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Infuriatingly Realistic Age Gap Drama

Find Yourself Will Test Your Patience But Make You Think

Find Yourself is an age gap drama that stars Victoria Song and Song Weilong. The story is about He Fanxing, a successful 32-year-old career woman who falls for Yuan Song, a 22-year-old intern at her company. As she navigates this secret relationship, she faces immense pressure from society and family to choose a more "appropriate" partner, leading to a love triangle with an older executive.

This is one of the most infuriating dramas featuring an age gap that you will ever see — and rightfully so, because the themes, the characters, and the situations are all extremely realistic.

In Defense of He Fanxing

I see a lot of hate for the female lead online, but as someone who is also no longer young, I can say with certainty that if a woman somehow missed out on dating in her twenties because she was building her career, she would absolutely act and behave the way He Fanxing does. People who are too preoccupied with working and building their future in their twenties tend to go all out and be silly and irrational in their thirties. I lived through that myself so I can relate a little bit too Victoria Song’s character. She did fairly well portraying a woman falling hard for a man she shouldn’t be falling for, and I did not have any problems with her acting despite what some people say.

Now that I've finished all forty-one episodes, I can say that most of the frustration and hatred toward her character comes from viewers who are probably younger or haven't lived in the same part of the world with the same type of family pressures she deals with. If you put yourself in her shoes, she is actually quite easy to understand. I think a lot of women want her to be a stronger character, but in this particular setting, she didn't need to be. She did what she thought was right for herself, her future, her family, and her reputation. I think a lot of us probably hate her because she reflects how the majority of us would behave if we were dating someone much younger and were put in the same situation.

My One Major Gripe With the Premise

This drama doesn't strike me as romcom-y or suspend-all-your-belief story enough to justify the premise of a thirty-two-year-old highly successful career woman being a virgin. Having no dating experience and never having been with a man are completely different things. I really wish that given the serious tone of the drama, the premise had been a little more realistic — because the drama itself is fairly compelling.

I would have taken the story more seriously if He Fanxing had relationships before, even ones that weren't serious. I wouldn’t mind if she dated, had actual intimate partners, but just never learned how to truly be in a committed relationship possibly because of the demands of her job. Writers really need to stop portraying modern successful women as someone who is waiting for their one true love and saving themselves for that one man. It's an outdated concept, and it was the first thing that didn't sit right with me. I would never believe that a successful woman who is surrounded by men and constantly socializing has never been with a single one. Usually curiosity wins anyway, plus peer pressure.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest — moving on.

Song Weilong as Yuan Song

I previously saw Song Weilong in Shine on Me and thought his acting was pretty stilted at the beginning of that drama, so I wasn't sure I'd like him in Find Yourself. But I was extremely impressed with his performance, considering he filmed this when he was probably around eighteen. I'm also quite surprised at the level of intimacy he was able to pull off with his co-star. His acting was extremely natural and exactly how someone his age would behave. I truly appreciated his effort here, and I think he was probably the highlight of the drama for me.

What to Expect

In the first 10 episodes, things progress pretty fast between Yuan Song and He Fanxing, which I had neutral feelings about — didn't hate it, didn't love it. But the writers set the bar very high for their romance with quite a lot of skinship. So obviously when they break up in the middle of the show and the writers choose for her not to take action earlier than she did, it puts a damper on her romance with Yuan Song because there’s literally not a single kiss until the last episode. This is the kind of romance storyline I hate. Because there is absolutely no tension here. I mentioned this before, and I will mention this again: if you are developing a romantic storyline, it needs to build towards something and not blow up at the beginning and then trickle little by little toward the last episode. You don’t really feel much satisfaction at the end once the romantic storyline concludes despite the conclusion being a happy ending.

I also couldn't entirely understand what attracted Yuan Song to He Fanxing initially. He explains it a little bit later, but I think it would have been beneficial to include that information earlier. However, as I continued watching, I enjoyed how the drama explored the fear and anxiety our female lead experienced due to the possibility of being stigmatized if she told everyone about her relationship with a twenty-two-year-old intern. This right here, if this was set anywhere in the western world, could have been interpreted as abuse of power. It is a huge no-no in the corporate setting where I work at, which in itself makes it a compelling watch.

The drama also makes some valid points toward the end about how women are looked down on for dating someone younger while for men it's perfectly acceptable.

Although the characters in the drama are dynamic, because they do go through transformation they feel static for the most part of the drama. I think that’s another flaw with this drama. Writers should have developed everyone through action instead of lengthy psychoanalysis through conversation with friends.

That said, if you're diving into this drama exclusively for the romance, you will probably be a little disappointed. This is more of a family drama than a romantic one. Yes, there is romance, and yes, we're watching several love and marriage stories develop in different directions — but understand going in that this is not purely a romantic show. A lot of scenes are very drawn out and long, and I'll be honest, I skipped through quite a bit. But some of them are interesting and compelling, and dialogues shed a lot of light on how different characters feel about different things happening in their lives. Some viewers may enjoy this slice of life take.

There are some genuinely fun laugh-out-loud moments though — particularly Esther Yu's character trying to win over He Fanxing's twin brother. Their relationship was extremely cute, and Esther Yu was a delight to watch overall.

Production & Quality

The camera work and production quality are pretty high for something that came out during Covid, which surprised me. The performances across the board are solid, and the side stories are interesting — they make you think about something real. Draggy scenes. Check. This was 2020, after all. Ridiculous premise of a 32 year-old virgin. Check. Uneven pacing for the romantic storyline for both twin brother and twin sister. Check. I wish writers developed both romances differently. Yuan Song and He Fanxing start flaming hot, then crash and burn, and then she spends 2/3 of the drama with another man until the very last episode. Her brother and Melon take half the drama to get together and we don’t even see them sharing a proper romantic kiss.

Final Verdict

If you're into serious sensitive but important topics, interesting family dynamics, and multiple characters with multiple storylines, you'll probably enjoy this. I would say keep an open mind about the main female lead and try to put yourself in her shoes. Yes, she is indecisive and at times unlikable, but I think most of us in her situation would behave exactly the same. If you're watching this for Song Weilong — and I know many of you are — just have some patience with the pacing and know that his performance here is well worth it.

Overall, this is not a bad drama. Find Yourself is a little bit different from typical romantic comedy but the drama does explore interesting and important topics. I say give it a try and if you still don’t like it after a few episodes, don’t bother. I liked certain parts and certain parts were frustrating but overall, I am glad I watched it. It did leave an impression on me.

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A Hidden Gem That Will Play With Your Emotions

The Blossoming Love is a hidden gem of xianxia, and I genuinely don't understand why it's not being talked about more. Maybe it's because it uses all the familiar xianxia tropes and doesn't really bring anything original to the table. But honestly? If you just want something with high-stakes romance, great visuals, and a fitting soundtrack that will destroy you emotionally — this is a great drama to pick up.

The acting across the board is solid. The leads, the supporting cast, and even the child actors all bring it. The little girl playing A'Bao especially deserves a shoutout — she was wonderful. No cringe moments at all, which, let's be real, is a common thing in a lot of fantasy dramas.

Now, considering this drama is only a couple of years old, the CGI could have been a little better. I will say, though, I'm not entirely sure if this was partly an issue on my end, because I tried watching the drama across a couple of different apps due to problems with Viki in the first half. That said, it genuinely felt like the color grading and CGI were noticeably weaker at the beginning and got progressively better toward the end. All the scenes set in the Dark Domain are very, very pretty. But the earlier episodes in Snow City somehow look duller in comparison — both in color grading and effects. It almost feels like the post-production was uneven in places. I don't know how else to explain it. The good news is that the scenes that need to land an emotional and proverbial fantasy punch (everything in the divine realm was so pretty) are done really well, and that's what matters most.

The music score for this drama is genuinely one of the best I've heard. The actual songs and the background score alike — they set the mood perfectly and play a very important part in the story.

Let’s get into the characters now.

