Michael_0718

Well Written Story accompanied by Stellar Actors and supported by Great Production & Direction.

Going deep into this drama I felt like one of its great value lies heavily on the chemistry of the characters and their wholesome well-being. The drama's consist of stellar artists who was able to execute their characters in a very realistic way. Often times dramas may get dull because of a lackluster character or two but this drama is overflowing with good actors who played their roles exemplary well and I think it is one of its greatest strength.

Second is the Story. Honestly I was so ready to give it a "9" as an overall rating but I didn't imagine it to unfold with such overwhelming satisfaction so does explains my Perfect Score.

This story wasn't flawless at all but the difference of this drama among many others is its rationality and sensibility. One of the scenes I was very frustrated about was when JBZ break his brotherhood with ZWH because of his inconsiderate attitude and stubborness but then on the same episode we found him realizing his mistake and going after ZWH just to make up their friendship. That alone made me realize how interesting the characters and story is.

Another part of its selling point are the Main Leads themselves. They created and slowly completed this drama in a really satisfying sense without relying so much on the plot and twists it provides. It was a well written drama combined with stellar actors and great production and direction. I am highly satisfied.

Story - 10, No Arguments needed. I would be mad If someone actually slander this dramas phasing and story build up in any possible way. This drama just felt short of episodes and that's it— The main reason for that was even because it was so good you would want to watch it continuously even beyond the episodes it was set up for. Hoping for a 2nd Season.

Acting/Cast - 10, It has the most satisfying Cast I could ever ask for. Not that I know them but because they're so good in executing their roles you would be fascinated at how good they are. I don't even know 99% of them but this drama just made me feel satisfied and amaze on how good the acting and actors/actresses are.

Music - 9.0, Honestly speaking I don't even remember singing along to any of the songs played in this drama. But I must say that it has great Instumental BGMs which highlighted most of its Thrilling and Romantic scenes.

Rewatch Value - 10, I'm even willing to rewatch it right now if someone asked me to, without any hesitation cause this drama never made me felt bored and uninterested. In contrary it made me anticipate each of its episode till I realized I'm already on the finale.

Overall - 10, Well Deserving. This drama is outstanding in different areas no matter which side you tries to watch or look at it. You can clearly see that it is a low budget drama but it surely exceeded that limitation by giving more than anything its budget can provide us. It was a masterpiece and an excellent drama worthy of recommendation and high praises.

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MLs Perfect Chemistry + Love is Patient & Bearing but Communication is Crucial to make it WORK~!!!

I have so much to say and I'm literally overflowing with adjectives to describe how this Series made me FEEL so let me do my best to summarize my experience with this piece.

First and Foremost, Finally~!! I was able to watch it after being stuck on my watchlist for such a long time. It was a drama I anticipated a lot since TharnType The Series and was able to live up to my expectation.

One thing I'm really impressed and so in love about this drama is the Main Couple's compatibility and chemistry. Both are good looking and has their own unique features that truly complement each other but what I love about them the best is their overflowing charisma that very few BL Couple can actually show effortlessly. It's leaking out of them so naturally like it's no ones business. ^^

Anyways, I really wanna highlight how the story might not be perfect but has a lot of good plot points that tackles so much issues that help the CP to improve and better understand each other. + The rather peaceful and calm demeanor of Leo, his friends and his parents made this drama a whole smooth ride. I must say that the only moment I felt so enraged of, is during the 2nd to the last episode (with King & Punn). Oh well I don't wanna be reminded of that so let's move on. Hahaha~

I know that it's too soon to end this; but honestly, the drama just revolves around the Main Couple like 85% of the time so let me just conclude the main portion of this review by saying that the Main Couple are truly the Ace of this Series and that they were NEVER over shone by anyone.

Finally, this couple will surely remain in my heart as the most patient, bearing and careful to the point where it has become a reason for their misunderstanding at the end. It thought me how important communication is and how essential it is for both parties to be vocal and transparent as much as possible to each other to further nurture the relationship.

P.S. I'm a bit sad with Leon & Pob's ending but I understand the context the series is trying to tell us. They want us the understand that right timing and patience is a major substance to prove one's love and worth. Also, the Basketball Gang & the MLs Friends made this drama more interesting and funnier.

Story - 9.5, The plot and context of the story is very clear to me after finishing it and those are patience and understanding. It may not have the most outstanding script out there but it do provide good narrative which entails different views and occasions in life that made the entire story worth the watch.

Acting/Cast - 9.5, Main Couple is Really Good. Specially Fiat. Just wow! He carries his character like a real PRO. He really went all out with his execution and I'm highly satisfied with his performance. Same goes to Leo who has this kind and gentle demeanor but can make all of their Kissing Scenes into a hot and lustful one. One thing I noticed is that the side characters just felt a little awkward at times and probably needed more experience. Nonetheless everyone was Good.

Music - 10, The placement of the music is great + it helps that the lyrics are being translated during their runs cause it truly made me appreciate the song itself even more. I really got no complains aside from the fact that they could've use more Songs to make it all better.

Rewatch Value - 9.5, A Good Drama I would rewatch if I happen to missed the Main Leads (Just skip Episode 11 cause King & Punn infuriates me Lol). They truly are the star of this show and no one can stole it from them. Love them so much.

Overall - 9.0, Really wanna give this drama a higher score but I also felt like this score is sufficient no matter how many times I re-evaluate it. I just feel like it's lacking something crucial that can make it even better. It was a decent Story with a clear direction on how they want to present it to their choice of viewers and/or audience.

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Probably the best of all CIT Series as of 2021!!

Definitely the best so far! I was feeling a bit sad that Joe Chen was replaced as the Female Lead but the New Shirley Yang is even better! Most probably because the story and plot for this series is well made and created? Nonetheless, it exceeded my expectation and I was utterly surprised on how much I liked it compared to the previous ones.

Aside from the story itself, I like how people are actually dying right now. The previous series felt so boring cause almost everyone magically survived at the end and that was the greatest setback and failure of the prequels.

Story - 9.5, Outstanding plot and story progression. I'm giving this high mark because It was a complete turn over and provided such great climax and all.

Acting/Cast - 9.5, Almost everyone is good. Too much hoodlums for nothing; but well they served as a great plot devices so it's kinda worked out.

Music - 9.5, BGMs on this is so extra and I loved it a lot. Not the best but definitely going there.

Rewatch Value - 9.5, IF I were to choose which of the CIT Series to watch, I'll definitely watch this again without any second thoughts. So G R E A T!!

Overall - 9.5, Everything about this production felt like a huge leap in comparison to how it was before with the other installments. I can't wait for the Sequel (The Worm Valley).

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The Fearless, Good Natured & Quick-Witted Main Leads + Unending Plotting & Scheming in a Harem.

Where do I even start with?... This drama could honestly be better if they toned down a little bit on the unending plotting and scheming that resulted to some of them getting repetitive and irritating. It went on and on to the point where it feels like they spent 85% of the story on it and that's really disappointing cause I feel like they could've done more and better with its 54 episodes in comparison to what it has right now.

Honestly, the plotting and scheming weren't bad at all instead it was crafty and intelligent. However, anything 'too much is bad' and that's what made me raise my brow a little; but overall it was great.

Also, I love how versatile they're in changing the mood of the scenes; They go from being intense to mellow in literally a second and that really helps in lighting up the mood a lot of times. Aside from that, one thing that made this drama lighter and fun are the side story of Ming De X Tuoba Di as we as Cheng De X Jun Tao. They saved the viewers and the drama from its maximum distress and grief countless of times.

Another thing I wanna mention is the horrendous styling of Wei Young and Jun Tao on the first episode. it almost ruin my taste and expectation of the drama; thank god they improved and redeemed theirselves afterwards. Also the ridiculous and clichè plots has left some lingering distate on my mouth. I mean, how could they put it like that? who the hell incorporated them in this? cause I badly wanna talk and scold them for it. This could've been great if only the writers' tried harder in brainstorming better ideas to make the story more interesting and 'new' story wise.

