Reviews

A True Unpolished Gem

This review addresses both the original and fan re-edited versions of this drama. As I'm sitting through my second pass of The Legends, I started an account because of how compelled I am to write a review now. If you had gripes with the ending, hear me out. There is more to it than what you might know.

The Legends, a.k.a Zhao Yao, is a beautifully touching story about how actions, not your birth status, determine true character. This is most prevalent when comparing Zhao Yao (the female lead) with Luo Ming Xuan (the male antagonist) but it's a recurring trait throughout almost all the characters found in The Legends.

There is no shortage of vast character growth, either. Many of the mains, such as Mo Qing, Zhao Yao, Luo Ming Xuan, Su Ruo, Zhi Yan and Cang Ling go through so much growth/change they are simply not the same people as who they start out as. This is good, because decent stories want you to witness progression. As a viewer, you are on this journey as much as they are and it's rewarding to perceive the slow changes. For other side characters, if they didn't completely change, many still underwent trials that grew them in little ways, such as the vigorous Shi Qi, Pavilion Master, Qin Qian Xian, wandering demon Jiang Wu and even Tower Master Shen Qian.

However, if you thought this drama's biggest strong point was character growth alone, you would be wrong. It's actually the chemistry. Hot dang!
The two leads and eventual lovers Zhao Yao and Mo Qing (Li Chen Lan) played by Bai Lu and Xu Kai pull off such a believable magnetism that it will draw you in, completely. Maybe it's two characters written as such perfect opposites they match like puzzle pieces, or maybe it's the natural and effortless chemistry the actors carry with each-other? Either way, Zhao Yao and Mo Qing are ever-endearing and lovable as heck. Which makes the drama's eventual ending so tragic. The more invested you are, the more that ending is going to hurt.

This brings me to my next point. If you read about or saw the last few episodes yourself then you might think everything concluded all happily. But you might also have been left scratching your head. Here's the deal.
The script was worked on by the same author as the web novel, Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. She originally envisioned a shorter drama, with a happy ending, not unlike the book. When asked for more episodes, she changed a bit of the plot for extension. This is why a lot of the filler, even though it was filler never felt out of place. But this new script was written, directed and acted with the aim for an ambiguously tragic ending instead. Then somewhere near the end the decision was made to switch it back to happy, but so late in production meant it would have to be at the expense of Episode 51-55 (or 56, depending), the climactic episodes, making any sense. These episodes were chopped up and re-arranged out of order to fabricate a "happy" ending. The result was more confusing then satisfying and at worst, now anti-climatic.

What do you do with such a drama? Well I was not willing to let that stand, especially when the episodes contained most of the needed events to uncover the true conclusion, they just needed to be put back in order.
So that is what I did, and after two weeks, I discovered that the original intended ending is far more touching and more beautiful than what actually aired. It turns out the author stated fact. It's indeed, 'ambiguously tragic' but that means it is left up to the audience to interpret the very last scene, and for all 'intensive porpoises" it's actually ambiguously hopeful, we just don't get to witness the aftermath.
I liked what I saw (after editing) a lot better. It was fulfilling and dare I say, a perfect fit for the tone of the drama. This is one of the few times I agree with the direction it planned on taking. I want a happy ending as much as the next shipper but I would never request it at the expense of the climax, nor simple comprehension for that matter.

Now that is out of the way, the whole ending fiasco should be a big indicator as to what this drama suffered from the most. It's the editing. It's actually more of a tragedy then the episode finale. It's such a shame because so much about The Legends knocked it out of the park.
Costumes were elegant and double-meaning. Music was impacting and emphasized key moments. Cinematography; gorgeous! Sets were very unique, especially Wan Lu Sect. As stated earlier, characters are likeable, well written, with plenty of growth and the chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu was just exceptional. Props to the actors who brought them to life because it wouldn't have been this good without their skill.
And yet, oh that editing. Why?
Earlier on you'll notice small oddities, such as audio spikes. Then, each episode starts a pattern of teaser sequences; scenes taken out of the timeline and played before the intro. Most times, you'll never see that scene again so you have watch, even if it's a spoiler but you'll probably won't immediately guess where it fits either. You might also be perceptive of scenes where the night filter was forgotten. Like when Zhao Yao appears during the day despite only having the ability to appear at night. Music will also sometimes overlap and play over transitioning tracks and often fade out clumsily, with episodes themselves ending very awkwardly in the middle of conversations. On top of all that, there is multiple cuts of The Legends and depending on what version you watch, some will even have cut content. Episode 37.....

