Blossom

Amazing

I want to articulate how great this was but the words are almost impossible to find. I'll say this... there was not a single wasted episode. The story was excellent and for the director's debut of a long drama, this set an extremely high bar.

The drama's strength is its characters. SM and DZ are absolutely feral for each other. I love it. Both their entrances in the original timeline was so epic. I mean, the beginning scene was an amazing hook and a great way to introduce the characters. I was honestly sold on the drama before the end of the first episode, but everything after was nailed to perfection.

SM is absolutely a villain by a normal standard. I mean at one point he was ready to slaughter an entire household to keep his presence and that of a baby secret. He waterboarded his brother. I love him. I wanted him to go apesh*t on the entire royal line for how corrupt and stupid they are.

DZ was the most competent female lead I've seen in a minute. Even when things are out of her control she is always trying to manipulate through the sh*t that she's surrounded by. I love how crafty and strategic she is. And how it's her mind that SM is drawn to.

Two amazing characters with great story lines who are consistent and full of depth.

The story is gripping. I honestly want to compare this with Love Like the Galaxy for how much I enjoyed the court intrigues and the characters. Although LLTG spoiled me with a great emperor and that is definitely not the case here. I was honestly disappointed we didn't have a more deserving death for the emperor for how he betrayed his people/those loyal to him. But... I digress.

Absolutely perfect. The best costume cdrama this year!

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Very satisfying to watch

I decided to watch it as I've heard some good reviews about the first few episodes, and it definitely blows my expectation. I can't really tell that this was a lower budget production at first as it got great cinematography and overall good story & acting.

Pros
- Zhaomo
They are hands down my favorite couple in dramaland now. They are the standard and I just love their relationship so much. The romance development is amazing, the pace is just right and I really could believe in every stages of their relationship. I really love their married life as well, it's so much more intimate than what is shown in other dramas imo.

- Great cinematography
Director is the biggest asset in this drama, he have clear direction and is a good storyteller. While I love the main characters, I also love to see side characters have their own memorable shot, so I really like this director's style. I am definitely looking forward to see his future works.

- Solid script
Script is solid overall. Characters are well written and have their own highlight, story have a clear direction, plenty of good dialogues throughout, and I like the resolution as well. There are some plot holes here and there, but it's quite minimal and still within acceptable level to me.

- Good acting
The acting here is overall pretty good and nothing bothers me, everyone fits their role quite well.

- Good ending
Honestly I was so worried it's gonna end so badly since I don't like the major plot development after their marriage (especially for episode 27-32), but I'm glad it ends on good note and overall still makes sense to me. Some of the storyline could be better though (Songhan x Ansu, Jiyong, Empress x Emperor)... but it's a pretty good ending considering other dramas that I have watched in recent years, so I'm very satisfied overall.

Cons
- Uneven quality for both directing and script
The directing -- some episodes in latter half was not as good as the beginning, the dip in quality is more noticeable since the beginning was really good imo. Thankfully it got redeemed on the last few episodes.

The script also suffer from this as some characters or arc are not that well written, in particular Songhan x Ansu, Jiyong, and Empress x Emperor storyline could be better. I'm not sure if it's because they run out of budget or the censorship cuts few episodes, but I really wish Blossom have few more episodes to develop the latter half better as the plot was too jam packed towards the end.

- Action scenes feel lacking in last episode
Action scenes in the beginning was really good and it's what caught my attention the most... but unfortunately the last battle leaves more to be desired. Again I'm not sure if it's because of budget or time constraint, but I wish the last battle is grander.

Overall I'm very satisfied with the series. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for something perfect because it's not... but if you're looking for something fun with amazing leads, good cinematography, compelling characters, and good ending, then please try to watch it.
Please note that my rating is slightly higher as I really enjoyed watching it and the ending makes me feels like it's worth the express fee that I paid.

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Finally not a c-trauma!!!

