Reviews

Story Worth The Stress

It's my first written review on MDL! I grew up watching loads of British television, but have not seen the original work this is based on. I was stressed 95% of the time watching this show, but it was all worth it in the end. I hated so many characters, but that's what makes it fun. The acting was phenomenal, in my opinion. If an actor can make me hate the character yet still understand what's happening, that's a pass in my book. The ending made sense in my opinion. I do wish other things could have happened or we could have seen other aspects, but I think it was wrapped up nicely. Well worth the stress on my system. Now I can relax. I'm not sure I would rewatch unless I really wanted to feel utter hatred, but this was great. Well done to all involved.

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When the side series is better than thee original series!

I watched the original series and it was so full of BL tropes that it felt unreal. This one really feels truly Gay. Most gay relationships start with sex like this one does and this whole trope of 'Forever Love' that most BL series push mostly for straight women audiences is not real for the experience most of us Asian queer people have to live in reality. That way I totally understood why Team felt so unsure about his feelings because unlike straight relationships, even if you hook up with someone multiple times, it does not equate to a emotional connection. The way this was built up was way more real unlike other BLs that start with 2 guys falling in love just by looking at each other! I hope this gets more hype than it is currently as it deserves way more stars than Until we meet again which is a completely asexual and unrealistic love story that is really not part of the queer experience. The not talking bit that a lot of reviewers have talked about is a huge part of queer experience: society has always taught us not to express ourselves even when we meet a special someone and that this series reflects beautifully. rather than following all these marketed BL couples from GMMTV, you should just watch this and make this screen couple more of a thing!

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(Contains spoilers)
Personally, I think this is a very enjoyable series. Although there are moments that feel frustrating—especially the characters’ words and actions that unnecessarily complicate things, as well as the lack of weight behind their decision to keep distance (particularly regarding color blindness) I don’t see it as something serious enough to justify hurting each other emotionally to that extent. Still, overall, the story is engaging, especially thanks to the strong performances of the two lead actors.
As for the time-travel aspect that many people question, in my opinion, Hye Seong travels back in time through his sketchbook, which he finds in the art room, in order to fix the past and save U Jin’s life. At first, he lets things unfold as they did before and decides not to fall in love with U Jin again, believing he cannot change the future. However, as events begin to repeat with slight variations—such as changes in location and circumstances—he starts to suspect that the future might actually be alterable. Even so, he still chooses to distance himself from U Jin, thinking that U Jin’s accident happens in front of the school.
But when he returns to the present and learns the truth from his sister—that U Jin’s accident actually occurred on the way to the art institute to meet him—Hye Seong makes up his mind to save U Jin at all costs and travels back in time once more.
In the scene where Hye Seong pushes U Jin out of the way of an oncoming car before disappearing in front of him, I personally think the scene showing U Jin being hit by a car and lying in a pool of blood might actually be Hye Seong’s dream before he wakes up. However, the series never clearly confirms this. When Hye Seong asks his friend about U Jin, the answer is not revealed before the scene cuts to the cemetery—where U Jin’s urn is no longer there.
Then, on the day of Hye Seong’s exhibition, there are key details that make me believe it’s not just an illusion:
The basketball-shaped stone that was once placed in front of U Jin’s urn appears again in the painting they created together. I believe U Jin kept it all along, waiting for the day they would meet again.
In a flashback, when U Jin receives the letter and says, “We will meet again,” it strongly suggests that he is still alive, waiting for the right moment to reunite with Hye Seong.
I interpret the time-travel mechanism in this story as one where the protagonist remains alive in the present, and any changes he makes in the past directly affect the future (or present).
For example, at first, Hye Seong is invited to become a teacher at a high school. But after returning from the altered past, he is no longer offered that position—instead, he holds an art exhibition. I see this as a sign of change and a new beginning, ultimately leading him back to U Jin. I also think Hye Seong’s sister is aware of these changes, as she hints that he will meet someone important and that it will mark a new beginning for him.
For me, this series is very compelling. Each episode keeps you wondering whether this journey through time will succeed in saving U Jin. That said, there are still several weaknesses—such as inconsistencies in the plot, lack of clarity, and unresolved questions—that may leave some viewers confused about whether everything was real or just in Hye Seong’s mind.
However, after carefully analyzing multiple scenes, I personally conclude that Hye Seong was able to save U Jin’s life. During the ten years they were apart, U Jin lived his life well, just as Hye Seong had wished. Eventually, they reunite at the right time.
(That said, I’m a little annoyed with the director for not letting them hug when they finally meet! But I understand—it had been ten years, and one of them believed the other had died. When they finally see each other again, they’re overwhelmed with emotions and can only look at each other with longing.)
I really like this series. But if some viewers don’t enjoy it because they find it confusing, that’s completely understandable too.

