kupotea

Friendship is forever

Fangs of Fortune was such a ride—absolutely stunning visuals, top-tier world-building, and a soundtrack that gave me chills. The acting was phenomenal, especially in the more emotionally intense scenes (Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen? HELLO). I wasn’t super into the main romance, but the friendships, rivalries, and team dynamics hit so much harder anyway. There was a lot of retconning—which isn’t really my thing—but the overall plot was still super engaging. I laughed more than I expected to, and I’ll be haunted by a few character deaths forever. Not perfect, but honestly? Really worth the watch. Be sure to watch the special episode after the finale!

"Meeting you all was like a wonderful dream... but dreams must end" - I'm gonna go cry now that the dream's ended.

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Best Cdrama ever!

I'm sad it's over LOL There was nothing missing for me from this show. It had everything I would want in a xianxia drama. Loved the actors, loved the plot, the action, the romance, the music! I'm still listening to the soundtrack on my commute for work lol I'm almost afraid I will never be so impressed with another drama, though I know there are plenty of amazing ones out there. Dylan Wang and Esther Yu have amazing chemistry, I really hope to see them perform together again but I will keep watching their individual shows. :) The rest of the cast was phenomenal too!!! 10/10 stars!!!!

I've been watching a lot of historical and wuxia shows but I think after watching this and Love Game, I'm gonna have to check out MORE xianxia! :D

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Stunned by how good this was.

I went into this completely unfamiliar with the leads. I kept seeing good reviews on reddit and here on MDL, and the premise interested me, so I gave it a shot.

I don't have a single complaint. The plot was phenomenal. I agree with some critics that the last few episodes felt a little rushed. But there were no loose threads in the end, I felt that it all tied together neatly. The loss of General Liang was devastating, but I saw it coming. Fan's death also made sense as it was the only way to free Bi Zhi from Liu Yan's control.

I loved, loved, loved this drama so much. There were some many compelling side characters - Wei Shao's loyal generals, Xiao Tao, Shi Yuan, Lady Xu, Gongsun... the script had a good balance of comedy and political intrigue. But its biggest strength was the romance between Man Man and Wei Shao. 😍 Sometimes in these shows, the slow burn is so drawn out, it's painful. Alternatively, the romance happens not so much quickly, but abruptly, and as a viewer you're just sort of forced to swallow it even if it feels too sudden.

But Man Man x Wei Shao? Their romance was perfect. It started out with so much distrust. Everything built between them felt so genuine and touching. I loved them so much, and I'm going to miss the tenderness between them! They were wonderful characters individually as well, which is also something not all dramas get right. I love how smart but guarded Man Man was, and seeing her slowly melt toward the Lord Wei. And him? First bitter, then clueless... but always with a heart of gold for his loved ones and his people. I adored them!! :)

Oh, and I should talk about the villains. Momma Wei started out as a busybody with some seriously clouded judgment, but I did appreciate her growth by the end. She was not really a larger villain, but I thought the different levels of villains (e.g. internal, external, easily dispatched, vanquished only at the end) were well portrayed. Liu Yan, on the other hand, was totally a character I underestimated at the start of the show. I had no idea he would end up being the last bad guy standing! After having caused so much trouble with Lady Noseless. 😂 I'm just glad they got their just desserts, even though we had to lose some beloved characters to get poetic justice. 😥

My last note will just be to praise the soundtrack. It really complemented the scenes and swept me away.

I MIGHT re-watch this one day, if I ever find the time. This show was that good.

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A rainbow is beautiful because of its many colors!

I’m really glad I gave this one a shot! I usually have a hard time getting into modern Cdramas, but Filter pulled me in with its charm, comedy, and surprising emotional resonance. It starts off feeling like a silly, lighthearted romance with a weird sci-fi premise — but turns out to have way more depth than expected.

The comedy in the first half had me laughing out loud (the alpaca 😂), and the romance between Tang Qi and Su Cheng Cheng ended up being really sweet once it got going. Tan Jianci was so good — going from cold and closed-off to warm and loving in a way that felt natural and earned. Landy Li also shines here, especially as Cheng Cheng’s confidence grows over time.

Favorite Moments:

x Gu Yu and Yuan's meeting (🤢🚗)

x Su Miao vs lightning

x the alpaca

x Tang Qi in Yuan's apartment bewildered by Su Cheng Cheng as the gold statue and then framed art

x Yuan gushing about her characters and artwork lol

x Gu Yu cooking for Yuan or just in general being the world's best boyfriend

x that tennis match LOL

x Quan Sheng Tang's "death"

The invisibility arc toward the end dragged a little for me, and the unplanned pregnancy twist felt like it came out of nowhere. But I appreciated how the drama still tied everything back to its core message: beauty and transformation aren’t bad — it’s about intention and self-acceptance.

