Reviews

Just my opinion...

Apparently, I watched a different show than everyone else. I'll put the sadly necessary disclaimer - this is my own personal opinion, so don't come after me.

For me, the show had a lot of style, and not much substance. Beautifully filmed and beautifully dressed beautiful people, so much of the time I felt like I was a spectator watching a fashion show runway catwalk. Lots of walking from here to there, "look at what I'm wearing now", models with no expression.

I just didn't like anyone in this show. For me, there has to be something likeable about someone to make me care about what happens to them. Both the ML and the FL had personality issues. FL in particular was unlikeable, she was such a cold person. Kim Ji Won tends to play the same type of character, and her lack of facial expressions just doesn't endear her to me. The ML's reaction when he found out she was sick was just wrong. And the sequence, with the overabundance of flashbacks, was out of synch and made it hard for me to like them. I didn't believe in their story and was never able to feel their love for one another, even at the end.

And can we talk about tropes? In this drama, the tropes were piled high, one after another. When they got to the amnesia part, I laughed out loud - my trope bingo card was complete!

Should you watch it? Don't go by me, because apparently, I'm an outlier. Give it a try and come to your own conclusion.

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PURE MADNESS!!!

I understand why many viewers felt disappointed with the ending. At this point, the drama could have followed the webtoon more closely, especially since its ending, though still sad, felt more complete.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed this drama. It’s one of the rare shows where I didn’t skip a single scene. From start to finish, it held my attention.

The early high school episodes were a highlight for me. I actually wish they had lasted longer. Without them, if the story had begun only when Baek Ah Jin became a celebrity, her character would have seemed like just another fame-obsessed star willing to do anything to rise to the top. But that’s not who she is. Those early episodes showed the roots of her trauma, and because of that, I could empathize with her, and I pitied her, even if I didn’t agree with her choices at all.

And it wasn’t just her. Every character in this drama had their own brand of madness. Let’s be honest: the world Baek Ah Jin lived in was far from sane, and the people around her were just as chaotic in their own ways! Everyone was mad in their own way!

Despite all this, I admired the two male leads. Their devotion to the female lead was unwavering, and they were willing to do anything to support her. Still, I can’t say I condone all their actions, especially Jun Seo’s behavior toward the end, which was absolutely wild (although that's not what happened in the webtoon).

Overall, I’m really satisfied with this drama. I usually gravitate toward lighthearted romantic comedies filled with cute fluffy moments between the leads, and this show was the complete opposite. Yet I found myself appreciating it deeply, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something different.

I’m just giving it fewer points for rewatch value. Because of its dark themes and how emotionally heavy it is, I feel that watching it once is more than enough.

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I continuously tried to justify Blood's shortcomings to myself - I wanted to like it, I really did. Then came the one part that was just too much for me to excuse: the ending. Within minutes of finishing this drama, I took to the internet to have the finale explained to me. What was I missing? Every minute of the last episode made less sense than the one preceding. Reviews and recaps confirmed that the ending was nonsensical - I hadn't missed a thing. In the comments, fans of Blood ignored logic, trying to rationalize the shreds of a story viewers were left with.

The lead acting was mediocre at best. I compliment Goo Hye Sun on her improvement, but it wasn't enough to warrant another lead role. I desperately wish Ahn Jae Hyeon had stuck to modeling and minor roles, because I'm left with a sour resentment towards his involvement in this drama that will take a long time to heal. The supporting cast was average and unmemorable, bordering on uncomfortable to watch. The exception is Son Soo Hyeon, who made the best of a lack luster character.

Musically, Blood neither excelled nor stood out. The scores were overused enough that when a certain tune began, you could predetermine the outcome of the accompanying scene. The OST features boring ballads, certainly nothing I would want hear of my own volition.

In order to re-watch Blood, I would have to be offered money. Even then, it would take a heavy amount of consideration based on both how much money I was being offered, and how little else I had to do at the time.

I'm left with feelings of resentment, but at who, I don't know. Maybe the writers, for attempting to pass of this untenable excuse of a story. Maybe at myself, for excusing Blood's flaws until it was too late to quit.

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What was the finale?

