Reviews

I just couldn't

. The over-the-top ML trope sounded fun, but the execution just… didn’t land for me. I actually enjoyed *Fish Upon the Sky* way more — it felt more natural and entertaining.

PondPhuwin definitely have great chemistry, but the acting didn’t quite work for me here. I found myself more interested whenever William–Est showed up… which unfortunately wasn’t often enough.

I know this was a huge hit, so maybe I’m the problem — but I was genuinely struggling to finish it. When you’re checking how many minutes are left in an episode… you know it’s not working 😅

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No romance and super boring, overrated? who is rating this 8?

the first few eps like every chinese drama were good in mid when ml was almost going the to confess plot story becomes absolutely nonsense worst boring I skipped till end and no romance no confession? after manwha I'm ending up in CDRAMA with 0 romance?😭 waste of time I'm coming to watch romance and these people are fooling me , I watched only because of Esther, the rest of the character and plot are so boring I had to skip the 2nd couple is really boring,and in the end FML literally becomes side character and whole story surrounds around ml and all side characters her roles becomes less less the 2 star I'm giving to only only ml and FML rest of the characters were so bad aslo the kid is exception

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A DRAMA THAT AWAKENS, NOT JUST ENTERTAIN

This drama is incredibly well done—female-centric and deeply satisfying, with a romance that unfolds in ways that feel both nuanced and real. It's impossible to explain how brilliant this drama is to people who just don't get it. There are no pointless scenes added just to manufacture conflict, no villains who are evil for no reason, and every character is fully fleshed out. This is the kind of quality you expect from a top-tier long-form drama.

In a sea of overpadded dramas, this one chooses precision. It is intentional, restrained, yet vividly alive. It moves with a tight, no-nonsense pace while still leaving room for complexity—for characters to grow, for emotions to settle, for history to breathe.

I especially love how it challenges the outdated idea that women especially those from rural beginnings must simply accept their fate. Instead, it shows how knowledge, ambition, and a strong sense of direction can reshape one’s destiny. Xia Xiaolan is such a powerhouse of a female lead! Strong, clear-minded, and written with so much care. And Zhou Cheng is the most perfect male lead I've ever seen in a drama. A strong female lead deserves a gentle and emotionally stable confidant like him. I just love them! 😭

Set during a time of economic growth, the drama captures a generation brimming with vitality and ambition, moving forward with a fearless, pioneering spirit. Every character feels purposeful and not just there to support the leads. Even the antagonists have depth, not just there to be villains. Truly a drama with an amazing ensemble casts!

From the plot and set design to the acting, cinematography, and editing. Everything just clicks! This is a drama that respects its audience, crafted with passion and sincerity. I’ve always believed that literature and art exist to awaken something within us—to deepen our understanding of life, of love, of the self, of good and evil, and everything in between. Hello 1983 does exactly that. I hope all viewers can find a positive message in this drama and feel encouraged by it, just as I did. Fictional works can also empower and inspire, and I hope to see more dramas like this in the future.

Finally, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng get their happily ever after (their last rooftop scene made me cry a lot)! I believe Zhou Cheng time-traveled to find her and take her back. They had previously agreed that if he ever went to the modern world, he would meet her and call out her name and that’s exactly what he did. The drama even replayed the clip of their promise. My only regret is that they weren’t able to air the part where Xia Xiaolan went back and everyone gathered in Granny Yu’s courtyard like they said in the interview. That would have made it even more perfect. We do get a glimpse of them with their twins in the villa but it’s so brief! We need a Season 2! I need to see their marriage life with the twins and everyone.

Zhai Xiao Wen 26-4-2 19:30 "No matter what time or space, I can find you."

Zhou Ye 26-4-2 19:36 "Comrade Zhou Cheng, long time no see!"

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Was really good for most of it.

