Reviews

Could have been great, but was lacking a lot

I was so excited to watch this, but it just didn't hit the mark for me. "Master" Peem was WAAAY to stiff to be a believable character to fall for and in 12 episodes there was only 2 spicy scenes and 1 of those was the support couple. I wasted 12 hours and was rewarded with only 8 minutes of actual intimacy. I just couldn't feel any real emotion between Khem and Peem, just so rigid and distant.

I will not watch the follow-up and will not re-watch this series. The whole drama could have been reduced to 10 episodes and made the same impact, too long for too little reward.

If you truly just want a chilling drama, it is perfect and very well done, if you want romance and spice with your drama, pass on this one.

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A fresh story in C dramaland slightly too short for what it wants to tell.

Well I ended up binging it.

Honestly I liked that for once I didn't have to commit to 40 episodes for a C drama and also the fact that appart from the two first episodes, each episodes is around 30 minutes, opening and ending included (except episode 8 which is 40mn if I remember well).

It's a solid 8 for me... Most ratings on MDL are inflated but this is one instance where I think people have been pretty unfair with the show ( to be fair 7.6 isn't a bad rating per say, but given the ratings habit of the MDL community, no drama which overall rating is below 8 can be considered "good").

I liked it though I'm removing 2 points for episode 10 to 12... Too rushed, had to rely too much on suspension of disbelief with one character taking weird decision given their profile, another surviving God knows how etc. I felt that for these 3 episodes, they should have made the episodes longer, or add 2 or 3 to make it more coherent...

I also didn't like the fact that one character was carrying guilt they weren't responsible for. One such guilt was never truly clarified with the other so their stance at the end was a bit weird.

All in all, for a 12 episodes drama, they did pretty well but the drama would have been better with a slightly longer length.

Still it was different from your usual C drama fare, so just for that, I would recommend it if you're craving something fresh and short.... Just be aware that although it ends with a hopeful message, most of the stories in this show are pretty tragic, so don't watch this when you're feeling a bit blue.

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The benefits of being a time travel / regression geek

I love time travel, regression, turning your life around themed stories. So of course, I have consumed multiple dramas, manwhas, mangas around it. Imagine living through hell and then being given the opportunity to have another chance at life. When I heard about My Royal Nemesis, I was so excited. After Lovely Runner I think this was the first rom com I was personally invested in. I had so much fun watching it. People are polarized about the ending and because I have dabbled in reading about time travel / dimensions heavily, I don’t think it bothered me too much. After all, I could fill in the gaps with my imagination. What I loved was that when the main situation in the drama was resolved, I didn’t get bored of the story or the main couple, which to be honest was a big achievement for me.
Yes the story may have some gaps, but in my opinion it ended quite well for a show with 14 episodes. I really believe this show deserves a 10/10 and I am rooting for the whole cast and of course our lovely leads Heo Nam Jun and Im Ji Yeon.

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I watched the series from beginning to end. At times, I watched it out of curiosity. However, there were so many absurdities in the series that I even considered giving up at one point. The screenwriters have ruined another great series. Unfortunately. A prince, under arrest, rebels. He gathers an army. He issues orders. I couldn't understand how this happened. And then the princess says, "You're watching the prince's mansion, aren't you?" Yes, ma'am, we are. There's no activity. I just can't comprehend how the screenwriter could have written these absurdities. This happens several times, and finally, at the end of the series, they kill the prince. Finally. Another thing is the mind games between the two; they supposedly turned the games into intellectual games. They're running the state. The Chief Advisor, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Princess. We watched the mind games of this trio. The princess won every time. But she suffered the most. I don't understand how that happened. The older brother, who could have seized the state and empire because his step-brother supported the princess, rejects all of this, saying he prefers his own clan to be in charge. In other words, if they were given special privileges by the state, if they were treated as special, he wouldn't want anything. He doesn't want the state or the empire. That's the kind of thinking he has. And in the end, this excessive thinking killed him. He was poisoned. But he set himself on fire. The best part was the burning scene. While burning, he was fanning himself with the fan in his hand. I mean, what can I say to these screenwriters? I'm at a loss for how to criticize them. As for the actors, in my opinion, this duo didn't work. Our lead actors lacked chemistry. I didn't like it. There's already an 8-10 year age difference, which was quite noticeable. The male actor looked too young. He tried to imitate an American actor by making various facial expressions, but that didn't save him. He came all the way here from child acting, so it wouldn't be right to criticize his acting. But in this series, the chemistry between this actress and the actor was almost nonexistent, and her inexperience left its mark on the show. She looks very naive. Very thin and frail. She didn't suit the role, but the director tried to bring her to the forefront by giving her certain airs and making her appear different, but this is noticeable, it doesn't work. Her face also looks small. That's my opinion. However, the supporting roles were very good. The actors playing the villains were quite bad and they made us feel it. I also liked the child actor who played the Emperor.

