Finished it, and honestly, I have mixed feelings. 😅 I really enjoyed this drama, especially Wei Rao's character development. She's resourceful, strategic, and knows how to play the game without always relying on someone to save her. I also loved how Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao eventually became partners who could stand on equal ground. Their chemistry and relationship were definitely among my favorite parts. The political schemes, shifting alliances, and the commoners' storyline made the story more engaging for me. And can we talk about the OST? Absolutely beautiful and so fitting for the story. Special mention to Liu Yuning's opening theme — bebe love really delivered! ❤️ But that ending... WHY DID LIU SHUO HAVE TO DIE?! 😭 We spent so much of the story watching Wei Rao fight to protect her younger brother and secure his future. He finally becomes Emperor, only for the drama to jump three years ahead and kill him through Prince Fu's staged hunting accident. Yes, there's an unborn heir, but that's hardly a resolution to the succession crisis. I actually like the idea of Wei Rao becoming Protector of the Realm. It fits the woman she's become. My problem is the execution. The drama barely gives us time to process Liu Shuo's death before throwing us into another political conflict. It feels like they squeezed an entirely new storyline into the last few minutes. So, HE for Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo, definitely. But bittersweet and frustrating for the overall story. I would've much preferred a little more closure and some actual happy moments for the family after everything they've endured. Overall, a very entertaining drama with a strong female lead, a lovely main couple, great performances, and an OST that deserves its own applause. Just wish the finale had given the story the closure it deserved. 9/10 for me. ❤️
Ep19 really said: the student has become the master 😂😂 Lu Zhuo really took Wei Rao’s own lesson plan and used it against her. From righteous, straightforward husband to shameless, calculating, down-bad ex-husband real quick after that divorce. 😭 And the funniest part? They’re both pretending they don’t care when their actions are SCREAMING otherwise. 🤣 Wei Rao: “I never loved him.” Also Wei Rao: immediately worried about him, watching him, and getting herself involved because of him. 😭 Then Lu Zhuo: “She doesn’t care about me.” Also Lu Zhuo: basically doing everything he can to make sure everyone knows his ex-wife still cares. 🤣🤣 Honestly, after all the heartbreak from Ep16–18, I NEEDED this ridiculous role reversal. Their dynamic is so much more fun now that they’re both playing the same game. And Yan An’s smirks??? Sir, who gave you permission to be this shameless? 😂
Wonder if you have finished the drama now. I fully agree with you. One of the best C-dramas in this decade for…
Yes, I’ve finished it! 😂 It took me only 4 days to finish all 45 episodes! 🤣🤣 I honestly enjoyed it so much that I just kept wanting to watch the next episode. I initially started it because of Yang Yang, but I ended up getting really invested in the story, the character development, and the Cheetah team. 🫡❤️ I can definitely understand why you wish it had 100 episodes! I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them either. This drama was such a pleasant surprise for me! 😭❤️
I started this on October 1, and now it’s Day 3 and I’m already on Episode 28. 😭 I honestly didn’t expect to get this invested.
After Fireworks of My Heart, I was initially craving Yang Yang again, so that was probably the first reason I picked this up. But after watching several dramas, I can say I’m not watching Glory of Special Forces just because of him anymore. I actually have a personal reason for connecting with this story: I once dreamed of becoming a soldier. So watching the training, discipline, selection process, and the gradual transformation of these characters hits differently for me.
What I really appreciate is that the drama actually takes its time showing the process. Yan Poyue starts as someone with exceptional individual ability but struggles with teamwork, and the story doesn’t magically fix that overnight. His development is built through repeated failures, psychological challenges, training, and actual consequences. Even the 10-day closed-room training wasn’t just filler—it directly addressed the emotional barriers within the team and pushed them to understand one another. By Episode 27, Yan finally confronts the claustrophobia rooted in his childhood, and by Episode 28, the team is already being tested in their first full-scale hostage-rescue exercise.
And this is probably the biggest compliment I can give the drama so far:
I haven’t found a boring episode.
