Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1

"Love Like the Galaxy": Stellar Drama of Love, Betrayal, Redemption, and Triumph!

Watching 'Love Like the Galaxy' was like embarking on an emotional rollercoaster with a side of epic fireworks. Zhao Lu Si and Wu Lei delivered performances that were nothing short of spectacular, making this drama an unforgettable masterpiece. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride through a galaxy of masterful acting and storytelling, breathtaking scenery, and secrets that unravel like a perfectly crafted mystery novel. The numerous awards that this drama earned are well deserved!

First off, Zhao Lu Si as Shaoshang deserves a standing ovation. Her portrayal was a masterclass in bringing a character to life— an emotional symphony. From her tough upbringing that had me reaching for tissues, to her rebellious streak that had me nodding along in solidarity or shaking my head, to her journey towards strength and maturity that had me cheering like a sports fanatic, Shaoshang’s journey was a wild ride, and Lu Si made sure we were there for every twist and turn. Honestly, I wanted to adopt her, give her a high-five, and ask for her skincare routine all at once. Lu Si, you’ve officially earned the top spot in my "Favorite Actresses Ever" list!

This was my first time watching Wu Lei, and wow, talk about a first impression! He flawlessly embodied the tormented yet magnetic Ling Buyi. It was nothing short of masterful. Wu Lei had me swooning, fearing, hating, and ultimately loving his character. His interpretation was a whirlwind of emotions—from making me swoon with his clumsy romantic gestures, to sending chills down my spine with his explosive portrayal of anger and revenge, teetering on the brink of insanity - instant goosebumps. Ling Buyi’s character growth was profound, making him one of the most compelling leads I’ve ever seen. Hold onto your hearts, people, because this talented actor will steal them with his mesmerizing performance. Wu Lei, consider me your newest fan!

The chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Wu Lei? Absolute dynamite. These two matched each other's intensity in every scene, from their intense gazes to their expressive facial expressions, and the subtle physical nuances that spoke volumes of emotional depth that turn every scene into a visual sonnet of love and longing. They had me believing in love at first sight and falling deeply, madly in love right alongside them. Watching their love story unfold - from love at first sight, betrayal and forgiveness to deep emotional connection is as captivating as stargazing on a clear night.

Let’s not forget the supporting cast, who rounded out the story beautifully with their own character growth and intrigue. And can we give a shout-out to the best emperor ever? Hilariously memorable and perfectly cast!

Kudos to the director and production team for delivering breathtaking scenery and unraveling secrets that had me shouting "Ah-ha!" as the plot twists unfolded. The political intrigue was handled masterfully, and watching the bullies get their just desserts was like being a cheerleader at the Super Bowl – go team!

The fighting scenes had me on the edge of my seat, gripping my popcorn like a lifeline. I've rewatched this entire drama multiple times, cried, laughed, and yelled at the screen as characters made morally gray choices. I hated, and I loved every decision they made because it made them so much more human, relatable, and utterly unforgettable.

'Love Like the Galaxy' is a must-watch. It’s packed with gripping drama, epic love, breathtaking visuals, and well-rounded character growth. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out on an emotional, unforgettable journey. Do yourself a favor and dive into this stellar masterpiece. Grab some tissues, clear your schedule, and prepare for a wild, emotional ride —you won’t regret it!

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This is not an ordinary Cinderella story

Okay, so i finally found a historical drama that’s NOT wuxia or xianxia (not really my thing, sorry!) and it’s exactly what i needed. If you’re looking for a light, fast-paced romance, this isn’t it. But if you want a slow-burn love story mixed with political intrigue and actual character development, you’re in the right place.

Cheng Shaoshang and Ling Buyi’s relationship takes its sweet time to build—no insta-love here. Their journey has ups, downs, and everything in between, but somehow, i never got bored. Maybe because the side characters are just as interesting? there’s always something happening, and skipping even one scene feels like missing out.

