Reviews

Too Tragic to Enjoy

I wanted to write a quick review because, although I ended up dropping it, it wasn’t due to a lack of quality, it just wasn’t my thing. I watched half of it, and if I had continued, I’m sure it would have turned into an even more melodramatic and tragic story.

The premise centers on a young woman, who fell in love but is forced to marry someone else she doesn’t because of her obligations as she is born in a powerful family and the expectations tied to her name. She has to fulfill her “duties”, and it’s honestly quite difficult to watch such a lively, spirited character lose her freedom and just joy of life in that way. What makes it even more painful is that she’s married off to the best friend of the man she truly loves.

It felt clear where the story was heading, eventually, the former lovers would reconnect in time, she would never truly love her husband, and an affair would complicate everything even further. It’s a very messy, emotionally heavy setup. That said, if you enjoy intense melodrama, this will probably be right up your alley.

In terms of quality, I really liked it. The tribal aesthetic, cultural elements, and outfits were all beautifully done. It felt immersive and thoughtfully crafted, even if the story itself wasn’t for me.

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Not enjoyable

It's hard to root for a romance when there's a killed invloved that doesn't get consequences for it. Yes, at the end we see some guilt but throughout the movie the fl disregards the situation and even seems to forget about it. Also we never see proof that she changed. She made prejudices and made selfish decisions at the beginning but we never see her being put in the same situation and choosing otherwise. Furthermore, I found the pacing and the scenes to be made in a way that just doesn't work. I find it hard to put into words, but the experience wasn't like a smooth flow, more like random scenes from some people's lives put together.

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Frustrating fluff

Okay, let me start by saying that I wanted to like this. I started off liking it. Golden retriever and black cat characters? Excellent. I found the cringe to be endearing at first. It seemed like the show understood that it was silly, and was having fun. About episode 9 is where I feel like it lost its way. Introducing Qin's backstory at that late stage was like a slap in the face. It was around the same time that the characters finally became boyfriends and were intimate. Off screen. Don't be fooled, there's zero NC scenes in this show. They build sexual tension and then do very conservative fade-to-black cuts. (even the actors seemed surprised by the cuts when watching) ANYway. That episode was the death knell for me, but I kept watching to see if it could recover.

There are many, many singing scenes. Probably the actors are also singers so I guess this is required. As usual, I skip through the songs. What made me give up entirely is how the plot line with the parents was resolved. It was just so bad. Totally unbelievable. All those years of staying silent, and in one scene it's all fixed.

The redeeming quality is the lead actors. Even through all the ridiculous doggy panting, Tee managed to seem genuine. And Por somehow made Qin to be likeable despite how cold his character is supposed to be. I hope that the next show they're in has a better script.

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One really bad actor with a lot of really good actors

Apologies, Niihara Taisuke, but I would be hard-pressed to come up with a worse Be our actor. Add there are a fair number of subparbiel actors out there. What makes it painful, though it is how he's acting alongside a minimum of two extremely talented actors, and as one of the main characters, you see him half the time essentially. I literally had to push myself past any scenes with him in them. And I'd say I'm mostly happy I did. Komagine Kiita and Usa Takuma gave 2 extremely powerful performances, and everyone's acting as actors in their respective plays/shows was phenomenal. As the villain in the play, Usa Takuma was chef's kiss :* perfection, and Komagine Kiita almost moved me to tears with his performances throughout the show. I can't imagine what it would have been like if he had been acting across from someone of equal caliber.

(Slight spoiler coming up) I do have one caveat to Niihara Taisuke's acting in that I think he was actually pretty incredible in the play itself (all 3-5 minutes of it). It makes me wonder if he has experience in theater which would make sense, or if he had been receiving bad acting directions for Shirasaki Yuki's character. Whatever it is, he did an incredible job in the play, and I want to give him kudos for that while still wishing they had done anything else with Shirasaki Yuki's character - Whether by choosing a different actor or completely... I honestly don't know what kind of stage directions would have made the character he portrayed; even his smiles and his posture made me cringe.

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Great idea, not-so-good execution

If you’re going to write a fantasy, especially if it’s a drama, the parts that aren’t magical have to be really believable. Otherwise you lose your audience. The writers make one big mistake along these lines right at the beginning.

