Reviews

Where Every Mystery Hides a Greater Truth

A princess is burned alive before the eyes of the royal court on the very day of her wedding, plunging the Tang dynasty into turmoil. She is performing a ceremonial dance for her marriage to the Uyghur prince when what appears to be a fire monster descends from the sky, engulfing the stage in flames.

Li Pei Yi, head of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, is assigned to uncover the truth. She recruits Xiao Huai Jin, a brilliant young official from the Astronomy Bureau whose sharp powers of observation allow him to notice details others overlook. As expected, there is no supernatural monster behind the tragedy. Instead, the investigation uncovers a heartbreaking tale of betrayal, revenge, and human deception.

Pei Yi carries scars of her own. As a child, she witnessed the brutal massacre of her father—a prince of the empire and a renowned general—and the slaughter of her entire family. The trauma left her memories fragmented and incomplete. Huai Jin, however, is older and remembers far more of that dreadful night than he lets on. He shares an unexpected connection to Pei Yi's past, leaving both her and the audience wondering: is he an ally, or does he have darker motives?

Their partnership leads them through a series of fascinating investigations: the mysterious death of an imperial consort, a deadly epidemic within the palace, the unexplained withering of gifted magnolia trees, and the suspicious death of Pei Yi's uncle, who had fled the capital years earlier. Behind each pieces of of mystery is a much larger conspiracy.

And behind the greatest mystery of all lies a shadowy mastermind determined to prevent the truth about the royal massacre from ever coming to light. With every step closer to the answers, Pei Yi and Huai Jin place themselves in increasing danger.

Beyond its detective stories, Jadewind explores a number of social themes. It portrays the selfishness of those driven by power, the prejudice faced by women of humble birth, and the insecurity of men threatened by capable women who outperform them. It also shows how fear and superstition can be manipulated, allowing ordinary people to believe in miracles and deities that never existed.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the attention given to astronomy. The Astronomy Bureau plays an important role throughout the story, and it was fascinating to hear the constellations and celestial observations of the era discussed in such detail. It offers a refreshing perspective that distinguishes the drama from the usual palace mysteries.

The cast is excellent, with Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue once again demonstrating why they are among my favourite actors. Their chemistry is natural, their performances convincing, and they bring warmth and humour to balance the darker moments. The costumes are elegant, the Tang-style architecture is beautifully recreated, and the mysteries are engaging enough to keep the story moving.

While some of the plot twists and character tropes may feel familiar to seasoned viewers of Chinese costume dramas, Jadewind remains an entertaining watch. It successfully blends palace intrigue, detective work, history, and a touch of romance into a well-paced mystery that should satisfy fans of the genre.

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Skip this & watch The King Eternal Monarch instead

Lead male & female ruined this series. I got to episode 7 & found little incentive to continue. If you haven't started this then I urge you to skip it and watch King eternal Monarch (2020)instead because it is a time travel romance with the same male lead;Lee Min Ho. What pushed me over the edge to drop this ? Lee Min Ho's wooden acting. His acting is just so poor in contrast to the others actors. Where other actors around him wear thier armor well, ( "owning it"), he just looks awkward .Having seen Boys over flowers (&hating it) and watching him in 7 episodes of this, I was completely stunned when I saw The King Eternal Monarch because his acting was SO much better than I expected (I watched King Eternal Monarch about a year before watching this) In this drama, I found Lee Min ho unappealing. I actually found the King (Ryu Deok Hwan more attractive & interesting. Some of the production was not well done. The bad guy Yoo Oh Sung had very short hair-while 99% of other males had very long hair. Lee Min Ho's short pony tail was somebody's bad idea as well (more cute than suitable for a general)! Kim Hee Sun's character was intolerably annoying. She endlessly ranted like a angsty 12 year old & seemed like an older Noona rather than a love interest for the male lead. Romance? Leads had NO chemistry. Ending: was not my definition of happy. There is a 5 year time skip and the leads are reunited and they are so happy that they stand 15+ feet away from each other, just looking at each other until the camera fades out. Tedious & underwhelming waste of time sums up this series.

