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Very easy watch
I love these kind of drama's. Beautiful people, striking landscapes, exciting fight scenes. Yes please!This drama has all that, paired with a slow-burn brimming with chemistry romance of an out-of-the-ordinary couple.
I loved everything about it. Until the marquis' identity is revealed to Changyu. Up until then we have been watching a quirky, female empowering story. But suddenly we are in a standard historical cdrama. Court shenanigans, poisonings, marriage stuff. It's still good, but the edge and grit are gone.
The story has to rely on far-fetched coincidences, shock value and comic relief to stay on track. Bummer!
The fact that for reasons of censorship the face of the actor playing Song Yan has been replaced and we have an actor credited for 'body only' and 'face only' is a damn shame. Shame! Ziyu deserves so much better. And we as viewers deserve better.
The first half of the drama is a solid 10. The rest is just above average.
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It’s Really Good—But It Could’ve Been Incredible
I honestly agree with the general opinion that this show had so much wasted potential. And that’s what makes it frustrating—because it’s actually a good drama. I would still recommend it and say it’s worth watching, but I don’t fully understand the level of hate it gets. I feel like a lot of people who dropped it early (like within the first 5–10 episodes) are the ones who ended up disliking it. This is definitely one of those shows that gets better the more you watch.The biggest issue is the beginning. The first episode is insanely overwhelming—probably one of the most crowded premieres I’ve ever seen. It feels like they threw everything at you all at once. Within the first episode (and honestly the first few episodes), you’re introduced to 20–30 important characters, expected to remember their names, understand their roles, and follow the plot at the same time. It’s just too much information too quickly. The show does live up to its title—“generation to generation”—with multiple generations and interconnected characters, but the way it’s introduced is messy and confusing.
That’s really the core problem of the drama: the execution. The story itself is strong, interesting, and has a lot of emotional pull—it does make you want to keep watching. But the storytelling? Not great. It’s messy, poorly paced, and sometimes just not engaging enough. The editing especially is rough. You get moments of beautiful cinematography, then suddenly very choppy transitions or scenes that feel out of place or even ridiculous. It’s inconsistent, and it really holds the show back from being something amazing.
The relationship is another mixed point. The leads had amazing chemistry—honestly, they carried the show. They looked great together, acted well together, and had that natural compatibility that makes you want to root for them. But the writing didn’t do them justice. Their relationship felt very push-and-pull, but not in a satisfying way. She forgives him too easily, he keeps using her or keeping her in the dark, and somehow every time they meet, it’s like nothing ever happened. There’s no real emotional consequence. I also felt like their relationship was never clearly defined, which made it frustrating to follow. I really wish the show had explored them more deeply instead of just giving us scattered moments.
That said, I did like how much the people around her cared for her—that was actually really nice to see. And I liked the second male lead as well. The cast overall felt very fresh, with a lot of new faces. Some were really impressive and I’d love to see more of them, while others were just okay. But the youthful energy of the cast definitely added something to the show.
Visually, there were some strong points. The costumes were beautiful and sometimes quite unique, and certain scenes had really nice cinematography. And Zhou Yiran—this was my first time seeing him in a historical drama, and he really suits it. He looked amazing, and you can tell a lot of people noticed that too. His styling was great (even if those two random flying hair strands showed up way too often… seriously, what was that). As for the female lead, Bao she was very cute and did a good job. I personally prefer her in softer roles, but she still worked here and matched well with him.
There are definitely flaws beyond the structure too. Some acting wasn’t the strongest, some scenes felt unnecessary or over-the-top, and certain plot justifications—like everything being done “for Pingshu”—weren’t convincing. It felt like they leaned too heavily on that excuse.
Despite all that, I still think the show is worth watching. Once you get past the first 5–6 episodes (which you really have to push through), it becomes a much easier and smoother watch. The episodes go by quickly, and the chemistry between the leads keeps you invested. It turns into something light and bingeable, even if it never fully reaches its potential.
At the end of the day, it’s frustrating because this could have been so much better. With stronger direction, better editing, and more focused storytelling, it could have been incredible. Instead, it’s a good drama with great moments, carried heavily by its cast and central couple—but still very much a missed opportunity.
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The Most Emotionally Unforgettable Historical Romance Drama to ever exist!