Is it possible that someone could be run through by a sword and live to tell the tale? It’s probably happened–but not likely in a situation where antibiotics are unknown and no one understands the basics of hygiene. And, never, I’m guessing, when the patient gets up, resumes his daily activities, and even rides a horse for hours on end.

At least for the first five episodes, the FL comes off as an annoying twit–but she improves after that. This woman is supposed to be cute, appealing, and funny. She’s also supposed to be a respected and knowledgeable medical professional. Unfortunately she doesn’t know how to be all those things at once. But, to be fair, I’m not sure anyone could do it. They made her a more serious person in the latter half of the drama, and that helped a lot. Also the humor worked better as the series proceeded.

Unfortunately, the lighting on the set is not the FL’s friend–at least in the beginning. In almost every scene of the first five episodes she looks older than she is (she was 35 when this series was filmed). Again, they fixed that problem in later episodes, and she starts looking more age appropriate in her scenes with the (10 years younger) ML. Another improvement was the ludicrous wig the pipe-playing white haired guy was forced to wear. The finally got that one under control after a few episodes.

There’s a lot of telling and talking, explaining and pondering and politiking in this series. Both the King and his nemesis, Ki Cheol are waay too philosophical and self-absorbed. The King talks endlessly about his self-doubts and feelings of inferiority, while Ki Cheol is always plotting and carrying on about the future and who should be next on his murder list. I think these two should be forced to live together, where they would undoubtedly drive each other crazy–instead of the audience.

At times the English translation is stiff and barely intelligible. Example:

SCHOLAR: “I had thought this, since a new king is coming, that if nothing should happen, there is no hope. If change were to occur, a bloody storm will blow.”

CHOI YOUNG, ML:“The place I will be escorting you to was put together in haste, hence it will not be too pleasant.”

SCHOLAR: “In an era like this, a warrior as you is pitiful as you have to continue to slay before you are slayed.”

Having listed all the negatives, this series actually isn’t that bad. For the most part, it held my interest. Seven stars.

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From Coldness to Warm Love

I love the story. The ML and the FL are both wonderful couple. She is so beautiful and he is so dashingly handsome as a general. I hate the tortures but glad that the FL became a very tough, very intelligent lady which can stand on her own even in the absence of the general husband. Even though there are moments that the husband saved her but mostly she survived the dangerous politics of the manor due to her wit and sharp mind.
The lead actor and actress did a good job in their roles and I love their chemistry together. I love the way the costume were done and how the plot thickened to the blossoming of love between the ML and the FL.
I just don't like the ending part because the FL became emotional and didn't pursue justice on the murderer and she also didn't tell the murderer their real relation. Because of that the murderer was able to kill and harm more innocent people. Confronted by murders the FL must be like the ML who is willing to pursue truth and justice regardless of blood relationship or family affiliation.

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A Dark Fantasy Journey with Flawed Ending

From the first episode, Veil of Shadows draws you into a world that is both beautiful and unsettling. It carries Edward Guo’s familiar directing style, similar to My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune, with no real departure from his established approach. The series is visually rich and atmospheric—one of those dramas where you pause just to admire the scenery, even as the story pushes you to keep watching.

The story follows Lu Wuyi, a young nine-tailed fox tasked with hunting a rogue demon, in a realm of hidden identities, mystical powers, and intertwined destinies. Instead of focusing on a single romance, the narrative splits across two main couples, each with their own secrets, conflicts, and emotional weight. This dual-pair structure keeps the story dynamic and unpredictable.

A recurring feature in Edward Guo’s productions is the presence of two leading ladies, seen before in My Journey to You (Lu Yuxiao and Yu Shuxin) and Fangs of Fortune (Chen Duling and Cheng Xiao). Veil of Shadows continues this pattern, reinforcing his preference for multiple female leads with distinct narrative importance.

The drama’s tone is dark and melancholic, which is one of its strongest elements. Emotional intensity is present in almost every episode—characters grieve, struggle, and confront inner conflicts in a way that often feels raw. At times, however, it can feel excessive, as if the production leans too heavily on tears even when the situation does not fully warrant it. The music, lighting, and cinematography enhance this mood, making even quiet moments feel heavy and lingering.

