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Meh
Plot: First half had me guessing, like what actually happened and it had some mystery and horror aura but then felt flat on the last 30 minutes of the movie. Many unanswered questions that will make you confuse as to why was the ending like that, especially to the victim. Didn’t make sense to me, honestly. He was supposed to have this strong personality plus he had to go through all the trouble just to find out the truth but then ‘bam’. Would have been nice if they added something to the ending apart from their ‘supposed’ destiny. It was supposed to be the icing on the cake but turned out to be a styrofoam.Acting: All did great and convincing.
Music: Pretty appropriate and creepy especially on the first half of the movie.
Rewatch value: I don’t think there’s something to rewatch.
Overall: 5 for acting and great suspense of first half. They didn’t maintain the momentum and ended up with a disappointing ending despite the so-called ‘twist’. It wasn’t predictable but it didn’t have the ‘wow’ factor too. I guess I watched and read too many psychological/mystery dramas and movies already.
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Punch is the kind of drama that makes me reevaluate all the dramas for which I have given a rating of 10. All the elements of a great drama are pulled together to elicit a range of emotions. I cried, yelled, laughed, etc. This drama just wrenched every emotion I guess like being "punched". The writer did a great job of blurring the lines between right and wrong. The main lead isn't exactly a "bad guy", but he has done what he needed to survive in a world of rules that he did not create. I have no moral compass so in my eyes if he manipulated people to further himself while the ones that claim to be righteous were doing the same thing, then it is all good in my opinion. I could go on and on, but I'm on the verge of spoilers so I will just stop for now. Needless to say this drama will have you asking yourself all kinds of moral questions. Also, the dialog is smart. There are so many good quotes from this drama. The relationships between the characters are twisted. Some of them are freindemies. The romance is there and the chemistry is good. It may not be displayed in the typical way, but it is there. Kim Rae Won is an acting genius. It makes me wonder why I haven't seen him before. His portrayal of Park Jeong Hwan's strength and weakness is excellent. I'm not sure if it is just me or if he really was losing weight as the drama proceeded through his illness. Regardless, I love him.
Kim Ah Joong's portrayed Shin Ha Gyeong with great strength and dignity. She is the only one that was true to her values.
I had a love/hate relationship with Jo Jae Hyeon as Lee Tae Jun. I understand where he was coming from and honestly if he had just not done the first thing to hurt Jeong Hwan's family, then he probably wouldn't have been seen as that bad of a guy. However, he went from bad to worse. For some reason though I just can't find it in me to hate him. What a great actor and character.
I truely hated Choi Myung Gil as Yoon Ji Sook. My biggest hate is hypocrisy. You will see when you watch that she is the most hateful person of all. (is that a spoiler? If so, then sorry)
The other actors are good too.
The music is good and appropriate.
I will probably rewatch this sometime.
I recommend this drama to everyone that enjoys a good emotional drama.
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Realistic Cuteness Overload; A Breath of Fresh Air
Never expected this drama to be so realistic and light. I watched primarily for CZY because I wanted to see him develop into a mature male actor. I've seen several actors previously so I knew it would be a good cast. It really was cuteness overload but probably one of the least toxic c-dramas I've ever seen. It was a real breath of fresh air.Pros: Favorite character was ML and I'm very proud of how he's grown from playing younger roles to a mature male who let me tell you, when he turned on those eyes of his, he'd melt women of all ages into a puddle. Other than that, he was also probably one of the most caring individuals on earth. Life dealt him a very cruel hand with what his father did and that stalker chick, but instead of curling into a ball and giving up, he just strove to be a better person worthy of the love of everyone around him especially the only one who truly loved every piece of him, our FL SZ.
Most of the story was very well developed. And honestly, other than the stalker chick, there wasn't a single character I didn't like. She was the main antagonist I guess you could say. FL, her parents, bro and all of their friends were just wonderful. I do have to say that I don't know about China but in the US, if you live as a resident in a quad in college, it's beyond rare that everyone gets along so well. I was never a resident but a commuter but my resident friends told me all sorts of stories back in the day. The fact that SZ lived with and got along so well with her roommates just adds to the loveliness of this story.
This story had you mostly laughing at the antics of our leads and everyone else. But it was also very inspirational and sometimes it even made you tear up. SZ was more mature in some aspects then people gave her credit for. Though I do wish many of her inner monologues came out of her mouth instead, she was endearing, kind, respectful, caring, loving, and fiercely protective of those she loved the most.
Everything had its rightful progression to a point. I have nothing to complain about the settings, OSTs, etc. Their moments together once they start coming together were the best and of course the comedy. But there is a con section though it won't be that long.
Cons: While I understand the misunderstandings as people have that makes them imagine or overthink when they're young; but it shouldn't happen when they're adults in a relationship or even by 12th grade in high school. Miscommunication is a known relationship killer. SZ never asks DJX what he's thinking but goes full steam ahead on her own assumptions which are usually worse case scenarios and completely false. DJX also doesn't open up to her and then they end up finding out through other means and how foolish it looks. But instead of learning and not doing it again, they keep repeating it. Even by episode 24, she still thought he was considering breaking up with her.
