Reviews

Theatrical romance that lacks genuineness

I can understand why BL drama fans love this drama. As a BL costume drama, this drama gets an A but overall as a drama its pretty average. BL dramas are usually pretty poorly done with very poor story and acting so this drama is definitely a step up from all those crappy dramas.

Lot of BL interactions and scenes which I am sure BL fans loved. Sometimes it was fun and cute but most times felt forced and not very natural. The b/romance felt pushed in to our faces a bit. Wen Ke Xing's character is fun and flirty, showing his dark side and his playful side when with Zhou Xu. I don't see the appeal of Zhou Xu, seems very boring. Did not seem menacing enough to be a leader of a ruthless group. Very forgettable and bland character. I failed to connect with either characters.

Nothing comes to my mind when I think of an scene that I could see true feeling expressed by these characters towards each other. There are lots of over the top dramatic, flirty, forced romantic moments but just lacks genuineness and sincerity. Chinese costume dramas always have many theatrical scenes, but in this drama there was something very theatrical and fake about the couple, which really disappointed me.

The story was very decent/average. I can similarities with Legend of Fei since its the same author, characters with hidden pasts, old characters who think they know better than anyone else, some powerful book/ object every one wants, mazes, royalty making appearances for no reason. I often felt that our BL pair was a side story just watching the drama unfold around them. I really didn't care for the main plot with the sects and sect wars and leaders. There are so many characters just talking, talking, talking. This drama believes in telling not showing. The whole childhood friends plot is so overused.

The acting was ok, Gong Jun's character was so overdubbed at the start, it was painful to watch. Though it did improve tremendously. Zhang Zhe Han was very average . I think Gong Jun acted better than I expected whereas Zhang Zhe Han did not meet expectations that I had for him. They can do flirty, cold and concerned but can't convey true emotions. The little boy was adorable but overall tolerable level of acting from the rest of the cast.

I conclude that this is a good BL drama but average drama.

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2nd Underrated Gem of 2025

I put this on my watchlist because I wanted to see SWL in a modern drama and he did very well as did pretty much everyone else sans one villain. This was a series which had all the goodies of creepiness; contortionists, resurrection, evil relics, so on and so forth. This really was the second underrated gem of a drama that I've watched this year.

Pros: The Phoenix entire squad. Even Chubby, though he didn't contribute much other than talking nonstop, was an integral part of this team. I'm glad we finally got a chance to meet the supernatural chicken and it was fun to have. I really loved every single arc until the second to last one. I will speak about that in the cons. Every single thing was connected, obviously laid by a plan, created by the ultimate antagonist. But no matter what happened once the squad was formed they always had each other's backs and if they were in separate locations, they would always be in contact. Misunderstandings would get resolved very quickly. I love how the show kept us guessing with the multiple personalities of MD or the FL we didn't know for a while that she even had two personalities, but it was interesting to see the difference between her and the other one and a half I guess you could say I nicknamed the other personalities as Faith, which was dark MD and Robo Barbie, which was stoned MD. Even though this series didn't have any promotion, I think a lot of things were pretty well done especially CGI and the storytelling in general.

Other than our squad and the supernatural chicken, other favorite characters were MD's family, ML's family as well as his last surviving friend and actually the people from every single case good or bad they delivered on their performances. Also, the fight scenes were awesome. I mean gravity defying stunts and all of that I love very much. I also have to give props to the real antagonist of this show. He turned up in episode 1 and we sporadically saw him until his final arc in episode 31.

The OSTs, production, more or less in general, sets, even though a lot was CGI, but thankfully, it didn't look like they used anything fake like the desert or the village or the mountains. Comedy also hit as it was supposed to. Thankfully, no slapstick humor here.

Cons: This show got a whole point taken off for several reasons; for starters the incredibly choppy editing I have to say that that probably had something to do with cutting the amount of episodes down so production either didn't want to or didn't have time to edit scenes properly because you jump from one scenario to the next and you have no idea how you got there in a lot of the episodes. Also, a lot of times there were cliffhangers that seemed to just not be shown the following episode or they would just be explained in the way that wouldn't make sense. Also, there were a lot of loose ends, not tied. Like the relics are now in their bodies. What happens next? Are they sealed for good? What happens when the characters grow old and die; do the relics come back to life? There's a lot that was not explained in regarding to the relics. I think they should've done a deeper dive as novel readers pointed out. Also, what happened to Mr. creepy antagonist? Is he dead for good or until another 280 years passes and he resurrects like the creature from Jeepers Creepers?

