Reviews

Even the most beautiful vases have cracks

I was looking forward to this drama when I heard that Cheng Lei and Bailu were starring together and it didn't disappoint

I didn't read the novel but the story was interesting. Sadly, there wasn't much romance as I thought there would be. I heard the novel had a lot of chapters, so 40 episodes weren't enough to adapt it and I agree. When we start at the beginning, it takes us right to the wedding of the characters with no time to spare, which I appreciated because they didn't drag much of the plot around for filler episodes. As the episode aired, we came to find out more about what happened off screen but their past as well. However, it is noticeable that the 40 episodes weren't enough because in certain episodes, the pacing suffered in return, just like pursuit of jade. The romance was alright but I wish it could've been more prominent. Sometimes I got confused on whether Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao were together or not romantically lol.

We will come to find out about Ye Li past as more episodes come and it was tragic. Since we saw her in the first episodes, we could tell that something was wrong with her. It was as if she were a beautiful vase that was on the verge of cracking as more episodes came out about her past and suffering. Her story reminded me once again of how humans truly can be the greediest yet worst people alive and those same people would be your own family. I wanted to hug Ye Li so badly because the poor girl has been failed so many times by the people around her.

Her story as well was a reminder of just how resilient she was, she never gave up, even if her own mind tricked her just to protect her. It reminds us as well how her will to survive pushed her to survive till the male lead's household. Both the female and male leads' resilience and will to survive showed us how strong they were, but also a beautiful message to us about survival and to never give up even if you want to die.

Now, one thing I found rather just funny was how the female lead was able to cure the male lead's leg so easily with acupuncture and medicine. It just felt a bit unrealistic to me but I'm not surprised that the male lead's legs would be able to work cause I definitely foresaw that trope (just kidding, it's a hunch). I did want to see more of Ye Li reaction when she found out the truth because I just felt it was rather short and quick and that she accepted it fast

Besides that, the styling wasn't bad; we did get a good sense of how frail Ye Li looked, especially the hair looked so big that sometimes I wonder if her head can carry all of that weight and if she would fall. Cheng Lei looked handsome with that grey hair.

The acting from both Bailu and Cheng Lei didn't disappoint! Bailu was able to portray Ye Li complex emotions really well and her strong yet fragile side. Cheng Lei portrayed MXY resilient and patient side really well. He had that soft-spoken voice whenever he talked to Ye Li and I found it sweet how patient he sounded.

The cinematography wasn't bad either; the more muted gray tone in some scenes really matched the eerie vibe of the story, especially surrounding Ye Li

I would recommend this if you want a more plot-driven story with two good leads who know how to act, just don't expect very strong romance

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Perhaps the longest journey is the one back to someone you never truly left

