This review may contain spoilers
Episode 1 Set-Up is Chocked Full
Approaching having seen 500 KDramas, I’ve noticed that those with a strong first episode tend to do well, and the episode one of Perfect Crown brings great promise.We have a mysterious (note his first blood dripping appearance!) self-contained, isolated, somewhat brooding and rejected gorgeous ML, who obviously has a loving relationship with his young nephew, the current King, for whom he acts as Regent, but that cannot appear to be said about the King’s mother.
Contrastingly, IU’s FL character is direct, in your face, openly competitive, willing to do what it takes to win, unimpressed so unhindered by other’s expectations, and undeterred by hardships along the way.
The opening scene lays out turmoil and problems in the Royal Family, along with a recent tragedy that has up-ended all of their lives, causing adjustments to be made, with the Dowager Queen raising marriage to the ML , as IU’s character is facing a similar demand from her family, but with subpar candidates offered.
In her usual, no-holds-barred, take-the-bull-by-the-horns approach to a situation, she decides to solve her problem her own way.
One of the parts I found the most interesting was the reason she was finally given an audience with the Prince to bring her proposal to him, which shows us that all of the things she valued and raised first as reasons to have an audience with him, he doesn’t value enough to grant her that audience. It’s only when she mentions their common past as classmates that he grants her request, hinting at something deeper in his character that will unfold as the show progresses.
We have a potential villain in the Queen Dowager, we have an unknown in the Minister who obviously has somewhat of shared past with both leads, along with a few other side characters of note.
Add in the great soundtrack, including Bibi’s, “My Pace,” and Perfect Crown if off to a great start with plenty of plot threads woven to develop as it unfolds.
I watched the show because I was so impressed with Byeon Woo Seok’s masterful performance in his first leading role in Lovely Runner in 2024. From all appearance, this role is nowhere near the same. I will be interested to see how he handles it in comparison.
Most of IU’s past roles have been angst driven and greatly depressing, which very much concern to me for this show and its impact on BWS’s career as his 2nd leading role.
If this continues as it has begun, then I anticipate a somewhat quirky, cute romcom, with a little touch of drama in the back stories, and potentially some good laughs along the way.
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A poignant and philosophical take on the end of the world
"Together today, tomorrow, till the end."The Fool of the End was such a powerful title, but I'm not surprised they changed it in English. Thankfully, the few scenes removed from Yoo Ah In didn’t hurt the drama, since I think I know what was removed and it's not much (maybe some less important scenes too, no idea tbh). Like one of the top reviews said, it allowed for a stronger focus on the protagonist played by Ahn Eun Jin. Yoo Ah In was amazing as everyone else, and I hope he is doing okay. South Korea absolutely needs to change, but that's not the topic here.
It’s definitely not a drama for everyone, but it reminded me of recent real-world events like the covid lockdown, Korea’s sudden martial law, and, on a more personal level, the sense of community my grandma shares at the church. The timelines were handled well (so I was quite confused about the criticism, because the drama was giving you clear hints like showing the date and changing the color), and it was satisfying to learn about each character and connect everything together. I loved the unsettling but also calm atmosphere despite the chaos, how it kept my mind engaged, and how it moved me. It can sometimes feel ambiguous and require thinking and patience, but to me, it was in a good way. What Goodbye Earth offers is a deeply human story with a portrayal of hope and despair. I was hit so deeply in some of the scenes, even if it wasn't loud.
The drama focused on the perspective of ordinary people whose lives suddenly became extraordinary, and on what the catastrophe meant to the protagonist. The script wasn’t bad—the worldbuilding and storytelling were fascinating, and the introduction was great. Hae Chan (one of the kids) narrating the story to the audience as if you just opened a book? Perfect. I've read that the pilot was bad (the first episode), but I couldn't disagree more. I got chills right away and was more hooked than with most dramas. This is far beyond a simple slice-of-life as suggested by others, and yes it is a thriller. Anyone looking for raw intensity and complexity should definitely give it a chance. Every character has a meaningful place in the story and is given truly beautiful development. That's not to say everyone is likeable, obviously... I however loved that one female villain, she had an amazing presence. Despite the vast cast of characters, that was also handled well as I felt closer to them along the way.
