This review may contain spoilers
Good....
For a short drama(considering the episodes lenght are between 11 to 19 minutes per episodes) was to the point. No fillers, no dragging. A bit of blood for those who love to see it(like me). All characters did great, but for me shined in delivering emotions the character played by Zhou Yan Chen. The story follows a series of crimes, that at first looks random, yet in a short time all things connected as the police investigated and more bodies appears.A story about deceiving, manipulation, and a blind man thinking he will serve justice, yet i feel he forgot something... they study acting.
Also, through this cases the ML at last managed to move forward and not get stuck in time after his mentor died.
A short mystery/crime drama good to be binged and even you realise fast who is the murderer, some pieces are lay down at the end for the viewer.
Like it!
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Off to a strong start
Really impressed with this show so far. I was a little skeptical about whether Seo In-guk's role might feel a little familiar since he's played a few tsundere types in the past, but my concerns were misplaced. I've rewatched the convenience store encounter at least a dozen times and it still makes me giggle.Park Ji-hyun is also awesome, as expected. I can't get into highlights without spoilers, but suffice to say she handles both the comedic and emotional moments sublimely. And I love everything about her character's back story.
Really excited to see how this series develops based on the first two episodes...
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This happens when you want an absolute happy ending; everything becomes too predictable.
When I first started this drama, I really could not understand why the ratings were so low. The tension was SO good, and this is coming from a person who dislikes enemies to lovers troop. There was always something that kept me on edge. However, after episode 20, everything went downhill fast. It felt like the story just reset. All the tension went down the drain. No matter what danger came, every ending to them was predictable. They even started to explain the slightest plans as if the viewers were dumb. Every character that came after episode 20 were so simple-minded. Their tricks were all so boring. I rather liked the times when they were lowkey enemies, plotting against each other.The fourth prince's love line was the most unconvincing thing I've ever seen. For a drama that aims for strict politic. They let her bypass A LOT of rules. The ML also become a blind to everything for her sister's requests and discloses everything to her when her mouth is so loose and she herself is short-sighted.
The sound effects were quite comedic at times. It really went against the tone of the drama.
Such a shame for I was crazy for the first 20 episodes of this drama. I continued to the end to see them together but it wasn't very rewarding.
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Jekyll and Hyde on the Roll
After witnessing tons of awful histrionics from "Dazzling", I hope I'd never touch youth idol dramas anymore, except for the fact that I can't resist eye-candy. So, thank goodness, iQIYI immediately aired "Archives: The Nanyang Mystery", which happens to be on my waiting list. I was so excited when the release date was announced that I began bouncing back and forth due to irrepressible thrill. FYI, "Archives: The Nanyang Mystery" is a spin-off or compilation story from "The Grave Robbers' Chronicle" by Kennedy Xu, which has been a popular IP and adapted into different dramas and films until today. The latest are "Time Raiders" and "Adventure behind the Bronze Door" though.Set within the world of "The Lost Tomb", this story follows two orphaned boys, Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia, who are adopted and trained by the secretive Zhang Family. Under the strict guidance of their mentor, Zhang Haiqi, they grow into skilled agents tasked with protecting the family's legacy. Their first major mission takes them to Nanyang, where they investigate a series of supernatural incidents involving mysterious shrines, strange deaths, and legends surrounding an "Evil God." What begins as a routine assignment gradually expands into a decades-long struggle involving secret organizations, political conspiracies, deadly biological threats, and ancient mysteries hidden beneath forgotten cities. As the years pass, Hailou and Haixia establish themselves as investigators while confronting increasingly dangerous cases tied to a mysterious plant known as Twilight Grass. Their missions expose them to warlords, underground factions, hidden archives, and powerful enemies seeking to exploit ancient forces for their own gain. Along the way, friendships are tested, loyalties are questioned, and the bond between the two adopted brothers faces its greatest challenges. As they search for answers, they uncover clues connected to an ancient civilization, bizarre creatures, forgotten ruins, and secrets that may explain the origin of many unexplained phenomena that have haunted the region for generations. At its heart, however, the story is less about monsters and mysteries and more about brotherhood. It explores the relationship between Hailou and Haixia as they struggle with duty, identity, sacrifice, and the question of how far one person should go to save someone they love like family. Framed as a tale recounted by Wu Xie, the drama serves as both an adventure-filled prequel and an emotional character study, expanding the lore of the Zhang Family while shedding light on one of the most enigmatic clans in the world of "The Lost Tomb".