The ending was rushed because the main antagonist was only given two episodes if that to put everything together and do his whole evil shtick. Meanwhile, the crazy creepy cackle Halloween store witch leopard lady was given something like six episodes but she killed that entire arc. Every single time she opened her mouth. I wanted to hit her with a bat. I hated her character not because she was bad but because she was so annoying. They completely miscast the actress or they should have dubbed her over with a Fluently Mandarin speaking actress. But even her acting was over the top; she twirled, and she pointed her fingers with fake nails and acted like a plum fool. You would never think of her as being this ruthless, horrible person that we saw in ML's flashbacks. Honestly, she was basically the equivalent of what a leather wearing, valley girl would be the best way to describe her and she knew neither English nor Mandarin fluently. When she spoke on top of it, her lips did not match the sound that was coming from her voice so obviously she dubbed herself and it was really poorly done and no one corrected anything. I legitimately got through all of her main scenes by fast forwarding her I couldn't even watch her.

Would I recommend it? I totally would, despite the choppy editing and one crappy antagonist. The show was great and sadly not promoted, but it deserves a watch, especially if you are into creepy type shows with a supernatural aspect.

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Pure Entertainment!!

I am not usually a wuxia fan and have not many shows so the entire review is from my personal enjoyment of the show. No major spoilers as such but may have some minor ones. My motivation to start this was pure Lee Jae Wook tbh. I had seen him in WWW and the moment he came to the screen I was drawn to him the entire time.

Watching the initial episodes, I was half heartedly expecting this show to be a political scheming war between a destined king (Jang Uk) Vs Wannabe King (CP) Vs Actual king who is soon dying, with some magical elements. Yeah I had my biases going in but I was wrong. The setup was beautiful and I was actually drawn to the story for about 4-5 episodes. The show had some cool cliffhangers which make me crave for the next episode. The CGI elements were dope and whenever Naksu drew her sword made me major goosebumps.

That's where my complaint started. It had an interesting setup, Jang Uk born under King's Star and destined for greater things and on the other side deadly assassin Naksu soul swapped as Mu Deok. Their journey to start from scratch to finding about their truths was an intriguing plot for me which despite not being an unique one however if done right makes it interesting. After a point it became a battle of mere words. The storylines being reiterated for God knows how many times. One by one each character got to know the secrets and repeating the same thing made me scream like dude we got the story now move on. The whole Ep 19 was a summary of the story line for the nth time, no kidding.

My highest disappointment with the show is how they underplayed Naksu. They gave us a badass heroine who eventually became nothing but a maid. I get the motive behind it as they wanted to come up with the whole arc of hers but they did a major injustice. Not only hers, infact so many other characters who were supposed to be this great mages protecting the Capital and what not became a meek observer of the plot. They bought 0 contribution to the story which makes you question their purpose. During emergent situation the mages like Yul, Park Jin and even the Crown Prince did nothing making me scream like aren't you suppose to be powerful? Now for the king, I mean they take the most competitive "admission test" to appoint a servant seriously but chose the most stupid person as the king who was the last to find out what was going on. I know they added all this for drama purpose but I can't help laughing at this absurdity.

The cast did justice to their roles and no complaints on the acting front. For the romance aspect honestly I was not interested and majorly skipped all the scenes except the ones with the main couple. It was unnecessary and cringey to some extent. Action scenes were cool but were limited like Jang Uk and Naksu using one only Tansu move whenever they fight. Maybe we will see more in S2 as the setup is different here.

Overall the story was repetitive and was cliched down a lot to attract the crowd however it was still an entertaining watch for me. I am up for S2 and not taking the loopholes of the story tooo seriously.

*Ending Spoiler here*
I wonder how will they bring up Naksu's body which was burnt earlier. I suppose it was Jin's family who saved Mu Deok at the end as the mother was giving instruction to bring her alive, so I think maybe one of them saved her body or something. And Jang Uk rising from the ashes was my favorite scene of the show. Ahh LJW eyes!

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This drama was absolutely amazing.

I started watching this drama because a friend had told me so much about it. She knew I was a sucker for romance, and thought I'd enjoy this drama.

The music was mesmerizing, and fantasically helps display the different emotions portrayed in the drama. The cast was perfect. The two leading roles had sizzling chemistry. :D

The plot was very interesting. It kept me watching episode by episode...I didn't skip any parts!!

I especially loved how the plot of this super amazing drama makes the viewers think if there is a "fated" or "destined" person out in the world for them (if you watch the drama, you'll understand what I mean).

I honestly recommend this drama for viewers who are looking for a romantic, historical-modern, and comedic drama. Or, for viewers who are looking for dramas that could help the time past. This is also the perfect drama to cry and laugh to.

Also, in terms of the rewatch value, I gave it a 10, because the drama captures so much detail. The filiming was beautifully captured. :)

"The Rooftop Prince" is definitely one of my favourite dramas ever!! I finished this drama in three days. That's how great this is!

