daydreamer

I know exactly why I’m here and it’s not for the plot

I’ve been orbiting this drama since the first whispers of its existence escaped into the wild, so yes, expectations were involved. Possibly too involved.

Let’s start with the good, because credit where credit is absolutely due.

- Visually? This drama knew what it was doing. He Yu—sir. SIR. The camera loved him, the lighting worshipped him, and the man was sweating through half the scenes like he was being paid per droplet. Magnificently divine. No notes. My eyes were fed.
- The chemistry was also very much alive and breathing. There was sizzle. There were sparks. There were kisses, and not the shy peck-and-run kind either. Sprinkle sprinkle indeed. Whoever was in charge of that understood the assignment and clocked in early.
- Aesthetically, the drama was moody, atmospheric, and honestly gorgeous. The Thailand scenes in particular felt lush and cinematic, like the show briefly remembered it wanted to be cool and succeeded.

Now. Deep breath. The struggles.

- The “fake sibling” trope… listen. I tried. I really did. I performed Olympic-level mental gymnastics to tolerate this, but the ick kept winning gold. Too many moments were just deeply uncomfortable, and no amount of “but they’re not *actually* related” could save it.
- And then there’s the FL. Lord give me strength. Let’s be fair: Esther looked stunning in many outfits. Truly gorgeous. Face card never declined.
However.
I understand the intent: ML is mature, masculine, stoic—so they wanted contrast. What we got instead was infantilization turned up to eleven. Soft and feminine does not mean behaving like a 12-year-old with picky eating habits and childlike mannerisms. Yes, she’s 18. No, that does not excuse the constant helpless energy, the perpetual chasing, the desperation. Watching her run after the ML over and over again was exhausting. He yearns. We get it. But balance exists. Agency exists. Please locate it next time. She is doing the entire emotional labour of this relationship.
- Plot-wise? A free-for-all. Characters came and went, motivations shapeshifted mid-scene, and some dialogue lines had me staring at the screen like, “Who talks like this? Who approved this?”.

So, final verdict?

At the end of the day, this is pure fan service. A textbook idol drama, clearly aimed at a younger audience, and for that demographic, it probably hits. For me? It’s not unwatchable, but it is work. We’ve still got nine episodes left, and yes, I’ll probably finish them—out of commitment, curiosity, and He Yu-related reasons—but at this point, it feels less like a binge and more like a contractual obligation.

A chaotic watch. A visual feast. Chemistry is chemistrying. A narrative shrug.
Consume responsibly.


✨Alright. I’ve crossed the finish line.✨

All my previous points still stand, firmly planted and unbothered. Episodes 21–25, in particular, continued to irritate me for the same reason as before: the FL’s identity remained orbit-locked around the ML. Everything she was, felt, or did still seemed to exist in relation to him, and that creative choice continues to sit poorly with me.

I understand the reasoning behind their separation. Truly. Having read the novel, I’m familiar with JZ’s introspection, his internal logic, his emotional restraint masquerading as self-sacrifice. From a narrative standpoint, it tracks. From a woman’s standpoint? I have mixed feelings. If my supposed soulmate—someone who had yearned for me for years—still couldn’t bring himself to reach out, and the relationship only moved forward because I made the effort and carried the emotional momentum… that would hurt. Deeply. Love should not feel like a one-sided construction project.

That said, credit where it’s due: Jiang Mu’s character growth was beautifully handled. Her maturation felt earned, organic, and genuinely satisfying to watch. I loved her in the later stretch—confident, grounded, and emotionally present without losing her softness.

Episodes 26–29, in contrast, were unexpectedly healing. Warm. Unhurried. Rewarding. Watching them simply be happy—without constant tension, misunderstandings, or narrative whiplash—felt like a deep exhale. You could see it on the ML’s face: he had healed. He was no longer bracing himself against the world. He was openly cherishing his girl, and honestly? That part worked. It really did. Yay indeed.

As for the mother… I’m not touching that redemption arc. I’m still not forgiving how she treated JZ as a child, and no amount of present-day reconciliation will retroactively make that sit right with me. I said what I said.

Still, I am glad they reunited. I’m glad they reconnected. The ending delivered emotional closure, and while it doesn’t erase the earlier issues, it does soften the landing.

Read More

A Drama That Feels Like a Warm Hug

Okay, this is officially my go-to comfort drama! It has everything I crave when I’m in the mood for something soft, romantic, and heartwarming.

We’re talking *breathtaking* scenery, amazing leads, an adorably sweet first meeting, and a love story that feels like a gentle breeze on a sunny afternoon. The tropes? *Absolute perfection*—well, most of them—but especially the ML falling first and *falling hard*. His eyes, his utterly smitten expressions… *swoon*! He’s a total dreamboat, and a doctor at that?! Like, seriously, could this be any more perfect?

And let’s not forget our FL—bubbly, lively, and genuinely sweet without ever crossing into childish or annoying territory (at least for me!). Together, they create a love story that’s not just beautiful, but also *comforting*, wrapped in chill vibes, an amazing OST, and, of course, the happy ending we all secretly (or not so secretly) long for.

