This review may contain spoilers
A surprise 2nd half.
I was complaining that there wasn't much happening in the first half then suddenly, BOOM, second part came in and I can barely keep up. LOLAs usual Lusi is great here. Her eyes being swollen in most of the scenes are really noticeable, I guess she was crying really hard and towards the end it became evident why. What I like the most is she's not afraid to make an ugly crying face and it does make the scenes more authentic. Her character became more serious in this part, a part of me is glad since her character has developed and matured but at the same time I miss her character's playfulness in the first part. Did she won any award in this drama? I really hope so.
It's a good thing I have waited before making a final judgement for our ML. I have complained before that he's stoic and rigid in the first part, I guess it is just part of his character. He's more diverse here and more on the green flag of the equation until the part where he killed his "father" and suddenly he became an intense red. Flaming, hot, and burning. I was a little bit afraid since he was acting like a psychopath. Not even the FL's love can calm him down (although it was mentioned in the latter part that he immediately regretted his actions after he saw the FL, and now we're back to green. Lol) I like that he's so rigid when talking to other character then his eyes will become so soft when talking to the FL. I didn't realize how handsome LEO WU is until this drama and now I am so looking forward with his drama with ZJM. I really hope he makes an outstanding performance.
Story wise, I honestly can barely keep up with the political side of the story, too many characters, I got so confused a lot of times. Instead, I just focused on their love story and their relationship with other characters, FL's and ML's family and friends, in and outside the palace. Then it became so good. I like that it wasn't an insta love for our CP (at least for FL), that the ML gave the FL time to develop her character and to make a decision for herself. I also like that eventually the FL's love made her a better and selfless person, and I understand why she made a decision to end their relationship after that incident. I just don't understand why it took 5years for them to get back together?! But I guess it didn't really matter since the event/s in between flies fast. But still. We could have a lot more CP time if they got back together sooner. Hehe.
Special mention to the emperor and his two empresses, they have an outstanding relationship with each other. I am glad they also have a "happy ending".
Overall the story is satisfying enough for me. Something that I will remember and be glad that I have watched afterwards.
Rewatch value? Who has the time to sit down watch this again, 56ep is just too long for me.
Music? I'm not a fan of instrumental music and i don't remember most, but I remember feeling so touched with the background music and that's enough for me to give it an 8.
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My all time favorite show
I watched the part 1& 2, 8x and still fall in love with it. I laugh, cried, mad, sad and have vengeful thoughts because of LBY. This is the show that I started following Zhao Lusi and became her avid fan. I just love her character whether its Niaoniao or Shaoshang. She is so feisty, highly intellectual, free spirit, vengeful but also looks so innocent. Her voice changes which heighten her portraying as 15 years old girl. Her acting superb and very relax not force at all. Her chemistry with Wu Lei is solid. I love all the other cast too, my second favorite will be the grandma, next the emperor and her friend who is very rich. The villains are very good too, you truly hate them like the fifth princess, Shaoshang's mom, LBY & LBY's dad. The show is serious, but they add comedy in it, which I applaud the director. It could had been too heavy if it's just full drama! I also like the love between Shaoshang and the empress, she compensated Shaoshang's yearning for mother's love! As for Wu, his really a good actor but he just has these same facial expressions probably that's what the character ask him to do. I will continue to re-watch and recommend this show for everyone. Shaoshang reminds me of Xu Yan, both fierce, fearless, vengeful but kind & soft hearted! Zhao Lusi, thank you for truly an amazing job with this show and your other shows ( Love's Ambition, Hidden Love, Who Rules the World, The Story of Pearl Girl, Dating in the Kitchen......)Was this review helpful to you?
The right romance
This drama definitely is the most closest to my heart. It touched me in several aspects, just the beauty of how well the entire story is woven to circle all characters and their developments gives me complete fulfillment and satisfaction in any of the dramas I've ever watched. Its quite hard to find dramas that actually vest you in the lead drama. This one really holds a top place in my heart because of that.I can't stop boasting about the way the Chinese culture is shown so beautifully, the dynamic between parents and child, people's separation, deep scars left due to war, tyrannical political disharmony and so many other beautiful aspect. It shocked me to see that it even shows sisterhood between the wives, which is shown quite with a bad aura in most dramas I watched. Above all, the story is enthralling, every point, every problem the leads have to solve is exquisite and get my mind some time to process it all, understand the culture and connect the dots.