The directing was amazing, and in terms of cinematography, it was the best. So much meaning in every frame and every scene. From the start, I loved how the lyrics matched the ending scene of episode one, and how the flashbacks used black and white along with other cool effects. The soundtrack was also a masterpiece, and the performances were incredibly raw and compelling. Revolution by Hwang Sang Jun and Pre-holiday is not just an OST, it's an hymn. Gloomy Day is my second favorite. Pray is also a great song, and the BGMs fit perfectly.
On top of all this, the drama was also progressive in more than one way, and I salute the screenwriter for that.
One flaw for me was the fact that I didn't understand In Ha's military storyline... I felt a bit lost with some of the military stuff. Maybe it was just me and hopefully I understand it better upon a rewatch. It definitely looked cool.
Side note: As stated in the opening, Goodbye Earth is the adaptation of a Japanese mini-bus novel, which is a first.
I will comment about the ending below.
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thrilling without a story
If the goal of #Bloodhounds2 was to pump adrenaline through the Iron Knuckle Fighting Championship battles, it succeeded—these fight scenes are far better than those in the first season. But if the aim was to tell a compelling story about bravery, it falls flat.I appreciate that the leads feel like true leads and the supporting characters aren’t overwhelming, yet the drama still fails to convey what it wants to. Perhaps it aimed to showcase heroism or a mission to save the lead, but to me, it comes across as an empty screenplay.
As for the leads, they’re some of the weakest male characters I’ve seen in an action K-drama. Sadly, both Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi feel better suited as supporting characters than heroes.
It’s good to see Rain take on a villain role, but he doesn’t leave a strong impression. He could learn a thing or two about being a captivating villain from Chansung (2PM), who truly steals the scenes he’s in.
Still, it’s not a complete waste of time. The fight sequences have definitely leveled up, but the story itself remains underwhelming.
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A Fresh Story
Here’s a refined and more polished version of your review with a clear, professional tone:I genuinely enjoyed this drama overall, particularly because the storyline felt fresh and introduced ideas that are not commonly explored. It maintained my interest throughout and kept me engaged enough to continue watching.
That said, the romantic development between the main leads did not fully resonate with me. Their relationship felt unconvincing and lacked natural progression. In contrast, the connection between the female lead and the second male lead appeared more authentic and balanced. Their similar backgrounds and shared perspective made their dynamic feel more relatable and believable.
Personally, I interpreted the relationship between the female lead and the main male lead as more of a familial or sibling-like bond rather than a romantic one. She came across as a deeply supportive figure in his life—someone devoted to his well-being and that of his family—rather than a true romantic partner. Not every story requires the primary leads to end up together romantically, and this felt like a missed opportunity to explore a different direction.
Overall, while I appreciated the originality and creativity of the story, the romantic arc did not fully align with my expectations.
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This review may contain spoilers
Hu Manli and Xia Xiaozhou are honestly one of the most *soulmate-coded* couples in C-drama history. Age gaps? Completely irrelevant when two people understand each other this deeply. They don’t just look good together — they *feel right* together. You can see how much they genuinely enjoy each other’s presence, like being side by side is already enough to make life better.
What really gets me is how their story quietly builds this image of a perfect, warm, happy family. If you watch closely — especially Xia Xiaozhou’s flashback in episode 25 (around 22:00) and Ding Ding’s flashback in episode 33 (around 40:00) — it’s all there. The life they could have, the emotional connection, the comfort… it feels so real and so complete.
Hu Manli gives him warmth — the kind that heals and softens everything. And Xia Xiaozhou? He gives her security in every possible way. Not just materially, but emotionally. He gives her his attention, his presence, his *existence*. He’s always tuned into her — constantly checking her moods, her feelings, noticing even the smallest changes. That level of care is rare.
And the most beautiful part? He *delivers*. Every promise he makes, every word he says — he follows through. Everything she ever says to him, he remembers and quietly fulfills. That kind of consistency is what real love looks like.
He’s also incredibly romantic, not in a flashy way, but in the way that matters — being there at the right moment, stepping in when she needs him most, again and again without fail. It’s effortless, natural, and deeply reassuring.
Even though he’s younger, he’s more mature than his age. That maturity is exactly what makes him perfect for her. He’s someone who can truly take care of her — and her son — not just physically, but emotionally, with patience, stability, and love.
