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Not what you expect.
I like emotional series BUT I never feel like watching them. I only feel like watching something emotional every like 5 months. This series has been on my watchlist for what feels like a decade now. I finally got myself together and decided to watch this series. I haven't realllyyy seen a lot of JimmySea series and I do plan on watching more of them since I think they're overall really good actors. I'm gonna be very honest right here, when I started this series I had not even read the summary. I like being surprised.Let's start with the representation of disabled people. As someone that has hidden disabilities I feel like this show portrayed disabilities extremely well. The way they showed the emotional side Day had when he learned he wasn't able to see anymore to losing his sport. The way Mhok was able to lead and make everything easier for Day really made my day. It was so sweet how Mhok understood his fears, even if Mhok was able to see. It really seemed like Mhok did research which, from what I remember, wasn't really shown in the series. I just love how Mhok tries to understand Day as much as possible. Mhok seems like a person who can come up with solutions to everything. I love how he casually shows things like audio books to Day and shows Day he can enjoy books and films like a 'normal person', just in a different way.
Amazing relationship build up, and I mean it. In the beginning it kinda felt like it was slow burn, but that didn't matter. The small touches, 'dates' and hand placements all show the affection between Mhok and Day without needing reassurance of their feelings, until August came in. I get the lingering feelings Day and August still had going on but I felt soooo bad for Mhok. Mhok did everything for Day just for August to exist and be Day's interest. I really liked that they added August since it shows how Mhok actually thinks about Day and not just a random realisation.
One thing that lacked was Mhok's side especially his feelings about his sister and the jail stuff. I feel like Mhok decided to take care of Day aswell because of his sister. He must've felt extremely lonely without her. About the sister were only like 2-4 scene's and Mhok never expressed a lot about her. Aside from that, it was super clear that Mhok had been in jail but after a while it started to feel like they kept pushing it as an reminder without really showing how Mhok felt during the time he got send to jail.
The amount of comfort this series has given me is not explainable. I was sooo into it. Even though I was really locked in and very focused on this series, I will be honest, it wasn't suspecting this type go emotional. I kept thinking horrible things would happen and tried not to attach myself to either Day and Mhok, which obviously failed. I thought things like: "what if Day dies" because online I read people being emotional about this series. Yet, aside from no 'super terrible' things happening, I still cried at some scene's. The super romantic tension between Day and Mhok was genuinely so beautiful I wanted to cry.
I'm gonna be very honest right here but I never cared about Phojai and I'm sorry for it. Phojai's story was confusing to me and it felt like fillers. I feel really bad for her but I was just super confused about her through the series. Her character added unnecessary drama. Night and Phojai also barely had any interactions and their whole romance was off. I loved how caring Phojai was though, it's just sad that she always got used as, what felt like, excuses and fillers. "Guys we need some more drama can we add Phojai in it?", that's how it felt. That doesn't mean I hate her, she's a sweetheart but yeah.
This was definitely worth staying up till 5 am for. The ending wasn't the best one I have seen so far and in my opinion they didn't need this 'good ending'. They could've just let Day be blind his whole life.
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A Bite-Sized Drama That Struggles with Execution
Can I call this a “rotten tomato” without offending anyone who enjoyed it? I was initially curious about the premise, and with episodes only about three minutes long, I ended up quite far into the story before I realized it—so I eventually watched it through to the end.However, if it had been any longer, I don’t think I would have continued. There are a few interesting subplots, but they feel underdeveloped, with not enough time given to properly explore or expand on them. While this is a miniseries and limited runtime is expected, the lack of depth still made much of the storyline feel flat overall, and Wake Up To Fantasy suffered from that imbalance.
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Should Come with a Trigger Warning
Oh gosh—how do I say this? No. I’ve always tried to remain respectful in my reviews, even for dramas I didn’t enjoy. But this one crosses the line when it comes to healthy and safe boundaries. In my opinion, it should come with a trigger warning for dark, toxic, and unhealthy romance centered around violence—and the novel is even worse. While certain intense scenes can serve a narrative purpose, many in this drama felt more like shock value or, worse, a glorification of violence against women. I dropped it by episode 15, and even getting that far took effort. Personally, this just isn’t my cup of tea. I don’t mean to yuck anyone’s yum, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it.Was this review helpful to you?
