A Story of Twists and Triumph
I almost dropped this drama during the first 3 episodes (not sure if its because the pacing initially). I decided to give it another chance (or at least till the 5th episode) and things picked up afterwards.The storytelling was really good; the plot twists were well written, and not everyone was who they seemed to be. It's like a good 50% of the characters were like chess grandmasters as they plot and scheme with/against each other. The story was also weaved like a intricate web, and all the characters / story were small pieces that fit a large puzzle.
Zhuang Han Yan, the FL of this drama honestly have one of the saddest backstory (based on what I have watched in 2025 so far), but what amazes me she doesn't admit to fate and takes matters in her own hands, wanting to change her destiny. I also like that she also want to help those around her, who are stuck in similar predicament. This makes me respect the character so much.
Fu Yun Xi, the ML is like a magistrate with A LOT secrets (which made him hard to read at the start of the drama), especially when what he says does not equate to how he acts. But this guy grow on you as the story progresses, as things unfold itself.
Acting wise:
1. Chen Du Ling (Zhuang Han Yan) - my 2nd drama of Du Ling as the female lead. Maybe because of the stark difference in the characters, I actually like her as Zhuang Han Yan, a strong woman (instead of a dimsel in distress). I think her acting here was great as well.
2. Xin Yun Lai (Fu Yun Xi) - Raising from support role when I first saw him to the main lead, Xin Yun Lai came a long way I feel. His acting here was not too bad, but may have lack the intensity/depth compared to other actors who acted in similar roles before.
3. These actors/actress deserved a special mention, but they are those who make this show so much more enjoyable:
A. Wen Zheng Rong (Ruan Xi Wen) - I had seen her in other dramas before, but none had such long lasting impact as this one. She really delivered Ruan Xi Wen to you.
B. Wang Yan (Zhou Ru Yin) - veteran actress, she delivers her character perfectly here
Ost:
Personal favorite: 焰 (Flame) - 李琦 (Li Qi)
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This review may contain spoilers
Intriguing start, but faltering focus: A mixed experience
This drama started off with an interesting concept, especially with the female lead, Yan Xing, working in the Department of Justice. Her strong investigative abilities added depth to the story, and the initial banter-turned-romance between Yan Xing and the male lead, Shen Du, was enjoyable to watch.However, I felt that the drama struggled to maintain its initial momentum. It began with Shen Du investigating the cause of his family's death, but the focus eventually shifted to another case, which dominated the storyline. This change in direction made the plot feel less cohesive than expected.
Additionally, the second male lead took on a more prominent role towards the end, and while his character arc was significant, I wasn't sure if it warranted that much emphasis.
As for the cast, this was my first time watching Ding Yu Xi (Shen Du) and Ancy Deng (Yan Xing), so I don’t have much to compare their performances to yet. However, Ding Yu Xi left a strong impression, and I’d be interested in checking out more of his works in the future.
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A tale of intrigue and love
The Rise of Ning offers a captivating blend of intrigue and romance, skilfully balancing the narratives of its two central characters. Luo Yining, the resilient female protagonist, returns to the Luo Residence after years of being away. As she decides to stay in the Luo Residence for good, she was determined to defy the mistreatment she endures. Meanwhile, Luo Shen Yuan, the enigmatic male lead, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind a wrong committed against his revered teacher.This drama is particularly engaging as it delves into Yining's clever yet dangerous schemes against her adversaries, aided by resourceful brother, Shen Yuan. As their journey unfolds, a surprising revelation emerges: they are not blood-related. This unexpected twist sets the stage for a blossoming romance that adds depth (and the romance) to the already intricate plot. the focal point of the drama had always been on the central characters, which made people hooked on to the show.
While the early parts of the drama are full of suspense and intrigue which caught the viewers attention, the later episodes became somewhat predictable. The character of Lu Jia Xue, the second male lead, suffers from an obsession with the female protagonist, leading to repetitive and tiresome plot lines. The extended runtime towards the end results in some redundant scenes that could have been trimmed have also lead to some fatigue towards the end of the drama.
