Reviews

communication struggles

Overall: I think they should have cut the love rival and focused on the low self esteem aspect. 4 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on True Film YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR2azTx4-IgLsMz-Sb7rYnx1&si=RaMzJuLSTKzR2rp8

Content Warning: non con touching/hugging

If you want to cut out the love rival, watch episode 1 until 4:25, episode 2 6:30-end and episode 4 6-end

What I Liked
- visuals
- good kissing
- established couple
- supportive brother

Room For Improvement
- unrealistic not answering who was on the phone in episode 1
- 2 love rivals (actually it was 1 I think, the voice over referred to his boyfriend and not the brother)
- cliche got drunk and forgot and then saw the beginning of something but didn't talk about it
- a protagonist came across as creepy with lines like "I'll keep you by my side and never let you go" (when the other character was sleeping) and "I'll never let you go, you'll get used to it as time goes on"
- I have zero faith this couple will stay together, the one guy's low self esteem will torpedo their relationship, in my optimistic mind he gets therapy and couples therapy and the relationship works out

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Overall a RARE gem , MUST watch drama!

PursuitOfJade is a masterpiece from start to finish. The story is gripping and beautifully paced, keeping you hooked with every episode. The main actors deliver performances that are both natural and powerful there’s no forced emotion, just genuine connection.

The best part of this duo is their natural chemistry. It’s rare to find a drama where the leads match so perfectly in acting ability, visual presence, and emotional depth. On top of that, the cinematography is stunning, and even the side characters are well-developed and play their parts seamlessly.

This drama isn’t just entertaining
it’s a full experience. Truly one of the best pairings and productions in recent memory

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"Killing is like smoking...only the first time is hard"

Decision to Leave was another provocative Park Chan Wook film combining murder and obsession. At times it felt like he was being provocative for provocative’s sake, but it was a hauntingly beautiful, if disturbing film to watch.

Detective Jang Hae Jun and his partner are investigating what appears to be an accidental death of a mountain climber. But they become immediately suspicious of his gorgeous Chinese wife because she’s not grief stricken enough. A chronic insomniac, Hae Jun stakes out the widow Song Seo Rae’s apartment and place of work. To his surprise, he sleeps on the stakeouts. And he also begins to question whether Seo Rae is guilty. As he falls deeper into her spell, she becomes not only the cure for his insomnia but its cause as well.

This never seemed like a murder mystery to me. It was not, “Did she?” or “Didn’t she?” More like, “Does she?” or “Doesn’t she”? Hae Jun appeared to be happily married to his weekend wife in Ipo, yet Seo Rae spoke to a deeper place inside. The song “Mist” was played often and Ipo’s fog was mentioned repeatedly. Just as the fog of war can obscure thinking and action so can the fog of lust. The mist of miscommunication (mistcommunication?) clouded conversations as Seo Rae’s Korean wasn’t strong. Translation apps and mistranslations of words hampered understanding in an already twisted and stressful environment.

If you have more problems with infidelity than bug covered dead bodies, this will be a film to skip. Aside from a scene with Hae Jun and his wife, the most intimate moments involved lip balm and hand lotion which were quite sensual. Much was made of the mountains and the sea, at times touching but never truly together. The film started on a mountain and ended at the sea, both beautiful and deadly. I had a few issues with the film, but like Hae Jun, I was willing to suffer to watch Tang Wei.

28 March 2026

Trigger warning: Bugs, dead bodies, creepy bugs. Mostly emotional infidelity. Suicide

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Too Short for Short Series

Overall, I truly enjoyed this series, but its short runtime, just six episodes ranging from six to ten minutes each, ultimately works to its detriment. The pacing feels far too rushed, leaving little room to connect with the main character or absorb the emotional weight of the story. As a result, the narrative lacks emotional stakes, and it’s difficult to feel genuinely invested in the characters.

There was so much potential in the direction the storyline was heading, especially with the various possible outcomes, whether a happy ending, a bittersweet one, or even a sad conclusion. Unfortunately, the brevity of the series undercuts that potential, wish it would turn into a full-blown series.

