Reviews

MORE TWISTS AND TURNS THAN A BAG OF PRETZELS...

One of the better Chinese dramas I’ve seen lately. Directed by someone with a sure hand and a clear vision. Interpreted by some high-wattage actors.

The FL is a no-nonsense powerhouse who not only knows what she wants–but what she doesn’t want--in a husband. She’s willing to threaten mayhem and murder if necessary, but she can be kind and generous if the situation warrants it.

Her goal is to ferret out the true motives of the many suspicious characters surrounding her, including the nine princes vying for her hand–well, some of them are vying, others not so much. She sweeps away every gossamer wisp of duplicity that floats across her path.

I find it a little annoying that EVERY man who sees the FL immediately falls in love with her–there are other attractive women around. For now, she’s a bit smug and self-satisfied, but it probably won’t last.

More coming... stay tuned

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It’s quite complicated

Three episodes in, and I can already tell this series isn’t going to be as simple as it first appears.

Trying to form a definite opinion on Big Jane after only three episodes feels almost impossible. We don’t actually know him; we only know the version of him everyone else talks about, and with every episode, that version changes. I’m not saying he’s innocent, because he clearly isn’t. But I also don’t think it’s fair to place every consequence entirely on him when so many of the people pointing fingers knowingly made their own choices. This isn’t a simple case of one villain ruining everyone else’s lives.

The cinematography is beautiful and does an amazing job of building tension. The wardrobe and character styling are also great, and the OST has easily become one of my favourites.

What I appreciate most is the writing. Every episode gives you new information that makes you question what you thought you knew. Whether the story completely subverts our expectations or simply reveals that the truth has been right in front of us all along, I think it’s going to be surprising either way.

Ironically, Little Jane is the character I’m most conflicted about. I find myself questioning his choices more than anyone else’s, and I’m really interested to see where his story goes.

If there’s one thing I’d say before anyone starts watching, it’s this: don’t take everything at face value and don’t assume you already know what’s happening. Trying too hard to force the story into one direction might make you miss what it’s actually trying to show you.

If you’ve read this far, I apologize for how lengthy this is ✋🏼🙂‍↔️🤚🏼

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Uuuh this was a fun one

(sorry for any mistakes beforehand. I am writing this at 3am and won‘t have time to proof read immediately)

The good stuff:
- I didn‘t know anything about the plot before starting, so the way I perked up when the princess switch plan started. Immediately hooked.
- big props to all actors, they did great. Becky with her double role definitely stood out. 90% of the time I saw the characters as two separate people. But also ‚Grace‘, how Renée played her 👏👌. Definitely got scared at times.
- the action scenes were great. Nice tension, good fighting scenes.
- I loved the daughter father dynamic between General Wathit and Lom. hehe
- as always so far I really enjoyed when the other cousins plus their wives appear and interact with each other. As well as other recurring characters like Fah the journalist.
- that people got seriously hurt and/or died. Put the stakes quite high and the danger has to be taken seriously
- the villain monologue with her background story with that singing gave me chills.
- The bridal bouquet with the flowers. Mmh.

The meh stuff:
- For this one I thought „ye, this has the right amount of episodes“ until the last episode happened. Again a 1h 30min long one and the giving up her title and then the wedding happened a little to quickly. The struggle duty vs love was a little too short.
- Generally the part with Blew not knowing what (romantic) love is yet was introduced a little late for me.
- I would‘ve loved to see more of the main villains, especially during that two episode island „retreat“ in the middle of the series. The plot slowed down a little too much there. A simple radio or TV report on the whereabouts of the impostor princess and co. would‘ve been enough. Just so we always remember what‘s at stake and try to figure out what the villains next step could be. The actively executing bad guys were a good threat but I would‘ve loved to see a little more movement from the master(s) of the plan. Especially once the original plan didn‘t work out.
- That the father didn‘t even show up for the second wedding. Nor the brother (at least he is in contact with Blew) There I was a little sad on behalf of Blew. Maybe we get a reunion in an overarching special episode. I hope so. Would be sad if we left it like this.
- I thought the fact that Lom is a serial flirter (dater?) would be a bit more relevant throughout. I mean it was but then again not. She was smitten with Blew from the get go which struck me as odd compared to the Lom we know from Earth & Air. And in the last episode I got a little confused. So, is Lom just a flirtatious person but that‘s it…? No flings? No situationships? No serial unserious dating? How convenient. That would‘ve thrown the plot overboard otherwise.
- something about the bouquet going to Fai…

…I think I had more to say but my brain is fried now. I can‘t think anymore. I will go to sleep (at some point rewatch the series) and then edit this review again.

