Reviews

A Thoughtful and Nostalgic Portrait of Love in 1970s China

Here we have a well-crafted series, carefully produced, with a refined aesthetic. The director truly immerses us (and for me, it was my first time—so thank you for that journey) into 1970s China, where we mainly follow four couples, each with different kinds of love and different life goals.

The main couple builds their relationship slowly, based on first love. Their relationship is very healthy, mutual, and balanced, with romantic moments. It’s an exemplary relationship built on mutual support, friendship, and encouraging each other’s dreams, with the modesty and innocence of first love.

The second couple comes from past traumatic relationships. With more experience and maturity, they portray a more passionate love. At first, there is a lack of communication, but it gradually evolves into something more open as they learn to express themselves.

The third couple, involving the female lead’s brother, represents a more traditional, domestic kind of love typical of the time—less romantic and less idealized, but still very solid.

The fourth couple shows younger characters who make rational choices. Their relationship works because they understand that their personalities and life paths are compatible.

Character writing:
All of the above shows how extremely well-written the characters are. They feel alive, and we can understand every single one of them—not only the couples, but also the parents and supporting characters.

Casting:
I want to highlight the entire cast, which is very consistent and strong. It truly feels like an ensemble rather than a show built around one standout star, and I appreciate that.

The director gives us many romantic and nostalgic moments, with very positive vibes. It also reminds us that in the past, people may have had less materially, but they communicated more and found happiness in simple things.

Context and pacing:
The series takes its time, which can be both a strength and a weakness. For me, the energy drops after episode 20, and the show loses some of its charm afterward. Otherwise, I would have considered it flawless.

The series also portrays the social realism of 1970s China, with professional constraints, strong social pressure, and limited access to education—yet an even stronger desire to learn and grow.

Fei Ni is the central character: pragmatic, ambitious, and clear-minded. She is quite rare in Chinese dramas, and it’s refreshing to see a character who can sew, work, write, study, and still be kind.

Her love interest is resourceful and positive—thanks to these qualities, there is almost nothing he cannot achieve. The early episodes are also quite humorous.

Another strong point is the absence of clichés. The story is not built just to glorify a star, but offers a genuine and thoughtful narrative.

To sum up:
It has a “When Life Gives You Tangerines” kind of mood in a C-drama version, but more stretched out—which is also its main weakness.

Leia Mais

OMG what a gem!!!!

I love this drama!!! it is so well done!!! All episodes!!! what ppl call "too much talking after ep 5" is super interesting, as those two talk phylosphy of conning etc.

"IT WAS FAKE, BUT iT WAS NOT A LIE.
SARAH REALLY LOVED BUDOAR "

How did I miss it back then when it was airing?? BC THE MDL SYNOPSIS WAS SOOOO BAD. It looked like a really boring drama.

But this is about a female con artist who really figured out rich women and really went after them - created what they wanted and then stole from them. Wow great job

THat Budoar store and bags and the whole experience were really good, actually! Creating an EXPERIENCE for the rich... SHE DID A GREAT JOB!!!!!

This drama is SO FUN!!!!! It is "girls story" as well as class story.... about women trying to be someone... about "low girls" and "rich girls" and everyone trying to be pretty and have pretty things and higher status... about female friendships and women as enemies... FASCINATING about being slaves of the system... about the societal prejudices....

also at the time of epstein files, this drama tries to focus on women as epsteiners and their male prostitutes. What a cheesy cover up and distraction from epstein files... On one hand, it is good to show the equality of genders in doing evil things, on the other hand, it is a total coverup of the real epstein files :)

I started watching it ONLY BC I LEARNED HOW GOOD IT WAS ON THIS BLOG https://byrei.ink/

It is so nice to have a drama about women too.

ML was ML in Love Scout. He is good at this detective role actualy But his eyes look like plastic surgery gone bad. His eyes pop out so much it is creepy

Leia Mais

Great depth

This series has great depth with its non-cliche approach to the romance genre. The production values are imaginative with a variety of techniques applied when developing the story. In particular, I loved how Luan’s play is juxtaposed with the reality of the couple’s issues but that was just one out of many ways about love which was communicated in a creative and innovative way. This series sustained my interest especially in portraying the relationships between couples and amongst the characters. There is a pessimistic approach with so much angst in so far as each couple have conflicts and complications but the discussions and revelations about love are so well scripted. The resolutions for each couple with the final voice over narration by Xiao Xi with the montage visuals of the characters tied everything together as far as what love is about. This was most satisfying. The writing is top notch and the cast do a tremendous job in portraying their characters. Gong’s character is most appealing for me due to his sense of humour and larrikin nature that at times was not without depth. I loved the ending. It was an enjoyable twist. Overall a very clever series.