That said, the cast delivers strong performances, and the music and cinematography are definitely highlights

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HONEY, THIS WAS NOT LOVELY AT ALL

I just want to say, this is entirely my opinion of this series.

Watching the first part of this series, you would think that they would all survive at the end. THINK AGAIN. What even was that ending? Like i'm a bit confused, did they die or not? Is the graduation like an alternate ending?

Episode 7 to 9 was okay and enjoyable, but once it got to episode 10, it was like you could tell something was gonna happen. Honestly, I found it weird there were less sphere creatures in this part of the series than in part 1. It seemed that the problem here in part 2 is that the awaited happy ending, the arrival of some kind of ending I was hoping for, did not happen.

In the first part of the series, it seemed like the ending the studio or producers were going for was the happy ending - but then it got to this part of the series and the whole mood changed. I felt like this part of the series made a shift from apocalyptic to pyschological.

After it was revealed that the CSATs were cancelled, the first person who went crazy was Yeong Soo. He started hallucinated and acting weird because the CSATs were cancelled. Then the assualt, I have no words honestly because I felt that scene wasn't neccesarily needed unless to show the fact that he liked her too much. His paranoia was so out of control. He was so paranoid to the point he started killing his classmates. Imagine getting gunned down by someone you thought was your friend and you don't know why.

In the end, we're led to believe that there were actual people still alive during the war who reappear after the war "ends". Honestly, it's ridiculous because they did all that work killing and suviving just to be killed by their paranoid classmate. Even at the end, Chi Yeol still didn't know why Yeong Soo started killing everyone.

The singing scene at the end was nice, I think all the comedic moments throught the series was fun to watch.

Overall I would not recommend watching part 2 of this series if you're expecting a happy ending.

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The Difficulty of Recognizing Yourself as Gay and Coming Out (IRL)

PLOT: During the holidays before starting university, Karl follows the family tradition of living alone and supporting himself. But because it's difficult to find a job, he ends up agreeing to live with Vlad, a gay film student who has just broken up with his boyfriend. Living together is complicated at first, but Vlad and Karl discover more and more attraction and common ground. However, Karl is in denial...

+++ Two outstanding actors who take us through a multitude of emotions.
+++ Intelligent direction, with good pacing, perfect technique, well-placed flashbacks, and the courage to tackle a sensitive subject: the difficulty of recognizing and being accepted as gay in a homophobic world [which, generally speaking, hates people who deviate from the norm].
+++ The soundtracks are fantastic.

### The (happy) ending remains rushed, open, and optimistic, but... I would have liked a more developed, longer ending.

=> A short but remarkable series thanks to the subtlety of its storytelling and the talent of its actors.
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Tte la difficulté de se reconnaitre gay et de faire son coming-out (IRL)

PLOT: Pdt les vacances, Karl suit la tradition familiale de vivre seul et de subvenir à ses besoins avant d'attaquer la fac. Mais parce qu'il est difficile d'avoir 1 emploi, il finit par accepter de cohabiter avec Vlad, étudiant en cinéma, gay qui vient de rompre avec son BF. La cohabitat° est compliquée au début, mais Vlad et Karl se découvrent de + en + d'attirance et de points communs. Cpdt, Karl est dans le déni ...

+++ Deux très grands acteurs, qui nous font passer par une multitude d'émotions.
+++ Réalisation intelligente, avec du rythme, une technique parfaite, des flash-back bien placés et le courage d'aborder un thème sensible : la difficulté de se reconnaitre et de se faire accepter comme gay, dans un monde homophobe [et qui, d'une façon générale, déteste les personnes qui sortent du cadre imposé].
+++ Les OSTs sont fantastiques.

### La fin (happy) reste rushed, ouverte, optimiste, mais ... J'aurai bien aimé une ending plus dvlpée, plus longue.

=> Série courte mais remarquable par la finesse de sa narration et le talent de ses acteurs.

