Reviews

Admittedly, I only stated watching this drama because of Yoon Eun Hye's main role. For those who are her fan, this drama displays a "fresh" new role for her as a princess-type-brat; worthy of seeing as she plays it very well. As for the chemistry between the main couple- I'll confess it was lacking, however, the storyline made up for it as it was a surprisingly easy drama to get through. The comedy in the drama left no room for any dry bits and the overall story came across as very touching. Ironically summarized, the drama is about growing up and gaining independence through unexpected love. What I really enjoyed about this drama was the selfless love it seemed to portray from many angles, I recommend you give it a shot.

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1-The reason i watched this : yes, I watched it because of Matsumoto Jun, I wouldn't even gave it a try if it was another lead male.

2-Storyline/Cast : The main story here was about the love relationship between a single old mother and a second generation young actor; there were age problems, his failing career, family, friends.
I would've liked it better if they focused more on his acting career as much as they focused on family problems.
In general, the story was acceptable (considering the fact that I dislike old woman-young man relationships).

3-Acting/Cast : Like I said earlier it's Matsumoto Jun is the main reason that made this drama watchable. On the other hand, I really respect Takeuchi Yuko as an actress (I believe she's one of the greatest Japanese actors) but here there wasn't much chemistry between her and Jun here although I liked her character portrayal.
The believable acting is a strength point that counts for this drama.

4-Music : I still remember it and sing it sometimes. I rarely remember any drama's music but "Please Stay whith me" was extremly great.

5-Rewatch value : No it's not rewatchable. If you liked it from the first time you will ruin the story for yourself if you rewatch it.

6-The ending : It was an acceptable ending but it wasn't any special.

7-Overall : Anything Matsumoto Jun touches turns to gold that's what i've been thinking while watching this drama nothing more.

P.S : if you are not Matsumoto Jun's fan then I would really advice you to stay away from this drama.

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Not as bad as Squid Game but still... unnecessary

It was good, the cast, the acting, the games. But did we need this 3rd season? Absolutely not.

Everything just felt so forced. I think Usagi just needed therapy, I don't really get why she thought that going back to the games would let her meet her father, like girl, he's long dead, what were you expecting to see there? My dad is dead too but I wouldn't go back to those games just to see him or whatever, like it doesn't make sense. Girl suddenly trusted this random ahh man that she met once and suddenly they're fighting life and death together like what lmao. I really did not understand her reason for going back to play the games, even ended up risking her own life, her baby's life, and her husband's life. It felt so forced, like please, you need therapy and more communication with your husband. I lost it when she reunited with Arisu and she was like "I wanted to see you!" and I'm like girl you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place if you didn't go back here.

It's also forced that this citizen wants Arisu as a citizen in Borderland too, like bro was literally just a couch potato before he got to Borderland, it's not like he's the only one who survived the games. I don't really get the point of Borderland Jesus either, like ok he explained that this place exists between life and death but it's not like we didn't know that already? It's just so confusing.

The other players were good characters, but I didn't feel as much emotional attachment as the ones in S1 and S2. The acting and CGI was amazing as always, I guess that's the only good thing in this season. I would've been happy if they just inserted a small scene in the last ep. of S2 with their new lives, like literally the last part of S3 with Arisu and Usagi happily married and with Arisu talking to everyone at the end.

Anyway, I don't even wanna talk about that America bit in the last ep., main character syndrome country fr when will Netflix learn that not everything needs an American spinoff.

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Breathtaking!! Truly amazing.. each episode leaves you speechless!
When you think you've figured out how it works, the cards are mixed again, the allies stab you from behind and in the true sense of the word!

The drama has an intricate plot with equally complex characters, each one of them divided between good and evil..
It's full of action, corruption, betrayal and suspense but this is not all.. even in an environment where you can't trust anyone, there's someone who is still willing to risk or even sacrifice his life for another person..

The romance isn't the focal point, but it was of great importance to complete the plot.. Shi Hyun and Soo Min had an incredible chemistry.. they had an impossible but really passionate and breathtaking relationship!!

About the cast.. Jung Kyung Ho has shone with an intense and utterly believable acting.. he has made a complete change from the past projects.. after light characters which were closer to his personality, I would have not expected this dense and intense acting with excellent action scenes!! Thanks to him, Jung Shi Hyun's character has been totally captivating!