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A precious pearl within a hard shell.

First and foremost, this drama is a risk worth taking to give Princess Agents (2017) the closure it deserves. This is a gift for fans who have been left on the edge of that cliff in the Frozen Lake incident for years. The frustration of endless waiting for the official end is finally over, no matter what controversies it creates.

1# What is in the past
Princess Agents is among the first C-dramas that brought me into the world of Chinese dramas. As I recall, the production quality isn't great, but the story itself is a gem. For me, it is not the romance or wuxia that keeps this story engraved in my memory: it is the tragedy finally revealed in the last three episodes. Chu Qiao recognizes Yuwen/Zhuge Yue’s love and sacrifice when it is too late. The selfless Zhuge Yue meets his death. And Yan Xun, once so free-spirited, eventually becomes consumed by vengeance. And, Princess Chun’er fails in her revenge and is cast down as a commoner.

My afterthought is that it is actually easy for the director to give a happy ending rather than a tragic cliffhanger. Just need to add one more episode! Chu Qiao leaped out of the frozen lake with her hidden martial technique activated. It may feel like a deus ex machina, but she managed to pull Zhuge Yue out of the lake and single-handedly defeated Yan Xun. She then transferred her inner energy to save Zhuge Yue and so on. They got married and lived together in seclusion in cold Ximeng. The badass story would end happily like a typical wuxia story, even though this trajectory won't solve the political problem.

#2 What has changed now in a good way
In Rebirth (2026), they chose to follow the novel to some extent to give more room to address the political problem. This drama thus experienced a tremendous change. The most striking aspects are the shift in genre and level of conflict, evolving from romance-wuxia into a more political and military-driven story, and from interpersonal conflict into conflict between nations. The story expands in scope and deepens in theme. What was once centered mainly on personal freedom becomes a broader commentary on societal issues, power relations, and peacemaking.

For me, this shift is worth appreciating because not many C-dramas are willing to venture into a territory less favored by mainstream audiences. This is precisely what makes Rebirth feel like such a precious pearl. While watching it, I found it deeply satisfying and would even consider it on a par with dramas like Swords into Plowshares (2026), which has a similar theme. And, for a "female general drama", it is so much better than "that overnight female general" in Pursuit of Jade (2026).

This shift also reflects the director's and screenwriter's ambition. To support the premise they set out to deliver, even if the drama does not fully reach an epic scale, it is still produced with strong cinematography, a soundtrack that effectively supports the atmosphere, and clear line delivery. Its worldbuilding is also carefully constructed, with fairly distinct cultural differences established among the states of Yan, Biantang, Ximeng, and Yong. Even, they added a cult of a faceless god! The storyline, plot, and events are fast-paced and efficient, advancing with clear discipline. Because it is set in a dystopian world, the director also does not hesitate to present brutal and bloody scenes. The story does become dark and intensely serious, with relatively little comic relief. The atmosphere is intense and high-stakes in almost every moment. They let you see the beast among men with power, those who treat human beings like dust.

3# What are the problems
Even so, it must be acknowledged that this precious pearl is not easily obtained. Viewers must struggle to crack open its hard shell. And many viewers, it seems, fail to open it, and therefore cannot appreciate what lies within. This drama’s "failure" is largely shaped by the circumstances surrounding it, rather than its story and production quality.

The main problem is premature disappointment driven by: (1) nostalgia for the original main cast of Princess Agents (Zhao Liying, Lin Gengxin, Shan Dou, and Liqin). Getting the original leads to come back is practically not possible, (2) the new actress cast as Chu Qiao, who is considered too young to portray such a mature character, even though she is actually quite capable, and (3) the accusation that Rebirth is a newly invented story that departs from "the true Princess Agents".

