Reviews

Kinda lives up to the hype, kinda

My Gosh was I bombarded with this series everywhere on the net that one night I gave in.

1. The good:
- Likeable and lively FL, especially in her natural habitat a.k.a. her village. Interesting back story of her being a butcher lady too.
- The child actors are adorbs! Sometimes they act way beyond their ages though, which is stereotypical in dramas. So I think of these instances as: writers letting their imagination running freaking wild.
- The veteran actors, including the uncle and aunty, the busybody granny, the foster father/shifu, the emperor.
- Lin Mu Ran's crazy, sadistic prince character was entertaining. He has potentials.
- Yan Yi Kuan (cry). I think of his character not as an antagonist but an antihero. [SPOILERS] Did his actions lead to a lot of suffering and deaths? Yes. Was he push into it by shitty power? Yes. Could he have done it differently? Yes. But then it wouldn't be an Asian thing of non-communicative but caring parent (figure) any further. Also, it makes it poignant, his character and his storyline. The only sympathetic and sympathiseable bad guy in the series. (I also shuddered at the thought many dramas have characters like him. Those who sacrificed everything and gave their lives to serve their countries and people, only to get death sentences - extendable to their extended families - by a single choice/decision or even at the whim of the higher-ups.)
- The music highlights the heart-warming, romantic and lively scenes well.
- The COMEDY always hits the right notes with this one.

2. The bad:
- Quality drops gradually. The first arc was enjoyable. The middle arc was muddy and dragging, with Lin Mu Ran being the highlight. The last couple episodes were saved by Yan Yi Kuan.
- Lacks focuses.

3. The delusional:
- The overly emphasis on the ML's looks/handsomeness. They not only say it but use every chance to highlight it in the makeup and costumes. I'm sick of it. (But not to the point of hating him. I think his online hate is just as toxic as his fans glazing his supposed "beauty".)
- The superhuman abilities of Gary Sue and Mary Sue:
[SPOILERS]
ML: Clearly doesn't shoot a bow. But every time he shoots, even with three freaking arrows, he never misses. He is the most feared general but hardly does any planning or strategising. Even his combat is mostly non-proven.
FL: She freaking kills two of the most veteran and strongest generals/warriors of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. She has never worn amour before, but as soon as she dons one, she moves like the wind (okay, fine, like usual). She breaks rules, acts recklessly but, by the power vested in plot amours, everything ALWAYS turns out well and swell.
Both 20-something to early 30s main characters become super important political figures, for whatever the plot reasons, in the court of a 9-year-old emperor with a 20-something restauranteur/entertainment venue owner mother being behind him. These three don't have any backgrounds, knowledge, track records or even show the slightest of learning about the serious business that is the court life. They are not qualified. The freaking country is doomed from the start.
- Simp-and-limp male characters.
- Kids not being kids.

4. The horrible:
- The last bait I took was Qi Min. He was paraded everywhere online. I got intrigued of people painting him as a sad, pitiable secondary character with a tragic love story...
[SPOILERS]
Oh, hell no, it's not a love story at all! Why and how did they decide to fantasise this abusive, mentally disturbed and clearly needed help, obsessive rapist/kidnapper/murderer and his Stockholm's syndrome victim? It's disgusting and I need therapy.

Conclusion: Funny (again, the comedy of this series is on-point) with a good start but can be uneven, delusional and absolutely questionable.

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Fashion Show or TV Drama?

Fashion show or Tv Drama is the question I was asking myself the entire time. "Veil of Shadows" is sister to "Fangs of Fortune" and cousin to "My Journey to you".
These Dramas have:
+Gorgeous, rich costumes.
+Beautiful actors, you would struggle to find someone normal looking. i really wanted to see one ugly side characters at least once :).
+Great fighting scenes.
+Flashy, well done special effects.
+Superb soundtrack.
-Weak story. Everyone dies but then you see them later making the impact of the sacrifice pointless. Both "Veil of Shadows" and "Fangs of Fortune" story telling consist of mini side plots, which look more like leveling quests to the 4 main characters where each quest ending with boss kill.
-Acting was flat, because of the way the drama is shot. You often see actors talking to camera ,making beautiful posing and shedding fake tears. Unfortunately you won't see ugly crying here, the tear drops fall in most beautiful way possible, like small crystals out of actors eyes.
-World is empty. You rarely see scenes where characters are walking on streets full with people living their lives and doing their business. Everything is too staged.

