Reviews

average storyline and acting

the series started off really great showcasing vincenzo as a proper mafia but then- whats with the drama?! i was really loving it until they kept on adding unessecary stuff which made it feel boring. i really loved the twist where they showed jang han seo as a psychopath villain-it suited him. adding that bromance of tae ho and another guy was completely useless. there were many potholes amd song joong ki did a bit too much in his acting imo. i really loved choi myeong hee and jang han seo's duo, and i loved jang han seok too but they killed him off which was not needed.

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A Simple Story That Gently Breaks Your Heart

I started 18th Rose on Netflix out of boredom, honestly expecting a light and forgettable teen romance. But this film surprised me in the best way—it has more depth and emotional weight than it initially lets on.

Set around a Filipino debut, the story follows Rose, played by Xyriel Manabat, a bright and determined teenager preparing for her 18th birthday. She meets Jordan, portrayed by Kyle Echarri, an American-Filipino struggling to adjust to life in the province. Their journey starts off light and playful, but as their bond deepens, the story reveals more emotional layers.

Xyriel delivers a graceful and heartfelt performance, portraying Rose with strength, warmth, and quiet resilience. Kyle Echarri, however, is the standout here. His portrayal of Jordan shows growth, depth, and emotional intensity—it’s easily his most impressive role to date.

The film starts with a soft, giddy vibe, but gradually becomes heavier, tackling themes of identity, self-worth, and the bittersweet transition into adulthood. It also touches on how young people navigate expectations versus reality, especially in a simpler, early-2000s setting.

What makes this film special is its sincerity. There’s no forced drama between the leads, and their relationship feels natural and supportive, which makes the emotional moments even more impactful.

While the story itself isn’t entirely new, the execution is polished and heartfelt. It’s the kind of film that quietly grows on you—and stays with you.

Definitely worth watching, especially if you enjoy emotional coming-of-age stories.

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the story moved so beautifully

I don't have a background history of the happenings portrayed here but it was so beautifully done, you're first thrown in confused and skeptical, and when you think you finally understand what happening and the suspense starts to feel weak then bam! you're thrown into more confusion, left to rewind and look back at certain details you thought 'not important' but were clues leading you somewhere. the movie keeps you on you toes and has you making inferences only to break it down to create another, what I loved the most was the pacing, and the story telling was sooo good. the acting was exceptional and the fight scenes well choreographed, I watched this for Wang Yibo but stayed for the whole performance, I highly recommend this, it's been a while since a thriller suspense has me on the edge.

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how much does our definition of love matters?

the story throws you into confusion at the beginning, then you feel bad for the FL and want to comfort her, somewhere in between is Tan song Yuns character showing up and making you uncomfortable, because somewhere in her cheerful nature and carefree personality is a discomfort you can quite put your finger on. then the meeting between the FL and ML happens and then you see the doom on its way. I could tell the FL was distraught and confused but her love for the other girl was just not strong enough for her to steer clear from ML. finally you understand the second FL character and her need for fairytale like romance and finally her undying love for the FL, but this isn't a complicated cheating story per say it is more of a complicated love triangle with extremes.

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First drama that’s better in the last 20 episodes than the first 20

i just finished this so i wanna give my insight. First 10-15 episodes were kinda enjoyable because we were still getting into the story, but from those episodes till episode 20 or something OMG HOW MUCH I HATED FL😭😭😭 of course she thinks she’s in a storybook and she doesn’t treat the characters like real people and of course she wanna save herself, but ALL HER CHOICES MADE ME SO MAD😭😭😭 some scenes were so corny it took me so long to get through them😭, around the 20ish mark she has less screen time so the plot is more enjoyable with the rest of the characters (omg fl’s sister was also ANNOYING as hell mannn, why did she wanna force someone that didn’t love her into marriage by drugging them?😭). Well after the reveal is done Fl starts behaving like a normal human being thankfully so the story becomes enjoyable!! One think that took me out was how the Emperor switched up on Nan Heng when it was revealed that he was not the mastermind behind the Empress’ death LIKE DUH HOW CAN A 9 YO PLAN AN ASSASSINATION????? and then him being like ‘why didn’t u tell me?’ as if he didn’t have ML whipped for schemes almost a 100 times just a few weeks prior😭😭😭 Even tho he did a 180° i didn’t mind his character AFTERWARDS.
General Chu was giving uncanny valley sometimes at the end, but tbh as a human being he was wronged in the OG OG storyline, then in the current one since ML is NOT a bad guy, Chu was just crazy. He gets top 3 most annoying character with both the princesses from Fated Hearts and The Double!
It was a nice watch at the end of the day!! i recommend

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Not Just Good, But the Best.