As expected of Kennedy Xu's story, we'll get to see high-stake missions and adventures, mystical Chinese folk tales, the essence of brotherhood and friendship, and lastly, the good and bad side of humanity. Every episode will bring out the deepest emotion out of yourselves - when they are happy, you are happy, and vice versa (you'll never know what will happen in the next episodes). Guessing game isn't an ideal method to predict the plot, as Kennedy Xu has turned the tables and keeps Haixia alive (Haixia is supposed to have die in the ship and never survives). I particularly feel the pain and regret of Hailou as he realizes his greatest mistake and is willing to repent by obtaining those herbs in dangerous circumstances and limited time (Haixia doesn't have much time to hold on any longer). Meanwhile, a lot of people are bashing Zhang Haiqi for being a cruel and apathetic shifu, but I'm on the opposite side of the public. Why so? Haiqi is probably crushed after the deaths of her many comrades. She's not done grieving and must pull herself together to venture deeper into the enemy's lair, while having to berating Hailou for making such a lousy mistake. As she had previously mentioned to Hailou, only he himself can control his life and he should be grateful for having Haixia as his partner, because nobody will take care of him in this cruel world. My civics teacher also reminded us of this philosophy, and maybe that's why it strikes harder for me than anyone else.
The acting is truly phenomenal especially our dear Salty and Shrimpie. I've never been a fan of Steven Zhang, but he truly nails Zhang Hailou's character and blends himself seamlessly into the fiction, while maintaining his humorous side which is only shown to his loved ones. Ryan Ding isn't an exception too, as he also portrays Haixia as a deeply conflicted man who must decide between his fate and his wistful desire of staying together with Hailou and shifu - and his smooth transition between the calm and psycho version too (he reminds me of Kaz Brekker from "Six of Crows" and "Crooked Kingdom" if you're into Grishaverse. Also, kudos to Jiang Peiyao for being a strict yet secretly caring shifu. I don't care whatever they want to say about her, but she aptly captures Haiqi's essence of a badass 100-yo girlie. Meanwhile, I also want to praise Li Huan, who plays our cranky accountant He Jianxi, for creating such a hilarious ruckus that I can't get over with. Special mention to Zhang Chenxiao and Liu Lingzi as the unexpected couple of the drama - the unlikely pair of a gullible little Taoist and a badass yet streetwise bandit leader really hits me hard. Well, a lot of people have been calling names due to a certain scene they consider as rape/sexual assault rather than a comedy one. I don't think much about it, but all I can say is that I wasn't that uncomfortable and even had a good laugh about it. As for the entire casts, they've also done well and I think I can't ask for more (that will be selfish of me, don't you feel?).
OSTs are heart-wrenching as well, especially the ones by Kang Ziqi and Steven Zhang. Duan Aojuan's song isn't as cringy as the one in "Dazzling" anymore, but I don't think I'll download it on my phone. Liu Yuning's needs more listening. And I have a particular fondness of the rap song by Wang Shuye and Weng Yiming, though plagued by the short duration. Backgrounds, settings, CGI, costumes are crafted spectacularly and bring about the vibes of the republican era. Usually, I can't stand this period, but this time, for the sake of the leads and compelling story, I'm trying my best to stay in this ship until the end.
Overall, it's a very good watch and as usual, a ten out of ten from me. If you're into intricately woven story, heartfelt family bond, or perhaps tired of the usual idol romance cliche, then this drama may be made for you. However, beware that you need to follow the story carefully as the plot unfolds, otherwise you're going to be left in the circle of confusion and bewilderment as to how this and that event can happen. That's all for my review, thank you for reading my positive rant. Good luck and happy watching!!! See you again in another lifetime, my Salty and Shrimpie!!! I love you!!!