While I watched the show, it was the typical stuff I expected from such a show. We had the evil dad, who turns out to be gay in the finale, we have misunderstandings and we have even two gay and one lesbian couple... And because any show needs drama, we have the bullying. So far, so good.

But the finale... WTF? The both stand of the rocks and watch the broken up comet which were toooooo far away to have any impact directly, but of course could have made a tsunami is they would have hit water. Normally they should have the comet up their faces and then ok, they both die - for what is the question? Xu giving in so willingly did also not make much sense. When you are already out, you should not care about others anymore. Period.

So for me, the finale did ruin the whole series, because for me it makes no sense whatsoever. Dad being outed as being gay came too late, that would have had more impact if we had seen his past also. That he then turned 180 degrees also makes no sense. When you are in denial for DECADES, you do not change over night, It would have made more sense, when Wang had beaten him up about it, but no. But I guess they did not think about that or they run out of time (and budget) becauase they wasted it through the whole story. The series did have it's lengths, they could have compacted the story and put in some other focus like the dad to have much more impact.

And because the finale ruins everything I don't get the high praise from some reviews... what is wrong with you people? While the acting of the MLs was fine, the acting of the side couple was weak. They did not feel natural in the series, but when you see them in private they have the chemistry which is missing in this series. Production quality was also fine, but that can't save any series. Because of all the factors I deducted my rating heavily... it could have been a 7.5 with a proper finale, but this felt rushed and imprudent. And I don't like it.

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I had fun!

I'll keep this review short and say people are haters.

This was a delightful show. A generic but unique storyline, with well-written characters, a great cast with superb acting, an OST that complimented the show so well and aesthetically pleasing cinematography. It was well-paced, consistent, short and sweet. The show was extremely warm and fluffy. I found myself smiling, giggling, swirling my toes, laughing and internally screaming at how cute, fun and funny it was. If you are looking for a simple, cute and enticing storyline, then this is the show for you.

If you don't like romance then this show is not for you. Simple.

People were just so salty about the age gap that the rating ended up very low. There are plenty of dramas that have the same agenda but apparently this was a world crisis.

If you are an open-minded person you might enjoy this, don't ponder over the other bad reviews and just go for it. I'm sure you won't regret it. I won't go into extensive detail about the show because it's not very complex and it's better to see it for yourself. However, I believe that the show dealt with relationships and break-ups in an insightful and somewhat relatable manner.

I 10/10 would recommend and watch again!

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Tune in for laughter & second-hand embarrassment! Starts off with a bang but eventually peters out.

Ep 1: The leads look so good & they are funny! It starts with a fake police (our FL) handcuffing our sweet Mobster with toy handcuffs for a crime he didn't commit. The FL is really gutsy and crazy! First meet, she mistakes him for a guy who tried to harm a waiter with a broken bottle. Second meet, she thinks he is stealing money from the kids! As if the handcuffs were not enough, she hits him in the head from the back and runs away! She is waring a mascot getup for her part time job. The ML thinks she sells drugs because he mistook the kid candies she had for drugs. You know a drama is good when you want the first episode to be longer than 1 hour. The SML also seems to be connected to these somehow, we'll find out how. The Thirsty Deer gang is so fun to watch.

Ep 2: Damn the FL has a very overactive imagination! I still can't believe she let go of him when he was about to fall. Poor guy can't seem to catch a break when he is around her. And he is already falling for her. Wow, his guy gang just couldn't take a hint that he wanted them to get out. Okay this episode was a little less crazy than the previous one, but it was nice. I honestly like the leads a lot, all three of them. I wonder what's up with the SML. Is he really the Hyeon U, she has been searching for. Their history sounds interesting. I wonder what happened between the two & if he remembers her.

Ep 3: I was watching binge-watching the cdrama "Story of Kunning Palace", so catching up on this episode was a sudden change of genres & language for me. I thought the intensity of Kunning palace might make me loose interest in this drama (I didn't want that to happen), but thankfully the ML did something that was in character for him to do, the map of India no Indonesia. He clearly was so bothered that Yeong asked her to call him if she wanted to go on a drive sometimes. Yeong knows the effect he has on women and he uses it well. Oh man, he is so adorable with the coat thing! Okay this episode was lovely & next one looks even better.

