Reviews

Do yourself a favour and watch this!

Watch this if you want to laugh the entire time! Maybe you'll cry a little bit too, haha.
The only reason I'm not giving this a 10/10 is because of how stupid the way they made Yuna act at a certain point was, but that's it, that was literally the only flaw. Everyone is an amazing actor and all the characters were great as well. I'd rewatch this millions of times if I could! The story is THAT good, and so is the song.
Donggu was everything, and Joonki was awesome too. I love how there are so many lines from this drama that stay with you!
Bonus points for being perfect in length at 20 episodes and duration at 1H.

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Script ✔️ Acting ✔️ Producing ?

While I like the two leads individually and they have good chemistry together, the script was just no. There were also so many post/pre-production errors that were noticeable and took away from the actual enjoyment of the show. There were at least 2 if not 3 Wardrobes inconsistencies within scenes and just her stomach sizing was inconsistent throughout the show. A pregnancy progresses (meaning gets larger in nature) not has a tiny bump depending on which outfit the actress was wearing. If the actresses looks were such an issue perhaps it would have been a better idea to skip the whole twins storyline. I have never heard of a woman with a flat belly pregnant with twins at 5 months. It's not medically possible, I mean you can deliver and save the babies at that point.... Moving on-ish: what woman hell-bent on keeping her babies goes drinking and dancing in a club? Again, at about 5 months pregnancy with TWINS?! I'm convinced that no one in the writing, editing, or production team has ever been pregnant, known someone pregnant, or read a basic book on pregnancy. The random fainting due to blood sugar? No. She's pregnant. Rant over. The FL and MLs friends were both great. I wish there was a way to find out the actors information. Overall, I have seen this storyline almost a dozen times and while not my favorite (entirely due to writing/production and this version of the characters) they did a great job.

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Great Cast & Stunning Action, But Extremely Boring Story

I started watching this drama purely because of Yang Yang and Zhang Ruonan. I’m a big fan of both, so I had quite high expectations. To be honest, I was very disappointed. Star power alone cannot compensate for the weaknesses in the storytelling.

The three main actors all performed well and their chemistry together is excellent. Zhang Ruonan looks absolutely stunning in this role and has incredible charisma. The fight scenes are spectacular — truly top-tier — and the visuals are beautiful overall. But that’s pretty much it.The pacing is very slow and drags a lot, to the point of being boring. Especially in the middle of the series, where it frequently takes long detours to tell the backstories of supporting characters. This makes the main plot progress extremely slowly. The backgrounds and motivations of many characters are not clearly explained or developed deeply enough. Then the ending feels rushed, with everything being resolved too quickly in one go. It comes across as incomplete and lacking impact.

Overall, while the action sequences are excellent, the story itself is genuinely boring and poorly executed. It failed to keep me engaged despite the strong cast and beautiful visuals.

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Trust me on this: only watch the parts that include Song Jaerim

To be honest, I never thought this drama would be so bad. I can't write a review without spoilers, but if you ask me, you won't regret reading this before watching.
There was zero chemistry between Yiyoung and Dohun, it never even felt like they were a couple, and honestly it would've been a lot better if they had been just friends, because what were the writers thinking making Dohun date someone he thought had dated and maybe killed his brother?! Seriously, who even wrote this?! There were so many things that didn't make sense, it seemed like someone wrote the script in five minutes without thinking about they were doing.
Shiwon's performance was terrible, she had literally one facial expression and everything sounded and looked fake - she was actually the right person to play Yiyoung's cousin, because Sejeong's acting is almost the exact same, except Sejeong's is even worse; let's say I'd give Shiwon's acting 2 stars, and Sejeong's 1 star, because, yes, they're that terrible, and it's honestly ironic how the story included a character that was going to get into a University to study music without being talented, while these two actresses were in this drama. This was insulting to all the great actors who had to work with them. I'm rating the acting a 4/10 because I had to rate it and didn't know what to choose, since I didn't want to be unfair to the good actors who were in this (several of whom I already knew and admired), but at the same time I didn't want to choose too high of a rating because the bad actresses don't deserve to benefit from it.
If the story had been properly written, I would've liked to see Jaerim and Seunghee as the main characters / couple - Seunghee is a great actress and I was sad we rarely got to see her in this drama, but then again, the way this was written, it wouldn't have made a big difference.
Everything was predictable, boring because it felt like nothing was happening almost 100% of the time, and the drama was full of cringey clichés, such as Yiyoung tripping and falling into Dohun's arms a million times - even once would've been a cliché, let alone several times.
Song Jaerim carried this drama on his back, the only parts I'd rewatch and recommend watching to first time watchers are the ones that include his character - do that and you'll be able to put up with this without rolling your eyes.
On another note, all the songs were absolutely amazing - definitely one of the best, if not the best, drama OSTs I've heard, so I highly recommend listening to it, especially '눈부신 날' by Song Jieun!

