Reviews

Low-budget production that affects my viewing enjoyment - watch for the male leads

10/15/2021

As one of the first mainstream BL adaptations, I am sure it has paved the way for future BL hits (e.g. The Untamed and Word of Honor). I have not read the novel, so my review is based solely on the drama itself. Unfortunately, I do not share the same positive experience as most reviewers here. I failed to see why it has garnered so many positive reviews. Is it because it's a BL adaptation? The low production value of this drama greatly affected my enjoyment. I've watched other low-budget dramas in the past, but for some reason, this one bothered me the most and did not keep my focus throughout the drama.

What I like:
1) Main Lead's acting/chemistry: Without a doubt, the best part of this drama are Johnny Bai and Zhu Yi Long. This is my first Johnny Bai drama and my second of Zhu Yi Long (I've seen him in "The Story of Ming Lan"). Their acting is great and I would have dropped this drama long time ago if not for them. I believe in the deep affection when they look at each other. I love how their characters' personalities complement each other as well. It is definitely a love story, and not a bromance. I will be looking out for more of their dramas in the future.

2) Opening/Ending Theme songs: It says a lot about a drama when the only other positive thing I can write about are the opening and ending theme songs. It's interesting to have an English song in the opening. But the melody sets the mood and the tone for the drama. I also enjoy the ending theme, and also the behind-the-scene footage as well. I wish more dramas would do the same, instead of giving us spoilers.

What I don't like:
1) Low Production - Unfortunately, all of my complaints stem from the low-budget production value. As I've said before, I've watched other dramas that are low budget, but this one really bugs me.
* Sound/Voice dubbing - I watched this drama both on YouTube and on Viki, so I am sure it's not because of the platform, but the drama itself. The volume of the dialog fluctuates in each episode. The worst is that when the actors are speaking, you can hear the change from one voice to a dubbed voice. This happens ALL THE TIME for all the characters. Sometimes, the sound effects are louder than the dialogs.
*CGI/Sets - The special effects are quite bad in this drama. This is a 2018, so it's not like it's made in 2015. The set designs all look very fake to my eyes. The only acceptable sets are the leads apartments. Every other place gives a very "cheap" look. Maybe it's the director's fault in not knowing how to take better shots?

2) Acting - Aside from Johnny Bai and Zhu Yi Long, the rest of the supporting cast's acting is just OK. I am referring to the Investigation team. The other extras and other cast members for the shorter storylines, their acting is not good at all. Some are wooden and bland, others overact and exaggerate. It was really not enjoyable at all.

3) Plot/Stories - I feel that the plot lines of the shorter crime stories were too simple and not sophisticated enough. They are so easily solved and not creating enough mysteries to tie back to the bigger plot. As much as I love the leads to have this star-crossed romance, I don't think having just one deep conversation 10,000 years justifies the deep love that Shen Wei has for Zhao Yun Lan. I want more of their stories 10,000 years ago and there aren't enough scenes of them together. The minor love triangle plot is somewhat weak as well. The drama tells us how much Zhu Hong loves Zhao Yun Lan, but it's not showing us throughout the drama. I enjoy the dream scene when she finally confessed, but I want to see more of this unrequited love before this, so that that dream scene has a bigger impact. There are also a few head-scratching plot holes but they are minor in this case.

Overall, watch this drama for our two male leads. They are indeed great and they have great costumes (one thing I couldn't fault because of the low budget).

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Romeo vs Juliet with a twist

Okay so this drama did kind of catch me by surprise, because I most definitely was not expecting this sort of story.

The story is interesting, in the sense the opening of Korn & Intouch devasting ending, rather than beginning, The series starts with the tragic double suicide of Korn/In, certainly not the lighthearted schoolboys-fall-in-love stuff that is so common in BL (though the characters are students). The double suicide is the result of parental objections to their relationship because of their sexual orientation, a rather serious consequence compared to popular BL series that treat the topic of objecting parents less seriously. the reincarnation or reborn of both the characters years later, but with a heartbreaking twist of how the recall the past lives. I will say that Pharm role and the way he carried his out role was really amazing, you literally felt his emotions and sadness when he recalled a piece of intouch memory. The 4 main characters were really well played and the story flowed through well, you could see the build up of Korn/Intouch through Pharm/Dean and how each of them experienced they love for each in there own, the difficulties and challenges that they faced.

