OUTSTANDING KDRAMA ?
Absolutely outstanding story line, plot, ultimate satisfaction and lots of action as well as well learned life lessons. Loved all the actors Performances, superb 100 !! Must watch and lots of suprises, that I wasn't expecting to see but well executed scenes and videography and music was really fitting :) | really enjoyed watching it, was super exciting and often had an emotional rollercoaster. Wow just WOW!! The effort put into this Kdrama, I really appriciated very bit of it. Also it gave me hope and made me reflect upon myself too, which I was glad.Overall it's one of the greatest Kdrama I have ever watched in a while, it's really amazing ^^!
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The Secondary Couple Completely Stole My Heart
Produced in Taiwan, Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars (2026) is a whimsical, 12-episode romantic fantasy series that revolves around a mysterious legend on Xingpu Island. The main plot focuses on He Xiang-yong, a frustrated young man who makes a magical wish to disappear, waking up the next day with a completely new identity while trying to navigate a bittersweet romance with his old high school crush, Chen Hao-wei. While the overall production, beautiful seaside aesthetics, and magical realism elements are wonderfully done, the main storyline wasn't the biggest hook for me. Instead, I tuned in and stayed glued to the screen strictly for the phenomenal secondary couple.The absolute highlight of the entire series is the parallel romance between Xiang-yong's loyal best friend, Li Wan-zhe (played by the charismatic JN Yu / Yu Jie-en), and a local fisherman nicknamed Xiao Hai / Aomi Hamaguchi (played by Japanese actor Kota Kagami). Triggered by a meteor shower wish for a "passionate love," their dynamic shifts into a delightfully chaotic, sweet, and earnest pursuit. The chemistry between Yu Jie-en and Kota Kagami is purely electric and feels completely organic. Aomi’s intense, heart-eyes devotion combined with Wan-zhe’s charming confusion creates the most endearing and magnetic dynamic on the show. They served pure comfort and raw chemistry that instantly overshadowed everything elseThe biggest and most frustrating flaw of Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars is just how criminally little we got to see of them. Because the script spent so much time establishing the complex identity crisis and heavy angst of the main couple, Wan-zhe and Aomi were pushed into the background for long stretches. It was genuinely sad and disappointing to sit through episodes realizing their beautifully written progress was reduced to mere minutes of filler content. Their storyline carried an immense amount of narrative potential, and leaving them with such limited screen time felt like a massive disservice to the actors' incredible on-screen synergyUltimately, the series lands at a 7.5/10. It is a lovely, cozy adult bedtime story with a great magical premise, but it severely misjudged which couple the audience would fall in love with. Wan-zhe and Aomi completely stole the spotlight. The finale leaves fans with a massive craving for more of their domestic, passionate romance. One can only cross their fingers and desperately hope that a production company realizes their immense star power and grants these two actors their own independent spin-off series. They proved they have more than enough charm and chemistry to successfully lead a show of their own.Was this review helpful to you?
An Absolute Masterpiece in the Mafia Genre: A Review of Kiseki: Dear to Me
When it comes to Taiwanese boys' love dramas, Kiseki: Dear to Me stands tall as an absolute triumph and has easily become one of my top favorite BL series of all time. Based on the popular web novel by Lin Pei-yu, this show masterfully blends high-stakes mafia action with deeply passionate romance. The story follows Zong Yi, an innocent medical student whose life is turned upside down when he is forced to rescue Zhe Rui, a wounded, high-ranking triad member. What follows is a spectacular, fast-paced journey full of danger, intense loyalty, and an unbreakable emotional bond.The absolute soul of Kiseki: Dear to Me lies in the phenomenal performances of its lead actors, Hsu Kai (playing Fan Zhe Rui) and Taro Lin (playing Bai Zong Yi). Their on-screen chemistry is pure magic and feels incredibly raw and intense. Zhe Rui’s protective, dangerous aura perfectly clashes with Zong Yi’s fierce independence and hidden warmth. Every single glance, argument, and tender moment between them feels heavy with emotion. They completely embody their characters, making the romance feel incredibly real and deeply moving. It is the type of elite-tier pairing that completely ruins you for other shows because their dynamic is simply unmatchedWhat makes being a fan of this couple so rewarding is their beautiful relationship outside of the show. Recently, Hsu Kai and Taro Lin took to Instagram during their live streams and posts to share some incredibly exciting news with the fandom. Both actors officially expressed their deep desire and willingness to work together again on a brand-new, completely different BL series. Knowing that the actors themselves love their partnership just as much as the fans do brings immense joy. They have proven they have the star power and natural synergy to carry any script, and the entire global community is now eagerly waiting for a production company to pick them up for a new project.Without a single doubt, Kiseki: Dear to Me is a flawless 10/10 masterpiece that sets an incredibly high standard for the action-romance genre. It delivers a perfect balance of gripping plotlines, stunning production value, and unforgettable romance. Hsu Kai and Taro Lin have created a legendary pairing, and one can only hope that their Instagram wishes will come true very soon, granting us a brand-new series where their magical connection can shine once again.Was this review helpful to you?
