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Passionate kisses, save the damsel in distress, hilarious
This drama has the most passionate kissing scenes in both count and intensity of all Chinese dramas I had watched – I meant really passionate kisses not those obviously fake moments. As with most romance stories, there were plenty of save the damsel in distress scenes accompanied by endearing gazes as the hero held the damsel in his arms.It is a lovely romance story with emotional and hilarious moments. The hilarious moments really made me laugh out loud. Unlike Hollywood comedies which mainly play on words, some of these comedic moments were based on suggestive actions of the actors.
The drama is quite straightforward with some small, but not totally unexpected, twists in the story. It has the usual hygiene factors – handsome lead actor, pretty actresses, excellent acting, lovely costumes, lovely music, beautiful cinematography and endearing romantic moments.
What I appreciate most about this drama is the lesson on courtship and early marital life - instead of the usual unrealistic romance dramas. At moments when they were trying to figure out each other, the XiYue princess had her confidantes giving her some silly suggestions which she refuted with some sensible corrections. Similarly for the ninth prince, Song was always giving him some creepy suggestions while Zhen would refute with some sensible analysis. Zhen played the sensible relationship guru here.
The adjustments to life together were comical but not unlike real life when married couples live together for the first time and discover the bad habits of their spouses to their horror.
I noticed some flaws – for the production team to learn from if they should ever read this review. The piece of music chosen for the hilarious moments was too modern for this period drama and a misfit – sound like a piece adapted from some old Shanghai movies. There are some illogical moments, for example, the ninth prince was always turning up alone for dangerous investigations, and covering up for the rebel leader, which was essentially obstructing justice. And he was always lying to the emperor – although with good intent, it still made him a liar.
As I watched this drama right after ‘Goodbye my princess’, I could not help but draw a comparison, as both involved a marriage of prince and princess from different countries. The ninth prince in this drama was supportive of the princess and allowed her to make her choice, in sharp contrast to the fifth prince in ‘Goodbye..’, who forcibly kept the princess by his side regardless of whether she was willing. The two dramas were antithesis of each other, including how they ended. This drama leaves a warm cozy feeling which of course elevated my rating of it above ‘Goodbye my princess’ although the latter has a more interesting and convoluted story.
Finally, a title of ‘Love by Hypnosis’ may be more grammatically correct. Hypnotic is a drug to induce hypnosis or a person susceptible to hypnosis.
As a whole I enjoyed this drama a lot and would highly recommend it.
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All the romantic save the damsel-in-distress scenes by the lead actor did not work as it should. Strangely the crippled prince in the story seemed to have more chemistry with the actress instead. The chemistry between the lead actor and actress often play a major part in the success of the drama and this had fallen through miserably. Some parts where the lead actor tried to flirt with the lead actress were quite cheesy.
The ending is rather poorly developed and explained. Mysteriously the hero of the story returned with the heroine waiting for him in this place of a different time dimension.
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Caught between two lovers, feeling all confused.
If Only It Weren’t You is a provocative and emotionally charged drama that walks a fine line between romance and discomfort. At times, its sensual tone pushes the boundaries of what one might expect from a mainstream series, and had it gone any further, it could easily have tipped into something far more explicit - pornography. That said, the physicality in the story is not without purpose—it underscores the emotional entanglement and psychological pull between the characters.At the centre is Onuma, a woman at a vulnerable turning point in her life. Having just ended a relationship and entered her thirties, she is confronted with the sudden reappearance of Ureshino—a man with whom she shared a physical and morally complicated past. Their relationship, even a decade ago, was built on betrayal, as both were involved with other partners at the time. This history casts a long shadow, making their reunion both charged and deeply uncomfortable.
Onuma’s initial instinct is to distance herself, to maintain composure and bury the past. However, Ureshino’s persistence quickly erodes that resolve. His presence is unsettling not only because of what they shared, but because of how easily he reawakens something in her that she cannot fully control.
In contrast, Kusaka represents stability and sincerity. His growing interest in Onuma offers a clear, healthier alternative—someone dependable, respectful, and emotionally available. Yet, despite recognising this, Onuma finds herself drawn back into Ureshino’s orbit, reigniting a relationship that is as intoxicating as it is destructive.
This creates a deeply toxic dynamic. Onuma is caught in a painful push-and-pull—wanting to break free, yet repeatedly falling back into Ureshino's arm (or bed). While it may be easy to judge her as indecisive or lacking resolve, the drama invites a more compassionate perspective. It reflects a reality many can recognise: the difficulty of escaping emotionally manipulative or addictive relationships. Much like real-life toxic attachments or affairs, the pull is not always rational, nor is it easily resisted.