I loved the OST, especially "Hurt" by Kim Yong Jin

Ps: Gun wounds that heal over night? it's possible if you use Pororo's plasters!! XD

Pps: sorry for my English

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It's been a while

SPOILER FREE
Everyone can appreciate some aspects of this drama, like the acting or the OST, but plot-wise this is not a drama for everyone. Beyond Evil is a character-driven drama, that some may find slow paced. Anyone who likes multilayered and morally gray characters will appreciate it. The acting (especially from the two main leads) is probably one of the best I have seen.

SPOILERS
It's been a while since I saw such an intriguing series. Was it perfect without even a single flaw? No. However the flaws were minor, so I didn't really care about them.

Beyond Evil is a gripping drama from the beginning. There are not enough words to express how much I loved watching this series. The plot is very well written and the characters are so interesting and complex. The acting is outstanding. Shin Ha Kyun delivered one of the best performances I have ever seen. He is an amazing actor, and Yeo Jin Goo was such a great choice to play Han Joo Won. I don't know who thought of putting Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo together in a series, but whoever did, thank you very much! This series would definitely not be the same without this great cast and the phenomenal chemistry of the two main leads.

Generally, I don't pay too much attention to the directing, since most of the times it is good or at least decent. Nonetheless, it was impossible not to notice the great directing of this series. I loved how it was like seeing the POV of another character and it led the viewers to certain assumptions to distract them from the truth. The color tones were all so dark yet not too dark, which made the series even more appealing and disturbing (especially in the first episodes). The OST fits the series in an unimaginably good way.

Did this get draggy, tiring or just not as good comparing to the first half? Kind of, but it was inevitable. This isn't a series that reveals everything on the last episode, so of course every single clue added a piece to the puzzle and when things started getting clearer it was natural for the series to not be as mysterious as it was in the first episodes.

What I really loved, is the fact that everything was revealed slowly but surely and we didn't wait till the last episode to find out who the killer is.

I loved how Beyond Evil tackled many issues like the stigma that follows a falsely accused person or the pain that people who are left behind are going through.

Am I being objective giving this series a prefect 10? Probably not, but reviews are not objective anyways and this is a series that I will remember for quite a long time, so why not?

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Romance I didn't know I was looking for but cupid's arrow hits the mark! Love finally scouted!

Love Scout offered a refreshing take on the typical and traditional office romance tropes by flipping the power dynamics. In a clever role reversal, the FL Kang Ji Yun is a strong and authoritative CEO while the ML takes the role of a compassionate and attentive secretary who can almost do everything, efficiently and in the best-organised manner.
This power shift brought a fresh vibe, letting both the characters grow and be seen uniquely.

Kang JiYun plays the role of CEO of Career Way who has a tough exterior but she isn't mannerless or an airhead. She is a confident and assertive woman, who always backs her decisions with logic. While she approaches most situations with a rational mindset, she knows when to incorporate emotions, using them thoughtfully when the moment calls for it.

Yoo Eun Ho in my eyes was the definition of a perfect male lead - organised, reliable and just an absolute green flag.
His organization skills honestly blew me away like, I need to take notes from him in real life.

Beyond his impressive work ethic, Eun Ho was also an incredibly supportive and loving father. His relationship with his daughter, Byeol was nothing short of heartwarming and adorable, making their moments together so touching to watch. He is also that guy who is always there for everyone, literally in the right place at the right time, ready to help whenever, a true people's man indeed.

They were the kind of couple that got each other, with a level of maturity that made handling disagreements look easy. They knew how to communicate and work through things without drama and navigated conflicts with effortless grace.
But when it came to their love story, they were completely unguarded, like teenagers discovering it for the first time. They’d send each other cute texts and pull all-nighters on the phone talking to each other, sneak quiet smiles across the hall and laugh over the smallest things that only they found funny. Their relationship looked effortless and natural, comfortable yet full of that youthful energy, where even the simplest moment felt special.

