Reviews

could've been better

i had saw this trending and was interested in watching but no matter how much I searched i couldn't find it I had actually seen the scenes of highschool only and thought it's highschool drama later I found out they're not main but support characters because of that I quit and now I tried watching seeing if I would like but drop because I read the reviews and no point in watching

why I dropped

the highschool story and cast is probably more interesting
the older cast both don't match even visually though? and their moment from starting feel dull ?
FML is clearly casted tall for highschool and as older she's been casted as short ? ml i don't know is not right cast too I think
poor writing,- this could've been a hit as only school romcom than breakup and meet-up in future
if the older version part didn't existed and only highschool romance then I would have liked it definitely I'm also dropping because they're not gonna be shown till the end
many reviews say the same I tried watching I had avoided because of older cast I thought I should atleast try maybe I like it but no I feel like skipping, highschool part is more interesting but sadly that's not the story or they could've played the older version too that would've been better then new cast

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This is just lazy

Normally I would never write a review, but with how bad this movie was. Genuinely I had to make a reviews for this. I had high hopes for this movie, and was shocked how bad it was. I just wanted to say that this has to be one of the worst movies that I have ever watched. Personally I believe they were lazy with the character set up. Why is it that the male lead can only constantly say that he knows Taekwondo as if there is nothing else better about him. Maybe it's just me but personally I don't get the purpose of the rest of the character, because if the whole point of them being there is to just get bitten. Then they are completely useless to the storyline, and I get that this is a movie, but still have some type of character depth.

Another thing is I don't get how you can get piled by a bunch of zombies and not get biten ATLEAST once. I think thats honestly so unrealistic, and to add to the the whole teeth falling out. Their attempt for humour is just straight up bad, it would have made the movvie much better if the male lead did get bitten and was left behind.

The ending is really annoying too, because how dumb do you have to be to leave the that open for the zombies to escape into Gangnam. Potentially suggesting a second movie, but I just believe there is no need for a second movies. If the first one is bad, imagine how worse the second could get. However, I could be wrong, but we will never know.

Let me not talk about the minecraft zombie noises. For a movie made in 2023, you'd think they would have good sound effect, BUT no. I just see it as purely lazy, and cheap to put in MINECRAFT zombie noises instead of having a voice actor.

Half the time I don't even understand what is going on in this show, it's attempt at comedy was bad, the makeup was terrible, the actors are too emotionless., the sound effects are just lazy and the story is all over the place. I have more questions then answers in this movie. It's as clear as day that this movie was made with a very low budget

I do believe that this movie had potential, but that potential was thrown out the window into a dumpster fire. I would not recommend this movie at all. I think the only good thing that came out of this movie has to be the music, and that's it.

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Cliche story and lackluster execution

The title ("Business Marriage: If We Fall in Love, We'll Divorce") says it all. Anyone who's seen one of the many dramas based on that silly premise can guess what's going to happen...
Indeed, the story is utterly predictable. Which could be fine.
The issue is, the execution feels lazy and cheap. No fun/cute side characters to root for, low production value (most of the drama is shot in that one horribly decorated apartment), no side story to distract us from the tedious flow of the main one.

This drama felt formulaic and impersonal.

For those learning Japanese: it is on the easier side. Day-to-day Japanese spoken at a normal pace. Full Japanese subtitles on Viki.

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The chaotic team I didn’t want to say goodbye to

I knew the day would eventually come when I’d genuinely enjoy a character played by Cha Eun-woo, and here we are! He can absolutely pull off a superhero role. His laid-back, introverted, and quiet personality was perfectly balanced by the female lead’s chaotic energy and enthusiasm. Their dynamic worked because it felt natural & he didn’t need to be overly expressive or do anything over the top to make his character stand out. That said, I do wish other MLs’ Ro bin and Son Un had gotten more screen time. Since they’re an important part of the team, it felt like there was still so much more to get out of their characters.
I do have to say Eight episodes weren’t enough for me to fully connect with the characters.. It felt like the show ended just as it was hitting its stride, leaving me wanting a lot more.

