Reviews

'Iljimae' has left me sitting in a puddle of my own (hypothetical) tears. Although the first 6 episodes are a bit slow, the story soon picks up with a quick-fire, rapid pace that will leave your heart feeling as if it had been pulled out and stamped upon. It was truly a beautiful drama.

The story is similar to Robin Hood, but it's more sophisticated, powerful, moving and gritty than the traditional English folk tale. It is, without giving anything way, a revenge story. However, unlike most revenge stories, it has a heart. Our hero isn't some morally conflicted guy who can't tell right from wrong - in fact, the drama does well by clearly defining the hero's morals and making sure that he never strays too far away from them. It is beautiful to watch the story unfold and see our hero grow.

The father/son relationship was also incredibly moving. You can tell that Seo Dol has this completely unconditional love for Yong (despite him not being his biological son), and their relationship is so special and beautiful. I haven't seen a father/son relationship, like that, in K-Drama - ever. The impact Seo Dol and Yong have on each other just pulls on my heartstrings, and I am usually a person who remains highly unmoved by fiction.

I also have a lot of admiration for Yong's adoptive mother Dan-ee. She appears to be cold and indifferent towards both Seo Dol and Yong (and even her own biological son, Ja Dol/Shi Hoo), but that's just way of trying to protect herself if anything bad happened to either of them. You can tell that she truly loves them.

Overall, the story was very good; however, the romantic aspect of the plot really did weigh it down. I saw no true purpose, asides from being a romantic tool, for Eun Chae; yes, she was caring, kind and seemingly selfless (well, at least that is what she liked to think) but her character lacked development, depth and heart. Every time she would pop up on screen, the story would end up slowing down. She was an unnecessary character, in my opinion, and her romance with Iljimae was highly unconvincing. The second main girl - who actually had a more significant impact, and had a purpose in the story - had much more convincing chemistry with Yong and I would have preferred her to be his primary love interest. She was a brilliant 3-dimensional character - like Yoong - and she had true depth.

I didn't have a problem with Ja Do/Shi Hoo, though. I thought it was kind of weird how he loved Eun Chae (not a spoiler, this is pretty much obvious from the outset of the drama) because he believed her to be his sister, although she wasn't (again, not a spoiler), so that incest-but-not-incest thing kind of grossed me off him for a while. However, his moral conflicts and his struggles with his identity were quite touching, and although he didn't have the same impact as Yoong, I did sympathise with him a lot.

The drama does not suffer from bad acting at all. The cast fully suited their roles, and although Lee Jun-ki is partial to some overacting, it wasn't anything that detracted away from the drama. The actor who played Seo Dol was amazing - that guy put me through emotional highs and lows, and he had amazing chemistry with Lee Jun-ki. I actually felt like I was watching a father/son team whenever those two were on screen with each other.

The best performances, in my opinion, came from Lee Moon Shik, Lee Yong Ah, Lee Jun Ki and Kim Sung Ryung, Lee Won Jong (who was perfect as the delightfully self-serving and wicked, Byun Shik) and Park Shi Hoo. There wasn't really anything that I could call a 'bad performance' in the drama, and though I didn't like Eun Chae, Han Hyo Joo did what she could with such a bland character.

The only reason why this drama doesn't get a perfect 10 from me is because I felt that the romance did actually weigh things down quite a bit and whilst the ending was good, the slight openness of it did irk me off because I prefer more defined endings. (Especially after watching a drama for 20 hours!) However, it was a beautiful story with beautiful characters (and great action scenes) and I recommend it to all. It has heart, humour and depth and it has really perked an interest in the saeguk genre, for me.

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This drama has some nice elements but overall not for me.

Like other critical reviews of this drama say, it's not a bad drama, and I really wanted to like it and went into it blind like I typically do when I watch dramas, but... after finishing all 16 episodes, it wasn't ever really for me and I feel like I should have dropped it after 4 or 5 episodes.

I'm definitely missing something in this drama. Everyone has been praising this drama as being heartfelt, mature, relaxing, and realistic in its portrayal of relationships and how they develop. I disagree, and I'm not sure if it's due to my age (older than the leads) but I couldn't find the maturity and realism that others seem to talk about over and over again. Maybe it's because I feel like I would have communicated differently than the couples portrayed, but I didn't understand how either couple either discussed their issues with each other. Nothing made any sense to me. There were times when they were straightforward with each other, yes, but I mostly found the dialogue either dull or puzzling.

