When you think it can’t get funnier, Khun Thee comes around the corner and proves you wrong
I gotta say GMMT(hee)V ate with this series and left absolutely no crumbs. It’s been a really long time since I had been so entertained by a romcom - like I was so invested in this series to the point that I was more looking forward to Saturdays than Christmas.More is more was indeed the motto here because adding PerthSanta and WilliamEst to the already chaotic duo PondPhuwin made this series simply incredible. I loved how each couple brought a different energy to the mix, catering to different preferences/audiences without plot holes. Ofc some things could’ve been explained more in detail in the TawanAran or even RomeMok story, but we gotta remind ourselves that P’X needed to incorporate so much content into 10 episodes which is crazy work. So all props to P’X and the entire filming staff for making this work so well.
And OMG I loved all the characters in this show! Khun Thee had me rolling on the floor with his mannerisms and also the way he changed for Peach made my heart melt.
But I gotta say, my favorite character in the whole series has to be Mok - this guy deserved to have pay raise the moment when Thee laid his eyes on Peach. Mok wasn’t just a bodyguard, but he was more like an unpaid therapist, personal assistant, event organizer, messenger and driver - all in one package deal. And I’m not even talking about how handsome Est looked in those suits…
And for those saying it’s too cringe, go watch the series while using your brain cells and some critical thinking because if you had you would understand why Khun Thee speaks and behaves that way.
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Don't waste your time.
The story wasn't much, it was not interesting at all.Cho Myeong Gyun is such a stiff and boring actor, i don't understand why they keep giving him main roles...
Hyun Woo is a newbee and did so much better! He only needs to learn to use is hands in the kissing and intimate scenes, he doesn't use his hands, so it screams "uninterest/fake".
There was no chemistry between the leads and the kisses...they opened their mouths but it still felt lifeless and akward.
They use too much lipstick to accent pouty lips, but that also just looks so fake.
The visuals are great and the music good.
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It's a meta commentary
It's a commentary and very meta. You have to read into it to get what's really going on, then it makes complete sense from start to finish. If you tend to take stories at face value and don't like reading into things, you probably won't enjoy it. It will probably seem very silly and won't make sense (especially once it starts getting super meta). But if you tend you notice subtext, and you like reading between the lines and looking beneath the surface, this story will make complete sense and is actually super deep and clever. I loved it. It was heartbreaking, inspiring, intriguing, and really gets you thinking about... well, I won't spoil it for you, since figuring that out is part of the story. But it gets you thinking. If that's the kind of show you enjoy, give it a go. I promise it's a good show. But if you want a light-hearted, simple romance with a clear and simple plot that you can watch in the background after a long day, this definitely isn't it.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful and wholesome drama?
Overall, it was a truly beautiful and peaceful drama that left a lasting impression on me. From the very first episode, the story created a calm and comforting atmosphere that made it easy to immerse myself in the plot and the emotions shown on screen. Unlike many other dramas that rely heavily on constant conflict or dramatic twists, this one maintained a gentle pace with minimal tension. Surprisingly, this approach never made the story feel slow or boring. Instead, the events unfolded naturally and allowed the viewer to follow everything without feeling overwhelmed. This quiet style gave the drama a special charm and made it stand out in a positive way.
One of the strongest aspects of the drama was definitely the acting. The actors delivered convincing and heartfelt performances that made every scene feel real and emotional. Even in the quieter moments, a lot was expressed through small gestures, facial expressions, and the tone of the dialogue. Nothing felt exaggerated or forced, which made the entire story easier to believe. Because of this natural acting style, it was easy to become emotionally involved and to follow the development of the relationships shown throughout the episodes.
Another highlight of the drama was the music. The soundtrack fit perfectly with the soft and emotional tone of the story and enhanced many scenes in a beautiful way. The songs often appeared at exactly the right moment and strengthened the mood without being distracting. Some of the tracks were so memorable that I added them to my personal playlist. Listening to them now reminds me of the calm atmosphere and the emotions I felt while watching the drama. The music gave many scenes additional depth and made several moments even more touching and unforgettable.