People may think differently. For me, there is no such thing as a true Princess Agents (since it is an adaptation, too). The changes made to Rebirth were the director’s and screenwriter’s creative efforts to restore the promise in the face of an impossible circumstance. The cool wuxia elements in Princess Agents—martial techniques and inner energy—as well as Chu Qiao’s personal backstory, particularly her mother's role as the leader of an underground spy group, were largely omitted, as they are invented additions that did not come from the original novel. If those elements were kept, they would be forced to write a completely new story, with zero grounding in the source material.

The next problem is the different opinions among fans and (new) viewers over whether Rebirth is a standalone or a continuation. Each perspective carries significant consequences for the viewing experience. Those who deeply loved Princess Agents and its original cast are unwilling to accept this continuation, burdened as it is by disappointment. They watch unwillingly, may not really watch at all, and skip or jump right to the ending. They take pleasure in mocking this project, ignoring its strengths and denying it the appreciation it deserves, and use this moment to praise the former drama as if it were perfect.

Meanwhile, new viewers who do not have the time to watch Princess Agents as a prequel tend to treat Rebirth as a separate, standalone story. Skipping the prequel and jumping right into Rebirth is indeed more practical. But the downside is, important context is lost—the background that explains the present events, the reasons behind each character's relationships, and the emotional weight behind "the more serious and dark" Rebirth. Without proper contextual knowledge, they are bound to feel confused. Another thing: their first expectations are often “how is the romance and chemistry in this drama—is there kissing, is there a love triangle, is it a happy ending?” or “when will Li Yunrui from Blossom (2024) appear?” They easily become disappointed with the several early episodes, which show little of what they expect and serve more as a buildup before Rebirth reaches its momentum again.

So, if you see the low rating, it is not the drama itself that is a failure; it is these two camps of people who deliberately make it fail. It almost becomes a movement where one voice follows another in unison, without adding anything new to the discussion. So unfair and ridiculous, but that is how the viewers' "politics" are at play. Seemingly, they won't stop until this drama hits a new low.

4# Why still love it and what could've been better
In the end, only a small number of viewers seem willing to embrace it as a re-adapted continuation. I am part of this small group. If asked why, my answer is: The value of Rebirth lies not in its perfection or its ability to please everyone, but in its courage to continue a story that was once left unfinished. Even though, in the end, some of my hopes were left unfulfilled, I feel enriched after enjoying it. Having this drama is still better than having nothing at all.

Also, this drama feels like an interesting experiment: how a director continues a story from a post-climax point after almost a decade, while facing the reality that audiences and trends have already changed. In the era of easy and fast access to information and communication, we no longer have patient audiences. Bad-mouthed spread faster, fan wars are everywhere, and people have more power to make demands or to destroy figures they hate. Also, romance is almost everything. Even if the overall story is crap, people would praise any drama with a heavy dose of romance.

Even so, I am not a viewer who watches with blind love while closing my eyes to its flaws. As a matter of reflection, I also wish there were certain things in Rebirth that had been executed differently. For examples:

(1) They shouldn’t have started right from the Frozen Lake incident. They should have gone a bit further back to show why Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue ended up in such a desperate situation. What made the final episodes of Princess Agents so devastating wasn’t just the bloodshed or Zhuge Yue’s fall into the lake, but his one-sided confession of love before—after Chu Qiao said that they would meet again on the battlefield as enemies, and she reminded him: if you didn’t want to be hurt, it would be better not to make a move (to love). Zhuge Yue replied solemnly: he actually had already been hurt for a long time (ever since Chu Qiao chose to follow Yan Xun and become a rebel, leaving him behind).

That scene was the true emotional bomb, the real reason Chu Qiao is shattered, knowing Zhuge Yue falls into Yan Xun's trap. It should have been preserved and carried forward as the foundation of Rebirth. So, when Chu Qiao awakens after sinking into the Frozen Lake, what should have happened to her was not amnesia but hysteria. Whether she later became amnesiac or blind as a result of emotional repression, the story would have been far more compelling. In that way, her reunion with Zhuge Yue would have become a deeply meaningful release and resolution of their previous conflict, rather than merely a simple recognition of someone once lost and finally returned.

