12 episodes would be enough
For me personally, there were too many characters, and all the information and worlds were getting mixed up at the second part of a show. In episodes 12-16, I noticed some gaps in the story, and although the final episode explained a lot, there were a few things that didn't quite click for me. Additionally, I didn't feel the romance was developing. At one point, FL just presented us with a declaration of love after missing him one time. I didn't see any development from ML either, only that he suddenly ''fell into this love." Something was missing. Don't get me wrong, I liked the series, but 12 episodes would have been sufficient. Shortening some of the storylines with the jumps between the characters' worlds and simplifying the story would definitely be better. I especially liked Woo Do-hwan's acting. Both of his characters were excellent. The humor in the series was better than the romance. I think the series will gain more after watching it a second time, that's why I increased my rating.Was this review helpful to you?
Very cute story, directed brought to life by 2 talented actors.
Nozue is a competent 39-year-old manager who, until now, has dedicated his life solely to his work. He gradually becomes closer to Togawa, a 29-year-old subordinate he met one evening over pancakes. Togawa will try to pull Nozue out of his routine (and his shell). He's going to try to win his heart over, but Nozue is afraid (of everything :))+++ Excellent actors, all in micro-expressions and subtlety
+++ Dynamic direction (only 5 episodes) with no dead time or unnecessary scenes
+++ Believable story (and good depiction of Japanese culture: workaholism, lots of team dinners, intrusion into private life, a lot of restraint and few words so as not to offend/bother others, etc.)
### Slightly annoying Japanese drama standard: 1/ Setting up the situation 2/ Exposition of feelings 3/ Denial by one of the characters 4/ Sudden realization 5/ Race to catch up with the one who was rejected
### Very frustrating experience for Western viewers faced with the constraint and constant restraint of the Japanese regarding their feelings ლ(ಠ益ಠლ
=> Very cute story, directed brought to life by 2 talented actors.
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Nozue est un manager compétent de 39 ans, qui n'a pour l'instant, consacré sa vie qu'au boulot. Il devient peu à peu plus proche de Togawa, un de ses subordonnés de 29 ans, qu'il a rencontré un soir autour de pancakes. Togawa va essayer de sortir Nozue de sa routine (et de sa coquille). Il va essayer de le conquérir, mais Nozue a peur (de tout :)
+++ Excellents acteurs, tout en micro-expressions, en subtilité
+++ Réalis° dynamique (seult 5 ép.) sans temps mort ni scène inutile
+++ Story crédible (et bonne description de la culture japonaise : obsession du travail, bcp de diners d'équipe, incursion ds la vie privée, bcp de retenue et peu de paroles pour ne pas heurter les autres, etc.)
### Standard de drama japonais un peu agaçant : 1/ mise en place de la situat° 2/ Exposit° des sentiments 3/ Déni d'un des personnages 4/ Prise de conscience soudaine 5/ course pr rattraper celui ou celle qu'on a rejeté
### Ressenti très frustrant des spectateurs occidentaux face à la contrainte et la retenue constante des japonais par rapport à leurs sentiments ლ(ಠ益ಠლ
=> Story très cute, mise en vie par 2 acteurs de talent.
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good
what I likeGood romance
good plot
good chemistry
most chinese drama get boring in middle this one isn't and rare for CDRAMA to be good till the end can't believe the rating on this site for good drama you won't rate 10 ? and others you do?
after the the couple starts dating for a while the remaining 10 something eps focus on ml career more than romance I don't remember when the focus changed from romance to work in middle or last
main couple is really good I'm completely satisfied
what I don't like FML friend the 2nd couple ? why do these authors have to copy others ? make them forced into relationship and at end they get pregnant already?are you serious?