Plus I also have to say I’m glad romance wasn’t the main focus of the story. While there were a few romantic moments here and there, I never really felt the chemistry between the leads as a couple. They worked much better as teammates than as a romantic pairing, so I was happy the show didn’t force a bigger romance storyline.THANKGOD 🙏

The comedy, however, was a solid 10/10. These wonder fools had me laughing out loud in every single episode. The humor landed perfectly, and the group dynamic was easily one of the show's strongest points.

One thing I couldn't help noticing was how similar the backstory felt to Stranger Things. The whole concept of scientists experimenting on orphaned children, followed by a lab accident caused by the main character, immediately reminded me of stranger things. At times, the parallels felt a little too obvious to not mention.

Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted watch with plenty of laughs, lovable characters, and just enough action to keep things interesting. And honestly? I think this is exactly the kind of show that deserves a Season 2. There’s still so much potential left, and I’d happily watch another season with this crew.

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Boring to death!

I watched it because of the good reviews and the 2 actors. My first drama with Dilraba was “Love in the Turquoise Land,” and I liked her so much. I knew YangYang a long time ago, and apart from his undoubtedly attractive face, I like his acting.

But I can only say: what a waste of time!! In the last episodes, I used the fast-forward button because I couldn't stand it anymore.

There is no plot. Just 2 people who meet again, fall in love, and whose daily lives unfold. But without good photography, a good script, or good acting. We assume their love is “true” because of the childish voices of the FL and the grimace of the ML. Of course, you will not find it in their kiss scenes. They couldn’t be more false and cold.

The only purpose of this drama, I imagine, is to praise the Chinese Aerospace Academy and their recent achievements. It’s just an exercise of nationalism and insists on the right virtues: family, humility, solidarity… Otherwise, It has no sense to film this drama.

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Soul Crushing!

Overall, this is a series steep in the imagery of ferocity, harshness, and seemingly emotional intensity. But it is a ruse; a gimmick. You do not get to witness that fervent intensity until the VERY last scene when the very last line of the series is finally delivered. And even then, we never see our protagonists – our heroes, the emotional nonpareils – deliver the words: we only hear their words. I cried. I found that so profoundly sad. That, sullenly, I felt. We had to literally wait until the end to find out that they were deeply in love with one another. I cried because I wanted those words to be spoken much earlier. They never did. Or at least inferred. They never were, and thus they never were. The only emotion that this series gets undeniably correct is sadness. Unfathomable despondency. This is by far one of the saddest, if not the saddest, series I have ever seen on all appraisable levels. If you are wanting or expecting it to be emotionally passionate, you are going to be disappointed. Perhaps it might be better, ironically, to watch this series from its end to the beginning. Then the whole picture is made clearer. They got the editing all wrong. The saga tries too hard to convince us it is a story of intrinsic feelings. Sure, we are overwhelmed with ardencies, but we have no time to feel them. The story continuously takes us on along a journey into a world of hurt, leading into forks in the road that only lead to other levels of affliction. As if somehow, all this represents the only way life is for them. It does not. This odyssey became corpulent with deleterious effects and therefore hard, at least for me, to know what to sense and thus, I shut down. I saw and felt no real connection between the two of them. This is a soul-crushing series full of pain and sadness. Nothing more.

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Good idea, Bad execution but at least they tried

What can I say about GMMTV's most anticipated series? Personally, I really enjoyed it. Even though I think 10 episodes would have been enough, I became genuinely attached to the characters and their different life journeys.

My favorite characters were Bambi, Shasha, and Gorya. They all had strong and interesting personalities, but what also stood out to me was their fashion. Their outfits felt fresh and innovative for a GL series, and I really appreciated that because we don't usually see characters dressed like that in this genre.

Despite all the complaints and criticism on social media, I enjoyed Girl Rules. It was entertaining in many ways and gave me exactly what I was looking for, so thank you to the series for that.

As for the couples, I really loved Shasha and Gorya, as well as Prim and Bambi. By the end, their relationships became quite similar, even though they started off completely differently. There was sexual tension, some cheating, a little bit of craziness, but not enough arguments for my taste. I would have liked to see more conflict between these couples to make their dynamics even more compelling.

