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So real... Strikingly real
This drama was so real in a way I totally understand why each caracters act the way they do. Many caracters feel like they have been played and betrayed and they act and feel accordingly. Many people will say it’s draggy and will complain about how some caracters act but the truth is their action and behaviours are all the consequences of what they have been through. I guess it feels draggy because it highlights their emotions a whole lot so it feels real.I really love Ming Yi and Ji Bozai. They are both complex caracters so it could be hard for you to watch without some patience and understanding. While watching this drama, I always kept in mind that Ming Yi has been through a lot of pressure to always win and she has barely received love growing up so I could totally understand she never feels safe to not be serious and to be honest about her feelings. Gradually, she will warm up but she still fears people won’t like her if she ever becomes true to herself which leads to her hiding lots of things but that’s how people act when THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO BE LOVED. 😃 Ji Bozai has been through similar things so he would conceal his feelings, keep his distance and have his trust wavering, sometimes I would feel like he trusts a lot and he would loose his trust in a second. Both have their own sense of pride so it is hard for them to stay united and act together, they would act unilaterally but they learn through a lot of hardships that they need to resolve their problem (be it their own couple problems or others) hand in hand.
I also really loved Tianci and Yan Xiao. Tianci is a strong willed princess, she knows what she wants but she feels helpless about it, at the beginning. Yan Xiao doesn’t know what he truly wants (or he deluded himself in wanting some recognition in the wrong place) but is resolute in his actions. And here is the thing, I have seen people complaining about Tianci but I can totally understand her. Yan Xiao is the type of a man who will do things solo in order to protect who he loves, without them knowing but Tianci prefers to face trials together, she doesn’t want to be sheltered and protected.
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Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
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I've rewatched this 4 times and am watching it a 5th!
Can I give this series 20 stars?First, if Machida-san is in it... I'm there!
Second, it has everything one could want in a romance!
Third, even secondary couple is adorable with an awesome story!
I wish there would be a sequel of some sort but with Machida's huge rise to fame after "10 Dance" it probably won't happen.
Surprisingly, the 30-yr old virgin and magic fable is legit in Japan! My aunt is Japanese and she was surprised this old 'wives tale' was the basis for this series! LoL!
Everything is adorable with this story...wish the romantic scenes were a bit more intimate but it's Japan, so I get it.
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Beautiful - so glad I stuck with it.
This is a story about connection that doesn’t end, even when everything else does.Love Beyond the Grave builds a world where loss is inevitable, but not final. What carries through the entire drama is the idea that relationships don’t disappear. They transform, shift, and continue in different forms. By the time the story reaches its final moments, that theme is fully realized.
At the center of that is Duan Xu (Foxy). This is the strongest performance I’ve seen from Arthur Chen, not just in isolated scenes but across the entire series. Episode 8 stands out early on as a turning point, showing exactly what the character and actor can do when everything aligns. He truly impressed me in this drama.
The early part of the drama is engaging and clearly structured. The world-building is easy to follow, and the story moves with intention. There is a middle stretch where the tone becomes less consistent, particularly as Simu’s sensory experiences take focus. It didn’t break the story, but it did interrupt the flow enough that I almost stopped watching. That said, the later episodes regain clarity and deliver on the foundation that was set early on.
Duan Xu (Foxy) is the emotional anchor of the story. His arc feels complete because he fully understands the cost of his choices and still chooses them. His ending is not framed around regret, but around acceptance and fulfillment.
Simu takes longer to fully align with the story’s tone. There are moments earlier on where her emotional portrayal feels uneven, but by the end, her character reflects the core themes of the drama. Her journey is not about resolution in a traditional sense, but about continuing forward while carrying what she has lost.
Yan Ke was my favorite character despite being the antagonist. His final line about dying by the hand of the person he loved captures his entire philosophy. He is intense, absolute, and emotionally uncompromising.
Chen Ying provides one of the clearest examples of the show’s internal logic. His progression from the boy in episode 1 to later greatness reinforces the idea that nothing truly disappears; it changes form.
Feng Yi (the Prophet) operates more as a structural presence than an emotional one. He represents the continuity of fate rather than personal attachment, which becomes important in how the ending is framed.
A lot of viewers interpret the ending as sad. I don’t.
If “happy” is defined as the leads ending up physically together, then this doesn’t meet that definition. But that standard doesn’t fit what the story is doing.
The ending is about continuation, not loss.
Duan Xu’s arc is complete. He does not leave anything unresolved. The life he experiences with Simu, including what exists within memory and illusion, is treated by the story as real and sufficient.
Simu’s final state is not emotional resolution. It is continuation. She moves forward while carrying the weight of what she has lost. The final image of her walking through the mortal world with the void jellyfish beside her reflects that clearly. She is alone, but she is not without connection.
