Reviews

So exhausting

Watching 38 episodes felt like I am serving a full prison sentence for a crime I didn’t commit. This drama literally had so much potential in the beginning.... I mean the start was promising, the ending was rushed but still satisfactory.... But somewhere in the middle, the storytelling got trapped in a loop of clichés, dragging scenes, and the same tricks being repeated again and again like a pendulum of a wall clock.
Some events were so illogical that my brain simply gave up trying to make sense of them. For example, how can a complete stranger (the Empress’s right-hand man from an enemy state), walk in and casually convince a general, two princes, and even the king of another state? In normal life, we don’t trust strangers with our OTPs, and here the Royals are taking life decisions based on one random man’s speech.. Remarkable.
And the overuse of this man with his dark magic needles slowly drained the joy out of the story for me. Every time he appeared, it felt less like tension and more like déjà vu in period costume.
For the first 28 episodes, the story mostly revolves around the protagonists' meeting, flirting, bonding, and falling in love. Which is fine… but 28 episodes of feeding soup and medicinal concoctions to each other... ahh!!!!
The lead characters also felt surprisingly weak and uninspiring. I understand that some people enjoy stories where heroes remain blindly loyal to the king and die as martyrs for the state. But personally, I prefer protagonists who are smart, practical, and a little rebellious. The kind who can outthink problems, not just sacrifice themselves dramatically.
Here, the FL especially lacked that sharpness. She is shown as brave, yet her decisions often felt like courage without strategy. Watching someone use a bow and arrow in close combat and still rise to the rank of general was… well, an experience ... A very confusing one. Kudos to the writer for achieving the impossible: turning battlefield logic into modern art. 😒😒
And then we have the male lead, blessed with supernatural powers strong enough to defeat an army of ten thousand soldiers… He can stop arrows mid-air, send enemies flying, bend the laws of physics, but apparently couldn't do anything about FL's situation of being threatened with her family members' lives and honour.


Honestly speaking, it was Cheng Lei who kept me going till the end. Else I would have respectfully exited this drama around episode 12 with my dignity intact and snacks still in hand.
Second good thing about this drama was it's music l, way better than my expectations.

Do I recommend this drama?
Well, if you enjoy very sweet romance with not much else happening around it, then yes, this could be a good pick. But if you like your story to feel like a full meal with side dishes, spices, and a bit of crunch, then I would suggest watching the first 8 to 10 episodes and deciding for yourself before committing to the entire buffet.

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Delivered everything I was hoping for

It was refreshing to see a different side of Ester Yu and she was paired brilliantly with He Yu who was the reason I came to this drama.

I knew from what she said at the outset on the plane that this was going to be good. Everything she described him as was so polar opposite to what she found and this drama did not disappoint as they clashed and crashed their way through their mental and emotional issues to seek out their happy ending which was great to see in a plot that made me laugh, cry and want to bash their heads together. Perfect Romcom

Would I watch again? Absolutely

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Please give this drama a chance!

I first decided to watch this drama because Lu Yuxiao was rumored to star in season 2 of Romance in the Alley, and I am a fan of hers. Then I saw that Wang Anyu was also in it, so it’s a must. But then I couldn’t find proper subtitles for it and nearly gave up after half an episode :D

However, it is a good drama! A nostalgic Reply-series-like drama, with the importance of parents’ roles and their story of raising their children in a closely knitted neighborhood in the 70s–80s. I’ve watched several Chinese dramas with settings before, during, and after the reform of China’s planned economy, so I kind of understand the background and how life worked at the time. And the drama describes the problems and the development of the era quite well.

The drama is like: I wish I had a relationship with neighbors like them versus I wish they could leave us alone and mind their own business lol. Sometimes they’re too close; sometimes I need a Huang Ling or Song Ying for once in my life. The two beautiful ladies are the highlight! They practically live together, supporting each other, fighting with each other (Dongzhe and Xiaoting, you guys are partly responsible for this lol) within a 20-year span. They raise their children together (and even marry into each other), and if you think it’s a boring storyline, just stop and switch.

I cried and laughed throughout the 40 episodes. I laughed because of Dongzhe, I cried because of the parents. And also, because of Li Jia. Being a sandwich-generation family member (it’s even worse in the 80s) is never easy.

It’s a relatable story for everyone who is living in a developing country, and I can say the production did wonders. The acting is also awesome. I know the actress who played Dongzhe’s mom won the Magnolia Awards for her role, and the drama also got nominated in many categories. So, if you have “an award-winning production” as one of the starter to watch drama on your list, you should definitely watch this drama. They have some weak parts, of course, but it’s still a good drama.