I'm sorry, but I really didn't enjoy Min and Praew as a couple. Their dynamic was frustrating to watch. I didn't find Praew's persistence cute at all. It's such a shame because Min's storyline about discovering and coming to terms with her sexuality was genuinely interesting, but this relationship took away from that for me.

I also appreciated that the series touched on queer (lesbian) themes, women's issues, and mental health. Even though these topics were only explored on a surface level, I think they deserved much more development.

In any case, don't let social media opinions decide for you. Form your own opinion. The series is nowhere near as bad as some people make it out to be.

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Heartwarming Coming-of-Age BL Series

When Oranges Fall is such a heartwarming and comforting BL series that beautifully captures high school romance, friendship, and youth. I genuinely love the main cast, Almond and Progress — their acting feels natural, emotional, and full of chemistry. They truly bring their characters to life in a way that makes every scene feel sincere and memorable.

I also adore the side characters portrayed by Ken, Paul, Justin, and Keaton. Their presence adds so much charm, warmth, and fun to the story, making the friendships feel genuine and lovable.

What makes this series special is how it perfectly balances romance, friendship, and coming-of-age moments. It reminds you of the beauty of growing up, finding comfort in people, and experiencing young love for the first time. Every episode leaves a warm feeling in my heart.

I truly hope When Oranges Fall receives all the love and success it deserves. These talented young actors are undoubtedly part of the future of GMMTV, and I’m excited to see them grow even more in the industry.

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4 ahjummas coming together to fight crime and save their apartment complex

This drama 's first episode had biggest hook I have ever seen; I was instantly hooked from the very first episode, and as I expected, it turned out to be a fantastic show.

Plot**
The story follows four undervalued housewives who, in the eyes of their families, are merely housewives. They come together to solve mysteries and apprehend criminals. Miri, who has a traumatic past involving a serial killer and the loss of her best friend, works hard to support her husband, who causes various issues. She possesses a keen ability to notice details and piece them together, much like Sherlock Holmes, to solve cases. Gyeong Ja, an ex-detective with impressive physical strength, left her job to let her husband excel and now embraces the role of a housewife. So Hui, a diligent delivery woman, is an endless source of information. Finally, Ji Hyeon, who owns a neighborhood supermarket, has exceptional negotiation skills and talent for acting.

Though they are different, they are united by a shared desire to address problems within their apartment complex. They start with minor issues, like improperly separated garbage, but often uncover more serious crimes in the process. If you enjoy dramas about middle-aged women joining forces with elements of crime and mystery, akin to Sherlock Holmes-style investigations, then this is definitely the drama for you. It is not only enjoyable and funny but also heartwarming. The best part is, they have conformed for a second season, and i knew they would because this was such hit. .

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My May Recommendation movie

Watch this because of recommendation from 𝑨𝒒𝒖𝒂. Let’s discuss movie…

The story begins during a scorching summer in rural Yamagata Prefecture, where Tomoko and her classmates are stuck in a remedial math class. Desperate to escape the dull lectures, the girls volunteer to deliver lunch boxes to the school’s brass band, who are away at a baseball game supporting the team. But due to a train delay and the sweltering heat, the food spoils by the time they arrive. The entire band comes down with food poisoning—except for Takuya, the quiet reserve cymbal player who didn’t eat his box.

With an upcoming game that requires a pep band, Takuya realizes he needs musicians fast. With no other options, he blackmails Tomoko and her friends into joining—forcing them to fill in as replacements.

At first, the girls have no musical talent nor discipline. They can’t read music properly, struggle with their instruments, and treat the whole thing as a joke—or just another way to avoid remedial class. Since a full brass band needs dozens of players, Takuya decides to scale things down and turns the group into a jazz big band, assigning the girls to saxophones, trumpets, and trombones.

As rehearsals continue, the girls slowly become fascinated by jazz music. Their clumsy practices lead to many chaotic and hilarious moments—broken instruments, wrong notes, constant arguments, and embarrassing mistakes. Yet despite all the chaos, they truly enjoy it.

Just when they finally begin improving, working together and playing in harmony, the original brass band members recover and return to reclaim both their positions and instruments, leaving Tomoko and her group out in the cold.

