Surprisingly overrated
As much as I love Zhan Xiao as a lead actor, the plot is so convoluted that it never quite hits the mark. Oftentimes, the rationale behind certain decisions and actions is so weak that they have to dedicate an equal amount of screen time explaining how each "clever scheme" is supposed to work in order for us to understand the significance of these events. This has nothing to do with the audience being lazy and needing to be spoonfed, as some reviewers might suggest, but is a sign that the storyline could have been better executed.I must admit, the first few episodes really piqued my interest, but it loses momentum shortly after. Overall, the show isn't terrible, but the amount of people hyping it up as a 10/10 is ridiculous.
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I learned my lesson on judging a book by its cover...
Life can be so ironic sometimes. This was the first C-drama I had watched featuring Liu Yu Ning as the ML. Not only did I have no idea who he was at the time, I scoffed and gave up on the series around episodes 3-4 due to the extremely slow plot development. Since then, I ended up watching "The Story of Pearl Girl," "The Prisoner of Beauty," and "A Dream Within a Dream," finally getting a good, well-rounded appreciation of Liu Yu Ning not only as a great actor but as some real honest-to-goodness handsome, masculine eye candy. I finally decided to give "A Journey to Love" another chance, and it was one of the better decisions I've made this year.By the end of episode 5, I was giggling like a schoolgirl and heavily invested in the dynamic between the ML and FL. In fact, episode 5 is still my favorite episode in the series (the scene near the end of the episode where Ning Yuan Zhou was fighting for his life not to be molested by Ren Ru Yi was peak comedy). By episode 24, not only was I heavily invested in the series, I was absolutely cheering on Liu Shi Shi for giving one of the most empowering and balanced performances as an extremely capable FL-rather than the whiny, airheaded, helpless FL characters that plague C-dramas.
The entire cast did a great job, but I really appreciated He Lan Dou's performance as Princess Yang Ying and admired her versatility and complete immersion in her role in every episode. Also, unlike most C-dramas, she really did convincingly portray herself as a prince, and her journey from a crybaby to being extremely composed and calculating was truly believable and even refreshing.
It's funny how I almost missed out on a perfectly good series simply because I didn't give it a fair chance. In my defense though, who would have thought that things would get so much better nearly five episodes in? I guess I've been spoiled by the C-dramas that get things going right away (or at least by episode 2).
Anyway, don't make the same mistake I did-give it a fair chance and you won't be disappointed.
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Jaw-dropping Sword Choreography and Costumes
OK, I'll say this once and for all before I even proceed with this review: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WUXIA DRAMAS EVER MADE! In fact, I would argue it's in the top three.Now, it's time to talk about the stunning cast and costumes. First, I must be the millionth person to say that Li Hongyi is a triple threat: brilliant actor, strong with combat choreography, and prime eye candy. But let's not discount the fact that the ENTIRE main cast are exceptionally strong actors. Ao Rui Peng, Liu Xue Yi, and Li Xin Ze made my day whenever they were on screen, as did He Zhong Hua as the Xueyue Spear Deity and Dong Li Wu You as the Wushuang City Lord.
In fact, Wu Shuang became one of the more interesting side characters for me simply based on his hubris and tenacity, especially after taking the city lord position by force (threatening the council with violence). Seeing him slowly master the Wushuang Sword Box and run around getting into fights just to increase his strength-an attribute very similar to Lei Wu Jie's fiery, pure spirit-I was genuinely curious about where his story would lead. I would definitely be interested in watching a side arc showing his character development.
Back to the cast: it is rare to see so many strong actors together in one series. Even the supporting cast was top tier. From Du Jun Ze as the Jade Deity to Cao Yu Chen as the Tao Sword Deity of Mount Wangcheng, I was more and more delighted with the introduction of each and every character in the show. And let's not forget Deng Kai as Prince Chi. Not only did he do a wonderful job portraying this role, but I daresay he rivaled many of the main cast costume-wise and was strikingly handsome too (despite his character being the most ungrateful, petty, vindictive, and scheming person on the planet).
Regarding Li Hongyi as the ML: I love how Xiao Se/Xiao Chu He was both the star and the underdog in this series, having to work his way back to his optimal form. Despite his weakened state, his attitude was enough to make it clear that he isn't just anybody. I found it refreshing to see him slowly warm up to Lei Wu Jie, and I could tell that he saw his former self in Lei Wu Jie-a time when he was full of vigor and still unscathed by the disappointments and tragedies of the world. I loved their interaction, and it was a joy to watch the main cast grow together to form real bonds that transcend even life and death.