A Flawless 10/10 Masterpiece Cut Short by Reality: A Heartbroken Review of The On1y One
Adapted from the immensely popular web novel Mou Mou by Mu Su Li, The On1y One (2024) is an absolute triumph in the boys' love genre. Directed by the visionary Patrick Liu, the series crafts an incredibly poetic, deeply moving coming-of-age story that completely raises the bar for youth dramas. The production value, the hauntingly beautiful cinematography, and the brilliant soundtrack create an atmosphere that feels heavy with nostalgia and deep emotion, earning a definitive and flawless 10/10 rating.The absolute soul of the drama lies in the slow-burning relationship between Sheng Wang (Benjamin Tsang) and Jiang Tian (Liu Dongqin). Brought together as reluctant stepbrothers and classmates, their transition from distant strangers to each other's ultimate anchor is handled with breathtaking delicacy. There are no rushed or forced tropes here. Instead, their bond is built on subtle micro-expressions, stolen glances, and an intense emotional tension that feels completely natural. Tsang and Liu deliver masterclass performances, capturing the raw, bittersweet essence of first love and the heavy pressure of navigating hidden feelings in a world that doesn't understand them.The first season concludes on an incredibly painful, bittersweet cliffhanger that leaves viewers desperately craving closure and aching to see Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian finally overcome their hurdles to live a happy, peaceful life together. While director Patrick Liu confirmed that the script for Season 2 was fully completed, the fandom was hit with devastating news regarding its production. Due to severe conflicts with the capital-driven production company and a critical lack of funds, Season 2 has been officially canceled. It is an incredibly tragic and ridiculous consequence for such a highly successful show. The actors and director expressed deep love for the story and a willingness to return, but a big company will always put money first, leaving this beautiful story stranded without the financial backing it deserves.Ultimately, The On1y One remains a masterpiece 10/10 experience, but it comes with a heavy dose of real-world heartbreak. It is a spectacular, emotionally resonant work of art that deserves every ounce of praise it gets. However, knowing that a second season is dead in the water simply because the production lacks the money to bring these boys back together makes the final episodes incredibly bittersweet to rewatch. It is a rare gem that showcases how cruel the entertainment industry can be to romantic, high-quality projects, leaving fans around the world left only with the hope that a miracle might one day rescue this unfinished love story.Was this review helpful to you?