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the different opinions on this show's ending are actually funny, and totally understandable.

i am not going to lie, at first i hated how the show ended as well, it was so unpredictable (even tho i knew what youngsoo would do); but as i sat down and thought about it more, i realised how and why the ending made perfect sense.

part 1 was an introduction to the story, to the war, to the spheres. an introduction to our characters. a way to show development and underdevelopment. we see them acting according to how the adults want them to act, having no right to choose what they wanted to do after signing that paper (which was also signed by their parents, some of them not even being allowed to say if they wanted to do the military training or not). our main characters are building up relationships, platonic or romantic, they are starting to love each other as more than just school colleagues. we see them being together 24/7 in a world that is could be destroyed.

while part 2 is the destroyed world. we get no adults introduced (other than the criminals in the prison, who aren't even humans to begin with), our main characters are able to vote, to communicate, to make decisions together with no adult telling them otherwise. we see betrayals, fights, and lastly, a massacre. youngsoo was the world character of them all, and not in a way that he was written badly, but in a way that he was a criminal. he did not care about no one in the classroom, from the first episode to the last. if someone says that i am wrong, please remember the time when younghoon died and he was happy he wasnt there anymore because he didn't have any more competition in the classroom. he was only thinking for himself, which until the end was, at most, understandable. but his actions were wrong. extremely wrong. not only did he try to sa soyeon, he killed the only witness (ilha), and then he killed almost all his friends. yes, he went crazy, but his reasoning for his mental stability going down was not it.
at the same time, tho, all the trauma they were going thru, plus the pressure from the adults who were using them, i can try to understand him (not what he did). his character had depth, that i don't really care about, but if i did, i could talk about him for hours. as the story was progressing, i hoped that, maybe, they won't keep the ending from the webtoon, i was wrong. it traumatised me in the worst way possible, but i am here writing this with a smile on my face.

we are seeing three wars in the series, one against spheres, one against adults, and one against each others. part 1 was all about the spheres, and the adults, it showed how the kids could fight against both of them and survive. with little sacrifices happening. in the second part, we see the war against each other, which showed us different sides of the kids. they were more mature, not whining that much when they had to do something or when things dont go their way. we see them getting tired, wanting to go home, but still sticking together. there is so much going on in 4 episodes, and ep 7/8 weren't even that long. it keeps you in a state where you can't wait to get to watch the next episode. i was scared the whole time, hoping all of them were going to be alive at the end, yet still knowing that wasn't happening. i was doubting them when they were doubting each other. i felt betrayed when they betrayed each other. i was hurt, i cried with them, i laughed with them, and at the end, something in me died with them as well. altho they didnt stick to the original plot of the story, the main line was still there. kids in war time. no matter what the war was. some of you are failing to see that. they went thru a lot of ups and downs together, they had hopes and their hope died, they were, at the end of the day, just kids.

watching this kdrama was a rollercoaster. i was happy, sad, crying, laughing, anxious, hopeful. but at the end of the day, it gave me comfort (with a lot of anxiety on top). all of my fav characters ended up dead. yes, i did like kimchi, hana, aeseol, and nara, but jangsoo, tae man, yujoong, ilha, soyeon, bora, soocheol, youngshin, all of them, ended up dead. and with ilha's death, followed immediately after by jangsoo, i was petrified. when jangsoo said he'll go find youngsoo, i knew what was going to happen. and when he opened that damned door, i couldnt breathe. he was the reason i was so excited about part 2, and even tho i knew how he ended up in the webtoon, i had a little hope. jangsoo, i miss you.

that 'in other universe' ending, with them graduating, i will take that as the actual ending, and im pretty sure they added that scene as a way for people to choose what ending they want to believe in. younghoon is there, and honestly i never believed he actually died, so thats a bonus. they all graduated guys, they did. and they ended up going to college, and having jobs and families, and happy. thats the real ending (source: trust me bro).

i didnt expect duty after school to be more all of us are dead than all of us are dead, but looks like that title fits them more. i will miss them a lot, somehow i hope for a season 2, even tho i know why they ended part 2 like that (for people to not ask for a season 2).

the actors did such an amazing job. imagine playing jangsoo and having to open that door like 7 times and filming your death in 2 different ways (first they thought it was a sphere that killed him, then they showed youngsoo killing him). i am so glad i started watching this and meeting this amazing, and beautiful cast. can't wait to meet them in a new kdrama.

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The kind that nibbles at your heart until theres nothing left

Reality is sometimes far from ideal. It can be sad. Disappointing. Frustrating. Daunting. Painful. I found all these in Si Yu, Zi Zi and Xiao Ling's life as depicted here.

We saw the rosy moments. The happy and content times, often fleeting or even underappreciated. But often they had to face so much struggles that life throws at them. In this aspect, the writer does not shy off from showing us the ugly.

