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Cute and Fluffy romance between two Green Flags, but don't expect a lot of Excitement and Twists

“Shine On Me” is either going to be one of the most romantic and sweetest dramas of the year, or one of the most boring ones. In order to enjoy this, you need to check your mood for what you are looking for, and know what to expect.

This is best enjoyed if you are looking for:
1. Main romance without a lot of ups and downs, or angst
2. Visually pleasing and great-looking leads
3. Great chemistry between the leads with decent skinship (love the hand-holding when pushing the grocery cart) and good but not amazing kisses (if you are patient enough to wait for them to happen eventually)
4. Sweet and witty banter between the main leads
5. Super green flag perfect ML who only has eyes from FL from start to finish
6. FL who is not afraid to speak her mind, stand up for herself and others, and pretty much a green flag herself (except when dealing with 2ML early on, but still more interesting than green flag ML).
7. Sweet and supportive family relationships: ML and his mother, ML and his grandfather, FL and her mom and extended family, FL and her cousin (my favorite character of the show).
8. Great co-workers
9. Strong women, whether you like them all or not - FL, FL’s mother, ML’s mother, FL’s aunt, the evil ‘villainy’ other woman, and even 2ML’s co-worker Chris.
10. The Photovoltaic Industry and all the business talk (LOL)

I love all the above except for #9, the photovoltaic industry. It is just not an industry that I know of or interested in learning. The drama spends a lot of time in this business world, but this industry is just not the right one for a drama adaptation. It might be better in the novel. The industry can’t really show us anything in action ,e.g. aerospace in “Your Are My Glory” with space ships and ties to ML’s character). It doesn’t sound or look good, e.g. the voice industry in “Love You, Love My Voice” and I love learning about the voice industry. Even the more boring traditional Chinese medicine in “The Best Thing” was more interesting, because ML actually uses TCM to flirt with FL and I found that romantic (though not super professional…LOL). “Shine On Me” really doesn’t hide Chinese propaganda in showing their photovoltaic industry to the world. Maybe that’s how they pass censorship or obtain a lot of sponsorship to fund the project.

I enjoy the slow burn main romance and how FL slowly falls in love. I think because of they are smart individuals despite new to love, they are not shy and naive. I love their flirting before becoming an official couple. Every single scene they are in, before and after being in a relationship, brings a super silly grin on my face. I just can’t stop smiling. I probably really enjoy this because I was intentionally seeking for a romance like that. Otherwise, as with many criticisms, the romance is somewhat smooth sailing that it can be boring. The super green flag ML is too perfect. You can have a green flag without making him into a boring character. Thank goodness he can flirt and has some witty comebacks. The love triangle lasted way too long. The 2ML’s storyline drags all the way to the end. I’m glad FL finally gave him a piece her mind and set him straight, I just wish it was done earlier and not drag for too long. But then, we have 36 episodes to fill. I personally don’t see 2ML as a handsome guy, but I do understand why ladies would find him attractive because he’s smart and hard-working. He’s just an expert in slimy Tai Chi - deflecting and not confirming his emotions to anyone until it’s too late for all parties involved.

The whole other family drama about FL’s parents and the ‘villains’ added a little extra ‘fun’ to the drama. Otherwise, “Shine On Me” is really boring. Yes, I do find these ‘villains’ annoying and I actually wanted a worse ending for them. It was sooo satisfying seeing FL finally said what she had to say to her father and defending her man and his integrity at the same time.

Because I know what I am getting myself into when watching “Shine On Me” and I really want a cute and fluffy drama, I had a great time watching it. It satisfies my cravings and I will recommend this to you if you like all or most of the items I listed above. However, I think of the 3 other fluffy dramas I listed above, this might be my least favorite of the 4, even though I LOVE the leads and romance. The business part is just too boring for me. If you want a twist-and-turn plot with excitement and chaos all the time, it’s best to skip this. Otherwise, you would be bored out of your mind.


Completed: 1/13/2026 Review #660

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Beautifully acted and produced but my brain and heart are not aligned on how I feel

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Instead of a traditional review, this is more like my feelings of the drama.

I usually stay away from dramas about terminal illness, but I want to check this out due to its rave reviews and Namkoong Min. However, giving “Our Movie” merely an 8.25 rating seems like a travesty when there are so many 9s and 10s. The simple reason is: my brain and my heart are not aligned for most of the drama.

Lee Da Eum (FL)/Jeon Yeo Been
I have a hard time connecting with Da Eum. It took me a while to get used to and like her awkward personality even though in my brain, Jeon Yeo Been did a fantastic job portraying this character. I understand why Da Eum acts, thinks, and tries to live her life to the fullest. I applaud her bravery and cheer on her to stay alive for as long as she can. But in my heart, I am not in love with her.

Lee Je Ha (ML)/Namkoong Min
I have to say this is the prettiest/most handsome look for Namkoong Min I’ve seen. I am totally digging those glasses, no-gel natural hair and the casual turtleneck look. His character is aloof and exudes this “I am better than you and I don’t care what you think” vibe. The way he talks, moves and acts is very slow-paced, which greatly contrasts the FL energy. Of course, we never have to worry about Namkoong Min’s acting.

As individual characters, I like FL and ML’s stories of pain and growth. I enjoy the reason why they want to make the movie, and how they ‘use’ each other in the process. But for some reason, when they are together, I am not feeling the chemistry that I need to help me last through the pain towards the end. For a melodrama that I am supposed to be balling and need a box of tissue, the setup was lacking for me on an emotional level. Of course, this is all very personal and subjective, and I am sure many viewers will question my sanity. LOL

Because I am not emotionally connected for about 8-9 episodes, I cannot give this drama a high rating. But when eps 10-12 hit hard, that’s when all fall into place. Now I see why I need to get those tissues and why everyone was so in love with this drama. I finally feel all the emotions, but not because of the romance or chemistry, but because of the situation and how it affected everyone on a different yet personal level.

Despite tolerating many episodes of 2FL annoying and persistently butting into FL’s business, the supporting cast is lovely and supportive. The acting is excellent all around, and not just Jeon Yeo Been and Namkoong Min. The cinematography is beautiful, especially the warm lighting in the bookstore that I love the most. The haunting OST complements the mood of the drama and I’m glad many scenes are shot outside of the hospital.

“Our Movie” is an excellently produced and well-acted drama. Melodrama lovers should not miss this. Even though the drama couldn’t reach my heart for most of the drama, I can’t deny when it’s supposed to hurt, it hurts big time (in a good way). I just wish my brain and heart were connected sooner.


Completed: 8/30/2025 Review #618

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The Manipulators: Sizzling Chemistry between walking red flag ML & walking red Flag FL

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

After finishing “Scent of Time” not too long ago, I was worried that I might find this drama repetitive. Both dramas have a similar premise of being given the chance to go back in time to correct past mistakes. “Scent of Time” focuses on family relationships more, and this one focuses on revenge and politics more. I like both dramas but like “Story of Kunning Palace” a little better overall.

What I Like:

1. Pacing - I am pleasantly surprised that I am kept entertained throughout the 38 episodes. I did not lose my focus or feel that the drama dragged in the middle episodes. In fact, there’s so much going on that I enjoy all the side plots and characters. It’s not perfect, as I want more episodes of the romance between Jiang Xue Ning (FL) and Zhang Zhe (2ML) in the present timeline, and less of the evil girl causing drama. Overall, I am quite satisfied.

