Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue
A gripping tale about feuding families, power struggles, and an unlikely love story. Think Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue. Except instead of love at first sight and a secret romance, we have an arranged marriage and a slow transition from enemies to lovers.One character comments that marriage is all about mind games, and that’s certainly how the leads’ dynamic starts out. There’s mistrust and manipulation, and both are constantly on guard against each other. Equally matched in intelligence, their battle of wits is compelling to watch.
Wei Shao is quick-tempered, vengeful, and determined to keep his hate burning for the Qiao family, who he blames for the deaths of his grandfather, father, and brother. But the look on his face when he sees his future bride, Xiao Qiao, for the first time at the end of episode 1 (a great bit of acting from Liu Yu Ning) makes it clear from the start that he’s not completely immune to her charms.
His attitude pretty quickly shifts from “I don’t like her, but nobody else can mistreat her either” to reluctantly admiring her courage, cleverness, and consideration. As a man of war who often struggles to express himself, he’s a little dense when it comes to women and romance, but he eventually comes around.
Xiao Qiao, also called Manman, is a petite woman with a soft little voice, but looks can be deceiving — more than just a pretty face, she also has a sharp mind and iron will and can be cunning or fierce when she needs to be. Her brilliant ideas save the day more than once, and the two of them make quite the power couple.
Song Zu Er shows a lot of range as the female lead (especially compared to some of her other leading roles in contemporary dramas like “Cupid’s Kitchen” and “Legally Romance”), alongside Liu Yu Ning as the male lead. I haven’t seen him in anything else, but would look for his work based on the strength of his performance here. Playing a character who keeps his feelings to himself, he says a lot with just a furrowed brow or flash of a smile.
Liu Duan Duan (a familiar face from “The Rebel Princess”) playing Wei Shao’s wastrel cousin is also a standout role. His outwardly frivolous personality hides deep emotions and pain, and he does an excellent job with a complex and conflicted character.
At 36 episodes, the series never drags, blending family and political drama, action (that’s surprisingly violent in places), and a slow-burn romance. The leads’ relationship is paced perfectly considering all they have to overcome to be together. Aside from great performances from the cast and a well-written story, “Prisoner of Beauty” also offers beautiful costumes, a lovely orchestral score, and an ending that’s both happy and bittersweet. It’s one of the best historical dramas I’ve seen — not quite a 10 for me, because I don’t think I’d rewatch it, but certainly a quality production and an absorbing story.
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Youthful or Immature?
If you’re looking for an easy-to-watch love story, this isn’t it. Despite having 3 couples (and what the trailer would suggest), the genre is less of a romance and more of a palace drama.The primary thread that ties many events of the series together is about a corrupt noble family and all the trouble they cause. The story follows the leads, played by Bao Shang En and Song Wei Long, as they uncover the conspiracy and face various obstacles together.
While Chinese costume dramas can often have irritating supporting characters, here it’s the primary couple that is poorly written, particularly the female lead.
I think she’s supposed to be in her late teens, so it’s understandable the character is somewhat immature, but her whining and self-centeredness makes her hard to like, especially early on. She tends to make reckless choices without considering the consequences for herself or other people. The inconsistent way the character is written doesn’t do a lot of favors for the actress. She’s spoiled and sheltered and somehow also manages a household and is a savvy businesswoman.
Song Wei Long plays the brooding type well and looks great doing it (that furrowed brow; those deep, dark eyes!), but his skills seem underutilized here. His male lead basically has two modes — “war god” or infatuated husband — and not much character depth or development.
The chemistry between the leads isn’t remarkable, and the two are at odds more often than not. Poor communication for the sake for dramatic tension is common in romance dramas (unfortunately), and that plot device is used several times in ways that seem unnecessary and unlikely.
Overall, a sloppy script that struggles to balance comedic and serious elements — including a rebellion plot that’s difficult to follow at times — make “Youthful Glory” a somewhat disappointing watch. There’s some cute relationship development and exciting, gravity-defying (though unrealistic) action sequences, but it’s not one of the better historical dramas released this year.
