Reviews

Good and Evil Through the Tragedy of Choice

Waiting for a drama to premiere is an act of faith, and my journey with this one was a test of patience. At first glance, the storytelling felt muddled, a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite seem to fit. It wasn’t until the narrative settled into the familiar rhythm of the academy that it truly found its footing, building a genuinely compelling momentum. If I had to draw a line, the first half of the drama was a solid, engaging watch. The second half, however, wasn’t as satisfying; it stumbled where it should have soared. And yet, even in its imperfection, the final episodes held moments that resonated with a quiet power, leaving a bittersweet taste that lingers longer than a more polished, forgettable finale.

Having seen other adaptations of this author’s work, I was prepared for a certain formula. I tried not to make comparisons, but the echoes were impossible to ignore. The drama leans heavily on familiar, even overused, tropes: the immature and childish female lead who eventually matures, the enemy-to-lovers dynamic, and a collection of obsessed, psychopathic male characters who blur the line between antagonist and outright villain. I had hoped that the second male lead, Ji Tongzhou, would be a complex antagonist rather than a full-blown villain, but the story took a darker, more definitive path—a common tragedy in these sprawling cultivation tales.

What truly anchors this story, however, and what saved it from being a simple trope-fest, is its core theme. Beneath the flashy CGI and frantic pacing lies a poignant exploration of nature versus nurture, of birth versus choice. The drama masterfully deconstructs the very foundation of its world. Everyone speaks in hushed tones of a past catastrophe, a great war between immortals and demons. The elders, draped in the robes of sages, indoctrinate a new generation to hate a faction branded as evil by birth and origin. But the truth they so carefully conceal is far more damning: the sages were never truly sages, and the devils were never born evil.

This hypocrisy is the engine of the drama’s tragedy. The so-called righteous immortals, led by the sanctimonious Cui Xuan, are driven by greed and a hunger for power they mask as divine justice. Cui Xuan’s secret prison, the Xiaoqian World, where he drains the life force of demon spirits to fuel his own cultivation, is a more horrifying evil than any act committed by the demon clan in the show. He didn't just kill Qing Cheng (Wu Gen), the master who chose love and redemption over transcendence; he betrayed the very essence of their brotherhood, exploiting his trust to imprison and eventually murder him. This act of intimate betrayal is the true face of "righteousness" in this world, a far cry from the "evil by birth" he projects onto the demon clan.

At the heart of this conflict stands Lei Xiuyuan, the demon lord Ye Cha. He has every conceivable reason to become the monster the world insists he is. He is born under a curse that forces him to consume the very personification of life, Jianmu (Jiang Lifei), or suffer a soul-shredding death. He is hunted, blackmailed, and manipulated by a scoundrel like Zhen Yunzi, who uses his dying brother Lu Shanhua as a puppet. The world, including the woman he loves, is a constant crucible encouraging him to embrace his inherent darkness. His fight is not just against external enemies, but against his own cursed nature, which drives him to uncontrollably hunger for the very scent of Jiang Lifei’s life force.

And yet, his defining act is defiance. His greatest strength isn't his terrifying demonic power, but his unflinching choice to be good. His iconic line, "Xin zhi suo xiang cai shi xuan ze" (What the heart desires is the true choice), isn't just a slogan; it's his life's thesis. It’s the mantra he clings to when resisting the soul-corrupting magic, when refusing to harm Jiang Lifei even to save himself, and when ultimately sacrificing his life to shatter her chains and set her free. He is a character who embodies the drama’s soul: a person born to be a villain, given every justification for villainy, who instead uses his power to protect the world that despises him. His internal battle is far more compelling than any external sword fight.

Juxtaposed against him is Ji Tongzhou’s downfall, which is a perfect, tragic foil. Unlike Lei Xiuyuan, who resists his cursed bloodline, Ji Tongzhou is consumed by a self-created one: his obsessive love for Jiang Lifei. He starts as a loyal friend but spirals into a demon of his own making, cloaking his possessiveness and ambition in the language of protection. He doesn't need a curse to absorb Jianmu's power; he does it out of a chilling sense of entitlement. His moral decay is so complete that he murders his oldest friends, in a fit of rage after being confronted with his own hypocrisy. In the end, he’s a hollow figure, painting portraits of a woman who will never love him, having destroyed every genuine connection he ever had. His tragedy isn’t his love; it’s his choice to let that love fester into a tyrannical need to possess, turning him into the very monster he claimed to fight.