(2) Rebirth should also not test Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue with a merely “typical breakup” like that of newly formed lovers in a romance drama. They are not just a couple who have recently fallen in love, but a husband and wife who have perfected their marriage. Two people who love each other deeply, even when faced with differences in belief and ideology, do not easily cut their bonds. Trust and commitment should become the foundation of their actions. Even if tragedy repeats itself, and they end up hurting each other, everything must lead to their unshakable reunion, not another separation, and a solid cooperation to face the final war. This positive dynamic is a bit missing. Actually, many C-dramas fall short in their portrayal of married main couples. Here is not an exception.

(3) Although Rebirth focuses more on political and military, the dynamics it builds are often no more than moving troops here and there. There is no real discussion of geopolitics, military strategy, tactics, diplomacy, or efforts toward peace beyond force-on-force combat. The heads of state (three in Biantang, one in Ximeng, and two in Yong) are also easily toppled by a single person's hit behind the curtain. And later, a new entity (the Quanrong people) is introduced without proper foreshadowing and serves only as a device to unite the fragmented existing political entities. This makes Rebirth fall into the trope of a military story that is more about brawn than brains.

There are several wars throughout the story, but they are handled through telling rather than showing. Even when the wars are depicted, the action sequences are simple, involving only a few extras. Moreover, there is no clear sense of distance between locations or the cost of time. Armies move from place A to place B with ease, without logistical constraints or other practical difficulties. The peace itself feels somewhat cheapened, as it is achieved too easily—through the destruction (killing) of the old structure to build a new one. In reality, things do not work that way. Peace is achieved through justice and negotiation, where the old and the new reach a compromise or middle ground. Because of this, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue’s ambition to end oppression and slavery feels more like a dream or rhetoric.

Once again, this drama was not designed to be epic in a political or philosophical sense. Maybe the director didn’t really invest in this area (as they did in The Double (2024). They focused more on plot progression than on believability. But I wish whoever tries to create political-military drama would first learn about psychology, politics, war, and peacebuilding, etc., to avoid oversimplification. That will be the new statement of professionalism that improves the story's realism.

5# What should be more balanced
Lastly, the drama is too heavily focused on developing its villains/ antagonists rather than the virtues of the protagonists. On the one hand, this is a strength, as it allows us to understand the origins of evil and serves as a mirror, reflecting just how corrupt the world is. However, goodness and virtue should also be explored in a balanced way—at the very least by giving each character a meaningful redemption. In fact, there are many moments when characters could have been steered toward a more hopeful path rather than continuing down a darker alley. All it would take is a brief scene.

Li Ce, the womanizer who once cared nothing for the state, now learns statecraft, governs wisely, and holds his son with Ziming (before his death). Li Yan, who loves Chun’er wholeheartedly, spares her further violence and becomes king in order to restore her dignity and elevate her status (before his death). General Huan Huan does not die easily, but instead engages in a true sword duel with Zhao Che and proves her worth as a badass military general (the side of her that reminds Zhao Che why he falls in love with her). Instead of suicide, Chun’er realizes the full consequences of her actions and is killed while trying to protect her baby (in her delusional state, or in an alternate reality?) and the people of Yong, who are torn by another great war. Chu Qiao learns to temper her steel-hard idealism and steady her emotions so she can look at Zhuge Yue with eyes shimmering with love. And Zhuge Yue learns to love himself and to stop letting his body and his heart get wounded over and over again.

The strongest character transformation is only found in: Queen of Lingyue, who solves her conflict by eventually choosing the righteous path; General Chen, who remains steadfast in his loyalty while being true to himself; Helian Ling, who learns pure love and moves on by embracing her new role as the Queen of Yanbei; and Yan Xun, who lets go of his ego, accepts Helian as his reality, and ultimately achieves the unification of Yanbei.

This redemption, which leads to the character's transformation, should be the true meaning of "Rebirth": not only physical rebirth but also existential one. The transformations on a personal level are truly the ingredients of the freedom and peace they are all seeking so badly. It should be found inside themselves, not from the battlefield.

(I wrote this after ep. 39. I am so happy, in ep. 40, they show us alternate reality of every beloved character if they decided things differently)

6# The key to opening the shell and enjoying Rebirth is an open mind.
Despite its relatively low rating, this drama remains phenomenal and is able to maintains quality. It may not be a viewing experience that satisfies the masses, but for those willing to go beyond surface expectations, it offers something that lingers long after the story ends. Its flaws are there, and its execution is not without weaknesses, yet its core still carries weight for viewers who choose patience over haste, substance over appearance. Breaking through its outer layers is not easy, but what lies within offers a value that makes the effort worthwhile.