2. Xie Wei (ML) and Zhang Ling He - I always love a good gray character, especially for the male character. After the success of Dylan Wang’s character in “Love Between Fairy and Devil”, I am happy to see another deliciously evil and cunning male lead. Oftentimes, he would be a second male lead. This is possibly Zhang Ling He’s best acting to date. This intriguing character provides ZLH an opportunity to showcase a side of him that we haven’t seen. He is so much better in this drama than in “My Journey to You”. Many fans (myself included) love seeing Xie Wei’s side-eyed glare, petty jealousy and cunning ruthlessness. Xie Wei is such a madman and I wish to see more characters like him in the future.

3. Acting - the overall acting of the cast is pretty good (but not exceptional) - both the younger and veteran cast. Bai Lu is Bai Lu. You know what to expect from her, though I wouldn’t say she exceeded my expectations. I just saw Wang Xing Yue in “Scent of Time” and felt that his acting is much improved and better here. Even though his character is quiet, he’s speaking with his eyes more. I want more of him.

4. Main Romance - Even though it took a very long while for us to see Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei’s romance to develop, it is worth it. They have so much chemistry together. I enjoy the development of their relationship from enemies to working together, then trusting each other and falling in love. Xie Wei is a walking red flag, and Jiang Xue Ning is not that much better deep inside of her. They really are a match made in heaven as they understand and accept each other’s strengths and flaws. The kisses are exploding with chemistry though not gentle or sweet (unless you watch the extra special). But no matter if they were in the past or present, scenes of them together are sizzling hot and you yearn to see them on the screen together more.

5. Sisterhood - I am pleasantly surprised at the relationship between the Zhang sisters. Oftentimes, we either see sisters hate or love each other. But true to the plot and because of the history between the two, their sisterhood develops organically and realistically. They are not forced to be super close.

6. No annoying character - sure there are villains and a girl here and there that are jealous of the female lead. But for the most part, they are not super annoying and are not frustrating to watch. I like many of the characters - the three male leads (all lovely in their own ways), the princess, the best friend, the guards, the sidekicks, and even those girls in the palace. No one really makes dumb decisions that make me want to shake some sense into them.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Jiang Xue Ning (FL) + Zhang Zhe (2ML) Romance - I was deeply moved by the flashback scenes of them together. Zhang Zhe’s internal struggle of doing the right thing vs. doing the wrong thing for the woman he loves. These flashback scenes are minimal, but they gave us such great emotions and just enough to tell us their story. However, their romance in the present time is not given enough opportunity to develop and move me as an audience. It’s such a waste as both Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue also have great chemistry together. The way they steal glances, try to express their feelings through their eyes, but struggle internally - all could have contributed to a great romance and a big contrast to the main romance.

2. Xie Wei + Sidekicks/Guards - I would like to know the backstory between Xie Wei and his guards and friends. How did they all work together in support of Xie Wei? What else did they go through back in the day? Why are they following him and not the rebellious group?

3. Forced rom-com directing/editing - For a serious historical drama, we should never have so many forced romantic slow-motion scenes and music blasting to tell me how to feel. We have good actors who can convey feelings through their acting and subtle facial expressions, we don’t need these cheap and cheesy shots. I am also so irritated by the bright white backlighting that the director seems to like so much.

4. Dubbing - While I appreciate actors dubbing their own voices, not all are great at reading their lines yet. Bai Lu almost always dubs her own and does it well, and I think Zhang Ling He can learn from her. Some of his lines are spoken in monotone, or he screams and growls a little too overdramatically. Having said that, I am glad Bai Lu, Zhang Ling He and Wang Xing Yue all dubbed themselves. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast didn't.

5. Production Quality - “Story of Kunning Palace” does not seem to be a big budget production. The sets are on the small-to-medium scale. The costumes and accessories are average. As I said earlier, I don’t like the lighting and they did not use natural light. Bai Lu’s makeup is uneven and she could have been much more beautiful. I also dislike the use of BGM playing over the music instruments. The OST is OK. Compared to “My Journey to You”, this drama pales in comparison.

6. Fight Scenes - Except for the big fight in the last couple episodes, I am not impressed with the fight scenes. I feel that they are over dramatic and not enough good close-combat battle scenes. Since this is not a wuxia or xianxia drama, seeing someone being punched once and then fly over to the other side is quite hilariously unrealistic. Some guys got slashed multiple times and survived. Others die with one stab.


Overall, I had a fabulous time watching this drama. I enjoy the plot, the pace of the drama (though the ending is a tiny rushed), the development of the main leads’ relationship and romance, and of course the anti-hero male lead. It’s a good mix of romance, friendship and politics.


Completed: 11/27/2023 - Review #381

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Great acting but not touching enough - missing something

Rating - 8.25

I thought I would be crying my eyes out watching “If You Wish Upon Me” and surprisingly, I did not. There are some touching moments, but I feel that the drama is missing the ‘oomph’ or ‘it’ that makes me fall in love with it. The whole premise of Team Genie is great, just like the hospice's own Make-a-Wish Foundation.

I have to applaud Ji Chang Wook for branching out to different roles. He was great in this drama and his character is not the usual good-looking, cold Chaebol, a hero or a heart throb. He actually looks and acts the part of Yoon Kyeo Re. Someone who has had a rough childhood and life, and is not a hero to save the world. He is a little dorky and timid, but lovable and gentle. Seo Yeon Joo also plays such an interesting female lead in Seo Yeon Joo. Nurse Seo is a badass but in a sweet way. She is a workout maniac and a gentle angel. She’s also the one who saves our male lead from drowning in his past. It’s lovely to see Choi Soo Young again after her other very memorable role in “Run On”. Oh and she’s so pretty! What more can I say about veteran Sung Dong Il. I don’t think I need to shower praises on him as he’s universally recognized as one of the most amazing actors out there (ok, maybe to me he is). Acting has to be the strength of this drama, including the supporting cast and especially everyone in Team Genie.

However, I feel that plot wise it’s missing that special sauce. The hospice patient stories are somewhat underwhelming. One or two of them are well-written and heart-tugging, but overall not memorable enough. One can say the patient stories are secondary to the main characters' stories. I do enjoy Yoon Kyeo Re’s story and character development - from being an orphan/convict to the trusted Junior Supervisor of Team Genie. The bond that he has with his Son (doggie) is very sweet. I also love the friendship and father/son relationship between Yoon Keyo Re and Kang Tae Shik as well. I think the complicated brother/sister dynamics lasted a little too long and slowed down the pace of the drama in the middle. The plot about the gangster/loan shark is a little over dramatic and doesn’t jive well with the overall tone of the drama.

I would love to know more about other members of Team Genie. I am a little disappointed not to see more of Cook Yeom Soon Ja’s backstory. I love how she can see through Yoon Kyeo Re and Ha Joon Kyung's sad childhoods of never having enough good food to know what their favorite foods are. I really like her love for everyone by providing delicious meals. But I want to see more! I also want more of the lovely older couple. Don’t we all wish to grow old with someone who loves and cares for you just like the older gentleman? The way he looks at his wife is so full of love.

Overall, I do think this is a good drama. But to me, it’s just missing something to really move me and hold my attention throughout the whole 16 episodes. I do have to say it ends on a strong note. The last episode is touching (not heart wrenching) and very sweet.


