Reviews

I FRICKIN LOVE JI BOZAI🙇‍♀️🙏
The chemistry between the leads is amazinggggg
Love everything about this❤️❤️❤️
The actors⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The plot⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The angsty scenes in between⭐️⭐️⭐️
The fl isn’t a pushover and the ml doesn’t fall for her at first sight. There feelings grow and eventually its just AAAAAHHHHHH I WOULD DIE FOR YOUUU
Lost one star because the ending was unsatisfying to me, really rushed and deviated from the novel’s ending which I heard about and preferred. Another reason, idk ,maybe the vfx sometimes, obviously no vfx is perfect and this is actually one of the good ones but again those high budget Hollywood movies do set vfx standards high.

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THOUGHTS!

When Destiny Brings the Demon

The thing I love most about all of these fantasy dramas is the use of magic, yes. But, the setting, the outfits, and the whole world building is so beautiful. It’s actually so majestic how the cinematography completely raises this drama to the next level.

I love love love the music, setting, and costumes in this drama. Especially at the end with Tingyan in that red feathery outfit, that was so cool. The setting is also beautiful and the outfits of Sima Jiao was also really pretty in terms of a male costume. I loved the environment and surrounding of his old house with all the different architectural elements.

I always feel bad for those characters that experience childhood trauma or have like something where they are forced to deal with it from childhood on. So, even though Sima Jiao was supposed to be painted to be ruthless, I felt really sympathetic for him. He had so much pain to go through when he was a child and he finally found one person who can at least calm the pain. I like the dynmaic between Sima Jiao and Liao Ting Yan. It’s lke Liao Ting Yan is one of the most innocent people who don’t know anything about this world, while Sima Jiao has lost trust in humanity so he questions everything. He still helps her though. He spares her life multiple times, cures her poison, and treats her differently. I also love the snake in this drama, it’s like one of those pets that make things funny.

There was so much tension in that scene where Sima Jiao realized that Liao Ting Yan can help him ease the pain from the Spirit Fire and pulled her close so that they were touching forehead to forehead. I also love how Sima Jiao is giving Liao Ting Yan the chance to prove herself. When she was going against those two girls at the mountain, he waited to make sure she was ok but also gave her the chance to fight back on her own. Then, when she couldn’t, he helped her.

Sima Jiao has so much aura bro in that fight against the elders in episode 5. He has so much power that is contained, even when he is at his weakest. I also love how he is putting so much trust in Ting Yan even if he doesn’t realize it, letting her go on all the adventures with him. When he was carrying her, I could picture them 2 ruling the world together. Not only that, but the intimate look with him repeating “if I don’t let you die, you won’t die.” That’s such a protective and reassuring sentence to me, even if it’s meant to be threatening.

AHHH..We got our first reveal of Sima Jiao’s feelings. “I cherish you so much that I don’t want you to be harmed in the slightest.” Anyone with eyes can see that everything he’s doing with Tingyan is to protect her and make sure her life is good, happy, and prosperous. Especially given his track record with handling other people, he is completely different with Tingyan.

Episodes 12 and 13 really showed their devotion to each other. Sima Jiao knew that Tingyan wanted to live and if he sacrificed himself, she would die too. He replayed that conversation where she said she just wanted to live a carefree life. Then, he decided to choose her and use everything in his power to make her live. She also showed so much loyalty and devotion by staying with Sima Jiao. He gave her the choices to kill him, leave, or run but she picked none of the above.

Wow, Sima Jiao defied literal heaven and the universe to save Tingyan. He took that lightning and completely smashed it to pieces. Tingyan wouldn’t have been able to handle it otherwise. Sima Jiao is truly the most powerful immortal no questions asked. Now, he even has Tingyan to stand by his side and defy the universe and thunder together.

Ok, I really do not like the whole memory lost/amnesia trope that a lot of these fantasy dramas have. It just demotivates me from watching because they have to basically rebuild their relationship again. However, in this drama, I actually did not mind it because it showed a side of Sima Jiao that people wouldn’t expect. I love love love how he didn’t force her to reveal anything and he promised her he wouldn’t use his mind tricks on her. Furthermore, he even went as to always keep on protecting her even when she is meant to kill him because she thinks they are enemies. Like, this whole amnesia/reborn trope really shows you how deep and genuine Sima Jiao’s love is for Tingyan.

