K-Drama 
The pace of the romance may frustrate some viewers, but I'm finding it so far to be extremely satisfyingly realistic. Especially because, at least so far, there are no bizarre, contrived romantic mis-dramas. Yes, he has secrets from her, but they aren't romantic secrets and, at least towards each other, they are so far being honest with their slowly developing feelings. The 'bussom friends' remark at the end is the first stumble, but it's not something that will derail their forward growth.
Was this review helpful to you?
A lot of stuff happens in this episode, some good, a lot of bad. The bad is not completely unexpected as we are reaching near the penultimate episode, which traditionally in drama story arcs is when everything looks the worst for the good guys. So viewers at this point in the series just have to be ready to suffer through one gut punch after another. On the good side of events, Yan and HM definitely are 'in sync' as a couple now and she steps up to help his(her) family. On the quality of the episode, it is uneven. It has a few really bad plot contrivances that are glaring. The two worst, by far, both involve Han Wei Ping. First off, how on earth did HE happen to stumble upon Hao Chen after the latter ran out of the car and went and sat at some random park bench? Second, after Hao Ming & police show up to rescue Hao Chen, how on earth is it that Han Wei Ping is not arrested? He is shown wandering around completely free. That makes zero sense and is a giant, gaping hole in the story. There are a few other annoying plot holes as well (in particular in the way HWP is able to access HM's home, computer & safe so easily) but those two just really jump off the screen as dumb. On the _good_ side of episode quality, the episode ends with some brilliant emotional acting by Yu Lan as she implores her husband to wake up.
Was this review helpful to you?
So Shen Hao Ming and Xu Yan have finally completely reconciled. And all seems finally good and restored between them. The only question is if the writers will contrive some other romantic obstacle between them or if they will let them now stay together and work together to overcome the remaining obstacles facing them - of which there are several.On Yan's side, Lin Tao has seemingly been plotting something nefarious because he's hiding his still-obsession with Qiao Lin. And on Hao Ming's side, his business enemies are getting desperate and looking to blow up Hao Chen's identity in order to discredit Hao Ming and prevent him from assuming a position on the board. As a viewer, I'm hoping that we get to see Hao Ming and Yan face these obstacles together for the final stretch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Till the End of the Moon Episode 32
1 people found this review helpful
Much better episode than the last couple. actual plot movement, with some reveals. It's a little weak in explaining why SuSu has to reject TTJ, despite being in love with him still. The writers could have made it more clear to the viewers that she can't be with him while pursuing the Heartless Path. And also pointed out that it's simply dangerous to have him physically near her while she has the evil bone in her - the last piece he would need to complete his transition to the Devil Lord.
Was this review helpful to you?
Till the End of the Moon Episode 31
1 people found this review helpful
Not a lot happens in this episode until the very last couple of minutes. You can tell it's slowly building up to a 'history-repeats-itself' moment. And yeah, there are a few random plot details explained. But mostly it all feels like waiting around until TTJ & SiSu finally meet.
Was this review helpful to you?
Far too much screen time spent on 2ML. This show is making the same mistake that a lot of poor-quality c-dramas do by devoting far too much screen time to the 'romantic competitor', trying to pump up sympathy for him -- despite objective facts showing him to be a psychotic, obsessed creep who is guilty of some pretty serious crimes. Every second Lige is on the screen, the show plays this annoying 'romantic' piano music and the only expressions he seems capable of are woe-is-me-I'm-a-tortured-soul or disingenuous 'charming smile'. The writers intent is clearly to try to build some sort of 'romantic tension', but it is lame, obvious and just isn't working because it is simply hard to be sympathetic with a psychopath. Worse, the net effect of this is to barely give the actual ML hardly any screen time compared to, well, MOST of the characters. It's frustrating as a viewer because this show is best when either or both of the 2 leads are on screen.
Was this review helpful to you?
Till the End of the Moon Episode 25
1 people found this review helpful
This episode sucks because of the plot-induced-stupidity that they ended the prior episode with. None of it feels real because it made no sense for SuSu to be this stupid. It was bad enough she made this mistake earlier in the series when she foolishly visited Xiao Lin's army camp. But to not have learned from that mistake and to be repeating it now is just beyond stupid.So, yea, lots anger, fear, mistrust, betrayal, death happen in this episode, but none of it makes sense because it's built on a plot-contrivance that isn't credible.
Was this review helpful to you?
