Reviews

Best xianxia in quite a while. Great chemistry in the romances, and interesting twists

I'm neither someone who never gives high ratings nor am I someone who gives everything 10/10, but this one really surprised me. Guo Jingming's other works had style but no substance: My Journey to You I gave a 6.5, Fangs of Fortune I dropped after like 12 episodes because it was boring and I realized I really didn't care to know what happened. A lot of xianxia/fantasy dramas these days are pretty boring and unoriginal, so I kept my expectations low but was really surprised. Definitely recommend to everyone to watch WITHOUT spoilers because the twists contribute heavily to the emotional impact and viewing experience. I say this as someone who often looks up spoilers and if a drama is good enough, spoilers don't usually ruin my experience if the execution is carried out well enough.
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Characters, acting, romance: the heart of what made this drama memorable for me.
I knew Tian Jiarui would deliver, and he did in spades. He played the most complex character, and each characterization was decidedly different without falling into caricature. Even the same character had to show and conceal many faces, showing coldness and secrecy within while his heart inside is bursting.

I expected a solid but not particularly memorable performance from Joseph Zeng, which is what we got (some of it is because his character is the least complex of the 4 leads, so he did the best with what he was given). Still, really nothing for me to complain about. His character was the classic hero male lead type, and Joseph excels at that.

Ju Jingyi and Chen Duling really surprised me as I didn't expect a lot from them. They both embodied their characters incredibly well and evolved their characterizations appropriately as the story unfolded. In the beginning you saw them as opaque and hard to decipher their true motives and feelings. They were seductive, playful, cryptic: what you expect from Nine-Tailed Foxes. They absolutely nailed this characterization, the best portrayal of fox spirits I have seen. The rich costumes and heavily-stylized makeup suit them well in this case. Fortunately, they didn't just stay this way. Slowly Lu Wuyi (JJY's character) showed her innocence, dogged stubborness, bottomless devotion. Wu Wangyan (CDL's character) showed her vulnerability, sense of honor, and steadfast love.

Their romances reflected these differences too: Lu Wuyi and Ji Ling's dynamic was big emotions (once they admitted their love), stubbornness, and stopping at nothing for the other. Their love is the "I will love you through multiple lifetimes, I will carve out my heart for you, I will defy the laws of nature for you" type of stuff that I just absolutely eat up when I watch xianxia. Wu Wangyan and Wu Shiguang on the other hand, had a very grounded love that I still felt was still as deep as the other couple; they loved each other through decades of quiet devotion, conveying their love through tender, small acts. This is the only drama so far that I've felt CDL has had palpable chemistry with a male lead; I was afraid her character would try to deny her love for Wu Shiguang far longer than needed, but thankfully I was wrong. She didn't deny her love, she didn't withhold her reciprocation.

The OST, oh my goodness. GJM dramas always have top notch OSTs and this was no exception. I've been reading the lyrics, listening to the songs on replay, and crying everyday.
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Really, the main negatives that lowered my rating was (mild spoiler):

1. The last 2-3 episodes of "We killed the bad guy....no wait just kidding we didn't" over and over got really boring and was the only time I actually used the 2x speed. The very last episode was a bit confusing as well...like how...? You know what, nevermind, I don't need to understand. I'm just glad that (SPOILER) ..............the ending was happy. GJM usually likes to give sad endings not just in his dramas but also the short movies I've watched, so he had pity on us this time! Someone joked that he went to therapy, which made me laugh. Maybe I'll get it on the rewatch (which trust me, I will rewatch this).
2. I love self-sacrificing scenes, that's a big draw of xianxia for me, because it definitely brings out a good cry for me, but it got a bit repetitive. Fortunately since I already love this kind of stuff, I still cried through most of them. Each time they did carry different reasons and twists.
2. The Luo'an drought arc was draggy and probably the weakest arc. Did GJM just want an excuse to cast Jin JIng in his drama again?