But instead of giving up, the girls decide to form their own independent jazz band. There’s just one problem: they have no instruments. The story follows their hilarious and determined attempts to raise money, until they finally manage to buy cheap, dented, secondhand ones. Still, they face more obstacles—no proper practice space, and no formal instructor to guide them.

Over time, the group transforms. From lazy students avoiding class, they become a real jazz band. Led by the energetic and impulsive Tomoko Suzuki, they begin practicing seriously. Through music, they build strong friendships, find confidence, and discover a sense of purpose they never had before. Jazz brings excitement into their ordinary school lives—something raw, free, and entirely their own.

So, how will their journey end?
Will they manage to stay together and continue pursuing music, or will their passion eventually fade away?

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.

What I like:
+ Tomoko’s passion for jazz music is really infectious, we can feel her passion.
+ Love to see the girls transform from lazy students into talented music players.

What I don’t like:
- What a BS to mastering all that instrument in that short of time.

Overall this really one interesting movie to watch…

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A Drama That Masterfully Crafts Ink, Betrayal, and the Weight of Legacy, What Finally Became a Shit

I just finished the drama, and honestly… this drama's start surprised me in ways I never expected and i started to love it. But the second half was just a piece of shit with AI generated script🍂

I had no expectations going in. When I first saw the premise—a drama about the 𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 in Ming Dynasty China—my honest reaction was: "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘐𝘯𝘬? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦?" I expected a dry, niche period piece about a craft I knew nothing about. But somewhere along the way, this story starts with something far more compelling.

Because beneath its beautiful cinematography, intricate ink-making sequences, and family clan politics, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 is actually about 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. And what surprised me most is how emotionally invested I became—until the second half, when the writing began to unravel.

🖋️ 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 — 𝗔 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦 (𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧)

The drama opens with a genuinely fascinating hook. The tribute ink competition between the Li, Luo, Chen, and Pan families establishes a world where ink-making is not a humble craft but a 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. The detail is immersive: pine soot vs. lacquer soot, the "Five Hues of Ink" test, the difference between "bone" and "soul" in a single ink stick. I learned more about traditional ink-making than I ever expected to care about—and I 𝘥𝘪𝘥 care.

Young Li Zhen's childhood introduction—boldly stepping forward at the competition, befriending the rival Luo Wenqian, identifying ink sticks by scent alone—immediately establishes her as someone special. The tragedy that follows (the tribute boat fire, her father's death, the Eighth Branch's exile) sets up genuine emotional stakes.

The first half of this drama is 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.The pacing is tight, the conflicts feel earned, and Li Zhen's journey from exiled outcast to independent ink-maker is beautifully constructed. Her blindfolded lampblack demonstration remains one of the most thrilling sequences I've watched in any period drama. 👏

🖤 𝗟𝗜 𝗭𝗛𝗘𝗡 — 𝗔 𝗙𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 (𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗬)

Li Zhen became one of the more compelling female leads I have watched this year. Yang Zi's acting is 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲—no matter how frustrating the writing became later, she never stopped delivering.

What makes Li Zhen special is that her intelligence is 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱, not announced. She observes, learns, adapts, and survives. She fails repeatedly—her early attempts at recreating the ancient lacquer-soot ink are described as "mediocre" and "fragile." She doesn't magically succeed; she works, fails, and works again.

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 comes not when she succeeds, but when she 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 to leave. After being framed for leaking the ink recipe, publicly humiliated, and watching her own family turn against her, she walks away. She refuses to sign the contract. She opens Xiao Li Ink Workshop on her own terms. That scene—her turning her back on the toxic Li household—is quiet but devastating. 💪

However—and this is a significant 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳—the writing does her a disservice in the second half. She transforms from a vulnerable, learning protagonist into something approaching a 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻. Problems that once took episodes to solve are resolved in single scenes. Obstacles appear and disappear with mechanical regularity. The emotional nuance of her early journey gets buried under repetitive "family schemes → Li Zhen saves the day" cycles. Yang Zi deserves better than what the script gave her 🥀

🐍 𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 (𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗬)

I'm going to say something controversial: 𝗧𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 And I don't think the writers intended that. 😬

He starts as a somewhat sympathetic figure — 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, desperate to prove himself, genuinely in love with Li Zhen. But his desperation curdles into obsession. The drama shows his transformation: from the man who publicly humiliated Li Zhen by conspiring to steal her family's recipe, to the 𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯, who burns Luo Wensong alive, to the calculating villain who sells his own sister for political connections and eventually turns to illegal foreign trade.