It's been AGES since I found a C-Drama that doesn't have a sad or a sh*tty confusing open ending. It got a good story line and I was so hooked. When I heard about the main leads, I was also surprised because the only time I watched a drama with these actors are when they were support actors in other C-Dramas, so I decided to give this drama a go. I am not disappointed at all, the actors did a phenomenal job. The chemistry here is just fluffy~, had me kicking my legs like a little kid. If you want something that is "light-heart" I recommend this drama. Oh my heart~~~

Just to mention, if you want a drama like the K-Drama "Marry My Husband", I recommend this Drama "Blossom". As it has a more complex story line with badass main couple. Their love language is just adorable throughout the whole drama.

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I am a minority and did not like it like everyone. I am dropping the drama

Blossom is a costume time travel Wuxia drama starting Meng Zi Yi and
Li Yun Rui. I don't know why everyone is raving about how good this drama is. I watched 17 episodes and found it boring. The plot is not unique; it has often been done with dominating parents and the concubines bickering with each other.

I watched them at 1.5 speed, and the drama did not lure me. I can only watch one episode per day, compared to other dramas, which I binge-watch in one sitting.

The guy who dubbed Li Yun Rui's character where his voice is almost whispering, and I can't barely hear him. I am dropping this drama. I am happy that most people like it and elevate Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Rui to stardom. Good for them.

Synopsis: Dou Zhao became disillusioned with love and family after losing her mother, retreating to a remote village to study and protect her estate. One stormy night, she helped Song Mo, disguised as a merchant, protect the orphaned descendant of Duke Ding Guo. This fateful encounter led to their paths intertwining as they each faced personal struggles—Song Mo with his family's downfall and Dou Zhao with malicious rumors of an arranged marriage. Given a second chance, they slowly grow close, overcoming distrust and falling in love. Together, they navigate political turmoil, uncover secrets, and support each other through life's challenges.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 7.5
2. Script: 4
3. Music/OST: 6.5
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 6.5
6. Onscreen Chemistry: 7
7. Rewatchable: 4

Overall Rating: 6.5

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Hazy plot and uninspired romance

I feel like this drama started off strong, but the romance was a bit uninspired. I just wasn't sold on the love story of the main characters, or even some side characters. I didn't feel a great connection between them. I don't know why, but maybe it's because of something with the main female lead. (The male lead's loving gaze was so sweet!) I understand she's not a particularly romantic person, but something about it just didn't enthrall me.

The great thing about this drama is how strong and intelligent the main female lead is. I found her character so refreshing! Against all odds, she still tried to stand tall. I think her character is what kept me watching.

However, after a certain number of episodes, the romance seemed pretty much fulfilled and I was wondering why the story even had to keep continuing on. It just got really political, and in a way I didn't enjoy. There were a lot of characters and it was hard to remember who was trying to scheme what, and everyone's facial hair and hairstyle was the same and there were multiple people with the same last name and it was difficult for me. Maybe someone with less face-blindness than me would enjoy the political aspect more, but I also felt like it was just dragging on.

Ultimately, I finished most of episode 31 and didn't feel compelled to complete the story. The parts I enjoyed here and there didn't outweigh the parts I didn't enjoy. It wasn't a memorable show.

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Thrive Alone, Flourish Together, Blossom Forever

#Blossom is a historical drama that focus on rebirth plot. The story navigates through the female lead's independence and self-reliance, along with a mutually supportive and healing relationship between her and the male lead. All other elements, such as court politics, and the male protagonist's quest to seek revenge serve the main storyline without deviating from it. Is it different from bunch of rebirth Chinese drama like SOKP, or TPR? yes. it is very different in the point where our FL and ML didn’t have a converged story line in there first life like in most of rebirth. Their faith intertwined on a fateful snowy night at last moment of that life. They both ended of dead and the FL experience her first life as a dream. What so good about this drama?

#Rebirth sequence. I could say that it is the best rebirth sequence I've ever watched. She didn’t died and relive again like in a time loop or time reversal. The scene was spectacular and uniquely portrayed, also visually pleasing and emotionally captured. Watched it and you’ll believed me.

Character development. After Dou Zhao's rebirth, her goal in life isn't revenge or tormenting scumbags. Instead, it's about getting over the misfortune of her previous life and living well in the current one. She took all the measures necessary to change her first life. She tried to prevented her mother's death but she changed nothing. In her previous life, she was slowly poisoned which caused her chronic lung disease. But this time around she took the poison herself when she heard them talking about poisoning her. That led to her paternal grandmother taking her out of the family manor and and raised her in countryside. She engaged herself in a business, train her maids and got a knowledgeable man as her tutor. Smart indeed. For the male lead his life childhood exactly go as his previous life since he doesn’t have the knowledge of what happened.