Ureshino is a particularly compelling, if troubling, character. His behaviour raises constant questions about his true intentions. Does he genuinely care for Onuma, or is he simply exerting control and indulging his carnal desires? When he senses her drifting toward Kusaka, he shifts tactics—suggesting a more “serious” relationship, which only deepens the ambiguity. His ability to manipulate both Onuma and the situation reveals a calculating, narcissistic streak that makes him both fascinating and unsettling to watch.
What makes the drama engaging is how it places the viewer in Onuma’s position. You are drawn into her confusion, her hesitation, and her internal conflict. Even as you recognise the toxicity of the situation, there is a lingering curiosity—perhaps even hope—that Ureshino’s feelings might be genuine. Yet, the memory of his past actions casts doubt over everything, creating a constant tension that drives the narrative forward.
Ultimately, If Only It Weren’t You is less about romance and more about emotional vulnerability, flawed choices, and the complexity of human relationships. It explores how desire, history, and unresolved feelings can blur judgement, leading individuals into situations they know they should avoid.
One thing, however, remains clear throughout: Ureshino’s manipulative tendencies and self-serving behaviour make him a deeply problematic figure, and the drama does not shy away from showing the damage such personalities can inflict.
Setting aside the emotional aspects of the drama, I felt that the male lead’s hairstyle did not quite suit him. It fell heavily over his eyes, making his face appear smaller and somewhat obscured. If the intention was to create an air of mystery or suggest a more elusive, unreadable character, it did not quite achieve that effect. A neater style, perhaps brushed slightly aside, would have been more flattering and effective on screen.
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Star-studded drama
This is a star-studded drama. Aside from the leads, the attractive Guan Xiao Tong and the handsome Song Wei Long, you will see a lot of familiar popular faces, including Xu Kai, Bai Lu, Wu Jin Yan (Wei Ying Luo from Yanxi Palace) and the handsome Merxat Yalkun (Mi Re Xia Ti).Unfortunately, this drama does have some glaring flaws. Episodes 1 to 16 are fantastic as the story is original and different from most Chinese dramas I had watched. Guan Xiao Tong acts the arrogant, promiscuous Princess ChuYu who is the emperor's favourite sister as well as Zhu Que, a look-alike assassin trained by the Tianji Sect. Engaged by the princes who are unhappy with the Emperor Liu Ziye of the Liu Song country, a cruel and psychopathic youngster, she is assigned the task of assassinating the emperor. The Tianji Sect plots to let Zhu Que impersonate ChuYu. ChuYu has a harem of male attendants which Zhu Que has to deal with; one of them is the shrewd, perceptive and mysterious Rong Zhi. These episodes are full of suspense as Zhu Que attempts to get close to the emperor while avoiding discovery that she is an impersonate, as well as hilarious as she returns to her palace to be surrounded by men trying to serve her.
The only complaint I have in these episodes is ChuYu's weird hairstyle which looks like an oversize sweet potato sticking on her head - the only competition is Medusa's hair of snakes. ChuYu's hairdo would have been more appropriate in some fairytale stories for the fairy godmother and not quite fit for a period drama.
From episode 17, the story suddenly takes a turn. From this point onwards, the story changes its setting in Liu Song to Wei, a rival country which is often at war with Liu Song. Here, ChuYu (Zhu Que) arrives as the princess sent as the bride to forge a marriage alliance and brings about peace between the two countries. As it turns out Rong Zhi is the Prince Regent in Wei and he marries both Prince ChuYu and Ma XueYun acted by Zhao LuSi on the same day. Neither Rong Zhi nor ChuYu seems to remember their past encounters. This has prompted comments on YouTube that it is a repeat of the Goodbye My Princess story. Also, ChuYu (actually Zhu Que) seems to have suffered a setback in intelligence and a personality change from a trained assassin to a clueless princess.
The only link between the first 16 episodes and the rest of the story is the lame appearance of a story-teller who says he is going to send ChuYu to Wei as his audience are unhappy on how he ends the first part of the story. This transition is very awkward. The cast is almost entirely swapped and from this point onwards, the popular stars appear: Xu Kai, Bai Lu, Wu Jin Yan, Merxat. All the momentum build up during the first 16 episodes are lost and the story starts anew. It is almost like there are two separate stories with some very loose links between the two, and ChuYu's harem of male attendants have all disappeared except for Rong Zhi.
