Very overhyped
So yeah, I watched lots..lots of videos on instagram about this kdrama, fortunately managed to avoid spoiler ones. And almost all of the were like "It's a masterpiece!", 10 out 10 etc. Trailer didn't impress me, but I still decided to give it a chance. Well...can't say that it was terrible decision, but I was surprised in a bad way.Production here is not really bad, but it feels very low budget, like some low-budget trashy japanese series. And btw, this kdrama looks more like jdrama. Especially because of amount of blood. I instantly remembered japanese drama "Crow's Blood". It was also very silly and very bloody.
Story is not very interesting, twists are very predictable, characters not interesting, except maybe Na-Ri. Brother-in-law character is comedic relief here, and this is also one of my problems. Too many silly, stupid moments, like in comedy, and with sudden comedic music...in horror show! And as far as I know, it wasn't promoted like a black horror comedy or something like that. Also, the ending...No, I will say in general - after first couple of episodes story went downhill, except maybe episode 6. There are a lot of confusing story elements, and some of them just lead nowhere, or didn't get a proper resolution.
Can't really say much about acting - it was ok mostly. Kim Siwon and Hyeryung actresses and Kang Mi-Na are propably the best here, their acting was great, but their storylines felt really underdeveloped. Jeon So Nee was good, but nothing special, main heroine was ok, others - mediocre.
So, I don't understand the hype and good ratings. It's not completely terrible show, but not good either. I rated it with 5, mostly because it's short, with fast pacing, good concept overall, but really simirar to the german series "Wishlist", and with some good acting, but that's about it.
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Unlikable leads, repetitions, cliches and tropes
Do you like wasting your time watching something you hate? Do you want your leads to be unlikable and annoying? Do you enjoy watching one cliche after another? Do you like watching filler episodes? Do you like repetition? No? Then, this is not the show for you.It takes a lot to make me drop a show altogether. There are shows I've watched at 2x speed or skipped through scenes. But even at 2x speed and skipping many scenes, I couldn't keep watching this.
I didn't expect a masterpiece or a 10/10 show. I just wanted a xianxia that's enjoyable. It was too painful to keep watching this. I feel sorry for the actors and other talent who had to be a part of this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Before I write this review I wanna mention that I don't support Joss. This is a personal decision. I don't care if you do support him or not but I do wanna let you guys know I don't, although this does not change the way I see the series. Neo and Aj are in this series so that makes it way better and I also like Gawin. This review is made after watching it a second time btw!!What I like about Neo and Aj is that their characters are always these type's and I love it. Neo's characters is always chaotic and 'stupid' which I loveeeee about Neo and Aj (and his twin JJ aswell) are always these chaotic by standing characters who just want love and third wheel. I feel soooo bad for Tonkla and fucking Tong was NOT nice to him. Like yes he liked him but Tong was way too busy with his own stuff. I feel like Tonkla and Nankan would've been a couple if.. yk.
To be very honest I do not like miss Nuan atall. She was nice and her actions weren't that bad but like she still didn't treat Tong the same way as the others and it clearly affected Tong.
The fx effects were good but the 3d art was horrible, like the spider and the butterfly. Did gmmtv not have the budget? Was it done with a reason? STOP THE GUITAR SCENE'S IM SICK OF THEM!!!
Had to laugh because I recognise the house hahahah (from love in the air and some other series). Tong did not need to ignore Mark so much. It was quite confusing why he kept having feelings on and off. Like it genuinely irritated me. Never did I fully trust Thara, she was acting sooo Sus
Them adopting kids is so cute wish they had given us more content of it. Anyways 1
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Lesson in Story Structure
Absolutely loved this series. It examines the structure of the Rom-Com through the eyes of a self-aware comic book character. It explores the ideas of fate and how to create self-identity in a constrained space. The main actor roles are fluid and the acting and screenwriting are good. This is definitely a series that I will be rewatching!Was this review helpful to you?
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GREAT MOVIE. HONESTLY.
