Reviews

A Solid Series That Has One Flaw

This series was super solid with a well-developed plot. The acting by the leads and support cast was great and really delivered. I enjoyed its playful take on the transmigration genre—especially when they just invented guns, which I just kept laughing about to the end like "Ha, you brought a knife to a gun fight?!"

There is only 1 flaw for me. Which is: Is Zhang San okay? After learning that this guy was trapped in the novel for over 10 years, on hell mode, since he was a CHILD, basically tortured and alone for so long, I NEEDED more than the ending we got. I needed to know, unambiguously, that he returned to his time and got to live out his childhood and grow up normally or SOMETHING. The happy marriage sequence with the novel characters is romantic and all but those facts had me stressed AF about him in the real world. Like, would he return to his time? Or would he, like, wake up from a coma? Would it feel like a dream? Would he need therapy for like 800 years? Because I feel like I would!!! I mean, talk about childhood trauma. I needed to know that he would be okay. I'm being somewhat facetious here, but my fragile emotions could have used the last 1 or 2 episodes wrapping up the real world side a bit more because I needed to know more than just their characters meeting outside the novel.

But yeah, anyway, great series!!!! I swear I'm totally carefree on the inside!!!! 🫣

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" 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅"
- Hwang Jin-man

I love this side of Korean movies or drama's where they deconstructs and explores the complexity of human psychology. This drama is a one kind .Not everyone gonna watch it or they will love it. But if you just give it a watch it will make you realize so many things. Not in same situation but you could understand each character (Eun-ah, Dong-man and even Park Gyeong Se)

All the casts did a great job as they are all great artists. Hope to see them again in this type of genre.

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This show is a perfect example of what a good cast, director, script, and staff can do. An undercover cop saves a girl with a gambling dad. She eventually becomes a journalist and finds him again. The story sounds simple enough but with absolutely phenomenal chemistry, acting, and directing it turned it into a masterpiece. I'm not negating the script. It was a good script but I've seen plenty of good scripts butchered by terrible acting or good actors that have been in so many roles together it's boring to watching them.
Do I think the dad got off easy? Yes.
Did I really want to see a wedding? Yes.
Would I watch another season of this? Hell yes.

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Overcooked and Charred

With the star-crossed lover theme, there’s absolutely nil possibility to go wrong...... as long as the feelings are conveyed correctly, a seven-plus rating is an easy target. What comes later is for the casted team, the styling, the music, and the fillr plots to achieve.

In my opinion, the story started off good. The first half of part one was dedicated to a soft romance blooming between a god and his attendant, which later turned into a trope of one-sided sacrifices on the attendant’s part. Then, in contrast, the second half comes with a little fluff; characters are less rigid now that they’re in the mortal world, not bound by heavenly rules. The ML, who was one of the most stubborn and pessimisstic MLs to ever exist on screen, starts behaving human , ... he addresses his feelings and sets his priorities right. The FL, who sacrificed everything to the point of mental and physical assault on herself, is now following her dreams . Sure, it was short-lived, but it was the only segment I actually liked in this entire series. Look, I’m fine with the saving-the-world thing, but I’m not a fan of her noble sacrifice , especially when it ended up hitting her in the face.

Yang Zi was amazing as ever; in fact, I liked her better in this drama becaause she mostly plays serious roles, and this one felt a little different, a little refreshing. Cheng Yi was a surprize package since I’d never watched any of his dramas before. I liked his acting and his appearance ... yeah, this man deserves the praise he gets.💕💕💕

Styling was good. Special effects were on point, fitting the era it was shot in (not judging it by 2026 standards).

But the dragggggggggg (so many gs,)which continues in part two as well .. killed the joy for me. The story could have been manuevered better, but the writer kept it entangled in unnecessary melodrama and mis understandings. I firmly believe that this type of nonsense shows a creator’s limited imagination. So… yeah, I’m not impressed.