Lastly, fighting scenes are extremely lacking and majority of them are bad. The only good ones are with Chuyan Nan and Jun Tao while the rest are trash and full of camera works.+ OVER DUBBING sucks! It was the worst! ><

Story - 9.0, It could've been better if they lessen the excessive plotting and scheming but even with it the story overall is good. It did reach a point where it started to get really irritating but I would never say it's bad. It was cunning and crafty well done however improvements can still be applied in a lot of areas. + The ending is just Great! It may not be the best conclusion to a story but it was satisfying and reasonable.

Acting/Cast - 10, Stellar!! Luo Jin is automatically a 10 over 10 and no one really did badly overall. I'm also glad to know that the main leads has acted on multiple projects before and I guess that helped out so much with their chemistry. Hell! They're even married in real life and that made me even thrilled in watching in. — I'm extremely satisfied and really entertained with each one of their performances.

Music - 10, Great use of ballad and mellow music. Ghad, i'm in love with every songs used on this drama. I have another batch of great music added on my playlist to listen to. Really love it <3

Rewatch Value - 9.5, It surely have its bad sides but I think that's not a heavy reason for me to slander this drama in any means possible. I was well entertained and fascinated all throughout the drama and that's what really matters to me. I would still watch it again if given a chance for sure.

Overall - 9.5, This drama was not perfect. It wasn't even bad and definitely better than 'decent'. It just got some minor plot issues but aside from them it is really good. I contemplated a lot whether to give it a 9.0 or 9.5 but at the end this drama just fallback in one or two particular area and the rest are really great so this rating is just enough and deserving I'd say.

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A brilliantly written enemies-to-lovers trope w/ satisfying fight scenes! The 2nd CP stole my heart!

"Everyone makes mistakes. But When you're wrong, you must admit it and make it right." - Murong Zhong

What an amazing story that never faltered from the beginning until the end!

If there's one thing I am truly grateful for regarding this drama, it is how it kept the excitement and momentum going without a break from the start until the very end. I was actually worried at first while watching the first two episodes because I was afraid they might suddenly fumble and mess up after giving us such a promising and compelling story; however, they didn't disappoint and delivered until the end. Each episode offers scenes that will keep your eyes glued to the screen so you don't miss a thing. It was the kind of drama that keeps you in your seat, unable to take a break because of how good the story is.

The plot was nicely laid out and carefully woven together, which allowed the story to avoid any plot holes and flow naturally. Although I must say they went overboard with the treatment and healing shenanigans, I’m glad they provided a proper explanation for how that was achieved. I admit I found those scenes unbelievably ridiculous myself; however, I just let it pass, considering they introduced the Storm Alliance's capabilities early on and then gave us a whole arc to formally educate us on what the alliance is all about. At least they didn't just shove a 'miracle cure' down our throats to heal everyone instantly; instead, they provided a solid backstory and arc for the entire Storm Alliance. Still, I was flabbergasted at first—imagine being on the brink of death (almost dead, actually) but miraculously recovering through the unorthodox, almost supernatural practices of these doctors! At one point, I felt like they could even ascend to godhood. Kidding aside, I appreciate the writers' and directors' efforts to give us a proper foundation for their origins and current situation, rather than a half-baked background.

Allow me to also commend this production for not overly dramatizing the entire amnesia plot of both leads just to generate more dramatic and climactic scenes. Instead, they used it as a plot device to develop the story in a considerably natural and logical way, allowing the characters to navigate the 'doubtful enemies' phase for the right amount of time. This helped them develop trust and an understanding of one another—seeing each other for who they truly are. God knows what a massive breath of fresh air it was that our leads didn't have to go through the usual dramatic 'You fooled me!' trope. Because both of them are equally cautious, strategic, and smart, they can assess every situation almost immediately. It saved us all the unnecessary drama typically present in this kind of plot.

I also want to take a moment to praise the brains behind the storyline and plot! What a brilliant mind they have. I haven't been this conflicted about a villain in a long time. I am totally amazed by how incredibly written Xia Jingyan and Feng Xiyang are. Their chemistry is so much better than anything we had with Xia Jingshi. The borderline love and hate Feng Xiyang feels for Xia Jingyan was heartfelt—it was palpable. They were at the peak of their love story, and God knows how groundbreaking it would have been if they had somehow sorted things out and ended up together. It’s just sad the writers didn't plan any of that for them. I know he’s beyond redemption because of the atrocities he committed, but I can't help wanting him to be the 'end game' for Feng Xiyang. I prefer him over Xia Jingshi because, despite being a total lunatic, he truly loves her. I feel like Xiyang could have guided him toward the right path if given enough time. So, how could the writers make Xia Jingyan appear miserably pitiful while keeping his charismatic charm toward the end, only to kill him off? I had an intense change of heart during the final episodes, and even though his death was 'reasonable' I’m still quite resentful about it!

I thoroughly enjoy Feng Xiyang’s characterization—which was totally unexpected. Since I was quite annoyed with her at first because of how naive and gullible she was. I even found pleasure in seeing her demise. However, as her story developed, I began to like her for her angst, conviction, and audacity. I love how the writers allowed her to bloom from a beautiful, harmless flower into a prickly rose that shouldn't be underestimated. I admire how she stood up and rose on her own, utilizing whatever means she could to survive. My favorite scene was the iconic moment when she severed her feelings for Xia Jingyan even after witnessing him get killed and rendered heartbroken over their unborn child. Even with all that trauma, she still made us, the viewers, feel and long for their romantic connection. That was peak drama and the true scene-stealer of the show.

The emotion and weight of their affection was powerfully conveyed. We all know that beyond her hate and disgust, he was also a confidante—a light of hope she never expected to find during her times of total sorrow and despair. He was someone she didn't expect to get emotionally attached to, or to care for so deeply, no matter how much she denies it. They are my second favorite pairing in the show: the most masochistic, brutal, yet unexpectedly romantic and heartbreaking of them all.

"In this life, I once loved someone, but he's dead to me now. Then I met someone who loved me, and now he's dead too." - Feng Xiyang

And to finally wrap this up! Because I feel like I could write a couple more paragraphs about the second pairing, if I don't. Lol

I appreciate that the pending questions and issues were addressed at the end through the casual teasing and catch-up moments between the Feng Battalion members (Lu Ke, Yun Fang, and Yun Qing) and Ning Feng. Thank you for providing such a complete and satisfying conclusion to the story.

P.S. I’m utterly disgusted by Feng Ping Cheng. I hate that the previous empress died partly because of him, and I loathe how he abused Suige just to impose his own ambitions on him. No child deserves to be mistreated just to forcefully conform to their parent's expectations. He is unforgivable—absolute trash until the very end. I’m glad he died a miserable death.

Story - 10, This is one of those stories that truly impressed me with how concise, well-paced, and tightly written it is. I never felt like a single moment was wasted, as every plot point contributed to the story's development. Even the Storm Alliance Arc was compelling from start to finish. I genuinely enjoyed and appreciated every episode of this drama.

Acting/Cast - 10, Stellar performances! The execution from every actor and actress was great. It was nice to watch another badass CP again after a long time! Chen Zheyuan nailed this character; he can look sinister when he wants and gentle and kind at the same time. I also have to praise Li Qin for being one of the most convincing female generals/fighters in all of C-dramaland. Another group I want to mention is the Feng Battalion members. They're like the energizers of the story—the bunch of people who always bring laughter whenever they're on screen.

Music - 10, This production has some emotional ballads on its list. It’s endearing and touching at the same time. Listening to the songs makes me feel like I'm floating, surrounded by soft and beautiful melodies. As a ballad enthusiast, this gets my seal of approval!

Rewatch Value - 10, Definitely worth a re-watch. It was a drama where I can confidently say my time was well spent. A truly compelling and thrilling drama to watch.

Overall - 10, Looking back, I am thrilled that I finally watched this. My appreciation for Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan has grown significantly after seeing their performances here. It’s the kind of story you won’t regret watching—a proper Wuxia drama with a compact storyline and a coherent plot.