Unapologetically Toxic Yet Utterly Addictive
Adapted from the famous dark romance novel A Round Trip to Love by Lan Lin, the 2026 Chinese-Singaporean series Double Helix is a wild, intense, and emotionally exhausting roller coaster. The story spans over two decades, following the tragic entanglement between Lu Feng, an obsessive and wealthy heir, and Cheng Yichen, a gentle model student. To be completely honest, the narrative is packed with immense toxicity, heavy angst, and logic-defying relationship choices that would make anyone run away in real life. Yet, despite all the red flags, this drama earns a flawless 10/10 because the central connection is so hauntingly beautiful and impossible to look away from.The primary reason Double Helix succeeds so phenomenally is the explosive, sizzling chemistry between the main characters. Singaporean actor Ayden Sng delivers a jaw-dropping performance as the deeply possessive and high-strung Lu Feng, while Elio Lyu Sitong plays Yichen with a heartbreaking, fragile vulnerability. Their scenes together are purely electric. Every confrontation, every tearful reunion, and every intense glance is charged with an overwhelming amount of raw passion. It is the type of toxic, codependent love story that hooks you instantly; you find yourself completely forgiving the dark and chaotic script just because the magnetic pull between the leads is so mesmerizing to watchWhat elevates the viewing experience into pure obsession is the incredible, genuine bond that Ayden Sng and Lyu Sitong share off-screen. Their real-life friendship, mutual comfort, and playful interactions during promotions—such as their famous sightseeing tour together in Singapore right before the premiere—showcase an authentic closeness. You can easily tell that the actors have immense respect for each other, and this natural real-world comfort translates beautifully into their acting. Knowing that the stars share such a wonderful, warm relationship outside of the heavy, depressing series makes it even more rewarding to support them and celebrate their magical synergy.Ultimately, Double Helix is an absolute masterpiece of dark romance. It is undeniably toxic, painful, and messy, but it completely sweeps you off your feet. Thanks to Ayden and Elio's elite-tier acting and unmatchable chemistry both on and off-screen, the show cements itself as a legendary, unmissable experience. If you can appreciate a gripping, high-stakes drama fueled entirely by the raw magnetism of its leads, this series is a definitive ten out of ten.Was this review helpful to you?
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It ended up being disappointing
Honestly, I’m not one to write reviews unless I really have something to say. I regret to say that I was loving this drama, I loved both the leads, they had an amazing chemistry and I really liked where the story was going. AND THEN, it’s like someone got hi writing this and decided to make a 180º turn in the story. Out of nowhere she has lost all her memories and EIGHTEEN YEARS passed before they could see each other again, and not only that, they meet and she doesn’t remember him for a while. Then they give him another spirit flame that’s killing him, and when they finally can be together again, ONCE AGAIN, they get separated but only this time the one dead it’s him and again NINETEEN YEARS until they meet again, but now he’s the one that doesn’t remember her. Not five minutes after, time to dieeee AGAIN, and they go back to present time and meet all over again, and again, he doesn’t remember her.Everything was going fine until the memory loss, after that it was honestly challenging to keep watching. I only did it because I kept fast forwarding it to scenes of they together. I would say watch at your own risk. Maybe you don’t hate the amnesia trope as much as I do. I would not watch it again even if I loved their chemistry.
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This Show Could Have Been Good, But It Chose Toxicity and Possessiveness
I’m gonna try to be very honest in my review but for me personally I really disliked this drama like really didn’t like it. In like the first two-threeish episodes I actually was enjoying myself but watching the storyline continue I didn’t like it because it was very repetitive and boring to me when the storyline continued on and it even got very chaotic and messy to me at one point. Anyways this is my opinion I know some people liked this show and others didn’t like it, but I liked it when Lu Feng and Xiao Chen would date each other because they would be cute but what broke them up or the challenges they faced just made me annoyed at their relationship. I was also a fan of Cheng Yi Chen (the brother) but after all the homophobia Xiao Chen faced and how he was rude to Lu Feng before the incident between them it made me not like him anymore and plus how he treated Qin Lang was not cool in my opinion. Sorry if it annoys someone but I genuinely couldn’t like them after certain moments.Also I will warn you my review might contain spoilers about the show since they’ll explain my opinion even more so be aware.