Script was good though I was reluctant to continue through episode 2 as it felt like a short drama, since I'm not fan of that so called short drama. Every episodes felt like a single movie while some having a cliffhanger that you immediately clicked the next episode, pretty interesting.

Directing and cinematography. Not a single issue in that department, well done. All the shots are very exhilarating especially that episode 1, was perfect. I've watched some Ming dynasty dramas but I've never been a fan of their costume til now. LLTG and TSOM made me liked Han dynasty Song dynasty respectively. I like Ming dynasty because of Blossom. The decency, style, fashion of the costume made more ancient and that got me really into world setting. The themes and background tracks are really a fit for this type of setting, it was relaxing and mind refreshing.

Casting and acting. Meng ziyi is no newcomer in a Chinese drama, even if you didn’t ever watch her in a drama where she was the female lead you might came across her in a big budget drama as a second lead or a support. I've always been a fan of her since Ever Night. I clicked blossom only because of her. She portrayed Dou Zhao perfectly, I couldn’t asked for more. She embodied spirited, resilient, and self dependent Dou Zhao that you wouldn’t said that she doesn’t fit in that period but rather 21st century girl. You remember that look during competition when they tried to made her falk but she made one falled! I love it. Those her big eyes made me wonder is she really of Han descent? Li Yunrui, saw him first in LLTG, he was good there. But here, he totally shined as rebellious Yan tang and chivalrous general Song Mo, I want to see him more in that grey hair, but seeing him in that indicates that he is already poisoned! The chemistry is giving. I don’t mind them just showing them looking at each other for good 10 minutes. That scene in the ship when she recognized him as the masked man is the proof. What are you still waiting? Start blossom now, you won't regret it.

If the story didn't crashed, I would definitely give it 10/10. But hey! Its a Chinese drama, anything could happen. I have a good hunch it would definitely maintain its flow!

“Nine-layered wild flower can thrive on its own. But I believe with a little support, it can grow even more stronger”, she thrives alone and now they're flourishing together, I do hope their lives would #blossom forever!

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A great rebirth drama

Lacking time to write a full length review, I will just simply say that this one is worth watching for any fans of Chinese period dramas. It’s an idol drama to be sure, but it maintains all the beats and elements that have made any excellent C period drama of yore stand out in the sea of period dramas from any country.

Rebirth dramas have been popular lately, and I think this one balances that fantasy aspect with realism quite well. It’s grounded in Ming dynasty aesthetics and politics, which helps that side of the story work much better than say that of The Story of Kunning Palace. The romance side is done quite organically, with the tremendous help from a director with solid vision to tell that story with palpable tension and believability. My only small gripe is that the character of Song Han just didn’t work for me - he seemed to me an unnecessary villain in a story already complex enough with various antagonists.

Ultimately, gripe aside, of all the Chinese romance period dramas to pick from this year, this one reigns supreme for me.

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An Absolute Win in my Book!

{ Let me preface this by first acknowledging that there are a lot of mixed reviews on this drama. so there’s no pressure to agree with anyone else. Maybe you’ll love it or maybe you’ll drop it halfway through, not understanding what all the hype is about.. And ya know what? THAT’S PERFECTLY OKAY! We’re all allowed to have our own opinions about every drama we watch - there’s no right or wrong. 😉 Just know going into this review that I’m firmly in the “I love it” camp! Have questions? Let’s chat about it! }

Being granted a second chance in your current life (ie. being sent back in time to before whatever tragedy struck that brought about your demise) seemed to be a theme in 2024, in both Korean & Chinese dramas. I obviously didn’t watch them all, but a few I find noteworthy are the kdramas, “Marry My Husband” & “Perfect Marriage Revenge”. And the most notable Chinese one for me in this category for the year is this one, “Blossom”. Historical/costume/period dramas are not my usual go to genre, no matter the nationality of origin. But I kept seeing so many people raving about this particular drama & snippets kept showing up in my SM feeds so my interest was piqued & I decided to see what all the hype was about.