All in all, the editing could have been handled a lot better. This drama did not deserve it, but if you can forgive it that, then you might walk away having a experienced a truly, albeit unpolished, gem of a Chinese Drama.
I will confess, I loved it more then Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. That might make me lose any credibility as a reviewer but it has to due with the important requirements I look for in every story I read or watch. Those three things being;
-a compelling story
-main characters I care about
-banging hot chemistry between the leading couple
Peach Blossoms is all three for most, but I found I loved the secondary couple of Dong Hua and Feng Jiu more then the main couple of Bai Qian and Ye Hua. That is why The Legends, funnily enough, became a bigger favorite. Though it has caused me a lot of grief to even reach that conclusion. Bai Lu and Xu Kai are a lot of what makes this drama work, and it seems they are some-what newbies to the acting business too. You can look forward to them again in Arsenal Military Academy!

If you are interested in the fan-edit cuts I made to episode 50-55 for The Legends, visit this drama's topic at Soompi forums and go to page 56.

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its a surprise for me too

a few hours ago I was really bored and I had a lot of free hours and lots of cramps so I was like I want something trashy to watch that has no real plot because I'm not in the mood for heavy stuff. so I opened up my regular website and I looked for something that looked and had the name of an unserious drama. so based of my intuition I thought this was the shitiest show ever.

7 hours later and I have just finished all episodes released and actually looking forward to the next!

despite the amount of toxicity and controversies in this one starting from cheating to non con sexual activities which was f up the actors excuted it really well. the acting was so good! one of the best especially mark and the chemistry is phenomenal I literally haven't seen that much chemistry before.

the worst thing about this is the controversial events there is a lot of scenes that made me feel guilty for actually liking their chemistry, the scene in the first episode was non consensual. most of their relationship at first was flirting and cheating so I find it weird that vee was so shocked at his gf but never talked about the fact that he cheated on her too.

anyway I actually found the show enjoyable and bingeworthy despite everything and I really really really and I repeat really liked the chemistry. some scenes I just found myself blushing with them because of the phenomenal energy they are emitting.

I'd recommend this if you don't have problem with angst, and controversies and like me you watch everything despite of how f up it is sometimes.

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Simple but adorable.

"About youth" is one of the dramas that after finishing we ask: "Is that all" ? "I want more..."
As many other people, when the drama first started being aired , I did not know about its existence. It appeared out of nowhere and maybe not revolutionised but brought something refreshing and calming to the bl drama world. What is great about "About youth" is that despite being simple and light it was manage to captivate important issues such as abusive parent's behaviour and its huge influence on a child. The chemstry between two leads was really natural and charming without many sophisticated romantic kisses, hugs and NC scenes there were lot of fluffy moments which made me blush when I obsereved how they become friends, brothers , lovers and the biggest supporters for each others. When it comes to the other couple I was not really invested in their story since it was quite typical but still adorable. The most fantastic element of this drama is its OST- I fell in love with the music and since I finished watching the drama I cannot stop humming: "I can't forget your face in slow motion.." Masterpiece !! Deffinitelly worth watching if you search for something light. This drama is so simple yet so endearing. I highly recommend :)

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Don't Get Mad, Get Even

When this drama first appeared on my radar, my initial thoughts were of Robert De Niro’s Taxi Driver. It turned out not too different and the themes definitely give off similar vibes for me. Although dark, violent and gritty, it is also ADDICTIVE, COMPELLING and POIGNANT. Taxi Driver is one of the year’s best and must-watch dramas.

The Story

Taxi Driver is based on the webtoon, The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin. It’s about a team of people who work together in running a deluxe taxi service, Rainbow Taxi company, that provides “additional services” which entails a mix of rescuing people, dishing out vengeance on deserving bad guys and delivering (street) justice - not necessarily in that order - for victims of (especially violent) crimes who have been so wronged, exploited, downtrodden and tormented to the point that they are ready to end their lives just to escape their tragic circumstances.

Every single member of team avengers carry their own chilling backstories - crimes committed against their loved ones where the perpetrators never truly received the punishment that they duly deserved, no thanks to the failings of the local police and judicial system. It is this tragic past that motivates the team to do what they do - seek justice for those who experience the same trauma that they themselves had gone through.

The drama features the general format of case-based procedurals presented in mini story arcs which run for 2 to 3 episodes. There isn’t any overarching plot or underlying conspiracy per se but the story does evolve in the final third where the direction of the team changes course significantly.