Then DJX's not dealing with the stalker as soon as he paid off the debt. Why? Her harassing him just complicated things for him both literally and psychologically. If he didn't find out she went after SZ, would he ever have dealt with her? What if she flew to Nanwu to find him?
The thing I wish there was less of were the flashbacks of SZ's childhood. Like once she became an adult, end those. We know what's going on. It wasn't until episode 3 that this drama picked up for me. But I'm very glad I stuck around.
Would I recommend it? Definitely. From all the ones I'm watching it was the only one that made me laugh and love little moments that I would rewind just to get a little bit more. I'm very glad I watched this drama and you should give it a chance too.
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Too many stunning and lingering visuals...
Mr Sunshine is one of the most visually stunning drama series on TV. The colours, sweeping landscapes and battle scenes in the early episodes are Oscar worthy and viewers continue to be mesmerised by beautiful images throughout the series. I think the writer and director wanted to contrast the tragedy as it unfolds with the beauty of the country caught in a political storm. However, towards the end of the series as the story moved towards its climax, the lovely scenes often got in the way of the story-telling as the action and drama slowed to linger on one beautiful shot after another, or scenes were reprised in slow-motion from different camera angles. Without the lingering shots, the makers could have kept the story tight at 70-minute/episode (28-hours in total) instead of the over-indulgent and ever-lengthening episodes as the series progressed (totalling 30-plus hours).(Spoiler alert!) Since the drama was set in a particularly turbulent time in Korea’s history, the story was never going to have a happy ending. The cast was excellent. The huge cast, main and support, each played a part in moving the story forward and their characters evolved and grew as they were affected by events. Of the three male leads, Captain Eugene Choi’s (Lee Byung Hun) character changed the least, maybe because Eugene was already nearly forty years-old when the story began. I liked how Kim Hui Sung’s (Byun Yo Han) character evolved from that of a rich playboy and cad to the quiet observer and then to a man who learnt, in his own way, to do the right thing. I also liked how viewers were gradually drawn into the inner turmoil of King Go Jong (Lee Seung Jun) as the political situation in his beloved country escalated. But I felt sorry for Kim Min Jun’s character, Hina Kudo/Lee Yang Hwa who did as much for the Korea as Lady Go Ae Shin (Kim Tae Ri) but was overlooked and overshadowed by Lady Go.
I didn’t mind the music initially but there was too much of it and the use was too heavy-handed. I felt my emotional reaction was being coached and manipulated as each scene was audibly cued before the story unfolded on-screen. While this might be okay for a 2-hour film, it is very exhausting for the viewer in a 30-plus hour drama.
I won’t be re-watching it or looking to recommend it to friends unless they’re fans of historical dramas and melodramas.
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Toxicity is just io much here...
So i started watching this series casually and was hooked at the beginning until became just too much.... It started off ok, a kind of angsty romance which I'm usually here for. This is until the the ML became just too toxic, which the FL was somehow increasingly ok with.- For the good
I really liked that in this series, the FL wasn't this shy girl who is scared to touch a guy, not mentioning sleeping with him. Same goes for the ML. When they are romantically close, they seem to be quite open and grown up, which I always appreciate in a series. No need to make a kiss sth so scary when u r a full grown adult.
-For the not so good....
The dynamic between the FL and ML is just bad. All the shouting, shaking, grabbing and forcefully pulling.... you would think it was some old school romance kdrama from 2010 but no. The writers were trying their best to make him this complicated character with complicated past, which should somehow excuse his awful behaviour but I was having none of that. Just because you have a brain tumour doesn't mean you are allowed to treat people like shit. Nor does it allow you to completely ruin the life of your ex girlfriend just cuz u feel lonely. Even if it's only for 3 months.
While this whole mess of a human being was looking for his father, the FL fell for him all over again, to the point where her low effort escape attempts were just.... pathetic. And her telling him, basically screaming, that he ruined her life is.... very dramatic but very useless because he manhandles her and she just gives in, always coming back to him.
The dynamic between those 2 characters was incredibly toxic but the way it's written, we should cheer for this couple and be happy that each time she has an opportunity to run away, she doesn't. Look at him, he saw that she liked some shoes and got it for her such a great guy (sarcasm) ...... bleh.
We shouldn't forget that there's the SML, the man the FL was supposed to marry and another guy who is the friend of the ML, both being the comedic relief of this angsty drama. Jokes about 2 guys acting gay, a guy pissing him self from fear, a dumb spoiled mammas boy... how are those even funny ? Those "comedic" moments made me feel as if I'm watching an old poorly aged kdrama.... cmon, we r in 2024...... we can do better than that....
Overall, I'm not gonna even finish the drama. The development so far has been meh and I'm tired of seeing the FL just accepting all the harassment coming from the ML just cuz. And im also tired of this series trying to put the ML in the positive light using the most low effort things. Their relationship is awful and I'm not here for it.