In spite of major fantastical element (reincarnation), the biggest plus for this drama is that it depicts a healthy, positive, loving, realistic gay relationship, nothing is sensationalized or fetishized, there are no toxic tendencies, . On the other hand, homophobia and, especially, suicide are treated seriously and respectfully . Their consequences are serious, horrifying and lasting, the entire families devastated.

Music - This single handily will win over the audience. The lyrics are deep, personal and resonates with the pain of the past and the hope for the future.

Overall : This drama was well thought out and excuted well, there were small hitches, but not enough to take you away from the story and what was transpiring.

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fun and with lesson

One of my favorite lakorns from kimberly
Full of lessons in life... The ups and dpwns of life in reality.
Jealousy, Envy, Evil thoughts, Hunger for power and wealth,
Blinded by love and sacrifice.
Overall story tackled the reality of life

James the ML is quite cute trying to hide his feelings with FL kim
I watched it few times got downloaded the complete episodes
Will definitely recommend this lakorn

Iam hoping and wishing that they will have another drama together.
I think they have a chemistry together.
Quite cute when they argue ...but ramet is quite obvious when he gets jealous hahahahaha

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Science, Drama, Business, Moral Ambiguity, and Friendship in One Drama

I’ve started this drama because of the actor, Kiriyama Renn, who has two consecutive romcom dramas I’ve enjoyed. But this time, Shiroi Dakuryu is a dramatic business series with a more serious tone. This is my first time encountering the lead actor, Ito Atsushi, who is charismatic all throughout the series. He delivered the emotions of the struggling researcher so well, he is definitely the star of this show.

Kazuki is an sincere and a humble researcher who is working with his close friend, Kashiwagi, who is also his rival both as a researcher and in romance with their journalist friend, Kawahara Tomoko. This series explored the dark side of big companies and how could they possibly exploit their intelligent researcher by taking all the credit and profit of their hard work. I believe anomalies like this could happen in real life, and it’s a good depiction of what’s happening in our society.

As the title implies, Kazuki soon got swept by his seemingly pure intention to change the dirty business system. This reveals Kazuki’s dynamic character and kept my interest towards his journey. His decisions are not always the best and it made my head hurt tbh haha. But I could tell that he retained his sincerity and that’s why his friends and family never gave up on him. This is what I’ve loved in this drama - the trust between these group of friends. It inspires me to always consider my loved ones, not just my own aspirations, because they are not there to criticize me but to help me correct my direction.

I also love the OST of this drama, it sets the mysterious vibe and it’s also kinda melancholic but exciting at the same time. I personally like the OST played at the opening title, which kinda mimics the sound of the stream, and the sad vocalization OST. I need to listen to it again because it’s good, I’ve rated it 10 xD

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Defining HARD WORK & NEVER GIVING UP once again by a 90s story

STORY
I appreciate how the tag Friendship was expressed here through Xiao Chuang and Pei Qing hua… I enjoyed watching all their conversations and seeing their bond develop throughout the show.

The beginning of each episode will keep reminding you that you're watching a 90s story, all the retro vibes, the trains, the small TVs, using telephone, letters… I love how enjoyable first half of this drama was.

What this drama taught me from the very beginning is about hard work. If you are motivated enough and consistently focused for your goal. You can definitely achieve it. No matter what the circumstances and troubles you face, be tough and go past it.
Something worth mentioning here is the script writing cause the dialogues were really well written. I appreciate every sentence they said as it was needed for the situation and accurately said.


This is the kind of show that will probably get mixed reviews by different viewers. Some may find it little boring whenever Business matter is involved. For those who found this too bland or long. They could just skip through some scenes or there's usually an option for 1.5x or 2x speed ;)


CHARACTERS / ACTING / CASTING –
Wu Lei(Xiao Chuang) — he just stole the show. His way to portray this character was the charm. The scenes when he was still in 'Foshan' were crazy. Every Xiao Chuang moment felt real. No one else could have done this role better.