Even the training episodes have a purpose. The eliminations, the team dynamics, Yan’s individualism, Guo Xiaoxiao’s emotional baggage, the psychological tests, and now the actual combat assessments all feel connected. The story keeps building on what came before instead of constantly introducing random problems just to create drama.
I also like that the show actually lets the characters fail. Episode 28 is a good example: their first hostage-rescue attempt fails because of a tactical mistake, and instead of simply moving on, they review the footage, identify what went wrong, and get another chance to improve. That makes the military training feel more like an actual progression rather than a series of “look how cool the protagonist is” moments.
At Episode 28, I’m especially enjoying seeing Yan slowly understand that being the strongest individual soldier isn’t enough. Being a special-forces soldier means knowing how to become part of a unit. And honestly, that has been the most interesting part of his character development for me.
Three days in, 28 episodes down, and still no urge to skip. That says a lot. 😂
I came for Yang Yang. I stayed for Yan Poyue’s growth. And now I’m genuinely invested in the Cheetah team. 🫡
Your comments are spot on and I decided to reach out to you. Good review. Nicely done. Well written. Totally agree…
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my review and leave such a kind comment.
And welcome to the C-drama rabbit hole! 😄 Once you're in, there's really no going back. Feud is definitely a great drama to get hooked on, and Bai Lu's performance there is one of the reasons she's become one of my favorite actresses as well.
I'm glad my review resonated with you. It's always nice to meet fellow viewers who enjoy discussing these dramas beyond just the romance. Happy watching, and I hope you discover even more amazing C-dramas along the way!
I completely understand how you feel. I'm currently on Episode 28, and unfortunately, I still have the same frustration…
Hahaha, I actually haven't watched Brocade Odyssey, and to be honest, it's not even on my current masterlist. 😆 My watchlist is already over 160 dramas long, so I'm trying to stick to it before adding more.
But now you've definitely made me curious. 😂 If I eventually watch it and it manages to break my "never drop a drama" streak, I'll come back here and admit defeat. 🤝
For now, though, I'm still surviving. More than 40 dramas in just over three months, and my record is still intact. Maybe Brocade Odyssey will be the ultimate test... or maybe I'll surprise both of us and finish it anyway. 😅
I completely understand how you feel. I'm currently on Episode 28, and unfortunately, I still have the same frustration…
Haha, that's actually a fair question. 😆
To be honest, I'm still relatively new to C-dramas. It's only been a little over three months since I seriously started watching them. Before that, I was more of an outdoorsy person. Most of my free time was spent hiking mountains, joining marathons, backpacking, or simply being outside. Watching dramas was never really my hobby.
It all started with short vertical dramas that I watched during work breaks. Then one recommendation led me to **The Untamed**, and that completely changed everything. 😂
After that, I became curious and started researching what the best C-dramas were. I spent days compiling my own masterlist using Google searches, kisskh reviews, Reddit discussions, and even TikTok recommendations. That list has now grown to more than **160 dramas**, mostly because I wanted to experience the highest-rated and most recommended titles across different genres.
So far, I've already completed more than **40 dramas**, and honestly, I haven't been completely disappointed by any of them. Of course, some had weaker pacing or story arcs, but I still found something to appreciate, whether it was the performances, cinematography, music, or character development.
The first drama that genuinely disappointed me was **The Glory** (Hou Ming Hao's version). I felt like the central mystery was stretched for far too long, and the story kept circling around the same questions without giving enough satisfying progression. I only finished it because I genuinely liked the cast and wanted to see how everything would end. 😆
Then recently, **The Long Ballad** became another one that didn't quite meet my expectations. Based on its poster, synopsis, and the countless reviews calling Li Chang Ge a legendary strategist, I expected a much stronger military strategy drama with tighter storytelling. Instead, I personally found the pacing too slow and the execution didn't fully live up to the reputation it had built. Even so, I still finished all 49 episodes because I wanted to give the story a fair chance until the very end.
So yes... for now, my "never drop a drama" policy is still alive. 😂 Maybe one day I'll finally meet the drama that completely breaks that streak—but hopefully not anytime soon.