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Finally, a Japanese BL that skips the “do I like boys” crisis
If you’re a sucker for the “Golden Retriever x Black Cat” dynamic or the classic “Popular Guy x Nerdy Boy” trope, Contrast is going to hit some of the right notes. It takes those clichés yet strips away the tired “arrogant jock” or “bully” archetypes, replacing them with a much more grounded, lonely connection between two high schoolersStory
Honestly, I’m tired of the 5 episode self-discovery phase in BL where characters spend half the show wondering if they like guys. Contrast skips the filler and gives us a lead in Akira who is a relatable and believable closeted gay character. This allows the narrative to focus on his guarded nature and his genuine chemistry with Kanata, rather than just hitting the usual Japanese BL thing where characters only realized they are gay or queer after 10 episodes once they accept their love for each other
However, the final two episodes felt a bit weak and rushed. I was craving more tension and those “cheesy” cinematic lines like if you’re going to give me a cliché, I want it to be a great one. The series lacked that final punch of high-stakes romantic tension I usually look for. Also, as a side note on the subplot with Akira’s brother’s friend (Inoue Sora), that relationship felt pretty disturbing. Whether it was meant to be 18+ or just a boundary-crossing tutor relationship, it added a dark, uncomfortable layer to the show
Acting
To be blunt, the acting needs some work, particularly with the main leads during the heavy emotional scenes. While they are charming and have some chemistry, they aren’t always convincing. The acting is decent though, but they haven’t reached the level of acting performance seen in my personal Top 15 Japanese BLs, to be honest
Overall
I’m giving this a “bias 8 stars” because it is my favorite trope and Kanata is a cutie, lol. It might not enter my Top 15 Japanese BLs due to the acting hurdles and the slightly rushed ending, but for fans of atmospheric, trope-heavy high school dramas, it’s a must-watch and it’s easily the best Japanese BL of 2026 (so far), especially after the bland Countdown To Yes and also Cosmetic Playlover S2 like this season hasn’t been hitting for me, and I couldn’t take the unserious comedy of I’m Kishi Knight: Your Private Tutor, so Contrast definitely stands out at this point
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This review may contain spoilers
Funny and interesting.._
This drama may seem to be simple at the beginning, very funny, romance, arrange marriage,political..etc.. so it would seem boring and light BUT then as you you GO ON and KEEP on watching you'll find out the things that this DRAMA wants to CONVEY to the viewers, this is one of the dramas that its not merely for entertainment but also to disseminate information and message to the world or all viewers..This drama tackles the different problems that we are encountering not only on our community but all around the world as it represents this nine regions on the drama..
If you’re a woman I think that you might want to check this out because there are a lot of women characters ...One of its major topic is about showcasing women's rights, worth, and capablility... and thus also lead to the equality between men and women.. Another topics are maintaining the peace and order of every region aswell as UNITY..
I recommend this drama lot, its very Wonderful, they say that its boring but I say this drama is so interesting and funny maybe depends on your palate or preference when it comes to drama...
About the Romance this is not much of a full blown romance but a slowly progressing and burning romance that makes it even more sweeter, also this includes a lot of couples as well that are cute and funny to watch..
Likes:
□It is not centered about only one topic and person.
□First half is funny and fun.
□Has a lot of interesting stuffs on it…
□Gender Equality
□Every character is great
□I think this is one of the high budget dramas since the costumes are very pretty, and they used a lot of the palaces that we have already seen on the other Chinese Historical Dramas
□
□□□□Ending: Very much a Happy Ending!!
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Drama top tier enemy to lovers trope❤️✨
The most important thing in a drama—especially one built on the enemies-to-lovers trope—is ✨C H E M I S T R Y✨. And going into Prisoner of Beauty, that was exactly what I was waiting for: the dynamic between Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao.And. I. Am. Not. Disappointed.
That very first moment—when Wei Shao opened the curtain and saw Manman… yeah, that scene was insane. The shot composition, the way the camera held on his gaze, the shift in his expression—it genuinely felt like time stopped. You could literally see the moment something changed in him. And from that point on, the chemistry? Already there.
But what makes it even better is that it doesn’t just stay at that level—it builds. Slowly, steadily, and then suddenly… it explodes 🔥🔥🔥
This drama really understands the essence of enemies-to-lovers. It’s not just about two people who dislike each other and suddenly fall in love. It’s about tension, resistance, denial, and then eventually—acceptance. And here, every step of that journey feels earned.
What truly won me over is Wei Shao’s emotional progression. At the beginning, you can clearly see the distance—even a hint of disdain—in how he treats Xiao Qiao. He’s guarded, controlled, and emotionally closed off. But as the story unfolds, layer by layer, that wall starts to crack. And when he finally falls… he falls completely. The way he looks at her changes. The way he speaks to her softens. His actions become quieter but more meaningful. It’s not loud or overly dramatic, but that’s exactly why it hits harder. You can feel that his love isn’t impulsive—it’s something that grew, something that he allowed himself to feel.
