Sadly, a huge waste
Story 5.5Acting and direction 6.5
Music and production 6.5
Rewatch Value 5
I heard about this series at the same time as ‘Me and Thee’ and so I thought: wow, two show coming with a GmmTv popular couple. Both trailers seem nice, interesting so I wanted to give both a good rating, higher than their previous series. Furthermore, the projects were going to be out during the same period. I was excited and ‘Me and Thee’ didn’t disappoint me. Sadly, ‘Dare you to Death’ did.
The plot is actually interesting: mystery and police are quite my cup of tea and guessing who’s the culprit is fun. It isn’t that unpredictable, but still enjoyable. There are a lot of characters that confuse the cards with their lies, so, at first, you don’t know where to direct your suspects.
The central theme of this story is, in my opinion, the human soul. This series show the dark side of people: the lowest level of the human beings, their feeling of revenge and violence and desire of power. If you ask me? Fascinating. Planning all of this chaos, meticulously and coldly like that is just so attractive.
Just a few things to appoint. For example, two moments in the last episode which could just be unreal. If someone gets shot in the stomach, she/he can’t be alive if the ambulance comes after one hour, right? Also, someone who is hit with an axe dies, right? Finally, are the main characters real detectives? You will doubt that at some point because the investigations are too slow.
Unfortunately, the romance part isn’t that charming. Firstly, the main relationship’s development is rushed. Definitely, from the middle until the end of the show. Also, the ‘side couple’ didn’t even kiss…so maybe they weren’t a couple this time? Then, I just didn’t like it (the main couple). I don’t know exactly why, but it’s a shame cause I’m usually so much into police couples and I believe Joong and Dunk look so aesthetically good together.
Let’s try to find out more about how the romance didn’t work, for me, here.
The actors’ performance is one part of the problem. Not only Dunk’s acting isn’t that good, but also the chemistry of the couple is almost absent. I don’t know what happened but something feels off. I saw them closer in ‘The Heart Killers’ both in and out of bed. It doesn’t make sense since the age (of the characters) is clearly the same and the environment is similar.
The second reason must be the dialogues. They’re are quite a no for me. The conversations are too silly, childish and embarrassing for adults, maybe good for high schoolers. I love the flirting at work but most of their takes alone are insufferable. Also, I don’t know what the director wanted to do but the ‘sex scene’ in the office seems difficult to shot due to the position, the output is forced and not spontaneous (if you ask me, to do things in that position you move differently).
Moreover, Dunk has the same expression the whole time and when he changes it, seems unnatural. I thought it was the character but it’s impossible to be like that 24/7. I know there is a dispute about his acting and I don’t want to be cruel, okay? I’m just saying that, in my opinion, he is still not good enough and I’m so sorry. Of course he can improve, everyone can. I’m sure he’s working hard, but I’m not seeing great changes.
On the other hand, I find Chimon, Pahn, June and Sing’s acting really great. In particular, I know Cimon’s talent and here his character is amazingly portraited from the beginning to the end. Pahn and June are good in dramatic scenes. In addition, I have to mention Joong’s work that is no less good (except for the couple’s topic from before).
Besides, what’s wrong with the action scenes? Watching other shows like ‘Good Boy’ or ‘History 3: Trapped’ or ‘Manner of Death’ you can realize this one isn’t really verisimilar somehow. Again, I don’t know what the director had in mind, but the result isn’t my taste at all.
Also, can someone explain why they decided to use the same song one hundred times? The Ost is really great, I have it in my playlist, but using the same song over and over again isn’t a good idea. Finally, a new song appears towards the end of the series, but still…
Except for the song, there aren’t much sound effects. Mostly gunshots, obviously. The production isn’t bad; the lightning is aligned with the atmosphere. The locations are good, nothing that caught my eye. The editing is overall nice, but there are one or two cuts that I don’t appreciate.
To sum up, the plot had potential but the romance part isn’t on the same level as the mystery. The acting and direction aren’t that great. The music isn’t well managed. The feeling I’m getting is the lack of cure and attention to details. This is an important matter. Before the series was out, there was an issue with its promotion. The feeling is clear: the company didn’t care much about this project. If the situation is really like that, it’s not only a real shame because the plot is nice, but it’s also unfair to the actors who work hard on their projects.
I don’t think I’m going to watch any episode again: I know who the culprit is and the romance parts aren’t worth it. I’m sorry. I really wanted to give this series a higher rating but I can’t. I’m unsure about recommending the show. Still, if you like mystery and splatter, you could watch it. Following this path, I believe I can suggest you watch ‘Secret Relationships’ a korean bl drama. This one is done a bit better and the themes are similar.