And honestly… even though the ending is open and it *looks* like she rejected him, I don’t believe it’s a true rejection. I think she loves him too — she just hasn’t fully realized it or allowed herself to accept it. By the end, she keeps saying things like “you are now more qualified than me,” which feels less like rejection and more like **she doesn’t think she deserves him**.
She cares about him enough to want him to make the best choice, even if that means stepping back. And more than anything, she needed time — time to heal, to rebuild herself, to feel worthy again.
When he said he would wait — 1, 2, 3, even 5 years — you just *know* he will. And deep down, you feel like he’ll succeed, because the drama is filled with hints that she *does* have feelings for him:
She never once rejects him by saying “I don’t love you.” Instead, she shifts to practical reasons like the age gap — which feels more like an excuse than the truth.
She tells him that because of him, she could smile again. That line alone means everything — it shows his confession stayed with her, that she thought about it, that it changed her emotionally.
And that last scene… if you’ve watched enough of Sun Li’s acting, you recognize that smile. It’s not a polite smile. It’s the kind of soft, quiet smile she gives to someone she loves.
But maybe the biggest hint of all is this: her comfort around him. The way she naturally touches him, stays close, lets her guard down — without hesitation, without discomfort. That kind of ease doesn’t happen without emotional attraction. And she doesn’t behave like that with anyone else.
They’re not just a “what could have been.”
They’re a “not yet.”
And that’s what makes them feel like true soulmates.
"love both leads "
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LOTS of nonsense, but the actors are cute
SOME people say the series has turned to worse since the identity of “Enchante” was revealed, but it was not great to begin with. except for actors.* * *
THERE are dozens of series that depict “brothers” while casting actors that are not even remotely similar to each other, which is pretty annoying.
But here we have a few actors who could be bothers, but they are not in the scenario.
WHAT? Book’s character is written as a lass, so he is not interested in intimate fun? As almost always in BL series. Not believable at all. Also, the idea that they first become boyfriends and only then way later start to become intimate is completely backwards to how things happen in real life.
This tampers with the submerging into the story when you have to suspend disbelief in very basic truths of human life and relationships.
Other issues are covered in a spoilers tagged comment below.
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Flawed but entertaining
There is potential in the story but somehow the interpretation, or execution, falls short. Whether it is the action parts, the romance parts or the subterfuge, the script is very stilted. The story progresses predictably. The sets feels more gaudy than grand. The setting is ancient China but the story line wouldn't be amiss for 2026. There is the usual court intrigues and maneuvering but these seem more corporate than imperial.There is much emotional overlays but the results are just superficiality. Everyone cries but the sadness is not evident. Its more melodramatic than drama. There's love and romance scripted but there's no emotional connect. Kissing just meant a meeting of lips. There is much on brotherhood bonds but the interactions feels more like acquaintances.
In the end, it seems all about the sins of the elders being suffered by the children.
This is probably the most emotionless, passionless and stilted drama to date. The script also gets more incredulous, especially the miraculous rejuvenation. The miracles of healing is somewhat incredulous. Even by C Drama standards.
The MLs that is more plasticized than the FL. Tyrant emperor? More like plastic bully. the mothers were more tyrannical than the children. The robes also seem more revealing for males than females.
Li Qin as FYH was the most memorable act. Her graceful demeanor, lithely movements and unruffled calm carried her role better than the cry baby MLs.
There is much action and lots of twists, small and big, but overall the story line was somewhat detached and not as engaging. However there is enough to be entertained.
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A random Xianxia with a bad first impression— it's important you give it a second chance
THIS HAS BECOME MY FAVORITE XIANXIA! Even though I haven't watched that many xianxia dramas yet, I already have my own standards— and this drama managed to meet, even exceed, almost all of them. What made it even more compelling is how it covered many tropes and actually executed them well, which made this drama more immersive and captivating.At first, I found the camerawork and color grading a bit off-putting. But as the story goes, it genuinely grew on me. The unconventional camerawork and odd angles ended up adding charm— making the drama feel more goofy, light, and even whimsical at times. While the story started slow— which I understand might not work for everyone— the payoff is absolutely worth it and satisfying. The buildup is intentional and the development that follows after makes everything feel satisfying and earned.