Still, I won’t make any harsh statements, because this show has its own fanbase. So yes, there are people who liked it as their favorite drama, but it just couldn’t appeal to me the same way.

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Mature

This is one of my favorite series, i love the slow pace of this very mature BL. I love the subtle moments between them, no great declarations of love, just being there for each other. Small touches, kisses and hugs. I love how Kuji rushed to Japan when the friend of Azuma died.
Both of them dealing with lives struggles and how they solve them, i really like these kind of very down to earth stories.
I watched every episode as soon as it aired, and now i am bingewatching the whole series to end with this new final episode.
The visuals and music were good.
In episode 3, Kuji was standing at the kitchen counter and Azuma at the table. I thought it was very well done how they made the one speaking clear and the one listening blurry. Then it shifted when the other spoke, i like it when production puts thought in such details.

The actors have great chemisty and te kisses and NC scenes are good.


This BL is probably not for everyone, but if you like what i described then definatly watch this beautiful drama.

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THIS IS WHAT I PAY MY INTERNET BILLS FOR

I must start with lee dong wook's acting . Goodness no wonder he was mentally worn out while doing this character , this character demands that mental instability and deep entanglement . His smile , demeanour and eyes literally scared the living hell out of me . Not one bad actor in this series , I swear the side characters were so well played that if the actors appeared in front of me in real life , I'd sh!t myself . Yim si wan always does such genre so well , many people went crazy over him during squid game frenzy meanwhile many more commendable work from this actor exist . The acting was literally never lacking .

Next the plot , the author of this webtoon did such a good work with it . This kdrama is the epitome of thriller to me , I felt nauseous , scared and angsty all throughout till the the last ep . Crazy good writing and not to mention this drama turned out so well due to direction and execution . A poor execution would have absolutely ruined this story . And that plot twist made me wonder if moon joo was even real .

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Ren Min is rlly lovely

I have watched Ren Min in The Longest Promise. Never watches any of her works again after that, aside drom The White Cat Legend (which i found quiet tedious after several eps). However, i Should say I found her antics really cute here especially when she's annoyed or angry. her microexpressions made me realize that shes born to plag spoilt, arrogant young miss 🤣. I also just watched Ci Sha here, but his acting as Chen Yanyun is undeniably sexy, manly, and oozing of aura.

i love the love development between the two characters. from the beginning, he didnt have feelings for her but we could see together that the love bloomed beautifully. Additionally, ive never been an age gap love enjoyer. Quiet the contrary actually. But i didnt find CYY and GJZ romance weird. It's probably the dynamic between the two of them where GJZ has full reign of herself and freedom of what she wanted to choose, and CYY did not play her at all.

However the last 5 episodes... that was a let down. but anyway, worth the watch.

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The Road to Fame: A fun, bittersweet story of martial arts, friendship, and romance.

"Don't think that being old gives you the moral high ground to talk me down. People like you shouldn't even be alive by now." - Yu Sheng Mo (Sword Deity of Nanque)

All hail to the most charming and dashing man in all C-dramaland—Neo Hou!

At this point, can we all unanimously agree that Hou Minghao (AKA Neo Hou) is the most effortlessly charismatic and charming actor in the entire C-entertainment industry? His entire personality is imbued with those traits; they are his identity. In all honesty, I have only seen a couple other C-actors—namely Bai Jingting and Zhang Wanyi—with such consistent charm ever since I first got into C-dramas back in 2018. He's just one of a kind—a one-in-a-million guy. He's hot and cool, and he certainly knows it. Furthermore, he knows how to use it by projecting that enchanting appeal to win over the viewers.

What's more is that he blends his actual personality of being a smooth talker, mischievous, and clever—while being extremely good-looking—with the script so seamlessly that the character feels alive, rather than just a written role. I am sure he receives multiple scripts left and right to choose from all the time, and yet no matter what his project is, he never fails to add his own touch to his characters, making them his own. He's smart at picking scripts and knows how to leave a lasting impression by imprinting his trademark personality on every role he plays. It takes a really intelligent and passionate actor to recognize their natural strengths and intentionally weave them into different characters without making every role feel exactly the same. What a truly remarkable man!