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What a show!

Damn! One of the greatest dramas I've binge watch in a long time, I mean for the 6 episodes, it’s definitely easy to finish the show in one sitting. I genuinely love this kind of K dramas the action, the gore, the mystery thriller in someway although it was kind of predictable at some parts it definitely brought the dark comedy that I have been wanting to watch. Everyon’s acting was so good and I cannot wait for the second season to come. I hope the story lives up to its novelty because it wasn’t brought up from an original source it was really thought of by the screenwriter and everyone involved.

I have a feeling that maybe yeonsu thought of this plan and imprinted it in her own mind seemingly brain hijacking herself.

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Heart-wrenching emotional depth

Spoilers below!


He Xiangyong has a lot of emotional depth that I relate to, especially regarding his father. They have misunderstandings with each other in large part because Xiangyong looks down on himself and puts too much weight on other people's opinions, thinking they were putting pressure on him that he couldn't overcome nor amount to. I actually enjoyed how Xiangyong and his father indirectly worked out their issues as the son took on a new identity and was forced to face his inner turmoil. I was most interested in their relationship mending. I genuinely felt sadness when everyone completely forgot who Xiangyong was, 100% just thinking of how he was losing his family.

The epilogue scenes made me feel nostalgic and emotional.... easily my favorite parts of each episode. I think I would've cared more about Haowei's part if they added a little more depth to his story, like his family and work life, as we really only see his connection to Xiangyong. But honestly I only really started feeling that way toward the beginning of the end. I still wanted them to have a happy ending.

Like everyone else, I thought the second couple was very sweet. I enjoyed their storyline and that they began a relationship even without the wish because of Wanzhe's efforts.

The only part of the show I genuinely felt any sort of actual dissatisfaction was the last 30 mins of episode 12. They DEFINITELY needed to have the father and son have a reunion as soon as that Xiangyong regained his identity. Like wtf? So many times throughout the show it was "when I see my son again" and we don't see the moment they reconnect? They understood each other INDIRECTLY throughout the show because his father was speaking to Xiaoyou, not Xiangyong. By the time there was 10 minutes left in the show I was thinking "ARE WE SERIOUSLY NOT ADDRESSING THE FATHER?" I liked the scene that we got, but they could've had that PLUS a reunion after Xiangyong was able to see Haowei.

I definitely think the show went a little awry with the supernatural occurrences. If I were Xiangyong in episodes 11-12 I definitely would be having a bigger existential crisis about human life LMAO. I'm also ignoring Haowei drowning for that rock.... like girl wtf was that. Xixi's role was somehow the least strange among the supernatural elements. Her sudden appearance was a bit off-putting and confusing, but we get the gist of her character as the show went on. Soooo I'm mostly ignoring the supernatural aspects of the show because it was a little much without real explanation but it didn't impact my opinion too heavily.

I enjoyed like 90% of my watch and am glad I gave it a chance. Some people seemed to have a hard time getting into it, but I never felt bored. I was most intrigued by the epilogue scenes from when Xiangyong and Haowei were classmates and Xiangyong's introspection throughout the show. After the ending of the epilogue parts, I cared most about how the father and son would reach an understanding (which is why I'm SO disappointed they didn't have a reunion).

