Reviews

Twists, Turns, and Total Talent

First off: what a performance by Ryeo Un! I have seen him in other series, but in this one, he yet again shows his incredible talent for acting. He was outstanding. His role required him to never reveal his final motives or thoughts until the very end, and he embodied it so well.

The character forces you to look at your own moral compass: What would you do in this situation? How would you judge him?

The acting from the rest of the cast was fantastic as well, especially Sung Dong-il and Keum Sae-rok. The cold stare of Chae Jeong-su, the Chaeum Medical Group chairman (played by Kwon Soo-hyun), tells you immediately that he is not one of the good guys. The story is very well-written and unfolds beautifully until the very last episode. I enjoyed every minute of this series—it is definitely a must-watch!

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War, Chaos and Gallows Humor (done right)!

Gezhi Town is one of those war movies that completely catches you off guard. Going in, I expected a bleak wartime survival story, but what made the film stand out was how naturally it blended its heavy themes with gallows humor. The humor never took away from the tragedy of the situation, and if anything, it made the tension and desperation feel even more human.

The story follows Mo Dexian (a civillian machinist (?) who helps military with their weapons) who escapes with his wife, son, great-grandfather, and a small group of civilians and soldiers to the isolated Gezhi Town while retreating during the war against the Japanese. For a while, the town almost feels weirdly peaceful despite everything going on, but then three Japanese soldiers suddenly show up and everything completely falls apart.

The best part of the movie for me was humor and the characters. Everyone felt very human and natural, and the interactions between them made the humor land even better. Even in the middle of all the tension and chaos, the movie kept throwing in these darkly funny moments that somehow felt realistic instead of forced.

One thing I really loved was the relationship between Mo Dexian and the army unit living in Gezhi Town alongside the civilians. The soldiers are honestly kind of incompetent for most of the movie; instead of actually fighting, they keep retreating and constantly rely on Mo Dexian for help, which clearly annoys and exhausts him. 😭 Their constant bickering and the contrast between Mo Dexian’s frustration and the soldiers’ cowardice made some of the funniest moments in the film.

But what made it even better is that the movie doesn’t leave them that way. By the end, when everything truly falls apart, the entire unit finally pulls themselves together and chooses to stand against the Japanese instead of running away again. That development made the emotional payoff hit much harder because you’ve already spent so much time laughing at how hopeless they were before.

The acting was also really good. Xiao Zhan and Peng Yuchang were both amazing and brought a lot of emotion and personality to their roles. The whole cast did a great job balancing the comedy and the heavier emotional narrative.

Overall, I really liked it. It’s dark, tense, emotional, and unexpectedly funny in a way that actually works really well.

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Promising Start. Terrible Execution

This drama was frustrating because she was still bully and kept getting slapped by eldest brother. She should've thrown hands more at all of them. They refused to believe anything about her until the last 2 minutes and the drama spent way too much time rehashing same old conversions. Not to mentioned, she pushed the brother out of the way to be impaled by a metal rod. How dumb. They were literally the reason she suffered and died in last life. If you aren't gonna be vengeful, at least ignore their ass and let them suffer. The only reason I gave this 4 stars was because I like the actress. That's it lol

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Fyeah anti-imperialism baddie

I really wanted to like this movie more than I did. The messaging was great. The characterisation was great. The politics was great. But despite Heneral Luna definitely engaging my brain, it just never quite hooked my emotion.

The story follow General Luna as he wages a war of resistance against Americans who are conquering the Phillipines, after Spain sold them the country. It's not just the Americans he's up against. The headstrong, patriotic General Luna must also contend with Filipino in-fighting that comes with disastrous consequences.

The movie grapples with history and politics, dwelling on the tragedy that was internal Filipino betrayal. I can't really discuss the substance of it as I'm not really familiar with this chapter of history. However, it was this part of the film that I found intellectually engaging.

What I found lacking was the pull at the heartstrings. General Luna is portrayed as a rambunctious straight-shooter (with a soft spot for women) who powers his way through obstacles. But I didn't feel a particular emotional connection with his character, beyond his general frustration at the cowardice of his fellow countrymen. This may have been because of how the film is so consumed with him as a figure. There's little room for other characters to be properly fleshed out.

All in all, great film on Filipino history.

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Animated and Chaotic ?

I love this movie so much. I dont understand the low rating (7.3 as of writing). It was fun and campy. I was laughing at lots of the scenes. The actors did well in delivering these animated characters. Also had lots of references to iconic romance works (movie, series, anime).

