Reviews

Love brewed well <3

Overall 10/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This drama is the perfect feel good drama to binge watch! With 12 episodes total it is not overwhelming and it doesn't leave you feeling like they should have made it longer. It's perfect as is! The friendships and relationships between the characters are so beautifully developed and shown. The comradeship of the characters blew me away. I highly, highly recommend watching especially if you're looking to watch something that feels like you are a part of the community. It's short and sweet. I also loved that we can take things we learnt from the drama and apply it in our own lives in order to help our process if overcoming obstacles in life like they did in the drama. Chae Yong Ju really hit close to home in some aspects and it felt very comforting to see her grow.

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Missed opportunity for a great drama

Like most people are saying, I watched this for the pairing of Dylan Wang and Bailu. While they make a visually pleasing pair, I just didn't love this story. I also felt like the weak writing, directing and overall plot put a damper on both of these actor's abilities. We know both of them are capable of better because we've seen it many times before. They could've done a lot better with this drama in my opinion. Shiyan is a robot. The fact that a smart, strong, confident journalist like Shuyi would actually fall for a character like him just doesn't resonate with me. I get it that she was pretending to like him in the beginning for personal gains but he was so completely rude, cold and lifeless in their interactions. Even when he started to do little sweet things for her, it wasn't charming because he wouldn't talk or explain himself at all. Dylan has a great smile. I don't think we saw more than a smirk this whole drama. Also, her antics were cringey and it took forever for them to get together, just to break up soon after and drag that out too. All of the characters they brought in to create jealousy were not entertaining and annoying. Her ex bf seemed unnecessary and a waste of screen time. But the romantic scenes were passionate and well done, better than some other dramas people are saying, but not enough to save the whole show unfortunately. There were 2 side CPs, her best friend w Shiyan's best friend and Shiyan's niece w Shiyan's other friend/love rival for Shuyi/professor. Shuyi's best friend is emotionally damaged and thinks she is clever with men but she's not and it takes her the whole show to admit she loves the guy. The niece relentlessly pursues the professor, like stalker creepy and eventually gives him stockholm syndrome and he falls in love. Didn't care for these couples either although they were all stunningly gorgeous. That seems to be a theme of this show. Let's watch visually appealing people get together and say and do dumb things. The side story with the technology stuff was pretty cool and well done. I don't understand all of it but it seems like they put more effort into developing the career/business aspects of the story than the actual romance. They really took the lemons they had and squeezed them down the drain with this drama instead of making lemonade.

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If you need a mental pick-me-up watch this drama!

I started this drama with 0 expectations on recommendation. I was hooked from episode 1. The first 5 episodes of this drama were so funny they had me laughing out loud so much that I had to keep rewinding because I would miss the next scenes. When Li Wei first met Yin Zheng and thought he was dying soon and prepping all the gifts for him was just comedic gold. Also, this couple pairing is perfect. LW is very independent, sweet and a total foodie. YZ is a genius striving to gain recognition and power in the palace but he is also humble about it, determined to make something of himself based on his own hardwork and honesty. What these two have in common is that kindness is second nature to them and they will always put helping others, especially each other, before helping themselves. They slowly start to depend on each other and become inseparable by the end. Watching these two strong characters fall in love was like watching a piece of artwork come together. YZ definitely fell first but when LW falls she actually explains why to her best friend. She loves doing the simple things with him like eating, reading, daily life etc...it was soooo sweet. They also give you enough romantic treats, such as a kiss by ep8, to make the slow burn worth paying attention to.

Acting:....This is my first time watching Tian Xiwei and I found her acting surprisingly good. She plays cute & silly but not too whiney. And her emotional scenes were heart wrenching when she cried. She's also undeniably and strikingly pretty so I found it ridiculous when they called her plain in the beginning... I don't think Bai Jingting's full talent was on display here but he made the character of YZ come to life and made him more loveable than any other actor could. He also has a nice voice and isn't bad to look at so that helps. Honestly, I find it more impressive sometimes when the two leads don't seem to like each other off camera, but are still able to create strong and convincing chemistry on screen. When watching the BTS you can tell they are comfortable and friendly with each other but they keep their interactions professional. There doesn't seem to be any BTS attraction or extra playfulness going on between them like you can observe with a lot of other BTS from other dramas.