Leia Mais

what a show!

Absolutely flawless; it didn't disappoint in a single aspect. From the powerhouse acting to the top-tier direction and the atmospheric soundtrack everything was perfectly in sync

The direction was gritty and immersive, capturing that 90s undercover vibe perfectly. The fight choreography felt raw and realistic, making every action sequence count. It wasn't just 'action'-it felt like storytelling through movement

Ji Chang-wook and Wi Ha-joon delivered career-defining performances. The chemistry (and tension) between the lead and the antagonist was electric. You could feel the psychological toll on the characters in every frame, which kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last second

Leia Mais

HOT GARBAGE (surprisingly entertaining though)

it didn't think I would make it so far. I am basically dropping this drama on the last episode just because my brain cells cannot take it anymore.

I have to be honest: the drama is a Trainwreck but the funny part is that somehow they manage to keep you entertained.

it is a very weird experience.

This show is called "only friends" but I think it's missing a key word.. "only shitty friends".

The story is about a group of "friends" and... Their hornyness I guess🤣

People fuck around like they drink water. It's sex scene after kiss scene after sex scene.
They are so casual about having sex with one another but funnily enough they instantly catch feeling for everyone.

If you are looking for sexy people getting down look no further because there isn't anything else tbh.

Every character in this drama feels like a copy. They all flirt in the same way, are sassy in the same way and use some cheese pick up lines.

They try so hard to include heavy themes like depression or drug addiction but fail miserably.
One character admits to cocaine use like he is talking about a new toothpaste.

On some level they are all toxic.

If you want some mind numbness this is good.
It's a shit show.

This drama is like your friends explaining some gossip about people you don't know. You basically don't care about them but you kinda wanna know how things evolve.

Leia Mais

we need a new season

I felt that the lead actor, Park Ji-hoon, gave a decent performance this time around, though honestly, it didn’t quite hit the same highs as his breakout performance in the first season where he absolutely killed it

​Plot & Pacing:
The sequence of events was solid and kept me hooked throughout. As for the ending? It was a total rollercoaster
​
I was hyped to see Geum Seong-je finally teaming up with the protagonist after Na Baek-jin’s death. And then, seeing An Su-ho reappear? That was the ultimate cliffhanger. It feels like they're clearly setting the stage for a third season, and I’m definitely crossing my fingers that we get one soon!

Leia Mais

My Favorite Drama of All Time

I loved this series. It's my favorite among historical/wuxia Chinese dramas. Till the End of the Moon gripped me from start to finish: a grand tragic romance that plays with reincarnations, the struggle between fate and free will, and a beautifully handled redemption arc. The production is sumptuous: immersive sets, carefully crafted costumes, and clear, emotionally driven choreography. The OST perfectly underscores the key moments, gentle when needed and poignant in decisive scenes, and the cinematography gives the drama a strong visual identity.

Bai Lu is incredible. She carries multiple identities with an impressive acting range, including gentleness, resolve, vulnerability, and restrained anger. Everything is nuanced and sincere. Her gaze speaks as much as the dialogue, and her alchemy with her partner makes every confrontation memorable. She conveys the character's evolution without ever overplaying it. A truly standout performance.

Leia Mais

Striving Alongside Your Lover

Sometimes, a surprise second season, while not being strictly necessary to wrap up anything story-wise, is a delight.

I considered this second season of Cosmetic Playlover to be a small step above the first in terms of consistency. Not only were the MLs consistently communicating and putting in effort to maintain their relationship, but even individual arcs in career/character growth were well-paced when stretched across more than one episode.

This season was all about tests of endurance and ingenuity. Mutually striving alongside/pushing your lover forward.

I'd not only call them a healthy couple but a realistic one that could be looked up to.

I'd even be ready to watch a third season!

Leia Mais

When You Get Another Chance At Life

I went in with no expectations and to my surprise, I love it! This drama makes me feel so satisfied. If you have regrets in life, this drama would feel fulfilling. The original Xia Xiaolan from both past and present are so common. The transmigrated Xiaolan is such a badass and I am loving it. But do remember that Xiaolan has a cheat sheet in life and she makes the most out of it. The drama moves at a fast pace but that’s understandable considering that they packed a long novel into a 36 episodes drama. The ending is expected due to the ban, but whatever with that. I just love how fulfilling this drama makes me feel.

