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Completed
Brocade Odyssey
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 23, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Dramatic and Historical

I have seen a lot of negative comments about the focus of the silk and brocade business aspect of this drama, and it saddens me a little.

What people fail to understand is that this drama *is* historical, and is relaying to the audience the great efforts it took by the Chinese to establish what is known as “The Silk Road”. It was then, a trade route that stretched from China to the Mediterranean region spanning over 4,000 miles or 6,400 kilometers. That it itself was astounding.

The Silk Road not only opened up that then monstrous trade route, but it also gave opportunity for cultural as well as goods exchanges through foot traffic. Many of those who traveled the Silk Road after it was established were Chinese merchants and Buddhist monks. It brought trades of silk, spices, metals and a myriad other items to areas that had not been exposed to them previously. Currently, since it has been rediscovered, the Silk Road has been reopened and the United Nations sponsored a trans-Asian motor highway and railroad project, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to revive and expand the ancient routes through modern infrastructure development.

The history is diverse and rich. If you are only interested in romance then this drama is not for you.

If you drop your expectations and truly watch this drama for what it is, a look back at the establishment of a massive trade route, the often overwhelming and demoralizing structure of family clans, the unjust and often brutal treatment of women and servants with a love story mixed in, then watch and enjoy.

First - just a big shout out to Mr. Beauty ( the nickname for Zheng Yecheng from Love 020). His martial arts are made incredibly beautiful due to his background in theatrical arts and majoring in opera. He is perfect for roles like this. I cannot say enough about his wire stunts or his acting as they are stellar.

Tan Songyun is as usual, fabulous. Fiesty, protective

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Completed
My Journey to You
1 people found this review helpful
May 8, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Heart and Mind

I am impressed with this drama all the way around. From the OST to the ending is a masterpiece.

The story grabbed my attention immediately and held it until the very end. Every detail, character and scene transition was flawless. The story was captivating, and the filming locations were stunning. The martial arts stunts were executed beautifully and were a visual delight. The cast was incredibly talented down to the smallest role. I am actually at a loss for words as to how impressed I am by this drama. Watch it, you won’t be sorry you did. But be prepared for the ending - have a couple of tissues nearby.

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Completed
The White Olive Tree
1 people found this review helpful
May 4, 2025
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Heartwrenching Reality

After arriving at this dramas conclusion I had to take some time to clear out my emotions. I cried a lot after the ml and fl returned to China. For the losses they experienced, the atrocities they witnessed, the terrorism the experienced first hand and the beating their emotions took over their last few days in the East Country.

A lot of the reviews I have read complained of the pace being too slow, not appreciating the leads, etc. But being a person who has not been diagnosed with PTSD but has experienced a great deal of trauma in my years on earth, the storyline grabbed my heart and squeezed hard.

The development of the relationship of the leads was heartwarming and painful. That’s the way that strong but kind and considerate people fall in love. Love requires them to step out of their personal world and learn to communicate, tolerate and embrace the quirks and faults of the one chosen to be loved. Tgis script gave the characters plenty of time to develop personally and as a couple. There wasn’t much time spent on the side couples which I found refreshing. There wasn’t any bff with bitter experiences handing out advice or crazy childhood sweethearts turned manipulative stalker trying to break them apart. Only one competitive woman that worked with the fl who wanted to outdo the fl in every area. Her machinations were wasted and didn’t last long.

I have to say that CZY was impressive in his role. A kind and gentle man who wanted to help the residents of East Country be liberated from those trying to wipe them out and destroy everything and every one in their path. He had a strong personality that was humble and understated which caused respect and admiration from everyone he encountered. He was quick to protect those he cared about and didn’t think twice about saving others even if it meant harming himself to assure their safety.

The fl appeared to be easy to bully, but she was strong and wisely kept her thoughts and opinions to herself until it was necessary to speak and act. She was a little self-absorbed and stubborn to the point of her detriment on several occasions. One minute wise beyond her years and stubborn when there was no need for it.

Their personalities were well suited and their chemistry combined with meeting their “person” helped them slide into becoming a couple - even after a short break-up happened because they both were afraid to admit their weakness as they saw it that caused them both to have PTSD.

