Reviews

A Breathtaking Start to an Epic BL Fantasy which Started as a Masterpiece but Collapsed by the End

Rated a 10 out of 10 at the start but now an 8 out of 10.

The Cursed Love started as an absolutely epic series. The opening was everything I hoped for and more. From the very first scene, it pulls you in with its powerful atmosphere, striking visuals, and a sense of mystery that lingers long after. The forest and mountain scenery are breathtaking. Lush, cinematic, and completely immersive. Every shot feels intentional, from the vibrant greens of nature to the magical aura layered throughout the landscape.

The action scenes in the early episodes are sharp and intense, blending fantasy elements with emotional weight. The production quality is genuinely impressive. The costumes, the lighting, the music. Everything comes together to create a believable and hauntingly magical world. The flashbacks add depth and tease a rich backstory that felt exciting to explore.
This was my first time seeing Au and Ongsa on screen and they were incredible. Their chemistry is so natural. The way they look at each other and that quiet overnight moment were soft, intimate, and genuinely moving. Their connection felt fated and promised something deeper than a typical romance. The entire vibe even reminded me of The Sign with its blend of mystery, fantasy, and aching emotion.

But as the series continued, the issues started piling up. The plot became messy and confusing with too many threads and not enough clarity. The romance between the main leads almost disappeared, leaving very little emotional progression. The villains kept shooting nonstop and it felt like characters were dying just for the sake of it. The GL couple and the second couple had no real development and their kiss at the end felt forced. The fighting scenes and stunt work became weaker over time and the product placement advertisements were distracting. Worst of all was the ending. It was rushed, incomplete, and filled with missing pieces, leaving the story feeling unfinished.

Overall, the scenery is stunning and the wind, fire, and water magic is a highlight, but the messy plot and wasted potential of such a strong cast turned what began as a perfect ten into a disappointing eight.

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!!!!!!!!!!This prolly count's as a spoiler, but I would just call it a warning!!!!!!!!!!!



OK very disappointed by the ending. It just like ended w/ way to much story left to tell. I loved it up to the end. The end was so abrupt and it literally sucked. I expected so MUCH more. I juat can't believe that such an awesome story ended like that. It had such potential. The last episode I watched b-4 it was subbed & I only understood like a quarter of it, but I knew that was the end & I just almost didn't go back and watch it the 2nd time subbed.

Now that my major disappointment has been shared I will tell u what I did like. I loved the combination of the You're Beautiful B & Hana Kimi type stories. I loved the leads. There was a rly good thing going on here. Go Eun Ah was amazing at her part. She did an excellent girl/boy reversal. Park Yoo Hwan he was amazing with his questioning of himself. "Y do I like a guy?" "How do I deal w/ this?" Loved it! Such a beautiful smile too. I rly hope that I see him in more drama's. Even though they were stuck w/ such a crappy ending. He did so well w/ his part.

I rly just couldn't stand the character played by Park Hyo Joo. I know there has to be that 1 person every1 hates. They had 2 of them in this drama. Ex-girlfriend & it's usually an evil mother thing, but no we got an overly sensitive, manipulating, "I'm only sry b/c I got caught" type person. I did not fell sry 4 her in the slightest. She deserved more karma.

The CEO, His story ended w/ absolutely nothing. The last u see of him is in his office on the phone. No1 finds out if the M2 Jr's got a spot. Nothing happened w/ the rival competition. OMG that just killed me, right there.

OK, I just don't think I could ever put myself through this ended again. So, I will not be watching this in the future. Watch it if u want to. U will fall in love w/ certain characters, but it just doesn't end well at all. The choice is up to you.

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It was anticlimactic...

***DISCLAIMER: These are just my thoughts while watching the show. We don’t have to agree and I’m not here to argue with anyone.***

Tropes: sports romance, boxing, age gap, coming of age, grumpy/sunshine.