Overall, the moments of Xiangyong's desperation were heart-wrenching and kept me watching more than the romance, which was definitely intriguing for the first half of the show but by the second half I cared more about the father! Like why was that shit making me tear up fr. I can definitely see myself rewatching parts of this show for inspiration, definitely got my emotions flowing!

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BESTEST THAI SERIES

I really really want people to watch this series, just because it has a bromance tag people purposely avoiding this series, pls don't hesitate just give a shot just one ep I can guarantee that you will hooked on the series.The story was moving fast yet steady,not boring at all each ep will give u an surprise am in LOVE WITH THIS SERIES, BESTEST THAI SERIES EVER MADE, This is a kind of series you can't just watch and move on, it has so many details and Deep meanings. One flaw i found in this series that it kinda rushed they could have added 2 more eps so we can explore more about other characters. Over all such a thrilling series to watch

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Love to Hate You? More Like Love to Love it

I needed a break from the usual cliché rom-coms, and Love to Hate You was exactly what I was looking for. It’s fresh, upbeat, and genuinely hilarious. I enjoyed every minute of it.

The story felt so different from the usual K-drama formula that I was hooked almost immediately. And the female lead? An absolute bold queen. I wasn't her biggest fan at first, but she quickly grew up on me. I have a serious weakness for badass female leads, and she delivered. Although I wish they had kept her backstory simple as “that’s how she is” rather than making up a story that felt half baked.

The male lead took a little longer to win me over. At first, I was wondering what all the fuss was about. Then around Episode 4, something shifted and suddenly he was adorable. The character development snuck up on me, and before I knew it, I was fully invested. The love-hate dynamic between the leads was pure entertainment. Their bickering, their chemistry, their mutual inability to trust the opposite gender it all made for a relationship that felt surprisingly well-matched. They were a disaster together, but the kind of disaster you can't stop watching.

Now let's discuss the real issue here: Woo Joon. Sir, you had no business being that attractive. Every time he appeared on screen, I forgot who the Male lead was. The style, the attitude, the long hair, the effortless cool factor. I was down bad.

This is the perfect enemies to lovers rom-com for those days when life is annoying and you need something guaranteed to put you in a better mood. So many recent rom-coms have felt stale or forgettable, but this one actually brought something fresh to the table.

Did I have an absurd amount of fun watching it? Absolutely. Sometimes that's all a rom-com needs to do.

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Park Shin Hye finally unleashed her inner menace—and I loved it.

This drama turned out to be a lot funnier than I expected, mostly because it leans into its own absurdity with such confidence. The premise alone is already unhinged: Bit Na, a demon judge from hell, sent to kill ten murderers in a year as punishment, only to discover that Korea is apparently experiencing a murderer shortage. Her “how hard can it be?” optimism followed immediately by a dry spell is the kind of comedic timing that shouldn’t work, yet somehow does. It’s chaos, but it’s intentional chaos, and the show knows exactly what tone it’s playing with.

A huge part of why it works is Park Shin Hye. I’ve watched plenty of her dramas and usually sit in that respectful-but-lukewarm zone, but this role finally lets her be unhinged in the best way. She’s sharp, sassy, and fully committed to Bit Na’s brand of supernatural menace. It’s the first time I’ve seen her drop the polite veneer and just play, and it proves why she’s one of the most bankable actresses in Korea. She carries the comedy with a kind of chaotic bravado that makes even the morally questionable moments feel entertaining rather than jarring.

And the moral gray zone is where the show gets unexpectedly interesting. When Bit Na realizes she can’t find murderers, she pivots to identifying people with murderous intent, releasing them, and waiting for them to commit the crime so she can claim them. It’s clever narratively, but ethically? She’s absolutely abetting murder. I spent half the show laughing and the other half wondering if anyone—demon or not—should be deciding who deserves to die. That tension sits under the humor like a quiet alarm, giving the comedy a sharper bite.