Thanks for reading :)

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idealistic view of prison speckled with food

Most of the drama takes place inside a prison. If you've watched documentaries or YouTube videos about Japanese prisons, you'll probably notice that this series presents a much softer, idealized version of prison life.

While it's clearly a drama and not meant to be a realistic documentary, it glosses over some of the social stigma surrounding prisoners in Japan. Former offenders are often viewed as the lowest members of society, and even those who don't conform to social norms can be quickly labeled as troublemakers or gangsters. The series barely touches on these realities.

Instead, the prisoners working in the kitchen are portrayed as kind, polite, deeply remorseful, and generally good people. They rarely argue, there's almost no conflict among them, and everyone seems surprisingly cheerful. A chef eventually joins the prison kitchen and, within the constraints of the prison budget, creates meals inspired by the inmates' memories and favorite foods. These moments, along with the prisoners' stories about their pasts and families, are meant to be the emotional heart of the drama.

However, I felt the show was too forgiving when dealing with the inmates' crimes. Some offenses—including one case involving an employer's death—felt as though they were treated too lightly, making it difficult to fully invest in the emotional moments.

The playful animations used throughout the series also didn't do much for me. They were clearly intended to make the show feel warmer and more lighthearted, but instead they reduced the emotional impact and made the overall tone feel a little too naïve.

Overall, Maison Prison is a gentle, feel-good prison drama that prioritizes redemption and comfort over realism. If you're looking for something heartwarming and don't mind an idealized portrayal of prison life, it's an easy watch. Otherwise, it's a series that can be skipped without missing much.

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After six episodes of Key to Phoenix Heart, I'm genuinely impressed. I went into this drama with high expectations, and so far it has exceeded them in several areas.

The opening battle sequence immediately grabbed my attention. The scenes featuring the ML fighting with the burning sword were visually stunning, intense, and surprisingly grounded. After watching the bts footage, I was even more impressed to learn that Neo performed those action scenes himself without relying on CGI or stunt doubles. That level of dedication really shows on screen. The battle sequences were elevated even further by the OST, which was sung by Neo himself. The song perfectly complemented the intensity and emotion of the fight scenes, amplifying their impact. Credit should also go to the director, action team, extras, and the entire production crew for bringing those sequences to life.

The performances have been another standout. Neo has showcased an impressive range in just six episodes. He is equally convincing as a fearless warrior on the battlefield, exudes an almost unhinged, murderous intensity when confronting corrupt officials, and then effortlessly switches to lighter, more playful moments as he goes along with the female lead's antics in Episode 2. None of these transitions feel jarring—they reveal different facets of the same character, making him feel layered and believable. Ami also deserves praise for bringing charm, wit, and emotional sincerity to her role, and her chemistry with Neo has been enjoyable to watch. The supporting cast are equally strong, with each actor bringing depth and personality to their characters rather than feeling like they're simply there to move the plot forward.

The pacing has been another major highlight. Six episodes in, I haven't felt the urge to fast-forward even once. The story moves quickly, but not at the expense of coherence. Every episode pushes the plot forward with meaningful developments and unexpected twists, making it easy to stay invested. There are no obvious filler scenes so far, and the drama does a great job of keeping the audience engaged.

I'm also enjoying the characters. They don't feel one-dimensional, and even the supporting cast have distinct personalities and motivations. The entire cast is delivering convincing performances, which makes the relationships and conflicts feel more believable.

One thing I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I do is the comedy. The humorous moments are naturally woven into the story instead of feeling forced or out of place. These scenes genuinely had me laughing out loud, while still maintaining the overall tone of the drama.

The soundtrack deserves special mention as well. I'm someone who usually skips opening and ending credits, but I've been letting both play because the music is that good. The songs complement the story beautifully and have quickly become one of my favorite parts of the viewing experience.

Visually, the production quality has been consistently impressive. From the large-scale battlefields to the peaceful scenery in the capital, the cinematography is gorgeous. The costumes are equally well done, adding richness and authenticity to the world without feeling overly extravagant.