Ep 4: Okay both ML & SML made me laugh at the strangest things they did. The slide scene reminded me of Lovely Runner's slide scene where Sun Jae was trying to hide from Im Sol. I don't like FL's coworker who tried to humiliate her. Even though she is doing good career wise, she wants to bully FL because she holds something against her (No reason has been provided so far) Here's to hoping that the Thirsty Deer Crew doesn't hire her but chose to work with FL because she truly seems to care about the children.

Ep 5: These two cuties are making it so fun to watch. I'm sure no one watching the drama is Kang Ye Na's fan. From the way things are going, it is clear that Ji Hwan is Eun Ha's childhood sweetheart. But the change of name and another Hyeon U taking fancy to her needs to be explained so have to wait for the revelation. The names of the gangs are so funny, we have Bull Dog & then Meow/Kitty. That kiss was so unexpected, I wish all of it was shown from the front and not back but we'll make do. Ji Hwan's reaction was worth watching!

Ep 6: Oh, I wonder if the thing between Ju Il Yeong & Koo Mi Ho is going anywhere. He did seem like someone who has a way with women so it is hard to figure out if he is looking for than a fling. Koo Mi Ho was attracted by his looks so not yet sure she feels anything tangible as well. But they looked good together. That one flashback we got was so damn steamy & far too short. Ji Hwan is one of a kind, with the way he started flaunting his shoulders. The preview for next week's episodes look sad, I wonder where it is going.

Ep 7 & Ep 8: Ah so there's the explanation about how he is her childhood sweetheart. So the prosecutor with the same name is such a big coincidence. The gang is all so silly. Ju Il Yeong pulled the it was a mistake card! (facepalm) Poor Mi Ho was so embarrassed. I wonder how she ended up in the same hospital room as he did in the first few episodes. Ji Hwan trying to protect Miss Minnie but it is in vain. What have we learned from watching countless similar plots? They end up admitting their feelings anyways! Next week's previews look exciting, however, they seem to need liquid courage to kiss each other.

Ep 9 & Ep 10: Ji Hwan is being so frustrating. I love Ko Mi Ho, the way she confronted what made her uncomfortable was gold. I wish they had focused more on this second relationship. Oh my, episode 10 gave me lot of second hand embarrassment. Wow there, even though I like corny scenes some of these were too over the top. At least, they did not fail to give me shivers or make me laugh. I knew it was Mi Ho's test! Whose else could it have been? Ji Hwan can barely kiss Eun Ha without fainting (Lol). We finally see some sort of reciprocation of feelings from Ju Il Yeong, even though right now they are borne out of jealousy. The pregnancy might complicate things or help them out.

Ep 11 to Ep 16: Right now, I'm more interested in Mi Ho's and II Yeong's story than the main leads, because it is getting a bit too corny even for me. I think they missed the right balance here. The last two episodes were kinda sweet for the main leads, they were finally back to adorable. I think halfway through the drama lost its appeal for me. This should have been a shorter 10 or 12 episodes drama. I did adore the dynamics between Hyugnim and his bros. Enjoyed Mi Ho's love story till the end. Had they toned down the crazy a little bit the leads story would have been better. I hope to see more of Uhm Tae Goo from now on.

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tried something different

Overall: though it was cool how they tried something different, the tonal shifts and writing didn't work for me. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired uncut on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/jack-joker-u-steal-my-heart-episode-1-l2dlqwi91c?lang=en_us (I watched the uncut version which originally was the only MDL listing, if there is a cut version released at a later date that I can watch, I'll try to update this with the differences)

Content Warnings: past suicide, suicide, attempted suicide, theft, violence/beaten up, blood, bullying, attempted kidnapping, coercion, manipulation, punch, kidnapping, blood

Watch Suggestions starting at ep 5 (uncut timings) (to take out nonsense plot, brutality and focus on the leads' relationship, I might go back thru earlier episodes for suggested timings later)
- episode 5 watch 5:30-9:30 and 16-50:50 if you want to see a caper, otherwise watch 9:30-12:40 and 50:50-56:55 for 2 hurt care scenes
- episode 6 watch the beginning to 9:10, 16-21:40, 24:45-29:30 and 38-1hr2m30s
- skip episode 7
- episode 8 watch 1hr10m45s to the end
- episode 9 watch 1hr4min to the end
- episode 10 watch beginning to 5 and then 12-12:45
- skip episode 11
- episode 12 watch 53:30-54:20 and 1hr 24 to the end