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"That kind of devotion, it was unrestrained."
“Our Generation” is a heartfelt and beautifully filmed story, but can be a bit of a gloomy watch.It follows a group of childhood friends nearing the end of high school as they navigate crushes, rivalries, and family strife.
Zhao Jin Mai plays Lin Ying Tao (“Cherry”), a lively young woman who’s a bit of a troublemaker and feels things intensely. Even after years apart, she can’t forget her childhood companion, Jiang Qiao Xi.
Qiao Xi is a top student who’s considered a prodigy, but he's also reserved and not the most emotionally intelligent. With an unhappy family life and a controlling, emotionally abusive mother, the only time he ever smiles is around Cherry.
The two had a deep bond as children, but when they reunite in high school, they have to fight hard to rekindle their friendship — first against misunderstandings, then against people actively trying to keep them apart and unexpected circumstances.
Both actors do a fine job portraying the transition from teens to young adults. They deliver a palpable chemistry as friends who clearly adore each other but aren’t quite sure how to express it. Zhang Ling He in particular gives a nuanced performance — his Qiao Xi has a sadness and maturity that gives the character a magnetic presence. It’s a shame they spend much of the series apart.
I was expecting a sweet coming-of-age story from the trailer, but there ended up being more heartbreak than I anticipated. However, the relationship between the leads is a beautiful one characterized by an unrestrained devotion (as one of their classmates puts it) that endures through hardship to a happy ending. This kind of deep and unwavering commitment at such a young age might not be very realistic, but it makes for good fiction.
So many dramas feature miscommunication or people saying things they don’t mean, and while there’s some of that here, “Our Generation” also has a number of extended conversations where characters talk through their problems and properly express their emotions, especially in the last several episodes. It’s refreshing, and some of the best dialogue I’ve encountered in a drama.
With the right expectations for what kind of story you’re getting into, it’s a worthwhile watch — aside from good writing and performances, the series also features some nice music and is filmed in a warm, nostalgic color palette.
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Fun, Time-Traveling Romcom Takes a Detour
Starts out as a fun, fluffy romcom, with a college student waking up inside the world of her favorite serial novel and falling in love with the male lead. But the story takes a turn in the last several episodes with a darker tone and some villainy added for dramatic tension.However, it’s the characters and cast rather than the uneven plot that makes this worth watching.
Yi Beon is the ultimate fictional crush — flirty but respectful, devoted, tall and handsome, with a deliciously deep voice. Taecyeon plays him to perfection. Do men like this exist in real life? It’s no wonder our female lead can’t resist him despite her best efforts.
Seohyun is also charming as Cha Sun Chaek, a supporting character turned female lead, who adapts to Joseon-era life with surprising ease, putting her college smarts and cocktail-mixing skills to good use.
But the series never quite recaptures the spark of the early episodes as the plot takes a detour into Serious Drama Land — complete with unhinged villains, betrayals, and obstacles to keep the leads apart. Unfortunately, the genre-mixing feels abrupt and disjointed.
We do get a happy ending, but the conclusion feels a bit rushed and leaves some unanswered questions. The story would have benefited from extra episodes to flesh out the some of characters more and explore the late-stage plot developments.
Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the series for what it is: a mostly lighthearted historical romance. The leads’ chemistry, banter, and swoon-worthy moments are the main draw. At least their devotion to each other is one constant even when other aspects go awry.
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When a handsome, down-on-his-luck government agent (Seo Kang Joon) goes undercover as a student at a swanky private high school, he stirs up plenty of trouble (and interest) as he struggles to balance his mission with issues he encounters at the school — including bullying, power-tripping rich kids, suspicious school officials, and a certain female teacher (Jin Ki Joo) who’s determined to keep an eye on the new “problem student.”
Pairing leads from two of my favorite dramas (“Are You Human Too?” and “The Secret Life of My Secretary”), I was looking forward to this show, and it didn’t disappoint.
