Reviews

A Story About Dreams & Destiny: "Although I know my destiny, I still courageously choose to face it"

Fangs of Fortune is a fantasy drama that is based from Chinese Mythological Creatures. It tells a story about a heavily discriminated great demon named Zhao Yuan Zhou and the journey of his life as he chooses to face his destiny. Along his process of walking onto this new path he had chosen, he managed to be involved with a group of beings ; either mortals, gods, demons. They later formed into a team at the Demon Hunting Bureau who at first were only bonded together for the sake of solving mysterious cases about creatures that had gone rampant. They each face each other with indifference and mistrust at first, but the more they unravel truths about the past - especially of their own, they gradually began to warm up to each other and thus, formed a friendship that later turned into found family. Regardless of their differences, they began to understand each other and stand in equal footing eventually learning to separate evil and good from origin, and coming to accept life's greyness and the complexities of beings - whether mortals or creatures.

What had heavily made me gravitate towards this drama is its compelling storyline that is thought provoking and how it finely touched different gradients about morality. It isn't all for a captivating watch as viewers are also challenged to put their perspectives into each of the characters shoes to understand the different contrasting layers of these characters ; their decisions and actions towards certain events or situations. Adding to these is the unabashed portrayal of intense emotions from every character no matter what gender which in turn pinches at the corners of the viewers hearts. To say it is merely a fantasy drama is a bit of an injustice, beyond the excellent cinematography and gorgeous visuals lies a much more meaningful story about life and its lessons.

The great demon Zhao Yuan Zhou's journey came with a lot of loaded heartache but as the plot progressed, his heart became vividly clear. He is a very courageous character who had accepted and had long awaited his destiny, yet still he chose to face it. In the process of doing so, he found himself spreading warmth towards everyone and at the same time receiving the same warmth which he thought he is undeserving of. His selfless act of sacrificing his life for the greater good and his loved one despite having already grown roots for living, proves his heroic character, great love, and how he holds his dream of a peaceful and carefree life ever so importantly. He didn't just simply accept his destiny, he fulfilled his dream along with it. The immense amount of greatness of his character is immeasurable.

This drama might not have been centered solely on the romance between the main leads, however, their love story turned to be the most beautiful yet tragic to be foretold. The love between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao is one that is seen as subtle on the surface, barely palpable - but as you take off the heart shaped rose colored glasses, what awaits is a love that conquers all. Deeper than the romantic moments or sweet intimate scenes, it's the strength of their feelings towards each other that time and time again, they constantly and gravely chose one another. Zhao Yuan Zhou's journey to life started because of Wen Xiao, but it also ended because of her. His love for her is so vast and selfless. While Wen Xiao became the living testament to his deep love, her devotion to wait for 300 years in the sundial and her willingness to guard his home ; the wilderness, while endlessly waiting for their reunion. The nuanced and subtleness of Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao's love, proved against odds how deeply rooted and ever lasting their love is, even if their fate is tragic, their feelings for each other never cease to exist, and continue to live on, for every rain shower is their reunion.

All the performance of the actors in this drama are praiseworthy. I specifically have to praise Hou Ming Hao's phenomenal acting skills, his portrayal of Zhao Yuan Zhou connected the most with me. The expression and emotions he delivered on screen screams how great and talented of an actor he truly is. He always left me in awe. I instantly became a fan of him. On the other hand, Chen Du Ling's role as Wen Xiao spoke so much volumes about humans limitations when faced with destiny, her portrayal has been admirable. Tian Jia Rui and Cheng Xiao doesn't fall behind much, they also did a commendable job with their roles. I am looking forward to seeing more of Lester Lin's growth as an actor, he carries so much potential at a young age. Lastly, Yan An, Zhen Xuan and Lai Wei Ming deserves more recognition for their acting performance, I applaud their performance too.

I highly recommend this drama. Perfection is something unachievable in life, even the best comes with flaws. This drama is no exception from such flaws but what makes this stood out is the amount of good qualities it had. From storyline, to cinematography, to acting, to characters and to chemistry.

The 'Fangs' in 'Fangs of Fortune' surely carved into my heart ♡

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I Can’t Stop Smiling.

I never planned to watch this drama. In fact, I only found out about it when episode 1 aired. But from the first episode, it was already so interesting that I decided to give it a try. And I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire episode.

If you liked the drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this one too, because it has a similar vibe. The female lead is strong, even stronger than the male lead. That doesn’t mean the male lead is weak—they just have their own way of protecting the people they care about.

The storyline of this drama is well-organized and neatly packaged. With only twelve episodes, all the conflicts are resolved. Similar to Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, this drama often breaks the cliché scenes typically found in dramas.