For those who are eager to know to the whole plot without having to watch, just check the full synopsis on my blog site. Here's the link...
https://myreviewforcdrama-bycv58.blogspot.com/2026/06/archive-nanyang-mystery-full-synopsis.html
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A Supernatural Masterpiece That Had Me Laughing, Crying, and Cheering From Start to Finish
Wow. I just finished all 16 episodes of Phantom Lawyer, and without a doubt, this is one of the best K dramas I have ever watched. From the very first episode to the last, it delivered an incredibly refreshing and unique story that kept me completely invested.What I loved most was how brilliantly the supernatural elements were blended with mystery, law, comedy, and emotional storytelling. The ghost cases were not only fascinating but also deeply touching. Every one of the seven ghost stories carried so much heart and emotion that I found myself crying more times than I expected. This drama knows exactly how to balance humor, suspense, heartbreak, and healing.
The cast was absolutely phenomenal. Yeon Seok was outstanding as I Rang. His performance was on another level, especially during the possession scenes. Watching him completely transform into different personalities, whether it was a child, a dancer, or a skilled fighter, was incredible. His versatility and talent were on full display throughout the entire series.
Han Na Hyeon was also a fantastic female lead, and I loved the partnership between her and I Rang. Their chemistry, trust, and growth made their relationship one of the strongest aspects of the drama. The supporting cast deserves just as much praise. From I Rang's mother and sister to his adorable niece, every family member added warmth and charm to the story.
Phantom Lawyer has everything I look for in a drama: mystery, comedy, law, supernatural elements, heartfelt stories, emotional depth, ghostly encounters, spirit possession, and even a touch of romance. It is heartwarming, entertaining, and unforgettable all at the same time.
This is a rare drama that made me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out, and stay emotionally invested in every single case. A perfect 10/10 from me. I will definitely be rewatching this masterpiece in the future.
One of the most complete and satisfying K dramas I have ever watched.
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All Sugar, No Soul
I’m not the target audience for this kind of fantasy, especially in a Republican-era setting. However, a good plot and strong acting can win me over for any genre. I came into this with fresh eyes, knowing nothing about the Daomu Biji universe, and was drawn in by the visuals of Ding Yuxi in uniform and the promise of a compelling partnership. What I found was a production of immense effort that ultimately left me feeling completely disengaged.From the very first episode, the drama throws you into the deep end with no introduction. It’s a constant barrage of fights—well-choreographed fights, yes—but it’s all action with no anchor. The story doesn't give you a moment to understand the world, the history of the Zhang family, or who these characters are. It's like walking into a movie halfway through, and the film never bothers to catch you up. The narrative just crams information and events into a frantic, non-stop pace before you even know what you’re looking at.
The core of a story like this, especially one tagged with "bromance," must be the relationship. The most successful examples, from Guardian to The Untamed to Word of Honor, all took extensive time to introduce characters individually, building their relationship from suspicion or rivalry into an unbreakable bond. They earned the audience's emotional investment. This drama does the opposite. The two male leads are immediately a "perfectly oiled team," bantering in life-threatening situations with overly dramatic slow-motion shots. It feels like the production is trying to force-feed us sugar instead of crafting a genuine connection. The chemistry between the actors, Ding Yuxi and Zhang Xincheng, doesn’t shine, not because they lack effort—their physical dedication to the fight sequences is clear—but because the storytelling treats them as a commodity to be sold, not characters to be developed. The result is a sense that the narrative has the eagerness of a brothel owner, pushing forward the prettiest faces without a shred of integrity for the story.
This lack of grounding makes the entire viewing experience a hollow one. The plot is a jumble of scary case beginnings that end sloppily, with reasoning based entirely on dialogue and loopholes easily glossed over. The gloomy, mystical Nanyang atmosphere is completely lost, smoothed over by filters that blur facial features into a soft, generic handsomeness. There's no realism; the characters’ flawless hair and makeup remain perfect in deep-sea dives and dangerous caves. It investigates a case like it’s a fashion show, making the whole production feel like an assembly-line routine, piled with popular templates.
