Deep Affection Eyes

The World Is Linked To You..

This drama?? Nothing special about it and that’s exactly what makes it likable.. It’s just ordinary people living their lives with all the joy and pain that comes with it.. The highlight of the drama for me was their insane chemistry.. I honestly wasn’t expecting that..

The first half was just push and pull, misunderstandings and cringe scenes.. Nothing that would make you go ‘Wow.’. Their reconciliations after every fight were funny.. Because their fights were baseless and stupid.. Their reconciliations were stupid too.. It’s like they are all lovey dovey until it’s time to actually share their feelings..

Ep 7 was easily the best in the first half, both in story and acting.. The ML crying in his grandma’s lap was heartbreaking to watch.. Here’s a guy who felt unwanted his whole life.. For the first time he wants to love someone, but he is too scared he might pull her into his world, which is nothing but pain.. When he sees her family and hears them talking about him, it only reaffirms his doubts..

There were a lot of things about the drama I didn’t like.. Instead of having an open conversation, they both just jumped to their own conclusions.. I wouldn’t say they hurt each other, they just hurt themselves.. She literally told him ‘I wouldn’t meet that guy, you should just tell him off for me', but when the moment came she went to him and hid it from the ML.. He finds out and they take a break.. Not blaming her, just pointing out how stupid these situations were..

The funny thing is, right after this they propose to each other.. Like, seriously?? You both have no sense of security or understanding.. How do you go from that to marriage on a whim?? Not just a proposal, they went straight to get it registered.. It gets even funnier.. She is leaving the next day but doesn’t inform him.. When her friend asks about it, she literally says ‘What’s he going to do?? He just needs some sweet talking later..'

For me, them getting married wasn’t the issue.. It’s that they didn’t talk it out, clear the air or discuss anything.. There were misunderstandings that needed to be addressed and they should have had a real heart to heart before diving in headfirst.. I think I would have loved it if that had happened first and then they got married.. Because even after the marriage, their characters are questionable.. The next ep just proves my point.. Even though they are married, they still don’t have a sense of security.. He, mainly, has self loathing issues and just keeps making things complicated.. They should have talked it out.. Once they finally have an open conversation, where he opens up to her and tells her what’s been haunting him, things get better.. From then on, their relationship is stronger.. This should have happened long ago, but it took about 18 episodes to get there..

Like every other drama, there is a love rival here too.. She doesn’t really care about him, but still there is that dude.. Gou Kai is actually one of the worst kinds of people.. But they slapped on comical BGM to make him seem like a good guy.. He used another girl to get back at the FL, sabotaged her career and ruined her chance at finding evidence about her mother’s death.. All just to keep her with him.. Delusional and a complete moron.. Then he went on to ruin the career of the girl he used in the first place.. But the writers still want us to see him as some lovesick puppy chasing the FL.. How delusional do you have to be to propose to a married woman??

Special shoutout to the best character in the show and the only person who sounded sensible and mature, the SFL’s 8 year old son.. He was way too mature for his age.. What a kid.. And also Ming Xiao.. He was a fun character and he turned that attempted proposal scene into a comical fiasco.. It was too funny..

Now, her family.. At first glance you would think they are selfish and all, but they were actually too good.. Same with the SML and SFL, loved them.. Their bond with the main leads was just wholesome and their own story was good to watch too..

Overall, it’s a good drama.. And I personally liked the second half much better.. They could have skipped some of the cringe moments and that scene where they try to kill the FL and ML by setting the car on fire.. IN... THE... RAIN... But hey it’s a drama, so.. Sure, Jan..

I talked about the chemistry so I should mention this too, their intimacy was lit.. They didn’t hold back.. I wouldn’t have rated this an 8 honestly but they gave us a whole episode at the end dedicated to their happy ending.. I love it when it’s not a rushed, last moment happy ending and the fact that they gave us such a long one was really satisfying..

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Give it a try, it will catch you by surprise

I'll admit, even before it started airing I was quick to judge this drama as another cringy superficial romance with unnecessary drama. I'm sorry I doubted you my queen Zhang Yuxi!!! The role of Ye Meng was MADE for her—badass, boss woman who stands on business and a complete girl's girl. Her strength is balanced by a wonderful softness in the way she looks out for ands takes care of Li Jinyu from the very beginning because she senses, immediately, he needs someone. Sure, she meddles a little, but her genuine nature makes her so endearing that you don't see it as her being nosy but simply very caring.