Okay so I liked the first episode since it was like those school dramas and in this case it showed how Xiao Chen and Lu Feng are now reunited where Xiao Chen is an employee and Lu Feng is the CEO of the company and it seemed like Xiao Chen didn’t know about it, but was upset at Lu Feng since he’s getting engaged but made Lu Feng jealous by saying he has a girlfriend being Zhu Sha which is his coworker. Then we get flashbacks to the past where they first met in high school and were distant, but were roommates in college where they got closer and overtime we could see that Lu Feng was developing a crush on Xiao Chen while Xiao Chen only saw him as a friend until Lu Feng confessed to him after they had a fight and his sister called Xiao Chen to check on him in the hospital because he got injured in a fight at the bar where he protected a girl from an abusive man and that’s when Xiao Chen and Lu Feng had their first kiss and got together for the first time. Though this relationship would go through hardships the first time because many people are homophobic that when a classmate posted a photo of them kissing during their moment where they said they’ll be together forever and Lu Feng gave Xiao Chen his matching ring almost as significant as a wedding ring and when the photo got out they both were gonna be expelled because they are gay and when they were walking down an alleyway a man with his gang came at them and started to assault Xiao Chen which made Lu Feng so upset that he started beating the guy up and the man almost died but that made it to headlines and led to Lu Feng being arrested. When Xiao Chen parents found out they locked him in his room saying he’s “infected” since he’s gay and honestly I know this might happen to people in real life but seeing it on TV honestly hurts me like why have kids if you won’t be accepting of them like it’s their life not yours and I feel in this situation what made everything worse was that Lu Feng almost killed a guy. This is what led their relationship to break apart with Lu Feng’s father bailing him out of jail and forcing him to go to the United States to work at a family branch and maybe get married to a women but not be gay since it will ruin their reputation, but all Lu Feng wanted to do was to say bye for one last time to Xiao Chen and luckily his sister allowed one last goodbye but Xiao Chen’s brother Cheng Yi Chen wouldn’t let it happen and told Lu Feng he’s leaving without a goodbye but Xiao Chen said he will see him no matter what and what sucks was that they were just a minute off from being together or at least saying one last goodbye.
Now this was the four year time gap that they were apart from each other and in these four years Xiao Chen literally couldn’t date anyone else because he just missed Lu Feng and even had to transfer schools even though Lu Feng left and Lu Feng tried to reach out to him through letters but Xiao Chen never received it. Though what annoyed me was that his brother Cheng Yi Chen could date a guy and get away with it even in public since Cheng Yi Chen was a singer at Qin Lang’s bar and although Qin Lang tried to get with Cheng Yi Chen multiple times he kept rejecting because he wasn’t gay and even lived with the guy at one point, but you could tell 100% that Cheng Yi Chen was in love with Qin Lang but he didn’t want to be gay was his problem so instead he forces Qin Lang to date Xiao Chen to get him over Lu Feng thinking everyone would be happy which was not even close to being true. In the end Qin Lang yells at Cheng Yi Chen that he’s not only hurting himself by watching someone he likes date another person, but he’s hurting Qin Lang by forcing him to date someone he’s not even into, and hurting Xiao Chen by making him be in a loveless relationship with someone he only sees as just a friend. Meanwhile with Lu Feng he finally got an opportunity to go back to Xiao Chen since he’ll get his passport back but at the cost of being engaged to a women he doesn’t know or even like so of course since Lu Feng is lovesick for Xiao Chen he’ll say yes to the marriage but he’ll be going to Lan City and owning a branch of his families business. Meanwhile with Xiao Chen he’s also moving to Lan City because he got a job opportunity their and saw that Lu Feng is moving there and guess what they ended up at the same company and now we are in the present time.