It's still early, and six episodes aren't enough to judge the entire series, but based on what I've seen so far, Key to Phoenix Heart has delivered excellent action, strong pacing, engaging characters, well-timed humor, memorable music, and beautiful production values. I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

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I could watch this over and over without getting sick of it

It's very realistic and the personalities aren't exaggerated but rather a proper representation of people and their flaws IRL. Both leads struggle with communication, but you can actually see their character development over time. Yamato is such a flirt, but I think the way he becomes less reserved as a person as he explores these feelings articulates the extent of harboring romantic feelings. Kakeru had a very relatable crisis, where you panic when things change and you just hope it can reverse eventually. I liked how he ended up giving the other a chance (though Yamato needs to work on CONSENT OMG 😭but he at least apologised). Plenty of scenes always give me butterflies, like I might genuinely explode bc I can't handle these two. Youth romance hits different, and this drama portrays it artfully. I wish more ppl can watch this series too 🙏🥹

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Y todo para qué? Toooodo para qué?

COMO QUE ESTO ES DE 2023 Y NO TIENE SECUELA DKDKDKDKD (Also wtf con el nombre)

No tuvo pies, cabeza o resolucion, se fueron por las ramas y nunca se animaron a profundizar ninguna de las historias que mostraron. La protagonista nunca se decidió en ser buena persona o no, en hablar como se debía o resolver las cosas de una manera coherente.
La antagonista final JAMAS llega a ser clara con lo que quiere o porqué lo quiere así, la línea temporal es un desastre

Al final volvemos casi al punto cero, sin saber nada, aprender nada o avanzar en algo. Luego dejan con un cliffhanger que debería ser interesante pero solo es molesto por toda la tontería que te lanzaron

Pudo ser muy bueno, pero les quedó grande la tarea

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Not bad, not great.

I've read many reviews and noticed that most of them complained about the fact that both couples had a lot of screentime which deluted the main couple. I disagree. The fact that we had so many scenes of both couples was actually my favourite thing in this drama, because their dynamics are so different and we get to see 2 types of relationships that even though had some connection with each other are very different.
First we have the main couple Xu Qing You and Mo Ling Ze. Their chemistry was AMAZING. We have the love at first sight plot, but it was done in such an intoxicating way it was impossible to look away. They had their fair share of conflicts, but they were very mature throughout them and they trusted each other, something that I really liked about it. The FL wasn't infantilised even though we see her in different circumstances, keeping her essence from before their relationship.
The second couple, Xu Wei and Fang Qi was my favourite. I really liked that Feng Qi took her time with the relationship evolution, and although Xu Wei was build as a comic relief and with this childish behaviour, they're relationship was also the sweetest and, for me, most rewarding. I think they did a great job with showing them navigate a new territory toghater and accommodating themselves and the people around them with they're new relationship.
I really think that the romance aspect of this drama was spot on. The chemistry was really really good, and we get lots of scenes where they're affectionate with each other.
But that's about everything I liked about it. There was a lot of unnecessary drama, and scenes where the characters would get quite annoying. The plot felt very bland and boring for me.
I am a person who enjoys rom com dramas, so I did enjoy it, but as something that you watch without paying little to no attention, lacking any essence.
Overall, if you want to watch something fluffy, with lots of romance and not focusing on the plot, this is something I'd recommend.

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Amazing ! though …

This BL is good. What I liked most about the drama was its portrayal of hearing loss and the reality of people that struggles with it.

I like the main couple’s characters. Kohei is quiet while Taichi is energetic, straightforward and super kind. I think personalities balance each other well. And overtime both characters had good development throughout the story and has improved alot from who they were from the first episode. (Most especially Kohei.)

I also like the main character’s relationship with their family. (Taichi & his grandpa , Kohei & his mom.) Idk I just find it so cute 🥹 Those little family moments ended up being some of my favorite scenes in the whole drama. Love isn’t always shown through big gestures. Sometimes it’s in the the teasing, spending time with one another and simply being there for each other. Both relationships added a warmth to the story and made the characters feel more real and relatable. (Most especially Taichi’s set up with his parents being divorced & making him live with his grandpa instead.)

But at the middle of the show, I understand that the conflicts between them were caused by miscommunication and misunderstandings but for me it felt like they spent less time together as a couple. Even though I really appreciated the realistic representation of hearing loss and the challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing people, I can’t help but feel like it took up some of the screen time that could have been spent developing Taichi and Kohei’s relationship and giving them more meaningful moments together and to try to communicate to one another. For me, they should’ve added more episodes.

