Michelle Topham

This is a perfect example of how to write an article full of bias and lies.
Always amazes me that MDL actually keeps so many of their so-called "writers" employed, as what they churn out is incredibly poor quality.

Cool. thanks a lot.

It is why MDL ratings are not remotely reliable and should be ignored. The site allows people to rate bomb a drama if something "offends" them, if there's a sex scene, if a comment about a particularly group of people "offends" them, if a character in it "offends" a specific nationality, and on and on and on.

In this case, it's likely the sex scenes or that the King is a horrible person, so they'll downrate the drama because of that. You can't fix stupid. Don't even try :)

Also, never base your decision to watch a show based on what fools on MDL downrate. In most cases, the lower rated shows are usually the more interesting, more well-written, more well-acted shows, and not the high rated shows with the same romance plots of 1,000 other dramas.

We'll have to agree to disagree :) But two nicely written, well thought out comments from you nevertheless. And I can definitely see your point :)

Ok that makes more sense, and that's what I do -- watch on 2x as I can speed read well :) Sorry for misunderstanding.

And agree with you on her lack of chemistry. IMO someone like Cai Wei (Liu Mei Han) has much more chemistry with him.

Then if you skipped her scenes, you missed a lot of the plot.

Honestly, I never understand people who skip scenes and then think they watched/understood a drama. It's very strange.

Actually, I take back what I said about her as I just watched Ep 21 and, wow, she's just done a 180 degree turn. Amazing acting, superb character change.

And btw, I'm giving it a 10/10.

I'm a journalist who, among other things, writes about Asian dramas, and this is easily one of the best-written, best acted, most unusual and beautifully filmed dramas I've watched in a long time. And, believe me, I've watched thousands of Asian dramas over the last 30 years.

BTW, I have a feeling Season 2 is already in the works and, in all likelihood, already cast and probably in or heading towards production.

There is no way they would spend this much money on a drama like this, and cast such a superb cast of some of China's best actors, to not complete the story in a Season 2.

Just an FYI, if you're having any doubts about watching this (don't, it's incredible), watch the official Music Video.

It's beautifully put together, with scenes from the drama that, in just 4 minutes, will show you just why millions of people love this so much. Absolute goosebumps the first time I watched it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3xdU8-rLas

I'm currently on Episode 19 and, believe me, she's in it far more than I/you would like. Her character is the only thing that's truly awful about this otherwise perfect drama.

She's an excellent actress, but I want to scream every time she arrives back on screen in all the character's stupidity :)

The drama though is absolutely superb, and it would be a shame for you to miss it just because of her. I just watch all of her scenes on 2x speed, and it makes it less unbearable :)

The entire cast is superb. I can't think of one actor that isn't wonderful in their role. Really one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in a Chinese drama.

Yep, leads don't match at all, and I absolutely detest Lin'an (not the actress, the character) so that does somewhat spoil the drama for me. But... the rest of it is so good, it's the only thing I don't care for so still currently giving it a 10/10.

Absolutely cannot STAND Lin'an :) but, she doesn't get enough screen time for me to drop it because of her. Especially as the rest of the drama is so damned good.

Tian Xi Wei is brilliant playing Lin'an, so nothing against the actress. I just detest her spoiled self-involved character.

Prefer K-dramas the way they are. So sick of western dramas throwing in gratuitous sex scenes I just end up fast forwarding through. I'm no prude, but just so sick of all the sex on western shows, especially when, most of the time, there is ZERO reason for it to be there.

No, not bad at all. A little out of place compared to the rest of the series, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I'd say don't head into it expecting to dislike it :)

Brilliant news -- https://www.soompi.com/article/1715835wpp/when-the-phone-rings-tops-most-buzzworthy-drama-and-actor-rankings-in-final-week-on-air

That means even more opportunities for the actors, director, writer etc. :)

Nobody cares :) And btw, it's still on the Most Buzzworthy Drama list even after it's ended -- and that means the actors, the director, the writer etc will make even more money from it as more opportunities will now come their way. Good for them!

And just a heads up, the so-called "Pro-Palestinian" crowd are toxic people. They destroy everything they touch.

Every single actor in this is brilliant. Such a superb ensemble cast.

Ah right, you've suddenly "got relatives" in Gaza. Funny how that always seems to be the case, isn't it?

And no, Israel's support is just as strong as it ever was. Only the brainwashed-by-terrorists trolling social media as they have nothing better to do don't support them.

Thankfully, we have Trump coming into office in less than 2 weeks, and that means even more financial/military support for Israel and even more pressure on Hamas (the terrorists) to free the hostages or, as he has said, all hell will break lose against them.

Yep, it's been consistently successful throughout its 7 week run and K-dramas, just like any other series, always drop off the list as newer shows are released.

Same thing with King the Land when the usual suspects tried to destroy that series over one character that "offended" them. Not only did the ratings go back up on any platform that monitored the trolls, and removed obviously biased reviews, but it has consistently received solid views on Netflix since. (As it should have, it's a very entertaining series, and one I recently rewatched).

Netflix, of course, just ignores all this faux "outrage", as they should. As they know, 2 weeks later, and the trolls have moved onto something else to try to destroy.