"Liquor gives courage to cowards." - Baili Dongjun

Enough of my swooning over Neo Hou—let's dive into the drama itself. I don't have any knowledge of how the manhua was originally written or how it differs from the drama adaptation, so I cannot objectively judge the differences between the two. However, contrary to the unanimously negative reviews here on MDL about the story, I, on the other hand, genuinely liked and enjoyed it.

Although the story was, in fact, jumpy due to time skips and abrupt scene transitions meant to focus on the whereabouts of multiple characters—mostly for the progress of their training and individual journeys—what I liked about it was how they never failed to tie the story together by providing brief flashbacks of how each character's journey went. It greatly helped in keeping the narrative cohesive and engaging, while simultaneously maintaining a sense of progression. In this way, we weren't stuck focusing solely on the main leads' whereabouts; instead, we were kept updated with considerable information and screen time for the supporting roles as well.

At first, I was perplexed as to why the main protagonists' team was set up to always break apart, going their own ways to pursue their own endeavors—mostly for training and various personal missions—which is different from TBOY, where they are always glued together as a team. However, as time passed, I realized that the decision was actually truly brilliant. Not only were they able to receive training according to their strengths and expertise, but they also gained experience for themselves. If the main group had stayed glued to Baili Dongjun's side the entire time, their individual cultivation and personal journeys would have been entirely overshadowed by his massive main-character trajectory. Therefore, letting them split up to face their own distinct hurdles separately is exactly what allowed them to grow into legendary figures in their own right.

Ultimately, this made me appreciate that they had their own paths to take and did not always come together, except during the most challenging times. Furthermore, it made me realize how consistent the story was, because the narrative stayed cohesive and intact until the end despite them not being together all the time. This is especially impressive considering the fact that there are many characters with different personalities within the story that they had to establish and develop. In the end, I have to give it to the writers for successfully pulling that off and preventing any unintentional plot holes from arising in the story.

In regard to the climax and ending, in my honest opinion, they were impressively and satisfyingly executed. Although typical drama tropes were incorporated towards the end, the good thing is they were kept to a bare minimum, staying well within the boundaries of logical sense. The buildup for Ye Dingzhi's arc was carefully laid out from the start, as the creators allotted sufficient time for his plot to progress and develop leading up to the climax. It felt planned, unlike some dramas out there that casually throw cliche plots at the audience one after another out of nowhere. As a result, watching the climax unfold was never a jarring surprise or a problem at all; rather, it was a matter of anticipating which direction the writers were going to drive the story in order to move it forward, and for that, I'd say it was satisfyingly done. I also liked how Baili Dongjun remained true and loyal to his ways, doing everything he could to protect Ye Dingzhi despite the expectations placed upon him until the very end.

Let me just add here how incredibly satisfying it was to see how merciless and unforgiving Ye Dingzhi was toward the Tianwaitian (Sky Beyond) folks when he took his revenge and attacked them. Well deserved!

If there's one major factor that made me totally addicted and fully engrossed in this drama, it would be the fun, cheeky, and comical dynamics among the characters, which perfectly matched the main lead's personality. I loved how playful and humorous most of the characters were, and how they perfectly balanced the overall atmosphere of the show. This completely aligned with and truly captured my taste.

One thing I was disappointed about was when the story suddenly treated the wine aspect as a mere aesthetic—after he defeated and outbrewed Wine Master Zhuo Mo's Qiulu Bai—rather than a core part of Baili Dongjun's combat style. All this time, I really expected the story to highlight his fighting prowess, similar to the classic 'Drunken Fist' or a martial art that directly utilizes his intoxication to match his Liquor Deity identity. However, towards the end, that concept was completely neglected. They just let him drink for a 'feel-good' sensation, while solely focusing on conventional fight scenes where he wielded a sword like every other high-level master. This is why, by the finale, I felt like he resembled a Sword Deity more than a Liquor Deity.