I did like some things about it. The characters themselves were nice. I loved the playful humor in the banter, it was pretty clever and sharp but those moments were few and far between. I also loved the movie references and I wish they would have put a little more time into Seon-Gyeom's finding of himself, building up of his new career and being an agent for Woo-Sik - I felt like it was clumsily done and could have been tightened and would have added a lot to his overall character development. It seemed like it was squished into the episodes as a sidenote.

I would have also liked more meaningful interaction between Seon-Gyeom and Mi Joo earlier on. I didn't feel their attraction to each other at all. Individually, they were great and in theory they seemed like they would be really cute, but for some reason the pairing felt forced to me. I think maybe the whole beginning scenario of the track team scandal, the translation job that allowed them to spend time together, and the father's interference could have been done better for me personally, and because I didn't like the way it developed and set up the drama, I think it set the tone for the rest of the drama as well. Some of the scenes felt cut awkwardly and mixed together all over the place.

I also didn't understand the second couple very much. Both were very cute and had such interesting personalities but again... I wasn't sure how they came to love each other, and then break up, and then get back together. It looked like it started to develop well, and midway through I became very confused by the conflict, the resolution, the conflict again, and then all of a sudden they're together again at the end? Maybe this is a realistic depiction of a relationship for other people, but for me personally, it didn't work, and the way they communicated their feelings to each other never felt clear to me. It seemed like they would say one thing to each other and do something that conflicted with what they said.

The addition of the best friend coming out also seemed out of place to me. While I loved Young-Hwa's heartfelt reaction to the confession and it portraying the type of kind, gentle, sensitive soul he is, and I'm all about LGBTQ representation in media, this element seemed sort of random and unnecessary. I would have liked either more development of this side story or none at all. To have it as just a blip in the drama feels like an afterthought.

Again, it doesn't seem like a bad drama but I had a really hard time enjoying it and I just don't think it was for me. It's so great that so many enjoyed it and got a lot out of it but unfortunately I wasn't one of them. Soundtrack was nice and the drama was very nicely produced. Some of the humor in the dialogue was very smart and I wished there was more of it sprinkled generously throughout each episode. I think I understand the overall message of the drama and the tone it means to convey but it never quite struck a chord with me like I wanted it to. I think viewers still learning to find themselves and their place in the world and with each other might find more meaning and poignancy in this drama than someone who is at a different point in life.

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This drama in one word is: sad. It left me depressed and thinking about life for a long time after I watched this. And as a Christian, it's even more sad and heartbreaking. (I"m not sure though if people will understand what I mean.. hehe.)

So why'd I rate it highly? Well, because the drama was brilliantly executed.

Story: The plot was unique unlike most dramas that tend to be a total cliche plus the story really had a deep meaning about revenge, hatred, redemption, love, and faith. But since this is a remake of a korean drama, the credit for the story should probably be given to the korean writer. :)

Acting/Cast: I think all of the actors did a really great job at portraying their characters and making the audience understand and sympathize with the characters' struggles especially Ohno Satoshi. Although some say that he was a little stiff, I think how he portrayed Naruse was the best direction for the character because with just his facial expressions, you can understand and feel what Naruse is going through emotionally. His best actor award for this drama was truly deserved by him.

Music: Jdramas usually have only one or two songs for the soundtrack but here, they had a variety of music that went with every scene smoothly adding tension to the drama.

Rewatch value: I only gave it a 6 because it's not something I'd want to watch over and over again. As I've said, it is a sad drama. It would probably take a month or two before I'd want to watch it all over again.

All in all, this drama, in my opinion, was one of the best that I've seen. Watch it so you can see! :)

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A Decent Sitcom

I have seen the other comments and reviews and I get why people are not that impressed. Yes, it has some outdated jokes but it also has some really hilarious scenes. The story is overall fun and anyone can see that some of the sub plots were not tied up indicating a possible s2.

Also, coming to the acting part, Except for Park Se Wan I havent seen any of them in a major role. Plus as I am a kpop fan, I really enjoyed Minnie and Youngjae acting. Even the rest of the cast delivered what they were expected to.

Not to mention there were so many cameos!! If you watch korean variety shows, u will absolutely like the cameos and some references too.