One thing I absolutely admired was that not all fantasy dramas uphold women, and the FL here does quite the opposite, she stands and shines in her own way and the ML as well. Like the perfect combo! The FL is sharp, brave, outspoken and daring, she stands for her own individuality. The ML is brave, strong, smart, little calculative (for the right reasons) and righteous. The way both of them not only overcome hurdles but also solve them together just gives me such good vibes. It completely teleports me to a different reality.
This drama made me believe in love that is pure, innocent, whole-hearted and it doesn't always have to be the man saving the woman. The woman shining in her own characteristics highlights the beauty of this drama. It absolutely inspired me to do something big as well, gain my own expertise, shine in my own ways. It shows how love isn't one person reliance but rather. its complementary, its a sum to one. Its beautiful.
If you're looking for historical, with beautiful elements of romance which is beautifully portrayed, political, highlights family relations and reasonable storyline which actually makes sense, then go for this w/o any search. Trust me it was the best investment of my time.
Although its very hard to find perfect dramas, this one was near to perfect. I felt this one wasn't that rushed, it took time to show the storyline. And develop the relationship realistically. The mood sets everything, if you're up for really good romance and a strong storyline, this is your stop.
To talk about some negatives, I felt very less areas of plot were still kinda predictive but it was worth. Also most times as there were so many characters, it took a lot of time for me to recall, relate and connect so be mindful of the names. Dont watch it in YT as it spoils the experience. Many scenes had the characters using the same dresses which kinda was showing up, as some became dirty because of the flowy material. Otherwise, the hair and dresses were pretty and mesmerizing to look at. Don't wait and watch this strong recommendation of mine!
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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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The relationships between characters specifically female characters were a highlight for me. It would've been so easy to make the Empress and Consort Yue hate each other or Yang Yang and Shaoshang hate each other out of jealousy but they didn't. I love that even if Shaoshang and the Empress were jealous of the love Consort Yue and Yang Yang received from someone they wanted love from, they never blamed it on the other. It was such a breath of fresh air and made me really appreciate the drama.
Also love how the main characters are so proactive/didn't just have verbal conflicts (don't really know how to phrase this). This is very much a personal taste but I don't like it when characters spend the whole show scheming and using words just to get what they want. It infuriates me to see people getting away with things just because they're eloquent so I liked that both Buyi and Shaoshang were unafraid to resort to physical means to get back at others.
I felt like after the five year time skip the story felt a little weird. Maybe there should've just been more episodes for the five year time skip portion of the story. It felt like a lot of the story was compressed into these episodes and the story could've benefited from more episodes. The story also felt much more heavier (less comedic moments) but that could just be to reflect on how Shaoshang has matured. Kind of split on how I feel about Shaoshang's character development tbh. Yes she couldn't have stayed as she was at the beginning of the show but I feel like the execution could be better. Also having the final villains being some rando that was mentioned/shown like five times and a vengeful wife feels so weird when for most of the show the villain was the one that betrayed Gu city.
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Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei are undoubtedly the most attractive couple of 2022!!
I did not expect anything when I started watching "Love Like The Galaxy", but to my surprise the drama series got so many things to offer, and I still could not believe myself I finished watching it in just a few days.What made me enjoy "Love Like The Galaxy" so much was the chemistry between Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei. Whenever I saw their moments on screen, I could not help myself from not admiring them. They looked absolutely attractive as well as lovely together.
This was my first time seeing Wu Lei in a drama series and I honestly think he's a terrific actor. He played his character flawlessly and I appreciate him for that. Pairing him with Zhao Lusi was such a perfect choice as they looked so good together on screen. We all know Zhao Lusi is the queen of chemistry as she always makes good chemistry with any actors she's been working with, and that was one of the reasons why I love her so much.
Last but not least, there were some certain episodes that I cried my eyes out, therefore I must give them big appreciation for their remarkable act. Well done, Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei for your hard work and amazing act!!