I also want to mention how pissed off I am at the viewers blaming Yi Wenjun. The hatred is being misdirected towards a pitiful woman yet again. She was forced into a marriage but still tried her best to escape with all her might. When she finally escaped and was living a fulfilling life with Ye Dingzhi, she was then poisoned, which disrupted her rational thinking and allowed her to be dragged back to the capital. Then, during the ending, she was threatened using both of her sons, leaving her with no choice but to go back to the palace. Instead of blaming her, why not blame the manipulative and deceptive individuals—namely Emperor Tai'An, Prince Jingyu, Prince Qing, and the scoundrels in Tianwaitian (Sky Beyond)?

Finally, in regard to the power scaling, I was actually very confused at first. Since it has been a long time since I watched The Blood of Youth, I could not totally recall how their power ranking system works. However, as I spent time analyzing and observing the information, I realized that everything was accurate. At one point, I was so confused when they ranked both Baili Dongjun and Ye Dingzhi as number one, yet they kept getting defeated by their seniors and other powerful figures. But I later realized that there are different categories of ranking: the Liangyu Bang (Refined Jade Ranking) for the younger generation of martial artists, and the Guanjue Bang (Conqueror's Ranking) for masters and older generations. I am adding this here just in case someone is still bothered or confused about it.

Finally, I want to commend the drama's outstanding cinematography, CGI, and sound effects. The fight scenes felt remarkably powerful and impactful, largely due to the seamless integration of visual effects.

P.S. I just want to give a huge shout-out to the coolest figure in the entire Dashing Youth universe, Li Chang Sheng. The man is single-handedly dealing with high-level masters, breaking the power scaling of the universe, and treating the Emperor like a minor inconvenience while casually rewriting the rules of the martial world. He is a true immortal whom no one can best in the story's timeline.

"I am an Immortal. A mortal emperor like you should stop bothering me." - Li Chang Sheng to Emperor Tai'An

Story - 9.5, I admire how the story stayed consistent and cohesive despite a jumpy plot driven by a large ensemble cast. Even though I had issues with the power scaling during the middle of the story, I was able to resolve them after further analysis. If there is one factor that particularly disappointed me, it is the fact that they failed to incorporate alcohol to highlight Baili Dongjun's fight scenes toward the climax and finale—an aspect I deem crucial given his self-proclaimed title as the "Liquor Deity." This was actually one of the main reasons I was greatly anticipating the final battle, so not seeing it utilized at the end really disappointed me, as I had been hoping and patiently waiting for it. Aside from that, this story hit the perfect mark for me, especially the poignant, bittersweet ending.

Acting/cast - 10, I am incredibly satisfied with the cast and the overall execution of the actors, especially He Yu (Ye Dingzhi) and Jiang Zhen Yu (Yi Wenjun). They performed really well and truly lived up to the theme and atmosphere of this drama. If there is anyone I want to praise, it is Neo Hou for his stellar performance. I can see no one else who could take over this role aside from him. He was perfect for it—as if it was created and molded for him and him alone.

Music - 10, I love and genuinely enjoy the entire OST. Every track accompanied the scenes it was used in perfectly. I even enjoyed the rap songs, as they greatly complemented the fight scenes by adding a unique energy.

Rewatch Value - 9.5, A drama I would not hesitate to watch again if someone asked me to. The only reason I am not giving it a perfect score is because of the issue I mentioned in the "Story" section of my review. Otherwise, this is truly a time-worthy show.

Overall - 9.5, Despite my issues with this show, I just can't bring myself to give it a score lower than 9.5. After all, it is truly entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent on it.