Neo Hou(Pei Qing Hua) — Not bad. He was playing a nerd or simple obedient man kind of character once again. Some of the emotional scenes were done well by him. No offense, but I cannot convince myself to say that he was irreplaceable here. Maybe someone else could do this role better too…

Mao Xiao Hui(Xie Hang) — She did very well till the end especially all those crying scenes. It's my first time watching her on screen but she's really a good actress. Impressed me already.

Julia Xiang(Tan Yuan) — I think I saw her last in Forever Love. Her acting has improved. Her expressions are much better now & She's still so young (19). This girl has a long way to go…

…Other actors who gathered my attention by their good acting… •Leewei (Lydia) — She has a strong aura and that tall height and gaze makes it even more real.
•Fang Wen Qiang (Man Huan Sheng)
•Molly Wang (Ms Shu) — I am not sure if it was her character demand or what but like she kept chewing something in every scene and her mouth kept moving. I cannot ignore that at all lol.


[ OST time ]
♪ Howling Wind — Neo Hou
♪ Without Holding back — Yu Jia Yun
♪ Merry Go Round — Meng Jie
♪ A Light — Wang Yue Xin
♪ The Burning Era — Yuan Ye ♡♡

I think they were trying to provide that 90s feeling with the music too. So, the music behind songs was like some classical instrument. I don't have much knowledge about music but I liked hearing ♪the Burning Era♪ by Yuan Ye. It sounded youthful.

✿ My favorite character — Tan Yuan ✿

REWATCH VALUE — Not gonna rewatch it ever haha…

CONCLUSION
The kind of drama for 90s and business theme lovers. Business Genre is visible and could be draggy/boring for some people (not for me though).Could be considered a romance drama too. Pretty long but an engaging watch… More of a Youth and Life drama…
And Yes! There's a Season 2 as the drama itself states "That's it for this season". So, there's more to the story…

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Jasper could not save this one ;)

I actually like both actors Jasper Liu and Zhou Yu Tong, so I was quite disappointed with this one. The pace of it overall was just slow, and it was neither here nor there.

I didn’t like Jasper playing this sort of character- shy, introverted, uncertain. It just didn’t suit him. Similarly with Yu Tong- she was messy, irresponsible and just clueless. Other reviewers said they had no chemistry, and I agree. The second couple had some potential to peak my interest, but again the pace was just too slow even for just 24 episodes!

I did like Wu Cheng Xu who played Zheng Ming Hao- love rival. He looked good with his hair tied up. He was also the love rival in Unforgettable Love, and I liked the scenes where both males would have a “stand-off” ;)

I managed to reach episode 17 only because I skipped a lot :P Sorry but I wouldn’t recommend this.

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Had lot of expectations from this project.

Watched all episodes . Not 5 episodes I really wouldn't watch it I don't know what they were thinking when writing it nor their was chemistry between couples . Just kissing passionately doesn't count Chemistry and mostly has open ending or sad.. like what is point of it? Santa acting was actually good .
I was like when will this episode get over till I reached epiaode 6 . EPISODE 6 & 7 made me wish they had long episodes so we can see more of both couples?
If I re-watch I will go with project no 6 & 7.
VS LOVE : had good story also I love tandem between siblings more than love drama since it was added last minute. Acting wise I really wish peak and boom train more for roles they pretty much feel same from time I watched MIR pretty much same expression . They are good looking together but I don't feel chemistry at all. More like two friends doing bromance is what I always feel with them.
50%PUPPY LOVE : is actually enjoyable even though they don't go in details which is understood since it's only limited episode. But reminds me of my highschool life how when it feels to be different than others almost invisible but still have close friends. That first crush and doing silly things like peaking in classrooms , trying to get close to them , first time for everything feels you are not sure what to do and those awkward confessions it was on point . I loved beam friends . they were so funny doing silly things and beam being oddball in it . I LOVED how much importance they gave to FRIENDSHIP. How even after they fought they knew how much they miss and love each other.

As always PERTH acting is top notch he definitely shined his way in acting shy , introvert boy who is not brave enough to confess very different from characters he has played till now surprisingly I am impressed with FAIRY she acted actually well for new actress. PERTH and FAIRY was damn good you could feel tension between them . There was no SKINSHIP In entire episode yes no SKINSHIP yet you feel all fluff and cuteness and chemistry between them. LOVED mix and tor acting too these TWO were perfect side characters.