With all the fall backs this drama deserves good score and I understand why ppl would like it. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but overall it is much better than other releases like "Blood River".

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Vai ficando chato

Já disse que não gosto de dark romance, mas fui assistir Yesterday de coração aberto, juro. No mínimo, eu esperava um bom desenvolvimento.

Vi que muita gente dropou logo nos primeiros episódios por causa da narrativa que fica indo e voltando entre passado e presente. Realmente é um pouco confuso, mas isso, por si só, não me desanimou.

O Peat entregou uma atuação incrível. Ele estava completamente dentro do personagem, em alguns momentos, chegava até a dar medo.

E nem preciso comentar sobre as cenas NC, né? Fort e Peat já são conhecidos por serem bem soltinhos nisso, e aqui não foi diferente.

Sobre a história, eu estava bem envolvida até a metade. Depois disso, a trama parece começar a girar no mesmo lugar, sem realmente avançar.

Entrei em contradição com o Veir várias vezes. No começo, achei que ele fosse oportunista e mentiroso. Depois, quando ele ajudou o Kevin, já não entendi direito como o relacionamento deles se desenvolveu, considerando que o próprio Veir dizia que só ficava com alguém uma vez.
Ainda assim, ele passa a se mostrar realmente apaixonado e investido na relação, até levar uma facada nas costas.
Fiquei com pena do que aconteceu com ele. Sinceramente, achei que ele seria firme e rejeitaria o Kevin até o final… mas não foi o caso.

O Kevin é completamente instável. E, no início, parecia que a trama não ia passar pano para as atitudes dele, o que eu achei interessante. Só que, no final, é exatamente isso que acontece. Revelam que ele tem bipolaridade e outros transtornos, como se isso diminuísse o peso de tudo que ele fez. E, ainda assim, ele e o Veir terminam juntos.

Foi uma novidade ver o Kevin, um personagem que precisava urgente de terapia, realmente fazendo terapia. Mas isso deveria ter durado mais.

Não acho que o romance funcione para esses dois personagens, mesmo com uma terapia a longo prazo, não acho que ele deveriam ficar juntos.
Mas se era para eles ficarem juntos de qualquer forma, preferiria que eles acabassem separados no último episódio, e que o roteiro desse um lampejo de esperança nos últimos minutos para que um relacionamento pudesse dar certo entre os dois em um futuro, acho que seria mais aceitável.

Outro ponto que me incomodou foi a morte do amigo do Veir. A forma como isso foi tratado pareceu não impactar ninguém de verdade. Não senti que alguém demonstrou luto real pelo coitado, parecia que ele só tinha ido viajar e não voltaria tão cedo.

Sobre o casal sáfico, virou tendência nos projetos do Fort e Peat?
É diferente, admito, mas tanto aqui quanto em Love Sea, sinto que não funcionou tão bem. Faltou desenvolvimento e profundidade, as personagens não são interessantes o suficiente para sustentar o núcleo. Mas não culpo as atrizes, a guarda costas e a Lisa do Blackpink tentaram com o que tinham.

No fim, a história acaba ficando bem entediante com o tempo, eu passei a não me importar já que a trama estava indo para o mesmo caminho de sempre.
Mas continuo esperando o dia em que um roteiro vai ter coragem de tratar um relacionamento tóxico como ele realmente é. Deixando assim os personagens separados, como deveria ser.

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The Sun and the Star

The most unrealistic part about the eight episodes was not the ghosts - it was Arthit's dad being extremely cool with him just quitting med school. Yeah, that's not how it works!

But factual accuracy aside, this was a genuinely sweet and innovative addition to the Four Directions universe, certainly my favourite of the parts until now. Who knew that actual plot could help build a good series? (I'm not saying anything, but we know plot is always good)

Dao and Thit are one of my favourite couples - there's no faking of anything in their relationship, what you see is literal what you get and I'm glad we got to see exactly how they figured each other out. During that time, we got an actual story with Dao and his spirit - seeing abilities helping not only Arthit with his mom, but also several ghosts he lives with (this is also a neighbour/proximity love story, which YES)
In that period of five or so episodes, we see a lot of both the leads and their respective personalities. And for once, there was no terrible parent or insane trauma on our screens. Thit and Dao are both flawed individuals but their struggles don't feel ramped up for drama. I liked how they each had things to deal with, but none of it had to with physical, mental or emotional torture or manipulation.