Is he 𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭? Yes, eventually. His schemes become repetitive. His motives become cartoonish. But at least he has motives. At least the drama tries to explain why he becomes what he becomes — the humiliation of being a servant's son, the rejection by Li Zhen, the pressure from his father, the corrupting influence of power.

By contrast, Luo Wenqian is 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦. I know more about why Tian Benchang hates than why Luo Wenqian loves. That is 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦. 🧱 I've seen this exact villain before. The "frustrated ex-lover with an inferiority complex and psychotic obsession" is not original—it is a 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲. And 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 never breaks that template. 😔

⚔️ 👤 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗 — 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗?

Let me be blunt:𝗟𝘂𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝗾𝗶𝗮𝗻 / 𝗤𝗶 𝗝𝗶𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲. 🚩

His entire existence serves one purpose: to be a romantic interest for Li Zhen and to check that box for the target audience. His backstory — the surviving son of the destroyed Luo family, hiding under an alias, seeking revenge against the Tian family — should be 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥. Instead, it's barely developed.

He spends most of the second half standing in the 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, offering occasional support, and then suddenly disappearing for episodes at a time. His "𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯" to bring down the Tian family? I genuinely cannot tell you what it was beyond vague gestures and off-screen investigations. When he's finally arrested, I felt... 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Because the drama never made me care about his revenge. It never showed me his pain beyond a few flashbacks. 🥱

Compare him to Tian Benchang — the 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦-𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 with an inferiority complex — and it's genuinely difficult to tell who the drama considers more important. Tian Benchang gets emotional breakdowns. He gets scenes with his sister, his father, and his brother. He has motivations, contradictions, and an increasingly unhinged psychology.

Luo Wenqian gets... pining looks at Li Zhen. That's it. This is not a male lead. This is a 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘺. And that is a waste of a potentially compelling character.

🏛️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 — 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧, 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙

Here is where I need to be direct.
The first half of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 are 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱. The ink-making sequences are fascinating. The family dynamics feel real. Li Zhen's struggles are compelling. The pacing is tight. Sometime around Episode 20, the writing falls off a cliff. 📉

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴?

𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁. The pattern becomes: Tian family schemes → Li family faces crisis → Li Zhen solves it → small victory → repeat. There are 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 five variations of the "fish gelatin sabotage" storyline. The pine timber seizure. The isinglass crisis. The strike instigation. The false imprisonment. Each plays out almost identically.

𝟮. 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗸-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀. In the second half, the drama stops being about ink and becomes about 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀. The Nanjing arc is especially guilty of this—the "Twelve-Season Inksticks" solution is clever, but the journey to get there is endless scenes of Tian Benchang bribing officials.

𝟯. 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲. Tian Benchang frames his brother as the scapegoat for the contraband ink scheme. The prefect accepts this. This would 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 happen under ancient Chinese law—the entire family would be implicated. The writers 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 this (they used the same principle earlier in the drama) but ignored it for convenience. 📜

𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁. Tian Jiangyue schemes for 30 episodes with zero consequences. She finally faces accountability in Episode 28—and Li Zhen 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢. This is not mercy; it is the writers refusing to let a character face meaningful consequences.

𝟱. 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Li Zhen faces crisis after crisis, but she never 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 loses. She never suffers a setback that costs her something permanent. Her brother stole the recipe? She tears it up and walks away. The isinglass is sabotaged? She magically has a reprocessed ink solution ready. She is arrested? Fifteen days to prove innocence—and she does. Each "crisis" follows the same arc: problem appears → Li Zhen is worried → Li Zhen solves it effortlessly → celebration → repeat.