In my opinion, this drama was even intentional from the beginning in breaking stereotypes that exist in our society. For example, the idea that men must always be masculine and aren’t allowed to cry, or that women always need men to protect them. In this drama, Min Ju cries a lot because he’s sensitive. However, this doesn’t take away his masculinity at all—in fact, it adds to his charm.

Similarly, Young Ju’s character always tries to solve her problems on her own. She doesn’t need the male lead to save her. She’s the kind of person who will save herself no matter what. While portrayals of strong female characters like Young Ju are becoming more common in dramas, I think Min Ju’s character is quite new and something I haven’t seen in other dramas.

The relationship between the two leads is so sweet! I love that this drama doesn’t drag things out and wraps everything up in just 12 episodes. But because of that, I’m sad that next week I won’t get to see this adorable couple anymore.

The PTSD experienced by Chan Hwi’s character reminds me of the movie Shutter Island. In that film, it shows how many war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress like this. I love that this drama explores that topic.

What I also appreciate is that even though this drama highlights the theme of “independent women,” the writer manages not to belittle men. In this drama, we can see that women and men actually complement each other, not compete.

For me, episode 8 is the best episode of this drama. The emotions take you on a rollercoaster in a single episode. I absolutely loved the voice note from Young Ju’s grandmother—it freed Young Ju from her feelings of guilt and, at the same time, freed her grandmother from her own guilt. That voice note liberated them both.

I also liked how the main leads’ relationship transitioned into romance without any over-the-top love-bombing scenes. Instead, they gave us small, sweet interactions that were enough to make me grin from ear to ear while watching.

The resolution for Young Ju’s career conflict was also great, in my opinion. Young Ju is so competent that if she continued working at Jisang, she’d definitely get promoted. But maybe that’s not what Young Ju wants. She’s spent almost her entire life living for others, and finally, she starts living for herself. It’s also reassuring to know that Min Ju is by her side.

I absolutely love all the characters in this drama, including the people in the village of Bae Gok. They aren’t just comedic relief but also drive the plot forward. Their characters are so fresh—not just drama clowns.

Two couples in one drama, and both of them have solid stories. The first couple shines so brightly, but the second couple also gets their moment. I’m beyond satisfied with this drama. Finally, in 2024, I got to watch a rom-com drama that’s truly filled with rom-com moments :) Lately, I’ve been falling for clickbait dramas (if you know what I mean).

This drama is so sweet that I can’t review it in as much detail as I usually do because I was too busy smiling while watching it. Honestly, I think you should just watch it yourself to understand what I mean, lol.

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Unbreakable Bonds and Unexpected Twists...

Uff, this drama is a rollercoaster of emotions, just like the title suggests. It’s all about the bond between siblings, parents, and relationships in general. Honestly, it hooked me from the very first episode. The plot is well-directed, and the actors give stellar performances. Every character really lived in their role, and you can feel their emotions so strongly. Each episode has its own tension and emotional depth, making you care about what happens next. The leads are fantastic, and their chemistry is on point. You can really sense the weight of their pasts and the hard choices they have to make.

And those twists! OMG, they had me hooked. Some scenes literally had me holding my breath, wondering what was coming next. Visually, the drama is gorgeous. The settings and costumes are so well thought out, and they really add to the vibe. When the tension builds, the visuals make everything feel so much more intense.

Overall, this drama is a great mix of emotions, suspense, and family drama. It’s not a quick watch, but if you like shows that dive deep into relationships and keep you on edge, this is definitely worth your time. It might leave you emotionally drained at times, but it’s a ride you won’t want to miss.

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uhm....

Watch this for my alphabet challenge. And stay watch purely just for it, if not for the challenge I already dropped this. Haha… It's a messed up plot with a lot of holes….

Story about Joke & Jack. Joke is a young man from a wealthy family who feels unappreciated because he has a better brother. To release the stress from his dad, Joke decided to do some stealing and ended up making a name as Joker.

Jack, on the other hand, is a young man who grew up in a poor neighborhood. He tried his best to live his life day to day & free from debt.

One day, Joke met Jack in the bar where he works at. Few days later, they met again while Joke in the scamming action. By accident, Joke’s entangled Jack in his action. Felt guilty, Joke surrendered himself to the police, resulting in him being imprisoned.

Jack on the other hand, because of all the circumstances that happened after Joke scamming, forced him to work for the loan shark boss as debt collector.

