JadeScrollsInMoonlight

Love Beyond Romance: The Heartbeat of Family in Every Form

This drama, at its heart, is about family love — every form of it, in all its tenderness and complexity. It explores parents and children, siblings, adoptive families, and even chosen families — showing that love isn’t limited to romance alone.

I’ve always found it perplexing how romantic love is glorified so often — sung about, written about, idolized — while the purest and most enduring love, the one we receive from family and friends, rarely receives the same recognition. Love isn’t a single shape or emotion; it’s a spectrum. Every kind of love — parental, sibling, platonic — touches and warms the heart in its own way, even if it often goes unspoken.

The Shen family beautifully captures that essence. Their acceptance of Lin Yan, their warmth, and Lin Yan’s rediscovery of peace in his mundane, everyday life through his newfound family — all of it feels quietly profound. It shows how love can heal wounds that once seemed impossible to mend.

Then there’s the complex and tragic relationship between Prince Zhao and Lin Yan. A man who adopted his nemesis’s child simply because the boy resembled his lost elder son. It’s tragic, layered, and almost Shakespearean in its irony. Prince Zhao adopted his enemy’s child — the son of the man he destroyed — simply because Lin Yan resembled his own lost son, Li Sheng. Was it love disguised? Love twisted by grief? Or a desperate attempt to fill an irreparable void? We’ll never know.

What we do know is that Prince Zhao raised Lin Yan with genuine affection. He gave him knowledge, warmth, and guidance — everything a child could wish for, even if the foundation was built on deception.

Lin Yan, unaware of the truth, called the man who annihilated his family father and trusted him completely. It’s cruel, but profoundly human — because even when love is born from lies, the emotions themselves can still be real.

That’s what makes the story so haunting. When the truth unravels, you can feel Lin Yan’s devastation — the pain of realizing that everything real to him was built on illusion. And when jicai told her she was glad he was loved in his childhood and lived in deception because truth somethimes does more harm than justice.

Prince Zhao’s reluctance to harm him, his obsession with Lin Yan’s acceptance and love till his dying breath, the moment his hand reached out for one last caress —

Even Zhao’s biological son’s emotions are deeply explored. Having grown up alongside Lin Yan, he’s bound to feel a strange mix of affection and resentment. His father’s clear favoritism left him feeling inadequate and unloved. That final scene — when he rides in on horseback with soldiers screaming “Protect Prince Zhao!” — i was so moved.. i forgot he is villain.. i was like go go go~~. For a moment, you could feel his turmoil..and love for his father.

Prince Zhao chosing to cut ties after Lin Yan struck his son, (though all his life he favored lin yan says a lot about his hearts which might have cared for his own son a lot as well unable to express himself properly) and later, when they rode out of the palace together — his words telling his real son to run while he met his own end — A man torn between desires, ambition, and love, finally breaking under the weight of it all.

It also subtly shows something very real — how parents, even without realizing it, sometimes compare or differentiate between their children. That quiet imbalance can shape a child’s heart forever — one grows up seeking love; the other, struggling to feel enough.

What makes this drama special is how simply it presents these emotions. It doesn’t force you to cry; it just lingers. It leaves you just with messages subtly about what family really means, and how even imperfect love can hold beauty, without shattering your world.

The other relationships — Yang Yang and Shen Shao Jie’s tender father-daughter bond, the old couple’s story about love fading and rediscovering each other, the small frustrations that erode identity but can be healed through acknowledgment — all of it adds gentle realism.

And the FL’s arc — finding solace, satisfaction, and purpose through Deyuan and her dream of making affordable food — shows another side of human needs: the desire to be useful, to belong, to create something meaningful.

Every member of this extended family brings warmth in their own way. Together, they form a tapestry of love — messy, flawed, but incredibly human.

Even the royal family was one of the cute ones with such a loving princess and crown prince, and a not too arrogant king.

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Thanks to cdramas… i never wanna be a king.

Before i start the paragraphs a simple review of it all from my side:

👑👑Chronology kinda flows like~~👑👑

🌸 1 — Loved Yixiao — it was her story till around episode 10-15
⚔️ 2 — Then Suige slowly stepped in, and the spotlight started to shift
💞 3 — After that? Their love story bloomed…
💀 4 — …which soon turned into a full-blown revenge saga
🌹 5 — Suige, the emperor, Murong, and the PM ruled the middle arc —

while Yixiao still managed to steal every frame she appeared in,
just through her gestures, presence, and quiet strength 😂 — Meanwhile, the Xia Jinshi and Jinxiu squad? Fully exited the “main character” zone

🌧️ 7 — Flashbacks, justifications, and sufferings followed…
💢 8 — Then came the killing spree
🥀 9 — The princess’s tragedy.. and xia mad brothers
🌤️ 10 — And finally — healing, answers, and a touch of utopia as yixiao shines~~

Well because of the middle heavy part and focus on susha politics ..
suige was kinda the main link..
so it might feel yixiao's presence a bit dimmer..
but she was never in any moment less cooler.. graceful, elegenat, invinciable in it all



👑👑Reasons I Dropped :👑👑
I have this talent — I drop dramas right before the end if I feel emotionally done or get tired, the ending gets predictable, or I accidentally read spoilers 🙃. Sometimes I already feel “mentally complete.”

Maybe someday I’ll just randomly finish the last six episodes.

👑👑Why i gave 9?👑👑

Because it had a lot of things u don't find easily in all dramas..

a consistent strong fl.. for Li qin alone it deserves it
a good ml who doesnt want to change or lectures fl
good backstory for wrongdoers
nice try to give a good message to people
and the sister becomes the empress i heard~~

For their cool experiments alone i wanna praise for efforts



👑🌳Below isn’t exactly a “review” —
more like random, sarcastic thoughts
that hijacked my brain mid-drama.👑🌳


🌳🌳About the Jinxiu/xias/prinesss part:🌳🌳

Weiran really said he didn’t expect her to turn so vicious? 😒
At least Xia Jinshi had the sense to admit fault.