The visual presentation also contributed to the peaceful feeling of the drama. The cinematography used soft colors and well-composed images that created a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Many scenes felt carefully designed and aesthetically pleasing, which made the viewing experience even more enjoyable. The calm pacing combined with the beautiful visuals created a relaxing mood that made it easy to watch several episodes in a row.
It is a bit sad that the drama is already over, because it feels like there was still a lot of potential for further development. I would have preferred slightly longer episodes or even a few additional ones so that certain story elements could have been explored in more detail. There were several moments that hinted at deeper themes, and it would have been interesting to see these ideas developed further. Even though the ending felt complete, I still wished for a little more time with the story.
Nevertheless, the drama has now become one of my personal favorites. Its calm storytelling, strong acting, and beautiful music made it a special experience that I will remember for a long time. It is a series that I would gladly recommend to others who enjoy emotional and peaceful stories.
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HOPELESS ROMANTIC
This drama makes me want to fall in love! I feel fuzzy and warm but also motivated! It’s just so pure and beautiful. I really wish I could rewatch this again for the first time. It’s a definite MUST WATCH at least once in your life, even if you’re not the biggest fan or romance or slow burn.Not only is this show fun to watch, it also has drama, an amazing plot, and very teenage/coming of age moments that are also very dreamy and filmed very well. I love the film and recorded aspect of it, it makes me want to record my life often too. It makes me feel hopeful, even now when things feel hopeless.
Sometimes I don’t mind being a Hopeless Romantic.
୧ ‧₊˚📸🍮🪼⋅ ☆
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You need to feel this raw !
This movie is for a specific type of people ! this is raw and painful, yet beautiful!This movie completely took me by surprise. I was just as shocked as the characters, and it wasn’t until the very end that the sadness truly hit me like a punch straight to the stomach. I honestly don’t think anyone can fully prepare for how heartbreaking this story is. If I can give one piece of advice: don’t read reviews. Don’t look up explanations. Just watch it. It needs to be felt raw.
Plot**
The story follows Jae Hoon, a once-successful fund manager whose world begins collapsing when his company goes bankrupt. Already overwhelmed and defeated, he impulsively books a one-way ticket to Australia, where his wife and son have been living for the past two years for their son’s education. You would think he would surprise them, run into their arms but instead, when he arrives, he sees something that stops him. His wife and son look… happy. Happier than he expected. And rather than announcing his return, he chooses to stay hidden and observe them from a distance.
Spoilers ahead***
Jae Hoon isn’t just a man who lost his job. He’s a man whose entire identity was built around being the provider. His success, his worth, his role as a husband and father all of it was tied to money and stability. When his company collapses, it’s not only financial ruin. It’s ego. It’s pride. It’s the fear of being seen as a failure.
Watching him observe his family from a distance was heartbreaking in a very specific way. He isn’t just broken, he’s displaced. He looks at his wife smiling, lighter, freer than she ever seemed in Korea, and you can almost see the thought forming in his mind: Was I the weight? That realisation is cruel!! He starts to understand that while he was busy earning money for them, he wasn’t emotionally present. And now he’s standing outside their life, quite literally.
What makes this film so powerful is how internal it is. Lee Byung-hun delivers one of those performances where the silence speaks louder than dialogue. His eyes do most of the storytelling. You see the jealousy, the denial, the fragile hope that maybe he misunderstood… and then the slow acceptance. It’s the kind of acting that feels almost intrusive, like you’re watching someone’s private unravelling.
I think what truly breaks him and us is the realisation that while he was busy building financial security, his family was building a life. And that life, without him constantly present, seems lighter. Happier. The film doesn’t scream its message. It shows it quietly, forcing you to sit with the discomfort and draw your own conclusions.
The contrast between gloomy, tense memories of Korea and the bright, open atmosphere of Australia visually mirrors his emotional state. In his memories, everything feels heavy. In Australia, everything feels alive except him. He stands there in his suit, rigid and out of place, like a man who belongs to a different world.
