Sam

I see. Thanks

On ep 2. The voices are dubbed, right?
For some reason it feels off and not the real voice of the actors

You can click edit and select the spoiler tag. I think that's what they meant

The drama starts really well. I liked how it introduced the characters, their dynamics, and their backstories. It gave the story a strong base, and because of that, the later conflicts felt more meaningful. I also liked that the supporting characters were not ignored. They actually got proper histories too, which was a nice change from shows where side characters are just there to fill space.
But once the story moves from the village to the war front, the writing became weaker for me. The FL has some training, but she is still new to real war. Meanwhile, the ML is supposed to be this experienced war veteran known for his strategy and skills. So it felt strange that the show focused so much on her growth while making him feel almost passive.
The FL’s fight choreography was surprisingly good, especially in contrast to the ML’s scenes, which felt underwhelming for someone set up as a legendary fighter.
Her suddenly going from a homeschooled novice to defeating two seasoned generals, getting half the army, and meeting the king felt too convenient, even for a fantasy story. What made it more frustrating was that the ML was already set up as someone who should shine in this part of the story, but he was barely used. That felt like a waste.
That said, I really enjoyed the capital arc. The political plot was interesting without being too confusing. The chess scene where the whole history was revealed was one of my favorite scenes in the show. I liked that the villains were not just evil because of greed or opposing beliefs. They became villains because a king decided to play with their lives, and that made their story more tragic and memorable.
Out of all the OSTs, “Rising Storm” stood out the most to me. The vocals and drums had so much energy and really hyped up the scenes.
Overall, it was a very one-sided drama, but still an enjoyable one. It had a strong start, a good political plot, memorable villain origin stories, and a strong OST.
8/10

Like I said, there are some things that people might not agree with. But when you judge the entire show and not particular aspects, it might not be that polarising.
FYI, I watched it over 3 months ago, I don't really remember every aspect

Sent as DM

An easy watch rom-com. They kept it light and breezy. So if you are looking for a stress free show this one is for you.
My only recommendation: don't binge this. As there are no over arching sub-plots, you might not be able to retain interest. This one is more of "I need a break and nothing stressful".
7/10

A well done series. I feel they set the tone perfectly. The eerie calm in the different control rooms where there's no shouting and barking orders at each other but just people doing the work, tackling one problem after the other. A big contrast to the agendas on the political side.
There are many instances where they let a scene be and the stress gets to you. You can hear your inner voice screaming DO SOMETHING and then your brain takes over and you realise what can they do? The helplessness and void of the unknown would really churn your stomach.
As a show, they stayed true to their story and portrayed it realistically.
10/10

Be prepared. Emotionally draining but fantastic show
10/10

I really enjoyed this. The story was well built. Instead of moving the story solely toward a particular goal or ending, they focused on character dynamics. After introducing our main leads and supporting cast, they showed how they fit into each other’s lives.
I really appreciated this, as most Chinese shows I’ve seen tend to start a whirlwind of love triangles, fights, breakups, etc. While most shows would have gone down a very specific and obvious path for the ML’s character and resolved everything at the end for “character development,” they chose a more mature route:
“Such an ML goes to work. He has colleagues, family, neighbors, and people he interacts with on a daily basis. How do they work with him? Like with most people, sometimes flattery works, sometimes you're patronizing, and sometimes just being real and straightforward works.”
This was very refreshing. Most adults behaved like adults (trust me, you don’t know how rare this is in this genre, lol).
The OST and BGM were great. They complemented the story perfectly and never overpowered a scene.
If you’re considering watching this, adjust your expectations to a more slice-of-life story and enjoy the characters stress-free.

1. Confessed on the last episode.
2. No
3. A girl(not telling who as to not completely spoil it) does start liking the ML towards the end but no toxicity and gets resolved very maturely.
4. Yes
5. Yes. It is a more mature buildup unlike most idol dramas that I've seen. So there is a gradual but solid build up.
6. Yes, last episode.
My recommendation: Watch it. Just enjoy the characters and how they function together as a group.

22 episodes in:
It was going so well. The premise was good, the build up was good. Then we have 2 episodes of just: Women this...Women that... Men this.... Men that. The same message was delivered brilliantly 5 episodes ago. We got the message, so why these long speeches again??
Also we'll introduce two new characters, give them a marriage flashback then a divorce flashback, return to the present give them a lecture on gender roles and reunite them.
During all this the FL lead makes up her mind to reveal the truth to the ML , only for this new character that was introduced 20 mins ago to ruin it.
"Oh you remember that old friend who used to wear a mask, he was obviously a woman. You didn't notice? Hahahahaha"
Like why??? of all the different ways this could have gone, the writer chose this?

Where can I find this with subs?

This was a fun show. The lead characters worked really well. Their banter was entertaining and didn't drag out.
The only thing it was lacking is a more rounded argument for the social issues they discussed in a few cases. It left very one sided while trying to get the message across. Kudos to the supporting cast. They added well to the character dynamics while staying unique.
8/10

This was actually fun. The central cast had good chemistry. The overly zealous and animated attitude really grows on you. The part where everyone gets slapped in the face is actually very refreshing. While there are some things that will rub today's audience in the wrong way, if you are planning to watching this, take it as part of the course and enjoy the ride.
8.5/10

Also for Spec: Birth

Did anyone else notice the One Piece reference in the opening?
we got the Alabasta sendoff pose from the cast

1. Around Ep6/7
2. Yes there was an extended period of separation after highschool. Both past and present stories are told in parallel.
3. Kinda yes but nothing too involved. Unrequited crush on the leads by other characters.
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. More mature than flashy kiss.
If you like love/hate stories with adults reverting to their childhood shenanigans.

No romance. Optimistic ending.

If medical/rescue dramas have taught me one thing, it's that you NEVER utter the following words:
Q uiet Day/Night, P eaceful, S low day or any other such combination.
And then there is this guy in the show uttering it at every time they have no calls. Dude...Bro... Why... Just Why. Every time he says that disaster strikes. I know its a show but dude....Common Sense