Jiang Lifei, too, evolves from a source of frustration to a pillar of strength. Her initial childishness is grating, but her journey is one of painful awakening. She learns that the world her master Qing Cheng wanted to protect is full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Her most powerful moments are when she sheds her naivete, like when she mocks the assembled immortals at her public trial, brilliantly exposing Cui Xuan’s plot to enslave them all with her trap-like chains. Her decision to stand against the sea calamity at the end, not as a sacrifice to a cruel world but as a fulfilment of her master’s dream, completes her arc from a naive girl to a self-possessed woman who understands that true power is not in one's origin but in the sacrifice one is willing to make.

Sadly, this beautiful, thematically rich narrative is trapped in a flawed vessel. The acting is inconsistent, often failing to carry the heavy emotional weight of the plot. But the real villain of the production is the post-production work. The CGI and editing are, to put it bluntly, a hot mess. At times, the garish graphic effects were so blinding that I nearly dropped the drama. The editing gives the show a frantic, breathless pace, butchering scenes that should have been given time to breathe and resonate emotionally, leaving the viewer feeling pummeled rather than moved.

It’s a story that understands that the most profound monsters are not born in the netherworld but in the secret chambers of a hypocrite’s heart, and the truest hero is the one who conquers the monster within himself.

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Comedy From Afar, A Tragedy Up Close

Tan Jian Ci does a phenomenal job in his portrayal of the ML and manages to turn a crabby, dislike-able ML into someone kinda cute. Don't get me wrong, TJC carried the drama and without him, this easily could have been an angsty melodrama. He has a natural talent for comedy and tongue-in-cheek moments. If it weren't for him, I most likely would have dropped the drama.

But please, let's be serious. The ML is a love that I don't wish upon anyone. Who else would want a crabby, sarcastic, sometimes downright rude good-for-nothing that cannot wash dishes, cook, clean, or do laundry and thinks the whole world runs around him. It might give viewers a little PTSD because we all know someone like this, but they often are not some conglomerate group's heir.

From afar, it's a comedy but up close, it's a tragedy. The poor FL who was on track to being a trad wife gets dumped by her fiance for a rich girl and her earnesty taking care of him and his whole family is thought of as suffocating. But because she was so set on being a trad wife, FL gave up a lot of career opportunities. Not only does she end up broke from buying a marital home by herself, she also has no job prospects and is taken advantage of multiple times by many different people. As the author would have it, the ML comes in and saves the day every time something happens. He loans her money, teaches her how to navigate work, diffuses or resolves plots against her, and eventually gives her a job (multiple times). It is safe to say that without ML, FL would have been cannon fodder and likely would have just been another unfortunate scapegoat. Unfortunately, she is also accompanied by several well-meaning but troublesome friends who don't always make the situation better and only add to the situation.

Needless to say, my issues lie with the script and characters but not the actors themselves. Wang Chu Ran does a great job in this drama because she manages to balance the fine line between drama, comedy, and tragedy. It's just TJC blows the entire cast out of the water in this one because he quite literally dominates the screen. In short, it's a male-saviour drama where the ML saves the damsel in distress. While it's not outright misogynistic, there are enough red flags for you to not love it and rewatch it later.

Red Flags (not an inclusive list):
- The streamer/front desk/dancer friend x the stalkerish gamer couple = No, just no. Completely omitting them would have made the drama better
- The random mini break ups the main couple goes through followed by reconciliation without changing any behaviors
- The last minute selling of the house because the ex's mom is sick (bro, there's literally no obligation to do anything for them anymore)

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I’m literally crying laughing ? dynamic duo of the year already!