This isn’t a loud movie. It’s not dramatic in the usual way. There aren’t many long confrontations or dialogues. It’s quiet. Observational. And that silence makes it even more painful.
There are layers of sadness here. The sadness of a man losing his job. The sadness of suspicion. The sadness of watching the people you love live well without you. And beneath all of that, the deeper ache: the understanding that emotional presence might have mattered more than material provision.
By the end, the truth that unfold explode and devastation is makes it unforgettable. This was so painful!
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Snow, smoke, reflections and mirrors - truth blinds, lies mesmerise
"The truth is like light - it blinds us. Conversely, lies are like a beautiful sunset that makes everything look incredible."As snow falls on a party celebrating jewel-frosted handbags, Sarah Kim’s opening line is completed as she ascends the staircase to shield her displayed handbag with an umbrella. A low-angle shot widens, revealing her surrounded by heavenly Renaissance imagery. She is framed by a magnificent white angelic statue, crowned with her own Boudoir logo as its head.
The next scene juxtaposes this skimply dressed artist with heavily rugged-up buyers. They camp overnight in the cold, lining the street in hopeful desperation. We follow the queue until we meet Yang Da Hye. Her dialogue starkly contrasts Sarah Kim’s elegance as she rages over the phone about being screwed over because of her name. She cannot even light a cigarette without stumbling upon greater misery, a dead body in a dank underground sewer.
'The world can be kind, but it can also be indifferent. Over here, there's a lavish party going on, while over there, someone freezes to death.'
'The Art of Sarah' is a thrilling mystery that works as a cohesive work of art. It bores down into the vulnerabilities, desperation and desires of humans, and reveals our limitations in acknowledging truth, crime and justice. This is consistently achieved through impeccable acting, complemented by lighting, camera work, scripting, plot construction, sound design, motifs, contrasts, red herrings, oxymorons, and clever sequencing that keeps viewers riveted as the plot unravels.
It recognises the walls that exist where doors are present for others. Do people get what they deserve? Can they deserve what they get? One of the show’s most compelling sophistications is how it plays with truth: “People think that what they want to believe is the truth.”
So, who is Sarah Kim? A name does not define her. If you want her to be a con artist, she is. If you want her to be an entrepreneur, she is. If you want her to be kind and generous, she is. If you want her to be a murderer, she will be.
But what happens when you see her simply as a person?
She is someone willing to sink into the depths in order to be reborn. In doing so, she becomes a mirror, reflecting what others project onto her while revealing who they truly are. Those bold enough to change will see her change too.
The insatiable breadcrumbing in 'The Art of Sarah' leaves viewers devouring the series, hungry for the truth. It rewards rewatching, each layer enlightens another. In a world of fire and snow, smoke and mirrors, the truth is never handed to you. You have to be desperate enough to see it.
Or perhaps desperation is what stops you from ever truly seeing at all.
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This review may contain spoilers
Superb Movie.
Having randomly stumbled upon this movie, i really enjoyed watching it and have high regards towards it.The main lead's character showed tremendous growth from a stuttering closeted gay to a courageous person who got on stage and sang wholeheartedly.Initially i was saddened when they could not be a couple but I totally understand Yeong Jeon's character when he told him he was attached to him because he showed him how exciting life could be and got him out of his shy shell,so he really felt that he was special to him.Cheol Jun currently can't see past the new high he is currently going through at the moment.For starters he is not into twinks as he had mentioned he is into Lee Kangin(a footballer)... Secondly he never gave Jeon a second look during the get together date after them having a love shot drink together.From the get go Jeon liked Jun and he was self aware that if he wasn't Jun's initial pick,their relationship might not withstand whatever the future holds.After watching the movie i went on to read other people's review on it and came across this statement 'You never forget the person who broadens your horizon',so Jeon will forever be special in Jun's life.Was this review helpful to you?