About the blocked / fake kiss, I honestly wish the writers and the directors didn’t do that 😭😭😭. They were probably trying to stay faithful to the manga but I feel like they should’ve adjusted some things to fit the live action adaptation better.

Besides that, I think Maya’s character was really unnecessary and so sudden. At first I thought she would be nice and be a part of the friendgroup and all, but she was just so mean. She tries to take Taichi away from Kohei and would say awful stuff to Taichi so that he’ll feel bad. I get that her intentions were probably good and she was probably just worried about Kohei and wanted to protect him, but I felt like the way she treated Taichi was unnecessarily harsh which made it hard for me to like her. I also understand why she acted that way because of her back story but I also felt like how they showed her backstory is also kind of late. I wish the show/writers had handled some of her interactions with a bit more warmth or understanding without ignoring the 2nd party’s side / being biased.


And last but not the least, the ending. It honestly felt kinda rushed for me and I expected a little more from the finale.. I was hoping that Taichi would say EVERYTHING that is happening with him to Kohei in the finale or before that. The ending was sweet and all but it wrapped everything up so quickly. I wish they had slowed things down a bit. It wasn’t a bad ending at all ! it just felt like their story deserved a little more time.

Overall, this BL show for me is a 6.5/10.

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This Link did not Click with me...

Oof, this turned out to be a long one. Let me start this review by saying: I'm a huge fan of the original Link Click donghua, but I am by no means a purist when it comes to adaptations of even my favourite works (watching enough Chinese adaptations that completely change the source material while still managing to be excellent in their own merit will do that to you...). In fact, the Chinese live-action adaptation of Link Click falls in this precise category: it changed most of the plot of the source material, to the point where it can only be considered an alternate universe reinterpretation, and yet for me it worked perfectly within the new self-contained world it created, and I consider it to be nearly as good as the original.

All of that to say: I was prepared for this Japanese live-action adaptation to also be its own thing and was expecting to enjoy it for what it was no matter how much of the source material was changed. Unfortunately for me, this series suffered from the exact opposite problem, namely that it relied too heavily on the original story to construct its plotline while at the same time refusing to commit to it fully. The result is that it ended up not having enough identity of its own to stand out as a separate thing.

This can be seen throughout the whole series. There is only ever a suggestion of an overarching storyline (related to Toki's mother), which is introduced in the first couple of episodes only to be quickly abandoned and to forever remain as an afterthought that gets obliquely hinted at by Hikaru vaguely staring into her picture every other episode and sometimes muttering cryptic things to himself until the bitter end. Speaking of, the main characters Toki (Cheng Xiaoshi) and Hikaru (Lu Guang) were mere shadows of their original selves—they were either stripped of their original personality (Lu Guang/Hikaru) or had it dialed up to 1000 to the detriment of the character depth (Xiaoshi/Toki). And because there's no cohesive story linking the episodes together, the characters themselves evolve very little outside of the immediate consequences they experience in response to each case they investigate, and they end up almost unchanged from who they were at the start.

Another issue is that, since the series doesn't seem to have a clear endpoint and therefore any logical progression to follow in order to reach it, the cases Toki and Hikaru investigate start out by copying the ones from the donghua with little variation (except when they conveniently decided to turn the noodle lesbians into brothers, I wonder why that was) and go back and forth between that and convoluted original stories that mostly fall flat as they take place over a single episode, making it hard to care or root for any of the newly introduced characters that will never show up again. This scriptwriting choice made the series feel meandering and lacking in emotional depth, with some misplaced virtue signaling at the end of each case that was supposed to pass off as a "conclusion" but instead just felt heavy handed and poorly written.

There are some positives to this adaptation, though. Firstly, two particular cases were standouts for me: the amnesiac lady with a mysterious past from episode 6 (which introduced a more complex plot and emotionally driven plotline), and the one with the cute teenage romance problems in episode 7. This one was especially interesting because it focused on Rin (Qiao Ling), who was for me the highlight of the series. While her characterization is very different from the donghua, I found it to be well utilized within the story. She often breathed some fresh air into the otherwise clumsy storylines, and in fact far outshined the protagonists with her sweet charm and charisma. The production quality also deserves a shout-out: the set design, styling, wardrobe, and photography were all on point, making the series look polished and avoiding the dated look which I often find issue with when watching Japanese TV shows.