What I Liked
- best grandma ever
- unique premise
- sweet/flirty/caring moments
- fight/action sequences
- grey protagonists
- how Jack called out his coach and then the coach apologized and got his karma
- non cliche female character

Room For Improvement
- tonal shifts between inept comedy caper and brutality/action
- the romance took a backseat to the nonsense plot
- characters were stupid and inept
- because 2 characters relished in violence at the beginning of episode 5, it made me uninterested in any romantic pairings with them involved
- ep 1 started with a flash forward
- I didn't laugh at most of the jokes including the food poisoning/farting
- there were a ton of nonsense things, one example being it didn't make any sense why a character was so angry at another character when the result would have been exactly the same
- failed redemption arcs
- the character acting like someone with less money and then having fake dirt on him was in bad taste and the knock off Squid Game video game thing was completely uninteresting
- a character's insistence on something in the NC scene in ep 10 felt dated
- characters just stood around while a character was hauled off by very shifty looking dudes
- lack of trust between romantic partners
- lack of consequences for several characters

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I shouldn't love this, NEVERTHELESS...

Whew, I am most likely going to be in the minority on this one, but I LOVED THIS SHOW FROM START TO FINISH. It was well-paced, cozy, and suspenseful. This is peak romance.

I think a lot of the webtoon readers are upset because they came in expecting one thing and got something different. They were expecting certain subversions of tropes and two dimensional characters instead of ones that are morally grey. To be honest, Song Kang's Jae-On is NOT a complete fboi—he's a poor communicator above all. He was haunted by a bad reputation and neglectful upbringing; Nabi became suspicious of him before he really gave her reason to. He feebly attempted to go back to his old ways when she ran away and continuously pushed him away, and it didn't successfully distract him. I don't want to excuse all his behaviour though; he pushes boundaries and the whole Seola dynamic was sketchy. He never truly said no to Seola, even though it was clear EVEN TO HER that Jae-On's attention was no longer hers to hold captive. This is a story of setting people free to let them make their own decisions, and Seola's decision to set Jae-On free allowed him to finally set his own butterflies free. If there's one thing I didn't like, it was how the Seola storyline got tied up without ever clearing up the ambiguity of their relationship. Somehow, I can't even hate her though — she clearly stood up for herself when she realized it wasn't working for her. As for Nabi, she is frustrating with her mixed signals, and yet her behaviour is so clearly expected of a young person who's suffered with abusive relationships and astonishingly low self-esteem. She's too afraid to define the relationship early in fear of losing it, but lashes out when she doesn't receive the validation she so desperately needs. Throw in the confusion of another hardcore suitor in Potato Boy, and I understand how she was so confused.

I think that's the best part of this series: I loved allllll the characters. Normally, some side characters (or worse, the main characters) get on my nerves or I simply don't care about them. In this case, I was gripped by the suspense of the will-they-won't-they between Nabi and Jae-On, I was invested in Potato Boy's success, and I LIVED for Bitna/Gyu Hyun, the sunbaes, and ESPECIALLY Sol/Jiwan. Can we talk about how refreshing and progressive this drama felt?!

This show is best if you don't spoil the ending for yourself. Knowing that there's the "expected kdrama path" vs. the "subversive webtoon path" brings so much suspense to the last few episodes as long as you don't know which direction the story will go. So if you're reading this review to decide whether to watch the show, please do not read the next paragraph. :)

Ultimately, I was satisfied with the ending. I am sure this opinion is controversial. The only other ending I would've been happy with is if Nabi went off to Paris alone and thriving, and WHO IS TO SAY THAT WON'T HAPPEN STILL? But I would not have been happy with the webtoon ending because the chemistry and timing was all wrong between Nabi and Potato Boy. He pushed her because he liked her so much, and she accepted his affection for a while because she was so vulnerable. You can argue that chemistry isn't everything; that having a good, dependable relationship is better than a passionate one. But they are so young, and it's so not fair to him. Potato Boy doesn't deserve to be with someone who pines over someone else. And between Nabi and Jae-On, the best part to me is that they finally COMMUNICATED. They made their choices without any disillusions. Nabi doesn't expect things to last forever between them, but she owes it to herself to see things through — perhaps to get him out of her system, or perhaps to give him a chance to surprise her. I truly believe the drama version of Jae-On has done enough to deserve that chance. As the side characters underscored in their closing scene, what's the point of a relationship if you don't love the other more? The truly romantic point of view is that both sides should feel lucky. They are too young to settle — arguably, we should all come to the same conclusion in our lives.