Leia Mais

A Drama That Draws You In

I have seen MANY Chinese dramas in the 8 years I've been hooked into Asian dramas. This drama ALMOST beats Love Like The Galaxy which is my top one. It's a VERY close second. I love a strong woman drama, but this one shows off the FL's character in physical strength. The FL is believable as well as beautiful. Those eyes of hers draw me in. The ML is no less beautiful and his tenderness in this drama got me from the start. Unfortunately Netflix is on 1 drama per day this week instead of two which is sooooo aggravating. Don't miss this drama. It is definitely worth your time to watch

Leia Mais

unique plot and fantastic chemistry

Overall: this is a slow burn done right. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6325/sammys-childrens-day-2026 (not available in Macau, Japan or Korea) ; Viki viki.com/tv/41463c-sammys-childrens-day (U.S, New Zealand possibly other countries) YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvGcdVlZnkJ5Y4OWETVZTXmJMKswptul5&si=arkxVwP7ybUjxOgt (everywhere except Japan and Korea, episode 2 onwards requires a membership)

Content Warnings: murders, blood, torture, violence, kidnapping/held against will, coercion, mental health struggles, suicide, past child abuse, attempted sex trafficking, self harm, manipulation, non con kiss, grief

Watch Suggestions (take out most content warnings)
- episode 1 watch beginning to 16min, 20:30-end
- episode 2 watch beginning to 1:50, 6-15:30, 23:40-30:15, 36-38
- episode 3 watch 5min-14:45 and 31-46
- episode 4 watch 23min-end
- watch episodes 5, 6 & 7
- watch episode 8 (skip 18min-22:30)
- episode 9 watch beginning-5:30 and 28-end

What I Liked
- the setting/plot
- unique dynamic (the person who did the kabedon in a later episode is not who a viewer would expect)
- chemistry
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the main character appeared deadly and stone cold and then in the second half of episode 1 became goofy, it did balance out okay later
- finale had a quirky part, they show what happened after the credits at 35 minutes
- the cliffhanger ending with open plot threads and needed more with the side couple
- not a fan of dubbing but I didn't take off points as I know it's extremely common in China

Leia Mais

A Stylish Blend of Crime, Comedy, and Mystery

Confidence Queen delivers an entertaining blend of crime, comedy, and clever storytelling, making it a thoroughly enjoyable watch from start to finish. The series follows three con artists, Yoon Yi-rang, James, and Myung Gu-ho, who operate as a tightly coordinated team. However, they are not typical swindlers. Rather than targeting innocent victims, their elaborate schemes are aimed at corrupt and morally questionable individuals. This “con the bad guys” premise adds a satisfying sense of justice to the story and makes their actions feel more like vigilantism than simple deception.

One of the series’ greatest strengths lies in how well the central trio is written. Each character plays a distinct role within the group, and the narrative carefully highlights their individual talents while emphasizing how effectively they work together. Their dynamic feels natural and engaging, often resembling that of siblings who have grown to rely on each other through shared experiences. This bond adds emotional depth to the show and makes their partnership feel genuine rather than purely strategic.

The cases they tackle throughout the series are cleverly constructed and thoughtfully executed. Each episode presents a new scheme or challenge, with plans that unfold through a mix of careful planning, quick thinking, and deception. These missions are brought to life through a lively combination of comedy, action, adventure, and crime elements, keeping the storytelling consistently engaging while preventing the plot from becoming overly heavy.

Another compelling aspect of the narrative is the underlying personal story surrounding Yoon Yi-rang. While she leads the team in orchestrating their various cons, she is also quietly pursuing answers connected to a mystery from her childhood. The series skillfully weaves this personal storyline into the episodic cases, allowing it to develop gradually without overshadowing the main premise. As the show moves toward its final episodes and the truth begins to surface, the tension increases significantly. The writers do an excellent job creating the impression that everything is beginning to unravel, which makes the eventual reveal both dramatic and satisfying.

A particularly fun detail throughout the series involves the wardrobe choices for Yoon Yi-rang, played by Park Min-young. Many of her outfits appear to pay homage to characters she portrayed in her past roles, almost functioning as subtle Easter eggs for longtime fans. Whether intentional or simply coincidental, these stylistic nods add an extra layer of enjoyment and personality to the show. For viewers familiar with her previous work, spotting these references becomes an entertaining little game throughout the series.

