Love in the Midst of War
“Different Dreams” is a story of patriotism, deep friendship, love that survives the test of war, and rising up against oppression and tyranny. It weaves together action, history, drama, and romance in a beautiful way that will leave you breathless one moment and crying the next.The writing is excellent, and the whole entire cast—but especially the four leads—execute it with all that is within them. Top notch characters, incredibly three-dimensional.
Not to mention stunning cinematography.
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Great Potential, Missed Opportunity
I was so excited for this drama, but here I am dropping it. Quite simply, its strengths aren’t enough to carry it to the end.It’s got beautiful scenery, costumes, good acting, and great plot to begin with, and more… but…
What starts as a brilliant enemies-to-lovers set up spirals downhill in its last half. The strength of this drama was in its leads. Both are written with depth, acted very well, and have tremendous chemistry. However, the writing begins to disintegrate their like ability. Our ML begins as a domineering but actually very kind general bent on avenging his parents death. He falls quickly in love with the FL lead and sparks fly. Our FL begins as a strong, loyal woman who is brilliant and independent. What they become? Due to the excessive angst of this show, our ML becomes blinded by his love to the point of selfishness and near obsession. Our FL becomes cold and distant and hyper-independent, and she is needlessly cold to him despite their love for one another.
They love each other, but she hurts him over and over because the plot necessitates it. (The writing here is very disappointing.)This is Romeo and Juliet, except Juliet wants to stay alive so she just treats Romeo awful over and over and Romeo tries everything he can to force her to stay against her will.
The plot idea itself is great, and the cast is awesome. But it simply falls short. Not to mention the subplots were so boring, and the characters who had the subplots were overall unlikable. (Except for one of the antagonists. He was awesome!)
Poor CGI, long and drawn out angst, and more ruin the amazing potential this drama had and the awesome way it started. I tried to give it my all, but I can’t bring myself to finish.
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An excellent short drama
“Bright Eyes” isn’t perfect. No short drama is. But this one was a fun ride. Visually? It’s stunning. The production quality is very well done, and the cinematography is beautiful. The costumes and sets are excellent too.Our two leads were incredible. Not much to say there. We have a strong and beautiful and intelligent FL and an ML who is head over heels for her. Their natural chemistry was beautiful to watch. Thankful for that happy ending.
It’s nothing new. Rebirth stories are a dime a dozen. But I will say “Bright Eyes” adds some new takes to a familiar trope that I found very intriguing.
Yes, it’s got some stupid stuff like the average short drama. Yes, the pacing is weird. Yes, things needed to be fleshed out more and explained better.
But to be honest, it’s a good watch. I really enjoyed the ride it took me on.
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Romance to the Max in the Midst of an Engaging Historical World
This is definitely a historical romance that is worth your time.This would have scored higher if I had been just a bit shorter but it ultimately falls a bit prey to some C-Drama pitfalls. Overwhelmingly though, “Wonderland of Love” is an excellent watch.
Pros:
• THE LEADS THE LEADS THE LEADS. Oh my goodness, these two were brilliant. Their characters, their acting, their chemistry, their development—just wonderful. You will be engrossed in their love story. For the most part, they face everything together and hardly let things come between them. It was phenomenal.
• The plot was brilliant and delivered by a cast who, majority wise, was excellent. You will fall in love with Li Ni’s Zhenxi Army as well as Cui Lin’s best friend/maid and her father. And don’t get me started on the Crown Princess—she is a masterclass in writing and acting.
• Super satisfying ending!
• The OST and production is quality to the max.
Cons:
• Some annoying villains. Good grief, most of the villains in this show are just plain annoying. The original villain, Sun Jing, is excellent in every way, but after his defeat halfway through, the other villains are the worst. I got so annoyed dealing with their antics. And did we really need more psycho-unrequited-love characters in the Cdrama world? No… no we did not. But we get two here, and I loathed both of them.
• The writing really gets wonky episodes 28-38. I managed to keep going, but I was very frustrated after what was an incredibly first 20 episodes. They really needed to shorten the story and take out some of the secondary baddies who, again, were more annoying than compelling. This hurt the rating big time for me.