Despite its title, don't expect a bright, fluffy summer romance. This drama is wrapped in golden sunlight, colorful skies, laughter, and first love, but underneath that warm summer glow lies grief, betrayal, trauma, guilt, and heartbreak. It feels like watching the most beautiful sunset—you know it's breathtaking, yet you also know darkness is quietly waiting on the other side. Every sweet moment between Zhou Wan and Lu Xi Xiao made me smile, but it also made me anxious because I kept wondering, "Okay... what tragedy is coming for them this time?" Somehow, that's exactly what made this drama so beautiful. It reminds us that even the brightest summers don't last forever, but the memories they leave behind can stay with us for a lifetime.
What makes this drama so special isn't just the romance—it's the people. Zhou Wan and Lu Xi Xiao are two beautifully broken souls trying to survive life in their own ways. Zhou Wan has always carried more burdens than someone her age ever should. After losing her father, being abandoned by her own mother, struggling with debt, secretly tutoring just to survive, and eventually losing the only family she had left, life kept forcing her to choose survival over happiness. That's why I could never fully blame her for the choices she made. Meanwhile, Lu Xi Xiao looks like the perfect rich heir—handsome, carefree, rebellious—but he's just as shattered inside after witnessing his mother's death and growing up surrounded by adults who constantly failed him. When these two met, they didn't magically fix each other. They simply became the first place where the other person could finally breathe. My favorite line in the entire drama was when Lu Xi Xiao told Zhou Wan, "Let's grow together" after her grandmother passed away. Imagine hearing that from someone who was practically a stranger. That scene completely melted me.
The drama is divided into two emotional phases that worked so well. The first follows Zhou Wan trying to reclaim her late father's insurance money while getting tangled with the Lu family (yes... they were this close to becoming step-siblings!!). The second half completely wrecked me. Just when autumn arrived, the first snow fell, and it finally felt like these two deserved a little happiness, fate pulled them apart again. Zhou Wan chose to leave because she genuinely believed Lu Xi Xiao deserved a future untouched by her endless tragedies. She loved him so much that she convinced herself letting him go was the kindest thing she could do. Watching Lu Xi Xiao cry, beg her to come back, and promise he would forgive everything if she only admitted she still loved him... yeah, emotional damage. I know we all wanted to scream, "JUST COMMUNICATE!" because ten years is a ridiculously long time to spend playing emotional hide-and-seek. But I understood Zhou Wan.
And that ending... I absolutely loved it. It was bittersweet in the most beautiful way. After ten years apart, they finally stopped protecting each other with lies and started healing each other with honesty. I loved how Zhou Wan admitted she thought making Lu Xi Xiao hate her would help him move on, only to realize she had been completely wrong. Meanwhile, Lu Xi Xiao telling her that she was never the cause of his trauma—that she had actually become the beginning of his healing—completely broke me. And then came my favorite part: his paintings. Even after all those years, every painting he created was still inspired by his memories with Zhou Wan—the happiest pieces of his life, his own never-ending summer. That's why I adored the proposal. It wasn't just a fun reverse-gender moment. It was her finally stopping the endless game of hide-and-seek and choosing him with certainty. OH, and can we please talk about that final plot twist?? The entire drama convinced us that Lu Xi Xiao was the one who fell first and fell harder. I mean... the man loved Zhou Wan with every fiber of his being. But then the finale completely flipped everything. Through Zhou Wan's perspective, we learned she had actually fallen for him three years before they ever spoke to each other. She loved him long before he even knew she existed.
Lastly, I have to give a huge shout-out to Bao Shang En and Zhou Keyu. They completely disappeared into their characters and delivered every emotion so naturally that I never questioned a single tear or smile. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous—soft lighting, dreamy camera work, colorful palettes, bubbles floating through the frame, and golden sunsets that make every scene feel like a nostalgic memory you'd keep revisiting. The OST is another highlight (and yes, hearing Zhou Keyu's voice made it even more special). Never Ending Summer isn't really about summer at all. It's about that one person who quietly becomes your brightest season, the place your heart always returns to no matter how many years pass. Sometimes, summer isn't a time of year. Sometimes, summer is a person. And for Zhou Wan and Lu Xi Xiao, they were always each other's never-ending summer.

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Out of nowhere favorite!

I am an avoid viewer of Kdrama and Cdrama and have been in a slump lately. I watched a good one and decided to find something else. "Love to Hate You" came up on the Netflix feed and I hesitated but thought what the heck. Well I usually don't take the time to write reviews even if I love the drama-- but this one is making me feel angsty that it is over. What I liked most about this is that it is pretty straight to the point, there is not a ton of subplots that contain drama that doesn't need to be there. It has the plot and the point of view of the ML and FL is very fleshed out, in fact, I wish that all dramas figured this out. We don't need the aunt and uncle and brother and office worker and barista etc. Just give us the information on the ML and his story and experiences and the FL's story and experiences. It was 10 episodes and I didn't feel bored or unsatisfied too much. Perhaps the most important part of the story for me is that it showed the chemistry effortlessly and didn't try to hard. It felt like an organic experience. They had some misunderstanding-- mainly the FL made some assumptions that were wrong about the ML but it didn't drag the storyline down like some dramas do,. I personally hate the long, dramatic misunderstandings in dramas. When they finally figure out their feelings they seem to quickly confess and for me that is what makes this drama special. I believed their relationship and chemistry and it felt light and cute.

