Sin Seo Ri completely ruins it for me
I’m just venting. But…I really had high hopes for My Royal Nemesis.
Since I’ve enjoyed both Destined with You and Perfect Crown and I was very eager to watch MRN next. For several reasons. Firstly, I was excited that Heo Nam Joon, after trying to make a name for himself, mostly doing cameos and supporting roles, finally got a chance to become a male lead in a supposedly high profile kdrama. Secondly, I was interested in another plotline with Royals and thirdly, I was craving another captivating story about past life connection.
So it’s not surprising that My Royal Nemesis was by far one of my most anticipated kdramas of 2026. Based solely on the story description and trailer. With such a strong set up and currently my favorite underdog actor what could go wrong?
Well, it turns out, A LOT.
Female lead sinks this krama from the start.
Sin Seo Ri is just awful. To me, she’s an unlikeable and off putting character. I have no intention to root for her at all and she’s the female lead? Why? What’s the point of wasting such an interesting story concept on her?
There is nothing remotely dignified or royal coded about her behavior. To me, she feels more like a parody of a character she supposed to play. But it isn’t intentional. To me everything about Sin Seo Ri comes across as exaggerated and theatrical. She often resembles a caricature that completely ruins the show for me. Frankly, I don’t see her as someone worth falling for. So I don’t care what happens to her. I partly blame Im Ji Yeon for this disaster, but I also feel like a better and more experienced director would keep her from going off the rails with her acting choices.
I just wanted a fun and engaging love story but what I got instead is extremely repetitive, corny tropes and basic jokes that just don’t land. I struggled a lot with finishing each of the episodes I managed to complete and I won’t continue it.
I feel bad for Heo Nam Joon. He deserved better than this mess.
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This review may contain spoilers
The side couple steals the show!
The premise was so good, the cast was amazing, location was stunning, but the story did get a bit lost.The chemistry between the actors was the best, the side couple actually stole the show for me but they only had like 5% screen time, and they were just the cutest... I really hope they get their own BL show one day.
They should have focused 50-50 on them.
But the story, started so well, but the lore was not very well established.. We only find out about the Gods in the end, for a brief moment, and the rules of the star wishing quite randomly in the show. I would have added a bit more comedy to it.
But I still enjoyed this show very much! Great job guys!
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The Chemistry is gone!
I watched "The Secret of Us" which both of the main leads act pretty good but at here, the chemistry is gone.so awkward, like strangers without many expressions and nothing new.
Just hope this pair upcoming series will be something better and nicer since actually both of them have that good visual and good in acting.
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What an Acting From Koo Kyo Hwan and Go Youn Jung !
This Drama Was Beautiful !I watched it while it was airing and I Really Enjoyed My Time Watching It And waiting for each episodes to come out and The Story And The Ending Of Each Character Was Beautifully Written and Performed too .
I would not say its not a romance but it is different , the connection between two main characters is about helping and healing each other in the life full of problems and trauma .
I gave it a 10 but there was room for more story like the result of the Park Gyeong Se last work or some characters that have ended up looking just bad like Byeon Eun A's Mother And her Ex but its not that much of a big deal .
At The End Its Definitely Worthy Of Your Time So Do Not Hesitate To Watch This Masterpiece .
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A Small Fry Trying to Take Down the Giant
Southern Knight, 4th rank imperial guard Zhan Zhao is caught in a kidnapping case as he is making his way to the capital to deliver an important secret letter to the emperor, with both court officials and jianghu warriors hot on his pursuit. While suffering from substantial injuries, he joins hands with Huo Xiaodi, young mistress of Linglong Sect who is on the run from her marriage, on this detour to rescue a medicine boy albeit failed to do so. Due to his injuries and to ensure that letter arrives to the capital, Zhan Zhao decides to join hands with Huo Xiaodi/Huo Linglong and Bai Yutang. Their adventures do not stop at the capital, as the emperor commands Zhan Zhao to further investigate the case on the letter that had also branded him and his friend who lost his life for that letter as traitors.I totally love the pacing of the plot, which is FAST! I cant seem to put down the phone and keep wanting to proceed to the next episode. I like how they connect all the seemingly unconnected cases that they found along their investigation that always lead to the Royal Uncle, Prince of Xiangyang. There is hardly any plothole that I could dig into despite the plot being rather intricate with intertwining mysteries and cold cases that they uncover - Huo Linglong with her engagement that seem to involve the possession of an ultimate weapon of the Linglong Manor, Bai Yutang with his late brother’s murder case that he was convinced a set up, and Zhan Zhao with his dark past of 10years ago that was related to his loyal boyservant Ming Zhuer.