I tried watching this drama because of Bai Lu ... But I just couldn't continue watching it ( I stopped at episode…
I completely understand how you feel. I'm currently on Episode 28, and unfortunately, I still have the same frustration with Qin Zhi Yan.
From her very first appearance, I kept hoping she would eventually have meaningful character development, become more capable, or at least stop creating unnecessary problems for everyone around her. But so far, I honestly haven't seen much improvement.
What frustrates me the most is that almost every time she appears, she unintentionally drags both Lu Zhaoyao and Li Chenlan into another difficult situation. Instead of helping move the story forward, her decisions often make the conflicts even more complicated. It reached a point where I found myself sighing whenever she appeared on screen because I already expected another avoidable problem.
I don't mind characters starting off weak or inexperienced—some of my favorite female leads had incredible growth arcs. But for growth to feel satisfying, there has to be visible progress. By Episode 28, I was still waiting for that moment.
Thankfully, Bai Lu and Xu Kai's performances are keeping me invested, along with Li Chenlan's character. Otherwise, I honestly don't know if I would've had the patience to continue this far.
Like you, I'm determined to finish it because I never drop a drama once I've started. I'm just hoping the second half finally gives Qin Zhi Yan the development I've been waiting for.
News 
I really enjoyed this drama, especially Wei Rao's character development. She's resourceful, strategic, and knows how to play the game without always relying on someone to save her. I also loved how Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao eventually became partners who could stand on equal ground. Their chemistry and relationship were definitely among my favorite parts.
The political schemes, shifting alliances, and the commoners' storyline made the story more engaging for me. And can we talk about the OST? Absolutely beautiful and so fitting for the story. Special mention to Liu Yuning's opening theme — bebe love really delivered! ❤️
But that ending... WHY DID LIU SHUO HAVE TO DIE?! 😭
We spent so much of the story watching Wei Rao fight to protect her younger brother and secure his future. He finally becomes Emperor, only for the drama to jump three years ahead and kill him through Prince Fu's staged hunting accident. Yes, there's an unborn heir, but that's hardly a resolution to the succession crisis.
I actually like the idea of Wei Rao becoming Protector of the Realm. It fits the woman she's become. My problem is the execution. The drama barely gives us time to process Liu Shuo's death before throwing us into another political conflict. It feels like they squeezed an entirely new storyline into the last few minutes.
So, HE for Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo, definitely. But bittersweet and frustrating for the overall story. I would've much preferred a little more closure and some actual happy moments for the family after everything they've endured.
Overall, a very entertaining drama with a strong female lead, a lovely main couple, great performances, and an OST that deserves its own applause. Just wish the finale had given the story the closure it deserved.
9/10 for me. ❤️
After Fireworks of My Heart, I was initially craving Yang Yang again, so that was probably the first reason I picked this up. But after watching several dramas, I can say I’m not watching Glory of Special Forces just because of him anymore. I actually have a personal reason for connecting with this story: I once dreamed of becoming a soldier. So watching the training, discipline, selection process, and the gradual transformation of these characters hits differently for me.
What I really appreciate is that the drama actually takes its time showing the process. Yan Poyue starts as someone with exceptional individual ability but struggles with teamwork, and the story doesn’t magically fix that overnight. His development is built through repeated failures, psychological challenges, training, and actual consequences. Even the 10-day closed-room training wasn’t just filler—it directly addressed the emotional barriers within the team and pushed them to understand one another. By Episode 27, Yan finally confronts the claustrophobia rooted in his childhood, and by Episode 28, the team is already being tested in their first full-scale hostage-rescue exercise.
And this is probably the biggest compliment I can give the drama so far:
I haven’t found a boring episode.
Even the training episodes have a purpose. The eliminations, the team dynamics, Yan’s individualism, Guo Xiaoxiao’s emotional baggage, the psychological tests, and now the actual combat assessments all feel connected. The story keeps building on what came before instead of constantly introducing random problems just to create drama.
I also like that the show actually lets the characters fail. Episode 28 is a good example: their first hostage-rescue attempt fails because of a tactical mistake, and instead of simply moving on, they review the footage, identify what went wrong, and get another chance to improve. That makes the military training feel more like an actual progression rather than a series of “look how cool the protagonist is” moments.