Side characters:....This show is considered in the "feel-good, lighthearted, disney-ish" categories. There are no real love rivals for either the FL or ML, which is refreshing. Also there are many, many supporting characters of which none are really more important than the others but all still pretty loveable. All of LW's girls are awesome, especially Shan Guan Jing, Dong Hai Tang and Yuan Ying. Yes, Yuan Ying does come in as a potential issue for the main CP but they squash that immediately. As for the men the 3rd & 5th lord are both ridiculous people but sooo hilarious. In the end their sincerity and care towards their brother and their wives does make you love them. But my absolute favorite has to be Su Shen. He's not just YZ's butler but he's also like his parent and his number#1 fan. But this man is the definition of funny without trying to be. In some scenes he doesn't even need to be talking and I found myself laughing at his expressions and antics.

Main plot:...YZ's fight to climb the political ladder and LW's fight for women's rights are the main focuses of this story. Their goals often intertwine and bring them closer in the end. Both of these plots were both interesting enough but I could really care less about the women opening a restaurant together or YZ creating new currency. That got a bit draggy. But other than that I still do support the themes and there was justice for everyone in the end. The main villain is the 2nd lord and YZ's older brother. He is sexist, greedy and has no conscience. He's also really dumb and gets outsmarted by YZ, his own wife and his concubine constantly. He gets what he deserves in the end, which you could easily predict given his stupidity and predictability. As far as villains go, he's not the greatest or most memorable but it works for a light-hearted drama like this.

Overall, this drama is worth rewatching because it just makes you happy inside, which is more credit to the actors/actresses than the story but who cares. Also the visuals are stunning from the costumes, setting and the food looks delicious. SPOILER>>>there is a VERY happy ending and that made me VERY happy.

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First Impression: Eternal Butler

Overall: the first two episodes were fine. I can see my final review going quite a bit up or down depending on how the next 10 episodes go. 12 episodes about 20 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala (Americas, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, India, Southeast Asia) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5016/eternal-butler-2024-e01 ; iQIYI (available in USA, Spain and ???) https://www.iq.com/play/eternal-butler-episode-1-dst0wmvc9g?lang=en_us ; YouTube (available in African countries, Greenland, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Egypt and a few others) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZCKtVEQmC4

Content Warnings: blood, manhandling, non con kisses (likely other things that they've hinted to)

What I Liked
- easy to understand premise
- the sci fi element

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward
- nonsense design with the glasses aspect
- (neutral) sound effects

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They served drama, chaos, and bromance... and I’m not over it.

High School Frenemy had all the ingredients for an unforgettable school drama—rival campuses, broken friendships, and just enough tension to keep you hooked. And let me tell you, this show ate and left no crumbs.

Saint and Shin? Absolute icons. Their whole “we used to be besties but now we’re enemies” vibe is straight-up fire. Saint’s got that brooding, too-cool-for-school energy, while Shin is all sass and rage, and the way they clash is chef’s kiss. The tension? Off the charts. You’ll be yelling at your screen one minute and clutching your chest the next because the feels are real.

And don’t even get me started on the side characters—they understood the assignment. Chadjen’s quiet wholesomeness, Ken and the twins always bringing some trouble (but being good at heart), and the rest of their classmates add so much depth. These aren’t just background extras; they’re out here serving personality and adding layers to the story. Even the teachers, Ms. Jan and Mr. Sung, are low-key MVPs. They’re like the glue holding the chaos together—strict when they need to be but always rooting for their students in the most genuine way.

Now, let’s talk music because wow. The soundtrack? Straight bangers. It’s like the perfect playlist for every mood—heartbreak, rage, nostalgia—you name it. Whoever put it together deserves a raise because it hits every time.