The Production

For a SBS production, I was surprised by both the production values and the raw grittiness being depicted. This is a quality drama which doesn’t skimp on budget. The action choreography of men and machines (including the number of vehicles destroyed in the process), set designs and props used, the various filming locations as well as the technical aspects of directing, cinematography and screenplay all contribute to making this drama a top-tier production.

At around the episode 11-mark, the screenwriter was changed due purportedly to creative differences with the producers. I’m not sure whether this is attributed to Lee Ji Hyun taking over from Oh Sang Ho or because the evolution of the story begins at this point, but the change in the overall tone of the drama is quite noticeable. Suffice to say, the amusement factor was no longer present because things became profoundly serious indeed heading into the finale.

The Main Cast & Characters

I have truly enjoyed Lee Je Hoon’s performance here, in what is his best work to date (I have yet to watch Move to Heaven where some viewers claim his portrayal is even better). I haven’t read the source material but I think it’s fair to say the story revolves around his character, hence the drama being titled Taxi Driver. Compared to his singular focus in Signal and bits of what I had seen in Where Stars Land, he gives us so many more different sides to his titular character of Kim Do Gi in this drama.

Think of Denzel Washington’s Equalizer, Liam Neeson’s Taken, Mel Gibson’s Mad Max and yes, even Robert De Niro’s Taxi Driver. Elements from each of these iconic characters all rolled into one irresistible combo. Perhaps his background as a former Special Forces operator has afforded him combat proficiency, coupled with extremely mad driving skills as well as an uncanny ability to blend into any given environment like a chameleon. In any case, what we end up with is Rainbow Taxi company’s employee of the month, every month! This man doesn’t just mete out physical punishment on the villains, he does so without them even realising before it's too late - via utterly convincing undercover and infiltration missions to search and destroy the target from within. Efficient, effective, lethal. Lee Je Hoo executed this portrayal to perfection. However, if there is any criticism of this character, personally for me it would have to be the logic-defying fight scenes when he alone takes on a whole horde of assailants. The plot armour for the ML is very apparent, amidst the very well choreographed sequences.

It’s my first time seeing Esom and truth be told, I’m quite impressed. Little wonder she’s been nominated for acting honours in the past because she exudes talent. For the most part, her character Kang Ha Na subtly projects determination that’s borne of stubbornness, and takes a while to warm up to (at around episode 12 for me) but that’s down to the way it’s written as part of the underscored tension between the prosecutors and our band of avengers. I appreciate her nuanced interpretation of the role and she pretty much showcased her impressive range by delivering those intense emotional scenes really well, it must be said.

Pyo Ye Jin plays my favourite character in the show, Ahn Go Eun. She steals the scene every time she appears on screen and I think that’s not only due to her immense charisma but also her characterization. There are several highly charged scenes particularly in the Udata story arc that enables her to fully flesh out her character, in addition to the rather charming but quirky role that she’s already assuming. She is definitely one to keep an eye out for, and I’ll be looking forward to her future projects eagerly.

Rounding off the main cast is Kim Eui Sung who plays the owner of Rainbow Taxi company, Jang Sung Chul. There’s not much else that can be said about this veteran award-winning actor that hasn’t been said before. Having seen him in Six Flying Dragons and Mr Sunshine, this man is the real deal and his portrayals are often flawless. He gives a very decent account of his role here, which is perhaps somewhat more subtle compared to his previous works.

The Side Characters & Guest Stars

It would be completely remiss of me not to highlight some of the insanely superb performances by the diverse cast of guest actors. Taxi Driver, for me, is made particularly compelling because of this eclectic ensemble. Without them, this show just wouldn’t be the same. I honestly believe it’s a combination of pure joy of acting and the ingenuity in the script that manifests in these “perversely entertaining” story arc characters.

Cha Ji Yeon as Baek Sung Mi certainly deserves a mention. This interesting yet complicated character oozes class, style and villainy in equal measure. It’s not often that we get female mobsters, especially a memorable one at that, in a K-drama. Her lieutenant, Goo Seok Tae who is played by Lee Ho Chul, looks like he came straight out of a Bond movie as the evil mastermind’s oversized bodyguard. This is one character that you will come to despise as the story develops, and for very good reasons too.

Tae Hang Ho plays the uber-violent jeotgal factory owner Park Joo Chan almost too convincingly. Out of so many fight scenes I’ve seen in dramaland, the ones involving him are frighteningly vicious and unforgiving. The top prize for the most disgusting villain (to me anyway) goes to Baek Hyun Jin’s Park Yang Jin. This vile sociopath may appear unbelievably exaggerated but make no mistake, the severity of his crimes and misconduct are pushing stratospheric levels.