And then, once we and they get to know each other well, that's when we get the romance. I will admit, once it switched to just romance, the pacing became dismal (as with the rest of the other parts) but I was just so charmed by Arthit and Dao that I didn't really mind.

I suppose this is not much of an informative review as I'd like it to be, but honestly, I have no real complaints except for the pace and some questionable behaviour by Arthit at times. Ngern and Oat did a wonderful job, they had so much chemistry and I really enjoyed their dynamics.

Honestly, if anyone very badly wants to watch any of the Fourever You stories, this is the one I'd recommend. Every character feels more fleshed out, familiar and new alike, the main couple is amazing and the story is really good.

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We are all stories in the end...

Great series! Came late to the scene by a couple years and kind of annoyed with myself for waiting so long to watch this because of a couple negative reviews. Yea, there will always be something that annoys the hell out of you... looking at you, Wenjun!.. However, aside from wanting to knock some sense in a few and respect in others..(and stop a certain disgusting drugging). It was a great series. I can truly appreciate the intricate world created and the many tales woven to make the main story whole. You quickly have your favorites and your own personal hit-list and before you know it 40 episodes are done and you are sad to say farewell to the truly "good ones" but we are all stories in the end... So, make it a good one, yea?

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what a journey ....

a superb fantasy drama with a lot of plot twists and intriguing characters , at first it was very confusing with same actor playing multiple characters but it will be clear in the end .

great story, acting , cinematography and music yet the unequal screen time between main leads for me affected the story somehow , I mean it would quite difficult to give 4 leads equal screen time and it will end being focused on one couple more than the other .

wu shuguang's story felt rushed for me , I mean we didn't get see wu wuyuan and his love story as ji ling and lu wuyi's love story and even after becoming a dragon he was still quite weak and still needed ji ling's help, it felt like although wu shuguang has the dragon's power ji ling is still the true dragon deity , wu shuguang at sometimes felt like a supporting character rather than a main lead .

ji ling and lu wuyi 's story was great on many aspects , glad they got a happy ending .
you chi was quite funny throughout the drama, glad they gave his character some depth in the end and he got his happy ending and love interest " mu long ".

even the great 4 demons had great stories of their own which was great .
considering this is a GJM drama , I watched this with my hand over my heart thinking how would he make it a sad ending yet it was a happy one .

overall great fantasy drama on many aspects .

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Watched thrice and still bitter about it

I wanted to like this series A LOT. "Chang Ge Xing" is possibly my favourite manhua, still to this moment. But I couldn't, no matter how much I tried a.k.a. three-freaking-times!

1. The good:
- The OST no doubt. What a goated OST.
- The first episode is likely one of the best first episodes I've seen. The character introductions (albeit with many changes from the manhua), the exhilarating sepak takraw match, the costumes, the sets, all.
- The best acting scene goes to Wu Lei [SPOILER] when his foster mother was killed. That and the first episode were non-skips.

2. The alright:
- The characters of Yong An and Hao Du, both new and extended characters from the manhua. In my first viewing, their journeys, separate and together, are easier to watch and pay attention to. Because it's simpler compared to the push-and-shove, tug-and-pull characterisations and storylines of Chang Ge and Ashile Sun. But I don't care about them beyond that first watch.

