Cry me a river of tears
Reading some reviews, I knew there would be heartache but went ahead to watch the first episode and I was hooked. This drama toys with your feelings of melancholy and longing to the extreme so if you are in the mood for this, just make sure you have your tissues nearby.Lots of coincidences made this story overly dramatic but I overlooked this as I bought into the ML’s love, pain and suffering. It was an added bonus that he was handsome with a great physique - my preferred male lead unlike those who are too pretty-boy and skinny. The FL was a good match for him and while I enjoyed her acting most of the time, it was a bit annoying during some of her screaming scenes.
It was sweet during the brief moments when the leads were happy together and yet bittersweet when you know it could never be a happily ever after ending for them.
I appreciated that the ending was not rushed and even the side stories had satisfactory endings.
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Cotton candy romance
A nice introduction to Japanese romantic drama for me. Finished it in one sitting as it’s only 8 episodes with each only lasting 20+ minutes.I wanted a fluffy sweet romance and this drama delivered with good acting and an unusual storyline. On some levels, it is realistic as there are many people who have been caught up in their pursuit of career building, that their personal life takes a back seat. This drama explores the intimate side openly and I liked the way we could hear the thoughts of both the leads.
Good for those needing a quick dose of romance without needing a strong plot or character growth type dramas. Just like cotton candy! Airy sweetness made from only a few grains of sugar.
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This review may contain spoilers
Captivating in spite of its flaws
Romance was touching and I appreciated the way it developed without the usual drawn out hidden feelings that other dramas like to use. One of the sweetest moments for me was the walk in the snow. Something different with a little extra touch to hint at the budding romance.I found myself reading the synopsis of each episode while waiting for the advertisements to finish playing - something I have never done before as I prefer to let the drama unfold without spoilers. So many twists and turns that I ended up reading all the synopsises ahead of time! Strangely though, it didn’t spoil the drama too much for me but helped warn me of impending heartaches.
The storyline for the 2 main romances was strong. The falling out of love / separation reasons were well written and did not involve jealousy or love triangles. Unfortunately, the non-romantic plots were not very strong.
I love period dramas for their costumes so was a bit disappointed with this drama - the gauzy material for the male costumes did not sit well with me as with the last Emperor’s costume which looked too big for him. Music was also a miss at times with English lyrics and modern beats. While the 4th Prince’s acting was good, he didn’t really embody a ML persona that I envisioned for this drama. The 3rd and 8th Prince were better for me in terms of looks and physique. My last gripe is how the ending looked like it was set up for a second season.
A decent watch if you’re more interested in the romance and how it changes over time.
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A true ROMCOM! :D ;D :D
I thought I would find it too weird to enjoy a romance that involved a body swapper so I have been putting off seeing this drama. But surprisingly with each episode I watched, I found myself starting to see the FL more as a female instead of the man who was in her body so the romance became sweet and funny.This drama pulled of comedy very well with on point exaggerated acting and sharp witty dialogue that flowed naturally and was timed perfectly. It managed to strike a nice balance with some of the more serious stuff going on such as back stabbing and plotting.
I wasn’t expecting historical accuracies here so was thoroughly entertained with this story. Good to see the love triangle not overused and working out nicely for all. Each episode ended with a big cliff hanger that kept me hooked until the wee hours of morning. Beautifully planned as I cannot remember another drama that managed to keep setting up such dramatic cliffhangers for every single episode.
Do expect that the last episode may leave you feeling a bit let down as the ending was mainly a convenient type of happy ending leaving some unanswered thoughts.
Overall, a good drama to make you chuckle if you do not analyse the story too deeply. After all, this is clearly fantasy since it involves body swapping with a person 200 years ago. So just go with the flow, accept the quirky storyline and you’ll be rewarded with a drama that embodies the true sense of the word ROMCOM.
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Life Lessons with a Quirky Touch
This was a feel good, light drama with a unique story line where I enjoyed the writer’s version of how heaven is managed and the purpose of the mystic pop-up bar.Although some parts of the story was predictable, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment as the acting was good and I liked the pace at which the flashbacks were introduced until the whole 500-year old history was revealed.
What kept it real was the different people’s grudges / regrets and I found myself being able to relate to some of it. Some lessons learned along the way as well. The beginning episodes focused more on this and dropped little hints into their past lives. My curiosity was piqued and thankfully I didn’t have to wait long before more was revealed. Not earth shattering but satisfying enough if you don’t expect too much.
I liked how the story kept some suspense on the 2 male leads’ past lives. And quite cleverly kept me guessing who the FL would end up with as well.
A good watch if you are after something simple and heartwarming with a touch of quirkiness.