Though for me, the plot has a bit of work to do. I don't get why everyone was just fine with the platonic "I love you"-s that were given to them. But still, Anzu is someone who is full of pure love! She cares about everyone around her, and that's the only thing that matters for this movie.

And it would have been so cool if Saki also became a contender to Anzu's romantic prospects. Would've introduced a bit of diversity to the love aspect of the story.

Also, I love how they made use of Anzu's gamer quality in the resolution of the whole plot. Of course our girl chose the perfect ending with no loses.

100% would watch again. 110% if it's with friends.

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This show is a masterpiece!

This series is one of the most wonderful pieces of television I’ve seen in a long time. It manages to portray the full spectrum of human experience with warmth and sensitivity.

The lead actors deliver performances that are nothing short of extraordinary, as their characters come across as so authentic that my heart breaks for them when they are struggling, or I cheer for them when they are together.

Every supporting actor in the phenomenal ensemble cast, also bring depth and authenticity to their roles. So much so, that so far at least, I don't even dislike the antagonists. As the title states, we are all trying here, and you are left feeling that they are only human and are probably struggling too.

The direction is deeply attuned to the emotional undercurrents of each scene, the screenwriters ability to weave complex, human stories with clarity and nuance is nothing short of wonderful and the directors vision to take that screenplay and create this programme is inspiring. Genuinely. I love it so much I’ve rewatched every episode multiple times while waiting for the next.

Even the casting director deserves special praise; the casting is so precise and thoughtful that every character feels indispensable, and intertwined and you are rooting for everyone one of them. I hope they always remain friends and have some version of the 8 club in real life.

This show deserves every award coming its way. Well done to every single person involved.

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Beautiful love story.

Love beyond the grave ❤️
The concept of the drama alone was already beautiful, but the execution made it unforgettable.

He Simu a 400-year-old ghost king born without the five senses. She could neither see, hear, touch, taste, nor smell, yet she had always been fascinated by the mortal world and secretly longed to experience what living truly felt like. Despite carrying the burden of a throne she never even wanted, there was still this deep curiosity in her about life itself.
Then she met Duan Xu, a young general who, after everything he had been through, only wanted to unite the seventeen prefectures of Liang and finally live a peaceful, normal life. But fate clearly had other plans for both of them.
What started as He Simu’s curiosity about his sword a long-lost spiritual artifact that somehow chose an ordinary mortal as its master slowly became curiosity about him. And eventually, she discovered that he was the only person in 400 years who could give her the five senses.

She experienced every single sense for the first time through him. Her first touch was him. The first voice she ever heard was his. The first thing she saw was his face. Her first experience of smell, taste, warmth, sound, everything was tied to one person.

And somehow, while she was learning how to live through his senses, Duan Xu was also learning how to appreciate life through her reactions. Watching her experience ordinary things with so much joy made him see beauty in things he had always taken for granted.

That was what made their love story feel so emotional to me. She made him feel alive by simply living for the first time.

How could he not fall for her? This stunning ghost queen whose every movement, touch, and presence completely drowned him, yet she remained almost unaware of the effect she had on him. And how could she not love the one person who became her entire connection to the world?

The most painful and beautiful part is that by the end, he was willing to lose all his senses for her because, to him, watching her live had become enough. It was like she taught him the beauty of life, while he gave her the ability to experience it.

Even though the ending was heartbreaking, him dying and following her as a spirit after losing his senses, still somehow felt fitting for a love this sacrificial.

He Simu genuinely made me appreciate my senses more, the little things we experience every day without thinking twice about them. And Duan Xu made sacrificial love look so effortless and pure.

Honestly, one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve watched in a long time.

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Simple rebirth no revenge story but romance was underdeveloped

I was recommended this drama by a reddit friend. I felt like I had seen Ma Ying Lu drama before but I am not sure. The FL and another ML were unfamiliar to me. Overall it was an ok watch - drama was missing a few things.