I also love the friendship and affection the group had for each other, something that started as accidental encounter had forged a solid relationship between them. And i especially love the lack of romance here which proves that ML and FL can be friends without romance to dramatize the plot. Despite the absence of romance, Zhan Zhao, Bai Yutang and Huo Linglong had extraordinary chemistry with each other. Who says you need romance or love triangles to spice things up? Totally hate that kind of trope so i am glad they didnt go for that angle. What they had is purely great friendship that nobody could shatter.
I must say Yang Yang’s fight sequences, especially his swordfights, are some of the best I’ve seen on cdrama so far. Theyre fiercely brute and elaborate, and it is hard to see much flaw. He’s good at doing these action scenes, I can tell that he worked real hard on them. In fact all the fights on this show is very good and manage to keep me on the edge of my seat , especially when Zhan Zhao had never got better from his severe injury throughout the show. I like how forceful each strike is and the movement of each fighter is flawlessly breathtaking. Although, I had to comment that the body double/stuntman for the FL is rather badly chosen and actions horribly done. His size is obviously much bigger than FL, also much thicker, hence every step he made only looked too obvious. The horrible wig he had on him only made it worse. I felt like i was watching the 90’s HK kungfu drama where you can spot which part did the stuntman take over cuz they stood out like a sore thumb 🤣
This is definitely another notable work of Alan Fang, I had my eyes on him ever since A Journey to Love and none of his works disappoint, even when he took up the villain mantle in Whispers of Fate. Alan Fang is a true underdog that excel at being the SML.
I am not sure why the rating is so low for a great show like this. Dont fall for it. If youre an action lover, this show will literally make you drool.
It is rare to see a group of close-knit friends staying alive at the end of cdrama nowadays. They had to make season 2, right?
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A breath of fresh air amidst boring dramas
It's not the drama of the year, but it's hooked me as if it were. The protagonists go from hating each other to loving each other, office romance, plots of corruption and abuse of power... all this added to very funny moments. It's true that at first I wasn't a big fan of the main couple, I didn't feel they had much chemistry, but in the end I've come to see their point. If you don't want to watch the typical office romance, this is definitely your kdrama.(If I had to criticize anything, it would be the secondary couple. Girl, you don't have to be a pushover to be liked.)
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Amazing action, chemistry, and mystery.
Zhan Zhao Adventure is an absolute masterpiece of modern wuxia. From the very first episode, the show hooks you with a gripping conspiracy that masterfully unravels a massive web of corruption tied to Prince Xiang Yang.What truly elevates this drama to a 9.5 rating*(according to me)* is its phenomenal, top-tier fight choreography. The action scenes are nothing short of amazing—crisp, dynamic, and beautifully executed without over-relying on choppy editing.
The dynamic between the characters is the beating heart of the show. The trio of the stoic Zhan Zhao, the passionate Bai Yu Tang, and the fiercely talented Huo Ling Long brings an electric chemistry to the screen. Watching these like-minded individuals evolve from cautious allies into a tight-knit team fighting for justice across both the imperial court and the dangerous underworld is incredibly satisfying.
I appreciate whole cast and work and amazing ost...
Watch this show you never disappointed and this has happy ending... include post credit scene in last episode
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To be able to sleep well, the protagonists could have started watching this drama...
I certainly don't know what I was expecting, but I definitely didn't find what I found. I might have been expecting the typical stressed-out city girl drama where she finds herself and a boyfriend in Jeju, the Hometown chacha cha vibe.This drama has a different, much slower, pace. It has its funny moments, but even that hasn't saved it from being boring. There are several couples, but none of them really clicked with me. I kept watching it because it didn't clash with another ongoing series, but I didn't have that need to rush to watch the next episode.
It's not a bad series, but it certainly won't be in my top dramas of the year.
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If you want to empathise with people around you, JUST WATCH IT
After so long, i get to watch a kdrama like this, full of emotions and the true representation of human vulnerability. This drama also motivated me to try my best in my particular field. After "When life gives you tangerines", this drama brought out my emotions. I also wondered why this drama didn't get the global popularity it truly deserved like "Perfect Crown". The story, overall plot, and the acting was way too realistic. Character "Hwang Do Man" was my favourite, the actor Koo Kyo Hwan nailed it, other than him, i liked the character of Byeon Eun A, and also Park Gyeong Se, the true representation of "don't judge a book by it's cover", at start i didn't liked him but as the story progressed i started empathising with him, actually not with him solely, but i started empathise with every character involved in this story. Also one character is underrated "Lee Jun Hwan", the friend of Hwang Dong Man who didn't leave him and judged him like others, he stayed with him from the start to end, i liked this quality of his character. Seeing Park Hae Joon as Hwang Jin Man, after "When Life Gives You Tangerines" with him given a deep character in this drama truly made my mood.Was this review helpful to you?