Completed: 10/28/2022

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A Drama with No plot but full of Cheese and Fanservice

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25

I decided to watch “We Are” because I wanted something simple and light-hearted, a stress reliever. With that in mind, I made the right choice. “We Are” is so easy, and too easy of a watch. It’s a drama full of fluff, cheese and cringe.

Unfortunately, the drama does not hold my attention. “We Are” has no plot whatsoever. The whole drama is about a big group of friends hanging out, pairing up with each romantic partner, professing their love and kissing their loved ones. While I enjoy seeing the tight bond of these friends, especially the 5-some of Peem, Q, Tan, Pun and Chain, I cannot consume 16 hours of just hanging out. The drama is way too long for its lack of content. It ended up not really what I am looking for, but this might just be the right one for you.

The acting of the cast is OK. There really isn’t anyone who stood out as being excellent. The big selling point of this drama is Pond and Phuwin as the two main leads. I enjoy their chemistry and their scenes together. They are obviously comfortable around each other. Pond and his handsome face and loving gazes are what keep me going and not dropping it.

I also feel that the introduction of such a big cast at once causes some confusion. I was trying to figure out the first 5 and then the drama introduced another 6 guys to the mix. Aside from the main romance between Peem and Phum, I really didn’t care for the other pairings. Some characters are more annoying and cringey than others. The drama has many unnaturally long gazes and slow motion shots for every single supposedly romantic gesture or kiss. It’s somewhat trying to manipulate how the audience should feel.

“We Are” is a pure fanservice drama. I don’t think I’ve seen a drama with so many kisses from all romantic pairs, and so many “I love you” spoken. The kisses on the lips are actually not bad, much better than the pecks on the cheeks or forehead (don’t they know you should also extend your lips a little?). I would recommend this drama if you are a fan of the cast.


Completed: 7/29/2024 - Review #468

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Couldn't live up to initial hype with uneven pacing and a crash & burn ending

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“Pursuit of Jade” was all the hype when it was first aired. The Feeds couldn’t get enough of Zhang Ling He (of course) and also praised how much they love the female lead, Fan Chang Yu (played by the adorable Tian Xi Wei). Add on a long silver haired toxic Deng Kai, it has all the ingredients to be a successful drama. But then, it somewhat crashed in the end and just could not stick the landing. “Pursuit of Jade” is not a bad drama, but the expectations were just so high that many were disappointed. I don’t always agree with the ‘highs’ but I do with the ‘lows’.

Since the title of the drama is about the pursuit of Jade, Jade I assume is the female lead. The story focuses on her journey much more so than the male lead. I guess this causes some criticisms that the male lead’s character was not fully utilized. His investigation of what happened 17 years ago gave us the initial setting of a plot that is not romance-focused. But as the story goes, his investigation becomes more of a way to help FL instead. Did he still want to find out what happened? For sure! But I think he cares more for FL than his father’s death.

Many love Fan Chang Yu (FL). She’s smart, caring, sweet, and strong both physically and mentally. She can hold her own, push back when needed, even when she’s in love or heartbroken. Yan Zheng (ML) never gets an upper hand when he’s fighting with her. He will eventually give in. She has girl power! She will fight alongside her man in battles, but not behind him. She saves his ass a few times, too. But there are certain decisions she made that I want to shake some sense into her. I was especially mad at her for her actions in the army camp. She is smart enough to know you can’t do whatever you want and not follow the rules. She’s not a careless person, but a very considerate one. Yet, time and time again, she didn’t listen. Of course, Yan Zheng is at fault as well, as he kept his identity a secret for way too long. Additionally, she said she wants to be independent, not relying on others and doesn't like others making decisions for her. Yet she did that several times to Yan Zheng and Li Huai An. She made decisions on their behalf all in the name of protecting them. I don’t think she would have appreciated them doing the same to her. She doesn’t care what others are going to gossip about her and her status, yet she would break up with Yan Zheng for his sake. This girl has a lot of double standards! Having said all that, she’s still a rare independent and strong female character.

Many also love the first 17 episodes when a lot of time is spent in the village. Those times were a great set up and introduction to most characters. It’s the time when romance blooms in a slow but natural way. The villagers are mostly likeable and even the annoying ones aren’t that bad. However, I might be one of the few that feels the happy times lasted a little long. I wanted a little more of the serious plot, e.g. investigation of what happened 17 years ago, the scheming that the silver fox is doing behind-the-scenes, or court politics. Because this didn’t happen much, the last 10 episodes felt rushed. I knew a lot was going to happen, that’s why I wanted the happy village arc to end soon. There’s a lot of business ML needs to attend to instead of hanging out in the village!

As for the actual romance, I do like the scenes of the leads together. They have good (not great) chemistry and they are both very likable. I’m glad to see ML didn’t fall into the lovesick puppy trope and forgets he is a ruthless warrior. I like that he only goes soft for her, but resumes his charisma when he’s needed. Aside from the hidden identity part, they communicate, understand each other and have a very loving and healthy, mature romance. Well, but the kiss scenes are quite disappointing. We all know Zhang Ling He can do better. I think even Tian Xi Wei kissed better in “Moonlit Reunion” with Xu Kai than in this drama. But luckily, our toxic couple comes in and saves the day. The secondary romance between Yu Qian Qian and Qui Min has so much potential. Both are great actors, have good chemistry yet the story felt very one-note. There’s not enough backstory about Qi Min’s obsession with Yu Qian Qian. Is it just because he saved her? All their scenes are the same: he’s obsessed with her, she wants to rebel and leave, rinse and repeat. I wish we got more, especially Yu Qian Qian’s backstory with what she said she came from a faraway land.

Let’s talk about the last 5 episodes and how disappointing they are. I will try to not spoil anything. This is the most childlike, unexciting and anti-climatic palace takeover I’ve seen in a big production. While the takeover is happening, on the other hand, we got some family drama/duel. Where is the sense of urgency here?? Additionally, we got dumped a lot of information/revelation about what really happened 17 years ago. Where is the foreshadowing? There’s so much time in the first half of the drama to plant more seeds, so the revelation doesn’t feel so sudden. The breadcrumbs that were shared through a couple flashbacks were not enough. It was a disappointing end to a great start of the drama.

Well, my review is getting long. So I’m going to wrap it up by saying I would only recommend this drama if you like Zhang Ling He, Tian Xi Wei, Deng Kai, Snow Kong and Yan Yi Juan (ML’s uncle). Their acting is great and they have good chemistry. But if you want a well-written and well-executed drama, I do not recommend it. I would go for “Moonit Reunion” if you like Tan Xi Wei. She’s amazing in that one, too.



Completed: 4/2/2026 Review #680

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Want a Cute and Fluffy romance with JimmySea? YES! Everything else is a big disappointment.

If you are like me, you want to see JimmySea again after their amazing performances in “Last Twilight”, right? You read the synopsis and it sounded interesting, especially, if you are a fan of fortune telling and tarot card reading. Well, you won’t be disappointed if you want to see JimmySea in a cute and fluffy romance. They deliver and you will not stop smiling. But other than their lovely romance, everything else is quite a disappointment. It’s unbelievable that “Last Twilight” has a 8.4 MDL rating and “My Magic Prophecy” has 8.7.