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A Dark Supernatural Mystery of Royal Secrets

The East Palace begins with a chilling royal curse. Thirty years ago, crown princes died one after another under mysterious circumstances, while the future King Ju Sang was still a young prince. History now appears to be repeating itself. The king has already lost three crown princes, and his youngest son seems destined to become the next victim.

Whispers throughout the palace blame the deaths on the spirit of a haunted pond. Decades earlier, a favoured consort of the late king was accused of infidelity and bearing an illegitimate child. She was condemned and drowned in that very pond, leaving behind a legacy of resentment that refuses to rest.

With his dynasty on the brink, King Ju Sang summons two unlikely allies. Gu-Cheon, an orphan raised in a temple, possesses the rare ability to cross into the spirit world. Saeng-Gang, a princess cast out from the palace because she can hear voices from the other realm, joins him in investigating the curse.

Their search uncovers secrets buried long before King Ju Sang ascended the throne—secrets involving the most powerful figures in the kingdom. The closer they come to the truth, the more dangerous their mission becomes, for there are those who will kill to ensure the past remains hidden.

The drama is steeped in darkness and violence. Much of the story follows Gu-Cheon as he ventures into a haunting spirit realm filled with vengeful ghosts and terrifying monsters born from the resentment of those who suffered wrongful deaths. Yet the supernatural is only half the danger. Human greed, ambition, and the determination to conceal deadly truths prove every bit as lethal as the spirits themselves.

At first, it seems that the selfishness of the Queen Dowager and King Ju Sang lies at the heart of the tragedy. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that the truth is far more complex than it first appears.

When it comes to supernatural storytelling, Korean dramas continue to be among the best. They are free to explore folklore, ghosts, and the spirit world in imaginative ways, whereas Chinese productions have long faced restrictions on portraying supernatural themes - I can fully empathise with the need for a society to avoid promoting superstition. The East Palace is another fine example of Korea's ability to blend palace intrigue with compelling supernatural mystery.

A small historical note: in both Korean and Chinese royal courts, the Crown Prince's residence was traditionally known as the East Palace, as it was commonly situated on the eastern side of the royal compound, where the sun rises—symbolising the future ruler.

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. The tension comes not from jump scares but from wondering what Gu-Cheon and Saeng-Gang will uncover next—and whether either of them will survive the journey. Although it explores ghosts and monsters, I did not find it particularly frightening. It is more atmospheric and unsettling than genuinely scary.

The production values are excellent. The cast delivers strong performances, the chemistry between the two leads is convincing, and the costumes, sets, and palace architecture beautifully capture the elegance of the Joseon era.

At only eight episodes, The East Palace is a compact supernatural mystery that never overstays its welcome. If you enjoy palace conspiracies, ancient curses, and ghostly folklore wrapped in a dark, fast-paced story, this is well worth your time.

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I just finished Love For You and I'm smiling so hard. ??

This drama was such a warm, comforting watch from beginning to end. The romance never felt forced it was soft, natural, and full of little moments that made my heart melt. Chen Yi and Miao Jing had such effortless chemistry that it honestly felt like watching two people genuinely fall in love.

The angst was just the right amount it hurt enough to make my heart ache, but every emotional moment had a purpose, making Chen Yi and Miao Jing's love feel even more precious and their happy ending so much more rewarding. 🥹💛

And Chen Yi was actually Miao Jing's Xiaobao 😭She was his home toooo🫠All those little deja vu's from before and after the reunion, was so emotional and beautifully done. It made their love story feel even more meaningful, like they were always meant to find each other again.🥹🧿and **The OST is peak**

Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi absolutely carried every emotional scene their performances felt so genuine and nuanced that every glance, smile, and heartbreaking moment between them was completely believable, making their chemistry feel effortlessly real.🫠😚 they're so cutee I'm gonna miss them soo much🥹

This drama definitely deserves a spot on my comfort-watch list. If you're looking for butterflies, healing, adorable moments, and chemistry that feels completely effortless, **Love For You** is absolutely worth watching.🫂🤍

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100% chemistry, one of the most beautiful couples!