Seo Kang Joon brings a certain intensity to his roles that works well for the male lead, Jeong Hae Seong. You get the sense that even though he might look like the strong, silent type, there are a lot of emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Part of an intelligence team tasked with locating stolen cultural treasures, Agent Jeong looks effortlessly cool and confident on the job but also has moments of being awkward, easily embarrassed, and overwhelmed by his emotions. At heart, he’s just a nice guy with a lot of empathy who also happens to have some impressive fighting skills.
His character is multifaceted and gets more of a backstory than Jin Ki Joo’s female lead, Oh Su A, a teacher who’s caring and determined to make a difference for her students, but a bit silly. However, she does get some character growth, and JKJ gives a charming performance. The two of them have a playful, somewhat goofy dynamic that’s fun to watch, even though the romance takes a back seat to other plot elements.
There are also plenty of interesting characters besides the leads, particularly Chairwoman Seo. She’s a terrifying and formidable villain without being one dimensional. Her daughter, the student council president, is also a well-written and layered character— infuriating and pitiful at the same time.
Although this series does touch on a few serious topics (including the previously mentioned bullying and self-harm), it’s an entertaining watch that’s exciting from the get-go, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and offers lots of laughs, all without stretching out the story with too many episodes. Plus, everything gets wrapped up with a satisfying ending where the main characters each get their own little epilogue. Recommended!
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Funny but flawed story
A quirky but entertaining story about a woman who can change her appearance and the man who unknowingly falls in love with every version of her. It’s part romcom, sci-fi/fantasy, and office drama all rolled into one eccentric package.Neither of the leads are particularly likable at first — one has low self-esteem and gets tangled in a web of her own lies while the other comes across as rude and fickle. But both are pretty self-aware about their faults, and as the two work out their conflicts and misunderstandings, we get a different kind of take on an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers plot.
However, one thing bothered me that made an otherwise fun show less enjoyable: Some of the behavior that the female lead resorts to in order to hide her multiple identities is cruel and emotionally manipulative. She feels bad about it, but keeps doing it anyway. How she treats the male lead is played for laughs (and many of the circumstances the two get into are hilarious) but if you look past the humor, she’s pretty heartless. His anger is fully justified when he finds out the truth, and in my opinion he comes to terms with it a little too easily. But this being a drama, love conquers all.
Regardless of how the characters are written, the actors do a fine job. This is my first time seeing Tan Jian Ci in a comedy. His male lead is a serious, highly intelligent person forced into absurd situations, and he shows a lot of range in what must have been a challenging role. Landy Li successfully portrays the female lead as a woman with an inferiority complex who has to learn some self-acceptance. I also appreciated that the leads’ best friends (also the second couple) are well-rounded and interesting in their own right, more than just a side storyline.
This drama definitely falls in the “something different” category. It’s not perfect, and the way the moral of the story comes across can be a bit heavy-handed at times, but it has a unique plot that avoids the usual romcom cliches and a good cast, along with some decent-looking special effects and nice background music. While the last few episodes are a bit anticlimactic, it has a cute ending.
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Unexpectedly engaging story about imperfect people
Interesting, atypical characters make this an entertaining watch. We have a female lead who got jilted at the altar by her two-timing fiancé and starts to question her taste in men when she gets involved with a scumbag (as the title suggests) shortly after her failed wedding. She’s spunky and stubborn and sincere, but also a bit naive.Not that she has any examples of healthy relationships or reliable men in her life, with no father, a divorced sister, and an immature mother who has a different boyfriend for every day of the week.
It’s the scumbag who’s our male lead — admittedly a sexy and enigmatic one, but still a jerk. Yuta Tamamori plays the role with an understated charisma that provides an interesting foil to the FL’s enthusiastic and somewhat impulsive personality. His character capitalizes on his good looks as a bartender who charms women out of their money on the side. However, there’s a saying that all behavior is caused, and his stems from a secret (and probably PTSD) that keep him closed off to genuine relationships.