Ultimately, I feel bad for the actors. They clearly poured a lot of physical effort into the demanding, non-stop action sequences, but the opportunity was wasted. The script fails them, the direction fails them, and even their specific pairing, while featuring two good-looking leads, lacks the contrasting "puzzle-piece" fit that makes for an entrancing on-screen couple. The result is a pretty production with pretty people, but a story and characters I simply couldn't bring myself to care about. It’s a drama where you watch a lot of busy, noisy people jumping around and doing things, and you just sit on the side, feeling completely unattached to anything happening on the screen. The most genuine feeling it evoked was a deep sense of regret for Zhang Haixia’s fate—a character punished for something that wasn't his wish, a consequence of a plot that never cared to make his struggles truly resonate.
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Oke but not Okay
drama terburu buru yang pernah ditonton, drama lain ep dua itu perkenalan. Drama ini udah pemberontakan wkwkwceritanya buru buru, gaada napasnya banget. beres konflik satu lanjut konflik selanjutnya. intrik istananya kompleks banget agak capek nontonnya.
cinematography jujur agak kureng, cg dibeberapa scene agak aneh. banyak adegan yang didramatisasi juga. bahkan seinget aku di eps awal tuh ada sempet kamera geter jdi keliatan kayak short drama gutu huhu agak sad yah.
tapi untuk akting, yiran dan dudu udah gausah diraguin lagi dua duanya oke polll
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Short and Sweet
This movie is a short film that’s around 40 minutes. It shows the struggles of two women getting married when their families aren’t understanding of their love. I thought the story was a simple yet powerful. Many struggles of how two women get married are mentioned and discussed. Each family had their own reasons to be against the marriage. Each character had their own neuaces and no characters was good or bad. All the actors did a great job in their roles. Highly recommended watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
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Very strong beginning and ending, middle part drags
This is going to be really long, because I just finished it and I have a lot of feelings about it lol. This show could've been a masterpiece, but it unfortunately failed to deliver. The first 15 episodes are absolutely brilliant, if I had known that would be where the story peaked, I would've watched until they jumped into the river of forgetfulness and dropped the rest of it tbh. They set up the story so well in the first arc with her being carefree, happy, loved by her family and Gu Jian, riding horses in the desert. It was amazing story building, so when all that gets taken away from her, you really feel her pain. She was ultimately betrayed by the person who she trusted and loved the most, him pushing her unto Li Chengyin on that bridge was heartbreaking. She kept looking back at him but he was set on betraying her, I was yelling No don't go please because we knew what was coming. If only she had managed to elope with Gu Jian none of this shit would've happened, but he ended up making a choice he would regret for the rest of his life.Then she meets the crown prince again who lies to her from the beginning about his identity and manipulates her trust to get her to lead them to her grandpa so he can annihilate her whole family. A grandpa who loved her and doted on her, warrior cousins on whose knees she would rest her head and who had always protected her. Once again the love for her family was established well, so the climax of the betrayal hits even harder. The main leads fell in love along the way, but never does he stop going for his goal even though he knew how much it was gonna hurt her that she was the one who brought the prince to her family.
The fact that her family took him in and treated him as their own added another layer to the betrayal, it was hard to watch. Some scenes that stood out is the prince suddenly riding over and switching sides on the battleground and putting on his Li armor, that was absolutely brilliant and gut wrenching. Then when he beheads her grandpa and she sees it and just absolutely loses it in the tent while screaming in so much pain. My heart broke for FL. At least ML had the decency to act a little bit sorry at that point. Another great part was when Gu Jian ties her to his back and takes her away, the prince tries to stop them but she just hangs there without looking at him and silently cries, utterly defeated so the prince lets them leave. She then finds out Gu Jian betrayed her too, that her mother is dead and her father went crazy leaving her with basically no one and it was all her fault for falling in love with the enemy. I felt so much for her. The first part was emotional, gut wrenching, beautiful 10/10.
Now, while I understand that they had to give her amnesia, because how could she live with the guilt of this all, I hated that they made him forget too. After they jump in the river the show takes a serious nose dive. She wakes up at the palace and the next 30 episodes it's just ML being mean to her to "protect" her. Even making her believe he's in love with that concubine and openly favoring her. It's even implied that he sleeps with the concubine to keep up pretenses, they hug so many times it was just gross. I know he was using her to "protect" FL but he could've let FL know about it like in 10 miles of peach blossoms where the ML tells Susu he has to be mean to her to protect her. Here though, he never explains his behavior to her and almost to the end she believed he only loved the concubine. What was even the point of marrying her if he couldn't even show the most basic decency to her. He was yelling at her, sticking up for the concubine but not her, he slapped her (!) and then was like "i had to" to his general, no wtf you could've just fake yelled at her again, what do you mean you had to slap her. And then after all this she still fell in love with him the second time? I don't buy that she could've loved him with how he was treating her, even though it was an act from his part.