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Defying the Narrative with the Absolute Cheat Code: Ultimate Flow | When FLs logic has left the chat

"My only life philosophy is that, life is about staying still. If I can lie down, there's no way I'm sitting up." - Song Yimeng / Song Xiaoyu

Honestly, I don't know where or how to start my review of this drama. I’m torn on what to write. I get the logic behind the plots and the necessity of the conflicts, but they still frustrate me. No matter how hard I try to understand their reasoning, it still continues to annoy me. One thing I have realized is that it is truly tough to remain objective and impartial at all times—even when the reasons seem justifiable—because not all problems can be categorized as simply right or wrong. Sometimes, both sides have a point, and it comes down to us as viewers to choose which one we are going to support. All I want to say is, this show gave me such an intense viewer's dilemma that I was unable to decide how to ultimately feel about it.

The storyline was great! The first 10 episodes are effortlessly hilarious. While the script may seem like the usual metafiction trope at first, the more I watched, the more I realized how different it is from other dramas in the same genre. ​It features an innovative style of writing that I personally haven’t seen before. The writing made me laugh my ass off because of how absurd the scenes and sequences are, while simultaneously making me realize there are still many areas within the metafiction theme left to explore. This drama successfully ventured into those areas in a ridiculously comical, fresh, and new way.

The most questionable part of this story—and what I consider the ultimate plot hole—is the entire Li Shiliu trope. It started in Episode 6 and dragged on until Episode 23. While I understood the initial purpose of this plot point, I cannot fathom how they had the nerve to extend it for 18 episodes. I would have accepted it if it had lasted a maximum of 10 episodes, but 18? Who are they kidding? The Female Lead is supposed to be a modern-day person—someone who is typically portrayed as observant and sharp. So I can’t understand how the writers expected us to believe she was fooled by a mere mask that only covered part of the Male Lead's face. It is impossible to accept that she failed to recognize him through his eyes and voice alone, especially considering how many times he wasn't even wearing his oversized dark hat. I remember questioning the writers by Episode 9 and becoming genuinely annoyed by Episode 15 when the FL still hadn't realized who Li Shiliu truly was. It's one thing that this "can't recognize a half-masked man" trope even existed in this genre in the first place, but prolonging it that much was another. It really was an unbelievable stretch.

By Episodes 23-32, I was introduced to the most complex situation I have ever been in while drama watching. It was a mixture of frustration toward the FL for taking a significant amount of time to recognize Li Shiliu's true identity, and annoyance over her reaction after finding out the truth. I was conflicted about how to process this part, as I have already painted the FL as not discerning enough for not realizing who Li Shiliu was much earlier in the show. At the same time, I am torn because I also want to acknowledge and validate her feelings of betrayal and disbelief—that she was fooled—but I can't entirely do so because it's mainly her lack of discernment that caused it.

I understand that Li Shiliu was created because, without him, the FL (Song Yimeng) would not develop affection for and break her prejudice against the ML (Nan Heng). However, I just can’t help the urge to blame her; she wouldn't have been fooled if only she wasn't so complacent and had been more observant of the people and situations around her in the first place. She should have been doubtful and skeptical of the changes when Li Shiliu, who was non-existent in the original script, suddenly appeared. Instead, she just treated it lightly until it backfired on her.

The thing here is she's been overly self-trusting and confident that she knew everything; so when she finally learned the truth, I find it hard to validate her feelings no matter how hard I want to. I tried, but I simply wasn't able to empathize with her anger—gaslighting and painting the ML as bad for lying—because it wasn't the ML (Nan Heng/Li Shiliu) fault that her expectations wasn't met and the original script wasn't entirely followed.

On the contrary, I find it outrageous that she's mad and resents the ML for hiding his identity from her when she's been acting smart all this time, yet it took her 18 episodes to blow his disguise. I understand that her know-it-all attitude may seem reasonable because she knows the whole story's plot, but everything still boils down to the root cause of this issue, which is her inability to identify the similarities between Li Shiliu and Nan Heng. Like gurl! I want nothing of this self-inflicted drama of yours. lol

I have a lot more to say on this, but I'll summarize by saying: the fact that she's from the modern world yet fails to immediately notice the similarities between Liu Shiliu and Nan Heng is a massive flaw. I’m struggling to digest this. It drags the story down and, in my opinion, represents the biggest plothole in the series. It likely goes unnoticed by viewers who are just caught up in the romance or the visuals, but I simply can't ignore it. For a modern character to be that unobservant feels completely unrealistic.

Finally, down to the climax and ending. I was low-key very proud of Song Yimeng for overcoming that long emotional and dramatic slump. God knows how much of a relief it was when she finally came back to her senses—after spending almost 10 episodes pondering over everything—to fight back and counter the evil plan against them. I must say that I still love her being all cheerful, mischievous, and clever in comparison to her depress state.

One thing I am extremely satisfied with regarding this show is how they deal with the antagonist through the use of the greatest plot device—unlimited flow. Seeing them plan things out after a scene reset, failing, then coming back again and again stronger and more equipped was satisfying. It was an ending that was fitting for this story's crazy plot. Everything aside, I just want to state here how I find the scene between Song Xiaoyu and Nan Feng (the modern-day male and female leads) at the end utterly questionable, but I will let it pass for the sake of not ruining my mood for the show.

P.S. I don’t know whether to laugh or not, given how blatantly they hit us with the reason the show is called 'A Dream within a Dream' at the very end. Haha!

Story - 9.0, I actually loved it and was amazed by their take and how they navigated the metafiction trope. It honestly would have been perfect if they hadn't fumbled and ruined it with the 'modern-day FL can't recognize a half-masked ML' agenda, and the FL lashing out after finding out the truth—which happened because of her own incompetence and failed discernment. Aside from those points, everything else worked for me. I even loved the antagonist's (Chu Guihong) characterization. I usually hate the 'kind 2nd male lead turned villain' trope, but they set him up brilliantly.

Acting - 10, I’ve been thinking about the performances of the leads and the supporting cast, and I honestly can't find a "bad apple" among them. Perhaps it’s because the show has such a light, fun, and comedic vibe that I wasn't bothered by the acting at all. Since I went in expecting funny and ridiculous performances, I treated it more like an entertaining comedic skit than a heavy drama that needs to be nitpicked. All in all, the cast executed their roles in perfect alignment with their characterization and the show's energy. Additionally, while I’ve watched Li Yitong before, this is the first time I’ve fully appreciated her beauty. Her look—modern casual pants, a sleeveless crop top, a loose button-down long sleeves shirt, and messy hair—was an incredible combo. She looked gorgeous and truly stunning.

Music - 10, A job well done to the music team of this show! I love each song and gosh! I was squealing with excitement when they randomly used the 'A Journey to Love' OSTs. I was literally on the floor laughing out of mere shock and joy! I feel like they used it as an homage and also to make things fun, as some of the scenes have a similar vibe to AJTL. And come on, Liu Yuning is here! Totally love it!

Rewatch Value - 8.0, I’m giving it this rating because, although I enjoyed the drama, it frustrated me by challenging logic and narrative coherence. I don't appreciate how the writers sacrificed the FLs characterization just to make the plot work. It was a truly unwise and poorly executed move.

Overall - 9.0, I know I voiced some discontentment earlier. The logic behind the FL was questionable, sure, but the scenes were well-executed and kept the plot moving. It was an enjoyable watch, even if the lack of coherence hurt the female lead’s characterization once you look closely. On the other hand, I have to praise those smooth, impeccable transitions—the editing team nailed them.

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Fast-paced story marred by underwhelming Guqin performances | The utterly domesticated Prince.

"We should cherish the present moment instead of dreaming about the future." - Yun Yi

I have few words for this drama, not because it lacked substance, but because its natural flow left me in a state of pure comfort. It washed away any potential criticisms, leaving only a beautiful, relaxing story.

The story was compelling from start to finish, leaving no room for boredom or discontent. The introduction of the characters was handled naturally, followed by entertaining events and conflicts that connected seamlessly to the plot. Each story arc was developed over the right number of episodes, ensuring the story never felt 'draggy' and maintained a fast pace. Every episode was skillfully utilized; I never felt any part of the story was filler, as each was beautifully crafted to support the main plot.

The climax flowed naturally. Although it briefly seemed as though the antagonist might regain the upper hand—echoing earlier events in the story—the protagonist surprisingly learned from earlier events and planned ahead to counter their moves. This gave us an ending that felt satisfyingly hard-earned.

