This review may contain spoilers
what a way to ruin the whole message with the last 20 minutes
what a way to cheapen the whole show with that ending.This drama started out good, I believe everyone's favourite part must be their village life days, they built something together that felt grounded and very sincere.
I also want to mention Qi Min and Qian Qian, their dynamic was disturbing (but also their chemistryy! so good), but still interesting to watch because of how tragic and psychologically messy it was.
But i have to talk about the ending!
The “what-if” sequence completely undermined everything that came before. By removing her background, her struggles, and the circumstances that shaped her, it should turn her into a fundamentally different person. And yet, the drama still insists they would end up together anyway. It quite literally ruined the whole 40 episodes I just spent watching.
That’s the problem.
It changes the message from a very specific connection, built on who they were, how they met, and what they meant to each other in that moment of their lives to something much more generic: that they would have fallen in love regardless of any of it. ahh pisses me off.
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VOS did not disappoint
I have been here since the filming started and I have to say that it was an experience. It was the first time I have done so, and it was part of this journey for me.VOS is not the kind of drama to watch casually. It demands rapt attention and thinking that will probably occupy your mind until the drama ends. It is the kind of plot that unravels slowly as the story goes. One of the most frequent words I saw around when watching this was 'confusion'. Yes, the drama doesn't give you all the answers as fast as we have the problems. But here, it is important to trust the plot and watch carefully, we do get all the answers to the confusions in due time. In that sense itself, it was a very interesting part of this drama. For me personally, it has been sometime since I encountered a plot like this, something that unravels slowly and carefully without rushing to give us the answers.
Another thing that was frequently heard was 'plot twist after plot twist'. Yes, there's a lot of plot twists. On this regard, what we have to remember is that this is about painted skins. No one is who they think they are or who we think they are. They are all wearing a disguise knowingly or unknowingly and those masks and identities get revealed in time, making us put all our efforts to understand who is who and who is who's who. So, patience and thinking are needed to understand this story.
With all those multiple different identities around and therefore multiple roles to handle for one person, the actors' remarkable talent should also be appreciated. The whole of the cast had compelling roles to play and each of them did justice to their characters. The main cast specifically should be commented about regarding how they handled their multiple roles and managed to portray each of them distinctly. I would like to appreciate Tian Jia Rui specifically here for how he handled his many roles. Each of them had distinct personalities and distinguishable qualities so that none of the two characters felt the same despite it being the same person doing all those characters. Ju Jingyi was also a pleasure to watch. I think in this drama she had one of the most challenging characters to portray as Lu Wu Yi and she did the character full justice. I believe that this must have been a breakthrough performance for her. A lover's reluctance, vulnerability, love and courage were portrayed by her in the most heart touching ways. This being a dual couple drama, I loved both the couples, but I would admit that I was touched by Ji Ling and Lu Wu Yi's love story the most. Personally, it is rare to see this kind of romance that is genuinely moving and compelling.
More episodes would have been better but considering the pace and the plot we had here, 29 episodes was the best. It was the perfect number of episodes to address everything and end everything cleanly. It is honestly kind of amazing that a story this complex could be said in this number of episodes. In VOS, GJM had done full justice to the theme of painted skins, for more than half of the story none of the characters came off as trustworthy as each of them had a side that we didn't know about, identities of themselves that at times not even they themselves knew about.
The costumes and makeup were also well done, with each character dressed and portrayed accordingly. Moreover, the costumes also played a special part in the drama for the way one dresses, and its connotations itself became another aspect addressed in the story. One's dress is part of their identity, an exterior element that reflects oneself to the others. It reflects who they are, how capable they are and how complex their lives are. So, pay attention to that as well.
Music was also a great aspect in VOS. I personally loved all the songs in the drama including the character songs. They added so much to the drama, reflecting character emotions and elevating scenes.
Overall, this is one of the best dramas I have watched. It lived up to my expectations and did a great job overall. I appreciate all the cast and the staff for bringing this masterpiece to us and also to the lovely fellow viewers that made this journey all the more special for me.
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An excellent, excellent Drama!!!!
the perfectly cast Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Yae Ji, and Oh Jung Se literally became Moon Gang Tae, Ko Min Young, and Moon Sang Tae respectively. The brother relationship between MGT and MST is the best I’ve seen after watching 150 +/- K-dramas. The tender moments and the fight scenes were worth every minute. KSH and SYJ had excellent chemistry. What began as Eye Candy to KMY and repulsiveness to MGT bloomed - through craziness - into a lovely romance. KMY did not have disassociative personality disorder. She needed to know what it felt like to be cared for, and loved for who she really was inside. MGT needed the same as he was slowly burning out emotionally.I loved the way they all three became family. The three actors blended exceptionally well in every scene they were in together. it’s a toss up who dominated the screen between SYJ and OJS. they were equally great. It was KSH, though, who carried the whole drama from beginning to end so beautifully! His MGT character arc was critical to the arcs of KMY and MST and he nailed it. the breakdown scene in Episode 9 was a jaw dropper. I felt his emotions deep in my heart. all the supporting cast added depth and emotion to the entire drama.