While the drama starts out quite romance-heavy and focuses mostly on Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling, you'll start to notice that Nan Xuyue gets more and more screen time as the story goes on. At first, it's honestly kind of irritating, and if you're impatient like me, you might be tempted to skip his scenes. Don't. It all makes a lot more sense toward the end after the revelations start dropping. This is as much a love story as it is the story of three people who have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Nan Xuyue is actually a really interesting and multifaceted character. He's constantly switching between being good and being bad, toeing the line in shades of grey. Xie Xuechen, on the other hand, is comparatively plain and a little boring at first because he's just *too* good for most of the drama — until he does a total switch in Episode 29. Vin Zhan absolutely slayed as the Demon Lord there. That was a full adrenaline-rush, giggling-like-a-maniac moment for me — the kind you get when the good guy turns into the bad guy. Some of the best character reveals and introductions in the history of xianxia, I said what I said. The scene was impressively done.

Honestly, Vin Zhan as the Demon Lord has real aura. I genuinely wish the script had given us fewer episodes leading up to that moment and a more episodes with him *being* the Demon Lord. As the Demon Lord, he had some really interesting interactions with Mu Xuanling, but I wanted more. I think that could have been great dynamic contrast in the dynamic at the beginning he had with her when he was good and she was bad. I understand why we weren't given more than we got, but it could have been such a compelling subplot to explore further.

Overall, the lead couple had a believable romance, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Their emotional moments were great and impactful, and Sun Zhen Ni was fantastic in the role of Mu Xuanling.

Now here's where I get on my soapbox. There's this thing that happens in some costume dramas where the romance starts heavy on skinship in the first half — kissing, making out, all the good stuff — and then after a certain pivotal moment, we get absolutely nothing for the rest of the show. This was a flaw in The Blossoming Love. Mu Xuanling literally throws herself at the man multiple times and he doesn’t stop her. We get a lot of sweet, intimate moments between the leads in the first twenty episodes. And then it's a drought until the very last episode. Zhao Ming and A Zhu don't even get an on-screen kiss despite being the one couple in this drama that actually gets married. Make it make sense.

As someone who also writes romance, here's my take: if you're going to include skinship in a romantic storyline, it needs to build. Starting hot and then dousing the viewers with cold water for the rest of the show is counterproductive. You either build up to the romantic moments gradually, or you don't include skinship at all. Pick a lane.

There were some additional couples in the show that I mostly enjoyed, especially the secondary couple. They were cute and had an interesting past love story. That said, we really did not need as much screen time for some of the other supporting pairings. Some of those scenes were way too draggy. Luckily, this drama doesn't have too many drawn-out moments overall, but the ones that drag tend to be overly emotional scenes wear characters need to say everything they never had a chance to say because they’re dying or at least one of them is dying. If you're like me and have no patience, feel free to skip through them — you won't miss much.

There were a few poorly directed moments that stuck out to me. For example, in Episode 15, during the battle between Xie Xuechen and Sang Qi, Mu Xuanling is just… standing there. Doing nothing. I don't know if that's how it plays out in the source material, but the scene could have been directed so much better. She sticks out like a sore thumb. At the very least, the director could have told her to react — scream, look distressed, do something — because it just looked really odd.

While there are quite a lot of supporting characters, unlike in some recent dramas I've watched, most of them actually bring something to the table. Some of them seem unimportant at first because they're not doing anything particularly special early on, but we do see why they're there by the end. Patience pays off with this one.

Like with many xianxias, The Blossoming Love suffers from the rushed ending with no explanation of how things end up being the way they are. But at the very least we get a happy ending. However, I still have way too many questions because when our characters return into whatever timeline they’re supposed to return, we have no clue what happened to all the other supporting characters who were in the middle of the apocalyptic attack while our three leads were trying to reset the timeline.

Final Verdict

If you aren't looking for anything groundbreaking and it's been a while since you've watched a xianxia and you just want something emotional with good acting— this is a good one to check out.

In a nutshell, The Blossoming Love is one of those rare xianxias that, despite a faulty script and imperfect CGI, doesn’t miss the pivotal moments when it comes to emotional impact. It capitalizes on every single one of them. Some dramas I've watched recently have a tendency to skim over important reveals by just feeding the information to viewers without any kind of wow factor. The Blossoming Love doesn't miss those opportunities. It does a genuinely great job of planting information early and then making you experience all that emotional distress later when you're finally putting two and two together. I think that’s the reason why I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Plus, the Demon Lord arrival scene in Episode 29 lives in my head rent free.

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Gorgeous visuals, talented cast, amazing romance… and a C-drama curse of a last third slump.

Pursuit of Jade is basically half romance half adrenaline-fueled ride for a huge chunk of the runtime, and honestly… the drama fully deserves the hype people are throwing at it right now despite some of its flaws most C dramas suffer in the second half.

The production is doing THE MOST (in the best way) in this drama. So let me start here because if you are like me and you care even a little about visuals, this show will feed you. I don’t care what others say about excessive filters and other gimmicks but C-dramas are a guilty pleasure for me and I don’t expect much realism from them when I watch them as long as I can wrap my head around it the ideas.

Cinematography: absolutely gorgeous, super vibrant, and honestly imaginative—especially the winter setting. It’s cinematic in a “wait—pause—this is art” way. The cozy small town scenery in the first third) is everything.

Battle scenes + war scenery are masterfully choreographed and shot. The energy feels real, and the staging/camera work makes it way more immersive than “generic C-drama fighting.”

From the very beginning, the drama sets a really high bar, and it stays there more often than not. And when I say high bar, I don’t mean just the production value. I mean, as far as the romance goes.

Romance occupies first 10 episodes almost entirely, laying a foundation for later. After episode 10 the story begins to expand (and it works… mostly).
We start getting deeper backstory for other important characters and the whole thing starts widening into a bigger picture.

Now, I’m picky about this because I usually watch Asian dramas for romance (and yes, they often do it better than Western shows). Sometimes when romance is super intense at the start and then “becomes a background story,” it loses its spark. That’s why this drama is a bit of a mixed bag for me. It’s heavy on romance at first, and it sets up a mood and an expectation for the rest of the series, then it steers towards other areas and never quite gets back to romance in the same capacity it’s presented to us at the beginning. Romance magic does come very close in the final couple of episodes to the romance at the beginning of the drama.

Overall if you’re watching Pursuit of Jade for romance, you’ll still get what you want here. While it wobbles a little, it remains consistent throughout the 40 episodes. And if you want romance *plus* other historical high stakes stuff, you’ll enjoy it too.

The characters (including villains) feel real. I liked how the cast was fleshed out—not just the main couple. But the pig slaughtering squad, the villagers, the children. The villains aren’t just “villains because plot said so.” They are multifaceted.

Zhang Ling He as Marquis of Wu’an aka Yan Zheng is stunning. Like… he’s gorgeous (and we all know it) and the performance is strong. Doesn’t matter that he stays in bed and is mostly wounded for at least half the drama if not more. I think this actually makes it more realistic. He does have pretty good fighting scenes, but as far as palace setting stretch of episodes, I wish he would have done more scheming of his own. But again, I think it has a lot to do with the source material.

And regarding all the online criticism going around about his makeup: it’s irrelevant and driven by haters. The reason you’ll see people picking at it is probably because Zhang Ling He’s popularity is rising internationally—so of course the haters get louder. People will look for anything to pick on. Also—let’s be real—both Luo Yunxi as Tantai Jin and Chen Zheyuan as Prince Feng Suige in their respective dramas have way heavier makeup. Somehow no one has said anything at the time. So yeah. Ignore the nonsense.

Zhang Ling He’s performance is versatile and he delivers the kind of male lead energy you want in a romantic historical drama. He has been working very hard this past few years. He deserves all the success because I can’t imagine to star in as many successful dramas he has since Love Between Fairy and Devil came out. I’m looking forward to more of his work.

Tian Xi Wei as Fan Chang Yu is also convincingly great. She feels natural in the role and carries the emotional beats well. The “country bumpkin” arc dragged a bit in my opinion. But her change in episode 26 was INTENSE. I actually liked seeing her true colors open up because she looks like a completely different person in that battle scene. That’s one of the most intense battle scenes in the whole drama. The only thing that bothers me here is that the transition wasn’t seamless, but rather immediate. I would have liked to see her transition from a simple country girl to military power house slower, but more organic.

The chemistry? Yeah, it’s one of the best I’ve seen in a while between leads. It’s genuinely top tier—like, not forced. You believe they’re in love on screen.

If I’m being honest, the romance is the reason I stuck so hard and rewatched certain moments.