The sloppy way the fl was diagnosed with depression and then given a tranquilizer to cope during daylight hours was so off the mark. And it was hard to believe that a trained and educated mental health doctor wasn’t able to distinguish that the fl had PTSD showed a lack of research on the scriptwriters side. I do not know how it was addressed in the novel, but this was poorly represented. Also the fact that being “cured” so quickly was another mark against the script. While the doctor misdiagnosed the fl, she was quick to determine the severity of the ml’s PTSD and offered little advice to family and friends in how to come alongside someone with this diagnosis. This may be an accurate reflection on mental health practices as well. Most treatments and findings come from cases involving male patients and females are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as they are presented differently in women than men. It was a bad diagnosis for the fl and poorly executed therapy for both.

I also found the excessive use of tear drops a bit annoying. Sometimes it was like watching rivers pour down their cheeks and due to the emotional content of a lot of the scenes between the leads, the budget for this drama must have earmarked 20% for tear drops alone.

The casting of the extras was beyond odd. There were Chinese, Indian, African, Middle Eastern, Hispanic and Caucasian actors cast (and why does every cdrama cast some of the most unattractive Caucasian extras??) that all spoke English. The dubbing was bad, but could be overlooked if you focus on other things in the scene. And some of the lines of the terrorists we’re downright funny because of the bad dubbing and poor understanding of swear word usage in English. Now back to the main point of the review…

The scenery outside of the two imaginary cities was lovely and had there not been a war going on, their looked to have been a peaceful place.

The sets allowed for war torn cities to have broken down buildings, poor transportation and hotels that were furnished with rescued furnishings added to try to make the rooms more guest friendly.

There’s more I could go into with the side characters, but while they contributed to the overall success of the drama, it was mainly about the horrible affect war has on people physically, economically and emotionally. They all did an excellent job with their roles - even the kind of creepy overly concerned boss of the ml. his character hinted of having feelings for the ml and yet not. It was just a weird role.

The second traumatic event for our couple was horrible. The portrayal of the abduction and torture of both was genuinely hard to watch. Humans can be so cruel and take pleasure in hurting others in every way possible just because they can. The outcome was devastating for the ml and CZY pulled off the complexity of someone suffering from severe PTSD brilliantly. His transformation reached his eyes and face, it wasn’t just in his acting. He should be recognized for his excellence in this role. He was truly outstanding.

The fl is worthy of accolades as well. Even though she suffered from PTSD as well, she took on the role of caretaker and loved him well. She protected, defended, took care of his personal needs without making him feel like a burden. She was able to communicate with him as her partner without treating him like an invalid incapable of doing anything for himself. This showed how much she truly loved him and respected him as a man.

I was glad that they decided to marry and then to go somewhere far away from the pressure and stress of living in society that focuses so much on perfectionism and shows little empathy or concern for any kind of physical or mental illness.

I still need to decompress from the emotions stirred up from this drama, as I would like to read the novel and watch it again.

If you’re on the fence because of negative reviews, watch this anyway. And watch it without the negativity that some wrote, and put yourself into the story. You will be moved in many ways, and despite the heaviness of the story at times, enjoy the moments of beauty found in even the most terrible situations. And do the same with your circumstances. Love isn’t always sunshine and roses. Sometimes it is bitter, ugly, painful and frustrating. But to love someone truly takes the act of putting your beloved and their needs above your own, talking about hard things, and working together to get through the horrors life can throw at you, no matter how hard it gets or how long it takes.

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Completed
Rainkissed Fate
1 people found this review helpful
Apr 14, 2025
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Wow

I normally don’t watch short dramas because there’s just not enough time to develop the story or the characters and jump over much needed content like the cow jumping over the moon - nice try, but it’s always a miss.

But this one, even though it felt a little disjointed at the beginning grabbed me from about ep 3. And talk about chemistry? I had to open doors and windows for fear of the fire coming off my TV triggering my smoke alarm.