To conclude, It is a really good sitcom.. It is best to binge or to watch ep by ep when u feeling down and need something to lift your mood. I sincerely hope there will be a s2 to this!!

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So I hated this show, the only positive thing I have to say about it is that it's short if it was longer I would have dropped it. The female lead destroys this show she is almost unbearable to watch. She has the backbone of a jellyfish and the personality of a rock. She is the definition of a damsel in distress always needs a big strong man to come save her from other guys who are trying to hit on her. The Male lead isn't much better same lack of personality. They have no chemistry and when there relationship goes to the "mature" parts they look like two robots who don't understand how human mating works but are trying it out. Their relationship has no development and this drama really doesn't even have a story. It's just girls get grabbed/hit on by guy the male lead saves her happy ending. Rinse and repeat till the end

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A drama for serial killer fanatics

Netflix originals can always be a hit or a miss, but this was so good in my opinion. The only reason it's not a ten in my book is that there were a few things left unanswered/things I would've liked to delve more into. The acting was almost too good, to the point I was uncomfortable with some scenes. Now that being said this drama is not for those with a faint of heart!! It's super gory and has quite a few triggering scenes (animal murder, graphic murder, rape, etc) but what can you expect from a Netflix show. Now what surprised me the most was the amount of sex scenes in the show, and they were SUPER explicit, especially for a k-drama! Their was almost a sex scene in every episode, if not multiple in one episode ( I think one went on for like 7 minutes if not longer, which is pretty long for me lol) Maybe it's just because I'm not use to seeing those type of scenes in Korean dramas . The chemistry between the two leads was also sooooo good, I would definitely be pleased to see them in another work together. If you're looking for a good psychological thriller, with a really good plot then give this a try!

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180 Degree - Right In The Feelings

This LGBTQIA+ series is all I ever visually dreamed of, not in a "how handsome the actors are" or in a "the romance is so explicit" but rather the entire CINEMATOGRAPHY was ON POINT. So good, that I´d even forget my doubts about some part of the story. It´s a heavenly gift for everyone who not only watches the series for the plot but also for the techniques of filming and editing. It’s BREATHTAKING!
(TW: age gap, loss)

Story >> 8.0 >> 9.0
As I said before, I still have a few doubts about the plot. Nothing extremely bothersome tho. All in all, I loved the portrayal of this kind of “unspoken” story and all the time they took to emphasize on the characters conflicts and true, growing emotions.

Acting/ Cast >> 9.5
The relatability was archived by extremely good acting and an incredible production team. I hope I can expect more of this top-notch acting in the future because it felt unreal. Especially Nike´s performance was drawing my attention.

Music >> 8.5
I really hope that other thai LGBQTIA+ series could make use of soundtracks and background music like this series does. Not that there was any specific soundtrack that I liked, but they just all fit the mood well and did not bother me in the slightest, which is rare.

Rewatch Value >> 8.0 >> 7.5
It is so beautiful to watch, not even question if I´d rewatch this. I definitely will sooner or later!

100% RECOMMENDED if you are okay with the main characters' significant age gap.

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Sizzling Chemistry, Great Comedy---Acting & Plot Sold Separately.

For the first time ever, I'm giving a high score to a show where there was virtually no acting nor real plot. Starting with the pros as usual.

Pros: The absolutely sizzling chemistry between the leads for starters. From the the day they meet which is episode one, even if they don't like each other in the slightest, they're drawn to each other. Doesn't hurt that ML does come off as a cross between Elvis and Christian Grey (he cooks, cleans, can speak the language of cacti, can both play and teach golf, is a motorcycle rider/racer, knows various computer programs, is a magician, a gamer, can livestream, sings and plays the piano, plays chess, as well as can fly a helicopter and land in any emergency). The comedy is awesome; it makes you laugh hysterically sometimes at the ridiculous situations both leads find themselves in or put themselves in. The ML started as a bit of a selfish character, in reality he had a great heart all around and was very likable. The FL though stubborn and had nothing in her life save for work, was a sweet and caring woman. ML does chase FL first and that's where the primary comedy comes from, though there's a lot of it before he comes to that realization.