Best Drama
Some dramas entertain you for a moment, but some stay with you long after they end. “We’re All Trying Here” is one of those dramas.No wonder I loved this drama — it’s written by the same writer behind My Mister & My Liberation Notes.
It feels quiet and simple on the surface, yet emotionally heavy underneath. The kind of drama that understands loneliness, exhaustion, and the feeling of trying your best while life keeps testing you.
I love how realistic the characters are — imperfect, tired, lost, yet still somehow moving forward. No unnecessary exaggeration, just raw emotions and human struggles that feel painfully real.
Every episode felt comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. Like a reminder that everyone is quietly fighting their own battles 🤍
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Entertained me in a way it definitely shouldn't have
As most of the reviews said, the show is truly dissapointing.The pilot and the show are completely different. The investment in couples is uneven. PrimBambi storyline is absurd, MinPraew is too corny and boring, and ShaGorya is probably the only reason I didn't drop the series.
I know that the plot is a major problem in thai GLs, but this is genuinely a nasty cash grab, no offence. This only plays out because it's GL and it has gorgeous popular actresses. I wouldn't see any other reason to watch this. It gets so ridiculous to the point I was laughing during apparently sad scenes.
Oh, and one thing. The editing makes me pull my hair. Video and audio wise. The music is boring and sometimes not on point for the scene. Video editing in the first episodes is bizzare, but it gets much better near the middle.
Yet, despite all of this, it was weirdly entertaining, mostly thanks to acting and eye-candy facecards. Even though Bambi's inadequate decisions (seriously, it's not even about her being a brat, it's about having the total lack of intelligence and morality) and MinPraew's boring storyline is hard to haul. At least the show made me cackle every 5 minutes, either out of frustration or ridiculousness of events.
I honestly don't understand why people attack Gorya for being 'a bitch', when she has the most mature behaviour among all of them. I do know she slept with Shasha for attention seeking, but she let Shasha know about this at the start, and I don't think that instanly giving in to a disloyal playgirl would a better move. Instead, people praise Bambi for being fun. Well, she IS fun. But I wouldn't let her be even at 1 km near me. The way she treats Prim is simply insane and stupid. And Prim's giving in to this bullshit is even more wild.
I'm not even sure if the show should've had less or more episodes. The storyline did get more interseting and deep towards the end, but they just rushed the finale with a boring scene.
Anyways, it's a good show to watch when you just want to see pretty women and good acting with a need of big laugh and your brain turned off. You have better fish to fry though, even in this low-budget series field. My overall rating is not 1.0 merely because Mate exists.
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A decent sequel
This was an enjoyable watch, while I admit it dit not really add much closure to the first original series it was fun to see the characters in a more movie like pacing and setting.Had I seen this a year after the first it would have been a lovely reunion, but since I saw it right after the series Ill just say it was nice to see what would happen 3 years on, aired in October 2020 I could not help but wonder if it was filmed pree covid or if they made the coice to just ignore it. Still I enjoyed watching it.
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Beautiful story
I wasn't expecting much when I started watching it and even found it a bit boring at the start. I thought it was the typical medical drama with an arrogant but talented doctor who gets away with reckless behavior time and time again. Instead, it turned out not to be just about him, but about his other colleagues and patients too.Xiaofeng, indeed, is a boring character but he is such a good person and doctor. If only all doctors could be like him, what an ideal world it would be! The actress playing Xiaoran really did a good job. She was cute and sunny without being childish and annoying. Even the actors who played patients acted really well. There's just this one guy who doesn't quite fit - Prof. Fang's boyfriend. I'm not even sure what his role really is. Is he her boyfriend or driver or assistant? He only appears when Prof. Fang needs a chauffeur. In one episode, Xiaoran mentioned that he's her mom's boyfriend, but he doesn't act like one at all and he looks younger than Prof. Fang.
For the romance department, there are two love stories. I couldn't really feel the chemistry between Xiaofeng and Chen Yue. Probably because Xiaofeng had to stay true to his character of being a "robot-like" guy, he didn't exude the impression that he really loved Chen Yue. He didn't even cry when they broke up! Plus, they didn't have any intimate scenes at all. The whole drama only had one kissing scene and it wasn't Xiaofeng and Chen Yue lol!