One stylistic point that stands out again is the vocal and emotional portrayal of the female leads. As in My Journey to You, where Lu Yuxiao’s subdued tone felt unusually restrained, Veil of Shadows features similar stylised speech patterns, particularly in Ju Jingyi’s character. The effect is intentional but may come across as unnatural or overly delicate, as if the characters are designed to appear distant, refined, and slightly detached from realism.

Character dynamics are a major highlight. Lu Wuyi and Ji Ling’s relationship evolves through tension and gradual trust, while Wu Shiguang and Wu Wangyan bring a mix of rivalry, mystery, and emotional complexity. With four central leads, the series avoids becoming a simple romance and instead builds multiple intersecting emotional arcs.

The cast—Ju Jingyi, Joseph Zeng, Chen Duling, and Tian Jiarui—deliver visually polished performances. Their styling, costumes, and on-screen presence are carefully crafted, strengthening the immersion in this fantasy world. The girls are so beautiful that they are a joy to watch.

The plot itself is layered, combining mythology, inner turmoils and personal vendettas. While engaging, it can become dense, with shifting alliances and hidden motives that demand attention. This complexity is part of its appeal, though it occasionally risks confusion. Later in the series, particularly after the “star stone” arc, the narrative becomes more chaotic. The introduction of time travel—resetting events by a few days—changes the stakes significantly. It resembles Edge of Tomorrow, but with repeated resets that allow deaths to be undone. This reduces the emotional permanence of loss, making tragic moments feel less final and therefore less impactful.

Visually, Veil of Shadows is consistently impressive. Costumes, sets, and lighting are meticulously designed, reinforcing the dark fantasy tone. Even dialogue-heavy scenes remain engaging due to strong visual composition.

Overall, Veil of Shadows is an emotionally charged fantasy drama with strong world-building, layered relationships, and striking visuals. It is best suited for viewers who enjoy complex narratives and darker emotional storytelling. While the plot can become complicated and occasionally uneven, the series remains immersive and memorable.

The ending, however, feels somewhat disconnected from the trajectory built over the first 28 episodes. It shifts into a resolution that seems almost too convenient, especially with the introduction of time-travel mechanics that effectively allow events to be reset. This “easy fix” approach undermines much of the emotional and narrative weight that had been carefully established earlier, as consequences no longer feel permanent.

It reminds me of the comical exchange in Avengers: Endgame, where Rhodey jokingly suggests the simplest solution—just go back in time and eliminate Thanos as a baby. That same kind of overly straightforward fix is what Veil of Shadows ultimately leans into, to my disappointment. By allowing deaths and major outcomes to be undone through temporal resets, the story weakens its own stakes, making earlier sacrifices feel less definitive than they were meant to be.

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NOT THE BEST BUT STILL GOOD!!

I feel like the drama emphasize its title strongly—“Not the Best but Still Good”—because that phrase actually captures the heart of the story perfectly. It’s about two people with completely opposite strengths and flaws who somehow balance each other beautifully.

Duang = a golden retriever character—over-the-top, cheerful, and always ready to give everything to the person he loves. But underneath that positivity, he struggles with insecurity and tends to overthink.

Qin, on the other hand, has that reserved “black cat” energy. He comes across as cold or even arrogant because he prefers to be alone and avoids dealing with people. But deep down, he has a soft side—especially for those he truly cares about. His guarded personality comes from past trauma.

What makes their relationship compelling is how different their upbringings are. Duang grew up surrounded by love and wants to share that warmth with Qin. Meanwhile, Qin is a lonely soul who craves love but hides behind his walls. Duang’s persistence and consistency slowly break those walls down, brick by brick.

What I Loved

1. Chemistry
The chemistry is absolutely sizzling. This is my first DMD drama, so I wasn’t familiar with the actors before, but TeeteePor’s chemistry is insane. The way they handle skinship feels incredibly natural—not forced or awkward. Compared to other BL dramas I’ve watched, this one stands out in how realistically it portrays a queer relationship. It feels genuine and lived-in.

2. Acting
It’s hard to believe this is TeeteePor’s first lead role—they feel like seasoned actors.

Teetee, especially, did an amazing job as Duang. That character could easily come off as cringey, but he made Duang lovable and charming. His emotional range is impressive—when he shifts from playful to serious, the contrast is striking. I’m really excited to see him take on more intense roles in the future.