the 2nd couple is so dumb like kids the FML keeps chasing the boy he doesn't even look at her and then suddenly falls for her ? and FML in anger dates other guy temporarily to make him jealous? worst story I wish CDRAMA stop forcing side characters to be couple i had to skip them
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Spilling Blood In Search for the Light
Blood River is an assassin organization that is reknowned throughout the realm and feared by many. Su Muyu, a quiet, reserved man under the codename Umbrella Ghost, is the head of guards of Blood River’s Patriarch and also one of most formidable assassins in Blood River. Even so, he is not your average violent assassin. He is compassionate and kind, never taking up missions against the innocent. Meanwhile, Su Changhe, with codename Undertaker, is known to be a violent, greedy and unhinged person, a total opposite of Su Muyu. These two polar opposite, however, made up an unseparable pair of brotherhood, comrade-in-arms, a relationship so strong that it is unrivalled by others, and their main goal was to lead the youngsters of Blood River towards the light, towards humanity, stripping away their identity as assassins. An opportunity emerges as the Partriach Mu Cingge was poisoned during his duel and a bloodbath of power struggle occured within Blood River’s 3 main families, Su, Mu and Xie, with each family head vying for the position of Partriach. Su Muyu, as the Partriach’s head bodyguard, found himself fighting against his own people, and his own brother Su Changhe, raising question of the viability of their dream to head into the light.I am surprised to see Gong Jun’s excellent performance here as opposed to his bland acting in Legend of Anle. His second work ‘wow’ed me and changed my perspective completely. He was good as the aloof and quiet assassin, only speaking when necessary, but instead spoke with his eyes. Su Muyu is formidable and feared by all, but even so Blood River’s enemies are even fiercer. His fightings, although some he could not win, still made him look magnificient and mighty. I really love his formations and skills, they definitely towered above others despite him narrowly escaping. And when i said spilling blood, blood is definitely spilling though more from vomit than actual gory wounds. ML (and other fighters too) constantly gets poisoned and injured, vomitting large amount of blood at the end of almost every battle. They definitely used up quite a lot of red fluid in this one.
Chang Hua Sen’s Su Changhe is very likable despite being depicted as a grey character, someone who kills without batting an eye. His character however, is almost happy go lucky, the cheerful one between the duo. Boy, I thought i could not like the character as I truly hated Chang Hua Sen’s short fused role in A Journey to Love, but apparently he proved me otherwise. Su Changhe owed his life to Su Muyu in more than one occasion during their childhood in Blood River, hence the bond between them was as firm as a concrete, literally set in stone, way surpassing the famed bromance of The Untamed’s Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan. They trusted each other to the core, even when one had not disclosed their decisions (and actions for that matter) to the other. Basically the world could topple and tear apart one person and the other would always come through for the other with absolute trust. Definitely a rare kind of bromance.
The romance here is very mild, but because it did not go deep for one main couple but scatter around the numerous supporting couples, it felt kind of repetitive and boring (yea I sure thanked my ff button for its existence). And because there were more than 3 couple’s love story, it felt rather suffocating. Although they were mild romance with only one kissing scene of supporting couple, i honestly feel it was taking too much screentime. I would prefer they scrapped it altogether and focus entirely on the jianghu fights and court’s power struggle instead.
I really love the plot twists of strategies taken up by the duo in outsmarting their enemies while reigning in support for Blood River. Although longwinded and much of a hassle, they served their purpose and worked out towards its goal.
The show is fast paced except during romantic scenes. Man those really botched up the plot. Basically if youre not a romance fan, and more of an action lover, youre going to like this very much, the romance is still much less the those titles with ‘romance’ tag.
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"Wonderful World" isn't just another drama; it’s a wake-up call.
I’m a total K-drama addict. I’ve watched almost everything there is to watch, but honestly, nothing has ever left an impact on me like this. I’ll be the first to admit: I only started this because of my huge—and I mean very huge—crush on Cha Eun-woo. I’ve watched every single one of his shows, and this was the last one left. I usually live for the romance and the "perfect" stories, but this drama took me right out of that bubble and threw me into reality.It makes me so frustrated that this isn't in everyone’s Top 10 list of all time. People probably skip it because it isn't a romance, but that’s exactly why it’s a masterpiece. If they had forced a romance into this, it would have felt fake. In the real world, "perfect" doesn't exist. K-drama boyfriends don't exist. But the pain in this show? That is real.