Now let's talk about the jaw-dropping combat choreography, the intricate naming system for the swords, and stunning CGI imagery. I'll sum these up with one word: SUBLIME!
This show allows the viewer to witness and savor the power structure established by the old leaders while cheering on the limitless potential of the upcoming youth of the martial arts world. The plot is solid and the ending gives us closure. After watching it for the second time, I still can't express enough how much I enjoyed this series.
If I could give it 20 stars, I would. Highly recommended!
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YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED!!!!
Study Group is like a mix between Weak Class Hero 1, Mob Psycho 100, and One Punch Man.... and in the best possible way!!!!I'm not kidding either. Some of the punches were so potent, so utterly convincing, that I gasped and gawked like a real spectator would on the sidelines. Hwang Min Hyun did an absolutely amazing job portraying high school student Yun Ga Min, a young and naive optimist with a passion to improve himself intellectually (quite possibly to no avail) who suffers from hidden feelings of inadequacy when it comes to his academic pursuits. This inadequacy blinds him to his other strengths, such as being basically oblivious to how overpowered he is physically.
Honestly, it's hard to believe Min Hyun was almost 30 years old when filming the series. It's funny how he's basically the same age as Jin Woo Jin (Disciplinary Committee member Kim Gyu Jin), yet in their fight scene, Woo Jin looked like a grown man fighting against a teenager. Luckily, the show doesn't take itself seriously enough for the viewer to care about such things.
Also, although everybody gets a free knuckle sandwich, there's no denying the underlying theme that it's never too late to better oneself, even when it feels like all odds are against you. My two favorite quotes from the show include "I create opportunities even in hellish situations" and "Be thugs amongst yourselves if you must." I enjoyed Min Hyun's performance so much that I took a peek at his biography, being absolutely convinced he was the same actor who played the main lead in the show "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty." Much to my surprise, these are two completely different actors! (really though, I can't be the only one who thinks Hwang Min Hyun and Lee Chae Min look like siblings).
I rank Study Group as my number one favorite series this year. I rate it a 10/10 because I was entertained from start to finish. The only downside is that now I feel a void in my heart that no other show can entertain me quite like this one in the foreseeable future (for this reason, I'll minus a 0.0000000000000001).
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Leave your brain at the door....
The number of people praising The Immortal Ascension as being the best xianxia of 2025 have set the bar shamefully low.Absolutely everything about this show is overhyped. In fact, the success of this show is possibly powered entirely by Yang Yang's fans, who insist that Yang Yang "delivered a captivating performance." I think we need to be clear about which aspects of his performance were captivating. First, he really is very good at the combat choreography aspect of his role, and it doesn't seem like he needed a stunt double (based on the behind-the-scenes footage). However, acting-wise, it's like watching paint dry. He doesn't emote in a convincing way, and though he does display some degree of "spatial awareness," it feels forced (that is, he doesn't come across as being fully immersed in the role). Simply put, his acting feels very wooden, which is exactly how I feel about Zhao Xiao Tang's performance as well. This proves that having an attractive cast doesn't guarantee a show's success, especially when the actors are a mismatch for their roles.
To make matters worse, the storyline was all over the place. The first few episodes served as a clever smokescreen that piqued my curiosity, but after that, it starts going downhill fast. By episode 20, it becomes evident that the key to enjoying the show is not thinking too deeply about the plot or caring at all about character development. Just enjoy the combat sequences and CGI because that's literally all that's being served here.
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It's worth the commitment.
This is the epitome of a slow-burn plot. While it's no "Nirvana in Fire," it does the job, and the narrative holds together quite well from beginning to end.Zhao Jin Mai did a fantastic job as Li Rong, to the extent that I was puzzled why "The Princess Royal" was my first introduction to her in the role of a female lead. Zhang Ling He did a good job as her partner and romantic counterpart, Pei Wen Xuan. This is the fifth series I've watched that featured him as the main male lead, and his performance has been consistent throughout them all (though it seems to improve dramatically whenever he's paired with a strong, versatile female lead).
I absolutely loved Chen He Yi's performance as Su Rong Qing. In fact, after observing He Yi's acting rather closely (including his facial expressions, mannerisms, and overall aura) I can't help but see Luo Yun Xi. I digress to have even joked to myself that they could do a switcheroo with no quality lost whatsoever. He Yi could have easily played the part of Tantai Jin in "Till the End of the Moon" or Run Yu (night deity) in "Ashes of Love" and had the same impact.