I am always skeptical when it comes to Domundi shows — they have a penchant for creating fun, light, yet wholesome, stories such as Your Sky or blowing it out of the box with nonsense such as The Next Prince, then drop Khemjira the next month, which undoubtedly put their future dramas into scrutiny.

A 9/10 rating for such a drama might be an overblown score, but I will explain why.
(To be more accurate, it will be closer to 8.7 for me. It has its ups and downs and I personally loved everything upto EP9. The rest are as enjoyable, but didn't pack the same punch as the previous ones for me.)

Being a character driven plot, Duang With You, by all means, is the perfect recipe for disaster, particularly for seasoned watchers and those who are expecting complex plots and no-nonsense characters. The funny thing is that the show itself is well aware of it --- it was meant to be a fluffy, albeit a little healing, and yet a fun romance.
And it does not attempt to disguise itself as something it was not.


✓ It starts off with a manic energy and ridiculous sound effects which further prove this point. Not to mention the rather cliché premise—

A popular interior arts student, Duang, pursues his icy love interest, Qinn, creating circumstances that would attempt to make them closer. Qinn is rather amused by his shenanigans, but when he is forced to pair with Duang for a college performance, he begins to realize that there is more to the funny fellow than meets the eye. He inadvertently begins to fall for him, complicating his guarded emotions and confusing Duang, who relentlessly strives to prove his sincerity.

✓ Adapting a book that has no definite plot has its setbacks. That too, with absolutely no conflicts.
I personally loved the first couple of episodes, because there was some purposeful drive for the relationship. For example, the senior, particularly, Alice, setting Duang up for both their show and trying to make his dream come true is the impetus that drove Qin and Duang's relationship forward and provided the time required for Duang to be seen past his goofy nature for Qin.

✓ The writers stayed true to the novel, though. Because most of the scenes and dialogues are a jumble of various chapters of the whole book. Some of Qinn's final sentences in the novel are at the beginning of the book.
But, I do think that things got a tad bit repetitive in some aspects.
I know the writers did not mean for it to happen, but by the end of the EP12, I was terrified of Qinn's love for Duang.


✓ Caveat, it is almost 100% Fluff. And told almost entirely from Duang's point of view. This personally affected me because we didn't get to see much of what was going on in Qinn's side of the story when some pivotal moments arrived -- I felt that it could've been 'shown' as tidbits instead of being 'told'. Particularly, about his family.

✓ Most of the plot is buoyed by the cast, particularly TeeTee, who delivers an unforgettable and lovable portrayal of Duang. Por is not far behind, and manages to stay on par with him.


✓ The true highlight of the series is the namesake of the drama, Duang. By all circumstances, he should've been a character that infuriates viewers, had something gone wrong.
Then, why, oh, why is everyone under a Duang Mania?
I think this is where the showrunners win.

And the title ‘Duang With You’ is the most suitable because Duang “is” the star of the show, played by TeeTee.
He manages to bring the maniacal, yet simple, and deeply empathetic character to life, switching between his tones and moods with ease, leaving us rooting for him at every turn.

Instead of being downright annoying, Duang is a character who knows his limits, pushing his emotions aside with a smile. He is never overtly jealous and somewhere, deep down, he was painfully aware that his pursuit of Qinn might be fruitless in the end.
Having to create a character who is unique, silly, unapologetically embarrassing and still manages to tug at your heart is no easy feat.