And I think the production crew matters a lot here too—direction, cinematography, how intimate moments are translated. I’m not the kind of person who replays scenes for fun, but I did rewatch several of theirs because the acting and execution were just that good. Their emotional scenes are very well acted out. You can feel it.

I enjoyed the power dynamic shifts, the dramatic moments between them, and the amount of skinship we got. I feel their story is mostly satisfying—with just a few could’ve been slightly more opportunities for more interesting romance high stakes situations. Specifically towards words the end.

One thing I really didn’t love (my personal pet peeve) is the separation.

This is personal preference, but it bothers me: I’m not a fan of third-act breakups/separations where one person just decides to step back because they “think it’s best,” instead of it being clearly justified, discussed, and agreed in a healthier way.

Without actually asking the other one what they want—Fan Chang Yu suddenly draws that line between herself and Yan Zheng aka Marquis of Wu’an, first because of difference in status, and then other factors. Girl didn’t even ask him. Just made a decision for him while he is simping so hard, it’s difficult to watch. I was like *okay… I’m supposed to take this seriously… right?* Because how come she can be a strong female lead in every way except for *keeping your man in your grabby hands* way? I was expecting that this separation was there for a reason. It made me think that something would come off it later in the drama. But it didn’t really pay off in a way that felt meaningful later.

Eventually they got back together, and it felt like the separation happened mostly because that’s what the plot requires.

Again—this is just my gripe. I’ve watched too many C-dramas so I already know what I’ll like and what will annoy me.

Side story: Yu Qian Qian + Qi Min / Sui Yuan Huai felt dark… but also messy.

I found Qi Min’s character very compelling. But… I don’t think he was written in a super organic way in the script.

He doesn’t feel introduced with a clean flow. It took me a lot of the drama to finally piece together what the relationship between him and Qian Qian even truly was. I didn’t understand what he saw in her until the last episode, and we didn’t get much insight into her mental state either. I also didn’t understand why he didn’t want his son to live. Some motivations felt unclear to me—like the presentation was all over the place. I basically had to piece together his character from the choppy pieces of the story we were given. I think having better written dialogues for them would have clarified some of the things.

That said Deng Kai does really well in the role. I’m pretty sure he’s ML-material, he just needs the right kind of projects.

Another small thing that bothered me were pointless characters that were introduced that eventually get deserted or get endings that feel kind of “that’s it?”

We don’t hear from them again much, and it makes it feel like some setup doesn’t land.

For example: Sui Yuan Qing. There’s a lot of fuss in the beginning implying he’ll matter hugely… but he’s basically dead 2/3 into the drama. A chunk of screen time early on that was given to him and his feud between our lead couple feels wasted. He has such insane chemistry and potential for a great conflict with Fan Chang Yu. But apparently, poor guy was mostly there to be a tool for something else. His ending is pitiful. Similar vibe with Wei Xuan and a few others, including Li Wen Kan. He just kind of got forgotten halfway through the show after he served his purpose. He only shows up at the end to provide military support.

My biggest issue is pacing, mostly the last third slump. This is probably the core reason this didn’t become a perfect experience.

First and second thirds were interesting, romantic, and super satisfying. Romance is strong early, then military action ramps up, and that actually works. But after episode 30, like… very many Chinese dramas do this, and I felt it happen here too: the drama starts losing steam.

I almost wish they had fewer episodes and a tighter last third instead of all those longer dragging scenes for characters who only appear briefly no one cares to know what they think, plotlines that exist mainly so the characters can die for someone.

The ending is still satisfactory and production quality stays high—BUT the ending still feels a little anti-climactic. The big reveal about who Fan Chang Yu’s father is and the consequences and the revenge were glossed over. Her husband it’s supposed to help her figure it out, but he wasn’t even around half the times. there is a lot of wasted potential here with this storyline. And then in the very last episode, we need to go back in time and see what happened. At this point of the drama, viewers don’t care what happened in the past.

So… should you watch it?
Yes. Strongly.

Pursuit of Jade is still a very well-made drama and I genuinely recommend it to people who want:

- adrenaline-fueled battle scenes
- high-stakes energy
- mind-blowing romance
- charming and talented leads
- lots of comedic elements
- gorgeous visuals, including color grading + vibrant cinematography
- a talented cast + intrigue + backstories

Are there a couple of better ones I’ve personally loved more? Sure. But this is absolutely worth checking out, especially if you’re the type who wants romance + action that doesn’t feel boring for most of the runtime.

If you’re on the fence, I’d say give it a shot—because the first stretch has serious momentum, and the production is too good to ignore. In the end, you will still want to stick around to see how it all wraps up. It’s still a really really good historical drama with strong romance, strong acting, and a very high production value.

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Great Fantasy Adventure with a Splash of Romance

Seven Relics of Ill Omen is a fantasy adventure that follows five ordinary young people who form an accidental alliance called the Phoenix Squad to hunt down seven evil ancient artifacts before they trigger a catastrophe of apocalyptic size. It's a wonderful show that explores human nature, inner demons, true friendship, and what it takes for broken people to become something extraordinary together.

I wanted to watch it when it first came out, but I kept putting this one off. The poster is dark, the title gives you ominous vibes, and the trailer is full of creepy moments. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys overly dark dramas or heavy horror elements, and that's exactly what the marketing fed me. But I’ve been on a Song Weilong binge for some strange reason lately LOL, so I figured I'd give it a shot and drop it if it got too scary. Surprisingly, it's not nearly as dark as you'd expect. The first stretch of episodes leans a little heavier into some creepy elements, but most of the show is actually shot with nice, bright colors and solid camera work. So if you've been avoiding it for the same reason — don't.

As far as entertainment goes, this drama kept me on my toes. I wanted to keep watching even when it was well past my bedtime. I don't usually enjoy large ensemble casts, but this one earned it. Each character has their own backstory, their own inner demons, and the drama gives every single one of them room to shine. We get genuine insight into their backgrounds and get to watch how, despite everything, they all develop into wonderful human beings. That's the heart of this show, and it's what kept me invested far more than any plot twist could.

Song Weilong is great as Luo Ren — fiercely protective, intense, and he gets to showcase some impressive fighting skills. Liu Haocun as Mu Dai goes through several transformations throughout the drama, making her one of the most dynamic characters to watch. I wouldn’t say she’s a stellar actress. She does have a long way to go to get to the point where she can get very nuanced with her facial expressions, but she worked for this role because this was adventure and action driven drama. Ao Ruipeng as Thirteen-Thousand and Zhang Yichi as Chubby bring a lot of comedic relief that's smartly written with genuinely witty lines. And comedy doesn't disappear in the second half of the drama like it usually does a lot of C-dramas as things get a lot more tense. Thirteen Thousand and Chubby continue making us laugh until the end. I actually quite enjoyed Ao Ruipeng's performance in this drama. And Yan Hongsha? An absolute badass. She works perfectly as an addition to the group a few episodes in.

The pacing is excellent. There was not a single boring episode. No filler scenes, no draggy unnecessary moments, no urge to fast-forward even once. Scenes with dialogue or slower, more mellow moments are all beautifully done and meaningful. The script is tightly written, and while there are some things left unexplored that I would have liked to see explained better at the end, I didn't care much because what I cared about most was these characters conquering their trauma and inner demons along with the defeating the evil, and the show delivered on that front completely.

Production-wise, the CGI is decent. I wouldn't call it amazing — I've definitely seen better — but it's solid quality work that doesn't feel cheap at all and never takes away from the enjoyment, instead, it enhances it. The fight scenes are well done, particularly between Mu Dai and Luo Ren. I don't usually watch contemporary dramas with martial arts, but I enjoyed seeing it in this setting. Their fight choreography together also adds a little extra chemistry to their romance, which is a nice bonus.

Now, to the loaded question — is there any romance? I’m sure a lot of you want to know.

Yes. It's not the main plot, because the main plot is five people hunting relics to prevent the apocalypse, but the romance between Mu Dai and Luo Ren is set up from the very first minutes of the first episode and it’s obvious. It's not the kind of romance you'd see in a romantic drama — it's very sweet, non-toxic, and doesn't take forever to develop. They become a couple less than halfway through, but they go through several hurdles that add real depth to their relationship. Since this is an adventure show for all audiences, don't expect skinship beyond hugging — but it's still satisfying to watch them fight for each other and for their future. There's also a secondary romantic subplot set up between Yan Hongsha and Thirteen-Thousand, though it doesn't fully develop until the very end. It's still fun to watch these two bicker throughout the drama and aggressively ignore the fact that they like each other. I think whether you like romance or prefer your adventure dramas without it, you will still enjoy The Seven Relics of Ill Omen because the romantic subplot and the actual main plot are intertwined very well and don’t take anything away from each other.