The story was good. Rich heiress finds the man she had a one night stand with 6 years prior, manipulates him a bit by holding money over his head to help his sick mother get the treatment she needs. Little does she know he still harbors feelings for her, and she for him, but her desire to have another child so that the baby can donate bone marrow for the son who has just entered the critical stage of leukemia.

They get married after signing a marriage contract with a 3 month duration.

Enter crazy gossipy neighbor who wants her daughter to be with the ML, but he wants nothing to do with her. The acting from these two is terrible. Alrhough the mother pulled off the vicious gossip harpy to perfection - something that either takes a lot of practice, comes naturally or she’s experienced that in rl. The daughter doesn’t care if the ML is married. She wants what she wants and will do whatever it takes including lying and aiding in kidnapping and putting the ML’s mother in situations that cause her many health related attacks. Nasty family. Their acting was terrible.

The ex boyfriend is one of those characters you hate right away. Anither one of those people who won’t take no for an answer, fabricate situations to achieve his end, and even attempted assault and murder. He’s awkward and creepy.

The ML’s mother is overly dramatic and prone to having fits, feigning illness and screaming to manipulate her son. Some of her antics are understandable based on past events.

Then there’s the crazy doctor who is the FL’s exboyfriend who turns out to be the creepiest stalker and manipulator ever. His acting was okay in some places, but mostly it was like watching a chunk of wood lumber awkwardly around and recite lines.

Then the FL’s jealous and crazy brother. Worst actor ever. He had crazy in his eyes, terrible morals and used his wealth to have goons beat and harass people into submission. His character reminded me of a cornered chihuahua who would bite and snap and attack, then whine and blame his insanity on the FL.

The FL’s best friend was finally one who wasn’t an airhead or bounced around from partner to partner. She spoke her piece and then left it at that. This was a refreshing change of pace.

Two more overacted characters were the FL’s father and the wicked stepmother. Neither were convincable in their roles, and the stepmother wasn’t really needed to make the story better.

I have not seen the ML and FL aim any dramas before, but I was impressed by both of them. Their dialog, interaction as a couple and intimacy screens were spot on.

The FL is not a pushover. She doesn’t buy into lies nor does she fall for manipulations for very long. She’s a protective mother and despite her sharp words to the ML, she loves him as much as he loves her.

The ML was very much a master in his role. Strong, proud, protective and completely dedicated to the FL and has a pretty strong EQ. He risked his life and reputation to help her and protected. And let’s face it. He’s got the visuals. Plus, he knows that a kiss between lovers is not supposed to look like dead fish meeting dead fish.

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Completed
Destined
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 17, 2025
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Destined for Greatness

I stared watching this drama because of Bai Jing Ting after seeing him in The First Frost. And, I have to say I was not disappointed in any way.

40 episodes might seem like a lot. The ML and FL in constant danger built up anxiety, but never once did I fStfoward through any of the characters.

The cinematography was incredibly well done. There were no mechanical horses, no wobbly swords, no blood flying before a sword came close. Tge scenic sites were selected well and blended into the story well.

The acting was superb. Every characters role was done well and convincing by their portrayal.

The court scenes and fight scenes were flawless, including parts where war machines were involved.

The best part of the series was the interaction betweeen the ML and the FL. They started out disliking each other, but through various circumstances they learned to trust, rely and love each other, even when villains attempted to hurt them or break them apart. They grew closer through their adversities and were able to work together flawlessly.

If you’re looking for fluff, this is not a drama for that purpose. It is gritty, it is filled with angst and non-stop plotting and scheming typical in royal court dramas. But there was never a doubt about the integrity or honesty of the leads.

Tgeres so much that is good about Destined, and I could go on, but it’s better if you watch it yourself; even if you’re not a fan of period drsmas, Destined will win you over.

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Completed
Strong Girl Nam Soon
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 16, 2025
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Weirdly Addicting

I must preface that I was completely captivated once again with the acting skills of Byeon Woo-seok. I was in shock for a while because the other two dramas I have seen him in had characters that were so sweet, and his eyes reflected something wholesome and kind. Yet this character was deeply sinister and violent.

Most of the story was good, super human strength passed down to the females in the family. They were smart, fearless and capable to a point.