The issue in SY and YM's relationship or the cracks in ZZ's marriage. They were very real. Sometimes its not cookie cutter clear who is in the wrong. The relationship stalled at this point from the contribution of both parties. In SY and YM's aspects, they werent on the same page at that time in their lives. I found this to be all the more painful because they love each other but not enough to stay together and be happy.

Often i get upset when watching so i caution those with a feeble heart. But yet 41episodes watch and cried, I'm still here eagerly waiting everyday for new episodes to watch my very flawed male and female leads. As much as it pains me to see them falter, and grope in the dark as they refind themselves. I want to cheer for them. For ZZ to gain independence and confidence. For SY to understand what truly matters and stand back on her feet. I want to witness when they would find back their true selves, and their way to happiness.

The acting here is amazing. The leads are so flawed and imperfect, sometimes weak and sometimes they frustrate the hell out of me, but i cant hate them, i pity them and still want to root for them. Zhu Yi Long (this guy's eye acting and micro expressions are so on point), Liu Si Si and Han Zing Zhi all had their shining moments. Lastly i love the girls' friendship, they are there and supportive but never stiffling or condescending even though they all are so different and have different ambition and dreams.

* I have amended by rating and review upon finishing. This is the first time there's a huge discrepancy during "currently watching" to "completed". The conclusion continues its sarcastically cold reality- except the plot outcome for some of the characters to deliver the ultimatum ended up unrealistic in my opinion. We are suppose to receive the climax and send off our characters but the writing didn't deliver. After diligently shouldering the frustration and watch the humbling problems the girls faced for so long, you asked for a little reward and felt cheated. Watch something else unless you don't mind cruel reality and unfulfilled epilogue.

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A Love Forged On The Edge Of Hatred, Tempered By Silence And Pain

"Feud", also known as "Lin Jiang Xian" (Lament of the River Immortal), presents itself as a xianxia drama rooted in misunderstanding, but beneath its surface lies a haunting, layered tale of how grief can blur the line between love and hatred.

At the heart of the story is the tragic bond between Hua Ruyue and Bai Jiusi: two souls once intertwined by fate, only to be torn apart by pain and betrayal. Their relationship, rich with longing and unresolved devotion, forms the emotional backbone of the drama. Their journey was never about romance, but of healing — a reflection of how love, when wounded deeply, can either wither into ruin or be transformed into redemption.

STORYLINE ₊ ⊹❀
The drama opens with a deceptively lighthearted tone, focusing on the fairytale-like romance between Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi. Their sweet, almost innocent dynamic hints at a familiar setup. At first glance, it feels like a typical love story within a xianxia setting, and yet, something about it feels quietly off. There were no backstories offered, no clear exposition given, especially regarding the main leads. This deliberate withholding of context created a sense of mystery which piqued at my interest. I thought this choice of narrative is one of the drama's strength because as the story progresses, it unravels into something far more tragic and complex.

After the illusion of simplicity fades with the revelation of Li Qingyue's true identity as Hua Ruyue, the tone of the drama takes a dramatic and somber turn. Her reemergence is not merely just a shocking twist, but a pivotal moment that reframes everything that came before. What once appeared to be the beginning of their love is actually just a continuation of a deeply fractured bond. For me, this arc marks the start of their true story, it is what made the drama more emotionally engaging and narratively unique. Each revelation drew me deeper into their twisted entanglement.

The transition from the first half to the second half of the story was seamless —it felt organic rather than jarring. The pacing struck the right balance, and the nonlinear structure of storytelling, through the use of flashbacks, added richness and layers to the characters and their relationship. What stood out most during this part was how the drama avoided a simplistic narrative of right and wrong. Instead, it carved out a space for both Hua Ruyue and Bia Jiusi to exist as flawed, grieving individuals — not heroes or villains, but as two souls shaped by their heartbreak and longing. The moral ambiguity embedded in their contrasting ideologies became the lens through which their pain and conflict were explored. I appreciated how the drama didn't ask to choose sides, it rather asked to understand.

Furthermore, the side characters weren't merely added as background figures, each of them carried enough weight and nuance to feel real rather than one-dimensional. Fan Linger wasn't confined to the typical trope of an annoying second female lead ; her arc became one of self-love and growth. The Jingyuan Sect deviated from the usual portrayal of a hypocritical or power-hungry factions in xianxia dramas. Even Xiao Jingshan, who walked the darker path wasn't portrayed as inherently evil but as someone affected by the weight of his pain. While the romance wasn't the central focus of the drama, the chemistry between the main leads was palpable, and the few moments of affection and tenderness they shared felt both authentic and heart fluttering.