I will not be surprised if ppl don't watch it since it's straight love instead of bl since most of fans of studiowabisabi are bl fans and most perth being popular bl actor too . But I gave it chance since perth is expressive actor and he doesn't disappoint .GIVE IT CHANCE GUYS YOU WONT REGRET IT.

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A short and packed to-the-point BL story you rarely find

Short doesn't mean bad. I'm a bit surprised that it's not too fast-paced like the other short BL drama. I like that this drama is also to the point and so focused only on 1 couple which is the main couple, they only added scenes that were important to show the main couple's feeling development. As for the story...hmm I'm not really a fan, it's just so-so, not that interesting, nothing new, and not complex at all. For the acting, I think they're not that bad, but Kim Yoo Hwan (Eungyu) is surely a great actor and def in a different league compared to the other casts. I love their OSTs, the lyrics suits the drama. Because this was short and to the point, I will rewatch it again to refresh my mind.

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Short but better then some full length BL

So I am being brutally honest I didn't have much of interest, because I was like another love triangle. And they don't have time so they are going to rush, but when I watched the first episode omg like our main leads chemistry Haewon and Eun Kyu was so strong and even JiSoo and HaeWon chemistry was so good, and even though it's love at first sight. But it didn't look unrealistic. Like they are able to serves a better story then Bite Me. Like it's thousand times better then Bite Me. Like they are able to show a love Triangle and give it a proper ending then Bite Me who have 12 episode but still can't able to show a good confession. Like let's talk about the acting they were so good in terms of chemistry to dialogue delivering everything is better,
Music Oh La La Oh La La welcome to my Florida, like one of my all time favourite Osts
Re-watch I am gonna re-watch this right now
It's deserves your time and efforts

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If you are looking for a light historical drama with a ton of comedy, this is for you!

I say this only through my opinions, I see that there are a lot of mixed reviews out there on this drama, but here I am giving my opinion on this drama and why I rated it high.

Story - 9.0/10 :
I recommend this drama, to the drama watchers who are looking for a light but historical drama. As for me, I was feeling like watching one and I noticed this drama started airing. I don't regret watching this drama as I actually thought this drama was fun to watch. Now let's talk about the plot. In the first 18 episodes, I do agree the plot is really missing a lot and it's definitely can't be considered as the best out there, but for a light drama, it's not the worst though, and maybe you could enjoy this drama as I did. As for the majority of the drama, comedy takes a big role through the drama, as for nearly every episode there would be time's where I couldn't stop laughing watching this drama. Near the end is where the majority of the story comes together and I've got to say the ending is very exciting. This drama throughout a lot of scenes that you wouldn't expect to happen and I was blown away by how well this drama did it. After every episode, I just couldn't wait to start the next. I'm very satisfied with the ending as I was happy to see that what they planned to do for Bianjing and the Imperial College was worth it. I expected that the whole drama would have no meaning at all and would just be fluffy the whole 30 episodes, but it didn't do that, in fact, the fluffiness stops not long after she graduates which gave a little sense of reality (I guess) as it made you feel like when you graduate, that is when you enter the real world and could face problems. This is why I rate the story a 9.5/10 since I didn't expect this drama to do this to me as a light drama, I think it did well.

