This review may contain spoilers
"You are the one I would risk my life to protect. For this life and beyond."
I initially started this drama because of Li Yunrui and Meng Ziyi. I have seen other dramas they are in, such as The Last Immortal and The Untamed. This is the first drama that I have seen where they are the main leads. Ok, honestly, I don't even know where to start with this drama. It's just incredible from start to finish! I also noticed that both POJ and this drama share a director, which I honestly thought was kind of cool. This drama honestly had me hooked from the very beginning! I do love a reincarnation plot, and this drama did it so well! My heart hurt for Dou Zhao in her first life, as her crappy husband had an affair behind her back, and her father also had an affair with another woman. She also lost her mother to suicide, which was truly devastating and heartbreaking to watch. But I loved how Dou Zhao was able to overcome various obstacles following her mother's death and throw herself into business. She is much more intelligent than people give her credit for. The plot of this drama is so intricate, and the plot twists will keep you on the edge of your seat!The first meeting between Dou Zhao and Song Mo honestly gave me chills! The way that he caught her when she fell out of the carriage was so swoonworthy! And I honestly loved the white hair look on him, and I was kind of sad we only had it for one episode. Also, when Song Mo saves her from a stray arrow? AHHHH MY HEART:((( yeah that scene honestly broke my heart, because he was already very weak from poison, but he decided to save her anyways. Fast forward to when they meet again in their second life, and the tension??? He is initially distrustful of Dou Zhao at first, but understandably so, considering the circumstances.
When Song Mo does start to fall for her though, it is just so heartwarming. I love how he is initially a bit awkward, as I assume he's never really felt this way about anyone before. I thought it was hilarious that he asked his guards for advice on Dou Zhao at one point. The way that this man yearns!!! A MAN WHO YEARNS EARNS!!! I just absolutely loved how he allowed her to think things over and sort her feelings out. I loved that he didn't force anything on her and that he also told her that he would respect her decision, should she end up rejecting him in the end.
I adore how fiercely protective he is of her and the way that he loves her is just so beautiful <3 He sees Dou Zhao as a complete equal, and the wedding ceremony just solidified that! There was a part of the wedding ceremony where the groom (I believe) had to sit on a red piece of cloth (or something like that) to symbolize that the bride would obey him in everything, and Song Mo immediately went: No, we won't be doing that because my wife and I are equals. AHHHHH THIS MAN!!! And when the groomsmen were pulling Song Mo away to go and drink, Dou Zhao had something that she wanted to say to him. What does this man do, you ask? He says: "My wife has something to tell me." (STOPPPPPPPP this man literally wasted ZERO time, like he wants to know that Dou Zhao is his wife) Oh and that scene where he carries her through town??? yeah....i was kicking my feet and giggling nonstop <3
Dou Zhao is such a strong character, and it's seen in the way that she has her own ways of protecting Song Mo, even if it's not necessarily with violence or brute strength. I think that Dou Zhao's strengths lie in her resilience and her determination. She is fiercely loyal to those she cares about, and she is also not afraid to call people out. She also is so much more than what people think of her. She possesses this sharp intelligence and knowledge that is just so admirable, and the way that she runs her businesses and everything is just so cool! I also love how she did not allow Song Mo to push her away when the poison was making him lose control and hallucinate. She ignored his pleas for her to stay away and declared that they would face everything together. I love that she wanted to face everything together with him, even if their future was uncertain. Their happy ending was so perfect:((( They have a family of their own:((
There is definitely a lot more I could say, but this will be WAY too long. Overall, there is a reason why this drama is so hyped up. it is 10000% worth the watch!