3. The BITTER:
- The story. I understand the writers made the most out of the source materials. They seemed to have a lot of love and respect for Xia Da too. But damn was the whole thing butchered.
One of the driving forces of the manhua is the conflict of identities, especially ethnics of Chang Ge and Sun. Unfortunately, the ethnic diversity is superficial and completely washed here.
- The characterisation. For a story as intricate as "Chang Ge Xing" to work, it must be developed gradually and in focus. By parading a bunch of characters and creating new storylines for the supporting-but-important-commerical cast, it fails miserably. It's clear as day, when main characters got pushed aside and received less attention from viewers than the secondary ones. In my first viewing, I dropped as Chang Ge gets into the nunnery.
- Chang Ge and Sun. Bloody hell, Dilireba and Wu Lei butchered my beloved characters.
Dilireba might have been a good cast, given her Uyghur ethnicity. But she doesn't look the part of Chang Ge (cry), barely gave any acting if at all to save her life (cry), even her figure and acting dead-gave away she was a girl (cry). They made Chang Ge character sooooo unlikable, self-centered and inconsiderate (even as a strategist, you have to be able to consider to plan and strategise). Cry.
Wu Lei looks ridiculous in costumes that aren't Tang, including his wig and his battle armour. It doesn't help that his physique is like most every other Chinese commercial actors. In the manhua, Sun has an imposing presence and endless charisma (earned at that). Even though he is young he is a seasoned warrior and highly respected leader, regarded as the "god of war". I don't see any of that in Wu Lei. But at least, he gave that emotionally violent and gut-wrenching highlight of a scene.

To be fair, I think, those who don't know/read the manhua might like this series (more). But even when I tried to detach it from its source material, it was still such a jumble-mumble of bad story-telling.

Conclusion: Bitter. Wasted. Dead.

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Better to lose with dignity than to win with dishonor!

I appreciate the revenge of this rugby player who fell from grace for doping. He disappeared and three years later, he will return to this sports school to coach this team of seven boys.
I found the soundtrack to be spot on, especially the music during the explanation of "what rugby is" that made me smile because it reminded me of the Quark programm. I liked the natural acting and the interludes with comics based on the images, as well as... the handsome young men.
A little less so are the moments where the shooting coach is treated like a slave by these school principals.
Their dirty methods to undermine the rugby team for more funding or for themselves. New guidelines, manipulation, unfavorable situations, unequal battles between the best in their classes against people who have never practiced... I couldn't wait for the showdown, especially from episode 9 onwards, when kneeling seemed to be the order of the day.
I didn't know about the existence of this rare disease, MYASTHENIA, which causes muscle weakness, eyelid damage (eyelids, double vision), and respiratory paralysis. Kudos to the actor for his performance, which makes these moments so touching. His character is a brilliant motivator for these kids, winning them over with his actions and advocating for them.
A mix of feelings: anger, seeing that those who play dirty, despite injustice and violence, always have everyone at their feet. Emotion, accompanied by a few tears, for these two coaches who put the well-being of their players before their own (support, sacrifices); tenderness for this captain who timidly confesses his love to the girl he likes; praise for the director who supports this coach through thick and thin; admiration for this shooter who trains hard to regain her balance after the accident.
A few emotional tears in the last few episodes.

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One of the most beautiful and have to cry a lot cdrama ?

Honestly, I’m still in shock that Veil of Shadow is already over. Everything about it felt so sudden, from the surprise release announcement to that finale, and I’m just not ready to say goodbye! This drama was honestly a visual masterpiece; some of the locations and costumes were so gorgeous I literally gasped. And the cast? Incredible. Every single actor brought so much emotion to their roles—when they cried, I was right there sobbing with them. I swear I spent half the series in tears! The plot twists were absolutely wild and kept me stressed out the whole time, but what really kept me going was the friendship between the characters and the chemistry of the two main couples. They are officially my favorites. The OST was also such a vibe and fit every scene perfectly. My only real complaint is that 29 episodes is way too short—I needed more! Thank god for that happy ending and the kiss scenes, because if it had ended sadly, I don’t think I would’ve recovered. Such an amazing, emotional ride!😭💕

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"It takes an exceptional person to love a warrior, especially a warrior whose war will never cease."

If you are looking for a sweet, fluffy love story, this is not the one to watch. If you struggle with depictions of war and PTSD, you may want to avoid it. However, if you want a beautifully heartbreaking story with strong performances from the main leads and plenty of emotional angst, it is absolutely worth watching.

Not for the faint of heart, The White Olive Tree is a deeply emotional experience that lingers long after it ends. I found myself in tears more than once (which usually happens very rarely), completely immersed in a story that is as devastating as it is beautiful.

At its core, this is a story about young idealists, people who choose, of their own will, to step into danger and do what must be done, even when no one asks them to. They are driven by compassion and a sense of duty, fully aware of the risks, yet unwilling to turn away. Fate, however, is unforgiving. Their choices come at a great cost, and the suffering they endure feels painfully real. Still, they continue to help others, even when it breaks them.