Back to "The Princess Royal," I honestly can sympathize with all the people who were put off by the slow plot progression. I am an avid c-drama watcher, and it took me the span of two months to fully complete the series (I had to take breaks because it felt like more of a commitment). I don't expect there to be many people who would binge-watch "The Princess Royal" over the weekend.
Despite that, it really is a good watch. I loved how Pei Wen Xuan didn't mince words when it came to Li Rong. He was 100% devoted and even hilariously possessive at times. Li Rong seemed to demonstrate the most character development (hence the title of the show), and we get to see her soften from being overly cynical and guarded to feeling a genuine connection with others, specifically her love interest.
Would I rewatch "The Princess Royal" again someday for old times' sake? I doubt it. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth your time. One thing to note, though, is that the ending (while giving closure) is a bit cliché. Still, it gets an 8/10 in my book.
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It's a catfish, no pun intended.
Let me start by saying I absolutely loved the first half of this K-drama.Jang Dong Yoon was absolutely stunning as Lady Kim (for some reason, I was really surprised by this). He was the perfect choice for his role, and the chemistry between his character (Nokdu) and Dong Joo (played by Kim So Hyun) was decent.
HOWEVER, everything that made the first half of the show great (the comedy, cuteness, and playful misunderstandings) all went out the window in the second half. First off, having the character Cha Yool Mu just switch up and do a total 180 personality change right out of the blue after feeling rejected by Dong Joo was strange. It felt like it was done deliberately so the viewer wouldn't feel a bias toward him as the second male lead (that is, to disqualify him as a potential suitor in the eyes of the audience).
Secondly, the comedic value dried up by episode 9 as palace politics began to dominate the storyline. Soon, all that was left was mere breadcrumbs of romance amid what can only be described as "a runaway-train plot." The sudden change of pace and super serious mood of the second half felt like it was meant for a totally different audience (that is, the type of audience that would appreciate the first half of the show wasn't the same type that would have appreciated the latter half, and vice versa).
I was SO disappointed but still can't bring myself to give it a low rating because I really enjoyed the first half so much.
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How can something so heartbreaking be so beautiful?
I wasn't prepared for the emotional rollercoaster this love story would take me on.Woo Do Hwan's performance as Hae Jo was so raw, so layered, and so utterly convincing that it was difficult not to feel stirred by his internal conflict, helplessness, and emotional turmoil throughout his wild adventure into nowhere, searching for love and meaning before the end of his life. As the viewer, we not only sympathize with the plight of his character, but we become so invested in trying to get to know and understand him that we get completely lost in the storyline, secretly hoping that he would find a resolution that wouldn't make his destination so heartbreaking.
Of course, Lee You Mi's performance as Cho Jae Mi and Oh Jung Se's performance as Eo Heung were fantastic as well. In fact, the whole cast did a stellar job, and I was simply blown away by absolutely everything this show had to offer.
It's funny because at first, I kept reading comments saying that there was a sad ending, and somehow I mistook that to mean the ending left the audience feeling unsatisfied and without closure. However, after giving it a watch, I realized that the ending was actually quite tastefully done. After all, not every show can end with the protagonist miraculously being cured of a terminal illness and running off into the sunset without a care in the world. Sometimes it's nice to let the viewer imagine the outcome they want. For example, we can imagine that perhaps Cho Jae Mi discovers that she did become pregnant after all, carrying on Hae Jo's legacy, or whatever other type of ending helps us feel better after seeing Hae Jo close his eyes. Perhaps they did it that way so they could produce a season 2 if the show is successful enough.
All I can say is that Mr. Plankton is definitely about the journey and not the destination... and what a wonderful journey it was! Yes, you will shed a tear (shhhh... just let it happen), but there are also plenty of laughs and thrilling moments too. I rated it as a 9/10 to avoid seeming biased... but deep down I want to give it a full ten stars and type my review using caps-lock so it's abundantly clear that Mr. Plankton is a masterpiece that deserves all the hype.
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It deserves all the hype... and more.
The biggest irony is underestimating something (or someone) and then being slapped into the pavement with a reality check. This is me after watching Death's Game.When this show was released back in 2023, it was all everybody could talk about, so much so that I was absolutely convinced it was some kind of aggressive marketing push aimed at capturing the super average, easy-to-please masses. With that said, I avoided it like the plague (joke's on me, right?) all the way into 2025. Then, I finally decided to give it a watch out of boredom. On the bright side, season 2 had also been released by then, so I was able to binge all eight episodes in one go. Yes, I said binge, because it was that good.