There should have at least been some explanations why ChuYu and RongZhi do not remember the past but it is lightly glossed over. The drama seems to have been written by two different writers. Other than this awkward turn in the story, both stories are quite interesting. And the second part is quite unlike Goodbye My Princess although the theme is similar and therefore lacks originality.
The chemistry between the leads is great. Song WeiLong looked very mature for his age in this drama - I was surprised how young he was when this drama was produced. And you have Wu Jin Yan as the cunning Empress Dowager befitting her previous role as Wei Ying Luo in YanXi Palace. Of course, the star-studded cast does outstandingly well. Zhao LuSi acts a psychopathic woman driven by jealousy, a departure from her usual characters.
Additionally, the Wei costumes for the ladies are pretty but rather monotonous - they are all the same with a stiff shawl and wide skirts. It is almost like the production budget has all been spent on the stars and they have to save on the costume design budget.
So if you overlook these awkward points, this drama is quite interesting to watch. I have given this drama a 8.5 for its star-studded cast, excellent acting and an interesting part 1 - higher than its current rating on mydramalist.com.
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Excellent except for a predictable ending
This drama scored well on many hygiene factors: beautiful costumes, spectacular special effects, an excellent cast, handsome male lead, pretty second female lead, a popular female lead, lovely music. The story was intriguing - it's was like an onion, you just keep peeling layers after layers to get to the core. Secrets were being revealed one at a time to finally give the complete picture. Aside from the mysteries and secrets, you got to see the typical dramatic spice-up - love triangle, jealousy, saving the damsel in distress... The main male and female lead were suspicious of each other but they eventually fell in love.However, the ending was somewhat predictable - all in line with today's trend. So if you watch enough of Chinese drama in recent years, you would know how it would end. In some way, it took the shine off the drama.
Bai Shuo was the second daughter to the Governor. When she was a child, her sister and she were almost killed by a demon and was saved by a god. She promised to repay him. Motivated by this, she strived to become an immortal. Mistaking Fan Yue who was the demon leader as an immortal, she sought his help to attain immortality. Chong Zhao was Bai Shuo's childhood fiance and was determined to protect his fiance from the demon leader. Together, they uncovered the secrets of the ancient gods, how they were related to them, and the divine responsibilities they were entrusted with.
The drama had some major flaws. A fraudster priestess was passed off as the personification of heaven law to bring the couple together. This was absurd, distasteful and unconvincing. There are already enough gullible people in this world without the screenwriter introducing such stupid ideas into people's head. A fraudster should stay a fraudster in the story - better still get punished accordingly.
And what is today's trend? The second lead/s die; the hero or heroine dies as well but get resurrected. That is typically how Chinese drama ends these days.
Overall, I say, this drama was still one of the best fantasy Chinese drama. Debating whether to give it a full 10 or 9.5, I decided to give it a 9.5. As with a lot of recent dramas, the drama had an excellent start but somehow tired out in the last couple of episodes. For that and the predictable ending, I took 0.5 points off.
If you are not a drama addict as I am and have not watched as many Chinese dramas as I have, this could be an excellent drama to follow.
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Not a tragedy but with a gut wrenching ending
The first series ended with Cang Xuan becoming emperor and a political marriage. So the drama continued with XiaoYao nearly marrying Fenglong but the wedding was interrupted by the impetuous FangFeng Bei.You would not call the drama a tragedy since the lead couple did not die. But the ending was gut wrenching.
This sequel had a draggy start. The first few episodes were quite boring but got quite interesting later. What sustained me during the early episodes was the desire to find out who eventually Xiao Yao would end up with in view of her four suitors.
This sequel did a melodramatic portrayal of Xiao Yao's suitors. The most painful to watch was Xiang Liu and Cang Xuan. Xiang Liu accepted Xiao Yao's rejection as they were from opposing camps, although deeply in love. He continued to make sacrifices for her in secret. It was evident that Xiao Yao somewhat reciprocated as the love bug could infect them both. And indeed if he was really FangFeng Bei, things might turned out differently. What was even more painful was towards the end, he removed the poisonous love bugs at the expense of two of his lives without letting her know.