When Sima Jiao was willing to give up his life so that Tingyan could live and get rid of her demon core, his convo with Nian Jiu was heartbreaking. Nian Jiu breaking down and hugging Sima Jiao with Sima Jiao’s shaky hands comforting him. Then Sima Jiao saying “If she lives, I live.” Basically, saying that she will carry his name and honor with her. But if she doesn’t live, he can’t either.

Ok, this drama is extremely captivating and interesting but I’ve gotta say, it is also pretty hard to follow. There are so many different plot points and almost plot twists that the screenwriter laid out that it is almost too hard to follow at times. Like that last plot point where Sima Jiao wasn’t actually dead and his spirit is in the mortal realm, like that was a reintroduction of like everything we knew and that happened in the last like 3 episodes. So, sometimes, this drama is too messy and includes too much stuff that it is hard to keep up with. Also, I’m going to say again, I don’t like any like amnesia/forgotten memory trope because you’re basically starting at ground 0.

At the very end, how Sima Jiao regains his memory is very um anti-climatic is what I would say. Just a spell cast on a hat. However, I did really like their last scene together in the fantasy world. The working together and Tingyan completing her “mission” was a good revolution. I knew that the classic reuniting in the modern world was going to happen but I wish we got more. We didn’t even see if her proposal was accepted or even heard and we never got that part where “Sima Jiao” realizes who she is, so we never know if he remembers the “dream” either. Idk, I wish the ending was a little bit longer and we just got to see more of their story because that would make the ending feel more complete.

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Slow, familiar... yet hard to stop watching

Not every drama needs to be loud to be remembered.
Pursuit of Jade is the kind of story that slowly finds its place, without forcing anything.
At first, it feels simple—almost too familiar.
Fan Changyu, played by Tian Xiwei, and Xie Zheng, portrayed by Zhang Linghe, come together in a marriage built on circumstances rather than choice. Two people sharing a life, yet carrying completely different worlds within them.
But as the story moves forward, it becomes less about the situation and more about the emotions growing within it.
What stands out the most is how natural everything feels. Nothing is rushed. The relationship between Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng doesn’t suddenly change—it develops through small, quiet moments. The kind you don’t always notice immediately, but somehow they stay with you.
Fan Changyu brings a refreshing presence. She is strong, practical, and grounded, never trying to be more than what she is. Tian Xiwei plays her with a sense of ease that makes the character feel real and relatable.
Xie Zheng, on the other hand, is more restrained. There’s a quiet heaviness in him, and Zhang Linghe portrays that internal conflict with subtlety rather than intensity. His emotions are not always visible, but they are always there.
Together, their story doesn’t rely on dramatic highs. It builds itself through understanding, patience, and silent support.
The drama may not be perfect. At times, the visuals feel overly polished, slightly taking away from the realism. But emotionally, it still holds its depth.
In the end, Pursuit of Jade is not about grand storytelling.
It’s about quiet connection.
And sometimes, it’s the quiet stories that stay the longest.

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A quiet story that slowly finds its place

In a genre often filled with grand political schemes and exaggerated romance, Pursuit of Jade takes a quieter, more grounded approach. It doesn’t try to overwhelm the audience with spectacle. Instead, it builds its story through emotion, resilience, and the slow evolution of its characters.

At the heart of the drama is an unlikely relationship—a butcher girl and a man hiding behind a fragile identity. Their marriage begins as a necessity, not a choice, yet what makes this story compelling is how naturally that distance begins to fade. There is no rush toward romance. Instead, the connection grows through shared struggles, mutual respect, and unspoken understanding.

The female lead stands out as one of the drama’s strongest elements. She is not confined to traditional softness; rather, she is practical, bold, and emotionally grounded. Her strength doesn’t come from perfection, but from her ability to endure and adapt. In contrast, the male lead offers a layered performance, gradually revealing depth beneath his reserved exterior.

Visually, the drama delivers a pleasant experience, though not without flaws. While the costumes and settings maintain a consistent aesthetic, the excessive use of filters occasionally takes away from the authenticity of the scenes. Despite this, the emotional weight of the story remains intact.
What truly defines Pursuit of Jade is its tone. It doesn’t seek attention through dramatic twists but instead earns it through sincerity. It focuses on the overlooked moments—the quiet sacrifices, the small acts of care, and the gradual healing of two individuals bound by circumstance.