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Overall I was going to give it about an 8/10 rating because I think the negatives are not-nothing (sorry for the double negative), but I bumped it to a 9/10 because of the lasting impression it gave me. I always consider the emotional impact a drama has on me, not just objective considerations. I absolutely acknowledge some of my favs have big flaws but if they are truly unforgettable, I think it's worth bumping the rating. After all, I think we all watch cdramas not just to idly pass time, but to deeply feel, which this one definitely did. Xianxia especially, since they always involve sacrifice, rebirths, love across time and space, a lot of things that aren't really posssible outside of fantasy genres (except sacrifice).

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DMD Friendship: The Reality

Listen, I have been watching BLs for a year or so, so I'm not as experienced when it comes to things like this, I have watched all the actors shows before this and seeing this after I have watched anything was just so fun to me. I got to know how the actors were in real life not just in their shows that they act in. Throughout this, there were a lot of cute moments for the pairings like KengNamping, ThomasKong, and even TleFirstone.

The tension between P'Latte, P'Tle, and P'First was unmatched. I didn't know how this show worked at first so when I didn't say P'Tle at first I was sorta shocked and confused so I came to MyDramaList hoping for an answer. In my opinion, P'First made the right decision choosing what was best for him and the other 2 guys. I don't care what people say, he made the overall right decision for him and the others, and the people saying it should've been LatteFirstone to this day need to grow up and learn to mature because TleFirstone are happy together and it's none of their business.

Now onto, ThomasKong and KengNamping, they were both so adorable together, P'Namping and P'Thomas had their priorities straight the second they entered the house. They both were definitely targeting their partners right then and there. I loved their moments so much, I have just finished this show after watching Your Sky and Khemjira like 7 months ago but they will always have my heart. They were so cute, adorable, and sweet together, I hope they last forever, also P'Thomas flirting with P'Kong was SO CUTE UGH. I love them so much, they all deserve to be there and be happy together. P'Keng being chill with everyone except P'Namping was really sweet, he was only awkward with him. Their awkwardness was the comfortable awkwardness and I enjoyed seeing them teasing eachother and having fun together.

This season felt scripted at moments, and even though they all knew eachother I could see the awkwardness in their faces, and even in DMD Friendship The Reality Last Ride which is technaically not in the 6 episodes but it is released on YouTube, they even said specific moments where it was scripted and the directors and staff told them what to do to create more drama, I know that is how reality shows work and they thrive on drama but the way it was felt so forced at moments and I really didn't enjoy those parts, I haven't watched the other seasons but there were people saying the other seasons seem more scripted than this one.

I loved P'Gems and P'TeeTee and honestly I felt bad for P'Gems because it felt as if he was left out often not because no one liked him but because they were all so comfortable with eachother already that it felt a little out of place with him there. No hate to him and I loved him so much, he was so cute and so sweet, I hope for him to find a partner and enjoy acting with them.

Overall, I enjoyed this show and it was a good timepass, it was long for sure but I enjoyed exploring all the actor's personalities, and seeing them grow and improve throughout the episodes, and I hope they continue to shoot for the stars and enjoy being in this industry. Overall, I rate this an 8.5 because I found myself laughing, smiling, and enjoying this show frequently. This was so fun to watch and I may rewatch this again.

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Another time travel to ancient Thailand- BL drama which lost track after a few episodes

Even though I tried to show up for this, watch and support it so much, I just couldn't go on beyond episode 4.....at present the script coherence is all over the place, logic is razor thin, too many characters, too many sub-plots and too many couples to ship....its like the show has 4 directors who all want it to be a different story...I feel sorry for August and Leng, even the other cast members are good too, but with a lame script and storytelling you can only go so far

BL-Needle Score: 7.5 Reasonable BL-ness

I wanted to watch because firstly, I am a time-travel story-addict ever since IFYLITA left us hanging (going around in a never-to-be-found-closure loop I guess?)...secondly because I kinda like August (Addicted Heroine Thailand, Love Sick 2014) and feel that he never gets the really good roles...and thirdly, to support Leng who kinda got sidelined due to the hate he got for his pairing with Ohm...

A great doctor from the present times named Great, time travels to be in the body of Gaew (both played by Leng) an arrogant, and always angry orphan child of a noble man, who seems to be fuming all the time for no apparent reasons, or maybe there are reasons that we are yet to know....the guy ends up rubbing people the wrong way enough number of times for the guardians to unleash a deadly spell on him, which makes this soul swap happen...I'm not sure if Gaew's soul gets to inhabit the Great's body though....so episode one ends with the soul swap and the confused doctor waking up in Ayutthhaya kingdom times, with a whole lot of confusion and disbelief (Hello, IFYLITA, remember?)