I really appreciated how they handled the family dynamics, highlighting how family comes first. It was nice to see ML taking into account his daughter's health showing his care and support. However, I do wish we had more of the father-daughter bonding moments. While I understand this was a rom-com with romance being the main focus and we needed the plot to move forward, a little more screen time for their relationship could have added extra depth to his almost perfect ML character and to the overall story.
The drama also subtly touches on the topic of work-life balance. While it doesn't really dive deep into this aspect, I was glad it was at least brought up in a career-driven narrative. Also, I don't think we needed a childhood connection because the drama had such a strong plot! But at least it wasn't overdone.

The second couple were kind and good-hearted individuals, but their connection appeared more like a friendship built on shared experiences rather than a romantic relationship. Their screen time was limited, which made their bond less convincing.
Also, I felt antagonists were pretty weak but the romance was enough for me to excuse the flaws.

Since the final episode aired today, here are a few romantic ideas for Valentine's Day (For those who need it! Approved by Oppa with a 100% success rate) :
✨ Help them organize their desk or home office, so they can finally find some peace and you can get some peace too. Remember organizing is basically the ultimate life hack, it heals souls plus makes you look like a total hero. Also, who wouldn’t be impressed by someone who can fold a shirt, put labels on folders AND get their life together?
✨ Take a drive around the city if you catch the other person peacefully sleeping because we wouldn't dare interrupt their beauty sleep!
✨ Go to your local convenience store and grab some ready-to-eat spicy noodles while it’s raining outside.
Cozy, spicy, and a little dramatic - perfect combo !!
✨ Plan a basketball date if the other is feeling down but don't forget to go easy for the rest of the games you play together ever!
Remember the goal is not to win but to eat ice cream together at the end, laughing!
✨ On Friday night (or accidental date night) Chef it up in your kitchen and whip up a gourmet feast for your special someone. And just to flex your generosity and love, let them have the last bite!
✨ If they fall asleep and start having nightmares, don’t freak out—just hold their hand like the ultimate sleep protector and let them dream it out. (Lmao buy yourself a back massager because you will need it the next day xD)
✨ If they can’t remember which car is theirs, be the hero and suggest adding some fun stickers to help them spot it easily. Get bonus points for being a problem solver!

The OSTs were beautiful and I would definitely listen and revisit them later. "Test Me" by Paul Blanco was my favourite!

Overall, it was such a breezy romance, with the leads showing a certain level of maturity. Their chemistry was subtle yet genuine and the lack of unnecessary drama made it a very enjoyable watch. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a heartwarming, uncomplicated love story.

Thank you for reading my review! And very happy valenties's day! ♡

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I must admit that I may not be part of the target audience for this drama, but I'll explain why I gave "Love Alarm" this rating.

I freaking love Kim So Hyun (Jojo), so a new drama staring her as the main role again = I was super hyped. The only reason the "Acting/Cast section of the rating is not a 10 is because I really did not like the main Guy ( Song Kang ).
I dont know for real, how he approached Kim Jojo was really creepy in my opinion and not romantic what so ever.
The moral values are very superficial. The app can detect how in love people are, but every time they explain why the alarm rings, the reason is always the same, It's either "she/he is so pretty" or "idk man I cant control it whatever bruh it wont change"
The first episode is a bit silly, and it's okay but the only thing that motivated me to watch episode 2 is my completionnist instinct. The concept could've been even more interesting. I had hopes when the main couple broke up and Hye young was like "I want to try to do things the old fashion way" when him an Jojo were talking at the Library.
Sike ! One episode later he downloads the app again and they all depend on it . ( even if the momment when he turns arround her on his bike to ring the alarm over and over again was cute, I admit.)

The music is okay, not wow, but if you wacth 8 episodes of a drama and dont know the songs by hearth at the end, for me, it's a good thing.

But the main reason I did not like it that much is because it was presented as a "love triangle story", but it was really disapointing. Jojo and Hwang Sun Oh love each other pretty much for the whole time (except for the shield incident at the end) and Lee Hye Young, as much as I like him, did not have a big impact. Nothing happens in this "triangle" except for the end when they hang out as friends. So if you like dramas where the main couple live happily then break up out of the blue for plot purpose, good news.

