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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Powerhouse Cast + Sweet Story
This one is a gem! “As Brilliant as Fireworks” is a youth drama with a time-travel twist about growing up, learning to have empathy, and making up for regrets.Some aspects of the plot, including the happy ending, could have been more developed, but overall it’s a delightful watch with a standout cast. The two couples (played by Zhang Chi & Yu Yin and Wang Yi Lei & Li Ke Yi) have a great dynamic both as pairs and as a group, the production values are nice, and the story is fun and fanciful while still having emotional impact.
As a side note, I continue to be impressed with Zhang Chi’s versatility as an actor. He’s more than just a pretty face (though that’s hard to ignore). Here, he gives a fine performance as a moody but tender-hearted high-schooler, but he’s just as convincing in other types of roles, like his unhinged and obsessive but vulnerable character in “Helpless Without You”, or as a flirty college student in “Secret Love Is a Star Candy.” He seems to pick interesting scripts too. Definitely a talent to watch.
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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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"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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Entertaining but flawed story with missed opportunities for character development
I can understand why this drama was popular — it’s both hilarious and heartwarming, with likable leads and a great ending.But it’s not perfect. If there’s a weakness in the story, it’s the way the female lead’s character is written.
Kim Hye Yoon has a lot of emotional range to cover as Im Sol, the female lead, and gives a mostly convincing performance. She can switch from a sweet smile to sobbing in an instant. Sol is perky and determined, but acts like a teenager, not like a woman in her 30s (having a crush can do that, I suppose).
Her obsession with protecting Sun Jae and thinking she can “rewind” all the bad situations in life can be grating (not to mention unhealthy). I would have preferred to see her living a full and happy life with her disability. Plus, It can be hard to sympathize with her as a main character because it often seems like she’s just making things more difficult for herself with impulsive or illogical decisions, and it’s frustrating watching her torture herself (and break the heart of the man who loves her) trying to control the future.
Byeon Woo Seok has a lot of charm as Ryu Sun Jae, the male lead, and has great comedic timing. He delivers a convincing performance showing the two sides of his character (sweet, slightly awkward student vs. more confident, polished performer who still has a goofy side). The fact that he did his own singing for the role is impressive.
However, the leads’ relationship never really develops, and seems more based on infatuation and destiny than any kind of meaningful connection. The actors’ good looks and cute dynamic do a lot to gloss over the show’s missed opportunities for more character development.
But the way the show gradually reveals what the leads remember about each other is compelling, while the multiple timelines make for a plot that’s fast-paced and keeps you guessing.
There are also some standout supporting characters — the second male lead is a scene-stealer with his shameless flirting and dimpled smile, and the FL’s grandma is great (the touching scene between her and Sun Jae in the last episode might be my favorite moment in the whole drama).
While the series has its flaws, it’s still an engaging watch. Viewers should be aware that the story touches on some darker topics (depression, suicide, kidnapping), but overall this drama lands firmly in the rom-com genre. It doesn’t always strike the right tonal balance, and the time travel elements can be confusing and leave some unanswered questions, but the cast and the against-all-odds love story manage to hold things together.
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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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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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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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We’re thrown right into the action alongside a detective (Bai Jing Ting) who’s stuck in a time loop trying to stop a violent bank robbery and bombing. Turns out this phenomenon is nothing new to him. On random “loop days,” he has five chances to relive the events of that day — which he uses to his advantage as a police officer.
Whether the genre is romance, costume, or thriller, BJT is a versatile actor who’s compelling to watch. He seems particularly suited to this type of role — cool and capable on the job, but a bit awkward in his personal life — and looks convincing in fight and action sequences.
There’s plenty of red herrings to puzzle through and suspicious characters to keep you guessing, along with flashes of humor, a hint of romance, and some fun team camaraderie. There are some twists that are predictable once you start to connect the dots, but overall, “Mobius” is a gripping and fast-paced watch right up to the conclusion.
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Skip Season 1 & Watch This Instead
Season 2 rehashes many of the same scenarios — memory loss, Xiao Qi trying to retrieve something from Feng Leng, their love/hate relationship — and even recreates some exact scenes from the first season.While this season looks more polished (and Bie Thassapak Hsu as the male lead looks even more gorgeous, not that I’m complaining), there’s really nothing new here, and you don’t need to have seen season 1 to follow the story. But I’d argue that between the two seasons, this series is a more romantic, funnier, less angsty, and overall more enjoyable watch. The epilogue makes for a sweet and satisfying conclusion.
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Funny but Frustrating
Despite its silly premise, this wasn’t the fun, low-stress romcom I was hoping for.The leads make an attractive couple, and their bickering can be amusing to watch, but their relationship goes nowhere for basically the whole series. They’re always pushing away or misunderstanding each other. But with one of them experiencing human emotions for the first time and the other being emotionally constipated, I guess it’s about as messy as you’d expect.
The only reason I stuck it out to watch the whole thing is that the cast is mostly good, though both leads can be unlikable at times. Wan Peng is cute and quirky as the female lead, but her character’s cluelessness and refusal to be honest with the people she cares about can be aggravating to watch.
I was more impressed by Bie Thassapak Hsu as the male lead. Watching his character’s transformation from a stereotypical stone-faced, all-business CEO into someone who learns how to express himself and get in touch with his emotions was one of the redeeming qualities of the series.
I was also surprised to see Wang Hao Zhen, a familiar face from vertical C-dramas, as the ML’s personal assistant. Too bad his talents as an actor are underutilized here.
If you’re a fan of the cast, this may be worth a watch, but for plot and romance, it’s a skip.
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Sparks fly when he gets a job as her executive assistant. She’s prickly and emotionally closed-off, but he’s so unfailingly warm, caring, and capable that it eventually melts her cold heart. It’s not the usual take on gender dynamics that most dramas show, but that’s not the only thing that’s refreshingly different. The leads are mature, the recruiting/HR business setting is interesting, and the main source of conflict is a business rival, not a love rival.
While the main characters do have some trauma to deal with involving family relationships, this isn’t a melodrama. Overall, it’s a well-paced and enjoyable watch. (Bonus points for cute kids and nice music!)
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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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