💎 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 (𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟)

Despite my frustrations, I cannot pretend 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 has no merits. It has several.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. 🖌️
The ink-making sequences are not window dressing—they are the soul of the drama. The burning of lampblack, the blindfold test, the glue-mixing, the hammering, the gold tracing... all of it is rendered with obvious care and research. The production clearly consulted actual ink-making masters. The cinematography is gorgeous—the colour palette (blacks, deep blues, muted golds, ink wash greys) perfectly matches the ink theme.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿-𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹.. 👩‍👧
Zhao Jin (Li Zhen's mother) is one of the most underrated characters. She is a hunter's daughter who married into a scholarly ink family, faced expulsion, lost her husband, and never stopped fighting for her children. Her backstory—meeting Li Jingfu when he fell into one of her traps, treating his wounds with Scarlet Phoenix Grass, earning Seventh Grandmother's acceptance—is quietly romantic. Her refusal to let Li Zhen carry hatred is the emotional anchor of the entire drama.

𝗟𝘂𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿. 🔥
This is ironic, because he dies in Episode 7. But Luo Wensong—the older brother, the ink obsessive, the man who burns his formulas rather than let enemies have them—is the most *alive* character in the drama. His scene with Li Zhen before the fire ("urge him to persevere and remain unmoved by personal loss") is genuinely moving. He chooses death on his own terms. Every time the drama struggled in later episodes, I found myself missing him.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱. 🤝
When Li Zhen shares her reprocessed ink recipe with competing workshops in exchange for their labor—that is not just strategy. It is the drama's best articulation of its themes. The Huizhou ink industry survives because they help each other. The Tian family falls because they exploit everyone. This lesson feels earned after 20+ episodes of watching Li Zhen build relationships.

🎭 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗛 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘

I need to dedicate a section to Wang Rujun, the Seventh Grandmother. She is, without question, the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 in the entire drama. Every scene she appears in elevates the material around her.

She is the matriarch who expelled the Eighth Branch to save the family—and never stopped quietly supporting them. She is the one who forces Li Jingdong to accept Li Zhen's talent. She is the one who sees beyond tradition and recognises that the family's future lies with a young woman the clan has rejected.

Her death in Episode 32 is the emotional peak of the entire series. Li Zhen was buying corn pastries, returning to find her grandmother had passed away peacefully—no dramatics, no last words, just the quiet end of an era. And then Li Zhen, who has held herself together through everything, finally breaks down *only in Qi Jiu's company*. That restraint is beautiful writing. The drama was never the same after she left. 🕯️

📜 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗦

I cannot ignore this. Ancient Chinese law is not complicated on this point: 𝗶𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱. This principle is used multiple times in the drama—the Eighth Branch is expelled to shield the rest of the Li family from the tribute ink disaster. The Luo family is destroyed because of Luo Hanzhang's political crimes.

And yet, in Episode 36, Tian Benchang's plan to make his brother the scapegoat works. The prefect accepts it. The father colludes in it. This is 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. The writers knew better—they used the correct principle earlier. They simply chose to ignore it for convenience.

This matters because 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 positions itself as a drama about historical authenticity. The ink-making sequences are meticulously researched. The costumes, the architecture, the social hierarchies—all of it is careful. But legal accuracy is abandoned whenever it becomes inconvenient. 🔍

🎬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧 after completing the drama.

The drama has finally ended, and honestly, I did not feel much after the finale. I still think Episode 38 would have been the perfect ending point for the story. Everything after that felt somewhat unnecessary. The ink competition against the Japanese was interesting to watch, but it did not make much sense within the overall narrative.

In the end, this drama was both good and bad. It had strengths that made it memorable, but it also suffered from numerous flaws. The writing contained many inconsistencies, illogical developments, and weak plot decisions. Despite these shortcomings, the drama excelled in portraying the dynasty, the ink industry, and the cultural heritage surrounding it.

Li Zhen was undoubtedly the dark horse of the Ming ink industry. Throughout her life, she loved two men yet never married either of them. Instead, she devoted herself entirely to her art and craft.

What impressed me most was how deeply the drama explored ink-making. Ink is perhaps one of the most overlooked yet essential elements in Chinese historical dramas. Through this story, we were shown not only the importance of ink in historical China but also the spirit behind it—a spirit considered more valuable than gold itself.

Even though the plot, storytelling, and some character performances were not always convincing, the drama succeeded in presenting a fascinating world centered on ink, which remained the true heart and soul of the story.

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