Seok Woo are both played by Gong Yoo. The behind the scenes of that scene in Goblin are even more hysterical to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Spooky Investigation Told Across Timelines
This was a good watch. I did have some issues with the pacing—the storytelling felt a bit sleepy at times—but the overall narrative was really unique. It follows a constable investigating a series of crimes connected to a girl he loved when he was younger. The story unfolds under the cover of eerie events told through different characters, and we weave their accounts together into a full backstory as the timeline shifts between past and present. I thought the execution and plot angles were handled well, and it hit all the spooky marks. Some of the flashback sequences dragged a little, but overall, this was a solid watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Palace Intrigue Done Exceptionally Well
I absolutely loved this. I typically struggle with Ren Jialun’s performances, but I have to say this one is a top-shelf favorite of mine. Everything worked—even when it didn't.While the overall narrative wasn’t entirely new, with its focus on palace infighting and conspiracies, the execution was so effective that I was fully absorbed, hanging on every line and plot turn. I loved the rich martial arts and the bold characters whose power and potential weren’t limited by gender. Each character captured my attention and drew me into their storylines in impactful ways that stayed with me throughout the drama. I was truly invested in their lives, and I appreciated the multiple layers in both the plot development and the character growth as they navigated identity and relationship dynamics.
This drama isn’t perfect—there were a few moments that made me raise a brow—but everything else made up for what became minor flaws. This is a 10/10 win for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not for Everyone, but Familiar to Vertical Drama Fans
If you’re used to low-budget vertical dramas, this one won’t faze you. But if you’re new to the format, it might be a turn-off because it’s clear from the start that it isn’t as well produced or well financed as what you may be used to. That said, I’m familiar with vertical films, used to poor subtitles, and I love Guan Yue—so I’m definitely biased. While this isn’t his best work or even a hint of what he’s capable of, I didn’t hate it. It’s a casual, silly watch with a weak script and a short runtime that makes it easy to finish.Was this review helpful to you?
Tang Detective: The Broken Mirror Conspiracy
0 people found this review helpful
A Casual Tang Dynasty Mystery Watch
I liked this. It wasn’t the best watch or the strongest of Guan Yue’s Tang Dynasty projects, but it was enjoyable as a casual watch and a chance to see another Guan Yue feature.There was detective work, martial arts sects, and secret arts involving puppetry, sorcery, and ritual techniques, along with rebellion and palace intrigue. While it didn’t hit as hard for me as The Crime Unit of Tang Dynasty or Tang Dynasty Unusual News Report—both of which I rated highly—I still liked this one. The script made me laugh, and I stayed interested enough to see it through.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Light Slice-of-Life Time Travel Watch: Food, Business, and Romance
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think it’s for everyone. The storyline is fairly light, and much of the drama feels more like a slice-of-life experience focused on daily living. There is a minor conspiracy arc, but it lacks depth, so the emphasis stays on the time-travel element and the central family.As far as my experience goes, the romance didn’t land for me, and I’m not someone who typically enjoys family-oriented dramas. So, I mostly watched this for the food, the art direction around menu planning, and the entrepreneurship. I also thought the comedic moments were well done and fit the overall tone. For me, I got what I wanted from this watch and for that, it was enjoyable.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I started watching this because my mom got a Kocowa subcription on our Amazon Prime and it was rec to me by the algorithm and how I wish it never did. JK I really did enjoy my time with this but omg it was a DRAG once it got to ep 19-ish. The last episode felt exceptionally terrible to me and honestly left a sour taste in my mouth with how horrible paced it was comparing it to literally even the PREVIOUS episode. I don't need everything spelled out to me but everything was just left so ambiguously and really just not what I expected out of the show. Their 2nd wedding was cute though so we got that ig lol. Anyways...the slow burn was sooo good and felt deserved but the miscommunication got too annoying Jesus. Shin got on my nerves but YUL... don't bring up his name in my house I swear he was so bad to Chaekgyung arguably sometimes worse than Shin. I love the music and fashion from this show the 2000s fashion mixed with korean traditional is so glam and chic I literally can't every new outfit Chaekgyung popped out with made me so envious. If I were to rewatch it would be any episode before ep 18 becos the angst be ANGSTYYY. But Princess Hours/Goong was a fun watch. Was this review helpful to you?
A Layered Odyssey &Visually Stunning
I absolutely adored this watch. It felt fresh and new compared to what we’ve been getting over the years. It was intelligent and deeply layered, always evolving and building across episodes, with a plot that only got better and better with time. It was engaging, philosophical, and touching. I loved the characters—their growth and their dynamics. The sub-arcs made this a true odyssey, and the cinematography was beautiful.The twists were either predictably impactful or genuinely shocking, delivered consistently all the way to the end, keeping me on my toes the entire time. I can’t praise this drama enough, and I can easily see myself rewatching it without ever feeling bored by the narrative. This isn't something you can understand in a few episodes, and the ending, for me, was satisfying. This is a top-shelf favorite, hands down.
Was this review helpful to you?