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Intrigue, Betrayal, and Romance
Pros:• Acting that will blow your mind. The main cast and a majority of our secondary cast members as well deliver top-notch emotions. They execute their acting to perfection. Oh, and the women characters? So freaking strong! These actresses nail it.
• The romance of the main couple. Lui Ping and Fu Shou have one of the most beautiful relationships I have ever seen in a Chinese drama. They grow together, fight together, fall madly in love, and never give up on their love, even when they have to separate for some time. Oh, and their chemistry? It’s off the charts. Like so so good.
• Intrigue. The plot of this show really keeps you at the edge of your seat. You think you know what’s going on, and then you discover the truth! The inner workings of the court and the rivalry between the characters is brilliantly done. This show, for the most part, kept me gripped to the point of staying up way too late to keep watching.
• Satisfying ending. Given the actual history, they handled it as well as they could. Most importantly, our two leads get to be together away from the politics and danger for the rest of their lives.
Cons:
• Pacing issues. For the most part, this show moves along very well, but it’s 54 episodes. I wouldn’t have finished it without occasionally skipping through, especially towards the end.
• The time jump… I get that they had to accurately depict the timeline of history, but, to me, the time jump towards the end really annoyed me. He spends six years in absolute misery, and we only get two minutes or so for his reunion with Fu Shou. Those last five episodes are excruciatingly depressing until the end.
Overall, it is only the second CDrama over 42 episodes that has kept me till the end. The first one being, “Love Like the Galaxy”, which, if you loved that one as much as I did, this one is worth giving a try. I cried my eyes out, but, overall, it was well done and beautifully delivered.
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A Swing and a Near-Miss
"Nothing But You" was a fun watch. I love, love, love Leo Wu, and he knocks this one of out the park. But it falls short of what it could be.Pros:
- The cast. Leo Wu shines in this role; Sanchuan is one of the most lovable MLs I've seen in a while. The supporting cast though? Excellent. Truly excellent. It was one of the rare times where I was fully invested in all three romances! Plus, the brotherhood of the tennis team was so special.
- The plot. This was a sports drama that reminds me of "Falling Into You", but in a lot of ways, this presents a fresh perspective. It is just plain, objectively a great story.
- A good relationship. When they finally get together, there are a ton of adorable moments! But what I love is how we see them work through arguments together, admit their mistakes, and get stronger, even to the point of making sacrifices for each other. It was refreshing in a land of melodrama!
Cons:
- The pacing in the last half. The last half of this drama left me skipping through some, which is sad because this wasn't the case in the first half. Between the FL lead consistently hurting him for about five episodes before they finally get together and then the overall slowing down of the tennis-centric plot and a needless time jump, it lost me a lot more than it kept me unfortunately.
- The FL needs work. Our FL wasn't awful by any means, but there were some things that rubbed me wrong in the second half. In the first half, she was this relentlessly strong woman; in the second, I don't see it. She becomes very childlike in their relationship (I get being giddy in love, but this was just way to big a jump for her character). And, like I mentioned, she hurts Sanchuan quite a bit before finally giving into her feelings for him. I found this super frustrating.
Overall, it should have been shorter, but it was still a good watch. If you like sport dramas, you'll really enjoy this one.
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Good but Barely Misses its Potential
While far from perfect, I enjoyed this drama. Its plot was so unique, and I’m always here for writers thinking outside the box. So, here’s my rundown:Pros:
• The story. “Be My Princess” has a very fresh plot, and I really enjoyed the story as it progressed. It does a good job of pulling you in.
• The FL lead. Ming Wei is amazing. She is absolutely awesome. She is such a strong and compelling lead. I’ve seen and been impressed with Zhou Zie Qiong’s acting before, but this was another level. It really showed her range.
• The chemistry 🔥. I am a sucker for a good kiss scene, and this drama is full of them. In fact, it has some of the most beautifully, intentionally crafted kiss scenes of ANY drama I’ve seen.
• The 2nd couple… brilliant. Just brilliant. Could have watched their own show.
Cons:
• The pacing. Even though the story was good, I skipped through a whole lot because, to me, the pacing just felt slow and even odd sometimes. I would NOT have finished it without skipping. And then to end the whole series with two episodes of their show, scenes we have already watched multiple times—felt like a poor decision. I didn’t watch them since the story really finishes happily at Episode 28.