I liked it a lot. The production was good, filmography and acting was amazing, the story from the start was pretty good. But i couldn't finish it. I tried really hard to finish it but couldn't. I would say, till the mid or if try really hard, then a little more than half of the story was very captivation, i was really getting into their love and also the action scenes in between, but then somehow the romance got carried away and it seemed like i have all of a sudden started to watch another action drama, all the tension between the lead characters got away and it seemed like they were trying hard to be relevant, there fights didn't make me feel much (but the filmography and direction as great!!). I wanted to feel their love and compassion but I started to rush through the episodes. I skipped more than i watched for a couple of episodes but at the end gave up all together. But then; i thought maybe I am just expecting too much and what if it get's better so i gave it another try and was able to watch till the episode where he says "kiss me". It was a good one. but that as it. couldn't watch more.

Tbh, I wanted to watch this show for a long time and the reason being the actors, production & STORY. We don't get to see these kind of story with this great production as we saw in the trailer. We do get to watch many historical dramas, but where the story hits different because it's displayed in such a way with the actors that look great, the atmosphere created that captivates one's eyes and is consistent throughout, the story delivers what kind of story i was longing for- it being able to fill the void that other dramas of the same category couldn't for a long time, i am able to feel the tension, the romance that the characters are feeling, where i am anticipated for what's going to happen next... Yeah, so these kind of dramas are very few. These kind of dramas are the one's that i am able to finish. So, i expected the same from this one. Unfortunately was dissatisfied from the last few episodes. But I was able to experience the above feeling for the most of it

Hence, most of the story was great, they curated the characters super well, the costumes were great, the visuals were awesome, the songs were moving, the acting was awesome, production as great, the filmography, angles of shots were great, the set looked soooo good-was very dreamy and not fake. It's just that the part that hangs everything together, i.e, the story started to feel less interesting as the story progressed after about 50% of the show, so i couldn't watch it anymore.
That's it :)

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Sweetest Taboo indeed!

So glad I discovered this because I love the theme of the story. Messy characters, messy plot, but healthy romantic relationship. Hmm maybe up until episode 19 lol

I love how the series tackled so many taboo topics like age gap, strong provocative female, liberal-minded young man, transgender mother, teenage pregnancy, and abortion. I think they handled those topics with care and nuance, especially the abortion thing. I love the rallying of ideas among people with different point of views, cultivated by their own experiences.

Khatha and Lin's relationship was not perfect, but I love how the misunderstandings get resolved quickly. I love the honesty and openness between them despite Lin being a little bit controlling (due to her age) and Khatha having that massive EGO. Tell that to Beyonce, huh!

All things said, the drama could've ended at Episode 19. The last 2 episodes aren't necessary because they just destroyed the beautiful character arcs that the characters have gone through. Additional drama about things that have been resolved already, and for what??

The ending kinda sucked. Like the writers shouldn't have established the relationship between Aim and Khatha. They could've been just friends! So that when Khatha goes back to Lin by the final shot, there would be no cheating. That's why I am lowering my rating.

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Love Me, Love Me Not felt surprisingly long for how little actually happens. The pacing is slow, but at the same time, the emotional development feels rushed, like everything is happening too fast without enough depth. Honestly, this story would have worked much better as a drama rather than a movie.

Plot*
The film follows Yuna and Akari, two high school girls with completely different views on love. Yuna is dreamy and idealistic, in love with the idea of romance, especially a prince-like character from a childhood book, while Akari is more grounded and realistic. When Yuna meets Rio, who looks just like the boy from her book, she immediately falls for him, only to discover he’s Akari’s stepbrother.


Spoilers ahead***


From there, the story turns into a complicated love square: Yuna loves Rio, Rio is in love with Akari, and Akari is trying to suppress her feelings for Rio while slowly opening herself up to Kazuomi. On paper, it’s a messy but interesting setup. In execution, though, it feels unrealistic.