Things did, in fact, start looking up in the second half of the series—mainly due to the two episodes mentioned above—, but by then it was already too late to make a comeback, let alone try to introduce the most important case from the donghua at the eleventh hour (I still get war flashbacks every time I hear her name). By this point the nachos had been reheated so many times that they became a bland, soggy mess, and not even the cute interactions between the main trio could salvage it from being relegated to its final destination: the trashcan.

In the end, what disappointed me most about this series was the writing choices made, as it seems the writers either didn't fully know in which direction they wanted to go or simply couldn't commit to one over the other, which caused the series to lack focus and just never quite manage to stick the landing. And while I was willing to overlook the over-reliance on the original source material for the first couple of episodes (after all, the Chinese live-action also reused a couple of cases), I just don't think an adaptation of a series that already has a (very good) live-action adaptation deserves to take so many episodes to find its footing. After all, if they didn't have a strong enough story to tell, whether it be a faithful adaptation or a fresh retelling, why remake the same story yet again? (The answer is money and a previously established fanbase, obviously).

Honestly, my suggestion is to just skip this one and watch the Chinese live-action adaptation instead. While it mostly reworked the original story from the donghua, I find that this decision actually worked in its favor and the writers were able to utilise the characters and the mostly original script to keep the spirit of the original series alive, something that I personally think this Japanese adaptation thoroughly failed to do. You're not going to find anything other than a lackluster story here, so unless you like the actors or are craving more Link Click in your life, stick to the Chinese versions and spare yourself the disappointment.

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Qing Ye isn’t worth Xing Wu’s Love At All

In short: Dazzling is gorgeous production sabotaged by its own abhorrent screenplay.

The female lead, Qing Ye, simply wasn't worth the male lead Xing Wu's endless attempts. I said what I said, and people need to hear me out because I will gladly explain why.

For starters, this drama establishes a highly compelling premise. We follow a city girl forced to relocate to a small coastal town, where she must learn valuable life lessons. There that she crosses paths with Xing Wu — a brilliant young man who dropped out of school despite his exceptional mind and is now working himself to the bone to support his family. He is not at his best in life when they meet, and that's precisely what makes the setup sing. It’s a bit over spoiled good girl/local bad boy vibes. The foundation is chef's kiss. But the script? Absolutely horrendous. The writers managed to do almost everything else right for every other character in the drama, but they completely fumbled the romance and made baffling structural choices that I will never understand. Let's get into it.

Production Quality

Let me give credit where credit is due, because this drama is genuinely beautiful to look at. The camera work is stunning — cinematic, intentional, and atmospheric in a way that makes you feel the salt air and the golden-hour light of that coastal town. Visually, this is top-tier work. The music, while not groundbreaking and not my favorite, lands well in the moments where it counts. It complements the emotional beats. For a drama set in a small seaside town with this kind of coming-of-age energy, the soundtrack does its job.

The cast across the board is solid. Guan Xiao Tong as Qing Ye did really well in her high school years portraying a young girl, and there was a noticeable and impressive shift in the way she portrayed a grown woman — you could feel the maturity settle into her performance. I actually thought Guan Xiao Tong was a new face because I’ve never seen anything with her before. I had to look up her age. She is 28. So that proves that she landed the part of her younger self well. The supporting characters were actually quite interesting to watch. I enjoyed most of them and their stories because they don't hoard the screen. Sure there were some scenes that I did skip, but it wasn’t too much. They only have enough screen time to make the rest of the story meaningful, and that's exactly how it should be done. The contribute without overstaying their welcome. The development of the supporting cast wasn't hurt or hindered by the pacing issues, which honestly makes the main couple's treatment even more frustrating. But I'll get there.

Chemistry

Here's the thing that makes everything else sting even more: Guan Xiao Tong and Li Yun Rui have phenomenal on-screen chemistry. Like, genuinely electric. The kind of chemistry that makes you lean forward in your seat and root for these two idiots with your whole chest. The big issue - and again I will address this - is that writers under utilize that chemistry. The subtle power dynamics, the push and pull, the way they exist in each other's space — it's all there. These two actors did the work. They showed up. They delivered. The camera did the work too. The writers, however, did not match their energy. Not even close. And that's what makes this whole situation so infuriating — because the raw material was right there, and the screenplay just... wasted it.