I was forewarned and I adjusted my expectations of “My Magic Prophecy”. I went into this looking for a fluffy romance, and I got it. Jimmy and Sea are adorable and sweet and everything that I am looking for in my romantic mood. They are adorable with their natural hair, and super handsome with their hair gelled, and especially Jimmy in a nice shirt and trousers. Honestly, their romantic journey is quite predictable and you’ve seen all this in other dramas. But that doesn’t dampen my excitement because I really want to see them in a light and cute drama. Just give me all the sugar! Their chemistry is great but not as special as in “Last Twilight” where you feel all types of emotions. There are plenty of kisses and some fan service, of course. The interview at the end of the drama is so cute and fun. JimmySea exudes playfulness and happiness, and you can see how comfortable they are with each other.

Now, what if you are not looking for a cute and fluffy romance? You actually want a good plot about fortune telling and tarot card reading? Well, I am afraid, my friend, that you will be disappointed. It started off interesting with the visions and the threat of life-threatening events. But after that, they all become plot devices for the romance.

What about the rest of the plot? A disappointing hot mess. With only 10 episodes, and probably 80% of the time is spent on the cute and fluffy romance, there’s just not enough time to execute a proper plot or development of a secondary romance. What I would have done is to focus on In’s healing process from losing his family and Thap’s life-threatening events and betrayal (before and after). I would have cut the hospitalization of the board member and the father/son side plot.

The secondary romance has so much potential to be good. Unfortunately, the full romance is boiled down to a couple flashbacks and a few dialogs. The drama should have started telling us their backstory sooner. Give us more of the school days to build a solid foundation. Then give us more of them reuniting, and stronger development from awkwardness, reconciliation, and falling in love again. Even though the actors aren’t great, their story could have been more fun if written well.

I was surprised to see First and Junior in this drama. They are both excellent actors, but I felt that they are underutilized, especially for First. If the drama has focused more on his friendship with Jimmy/Thap and First/Kan, “My Magic Prophecy” would be so much more interesting.

Would I recommend this? Only if you want to see JimmySea in a cute and fluffy romance. Otherwise, I recommend you pass on this. I hope Jimmy and Sea would reunite again in the future with a better written and executed drama that also has an amazing romance.


Completed: 10/3/2025 Review #629

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Fun drama with touching moments of family and sisterhood, and hilarious bros-in-law alliance

“Perfect Match” aired during Lunar New Year of the Snake. With a Chinese title 五福臨門, loosely translated to ‘Five Blessings have descended upon the house”, it’s not hard to guess how the drama is going to end. It has got to be full of positivity and laughter.

This is a comedic drama about a loving family, led by matriarch Madam Li, and her 5 daughters and 1 goddaughter/daughter-in-law-to-be. Despite many comedic moments, there is a surprising amount of touching moments as well. I might have shed some tears while watching, especially stories about Sis #1 and Sis #3. The best part of the show is the tight bond of the Li family. They love each other, support each other, argue and cry, but never leave anyone behind. The sisterhood is awesome and touching, and the brothers-in-law alliance is hilarious and refreshing.

Lu Yu Xiao (Sis #3) and Wang Xing Yue are the main reasons for me to watch this drama, and probably attracted most viewers as well. Not only do I like them as actors, I am particularly interested in seeing them play happier and sillier roles that are more of their age. They definitely did not disappoint and have great chemistry.

The show might have started off with a not-so-interesting couple in Sis #2 and her ‘useless’ husband. Many viewers might have dropped the show because of them. They were given the least screen time and the worst script out of the 5 pairs. Having them start the show could be a risky move, but luckily the introduction of the #3 couple and the most popular pair follows right away.

Despite finding their story a tiny, tiny bit too long, they are the most fun to watch. Two smart and scheming individuals trying to outsmart each other, is always fun to watch no matter what it is. The pair looks so good together visually and have great chemistry and comedic timing. Emotional scenes are believable, but I like their cunning selves and cute scenes more.

Big Sis’ story is surprisingly touching as well. I was unsure about this pair at first, but as the story goes, I am sucked into their marriage and love story. This is definitely a little more slow burn, but I think the progression of how they come to open up to each other and realizing their love for each other, is the most satisfying of the couple. I also quite like to see a jealous and petty smart scholar who is not afraid to show his affection for his more mature wife.

Sis #4 has a cute but more predictable romance. They are adorable together but the romance lacks the depth that #1 and #3 have. I think the focus on the court cases might have taken their story away from them a tiny bit. The husband changes his mind quite quickly after only a few scenes of resistance. A little more time could have been dedicated to their romance.

I am most disappointed in the plot of #5’s story. She and her husband have the most fun and explosive personality. Yet, the plot itself revolving around the husband’s family is quite boring. I wish there’s more creativity in showing how they initially hate each other, then slowly fall in love, and give them a plot with more substance.

It’s interesting to see how the husbands are introduced and connected to one another. Husbands #’s 1, 3 and 4 have their own professions, and their stories are tied to what they do. Therefore, I find them the most interesting. Husbands #2 and 5 are just rich kids with nothing better to do, thus, I find their stories not as interesting.

“Perfect Match” is definitely not a perfect drama and you might have seen a similar drama like this before. But it works for my mood and what I am looking for. I had a fabulous time watching this and binge watched the whole drama pretty quickly. I am also a little surprised at the amount of old Chinese, idioms and poems spoken in this comedy. I would recommend this if you are looking for a fun family drama with some touching moments. It’s an easy watch with many likable characters and good-looking people.



Completed: 2/19/2025 - Review #546

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Excellent Friends-to-Lovers transition with a slow burn romance that's worth the wait in the end.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“You Are My Lover Friend” is one of the few dramas that did the friends-to-lovers trope right. The transition is awkward, uncertain and slower than others I’ve seen. This gives a more realistic approach to this romance. Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are perfect in their roles, and they have such great chemistry as friends and as lovers. On another note, I am a little surprised that business takes up quite a bit of screen time. I was expecting it to be more like “The Love You Give Me”. Some might find the plot draggy due to the slow romance and the business talk.


What I Like:

1. Friends-to-Lovers Transition/Main Romance
Instead of jumping from realizing one’s feelings -> a minute of uncertainty -> confession -> being lovers, “You Are My Lover Friend” took a more natural and slower approach. The realization of feelings took a while for both characters. Of course, there’s the more traditional approach of uncertainty, worrying that 13 years of friendship will go to waste if the romantic relationship doesn’t work out. This drama has those worries as well, but additionally, there’s the uncertainty after the confession, which is not quite an outward confession. Everything is so murky, as it should be. Did they really agree to be together, or not? Are they looking for the same kind of relationship, or not? From beginning to the end, it takes the leads a long time to finally be together. I think this slow burn romance is worth the wait. Once they are together, they are cute and fluffy, yet mature and supportive. They understand each other so well that they don’t need to say a word, the other will know something is not right. They communicate, they support unconditionally and they trust in their partners to not interfere with their work and decisions. They are the perfect dynamic duo in a relationship.