I don't think I'm mature enough for this xD
I've seen my fair share of BLs but this... 😂 LolNow I couldn't watch without laughing and face palming, every few seconds, I was much worse than the fujos on the train with them, also I couldn't help but getting confused at Umeda San for having a beard all the time but once in the second or third ep I believe, he was cleanly shaven lol
What was going on, people? İs that an advertisement or something? XD
İt was fun, I admit but also very cringe in a funny way, the idea of being like that in public, the girls reaction was legit.
Now I don't know if this has a sequel or a remake but being me I'd definitely watch it 😂👍
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Worth the wait i tell you the points of this drama in my reviews
UPDATE : IT'S VERY WORTH IT FOR ME CAUSE THE END STICK LIKE IN THE NOVEL YAYYY (But not extra chapter included like in the novel)🥰, Sorry too excited i tell you the points of the drama below in this review (The points is below after my personal thoughts)Personal thoughts first :
For me this is one of the best dramas in 2026 and i hope their will win the awards because of their chemistry because you will see in the future episodes how complicated and struggle their angst scenes and the way they serves us emotions to each others. You can see the acting of them and their chemistry they serves us emotions scenes towards each others in their new original MV first : https://weibo.com/7845601852/5268700368212813
For me this is the most awaited dramas and turn out amazing i know theres many plot holes and differents scenes comes out not 100% same like in the novel. But i’m here because the chemistry is a top notch and the actor and actress suit the characteristics and roles so much seriously, Zhou Yiran and Bao Shangen are like Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao that come out from the novel, if you guys read the novel you will know how the author describes Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao from the appearance and their personality.
(UPDATE : you can watch their acting and their serving us with angst scenes in eps 18, this is still early in the future eps you will witness many of angst, dramatic, and poetic scenes) (UPDATE : eps 25-26 27,28, 29 are peak angst 😭 they cooking with their acting on angst scenes in this eps) (UPDATE : their acting is good too for both of them who says the FL can't act ? watch eps 7,8,18,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,36,37 you will see their emotional acting, whoever say the chemistry is only him is amiss for me cause theres will be no chemistry if the FL didn't respond the same BUT YOU SAW THE EPS RIGHT ? HOW THEY RESPOND TO EACH OTHERS ESPECIALLY IN THAT ANGST SCENES ? FOR ME THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE PART FOR THEIR CHEMISTRY CAUSE THE RESPOND AND ACT TOWARDS EACH OTHERS IS THE REASON WHY us crying and felt the pain not only the story but their acting is filled up the atmosphere and the feelings for us to intrepret (Okay sorry every people have their own taste and preference so sorry if my comment make some of you guys felt annoy, let's respect each others preference and sorry if i'm rude)
The points of the drama (update) :
0. You know actually this story is intriguing and interesting about the history from previous generation until the new generation (This timeline with MumuZhaozhao) and has many mystery and reveals about the truth about the history of the Big 6 sect (righteous sect) and history of the Demon sect with a twist but the bad editing, presentation of the story and fast paced plot that's makes a plot holes it makes the story less interesting and hard to follow because theres many skipped and cut scenes that the fact it has not to be cut. Many scenes in the novel that has to be important to be shown that not shown in the drama.
1. Why there’s a plot holes ? so this is the reason why many of the watchers felt hard to enjoy the story and follow the story because the scenes of the history and story of their sect being cut and there's many important story that get wiped out so the audience have to follow along with the fast forced story and many scenes were missed and not get to the points and the editing make it look more bad but actually the editing is fine but because of the fast forced plot they give us bad interpretation of presentation of the story. The beginning of early episodes in the drama have different start from the novel, cause in the novel at the beginning there's many scenes and dialogues about the history of the Big 6 sect and the Demon sect internal affairs and many dynamics and interactions between the FL & ML and the main leads with the support roles that not felt like fast emotions or feelings.