The story itself was cleverly told; an unlikely romance told with the use of fairy tales in a mental health hospital - with great sensitivity in telling each person’s story.. The well earned ending for MGT, KMY, and MST was delightful and bittersweet at the same time. I didn’t want them to leave. I even teared up watching the last few minutes. the story did start to go over the top with the revelation of the villain which is why I rated the story itself a 9.
The art work and cinematography were excellent. the fields and colors were beautiful. the ocean view at the hospital was so peaceful. the cursed castle was creepy - as it was supposed to be. the OST was perfect. I’ve played it many times while working.
it’s rewatch value is a definite 10 - I’ve watched it probably 4 times already.
I loved this drama. it was probably my 10th K-drama.
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Solido
Carino, solido. Devo dire che ho comunque preferito il precedente, però non male. Devo dire che mi è piaciuto rivedere gli attori di Love Sick (perché per me saranno sempre gli attori di Love Sick) in ruoli da protagonisti, dove la loro storia non è quindi sub-alternea a momenti deprimenti delle altre coppie (perché questo erano i loro personaggi in Love SIck). Mi sono piaciuti e li ho trovati molto validi come coppia, quindi kudos for that. Onestamenete non ho granché da dire, ma ci tenevo a scrivere una piccola recensione anche per questi sopratutto perché appunto mi piace molto vedere gli attori di tanti anni fa (diaciamo che appunto dopo Love Sick i due attori non aveva fatto granché) che finalmente hanno il loro break role. Spero che vengano mantenuti come coppia e di poterli rivedere sui grandi schermi.Was this review helpful to you?
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Watchable, but with problematic CP and plot
LBTG was still watchable despite the plot holes and some unrealistic elements of the characters/story.Most of the actors filled their roles well. The story stayed focused on main characters, not too much on side stories. The costumes and CG looked awesome!!! 👏 🎉🎊
My very pleasant surprise was Dilraba making me like HeSimu a lot! I read a bit of the novel and didn’t like it much, so her performance exceeded all my expectations. 👍 👻 Thank you so much for the hard work! It truly showed, and as a fan, I’m proud of you! 👏 🎉🎊 Also, Hesimu looking breathtaking here was a BIG plus 🥳🤩
I was also taken by surprise by Hesimu/ Yanke dynamics. Such tension and twisted passion! This was the first time I saw WJM acting, so I was excited to see how well it had worked out! I also liked Hesimu and Chen Ying dynamics. They were so cute. Haha 😊
For the main couple, I tried to give it a chance for about 10+ episodes, but it just didn’t work for me. The unbalanced relationship was hard to pull off, but a solid acting from ml could have saved it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case here. When I watched, I didn’t see DX’s thoughts, I saw the actor thinking of what to say next, when to tilt his head, when to smirk, etc. His postures seemed forced and awkward. Except ep. 8 where he had some cool moments, his overall acting was very jarring. It interrupted the flow of the scenes. At times, it even felt like they were not in the same TV series. 😵💫🎬
Another reason I felt that the romance didn’t work as well as it could be was how the writers seemed to be conflicting with their ideas. Hesimu yearned for tastes of life, but most of the time, she was just very lonely. She liked humans, but never suggested to become one. It was a little difficult to believe that their romance was THE great romance of her life by the way they portrayed her (cold, pragmatic, decisive). If he were her first love (or within the first 5 or so), then maybe. But 23rd??? This factor from the novel actually made it hard to believe that her love was deep enough to give up her inmortality for anyone. In the series, though he was her only curse bearer, they made it so that she stopped asking for the exchange, or she dropped him the moment she needed to run an errand. She surely loved him, but then the writers would reduce that feeling by making her leave him easily again. They tried to show her love by having her kill a human for DX, but it felt unconvincing because it was unnecessary at that particular moment. It seemed like it happen just to move the plot in certain direction. The writing confused me as an audience whether how romantic/unromantic this story was supposed to be. 😅
In the end, a huge relief for me was that they chose to end with Hesimu live on, still retaining her spirit powers. Without her powers, she would lose identity as a character. The alternate ending with a goddess showing up at the end seemed like a cheap way out of the problem.
I would still recommend this series to people who aren’t bothered by this pairing. If the actors were your favorites, then this would be a must to watch 🎬✌️
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10/10
Okay, this is easily one of the best C-dramas of the year so far—I absolutely love it!Everything from the special effects and the cast to the direction and the OST... absolutely everything is beautiful. It’s a literal work of art and has definitely made it into my top favorite dramas of all time.
It keeps you entertained at all times and you never get bored. I didn't feel the need to skip or fast-forward through any scenes because they felt dull; it’s worth every single minute.
Even though the story was a bit hard to follow (at least for me), I loved it. I cried and felt every single emotion possible.
If someone asks me for a Chinese drama recommendation, I’m definitely recommending Veil of Shadows.
Wu Shiguang and Wangyan—I love them so much, and their song is stunning! ♡
P.S. This drama has one of the best OSTs I’ve ever heard; I even created a playlist so I can listen to it all the time.
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1When I started this, I had, once again, no idea what would await me -- I like choosing things based on the title and the poster. After the first episode, I still had no idea, except that there seemed to be ghosts? But was it comedy? Tragedy? Supernatural mystery?
As it turned out, it was all of them. And the ghosts were ... something very special. I don't want to spoil anything, but the ghosts are (with one exception) not the classic spirits of the deceased.