2. Friendship + Flashbacks
I love how the flashbacks are used in the epilogues. They don’t disrupt the flow of the present-day time but show us exactly how great these 4 friends were in high school. The flashbacks also correspond with what happened in the episode. Dramas like these usually show flashbacks over and over again, which could be annoying and repetitive. Instead, I look forward to them at the end of each episode. It’s actually quite lovely to see the main focus of their friendship is in the present-day timeline, and how they continue to be the best of friends. You can see how Jiang Shi Yan and Feng Wei Ran’s tight bond extends to their business partnerships. They might have different points of view, but when a company decision is made by Jiang Shi Yan, Feng Wei Ran does not question and just trusts his decision. Tang Yang and Jiang Yan An have the more typical sisterhood going on, though not as much of a focus than the friendship of the 4 of them.

3. Cheng Hui + Sheng Ni Na (2nd romance)
They are so cute together! I’m a big fan of Cheng Hui and it’s great to see him in this quirky role, a different kind of quirkiness than his role in “Will Love in Spring”. I love that he’s a man of few words and is blunt and sarcastic. It’s a nice contrast to Sheng Ni Na, whose profession as an actress shows that she’s more well-rounded and socially capable. I am actually very happy to see her not depicted as a spoiled actress, but a sensible and mature one. I love how Cheng Hui and Sheng Ni Na grow close together from a few initial pleasantries, to a few words, and quick texts, to cooking and bonding over food and stars. I wanted to see more of them together, but also thought this is just enough for me to be interested and intrigued by their story. OK, I take that back, I want a little bit more of them!

3. Tang Yang (FL)
Tang Yan is an example of how an independent, strong, mature woman can act without being mean and bossy. Tang Yang shows that she’s competent without being petty. She does not need to be saved by a man, and can stand on her own and fight with grace at work. She is righteous and will stand up for those who are mistreated.

4. Jiang Shi Yan (ML)
What a perfect boyfriend and a total green flag, who is not boring! I’ve seen enough boring green flags and he’s perfect yet interesting. Even in the first episode, there’s no way you can’t tell he’s in love with Tang Yang by how considerate and thoughtful he is. He always puts Yang Yang in the first place and does all he can so that he can be with her, without compromising his work. It is possible to have a male lead fall head over heels without losing his cool and losing himself. I also like his jealous pettiness.

5. Zhou Mo
There’s something about the character Zhou Mo, played by Wu Hao Chen, that I find very interesting and mysterious. He’s painted in a bad light, but I always thought there’s more to him than meets the eye. It’s not that I find Wu Hao Chen handsome, but there’s something about how he portrays this character that mesmerizes me, especially the fake smile and mask he put on.

6. Original Soundtrack
There are only a few songs in the OST and I like all of them. I am also glad the music is not overplayed and each song is played at the right time in the right mood. I couldn’t locate the songs on Spotify, if you find them, let me know!


What I Have Mixed Feelings:

1. Slow Burn romance
I think the drama could have been better if it was only about 24 episodes. The romance does take a long time to happen. It could have sped things up in the first 10 episodes, and started the transition a few episodes earlier. Luckily, the recognizing/questioning of feelings happens in the earlier episodes, otherwise, this will feel even more slow burn. There are also way too many near-kisses. Such a tease when you know both Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are great kissers!

2.Business Plot
I wasn’t anticipating such a focus on the business. The lack of suspense and excitement makes the business side of things less interesting. There aren’t enough ups and downs to keep me interested throughout the whole drama. Coupled with a slower romance build up, 30 episodes seem too long for this drama. I also wanted to see the bad guys taken down in a more humiliating fashion. It’s not epic enough!

3. Jiang Yan An + Reng Wei Ran
Their married life is really fun to watch. This couple brings in a different kind of chaotic energy that is very hilarious in small doses. Unfortunately, their marriage problem came in like a whirlwind from the left field. That was not a fun side plot to watch and I wish the time was spent on the other couples, or cut to make the drama shorter.


Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. There are many likable characters (including the two fun moms!), good all around acting and chemistry between all characters. If you don’t mind a business plot and a slow burn romance, this is a good watch. Although I want the villains to end painfully, the drama does tie up the romances nicely with a fun wedding and dance to end on a positive note. My gut didn’t tell me to give this a 9+ rating, but because I like the friends-to-lovers trope and transition so much, I’m giving this a 0.25 bump to 8.75.


Completed: 10/13/2024 - Review #498

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Excellent acting & chemistry but a little long and not always exciting.

Wang Yi Bo probably attracted many viewers to “War of Faith”. Serious Chinese Republican era dramas are usually not very popular. However, I wish viewers who came for Wang Yi Bo would stay for the rest of the amazing cast members. I cannot stop praising how good the acting is in this drama.

I watch this because of Wang Yang and Li Qin, and they are both AMAZING. It’s not a surprise that Wang Yang is excellent, as he’s a veteran who excels in any role he plays. I love him in “The Rebel” where he gave a similar vibe and acting performance as in “War of Faith”. I even watched the business rom-com “Stand or Fall” for him and Qin Lan. He’s charismatic, sexy and has screen presence. He’s the MVP of this drama.

On the other hand, Li Qin surprises me the most. I’ve seen her in many other dramas, but not the serious ones such as “The Youth Memories”. But I am a fan. I even watched’ Thousand Years for You” for Li Qin. Her acting performance exceeds my expectations. She plays a strong, underground Communist sniper/assassin. Then she turned around and became an elegant high society lady. There are quite a few emotional scenes where she had to control her emotions and others where she had to let it all out.

Wang Yang and Li Qin’s sibling relationship is the best relationship in the whole drama. They play off each other so well. They care and support each other, they bicker and joke. But in the second half of the drama, when things get serious and dangerous, they have a few very, very emotional scenes. It was hard to see them both wanting what’s best for China and its people, but have such different beliefs and ways of achieving that.

Another standout performance for me is from Zhang Tian Yang. I’ve seen many of his dramas but they are never memorable enough for me to remember him. I was reminded that he’s the emperor from “A Journey to Love” and that’s such a different role than the one in “War of Faith”. But what a great performance here as well, and he suddenly is in a role where he’s hot and sexy. LOL.

Of course, we have Wang Yi Bo. He’s also pretty solid in this drama and probably the best I’ve seen him. Though the drama centers around his character’s growth and journey, his performance did not stand out for me. He’s still pretty good, but this drama has such a big cast and everyone is so good that it’s hard to stand out.

The rest of the supporting cast, young and old, novice or veteran, are all amazing. In fact, I feel that I am constantly in awe of everyone’s acting, that I am not really paying attention to the plot as much. This is one of the rare Republican era dramas that focuses so much on the finance world and stock market. The spy stuff seems secondary to the business world. I personally feel that 38 episodes are too long. The drama is unable to hold my attention from start to end. I am more interested in individual characters and their relationships, more so than the bigger plot.

I also would not recommend you watching this if you are looking for romance. There are two established couples in the drama. This is not a romantic drama, but I do have to say the limited screen time that these two couples have, they are amazing. They are mature, supportive and they survive through tough times. These women are tough as nails and they are their men’s biggest supporters.

Here are some other areas I enjoy. I love the actors using their own voices and the live recording. The live recording really enhances the viewing pleasure in emotional scenes. There’s no rom-com skin smoothing or white filter. You see the natural looks, flaws and all. All the characters are intelligent. They do not make dumb decisions that are out of character, and you applaud them trying to outsmart each other. The villains are not cartoonish, they just have different interests and beliefs. You also do not hear the OST blasting songs at weird times. In fact, there’s an episode where I did not notice any music until the ending theme starts to play. This drama is full of meaningful conversations and dialogs, and you do need to pay attention to truly understand each character’s motives.