The Themes

On the face of it, Taxi Driver is dark and violent. The first half in particular incorporated much black comedy as well. The crimes depicted are not for the faint hearted, with references to subsets of violence, notably sexual abuse, physical assaults, and exploitation. White collar crimes are represented in the form of fraudulent acts, voice phishing, and blackmail. Toxic corporate culture is also vividly portrayed. There are times that I personally find it hard to stomach some of the portrayals of suffering and trauma inflicted on the victims.

I think the most disturbing aspect for all the crimes featured is the fact that they are very real and are currently happening all around us. We may or may not be aware of their existence in our neighbourhood but it would be extremely naive to think otherwise. It’s an extremely visceral and realistic part of the world that we live in, and this drama truly shines the spotlight on all of such elements right before us.

On a more positive note, the depiction of camaraderie among our team of avengers is a joy to behold. Everyone has his or her own strengths, weaknesses and fears, and together they accomplish so much more than any of them individually could. They are each other’s pillar of support, both mentally and spiritually.

Music

There are 2 songs in particular that I really love, which were beautifully integrated into the drama. Pyo Ye Jin’s rendition of the soulful jazz piece, A Walk, which plays during one of her more poignant moments where she stares pensively into the distance from the backseat of the taxi. Kwak Jin Eon’s A Gloomy Letter hauntingly evokes a profound sense of deep sorrow through his richly layered vocals in his slow ballad. Maybe I’m just drawn to evocative and sad songs…

Anyway, full OST listing as follows:

1. YB – SILENCE
2. Kwak Jin Eon – A Gloomy Letter
3. Pyo Ye Jin – A Walk
4. Cha Ji Yeon – All Day
5. Simon Dominic – RUN AWAY
6. Sanha – Moon Light

Overall

Taxi Driver is arguably compelling and essential viewing. As dark as its themes may be, I honestly believe viewers can glean a thing or two potentially life saving survival skills from this drama. This deluxe taxi service might be fictional, but the crimes depicted do not get any more real that what is seen here. I find myself rooting for the team to wreak vengeance upon these truly horrible evildoers during every episode. Although deep down I know it’s probably morally and ethically wrong, I can’t help feeling a deep sense of pleasure and gratification from the street justice being dispensed. Long story short, watching this drama will evoke many emotions and feelings, with nary a moment of boredom. And the best part? I absolutely love the perfect ending.

Fun Facts:
1. The model of car used as the deluxe taxi is the 1996 Hyundai Dynasty.
2. The deluxe taxi faces off against the dreaded White Truck of Doom and “history was created” in that scene.

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Ryan Ding was the best part of the drama, Screenwriter's love of Incel Stalkers--terrible.

I figured someone may want a more balanced review that isn't, "This is all crap" and "this is the best ever" First I have to establish that I go mostly by talent of the actors/crew. I don't really do the whole mooning over actors thing. Not my jam. I don't automatically upvote a drama because the actor is "hot" or whatever. I go by how the drama is or isn't. I go by if the art is good or bad.

For those of you that are planning on reading the book, read the book second and watch the drama first. The drama first is OK and regular and kind of middle of the road. The book is excellent, though lacking in details, so you should be helped by doing it in this order. I should warn that the second half of the drama is nothing like the book.

For comparison, this drama is better than Longest Promise which had some of the worst writing I've witnessed in a drama. This drama, though suffers mostly from an unconfident writer who isn't sure how to do anything from the book.

If you are going to watch the drama, you're likely watching fro Ding Yuxi and the production values.

The best lifetimes are in order (for the drama):
The animal lifetime (Hilarious and voiced very well)
The Demon lifetime (mostly for Ryan Ding living the role--and changing his mannerisms in every single way playing it).
The Sect lifetime Almost 1 for 1, but then went off the rails a bit towards the end.
The flashback couple lifetime (Cang hai)
Prime Minister's daughter
Princess/General This was cut in half from the original, so didn't have the gravitas, but I understand they had to cut it likely because of censorship.

The character I hated the most was Xiu Ming. I hated his ending too, especially since he's split off from the original character who was a stalker in the book. He literally stalked the female main character across lifetimes. *Stop redeeming stalker characters~~* And yes, I can fight you on this. When someone is trying to "rescue" you without your consent, and follow after you for *lifetimes* then yeah, that's called stalking.