Overall, Seven Relics of Ill Omen is a very well-done character-driven fantasy adventure with a great cast, great pacing, and a story that will make you feel things you didn't sign up for. I recommend it to anyone who likes any of the actors, anyone who enjoys fantasy adventure, or anyone who just wants something different. This show definitely deserves a higher rating—go in with an open mind and let it surprise you.

P.S. Special award goes to Chubby’s fated pheasant. Oh, and the soundtrack is great.

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Zhou Yiran’s rendition of Mu Qingyan is Why You Watch

Quick take

If you’re here for the romance, watch it for the romance — specifically if you like an obsessed, stalker-ish ML with a breathtaking on-screen presence who takes forever to grow. I personally started Generation to Generation because everyone was talking about that chair kiss, stayed for for Zhou Yiran’s rendition of Mu Qingyan, and stuck around because the drama is actually not as bad as people say it is.

First impression

The sets and costumes are very pretty and create an interesting atmosphere, but the production feels uneven. It doesn’t read as a high-budget drama overall, and my suspicion is that a lot of the money went to pay Zhou Yiran’s salary (and maybe Li Yunrui’s gorgeous guest role). The post-production definitely suffered a lot.

Things I liked

- Zhou Yiran’s Mu Qingyan: I’ll give him his own paragraph below, but he’s the main reason I stayed.

- Music and action scenes composition: some action scenes are amazing — I re-watched a few just for the way they’re scored and framed. There are other really good emotional scenes that are done very well. The ending butterfly scene in episode 18 is a standout: great soundtrack, set design, and camera work.

- Supporting cast and backstories: there are a lot of supporting characters, and many of their backstories are interesting (my favorite is the Mu Zhengyang and Cai Pingshu relationship). They add flavor, loyalty, and fun to the broader story.

Things that didn’t work

- Choppy camera work and inconsistent effects: some scenes have gorgeous slow motion and thoughtful framing; others look cheap (like speed changes done manually because the crew didn’t have the same professional camera they did the day before or they had an intern do the post on select days). It often feels like different teams handled different scenes.

- Color and composition problems: costumes, sets, and backgrounds blend together too much. Characters often disappear into similarly toned backdrops. For example, earth-toned clothes against an earth-toned mountain, which makes it hard to tell who or what you’re looking at without concentrating. The color grading feels inconsistent, and that distracts from otherwise pretty visuals.

Main characters

Mu Qingyan
Zhou Yiran’s rendition of Mu Qingyan is why I loved this one a lot. He’s a deliciously messy mix of a red flag and an occasional green flag, obsessive, manipulative, and needy, but also heartbreakingly loyal. He does awful things, and yet his sad backstory makes you root for him in spite of it. You might blame him for the things he does and for the fatc that he doesn’t grow up for the majority of the show but considering the first five years of his life, I’d say, it’s pretty normal. Zhou Yiran’s performance makes the character’s extremes compelling. The camera totally loves him. His close-ups are consistently gorgeous — if nothing else, it’s worth watching for the eye candy. He does grow toward the end of the show. Again, this is my first time seeing this actor in anyone at all, so I’ll check out his other work.

Cai Zhao
Cai Zhao is headstrong, stubborn, and mostly consistent. She’s decisive about a lot, except for accepting her feelings for Mu Qingyan — which drags on way too long. Her acting is solid, especially in episode 36, but the character itself isn’t particularly original; she’s a pretty classic “strong independent heroine” archetype. That said, she’s effective and sympathetic. And she as a character and her love story with Mu Qingyan are believable.

Supporting characters
There are a lot of sects and names thrown at you early, which makes it hard to track everyone at first. Still, many supporting roles are interesting and add texture. I just wish some of them had been integrated into the story more cleanly. Like we had one character for a first 6 episodes and then they are gone. But this is a writing problem.

Romance and pacing
Romance is mostly why I watched this drama. There’s a lot of push-and-pull between the leads that keeps you watching. The chair kiss is chef’s kiss, literally and figuratively. That said, don’t expect a lot of kissing. There’s more at the end and I wouldn’t say we’re getting the level of When Destiny Brings the Demon, but it’s also not the Long Ballad kiddie stuff. There are plenty of OTT high stakes moments that involve the conflict between the demon clan and the Six Sects, but here they largely work and add to the vibe. There are not too many draggy scenes. I only skipped a few times.

My main complaint in the romance department is Cai Zhao’s drawn-out denial. It’s obvious she likes Mu Qingyan almost immediately, and the prolonged inner conflict gets old. When she finally owns her feelings, the payoff is dramatic and very satisfying. I wish we'd had them together, I mean truly together a little longer.

Missed opportunities
The show wastes some chances to build stronger conflict and tension. For example, Mu Qingyan’s reintroduction after disappearing from the sect could have been handled in a way that created more lasting tension between the leads. Instead of just introducing him, having some sort of interesting situational reveal would be more impactful. There are other moments like that, but I won’t name them all. I think there is only that much you can do when you are rewriting a novel into a script.

Final verdict
This drama isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be. Yes, post-production feels like it’s stuck in 2020. There are missed opportunities to raise tension and tighten the script. The last two episodes slow down, and the way Mu Qingyan’s survival is explained feels rushed and offhand. It’s a bit anticlimactic and feels strange after all that action-packed run we’ve had with these characters.

Still, most characters get their happy ending, and I found the romance genuinely satisfying. At least for me. I needed something a little trashy with crazy ML, and that hit the spot, haha. I ended up enjoying the drama more than I expected. If you go in knowing not to expect top-tier cinematography and CGI, there’s a lot here to like — strong romance, standout performances (especially Zhou Yiran), and some genuinely beautiful scenes. The plot itself isn’t bad at all. There’s a central mystery that keeps things going. The conflict between the Six Sects and the Demon Clan could have been explored better, but again, there’s only so much you can do with the source material.

I would say give it a try before reading all the negative reviews. I saw dramas with much higher ratings that I dropped because they didn’t hold my attention. Generation to Generation is definitely not for everyone, but some will love it.

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Slowburn drama that’s so slow it forgets where it’s headed

Our Generation is a slow-burn character study about youth — first crushes, academic pressure, and the awkward stretch from small-town innocence into the messier world of adulthood. At its core Our Generation is a collection of realistic moments of how childhood memories can grow into something that transcends time and distance.

The best part

Zhang Linghe as aloof math genius Jiang Qiaoxi, is why you want to see this. I’ve been following him since Love Between Fairy and Devil, but this is the first contemporary drama of his I’ve watched. (I know I know there’s The Best Thing). He’s extremely talented — while he shines in idol and costume dramas, his subtle performance here is a real standout and feels different from his more popular roles. I liked that the creators didn’t just throw his “face card” at us to distract from character development. He isn’t scared to be shown in an unflattering light here. And I respect an actor with entire image built on his looks attempting to do something different for a change. And that honesty might be the best part of the drama, that tired, beaten down young man in Hong Kong stretch of episodes. If for nothing else (and there is truly nothing else), the drama is probably worth watching for Zhang Linghe’s performance alone.

Zhao Jinmai as Yingtao is good, but I’m not a big fan overall. Her performance here doesn’t measure up to her work in The Princess Royal, which I enjoyed much more because she was actually convincing there. In Our Generation there are really great emotional moments where she lands the feelings like a blow, but her overall portrayal as a high school girl didn’t fully convince me and it was a little hard to watch at times. It’s like you can tell it’s a grown woman acting as a little girl. I don’t think she’s cut out for those roles. She has her strengths elsewhere. Still, I like Zhao Jinmai in this drama better than in Shine on Me. Plus the emotional scenes between her and Zhang Linghe when they are both playing adults is where she really packs a mean punch.