At Episode 28, I’m especially enjoying seeing Yan slowly understand that being the strongest individual soldier isn’t enough. Being a special-forces soldier means knowing how to become part of a unit. And honestly, that has been the most interesting part of his character development for me.
Three days in, 28 episodes down, and still no urge to skip. That says a lot. 😂
I came for Yang Yang.
I stayed for Yan Poyue’s growth.
And now I’m genuinely invested in the Cheetah team. 🫡
And welcome to the C-drama rabbit hole! 😄 Once you're in, there's really no going back. Feud is definitely a great drama to get hooked on, and Bai Lu's performance there is one of the reasons she's become one of my favorite actresses as well.
I'm glad my review resonated with you. It's always nice to meet fellow viewers who enjoy discussing these dramas beyond just the romance. Happy watching, and I hope you discover even more amazing C-dramas along the way!
But now you've definitely made me curious. 😂 If I eventually watch it and it manages to break my "never drop a drama" streak, I'll come back here and admit defeat. 🤝
For now, though, I'm still surviving. More than 40 dramas in just over three months, and my record is still intact. Maybe Brocade Odyssey will be the ultimate test... or maybe I'll surprise both of us and finish it anyway. 😅
To be honest, I'm still relatively new to C-dramas. It's only been a little over three months since I seriously started watching them. Before that, I was more of an outdoorsy person. Most of my free time was spent hiking mountains, joining marathons, backpacking, or simply being outside. Watching dramas was never really my hobby.
It all started with short vertical dramas that I watched during work breaks. Then one recommendation led me to **The Untamed**, and that completely changed everything. 😂
After that, I became curious and started researching what the best C-dramas were. I spent days compiling my own masterlist using Google searches, kisskh reviews, Reddit discussions, and even TikTok recommendations. That list has now grown to more than **160 dramas**, mostly because I wanted to experience the highest-rated and most recommended titles across different genres.
So far, I've already completed more than **40 dramas**, and honestly, I haven't been completely disappointed by any of them. Of course, some had weaker pacing or story arcs, but I still found something to appreciate, whether it was the performances, cinematography, music, or character development.
The first drama that genuinely disappointed me was **The Glory** (Hou Ming Hao's version). I felt like the central mystery was stretched for far too long, and the story kept circling around the same questions without giving enough satisfying progression. I only finished it because I genuinely liked the cast and wanted to see how everything would end. 😆
Then recently, **The Long Ballad** became another one that didn't quite meet my expectations. Based on its poster, synopsis, and the countless reviews calling Li Chang Ge a legendary strategist, I expected a much stronger military strategy drama with tighter storytelling. Instead, I personally found the pacing too slow and the execution didn't fully live up to the reputation it had built. Even so, I still finished all 49 episodes because I wanted to give the story a fair chance until the very end.
So yes... for now, my "never drop a drama" policy is still alive. 😂 Maybe one day I'll finally meet the drama that completely breaks that streak—but hopefully not anytime soon.
From her very first appearance, I kept hoping she would eventually have meaningful character development, become more capable, or at least stop creating unnecessary problems for everyone around her. But so far, I honestly haven't seen much improvement.
What frustrates me the most is that almost every time she appears, she unintentionally drags both Lu Zhaoyao and Li Chenlan into another difficult situation. Instead of helping move the story forward, her decisions often make the conflicts even more complicated. It reached a point where I found myself sighing whenever she appeared on screen because I already expected another avoidable problem.
I don't mind characters starting off weak or inexperienced—some of my favorite female leads had incredible growth arcs. But for growth to feel satisfying, there has to be visible progress. By Episode 28, I was still waiting for that moment.
Thankfully, Bai Lu and Xu Kai's performances are keeping me invested, along with Li Chenlan's character. Otherwise, I honestly don't know if I would've had the patience to continue this far.
Like you, I'm determined to finish it because I never drop a drama once I've started. I'm just hoping the second half finally gives Qin Zhi Yan the development I've been waiting for.