Shaoshang is not your typical damsel in distress. Neglected by her parents but fierce as hell, she stands up for herself and sticks to her principles. Love her. Then there’s Ling Buyi; the ultimate "God of War," a total alpha male on the battlefield but a complete softie when it comes to Shaoshang. The man would move mountains for her, even with all his mysterious baggage.

And can we talk about Emperor Wen? FINALLY, an emperor who isn’t just a scary, intimidating figure. He’s strict when he needs to be, but also a total family man. Refreshing, honestly.

Overall? This drama delivers. The cinematography is gorgeous, the acting is top-notch (shoutout to Wu Lei and Zhao Lusi, their abilities as actors cannot be doubted!) and the story keeps you invested. If you’re into historical romances with depth, give this one a shot.

Verdict: Slow but so worth it.

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The best historical drama

I loved LLTG so much, it's so hard to find similar historical drama which made me rewatch it no matter the length of the episodes, I loved each n everything in this drama so much. No ckt was annoying or irritating as such, but I loved the king the most in this drama🤣 he had such nice comic timing n was like a breathe of fresh air amongst the historical dramas king roles. I have literally watched so many historical dramas becos of LLTG to find any such similar one where I can watch n enjoy everything but didn't. This would always remain my no1 historical cdrama n nothing surpasses this. The acting, cinematography, chemistry between leads evrything is top notch . Must watch cdrama.

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I Came for the Romance, Stayed for the Comedy

I honestly didn’t expect this show to be so funny, I went in thinking it would be more serious, but Part 1 is genuinely entertaining and humorous, and it’s such a good build-up season for what’s coming in Part 2.
Zhao Lusi is literally the queen of this drama. Part 1 feels like it’s mainly building Niao Niao’s story, and I didn’t mind that at all because she carried so hard. Even without heavy romance, she was still the most interesting part of the show. But she’s also funny and chaotic in a way that makes the show fun to watch. She is shameless and selfish. An unperfect character and I loved that.
I also love the dad — he might be my favorite character. And the brothers too, especially the sibling dynamic, but I really wish we got more interactions between them. Hopefully Part 2 gives us more of that. The grandmother is funny but sometimes annoying when she is greedy. But she adds a nice laugh to the show.
My favorite character overall though is the Emperor. He’s honestly one of the best costume drama emperors ever — so fun, so warm, and I love his relationship with Lin Buyi. It’s so unserious and cute.
Now about A’Yao and Niao Niao: I really liked the way they broke up. It was the best scenario. They were cute together and Lucy has chemistry with everyone so I didn’t mind them, but I didn’t want their breakup to become toxic. I’m so happy it ended with mutual understanding and respect, without them hating each other or him turning into a villain. She didn’t love him romantically, he loved her, and their relationship felt more like a close best-friends / older brother vibe anyway.
And honestly, Niao Niao wouldn’t work with A’Yao long-term — she’d always be protecting him while his family mistreats her, and the freedom she wants wouldn’t be there. She also wouldn’t work with Yuan Shen. I don’t hate him, but he’s too blunt and always highlights her flaws, even if he loves her. Ling Buyi is the right choice because he accepts her flaws and loves her anyway. He’ll protect her, and he doesn’t have a family that would control her, so she actually gets the freedom she wants. They’re both broken and unloved too, so it makes sense that they’ll heal and learn together.
Romance-wise, I feel like Part 1 is them learning how to love themselves first. Ling Buyi annoyed me at the start because he doesn’t even properly ask her if they want to get married. I did like how obsessed he was with her from the start, he knew he finally found his equal. People would say he is too dominating and controlling but he grew up without love, and she did too. They’re both basically kids figuring it out.
The most annoying part of the show for me was the mom. I kept trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she’s genuinely one of the most irritating drama mothers ever. She constantly downgrades her daughter and it’s exhausting. I’m really looking forward to Niao Niao proving her wrong.
Also the girls in this drama annoyed me so much… I hate when girls bring other girls down, and there’s a LOT of that. All of them were the spitting image of their horrible mothers. Plus all of them being obsessed with Ling Buyi is so annoying because he’s literally cold and cruel to them but blame it on NN.
Overall, Part 1 is more family-focused and it’s a great foundation for Part 2. Even with the lack of romance, the scenes between Niao Niao and Ling Buyi still felt tense and electric, and I loved that. Now I just need Part 2 because I know it’s about to go crazy.

