Enslaved by Love

A very decent drama about a dark, angsty, misunderstanding-fueled red-flag romance.

(I don't want to spoiler anyone, so click "read more" to view, if you want the quick and dirty summary of this show :P )

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Mannn, it starts off with ML doing some really messed up shit to the FL. But it's all good, because she goes to great lengths to get even. And then mannnn does she do some messed up shit to him! Then they both feel very regretful, and kind of decide to do like a "do-over".

The kisses are decent, the show is kind of tame, but with a spicy kick. The ML and FL have mad chemistry, they look so freakin good together, and they both are great actors. They make such a good pair.

The other parts of this show are really on point. Acting by supporting cast, costumes and styling, music, direction, everything fits together very seamlessly and is so well done, that it's almost hypnotic how you get immersed and just want to keep watching another episode and another and another.... There were parts of the storyline that could have been made more clear, so it's kind of blocky and disjointed. But not too much, it's mainly fine. None of the dialogue really stands out as genius, but it flows nicely and there's no cringe.

This starts out as a toxic as hell romance, but it doesn't end as one. I guess you could say they get it all out of their system and become cured of their sadistic urges toward one another. There is an HE, but it's one of those last-minue HE's that isn't really super satisfying. But the bulk of the show itself is very satisfying, so..... you could see it as a trade-off.

I think it's mayyyybe rewatchable. If I decided one day to rewatch it, it would be for the ML and FL performances, and for the pretty ratcheted-up levels of angst combined with a pleasing dose of spice. The kiss scenes could have been better, but they also could have been a lot worse. This is a cut above the average short-length drama. Definitely worth a one-time watch at least.

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Love which Kills and Heals

I chanced upon this short drama and right from the very first episode, I was hooked. I could not stop watching one episode after another. Yes, this drama was kind of "sick" in the way the ML expressed his love and protection for FL by torturing her in the name of love. Nonetheless, FL was charming, beguiling and yet, super feisty and smart. She was a force to be reckoned with and I really liked that.

What I Like Quite a Bit:
- Both FL and ML are good-looking. Gosh, the FL is a great actress with a lovely face. She charms the pants off viewers by simply being so pretty. She oozes charm and appeal. It is my first time watching this actress and I am quite blown away by her beauty and her ability to act/ deliver her scenes. The ML is handsome and manly too. He has a nice built.
- This drama is quite "adult" if you get what I mean. I like the steamy scenes. ML and FL have plenty of "skinship" which I love to watch.
- Although the drama is very fast-paced, the plot is generally tied up quite nicely and machinations are explained.
- In general, the casting is good.
- In general, the plot is exciting.
- The ML loves FL wildly as well as truly and deeply. Likewise for FL. The drama's title speaks for itself.

What Can Be Better:
- The ending seems rushed. I think having one more episode to give FL and ML a happily-ever-after will be great.

On another note, I was devastated and felt pained when Cai Tian Xi died to protect his master, the ML (who was the City Lord). He was truly devoted and loyal and his death pained me even as a viewer.

I was greatly entertained by this short and yet, interesting mini-drama which featured an exceptional FL and a pretty awesome ML.

I highly recommend this very delicious and sort of sinful snack to those who enjoy steamy, hot, kind of S&M plots.

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Short, tropey to the core but what a treat!

Ok let me start by saying the ML comes at first as a toxic mfk who you want to slap to kingdom come. And lo and behold, our FL in just a few episodes slaps the sh*t out of him! What a treat!LOL! Not a woman to mess with, our FL schemes for almost all of the episodes to take her sweet revenge. All the tropes are here:toxic ML, misunderstood and sa FL, vicious SFL, villain, amnesia, misunderstandings, lost family members, revenge, blindness! There's also humour, like wtf??Need I go on? And yet... And yet reader! He 's really served humility in a platter! And they talk about it! They literally forgive each other like 2 adults at the end! It's so out of cdramaland that I'm shocked to grading it higher than what it's really worth! ML 's my new crush and oh, his smiles... A dream! His acting is also commendable. Now the FL is a known actress in such dramas, but damn girl, feel the kisses a little more, don't be so unfazed.

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Finally a drama for adults.

I am utterly captivated by this drama; I can’t help but describe it as perfection in storytelling and execution.