Would I rewatch? Probably not — but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something funny, heartfelt, and romantic in a modern setting. It made me smile more than I expected, and I’m really happy I stuck with it to the end. 💖

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My favorite of 2025 so far!

I gave this one a 10/10 before composing my review because I knew it was perfect. But, being that this drama received some criticism for its female lead, I wanted to give it a worthy analysis in addition to defending Song Yimeng.

🤍 Romance Quality 🤍

It was a joy to watch Liu Yuning and Li Yitong on-screen together. This was my second drama with Liu Yuning, and it was so interesting to compare Nan Heng's character with LYN's portrayal of Wei Shao in Prisoner of Beauty. I don't want to get sidetracked with comparisons here, I'm just stating my frame of reference for why I'm so impressed with LYN.

As for the romance in ADWAD, it starts out as a mixture of toxicity, intensity, and hilarity. Song Yimeng (Song Xiaoyu, but I'll refer to her as SYM for the sake of consistency here) garners a lot of criticism from viewers for how she treats Nan Heng (NH) for the majority of the series. I think these critics are forgetting the premise though. SYM is doing everything she can to survive the original script in which NH deceives her, cheats on her, abandons, and then tortures her. Who in her place would not do everything in their power to escape such a fate?

She gets there though, SYM. She falls for Li Sixteen, but that's NH. Then, she falls for NH himself. She defends him against the emperor, against Chu Gui Hong, against the screenwriter.

Putting those two aside, let's look at the other major romance in the show.

Song Yi Ting x Shangguan He? ADORABLE. Weirdly, I didn't see this coming even though they complement each other in much the same way NH and SYM do. One is more serious and forthright in their feelings. The other is ridiculous, but struggles for a long time with their affection. I do wish SYT and SGH could have had more moments earlier on, but I was satisfied with the way their relationship played out. SO GLAD for the reincarnation glitch. My heart was absolutely broken when I thought we'd lost our Second Boss the first time. ㅠㅠ

The romantic highlights for me were:

🤍 Li Sixteen's mask-removal kisses
🤍 SYM falling for Li Sixteen
🤍 NH defending himself as LS, lol
🤍 NH puling SYM in to play drums with him at the banquet
🤍 The way NH looked at SYM
🤍 The early intense animosity between SYM and NH... it got pretty serious at times (NH plotting his own death along with SYM and CGH was pretty wild, for example), but the show did a good job of not taking itself too seriously. It was meant to be surreal humor, and we knew that from the moment of the opening three-way stabbing 😂
🤍 NH/LS saving our SYM time after time, whether by choice or not
🤍 SYT's sincerity and determination toward Shangguan He 🤗
🤍 NH's proposal!!! The man gave her EVERYTHING she said she required, how many of us have dreamed of that kind of demonstration 😂 Friggin' perfect NH. I'll take him if SYM won't! (just kidding, I'm married to my own Nan Heng 🤣)

🤡 Comedy 🤡

I think this is one category I don't even really need to explore much. This show was hilarious. I have not laughed this hard since The Starry Love. I loved all the satire on the the genre (transmigration, historical romance), but the more amusing moments for me were cemented in the relationships between various characters. Jixiang had almost no lines, but his dynamic with Nan Rui was so great with his side-eye and RBF while Rui carried on being...Rui. In how it carried its characters with humor, this show reminded me of TSL in many ways. I'd even go so far as to say its comedy surpassed TSL, which was a VERY high bar to meet for me!


🎞️ Plot/Intrigue 🎞️

SYM's misunderstanding of NH did drag on longer than was comfortable. But I think the writers did a good job of driving home WHY this kept happening. The plot (and Chu Gui Hong, ugh) kept working against them.

I loved the Inception-ish reveal that, true to the title, they seemed to be in a story within a story (or a dream within a dream 🤪). NH's stepping into SXY's world at the very end didn't make sense, but we got our happy reunion. If I had to take any points away for this category, it might be for that, as it could be called lazy writing. But too often in these shows, we get an open or sad ending! See exhibit A:

- Till the End of the Moon - bittersweet, open ending
- Love Game in Eastern Fantasy - so-so, open ending
- Love Between Fairy and Devil - abrupt, though happy ending
- The Starry Love - bittersweet, open ending
- Moonlight Mystique - sad and abrupt happy ending
- The Story of Kunning Palace - abrupt, though happy ending

Here we got to see the very satisfying final battle where everyone came together to defeat CGH (third time's a charm? lol) followed by our leads and second leads as a happy couple (poor possibly preggo Shangguan He though? lolol). THEN, after the credits, we got to see SXY in the modern world, and... just when we're all afraid it was nothing but a dream, dashing NH shows up with his "White head, same heart." 😍 which we will all never forget, haha!