I mostly skipped (10 second skip) through the whole banished clan thing--it didn't belong in the drama and I lost about nothing. The acting wasn't that great to begin with. And I didn't care that much about the Zihui storyline at all, which felt disjointed from the rest of the drama anyway.

In order the best parts of the drama:
1. Ding Yuxi

-hands down the best part of the drama. The director let him do *mostly* what he wanted, though there were a few times I felt like he was limited by the director. *ahh* Ding Yuxi playing mischievous is something I really like because it's in his wheelhouse--but the director cut him off? I said this consistently since the beginning. If you want to watch the drama only for him, it's not a bad pick.

2. Production values: These are the costumes, music, CGI. The CGI was the best in Heavenly realm. I'm guessing the writer had to set more things in the heavenly realm to save on costs. I'm not against that. (Costs more to rent a space than build a set sometimes) That said, I wouldn't have minded if they saved on production costs and gotten better actors. The production team went all out. The only person that probably should have paid attention more is the sound guy. He missed a few sounds he should have put in. I feel like they couldn't pay all the actors all the way through due to the production values being high.

3. Red Thread Master and Yang Chaoyue

Contrary to popular belief, Yang Chaoyue was better in the second half of the drama. I thought she wasn't that good at the beginning, but she grew into the character more. Slight downgrade for the whining bits, but I think that's more down to writing and directing choices, than personal choices. I also, really liked the choices of the Red Thread Master, which surprised me. The dynamic between the two acors felt more natural. She definitely picked up a few things during the course of the drama and became less stiff and emotionless. It's not top of the line such that Yang Chaoyue was pushing Ryan Ding, but it wasn't terrible either. If you want to see actresses that pushed Ryan Ding, then there is Romance of the Tiger and Rose. And I'd also say Moonlight with Esther Yu--who also pushed him quite a bit. While she wasn't terrible ^^ I still would have chosen a top line actress and sacrificed some of the production values like the 3D printing of crowns to try to get a better actress as lead. Guan Xiao Tong would have been my natural pick since she can play the range.

4. Director. Some of the blocking was off, particularly on Ryan Ding--I don't blame Ryan Ding for this--that's on the director's head to run through the scene and let the actors play it out a few times. And a few directing choices I disliked entirely, though these are minor.

5. The writing. The writing was meh for me--I mean if you take it separate from the book it's running 3-4. It's really, really creepy that the screenwriter wants *so hard* to redeem incel stalkers this much. I mean, WTF. Trying so hard to redeem incel stalker from the book, and then try to redeem them in the drama, but no one wants that. What I felt from the screenwriter throughout was that they were constrained a bit by budget, but also they lacked confidence to make the bolder decisions. For that reason the drama feels like a fanficiton version of the book rather than an improvement. This isn't to slam fan fiction, BTW, but to say, it feels more copying cookie cutter. And BTW, I'm not one of those, the book is always better. I go wherever the story is best.

6. The Nepotism adds

Occasionally, in order to make a production, the financing asks that you add characters--there were quite a few and a few characters that should never been downgraded were downgraded for the drama. Usually in regular production, adding characters means more budget. The only exception is nepotism adds where there is a contingency. This is why I think a few of the actors who were added, but not in the book were solely added for budget reasons, not storyline reasons. Zihui should not have been split into Xiu Ming and Zihui. This by far, weighed down the drama and you didn't get the tighter plotting that the book had. The whole of the Muluo tribe--Uhhgghhh no. OK, the demon bit was good. But still.

BTW, I still want to yeet Xiu Ming off this drama.

BTW, I'd so watch a movie version that actually followed the novel more 1 for 1.

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highly recommended BL to someone who wants to start BLs

Why I love bad buddy


People talk about red flags
I have a green flag
His name is pat
He's greener than ever
He's the ocean and the forest
He's the world
He's everyone's ideal
He's my ideal
There you go
I found my ideal type





This show really brings out emotions that I have never really felt
Ohm and Nannon have done such a splendid job. The acting was on point. The music score was on point. This show didn't lack anything. It has become my comfort drama.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA

Each episode brings some kind of nuance that we don't expect. we see rivalry, small fights, brawls and then they go full emotional. Nannon being so expressive with just his eyes was something that drew me in this BL. But then it was ohm that made me stay. he played pat to perfection. He transcends all the toxic male leads nonsense and knows the importance of communication. He just goes on and literally demands a spill of emotions. He's the character I love. This show made me fall in complete love with both of them. Nannon's first BL being the best it could ever be. and I am just so glad that he did it with ohm.