It reminded me of Lu Shi Yi from 'A River Runs Through It'. By all means, he could've come off as an annoying bully, but his consistent presence in Xiao Ju's life for years along with his natural charm attracted viewers. That drama will forever be a bitter memory for me for this very reason. Sigh... Anyhow.

Duang’s crazy infatuation drives him to make several plans that are frankly not from a sane mind, as his friends Jamie and Pae tell him.
We laugh at his efforts (I mean, he literally puts up his own stickers all over the hallway to catch Qinn’s sight) but as someone on YouTube commented, Duang was 100% serious about them.

To be honest, there is very thin line between stalking and attempting to woo someone, as Jamie and Pae tell him. But, the main point was that he was 'harmless'. If Qin asked him to stop, he stopped. When he felt that Qin wanted to drive him away, he stayed away.

He was consistent in his efforts, however ridiculous they were.
But, the bitter truth is that nobody in the world would wait for you as Duang did for Qinn.
But, who doesn't need a respite from reality?

That doesn't mean that Duang was a soft fluffball. He might be silly, straightforward and wears his heart on his sleeves, but he was honest and sincere. He masks his sadness with smiles, pushes himself away when he feels that he is not welcome and last, but not the least— he knows how to read the room.
(I am sorry to say that I know plenty of guys who would offer help when needed, but they all suck at romance.)

Qinn, played by Por Suppakarn, is rather difficult to portray, particularly when opposite to a character such as Duang, who is a perfect antithesis to Qinn. But, the writers gave him his time, throwing in glimpses of his turmoil and most of Qinn’s emotions depend on actions rather than words, which further complicates their relationship.
He reminded me of a more subdued version of Xiao Yao (Lost You Forever) as both characters had been shaped by their past experiences.
He lets Duang’s pursuit be a test for himself as well as for Duang and we spent half of the drama along with Duang – on a straight rope with no clear idea about what their relationship was exactly. Or rather a situationship.

While Duang is unsure of whether they were just in their ‘talking’ stage, Qinn has already claimed him as his person, whether Qinn was ready to accept it or not. Qinn was far more unsubtle with his emotions, having explosions of jealousy and is overtly more possessive than Duang.

✓ Maybe this slow burn and clashing characters are the true charm? I don't know for sure.
Also, the drama contains certain events/characters that push their relationship forward, a necessary change from the original novel, which was more of a collection of accounts of their daily lives. Much of the time Qinn understands Duang is during their summer break when they are practicing for a college programme. (There is a two week time skip which indicates this.)

✓ Duang’s efforts are flanked by his bestfriends, Jamie and Pae, who cheers him and also helps him realize the truth, offering comfort and caution whenever he needed. They don't come and go as they please and are active participants of Duang’s life. Both of them were comedic and clear headed and their friendship with Duang was another highlight. So was Qinn’s Tong and Kim. Characters existed for the vitality of the story rather than just to move the plot forward.

--- Family relationships play an integral part in both characters' upbringing. Qin was an only child with a rather strange family, but Duang's was vibrant and a sheer delight. I was happy seeing Yim as Funan. It has been years since I last saw him and he'll always probably be that 'Sadhu' guy from Cutie Pie. Whether family or friendship, this show did manage to brush all the parts.


✓ Aesthetically, the drama is pleasing to watch. It is completely splashed in colours with a cheerful tone. I don't know a thing about cameras and production thingies, and I won’t speak on that.


✓ The soundtrack reflects the same sentiments as the drama. My favorite ones are:

• Not the Best, but Still Good.
• Someday, Say Yes.
• Don't Give Up.
• Freeze ( Not an original, but two characters, Peem and Sol performed it in EP6 and it stuck with me since then.)
• Heart’s Timing.
• 101% Love.

Qinn being a Jazz music student had his fair share of performances onstage.
So, were Peem and Sol, two vocal students (played by Punch and Nice - two idols) who actually are one of the reasons why Qin and Duang are together. I loved their performance in EP6.

The drama also has several BG sound effects that add to its silliness, but it was endearing and reminded me of youth dramas such as ‘A River Runs Through It’.