Cang Xuan watched in pain as Xiao Yao pined over Jing and regretted he pushed Xiao Yao to Fenglong and Jing to gain their support. As he rightly pointed out about his numerous marriages - it was like he had brought all the flowers into his garden but the one he loved most was not there. And there were continual flashbacks of their childhood years and how Xiao Yao had saved him, almost sacrificing herself in various occasions. He wanted her as empress but could not tell her. There was a twist towards the end of the drama, which helped to push the development of the Cang Xuan character forward and helped him managed his obsession.
This drama had some obvious clanky parts. Cang Xuan waged a war and nearly lost, only to have an aging benevolent king abdicated to avoid unnecessary further deaths and in favour of the capable and younger king. Even though the old king had always had the younger man in mind as successor, it was unnatural that he did not become angry at the outrageous betrayal.
The ending episode was gut wrenching as the most selfless of Xiao Yao's suitors was killed although he was revered by his enemy for his loyalty and capabilities. And at his death, Xiao Yao's tear drop he kept fell onto his eyes to become his. This actor was amazing. A good looking actor, doing an outstanding job, taking on a tragic ending in an excellent drama - almost always take their careers to new heights.
Tan Jian Ci was outstanding with the multi-faceted portrayal of the reckless, fun-loving Fangfeng Bei and the serious and ruthless Xiang Liu. He rightfully deserved being list separately as the special lead actor in the lead-in.
Interestingly, when Jing was suspected of being killed, I knew he would be revived but hoped he won't. Although he was deeply in love with Xiao Yao, he was just silently pining away. He did little to stop his marriage to Yi Ying and just passively accepted his 'mistake' and submitting to his foolish grandmother. Even at Xiao Yao's and Fenglong's wedding, he had to use someone else to spoil it rather than did it himself. To Xiao Yao, he was a safe choice - always there for her. Also, he had no ambition besides to be continually by her side. But I would rather have Xiao Yao select either Cang Xuan or Xiang Liu. Unfortunately these men have other priorities that got in the way.
In this sequel, you would go through an emotional roller-coaster of laughter and mostly tears. At the end, you see the couples that remain were not the matches you would have wished for.
However overall, I think this drama was excellent and highly recommended it. Cinematography, music, costumes and most importantly the acting. I gave it a high rating taking away only 1 point for the clanky and draggy parts and for choosing the wrong bridegroom, but in recognition of the spectacular ending.
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Would a forbidden love have a good ending?
The highlights of this drama are the handsome Dylan Wang, the promising Chen YuQi and the acting of Peter Ho.Dylan Wang acts the cold high-ranking head eunuch Xiao Duo with a secret. He is one of those actors who look very handsome with a stern face. His acting is impressive.
YuQi is at her best in acting the scheming yet boisterous concubine Bu YinLou. I think her acting in this drama beat her performance at the Winner is Love. Her on-screen chemistry with Dylan is excellent.
The one that beats all others is Peter Ho in the portrayal of the emperor Murong GaoGong. His character development in this drama is very interesting - from a timid prince to a hesitant emperor to that of a tyrant. You can literally see the transformation in his acting and facial expression. He is not as handsome as Dylan but his acting is superb.
The story starts very well with an original storyline centred on an eunuch, and not the typical fight for the throne. However, the initial interesting captivation slowly fades into a just a regular development with not much twist in the story. In fact, at some points it becomes a bit boring as it deteriorates into a lovey dovey courtship and love rivalry.
Later in the story, it takes a turn from a romcom into something more sinister. And that turn is not that well developed. It is simply Bu YinLou carelessly left the door of the escape tunnel open. All secrets are out and the emperor seek revenge.
Also, given that Xiao Duo is such a careful and scheming man, it certainly is out of character for him to be so careless in gallivanting with an imperial concubine in view of all the guards and in public, even if it might be in a distant location and among his own people.
Aside from the above, the drama has all the typical setting of the better produced dramas - beautiful costumes, lovely backdrop, excellent cast, quality cinematography.
Overall, it is a good production. Especially, if you are a fan of Dylan or YuQi, it might be well worth watching.
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Between Salvation and Ruin—Love Is the Final Key
This drama is far better than its ratings suggest. The story followed WuShuang, a revered goddess who descended into the mortal realm on a mission to retrieve the God’s Left Arm—an artifact of immense power that she had once forged for the Heavenly God TaiHe. Without it, TaiHe remained in a deathlike slumber. But the Arm had chosen a new master: Yuan Zhong, the high priest of the YouHu Clan, whose destiny had been rewritten the moment the Arm fused with him.Taking the Arm back would have meant killing Yuan Zhong—a man WuShuang once knew in his youth. Though he no longer remembered her, WuShuang still saw the goodness within him and vowed to protect him… even if it meant defying the heavens.