If there is one area where the show falters slightly, it is in the resolution involving the primary antagonist. After investing considerable time building up the conflict, the outcome feels somewhat underwhelming. The punishment faced by the villain does not quite match the scale of their wrongdoing, and the narrative appears to take a shortcut in resolving this thread. While this doesn’t ruin the overall experience, it does leave a slight sense that the conclusion could have been more impactful.

Despite this minor drawback, Confidence Queen remains a highly enjoyable series. The pacing is steady, the storytelling is engaging, and the chemistry between the three leads carries much of the show’s charm. Their sibling-like dynamic, combined with cleverly executed schemes and an ongoing personal mystery, creates a series that is both fun and memorable.

Leia Mais

Love's Ambition mal síce veľké ambície, ale bohužiaľ ostali zaseknuté niekde na pol ceste ako sa snažili stať sa realitou. Mám dosť zmiešané pocity. Na jednej strane to nebola vyslovene zlá dráma. Hlavne prvá polovica bola celkom dobre spracovaná a dej rýchlo ubiehal. No v druhej polovici to začalo značne škrípať. Mne ani tak nevadila tá zbierka klišé prvkov, ktoré nám scenáristi v druhej polovici naservírovali, skôr mi prekážalo tempo a nezmyselné chovanie postáv.

Ale pekne poporiadku, začneme hlavnými hrdinami drámy Shen Hao Ming, ktorého stvárnil William Chan a Xu Yan v podaní Zhao Lu Si. Títo dvaja pre mňa predstavovali dosť veľký problém. Priznám sa, že William Chan mi nie je vôbec sympatický a nebolo mi zrovna príjemné sa naňho pozerať, ale už keď sa aj odosobním od tohto aspektu, tak celkovo jeho postava bola zle napísaná. A to isté si dovolím tvrdiť aj o postave Xu Yan, hoci Zhao Lu Si mám ako herečku veľmi rada. Obidve postavy mi prišli strašne nevýrazné, vláčne, bez života alebo už neviem ako by som to napísala. Proste ,,nemastné-neslané,, ako sa u nás vraví. Neviem, či sa u nich dá hovoriť o nejakej výraznejšej chémii, pretože som celý čas mala pocit, ako by som sa pozerala na dvoch ľudí, medzi ktorými je neviditeľná stena. Proste aj keď boli spolu, nemala som pocit, že sa pozerám na manželov, ale skôr na dvoch cudzích ľudí, ktorí nemajú moc spoločného. Cítila som akýsi druh odstupu, ktorý si udržovali. Aj pri tých pár bozkávacích scénach to bolo veľmi citeľné. Takže po romantickej stránke ma dráma moc neoslovila. Zdalo sa mi, že  Zhao Lu Si sa nie celkom stotožnila so svojou postavou. Ako herečka je skvelá, ale rozhodne sa hodí na iný typ úloh. Počas celej drámy na mňa pôsobila veľmi odťažito, chladne až nadradene. Pôvodný zámer bol asi ponúknuť sebavedomú, inteligentnú a rozvážnu hlavnú hrdinku, ale nevyšlo to celkom podľa plánu, pretože v konečnom dôsledku pôsobila ako žena bez emócií, ktorá má na tvári stále ten istý odmeraný výraz. A aj keď sa náhodou usmiala, tak to pôsobilo sileným dojmom. William sa mi na rolu developera taktiež moc nehodil. Tá jeho až (s prepáčením za výraz, ale takto cítim) úlisne milá tvárička proste nekorešponduje s postavou bohatého podnikateľa. Toľko môj pohľad na hlavné úlohy.

No ale aby som nebola zlá, tak priznávam, že mali jednu spoločnú scénu, ktorú som si pozrela niekoľko krát, pretože to bola tá najlepšia časť celej drámy. Scéna v epizóde 26, keď sa títo dvaja na mol opitý manželia stretnú v noci v  Hao Mingovom byte, následné spoločné ranné prebudenie a zistenie, čo sa predchádzajúcu noc dialo. To bola pre mňa top scéna celej drámy. Byť takých viac, možno by sa moje hodnotenie vyšplhalo vyššie.