Every single actor did a wonderful job. My eyes even got watery at Choi I Jae's final incarnation, and by that time I had to admit that I had been feeling all kinds of emotions with every incarnation. I am particularly ashamed that I couldn't take my eyes off Kim Jae-wook in season 2. That man is so attractive that it was hard to reconcile he was portraying an incarnation of one of the worst kinds of serial unalivers. I remember seeing him in "Dear Hong-rang," but somehow his presence (or aura) didn't quite click like it did in "Death's Game." Lee Jae-wook's performance was also so stellar that it reminded me to follow-up on watching season 2 of "Alchemy of Souls."
What's even more ironic is that for more than a year, I had been watching only c-dramas and nothing else. And while c-dramas do have a unique appeal, nothing hits the spot quite like a well-executed k-drama. And if I'm being completely honest, sometimes c-dramas can get so nonsensical that it's like NPC logic, but k-dramas usually have more developed, sensible plots. "Death's Game" definitely deserved all the hype it got back then, and anyone who hasn't seen it is 100% missing out. Don't make the same mistake I did.
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Esther Yu was like a fish out of water in this one...
It pains me to say this, but Esther Yu was a clear mismatch for this kind of "dark feminine" role. She was wonderful (dare I say, even borderline annoying) as the FL in "Love Between Fairy and Devil," which played more to her strengths as an actress. But this role (Yun Wei Shan) demanded a less "wooden," more balanced performance and would have been better suited to an actress such as Bai Lu or Zhou Ye. Don't get me wrong, Esther Yu isn't a terrible actress, she just doesn't seem to be as versatile as others (for example, everyone loves Zhao Lu Si, and she is indeed a bubbly, charming, quirky breath of fresh air... but I don't think she's built for dark feminine roles either).With that said, Lu Yu Xiao did a stellar job as Shangguan Qian. Ryan Cheng's performance as Gong Shang Jue was so strong that it likely helped inspire his eventual casting as the military general ML (Xiao Jue) in "Legend of the Female General." Of course, Zhang Ling He's performance as Gong Zi Yu was competent, but he suffered from being paired with a wooden FL.
Other honorable mentions include Tian Jia Rui's solid performance as Gong Yuan Zhi and Jolin Jin as Zi Yu's elder sister, Gong Zi Shang.
I feel like this series really had good potential that slightly missed the mark, but that doesn't mean it's unwatchable. Just be prepared to enjoy the dynamic between the secondary ML and FL more than the main ML and FL dynamic. In fact, be prepared to care more about everything else except the main storyline.
On the bright side, the costumes and set designs are absolutely stunning. Also, who doesn't like to look at Zhang Ling He, am I right?
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This was some lazy storytelling...
I'm a huge fan of Zhao Lu Si and Li Hong Yi, so seeing them work together was an absolute delight. Those two were literally the saving grace of this series. But even then, I feel like they were somewhat underutilized.For example, it's well known that Zhao Lu Si excels at quirky humor, bringing loads of authentic, refreshing expressions and life to her roles. This translated well in the first four episodes, but eventually things became so somber and serious that nothing could distract the viewer from the terrible storytelling and constantly unraveling plot-like having Chun Hua get kidnapped every few episodes just to move the story along.
Though I loved the interactions between Chun Hua and Shangguan Qiu Yue, their screen time together was extremely brief for most of the series, and their chemistry didn't develop until well past the 20-episode mark. I was honestly confused most of the time since June Wu as Xiao Bai seemed more like the main ML, while Li Hong Yi was positioned more as the secondary ML. The way June Wu portrayed Xiao Bai was extremely wooden and unenjoyable to watch. Even when Xiao Bai began to fall for Chun Hua, there was no spark in their interactions, making those scenes a bit cringe.
So basically, the viewer is starved of Chun Hua and Shangguan Qiu Yue screen time while being given ample amounts of lackluster Chun Hua and Xiao Bai scenes.
To make matters worse, most of the 40 episodes are padded with storylines and relationships we care nothing about (such as the one between Qin Liu Feng and Leng Ning).