I admit the last episode felt like fan service, but I can't complain at all. I'm so grateful we got to see their lives after all the conflict, and were even gifted moments of them enjoying life with their kids.

The romance between all 3 CPs is so sweet. I love them all, especially the endearing chemistry between the leads, Jiang Xu and Ming Tan. However, the couple that captured my attention the most—and who I wish had their relationship further explored and shown—is Shu Jingran and Yun Yi. Their chemistry is undeniable; I would have loved to see them become more openly affectionate and vocal with one another. While I liked how their story ended, I wish we could have seen a 'years later' glimpse of them, similar to the scene with Zhang Huaiyu and Bai Minmin with their adorable son.

I know the "stoic-to-softie" trope has been reused countless times across every dramaland. But there is really something about Prince Dingbei/Jiang Xu that keeps him above the rest. He was introduced as someone blunt—tactless, even—aside from being unromantic. But what made his evolution more interesting was that it didn't happen over a short amount of time. He underwent a phase of pondering and getting jealous without the usual in denial stage, and I think that is what made him unique. I adore how he's become totally smitten. One who is clingy and totally smitten. A true lover boy. He's turned from a man of few words into a real yapper. Cute!

One thing I am truly grateful for is how they dealt with that trifling, insignificant concubine and her daughter (Ming Chu) almost immediately. I’m really glad we didn't have to deal with them after all the mess they staged. Although we still encountered Ming Chu during the main conflict of the story, I am glad they didn't give her much relevance to the plot and kept her bitchy-antagonistic persona instead of suddenly making her kind. I certainly hate her, but I also can't deny that I grew to like her consistency.

If there is anything I wish they had improved, it would be the Guqin melodies and performances. I’m not sure if I’ve just grown too accustomed to the overly edited, superfluous Guqin presentations in Xianxia dramas, or if this production's representation simply lacks vitality. Either way, the performances felt underwhelming. I find those scenes mediocre and uninteresting, especially compared to how the characters described them as 'great.' I wish they could have been more realistically impressive.

P.S. My favorite moment has to be the drunk scene in Episode 23. While Ming Tan is livid with jealousy, Jiang Xu is completely lost in his admiration for her, thinking only of how unique and wonderful she is. He expresses that, given the opportunity, he would court her repeatedly just to prove his devotion. He is truly head-over-heels and makes it clear that no one can claim him but his Princess Consort.

Story - 9.5, I truly enjoy every moment of this drama. If there is one thing I wish they had improved further, it would be the development of Shu Jingran and Yun Yi. The story plot would've been flawless if they had given us some life updates about them, the same way they handled Zhang Huaiyu and Bai Minmin’s story. Especially they are the CP—next to the main CP—that I got attached too. Additionally, I don't know what happened with the Guqin performances but they're totally unrealistic and boring. I can still remember how dismayed I was watching them.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am very satisfied with the cast. They executed their characters very well. In terms of acting...gotta give credits to Song Wei Long, Bao Shang En & Bai Shu. Love these 3 the most!

Music - 10, The music gets better and better as the show goes on. I was a bit unimpressed at first, but I noticed how the song choices and their placement slowly improved over time. It’s a beautiful set of songs.

Rewatch Value - 9.0, I love it, but not to the point where I can watch it again immediately. Maybe after a few years when I’ve forgotten the details about the story. Definitely a great watch, regardless!

Overall - 9.5, It was a good story overall. It would have been flawless if they had provided equal visual development and updates for Shu Jingran and Yun Yi, and if they had put more effort into editing the Guqin performances. Those were simply disappointing. You can’t present a lackluster act and then call it 'great' immediately afterward.

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Family that sticks together | Unlocking women's hidden talents & potential | 2nd CP stole my heart!

"Never feel regretful. Everything you lost will eventually find a way to return to you." - Gu Yan Xi

Alright, Now. What a wonderful story. 💕

God knows how many times I was left in tears because of the beautiful, touching, and inspiring essence and values of this story. So, as early as now, I want to thank this production for the comfort and inspiration it gave me. This is another one-in-a-million kind of story that highlights the togetherness of a family and how capable and powerful women can be beyond restrictions.

In retrospect, this drama served as a reminder that "No matter how dark the skies and bad the weather may be, it will always pass, making way for a brighter, sunny day." Therefore, never give in to the pressures of life. Hold on tight, grit your teeth, and move forward. Because life is full of surprises, in no time, you will look back and realize that those challenges were tough but have become great memories that shaped the person that you are today.

The story was well-written—it has great flow, nice pacing, a consistent plot, and hard-earned character development that clearly shows the struggles the characters went through in order to attain the position they now have. Witnessing their slow evolution from a high-maintenance family that only cares about their own branches to an affectionate family fully concerned with the entire household's safety and welfare, all while learning to be expressive, transparent, and reliable for one another, truly touched my heart. Just seeing the progress of every character, both in terms of personality and ability, made me genuinely happy with what they have become. I believe this is the most conventionally united C-drama household I have ever seen. All family branches support one another during challenging moments and have learned how to sincerely care for each other.

What truly solidified this drama for me was the 7th episode. When Hua Zhi (FL) was talking to her Aunt Wu (Ping Yang's Wife) about living on her own, abandoning the family, after getting flogged at the government office. But she was then told how worried each of her family members were—that they started doing things beyond their capabilities and even ignoring their usual routines just to look for her. This scene made me tear up so bad. It was the very moment that she started to realize the true value of her family and the deciding factor to brave and endure hardships with them.

It honestly would have been fine if they had solely focused on rural farm life in this story. The first half of the story has been nothing but an inspirational, laid-back, and genuine experience, that I would not mind if that is all we got from this show. Just a family consisting of kids and women living and working hard to strive for their future. I'm not saying the second half of the story was bad; it's just that I prefer the comfort and simplicity of their non-turbulent rural life over the buzzy, chaotic city setting.

Concerning about 3rd quarter of the story—wedding of the Hua daughters. Although it was executed decently, I just can't shake off this feeling of discontent on how it could have been handled better. I was totally bewildered and unprepared for how this section abruptly changed the mood and trajectory of the show, as it suddenly shifted to an all-out matchmaking event. On the brighter side, I just love the idea that they were being overly careful and considerate in selecting who the girls would marry.

My sentiments on the Hua daughters' stories:

• Hua Qin - I felt disdain at first; however, I cheered when she finally started ruling the household and grabbing a firm chokehold on the concubines!

• Hua Ling - Her story is the most nicely constructed among the three girls. I was so proud of her personality development and genuinely happy that she found a man whom she loves and feels satisfied with.

• Hua Rong - The most cringey of them all, but also the most heartbreaking! I don't wanna spoil much, but she didn't deserve her ending. Huhu!


Regarding the main leads:

• Hua Zhi - I love everything about her. A smart, resourceful, and strong-willed woman. More than anything else, what I love about her the most is her pure, compassionate heart. I love how she cherishes and treasures almost everyone, especially her family members and the people who are close to her.—With the stars as her guide, she faced life's challenges unfazed, grew stronger, and walked out triumphantly.

• Gu Yanxi - I love how bold, resolute, and unyielding he is in pursuing what he wants. At the same time, I hated him for how almost blindly and foolishly loyal he was to his Emperor uncle. Thank God that ruthless but cowardly trash eventually died. I also want to praise how clean, flexible, and powerful his fight choreography is.


Lastly! More than the main leads, I was more invested in the 2nd CP! They could have easily stolen this show if they were given more screentime. They're like the cherry on top that made this show extra appetizing to watch. I was most engrossed with their storyline and really wish they can have their own story produced. They're also my favorite characters overall. I am down bad for Gu Shao Yao and Shen Huan for real!

P.S. I love how their household started as a home for the forsaken royals, and eventually turned into an all-out orphanage for homeless children.

Story - 10, This is one of the dramas I will cherish for the longest time for its inspirational and wonderful story. I love almost every single thing about this show aside from two things: First is Yanxi's blind loyalty to the Emperor. Second is the Emperor himself. Fortunately, Yanxi disobeyed and acted insolently at the end, and the Emperor died, which eased my grievances.

