For a drama with no plot you need to have actors that are very strong, especially in emoting with just expressions....and the FL could not deliver. She was the weakest link with crying scenes I was honestly confused about. I kept watching for the ML (esp after POJ) but because nothing happens in the story, you have to focus on the acting and whilst he delivered somewhat, she could not. I can do slow dramas like this (When the Weather is Fine is one of my all time favs) but this was not it.
I bet that they were chinese or korean living abroad.
Honestly it was a mix but unsurprisingly mostly asians given that he is an Asian star. Tbf when Justin Bieber was in town the hotel he stayed in was swarmed and they had to set up security barriers for other guests. It was just as scary and ridiculous. It's not just an Asian thing, it's more that companies love this obsessed behaviour from fans because = $$$
Decent short drama but also lacking what it could have been. The FL was too OOT with her facial expressions and so was the script. Really wish it was more subtle. I also didn't understand why the ML was so useless and never killed anyone, just letting them come back over and over to kill. It's like they couldn't afford more actors (maybe true for a short low budget drama). In contrast the most interesting part was when the 2FL appears. She was actually a good actress.
After a really really (and I mean really) long time I watched a drama that I didn't feel like FFWDing through…
I can't believe the first death I cried about was that gossiping aunty who i initially hated but in the end I really cried for her. Although Man Di's death was pointless because they said he died before only for him to be ok and then to kill him off later which made me roll my eyes.
Really wish the uncle was allowed to live, he didn't even do anything that wrong in my eyes that was punishable by death. Esp since Li grandpa literally led a coup and was only sent to exile???
So the drama has flaws but also is really a great watch.
After a really really (and I mean really) long time I watched a drama that I didn't feel like FFWDing through the second half and actually enjoyed watching so much. The ML was great and felt intimidating as a general and sweet and loyal as a lover. The FL (who I already liked since New life begins) was powerful and held her own but somehow still managed to be feminine at the same time. I really love that they made her strong physically, somewhat illiterate but still witty. She was really the star in the first half and it was really great how subtly she managed to combine different aspects of her personality into a seamless character that the audience could relate but also look up to. Together these two amazing leads had some of the best chemistry I have seen in a while and it was just the best watch. I think she played someone who becomes a female general much much better than some dramas where the story was about a female general.
The story was well written, my only criticism is that the last 10 episodes could have been better. There was too much uhming and ahhing from the FL with her feelings towards the ML and it wasn't exactly clear why? They dragged that aspect on for too long, she kept going in circles of should they be together or not. It made the show drag pointlessly.
The supporting characters are all great though there were a few pointless deaths (spoilers below). I really liked the uncle's character as well, he was written and acted in a way that makes you sympathies with him. Even the 2 insane "brothers" were so great. I hated them but enjoyed watching them on screen.
Ost was ok, only 2 or so standout songs, so not super memorable. I really like the one they play at war, it makes you want to also beat drums for war!
Overall, I think it will be hard to top this for 2026 but if the first quarter of the year is like this I hope the dry spell of dramas is finally over and we can finally have strong stories with amazing characters and acting!
I once saw Gong Yoo shoot a commercial overseas, there weren't even that many fans there, maybe less than 30 that were respectfully watching him shoot it (this was right after Goblin so everyone was obsessed with him). The whole place was cordoned off and everyone was letting the shoot go on normally.
BUT
Once the shoot finished and he began to walk back to his car with his team, the way the fans surrounded him and tried to get to him freaked me out so much. It was so scary and I was just terrified from the sidelines, never mind being the one at the center of the attention. I can't imagine what the actors feel with that level of intensity.
This was a really good watch, the actors were good, the chemistry was good, story made sense, great supporting cast. An antagonist you could hate but was smart (his biggest downfall being his arrogance). A strong FL who was able to hold her own. A ML that could carry all the emotions in his eyes. Together they really were an unbeatable team.
My only critique is they focused way too much on the scholars story line, so beyond their interactions to the main plot I skipped all of their screen time.
I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, esp since lately no drama has been able to capture my attention all the way to the end. This one kept up the story and the twists till the end.
Definitely would recommend to everyone but with the caveat of:
Wanted to like this, the script was actually good and fun. But couldn't stand how weak the FL was, they shouldn't have made her into an empress and given her seemingly ZERO powers. People walking in and out of the palace as if it was a mall...
The drama and production is good and I like the actors. Despite that I dropped this series in episode 6. I enjoyed…
TBH I do feel you. I don’t think in 2025 there were many dramas I saw all the way into the end and I was wondering if its just me. In the case of this drama I can firmly say no- the writers did a terrible job here and wasted the cast and crew. But for other dramas, I’m not sure. I feel halfway through the show the episodes start becoming repetitive or just copy/paste from other dramas so there’s nothing to watch whether it’s c/kdrama.