The horror element in this series is minimal, there is some gore in the first episode -- but later there is no such thing anymore.
In the presentation and the way the serious themes were mixed up with the comedy -- and how the important bits of character development were at times almost hidden by the comedy, it reminded me of the Thai way of telling stories about the human condition. And in its core, this story is very much about the human heart; about the desire to belong, the love people have for family (parents-child-relationships specifically play a large role here), the hole that remains when a loved one is gone.
The screenplay develops this theme slowly, but with intent. I didn't feel that there was a misstep or that it lacked anything. Grief was bundled into laughter and that softened the hard parts of the story -- more than once, I found myself crying gently and laughing softly at the same time.
We mainly follow Pu Yiyong's journey, who must find out how to handle his new powers, and at the same time, struggles with grief and guilt, since he believes that it's his fault that his family was involved in the accident. He forms a trio with two other characters: a young police women with an abrasive personality and his one-time victim of school bullying, a young man who now studies medicine. I loved the dynamics of the group, who all have some growing-up to do (and in that, the series also includes a coming-of-age element). And I love most that there is not even a hint of romance between them! (And it's obvious that the writer is aware of how unusual that is; they included comments from other characters who seem to think that there is something going on either between Pu Yiyong and the young woman or between him and the yong student -- and all three react with confusion each time.)
Was it good?
Yes, the screenplay was solid, the balance between comedy and serious was good, and the actors and editors did a great job.
Did I like it?
A lot! I love stories like this that mix supernatural mystery, comedy and underpin issues of the human heart.
Would I recommend it?
I would, yes.
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Good Actually
Hot take: This is way more enjoyable than Prisoner of Beauty…. ( You can shoot me now)A Dream within a Dream is satire. Its entire existence is to serve one purpose. That is to criticize the drama industry and the slop we sometimes receive. It wants to spur writing that respects the characters that scripts create and the audience that watches them. It also revels in the very same tropes it seeks to critique….
Morally grey ML's with tragic backstories?
check.
FL whose IQ fluctuates wildly over the course of the show?
check.
Sudden plot twists that only exist to fill time?
check, check, check.
It does all that and even more, unabashedly… And I still had fun watching it. It just does a great job of keeping you engaged. Either you're invested or you're laughing your butt off.
You can tell they put a lot of money into this john… Soo many fancy sets I've never seen before and the costumes were pretty good, out of place…. but good.
I think this drama being satire REALLY does a lot to help you dismiss most of the flaws.
The characters are lovable and have a great amount of growth for most of them. The cast did an amazing job bringing them to life. ( I was talking mad shi about Liu Yuning…. but he ain't bad at all, hoping I can watch a costume drama of his where he doesn't purposefully hurt a woman someday… I can only watch him choke a woman soooo many times….)
Humor is the greatest highlight, this show is really freaking funny.
I think the music was a tad overbearing… but it wasn't the worst.
Chemistry between the couple could have been better, but it wasn't bad, they were cute af, I just wasn't feeling any passion in most couple scenes.
Loved the details you pay attention to, ultimately do pay off and satisfy your expectations.
There were also genuine moments of deep insight into a character's mind and issues… that was nice.
I can't bully something that was never serious… It's fun and it never really takes itself seriously and it doesn't expect you to either. I'm definitely gonna rewatch someday.
PS. Liu Yuning is now on the same level as Cheng Yi is the beautiful suffering club. Bro spends the entire show getting blasted and he takes it like a champ. Hilarious
7.5 - 8 /10 no drama
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I can’t believe it’s over
I loved the whole drama. I can’t even put it into words about how I feel about this drama truly.I just can’t believe that I finished this. Not because it was long, nor because I didn’t like it either. It’s because I waited from the beginning. From the day the first trailer dropped and the months I had to wait for the drama to finally come out with the first episode. I didn’t want to believe that the drama I waited so long for has ended. I’m literally in shambles thinking about what to watch now that this is over.
From the ost to the visuals, everything was so beautifully put together. Every episode made me cry, and every episode had its own twist. Everything came down to a wonderful conclusion.
Finally, I’m so glad I watched this when it aired. I’m so happy to finish this, and that I thank the actors and actresses and the production crew for making a beautiful drama. For filling my boring days with happiness, I thank you for the last time.
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A Hidden Gem That Will Play With Your Emotions
The Blossoming Love is a hidden gem of xianxia, and I genuinely don't understand why it's not being talked about more. Maybe it's because it uses all the familiar xianxia tropes and doesn't really bring anything original to the table. But honestly? If you just want something with high-stakes romance, great visuals, and a fitting soundtrack that will destroy you emotionally — this is a great drama to pick up.The acting across the board is solid. The leads, the supporting cast, and even the child actors all bring it. The little girl playing A'Bao especially deserves a shoutout — she was wonderful. No cringe moments at all, which, let's be real, is a common thing in a lot of fantasy dramas.