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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I like ZeeNuNew — I just wish the story gave them more to work with

I'll be honest: I skipped a lot. And for me, that says more than any rating could.
ZeeNuNew are genuinely a pairing. But the story kept me at a distance. The arranged marriage setup, the cool businessman who pushes his fiancé away before realising he can't let go — it's familiar territory, and the series doesn't do quite enough to make it feel fresh.
Both of them also stay very firmly within their usual character types here: NuNew pretty, feminine, innocent; Zee masculine, cool, protective. I don't necessarily mind those dynamics, but when the story around them doesn't pull its weight, the archetypes start to feel like a crutch rather than a choice.
I didn't finish it, and I don't think I'll go back. If you're a devoted ZeeNuNew fan, there's probably enough here to enjoy. For me personally, it just didn't hold.

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Parent's Love

⚠️ Review:
He's an idiot. Apparently this idiocy was hereditary and he got it from his dad. That being said what the dad did to the mother and the ML was pretty terrible. The mom of the ML ruined her whole life for her son and a man that love money and a rich wife more than her. He spoiled his daughter to the point of her not understanding the value of human life. Whereas this FL is the exact opposite. Her parents gave her a structured and ethical upbringing and led by example. The differences in their upbringing is showcased by house they reacted to hitting "bumps in the road" during their college admissions. The ML had a meltdown, his sister paid her way out, and the FL worked harder and smarter.
Overall, I think the real theme of this drama was that the love of parents can transcend time and space.

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A princess diaries fantasy with potential it never fully reaches

I'll start with what I genuinely enjoyed: the world-building has real charm. Five regions, a reluctant crown prince who wants nothing to do with the throne, a bodyguard bound by generations of duty — there's something almost Princess Diaries meets fantasy about it, and the setup reminded me a little of Harry Potter in how it structures its factions. I was into it.
What frustrated me personally was how little the characters lived up to that premise. NuNew has moments where he genuinely shines — there's a sassiness and screen presence there that I loved. But too often he slips into damsel-in-distress territory, and that's a trope I find genuinely difficult to watch. A crown prince with that kind of defiant energy could have been so much more than someone who falls apart without his bodyguard nearby.
Zee, on the other hand, felt almost too committed to being unreadable. I get the concept — a man shaped entirely by duty and distance — but in practice it drained the romantic scenes of oxygen for me. The intimate moments especially suffered for it.
There's a better version of this show somewhere in the premise. I just don't think we quite got it.

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PoohPavel carry it — the story is just along for the ride

Racing circuits and omegaverse elements are not a combination you'd expect to work, and yet somehow the setting holds up — mostly because PoohPavel make it easy to stay. Their chemistry is strong, the intimate scenes land, and you believe the connection between them. When the pairing is this watchable, a lot gets forgiven.
The story is another matter. Part one has a certain charm to it — an unconventional deal, a racing dream, an unlikely dynamic between Charlie and Babe. Part two expands into conspiracy territory with returning villains and hidden powers, but none of it left a particularly sharp impression. It's the kind of plot that's easy enough to follow while watching and equally easy to let go of afterwards.
Pooh's character also tests your patience at times — if you've seen him in other roles, you'll know what you're signing up for. But if PoohPavel are your reason for watching, they deliver. Just don't expect the narrative to keep up with them.

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Weird premise, familiar feeling — present but never quite there

The setup is genuinely odd in the best way — an undercover tattoo artist, a burger joint fronting as a hitman operation, and a one-night stand who turns out to be at the center of the investigation. That combination should be a lot of fun.
And yet. FirstKhaotung work well enough together and individual scenes deliver, but I never found my way in emotionally. There's a distance to the whole thing that's hard to shake — like watching through glass rather than being inside the story. JoongDunk as the second pair don't bridge that gap either. Both couples have their moments, but moments aren't enough to build a lasting impression on.

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One of my comfort dramas ♡

Not exactly the kind to drift too far from my comfort zone, but I really like dramas that aren't similar to the ones I've watched before. And this one was my first drama in the entire gaming arc ones. And to be honest, this offered way more than just gaming sessions, and that too in a truly fine way.