The drama's conclusion wasn't a conventional happy ending, but one far more meaningful and symbolic. It didn't erase the suffering and tragedy Bai Jiusi and Hua Ruyue endured, instead it illuminated their long emotional journey towards healing. It was deeply moving to witness each character learn to let go of their hatred, resentment, attachments, and obsession. In the end, it wasn't about neat resolutions, but about choosing peace after pain, and choosing love even in the aftermath of loss.

The CGI in the drama wasn't anything groundbreaking, it was more in line with what you'd expect from older xianxia productions but it did serve its purpose. The cinematography, on the other hand, was visually pleasing and managed to capture the tone of the story well. As for the costume designs, what particularly stood out for me was for the main leads. I especially adored the intricate details in Hua Ruyue's hair pieces, and the soft, elegant color tones of Bai Jiusi's hanfu which suited him perfectly. I only found one aspect lacking, it was the sound effects. At times, they were overpowering the dialogue in certain scenes. Also, the comedic sound cues felt misplaced and distracting, like the glass shattering sounds.

CHARACTERS & ACTING ₊ ⊹❀
Bai Lu as Hua Ruyue | Li Qingyue
Hua Ru Yue is the most compassionate immortal god to exist. From the moment she first opened her eyes to the world, her heart was already soft. Despite her divine status, she never turned a blind eye to mortals suffering. She saw their pain, recognized their worth, and treated them not as lesser beings, but as lives equally deserving of dignity and care. Beneath her gentle spirit, lies an unshakable will. Hua Ruyue doesn't confine herself to the rigid laws of heaven, nor does she flinch at the face of fate. She is strong minded and unyielding, she follows her own truth even when the cost is great.

Meeting Meng Chi, a mortal whom she saved, marked the beginning of Hua Ruyue’s fated entanglement with cause and effect. His life was like a mirror — one that reflected the eternal divide between immortals and mortals. Birth, aging, sickness, death… the joys and sorrows of mortal life pass like fleeting shadows in the eyes of gods. But in an instant, Hua Ruyue came to understand the weight of those fleeting moments. She saw how "love" — that fragile, flickering flame, is what mortals cling to even when knowing they are destined to fade. And in that, she realized how divine power means nothing if it’s only used to look down with pity. Its true meaning lies in the courage to share in the pain of all living beings.

Though Meng Chi's life was brief, his impact on Hua Ruyue was profound. She came to see that if immortals are eternal but unfeeling, then they are no different from stone. Mortals may be fragile, but their suffering, born of love and foolish hope, weighs heavier than the sky. Hua Ruyue’s sword did not only slay the drought dragon — it shattered the cold, unyielding rules of the heavenly realm. For only by loving the fleeting can one become unafraid of the impermanence of life.

But even the kindest hearts can break. Hua Ruyue’s descent into hatred was never born of malice, but from heartbreak. A grief so vast, it devoured her light and twisted her love into vengeance. Losing her child, Shi An, was a wound deeper than any suffering she endured afterward. Her hatred towards Bai Jiusi blinded her to the truth, but before she was an immortal god Siling, she was a grieving mother. Hua Ruyue was trapped between the thin line of love and hatred, and though her anger burned fiercely, it was clear she still only loved Bai Jiusi. Each time she tried to kill him, she wasn't afraid to die along with him, because deep down, that love never left. And if proof was ever needed, it lies in Li Qingyue. Although she wasn't real, she was still Hua Ruyue, a part of her untouched by time, pain, and betrayal. How can someone who has endured so much still carry a version of herself so loving, so pure, so tender? That alone speaks of a heart that never fully closed — of a love that, no matter how scarred, still quietly endured.

Hua Ruyue was able to let go of her hatred through the quiet acceptance. It was the time artifact which Xiao Jingshan gave her that allowed her this final journey. She wasn't returning to the past to alter the future or reverse her pain. Instead, she was rewriting it as an act of healing, a way of finding peace within herself. This time, she chose to reunite with Bai Jiusi once more, not as someone who is broken by grief, but as someone who had lived through it, carried its weight, and slowly learned to lay it down. She approached him no longer as a mother ravaged by loss, but as Hua Ruyue, a woman who had loved deeply, suffered greatly, and finally made peace with both.

Hua Ruyue is now undoubtedly one of my most favorite character that Bai Lu had portrayed. She didn't disappoint. She delivered a performance that was both powerful and deeply moving. I have always admired her talent, especially in angsty and emotionally charged scenes, yet she still managed to surprise me with her stellar performance here, particularly during the revelation of Hua Ruyue's suffering in the mortal realm. Those scenes were gut-wrenching, it reminded me of the same emotional devastation I felt when watching her in One and Only. This truly stands out as one of her finest performances to have ever come around. Although, it is a pity that she didn't dub the character herself, her raw acting carried every scene with grace and intensity.