And Xiao Qiao? She’s not just there to be loved. She holds her own emotional weight. Her reactions, her vulnerability, her strength—it all balances the relationship. So when their feelings finally align, it doesn’t feel one-sided. It feels mutual, intense, and deserved. Their interactions are filled with small but powerful moments—eye contact that lingers just a second too long, subtle shifts in tone, unspoken understanding. It’s those details that elevate their chemistry from “good” to addictive.
Beyond the romance, the drama itself is solidly supported. The storyline is engaging without feeling messy, the cinematography is beautifully crafted (some shots genuinely feel cinematic, not just typical drama framing), and the dialogue is layered—sometimes strategic, sometimes emotional, sometimes even quietly devastating. And let’s not forget the cast presence. Every character feels like they belong in this world. No one feels out of place, and that adds to the immersion.
Overall, Prisoner of Beauty doesn’t just deliver romance—it delivers a journey. A love story built on tension, growth, and emotional depth. The kind that pulls you in, makes you stay, and leaves a lingering feeling even after it ends. If you’re into intense slow-burn romance, emotional push-and-pull, and that satisfying moment when everything finally falls into place… this is absolutely a must-watch. Personally? Easy 10/10. No hesitation 😭🔥
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Sasaki Nozomi was outstanding as Rio, I was seriously impressed with her ability to master every emotion out there from tragic lover to cold ice queen to bubbly school girl. I often find angsty characters a bit of a bore however hard their lives are but I loved Rio! Her friends were equally likable and I almost wished we could have seen a bit more of them but overall I'm glad the story didn't try and steer off into millions of sub-plots that never get developed like a lot of movies do.
The thing I loved most about this film however was Tanihara Shosuke as Kouki. He was such an ordinary guy, nothing special about him, but the way we saw him through Rio's eyes made him appear to be the most special man on the planet. I was initially put off by the age gap but a few minutes into this film and it was completely forgotten. Straight after watching the film test yourself, would you pick Kouki over a thousand Matsujuns? I felt I could and would (if such a miracle ever occurred).
The story was touching, sad and the leads relationship felt very real, overall a romantic, interesting and heartbreaking film.
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Quite unique but seemed incomplete
I am damn sure that i watched all 16 episodes but it seems like i missed out on few episodes, they jump from one scene to the another during the end of each episode and give us a fuller version of it in the next episode but somehow for me , it was confusing , that probably led to this 7.5 . Had they maintained the same quality as the first half this would have been a 9 without a doubt.What i loved about this?
This is not one of those dramas that focuses on only the main couple, i loved how each charactee had their own importance and behind story. I was looking forward to knowing more about each of them and absolutely enjoyed every minute of it.
I loved how they were aware of their situation and dealt with it with dignity, in the end they embraced their insecurities and learnt how to be happy
I fell for Chang Hee, though he is often seen being frustrated and keeps venting out his anger but whatever he spoke , he stated Facts . I loved how he dint hold back when ever he was angry and upset and blurted eveything out loudly and very fast. I bet it would have still been difficult for me to understand his dialogues had i known korean. He became one of my favorite kdrama characters and i also am satisfied with how things ended with him.
The three sibling bond is well written, though we see them fighting and glaring at each other often, i could see through each of them , how they cared for each other and how strong their bond was.
They say it is "liberation notes" definetly i see liberation here but only 40%. Would have been great had they ended Mr Gu's character with more certainity . For me he was a mystery in the beggining and remained a mystery even in the end
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A Drama That Will Keep You Entertained Through and Through! A Satisfying Ending!
I just completed the first two episodes of "Red Swan", and I must say that I'm more than impressed. This drama has almost everything you would want to see in a drama, romance, action, justice, and revenge. The story is about Oh Wan Soo a top golfer who marries into a chaebol family and find herself in danger.Kim Ha Neul and Rain as the leads are delivering an outstanding performance with their top tier acting. Their chemistry is firing as expected, their first encounter was also somewhat unique. The supporting roles also delivers wonderfully.
The plot is captivating and interesting. The screenwriter did an excellent job in writing such wonderful story. The first episode had me on the edge of my seat, I didn't even noticed that the the second episode was about to end, not up until the song for the closing theme was played.
What do I love about this drama? What I love about this drama is that it delivered. Precisely, the action, it exceeded expectations. The romance also, we are shown the leads chemistry right from the first two episodes.
"Red Swan" is a drama anyone wouldn't want to miss. Its a drama that'll keep you excited through and through, I assure you, you won't get bored, not even in the slightest way. I know it because that's how I felt while watching it.
EP 3-6; These four episodes turned out to be very interesting and captivating. To be honest, I'd put this drama on hold and it's been two weeks. Why? It's because I wanted to have more episodes to watch, rather than the two episodes each week. Finally, episode 5&6 aired yesterday, making it four episodes to watch.