Starts off strong with si min, a teacher, who was an aspiring athlete in the past as a boxer, yet had to pull out due to her dad’s debt, which led to her becoming a contract teacher at a school that is labelled to “excel at anti-bullying”, only to find out that it’s a school thriving on violence, with a boy named Su gang being the main perpetrator. As Si min finds out Su gang was targeting his classmate named Jin hyeong, she decides to wear a cat mask, and disguise herself and fight Su gang to get justice. This was working GREAT until Jin hyeong’s friend, byeong Jin, a graduate from the same school, and Su gang’s old target, finds out Si min’s identity as the “kitty cat” as the students labelled her, and begs her to save Jin hyeong. After some cracking down, Su gang also finds out who the kitty cat was, and decides to go against si min by planning a match at the school festival, only to notice that everyone was supporting si min, and now FINALLY AFTER ALL THE BS SU GANG GETS ARRESTED AND WHEN HE’S ASKED WHY HE DID ALL THE VIOLENCE, HE REPLIES THAT HE JUST DID IT FOR FUN. LIKE IT WOULDVE BEEN SO GOODD IF SU GANG JUST HAD A TAD BIT MORE DEPTH. SOME JUICY BACKSTORY, A TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD, ANYTHING WOULDVE WORKED, BECAUSE SU GANG JUST SEEMED A LITTLE BLAND TO ME BUT GREAT MOVIE OVERALL.Was this review helpful to you?
Great Hook, Amazing Journey
This is an amazing series. Absolutlely loved it. The actors were all excellent and the characters/story well crafted. The story arc of all the main characters were fascinating, from the foolish ineffectual emperor, the king of Goryeo with many regrets, and the girl with many talents who uses resolve in interesting ways. The side characters, too, were colorful and played interesting roles in moving the story along. 51 episodes is a difficult proposition to start but totally worthwhile.Was this review helpful to you?
40 yet 20
What do 20 somethings who don't mature look like at 40? The first half is filled with womanizing antics and it appears childish and annoying. I'm glad I stuck with the series because they mature over time and you see the male comraderie and genuine support that they offer each other. The male actors are excellent. So is the rich wife of the playboy--she shows range and is believable. The role of Seo Yi-soo is a juicy one--too bad the actress shows limited range. Her acting was often stiff and the filming resorted to long music sequences where she needed to cry or look upset. Very stilted. Dialogs were often quite funny--especially when the 40 year old actors needed to play the middle school or high school versions of themselves. The guys in this series were fun--the women were often quite annoying.Was this review helpful to you?
Relentless and Powerful
Ji Sung gave an absolutely amazing performance. His descent into hell, resilliance through relentless persecution, and clawing back identity was worth the journey. The cast was great and set-up was good. A bit on the heavy side--even side character don't get a break, but if you're willing to feel the agony, it is a series to watch!Was this review helpful to you?
GMMTV SERIES OF THE YEAR!!
The series is very well crafted, with a richly detailed setting created by the author and director Dome. It portrays the love between the characters, their traumas, and how they overcome them together with their friends. It also addresses important themes such as age regression and postpartum depression.For those who, like me, enjoy something more emotional that highlights love and the overcoming of personal struggles, it’s a great series—you won’t be disappointed.
It’s a shame it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves!
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Artsy Love with all Your Senses
It's my 3rd time watching Encounter and it's like watching poetry or art. I love the visuals, the use of music, the framing of scenes and people, the use of literature. Watching the expressions of love grow as the ML helps the FL by expanding her boundries with safe frames and naming concerns in ways that help her redefine trauma. It's all beautiful. The movement is slow but real. This an opposites attract gem to be uncovered gently and treasured. Sit and enjoy.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The main leads did the heavy lifting for the storyline.
I was excited to watch the drama because of the oh so beautiful Dilraba and the charming Authur Chen.I wasn't the only one because there was news of the first episode breaking certain records in streaming sites and online mentions in China.Sadly it did not sustain the hype, midway i paused watching it and picked it up later when all the episodes had dropped.Having not read the novel,i would love to read opinions of novel readers because it felt like the story might have been watered down making the story weak.The actors did an amazing job which made it bearable to watch the show.Arthur Chen portrayed his character (Duan Xi) so well.Despite being a great general with assassin like skills,his major goal in life was the reunification of the prefectures and was never interested in titles or power.Until he met Simu he had never truly lived or enjoyed life and lending his senses to her, he go to see the joy of life through Simu and loved her deeply.Accepting the fact his mortal life might just be a blip in Simu's life he made sure he would not be a forgettable lover in her life of over 400 years.The rewatch value is low because it was not a happy ending.