One of the drama's greatest strengths is the writing. I love how the writers carefully crafted the plot, with clear intention behind every arc and character. The characters don't exist merely to serve the plot— instead they drive it forward. That alone made it so easy for me to get invested and attached to the story.
And speaking of characters, I was genuinely surprised by how attached I became to almost all of them with the exemption of the villains— I absolutely don't have any sympathy left for them despite their backstories as all of them decided to be evil and was remorseful until the end. Even side characters with limited screen time left an impact. Grandma, for instance, made Tianyao feel more human and vulnerable— her death truly hit me all while feeling more connected to Tianyao. Then there are Xiange and Qianshuo, Xiaoyan and Zhuli, the elves (especially Yun), Mr. Yan, Chenyi and Xuelin, even Musheng— each of them contributed meaningfully to the story. I initially thought they are merely side characters who will leave the story after, but I am so glad that they were also given their own short arcs. It added depth and made their presence feel purposeful to me, leaving me more attached with them.
Xiaosheng, in particular, stood out to me. I truly loved his character. His fears and insecurities were explored so well, making his growth more convincing and emotional for me. The moment he regained his true effigy, it felt freeing— not just for him, but also to me as a viewer. I am especially glad his character wasn't reduced to a mere love triangle device or a villain in the end because he truly was more than that.
The Chenxing Mountain arc also deserves praise— Zichen and Ziyue who supported Yanhui throughout. Most especially, Master Lingxiao. He wasn't only Yanhui's master— he became a father figure to her. Their storyline was deeply emotional and while it broke my heart, it also played a crucial role in Yanhui's development in the end. (However I really would like it more if he didn't really die)
And at the core of everything is Yanhui and Tianyao. Their individual growth and shared journey were handled beautifully. Tianyao may come off as cold and stoic, but beneath that is someone deeply kind and shaped by trauma. His actions always felt grounded in his past— they were never out of character or forced. Meanwhile, Yanhui is straightforward, resilient, and true to herself. What I love most about her is that she faces everything head-on without being reckless or unreasonable— just as Tianyao saw her. She carries herself with compassion, self-control, and strength.
Their relationship wasn’t perfect— and that’s exactly why it worked. Tianyao’s trauma initially hindered their growth and even hurt Yanhui, but the angst that came from it was so well-executed. I’m not a fan of repetitive miscommunication, but here, the conflict felt justified and rooted in their personalities. Even though they went through multiple breakups, each one was different and contributed to their development. Every resolution strengthened their trust and love for each other. They always came back stronger. What made their dynamic even more powerful is how they supported each other in their darkest moments. Yanhui helped Tianyao confront his past and let go of his hatred. And when Yanhui found herself consumed by that same darkness, Tianyao never left her— he guided her back to the light. That mutual growth and unwavering support made their love story feel deeply earned. And of course, the chemistry? Absolutely top-notch. Zhou Ye and Hou Minghao need another project together so bad.
The drama was also very structured in its world-building and power scaling. The fight scenes were consistently well-executed. I was absolutely thinking that there's more to anticipate because there's still 2 more episodes left, yet just like that it was all gone? I just knew that there's something more. Though I was already thinking, had it happened to be the last fight, I will actually be so disappointed because it was underwhelming. And I am glad that the drama didn't really let me down. The buildup was already great— from Suying to Dark Phantom all along— the stakes kept rising and the final confrontation delivered. I appreciate how the drama wasn't afraid to raise the stakes and makes the risks feel real— that made the drama even more compelling.
If there’s one thing that slightly fell short for me, it would be the ending. It felt a bit underwhelming, especially considering how crucial it was. While I’m happy it was a happy ending, the reunion felt too short, and certain aspects weren’t fully explained. However, considering the 40-episode limit and censorship constraints (especially with the change from reincarnation to resurrection), I can understand why it turned out that way. Even so, it was still a decent conclusion and I am pretty biased— so long that my Yanhui and Tianyao got their happy ending, I am happy.
Overall, this drama stands out because of how well-executed its events are, as well as the characters' depth and story. Nothing felt forced or like a mere plot device— it always felt like the characters were in control of their own story. I became deeply attached to them, and that’s something a lot of dramas fell short of. Despite its heavier moments, the drama maintains a light, humorous, and wholesome tone. I genuinely can’t count how many times I found myself smiling while watching. This is definitely something I'd rewatch again sometime. I really love this drama a lot and I hope this gets more recognition and hype it deserves. Definitely a masterpiece!