Six Episodes of Doubt, Then It Clicked: A Romance That Won Me Over
I had a difficult time getting through the first six episodes. I usually love offbeat and exaggerated satire, but the stylized deliveries and constant misunderstandings just weren’t my cup of tea. I’m not sure if it would have worked better with a different lead, but something about the execution didn’t quite land for me. Still, I had a feeling the underlying storyline would eventually shine through—and I’m glad I stuck with it, because it ended up becoming one of my favorites.It’s not quite top-shelf for me, as those six rough episodes are hard to ignore, and the plot occasionally relied on convenient or hard-to-believe twists that separated the main characters one too many times. Even so, it was a drama I couldn’t pull myself away from, and it made for an easy, comforting watch while I was stuck at home recovering from a terrible cold.
The cinematography was beautiful, and the themes reflected many of the elements I love in Chinese dramas. I found myself connecting with both major and minor characters, and the villains were especially compelling—complex, morally gray, and backed by layered stories that made it difficult to truly despise them, even after witnessing the harm they caused. I also appreciated the character dynamics, the steady plot growth, and the overall narrative arc. While I don’t always enjoy the style of romance often found in popular Chinese dramas, this one suited my tastes perfectly. I absolutely loved the main couple and their relationship.
Overall, this was a win for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Strong First Arc, Better Second Arc Idea
I’m sorry, folks, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea. The cinematography was eye-catching, and some sequences were truly masterful, but the pacing and execution didn't land for me.The drama is essentially split into two main arcs. The first arc centers on the female lead. I loved some of the plot specifics, but some of the interpersonal dynamics felt strange to me, and certain elements came across as a bit taboo in the way they were presented. The storyline also felt stretched across too many episodes and could have been edited down significantly. The second arc focuses on the male lead and his family’s backstory. For me, this was the highlight of the drama, yet it wasn’t as fully developed as the primary narrative. I would have loved to see more as we pieced together their story.
All in all, this just wasn’t my vibe, and I had to skim through certain sequences to avoid dropping it entirely. But it was nice to see a few key performers onscreen again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Strong Cast, Weak Rebirth Script
I’m sorry, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea. This is another drama I genuinely wanted to like, as I have a soft spot for He Landou and Jerome Deng — I’ve enjoyed them in many other performances (I can recommend some if you’d like!). I also love rebirth-revenge mini dramas and have been gorging on them for the past two years, but unfortunately, this script just didn’t land for me.The performances were wonderful, I loved the second leads, the costume choices were beautiful, and the basic premise was genuinely interesting. I thought this drama had great potential, and I could see where it could have soared — but for me, the script was the main issue. Unfortunately, I struggled with the overall experience solely because of it. I’m well-versed in short-form content and have watched plenty with excellent scripts, so I don’t believe the format itself is the reason behind my feelings. That said, it was a very short feature — only about five minutes per episode — so it was an easy watch for a rainy day and supported He Landou and Jerome Deng
Was this review helpful to you?
A Huge Miss: Dropped Around Episode 12
I'm sorry, folks, but I didn’t enjoy this one and ended up dropping it around episode 12. I had just finished another drama that didn’t quite work for me, and I didn’t want to go through the same experience again—especially with something this long. That said, I thought the costumes and cinematography were beautifully done, and some of the twists and reveals were genuinely smart and unexpected. Unfortunately, the main storyline and subplots just didn’t hold my interest. I found them tacky and overdone, particularly for a genre I’m very familiar with. It’s disappointing to say that, especially because I love Guan Yue productions and make a point to watch all his costume dramas where he plays the lead. But out of everything in his filmography, this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.Was this review helpful to you?
A Cohesive and Satisfying Tang Dynasty Mystery. One of the Best Folklore-Inspired Detective Dramas.
I absolutely loved this. It has 27 episodes, divided among 5 subcases and 1 main case that they all connect to. There are several similar dramas that follow this investigative style—detectives solving cases shrouded in haunted folklore. Guan Yue even starred in another one called Tang Dynasty Unusual News Report. While I enjoyed that drama too, it fell apart in the second half when the focus shifted to the overarching case. The transition wasn’t seamless, and the episodes felt disjointed. In contrast, The Crime Unit of Tang Dynasty stayed cohesive and consistently strong through to the end. Like its counterpart, it taps into spooky elements, but what made this one stand out for me were the stories themselves. They felt elevated because they centered on touching situations and explored the layers of human behavior and its impact.Was this review helpful to you?
So Much Potential, But It Didn’t Deliver: Needed More Underworld and Demons
It pains me to say this, but this was just okay for me. The beginning is strong and immediately engaging. The storyline is compelling, the characters are dynamic, their backstories are poignant and easy to connect with, and the color palette is visually stunning. Unfortunately, around the midway point, the drama stopped developing some of these strengths and shifted its focus more heavily toward the central romantic storyline. Much of the initial thematic depth began to fade, and several characters felt less present or were given less satisfying narrative attention, which left me wanting more from their arcs. By the later stages, the story felt less impactful than it initially set up, and the overall resolution didn’t fully match the strength of the early build-up for me. Even moments that could have added emotional weight didn’t quite land in the way I expected.I’m genuinely sad that this is how I ended up feeling about this drama, because it had so much potential that it just never fully delivered on it for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