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Maravilhoso

Que perfeição esse ultimo episódio.
Muita gente pode achar a história um pouco confusa, mas como amo viagem no tempo, achei a coisa mais maravilhosa.

Atuações impecáveis, História encerrou tudo bem fechadinho, bem completinho.
Deu para perceber que tanto no passado quanto no presente eles tiveram um final feliz.
Como fala na série "Se não tem sofrimento não é real".
O vilão teve um final devido, e pagando pelos seus atos. Queria apenas entender melhor porque ele criava o filho sozinho, nem um momento mencionou a mãe. Acredito que só isso ficou em aberto.

amei.
1000/10

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This sweet, beautiful, deep drama gets better and better on Rewatch!

I absolutely loved this drama!! I loved it even more after I finished it and couldn't stop thinking about it and the actor Zhou Keyu! I went into this drama without expectations and came out a complete fan of Zhou Keyu. His performance is what elevated Li Wu from a good character into one of the most memorable MLs. He perfectly captures Li Wu's sincerity, vulnerability, determination, and unwavering devotion. Even as Li Wu grows older and more successful, Zhou Keyu never loses the warmth and softness at the core of the character. Like Michelle Chen said Li Wu can sometimes be sweet and adorable like a little puppy dog or sometimes sexy and tempting like a little wolf haha.

The biggest reason this drama worked for me is Li Wu.
At first, he seems like the devoted younger ML who falls deeply in love and spends years pursuing the woman he loves. His story is about self-worth, identity, ambition, and wanting to be understood. One of the most heartbreaking realizations I had while rewatching was that Li Wu always knew who he was and what he wanted. Even as a teenager, he carefully thought through his future, chose the university path he genuinely wanted, and had dreams of pursuing academia. Yet because of his age and background, people around him, including Cen Jin, often assumed he was too young to know his own mind.
His years abroad, his relentless pursuit of success, and his eventual return all became deeply emotional. He wasn't just trying to become successful. He was trying to become "good enough" according to the standards he believed Cen Jin respected.

The romance itself is beautiful. What I especially loved is that once Cen Jin understands her feelings, she chooses him wholeheartedly. Their relationship feels mature, supportive, and deeply emotional.
I also found myself appreciating Cen Jin much more on reflection and rewatch. So many of her feelings are shown subtly through her actions, protectiveness, and emotional dependence on Li Wu rather than through obvious romantic gestures.

One of my favorite dramas!! Highly recommend watching it for a great romance and getting to know Zhou Keyu!