By the time the drama wrapped up, the ending was predictable even with the twist, but honestly, it was as realistic as a demon‑judge story can get. What did make me laugh was how everyone just collectively… let go of the unsolved murders Bit Na indirectly contributed to. She definitely nudged the body count upward, but because she’s the protagonist, we all shrug and move on. It’s the same logic people use for Batman: technically, he leaves a trail of broken bodies and questionable decisions, but we forgive him because he’s “our” vigilante. Bit Na gets that same narrative immunity—ethically messy, narratively convenient, and somehow still charming enough that I didn’t mind.

As a whole, it’s fun, chaotic, morally slippery, and anchored by a lead who finally gets to unleash her full range. A wild ride, but a satisfying one.

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I liked the themes in this drama: love, family and learning from mistakes

I write a weekly column about two dramas adapted from the same source. I was recommended this drama by a friend. I enjoyed this a lot!

What I liked:
1. Romance - Sweet and mature. I liked that they worked on their marriage. There was partnership even though they married for convenience. Both had conversations after moments of insecuity. I ❤️ the proposal & wedding scenes.
2. Acting - Deng Ling Shu really shone in this role. She lightened up the mood in the beginning of the drama. Xiao Wen Yu did well and their chemistry was good. There was a sense of comfort between them.
3. FL characterisation - It was great that she didn't wallow in self-pity for long. I liked that she embraced her role as ML's wife. She also pursued her career.
4. ML characterisation - He was green flag. I liked that he didn't want FL to pity him ot feel guilty about the fire
incident. He didn't have backing from his father so he worked very hard to stand on his own feet.
5. Family - This is a core theme in this drama. ML's father was distant while his mother had depression. Fl's parents were warm and protective. I loved her mum's sharing when the couple first visited her parents after marriage.
6. Supporting characters - I really liked her parents. FL's bestie and ML's assistant / college friend were wonderful too. It's also nice to see ML's mother.
7. Learning from mistake - I liked that both ML's father and brother learned from their mistakes of mistreating their girlfriends and came to the girlfriends to make amends.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - FL's ex was scumbag for meeting his ex a day before his wedding to FL. I also disliked ML's father but both men redeemed themselves.

Favourite scene
When ML helped his father-in-law in the kitchen

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Rivals to/and lovers

Hilarious and hot, but the story eventually became repetitive.

I had been excited about this BL ever since it was announced that Kaito and Yusuke would be playing the main couple. As expected, neither of them disappointed. They also constantly promoted the series through their social media accounts, fully embracing the boyfriend agenda, and it definitely worked in generating the hype for the show.

The childish competitive dynamic between the two leads may seem silly for salary men, but it served as a solid foundation for the story. As their rivalry gradually turned into attraction and intimacy, the series became even more engaging. Their chemistry was intense, and some of the love scenes genuinely caught me off guard.

The backstory segments effectively captured both the contrasts and the similarities between the characters’ nostalgic pasts and their present lives. I especially appreciated how well the younger actors resembled their adult counterparts, particularly young Ryo. The romance felt like a slow burn, with Ryo repeatedly struggling to confess his feelings to Zen. The Osaka episode was especially adorable and marked the beginning of them starting to be honest with each other.

Unfortunately, even after they officially became boyfriends, their relationship often felt stagnant. They continued to struggle with expressing their true feelings and thoughts, which affected my overall enjoyment of the series. The constant lack of communication became a repetitive obstacle that dragged the plot down and made the later episodes less exciting.

Thankfully, I enjoyed the introduction of the new character, whom many viewers nicknamed “the bowl cut guy.” He was incredibly handsome, and I came across a comment saying that the hairstyle was intentionally chosen so he wouldn’t visually overlap with the main characters, which I found hilarious. Regardless, his arrival added more tension and excitement to the story by challenging the main couple’s relationship.