Idk... this was one of those dramas I started out of boredom. To be fair I felt like the entire drama was slow and the romance was subpar / lackluster. It only started getting interesting with the betting ring and when the men kept on kidnapping him and threatening him but they did not do enough to really develop that plot and make it compelling. Then with ML best friend dying... that just felt like a lazy way for the writer to give him some trauma so he'd turn over a new leaf and try to exit the rigged games he was participating in. I just felt depleted after all that and then to see FL lose the match at the end and not be able to end her career and retire on a high note sucked. The ending was not good, to put it nicely. I felt like that kiss high key came out of nowhere... I feel like it ended with more questions rather than answers. Like what exactly happened to the ML, why did the gun shot go off, why was ML bleeding, why did he disappear for months?

Usually I am one of those people who enjoys a reformed bad guy because he met a girl but this just completely missed the mark with me. Not to mention the FLs first relationship / bf just pissed me right off... he basically was using her so he wouldn't be unemployed then he turned around and became an agent? Spare me... if I was in sports I would not go to that man or trust him with anything.

I really wanted to rate this higher because I enjoyed Lee Sang Yeob's acting... I really feel like he put a lot of effort into his character and during his scenes you could feel the emotion dripping from the screen. It must have something to do with his really expressive eyes. Not to mention, he's good looking and has this floppy puppy dog thing about his mannerisms. His smirk / smile got me every-time and I really empathized with his character and wanted to see him win and get out of the mess he was in. But again, one man is not able to carry an entire show. I thought that the villain, Mr Kim Oh Bok (Park Ji Hwan) also did a good job of selling the role of the menacing ring leader of sorts and the FLs dad (Kim Hyung Mook) was also a scene stealer. I feel like this was Kim So Hye's debut in acting.. with that did she did ok for a first project but there are aspects of her acting that she can improve. Having said that, I'm sure she'll improve as she takes on more roles or receives more training.

Overall, I would not rewatch this drama and I'd say it is forgettable and I probably won't remember it much in the next couple of months. Nevertheless it was a good distraction and kind of kept me entertained when I had nothing else to watch.

I'd really rate this a 5.5/10 but I rounded it up to 6/10 because I did enjoy the acting and storyline to an extent... it's just that it could have been better executed and developed.

Would I recommend it to others? No, probably not. Unless you are a Sang Yeob fan and want to watch for his scenes, there's really no point. I'm not going to say anything else but if you don't trust my opinion then you should watch it and come to your own conclusions / judgments.

Anyway, thanks for reading and happy watching!

❤️

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Falling Short of What Could've Been The Best Drama Series in a While

Having thoroughly enjoyed the 1'st part of "Lost You Forever," I was excited to dive into the second half. The first half stood out among other Xianxia dramas with its unique storytelling and well-developed characters. Each character, despite their flaws, was compelling and drew me into their world effortlessly. The intricate plot and emotional depth of the first season set a high bar, and I had high hopes that the second season would continue this trend.

However, as I began watching the second half, I quickly realized within the first two episodes that it fell short of the high standards set by its first half. The pacing felt off, and the character development that was so strong in the first half seemed to stagnate. The magic that made the first half so captivating was noticeably missing, leaving me disappointed.

One of the major issues was the pacing and the way scenes were cut. Some scenes didn't make sense, and the flow of the story felt disjointed. Critical scenes from the novel, which were essential to the plot and character development, were inexplicably left out. These omissions not only disrupted the narrative but also left significant gaps in the storyline, making it difficult to stay engaged.

Most notably, I was disappointed with the lack of Tushan Jing's character appearance and development. It felt as though the creators had given up on his character, which was a stark contrast to his importance in the first season. Tushan Jing's absence and underdevelopment were glaring issues that detracted from the overall experience. His character had so much potential and depth, and seeing it wasted was truly disheartening. Deng Wei did well with what was given to him. Wishing him the best in his upcoming drams.

Additionally, the decision to deviate from the novel's script was a major letdown. A pivotal scene, which was crucial for Xiaoyao and Cang Xuan, was reduced to an illusion. This lackluster execution undermined the emotional weight and significance of the moment. In the novel, this scene was a turning point for both characters, but the drama's adaptation failed to capture its essence, leaving it feeling hollow and unsatisfying.

