This review may contain spoilers
A Kingdom of Villains and Complicated Love
Love Like the Galaxy is honestly a must-watch for any C-drama fan, especially if you’re into general stories—because I am a sucker for those. This drama sets a very specific bar when it comes to generals, and Ling Buyi absolutely smashed it.
Ling Buyi / General Ling
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a ruthless, cold-blooded male lead in a historical drama. He was brutal to the extreme—like actually bloody, killing people without hesitation—and he never softened up just to please the audience. He wasn’t a green flag at all, and what surprised me most is that he stayed serious throughout the entire show. Characters like this usually “break” at some point, but he never did. That was just him.
The only moments where he softened—where he smiled, where he felt human—were with Shaoshang. Other than that, he was cold, harsh, and terrifying, and honestly? I didn’t mind it at all.
Leo Wu did an insane job. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone else pulling this character off. He has that strong, serious face and the ability to hold a character without cracking. The revenge arc, the heartbreak, the messiness of his emotions—it all landed. His character was chaotic, but not illogical. The whole “my revenge comes before everything” mindset stayed consistent, which made his choices painful but believable.
I also loved the twist with his identity—being the Hou general’s biological son. His relationship with the emperor completely stole my heart. The emperor basically adopted him, and that bond felt more genuine than the emperor’s relationships with his own children. It fed my soul.
Cheng Shaoshang (Niao Niao)
Her character is one of the most interesting FL I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not self-righteous, not a green flag, not overly kind. She gives kindness where it’s due—and revenge where that is due. She’s clever, petty, cruel when needed, and deeply broken underneath it all.
I loved the first part of the drama where it focused mainly on her story, even before the romance really kicked in. Watching her navigate life, survive, and scheme was genuinely entertaining. Honestly, I feel like her character had even more development than Ling Buyi’s.
Lusi was phenomenal here. This might actually be my favorite role of hers. She portrayed a broken person beautifully while still showing her cruelty, carefreeness, and villain-adjacent tendencies. That mix of traits is hard to balance, but she nailed it.
That said… her stubbornness did get on my nerves sometimes—especially near the end. When she couldn’t forgive him after five years, I was like, girl please loosen up a little. But at the same time, it was in character, so I can’t fully fault it.
Family Dynamics
Her family storyline was one of my favorite parts of the show. Her father? Absolutely top-tier. He was her rock, always supportive, always loving her like his baby girl. I loved that the show showed both a mother’s love and a father’s love—because her dad truly balanced out everything her mother failed to give her.
Her brothers were such a fun addition, and honestly, I think the show underused them. I really wanted more of their relationship with her, especially after the time jump. It felt like we were robbed of their stories—they had so much potential.
And don’t even get me started on the eldest brother. Why introduce him if you’re not going to bring him? I wanted him to show up and protect her at some point.
I also missed the third uncle and his wife in the second half. They played a role in shaping her early character, and their absence was felt.
The Emperor (Best Character, Period)
Hands down, the emperor was the best character in the entire show. The best emperor in C-drama history, in my opinion. He was funny, kind, warm, chaotic, and genuinely father-like to everyone around him.
I kept waiting for him to turn dark or suddenly put the kingdom first over people—but he never did. I loved his dynamic with the empress and the consort, especially the fact that they were friends. That storyline felt so fresh and mature. The empress choosing herself in the end was sad but powerful, and the way he didn’t forget her was beautiful.
Romance & Relationship Issues
Now… the main couple. I have mixed feelings.
As actors? Insane chemistry. Fire. Intensity. They carried the show together effortlessly. But as characters? Their relationship was exhausting—and intentionally so.
Ling Buyi kept accusing her of not trusting him, while he never trusted her enough to tell her the truth. Their relationship went in circles—secrets, manipulation, judgment, revenge—over and over again. And the thing is… it made sense for their characters, even if it drove me crazy as a viewer.
He’s not morally gray—he’s dangerous. And she’s just as selfish as he is. They both prioritize their own revenge and trauma over love. That’s why their relationship hurts, but also why it feels realistic.