I really enjoyed this show, especially during the first half. However, the last few episodes, particularly the finale, were somewhat disappointing. I was hoping for more sweet and romantic moments that would make the ending feel truly satisfying. Even so, the drama still succeeds in portraying a loving couple and delivering a familiar, cliche storyline in a way that leaves an impact on the audience.

It may not be a perfect 10, but it is still a very enjoyable BL worth watching.

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Outstanding actors

I already knew a few of the actors, so as soon as I saw them, I got high expectations... I got to say that this drama gets better as it progresses, but it could've been better executed - they shouldn't have made Bomi such a bad person, because it was just impossible to like her, which was sad because her character development would've been perfect if they'd made her a good person with personality issues; this is where the writers failed, because since they made her a bad person, her character development didn't mean much. As for Yoori, the actress who played her, she couldn't have been more perfect - I was SO impressed! I don't think people realise how hard it is to cry uncontrollably while filming a comedy scene, and she did it so, so, so well! I absolutely loved her performance! She definitely made a fan out of me. Bom, on the other hand, was one of the sweetest characters I've ever seen, and Jiwon's performance was amazing as well. The same can be said for Hyungseok - OMG, I LOVED that character! He was everything and more! All the actors were outstanding.
I really appreciate the fact that some of the characters were adopted, and it was especially important to include Bomil in this story to represent all the Korean children who were adopted into other countries and had their identities erased.
Something that made absolutely no sense was the fact that they switched actual bodies rather than minds, but the way they switched faces was so well-done, it looked so real!
I loved the 'Secret Garden' reference, thank you so much for that!

[Warning: Spoiler ahead!]
I kept waiting for Lee Bom and Hyungseok to be together, but when the drama ended I was extremely disappointed - their story was honestly the best part of the plot, and Jiwon and Hyungseok had so much chemistry!
[End of spoiler]

To summarise, watch this drama for the acting and for the comedy, and don't expect too much - this isn't so bad that I'd consider it a 5/10, but it's also not extremely good, although it had the potential to be. I'd rewatch it for those reasons as well, but it's definitely not a drama that I'd rewatch many times.
Just a side note that the song is very fun, I liked it a lot.

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just wow

Dazzling

Li Yunrui - Xing Wu
Guan Xiaotong - Qing Ye

Final Thoughts: 10/10 (first one since April btw)
Wow. I knew from the synopsis and preview that I was going to like this drama because of its tropes. It appeals to what I like to watch. But, this drama surprised me in the way that I was hooked on every single episode. The actors are perfection. Both Guan Xiaotong and Li Yunrui act extremely well and accurately portrayed these characters the best that anyone could. Qing Ye and Xing Wu are a match made in heaven and destined by fate. I love the chemistry they have and there were many times where I couldn’t tell whether Xing Wu was laughing or Li Yunrui just because it felt so real. Li Yunrui and Guan Xiaotong are both naturally so funny and they get each other’s humor. But, I have to highlight Li Yunrui. For me, he is one of my favorite actors. I feel he’s so underrated and I’m loving all the main roles that he has been getting. HE NEEDS TO DO MORE MODERN DRAMAS. I haven’t watched one of his historical cdramas yet, but his modern dramas are so good. He can fit the visual of any character and he plays it so well. So, directors, casters, whoever, CAST LI YUNRUI IN ANOTHER MODERN DRAMA.

Specifics:

Before starting: This is probably one of my MOST anticipated dramas of the year. I LOVE Li Yunrui’s acting, look, and character. His whole persona is amazing and I love his dramas. I have never watched a Guan Xiaotong drama before, so I’m excited. I heard that this drama has the same author as Speed and Love, which is one of my absolute favorites. I’m just waiting for that yearning and tension. I swear every c-drama actor looks 10x better with blonde hair. When Li Yunrui stepped out with his blonde hair, I was amazed, awed, and stunned.

Xing Wu is just like Jin Zhao. They both act like they can’t put up with princess behavior but fully express their feelings through actions. I liked this drama’s representation of two different lives. It shows two different perspectives on money that is relevant for everyone today. Also, I love the character development we are starting to see from Qing Ye. She is not just a bratty girl from the city, but her care and concern for Xing Wu’s grandma shows her kind character. Also, Xing Wu staying up and making sure Qing Ye was safe when it was raining starts to show his caring side.