As a ML, CZY delivers an outstanding performance as Li Zan and truly owns the role. His portrayal is nothing short of devastating. Li Zan is not just a man who has experienced hardship, he is someone fundamentally altered by it. The weight of the lives lost around him, especially those of friends who died for him, becomes something he can never escape. That survivor’s guilt seeps into every part of him. Along with his physical trauma and the crushing burden of his own guilt and regrets, it leaves him slowly falling apart under the pressure.

Watching him transform into a shadow of who he once was is painfully realistic. His silence, his distance, and the way he carries himself all reflect a mind and body pushed far beyond their limits. His PTSD is not portrayed lightly, it feels heavy, suffocating, and all consuming. You can feel how trapped he is within his own memories, how every step forward is weighed down by the past he cannot let go of. This raw and unfiltered depiction makes his character unforgettable and at times very difficult to watch.

Equally moving is Song Ran, whose unwavering devotion anchors the story. Her refusal to give up on Li Zan, her quiet strength, and her determination to stay by his side no matter what make their relationship incredibly compelling. Their love is built on understanding and mutual support, even when it is imperfect. They lie and hide their pain, each trying to protect the other from more burden, each trying to avoid causing more pain, but their bond never really breaks. The way they continue to be there for each other, despite everything, makes their love story feel very special and genuine. It feels like a truly rare kind of love story, the kind you don’t come across often.

The music also deserves mention because it is perfectly chosen and enhances every emotional moment.

One other thing I really loved was the relationship between Sa Xin and Ben. As a fan of all kinds of bromances, this one was pure gold for me.

They start off as enemies, then slowly move into a stage of reluctant acceptance, and eventually develop a real sense of brotherhood and connection. That progression felt very natural and genuinely moving. Ben, a seasoned mercenary who becomes a regular soldier, and Sa Xin, a young reporter who turns into a soldier, both meet each other in that in-between space shaped by war. Through that shared experience, they begin to understand each other’s pain and hopes for a better future, which makes their bond even more touching.

That said, the drama is not without flaws. At times the pacing feels stretched and some scenes last longer than they should. Also, the English speaking actors were noticeably weak and sometimes even ridiculous/distracting, which took me out of the experience.

Even with these flaws, the drama still stands out because of its emotional depth, strong performances, and meaningful story. It is heartbreaking, sincere, and not easy to forget.

(Also, while watching, I was thinking about how Eastern Country, the fictional place where the war takes place, feels a bit unusual because its native population includes people of many different ethnicities. Then my aunt pointed out that this might actually be intentional. Eastern Country could have been designed that way to represent the world as a whole, rather than a single nation. In that sense, it becomes a symbol of universality, showing that war does not discriminate and affects everyone regardless of background.

If that really was the intention, then Eastern Country works as a kind of microcosm of the world, emphasizing how war is horrific precisely because it touches all kinds of people equally. I am not sure if that was the creators’ exact goal, but it does make a lot of sense when you look at it that way.)

9/10, even though I wish I could rate it 10/10 just for how powerfully it stirred my emotions.

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Not watching this a second time ! Trauma !!

This movie is just another JTrauma, and recently, Korea dropped its remake, However, if you're looking for a viewing experience that will profoundly traumatize you, I highly recommend the original Japanese version. I won’t give away any plot details, but I must emphasize just how powerful and moving this adaptation is. It’s a cinematic experience that left me deeply affected, so much so that I don’t think I could ever bring myself to watch it again. Although it’s an incredible and emotionally charged, it’s one that lingers long after the credits roll. You should definitely watch it, though, because it’s truly a beautiful piece of art that deserves to be seen.

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Veil of Mind Bending Twists + Love and Hardships. Best 2026 cdrama.

The drama follows the story of four characters whose destinies intertwine together. A story about love, hardships, sisterhood, bromance and saving the world. The drama is just as complex as it is uniquely presented - told in a non-linear way by weaving together many of the characters' arcs. Throughout the majority of the story, you feel confused but that confusion is deliberate. Watching the drama is like putting together a puzzle - you can only see the final picture when all the pieces click into place.