Acting/Cast - 10/10 :
Zhao Lusi and Xu Kaicheng look like they were made for this role, the chemistry between the leads exceeded my expectation.
I've seen a lot of netizens commenting how Zhao Lusi's acting was quite annoying, but honestly, it didn't impact the way I watched it. I thought that Zhao Lusi's acting was quite cute overall and suited this drama and my expectations well. Although, (Zhao Lusi wears Korean makeup and her eyelashes and hair colour have annoyed many netizens since there are times where she looks like she is in a contemporary drama when she wears her own hair out it's been dyed brown which may affect the look of a historical drama) if you ignore this factor, then Zhao Lusi has done well in this drama. Zhao Lusi made Sang Qi feel lively and who was a smart girl.
This drama is my first Xu Kaicheng drama and I'd say his acting was well done in this drama. His acting skills were just what was needed for this drama. Xu Kaicheng is quite handsome and he's very tall and has more of a built body, which suited the role of the Deputy Chief of the Imperial College. I was really satisfied by the way he acted out his character throughout the story. The way he always acted around as Yan Yun Zhi to trick Zhou Wen Yuan, I got a tear out of my eyes at one point, and I'd say if he's able to make me cry, he is definitely a good actor.
Now about Ren Hao, to be honest, I hated his character (Zhou Wen Yuan) so much, Zhou Wen Yuan annoyed me all the time especially when he got very possessive over Sang Qi. If I'm at the point where I hate him, I guess he must be a good actor right? I'd say his visuals are handsome for a second male lead, also for a rebel. His eyes really told you his emotions and his feelings throughout the plot and I was impressed with the way he expressed the emotions through his eyes.
The supporting cast was pretty well done, if I have to say who would be my favourite supporting character I would have to say Yan Yan as he brought laughter from the times in the Imperial College right through to the end. In every character, it was wonderful to see how they act the characters when they grow older and go into the adult world.

Music - 10/10 :
I really like Liu Yuning's songs and I was happy to know that he sang a song for this drama. Zhao Lusi's song was also a nice one too I've got to say her singing skills have slightly improved. I was surprised to know that Zhang Yue (actor of Song Jia Yin) sung the opening song, her voice is really nice as well. All the songs suited the emotions the drama needed and I really like the whole OST of the drama.

Rewatch Value - 10/10 :
For me, it's hard to get over dramas that I feel just finished too fast, I could probably watch this another time but really depends on your opinion on rewatching dramas.

Overall - 10/10:
This drama has exceeded my expectations of thinking it was only going to be fluffy, I was very happy to see that this drama wasn't just full of fluff but there were a lot of tricks being played near the end which fulfilled just what I needed in a drama. To make this opinion I probably wouldn't have said this if I wrote this after watching the first 10 episodes. I think it's a good idea for you to watch the full drama to make an opinion on this drama because a lot changes after episode 18. So please do watch this drama and expect to see fluffy drama in the first 18 or so episodes but the story does not stop there when things change it gets very interesting and it is very intriguing to watch to the end. :)

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im speechless with this masterpiece, rarely I find a webdrama as good as this !!!!

VERY GOOD
this is really a fun sitcom, i like everything in this drama. starting from the very lively character. the storyline is heartwarming, until the cinematography is unquestionable. incredible camera movement, dramatic lenses and deep color grading. I'm sure your eyes will spark.
the actor? I think their acting really lives up to its comedic expression.

Why Do i Like It? The first is because I'm looking for a comedy that's both ridiculous and entertaining. and here I found it. but even though it's ridiculous, the silliness is connected to every story that is told. actually the first time I was just having fun trying this drama. Well it turns out episode after episode brought me to what I expected. that's why I really fit this drama.
The second is its cinematography. Honestly, if it's a web drama, don't have high expectations with the cinematography. because basically they only show newbie class of cinematography. but NO for this drama, from the start I realized from the way of color grading, it really brings us to the dramatic word. The more I got there the most incredible was at the cinematography. sometime I feel like I'm watching the MV. that's why I won't miss saying that I liked the cinematography so much

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If you want the real ending, search "legend of the dragon pearl - deleted ending" on You Tube

Great series and acting by all participants. It's subbed to ep 42 on YouTube. If you search "legend of the dragon pearl - deleted ending" on YouTube, you'll find the video clip of the real ending. There was supposed to be a season 2; however, the leads stopped dating, the second season was scrapped and the original ending leading in to season 2 was cut, leading to a different ending.

The comments under the scrapped clip clearly state what actually occurred at the end of the season:

The FL and the SML are attacked on their way home and the SML is killed. The FL fakes her death to the emperor but will show herself to the emperor at some point, revealing to him that she is alive as she suspects him of having a link with the death of the SML. FL then leaves with her family. FL married the Crown prince posthumously in a wedding
gown bowing at a grave. Yi Huan says (written words) she'll come back in 3 years to take the Emperor's life and his kingdom.

