Reviews

I only watched this for Deng Wei, and his exit scene was pure campy and ridiculous

I watched the original and the character supposed to portray is insane, yandere, completely unreasonable and totally eccentric. However, his character in the show is okay nice enough, clearly likes her but not crossing any boundaries. Then at episode 28 she goes to his city, he offers to fake marry her to sneak her into the city, says he won't force her. She says 'sure thanks' bc at that point they're friends. Also he is really aware of how much she is dating her boyfriend, played by Joe Zheng. He fake marries her, sneaks her in, and then suddenly he's like 'now we're engaged and you can't leave the house'. What? He's so clever, lord of the underworld, has a shadow army, rich af by his own means, also is the clan heir. And really a sweet, smart kid. And then this suddenly happens? There's no arc, there's no motivation, he just switches. Nothing like the anime. If you're going to switch his personality near the end of the show, let me know why. Does he have a disease? Is he on drugs? Is he eating too many pig brains. The whole set up is just silly.

And at this point, you notice he's coughed up blood like twice a little bit in like episode 35-36, but it's not clear why and it is lost in all the action happening during this part. Anyway, she wakes up dressed in a wedding gown. He's all dressed up (and looks fucking amazing *sigh*). He's ready to go. Forces her to perform the ceremony. And after the bows, they have to drink the tea. But she's like 'I've already drank the tea with my boyfriend and I won't drink it with anyone else!' He seems to take this very poorly and the scene isn't over. No conversations have been had. And then he just falls backwards into the ravine, beautiful gowns billowing, and that's it. MAKES NO SENSE.

Next day, she is overhearing some court hearings and finds out the antidote to his poison was the wedding tea.
Zheng Shi: "I am obsessed with an ordinary woman, and I have tried nothing to cure my poison even though the antidote is literally right there, so goodbye cruel world. Maybe if I kill myself in front of you, you'll remember me." *yeet*

It's so poorly executed, it's campy. The lines in this scenes are so funny. Just falling off a cliff mid-scene makes 0 sense at all. Nothing was resolved, he was just left. Also they cut out his 'sexy goth Tushan Jing' sequences, where he's wearing a black veil and now we are all sad because why are we here? And I think someone said he may have come back from the dead, dressed in said outfit, but I'm not sure about that. Also best line by Deng Wei. spoken to her, "You're not particularly special, so ordinary, but I like you." Nothing he does makes any sense, and his totally bonkers character in the anime was FAR more coherent.

It's obvious to everyone that a lot of this was chopped up poorly (it's weird, they had 3 years to finish it, why is it still so unfinished?). Hanging frames, technically unpolished. But Deng Wei for sure it just feels like they had to remove a LOT of his character and scenes. I hope so, I hope that footage exists, bc I would like to watch it. I seriously hope they even wrote it to begin with, because there's gotta be a reason this is so damn ridiculous.

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An absolute must watch

What makes Xiao Fang truly memorable is its inspiring message. It reminds us that kindness, perseverance, and love can overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Every episode offers valuable life lessons while keeping viewers emotionally invested in the characters' lives.
If you're looking for a Chinese drama that is heartfelt, uplifting, and rich in culture, Xiao Fang is an excellent choice. It's more than just entertainment—it's a touching story about humanity, hope, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. I highly recommend this series to anyone who appreciates meaningful storytelling and authentic rural dramas. It is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered by a wider audience.

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A Must-Watch Masterpiece: More Than Just a BL Drama

This whole year, most BL series have done nothing but greatly exceed my expectations, and I am incredibly happy to say that Payback falls right into this elite category. While I went into this project with exceptionally high expectations, the series somehow managed to completely shatter them, delivering a fabulous show led by immensely talented actors.

From the very first episode, it pulls you into a dark, intense, and emotional story that is impossible to stop watching. As a big fan of the original manhwa and novel, I was amazed by how much care, effort, and attention to detail went into this adaptation. Even when making specific changes to the source material, the creators made it work beautifully, capturing the true heart of the original while delivering something cinematic and emotionally powerful.

What makes Payback stand out is that it succeeds where many BLs struggle: it effortlessly balances a gripping, well-written plot filled with intriguing, surprising twists, and genuinely excellent NC scenes that serve the relationship rather than existing purely for fan service. The overall atmosphere is top-tier; the series trusts its story instead of constantly interrupting heavy moments with exaggerated comedy or silly sound effects. The humor is there when needed, but it never undermines the darker, revenge-driven themes.

Phenomenal Chemistry & Depth
It is genuinely hard to believe that this is Min and Toptap’s first series as lead actors, let alone their first project together. Their chemistry feels completely natural, effortless, and deeply rewarding to watch. They bring Sun and Yohan to life so flawlessly that Toptap and Min have officially become my favorite actors.

Min’s acting deserves special recognition. His performance is extraordinary; he has this incredible ability to maintain a guarded, almost expressionless face while still letting the audience read exactly what Sun is thinking and feeling. That is a massive skill. Even the subtle changes in his hairstyle and color perfectly mirror the stages of Sun's growth. I felt such a strong bond with his character—I laughed, I cried, and I cared so deeply for him that I know it’s going to be incredibly hard to say goodbye when it's over.