What I would've preferred is for their marriage to have been happy, preferably with his memories intact making her fall in love with him again while navigating the guilt of what he did to her. Imagine the pay off if she had a loving marriage, gets her memories back and realises it was all based on a lie? That's why I think him forgetting ruins the show after the first arc. He literally only remembers in the last episode, so we don't even see him deal with the guilt for what he did to her. It was a waste of 30 episodes of bickering, her being annoying outside the palace and contstantly causing trouble. Safe to say I skipped a lot in the middle as there was no character development and the scenes got repetive.
But then the last 5 episodes or so become brilliant again. I know a lot of people hate Gu Jian, but I just couldn't. Him betraying her in the beginning caused him so much regret and pain that he could only be by her side to protect her and drink himself to death every night. He was also a victim of the circumstances and pushed into it by his obsessed godfather, who was willing to hurt innocent people to get to his goal. What's important to me is that Gu Jian regretted it so much it was killing him (Something ML never does after he loses his memories) and during her time at the palace where she was isolated and lonely, he kept her company. He shouldn't have lied to her, but he had her best interest at heart which was taking her away from that place even though she didn't want to go. But ultimately taking her away from there was the best option for her, proved by the fact that she tries to leave several times after she regains her memories. He was the only one who saw how cruel it was to leave her there with everything ML had done to her in the best. Adu and the general just kept the truth from her, never intending to tell her or take her away and save her like Gu Jian. Yes he lied too, but at least he was trying to help her even when she didn't know she didn't belong there among her enemies. Another reason I can't hate Gu Jian is when the prince shoots that final whistle and Gu Jian rushes over even though he knew it was a trap, tells me what kind of person he is. He would do anything for FL and by protecting her and taking her away he had already made up for his sins in my eyes. FL said he wasn't gonna come cause she's not that important, but of course he came. He would do anything for her. Him getting pierced by the arrows was so painful for me, especially with ML going all psycho pulling her head to force her to watch and FL just absolutely breaking down. Then when she cradled his body and sang to him, I totally broke down. Also when he gave her the hairpin and she told him "I'm gonna put it in so you can see how it looks", man so sad. The flashbacks to their happy past intertwined with the sad memories were brilliantly done. She had ultimately forgiven him for what he did. That one mistake which he regretted for the rest of his life was undone by him coming to her for the last time when she needed him. So I can't hate him for betraying her nor for lying to her. He was the person she loved the most in the world, even if it wasn't romantic anymore and he got shot by her husband. That was the point where there was absolutely no going back anymore, ML had become a straight up cruel villain and it was brilliant.
What I loved too was when she leaves the city and runs into the general and despite being all about duty the entire series, he decides to let her leave. He too cared a lot about her and was a victim of guilt for what they did to her. I loved his character so much and him letting her go was one of the climaxes of the show.
Unfortunately it came down to a war again and FL ends up sacrificing her life to prevent it. I unexpectedly felt sorry for the ML, he had just gotten his memories back (in the last fucking episode, another missed opportunity) and I can't imagine what was going through his head and then to lose her like this immediately was horrible. He didn't even have time to process his memories, I wanted to know if he regretted not loving her better in the palace, even when only in private. And if he regretted not telling her he treated her like that to protect her. And a proper apology for everything would've been nice. I wish they gave them more time to talk about the past, the fact that he gets his memories back isn't really explored.
I do like that they referenced the 3 wishes from the very beginning, and living well being one of them. She knew he'd off himself so she used her final wish as an oath to keep him alive. She's a better person than me. I liked it honestly, though I wish it wouldn't have been a war she was preventing but more of a private moment with the ML where she could've told him what he did wrong and they could've said what needed to be said and then she could've killed herself because she couldn't live with him and with herself. But yeah her dying was the only possible outcome, this story couldn't have ended up happy.