To end on a good note it's still cool seing Kim So Hyun acting and here are some personnal suggestions, enjoy :

- A nice "love triangle" drama: Dream High
- A nice "cute couple" drama: Fight for my way

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Entertaining c-drama with plenty of light-hearted moments

I bumped into this fantasy/wuxia c-drama by accident. Not a fan of Xiao Zhan and hence, have not been anticipating this drama despite all the publicities and hoopla. But the first 2 episodes got me hooked on, and I have been following the series daily. What is so great about this drama that I spent slightly over an hour every day watching 2 newly released episodes? If you go by Douban’s rating score of 6.2 from 700K viewers, then this series is nothing but an average fantasy costume drama production. However, there is a significance of over 700 reviews. It means that this is a popular series with a serious and loyal fanbase from the novel, manga, computer game and anime. Considering Xiao Zhan’s ever growing hardcore fans, you have plenty of interests that kept this c-drama on top of the chart throughout its airing during Chinese Lunar New Year.

The first thing that I checked on any costume c-drama is the storyline. Most of the time, the storyline is so crappy that you would think the screenwriters are some of the stupidest people within the television industry. The storyline here is your typical fantasy wuxia where the main protagonist started as a lame duck and transformed himself into an expert fighter/soul master through cultivation/levelling up throughout his adventure. The positive news here is that there is no overemphasis or overdependence on Xiao Zhan and Wu Xuanyi, as the other 5 members of the Shrek Team and the 2/3 teachers get their share of airtime too. This is a plus point because what makes some storylines unbearable is when you see the ML and FL dominates the scenes. Another great news is that romance is not given much emphasis in this series. You don’t have storyline where ML and FL would fall in love, got into some disagreement and separated, fall in love again, separated again, etc.

Another good thing is that there is not much fake studio setting. Where possible, the production team finds real bushes or secondary forests especially for scenes involving hunting of soul beasts. Okay, there were occasionally fake studio setting like in Ep 23 and 24 when the Seven Devils were fighting Fiend battle team in Xi Si City. I can’t understand the need for those mushroom-like structures in the fighting scenes, but they were not particularly hideous.

Tang San/Xiao Zhan is adorable but his character is very much Mary-Sue like. Brave, charming, handsome, righteous, honest, etc with tragic past and revenge mission. The female lead however tries too hard to be cute. Wu Xuanyi/Xiao Wu introduction in Ep 2 as she entered Nuoding Acadamy was so bad, it reeks of overacting. Granted her performances improves as the series progresses but she tries too hard to be cute in some of the scenes. When she acts normally, it looks more natural. Her acting will improve as gets into more drama, and she could be as popular as her “Rocket Girls 101” co-member, Yang Chaoyue, who is now ranked as a Forbes Top-100 Celebrity in China given the right dramas and movies. I don’t like Ou Si Ke’s character – too talkative and his penchant for writing during inopportune time like when they are about to fight left me baffled and confused.

There were numerous light-hearted moments that make this series enjoyable. I love watching Xiao Wu trying repeatedly to kiss Tang San but failed to do so; or DuGu Yan playfulness in claiming Tang San as her husband; or DuGu Bo eccentric humor and quirky common-sense; or Xiao Wu lack of understanding of male/female relationship, or Ms Liu obsession with Tang San’s sifu, etc. Too many instances to list them out but they make this series worth re-watching, albeit on selected episodes. The chemistry between Tang San and Xiao Wu is evident for all to see, because I believe, Xiao Wu’s happy go-lucky character fits Wu Xianyi natural disposition. This couple reeks of cuteness overload. The other couples don’t give me the same excitement as Tang San/Xiao Wu. And how did Calvin Chen as Tang San’s master be that good looking at 40!!

This is a CGI and VFX heavy production. Every time a character uses his/her inner power, CGI and/or VFX is required. I thought the CGI and visual effect were beautifully done and nothing was particularly amiss or looking out of place. The soul beasts are all computer generated too, and their incorporation into the fighting scenes are not bad either. Of course, there are times when the characters’ flying or qingqong seem to challenge the law of physics, but that is to be expected in this heavy-laden CGI/VFX that must have kept the CGI/VFX working overtime during the post production processes. On a related note, Visual Impact Digital Production, the company engaged to provide the CGI/VFX for the series admitted of plagiarism in the drama’s opening title sequene through the use of His Dark Materials and the character Jhin in League of Legends. Luckily this controversy was nip in the bud, and the c-drama was not affected by it.