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Her first love and last love <3
This drama is honestly one of my absolute favorites. It's just so heartwarming and has the perfect amount of angst. It does have some cliche tropes, such as brother's best friend, but it honestly just works so well here. This drama was so comforting, and the love between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu was just so:(( This drama made me cry and laugh so much, and it will forever be one of my absolute favorites. I love Sang Zhi's friends, and how they were there for her.They were also some of her biggest cheerleaders. I absolutely adored this drama, and I sometimes go back and rewatch my favorite episodes. I also just love how shameless Duan Jiaxu was, and also the bickering between him, Sang Zhi, and Sang Yan. Sang Zhi and Sang Yan's sibling bond is just so:(( Sang Yan can come off as kind of harsh and as if he doesn't love Sang Zhi, but that is not the case at all. He is fiercely protective of her and dotes on her in his own way. Their sibling bond just made me sob my eyes out.
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Devastating Love
Another drama of ZLH's that I decided to watch on a whim. And honestly, I was glad that I did! I absolutely loved the found family trope that was in this, as well as how hilarious the female lead, Nan Yan, was! The side characters in this drama are so loveable, and I adored the friendship that Nan Yan had with Yin Ya and Mu Zhan Ting.Their bond was so precious! One aspect of this drama that I did enjoy was not only the friendships, but the romance as well! Nan Yan and Ji Yang do start as enemies, but eventually, romance does begin to blossom between them, and let me tell you, this drama had me bawling my eyes out at three am! While the ending wasn't necessarily what I wanted, I still had a great time watching this, and I have even listened to the OST after I was done watching!
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This review may contain spoilers
Forbidden Love at its Best
This drama is one that I actually started watching back in 2022. By the time I watched this, Netflix already had all the episodes. I got to episode 22 or so and then I stopped watching. I'm not really sure why I stopped, to be honest. And then I completely forgot about it, and well, fast forward to now, when I finally remembered that I hadn't finished it yet. I decided to just finish the rest of the episodes one day back in February, and I am so glad that I did.The love story between Dongfang Qingcang and Orchid was absolutely devastating and so beautiful at the same time. I actually didn't mind Esther Yu's acting in this. In my opinion, it made sense for her character. The visuals, cinematography, and the OSTs are absolutely gorgeous and every episode honestly made me laugh and cry. The plot was so complex and I also loved the magic system in this as well. The ending had me absolutely devastated, and I definitely did sob a little bit. I only wish that we got to see more of Dongfang Qingcang and Orchid, especially after Qingcang came back after 500 years. The acting was honestly fantastic, and that scene (I forget which episode, but I believe it was around 33 or so) where Orchid sacrifices herself to save everyone and when Dongfang Qingcang finds out, I could feel every emotion and the anguish and heartbreak that he was experiencing in that moment. It was truly a heartbreaking scene, and Dylan Wang acted in that scene so well. Esther Yu's acting was also so good in this scene as well.
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A MASTERPIECE !!!!
To be honest, I don't even know how to put into words how much I loved this drama. This was not only my first Chinese drama, but my first Chinese historical drama. This drama will always hold a special place in my heart. I do not know how I managed to finish this 50 episode drama in three days, but the no sleep was worth it! This drama's storyline is just so incredibly complex and intricate, and the amount of emotional whiplash that you get from this drama is honestly insane. This drama just exceeded my expectations, and became my entire personality after I watched it back in 2019. This drama will have you on the edge of your seat but also have your heart aching for Wei Wuxian and the amount of pain and suffering he endures throughout his life. The subtle romantic undertones in this drama were brilliant! Lan Wangji and his micro-expressions just made my heart hurt so bad:(( And the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng...yeah don't even get me started on how much they broke my heart like NOOOO YOU'RE BROTHERS TALK THINGS OUT DON'T FIGHT !!! I cannot tell you the amount of times I yelled at my computer or cried my eyes out watching this drama, and this is definitely one that will have you feel as if your heart has been ripped out of your chest. It's honestly just a masterpiece from start to finish, and the entire cast is just so incredible!! Oh, and don't even get me started on the cinematography and the OSTs of this drama <3 (SO GORGEOUS)Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So much fun and heartwarming <3
This drama was one of my first modern cdramas that I ever watched, and it did not disappoint! I absolutely adore Tong Yao, and I think she is a strong female character in that she is not to be underestimated. I also love how they made her actually really good at playing the game they were playing in this drama, as I feel like that's kind of rare when it comes to esports dramas. I also love how her friendships with the ZGDX team develops slowly, and how they all slowly become fiercely protective of her and see her as their sister. The found family in this is honestly so wholesome!The romance was SO GOOD!! I loved the amount of bickering that Tong Yao and Lu Sicheng had, and I absolutely adored how Tong Yao is not afraid to speak her mind. At first, Lu Sicheng isn't the nicest to her, but at the same time, he also carries her on his back after she gets drunk, and also gave her his jacket when it was raining. He also basically confessed that he liked her when he said that his type is someone who can beat him at games. And when Tong Yao defeated him in that match that they had at the ZGDX base, it was clear that he fell for her right then and there.
