Out of curiosity, are there any guesses for the last episode when the FL tells the ML she lied about something from the beginning. The ML tells her the past is the past, but truly curious what that was.
At which point should I stop watching this so I can delude myself into a happy ending? I loved LYN in TPOB so absolutely need something to watch and this is highly rated.
Rarely comment on dramas but after some serious ongoing withdrawal symptoms, I had to express how much I enjoyed this drama.
Definitely not a 'light rom com watch'. This was an intense, emotional roller-coaster with enemies to lovers done right. The political intrigue fits well into the plot without being overdone and needing to be fast forwarded (like most cdramas). The chemistry and the intensity between the leads and the fun banter between the second leads stole the show. The side characters all had some roles to play with their own quirks and personalities.
I am a sucker for happy endings so for the ML to gradually fall in love with the FL was a delight to watch. He has been through horrible trauma and lost loved ones due to broken promises by the FL's clan. However, after they are married, he never mistreats her due to her family. He's closed off, cold and very suspicious of the FL which is of course, natural but he also appreciates and admires her (secretly and then openly later).
The FL is also no pushover, she fights and stands up for herself diplomatically. Her strength is in the steadfastness of her character, akin to flowing water eroding rocks over time. She has trust issues in the beginning too and tries to protect her clan from a waging war by the ML. This is a very reasonable reaction given how the ML first treated her and makes a promise to destroy her people. She later regrets her decision and reforms her thinking but I think this just humanises her character.
What made this drama different from other enemies to lovers is that you see the trauma, the hatred, the vengeance for revenge and gradually breaking down of walls, trust developing, the endless yearning for something forbidden and the care and attention they both show to each other in little gestures that they do later transforming to love. Drama aside, you want a partner in life, who just gets you without you having to spell everything out. You can share your deepest and darkest past and trauma and they will listen and never use that against you (confidant for life). They will help you heal and move past it. In the end, this is what happened to the ML. He was so helpless in front of the FL's care and love for everyone including him that he had no space for hatred and revenge in his heart. This doesn't mean he easily accepts her and let's her in, but rather he is too helpless to resist her. I loved, in particular, that despite what her grandfather did, he also accepted her family, visited her clan and people and wanted to understand why she was the way she was. To me, that was true selfless love.
If you've read this far, kudos to you. I just needed to get this off my chest so I can move past this drama without comparing all other dramas to this (as that would be unfair). I watched Youthful Glory and while that was an enjoyable watch, I kept thinking of TPOB. This drama will take some time to leave my system and I can't say I hate that.
I enjoyed the drama up until episode 30 after which the plot became a dumpster fire. Really, Xu Yue redemption arc was v jarring last minute and the last 10 episodes were mostly fast forwarded to reach the ending. I did enjoy the Demon Lord's return and their chemisty even though they had different identities. Destroying the creator was truly laughable as an ending though.
I am giving this 7.5/10 for the interesting plot, acting and romance for two thirds of the show.
This drama could have been 9 if they don't fuck up the last episode. Even tho they gave reference which brought…
Fully agree, the last episode seemed full of propaganda with a jarring plot far removed from the rest of the storyline. There was no need for it and the actions of the ML made no sense. People who think entertainment content is non-political need to open their eyes. It's everywhere and sometimes not very subtle.
I had to wait to see this ended happily before I started to watch.
Great story, acting by all and loved an intelligent, independent FL who stayed that way right through to the end. Song Mo was a sight to behold: strong, but vulnerable where he needed to be and oh so loyal to his loved ones.
Has to be one of the best and surprising cdramas of 2024. It makes me go back and watch my other historical cdrama faves.
Well, I'm so glad I gave this drama a chance despite the ratings.
The drama is about broken individuals who are lonely, hurt, shattered and refuse to let go of the past. It was like binge reading a book in one sitting about two individuals who find love against all odds. Not to say there weren't some plotholes but overall the story was woven together very well and the main leads' chemistry was compelling. Some powerful themes about society's stigma towards LGBTQ+ (Especially in Korea), how the ones closest to you can cause you the most harm, feeling lonely even while in a relationship, and protecting your love at all costs. The villains did a good job and got what came their way (in some sense) and the acting was great. Personally, I think that nude scene (between second main leads) was unnecessary so that caught me by surprise.
The length of 8 episodes was perfect, anything more would have been unnecessary.
Firstly, the siblings to lovers was really poorly done. It was hard to cheer for the main leads when the FL only…
There were other positives like a strong FL and good chemistry with the SML that kept me continuing to watch and finish it but it was very difficult (especially the last 15 episodes). Others seemed to enjoy more than I did and I can see why that may be the case.
Dragged myself to finish this drama but had a number of problems with this plot and some of the acting.
Firstly, the siblings to lovers was really poorly done. It was hard to cheer for the main leads when the FL only finds out they're not siblings in the last quarter of the drama. Then he confesses and she tells him she likes him which was too sudden and came out of nowhere for the FL. There is no inner conflict or her slowly developing feelings. No, she finds out they're not siblings and 2 episodes later, boom she tells him she likes him. That made it unbelievable.
Secondly, the morally grey villan aka SML had more chemistry and backstory with the FL than the main leads. His acting showing his obsession, madness and twisted love was compelling and kept me going right till the end.