One important thing to mention is that I had been waiting for this drama for months because I was convinced this pairing would look absolutely amazing together and I was right. Before it even aired, I watched countless behind the scenes videos from the filming, which unfortunately spoiled quite a few scenes for me. While watching, I often had the feeling that I had already seen certain moments.
I was completely invested in the first few episodes, but as the story progressed, I found myself focusing almost exclusively on the scenes with the main couple. That's partly because the business and mafia storyline isn't really my type, but mostly because my only real interest was seeing these two actors interact.
So I can't honestly say I watched this drama for its plot alone. However, my high rating is absolutely deserved because of the cast, especially the leads. It's been such a long time since I've seen a couple with this level of visual compatibility and chemistry. I loved them so much that I rewatched their scenes several times and watched every single edit of them on TikTok.
Beyond how beautiful they look together, their acting felt incredibly natural. Even off set, in behind-the-scenes clips, they seemed so comfortable with each other. Unlike many other acting pairs, they don't avoid physical contact, and the way they look at each other feels genuine and intense.
I truly hope to see them reunited in another drama, this time in a more relaxed, romantic story. They deserve it, and so do we!

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A wonderful dream I wish would never end

God where do I even start.

I am obsessed (?) with this drama. I love how it communicates the repressed yearning of women in the most beautiful metaphors, through paintings, poetry and the good ol fashioned sizzling eye contact. This is love *and* romance.

Xu Yanzhen expresses herself through her paintings and Jiang Xinyu through her nostalgic recollection of her time studying in France. She exudes the vibe of a cultured, educated woman who has a soft spot for chestnut blossoms, cafes and sad love songs. But we don't see this side of her until Xu Yanzhen slowly unravels her.

On that note, I have to gush about the chemistry between Dai Luwa and Tang Shiyi. The chemistry is chemistrying, people. Every gaze is simmering with intent. The micro expressions, the little lift of the eyebrow, the gradual smile that bursts into a laugh. Tang Shiyi has such an expressive face and Dai Luwa eye acts like her rent is due. The work they've put in and the commitment to their roles got me so immersed with the story and attached to the characters that I couldn't believe there were only 3 episodes.

The story is serviceable to the characters, serving as the sandbox for their relationship to bloom. There is a twist at the end that might leave some stumped but rest assured a second season will come!

Now to the elephant in the room. This is censored GL but the creative ways they've managed to skirt the censorship has kind of left me in awe. Tell me the forehead to forehead temperature check wasn't a subtle metaphor for a kiss. Or the shampooing scene, the brush washing scene, the blossom painted on the arm. There are so many of these moments sprinkled throughout the show that no one should be left doubting they were in love and would kiss if they could.

Honestly, I have nothing else to say other than I wish I could watch it again for the first time. Why are you still reading this? Go and watch it already!

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Entertaining and Cute Couple

So far the first 2 eps were entertaining and sometimes funny. The concept is simple and without the solid acting, I wouldn't be watching it. There were scenarios that were trite. But with good acting, it's funny in a new light.
I thought the ML was very capable and has chemistry with the FL.
The format of the story is the two leads help solve the crime committed to the dead people. Within 2 eps, they already solved 2 murder cases.
I think the format will be similar the next episodes. I will watch it.

Very good ending. I ended up loving the couple chemistry. The ML is the perfect foil for the FL as she can be serious looking.

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The Day the Music Died

Since we are the first story in season 2, we are the first review; let's go. I have a lot of feelings about them and their story, so let's actually get into it. I would give it an 8.5 (8.81) out of 10. Then, y'all know the drill: I am going to say what I liked, what I didn't like, and then do an episode overview.

Starting with the plot. I think they could have done it a bit better, but I like the whole thing with the sister, even though I really should hate it; I thought it was pretty good. I just wish they wrote it out a little bit better because there were still a few plot holes. But god, it just made me so sad, the whole thing with the sister and how he is a disappointment because of that, so I guess the writing was pretty good. This is also what I wrote the headline off of, because the day she died, everything after that was terrible for Typhoon.

Once again, just like the original, the romance and character writing was phenomenal, and I am actually gagged. Every character felt like a real person, because they were brought to life in that way. I also think that, because of that, some parts had the same charm as the first one, so I liked that too. (They did jump the gun with their romance, though, which I am not very fond of.

They have such good chemistry, so I quite enjoyed their kissing and all that. EAT EATING ATEEEE, BECAUSE I DON'T PLAY. I also love the actors' off-screen chemistry too, and it is always a joy to see them on my four you page (or should I say fourever you page (see what I did there, I will be here all day bruh or until I finish all my reviews for this show lmao)).