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The Ableism

The series had some good moments and thoughtful discussion on the issue, but the second to last episode was just astonishingly ableist in a way that made me sick to my stomach. Kan euthanizes Boss, now paralyzed, at Boss's request and to prevent him from talking. Boss is not terminal like the other patients Kan euthanized, and he had someone to care for him in this state as Onanong offered him just that. Kan, a doctor, gave into Boss's horrifically ableist idea that a disabled life is not worth living for his own benefit. This is an issue that affects real disabled people all the time. Their lives are seen as not worth living, even by the doctors that treat them. They are also seen as burdens on the medical care system, wastes of resources. These societal attitudes unjustly push disabled people towards euthanasia because they are not seen as useful. And to see those attitudes reflected in the show without criticism or care for the disabled people who want to live deeply hurt me as a disbaled person.

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cute

I’m still sad to see them go. i loved both families so much. no weird drama coming from them. just love and support on both sides. i loved that the storyline showed him being patient and guiding her despite being younger. he knew exactly what he wanted and he was not about to lose out on it. ml was a bit boring at times and i skipped some scenes because he just couldn’t keep my attention.
i loved the fl. i really thought her characted was the best one I had seen in a while. she was incredibly cute and funny. she was down to earth and not one of the ones that just can’t defend themselves. she had her head right and wasn’t about to take any crap from anyone. but still was cute and empathetic. she was straight forward with everyone about who she liked. no weird complications at all.
the entire drama was refreshing and I just hate to see them go.
the reason why i gave a 9.5 and not a 10 was because the ml was a bit boring and in one scene she was accused of cheating. she never cheated. she was clear from the beginning who her boyfriend is.
i will definitely watch it again. made me a bit nostalgic lol. i wish it would be longer and we could see more of their life now that they a family. also more of the parents. i really loved them. but not going to happen.
honestly, it feels like letting go of a family member. very sad

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Shoddy case-solving with a thoughtful tone

I was ready to skip this show because I heard it’s dark and stressful, but then I read the reviews that it’s a very female-centric drama and I just couldn’t resist.

So, it is both of those things. The cases are pretty heavy. But more than that, I’d say they’re nuanced. Rather than murders out of selfishness or greed, for example, we have more murders for love or justified resentment, blurring the line between victim and perpetrator. And the cases do focus a lot on women, who are often portrayed in a sympathetic light.

This show also has a theme that the case is solved but justice is not achieved (eg everything gets covered up). Sometimes I was glad for this, because justice would have punished characters I sympathized with. But in general, this show has a lot of things to feel upset or depressed about.

The saving grace to it all is that the princess (FL) is right there with you, frustrated and dissatisfied. So coping with these issues become part of what the show is about, adding a thoughtful and philosophical tone which I really like. After each case, she talks it out with her partner, and we get some closure that way too.

And I do really like this FL. She’s on the cold side, but it’s not too exaggerated or overdone, so I found her very believable. Straightforward and unpretentious, kind of socially awkward but not completely maladjusted- I actually found her really relatable. I felt her emotions with her. Her level of authority is something of a plot hole, but at least she recognizes her privilege and wants to use it to help others.

The ML, on the other hand, is more the quietly thoughtful type. The FL has such a strong personality, he makes a good match. Their relationship grows throughout the show, via supportive conversations and quiet acts of care. Occasional misunderstandings arise between them, just enough to add a little tension and interest before being snuffed out by fearless communication. I actually really like their relationship and how it builds in a sweet, not-sappy way.

There are some side characters that are very likeable, though I wouldn’t have minded more development for them. I found the emperor particularly interesting. In some ways he’s a benevolent ruler and he treats the protagonists well, but also in doing what emperors do- playing politics, romping around his rear palace, etc- he can casually ruin lives with no accountability. Personally I think his role contributes to the thoughtfulness of the show, as I both blamed him and didn’t, and of course nobody in the show can.