A Solid Xianxia Drama with a Few Rough Edges
I really enjoyed watching The Legend of Shen Li and would recommend it overall. It’s a worthwhile series with a strong cast that does a great job bringing their characters to life, creating a heartfelt and engaging viewing experience. The supporting storylines add moments of humor, while the action sequences and emotional beats help keep the drama dynamic and engaging. Several characters are especially memorable, with clear development and a strong on-screen presence.That said, I would recommend it with a few caveats. While there is a lot to appreciate, parts of the series felt uneven or somewhat drawn out, particularly as it progressed. Some narrative and stylistic choices occasionally disrupted the flow and made certain moments feel less consistent, which slightly affected the overall impact.
These issues became more noticeable as the story went on, and while they didn’t ruin the experience for me, they did prevent it from fully reaching its potential. Overall, I still think The Legend of Shen Li is a strong drama with plenty to offer—it just didn’t fully land as a standout for me. It ultimately sits in the “solid like” category rather than a full favorite.
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A Case-Driven Drama That Didn’t Fully Work for Me
I’m sorry, folks—this drama just wasn’t for me. I dropped it at episode 10. There were several reasons it didn’t work.While I appreciated that Ju Jingyi expanded her range by taking on a villainous role, I was disappointed when she slipped back into her usual character portrayals. And although Liu Xueyi delivered a strong performance, I felt the chemistry between the leads was mismatched, and the storyline itself was difficult to connect with. On the positive side, this was the first time Li Geyang caught my attention, and I thoroughly enjoyed his screen presence. He brought his character to life with charisma and nuance, layering various traits and moods effortlessly and naturally.
Overall, I liked the narrative framework that wove individual cases into a larger storyline, but ultimately, the execution didn’t quite land for me—it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
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Engaging but Not the Strongest in Lin Zehui’s 2024 Lineup
Lin Zehui appeared in two back-to-back dramas in 2024, and this was the second one I watched. While I ultimately preferred the first, that’s not to say this one isn’t worth watching. The story is engaging, and I appreciated that the narrative avoids relying heavily on prolonged misunderstandings to create conflict. The pacing generally keeps things moving, and the drama provides a satisfying overall viewing experience. That said, I found myself more invested in several of the supporting characters and their storylines than in the central narrative. Their arcs and personalities were often what kept me most engaged from episode to episode.Overall, I would recommend this drama, especially for fans of Lin Zehui or viewers looking for a short, entertaining watch. However, it wouldn’t necessarily be the first title I’d prioritize if you already have other dramas on your watchlist.
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An Entertaining Wuxia-Inspired Miniseries with Memorable Leads
This was my favorite 2024 drama featuring Lin Zehui. The choreography is intricate and beautifully executed, and the narrative remains engaging throughout, even when some of its developments are easier to anticipate. Lin Zehui delivers a dynamic performance, showcasing impressive range in his role, while Zizi Xu plays exactly the kind of female lead I love to watch—capable, decisive, and highly skilled.I would definitely recommend this drama, though I do have some reservations about the final stretch. For me, the story loses a bit of momentum in its later episodes, and the conclusion left me with mixed feelings. Still, this is a miniseries, so it’s a relatively small time investment, and the strengths of the cast, action sequences, and overall storytelling more than make it worth watching.
Overall, it’s an entertaining watch with memorable characters, strong choreography, and a female lead who truly stands out.
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A Visually Striking Film with Untapped Potential
If this had been a drama like the original story, I would have dropped it. But because it was a movie, I found it easier to take in and digest. I initially gave it a chance because it stars Chen Duling, and I thought the visuals were beautiful. Some of the scenes between Chen Duling and Mao Zijun were exquisite, and I would have loved to see their storyline—and his backstory—further explored. I found them to be the most interesting aspect of the film.However, everything else fell short for me. Strangely, even though it was only an hour-and-a-half feature, the execution and pacing felt off. The narrative was choppy and didn’t flow smoothly, which made it feel underdeveloped despite its potential.
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Revenge and Hidden Identities. Exceptional Performances in a Difficult Watch.
This was a difficult watch for me. I thought it was a powerful production that really showcased Li Muchen’s talent. Not many actors can portray trauma with the level of authenticity and emotional depth that she brought to the role. Unfortunately, I ended up dropping the drama somewhere between the halfway point and the final stretch because the abuse and emotional intensity became too overwhelming for me. While I appreciated the performances and understood what the story was trying to accomplish, it ultimately crossed a line that made it difficult for me to continue.Themes like these are fairly common in short-form dramas, and both Li Muchen and Deng Kai frequently take on roles with darker or more emotionally challenging dynamics. I’ve found that my enjoyment often depends on how those themes are handled and presented. In this case, the content ultimately exceeded my personal comfort level, even though I could recognize the quality of the performances and storytelling.