I will always love a miserable ML (sorry not sorry) and Li Jinyu has misery in SPADES. Bi Wenjun is amazing at playing the cold and depressed male lead, with an air of fragility that we (and the FL) eventually sense through the layers of stoic numbness. Li Jinyu's a really unconventional male lead, because he's not the typical a-hole with a sob story: in fact the person he hates the most is himself. At the start he comes off as a playboy with all the girls hanging off of him, but very quickly you see that he's simply living day by day in autopilot mode, careless to anything and anyone, until he meets the FL.

The moment he meets Ye Meng, the tension is undeniable, and although she's the one to approach him first—make no mistake, our ML notices her ALL. THE. TIME. It's really subtle at first, but there's a significant moment in episode three when their bond shifts permanently, an "I see you for who you are truly are" kind of moment, and from here it blossoms into a genuine friendship. ML and FL chemistry is so wonderfully charged when they flirt with each other and try to push each other's buttons, but then it's balanced beautifully with these tender, emotional moments of depth and gravity. One thing I loooooved was that the cinematography was so well-matched for the tone of the drama, it was like such a treat for the eyes; the colour palette, the music, and the character styling were all so immersive and artistic.

There is a bit of push-and-pull before our MCs get together, and even after they do, the relationship can be tenuous at times - but I honestly loved how realistic and natural it was. The growth of the characters as individuals was organically reflected in their growth within their relationship, from insecurity to unbreakable trust, and from keeping secrets to complete honesty, they just kept getting stronger and stronger! They had moments where their conversation flowed so naturally, it was like I was watching a real couple (and suddenly became a third wheel...)

Also, a very very important side note - the female friendships were SPECTACULAR. The FL and her best friend Ya En were so ride-or-die for each other, I was honestly a little envious and wistful myself.

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A Love Letter to the Unexpected: A C-Drama That Surprised Me in All the Right Ways

I went into this drama with neutral expectations—and somehow walked out a little soft, a little smitten, and a little stunned at how much it touched me.

This show caught me off guard in the best way. It’s rare that a drama filled with tropes I usually avoid—noona romance, a female lead who falls first and chases, even some classic rom-com clichés—manages to completely win me over from the very first episode. And yet, here I am, glowing with the aftertaste of something truly special.

Let’s talk about what works, because there’s plenty. First, the cinematography: it’s absolutely gorgeous, with each frame bathed in this subtle, poetic aesthetic that feels like a visual hug. The OST? Emotional without being manipulative, perfectly timed to elevate every vulnerable glance, every tender moment. The music feels—and it makes you feel, too.

Then there’s the chemistry between the leads. I’ve seen both actors in other projects before—separately—and honestly, they didn’t leave a strong impression on me back then. But together, in this drama? Absolute dynamite. Sincere, electric, unforced. Their emotional evolution feels so natural and intimate, and the drama doesn’t shy away from skinship or romance—it embraces it, allowing the relationship to breathe, bloom, and burn slow in all the right ways.

What really sold me, though, was the writing. The dialogue feels real—playful, at times absurd, but always rooted in something honest. These characters talk like real people. They joke, they flirt, they fall apart a little, and somehow in the middle of it all, they unpack deep emotional truths without ever crossing into melodrama. And the bonds between the cast? Genuine. The supporting characters aren’t fillers; they’re essential, alive, and unforgettable in their own right.

Sure, the story has its dips—but what drama doesn’t? What matters is that it holds you, keeps you invested, and leaves you with something beautiful to come back to.

In the end, this drama is an aesthetic gem—intimate, reflective, and emotionally generous. It reminded me that sometimes, love shows up in places we least expect, wrapped in the very things we thought we didn’t want. And maybe... that’s the best kind of surprise.

Highly recommended.

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More Filler Than Plot, But Still Fell For It

This was quite an enjoyable ride, although I preferred the earlier episodes over the latter half. The story isn’t particularly new, but it’s not overused either, so it still felt fresh. The pacing is an odd mix of fast and slow, like not much actually happens plot wise, with scenes that feel like filler strung together, but the individual moments are fun and engaging enough that it works.

The romance was okay. I really liked how flirtatious the FL was with the younger ML. He wasn’t portrayed as a “cute little brother” type, but as a grown man with childhood trauma, his sad eyes gradually lighting up after meeting her was a nice touch. Both leads felt simultaneously mature and immature, and their marriage felt impulsive. It seemed more like a phase of attraction than deep love, which explains the FL's hesitation. They had some spicy moments, but they came off a bit performative. Still, I enjoyed them as a couple.

The “I kept this secret to protect you” trope is not for me, and unfortunately, ML falls into that trap. It causes FL to lose some trust in him, and since this was supposed to be a mature romance, the conflict didn’t feel satisfying especially since it was predictable (they get married by episode 8).

Acting wise, FL was good, though I wasn’t a fan of her makeup at first, it grew on me eventually. ML had no obvious flaws but wasn’t particularly memorable either, aside from having the face.