Okay, so I randomly picked up this drama because I love Ji Sung, and Oh My God, I’ve only watched the first two episodes and I am already obsessed! My stomach genuinely hurts from laughing so much. If you need something light, super funny, and chaotic for the weekend, this is IT.The whole plot is just so wild and unhinged. You have this ex-gangster boss who decides the best way to steal 10 billion won is by becoming the president of an apartment complex. Like, who even thinks of that?! But the real gold is the "fake family" setup.The fake wedding scene in episode 1 had me rolling on the floor. Ji Sung and Ha Yoon-kyung have this weird, bickering chemistry that just works so well. One minute they are faking a romantic moment with a thumb-kiss, and the next minute they are arguing like they’ve been trapped in a toxic marriage for 50 years. Ha Yoon-kyung is such a breath of fresh air here—she’s so chaotic and money-minded, I love her character already.And Ji Sung? The man never misses. He looks so intimidating but then does the goofiest things while dealing with the nosy apartment aunties and grandpas. The entire neighborhood is full of weird, shady, and hilarious people, which makes the whole vibe feel like a complete madhouse.It honestly reminds me a bit of The Fiery Priest or Vincenzo vibes where it's a crime/heist story but the comedy is just turned up to 100.Only two episodes in, but I'm 100% hooked. If they keep up this exact energy and comedy timing, this is easily going to be one of my favorite watches this year. Go watch it right now, you won't regret it!

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Murayama's Departure was beautiful

Instead of the main story and new main characters in this movie, I found myself more invested in Murayama's departure story from Oya High School, along with the story of Housen Academy's leader Ueda Sachio, and Todoroki.

This movie still had great fights and good music. I think the main story is done pretty well. I still liked it, and maybe I would have enjoyed it more if it were an independent movie, not a sequel from the High & Low franchise. It didn't touch me so much as the original High&Low story, with the original characters. I think one of the reasons would be that the plot was very similar to the previous series and movies, which I'm already so familiar with. Besides, it didn't give the same vibe as I had expected. What I loved the most from the High&Low saga, besides great action scenes and distinct theme songs created for each gang, was strong brotherhood, and found family vibe and unique street vibe. It felt like the gangs in S.W.O.R.D district were fighting for something important to them. As it was mentioned throughout the series, the gangs used their fists to protect their friends, brothers, family, women, and also the whole district from big yakuza corporations and corrupt government officials.

In this movie, besides the story of trying to bring back a friend who was choosing the wrong path due to misfortune, which was basically the main theme of the High&Low franchise, the new main characters' purpose is just to constantly pick fights with different rivals to prove their strength and power. It's pretty understandable to me too, as most of them are teenagers and I guess perhaps that's a normal attitude of boys at that age. What confused me a bit was that I felt like they were trying to normalize that attitude and made those young boys look like they were heroes. I actually disliked some new students in Oya High School, but luckily they were not the main characters and didn't have much screen time.

As I have mentioned above, the spotlight of this movie for me was Murayama's departure from Oya High School and his journey into adulthood. Despite Murayama's little screen time, I loved every moment he appeared, including his second fight scene with Todoroki, his wise words given towards the junior students in Oya High School, him at his part-time job, his appearance with his iconic truck, the final big fight against the bad guys in the area, and his iconic line before every fight. It was really nice to see how humble and polite Murayama became at work, in the world outside Oya High School. He was gradually changing and learning to be accept new challenges in life other than being the leader of Oya High School. His departure from Oya High School was inevitable and necessary for his own growth. He was ready for a new chapter in life. I'm happy for him, and glad that I was able to witness his last moments in Oya High School.

I also loved the way Murayama was trying to call Cobra for an advice and for a casual talk, like between close friends. It was another beautiful scene to me. Until now, my top favorite individual fight scene in the whole High&Low saga was still the solo fight between Cobra and Murayama from the first series. I'm so happy to see how far they had become.

My other favorite parts in this movie belong to Housen Academy's leader Ueda Sachio. Shison Jun is one of my favorite actors and he was so cool in this movie, from his look, facial expressions, actions, to his badass fight scenes. Everything was perfect. I wish he had more screen time. He seemed to be an interesting character that I would love to learn more about, and his relationship with our main character Fujio was pretty interesting too. I guess they would become good friends in the future.

Oh, Tettsu and Chiharu appeared again in this movie. This time they appeared together in one scene. They were still a comedic duo as always. It would be nice if Dan could be there too. By the way, Tettsu had a new hairstyle again, which was also nice, but I still loved his dreadlocks style the most.