There are lot of interesting supporting characters, but this is also the drama’s one of biggest issue. Some supporting roles got a lot of screen time while others felt like they were there just for the sake of having supporting characters. The stories weren’t distributed evenly across the gang. A lot of stories had foundation, but nothing ever came out of that foundation. I wish the drama had either stayed tightly focused on the main couple or actually distributed storylines evenly among the whole group.

I liked the family dynamics between in Yingtao and her parents. I liked how they were contrasted with Jiang Qiaoxi’s completely opposite family dynamics to showcase why he is the way he is. It’s an understanding and loving family against a dysfunctional family that doesn’t remember what it means to be a family. Still I wish they showed his parents at the end asking for forgiveness, even for a second, especially his mother. There was so much emphasis on her broken relationship with her son at the beginning of the drama that it felt strange not to have their story come full circle.

Pacing is the biggest problem

The show has a really strong foundation, but it drags. And I mean it. You can skip through minutes and minutes of dialogue and still not miss anything crucial to the plot. Yes, this is mostly character-driven rather than plot-driven — slice-of-life youth vibes for the most part — but the pacing still hurts the overall impact. Stretching the high-school portion of their lives across so many episodes and leaving only a handful of episodes for their adult reconnection does the story a huge disservice.

The drama does have a great ending — you get butterflies — but the last couple of episodes feel almost like a different drama: faster paced, upbeat, with comic relief we hardly see earlier. That tonal shift is jarring but it does leave you satisfied.

Bottom line

If anything, watch this drama for Zhang Linghe’s performance. I skipped quite a lot, and his acting was the only reason I powered through. There is plot, but it’s paper thin and nothing new and so much screen time could have been just taken out and it wouldn’t affect the plot one bit. The show has real heart and honest moments, but uneven supporting arcs and painfully slow pacing keep it from being great. Still, when it works, it really works — just be ready to grit through long stretches to get there. Or skip. In the end, it’s hard to say if the show is trying to be a youth drama, a family drama or a romance.

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Ignore the hate and the negative reviews for this show.

Deserves a Much Higher Rating in My Opinion

The Last Immortal is exactly the kind of xianxia I love. Initially, I hesitated to continue after the first episode because I read the reviews and saw some spoilers, but I’m so glad I decided to return to it.

This drama features all the classic xianxia elements: stunning costumes, a talented cast, good CGI, and genuinely heartfelt acting. The ensemble is truly remarkable.

If you made the mistake to read the reviews first, and they deterred you from starting this drama, I recommend to set aside any preconceived notions about the main male character you may currently have. I know last couple of years have given us some pretty damn good male leads, but they can’t all be possessive demon gods there should be room for other type of characters as well.

If you've watched dramas like TTEOM or LBFD, where the male lead is intensely flawed or vicious, approach The Last Immortal with a fresh perspective. This drama’s narrative focuses on a group of young, naive individuals navigating the world, making mistakes, and growing in the process. It’s a coming-of-age story that beautifully illustrates their development as they confront challenges and learn appreciation as they mature.

The central narrative revolves around a young man Gu Jin burdened by the weight of responsibility of being a true god, torn between his love for someone and the expectations placed upon him. Alongside him, A Yin, who is in fact not what she seems, faces her hardships and emerges stronger when her time comes. We’re introduced to a family dynamic steeped in manipulation, particularly a father who coerces his daughter into nefarious actions. The story also explores bonds formed between unlikely allies and the consuming desire for power—timeless themes of good versus evil.

I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie among the four leads. Initially, I felt A Yin should choose Hong Yi. Because I mean that guy was hubby material, but I guess because he was too young and too impulsive he came on too strong. But as the plot unfolds, it becomes clear why her fated match is meant to be. Plus, Hong Yi has his own love story, which develops nicely throughout. I wished the secondary couple had more scenes earlier on, but their relationship becomes increasingly engaging as the series progresses.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this show. I've learned to not let reviews dictate my viewing choices. The acting is stellar; there’s no slow pacing, and no dull episodes. It captures the quintessential essence of a xianxia C-drama, brimming with fantastical elements and intricate scheming.

I do agree with the sentiment that the ending for the main couple could have been more fulfilling. While it’s a happy ending, it doesn’t quite match the joy of the secondary couple’s conclusion. Despite this, their relationship was adorable, and I felt satisfied with their happy ending—quite a rarity for me, as I usually don't invest in second couples.

In conclusion, I believe The Last Immortal is an underrated gem that deserves higher praise. I’ve seen some lackluster dramas out there, with much higher score and poorer quality. I think if you said you’re expectations aside and keep an open mind you will enjoy this drama. For me personally, the drama is worth watching when I need to go to sleep and I keep telling myself another 10 minutes for the next two hours. this one was exactly like that.

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When the girl wants a specific man and goes after him before she even knows it

I’ll admit, I initially put off watching "Hidden Love" for almost a year. I first stumbled over “The First Frost" on Netflix while it was still airing. I clicked on it on a whim, and the cinematography drew me in. After finishing up The First Frost, I found out it was a spinoff of "Hidden Love”. I decided to start “Hidden Love” right after. But I can be a bit snobby when I watch a drama with really good cinematography. I'm looking for something of the same quality if I'm in the mood, so the difference in cinematography was actually what made me bench “Hidden Love” for a while.

I moved on to something else and then when I was out of all the quality dramas to watch, I decided to go back and give “Hidden Love another try mostly because I also liked Chen Zhe Yuan’s acting in Fated Hearts I watched last month.

Zhao Lu Si needs no introduction. I've seen her in a number of other works, and she's just so versatile – equally skilled at both comedy and more emotional, dramatic scenes. And that talent really shines through in her portrayal of Sang Zhi.

Now, I will say, the beginning of the story can be quite slow because we only get to see what Sang Zhi is experiencing and it's mostly pining after Duan Jia Xu for nearly 8 episodes. We don't really get to know Duan Jia Xu better until later in the drama.

Now, I'm also going to say that creating a romance story, where one of the characters is still a minor at the beginning of it, needs to be done very carefully because it can easily become icky.

We first meet Sang Zhi as a teenage girl who’s developing a crush on her older brother's friend. She is still in middle school while her crush is in college. But the writers handled that part really well, making sure there were no inappropriate reciprocated feelings or behavior from Duan Jia Xu while she was still a minor. He treats her as a little sister.

As the story progresses, we really get to see Sang Zhi's character develop and mature, transitioning from that spoiled, indecisive teenage girl with an obsession into a strong, assertive young woman who knows exactly what she wants.

In short, Sang Zhi is so mommy-coded and wifey-material even as a minor, it’s adorable. The way she offers money and help to Duan Jia Xu, the way she sneaks it into his wallet while at the airport, the way she takes care of him at the hospital or the way she returns that glass of water at the restaurant scene—it’s just swoony. She becomes a strong and emotionally intelligent young woman who stands up for herself and for her man.

And Zhao Lu Si absolutely nails that emotional journey.

The more we learn about Duan Jia Xu’s backstory, the more depth and complexity his character takes on. This guy has been through some serious trauma, yet he still manages to put on a cheerful, responsible front, especially in front of Sang Zhi. He slips just once in her presence before his departure right after college graduation.

He is a strong, resilient kind of guy who does not want to burden others with his problems. And I think with everything that has been happening in his life, it's very admirable that he manages to remain a decent, caring, and responsible person.

Now let's talk about acting. The two leads just absolutely killed it, especially in those gut-wrenching emotional scenes. I'll admit, I even got a little teary-eyed at a couple of points – which is saying a lot, since I'm not usually one to cry during dramas.

Special mention is the airport scene in episode seven, and then another airport scene at the end of the drama when they are already grown-ups.

One thing I really appreciated about "Hidden Love" is the lack of unnecessary side characters and their storylines. So often, dramas try to cram in too much, and it ends up slowing down the pacing. But here, it's really just focused on the central romance between Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, and I think that works so much better.

Yes, of course, we have supporting cast. We have the parents and the brother and then we have her college girlfriends and his college friends. But they are only in the drama to do exactly what they're supposed to be doing—support our leads in their journey. They are given just enough screen time to make us understand what's happening with them, but they are not really slowing down the pace. I think it's also one of the reasons why this show is so highly rated.

Some of the things that really stood out to me is the banter between the leads and their friend group(s). It was hilarious. Those group gathering scenes were always a delight. Some of the jokes were ridiculously on point. The acting in those scenes was just natural.