I LOVE WHEN THE FRIEND GROUP IS ALL TOGETHER, OH MY GOD THAT'S BETTER THAN ANY SEX SCENE.

Regarding things I didn't like, the start was so incredibly lackluster, my lord. I loved season 1, and I would give my life to watch that again for the first time, so my standards were very high for this. And I was ultimately let down by the start of this one. I feel like we were just thrown into the deep end of lore that halfway made sense and expected to swim. AND let's just say, I didn't swim. I was fucking DROWNING BITCH.

Next up was our 'wolf in sheep's clothing.' So before I go on the rant that I am about to go on, I wanna preface that I love Bever and Tonliew, and they have such good chemistry AND are amazing actors. But the power dynamic they have this is literally the most problematic thing ever, and it was really hard to ignore. The whole thing with Bever's character 'respecting him' was fine until he's like I am only doing this so you like me; I actually have no problem coming on to you. I didn't like that one bit, oh my god. Also, the fact that they grew up together makes the dynamic so much weirder, and I actually can't get behind it at all. Like, at least for the other character they are openly evil and at least are somewhat respectful; he's just not, and I don't fuck with that at all. Okay rant over...for now. My reaction for their dynamic changing lmao, "DYNAMIC CHANGE HELLO. CAUGHT MY REACTION ON INSTA. "I'm starting to lose my patience now." WHATEVER YOU SAY NEXT OR HAPPENS NEXT CAN'T EXCUSE THIS LINE AND THEIR DYNAMIC IS LOWKEY CHANGED FOR ME. Help. HELP. WHAT THE HELL, I CAN'T MOVE ON FROM THAT."

On top of that, there was a lot of bullshit in the episodes. I think that they needed to cool it on the filler, especially with how short it is; like, just tell me the fucking plot line before I get violent. Also, in regards to other bull shit, the confession bit was lowkey so bullshit. I was at a loss for words. I feel like they were doing too much when they should have just had a flat-out confession; stop giving me all this run-around shit. Going back to this with lackluster ass shit. Some episodes were interesting for a little bit, and then they would go to this lackluster boring shit, like we are pissing me off, silly.

THE WAY HE FOUND OUT THAT TORFUN DIED SUCKKKK, OH MY GOD. Like, we built our love story off of her; what are we even talking about right now, huh? He was just kind of like Oh yeah, your sister's been dead even though she's been texting me; I have known for a while now. LIKE WHAT? That should have been a bigger deal. I am dead.

Episode overview, let's go. Episode 3: "Smiling, but just remember they are grown men, and there is nothing to be smiling about." Episode 4: "YALL WANNA FUCK, STOP LYING, LYING STRAIGHT TO MY FACE, THE LOOKS HAVE ME DEAD. The blind leading the blind. THIS IS MY BIGGEST FEAR, I SWEAR TO GOD. GETTING LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM AND NO ONE FINDING ME AND THEN I JUST DIE. They are so cute. I did need a trigger warning for getting locked in the bathroom tho." Episode 6: "Does anyone in their friend group have a car?" "FAH FREAKED ALL THE WAY OUT. LIKE. Love LOVE LOVE their height difference. This show is hella quiet, also FAH GIVES ME SUCH BAD VIBES LMAO. Like, I think it's just Bevers' face; it's like innocent but evil. HE IS ALL UP ON HIM THIS EPISODE, GET OFF HIM." Episode 7: "But we are back. WHY IS P'FAH ALWAYS TRYING TO GET BEHIND HIM, FAH GET BACK YOU FREAK. BRO BEVER AND TONLIEW ONLY HAVE A YEAR IN BETWEEN THEM, WHY IS TONLIEW SO TINY? dude why are they even in Japan? TONFAH STOPPPP THOSE EYES ARE GNARLYYY. I love when the friend group is together. Fah and Jo have me dead. North just ate that holy fuck. Drop Fah for North lmao. I am dying; North fucking ate that punch, and I am so dead. Also, Easter is getting here faster than y'all men lmao." Episode 8: "Hey, I know I have said like four words total in both seasons, but my hair is going to be perfect, and I am gonna serve face." - probably oat. I lowkey ship Earth and bas lmao."