And that ending? Ugh, so satisfying. It doesn’t give you all the answers on a silver platter, but it ties up just enough to make you feel things while still leaving you thinking about it days later.

High School Frenemy isn’t just a show; it’s a whole moment. It’s got drama, vibes, and a ton of heart. If you’re not watching it, what are you even doing? Stop sleeping on this gem and get ready to be obsessed.

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Wonderful Cast and an Engaging, Original Story

I've watched so many dramas that what I appreciate most now is originality. That and good acting, of course. This drama has both of those. It doesn't leave you wondering if you've already seen it before. The cast is wonderful. It's been a long time since I could say that I loved both of the lead actors and I'm delighted to be able to do so now. I've never seen them before but I'll make it a point to watch their other dramas. The supporting cast was very good as well.

I loved the action scenes. They weren't the over the top flying scenes that I hate. They were well done and fun to watch. The costumes and most of the hair were beautiful. The only things that really detracted from the series appearance wise were the excessively long fingernails they gave the female lead character and the heavy make up on the male lead. There were a few of the obligatory slow motion fall and catch scenes that were regrettable but not very many.

The OST was very pretty and I found myself replaying quite a few scenes just so that I could catch the lyrics. If I could change anything, it would just be to not have them playing over the characters' lines or have the volume quite so loud when they did.

I would have preferred a different ending but I respect that they didn't give us what they no doubt knew we wanted. It suited the characters and the story.

Overall, I would highly recommend this one. You won't be disappointed.

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good drama, good characters and acting. also good romance

TLDR; Despite being a long show, it was worth it because of the characters and how they each solved it differently. There were a lot of plot twists and turns that kept me wanting to know the truth. There's a fair bit of comedy and romance mixed in, and the acting separates the different characters, each with their own distinct personalities.

Story: Because there are so many characters, it's sometimes hard to keep up with who relates to whom, but there's definitely an emphasis on mystery here. There are also some moments where they throw a lot of information at you, and I feel like some parts were a bit rushed. It's not always serious though and their comedy is just perfect to relieve some of the tension in the show. In terms of romance, this might be my favorite just because of how they interact in the beginning. I'm also a sucker for love-hate relationships because it's interesting to see their reaction once they realize they love each other.

Acting: I love the acting in this because each character has their own distinct personality and yet this group meshes well together because each can compensate for the other. I especially love the facial expressions and overall acting of Yuan Zhong Xin and Wei Ya Nei because they're probably the most expressive out of the group.

Music: The music definitely set the mood, and I could tell when there was a comedic scene happening or something bad was going to happen. I'll be honest though, it wasn't particularly memorable, but it wasn't terrible either.

Rewatch value: Out of all the shows I've watched so far, this might be the one I would rewatch because I feel like I could catch clues because of hindsight, but it also has 42 episodes, each at least 40 minutes long, so it is a bit of a commitment.

Onto season 2!

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This was nice ,I loved all the characters, even though Taishin may act clueless most times i find him cute. Takara's character was also amazing.Others may not like this series which I don't know why they wouldn't,but for me it was a cute storyline. I believed this deserved a 10 because I loved howthey symbolized the bird pictures and marbles to portray both Taishin and Takara. Takara, keeping marbles, has a way of saying anything he wants is his ,long has it in his possession. And Taishin was so understanding he got how Takara is and always saw the good in him, even when Takara expects the worst, Taishin is always there to reassure him. Currently watching the special episode and they are so cuteeeeeeeeee. 100%

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literally one of the best storylines

i find this rewatch-able value because of the amazing visual, plot, music and characters. actors were suited for the roles and performed amazingly. the visuals shook me every time, including the music. i like it because of the main characters romance between them, their will to sacrifice themselves for another. they love each other no matter what, even if their not meant to fall in love. the music is to die for !!! in my opinion, both main actors performed really well which is why they stood out. the story is kind of different from the novel, but the way they changed it is absolutely amazing. the plot is twisting. overall, its a 10/10. to me, its one of the best xianxia I've watched yet.