This is directed by the same director as Interminable (which I didn't watch) and the Cursed Love (which I dropped). The script is not its strong point, the period effects are alright...but damn why do Thai dramas make the butterflies so damn fake even in this age of AI? First it was Flower Boy and now this one .

There are so many good shows airing right now, and I decided not to allot any more time to this. Dropped it

Verdict: Nah

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Just two chaotic roommates and fireworks that didn't last

Love Has Fireworks was one of those dramas that completely caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting anything particularly original—a workplace romance between two people forced to share the same apartment is hardly a new concept—but I quickly found myself looking forward to every episode. For almost thirty episodes, the drama struck a wonderful balance between comedy, romance, and everyday life, making it incredibly easy to binge.

What surprised me the most wasn't the story itself, but how naturally everything unfolded. Rather than rushing the romance, the drama takes its time letting the two leads become friends first. They argue, tease each other, support one another through difficult moments, and gradually build a relationship that feels believable. By the time they finally admit their feelings, it feels completely earned.

Unfortunately, that's also where the drama begins to lose some of the magic that made the first half so enjoyable. The writing becomes inconsistent.. And the FL's sudden self realization and second stage of character development after 30 episodes felt forced.. Things start happening that doesn't make any sense..

For nearly eighty percent of its runtime, Love Has Fireworks is exactly what a romantic comedy should be: funny, comforting, charming, and full of lovable characters. The chemistry between the two leads remains one of the strongest aspects of the series from beginning to end.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed it. Do I think the final episodes could have been handled much better? Absolutely. In fact, I believe the drama might have been even stronger if it had ended around episodes 32 or 33 .

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A cosy show with low angst and a lot of heart!

I was taken aback by what this show might be when episode 1 was so bleak!
Slow-paced shows are some of my favorites. I love when it’s set in a small town and there is an eclectic bunch of cast.
This show served that in large buckets! it was just so cosy.
But even for me, this show moved at a snail’s pace, at times.
It’s not a show I could binge-watch, but it has such an unknown magical quality that with each episode I watched, it was like going home to see familiar people.
It’s one of those shows that heals you when you didn’t even know you needed healing.
And by gosh, the acting was incredible.
It felt so genuine, like I was peeking into their lives, instead of watching them acting out scenes. I was particularly impressed by both the leads, who did a fantastic job of carrying that slow-paced storyline.

Also loved that the show didn’t need to tie everything in a neat bow by the end, that not all people who you were rooting to become couples actually got together.
That was a brave move.

I would definitely recommend it if you’re in the right mood for this slow-paced, slice of life drama. It has very little angst but so much sweet heart at it’s center.

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Long Live Jaga!

I won’t lie. I came to this show to watch Byeon Woo-Seok, he’s a favorite actor and I wanted to watch him act all handsome princely.
Perfection, by the way.
The way his face emotes without dialogue is chef’s kiss. My gosh, his crying scenes got me right in the heart.
I was enchanted by the plot from start to finish.
And the romance served so much, my heart was satisfied.
This is the kind of show that will still have beauty and meaning in years to come. Every scene was meant to make the audience feel a certain way, and I appreciated that.
There was also some standout humor moments. I loved when the couple swapped assistants, and how well suited they were to their new bosses.
It was my first IU, show. And I loved her! What a boss babe Hui Ju is!
The antagonists of the show served!
I’m not usually a fan of the bad guy redeeming themselves, but I felt the show wrote the queen mother turning tides very well.
My expectations were high going into this show just because I know how well Woo-Seok can act, and I came away with all the feel-good vibes having watched a fully fleshed out and perfectly executed show. The cast delivered so well.
One of the sweetest, modern day fairy tales I think we’ll see in a long while.
For how the show made me feel, it has to be one of my rare 10/10 ratings!

