Reviews

Director and production team needs to retake class again

I watched this since i am quite republican enjoyer and even some of low-budget duanju republican production are quite better than whatever this director created. His editing style was quite messy and the effect were mismatched. The Music Background choice were questionable for republican drama. The sloppy AI on the opening is not helping at all and glad the production team listened to complain. The production left people who anticipated it was disappointed (including me) since they got visual actor and actress. The styling and make up are quite good.

The plot was quite short-drama code with melodrama makjang and fast-paced which i preferred for republican drama. I quite how fast pace this drama and not confusing viewer with many elements. The story flows smoothly, without any disjointed or fragmented feel which is rare gem foo Republican drama. Therefore, it's a show suitable for watching for plot but not for promotion. Supporting casts are quite decent and found the Brother and SFL story was quite tragic. ML biological mom was shit and even ML older brother was quite hypocritical despite ML stills cherish him. Both of main character were quite morally gray especially the Female Lead who focusing on revenge while Male Lead is quite tragic like Little Match Girl who begged for FL love. For Zhang Linghe case, i found his acting was tremendously grow since i found his earlier dramas are quite not my cup of tea and yeah he needs to let out the expression but his acting style tends to use eyes expression to minimize the mimic on his face. His eye acting was slightly better on portraying sadness and he slowly got away from dead-fish-eye acting which is surprising me as non-fans.

For Wang Churan, i need to make confession she never got romantic chemistry with her male leads but she got some dynamic aside of romance feeling which is rare because i still forgive for everyone who never had romance sparks with her other leads. She may not best actress for the expression same as Zhang Linghe case but her acting was not cringe and i enjoy her mannerism as Ren Susu.

I still got this drama chance because i quite enjoy republican drama even with sad ending.

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The value of community

"It's not scary to be forgotten. What's really scary is you don't know you were loved."

I see a lot of reviewers saying this title was confusing, but I disagree. The plot is easy to understand as soon as you accept the supernatural element of it. If you can accept that the rules of this universe is unpredictable and a little volatile, the rest is fine.

My score for this show is highly subjective (as most reviews are, I guess), simply because the theme resonates with me. As soon as I realized this show deals with the concept of being forgotten, of being erased from everyone's memory, I knew I was in for a hard time. Rewatchability is low simply because I was so uncomfortable watching the story unfold. Xiang Yong's despair as he realized he was disappearing from the lives of his loved ones broke my heart. I have to commend the actors - I think they all did amazing jobs with their roles. The community of the island was warm and felt real. By the end of the show, I really loved every character. The visuals were also splendid - watching this during the summer was a great decision on my end. I think this is the perfect summer drama.

I came for the romance and stayed for the vibes, I guess. The romance between Xiang Yong and Hao Wei was a treat, but also frustrating at times. The journey of their relationship is slow and heartwrenching, but there's a touch of "loving you in every universe" here, which I always appreciate. The side couple was also enjoyable to me, which is not always a given.

If you've ever felt like no one loves you, like life would be better for everyone if you just disappeared, this show's message is that that's not true. Your presence has a real impact on everyone around you. In your struggle to deal with the highs and lows of life, there are people who like having you around. There are people you can have a meal with, cry with, argue with. Your life has value and innate worth even if you screw up and make mistakes. There is a place for you here.

We're nothing without our community.

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A Surprising Pleasure

I absolutely loved this drama. I usually don’t care much for fantasy romances, but this was not a story easily fit into any single category. Yes it has fantasy.
Yes, it has romance. It’s also funny, sad, hopeful, and maybe even relevant. I loved the main actors so much. Both individually and as the couple they are playing, they were so charming and adorable. The support actors were also very good. The musical score was not memorable, but was pleasant and not intrusive in the scenes. The story and screen play was entertaining with lots of comedic reparate. Also, it’s only 14 not 16+ episodes, which was just the right length. It did not try to squeeze more scenes and non-contributory side stories just to fill a certain number of episodes . The ending was satisfying even though it required a suspension of logic.
I really enjoyed this one a lot

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Un voyage au travers des saisons de la vie …

« In Your Radiant Season » est une œuvre dont la beauté formelle et la profondeur émotionnelle m’ont profondément marqué.