And calling her stupid? Please. Classic move. The moment a woman stands up for herself or stops tolerating nonsense — suddenly she’s “emotional” or “crazy.” 🙄🔥

The princess and the Xias are in a completely different show — genre-hopping every ten minutes. Honestly, Bigg Boss: Dynasty Edition 😂

Still, after her rebirth, the princess’ dialogues hit hard — one second I adore her, the next I wanna knock her out (affectionately).


🌳🌳Emperor death:🌳🌳
The emperor truly had no respect for the empress — didn’t even consider her capable of anything 😤.
Bro, you and your son just killed her father in the morning… and then she comes to you, asking for a favor, and you deny everything?

And you think she still loves you so much that she wants to comb your hair one last time? 😳
How self-obsessed must someone be, how blind to others’ feelings, how convinced of everyone else’s inferiority, to let that happen — or to refuse it?

Either he knew and let her, which is unbelievably cruel, or he didn’t, which makes him just… a worthless, selfish man 🖤.


🌳🌳Moral part:🌳🌳
I don’t think struggles always turn you wicked — though they definitely leave their mark 🕯️.
You could say Yixiao didn’t lose herself because she had her sworn brother by her side 🤝.
But then again, even the emperor had his family. He must’ve shared those sweet, tender moments too… and yet look how differently they turned out. 🍂



🌳🌳Action part:🌳🌳
Not Suige out there cutting people like he’s chopping vegetables 😭🔥
His swordplay was insane — smooth, precise, almost poetic — but sorry, Suige… Yixiao stole the show for me 😩💥
The moment she pulled out that tiny knife — boom blast
If Suige is the player, then Yixiao is his ultimate cheat code — the one that gives infinite power, unlimited life ~~



🌳🌳Editing:🌳🌳
These historical people...........
Why do they always wake up in the dead of night, speak in poetic riddles like they’re decoding fate itself, and then— boom —out of nowhere, a kiss??

Like bro, I was just eating in peace, not emotionally prepared. Now I’m mourning both my sandwich on my keyboard and my sanity.


🌳🌳Murong part:🌳🌳
Murong’s father desperately begged ...in return for his lifelong loyalty and friendship — Maybe the emperor or Suige could’ve helped. But when Suige had to decide whether to forgive Yao, I’m not the one to judge him.
However when they killed the emperor and Yao, it became crystal clear: the uncle’s love was fake. If he truly loved Suige, he wouldn’t have killed him so mercilessly — and felt no remorse.Earlier, it was hard to believe Yao was even his son. Blood really doesnt lie~~. Still, being ignored and pushed into a corner can twist a person, when no hears ur desperate cries; don’t live overly submissive like Murong’s uncle only to explode later — that sudden burst is dangerous.

A bit of patience and on observation would have helped.. man's old and wise right?
no one's talking about your son right now; everyone’s busy with their own problems. Wait a while; maybe they’ll forget. If not, it’s not too late to beg later. Let your son face some punishment — it might actually help. As a parent, don’t hide everything. I know he was trying to save his life and would have accepted exile...still

I laughed when he gave that speech to the empress — said he was founding member of empire and now he’s part of making the new emperor? What are you trying to say? You killed the first founder you helped make; isn’t that saying you’d kill the next emperor too?

Warning: don’t befriend the Murong family. Not worth it.


P.S: Thanks to cdramas… i never wanna be a king anymore.
TMI: I liked the ending music so i am singing with hindi lyrics into the tune~~

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“Glad you Watched It… But you’ll Probably Forget you Did”

10/10 for Jung So-min and Choi Woo-shik. 🥹✨
10/10 for the laughter and the characters' bgs. 😂💯
Personally loved all episodes

A GENERAL REVIEW:

------------------------------------------------------- **Rating & First Impressions** --------------------------------------------------------

The story isn’t new or groundbreaking, but I don’t really need that from a romcom.
If I wanted something twisty and mind-bending, I’d put on a sci-fi thriller.
Here, I just wanted comfort and fun — and I got plenty of that. 💫

I genuinely enjoyed so many moments, whether it was the main couple, the second couple, or the office squad.
The whole thing had the familiar warmth of older K-romcoms, and with *Jung So-min* in the mix, it felt even more like home. 🏠💗

However, the easier it was to engross oneself in the fun moments, the faster it was to detach once those moments were over. 😶‍🌫️

-------------------------------------------------- **Jung So-min: Selling the Character, Not Herself** -----------------------------------------------

This is what happens when an actor *sells the character more than themselves*.
*Jung So-min* doesn’t feel overexposed in the media, so when I watch her, I only see the role in front of me. 🎭

I slip easily into her characters — maybe because her acting is that good, or because I haven’t seen much of her in variety shows to detach her from her roles. 🌸

------------------------------------------------------- **The Main Couple’s Dynamic** -------------------------------------------------------

*Choi Woo-shik* and *Jung So-min* also share a similar, gentle energy.
Together, they felt like two slightly awkward kids who made a sincere decision to spend their lives together.

Their interactions were soft, specific, and very *“them.”* 🥺💍
The plot might be cliché, but their dynamic stayed consistently sweet and fun. 🍯

If you look for that deep, sweeping chemistry, it might feel a bit lacking.
But when it came to serious conversations or heart-to-heart moments,
I reminded myself: *they’re not star-crossed lovers waiting 1000 years for each other.*

They only just started dating. Sometimes you don’t need soul-crushing passion for a romance to work — sometimes an ordinary, slowly forming bond is more realistic to how most people actually start out. 🌱

*P.S:* I loved the sulky Choi 😂😂😂

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If this had been one of my first K-dramas, I’d probably rate it around *8–8.5*. ⭐

But after watching so many, I can’t shake the feeling that this drama, despite all its charm, is a *missed opportunity.* 😔

Reminded me of another 12-episode release this year, *Tastefully Yours*, with a different vibe but similar after-feeling.