My favorite was the Grandmother. She way coy and flirtatious, but carried about her business in a no nonsense attitude. She loved her family and was willing to sacrifice herself for them.

The stunt work wasn’t that good. When Nam-Soon was carrying men or heavy things her body placement and angles made the scenes look cartoonish rather than believable.

The story line wasn’t too bad. It was entertaining for the most part. Some of the acting was odd and didn’t really fit the character buildup of the FL in the first few chapters. There was no growth into her character except for the little bit in regards to the fire and her jumping in and out of windows to rescue people. She goes from naive free-spirit to instant actress and investigator in a heartbeat. She was eccentric and her character was over-acted in my opinion. (side note, they should have left her hair long, the haircut she had was t flattering at all.

The FL’s mother was portrayed beautifully. She appeared narcissistic and self-absorbed but had a heart for justice and second chances. And let’s face it, she rocked that leather riding suit like a pro.

The story progressed at an excellent pace, and the breadcrumbs that were left of Si-o’s character made you feel a little guilty for disliking him so much.

The only side story that was ended oddly was the homeless couple she first met when she arrived in Korea. The way the female character treated her male counterpart was a fitting ending. But it should have ended with him regretting his choices as she walked away.

I don’t really remember much of the music as it seemed to blend in too much and didn’t stand out enough to make an impression.

Overall, it was a good show, but it will be a long time before I rewatch.

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Completed
Hidden Love
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 2, 2025
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Too Sweet

There is not much I can add to the reviews already about this drama, other than it can tug at your heart strings with the story and acting of the ML and FL.

One scene in particular made me cry, not just get teary eyed, but cry to the place where I had to open a box of tissue. Her surprise trip find out if the ML really was seeing someone. Zhso LuSi did this scene so well, Ang it was easy to empathize with her pain and the disappointment she felt.

Big lesson in this drama that they all learned, and was exemplified by the FL parents was to speak about what you’re thinking and your concerns in a gentle, kind and truthful manner. So many misunderstandings in life occur because people try to figure out what someone else is thinking without asking them.

This will be on my list to watch again. Multipl3 times.

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Completed
Hello, the Sharpshooter
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Overcomers

I liked this drama without all the angsty tension and martyrdom attitudes. The couples learned to talk and deal with issues together (some faster, some slower), rather than sacrificing their relationship over a false sense of heroics and hurting one another like the older adults were doing. The villain was perfectly played and I’m glad they kept him out of a lot of the drama.

There was also a good lesson on letting your own jealousy lead you down the wrong path.

Attention to PTSD was well done
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Completed
I'm Not a Robot
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 20, 2024
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10

Laughters & Tears

This was so well done. Nearly trope-free, full of tension and sweetness. I have never cried so much from a drama as I did with this one. The M/FL were brilliant when it came to expressing their sorrow, and the FL did an incredible job playing her 3 roles. ML was so moving I didn’t hate him when he was angry because you could feel his angst and joy and pain. Suppirting cast was good balance to lighten the intense emotion from the leads. Definitely re-watchable. you won’t be disappointed-a real gem!
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Completed
Are You Safe
1 people found this review helpful
Sep 27, 2024
31 of 31 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 10

Really Good

Tan Jianci is phenomenal in any role. In this drama he portrays a quirky, overly-thrifty IT genius perfectly. He is funny, smart and a great judge of character. And, a little naive when it comes to human nature because he is a very good person.

I found very little wrong with this drama. I thought the story was very good, and each cast member was perfectly aligned with their character. I really enjoyed the way everyone developed and adjusted with the difficulties and tasks they were given, and grew into a truly unified team battling cyber crime.

I especially liked the protection tips that were presented clearly at the end of each episode. It was a nice touch for those who are unaware of the ability of the technology around us, and the people who use it to defraud and steal from others.

This is a very good drama, and I will be watching again.

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Completed
Do You Like Brahms?
1 people found this review helpful
Sep 14, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Refreshing

While there were the typical issues with rich girl crushes, snobbery from people with money, self-esteem and reserved personalities, I was very much impressed with the ML and FL and the chemistry and emotional bond they built.

there was of course the tearful break-up and reunion, and even though it was frustrating to watch adults talking over someone and then in turn not feeling heard, this series was actually quite good.