Dès les premiers épisodes, la série impressionne par sa photographie, créant une ambiance douce-amère idéale pour ce mélodrame sur … le deuil et la résilience.
La performance de Lee Sung-kyung, en femme brisée mais digne, est bouleversante, tandis que Chae Jong-hyeop incarne avec une sincérité désarmante un homme rongé par ses secrets. Leur alchimie, bien que reposant sur des non-dits, possède une intensité rare.

MAIS … la série doit enoooooooormemenr à son incroyable casting secondaire. La relation entre les sœurs et les couples secondaires apportent une fraîcheur et une authenticité qui, pour certains, éclipsent même l’intrigue principale.
« In Your Radiant Season » reste une expérience profondément humaine, un conte sur les secondes chances qui touche en plein cœur si l’on accepte son rythme . Un véritable voyage à travers les saisons de la vie.

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Vou listar os pontos para você decidir assitir ou não.

Bom, vou listar várias coisas que aconteceram, todas vão ter spoiler.

1. O protagonista começa sendo um carinha bem chato e querendo matar a protagonista, ele claramente queria matar ela, depois pintaram ele como o santo do pau oco que sempre ajudava e sentia compaixão pelos outros. Queria saber onde ele escondeu isso quando conhece a protagonista.
2. Eu senti que a afeição dele por ela apareceu muito rápido, mas isso só acontece quando ele percebe que não consegue matar ela, aí ele desiste e começa a ter uma certa afeição.
3. O vilão que mais aparecia teve a morte mais tosca, ele simplesmente morreu pra dar a vida ao vilão, logo ele que tanto me fez raiva. Era pra ele ter sido morto, mas senti que ele saiu vitorioso, já que ele viveu por aquele propósito e conseguiu cumprir.
4. Morre tantos personagens, mas tantos, que eu já estava pensando que não ia sobrar ninguém. Morreu o pai da protagonista, o mestre, dois carinhas lá que ela fez amizade, a irmã, a outra menina lá, e por fim o protagonista, que era o amor dela. Fora as outras mortes que eu nem citei aqui.
5. Que final foi aquele? O protagonista morre, ela consegue acessar o lago da deusa ( que vimos ser destruído, mas aparentemente aparece intacto), e aí uma mulher lá que diz ser a lei do céu aparece e diz que todos que morreram irão volta de alguma forma. E aí o protagonista aparece nesse lago, beija ela e fim. E sabe o que eu melhor, esse lago fica tipo na consciência dela, então, no mundo real ela ficou sozinha.

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Another middle of the road drama

I wasn't expecting much because it's only 6 episodes long, but I will admit that it was alright. It wasn't given enough time to really make it interesting. The ending also felt a bit rushed, and that was maybe because the main characters got together when, up to that point, the chemistry wasn't anything special, and the tension was barely there. This is one of those dramas that falls in the 'meh' category. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't memorable.

I have to give them credit for making a BL drama with decent production value, acting, and script with very few episodes to do it in.

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10/10 Delivery a well-rounded First Episode for a Mini Series

10/10 Delivery a well-rounded First Episode for a Mini Series
This First Episode had everything you were looking for in a light hearted Rom-Com - Warmth, Humour, Love, Comedy, Family, Friendships, a nice OST, Meaningful Phrases. Even the cinematography was beautiful.
The ability to tie this first special episode to the previous series, Me and Thee, was executed so thoughtfully. The little details that probably persons would have never thought about were brought into the first episode and gave it more depth when needed. I will go into more detail as the 4 episodes progresses but Episode one caught my attention in the most heartwarming way.
Pond as Thee did not disappoint at all. His expressions (both facial and physical) allowed you to take in exactly how he feels, even though a bit eccentric, he is the most loving character ever!
Phuwin as Peach really portrayed growth of his character in wanting to be more as person and expressing himself more emotionally and lovingly to Thee.
Their both lives as daddies and a married couple was visually pleasing to see on the television as it is not common at all.
A wonderful first episode.