Acting/Cast - 10. I've been keeping this drama in my inventory since last year due to my personal beef with Hu Yitian—a totally wrong move! Little did I know, I was depriving myself of a stellar piece all this time. I enjoyed Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi's portrayals. However, for me, Lu Yuxiao deserves the most recognition and praise in this production. Her emotional and facial expressions completely drew me in. Bian Cheng is great too! I love his acting here, and he reminds me of Yang Jungwon (Enhypen member).

Music - 10, I earnestly love each and every song. This is one of the dramas I can confidently say possesses the same quality and sense of musicality as K-OSTs. The opening theme alone is like an introduction to the epicness I am about to discover. The same goes for the ending theme, which exudes a cheerful, youthful vibe that encourages me to listen to the song all the way through. Not to mention the insert songs for each scene, which are all equally great!

Rewatch Value - 10, I will not mind watching it again. Seriously, this belongs on the list of shows that will be forever engraved in my mind for how amazing it is.

Overall - 10, I truly enjoyed watching this drama. There were no dull moments, and I was not bored even once while watching it. Highly recommended to every single drama watcher out there. A must-watch drama!

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Untangling misconceptions | Understanding both perspectives is essential | MLs a walking Green Flag!

"In front of your beloved, you'll always be a child in this life." - Wen Shi / Pei Wenxuan's Mother.

Sometimes, it's really unwise and unadvisable to read reviews and watch spoilers before watching a drama. Because, what do you mean I stored this well-written story on the side for a couple of years just because I was influenced by some negative critiques I read online? Absolutely my mistake! Anyways...

In summary, I think the story was able to skillfully tackle a side of the "Rebirth plot" that isn't normally touched upon or addressed. Typically, it always revolves around "changing and correcting" what has happened, but for this drama, it's all about "clarification and acceptance."

At first, I had the impression that this would be another regret and repentance-themed plot. However, as the story progresses, I realized that they're neither focused on both, but more on learning what actually transpired and why it occurred in the first place. With that idea, I realized that they were not given the chance to relive their earlier lives to change and correct past decisions. Rather, the chance was given to make Princess Li Rong realize that she was already on the right path; It's just that she allowed her emotions to get the best of her—I am being subjective and character-specific here, as she was the only one who seemed confused and kept in the dark about the events of their previous life. Which prevented her from performing critical observation and rational analysis, ultimately resulting in the tragic and sorrowful conclusion of their previous life.

The story itself was nicely written. I appreciate that most of the scenes were straightforward and progressive—which helped to better represent the current mental age of the three characters who went back to their previous lives. While the resolution to the conflict was masterfully built and executed. I'm glad that they focused on resolving the issue, instead of making it unnecessarily big and overly dramatic. This helped the story avoid any additional immature and irrational conflicts that are often used in rebirth/time-travel themed dramas and allowed it to focus entirely on the pressing matters that made them remorseful and unsatisfied with their past lives.

The ending was presented in an unexpected yet reasonable manner that perfectly aligns with the title, 'The Princess Royal.' I honestly find it weird and amusing how they pushed the 'Regent Princess Royal' agenda. It was unprecedented, and I have never seen the concept utilized so positively before in any other dramas. However, I am glad that it ended that way, for the following reasons:
1. To finally provide a happy ending to Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen after their tragic demise.
2. To prevent the tragedy that occurred in their previous lives from ever happening again.
3. To cement Li Rong's role in the story as the most powerful figure: The Regent Princess Royal.

I also just want to list down some things I love about this production overall.
• I'm grateful that they immediately, on episode 2, discovered that both of them have re-lived their lives. Because of that, they didn't have to waste more episodes guessing why they're treating each other the way they do.
• I love that the story mainly focused on the leads recollecting and analyzing the past situation to gain clarity instead of immediately moving on. Finally, a mature concept.
• More so, I love how they alternately reminisce and reproach each other regarding their past circumstances: Li Rong with her bitter and salty memories of Pei Wenxuan's sentiments for his presumed first love (Qin Zhenzhen), and Pei Wenxuan's endless jealousy towards Li Rong's boy toy (Su Rong Qing). It's giving 'Couple Core'.

Let me also bring up a couple of things that felt a bit off, which could have been better with proper modifications.
×× The mustache in episode 1 looks so fake, I'm cackling! While it looks considerably fine on Pei Wenxuan, it is ridiculously unbelievable on Li Chuan. Since the actor is young, they should have used cosmetics to age him, which would have worked better than simply using a fake mustache.
×× The rain scene was everything—it was beautiful, heartfelt, and intense. The confession, the reproach speech, and them running after each other were so well done. However, as the story went on, it felt like everything went down the drain due to the constant doubts and hesitations, mainly concerning Li Rong's feelings, even after their confrontation​. I think this scene would have been better if placed towards the middle part of the story, as it evoked immense emotion and would have served as a wonderful scene in sorting out their feelings and mending their relationship once and for all.

In conclusion, Li Rong wasn't mistaken; she just didn't know the whole story—and that's because Pei Wenxuan never mustered the courage to clarify his feelings to her. Above all, I'm proud that she remained pure-hearted till the end of her supposed first life. She was misguided and perhaps blinded by the fact that her husband loved and cared for Qin Zhenzhen, but what I love about her is that she never used that to harm her. She knew her worth and chose to end their connection, as she's not someone who would ever settle for receiving just a portion of Pei Wenxuan's affection.

​P.S. Pei Wenxuan deserves an Honorary Award for being a walking green flag. Li Rong is the luckiest for finding such a loyal, loving, and magnanimous husband who genuinely adores, understands, and dotes on her. This man committed one mistake and never did it again; and in return, he is ready to devote his lifetime to making up for it.

Pei Wenxuan: Your Highness. If I die in the palace today. What will you do?
Li Rong: If you die in Huajing, I will gather the troops and destroy them. Do you understand?

Story - 9.5. I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. The only issue I had was with the "Rain Scene," which I believe would have been more instrumental and effective had it been placed in the middle of the story or used as a device to ultimately resolve their relationship issues. It lost much of its essence because it was added in the first quarter of the story.

Acting/Cast - 10. Each scene was delivered with a great amount of emotion and support, and I never found anyone lacking. I love the lineup of actors and actresses, and was very happy to have finally watched this. This is my first Zhao Jinmai drama, and I consumed it very well. Zhang Linghe's character here is a much lighter and calmer version compared to all of his roles I have watched so far. I would say I love him better here.

Music - 10, Non-negotiable. Why are this drama's OSTs coming at par with how touching, solemn, and soothing K-OSTs are? The songs were never overpowering; they were never distracting. Instead, they are like the wind on a calm sunny day—mild, warm, and comforting. It's as if they are the voices that gently whisper and envelop their message and intentions to its viewers. <3

Rewatch Value - 9.5, I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely re-watch it if given a chance. It's once of the drama I stayed up multiple nights to finish.

Overall - 9.5. My rating would have been a perfect 10 if the rain scene had been positioned more appropriately. Whoever edited this was misled/misguided by the idea that it would be effective to place such a romantic and evocative scene in the first quarter, rather than using it to conclude the romantic conflict between the leads. The sequencing was consequently messed up. Nevertheless, this remains a highly recommendable drama.

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Wholesome storyline with captivating and adorable CPs | Insanely obsessive 2nd ML.

"Anyone who can endure what ordinary people cannot is not someone to be taken lightly." - Luo Elder Madam

Looking back at the whole narrative, I think this is the lightest drama I have watched in a while. It has some suspenseful and thrilling scenes, sure! However, what made me truly be at ease during those moments was the ever-reliable and trustworthy connection between the main characters. This is the type of story where, no matter how bad and messy the situation may be, you will still feel calm and relaxed. Simply because you know that the main characters speak and think as one, and that they can always turn any predicaments into triumphs and opportunities. In short, you will not be stressed by shallow conflicts and misunderstandings between the leads, as their maturity and prudence will spare you those cliche drama plots.

Honestly, I was quite displeased by how kind and considerate Wei Yining (FL) is, to the point that it became my primary issue with her character. This is because her acts of kindness and leniency often become an opportunity for her enemies to scheme against her. But then, as the story goes on, I realized that although she was like that, she is the type of person who will not allow herself to be trampled on. She is rational and mentally prepared for such situations and can typically formulate countermeasures to fight back against those people who want to bring harm along her way. Nonetheless, I wish she had been a little more firm in imposing consequential punishment immediately—even on their first attempts—instead of letting them get away with it.