Characters like *Eung-soo*, the aunt, and the second couple had so much potential.
Instead, the narrative spent too much time on *Woo-ju the cheater*, while the people we actually wanted more of kept getting pushed aside.

Maybe 16 episodes could have allowed the emotional beats to breathe a little more. Still, even within 12, some scenes felt unnecessary or could have been framed and directed more effectively. 🎬

------------------------------------- **Sang-hyeon & Jin Gyeong: The “What Could Have Been” Couple** --------------------------------------

*Sang-hyeon* is a perfect example of wasted potential. He started as such an interesting character, but his arc became monotonous a bit later. 😕

Even so, I’m sure many viewers were quietly rooting to see more of him and *Jin Gyeong* together.
Those two were complete opposites in personality — a sharp contrast to the soft, cheerful main couple. ⚖️

*Jin Gyeong* sometimes really drew me in: her accent, her boldness, her little antics. 😆
But at other times, it felt like I was watching someone *“perform”* a persona rather than simply existing as the character.

Maybe I’m just not used to that type; I’ve never met anyone who talks quite like that in real life. 🤔

Both female leads were very thin, but Jin Gyeong’s styling in particular — the extremely tight outfits — sometimes made her look more like a doll than a person. 🧸


For us viewers, *Sang-hyeon and Jin Gyeong* were the biggest *“what could have been.”* 💔

---------------------------------------------------------- **The Aunt & Eung-soo** -------------------------------------------------------------------

But there was another pair I had even higher hopes for, *the aunt and Eung-soo.*

From the beginning, they came across as emotional fools — 🥲

*Eung-soo*, remembering Woo-ju’s favorite foods, birthdays, and toys, showed how closely he’d been watching him over the years.

It wasn’t a sense of duty; it felt like genuine, instinctive kindness. 💌

The kind of basic warmth you’d extend even to a stranger — something *Woo-ju*, ironically, was starved of in his own family.

Even under the pressure from his parents to compete and protect himself, Eung-soo never seemed to truly want to hurt Woo-ju.

He takes after his mother: soft-hearted, clumsy, but sincere.

Both mother and son are written as sweet, slightly average-intelligence characters who love deeply and don’t hold grudges. The aunt said she never scolded Eung-soo for his grades, because she herself struggled academically.

He treats her as his entire world. She isn’t a perfect parent, but she never abandoned him.
She shows up, and drags him to meetings, argues with the grandmother, and fights for his rights. 🥹🫶

*Ik their late remorse doesn’t undo the harm they caused,* but the aunt apologizing emotionally and asking Woo-ju for forgiveness was the first moment in the drama that truly moved me. 😭

They aren’t villains. They’re flawed people who desperately needed proper guidance, recognition, and love.

And in contrast, it was actually Woo-ju’s grandparents who never quite managed to express affection clearly or fairly, which felt more wrong.

Watching how Woo-ju is treated over the years, despite losing his parents, it’s hard to say the *“injustice”* the aunt keeps talking about is entirely baseless.

The aunt and Eung-soo both lived in a house where the patriarch hated Woo-ju for *“killing”* his son.
Under that shadow, it’s natural that his daughter and her son couldn’t think/act too differently. 🌫️

Most of us rarely manage to fully separate our opinions from our parents’, lest we act. 🧠💭

Well, ig they did show a moderate enough screentime..so its okay ...~~ Maybe more would be more complicated

-------------------------------------------------- **Kim Woo-ju: The Unnecessary** ------------------------------------------------------------

I won’t lie — I did find *Woo-ju* funny at times, especially with the sarcastic background music.
His acting was good. 😂🎶
But at times, he still felt *unnecessary.*

I might’ve appreciated him more if there weren’t other, stronger plotlines and characters waiting for their turn.
And his story was made to feel *important.*

He was a ridiculous character, and one of the foolish evils..
I wouldn't go into the moral details, or this would become an Oxford essay.

A light watch! No need to fully focus or be anxious.


MY PERSONAL VIEWPOINT?:

However, on a personal preference, I loved it. 🥹💖

The start, the end, the middle — even the frustrating parts. Not everything will be logical in a comedy, afterall?
Yeah, I did feel tired or bored sometimes 😮‍💨, but whatever — I still found it decently interesting and emotionally satisfying in its own way. ✨📺💕

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The Brightest Sadness I've Ever Felt. Drama That Hurt So Kindly. Parting That Felt Like a Hug

Well-written! Well-executed.
The direction? Oscar-level.
Cinematography? Breathtaking.
Screenplay? Am i in a theatre?

This was a paradox in motion — a smile with tears behind it.
A story of a dying girl that somehow felt like the warmest thing I’ve watched all year.
Not a heavy, sob-filled tragedy — but a gentle, glowing heartbreak.

And yet, amidst it all, the message stayed with me:
“Live the time that is yours. Live it fully and happily.”

I'm so happy that she wanted Jeha to be happy again
The funny dialogues: “Wasting a handsome face like that is a national disaster.” 😂

Jeha feeling proud after managing to cook ramen in a convenience store — that quiet joy!
And that final episode, where they talked about the “Rose Man” — such a simple, grounded slice-of-life moment.

And with such heartwarming what if futures and fun little moments, it made me smile… more than cry.
I’ve felt the stings, yes — but I took it as a personal challenge not to cry (the tears-wala cry 😭).
Surprisingly, this drama is helping me keep that promise pretty well.