His confidence is pursuing her is honestly unmatched. He's also super shameless, which I honestly loved (iykyk). It's also the way in which Sicheng's personality literally changes so drastically when they actually start dating. He literally becomes so clingy and soft, the complete opposite of his "cold" and aloof demeanor he usually has. He also wants to spoil the crap out of her, and I honestly loved that. I also love that he doesn't undermine her abilities as a gamer as well.
Another thing I loved about this drama was how it touched on the dark side of being famous. I I honestly thought the crazy fan situation in this drama was scary and also insane that there are some people who would go that far to get noticed by their faves. And I felt so bad for Tong Yao, who literally just fell in love with Sicheng and was getting harassed online for it. That honestly made me so angry and sad. I also love that Tong Yao never apologized for falling in love with him, and declaring that she has done nothing wrong, for she is only human. I absolutely love how unapologetic Tong Yao is.
One thing that absolutely broke my heart was how Sicheng starts to pull away from Tong Yao after the crazy fan situation unfolds, as he tries to deal with it all on his own. I also loved that scene where they're talking to each other through Sicheng's bedroom door, and how they finally have an open and honest conversation. We see Sicheng fully break down, admitting that he's not as strong as he appears to be, and I just felt for him so much, as he was trying to protect Tong Yao, but was also suffering in silence and affecting the team dynamic. That scene in the drama was heartbreaking, but it was also so incredibly important for their relationship as a whole.
Overall, this drama was amazing, and I highly recommend it!!
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One of the best enemies to lovers stories ever!
Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this drama! It was perfection, from start to finish! Lu Yuxiao and Hou Minghao's chemistry was literally off the charts in this, and I also adored the side characters in this drama as well.I also loved that some of them got their happy ending <3 This drama had me giggling and kicking my feet at how utterly shameless Ming Yi and Ji Bozai are, but also had me bawling my eyes out at the angst! The angst was so heart wrenching, and I hope that Lu Yuxiao and Hou Minghao got their flowers for how incredible their acting was! Lu Yuxiao is a phenomenal actress, and the way that she acts in sad scenes??? SO GOOD!! like you can feel every emotion :(( and Hou Minghao??
The way that he's able to express so many emotions with just his eyes is honestly insane. He didn't always have to show his emotions outwardly on his face, because his eyes honestly did a lot of the work. You could just feel and see all the emotions in just his eyes alone. He's so expressive!
The love story between Yan Xiao and Mu Tian Ji (the Princess of Jixing Abyss) was also so beautiful?? Their story honestly had me in tears, and the angst between them was equally as devastating as Ming Yi and Ji Bozai's! Their love was so beautiful, and I honestly really enjoyed seeing their chemistry as well <3
Oh and Situ Ling..... man I have never felt so conflicted over a villian before. He was honestly so freaking sweet and cute but I kinda hate that they made him turn evil. I really wish he didn't turn evil, because I think that there was so much wasted potential with his character.
Overall, this drama had me bawling my eyes out and it devastated me in every way, but the ending was so worth it!! The ending is literally so freaking amazing and I loved how it ended <3
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A drama that will make you laugh and cry all at once
This drama was honestly so much fun! I loved how hilarious it was, and I am also a sucker for a transmigration drama <3 I LOVED the chemistry between Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu, I just think that they work so well together! This drama had me laughing but also bawling my eyes out towards the end! I even loved the side couple, but I wish that they gave more screen time to our main couple of Mu Sheng and Mao Mao. It was so beautifully executed, and the visuals in this drama were so gorgeous!!Was this review helpful to you?