Now the ending – typical expected ending with a prelude to Season 2 clearly in the minds of the Directors/Producers. There is a cliff-hanger that is designed to whet the viewers appetite for Season 2. Just hope that “Douluo Continent 2” will not suffer the same fate as “Evernight 2” – the sequel could not match the series original success; or “Princess Agents” where the sequel never takes off.

My overall verdict of this series is 8.0/10. A must watch for Xiao Zhan’s fans and those who like video-game type of levelling up. Plenty of funny and enjoyable moments.

Story - 9.0/10
Acting - 7.5/10
Music - 7.5/10
Rewatch value - 8.0/10
Overall - 8.0/10

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A lot of clichés, a lot of forced drama and not really the vibe of the early 2000...

I could not get into this series from the start... I did not feel the connection with the characters and for me it was just a standard BL with a cliché story. I expected it to be much more difficult for any gay couple to get together in the early 2000, it felt too easy and ordinary.

Of course we needed also drama in the finale with an attempted murder which made no sense for me. Was it done just to make them come together sooner and stir an emotional reaction in the viewers? Was it really necessary? Could it not have done any other way? I don't like such extremes in any series.

So for me, it was on ok show, but nothing which could spark any enthusiasm in me. For a chinese production it felt disappointing for me, at least when I compare it to recent productions which are all way way more interesting. If you want to watch it, you can, but if you don't it's nothing you would miss.

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Started out really really well with that 2-episode premier, i initially thought they are releasing 2 episodes per week. The fire fizzled out in the middle but even the little smoke left died out in the last episode.

This is the type of story/show that should have been released in one single sweep to be binged or should have been edited as a movie - would have been a better experience. The basic story premise was good but the execution was as paper thin that as the show progressed youd start to wonder whats the whole point of the entire show. By the seventh episode as the relationship between the pairs are developing, i was already fearing that their journey as singers/performers will not reach the peak and sad to say i was right to fear it. The comeback concert we were teased turned into nothing but a bar performance. And that ending, why??? You will thik Im joking if i tell you all this turned out to be nothng but a school project (with an AI video at that). After telling us for 11 episodes that this is a journey of a washed up artist being paired up with an upcoming artist to usher them into new greater heights it all ended into nothing without any explanation whatsoever why the characters chose that route.

The camera work was ok at times and makes you think youre watching a Korean show with the extra shiny filter, but the limitation of the budget can be seen in a lot of scenes. For a show about music stars, they did have good songs, but are very few that its evident they cannot afford to make/acquire more songs. There is this one main song that was overused for so many episodes. By the final concert performance, i was already thinking do they really only have 3 or 4 songs made for the entire series? Its a wasted opportunity cause they could have produced an entire album of songs that would have elevated and provided extra boost to promote the show. Also the few "concert" performance scenes (there were 3 if i remember correctly) have very few watchers - maybe not more than a hundred which i suspect are mostly the production crews anyway (strategically placed like few meters away from each other to make them look a lot) that its obvious they cannot even afford to pay more extras. These are shortcomings that can detach you from believing the story they are selling.

Whats also very evident is that they didnt have enough material to last 12 episodes and with the limited story arc they should have compressed it into 8 and it could have made the weekly waiting less painful than it was. I am saying it again, and I really cannot emphasize it enough, that this show should have been released as a movie or a one-time binge. There were no cliffhanger endings and suspense in each episodes to make you want to come back the next week. This series only felt like an expanded version and very eerily similar to the KBL "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart".

Even if you consider those silly silly hairstyle choices, the show is not without merits. First, all the actors did a good job, and eventhough the story and pacing towards the end became unbearable, Charles and Michael were both believable as lovers and performers and were the main reason i stayed watching till the end. Second, I also have to mention that although i still dont like the multi-racial actors who dont speak the same language in the same scene, at least here it was bearable. Third i have to mention how lovely the sets and the posters are - i even use the main poster as my phone wallpaper for the past 2 months.

So as a final verdict will i recommend the show? Now that all episodes are out, yes, watch it in one bingeing. Will i rewatch, probably not.

