Reviews

Starts off well, with Mei Cheng Yi being a good father the two kids and also a good son-in-law to his late wife's parents. Xu Kai Xin on the other hand is so damn chaotic and I love every second of it, as an character she is so entertaining to watch. So far it is a bit hard to like Mei Cheng Yi as a romantic interest for Xu Kai Xin because he assumed that her being chaotic is the reason that her husband cheated on her.

(Ep 8) Look at Qian Hao attacking Hu Xiao Jiao like the animal he is, when he cheated on his ex-wife there was no ounce of regret, remorse or shame, but now that got cheated on he suddenly wants to choke her? What a disgusting man! Well,

(Ep 19) That dance was hilarious! Wow!

Overall, it was a fun family drama. The only thing that I have a trouble with is that violent man (Qian Hao) having access to the kids, him being given so many chances when all he cared about was his unhealthy obsession with a mother who herself has no boundaries and they are all so damn shameless. He is violent to the woman he married, he tries to kidnap his child, he is also shameless with his words and deeds.

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There was no need for this to happen!

This ain't the worst bl series but ain't the best either. It was kind of promising at the beginning but that thought slowly faded away with every new episode. The main couple was cute but a bit too much if you ask me. The so called
'misunderstanding' should have been cleared up already.
They just playing cat and mouse. And then we have the second lead couple...! GOT A SECOND LEAD SYNDROME AT ONCE. But no, they had to ruin it all. Don dying?!????
What the heck? When I reached the 8th episode, I realised I'm dropping it and came to share my irritation here. I was soooo ready to see how they turn out to be! The lead couple was the second for me and PondDon were the leads hahaha! But damnnnn! They killed the poor guy! And because I saw a video of him appearing somewhere later on, I didn't believe it at first, but then after the funeral part | just paused it and searched to see if it's for real or not on the net. And it is! Wow! I'm devastated! They shouldn't have done that! I bet they are not just my favourite couple! People loved them! I have seen so many of their edits and almost none of the other couple😭 It broke my heart seeing Pond cry. I loved their, kind of strange, chemistry! And I do hope to see them somewhere else just the two of them as the leads! No hate for the other couple or actors at all, just the plot could have been better.

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In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more

‘The Art of Sarah’ builds its structure around a theme that is, first and foremost, a question about identity. Perhaps it is precisely by starting from the end that we can find the most honest key to understanding this drama: a world dominated by brands, super-luxury, appearances and perceived value, where even a name can become a choice, an invention, a strategy.

In this scenario dominated by appearances, Sarah is introduced as an almost mythological figure. Not so much for what she does, but for the way the series observes her: always slightly above the others, more aware, more lucid, as if the system surrounding her were not only a cage, but also a language to be mastered.
This is where the drama builds its most fascinating ambiguity. Is Sarah a victim? Is she a strategist? Is she both? The narrative seems to suggest that, in a world where value is perception, even morality can become a form of representation.

The metaphor of luxury handbags, perfect but exposed because they are “too accurate”, is not a decorative detail: it is the conceptual heart of the drama. Like those seemingly authentic objects, Sarah also oscillates between originality and performance, between authenticity and construction. The audience perceives the tension between what is and what appears to be, and it is here that the moral suspension that accompanies the entire series takes shape.

However, as the story delves deeper into the heart of the matter, that suspension slowly tends to resolve itself, not abruptly, but almost imperceptibly. It is as if, after flirting with the idea of an identity that cannot be reduced to a definition, the series finally chooses to bring it back within a more readable perimeter, without betraying the initial ambiguity and without losing the charm of doubt that Sarah has been able to generate at every step of her journey.

The unveiling, then, seems to take a more cautious trajectory: some elements, perhaps introduced belatedly, give the impression of a functional rather than inevitable relaunch, and the whole tends to come together in a more orderly fashion than might have been expected. This is not inconsistency, but more prosaically a form of narrative caution; after suggesting moral vertigo, the series opts for a controlled landing, which does not cancel out the initial suspension but recomposes it with lightness.

Overall, however, it remains a solid, elegant and coherent production. And above all, she stands out. Shin Hye-sun is magnetic: she combines fragility and calculation with rare naturalness, without ever overdoing it with unnecessary mannerisms. Even when the writing becomes more cautious, her performance continues to suggest something unresolved. She alone makes it drama worth watching.