2. This drama will makes you feel many genres of romance like slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, and angst romance, dark romance. You will see the ML is already fell first and fell hard for the FL because she is his ray of lights for ML in his miserable and dark life, all of his new emotions and feeling are begin to unveil because of FL and he cannot turn back and will be down bad for her because he custom to what it feels to touch the light by being with the FL. All of his obsessiveness and possessiveness is shown and described from the beginning he feel this feeling towards her in the novel more clearly than in the drama that we seen he already obsess without an explanation because theres many cut scenes from the novel to the drama itself so that’s why the plot holes.
3. Theres many big sect will be shown and describes by the story begin but you guys can focus on the Big 6 sect first : Qingque sect (the one with the leader named Qi Yunke who is master of the FL), Guangtian gate (the leader named Song Shijun who is the father of the second male lead (Song Yuzhi), Tianchu observatory (The one who has story of the tragic Yu Wuanying and Yuanrong heroes), Peiqiong manor (The leader named Zhou Zhizhen who has a son named Zhou Yuqi and the son has arranged marriage (Betrothal only) with the FL), Siqimen sect (The leader named Yang Heying who is the father of the support role named Yang Xiaolan), and Luoying Valley the leader is being led by FL parents named Cai Pingchun and Ning Xiaofeng (the wife of the master from the luoying valley). This big 6 sect will have important roles to the story because they have history connected to the history of the Demon sect that will reveals in the future episodes.
4. There will be a history and story about the internal conflict and conspiracies of the Demon sect there will be conflict faction within faction in the internal Demon sect because of the power struggle within the people in the sect. So basically Demon sect real ancestors are surnamed “Mu” but because there are many incompetent descendants the sect begin to adopt a child that will bring good reputation to the sect so that’s why the surnamed “Nie” begin to take the role of the leader of the Demon sect and led by them. But eventually because of the greediness and chaos that led by Nie Hengcheng the sect became more strong and ruthless and greedy that’s why the righteous sect and the heroes of the righteous sect Cai Pingshu (FL aunt) will stop this chaos and madness caused by the Demon sect. After the death of Nie Hengcheng the leader of the Demon sect the sect begin to unstable and lost the “power” of their greatness and the internal affairs became more risen up that’s why the ML who is the blood and descendants of the “Mu” family begin to reclaim his positions and his family ancestors belongings to the “Mu” family only.
5. I have to warn you guys this story takes a center stage to the history of the righteous sect and demon sect and romances mostly because that’s the main plot of this story. You can see the genres is Mystery, Romance, Wuxia and Fantasy. This is because we have the center of the main leads that have a Forbidden love plot that’s why the romance is strong and is more like a dark romance because of the title what ML has and FL has : A disciple from the righteous sect (FL) who’s being loved by the leader of the Demon sect (ML), and we know how obsessive and possessive the ML towards the FL.
6. If you like genres that involve a Yandere man or obsessive and possessive who’s down bad for his girl and have dominant and aura within his morally grey title by his side (Leader of the Demon sect) and his personality is tough, cunning, scheming and sinister but loyal, softie and obey his girl obediently and “I can fix you ahh moments” yes you are in the right places. Because his personality and character is complex he is a puppy lover boy to his girl but towards others will not hesitate to bite or kill you without a doubt. He is obediently obey her, care for her and love her deeply but his personality, aura, and authority is still theres and not be toned down he has his own way to attract, pursue and get her by his sides without hurting her or harmful her life, and scheming the plot to get her by his side and make her his one and only for him. His dominance is only shown because the FL is stubborn to keep push him away even though she’s like him too but because of the elders of the FL not allowed their relationship the FL has to act like this, that’s why he keep pursuing her until the end. There will be a funny part and cute little silly fight for them too and jealousy scenes that we will witness the ML being a lovesick man for his girl.