Zeng Shunxi as Bai Jiusi
Bai Jiusi is the opposite of Hua Ruyue. He is bound by the laws of heaven and carried the immense burden of guarding the infinite steel. He had a great sense of responsibility and never wavered from his duty, he was someone more restrained. Unlike Hua Ruyue, he doesn't resist the wheel of fate but accepts it. This wasn’t because he lacked the courage to fight, but because he believes in a natural cycle governed by karma and heaven's order. But that acceptance came at a cost.

Beneath his composed exterior lies a soul full of ache. He loved Hua Ruyue deeply, yet he never once voiced it aloud. Instead, his love was reflected in the way he remained steady, like still water, quietly enduring the storm of her resentment. Every part of him belonged to her. That love never wavered— not even when he lost his memories, not even when his soul was shattered. Even his sword remembered only the love he bore for Hua Ruyue.

Bai Jiusi's tragedy is that of a man who loved too deeply but spoke too little. He often chose restraint over expression as a way to protect others. But in doing so, he unknowingly built a wall between himself and Hua Ruyue. His passivity, though rooted in care, became the very force that allowed distance and misunderstanding to take root. He was not without flaws. Every time he withheld his truth, every time he let the moment pass without reaching for her, the space between them grew. His understanding became a substitute for confrontation, and in trying not to hurt her, he ended up letting her hurt alone. The weight of things unsaid, pain endured quietly and love never spoken became the very ache that defined their bond. In the end, his greatest flaw wasn’t a lack of love, but the silence that cloaked it.

After he learned the truth of Hua Ruyue's suffering and his unintentional role in Shi An's death, he became consumed by overwhelming guilt. That realization shattered what little composure he had left, however, he didn't try to justify himself. His redemption came in the form of self-erasure — allowing Hua Ruyue to strike him down if it could ease even a fraction of her grief. And even in death or near-death, his love remained resolute, never tainted by bitterness or resentment. He let himself become the villain in her story because he believed her pain mattered more than clearing his name.

Yet, his ultimate redemption was not in dying, but in surviving long enough to be there when Hua Ruyue finally let go of her hatred. He was still there, quietly enduring, when she returned from the past having found her peace. And that quiet reunion, free of drama or grand declarations, was his final offering. His love was the kind that asked for nothing in return, a love that didn't seek to be seen, but only to remain.

Zeng Shunxi's performance is remarkable considering this is his first time starring in a xianxia genre drama. His portrayal of Bai Jiusi's inner turmoil and quiet devotion with subtlety spoke volumes of his emotions even in silence. The expression in his eyes which often held more sorrow than words could express added depth to his character. He absolutely also gave an impactful and memorable performance with his heavier scenes. I am looking forward to see him act in this genre again.

OSTs ₊ ⊹❀
The drama didn't have any powerhouse OSTs and the rest of the songs used were not that memorable. The only two songs which I really ended up loving were the ones sang by Bai Lu and Joseph, both these songs had lyrics that matched with the story and characters too.

OVERALL IMPRESSION ₊ ⊹❀
Feud is a compelling tale that goes beyond romance and traditional xianxia. It explores the fragility of love, the devastation of grief, and the moral ambiguity of choice. With its rich character depth, emotional storytelling, and quiet reflections on healing and forgiveness, it's a drama that lingers, not because of how dramatic it is, but because of how deeply it makes you feel. This drama was worth every emotion it pulled from me. I genuinely hope to see Bai Lu and Zeng Shunxi reunite in another project, as their chemistry and performances left a lasting impression.

FAVE SCENES ₊ ⊹❀
- Li Qingyue proposal to Bai Jiusi
- Fan Linger using her shadow to kill Li Qingyue
- Revelation of Li Qingyue being Hua Ruyue
- Sweet moments of Bai Jiusi and Hua Ruyue during the first time they descended to the mortal realm
- Hua Ruyue seeing Meng Chi's painting of her after he passed away
- Hua Ruyue walking to awaken Bai Jiusi who was frozen
- Bai Jiusi learning how to coax his wife from his friends
- Bai Jiusi's amnesia and search of his wife
- Hua Ruyue and her masters late night drinking talks
- Hua Ruyue time with Shi An
- Bai Jiusi soul guiding Hua Ruyue during the final fight

˖ . ݁❀𝜗𝜚❀. ݁₊

"In the long endless night, only the sun brings light. The warmth of the sun is like hope at the end of darkness. And that radiant warmth is what the color gold is like" — Hua Ruyue

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While watching Secret Love, I was initially sucked in because this felt so different from the rest of the kdramas out there. I use to be a big fan of the genre, but then I realized that almost all of them followed the same formula, so I stopped.

I'm slowly getting back to kdramas, so I picked this one up and at first I was all in. I loved every moment of this show. The acting was top notch and the story, at least in the beginning, was complex and unique.