Some comments were about "forced chemistry and the FL not being suitable for the ML", but I'm telling all those are not true. The chemistry is there, the leads chemistry is firing. As the drama progresses, it gets more interesting and better. So Ignore the low ratings, negative comments and reviews, and watch this drama. It's definitely a drama anyone wouldn't want to miss. It's a must watch, a drama that makes you glued to your screen. Yes, it's that good! I gave this a 9 previously, but upon completing those four episodes, I'm increasing my ratings to 9.5 as those four episodes exceeded my expectations. Join me in this journey of "Red Swan" and watch how Oh Wan Soo and her bodyguard "Seo Do Yoon" overcomes adversities, punish evil, get justice, and finally get together. Yes, the romance has started blooming! I'm excited for what's to come next!
Ending
What can I say? "Red Swan has finally come to a conclusion. Although the ending isn't what I anticipated, nor was it what I expected, but it's still satisfying.
Red Swan is a drama that tells audiences and the world that justice will always prevail.
"What is justice?", that's often the question twisted people who are rich will ask. "I'm above the law. I'm untouchable. I'm dignified." That's how twisted rich people think. What I like about this drama is that, all those who think they can get away with their filthy acts, were punished in the end, by the law. While "Red Swan's" ending is not the best, the ending is still a happy. All the characters played there respective roles excellently.
Speaking of characters acting, I've got to hand it to Rain for displaying what I'd call exceptional acting. He slayed his role as a former police officer, and as a bodyguard. To be honest, this is my first time watching him in a drama. I must say, I'm more than impressed with his acting. His action scenes kept me glued to my screen. There's also Kim Ha Neul who's an actress I'm familiar with.
Ignore The Negative Comments;
There are comments stating how Kim Ha Neul always have the same facial expression. But if you're to ask me, she portrayed her role as Oh Wan Soo perfectly.
Oh Wan Soo is someone who couldn't trust anyone, not even her husband. The family she married into turned her into a doubtful person. She used to be a trusting person, but that was before her son's death. Her husband is unfaithful to her, he goes around sleeping with other women. Her mother-in-law is the the craziest I've seen. The same goes for her brother in law. Everyone in that family treated her as their competition and rival, except her husband. And even though Kim Young Guk didn't treat her as a competition, he wasn't loyal either. To be put bluntly, he's more of his mother's puppet than a husband. So, in such an environment, if she's still laughing and smiling, then wouldn't that be strange? Hence, her environment turned her into a cold person, someone who usually wears the same facial expression, except for when she needs to put on an act in front of a camera, that is. She's like that till Seo Do Yoon came into her life. In my opinion, her facial expressions are spot on, it matches the character she portrayed in "Red Swan". So, ignore the negative comments about the FL, and watch with an open mind, then, make your judgment based on what you see.
In conclusion, "Red Swan" is a drama that explores human greed and lust. It's a drama that explores love, hate, infidelity, revenge, and justice. So, don't miss out on this drama that's packed with action, mystery, thriller, and romance. It also has beautiful OSTs. "Red Swan" is a drama worth your time. I know it because, it was worth mine.
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An Exquisite Xianxia That You Shouldn't Miss!
When I initially came upon Ancient Love Poetry, it was being slammed from all sides, but I still decided to watch it for some reason.Now, 49 episodes later, it has blown my expectations and is perhaps one of the best dramas out there in my list. The unique storyline, outstanding performances by the entire cast, numerous lovable characters, villains that make your blood boil, suspenses that leave you worried along with numerous tales of sincerity and undying love completely bewitched me. I'm so glad that I didn't pay heed to all the negative reviews and kept going. Bear with me, my review will be long and I have tried covering a few points that might put off many viewers and the things I loved about this drama. I hope that it convinces you to give it a chance:
1. Don't be fooled by the bland beginning. Ancient Love Poetry has one of the most unique storylines I've seen. And they did not kid around with the title "Ancient God". The story takes place waaay before the existence of humans. In the God Realm - where our lazy female lead, Shangu, is forcefully pushed to master the Power of Chaos in a race against time to stop the Tribulation of Chaos and also protect the Three Realms as the power that protects it begin to dissipate, something which only she had the ability to permanently solve. Her master happens to be Bai Jue, one of the True Gods, who is rather cold and strict towards her, but slowly warms upto her rather humble nature, eventually falling deeply for her. Her hardwork pays off, but the tribulation turns out to be her ultimate test which no one is able to stop. But, destiny has more in store for her....
The story is also the most strongest point of Ancient Love Poetry. It delves away from the Heavenly Realm, focussing on the life of the Ancient Gods, the most powerful beings across all Realms, which was a first for me. The events and mysteries unravel in a rather ominous and nerve wracking manner. I paused an episode and decided to spoil myself as I couldn't handle anymore surprises that were often accompanied by painful experiences. The plot purposefully takes a drastic turn after a certain point, but it did not feel disconnected and maintained the right flow. The chronological way of narration is done right in Ancient Love Poetry - it might have been shot that way to avoid unnecessary flashbacks to the past and helps us connect with their present selves better.