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A happy smile and A MUST SEE

I wasnt sure about watching this after Tharntype, but i gave it a go and they became one of my favorite couples. They are so cute together and i love how leo loves fiat good or bad and how they work thru problems together just sometime miscommunication/misunderstanding do happen in life. Leo has such a strong mature personality for his age and how he's communicates with the adults to solve the problem. This drama has touched on so many difficult topics & situations and it show that with friends and family they can conquer anything, i really love how they portrayed the parents of leo/fiat/leon being so open minded for boys and see there's true love regardless of gender.??. I'm glad fiat remember his lost memories and was able to make amends to all. I do wish leon and p'pob had more air time to develop their relationship and a maybe a reunion of them with a short spin-off including leo/fiat getting married would be fun. Just saying.
If your not sure.. You'll miss out on a great show
Update: just finished ep 10 and the scene for next week i take back the communicate ?

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the power couple that overcame all odds by working together

Exceptional is the best way to describe this drama. VERY well done. The character and portrayal of the male & female lead roles deserve a standing ovation -- and is what made this my all-time favorite drama yet.

So there's a lot of frustrating suspense. The odds are stacked against these characters just -- unrelentingly it seems. The frustrating reality of a concubine is illustrated in countless forms, and it is not an easy pill to swallow. Family rules and honor are constantly challenging the storyline.

But the devoted, loyal moral character of the leading man and the intelligent, good nature of the leading lady shine through as they each face these frustrating and relentless realities, but rise to each and every occasion with wisdom and grace. They never really let anything beat them down, and that spirit really is what pulls you in wanting to know and see where it will take them.

This was truly entertaining from start to finish (although stressful because of the countless conspiracies, misunderstandings, and injustices that occur throughout -- but every moment has a purpose and does get resolved genuinely well and cleverly at some point, so you leave pretty satisfied).

The costumes, sets, and cinematography are all so artistic; rich with beauty and color. There is a thoughtfulness that comes with almost every detail it seems. Just lovely.

The production value is there visually, but more especially with the acting. I adored both the acting from Seven Tan and Wallace Chung. Seven Tan brings such a unique and cheerful quality to all her characters, but I especially enjoyed the clever genius that she brought forward in this character. She truly embodied an individual who faces her unfair plight and all the difficult predicaments that come her way (most especially as a woman and even more so as the daughter of a concubine) with tenacity and discernment--devising cleverly to turn the tables where and however she can to persist. More than that she perfectly expresses her quiet resolve to live how she herself determines; while also encouraging and leading other women (even those who seek to destroy her in their own twisted desperation to survive) to weather their storms with more wisdom, elegance, and perseverance. Wallace Chung also depicted the complexity of a family head carrying the full brunt and weight of responsibility for his family's well-being and lineage, particularly in the wake of his father's/older brothers' deaths. While also simultaneously expressing the strong-but-silent turmoil when there is no real trusted person in his life or by his side, who genuinely understands or appreciates his loyal and upright character -- or who cares -- as he's only there to be exploited for his status or what he can offer in the way of a sure and esteemed bloodline. You see these two dynamic actors and characters, who in their own ways are not free to be their own person, come together, and toil to understand and find that authenticity and safety within each other. It's truly riveting and real.

My only complaint about that is that it's a slow and ongoing burn with the two leads (though that said, I personally prefer legitimate character development to hot-and-heavy relationships with no substance or build). The romance is very realistic and down-to-earth, and that's what I liked most about it. What women faced was beyond atrocious, and this struggle is played out in its full complexity, but in a way that leaves the main leads better in their unified resistance [though that in and of itself is a journey] to the strict regimes and life-or-death consequences which beset their circumstances.

Though it's a longer series to get through -- and it may occupy all your time for a few days or weeks -- the payoff is there. As is always good to know with a longer investment towards a series.!I personally hate when I get through a long show that leaves me on the edge of my seat, in the beginning, only to feel anticlimactic or underwhelmed in the end. Not so here. You won't be unresolved or frustrated with this ending in any major way. I could have even enjoyed another dozen episodes, I was that drawn into the characters and their story.

With the main leads, you really feel like they've both earned their relationship and it's incredibly fulfilling in my opinion. The character of the leads really does make it shine, and it's very *thoughtfully* written. I'd say this is #1 in terms of dramas for me overall (I've gone through many).

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