Por also did a great job as Qin. That kind of character is tricky—if not done well, Qin could easily seem selfish or unlikable. But Por made sure we could see Qin’s vulnerability beneath the surface. His use of micro-expressions was especially strong—you can understand Qin’s emotions even when he says nothing. That’s not easy to pull off, but he handled it well.

There’s always room for improvement, but honestly, I don’t have major complaints about their performances.

3. Music / OST
DMD really went all out with the OST—14 songs and covers is wild. And the best part? They’re actually good. I’ve been replaying them constantly. The music really adds to the emotional impact of the series.

What I Didn’t Like

1. JammieMarvis
Their relationship feels underdeveloped. It comes across more like filler than a meaningful subplot. There’s little to no progression, and even by the end, their dynamic is unclear. The chemistry is inconsistent—sometimes it works, sometimes it feels awkward. I don’t think it’s the actors’ fault; it seems more like an issue with direction and writing.

2. TongPae & JammiePae
I understand why TongPae got attention—it had potential if the production had leaned into it more. But it seems like they didn’t anticipate how much fans would like that pairing, so it ended up with an open-ended, platonic conclusion.
Interestingly, I felt more chemistry between JammiePae than JammieMarvis. Even though it’s clearly meant to stay platonic, their dynamic felt more natural and engaging.

After being away from the BL fandom for so long, I didn’t expect to get pulled back in—but this series did exactly that. Duang With You and TeeteePor really brought me back.

You can tell the production team put a lot of heart into this project, and it shows. The story resonates, the emotions feel genuine, and the ending feels complete—even without a special episode.

That said, if we do get one, I definitely won’t complain.

Rating: 11/10
This drama left me with such a warm, wholesome feeling—it’s easily one of my favorite BL series now.

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los primeros capítulos fueron bastante buenos PERO

los primeros capítulos fueron bastante buenos.

me interesó ver este kdrama por la trama. el protagonista es un “justiciero”, se encarga de hacer justicia por mano propia con aquellos criminales que recibieron condenas muy cortas o fueron liberados sin pagar por un crimen, estos criminales no se arrepienten ni sienten remordimiento por lo que hicieron.

para mi son mejores los primeros capítulos debido a que se puede ver más de los casos, como las victimas viven y como actúan los criminales despues de ser llevados a juicios y no recibir una condena justa. estos tiempos en escena me hacen conectar más con las victimas, logrando sentir el coraje del protagonista, haciendo que esto lo lleve a hacer pagar a los criminales (no se, de alguna manera puedo comprender lo que lo lleva a actuar de esa manera)
lo cual a la mitad de la serie se enfocaron en un solo caso hasta finalizar la serie, ya el caso era más de poder y corrupcion, se miraron más involucrados personas adineradas, poderosas, tipo de servidores públicos, ajá lo cual no es que me desagradara por completo pero me gustaba ver que se tratara de casos cotidianos y no se involucrara tanto de gente poderosa (que obviamente es una realidad qhe haya demasiado poder y corrupciones con los funcionarios pero la serie me llamó la atención que se tratara de personas sin ese tipo de poder)


