K-Drama 
Just No
Contrary to what some say, I loved the costumes – probably the best thing about this show after the cinematography. The story, however, … boring, just vibes, no plot at all actually. The acting wasn’t great either, I gave up on episode 13… the Xing girl’s acting was atrocious, I just couldn’t anymore. Bao Shang En is a little bit bland, but had some good moments in my opinion. Zhou Yi Ran is alright as well, but we have got to stop with the constant aura farming whenever he makes an entrance… it got cheap and cheesy after the third time. Since I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story at all, and as it didn’t manage to convince me despite continuing, I just had to drop this.Was this review helpful to you?
Goes down deep, but with comedy
The characters are not conventional, each episode we go more in depth of their thoughts. I love the chemistry and the acting, not only of the main leads but some of the support characters grew close to my heart too. Also, there is so much aura farming more and more every episode I feel like. I have not yet finished it, but I am already considering rewatching this drama. I love it SOO much. Very much recommend!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Started off decent before it trails off...
The plot started off pretty well with engaging characters and good pacing. But for some reason, the dialogue starts to increasingly becomes more bland and both the plot and character developments just drops off a cliff.Although the ML and the FL were decent individually, they didn't do a good job building up their chemistry. And from far away, one can see a good story but it starts to crumble with random inserts of events and people. It's as if they weren't sure how to connect the dots and just threw scenes in abruptly to fill in the blanks. The mysteries behind all the cover-ups are compelling for me to want to finish series but I've lost feeling any connection to any of the characters. It's a good-looking cast so it likely will still appeal to a wide audience (except they used slightly too much of that whitening filter).
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I Cannot Continue Watching It
I watched episodes 1–10 hoping it would eventually pull me in, but it was genuinely one of the most difficult dramas for me to get through.->>>The story feels overly complicated and hard to follow, especially for viewers who simply want to relax and enjoy a drama without having to constantly figure out what is happening. Instead of becoming more engaging, the plot just became more confusing and exhausting for me.
What makes it even more disappointing is that I’m usually the type of viewer who can overlook a weak storyline if the production quality, cinematography, or visual effects are impressive.
->>>Unfortunately, this drama didn’t deliver in those areas either. The visual fx felt underwhelming, and there wasn’t enough stylistic appeal to keep me invested when the story wasn’t working.
I genuinely tried to give it a fair chance. I kept telling myself to at least make it to the middle of the series before forming an opinion, but by episode five I was already struggling to stay interested. Watching it started to feel more like a chore than entertainment.
Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and I know some viewers may appreciate the complexity of the story more than I did. But for me, Generation to Generation was simply too slow, too confusing, and not visually compelling enough to make the journey worthwhile.
I really tried. I just couldn’t continue.
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This review may contain spoilers
Generation to Generation is honestly such a frustrating drama because I can clearly see how good it could have been. There is a genuinely interesting story here, some beautifully written characters, gorgeous cinematography and two leads who carried the drama for me. At the same time, the editing and pacing made me want to personally enter the editing room and ask what exactly was going on. 😭The beginning was definitely rough. There were so many names, sects, old grudges and connections being thrown at me that I spent the first few episodes wondering whether I was supposed to understand any of it. The editing did not help either. Some scenes felt like pieces had simply been cut out and the audience was expected to fill in the blanks ourselves. Thankfully, it gets considerably better once the story settles down, and the middle portion is where I became properly invested.
And then there is Zhou Yiran as Mu Qingyan.
Yeah. He was the main reason I was seated. 😂
Mu Qingyan is an absolute mess of a man, but in the most entertaining way possible. He is intelligent, manipulative, obsessive, morally questionable and occasionally completely unhinged. Yet underneath all of that, he genuinely cares about the people he considers his own. Zhou Yiran did such a good job with those quieter moments too. Sometimes he barely had to do anything with his expression and you could still tell exactly what was going on in his head.