Mature and healthy love <3
This drama has by far one of the healthiest relationships I have ever seen! Yu Tu and Jing Jing are two people who are mature and also respect each other so deeply. I watched this drama in 2021.The slow burn was kind of excruciating, but it was so worth it in the end! I absolutely loved how they were able to reconnect, even after years without seeing each other. Their relationship is just so beautiful to me, as they are able to focus on themselves while also being in a committed relationship. Even though they spend a lot of time apart, their love and trust for one another doesn't ever falter.
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SO SO BEAUTIFUL !!
At first, I only watched this drama because of Lu Yuxiao, but honestly, Chen Xingxu surprised me here! I also have never seen any of his other dramas before this, just fyi. I absolutely loved the unique concept of this, which is that Hu Xu and Zhu Yu meet through a murder mystery (i think its virtual reality??) game.The romance was honestly so sweet and I loved how natural their chemistry was. And, honestly, everything about this drama was perfect! From the acting to the storyline and even the OST, everything was just so excellent! I was honestly so surprised that I liked this drama as much as I did, because I kind of went in with zero expectations (I went in completely blind, I didn't know anything about it). This drama is honestly a must-watch!
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One of the most mature and healthy relationships ever <3
This drama was one of my absolute favorites that I have watched this year! Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang are one of my favorite couples ever! Their love story is just so beautiful, and also very healing. I absolutely love how Yusen quietly protects her and also allows her to shine. He sees her as an equal in every way, and he is also her biggest supporter, as well as her safe space. The way that they protect and love each other was so heartwarming to watch! Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong were amazing in this drama, and I do hope they have future projects together <3 I loved how mature their characters were and how healthy their relationship was!Their chemistry was so natural, and nothing felt awkward or forced. I love how they go to bat for each other when necessary. I also adore how patient Lin Yusen was, especially as Xiguang was still conflicted about her ex-crush from college. He still pursued her, but never pushed her or anything of the sort. He allowed her to work through her inner conflict and was there for her regardless of the fact that they weren't in a relationship yet. The ending to this drama was so cute, and I absolutely adore this show so much!!
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such a beautiful drama <3
MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR PURSUIT OF JADE !!!This drama was one of my absolute favorite historical dramas that I have watched this year! It hooked me right from the very first episode, which is something that a lot of dramas don't always do for me. I adored everything about this drama, from the visuals to the story. The characters were ones that will definitely stick with you, even after the drama is over! Waiting for new episodes to drop was torturous, but it was so worth it! The acting in this drama by every single cast member was phenomenal!
The OSTs of this drama are absolutely gorgeous as well. I also adored how female centric this drama was. It really focuses on Fan Changyu as a character. I absolutely adored the friendships that she formed throughout this drama, especially with the Northwest Pig Slaughter Squad, the Grand Princess, and the father-daughter bond with Grand Tutor Tao Yi. I also wanted to give recognition to Snow Kong , who portrayed Yu Qian Qian, and Deng Kai, who portrayed Qimin/Su Yuanhai. Their acting was phenomenal!!
Though I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the way their relationship was romanticized, as Qimin's character is very much a walking red flag, I was blown away by the levels of emotion and depth these actors had in portraying their respective characters.
Qian Qian is such a strong female character who endures literal hell to save her son, Bao'er (who is so so precious, just like Ning), and even forces herself to do horrible things just so that she can find a way to escape. It definitely hurt my heart to see her do those things, but it also showed me just how strong a mother's love can be. She was willing to do anything to save her son, even at the cost of her own life. She is absolutely one of my favorite female characters, and I also adored her friendship with Changyu as well, and the way that they care for one another.