What that secret is and whether or not he stays a scumbag, I’ll leave to you, dear viewer, to find out.
I wouldn’t call this a sports drama — boxing is just the backdrop to a story about damaged people trying to figure how to not let their pasts define them. However, this J-drama does offer some surprisingly emotional performances along with a bit of mystery, some laughs, and an "odd couple" romance (though this takes a backseat to other plot elements) with leads whose contrasting personalities make for a compelling watch.
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Wants to be about female empowerment, but misses the mark
With a talented cast and highly stylized but still engaging battle scenes, the "Legend of the Female General" is very watchable, but gets bogged down by some of its script and character choices.Zhou Ye mostly pulls off the title character, though the playful and tough-as-nails sides of He Yan’s personality didn’t always add up for me. And it does require some suspension of disbelief to buy into her being able to pass as a man while unmasked. It doesn't help that the character is written in an inconsistent way — there are times when she has the presence and poise of a military leader and other times where she definitely doesn't.
While it’s refreshing to see a female lead with fighting and strategic skills on par with the men, male characters frequently come to her rescue at key moments and the borderline ridiculous level of plot armor that she has makes her capabilities less impressive.
Add to that a few too many lectures and monologues, and the messages about women’s worth and equality start to get a little heavy-handed.
Ryan Cheng is certainly leading man material and convincingly plays the brooding but anguished General Fengyun, He Yan’s current commanding officer and former schoolmate. Unfortunately, his character doesn’t have a whole lot to do other than look dashing and speculate about the FL’s secrets.
Overall, despite good performances and mostly good production values, it feels like something’s missing. It could be due to the meandering plot towards the middle, character development that could’ve gone further, or the romantic storyline that falls a little flat despite decent chemistry between the leads (although there is a particularly memorable and poetic profession of love in ep. 30 *).
* “I respect her, value her, and won’t let anyone slander her. She graces my view, occupies my mind, and claims my heart.” (swoon!)
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Refreshingly sweet and simple
There’s a lot to like about this sweet story of two kind but hurting people finding healing with each other.The premise: A young doctor who practices traditional Chinese medicine and a hotel manager getting treated for insomnia open up to each other about heartbreak and family problems over the course of this slow-burn romantic drama.
Zhang Ling He’s male lead is gentle, caring, and a bit lonely. He makes a convincing couple with Xu Ruo Han’s female lead, whose sweet, playful personality immediately charms him when they meet in a doctor-patient context. But she’s cautious about getting into another relationship after a painful breakup.
Their relationship develops very naturally, from acquaintances to friends to flirting, although there’s clearly a spark there from the start. They’re always stealing glances at each other and secretly smiling when they’re together. It’s refreshing to see a simple story about two mature, fairly well-adjusted adults. No childish or toxic behavior here.
One of the qualities I like about ZLH as an actor is how warm his gaze is. In romantic roles, the way he looks at his partner is like they’re the only person in the world. His Dr. He Su Ye is such an empathetic character. You can see all his emotions in his eyes, and it’s like he’s experiencing the FL’s feelings along with her. He’s a natural talent for someone who’s only been acting for 5 years.
The leisurely pace, soft-focus style, lovely shots of nature and flowers, and mellow music make for a pleasant viewing experience. Plus, the leads are very likable, there’s minimal angst, no melodramatic ups and downs — just an uncomplicated, satisfying story about normal people navigating life and relationships. It makes a nice break from more serious or stressful dramas.
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The Good:
— The Male Lead: Liu Yu Ning (who also had an impressive starring role in this year’s “The Prisoner of Beauty”), plays a misunderstood prince who’s hated by most of his family and caught between conflicting loyalties. He’s always interesting to watch as an actor and gives a layered performance here. Don’t miss his microexpressions — they reveal a lot about his character, who’s supposedly stoic, but really has a lot of emotions and inner turmoil simmering beneath the surface.
— The Second Male Lead: To describe his character arc would spoil important plot points, but Wang You Shuo delivers an impressive and wide-ranging performance. You’ll have a lot of feelings about his character, and it’s almost like you can see the workings of his mind playing out through his expressions.