I also wanted to share my thoughts on the age gap. To me, the age gap between the leads, especially when Sang Zhi went to college, didn't seem all that drastic. I understand that in the context of them being at different places in their lives when the story started, it really does matter. But I was almost wondering why the parents were exaggerating about the fact that he was older once she started college and became of legal age. But again, that's just me. Others may have different ideas so it's whatever works for you.

I want to talk about the chemistry because it's obvious that the chemistry is there. Both Chen Zhe Yuan and Zhao Lu Si are very talented and capable of giving us exactly what the characters are feeling.

Overall, "Hidden Love" is the kind of slow-burning romance that I can really get behind. It's got depth, it's got heart, it’s got a green flag male lead and it's got a female lead, who knows exactly what—or who—she wants and isn't afraid to go after it—or him. If you're in the mood for a sweet, uncomplicated love story without all the typical drama clichés, this one is definitely worth checking out. It's one of the better ones I've seen in a long time and I really can't find a single flaw in it.

It'll give you butterflies without doubt.

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When the Chemistry is Chemistrying & the Storytelling is Storytelling-ing

Alright, ladies, gather 'round because I'm about to tell you about your next TV boyfriend. If you're a romantic fiction junkie like me, then Chinese drama "The First Frost" is about to become your new obsession.

All you have to do is find it on your Netflix and click Play.

Now, I'll be real with you—I’m a huge fan of Chinese fantasy, but I'm usually not one to venture into the world of contemporary C-dramas. The culture differences after watching so much Western TV is jarring and I do need to be in the right mood. But Netflix kept on showing "The First Frost" to me since I already watch a lot of international content, so I decided to check it out.

First of all, this show has all my favorite tropes (high school sweethearts, second-chance romance, forced proximity—hello, roommates!), plus an epicly (is this even a word?) swoon-worthy male lead.

And let me tell you, this drama does not disappoint. From the jump, the production value is off the charts. The cinematography is so dang stunning. For someone who has worked on sets and did years of photography, this was so visually satisfying. The angles, the bokeh, the tricks the crew used with lights and fixtures. My eyes were so happy.

Seriously, the way the production team uses the visuals to set the mood and really draw you into the characters' journeys? Chef's Kiss

Now, let's talk about our leading lady Wen Yi Fan played by Zhang Ruo Nan. Yes, she might come across as a little weak at the beginning, but remember, this is a different culture, with its own set of societal norms. So, you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. And typically, a couple of episodes is enough to get into the groove.

As we watch the show, we also see the progress in Wen Yi Fan. The way she's been shaped by her traumatic past reflects on her personality greatly. But she makes up for her weakness by standing up for herself when it counts. Her relationship with her high school crush Sang Yan and how it develops in the present is also showcasing her character arc. I’ve seen some unconvincing leading ladies and Zhang Ruo Nan does an amazing job playing a victim of domestic violence and assault. Her performance is nuanced and believable. It’s endearing to watch her come into her own, to make the right decisions for herself and her happiness, to learn how to trust again. She looks fragile, but she has a lot more power than the viewer expects.

Writers did an amazing job with her character overall, and I think the actress was able to bring it to life wonderfully.

And then there's Sang Yan, our male lead. Fans self.

Honey, this man has been simping for Wen Yi Fan since high school, and let me tell you, the actor they cast absolutely nails it. Just a small piece of info in case you didn’t know: “The First Frost” is a spin-off of another popular TV series “Hidden Love,” in which there’s a different actor playing Sang Yan. He was recast for “The First Frost” because someone with more experience in romantic roles was needed for this drama.

I am so happy with the casing choice. Bai Jingting is a total sweetheart. He is nonchalant where it’s necessary and caring in a quiet, brooding way, but no overbearing. He knows Wen Yi Fan is the one for him, and he does everything to make her life easier. As someone who’s been writing romance novels for ten years and publishing them for six out of those ten, I can tell when the actor really puts his heart into a role. Sang Yan does everything for Wen Yi Fan that a gentleman will do, including sneaking in that cat tree into her room. This was such a sweet moment.

I’m also going to say that no matter how good the actors are, if there’s no chemistry between them, then it’s just not going to be convincing. Well, this show has no chemistry problems. The sparks between these two are off the charts, and the little moments where he shows his devotion? Swoon central, I tell you.

Another interesting thing I noticed is that Sang Yan is a green flag. Mostly, there will be some red flags in male leads in Asian shows, at least if you watch them from the Western point of view. If you are used to Asian content, then you will not notice. I have to constantly switch my brain depending on what I watch and tune in my expectations, but that’s just me.

Lastly, I want to talk a little about intimacy in this show. C-dramas are pretty tame. You’re lucky if you get more than one or two kisses over the course of 40 episodes. There’s no skinship whatsoever. You will hardly see a woman in a bra. Male torso will most definitely be shown. So, knowing how it typically is, I was pleasantly surprised that while “The First Frost” didn’t go full-on Hollywood style and open bedroom scene, there was a lot more steamy moments overall between the couple than in most C-dramas I’ve seen, which will be pretty satisfying for romance fans. These moments are quite important because they don’t just showcase a couple getting closer, but the trust the female lead puts into the male lead, which is part of her character development.

Side notes.

There’s a second couple, and they are cute, but I think the storyline about the grandparents bogged down the main plot a little and took a lot of time. But I also know why it was there, so I just skipped the lengthy dialogues that were meant to be educational.

We also had this hiccup of an arc that happens on almost all Asian romance dramas, where one has to leave the other because they think that the other is better off. (I actually understand why, because I would have probably done the same thing in my current medical situation to let the one I care about lead a better life. But I’m not 26 YO, and these people are effing healthy). I always roll my eyes at this trope because it’s becoming tiring, but the rest of the drama was very good. Overall, the story is so well-crafted, the characters so compelling, and the romance so darn swoony, you won't even care about this bit.

My verdict.

If you're in the mood for a drama that's gonna make your heart flutter, and your eyes tear up, you gotta check out "The First Frost." And trust me, you're gonna be thanking me later when you've found your new TV boyfriend in Sang Yan.

Music.

I need to say a couple of words about the soundtrack. It’s amazing and I even saved a few songs into my playlist.

Favorite song from the show: 想悄悄住进你的灵魂 (Want To Quietly Live in Your Soul) - 萧秉治 (Xiao Bingzhi)


P.S. And yes, it’s in Mandarin and it has English subtitles.

P.P.S. I have been trying to bring myself to watch Hidden Love just to see what the hype is about, but I have started and stopped twice now, simply because the cinematography in Hidden Love is not as good. I will give it a try again at a later date.

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Nine Years Later, This Time-Slip K-Drama Still Rips Your Heart Out ?

Genre: Historical, Slight Fantasy
Tropes: Transmigration, Love Triangle (that turns into some other weird shape later in the series)

I’ll start by saying that I have no words after finishing this. I had to take some time to process everything before sharing my feels.

If you are an international K-Drama fan like me, you probably know that for the longest time, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" remained unavailable for viewing on any major streaming platforms.

It’s also important to note that it’s not a new drama. It was released in 2016, and while the quality of K-dramas has gotten way better in the past 9 years, this is still an ambitious series with a larger-than-life story, and it’s currently one of the most searched series on Viki.

At the heart of the story is a young woman in the present day who, after a
drowning incident during an eclipse, finds herself transported back in time, inhabiting the body of a noble lady closely connected to the royal family. As she navigates the unfamiliar customs and expectations of the Goryeo era, our heroine must forge new relationships with various people to survive. I’d like to mention that Goryeo dynasty was a significant period in Korean history that lasted from 918 to 1392. So, it’s important to understand this was the time of strict societal norms and a power struggle that knew no bounds.

Our heroine makes friends with several princes, ultimately falling for two of them simultaneously. So, the first half of the show we are invested in the love triangle.

But as the drama progresses, the narrative takes a dark turn. The love story becomes entangled in a complex web of family feuds, as the princes vie for the throne (and a few more vie for our heroine’s heart), their ambitions eclipsing any notion of a happily-ever-after. It's a harrowing, emotionally draining journey, yet one that we simply cannot tear ourselves away from. At this point, we are too invested in the characters and their fates because they are fleshed out and real, and we can’t help it. It’s almost like watching a trainwreck in slow-motion. There’s absolutely no comedic moments left, just lots of anxiety and some foreshadowing.