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Romance right up my alley
I’ve usually avoided modern day dramas as I prefer the settings and costumes of historical dramas but was hooked on this from the first episode.The story line was unique and I loved being able to glimpse into a likely North Korean rural lifestyle which gives me a better appreciation of what we take for granted everyday like running water inside the home and 24-7 electricity. Being transported to Switzerland every now and then was a feast for the eyes though I found it a little odd that Kit Kat chocolates were highlighted there.
The chemistry between the two leads was strong and it was a realistic romance that blossomed from just feeling right with each other rather than the usual overly dramatical stereotype of strong kind female who does loads of good things which catches the eyes of heroic male lead that saves the female lead. Here, they started having feelings for each other before the male lead started to show his more heroic side.
Love triangle was not overdone and this is much appreciated and I liked the little snippets at the end of each episode which I initially missed as I was quick to jump to the next episode. So do watch until the closing credits.
My heart strings were tugged repeatedly with each goodbye the leads had to go through so it was a welcome break to have some comedic relief from the wives in the military village and Captain Ri’s subordinates.
I enjoyed the story telling style which creates the right amount of suspense and tension as little bits of information in the past are revealed at different times. It was a sweet destiny with many encounters between the leads which although we know is not likely to happen in real life, we are more than willing to escape into this romantic fantasy.
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Charming narration of the girl-impersonates-man story
Although the FL’s impersonation of a man was even less successful that that of The King’s Affection, her cute demeanour and impish smile made watching this drama most entertaining.It was also a big plus that I loved the ML’s charming smile and their chemistry together.
The general story was the typical ones found in other palace dramas as well but this was told well and had little differences to the story that made it very engaging.
One of the earliest Korean period dramas I watched and I am loving the story telling style much more than the average Chinese drama.
A good watch especially if you find the ML handsome and the FL beautiful.
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Good ending to a well produced drama
This new drama had wonderful production which compelled me to finish the drama despite not fully buying into the FL transformation to a male.The story line was good and the ending well paced. Lots of attention to detail on the costumes and the setting was very realistic. It had your usual love triangles, plotting and revenge but was tastefully done.
Although the acting was good, I did not find myself drawn to the ML and FL like I did for the previous drama I watched, ie Rookie Historian.
Watch this if you like palace dramas with intrigue.
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Not your usual Palace drama and it was MOST entertaining :)
Palace dramas usually focus on the king and his beloved so it was so refreshing that this storyline was between one of the princes and a court historian.The FL was pretty and witty and paired well with the boyishly charming ML. Theirs was a romance that was sweet and funny and made me feel good.
Learning about how historians played an important role in the palace was eye opening and this focus made the whole drama more appealing to me as it was something I had not known about before.
Do watch this if you need something lighthearted and romantic.
You will find yourself smiling at the end of the drama :)
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Light hearted romantic comedy with a unique story line
The first wuxia I watched last year and it brought back many fond memories of kungfu shows that I watched in my teens.Zhao Lu Si was cute and charming and had wonderful chemistry with her male lead. The story line was unique and entertaining. Seeing women in charge and men as subordinates made for many a good chuckle.
Do not watch this expecting an epic story with super realistic props and settings. This was a low budget drama which was well made.
This drama is perfect for those wanting a simple story that is entertaining with some romance and laughter.
Rewatched in April 2025 and it is even better than I remembered!!
No other drama has given me this beautiful combination of romance and comedy. Episode 16 when the couple take forever to say goodnight to each other much to the chagrin of their assistants is something I have not seen to this day and no other drama has made me feel so warm, fuzzy and funny at the same time like this scene does.
So while this drama’s wigs, make up and costumes are a bit lacking, it is easily overlooked when it delivers so much more in return with the couple’s chemistry and unique story.
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A fun comedy that also tugs at your heart strings
A well done troupe of a modern day person sucked into a period drama with touches of ground hog day.Loved the comedy and the way the drama poked fun at all the usual period drama troupes. The best comedians were the ML’s general and Prince Nan Rui - perfect delivery and timing. I also enjoyed the performance of the handsome second boss of Moonshade.
FL was annoying at times but thankfully her voice helped to temper it. ML was fantastic and the way the story unfolded to show us his true person was beautifully done.
I was angry at the Emperor for hating the ML and torturing him at every turn then I realised this “bad writing” was consistent with the idea that the whole story was supposed to be just that - a drama with a typical script that doesn’t make sense such as the 3-person stabbing each other and 180 behaviour change of the emperor. Then it shows us that the parts of the world that unfolds on its own was better than the scriptwriter’s story such as Moonshade.
This drama ended well as the last few episodes surprised me by not being the typical loop. Loved it!
A must watch if you’re tired of all the recycled troupes that is common in many Chinese period dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
Let down during the final episodes
I wanted to like this drama so although it wasn’t outstanding during the first half, I still found joy in seeing the ML’s subtle expressions in keeping with his loner persona. Unfortunately, the last few episodes spoilt it for me.First, it had the classic mysterious open ending which is a pet peeve of mine.