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Dull

Nunew does his best to carry the show, he’s geuinely the only one with a personality. The three couples featured have zero chemistry together. Charan has the personality of a rock and cares entirely too much about his duty to the king. He refuses to stick up for Khanin & is just incredibly subservient. Plus he’s hiding a massive lie from him about his dad that he 100% should’ve told him about before they ever got intimate. I would never forgive
someone for lying about that. I appreciate the political aspect with Khanin wanting to step up for his people regarding the pollution but overall the plot is just dull and I might drop it.
The bdsm was the only wow factor of this show.

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Such Wonderful Characters

The Story:

The Long Ballad follows the journey of Li Chang Ge, the daughter of the previous Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty. After her beloved uncle massacres her family and takes the throne, Chang Ge finds herself fleeing for her life. During these events, she encounters and befriends Ashile Sun while both are using different identities. Ashile Sun is a general and foster son of the Khan of the Ashile Tribe who also happens to be one of Tang’s fierce enemies. After defeating Chang Ge in battle, Sun takes her back to his camp to save her life and eventually makes her his military advisor. After a series of unfortunate events involving shattering losses to both, Chang Ge and Sun are separated with Chang Ge lost to how she should move forward. After discovering her new path and finding their way back to each other, Sun and Chang Ge begin to fight for their life together and for peace for their kingdoms.

The Cast:

Wu Lei as Ashile Sun was quite a wonderful casting choice. I haven’t seen him in anything since Nirvana In Fire so I didn’t know what to expect or hope for. His styling as Tegin Sun was beautifully done and complimented him so much. I was so happy every time he was in his grassland outfits instead of the bland Tang outfits. His acting was very impressive, especially for someone so young. My heart broke with him at his losses and I felt his pain and frustrations whenever Chang Ge would turn away from him after he continuously sacrificed so much to keep her safe. I now have high expectations for Wu Lei and wish him luck in his future projects.

Dilraba is someone I’ve followed since Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms and I think The Long Ballad was a personal best for her. Dilraba is no doubt gorgeous and I think that hurts her sometimes as an actress. I’ve never felt enraptured by her acting, compelled by her crying scenes in the past, nor have I ever related to any of her characters. However, her portrayal of Chang Ge was just so well done. You can tell she put care into her portrayal and she brought life to Li Chang Ge as she transformed from the privileged princess to exiled outlaw to Eagle Division’s military advisor to just being whoever she wanted to be. Her journey encompassed heart break, disappointment, loss, self-reflection, and discovery and Dilraba played it all perfectly.

Special shoutout to Zhao Lusi as Li Leyan as well. Like Dilraba, I’ve followed Zhao Lusi for a while and The Long Ballad was also a personal best for her. It was quite a different path from the usual comedies she usually does and I’m so happy she got a chance to flex her acting skills. Leyan was perhaps the only other character who truly went through life-altering changes throughout her journey. Zhao Lusi did a wonderful job portraying the meek, naive princess who was forced to wake up from her privilege and work for something in her life. Her struggles pushed her into realizing being a princess was more than a name and because of it, she came out so much stronger and more resilient. I look forward to more projects that challenge her acting in the future.

What I love:

The cinematography was so well done!! I loved how scenes were captured from every angle. It added so much depth to the drama. The styling was very pleasing overall as well. I do think I preferred the Ashile Tribe stylings to the Tang one just because the Tang styling was quite bland and no one really stood out in those outfits. The fight scenes were spectacular! Starting from the Cuju game in episode 1 to all the fight scenes afterwards, I send lots of praise to the choreographer. Their hard work truly paid off!

The soundtrack is beautiful! Zhou Shen’s “Cocoon” is still on repeat for me. Each song perfectly reflects the characters’ mindsets and convictions and are played strategically throughout the drama for when they are the most poignant.