2016's "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is one of the most emotionally unforgettable historical romance dramas I have ever watched. It is an exceptional blend of romance, heartbreak and political tension, that stays with you long after the final episode ends. This drama is not just a love story, it is a powerful journey through fate with a message that love can transform even the most wounded hearts. 💔This show was recommended to me by two of my friends who both said I need to keep my tissues ready because by the end of the show, my heart is sure to break! And they were definitely right because by the end of the show, I was crying so hard due to the heart breaking ending and the events that lead up to it.😭 I felt really empty after finishing the last episode but this show gave me everything I could ask for! It had a beautiful storytelling, unforgettable characters, intense romance, tragic moments, stunning visuals, excellent OST's and acting performances that completely pulled me into the ancient world of Goryeo.
The story itself is really interesting. It follows a modern Korean woman who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty as Lady Hae Soo where she becomes entangled in the lives of princes fighting for power and survival. This drama explores royal politics, conspiracy's, conflicts, betrayal, brotherly love and romance while making us realize that sometimes love alone is not enough to change cruel circumstances. The story is well written and engaging which is why it leaves an impact on your heart even after ending and stays with you. Honestly, this reminded me of anime shows like The Apothecary Diaries, Colorcloud Palace and other Historical Drama's. The storytelling is very simple with a few impactful plot twists that help build this simple story into something stronger. The pacing was well maintained and nothing felt rushed. The first 10 episodes also had many light hearted moments in between all the political conflicts and blooming romance but the last 10 episodes of this show literally kept me on the edge of my seat and pulled at my heartstrings!
The best thing about this show is how well each of the characters are written. Since this show has a big main cast so it was necessary to portray each of the characters differently through the writting and this show does that perfectly. Each of the princes have significantly different personalities and traits that makes it easier for us as audiences to understand each of them properly. We mainly see the Journey's of the Crowned Prince Wang Moo, 3rd Prince Wang Yo, 4th Prince Wang So (Main Male Lead), 8th Prince Wang Wook, 9th Prince Wang Won, 10th Prince Wang Eun, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah and 14th Prince Wang Jung alongside our Female Lead Character Lady Hae-Soo and Princess Yeon-hwa. No one exists just to fill space. Every supporting character has depth, purpose, and emotional weight in the story. Each of them take decisions that have direct consequences shown in the story which is why the royal politics aspect of the show feels so personal from their perspectives. I loved each of the characters and they all did things and made choices that are appropriate for their characters. Even characters that were in negative roles did an amazing job bringing out their characters motivations on screen. Yes, I did despise many of the negative characters but I did also understand that from their perspectives they are just trying to survive in between the royal political conflicts and achieve their ambitions of becoming powerful. But of course my favorite characters from this show were 4th Prince Wang So, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah, Lady Hae-soo and 8th Prince Wang Wook. Although, 8th Prince Wang Wook and Lady Hae-Soo made some questionable choices near the end of the show, I cannot deny how well they were written and how great their contribution was in shaping the entire story.
For me, the absolute highlight of the drama was 4th Prince Wang So, one of the most compelling male leads I have ever seen in any show! He is portrayed on screen by actor Lee Joon-gi and absolutely nailed this role! 🖤 I honestly became his fan after watching his portrayal of this complex character. His character journey was extraordinary to say the least. I went from not liking him to feeling pity for him to loving him to ultimately being completely crazy about him as the story progressed. By the end of the show I was heartbroken and bawling my eyes out because of the cruel lonely fate he had to endure. 💔😢 He starts off as someone who is feared by all and seems very ruthless because he grew up without love or affection from his mother that he craved a lot. But as he starts getting closer to Lady Hae-Soo and builds a beautiful connection with her, he becomes a gentle yet strong human. He values and cherishes her love because it is the only affection he has felt in all his life and that's something I could feel while watching this show. Seeing a man who never knew love become someone willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves so deeply was both beautiful and heartbreaking. His transformation was powerful and I was completely invested in him from beginning to end.🫶🏻
The second highlight for me of this show was the romance! ❤️ Hae-Soo portrayed by IU and Wang So portrayed by Lee Joon-gi had such great chemistry that I was deeply rooting for their love. The way Wang So literally calls Hae-Soo his "person" is so dreamy and sweet that it made my heart flutter! 🫶🏻 Their iconic rain scene when Wang So protects Hae-Soo using his cloak made me completely speechless and that was the moment I fell in love with Wang So as well. There are so many moments of sweetness, longing, jealousy, tenderness, and heartbreak between them that hit so deeply because the connection between them feels genuine. Their love story is not simple and it develops gradually but it is full of obstacles, misunderstandings, sacrifices, and tragic timing. That is exactly what makes it so memorable. It shows how deeply two people can love each other even when the world seems determined to tear them apart.