After they were in the same company together their relationship was at first strained because Lu Feng was supposedly engaged to a woman and Xiao Chen faked being in a relationship with Zhu Sha. Later Lu Feng told Xiao Chen to come to his home to talk and at first Xiao Chen was stand-offish but later became normal but Lu Feng revealed he’s actually divorced now and is living in his sisters home but that he wants Xiao Chen to reconsider them getting back together and although you can totally tell Xiao Chen wants to be with him he’s playing hard to get and is trying to stay away. In the end when Xiao Chen was ready to get together and move in together Lu Feng was caught with another guy which annoyed Xiao Chen and caused him to throw his ring and made Lu Feng sad. Later this caused problems since now Xiao Chen wanted to quit and leave but Lu Feng didn’t want that which caused him to lash out. In the end they still got together and were accepted by Cheng Yi Chen a little and then later Xiao Chen and Lu Feng would be on a double date with Cheng Yi Chen and Qin Lang. Now the reason why they broke up this time was because Xiao Chen’s mom became ill after hearing and seeing that Lu Feng and Xiao Chen are dating again since Xiao Chen is now “cured” after being seen with his friend Zhou Lan whose a girl and yelled at them which led to Lu Feng trying to defend their relationship but also calls out Cheng Yi Chen and Qin Lang who are also dating and have been in front of her many times and she never noticed and I know some people at this moment hated him for that but honestly I feel it’s fair because why is Lu Feng and Xiao Chen can’t be together but Qin Lang and Cheng Yi Chen can be near each other and act closer than a boss and co worker relationship. Later the mom passed out and ended up in the hospital and led to Xiao Chen being scolded badly and made the decision to break up with Lu Feng which caused him to lash out and tie him to a hospital bed while he goes to find Qin Lang and Cheng Yi Chen to ask if they will also break up to which they both say no and that made Lu Feng upset that he pushed Cheng Yi Chen down the stairs and while that happened he ran back to Xiao Chen and told him they have to run away but got beaten by Qin Lang and that’s when Xiao Chen found out what happened and this led to him being done with Lu Feng. Then Cheng Yi Chen and Qin Lang had to go to England so that they can treat him and Xiao Chen made the decision to date Zhou Lan for his mother and eventually got married to her to fulfill his mothers wishes. Later his mother sadly passed, he went to live with Zhou Lan and work at her company, and cut off contact with Qin Lang and Cheng Yi Chen so Lu Feng can’t find him or them.
Now 5 years passed again and Zhou Lan and Xiao Chen are getting a divorce since she is in love with someone else and realized that there better off as friends and Xiao Chen can now go back to Lu Feng since he’s in love with him still and she understands. Later Xiao Chen finds out Lu Feng established his own company and tried to meet with him but was rejected because too many fake people are pretending to be his friend and he accidentally hit a biker and met a new person named Kuo Lou who he helped try to fix his laptop that was broken and took him to his company that he works at for a job opening which turned out to be Lu Feng’s company. They talked for a little and it ended with Lu Feng is done with him and doesn’t want to be with Xiao Chen anymore and is now supposedly dating Kuo Lou. Then eventually Lu Feng accepted him to come to his house to talk, but didn’t want to talk to him which later turned to be Xiao Chen being locked in his home for like a 2-3 weeks and never got to leave and had to keep seeing Lu Feng bring in new guys to make him jealous and one day Lu Feng got really drunk that he went after Xiao Chen and it was stopped due to Xiao Chen finding a camera. One day Zhou Lan came to his him to recuse Xiao Chen since there still “married” and Lu Feng was acting really insane and kept making out with Xiao Chen in front of her to prove that they never did anything but Lu Feng and him always did things and it got to the point that she shot Xiao Chen on accident and was aiming for Lu Feng. Then the whole episode was Xiao Chen in the hospital in a coma and only Lu Feng and Zhou Lan came to talk to him and eventually he woke up to Lu Feng. After he left the hospital Lu Feng kept trying to help Xiao Chen with his business and paying for bills but he kept trying to tell him to stop and leave him alone but if he knows where Qin Lang and Cheng Yi Chen are then to tell him to which he said he didn’t know. Then one day they showed up and told Xiao Chen to come live with them but Lu Feng was upset because he lied about knowing where they were so he can stay with Xiao Chen and that he’ll never leave him. Then he agreed to leaving with Cheng Yi Chen and Qin Lang and Lu Feng chased them until he couldn’t and then Xiao Chen told him to stop the car since he loves Lu Feng and wants to be with him. Then they got together until it was known that Lu Feng was going to a hotel with a man and Xiao Chen found out along with the key card and confronted Lu Feng after they fought due to Xiao Chen wanting to go to Zhou Lan’s wedding and Lu Feng wanted him to cut contact with her and don’t go. Then Lu Feng told him that the reason he went to a hotel was to talk to a psychiatrist that his sister told him to meet with and was told he has bipolar disorder and he’s been afraid to tell him since he feel Xiao Chen will leave him if he finds out he’s sick. Later Xiao Chen was very understanding of him but wanted him to take treatment for it and met with the doctor who told him ways to force him to take treatment which led to him telling Lu Feng that he’s moving to a new home and that they need to be friends for now or else his sickness will hurt Xiao Chen. Then Lu Feng said they should never see each other again then Xiao Chen called Yi Chen and Qin Lang to help force Lu Feng into treatment but told him that Lu Feng is outside and he was crying with his hand all bloody due to him breaking Xiao Chen’s vase in an episode and ended up accepting treatment for Xiao Chen’s safety. Then it ended with him getting treatment and them having a happier life where they both feel it’s a happy and healthy relationship right now and they feel it’s the same happiness they had when they were in school and went back to the school where they first met and got their fortune taken.