Fast forward to 5 years later, Joke is finally free from prison. The first thing he does is look for Jack to ask for forgiveness. Joke never expected Jack to change into a cold man because of his job for the boss. But soon, he’ll learn that it's all only on the surface. Jack never really changed for these 5 years, he was still the same kind guy that Joke knew.

So the story forth is about Joke trying to get closer & be friends with Jack. So, what will their story become…?

That's pretty much the story without giving the spoiler. The only good thing about this drama is the relationship between Joke and his dad. And also Jack’s funny and warm grandma. Oh I love this old lady...

In the end it's an interesting story on paper, but there are so many holes in the plot. So just watch this if you are wondering, but I suggest you better search for something else.

Below I'll write about the messy plot I'm talking about in the beginning. But that also means SPOILER ALERT!!! Read it at your own risk.












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SPOILER ALERT!!!
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One of the worst stealing scenes in the drama world. They did give us warning about the fact it's not like this in the real world. But oh come on… Can't you come out with a better one than these messy holes…

These holes alone take up a huge chunk from my score. Because if it's only about how they messed up in the stealing process because of one stupid thing, it's still better. But this one… OH MY GODDDDD!!! Really stupid.

Joke, try to rob the bank. He can easily go to the bank manager room, take the money from the safe inside the room & just give it to Jack…

Or like when Joke and the gank steal the ring for the boss. Ugh that really one big messy plot, start from planning till the execution all big headache for me to watch it.

The only better execution of the stealing plot is when Joke and the gank steal the jewel. That's quite smooth. But unfortunately still close up with the stupid escape.

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hm................ do not recommend

This isn't gonna be a super detailed, well-written review but wtv <3

I actually really enjoyed the first part of this drama! They got together pretty quickly (like within an hour of meeting each other LMAO and then obv got married).

I don't love a slow burn (I'm addicted to the dopamine I get from super fluffy dramas lol) so I was pretty happy that their relationship/feelings developed pretty quickly (wouldn't say it was super rushed tho).

The first part of the drama doesn't really have a lot happening other than showing their developing relationship (and PUPPIES!!) and it was superrrr cute with some good chemistry between the leads. Sooo I was expecting this to be a nice, relaxing, healing drama but NO! no.... T_T it was not a healing drama at all.

A bit over halfway thru, the most confusing, out of left field plot twist happens and it was all down hill from there... it didn't even make sense!! I'm trying my hardest to describe it without spoiling but I might have to a little (so stop reading if u don't want minor spoilers)

But basically, two of the main antagonists have a complete personality switch out of NOWHERE ("we were treating you terribly and making your life hell because we actually love you sm <3 and we want the best for you :D") be so fr...

And THEN one of the things that gives me the biggest ick in dramas happened.... the leads forgave them immediately and pretended nothing happened (the horror!!) and then they all became BFFL' s... The End...

Despite that, I kept watching, hoping that the fluff that dramas usually have in the last few episodes would redeem the show for me at least a little bit.. but NO u_u ... they decide to introduce an entirely new conflict/angst plot in like the third to last episode and they rushed through it sooo bad (it was so confusing and unnecessary?? I have no clue what was even happening. I checked out fr lol). But still... I had a sliver of hope for a cute ending with maybe a real wedding ceremony and them living happily ever after.. but it was soooo unsatisfying that it put me in a bad mood the rest of the night LMAO.

I really don't recommend this drama lol. If you reeeally wanna watch it, I can only recommend the first half.

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Beautiful Secrets, Wonderful Lies

98 episodes of extremely depressing and miserable content. Everyone is lying at some point even the 2 leads who hide information at times. I don’t think we saw any kind of beautiful or wonderful live until the final 2 episodes which means, this show is overvaluing itself lol. Jin Woo is my favourite and his character is hilarious as the show develops.

The mothers all need to do one, I don’t think I’ve been as annoyed at 3 grown women as I have in this show. Especially the blomde witch. The writers seemed to be trippin all over the place, logic was thrown out the window. Don’t get me started on the hospital staff, like hello do you do your job or do the relatives do it for you?!!!

I was so frustrated throughout this drama I was about to give it 1 star but I bumped it to 6 for my guy getting a happy ending.