Finally! Both characters have confessed (to themselves as well as to each other) that they like each other! So we can move past that and focus on all the obstacles they still have to overcome, not just for each other, but for justice and revenge.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode puts Lady Wei's brilliance on full display. She deftly maneuvers relationships with both Wei Shao's Grandmother and Mother to resolve problems and finally, when violently accused by Wei Shao of something she didn't do, demonstrates in dramatic, caclulating fashion why she is innocent. Wei Shao once again succumbs to his long-ingrained hate to impulsively react in the worst way. But he is unable to deny her reasoning and it forces him to examine his some of the memories from his childhood trauma which fuel the hate which keeps clouding his judgement. He acknowledges her innocence and moves finally to the correct next question.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good god I'm so sick of watching Situ. Is this series all about Situ Ling and his disgusting obsessive stalking? Is he the hero? Why is this show spending ridiculous amounts of screen time staring at his sad, woe-is-me face all the time? Why is it constantly playing flashbacks of all the misfortunes this psychopath suffered? As if those misfortunes justify his psychopathic nature?And why do the writers keep having the FL be so clueless about obvious, simple things? All the facts clearly tell her that she MUST be the last Bo clan descendent. But she acts as if it is a great mystery. All the facts make it clear that Situ Ling is an obsessed, dangerous stalker -- he literally ran up to her, cast some sort of paralyzing spell on her and forced her to drink some potion without her consent. But she lets it slide? How on earth she would agree that she is 'indebted' to him for that is ridiculous. And why can't she see the obvious disconnect between Situ's potion and the fact that her spirit veins have been repaired and realize that something else must have happened?What the F is wrong with the writers of this show? Is FL the strong, independent and intelligent champion warrior Ming Xian? Or is she a clueless, stupid and easily manipulated idiot? They are literally writing her into a willing stalker victim. It makes me want to vomit.The cast, costumes, sets and overall production of this show are fantastic. But the writing and plot direction at times are just painful and cringy to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Love between Fairy and Devil Episode 36
1 people found this review helpful
Great finale! Love that the final battle was both tangible and intangible. The scale was dramatic and also romantic. Beautiful visuals, especially in Dongfang Qingcang's Heart Sea. Kudos to the two leads, Esther and Dylan, for really great performances throughout this series. The two of them really carried this story with each taking the lead at different moments and always having great chemistry.I'm glad they stopped spending so much screen time trying to make Ronghao a sympathetic character in the finale. They had wasted so much time on him in recent episodes and it just didn't work. He was despicable all the way through and I felt not single tear of sympathy for the creep so all the flute playing and sad memorial flashbacks just felt contrived and manipulative without succeeding. And boy did that slow down those episodes. Thankfully, they left that behind for the finale.I was a little disappointed that the SML, Changheng, started to backtrack on his character growth in the middle of the battle, but he seemed to have recouped in the denouement. They left it hanging whether he will truly grow past where he's been stuck but it was at least looking promising.Most of the other side characters seemed to move toward positive directions that made sense.
Was this review helpful to you?
This was a good episode overall. But the thing that is dragging on this whole storyline is that the writers have failed to give us a reason to empathize with Ming Yicontinuing to lie about her identity to Ji Bo Zai. There is no apparent reason for her to continue to do so and it is hurting both of them that she is. It could be accepted if the story presented a compelling reason for why she continues to lie. But it doesn't. So it has become annoying and feels contrived. As if she is only doing so to drag the plot gimmick out. This is a pretty big flaw in this otherwise very entertaining drama, and the flaw is getting bigger as it proceeds. If they don't either explain it or conclude it, it could make the entire series unwatchable as the audience looses empathy with the heroine.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Episode 18
1 people found this review helpful
Zhou When Yuan, upon receiving his graduation honors, literally and verbally announces in front of everyone that he is willing to do evil in order to get what he wants?What a loser creep he is. But shouldn't his words have sent alarm bells in the heads of everyone at the ceremony? Or do we assume they were said so softly that only the Vice Principal could hear him?Smart enough to be the 'top scholar', but not smart enough to know he can't really ever get what he wants?.
Was this review helpful to you?
I'm sorry. But the whole Prince-Xin-was-really-playing-the-fall-guy-to-help twist was just stupid. It really felt like the writer fell in love with the character and used this single conversation -- which made NO sense to have been granted -- between Xin and the Crown Princess to transform him from a pathetic obsessed psycho creep into .... a heroic martyr? Gimme a break. Did the writer just watch the final Harry Potter film before penning this chapter and decide to borrow the Severus Snape plot line? This whole conversation that revealed this was just a giant waste of screen time because it made ZERO difference to the plot. Yes, he it's true that his rebel actions cemented her legitimacy because she stopped him. But that would be true even if truly WAS rebellious. So this whole sudden 'reveal' about Prince Xin ultimately has ZERO impact on the entire rest of the story other than to salvage his character a bit in the minds of the viewers. It feels cheap and manipulative. Other than that, the rest of the episode was awesome, with some great gamesmanship and a much more important 'reveal' at the end that really adds a lot to the picture of the Emperor and what happened 20 years ago.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode is a bit predictable. First off, what happens to the FL echoes what happened to the ML a few episodes ago. So symmetry / shared tribulations, blah blah. Also they referenced her role as that of a phoenix WAY WAY WAY back early in the series so this happening now is kind of expected. Second off, it becomes an excuse to fill up a large chunk of the episode with flashbacks -- which is a staple of penultimate C-drama episodes so ... yeah.
Was this review helpful to you?