Is life always this perfect? Nope. But after a long, exhausting day, there’s nothing better than cozying up and watching love unfold in a world where everything feels just a little bit softer, a little bit sweeter. We all know life has its fair share of hardships—tears, struggles, and heartache—but there’s also warmth, beauty, and joy if we choose to see it. And experiencing that through *this* couple’s story? It’s like sipping a cup of rich hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, wrapped in the softest blanket, letting all worries melt away for a little while.

Pure, positive, and utterly heart-soothing—this drama is a little slice of happiness I’ll be revisiting again and again. 💕✨

Read More

A Wild Card in the C-Drama Deck

This drama is unconventional — not your pastel-filtered “la vie en rose” story, not even close. And that’s exactly why it stands out. Special shout-out to fellow viewers who said go in blind; they were absolutely right. The less you know, the more you’ll savor the ride.

At its core, the show tackles concepts that linger in your mind long after the credits roll. The characters are compelling, especially the female lead — she is the living embodiment of “taking matters into your own hands.” Her performance is great; I rooted for her every single step. Honestly, Episodes 1–10 could work as a standalone drama — tightly written, intriguing, and brimming with energy. Add in the main leads’ backstory and some memorable supporting characters, and you’ve got plenty to keep you hooked.

But let’s be clear: if you’re here for a sweeping romantic saga, this may not be your fix. Yes, the leads’ romantic feelings drive an important part of the story, but romance isn’t really the point (and as someone who proudly lives for romance plots, I’ll admit it was one of the weakest aspects for me).

Of course, it’s not flawless. Plot holes? They’re everywhere. It often feels like the writers asked themselves: “How many twists?” — “Yes.” And when it came to logic? — “Sorry, out of stock.” Add in shaky subtitles that tripped me up a few times, and you might find yourself constant;y muttering, “What in the carnation fluffy mushroom begonia dream is going on???”

Yet, despite all that, the originality wins. I genuinely can’t say I’ve ever seen a plot like this before. It’s messy, bold, and intriguing in ways I didn’t expect. If you’re in the mood for something different — unconventional, imperfect, but wholly worth the ride — this drama is one to check out.

Read More

A Comfort Watch Disguised as a Crime Drama

This drama was an unexpected delight — not because it broke new ground plot-wise, but because it delivered familiar elements with a kind of sincerity that’s hard to resist. We get a mix of mystery, revenge, a splash of courtroom politics, and — to my complete joy — one of the most solid romantic pairings I’ve seen in a long time.

The premise is a classic one: the female lead, whose entire family has been unjustly annihilated, reinvents herself to seek justice and clear her family’s name. Thanks to her sharp medical and forensic skills, she gains the trust of powerful allies who help her inch closer to the truth. The early crime-solving arcs were genuinely engaging — and while I can’t vouch for their forensic accuracy (I’m no CSI aficionado), I was happily entertained.

As the episodes roll on, the investigative element gently bows out, making space for the romance and palace intrigue to take center stage. And here’s where it gets personal: while the court politics occasionally felt like a slow crawl (read: 75% snooze fest for me), the romance more than made up for it. No angst, no toxic twists — just two people who admire, support, and truly *see* each other. The greenest of flags, if I’ve ever seen one.

The chemistry between the leads was tender and believable, and the fact that we’re gifted a happy ending felt like a reward in itself. This isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller — it’s a warm blanket of a show, perfect for decompressing after a chaotic day. The kind of drama where the comfort comes not just from plot, but from the steady presence of characters who genuinely care for one another… while occasionally dissecting corpses, of course.

It may not have kept me on the edge of my seat, but it certainly carved a soft spot in my watchlist.

Read More

Warning Signs Were There, But I Chose Violence (and 38 Episodes)

Man, this drama had me EXHAUSTED lmao, and I’ve seen my share of them...

Between the ML’s deranged behavior and his Olympic-level manhandling of the FL in the beginning, I was already questioning my life choices. And the repeated attempts to assault her? Like, yeah, I enjoy a good red-flagged ML (it’s my guilty pleasure, don’t judge), but this is just not it.

And the FL? OMG. She frustrated me for the entire 38 episodes that I somehow survived (idk how, send thoughts and prayers). I genuinely don’t think I have the energy to continue, and I’m pretty sure these 42 episodes just keep recycling the same 1-2 plot points like a never-ending fever dream. A huge clusterfluff, bro. Emotional damage.

And judging by the comment section? Yeah, we’ve all collectively been going through it. Should’ve just read the warning signs and yeeted myself out before episode 1 even ended. My bad.

In conclusion: I had high hopes because of the leads—both have been great in other dramas, but here? Idk if the issue is the directing, the writing, the editing, or some cursed combination of all three, but this mess was NOT worth 42 episodes. Just no. Abort mission. Save yourselves!!

Read More