The biggest issue is how quickly everything resolves. Characters confess, move on, and change feelings with very little buildup. Rio, in particular, goes from being deeply in love with Akari to suddenly accepting Yuna, which feels abrupt and unconvincing. The emotional weight just isn’t there to support these shifts.
Akari’s internal conflict and her feelings for Rio felt real. I can see how deeply in love they were but the fact that they were step siblings was like a death sentence to them. Honestly made no sense, and also the way she brushed off her feeling for Rio and moved on to Kazuomi, raised so many questions.

The way they were moving from one to another felt forced, unnatural, and not realistic. Maybe being a movie it played a big part by affecting the flow. One moment you see Rio's burning for Akari, In love with her and also suffering because he can't be with her but then the next minutes he just move on like it's nothing e. This make me feel like all their feelings lack validity and strength. Felt more like kids obsessed over toys than teenagers navigating love.

Because the story is adapted from a manga, it feels like too much was compressed into a short runtime. The result is a film that somehow feels both dragged out and incomplete at the same time. Scenes linger, but the characters themselves don’t grow enough. In the end, Love Me, Love Me Not just feels like a story that needed more time, more space, and more emotional buildup to truly work.

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Brilliant Mystery, but Elusive Characters

Story and Vibe
The mystery elements and plot twists in this series are exceptionally well-crafted. I got a strong Galileo vibe from the storytelling—the script is incredibly tight with virtually no plot holes. From the initial setup to the eventual payoff, the narrative journey is compelling and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The God Character
My main struggle was with character comprehension. About halfway through the series, it is revealed that the characters are actually ancient Japanese deities. As a non-Japanese viewer, I found it difficult to fully grasp the weight of these characterizations because I wasn't familiar with the specific lore of those gods.

The series would have benefited greatly from:
- A more thorough introduction to the specific deities involved.
- Flashback sequences showing their "previous lives" or origins to help the audience bridge the gap between their human personas and their divine identities.

Out of nowhere romance
I found the romantic development between Okitama Miyabi and Amano Koyume somewhat confusing. It felt as though the romance was written purely to give Okitama a reason to be deathly protective of Amano.

Their dynamic initially felt like a solid friendship, but it shifted into a romantic interest without a clear "why." Without seeing the specific moments or reasons that caused Okitama to fall for Amano, their character motivations felt a bit hollow in the latter half of the story.

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A light hearted storyline about romance

I enjoyed watching this series, the playfulness of FL for being curious and openess such as being open to new experiences, asking "what if" questions, and having a "beginner's mind" that is willing to experiment without the need for perfection. Yet a strong decisive lead to make a good decision when she needs to. I love her curiosity about 5!senses and she acted perfectly. The ML is totally smitten by ML curiosity and intrigue by FL character. The two leads are indeed charming to watch , interesting pairing indeed. You could see the twinkle in ML s eyes how much he is drawn towards FL, it is magic chemistry between them.

The story line is fresh to watch how the innocent of romance develops between the leads. Let’s see how the story develops till the end … at the moment I love the cute comedy, fun and entertaining story .

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I don’t usually write reviews, but for this one I had to because I honestly felt tricked into watching this drama for nothing. You can’t hype a bad storyline just because it has a lot of nc scenes.
I do agree that the two actors have incredible chemistry.... their kissing scenes were so good and probably the only good thing of the show. However, their acting... especially their dialogue delivery was quite awful. I could ignore it most of the time since I was reading subtitles anyway.
Well, since both actors didn’t do much dramas, there’s definitely room for improvement in their future projects.
The biggest disappointment was the story. It just didn’t make any sense. The first episode was actually good and I had expectations, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to it at all.

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A communicative couple! A successful second chance in life!