But time was running out.
HanNu, another goddess, sought the Arm to revive TaiHe—at any cost. Meanwhile, the vengeful War Demons hunted Yuan Zhong, seeking revenge after he annihilated their clan in a brutal massacre using the Arm’s power. And within his own people, betrayal brewed. DingXu, the cunning leader of the YouHu Clan, feared Yuan Zhong’s growing power—and coveted his blood for its life-extending properties.
Now pursued by gods, demons, and his own kin, Yuan Zhong stood on the edge of fate. His only hope lay with WuShuang, his loyal weapon spirits, and a small circle of steadfast allies.
Could he survive the storm of vengeance, ambition, and divine judgment? Or would the power that once served him now become his undoing?
As a longtime fan of both Tiffany Tang (Tang Yan) and Liu Xue Yi, I was absolutely delighted by their performances in this drama. Not only were they both incredibly good-looking, but they also brought a depth and sincerity to their roles that truly made the characters come alive. Their performance in The Legend of Xiao Chuo (Tiffany Tang) and In Blossom (Liu Xue Yi) impressed me, although these dramas were unfortunately also underrated. Their on-screen chemistry was electric—subtle in some moments, intense in others—and it anchored the entire story beautifully. Tang Yan, in her 40s, looked stunning throughout. While her natural elegance certainly played a big part, I must also give credit to the make-up team and cinematographer for capturing her at all the right angles.
The ensemble cast as a whole was strong, with every actor bringing their role to life convincingly. Special mention went to the four main supporting actors and actresses, who delivered standout performances and added emotional layers and tension to the unfolding drama.
The story itself was gripping—twisty, layered, and filled with unexpected developments. From the start, HanNu might have raised some suspicion, but her true motivations remained elusive until much later, which added to the intrigue. Refreshingly, the plot avoided the kind of illogical or cringeworthy moments that sometimes plagued similar fantasy dramas. Everything felt deliberate, grounded, and emotionally resonant.
Costume-wise, the designs were elegant and fitting for the tone of the drama. The sets were well-done, though the backdrop could have used a bit more variety. It felt at times like a mid-tier budget production, but that never compromised the storytelling or acting quality.
The ending was far from a fairytale. Of the two central couples, neither found a happy resolution. Yet, the finale left just enough openness to stir hope—perhaps one couple might reunite someday, if the one left behind chose to embrace divinity and wait across time for his love to return.
Overall, this was a drama that stayed with you. It might not have had the flashiest costumes or the grandest sets, but it more than made up for it with strong performances, compelling storylines, and emotional depth. Definitely worth watching.
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This drama deserves better rating
When it comes to Hu Ge's drama, I guess I would always be a bit bias. He is undoubtedly one of China's best actors. In this drama, he acted 4 different characters - a monstrous highly-skilled general who would not hesitate to kill and make use of people around him to achieve his means, a smart and kind swordsman who would go to great length to help his friends, the same swordsman but insane, and then the monstrous general who had been softened by love. There are a lot of good actors in China, but few can achieve the same level of emotional facial expression as convincingly as he can.And of course three other well-known pretty actresses makes it worth watching for the guys. Overall, the acting is very good.
For a story, this is the typical fantasy drama with some illogical parts - fantasy dramas have this liberty to do that. A lot of misunderstanding happened because of stealth and distrust. The story unraveled as more and more of the background and secrets of the past are revealed. It is a relatively short drama - only 36 and each episode are short as well - removing the repeated part at the beginning, each episode is only about 30 minutes.
It was filmed about eight years ago, cinematography and computer generated graphics were good for its time. The opening and closing theme songs had been removed from the YouTube version so music was a bit lacking. On the whole, it is still worth a watch. The ending is not a perfect happy ever after, but not a tragedy.
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Deserves a better rating here.
I searched for Kenny Lin's dramas after watching him in Detective Dee and Princess Agent and found this. Generally, I do not watch dramas with ratings less than 8 on mydramalist. However, I decided to make an exception and did not regret it.The story is interesting with many moments of suspense. Acting was great from a mix cast of Chinese and Korean actors/actresses. The male co-lead was a Korean actor and so was the female lead actress. I did not know this until I checked on the cast. Good looking actors and actresses, fighting and battle scenes for the testosterone driven and excellent stage setting. Excellent chemistry between the lead actor and actress helped brought out the romance in the story. The pace of the story was good without much draggy scenes.