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Romance without over the top drama and with actual character growth

A comfort drama through and through. If you are looking for intelligent dialogs, developed characters with feel good moments and lots of cliche, this is it. It’s Romance at it’s finest. Not murder-mystery, not fantasy. Just Romance. And like all good Romance, it makes us imagine and dream about what is possible and learn new things while at the same time hearing a story we have heard countless times. There were so many scenes that are examples of emotional maturity and development that make us feel proud of the characters and wish a little bit more of that in our own lives without leaving the feeling that is too “cookie-cutter,” or text book right. The characters are not perfect but they show up because they want to and that feels genuine and possible. The cast has chemistry and the main actress has perfected her acting style, whatever she does, regardless of liking it or not, it is obviously a choice, intentional. And if I had one word to describe this kdrama this would be it: intentional. Beautiful photography, beautiful script, beautiful chemistry, beautiful soundtrack. A 10/10. And I would hug it if I could. Be aware, this could be boring for you. I does not mean it is not good. There are no surprises, it is predictable in a meeting an old friend kind of way. The most surprising thing is actually the lack of an over the top, unnecessary and torturous drama based on misunderstanding. If you like that, maybe this is not for you. We actually see various examples of healthy relationships. I will definitely watch it again on a rainy day with hot chocolate.

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I NEED MORE!!!! o_o

This isn't gonna be beautifully written or anything so bear with me lol. There's also only 6 episodes so far so I'll have to update once it ends.

I have never ran to write a review so quickly o_o It only has 6 episodes so far but I binged all of them at once and I almost cried when I got to the last one
I'm going to be honest, I usually watch dramas for a cute ML and really fluffy romance (im sensitive and can't handle too much angst/unhappy endings lol) but something about this story has me hooked. Tbh the premise isn't anything that hasn't been done before but it's so entertaining and well done imo

[Things I love about this drama 6 episodes in]:

- FL is AMAZING! I'm used to them making FL meek and kinda weak (not all but common) but Dou Zhao is strong, smart and is one step ahead of anyone trying to take her down. it's sooo satisfying watching her topple her evil stepmother's cliche plans to ruin her lol. Not to mention how absolutely STUNNING she is???

-It's still really early on so there hasn't been much if any romance yet but tbh I can feel the chemistry o_o One thing that usually sells me on a drama is how good the ML is at expressing his emotions thru his eyes. You can see the tension between them even if it's just a little bit so far (i'm excited to see how their relationship progresses).

-No idea if this is true but imo I'd say it's pretty high budget?? The costumes are really nice and FL looks amazing in every scene lol. Tbh I don't even need the ML, I'd watch 30+ episodes of just her hehe. The sets are nice and I think it's shot pretty well.

-The friendship/sisterhood between the FL and her cousins <333 I LOVE GIRLS <333 also!! she has two female bodyguards which I love.

Please please pleeeease let this have a happy ending Read More

No more people-pleaser

I really enjoyed how the main leads experienced lessons in their lives, how they stumbled upon major realizations via stand-up comedy, and how they were willing to expand their horizons in order to find true freedom!

I like romances, but this drama ends with the beginning of great possibilities among equally-devoted men. I found the ending to be innovative, positive and uplifting.

I like how the red dress plays a role in this drama. It makes an indelible impression.

I didn't laugh so much at the stand-up comedy, although I thought the comedy routines were witty. Some of the antics were funny. I felt very strongly about the bad, lazy colleagues!

As a whole, I found this drama inspiring, how one oppressed woman found her own voice to tell the world, "Here I am! I can finally be my true self!"

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Queen of (fake) smiles meets King of hearts

I have been low-key following Kim Se-jeong since her Uncanny Counters days and then her breakout role in Business Proposal. She has certainly been kept busy with starring roles ever since. To be honest, a couple of them are cash grabs by production companies while others are earnest attempt to recreate the magic of BP. However, none of them have the recipe for the special sauce.

This one started promisingly. KSJ was given a strong role and she literally came out fighting (hwaiting!). Our OTP ticked all the boxes but it is a weird chemistry. It is like watching a commercial for Chinese herbal medicine. You know the one where they have the voice-over to tell you that this concoction will reduce your inner heat? Well, the ML is that personified. It is very nice to have a boyfriend that truly gets you but it is something else if all you do is cry together or meditate to gain inner peace. What about unbridled lust?! OBTW, there is a bit of skinship but other than a couple of nice kisses, it is all rated PG.

The 2CP is cute and they try to shoulder some of the load. They do occasionally steal the scene but they need more heat as well. There are glimmers of hope but in the end, they are just mirages.

Once you put that in perspective, the rest of the show is just your typical backstabbing business shenanigans and standard village mischief. Bumbling village head meets loud and nosy ajummas. All done with workman like efficiency but nothing too angsty to disturb your karma.

The ending is sugar overload. Oprah Winfrey would be proud. My teeth are aching just thinking about it. And that, chingu, is the fundamental problem with this show. You are not sure if you have watched a drama or attended a wellness retreat.