• Tropes. Despite having a very fresh idea for the plot, the screenplay does fall to the pitfalls of Cdramas and relies on tropes, even when these tropes make the characters act in ways that don’t fit who they are, especially the male lead.
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Following Your Dreams and Finding Love
A brilliantly written story of following one’s dreams through heartache and sacrifice and of finding someone who loves you enough to come along that path with you.“You Are My Glory” was simply phenomenal. It had one of the sweetest romances I’ve ever seen in a C-Drama, one that was never bogged down by ridiculous separation, psychotic exes, or disapproving parents. Instead it was fun and realistic. And don’t even get me started on their chemistry. I’ve seen these two in dramas before, and they almost always have great chemistry with their costars, but this was another level. It was like they literally couldn’t keep away from each other. Some of the best kiss scenes ever.
The plot itself was fresh and meaningful, giving a glimpse into the world of aerospace. Honestly, it was a fascinating story that kept you very interested.
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CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY
“Why Women Love” is a beautiful but realistic drama depicting the struggles of finding love, and it does not disappoint. The story of Jiangyue and Jiaxin will absolutely melt your heart.And so will their chemistry!!! It is NEXT LEVEL. Even when they’re not touching, it almost feels like they can’t keep their hands off each other. And when they finally get together, it’s full on explosive.
The slow burn romance may try your patience, and there may be times when the FL makes you frustrated with how she holds her herself back, even to the extent of hurting the ML. But the way the show works through her deep, deep hurts and fears is beautiful. In the end, everything is so worth it. They become a couple that is strong, adorable, and unwavering in their love. No messy break ups. No pointless fights. Just love.
The cast is great. The supporting cast will make you fall in love with them, and the two leads are truly exceptional. Wang Zi Yi delivered a ML that may have just become my new favorite.
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Despite the negative reviews, this is worth the watch
An excellently delivered drama that will have you holding your breath one moment and sawing, “Aww…” the next. “Dream Garden” accomplishes what many suspense dramas fail to do, a good blend of the ongoing story with the unfolding romance.For one, this is a fresh suspense story. The focus on the psychological side as opposed to a typical crime solving format was super cool. The hypnotic scenes were super weird in the best way. It reminded me, cinematography-wise, of the blockbuster hit, “Inception”. The individual story arcs propelled the story at an very excellent pace, something many C-Dramas falter on. Choosing to adopt a typical Korean style format of 16 one house episodes was brilliant.
Asides from the writing, it was the cast that made this drama truly 10 Star worthy. I’m a huge Gong Jun fan… HUGE… and he did not disappoint. Neither did our FL lead, Qiao Xin, who also shines in just about everything I’ve seen her in. Their chemistry with one another was simply perfect. While the romance itself is slow burn, when they do get together, there is no lack of amazing cute and steamy scenes. And the supporting cast was excellent as well. Aside from a really compelling villain and compelling clients at the counseling center, I can’t remember the last time I was invested in all three of a C-Drama’s couplings. That, itself, was impressive.
The final thing that impressed me was that, when the drama seemed as though it were about to go in the direction of a long and unnecessary separation for the leads, the FL convinced the ML within a hour that he could rely on her to deal with what was coming and they got back together. That is huge to me. Strong woman, strong couple--10/10.
All in all, this was a tremendous watch. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ll be adding it to multiple drama lists on my profile; so, if you found this review helpful or agreed with my thoughts, go check out those lists for some other recommendations.
But first… do yourself a favor and watch “Dream Garden”. You won’t regret it
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If you like sports dramas, this is for you!
This was a solid blend of comedy, romance, and winter sports. Like seriously. A perfect blend. I haven’t laughed out loud this much while watching in a drama in a while.It was the winter sports that drew me to this, and I’m so glad I watched it. The plot was really great I haven’t laughed out loud this much while watching in a drama in a while.
It was the winter sports that drew me to this, and I’m so glad I watched it. The plot was really great, and the leads were absolutely phenomenal, especially the ML, and I loved how they stuck together through all the adversities they faced.