From the very first episode to the last, I cried every single day. Every time I remember Gun-woo’s sweet face, the tears start all over again. But those tears weren't for nothing—this story gave me so much motivation. It taught me that real-life stories are the ones that actually give us courage.
Kim Nam-joo is so underrated it’s criminal. Her "sparkling eyes" told an entire story without her having to say a word; I felt her grief in my own soul when Gun-woo died, and I felt her triumph when she finally succeeded. And Cha Eun-woo? He proved he is a multi-talented force. He adjusted to the darkness of this character so perfectly that you forget he’s a "pretty boy" and just see a broken human being.
I really hate reviewers who only talk about what’s "popular" instead of what’s righteous. This show shouldn't just be famous because of Eun-woo—it should be famous because the writing and direction are flawless. Every character, every choice, and that ending… it was perfect. Everyone got exactly what they deserved.
I want to thank the writer and director for this. You’ve inspired me to want to write about real life, because those are the stories that give people the strength to keep going. "Wonderful World" is a 10/10 masterpiece that represents the world as it actually is. It’s time we stop leaning toward fake perfection and start recognizing stories that actually have a soul. This deserves to be at the top.
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A positive, mature, and beautifully concluded story
I think it’s an excellent series that never loses its pace all the way to the very end, which is quite rare in my opinion. The final episode is fantastic as well — it wraps everything up beautifully, calmly, and in a truly complete way, something I honestly haven’t experienced in a long time.The main characters are adults, and a nice bonus is that they actually behave like adults throughout the whole story. That deserves extra appreciation, especially considering that the female lead, even at her age, is still partly a quirky fangirl of a boy band 😅
Any misunderstandings are never dragged out, everything moves at exactly the right pace, and despite the sadness that one person is simply never coming back, the whole series shines with a great sense of positivity.
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did 😉
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This review may contain spoilers
The good, the bad, and the ugly
I'll start with what was good about this drama:The acting was great. Tian Jia Rui was a standout for me in the first half, along with Chen Du Ling. I felt Joseph Zeng deserved a more fleshed out character arc but he made the absolute most of his character, and gave a performance that would be easy to undervalue but would be obvious if you would have swapped him out for a lesser actor. Yan An ended up surprising me in the best way, as he played his 5 different characters so differently and so well, and ended up having a lot of impact overall. Ju Jing Yi was the weakest of the main characters, I felt she had a hard time transitioning believably between the different sides of her character, but still put in a solid performance that I would still rate as good and did not detract from the story at all.
The first 2/3 of the plot felt like a spool of yarn unraveling, as we were introduced to multiple mysterious characters who clearly had secrets, only to slowly uncover them one by one as the the two mini plots of tracking down the heart ripping demon and the time spent in the star illusion played out. The plot was complex but in a good way that made you really invested in finding out who these people were and how it would all turn out. All the characters felt layered, no one was purely good or evil.
Here's where the good ends. Cause the last third of the drama it all fell apart.
The show became a tedious mess of endless flashbacks, repetitive storylines, and cringe-worthy exposition dumps that constantly over-explained things we’d already seen or under-explained key points to understanding what was going on. The characters also became more one dimensional, as all of them ended up being super duper really good guys, without the realistic shades of grey that made them so interesting in the beginning. It got to the point where the main plot and the character arcs didn't have much impact anymore because it was a convoluted slog.
That was the bad. Where it got truly ugly was the staggering levels of cheap emotional whiplash. I lost count of the dramatic, sobbing "death" scenes and heart-wrenching emotional confessions/breakups/revelations, only for the dead character to miraculously wake up in the next scene or the people to reunite half an episode later and forget they ever spent 5 minutes of slo mo pouring their hearts out or for the dramatic "truth" to be contradicted or forgotten about.