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Lovesick Puppy Boy and Delulu Lunatic, Here We Go Again

"Love beyond the Grave" is one of my long-awaited C-drama and previously, I only endured the first 20 pages of its OG source 'cause the mortal world arc was too boring to my liking (I also have its hardcopy, but due to the difficulty of historical term, I'm discouraged to continue reading). After recovering from "Pursuit of Jade", I immediately enter the world of this drama. From my perspective, I can't say it's an excellent masterpiece, but it's not a catastrophe as well (err, it's going to one in the finale). I'm also aware that xuanhuan genre isn't everyone's cup of tea, hence the increasing amount of low rating. As a xuanhuan's fanatic, I'm used to seeing this phenomenon and just masticate every material given to me. Let's see my take on "Love beyond the Grave".

"Love beyond the Grave" revolves around a 400-year-old ghost who is the sovereign of the spirit world, He Simu and a mortal general who is chosen by the Deliverance Sword as its master, Duan Xu/Duan Shunxi. On one of Simu's travel to the mortal world, she happens to pass by the lifeless Liangzhou City, adopts Xue Chenying after his father makes a deal with her, and finally encounters Duan Xu, discovering that he's wielding the Deliverance Sword (forged by her aunt). Simu deliberately gets close to him to dig information out of him, including his original background and the reason why he can wield that mystical sword. At first, the two play a cat-and-mouse game covered with multiple layers of deception they only know of. Over time, they share weal and woes together, open up each other's emotional wound, and learn of the predicament of life.

To put it frankly, "Love beyond the Grave" is actually plotless too. After Simu comes to the mortal world and strikes a deal with Duan Xu to exchange five senses every 10 days, everything should've come to an end. There's nothing special about it. However, the scene where Simu looks like a happy little puppy experiencing five senses makes me feel for her. A lot of people are criticizing about this part, but I guess it's normal for someone who can't feel five senses in themselves. Another issue which plagues this drama is the simp ML again. After a traumatizing experience of "Eat Run Love", I have been dreading simp ML and I guess we get another one in here. This occurs when Simu needs to leave the mortal world and returns to the spirit world to govern those rebellious ghosts and wandering spirits who can't let go of their obsessions. Duan Xu is supposed to travel to Nandu to catch up with his army, but he decides to abandon his life in the mortal world, recklessly entering the spirit world just to accompany Simu every day. Nevertheless, the amount of simping is much more tolerable compared to "Eat Run Love" where the FL repeatedly dumps the ML every time they meet (excuse me, but the simping is getting more obnoxious as the story goes - as you see, Duan Xu is always in need of last-minute rescuing, especially from Simu herself - other than her, all the characters also seem to be feeling sorry for this little general, including the spirit girl, Jiang Ai, Fengyi, and who knows). Simu loves Duan Xu himself, but she's bound by her duty and responsibility as the leader of the spirit world, so it's quite reasonable for her to push him away. Simu originally wants to take Chenying with her too if it hadn't been for her identity in the spirit world. One more, I hate the fussy Meng Wan (Duan Xu's subordinate) with her over-the-top histrionics and Xia Qingsheng isn't helping much either. Another aspect I have yet to mention is how Wei Zheming pulls off a delulu role so spectacularly that I start to loath Yan Ke. His unrequited love has driven him to an unhinged state with Simu always defying him, so it's no wonder that he will turn into an entirely different person. Moreover, he also craves for power and throne, which is why he has the motive to kill Simu's father.
Note: I shouldn't have expected much from the screenwriter of "The Journey of Chong Zi". I don't have any idea what the former had faced in the past, but 7.2 is a total cataclysm.