I loved the framing devices, the scheming, poetic justice, the romance, the rivalry, everything!

🎵 Soundtrack 🎵

One of the best OSTs! My favorite tracks were:

★ Hu Yanbin's "A Dream in Scrolls" might have been my favorite in the show, I think because it played to Nan Heng being... y'know, the beloved male lead. 😍

★ Liu Yuning's "长风谣 (Ballad of the Long Wind)" (opening theme) captures the playful and romantic adventure viewers are in for when they watch the show

★ Liu Yuning's "纸片人 (Paper Figure)" puts me back to every scene in which Nan Heng got hurt, and makes me want to give him a big hug. T_T HE JUST WANTS TO BE LOVED.

★ Chen Xueran's "夜游神 (Night Wanderer)" was so perfect for Li Sixteen! Very badass track!

★ Bu Cai's "宁做我 (Rather Be Myself)" likewise was perfect for Song Yimeng being the lead female! Loved her spirit and ferocity (standing up to Rong Hua after NH had just died in her arms, for example. Badass!)

★ Jane Zhang's "Twisted Cocoon" (ending credits) conveyed all the extra angsty moments.

★ That damn bridal sedan song LMAO Was so integral to some of those goofier scenes

🗺️ World-Building 🗺️

I loved how meta this show was, right down to side characters referring to themselves as "Passerby B" and "Lantern-selling Old Lady" 😂 It was such a different take.

The script world was your standard city-in-ancient-China, but the Waning River Crescent was stunning. The politics and palace drama did not really bring anything new to the genre, but it was all still engaging.

🌙 Visuals/Costume 🌙

This show had some knock-out costumes. My favorites:

1. SYM's rainbow sherbet colored hanfu.
2. SYT's blue/white hanfu.
3. ALL of Li Sixteen's costumes, dayumn.
4. The purple/gold garments for the ministers at court.
5. Nan Heng's armor (ok, mostly I just love Liu Yuning in a ponytail 👀)
6. Nan Heng's groom costume ❤️💛
6. Chu Gui Hong's consistent blues.
7. Nan Heng's bunny mask and proposal costume!~


🍿 Binge Factor 🍿

I stayed up way too many an evening to finish this show, but it was worth it! I only struggled toward the end when we kept going through reincarnations. It was hard to watch them die repeatedly. ;.;

🎭 Acting 🎭

LYT and LYN were wonderful leads! I have no complaints about their portrayals of SYM and NH.

This was my first time to see Riley Wang. OH. HOW ABOUT THAT? No it wasn't! He played Ran Yi in FOF? Well, wow! Very different kind of character from Shangguan He here in ADWAD. I'm impressed by his range, and I look forward to watching for more of him in other dramas!

I personally really liked Zhu Yu Dan in Love Game, so I'd like to watch more shows with her too.

Other actors that really shined:

★ Chang Long pulled off a really comical, outlandish Nan Rui
★ Loved to hate Wang You Shuo as Chu Gui Hong (he kinda cute tho, guys!)
★ Lu Xing as Daddy Song 🤗
★ Song Ji Yang's stoic performance and RBF as Ji Xiang

Wang Cheng Si was good, but seems like he gets type casted in this role. I felt his role in POB was stronger, but he served his purpose here in ADWAD. He did not particularly stand out to me though, simply because of the variety of other wild cast members.

🥷🏻 Conflict 🥷🏻

Fate vs agency, family vs self, modern world vs script world. This series had plenty of excellent conflicts for SYM and NH to navigate along with their loved ones.

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A beautifully tragic, emotionally satisfying fantasy.

🌙 Moonlight Mystique pulled me in more and more as it went. The romance between Bai Shuo and Fan Yue didn’t start with fireworks, but it grew into something really touching. They genuinely care for each other, trust one another’s choices, and consistently put the other first. Their tenderness hit me hard, and the kisses? Gorgeous.

The plot device of collecting five emotions didn't excite me on its own, but it gave us a fun tour through different realms—each with their own culture, rules, and emotional stakes. I loved the way good and evil weren’t tied to species or realms; gods, demons, and mortals could all be deeply flawed or deeply noble. The finale gave us the happy ending I wanted, even if the wedding scene felt rushed and a few loose threads stayed loose.