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One more to add to the Kawaii JBL gang..super cute start

Super cute JBL Alert!!! I think this was just the kind I needed with so many bleak and dark ones airing...the Japanese Kawaaii 🥰

BL-Needle Score: 7. Reasonable B:L-ness so far

The visuals and drift gives me vibes similar to Chosen Home, which was one of most favourite JBLs in the recent times.... though the story is less of slice of life-philosophy-coded in comedy kind that Chosen Home was, it just gives off the same lighthearted feel good...may be add a dash of 'family wholesome' ...maybe a cross between Chosen Home and School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To, if you know what I mean....even if the storyline hints that the brother will fall for the elder sister's boyfriend ...it doesn't look like there will be much of a hard feelings here given how casual Sota and Riyo's 'relationship' seems to be ...

I just love the warm, close-knit their family and friends seem to be....and how Natsuki's fandom, his mom's friends immediately cheer him up after being dumped 🥰

I think I'll thoroughly enjoy this. 💓

Verdict: Watch

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A C Drama That Earned Every Episode

As someone who is relatively new to long Chinese dramas, I often find my interest fading when the story slows down in the middle or later episodes. I've dropped quite a few dramas for that reason, so I was pleasantly surprised by Love in the Clouds.

Here are the aspects I enjoyed the most:

• Excellent chemistry between the leads. Their relationship felt natural and engaging, making it easy to become invested in their journey.

• Well-developed supporting characters. None of the secondary characters felt one-dimensional or existed solely to move the plot forward. Every major character had a meaningful backstory that explained their motivations and choices. I especially appreciated the character arcs of Situ Ling and Mu Qibai, whose journeys added emotional depth and made them much more than just supporting figures.

• Morally complex protagonists. Both the female lead and the male lead remain morally grey for a significant portion of the story. Instead of presenting them as flawless heroes, the drama takes the time to explore the experiences and traumas that shaped them. Their actions may not always be easy to agree with, but they feel understandable because the writing carefully builds the context behind their decisions.

• Strong performances from the entire cast. Every actor delivered a convincing performance, bringing their characters to life and adding emotional depth to the story.

• Consistently engaging across all 36 episodes. This was one of the drama's biggest strengths for me. Despite its length, the story maintained my interest throughout without the usual mid-series slump that often causes me to lose interest in longer dramas.

• High-quality CGI. The visual effects were well done and complemented the fantasy elements without feeling distracting.

• A well-written story and script. The narrative was compelling, with good pacing, interesting plot developments, and satisfying character arcs. The script gave nearly every important character room to grow, making their development feel earned rather than rushed.

• Good direction. The director kept the story flowing smoothly, balanced the emotional and dramatic moments effectively, and ensured that the drama remained engaging from beginning to end.

Overall, Love in the Clouds exceeded my expectations. It's a well-crafted drama with strong acting, memorable characters, an engaging story, and impressive production values. I would definitely recommend it, especially to viewers who are hesitant about committing to a longer Chinese drama. If you're looking for a fantasy romance where even the supporting cast receives meaningful development and the protagonists are allowed to be flawed, this drama is well worth your time.

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I know a lot about whales now!

I wasn’t going to write a review for this one, a lot irritated me about the show, but not so much that I wanted to stop watching, because it had a great precise.
So, I’ll leave the comprehensive reviews to the real review writers and just jot down a few things I enjoyed, so I can remember in the future.

Lee Jun Ho had the patience of several saints and their skateboards. What a breath of fresh air he brought to the show.

Both girl friends of Woo Yeong U were a delight.

The dad! What a sweet, supportive man.

The standout character for me was Jung Myeong Seok. He was never overbearing or a scene stealer; he was just there. Quietly bringing a maturity or humor to the scene. And I loved the boss/employee relationship he had with Woo Yeong U.

All the whale facts were fascinating, and I was grateful to learn something, lol.

The things that irked me aren’t big enough that I won’t watch season 2, to see how the legal crew has progressed.

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It's among the top 10 dramas of 2026

The first drama I watched starring Ju Jingyi completely exceeded my expectations. It blends action, comedy, romance, and heartfelt emotions so naturally that every episode remains entertaining without feeling dragged out. The story moves at a fast pace, with each episode introducing meaningful developments, making it easy to stay invested from beginning to end.