I did find some plot points frustrating, though. The whole “he abandoned her” thing after the cliff jump made no sense. He was literally trying to save her life. If she jumped with him, they both would’ve died. That storyline annoyed me a lot.
Time Jump, Villains & Ending Thoughts
I usually hate time jumps, but for once, I didn’t mind it here. They needed time to heal, mature, and reset. Episode 51 honestly could’ve been an ending on its own—a bittersweet, realistic one where not everyone gets a second chance. It hurt, but it made sense.
I also appreciated that there was no evil second male lead. I really thought YSJ would turn obsessive, but instead he became a genuine friend and confidant. Loved that choice.
The show was full of villains, but none of them overstayed their welcome. Their storylines were fast-paced, satisfying, and they all got what they deserved.
That being said, I do have complaints. I hated how stupid she could be sometimes—she had zero survival instincts. She never trusted her gut, never noticed when people were very obviously trying to kill her, and she kept walking straight into danger only to wait for the ML to save her, and then somehow still blame him after. Her stubbornness also got on my nerves. Another thing that lost points for me was the wedding. We waited almost 25 episodes hearing about engagements and marriage, only to be completely robbed of the wedding. Them getting married off-screen, without the emperor—who had been hyping the wedding the entire show—felt ridiculous. The ending itself was rushed too. I feel like the last five to seven episodes were unnecessary and could’ve been written better instead of fast-wrapping everything. I wanted to see the whole family together properly, not squeezed in at the end. And listen… her hairstyle. Those two braids the entire show genuinely pissed me off. The costumes were beautiful, but the lack of variety in her hair was criminal. On the other hand, Leo Wu in a general’s outfit the whole time? Perfection. And the scene where his hair was down? Absolutely breathtaking. Devoured. No complaints there.
Despite all my complaints, this is an incredible drama that I’d recommend to anyone—especially historical C-drama fans. It has revenge, strong characters, sharp sarcasm, emotional depth, tension-heavy romance, stunning cinematography, and an amazing OST.
It’s serious, then suddenly hilarious, and it works. Not big on PDA, but huge on tension and chemistry. Overall? Absolutely worth the watch.
Ling Buyi / General Ling
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a ruthless, cold-blooded male lead in a historical drama. He was brutal to the extreme—like actually bloody, killing people without hesitation—and he never softened up just to please the audience. He wasn’t a green flag at all, and what surprised me most is that he stayed serious throughout the entire show. Characters like this usually “break” at some point, but he never did. That was just him.
The only moments where he softened—where he smiled, where he felt human—were with Shaoshang. Other than that, he was cold, harsh, and terrifying, and honestly? I didn’t mind it at all.
Leo Wu did an insane job. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone else pulling this character off. He has that strong, serious face and the ability to hold a character without cracking. The revenge arc, the heartbreak, the messiness of his emotions—it all landed. His character was chaotic, but not illogical. The whole “my revenge comes before everything” mindset stayed consistent, which made his choices painful but believable.
I also loved the twist with his identity—being the Hou general’s biological son. His relationship with the emperor completely stole my heart. The emperor basically adopted him, and that bond felt more genuine than the emperor’s relationships with his own children. It fed my soul.
Cheng Shaoshang (Niao Niao)
Her character is one of the most interesting FL I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not self-righteous, not a green flag, not overly kind. She gives kindness where it’s due—and revenge where that is due. She’s clever, petty, cruel when needed, and deeply broken underneath it all.
I loved the first part of the drama where it focused mainly on her story, even before the romance really kicked in. Watching her navigate life, survive, and scheme was genuinely entertaining. Honestly, I feel like her character had even more development than Ling Buyi’s.
Lusi was phenomenal here. This might actually be my favorite role of hers. She portrayed a broken person beautifully while still showing her cruelty, carefreeness, and villain-adjacent tendencies. That mix of traits is hard to balance, but she nailed it.
That said… her stubbornness did get on my nerves sometimes—especially near the end. When she couldn’t forgive him after five years, I was like, girl please loosen up a little. But at the same time, it was in character, so I can’t fully fault it.