Now, considering this drama is only a couple of years old, the CGI could have been a little better. I will say, though, I'm not entirely sure if this was partly an issue on my end, because I tried watching the drama across a couple of different apps due to problems with Viki in the first half. That said, it genuinely felt like the color grading and CGI were noticeably weaker at the beginning and got progressively better toward the end. All the scenes set in the Dark Domain are very, very pretty. But the earlier episodes in Snow City somehow look duller in comparison — both in color grading and effects. It almost feels like the post-production was uneven in places. I don't know how else to explain it. The good news is that the scenes that need to land an emotional and proverbial fantasy punch (everything in the divine realm was so pretty) are done really well, and that's what matters most.
The music score for this drama is genuinely one of the best I've heard. The actual songs and the background score alike — they set the mood perfectly and play a very important part in the story.
Let’s get into the characters now.
While the drama starts out quite romance-heavy and focuses mostly on Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling, you'll start to notice that Nan Xuyue gets more and more screen time as the story goes on. At first, it's honestly kind of irritating, and if you're impatient like me, you might be tempted to skip his scenes. Don't. It all makes a lot more sense toward the end after the revelations start dropping. This is as much a love story as it is the story of three people who have the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Nan Xuyue is actually a really interesting and multifaceted character. He's constantly switching between being good and being bad, toeing the line in shades of grey. Xie Xuechen, on the other hand, is comparatively plain and a little boring at first because he's just *too* good for most of the drama — until he does a total switch in Episode 29. Vin Zhan absolutely slayed as the Demon Lord there. That was a full adrenaline-rush, giggling-like-a-maniac moment for me — the kind you get when the good guy turns into the bad guy. Some of the best character reveals and introductions in the history of xianxia, I said what I said. The scene was impressively done.
Honestly, Vin Zhan as the Demon Lord has real aura. I genuinely wish the script had given us fewer episodes leading up to that moment and a more episodes with him *being* the Demon Lord. As the Demon Lord, he had some really interesting interactions with Mu Xuanling, but I wanted more. I think that could have been great dynamic contrast in the dynamic at the beginning he had with her when he was good and she was bad. I understand why we weren't given more than we got, but it could have been such a compelling subplot to explore further.
Overall, the lead couple had a believable romance, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Their emotional moments were great and impactful, and Sun Zhen Ni was fantastic in the role of Mu Xuanling.
Now here's where I get on my soapbox. There's this thing that happens in some costume dramas where the romance starts heavy on skinship in the first half — kissing, making out, all the good stuff — and then after a certain pivotal moment, we get absolutely nothing for the rest of the show. This was a flaw in The Blossoming Love. Mu Xuanling literally throws herself at the man multiple times and he doesn’t stop her. We get a lot of sweet, intimate moments between the leads in the first twenty episodes. And then it's a drought until the very last episode. Zhao Ming and A Zhu don't even get an on-screen kiss despite being the one couple in this drama that actually gets married. Make it make sense.
As someone who also writes romance, here's my take: if you're going to include skinship in a romantic storyline, it needs to build. Starting hot and then dousing the viewers with cold water for the rest of the show is counterproductive. You either build up to the romantic moments gradually, or you don't include skinship at all. Pick a lane.
There were some additional couples in the show that I mostly enjoyed, especially the secondary couple. They were cute and had an interesting past love story. That said, we really did not need as much screen time for some of the other supporting pairings. Some of those scenes were way too draggy. Luckily, this drama doesn't have too many drawn-out moments overall, but the ones that drag tend to be overly emotional scenes wear characters need to say everything they never had a chance to say because they’re dying or at least one of them is dying. If you're like me and have no patience, feel free to skip through them — you won't miss much.
There were a few poorly directed moments that stuck out to me. For example, in Episode 15, during the battle between Xie Xuechen and Sang Qi, Mu Xuanling is just… standing there. Doing nothing. I don't know if that's how it plays out in the source material, but the scene could have been directed so much better. She sticks out like a sore thumb. At the very least, the director could have told her to react — scream, look distressed, do something — because it just looked really odd.
While there are quite a lot of supporting characters, unlike in some recent dramas I've watched, most of them actually bring something to the table. Some of them seem unimportant at first because they're not doing anything particularly special early on, but we do see why they're there by the end. Patience pays off with this one.
Like with many xianxias, The Blossoming Love suffers from the rushed ending with no explanation of how things end up being the way they are. But at the very least we get a happy ending. However, I still have way too many questions because when our characters return into whatever timeline they’re supposed to return, we have no clue what happened to all the other supporting characters who were in the middle of the apocalyptic attack while our three leads were trying to reset the timeline.
Final Verdict
If you aren't looking for anything groundbreaking and it's been a while since you've watched a xianxia and you just want something emotional with good acting— this is a good one to check out.
In a nutshell, The Blossoming Love is one of those rare xianxias that, despite a faulty script and imperfect CGI, doesn’t miss the pivotal moments when it comes to emotional impact. It capitalizes on every single one of them. Some dramas I've watched recently have a tendency to skim over important reveals by just feeding the information to viewers without any kind of wow factor. The Blossoming Love doesn't miss those opportunities. It does a genuinely great job of planting information early and then making you experience all that emotional distress later when you're finally putting two and two together. I think that’s the reason why I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Plus, the Demon Lord arrival scene in Episode 29 lives in my head rent free.
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Female Lead Gets Lost In The Noise
My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.I wasn’t expecting this drama to be good. I was just excited for all the cameos.
