Reviews

Writers really dropped the ball

To be honest, the writers really dropped the ball with this second season.

Season 1 of The Imperial Coroner was engaging, well-paced, and full of clever storytelling that kept me hooked. Going into Season 2, I had high expectations—but unfortunately, the storyline felt rushed and not as thoughtfully put together.

I will say, the director did a solid job. The scenes were well executed, and the locations—though familiar from other dramas—still looked beautiful and worked well visually. That part didn’t disappoint.

However, the biggest issue for me was the direction of the story. This drama is supposed to center on the female lead as the first female coroner during the Tang Dynasty, yet Season 2 shifts too much focus onto the male lead. It takes away from what originally made the story unique.

Another choice that didn’t sit right with me was the three-year time jump. It felt unnecessary—honestly, a one-year gap would have made more sense and kept the emotional continuity stronger.

What I really missed was the investigative aspect. Season 1 had a strong focus on examining bodies and solving crimes through forensic work, but Season 2 moves away from that. Instead, it leans more into political conflicts between cities and kingdoms.

The major cases themselves were interesting in concept but not executed as well as they could have been:

A drug that makes people believe they have a serious illness
Bugs implanted in people as part of a military strategy

Both ideas had potential, but the storytelling around them felt underdeveloped.

As for the characters, the male and female leads do have some sweet moments as a couple, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. The second male and female leads continue to support the main storyline, mostly assisting the male lead as needed.

One subplot that stood out was the male lead’s older brother, the general, and his quiet feelings for the second female lead’s friend—we get glimpses of this over about seven episodes, which added a bit of emotional interest.

The darker side of the story comes from the second prince of a neighboring kingdom. He’s driven by resentment toward his father and brother and is willing to use anyone to achieve his goal of becoming emperor. His storyline had weight, but again, it felt rushed toward the end.

And that ending… it just didn’t land.
The prince takes his own life, the neighboring kingdom submits to the Tang emperor, the second leads remarry, and the main couple decides to step away for some time. Everything wraps up too quickly, without the emotional payoff it deserved.

Overall, Season 2 had strong visuals and some interesting ideas, but the rushed pacing, lack of focus on the female lead, and weaker storytelling made it a disappointment compared to the first season.

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Tender, compassionate, and honest

I wasn't sure what I was getting in to with this film, and I was pleasantly surprised with the story I was treated to. It was an honest portrayal of the choices and regrets of queer people, especially those growing up in a society that isn't accepting and is often actively against you.
I greatly enjoyed this film and it's compassionate portrayal of both girls and both perspectives. We don't always have the same oopportunities and paths in life, and we all do the best with what we're given. I trusted both leads, felt their pain, and accepted and understood their decisions even when they chose polar opposites. I praise both actresses for their amazing and tender portrayals of their characters.
I hope more people can find and enjoy this film, and with it learn something about themselves and about those important to them.

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Love, Guilt, and the Weight of Choices

I originally had no interest in this drama because it’s not really the kind I usually go for, but after watching a few clips, I ended up giving it a try… and I’m actually glad I did. I also think the title perfectly describes the drama, it really captures the tone of the story and what it’s trying to explore.

This drama really leans into obsession, guilt, and regret, and that’s what keeps it interesting. It’s more of a psychological slow burn than something fast-paced, so yeah, it can feel a bit slow at times. But it’s one of those shows where everything is placed very intentionally, and as you keep watching, you start seeing how all the pieces connect.

The female lead got a lot of hate, but honestly, I didn’t see her the same way. She’s not perfect, and that’s exactly why she works. She does hurt the ML at times, and she’s not completely innocent, but her actions make sense emotionally. Her past with her ex isn’t something small you can just ignore. They were childhood friends, they basically grew up together, and she loved him for years. That kind of connection doesn’t just disappear overnight.

Even when he comes back and everything gets revealed, she still chooses her husband. She struggles, she hesitates, she feels guilty… but she never really crosses the line. And I think this is where a lot of people misunderstand her. They confuse her empathy and guilt with love. From the way both male leads talk about her and their situation, it’s pretty clear that what she feels is responsibility and regret, not romantic love. She cares, yes, but she’s not “in love” with him anymore.
And honestly, if she didn’t feel any guilt at all, that would have felt way more unrealistic. After everything they went through, after what he sacrificed, she had to feel something. Otherwise she wouldn’t feel human.