All of the secondary characters and couples have their own stories and they all come in when needed and resolved accordingly. I'm very glad that ML's best friend didn't just disappear because he was in a coma the entire series as often seen with useless characters. He was given etches of improvements and then him being shown awake at a very important time in the series. The OSTs were very on point and appropriate where they were added. Very glad the singular antagonist was dealt with accordingly and that it didn't drag on for eternity considering this was a series with only 24 episodes.

Cons: No plot; this show hinged on the lives of office workers and a romance between a younger man and older woman. There was also a love triangle or quad happening. The acting was subpar at best. ML is an idol with very little acting experience; if he wants to continue in the industry, I hope he gets himself an acting coach and learns how to show emotions not just say the lines. The stone-faced look didn't help the softer scenes or anywhere really; even the two times he really cried just didn't hit the mark, like he was trying too hard. Also not sure what was going on with the fashion on this show; the ML in particular had some avant-garde Project Runway thing going on that more often than not, didn't make any sense for neither him nor his character. Also way too much product placement; KellyOne water was literally everywhere.

LYR or cling wrap chick as I called her had to be the worst thing in this entire series. Though she did slightly evolve towards the end; I still do not understand this need to stick these whiny, annoying, stalkerish second or third female leads into these series, modern or otherwise. Even if she's supposed to be 23, she legit acts like she's a pre-teen. Once she finally got it through her head that GJX was not interested (and it took a few times), she proceeded to latch onto another man like gorilla glue also following him overseas. It's mind boggling that these kinds of characters are used over and over again. Real women do not act like that! There was a necessity to ffw her a few times.

Would I recommend it? I was looking for a rom-com where it was easy on the brain and you could just enjoy. This fit the bill to a T. So if that's what you're looking for as well, this is your show! Grab some popcorn, get ready to laugh a lot, and enjoy the cuter then hell moments especially starting with episode 17. ;)

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How can you tell it is a romantic J-drama? Shhh! Don’t interrupt the skinship.

In J romance dramas we trust. I do declare! The Japanese really know how to deliver a short, nice, easy-binge drama that just seems to hit the spot.

There is no point in calling out the drama for being shallow or one note. Let’s be honest, most of this type of j-dramas can be summarised on the back of a small napkin. This is also the difference between a j-drama and a similar Korean show. The Korean version will overthink and overwork the plots and probably add a lunatic killer, just because. On the other hand, an equivalent c-drama will be stretched to 40 episodes, and we shall pray for deliverance from the endless angsty tropes and breakups. Not that j-dramas don’t have tropes, there are plenty. However, they are usually under a tight rein and the plot is distilled into a set of key markers so that we get what is needed just at the right juncture.

For this drama, the plot can’t be simpler. We start with a cohabitation trope between two long lost high school classmates. This is signed, sealed and delivered within the opening minutes. The rest of the show is all about how the ML confesses (repeatedly) and pursuits the FL tirelessly. All the while chipping away at her armour and make her fall in love with him even though he is the one who is obsessed with her for 10 years.

Before you jump to the conclusion that he is some kind of psycho with despicable design on the poor hapless FL, you need to take a chill pill. ;) What you will find is a ML who is totally devoted to the FL and pretty much worships her. It is also important that he respects her and will do anything to please her and protect her. All this is done in an open and adorable way. He certainly has no problem telling her how he feels. It took a little longer for the FL to reciprocate though.

Needless to say, he yearns for her, but he is willing to wait for her to accept him first. When that happens, it is on for young and old! Our skinship quota went into orbit. Don’t get me wrong. It is not sleazy nor egregious. They accept that physical intimacy is an important part of a healthy relationship. FL went from being unsure and timid to being quite bold.

Like other similar j-dramas, we see a steady progress in their relationship. There are lumps and bumps along the way but they work to overcome them as a couple. Communication is the key. They are also sensitive to each other’s feelings and will act upon signs before they fester into sores.

Most importantly, the ML helps the FL to thrive and embrace the world beyond books. There are many sweet and swoon worthy moments. Don't judge this show by its poster. ;)

If you are a romantic looking for a straightforward, swoon-y show then add 1 extra point to the score. Seriously, if you feel jaded after watching a disappointing or just plain exasperating “romance” drama, just fire this up and lose yourself in it for a few hours. This show will make you believe in true love again. Highly recommended.