Pacing

The first 12 episodes are amazing. Full stop. They build a great setup for a small-town romance between young people on the cusp of adulthood. The storytelling is tight, the character introductions are compelling, and I was genuinely invested. Everything was moving. Everything had purpose. I was having a great time. There was a lot of comedy as well which made it a very fun watch.

Then episode 13 happened, and it's like the writers collectively decided to take a nap. The pacing slowed to a crawl — and I mean a painful, excruciating crawl. Every episode between 12 and 25 was a chore to get through. There was no new information, no interesting plot points, nothing to justify why we were still sitting in this era except for Xing Wu’s return to school. It was filler dressed up as storytelling, and I genuinely believe everything that happened in that stretch could have been easily condensed and folded into the first 12 episodes without losing anything of value. We wouldn't have wasted so much precious time in the high school era, and the drama would have been infinitely better for it.

And then we get to the final three episodes, where suddenly the writers remembered they had an entire adult timeline to cover and just hit fast-forward on everything. Years of separation, a reunion, the development of an adult relationship — all crammed into three episodes like they were packing for a flight they were already late for. The whiplash is unreal. We go from 26 episodes of slow-drip high school content to a full-speed sprint through the part of the story that actually matters. The contrast is jarring, and it makes the entire viewing experience feel unsatisfying.

Writing and Arc Distribution

This is where I need to have a serious conversation with whoever greenlit this script structure. I do not understand — and I mean this genuinely — why the writers chose to spend 85% of this drama on the characters' high school years and leave literally three episodes for their adult lives. Who made this decision? What was the logic? Because from where I'm sitting, there is none.

The romance is supposed to be the central pillar of this drama because our main couple gets a lot of screen time. And by a lot, I mean a lot. And yet by choosing to camp out in the youth arc for 25 episodes, the writers ensured that the relationship never actually goes anywhere meaningful. In fact, it regresses. After episode 12, Qing Ye and Xing Wu share fewer and fewer romantic moments as the episodes progress. Their dynamic starts resembling a sibling relationship more than a love story, which is the exact opposite of what should be happening in a romance drama. Before their separation, they don't even share a kiss or express — even vaguely — that the feelings they have for each other are more than pseudo brother and sister and mutual. Because we can tell that Xing Wu liked Qing Ye since early on, but her feelings remain very ambiguous toward him until the day she has to leave.

I also need to address the cousin thing. Why did the writers decide to brand them as cousins at the beginning and have them call each other brother and sister? If they were going for that trope, they needed to explore it more. They needed to show the awkwardness, the realization, the shift. But no. Nobody bats an eye when the two of them suddenly start dating as adults. No one questions it. No one reacts. It's just accepted. So what was the point of establishing that dynamic in the first place? It was a missed opportunity that adds nothing and confuses everything.

Because the writers chose to burn 85% of their runtime in the youth era, the payoff in the last three episodes — when our leads finally meet again as adults — doesn't carry the emotional weight it should. The impact is gone. You can't build longing for 26 episodes and then resolve it in a sprint. That's not romance. That's a scheduling conflict.

The Romance (or Lack of Proper Development Thereof)

Now let's talk about the separation itself, because this is where I truly lost it. First, I hate the separation C-dramas in general because most don’t do it very well. I’ve seen only one drama where the couple separation was meaningful and made total sense and I didn’t skip through any scenes during that separation. But let’s get back on track with Dazzling. The writers build Qing Ye really well up until episode 25 — until her father comes to pick her up and take her back to the big city, back to her luxury life. And what does she do? She deletes their contacts from each other's phones. She just... erases him. I'm sorry, what?

This is extremely selfish and I will die on this hill. Xing Wu was in danger so many times because of her. He carried so much weight on his shoulders while also being there for her. And she didn't even give him the grace of supporting him through the distance. There was absolutely no need for her to delete the contact from his phone and just leave him hanging. The way it comes across is devastating, and not in a romantic way — in an enraging way. She's essentially telling him: "You're too poor for me. My dad doesn't approve of you. You don't have a good family background. But hey, if you try really hard, maybe you'll make it someday — but don't expect me to be there for you while you're killing yourself trying." That is how her character reads. It was selfish. It was mean. It was giving "I only care about you when it's convenient for me." If I were Xing Wu, I would forget about her entirely and get on with my life because oh my God, this poor man deserved so much better than that.