— The Costumes: Many of the costumes are gorgeous and unique compared to other historical dramas. Whoever designed the tasseled hat and mask combination deserves a raise — it’s such a badass and mysterious look that makes the character who wears it instantly recognizable. In fact, all the martial artists’ makeup and styling stand out.
— The Action: Another highlight is the stylish action sequences. Many of the 1-on-1 fights in particular are like beautifully choreographed dances.
The Not-So-Good:
— The Beginning: I wasn’t feeling the first several episodes, which are a bit bizarre and almost seem like a different show than the rest of the series. I found the female lead’s antics irritating and the male lead cruel. Although that’s intentional; he’s supposed to be a stereotypical ruthless warlord type of character.
The story doesn’t really find its footing until episode 6, when it gets into more normal drama territory. The workings of the script and the FL’s desperate attempts to avoid (or kill) the ML become less of a focus as the requisite drama plot points play out, including love triangles, palace power struggles, and secrets and misunderstandings.
— The Female Lead’s Character Development: Li Yi Tong plays a modern woman who ends up inside the script of the costume drama she’s about to film. She has a lovely, expressive face and shows a lot of emotional range, but I never found her character very likable — partly due to how the role is written and partly due to the actress’s portrayal, which often comes across as affected and childish. The fake crying and pretend coyness aren’t cute or funny. Plus, her refusal to see that both the characters and plot are different than the original script makes it difficult to sympathize with or feel invested in her or her choices as a main character. While the characters around her change and grow, she's stuck in the same stubborn thinking and behavior through two-thirds of the drama.
— The Hit-and-Miss Humor: The parody of drama cliches and common tropes can be quite funny. The early episodes in particular are pretty over-the-top with character behavior and crazy events that viewers may or may not find humorous. (Side note: if you don’t find repeated accidental deaths and violence played for laughs to be amusing, maybe skip parts of episode 1; you won’t miss much.)
To sum up, it’s a flawed but entertaining story. The rocky start, a frustrating relationship between the leads (the friendships and rivalries are more interesting than the romance), and distracting music and sound effects that sometimes drown out the dialogue take some of the enjoyment out of the experience. But an intricate plot that sometimes feels like solving a puzzle and some unexpected twists keeps things interesting throughout the 40 episodes. I won’t comment on the ending except to say make sure to watch the post-credits scene closely!
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That may sound gloomy, but this drama is actually a hopeful and moving story that — despite a plot that involves heartbreak and hardships — also focuses on themes of acceptance, healing, and second chances.
Meguro Ren gives a remarkable performance as Sakura Sou, a man who lost most of his hearing after graduating high school and made the decision to cut off contact with all his friends, including his girlfriend. I’ve seen him in one other role, a 2023 movie called “My Happy Marriage” and was impressed with his quiet but expressive performance — he doesn’t even have to say anything because you can see all his emotions in his eyes. That same quality is on full display here; his acting style is a perfect fit for this role and brings a lot of depth to his character.
All the main characters give sensitive and emotional performances, and even the supporting characters are great, especially the sign language teacher.
This is the type of drama that rewards close attention. There’s often more to see in what goes unsaid — in a look or reaction or gesture — than what’s said, though the characters also have some thoughtful conversations about loss, disability, and empathy. Viewers who enjoy a quiet and character-driven story will find a lot to appreciate in “Silent.” (And yes, there is a happy ending.)
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The leads, Yang Zi and Li Xian (also paired in the 2019 contemporary drama “Go Go Squid!”) play, respectively: a resilient and resourceful merchant’s daughter who’s a talented florist and savvy businesswoman in her own right; and a mysterious but respected government official — titled the “Floral Envoy” — with a playful side and what seems like questionable integrity.
They bond over their disregard for convention and love for flowers, and it’s nice to see a couple who are equally matched in intelligence and confidence progress from allies to friends to the beginnings of something more.