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Wei He Yao Shan Hun, Fu Ren Ta Wu Hang Que Qian A (2025) is a fantasy romantic comedy miniseries with ML: Fan Xiao Dong (as Fu Ting Yan) and FL: Jiang Shen (as Jiang Xiao Rou) in the leading couple's roles. The drama overuses the fantasy element and the leading lady acts like a child most of the time. The romance trope is non existent and the leading couple had no romantic chemistry at all. Overall, the drama is unimpressive , gaudy, and boring.
In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube: "[Multi Sub]（全集）《为何要闪婚，夫人她五行缺钱啊》缺金命少女闪婚煞气老公？她治病他宠妻成瘾，夫妻携手逆天改命！#短剧全集#最火短剧推荐" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwT1z1sKipg)

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Beautiful couple, Dull storyline

(updated)
I just finished it today and I didn't like the final 5 episodes. BOP had so much potiential on offering an intriguing storyline about politics, transmigration and romance, but failed to even finish the story properly or do the characters any justice. (sometimes i felt rage-baited)

I personally didn't like the dynamic between the female lead and the male lead. Now don't misunderstand me here cause I know a lot of y'all are gonna think im a misogynist by saying this (I've already voiced this opinion, but so many people accused me of applying double standards). Anyways, this dynamic is not "funny" or "romantic" at all, it just makes the male lead look absolutely pitiful for no reason and it makes the female lead look heartless when she isn't.

The writing fails to even give us any depth to the female lead. What we know is that she's smart, cunning, aloof, and has a hard time trusting people. BUT this is a personal preference, but I would've liked it if the writers gave her a moment to kinda share about what she's thinking because I feel like it could've made her more understanding towards the general audience.

I love to notice subtle actions or expressions whenever I watch dramas because it feels like a fun easter egg, but I personally didn't like Meng Ziyi acting here because she looked more like a doll for half of the series (THO she does have some good acting moments in the 2nd half)

I mean, the male lead had some moments where the writers made us hear what he was thinking, like Tian Yuan asking him why are you still pursuing Shen Xihe even though she didn't like you.

This makes the writing so frustrating cause it somehow makes the male lead more fleshed out than the female lead. DON'T GET ME WRONG HERE, I PERSONALLY love a cunning smart female lead and a revenge transmigration but it felt like I was seeing a 2D character sometimes. This is why I don't like how the writing makes the male lead look so favourable.

The story had its plot holes in the final episodes as well, like the fifth prince, who I thought actually cared about the crown prince (I found out he doesn't in that scene, heartbroken). Somehow leads a rebellion to capture the FL to be his wife. What doesn't make sense is how, when he dies, he reveals how he had to play the villain so the FL can get rid of him because he was the biggest obstacle in her road to the throne. Which didn't make sense to me because a few minutes ago he was a villain trying to usurp the throne.

So why is he trying to play martyr here? Im gonna stop because it felt like the writers were rage-baiting me. The writing just fails here; it fails to introduce the arc, then fails to complete it because clearly 36 episodes weren't enough. It shows by the final episodes because there are constant time skips, and we don't even get to know how the male lead is alive. Thank god for a special episode because I would've genuinely crashed out by the ending of episode 36.

I saw an interesting video talking about BOP and saying that the writing shouldn't be this bad that it had to make them seek out the novel. I agree because I shouldn't be reading the novel because of how bad the writing was or to get a better knowledge of the story when you're the adaptation of the novel. If anything, the drama should make the viewer want to read the novel because they genuinely are curious about it due to them coming to love the adaptation or finding easter eggs, or stuff like that.

The actor for the fifth prince did really well in his acting. He Yu plays cheeky, cunning characters quite well.
The styling was beautiful, but I gotta say MZY looked so pretty with a side part. I'm just wondering why the styling teams of these dramas are not giving her a different hairstyle cause she rocks a side part too! The cinematography had its moments. The soundtrack wasn't bad. Besides that, nothing spectacular to take note of. It's a shame cause It was one of my most anticipated dramas of this year.

(original review)
The reason I started this drama was because of the lead pairing of Meng Ziyi and He Yu. (I might update this when it finishes airing )

The story is getting rather repetitive now that we are reaching the halfway point. Every episode so far is practically the same pattern: some trouble arises, the female lead comes and saves the day, the male lead follows her around, then flirts with her to win her heart (sometimes saves her) and she outright rejects his advances because she doesn't want to lead him on. This pattern does make it easier for people to follow along or get into. Unfortunately, this creates a Mary Sue complex for the female lead, which makes the story very boring because she isn't flawed in any way. It makes me lose interest in her character as well, but her ability to recognize incense is rather cool.

I have to add as well that I have yet to really understand why the female lead is appealing to the people (drama, not the viewers ), especially in one of the recent episodes where a foreign prince comes to ask for her hand in marriage because he heard that the main lead's relationship is on the verge of "collapse".