Lee Joon-hyuk, on the other hand, remains prudently more conventional — perhaps deliberately — and this contrast brings out an interesting element: ambiguity is more fascinating than moral correctness. The morally “dark” character is narratively more vivid than the “righteous” one, and Shin Hye-sun's presence amplifies this tension, making it clear that the true energy of the drama stems from its ability to embody doubt without resolving it.

In the end, ‘The Art of Sarah’ avoids — courageously!? cautiously!? — giving us clear answers, instead creating an open space for reflection, where identity, appearance and morality intertwine without being completely resolved. A drama that knows how to play with doubt, challenging the viewer to question rather than passively observe, and does so with elegance and consistency, without ever betraying its conceptual construction.

For those who love stories that leave a trail of questions rather than certainties — and the inevitable need for a second viewing! — this can be considered a successful narrative experiment: provocative, sophisticated and, above all, capable of making you talk and think, even after the credits roll, and especially after THAT final question...

7/10

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This series pissed me the fuck off.

(I watched this a good while ago, maybe in 2023/24 , so I don't remember much, might delete or edit later)
I saw an edit of this series on insta and it intrigued me, so one fine day I sat down to watch it with my lil sis (also a fujoshi). I watched all 6 eps that day, and I really tried to watch it but I couldn't.
The sole reason is : Bodkawi.
Kawi is the main character of this series and he's also the most annoying one. The way he kept doing whatever he was doing to Pisaeng pissed me tf off. Like seriously? You're gonna keep kissing him when you're drunk and then go "phaaa , phaaa" when you're sober? (Yeah he says 'Pear' I know but I'm mocking him). We felt so bad for Pisaeng 😭.
No , we didn't want Kawi to randomly have eyes for only Pisaeng , since he's a (former) heterosexual male, but still, we didn't want this!
I don't remember much but I think there was a side couple though (they aren't a couple yet I just got vibes , with that delinquent guy and another guy ig?). They were interesting.
Didn't want to rate the music cause I don't remember since I didn't focus on it much, but had to to submit it.
Re-watch value is 0, But gave a 1 just to submit it. A nd the acting wasn't that great either, I don't know the cast either. It had potential.

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8/10

Deducing 1 star for the loose ending (most good dramas don't know how to end these days)

1 star for that shitty jk rowling-in-shit reference

I don't understand what plotholes people are talking about. The story was interesting and pretty easy to follow. No plotholes. Though they didn't explain the skeleton found in the pond. They didn't have to.

The police going along with her final con was unrealistic in the drama world. In the real world, it makes sense. Innocent people get convicted with fabricated evidence all the time.

My only people with the drama is the fact that Sarah really did disfigure and attempted to murder Mi-jeong (not full murder because she froze to death, ig)

I think it went against the character of a woman who took off her own gloves and scarf for a stranger, paid off almost all her debts, and even donated her kidney when she didn't have to.

I agree with the theory that Sarah's husband might've aided her in the murder. She didn't even finch seeing the corpse's photo, I don't think it was her doing. Or maybe it was. No one really knows Sarah, not even the viewers.

----------

What I absolutely loved about the drama is the art.

Hae-sun's acting is perfect as usual. The cinematography is gorgeous!

The social commentary is spot on. There are so many scenes that show how you pay for the brand, not for the product. It applied to people and their skills too.

I liked how Boudoir bags were not minimalist. They were flashy af, not trying too hard and still sought after.

I could somewhat relate to Sarah in her struggles, even rooted for her despite her cons.

I disagree that being rich is just a mindset thing. But you do have to be psychopathic to become ultra-weathly.

I loved that men got picked up for a change lol.

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MIXED IMPRESSIONS -- Lil Disappointed but Don't Skip!!

I'm a Crime Thriller and Murder Mystery Enthusiast.

I have watched and loved Taiwanese dramas, especially some of their Crime Thriller Mysteries / Police dramas are Very Good.
And so, I was Super Excited to watch this, reading the summary.

But, To be Honest, Left with MIXED IMPRESSIONS by the end of this drama -- Not BAD but Not CAPTIVATING enough!! :(

***
The Summary is Very Interesting -- A tarot card reader predicts the deaths of social media influencers exactly, who dies one after the other.
The ML, a police detective should solve these death mysteries.