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I'm hooked!!!

This show had the best intro episodes I've seen in a while! wow so, so, so perfectly done.

I have with just 2 episodes watched the perfect understanding of who these characters are, the mains and support too and so far it's good!! So good in fact that I'm scared of how the 10 next episodes are going to keep this up. Is it going to be this good for all 12? Is it going to slowly go downhill and end up being trash? Somewhere in the middle, maybe? Probably?

I don't know, I truly hope that it keeps going this well, but I've been disappointed too many times before to be confident that it will. For now it's a 10/10 and I cannot wait to watch more.

I am so into this drama! episodes 3-4 were just as good as the first two episodes , I'm so happy with how the story is developing and how the characters interact with each other.

The plot is nothing new, we pretty much can tell what is going to happen next but the chemistry between the actors is so fantastic and the acting is so good that in my opinion it is worth watching 100%. There's still plenty of time to mess it up so I'm not going to say that this is the best drama ever or whatever but, so far so good and still a 10/10 for me.

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The story follows Saeko, a woman shattered by the sudden loss of her fiancé, Yusuke, in a tragic accident on the very day he proposed. Months later, she crosses paths with Naruse, a man who has been given a second chance at life after receiving a heart transplant. Unbeknownst to Saeko, Naruse was the recipient of Yusuke’s heart. As the two are drawn to each other, Naruse begins to experience strange, lingering memories and impulses that do not belong to him—but to the man Saeko loved.
🌟 What Makes It Special
1. A Poetic Exploration of Grief and Connection

Rather than relying on cheap melodramatic tropes, Beyond Goodbye treats its supernatural premise (cellular memory) with incredible gentleness and maturity. It’s not just a romance; it’s a profound meditation on how we process loss and whether the essence of a person can truly survive after they are gone.
2. Spellbinding Performances

The chemistry between the lead actors is the beating heart of the show:

Kasumi Arimura (as Saeko) delivers a masterclass in quiet, devastating grief. You feel every ounce of her longing and confusion.

Kentaro Sakaguchi (as Naruse) brilliantly navigates the complex, jarring experience of a man caught between his own identity and the foreign emotions taking over his body.

3. Breathtaking Visuals and Atmosphere

Set against the stunning, snowy landscapes of Hokkaido and the vibrant streets of Hawaii, the cinematography is nothing short of cinematic. The contrast between the cold, serene environments and the warm, aching emotions of the characters makes every frame look like a painting.
4. A Soulful Soundtrack

The music, featuring a hauntingly beautiful theme song by Hikaru Utada, perfectly mirrors the melancholic yet hopeful tone of the series. It gently pulls at your heartstrings without feeling manipulative.

8.5/10

"A breathtakingly sad, yet incredibly comforting watch."

Beyond Goodbye is a masterpiece of modern Japanese television. It takes a premise that could easily have felt cheesy and elevates it into a deeply respectful, visually gorgeous, and emotionally raw story about love's endurance. It’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates a mature, deeply felt romantic drama.

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This cast!

For this being Min and Toptap's first series at all (as Mains) let alone together, the chemistry between these two is phenomenal. Excellent job done by the casting director. And the rest of the cast is just as good. Shogun was great as the sexy playboy type in Deep Night, and yet I am totally buying him as the sweet and innocent Sky here. Khunnote is a great supporting actor, but I think he must be better known for his music because I don't remember him having any main roles before and other than Dare You to Death, I don't know that I've seen him in anything. Fuaiz playing the bad guy seems like the next logical step after his character in 4Minutes. Truly I am impressed by this series so far.

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A lighthearted watch with a bit of heartache

My first drama this year and my first watch after a long drama slump.
- worth the wait? For me yes as it just falls right to my expectations.
- worth watching? Yes for someone who's looking for a light watch with slight drama, pleasing visuals and a happy ending.
- any cons? At first I found the dubbing unusual as it doesn't fit Wang Churan's face but I did get used to it.

Comedy:
I can't say it's humorous enough because as hard as they tried to make it look comedic, it wasn't funny and just looks like they're roleplaying a comedy script. It doesn't look natural. I did smile though but the LOL is not there😅 mind you I have a very shallow sense of humor.