Teraz k vedľajším postavám.
Neviem, či ma niekto vyslovene že očaril. Párik Yu Yi Ming a Qiao Lin je veľmi nevýrazný a navyše je im venované žalostne málo času na obrazovke. Otravný Lin Tao je naozaj otravný, takže ten svoju úlohu stvárnil na jednotku. Rodičia Xu Yan sa objavia v pár prvých epizódach, potom sa s dcérou rozídu s tým, že už viac nie je ich dcéra, potom dlho dlho nič a zrazu bum... Sú opäť späť ako milujúci rodičia. WTF? Ak tu však bol ,,pár,, ktorý by som chcela vidieť a dalo by sa povedať aj o nejakej tej chémii medzi nimi, tak to boli určite Fang Lei a Han Wei Ping. Tam trošku ľutujem, že z nich scenáristi neurobili ozajstný pár a ostalo to len pri jednej noci... Ich koniec bol tiež nejasný, asi aby sme trošku oživili našu fantáziu. Šiel s ňou do Londýna, či nešiel? To je otázka... Wei Ping mi bol od začiatku veľmi sympatický a Fang Lei, aj keď to bola strašná mrcha, si tiež ku koncu nejakým spôsobom získala moju náklonnosť.

Čo sa týka príbehu ten tu našťastie bol, aj keď mal nejaké tie medzery a rezervy. No jeho ukončenie, keď sme sa dozvedeli kto bol celý čas ten hlavný záporák, čo robil všetky zákulisné machinácie, bolo naozaj veľmi uponáhľané a neuspokojivé. Hup jeden moment preberie celú firmu, hup druhý moment už je vo väzení. Medzi tým nič, čo by nás aspoň trošku vtiahlo do tohto diania.  Ale hlavná vec, že predošlé diely sa vlečú v podaní nezáživných, poučných a vysoko filozofických rozhovorov, ktoré som z veľkej časti pretáčala. Keby sa z drámy vystrihli zbytočné rozťahané scény a rozhovory, tak myslím, že by sme kľudne skončili na 25 epizódach a tempu by to značne prospelo.

Toľko k jadru veci a ešte spomeniem kostýmy a vizáž, ktoré boli pastvou pre oči. Hlavne kostýmy Xu Yan boli úplne dokonalé a trefné v každom ohľade. Čo sa týka vlasov, tie mala taktiež vždy krásne a vkusne upravené. S týmto sa tvorcovia naozaj pohrali a ja osobne to veľmi oceňujem. Nemám rada, keď je v drámach zanedbaná táto estetická stránka. OST priemerné ale neprekážalo mi, takže presne zapadá do môjho celkového hodnotenia.

Konečné zhrnutie je nasledovné.
Love´s Ambition je ten typ drámy, ktorá neurazí ale ani žiadnym zvláštnym spôsobom nepoteší. Príbeh je síce dobrý, ale je tam veľa zbytočných, nezáživných pasáží na úkor zaujímavejších dejových oblúkov. Záporáci sa väčšinou len tak mihnú, potom opäť zmiznú, potom sa znova objavia a o chvíľu zase niet. Nemajú v príbehu žiadne zvláštne miesto a scenár im dáva veľmi málo priestoru, takže sa pre diváka nestávajú dôležitými. Postavy niekedy konajú úplne nelogicky a skratovo, ale na to sme si už pri c-dramach asi všetci zvykli, takže to už píšem len tak na margo veci. Tempo je v prvej polovici ok, no v druhej to už ide všetko dole vodou a ten prúd so sebou strháva aj celku príjemné pocity z prvých epizód. Hlavný hrdinovia medzi sebou nemajú moc chémie a herci sa mi do týchto úloh moc nehodili, no napriek tomu sa to určite dá pozrieť a neberiem sledovanie Love´s Ambition ako zbytočnú stratu času. No popravde už sa k tejto dráme určite nevrátim, jedenkrát úplne stačilo :) Vyjadrené v percentách 55%. 

Leia Mais

Not the best.

Sweet, kinda silly drama — the typical type you watch just to turn your brain off.
The idea was actually really cool and had a lot of potential, but the execution was pretty weak.
The drama itself was boring and kinda whatever.
The chemistry between the main leads? Basically nonexistent.
I also wanted to see more of the app storyline and the romance with other virtual boyfriends, but there was barely any of that.
And the main female character… insanely annoying. I could barely finish it because of her. All she does is sigh, start sentences without finishing them, or just stare when someone talks to her or asks a question. I was like, “girl, can you speak????”
Also, Jisoo as an actress ...— don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her, but her acting is just really weak. There are so many better actors out there, and they still cast her just because she’s famous? Ugh. I’m just disappointed. (also i wanted to mention that i translated my opinion in google translator bc i dont speak english! )

Leia Mais