Yeah, I had a lot to say for this one, and not a lot of it was positive, and I am so sorry. I do like Bever and Tonliew a lot; I just think their story was kind of meh. I don't know. Watch it if you want, though, because my friend really enjoyed them; I just didn't. Okay bye!

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Very Good Story - Female empowerment again

This is the typical CDrama recently: the female is in charge. Ever since the success of Lost You Forever made it huge with female lead being loved by 3 handsome males, every other drama is like this now: devoted love is the way to win the FL's affection.
This and also the rebirth theme. I don't know when they will stop doing this theme.

There are so many handsome male actors in the story. The ML is sugary sweet and does everything he can to support the FL - how realistic is it? Can you find a man like that in real life?
The story is a long romantic endeavor of the ML trying to win the FL's heart - she only admitted she loved him in ep 28 after he professes to love her for herself regardless of who she is.

However, despite the old theme of rebirth and souls merging, the acting was decent and there is chemistry between the leads. The story is fun to watch. I recommend it because it's entertaining but I would not watch again.

Wasting time after ML dies in 32! I fast forwarded until 36 when he returns unexpectedly!

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This plot had a lot of toxic potential

If this series had been given more time to build up a backstory for the established relationship and give us drama with the other love interest and the family, this could have been something REALLY good. As it stands, it was still good for 4 short episodes.

I understand Yu Jun's low self-esteem and self-hatred when it comes to his relationship with Yeon Ho, and I would have loved to have seen it build up and overflow. The biggest problem in the series is Yu Jun not communicating his feelings to Yeon Ho and just assuming that he would be better off without him. I hate that their problems got defaulted to a lack of communication because it's super annoying. Especially given how Yeon Ho was giving off some serious red flag signals, and I was excited to see some possessive and obsessive moments, and we got really nothing. I was hoping for things to take a dark turn, but we got a healthy apology and a promise not to be so overbearing. Which I guess is all Yeon Ho could do since he isn't CEO levels of rich like most other red flags.

I wish they had focused more on the relationship and its issues instead of introducing another love interest. In a normal-length series, that would have been fine, but it's really unnecessary in these shorter series. This is a 15-year-long relationship, and they have been dating for 3 of those; there was plenty there to work with.

Overall, this series was an easy 30-minute watch that I don't regret. I'm just disappointed because it had a lot of potential.

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The Most Romantic Romance

Love for You is a beautiful story about two broken souls healing each other amidst harsh living conditions. This show offers a genuine, grounded portrayal of struggling youth, centering on mutual survival and a "forbidden" love between two teenagers from deeply dysfunctional homes. The story kicks off in 1997 and spans over a decade to the timeline's "present day" of 2011. We follow Chen Yi and Miao Jing, two teens from impoverished, unstable families. Through a twist of fate, their parents end up together. They become step-siblings (though they share no blood relation and their parents were never officially married), forcing them to live under the same roof and navigate a complicated new dynamic. Because their parents are largely absent, neglectful, or just incapable of providing a stable environment, Chen Yi and Miao Jing are essentially forced to raise themselves.

The Characters
The Chinese title of the drama perfectly captures the two leads. Chen Yi is the "Wild Dog" (the first two characters of the title). To survive in their rough environment, he becomes a rebellious, street-smart teenager. He skips school, gets into fights, and uses a tough, intimidating exterior to shield Miao Jing from the ugliness of the world. Initially, he seems hostile and defensive due to his traumatic upbringing. However, the writing masterfully peels back his layers to reveal a deeply kind, vulnerable boy using his toughness merely as a shield. I haven’t finished reading the original novel, but I love the drama’s Chen Yi so much more! In the book, he can come off as vulgar and toxic, but the scriptwriters did a phenomenal job rewriting him for the screen. This version of Chen Yi just makes you want to love him and root for him.

Miao Jing is the "Stubborn Bone" (the last two characters of the title). She is the quiet, resilient anchor of the duo. While Chen Yi fights their physical battles, she fights the internal ones. She focuses on her studies, keeps them grounded, and refuses to let their bleak circumstances destroy her hope. Though gentle on the surface, she is incredibly unyielding on the inside. After facing abandonment by her mother, she actively seeks inner stability and fiercely protects her bond with Chen Yi, making her an active agent in their mutual redemption rather than a passive victim. Together, they become each other's only true family.

