NitaMooshie

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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The epitome of "Strong start, weak finish"

I started watching this show the moment it began airing, so let's start with me putting it out there that I was part of the crowd staying up to all kinds of ungodly hours just to watch the latest episode released. Let me tell you, the first few episodes were ABSOLUTE FIRE. Playful, chaotic, and even a bit naughty at times (ngl the naughty scenes were iconic). Like I said, this went on for a few episodes, and it didn't take long for the audience to be HEAVILY invested in the series, myself included.

Hou Ming Hao is a brilliant actor, and few actors in the business (especially those born in the '90s) can boast being featured in as many cdramas as this man (with the exception of Cheng Yi... who is another dark horse in the industry). Lu Yu Xiao did a fantastic job as the main FL, and though I had seen her in a few cdramas before (including "Love You Seven Times," "My Journey to You," and "Blossoms in Adversity"), her talent and outstanding potential never quite registered with me before watching Love in the Clouds. Since then, she's been on my radar for sure, as I'll be watching anything she features in from now on as well.

Love in the Clouds was also my introduction to the actors Yu Cheng En (the deadly cutie pie) and Quan Yi Lun (the not-so-deadly cutie pie). I'm still a little shaken by the fact that Quan Yi Lun played a supporting role in "I Am Nobody," "Blossom," "Moonlight Mystique," "Legend of Zang Hai," and "Moonlit Reunion," and yet I can't recall seeing him in any of them. Anyway, now to my thoughts on the storyline:

The scriptwriting started to unravel later on in the series (there was a bit of teasing going on to make us viewers wonder about who the main villain of the show would be). Hu Yun Hao did a fantastic job playing Mu Qi Bai, but it became apparent pretty quickly that he wasn't the main villain. The show then tossed the ball to a number of minor villains that did very little to add to the plot and/or develop the storyline. Finally, we land on Situ Ling, the cute, cuddly, but (apparently) conflicted stabby stabby villain... who the show was subtly setting up to become a villain from the start, but... his transformation and even his demeanor and antics after his transformation just weren't convincing enough, imo.

Beyond that, the story started jumping all over the place... you are the chosen one... no, he is the chosen one... this is what happened... no, that is what happened... I am your master.... no, I mean.... I AM YOUR FATHER. It was just.. too random, and too much to take in. The last few episodes of the series felt like a rush job to tie together loose ends, some choices didn't make sense, some outcomes didn't make sense, everything felt convenient but illogical. And all us viewers had to hold on to (so we could make it to the end of the series and not rage quit) were our pleasant memories of the first half of the series, which again, was impeccable and not to be missed. So this is a tough one indeed. My opinion is to give the show a watch, but set your expectation bar SUPER low so you can tolerate it to the very end. 7.5/10

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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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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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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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Haters gonna hate, potatoes gonna potate

Few kdramas received the kind of backlash Dear X did after the series finished airing. I couldn't believe the number of people that were butthurt about the show's ending. And while it's true that the ending felt like the director lost a bet and had to do a coin toss (aka, "Do we murk Yun Jun Seo or not?"), I can't say with good conscience that the show was a trainwreck. I actually quite liked the show and I thought it was one of the more interesting kdramas of 2025 (feel free to disagree, feel free to put pineapple on your pizza).

Perhaps it's because I love studying human behavior and personality types, and spent more than 10 episodes trying to figure out if Kim You Jung's character (Baek A Jin) was on "the dark triad." She's clearly a sociopath, that much is a given... but her character was so layered, so conflicted, so potentially psychopathic, that it sparked my curiosity immensely. I found Kim Young Dae's character (Yun Jun Seo) to be equally fascinating! He also displayed signs of mild psychopathy, but it was sprinkled out at intervals throughout the show. Arguably, Yun Jun Seo was an even more complex character than Baek A Jin—at face value, he's an enabler... if we go deeper, he's crippled by his mother and feels responsible for the train wreck that Baek A Jin had become... on a deeper level, he wants to fix her but knows he can't, so he just watches and hopes that she changes over time... on a deeper level, he settles for giving her happiness (in fact, she demands this) despite her having major (and quite murderous) faults... on a deeper level, he himself gains satisfaction and pleasure from being a silent observer in her life (in the exact same way that a stalker would).

I can't believe the audience missed the little hints that pointed out his deep inclinations, which he let surface SPECIFICALLY when it came to Baek A Jin. Like the part where he visited her rooftop apartment and chose to peek at her through the glass window for a few moments before knocking at the door. Or the part where she (Baek A Jin) asks him to help her GET Heo In Gang (she told him that she only wanted Heo In Gang for a year), and Yun Jun Seo then proceeded to quietly stalk Heo In Gang and then presented Baek A Jin with a WELL DECORATED, HANDWRITTEN booklet (complete with pictures and drawings) telling her all she needed to know to slither her way into Heo In Gang's life. Yun Jun Seo knew her better than anyone, so he knew things would end badly for Heo In Gang. I guess he was just hoping that somehow Baek A Jin would magically change (or perhaps he was just content with knowing she'd be satisfied as long as she had what she wanted). Clearly, he wanted to love her, but he knew she was incapable of emotion (so, in this way he was also conflicted).