If you still didn't get the gist, GO WATCH NOW

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So, what have I just watched?
In a nutshell, a saeguk for kids. Take a Disney film, split it into several episodes, dress the characters in hanboks and you have this drama. It mimics The Moon embracing the Sun - without ever nearing its intriguing plot or romance - in almost every aspect except for the detail of a girl dressed as a man despite the fact that she could never in a trillion years be mistaken for a man. To keep the parallel, we could say this is a fluffy rom-com dressed up as a Saeguk.

The romance is so cheesy I welcomed the politics with a sigh of relief. Everything happens too soon and... too much, depriving my otherwise romantic heart of the needed suspense and, yes, what I consider a must for romance: trepidation. I can't say I am an expert in historical dramas, but the little I know is that almost everything the two main characters do and say here is totally implausible: stroll hand in hand in the palace courts without anyone seeing them? Right. This is just one example out of dozens unlikely - no, impossible - situations. Unlike other reviewers here, I believe the second half of this drama to be a lot better than the first, with at least some plot developments, albeit rushed, at times.

The real saving grace of the show is Park Bo Goum. He clearly is talented and a pleasure to watch. His character is too good to be true, but well played out and multifaceted. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed in Kim Yoo Jung's performance. I know she's very young and has a lot of potential, but she didn't manage to make me feel a thing. By some camera angles, it was clear she wasn't looking at her partner when supposed to do so, and the result was kind of ridiculous. Her character is neither particularly brave, nor very strong or intelligent, so what's left in the end is a super nice crown prince who falls madly in love with a sweet pretty thing because she's a sweet pretty thing. I even came to prefer the appointed crown princess, she was refreshingly spunky.

The music is a collection of pop songs fit for everything and nothing. See above for the age target.

In conclusion, this drama had some real potential, even when the plot twists are predictable, but the final package is fluffy at best. Can be marathoned through for an overdose of lovey-dovey chirping.

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I've seen all the previous Japanese Liar Game seasons (and movies), and really enjoyed them all, so I was particularly excited when I found out that there was going to be a Kdrama remake.

The thing is...this isn't so much of a remake as it is "loosely" based upon the Japanese Liar Game world. With that being said, for viewers who have seen the Jdrama I would advise you to keep that in mind (I was a bit frustrated towards the end). For those of you who haven't don't worry.

Putting this aside however, Liar Game was surprisingly riveting. I was beyond impressed with the three main actors, especially Shin Sung Rok, who plays Do Young the host.

Story: The story was decent. It was straightforward in the beginning, but as time wore on revealed that nothing was quite as simple as we had all thought. I was actually pretty excited about this, the mystery added to the allure of the show and games. I do feel like the ending lacked...a bit of a punch. It was definitely good, but not up to par with how the drama had been in the episodes leading up.

Acting: This was BY FAR the strongest aspect of the drama. Shin Sung Rok was unbelievable in his role as the mysterious host, and our other two main leads were excellent in their own rights. Kim So Eun played her character as believably naive and trusting, which I was beyond grateful for (the Jdrama, as much as I liked it, had me bashing my head sometimes in frustration). Her character development was gradual, but believable, and ended on a great note.

Music: Suspenseful at the right times, and light hearted all the other times. This drama didn't try to have an OST with standout songs (I'm looking at you Almost Paradise), which would have detracted from the story.

Rewatch Value: I'm not one for re-watching dramas, but if I were to this would definitely be at the top of my list!

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I was very excited for this drama because the plot sounded interesting and intriguing. Three sisters getting into political grounds, attaining power, how great does that sound?

The drama did not really live up to my expectations; however, i believe that it was worth watching. The legend of Dugu is about three sisters. Out of the three, two of them (Dugu Ban Rou and Dugu Man Tuo) both treasure power and entitlements, while the young sister (Dugu Jia Lou) desires peace and happiness. From my point of view, this drama did not have much to do with politics. It’s more based on the sister’s romantic relationships and how all three of them become successful in their own way (only Dugu Ban Ruo and Dugu Jialou became actual queens).