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Love demand Effort
The feeling in Love carries you today but not too long. The Decision of today feels good but the regret comes afterwards.You have to define what is Love for you.
If you work hard your love it will come to you. If not, than she/he doesn't deserve you.
There you will see that love comes for you.
The Love comes in unexpected time in unexpected person.
The Question is if you will know it.
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Not very good
I was very curious about this one, because you hear so much about it, but i was quite dissapointed. The story was ok but also anoyed me.The production had some bad moments like abrubtly cut off scenes.
The visuals and music were good.
The acting was ok, but not great! And the lead actress really anoyed me so much! Her lack of diversity in emotions, she was good in crying and pouting. But there was too much pouting going on, even in scenes that didn't need it. And she wasn't able to show emotions like love. Her face went blank in romantic moments and even during the kisses. If you can call that kisses, it were just dead kisses. Just pressing lips together and not in a good way. I have seen just lip pressing kisses that looked quite good, but not here.
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Great start, then falls off
I'll watch anything with Liu Yuning so I was excited about this series, even though the 'falling into a script' trope is not my favorite. The first 10-15 episodes were so captivating; loved the Vicious Moonlight set and the costumes, especially Li Sixteen's. Ultimately dropped because the female lead showed no character growth and the plot didn't seem to be advancing. The plot also stopped making sense halfway through. Uncompelling relationship between Nan Heng and the female lead.Was this review helpful to you?
Great concept and acting, plot falls off at the end but still watchable
Well-acted, great setting, and great concept. I ate this up until episode 9, where the plot fell off for me. Overall the climax / final confrontation wasn't as scary as I wanted and the resolution of the Rampheung story felt forced, but I loved the house and the village and the cast. The past life aspect was great. Rewatch value is high because I haven't seen anything that has the same look or feel, and because the performances of the main leads are so subtle that there's a lot to notice on rewatchWas this review helpful to you?
Romantic perfection.
Nakhun's chemistry with the other characters is everything I needed, funny and cute. The romance is no exception; in fact, the dynamic between Phop and Nakhun makes the feeling of longing palpable, even between people who technically don't know each other so well (on Nakhun's part, Phop completely, and on Phop's part, the actions of this new Klao). This shows the reach of the couple, even before the relationship is established.Was this review helpful to you?
Nothing Good To Say
Just skip this one, not worth it at all.The story doesn't make sense, it's all over the place and honestly annoyed me. I don't even get the title of the drama, the cat was lowkey unnessecary to the plot. And why are we playing this hard to get Thian?! Only to keep this story going cause there was nothing else to do with it.
Acting was also meh to me. The situations seemed really fake and unnatural, chemistry was off and the dialogue... quite odd.
The voice audio gets overshadowed by annoying sound effects, music and is in general really quiet. In one scene the voice audio is basically gone, don't know what happend there.
In conclusion don't watch it. Waste of time, the only nice I can say is that it ended fast.
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This review may contain spoilers
It was an emotional, beautiful, natural, playful, hilarious and a very sweet drama. I thoroughly enjoyed being with the main leads in their journey, sipping my cuppa leisurely, without skipping a single scene., thereby appreciating the little nuances and details which I would have otherwise missed. It was calming and healing for me.The dialogues, OST, visuals, bgm everything fitted nicely with the story.
The second couple were good too. I'm so pleased that they had a good ending too.
Li Shi Can! As much as I felt annoyed with him in those few episodes in Shenao, in the latter episodes I began to warm up to him😭😭. In fact I enjoyed the comedy he provided with Xu Huaisong.
Editor Chen was a surprise 😂
The cute highschoolers, the Ruan family, Xu family, the lawyer colleagues, Sun Miaohan and the rest of the supporting cast 💖
This drama is simple and delivers what it is supposed to, that is, mutual secret crush transitioning to mutual love through deep understanding , trust, shared vulnerabilities, communication.
No less than 10/10
Will definitely be in my rewatch list and the place to go to when I need that extra tlc
Recommended for romance drama lovers.
Not for people who like intense stories, complicated plots, multiple plot twists, toxic relationships.
Definitely not for those who critically appraise C dramas like a research paper 🤣🤣
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