A Huge Miss: Dropped Around Episode 12
I'm sorry, folks, but I didn’t enjoy this one and ended up dropping it around episode 12. I had just finished another drama that didn’t quite work for me, and I didn’t want to go through the same experience again—especially with something this long. That said, I thought the costumes and cinematography were beautifully done, and some of the twists and reveals were genuinely smart and unexpected. Unfortunately, the main storyline and subplots just didn’t hold my interest. I found them tacky and overdone, particularly for a genre I’m very familiar with. It’s disappointing to say that, especially because I love Guan Yue productions and make a point to watch all his costume dramas where he plays the lead. But out of everything in his filmography, this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.Was this review helpful to you?
A Cohesive and Satisfying Tang Dynasty Mystery. One of the Best Folklore-Inspired Detective Dramas.
I absolutely loved this. It has 27 episodes, divided among 5 subcases and 1 main case that they all connect to. There are several similar dramas that follow this investigative style—detectives solving cases shrouded in haunted folklore. Guan Yue even starred in another one called Tang Dynasty Unusual News Report. While I enjoyed that drama too, it fell apart in the second half when the focus shifted to the overarching case. The transition wasn’t seamless, and the episodes felt disjointed. In contrast, The Crime Unit of Tang Dynasty stayed cohesive and consistently strong through to the end. Like its counterpart, it taps into spooky elements, but what made this one stand out for me were the stories themselves. They felt elevated because they centered on touching situations and explored the layers of human behavior and its impact.Was this review helpful to you?
So Much Potential, But It Didn’t Deliver: Needed More Underworld and Demons
It pains me to say this, but this was just okay for me. The beginning is strong and immediately engaging. The storyline is compelling, the characters are dynamic, their backstories are poignant and easy to connect with, and the color palette is visually stunning. Unfortunately, around the midway point, the drama stopped developing some of these strengths and shifted its focus more heavily toward the central romantic storyline. Much of the initial thematic depth began to fade, and several characters felt less present or were given less satisfying narrative attention, which left me wanting more from their arcs. By the later stages, the story felt less impactful than it initially set up, and the overall resolution didn’t fully match the strength of the early build-up for me. Even moments that could have added emotional weight didn’t quite land in the way I expected.I’m genuinely sad that this is how I ended up feeling about this drama, because it had so much potential that it just never fully delivered on it for me.
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MORE THAN A ROMANTIC COMEDY!!
Honestly I won't lie, the beginning of this show is a bit boring and makes you think it'll be overly cliche. But honestly it blew me away especially towards the end around ep 10/11. I've watched a decent amount of kdramas and to be honest this is the first to make me cry. Jukyungs struggle with both her academic and school life really made me relate to her on a level I haven't felt in a while. The characters really do grow and mature in a way that is natural and doesn't feel rushed or awkward. Despite its overdramaticness it's still grounded and allows the sadder moments to sit and have its space. I do feel the last episode was a bit unnecessary but it's kinda just there to wrap up everyone's romantic story lines which was so whatever to me. But overall I seriously didn't expect myself to like it so much!Was this review helpful to you?
Tried Four Times, Still Not for Me
I’m sorry, folks, but this drama was not for me. I tried watching it four times for Wang Yinglu, and finally finished it on my fourth attempt. It’s a fan favorite, so for those who haven’t seen it yet, please keep in mind that my opinion is not the majority.That said, the premise itself was compelling, and I can imagine being fully immersed in the novel depending on how it’s written. The cinematography was beautiful, and the characters, their relationships, and their development were all wonderfully crafted. This is exactly the style and story I enjoy in film. However, the plot execution and writing didn’t land for me, and the pacing felt a bit stretched. I felt that the way the story was presented onscreen didn’t match the strength of the concepts behind it, so I struggled to stay engaged—though I did really enjoy the final four episodes, which made the drama for me.
Still, I’m glad I watched it—Wang Yinglu is one of my favorite performers and although I didn't like the drama, I enjoyed the story.
