Kdrama_Cdrama_lover

But she's not too bad

Ridiculous review😅

Well, it seems like Mango TV doesn't host Yu Menglong's dramas. I'll have to go to YouTube channels or other platforms to request this drama with English subtitles

I thought I was the only one who cared about this show😊

But she's so cute

I don't agree

You’ve gotta be kidding me! I think this series was actually better than some of those overhyped shows. It didn’t have any annoying love triangles, and it had a solid, decent ending.
​If Hwarang didn't even deserve an 8 and was only worth watching because of Taehyung—rather than its script, character development, or the lead actors' performances—at least Park Hyung-sik’s acting was great.
​As for Moon Lovers, it mostly got an 8.7 rating because of its star-studded cast and the fact that it’s IU’s only historical drama, not because of a strong script; the ending was a total disaster. Moon Lovers was nothing more than 'fast-food' television and didn't deserve such a high score.

Are you have brain cells

Go Youn-jung's acting was soulless and artificial!! That's a good joke. Actually, her chemistry with Lee Jae-wook was excellent. Jung So-min's biased fans are always trying to tear down and hate on Go Youn-jung.

Well, Chinese drama episodes are usually 40 minutes long. If you're looking for short, male-led series, I'd recommend Under the Skin, Hikaru no Go, and Reset.

I'd much rather watch female-centric Cdramas than a worthless series like 'Hwarang', where the main character was so spoiled, weak, and annoying.

I get your point, but honestly, I'd rather watch those than Kdramas with spoiled, weak, or one-dimensional female characters. For example, I couldn't connect with 'Good Boy' because it felt too one-dimensional, and even though I liked 'Boys Over Flowers' for Lee Min-ho back then, the FL was so annoying and weak compared to the strong and independent versions in the Thai and Japanese remakes.
​Actually, China has produced plenty of great male-centric dramas too. Shows like 'Fight Break Sphere', 'The Untamed', 'Joy of Life', and the upcoming 'The Legend of Zang Hai' are all focused on the male lead's journey. You might find them more to your liking!

If you think C-dramas are 'silly,' you clearly haven't seen 'Lost You Forever'. It's a dark, gritty, and mature fantasy where the female lead spends the first 10 episodes living as a poor, roughed-up doctor. There are no 'silly' clichés here—only heavy political stakes and heartbreaking choices. Even the dubbing is top-notch because the actors are incredibly skilled.
In my opinion, Alchemy of Souls had great acting and impressive visual effects, but the script was weak, the pacing was slow, and it lacked real excitement. The most important factor in a series' appeal is a strong screenplay, not just high-end CGI, good acting, original voices, or a serious tone. I believe Korea is slightly weaker than China when it comes to producing historical fantasies. The only Korean historical fantasies that I actually enjoyed are Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938,bon appetit your majesty ,mr queen and haunted palace.

I get what you’re saying about Lee Jae-wook’s voice; he definitely has a great presence. But it's a misconception that K-dramas always have higher budgets. Massive C-dramas like 'Ashes of Love' or 'The Untamed' spend a fortune on world-building, CGI, and thousands of hand-made costumes that look far more expensive than most K-dramas.
​As for the music, C-drama OSTs often use full traditional orchestras and legendary singers (like Zhou Shen or Zhang Bichen), creating an epic atmosphere that matches their grand scale.
​While you find dubbing a deal-breaker, many find the 'clichés' in K-dramas a deal-breaker too. Let’s be honest, both seasons of Alchemy of Souls were filled with typical K-drama tropes that we've seen a hundred times. Sometimes, a C-drama's unique mythology and emotional depth are worth the sacrifice of original audio.

I actually watched 14 episodes of 'The Legend of White Snake' and thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion, it was much more exciting and emotional than Alchemy of Souls. Even though it was dubbed and didn't use the actors' original voices, the dubbing was perfectly synced with their speech and didn't feel distracting at all.

I respect your opinion, but it seems you’re looking at C-dramas through an outdated lens. While dubbing is common due to regional dialects, many modern high-budget productions use the actors' original voices or have seamless ADR.
​If you think C-dramas look 'low budget,' you should watch 'Love Between Fairy and Devil' or 'Till the End of the Moon'; their visual effects and costume design are on a whole different level compared to Alchemy of Souls. Also, for a 'gritty' and serious story, 'The Untamed' or 'Joy of Life' offer much deeper political intrigue and world-building than AOS ever did.
​Alchemy of Souls started strong, but season 2 felt like a generic romance, whereas 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938' actually improved upon its first season by focusing on brotherhood and a solid plot rather than just clichés.

I honestly don't understand why this series became so popular and was labeled a masterpiece, when both seasons had their fair share of flaws. To be fair, C-dramas offer much more engaging historical fantasies in this genre. In my opinion, Tale of the Nine-Tailed is a better series than Alchemy of Souls in this style. Especially the second season of Tale of the Nine-Tailed—it's far superior to Alchemy of Souls.

Most people who hate on Season 2 just couldn't handle the change of the female lead, and their bias prevented them from even giving the story a fair chance.

Honestly, I’ve watched 15 episodes of Season 1, but I haven't started Season 2 yet. To me, Season 1 lacked a certain 'hook'; only episodes 1, 2, and 8 were actually engaging, while the rest felt dragged down by unnecessary political subplots.
​Take 'My Demon' for example—it had a star-studded cast and the rom-com elements, but the writing was weak, which is why its rating didn't reach the level of Alchemy of Souls Season 2. Even 'Boys Over Flowers,' which is a nostalgic cult classic for K-drama fans with fun romance and comedy, has a low rating because the plot was honestly toxic.
​A show doesn't get an 8.9 rating for no reason. Masterpieces like 'Mr. Queen' and 'Hospital Playlist' are in that same rating bracket for a reason.

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