One of the biggest strengths of the drama is its cast. Every actor fits their role perfectly, and the chemistry between the lead characters feels genuine and engaging. Ju Jingyi delivers a charming and emotional performance, balancing lighthearted moments with serious scenes beautifully. The supporting cast also deserves praise, as they add humor, depth, and personality to the story instead of simply existing in the background.

The action sequences are exciting and well-executed, while the comedic moments never feel forced. At the same time, the emotional scenes are touching and give the characters enough depth to make the audience care about their journey. This balance between different genres is what makes the drama stand out.

Another aspect I appreciated is how faithfully the drama appears to follow the original novel for most of its storyline. It retains the essence of the source material while adapting it smoothly for the screen, which is something fans of the novel are likely to enjoy. The pacing is another major highlight. There are very few slow moments, and the plot continues to move forward without unnecessary filler, making it easy to binge-watch.

Overall, this drama was a wonderful introduction to Ju Jingyi's work. With its engaging story, excellent performances, memorable characters, and perfect mix of action, comedy, and emotion, it offers an enjoyable experience from start to finish. If you're looking for a fast-paced costume drama with strong character dynamics and a faithful adaptation of its novel, this is definitely one worth watching. I highly recommend it..

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Knowing the Multiverse Makes It Even Better

As a film teacher, I taught Christopher Nolan's "Memento" for years. What most people don't know about this seminal film is that his brother, Jonathon, wrote a companion short story to the film. Both the film and the short story act as standalone pieces, but when placed in juxtaposition, a third narrative appears that has you questioning your interpretations of the film and short story.

ChermChey, while obviously nowhere near the cinematic and literary masterpieces of both Nolans' works, may act in just the same way: taken out of the universe it lives in, the series seems to be a rather "pointless" slice-of-life narrative piece that is kind of a "love it" or "leave it" situation. But ChermChey is connected to Love Upon a Time and Khemjira, and when you have that knowledge, ChermChey is a ten episode long "happily ever after" for two seemingly "throw away" characters from Love Upon a Time. I am loathe to say more than that as I don't want to spoil either show. For anyone interested, I can make the case for the three dramas existing in the same universe.

Even without putting ChermChey firmly where it belongs in the "LUAT/Khemjira" universe, I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry and interplay between the two male leads. This show was definitely "conflict-lite" and redemption arcs for the only conflict that did appear were unearned. ChermChey was an overall "pointless" story- which I think is the point. It was a little underwritten, so I don't think that Erng's central internal conflict really had defined moments that built towards a personal epiphany (i.e. obvious character growth that was shown, celebrated, and earned). But even with its flaws, I enjoyed what was there- showing how two characters crash into each other with abandon (thinking it's a one night stand so no need to filter oneself) only to have to pull back when they realize this connection may actually have a shot of enduring after the sun has come up.

I can see this becoming a comfort drama, owing to its "conflict-lite" nature. Sometimes it's comforting to watch the evolution of a quirky relationship- to feel the warmth the actors brought to their characters and how that warmth seeped towards the other person. Much is lost in translation (I fear) with their bantering, which I think may be why the international audience is missing some of the witticism of the show.

Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was (both as a standalone piece and as part of a larger narrative universe). In fact, once I made the connection to Love Upon a Time, my appreciation for the small details in ChermChey increased. If you like slice-of-life, give this one a shot.

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feels just like summer ♡

this is the story of Natsuki - a free spirited high school student. he's also not the most attentive when it comes to academics. when his parents find out about his abysmal grades, his sister decides to send her boyfriend Souta to tutor him.

the first episode was so cute!

both leads are incredibly handsome! especially the actor playing Souta - Hidaka is sooo pretty! i couldn't take my eyes off of him the whole time🥹

the cinematography is absolutely stunning! as it often is with most Japanese bls 💙 the cool summer tones and the beautiful blue skies are so soothing to watch. they have the perfect summer vibes!

Natsuki's family is so warm and lovable. their adorable samoyed pet dog Rock, a huge ball of fluff, is bound to bring a smile to anyone's face!

so far, I really liked the first episode 🥰 excited to see how it goes💙

fun fact : natsuki (夏輝) in Japanese means "summer radiance/glow" ✨️
that really adds up to the theme of this drama 🥹

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