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I started this expecting a juicy, angsty bromance with a domineering top and weak bottom vibe, we can blame those misleading clips on YT for fooling me like always. Instead, I got a revenge plot that felt like it was funded by pocket change and a prayer. The first half was a slog, cringe-worthy dialogue, erratic pacing that swung between rabbit-speed and turtle-crawl, and single-note characters that screamed “low-budget.” The random dramatic zooms and bizarre background music had me questioning my life choices. I was ready to drop it, but my completionist soul refused to quit.

Then, something magical happened around episode 13. The story kicked into gear, hooking me with a plot that actually had me invested. The characters grew depth, the bromance chemistry started simmering (not quite the romance I craved, but I’ll take it), and the cinematography suddenly looked like it had a budget bigger than five bucks. Flaws like the inconsistent script and odd music choices faded into the background when I was vibing with the story. It’s like finding a decent snack in a vending machine, you’re not exactly wowed, but you’re satisfied. Sadly, the ending pulled a classic cdrama trope I loathe, one character vanishes for no reason, leaving the other to pine dramatically until a last-second reunion. They need to stop doing this.

Overall, Returned Master isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a decent ride if you skip the rocky first half. It’s not something I’d rewatch. I am always searching for new stuff but I’d nudge you to give it a shot for the second half’s glow-up. Just don’t expect high-budget polish.