I’m so, so glad she had the best by her side — Gyuwon, who fought for her, laughed with her, stood beside her like a soulmate.
They were bosom sisters, partners in crime, almost lovers in spirit.
— if God takes something from you, He also gives you something beautiful in return.

The OST? Perfect. Subtle, never overpowering — just enough to immerse you in the moment.
And I’m beyond relieved the directors and screenwriters gave us a full, well-tied ending. No loose ends, no half-baked exits. Every thread was honored. Every character got closure. Seldom seen in dramas....

That scene where Jeha and her dad watched movies in theatreafter Daeum was gone. They were spending time together, grieving, healing, slowly getting better. I was genuinely worried for both — but seeing them side by side felt like a quiet prayer being answered.

Every shot from the camcorder felt intimate, raw, personal. And later gifted to Jeha… and he kept using it — I was grinning like an idiot. 😭

Some unforgettable moments for me: The AD once asked, “What’s so good about directing just one thing?” Jeha simply said, “Hmm…” She answered herself, “As I thought, nothing.” And then laughed — “That makes it even more appealing.” Doing something that… that may not even be considered “good” by the world —You choose to do it —can be only because you love it.

But there were times of harsh, yet realistic reflections… a side of the thoughts that kept tickling my brain —
Like this one:
“I hope Hyunsang doesn’t stand there for long when he can’t see Gyuwon from the glass anymore.”

Because in real life… "Life must go on" As much as I adored the love they shared, I’d still want Jeha to find love again someday.
To move on — not to forget, but to live. To carry the warmth of what was, and still open his heart to what could be.

And Jeha — he moved forward. (at least didnt mope around like he did for last 5 years, daeum really taught him how to be happy again) He didn’t stop. He wrote another scenario, like an ordinary director. That’s real love too — to live on with your memories, not stay frozen in them.

FINALLY: If I had to keep just three things intact from this drama, it would be:
Direction. Cinematography. And Lee Jeha (Namgoong Min).
Everyone did an amazing job, but these three? They went the extra mile. Namgoong Min never disappoints — his craft, his restraint, his depth. Is this what a veteran's like.

P.S. No offence to Daeum — the actress is brilliant. I’ve loved her since Be Melodramatic, and she remains a favorite. 💛
P.S: I was so scared she would die while filming that final scene.
P.S Also — was that tree at the end not reminding you of A Time Called You?

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Fun, Funny, Funnier, Funniest! Action, Adventure, Party, Emotions, Surprise~~...

If you watch this one with a right mindset and timing. I am sure this one won't dissapoint unless there is a personal preferrences for particular moral point or actors since they carry this drama man!

If we have to rank what carried this drama...
though a good script is what takes to make anything even worth to watch.
However despite being a good story, it wasn't an extremely unique one in the industry. However it felt such!

Reasons? for me to binge it in one sitting?
First would be the direction and dialogues,
which actually worked so well — thanks to the second, amazing acting!

Shoutout to Park Min Young, Joo Jong Hyuk, and Park Hee Soon-- amazing performances. Their dynamic and contrasting conflicts were so engaging i am sure those who stayed, stayed for their interactions and jokes.

A sibling-cum-friendly banter, caring enough to donate a liver but ready to kill for a glass of water.

Yi-rang’s eccentricity blended perfectly with Gu Ho’s innocence.
This pair, softly wrapped under James’ care, felt like the perfect gang ever.
Each had their own weapons, quirks, and issues.
And honestly — we’d love an overpowering, invincible FL Park Min Young any day!

Though I completely fell for Yi-rang — her wardrobe, her lowkey need to be acknowledged or cared for by her teammates despite claiming to be a sociopath,
her unhinged lying in the most serious situations,
her backstory, her revenge methods, … that smile!..... ,

This man Gu Ho, somehow, became a character I kept caring for and looking out for through the entire series.
The whole CFO twist at the end did make me question — “bro, not possible…”
And I was right! I knew he wouldn’t blatantly ruin it all or forsake the bond he built over the last five years.
Being the emotional Gu Ho he is… of course not.

Truly, they say it right — blessed are those with kind and innocent hearts.
We unknowingly grow softer toward kind people.

It was hilarious how Yi-rang, despite being arrogant and proud by nature, never hesitated to step back when needed —
whether it was fake tears or a planned sorry.
I was glad she didn’t let ego ruin it or make things too serious between friends.

Honestly, it was hilarious. I never found her heartless or soulless.
If anything, she was sincere — just in her own sociopathic way, as I love to say.
And we all know one or two people like that — those who have their own unique way of showing love. ❤️

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"The world is not as perfect as i imagined it to be, its cruel and harsh but I accept it"

This drama was made with immense love and care—you can feel it in every frame. It’s layered, emotional, and ambitious, yet never loses its heart.

📚 Why did it feel so rich?
Because of the books!
Ulysses, In Search of Lost Things, Remembrance of Things Past

—so many literary references, so many thoughtful quotes!
The writer clearly treasures books, and that love poured into the story!
It reminded me of the richness of Romance Is a Bonus Book!

🎶 Did the OST, lighting, and cinematography matter?
Yes, so much! The OST added urgency and mystery, the lighting set the perfect mood, and the cinematography created a quiet magic! Not a single scene felt wasted!

✍️ What about the storytelling?
It dared to be different! It didn’t sugarcoat life—futures were uncertain, and not everyone got a happy ending! That honesty gave the story weight!

And the choice of writing as a career? Shown raw and painfully true! Writers, like painters, often remain unrecognized—their art judged not by worth but by the audience’s mood and willingness to pay. Such honesty is rare in bubbly C-dramas, and it gave this one a realistic edge!