Despite these minor flaws, the performances by the lead actors are commendable. Zhang Wan Yi, a rising star (in my opinion), delivers a strong performance as Shen Yuan, effortlessly embodying the character's strategic mind and martial arts prowess. Ren Min also did a spectacular job as Yining, capturing her complex character with both strength and vulnerability. Ci Sha also did a great job as the obsessed Lu Jia Xue, who was willing to do whatever it takes to get Yining by his side again.
Overall, the Rise of Ning is a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dramas, offering a compelling blend of romance, revenge and mystery.
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Intense drama that me people hooked
I started to watch Blood Free due to the casting of the ML (by Ju Ji Hoon) and FL (by Han Hyo Joo), actors/actresses that I really liked and I am happy that this drama did not disappoint.The drama revolves around ML Woo Chae Woon trying to seek the truth of an accident that happened to him while he was in the army. Now, serving as a bodyguard, he ended up being employed by FL Yoon Ja Yoo and together, both of them worked together in seeking the truth of what happened to both of them previously..
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What makes Blood Free interesting was the creative story telling, which I had not seen so far in the K-dramas that I had watched. The cultured meat that Blood Free was well known for (part of the drama summary) sets the overall tone and the direction of how the drama progresses.
The drama was fast paced, filled with a lot of action (scenes by the ML) but at the same time, was able to show the backstories of the characters (in this case, the ML and the FL).
The casting for Blood Free was solid, and the actors and actresses were just amazing.
The only thing that I thought was a bit disappointing was the ending, which was like a cliff-hanger that left more questions unanswered. It would be good if Blood Free has a sequel that helps to address the questions.
Otherwise, it was still a great drama to watch, one that I will recommend.
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Romance in troubled times
This drama showcase the lives of the leading cast, Hei Feng Xi & Bai Feng Xi during troubled times.Some reasons why you should consider watching this:
- the drama was relatively well paced. (Personally I didn’t think any of the parts felt as though it was drag out for a reason)
- the story was interesting and was unexpected at certain parts
- the main ML and FL (yang yang and rosy zhao) have amazing chemistry
- the osts are amazing too!
I personally enjoyed the drama a lot! ❤️
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Buried Hearts: A wild ride
follows the turbulent life of Seo Dong Jun (Park Hyung Sik), a journey marked by betrayals and intriguing plot twists that immediately grabbed my attention.While the initial episodes were captivating, the final two felt less impactful. Despite being in the revenge genre, the execution of the revenge aspect felt less impactful compared to other dramas with similar genre.
The ending, though satisfactory, left some unanswered questions, potentially hinting at a second season. It will be quite cool to see what Seo Dong Jun's next steps should a Season 2 materialise.
Park Hyung Sik delivered a fantastic performance as Seo Dong Jun, conveying the emotional depth of his character. Huh Joon Ho (Yeom Jang Seon) and Lee Hae Young (Heo Il Do) were also instrumental in making the drama exciting, with strong chemistry evident in their interactions with Park Hyung Sik.
It's worth noting that while romance is present, it is not a central theme of "Buried Hearts," which may be important for viewers who primarily enjoy romance-focused dramas.
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A flawed Sequel
Zombieverse: New Blood (ZNB) is a continuation of last year's Zombieverse. Picking up from the open-ended Season 1 finale, the remaining survivors - Dex, Lee Si Young, Din Din, Tsuki and Patricia managed to escape teh zombie-infested Seoul.ZNB introduced a fresh batch of cast members to the apocalyptic chaos: Taeyeon (SNSD), Sungjae (BTOB), Jo Se Ho, Defconn, Code Kunst, Kwon Eun Bi, Kim Seon Tae and Chef Andre.
However, the show's format takes a significant departure from its predecessor. Instead of the gripping narrative of survival and escape, ZNB adopts a more game-like approach, with quests like subduing zombies, rescuing stranded members, and battling the undead in a gymnasium.
This shift in focus dilutes the intensity and character development. While Season 1 highlighted Dex's resourcefulness and his physical capabilities, ZNB struggles to give him significant screen time. Sungjae shows promise, but his character arc feels rushed. In contrast, Code Kunst shines throughout the series, demonstrating bravery, impressive problem-solving skills, physical abilities and composure.
The large cast size also present challenges. Some members, seemingly added for comedic relief, undermine the show's survivalist premise. Moreover, a member only appeared in the show for 1 episode raises questions about the initial purpose of such a large ensemble.