What a beautiful surprise! I did not know what to expect from this show but I was beautifully blown away. It's a fantastic show about personal growth, accountability and second chance. The leading couple is awesome! They are really there for each other, very open to each other. Not once did they let a misunderstanding get in their way. They chose trust and respect to lead their relationship and did very well. We do not have any stupid break up, useless fight or whatever of the kind. They are young yet somehow mature because of their respective life's situation. Their love is beautiful to witness. We have a strong female lead, career driven, who found a man who's not afraid of that side of her, but instead supports her wholly. She shows how surrounding yourself with the right people matters. The pace is very nice, we do not have any boring episode. We get to learn about support characters too, there are not just there to support the leads, they also have their own development. It's hard to predict where the story goes and how it will end so it makes it more enjoyable. And we have a happy ending! ^__^

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Mediocre writing, but good cast and idea

This drama is one of those cases where you can see the potential the whole time… and then watch it slowly trip over itself trying to deliver on it.

Both Rin and Taiga feel stuck in different ways, and watching them try to figure out their paths is honestly one of the strongest parts of the show. Their journeys aren’t magically smooth either, which makes things feel more grounded. Taiga finding direction while Rin keeps struggling adds a realistic contrast… but also kind of hurts the overall balance.

The casting was actually one of the stronger parts of the drama. Hyewon as Rin did a really solid job, even if her performance felt a bit awkward at times, which honestly seemed more like a language barrier issue than a lack of skill. Despite that, she still managed to convey Rin’s emotions in a way that felt sincere and natural, especially in the more vulnerable scenes. Having seen her in Friendly Rivalry, it’s pretty clear she has range, so it wasn’t hard to recognize that the awkwardness here wasn’t really on her. As for Eiji as Taiga, this was my first time watching him and he genuinely impressed me. His acting felt more effortless, especially in the quieter moments where he didn’t need much dialogue to express what he was feeling. He balanced Taiga’s reserved personality really well without making him feel flat, which is honestly harder than it looks. Together, their chemistry wasn’t perfect, but it was believable enough to carry the emotional parts of the story.

The side characters had potential too, especially Noa. Her relationship was clearly building toward a breaking point, but when it finally happens, it’s weirdly underwhelming. It doesn’t feel like the emotional explosion it should’ve been. And Junho not ending up with Noa just feels like another missed opportunity. There were way more interesting directions they could’ve taken there.

The romance itself is… messy. Not in a complex, layered way, but in a “why are we still doing this” kind of way. There are way too many conflicts built on miscommunication instead of actual meaningful issues. Instead of exploring cultural differences in depth, the show kind of uses them as a surface-level excuse for arguments. A lot of the fights could’ve been avoided if the characters just talked properly for five minutes.

And the pacing does the relationship no favors either. Things escalate way too quickly early on (episode 3 really said “no buildup needed” apparently), which makes the emotional weight feel a bit unearned. A slower burn between Rin and Taiga would’ve made their connection feel a lot deeper. If they had taken their time instead of rushing into everything, the later moments would’ve hit harder.

The cinematography and OST were honestly some of the most enjoyable parts of the drama. A lot of the scenes were shot in a really simple but intentional way that made even small moments feel meaningful, especially the quieter interactions between the characters. The use of lighting and everyday settings gave everything a more natural, almost intimate vibe instead of feeling overly dramatized. And the OST fit surprisingly well with that tone. It wasn’t anything overly loud or distracting, but it blended into the scenes in a way that actually enhanced the emotions rather than forcing them. Some tracks really stuck during the more emotional moments and made them hit harder than they probably would have on their own. It’s one of the few aspects where the drama felt consistently well thought out from start to finish.

Then there’s the ending, which feels like the writers suddenly remembered they needed to be “different” and just went for it without thinking it through. The whole breakup comes out of nowhere. The montage shows them managing long distance, visiting each other, staying connected… and then suddenly they’re just not together anymore. No proper explanation, no buildup, nothing. It’s less “bittersweet” and more “wait, did I miss an episode?”

And honestly, the biggest issue is that everything starts feeling rushed toward the end. Plotlines get wrapped up too quickly, conflicts come and go without enough depth, and a lot of things are just left hanging. It doesn’t feel like a proper conclusion, more like the story just ran out of time.