[The author of the novel, Xing Ling herself was involved as a screen writer. While the story does deviate from the original work at times, it stays true to the novel for several major plot points. And the script is well plotted despite having some issues at the beginning, but that was necessary for the plot.]
2. The timeline - is a MAJOR factor that no one probably notices. A single episode may consist of several days or even months, hence the romance is pretty fast paced. Right from EP1, it's implied that several days/weeks had passed. Three months and 1000 years, all pass within two episodes. Shangu's training might have taken months or years, but we see glimpses of it. This might be off putting for many, but I personally was not bothered by it. The actors played the roles really well and nothing felt rushes.
3. The characters, particularly the leads and even the supporting ones are the pillars of the whole story. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster.
The Female lead is very unlike the ones we usually see - she is not stunningly pretty or the typical Goddess type. While she might not be everyone's cup of tea, I think she is beautiful and was the smartest choice out of the cast to be chosen to portray the young, innocent Shangu who grew up to become someone who was wise enough to hold the title of the "Chief God". I had begun watching ALP for the lead - Zhou Dong Yu is well known for her acting skills in movies, but I can tell that she brought justice to her character here just like she did for her other roles. She managed to portray the duality of Hou Chi and Shangu beautifully. I missed her smile as Shangu and I don't think anyone could have played that role and still managed to maintain a smooth balance between emotions.
I loved Xu Kai's role as Bai Jue. I think most people have seen him before in his previous works where he played lighter characters, but its good to see him in something new. As for stereotypes and how comfortable we are with the actors, its upto you, reader.
The supporting characters, I have to mention, left a deep impression on me. Particularly in EP15. Even the ones that had only a few minutes of screentime managed to convey the emotions perfectly. Characters like Gu Jun (a flood dragon who ascends to the God Realm), Tian Qi (a noteworthy, naughty True God of Demons and the one who brought Shangu up), Yuemi (Tian Qi's closest friend who spoils Shangu with him) , Zihan, Hongri... all manage to steal our attention. They were very well portrayed and I'm sure that I'll never forget any of them anytime soon and will definitely be looking forward to their future works.
4. The romance... has a more "natural" feeling, particularly for Shangu and Bai Jue. Their relationship is not forced, even if it seems rushed. Ancient Love Poetry is not heavy on physical display of affections, but their sincerity towards each other is completely driven by their actions. There are no declarations of love or confessions, but their actions are strong and silent enough to convey the depth of their devotion to each other. When the second arc begins, we see a whole new side of the "fire and ice" relation of the Gods. This change is particularly delightful as we get to see the "Ice Cube" be warm and talkative while the "Bubbly and strong" Shangu becomes the meek and powerless Hou Chi. Their story in the second arc is particularly well written with plot twists, villains and schemes that puts them against the Immortal Realm.
The romance is not just for the leads. Two supporting characters in particular, had, good solid relationships that managed to make me root for their happiness. They might have not had enough screentime, but were beautifully portrayed with such intensity that many of us wished for their happiness. The plus side was that no one imposed themselves on the one they care about, but accepted their choices and supported them, never once becoming an ill wisher. (In short, no serious love triangles.)
There are several other memorable relationships, may it be between the Gods and their Divine Beasts or just plain loyalty and friendship between each other. The God Realm arc might be a bit unsatisfying to many, but I yearned for those precious moments and missed the characters from the first arc terribly during the second one. The bromance between the Four True Gods, Yuemi and Shangu are noteworthy. While the second arc might be serious, we have several supporting characters such and Fengran, Chang Que , Jingjian and Jia Ye who lighten up the mood for Hou Chi and Qingmu as well as for us. Their banter and loyalty to their friends was constant throughout the drama. It's worth watching even if its just for them.
5. The Antagonist: That's one major question. From my perspective, it has two. An intangible entity that can not be stopped and an actual vile villain.
What sets this drama apart for me is that the 'villain' is not introduced as such. Rather, the seeds of what lies ahead are already planted in the earlier episodes and we see the gradual transition to the current state. Driven by covetous intentions, the disgusting actions and motives sets them aside from the ones I've seen. And the absolutely stunning portrayal by the actor alleviated the character to such a level that we are beyond disgusted whenever the person appears on screen. Not to mention, the character was an actual crook, who was cunning and clever. Never have I wished for a character to stop breathing as much as I did for this one. Whenever the abode of the 'evil one' appeared, I wished that the episode would move faster and go back to the locations where I feel calm enough to watch.
As for the former antagonist I mentioned... watching the drama might give you a better idea about why I mentioned it.
6. The CGI is hands down the best one I've seen to date in a major xianxia drama. It doesn't lack in intense action scenes too. One thing I noted was that most of the Gods and Immortals used a mixture of both magic and weapons in a combat, which is the first time I saw such excessive use of CGI. I was impressed with the God Realm in particular. As I mentioned in my earlier review: The make up and costumes compliment the scenery so well that each shot seems to have been spun from dreams.