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I don't know how this drama didn't get as much hype as I expected

I haven't seen many people talking about this drama and this pissed me off a little bit because of how good it is. I just finished it and I can say this was one of the best dramas I've watched ever. I thought it would only be a comedy drama without much depth, but it was so much more than that, it was so interesting, heartbreaking and funny all at the same time.
The cast of this drama is simply amazing, Shin Hyesun was the perfect choice to portrait our beloved Mr. Queen, she did an amazing job and never failed at making me laugh, and at making me love the character each time more and more.
I don't know how to say more this without getting super excited and spoiling the story, so I'll leave my review at that, and I will leave my recommendation to those who came here to decided if they'll either watch it or not.

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Why can't people seem to appreciate flawed characters?

This review won't be a review per say but moreso another perspective of the show when compared to the majority of the negative reviews on this site. I feel the need to do this especially because a handful of these reviews almost made me decide not to watch this show. I won't go into a lot of details regarding the storyline since so many reviews have already done so. However, I'd like to leave my two cents here because most of the reviews shown here are negative and most of them are based on two things - Joe's naivety and Ming's toxicity.

One thing about this series is that it depcts toxic relationships with very flawed characters. It's been advertised since the beginning, it's based in an infamously toxic chinese novel (by an author who's well known for her toxic main leads), there's sinopsis, tags, trailer, etc. And yet people still seem to be hiper fixated in complaining about it, as if it hasn't been advertised at all.

Don't like these themes? Don't watch.

This is the same issue with Kinnporsche (which has two directors in common). So many people review bombing with negative ratings regarding the toxic storyline. There was even a review that complained so much and at the end considered this one of the best series of this year - giving this a 6. At least be coherent with your words and your scoring.

I understand the issue people have with Ming, he's an obvious red flag who is toxic from the beginning, a very flawed character who is depicted since the beginning as such. Flawed characters have existed in stories, series and movies for a long time and oftentimes they give way to intrigue storylines and help capture the viewers attention to try to understand how this person behaves the way they do. Flawed characters are real and human and I don't understand how so many people fail to appreciate that this type of representation is needed in art too. Yes, Ming is a huge asshole and a toxic narcissist. That makes him an even more compelling main character.

As for Joe, he's an absolute cinammon roll. He's someone who falls in love with someone he shouldn't. I see so many people stating how he's naive for liking Ming and that it's not realistic. Excuse me? How many people end up in toxic relationships despite the clear signs? How many people fail to see the red flags because of the rose-colored glasses? It's as realistic as it can get. Fortunately, My Stand-in still manages not to be as toxic as some relationships in real life get - and not as toxic as the original novel, thankfully. I feel like this show actually managed to tell the story really well, they allowed for Ming's character to grow and for Joe to realize that no matter how much he tried, he couldn't escape his feelings for Ming.

Sure, y'all can say Joe's dumb - he is. But it feels weird to reduce his feelings and struggles to just that - naivety and stupidity. Joe and Ming are such complex characters and to reduce this complexity to just being dumb or toxic is like missing the whole point of the show. The story isn't told just by dialogue or just by nc scenes. There's so many small details the directors focused on to conect the storyline. The actors were amazing too, the change in Up's eyes depending on Ming's emotional stability in different parts of the show was mesmerizing to watch - he's such a great actor. Poom was also absolutely amazing as Joe, reflecting his emotional maturity before and after his death.

Flawed and difficult characters are extremely complex. They're harder to understand, harder to act and harder to love. It's a challenge for the actors involved in these storylines and it's a challenge for the whole team. Yet, they're the most intriguing, the ones that make our brains work to understand, to fill in the blanks. There's a reason why we love villains. It's the same train of thought. Flawed characters are relatable, even if only a tiny little bit. Sure, in Ming's case, I really hope he's not as relatable to everyone out there, but there's realism to his character, like it or not.

This is why I don't understand the hate. I understand the constructive criticism and I have my own too, but to review bomb a show like this based on something it has advertised since the beginning? I don't get it.

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Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Mental health warning: if you are prone to depression do not watch this drama. It is relentlessly depressing and could win any competition for most tragic, angst ridden character ever. Despite the lack of balance in the mood and other flaws, the acting is fantastic and there are many stunning and unique aspects to this drama that make it worth watching. This drama literally transports you to an elegant pavilion surrounded by breathtaking landscape to admire the majestic grace and radiance of a pair of courting cranes... only to have them swoop down and poop all over you. You should stop reading here if you want to avoid mild spoilers - it is impossible to meaningfully review this without any.