Visuals:
I really like how they styled Cheng Lei's hair here. It suits him better than what they did in TFJ 😅
And Hu Yi Xuan is stunning. STUNNING!

Ending:
Happy ending. Yay 🎉. But the tidbit they showed after that HE in the fantasy world... Nahh. Only novel readers will know what that scene means but as for those who haven't read the novel like me, it's just so random 😅 I only understood it after I heard that there was supposedly more to their ending in the fantasy world like there was supposed to be a child between them and they even casted him but the end result was much different. The ML died then the FL was the one who ruled the empire until their son succeeded and then she dies and tada, went back to the modern world where FL and ML meet again with memories intact. But the final drama ending??? Nahh 😅

Anyways, that's as much as I can type from what I can still remember as I write this review months after I watched the drama.

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This series is so addictive ,wtach at your own risk?

First of all WHAT A FANTASTIC ACTING AND STORY. Watching them fall in love so innocently and so deeply makes me want to cry. Honestly I didn't expect much BUT this series has set a standard for me that is impossible to ever be crossed.
I loved everything about it: The cast, the set, the story, the bgm, the ost, the costumes, the scenario.
Watching ONGSA and INN is making me FEEL so many emotions.
I can feel and see the yearing, the longing, the helplessness, the possessiveness through Ongsa's eyes. And the determination, the love, the fire through Inn's eyes.
I absolutely LOVE them.
Their eyes speak more than words ever could. The chemistry between them in absolutely fantastic.
They both match so well physically and emotionally. They are so in tune with eachother.
And i ABSOLUTELY LOVED TINN and PHOB's love making scene. It was so emotional and spiritual. They were so in to eachother. The softness and surrender in their eyes was so beautiful. I have never seen such a beautiful and pure love making scene. There is something so beautiful in the way Tinn looks at phob. There are so many small actions he does that makes them seeing so lovely. All in all THEY NAILED IT.

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING ACTORS.
I can seen the hardwork and so much dedication in your work. Keep it up.

LOTS OF LOVE ❤️❤️

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One of the most underrated GLs of the year deserves more attention

Three episodes in and I'm already attached to these two.....I was anticipating the trope like " Human falls for a robot" but it is much more charming and deep. Its a story about loneliness and companionship where you let a special someone in your life. What hooked me is not only the AI concept but also the chemistry which is off the charts. We all have met someone like Gen who are awkward ,quiet and a little lost. Then Ai comes and literally changes her life into a more meaningful one. The series also does a nice job balancing comedy with emotional moments. One minute you're laughing because of Ai's innocent behavior, and the next you're thinking about Gen's loneliness. The pacing has also been solid though we only have 7 episodes...saddddd. Then we have Irene who is watching every move of Ai. She might fall in love with Gen through Ai's eyes....thats poetic lol.

Of course, with only three episodes released, it's still too early to judge the overall story. The biggest challenge will be maintaining the quality and delivering a satisfying conclusion. However, based on what's been released so far, the series has exceeded my expectations like Love Beyond Dreams. Can we have a little cameo of Rann and P'Le pls.

If you're looking for a GL that's a little different from the usual college or office romances, I'd definitely tell u to give AI Girl a chance. It has heart, it's genuinely entertaining, and after only couple of episodes, I'm already invested in where this story is going.

Now comes the hardest part... waiting for next episodes.

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Awful plotline and the development of it is worse

I understand the synopsis, but it's illogical to try and sell me a love story between the characters we think are the protagonists, only for one of them to die in the most unexpected way possible, and then reveal that the real love interest was always the protagonist's childhood friend. If they wanted it to be a reunion story, they could have easily done so. There was no need to saddle us with a romantic subplot that went nowhere, and then, more than halfway through the series, try to replace one of the main characters. Ultimately, it's one of the worst BL plots I've ever seen.

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As a novel reader, I am pretty satisfied with this adaptation!