Both leads were insecure, and needed to work on learning how to communicate with each other, even when they were separated.

The support roles were refreshing as they didn’t join forces to separate the leads. Parents mostly kept their manipulations to a light, and almost non-existence level.

Both leads were excellent in portraying angst for feeling responsible to parents and their desire to do what they truly loved, even if that meant disappointing people they cared about.

When the leads finally reunited, there wasn’t s sappy overly cheesey wedding, but there were glimpses of both having finally understood themselves and learned to truly care for another person and express that verbally.

This is worthy of a rewatch for me.

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Completed
Legend of the Female General
1 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2025
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Fierce But Soft

I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the FL not meeting the idealized version of what a woman disguised as a man in the military would look like. So let me address that first. Have you all looked at some of the soldiers and other actors in this and other wuxia style dramas? Some of the men would be blown away by a soft breeze were it not for their costume and play swords. Her voice is feminine, but many male vocalists that sing tenor or even soprano have feminine voices. Si what’s your beef? Just because you had a preconceived idea of what a female general should look like, you have decided this young actress doesn’t match your imagination. Yoy claim you want a strong female lead, but cry because her strength came from an abusive family, war, a narcissistic violent brother and the plotting court politician that wanted her life snuffed out…and she survived? What else do you want? Did you expect a manly voice and physique? Seriously?

My Review:

Frankly, I enjoyed this drama a great deal. The story was good. Yes there were holes, yes some things weren’t plausible in real life. But again - it is a STORY, not reality.

The chemistry between the leads was palpable. The ML’s eyes could be cold as ice and incredibly attractive once he found out how much he cared. I love also that the FL embraced her femininity when she was able to finally show the world who she was. Their character development as individuals and then as couple was very good. And when the ML was forced to deliver the edict from the jerk of an emporer who was manipulated by the 2ML, one could feel the pain his character had.

The floofy spoiled Chancellors daughter was rather ignorantly naive and spoiled. She lived in a world she created in her own mind in regards to others and the 2ML’s affections.

The villains were portrayed well. Bith tried to justify their choices and actions by shifting the blame to others and when they were eventually caught, it was still their delusions that came from their corrupted minds that poured out of their mouth.

The 2nd male lead annoyed me. While he had a pretty face, you could see the corruption and desire to get what he wanted (the FL) regardless of the cost - even to the point of manipulating the emporer into breaking their engagement. I detest a character that doesn’t take no for an answer and tries to force his way in.

The choreography of the fight scenes was very good. I didn’t see any wobbly swords, or fake blood spurting from wounds that hadn’t been inflicted yet. Of course things were exaggerated, but again, it’s a STORY.

The music was good, scenes were shot well, and the extras did a great job in the background.

Overall, I scored this a 10, because it was a good visual story and every scene was shot well.

If you haven’t watched it, throw out your expectations and just enjoy the STORY!

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Completed
Why Is He Still Single?
0 people found this review helpful
23 days ago
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Perfect Ending

This drama was a mixed bag of nuts that I didn’t know what I would pull out if I put my hand in the bag. And I loved it.

The ML - Yu Yu - was endearingly annoying initially. Like many creative people many of his thought processes and social difficulties came from overthinking and the inability to put into spoken words what he was thinking and feeling. This character was a beautifully flawed human being who wanted to connect with people but didn’t know how.

His behavior is classic ADHD with sides of social anxiety and OCD. His design theory of a “warm zone” was also a way he expressed his desire to connect on an intimate level with someone but could only do so through his designs. Wallace Huo performed exceedingly well (as he usually does) and made his character lovable even when he came across as a snob or a jerk. He made you love and feel frustrated with Yu Yu at the same time.

Every character in this drama was well cast - even the little pug.

There were no angst driven sub plots, no villainous characters and I loved how the writer connected all of their lives together and they grew into solid friendships.

The music was lovely and very appropriate to the scenes.

There were chats cters who came in and moved out of the storyline which gave it a slice-of-life realistic feel.