Let me just say - the hype is well-deserved because W O W, this drama is beautiful. My interest was immediately caught by the storyline, the cinematography, & the pacing of the scenes. The FL has a very soothing presence with her looks & voice, even in the midst of the upheaval happening around her. She also has a core of strength not usually seen so early on in the female characters which was refreshing. The way she handled herself with poise & dignity upon finding her husband cheating was perfection. She didn’t take it meekly & just resign herself to her fate. Nope, our girl immediately cut ties & left his sorry tush! And it’s this very brave action that leads her on a collision course with the ML.

So if all of the above is what brought me into the story, this man is what kept me there because wowza, he is a commanding presence. His perfect timing in rescuing her, the way the hood of his cloak falls back to revel his identity, & the absolute hotness that it is him with his white-stranded hair, ohhh yessss - I’m a big fan of that scene! 🤤 He is the PERFECT match for our FL in the looks department & his voice is just as soothing & captivating as hers is. [[[ That may be a weird thing to comment on but seriously, a good voice (or voices in this case) can really help elevate my enjoyment of a show. Consequently, my rating can also plummet if there’s an actor whose voice really grates on my ears. ]]]

From the moment their eyes meet, these Leads’ chemistry leaps off the screen & I just knew I was going to have to binge their entire story because I simply had to make sure they got a happy ending. Thank goodness I discovered this show after it was done airing ‘cause it would’ve been absolute torture to wait for new episodes to release! Kudos to all of the viewers who endured that!! 🙌🏻

Sometimes storylines like this (ones with time travel aspects) can get confusing as you swap between past & present timeline, but “Blossom” handled these scene swaps really well, imho. It was always very clear which timeline the scene was from & the majority of the time we’re in the present timeline. Since the FL is the only one who remembers everything from before, she’s the only one having the flashback scenes, so they really don’t take up a huge chunk of any episode. I really like this because I hate when a drama spends more time focusing on the past rather than the present timeline. This drama’s storyline is really easy to follow in that regard.

The story has lots of different side characters to follow, but it doesn’t get confusing. I mention this because I often get lost when there’re so many people to keep track of, especially when it’s in the historical genre as they’re all dressed in ways that are unfamiliar to me (making it harder for me to recognize anyone). That wasn’t the case here. I’m not 100% sure why but it was really easy for me to differentiate between & remember all the additional characters in this story. Whatever the reason, I never found myself distracted from the story because I was confused on who everyone was.

As I said earlier, the cinematography is beautifully done in this drama. The camera angles, the focus of the scenes, & the lighting all work in perfect tandem. There are certain scenes that will stay with the viewers long after the show is over (I’m speaking from experience!) because of how gorgeous & striking the visuals are. Like when the Leads are shot with an arrow & go crashing through the glass. Or when she’s running into that fire searching for him & he appears out of the smoke & picks her up (swoooon). And when she forces medicine on him through a kiss that has them landing amidst those sheets hanging to dry (helloooooo chemistry!) Also, when they’re both on the brink of death & mystically meet in that dream state - the way they collide together & how the arrow turns to petals when it reaches the ML’s outstretched hand is absolute perfection. 🔥🫠 If you’ve seen the drama, you know exactly what I’m talking about as the scenes are too memorable to forget!

I love the Leads, both as individuals & as a couple. They’ve each faced some seriously dark days & really hard situations. In their past they both died regretting having wasted their lives by devoting themselves to someone who didn’t deserve it (she’s referring to her cheating husband; he means being blinded by his need for revenge). In their present, with her knowledge of her past life & a book to guide her, the FL sets out to change her destiny. She uses what she knows to make a life for herself where she can be financially independent, allowing her to not be reliant on her family (which is good ‘cause they seriously suck! Side note: I love how her dad redeems himself.). And when her path once again crosses with the ML, she’s determined to change his fate as well.