We also get to see Wei Zhe Ming in a surprisingly unlikeable second-lead type of role. It’s interesting to see him play against his usual nice-guy type as a conflicted man who always wants what he can’t have.
All are versatile actors and make this story of overcoming adversity a compelling watch. There are also themes of the value of friendship, women supporting women, and not letting your past or family define you.
The romance aspect is slow in developing, but fits with the progression of the story. The drama as a whole is well-paced, with nothing I wanted to skip. As a plus, the production values are high, the costumes and sets/locations look nice, and the music is better than most. Overall, one of the better historical dramas I’ve seen.
If the story seems a bit incomplete at the end, that’s because it continues in a second season, titled “In the Name of Blossom.”
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The series must have had a big budget, and looks the part with beautiful costumes, stunning sets/locations, and a huge cast. The production values might be the best I’ve seen in a Chinese drama to date.
The number of characters can make it confusing to keep track of their connections and allegiances at times, but it’s an epic story that stays engaging across 68 episodes thanks to a well-paced script and compelling performances from the cast. The length of the series leaves plenty of room for character development, and many of the arcs are fascinating. Most of the characters inhabit a gray area in terms of their motivations and morals, and the lengths people are willing to go to in pursuit of power and the effects of jealousy and greed are recurring themes.
Viewers should know that this is a serious drama with an intricate plot that rewards full attention. There’s little in the way of comic relief or lighthearted elements, but the characters are so complex and the world they inhabit so immersive that the story doesn’t feel unbalanced. Plus, the full-circle ending is a happy one for the leads.
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This gripping story revolves around the arrogant and reckless heir to a technology empire and his lookalike — a lifelike AI android programmed to be a caring companion.
The drama really ramps up when some circumstances result in the robot having to pose as his human counterpart, imitating his personality and behavior. Seo Kang Joon’s talent really shines here. Playing a double role, he makes each character completely distinct — from their speaking cadence and facial tics to body language and walking style. During certain scenes where it’s uncertain who’s who, observant viewers will be able to pick up on some clues thanks to his impressive acting skills. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was two different people.
SKJ also puts his distinctive good looks to good use for both characters, convincingly pulling off both the wealthy bad boy and the gentle android with a moody smirk or an innocent smile. It’s a brilliant performance that’s worth watching closely — don’t miss his microexpressions and subtle changes as the android develops increasingly human-like behavior.
I haven’t seen Gong Seung Yeon, who plays the female lead, in anything else, but she also does a great job with her role as a compassionate and brave bodyguard and former professional MMA fighter who gets caught up in the family drama.
In fact, there are a lot of compelling and layered performances from this cast, even for supporting roles. The “good” characters aren’t perfect; the “bad” characters aren’t irredeemable (with perhaps one exception); and watching their motivations and secrets come to light kept me glued to the screen. Lee Jun Hyuk as the loyal but conflicted personal assistant also gives a standout performance. There are a few irritating side characters, but their screen time is fairly limited.
The series doesn’t get too philosophical about its AI subject matter, but the plot does raise some interesting questions: When an entity develops independent thought and something similar to emotions, should it be treated any differently than a human being? Is its existence any less valuable than a human’s? Various characters struggle with these questions, but the series makes it easy to empathize with its non-human main character.
Despite its sci-fi trappings, this drama is a love story at heart, and not just a romantic one. Familial love — particularly love (and love lost) between mother and son — is a big focus and drives much of the show’s emotional impact.
The first time I watched it and was nearing the final episodes, I had some doubts about how the series would conclude, but it does come to a satisfying ending.
I don’t give out 10-star ratings easily, but after multiple viewings, this series continues to be one of my all-time favorite K-dramas. Its bingeable 30-minute episodes are fast-paced, have some killer cliffhangers, and keep the twists and turns coming between the family tension, corporate power struggles, and tangled relationships. “Are You Human Too?” is serious (but not humorless), exciting, and thought-provoking all at once — both the plot and the performances make this drama a must-watch.
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