This review may contain spoilers
The Scarifies of Love
After finishing the last episode, I genuinely felt like standing up and giving this show a full standing ovation. Twelve Letters completely blew me away. I had heard a lot of good things going in, but nothing prepared me for what it actually delivered.
First of all, I did not expect the fantasy element at all—and I loved that surprise. This drama blends so many genres so seamlessly: romance, family, crime, mystery, and fantasy. You’re constantly curious, constantly emotionally invested. It’s dark, yes, but beautifully so. If I had to give it a title, it would be “I sacrifice my life for yours.” That’s the heart of this story.
At its core, this is a tragic but incredibly beautiful love story. The love that grows through hardship, pain, and sacrifice feels deeper than a typical romance. They don’t just fall in love—they heal each other’s wounds. The pacing was perfect; nothing felt rushed or dragged. Every element got exactly the screen time it needed.
Now, the acting—wow. Solid, powerful performances from both leads. I already loved Zhou Yiran, but this role completely changed how I see him. After When I Fly Towards You, he was known as the ultimate green-flag good boy, but with Reborn and now Twelve Letters, he’s breaking out of that mold—and excelling. Honestly, watching him here made me feel like he was wasted in calmer roles before. This performance was heartbreaking, layered, and unforgettable. He wasn’t a perfect green flag, but he loved the way a green flag would—in his own broken, self-sacrificing way. His choice to fake his death, to stay away even after prison so he wouldn’t ruin her life… that destroyed me. He suffered silently for years just so she could be happy.
As for the female lead—this year really proved her range. From her lighter, fluffier roles earlier on to this dark, complex character, the growth is obvious. Some moments were good, but certain scenes—especially the confrontations involving her father—were outstanding. Her acting there was raw and powerful, and I’m genuinely excited to see where she goes next year.
Their chemistry was beautiful. Natural. Real. This wasn’t a soft romance—it was a romance born from darkness, from shared trauma and survival. That made it deeper, heavier, and more meaningful. He protected her because she became his family when he had none. She protected him just as fiercely. It was mutual sacrifice, and that’s what made it so special.
Story-wise, I loved the back-and-forth structure. Before even getting into the fantasy aspect, their core story already had me emotionally wrecked. The scenes of her visiting his grave every year, and him doing the same… and then finally reuniting in the afterlife—I absolutely bawled. That reunion scene broke me in the best way.
The fantasy element surprised me the most. The letters weren’t the center of the story, but they carried so much mystery. You keep questioning: are they changing the past? Or just telling and already done sorty? Until the very last moment, you hold onto hope that everything will change—and when it finally does, it’s incredibly satisfying.
The storyline involving the son and daughter was interesting too. I didn’t feel they needed more focus; they were a means to tell the story, not the focal point—and that worked. It was sad that the daughter lost her father, but I think the son lived on cause maybe he was adopted or she wasn't her son. In all cases I will move on believing fate will reunite them.
Every supporting character did an incredible job—especially the security guard, who honestly became one of my favorites. And that ending… the final letter was so poetic, so heartfelt. A perfect ending for a drama called Twelve Letters.
I also loved how the show flipped the usual sacrifice trope. We often see parents sacrificing for their children—but here, seeing a child sacrifice for a parent hit differently. The entire drama is built on sacrifice, and it commits to that theme fully.
And the OST—absolutely stunning. Perfectly tailored to the story, setting the tone and amplifying every emotion. One of the best OST integrations I’ve seen.
I can confidently say this is one of the best dramas of 2025. It’s dark, emotional, beautifully made, and short enough to stay tight and impactful. The balance between darkness and light was just right. It’s a heavy emotional ride—but 100% worth it.
So beautiful. So painful. So unforgettable.
First of all, I did not expect the fantasy element at all—and I loved that surprise. This drama blends so many genres so seamlessly: romance, family, crime, mystery, and fantasy. You’re constantly curious, constantly emotionally invested. It’s dark, yes, but beautifully so. If I had to give it a title, it would be “I sacrifice my life for yours.” That’s the heart of this story.
At its core, this is a tragic but incredibly beautiful love story. The love that grows through hardship, pain, and sacrifice feels deeper than a typical romance. They don’t just fall in love—they heal each other’s wounds. The pacing was perfect; nothing felt rushed or dragged. Every element got exactly the screen time it needed.
Now, the acting—wow. Solid, powerful performances from both leads. I already loved Zhou Yiran, but this role completely changed how I see him. After When I Fly Towards You, he was known as the ultimate green-flag good boy, but with Reborn and now Twelve Letters, he’s breaking out of that mold—and excelling. Honestly, watching him here made me feel like he was wasted in calmer roles before. This performance was heartbreaking, layered, and unforgettable. He wasn’t a perfect green flag, but he loved the way a green flag would—in his own broken, self-sacrificing way. His choice to fake his death, to stay away even after prison so he wouldn’t ruin her life… that destroyed me. He suffered silently for years just so she could be happy.
As for the female lead—this year really proved her range. From her lighter, fluffier roles earlier on to this dark, complex character, the growth is obvious. Some moments were good, but certain scenes—especially the confrontations involving her father—were outstanding. Her acting there was raw and powerful, and I’m genuinely excited to see where she goes next year.
Their chemistry was beautiful. Natural. Real. This wasn’t a soft romance—it was a romance born from darkness, from shared trauma and survival. That made it deeper, heavier, and more meaningful. He protected her because she became his family when he had none. She protected him just as fiercely. It was mutual sacrifice, and that’s what made it so special.
Story-wise, I loved the back-and-forth structure. Before even getting into the fantasy aspect, their core story already had me emotionally wrecked. The scenes of her visiting his grave every year, and him doing the same… and then finally reuniting in the afterlife—I absolutely bawled. That reunion scene broke me in the best way.
The fantasy element surprised me the most. The letters weren’t the center of the story, but they carried so much mystery. You keep questioning: are they changing the past? Or just telling and already done sorty? Until the very last moment, you hold onto hope that everything will change—and when it finally does, it’s incredibly satisfying.
The storyline involving the son and daughter was interesting too. I didn’t feel they needed more focus; they were a means to tell the story, not the focal point—and that worked. It was sad that the daughter lost her father, but I think the son lived on cause maybe he was adopted or she wasn't her son. In all cases I will move on believing fate will reunite them.
Every supporting character did an incredible job—especially the security guard, who honestly became one of my favorites. And that ending… the final letter was so poetic, so heartfelt. A perfect ending for a drama called Twelve Letters.
I also loved how the show flipped the usual sacrifice trope. We often see parents sacrificing for their children—but here, seeing a child sacrifice for a parent hit differently. The entire drama is built on sacrifice, and it commits to that theme fully.
And the OST—absolutely stunning. Perfectly tailored to the story, setting the tone and amplifying every emotion. One of the best OST integrations I’ve seen.
I can confidently say this is one of the best dramas of 2025. It’s dark, emotional, beautifully made, and short enough to stay tight and impactful. The balance between darkness and light was just right. It’s a heavy emotional ride—but 100% worth it.
So beautiful. So painful. So unforgettable.
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