In the end, Pursuit of Jade is not just a story of love, but of growth. It reminds us that sometimes, the most meaningful relationships are not the loudest, but the ones that slowly and quietly find their place.

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Great start but fell off greatly in the last 10 episodes

Pursuit of Jade started off as one of the most anticipated dramas of the year and truly lived up to its potential at least until the last 10 episodes, yet the screenplay and the effects, along with fight scenes throughout, were quite comprehensive and done neatly. Yet it somehow lost the track towards the last leg of the drama which means that there was not a satisfactory ending but even after that the whole premise and building of the story until like the 20th episode was so perfect in so many ways and continued to be so until the last 10 episodes but even after that I had give it a 10 simply because the ML x FL remained as closely knit as always throughout protecting and loving each other and that is what defines the show. Changyu truly was the Jade which had the name "Yan Zheng".

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DUANG WITH YOU

I’m writing this still emotional because Episode 8 absolutely wrecked me. I went into this series thinking it would just be a cute, fluffy watch, but it has so much more depth than people give it credit for.
Duang is everything. He is so incredibly adorable, but seeing him as the "top" while maintaining that sweetness is such a refreshing dynamic. I’ve seen some people call the characters "puppets," but that couldn't be further from the truth. The acting is so nuanced you can see every bit of his internal struggle. it was a perfectly timed release of all the pressure his character has been under. My heart broke for him! If you’re looking for a drama that has:

A lead you'll want to protect at all costs 🛡️

Real, grounded emotional stakes

Characters with actual heart and "dignity" (despite what the haters say!)

...then you NEED to watch this. Don't let the cynical reviews scare you off. This show is a 10/10 and Duang deserves the world.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: EPISODE 8 THOUGHTS ⚠️
I literally gasped out loud in public watching this! Seeing Duang cry for the first time was absolutely soul-crushing. Up until now, he’s been so composed and precious, so seeing that wall finally break down was a testament to the actor's skill.

The way his voice cracked and the look in his eyes... I couldn't stand seeing him like that. It wasn't just "sad"; it felt like a total release of everything he’s been holding back. If you don't think that's good acting, I don't know what is!

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Not bad but not good

All chinese drama good in start and become bad in middle? and then till end ? why do the side characters have mores part or they're literally all the time with mc ? why you have to show so many friends? the side characters or side couple take unnecessary screentime we are not interested in side characters or side couple we are watching for main couple, I really liked the main couple and the story everything,but CDRAMA have to ruin every drama with side couple and side characters? so annoyed skipping the parts ? I'm not interested in friends story we are watching for romance? i was still okay even with breakup? but the romance was so less why ? because there's always people around them they're rarely alone ? and after breakup also new side characters or the friends again ? i seriously wanted to give 8 even when I was annoyed but because I didn't watch the last 4-5 eps and skipped till end I give 7 because I like the couple ? there was literally no romance nothing after they started dating , what happened is less after that

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A GL Series That Actually Gets It Right

I'll be honest — with the surge of GL series flooding our screens lately, many of them painful to sit through, I went into Heart Code fully prepared to be underwhelmed. I didn't even want to hand it a perfect score on principle. But the series earned it.
From the very first episode, it was clear this was something different. Nothing felt wasted. Every moment had a purpose, every scene moved the story forward, and not once did the chemistry between the leads feel manufactured or forced. No aimless wandering or unnecessary back story, no stupid "accidental falling for each other" clichés — just intentional, well-crafted storytelling.
Hats off to the writer and director for laying such a solid foundation, but the real stars of this review are the actors. They didn't just perform — they inhabited these characters. The emotion felt real, the connection was instant, and you believed every single moment they shared on screen.
Than's portrayal of the captain and bodyguard figure deserves special mention — and unfortunately it forces a comparison to Only You, a series that was a real disappointment and genuinely wasted a talented actor who could not convincingly sell the boss bodyguard role, specially in physical presence. Than, by contrast, owned it. Every look, every stance, every moment of intensity read exactly as it should. It's the kind of performance that makes you realise how much that role demands, and how rarely it's done right — and the supporting cast deserves credit too, actually adding value to her character rather than just filling space.
What the series does beautifully is its pacing and balance. The developing chemistry never felt rushed or hollow. Than's desire after being love-struck was portrayed with an intensity and heat that's rare to find. The love scenes were genuinely a work of art — intimate, intentional, and you could feel the actors were fully present and authentic in those moments. The comedy landed where it was placed without derailing the tone. The emotional beats hit accordingly without tipping into melodrama or endless crying. Even the action sequences were well-choreographed — not Hollywood-level, sure, but coherent, purposeful, and effective.
Heart Code is the kind of GL series that reminds you what the genre is capable of when everyone involved actually cares. A well-deserved full score — even from me.

