4
10
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
excellent acting
Overall: (note, this review may contain triggering words/language). I'm torn on how to rate the series. The actors did a great job, but several character actions and plot points didn't work for me. The series was based on the book Counter Attack by Chai Ji Dan which I haven't read and reviewed the series on its own merits. However, I hazard that the book is a bodice ripper i.e. a rich, attractive, cold/asshole character becomes the perfect partner for a poor character with the very fictional "mouth says no but body says yes" stuff. I'm trying my best to view this thru that fictional lens. 24 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on: Revenged Love YouTube channel (not available in Brunei, Japan, Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiCVOcxScfwh-Gkl0A0SeugdHQUg4QZIu&si=tehJ3i_EqpWZgfKD ; GagaOOLala (available in the Americas, Europe & Taiwan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5366/revenged-love-2025-e01 ; Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/41152c-revenged-love ; Heavenly (for South Korea) https://heavenly.tv/en/detail/940
Content Warnings: gang rape off screen in episode 1, hits, animal deaths, sex trafficking?, coercion, manipulation, blood, choking, violence, attempted murder?/injury, non con touching, non con kissing (to remove some of the content warnings watch episode 1 15:40-29:40 and 41:30-end; episode 2 watch beginning to 31:30 and 32-end), animal death, blood, multiple non con/dub con sex scenes, coercion, manipulation, past drugging, past abuse, past grooming, past bullying, past non con picture taking/sharing/outing, past suicidal thoughts, death, grief, kidnapping/held against will
Watch Suggestions ep 14 and after (to focus on sweet/steamy parts and remove: some content warnings, love rivals/jealousy, angst, death)
- episode 14 stop at 13:05, watch 34-35
- episode 15 watch 3:15-3:50 and 30:45-32
- episode 16 watch 34:45-36:30
- episode 17 watch 36:40-end
- skip episode 18
- episode 19 watch 17:35-18:35 and 22:50-23:55
- episode 20 watch 12:30-26
- episode 21 watch 4:15-11:10
- episode 22 6:20-31:10
- skip episode 23
- episode 24 watch 10-end
What I Liked
- acting
- opposite dynamics with both main couples
- styling
- I did chuckle a few times like in episode 3 on the "date"
- caring moments
- realistic break up
- supportive sister
- that the production secured multiple international viewing platforms
Room For Improvement
- the off screen gang rape and intentional near murder, shipping him romantically with the other guy was challenging though I did see some character changes
- the cliche evil wannabe wife
- nonsense stuff like why on earth keep the snakes there
- snakes (that they are shown as violent/fighting when in reality I bet they just want to mind their own business, the CGI, I'm not a snake expert but those cages looked way too small and a lot of screen time devoted to them)
- the doctor was not a good friend a few times
- a character said he couldn't be with him because he didn't want to be the receiver
- showed being in severe pain the next day (which definitely does not need to happen)
- lack of communication, not saying the entire truth
- too much time spent on love rivals/jealousy
- faked an abusive partner situation to manipulate the doctor
- cartoonist villain in episode 23
- rushed finale and no kiss for the main leads (was only 31 minutes of show, not sure if it succumbed to censorship and/or budget woes)
- (neutral) I didn't take off points, but not a fan of the dubbing and sometimes background sounds were unnaturally loud
Content Warnings: gang rape off screen in episode 1, hits, animal deaths, sex trafficking?, coercion, manipulation, blood, choking, violence, attempted murder?/injury, non con touching, non con kissing (to remove some of the content warnings watch episode 1 15:40-29:40 and 41:30-end; episode 2 watch beginning to 31:30 and 32-end), animal death, blood, multiple non con/dub con sex scenes, coercion, manipulation, past drugging, past abuse, past grooming, past bullying, past non con picture taking/sharing/outing, past suicidal thoughts, death, grief, kidnapping/held against will
Watch Suggestions ep 14 and after (to focus on sweet/steamy parts and remove: some content warnings, love rivals/jealousy, angst, death)
- episode 14 stop at 13:05, watch 34-35
- episode 15 watch 3:15-3:50 and 30:45-32
- episode 16 watch 34:45-36:30
- episode 17 watch 36:40-end
- skip episode 18
- episode 19 watch 17:35-18:35 and 22:50-23:55
- episode 20 watch 12:30-26
- episode 21 watch 4:15-11:10
- episode 22 6:20-31:10
- skip episode 23
- episode 24 watch 10-end
What I Liked
- acting
- opposite dynamics with both main couples
- styling
- I did chuckle a few times like in episode 3 on the "date"
- caring moments
- realistic break up
- supportive sister
- that the production secured multiple international viewing platforms
Room For Improvement
- the off screen gang rape and intentional near murder, shipping him romantically with the other guy was challenging though I did see some character changes
- the cliche evil wannabe wife
- nonsense stuff like why on earth keep the snakes there
- snakes (that they are shown as violent/fighting when in reality I bet they just want to mind their own business, the CGI, I'm not a snake expert but those cages looked way too small and a lot of screen time devoted to them)
- the doctor was not a good friend a few times
- a character said he couldn't be with him because he didn't want to be the receiver
- showed being in severe pain the next day (which definitely does not need to happen)
- lack of communication, not saying the entire truth
- too much time spent on love rivals/jealousy
- faked an abusive partner situation to manipulate the doctor
- cartoonist villain in episode 23
- rushed finale and no kiss for the main leads (was only 31 minutes of show, not sure if it succumbed to censorship and/or budget woes)
- (neutral) I didn't take off points, but not a fan of the dubbing and sometimes background sounds were unnaturally loud
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