The Acting and Chemistry
Song Weilong’s portrayal of Chen Yi is brilliant. He perfectly captures the character's "brokenness" and emotional restraint. His micro-expressions beautifully highlight the contrast between his outward toughness and his deep, quiet tenderness toward Miao Jing. In the novel, his eyes are described as "fierce and bright," but Song Weilong truly has eyes that speak a thousand words and a face that instantly makes you feel for him. Plus, because he has a naturally slender build, his flashback scenes as a teenager are incredibly believable.

Zhang Jingyi is equally fantastic as Miao Jing. She conveys quiet strength and resilience in the most difficult circumstances, but she also perfectly nails the moments where she turns into a demanding, cute little girl who makes Chen Yi instantly melt. Zhang Jingyi has a naturally quiet, girly look, making her casting as Miao Jing absolutely spot-on, especially in her teenage years.

Naturally, their on-screen chemistry is amazing. It has high emotional intensity but is balanced with unlimited tenderness. I never get bored of their scenes together—whether they are snuggling for warmth or just giving each other strength. Their ability to communicate deep, unspoken devotion through mere glances makes this a deeply fulfilling watch for romance fans. I have to give massive credit to the production team for casting these two; they fit the roles so perfectly it feels like the author had them in mind while writing!

Production, Setting, and Dialogues
The dialogues are incredibly cute, especially the banter between Miao Jing and Chen Yi, and between Chen Yi and his buddies. The occasional background sound effects added to their hilarious put-downs had me laughing out loud.

The production team also deserves praise for capturing the head-spinning speed of China's economic development across the 1997–2011 timeline. To capture the era's authenticity, they used flip phones and bulky CRT desktop TVs. Even in the 2011 scenes, the actors are still using period-accurate mobile phones. The setting feels incredibly authentic to where a large percentage of the population lives: dilapidated buildings and close-knit neighborhoods where everyone knows everyone's business. It also nicely touches upon the era when the government began cracking down on corruption and handing out stiff punishments for crimes.

However, I did spot one factual hiccup! The climax of the story revolves around the illegal export of germanium (a banned rare earth). Banning the export of germanium is actually a very recent real-world event and didn't happen in 2011. It’s a minor lapse in factual information, but it didn't ruin the thrill of the climax for me.

Soundtracks
This drama produces some of the most unforgettable songs. My absolute favorite is "Roaming" (Man You) by Huang Zihongfan; it plays during Chen Yi and Miao Jing's private moments and perfectly captures their wandering through hardships while highlighting that their mutual reliance is their ultimate proof of connection.

Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved their journey. It’s so rewarding to watch Chen Yi’s character arc: from initially hating Miao Jing for moving into his home and sharing (occupying) his room, to growing fiercely protective of her, doting on her, and listening to all her demands. His love for her is limitless. The domestic moments are the best—he nudges her to study hard, cooks for her to ensure she gets the right nutrients, and even gently dries her hair. He nurtures her like a prized plant, becoming the perfect "big brother" (and eventually, partner) that every little sister could want.

Are there a few plot holes here and there? Sure. For example, the villain suddenly deciding to personally murder Chen Yi at the end didn't make total logical sense. But honestly? These plot holes are not important anymore. The focus is on the journey of Chen Yi and Miao Jing, their unlimited love for each other; it's about family; it's about home. When they are together, they have a family and home.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable, deeply moving, and very "romantic" romance. If you want a show with great acting, amazing chemistry, and a lot of heart, Love for You is definitely worth your time!

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Loved it beyond measure!

Where Colors Dream moved me because of how inevitable Yanzhen & Xinyu feel without the story pretending either of them are perfect.

They both begin by trying to use the other. Jiang studies Yanzhen closely enough to manipulate her, Yanzhen lets Xinyu believe she has been successfully read, but attention is dangerous because eventually it makes you remember her favorite snack, has you washing her hair, teaching her how to drive, rescuing the art that actually belongs to her, because Xinyu sees value in Yanzhen's art beyond her ability to replicate others.