There are some refinement which could have made this drama more appealing. Effects of the costumes were mixed - Lu Bu and Gao Ze were quite badly dressed - they looked like badly wrapped rice dumplings. That was a pity as both actors were very handsome. Also, somehow Kenny Lin would suddenly appear in this gorgeous white armour - he looked dashing of course, but where did the gorgeous suit came from given he was not financially well off at that time? Should have added a brief scene where the princess or someone gave it to him.
Characters are quite extreme - either very impetuous or very docile/reserved. The 2 lead female characters were wilful and impetuous.
Much of the later part of the drama was centred around the formation of the 3 kingdoms, the story from then on became predictable as story of the 3 kingdoms are well known among the older viewers like me.
A rating of 7.4 is really low for this drama and unwarranted. It should be among the 8.5 - 9 ratings if some lousy dramas could get a 7.9.
Regardless of these minor setbacks, the drama is enjoyable.
Titles often determine whether a viewer might watch the drama. I think the English title here is too plain - better be simply Zhao Zi Long or General Zhao Zi Long rather than Chinese Hero Zhao Zi Long.
If you are watching this on YouTube, there are two sets of videos on this drama. I prefer the one from YoYo starting at: https://youtu.be/w8ESJm5bbBI - first episode. The other is from China Zone - this is annoying with sections of the drama clumsily trimmed off.
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The story is a little more complex and less predictable. It is a departure from the typical Chinese and Korean dramas and will give you a refreshing new perspective away from these dramas. The original version is available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzSSMPsDiI4&list=PLgvSxx961Tt4KD4xApfD6E1u6NWI5bl0I
The original version was produced by Singapore Mediacorp and this review is based on that.
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Dark Money, Darker Roots
Little Women may borrow its title from the classic novel, but this 2022 Korean drama spins an entirely original tale—a suspenseful, high-stakes thriller built around three sisters entangled in a conspiracy far beyond their station.The story begins with Oh In-Joo, Oh In-Kyung, and Oh In-Hye—three sisters raised in poverty, bound by hardship, and fiercely protective of one another. The eldest, In-Joo, is a soft-hearted bookkeeper who dreams not of success but of security—preferably via a wealthy husband. Easily manipulated and prone to panic, she often acts without thinking. At one point, she literally hauls a giant bag of cash through the city like a sitting duck, with no foresight to split or hide the money. At first, you might dismiss her as naive or even dimwitted—but as the drama unfolds, her loyalty to her sisters and only friend becomes her quiet strength.
In contrast, second sister In-Kyung is a firebrand journalist, fearless but reckless. She plunges into investigations with raw conviction, unafraid to call out the powerful, even at great personal cost. Her moral compass is unwavering, but her impulsiveness gets her fired from her job and lands her in peril more than once.
Youngest sister In-Hye is the most composed of the three, but also the most distant. An aspiring artist, she resents the suffocating love of her older sisters and gravitates toward her wealthy classmate’s opulent world—a world that promises beauty, freedom, and escape. Yet, as the glitter begins to crack, she too is forced to confront the price of power.
What starts as a tale of sisterhood spirals into a dark labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and a shadowy organisation that launders money and eliminates obstacles—permanently. The stakes keep rising, as the sisters find themselves at odds with political figures aiming for the country’s highest office. Layer by layer, the story peels back truths hidden beneath sleek veneers of wealth and influence.
The plot is full of sharp twists and simmering tension. Just when you think you know who is pulling the strings, the story flips again. The mysterious blue orchid—eerie, elegant, and ever-present—acts as a chilling calling card for a string of deaths. Its significance is gradually revealed, leading to the unmasking of a true psychopath with ambitions to lead the clandestine society behind it all.
As if the domestic chaos were not enough, the drama takes an international turn with a gripping roller-coaster in Singapore—complete with stolen identity, an mysterious doppelgänger, hide and seek, clandestine meetings, the opulent high-life and a fresh layer of intrigue.
What truly elevates Little Women is the emotional evolution of the sisters. Each one grows—not just braver, but wiser. In-Joo finds her own voice. In-Kyung learns restraint without compromising her integrity. In-Hye discovers what love truly means beyond admiration and envy. By the final episode, they are no longer victims or pawns, but women who have stared down power, survived it, and reclaimed their lives.
Verdict:
Little Women is not just a thriller—it is a psychological drama about sisterhood, identity, and the cost of ambition in a corrupt world. Unpredictable, stylish, and emotionally gripping, it is a must-watch that lingers long after the final reveal. Highly recommended.