I loved it!

So why the 7?

Well, what I loved about the show was the complexity of everything and how everyone was flawed. As the show progressed and more secrets were revealed, I thought that it would continue to add to the depth of the characters, instead I got the same kdrama. Rich guy falls in love with poor girl. Poor girl has a guy that likes her and the rich guy has a girl that likes him. Drama ensues.

I can accept that. What I couldn't accept was this love story. Min Hyuk and Yoo Jeong just didn't make any sense as lovers. Min Hyuk had some reverse Stockholm Syndrome where he fell in love with the person he was tormenting. It came about from obsession and then he loves her. It made sense. But for Yoo Jeong to love him back all of a sudden? No. That never made sense and never felt authentic to me. After five years of being harassed and tormented, you don't just suddenly say "I love you too."

I also felt like the story dropped the ball with Do Hoon, who was the most interesting character on the show. He's been brought up in a family that expects him to be the best, but still keep his morals intact. That all changes when he allows Yoo Jeong to take the fall for him. Him getting close to Min Hyuk and trying to destroy him seemed to be his ways of making amends, but in the end I really didn't know what he was doing.

I enjoyed my time watching this and was eagerly waiting for the next episode to appear so I could watch it, but now that everything is said and done, was this really all that different from the rest of the kdramas out there? Kind of, but not really. There's a lot of plot holes and the ending was rushed. I just wasn't satisfied when it was done.

I am in the minority with this, so if you think this might be something you'd like then check it out, but if you are looking for something new in the kdrama world then I don't think you'll find it here.

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There is just something about this movie that made me absolutely love it!

The actors are absolutely fantastic as well as the original and quite absurd story.
I was surprised at the humour and jokes, being a little more mature than usual movies, but it was not excessive or out of place.

It is rare for me to give out 10, but be it because of the amazing performance, the cute moments, the amazing kisses and even such an absurd coincidental love, this movie had me clicking "replay" from the first time I watched it!

I recommend it to all those that enjoy love stories with a hint of mature jokes and some sexy concepts: trust me, you won't be disappointed!

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I started watching this drama, because of the main couple. I watched them in Secret, so I wanted to watch something else related to them.
My first impression that this drama left on me was good.
The storyline is amazing. The writers did a great job. They really knew how to mess with a viewers mind. With this drama you will laugh and cry in the same time, and you won't be bored at all.
Well, for the acting it was good. I can surely say that, Ji Sung mastered this role, he played a high school girl, I mean even if I am a girl I couldn't do that like he did. Amazing!!!!
Hwang Jung Eum was good, I really like her, but the only thing that I didn't like is her yelling and screaming, it was a bit annoying.
I really like their chemistry in this drama. It was cute and romantic.
Oh, and the OST was amazing. Especially, Auditory Hallucination. That OST has a great power to cause outburst of emotion in the viewer.
I really miss all of the characters. They really growth on my heart.
I recommend this to everyone. Even if you are having some doubts, start it, maybe you will end up liking it. :D

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The story of a woman who makes ink.

It was a good series for me. Another success story about a woman. I watched many such stories in Chinese dramas in 2025 and 2026. Success stories attract my attention and I enjoy watching them. This was one of those stories. It's a story about ink. I especially found Yang Zi very successful. The story was built around her. I can say the male lead was just a supporting character. But they were still compatible. I liked both of them. Apart from that, the excessive talking and advice, and many details about ink making, made the series stagnant and boring. It wasn't a series that progressed at a consistent level. Sometimes it rose, sometimes it fell. The quality wasn't maintained. The occasional competitions and fights added color to the series, but otherwise, stagnation prevailed. There was no real romance. There was no real drama either. Everything was left open, as if only the focus was on ink making. I think this bored the viewers. In the rest of the series, especially the family relationships, their loyalty, respect, love, customs and traditions were beautifully portrayed. The spirit of unity and togetherness was beautifully portrayed. There was also revenge and intrigue. The series could have been even better if these elements had been distributed more carefully.

I especially recommend it to those who enjoy stories about female success.

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The panelists were the only saving grace!

I have seen all the previous seasons so got a bit used to the show. Many areas felt same so it didn't interest me that much. However I feel even if I had watched it for the first time, I wouldn't have enjoyed it because it was too boring.

The couple lacked lustre and conversations were boring. The games were same from the previous seasons so no surprise there.
The contestants were okay-ish. As one can read on any review and the same applies to me as well that it felt they focused too much on Sian love interests. The girl prepared for the show and deserved to win it but it wasn't that exciting. I skipped her many scenes because it was evident she was doing it for the show. No judgements just got 0 entertainment watching it. Liked Ji-yeon and Min-seol for some parts but again lost interest.