The biggest issue with this drama is that it is not accessible. The plot is heavy with political intrigue and revels in ambiguity. This leaves many things open for analysis and discussion. Nothing and nobody is as they initially appear. The plot twists are intricate and the devil is in details that don't always lend themselves well to film adaptation. To dial up the suspense, key segments of footage is omitted and played back later to reveal the plot. Multiple re-watches are needed to understand the subtleties of each twist. The subtitles appear to be decent but don't do justice to more detailed subplots or the overall beauty of the prose. This is one where good subtitles would be worth waiting for. [Update Feb 2023: Good subtitles are now finally available for this on Youku International. They are vastly superior to previous ones so try to watch this on Youku.]

This story is adapted from a well-acclaimed novel about a tragic prince who is beset with treachery at every turn. Plotting and conspiracies are afoot as court officials advance their own agendas amidst the power struggle between crown prince Xiao Dingquan (Luo Jin) and his brother from another mother Prince Qi (Jin Han). The emperor (Huang Zhi Zhong) blatantly favors his first born Prince Qi over his heir Dingquan, who is perpetually in danger of being deposed by his own father. The emperor holds Dingquan to a higher standard; he must be groomed to hold on to the throne and carry on his legacy. Dingquan is hurt and bewildered by his father's favoritism and longs to be treated at least equally. He doesn't see that as the crown prince, he is already the most dear. The emperor presides over a corrupt court and depends on powerful generals to secure the kingdom's borders. He maintains his grip on power by pitting powerful ministers and generals against one another and does not allow sentiment or moral scruple to upset the balance of power in the court. Even his best loved sons have to be pawns in this merciless game of thrones. He finds Dingquan's morality and sentimental attachments at best naive and inconvenient; and at worst incompatible with the power dynamics and political realities of the court. He dislikes his son's frequent appeal to their relationship and his affection to get his way rather than winning on the merits of the situation. Their relationship is complicated by Dingquan's close relationship with his maternal uncle General Gu Silin whose military might is a source of discomfort and paranoia for the emperor.

The father-son relationship is the most significant, riveting relationship in the drama. Luo Jin visibly takes his acting up another notch in his portrayal of the lonely prince who demands his father's affection and approval even as he unflinchingly opposes him to protect his values and those dear to him. He was a bit too generous with the waterworks and indubitably has yet to master Hu Ge's ability to make his audience sob uncontrollably without shedding a single tear. Nonetheless Dingquan's struggle to stay true to himself as he is pushed to make painful choices for political expedience is compelling and gut wrenching. It is however, Huang Zhi Zhong's emperor that steals the show. He is first emperor and then a father caught between two sons that he loves in very different ways. His cold and ruthless public exterior masks his private pain every time he is forced to deal harshly with Dingquan, whom he distrusts but is actually the son that can hurt him the most. He is a cynical old soul who is disdainful of but yet also reluctantly admires his son's idealism and moral conviction. The emperor was masterfully portrayed and is able to evoke complex and multifaceted emotions including anger, empathy and pity. The conflicts that unfold show us that neither is ever completely right or wrong they just have different world views and priorities.

The second important relationship in the drama is the love story between Wenxi/Gu A'bao (Li Yi Tong) and Dingquan. The chemistry between the two leads is delightful and one of the reasons I stuck with this drama. The way the storyline unfolds and the writing however does not do justice to this wonderful pairing. In the novel (which I did not read) Dingquan never meets Wenxi, he only knows her as Gu A'bao. In the drama, Dingquan has several encounters with Wenxi before she steals into the palace disguised as a maid. Although he never fully sees her face, it is clear that they are soulmates and they fall in love. Forced to go separate ways, in their last encounter Wenxi approaches him in the palace dressed as a maid. Shortly thereafter, he meets Gu A'bao the maid with whom he continues to communicate in sophisticated allegory and metaphor but we are supposed to believe he doesn't recognize her! It is manifestly obvious that she is educated beyond even highborn ladies like the crown princess. This inexplicable and pointless faithfulness to the novel (after departing from it so significantly) is most likely just sheer laziness. They had the OTP meet early on to make it more romantically appealing but didn't bother to make further conforming changes to the plot.