Now I’m so sorry for spoiling the show but my opinion is that these episodes could’ve been shorter or lesser episodes since one whole episode would be Xiao Chen in a coma, Xiao Chen locked up, them in high school, or Lu Feng getting treatment which I feel didn’t need a whole episode based on it. I also felt that the show would’ve been more enjoyable to me if it wasn’t so toxic and possessive like being from Lu Feng and that each episode led to Xiao Chen crying. I also felt that the brother’s story was a little rushed and they were not there for half the episodes so there story felt short. Also I felt that when you ignored all the bad stuff they experienced and the toxicity in their relationship Xiao Chen and Lu Feng were honestly a cute couple. Anyways this was all my opinion and it’s totally up to you if you want to watch this but honestly I don’t recommend this show because it felt too toxic to me.
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The Most Annoying Little Golden Nugget
There is a saying: Short people have the biggest voice to make up for their height. Well, Zen proved it over and over and over again. I spent 8.5 ep trying my best to like the little golden nugget. I mean, look at him. Just adorable once he keeps those lips shut, leans his head on Ryo and something in his mouth. He has the most irritating combative personality ever. I was so turned off by most of it until the mop head turtle faced parrot came in. Futami took over and instantly made Zen appear more loveable. I think Ryo is a saint. A boyfriend that acts like a steel brush and a friend like an ear worm.Futami had a purpose tho, he finally made Zen be openly honest. Now Zen has his nice side, instantly popping up when Ryo said he missed him, I'm not disputing that but everything else overshadows his soft side. Ryo, on the other hand, wanted him for so long, he basically coolly relinquished his power just to keep him in his peripherals.
Now to the plot. What plot? Two guys learning to communicate after being rivals. Japan has a way of making something out of nothing. They succeeded. The only thing I would seriously change was Zen's pitch. I had to turn the volume down and strain at the same time to hear Ryo. It was just rubbing me the wrong way. The one thing I did like, their rivalry covered their romantic relationship, so that they had time to develop without the office snoops being on their scent.
Overall, it was a typical JBL and it was not disappointing. The were believable in their roles and other than minor repeated behaviors, the pacing was good for the length. The conversations were real and brutal. If you can endure the constant clashing with a heavy dose of unnecessary misunderstanding, go for it.
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Como tinha que ser
Um dorama divertido, leve, que contagia o seu espírito e te deixa feliz mesmo quando está para baixo. Uma historia interessante que mexe com a monarquia nos tempos de hoje na Coréia do Sul. Isso me trouxe muitas fantasias e me empoulgou desde o início. O roteiro ficou muito bom, impecável. Por mais que eu tenha sentido que a história é previsível, ficou perfeito, pois não deixou pontas soltas, teve um bom romance, personagens carismáticos e cheios de vida e uma história que te prende do início ao fim. Um dorama perfeito para quem está procurando conforto e leveza.Was this review helpful to you?
1Comfort watch of small town life and Leads with good chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Dazzling” is a feel-good drama set in a beautiful and friendly seaside town. The drama is easy to watch, and won’t really raise your blood pressure much. The story is actually quite simple. High school student, Qing Ye, was forced to leave Beijing and moved to a rural town due a family emergency. She needs to get used to living a simple life and say goodbye to her spoiled, comfortable life in Beijing. There, she met the greenest of the green flags, Xing Wu, who has his own struggles.