Thirdly and relatedly, I found the ML's acting too stiff and lacking especially compared to the SML. I've watched his other historical drama in which he acted well but somhow his portrayal of his character was lacklustre and two dimensional.
Fourthly, while we can appreciate the main leads are smart, they're always outmanoeuvring and winning against all opponents (I mean each time which starts to get repetitive and boring). A lot of the plot consisted of lazy writing where the audience is shown convenient flashbacks, timely friends eavesdropping and solving problems too quickly etc. What happened to giving the audience a little credit and showing rather than telling us how the issues were resolved? I love my slowburn dramas and watch historical cdramas mainly for this reason but this drama just wasn't it for me.
Goes without telling that because of the above reasons I mostly fast forwarded the last 10 episodes and the second pairing which was not very interesting and I thought showed a lot of fat shaming in the beginning. At least she didn't lose her weight to find love so that was something I suppose.
Definitely not a 'light rom com watch'. This was an intense, emotional roller-coaster with enemies to lovers done right. The political intrigue fits well into the plot without being overdone and needing to be fast forwarded (like most cdramas). The chemistry and the intensity between the leads and the fun banter between the second leads stole the show. The side characters all had some roles to play with their own quirks and personalities.
I am a sucker for happy endings so for the ML to gradually fall in love with the FL was a delight to watch. He has been through horrible trauma and lost loved ones due to broken promises by the FL's clan. However, after they are married, he never mistreats her due to her family. He's closed off, cold and very suspicious of the FL which is of course, natural but he also appreciates and admires her (secretly and then openly later).
The FL is also no pushover, she fights and stands up for herself diplomatically. Her strength is in the steadfastness of her character, akin to flowing water eroding rocks over time. She has trust issues in the beginning too and tries to protect her clan from a waging war by the ML. This is a very reasonable reaction given how the ML first treated her and makes a promise to destroy her people. She later regrets her decision and reforms her thinking but I think this just humanises her character.
What made this drama different from other enemies to lovers is that you see the trauma, the hatred, the vengeance for revenge and gradually breaking down of walls, trust developing, the endless yearning for something forbidden and the care and attention they both show to each other in little gestures that they do later transforming to love. Drama aside, you want a partner in life, who just gets you without you having to spell everything out. You can share your deepest and darkest past and trauma and they will listen and never use that against you (confidant for life). They will help you heal and move past it. In the end, this is what happened to the ML. He was so helpless in front of the FL's care and love for everyone including him that he had no space for hatred and revenge in his heart. This doesn't mean he easily accepts her and let's her in, but rather he is too helpless to resist her. I loved, in particular, that despite what her grandfather did, he also accepted her family, visited her clan and people and wanted to understand why she was the way she was. To me, that was true selfless love.
If you've read this far, kudos to you. I just needed to get this off my chest so I can move past this drama without comparing all other dramas to this (as that would be unfair). I watched Youthful Glory and while that was an enjoyable watch, I kept thinking of TPOB. This drama will take some time to leave my system and I can't say I hate that.
I am giving this 7.5/10 for the interesting plot, acting and romance for two thirds of the show.
Great story, acting by all and loved an intelligent, independent FL who stayed that way right through to the end. Song Mo was a sight to behold: strong, but vulnerable where he needed to be and oh so loyal to his loved ones.
Has to be one of the best and surprising cdramas of 2024. It makes me go back and watch my other historical cdrama faves.
The drama is about broken individuals who are lonely, hurt, shattered and refuse to let go of the past. It was like binge reading a book in one sitting about two individuals who find love against all odds. Not to say there weren't some plotholes but overall the story was woven together very well and the main leads' chemistry was compelling. Some powerful themes about society's stigma towards LGBTQ+ (Especially in Korea), how the ones closest to you can cause you the most harm, feeling lonely even while in a relationship, and protecting your love at all costs. The villains did a good job and got what came their way (in some sense) and the acting was great. Personally, I think that nude scene (between second main leads) was unnecessary so that caught me by surprise.
The length of 8 episodes was perfect, anything more would have been unnecessary.
Secondly, the morally grey villan aka SML had more chemistry and backstory with the FL than the main leads. His acting showing his obsession, madness and twisted love was compelling and kept me going right till the end.
Thirdly and relatedly, I found the ML's acting too stiff and lacking especially compared to the SML. I've watched his other historical drama in which he acted well but somhow his portrayal of his character was lacklustre and two dimensional.
Fourthly, while we can appreciate the main leads are smart, they're always outmanoeuvring and winning against all opponents (I mean each time which starts to get repetitive and boring). A lot of the plot consisted of lazy writing where the audience is shown convenient flashbacks, timely friends eavesdropping and solving problems too quickly etc. What happened to giving the audience a little credit and showing rather than telling us how the issues were resolved? I love my slowburn dramas and watch historical cdramas mainly for this reason but this drama just wasn't it for me.
Goes without telling that because of the above reasons I mostly fast forwarded the last 10 episodes and the second pairing which was not very interesting and I thought showed a lot of fat shaming in the beginning. At least she didn't lose her weight to find love so that was something I suppose.