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9/10 A very original plot, with mature development and quite a nice cast.

9/10 A very original plot, with mature development and quite a nice cast.
I was really pleasantly surprised by this BL series. I suppose the main reason is the originality of the plot. Everything starts with a certain focus on some friends trying to develop a vlog channel, when a "newcomer" enters the scene. Then slowly our attention shifts on the new relationships develop, and equally importantly, on how these ones affect the old ones. When secrets slowly get revealed, the plot thickens.
What I really liked about this particular aspect, is that the secrets themselves, although they trigger changes, it is not their revelation per se but rather their effects on which the story concentrates.
The acting is quite good. Perhaps not stellar, but then again it is not needed. This is one of the rare cases in such series, that the emotions of the characters are adequately described by their actions, and therefore overly emotional outbursts are not really necessary (which does not mean that the characters are blunt, it is simply that the series does not rely exclusively on the chemistry between couples). I also liked the side couple's story, which beyond filling air time also supports the plot (having been an established couple for four years). All characters are mature (in the sense that they adults and use their heads, but also grow as time passes by. Perhaps they are all a little bit too good-hearted, but then again this does not save them from pain (which for a change does not stem from a crooked world or a particular big bad wolf).
Perhaps some viewers will be perplexed about the existence or not the temple our adventurers are looking for, but in my opinion this is completely irrelevant. The quest more than adequately serves its purpose in offering material for the vlogs - it gives the backbone but not the flesh and blood to the plot. It is nice to occasionally have a story which is different, in that it makes you think a little bit, and not just brainlessly cry your eyes out.
Compared to the overall rating of the series, give it a relatively low rating for the rewatch value. This is no contradiction, it is simply a consequence of the genre. It is neither a comedy, where one wants to listen to funny lines again and again, nor a sweet romance, where one simply wants to enjoy passion. Here we are dealing mainly with realizations, which per definition are absent in any subsequent second run.

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10/10 Moral question

10/10 Moral question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really like this series because I can really identify with the character of Chu Yi Ping. My communication and relationships with fellow humans are not the best. If I had an
"Ever 9" robot, I would probably fall in love with it.
This film confronts us with the same moral question as Steven Spielberg's film "A. I. Artificial Intelligence": "If a robot we create can truly love a human, then what responsibility does the human have towards the robot? Both to the one who created it and to the one who uses it." When it comes time to create such advanced robots, this question becomes very important.

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Totally unexpected healing drama

Honestly I don't know where to start and what to write but I have to because Road to Success easily become one of my favorite dramas of all time and it really unexpected. I am a fan of Yu Shuxin I admit, but I'm not biased, there were some dramas with her as a FL that just didn't hit me that much. I was afraid that with this one it will be the same. From the synopis and trailers I thought that maybe I would finish this if I had time but I didn't have many expectations at all. And to my surprise I was completely wrong.
Road to Success turned out to be a type of drama that I was looking for for a long time.
I got into it so much to the point that when I watched the last episode I cried just as if I was the teacher of these 11 boys. I love how their stories were written, how their friendship developed over time, how they grew up and matured over time.
I completely loved the relationship between lead even though a lot of people complained about it. Personally I thought it was such a nice way to show a mature relationship between two grown people, who went from strangers to lovers, without any childhood connections like in many many dramas (not to mention that i hate this trope). FL was really strong even though she has a lot of issues going on. The scene in the court when she spoke up about women was really amazing. And Yu Shuxin nailed this role, no matter what anyone said, she potrayed Lin Wanxing really well in my opinion. I also enjoyed that after everything she's been through it actually ended with her going back to university and continue what she couldn't finish before. Loved how Wang Fa said that for now he wants her to become the bright WanXing from before and not anything else. Of course I would love to see them getting married or having a baby and boys coming to see it all but for a woman like Lin Wanxing, who went through so much ending like this is waaay better. It doesn't change the fact that in my head they are already married and with kids🤭🤭
Overall I enjoyed everything about it, main characters, side characters, the plot, the aesthetics, the ending, music, literally everything ♥️

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my 2026 hyperfixation drama

They earned their well-deserved happy ending.