I'm not even joking when I say every character fake-died at least twice and every main character must have "died" 10 times by the end. One duo spent most of the last third dramatically trying to sacrifice themselves for each other over and over, having drawn out dramatic scenes crying over their poor fate each time, surviving by some random twist each time, only for them to seemingly be fine with one of them dying in the end. (Only for them to also magically survive yet again). One character spent like 10 minutes in an emotional monologue about how another character couldn't be saved from a "loneliness demon" cause no one was willing to die for him, only to have multiple people die protecting him literally a scene later, only for him to still "die" of loneliness cause no one cared about him apparently. (Don't worry this character came back to life after that and then died and came back to life like two more times before the end)
Somewhere around episode 23 I was completely checked out. It’s impossible to care about the story or the characters when you know every high-stakes emotional moment or idea will be undone probably within minutes. It made the whole journey feel pretty pointless and superficial. The ending, which essentially just undoes everything that happened in the entire story just to force a happy ending, is like the grotesque cherry on top.
I really enjoyed the first 20ish eps, and it may be worth a watch for those alone, just get ready to make ample use of the fast forward button for the last third.
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old files, new fire
Honestly thought it’d be mid but got served with a twist. Though the Hwaseong case files is a story we all know, this drama refreshes it with a gripping narrative, solid screenwriting, and a killer cast. It’s been a hot minute since a mystery-thriller hit and this one absolutely delivers. Will keep it brief, as it's best experienced going in completely blind. With sharp creative direction and a fresh spin on a case we knew, a familiar ground burns with new fire.Was this review helpful to you?
it was okay until it was not
Generally it is a decent drama to watch. Not complicated and its an easy watch. I was enjoying the chemistry of the leads in the moral arc especially when they swapped senses and then it becomes so cute. This portion provided some freshness in the drama as most of the plot is about wars. Then it continues to the spirit arc which I was excited for as well but the FL lost her initial character and became a very stoic character. On the other hand ML was super goofy, so at times I felt the balance suddenly dropped? I preferred her character when she was more confident and outgoing. There wasnt any particular incident which caused the change prob why it felt awkward but we can take it as since she was back to being a leader she had to keep composure.However, the chemistry wasnt really there for the spirits arc for at least 10eps. Only when she finally gave in to him they looked happy but writer being a writer soon enough brought in issues for them to figure out.
The visuals in the drama are good and the osts are really nice!
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute zombie movie?
Okay I’ve watched a lot of zombie movies but this one was a bit different. I would compare it more to Warm Bodies than any other zombie film. The main zombie who doesn’t thirst for blood but a vegetarian diet wins your heart pretty early on. I won’t give away the ending but I’d say it’s definitely worth watching.Was this review helpful to you?
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FL learnt to be self-reliant and independent after husband’s betrayal
I was in the mood for a jiejie romance drama (as a palate cleanser) after watching a terrible remake of Debauchery. I settled on this title because I thought why not give chance to someone unfamiliar. I had not seen the work of either leads. This drama was stressful watch but overall I liked it.What I liked:
1. Writing - While I didn't like the things that happened to FL, they were the realities of a betrayed wife. Those moments affected me especially the one in third act. Really added fuel to fire.
2. FL characterisation - I saw her as pitiful at first because of how she saw her value. However there was character growth - she gained self-esteem & confidence to persist & make herself happy. She was resilient.
3. Acting - Wow I was impressed by Nai Yi Wen's acting. Her performance made me want to watch more of her dramas. Xiao Wen Yu was good in his role too and my gosh their age gap was truly big! I also liked Wei Jia Yu's acting here. The flashbacks made both FL & SML fully flshed out characters.
4. ML characterisation - He had longtime crush on her but wasn't aggressive in his pursuit of her unlike MLs in other jiejie romance drama. He gave her space & reassurance.
5. Romance - I appreciated that their relationship didn't start with a one night stand like other jiejie romance dramas. There was push-and-pull dynamics and overall their relationship wasn't rushed.
6. Styling - I liked the dress she wore at the competition. Suited her figure and character.
What I disliked
1. Antagonists - Wow FL's husband was infuriating. He gaslighted her once she found out about his cheating and even manipulated his kids into taking his side. His mistress was horrible too for wanting to climb the corporate ladder without putting hard work.
2. FL's kids - OMG her daughter infuriated me for threatening FL. She acted like a child! So selfish!!! The son was a follower - wish he had more sense.