Each couple has their charm. The Zhuang parents are about an unbalanced power dynamic between the two leads. The husband puts his extended family first, and I am so glad Huang Ling fought for it (and she won!). I nearly shouted “DIVORCE HIM” every time Zhuang Chaoying asked the kids to visit their grandparents lol. The Lin family seems more peaceful, but it’s about putting bread on the table. Glad Song Ying is quick to adapt, and I support her to smack Dongzhe at every chance because he is sooooo mischievous! But thank you for the laughter Lol.

Love the first couple (I mention it by age), Tunan-Jia, with their storyline. Some people might find Li Jia’s story annoying, but she can’t help it. It’s a real problem with realistic progression, and even though they took time to detour, they finally found the finish line together, that’s enough *cry a bit. The second couple, Dongzhe-Xiaoting, is more like an impulsive young challenger couple that turns good. It’s a little bit too good, actually. Childhood sweethearts with a perfect pace and perfect ending. They’re really cute together, and even though sometimes I don’t support their choices, they are really a match made in heaven. Like two troublesome people producing double uproar but somehow compatible and complementary :)

Speaking about the actors, it’s my first time watching most of them (except Wang Anyu, Lu Yuxiao, Shi Yunpeng, and Zhou Jieqiong), and it makes me wonder if I should add more non-idol dramas to my watch list lol. It’s my first time seeing Fan Chengcheng’s acting, as I only saw him on Keep Running, and gosh he is…different (in a good way, ofc) lol. And Guan Xiaotong…she’s kinda famous for other reasons, but I think I should watch more of her dramas before I can say anything. But she’s so pretty! Next is Lu Yuxiao: I’ve watched lots of her dramas, and can someone tell me why her dubbing is always like that :|

Anyway, the biggest downside of this drama is THE SUBTITLES!! IT’S SUCH A LOSS for Cdrama fans to skip this drama because they can’t watch it without subs. Mango, come onnnnn it’s a 2024 release drama and now it’s 2026, and you still can’t provide proper subs for international fans? I nearly gave up for the second time in Episode 9 because of how bad it is. Who the hell is “Forestry Worker”? I only know Lin Gong lol. Fortunately, I got used to it and binge-watched it to the end (I am so proud of myself :D). It is a good way to improve your Mandarin skills, though. At least for me, a non-Chinese speaker with an old rusty HSK level 2/3 (old version) skill lol. I think you can go for level 4 for the listening test if you can finish the drama haha!

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Good potential but mixed execution

To sum up, this drama felt like someone had a pretty good idea but didn't completely know how to execute it.

Surprisingly, I actually really disliked the first episode. It was full of cliches that made me think "oh the whole drama's gonna be like this," and it was hard to read the actors' emotions. At certain points it felt like Taiga hated her lmao! But the 2nd episode immediately picked it back up, it was great. Every episode after that was considerably interesting until the last one.

The last one the drama treats her returning to Korea as if she's moving across the world. Korea is quite literally a 2 hour flight from Japan AND in the same time zone. The distance was completely manageable in my opinion. There are domestic US flights that take twice, three times as long, and are much more annoying to deal with. Traveling to and from airports in Japan are definitely not as intense as traveling to US ones. But for obvious reasons, they really punched this up. Very tearful goodbyes, almost depressing moments between the characters, as if Rin was never gonna be seen again. To be fair, LDRs are not for everyone, and them transitioning from being able to see each other so often to suddenly being unable to is a significant change. But this distance was completely doable imo.

What I did like was some of the external plot writing, more specifically things that happened to the characters, not necessarily because of the characters' actions. They both strive very hard to soul search and find their paths. This was amazing. These characters aren't 18, they were full-on adults in their 20's, Taiga was even 27 (I believe). As someone of similar age, I'm touched that many people my age are still lost like me. Even if you don't relate to that, seeing the characters feeling so lost and trying very hard to find what they want to do, is very endearing. These characters' successes and happy endings don't get handed to them; Rin fails to find a job in Japan (in order to stay longer) and doesn't even get hired at an animation studio, but gets hired at a korean advertising company. Taiga was much luckier in his endeavors, he applies to a culinary program, gets in, and eventually gets his dietician license, and is working at a company he wants to work at.