The romance is a slow one between the leads, and it was beautiful, painful, funny and realistic. They weren’t carried away by emotion or hormones, but slowly and steadily drew closer and then came together. Tgey built a good foundation and then started dreaming.

This drama was so good in showing that our assumptions and snap judgements of people that are different from ourselves are often very wrong. It showed that even though someone might be annoying doesn’t mean they are terrible people and how important it is to look outside the “normal” and see the beauty hidden behind the thorns and briars.

By the end of the last episode I was smiling so much my face hurt. The ending was truly beautifully done.

If you’re hesitating to watch because it’s not a typical rom com, put the thoughts aside and watch this. There’s so much packed into 16 episodes and worth the time to watch and rewatch!

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Completed
Blend Feelings
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 13, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Pretty Good

I’ll start off saying that if it wasn’t for the leads, this drama wouldn’t have received as high a score as I gave it. Initially I wanted to say the only thing that saved it was the music, but changed my mind after watching it all the way through.

The casting and acting for every role other than the leads felt like I was watching a middle school production. Editing was bad in several places and the supporting cast was super weak.

I could tell from the first appearance of the ML’s brother that he was the villain. His smile was too fake, his praise and friendliness was artificial. He had no concept of how to look genuine but be a slime ball. His wife was a little better, but not much. She was too obvious.

The FL’s ex, who happened to be the ML’s cousin was just a terrible actor. You could tell he was nervous by his aggressively over-acted “passion”. His kisses were forced and awkward. Every kiss scene with him looked like he probably gave the women a swollen lip because he crashed into them repeatedly.

Even the ML and FL’s grandfathers were extremely awkward.

I preface this by saying that I apologize if something had happened to this actor to cause speech issues. I am saying this S someone who has no knowledge of his oersonal life experiences but you could hardly understand him as his words were so slurred and blended together (kudos to those who managed to extract anything intelligible from his speaking).

The ML’s grandfather was supposed to be a domineering retired CEO but he was more like a bullied student who relied on a practiced false bravado enforced by his clicking cane shoe tapping.

There was bad editing as well as sound effects. For example, the scene where the ML steps out from behind a tree that the FL is looking at straight on and his shoes are making noise on dirt and grass. And just before he steps out from behind the tree, the camera had shown noone behind the tree as they showed her looking at it. Tgen the scene where the FL was in the “forbidden” bedroom and had picked up a framed photo to look at. initially it was facing the wall opposite the headboard. But when she put it down it was facing the bed. When they showed the FL leaving the room the photo was back to its original position even though she hadn’t touched it again.

Like I said, the leads carried this drama. The script seemed to be pretty well done for a short episode drama, but there was a lot of time spent on reminiscing the past in the last few episodes. So the production fell a little short also.

The leads were very cute together and seemed to have good chemistry. Their acting didn’t feel forced or awkward. Their physical contact wasn’t uncomfortable to watch, but seemed like they truly had affection for each other. Their facial and eye expressions were also on point.

If half of the cast had been left out, they still would have carried the rest on their performances.

Even though this review seems negative, I actually enjoyed it even though I am not a fan of short dramas. If you take anything away from this review, take this:

Watch the drama. Toss aside logical thought for a while and enjoy the leads. It’s really not that bad.

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Completed
Men in Love
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 13, 2025
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Drop Your Prejudice At The Door

I say to drop your prejudice at the door because of the negative comments and reviews that some have expressed as being disappointing because it didn’t meat their expectations in the way the lead couples story ended.

The story was good - not always written well, and not always focused on the title, but it was decent.

I was hoping for a drama that was focused more on the men’s perception of love, but a lot of time was spent on the females themselves. Hu Yitisn’s character had a beautiful introduction and background details to the story and each little clip was very eloquent and touching. His character was that of the Editir in Chief for a paper magazine, and he portrayed this role of a quirky, detail oriented creative perfectly. He was wise, comforting yet straightforward, and balanced that out with the playfulness of being as he said early on, an adult man with the attitude of a teenager (osraphrased).