For example, there is a scene where a serious character is jealous, but the pip-pip-pipee! BGM made me laugh and it wasn’t until much later, when it was evident that he was more critical about the issue, did the tone change.
This also affected the arrival of Marvis, Jamie’s person of interest, because the BGM and his shocked expression made me feel amused instead of awed. I feel sorry cause this feeling continued till the end whenever those two turned up. But, I have to give it to them– they had the most shockingly straightforward scenes.


—That reminds me; there are scenes that are quite risqué, but the way it was choreographed and directed seemed more emotional rather than gratuitous – almost too intense at times and made me watch through my fingers.

Moreover, there were instrumentals of certain songs that played during them that stuck with me.

✓ There was a slow build up BGM in EP6 where the boys are worrying about their performance that struck a cord in me. It was simply captivating and made me rewatch the previous episodes as it revealed the shift in their relationship. Hope it gets released.

✓ Unfortunately, this drama also just highlights the fact that honest and sincere people are a rare thing to find in the present world. And it was also relatable to me as I had seen two similar incidents happen over my time in college.
Well, at least, I'm happy that Qinn found his man. And Duang found his man, too.
It's not everytime characters like Duang, Lu Shi Yi or Lu Xun exist and get appreciated. I'm glad that atleast two out of the three of them got their happy endings.

Sometimes simply watching two characters grow up, face their fears and fall in love with no pressure is what we need. And that's exactly what this drama was for me, particularly during my University Examination period when it was a gift for an hour of break to break the stress. It was also the first drama I began this year.

I’m rating this a 9/10, not because it is a masterpiece. But, it simply is lovely, heartwarming, wholesome and memorable amongst the deluge of dramas in its own league - not the best, but still good.

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The judges were awful

Things I loved

1 That it was a pastry contest of course. Although for the love of god I don't know why they kept saying bread in English. If it was about bread then it should be about bread. That wasn't the case. Did the bake bread? Yes. But mostly it was pastries, so what the heck? All in all, it was an utter failure.

Things I liked

1 The contestants. Most were sympathetic and did their best to present us great pastries.

2 The winner. She was good, she has a crazy talent for details and she deserved the win.

3 The amateur judge. She was fresh and she honest about what she enjoyed and why. She didn't try to act like an expert and I appreciated that.

Things I disliked

1 The theme of every episode. I didn't find them enticing enough and there were too many that were stupid and not original at all.

2 Some of the contestants but luckily very few.

3 The judges that I didn't hate except for Mimi that I liked.

Things I hated

1 The judges panel. Napoli Matfia what an idiot. Not only did he win without glory his competition but he had to ruin this one with his stupid comments. Not only that but he had the nerve to say to the amateur contestant that she shouldn't be there. What a despicable idiot. She was one of the best contestants and she had a great attitude and she had to agree with that idiot? Please!!

2 The female judge who works in France. What a disagreeable arrogant woman. She rarely smiled and what ever she said you thought she ate a bitter lemon. I hated her. It's so clear she thinks she's the best.

2 Da-Hee, the presenter. I love her in Single's Inferno. She's so funny, incisive, beautiful. Here she was awful. She had nothing to do and when she spoke was only to frustrate us by taking an hour to effing give us the scores etc. If there is a second season she should stay out of that program. She deserves better.

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Beautiful People, Beautifully Shot, with Solid Writing

I’m impressed. I don’t think they spent huge amounts on this, but they spent every penny well. The production was slick, and really well filmed. The direction was good, the acting was naturalistic and quietly human. The locations were very minimalist and nicely lit. The story and writing were sound. The music wasn’t intrusive, but was evocative. I might be over-rating this, simply because it did everything reasonably well, but I feel like it’s one of the most consistently polished things I’ve watched recently, and it’s nice to have no complaints. Even the nut job sasaeng was rendered with restraint and style. If any BL series represents the South Korean Aesthetic it’s this one.