The best part about the second half of the season was undoubtedly Cang Xuan. This season truly belonged to him, showcasing his descent from a loving brother to an obsessed and tormented brother. Zhang Wan Yi's portrayal of Cang Xuan was exceptional. His performance was so compelling that even when Cang Xuan made horrible decisions, it was impossible to hate his character. Instead, you felt a deep sense of pity for him. As someone who sits on the throne, you'd expect Cang Xuan to have more choices and freedom with his power, but instead, all you see are the restraints and burdens that make him a prisoner to the throne and people.

Despite my disappointment with his development in season 2, Tushan Jing remained my favorite character. He is sweet, kind, intelligent, and most importantly, loyal. No matter how badly people, especially his brother, treated him—even wanting and attempting to kill him—he never had any malice towards them. As a clan leader from a huge and powerful family, he could easily use his power to his advantage, taking out anybody who poses a threat to him and his loved ones. But he chooses not to because that is not who he is. Tushan Jing is resilient and respectful, and while some audiences might see this as weakness, it is precisely why he stands out as my favorite.

Though I disliked Xiang Liu at first, I started to appreciate his character as the story progressed. Initially, he came across as greedy and ruthless, making questionable decisions that aligned with his nature as a feared nine-headed demon. However, the more I watched, the more I realized how kind and loving he could be. His love for Xiaoyao was evident, yet he couldn't be with her due to his loyalty to his Chenrong army. Xiang Liu embodies the chaos and danger that Xiaoyao is trying to avoid. Having experienced turmoil in her early life, Xiaoyao now seeks peace and loyalty, which she finds in Tushan Jing. Xiang Liu is a morally grey character who sacrificed much for Xiaoyao's happiness, adding layers to his complex persona.

Xiaoyao, the female lead of the story, was the only constant character that needed no development because her character was already perfect, even with flaws. She was someone who could love deeply but would easily abandon anyone she disliked. She was a good person as Wen Xiao Liu to her family in the rejuvenation hall, a loyal sister to Cang Xuan and A Nian, a wonderful companion to Xiang Liu, and a loving partner to Tushan Jing. Actress Yangzi outdid herself in "Lost You Forever," bringing Xiaoyao to life with such nuance and depth. Her performance was compelling and heartfelt, capturing Xiaoyao's strength, vulnerability, and complexity. Yangzi's ability to portray a character with such emotional range and authenticity was a highlight of the series.

In conclusion, while "Lost You Forever" season 2 had the potential to build on the solid foundation of the first season, it ultimately fell short. The first season's unique blend of storytelling and character development set a high bar, and unfortunately, the second season was unable to live up to those expectations. The pacing issues, critical scene omissions, lack of Tushan Jing's character development, and deviation from the novel's script all contributed to a disappointing viewing experience. However, Zhang Wan Yi's portrayal of Cang Xuan was a standout, bringing depth and complexity to his character's tragic arc, and was the highlight of the season. Tushan Jing, despite his limited screen time, remained a beacon of resilience and integrity, making him a truly unforgettable character. Xiang Liu's evolution from a feared demon to a character of depth and sacrifice also added a compelling layer to the drama. And finally, Yangzi's portrayal of Xiaoyao was nothing short of extraordinary, solidifying her as a central, unwavering force in the series.

OST is a 10/10. I love love Cang Xuan's theme song.

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Cuteness overload...

How to begin this review? I'm a bit overwhelmed with positives and negatives of this show. First of all, The workshop/rehearsals they all did payed off very well. But I still don't like the representation of Japans society. The first irk was the question of the girl on the end of episode 2 "By the way, why are you so protective of Hioki?" - no-one in Japan would ask the question, if they are not really, really close or family. This does not happen. And then we have Morisaki brother. First the prank in the car was really of very bad taste and would have earned him a beating in my book. But then pushing Watarai would also never ever happen. The four friends only spoke for about four months at that time, which means Watarai may have seen Morisakis brother but does not have any connection to him whatsoever. This is the typical fantasy land most BLs are in and we could have done without that.

One the other hand, this couple is one of the cutest we ever have to get to know. Hiokis actor protrayed his character to perfection. I only wish his scream was much much much longer. 🤣Yes he is shy, but on the other hand he is direct, asks what's on his mind and is not wishywashy at all which was very refreshing. Watarai's actor plays the cool one, but he is shy himself but covers it up most of the time. Both characters grow with each other and in the finale Hioki is the leading man. Perfect!