I did enjoy the show but I probably won't remember it in weeks to come. That is a shame as the cast did their best and the plot is decent. Good enough to be above average but that's a mighty crowded place.

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Zhang Chu Xuan's talent wasted in this badly written drama

I am a fan of Zhang Chu Xuan after watching her in 'Captive Love from the Mob Boss' and 'After Flash Marriage, CEO Gu's Secret Identity Revealed'. I picked up this series because it appeared on my dashboard and watched it without reading synopsis. Oh boy, what a disappointment. I pushed myself to finish this vertical drama because of its short running time.

What I liked:
1) Jiang Nuan Nuan's smart move - It's good that she knows her worth in her family's company. I like that she negotiated her terms with her father when applying for a role there then asked ML for advice on legal agreement.

What I disliked:
1) Mu Ting Xiao characterisation - One of the worst ML in Cdrama. I know he has trust issues but I hate the way he treated FL Jiang Nuan Nuan by posing as his cousin. In the last conflict scene, he didn't help to untie the ropes binding Nuan Nuan's hands. Instead he confronted the villain - that's quite selfish.
2) Jiang Nuan Nuan characterisation - She's not a goody two shoes based on her rivalry with her sister but damn she's a doormat. She allowed ML to order her around.
3) The romance - There was too "push" in their relationship even when the series had reached 1 hour 45 minute mark (total running time is 2 hours 15 minute). I don't understand how they could fall in love with each other when they barely communicated. I couldn't sense any warmth or desire when they finally got together so their kissing scene felt awkward.
4) Acting - Quite bad and soulless especially Li Hao and the actress who played his father's current wife / girlfriend. Even Zhang Chu Xuan's acting was subpar.
5) Subtitling - I watched this on youtube and gosh the subtitling was bad. Nuan Nuan claimed that she killed somebody but there was no follow up on that so was the attacker killed or stabbed / injured only?

Favourite scene:
When Jiang Nuan Nuan asked for help from Mu Ting Xiao regarding legal agreement

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It was very challenging to rate and review Brewing Love. The tone and plot of the show varied wildly from one episode to another. There were episodes that I adored and gave five stars and others I could barely finish. What really worked in this drama was the main romance. Min-ju was a dream man. He was so gentle and caring but also very determined and flirtatious once he decided to pursue Yong-ju. He had several lines that made me burst into tears at how beautiful and compassionate they were. The episodes that revolved around the two of them really worked for me.

What didn’t work was the majority of the rest of the plot, as well as the pacing. The beer storyline would have been okay if it had been minor but it took up so much time and was not interesting to watch. A lot of the character development and backstory felt like it was missing, even for the leads. Some of the side plots had potential and then felt like they either fell flat or were completely brushed past, like with Min-ju’s traumatic past and mental health, or the relationship with his dad. The second couple started off okay, although it was hard for me to get on board because the actor just looks so young, but their storyline felt very disappointing at the end. The way they addressed his backstory felt very clumsy, and their relationship felt very rushed and inauthentic. I really like Yong-ju’s grandma and wished the show had gone more into their relationship.

Brewing Love was very odd because the first few episodes were incredibly boring but then there were some great episodes in the middle. It felt like the show had maybe had a rough start and then hit its stride, but then I also felt that it got very boring again at the end. The show felt all over the place. It was disappointing because there were some episodes that were fantastic. The male lead was such a green flag and it was interesting how they flipped a lot of gender stereotypes with their relationship. There was a lot to like in the show, it was just very inconsistent.

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ITS OK TO NOT BE OKAY!

Such a cutie drama! Ugh, the beginning & middle episodes were my favorite. LIVED for yoon minju & his delicate, acts of service, noting the small things & going after what he loves. UGHHH IT WAS SOO CUTE when he fell for yongju & didn’t hold back. I LOVE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT MEN!!!!! Why was he perfect?????????? And hot af????? Ughhh the way yongju felt safe with him and can cry with him. And how he made her a better person. And how he takes more care of her than she does to herself. he’s beautiful. everything i need in a man. AAAND my sejong!!! i love her always!! she seemed so genuine in this drama… i wonder if irl she is really like yongju. i’ll eat up any drama she’s in. CHARACTER BUILDING WAS THERE!!!! Love love love. Yongju being so tomboyish idk got kinda cringe at points. And the villagers annoyed me… BUT THE SIDE COUPLE!! Aw so cute i loveeeeeeeeeee how different they are but fell for each other!! wish they had more lovey scenes… i felt most of them were so bland but they HAD SM POTENTIALLLLL……… awesome tho! love the talk on emotions!!! YOONMINJU MY HUSBAND

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