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This is available, free and legally - and finally fully subbed - on Thai PBS via their VIPA app and vipa.me streaming service. If you are interested in it, please show your support for queer programming by watching legally. It is in your interest to do so.

The characters are a close-knit circle, friends since high school, their partners, families and work colleagues. Every significant character gets an episode, the core characters more than one. Noom Surawut’s Ohn is at the centre of it all, comforting and grounding with his calm, gentle demeanour.

The series aims to foster greater understanding through depicting a wide range of difficulties faced by those who are gender diverse. Adult relationships, aging, illness, death, and childhood are all touched on.

In the early episodes it can get a bit didactic with explanations but those pass quickly enough. Something it doesn’t spell out which may be helpful for MDLers to know is that Thai frameworks for orientation and gender identity don’t match up with western conceptions and can be more fluid.

As a simple example, when they use language like “gender diverse”, this includes gay and lesbian as well as trans and non-binary. Kathoey is a third gender, sometimes camp, tending towards effeminate. The characters will tell you about themselves, or one will explain to another.

“Romance” is perhaps a misleading genre, depending on how you define it - the relationships are long term and well established, seven years for one, much longer for the other. It’s not even like What Did You Eat Yesterday, with its focus on two men falling more and more in love with each other. The gay is gay, not BL gay.

Each episode is structured around a problem which keeps a character awake - the “hard nights” of the English title - and ends with enough resolution they’re able to sleep.

Many episodes are slice of life vignettes, while a few are more like short stories with a fair bit of flashback and personal history. The characters are likeable and engaging, but there isn’t a compelling story line driving everything. It’s just characters to spend time with, learn about and root for as they navigate the difficulties of being middle aged and gender diverse in Thailand.

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What even WAS that?!?

These are just my opinion, please don't come at me. This review might be all over the place, because that's the way the show was.
The good:
-The baby. ABSOLUTELY the high point of the entire show. He was precious. I need to go find behind the scenes footage of how they worked with him.
-The ending was so cute with all the scenes of the baby.
The bad:
-I love Bae In Hyuk, but to me it felt like he was struggling to get through this drama.
-I don't like love triangles to begin with, but this one went on entirely too long. Plus, the FL had more scenes and chemistry with the 2ML than ML. It's not right when they spend more time on that relationship than the main relationship. Plus, the FL acted like she liked the 2ML more, until she suddenly decided to like the ML. Did the writers realize they were running out of episodes and scramble to get them back on track? Because the ML/FL relationship certainly seemed like an afterthought. NOW, I understand why people ask about triangles before watching something.
-FL acting. Bad. It felt like they filmed a bunch of reaction shots of her and then edited them in. I often felt like her scenes were her the only one there, the rest was green screened.
-Tone of the show. So many wonderful opportunities for sweetness lost. They should have focused on trying to figure out how to co-exist and raise a baby, but the baby often seemed like just a prop.
-Unnecessary drama. When the ML's dad showed up, that was a waste.
-To me, the biggest problem was FL's actions. She was trying to become a permanent employee, stayed late all the time, not giving the baby a thought. She didn't supervise him well at all. She lost him, he got injured because she wasn't watching him, she was always pawning him off on someone else to watch him. When he got taken away, I couldn't even get emotional, because that was completely justified. Plus, her extreme reaction was painful to watch because it was so poorly acted.
-They continued to call each other "in-law" even after they were a couple. Granted, the subtitles said their names, but they were definitely saying in-law. That in itself showed the lack in their relationship.

The only reason I even gave it a rating of 4 was because of the baby.

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