Production quality was also top notch! Cinematography, costumes, editing and the audio were all perfect as well. So this was very enjoyable and cute and of course I have to recommand that show. Also we get the treat of two special episodes airing consecutively next week and the week after. And both of them on a spring break trip is something I look forward. 🤣

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Three more episodes and I would've at least finished this, but the prospect of three more hours of this torture was driving me crazy.

When I started watching the drama, I had a lot of expectations. My best friend is a baseball fanatic and it kind of rubbed into me; so I was pretty excited at the beginning solely because of the baseball factor. If you were hoping for some baseball action, then forget it.

You're in for a borderline ridiculous plot about revenge and the strong hold of the past on these characters' lives, really bad acting, non-existant chemistry between the two main leads, extremely evil and insane cut-board characters (stereotypical), and a great dosage of lameness in between. LAME. SILLY. This is what this drama is.

Don't watch it if you don't want to waste your time. I wish I could take all the time I spent on this back. >:O

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A K-Drama That Tried to Be Everything and Ended Up as a Cosmic Mess

Ah, the sweet sound of hype imploding like a black hole swallowing a dying star.*

This drama had one job: make interstellar romance charming. Instead, it delivered a celestial dumpster fire where logic went to die. 12 episodes in, and it’s painfully clear—the writers were either sleep-deprived or conducting a social experiment to see how much absurdity audiences will tolerate.

#The Leads: Chemistry or Chemistry Experiment Gone Wrong?
The main couple has the romantic tension of two astronauts trapped in separate orbits. Their love story is marketed as “destined,” but it feels more like an HR violation waiting to happen. He broods like he’s trying to out-angst every K-drama lead ever, while she oscillates between quirky and utterly baffling.

#The Plot: A Telenovela on Steroids
At first, you think, 'Ah, it’s a rom-com with space elements.' Then episode after episode, you realize it’s a thriller, a sci-fi melodrama, a corporate revenge saga, and possibly a guide on how NOT to write a coherent script. The subplots multiply like bacteria in a petri dish—messy, uncontrollable, and occasionally dangerous.

#The Side Characters: Walking Red Flags
Every supporting character is either secretly evil, morally bankrupt, or just there to deliver one-liners before disappearing forever.

#Final Verdict: 2/10 Meteor Showers
This drama is like ordering a luxury space cruise and getting stranded in an asteroid belt of nonsense. You WILL laugh, but mostly at how ridiculous it gets. If you love watching beautiful people suffer through questionable writing, congratulations—this is your next guilty pleasure.

But hey, at least it’s entertaining in a *watching-a-satellite-crash* kind of way.

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An average drama (weak without the main CP) with a huge POLITICAL ISSUE

"You are my glory" is a 100% adaptation of the original novel. For fans of the novel or fans of the main couple in particular, this can be a perfect match. However, for me - a fan of the original, not a fan of the main actor/actress, a former film critic - this work is relatively weak in terms of cinematography. The storytelling is a listing of events from the original novel, but lacks the climactic elements that should have in a drama. The length of the film was also cut shorter than the usual length to pull up to 32 episodes, showing that the content is not too rich. This type of instant film is only suitable for web dramas, which is weaker than a standard tv drama. Compared to some other web dramas, the storytelling of this series is also poorer. What attracts views is basically the main high-visual CP and their romantic scenes. Dilraba and YY's acting is only at the level of acceptable, not excellent, with good interaction.

In the original, the game part is what I like most (but boring in the film) while in the drama, the best part is the aerospace scenes because of its professionalism. However, immediately, I realized this part definitely has the backing of the Chinese government, and the political intrigue is too obvious. The illegal 9-dashed map is embedded multiple times in this series. If you don't have the necessary political knowledge, especially if you are an audience from countries that own a part of the South China Sea, you have been warned. Do not support a product that the Chinese government uses to claim sovereignty over the entire South China Sea which is shared by more than 5 different countries in the region.

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50+ episode makjang distilled into 16 episode chaos

Makjang is ridiculous and over-the-top drama (which generally rates poorly on MDL), and Graceful Family ticks all the makjang qualifications: plot twist(s) in every episode, cocktail of comedy and drama, absurd cast of characters, and more. It makes for an entertaining watch, but I am grateful that this drama wraps up in 16 episodes. The ridiculousness makes it difficult to connect with its characters and to elevate it to endearing versus entertaining.