The chemistry between the main leads is absolutely extraordinary, making their performances truly magnetic. From their first interaction, you can feel the tension radiating off the screen, drawing you into their complex relationship. The narrative kept me on the edge of my seat, with each twist and turn expertly crafted to sustain suspense. The love-hate dynamic between the characters unfolds beautifully, showcasing their struggles and emotional depth, which is further enhanced by the palpable sensuality in their interactions.

The production quality is impressive, and the attention to detail is evident, especially in how the wounds—both emotional and physical—are portrayed; they look strikingly real and add layers to the story.

The ending felt a bit rushed, and the final battle lacked the epic scale I was hoping for. I believe that with a larger budget and perhaps an additional episode, this drama could have concluded in a much more satisfying way. Despite these shortcomings, I still rate it a solid 10 because it was beautifully executed in terms of direction, cinematography, and character development. The emotional depth and storytelling were truly commendable, which is why I’m able to overlook the flaws in the finale.

It has been ages since I found myself so deeply engrossed in a drama that I couldn't stop thinking about it, replaying scenes in my mind.

This drama is not meant for everyone.

This drama explores the intricate dynamics of emotional cruelty, showcasing how the profound love between the two main characters becomes shattered. The story unfolds through a series of misunderstandings, (mostly because of villains) that emerge from both characters, creating a tension that feels relatable. As the narrative progresses, these miscommunications are thoughtfully resolved, leading to moments of significant revelation. At its core, this drama delves into the complexities of passion, depicting its intense highs and devastating lows, ultimately revealing the multifaceted nature of love, passion and sensuality. In the end, love triumphs.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon a condensed version on youtube that compiled the 15 min episodes to make 8 episodes, each 46 minutes long.

I am now very curious to watch other costume dramas from those leads.

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Guilty pleasure, well-made mini drama

I accidentally found this on YT and gave it a try. It started like an old-fashioned bodice ripper romance, and very steamy for Chinese drama so I couldn’t help watching more. And the ML is OMG so handsome! The FL too, she looks almost like a manga character. For such a mini drama, the production was really high quality, with good actors, luxurious costumes and beautiful settings. It had a halfway decent plot which was okay but with the main focus on the romance. There was a lot of kissing, hugging and sitting half-naked in steaming bathtubs, more than I‘ve ever seen in a CD. What I really didn’t like: In the beginning, the hero did some things to humiliate the heroine (mainly due to a misunderstanding, he thought she’d betrayed his love) but it was very over the top, cruel and simply abusive. It really ruined his character for me and even if he somehow turned into that super gentle loving guy later, what he did to her should be unforgivable. I‘m really worried that such toxic relationships are presented as normal to young girls. As an adult woman, I can see that it‘s just a fictional fantasy. However, the love story soon turned sweet and the hero was humiliated, too, so he atoned for his sins in the end. The heroine was clever and feisty. All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining watch, but don’t take it too seriously. 😊

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A handsome face with a dark heart

This was hard to watch, because there is all kinds of assault, insults, and demoralization to the FL character. But it was interesting story, grabbed you by the throat emotionally and worth the watch. The ML actor Cheng Yu Feng was just excellent because as a watcher of the drama, I despised the character entirely and wanted to punch his lights out! As an actor, he did he job and he did it well. It had a happy ending, which fit's my main requirement. But I do not recommend this twisted, dark tale, to anyone who has any issues with physical or emotional assault. Trigger warning big time.💣

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Polished prod, lovely actors, but the weak writing doesn't manage to maintain the initial tension

Yeah so there is no hiding, it's a big guilty pleasure, there is zero excuse for the very toxic plot at the beginning beside fulfulling some dark fantasies (I'm the target, can't complain). It starts with the hero going straight to the brothel to assault his ex instead of deflowering his bride, before throwing the heroïne in a snowstorm, literally putting her in ice and fire trials. I can't deny it, I really enjoyed the first part of this when it's very f*cked up and all "I will get my revenge on you but I'm also still very attracted to you, so my revenge will be agressively sexual with lots of angry kisses and biting". I also enjoyed the crazy ménage à trois with Bao Bao (Teng Ze Wen is delightful as a childish and vain first wife), but lost interest once it became more classic as the dynamic between the characters changes. It stays beautiful though, thanks to strong production values and direction. Deng Zhan Neng is known for churning some really polished short romances like this one, and I'm very excited to see what he does next. Plot wise, I really like this kind of dark romance where the revenge is personal (it's a whole subplot in Kunning Palace), but ultimately I found the writing not strong enough to sustain the tension until the end.

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