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zhao Lusi slays once again

Came for Zhao Lusi's wonderful acting.
Stayed for the romance.
It's quite a riveting story.


Cons:
The fourth consort's daughter's husband's nephew's wife, prince of X, and cousin on the maternal side, who is the assistant to the Marquis. That's pretty much one character out of the 50 they reference. Could NOT keep them straight. ERgo, couldn't follow the mystery and deep secret part. Like it anyway but it was exhausting trying to pay attention, stop to google the character names only to come up empty handed. Still enjoyed it.

Note;
These are not discreet war scenes. there is quite a bit of gore. Be prepared if you don't like that stuff.

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Don’t drop it!

If you watched the first episode and considered dropping like I did, don’t do it! During the first 5 episodes the show expects you to get used to the titles, names, relations, and family of main character. Nothing too big will occur as far as I remember. It gets REALLY REALLY good soon after. Interesting characters are introduced, several sub plots are established, and most importantly the romance begins to bloom.
The main character isn’t a flawless, know-it-all. She is a girl who self taught herself whatever she could, and is clearly lacking. Family conflicts and discussions make a big part of this show, like every historical drama ever, so if you hate that type of dramas this would be difficult to watch.
I usually avoid C-dramas due to the trashy acting but this one was easy on the eye in this matter.

Absolutely recommended!

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Ups and downs but hey we got there in the end!

Literally just finished ep 27 and I'm glad Part 1 ended like that.

NiaoNiao the poor girl has gone through it. She's being beaten down constantly. So many times she's in a no-win situation with the way people judge her and it just sucks. Even if people think she's a tough cookie she has a very sensitive soul.

My main issue with the show is probably the editing/pacing especially when it came to NiaoNiao and Ling Buyi. They had great scenes together but personally to me it was still lacking. As an audience member I was still mourning her having to breakup with Lou Yao like their puppy love was so precious! Ling Buyi springing up the proposal and kinda forcing it with the help of the emperor outta nowhere was frustrating so I am actually glad she fought him about that. Sir just because you like her doesn't mean you get to decide for her. So the last episode making it so she's the one who finally decides and thinks about how she truly feels was nice.

I did not want to make it a long review and say a bunch of spoilers but if anyone is reading this despite my little complaints I think you should still finish part 1 and you can decide whether or not to proceed!

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“Must Watch” for a Reason!

**This review is for both Part 1 & Part 2. Spoilers given later with episodes numbers are referencing this as one drama, not two separate parts.**

Being totally honest, I actually dropped this years ago after only about 8 episodes. I really wanted to watch it because I’m a fan of both the main actors, but I just couldn’t handle how horrible the FL’s mother was to her. But I’ve been on a historical drama binge watching journey recently & this one ALWAYS gets recommended so I thought, “you know what, let’s just give it another try.”

And I’m so glad I did because wowza - this is absolutely beautiful. I now understand why it’s labeled as a must-watch for drama lovers. If you’re like me & have been hesitating for whatever reason, I recommend you just give in & press play so you can experience the beauty for yourself.

It’s a very well done drama. The storyline & pacing are both great (keep in mind that, all together, this drama has 56eps so it’s not going to be fast paced.) There’s a lot of character growth for multiple people, not just the Leads. There are numerous schemes & endless plotting by so many various villains. There’s great slow-burn relationship development. Because there are so many episodes, it allows time for things to really build & progress, giving us a fully developed story rather than just bite sized pieces that make us fill in a lot of holes. (Not that I mind shorter dramas, I’m simply stating facts.)