I also just want to mention how I loved Wei Yining's birth plot so much. There was nothing special about it as it is commonly used, however, what made it so special was the satisfaction, pride and comfort it brought to the story. Imagine getting disowned for being an illegitimate child, only to find out that your father is a much powerful individual. Beyond that was him being a great father who's never afraid to show his immense love and affection towards Yining. When they try to bring her down by tarnishing her origin but she ended up soaring even higher! In addition, she got the greatest wedding perks I have ever seen in a drama. Marrying into the family she grew up in, so formalities and filial duties is no longer a burdensome obligation. Such a relief!

"Those who believe you will always believe you. Those who don't believe you won't change their mind no matter how hard you try to explain." - Wei Yining

Another topic I want to talk about is the family dynamics and synergy in this drama. It was deceptive and dysfunctional at first, but as time passed and as the people who caused harm were dealt with, the situation gradually became peaceful. Although it became less crowded and lively due to family members leaving to pursue what they want and for some other reasons, I am just glad that they were able to realize their misconducts and tried to make amends for it by taking a path where they can find peace and hopefully achieve greater things. That is why watching them reunite during Bao Er's (the lead's child) 1st month birthday celebration felt more meaningful and heartwarming to watch. I sincerely hope for them to find closure and peace for whatever issues they have had. Although I am still skeptical and doubtful of Luo Yilian, I just wish she really had changed /Crossfingers/.

Additionally, let me just mention how awkward yet adorable Luo Chengzhang (2nd master of Luo mansion) l inin trying to build his relationship with Lin Hairu (2nd mansion principal wife). I hope they can eventually become an affectionate couple. I still disdain Luo Chengzhang for being biased and hypocritical but seeing his progress makes me feel at ease. Lin Hairu, on the otherhand, deserves all the love and praise for being such a great sister and mother figure for the entire Luo Household. I love her character very much!

Lastly, I was lowkey hoping for a noble and mighty looking 2nd ML to contend the ML, but sadly we got a brazen and lunatic one... He's impertinent, persistent and obsessive. The only good thing he did is catching that arrow for her at the end. Satisfying death I would say. Bravo. Haha!

P.S. This show should be recommended to those fickle individuals who can't be contented. Hopefully, they can pick up a lesson or two from the outcomes of being tangled with more than one person and learn how to be faithful. This show just proves how turbulent and messy polygamy is.

Story - 9.5, What I loved most about this drama was its wholesome and gentle storyline and its ability to keep me comfortable, even during the chaotic conflict scenes. What I wish could have been better was for Wei Yining to be bolder and more retributive in granting judgment. I also noticed that they off-screened a ton of scenes; it would have been nicer if they had shown these on screen instead of the audience being surprised by events that had already occurred without our knowledge.
Acting/Cast - 10, ​I am satisfied with the actors and actresses and truly appreciate that they were able to capture the vibe the drama required. The kind characters look genuinely kind, while the bad characters look and act truly wicked. This show also made me appreciate Ren Min's beauty a lot.

Music - 10, The BGMs in this drama truly SLAP! Their placement was on point and blended perfectly with the mood of the scene. They were melodic, gentle, and comforting, which complements the scenes they're accompanying.

Rewatch Value - 9.5, It was light-hearted and wholesome, which made me genuinely enjoy watching it. Highly recommend, especially to people looking for a lighter and peaceful costume drama.

Overall - 9.5, The biggest selling point of this drama for me was its straightforward and stress-free storyline—a narrative that makes you feel at peace while watching it—and the lovely casts who livened up and brightened the entire show.

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Enemies to lovers done right! Perfect visual and chemistry from all the 3 CPs.

Honestly, I have a lot to say but I don't know where and how to start... Watching dramas these days is like a lottery: you'll either end up sad and disappointed after wasting hours on a poorly conceived story, or you'll end up gleeful and overjoyed from spending your time on a wonderfully produced drama. I would bravely say this one is the latter.

Although this drama used the typical enemies-to-lovers trope, what I admire most is how they've done it right! Yes, I admit there were red flags on the first half that left me quite upset and displeased. However, what allowed me to keep a positive view of the show was keeping the mindset that they only did that to set up the story's initial emotional and dramatic core, but never went down that negative path again after it was fully established. It truly was frustrating to watch Cui Xing Zhou (ML) fabricate lie after lie, but what made it all satisfactory was his way of redeeming himself by asking forgiveness with utmost sincerity and humility despite being shunned several times. It's admirable that he never offered a defense in any instance. Instead, he explained once, and then apologized multiple times for all his mistakes. I mean, I am here to witness a sinned man grovel with absolute dedication and deep remorse, and I must say that CXZ has done that, and even beyond. Anyone can call me names for my views, but isn't it satisfying to witness a man completely surrendering his pride and ego to earn back the woman he loves most? Because for me, that is the earnest form of showing regret and devotion.

While watching the show, something I am most worried about is the state Liu Miantang will be after learning the truth... The thought of her breaking down after remembering the past and realizing she's been getting deceived all along breaks my heart to pieces. So, witnessing her not wasting much time to cry consoled me the most. Because, yes! We're not getting an extremely emotional lead in this show, and we're all about instant payback time. I was seriously not in the mood for a damsel in distress, so seeing her standing up straight, collected, and with fire burning in her eyes immediately made me exclaim out of excitement and anticipation. Additionally, I was extremely satisfied that the LMTs revenge plan stung CXZ so bad. Well deserved!

I also want to list down two of my most favorite scenes from this show:
• Liu Miantang's Revenge Scheme: The scene where Liu Miantang started her revenge scheme, and Cui Xingzhou noticed a hint of what was going on but was powerless to intervene because he was guilty as fvck!
• Return to Cui Courtyard: Their return home to their humble abode, the Cui Courtyard, as it symbolizes a renewed beginning without lies and deceit.

What made this show stand out, aside from its compelling storyline, was the great preparation and support poured in by the entire production team. I can still recall getting mesmerized by various elements of the show, such as:
• The set design, which perfectly matched the ambiance of the settings.
• The color grading, which was well-adjusted depending on the scenes.
• The costumes and accessories that complemented the actors and actresses (I really loved CXZ's royal blue costume and every hair ornament, accessory, and piece of clothing worn by the female characters).
• The artists' looks, mainly the hair and makeup, which matched every costume they wore.
• The direction and proper angling, which beautifully captured the charm of the cast.
• And finally, the post-editing, more specifically, the choreography of the fight scenes, which were both intricately filmed and executed.
It truly seems like the energy behind the scenes was outstanding, which is why the message was sent across smoothly and perfectly.

Something I don't quite like about this drama overall is the political schemes and struggle at the end. They're satisfying, and I understand that those are crucial to conclude the conflict of the story. However, what I wanted to witness was the leads spending more time with each other, living a mundane yet peaceful life—which was lacking for me, since they didn't really show us more of their life after going back to their home province. How I wished they had given us more of their day-to-day idle life after all the conflicts were taken care of. It's a shame.

Anyways, one good contribution of the constant presentation of the political issues was seeing Shi Xue Ji (the Empress) oftentimes. She's my favorite character in this show—aside from the main leads. I love her radiance and her overall natural and pure being. She's the character that made me feel at ease, yet at the same time anxious—fearing that the writer might suddenly ruin her. Thank goodness they did not taint her even a bit. Instead, they allowed her to develop into a more resilient, versatile, and astute character who knows how to fend for herself and discern what's right and wrong. I also want to mention how much I admire her platonic relationship with Zi Yu (the Emperor). I especially appreciate the mutual understanding and respect between them. Their bond is one that silently perceives without the need for many words and is never aggressive.

P.S. ​I also enjoyed He Zhen and Zhao Quan's characters a lot. The two supporting CPs in this story were delightful to watch. How I wish they could have a whole drama for themselves.

