mikrokosmos228

I had difficulty getting into this drama in the beginning; the intros of so many characters had me spinning. And then I hear the stuff that comes out of this girl's mouth LOL. I am glad I stuck around because it's getting so good now. What he said in episode 11 was so unexpected my jaw must have hit the floor. Still swooning over it.

I absolutely loved Yoona's portrayal of the female lead here. I love how much of a rock star the chef character is and she clearly demonstrates why she is such a successful one at that. And she actually uses her skills from the modern world to navigate the Joseon world. I think being a top chef isn't just about making wonderful food but requires executive leadership skills and she has it on full display; competently leading a team and commanding the room where ever she goes. It cracks me up how she knows when she got 'em in the taste buds. Also, I'm both delighted and impressed to find myself never tired of watching Lee Chae Min in utter bliss whenever he's tasting her marvelous food LOL.

The way these two struggled over the most mundane things, all in an effort to please each other, is both hilarious and super adorable!

No matter the angle, his gaze makes me feel as if he can burn the screen all the way to the fourth dimension. Like hot damn...

Aside from the second leads who have incredible chemistry, what I enjoyed about this drama is the fight sequences. Each has this film like quality; smooth and artistic.

I remember how wild we were over this drama, like a viral drama before viral dramas were a thing. The build up is so good and the payoff is even better. Ji Chang Wook at his finest; other actors come and go but he will remain my favorite.

Such a classic. Still one of a kind after all these years.

Omg, this is so entertaining. They will cross so many lines and have you glued to the screen. This female lead is a tour de force. Such a good enemies to lovers drama!

This film's soundtrack and cinematography are stellar. The friendships feel authentic. And the story is filled with both gripping suspense and exhilarating action. And because of that I find the rating here awfully underrated.

Teenage Harumichi and Yae are soooo precious. The romance as adults isn't as compelling to me, but I do like Yae as a character; the story behind her struggles is unexpectedly quite moving.

The thing about this drama is that there were times where I wasn't clear on where it is headed and then the story comes full circle with clarity and as you reach a realization, the emotional weight hits you suddenly so hard. That's when it gets you right in the heart.

This is a hoot. It can be juvenile, with bathroon humor that made me skip. But fundamentally, it's a fun watch and filled me with genuine laughter. There is much tonal shift throughout but it's well done. One minute I'm laughing and the next smiling over the romance. The leads are fantastic together. Female lead is so cool. And I've been a fan of Yan Zi Xian for some time now thanks to his web dramas, but it's the first I've seen of him in a comedic role; doesn't make him any less hot though. Worthy watch!

If there are a few things I really like about this drama, it's the music and the fight scenes. The fight in episode 35 has to be one of the most incredible I've witnessed. I am sure there was a stunt double used. But there is also many frontal shots and for such a tall guy, it's amazing how quick and seamless Hu Yi Tan makes every move look. There is so much strength and power in the way he cuts down the bad guys. It is such an exhilarating watch that I've revisited many times.

The urge to reexperience this drama hasn't gone away yet. The pattern goes like this on my rewatch: swoon over the romance, marvel at Liu Yu Ning looking so good, think about how cool Song Zu Er is as Manman, crack up at all the funny parts again (special shout-out to his advisor; is he his political advisor or marriage counselor? lol). Rinse and repeat.

I've been a fan of Liu Yu Ning since The Long Ballad, so I knew he would nail the cold hero role. Even so, I absolutely loved his portrayal of Wei Shao. His antagonistic look is like a work of art. What caught me by surprise is the marvelous performance of Song Zu Er as Manman. She demonstrates this duality as the adorable Manman with big adoring eyes and as the capable Lady Wei that has Wei Shao squirming, which makes this such a delightful watch. They nailed the intimacy of a happily married couple so well that it'll be hard to top going forward.

Thanks. I've been checking out the OST. Such great songs.

I thought Gao was the weakest character largely because of how the actor portrayed the character. But yes, strong acting all around. I like the drummer friend. I also like the coworkers toward the end. These guys are hilarious. And I was surprised by the painter friend. At first I thought he was going to be another boring 2nd lead. But he gave a nuanced performance. Very mature and his exit is classy.

Years late, just finished, so I'm sure I'm not the first person to say this but this has to be one of the strongest chemistry captured in a drama. The character of Li Xun is a force to be reckoned with. Such a flawed character. So bullheaded and screams red flag at face value. That's why he needs someone like Zhu Yun who is perceptive enough to look past the surface level to truly see and understand the real Li Xun. That's how they are able to connect and fall in love. She bridges the gap in more ways than one. But goodness, how he tested her patience and viewers like me. There were times where I just wanted to tell her, girl, just leave him and go as far away as possible. But ultimately, I really wanted a happy ending for them because it's so obvious they're most alive only when they're together. Phenomenal performance by both Chen Fei Yu and Zhang Jing Yi.

I know Xu Kai and Bai Lu are super famous now and doing their own things separately but they will always be my favorite pairing. I don't think there will ever be anyone that can tease Bai Lu the way Xu Kai does in this drama. I still think this is his best role to date.

One of my favorite things about this director is his use of heart-pounding, absolutely thrilling background music. He has the knack for using music that just elevates any scene ten folds. Ashes of Love is my all time favorite. I've also enjoyed Story of Kunning Palace, The Long Ballad, and The Starry Love.