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The Kingdom or Her Heart - can it be both?
The sequel to Flourished Peony comes with sky-high expectations—and for good reason. The original had us hooked with He Wei Fang (aka Peony)’s harrowing journey: deceived into a toxic marriage, robbed of her dowry, and nearly killed by her in-laws. Her escape marked the start of her transformation, but her ex-husband’s sudden desire to win her back sets the stage for this next chapter.Jealousy enters in the form of the County Princess, who sees Peony as a threat and tries to eliminate her. Enter Jiang Chang Yang—charismatic, corrupt, and complicated—who helps Peony reclaim her mother’s estate and turn it into a thriving business. To shield her from danger, he takes her in as his concubine.
If you have seen the first drama, you will want to watch this sequel. However, while the sequel remains highly entertaining, it does not quite match the gripping originality of its predecessor (which I rated a solid 10). Spoilers on sites like kisskh take some tension out of the ending, and there are a few plot weaknesses and clichés that slightly drag the drama down—but only slightly. I still give it a 9.
The slow-burn romance between Peony and Jiang is a major highlight. Both hide their feelings: Peony, convinced he is just a charming flirt; Jiang, fearful that drawing her closer could make her a target in his impending clash with Prince Ning. But someone has to crack first—can you guess who?
The plot to bring down Prince Ning raises the stakes. Jiang, knowing the dangers, tries to send Peony away. History has shown that anyone who opposes the Prince risks not just their lives but their families’.
A Few Quibbles:
A supposedly fatal stabbing by Prince Ning is reversed later with the flimsy excuse that he deliberately missed the heart. Realistically, a twisted dagger anywhere into the lungs should have been fatal. Plus a stab into the abdomen during the torture and Jiang does not die. The writer should think of something better.
When the lead hero 'dies' with several episodes to go, it is obvious he will return—so the drama loses suspense.
His refusal to reveal he is alive because “it is hard to explain” feels weak. As someone who roots for justice, I felt cheated that he never received proper recognition for his heroism.
Highlights:
The chemistry between Li Xian (Jiang) and Yang Zi (Peony) is magnetic—intense gazes, passionate kisses, and believable emotional pull. Their real-life connection as former schoolmates only fuels the speculation that there is a real-life connection. Their playful chases and flirty exchanges inject a burst of lighthearted energy into an otherwise intense and serious drama, creating those perfect 'cherry-on-top' moments that balance the tension with a touch of sweetness.
The secondary couple, too, shines—Wei Zhe Ming is a standout with expressive acting and undeniable good-looks. The production quality, acting, and character arcs are top-notch.
Also, the show delivers emotionally. One antagonist’s breakdown—confessing he resents Prince Ning for crippling him and destroying his dreams—adds depth to his character. Sadly too, he starts with lofty ideas and righteousness but is destroyed by people close to him and his own obsession. His final fate, just as life was looking up for his romantic life, is tragic but dramatically effective.
Verdict: Despite a few narrative stumbles, this is a richly satisfying follow-up. If you loved Flourished Peony, the sequel is a must-watch. Together, they form a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant drama. Highly recommended.
PS: After rewatching this sequel, I decide to revise my initial rating of 9 to 9.5. This deserves a perfect 10 - the production is top-notch. But those strange bits on Jiang's surviving Prince Ning's stabbings are unconvincing and rather awkward, taking that half point away.
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The underdogs became the winners
Family dynamics and politics were nicely depicted in this drama. The story was interesting. On two fronts, both the lead characters had cases on their hands to investigate and uncover.As a child, Luo Yi Ning who lost her mother was sent away from home to the countryside villa after being accused of causing the miscarriage of her step-mother. When she returned years later, she was determined to prove her innocence. Back home, she began to suspect that her mother was poisoned. If it was not her stepmother, then who did it and why?
This episode on Yi Ning's eviction from the Luo family because of her stepmother was similar to that of the Double. Who plagiarised who - I could not ascertain which story was published earlier. The Double was aired earlier; so the natural conclusion was this drama plagarised.
Her half brother, Luo Shen Yuan was not what he appeared to be - the uneducated and unfavoured son. He was secretly the student of a mandarin who was accused of corruption and was executed. Very intelligent and conniving, he lay low while investigating his tutor's case as it might involve someone very powerful.