I understand that the writers needed to create a separation, but it was absolutely not believable. They needed high stakes — real, earned, gut-wrenching high stakes — to justify this couple being out of touch for five or six years. I would have believed it if her father paid Xing Wu’s family off and covered all their expenses just so they'd leave her alone. For a guy like Xing Wu, I could see him agreeing to let Qing Ye go so he doesn't hold her back — that tracks with his character. I would have believed a serious argument where they fundamentally disagreed on something. I would have believed an external circumstance. Just not this forced, manufactured separation that the writers clearly cobbled together because they wrote themselves into a corner and couldn't figure out how to get from point A to point B.

So after five or six years apart, they finally meet again. And she doesn't even say two words to him. At the dinner when they reunite, she doesn't offer to catch up after they get out from the restaurant. She just goes home. She gives him absolutely nothing after telling him to do his best to catch up with her. It’s inconsistent with her stubborn and outspoken character at all. Especially because she’s been waiting for him. Then, when they meet at the beach again, he just runs up and kisses her. Yes I could understand him. It does works with his character. But they don't discuss anything. They haven't been talking for five years. How does he know she still likes him? How does he know they're compatible? They've never kissed before! None of this was believable. None of it was earned. The writers skipped the entire reconciliation process and exploration of their romance as adults and just went "trust us, they're in love" and expected us to be satisfied. No. I am not satisfied. I am annoyed.

Li Yun Rui Deserves Better

I need to talk about Li Yun Rui specifically because this man is the reason I kept watching. I really don't want to rate this show low because of him. This very talented actor has been playing supporting roles for so long and is finally getting good-budget dramas, but he just cannot catch a break — much like his character, honestly. He'll get a promising project and then end up with a crappy script, or there's the disaster that was Rebirth. The universe keeps testing this man's patience, and frankly, mine too.

I continued watching Dazzling largely because of Li Yun Rui and his character, and I had to stop and take several days' worth of breaks multiple times just to push through because of the mess of the script. He has a very simple but elegant face, and he could literally fit into any role — contemporary or historical. He is extremely flexible and adaptable, and that's what I appreciate about him. Give this man the script he deserves. Give him a romance where the female lead actually matches his energy. Give him a project where the writers don't fumble in the second half. He's earned it. I'm begging.

Final Thoughts

I'm extremely torn about the rating. This drama is visually gorgeous, well-acted, and carries a genuinely compelling story at its core. The first 12 episodes had me fully invested. Guan Xiao Tong and Li Yun Rui have the kind of chemistry that should have carried an iconic romance. But the distribution of the youth arc versus the adult life and reunification arc makes absolutely no sense. Because we don't have enough episodes of them as adults, everything is rushed into three episodes, and that compression makes everything that happened during the high school years feel less impactful. They're not given any time to actually learn about each other as adults and explore the romance they've been yearning for since they were young.

The writing choices are genuinely baffling. The pacing is wildly uneven. The separation is contrived. The reunion is unearned. And the female lead's actions in the final stretch make her deeply unsympathetic at the exact moment she should be at her most vulnerable and relatable. This drama had every ingredient for greatness — the cast, the visuals, the setting, the premise — and the screenplay just refused to let it be great. I'm still mad about it. I might be mad about it for a while.

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First Impression: Peach and Me

Overall: solid continuation so far. 4 episodes about an hour each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/peach-and-me-episode-1-bi0gqb6fds?lang=en_us and GMMTV YouTube channel (not available in the Americas except a few countries in Central America, not available in Japan, Korea or Thailand)

What I Liked
- good continuation that so far is avoiding sequel/special episode cliches
- I chuckled a few times*
- tattoo was awesome

Room For Improvement
- *comedy sound effects did not make things funny
- odd that a head on a shoulder was too much in front of kids

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Silly name, but ended up adoring it!

Absolutely adored this J-drama. I almost passed on the drama as the title made it sound silly and immature, but it was a surprising delight. The drama was funny, touching, so so cute, just enough angst to keep it interesting, lovely kissing and the chemistry between the leads was on fantastic!

The FL was physically beautiful, but she had so much self-doubt about her own worth. Her indecisiveness always kept her in a state of panic and anxious. This is so common, especially in women and I really connected to her character. The ML was just adorable and really helped to support and love the FL just as she was....anxiety and all. A healing drama and very romantic one as well. Lovely happy ending that left this viewer with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. Highly recommended and I will watch again and again.

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