The casting could have been better, Ady An was the only person who left a great impression on me. Her acting is phenomenal and perfect. Her chemistry with Jeremy Tsui and Zhou Ting Wei was so much more heart warming than Hu Bing Qing and Zhang Andy’s. Honestly, Hu Bing Qing and Zhang Andy had no chemistry at all! Their relationship was not delivering to the point where i shipped her with Ying Jun. This lead me to skipped through all of their ‘romantic’ parts. Another big problem with this drama was Dugu Man Tuo. She is extremely annoying and irritating. Dugu Man Tuo is always trying to strive herself into power, no matter what it takes, including sacrificing her dignity. She neglects people’s encouragements, telling her to stop being evil and even tries to steal both her sister’s significant other. However, she provides the story with a climax, no matter how provoking her character is. I believe it’s both the script and actress which made the character, Dugu Man Tuo, flawed. Also, Yang Jian (Zhang Andy) was so stupid and annoying in thw first half of the drama, he believes EVERYTHING Dugu Man Tuo says his actions were ao idiotic. However, in the later half, he becomes a more decent human being and learns to love Jialou. Another problem with this drama was the amount of people who died! LIKE WTH!!! To prevent myself from spilling spoilers, i won’t mention those who passed away in this drama, but some deaths may include your favourite characters (isnt that great)! So, out of all actors and actresses, my favourites were Ady An, Jeremy Tsui (his love for Ban Ruo was unconditional, even i could feel it), thats about it.

The soundtracks in this drama were fantastic and i was not really irritated by any sort of music displacement (which we all know happens a lot in cdramas). HOWEVER, whenever there is a ceremony or celebration in the palace, it is inevitable for some sort of dancing crew. I am perfectly fine with that, BUT the same instrumental song is ALWAYS being played, IT GETS SO IRRITATING WHICH MAKES ME ROLL MY EYES EVERYTIME.

Overall, as a person who never completes dramas myself, i am actually surprised that i managed to finish this drama (i did a skip through some repetitive and uninteresting parts though). I can almost say that this drama is my cup of tea. Its not anything special and never seen before, but it does have its own magic. I truly do love this drama and it left a very great impression on me. I would highly recommend people to watch it (i am aware that there are no English subtitles, but definitely give it a try when there are).

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Do you like cute dramas with... interesting characters, good-looking casts, and a typical yet sweet execution? Well, Heroine Disqualified might just be for you!

JapaneseDrama (over on Tumblr) was raving about this drama a few months ago so I decided to ditch my piles of homework and check it out. I didn't know too much going into it, but i was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I had pretty high expectations, but it was still a cute drama. The story was very very very typical, yet i still found myself on the edge of my seat, anticipating what's to come. The acting and characters are probably what won me over. Our protagonist was perfect! She's relatable, funny (facial expressions on point!) and all too kawaii. The SLS is very very intense in this one as well, and our second female lead was interesting and different. I COULD NOT STAND OUR MALE LEAD THOUGH. He was bland yet somehow super frustrating and confusing. I could go on and on ranting about him but i don't think he's worth the time. Though props on the cinematography.

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had potential but was really rushed

This BL series had so much potential tbh. I have not seen the webtoon yet so this is like my first time watching this and didn't know what to expect. It started off strong but felt flat as it progress. The plot was really rushed. Like I didn't even know when did Lee Da Yeol felt that archery was exhausting to him and he wanted to quit it. It felt out of the blue when he said he wanted to quit it or when Jo Tae Hyun felt disgusted of Lee Da Yeol in one scene and in the next scene he is running to him making up the most bizzare excuse which I have ever heard. Like it was so ridiculous that I wanted to punch him for sprouting that nonsense. Also I didn't like how Lee Da Yeol forgave him so easily. Like the time said it was two years but it felt like 2 months. Like making the girl who was so irrelevant the bridge in their love again out of the blue and with the excuse of being drunk that Lee Da Yeol was crying for Jo Tae Hyun like that was so stupid. like it was two years. If it was two month I would understand and again he forgave him so easily, like after what he did begging,crying and pleading would have been the minimum what he could have done and finally toward the end, it was just lackluster. I don't even know what the point of that was. Idk if they have just started dating which I don't think they are but they were acting like 5 year old who were out in a first date. Too much being shy and being a tsundere and teasing. Finally the thing I fucking hate about every BL series is the teasing of a kiss. I am fine with not getting a kiss at all but teasing it is what really push my buttons and they gave us finally with an ear kiss lmao which I didn't even think the lips were even touching the ear lmao. Don't do this. If you are not going to give us a kiss then don't half-ass it. A tight hug while sleeping would have been 10 times better than this. Like I said the plot was really rushed. It didn't give time at all for us to be in dept with the characters. I feel like it could have been better with 10 episodes with 40 min each. The actors did well ig. There was chemistry and they did the characters justice and the ost was nice. Overall it was kinda disappointing but it was cute I guess.

