A Winning Formula
Every now and again you get these feel-good underdog stories that are executed so well. After watching, you sit there for a moment satisfied like you just finished eating your favourite meal. Inspired to take on tomorrow's challenge.Your stomach is full and your heart is warm and content.
You don't need to know about the sport Rugby to enjoy this drama. The characters are relatable and the story imparts life lessons, while cliche never get old and stay true throughout life.
It's Okay to Fail, Don't Give Up, Learn, Grow, Pick Yourself Up and Keep Moving Forward.
Better to have Tried and Failed than Never Tried at all.
So go ahead and give it a Try!
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Guilty Pleasure
Light-hearted Transmigration Story.Where MC utilises his modern knowledge to improve his situation and combat corruption.
Even though it has the usual tropes, it is executed well and is a very fun and satisfying watch.
Hope more of these stories are produced in full length format.
You will also find a contender for the most SHAMELESS character in all of Drama in this one too. LOL.
Like this review, Short and Sweat, give the show a watch, you won't regret!
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John Wick Inspired.
While watching this, could not help but think, John Wick.An infamous figure in the underworld, brought back for revenge.
Replace guns with melee weapons, replace a dog with a brother and set it in Korea.
Add more layers of story and emotion and you got Mercy for None.
If you are a fan of the former, you will enjoy this one too.
While the mastermind was pretty predictable, still entertaining till the end.
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Minor Spoiler? Doesn't Make Sense to me. Episode 1 - A Questionable Request.
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Even though a reasoning was given.
The request at the very start that started off the story just doesn't make sense to me.
Why did Chairman Gu Bongsan ask Chairman Lee Juwoon to help clean up after his Son?
Why ask a rival gang to help discipline his Son? Even Chairman Lee questioned it.
It's begging for something to go wrong. LOL.
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A Beautifully Crafted Story
One of my favourite Dramas of 2025. While not perfect, it has everything you would want in a Romance/Fantasy/Wuxia drama. Was putting it off, but once i got started, couldn't stop watching. haha.A Colourful Story of 2 world's co-existing, exciting action scenes, a banger OST, a band of interesting support characters and 2 leads that absolutely steal the show with their precence, chemistry, romance and action scenes.
Mei Zhu Yu & Wu Zhen - Characters that compliment each other so much, and the actors that brought them to life so well.
Xu Kai & Tian Xi Wei, when they smiled, i smiled, when they cried, i cried. Especially Tina Xi Wei her screen precence, her charm is so endearing, her smile so infectious. :D
This is one of the dramas i felt could of used more episodes. It seemed a little rushed toward the end, when they were wrapping up each antagonists arc. At times it seemed like they ran out of budget. Can't be sure.
Aside from that, this was an entertaining and charming drama.
Make sure to watch till the end, pass the credits!
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Suffers from Poor Writing/Script
From the Plot description I was expecting something similar to Nirvana in Fire.While it started promising, what develops is largely disappointing and unsatisfying.
MC apparently trained for 10 years, (yes not completed), still, a WHOLE decade under SEVERAL "Masters".
You would think in all that time, they would be setting up networks, collecting information, and preparing and planning ahead.
Nope.
For someone who is built up to be an intelligent and meticulous strategist who has the support of "Masters" in their craft.
Zang Hai is consistently under prepared, consistently underestimates his opponents. Consistently is bailed out by other people. He does not seem to plan out anything meticulously, and it is more like MC's winging it as he goes. And is surprised when someone pulls one over him. LOL.
A naive, ignorant, uninformed, arrogant, righteous without power MC who shows flashes of brilliance.
Writers really let this one down.
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A Very Unserious Fun Time
Light-hearted Cultivation Story that does not take itself seriously at all.MC relives the same day for one hundred thousand years.
Upon escaping the time loop, he sets out to save his Love by killing an undefeatable enemy.
I have not read the Manhua or Novel so this is solely based on what i watched.
MC is basically all-knowing, so he navigates his way with prior knowledge of mostly everything.
The cast is taking it easy and i was too. Haha.
You will find the usual troupes and stereotypical characters, but it flowed in a way i didn't mind at all.
I felt like production made full use of their limited budget and short run time.
The ending was open ended and could be interpreted a number of ways. Season 2 Perhaps?
If you enjoy Cultivation Stories with a relatively OP MC with an unserious tone, you will have fun with this.
PS. Luan Lei Ying is Stunning whenever i see her. Haha.