What I liked:
1. Eavesdrop - I liked this scene as FL managed to evoke sympathy within that first episode. It reminded me of Penelope-Colin Bridgerton story at the start of the book (she deserved better).
2. Acting - The actress who played FL and Ma Ying Lu's performannce caught my attention. Her acting was natural. MYL's aura overshadowed the other ML.
3. Styling - I liked the outfits worn by the cast. Even that servant who was scapegoat for bratty Prince An Yi.
4. Supporting characters - I liked ML (Ninth Uncle)'s guard / servant. Hid naivety was endearing. I also liked the emperor for being fair.
5. ML characterisation - I liked that he stood up against those who bullied FL. I didn't expect him to alert the emperor immediately.
6. Length - Less than 2 hours.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonist - Crown Prince was pathetic for harassing FL when he didn't even like her as a person. He was given too much screentime. His sister was bratty and their childhood friend who could be his fiancee was annoying.
2. Romance - With ML being comatose most of the drama, the romance was severely underdeveloped. I wish there were more scenes post-confession. Even though they were respectful and nice towards each other, sadly there was no kiss.

Favourite scene
The restaurant close to the ending

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Too many couples in few episodes.

I dont know why so many people are hating this series, I personally loved it.

BounPrem nailed their characters, they were so cute and honestly I skipped the other couples because they were so unnecessary. For a 6 episode series, they could've just focused with one couple, why add 3 more and so many characters?

For the first half of the series, Boun barely had any lines. The story was good, but because of limited episode, the past storyline was not given enough justice. Which is why I hated the storyline in the city (the other couples). They should've focused on BounPrem, because they were the main characters. The supporting roles don't need that much lines and scenes.

It felt so rushed but I got to admire the directing and scriptwriting, because they managed to do all that in 6 episodes. It saddens me though that ArthidSun was not given a special episode, they were so cute together. They're bickering was fun to watch.

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I think this is one of the best dramas released this year so far. At first, I honestly did not expect it to be this good, but after watching a few episodes, it completely changed my opinion. Everything about the drama feels well-balanced, smooth, and natural. The storyline moves at a calm pace, yet it never becomes boring. Instead of forcing unnecessary twists or overdramatic scenes, the drama focuses on proper storytelling and character development, which makes it more enjoyable and realistic to watch.
So far, I can confidently say this drama exceeded my expectations. I started watching it casually without thinking much about it, but now I am genuinely excited for every new episode. If the drama continues at this level until the end, it can easily become one of the best dramas of the year. Overall, the acting, cast, smooth storyline, and emotional atmosphere make it a truly enjoyable and memorable drama.

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True Masterpiece

Set three years after the chaos of Naksu the soul shifter’s rampage, Jang Uk had risen from the dead and became the strongest man in the realm at the highest level of Hwansu, all thanks to the ice stone that had settled in his body. Now working as soul shifter slayer for the palace, Jang Uk came across an imprisoned young lady in Jinyowon as he slain a soul shifter who had went into hiding in the compound, and after pleading by the lady, he abided in making steps for her to escape the prison. Little did he knew, they would later be embroiled in a much deeper relationship that he could ever imagined, that would eventually unlock their past, present and future fate.

Now I get why this series had been such a hype. It truly was a real masterpiece that combined romance, grief, action, revenge, friendship, comedy and drama into one perfect balance.

I dont know if the actor purposely got thinner to portray the grief-stricken Jang Uk, but i really thought he looked severely gaunt here, which matches his character as someone who is losing sleep due to the great burden he had to carry as the ice stone wielder, with a soul empty due to the loss of his beloved half. However, his martial moves got fiercer, bolder and deadlier thanks to the ice stone, and nobody in the realm ever dared to cross him. Although I hated how he treated Jin Buyeon in the beginning, I get why the writer had to make him as such.

I totally love Jin Buyeon here. heck I rarely like physically weak female character, but Jin Buyeon’s daring acts just couldnt make me dislike her. Her relentless escapes, her daring move to strike a deal with her future husband, her extremely bold decision to ask Jang Uk to marry her, her unwavering acts of trying to comfort Jang Uk when he constantly pushes her away is truly another level. I love it when she gets sulky with Jang Uk and Maidservant Kim would reprimand her beloved Young Master for making Jin Buyeon mad or cry. The screenwriter did a real good number with this character and the actress is phenomenal.

I actually liked the portrayal of Jang Uk-Jin Buyeon as a couple more than Jang Uk-Mudeok, although i must admit both actresses had an astronomical level of chemistry with the ML and i actually had a hard time deciding. Both were of equal beauty and talent, and I truly love both. But Season 2 set a whole different setting and phenomena, and since it ended with great satisfaction, I just had to give it a higher rating.