That distinction defines the ending.
The story consistently reinforces that relationships do not end. They change form. Chen Ying’s transformation, Duan Xu’s conclusion, and the presence of the void spirit jellyfish all support that idea.
When the Prophet suggests Simu and Foxy may meet again and the Immortal responds that fate is what it is, the story leaves that possibility open without forcing a conclusion. And the presence of the jellyfish staying with Simu as she walks through the mortal realm makes it feel like a real possibility.
That reads as hopeful.
Alternate Ending
The alternate ending offers a more conventional resolution, where Simu gets to live as a mortal with Duan Xu. It provides a clearer version of a “happy ending,” but it simplifies the core idea the story has been building.
The original ending maintains the tension between loss and continuation. The alternate ending removes it.
This is not a flawless drama. Some episodes for me lose some tonal consistency, and Simu’s characterization takes time to fully settle into place. But the foundation is strong, the central performance from Arthur Chen carries emotional weight, and the ending remains true to the story’s internal logic.
If you need a clearly defined, traditional happy ending, this may not land.
If you’re open to a story where connection continues beyond loss, this one is worth watching.
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Mixed feelings about everyone!
Where do we start?First, Nubnueng/Sailom is creepy... thought it was just me, but on other platforms it seems I'm not the minority. Honestly, I think NN/Sailom story could have been a secondary storyline with more emphasis on either of the other two couples.
Sky/Nava's story would have been a great story to build off of! Especially since Sky is Swiss-Thai, it would have been interesting to see why he was adopted, etc... Nava probably has more to add as well.
Dindin/Tawan's story also would have been really good if it was developed a tad more, with a bit more emotional depth written in.
Sailom's sudden recovery is NOT realistic, nor his sudden comfortableness with sex, regardless of it being with Nubnueng.
Overall, not a bad series but I won't watch it again, which is rare since I often rewatch BLs at least twice.
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A waste
It has nothing going on for it.We don't establish or create a compelling story for any of the characters. We just have them make multiple dumb decisions. They could have written a heist way better than this.
And at the end we give it up all for a mother they barely seem to like.
Nothing much to say abt the acting too, Jeon Jong-seo has already done this type of character.
What a waste
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When you do not expect anything it's better than you could imagine...
The first thing I need to write is, they brought up a many sensitive topics including "aphenphosmphobia" in a sensible way. Even the doctor did the right thing, because he was interested in the patient, so he delegated the therapy to another doctor - as it should be. On the other hand, this show tried too much. There are too many stories in a very short series so the depth of them is very limited. In this case more episodes would have been better.The actors did all a good job, especially the Doctor and "his" patient. For me they are the ML of the series. All other couples are only 2nd fiddle to them. While having a heavy topic for all couples, there's also some comedy done to let you breath a bit easier. And of course Mom is the best :)
So, while I did not expect anything out of this series, it was much better compared what Domundi and GMMTV produced and I bet with less than half the budget. I would suggest you should watch this first before turning to the bemeoths of BLs.
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A beautiful Drama
I just finished Ancien love poetry and its a masterpiece, like the others from this period its beautiful, very great acting, the story is not very deep but its good, a must have to watch like the Eternal love/Love and Destiny and drama lke that. The story is not big as can be Eternal Love/Love and Destiny&co but the alchemy beetween actors is so crazy, you dont see this that much nowdays.Was this review helpful to you?
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Sweet and heart-feeling show.
Although I was nervous the whole time thinking Apo is going to come back and kick Thorn away, this show is the sweetest. The way you see a change in the character of both Apo and P'Ya, as well as his brother and his bestie, is genuine and real.The story is sweet, loving and interesting. I would've loved to go deeper into how it happened or what happened/ how is the real apo living ( asking for a spin off at apos life as Thorn hehe), as well as I would've also loved to see more of Yi and his backstory with P'Ya. Maybe even a few more sweet moments with the sunleads ( they are the cutest!).
But in general, this show is sweet, one of the shows where you just giggle from the cuteness of the moments and laugh to yourself all day, remembering them. I totally recommend. Happy watching!
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A tad bit more than your average crime drama... with that Mentalist charm sprinkled
I thought this drama was very very good. The plot points were interesting and classic criminal cases presented in a rather compelling manner.Drama also shed the light on complexities that surround the legal system and those within it. I think it is a thought-provoking watch on morality (and legality) and whom does it serve. And of what goes around comes around. The episode on the young women and the host culture was particularly impactful. The topics of exploitation and meeting one's fate in response to help attempts that backfired. Also interestingly psychological break-down of individual attempts to absolve ourselves of responsibility regardless of what comes after. Very good.