It did drag a bit, but, overall, the pacing is okay. They do an excellent job of wrapping up the subplots in the last several episodes so the last two can focus on the final competitions and happy endings.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Second Chance at First Love
As usual, Kim So-Hyun delivers with amazing acting and an eye for a good script. “Serendipity’s Embrace” is the wholesome romance we needed this summer.Pros:
• A solid cast. Our leads were amazing, first of all. KSH is one of my all time favorite Korean actors/actresses, and I fell in love with our male lead in “Unlock My Boss”. The rest of the ensemble cast was great too. I loved love loved the best friend and how selfless she was, and the rest of the cast stole my heart too.
• Slice of life at its best. If you follow my reviews (which I know a lot of you do and thank you for that ❤️), you may know I’m not a fan of “slice of life” dramas. There’s only been two within the genre that ever got me, “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” (KDrama) and “Hidden Love” (CDrama). But this one has all the best elements of the slice of life. The beauty of young love, friendship, and healing comes through splendidly in the day to day lives of each character.
• Adorable romance. These two are so lovably awkward with each other. It’s adorable. Their quirky relationship is so cute, and it develops and matures beautifully.
Cons:
• Crazy Mother-in-Law trope. I thought K-Dramas were outgrowing this one. Good grief. The toxic mom showing up in the last three episodes really annoyed me. And worse, how did we not get to see them finally beat her in the end? The whole ending is very much “in a few months to a year, we can finally overcome her meddling” instead of the mom either getting what she deserved or growing as a person. This drama was gonna be a ten but this really irked me.
• Chemistry. I found this just a bit lacking even though they were cute. It didn't have umph I was hoping to see out of the leads.
• JUSTICE FOR SANG PIL. Okay, this one may be silly, but the guy best friend deserved so much better than these writers gave him. 1. He looks back onhis life unhappy that he has dedicated it to work but does not change at the end. 2. He laments not having love, and he never gets it! Even at the end of the show, you get the feeling that he is in an unrequited love situation with the second FL. 3. He would have been a much better fit for said girl. But anywayyyy....
All that said, Kim So-Hyun never disappoints, and this is no exception.
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An Easy but Super Fun Watch
As far as webdramas go, this is great! I loved this show so incredibly much… in fact, I watched it in one sitting.Our two leads were just excellent in every way. I liked the personalities, the acting, and the CHEMISTRY. It managed to pack a lot in its 10-20 minute episodes, and so the pacing (for a web drama) was great.
The second FL was a bit hard to swallow as a character. She annoyed me quite a bit. And even though I lovex the main lead, the second lead syndrome in this drama comes hard at your heartstrings. I wasn’t emotionally prepared.
All in all, a fun watch, especially if you like webdrams like “User Not Found” and “Be My Boyfriend”. Definitely add it your list.
If you like this kind of drama, check out my recommendations on my “Short and Bingeable” list on my profile.
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A Dramatic Story of Love and Family
“Grand Prince” was amazing, simply amazing.It’s a story of the strength of love through incredible adversity. The leads deliver us a heart wrenching and beautiful journey of deep, enduring love. “Grand Prince” has stellar acting—STELLAR—excellent pacing, great romance (with some amazing kiss scenes), a great cast, and a captivating story. Oh, and it has one of the most satisfying endings ever!
Also, Jin Yang has to be one of the most compelling villains I have ever seen in a KDrama. He was written brilliant and acted brilliantly.
Absolutely recommend.
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A Comedy That Turns into Quite the Dramatic Ride
Initial Thoughts (Episodes 1-8) (Will post final thoughts after the finale):“Moonshine” is a charming story with an amazing cast. As always, Yoo Seung-Ho delivers compellingly, and it’s also worth noting that Hyeri is reminding us in this drama why she is such an up and coming actress in Korea. This drama’s initial strength is in its actors and its comedy. The comedic scenes are delivered very well and will have you laughing out loud. The plot, as a whole, is engaging and new. The prohibition and moonshine dynamic is fascinating.
The intrigue and action comes to a boil in the second half, and the love between the leads was so pure and beautiful. No needless breakup or thing keeping them apart. In the end, they—and all their friends—work together to bring about vengeance for those lost and a brighter future for Joseon.
Another great point was the chemistry of not just the first couple—though it was amazing and had some awesome kiss scenes—but the second too. I could have watched a whole drama based on their story. What a great ending for them as well.
The finale wrapped up the story beautifully, making up for any bit of slowness in the beginning. Truly worth the watch.
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