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Guilty Pleasure
I am sucker for transmigration + cultivation + zero to hero stories.Especially ones that are executed well with this type of plot.
As a mini drama, it gets into all main points quite quickly.
While it has the usual troupes, it's still very much a fun and satisfying ride!
Even though it has a smaller budget/production, the SFX is done well.
Wish it was a full length with more details fleshed out.
While there are many stories like it found in Webtoons/novels,
there are not many live action/adaptions that follow this kind of plot.
Hopefully this gets a sequel!
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One other example of this type of plot is - > Dominator of the Martial Gods. Full length but also on a small budget.
Others on much larger budgets have been disappointing.
-> Martial Universe, The Great Ruler, Fights Break Sphere, Douluo Continent, Burning Flames.
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All a Setup for Romance
This starts off very strong, the story is actually quite dark and handles some heavy topics decently.The leads are definitely the focus and their acting is great.
The concept is interesting, and i was looking forward to how it played out and how the characters developed.
However as far i watched, they don't develop or grow. ML is all powerful, and FL is weak slacker. They each take turns getting hurt, rescuing each other and end up in an intimate embrace. Repeat.
FL has the grandmaster as her mentor, and yet true to her motto, just slacks off from beginning to mid point, no motivation to develop her skills even though she repeatly gets hurt. While entertaining at the start, this is quite dull by midway.
Don't get me wrong, the scenes are great. However theres no balance, there's no growth. The Centuries Old Snake with a mindset of a child is annoying too. Not sure if it gets better as i am dropping this.
If all you are after is intimate Romantic scenes sucking face between the leads, then this drama is perfect for you.
Every scenario is to setup for a Romance scene. Haha. Perhaps this is why the drama is rated so high?
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Missed Opportunity
What starts off as a promising Wuxia Revenge Story falls flat in the second half.It had the makings of a great story similar to "Nirvana in Fire."
A Strong MC in Mo Qing Chuan, interesting characters, Great Wuxia Action scenes, in an interesting backdrop with fantastic costume and colors.
Unfortunately, the story is let down by:
- Lack of Action Scenes. The scenes were executed quite well, however they were far and few between and short.
- Lack of attention on Wuxia. Rather focusing more on politics.
- Forced Romance in the 2nd half. For someone reason they decided to force some sort of romance that was nonexistent to begin with. Alot of the plot in 2nd half revolves around the weak ML and attempts to save FL due to his selfish feelings. Prioritized over the FL's schemes which fall flat and felt rushed.
- Weak ML. Character and Actor.
- Overall seemed to have lost focus on the title's character.
Everything else was positive especially:
- Cristy Guo as Mo Qing Chuan carried this show.
- Yang Fu Yu as Jiang Kui was great too.
Side Note:
Some of the BGM is the same as another title "Noble Aspirations", which i enjoyed. Haha.
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A Cultivation Extravaganza!
Majority of productions that tag cultivation, focus more on the Romance/Political side of things. Not this one!Follow MC with his medicore talent as he fights fate through sadness, laughter, defeat and victory on the road to Immortality.
Martial Arts, Magical Skills, Alchemy, Sects, Factions, and Epic Battles galore!
This is how i'd imagine a full length/live-action Cultivation Story to be depicted, and it nails every aspect!
Highlights
- Cinematography that shows how vast the world is.
- VFX / Battle scenes that are as martial, magical, thrilling and impactful one would imagine reading a cultivation novel.
- The most fitting OST for every scene, whether it brings a tear, or gets the blood pumping.
- A strong lead actor and supporting cast.
All the above combined made every scene a treat for the senses!
Even scenes with minimal dialogue, reminded me of the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words".
There are some minor plotholes here and there, but nothing that affects the overall product.
With a market oversaturated with Romance/Detective Stories, this is a refreshing change.
Cannot wait for Season 2!
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A Trashy Manhua - So Bad it's Good?
It's as if the producers looked at all the Wuxia Manhua's available,compiled all overused trashy troupes and put it all in this mini production. Haha
- A well intentioned, loud and dumb MC always crying for help when encountering each obstacle. He powers up each time, through the Goddess' generosity rather his own effort.
- Sultry Females always saddlying the MC. Showing extra Skin. ^^Harem? Even an enslavement..
- Stereotypes/Cliche Troupes, Noble Bullies, Demon Revival, Random Poem Competition, alot of energy sucking...
- Inconsistent power levels, tone and pacing. One minute tragedy next minute comedy. lol.