Plot:
The plot is simple and quite predictable. This could be a comfort watch for you, or it could be a boring one because you can guess what’s going to happen next from a mile away. The pacing is OK, but it was a little slower in the middle. My biggest problem with the plot is that the debt problem seems to disappear abruptly, to make way for a happier life. Given how they struggled early on, I didn’t think the business could pay off all that debt with ML going back to school. But we gotta move on to go back to high school, so I guess the loan sharks need to step back. I also don’t think this drama really needs 30 episodes. Additionally, it could have been executed better if they had reduced the high school days episodes, and given the present-day timeline more time. “Dazzling” seems like a healing/feel-good slice-of-life drama, instead of a romantic comedy.
Romance
Guan Xiao Tong and Li Yun Rui have really good chemistry. I enjoyed their scenes together from beginning to the end. This is a slow-burn romance, even though you know they have feelings for each other. But drama veterans know Chinese dramas don’t let high school kids really date during high school days. That’s why, I was not surprised we have to wait till they become adults to see some action. Having said that, there are plenty of longing looks and shy sneaky glances throughout the drama, especially from our green flag male lead, Xing Wu. They have a lot of fun and quiet moments. Their conversations are filled with high school banter, yet mature words to deal with life's struggles. Xing Wu is quiet with his love but his actions speak VERY loudly. I quite enjoy the progression of their relationship from strangers not liking each other, to family, friends, and lovers. I do wish I could see their happy, dating moments sooner and witness more of those delicious and passionate kisses.
Characters
The strength of this drama is the characters in this small town. They women are strong and lovely! The whole cast is such a lovely bunch and they make me want to spend a week of vacation there. I love Aunty Li Lan Fang. She has a dead beat husband, but she lives her life in such open optimism. Grandma is also a national treasure. It’s no wonder Xing Qu grew up to be such a great guy, being showered with love by these two women in his life. The friendship between the 3 aunties is also lovely to see. They are so fun and I love them teasing each other. As for our leads, Xing Wu is a little too perfect and dreamy. How can a guy who has gone through such hardships be still so upstanding, loyal, protective, rational, mature, caring and just an all-around great guy? Luckily, I don’t find him to be boring. Li Yun Rui did a fantastic job, but I do have to say there’s no way he looks like a high school student. Guan Xiao Tong also was great as Qing Ye. Qing Ye was so insufferable in the first few episodes as this spoiled princess. But it’s understandable given the circumstances. She has also grown to be a very lovely independent woman. It is a little sad to see how both main leads have to grow up so fast and be so mature at such a young age. The friend group is supportive and fun.
Production
I was going to complain about the music in this drama, because there was a scene early on where the leads were arguing and happy music started playing loudly. But after that moment, I started to like the songs and found the lyrics to be quite appropriate in subsequent scenes. Now I have several songs on my Spotify playlist. They do have a few songs that they play quite often, even though I like them. I love the scenery of the sea, the beach, the light tower and the rural town. Even the simple house that the leads live in feels so homey and comfortable. I can imagine life in that small house.
“Dazzling” is a comfort watch and an easy binge for me. It does slow down a little bit in the middle but not slow enough for me to feel bored. I love all the characters in this drama and I root for all of them. It’s lovely to take a peek into this small town life. The leads have great chemistry and the acting is good. It might not surprise you with twists and turns, but there are enough moments to cheer you up and make you smile.
Drama Completed: 6/19/2026 Review #695
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Because this is one of my favorites.
I don't get all of the 6-ish ratings. I've watched this a number of times, most recently to see if I could see why the review ratings couldn't get above a 6.5. Nope still doesn't make any sense to me. For me, this is a solid 10. Maybe it's because it goes along its way rather quietly? No excessive physical abuse. No drugging. No kidnapping. No inheritance fights. No banquet humiliation. Etcetera.... There are other quieter, yet equally insidious behaviors and actions. Got to have a bit of green tea. And manipulation, guilting, and almost literal emotional blackmail, amongst some other expected inclusions.Doesn't mean there isn't a whole lot going on in a relatively short period of time. So many layers and events. Then that incredible relationship that started with two people who had no experience of familial love. The fact that they were both determined to develop a solid marriage by allowing themselves to function within a comfort zone using what skills they had was almost heroic. Takes some serious acting craft to pull something this complex off, let alone do it well.