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Slow Burn Romance
Here is a nice two-season romance drama that takes a while for the romance to ignite. It stars two of my favorite young actors, Leo Wu and LuSi Zhao. I can't say enough about the rock solid performances, especially from Leo Wu. He is absolutely captivating, extremely talented and downright gorgeous. The camera loves him. For such a young performer, he is incredibly talented and takes you effortlessly along with him. He plays the highly-revered General Ling BuYi who can crush the enemy with a glance. The young ladies are all vying for his attention, many making utter fools of themselves in the process, while ready to scratch each other's eyes out. Luckily, the aloof and unattached General sets his eyes on the young daughter of another general, but she is headstrong and not easily trusting. Niao Niao, played by LuSi Zhao, is lovely, naughty, vengeful and forthright. Sparks fly when these two get together, and they both complement each other. It's endearing to watch them slowly falling in love with each other and suffering along with them through their sorrows. The best part is watching them grow from their mistakes, learning to forgive, and allowing their love to make the other stronger.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Key episodes review...
Spoilers ahead!!!Episode 1-14: I hate Niaoniao's mother to the core. She hadn't raised her daughter but she always compares her to her cousin, distrustful of her, and resorts to iron discipline. I mean if you haven't raised your own kid, you will love and make up to her the best way possible. I am a mom of 4, 3 sons and my youngest is a daughter so I am crying for Niaoniao throughout her ordeal with her mother. Her mother always thinks she is right and that she sacrificed for the country without thinking the struggles her daughter went through for years in the hands of the people who hates her. She left her daughter because her in laws said so without fighting for it.
I love her brothers and father. They genuinely adore Niaoniao.
Episode 15: ML, 2nd ML and 3rd ML in one frame. Truth be told I am rooting for Mr. Yuan. The love(one-sided)-hate(mutual) relationship with him and FL is amusing. I adore Yao. He is a kid who admires a girl who is not ordinary. I love that he takes care of Niaoniao and do his best to be by her side. As of Ling Buyi, I am a fan of brooding and strong male lead but maybe because I am not a Wu Lei fan that I don't feel him. My bias is Li Yunrui in this drama. Yeah I watched Blossom before this.
Niaoniao liked the marriage proposal of Yao because he promised they will be equals and will work together in the future. Easier said than done since he is from a noble family. His family is a den of tigers with brutal women.
Third Aunt is my favorite from these episodes. She cares for Niaoniao and understands her which in a small way made up for Niaoniao's lack of motherly love.
Episode 17: Niaoniao finally met her in laws. Her mother, although I hate her did good with showing her the true face of what her marriage will look like in the future.
Episode 20: Shows that Niaoniao got her temper from her mother. They're like peas in a pod. If Niaoniao was raised by her mother, she would be like her mother and not carefree though. But they have the same fiery personality. Although her mother contains it. The last scene was brutal. I would do the same many times over if I am in lady He's shoes.
Episode 22: Yuan needs to change his strategy. He is a tsundere.
Episode 24: That was an intense marriage proposal. A big win to Ling Buyi. Yuan left behind again. Niaoniao's mother humiliating and degrading her in front of the royal family and nobles was harsh and below the belt. Although I understand where she was coming from, it was not necessary for her insults to go that far.
Episode 25: I am giving Ling Buyi 1000 points for defending his future wife. I love it!
Episode 29: The empress is my favorite character of all. Patient and kind. She is what Niaoniao needs. The Emperor is funny too in every scene from ep 1-29.
Episode 34: Another awesome episode. The royal family going to Niaoniao's residence to help her. I love the emperor, empress, and consort Yue. Consort Yue is as nice as the empress.
Episode 37: Shanjian's jealousy was sad. Seeing your love happy with another is heartbreaking. The fifth princess is arrogant but got what she deserves. I was wondering what will happen to her "aides" and was not shocked that they got the death penalty. I mean I was wondering why fifth princess act that way when she has advisors/aides so it's not surprising that they might be the reason why she acts that way.
Personally, I do not like the crown prince to be the emperor. He is weak bordering to cowardness. The third prince is more firm.