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A Multi-Lifetime Drama with Heart, Humor, and Intrigue
I really enjoyed this watch. I loved so many aspects of it—the narrative, the dialogue, the chemistry between the main leads, the humor, and the build-up of conflict and plot development. I thought the story was well told across different lifetimes and life events, and the way it peeled back the past to reveal the truth behind current situations—many influenced by false charges—was particularly engaging.I think I rated this lower than I normally would have because the ending didn’t quite work for me, but overall, this was a win. I’d definitely recommend others give it a try to see if it suits their taste too.
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A Slow-Burn Mystery That Unfolded Across Families and Generations
Yes, this took me a year to finish. I started it when it first dropped and was excited—but this is my life now: It can take me a long time to finish anything over 26 episodes depending on my periphery. However, I loved it.I've heard many people say they found this dry and slow, but I often wonder if it released at the wrong time. It followed The Double, which I ended up dropping—even though most people were enthralled by its high-stakes thrills and fast-paced plot. I would imagine anything would have a hard time following it. With that in mind, Follow Your Heart definitely lives in its own space. And I loved it for its meandering, thoughtful storytelling. It gave me time to connect with the day-to-day lives of the characters and to fully appreciate their evolving relationships and growth. Hot-headed characters matured and found redemption, broken ties were mended, and families and friends came together under pressure and common threats. I also really enjoyed the overarching conflict that spanned generations and multiple families. It unraveled gradually, with smaller culprits leading up to a major one—who ended up being a huge surprise. Based on critiques, I don't know if this is for everyone, but it was for me.
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The Warmest Surprise of the Year
I started Dazzling with absolutely zero expectations. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to like it at all. I hadn’t seen many people talking about it, and since it’s from the same writer as Speed and Love (which I personally didn’t love), I went in with very low expectations. Somehow, it completely blew me away.This ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year for me.
The drama has such a warm, comforting summer atmosphere. The seaside setting instantly reminded me of Welcome to Samdal-ri, but with a much younger and more youthful energy. At its core, it’s a story about friendship, family, community, dreams, and growing up, with romance naturally woven into it rather than dominating the story.
The relationship progression is one of my favorite aspects. It’s not really enemies-to-lovers; it’s more enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. At the beginning, I know a lot of viewers found the female lead bratty, but honestly, I completely understood her reactions. Imagine going from a comfortable city life with your own room, air conditioning, and privacy to suddenly living in a crowded seaside community with shared bathroom and a completely different lifestyle. I’d be struggling too.
What I loved most was how Xing Wu treated her from the very beginning. Even when he teased her or acted annoyed, he was always looking out for her. He constantly took care of her, protected her, and put her needs first. That’s such a huge part of who he is as a character—he takes care of the people he loves, and she was no exception. One line from later in the drama really stuck with me: even when they had almost nothing, they would still offer what little they had to her. That warmth and generosity perfectly captures the spirit of this show.
The drama balances so many elements beautifully: friendship, family, romance, hardship, perseverance, and personal growth. Xing Wu’s journey was especially inspiring. No matter how many times life knocked him down, he always found a way to get back up again.
One thing people should know before watching: this is an incredibly slow burn romance. And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. The leads don’t officially get together until very late in the story, and for a long time you could easily interpret their relationship as best friends or even sibling-like. Normally that would frustrate me, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it here because their bond was so genuine and heartwarming. Their friendship alone was enough to keep me invested.
This was my first time watching GXT, and I absolutely loved her. She fit the role of the spoiled rich girl perfectly. More importantly, her character growth was fantastic. Her bratty attitude doesn’t last forever, and watching her become more humble, empathetic, and connected to the people around her was incredibly satisfying. I also loved that she consistently stood up for herself. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.
As for Xing Wu, he completely stole my heart.
His story is heartbreaking, but what impressed me most was his resilience. This man goes through absolute hell, yet he never lets bitterness consume him. He keeps getting back up, keeps trying to be kind, and keeps giving people second chances. He genuinely has one of the biggest hearts I’ve seen in a drama.
And honestly, this might be my favorite Li Yunrui role so far.