Coming from all the traumas and bloods, they were able to prioritize fighting for their kingdom while finding each other. If you're looking for a drama where the main leads perfectly match, this is it.

The backstory was angsty, although I hope they deepened it like in the novel (esp Chapters 125-126) Also, I am so satisfied with the romance between He Yan and Xiao Jue. I was romance-deprived by the previous drama, so this was a good shot.

The Jiyang arc was my favorite. I felt like He Yan's true nature was shown there, and she was able to experience being a normal girl for someone who pretended to be a man for almost her whole life. Moreover, the battle highlighted their capabilities, and they obviously care for one another, especially when Xiao Jue hesitantly said, "Come back alive," because who knows that it might be the last time they see each other alive?

Lastly, He Rufei was a sassy, evil, spoiled brat who acted like that because he thought he was a diva that was heavily favored by his father.

Highly recommended.

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Good But I Expected More

I had heard a lot about this drama, and while I did enjoy it, I think I was expecting a little more.

The story is good, and the chemistry between the main characters works well. However, there were moments when I found some parts confusing, and it also felt like certain plot points were introduced but never really explored again.

I didn’t think the ending was rushed or disappointing, but considering the overall story, I expected something a bit more impactful.

As for the OST, only two songs really stood out to me and stayed in my head. The rest wasn’t particularly memorable.

Overall, this drama didn’t leave a huge impression on me, but I still enjoyed it, and I think it was worth watching. I’m glad I gave it a chance.

8/10

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If you have the chance to start over, will you change anything?

Dying, Hua Qian (Zhou Ye) still answered with "I will."

The memory is still vivid from the first time I watched it while taking a study break at the library. I was bored and chose Scent of Time on my list on HBO Max. And honestly speaking, I had no expectations since I didn't even know the plot. However, excitement arose when the FL went to the past to change it, and it was my cue to continue it.

First, talking about Hua Qian, I loved how she was originally the villain yet miraculously given a chance to correct her mistakes. Yet the consequences were already there by waking up married to Zhong Ye Lan (Peng Chou Ye) and having a rough relationship with the heroine, Mu Yao (Zhao Qing). So given her circumstances, she must choose her steps wisely.

Second, the plot was something you wouldn't really expect. Nope, it was not romance-centered; it really focused on Hua Qian, her ups and downs, and redemption, which was refreshing to watch. Despite the show revolving around her, the side characters were given enough time to explore their backgrounds, and I was satisfied by it.

Third, the slow-burn romance balanced the heavy atmosphere. The chemistry of the characters was good. Hua Qian and Zhong Xi Wu (Wang Xing Yue) had tensions; Mu Yao and Zhong Ye Lan looked like they yearned for each other every day; Qi Ru Xin and her man were bittersweet. The FL and her maids were adorable. On the other hand, Hua Qian and Hua Rong Zhou (Zhang Yi Jie) looked like besties to me.

Lastly, the scenery gave me nostalgic and summery vibes. The moods they used were mostly warm, especially at the near-end episodes. It made me want to retire early and live somewhere rural with fresh air.

This is the first C-drama I watched since The Romance of Tiger and Rose in 2022, which was fun and memorable. Overall, Scent of Time delivered a drama with a strong female lead. Although multiple negative reviews were given on the last episode, it became my favorite. It was so realistic and synthesized the whole story. And oh, I would also like to give its soundtrack a 10 out of 10 rating; I couldn't care less if it got replayed a lot.

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