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Not as Strong as Season One, But Still Worth Finishing
Oh gosh, folks. I hate to say it, but I didn’t enjoy this season as much as I loved Flourishing Peony. And I adored Flourishing Peony. That said, I had to finish this one and see it through to the end because I was already invested in the characters and their journey from season one. However, this season didn’t feel consistent to me. I felt it fell into the trap of convenient separations that didn’t contribute meaningful or valuable subplots. Instead, they seemed designed to drag out the storyline for the sake of runtime rather than delivering memorable scenes. I struggled with those directorial choices, as it was too much of a tug-and-pull for me. I also felt the transitions between conflicts, regrets, and changes of heart weren’t as seamless as they could have been, making some developments feel unbelievable or forced.That said, when the story did hit its mark, it really hit. There were many tragic and compelling moments that pulled me right into the narrative, making it easy to lose myself in the characters’ lives—feeling their highs and lows alongside them. So, while this season isn’t at the top of my list like Flourishing Peony, which is a top-shelf watch, it still served as a satisfying way to find closure for all the characters.
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A Casual Watch with Till the End of the Moon Vibes
I thought this was a nice in-between watch for a casual viewing experience. In many ways, it reminded me of Till the End of the Moon. In other ways, it stood apart—the execution and some of the plot additions made the storyline feel fresh. And honestly, it’s hard to judge it too harshly when I love Till the End of the Moon so much. That said, I did have issues as the drama progressed, particularly in their third lifetime. It wasn’t as engaging for me and shifted toward less interesting parts of the story, focusing mostly on trivial daily life that didn’t capture my attention.Overall, I enjoyed the characters and themes, found the overarching narrative interesting, and thought the relationship and twists were compelling. With a few disclaimers about sluggish episodes, I think this is a decent watch.
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Another Miss in My Micro-Drama Run
I am having such bad luck with micro-dramas this year! I haven’t watched as many, and it’s largely because they just haven’t been hitting the way they normally do. Unfortunately, this one was no different.I enjoyed the overall narrative and most of the characters, though I wasn’t a fan of the dual-personalities that stretched across several episodes. The romantic rifts also didn’t feel particularly meaningful or engaging to me. But as the drama moved into the backstory—exploring how fate kept shifting across timelines and revealing the origin of it all—the story finally became interesting for me. Unfortunately, the plot reveals only lasted for a few episodes.
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Cristy Guo Shines in a Vengeance-Driven Role. But Slow to Build.
This was an okay-to-likable watch for me. I started it when it first released in June, then put it aside because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to finish it. That said, there are quite a few strong points. I think Cristy Guo is underrated, and she’s excellent here as the main lead. Her role is bold, decisive, and powerful, yet her storyline—centered on the vengeance she seeks—is sympathetic and vulnerable. The strongest aspect of this drama is definitely the characters. They are either incredibly likable or detestable, which kept me watching to see what would happen to them. The martial arts and choreography are also pretty good, and the execution works well.For me, the material itself just didn’t pull me in at first. It wasn’t until about halfway that I finally became engaged. The shifting timelines added layers to her backstory, revealing why she wanted and deserved vengeance. That narrative device made the story more compelling and ultimately helped me finish it.
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A Midway Drop Due to Lack of Interest
This review is based on episodes 1-44 (roughly half the series).I have such a soft spot for Wu Tianhao. I tend to give his dramas a chance, especially when he’s in a lead role, since much of his work has been in supporting or guest appearances. I’ve watched him in My Lady General, Only Love You, Supervisor Husband, Secrets of the Shadow Sect, The Legend of Shen Li, Hard to Find, Lovesickness, and The Princess Royal—though, to be honest, I don’t remember his role in the last one. Unfortunately, I decided to let this one go for no other reason than the fact that the storyline just didn’t excite me. With so many dramas already on my watchlist, I have to be mindful of how I spend my time—I can’t watch dramas all day, every day.
This is a vertical drama that follows the short-content formula, so it feels a bit choppy, and the narrative isn’t especially complex or highly produced. The storyline is a familiar palace revenge and power struggle, presented in the usual microdrama fashion—very soap opera–like. The script isn’t new, and if you’ve watched enough vertical or microdramas, the characters and tropes will feel instantly recognizable.