While the costumes may lack in colour (something minor, but that may put off a lot of viewers), the production team went so far as to visit historical sites and attempt to weave the details into them.
7. The OST: I suck at evaluating music, but the song "Perseverance" is heartbreaking, even without the scene. I get goosebumps whenever I listen to it. Many of the BGMs were my favorite. The lighter fun music during the initial arc were really memorable, but turned to nostalgia inducing everytime I heard it in the second arc.
8. The Finale: As a hint, the drama ends exactly like the novel. I loved how the writers managed to provide closure to two storylines in 49 episodes. I, for one, am left with a bittersweet feeling of parting with my favorite characters. I grew to care for many of them, both major and minor ones. (Special mention to Sen Yu, Chang Qin, Chang Que and Jia Ye, Hongri, the Gods of God Realm, Puhua.)
All in all, I'm glad I picked up this drama while it was being avalanched by negative reviews. (There were some with valid criticism, but 80% of the CNets slammed it just for the actress's looks and the ratings and general reviews almost made it seem like an unwatchable atrocity.) I have to warn though, it might not be your cup of tea. In the end, it depends on preference. I usually drop dramas within the first five episodes, but this one being a Xianxia, I had to give it a go for some more.
Does it deserve a 10? Maybe not. (I knocked off a .5 from the Rewatch value cause the pain is real. But, this is the second CDrama that I did not drop this year and one of the best in terms of cast and story as a whole. And based on it's quality and storyline, it deserves a better rating albeit its faults. Watching it was a truly delightful experience. It made me go through a roller coaster of emotions. We see multiple hardships and sacrifices being made by people for the ones they care about. Almost every character was memorable in their own ways, even the bad guys.
And I certainly will not be forgetting the Legend of ShangGu and Bai Jue anytime soon.
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I left my first impression/review below as a memory. :)
June 20, 2021: The major drawback of Chinese Dramaland is the predictability of storylines and the numerous over used tropes that pop up as a result of it, particularly for Xianxia and Wuxia genres. Which is why it is hard to find something that captures my attention.
One of 2021's highly anticipated xianxia dramas, Ancient Love Poetry follows the progress and growth of our Goddess of Chaos - Shangu. I have to admit, I needed three episodes for the drama to finally pique my interest. The rather slow and uninteresting first episode, coupled with the carefree attitude of the female lead who is still unaware of what lies ahead is jarring for viewers looking for a fast paced drama. I have to note, the MDL synopsis seems to spoil the furure of the plot, but gives enough hint to know what trials the happy-go-lucky Shangu is yet to face. I have not seen anything yet and I'm on EP6 at the time of writing this review.
Zhou Dongyu nails her role... if the character Shangu is whom I perceive her to be - she is not dumb or stupid, but had been pampered for too long and shielded from evil by Zhiyang and Tianqu (two amusing Gods) until they are left with no choice but to ask their fellow God Bai Jue, who had retired to the lower real, to return to train Shangu as she would soon have to bear the task of protecting the dangerously thinning barrier between the Nether world and the other realms.
Xu Kai fits his role as Bai Jue, the cold God of War and his performance is convincing enough to know the power and grace he wields.
The slow moving tale (as of EP6) has scattered several hints of what lay ahead and I am curious to know how the legend of Shangu and Bai Jue come to conclusion.
The romance is... 'natural'. I have no other words to describe it. It's not mushy or cringeworthy, but there's something real about their interactions which are the highlights of the first few episodes.
Another strong point: usually the VFX of CDramas make me frown. This drama exceeds expectations. Taking place completely in the God Realm, the CGI is top notch and can be on par with many Hollywood productions. The make up and costumes compliment the scenery so well that each shot seems to have been spun from dreams.
Rather light colored without being flamboyant, the costumes are surprisingly stunning. The make up doesn't look too bright, but just good enough without being overbearing. Most of the "supernatural aura" is carried by the actors' performance. None of them disappointed me as of now.
I will rate this an 8/10 as of now. I recommend that you check it out for atleast three episodes before deciding to drop this. Long Chinese dramas often have a slow start. So far, this is one of the better hyped up fantasy dramas Tencent rolled out this year for me. Now, I'll wait to see if this one can leave a remarkable impression in Xianxia land to stand the test of time...
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4Revenge Never Looked So Good
The title of the drama 春花厌 {Chūn Huā Yàn} means "The Withering Spring Blossom." I feel this is important because it holds the key to the surface of the story but also to the tragedy that the characters are going through. In Chinese, 春花 {chūn huā} means "Spring Blossom": something vibrant and full of life. On the other hand 厌 (yàn) shows feelings of disgust or waiting for things to go awry, like Mei Lin's spirit who was once colorful but now it wears down and withers. ╥﹏╥The story begins with Prince Murong Jing He - the proud commander of the Weibei Army who successfully reclaims Qingzhou {a lost territory of the Great Yan Dynasty} It’s supposed to be his crowning achievement and a chance to be known as a hero. But things turn dark because a massive fire breaks out soon after he takes back the city and it burns everything in its path and leaving only ruins sorrow behind. Rumors spread everywhere and soon people are branding Murong Jing He as the "Butcher General" They accuse him of ordering the city’s destruction as punishment for Qingzhou’s "betrayal" of Great Yan. His victory turns into something dark and now he is painted as a cold-hearted killer rather than a savior.