At its core, the main plot of the drama revolves around the threat of the evil nine-headed snake, Jiu Ying, taking over the world. To stop this, Chi Wen, the 9th Dragon Deity, must reclaim his divine power and destroy the remaining fragments of Jiu Ying.

CHARACTERS:
Ji Ling - a kindhearted and pure brown fox, who has taken the Dragon Deity’s mantle in order to fulfil his mission of saving the world. I instantly fell in love with Ji Ling in the early episodes. He exuded such innocence, such playfulness, it was almost like healing my inner child while watching him. Nonetheless, I also loved the authoritative and cold version he presented as a Dragon Deity, his flawless white hair (lightning look) will forever be ingrained in my brain (and not only). Tian Jiarui never ceases to amaze me. In this drama he played around 6 characters and all of them had unique and memorable personalities, mannerisms and looks. What pure talent!

Lu Wuyi - a sly nine-tailed fox, with pure beauty and softness but also the bravery and strength to love and protect those who she cherishes. Although skilled in killing, she despises it. In her life there has only been one person who she felt truly understood her, her sister Wu Wangyan. Until one night, she meets a sweet and innocent boy named Ji Ling, her fated one. Ju Jingyi shined bright in this drama, her performance was marvelous and this is hands down her best role. I loved everything about her character and of course her visuals were just as captivating.

Wu Shiguang - a skilled warrior who may not be the brightest in the head but certainly the most loyal, brave and resourceful. Born from the combined scales of the nine dragons, he is brought to this world in order to save and protect it. I love how calm but powerful his character was. Joseph Zeng did fantastic in this role!

Wu Wangyan - a cunning nine-tailed fox, she is someone who is used to taking charge and doing all the scheming, even if she doesn’t take any delight in it. She is independent and strong but behind that strength lies a soft girl who just wants to have a normal life, to live and be loved. I loved Chen Duling in this role, she was just as beautiful as her character was captivating to watch. I applaud.

Li Jie / Yuan Wu Huo - the most mysterious characters who could potentially give you brain damage with how complex and plot twisty their story was. I loved it though. Just like yin and yang, one was light, the other dark. An obsession split into 2, after being devoured by the six eyed butterfly. I loved watching the duality of Yan An’s characters, both equally sexy and fun to see. Li Jie’s intentionally missing left sleeve, and the full upper body naked scene, were both the best fan service a girl could ask for. Li Jie made me laugh while Yuan Wu Huo made me fangirl. I’m looking forward to seeing Yan An as a male lead in the future.

PLOT + TIMELINE:
Murder Mystery arc: episodes 1-9
Setting up the world, magic system, characters and their relationship with each other. The lead’s mission is to catch the runaway nine-tailed fox, Xiaowei.

Stone Illusion arc: episodes 10-16
The leads are stuck in an illusion world set in 3 different timelines of real past events. Someone from each timeline observes themselves from a 3rd person perspective.
- 1000 years ago: Lu Wuyi and Ji Ling (7 days in the illusion). Jiu Ying (her fragment inside Lu Wuyi’s body) observes herself as a snake by becoming Di Zhu.
- 150 years ago: Li Jie and Yuan Wu Huo (24 hours in the illusion) - Li Jie (who is also Yuan Wu Huo) observes himself by becoming his brother Yuan Xian.
- 100 years ago: Wu Wangyan and Wu Shiguang (50 years in the illusion) - Wu Shiguang observes himself as a child by becoming his father.

Formless Moon Sect arc + more: episodes 17-25
Lu Wuyi's origin and Jiu Ying’s manipulation explained.
Time loop (ep. 21-24).
Ji Ling and Yuan Xian’s past (ep. 24)
Ji Ling’s doll (ep. 25)

Saving the World arc: episodes 26-29
The final battle between good and evil.