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The first season of The Quiz Show is often underestimated. Maybe it is connected to the relativly nameless star Katagiri Jin?

The story is really exciting and highly psychological. The chasing for dreams forces the candidates to open their mind reflecting about all their mistakes in life. This is often highly thrilling.
Meanwhile the main story develops and is solved in a fantastic final with a not forseeable conclusion.
Katagiri Jin does a great job because you allways feel that there is something hidden deep inside his character which will hurt everybody.
I am a rock fan so I was really surprised by the opening song which can be categorized as metal which is not typical for dorama is think!

The episodes are round about 20-25 minutes long so you can finish the whole dorama in a short time. This is also an argument for my high rewatching score!

Finally I can only say that it is not fair if you skip this season just watching the second with Sakurai Sho, because it is really good and it creates the base for the continuation.

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Steamy Fun, Zero Plot, All Chemistry!

Wow 😳 First time I’ve seen a BL series with intense NC in every episode. Honestly, the creativity every week had me eagerly waiting for the next drop! 🔥 Who doesn’t love a little heat mixed with their drama? 😏

What plot? 😂 After 12 weeks, we still don’t even know what the characters actually do at the office. Are they working, or are they just... distracted by their growing feelings? 😂 Just a bunch of horny workers navigating their emotions, and honestly, I’m here for it. Sometimes you don’t need a deep plot to enjoy something—this series is so silly in the best way. I laughed and cringed at the same time, loving every moment. 🙌

The dynamic between Jun (the mischievous intern) and Sorn (the serious, no-nonsense guy) is pure chaos in the best way. Jun’s pranks? Iconic. Sorn’s reactions? Hilarious. The slow-burn tension between them? Unbeatable. 💖

Episode 1 - The outdoor handjob scene in the first episode? So intense and full of chemistry—it was a perfect start to a wild ride. 😳🔥

Episode 2 - first ten minutes blew everything out of the water — the heat was absolutely palpable. Jun sliding onto Sorn’s lap, the teasing lip kiss, the slow-burning music, and the pink and purple haze created a scene dripping with seduction. It delivered one of the most electrifying and provocative kisses I’ve seen in a long time. Jun’s innocent belief that Sorn was merely “teaching” him how to kiss made the moment even more sinful, especially with Sorn savoring every second with unmistakable hunger. The first ten minutes of Episode 2 didn’t just maintain the tension — it turned it into a smoldering fire. The plot might be wild and utterly ridiculous, but honestly, I’m completely addicted.

Episode 6 - After watching Episode 6, one thing’s clear: Jun is not innocent. At all. 😈
First, the couch scene — he could’ve sat anywhere, yet he deliberately chose to sit right in front of Sorn, between his legs. The tension? Palpable. That wasn’t just casual — that was silent seduction. 🛋👀
Second, the infamous banana car scene 🍌🚗 —
These were his actual lines:

Jun:
“Want my banana?”
“It’s a big one though.” 😏
“Perfect in my hand.”
“Big, juicy bite.” 👅

Then, without missing a beat, he peels the banana slowly… locks eyes with Sorn… and takes a long, deliberate bite. 🔥

Sorn:
“Can’t you eat like a normal person?” 😵‍💫
Let’s be honest — Jun knows exactly what he’s doing.
He’s not innocent — he’s dangerously seductive, and he’s loving every second of it.

Will it win awards for intricate storytelling? Probably not. But did it give me 12 weeks of pure entertainment and laughs? Absolutely! And I will always come back here to re watch all the NC scenes.

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A reality check

All I would like to say is WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING. I try to avoid sad endings like the plague and this one was exactly that. Oh gosh how much episode 9 and 10 broke me is beyond words. You can't convince me stuff like " This was an open ending" when in reality, it clearly wasn't. Let me tell you exactly why.

1) The author's note in the end saying "To all those spring flowers in the world, although I couldn't achieve it, I hope your lives wont be like mine". Which is a direct way of saying to the viewers she didn't get her happy ending with the ML in the Joseon era.

2) She fell in love with the 2nd ml in the modern era and took his number. However, when she bumped into the ml from the Joseon era, she ignored him like a stranger and there was no more talking points between them which indicates a closing chapter of her with the ml in the joseon era and the modern era.

If were talking about f**ed up ending, this drama takes the cake. This is like scarlet heart ryeo 2.0.

In conclusion, I genuinely didn't expect this drama to take such a deep turn and to actually have plot considering the first couple of episodes were silly and hilarious and awkward in a more intimate sensual way but wow was I shocked when plot was introduced around episode 5.

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