Qimin, while his character scared me, the acting by Deng Kai in this role was incredible!! He really suits the "villain" role so well! The levels of emotions that he could portray was insane! He did absolutely amazing in this role, and I honestly am thinking of watching other dramas that he's in!
Gongsun Yin and the Grand Princess (Qi Shu)??? OMGGG!!! Their romance honestly hurt my heart so much:((( Their love story was so angsty, and I'm really glad these two got their happy ending as well! I do wish we got a bit more of them in this drama, but I am glad that they did eventually end up together! I also adored both of their characters individually, with Gongsun being Xie Zheng's Strategist and also his closest friend. Their bickering was absolutely hilarious! I also love how strong of a character Qi Shu is as well. She is intelligent and also is not afraid to speak her mind, which is one of the things that I love about her. (literally NO toxic female friendships in this drama and I loved that!!!)
Fan Changyu is one of my absolute favorite female leads ever, and Tian Xiwei did an excellent job of portraying her and bringing her to life! She knows what she wants and she goes after it! And while Changyu does have a strong personality, and can definitely fend for herself, we also get to see her softer side shine through. I love that contrast of her character!
While she is tough and formidable in her own right, Changyu still possess a soft heart that deeply cares for her comrades and her loved ones. She will do everything she can to protect them. She is a protector through and through. This brings me to my next point: her relationship with Xie Zheng (Yan Zheng).
Xie Zheng has been on the battlefield from a young age, and he has known nothing but destruction and death. He experienced it firsthand when his mother took her own life, and again in the atrocities on the battlefield. His father, (at least from what is shown in the drama), didn't seem to be around a lot? Perhaps he was busy with military duties and was rarely home? I feel like Xie Zheng was definitely closer with his mother. Ultimately, Xie Zheng is someone who feels that everybody in his life eventually leaves. He is someone who was raised to be a warrior, and eventually, the Marquis of Wu'an, who is formidable and ruthless. As the Marquis, Xie Zheng is cold-hearted and merciless. He is very feared as well. He hasn't really known the warmth of love, as it was taken from him very early on in his childhood.
For me, the way I see it is that Xie Zheng's "source" of light in his life is Changyu. She was the one who wasn't scared of him, and who brought him such fond memories and joy throughout their time in Lin'an. At first. we see that Xie Zheng is very much guarded and closed off, but, as time goes on, he starts to warm up a bit, and we even see him becoming fond of Ning. Changyu was the one who brought him all this light, and gave him this pure love that he was scared of losing, which is one of the reasons that he decided to conceal his identity from her, for he was afraid that she would leave him if she knew who he really was.
Xie Zheng and Changyu work so well together because they both respect each other, and also see each other as complete equals. Xie Zheng quietly supports her and provides her with a quiet strength that Changyu can lean on when she needs to. He allows her to pursue what she wants, and never tries to diminish her in any way. For instance, during the Battle at Lucheng, when Changyu and Xie Zheng are standing together on the battlefield, he tells her to get behind him so that he can protect her, but Changyu refuses.
She tells him that she will not hide behind anyone, and that she will fight. Xie Zheng doesn't even try to protest, allowing Changyu to fight alongside him and his army. For me, this showed just how much Xie Zheng respects Changyu in that despite his fear of her getting hurt (despite knowing that she can take care of herself), he doesn't try to prevent her from doing what she wants. As much as he loves her, he also respects her and sees her as a complete equal to himself. Their love is fierce and unyielding as it is tender, as we see in the scene where Xie Zheng comforts Changyu after she wakes up from a nightmare.
Overall, this drama was absolutely incredible, and I highly recommend you watch it!! It made me go through all the emotions, and I will forever think about this drama <3 TAKE ME BACK TO LIN'AN !!!
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Literal soulmates <3
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD !!!This drama was only my second one that I have seen out of Hou Minghao's filmography, but I was once again blown away by how talented of an actor he is.