Yep. This is still on my rewatch list. And still a 10. I hope to have several of those in my viewing future. 🎉😁🎉
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Might Makes Right
What lesson is it that this series wants to teach? That to get ahead in life, we have to hit harder or run faster to escape the bullies–or find someone who can do it for us?That lesson is front and center in episodes one and two of TEACH YOU A LESSON.
There’s nothing in TEACH YOU A LESSON about learning for its own sake, or about the value of decency and empathy. Everyone in this drama, teachers, students, and parents, abides by the law--- the law of the jungle, that is, whether it’s at school or in the adult world of business and politics. Although similar in some ways to WEAK HERO (1,2), it’s much darker.
Here in the real world, we’re awash in dimwitted slogans, idiotic conspiracy theories, thought-terminating threats, and cliches playing the part of actual arguments.
Will beating up the bad guys make it all better? Should we stop doing the hard work of not giving in to our worst impulses?
For a lot of people, the answer seems to be–yes. Make your body into a fighting machine and throw your brain out the window. Let the nukes fly. Because it feels good to see everybody else get what they deserve.
Pretty simplistic...and it never works in the long run, in spite of what this series implies.
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I finally understand what 답답해 feels like
I knew what this show was before starting. That it was slow, more about life than romance, etc. My criticism isn't with any of that. The show is suppose to be more soul-ish. I just can't understand how anyone likes this show with such bad characters. None of them are likeable, which would be fine if there was something else about them or this drama. But it's supposed to be all about the characters and their lives, hence it's just about a bunch of annoying, unsatisfactory people, filled with moments that personally don't make sense to me, especially the amount of time they, out of nowhere, start talking about something "deep". The way they do it feels so unnatural. You're telling me a grown man is suddenly talking in detail about the loss of his parents and bullying experience in a public café, with his colleagues he barely knows and some supervisor. Just like that? Same with the monologues that are supposed to be all relatable and deep but they just don't have the right timing to really hit. I was really looking forward to this so I promise I'm not trying to be a hater. However, after 10 episodes, I feel like I've been mentally kidnapped by this show and its frustrating characters.Was this review helpful to you?
Lot's of fighting scenes
I have tried to watch this series twice, this 2nd time I got to episode 8. I know I have seen many episodes when I first started watching. I truly like the cast, the main lead and others. It just seems that there are too many fight scenes that make this series a little long for me. The story line is very good, political intrigue, spying, and of course some comedy from the actors.Was this review helpful to you?
A Legendary Masterpiece: Why This Story Lives Rent-Free in My Heart Forever
Sitting proudly as my number two favorite drama of all time right behind The Spirealm, The Untamed is an absolute cultural phenomenon. It is a timeless masterpiece that I constantly find myself rewatching just to visit my favorite characters again. The deep, soulful connection between the leads is everything to me—Lan Zhan is truly the steadfast, loyal rock that someone with a free spirit like Wei Wuxian needs in their life.Why It Is an Eternal FavoriteThe Ultimate Dynamic: The bond between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is unmatched. Their unwavering loyalty, deep mutual understanding, and the contrast between their personalities create the most beautiful connection on screen.Addictive Rewatch Value: No matter how many times you watch it, the emotional impact never fades. The world-building, the music, and the growth of the characters pull you back in every single time.Deep Emotional Resonance: It is more than just a drama; it is a story about justice, sacrifice, and finding that one person who will stand by you against the entire world.The Heartbreak of the FandomA Toxic Legacy: While the drama itself is flawless, it is deeply heartbreaking how toxic fan behavior and the infamous "227 Incident" damaged the real-life dynamic and the ship. It is tragic that such a beautiful masterpiece will always carry the bittersweet shadow of real-world controversy.Overall ThoughtsThe Untamed is a masterpiece that transcends the screen. Despite the real-world heartbreaks caused by the fandom, the story itself remains pure, powerful, and deeply comfort-inducing. If you want a drama that will completely consume your heart and soul, this 11/10 gem is mandatory.Was this review helpful to you?