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Casal caótico e uma história bonita

My Royal Nemesis é aquele dorama que entrega romance, momentos divertidos e um casal completamente caótico, mas que, de alguma forma, funciona perfeitamente junto. A química entre os protagonistas foi, sem dúvidas, o grande destaque. As interações, as provocações e a conexão entre eles fizeram com que eu me envolvesse com o casal e torcesse pelo romance até o fim.
Alguns pontos ,enredo ficou um pouco confuso de acompanhar. Tive a sensação de que algumas situações poderiam ter sido melhor desenvolvidas ou explicadas, o que acabou deixando a trama um pouco perdida em determinados momentos.
Além disso, os episódios 11 e 12 foram os que mais me deram a impressão de enrolação. O ritmo diminuiu e parece que ficou andando em círculos antes de chegar a conclusão.
Felizmente, a reta final conseguiu se recuperar e entregou um desfecho bonito, emocionante e que fez sentido para a jornada dos personagens.
O final foi muito bonito, emocionante e trouxe um encerramento satisfatório para os personagens. Foi aquele tipo de desfecho que deixa o coração quentinho e faz você se despedir dos protagonistas com um sorriso no rosto.

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drama filled historical vertical series

Overall: note that my content warnings and the series itself have some pretty heavy scenes. I haven't read the original manhwa of the same name and reviewed this live action series on its own. Aired on the Lezhin Snack app (total run time about 2 hours)

Content Warnings: past (murders, blood spatter shown, homophobia, coercion); current (murders, gang rape? (not sure if it already happened and was happening again or it hadn't happened the first time), dub/non con sex, non con kissing, punches, beginning sexual assault, drugging, kidnapping, blood)

What I Liked
- historical setting
- the ending in the past (see spoiler comment)
- the caring moments that were shown

Room For Improvement
- didn't always feel the chemistry, the one lead felt like a kicked puppy
- needed more time to develop their relationship

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As pessoas podem até tentar encontrar algum defeito nesse drama, mas, para mim, ele é simplesmente impecável. É bom do começo ao fim!!!!

Foram episódios que acompanhei com um sorriso no rosto, dando risadas e me apaixonando cada vez mais pela história. O prota (que homem maravilhoso, gente não é crime sorrir com todo aquele charme?) tem aquela energia dos personagens dos livros que a gente lia na adolescência, e isso torna tudo ainda mais gostoso de assistir. E a nossa prota tambem é maravilhosa e o fato de não ser uma coitadinha, mas uma mulher autêntica, deixou tudo muito MELHOR. E a química do casal é tão surreal que, em vários momentos, parece que eles são um casal de verdade. Eu sei que a atriz namora na vida real, mas a intimidade e a paixão que eles transmitem são tão naturais que é impossível não acreditar naquele amor. Eu fiquei apaixonada JURO

O mais interessante é que os protas fogem completamente do estereótipo do casal indefeso. Eles não aceitam tudo calados, não ficam no drama exagerado ou no papel de vítimas. Quando precisam lutar, eles enfrentam os problemas de frente e rebatem na mesma moeda e as vezes até de uma forma engraçada.

Eu não vou falar muito para não dar spoilers, porque acredito que cada emoção vale a pena ser descoberta assistindo. É um drama cativante, divertido e surpreendente. Apesar de parecer clichê, ele consegue fugir do óbvio. Sempre que eu achava que sabia o que ia acontecer, a história me surpreendia. Até mesmo nas brigas do casal, quando parecia que viria aquele melodrama previsível, os personagens reagiam de maneiras inesperadas. Aaaaa eu já estou com saudades deles :(

Esse drama me tirou completamente da minha zona de conforto, porque eu nunca sabia exatamente o que esperar e isso foi o que o tornou um drama que eu amei tanto.

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Fun with feeling.

So enjoyed this at times hilarious, at others moving, story.

The character of Sin Seo-ri can be both meek, and at other times, formidable. Cha Se-gye I found captivating, annoying, brilliant and soft centred where Seo-ri is concerned. I thought IJY's mannerisms and way of delivering her lines was perfect for Seo-ri. I also liked her reactions to the modern times she found herself in.

I didn't get irritated by the story yo-yoing between the historical past and modern present, mainly because the same scene wasn't constantly referred back to, and it was necessary. If the same point was revisited mors than once, it would be to see it from a different, and relative, perspective.