The Relationships:

The selling point of this drama were the relationships present (excuse the long post):

My 3 favorite relationships in this drama:
1. Chang Ge-Ah Sun:
I really loved the relationship between Chang Ge and Ah Sun. The drama itself wasn’t romance-focused but I think that was one of the reasons I loved the romantic parts. It was a slow-burn romance with Sun falling first but their journey together and all the trials they faced made it so their love wasn’t just based off of meaningless encounters. Sun fell for Chang Ge because of her resilience, intelligence, and stubbornness. Unfortunately, those are the same reasons why they had to separate for a period of time.
Normally, I feel like separation between leads is just unnecessary filler..but that wasn’t the case for these leads. Chang Ge was brought to Eagle Division against her will and although she eventually came to see them as her own and tried her best to protect them, she never thought of it as her home. Because of this, she was constantly trying to leave while Sun was tethering her to him. This caused a lot of tension between them and as a result, they both paid the price over their stubbornness. I felt they were suffocating each other too much and although I hated Chang Ge for just leaving him, I knew it was necessary if I had hopes of them coming back together later. Because she left, she was able to discover herself and when they were reunited, they were of the same mind and heart.
It was obvious when the shift happened because it was no longer him fighting to keep her beside him, it was also her telling him that they will face every thing together as a united front.
The main reason I love this coupling so much is also because of their convictions. While they love and would die for each other, they won’t compromise their loyalties and beliefs for the other. Despite standing by Sun, Chang Ge makes it clear she will not betray Tang. Likewise, when Sun leaves his position of Tegin of Eagle Division for her, he states constantly that he will not do anything that’ll cause harm to Ashile Tribe. It’s beautiful because they are aware of their different roots and are conscious to the fact that their decisions will impact many other lives.

2: Chang Ge-Le Yan:
The perfect example of sisterly-love. If any drama wants to portray a good sister-sister bond, then this drama should be used as a template. Chang Ge and Le Yan’s relationship is so beautiful and heart-warming. Growing up together, Chang Ge was always Le Yan’s champion and protector and when everything went downhill, it was so painful to see Chang Ge so defensive against Le Yan due to Le Yan being guilty-by-association. Despite all this, Le Yan and Chang Ge still sought each other out when they heard news of the other. Once misunderstandings were cleared and each found their own paths, it brought tears to my eyes to hear Le Yan proclaim her intent to protect Chang Ge from that moment forth. Le Yan continuously warning Chang Ge of potential dangers then Chang Ge volunteering Sun to fight for Le Yan’s hand so she can avoid a marriage to Sh’er showed just how much they loved each other and I appreciated their bond so much.

3. Ah Sun-Sh’er:
Ah…the exact opposite to Chang Ge-Le Yan. What could’ve been but wasn’t. Unlike the previous two, Ah Sun and Sh’er, despite also growing up together, were not taught to love and protect each other. Rather, they were forced to compete and hate each other because they knew well that one of them would become leader to Ashile Tribe. There’s so much to dig into their relationship that 1 page wouldn’t be enough lol
While Sun is intelligent, far-sighted, and cautious, Sh’er is the exact opposite. Impulsive, foolish, and only living in the moment, Sh’er causes a lot of grief for Sun, the Khan, and Sh’er’s own mother. His only goal being to surpass Sun, Sh’er’s inferiority complex causes him to make an irreparable mistake which causes him to lose whatever was salvageable between himself and Sun. Sh’er is by no means, an evil person. Unfortunately for him, he reacts too slowly to events that transpire around him. Their brotherhood could’ve been epic and at the very least, Sh’er does redeem himself and he and Sun are able to part ways with closure.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama very much. It was not perfect and there were times when I felt the chemistry between Wu Lei and Dilraba wasn't there (many of the physical scenes between them, whether it be hand holding or hugging, didn't make me feel that romantic pull). I loved Wu Lei as Ashile Sun and I loved Dilraba as Li Changge. I even loved Ashile Sun and Changge together...but I didn't care for Wu Lei with Dilraba. The romantic chemistry was just nonexistent.
I did give it an 7.5 rating instead of a higher number because the ending made me feel . . . empty. I was neither happy nor unhappy. It just felt like it ended ... there was no lasting impression and no desire to rewatch except for a handful of scenes I thoroughly enjoyed.
If you like a drama that's not overly dark/heavy and pretty much provides closure to every character, then check this one out.