Update again :
1. Seriouslyy it pissed me off when MumuZhaozhao have to be parted away for 4 episodes from 10-13, like in the novel it's not that long AND MOSTLY WHAT'S THAT CUT SCENES WHEN MUMUZHAOZHAO FINALLY MEET AGAIN LIKE PLS why have to be the main leads part that got cut, you know this novel is centered around the main leads eventhough they have their own missions but eventually always end up met and go missions together, i know in the future episodes will be them traveling together mostly and their big iconic scenes and events been shown like in the novel, but plss this is just 37 eps and the story has many plot holes but then now the main leads scenes together got cuts again and the angst become more fast, wow this is a torture for MumuZhaozhao fandom seriously if not because MumuZhaozhao scenes that's i yearning for i will be gone nuts for patiently watch this drama.
ATTENTION : If you wanted to see MumuZhaozhao fast and not really into the story you can make it 1.5 fast speed in episode 10-13 because MumuZhaozhao will meet again in episode 14-18. (This is just a suggestion to some ppl who wanted to see MumuZhaozhao only and can't bear with the SML, but if you okay with it you can watch in normal speed).
I’m here sat and wait patiently because of the MuMuZhaoZhao plot that’s very interesting and fun and emotional to see because their dynamics, interactions, chemistry is match made by heaven they really belong to each others. Okay thank you for read this until the end i appreciated it a lot and sorry for the long explanation and opinion of mine and sorry if you guys see me like “gloryfying” this drama, because i like this drama mostly because of the main leads chemistry (MumuZhaozhao) from the first i read the novel and then now that’s why i’m here sat patiently waiting all the romantic, angst and dynamics of their acting in the drama.
and once again this is only my opinion and thoughts about them thank you.
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Hui Won's mother can catch these hands
I really enjoyed this. I was looking for fun romcom and really liked this one! The characters were mostly enjoyable, and it has some genuine funny moments as well.I really liked Du Jun and was happy he wasn't your typical cold tsundere style CEO. I liked that we got to see his goofy and caring side right away. I loved seeing him with Se Hyeon as well, it was so cute! I really like Hui Won too! I love that we got see different sides of her including her internal struggles about whether to keep the baby or not, and even when she decided to keep the baby, her questioning if she would be a good mom or not. A lot of her struggles were really nice to see because I feel like they aren't topics brought to light very often in media. I love the two of them together as well!
Se Hyeon was my favorite character! I just loved her! I loved that she wasn't afraid to go against her mother for what is right. I loved Mi Ran, Min Uk, and the coworkers as well!
For characters I didn't like, obviously I didn't like Jeong Eum. She was awful. Even though I didn't like her, I will say she made a great villain. I liked that she turned herself in at the end too. Moving onto Hui Won's mother...literally fuck her. She was an awful and abusive mother, and I absolutely hate how she was just forgiven in the end. This was the biggest thing I didn't like about this show. She never admitted to being abusive, never realized she was awful to her daughter, never apologized...NOTHING!! AND YET SHE WAS FORGIVEN?! WHY?! The reason her being forgiven being because Hui Won is becoming a mother is the dumbest thing ever. She shouldn't be in Hui Won's life at all. She has no self-reflecting or character growth at all. I hated that she was forgiven so much.
I do wish they gave Hui Won a baby bump, but that's not super important. I loved the time jump so we could see how they were doing as parents as well as what everyone else is doing. Love that she was pregnant in the end again too!
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In the meantime, this drama can be found in YouTube under the caption:“A fragile girl is caught in a kidnapping; a stern chief saves her—linked to Case 611.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhT24BZaGU)
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This review may contain spoilers
Defying the Narrative with the Absolute Cheat Code: Ultimate Flow | When FLs logic has left the chat
"My only life philosophy is that, life is about staying still. If I can lie down, there's no way I'm sitting up." - Song Yimeng / Song XiaoyuHonestly, I don't know where or how to start my review of this drama. I’m torn on what to write. I get the logic behind the plots and the necessity of the conflicts, but they still frustrate me. No matter how hard I try to understand their reasoning, it still continues to annoy me. One thing I have realized is that it is truly tough to remain objective and impartial at all times—even when the reasons seem justifiable—because not all problems can be categorized as simply right or wrong. Sometimes, both sides have a point, and it comes down to us as viewers to choose which one we are going to support. All I want to say is, this show gave me such an intense viewer's dilemma that I was unable to decide how to ultimately feel about it.