Second, the storyline after the ML was resurrected felt very disjointed and forced. I would have rated this drama higher if they ended it then and tied up all the other loose strings for the other characters. But, the story decided to give another conflict for a dramatic ending which felt almost humorous when the evil spirit kept going into different bodies. The interaction between the ML & FL also suffered and I cringed every time they looked at each other in surprise or worry whenever they were faced with something new.
What I did like about the drama was the production quality. Sets looked good and outdoor scenery was gorgeous. CGI was a bit of hit and miss but generally ok especially during fighting scenes. I generally don’t comment on make up but really liked the eye make up for the Merfolk. Nice and subtle but enough to show they are different.
Another good thing about this drama is that it didn’t push the jealousies tropes. Although there was a SML, I liked his attitude towards and interaction with the FL. The character of the scheming princess was one I also liked as I enjoyed her being fleshed out as someone not purely evil but as someone who also does care. The actress playing this role did it wonderfully and I looked forward to watching her expressions to see this changes.
The FL’s acting was acceptable to me but I didn’t like her hairstyles and that kept getting in the way of me seeing her as a good match to the ML. When she had a fringe, she looked like a little school girl and it made her face look rounder. When it was swept to the side during the later episodes, it looked plastered down and like a wig instead…
As for the ML, I am biased as I am a fan from his work in the Untamed. While some see him as expressionless, I see the subtle changes in his eyes which the director does well in close ups. It was nicely contrasted with more carefree actions and expressions during the time he lost his memories. So if you are his fan, give this drama a go. Otherwise, best to skip it.
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This review may contain spoilers
“And further longing offered no respite…”
With these words uttered during the opening scene of the first episode, the wuxia seemed set to weave a heart wrenching tale. After the various twists and turns, the last episode ended with the same melancholic tone pulling me towards Part 2 in hopes of finding a happily every after ending.After having been blown away by Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, I can’t help but compare and wonder if I was overly generous with that drama’s rating because I was a newbie to wuxia back then.
Although this story had the usual jealousy and misunderstandings, it also had some unique elements and this drama was pretty decent overall. I loved the imagination of how the different realms looked along with the gorgeous costumes and headpieces. What it fell short of was logic (when someone is falling down, the clothes should flow upwards) and some messy wire work with landings and lift offs of the respective characters.
Kudos to the actress who played one of the villains. It is to her credit that I despised her and constantly wished she would get killed off. While the FL’s chirpy character reminded me of her other work in Ashes of Love, I am glad she showed better depth of love and sadness here. The ML as a deity was very similar to his other cool and serious self in Love and Redemption so it was good to see him be more expressive when he was a human in the Mortal Realm.
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Almost magical
A story unlike any I’ve watched before. Seeing the relationship grow between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper was the best part of the show for me - many funny moments and many touching ones as well.The acting was top notch and I was particularly touched by the overwhelming sadness conveyed by the Grim Reaper so I was glad he had a happy ending. His pale outlook fit his Grim Reaper look very well but I was happier to see him in his other character that had a moustache - so tormented but more handsome. The Goblin was a bit too quirky at times (drying his hair while acting like a teenager, singing a love song etc) which I found to be out of character. FL was spot on with her expressions and mannerisms which made for a believable high school student. Cinematography and story telling were well done, particularly how the Grim Reaper works.
But...
I was not comfortable seeing a romance between a student (19) and an older adult (39 for the last 900 years). Can’t be helped since the story relies on the age 9, 19, 29 explanation of when someone is the most vulnerable.
Thankfully, there was the romance of the second couple to pull me back into the show whenever I got a bit unsettled seeing the FL in her school uniform cozying up to the ML.
This drama’s theme song hit the right notes for me. It was haunting yet evoked a mystical aura which I feel really suited the show.
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What is love?
Cheeky, mischievous and lovable Zhao Lusi pulls it off again and is in her element when these traits are required of her character. She plays a very believable 15 year old who is figuring out what love is - be it family love or romantic love.The cinematography was superb and had those panning scenes which I enjoyed in A Dream of Splendor. Scenery was gorgeous and sets were very realistic. Casting for the extras was very well done and it was so good to see the black guards looking especially tough and rugged unlike some dramas where the guards looked like school boys.
The character growth for the FL was good and it was refreshing to see her figure out what love and marriage is. Her interactions with the 3 different love interests was nicely done. #1 annoyed her every time they met, #2 spoiled her with food and catered to her every whim and #3 sparked the embers of love every time he saved her.
Unfortunately, while I loved the FL, I would have preferred a different ML. Just personal preference on what I would consider handsome. His posture didn’t sit well with me either but other than that he was a good actor who rode the horse very well and had great fighting scenes.
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