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A Surprisingly Satisfying Central Love Story
I really enjoyed this. For me, it’s a great example of a drama where the central romance and the misunderstandings actually worked. The relationships felt engaging and authentic, and the personal conflicts were brief enough that it didn’t leave me annoyed or frustrated. I loved everything—from the settings and characters to the beautiful costumes and the demon-goddess dynamic. It’s a xianxia theme that landed perfectly for me even when it wasn't perfect, and kept me engrossed the entire time.The ending felt a bit incomplete, but overall this was a wonderful watch, and I was absolutely mesmerized.
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A Strong Concept That Loses Momentum
I really enjoyed this drama from the beginning through to the middle. The narrative was compelling and somewhat addictive, highlighting powerful women trapped in an oppressive culture and victimized by their circumstances. I appreciated watching their stories evolve as they fought to take control of their own fates, while other characters worked together to challenge a biased system. I also enjoyed the relationship between the leads—their growth felt natural and worked for me.However, by episode 15, I felt the drama began to decline. Personally, I would have edited it down and concluded it by episode 23 to preserve the high standard set earlier on. Episodes 15 to 23 focused too heavily on a repetitive, petty, and delusional. These episodes were a letdown for me and detracted from the strength I had seen in the earlier script.
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A Demon Fantasy That Won Me Over
This drama really took me by surprise. I struggle with some of Ren Jialun’s dramas, so I initially passed on this one—especially since I was already having a hard time getting through Love of Nirvana. I didn’t think another watch would work for me. But after ranking Love and Crown as a top-shelf favorite, I decided to come back to this, and I’m really glad I did. While it didn’t quite reach top-shelf status, it comfortably landed in my upper tier.I loved the theme and the investigative storyline. It held my attention with a steady trajectory, and I was engaged with the narrative from start to finish. The characters were likable—some even lovable—and I found myself genuinely invested, almost crying through certain scenes and smiling through others. Some viewers have said the romance is minimal, but for me it was enough. In fact, there were moments when it felt like a bit too much, pulling focus from the plot. I tend to prefer romances that support the story rather than slow it down, serving more as a backdrop or arc than a constant marker for relationship beats.
Overall, this drama worked well for me and now I am curious about the novel.
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Rebirth & Politics: Strong Performances, Uneven Execution
I enjoyed this overall, though I would have edited it down significantly, as the pacing and consistency weren’t quite there for me. The performances, however, were outstanding—some of the strongest acting came from the supporting cast. They disappeared so fully into their roles that their characters felt genuinely alive. The narrative itself was intriguing, offering a fresh take on the rebirth trope that’s often overused in Chinese film. The flashbacks and camera techniques added visual interest and meaningful layers, showing how the characters’ first lives both complemented and contrasted with their second. Many characters were lovable, and others experienced enough growth to earn redemption by the end.By the midpoint, though, the subplots began to meander and they dragged down the main story for me. The narrative often drifted off-topic, adding little to the central arc. Even the final episode was padded with unnecessary peripheral material before reaching its conclusion. I also struggled with some of the major conflicts. The amount of weight placed on romantic obsession and pettiness didn’t land for me. The palace conspiracies, shifting fates, and warring nations were far more compelling in my opinion.
Overall, it was a good production, but the uneven execution and pacing kept it from being truly great.
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Brilliant first half, weird second one
I love the two leads they always know how to pick good dramas, this obe was so good i genuinely enjoyed it.However there were a few things that didn't sit quite well with me.
1-the weird entrance of Mekin and Ray and how they suddenly became two good Samaritans, helping Sorn for no reason.
2-the end, it's like they wanted to do something but opted out of it in the last second and chose to make it a fairy tale type of ending.
Be as it may, for me i guess it backfired a bit, because i for a second thought he is dead and that was a dream, you don't get to show the ML getting sick and fainting, say he want but can't meet Sorn, then show him well and kicking!!
The first two reasons don't deduce that conclusion.
3-i can't say that this is something bad, but just odd, the way the uncle disappears and appears according to need for the story lol
Aside from those things that was a solid show.
I guess I'll recommend it.
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