The only parts i enjoyed were the panelist's commentary on the situation!

My recommendation- watch s1 or s2 if you haven't. Overall a complete skip~

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coming of age/slow burn

Overall: this could have been a 10/10 except for a fatal flaw. It is adapted from the book "Mou Mou" by Mu Su Li; however, I reviewed the series based on its own merits. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each, 2 episodes per week. There is an extra scene after the initial end credits in some episodes. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4661/the-on1y-one-2024-e01 ; Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40680c-the-on1y-one ; iQIYI https://www.iq.com/album/the-on1y-one-2024-2ge4shuunbp?lang=en_us ; WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/album/3om6e76t014bzqy and Netflix https://www.netflix.com/mo-en/title/81907297

Content Warnings: non con kiss, fight, past child abuse, past death, kidnapping, threatened violence

What I Liked
- the lead characters and their dynamic (the tension, chemistry, micro expressions)
- sweet/protect moments
- many familiar faces (Zach Lu from HIStory 2: Crossing The Line (teacher), JN Yu from Be Loved In House I Do (quirky friend), Jed Chung from Light (classmate), Stan Huang from VIP Only (PE teacher)
- family interactions felt realistic
- symbolism with the closet
- color symbolism orange and blue
- multiple platform international release

Room For Improvement
- what stopped me from giving this a 9.5 or 10/10 was the fact that the director/writer made a very risky bet on a season 2, in order to do this they made the story drag with side plots/characters I didn't care about (like the female teacher and that random kidnapping???) and ended it in an unsatisfactory way, there has only be 1 Taiwanese series to get a season 2 (We Best Love), because it was a China/Taiwan collaboration a sequel feels even less likely given censorship and how even censored BL has been mostly shelved for the past few years
- ep 1 voice over with incorrect statistics (we don't meet 1,000 different people every day)
- actors who viewers have seen play adult characters played high school characters
- too many flashbacks
- the NSFW scene was odd compared to an earlier dead fish lip press
- the animated intro didn't match the overall vibe

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The Chang'an Crate

A Chinese update of Sungkyungkwan Scandal (2010) with a dose of Hwarang (2016), how good is that. Not to mention a flower boy cast and the star from Novoland Castle in The Sky 2.

As soon as I followed the story I discovered my comparison was just a first impression. The Chang'an Youth is stuffed with different story arcs. The heroine is Shen Yiyi ( Wang Yu Wen ) an ordinary girl who gets 'adopted' in her youth by a sweet rich girl. She's treated like family. Unfortunately this rich girl dies, just before her marriage, leaving a mystery behind about her pedigree and heritage. To do some research Shen Yiyi agrees to substitute for her friend in marriage and travels to the girl's intended, Tang Jiu Hua (Xie Bin Bin) in Chang'An. She travels in disguise of a gentleman. On the road she meets Yang Zi'an (Caesar Wu), the son of a magistrate carrying out orders from the King. She also meets the sweet second prince Li Xinyuan (Qi Peixin), and stark swordsman Dugu Muxue (Liu Yichang). This Chang'an Youth Gang is full of personal secrets, but eventually they end up as friends at the local academy. Apart from their exciting school life they learn to work and trust each other, meanwhile facing a mysterious case and corrupt officials.

Acting/Cast

Wang Yu Wen is a good choice for the role as crossdressed Yiyi, she combines a lean, boyish body with strong facial features. She also has great chemistry with Xie Bin Bin, her supposed fiancé Tang Tang. Xie Bin Bin is known for totally different characters, but he's so funny here, I suspect he enjoyed this role himself.
Such a pity Xie Bin Bin isn't the romantic interest, that honor goes to Caesar Wu. Agreed, that guy is Flower Boy- In -The-Flesh, but he's more the kind of flower that's already been pressed between the pages of a book. Doesn't fade, doesn't wrinkle, doesn't impress.
Another failure is the miscast of poor Liu Yichang. He convinces as the good-hearted rascal Zhao Cuo in I've Fallen For You (2020), but he can't hold a candle to Korean actor Yoo Ah In, who played the silent swordsman to a T in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Put together with robot-like Qi Peixin they didn't float my boat. I also missed the necessary humor, the student twins excluded.

Rewatch Value

What can I say? It started out so well, but I lost interest midway the series. My guess is the writers put too much story lines together making a mess of the plot. This proofs that just combining elements that are based on audience statistics doesn't work. Really, Less is More. If only this could be a love story between totally different characters, or the coming of age story of an ambitious scholar girl in a world dominated by males, but this... ain't it. I won't rewatch this again.

Overall

Tastes differ however. So, if you like your sandwich filled to the brim with every possible ingredient, this is for you. The Chang'an Youth is a crate full of tags, just pick the things you like, and forget the rest.

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