Then there's the cherry on top of this mess: the ending. I honestly thought it would conclude similarly to how the story began, but this time with the FL emerging from the pod (after dying from poisoning) and possibly encountering the second ML emerging from a pod as well, perhaps explaining to her how he ended up dying in the fantasy world. This would have provided perfect closure as they meet for the first time in true reality. But no, the writers decided to deliver the most convoluted, confusing, unsatisfactory ending they could think of-because why not?
The only thing that saved this series was watching Li Hong Yi randomly plant what must have been more than 20 kisses on Zhao Lu Si throughout the entire series. It was so amusing that I thought someone should create a drinking game based on just that.
Anyway, I gave it a 6/10 rather than a 7/10 because although it's watchable, 40 episodes is way too long. I'm sure quite a few people gave up on this series due to just that. The rest of us who really stuck in there to the end... had a huge cream pie thrown right at our faces, and must now go to bed crying over hours wasted.
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This was rather enjoyable!!!
I binge-watched this show in two days and was not disappointed. While it's true that the body-switching angle has been done in C-dramas time and time again, this show did a great job keeping it fresh and entertaining.The ML (Zhang Xin Cheng as Jiang Yi) and FL (Liang Jie as Yu Sheng Sheng) did a wonderful job portraying each other after the body swap. I was especially tickled to see Zhang Xin Cheng act as Yu Sheng Sheng-I could imagine it would have been difficult for him to stay in character without bursting out laughing.
It's a simple slice-of-life story showing the relationship difficulties that can arise for the typical Asian celebrity/influencer, especially when they decide to date a regular person. The twist is that there's some body-swapping going on every now and then.
Don't set your expectations so high that you become distracted critiquing the rationale behind every single plot deficiency. This show is meant to be light-hearted, warm, and fuzzy. It'll lighten your mood and possibly even get a squeal or two out of you.
Just be sure to make it past episode 1, or you might be tempted to give up and miss out on a really good series.
8/10-highly recommended!
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Don't judge a book by its cover!
After finishing the series, I can honestly say that I misjudged how much I would end up liking it. The first episode was a bit like watching paint dry, mostly because it lacked sufficient context. But things picked up after they met in the cafeteria in episode 2. From there, I was giggling through almost every episode like a silly schoolgirl.While I don't know how I feel about Zhu Yun having to chase Li Xun from beginning to end, the chemistry between the two was palpable. Li Xun is a complicated character. I found him to be charming at first, then after a few more episodes I grew tired of his arrogant, obstinate behavior, then I eventually found him to be charming again by the end of the series.
Gao Jian Hong is another complicated character, who struggled with his own insecurities and the eventual projection of those same insecurities onto others. His tug-of-war with feeling like he's always in Li Xun's shadow became the demon that he had to eventually confront and defeat, though it took literal sickness to halt him in his march towards self-destruction.
It's rare to come across a modern love-story c-drama as potent as Lighter & Princess. The approach to storytelling is very mature, and hyper-realistic. Ignore anyone who gives this show a low rating, especially if they haven't at least watched the first few episodes.
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What a pleasant surprise
Initially, I was skeptical since the first few episodes gave the impression that Xingxu Chen's acting was robotic and one-dimensional. Boy was I wrong. Midway in, I realized this was done intentionally to demonstrate Empyrean Xuan Shang's personality when purged of his desires. Later on, I loved his performance as the different soul shard personalities, as well as his complete change in personality near the end after his desires were restored.I also loved the performances of Landi Li as Li Guang Ye Tan, and Xuanlin He as Li Guang Qing Kui. Chen Muchi was also great at playing the third prince of the void and I enjoyed the character Wu Dai played by actor Xiaolin Jiang as well.
All in all, I liked this series more than I thought I would, though the ending seemed abrupt and left me a little bit disappointed.
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Dylan is the perfect fit for this role
Ok first of all Princess Lin'an is a super-annoying character, and I almost gave up on the show when she started getting more screentime. Luckily, I powered through and was not disappointed.This show was so fun and lighthearted for most episodes that I wasn't prepared for Xu Qi'an's transformation (albeit provoked) into a no-nonsense, bone-breaking, body-dragging, enemy-beheading executioner. I thought it was an interesting progression for his character development, and perhaps the start of an arc where he would be feared rather than loved. I was curious about what would happen next. But, to my dismay, the writers took the easy way out and essentially "reset" everyone's memory with a spell of forgetfulness.
Aside from the lousy ending, I felt like there were some lazy plot holes here and there throughout the show... but overall, it was still quite entertaining. Definitely looking forward to a second season.
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