Story - 10, It was well-written, captivating and compelling drama—one that you will end up loving no matter what. The kind of drama that reminds me how wonderful it is to fall in love. Ghad! The CPs here are simply chef's kiss.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am gratified with the set of actors and actresses. This is my first time watching Wang Churan as the lead and I must say that she's an excellent actress. Yuan Yu Xuan also did great with her execution and I just loved her character a lot. This is my second Chang Huasen drama, where he is the 2ML, and all I can say is that he nailed this type of role so much! A lovesick and fully devoted man. Lastly, I hereby declare Zhang Wan Yi joining the roster of my top favorite actor list. He's so good at playing this silly-playful character, which I love the most.

Music - 10, I'm in love with each of the songs and I will most certainly add them on my spotify playlist. I love ballads and this production delivered!

Rewatch Value - 10, I love it a lot! For an idol drama, this can be considered as a masterpiece. Considering how tacky the majority of idol dramas for the past several years.

Overall - 10, I am in love with the characters and the cast. I also love the flow and progression of the story. This drama never made me felt bored while watching it. Highly recommendable.

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A fast paced and nicely written rebirth drama | A mission to save lives and change the past.

"Husbands are meant for troublesome chores, you know? If you don't bother me, that'll be my biggest problem. Therefore, please keep bothering me." - Yu Qi/Jin

I must say that producers are becoming more and more resourceful and crafty in circumventing Chinese censorship laws these days (because of time travel ban). Well, I guess I am just glad that the theme was executed decently and the plot was nicely woven together.

Something I'm glad about, is for the production team for keeping the trope scenes at the bare minimum. I expected it to contain the typical elements found in idol dramas and knowing that they kept unnecessary plots at bay made me truly grateful. Thank you for not infesting this show with loads of foolishness and absurdity.

Looking back, I can only recall 2 scenes from Shan'an Medical Hall arc that made me roll my eyes and sigh for being ridiculously illogical. First is when Shen Xin'an is disguising as a woman but no one noticed it. Even the supposedly keen ML failed to notice it at all. Like, hello!! It's 2025 and knowing that people are still utilizing this god forsaken stupid plot offended me. I can praise them for casting a feminine and petite looking man but cannot forgive them for making the characters seem stupid for not recognizing a man at one glance. I mean, if Shen Xin'an is at par with Thai lady boys I might understand but he's not. You can see his prominent men features on him. So, nope! Second is the sense/purpose of this entire Medical Hall scene. I was expecting it to have some kind of relevance in the story towards the following arcs but it never had any. It was a filler plot that was added as device to make their journey a bit what? turbulent? perilous? totally useless. Omitting that whole plot will not harm the story in any way or form. So I don't understand why they included that in the final cut which brought nothing but a smear to the story's flawless run.

Continuing this trend of bad blood, I want to express my greatest and most sincerest appreciation to this production for killing Cui Mingyue in the most cruel and satisfying way. That ominous b*tch deserved countless deaths but knowing that she got stabbed multiple times then burned beyond recognition made me at peace. LOL! On the other hand, I'm quite dissatisfied with Princess Rongyang's ending as she deserves 10x of what her daughter received. The small cut/slash and a hairpin stabbed were simply not enough for me. She much deserve to be stabbed multiple times by a thick sword on top of the grief and betrayal she's having caused by her brother and husband. She even got a posthumous title when she should've been labeled as a traitor and her body thrown in the wild. I can never understand kindness given to unpardonable sinister evils. Anyway, I got no other grievances to vent aside from the above. Haha!

Traversing towards the brighter aspect of my review. I enjoyed the master-servant relationship between Jiang Si X A'man & Yu Qi X Long Dan. Both are equally adorable and entertaining to watch. It was also fun seeing Erniu (Dog) being included in almost every scene of Jiang Si & Yu Qi. He's like a guardian angel who's their to witness all the sweet and bitter moments of their relationship. He's practically their son (assuming he's a male).

Kudos to the writer/s as well for giving the CPs time to develop and sort out their feelings. It make sense and become much meaningful to know Zhen Heng's reason for not accepting Princess Fuqing (marriage proposal) the first time. Same thing goes with Jiang Zhen & Lu Chuchu. Both are cautious to not spoil their friendship but when triggered by a hint of confession, they immediately expressed their mutual affection. Gotta thank the writer as well for the improvement bestowed to Jiang Zhan. Like, thank you so much for the 2nd chance given to him to become competent. I was furious and worried when he got tricked, thinking he might die. Good thing it served as a lesson and a wake up call for him to stop being so useless. Phew!

Talking about the leads, I think they have a strong chemistry that was made even firmer by their undeniable connection. Another aspect I noticed is that they have a good understanding of their roles, which allowed them to execute them splendidly. This was of course, made possible because their characters are nicely written, well-developed, and exhibited intense commitment and affection towards one another.

Lastly, the ending. I'm a sucker for a landscape-worthy scene of a harmonious, happy family, and they presented it in a heartwarming way. However, I am just not really fond of Jiang Si & Yu Qi being an Emperor and Empress. I would much prefer them retreating to a mountainous abode, living a simple life—farming and taking care of their kids.

P.S. I just want to praise the adjustments in aspect ratio and color grading whenever a flashback is being shown. It is such a considerate move for viewers to distinguish scenes and to avoid confusion. This is much better than just playing flashback scenes out of the blue without any cue at all—a lazy practice that most production companies often resort to right now.

Story - 9.5, I loved and enjoyed this story a lot. The only aspect that prevented me from giving it a perfect score was the completely unnecessary filler episodes of Shan'an Medical Hall. Aside from that, most of the scenes were compelling and really entertaining to watch. I also want to commend the production team for giving us a well-written script and not just some random stuff hastily put up together to create a so called story.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am satisfied with them all. This is my first drama of Zhang WanYi & Jing Tian as the main leads, and I'm amazed by their overall performance. Something noteworthy is Zhang WanYi's resemblance with Bai Jingting. He reminds me of Bai Jingting so much!! Specially his goofy and clumsy characters in New Life Begins & Destined which you can't help loving.

Music - 10, I so love all the music used in this drama. Specially the opening and insert ballad song for dramatic scenes.

Rewatch Value - 10, Overall this is a good idol drama. Great script with consistent plots, and the leads are perfect for their roles.

Overall - 9.5, I would have given this a perfect rating only if I was not reminded that this is an idol drama after all. That Shen'an Medical Hall arc really tainted this story for me. Such a distraction for a good script!

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The art of uncovering the truth through autopsy | Upholding justice in the world | Lovely CPs! <3

"What parents should give their children isn't just blood ties, but love and education." - Shen/Qin Wan

Something I am truly grateful about this drama is how they kept the death toll at the lowest and never really killed any of the main cast. I appreciate it so much since unnecessary deaths are often used by some writers as a plot device to make the story more heavy and dark, thus creating areas to insert their crazy plot twists—to me that's simply a nasty and outdated way of writing which plays on the viewers feelings and emotions—so I wanna sincerely thank the director, producer and writers for making this story this way—full of compassion, rationality and magnanimity. That's one hell of a fascinating and awe-striking story right there. <3

The investigation scenes were all impressive! I expected a lot and they delivered. I love how they carefully walk us through the investigation and problem solving process till we reach the mind-blowing resolutions. Just wanna mention that the 1st case "Headless Bride" is my most favorite. It was truly unsettling and an insanely diabolical case. And when Qin Wan patched the charred and broken/dismantled skull up, I lost it...she was spectacular, no doubt about that, but that scene is just heartbreaking for me to watch. A job well done! ~ Also, the puking scenes were overly dramatized yet I find them really funny. Haha!

I also want to talk about some issues/plot holes I find frustrating about Qin Wan. First, on Ep.19 instead of calling for help since someone was stabbed and is dying, she resorted to asking the dying victim who's at fault/murderer...It was accurate but why does she didn't ask for help or to at least get people's attention first? I know that she is the "doctor" but her responding that way is one of the reason why the arson even proceeded—since it's an opportunity. Second is the safety measure tools (whistle & fire signal) that Yan Chi gave her but she never use. I was palpably pissed at every opportunity she could have used it but never did. Grr!

Next topic I wanna talk about is the most significant yet tragic message of this story—There's no "family" within the Imperial family. Watching this drama reminded me how wealth and power feeds on one's greed and how it can completely consume anyone who gets overly exposed to it. It is the source of all evil capable of influencing even the kindest soul to be scheming, cold-hearted and cruel.