Episode 40: Shanjian's mother was perceptive. She knew his feelings for Shaoshang. His refusal to get married because of his parents was understandable. He hides his affection by bickering with her every time. I still root for him for FL.
Episode 41: The crown princess deserves her punishment. She is not fit to be a future empress. Her inferiority complex made her life miserable. She could have just cherished her marriage and improved it but she tormented crown prince former love that caused her and her children's abuse. Unacceptable.
Consort Yue is one tough woman. I like her. The Empress is a very kind and benevolent woman. I love her. The Emperor is funny as always. But out of all the cdramas I watched this was the nicest emperor.
Episode 42-43: Shanjian saving Shaoshang's family and assisting her is commendable. I just hope Shaoshang will treat him better. She always dismisses him.
Ling Buyi knows Shaoshang's thoughts and actions because he is observant of her. Proof of his love.
Episode 45: Wan Qiqi for the win! That was a heartwarming scene. So Shaoshang's twin brother Shaogong divination is accurate.
Episode 48-49: Putting your whole family's life on the line just for a man is dumb. I didn't like what Shaoshang did here. Ling Buyi isn't even worth it. Ling Buyi proposed marriage only to get revenge before the wedding. Double dumb. He just used Shaoshang as a cover in my eyes. I am in episode 49, almost done but I still can't like the ml. And they say Xie Wei from Story of Kunning Palace is red flag but Buyi or Wushang is crazier than him.
Episode 50: And now I am so right with my initial comment that third prince would be a better emperor than the crown prince. He is tough and decisive.
Episode 51: In my mind, Shaoshang called off her engagement with Buyi now Wushang and married Shanjian. -THE END- XD
Now Shaoshang's mother knows the pain of being abandoned and being set aside.
Episode 52: Now everyone is having a good life but Ling Buyi that bastard killed Shaoshang's light.
Episode 53: This was a heartbreaking episode. Empress Xuan was a wonderful woman who filled the mother role in Shaoshang's heart. Meanwhile Shaoshang's mother finally fully understood where Shaoshang felt when she was left for years. I still do not like Huo Buyi.
I've always expected Lady Luo to be a villain. Another fitting end to a villain.
Empress Heng is the toughest woman in this drama. She accepted Empress Xuan for the stabilization of their country. Not anyone can do that.
Episode 54: I cried of her mother and grandmother's regret and redemption. That was a nice scene with her mother.
Finale: My favorite scene was Niaoniao's whole family to the rescue.
Final thoughts:
-Still not a fan of Wu Lei. Chemistry is mid, at best for me. Maybe for others they have great chemistry but I watched a lot of Zhao Lusi drama and she only has in my opinion, great chemistry with her Hidden Love ml and Who Rules the World ml
-Lackluster ending. Too many episodes but where's the grand wedding?!?
-Rigid, almost robotic revenge-centric ML. Red flag all over. Everytime he saves FL, he has an agenda aside. He redeemed himself on the last few episodes but nah, still meh...
-Too many misunderstandings it became boring and repetitive
-I root for Shanjian throughout the drama
What I love about the drama:
-Empress Xuan becoming a foster mother to Shaoshang
-Empress Xuan and Empress Yue's peaceful co existence
-Shaoshang's family especially her brothers and father
-Shanjian
-Huo Buyi's bodyguards especially the talkative Fei
-The villains' fitting ends. That were so satisfying
-Series ending where Shaoshang's family saved her and the Guo villagers
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Mostly Masterpiece but not Perfect drama
One of the best historical drama when it comes to director vision, fight sequences & the production set design, Ep. 1-27 = it's well written and very enetertaining, Ep. 28-53= deserve high praised indeed from its twist & turns storyline, Ep.54-56= it seems the series want to end so badly its just jump from one sequences to another, very ridiculous.*A pregnant character in labor fall inside a trap, climb very fast & flew on the floor from the huge explosion... it never mention whether her baby is ok or not.
*ZiSheng got to climb out from the trap but his leg got held by a woman, he didn't kick nor try to get out, he just freeze & the huge explosion explode inside but he's fine not a scratch and he just explain in words? thats just silly.