🏐 Any memorable moments?
Yes! The Zhenzhen and Qui Quan volleyball game—so simple, yet unforgettable!
And episode 21? The personality switch between the monitor and Qi Shu had me laughing so hard! 😂😂
(P.S. I adored episodes 21–22 overall, and Jiangling with freckles >>> too cute!)

⚖️ Was it too heavy?
Not at all! Despite the sadness, it never drowned in misery. It knew when to stay simple and when to make us laugh. I loved that balance—because sometimes I don’t want a drama that drags me into endless tears!

❌ Any flaws?
If we ignore ep21/22(china rules~~~) ; Yes, some questions never got answers! What did her dreams mean? And his? Why did their phone call begin? What was with that strange basement machine? Why didn’t he remember? Why was everyone around old Jiangling acting so strangely?

Not all puzzle pieces fit, but maybe many were premonitions for episode 22! Even so, the drama stayed beautiful. It wasn’t that long, so I didn’t expect every thread to resolve perfectly.

🌌 Did it still make sense?
In its own way, yes!

He wasn’t originally part of her story—yet he inserted himself into it.
His feelings about seeing the protagonist and not knowing what to say (so as not to disturb the flow) made sense once you saw it that way.

Like many time-travel or supernatural C-dramas (Day of Becoming You, for example), it leaned toward a realistic yet ambiguous ending—sometimes frustrating, sometimes refreshing. But in its own way, it felt more real!

🎭 How about the cast?
Phenomenal! I hadn’t seen any of them before, yet none felt like beginners. Every character carried silent stories in their eyes. Teacher Liu especially—her gaze alone spoke louder than words!

🌸 And the female lead?
A complete surprise! At first, she seemed like just another carefree schoolgirl heroine—but she grew into someone real. She carried confusion, fear, frustration, and quiet strength with authenticity. Not the shallow, “perfect” school drama heroine we often see—she felt alive and true!

💔 Gu Mingggggggggg
My heart! I actually started this drama because of a reel of him, but in the end, he left one of the deepest impressions! 😭felt sad for him😭often😭

🌟 Final thoughts?
Maybe it wasn’t the most groundbreaking story ever told… but the way it used every tool—acting, music, visuals, writing—made it feel like one of the best! All’s well that ends well!

P.S. HAhahaah Teacher Liu (or should I say Doctor Liu?) always carrying that blue pad? The reference! The premonition! Aaaaa! Honestly, she looked more like a doctor than a teacher, haha!

💭 One last thought…
What if Zhenzhen’s experience was actually the writer’s? Maybe when trying to publish, the writer first ended the story in tragedy—with her life ending in despair. But to release it, they added romance and hope. Could it be?

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Heroes or villains—fate forges, we label. Die with virtue, or live with cruelty

"Time cooks all beings, and Time itself consumes them.
Time creates all, and Time destroys all.
All are helpless before Time."

⚠️ Spoiler
This isn’t a review about why you should watch the drama. It’s an outpouring of the emotions, questions, and chaos that flooded my heart while watching.

🌸 First Impressions
I was never really a fan of xianxia dramas—rebirth, realms, immortal beasts, all that complicated mythology—but fellow MDLers dragged me into this one. At first, I thought it’d be another ordinary love story. Honestly, the twin-sisters plotline scared me most—because what I hate the most is sibling enmity. But this drama surprised me. Instead of rivalry, it gave me one of the most reassuring portrayals of sibling love.

👭 Sisterhood
The growth of the two sisters was beautiful. Tan’er took the path of revenge, but what stood out most was how much the drama glorified family love over romance. I was glad the narrative gave weight to her pain. Their bond shone through everything. I understood Kuier as well deeply—if I had to choose, I too would sacrifice myself for my sister.

🤝 Brotherhood
I also loved the dynamic between Wu Dai and Chaofeng. I longed for them to be brothers in heart, not just in name—and in the end, that wish came true, especially in that tender moment when Wu Dai said, “Come into my arms and cry.” hahah cute.

Everyone kinda grew up.. Qinsheng also became later mature to share the burden of his elder brother. Ziwu.. Taner everyone

💔 Human Emotions
This drama wasn’t just about gods, realms, or war—it was about the most beautiful things in the world - human emotions: love, friendship, loss. Man Man, Di Lan Jue, Tan’er… their bond was so pure. Man Man especially—I wish she hadn’t died.

🕊️ Kuier’s Path
With Kuier, I had a bad feeling from the start—that she might sacrifice herself someday. I comforted myself by thinking, at least she lived her short 18 years surrounded by her parents’ love, and the world love.. was in the spotlight for her life. Maybe it was taner's time? the emperor to shower all his love on his younger daughter who was neglected for so long. It was a fragile kind of comfort, but it was all I had in that episode.

🌪️ The Final Episodes
By the final episodes, I was crying uncontrollably. The OST, the chaos of the four realms, the storm of my own emotions—all of it collided. I was left with a whirlpool of questions:

❓ Questions on Grief & Revenge
I couldn’t help but wonder: if Tan’er had lost everyone she loved, just as Husui did, would she have been able to keep control? Would she have resisted killing the Heavenly Emperor? She already lost control in her fury against the Void Tyrant. But then again, maybe time is the only medicine—anger and grief might burn bright in the moment, but with time, reason slowly returns, dulling the pain.

And still, I don’t think Husui was truly to blame. Who could remain rational when confronted with such cruelty? Would any of us? Yet that leads to an even harder question: what becomes of a world that answers revenge with more revenge? The cycle never ends. Cruelty breeds injustice, injustice breeds retaliation, retaliation creates new wounds. Even if you kill the perpetrator, their family, grieving and enraged, may rise against you in turn. It’s a vicious cycle—when does it stop?