However, because of how much I felt their bond the conclusion of the show broke me down emotionally! 💔 I truly was not prepared for how devastating it would be. It left me heartbroken and emotional long after the final scene. I cried so much because by that point I had become deeply attached to these characters and everything they had endured. The tragedy of the ending does not feel cheap or forced rather it feels like the painful conclusion of lives shaped by cruelty of fate. It was very hard for me to accept the ending because of how heartbroken and empty I felt upon watching it! But this ending was necessary because this tragic ending also made the story more meaningful and memorable in the hearts of the fans including me.
The technical making of the show is also perfect. The screenplay was tight and there were no unnecessary scenes. The visuals were beautiful and it brought the ancient world of Goryeo to life beautifully. Every frame feels elegant and cinematic. The colors, lighting, and attention to detail make it easy to believe you are witnessing another era. The cinematography of the scene when Prince Wang So does the rain ritual and it really does start to rain was one of the most noteworthy moment from this show. Apart from this the royal palace and every moment taking place surrounding those areas felt grand. The production left no lackings in designing the sets of the scenes. The costume and hair department also deserves praise! All of the Princes looked manly and princely because of their outfits and hairstyles.
But I must praise the music and sound department separately because of how amazing the BGM's and OST's are in this show! ❤️ Seriously, the songs are to die for they are that good! The music is absolutely beautiful and enhances every emotional moment perfectly. Whether it is a tender romantic scene, a painful farewell, or a dramatic confrontation, the soundtrack always knows how to elevate the emotions. Many songs stayed in my mind long after I finished the show. My favorites are "For You", "I Love You, I Remember You", "Wind", "My Love" and "Can You Hear My Heart"🎶
In the end, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is a mix of beautiful emotional storytelling and tragedy that will forever remain one of the most memorable K-Dramas I have ever watched. It reminds us that even the strongest people can be broken by pain, and even the coldest hearts can learn to love deeply!🌙
📌Personal Rating: 9.5
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Episode 9 is disappointing
First, they leaned hard into the overused "second lead syndrome" trope, with the Prime Minister getting involved and trying to come between the lead couple. It feels so old and predictable at this point.What frustrated me even more was the female lead. She's supposed to be this savvy businesswoman who fought her way to the top of a company despite all the obstacles thrown at her by her father and brother. Yet in this episode, she behaves like a bumbling idiot—someone who’s supposedly survived the cutthroat business world suddenly can’t think of any smart way out of her predicament. Instead of strategizing or fighting back, she just cries the whole time. I expected so much more from her character.
And then her big solution is just… divorce? It feels like the easiest, most convenient way out instead of something that matches her established strength and intelligence.
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I really couldn’t get used to was the dubbing
A bromance heavy drama with just a tiny hint of romance.The first half of the show was honestly great. It had that gang/gangster world vibe that made everything feel intense and exciting. But somewhere in the later episodes, it suddenly shifted into more of a crime investigation story with police cases, corruption, and political drama. The change wasn’t necessarily bad, but it did make the overall feel of the show a bit inconsistent.
It’s a short watch, so it’s easy to binge, but personally, I don’t think it’s the kind of drama that gets you deeply invested in.
One thing I really couldn’t get used to was the dubbing. The mismatch between the lip movements and the audio was super obvious and honestly pretty distracting at times. I genuinely don’t understand why they chose to dub it instead of using the original language.
If there’s a season 2, I really hope they keep the original language and voices, move the story into a more modern setting, and of course give us more romance or at least stronger chemistry between the leads, Inspector Xie, Officer Lu, and Dong Dong.
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Tried my BEST to remain interested in this show but unfortunately it's TRASH
Chanced upon this drama because of the leads being Chen Duling and Joseph Zeng, naturally with these talented actor and actress, I assumed the show was going to be good. It unfortunately turned out to be trash here's why:1. Story
The story and motivation behind it is nearly non-existent. Characters seem to pop out of nowhere, get a short and quick introduction and they are suddenly part of the main cast and mission. The mission itself pops out of nowhere as well.