I liked the second couple too, though I would’ve loved them more if the SML wasn’t so indecisive about his feelings. The SFL was adorable, both in personality and style. I especially appreciated that she chose to walk away from a marriage that hurt her. Her dynamic with her son was sweet, he’s cute and somehow more mature than many of the adults. SML was honestly hilarious.

The friendship between SFL and FL was one of the highlights of the show. Their bond was precious and deeply comforting, they really felt like soulmates. I love strong, long-term female friendships like theirs.

The grandmas were also a delight. Their scenes didn’t always feel necessary, but they bickered so much and had such good chemistry that I enjoyed every moment they were on screen.

Overall:
Would I recommend this? Yes. It’s not flawless, and the drama has its ups and downs, but it’s a good watch with heartwarming relationships, light comedy, and enjoyable characters.

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Not for me

I need to care about the characters in the shows that I watch. Here, the only ones I cared about were the grandmas and the second lead couple. I felt like it took me weeks to get through this one (I think I've only dropped one drama - I'm no quitter, even when continuing is as irritating as this was.)

STORY/WRITING - It was okay, but nothing extraordinary. Him being younger than her was mentioned a few times - why? It was two years! I absolutely hated the way the FL was written - too forward, kind of stalker-ish, wouldn't take no for an answer, extremely immature, pouting, making ML "pay" for mistakes that she thinks he's made, posting pictures online to make him jealous, emotional game playing, and she always wanted him to do the apologizing, then would pout some more. ML was okay. I didn't find the plot itself interesting, it seemed to repeat a lot and the episodes seemed bloated. I would much rather have had more time spent on the 2nd couple. Now them I loved! There were some amusing things happening with them. However, her abusive husband was a nightmare and then suddenly disappeared, never to be mentioned again. I did like the friendship between the women, the relationship between the ML and his grandmother, and the secretary/aide of the guy that kept trying to get with the FL. He was very funny. I loved the wedding scenes, and the family scenes - they were loud and chaotic, but you could feel the love.

ACTING - for the most part the acting was good. As is usual with Chinese dramas, a lot of the acting for the ancillary characters was really bad. FL - absolutely stunning to look at. The chemistry between the leads was good, but I still didn't buy their relationship, she played too many games. As I mentioned, I loved the second couple. The 2ML was a "tough guy" but I loved how he stuttered every time he was near the 2FL. I also loved his relationship with her son.

COSTUMING - what the heck!?!?! Most of the clothes the ML wore were too big for him, like he was playing dress up. The FL wore things that stuck out like a sore thumb in a small town. Shorts and Boots, too-large blazers. She seemed like she should have been working in a large city, not a small town. And the blue sweater with the bunnies pinned on it? Absolutely ridiculous!

REWATCH VALUE - there is no way!

I realize that I am in the minority here, so you decide for yourself whether to try it.

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Could have been better but not the worst show out there

The premise of Deep Affection Eyes is the evil mother of the male lead hates her son, who has the lowest opinion of himself, is loved by his grandma and gets married to a beautiful but fiery better half.

As such, show stars one of my favourite female leads. Her acting is always on point. In this show she portrays a fiercely independent individual who knows what she wants, is professional and isn’t afraid to get married.

The male lead is dark, broody and believes the world would be better off without him. However, the way his character unfolds, although good at first became repetitious regarding keeping things from our lovely starlet. She in turn really did give him a hard time.

They do have good chemistry. When they are together, you want to see them have a happy and loving relationship. When there are misunderstandings, show wrings every possible ounce of angst there is. Still, you want what’s best for them.

The evil mother in charge of a corporate empire starts out strong. Her partner in crime is central to the misdeeds throughout the show’s run. In the end, I was meh regarding both.

The two grandmas are a delight. They were rivals in their youth but come together to guard our two lovebirds. We have seen both actresses in many shows before.

The second couple were wonderful. However, show played too many games with their relationship in the last third of the show.

In terms of the various friendships - yes, they were good. In fact, the female leads were great. The male leads together were frustrating at times.

So what did we have? Show was well made, great setting and moved along quite well. However, I felt it was trying to unveil too much in the number of episodes it had. We had the angsty theme, the evil redevelopment theme, the sick grandma theme, the misguided sister theme, the interfering boss and ex girlfriend theme, the secretly married couple theme, not one but two loud and irritating friends, the smart kid theme, the woe is me theme as I am the centre of all the world’s problems and finally a passionate couple when they got their act together.

Show is worth a look. I just found I began to fast forward in the last third of the show as it tried to resolve too many issues but at the same time let other issues peter out! It’s one of the few shows I rated below what is on MDL and way below what’s on Viki.