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Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City in Japan
Tis is a fun combination of Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City in a Japanese more down to earth context, shorter, less flashy, beer instead of cocktails. Adorable instead of super sexy. Also with very lovable characters and cute illustrations. The friendships are top, top, top, makes you wish you had your own group of girls nights. The male sides are truly there just as side characters all have their own charm and are truly fun to watch. Some make questionable choices and I am not 100% on board with every message in this and I also admit most of the plot twists can be smelled an episode or two away. That said I really enjoyed this binge.Was this review helpful to you?
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angsty romance at its best
Okay whew this was a RIDE with lots of highs and lows lmfao. So firstly let me say that if you've only seen really recent wuxia dramas, on a technical level this is not going to live up to those. The costuming honestly looks really cheap (excluding a few really nice pieces for the women), the props and sets are kinda meh, etc etc. It was clearly doing what it could with a smaller budget. (I will say there are some moments of really nice cinematography tho!) The script could also use some polishing. There are plot holes and "reveals" that genuinely just retcon things that were previously established, but the character writing for Moxin-Mowan and the romance are honestly so good that I didn't even care about that 85% of the time.The plot summary on here is too inaccurate for my tastes, so let me give a brief one: Moxin, the Empress, has a miscarriage and some magical device body swaps her and her sister Mowan. Moxin, in Mowan's body, then rushes out of the palace seeking help and runs into Junqing. They're being chased and fall off a cliff, causing Moxin to lose her memories. "Moxin" enters a coma due to the miscarriage and dies. When Moxin recovers her memories, she vows to find the people responsible for attempting to kill her and get revenge.
The first 10 episodes while Moxin has amnesia are mostly cute and fun, but incredibly underwhelming when compared to the rest of the show. Once Moxin recovers her memories, the intrigue of her revenge mission in the palace is genuinely some of my favorite writing I've seen for any CDrama — genuinely some of the most exquisite and complex writing for a FL that I've seen and the cutthroat politics of palace life is clearly a strength for the writers. Imo the quality starts to dip slightly around ep 28 and there are a lot of just straight up bizarre writing choices between episodes 31-34, but the resolution really saved it and practically the entirety of the final episode had me VIBRATING in my seat.
Let's get into some more details re Moxin and the romance tho! F*ck all the Moxin haters, she's one of my fave FLs! She's allowed to be angry! She's allowed to be spiteful and cruel! She's allowed to hurt people who love her and is forgiven! She's willing to go to whatever lengths she feels is required to get her revenge, including sleeping with someone she despises bc she needs to gain his trust! What a refreshing and complicated character. She loves Junqing and as much as it pains her to walk away from their romance, she values revenge(/arguably justice) over any of her other feelings. So she pushes him away to try to protect him. But he sees through it. He knows she must have some deeper reason for getting closer to the Emperor (his brother, Hongyi) and that her feelings were real. So she pushes him away harder, even though it is agonizing for her to do so. But because her desire to protect him, the mask keeps slipping and she keeps expressing concern and fear for him. They continue this angsty push-pull until Junqing becomes aware of the fact that the Emperor punished the wrong people for "Moxin's" death and that she's trying to avenge her sister and he reaffirms his loyalty to her. Like oh my god Chen Zheyuan is sooooooo swoon-worthy in this. (Altho when is that not the case? LOL.) And when they're finally on the same page and working together???????? OUGH EPISODE 27 MY BELOVED!!!!!!!!!!! Like this romance is genuinely exquisite and it pains me that so many ppl on here are caught up in crucifying Moxin for being "flawed" and hurting Junqing's feelings because I love them SO MUCH.
Unfortunately around this time when they solidify their relationship — Moxin finally accepting his help and admitting her feelings — is when the plot kinda starts to dip in quality. Upon reaching the penultimate episode I realized that certain writing decisions happened for a big battle sequence and like, yeah, that certainly is one way to resolve the Junqing vs Hongyi conflict but given how intimate (for lack of a better word) the story had been up until this point, I do think it would have been better and made more sense to stay small scale — Junqing & Moxin vs Hongyi (instead of volunteer army vs palace army LOL). Again, the final episode and a half absolutely saved it and overall this is definitely one of my fave CDramas, but there are undeniably flaws lmao. (Also no other place to put this thought, but I feel weird not saying it — the two enemy kingdoms that are really peripheral for the first 2/3 of the show start getting a lot of attention in the last third and I just feel uncomfy w how they were portrayed given how CDramas tend to portray those who are not Han Chinese.....)
But anyway if you like angsty romances this is absolutely must watch in my book!! Just rip for the 31-34 stretch, those episodes are really truly Rough lol.
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