A Flawless Production
Beyond the main leads, the supporting cast brings incredible depth and authenticity to the show. The side characters have their own genuine stories to tell instead of just being used as background fluff.

Everything about this production is exceptional—from the gorgeous, stunning visuals to the incredible music, which was a massive highlight for me and set the perfect mood for every single scene. With fantastic pacing, memorable characters, and a plot that keeps you completely hooked, Payback is an unforgettable masterpiece. It is one of the most complete series I have ever watched, earning a permanent place among my all-time favorites. I honestly couldn't recommend it more, and it is one I will definitely be rewatching for a very long time. Easily a 10/10!

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What you get when you combine Stranger Things with Korean mythology with a side of royal intrigues? Well, East Palace would be the resulting piece.

The drama took the theme of Korean mythology and gave it a fresh spin in form of Gucheon, who gains the ability to travel between the world of the living and the world of Gwi when his shaman mother committed suicide, taking him with her. Miraculously, he survived the ordeal despite his mother's death. And we also have Saeng-gang, an abandoned princess who was banished from the palace because she had the ability to listen to the voices of the dead. When the crown princes of the kingdom kept dying of mysterious causes, the king summoned Gucheon and Saeng-gang to investigate and eliminate the root of the problem but in doing so, the two end up uncovering the king's darkest secrets.

You can tell if a drama has a good story if it manage to capture your attention from the first episode. East Palace was able the deliver a good balance of mystery and horror that kept you wanting to find out what comes next. And the two mains had a very good dynamic that grew from reluctant cooperation into trusted companionship. And to complete it, the ost served a healthy serving of heavy metal as Gucheon and Saeng-gang work together to defeat evil spirits that threatens their lives.

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just google who the killer is

The K2 is one of those dramas that is always on a must-see k-drama list; so, I added it to mine.

I loved JCW in the Worst of Evil and the Manipulated, but even he wasn't enough to keep me watching The K2. I was only able to make it up to episode 8 * I did have to ff through some of the episodes

First the good- Ji Chang-wook and Song Yoon-ah carried the show. They are the reason for 8 stars for acting,

The Bad- Yoona (Anna) It would have been better if her character was a child (like 9-12 years old) It felt like the character of Anna was purposely made to be an adult just so there would be "romance" in this drama. The "romance between Anna / K2 character was forced on the viewer and it was unnecessary to the storyline.

the plot also gets muddled with all political talk and it isn't intriguing. I decided to save myself some time skipped to the last episode to find out who killed Anna's mother.

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A Truly Outstanding Rural Drama – Xiao Fang

Xiao Fang is an absolute gem and one of the most heartwarming Chinese rural series I've ever watched. It beautifully captures the simplicity of countryside life while telling meaningful stories about family, friendship, perseverance, and community. Every episode feels genuine, with characters who are relatable, kind, and full of depth.

The acting is exceptional, bringing each character to life with natural emotion and authenticity. The stunning rural scenery adds so much charm to the series, making every scene visually relaxing and immersive. The storytelling strikes a perfect balance between heartfelt moments, light humor, and inspiring life lessons.

What makes Xiao Fang truly stand out is its ability to remind viewers of the importance of compassion, hard work, and staying connected to one's roots. It celebrates everyday people and shows that even the simplest lives can be filled with extraordinary moments.

This series is not only entertaining but also uplifting and refreshing. It's the kind of show that leaves you smiling, thinking, and appreciating the beauty of ordinary life. I highly recommend Xiao Fang to anyone looking for a touching, well-crafted, and unforgettable drama. It deserves every bit of praise and easily earns a 10/10.

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I want to be Li Changge when I grow up.

This is one of the most thrilling historical dramas I’ve seen. It has some of the most epic fight scenes — moments that literally had me punching the air and rewinding to play back the action again. That being said, I was not a fan of the animated sequences. I tried to give it a fair chance at first but I just don’t think this drama benefits from them. I More often than not, I felt that they were jarring, out of place, and confusing; and I would have to wait for the live action to resume to fully understand what was happening. As a storytelling element, they just don’t work. And at times, they are cheesy (especially when they superimpose the live actors over the animatiom). It doesn’t feel cohesive and needed better narrative exposition. I know it was probably due to time constraints/budget/paying homage to the source material but there was definitely a better way to execute it.

I loved all of the actors and feel that every character was 10/10 perfect, no notes. I know a lot of people hate on the first couple for their “lack of chemistry” but I didn’t really notice this. For one thing — I feel that it fit their characters because they’re both so tough, I don’t need or expect them to be super mushy. Also, I don’t necessarily watch historical dramas for the romance. I watch them for the badass fight scenes, which this one more than delivers.

The music is also so good. Lots of earworms. And I always love playing the “Is this song a Liu Yuning song?” game while watching dramas.

Overall, this is an excellent drama and definitely worth your time.