Qing Ye helping Xing Wu’s grandma when she was having her seizure really shows her care. Their stares to each other when going to bed with just that curtain separating them. I love when characters communicate with their eyes. Xing Wu is really Jin Zhao’s brother with the scene of him fixing the air conditioner. I love the parallels!!! Qing Ye’s own parallel with her now helping him pick up the nail that fell and that whole slow motion scene with their hands slightly touching. It’s these little details that get me.

When Qing Ye got drunk and revealed her goofy side, u can tell Xing Wu is falling for her. His gaze showed how cute he thought she was. AND THEN THE SCENE IN THE RAIN. HOLY. THE TENSION. THE PROTECTIVENESS. THE ANGER BEHIND XING WU WHEN THAT WEIRD MAN ALMOST HURT HER WHEN SHE WAS TAKING A SHOWER. THE WAY THAT QING YE WAS ABLE TO GET XING WU TO HOLD BACK AND STOP BEATING THE MAN. “Trust Me. I promise you…No danger will ever touch you again.” His promise, so sincere and touching and genuine.

When Qing Ye announced she was leaving, u can see Xing Wu’s attitude change. I can tell he didn’t want her to leave anymore and he’s started to get used to her presence. Xing Wu being the savior once again…thank goodness he actually read the contract😭😭 “My home is your home”…they’re going back to Zhazhating!!! Wow they came a long way huh? From counting down the days to get rid of each other to asking for each other back. Xing Wu is really a caring person and wants to make everyone happy. I thought his dialogue telling Qing Ye “don’t always think of yourself as a burden. We have always treated u as family and we hope u do the same” I think that line was very sweet because he knew how doubtful she was about the extra work she’s adding to everyone’s lives.

OMGGGG…after Qing Ye got her hair permed and she ran straight into Xing Wu and he held her to stabilize her, both hands on her shoulders, and they were so close and his eyes. Li Yunrui’s acting with his eyes is so good. And then him saying she looks like Merida but that “black hair looks better than red. It’s prettier.” I also rlly liked the moment when Qing Ye was giving her pep talk for the hair salon business and Xing Wu was listening from the side and gave his silent support. His smile while doing that was so genuine and u can tell he really admired what she’s doing and appreciates her efforts.

The minute that Xing Wu found out that Qing Ye went with Meng Ruihang and he saw that picture of them, he instantly dropped what he was planning to do and rushed over. I loved how Xing Wu said extremely confidently “I want you to stay” when Qing Ye asked him his opinion. The line from Xing Wu that went “I’m the one who brought you back, so everyday you decide to stay, whether that be a year from now, I will always protect and care for you.” Such a comforting character to have in Qing Ye’s life. I don’t think Xing Wu realized how important Qing Ye is to him until she was gonna leave.

“Qing Ye has the power to change the environment. When she wants to do something, she puts her whole heart to it. People are naturally drawn to her without realizing it and they end up standing with her. And in her light, we’ll see who we really are.” I think those are some of the most genuine words that I’ve heard. Xing Wu saying this about Qing Ye means he really understands her and truly believes she is a light in his life.

This drama just doesn’t stop hitting with these scenes where Xing Wu is protective over Qing Ye. The scene where Xing Wu literally dropped a possible job offer to be with Qing Ye after she got bullied. When getting those green spiky things thrown on her, Xing Wu was the one who got them out for her and washed her hair. UMMM…HELLO! When Xing Wu pinned down Qing Ye to “teach her self-defense and teach her a lesson on how to protect herself”…was that rlly necessary. Where can I sign up for those self-defense lessons….just kidding…not really.