This turned out to be so bland. Despite all the talent that they had with the cast the writers did nothing with them. Honestly anything that could have been interesting in the story happened off screen. They threw a random curve ball in the end only to do nothing with it. Barely dealt with Do Ra Mi’s appearance and trauma associated with it. The best thing about this show was the 2ml “Hiro” who had such great comedic timing and was also good in his light emotional scenes. Honestly I don’t know if I would recommend this, maybe if you are a fan of the actors it’s not a bad watch but there is no story here (which was promised as it’s not presented as a slice of life).
Cute and very silly drama. One of those dramas you can really switch your brain off for because the plot is dumb but the actors and chemistry are actually pretty good. Definitely recommend if you are in the mood for that.
Couldn't finish this one. Although the plot is decent I think the Fl in this drama just came off as a plank of wood. She was really bland. The ML carried the romance, but the chemistry was still lacking. I understand that in the beginning she wouldn't want to repeat the mistake of the past, but after accepting that she does want to be with him she was still so stiff.
The plot was decent but I wish they would have done a bit more with the previous life story. I think the stand out in this drama were actually the mother and daughter antagonists. Those 2 actress's did a fantastic job. Esp the mom. Every time she was on screen I was like, man I really want her to have a horrible end.
It's not a bad drama, just too bland for my taste.
Cute at the start, interesting in the middle and the dragged in the third act. I like the main leads a lot, the friendship with their guardian animals and the first act the most. However the plot itself was a little repetitive with not much happening in the third act. Even the way things were revealed was underwhelming because so much already happened in the first 2/3rds of the show. I often think c-dramas would be better off with shorter episodes and I think that is also the case here.
Over all a decent watch, with some really nice moment but it misses the mark a bit towards the end. I would still recommend anyone who is thinking about watching to give it a try since it is cute and with good actors.
Although Man Di's death was pointless because they said he died before only for him to be ok and then to kill him off later which made me roll my eyes.
Really wish the uncle was allowed to live, he didn't even do anything that wrong in my eyes that was punishable by death. Esp since Li grandpa literally led a coup and was only sent to exile???
So the drama has flaws but also is really a great watch.
The ML was great and felt intimidating as a general and sweet and loyal as a lover. The FL (who I already liked since New life begins) was powerful and held her own but somehow still managed to be feminine at the same time. I really love that they made her strong physically, somewhat illiterate but still witty. She was really the star in the first half and it was really great how subtly she managed to combine different aspects of her personality into a seamless character that the audience could relate but also look up to. Together these two amazing leads had some of the best chemistry I have seen in a while and it was just the best watch. I think she played someone who becomes a female general much much better than some dramas where the story was about a female general.
The story was well written, my only criticism is that the last 10 episodes could have been better. There was too much uhming and ahhing from the FL with her feelings towards the ML and it wasn't exactly clear why? They dragged that aspect on for too long, she kept going in circles of should they be together or not. It made the show drag pointlessly.
The supporting characters are all great though there were a few pointless deaths (spoilers below). I really liked the uncle's character as well, he was written and acted in a way that makes you sympathies with him. Even the 2 insane "brothers" were so great. I hated them but enjoyed watching them on screen.
Ost was ok, only 2 or so standout songs, so not super memorable. I really like the one they play at war, it makes you want to also beat drums for war!
Overall, I think it will be hard to top this for 2026 but if the first quarter of the year is like this I hope the dry spell of dramas is finally over and we can finally have strong stories with amazing characters and acting!
BUT
Once the shoot finished and he began to walk back to his car with his team, the way the fans surrounded him and tried to get to him freaked me out so much. It was so scary and I was just terrified from the sidelines, never mind being the one at the center of the attention. I can't imagine what the actors feel with that level of intensity.
My only critique is they focused way too much on the scholars story line, so beyond their interactions to the main plot I skipped all of their screen time.
I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, esp since lately no drama has been able to capture my attention all the way to the end. This one kept up the story and the twists till the end.
Definitely would recommend to everyone but with the caveat of:
me. In the case of this drama I can firmly say no- the writers did a terrible job here and wasted the cast and crew.
But for other dramas, I’m not sure. I feel halfway through the show the episodes start becoming repetitive or just copy/paste from other dramas so there’s nothing to watch whether it’s c/kdrama.
The plot was decent but I wish they would have done a bit more with the previous life story. I think the stand out in this drama were actually the mother and daughter antagonists. Those 2 actress's did a fantastic job. Esp the mom. Every time she was on screen I was like, man I really want her to have a horrible end.
It's not a bad drama, just too bland for my taste.
Over all a decent watch, with some really nice moment but it misses the mark a bit towards the end. I would still recommend anyone who is thinking about watching to give it a try since it is cute and with good actors.