I feel like this production sets good precedent, because despite having a very tired central conceit (amnesia from head trauma), it made a lot of sense, and was admirably restrained, while keeping me interested. The added melodrama of the sasaeng plotline wasn’t overdone. Nothing distracted too much from the core romance, keeping it as a love story, despite the genre blending, and the annoyance of the third party trope wasn’t dragged out too long. I think they balanced the various threads of the story well, resolved the main tensions, and resisted the temptation to fill in too much detail on some things.

That said, it’s neither groundbreaking or even hugely original. I’m not rating it as high art. I’m rating it for what it is: a polished, budget queer romance with a very mild thriller element, and free of irritants. I give queer content a head start on ratings, based on the fact that it rarely gets the budget or production standards that straight content does, and gets treated as second-rate very often. As a result I’ve really piled on the stars for this one. It’s nice to see our demographic so well served by talented people. Recommended.

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Nothing to keep you watching

Things I liked

1 How it started. A bold and cute FL and a cute ML. You think it can't be bad and yet.

2 The FL. The script was weak but she was good in her role and I'd like to see her in other dramas.

Things I disliked

1 The ML. I didn't hate him like I did in Love is Sweet, but he's not great as the ML. He's cute, no doubt but I can't say I find him talented and the romance was tepid at best.

2 That I can't say something really positive. I've watched quite a few high school and college dramas and this one doesn't stand out in any way.

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An utter mess, but...

Things I liked

1 The premise. It wasn't that original, but it still stood out and wanted to know how it evolves.

2 The FL actress. She was good in her role. I haven't seen her elsewhere and I won't look for her other dramas, but here she did a decent job.

Things I disliked

1 It felt like it didn't know how to move forward, although I think that the writer knew what he wanted. It's just that it didn't land as he thought maybe and that's what makes people either like it or despise it. I'm in the middle. I think there was potential, but it could have been better.

2 The ending. I put it in the dislike list because it didn't make me feel satisfied, but it could also go to the like list because it was somewhat fitting. Many praise What If for going all the way with the ending but to me that was what broke my heart. I'll never get over that ending. I still have in mind their happy days before she left for Shanghai and can't fathom she chose that other idiot. So only for that this ending isn't that bad.

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Trigger warning for self-harm and non-consensual sex

This series can be very frustrating for the first 5 episodes because we go from the past to the future a LOT. A ridiculous amount, really. None of it is in chronological order, which makes the story more confusing than it needed to be. It's enough to make someone want to drop the series after an episode or two, but besides this, I felt like it was a solid series. The jumping from past to present pretty much stops by episode 6.

The only other thing I didn't really like was the characters Ken and Lavid (Rawit) being so stupid. The dads are just as bad. I'm not a fan of stupid characters or ones that lack common sense. I deal with that enough in my day-to-day life. It doesn't bother me to the point of mentioning it often, but Ken is literally out here helping run to companies (into the ground but still) and trying to outmaneuver Kelvin & Vier. It just didn't seem believable that either of the fathers would have given him any power to make company decisions. Lavid just doesn't have common sense.

The GL couple was really good, but it did feel like their scenes were filled with literal filler sometimes. Nana kicks ass! I love seeing a female character who can fight.

The OST was great, but for the main couple's NC scenes, it was a bit wild. In a good way. I was not expecting them to use those songs. Also, the kissing noises? I felt like I was intruding.

I loved the acting all around. Peat didn't have many facial expressions, but I don't think the role gave him much room to give that many. I could tell Fort was really enjoying this role, and his crying was captivating.

Non-consensual sex in episode 5? Not sure. The scene cuts off, but it hints at it, so right now I'm going with yes.

There are several scenes where Kelvin hurts himself and has a panic attack. I'm assuming it was a panic attack since I don't know what else it could have been, but it was very tame in comparison to the ones I've had. As for hurting himself, Kelvin cuts himself a lot in the months after he and Vier go their separate ways, and Peat's response, the relief he gets from doing it, is accurate to how it actually feels when you cut yourself. How do I know? I've done it before when I was feeling very stressed and was in an environment that I had no control over, and it was a way of getting things to slow down so I could breathe. Don't worry I haven't done it in years, and I'm mentally in a much better place. The point is, it was realistic.

This show would be interesting to rewatch now that I have all the pieces to the story.