***
Plot, Story Narration are Good.

The Story is about the ML trying to find whether those deaths are coincidental and if they are murders, need to find the connection between these deaths, the reason behind them and capture the murderer(s) behind these multiple murders.

***
IT STARTED REALLY WELL.

First Two Episodes are Very Good.
The Mystery that all these multiple murders are connected and the Suspense of all these serial killings, with one or more murderers at loose, is Interesting.

But from ep 3 to ep 5, Pacing and Story Narration looked off and slow.

Though the Crime Story is Simple and Straightforward (like routine crime thrillers / police dramas), it's Good
but the Execution and Acting are lil bad or odd -- it gave a vibe that Something is Missing n went wrong here :o

U can really predict the murderer, his reason (routine revenge oriented crime drama with multiple murders) and who the "Witch Baba" is.
So the Mystery, though maintained well till ep 7, is Not Very Gripping and is not Nail-biting Suspense.
And these made this Crime Thriller Mystery Drama fell flat (So, I'm bored at times n little disappointed! :|)

***
Good to see Ekin Cheng (Hong Kong actor) in Taiwanese drama.

It started with him getting million followers in ep 1
But in eps 3 to 5, his character has less screen presence -- It gave a vibe that he is a support role in these episodes -- Looked like though he being the main detective, except him, everyone else is investigating the murders in their own ways.
His character looked dull n inactive, here.
(In remaining eps, I have no complaints about his role, haha)

***
Ep 7 concluded the main mystery and serial killings.
I wondered what more could be the story for Finale ep (1 hour run time) but started a New Mystery?! :o

The PLOT TWIST in the Finale, really helped this drama, worth to watch 👍🏻

Could have done this miniseries well in 6 eps than 8, with better Execution, Pacing n Narration.

***
Usually, all my Ratings are 8.5/10 or above, for any Crime thriller.
Sad to give this, a lower Rating and
It's just 8/10.
(Finale Plot Twist made me give 8, else it's 7.5)


P.S: If you are New to Taiwanese dramas or Crime Thriller genre, you can really enjoy watching this 👍🏻
But A die-hard Crime Thriller enthusiast might find this drama, Plain, Routine & too Simple.
But Don't Skip this as it is Interesting enough for an "One Time Watch" n can be Binge-watched easily.

***

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Waste of both leads acting skill

I watched this since i like both of leads but ended up didn't get any satisfaction of this drama. The plot was quite angst but there is no angst at all if you see masochism, it feels so half-baked.

The plot is somewhat weak. Besides the excellent acting of i Shengjie and Zhang Jinyi, nothing could be offer from this drama. FL doesn't recognize ML just because he's wearing a half-mask? That's a bit exaggerated. The scene where the ML's identity is almost dragged for long time. that's short drama for you.

The chemistry between Zhang Jinyi and Li Shengjie are quite weak compared to their other respective main leads. Even though the kisses scene was quite intense but it lack tension.

Only for hardcore fans.

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Great drama!

Tis was a great drama, i watched it in one go. The story is great. It's about a loner who decides to want friends and joins the student counsil. He falls in love with the good guy who helps everybody, but later on realizes that there's someone elso who really wants to know he is ok and really has his back no matter what.

The visuals and music are good.
The acting is great and the main had great dynamics and chemistry with both guys.
I loved the role of Namgung Si Un, the great friend with the good advice and lightens up the room.

This is a must watch!

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Lack of chemistry

I watched this because Wang Kaimu but i don't enjoy this drama like other people do.

Actually plot is too disjointed, the pacing is fragmented, and there's too much focus on the romance between the ML and FL. ML's undercover work and FL's domestic power struggles are barely shown, resulting in an overall monotonous and dull experience. Wang Kaimu and Ye Xinxin are gorgeous people but they still lack of chemistry and tension. Ye Xinxin s acting is somewhat weak despite having strong face feature. And yeah it was boring drama.

There's really no need for watching it twice or three times; once is enough. Absolutely not my cup of tea.

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Great Mystery, But Something is Missing.

Yes, it has a good storyline. A good mixture between thriller, mystery, romance, and comedy. The comedy amount is quite small, but everything is on point. The way they picture In Seong's mind so wild and unrealistic is really hilarious and fresh. Now, let's talk about the main course: the mystery. The idea itself is quite fresh and appealing. A CEO who became unconscious while his body trapped inside the phone, using was using another person to save his life. Earlier build up phase was fun. However as the story progressing, I couldn't find any sparks and it became dull. It's missing something punching on the point, especially because the clues keep dropping in the lap.