Had they more logically carried this change through the plot, with some small modifications, they could have set the story up for a huge, far more relate-able and captivating plot twist, one that works much better in a drama instead of getting mired down in dry and detailed twists that work better in a book. I was already half convinced that at some point Dingquan figured out who she was and they were working together - this resonates from their body language and the way they communicate with each other. Considering the mental masturbation that went into the trivial question of whether the two male leads in the Untamed were lovers, imagine the speculative interest that would have gone into analyzing when Dingquan figured out Gu A'bao was Wenxi and when they started working together.. Instead they dragged out the reunion and settled for a far less memorable, crowd pleasing moment of truth devoid of the drama's signature ambiguity. This would also better explain some of the extreme lengths he goes to to protect Gu A'bao and make some of her motives and decisions more logical but those are small points. I just sigh for the big opportunity missed!

There was excessive plotting and too many betrayals in this drama. Censorship and deteriorating writing in the middle made some sub-plots confusing and less logical. The villains in this drama are complex grey characters with families and relationships that cast them in a somewhat sympathetic light. They are also way too smart, to the extent that each of Dingquan's few hard won victories cost him an arm and a leg. While there is some character progression and growth, Dingquan is too emotional and does not learn from his mistakes. As a result of repeated defeats, crushing personal losses, and an increasing sense of isolation the character regresses and starts to exhibit his father's capacity for cruelty and abuse. I did not like where they went with this and the way he treats the female lead is something that did not sit well with me. It was also gratuitous and rather pointless unless the writer was trying to make me lose respect for both characters. Which is a pity because Lu Wenxi/Gu A'bao is a uniquely interesting character - passive aggressive, bold, stubborn, vengeful, brilliant and indomitable. Li Yi Tong was so incredible in this role I was angry at the writer for diminishing her character into a bit of a lovesick fool in the middle although she finishes strongly.

The ending episode was messy and leads to the (mistaken) conclusion that the ending is open, possibly sad and definitely bad. For all intents and purposes however, the story actually ended at about 26 minutes into the last episode when things come to a full circle for the OTP. At that point, the two important relationships are satisfactorily and realistically resolved and all of the villains get some form of retribution. All of the rest is of footage that relates to a final thread that was shot but not aired due to censorship. This hints at the possibility of a different or open ending; that there is more betrayal and tragedy ahead. However, there was not enough build up of this thread to substantiate any definitive outcome. It should all have just been lumped together with the 3 minute cryptically worded epilogue that suggests the story continues (and may even be released one day). Viewed that way, the ending was good enough.

The twelve episodes that were cut likely closes the remaining loose threads with respect to several characters including Gu Fengen, scholar Xu and the 5th prince. Although the story never builds towards its final denouement, this could be the one time Chinese censors did us a big favor. This writer has no sense of balance and destroys some fantastic tropes and characters by taking them to mind blowing extremes. I have heard how the novel ends and I don't need to be there for a final betrayal that culminates in tragedy. This writer tortures the main protagonist to death with a vindictiveness that suggests the character was inspired by someone who terribly wronged them. I am glad that the censors have forced us to get off the bus at a great place and right before it drives off a cliff.

Despite the resonating sadness, this is still a ravishing production with some truly brilliant acting, moving prose, thought provoking insights, intriguing ambiguities and an acceptable ending. It has some of the most poetic, romantic lines I have come across in a Chinese drama. The real tragedy is that this has all the makings of a masterpiece but it just was not. 

Sept 2020 Update: The last 12 episodes (Royal Nirvana Special) are out. It ties up all the remaining loose threads regarding Prince Zhao (5th prince), Gu Fengan and Xu Changping. It is well done with a fitting ending.

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Have you always been waiting for a drama that actually teaches you something valuable? and makes you think of your own life? and boosts your energy? and has a positive effect on you? Well, this is it.

Story
A perfect combination of reality and life presented in the best manner it could be presented in. The writer managed to keep the story true and realistic with real life issues (based on experience it's all real) and yet kept it fresh and fun to watch. This drama carried out a strong message "it's better late than never" "the present is really a present (gift)". Try to live your life without regrets, live your life first for YOU before anyone else, appreciate the time you have now and live it to the max. This is the 1st drama that made me think of my own life and gave me hope and refreshed my memory with my past life and made me think of my present and future. This drama has boosted my energy and gave me positive insight even with all the issues that were discussed in the drama there is always bright side to everything. For once no villains no insane characters.