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It is not an idol drama. 10/10

This historical drama is top-noch!! Great actors/actresses from leads to support characters, very interesting historical details, solid art direction, rich dialogues, and good balance between love story, action scenes (I will never forget how Yang Jing Lan rushed back to Yizhou to marry Ji Ying Ying) and brocade industry history makes it a treasure among this year dramas . Tang Dinasty border conflicts, the difficulties in establishing Silk Road, focus on working class and slavery , warlords and rich families rebellion against central power, instead of court conspiracies contribute to create very unique environment and story line . It is slow paced but there is no pad out episodes, no skip because it is not just one more drama about revenge. Also sadistic and smart villains (Jing Chao acting skills specially shinned on ep.39) makes it very fun and entertaining to watch. Last, it is a delight to see the mutual understanding between Yang Jing Lan and Ji Ying Ying, how they clearly communicate and evolve from allies to lovers without loosing the respect and trust they have for each other. It was not a boring and predictable love story. It is a beautiful love, family, friendship and social story. 10/10!!

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Y’all crazy. This show was soooo good tf

I don’t understand why ppl are talking so much trash about the show. I will admit it started slow but I’m a person who likes watching a slow burn show. The build was soooo good. The ML was so damaged and his ex wife keeping him drugged up just to need him is some nasty work.ML not liking the FL at the beginning made the story so much better as you watch both of them win damage(in different ways ) slowly start to comfort each other and start to like each other was really amazing to watch. The FL was so detached from the world and was basically on autopilot all the time even with the stalker she barely flinch and then you slowly started to watch her come alive. The first fight scene between FL and the ex wife had me shook and that was the real first time you saw FL start to care and I felt myself become excited ….. and then second fight scene between FL and ex wife had me shocked because she was really pissed .

The ending was my least fav part because it is such a Korean drama thing to do and I was hoping for something more original and fresh/new but I’m not mad at them finding each other again after everything and I was even rooting for the ex wife and her fake husband because they both crazy and deserved each other .

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not ur average fairytale romance

avoid if u dont like toxic relationships LOL

pros:
- what makes this kdrama very unique is that its definitely not ur average fairytale romance. i found the thoughts and actions of the female lead very realistic, like her overthinking when she realises that hes toxic, being unsure whether she should continue to pursue the "relationship" or move on to someone else. i also thought the male lead would be outright toxic but i realised that it isnt actually very clear from the start, after watching more of the show ull pick up "clues" that show how manipulative he is. i like it because it displays relationships in real life)
- if u like to watch kdramas with friendgroups u can give this show a try! it definitely shows the messiness of a university friendgroup - them dating each other, facing drama all while having to juggle schoolwork at once
- also props to the second couple (Ngl there were a lot of couples but if uve watched the show u would know which one i mean) because THEY WERE SO INTERESTING AND UNEXPECTED i loved them sm (probably more than the main couple!)

cons:
- Uhhhh as the show suggests, obviously THE RELATIONSHIP IS TOXIC. this may not be everyones cup of tea and its ok!
- may be boring especially if u dont like romance (some parts were boring even for me as someone who enjoys romance) the relationship is really slow paced and theres rlly not much going on other than showing their college life

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life can be funny like that sometimes.

how do you know if you've won at life? is it by looking at how many times you've succeeded? your accomplishments? sure, if you like to think plainly—if you choose to see only in black and white. but life is a spectrum of colors wherein each one shines with the lives you've touched, the people your heart has reached, all the love you've received whether it be in the span of 10 years or a lifetime.

does failing equal losing? does it render all the time spent in struggle meaningless, worthless? life's punchline compels you to believe otherwise. macbeth's conviction to even last that long—long enough to make a fan out of someone like hiroko—is exactly what makes them victorious. one doesn't always immediately get rewarded for one's efforts and it could take as long as a decade to receive affirmation, but trust me when i say it will have been worth it! so while macbeth may not have made it as comedians in the industry, they certainly have to the ones who matter.

if you're reading this, just know that you too have won. in life, nobody genuinely loses. you are here, and you have won.

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