The storyline was great! The first 10 episodes are effortlessly hilarious. While the script may seem like the usual metafiction trope at first, the more I watched, the more I realized how different it is from other dramas in the same genre. It features an innovative style of writing that I personally haven’t seen before. The writing made me laugh my ass off because of how absurd the scenes and sequences are, while simultaneously making me realize there are still many areas within the metafiction theme left to explore. This drama successfully ventured into those areas in a ridiculously comical, fresh, and new way.
The most questionable part of this story—and what I consider the ultimate plot hole—is the entire Li Shiliu trope. It started in Episode 6 and dragged on until Episode 23. While I understood the initial purpose of this plot point, I cannot fathom how they had the nerve to extend it for 18 episodes. I would have accepted it if it had lasted a maximum of 10 episodes, but 18? Who are they kidding? The Female Lead is supposed to be a modern-day person—someone who is typically portrayed as observant and sharp. So I can’t understand how the writers expected us to believe she was fooled by a mere mask that only covered part of the Male Lead's face. It is impossible to accept that she failed to recognize him through his eyes and voice alone, especially considering how many times he wasn't even wearing his oversized dark hat. I remember questioning the writers by Episode 9 and becoming genuinely annoyed by Episode 15 when the FL still hadn't realized who Li Shiliu truly was. It's one thing that this "can't recognize a half-masked man" trope even existed in this genre in the first place, but prolonging it that much was another. It really was an unbelievable stretch.
By Episodes 23-32, I was introduced to the most complex situation I have ever been in while drama watching. It was a mixture of frustration toward the FL for taking a significant amount of time to recognize Li Shiliu's true identity, and annoyance over her reaction after finding out the truth. I was conflicted about how to process this part, as I have already painted the FL as not discerning enough for not realizing who Li Shiliu was much earlier in the show. At the same time, I am torn because I also want to acknowledge and validate her feelings of betrayal and disbelief—that she was fooled—but I can't entirely do so because it's mainly her lack of discernment that caused it.
I understand that Li Shiliu was created because, without him, the FL (Song Yimeng) would not develop affection for and break her prejudice against the ML (Nan Heng). However, I just can’t help the urge to blame her; she wouldn't have been fooled if only she wasn't so complacent and had been more observant of the people and situations around her in the first place. She should have been doubtful and skeptical of the changes when Li Shiliu, who was non-existent in the original script, suddenly appeared. Instead, she just treated it lightly until it backfired on her.
The thing here is she's been overly self-trusting and confident that she knew everything; so when she finally learned the truth, I find it hard to validate her feelings no matter how hard I want to. I tried, but I simply wasn't able to empathize with her anger—gaslighting and painting the ML as bad for lying—because it wasn't the ML (Nan Heng/Li Shiliu) fault that her expectations wasn't met and the original script wasn't entirely followed.
On the contrary, I find it outrageous that she's mad and resents the ML for hiding his identity from her when she's been acting smart all this time, yet it took her 18 episodes to blow his disguise. I understand that her know-it-all attitude may seem reasonable because she knows the whole story's plot, but everything still boils down to the root cause of this issue, which is her inability to identify the similarities between Li Shiliu and Nan Heng. Like gurl! I want nothing of this self-inflicted drama of yours. lol
I have a lot more to say on this, but I'll summarize by saying: the fact that she's from the modern world yet fails to immediately notice the similarities between Liu Shiliu and Nan Heng is a massive flaw. I’m struggling to digest this. It drags the story down and, in my opinion, represents the biggest plothole in the series. It likely goes unnoticed by viewers who are just caught up in the romance or the visuals, but I simply can't ignore it. For a modern character to be that unobservant feels completely unrealistic.
Finally, down to the climax and ending. I was low-key very proud of Song Yimeng for overcoming that long emotional and dramatic slump. God knows how much of a relief it was when she finally came back to her senses—after spending almost 10 episodes pondering over everything—to fight back and counter the evil plan against them. I must say that I still love her being all cheerful, mischievous, and clever in comparison to her depress state.
