This review may contain spoilers
Surprisingly Decent for a Web Drama
I went in with low expectations since this is a web drama, but I was pleasantly surprised. Shendu Detective Fox looks better than expected, with what seems like a mid-tier budget and a proper production feel. The drama revolves around three main cases, but only one is fully solved in Season 1. The ending clearly hints at a Season 2, so hopefully more answers are on the way.The story has good potential. If given better budget, directing, and editing, I honestly think this could be a breakout series. There’s a nice bromance between the male leads, and even the supporting characters have decent chemistry. I especially liked how the female characters were written. They weren’t overly whiny or annoying, and they felt reasonable and grounded.
The acting is mostly fine, though there are some inconsistencies in the characters. This could be due to the fast pacing, which made the character development feel rushed. There are also a few mistakes in small details, nothing major but noticeable, and likely due to editing or direction.
What stood out to me the most was the relationships. The chemistry between the cast is natural and believable. It actually felt like watching siblings interacting, complete with a bubbly, slightly chaotic father figure.
Overall, I really like the plot and the effort put into the character dynamics, even if none of it leaves a very strong impact. Still, it’s a solid attempt, especially when compared to some high-budget dramas that fall flat. I’d watch Season 2 if it comes.
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Griping Tale of Revenge, Betrayal and Identity
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from Returned Master, but the acting was much better than I anticipated. There were no cringey moments, which is always a relief, and the plot was solid. By the end, I felt like everything came full circle, which was really satisfying.What I liked most was how both male leads stayed true to their principles all the way through. Neither of them broke their beliefs for the sake of their loved ones, which is kind of rare in dramas. JianWei, who’s all about living with truth, makes the difficult choice to accept reality in the end. Xiaosi, from the very beginning, believed that a son has to pay for the sins of his father, and by the end, he carries the burden of his birth father’s sins.
As for the ending, I thought it suited Xiaosi’s mindset really well. Even though it was open-ended, I kind of like to believe that Xiaosi never returned, and it was just JianWei’s imagination. That would have made it a lot more angsty, and I think it would have been even more powerful.
All in all, Returned Master surprised me in a good way. It’s a solid watch with great acting and characters who stick to their guns until the very end.
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A Prime Minister’s Disguise: Political Intrigue? More Like Plot Confusion with Bonus Ear Damage
So… I came in expecting politics, strategy, and a prime minister playing 4D chess in the palace. Instead, I got sound assaults, random romance, and a title character who barely got to be the prime minister. Honestly, this drama feels like someone wrote five different stories and then shuffled them together blindfolded.Characters: So Much Setup, So Little Payoff
Let’s start with Yue Chi, third lead despite the drama is named after him. Half the time it felt like he was a side character in his own story. He started off with brains, guts, and a real goal—to protect his sister and investigate the emperor’s intentions. And then… he just kind of stood around looking suspicious while other people took the spotlight. No schemes, no major wins, just vibes and occasional sword fights.
Consort Yue had such promise. She came in smart, manipulative, politically sharp—basically a power player. I really thought she was being set up to become an empress who’d manage the inner court while Yue Chi and the emperor handled state affairs. But she got nerfed hard. By the end, it was like she forgot how politics even work. Suddenly she’s just a love interest, constantly misreading everyone around her. Waste.
The emperor was decent in the beginning—righteous, thoughtful, wanted to build a better dynasty. But then his judgment started slipping anytime Consort Yue was involved. Like, seriously? He kept saying he wanted peace and a strong court, but he keep letting villaina dn bad people go, because he was supposed to be benevolence ruler.
Imperial Family: Actually Refreshing, Then… Not
One of the only things that felt a bit fresh at first was the imperial family dynamic. The Empress Dowager was introduced as a clever and strategic woman, someone who genuinely cared about the country. I thought she’d be the classic wise older figure guiding the emperor. But nope. She quickly got reduced to just another mother pushing her son to fall for Consort Yue, ignoring the bigger political picture. Why build her up as intelligent if you’re just going to turn her into a soft-focus background mom?
Then there’s the imperial uncle, who holds the title of Left Prime Minister but literally does nothing. Like, what’s his job again? Because when Yue Chi gets dismissed, suddenly the emperor is off near the military camps and the uncle is… hanging out in the woods with Consort Yue?? So who's running the actual government? Eunuch Gui?? At this point I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the court was managed by the set decorators.
Adaptation Mayhem: From BL to Bromance to "Huh?"
Knowing this was originally based on a BL novel, I was fine with them adjusting things for broadcast. But what we got instead was just a confusing downgrade. They couldn’t commit to bromance, so they shoved in a romance that had no buildup or logic. The chemistry was off, and the relationships didn’t feel earned. It was like the scriptwriters were too scared to lean into anything real.
Sound Mixing: A War on My Ears
I genuinely thought my headphones were broken a few times. Two different background audios would play at the same time—like bustling market noise during a serious palace scene. Emotional dialogue? Drowned out by blaring music. It felt like the sound editor was doing karaoke with the volume cranked up. It pulled me out of the moment every single time.
Final Thoughts: Where Did the Plot Go?
This drama had all the ingredients to be a tight political thriller with strong characters and emotional depth. Instead, it ended up a disjointed mess. Weak writing, wasted character arcs, sound issues galore, and no one actually doing the jobs their titles said they should be doing.
Even the title is misleading—“A Prime Minister’s Disguise” sounds like it’s about power, espionage, and clever moves. But Yue Chi barely got to lead, let alone plot. The story ran off in five directions, and not one of them really worked out.
And honestly, the story got dumber as it went on—and so did I for still watching it to the end.
Watch it if you’re a fan of the cast or enjoy yelling “what is happening??” at your screen. Otherwise, save yourself the confusion and the hearing damage.
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