The chemistry between him and Tan Songyun felt very natural and not at all forced! The way that Hou Minghao is able to express so many emotions through just his eyes is insane. His character of Hong Ye is a composed and (in my opinion) calm demon king who is fiercely protective of his subjects in the Valley of Ten Demons. And although he is at first wary of Xiao Yao, he gradually warms up to her after seeing how holds no prejudice against demons and genuinely wants to help protect them.
The romance between them was so incredibly sweet and the emotional moments between them just hit so different! One of my absolute favorite moments they had together was when Hong Ye learned how to make the noodles from the noodle shop that Xiao Yao's father used to take her every year for her birthday. That scene was honestly so heartwarming! And the fact that he put in so much effort to perfectly recreate the noodle recipe was so touching <3
The ending absolutely destroyed me, and I definitely bawled my eyes out multiple times, but I also could see how beautiful it was and how they could possibly find a way to be together, even if it's not necessarily in the present lifetime. The past lifetime storyline in this drama WAS DEVASTATING, but also so incredibly beautiful! And I love the idea of their love spanning across lifetimes <3 I highly recommend this drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
what a healing drama <3
Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with this drama??
First of all, this drama made me a fan of ZLH and Xu Ruohan. Their chemistry was so so good, and I just loved how natural their scenes were.
If I could describe this drama in one word, it would be comforting. It feels like a warm hug or a fuzzy blanket or jacket being draped around your shoulders when you are cold. This drama really spoke to me in terms of how hesitant Shen Xifan was when it came to love. Her ex-boyfriend is horrible, and the fact that he ghosted her?? (oh absolutely not!!!) My heart hurt for her throughout this drama, especially when her ex was saying nasty things to her.
Xifan being hesitant of love and also entering a new relationship felt very relatable to me. While her rejecting He Suye at first did sting, I do think that it made sense for her to do so because of how draining her previous relationship was. I mean, the poor girl literally developed insomnia from the strain that the relationship was taking on her, as well as the physical demand of her job as a hotel manager. She needed to take time for herself to decide what she really wanted, and I honestly loved that. She didn't want to rush into a new relationship when the first one left such a deep scar on her. She also didn't fully love herself, and perhaps didn't think that she wasn't deserving of such affection and kindness from He Suye.
And honestly, don't even get me started on her friends and her parents. They were fantastic, and also excellent support systems for Xifan. They were there for Xifan no matter what, and gave her comfort when she needed it. Her friends also didn't reveal their relationship to Xifan right away, which I honestly appreciated? I don't know why, but I kinda like that they kept it lowkey.
And I mean, we HAVE to talk about He Suye. I mean, he is the literal definition of a green flag man. He can cook, is a doctor, and is also a total gentleman but also shameless?? YES PLS!! Also, I absolutely LOVE how he protected Xifan from her ex-boyfriend without having to resort to violence. The way that he just naturally showed up at her doorstep under the pretense of giving her food that he had prepared?? And then stepping in front of Xifan to shield her from her ex?? UGHHH and its the way that he didn't have to say much? Also, can we talk about how patient he was with Xifan?? Even though she rejected him, Suye never gave up on her, and still showed that he cared for her, even though he was hurt.
ALSO can we PLEASE talk about these quotes?
"In my eyes, you get better and more deserving of love than the last. So, from now on, just focus on loving yourself. As for the rest, leave it to me."
"Give me your life's time, and I'll give you my life's love. Everyday, I want to wake up with you in the sunlight, fall asleep to the sound of rain, run with you in the sunset, and chat with you under the moonlight. Just like this honeysuckle flower, after this winter passes, we will be like two flowers on one stem, with all my heart."
"But, in my heart, you are the most beautiful scenery in this world. Falling in love with you is the luckiest thing I've ever done. Loving you is the best thing I've ever done."
"We met at a not so good time. At that time, I never even thought that every day with you would be so interesting. You made my gray life suddenly be full of color."
Yeah, these quotes brought tears to my eyes. They are just so beautiful and it just shows how much He Suye loves her:((( This drama was so comforting and healing, and I loved that He Suye and Xifan became each other's safe spaces <3
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