This story isn't supposed to be serious, factual, or particularly meaningful (apart, possibly, from how women were, and to an extent, still are, perceived and expected to conform/behave). It's an overall fun and touching ride.

Not perfect, but it ticked most of my boxes, plus I loved the cast ~ including some great supporting members (Kim Hae-sook being one of many favourites).

Not one I'll rush to watch again, but would happily do so one day in the future. The coupling of the leads was genius casting. Give it a go if you haven't!

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watch only if you like cringe shows

the fl was giving stalker till she got with him and still even then was only following him around like a lost puppy . I feel like 42 episodes was too much and it didn't need all those episodes this story could've been told in 21 espodes . I would've like more on the games itself and the members of kk because I really watched it for them and more information on the ctf wouldve been nice

the fl pissed me off a lot
she had no character development
while the ml had a lot
the fact that he was so upset with solo because he choose his child over the team pissed me off as well
like we get it you had a lot riding on the team but it's his child
team kk was the best part of this drama for me

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A Hilarious Watch that Unfortunately Falters Towards the End

Starting with the good
❄️The Acting - I truly do think that everyone did a good job, but I think my standouts were Im Ji Yeon, Heo Nam Jun, and Yoon Byung Hee.

Despite Byung Hee being a supporting character in every show I've seen him in, I always know that his acting will be good and I will very likely be laughing my behind off. He truly never disappoints

Im Ji Yeon - The last time I saw her was in The Glory (OK, so, truthfully, it was in 'The Killing Vote,' but I dropped that shit so quick I couldn't even tell you what her character was like). Now back to The Glory. I think all, if not the majority of us, can agree that she straight-up traumatized us there. Her character was to be feared, loathed, and hated. That is (fortunately or unfortunately) a character that stays with the audience. From that to this is such a 180, and a glorious one. She played the unhinged Sin Seo Ri beautifully. And I think that proves what an amazing actress she is.

Heo Nam Jun - If you'd have asked me b4 the Twitter thirst traps, I'd have told you that I'd never seen this man in any show. Come to find out he was in both seasons 2 and 3 of 'Sweet Home'. Girl, I never clocked him them😭. I am glad that he got his chance to shine in this drama, though. This is a man who KNOWS how to use his facial muscles. I do not think the romance would have worked as well as it did if his microexpressions weren't as good as they were.

❄️ The Comedy - I have had so much fun with this show the past 7(?) weeks. Anytime Friday would come around, I just knew that I was in for some foolishness. This cast has made me laugh so much over the past few weeks, and I thank them for it. I think the drama deserves recognition for its hilarity (alongside the acting, of course). They stuck the landing on that romantic comedy tag.

❄️The romance - They both might have been crazy, but they communicated. Even in the midst of all that was going on, they always found their way back to each other. Cha Segye fell fast and fell harder than anyone else, and Seori is a bit prickly, but they were both into each other. You see that their love is mature and reciprocal. They never lingered in misunderstandings

Now let's talk about the bits that had me feeling dissatisfied

🌠Inconsistent characterization - Cha Segye & Sin Seori
👩🏻Seori is shown to have a 6th sense for danger in the 1st ep or so, but that wholly disappears by the time the show hits ep 11 or so. The show starts setting up situations for Se Gye to save her. Situations that do not make sense if you recall the woman we started the show with.

For example, that incident with the water. Ep 1 Seori would have started seeking help the minute she felt weird. Actually, she'd have never stayed in that isolated room till late at night. She'd have started asking questions when she saw that these wardrobe pple were taking too long to find her

👨🏻On the other hand, Cha Segye started off being very bullheaded, smart, and cunning. He doesn't let anyone (aside from Seori, that is) lead him on like a fool or take advantage of him. However, when the show requires it, suddenly his cunning and smarts go out the window. He constantly underestimates Mun do allowing him to one-up him.