Story:
Graceful Family covers an incredible amount of plotlines over the course of 16 episodes (even covering a flashback at the beginning of each episode). The drawback is that most of these plotlines just happen for the purposes of moving the story forward. Then, the characters have to react accordingly, but even their reactions seem inconsistent at times. Roller coaster is a perfect analogy as the viewers are strapped in to follow whatever rail the writers have created for the story.

Acting:
I am a big Im Soo-Hyang fan because of her main role in My ID is Gangnam Beauty. Her character in Graceful Family is a stark contrast from Gangnam Beauty. The one similarity is the character’s belief in herself. That confidence/conviction is masked in Gangnam Beauty whereas it is in the forefront of her character in Graceful Family. The execution of the character in Graceful Family is simple, but that does not take away from Im Soo-Hyang’s great performance.

Same can be said for the other main leads and supporting cast. For a cable network drama, the entire cast of Graceful Family is experienced and talented. Bae Jong-Ok stands out as the villain character (plus I recommend Live to see more of her!). The major loss of points in this area is that the writing really limits the actors’ performances. Every character is put into impossible situations and directed to overreact, fully embracing the makjang moniker. Still, the overall acting is what kept me tuning in week by week.

Music:
Even the music is melodramatic in Graceful Family. Any hint of plot tension is accompanied by dramatic music, and the OST heavily leans in that direction. It follows the kdrama music formula that has proven successful over the years. MBN carefully crafted Grace Family to leverage all the key points that we expect of Korean Dramas.

Rewatch Value:
As entertaining as Graceful Family can be, it is best enjoyed in the moment because dwelling any longer highlights its various flaws. The cast is the highlight of the drama, and I attribute its rating success to them. Still, I would rather rewatch two dramas that I mentioned earlier instead of Graceful Family (My ID is Gangnam Beauty + Live). Given the solid amount of drama offerings in 2019, missing Graceful Family is not a loss for most drama watchers.

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Started out so well, and then the main conflict gets resolved around the half way mark and the drama loses it way, and gets buried in cliché. The will they or won't they is the most integral part of any rebound romance story and if you take that conflict out, it's hard to sustain a story for the length of so many episodes. And you can hate me for it, Jung Hae In is GORGEOUS but he wasn't convincing at all when he was supposed to show sadness, like otherwise he was fine, but a lot of actors, are not great at everything but they are great at showing sadness which for a show like this and for kdrama in general was very much needed.

Maybe because of this and the lack of real conflict in the second half I ended up not buying their relationship AT ALL and both the characters seemed to feel unfinished and not well thought out. Acting wise though the rest of the cast was really doing well and you know there's something wrong with a drama when I was honestly siding with the ex lol seriously the two son in laws should have just hooked up they were so good together. Seriously, I really got involved in the other sisters story a lot more. And the sociopathic son in law from hell the actor was so good and all the actors who played the sisters same, I liked both the sisters! Especially the youngest, she was badass.

The problem with a story about cheating couples is if you don't have characters who are conflicted about their emotions and they show some emotion for the ex is what makes the character a worthy protagonist for a romance. If they say they have no feelings for someone they were with for four years not only do they sound self serving but you also are unable to believe they will be any different in the new relationship. Like you waited till you had a hot guy with a stable job to leave someone you claim you didn't have feelings for yet you were sleeping with them? And saying you'll get married, I mean the guy didn't even do anything besides 'not give her enough time' when he was in a business meeting! ! Is she going to resent the new guy when he cancels on her because he was working?

I mean I did not buy she was going to continue to be 'selfless' long term with the new guy it's just a matter of time.

Another thing that also became annoying was the fact that the perceived 'villain' in the story, the ex, was the not really evil and the stunts he pulled become so lame you're left watching a boring story because look the villain actually has to win at something to be a convincing villain! Lol here none of the 'villains' or the antagonists were actually scary and everything got resolved through a single conversation, lol literally, like that's why I was so bored.

That said I did enjoy it but mostly because Jung Hae In is GORGEOUS and I liked the cast, the ex even I felt bad for him.