Then we meet Mei Lin who is a young girl who loses everything in the flames of Qingzhou. Her entire family is gone and her bright future is reduced to ashes. She now hates Murong Jing He, who she believes is responsible for her pain. She is devastated and alone so she swears to make him pay. Mei Lin joins a secret organization known as the Shadow Works, where she undergoes years of punishing training and physical suffering, she is even made to consume a deadly poison to prove that she can survive.
After years of training, Mei Lin is finally assigned to kill her target aka Prince Murong Jing He. She is then disguised as one of a hundred Xiyan beauties sent to Great Yan in a political marriage alliance and infiltrates his world. She hides her true identity and becomes one of many beautiful faces in the court while she plans to fulfill her vow of vengeance.
But here is the kicker, hehe (ˊ˘ˋ*): Mei Lin doesn't know that Murong Jing He is in fact the mastermind of her life right now and the one behind the Shadow organization she joined. He manipulated the events behind the scenes to ensure she turned into his assassin. In a very twisted way, she has been working her way through a path he had always planned before her because she was blinded by her hate and was willing to follow anyone who could lead her to be successful in her revenge.
But while she is trying to kill him, the sparks between Mei Lin and Murong Jing He are so intense that half the time, I was just thinking "Wait, do they want to kill each other or kiss?" Spoiler: it’s definitely both and it’s absolute fire lmao. I felt like watching the most dangerous love game ever where survival is on the line and the weapons are swords, poisoned tea and those looks they keep giving each other. I think it was part a deadly chess match, part flirtation and I was just screaming at the screen like “JUST KISS ALREADY!” But also “Wait, don’t trust him GIRL!” my emotion's were all over the place ngl because one second they were swinging swords at each other and the next they were exchanging horny stares across the room. It was too much for my brain.
Leaving that aside, even more than the amazing hate-to-love plot, another thing I liked about this show is the psychological part. I mean, you see cool martial arts (and they are great and very badass), but from the start, it felt like the true fight was in Mei Lin's thoughts. She wants revenge but also fights with herself about if the prince is the beast she has been told. You get caught up in her inner fight. Do you cheer for her to beat him, or do you hope they join up and set the world on fire together? (I picked the second one from episode 1, to be honest)
Regarding the male lead, I really loved him because he isn’t just some villainous warlord, the show does a good job giving him mystery and charisma so that you are constantly guessing his true intentions. I love him - he is definitely one of my top “red flags turned green.” As the episodes went on and I started seeing the way he cares about Mei Lin, my heart went weak at him all the damn time. He goes from “dangerous enemy” to “obsessed protector” and I am a sucker for that trope.
The female lead is amazing as well. She is not your typical soft and naive character we are used to in cdramas - she is fierce and has this tough exterior that instantly sets her apart. And I love that beneath all that strength, she is still soft and deeply caring especially when it comes to the main lead. Once their love kicks off, she shows this warmth and loyalty that just melts your heart. She is both a fighter and a lover.
And visually, this show pops. I mean the ethereal landscapes and the detailed costumes look like they belong in a museum, everything is so beautiful, most scenes were a FEAST for my eyes ffs, everything looked so dreamlike especially when the energy between the two leads takes over. It’s like the entire world shrinks down to just the two of them, fighting, plotting, and yearning. Wu Jin Yan and Liu Xue Yi are pure fire on screen, their chemistry legit radiates more heat than that flame which killed 100k people.
Why 8.0?
SPOILER AHEAD – DON’T READ UNLESS YOU FINISHED THE SHOW
I think the last episode was just completely unnecessary. The novel this show is based on actually gives the characters a happy ending, so for the show to go the sad route just doesn’t make any sense to me. After all the build-up, all the intense character development and the way their love grows through betrayal, danger, and everything in between, the tragic ending feels like a slap in the face. They had so much potential as a couple and both Mei Lin and Murong Jing He deserved a real chance at happiness after everything they went through.
If the original source material had a tragic ending, maybe it would have felt fitting or necessary to stay true to that tone. But in this case, it’s not even how the novel ends. Choosing a heartbreaking finish here feels like a forced twist that adds unnecessary sadness to an already intense story. In the end I think its a letdown to deviate so far from the source material, especially when a happy ending would have felt so satisfying and earned after all they went through. I genuinely think this choice was more about shock value than good storytelling and it’s disappointing when you consider how well they handled the rest of the show. Instead of leaving me with a sense of closure, it leaves me asking, “Why did it have to end like this?”
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