2. Character Interaction/Dialogue
The script is very "unserious", each of the characters in this show communicate between each other as if they were part of a sitcom setting, Less Show More Tell. There's way too much dialogue without the necessary action to accompany it making the entire show really extremely dry/boring.
To summarize, while this show has decent quality VFX, Cinematography and Action scenes AND not forgetting great actors like Chen Du Ling and Joseph Zeng, the dry/awkward/boring script and story ultimately makes this unwatchable.
If you're looking for an actual quality Wuxia show check these 2 series out: Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber (2019) AND Pursuit of Jade
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This isn't what I expected.
I expected a bit more from this drama. I felt as of this series talked more about empress Wu than they did about Taiping. This is supposed to be about Taiping. Taiping may as well have been a side character, and this may as well have been another Wu drama. It had an overall-okay-ish storyline.I expected more thrill from this title, however it seems that the drama had a whole lot of fillers and unnecessary dialogue that I don't care too much about. The show got really slow in the middle. Which lead to me losing all interest. I dropped it.
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Rare Short Drama Gem!
When I saw this in WeTV, with the title, I honestly thought it was a drama about rival gangs. lol. I didn't search or read anything about it before watching, so I was waiting for our gangster ML to grace the screen. I'm glad I gave this drama a shot, though. It was really beautifully made. I understand the sentiment that this should have been a mainstream drama with 40+ minutes per episode, but I think it's just right since it freed up time for less angst and unnecessary misunderstandings. It went straight to the point. I even purchased the express package so I can finish the last 2 episodes, since I already binged-watched it.One thing that stood out for me was the business side of the drama. I understand CEO tropes have been overused, but this one actually worked by showing how our ML started from the bottom and worked his way up. It's realistic, too, since most young billionaires right now got big thanks to technology and have their own tech companies.
The villains in this drama are so well-made. I love how they had their own karma in the end. Shen Hao was the perfect example of a rotten, spoiled rich kid who had grown accustomed to getting whatever he wanted. On the ending part where he got crazy.. lol. It really looked like he lost his mind.
The side characters, especially the best friends and the grandfather, also stood out. I love how they were so supportive of our couple and helped them through. At first, I was disappointed, thinking how Shen Gu actually doesn't appreciate Fang Hong Sheng that much, but then the show tells us that he has been grateful to him all along.
Of course, our MAIN COUPLE! Dang, how pretty they both look on screen. Our FL looks a lot like Kim Ji Won, and it's amazing how you would really believe that she IS THE CEO with how she carries herself onscreen. It's rare to see a CEO husband and wife in dramas, and in this one, our FL is a working, smart, and sassy CEO wife. Their chemistry is amazing too! It looks like censorship isn't really too big with short dramas, so there are no curtains, mirrors, etc to block the kissy scenes on this one. I loved how smitten he is with her and how they help each other in life and in business.
The republican era was really well made, but tragic. I'm glad they made a past-future parallel scene at the end, showing a "What-if" moment in which they didn't die and republican Shen Gu actually received Lin Qu's letter about them getting married when she got back. They might not have gotten their happy ending in their past life, but thankfully, the present them did.
Short dramas are usually over the top with ridiculous plots, and as long as there is sizzling chemistry, who needs a story, right? But there are rare ones where the story, characters, and actors are done right, and this is definitely one of them. So go ahead and take time to watch! This is a rare gem of short dramas!
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Recent best Netflix kdrama
After watching ist episode, I would say it was the recent best pilot episode of a Netflix kdrama.No lag. Very fast paced screenplay. Amazing performances from the lead .
If it goes by this metre with good ample of comedy, combination scenes, will be the best kdrama of this year
Story is same i know but everyone watching this kind of kdrama is to get the good combination and chemistry between leads. These two were missing from recent years from korean drama.
This drama has good potential to give the things i mentioned.
For now i had a good watch
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Ok, this is trigerring, very triggering and gets really dark....but damn good despite all that!!!!