When Xing Wu was teasing Qing Ye about how she ran straight into a dead end and she said “So, sometimes, I still need you.” He was so taken aback. He literally couldn’t stop smiling. Umm…ok so who told me we were getting a SHIRTLESS SCENE!? The red light and the dripping water, the directors had to know what they were doing. “Life is full of cracks, but that’s where the light gets in. No storm will last forever and the sun will always rise every day.” Also, I just have to comment on their note passing. I giggled when they started passing notes because that’s what like you expect out of like a schoolgirl/schoolboy crush…it was just really cute.

“Having someone who understands you is a blessing.” …. “To me, you’re that blessing.” I’ve been watching too many c/k dramas. How is my heart speeding up at their pinkies touching!? The apron scene was full of tension. I swear both Xing Wu and Qing Ye looked at the other’s lips when she was putting the apron on him. And then the scene on the bus, I love it. When Qing Ye got up to give an elderly woman her seat and almost fell over when the bus moved, Xing Wu said “Grab onto me…and then Qing Ye grabbed on to the tiniest part of the fabric of his shirt…it was hilarious.. BUT THEN…Xing Wu grabbed her hand and put it directly on his arm.

I feel the angst coming and I’m scared. In episode 20, you really see Xing Wu’s worry fester for Qing Ye. When Xing Wu got that ping at night and couldn’t find Qing Ye, I love the hug that they shared after. All of his worries and fears bottled up into that moment where he just had to hold her and see that she was ok for himself. He said “let me hold you a little bit longer.” I love the yearning. Not only that, but his whole scuffle with Cao Ping at the hospital. “Don’t touch my people”

“I don’t want any walls between us. I want the real you. To Cao Ping, Cao Fan is his everything. To me, you are my everything.” HOW MUCH MORE OF A CONFESSION CAN BE MADE IF IT’S NOT THAT????? I love this detail that the screenwriters added or the author wrote. When Qing Ye and Xing Wu were taking the test and their writing prompt was about being “dazzling.” I love the play on words with the title and the whole meaning of what Qing Ye and Xing Wu wrote with their voiceovers. Basically, being dazzling can be anything is what Qing Ye said. It can represent strength, hesitence, beauty, resilience, but also the insecurities that people may have can be their version of being dazzling. Then, Xing Wu followed it up and we got a mini confession voiceover type. He said that when he looks at her, he remembers every moment with her to be dazzling. Absolutely love the writing here.

The fact that Xing Wu was saving his grandma, rushing into the burning house, but still managed to get Qing Ye’s laptop. He was still trying to provide for his mom, grandma, and Qing Ye at the same time when he was the one who just ran into a burning building. Talk about selflessness. When Xing Wu visited the old house and saw remnants of his old life, that nostalgia really got me. When he started crying, I started crying. Especially since Xing Wu isn’t a guy that reveals his vulnerability, I felt his emotions. I think Li Yunrui acted that part out perfectly and I love how Xing Wu started to lean on Qing Ye for that emotional support. Their hug shows the deep bond that they’ve built. Xing Wu and Li Lan Fang’s family must be some of the most unlucky people in the world.

Xing Wu why are you doing this to me? I cried twice in the span of 2 episodes. When Xing Wu was talking to Qing Ye’s dad, the last sentence that he said was “Spend more time with Qing Ye. She’s tough and independent, but she gets lonely sometimes. She needs a family to love her.” The way Xing Wu is able to understand and care for Qing Ye is so deep. I have such a love/hate relationship with their last conversation on the beach. When they were talking about their future and when they would meet again, they’re really leaving it up to fate. I love how Qing Ye uses their reunion as motivation to achieve more and help Xing Wu not give up. Xing Wu broke me with: “Qing Ye, keep on moving forward. I will catch up.” I think that sentence is bigger than any love declaration he could have made. It shows that Xing Wu wants Qing Ye to be the best version of herself and he will also be the best version of himself to deserve her.

Qing Ye really showed how much she’s grown to love Zhazhating. I love the way that she described the community: “If you were starving, would you think about other people that are also starving around you? Most people would say no, but the people at Zhazhating 100% would.” Also, I literally burst into tears at the part where Qing Ye was saying bye to Xing Wu’s grandma. I don’t know if it’s just because I get emotional with old people or because I know that interaction is the last time Qing Ye is going to see Xing Wu’s grandma. I really wish Qing Ye could’ve been there for the funeral. It was beautiful with Xing Wu’s words that show blood relation doesn’t mean anything when it comes to true family.