And lets not forget the ever so unforgettable Crown Prince Go Won. His character intrigued me in season 1, and he’s even more charming in season 2 despite his ever so changing flags. This grey character, that seemingly need to choose the dark path for political survival but at heart so badly wanted to tread in the light path for a better kingdom had not for his evil master Jin Mu constantly corrupting his heart, is truly hard to despise. Ever since season 1, i had failed to hate this character even when he was bullying Jang Uk. And when they started to politely banter with each other, they become one of the amusing scenes i always enjoy. One of the reasons I don’t really fancy kdramas is they like to yell and scream during arguments just to show superiority, so I kinda appreciate it when I come across a show that has amicable mature banter that doesnt involve banshee-like screaming and yelling.

Oh man I love love love the couple Park Jin-Kim Yeon. Such a cute middle age couple that could make hearts flutter. And dammit they just had to make me shed useless tears for their almost deaths. Grrrrrr. By the end of season 1, i kinda gotten the drift that whenever marriage is mentioned, there would be chaos to ensue next. 3 supposed marriages were mentioned throughout season 1 and 2,, and yep, 3 chaos had occured that stopped the marriages from happening.

Basically there wasnt any that I could really complain with this show. Just watch it!

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Beautiful set, enchanting plot

Xianxia drama with a less troupe-y plot and beautiful visuals from the cast, and set costumes. If you like Dilraba, this is a show to watch. Her styling was immaculate and the costumes were a visual treat, and her acting, IMO, just keeps getting better recently (the most recent drama I watched with her as a lead was LotTL

Pros:
- The acting by both leads, and their chemistry! The FL's loneliness, rage, sadness, yearning, love, resignation to fate, hope, joy etc wow Dilraba had a beautifully nuanced and measured portrayal of the range of emotions experienced by the FL. Same with the ML, have never watched shows by Arthur Chen but the contrast in emotions portrayed by him for the ML was an enjoyable watch.
- I actually liked the interaction between Jiang Ai and Bai San Xing haha they were cute. Feng Yi also provided much comedic relief, and the other scenes were he portrayed a more grounded/responsible/serious demeanor were an enjoyable contrast to watch.
- The OSTs! So beautiful and such a treat to listen to, especially 若能在你眼中!! Gets me in the feels everytime.
- The CGI used in the drama was beautiful and incorporated smoothly, which complemented the portrayal of the fantasy world that the drama was set in, and the sparkly magical skills that the characters had.

Cons:
- The lighting is harsh in certain angles, which reduces the immersiveness of the set (i.e., looks fake), and the CGI at the start was - somewhat campy looking.
- I...did not really feel much from the ML's acting...but to be fair his visuals are not appealing to me so maybe there is some bias there.
- I cannot take Miles Wei seriously in this role lol, his character was constantly oscillating between being a puppy for the FL, trying to seem nefarious and evil, supposedly being power hungry and then scheming to bring the ML down. The characterisation was not particularly strong or distinct which made it harder to feel for him. Still a visual treat to look at though, especially with all the beautiful set costumes. To be fair I might also be biased as I watched his other shows where he starred as predominantly green/beige flag ML characters without much grey area characterisation so...but yeah it did feel like there was room for improvement for the portrayal of the villain role (e.g. Qi Min in Pursuit of Jade where you hate him but you also felt for him).
- There was not a lot of background context to certain motivations, charactor relationships or even the background world building context so you have to suspend coherant logic for certain segments.
- Certain parts of the plot were a bit draggy, speedran through the second half just to know how they resolved it in the end. When that is the main motivating factor to finish a show, there is little rewatch value or memorable scenes which would I would want to watch again.

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Sold Out on Logic

The biggest struggle I had with this drama is that the writing fails to create a believable or likable premise for both the story and its characters. While I can usually suspend disbelief for rom-coms, the setting here just defies logic in a way that’s hard to overlook.

For anyone who’s worked in a big corporation or any industry, it’s impossible to believe that one person could make every decision on their own. Yet, the female lead somehow manages to be the spokesperson, seller, R&D, QA, procurement, customer service, and delivery person all at once—completely unrealistic. And who wears 4-inch strappy heel sandals to the countryside? Not only are they impractical, but they’re also out of place and far from trendy.

The leads are all frustratingly self-centered and self-destructive, acting as though the rules don’t apply to them. Even the male lead, despite his good intentions, justifies questionable actions as 'helping' the female lead or the villagers. The female lead takes it up a notch—she’s ten times more frustrating and, honestly, hard to root for. As for the supporting male lead, he feels flat and one-dimensional, with motivations that don’t add up.

Between the unrelatable characters, the illogical setting, and the lack of charm or emotional connection, it’s hard to find anything to enjoy or stay invested in.

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