I would recommend this drama for its excellent acting and great production. Your enjoyment level probably depends on whether you are a fan of this genre and finance talks. It is also to be expected that there’s a lot of ‘propaganda’, but to me, it’s just telling China’s history and the rise of Communism. I think the drama is too long and the plot doesn’t keep me on the edge of my seat enough. Overall, it is a great drama and truly a War of Faith and Beliefs.



Completed: 4/21/2024 - Review #430

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Heartwarming and Sweet

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

There's nothing ground-breaking about this short drama. But, it makes me happy and I enjoy following along the sweet romance of the leads. The first episode, to me, isn't the best as there are things that I didn't like. But as we get to know the characters, I start to like them more and more. FL is the typical quiet and submissive Japanese character, which I dislike. However, I'm glad to see her change for the better after meeting ML. Opposite attracts is one of my favorite tropes and the drama did a pretty good job here. The leads have very different personalities, but they influence each other and their characters grow.

There are sad and heartwarming moments. A couple work harassment scenes that make me want to punch someone in the face. These scenes happen all too often in Asian dramas that they are not surprising anymore. Nevertheless, they are not easy to watch. We also get a glimpse of the leads family background and upbringing, esp. the female lead, and get a sense of why she is who she is. If you are a dog lover, you would love the big and fluffy white dog. I am not a pet person and I want to pet and hug this cute fluffiness!

If you are looking for a quick and easy watch, this is a good option. Oh and it has a couple good (non-fish) kisses.

Completed: 1/27/2023

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ONLY watch if you are looking for romance, and romance only

Completed: 9/5/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.75
Objective Rating - 8.0-8.5

Recommend: ONLY if you are looking for a mature office romance and nothing else.

I was starving for a good romance drama and decided to check this out. I have not really read any reviews or comments, so I am going into this blind and without any expectation. All I know is that Rowoon is the male lead and I want to stare at a good-looking guy and watch him fall in love. I assume this has a happy ending, but I wasn’t sure.

“She Would Never Know” is an office romance, and that’s about it. If you are looking for a drama with a bigger and more complicated plot, this is not the drama for you. The whole drama is about how our main leads fall in love, experience a very cute and adorable honeymoon phase, tackling relationship challenges and realizing how important they are to each other. The supporting cast also doesn’t have much going on in their lives and we follow their romantic journeys as well.

Our ML, Chae Hyun Seung, though handsome and cute, did appear stalker-ish in the initial episodes. We know without a doubt that he has a crush on his senior trainer, Yoon Song Ah. The way he follows her around could be a little too much for some viewers. His most questionable decision was made in the beginning episodes, when he tried to expose a certain relationship, when it was none of his business. We do eventually find out his reason for doing so and I sort of understand where he’s coming from, but still, this decision left a bad taste in our mouths. But you know what, I am glad Chae Hyun Seung did make this ‘mistake’, otherwise, he would appear too perfect. He’s smart, hardworking, polite, caring, lovable, funny and the best boyfriend you can find (after he officially becomes Jin Ah’s boyfriend).

Hyun Seung had a really rough start to gain Jin Ah’s affection, even though it’s no secret that he has a big crush on her. He has a lot of growing up to do. But there are many honest conversations between the two. They may not always be on the same page about how they feel for each other, but they are honest and communicate their feelings. Hyun Seung has learned to give Jin Ah’s space and wait for her, and when she’s ready to make that step towards him, she doesn’t hesitate and reciprocates his feelings.

Rowoon and Won Jin Ah have great chemistry together. I love their bantering and they make such an adorable couple (maybe because of the height difference as well). Their fluffy scenes make me grin like an idiot. The kisses are not bad either. I appreciate the writing for not making this a straight up romantic comedy with over-the-top comedic characters and super cheesy fluffy scenes. Their fluffy sweetness is sprinkled throughout the drama, so I don’t feel like I am on a sugar high.

*spoiler*

I am sure as viewers, we can see it coming: Jin Ah is definitely going to Europe. I also appreciate a somewhat realistic portrayal of a long-distance relationship. As much as both parties want to continue on, it’s difficult. The difficulties cannot be resolved easily because of nightly video chats and phone calls. Many dramas these days gloss over the fact that long distance relationships fail most of the time. Therefore, I appreciate seeing our lead’s breakup. Did it hurt me seeing how sad they both are? Definitely. But I am also confident that it’s going to be a happy ending in the end and I am ok with 1-2 episodes of suffering. I like that in the end, it’s Jin Ah’s turn to win Hynn Seung’s affection. I am glad she is doing so with honesty and sincerity, and not using any gimmicky tricks.

As for the supporting cast and their romantic relationships, we do have quite a variety:
♦︎ Lee Hyo Joo + Lee Jae Shin = such a dysfunctional and obsessive relationship. I still don’t know why Hyo Joo is so obsessed with Jae Shin. What really happened to make her feel that way? But you know what, I am happy with their ending. It’s a good closure and I am so glad to see Hyo Joo becoming a better person in the end.
♦︎ Director Lee + Chae Ji Seung (Big sis) = this is a total opposites attract relationship. The love-at-first sight is a little over-the-top and cringey, but they are quite cute and funny together. It’s a good contrast from Lee Hyo Joo + Lee Jae Shin’s dysfunctional relationship.
♦︎ Chae Yun Seung (2nd sis) + Husband = this is somewhat a side story that could be completely cut out and we won’t miss a thing. Since 2 of the 3 siblings have their own storylines, we can’t forget this sister as well. The best thing about this relationship is to see the cute daughter, Ha Eun. She’s adorable and sassy. A 7-year old in a 17-year old teenager body.

Aside from romance, we have a few side relationships going as well. We have the bromance between Director Lee and Lee Jae Shin. It is actually quite a sad story when you don’t know if what you have is true friendship or not. We also have a mother/daughter relationship between Jin Ah and her mother. Some might say the animosity is resolved too easily in the end, but I think that explosive outburst by Jin Ah is enough to set the healing process in motion.

“She Would Never Know” is in no way a perfect drama. The reason why I am giving this such a high rating (at least high for me) is because I really do enjoy our main couple’s romance. I am watching this at the right time and in the right mood. They are flawed but likable. They might make decisions that I don’t agree with, but I understand where they are coming from. Their story feels real and I was rooting for them from the beginning.

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Completed - 2/7/2022 - 8.75

I want to preface that I am usually not a thriller/horror/suspense drama watcher. Therefore, my review is very subjective and I don't have many thrillers as a reference to compare how good "Happiness" is. The reason I am interested in this drama is because of the overwhelming positive reviews and because of Park Hyung Sik. I haven't seen him since "Strong Woman Woman Do Bong Soon" and I find him absolutely adorable. 🥰

For the most part, I enjoy the plot and the pacing of the drama. I think there's a good mix of action and drama in each episode to keep me interested and engaged. Towards the middle of the drama, I feel that the pacing slows down just a tad bit and you could somewhat expect that you will see the repetitiveness of infected humans + neighbor selfishness + leads heroic efforts. Having said that, I think this drama finishes very strong. Episodes 10-12 are very exciting and keep me entertained for the whole 3 hours.