Favourite scene
When FL's daughter threatened FL
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In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube: 完整版：重生后才知谁是真的爱我，这一世我投奔病娇大佬，联手让渣男贱女血债血偿！
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX_yEr5IdqY)
Also watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ZEnGcNgaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTxIW_RsHeQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mThlzyTCmW4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ZEnGcNgaE
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A Rebirth Story Where the FL Faces Herself
I watched this drama a long time ago, and only now I’m finally getting around to writing a review… hehe 🤭The story offers a slightly different spin on reincarnation or time regression. The female lead returns to her own body three years in the past, and from there becomes involved with the male lead. Together, they confront her father—the main antagonist—who murdered her mother and is plotting a rebellion. His eventual downfall involves a combined effort from the female lead, the male lead, the Crown Prince, and even her younger self.
I really liked the older version of the female lead. She’s calm, intelligent, and grounded—like someone who’s already been through a lot and come out stronger. That makes her easy to root for, and whenever the story focuses on her, it feels relatively low-stress and steady.
Her younger self, on the other hand, is much harsher—more bitter, ruthless, and self-centered. She’s not exactly likable, but she doesn’t feel like a one-note antagonist either. There’s still a sense of humanity to her, shaped by a harsher environment and survival instincts. What’s especially interesting is how different the two versions feel; they come across less like the same person at different points in time and more like two separate individuals. The older version’s patience and kindness toward her younger self becomes one of the more touching aspects of the story 🤍.
The male lead fits the classic “green flag” type—loyal, gentle, and a bit puppy-like 🐶. He’s supposed to be a general, which can feel slightly unconvincing at times, though he does have moments where he shows real competence.
One aspect that’s a bit harder to fully buy is how villainous her past self is portrayed 🤔. The contrast between the two versions can feel a little too stark at times, even if the story explains it through their different circumstances.
Overall, it’s a nice variation on familiar short-drama tropes. The cast works well together, and the character dynamics carry much of the appeal. The ending adds a small meta twist, implying that the female lead is the author in a modern setting, where she meets the male lead again. ❤️
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One of the most mature and healthy relationships ever <3
This drama was one of my absolute favorites that I have watched this year! Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang are one of my favorite couples ever! Their love story is just so beautiful, and also very healing. I absolutely love how Yusen quietly protects her and also allows her to shine. He sees her as an equal in every way, and he is also her biggest supporter, as well as her safe space. The way that they protect and love each other was so heartwarming to watch! Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong were amazing in this drama, and I do hope they have future projects together <3 I loved how mature their characters were and how healthy their relationship was!Their chemistry was so natural, and nothing felt awkward or forced. I love how they go to bat for each other when necessary. I also adore how patient Lin Yusen was, especially as Xiguang was still conflicted about her ex-crush from college. He still pursued her, but never pushed her or anything of the sort. He allowed her to work through her inner conflict and was there for her regardless of the fact that they weren't in a relationship yet. The ending to this drama was so cute, and I absolutely adore this show so much!!
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such a beautiful drama <3
MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR PURSUIT OF JADE !!!This drama was one of my absolute favorite historical dramas that I have watched this year! It hooked me right from the very first episode, which is something that a lot of dramas don't always do for me. I adored everything about this drama, from the visuals to the story. The characters were ones that will definitely stick with you, even after the drama is over! Waiting for new episodes to drop was torturous, but it was so worth it! The acting in this drama by every single cast member was phenomenal!
The OSTs of this drama are absolutely gorgeous as well. I also adored how female centric this drama was. It really focuses on Fan Changyu as a character. I absolutely adored the friendships that she formed throughout this drama, especially with the Northwest Pig Slaughter Squad, the Grand Princess, and the father-daughter bond with Grand Tutor Tao Yi. I also wanted to give recognition to Snow Kong , who portrayed Yu Qian Qian, and Deng Kai, who portrayed Qimin/Su Yuanhai. Their acting was phenomenal!!
Though I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the way their relationship was romanticized, as Qimin's character is very much a walking red flag, I was blown away by the levels of emotion and depth these actors had in portraying their respective characters.