I did find it strange he still wanted to do something related to athletes considering his trauma. It feels akin to cooking for your ab*ser or something LOL. But maybe they tried to mean it in a way like "he still gets to fulfil his love for sports" or something, but I didn't sense that. Why don't you just make him a regular cook? He quite literally showed no other signs of caring about nutrition or diet the entire series. A regular cook is commendable. He should have ended up opening his own restaurant or taking over Tanomi (which they hinted at, destroyed the chance, then revived it). Although that's predictable, I feel it still would have been satisfying to see as an audience member. Seeing him go from being so hurt and unsure of himself, to running his own place where many people enjoy his food would be amazing. Another thing I wish happened was that at least one person thought his food was bad, every character loved his food. I think he would have improved as a chef and as a person if he actually met people that didn't think his food would good; it would push him to study food properly and learn how to directly improve it. It would also teach him how to deal with adversity; which was a major theme in his backstory to begin with. Almost everyone around him told him he wasn't gonna make it anywhere; but every person loved his food. He never had an initial passion for food, it felt like he settled for it. But now, it's his career. Mixed messages lmao.

As for Rin, I am a little saddened seeing her fail at her goal. The thing is, I actually was going through the same thing she was going through. I graduated from an animation college, and felt very lost on what path I should choose, and I am technically still in that stage. Seeing Rin try and try and try only to not really end up where she wants to be is a bit saddening. While Taiga succeeded, it teaches us that Rin was doomed to never succeed. It's really bad news after bad news, then she gets a mediocre job offer that she's not particularly passionate about but goes for anyway. For Rin, it just feels a little too...tragic. Is the message artists don't succeed? Rin doesn't even look happy in Korea 😭. I didn't want her to succeed just because I related to her, but because I saw her trying so damn hard and getting so depressed at failing. She deserved at least one glimmer of success, it would have showed us that "you'll get somewhere if you try hard enough." But instead, it taught us "some people just aren't meant to succeed." She had a successful classmate, but that sub plot didn't go anywhere. It really felt like the writers didn't want to be typical, but the alternate route they chose was worse anyway LMAO.

I LOVE the sub plot with Noa and her worthless boyfriend. I was waiting for the fallout every episode. Then we got it, and it wasn't really...satisfying. Noa pulls the plug (which is awesome) but it wasn't a build up, it was more like "this is the straw that broke the camel's back," its not the years of her bf using her for money and gambling, not caring about her, etc etc. She clearly wasn't happy, but she stayed with him. Why wasn't the fallout more emotional? I wanted her to get angry and throw hands. He's a guy that's been asking for hundreds of dollars, maybe weekly, and kind of forgets about the relationship part. When he does get money, he does show some sweetness to her, but the truth gets revealed and it all crumbles. I love Noa as a character, she was awesome. Her career path felt a little shoehorned though. She didn't show much interest in traveling before (just one line of dialogue at episode 5 or something), and starts to change her life after 2 separate experiences. It just feels a little...forced.

AND THEN, THE ENDING.
I didn't think they would throw us a twist at the end, because this entire series was really about them working through their cultural differences, and there's a montage at the end of them dealing with being long distance, making trips to each other. It's actually very sweet, and doesn't feel sad at all. They almost needed this distance to be themselves and go on with their own lives. And then the twist. We find out they've broke up. No reason or context is given, but that they're both still happy and remain to have an appreciation for the food and culture they've shared between each other.

Oh...okay?!? Are we...supposed to feel sad? Happy? I'm confused! What's the point? Life moves on? People from different cultures can't be together? LMAO. You can't give us a drama where a couple gets over EVERY hurdle, forms a seemingly unbreakable strong bond (they're literally crying leaving each other at the airport, constantly thinking about each other during the breakup) only to permanently break them up and say theyre happy anyway?!

In the montage they showed their relationship looked strong. There was maybe ONE indication the distance wasn't working (Taiga not reading messages yet) but they kept showing them swapping pictures and stuff. She visits him, and I believe they were even together for 2 years?! At some point one of em's gonna run to the other and propose. But no. They weren't as special to each other after all. The montage shows no solid indication their relationship was going bad, and I'm assuming that's on purpose because then it'd hint at the ending.

The best theory I can assume is they were going for a "life goes on" type of ending. But that theme was never present in the rest of the story. The entire point of the show was to overcome cultural differences, and THEY DID, but don't end up together anyway. It really feels like they wanted to use the premise but really wanted to veer off being unpredictable, but to the point it kind of made it a worse story.