Acting/Cast: The cameos are awesome. I was really missing Seo Kang Jun (서강준) once he left the drama. I didn’t really have an issue with the male lead (played by Seo In Guk/서인국 ) – who is a hit or miss actor for me. However, the female lead (played by Ji Soo/지수) disappointed me. I don’t know if it’s an acting issue or a directing issue, but she just looked confused the entire drama. I had a hard time connecting with her character because of her lack of emotional range. I’ve seen Snowdrop and Ji Soo does great in that drama (which has an extremely intense story), so I’m not sure what went wrong here. I enjoyed the rest of the characters and their casting. None of the characters felt like an extra, as if they're just there to push the story along for the leads. They all felt like unique and realistic people, which was refreshing and added a certain charm to the drama. 6.5/10
Writing: I liked the direction of the first half of the drama. With each episode, I was enjoying the story more and more. I think it was a good idea to show the events strictly from the female lead’s perspective. That way, when the male lead suddenly changes, we’re just as shocked as she is – it helps us to connect with her and how she’s feeling. However, this is the only time we are really able to do that. Her character seems so inconsistent, confused, and almost like a side character for most of the drama. I do like the healing aspect of the drama though. I think that concept was shown well through the writing – such as how the VR boyfriend experience is a way for her to come to terms with the loss of her previous relationship. There’s a part towards the end of the drama where that trauma is brought clearly into focus and I found it very relatable. I feel as though the writers really understood what someone goes through mentally and emotionally after experiencing something like that. Unfortunately, the second half of the drama is a bit all over the place. The VR plot point isn’t even really that important anymore. It splits time between multiple side character storylines that aren’t too important either. I was wondering if the drama would get into more of the psychological and ethical aspects of the VR dating. It seemed like it would because the VR AIs act like drug dealers trying to get people addicted by exploiting their loneliness so they’ll keep giving the company money. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t get too much into it aside from briefly mentioning it. So in the beginning, the VR company comes across as being creepy and manipulative (which was actually pretty entertaining as it could have gotten pretty dark and psychological), but the writers seemed to change course on this concept by the end of the drama and instead made everything all rainbows and butterflies. 3.5/10
Direction/SFX/Music: The pacing is interesting. I felt like the story was only finally set up halfway through the drama (5 episodes in), but then it changes course and I had no idea where the story was going. There’s some dragging during the second half. Then, we hit the typical Noble Idiocy segment with just 2 episodes left and it easily solves itself and wraps up very quickly. Excluding the direction, I don’t really have any more complaints in this category. 4/10
Entertainment Value: Despite my issues with the drama, it kept my attention all the way to the end. The female lead is frustrating at times. Also, the Noble Idiocy point immediately annoyed me as it always seems like a forced conflict. Fortunately, it plays out a bit differently and doesn’t last very long. I think the ending is too idealistic – too feel-good – so that caused a disconnect for me. I feel as though the plot is lacking substance, especially in regards to VR dating and its potential problems. 4.5/10
Overall, I gave this drama a 4.5/10 (4 or higher is ‘enjoyable enough for a watch’ on my scale). I like the healing element of the drama. It is relatable and insightful. However, the female lead doesn’t feel like a very strong character – she seems to kind of just blend into the background. Seo Kang Jun is easily the highlight of the drama.
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I will always be by your side
There is only one way to express my review of 《Veil of Shadows》 (《月鳞绮纪》): The Chinese Dungeons & Dragons.I love it. It's not perfect but it was a superb and memorable epic high fantasy love story.
「No matter how the universe changes, I will always be by your side.」
Love truly transcends space-time.
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You're My Cup Of Tee!
I don't really write reviews here, but this drama really made me wanna write one!Let me start off by saying that I don't even watch Thai BLs. I only started watching DWY a few days ago, and this is literally my first time watching a thai bl. So, my thoughts are as unbiased as it gets.
Long story short :
A few days ago I randomly decided to watch a thai bl drama, and now my whole brain chemistry has been altered. The couple now have me on a chokehold, and this drama has become one of my most favorite dramas ever (BL or non BLs alike)!!
Long story long :
I've been seeing the poster of this drama on the homepage of the website I usually watch my dramas at. After ep10 came out and I saw it pop up on my feed again, I got curious about it and decided to look it up. Once I did, I was very surprised at how high the ratings were. It made me wonder if this drama really is something deserving of such high ratings, or if this is just some overrated drama rated by crazy fanatics. (no offense😭)
So I decided to give it a shot and see what the hype is all about. FYI, until that moment I knew NOTHING about this drama, or any other thai bls whatsoever. The only thing I knew was the name. I knew nothing about the actors, never saw any clips or anything. I was entering with a very blank slate.
I started watching with pretty low expectations. In fact, I didn't even think I would like this, because this wasn't really my cup of tea. As I was watching the first episode, I kept thinking how this is reallyyyy not my cup of tea. Duang's overly cute acting, the sound effects, etc was pretty much borderline cringe to me. But I wanted to watch at least 1-2 episodes before I decide whether or not I wanna continue or drop it.
I tried to tune out the cringe factors tried my best to focus on the drama. Once I was able to get over the initial cringing, I was sucked into duangqin's universe pretty fast. Next thing I know, I had already finished binging all 10 episodes!