Acting
The whole cast were so true and natural to their characters but Choi Ji Woo and Lee Sang Yoon are the show's strongest point!! They had an amazing on screen chemistry they seemed so true so real and so adorable. They managed to present such normal average characters and bring them out into life in a very delightful manner (and people say it's the character that makes the actor) that's not true at all even with such plain characters those two have managed to show us how wonderful of actors they are.

Rewatch?
Definitely YES I would rewatch it over and over again because I need something as positive as this to boost my energy and remind me that it really is never too late.

Overall
Are you a drama lover? This drama fits everyone's taste because it's a slice of life and yet it has everything that we as drama fans love and would wanna watch. If I could I would personally go and thank everyone who helped making it.

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Love & Hate. Trust & Betrayal. A hopeless romantic drama with a dash of politics.

The core of this drama is the love story between the leads, with a bit of a mix of Beauty and the Beast + Romeo and Juliet vibes. The drama is about the female lead, who is sent to form a marriage alliance with the male lead’s family, in order to stop the feud between them. However, the male lead, a General and Lord of his clan, is reluctant to accept her, as he still harbours resentment towards her family. From distrust and hate, the leads slowly build trust and fall in love, while working together towards their common goal - to help their people live a peaceful life.

The best thing about this drama is that it made me FEEL. The characters were written so well, they all felt like real people. I laughed with them, I cried with them and worried for them. The angst hit hard, the romance was sweetness overload and the emotional moments landed at the perfect timing. It is indeed rare to find a drama that pulls you in so deeply, that you connect with so much emotionally, and this one totally did.

POSITIVE:
- Smart & strong female lead. She used her brain to fight war and I loved it.
- Red to green flag male lead. He was a layered character. Started off as a red flag and kind of a jerk towards everyone. But knowing what he has experienced, it all made sense. Falling for his wife softened him - towards her and his people. But at the same time, as a Lord and General, he was still badass, smart, firm and masculine.
- Rom-com vibes. Unexpectedly, the middle of the drama was non-stop laughter and cute romantic scenes. I’m usually all for angst but I absolutely loved this part as it truly built up the characters and love story.
- Comedy was gold. There were so many ridiculously funny and very entertaining scenes that made me smile all day. It’s been a long time since a drama made me laugh this much.
- Emotional rollercoaster. The heartwarming romance made me smile all day, while the heartbreaking moments made me cry buckets of tears.
- Slow burn romance that burned HARD. The romantic tension between the leads was the driving force of this drama and their enemies to lovers arc was brilliantly written.
- Hot kisses. Only 2-3 scenes but they totally broke the scale in terms of heat.
- Support cast was great. I’m looking at the four generals, especially dear Wei Liang, who was the heart of this drama and made me giggle like crazy.
- Villains. What I liked about this drama is that all villains felt human. Their actions made sense, their evil deeds made sense. In fact, if the script was flipped at the start, I could see some of them being the heroes. The villains weren’t villains for the sake of it but because their life circumstances and past pain had shaped them to be this way.
- Cinematography, OST, costumes - everything was done really well.

NEGATIVE:
There were little bits that bugged me. I wasn’t a fan of the second male lead but I did grow fond of him later. The political and war side towards the end felt a bit rushed. I wouldn’t have minded if the drama had 2 more episodes to extend the story. I’m guessing they didn’t have that much budget for a huge war scene in the finale episode, but the villain just standing there doing nothing was kind of lame. But still, none of these things were a huge overkill because the core of the drama was always romance, not politics or war.

OVERALL:
This is one of the best 2025 cdramas for me. It has everything, from well developed characters, brilliantly crafted romance, to a perfect blend of suspense, tragedy, angst and comedy. If you are here for logic, politics and war, you will most likely be disappointed. But if you want a brilliantly crafted love story, packed with a rollercoaster of emotions and an adorable support cast of generals, PLUS you are a hopeless romantic at heart, I highly, highly, highly recommend this drama.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“You see me as a jewel but you treat all others as ants” by the female lead
“If I succeed, it is my fortune. If I fail it is my fate. Even if I die, I’ll have no regrets.” by the villain

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