The conflicts the writers used was misunderstandings--maybe once did a character explain "in my culture this is bad." They made up by saying they'll try to understand each other, but where are those moments? Where are those moments they ask about each others' cultures related to dating. The misunderstandings also seem to originate with Rin; both times it was her that became upset with Taiga, and Taiga being kind of oblivious why until there's a fallout and she leaves. It paints her as overly emotional and thick-headed. Yes she's young, but she never tried to explain or try to understand Taiga. She just jumped to conclusions. While I actually genuinely appreciate her shutting the door/not being afraid to voice her thoughts to her partner, the writing made the conflicts a little one-dimensional, and Rin just kind of wearing the pants in the relationship. I like Rin as a character, it's refreshing to have an outspoken female character that's so herself, but why did they write her like she wasn't capable to considering Taiga's side?

TLDR
Anyway! This is an okay drama, great potential, but the writing dropped the ball. There are a handful of refreshing developments and characters (they actually do feel quite real like real Japanese and Korean adults), but the overall writing for the romance could have been improved. I wish they had more input from a Korean perspective, they are much more open about dating, while Japanese people aren't. I wanted to see Taiga dealing with the little things, not just the medium things (yes medium). I won't lie, there are times I cried, both tears of sadness and of joy. It wasn't horrible, but I wish this was better. Does feel more dynamic than most dramas just regarding the writing. There are so many I've seen I've stopped watching because they were cliche or unrealistic, but this one was very refreshing. It did feel different. The writers just needed a bit longer for the idea to ruminate. If anything, watch the first 3 episodes and decide how you feel.

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About as clear as mud even by the end

I have just read ZellaKhan’s review and it now all makes sense! But please find below my own take before reading what she had to say…

The concept behind this story is very clever and it centres around two men (Great and Tyme) and their relationship before, during and after a near death experience (for both of them though separately)and what they experienced in the 4 minutes that their brains are deprived of oxygen.

I thought I understood what was going on but all of a sudden it got flipped on its head (round about episode 4, of was it 5? I’m so confused). Were the first half a dozen episodes during the time 11:00-11:04?

The bad guys mostly get their comeuppance (though the final scene between Korn and his boyfriend broke my heart) but at what point did Nan actually die? Why in the first few episodes did Great manage to save her only for the scene to repeat later with a different outcome - which one was reality?

So many questions and even by the end I wasn’t completely sure I understood what had happened and to whom - did the cop sleep with Korn’s boyfriend or not? Who was behind the cyber attack? Why were the night shots so dark that I could hardly see anything even in a darkened room with my tablet settings pushed to maximum brightness?

I think the director over complicated everything - or was that the screen writer?!

That said, I was glued to the end (er um…. was that because of the sizzling chemistry between all of the characters?). Although the two main leads were incredible (I will admit I mainly came for Bible who I loved as Vegas in KinnPorsche) and enjoyed his opposite number played by Jes, the other main characters (they may have been listed as support but were so essential that the plot would not have worked without Bas, Fuaiz, J Jay and Mio) were fabulous too. That said I think Fuaiz was underage when filming this yet was portraying a promiscuous man where his scenes left little to the imagination which is a little concerning to put it mildly.

Would I watch again? Probably not as I’m not sure I would get anything out of it by doing so.

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Sometimes Silly Time Travel Period Piece

I learned so much about history. and food, and society watching this. I hope some of it was accurate.

This story takes serious things with too little importance and light hearted things with too much seriousness. Yet it is still delightful and a pleasure to watch.

the interesting relationships between the branches of the royal family and the importance the concubines play in everyday life is fascinating if true.

The too cute love story between the main character and the queen and the time travel while essential to the story, also kind of drag it down a little. Still worth watching.

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A Fun Time, Didn't Quite Stick the Landing

I had fun watching it, and that's what matters a lot of time for me and shows. I loved the premise behind it, and I was so caught up in the drama of wondering how she would fall for her coworker when having such fun online dates with fictional men. It's that thing that readers dream of doing because real men kinda suck sometimes.

I think it had great commentary on the idea of dating and expectations that people have for love. I ended up marking it down a bit right at the end. It was so close to being another one of my favorite shows, but I do think once you've seen it, there's not a point to rewatching it again. The ending also didn't land right for me. It felt too sudden and too clean without really addressing some of the issues that were posed in the story line. I'm not a big fan of that in rom-com spaces.

I did like how they established the FMC's drive to pick-up the service in the first place. It felt very realistic like people could just step into this world. It's totally not the point of the show, but I kinda want the Boyfriend on Demand system. Just to try it out for myself...

I definitely think it's worth a watch. I was cracking up laughing through many parts and messaging my friend about it. The key here is just not to take things too seriously, especially life.