Honestly, I thought the show would end with him (Yun Jun Seo) springing to her rescue, and her taking him down with her (of course, he'd happily give his life with a smile as long as it's for her, am I right? Lol). So, seeing the show end with him intentionally driving her off a cliff (at that point, he knew she could not be redeemed and that the world would continue to suffer with her in it), I actually think that ending wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. The mind trip is that she didn't die... he did—which is awful because he's a really important character in the show! (at least for me). Normally, this kind of cliffhanger ending would hint at the possibility of a season 2... but can there honestly be a season 2 without Yun Jun Seo? I think that either both of them should have perished, or (alternately) neither of them should have perished in the car wreck.

Either way... Kim You Jung, Kim Young Dae, and Kim Do Hoon did a stellar job! Their performances were chef's kiss. I was pleasantly surprised at Kim Ji Hoon's feature in the show earlier on as well (not just because he's the sexiest man alive but because he's a fantastic actor).

Overall... this show was great imo. Ignore the bad reviews. If you have a functional brain and can think for yourself, then chances are you will love this show. You might not agree with every single plot development, but you definitely can't rate it poorly in favor of the other kdramas released this year (many with stunning visuals but lacking actual substance). Dear X is a solid 8.5/10 for me.

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It's so bad... but so good? What sorcery is this?

It's a typical romcom cdrama but with a STRONG Thai flavor. The "vibe" kinda reminds me of the Thai drama "Pit Babe," but Speed and Love is much more mild (even though it tries to be a tad bit risqué at times).

Let me start by saying, He Yu is absolutely stunning. When I saw him I was like, "Who is this guy?" Then, after a quick bio check, I realized he featured in "Dashing Youth," but somehow I can't remember him? Anyway, I'll never forget who he is after watching Speed and Love. And my god, the chemistry between him and Esther Yu was electric (by cdrama standards, that is).

Speaking of Esther Yu, I want to start by saying (for the thousandth time, lol) that I LOVED her performance in "Love between Fairy and Devil." I thought the role matched her strengths as an actress really well. But... after watching a few of her other shows, including "Love Game in Eastern Fantasy" and "My Journey to You," I'm still convinced that she isn't a particularly versatile actress. Whenever she's placed in a serious role, she resorts to a type of "wooden" performance style and never quite seems to be immersed in the role. To counteract this, she sometimes slips out of character back into her main (and most successful) persona, which is the extra bubbly, innocent, almost childish character that embodies a specific Chinese trope (particularly when it comes to their taste in women). Anyway, that's basically what happened in Speed and Love. She slips out of character a few episodes in and embodies the pouty, irrational, child-like persona, which made the romance aspect seem less mature and feel a bit clumsy, almost? I'm used to watching cdramas, so I was able to tolerate it... but as someone who also watches Thai dramas, it really felt like Speed and Love missed some major opportunities to push the envelope in the spicy department (which is the show's main appeal, obviously). The storyline is weak, but judging by the 8.5 rating, people clearly don't mind! Like most romcoms these days, the show starts off strong and then fizzles out midway. So don't expect consistency. But it's worth a weekend binge with snacks. 7.5/10

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It could easily be renamed to "How to Chase a Man Until He Gives In"

Overall, I found it enjoyable to watch, and the performances of all the actors were great, but... watching Zheng Shu Yi (a supposedly professional, capable, mature woman) chase after Shi Yan for more than 10 episodes was a bit cringe. Mostly because she would either tell a lie or stage a trick to get his attention, then when she finally got his attention, she'd become silent, act cold, or run away. Then immediately after, she'd begin chasing him all over again and repeating the cycle of bait, chase, and run away. The scriptwriting for their romance dynamic felt a bit pretentious ngl.

Amazingly enough, Qin Shi Yue also shamelessly chases after Yu You, and much to my surprise, it was more entertaining to watch (and was actually my favourite part of the show, tbh). Probably because Qin Shi Yue is established from the start as a young, naive, airheaded 22-year-old who is a bit spoiled but innocent at heart. Seeing her chase down Yu You was delightful because we get to see him pushed out of his comfort zone by force and entranced by her tenacious spirit. He rejected her in so many ways, but she was like, nope, rejection denied. 😂 Ultimately, I was entertained the entire show (even the cringe moments were enertaining) so I have to admit that it's actually a very good watch if you just want a delightful romcom to binge on a Friday night with snacks. 8/10

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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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