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It's so intense

The most outstanding masterpiece ever in the history of gl.i can't stop watching over and over again. cinematography on point, cast, and everything I between is exceptionally excellent. I'm still in awe. I can't believe that such an amazing masterpiece could be given in the history of gl. In comparison to the Taylor Swift's eras tour. I'm still in awe. Go watch it today if you haven't. Available at Fabel Entertainment only on YouTube. I don't know if anything could ever surpass the intensity, quality and everything about this series. Broken of love is keeping me on my toes, every Saturday is going to not only be special but exciting. kudos to all and sundry in the making of broken of love. it's truly exceptional. it's a phenomenal. I'm grateful to have come across such a masterpiece.

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Where Wounds Become Strength and Two Hearts Learn to Beat as One

The First Jasmine begins as what appears to be another arranged-marriage political drama but gradually reveals itself to be a remarkably layered story about trauma, justice, power, and healing. Set in the fictional Dachu Dynasty with Tang-inspired aesthetics, the drama follows Ye Li, a woman released from eight years of isolation on Lishan Mountain to marry the politically disgraced and crippled Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao.

Although it embraces familiar historical romance tropes, the series distinguishes itself through meticulous character writing, emotional maturity, and philosophical depth. Rather than relying on plot twists alone, it builds its story through psychological realism and carefully developed relationships.

YE LI: TRAUMA, REVENGE, AND HEALING

Ye Li is one of the strongest female protagonists in recent historical dramas. Calm, intelligent, and calculating on the surface, she is deeply scarred by the tragedy on Lishan Mountain, where she watched her family and friends die during the plague while remaining powerless to save them.

Bai Lu portrays this duality beautifully. Her hallucinations of the dead are presented not as supernatural events but as believable manifestations of unresolved trauma. The drama never sensationalizes her suffering, instead showing how trauma fragments the mind while allowing someone to continue functioning outwardly.

Her revenge is never driven by blind hatred. The four straw figures she keeps symbolize carefully planned justice rather than impulsive violence. Even her decision to eliminate Empress Dowager Guo Jin last demonstrates patience and political understanding. As the story progresses, revenge gradually transforms into healing as she learns to reclaim agency and build meaningful relationships again.

MO XIUYAO: STRENGTH BEYOND PHYSICAL POWER

Cheng Lei delivers one of his finest performances as Mo Xiuyao. After years of political humiliation, disability, and grief, he remains remarkably restrained, expressing pain through subtle expressions rather than exaggerated emotion.

His character challenges the traditional image of the invincible male lead. Although physically crippled, he possesses extraordinary intelligence, leadership, and emotional maturity. His recovery is satisfying not because he becomes physically powerful again, but because the audience has already learned to admire him before he ever stands.

His relationship with Ye Li develops naturally through trust, mutual respect, and shared suffering. Moments such as quietly caring for each other, cooking together, or simply watching the moon become far more meaningful than dramatic romantic declarations.

EMPRESS DOWAGER GUO JIN: A TRAGIC RULER

Guo Jin is arguably the drama's most fascinating character. Unlike conventional villains, she genuinely improves Dachu through tax reforms, women's education, infrastructure, and social policies. Yet every achievement comes at the cost of countless innocent lives.

Her final conversations with Ye Li explore one of the drama's central questions: does successful governance justify immoral methods?

Ye Li's grandfather once described Guo Jin as talented but lacking benevolence. She understood power but never fully understood compassion. This distinction becomes the philosophical heart of the series, separating effective rule from humane leadership.

Supporting Characters and Moral Ambiguity

The drama refuses to divide its characters into simple heroes and villains.

Mo Jingli's childhood trauma explains—but never excuses—his obsession with power. His final realization that he genuinely loved Ye Li despite originally viewing her as a political asset gives his downfall emotional weight.

Even Xu Wanzhou's controversial decisions stem from desperate attempts to save lives rather than selfish ambition. Throughout the series, good intentions repeatedly produce devastating consequences, creating a world filled with moral ambiguity instead of absolute right and wrong.

Supporting characters such as Lin Tinglan, Qin Cang, Li Feibai, Lady Yusheng, Wen Ran, and Feng Zhiyao all receive satisfying emotional arcs that strengthen the overall narrative rather than existing solely to support the protagonists.