WHAT I LOVED:
- Romance. As a romance girlie, I’m absolutely and forever going to be obsessed with Ji Ling and Lu Wuyi’s story. It was fated, it was romantic, it was innocent first love, it was sensual, it was angsty, it was brilliant. And not far behind, I very much also enjoyed the more mature and grounded love story between Wu Wangyan and Wu Shiguang.
- Plot twists that have your brain working on overload, in the best way possible.
- Storytelling - fascinating, intentionally misleading, confusing, twisty AND yet all making sense in the end.
- Cinematography. Do I even need to say it? Stunning, breathtaking and spectacular visuals, shots, fight scenes, costumes, everything.
- Hidden identities + double identities + triple identities + don’t even ask me haha.
- Sismas, hands down my favourite foxy duo.
- Bromance was bromancing.
- Top notch acting performance from the whole cast.
- Characters that you love, and that stay in your heart even after the drama finishes.

WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE:
Up until the last three episodes, I honestly had nothing bad to say, no complaints, no flaws. However in the finale, I didn’t like:
- My favourite foxy sister’s bond felt broken, or at least not as strong as in the start. It does make sense with the plot but I wish we would have gotten one final sisterly scene in the end.
- Wu Shiguang's character as a dragon wasn’t fully utilised. He felt quite weak, and kind of just there, not truly playing an active role in defeating the villain.
- Finally, as a general statement - I personally had no issue BUT from an outside perspective, this drama might be too confusing for someone who is a beginner in this genre. There are tons of concepts you have to already be familiar with. Also, if you are tired, your brain won’t understand anything that’s going on. And in most cases, to understand the story fully, you may have to analyse it, replay scenes or discuss with other watchers. It’s not an easy to digest story, that’s for sure.

OVERALL:
This drama is a uniquely told, complex xuanhuan story, with a marvelous spectacle of mind bending twists, and a visual feast for the eyes. An ensemble of fantastically presented characters, brilliantly crafted and touching love stories, and a gazillion hidden identities. Sismas + bromance are the cherry on top.

Watching this drama is like putting together a puzzle - you only see the final picture when all the pieces finally click into place. After crying an ocean of tears, I can safely say this story, for me, is like no other - I will forever love, remember, and recommend it.

More than anything, what stole my heart is the fated love story between the leads Ji Ling and Lu Wuyi. Such a romantic, soft, sensual, die-for-you couple that will forever stay in my heart.

“No matter how the universe changes,I will always be by your side.” #team Ji Ling + Lu Wuyi always and forever!

Hands down my Best 2026 cdrama and Top 5 in my all-time favourites.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“In this world, no one can see the new moon. Only I can. She is my moon alone” Ji Ling

EP 29 ENDING: I've written the full explanation of the ending in the link below:
https://mydramalist.com/profile/justjacky/feeds/l0BblvtV

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Does blood relation make you actually a family?

Shoplifters is one of those movies that deserve a spot on every must-watch movie list; it's a great example of how Japan is the pioneer of cinematic storytelling. This movie took me through so many emotions and really defined the meaning of family.

The film addresses many societal issues, but it presents them in such a way that they exist in a grey area. It’s difficult to label the characters’ actions as entirely wrong, yet they can’t be deemed right either. For instance, when they decide to keep the little girl It’s saying it’s not a kidnapping if you don’t ask for a ransom. It’s similar logic to how Osamu justifies stealing to Shota, telling him it’s OK if it’s not someone else’s property and that items in a store don’t belong to anyone yet.

Though the characters in the movie are not blood-related and each one has their own backstory of hiding, lying, damaged and frightened, they create a warm, cozy family, making the best of things from day to day. The dynamic between them is so warm and beautiful that it makes you wonder if you could choose your family, could you actually be happy? Does blood relation make you actually a family? This is exactly the theme in this movie. As a viewers, we witness their crimes but also see the genuine love they share as a family, which makes it challenging to condemn them. Perhaps, this is what the movie wants us to notice: that sometimes certain things are very much a grey area and it is difficult to differentiate the right from wrong!

Also, the movie dives deep into a part of society we don’t see often: the marginalized community, the poor who don’t have enough money to even eat, yet they have still have so much warmth and love for each other.

"Shoplifter" is a delicate work painted with so many details, moments, smiles, and is deeply intelligent.In term of acting, the actors did a phenomenal job in portraying these characters, giving them so much depth in their humanistic storytelling, and I have strong admiration towards Sakura Ando; she delivered such a strong performance in this role, with so much depth and layers. This is one of those movies that you will never see and nobody would be able to recreate. The last few minutes of the movie still haunt me; it left me with a profound sense of loss as if I myself lost a family I found.

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