'You are my Glory' follows Qiao Jingjing, a famous actress who plays the MOBA Honor of Kings online and fails miserably. And to add on to the misery, she is recorded online, thus leading to her defamation as she is set to ambassador the game. Left with no choice, she has to participate in an e-gaming championship at the end of a month to save both her endorsement and face. Coincidentally, the high school crush who rejected her, now an aerospace engineer at the national space organization, Yu Tu happens to add her into a match of the MOBA one night. Even if Jingjing recognizes him, he does not. When she knows he's a pro at the game, she's all fired up to make him her gaming teacher. Through hook and crook, she makes him come to her place, thus having a reunion after 10 years. Yu Tu on the other hand, is on the verge of giving up his space dream for a stable income and for his parents. And there begins there gaming, falling in love and Yu Tu regaining his confidence to live his dream.

Dileraba and Yangyang are indeed aces of the Chinese entertainment industry and this drama is yet another proof of it. Whether it's funny, cute, emotional or intimate, they both are just pure perfection. This drama is sure a feast for the eye, a visual kill, for both Dileraba and Yangyang are divine beauty! Dileraba, to me, is the kind of femme fatale who can pull the cute side so well without being cringe or weird. Like a character straight out of a Chinese manhwa! Love her! 😭 Qiao Jingjing is this carefree, easy going unhinged goddess and Dileraba was indeed the best choice for her. And Yangyang. He's a rabbit God, literally! Both cute and hot at the same time. Yangyang is just the perfect fit for a handsome nerd with a real smug side. It's just that, 'Yes I'm fine shyt but I can be a brat too' combo. AND THAT'S SO MY TYPE!!! 😭 So them together? KILLER COMBO! Chemistry is chemistry-ing you guys...😁 Their onscreen presence is just off charts!
This is yet another drama with a great casting. Every side character was just so fine themselves. All of them added so much to the story and fit in so well! My favorites thiugh would definitely be Jie, her husband, Yu Tu's roommate and Yu Tu's mother. They truly stood out to me for their fun characters as well as the actor's acting.

This story is not just about a gaming spree or a simple romance. It's of a love that remembered the other for so long that they ended up reminding the other of who they truly are. It's of a person who is stuck between duty and dream and believes they aren't good enough for the love that stayed. That's what this story actually is about - learning to trust oneself and the one who loves you the most.

This drama has influenced me a lot. As simple as being interested in MOBA and as deep as not giving up on my dream. As a science student myself, I too have come across times when I could either settle for a well paid job or follow my interst, even if it meant slower income flow. This drama taught me that the right people shall always support you and you don't have to choose between one or the other. Yu Tu's line "Till I was in high school, I was the best. When I left this bubble, I realised there were many more way better than me and I was actually nothing" was the first thing I remembered when I was in the exact same situation as his, 4 years after I had watched this drama. As a straight A kid all through my school years, when college entrance broke me, I realised what Yu Tu actually meant when he said that. I realised, I wasn't the first or the last to feel like a failure. I wasn't alone. Maybe that's why I often find myself coming back to this drama every now and then, whether through scenes or rewatching as a whole. Because I seem to relate to both the leads. The girl who wanted to achieve big but couldn't and a boy who seemed to have made it but it isn't as glorious as it seems.

The pacing is good for the majority part, though during the later episodes, it did feel a bit slow. I'd say, we could reduce 1 or 2 episodes. The quality is real good and though in between I felt a few scenes are not needed, the visuals of the scene helped me get through. Music wise, I don't think there's much. The story is presented in a very good manner, giving the audience both fiction and familiarity. It still feels surreal while being relatable. Exactly what entertainment actually is - a relatable escape.

For me, rewatch value is high. I get really motivated and feel comforted by this drama. I'd say, it is one of my comfort dramas. So yes, it's definitely on my 'Must watch C-Dramas' list, even after all these years!

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