Dilraba Dilmurat once again rocks as a badass lady - Simu is my favorite character of hers so far, including Nie Jiuluo in "Love in the Turquoise Land". She also showcases her versatile acting skills by transitioning from a naive mortal girl experiencing the five senses to a domineering sovereign of all spirits. Her age gap with Chen Feiyu is definitely not a big problem here as they can create a sizzling chemistry hot enough to make you swoon over their couple scenes. Chen Feiyu himself also rises to another level of acting. After "Love Story in the 1970s", he continues to deliver hit after hit and is able to generate chemistry with every co-star he is paired with. However, he isn't without flaws, of course. Firstly, his simping level. Secondly, his smile is eerie enough to make you feel that he's kind of a stalker (in the early arc when he is a confident general). Thirdly, he loves to gamble with his life, which can be a bad lesson for little kids if they don't understand the underlying meaning of it. Fourthly, I totally dislike his hairstyle as the general, with those over-the-top long bangs - they don't suit him at all. Surprisingly, I love Wei Zheming as a villainous antagonist Yan Ke - he also has palpable chemistry with Dilraba when he cares for her. Meanwhile, Zhang Li hitches off as the avaricious yet kind-hearted spirit Jiang Ai and she captures the soul of Jiang Ai pretty well. This is my second time of watching her - the first being "Love on the Turquoise Land" too, but unfortunately, I don't like her character there. The rest of the casts are decent as well. Special shout out to little boy portraying Chenying, Fu Bohan. I truly feel for Chenying's loss of his father and his unwavering determination to protect his "sister", He Xiaoxiao (the identity Simu uses to deceive Chenying).
Edit: As Zogitt had previously mentioned, Simu is indeed a femme fatale type of FL, obviously seen from her code of conduct and how she keeps seducing Duan Xu. To put it simply, she's the one gravitating towards him and naturally the plot will be pushed forward.

I have mixed opinions for the OSTs though. Some of the OSTs are tolerable, but some are kind of jarring or perhaps not my cup of tea. CGI is outstanding as well, with the resplendent sets and backgrounds in the spirit world (can't imagine how they make those flying towers). Costumes are a bit of questionable (especially ML's clothes in the mortal world), but Dilraba's are beautiful though.
Edit: I've noticed that the production team has a distinctive favoritism for Huang Xiaoyun as her song is always played in almost every episode, alongside Zhou Hui and Liu Yuning's. Meanwhile, Zhou Shen's is sidelined as the ending credit and we only get to hear it several times. As for Lumi and Jin Wenqi, their songs are totally forgotten and only played twice or thrice nearing the end of the drama. Even Jin Wenqi's is dedicated for Jiang Ai - Bai Sanxing, not the main leads. This is just my personal view, but it's quite unbearable to me.

I'm not sure if I'll be rewatching it in the future as I tend to continue to other dramas soon after, but "Love beyond the Grave" takes a complete nosedive to the point that it can't be saved anymore, even after the review section is inundated by barrages of criticism, yapping, rants, and more. That's all I've got to say, good luck and happy watching!!!

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Finally, a Sweet & Easygoing BL Like the Old Days

After such a long time, it actually feels so refreshing to watch something this easygoing and sweet , it really gives those 2019-era vibes where dramas were just simple, fun, and comforting.

Yeah, it’s kinda predictable, but honestly that’s part of the charm. The funny characters, those clingy cheesy pickup lines, the loud chaotic energy, and that golden retriever × black cat dynamic — it just works so well.

With so many heavy and hectic BLs lately, this college drama feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s just easy to watch and genuinely enjoyable without stressing you out .

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A refreshing, funny, and well-produced series.

I had a good feeling ever since I saw the trailer!
Episodes 1 and 2: The series is very funny, well-produced with a good, dynamic script and well-developed characters. Right away we understand the personality, desires and dreams of the characters, and how they intend to get where they want to be (That's how I like it!). Even the secondary characters are charming (Jiu is my favorite character in the series!).

In addition, the series' visuals are unique! Both Si's mansion and Klao's farm are very beautiful, different from the usual settings used in other productions.

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Cute and fun hshort

I really enjoyed this drama. The main couple are very cute and wholesome and a joy to watch. The ML is exceptionally nice and not toxic or weirdly macho or anything. He doesn't have to be good at anything, he's good at being a decent human being and taking care of his loved ones and that is actually enough !!

The side couple is pretty fun, also mildly "breaking the mold", nothing that controversial, just pretty unique characters that feel like they aren't quite as bound by the usual archetypes and tropes.