Cai Zhao was another character I really liked. I appreciate that she does not suddenly lose her personality just because she falls in love. She has her own ambitions, responsibilities and principles, and she continues making her own decisions even when those decisions complicate her relationship with Mu Qingyan. Bao Shangen brought a lot of charm to her.
And yes, their relationship is toxic at times. I am not going to pretend otherwise. Mu Qingyan manipulates her, hides things from her and has absolutely no understanding of the concept of leaving well enough alone. 😂 But that is also what makes their dynamic so interesting. They are constantly challenging each other, and Cai Zhao is not someone who simply accepts everything he does because she loves him.
I also have to give Song Yuzhi his flowers because that man was a surprisingly excellent second male lead. I was fully prepared for the usual jealous second lead nonsense, but thankfully the writers did not go there. He respected Cai Zhao's choices, supported her without trying to control her and remained a genuinely decent character throughout. His interactions with his father were also some of my favorite lighter moments.
The biggest problem for me was the editing and storytelling structure. There is clearly a lot of material here, and sometimes it feels like the drama is trying to squeeze an entire novel's worth of history, relationships and mysteries into the runtime. The generational aspect is fascinating, but some of those older stories occasionally overshadow the present storyline. Even the detailed finale coverage notes how much history and backstory the drama has to resolve.
Still, I ended up enjoying it much more than I expected. The characters kept me invested, the leads had great chemistry, the wuxia atmosphere was beautiful and the story gradually became easier to appreciate once everything started coming together.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not.
Did the editing occasionally test my patience? Absolutely.
Did I still get attached to these people and finish the whole thing? Also absolutely. 😭
For me, Generation to Generation is one of those dramas where the execution is much messier than the potential of the story. But the characters, especially Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao, made the journey worth it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Generation to Generation – A Rare Example of Narrative Integrity Done Right
I went into Generation to Generation with no expectations—and ended up ranking it as one of the best dramas I’ve seen.What sets this drama apart is not just how engaging it is, but how consistently it delivers on what it promises from beginning to end.
Narrative & Structure
This is a dense, layered story; not heavy in the sense of being exhausting, but rich in moving parts. There are multiple sects, histories, relationships, and power dynamics to track, and the show expects you to pay attention. But in return, it rewards you with a story where:
Every episode moves the narrative forward
Every reveal connects cleanly to what came before
Nothing feels like filler
Most importantly: it never loses control of its own story. There are no sudden character shifts, no late-stage shortcuts, and no “we ran out of time so here’s a rushed ending” problem.
Themes & Moral Core
At its heart, this drama challenges the idea of inherited morality.
“Righteous” sects commit cruelty in the name of justice
The so-called “demon” sect contains both corruption and compassion
Characters are defined not by where they come from, but by what they choose
The show consistently reinforces that:
Hatred can become all-consuming and destructive
It’s easy to gather people by appealing to their desires (power, revenge, fear), but that doesn’t create true alignment
Standing up for what’s right is difficult, and often punished, but necessary
And crucially: it never contradicts these ideas for the sake of convenience.
Characters
The two leads anchor the story, but they don’t exist in isolation.
The female lead is strong, capable, and principled without being reduced to a trope
The male lead carries both emotional depth and moral clarity, and his arc is one of responsibility, not just romance
The supporting cast is equally important. Their arcs don’t disappear; they resolve in ways that reflect the larger themes of the story.
Romance
The romance is not the point—but it is the catalyst.
It drives the conflict without overtaking the narrative, and it feels:
believable
earned
integrated into the larger story
This is not a “watch it for the romance alone” drama, but the relationship matters because of what it represents.
Ending
The ending is where this drama proves itself.
After maintaining a high level of consistency throughout, it sticks the landing:
No character regression
No thematic betrayal
No rushed resolution
Every major arc—personal, political, and relational—reaches a natural conclusion.
Whether you prefer tragic or happy endings, this is an ending that feels earned.
Final Thoughts
Generation to Generation is the kind of drama that reminds you what good storytelling looks like:
It respects its own rules
It respects its characters
And it respects the viewer’s attention
It may have an “idol drama” cast, but it operates far beyond the limitations people associate with that label.