And then I was losing my mind for ep11, which was still 3-4 days away. The wait was KILLLING MEEE!! Over the few days I kept replaying my favorite scenes, trying to keep myself sane. I swear I have not been this desperate for a drama episode in YEARS!! I don't even remember the last time a drama made me feel THIS desperate (and I've been watching them for almost a decade now).
So, that should tell you how much of a hold this drama had on me😭
Now let me talk about the drama itself. The story is honestly nothing exceptional. Just a regular campus romance, golden retriver vs cold guy. But what makes it exceptional is the execution.
What made it really work for me was the chemistry. They have one of the best chemistries I've ever seen, BL or hetero couples alike!! I could feel the love they have for each other from just how they look at each other. Every hug, every kiss, made me blush and giggle like a middle school girl😭 seriously, kudos to TeeTee and Por for giving us such insane chemistry!
Duang is the puppiest of all puppies. Qin is the tsundere-est of all tsunderes. Together they're one of the healthiest couples I've ever seen. No unnecessary drama or misunderstandings, no toxicity, just love and fluff all over.
The characters, especially Duang, is so lovable. He is literally one of the greenest flags I've ever seen. The way he relentlessly keeps trying to win Qin's heart without ever breaking any boundaries is so endering. Even after they start dating, he never does anything until he is permitted. Why is he so precious? 🥹
While Qin not agreeing to date until much later may seem frustrating at first, we can see why he took his time. He is still a baby who's been starving for some love since he was young. He is scared of getting his heart broken once again. But once he finally did open his heart to Duang, we could see just how equally adorable he is and how much he loves Duang too.
The acting, especially TeeTee's, is honestly so impressive. It couldn't have been easy for him to act like this overly excited puppy 90% of the times. But he pulled it off so well. And the way he can pull off serious scenes equally well. His versatility really amazes me! On the other hand, Por does an amazing job at acting like a tsundere. I d1e every time he acts shy ;_;
Now, the music. Every single song is so beautiful, and they really make the drama even better. I didn't even know that they sang some of the OSTs themselves!! I only found out that they're idols after watching the 11th episode asgsghshd. This just made me love them even more🥹
Ok seems like my "review" (more like my essay on how I fell in love with DWY and TeeTeePor) is already 5 million miles long. Let me wrap this up.
In case it wasn't obvious already, I have fallen head over heels in love with Duang With You!! No other drama has made me feel this good in a really long time. I don't usually rewatch dramas, but this really has become my comfort drama and I will probably be rewatching this every now and then.
Ok I will stop now, for real. If you've read this far into my long ass review, thank you so much🥹
PS. I initially gave this a 9.0, but then I decided to make it 9.5 instead!
I should say that I have kind of a high standard. Out of the 350+ dramas I've watched so far, I've only given 10/10 to 3 dramas, and 9.5/10 to 7 of them. That should say just how much I loved Duang With You!
PPS. Please don't attack me for anything I just said 😭 this is just me sharing my thoughts, and you don't have to agree with everything I said.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Love Surpasses and Overcomes All; "I Will Always Be By Your Side".
This was my most anticipated drama for this year, and I had no idea if they were going to drop it and when and it completely delivered. This is a drama that I never expected or anticipated to give a perfect score to but absolutely everything came together. All of the actors gave 150% and the storyline was solid as were the sub plots and always kept you guessing. There were so many twists and turns you never knew the outcome until the very end. Though GJM is allergic to happy endings, he finally gave us one or should I say two because there were two couples.I have been in the comment section for this drama since they started filming last year or the year before last because I believe they started in late November early December. It was a very lively comment section with a lot of solo fans, multi fans like myself, drama fans, and people just wanting to talk and it definitely delivered. We loved watching the fan sites show us how the actors were acting the BTS and everything else. And now we got to see this amazing work of art with fantastic acting, cinematography was incredible. It had you laughing, it had you crying, it had you feeling with the characters were feeling and being along with them for each and every journey. I follow about four people but from the main cast it's TJR for me and he absolutely nailed his what we originally thought were going to be three or possibly four characters ended up being six and he conveyed every single one of them completely differently. I don't even know how that's possible in one series to do six completely different characters and nail each and every one of them. It's like he had six split personalities or something. Can't forget our characters with the two flowers on their forehead that helped out so much; the demon hunters three of which sacrificed, but then came back at the end. I know I'm probably going to forget so many other people that meant so much to our main five. And if I do, please remind me in the comments.
The only real negative was the fact that even though WSG was ultimately the 10th dragon and the real one and granted it took him to a while to get there, and JL was the fake dragon deity, he had lived as one, the longest and cultivated the power of the demons the longest, and it was him that did the last reversal of time that led for the amnesia and what not. But it was his ability to kill JY before she got her hands on the newly born LWY that allowed WSG to destroy LWY possessed body and last fragment of the demon. Because even though WSG was the dragon, he was fairly new at it and hadn't had the same amount of power and experience as JL did.