Visuals? Stunning. OST? Beautiful. Acting? No complaints. Chang Huasen in particular was impressive in being able to master sweet Eternal and chaotic Hidden Lord. I didn’t expect to care as much as I did, but by the end, I was fully in my feelings (and crying for everyone who died along the way. :c Give me my Mu Jiu back!)

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Nerdy chaebol ML falls for feisty director killer FL.

My Dearest Nemesis is a charming, light office romcom with a great cast and consistent humor—especially if you're a little nerdy like Ban Ju Yeon. The acting is strong across the board, and it has just enough heart to keep you invested.

That said, the show really overemphasizes that Su Jeong has never made her life about herself, and it offers no satisfying payoff to that arc. She’s hardworking and loyal (which is great), but they go out of their way to point out she has no real hobbies or inner spark outside of work or her relationship—and then... leave it at that? It would've meant so much to see her discover a little joy just for herself.

Still, a fun watch if you like flirty rivals-to-lovers and quirky ML energy—but probably not one I’ll remember in a few years.

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Revenge, obsession, and second chances

🌸 My Rubric-Based Rating – Story of Kunning Palace 🌸
(Using a 5–3–1 scale across 9 categories)

💖 Romance Quality
5 Perfect chemistry and satisfying development between Ning & Xie.
😄 Comedy
3 Some good comic relief (Fake Dingfei!), but not a central focus.
🧩 Plot/Intrigue
5 Well-crafted, emotionally complex, and full of satisfying twists.
🎵 Soundtrack
5 Memorable, haunting, and romantic—top-tier OST.
🏛 World-Building
3 Good palace intrigue, though not as deep as high fantasy.
👘 Visuals/Costume
5 Visually stunning with elegant styling and beautiful details.
📺 Binge Factor
5 Addictive pacing—absolutely stayed up for “just one more ep.”
🎭 Acting
5 Excellent range and nuance, especially from Zhang Ling He.
⚔️ Conflict
5 Creative, emotionally driven, and well-resolved.

🧾 Total: 41/45 → 🌟 Final MDL Rating: 9.1/10

Story of Kunning Palace had everything I love—intense romance, great acting, poetic justice, and a twisty, emotionally rich plot. Bai Lu and Zhang Ling He had incredible chemistry, and seeing ZLH in such a dark, yandere role was a treat. I loved all 3 love interests, and while the ending with Xie Wei made sense (and gave us that sweet wedding extra!), I still rooted for Zhang Zhe and Yan Lin at times. The side characters were strong, the villains were detestable, and the OST was bangin'. I only wish Fangyin had lived. Still, this was a beautifully written and satisfying drama from start to end. Tbh, it was the best thing for me to watch after Till the End of the Moon. It wasn't xianxia but it kept me invested and happy in the end!

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I am officially a Moonie! :)

I did not think anything could ever top LBFAD. And while I don't want to compare the two (I truly loved LBFAD as well), THIS show just... hands down, best xianxia. I was NOT prepared for how awed I would be, let me tell you. lmao

I’m honestly still overwhelmed after finishing Till the End of the Moon. Per popular advice, I've started Love is Sweet to temper my trauma, lol. But I don't regret putting myself through this emotional rollercoaster.

This show didn’t just tug my heartstrings—it struck my heart with nine Bone Devouring Spikes, wtf. 🤣It was devastating, enchanting, and somehow still hopeful all at once.

The chemistry and emotions between Li Susu and Tantai Jin were unlike anything I’ve seen. Their bond—through betrayals, misunderstandings, even destruction—was toxic at times but still breathtakingly beautiful. No matter how broken the world around them became, they kept showing up for each other.

Even when Li Susu tried to stay focused on her mission, her love for Tantai Jin—gradual, reluctant, inevitable—kept slipping through. And Tantai Jin... his devotion (obsession?) for her was so raw it hurt. He searched for her for 500 years through torment and torture. That alone would have secured my loyalty as a viewer.

The storytelling amazed me. I know some people said it was all over the place, but honestly? If you were paying attention, it all connected. The writers used at least three framing devices, each deepening the tragedy and beauty of the world they built.
Even the brutal ending (ugh, I didn’t love TTJ being stuck in the scale though 😭) made sense thematically.

It wasn’t just "love vs. destruction." It was selfish love vs. selfless love, possession vs sacrifice. That tension made every choice hit harder.

The themes of fate vs free will, of sacrifice and forgiveness, resonated so deeply with me. Especially the idea that, even after being hurt by the world, you can still choose love. Mingye's wish for Tantai Jin to get a real chance after what happened to Sangjiu just wrecked me.