Not to mention that this story tackles transmigration and somehow the main character barely even reacts to being transmigrated into this new unknown body. She doesn't even feel scared or bother to ask any information about the body's owner, she just accepts it. The servants around her don't bother to question her anymore and accept that their lady is different but it does make it interesting that her ex-husband (the fifth prince) is the only one that recognize her due to her habits.

The only storyline that is keeping me interested is Bu Shu Lin and Cui Jin Bai. They honestly have more chemistry than the main couple right now. I have to mention the styling as well because they did a really good job at the male disguise for Bu Shu Lin because for the first time I was so confused if she was a girl or guy, despite her face giving total feminine vibes.

The acting of Meng Ziyi falls short. Since her character is cold and aloof (in the drama, from what I've seen ). It does work in her favour but the only drama I've seen her in was Blossom (2024) and her acting in that didn't exactly move me either. I also want to note that her styling isn't helping her much. I've noticed how she usually has a similar styling throughout her latest dramas, especially her hair and makeup.

This makes her look like a beautiful doll in a good and bad way; the good being she looks absolutely stunning every time, the bad being it affects her face in terms of acting/expressions in a way. Still, I hope that in the future she'll be able to star in more dynamic roles because she does have some good acting moments.

He Yu's acting in romantic scenes really shined through. Whenever his romantic scenes came on, I couldn't help but swoon because his gaze was really good ( he can really show a longing lol) and he did really well in those scenes where he had to act playful. Besides that, in serious scenes, I haven't noticed much, to be honest. Sadly, due to the acting, their chemistry just falls rather short so far but I guess it's because we are in the chasing phase right now, and it could change when they get together.

I found it interesting that this was apparently the same production team as Blossom (2024)! No wonder He Yu's dubbed voice was familiar lol. It seems that there are a lot of the same supporting actors as well. The cinematography isn't bad either, especially that scene where the female lead finally finds out the truth about the male lead, that yellow gingko tree and muted colours plus snow were beautiful.

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I don't know if I enjoyed this series or not!

It is all about revenge ... but done in the messiest, illogical, dark and most unexpected way. Did I feel satisfied watching this ... no? Did I enjoy it ... Yes? But why?

Acting ... I think it was good?
Actors ... I think they were good?
Soundtrack ... it was good when it showed up.
Storyline ... I think my brain either got smarter or more stupid watching this ... I am not sure?
Fight scenes ... Good.
Character Backstory/Development ... None that I saw, maybe?

This show kept me guessing and was shocking in parts. It was a show that I had to finish ... out of sheer curiosity? Will it be better the second time around? ... I don’t think so as I now know what to expect ... so without the intrigue ... will it still be as interesting? To sum it up ... I am confused but not by the storyline/plot more because I HAD to finish this. But why?

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great chemistry and endearing FL

I love the writing/arch of changyu's character so soo much. yes, the ML could have been explored more deeply, however I like the plot just how it is to be honest and i don't mind it focusing more on the FL. the acting was excellent, the female lead was so likeable and strong, the music brought tears to my eyes, the plot was great imho, the costumes and setting was beautiful, the effects were top class, the CHEMISTRY was off the charts. even for me who finds war/military theme usually boring, i actually found it to be mostly entertaining because the female character was written in a very endearing way and each character made the story more interesting. The little sister was so adorable. There is also some comedy and major cry-laugh inducing scene towards the end so i also loved the comedy aspect.
also, tian xiwei... i am now a big fan

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A hopelessly tangled spring romance has begun!

If you don't have time to read the whole thing, skip to the end where the conclusions are :)

Spring Fever introduces us to Yoon Bom, who, after a bad experience in Seoul, leaves the capital and begins teaching at a small rural high school, Shinsu High School, where she initially appears cold and distant. But when she meets Seon Jae-gyu, she rediscovers her joy and tries to open her heart again.

The drama presents a plot I'd never seen before. As far as I know, I'm not familiar with any drama quite like it: a teacher embroiled in a scandal moves to a rural town. While it might seem similar to a few others, I hadn't seen it exactly like this. It's a very light romantic comedy, and you could say it's fun, although I found it a bit boring since I watched it to have more dramas this year. I can't say it was bad, though. Looking back now, I can actually say I liked it. The comedic situations were funny, and the romance was very well done, as were their sad pasts mixed with family situations. So, overall, I'd give the story an 8/10. It was good.

The drama uses a wide variety of characters typical of a rural town, which makes it less boring, as it shows us several relationships. One I particularly liked was that of Han-gyeol and Se-jin; they had excellent chemistry, as did our protagonists. They look beautiful together.