I love how strong they both are. They have solid morals & good hearts, but they’re often misunderstood since they don’t fit society’s mold of how they should act (him more so than her). They strive to protect their loved ones, no matter the odds stacked against them. They willingly make the hard sacrifices if it means bettering the lives of those they hold most dear. They refuse to bow to corrupt leaders but rather fight against the schemes of the villains. They both show the world a tough persona, not allowing any weakness to be seen. But with each other, their walls slowly fall as they grow to trust in & depend on one another.

The way they meet in the present is just as enticing as how they met in the past. Again with the ML in that cloak with the hood - it’s such a striking visual! Their eye contact & body language give me the tingles. These actors have ah-maz-ing chemistry. The way they look at one another & react to each other adds so much depth to every interaction they have. Even though he’s leery of her at first (which makes sense given the circumstances they meet under) he’s still drawn to her. There’s something about her that he instinctively trusts, despite not remembering her. As for her, she’s also leery, but for different reasons. One is because of his reputation, but two is because she’s afraid that history will repeat itself if they get tangled up together. She’s determined to prevent the latter from happening. So even while she’s drawn to him, does her best to protect him/rescue him every time he’s in need, & works to save him from making the same choices in this life as he did previously she’s also trying to remain distant so as not to inadvertently cause their deaths to reoccur.

As amazing as they both are individually I had no doubts that they’d be a dynamic couple when they finally took that step. I’m happy to say I was right! This duo is total couple goals. The trust they share is inspiring. The lengths they’ll go to in order to protect one another makes me swoon (seriously, every time he showed up at the exact moment she needed him, catching her before she could fall {iykyk}, made me happy sigh so big!) And the depth of love they hold for each other makes me melt into a total puddle of goo. I honestly can’t get enough of them, nor can I move on from their beautiful love story. I’m not ready to say goodbye - I want more!

I love, love, love that they got married halfway through & stayed together the whole rest of the drama. I’m so glad the writer’s didn’t put us through a breakup trauma ‘cause I would not have handled that well. It also wouldn’t have felt true to their characters. What did happen felt natural & realistic: he wanted to save her from the pain his death would cause, she pointed out that she would be in pain whether he left her now or he died later which makes his leaving pointless, he actually LISTENED to her & heard what she was saying. He allowed her to choose for herself, then respected the choice she made. Which was, of course, to face whatever comes by his side. And then it was done - no fighting, no second-guessing, no regrets. They were as solid as they’d ever been.

And they truly were solid. So much gets thrown at them, but they never break. They hold tight & fight everyday for a lifetime of loving one another. Family & friends betray them, but they stay loyal & true. The villains seem to be winning, but they remain resolute. Ultimatums & threats are issued, but they don’t falter. Torture is administered, but they don’t give in. Hope seems lost, but they never lose faith. And when the traitors finally make their grand finale move, our Leads stand on the frontlines of the battle, refusing to cower or cave.

In the end, they’re rewarded for their efforts. They get the happy ending they’ve fought so hard to procure. They enjoy a life outside the schemes & follies of the court. And they love each other more with every breath they breathe. 💜🩵

So in conclusion, if you’re going to watch this drama, clear your schedule as you won’t want to stop once you start. There are some couples who, no matter how many other dramas you watch, you just can’t move on from. This duo is one of those unforgettable couples. ❤️‍🔥 From their first moment on screen to their ending scene they completely captivate & mesmerize. If you’re anything like me, you’re about to fall in love with this couple!

**I feel I should mention I don’t think this drama is perfect. There were a few holes in the plot or areas where the pacing felt a bit messy. Nothing too horrible that it lessened my enjoyment, I’m just saying I’m not unaware of the flaws. The one negative that did impact me & is a big enough issue to mention is the complete swap of the ML’s brother’s personality. He went from being this kind & sorta wimpy man-child who loved his brother so much he wanted to be like him to one who’s conniving & a master manipulator. There was no build up, it was just one scene to the next - it was very jarring. I get that the familial drama could cause a mental break in him but the pacing of it all was just not well done. And how he so easily influenced the FL’s bestie felt off too - those girls had faced so much together & even torture didn’t cause them to doubt one another’s loyalty. But this guy successfully gets inside the bestie’s head in so little time, causing her to act out of character? It just didn’t flow. It’s like they needed another villain & just thought, “here, use him”. It felt inconsistent with the rest of the drama.**


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-⬇️ 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.20 💋
- Together : ep.18 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 🫶🏻

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Consistent & Progressive Storyline, Brilliant Prod Team & Stellar Actors/actresses = Key to Success!