While everyone was suspicious after In Seong sudden appointment as CEO, no one really suspicious when he was digging for the truth, at least until he striked it to their face all by himself. Mi Ran, on the other hand, got a sudden power of controlling the media, only to be controlled out again later on. It was shocking too that the all-knowing-trapped Kim Seon Ju didn't even anticipate this. Things like this made their actions seem reckless, and the results of it were all just pure luck.

It was weird that Seon Ju put suspicion on Se Yeon, but never on his house butlers. They never put any safety measures on their own families, despite knowing the potential threat. Se Yeon mother stayed in a VIP room. It was very obvious she wouldn't be able to afford such room, but no one put any suspicion. The backstory of Jang Ju Seong was very shallow. We only know he was unfairly treated as an athlete, but it ended there.

Chae Jong Hyeop did excellently here. He almost carried out the whole show. Lee Sang Hee looked like a total psycho. Also the soundtracks were amazing.

Does this show deserve better recognition? Yes. Does this show considered a hidden gem? I wouldn't say so. It still missing something to make you want to binge-wathing it.

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It's good but kinda incomplete. The comments are just pure hate

Unlike the comments the story was actually about parallel worlds. I literally thought the whole parallel world was just Cir's imagination thanks to the comments. Cir is definitely a green flag his only flaw is that he's a coward. He was not manipulative or anything he just told 1 lie to get close to Phu and could never confess the truth dispite multiple chances. Also i don't think Cir didn't pay for his mistake. He did when Phu left him twice for the same reason. For Cir who has loved phu for 5 years that's his greatest punishment.

The only person who was not punished would be Cir's mom. I felt that and a happy ending for his brother was needed to make the drama complete.

I really loved the 2nd couple a lot but the random introduction of mind reading capability was a little abrupt and unclear like they hinted Cir had the capability which then was not bought up as the story progressed.

Also i have a couple of questions that were left unanwered in the drama.
1st why is the Cir from 1 time line responsible to guide Cir from the 2nd timeline. Did they get a sad ending in one of the timelines so theyre doing this?

What does he mean when he says Phu always survives? But in one of the world one of them actually dies (in the flashback)

Why and where did this loop even start? Why is it Cir and not Phu?

How did jin get his mind reading ability?

Also why is black cir in the time room? Cir does occasionally go into Black Cir's world which he mentioned but then why is black cir never shown in his own world instead only in ghe white room?

I think the drama needed more context behind scenes. But the story was pretty interesting it can confuse u if u dont spoil yourself that cir lied about being from the parallel world. I spoiled myself so i thoroughly enjoyed it. It kept me engaged and was interesting to watch although u get clarity on the plot in ep 7 and 8.

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This is absolutely beyond my expectation. It's fabulous!

Are you kidding me? I recognize the FL, and already thought, here we go again with her flat expression,
But, oh my. I was pleasantly surprised. She is absolutely fabulous, great, and very good in this one!
The story is not at all like any others, it's original. Kudos to the writers and scriptwriter. They kept it fast, effective, and no slacking at all. The amount of fighting scenes was enough and they are quite descent.
Their wardrobe style, make up and scenes were also good, even better considering it is a short drama.
The ML has flat expression all the way, but it suits to his role and character.

I really am blown away this one for sure. I love it!!! love it, love it, love it....

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What in the confusion did I just watch?

I must be an uncultured swine for not getting this drama at all. It was confusing from start to finish.
It felt like the author had the bones of a good stepbrothers story, but just didn’t finish one thought right to the end! With only five episodes, and flashbacks happening randomly, to the point I couldn’t tell what was flashback or present, there was no hints at romantic feelings from either lead – none at all – until the end of ep 4. And by then, it felt really weird to introduce.
We had one bad attitude character, and one burdened with other people’s problems character. And they both remained this way throughout all 5 eps.
So, the out-of-nowhere kiss from bad attitude to burdened felt like bad attitude just wanted burdened to take care of him, and kissing him was the way to get him to do that.

Was that the end?
The best part was the couple of bloopers they showed the leads actually laughing. The only laughter we got the entire time!
A very dreary, though realistic show, that just wasn’t for my tastes.
My review is for plot only – I found the acting to be really well done.

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