Overall, it’s not a terrible drama. There are genuinely good moments, and it does feel more refreshing than a lot of overly cliché shows out there. But it keeps getting in its own way. Between the rushed pacing, overuse of misunderstandings, missed character potential, and that confusing ending, it ends up being more frustrating than satisfying. It’s the kind of show you almost love, which somehow makes the disappointment worse.

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dream of golden years

This drama is warm and comforting. The story feels fresh and different from the usual transmigration dramas, like it brings something new to the table. I really like how it portrays love and life in a mature and realistic way. I love that it’s female-centered, and Xiaolan is such a smart and strong character, it’s really refreshing to watch. The cinematography is also beautiful and adds so much to the whole experience. The chemistry between the leads feels so natural and effortless, nothing feels forced at all. What I liked the most is how they truly understand and support each other no matter what. Even the side characters have their own purpose in the story, and there are so many moments that really stay with you even after you finish watching. It’s calm but still emotionally impactful, and it leaves you with such a soft, warm feeling.

What makes the story even more meaningful is Xiaolan’s growth. When she goes back to the past, she thought things would be easier since she already knew what would happen, but it turned out it wasn’t that simple. She still had to work hard and push herself to succeed. In the end, it wasn’t her knowledge that changed her life, but her effort and determination. That whole experience helped her face her problems in the present and actually deal with them, and I think that’s what made it hit even more. It shows that growth doesn’t come from knowing everything in advance, but from the experiences we go through and how we choose to handle them. It also makes you think about second chances and how meaningful it would be to get one, even if it’s not as easy as it seems. The idea of waking up with a lifetime of experience feels comforting, but also a little heavy when you realize how much you would have to go through to gain it.

Zhou Cheng is such a green flag. Their relationship is so healthy and supportive, and it honestly made me a little jealous because that’s the kind of love I want too, someone who really stands by you. What I love about them is how natural their connection feels. There is trust, patience, and quiet understanding between them, and they never try to force anything. It’s the kind of relationship that feels stable and secure, and it’s really refreshing to watch compared to the usual dramatic or toxic portrayals of love.

I also really appreciate how the drama handles its side characters. They are not just there for filler, but they each contribute something meaningful to the story. Their presence helps build a more complete world and makes the story feel more alive and realistic. Even small interactions between characters carry weight and add to the overall emotional impact.

The ending is just a bit underwhelming for me, and I kind of expected it already, especially with transmigration dramas and censorship. You can usually anticipate that kind of outcome. There were a lot of questions that didn’t really get answered, which made it feel a bit incomplete. The fact that she had to leave everyone behind is really heartbreaking, and it leaves a lingering sense of sadness. It’s the kind of ending that makes you think about what could have been, and it stays with you even after finishing.

But the drama is still amazing. I really hope more people get to watch and appreciate this drama because it truly deserves it. It leaves a strong impression not because of big plot twists, but because of its warmth, its sincerity, and the way it quietly tells a meaningful story. Definitely one of the best for me, and I’m really going to miss it a lot.

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Such An Underrated Series

Looking at the rating numbers before watching this drama, I was not expecting this to be one of the best series I've see in quite a while. This is so underrated. Once you start watching, you will not be able to stop!!
There are so many layers to this story, with some characters turning good to bad, and some the reverse, bad to good. It keeps you guess who to trust, with everything just about thrown into it ... murder, revenge, love, friendship, betrayal, greed, school bullying, retribution & so much more.
If you like Ryoma Takeuchi from other roles, you'll love him in this. He's definitely at his best with a very powerful performance. He, along with one of the best antagonist father and son duos to hate, make for a great series to watch. The supporting cast matches up fantastically as well. Everyone adds something to keep each episode interesting and suspenseful.
The one this the writers did that I normally dislike, was do the "jump ahead" later in the series ... when you see "Four Years Later" I immediately cringed ... this never seems to make a good feel to the series or it seems rushed with the rest of the story, BUT, not this time. The skipping ahead a few years actually fit perfectly with the series, as well as the actors looking four years older, too. It was a great storyline which made a very satisfying conclusion.

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