Tan’er’s pursuit of vengeance harmed the Void Army. But if she hadn’t sought revenge at all, if she had silently endured injustice, would that have been right either? Where exactly do we draw the line?

⚖️ Repentance & Humanity
And what of repentance? If it is enough, then where do we set the limit? How much can truly be forgiven? Human life, brief as it is, feels so remarkable because of our fragile, fickle minds. We forget, we fall in and out of love, we break, we heal, we repent, we change. The very ability to change is what defines humanity. But can even a lifetime of repentance make up for certain crimes? What if the sin was so great that no measure of time could balance it? What if the entire world was guilty? If a criminal deserves execution, then would a world of criminals deserve to be erased? Does being the majority make them innocent?

And yet—even if you killed everyone, what would it matter to the universe? Nothing. The lives of humans, of all living beings, are specks of dust against the silence of eternity.

🌌 What Is “Right”?
So what, then, is truly important? What is “right”? It depends on perspective. To a scholar studying the cosmos, human struggles might seem trivial. But to someone battling through daily suffering, those same struggles are everything. Love may be meaningless to one person, yet be another person’s entire reason to live.

Tan’er’s journey reflected this. She began as someone shaped by cruelty, hurt until she became a misanthrope, wanting to conquer and destroy as the Devil of the Void. But through love—through a handful of people she treasured—she changed. She learned to protect rather than destroy. She saw Youqin fighting for the world and chose sacrifice over hatred. That painful journey was what made her strong enough to one day save the world that had never believed in her.

🔮 Duty & Dilemmas
And still, the questions remain. When Husui manipulated the twin sisters into bringing chaos, I couldn’t help but think—weren’t the Void Tyrant and Heavenly Emperor right in their fears? Even if the sisters didn’t want to destroy the world, couldn’t someone force them to? So what is the right choice? To kill one innocent and save millions? Or to hesitate, spare them, and risk the destruction of everything? Were the emperors truly wrong to act out of duty? Or is “duty” itself just a concept, defined conveniently to justify choices?

🩸 The Core Question
In the end, law and morality, reason and emotion—none of them ever perfectly align. Reality and ideals almost never match. So we’re left with the cruel question: is it better to die clinging to morality, or live stained by cruelty?
Fate forces people to pick up weapons—and then we, in our convenience, decide whether to call them heroes or villains.

"Drawn swords shine like frost in the autumn moon;
Once loosed, they cannot return to the scabbard."- Li Bai

: Once someone takes up a weapon, there’s no turning back—fate drives the outcome. Society then decides whether they’re remembered as saviors or destroyers.


🌑 Chaos & Humanity
It even made me ask: Isn’t sealing chaos merely delaying the problem? What if chaos were allowed to swallow the world—what new world would emerge from it?

I mean—how can we, small and fragile humans living less than a century, even attempt to answer such questions? When faced with emotions this complicated and dilemmas this vast, are we even capable of grasping them fully? Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to strip it all down, to simplify, to live with a mindset like Wu Dai’s—straightforward, unburdened, free from endless overthinking.

But as humans, we don’t get that luxury. We’re bound to our struggles, our conflicts, our mortality. Our challenges force us to question, to complicate, to wrestle with things bigger than ourselves. Maybe that’s what it means to be human—that we cannot help but seek meaning, even in the chaos.

🎶 Final Thoughts
This drama didn’t just tell a story. It probes into you a lot of questions. The best part, and reason why I stayed was the comedy 50% and OST 50%. But the story… it made me wrestle with questions no human life—spanning less than a century—can fully answer. But maybe that’s the point: to keep asking, to keep doubting, to keep feeling.
Whatever genre you are a fan of .. Give it a try, you wouldn't regret your time.

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The Start Line Doesn’t Care About Your Age. Because Dreams Don’t Expire.

Story? Adventure starts!
Like a pirate ship captains looking for their pirates on board

My favorite character? No doubt Rinko

Best part? The theme of dreaming again! Of second chances

This ship started with full waves on sail, however towards the 4th quarter it did get a bit dragging with the same themes but jdrama's best part is that they don't drag a lot to fill in eps... so it was still bearable

The story of rinko differed with the one from the rest of the people. While for Obana and his friends this was about a second chance and procing themselves again. Reclaiming what they lost once.

For rinko it was her dream and all of her existence, for which even at her 50s she has the courage to start anew for. To drop it all take a gamble, because who said only youngster shall have all the fun?

We see another constant theme throught the drama, genuis .. vs hard work. We see a prodigy chef shocking the tongues all around, and others who struggle with their average skills doubting where hard work and efforts alone help them make it?

While each one went theough their journey, some gave up and sought after something they can do better, while some took their break and walked on path lost in it. While some believed in their hard work only to be broken by a simple dish's brilliance since it felt impossible to fill the gap.

However towards the end it is inspired that even the prodigies worked damn hard, and with efforts, diligence, and some guidance we can all do it. If you keep on it, if you still love it.. it may take more than half of a century but maybe one day u will make it

We also see intense conflict of family vs work, that a chef has to face. Truly made me wonder, and understand; how hard it must have been for the women in the industry specially.

It was a watch full of scenes that made us re imagine our lives... and inspired us to have the courage to take that next step. To risk it all, and believe in ourselves!

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Unique and rare script that we seldom find

But laden with same emotions we have been talking about and experiencing our whole lives.

Similar heard lessons but maybe from a different perspective?
Jdramas sure have a knack with trying to be creative and exploring. Taking on challenges and experimenting.
This i believe would be a successful one.
I have read hundreds of mangas and ik there is not limit of variety of stories when it comes .. but a live action piece is not only requires more budget but even more of a fight. So, i am glad they took that challenge and went ahead with this work.