Speaking of him, I think the second male lead deserves more understanding than he usually gets. However he behaves later on, Jiang Cheng is a tragic character. Imagine living for five years surrounded by criminals, constantly at risk, completely cut off from your family and the person you love. He gave up everything, his name, his life, even his reputation, just to complete his mission. That kind of life changes a person. So when he comes back expecting things to still hold meaning, it’s not that surprising. It’s not right either, but it makes sense.

On the other side, Jiang Hansheng isn’t as simple as people make him out to be either. Yes, he’s easy to sympathize with, especially because of how deeply he loves her, but he always knew he wasn’t her first choice. He saw an opening and went for it. He chose to fight for her, even knowing the situation. And while he’s not toxic, there is a certain persistence, even a bit of manipulation in how he holds onto her. But it never feels malicious. It just feels… human.

That’s kind of what I liked about this drama. No one is completely right or completely wrong. It really comes down to timing, choices, and emotions. Sometimes love is not about who is better, it’s about who you end up choosing and why.

The ML himself is deeply in love, almost painfully so. His love can feel a bit obsessive at times, but it’s also very sincere. He’s not expressive in a typical way, he’s more controlled and reserved, but you can feel everything underneath that surface. And his dynamic with the villain was honestly one of the more engaging parts of the show.

The romance here is not fluffy or overly dramatic. It’s quiet and built through small moments. Their marriage doesn’t start with love, but it slowly grows into something stable and real. I do wish we got more of that development though. It felt like some of their moments were missing or cut, especially when it comes to showing how they actually fell for each other. Still, once they get past everything, their relationship feels strong and earned.

The villain was actually really good. Properly unsettling at times. I do think the direction could have made things more intense.

One of my favorite parts of the drama was the ML’s relationship with Professor Wang. It felt so genuine and comforting. It added a softer side to his character and gave the story some emotional warmth in between all the tension.

Lastly, the acting. Overall, everyone did a good job.

I especially want to highlight Jiang Hansheng (ML) and Qi Yan. Jiang Hansheng’s calm, emotionless face that suddenly shifts into shock or emotional breakdown was very well done. That controlled but unstable emotional acting really stood out.
Qi Yan was also very impressive. Every scene he appeared in felt intense. He was unsettling but also interesting to watch, and he portrayed a very damaged, twisted mindset really well.

Jiang Cheng also performed well. You can clearly feel his inner conflict between two different sides, even in his quiet moments.
The female lead also did a good job. Her role is simpler compared to the others, but she handled emotional and confused moments very naturally.

Overall, the whole cast stayed consistent with their characters. No one felt out of place, and that helped the story feel more grounded and believable.

Overall, this isn’t a perfect drama, but it’s a solid one. It’s more about emotions and psychology than romance, and it doesn’t try to spoon-feed everything to you. If you’re going in expecting a light love story, this is not it. But if you’re okay with a slower pace, morally grey characters, and a story that focuses on human emotions and choices, it’s definitely worth watching.

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10/10 "Guilty Pleasure"

The one and only written review threw me for a loop. I must admit I had to resort to Al interpretation to understand its meaning. However, l am compelled to give it 10 stars to offset this either intentional or erroneous rating. I mostly agree with the review but in a completely positive direction:
"Therapy Game is a fast, hot, melodramatic romance that leans heavily into old-school BL tropes. Intense attraction, clear romantic roles, and nonstop progression. It's simple, emotionally restrained, logically straightforward, and very efficient-no filler, no overthinking, just pure genre satisfaction." Although the series was quite short, it did make it to emotional love in the end. I really enjoyed this sweet series and it checked all the boxes for a true guilty pleasure!