Twenty-some eps at 8 mins long, this is a pretty focused little mini drama that I really enjoyed. I'll watch it again too.

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The "only main characters" show

This series is quite special in many aspects and already one of my favourite fantasy stories. Aspects, that makes it special are:

- it starts with a dynamic, fight focused storyline

- all characters feel like main characters and have very popular actors who have a great, impressive chemistry (they represent their roles in a way that you can forget they're just actors and not real magical beings)

- many unexpected plot twists

- great costumes and nice special effects

- beautiful songs

The only negative aspect is that sometimes the background music is annoying and not as nice as it is in other series.

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A Surprisingly Fun and Offbeat Ride

I really enjoyed this. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it—I didn’t know if the overall narrative would suit me, and the first episode didn’t land well. But I found myself engaged very quickly. The plots and script were genuinely fun, leaning into an offbeat comedy throughout the show. There weren’t any deeply serious arcs, but there were a few sequences that truly gut-punched me, surprisingly effective at adding a nice sense of balance.

Although it’s not a high-profile drama with a big budget, the performances and narrative were fully engaging, making this a very enjoyable watch.

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How Would You Rate Me Out Of 10?

The Actors:
Ha Ji Won's tears: 10/10
Ju Ji Hoon's angry eyes: 9/10
Nana's beauty: 10/10
Nana's underacting: 3/10
Cha Joo Young's beauty: 20/10
Cha Joo Young's overacting: -5/10

The Plot:
ML not having a military backstory (unexpected): 6/10
Using revenge porn not once, but twice as a plot point (without legal consequences ever brought up): -99/10
Killing off through murder the three (I'm counting the movie) WLW relationships (is this some kind of subliminal): -100/10
Pretending sexual assault emotionally only affects women (because apparently men are fine being subject to it if it can advance their career): -50/10
Not ever uttering the word gay or lesbian as if that wasn't a whole dimension of the drama and pretending a full on lesbian movie featuring one of the most prominent actresses as lead in a NSFW sex scene would even see the light of day in SK: 7/10 (added points for the positive wishful thinking)
Encouraging sympathy for the ML when he: sexually assaulted his wife, created and used revenge porn for personal gain, manipulated a poor woman into doing his dirty work and knowgingly let TWO innocent men go to prison: 1/10 (male mediocrity forgiveness in kdrama is getting tiring)

The Music:
Playing the OST everytime anything dramatic ever happens (every 10 minutes): 3/10

The Re-Watch Value:
I'm not even sure there is a watch value there: 0/10


TLDR; If the endless twists and turns of human evil scheming, the unprobable lack of legal consequences for public criminal activity and the tears of pretty women are for you, then watch any thriller kdrama. No, you are not special, Climax.

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Many people have already reviewed it in detail.

My take- watch it for entertainment, for comedy, for visuals, for a low stress plot, sweet chemistry, slow burn nostalgic romance.
The best part is that there is no rush, all stories (including the support characters ) have a conclusion. The highlight is the proposal and wedding which most C dramas rush. Here it is done elegantly so we feel their joy and when their story ends we come out of their world feeling happy.
For viewers who like a slow-burn character driven love story (we can say slowest of the slow-burn until episode 24 when they confess and then its all sweet and fluffy moments making it worth the wait) it is recommended.
For Miles Wei fans who have been waiting since You Are My Secret (July 2024) for a romcom of his, (probably the last one of this kind from him) this is a must watch!
For anyone who have watched him in Flourished Peony and Love Beyond The Grave who want to see him in a green flag role.

It delivers exactly what it promises: a fluffy, satisfying romance with a definitive happy ending.


Realistic rating 8-8.5

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Holy snoozefest

I saw edits of this and wanted to watch it. Episode one was nice, characters funny. Then it went downhill from there. The whole plot is Duang chasing after his crush, then a ton of useless dialogue which doesn't even move the plot forward. You could definitely tell that they didn't have a huge budget, often showing them in the same three places. If you don't like fluff just skip this. Another typical college romance where they sing and try too hard to make the mc seem like a "puppy" by the way he constantly whines and grabs onto the ml. I recommend skipping over the first 5 episodes all together. I had it on 2x speed and I STILL skipped over. Boring and unoriginal. The actors did a terrific job tho so I hope they'd act in a more interesting bl!

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