One thing I am extremely satisfied with regarding this show is how they deal with the antagonist through the use of the greatest plot device—unlimited flow. Seeing them plan things out after a scene reset, failing, then coming back again and again stronger and more equipped was satisfying. It was an ending that was fitting for this story's crazy plot. Everything aside, I just want to state here how I find the scene between Song Xiaoyu and Nan Feng (the modern-day male and female leads) at the end utterly questionable, but I will let it pass for the sake of not ruining my mood for the show.
P.S. I don’t know whether to laugh or not, given how blatantly they hit us with the reason the show is called 'A Dream within a Dream' at the very end. Haha!
Story - 9.0, I actually loved it and was amazed by their take and how they navigated the metafiction trope. It honestly would have been perfect if they hadn't fumbled and ruined it with the 'modern-day FL can't recognize a half-masked ML' agenda, and the FL lashing out after finding out the truth—which happened because of her own incompetence and failed discernment. Aside from those points, everything else worked for me. I even loved the antagonist's (Chu Guihong) characterization. I usually hate the 'kind 2nd male lead turned villain' trope, but they set him up brilliantly.
Acting - 10, I’ve been thinking about the performances of the leads and the supporting cast, and I honestly can't find a "bad apple" among them. Perhaps it’s because the show has such a light, fun, and comedic vibe that I wasn't bothered by the acting at all. Since I went in expecting funny and ridiculous performances, I treated it more like an entertaining comedic skit than a heavy drama that needs to be nitpicked. All in all, the cast executed their roles in perfect alignment with their characterization and the show's energy. Additionally, while I’ve watched Li Yitong before, this is the first time I’ve fully appreciated her beauty. Her look—modern casual pants, a sleeveless crop top, a loose button-down long sleeves shirt, and messy hair—was an incredible combo. She looked gorgeous and truly stunning.
Music - 10, A job well done to the music team of this show! I love each song and gosh! I was squealing with excitement when they randomly used the 'A Journey to Love' OSTs. I was literally on the floor laughing out of mere shock and joy! I feel like they used it as an homage and also to make things fun, as some of the scenes have a similar vibe to AJTL. And come on, Liu Yuning is here! Totally love it!
Rewatch Value - 8.0, I’m giving it this rating because, although I enjoyed the drama, it frustrated me by challenging logic and narrative coherence. I don't appreciate how the writers sacrificed the FLs characterization just to make the plot work. It was a truly unwise and poorly executed move.
Overall - 9.0, I know I voiced some discontentment earlier. The logic behind the FL was questionable, sure, but the scenes were well-executed and kept the plot moving. It was an enjoyable watch, even if the lack of coherence hurt the female lead’s characterization once you look closely. On the other hand, I have to praise those smooth, impeccable transitions—the editing team nailed them.
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I was expecting much more
Things I loved1 The premise. I thought it was genius and that it would be perfect for some funny situations and maybe some deep thoughts.
Things I disliked
1 Everything else. Mostly the actors. I didn't connect with any of them and certainly not with the main leads. Something bothered me the whole time. Maybe the feeling that the ML wasn't happy or that I disliked toughly the FL actress. It felt like she thought she was some important character and she acted that way. I didn't find the cast endearing or funny. So at the end of the day it wasn't as good as I expected.
2 The ending. It should make me happy and it did in some way but I also felt depressed seeing the ML and his interactions with the rest of the team. His acting wasn't great anyway, one expression the whole time, but even his smile made me sad in the last episode.
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Cute!!!!
The series made me happy 😊. It is funny as well as emotion. It a feel good series. It been long since I watched such a feel good series. It made my day and made me happy.Even little bit of romance give me butterfly 🦋. I want more ep but it is not possible. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊I want more series of this combo. 😁😁. I am also happy I am the first review. If I didn't watched them it will be a great lose for me.
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