All in all the first 15 episodes and the last 5 are brilliant, the middle 40 episode or so are basically filler and I feel like a wrongly chosen plot because a happy marriage with his memories intact, knowing he's deceiving her would've made for a much more tragic ending once she gets her memories back. This way there was barely even love between them with the fighting non stop and her thinking he doesn't love her. I don't regret watching this, the beginning and ending were so good 9.5/10, but the middle is a 7/10 for me, with the amnesia being the biggest reason.
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“Battle of the Writers”
The “Battle of the Writers” idea is always fun to follow, especially seeing how different styles compete and stand out. It really shows how varied writing can be depending on tools and approach. I’ve personally used Clever Humanizer AI Writer https://cleverhumanizer.ai/ai-writer while experimenting with short creative drafts, and it helped me shape rough ideas into more readable text. It improved flow without changing my intent. I’d say it’s a useful tool for anyone testing different writing styles.Was this review helpful to you?
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A must watch if you liked prequel beat coin. But a great variety show in general
The reboot of Beat Coin is one where you can feel the original series while introducing a fresh spin that keeps it exciting and engaging. It might be a good idea to watch the original series BEAT COIN because they have infused numerous references and nods to the show's classic moments, making it a loving nostalgic experience for long-time fans. The show itself is super fun and chaotic as always. Their dynamic is great The reboot maintains a similar vibe to the earlier I will call it 'seasons', especially with its witty dialogues and also keeping some of the concept of "luck of the coin."Why should you watch it I say?
Well. Not to spoil anything but, a funny moment in the first few episodes, there is a particularly memorable scene where the humour and absurdity the show is known for. The cast find themselves in a scenario where they must act as cold-blooded killers while simultaneously trying to keep their composure, all while a whistle is placed in their mouths. Watching them navigate this ridiculous situation is nothing short of hilarious, showcasing their comedic talents. My favourite of the performance comes from Wooyoung, well other than being a cast member on variety he is also a well-known member of the idol group 2PM. In these episodes, his character faces a situation where his dignity is humorously put to the test. This particular moment has become a talking point among fans in the Hottest fandom (2pm fandom name), who find it amusing . You can really feel that they do indeed have a screw loose sometimes when they film.
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WHAT A THRILLING ADVENTURE AND EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER
First things first, I 100000% recommend watching.This is what happens when you cast the Best Leads and supporting actors as well as have a great production team👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾YOU CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPIECES!!! As an audience member, I can tell everyone involved in this film loves their job!!! I’m dreading the next few days cuz I’m already miss Zhang Hailuo, Zhang Haixia and Shifu(Zhang Haiqi). The ending aside, the story was beautiful told and the process had me laughing and crying. My biggest flowers to Steven Zhang and Ding Yuxi, they are masters of their craft. Their expressions really brought the characters to life. I’m VERY SATISFIED with the drama, tbh it exceeded my expectations!!!!
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Sometimes low ratings make you miss hidden gems, and this series is definitely one of them
Just finished this series and I'm honestly confused by the low rating.The concept is fresh, the actors are handsome, and their acting is really good. I only found it recently because the rating made me overlook it before, which is a shame.
Compared to so many dramas that are packed with unnecessary scenes and dragged-out storylines, this one felt refreshing and enjoyable from start to finish.
I genuinely don't understand why it's rated so low. It deserves a lot more love than it's getting.
"Don't let the rating stop you from giving it a chance—you might end up enjoying it as much as I did."
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Sweet Sweet Boys, Sweet Sweet Loving
I’ll admit the beginning felt a bit slow but DO NOT DROP IT!!!This show has to be one of the sweetest and loveliest BL I’ve ever watched. It’s such a feel-good fluffy series with the right amount of spice.
The acting is perfect, storyline interesting, chemistry between the two actors is too cute, I’ve never seen anything like it!!!
If you love power bottom and sweet sweet cute BL romance shows, you better be watching this one!
There’s not so much to say than it’s a relaxing and amazing BL show to watch. Lol, made me want to fall in love!
10/10 for me!
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