Out of all the dramas I’ve watched with this separation/reunion trope, dazzling has been my favorite because of their mutual improvement. They aren’t separated because something tragic happened, but they are separated to help each other grow. I loved when Qing Ye used that 3 tap thing to tell Xing Wu she made it into Qingbei University as motivation for him.

I LOVE EPISODE 28. When they met again for the first time, the looks in their eyes. Qing Ye was in disbelief. Xing Wu just had a look of longing. Not only that, but when their hands touched, Xing Wu’s smile grew 10x. The tension, the longing, the reunion…finally . ALSO, XING WU LOOKS SO GOOD IN A SUIT AND GLASSES. . And then when Qing Ye asked him about his love life, Xing Wu was so quick to respond “No progress. I’ve always had someone in my heart.” CONFESS.

I lied, episode 29 is even better. “Sometimes, slowing down is the only way to meet the right person.” YES. Qing Ye and Xing Wu are finally meeting again in Zhazhating, at the lighthouse where they first met, had their first kiss, and finally confessed their feelings. I loved it. The visual was insane too. The “dazzling” light. Xing Wu’s glasses I can’t. Li Yunrui really can pull off anything. The way that he pulled her in for that kiss. He literally cupped her whole face. I love how this has been so long coming that they don’t even verbally confess, just straight in for the kiss. “I realized that he is the brightest light in my life.” I love the motif/symbol of light showing how the darkest times can be made better with that one person by your side. Xing Wu is literally the perfect boyfriend. HOW DOES XING WU MAKE EVERYTHING SO ATTRACTIVE AND FULL OF TENSION!? when they were cooking at the house and she stepped in front of him to look in the refrigerator and then he pulled her into him.

“Love is a gamble and you must accept the outcome.” I love this quote, I think it captures the love perfectly. Love is such a crazy experience, you can’t be rational about it, you can’t predict the outcome, and you just have to let fate take its course. That’s why I love the meaning behind the chinese words “yuan fen” because I think it represents fate in better words than just fate. It’s the natural drawing of two people together that are meant to be together no matter what and this drama portrays that perfectly.

I think Li Yunruis drunk acting is the cutest. When he said “fly” and started flapping his arms, it was so cuteeeee. I lied, maybe episode 30 is the best. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT CONFESSION OF “I LOVE YOU” TO EACHOTHER. AND THEN HE PICKED HER UP AND WRAPPED HER LEGS AROUND HIS WAIST THEN WENT IN FOR THE KISS. HE WAS FULLY IN IT BRO. Xing Wu’s shirt being half unbuttoned answering all the calls that keep on interrupting them. I love how they stop, then answer the call, then go right at it again. But then, we all know what happened after….

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Floored by Its Own Footwork

"Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo" opens with disarming ease: SIN JU YEONG and LEE DO HOE's chemistry carries the weight of a relationship that feels genuinely inhabited, and the series demonstrates real thematic literacy around denial, grief, and the quiet suffocation of class-driven silence, all reinforced by striking cinematography and a soundtrack that carries more emotional weight than the writing ultimately deserves.

The momentum fractures precisely where it matters most; the charged confrontation between Ju Yeong, Do Hoe, and Do Hoe's abusive father is discarded rather than explored, and HA HYEON HO, whose internal homophobia and jealousy could have constituted a genuinely tragic arc, is reduced instead to a blunt instrument of antagonism for lack of perspective.

The time skip compounds the damage, abandoning the series' measured emotional register for a forced love triangle and supporting characters whose primary function is exposition delivery.

Ju Yeong remained the series' most reliable asset, his charisma and sincerity did what the final act's rushed pacing refused to; giving the audience something to hold onto even as the character resolutions arrive too quickly to register as earned.

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