pienso que habia personajes interesantes pero no estában bien desarrollados o senti que no aportaron algo a la serie, estába ahí pero su participación no fue tan importante o memorable.
-con la reportera no encaje del todo, no me logro convencer, se me hacia muy forzada su personalidad, no se, no me gustó tanto (su cabello si me gustó demasiado:3) o sea, si era bien decidida, no le importaba hablar con la verdad pero me estás diciendo que intentaron darla de baja de la vida como dos veces y mágicamente no lograban hacerle nada y tampoco a ella le daba miedo o algo parecido, ay no se, ya dije que no me gustó.
-el wey musculoso creo q cho o jo, lo introdujeron como un tipo fuerte y no solo físicamente sino que tambien de valores y que sigue la ley, se notaba que no era muy fácil quebrantar sus ideales, decidido a lograr sus objetivos y que intimidaba a todos PERO conforme avanza la historia siento que todo eso se desmorona, siento que no actuaba como tal, al final no logra atrapar al vigilante, sus deducciones sobre quien era el vigilante no están fundamentadas con pruebas, cuando supo quien era el vigilante y lo CONFRONTÓ ni siquiera lo arrestó o algo por el estilo, se puso a tratar de convencerlo que dejara de hacer eso, lo madreo y lo dejó que siguiera haciéndolo, solo le daba advertencias pero nunca lo detuvo o hizo algo pra que el vigilante se planteara dejar de hacer justicia. el wey solo tira putazos y es casi inmortal. se me hizo bien insípido, serio y como que al final no termino haciendo nada. en pocas palabras, entró un wey musculoso, medio mamon pero al final nomas se hizo wey y ya ??? (no lo niego, estába bien fuertote, bíceps ufff 🫦)
-el protagonista lo hizo bien, me gustó su actuación, las escenas de golpe y eso. su personalidad creo que pudo demostrar más, su forma de pensar, esa faceta tipo psicopata me hubiera gustado verla. que fuera más desarrollado en cuestión psicológica y como le afectó el haber vivido ese trauma, ese tipo de cosas.
nada malo que decir de ese hombre, esta buenisimo, su sonrisa, su mirada, LO ALTOTE QUE ESTÁ, mi tipo totalmente u,u


nunca comprendí como es que los que sospecharon de el protagonista decidieron que fue el, o sea los que investigaban llegaron a la conclusión que podría ser el solo por verlo, habiendo miles de personas en corea sospechaban de un wey policía qsi por que si ??? realmente nunca senti que hubo algo para que sospecharan de él, no investigaban bien, no la daban para investigar alch


me gustaron las escenas de peleas, las actuaciones del protagonista, la de los criminales y las victimas, de eso todo bien, aprobado por mi :p

el segundo vigilante me GUSTÓ MUCHo, al principio dudaba de él pero conforme aparecía su personalidad divertida me hacía reír y me gustaba, sabía pelear, esta guapo y tiene dinero, la relación con el vigilante original tmb me pareció divertida y linda, creo que fue el unico personaje que me gustó además del prota.

el final fue realista, era obvio que nada iba a cambiar mágicamente, así que me gustó que ciertos involucrados no recibieran castigo o algo por el estilo, dando a entender que el protagonista seguramente continuaría tomando justicia por propia mano.

es un kdrama corto, esta decente así que lo podría recomendar pero no es el mejor.

-19 abril 2026

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Different as always, just a little too different this time

GJM's work has always been interesting and different. But this time it's a little too extra, too different and too weird. I always give his work a try even though I may not like some of the cast because I trust he will bring the best out of the actor/actress.
Story is weird, but that is ok, everything kinda make sense after episode 20 or so (if you have the patience to go this far). But from here onwards the story also goes downhill.
If you are TJR and/or JJY's fan, then this drama is for you because basically they are the main and centre couple. I don't want to say anything bad about them because whatever I said will automatically become a hater.
and the other couple (wuwu couple), is just .... sigh....disappointing.
The reason I dropped at episode 22 is because I realise the wuwu couple has been reduced to side characters and it's not fun to watch anymore.

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In my opinion, this is an excellent drama! One of its biggest strengths is the atmosphere it delivers. After thinking it over, I feel like it makes up for the fact that, for most of the time, nothing particularly major happens — the focus is mainly on the relationship of the main couple, which flows smoothly and pleasantly for the most part, without major obstacles (with one exception) — but while watching, you don’t feel that at all. I never had a moment where I was bored or where an episode felt dragged out. It also makes up, to a large extent, for the fact that many plot points are introduced and then never developed, often simply forgotten. I also have to admit that I love the “bad boy” trope — someone who is tough on the outside but deeply loyal and caring toward those closest to him, especially that one person — and we definitely get that here.

I really enjoyed the pairing of the main couple — Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu — who were complete opposites. He was confident, mysterious, cold, and reserved, while she was chaotic, open, and a bit silly. On top of that, they had amazing chemistry and tension that was insanely palpable through the screen. I also loved his provocative personality, which she gradually started to adopt as well. Around each other, they became better versions of themselves, always wanting to be the best for one another, often putting the other person’s happiness and well-being above their own. Of course, they had their flaws too — for example, Jin Zhao sometimes made decisions for her, assuming he knew what was best.

