Les Belles (2025)

Chasing Freedom, Finding Love: A Journey of the Heart.

This is the tale of Luo Ling Yu, a young woman determined to escape an arranged marriage, not only to protect her parents' legacy but also, later on, to safeguard her own freedom. Along her journey, she repeatedly crosses paths with Lu Yun, and their fates gradually become entwined.

It’s a classic costume drama, filled with humor, charm, chemistry, slightly caricatural antagonists, and engaging intrigue, everything we expect and love from this type of series. I wouldn’t say it reinvents the genre, because it doesn’t, but it’s a well-crafted story that allows us to follow Luo Ling Yu’s journey with excitement as she bravely fights for her freedom. She’s such a delight to watch: bold, endearing, and unafraid to go after what she wants, including the people she cares about. It’s refreshing, especially when so many female leads tend to take a more passive role when it comes to love.

Lu Yun, on the other hand, is the definition of a green flag: sweet, protective, and sometimes adorably jealous. But what I appreciate most is how both he and Luo Ling Yu actively are supporting each other in moments of doubt.

Beyond just the romance, what truly makes this drama shine is its compelling and multi-dimensional characters. The princes and noble ladies aren’t just decorative figures in the background, they have their own ambitions, struggles, and personal growth that make them feel real and engaging. Some of the friendships and relationships are particularly beautiful to witness, like that of Prince Heng Yang and Luo Ling Yu, whose bond is built on mutual respect and understanding. Their dynamic, along with many others in the series, adds emotional depth that makes the story even richer.

I won’t reveal more about the plot, but if you’re looking for something lighthearted, cute, and full of romance, this drama is absolutely worth your time.

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Rom Com that Rom Coms

The plot gets a 9.5 from me because it said “rom com” and it delivered romance and comedy. If you’re looking for angst, drama, suspense, historical accuracy, etc this show is not it. It stays light and stress-free; conflicts resolve relatively quickly. A feel-good show if you need a pick me up.

I loved the chemistry between the leads. They have a playful chemistry and the battle of wits was entertaining. & Personally for me I loved the FL. She was confident, intelligent, independent, and sassy. And I’m a sucker for MLs who fall in love with their FL’s confidence and strength. I thought they did a great job building on their romance—lots of late night conversations and voiceovers that show you the WHY of them falling in love. Their romance never gets sidelined for secondary characters either.

It’s not a show to make you think hard but it still does a good job with character developments. There’s a running theme of freedom that focuses on the FL and the women in the show; and through the men in her life, you see why she falls for the ML as he’s the one who loves her for who she is and respects her autonomy.

Other pros:
- fun secondary characters
- a solid ending that stayed true to the genre

Cons
- some choppy editing/plots but I’m assuming they had to cut down to 26 eps from the rumored 30. I always give cdramas a pass towards the end lol.

( Edit: Will add that some of the plot at the end may feel out of place but it’s clearly written to reflect the “freedom” theme and how certain people’s perception of love can be confining. The plot towards the end exists to flesh out how much the leads mean to each other even if they’re not always vocal about it. )

Anyway, recommend people giving this one a shot. I think it’s highly underrated and anyone who’s a rom com fan, will likely enjoy it. :)

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