Thank you for reading,
Kisses <3
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I'm honestly not sure what to make of this.
Legend writ enormously large around a real person who may not have contributed much, if anything, aside from his name, his job and the location.
A Thai take on westerns - like it belongs in the lineage of Tears of the Black Tiger, though not as far afield. Violent, very violent and very stylised, muted browns and dirt, the use of water. Parts felt almost surreal, which is one way of making supernatural powers real within a film, like this was just normal in their world, rare but known.
It was difficult and I took a few breaks, looking this or that thing up. It's like the opposite of the two hour Thai movies I love, where they wander around exploring their wee world before revealing their poignancy and it's gentle and comforting. Only here it's the hour 38 minutes of a Thai action movie, traveling through the violence of its world. And then it shifts, surreal but grounded within the language of the film, and ends in something else. It gave some sense of meaning and closure, satisfying in the moment, but perhaps not all that deep. Exhausting to get there too. Maybe it felt worth it, in the end.
But there were clearly layers I do not have the knowledge to feel, even if I can think my way through some of them. Sometimes my sense of being an outsider is particularly sharp. This is one.
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Sweetest and most natural romance between two people
If you don't mind the fact that there is no real kissing in this, then I would say this would be one of the best romance drama I have seen.I was mislead by a lot of reviews here and I thought that this was going to be another series where the ML puts in all the effort while the FL just received his love. Most of the reviews here have been critizing the female lead, but for me she was one of the main reasons I loved this drama, of course along with the ML (Most reviews already talk about how good he is so I'm not delving into that here).
There is such natural progression and genuinly fun bickering between the leads that the romance progression feels soo natural. The FL may seem to be a bit oblivious to feelings and not take things seriously at first, but she naturally starts caring for the male lead and shows this in her own way how much she does. The show itself addresses the character and behavior if the FL and why she is how she is and shows her growth as well. Don't get me wrong it was visibly obvious to me how she started falling and there was no doubt about how much she loved him as well.
I was expecting a series where ML does all these grand gestures for the FL, but in this show it actually goes both ways. Although the ML might have more gestures shown, she trusts him completely and relies on him. That something I rarely see in dramas, where usually the FL only talks about her inner issue with friends or other SML. But in this, for her the ML is the first one she thinks of in times if trouble and fortune.
I hope with his more people can watch this drama inspite of some of the negative reviews. Sure if you don't know that there won't be actually kisses shown it may be frustrating for a drama of this genre, but for me going into it knowing how it's going to be , I really enjoyed each and every episode and could not skip any parts of it .
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Zhang jun and Qiqi love story
For me , Zhang jun is the main lead. He is such a strong support to Qiqi and the way he cherishes and protects her is really admirable. He deserves to be happy with her. I really stayed in this drama because of Qiqi and Zhang Jun. I loved every episode with them. They deserve to be happy together.Was this review helpful to you?
not the way I expected
I haven’t finished the drama, I stopped it at 22 but still wanted to give it all the credits that it deservesnote : this is not enemies to lovers story
first, the story is interesting.., that “romeo and juliet” vibes
and the actors did great job in it
why I dropped it? because I lost interest too fast.., here’s the things that kept uninterested episodes after episodes
the series started promising with its political turbulent times especially with the wei and qiao families and how they were enemies for years
then the marriage alliance comes to pacify this tension between the families
just for us to see the growing romance between the leads.., even their tension didn’t last long only a couple of episodes
then what after all that? because I want to see a good political plot line but all i see is characters personal development and their lifes
even the villains wasn’t interesting enough to keep me going on
in my opinion the premise of this story and that shakespearan vibes of it would be good on historical kdrama.., i have seen historical kdramas with a closer plot and they were very good at focusing on the politics, romance, acting, action etc
but I definitely understand why people loved it tho
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THEIR CHEMISTRY IS NEXT LEVEL
I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING — THIS FIRST EPISODE IS ALREADY FUCKING CRAZY.THE COUPLES’ CHEMISTRY IS NEXT LEVEL AND THE TENSION IN THIS SHOW IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. STOP EVERYTHING AND GO WATCH IT NOW — YOU WON’T REGRET IT. RUN, DON’T WALK. WAITING A WEEK FOR THE NEXT EPISODE IS GOING TO BE PURE HELL 😫😫😫
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Epic costume drama
What a great surpriseI was in a drama slump waiting for some dramas to end before starting them,
From reading the critics, I wasn’t sure what to expect …
This is a fairly short drama : 6 hours / 25 ep of 15 mm… Like a very good long/3-part movie, and it is nice like that- no unnecessary lengthy angst.