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"The Moment I Met You "Mao Buyu and Chu Yunshang is a perfect couple
The story flowed well and there weren't too many painful scenes, there weren't too many tragedies that happened, and I also liked Chu Yushang's aunt and uncle, as well as Zhizi, their roles were good. I just felt sorry for Wuxia because he sacrificed himself to save Chu Yunshang. I love the chemistry of Mao Buyu and Chu Yunshang, no one gives up on them, they fight for their love even though they are from different worlds. The Moment I Met You is a very good drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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A touching fantasy romance between the Ghost King and her little Fox General
As many others have mentioned, this drama is a hauntingly beautiful love story. It reminded me of some of my favourite K-dramas like Goblin and Hotel Del Luna, with even a touch of Harry Potter-like magic. At its core, it explores the timeless theme of love between an immortal and a mortal—so it’s no surprise that the story leans bittersweet.Highlights
- The aesthetics and special effects—especially the transition between the mortal realm and the Void—were beautifully executed. The level of detail in the costumes was stunning. One standout moment for me was when Duan Xu visits the Void for the first time; it had a magical, almost Hogwarts-like atmosphere.
- Reba looked absolutely incredible. This might be one of her strongest roles to date, as her ethereal, untouchable presence perfectly suits a 400-year-old Ghost King. It was refreshing to see her take on a more layered and complex character.
- Chen Fei Yu also delivered a compelling performance as Duan Xu. Episode 8, in particular, really showcased his range—his ability to convey intense, almost hysterical emotion was impressive.
- The chemistry between the leads was undeniable. I’d love to see them reunite in a modern drama someday.
- The OST was solid throughout, especially the instrumental themes used for character introductions. Moments like He Si Mu and Yan Ke’s entrances felt especially grand and memorable. The music really amplified the drama’s haunting, magical tone.
- From what I’ve heard, the adaptation stays fairly faithful to the original novel, which is always a plus. It’s clear that care was taken to preserve key elements of the source material.
Lows
- There were a few stretches where the pacing slowed and the story drifted from the main plot. If you’re watching primarily for the romance, it’s still enjoyable—but some tighter editing would have helped.
- While the costumes were gorgeous overall, some of the wigs and oversized headpieces were a bit distracting (a minor issue, though).
- The ending felt slightly disjointed. Combining episode 40 with the extra episode might have made for a more cohesive conclusion. It seems like they were aiming to offer two alternate endings—one more bittersweet and grounded, the latter closer to the novel’s resolution. While both have their merits, committing to a single, well-developed ending might have been more impactful. Although, both can technically be interpreted as 'happy' endings - with Duan Xu accompanying Simu as a spirit (with hope that he will take his real form one day) or Simu living her life as a mortal with Duan Xu.
- Not much of a con but I will say they really dragged things out in the last few episodes - it was painful! Not because it was bad, but because it was sad. I took my sweet time to get through them. But that's the price you pay when you watch this genre (you cannot help but root for the couple even when you know the inevitable will happen)
Overall, this was an easy and enjoyable watch. If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with a melancholic edge, it’s definitely worth checking out.
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Insane Chemistry.
I think that this show was written very well. The casting was well done and so was the pacing. Surprisingly all 28 episodes felt necessary and none of them really felt like they were a filler episode.The main leads had so much chemistry and I loved their interactions so much. Honestly I think the female leads acting carried their relationship. I understand that the male lead is supposed to be somewhat broody and emotionless but near the end there were like one or two scenes where I feel like he needed to show a littl emotion like microexpressions but he didn't deliver. But thats just me being nitpicky. Overall he performed well.
I'm also so happy that this male lead actually had some weight to him and wasn't extremly skinny. It fit the character well. I also really liked the pacing of their relationship like it took long enough for us to feel that yearning and the jealousy. I also enjoyed the second leads storyline. I like how they were involved but their story didn't overpower the main characters
Anyways I would definetly rewatch this show since it lowkey has every element of a romance story that I like.
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Not what i expected
theres so many boring episodes and useless scenes like so much filler and we get to see so little of the son and what happens with him and his family like he cries about not being number one and as soon as he gets bailed out he’s forgotten again, but the casting for the younger and older actors of everybody was extremely good. i just expected better because of all the good reviews i’ve seen and so many videos. there was a lot of the same things going again, the episodes could’ve just been shorter without the useless fillers. but still very wholesome and i enjoyed most of it.Was this review helpful to you?