Things I enjoyed:

Acting and star-studded cast. And I do mean star-studded. This show gave a boost in popularity to a lot of beloved Korean actors. We even have a small cameo from Byeon Woo Seok from “Lovely Runner.”

I know the opinions on IU’s acting are divided. I think it has nothing to do with her skills but with the way her character was written. Historical setting and rules women had to adhere at the time also play a big role in her behavior. She essentially had to forget where she was from and try to make it work in her current situation. I have no problem with her character or acting. I think she did a great job. I think any woman in such circumstances would have done the same.

Lee Joon Gi, who played 4th Prince, carried the show on his shoulders. But… I am also not upset about some of the things that happened in the last two episodes. Yes, there’s romance but it’s not going to end the way you think. (SPOILER) For some reason, I rooted for 14th prince because he gave our heroine what she wanted. Not all, but the most important things that mattered in the end, in my opinion.

I loved all the other couples and how the relationships between the characters were portrayed.

Things I think could have been done better:

The ending. It’s not a secret this show doesn’t have a happy ending. This is ultimately a historical show with a dash of fantasy (and I mean just a dash) and it reflects the harsh realities of the time period it’s set at. I can definitely deal with some of the open endings where it’s easy to guess what could happen. Knowing what the deleted scene at the end of the last episode would have been, it gives me a little comfort. But leaving it the way it is is weird because if the writers are alluding to what we think they are alluding, it needs to be shown somehow. I think the ending definitely needed some finesse.

In a nutshell, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” is a romantic historical drama about the price of power.

I suppose, you’re asking yourself why watch it if it doesn’t have a HEA.

Some shows are there for pure entertainment and to make you feel good. “Moon Lovers” is a show where you enjoy the journey not the destination. Not every work of fiction is going to give you fuzzy feelings. Some are there to show you other things.

Even years after its release, the series remains a staple of what a Korean historical drama, or "sageuk," should aspire to be. Its ability to seamlessly blend romance, political intrigue, and gut-wrenching tragedy has cemented its status as a true classic of K-drama.

It's finally available to watch on Viki.

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Finally, a K-Drama with lead who loves rock/metal music ?

If you're a sucker for K-drama clichés galore like me (and let's be real, who isn't?), "My Dearest Nemesis" is serving them up with a side of swoon and giggles for sure. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hooked from the very first episode.

Things I enjoyed: I really liked the delightful blend of humor and heart. The banter between the leads is sharp and witty. It's a wonder they didn't set off my smoke alarms. There’s no unnecessary fillers or any secondary plots. Writers waste no time, which is always a plus in my book (I skip/fast forward a lot when I watch).

The female lead is feisty and smart and can handle herself. Plus I’m a fan of Moon Ga-Young. I really loved her in “True Beauty” and she doesn’t disappoint here. As a character she is consistent.

Now let’s talk about the adorable male lead (played by Choi Hyun-Wook). He is nerdry, liked rock music, goes to concert, reads comic books, collects toys, and of course pining over his ice queen of a coworker? Swoon-worthy, I tell you!

Despite the drama only being 10 episodes long (a rarity in the K-drama world since they are typically 16 episodes), the character backstories and motivations were refreshingly well-developed. No needless separation at the end, either—just a wholesome, fuzzy-feeling conclusion that left me grinning like a sixteen year old.

Things that I think could have been better: Many longer K-dramas always wobble in the last quarter. Perhaps because writers run out of steam. Not sure. "My Dearest Nemesis" doesn’t really suffer from this much but the last couple of eposides could have used a little zing. While we get a lot of snippets of their HEA, the resolution with the main antagonist feels a little rushed and there seems to be no actual climax. However, I am not upset over this. This is better than that the separation trope where one of them disappears because he/she things it’s going to make their loved ones life better. Then magically appears 5 years later and everything is okay. Instead, in “My Dearest Nemesis,” the leads actually communicate (not without some secrets) and support each other like a real couple.

Overall:

"My Dearest Nemesis" is a solid 8.5/10 laugh-out-loud rom com with tons of cute situations. If you're looking for a rom com that's equal parts funny and heartwarming, this drama is the perfect antidote to all those angsty, melodramatic K-dramas out there.

Trust me, your inner K-drama addict will thank you.


P.S. Since I’m a music nerd, I want to say the soundtrack is amazing. Special Mention goes to Stay by NELL. I added it to my playlist.

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Loved it!

I loved it.

No unnecessary, lengthy dialogues from insignificant characters or villains. Fast-paced. Great chemistry between the main characters. Great couple dynamics overall.

I have no complaints. I don’t watch C-dramas for some other reason beyond being entertained and relaxing after work.

This drama did the job. Production value has also gone up compared to previous years, which really adds to the enjoyment of watching. I think this one goes to the top 20 of my favorite costume C-dramas.

I think romance, of course, could be romancing a bit more. There was too little skinship for my taste, considering that the couple has been married for the entirety of the drama. But again, I’m a gal who lives in the west, so I’ll take what I can get when I watch C-dramas, especially if they are historical setting.

I think this is a must re-watch for me in a few years.

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Slow-Burn Tragedy That Needed 10 Fewer Episodes

48 Episodes of 'Why Did I Watch This?' (And Why You Might Want To Too)

This drama has been sitting on my watchlist for literal years. I kept putting it aside because, let’s be real, I knew it didn’t have a happy ending and I wasn't sure I was ready for the heartbreak. But as a total fan of Dilraba Dilmurat and Vin Zhang, I finally made it my mission to binge it just to see what their acting was like back in their rookie days.

In a nutshell, The King's Woman is a tragedy mostly based on the life of on the first Emperor of China, starring Dilraba Dilmurat as Gongsun Li, a compassionate and free spirited woman forced into the palace of the ruthless Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng, who is played by Vin Zhang. The catch? She’s secretly pregnant with her first love's child. Ying Zheng's toxic, possessive self decides to accept the baby anyway just to keep her by his side, creating a super messy and dark bond with Gongsun Li. Meanwhile, her childhood sweetheart, Jing Ke and father of her child, played by Liu Chang, goes down a dark ‘no way out’ path to become a legendary assassin.

Fun fact: Jing Ke and Ying Zheng are both real historical figures.

Honestly, the whole show is just a massive twist of fate. These three actually met as kids when one was in danger, and the other two saved him. Flash forward, and that little kid who they saved grows up to be the first emperor of China—and the literal reason they both die.

Yikes. So, word of advice: if you go into this expecting a fluffy romance, you are doing it wrong. I see quite a lot of hate online from people who watched this one when it came out, criticizing the actual romance. The romance in this drama is a myth. This is a tragedy, plain and simple.

And don’t forget that it’s loosely based on history; while the assassin and the Emperor were real people, Dilraba's character is fictional to make the drama interesting and actually show the real price of power. If you drop the romance expectations, it actually gives a pretty realistic look at how trapped women were in ancient China. Romanticizing the story between her and the Emperor was pretty much for the sake of viewership and dramatization and the reasons I mentioned above.

Yes, there is absolutely crazy chemistry between Dilraba and Vin Zhang and that’s the reason why this drama is controversial because people totally misinterpret the "romance" between the female lead and the king because of this chemistry. She didn't magically forget her first love. She was genuinely in love with her childhood sweetheart, the father of her kid. But she had to survive for the sake of her son.

Sure, spending years trapped in a palace with the king meant she grew to understand him, but half her heart was elsewhere. I think perhaps there was quite a lot of screen time given to them to portray them as a couple and it perhaps was a mistake because the drama gives a feel of a romantic drama with that much time given to the relationship between Gongsun Li and Ying Zheng. If writers were to concentrate on everyone’s stories equally and just take a full on ‘historical tragedy’ approach that would perhaps not have given viewers an idea that this was a romantic storyline. Also, despite the amount of the toxicity between the couple and the fact that she is forced into being his wife, there’s barely any skinship. We hardly get any intimacy. They share a few kisses on screen and that’s it. The only real romantic intimacy-filled scene is between Gongsun Li and Jing Ke at the beginning of the drama, which tells you that he was always the one despite her loving Ying Zheng in her own way.