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The villains in Rebirth are one of the drama’s greatest strengths—and honestly, one of the reasons the entire story feels so powerful and unforgettable.
What makes them stand out is how they are written not just as antagonists, but as forces of the world itself. They feel like an enormous mountain standing in the path of the main characters—unyielding, suffocating, and almost impossible to overcome. Every cruel decision, every ruthless action they take reinforces how deeply broken and oppressive this world is. Their presence is not just to create conflict, but to constantly remind us what kind of reality the characters are trapped in.
Yes, they do horrible, disturbing, even insane things—and their endings are often just as brutal and painful. But unlike typical “crazy villains,” their darkness doesn’t feel shallow or exaggerated for shock value. The drama takes time to show the roots of their cruelty—the trauma, pressure, and harsh life circumstances that shaped them. You begin to see that they are not born monsters; they are made by the same violent system that continues to produce more people like them. That makes them far more chilling, because they feel real and inevitable.
Compared to more one-dimensional portrayals like the unstable royals in Pursuit of Jade or The Double, where madness often defines the character, Rebirth gives its villains depth and purpose. They are not just unpredictable—they are understandable, even when they are terrifying. And that difference elevates the entire narrative.
More importantly, these villains are deeply tied to the drama’s core theme. They are the embodiment of everything the protagonists are fighting against—slavery, oppression, endless war, and a cycle of fear and suffering. Their existence directly contrasts the dreams of the FL and ML, who long to build a world of freedom, peace, and dignity. This creates a powerful thematic tension: darkness versus light, despair versus hope.
Because the villains are so well-crafted, the heroes shine even brighter. Every step the main characters take toward change feels hard-earned, because they are not just fighting individuals—they are challenging an entire system that has been normalized for generations.
In the end, the villains in Rebirth are not just memorable—they are essential. They give weight to the story, depth to the conflict, and meaning to the heroes’ journey. Without them, the drama wouldn’t feel as intense, as emotional, or as impactful.

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une montée en pression

alors là sur cette seconde saison, on est bien sûr une petite montée en pression à tous les niveaux, le jeu d’acteurs s’est intensifié, les intrigues se sont durcis, et tout le monde, je dis bien tout le monde, que cela soit acteurs principaux, secondaires et rôle de soutien, tout le monde a élevé son niveau.
j’ai vraiment beaucoup apprécié cette saison 2 qui va plus loin que la saison 1, déjà avec une intrigue centrale qui va puiser ses racines dans les épisodes de la saison 1. chaque épisode amène un niveau de tension maximal.
j’ai un petit bémol à émettre, c’est cette fin qui laisse un goût d’inachevé car elle annonce une saison 3 que nous n’avons pas encore vu arriver pour le moment. je pense qu’on attendait tous une sanction monumentale pour le trio d’antagonique, mais on va devoir attendre la suite … enfin j’espère !!!
autre bémol, l’absence de Stephanie Lee, mais c’est personnel !-)

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8/10 Touchingly real, you will feel their pain

This series had me hooked with its first episode that showed a different side of cinema-a side that recognises sexual abuse, social stigmatisation, and discrimination.
We see a lot of (mainly emotional pain, especially in Ice and Saint as they look back on their shared past, the highs they experienced together and the lows they had to get through alone.
Within the first half of the series, there are lots of flashbacks to give us an increasingly clearer idea of just how much pain both protagonists went through after they were forcefully broken up. We also see misunderstandings of the past being resolved through hard, honest conversations.
The second half of the series is dedicated to the challenges they face after resolving those misunderstandings. They question whether to give their love a second chance and whether they can defend their love against the world this time around. This is also emphasised by Ice's best friend's student short film the protagonists star in, that is set in the 90s, with a story that is quite similar to their own im regards to the hardships they face.
While there are many sweet moments in-between, this series explicitly revolves around serious topics, such as suicide, hate crimes, rape/sexual harassment and assault, rejection, and forced prostitution. Those topics are handled with care and insight-they might show you a side you never considered before.
However, if these topics are triggers for you, refrain from watching this series no matter how good it is-put your mental well-being first!
To lighten the mood, there are two side-couples with quite a good amount of screen time as well: Two of their male costars who have difficulties about their transition from friends to lovers and their director and producer (both female students) who becomes a really sweet, affectionate couple.
All in all, lam quite impressed by the story as it is a very realistic one as well. The cinematography is great most of the time and so is the acting. I will definitely watch it again in the future.

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Revenge, Misunderstanding and Togetherness

The writer did an excellent job with this storyline—every episode kept me guessing, wondering what would happen next. That sense of suspense is what really pulled me in and made it hard to stop watching.

The director handled the scenes with strong execution. Even though some of the sets and locations looked familiar from other dramas I’ve seen, it didn’t take away from the experience. Everything was still visually appealing and well put together.

The story follows Murong Cang, who secretly raises Yun Jiao—the daughter of his enemy—as part of a long-term plan for revenge. What starts as a calculated move slowly turns complicated as he begins to develop real feelings for her. Watching him struggle between his desire for revenge and his growing love added a lot of emotional depth to the story.

I especially enjoyed how the relationship unfolded. It didn’t feel rushed, and you could see the tension building as both characters were caught between power, loyalty, and love.