I am very glad we had a happy ending and my take on how that went was that JL created another entrance/rift with LWY's help and at first I thought they just went into a different timeline but watching it again, I think they returned to the same timeline just as mortals in some little village far away from the people or should I say one person that still remembered them. But the reason I think they return to the same timeline is because LJ seemed to be pulled toward JL like a voice was calling to him, and if he was in a separate timeline that wouldn't have happened, and he felt compelled to travel the world and find out who he was for real and so I think he will probably travel the world and maybe he will find JL and some sort of memory will spark, or they will just become friends who knows? Only WSG & JL retained their memories everyone else forgot everything. They all had new memories and one person even had a different personality altogether should I say the weasel guy I'm not even sure whether he was a weasel still or something else. But I'm glad that the four major demons and moon dude helped JL open the portal back to be able to destroy JY and save LWY and his makeup and hair with those demons powers was just amazing.
I think everyone's fights and sacrifices with their lives even though they came back at the end were amazing. The chemistry of both couples was phenomenal. I loved it in the illusion in the desert, which ironically was the very first scene they shot, but it ended up like toward the middle of the show. In the illusion, the chemistry between WSG and WWY was really awesome even though they were playing his adoptive parents. But hey, they did the deed in that one. Our other couple did the deed toward the end, but I was actually very proud of TJR since it was his first on screen kiss and more or less intimate scene so congratulations for getting that out of the way lol. I don't even remember when they shot JL and LWY's final scene because I don't remember watching it. What I do find amazing was that the very first arc in that house they spent so much time filming and it was literally the shortest arc other than maybe the tree demon guy; Han Ba.
I can praise the series to the moon and back it had so many over lying arcs and other things and special messages but the most important message and it's something that GJM had conveyed from the very beginning when he did an interview was that this particular series was about love and the type of love that you don't let go of. It’s not a passing phase type of thing; this was a love that you would walk-through time rifts and time travel a zillion times just to protect. You would go to the ends of the Earth and back for. But also there were friendships like JL and LJ that were just so strong or WSG and weasel dude or the sisterhood of WWY and LWY; or the two leaf demon hunters or JL and BZ. There were so many of those I can't even put them into this review because as you guys all know, my reviews are short now. But this show just literally had everything that you want to have in a good story. The story was amazing.
Every single character was necessary and needed for however long they were in the show for and even though you did get an introduction of zillion characters at once the ones that were the most important stayed and you got to know them. You got the back stories of all the leads and even some of the support plus a few of the guests so you really had a very layered experience. I think that's the best way to describe this; an experience for the soul, a feast for the eyes because the costumes, the sets, the cinematography, the CGI; it was all so amazing. The OST's and that tribal BGM I absolutely adore. I want that thing somewhere or maybe I can use it as a ringtone because it was so awesome and even if you heard it several times in one episode it fit every single time. Nothing was ever like out of place or made you scratch your head and go why. I must say that in the last episode when the four Great Demons plus moon dude came back to help JL open the rift. I really love that that was like so awesome and made you cheer like a cheerleader because these guys even though they were now gone, it was just their spirits they were there to help the man that they spent a century protecting or teaching or at least one of them did but all the others knew who he was. There were a zillion moments like that where people came together to help bring down some sort of evil, especially once the team had formed up and they knew who was who and what was really happening and who the big bad villain was. I think one of the funniest comments came out of CHS who played Han Ba, who after a particular night of filming as fans crowded around him, and he made his way back to his RV, shook his head and said "I am not a good person" in regards to his character, which was just so funny. They had so many moments like that and even on the set in between takes, they were just a bunch of goofballs even the ones that were introverts were pulled into the extroverted circle. Considering how heavy this drama is, having those funny moments on set with their fellow costars I think really got them out of that serious state. And who could forget that flipping inferno (the wind whipping the flames literally went at least 20 feet into the air and the fans that were standing on the mountain evacuated as well) that was so dangerous but thankfully nobody got hurt only two huts burned down and we all watched it on full as it was being filmed, but thankfully fire trucks and emergency personnel came quickly and all cast and crew were evacuated to safety. It was determined that wind blowing embers from the bonfire caused the inferno.
Would I recommend it? 150%! I always go as most of you know into shows without any expectations whatsoever even if they are my most anticipated and/or I follow actors or whatever the situation may be and like I said I follow at least four people here and all I can say is that this show has to be seen by people, especially who loved the fantasy genre because it is truly an experience. Think of it as you're going on an adventure, like your personal self not just you're watching a show and this is the experience. I think I can gush for hours about the show, but I'm just gonna leave it here. Please watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
Where Fate Was Cruel but Love Refused to Yield
To start with, what can I even say about Veil of Shadows? I’m honestly at a loss for words. When it ended, I just sat there feeling… empty, like something inside me had quietly disappeared. Watching each episode the moment it dropped became my little ritual—refreshing the page, waiting, counting down. And now that it’s over, it feels like I’ve lost a part of my routine, a part of myself.Still, what a journey it’s been. A brutal, emotional rollercoaster—and I loved every second of it.
This drama is heartbreakingly painful, yet undeniably brilliant. The plot twists had me questioning everything almost every episode, but somehow, GJM managed to tie everything together in a way that actually made sense. I don’t know how he did it—but I respect him for it, even after all the emotional damage he put me through.
