Dark Romance

Revenge, Palace Politics, Dark Romance
Second Chance: FL dies & wakes up as her 18 year old self
Smart FL & Morally Grey ML

MDL: 8.7
My Rating: 8.0
Pros:
- Steamy chemistry.. Zhang Linghe has truly never been hotter
- Good pacing & addictive storytelling
- Good visuals but not the most immersive worlds
- Great acting

Cons:
- First half has some pacing issues but really picks up midway through
- Logic holes & many places where the story felt rushed or not fully explained
- I especially wish they explained the ML's personality switch better.. he just turns super unhinged, toxic and growly all of a sudden even when he's not suffering from his allusive condition
- The ending episode was SO cheesy it hurt

45 mins, 38 episodes

Enemies to lovers
Antihero ML (FL witnesses him kill her father)
Arranged marriage

*A mix of beautiful & triggering*
Historical romance
MDL: 7.7

21 min, 30 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: reviews note r*pe & torture* (I believe these are done by the emperor based on the reviews, not the ML)

Angsty & forbidden love
Possessive ML
Tragedy

Historical romance
MDL: 7.5

15 min, 20 episodes

*Red flag romance*
Unhinged toxic ML, Enemies to lovers, Steamy chemistry
Historical Romance
MDL: 7.4

My Rating: 7.0
My Comments:
*I watched 3 hours out of the total 5 hours & 44 min run time*
- The ML is TOXIC toxic.. he really loves to humiliate her
- I found FL frustrating.. why not tell him the truth?
- Lots of skinship & steamy chemistry
Overall a bit too toxic for me but I loved their chemistry!

Recommend: to viewers who enjoy toxic romance & good skinship

15 min, 24 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: se**al assault*

Princess FL x Prince ML
Revenge romance
Historical romance
MDL: 7.3

My Rating: 7.5
- This was a well made & well acted mini but it was just a little too dark and soap opera-y for me.

13 min, 24 episodes

"A Tale of Revenge, Obsession and Hate"
Unhinged Red Flag Prince ML
Revenge
No HEA

MDL: 7.3

15 min, 24 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: se**al assault

Forbidden Love
FL marries ML's cousin
Love Triangle
Angst
Plot twists
Skinship

*Apparently the plot is bonkers but people like it for how steamy it is for a C-drama*
MDL: 7.3

20 min, 42 episodes

Forbidden Love
Supposed Brother & Sister
Intense Chemistry
MDL: 7.3

My Rating: 8.0
- High budget production
- The chemistry is incredible!!!! Their feelings for one another feel tangible.
- Great acting (especially the ML, he can emote so much without saying a word)
- Plot/storyline is just okay though: romance/angst focused, a revenge plot that is a little lackluster so far, and a lot of screen time revolves around evil 'step' mother (main wife in FLs family), evil sisters & another evil woman all plotting against the FL which is starting to feel old

All I keep thinking is WHY isn't Zhang Chi the ML in any full length series!????

15 min, 24 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: se**al assault*

*Red Flag Romance* toxic ML

Notes from reviews:
- Great chemistry & skinship
- Frustrating plot & sad ending

Historical romance
MDL: 7.2

10 min, 28 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: se**al assault*

*BRIGHT Red Flag Romance*
Toxic & cruel ML
*not for the faint of heart*

Historical romance
MDL: 7.1

10 min, 22 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: reviews called this 'immoral & disgusting.'

Forbidden Love (FL is the nominal sister of ML)
Obsessive & controlling ML
Angsty love/hate relationship

MDL: 6.8

13 min, 24 episodes

*TRIGGER WARNING: abuse