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Empty eyes

This drama starts off with interesting, playful, cool slightly broken leads but drags on and on with boring plot point after boring plot point... slow mo.... flashbacks and filler episodes making my slightly affectionate eyes getting n to this end up as empty ones.

The leads ahve decent interactions and indeed do seem to look at each other wiht hungry/deeply affectionate eys but they are hot n cold, yes and no, on and off, and on and off, and poof someone is gone and poof someone comes back. Immature, impulsie and completely lacking communication skills are words that could describe every single character in this drama except for the kid.

A part of me loved the kid another feels really bad for the kid as he is just a kid but takes on the role of grown up, mature voice in the room. In the drama it is passed off as a good thing in my mind all I see is irresponsible adults making this kid grow up to fast.

Yes there are some decent shows of found family, courtship and friendship... Bad paranteing, more bad paranting and yes bad parenting from the so called good parents too.

So while there are some interesting and passionate moments between our mains and Im sure there is a good story to be told hidden in there somewhere... The drama it self may aim for deep affectionate eyes from the viewers, as the episodes went by, much like a bad marriage the affectionate eyses turende empty and I just could not wait for it to end.

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Where Passion meets Scars

A quietly intense romance that lingers on in your mind. Deep Affectionate Eyes explores emotional wounds and the complicated beauty of healing. The story centers on an older, emotionally wounded female lead who, despite her own past, boldly initiates a connection with a younger man equally weighed down by his own traumas. Their chemistry is magnetic, with a slow-burning sensuality that unfolds as both characters seek therapy and confront the ghosts of their pasts. It’s not just a love story—it’s a delicate, grown-up exploration of vulnerability, desire, and emotional rebirth.
As for rewatch value: the kisses alone can bring one back to it forever but the dialogues are well written and one can enjoy a small new detail with every rewatch.
Final verdict: one of the best shows of 2025

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Stunning Couple Average Drama

The leads are probably some of the best looking leads that I have seen in this year's drama but the drama separates them as quickly as they get together. There is a lot of drama in the plot, some of which is interesting most of if wasn't because most of it was unnecessarily dragging the story. I was a bit bored at the start and towards the end.

I really loved the second couple as well but I kept waiting for them to get together and it never happened. Why is it that divorced men with kids are allowed to date and remarry but when it is a woman, there needs to be hesitation and time given for her to accept love in her life again? I feel like Taiwan and Japan are ahead of the curve in this matter when it comes to drama depictions of divorced women experiencing love again.

Still I can appreciate the age-gap relationship which is not really much but it is something. Hardly any older woman younger man dramas are being made where both are adults so I'll take what I can get.

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Atypical Romance with Intrigue

I had my doubts going into this drama because I am not a fan of the FL. However, this is the first drama that I have seen with her that I enjoyed. This was a good role for her and she did a very good job portraying this FL.

I had only seen the ML in one other drama, but it was his performance that kept me coming back. His eyes truly are deep and affectionate. That was evident in every scene, even when he tried to portray himself as a person of questionable character.

Every role in this drama was cast perfectly and all characters, regardless of their roles personality added depth, humor, empathy and the full range of emotions. I will say that I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch a drama with the ML’s mother in it for a long time, as just seeing her face had me angry with her in every appearance she made in the story.

The childhood friends, the grandmothers and the biggest surprise of all was the ML’s little sister. Let’s just say that her singing debut was definitely not what I expected 😂

The storyline was good. A little weird in places - like the FL’s former boss who kept pursuing her even when he knew she was married, but didn’t believe it because he had convinced himself that he was perfect. Narcicist doesn’t even begin to describe how much this guy admired his self.

I have to admit, the 2nd ML was annoyingly endearing because he was just a tender hearted oaf who clung too much to his image of being a gangster. I loved the interaction between him and the 2FL’s son.

Tge story has a lot of twists and turns and the screenwriter did a great job of leading your mind down one path only to find out our assumptions were wrong. I showed the corruption and coverups of serious crime, revealed the dangers of holding others, especially children, for things beyond their control - and even more so was that revenge and anger have terrible side affects on you and those you love.

The ending was a bit of a letdown, and this is my only complaint about the drama. The wedding was just the 1ML and 1FL, with no guests, flowers or any of the pomp and circumstance of most cdrama marriages and felt more like it was filmed in a giant walk-in closet with less than ideal lighting. I really wish that screenwriters and directors realize how a mediocre or poorly planned ending can be a big detractor of a dramas ratings.

Sorry for the side trip!

All in all I think this was a good watch and tugged on all your emotions and pulled you in to the story at the beginning.

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