ShenYuan was a maverick and schemed his way to solve his tutor's case. He was so smart that he lay all the traps to catch the evil lord and stole the necessary evidence to nail him. What appeared to be a bad turn of events was actually a scheme of his. In this regard, it was a little unconvincing for such a young lad to be able to solely do all these without an older, more experience adult as advisor or helper.
When Yi Ning was repeatedly schemed against by her stepmother and half sister, he stepped in to help her. While trying to find a cure for her ill-health, he discovered that she might not be a child of the Luo's family and started to develop romantic feelings for her. The investigation of his tutor's case brought him in direct conflict with Marquis Lu JiaXue, YiNing's former love interest who now became his love and political rival.
Also I actually did not feel there was much chemistry between Ren Min (Yi Ning) and Zhang Wan Yi (Shen Yuan). The romantic scenes between them felt quite bland and obviously just a show. Zhang Wan Yi was the male lead in Lost You Forever. Comparing his chemistry with Ren Min and Yang Zi, the chemistry with Yang Zi was a lot more convincing.
Additionally, they chose the wrong voice for Ren Min. The childish pitchy voice did not help in building the character. She acted in the drama, the Longest Promise, with Xiao Zhan and the drama was a disappointment. I think she should stay on for another 2-3 years as a second lead to outstanding lead actresses to learn from them before taking up lead acting roles.
I found myself feeling sorry for the second lead. He did love Yi Ning truly although in an obsessive manner. Would have been better if a different ending had been crafted for him. At some parts, it looked like MingZhu was interested in him. Yet, the screenwriter did not capitalise on this further.
The last four episodes were totally unnecessary as they seemed to be added to drag the drama on. The drama could easily have ended at episode 36 and would have fared better in my rating. The extra four episodes would have been better used to craft a different ending for the second lead.
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Two heart throb as leads and an intriguing story to match
With two heart throb, Dilraba and Ren Jia Lun as lead acts, you can imagine how awaited this drama was. Not all dramas which employed high profile actors/actresses were necessarily well produced but this drama lives up to expectations. I had only completed Part 1 and am eagerly waiting for Part 2 to be released.Ji Yun He (Dilraba) was a powerful fairy living in the Floral Valley. Her job was to capture delinquent demigods and her biggest strength was the ability to win over the hearts of her captive delinquent demigods.
She and her rival adoptive brother Lin HaoQing were assigned to make a captured merman ChangYi (Ren Jia Lun) speak human words, discard his tail and grow legs, and hand over his ‘mer-pearl’ to demonstrate his loyalty by the cruel Prince Shunde. Shunde was sister to the Heaven Lord and disciple to a powerful wicked Deity who spoiled her for a hidden reason.
YunHe was often tortured by the master of Floral Valley and was told she was to rival her brother to toughen him up. She had been poisoned and controlled by the frost poison which caused a person to go through deep freezing when the antidote wore out. Although appearing to be her arch rival, HaoQing had actually fallen in love with her. While attempting to convert ChangYi, YunHe and ChangYi fell in love. YunHe was determined to help ChangYi and herself to gain their freedom.
Eventually they discovered who was really behind the frost poison and more mysteries unravelled. ChangYi turned from loving YunHe to hating her, partly due to HaoQing and largely due to YunHe keeping the truth from him. Would this couple have a future and would they be able to combat the evil forces lurking in the dark? You can watch the drama to figure out the rest as I do not want to release further spoilers.
What I like about this drama?
- The leads led me to watch this drama and they had excellent on-screen chemistry.
- An interesting story with a lot of twists and turns.
- The supporting cast was also very good. China has a lot of acting talents. As the second couple in the story, the cat deity courtship of his love one was very funny.
- Lovely back drop, beautiful scenery and cinematography.
- Special effects and gracefully fighting scenes.
- Beautiful costumes and interesting make-ups.
Chinese dramas typically do very well with the above.
What I do not like about this drama?
There is very little I do not like about this drama. But I must say it is always the same recurring themes which are rather strange and weird to me. I could not understand them and wonder whether it is a cultural thing. Story lines tend to be the weaknesses of Chinese dramas.
In this drama the theme was Yunhe pushing ChangYi away to save him and then hide her good intention from him. She could do this for the moment to quickly achieve what she wanted. But to keep it a secret later was unconceivable. It was a very awkward and unoriginal way to add suspense.
The same went for the nine-tail fox fairy mistress who played down her contribution on saving ChangYi. Don’t claim merits when they were not yours. But merits should be due when it is due.
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