Plot-wise, the show covers 7 cases, with the princess’s overarching case about her family developed throughout. Most of the show is about how the leads solve the cases, so until closer to the end, the developments of their characters and relationship are secondary. The cases are heavy but there are still moments of lightness, and the overall mood is not as dark as you might expect.

That said, the casework in this show is really loosey-goosey. It relies heavily on things like “deductions” out of nowhere, casual superskills (eg the FL’s super-nose, or the ML’s genius mental calculations), perfect coincidences, and so on. And if you take a step back, you might also realize that the cases themselves are riddled with logic holes and nonsense, overuse the same plot devices (suicide, anyone?), and seem contrived to make you cry as much as possible. At some point things got so tragic that I popped right out of immersion, and it got harder and harder to take things seriously again afterwards.

Plus the editing seems choppy, like they cut too many things. I was left confused about some events, reasonings, and significances. Also, important-seeming characters show up and then disappear willy nilly, like their character arcs were cut.

I don’t know if the show gets worse towards the end or my patience just expired, but I thought it was extra bad in the last few episodes. I was also not satisfied by the answer to the overarching mystery, which was not as interesting as it was built up to be.

Acting-wise, I thought Bai Lu does an excellent job here. I love her portrayal of the princess, my favorite is her look where you’re not sure if she’s about to cry. Wang Xingyue does a decent job, but some of the side characters seemed a bit stiff or overacted.

The fight choreography is not the best I’ve seen, but decent. Nobody’s technique is that impressive (except maybe old man with spear?), some hyperextension and stiffness, but I can definitely see it was physically exerting, as Bai Lu told her fans. The costumes and settings are pretty good. I like the princess’s work outfits and high ponytail style. Background music set the mood well, and I also really like the songs. But I think the songs are underused; I would not have minded more.

Overall, this show does have a lot of problems. The relationship and characters are good but secondary to the cases, yet the case-solving is shoddy and the cases themselves have problems. Bad editing makes it all make even less sense. ...this isn't making it sound like a good show, but I actually still really liked most of it. Although I sometimes had to exert active effort to suspend disbelief, I generally followed the cases with great interest, and I found them moving. Yet nothing is too sappy, for which I was extremely thankful. And I especially like the FL’s mix of straightforward business and unpretentious compassion as she solves cases, and the thoughtful, reflective tone that follows as she copes with reality.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





This show has a happy ending. The princess gets both her revenge and her relationship, and satisfyingly, straight up accuses the emperor of all the things nobody dares to say. There are no last-minute deaths of likable characters.

There is about half an episode of wrap up, including- a pleasant surprise- flashes of side characters as well as some characters from the cases. What actually happens to everyone is unclear. The FL and ML ride off into scenery, but a poorly conceived post-credit scene hints at a sequel.

That said, I was actually quite dissatisfied by the ending. I felt the show lost its thoughtfulness a bit. Maybe the final villain and his motivation were too weak, or maybe it was the way it all played out, but I just didn’t feel many emotions about her finally achieving revenge.

Also, the two leads have a huge falling out before the final case, only to kind of implicitly get back together in the last episode without much fanfare. Their fight was one of the better in Cdramaland; I felt it was justified on both sides with intense and valid emotions, and it had angsty repercussions. That much angst deserves proper reconciliation. I would have preferred they address the issues directly and apologize.

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Beautiful and captivating. Chemistry was chemistrying lol!

I couldnt wait to finish this one! Chemistry was chemistrying lol! And you also expect that from Zhang Ling He with his lead co stars. Though Xie Zheng was secretive about who he was, you can see he literally fell for Fan Chang Yu and her lifestyle didnt matter much to him after a while because he started to trust her more.
I enjoyed how their relationship blossomed into love. It was beautiful.
What I love most is that they are A STRONG COUPLE, both bad a$$.
They protect each other and their family,
Gongsun Yin being clumsy unintentionally was a nice touch to the drama.
There are so many other characters to talk about but I wont. Just watch it yourself! YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!!
The only thing that made me not give it a 10/10 was the ending.....to me, thought I understand it, I just though it could have been and maybe show their own family instead.

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