Characters:
I loved akiko all along, there might have been moments i didnt relate or agree with her but there never was a moment i didnt love her. Miyuki was as adorable as she could be. Though i much preferred her childhood version over the high school one. It wasn'thard to cnnect with how or why miyuki changed as she grew up. We all do in real life but in a drama we often expect a certain level of consistency especially when the story is not gonna explain the change much in detail.

Akiko was a character who hit nerves with everyone ig, and there must be no one who didn't feel sorry for the dad. Maybe all parents could somewhere relate.

Takeru's role in the second half was such a shock to me.. as i didnt recignize him until the 3rd quarter of series. Bro had a total different persona from what i had seen so far of him but it was the cutest and will remain my fav of his. Thank god it didn't turn out to be some hidden revenge or mysterious thing i had bee thinking about for his role from start. It was just a web woven by destiny. Fate waiting around for each other ~~~

It was one of sweetest work i saw.

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When a Robot Feels, and a Human Fights to Exist

A Robot Who Wanted to Live, A Human Who Wanted to Matter

First, Okay I felt really sad for Robot Shin. It hurt that his mom, who raised him for 20 years, put something as cruel as a kill switch inside him. How could she? At the same time, I can understand her fear—if a car can be hacked, then Shin could be hacked too and turned into a weapon in someone else’s hands. But even knowing that, her choice never sat right with me.

What frustrated me more was how everyone treated Robo Shin like he didn’t matter. As if Human Shin was the only one who truly existed, and Robo Shin was just there to fill in. That was hard to watch. The only comforting part was when he found his own world with So Bong. With her, he wasn’t a shadow or a substitute, he was simply himself.

.......................................................BUT BUT BUT ..............................................what i related to the most................................................................
I understood Human Shin’s side. Imagine having someone out there who isn’t your twin or lookalike but literally you. We already feel insecure when siblings get more attention—now imagine a copy of yourself who might actually be better at everything.

For 20 years, Human Shin longed for his mother, while Robo Shin had her by his side. He tried to win his grandfather’s approval, but the old man wanted the robot to succeed him. Even his best friend once said, “Even if Shin never wakes up, we’ll keep up the plan with the robot.” It felt like if Human Shin vanished, nobody would even look for him. And that is terrifying—being gone and not having a single person notice.

On top of that, people couldn’t even tell the two apart. Sometimes they acted like there was no difference at all. That blurred line itself threatened Human Shin’s existence. Because if others can’t recognize you, and they even prefer your duplicate, then what are you left with?

We humans are imperfect, and that’s where the real beauty lies. Human Shin was never weak—he was just human. He worked hard, carried heavy burdens, and still tried his best to protect the people he loved. More than anything, he dreamed of being free one day, of living with a little happiness instead of chains.

He always said he didn’t care about the company or succeeding his grandfather. Money, power, and status never mattered to him. What he wanted was simple—love and happiness. That’s it. I was glad he had a friend like Young Hoon by his side, but even he, along with Shin’s mother, focused only on preserving Shin’s position. Did anyone ever stop to ask what Shin truly wanted? If they had, they’d know he never wished to stay in that cruel cage in the first place.

No one thought of taking him away from all that toxic politics, of letting him live the simple life he longed for. Maybe with his greedy grandfather around it wasn’t possible, but still, the thought hurts. Seo Jong and the chairman were so obsessed with the company—they could have fought each other all they wanted. Young Hoon could have chosen his own side too. But Shin… he should have been allowed to walk away.

All he ever needed were honest words and sincere comfort from the people he loved. If his mom, Young Hoon, or even his grandfather had just sat with him and truly listened, told him that he mattered—not as an heir, not as a responsibility, but as a person—I don’t think he would have hated Robo Shin at all. Instead of feeling replaced or threatened, he might have accepted him as another part of his world. At the end of the day, Human Shin wasn’t fighting against the robot… he was fighting against the silence, the lack of warmth, and the constant feeling that his existence wasn’t enough.

When Human Shin and Robo Shin’s eyes met in that final moment, and Robo Shin was shot—I couldn’t stop crying. There was so much unsaid between them, yet in that one look they understood each other completely. It made me wish for a season 2, one where both of them get to exist side by side, without the cruelty of politics and expectations, without having to compete for love. A season where they both get the happiness they deserved—living freely, and living kindly..

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Chinese Mr. Bean, his friends, and their daily adventures!

A Bowl of Everyday Warmth: "One awkward man, his noisy circle, and the small, clumsy gestures that end up meaning everything."

It's magical how this show made me dwell on what to do when in life I face similar dilemmas, problems, and take notes.

🍲 🍲 🍲 A Warm Little Slice of Life🍲 🍲 🍲
They’re not just telling a story—they’re letting us quietly slip into the everyday lives of these characters.
It’s not trying to be some deep, life-changing documentary, nor is it an over-the-top, unrelatable sci-fi fantasy.

Even the title reflects that vibe. It’s not some “once in a century, never-heard-before” kind of name,
yet it’s also not something you’d see slapped on just any random drama. It sits in that sweet spot—simple, but memorable.

It’s simply:

A well-directed, well-edited, well-wrapped-up show
With interesting, layered characters
And unforgettable relationships
It never overwhelms you, but it never feels empty either.
Wardrobe of every character!! perfect!!! from earpieces to shoes

Just like the message it wants to convey, the whole project feels beautifully balanced
—helped even more by its gorgeous colour palette and the genuinely solid acting. 🎨🎭




🐱🐱🐱 A Grumpy Tsundere You Can’t Forget🐱🐱🐱
We’re introduced to a grumpy tsundere who means well, has a good heart… and an absolute menace of a mouth. Nothing we haven’t seen before, right?

But wait—this time, he actually does mean well.
He’s not your typical domineering CEO, OCD team leader, or goofy flirt with “issues.”