The script / storyline/plot is really of high quality, consistent, very engaging and entertaining, and the production as well on the contrary to what some wrote, I couldn’t fault it … that is after the first episode (and yes the ML wears a crazy wig sometimes, but it suits his state at that moment in the story very well)
Costumes and decors are fine,
Pictures sometimes really beautiful,
The music is perfect for the drama,
And of course, the cast is overall great in their characters, especially the main leads,
Their dubbing is also very good
If a third character is not so good, it really doesn’t matter and affect the overall quality.
And cherry on the cake,
The 3-lifetime love story between the leads is among the best of the genre,
with an epic chemistry between the leads
Very happy to have come across this one
The iqiyi rating is 9.7 and I find it well deserved
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A JOSEON ROBIN HOOD WITH A TWIST.
The story follows Hong Eun-jo, an illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and a slave. By day, she is a skilled physician, but by night, she is the legendary righteous thief 'Gil-dong', stealing from corrupt officials to feed the starving commoners. Things get complicated when she crosses paths with Grand Prince Yi Yeol, a brilliant investigator who is obsessed with catching the thief. After a mysterious encounter involving a mystical bracelet, the two swap souls. They must navigate each other's lives, Eun-jo as a high-ranking prince and Yi Yeol as a cross-dressing physician/thief, while uncovering a conspiracy within the palace.Furthermore, despite a real-life age gap, Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min have been dubbed the 'Dodo Couple' by fans, and their chemistry is the heart of the show. Moon Sang-min perfectly captures the flustered energy of a prince trapped in a commoner's body, while Nam Ji-hyun shines when she has to act 'princely' and stoic. Many dramas use body-swapping for cheap laughs, but To My Beloved Thief uses it to build empathy. As Yi Yeol lives Eun-jo's life, he truly understands the suffering of the lower class for the first time. Conversely, Eun-jo learns that the 'lazy' prince is actually carrying a heavy burden of responsibility. Additionally, the cinematography is stunning, especially during the nighttime heist scenes and the viral 'cherry blossom kiss' early in the series.
However, in between the episodes focused a bit too much on palace politics, slowing down the romantic momentum. But the final episodes are widely considered some of the best in recent K-drama history, choosing an intimate, emotional ending over a typical 'happily ever after'.
In conclusion, To My Beloved Thief is a must-watch for anyone who liked 100 Days My Prince or The King's Affection. It balances humor, social commentary, and a very poignant 'fate-driven' romance.
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Kill me, heal me review
The best thing about this Kdrama is Ji Sung’s performance. His acting truly stands out and carries the entire show with depth and intensity. Unfortunately, the story itself is disappointing. The ending feels rushed and poorly wrapped up, lacking emotional payoff. The family connection plot twist was especially cringey and completely unnecessary, adding drama in the worst way. It would have been far more compelling if the couples had simply remained strangers instead of forcing that awkward predictable reveal.Was this review helpful to you?
Very surprised
Don’t listen to the bad reviews. If you want something light, funny, sweet, and romantic, this is it. It’s cinematically beautiful to watch, and was a pleasant surprise. The main leads did their job well, and I loved all of the FL’s facial reactions. She’s so cute. The ML was also good as well. Very handsome. I don’t like re-watching shows but I definitely recommend this one and strongly suggest not listening to the bad reviews and judge for yourselves.Was this review helpful to you?
.
I’m crying. I’m actually crying.
What am I supposed to do with my Friday nights now? Where am I going to get my weekly dose of JoongDunk?!
Everything about this series just worked for me. The chemistry? Insane. The tension? Perfect. The emotional moments? They hit hard.
Joong and Dunk delivered in every single scene. The way they look at each other, the softness mixed with intensity — I felt all of it.
This wasn’t just good. It was the kind of series that becomes part of your routine, your comfort, your little weekly happiness. And now it’s over and I feel empty.
No logic. Just feelings. 🤍
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Underrated Rom Com
This is a nice and lighthearted rom-com. Very heartwarming and delightful. The angle to the storyline was unique at the start and how they navigate their emotions to the end with each family background reveal along the way to better understand and tie in the reasons and causes to their relationship. There were some holes and some typical rom com scenes in the plot line but that’s typical in a kdrama and I didn’t let it distract from being entertained. Regardless it’s of age gap, it was a cute journey between the 2 main characters to commit to themselves.Was this review helpful to you?