I’m usually used to seeing him in historical dramas, so this was my first modern drama with him, and he felt incredibly natural. He wasn’t the bad boy I expected him to be. Instead, he was basically a walking green flag disguised as a red flag. His smile, his warmth, his quiet devotion—I loved everything about him. Also um the blond hair :)
Most importantly, he got to live his youth because of her.
Before she entered his life, he was surviving rather than living. She pushed him back toward society, encouraged him to dream again, and reminded him that he deserved happiness too. They changed each other’s lives in the best possible way.
The chemistry between the leads felt incredibly natural. Whether they were friends or lovers, every stage of their relationship felt believable. Nothing felt forced. They clicked from the very beginning, and I loved how supportive they were of one another throughout the entire drama. I enjoyed every second of them as the chemistry was amazing!
My biggest issue is Episodes 26–28.
I actually didn’t mind the separation or time jump itself. I understood why it happened and why Xing Wu needed time to grow. However, I think the writers completely wasted those three episodes.
Instead of spending so much time keeping the leads apart, they could have used those episodes to develop their adult relationship. Since the romance is already such a slow burn, it felt frustrating to lose valuable screen time that could have been spent showing them reconnecting, falling in love, and building their relationship.
When they finally do get together, I absolutely loved their scenes. That’s exactly why I wish we had gotten more of them. Their relationship felt a little rushed simply because we spent so much time waiting for it. I would’ve loved a wedding, an epilogue, or just more time with them as a couple.
One thing I really appreciated is that there are no unnecessary love triangles, annoying second leads, or pointless characters. Every character serves a purpose, and even the people who make mistakes remain understandable. I never truly hated anyone because the drama takes the time to show where everyone is coming from.
The friend group was wonderful, the family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved how the story portrayed life in a close-knit seaside community where everyone looks after each other. By the end, every major character receives a satisfying conclusion, and seeing everyone achieve their dreams felt incredibly rewarding.
The cinematography is also gorgeous. The seaside views, the lavender fields, the sunsets—everything looks beautiful. And of course, having songs from Liu Yuning on the soundtrack is always a bonus. The OST perfectly matches the bright, comforting atmosphere of the show.
Overall, Dazzling is not a fast-paced romance. It’s a calm, comforting, character-driven drama that feels like a warm summer by the sea. It’s wholesome, emotional, funny, inspiring, and full of heart.
I just wish we’d gotten more time with the couple in the final stretch—but despite that, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s one of those dramas that simply makes you feel good while watching it.
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A Detective-Driven Fantasy with Supernatural Undertones and Inconsistent Momentum
Overall, I personally found this drama to be okay to good. The beginning and ending sections were strong, but I struggled more with the middle portion, and I was ultimately less satisfied with how the overall narrative came together. Some of the central conflicts felt less convincing to me, and I didn’t fully connect with how certain character arcs were handled by the end. While the story remained consistent in tone, the emotional payoff didn’t land as strongly for me as I had hoped. The middle stretch in particular felt uneven, lacking some of the energy and spark that made the earlier and later parts more engaging. I was most immersed during the investigative sequences, but found myself less engaged during transitions between major arcs.That said, I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics—I even grew quite attached to a few of them. The performances were strong across the board, and the overall concept of the story was interesting. Unfortunately, the pacing and execution didn’t fully work for me, though I don’t regret watching it.
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An Unconventional Investigative Monster Drama with Strong Ensemble Work
I enjoyed this drama. While I would recommend it and rank it high, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. It’s a unique show, and I can’t think of another quite like it. Its themes—sci-fi, investigative, monster, and thriller—are niche, which naturally limits its appeal. But I happen to fall within that niche, and I found the storyline and its many angles enthralling.Several scenes and subplots took me by surprise—they were obscure and unexpected—while others were more predictable. That created a nice balance between the familiar and the unexpected. The cast delivered strong performances and worked well together. The character development was compelling, and the relationships between characters made many scenes feel genuinely poignant.
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A VR-Inspired Drama That Didn’t Fully Work for Me Despite Good Supporting Moments
I love Wu Tianho and Li Geyang, so I really wanted to enjoy this. Unfortunately, it didn’t fully work for me. I did enjoy some of the supporting roles—especially the fourth prince and the Duke’s aide, who provided genuinely funny and memorable comedic moments. However, beyond that, I wasn’t very invested in the overall story, and it didn’t hold my attention in the way I had hoped. While the actors are clearly skilled, the drama itself just wasn’t the right fit for me.That said, if you enjoy VR-themed stories or NPC-style narratives, this might still be worth checking out.
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