"Trusted yet doubted, loyal yet slandered." - Prince Rui/Yan Lin

On a side note, I just wanna say how much I hate Prince Rui (Yan Chi's father) for being stoic and unaffectionate. He made his son suffer till the end just because he's adamant of his views and promises. Men who are proud is fine but men who are unyielding is plain stupid to me. And no, his little diary plot device just doesn't work out very well for me. Outright lame and cowardly.

The other CPs on this drama are great! Although they gave us the bare minimum of their stories yet everything still feels satisfying enough. Yan Li and Yue Ning gave us this love-hate relationship that gradually develops into companionship to lovers. Then Bai Feng and Fu Ling gave us this cute slow-paced progress that fills up my heart whenever they're on screen. P.S. Thank you for not killing any of them. <3

Lastly, thank you for giving us a worthy and satisfying ending. All issues has been addressed (although mostly off-screened) + they provides us updates of the main characters and how their life unfolded after all the chaos.

P.S. I love the main leads kissing scenes—shallow and feather but exudes intensity of their feelings for each other.

"When once virtue doesn't match the position, disaster will surely follow." - Yan Chi

Story - 10, I initially thought of giving this a 9.5 because of the little issues I mentioned above, however, looking back on how I enjoyed it so much, I just don't think it deserves it. I love this drama for its excellent investigation scenes but above more for its beautiful and compact storytelling.

Acting/Cast - 10, I love everyone on this drama and I enjoyed their individual executions as well. Acting is great and so is their synergy as a whole team.

Music - 10, All songs used are wonderful and sounds great. Specially the song used on Ep.15 (Headless Bride case).

Rewatch Value - 10, A drama I won't mind watching again. Will surely recommend.

Overall - 10, Despite the issues I mentioned above, I have decided that it wasn't really that big of a deal to affect my rating of this drama. After all, the story was splendidly narrated and acted; and I am satisfied on how they resolved the conflicts of the story. Wonderful ending as well.

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The Ingenious man's salvation is a Woman | Breaking ones own principle for love. <3

"Human emotions are the most fervent. It could be love for a day and hatred for another. Love is captivating, and hatred disrupts the mind." - Yun Xiang

What a refreshing and unique story! I really thought it will follow the usual bloody mind game dramas whose concept is fully set on revenge but I was astonished to see how everything unfolded and ended in a completely different way breaking the norms. It feels refreshing and consoling to see dramas choosing the peaceful path instead of going all out with a killing spree finale. I am truly impressed and satisfied on how they started and concluded the story as it shows the progress of the main leads. It also conveys a message that revenge is not the only way, as oftentimes, we all have a choice to choose the greater good—which is to attain love, peace and happiness together with our loved ones.

The narrative was very clear from the get go, the succeeding episodes were properly depicted and the plot was meticulously unfolded which makes the story comprehensible while maintaining its thorough yet complex and mind blowing plot twists.

The chemistry of the main lead is so giving and when together, insane! They're irrevocably in love! We got an incredibly intelligent man who's agenda is mainly set on revenge and is completely inexperience to love and a highly skilled martial arts woman who is very kind yet has a distinct motive and mission she needs to accomplish. Both of them have something they need to achieve but what I love about this couple is that they learned how to go around it by finding other ways to still undersrand and support each other without sacrificing and letting go of their love and affection for each other and the people around them. It really is surprising and magical at the same time to watch a drama like this. Excellent writing!

The male lead is more of a revengeful boy trapped on an intelligent person's body instead of a cunning man. He's like a toddler sometimes. His little shoulder taps on the female lead gave me butterflies. It feels special as it has become his way to ask for attention, show his affection and express his intention to yield. More than a gesture, it is like a sign to convey his love and presence—a mutual understanding that connects them without uttering a word—a significant and remarkable symbol of their relationship. I find him so adorable whenever he does that. He's madly in love...what a loverboy. Hihi!

Synergy between the characters are also great! I love that they (Yun Xiang, Shu Ya Nan, Su Ming Yu and Jin Biao) formed a friendship or more so, a brotherhood despite their different status in life. Kindness and compassion bounds them together and I am glad that the male lead got to meet them as they're the one who influenced him to be considerate which led him to eventually let go of his revenge and to become a better person.

Lastly, I was surprised at the same time amazed and delighted that Master Kou of Lingyuan is actually a loving and caring person. They took a different path for the leader of the supposed antagonist group; as this time that person is not simply smart and poweful woman but also an understanding and loving mother of her kids. Too bad she was killed by her foolish, greedy and gullible son.

P.S. Why is Tang XiaoTian's roles always has something to do with being weak, timid and cowardly? Can't he be a robust and flawless 2nd male lead for once? He tend to occasionally accept emotionally and mentally imbalance roles which kind of putting him on a weird light for me. Thank god this drama was well written and he was given proper character development. Because if not, then I don't know anymore...

Story - 10, I love this drama so much! I appreciate that everyone including the supporting characters got to have a development with their romantic lives and that they didn't let us shed a lot of tears. Fighting scenes are great and we don't really have to talk about the plot itself. It was a masterpiece for me.

Acting/Cast - 10, Chen Xiao's acting is just on another level. His deliberation and control of his emotions is truly on top. Mao Xiao Tong on the otherhand makes me feel good and refresh—her smile in particular exudes positivity and energy that I can't stop myself from smiling whenever she beams one. The other cast also did great!

Music - 10, I can't really remember much about the songs used but what I can remember is how I always feel down during the sad scenes because of how malancholic the bgm are.

Rewatch Value - 10, Most definitely! A drama I can surely re-watch and recommend to people.

Overall - 10, I got nothing bad to say about this drama. I was even more sad that I only got to discover it recently. Such masterpiece really needs to be expose out there for better recognition and acknowledgement. Highly recommend for sure!

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A truly impressive and satisftying sequel | Great family dynamics | Topless Nadech is on FIRE!

"You fucked with the wrong family, you goddamn ghost." - Yak

They will really do everything to make the ML/Nadech shirtless won't they? and this time with a bandage which makes him more hotter and oozing! Gotta give it to whoever proposed this as it works big time. Hahaha! He's one of the main selling point of this movie, I swear!!

Anyways, moving to the story itself. I wanna say that I am extremely satisfied with this sequel as it gave us more lore about Phuang (Dark Spirit) that's been haunting them and because we got more action from Yak and the whole family. I am actually quite glad that they finally utilized the potential of the other family members instead of treating them as an offering waiting for their demise.

In regards to the scare factor...they did great in giving us some creepy and thrilling scenes that can make most people frightened. I also want to personally thank the director and the writer for reducing those sequences where they try to forcefully make the scenes extra scary by adding some ridiculous skits which spoiled the prequel and made it less scary.

Additionally, the story is compact and highly comprehensible...so I am not sure where are some people getting their idea/opinion about this story being 4 stories in 1. They must have not watched the 1st part...so if you are planning to watch this, please make sure to watch the prequel first in order to avoid confusion and in order to fully understand the story and overall emotion of the characters.

Lastly, the family dynamics is still one of the best factor about this show. I love how the father truly stands as the pillar of the family by guarding them every night even when he tries to shrug the idea off to ease his family's worries and of course, Yak for continuously hunting the Dark spirit to make sure that it can never hurt his family again.

Story - 10, This sequel gave me the lore that I was looking for which was left untold on the prequel. It was also broadened and explained even better. The scenes are nicely put up as well which makes it easier to watch.

Acting/Cast - 10, One of the best thing about this show is their set of actors/actresses. Nadech did great as the main actor, as well as Denise (Yad) and Nina (Yee) as supporting roles. I was happy to see both Mean and Frank here, but their roles are meh. lol

Music - 10, I like all the sound effects and as I mentioned on my review on the prequel, the whispering sound effect was executed very well.

Rewatch Value - 10, one of those movie I can and will surely consider watching again if time permits me to do so.

Overall - 10, I am highly satisfied about this movie. I have nothing bad to say and I don't have anything I was displeased about it as well. I really appreciate that they didn't butcher this one. Overall an impressive continuation of the prelude.

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