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It was good but not great

I found this drama while doing a random drama search. I am relatively new to c-dramas, but I have seen Zhao Lusi and enjoyed her in Dating in the Kitchen.

I was immediately sympathetic to Zhao Lusi's character from the first episode. I loved the progression of her character in LLTG part 1 (not so much in part 2) Personally, I preferred Shaoshang's interaction /banter with Yuan Shen over Zisheng.

I wish we saw more of Wan Qiqi, as she was a favorite character of mine.

I also wish the story dealt more with the betrayal by Shaoshang's mother- her mother knew of the mistreatment for 15 years and she did nothing because it served her purpose of sowing discord between her husband and his mother. It felt as though we were just supposed to accept it. Later on, her mother does try to make amends for other misdeeds but it's not enough.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama

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Better than I was expecting

Watching this as a K-pop fan is weird. From seeing the survival shows, eliminations, and trainees continuing to work hard for a debut that may never come. All of that felt more personal because I've watched so much of the IRL version. I liked that they showcased the toxicity from the company and the crazy fans; these things always feel like they are covered up unless the group is BTS or SKZ-level big. It would have been nice to see more than dance practice, like vocal practice, recordings, etc. Just more aspects that make up being an Idol.

Once again, we are given an Idol show with almost no music involved.

I've heard this is based on a true story, but I don't know many of the details since I'm still very new to the K-pop world. I've always liked the music, but I only recently got interested in knowing the members. (I've never been very interested in celebrities, but SKZ came in like a wrecking ball & have literally taken over without me noticing.)

This was probably my favorite of the Love Class series. Mostly because I actually cared about both couples in this one, whereas in the others there was always 1 couple that I just didn't care about. I also think that while the chemistry was a bit hit or miss, it wasn't that bad. The acting was also pretty good considering this was most of the main actors' first role in a drama.

I got Su An & Jae Min confused more than a few times, especially in the beginning. The choppy editing did not help at all. We would constantly switch from one character to the next with no warning. I had to rewind and replay some scenes because it would switch from Jae Min to Su An with no warning & I didn't know we had changed characters. It got tiring.

Everything that happened with the CEO & Hyeon Jae was handled in a choppy way. They tried to build tension and failed. It also didn't make sense that Hyeon Jae had to "disappear", and it made even less sense that he actually could. The ending just felt very rushed & left things kind of unresolved when they didn't need to be.

(I'm actually listening to SKZ while writing this review because the world is too noisy.)

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I admit I was hooked in the beginning but then the plot just started to go out of control and slowly made the movie boring. First, it was too long. I mean, we literally saw their whole story. We watched them in their high school years until they became full grown adults.
At first it was cute but then it became more confusing the longer I watched it. It didn't even show us when they got together and we didn't see him ask her out officially. I feel like it focused mainly on him after they graduated high school and they didn't show us that many scenes of them together until the very end. Speaking of, that was one of the most weirdest endings ever.
Why would she call him right before her wedding and why would he tease her like that unless it was them getting married? I didn't understand that phone call.
We got a kiss from them but at what cost T^T
It was pretty funny that they all tried to kiss her husband after that, but respectfully, if my future partner was making out with their ex right in front of me I would definitely have second thoughts. If the director was going to end it like that, they might as well let the main couple get married right??

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Below expectations but has potential

I understand what people are saying about the directing being bad, and honestly I agree with them. The camera angles, shots and lighting give short drama vibes and the music becomes randomly dramatic at times. Also, the lines are so funny, and not in a good way. However, the plot shows potential and the acting is okay. Also, the face cards are beyond a doubt excellent. If you can get over the use of AI, cheap, amateurish editing and cringey script I think it has potential and may be worth a watch.

Honestly, I had very high hopes for this drama because of the promoting and marketing and the lead actors, but although it is far below my expectations, I wouldn't say its as horrible as some people are making it out to be.

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Comfort drama in my July

One word comes to mind: comfortable.
This drama is so refreshing and enjoyable that I watch it every day in the most comfortable situation. The drama's conflict is clear and uninhibited. It's resolved in a mature and straightforward manner, adding to my appreciation.

Road to Success is truly a journey, from the lowest point of 11 students almost giving up on their dreams to the peak of their careers. Lin Wangxing, who was at her lowest point where her light was dimming, now shines brightly. Wang Fa, who was lost in the darkness and almost retreated, finds his purpose in life. Together, they truly share a meaningful journey.

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝒎𝒆, 𝑰 𝒉𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖" this is the most memorable line, i remember laughing and feeling tickled hearing it but kept repeating it. Fellow viewers must be familiar with this, I can even hear this line while typing it.

I appreciate this drama for showing me that
-No matter how far we run, we must eventually face the problems we avoid.
-Giving up in life is not an option; there is always a purpose and meaning to life, even if it's small.
-Big dreams are good, but even better with effort and knowing how to achieve them. It may be difficult, feel impossible, and think it's just a dream. But don't give up before trying your best.
-Everyone has problems. It's hard to say, but when you do, you can overcome those difficulties as if they weren't a big deal.

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