Family Dynamics
Her family storyline was one of my favorite parts of the show. Her father? Absolutely top-tier. He was her rock, always supportive, always loving her like his baby girl. I loved that the show showed both a mother’s love and a father’s love—because her dad truly balanced out everything her mother failed to give her.
Her brothers were such a fun addition, and honestly, I think the show underused them. I really wanted more of their relationship with her, especially after the time jump. It felt like we were robbed of their stories—they had so much potential.
And don’t even get me started on the eldest brother. Why introduce him if you’re not going to bring him? I wanted him to show up and protect her at some point.
I also missed the third uncle and his wife in the second half. They played a role in shaping her early character, and their absence was felt.
The Emperor (Best Character, Period)
Hands down, the emperor was the best character in the entire show. The best emperor in C-drama history, in my opinion. He was funny, kind, warm, chaotic, and genuinely father-like to everyone around him.
I kept waiting for him to turn dark or suddenly put the kingdom first over people—but he never did. I loved his dynamic with the empress and the consort, especially the fact that they were friends. That storyline felt so fresh and mature. The empress choosing herself in the end was sad but powerful, and the way he didn’t forget her was beautiful.
Romance & Relationship Issues
Now… the main couple. I have mixed feelings.
As actors? Insane chemistry. Fire. Intensity. They carried the show together effortlessly. But as characters? Their relationship was exhausting—and intentionally so.
Ling Buyi kept accusing her of not trusting him, while he never trusted her enough to tell her the truth. Their relationship went in circles—secrets, manipulation, judgment, revenge—over and over again. And the thing is… it made sense for their characters, even if it drove me crazy as a viewer.
He’s not morally gray—he’s dangerous. And she’s just as selfish as he is. They both prioritize their own revenge and trauma over love. That’s why their relationship hurts, but also why it feels realistic.
I did find some plot points frustrating, though. The whole “he abandoned her” thing after the cliff jump made no sense. He was literally trying to save her life. If she jumped with him, they both would’ve died. That storyline annoyed me a lot.
Time Jump, Villains & Ending Thoughts
I usually hate time jumps, but for once, I didn’t mind it here. They needed time to heal, mature, and reset. Episode 51 honestly could’ve been an ending on its own—a bittersweet, realistic one where not everyone gets a second chance. It hurt, but it made sense.
I also appreciated that there was no evil second male lead. I really thought YSJ would turn obsessive, but instead he became a genuine friend and confidant. Loved that choice.
The show was full of villains, but none of them overstayed their welcome. Their storylines were fast-paced, satisfying, and they all got what they deserved.
That being said, I do have complaints. I hated how stupid she could be sometimes—she had zero survival instincts. She never trusted her gut, never noticed when people were very obviously trying to kill her, and she kept walking straight into danger only to wait for the ML to save her, and then somehow still blame him after. Her stubbornness also got on my nerves. Another thing that lost points for me was the wedding. We waited almost 25 episodes hearing about engagements and marriage, only to be completely robbed of the wedding. Them getting married off-screen, without the emperor—who had been hyping the wedding the entire show—felt ridiculous. The ending itself was rushed too. I feel like the last five to seven episodes were unnecessary and could’ve been written better instead of fast-wrapping everything. I wanted to see the whole family together properly, not squeezed in at the end. And listen… her hairstyle. Those two braids the entire show genuinely pissed me off. The costumes were beautiful, but the lack of variety in her hair was criminal. On the other hand, Leo Wu in a general’s outfit the whole time? Perfection. And the scene where his hair was down? Absolutely breathtaking. Devoured. No complaints there.
Despite all my complaints, this is an incredible drama that I’d recommend to anyone—especially historical C-drama fans. It has revenge, strong characters, sharp sarcasm, emotional depth, tension-heavy romance, stunning cinematography, and an amazing OST.
It’s serious, then suddenly hilarious, and it works. Not big on PDA, but huge on tension and chemistry. Overall? Absolutely worth the watch.
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