The unfairness of life
'Twelve letters' is one of the most underrated dramas of 2025. The story takes place in a remote town, full of emotions and suspense, wrapped in misery, with a hint of youthful romance.I am writing this review while the series in still airing as to avoid giving any spoilers by mistake. Feel free to read it if you wish.
The two main characters, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun, have led anything but a worry‐free life. Ye Haitang was abused by her father who appeared sugar‐coated in front of any other person on the planet except his family. Her mom left Ye Yibo(her husband), leaving her young daughter to be the only victim of her father's outbursts. Tang Yixun, abandoned by his parents, grew up in an orphanage. He was later on bullied and had to "drop out" of school (I'm not going to go too deep into his past), and was forced to become a debt coletor in order to make ends meet.
Although most cdramas have around 20-40 episodes — more than enough time to develop the plot — this one has only 12. I do not find it lacking in this aspect, and it certainly does not feel rushed. To some, the main leads' relationships might be a little sudden, but we have to take into account that they are still children who get easly attached to someone who extends a helping hand.
The mystery, thriller and fantasy genres are deeply rooted in the story. The mystery of the appearance/disappearance of letters was excecuted well. Also, the criteria for traveling through space and time are a clever idea.
I don't have relevant enough complaints to be mentioned in this review, nor am I going to nitpicking at every corner.
The plot relies heavily on the traumatic factor, it also touches on subjects such as friendship and healing, showing that there's aways light at the end of the tunnel. A lot of us have probably found ourselves is a slump at least once in our lives, but we're still here, hopefully enjoying life, because we kept going. There is more to life than an abusive father; Ye Haitang must not put an end to everything to serve a scumbag of a man "justice". He will get his karma, and so will she.
I do not recommend this series if you can not understand the pain that lies under every smile. It may appeal boring or not make sense. I, personally, love this and I can tell it's going to be one of my favorites.
To sum it all up, give it a shot. Everything is worth a chance. Don't knock it till you try it.
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It's worth a try
Have you ever wondered if a girl can join the army AND earn military merits? Well, He Yan is an incredible example of a strong woman who does not care about the prejudices of the society she lives in.He Yan is forced to take her brother's place while he is recuperating at a temple, and make a name for her family (as a general), all while wearing a mask. Her brother suddenly shows up after the death of her father-figure and takes her place. She is forced to start a new life, joining the military as a new recruit, and make her way up the ladder.
I have been looking forward to this drama for a long while before it dropped, and all I can say is that the long wait was well‐deserved. Even though most people criticized LOTFG beacuse of the whole substitute reincarnation plot, I like it better this way.
I find the story quite promising. Usually the FL of any other drama is strong in other fields, not physically fit to fight. In 'Coroner's Diary', I liked the fact that the FL was smart, and even had a strong friend by her side. The roles, however, are reversed in this drama — He Yan is strong and capable, while TaoTao is experienced with TCM.
I saw many people complaining about Ryan Cheng's acting (Xiao Jue). I, personally, find it fitting for this role. The ML is supposed to be a cold/cruel general, of course he's not going to walk around skipping. His eyes are more than enough to understand the emotions behind them. Even the way he's carrying himself seems fitting for a general — leaving no opening for possible attacks.
I couldn't have chosen a better cast for this drama. I feel that every actor/actress put everything into their respective role, and some may still find a way to criticize their acting.
To sum it all up, LOTFG is definitely worth a try. If I had let myself influenced by the nagetive reviews I might never have found this gem. If you've watched 4-5 episodes and still don't like it, I must say, this cdrama is not for you.
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Bright Lights, Healing Drama
'Shine on Me' is a refreshing C-drama that balances emotional depth with a warm, hopeful tone. As it airs, the series steadily draws viewers in with its character-driven storytelling and realistic portrayal of personal growth. Rather than relying on exaggerated drama, the show focuses on quiet moments, internal struggles, and the small victories that make the characters feel genuine and relatable.The strength of 'Shine on Me' lies in its performances and character development. The leads deliver natural, heartfelt acting that allows their emotions to unfold gradually, making their journeys feel earned. Supporting characters are thoughtfully written as well, adding layers to the story without feeling like filler. The drama’s pacing is mostly steady, giving important scenes room to breathe, and its cinematography complements the narrative with a soft, reflective atmosphere.
However, after all the praise I've given, I do have some downsides I'd like to mention as well. Given the slow pacing of this drama (which I was already expecting after seeing that the screenwriter is Gu Man—not throwing shade tho, I loved 'You are my Glory'), the airing schedule was not thought out very carefully. The wait for every episode was gruelling, especially when there was only one episode being released a day until 2026. Of course, if you are thinking of watching 'Shine on Me' after reading this review it surely won't be a problem.
One other discomfort this drama induced on me is the SML. Literally a "manchild", there is no better way to describe him. Entitled and a coward. Even though he claimed to love the FL, he did nothing to try and win her over, and when she found someone better, he was expecting her to drop the ML and go to him. At least I'm glad that there was no possible way i could get SML syndrome from this drama :).
I'd like to add that I'm somewhat happy that the SML got his "happy ending" and moved on with his life. I really liked how his story wrapped up. Even though he was insufferable during the drama and really was in need of a good humbling, he's human in the end. What's more, he didn't try to bring anyone down for his own success, it's just that he wasn't mature enough in managing his emotions.
One more thing I'd like to point out is the OST. Incredibly catchy and well fitting. From all the shows I've watched, only the ones from 'The First Frost' and 'LOTFG' caught my eye before, so i am quite picky.
Overall, 'Shine on Me' is an uplifting and sincere drama that resonates with viewers who enjoy meaningful stories about resilience, self-discovery, and human connection. While it may not be flashy or overly dramatic, its emotional honesty is what makes it shine. It’s a rewarding watch for those looking for a comforting yet impactful C-drama.
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A breath of fresh air
'Law and the City' is a slow-paced/slow burn drama, and that is what I find refreshing about it. While in other dramas there is always a main villain who tries to do everything in their power to see the main leads suffer (always keeping the watcher on the edge), there is no such trope in this drama.The story revolves around five lawyers who got to know each other while working in the same industry. They go through various cases (be it alone or togheter), while their friendship becomes more and more genuine with each passing day.
I am always looking forward to my favourite actors' new dramas/movies, and for this one I've been waiting for a while. I find the cast to be perfectly chosen, by which I mean that all the main characters can act. I've been following Lee Jong Suk and Mun Ka Young's dramas for a while, and all I can say is that I'm happy to see them play the main leads togheter. Their chemistry is definitely there.
Although I've read a lot of negative reviews, the only conclusion I came to was that "it's not everyone's cup of tea", and that's fine. I, personally, dropped a lot of dramas, and I can certainly say that there is someone's favourite in that list as well. It may seem like a boring drama at first, and I can't say for sure that it isn't. A reason as to why some may find it boring is because the main leads aren't struggling to keep their relationships alive, nobody is trying to separate them, and most certainly there aren't any misunderstandings that drag on for more than 1 episode.
The main characters all have a mature side to them, and know how to rely on each other, knowing that keeping everything to themselves wouldn't do any good to any of the parties involved.
Despite the relaxed vibe it might try to show on the surface, daily struggles are not neglected. Everyone goes through a rough patch or unexpected situations during their lives. The important thing is that we should try and deal with it/come to terms with what is happening, and make the most of our limited time in this world.
To sum it all up, 'Law and the City' is a slow-paced, relaxing and what you may call a "slice of life" show. While it may appeal as boring to some, it is also a drama to which most people can relate. I look forward to the one hour of daily relaxation provided by this drama's episodes every weekend.
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