But we need to arrive to the center holding this universe together...
The lead that was perfectly cast. Kujo is almost like Simon Baker in the Mentalist. Simon Baker is Patrick Jane, and Patrick Jane is Simon Baker. The same could be said about Yagira Yuya playing Kujo Taiza. He did a wonderful job to realize the character as the nonchalant, clumsy but honest and almost accidentally gifted Kujo Taiza. Have no complaints about his performance. And I still do not understand him, and I want to. So props to Yagira.
While the chemistry with Karasuma was shed the light on the most, I thought that Kujo and Mibu had more potential especially with all the mystery surrounding it. It seemed that there was something behind the scenes that established their friendship. There was never explicit word saying they were, but the audience could feel the sense of comradeship between the two.
Waiting for the season 2. If it is not renewed, we are left with the amount of open loops could encircle the planet Earth. If it is cancelled I should come back to lower the score.
A recommend! Thanks for reading
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Just Yapping
It’s been three days since the final episode of Duang With You. Honestly, this is only the second series that has made me feel this way. I know it had a happy ending, but there’s still this sense of emptiness, knowing there are no more episodes to look forward to this coming Saturday. It even makes me feel like crying sometimes. I just wish I could stay in their world a little longer and watch them be happy together.I’m not sure if it’s just me or if others feel the same way, but every time I see posts about Duang With You ending, my emotions come back, and I get teary again. Whenever I go on X and see TeeTee and Por’s posts thanking everyone for supporting them and the series, I also get emotional.
Duang With You has really been my comfort series and couple these past few weeks. The last time I felt this was during JoongDunk’s first series. I don’t like this feeling of emptiness, but at the same time, I’m happy for the characters and their ending. I know they’re happy now, and that gives me comfort, even if I’ll miss Duang and Qin and their story.
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I’m absolutely not okay
If you’re looking for a one-way ticket to emotional vertigo, this is it. It’s a masterclass in the "hurt so good" trope where the chemistry is so electric you’ll find yourself giggling like a schoolgirl over a ship that the show tells you on page one of their outcome. Kim Tae-ri is absolutely brilliant, pivoting from a chaotic ball of sunshine to a heartbroken pro with terrifying ease, while Nam Joo-hyuk delivers the kind of mature, "anchoring" energy that makes their eventual dynamic feel like a literal slap in the face.:: MAJOR SPOILERS::
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Watching them transition from "I have to have you" to a professional "congratulations on your wedding" is a cocktail of disaster that I hated every second of, yet I couldn't look away. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet nightmare that proves the most haunting people aren't ghosts, they're the ones who are just existing in a world where they no longer belong to you.
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Abusive behaviour all over
Dropped it after 5 episodes, and here is why:The plot writers should urgently visit a psychologist.
First episodes are about an absolute a**hole being abusive in any way towards his wife over three years; holding her sick father hostage for her to be obedient. As an excuse, the plot tells us that he lost his memory (but not all of his memory oc, only the last years) and believes another woman is his true love and THAT is enough reason for him to be that shitty kind of being.
But as this seems to be one of the dramas with very obvious tropes, I guess this married couple will end up together and be happy forever (confirmed after reading some comments). But seriously, no woman on earth should ever be with such a man.
Losing your memory will not change the personality of anyone that much,which means he was and will be an a**hole forever.
On top of that, everytime he abuses or sexually assaults her, someone decided to play the most romantic music as if this was all just pink fluff.
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Normally season 1 must better than season 2 but not this drama.
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Best K-drama of the year so far
I’m already familiar with the movie Fabricated City, which The Manipulated is loosely based on. The series is a slick, high-gloss production that really knows how to build tension. Fast pacing, strong action, and consistently polished direction pull you in right away—and keep you hooked.The story grabs you from the start and keeps the curiosity going. I immediately found myself rooting for Park Tae-joong, who ends up in prison due to fabricated evidence. As the protagonist, he has to fight his way through an intense and brutal situation. Thanks to Ji Chang-wook, his struggle feels real and grounded. He delivers a standout performance—both soft and tough, vulnerable yet controlled—with a convincing character arc and strong screen presence.
The show also gains emotional depth through the storyline involving former prison pastor Noh Yong-sik and his daughter Eun-bi. Supporting characters like the likable guard Yang Cheol-hwan and a seriously psychopathic antagonist add even more edge to the story.
Each episode brings enough twists, new developments, and emotional beats to keep you watching without ever feeling dragged out. At the same time, there’s room to reflect on the characters and stay emotionally invested.
All in all: intense, accessible, and totally binge-worthy. It’s one of those shows that sticks with you—and it easily made it onto my list of favorite series.
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