JoongDunk are the crowning glory of this series, masterfully navigating a plot filled with serial killers and police intrigue. Seeing them transition from hitmen in The Heart Killers to heroic police officers is an exquisite role reversal. I loved watching Jade (Joong) experience love at first sight with Kamin (Dunk); he tries to assert dominance by playing the "bad cop," only to be left completely floored when he realizes Kamin is actually his superior.
Their chemistry is as electric as it is dangerous. The direction brilliantly utilizes shadows to remind us that in this game, love is the ultimate risk. This series hooks you from the first episode and proves JoongDunk can handle any genre they’re given. Highly recommended.
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This review may contain spoilers
A brilliantly written enemies-to-lovers trope w/ satisfying fight scenes! The 2nd CP stole my heart!
"Everyone makes mistakes. But When you're wrong, you must admit it and make it right." - Murong ZhongWhat an amazing story that never faltered from the beginning until the end!
If there's one thing I am truly grateful for regarding this drama, it is how it kept the excitement and momentum going without a break from the start until the very end. I was actually worried at first while watching the first two episodes because I was afraid they might suddenly fumble and mess up after giving us such a promising and compelling story; however, they didn't disappoint and delivered until the end. Each episode offers scenes that will keep your eyes glued to the screen so you don't miss a thing. It was the kind of drama that keeps you in your seat, unable to take a break because of how good the story is.
The plot was nicely laid out and carefully woven together, which allowed the story to avoid any plot holes and flow naturally. Although I must say they went overboard with the treatment and healing shenanigans, I’m glad they provided a proper explanation for how that was achieved. I admit I found those scenes unbelievably ridiculous myself; however, I just let it pass, considering they introduced the Storm Alliance's capabilities early on and then gave us a whole arc to formally educate us on what the alliance is all about. At least they didn't just shove a 'miracle cure' down our throats to heal everyone instantly; instead, they provided a solid backstory and arc for the entire Storm Alliance. Still, I was flabbergasted at first—imagine being on the brink of death (almost dead, actually) but miraculously recovering through the unorthodox, almost supernatural practices of these doctors! At one point, I felt like they could even ascend to godhood. Kidding aside, I appreciate the writers' and directors' efforts to give us a proper foundation for their origins and current situation, rather than a half-baked background.
Allow me to also commend this production for not overly dramatizing the entire amnesia plot of both leads just to generate more dramatic and climactic scenes. Instead, they used it as a plot device to develop the story in a considerably natural and logical way, allowing the characters to navigate the 'doubtful enemies' phase for the right amount of time. This helped them develop trust and an understanding of one another—seeing each other for who they truly are. God knows what a massive breath of fresh air it was that our leads didn't have to go through the usual dramatic 'You fooled me!' trope. Because both of them are equally cautious, strategic, and smart, they can assess every situation almost immediately. It saved us all the unnecessary drama typically present in this kind of plot.
I also want to take a moment to praise the brains behind the storyline and plot! What a brilliant mind they have. I haven't been this conflicted about a villain in a long time. I am totally amazed by how incredibly written Xia Jingyan and Feng Xiyang are. Their chemistry is so much better than anything we had with Xia Jingshi. The borderline love and hate Feng Xiyang feels for Xia Jingyan was heartfelt—it was palpable. They were at the peak of their love story, and God knows how groundbreaking it would have been if they had somehow sorted things out and ended up together. It’s just sad the writers didn't plan any of that for them. I know he’s beyond redemption because of the atrocities he committed, but I can't help wanting him to be the 'end game' for Feng Xiyang. I prefer him over Xia Jingshi because, despite being a total lunatic, he truly loves her. I feel like Xiyang could have guided him toward the right path if given enough time. So, how could the writers make Xia Jingyan appear miserably pitiful while keeping his charismatic charm toward the end, only to kill him off? I had an intense change of heart during the final episodes, and even though his death was 'reasonable' I’m still quite resentful about it!
I thoroughly enjoy Feng Xiyang’s characterization—which was totally unexpected. Since I was quite annoyed with her at first because of how naive and gullible she was. I even found pleasure in seeing her demise. However, as her story developed, I began to like her for her angst, conviction, and audacity. I love how the writers allowed her to bloom from a beautiful, harmless flower into a prickly rose that shouldn't be underestimated. I admire how she stood up and rose on her own, utilizing whatever means she could to survive. My favorite scene was the iconic moment when she severed her feelings for Xia Jingyan even after witnessing him get killed and rendered heartbroken over their unborn child. Even with all that trauma, she still made us, the viewers, feel and long for their romantic connection. That was peak drama and the true scene-stealer of the show.