⚠️ I am about to spoil the whole series so, if you haven’t watched it yet please do scroll to another review ⚠️

First thing first, I would like to thank everyone that’s involved in this series including all actors, producers, directors, and all teams behind the scenes!! It’s been a great months of me enjoying the series. My eyes are blessed with their COLOR GRADING!!! They’re very confident with it and YES they better be because that is one of the most outstanding traits of this show. But somehow, it’s truly a new type of show I guess, we are having this ‘daily life’ storyline where the leads are a bar owners who are kinda ‘unique’ to the point that they named the bar as “ChermChey”. Met during their heartbroken trip and end up being the lovers of their life 🥰

This big plot is pretty clear and neat. Now, we gotta move on to how’d that simple and clean plot turns into a 10 EP of a series?
1. The bar owner supposedly was Eung only (along with his ex), but as he got to know Intha, they decided to be a business partner whereas Intha invest and manage things financially (well, cleaning the bar after the closing is mandatory 😁😁 your man instruct you, you can’t refuse) while Eung manages the operation of the bar as in paying attention to everything regarding the business. - This plot went pretty quick, as they didn’t really show us much about the renovation and stuff… they mostly show us them buying groceries for restocking -
2. Intha move in to the bar actually needs a longer explanation (for someone who has trust issues… the pace for this part is too fast… 😁😁 but it’s nothing impossible) but this is the second details that supposedly need some attention
3. The relationship development of InthaEung for sure 🥰🥰🥰 them living their lives, rebuilding their bar that I’d call it as their love nest, problem solving, hyping their relationship and keeping it as strong as it can (I surely love this plot as they introduce me to their relationship dynamic. I’d say I have seen A LOT of ‘hyper and extra’ couple in novels but turning it into a live action show is another story and I think ChermChey did it pretty well tho -I personally haven’t really watched another series that bluntly show how ‘extra’ they are, mostly implicitly or letting audience’s imagination do the magic)
4. Well Bomb and Athen as the side couple was briefly presented in the series [yet if I didn’t read the novel I’d have no idea about the relationship of Eung, Nok, Bomb, and Athen]

Those four point alone was enough to make a 10 EP series… I do have some notes regarding several scenes tho:
- Athen ordering his boys to ruin Eung’s bar (we didn’t get the dialogue for this so… -just a mere phone call scene without a full convo- we just can guess)
- The inexistence background of Intha giving that bottle opener necklace to Eung makes it seems ‘ceremonial’… or to put it bluntly ‘out of nowhere’,,, if I didn’t read the novel I wouldn’t know the context -that’s for sure
- The flashback scene during Intha’s silence (I can feel the emotions in his expression but it didn’t match the montage)… I believe it would’ve been more ‘organized’ if there’s a fighting scene of Eung with the dudes that tries to ruin their store… (I understand that in terms of production this scene would’ve take a lot of time and money but, I believe this scene is necessary tho) - but as In said in the diary, he’s worried of Eung’s wellbeing… and I believe that ‘fight’ scene scene is definitely necessary!
- I wonder why didn’t we have a single hospital scene?? Bomb was hit by that wrench soo I believe he needs some stitches and changing Eung’s plot after the fire into a drunkard doesn’t really help cuz they still use the scene where Intha was reminding Eung to drink his medicine -where’d this come from?- (I believe either they rearrange the novel or there’s an issue during the filming process)
- I saw a comment asking why there’s a mermaid scene in this series (out of nowhere) I’d say it’s fair as they didn’t show us the context when Eung said that he dreamt about going to a beach for trip along with Intha (additional context… he get to wore a mermaid suit there, so Intha bought one for him and surprise him during their stay at In’s house)
- Hmm,,, that scene in the last ep about odd days and even days… they’re actually talking about taking turn washing dishes and cleaning up… we didn’t have that context in the series so it might be confusing
- And don’t even talk about that pink duvet… god know what made it need an immediate laundry… 🤭🤭

I love their acting, chemistry and all…but those plot needs a bit revision I believe^^
I’m not the type that’s obsessed in NC so I actually find it having a ‘proper amount’…

P.S. I seriously wanna know the interior of this bar as I really can’t picture the structure based on all the shots taken… Is there anyone that can illustrate it?
And I really can’t tell the difference between daytime and nighttime in some scenes…

These plot holes could be a good marketing way to buy the novel 😁😁😁

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