Visually, the show was stunning—cinematography, costumes, the atmosphere—it was all so immersive. I don’t have a single complaint there. The Devil God's violent, blood-chilling entrance? Tantai Jin's mortal, weak appearance kneeling in the snow centuries in the past? MINGYE??? Ok, ok, it wasn't just Luo Yunxi that was stunning. I'm officially a Bailu fan. This was my first show of hers. Now I know what all the fuss is about. :P

The Jing water festival dance foreshadowing TTJ and YXW's fates was one of the most beautiful Cdrama scenes I've seen. Not visually per se, but the composition of it. The music, the expressions, the dance and emotions between the leads. Omg. And Tantai Jin telling Ye Xiwu, ❝I don't care whether people like me or not. It's enough as long as you like me.❞ I'll be haunted forever by that festival. 😂

DON'T GET ME STARTED ON ALL THE WONDERFUL SIDE CHARACTERS (I wish we could have seen Pianran again)... even YBC... TERRIBLE person, but written so well I think I hated her more than I've hated any character in any show ever lol

This isn't just a drama I'll recommend. It's a drama I know I'll carry with me. It’s already sitting at the top of my all-time favorites. I’m even thinking about rewatching it next year to relive the emotions for its anniversary.

(Special shout-out to the TTEOTM community on MDL, too—you made the emotional ride even better!)

Till the End of the Moon is unforgettable. It broke my heart beautifully, and somehow, I’m grateful for that.

🌙

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Most hilarious xianxia I've seen to date.

The Starry Love is a refreshing mix of comedy, heartfelt sisterhood, and sweeping fantasy, set in a vividly built world full of lovable characters. From Yetan’s mischievous antics in the Heavenly Realm to the emperor struggling to deal with his chaotic sons-in-law (at one point scolding both for calling him “Emperor Tun” instead of “Father-in-law”), the humor in this drama was such a breath of fresh air. But beneath all the fun, what really made this story shine was its emotional depth—the bond between the twin sisters, the tangled threads of love and sacrifice, and the weight of fate that none of them could escape.

I adored Yetan and Qingkui’s relationship; their love for each other was beautifully written, making Qingkui’s final sacrifice devastating. Chaofeng’s struggles, Yetan’s revenge, and the complex realm politics all kept me hooked, while the romance—especially Yetan falling for not just Youqin, but all three of his soul shards—added a unique and emotional layer to the story. The villains were also well-done, from Emperor Tun (Worst Dad Ever™ at times) to the Void Tyrant and the insufferable Heavenly Emperor. In the end, Suzhi’s desperation for revenge made her the one to ultimately break the seal to Guixu, making her the greatest villain of them all. While the show competently captured the various arcs and development (or lack thereof, in the case of the Void Tyrant) of these antagonists, it also emphasized the weight of choices and consequences.

The ending was bittersweet, and while I understand why it had to end the way it did (the Ganoderma Vein was necessary to stop the endless cycle of Empyreans sacrificing themselves to repair the seal to Guixu), I really wish it had given us just a bit more hope for the sisters’ return. Even so, this drama was a fantastic ride—funny, emotional, and full of characters I won’t forget anytime soon.

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Those who have love rule the world :D

Who Rules the World started off a bit uncertain for me, particularly with the romance feeling neutral and some wooden acting that initially had me concerned. However, as the series progressed, I found myself drawn into the complex political intrigue and well-crafted plot.

I've asked around, and a lot of fans prefer the first half of the series due to its steady pacing. I actually preferred when the pacing picked up. There is some more political drag in the third quarter, and I felt the last couple of episodes were rushed. But I enjoyed the arc between Lanxi and his family, what happened in Liang, and the war. The last two episodes could have been more drawn out if less time had been spent on battles though.

The relationship between Lanxi and Xiyun evolved beautifully from friendly rivals to allies to lovers, built on a foundation of mutual respect that felt refreshingly healthy for the genre. While the comedy was minimal and the soundtrack remained fairly average, the world-building and scheming of the antagonists kept me engaged throughout most episodes.

I wasn't overly impressed with Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi at first. I would still have to watch more of them to develop a solid opinion on their acting. I think Lanxi was meant to be pretty guarded, and Xiyun a carefree heroine. Bai Fengxi came close to being a Mary Sue but I like that her impulsiveness sometimes got her into trouble, so she wasn't exactly flawless. Lusi's acting at first struck me as being a bit wooden. But her emotions did come through when Xiyun's brother, father, and Pu'er died.

I enjoyed this, but it's not one I'll be thinking about months from now. It just didn't have the same impact as other shows. But it was good. 😎

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