The emotion and weight of their affection was powerfully conveyed. We all know that beyond her hate and disgust, he was also a confidante—a light of hope she never expected to find during her times of total sorrow and despair. He was someone she didn't expect to get emotionally attached to, or to care for so deeply, no matter how much she denies it. They are my second favorite pairing in the show: the most masochistic, brutal, yet unexpectedly romantic and heartbreaking of them all.
"In this life, I once loved someone, but he's dead to me now. Then I met someone who loved me, and now he's dead too." - Feng Xiyang
And to finally wrap this up! Because I feel like I could write a couple more paragraphs about the second pairing, if I don't. Lol
I appreciate that the pending questions and issues were addressed at the end through the casual teasing and catch-up moments between the Feng Battalion members (Lu Ke, Yun Fang, and Yun Qing) and Ning Feng. Thank you for providing such a complete and satisfying conclusion to the story.
P.S. I’m utterly disgusted by Feng Ping Cheng. I hate that the previous empress died partly because of him, and I loathe how he abused Suige just to impose his own ambitions on him. No child deserves to be mistreated just to forcefully conform to their parent's expectations. He is unforgivable—absolute trash until the very end. I’m glad he died a miserable death.
Story - 10, This is one of those stories that truly impressed me with how concise, well-paced, and tightly written it is. I never felt like a single moment was wasted, as every plot point contributed to the story's development. Even the Storm Alliance Arc was compelling from start to finish. I genuinely enjoyed and appreciated every episode of this drama.
Acting/Cast - 10, Stellar performances! The execution from every actor and actress was great. It was nice to watch another badass CP again after a long time! Chen Zheyuan nailed this character; he can look sinister when he wants and gentle and kind at the same time. I also have to praise Li Qin for being one of the most convincing female generals/fighters in all of C-dramaland. Another group I want to mention is the Feng Battalion members. They're like the energizers of the story—the bunch of people who always bring laughter whenever they're on screen.
Music - 10, This production has some emotional ballads on its list. It’s endearing and touching at the same time. Listening to the songs makes me feel like I'm floating, surrounded by soft and beautiful melodies. As a ballad enthusiast, this gets my seal of approval!
Rewatch Value - 10, Definitely worth a re-watch. It was a drama where I can confidently say my time was well spent. A truly compelling and thrilling drama to watch.
Overall - 10, Looking back, I am thrilled that I finally watched this. My appreciation for Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan has grown significantly after seeing their performances here. It’s the kind of story you won’t regret watching—a proper Wuxia drama with a compact storyline and a coherent plot.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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This review may contain spoilers
I seriously don’t know what the writers were smoking while making this.The concept sounded interesting at first. An AI companion company where you can create a hologram of anyone — your dead mom, dad, sibling, even a celeb. That’s actually a heavy concept. Grief, loneliness, ethics, emotional dependency… there’s SO much they could’ve explored.
Instead we get nonsense.
First, the ML. A “retired” novelist in his late 20s. Retired?? Bro when did he even start? Graduate at 18, become a bestseller at 21, retire at 27? In what world are writers retiring young and rich? Most writers are underpaid and struggling. The show just throws this detail in like it makes sense.
Then the FL. She’s the CEO of a high-tech AI hologram company… but acts like a toddler half the time. Panic attacks every other ep, bad decisions, zero leadership vibe. I’m not saying CEOs can’t have trauma, but competence has to be there too. Here it just isn’t.
And the company itself??? We’re told it’s this massive revolutionary tech firm. The building is like 20 floors tall. But inside the actual office? Looks like a 3-4 room apartment with 5 employees. That’s it. For a company building advanced emotional AI holograms?? Where’s the dev team? Security? Legal? PR? Anyone?
And why is the CEO video-calling her own team while sitting in the SAME office? Just walk 5 steps 😭 what are we doing.
The biggest joke was the server crash. Version 1 AI companions — which people emotionally bonded with — just reset. Memory gone. If someone bought an AI version of their dead mother and suddenly it forgot everything, that would be devastating. Lawsuits. Media outrage. Company collapse.
But here? Nobody cares. No consequences. Everyone’s just excited for Version 2 like nothing happened. Why would customers trust you again after that??
Also security is basically nonexistent. Anyone can enter server rooms. For a company handling emotional data and hologram tech? Come on.
The idea had potential. It really did. AI replacing lost loved ones is a powerful theme. But the execution feels lazy, unrealistic, and honestly kind of dumb at times.
Fantasy is fine. But even fantasy needs basic logic.
This drama just doesn’t have it.
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