He’s a genuinely quirky architect:
a child at heart with the
emotional awareness of a mature adult.

He's not the most gentlemanly (with words) out there, but he is still better than the most gentlemanly one in the crowd sometimes.
He annoys you, and suddenly amazes you with his big-heartedness, and the small things.

At some point, I related to him so much that I started screen-recording his scenes and sending them to my bestie—and she couldn’t even argue.

He’s always trying to smooth over awkwardness or fill the silence with his strange, out-of-this-world conversations that he’s actually interested in. He tries to lighten the mood with his absurdity, or talk things out—while pretending he’s not doing you a favour, he’s “just being normal.”

But because his communication skills are tragic,
he ends up annoying everyone around him.

"The magic, however, is that the people who stick around him know he genuinely cares. They can feel it."
We Scorpios, sun signs with a moon Cancer, must relate heheh


He “hates” the idea of having a neighbor… but goes out of his way to help her, even on his birthday.

He “hates” the thought of his routine being disturbed by a new presence (the dog he shares his name wth kekekekek), yet gets attached in just a few days of caring for it.

We’ve all seen this character type in manga and dramas—but among all of them, he’s the most relatable.

Bro doesn’t explode in rage;
He just loudly and proudly flexes--
his single life, his routines,
and his “good habits.”
in the quirkiest way possible.

He’s the kind of character who quietly takes up residence in your head and just… stays there.

What’s not to love about him?
His ruthless truth-arrows, his low-key, zero-pressure kind of care…

I love how his friends don’t even take his insults seriously anymore.
In his head, love = taunts and honestly, the Yu Yu–Ye Jia bickering is elite 😂

Once you understand him, you can basically get him to do anything for you.

P.S. Every morning, Lin Sa and Shen Wu have to deal with a petty Yu Yu like:
“Why didn’t you like my Moments?”
“Why did you bully me in my dream?”
(Tbh, don’t we all ask our friends these things with full sincerity too? 😭💀)



💌💌💌 More Than Just “Single Old Guy Finds Love”💌💌💌
But the drama doesn’t stop at “quirky single old guy, or he finally finds love.”
It actually begins by explaining why he’s still single—
And by the end, you find yourself wondering, how was someone like this single for so long?
Because by then, you clearly see what an incredible person he is. [Ex: Even xiaoman ends up feeling she has fallen for him]

One of the best parts is that the story doesn’t just belong to him.
The supporting characters are treated with just as much sincerity.
The show doesn’t drown you in melodrama or endless sobbing;
Instead, it gently explores a wide range of relationships with a lot of warmth and nuance.

It reminds us that not every connection between a man and a woman has to be romantic.
Throughout life, regardless of gender, we meet people we simply don’t want to let go of—
people we want to walk beside, whether that bond is romantic or purely platonic.

Shen Wu and Yu Yu
Xiao Man and Shen Wu
Yu Yu and Xiao Man
(he cares for her like his own niece, though lowkey in his eyes(and concern level) dao, her pet>>> xiaoman)
Lin Sa and Yu Yu
Xiao Man and Ye Jia (one of the best found friendships!)
Yu Yu and Ye Jia
…honestly, if we keep listing them, it never ends.

The tiny group chat they formed just to discuss Yu Yu’s daily adventures was adorable.

Through Xiao Man, Shen Wu, and Xiao Xiao, we see what the younger generation is going through—
the decisions they’re forced to make, the pressure they face, and the kind of protection
and the guidance they need from the older generation:
lifestyle choices, career confusion, existential crises, financial struggles, messy romances…

Through Lin Sa, Yu Yu, and Ye Jia, we see the world of the older generation,
where romance becomes a luxury, and finding “the one” is truly not simple.
Career often becomes everything, yet even after giving it your all,
You still end up standing at a crossroads, unsure which path to take—
whether to prioritise stability, companionship, or your own peace.
(And in a way, those same questions echo back into the youth stories too.)
The body keeps getting older, but the heart… It’s still learning what it wants.

Even the side characters—like Ye Jia’s dad, the bike gang, Yu Yu’s family, Xiao Man’s friends—are all portrayed with the same care and attention that Yu Yu gets.

No one feels like a filler character; everyone is treated like a real person with their own weight in the story.

PS: Life is about learning from each other! I am glad Yejia helped Yuyu navigate his relationships more carefully and treat the people he cares about with the deserved respect and outspoken love. She is what my mom and my sisters are in my life!! The main character might be Yuyu, but the closest to the perfect?..warmest?..most mature? human in real life is what Yejia looked like.

There are so many things I love about this show and story that if I truly went ahead with listing them all.. MDL might overload!

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The whole series felt like a “dump your head into an aquarium” experience.
All girl-disguised-as-a-boy trope dramas are a bit illogical anyway… and Taiwanese dramas just seem to have their own unique filming style, I guess.

The good part?
Well, there has to be something good, because I watched it twice over a span of six years.
I guess this trope is one of my favourites, even if it wasn’t executed very well here.
I also found the SML interesting (not perfect but okay)— it just didn’t make sense to make him suffer when we know she can’t love him.

The bad part?
There are so many issues that it becomes hard to even list them.
I don’t want to compare it to billion-dollar-budget K-dramas/C-dramas, but the actors could’ve been a bit more sincere at times.
Especially the ML — his slow running and swimming in the first few episodes were way too obvious, just to highlight her “strength.” Either use better editing or train the actors properly for the role.
The FL is often frustrating… but that’s nothing new for drama watchers.

Overall:
It’s a light, fast watch. It’s a bit of a burden to sit through, and it’s also not something amazing that you’ll regret missing or feel like you’ve never seen before, but if you might enjoy at least a few parts ..it wont feel boring as long as u skip here and there some scenes..

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