Be prepared to be very angry, livid, in fact, fuming and cursing a lot.....but don't you dare miss this!! Great story, acting, script...and wait till episode 5-6, when things get really good. I mean bad...really BAD and gets you hooked!!As the story progressed, with each episode this just gets better and better....but if you have been through homophobia, family opposition and blatant arm-twisting by parents and family, be warned that this will trigger you...BIG TIME.....the bottom line is -these parents, they needed to have died much earlier....BEFORE they ruined everyone's life...and queer people need to find their spine and STOP ruining their own and other people's lives just so that they can be the 'good child' to their monstrous parents, and play the victim of being the martyr. Ok, rant done, this is good...damn good...don't miss it
BL-needle Score: 6. It has a lot of men loving men, but not really BL-ishq, if you know what I mean
Started out uber cute, the ML looking super handsome, doting on the MC, and bordering on obsessive-possessive.. the super red-flag-ey, won't listen to no -kind ...just when they find each other, their love story quickly veers towards a complete mess and heartbreak, with families, money, reputation and homophobia ruining everything....separating them, across oceans, and timelines...and just when you think the bish parents, and entitled, opportunistic, younger bro can't be any worse...SURPRISE....the protagonist himself sabotages everything by walking away, getting married and completely blindsiding the one person who loved him against everything, and through everything.
At Episode 8 right now when things have just started to turn good, the wronged lover is finally seeming to have his time...though I get a feeling that Lu Feng will eventually melt and succumb to this undying love for Cheng Yi...I wish he takes till the very last moment to do so though...because if I was Lu Feng, I would rub it in harder...much harder
Ep 9 DAMN!!! This has gone absolutely pitch dark now.....beyond toxic....the devil in Lu Feng is unleashed...all that anger, jealousy, repression, sense of betrayal, has made him into another person altogether :(
There was a movie on the same book in 2016, which has rave reviews. While I haven't watched that one, I am definitely glued on with this show. As I already said, Damn Good!!
What are you waiting for...Go Watch!!
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Emotional Realism
It is a slow-paced drama, but it still keeps me curious about how the characters’ stories will eventually unfold. Instead of focusing on success or dramatic achievements, it highlights everyday life pressure, disappointment, and the emotional weight of simply trying to keep going.The story mainly explores life struggles and different coping mechanisms. Each character expresses their emotions in their own ways that are hard to understand at first.
Watching this can bring out familiar feelings like envy and anxiety, especially when seeing others succeed while you feel like you are falling behind. The drama captures this emotional experience very well. It doesn’t just tell a story, it reflects something many people may have felt or are currently going through.
Some dialogues feel a bit unusual or influenced by language differences, but the acting is strong enough to carry the emotions. The negative feelings in the story are also presented in a subtle, sometimes satirical way, which adds depth to the narrative.
Overall, it is a quiet but emotionally heavy drama.
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A very refreshing and new side of China
I rarely write reviews but I think this one needed one... don't get astray due to its low rating.... it's truly worth watching a pure family drama with emotional romance.... except any Indian from northern hilly side(because it's almost same habitat and culture here as well as it lies at the border area of India and China)... rest everyone watching this will make u explore something very beautiful and new... just watch half episode and u will be hooked... it's soothing music and different culture...ohh it's truly very rare to find such kind of dramaWas this review helpful to you?
Slow start but gets good
The female lead is really beautiful u can watch the drama just to adore her smile i guess shes too good at acting but also i think she is the most underrated i think people should make her do more dramas she has a certain charm that makes u simp even i cant believe i am simping if u see her i guess u guys would too hope she gets more dramas and moviesWas this review helpful to you?
Makjang at its finest
This show is really trying hard to be funny but it is not even worth a giggle.The MAKJANG elements are through the roof.
Over the top acting! I really hate that.
I dont even know what people are praising about this garbage show.
Poor Lee Se Hee has to be part of this abomination
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Time of Death...
With the third season just out and the drought going on in Kdramaland due to overpopularity I thought hmmm...this series is due a rewatch. I remember at first being put off by the animation, but it won me over big style. The cells humour is off the charts they're adorably cute. On repeat viewing, it really struck home. I kept thinking God that's exactly what it's like.... God this series is soooo clever. The person that must have come up with this concept must be a genius in effect! The acting was phenomenal, very emotive. This is what kdramas did best, resonate with your emotional core and form a connection, but now it's joined the West's superficiality! Romance is out! Ego is in! Personally, that last scene when the relationship was declared dead like the time of death, yes that's exactly what it's like. Nice to have reality portrayed for once because in real life this is the majority of cases and the minority are in the "happy ever after" category. Both people are nice, they love each other, so why did they break up? There's no precise reason, it's just an accumulation of small events as seen with the gourd metaphor.Ps. I don't like that Babi he's a sneaky snake and not half as good as Woong!
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