- Extensive Dialogue vomit explaining stuff rather than showing. Cliche dialogue like "Courting Death!"
You could probably turn your brain off for this one and still muddle through, just like our MC.
Perhaps this was intended as a Satire?
If you enjoy the trashy Manhua's, you will have fun with this. Otherwise best to avoid.
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Action Scenes strung together....
The only redeeming quality of this movie, are the action sequences and production value.Watch it once if you can pay attention for that long and move on.
I have no prior knowledge of the novel this is based on, nor watched any of the previous adaptions.
These series of novels are famous and very popular supposedly. Based on this and another adaption of a different novel from same author, they just seem like badly written webtoons. Makes sense if these are what inspired all the badly written webtoons... lol. I am a fan of Wuxia, but so far these adaptions of these popular novels are not it.
The way the story is told, pacing and unlikeable characters presented you left with the feeling of indifference and confusion. The way ML is setup/found multiple times in the same way, was almost comical. The romance seemed forced, and many of the characters introduced are rushed and thrown in from out of nowhere.
The ending is rushed with a few flashbacks causing more confusion rather than completing the plot holes. You don't make a standalone movie expecting your audience to have knowledge to fill in half the story.
It just feels like this movie was just to showcase Donnie Yen directed action sequences. Which was great! Except the final fight, too much telekinesis ki power maybe? Every time ML fired off his ultimate move, i heard the T-Rex from Jurassic Park. lol.
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Interesting Story, Poor Execution
This had all the elements of an exciting Wuxia Drama.A Martial Arts novel enthusiast and author, who transmigrates into a classic Martial Arts novel taking the role of the MC, with an AI System that guides his objectives. The backdrop is a mix of the original novel and his writing.
However the execution is so boring, i struggled to watch 10 episodes.
- With the plot, i expected MC after accepting his situation, to seek out martials arts training, growing from a zero to hero type as he navigates the story with some prior knowledge. Instead his stagnet skills subconciously just appear and they focus more on schemes, politics, righteousness, friendship, camaraderie. So utterly boring that it's puzzling.
- Lead Actor is very weak and dull in his delivery. I did not enjoy his most popular work either (Mysterious Lotus Casebook).
- Pacing is painfully slow, there is alot of scenes where it is just talking and self-reflection/introspection.
- The action is not bad, but too few and far between.
Maybe it gets better later, but it doesn't entice the viewer to watch more.
Unsatisfying and unfortunate for such an interesting concept.
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Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre
1 people found this review helpful
Great Story Ruined by Un-likeable Characters.
Don't bother. Save your binge time on something else.I have not read the novel this is based on. The only other adaption i have watched was the incomplete Jet Li movie - "Kung Fu Cult Master". Which was lots of fun. Sad there was no sequel with same cast.
Everyone likes an underdog story. It what makes shonen manga so popular. You have a weak character who goes through hardship, grows, powers up to become strong. You can't help but feel, relate and cheer on these characters.
This one however, by the halfway mark, felt like punching the ML in the face. lol. He is SOOOO very un-likeable.
He becomes powerful through lucky encounters only to show no growth or character development. In some cases, forgetting he was that powerful. Naive to the end of days, never learning a lesson or listening to his supposed trusted companions or parents. Only listening to the antagonist who happens to be a pretty girl. Before you can you blink, she has him eating out of her palms. Proper whipped. Out of nowhere lol. It's not even a fun time, as they are unlikeable.
There are other un-reasonably frustrating characters and developments, (omg head nun) but we won't go into them.
Be it, the original story, adaption, acting, cast or a combination of all, this is a wuxia story that i imagine inspired countless others, that just disappoints with un-likeable characters.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Script of Nonsense.
In just the first few episodes you can kiss any sense goodbye.ML#1 (Wei Zhao) attempts to kill FL (Jiang Ci) 3 times and ML#2 (Pei Yan) saves FL 3 times.
ML#2 is trying to catch ML#1. FL can help easily but decides not to.
They not even in a close relationship at this stage.
In FL's perspective there is a clearly defined good guy(saves her), and bad guy(kills her).
FL knows if she wants to leave the protection of ML#2, she needs to say what she knows and help catch ML#1. But she doesn't.
She has every reason to be against ML#1. Every reason to help ML#2.
FL can even setup a trap with how frequently ML#1 likes to invade ML#2's Home. LOL.
Setting aside the bizarre notion to romanticize "Stockholm syndrome" and manipulation/torture of FL, the script just doesn't make sense right from the beginning.
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