This is not just a good drama.
It is a structurally sound, thematically coherent, and emotionally satisfying one, and those are far rarer than they should be.
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Even a good novel isn't enough to cover for a poor director
I wanted to like this because I can tell the novel's author created something good. The substance is there, but the delivery is noticeably lacking.Scenes just happen one after another, making the show feel disjointed. It's like the director just focused on adapting the storyline without thinking about how one scene flows into the other.
It's entirely possible to watch this for the story and ignore the flaws. But with all the other better dramas currently airing, it's hard to convince myself to spend time on this.
Mostly I'm just disappointed by the director & scriptwriter. It feels lazy to rely on a story to carry the show, without investing effort in HOW that story is being delivered to the audience.
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This made me cry and squeal
I found this to be one of my new favourites. I haven't felt this enamoured with a drama since Guardians of the Dafang (which is my absolute favourite).ACTING
The main leads - No, EVERYONE - did a fantastic job. The ML really felt like this vengeful but also passionately in love person. The FL did well in all her emotions and she fave life to this character. And everyone else feels like a real person.
STORY
It didnt really feel like a story, it felt immersive to the point it felt real. The writers and director did a good job with the characters and the plot.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ It is so good!!!
CHARACTERS
They actually let the ML be a little creepy and unhinged!!!! It eorked really well for his character. He's passionate and wants everything. Hes a bit like a child in that way. He needs the FL to feel whole.
The FL tries to stsy by her beliefs. Her struggle feels real.
OVERALL
Loved it! I hope Zhou Yiran and Bao Shangen are in more dramas together they have great chemistry.
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A promising story undone by the director
I regret not checking the director before starting this series. None of his previous works have impressed me so far. The script often feels mishandled, the plot becomes scattered, and the transitions between scenes feel stiff and unnatural. His directing approach seems to rely heavily on amplifying drama rather than maintaining narrative coherence.Was this review helpful to you?
Disappointed c drama
I'm honestly watching this drama only for Zhou Yiran. Otherwise, I find the plot quite pathetic. The female lead is beautiful but kinda don't like her character..quiet annoying ...Lingbo is actually much better .... she is the only interesting character in the story. There are so many talented actors and actresses in this drama, yet the storyline feels very confusing.Most of the attention is given to the aunt, which is starting to irritate me. I really feel like discontinuing the drama, but I’ll probably finish it just because of Zhou Yiran. Honestly, he looks much better with Zhang Miaoyi.
Sorry to say, but this is just my honest opinion!!!!!!!!
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Someone save me from myself.
At first, you don't understand a thing. In episode 4 there's a big reveal and I was sitting there thinking "Who on earth are these people ?". You get swept along by all these plot twists, for a while. The problem is that after 10 episodes I still don't understand who's attacking whom and what dangers we've been facing from the start.Both leads are convincing and clever. And as is often the case in C-dramas, here we find a strong, independent female character. I started watching for Zhou Yiran, the master of secret admirers. And I stayed for Bao Shangen, as beautiful as funny. Let's hope she gets better, she only has two expressions, poor thing.
The music rocks. The opening and closing credits alone are killer. The cinematography is, of course, stunning, with plenty of gorgeous wide shots in magical settings. You get used to that pretty quickly in these kinds of productions. On the other hand, you have to accept that martial arts superpowers as a reality. And then, apparently, you get around on the back of an eagle... Right... And you face giant snakes… Ok... Warning ! That's the signal to start considering a strategic retreat. So this is where the adventure ends for me.
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Favoloso
Non guardavo un wuxia da un po' ma questo è veramente stupendo. Il protagonista maschile è bravissimo e stupendo nel suo personaggio questo è il primo cdrama che vedo suo e devo dire che calza perfettamente la parte. La protagonista femminile anche lei molto brava anche se non è nella rosa delle mie attrici preferite. Storia interessantissima. Belle musiche e belle scenografie.Was this review helpful to you?