While ZNB may appeal to fans of Code Kunst, it falls short of the gripping narrative and character-driven storytelling of its predecessor.
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Well paced Medical Drama in 2024
This drama got me hooked since I started watching.Each story arc was well paced without too much of “water injection”. The medical stories are also exciting.
The backstory for each character was well written, as well as the growth of each character over the 28 episodes. Personally like Su Yun’s character growth the most.
The acting of each cast member were superb too, and I think the made each character much more relatable and real life. The bromance between Zheng Ren and Su Yun also made the story light hearted and funny at times.
Overall, I think this drama is one of the best cdramas medical drama that I have watched so far, and I highly recommend this to those who are interested in a medical drama!
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Indescribable feeling
Credits to the producer and team for coming up with a new concept to the kvariety shows.While we do have zombie episodes once in a while in the current suite of kvariety (running man, the zone s1 and s2, great escape etc), it’s new to see a variety program dedicating an entire 8 episodes on escaping zombies.
The scale of the program is HUGE: ranging from the amount of zombies “hired”, the guest actors that appeared in some of the episodes, the venue where the variety was filmed, the effects, the cast etc shows how much effort was put into this.
I finished the 8 episodes but I still cannot tell if I like the show or not.
The show is not scripted so you get to see the cast at their very “raw” selves. It was good to see how the cast adapts to such extreme circumstances (escape or get bitten).
However, it was really hard to be fully immersed into the show because logically it’s hard to make sense. It’s either kill or be killed situations, but because the zombies are after all cast themselves, the only method to escaping zombies became nothing but bodychecking them (they tried to have some weapons at the later part of the show but…)
The satisfaction that one may get from killing zombies that you see in dramas such as Kingdom, walking dead are all non-existent in the show.
In fact, this could be the mildest zombie show I ever watched. And there are some instances where even the cast cracked up during filming because the entire situation is just so bizarre.
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But what came as a surprise to me, was that despite the fact I was struggling to be immersed into the show, I was able to finish all 8 episodes because I became so intrigued on the outcome.
At some point I am watching to see how the ending would be, like: will Dex and Siyoung be able to survive this? Will there be more variating factors etc?
To me, zombieverse became less of a variety show that I enjoyed, but more like a problem that I want to know what’s the outcome going to be like.
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This program is really an acquired taste. Either you like it or you don’t.
I personally don’t really liked it, but would I watch season2 if it’s out? Likely yes.
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Interesting concept
Concept: Catch the Ghost had an interesting concept as it was my first time watching a series on the Subway Police. The cases shown in the drama was entertaining too. I also liked how the drama weaved in real life problems, which made the drama relatable.Characters: Yoo Ryeong (FL) was not a character that one will like right from the start compared to Go Ji Seok (ML). However, things turned out better at the story progresses and at some point, I start to relate to her and the reason behind the things she do. Character aside, both the FL and ML looked quite cute as an on-screen couple with their small bickering and chemistry as partners at work.
The other police in the Subway Police force also added their weight to the drama, be it at serious scenes or comical parts to liven up the drama.
Recommendation: For people who like to watch crime genre dramas with some romance involved, this is a pretty good series to watch.
Where I watched it: VIU TV
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九重紫: A hidden gem
was by far the best Chinese drama that I watched in 2024.This drama captured my attention from the first scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed the well-paced storytelling, free from unnecessary filler that often drags out. It was satisfying to see how Dou Zhao (the female lead) seized her second chance at life, with the unwavering support of Song Mo (the male lead). The drama beautifully portrayed their romantic journey ad the way they worked together to overcome various challenges.
Having previously watched Meng Zi Yi (as Dou Zhao) and Li Yun Rui (as Song Mo) in other notable works, I found this drama to be a standout in redefining my perception of their talents. Their performance in were exceptional, showcasing their depth and range as actors. Both brought their characters to life with such authenticity that I'm eager to see their future projects.
The original soundtrack (OST) also added a memorable layer to the drama. My favorite track, 不羡 by 伯远, perfectly complemented the emotional scenes between the ML and FL, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Overall, this drama was fantastic, and I wouldn't hesitate to rewatch it if time permits.
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