It’s ultimately the story of a girl who was left behind as her parents (both generals) went to war & the general who falls in love with her at first sight though he’s harboring some pretty big secrets. Neither is perfect; both are flawed. But love doesn’t require perfection, thank goodness 💕

She was raised by her paternal family who mistreated her daily so she’s grown up relying solely on herself for anything she needs. He has a tragic past & his position makes people wary of him. Neither is quick to trust nor does either find it easy to rely on others. But they form a connection during both traumatic moments & humorous ones. When they choose to be together, regardless of their issues & doubts, they form a bond with a depth neither ever imagined; they discover a love the likes of which they weren’t sure existed. Their relationship is tested many, many times. By delulu love rivals & jealous “family” members, as well as political schemes & royal demands. This duo faces a LOT on their journey together, then even more during their 5yrs apart. They do not have an easy & blissful romance, but rather a love that’s forged through trials & tribulations. But it’s a love they both fight for, protect, & long for when it’s lost. Then it’s one they cherish when they have each other back again. (Which, small complaint, it really would’ve been great to see more happy & lovey moments of them after all the baddies are eradicated.)

So, yes, I loved this drama. I liked part 2 more simply because the Leads are a couple then, but part 1 is also filled with many meaningful & memorable moments too! And it’s not just the Leads that I enjoyed, but other characters & aspects as well:
- The oft-times hilarious, matchmaking emperor
- The respect & friendship of the empress & concubine
- The fact that ALL the villains are dealt with one by one throughout the show
- The FL’s brothers & the way they always include, love, & defend her
- The ML’s bromance with his two most-trusted soldiers
- The additional details given in the subtitles (at least on Viki app…)

There’s so much to love about this show! I highly recommend it for fans of the historical genre. Yes, there are hecka toxic characters (& yes, the FL’s mother stays that way for the majority of the show. I get that she doesn’t know how to be a mom to a girl but seriously - that’s no excuse for her abuse!) And there are annoying characters (I’m looking at you, Mr. SML. Just go away until you can leave the FL alone, please!) But there are many really lovable characters too! So push play & enjoy this beautiful journey.

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‼️ SPOILERS OF SOME OF MY FAV MOMENTS/SCENES INCOMING!! STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED! 😉‼️

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EP.12 - FL giving ML medical aid for the arrow in his chest. Eyes don’t lie… 🫠
EP.24 - ML’s speech & defense of FL against her mom; their engagement
EP.27 - the drunk piggyback ride. OhEmGee 🤣
EP.29 - the rooftop forehead kiss *swoon*
EP.34 - concubine dealing w/ ML’s “stepmom” & the wicked old royal lady 🙌🏻
EP.36 - ML teaching FL self defense moves
EP.45 - FL’s brother’s “wedding” while in prison - precious!
EP.47 - Leads biting each other to seal an oath 🫶🏻
EP.48 - FL’s family helping her fight to save ML
EP.49 - FL getting ML on the horse. ML sacrificing himself off the cliff. Emotions!
EP.50 - ML not letting them take the string off his wrist even while unconscious, but finally loosening his grip when FL plays flute to soothe him
EP.53 - ML saving her from runaway carriage & refusing to release her as they cling to the mountain 👏🏻 Empress’ final moments (cried so hard!) 😭
EP.55 - that hug upon realizing ML made it out alive…🔥
EP.56 - FL’s whole family riding through the smoke as one to save her, all unsheathing their swords?! Wowza!! “Who dares to harm my Naio Naio?” Perfection! Also, the emperor’s temper tantrum at not being at the wedding, hahahaha!

Feel free to share your favorite moments with me!!