When it comes to the characters, let me start with WWY. She’s the very definition of compassion and sincerity. I mean, what do you mean she’s a nine-tailed fox tasked with bloody missions, yet she still cries for every life she has to take? That contrast made her so human. I loved her decision to sever her tail—not just to preserve her memories with WSG, but because she refused to keep staining her hands with innocent blood. And her bond with LWY? That hit hard. Even after learning that their memories—and even her initial feelings—were fabricated, she still chose love, still chose to stand by LWY. She didn’t blame her. Instead, she comforted her. That kind of emotional maturity is rare.
As for WSG, I know some people see him as weaker compared to JL, but honestly, that makes sense. JL has had over a century to grow into his role, while WSG is still finding his footing. What I love about WSG is his thoughtfulness—he doesn’t rush into his mission blindly. He questions, he searches, especially during the Star Stone Illusion Arc. His understanding of JL’s burden and his quiet respect for him really stood out. And his unwavering trust? Even when everyone doubted JL, WSG didn’t. That says everything about his character. His relationships—whether it’s with You Chi or even Lie Jie—are handled with such humility and emotional intelligence.
Now, WuWu. Their love story may not be loud or overwhelming, but it’s deeply grounded. It wasn’t love at first sight—it grew slowly, naturally, from enemies to partners to something more. Their dynamic feels stable, mature, almost like they’ve lived countless lives together already. And their scenes in the illusion arc? So soft, so domestic—it was a quiet kind of happiness that lingered.
But my heart truly belongs to JL and LWY.
JL’s story broke me. He was never meant for any of this. He was just a carefree fox, picking raspberries, living peacefully—until fate forced him into a role that was never his. Becoming a “Dragon Deity,” carrying a century-long plan, preparing for his own death… all while living in isolation, hiding who he really is. What hurts the most is his loneliness. He had every right to resent YWH, yet he chose sacrifice instead. That says everything about his character.
He’s someone torn between duty and love—but instead of choosing one, he chose both, even if it meant losing his life. He couldn’t abandon LWY, but he also couldn’t abandon the world. So he chose the only path left—self-sacrifice.
What makes his relationship with LWY even more heartbreaking is this—he knew she was sent to make him fall in love with her, to trap him between his duty and his heart… and he still chose to love her anyway. Fully, knowingly, without hesitation. That choice alone says everything about who he is.
And LWY… where do I even begin? she's the definition of tragic in a human form.
She is, without a doubt, one of the most tragic characters I’ve ever seen. At first, she might come across as empty or manipulative—but once her story unfolds, everything changes. Imagine discovering that your entire existence is fabricated—that your body, your memories, even your identity were pieced together for someone else’s purpose. That kind of truth would destroy anyone.
But LWY didn’t break—she endured. Her emotions, her love, her choices—they were real, even if everything else wasn’t. And her resilience? Unmatched. Turning back time 49 times, failing every single time, and still choosing to try again… that’s not just strength—that’s something beyond human. Every rewind took something from her, yet she kept going, driven by love.
Her love for JL is overwhelming in the best—and most painful—way. Even when her body was falling apart, she still chose to go back, to understand him, to save him. And in the end, even when she lost him, she didn’t lose herself. She refused to let JY take over, even if it meant her own death. She chose the world. She chose what JL died to protect.
Now, JiLu… I don’t even have the right words for them.
Their love is pure, tragic, and inevitable. At first, it feels sudden—but when the truth is revealed, everything falls into place. They were always connected. Always meant to find each other. And that makes everything hurt even more.
They never hesitated to sacrifice themselves for each other. LWY rewound time over and over again for JL. JL gave up his life for LWY. They both wanted to live together—but fate refused to allow it. And yet, despite everything, they still found a way. JL chose to remember her, even when the world forgot. He chose a new universe—one where she could exist freely, where she could be happy. That choice alone defines their love. Not just tragic, but enduring. Even against the rules of existence itself.
The plot itself is another strength. It keeps you guessing constantly—nothing is predictable, and every reveal shifts your perspective. What starts as confusing and chaotic eventually becomes something incredibly well-structured. Everything connects. Nothing is wasted. And the theme of love—love in all its forms—is beautifully explored: brotherhood, sisterhood, loyalty, romance, and even love for the world itself.
And somehow, despite all the suffering, we still got a happy ending—one that actually makes sense. It’s not perfect, it’s not conventional, but it feels earned. Like a quiet reward after all the pain.
The acting? Absolutely top-tier. JJY completely became LWY. The way she conveyed pain, hope, desperation—it was all in her eyes. You could feel everything she was feeling. And TJR? His emotional scenes were insane. The way he cried—it didn’t feel acted, it felt real. And the contrast between his different personas? So distinct it felt like watching two different people.
And the OSTs? On another level entirely. With artists like Zhou Shen, Sa DingDing, Mao Buyi, Ren Suxi, and Liu Yuning, you already know the quality is unmatched. Every song felt perfectly placed, enhancing each scene and making it unforgettable. I’m still replaying the entire album—and I’m still waiting for that duet release.
I could go on forever, but I’ll stop here. If you’re still hesitant about watching Veil of Shadows, just give it 10 episodes. That’s all it takes. And if 10 is not the highest rating, I’d give this drama 1000. Every episode kept me hooked, every relationship made me feel something, and most importantly—everything mattered. Nothing was left unfinished.
This wasn’t just a drama. It was an experience.
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