As for the execution? The actors were super young here, but the acting is surprisingly good. That said, the pacing was a snail-paced test of patience at times. This show easily could have chopped off 10 episodes and been way better for it. On the bright side, the fight scenes actually serve and super fun to watch, considering this is a drama that was filmed more than 10 years ago. Yes, there are way too many irrelevant side characters and political filler, but hey, that’s 2017 C-drama logic for you.

The production value is a bit of a mixed bag. The costumes and sets look great, and I love that they actually shot on location instead of abusing green screens and cheap CGI. But oh my god, the makeup! Specifically for Jing Ke at the beginning? Absolutely criminal. The make up. team eventually made him look really. Bada$$. I loved it but first half of the show feels like they try to make him look ugly on purpose.

As far as the ending goes, yes, it’s extremely sad, but I was surprised at the fact that I didn’t hate it at all. Everything that the characters did and Gongsun Li’s final choice at the end made total sense. We are left with the lingering filling of the possibility of the better future for Ying Zheng. Perhaps in that fictional universe, he could be a really benevolent ruler. Obviously, historically, we know that while he did unify China, he was pretty much a dictator. But he still goes down in history as someone who ultimately did an important thing.

It’s an old drama and it’s definitely not for everyone and people who are only coming into C-drama now will probably not be able to stomach it, however, I’d still recommend it if you are in the mood for a good cry or if you love Dilraba Dilmurat and Vin Zhang and want to see them in their breakthrough roles…or just want a vintage c-drama, or if you just want to finally check it off your list since the drama community still brings it up all the time.

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Great Romcom Chemistry Buried Under Too Much Second Couple Screen Time

A Romance of the Little Forest is a cute typical romantic comedy about a cold, dedicated professor and a bubbly fashion blogger with a secret Ph.D. whose paths cross again years after he unintentionally broke her heart.

I think this drama deserves a slightly higher rating than what it's currently sitting at, and I'll tell you exactly why — and where it falls short.

The Leads

If you're not a fan of Esther Yu, this may not be the drama for you. But I like her, and she delivers an amazing, over-the-top, romcom-worthy performance here. Her character Yu Meiren is extremely chaotic, and every single frame she's in is enjoyable if that’s the vibe you’re looking for in a female lead. She's expressive, she's like a little ray of sunshine, and I thoroughly enjoyed her acting even though it's nothing extraordinary in terms of range in this particular drama. She's just perfectly cast for this role.

Vin Zhang as Zhuang Yu delivers a very believable performance of a cold, unapproachable, single-minded man determined to dedicate his life to science. That is, until Yu Meiren enters his life. If you want a male lead with a face card, who does everything for her when he finally comes to terms with his feelings, you are in the right place. He's still one of my favorite male leads in contemporary C-drama despite one writing issue I'll get to in a moment. And this was truly not the character’s fault.

The Romance

This drama is your typical tropey warm-bubbly-female meets cold-unapproachable-male opposites-attract setup. Don't expect anything new or original. However, it's charming, and the first twenty episodes are amazing. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments that you'll want to rewatch them immediately.

The one thing I wish the writers would have done differently is giving the lead couple more episodes together actually *being* in a relationship. It takes them literally thirty-four episodes to get together properly and officially. But that slow burn is also the part that keeps you watching, and we have to wait for that first real kiss until almost the very end. It does not disappoint, however. When it happens, it burns.

The Slump

Things slow down and take a typical C-drama turn somewhere around episode twenty when Zhuang Yu goes abroad to pursue his scientific and academic endeavors, leaving Yu Meiren behind with matters between them unresolved after pretty much leading her on. For the next three to four episodes, things are boring and slow between the lead couple and you just want to skip them because they’re depressing, so I did a lot of skipping. Once he returns and is back in the picture, things pick up again and we get more of the fun stuff.

Here's what bothered me about that stretch though — the situation between Zhuang Yu and Yu Meiren is up in the air, and he doesn't really try hard to reach out to her after he sees she blocked him on WeChat. He doesn't try to contact their mutual friends, her parents, or even email her. It's not like he was sent to a war zone with no reception. After you finish the drama and get to the final episode, it becomes a bit more clear why he did what he did. But as you're watching it unfold in the middle episodes, it's baffling because things between them were heating up and he just left without a word and didn't even attempt to explain himself. This type of behavior is why women will not take men back. This drama is a few years old, so I’m hoping that this is the last time I’m seen this trick writers attempt. It’s really becoming outdated.

Zhuang Yu does redeem himself at the end, but I think this was the only point where his character didn't read very well and I hated him thinking that if I were Yu Meiren, I would never take him back. That feels more like a writing problem than anything else of course — the writers couldn't think of a better way to create conflict. Or explain better or sooner why he didn’t try to contact her.

I also adored Yu Meiren's parents. Her mom definitely added plenty of laughs.


The Second Couple Problem

Now, the biggest flaw in this drama is Li Tiantian and Jin Xi — the second couple. They have equal, if not greater, screen time than the leads. At a certain point, you genuinely can't tell who the main couple is. Perhaps the producers wanted two main couples, but I'll be brutally honest here: while the story for the second couple is meaningful and very well written, and while Ding Guansen delivers great acting, I just didn't feel the chemistry between them. I think if the producers had cast somebody else, it maybe would have worked much better. I believe this is one of the main reasons this drama has a lower rating than most contemporary romcoms — the second couple takes up too much space without delivering the chemistry to justify it.

The entire drama could have been cut down to thirty episodes, if not fewer, and it wouldn't have suffered at all.

On a personal note: I’m noticing, though the writers in the past few years are starting to desert the second couple subplots altogether. Most dramas that do really well concentrate on a single couple and supporting characters have shorter scenes. People who are only now discovering some of these popular actors and watching their older works are probably baffled with the amount of screen time the supporting cast is getting in the older dramas.

Final Verdict

If you don't enjoy the second couple's chemistry and dynamics from the very beginning, just skip their story. Watch A Romance of the Little Forest for Vin Zhang and Esther Yu's super chemistry and some genuinely great laughs. The first twenty episodes are a blast, the romance pays off in the end, and the leads are more than enough to carry this drama — they just needed more room to breathe.

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Surprisingly Original Sci-Fi Romance With Good Production Value

If you like urban fantasy, Rattan is worth your time.

I will start by saying that Jing Tian and Zhang Binbin are amazing in this modern fantasy romance. This is a story about a young architect who accidentally resurrects a powerful ancient being named Si Teng and gets roped into helping her navigate the modern world, recover her memories, learn how to be a human, and confront a dangerous enemy from her past.

For something that was produced before Covid, this is a visually stunning drama. While there are some very cheesy moments with the alien costumes — and yes, they do get a little weird — the overall CGI and cinematography are genuinely impressive, better than some of the dramas released after 2022. I enjoyed it immensely.

Story & Pacing

This is a love story at its core, but there's a lot more going on around it. If you're here purely for the romance, keep in mind that there are quite a few different characters and subplots woven throughout. If you're not into that style of drama, you'll probably find yourself skipping some moments. That said, even when it dragged in places, I still stayed engaged because I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next with our lead couple. One of the reasons I liked Rattan is because this drama doesn't follow any of the clichés you'd typically see in a C-drama, and that alone kept me hooked. The premise is very fresh and original and that’s part of the charm.

Acting & Romance

The acting was amazing across the board. The romance was great — I just wish we had a little more skinship beyond the couple of kisses we got. You know the drill by now — I always want more.

Yan Fu Rui was an absolute delight of the character. He brought so much comedic relief. There were some scenes where I just couldn’t stop laughing. He deserves a separate shout out.

The soundtrack is also fantastic and complements the tone of the drama really well.

⚠️ Spoilers Below — You've Been Warned

This drama doesn't have a typical happy ending in the conventional sense. The ending is somewhat bittersweet, but I think it makes sense because the characters return to their original form — so for them, this *is* a happy ending. I've heard there's an alternative ending floating around on YouTube, but I couldn't find it, so I have to go with what I watched. It landed for me.

Final Verdict

While the story is somewhat bogged down by a number of draggy scenes, it's still an interesting and original concept with a compelling love story at its core. There are several genuinely heartbreaking moments that will make you tear up. It's absolutely worth watching if you're looking for something in the urban fantasy lane and you like both lead actors. This one surprised me and despite being fairly dated at this point. But I’m on Zhang Binbin binge right now so I stumbled upon it and I don’t regret it.

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