*After all what happened above, Zisheng still got time to save the third prince on time even though it took so much time when he stuck inside a trap, as we see that Lou Yao search for a doctor (because of his pregnant wife in labor) till night during rain, later he's not to be seen again.
Zhao & Leo were co-star (Zhao as 2nd Female Lead & Leo as 1st Lead) in The Long Ballad (2017) and their kissing scenes with their respective partners wasn't shown at all, maybe because of director decision
Anyway, worth to watch it indeed
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This was a trully drama, a must watch!
It was my first historical drama. I confess that I was a little hesitant to watch it because of the number of episodes and because I didn't like the story, but it surprised me SO MUCH! I can already say in advance that I recommend it to anyone who is still in doubt about whether or not to watch this drama: Just do it.The main couple delivered everything, especially the chemistry, the way Ling Buyi looked at Shaoshang, the way their feelings evolved over time, the scenes of the two together. I loved every part of this couple, except the part where they had some misunderstanding or were separated. I suffered with them in that part lol.
Shaoshang was an extraordinary character. I loved her from the beginning! Iconic, she never bowed her head to anyone, she showed herself to be strong, a big troublemaker LOL. I laughed so much with Lusi's acting in this drama. The best part of all was that Shaoshang wasn't just an "annoying" character. We could see her maturing as time and episodes went by, her attitude changing, and they managed to do this without ruining the essence of the character, which I thought was incredible.
Shaoshang's parents and family: At first I hated them all, her grandmother, her mother, but over time we began to understand her mother's point of view and concerns, why she acted that way. She loved Shaoshang and wanted to protect her. Over time, her own mother realized how much Shaoshang had matured and changed. As for her grandmother, even she changed too. She stopped being an insufferable character and had her "redemption" too. I usually don't like the involvement of the protagonists' families in the drama, but in the case of LLTG, they added a lot to the story without it being boring or bothersome.
The villains were very well written, with good intentions, the plots throughout the story, the fight scenes were great too.
What impressed me the most was that this was the first time I saw a good royal family that was in favor of the main couple lol (with the exception of some jealous princesses lmao), I simply LOVED the emperor and his two wives, the way he saw Ling Buyi as a son, and tried to bring him together with Shaoshang lol, I laughed so hard in some parts.
Ling Buyi managed to convey the true image of a cold and respected general, with traumas from the past, secrets that we discover over time with him, and a plot that... wow... left me speechless lol, I just loved the change in his expression when he was furious, jealous, being affectionate with Shaoshang, his acting was simply impeccable.
I was just a little sad because I expected at least one more final episode, it was a satisfactory ending, but a little rushed in my opinion, they could have done things more slowly, after all they went through so much suffering, and when they finally get to their happy end, everything is so rushed? That's the only reason I gave it a 9.5/10, except for that, everything was perfect.
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Except ending ,I like every part of the drama
He always wanted to marry her so I really wants to see their marriage but this can't be happened and this made me disappointed. About rest ,I must say it was an amazing drama . Leads were amazing and the chemistry between them also very good . I like both the leads , I enjoyed watching their acting . There were so many scenes of them which made me emotional. I liked female lead's family members . Their acting were amazing . Lovely drama must watch it .first time I had seen other face of King . First time I had seen he didn't bind with the rules of Kingdom . He did his best to prove innocence of good person . I liked the character of king .Was this review helpful to you?
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I will pretend that the last 3 episodes didn't really happen.
Up until the 53 eps, all was very well done and executed. The episodes leading up to the revelation of Buyi's true identity and his revenge was so perfectly written. The blood banquet episode was also giving me chilled. Leo Wu was very phenomenal right there. Him making the decision to abandon NiaoNiao, knowing that she was abandoned when she was a child was very cruel. That's why in my opinion, the last 3 episodes felt rushed and some were out of characters. They didn't felt organic, felt like some part were cut. I didn't really see how NiaoNiao can forgive Buyi for that. Really wished it could have a better ending execution. Also too bad that we didn't get a wedding scene. But overall, it was a one hell of viewing experience.Was this review helpful to you?