Qian Qian is such a strong female character who endures literal hell to save her son, Bao'er (who is so so precious, just like Ning), and even forces herself to do horrible things just so that she can find a way to escape. It definitely hurt my heart to see her do those things, but it also showed me just how strong a mother's love can be. She was willing to do anything to save her son, even at the cost of her own life. She is absolutely one of my favorite female characters, and I also adored her friendship with Changyu as well, and the way that they care for one another.
Qimin, while his character scared me, the acting by Deng Kai in this role was incredible!! He really suits the "villain" role so well! The levels of emotions that he could portray was insane! He did absolutely amazing in this role, and I honestly am thinking of watching other dramas that he's in!
Gongsun Yin and the Grand Princess (Qi Shu)??? OMGGG!!! Their romance honestly hurt my heart so much:((( Their love story was so angsty, and I'm really glad these two got their happy ending as well! I do wish we got a bit more of them in this drama, but I am glad that they did eventually end up together! I also adored both of their characters individually, with Gongsun being Xie Zheng's Strategist and also his closest friend. Their bickering was absolutely hilarious! I also love how strong of a character Qi Shu is as well. She is intelligent and also is not afraid to speak her mind, which is one of the things that I love about her. (literally NO toxic female friendships in this drama and I loved that!!!)
Fan Changyu is one of my absolute favorite female leads ever, and Tian Xiwei did an excellent job of portraying her and bringing her to life! She knows what she wants and she goes after it! And while Changyu does have a strong personality, and can definitely fend for herself, we also get to see her softer side shine through. I love that contrast of her character!
While she is tough and formidable in her own right, Changyu still possess a soft heart that deeply cares for her comrades and her loved ones. She will do everything she can to protect them. She is a protector through and through. This brings me to my next point: her relationship with Xie Zheng (Yan Zheng).
Xie Zheng has been on the battlefield from a young age, and he has known nothing but destruction and death. He experienced it firsthand when his mother took her own life, and again in the atrocities on the battlefield. His father, (at least from what is shown in the drama), didn't seem to be around a lot? Perhaps he was busy with military duties and was rarely home? I feel like Xie Zheng was definitely closer with his mother. Ultimately, Xie Zheng is someone who feels that everybody in his life eventually leaves. He is someone who was raised to be a warrior, and eventually, the Marquis of Wu'an, who is formidable and ruthless. As the Marquis, Xie Zheng is cold-hearted and merciless. He is very feared as well. He hasn't really known the warmth of love, as it was taken from him very early on in his childhood.
For me, the way I see it is that Xie Zheng's "source" of light in his life is Changyu. She was the one who wasn't scared of him, and who brought him such fond memories and joy throughout their time in Lin'an. At first. we see that Xie Zheng is very much guarded and closed off, but, as time goes on, he starts to warm up a bit, and we even see him becoming fond of Ning. Changyu was the one who brought him all this light, and gave him this pure love that he was scared of losing, which is one of the reasons that he decided to conceal his identity from her, for he was afraid that she would leave him if she knew who he really was.
Xie Zheng and Changyu work so well together because they both respect each other, and also see each other as complete equals. Xie Zheng quietly supports her and provides her with a quiet strength that Changyu can lean on when she needs to. He allows her to pursue what she wants, and never tries to diminish her in any way. For instance, during the Battle at Lucheng, when Changyu and Xie Zheng are standing together on the battlefield, he tells her to get behind him so that he can protect her, but Changyu refuses.
She tells him that she will not hide behind anyone, and that she will fight. Xie Zheng doesn't even try to protest, allowing Changyu to fight alongside him and his army. For me, this showed just how much Xie Zheng respects Changyu in that despite his fear of her getting hurt (despite knowing that she can take care of herself), he doesn't try to prevent her from doing what she wants. As much as he loves her, he also respects her and sees her as a complete equal to himself. Their love is fierce and unyielding as it is tender, as we see in the scene where Xie Zheng comforts Changyu after she wakes up from a nightmare.
Overall, this drama was absolutely incredible, and I highly recommend you watch it!! It made me go through all the emotions, and I will forever think about this drama <3 TAKE ME BACK TO LIN'AN !!!
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