For those who are scaredy cats like me and don't like horror stories and zombies, there are quite a lot of scenes of zombie-like infected humans in almost every episode. So, be warned! I am still OK with it but others might not. Moreover, though there are many "scary" scenes, the main focus of the drama is more about how humans will react to such a crisis. You see human greed, selfishness and evilness all come out when everyone is in lockdown mode. Luckily, we have our leads and a couple neighbors to bring some positive human nature to brighten the ugly selfishness. For some reason, the drama reminded me of Agatha Christie's book, "And Then There Were None".

I enjoy seeing two smart and independent leads. They are both strong mentally and physically, and are such great partners-in-crime, or shall I say heroes-in-crisis. If you are looking for romance, it is understandably a very small part of the drama. However, I do want to see more of the affection shown from the FL to ML sprinkled throughout the drama. I don't think there's enough to show me how devoted FL is to warrant her sacrificing quite a bit for ML in the end. I don't need/want a lot of romance, but just a little bit more would be nice.

As we see greed and selfishness during the lockdown, it's inevitable to have some annoying characters in the drama. This might be one of the few dramas that I would tolerate characters that I don't like, because that's what the drama is all about. I won't deduct points because of them. LOL However, that doesn't stop me from hating a few of them. 😁

Acting is great all around, from the youngest little girl to the amazing veterans such as Jo woo Jin (Infectious Disease head), Lee Joon Hyuk (detective) and Bae Hae Seon (building rep). Everyone is great and I love and love-hate all of them. It's so great to see Park Hyung Sik's cute, shy smile again.

Other Observations:
1. Does Park Hyung Sik seem buffer than before? Such wide shoulders. Must be all that military training!
2. Han Tae Seok as the head of the Infectious Disease investigation should really wear a mask more often. 😷
3. A few scenes have very abrupt cut or transitions
4. They don't seem to use soap when washing blood off their hands and face.
5. Aside from the English song, I don't see to remember much about its OST and BGM.

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Amazing acting and Chemistry by Seven Tan & Xu Kai - Business-heavy with slow romance

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

I am very surprised that I like “As Beautiful As You” so much. What cemented the 9.0 rating is the amazing chemistry and acting by Seven Tan and Xu Kai. They have proven that they are more than just good-looking idol actors.

However, there are a couple things that might prevent you from loving this:
1. This is a VERY business-centric drama. The main plot revolves around Artificial Intelligence and 3D medical device and printing industry. You can’t fast forward all of that, because you will then miss the intricacies of the business scheming, the character development and basically the whole main plot.
2. Slow burn romance. If you are expecting a cute and fluffy romance, you will have to be very patient. The journey is slow and full of emotional highs and lows, but it’s totally worth it in the end.

If you are fine with the above-mentioned two points, then you might enjoy this drama as much as I did.


What I Like:

1. Seven Tan & Xu Kai
I cannot sing their praises enough. I’ve seen many of their dramas in the past. I know Seven Tan is a good actress, but I don’t remember thinking she was awesome until this one. There’s so much growth in her character, and seeing how Seven Tan brings her character to life is a beautiful thing. I see controlled emotions, happiness/shock/pain in her big expressive eyes, and the subtle facial expressions so beautifully executed that she doesn’t need to utter a single word. Adding to that is her ability to dub her own lines very well. I believe has always done that, and it shows her experience in this area. Similarly, I’ve always been a big fan of Xu Kai and believes his acting is so much better than the projects he picks. He’s one of the actors where he can convey a myriad of emotions with his big expressive eyes as well. With a good script, these two experienced actors elevate themselves to a different level. They have so many good tension-filled scenes together before the characters get together.

2. Main Romance
As I said, this is a slow burn romance. But that doesn’t mean the leads do not have scenes together. They actually have many scenes together and the chemistry is evident, even though half of the drama is focused on their business relationship. I enjoy how But Han Ting (ML) guides and supports Ji Xing (FL) to make her own decisions, face her own consequences without always there to save her. Their relationship develops slowly and steadily. Once they get together, you can tell how they are meant for each other. It’s no wonder FL’s ex-boyfriend comes to the realization that he just can’t give her what she needs. The best part for me is not the cute and fluffy part. It’s the anticipation of the big blow out and confrontation. I knew it’s going to happen and I was DREADING it. When it did happen, I was heartbroken while watching Seven Tan and Xu Kai act their hearts out in those gut-wrenching scenes. That confrontation and the subsequent episodes are what cemented my 9.0 rating. The last 10 episodes of this drama is a roller coaster ride of emotions.

3. Backdoor scheming
I personally find the business part of this drama interesting. There are enough plot twists to keep me invested when in actuality, I really don’t know much about the industry. However, as I follow along, I can see everyone is playing chess. Who is a chess piece and who is the chess player? Who is the behind-the-scenes master controlling everyone? There are so many smart dialogs exchanged between ‘villains’ and ‘villains’ vs ‘the good guys’. The subtle and the not-so-subtle digs at each other, the condescending and fake congratulatory messages....all of this is exciting for me (but maybe boring for you). I wrote on a Feeds post and admired a scene between two ‘villains’ and their scheming inside a teahouse. That scene was so well-shot and acted. The lipstick mark on a tea cup, offered to the other. The subtle evilness going between them and the secret pact formed when he took that tea cup with a lipstick mark. The lighting, the tension, the meaning behind all this

4. Ji Xing’s path to success
In a way, this drama reminds me of Seven Tan’s other drama “Master of My Own”. Both are business romance dramas with a strong focus on her character’s journey to professional achievements and success. I enjoy following Ji Xing’s growth in “As Beautiful As You” more, partly because the male lead is there to support and guide her along the way. In “Master of My Own”, the male lead isn’t as supportive, but we do have a great female mentor. I think her challenges of starting her own business are realistic and believable. Just because you have the talent, ideals and drive, it doesn’t make you a successful entrepreneur.

5. He Rui Xian as Li Li
He Rui Xian is such a beautiful and sultry actress. She plays an amazing Li Lil, showcasing her sassiness, charisma, and a very free lifestyle. I also think He Rui Xian’s acting has improved a lot. There was a scene at a wedding when she was discussing marriage with her boyfriend. I can see the change of emotions in her big eyes from happiness, shock, disbelief, sadness, anger… all in 10 seconds. I was amazed!

6. Love the Mother/Son Duo. Love FL’s parents. Also like ML’s grandfather (wise, cautious but not too stubborn).


What I have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like

1. Enough of torture for Ji Xing
As much as I enjoy following Ji Xing’s road to success, at one point, I just had enough bad things happen to her. I feel so bad that time after time she’s put to the test. I feel tired watching her overcome all these challenges, and I wish for her to just get a breather!

2. Make Up
OK, this is my pet peeve. I cannot stand overly white and thick foundation, especially on male actors. I know Xu Kai has pale skin, but he is sickly pale here. Not only him, but all the other male actors don’t seem to look good at all. Luckily, the ladies fare better and don’t look as ghostly.

3. Loud Music
Another pet peeve of mind is super loud background music playing, especially when the actors are speaking.

4. Dubbing/Recording
I was praising Seven Tan for her dubbing, but unfortunately I can’t say the same for Xu Kai and for Gao Han. Xu Kai dubbed his own lines, but he obviously still needs a little more work and practice. Gao Han has a voice actor, but his voice and his acting don’t quite match. I also wish there’s more live on set recording, instead of mostly studio recording.

