Returned Master

The Chemistry? chemistrying and Censorship? Bet

The MLs dynamic is a kidnapped forced marriage lol, then enemies to "bromance" even when they're enemies they stand up and protect each other they have their own moments. Despite being short it's detailed and done well like any full length drama, even side characters have a nicely detailed style, acting and cast stands out the most they are brilliant and carried well.

Plot is very serious a seek for revenge and the events are portrayed in a nice pace, there's a couple funny moments but most of it is angsty and the focus is the male leads, the side female character is a sister figure she's not portrayed terribly thankfully but rather a kind person who supports the people around, so if you're seeking a bromance focus it's doing that.

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Bromance Beyond Revenge

I loved this bromance. It never felt dull. The plot revolves around the main character, Jianwei, seeking revenge for his parents. He infiltrates the enemy’s stronghold by getting kidnapped and disguising himself as a girl. Once Xiaoxi discovers the truth, their relationship shifts from enemies to friends, and eventually to brothers/bromance. The two gradually warm up to each other, caring for and protecting one another while slowly revealing their vulnerabilities and learning more about each other.

Friendship and bromance are central themes throughout the story, with each relationship beautifully developed—from the father-son dynamic to the tender bond between Aunt Qing and Chen Weishan, and of course, the bromance between the leads. Xiaoxi’s sister, a side female lead, is sweet-natured and cares deeply for everyone around her. All the characters are well-developed, and you’ll find yourself liking each of them. They each play a key role in moving the plot forward. Aunt Qing, in particular, helps Jianwei with his quest for revenge, and through her guidance, Jianwei uncovers the truth behind the events o that happened twenty years ago.

The pacing is well done, with a plot twist toward the end that keeps things interesting. A few moments of humor lighten the tone, but overall, the series is a beautifully crafted story. I’d definitely recommend it if you're okay with the bromance aspect.

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An Entertaining Bromance That is Worth Exploring!!

There are catcalls and comments on the relationship status between these two; but this show is more romance than bromance!

For those who have been eagerly and anxiously awaiting the release of this show, we have good news to share. Does it have ample amount of bromance? Does it meet the same standard as “Word of Honor” since they share the same Director (Jones Ma)? The answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes”. Although the script does go through various loopholes and jargons to meet the tyrannical Chinese censorship. We have a female protagonist to toe the line who sadly gets sacrificed in the end. Starring Dong Zi Fan & Li Kai Wen, “Returned Master” is a typical wuxia romance. We could very well daringly call it a love story between the male protagonists (unless you can’t handle the fact that they are first cousins). It seems the show is getting a lot of hate comments from international audiences that can’t stand the fact that the main leads are actually cousins. For those who are unaware, in most Asian countries, relationships between cousins isn’t considered as incest. Some marriages are even arranged by families themselves. Also, the show is a historical, so obviously the scriptwriters didn’t spare much thought towards it. So, let’s get down to the juicy details as we share the most solemn moments in this sordid love story!

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/07/30/returned-master-series-review-ep-1-to-24/

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Came for BL... Stayed for the Plot... (this is a bromance)

I can't get over the amount of moral policing people are doing in the comments. Like nobody is forcing you to ship them, let people who do live in peace.

So, I feel like this was a bit gay-baity, in the sense that it clearly feels like a BL and even has the MLs marry in the very first episode. But then it goes the bromance route... and then goes the BL-bait thing with the shackles of love... and then bromance again when XX's sister crushes on LJW and XX kinda implies LJW and the sister should be endgame.... and then BL with the whole longing thing... where LJW's seeing XX's face in random strangers on the street.

Of course the nail in the coffin for the BL plotline is the fact that they are cousins. Although, 1) historically, it would not have mattered, and 2) the anti-incest thing is scientific and biological for procreation and not moral reasons, 3) since they are a same-sex pair there is no biological basis to be against the pair, 4) they literally find out they are cousins a year into their bonding, after 20 years of not knowing each other, and one side hating for 3 years and one side clearly in awe for their time together... I will never understand how people think that just because there is some degree of relationship, you are not allowed to be human and have feelings for another person. If creationism is real isn't everyone in the world related and a product of incest because if Adam and Eve were the first humans and had kids, who did those kids reproduce with? Even from an evolutionary standpoint, it is likely that all humans are related at some level. Also, it seems bizarre to me that if the mothers were sisters they were ok with each other's sons being masacared because of the actions of their fathers regardless of who was right/wrong - but then again, historically, entire families were wiped out for treason.

The whole BL/Bromance drama aside, the story was really well executed and it kinda reminded me a little of The Untamed with the vibe. The actors did an amazing job (sure there were some weak points, but you can't get everything you want). I loved the revenge plot. As the show went on the plot became more and more predictable, but it was still really well done. Sure the plot was a bit bait-y (and disappointing to my fujoshi heart), but everyone did an amazing job on this show. I am so glad I watched it.

I think the open-endedness was sweet, and like eveyrone else, I am yet another person believing XX survived, protected LJW as a ghost, overcame his guilt and returned home to LJW and the Ghost Valley.

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They are fu*king cousins y'all !!