I'm still so mad at the writer(s) for making this man legit beg Mun Do not to destroy Seori's house. I think he even got on his knees (don't quote me on this, though). The point is, the businessman Cha Segye, the man who built a business despite Mundo, his useless aunts, and his grandfather, would've never done that. I hate that they made him do that.

On to other cast members

🌠Choi Mundo - Why was this man so horrid? You could say that he was made like that. Like, he was horrible in the Joseon era, so he's bound to be horrible too in the modern day. However, I feel like this explanation is a little lazy. While his actions in the Joseon era were very much on the extreme side, he had a reason.

Watching palace dramas is knowing that court politics and accession to the throne is a cutthroat game (quite literally, as they will behead you). So in Joseon, he was horribly protecting his seat.

But what is the explanation in the modern day? Jealousy? Coz he was born poor, and Cha Se Gye has a proverbial silver spoon? That's it? A jealous kid became a jealous (I'm assuming) 40-yr-old who wanted to usurp a conglomerate seat that was never his to begin with? Ai🤦🏾‍♀️

🌠Mo Tae Hui - How did she go from obsessing about getting married to Cha Se Gye and using her economic power to put him back in his 'rightful seat' to besties doing dealings together? That was quite the sudden and weird switch. We should have seen her come to terms with the fact that Se Gye would never be hers, no matter how much she tried. I think they tried showing that to us in the scene where she was speaking to the foreigner at the museum, but based on the fact that she never knew about what happened in the past btwn them, it doesn't make sense

🌠Grandfather - How did this man rise to being the head of this conglomerate? How did he manage to work out the politics of business and grow his company when he couldn't see the evil that was Mun Do all along? Mun Do was right for telling him that he was always a horrible grandfather to Cha Segye. And grandpa was dead wrong in calling Mun Do a burden. Yes, Mun Do was awful, but he cannot just spew those words after using him for all those years.

🌠The aunties - I felt like they never used them enough. They could've been a hilarious duo had they been better utilized.

🌠Ji Hyo - By the time the show was hitting ep 15, she had become one of my favourite characters. However, I cannot help but lament at who she could have been. The weird romance they were pushing btwn her and Baek Gwang Nam was honestly... weird. Funny, but weird. I'd have preferred that they had instead made her story more of a true rival to Sin Seori.

In one of the episodes, Ji Hyo had said that she hated Seori when she was younger, as Seori was better than her. And that once Seori disappeared, she always lived with some kind of anxiety regarding her career. Ji Hyo grows as a character during the course of the show. She's not just a mean character but a complicated, nuanced one. So, rather than the romance, I'd have preferred if she were shown to be using the now 'old but new' Seori as a tool to improve herself.

🌠That one random extra actress - Why on earth was she being mean to Seori? At 1st I thought the Mun Do had bought her off, but the show ends with us never knowing why she suddenly turned evil. Weird

🌠 Other Questions
a. What was the point of Mun Do's kid?

b. Why and how did Mun Do's assistant turn coats? He was never painted as a spy, so... why the change of heart?

c. Back in Joseon, why did Mun Do marry Dansim? He'd already achieved his goal, so what was the point of having her in his bed and elevating her status?

d. Did we really need all the drama and anxiety between eps 11 and 16? I cannot even count the number of times I repeated the line, 'They better not give me another 'Mr. Queen' ending in this one. I do not think the drama about her maybe going, maybe not going, then actually going back to Joseon was necessary. Even Segye's stabbing, what was that about? Did I miss the reason behind why he was stabbed and by who, or was that just the writer's way of forcing Seori to go back to Joseon🤔?

🌠Final Thoughts🌠
Would I recommend this? Honestly, yes. It wasn't perfect. Okay? It wasn't. However, despite the unnecessary drama that the writer(s) added from ep 11 to 16 and unanswered questions, I think this is a solid romcom.
The acting is incredible, the comedy lands, the villain is an actual true villain, and the plot is actually good. I truly believe that this show is actually worth investing your time in (esp those 1st 10 episodes)

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