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-⬇️ M O R E 🚫 S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.34 💋
- Together : ep.28 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.51 💔
- BackTogether : ep.55(end) ❤️‍🩹

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A great first part but ultimately incomplete

First I have to mention the cast. This cast makes me want to go back to my previous reviews and reduce the star rating I've given to other dramas' casting. The casting in the drama is SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD!! I wish there were a once-in-a-decade "11 stars" option. Every single role was cast perfectly and the actors were perfection in their roles. Seriously, I have never watched a better cast drama than this. And a special shout out to the dude who played the emperor. He was an absolutely delight and perfect in his role.
I'm writing this review after watching part 1 and 2. If I'd written this before watching part 2, this would've been a 10/10 drama. As it is, and after watching the second part, I now see the flaws in the story of this show and it is no longer a 10/10. More details in my review of part 2.

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Love is patient and enduring

This is a two-season Chinese historical drama that intricately explores love, family, politics, friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness. The title itself, 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒚, 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝑨𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂, 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆: 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. These are not just romantic ideals, but emotional strengths the characters must develop to survive and grow.

Interestingly, the drama also showed that love does not always triumph over revenge. You may truly love someone, but when the scars run deep, sometimes the desire for justice—or revenge—outweighs forgiveness. Not everyone can forgive. And that’s reality. Life operates on cause and effect. Every action, whether good or bad, has a consequence. I hope we all strive to choose kindness—for ourselves and others.

I decided to watch this series because of its high ratings. But watching it reminded me that every viewer sees a drama differently. What works for one may not work for another. And that’s okay.

The story weaves together a lot of elements: family dynamics, political schemes, friendships, and love stories. The relationships between characters are complex and emotionally charged.

However, I found the political storyline quite dragging at times. I often skipped those parts because what really kept me watching was the romantic development between the male and female leads (ML & FL). Watching how their love story would unfold and survive each trial was the real highlight for me.

If you're not into political plots in dramas, this might not be your cup of tea.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 :
✧ 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: villains are exposed, justice is served. This makes every episode satisfying to watch and keeps the momentum going.

✧ 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬: Just when you think things are settled, another enemy appears. Some characters you thought were good turn out to be the real antagonists. It keeps you guessing.

✧ 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The romance between the leads isn’t straightforward. It’s full of trials—both external and emotional. But that’s what makes their relationship feel real and earned.

✧ 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: The drama shows real-life family issues that teach us about forgiveness, sacrifice, and letting go. These moments often felt very grounded and relatable.

"𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒔" — this could be the core message of the show. While the world around the characters is chaotic and sometimes cruel, love, in its many forms—romantic, familial, platonic—remains a powerful force. But the drama doesn’t shy away from showing that forgiveness isn’t always easy or possible, and that revenge can sometimes feel more righteous than love. That complexity is what makes this story resonate.

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"Love Like The Galaxy" is a drama about Shao Shang, a young girl who has been trapped in a deserted place for almost her entire life. Her parents didn't know about this, as they fought in wars and left their daughter in the care of her grandmother. When they return and find out the truth, they immediately bring her back.

Shao Shang had to change in order to survive, no one cared about her, so she did what she had to. She is an amazing character who doesn't follow anyone's rules and tries to live life to the fullest, and that's what catches the attention of Bu Yi, a cold-blooded general who takes an interest in her.

The romance is the highlight of the drama, Shao Shang and Bu Yi are literally perfect for each other. In this first season, we see their relationship grow and that was the best part, seeing them slowly fall in love, which reminded me of "The Story of Ming Lan" and "The Sword and the Brocade". It's more than just a romance, they create a bond first. Literally, Shao Shang rejected Bu Yi until the last episode because she thought he was trying to control her, but that wasn't true. Bu Yi was just trying to help her, to be by her side, all his actions were demonstrations of love for her... thank God, she finally understood that.

Lou Yao wasn't really the right person for her, the two were sweet together, but Shao Shang needed a strong person by her side, someone who could accompany her through life.
I loved her revenge against the mean girls, it was so satisfying to see them fall into the water and Shao Shang just laughing, pretending not to know anything.

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