The ending was satisfying, giving viewers the happy conclusion we were hoping for, with both the male and female leads finally ending up together.

Overall, this was a well-written and engaging short drama that balanced intrigue, emotion, and romance really well.

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Pretty good movie but it's not for childish people

The movie starts out as a cute romcom about a slightly overweight man who falls deeply in love with his nurse during his hospital stay. The acting was pretty good, and the pacing was impressive, as they did not spend time on unnecessary fluff. The movie goes from the expected cuteness to sourness, which will leave you feeling frustrated and uncomfortable, then to an unimaginable twist that really surprised me and made me like it even more. It made you think back and remember all of those weird moments that you did not get then but made sense later.

It is a very good depiction of modern relationships and morality. The fast pace of life and lack of communication can lead to a breakdown in a relationship.

This movie is not for childish viewers at all who are too immature to explore human behavior and the complexity of relationships. That is something I definitely disliked with many comments in the reviews. It is just judgment and morality policing, not an actual review.

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Good in the beginning, boring from the middle on.

This series go well up to the middle episodes. At some point it gets a bit ridiculous and boring, with an annoying music playing in the back all the time, while the characters whisper supposed profound words to each other, while rose petals fall from the roof !! I imagined they have roses planted in each and every roof of the palaces!! And they bloom through the winter !!!
Really, from the middle of the series on, it really gets hard to keep watching it !!
And the make up of the actors is terrible. Sometimes they look like gueishas with marble white faces and the makeupers achieved the unprecedented feat of making Zhang Linghe not looking good !!
I do not recomend it if you do not want to be frustated !!

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Really loved this drama!

I watched this drama 2 months back and I really liked it. The plot is very interesting and well-developed. I LOVE the OST a lot, and it fits very well with the drama (especially Before the Eternal Night.) The visuals were stunning, and the drama was quite impressive for 32 episodes.

Spoiler alert btw

The ending was also AMAZING, especially in the part where Miaomiao chooses to rewrite the novel's ending for the characters' sake, managed to prevent the Heaven's Catastrophe with the help of Ziqi and the novel's author. I also like how most side characters didn't really die, they just stayed in the novel.

Overall, I think this is a very entertaining drama! If there is a season 2, I'd love to watch! Definitely my favorite transmigration drama, and it is my second favorite drama of all time.

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Best drama I have ever watched. I recommend watching it!

I didn't think much of this drama when I started it. But then after a while I kept watching it and it immediately became my favorite. I like everything about this drama, especially the OST! I also like how it has a lot of plot twists, they show up more often as the story ends (for example, Fu Ling is Bai Xi, Bai Shuo's sister.) I believe it has a well-written plot and the main couple and side couples have great chemistry. The only thing I didn't like is that everyone except Fan Yue and Bai Shuo have died in the end, but overall, this drama has left a big imprint on me. Still my favorite, Moonlight Mystique forever! I watched it twice, definitely planning to watch again someday!

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It's amazing!!! go for it....

I love the chemistry between the main leads I mean they are amazing together just perfect.....I loved this couple from perfect 10 liners series and now after this series they are one of the favourites💜....this series was so wholesome....if you like the couple I think you should definitely watch it there is no doubt in it💗...but if you're looking for some realistic series which elaborates about ground reality then this is not cup of your tea...
Overall it's cute,fun and very romantic series like you can literally feel butterflies in your stomach when they say "teerak" to each other 😩🤌...I just love these pookies and I really want to see them together in another series to come 💕

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That was completely... Unnecessary

I don't know what to say except for ... What's the point.

Aside for the not really needed fan-service ( you know what I mean) there is nothing "special" about this.
We have half an episode the two leads talking about green toilet walls, and the second half is an interview that is very boring and add nothing to the story.

The only 2 things that made me laugh was the way they ended Ken, like really!? No police and no prison or anything, no attornment or paying for his crimes just kill him off the easy way, which was already implied in the last few mins of the last episode in the show but we like to make sure he is dead so we kill him properly this time. ~~

Also I liked that Kelvin asked Veir the question I needed an answer for which is why did he stick to Kelvin and didn't run away!? Why does he even love him after what he did and how can he still be together with him!?
Sadly the answers were very disappointing and didn't make any sense so this was one of the loose ends that they tried to tie it up and failed miserably IMO ~

Aside from that, it was completely skippable, just watch it if you want to see FortPeat in some action or just love the show so much that I want to see more of the very boring life of the characters ~~

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