I am impressed! ~ I can still recall watching a Youtuber and she mentioned that this drama's just like some other C-dramas out there which was ingrained in my head unconciously and I just happen to remember it as I was watching the show because I realized that the story line truly follows what's commonly seen and used out there. The only difference is that the people who worked on this drama knew how to use each events to their advantage—Not even a single episode was wasted as each one of them gives you this excitement and anticipation to watch the next one.

Consistency is what I believe this story has that made it a cut above the rest. The Director and Script writers are smart people who maneuvered the entire story towards greatness by making sure that every episode is interconnected and follows the natural flow of the storyline. I binge-watched this drama in 5-6 days and I should say that I never, not even once feel that something is wrong. They've never gone astray of the narative and was able to keep and intensify the momentum as the story progresses.

The pride and happiness I feel as a long time Lin Yu Rui fan is uncontainable. I must say that I am overly proud and elated of him for finally getting his first breakout leading drama role and all I know is that I can never let this drama burried and unwatched on my list. He's finally receiving all the attention he deserves and I am very excited to see him work on more dramas that can showcase his talent as an actor.

"The calm before the storm" is the quote I think best describes this drama. There's nothing special about the build up but one thing that remained noteworthy to me is its characteristic of making me wait and anticipate for what's about to come. Knowing that they're brewing something with all the occurences that's been set up so far, it's quite common for anyone to feel excited and crave to watch those scenes as soon as possible. However that's not the case for me for this drama...it has that ability (which is 'Good writing') that made me calmly wait for it as I indulge myself on the current scenes happening without rushing to those events. It has this special quality which allowed me to enjoy and seize the moment as it is. One reason I could come up of, is most definitely because it doesn't have any boring and uninteresting part which made me focused and enjoy the circumstances happening realtime without skipping through scenes. Mind you, I am so used in reviewing dramas subjectively that it's surprising that I cannot do it for this one. Maybe because I do not have personal beef and grudge towards this drama that I ended up not having any opinions that often criticizes the story.

Another commendable factor of this show is its moderate phasing. I really like the fact they stayed in the moment and never really tried to speed up things (and if they ever did, they've done it meticulously as It was gone unnoticed). This production made me feel at peace that I ended up pondering how good the writing is. Truly, kudos to the Director and Writer/s for arranging the scenes and plotting out all the events the way it is. What a masterpiece!

Lastly is its Ending. This drama gave me countless satisfaction on top of each one that I didn't really expect them to do it again one more time. The finale was flawless and god knows how satisfied I was knowing that they really brewed something grand and epic despite showing us the opposite (I'm talking about how the last 2-3 drama went by as if they've surrendered to fate). This drama started great and ended on its greatest state. I am filled with happiness and plesure knowing that the drama I enjoyed ended in such a fulfilling way.

Story - 10, A masterpiece! I never expected it to be one but I ended up hailing it that way because of how flawless and good it was all throughout my watch experience. Each episode are planned meticulously without you feeling it that way. It will just slap you in time that it really is a well-thought-of story after watching it to its end.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am extremely satisfied with the cast and again, I just really wanna mention how grateful I am for everyone for finally appreciating and giving Lin Yun Rui the attention and love he deserves so much. I love Meng Zi Yi too! Their chemistry is so eye-catching that I do not mind watching their scenes for a full hour or so.

Music - 10, The songs used for this drama are all melodic and calm in tone that I don't really have any bad comment about them. All I can say is that it's been a good accompaniment to the drama overall.

Rewatch Value - 10, I can never get tired of this drama. I have said it above and I will say it again here, this drama doesn't have any bad parts at all. It's a compilation of greatness from the very beginning to its ending.

Overall - 10, This story left such an impact to me. I never really thought I will enjoy it the way I did. It is a dark horse among the genre it belongs to. A story that made me realize that a drama's success truly relies on a brilliant production who knows what they're doing and what's best for the story as a whole.

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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