I also loved many of the side characters and think that some of their stories could have been developed much more. The whole group of guys completely stole my heart — especially San Lai. He was a wonderful character. I loved him on his own, I loved him paired with Jin Zhao, and I loved him paired with Jiang Mu, so I’m really disappointed we didn’t get more of his story. The subplot with his father was introduced as something important and then just… left unfinished. A small personal downside for me is also that we didn’t get his relationship with Na Na, which I was hoping for. And there’s one thing about him that doesn’t sit right with his otherwise amazing character — why did he suggest to Jiang Mu that he could replace Jin Zhao someday if she wanted? Bro? I really hope he didn’t have feelings for her and that it was just a dumb comment — that’s how I choose to interpret it. Don’t ruin my friendship dynamic with lines like that. Another character I loved was Lin Sui — “Drunk.” I’m not even entirely sure why. He had a very specific personality and vibe that I really liked. I also enjoyed his interactions with Jin Zhao and that scene where he was the fifth wheel during their reunion after years.

On top of that, the whole racing storyline and everything related to cars was handled really well. Similarly — although obviously in a more condensed way — his journey back to full physical fitness after the accident was also portrayed well, especially the emotions tied to that process.

That said, there are also a few plotlines (aside from San Lai’s father) that I have some issues with — bigger, smaller, and minor ones.
Major issues:
→ Liang Yan Feng’s character. Out of nowhere, it suddenly turned out that he was “good” and part of the alliance. There was no prior setup for that, and it was never revisited later. On top of that, almost immediately everyone completely forgot that he spiked Jiang Mu’s drink — and he even ended up getting invited to their wedding.
→ Wan Qing — “Snakey” — and her father’s business. I don’t have an issue with her being at the wedding, since from early on she was shown not to be a bad person. My issue is that, first of all, I don’t understand why the subplot where she kidnapped his father even existed, since it was later completely ignored. Second, we never saw how she processed the situation involving her father or what she thought about it. Third, we never really found out what consequences her father and his employees faced — we only know they were arrested.
→ He Zhang. He was also forgotten, and we never found out what consequences he faced or what happened to him afterward. I’m especially disappointed because I was hoping for some development in his hinted relationship with Wan Qing.
→ We never got a deeper explanation of that darker period in Jin Zhao’s life, when he was apparently called “Brandy,” and I think that could have been really interesting.
Minor issues (things I missed, but that didn’t affect the story much):
→ The fighting subplot involving Jin Zhao. In reality, we only got one fight, even though it was implied that he fought regularly — at least that’s how I understood it. So first, I would have liked to see more fights (my “bad side” speaking :D), and second, a better explanation of why he fought and why he suddenly stopped (unless it was explained through the alliance and I just missed it — I had some long breaks while watching).
→ It also occurred to me that Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu told her mom about their relationship, but we never got a scene where they told her dad XD. The poor guy is still living in the dark while they’re off riding a motorcycle to get married.
→ We never learned Jin Zhao’s birthday :( — it was initially presented as a mystery they wanted to uncover, but I guess they just… stopped caring.

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I'm still relatively new to exploring Thai history. Most figures in this series were just names I knew from childhood before I pursued a history degree and graduated in 2018. Interestingly, this is my first Thai historical series presented in a summarized format, making it a unique experience for me. The story focuses on the famous Elephant Duel, a legendary event in Thai history.

While watching, I often researched the characters to better understand the stakes, and the series does a great job of bringing that historical context to life. It effectively conveys the significance of the conflict and the strategic importance of these military battles.

The performances are the highlight of the series. Nine Naphat delivers a perfect portrayal of Mingyi Swa, adding a tragic depth—someone who was essentially made an enemy by circumstances beyond control. Tre Porapat is equally compelling as Naresuan. His performance helped me see why Naresuan is often described as "madaling magalit" (easily angered), especially regarding war and strategy.

The visual immersion is enhanced by highly detailed costumes that fit the actors perfectly, adding authenticity to every scene. The cinematic soundtrack is excellent, capturing the right emotional tones and heightening the tension during the duels without distraction. If you want a well-paced, summarized take on the complex brotherhood-turned-rivalry between Naresuan and Mingyi Swa, I highly recommend this series. It offers a captivating perspective on how history and personal bonds clash on the battlefield.

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