Here is my analysis of the main characters:

Seon Jae-gyu (Ahn Bo-hyun): The CEO of JK Power Energy. He is a strong and muscular man, and can often intimidate others, which has led to numerous misunderstandings.

Ahn Bo-hyun fit this character very well. He really looks tough and intimidating, but he conveys the warmth of his heart. I also enjoyed all the comedic situations his character creates; they were very entertaining. So I must say he did an excellent job here.

Yoon Bom (Lee Joo-bin): A philosophy teacher at Shinsu High School. She used to be outgoing and sociable, drawing attention with her lively conversation; her appearance was striking as well. Later, due to personal experiences, she gradually became withdrawn, actively distancing herself from others and choosing a discreet life.

Lee Joo-bin did an excellent job portraying the two sides of her character: initially cold and reserved because of her past, but slowly opening her heart. His performance was very good.

Overall, I give the acting a 9/10—a good job.

The OST is very good, I must say. Among my favorites are "Running Flower" and "You Are Spring"—they're so energetic. Overall, I give it an 8.5/10.

Would I watch it again? I feel like I should give it a second chance and watch it for enjoyment, not out of obligation. So I'll try to watch it with someone this time, since I liked its light comedy. So I'll give it a 7.0/10.

In short, Spring Fever is a drama that mixes comedic situations with intense romance, chaotic family situations, and themes of healing and overcoming problems. If you're looking for a light and comedic series, I give it an 8/10. They did a good job.


THANKS FOR READING

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If toxicity had a mascot.

This drama really tested the limits of my tolerance for chaotic storytelling, because every time I thought it couldn’t get more unhinged, Wang Xuan showed up with yet another stunt that made me question whether the writers were trolling or genuinely committed to crafting the most toxic cutie imaginable. And the wildest part is that he sells it. Acting‑wise, he’s strangely compelling—soft‑faced, earnest, deceptively harmless—pulling off the gravity‑defying illusion of a nearly‑30 actor passing as a 16‑year‑old like it’s just another Tuesday. It’s impressive until you remember how wrong it is on so many levels, and then the discomfort settles in. His performance tricks you into forgiving things you absolutely shouldn’t, and I say that as someone who already served a self‑assigned two‑week sentence for letting his cuteness override basic moral judgment. But the obsession he plays with such casual ease is unsettling; he appears in every hallway, every building, every random corner the FL wanders into like he personally installed CCTV across the city. That’s not devotion—that’s surveillance supremacy, and the drama leans into it like it’s romantic shorthand.

Once you look at the character logic, the whole thing spirals into a parade of red flags. The ML isn’t just a gaslighter—he’s a strategic one. He kisses the FL while she’s intoxicated and asleep, gets called out by his own sister, and then escalates by letting his legs get broken so he can guilt‑trip her into caretaking. And instead of addressing the toxicity, the drama hands him a convenient cop‑out diagnosis—paranoid personality disorder—as if slapping a label on manipulation suddenly makes it palatable. It’s the kind of excuse that only works because he’s attractive; if this were an ugly old man, he’d be in jail before episode two. Meanwhile, his sister flips from “I’m single by choice, career first” to accepting a confession from a guy she doesn’t even like, a zero‑to‑180 pivot that feels like the script was written on shuffle mode. And while I genuinely love noona romances, this is not the way to go—this is the scenic detour into the swamp where every toxic trope gathers for a family reunion. They stacked stalking, obsession, boundary violations, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and I’m honestly shocked kidnapping didn’t show up just to complete the bingo card.

Production only amplifies the absurdity. The BGM crashes into scenes like an overeager intern hitting “play” on whatever Korean or Cantonese OST they found lying around, blasting romance cues at the most ridiculous moments. It turns already questionable scenes into accidental comedy, stitching the drama together with borrowed soundtracks and chaotic energy that makes you laugh even as you question whether anyone expected viewers to take it seriously.

By the end, I’m fully aware that watching this makes me guilty by association, perpetuating a trope that should’ve been retired years ago. In real life, I would run far, far, far away from this ML. But in drama land—where logic is optional, aesthetics override ethics, and entertainment is the only currency—I watched it anyway, laughing, cringing, and occasionally questioning my own judgment. It’s wrong, messy, morally confused, and yet undeniably memorable in the way only microdramas with too many tropes and too little restraint can be.

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