The FL was bubbly, innocent, very quick tempered and incredibly stubborn to the point of hurting the ML. She worried and ruminated on assumptions she made in regards to the ML rather than speaking to him directly. She gave everyone opportunities to explain and listened to them and judged wisely - yet when it came to the ML she jumped to conclusions and judgements faster than a kangaroo fleeing predators in the wild. I will give her credit, that once she got the stupid out of her thoughts she was able to see the truth.

Her character was frustrating and very selfabsorbed. Yet she was also capable of great compassion and warmth. I think most of her issues stemmed from overthinking and a low self esteem. So low that she kept everyone at arms length and tried to shoulder everything herself.

The 2FL/ML were initially odd. Tgey were the typical get physical first then get to know each other couple with a poor FL background and a rich 2nd gen ML whose mother that could not speak quietly or politely. She was a bully with a bank account and social status that tried to drive them apart. The ML had incredible control of being able to put his emotions of the role not only on his face, but his eyes as well.

The 2nd FL was annoying to me at first, even when her background came out she held people with money in a box assuming the 2ML was incapable of bringing her happiness or loving her long term.

The 3rd couple (husband and wife) were a mix of toxic soup. The husband was a notorious flirt, and the wife was a dominating distrustful person that only cared about her goals while holding her husband as an emotional hostage to her demands. She was constantly pushing her expectations, beating him with her suspicious theories and manipulating his friends into reporting things to her. Unfortunately, she figured out her mistakes after their divorce and even though she initially changed her behavior, little peeks of her attitude was returning.

The fourth couple ended up getting a LOT of screen time - almost to the point of leaving the Fml/fl very little time to resolve their breakup into a happy ending.

The ‘noble’ detachment of the 4ml from the 4fl was understandable - he battled feeling like he was betraying his late wife, his own feelings, and being manipulated by the 2ML and the girls mother (who is also the 2ML’s mother.

The 4fl was an annoying creature. Self-centered, headstrong, manipulative, crafty and downright aggressive in her pursuit of the 4mL at times. Her character was w remedy immature and very very spoiled. She could be very mature and handle work tasks professionally and quickly, but then turn into a whiney princess having a temper tantrum in a bar with a bottle of spirits the next. Her whiney voice when she was in princess mode was beyond annoying.

The 4ml was the stoic, self absorbed grieving husband of a woman who had passed way years ago. He was a lawyer and very capable of being tough and decisive within a case he had, but had no backbone to stand up on his own behalf. He was afraid of another relationship that might end in separation, afraid of his friend, the 2ml) ending their friendship, and refused to move on in a healthy way from his wife’s passing. So instead of facing things head on, he ‘nobly’ chose to push the 4fl away. I really hate that trope… its over used and not noble at all. In fact, it is exceedingly selfish and inconsiderate.

Tge appearance of the 1ML ex-girlfriend and her attempt to separate the leads was annoying but necessary. The ML couldn’t proceed into a relationship with the 1fl without removing tge emotional trauma left in his ex. I found it good that once they saw her at her exhibit, she was never heard from / seen again, and was a good shadow of how much influence she had in the ML’s heart after that.

Now…HYT was excellent in this role. He was able to show the depth of emotion he needed with facial expressions that mirrored the pain and happiness in his eyes. He seems to have matured a great deal and his already commanding screen presence
multiplued exponentially. He did an excellent job in this role. It was refreshing to see him being playful with his friends and the FL, serious at work, a stoic businessman and a loyal friend. He was quite handsome in his suits and yet a simple man who could dress casually and enjoy football game at home, or go to a cyber cafe to play video games with his friends. I am looking to seeing more from him soon.

Tge good news is, that even after all the trials and testing of each couple they ended up well.

And who can be unhappy with an OST sung by Liu Yuning?? icing on the cake!

So even though many people complained about the lack of chemistry between the couples, I found it realistic. A relationship that has gone through ups and downs, difficulty and hardship is very different than that of one soaking in fluffy clouds and candy hearts floating around. People have to learn to let go of their self obsession and learn to work together as a couple, and while this drama didn’t end up as many expected, they all came out with a bond forged together by those trials and into a healthy partnership where mutual support and respect inds them together.

Drop the expectations, and enjoy the story. 😎

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