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The reasons I rated this drama so high.
1, Sakurada DORI.
2. Phenomenal skin ship.
3. Sakurada DORI.
4. Pervy kinky male lead
5. Sakurada DORI.
6. Sakurada DORI
7. Sakurada DORI

And did I mention SAKURADA FREAKING DORI

XD

If that's not enough of a reason, well okay I know most people can't stand the idea of insta love so what can I say, MORE DORI FOR ME YOU LOSERS!!!!

XD

So now that that's out of the way I just thought this drama was well made, full of eye candy and the couple had chemistry and it's not the most brilliant writing but it's not bad writing either. This is very much guilty pleasure wish fulfillment at its finest!!!

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An amazing journey... which ended up being miserable near the end (ツ)

"Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard" having such a unique and peculiar title was the first thing that made me took interest in the drama, but I was mesmerized by its beautiful cinematography and stunning soundtrack which comes with the very first scene. So I was literally hooked in the first 5 minutes into the show, it proves that it has that perfect first impression. Not just its beauty the way emotions were conveyed, I've never been emotional in the first episode of any modern C-drama but this becomes an exception. It was a roller coaster ride where I enjoyed, laughed, and cried... but there is a big BUT.

Talking about the story. It was really well written and almost perfect regarding characters' personality, their dialogues, the pace and direction of the storyline having all little details. I was impressed from the starting till near the end. Then they messed up... messed up so hard, I almost thought if they changed the writer as the whole setup of the story into a total melodrama. Loving all the way, my wonderful ride becomes rough out of nowhere adding all unnecessary things, cliches on the edge of the finale. Was it really needed?

They did a great job with casting. Allen Ren just nailed it! with all those emotions, being calm, composed, and his subtle smile just WOW! talking about the character Gu Chuan. I really loved the fact that they didn't go with all stereotype CEOs of C-dramas being rude, arrogant, and unreasonable all the time. His character felt like a real person just being cold due to the situation he is going through. Sad and depressed having just one goal to complete, till Xiao Ning came into his life and he got a reason to smile, to come out of his shell and actually live. Fair Xing... is definitely Fair for this role as she can play a bubbly, energetic, adorable character so naturally having that cute smile on the face all time. The chemistry this couple has is amazing and remarkable... one of the reasons why I was enjoying it.

All other things including music, cinematography, very interesting side couple this drama was near perfection to me. And here comes that big BUT it collapsed losing all its momentum in the last 6-7 episodes.. out of the track, almost wrapping ending, wasting much time on the very unnecessary situation and side couple but at the end of the day, we rather get a huge disappointment other than a satisfaction which I was anticipating. How to turn a very cheerful, refreshing, sweet, fluff into melodrama this being a perfect example here. That's how my 9.5 turned into 8.5. (On a side note: I never give high ratings, 9.5 is very rare).

It sure teaches 101 ways how to turn the perfect drama into a messy ride.
I won't say it's not enjoyable it sure was... but don't get your hopes too high.

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Delusional cult following ending in a disastrous watching experience

It was very much a disappointment, as the drama promised depth yet only provided a surface-level spectacular and absolutely miserably failed at living up to its title. The story revolves around the meteoric rise of an aspiring performer to fame and can effectively explore ambition, sacrifice, and the grit of showbiz but instead felt contrived and very uninventive. Characters were written with reprehensibly little dimension; FL herself was the usual tired cliché of a dreamer whose motivations were never fleshed out. The dialogue was supposed to be emotionally packed but came off as empty and repetitious, eating into the seriousness in connecting audiences with actual struggles of the lead. The rhythm of the show was also wanting, with plot points either being belted out too fast or stretched beyond reason, thus stealing much of the momentum and excitement in the story. Even music sequences that should amaze and excite were uncouth in choreography and even without energy, to one's surprise. Instead of whisking viewers away on some sort of immersive rise-and-fall tale of celebrity, the drama shuffled its way through plot points that rarely offered anything new or impactful throughout. It's a drama that wanted to shine bright and turned into a flash in the pan that's hardly memorable; it left me to consider what could have been if it reached for believability instead of reaching for empty theatrics.

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