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Not Perfect, but Truly Refreshing

This drama is quite unusual, as it lacks several features that typically characterize C-dramas. I believe this is precisely why the series is so controversial. Many viewers may dislike it for that very reason. For me, however, it was quite the opposite — I found it refreshingly different.
What did I like most?
First of all, I appreciated the complete absence of misunderstandings. There are secrets, of course, but that is not the same thing. While Gu Yanxi keeps his true identity hidden from Hua Zhi, she is always aware that there is more to him than meets the eye and consciously chooses not to ask questions. When she finally learns the truth, she is open-minded and generous enough to accept it without holding any grudges.
I also admired Hua Zhi’s resourcefulness and dedication. The fact that her hard work bears fruit so quickly and relatively smoothly did not feel like a flaw in the script to me. Yes, it may not be very realistic, but after all, this is a fictional world, not a documentary.
Another aspect I truly enjoyed was the dynamic within the group of women from the Hua family. I understand that some viewers might find this part of the story tedious, but for me it was a real treat. I was delighted to watch the women grow, evolve, and mature. Even the third madam — who was rather annoying at the beginning — gradually becomes devoted to the family and capable of fair judgment, which I found to be a very nice and refreshing detail, so different from what we usually see in dramas.
I also appreciated the secondary storylines: the romance between Shaoyao and Shen Huan; Hua Qin’s decision to marry a merchant and her later ability to manage the harem; the tragic story of Hua Rong and her husband; and Fudong’s personal growth, which eventually allows her to take her fate into her own hands, among others.
Shaoyao was my favorite character, and I found Lu Yuxiao’s performance absolutely outstanding. Zhang Jingyi also delivered a very solid performance as the male lead.
That said, the drama was not perfect for me. Its major weakness was the acting — or rather the lack of it — by Hu Yitian. Although tall and handsome, his performance felt quite wooden. As a result, the drama conveyed fewer emotions than it could have, and the chemistry remained rather weak.

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Identity and survival

The writer truly hit this storyline right on the mark. Both the ML and FL delivered their roles with depth, emotion, and a kind of quiet grace that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. This is exactly what I look for—when the leads have undeniable chemistry and fully embody their characters, you feel every moment instead of just watching it.

Set during the Joseon period, the story centers around Ok Tae Yeong, a legal expert who is intelligent, hardworking, and strong. Even in the hardest situations, she never hesitates to help others, which is why she is so deeply loved by those around her. But beneath that strength lies a dangerous truth—her name, her husband, and even her social status are all built on lies.

At her core, she is still a slave within a powerful household, quietly dreaming of escape. All she truly wants is a simple life by the sea with her father—freedom, peace, and a life of her own choosing.

Then comes Cheon Seung Wi, a wandering storyteller who travels the country reciting novels. From the moment he meets her, he falls in love at first sight. Though he comes from a higher standing, he never lets that divide define how he sees her. Truth be told, he never wanted the weight of status—his heart belongs to stories, not titles. And when he finally speaks with her, her words don’t just reach him… they awaken something in him. She opens both his eyes and his heart.

The story beautifully follows Tae Yeong’s growth and transformation as she navigates a life built on secrets. Along the way, she becomes entangled with a doppelgänger of the ML—another man of high rank, but one who walks a very different path. Under a new identity, she ends up marrying him, not out of love at first, but because they share something deeper: secrets, understanding, and survival.

His character, though, is complex. In many ways, he feels ahead of his time—wanting equality for those society rejects, even pushing for acceptance of people who lived outside traditional norms. But in a world like Joseon, those ideas were dangerous. So he hides them, quietly teaching and protecting others in the shadows. Still, where I struggled with him is this—when everything begins to fall apart, instead of standing firm in what he believed, he runs. And that… left a mark on how I saw him.

What makes this story shine is how it balances love, identity, and survival. It’s not just about romance—it’s about becoming who you are in a world that refuses to let you be.

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Forever Yours (2025) is a very good romance miniseries with Yang Han (as Lu Shi Yan) and Li Xi Wei (as Xia Qiao). The cast did a good job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple had a delightful and sensual chemistry. The female lead could have done better in the romantic scenes but her body was a bit tense and her eyes did not convey the feeling of comfort during intimate scenes, but the male lead made up really well conveying feelings of respect, admiration, desire, and steadfast love toward the leading lady. Overall, this drama is very charming and entertaining, enjoy it!
In the meantime, this drama can be found in YouTube under the caption:“No One Dared Approach the Noble CEO—Until Her Kiss Claimed His Heart” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN8FDjYbryo)

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