Why where the leads presented with romantic bgm & chemistry if they are supposed to be related 🤮The tags literally say 'homoerotic subtext'. ( Pardon my french) What the f*ck? which circle of queer baiting hell is this? 😭
Mediocre at best.
The actors are ok, costumes are pretty. Set, props & everything is passable. It's only around 15min, so not a lot of time is wasted.

The screen play is a dumpster fire. The story is all over the place. I don't know if the makers know what they want this story to be. I don't understand half the things the characters are doing or what's going on. The subtitles are shit.

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Bromance Bait to Revenge Redemption: A Mixed Bag

I started this expecting a juicy, angsty bromance with a domineering top and weak bottom vibe, we can blame those misleading clips on YT for fooling me like always. Instead, I got a revenge plot that felt like it was funded by pocket change and a prayer. The first half was a slog, cringe-worthy dialogue, erratic pacing that swung between rabbit-speed and turtle-crawl, and single-note characters that screamed “low-budget.” The random dramatic zooms and bizarre background music had me questioning my life choices. I was ready to drop it, but my completionist soul refused to quit.

Then, something magical happened around episode 13. The story kicked into gear, hooking me with a plot that actually had me invested. The characters grew depth, the bromance chemistry started simmering (not quite the romance I craved, but I’ll take it), and the cinematography suddenly looked like it had a budget bigger than five bucks. Flaws like the inconsistent script and odd music choices faded into the background when I was vibing with the story. It’s like finding a decent snack in a vending machine, you’re not exactly wowed, but you’re satisfied. Sadly, the ending pulled a classic cdrama trope I loathe, one character vanishes for no reason, leaving the other to pine dramatically until a last-second reunion. They need to stop doing this.

Overall, Returned Master isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a decent ride if you skip the rocky first half. It’s not something I’d rewatch. I am always searching for new stuff but I’d nudge you to give it a shot for the second half’s glow-up. Just don’t expect high-budget polish.

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Unexpectedly a good watch!

Amidst all the thai’s bromance/BL series, accidentally came across this on kissasian. Surprisingly, it was quite good. Having only 24episodes with probably 20mins each makes everything went quite fast with no filler. I bingewatch ep 3 till the end in just one night. The plot surprisingly was quite well thought, with acceptable and non nonsense plot twist. Both the MLs’ acting was good(probably had a minimal hiccup here n there but it doesnt bring the story down too much) and their chemistry was chef kiss! The enemies to lover trope was done quite well, i was quite surprise watching the initial beatings CXX gave to LJW at first. Lol. LJW has this soft beauty (sometimes he looks like Li Hongyi in certain angle. ) The settings was appropriately decorated, it gives off quite a high budget impression to me, despite being a short length series. Lol. Their costumes were also nice and flowy I like! The fight scene was well executed and the fight choreo was also nice. After having such a problem with the fight choreo in Youthful Glory, i became a bit sensitive towards it watching costume dramas. Lol. OST was also quite nice to hear, and fits the overall genre. And not to mention, theres a lot of whump scenes between the two leads, making it almost a sure rewatch in my books. Lol

They did CXX wrong a bit in the end, ending his story just like that, i’d prefer they made him come back strong assisting the war to glory, rather than the ‘not human not ghost’ ending they gave him. Well, i guess we all dont get to have it all right?

All in all, truly recommended this series despite its flaws here and there though.

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Griping Tale of Revenge, Betrayal and Identity

Honestly, I didn’t expect much from Returned Master, but the acting was much better than I anticipated. There were no cringey moments, which is always a relief, and the plot was solid. By the end, I felt like everything came full circle, which was really satisfying.

What I liked most was how both male leads stayed true to their principles all the way through. Neither of them broke their beliefs for the sake of their loved ones, which is kind of rare in dramas. JianWei, who’s all about living with truth, makes the difficult choice to accept reality in the end. Xiaosi, from the very beginning, believed that a son has to pay for the sins of his father, and by the end, he carries the burden of his birth father’s sins.

As for the ending, I thought it suited Xiaosi’s mindset really well. Even though it was open-ended, I kind of like to believe that Xiaosi never returned, and it was just JianWei’s imagination. That would have made it a lot more angsty, and I think it would have been even more powerful.

All in all, Returned Master surprised me in a good way. It’s a solid watch with great acting and characters who stick to their guns until the very end.

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Um drama curto de ótima produção!

Muito bom! Apesar de ser um drama curto, foi tão bem (às vezes até mais) bem feito que um drama longo!

Pontos positivos: O enredo é muito bem construído, não há pontas soltas e não há acontecimentos ilógicos! O ritmo da história não te cansa, não ficou tudo para o final também, o roteiro foi realmente bem feito. A construção da amizade dos personagens principais foi muito interessante, porque apesar de serem "inimigos" a maior parte do tempo, a transição pra amigos/confidentes ficou ótima. Atuação decente pra um drama curto. Figurinos, cenários, fotografia, tudo realmente muito bem feito! Não fica atrás de nenhum drama de longa duração!

Pontos negativos: Se eles queriam tentar um "bromance" poderiam não ter colocado eles como primos, até porque eu não senti química de "casal" neles, apenas bons companheiros mesmo.

A história não é focada em artes marciais, e sim, na vingança do Li Jian Wei.

Vale bastante a pena assistir, é rápido e gostoso de acompanhar.

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