THE CHESSBOARD PHILOSOPHY

Chess serves as the drama's central metaphor. Ye Li's grandfather teaches her about "solitary pieces"—pieces that become isolated from the rest of the board.

This metaphor defines several major characters. Guo Jin isolates herself through power, Mo Jingli through ambition, and Ye Li through trauma. Each discovers that isolation ultimately leads to emptiness, while genuine strength comes from connection and trust.

Rather than celebrating individual achievement, the series argues that relationships are what ultimately give life meaning.

TRAUMA AND RECOVERY

One of the drama's greatest achievements is its portrayal of psychological trauma.

Ye Li's hallucinations, emotional detachment, and gradual healing feel authentic rather than melodramatic. Recovery is portrayed as a slow process supported by understanding, patience, and love rather than miraculous transformation.

Similarly, Mo Xiuyao's hidden disability symbolizes emotional wounds carried in silence. Both protagonists learn that healing requires vulnerability rather than isolation.

The Lishan plague itself is particularly heartbreaking because it has no mastermind behind it. Sometimes tragedy simply happens, making the story's exploration of grief feel even more realistic.

FEMALE AGENCY

The series incorporates meaningful feminist themes without becoming preachy.

Women consistently demonstrate intelligence and leadership. Ye Li repeatedly outmaneuvers experienced politicians. Guo Jin transforms the country through reforms. Lin Tinglan pursues her career independently, while Princess Lingyun and Wen Ran each display remarkable resilience.

However, the drama also acknowledges that female authority often requires tremendous sacrifice. It celebrates women's achievements while recognizing the unequal burdens imposed by society.

THE SLOW-BURN ROMANCE

The romance succeeds because it develops naturally.

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao begin as political partners before gradually becoming emotional anchors for one another. Their relationship is built through everyday acts of care rather than endless misunderstandings or exaggerated romantic gestures.

Their emotional confessions feel earned because they emerge after episodes of shared hardship. Cheng Lei and Bai Lu rely heavily on subtle acting, making small expressions often more powerful than dramatic speeches.

Secondary romances are equally meaningful. Feng Zhiyao and Princess Lingyun represent love destroyed by politics, while Li Feibai and Lady Yusheng explore freedom, choice, and respect rather than possession.

PERFORMANCES

Cheng Lei gives a career-defining performance. His physical acting convincingly portrays disability, while his emotional restraint makes scenes of vulnerability especially powerful.

Bai Lu delivers one of her most emotionally nuanced performances. Ye Li could easily have become another stereotypical "strong female lead," but Bai Lu instead creates someone whose strength exists alongside profound psychological fragility.

The supporting cast consistently elevates the material, ensuring even secondary characters leave lasting impressions.

PRODUCTION

Visually, the drama favors a restrained style. Warm domestic scenes contrast effectively with the colder political settings, while the dreamlike cinematography during Ye Li's hallucinations subtly reflects her psychological state.

Fight choreography is elegant without becoming excessive, and the soundtrack complements emotional moments without overwhelming them.

Although some CGI backgrounds appear artificial, these issues rarely undermine the overall experience.

## STRENGTHS

* Rich psychological characterization.
* Excellent performances from Bai Lu and Cheng Lei.
* Thoughtful exploration of trauma and healing.
* Mature political and philosophical themes.
* Organic slow-burn romance.
* Strong pacing with very little filler.

## WEAKNESSES

* Some visual effects feel noticeably artificial.
* A few minor supporting characters remain underdeveloped.
* The political resolution is slightly rushed compared to the careful buildup.


The First Jasmine stands out because it treats its audience with intelligence. Rather than relying solely on romance or palace intrigue, it explores grief, justice, political morality, and the importance of human connection with surprising maturity.

Its greatest strength is its refusal to simplify people into heroes or villains. Nearly every major character exists within shades of grey, making their choices feel deeply human. Combined with excellent performances, thoughtful writing, and one of the most satisfying slow-burn romances in recent historical dramas, the series delivers both emotional impact and philosophical depth.

Despite a few production flaws and a somewhat rushed ending, The First Jasmine remains one of the strongest historical dramas of the year. It proves that familiar genre conventions can still produce something memorable when supported by careful writing, nuanced performances, and characters whose emotional journeys feel genuinely earned.

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