That said, I do not think the twist at the end means Yanzhen felt nothing. I like that the story never made them simple or harmless. It does not reveal that everything calculating was secretly false and everything gentle was pure. Ultimately at the end Xinyu cannot sacrifice Yanzhen once the plan demands it and Yanzhen still completes the con and leaves, but it is obvious neither of them manages to keep the relationship inside the role they originally assigned to each other by the end of it all.Yanzhen trying to imitate Xinyu's coin roll at the end and her crying hinted as much. As to what her possible motives were? That's where I'm stumped, but that is also why I can't wait for season 2!!

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the weight of wearing a white coat

I actually saw the recommendation for The Heart 2 before The Heart...needless to say, I saw one random clip and decided I will binge both series in the span of 2-3 days....

I think there are periods where my dream of being able to throw a white coat over put these rose colored glasses over my eyes and want me to see all the beauty that is being able to save lives, decrease burden and better quality of life. While there are many moments that crash down my expectations of what practicing medicine means in real life, this is one instance where I am reminded of the weight that comes with such a career.

Obviously it isn't reality, so there is no ethics committee but how hard some choices are and how helpless one can feel are real. Lin Yi needed some therapy (or like a really long vacation...far away from the hospital) if you ask me. He gets dropped of at this hospital by his mentor Dr. Cao. His father, brother and his nephew...well it is unfortunate. The worse part though, is he is alive and in a position to understand the condition and help tons of other people with the hands of a genius. How must it feel to be called a genius but unable to save the people so close to you. Being brilliant does not protect anyone from grief. I wouldn't want to hear about how much I inspired someone or even how talented I am cause at that point...does it even mean anything? His talent becomes another source of guilt. If his hands can help so many people, why could they not help the people he loved? To run tirelessly against a fate that always finds its way. Then he his department head...the poor guy. It is no wonder he just put on headphones and walked away.

That being said, he was a jerk at times, immature, and arrogant. I think he came a far way from the sprout that was season 1. But I also think it was realistic to show the regression along with such a traumatizing event. Swallowing and suffocating in such despair, helplessness, guilt, dread, sadness, and denial...I don't think that one can truly stay the same. That fact that he was able to find himself and what be stood for...to make choices based on that after all the wrong turns...was what made him brave. I am glad he was able to find himself again and I liked the ending. He, like everyone else alive, is deserving of happiness.

He also modeled this display of stubborn, unwavering standard towards his patients...well very wavering actually. But he is constantly shrouded by this sense of responsibility, justice, and righteousness. The idea that being a doctor isn't enough. That one should also be a kind and compassionate physician. That he works hard and practiced his sutures, that he is soft even when whining and saying harsh words, that he too drowns himself in work to avoid feeling. God those bows he did...While some scenes...the acting could have been better. I still enjoyed it.

I think the villain of this was fascinating. I wasn't a huge fan of how they did everything but the equipment vendors, the money....the constant show of temptation, conflicts in interest...yes lots of people did bad things...lots of people do bad things...but I don't think that means they aren't capable of good. One can be someone I root for or thank and still...choose something that I don't agree with. I felt like it was a shame for how some characters ended up. But I also understood the idea of doing the right thing in the face of the bigger walls and barriers. In face of the easier roads. I think the whole drama had that theme. Constantly challenging the characters and showing their character through their choices. Well...I would say that is life really. Just because you know it is wrong....people don't always choose what is right. Sometimes a choice is just a choice.

Even our zhao director had moments of temptation. What would be so bad about closing my eyes to this? What can I do in the face of performance metrics and bed count? A character can be devoted to patients, principled, hardworking, and still be swayed. Someone who is so kind and sunshine can become exhausted.

Do I like 2 more than 1...I am not really sure. I was heartbroken, inspired, frustrated, and attached to both. Is this a medical drama that I enjoyed? Yes. I do think...Lin Yi will be joining a list of characters I really like. Not because I loved every version, ever action or second of him. I think he was human and by the end... his EQ went form 1 to at least 12 ahah. Like Department head Sheng...i think I just wanted to protect the innocence and cleanliness of the boy that was so focused on surgery.

Oh his surgery team (i love you guy) If the sky falls, they will all hold it up together.

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