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This drama ticks almost every box of a well-produced series, and in my view, it may even be underrated on MyDramaList. I would expect it to sit closer to 8.5.

It stars Luo Yunxi, who has been one of my favourites since Ashes of Love. Once again, he does not disappoint. His portrayal of Tang Li Ci is remarkable—transforming from a broken, traumatised refugee to a near god-like figure. The emotional range he delivers, from vulnerability to quiet triumph, is impressive. In many of his previous roles, such as Ashes of Love and Till the End of the Moon, he plays similar diverse roles from lowly figures to powerful, divine characters, and this drama continues that trend—yet still feels fresh.

Alen Fang also deserves special mention for his intense performance as Liu Yan. His portrayal of obsession and delusion is convincing and, at times, unsettling.

The cast overall performs strongly and is visually appealing. The storyline is refreshing—moving away from the usual gods-versus-demons formula common in Chinese fantasy dramas. The CGI is impressive, the fight sequences are visually striking, and the costumes are stunning. Luo Yunxi, in particular, seems to glide effortlessly from one elegant costume and hairstyle to another.

That said, the drama does echo elements of The Untamed, especially with musical instruments like the qin and flute used as lethal weapons. I even checked whether they shared the same writer—but they do not.

What truly hooks the audience is the central mystery: what really happened in the past, and who exactly is Tang Li Ci? Is he truly YiQue YinYang?

The story is intriguing. An ancient tribe developed the Rebirth Scroll—a mystical technique granting rapid healing and extraordinary power. These near-immortal beings ascended to form the TianRen Realm, leaving behind ShenZhou, their earthly home. However, history takes a dark turn when a TianRen (Celestial Being)—Ye Mo (also known as Yi Que Yin Yang)—descends to earth, is mistreated by humans, turns rogue, and brings devastation upon the land.

Beyond fantasy, the drama mirrors real-world dynamics in a surprisingly sharp way. Both Tang Li Ci and Liu Yan are deeply tied to Fang Zhou, almost like devoted followers of a political figure. Their conflict stems from this attachment. Liu Yan, convinced that Tang killed Fang, clings stubbornly to this belief—even when evidence suggests otherwise. His judgement is clouded not only by manipulation from the sinister Ghostly Peony, but also by his own jealousy and personal dislike. It is a powerful reminder of how easily bias shapes perception—we often believe the worst about those we resent.

What appears to be an intense rivalry between Liu Yan and Tang Li Ci gradually reveals deeper layers. There are unseen forces at work—manipulators pulling strings behind the scenes.

The internal dynamics of the Sword Alliance are also strikingly realistic: resistance to change, suspicion of rising talent, and vulnerability to corruption. Despite clear threats, they struggle to adapt—something that feels all too familiar in real-world organisations.

One weakness of the drama is its pacing. The prolonged conflict between Liu Yan and Tang Li Ci—especially when it extends beyond episode 22—can feel repetitive and slow. Liu Yan continually sets traps to prove Tang is YiQue YinYang, and while the clues (such as the Rebirth Scroll and the forehead mark) are compelling, the lack of progress can be frustrating. However, the story improves significantly as the mysteries begin to unfold later on. Tang’s ambiguous behaviour—such as his occasional admission to a crime he may not have committed—adds another layer of intrigue.

Emotionally, the drama delivers. A particularly heartbreaking moment comes with the loss of one of Tang’s loyal companions and also a strong supporter. Meanwhile, the larger conflict escalates: the TianRen Realm, facing decline, seeks to reclaim ShenZhou—at the cost of annihilating its current inhabitants. Ironically, in trying to survive, they risk their own destruction.

The story raises a profound question. Tang is determined to save his adopted earthly homeland and those he grows to love—but it ultimately becomes a choice between one race and another. Is survival always a zero-sum game? Must one side perish for the other to live?

This dilemma reflects the real world all too closely. Wars are often fought for dominance, not coexistence. Coexistence is often overlooked, and solutions that benefit all remain elusive. The unwillingness to understand or support the “other side” reveals a deeper human flaw—self-interest at its most destructive.

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