5. Gao Han and Luo Ze Kai
Something about Gao Han and his role (Dr Shao) doesn't quite gel with me. Maybe because of the more soft-spoken character he’s playing, or the ugly makeup or the dubbing or his hairstyle or his acting. Something is not right and I can’t pinpoint what that is. Luo Ze Kai on the other hand was fine when he’s playing ML’s best friend and confidant. His personality is livelier and he’s more comfortable. But when he plays the role of Li Li’s boyfriend, his personality changes 180 degrees. In the beginning, he is charismatic and sexy when he’s trying to seduce Li Li. Then the acting switches and he becomes boring, bland and emotionless.



This review is getting too long. Anyway, I would recommend this for you if you are fans of Xu Kai and Seven Tan, business plots and slow burn romance. It reminds me a bit of “Master of My Own” (business plot) and “Fake It Till You Make It” (business-heavy, and great leads chemistry but a very different type of romance).



Other Random Observations:
1. Xu Kai looks like a little boy when he’s playing basketball. When he doesn’t have to be the boss, his eyes change and the inner child shows.
2. Han Ting (ML) teaches Ji Xing (FL) how to fish; but Xiao Yi Xiao fishes for Li Li (2FL)
3. I also like the character development of Su Zhi Zhou - from a boy to a responsible man.
4. I might have shaken my head when the childhood connection was introduced.
5. Ji Xing’s cell phone case changes as she progresses to different stages of her career.
6. Interesting games of blowing cards and weighing soups
7. So many printed contracts and proposals for a tech company. Where are the tablets and e-signatures?
8. That’s one huge diamond engagement ring!


Completed: 8/5/2024 - Review #469

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Watch for the Uniqueness of Omegaverse and the Fun & Meticulous Manipulation

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

Where do I begin with this first somewhat major production of omegaverse in an Asian BL drama? It is definitely interesting. Is this drama perfect? Hell No! Is it interesting? Definitely. I would recommend “ABO Desire” to you if you are interested in checking out these characters in the omegaverse and get to know the characteristics of Enigmas, Alphas, Omegas and Betas. However, if you are looking for a great BL drama, this is not it.


Plot + Pacing
It all starts with Hua Yong’s obsession with Sheng Shao You. You will be amazed at the lengths he went to in order to make Shao You fall in love and be obsessed with him. Hua Yong’s manipulation is the best part of the drama. The meticulous planning of his scheme from years ago, his research of Shao You’s likes and dislikes in everything, to the ‘training’ he has to go through to turn himself to be one ‘worthy’ of Shao You. It was delicious just watching that all reveal. Of course, this wouldn’t be as good without Huang Xing’s acting. He’s the star of the show, because the rest of the actors aren’t that good. The pacing of the drama is uneven though. There are so many episodes where nothing really happened. The plot is not advancing and you are stuck in a loop of repeated manipulation. Then a couple episodes kicked in and more interesting storylines help move past the repetitiveness. I would have liked more on why Shen Wen Lang is at odds with his father, thus hating all Omegas. I also want a deeper dive into Shen Wen Lang and Hua Yong’s interesting friendship which involves some family backstories. But I think the most complaints from viewers will be coming from the last episode. There’s such great anticipation but all we got is a rushed and chopped up ending with multiple time jumps. The last episode tries to jam so many important events into one. I may not be a big fan of the novel ending of Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang, but it can’t be this messed up storyline involving a father that should not appear on my screen. As viewers, we see how much Gao Tu went through in his life, we want to see him happy (with or without Shen Wen Lang). Is he living a happy life in the end? Maybe, but we wouldn’t know coz not much was shown. Oh, one more thing… the boring business and drug talk. So insignificant but took up so much of the dialog.

Acting
The acting is not good overall. Huang Xing is an interesting Hua Yong. He’s great, especially when you see him switch between good and evil and vice versa ( you also see his wardrobe change from white and black). The manipulation would not be so fun if not for some good acting. The next best actor is probably Li Pei En, who plays the beloved Gao Tu. He’s also the most experienced out of the four main actors, and has acted in bigger productions. It’s unfortunate the drama did not give him much to work with. Unfortunately, Qui Ding Jie’s acting isn’t that great as Sheng Shao You, and he’s not that much of a novice. He’s been in enough dramas that I wish he was better. Being the top S Alpha, he’s not charismatic enough. He’s been in many other mini dramas, I think I need to watch one of them to see if he’s better in it than this one. For a first acting assignment, the inexperience really shows for Jiang Heng. He is really not good at all. Luckily, he’s in such a popular drama that viewers probably won’t criticize him too much because we are all watching this for the omegaverse. If Jiang Heng’s performance is in another production, he will not be getting cheers in concerts. The rest of the supporting cast is average but a few of the very minor roles are pretty bad.

Romance
Yes, a lot more screen time is dedicated to Hua Yong and Shao Yao. I have no problem with that since they are the main leads. I do understand viewers wanting to see more of Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang, because their romance could be very interesting. Besides, Gao Tu is so beloved, we want to see Wen Lang suffer and pine for him and then they all have a big happy ending. Did we really get that? Well, I won’t spoil it for you. But romance is strong in this drama. If you are a romance lover, this is for you. We have a toxic and manipulative main romance that you wonder why you are rooting for them. When Hua Yong and Shao Yao got all lovey-dovey, I felt rather weird after following their journey. I can’t deny I might have had a little smile on my face in the last few episodes, but it's still weird. And you know what, the kisses could have been better. They are too mild. On the other hand, we have a 10-year unrequited love from Gao Tu. There were so many times I was screaming (internally) that he should quit his job and leave Wen Lang. I want that knucklehead Wen Lang to suffer and then chase after Gao Tu in the middle of the drama. Did I get what I wanted? Maybe, and maybe not.

Production
When this drama is so popular and everyone is talking about it, I almost forgot this is a low budget production. I want to be lenient but I can’t deny there are many things that bug me. I hate the makeup, especially for Qiu Ding Jie/Sheng Shao You. He’s so pale and girly that I can’t see him as a bossy S Alpha. The dubbing also bugs me and makes the acting even worse. I think the actors use their own voices (and I like that) but oftentimes they are out of sync with their lips, or they are not annunciating their words clearly. There have been complaints about the lighting of the drama. You know, the scenes when the consummation happened and they claimed they couldn’t see the faces when the room was so bright? That was quite laughable. But the cherry on the top (as in the worst) is the sudden voice of a narrator out of the blue, and the narration from these bystanders telling me what is happening. The drama fails to show us what is actually going on and has to rely on others (not the main characters) to tell us. To end on a positive note, I do love the songs in this drama. The main theme song is catchy whether it’s the group version or the female version. It fits the mysteriousness of the omegaverse.


Do I recommend “ABO Desire”? Maybe if you are interested in the subject matter and want to see what the hype is about. But I won’t recommend it if you are looking for a high quality drama (BL or not). This is one of the very few dramas I watch while it’s airing and I had a good time watching it. The drama might not be great objectively, but the entertainment value is high for me. Despite complaining about every single category I listed about, I don’t think I can rate this too low. Not quite hit the 8.0 category because of some objective misses, but fun enough to warrant a 7.75. At least I enjoy this more than “Revenged Love”.




Completed: 10/11/2025 Review #632

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