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This drama reminded me why I watch dramas. It was so amazing and I thnk I will remember this show for a long time and watch the ost to replay the feels. Storywise I was really surprised at how they handled the body switch and the show let me experience such a warmth that I felt like I was being healed and became a better person by just sitting and watching. Overall, it is a drama worth watching AND the ending is quite well thought out. The epilogues at the end of the episodes were also hilarious and felt like a breath of fresh air because they kinda told a diffrent story which still had connection to the drama.
That said, I have also felt that the actors were so commited to their roles that they left an deep impression on me and I would not be lying if I say that this drama conveyed to me how importand the actors are in order for you to feel the situation.
The music played also an essential part in creating an interesting vibe and the choices vary much. I would say that the reason for that is the stroy. The show is partly a comedy and melodrama but both genres are fitting and it doesn't seem out of place (for the most part).
Hope I got you motivated to give it a try :) haha. Thx for reading

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good plot, meh ending

the biggest struggle with 2020s kdramas is delivering a satisfying ending—and friendly rivalry falls into that category. it might be based on a webtoon, but that's not a good enough excuse for the writing errors, especially in the second half. the cast was hit or miss in terms of acting. some actors made the show feel like a web series, while others gave it the quality of a netflix drama. however, the acting highlight was without a doubt lee hyeri. she shined throughout the series. hopefully, she takes on more mystery dramas because this genre suits her. as for the chemistry between the leads, it was okay. I don’t really understand the complaints about the lack of kisses. they did the best they could considering their environment (korea).
overall, i would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys high school dramas with a touch of mystery.

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A great historical drama for watch

For me this is the Best drama of 2023 so far .
Although Xu kai s last few dramas are quite bad scripted but this drama shows his full potential . As his fan I am quite happy for him.

If we talk about a story it starts with the Emperor grandson who has no desire for throne, but because of external situations and piece of nation he has to fight for it .

The chemistry between main lead at the best part of this drama you will feel never boring with this couple. This is my one of the favorite 2023 couple.

This drama has a great rewatch value, because you will never feel bore even though you are watching it second time . .

I wish that Xu kai next Dramas are as great as this is . ......

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Why romance when we have bromance !!!

Am a big fan of medical dramas and love seeing all the surgeries and doctor-patient interactions. But this drama is just shot in the hospital premise and has a little medical aspect, it's more of the ghost world. with ghost and doctor helping each other to fulfill their needs to survive the cruelty of the world proving the title GHOST DOCTOR so apt.

●PLOT VIEW
Having seen a lot of K-drama, I had known that the secrets are meant to be known by villains, benevolent, and some family members. Wherein some try to use this secret and some protect you, the same happens in this drama too. The secret of ghosts in the body getting exposed in layers is done geniously. This drama while maintaining its ghost essence manages to cover today's society of greed. But it highly disappoints in the romance section, because it seemed very unnecessary in this drama. The Ghost Cha Young Min who is an ace cardiothoracic surgeon goes into a coma. And he somehow enters the new resident Ko Seung Tak who is not skilled. CYM is rude but seeing KST struggle, he needs to enter his body to save the patients. CYM's body gets better when they both do good, so KST helps him to wake up soon.
Also, I didn’t like the senior doctors who want to transfer the patient just because they don’t have one genius doctor. Why are they even there if they cant treat the patients properly? I mean the interns are shown running around every time for emergency and surgery both. And seniors don’t even give the basic treatment to the emergency patient.

●ACTING/CAST
I loved the entire main cast of this drama, but KIM BUM's character is so amazing. He is a man of exception. His witty nature and Ghost impolite character were done exceptionally well. I have been a big fan of him and seeing his various character it's hard, to not be one.
RAIN was good, I never get impressed by him but he is good. His angst and rudeness are pretty good to watch. His struggles of being a ghost are hilarious.
UEE is such a good actress but this role didn’t utilize her. She didn’t have a big part in the story and just felt like a supporting character.
SON NA EUN was a friend and keeper. I wanted to see more of her chemistry with KIM BUM.
The three ghosts and their head Tess had also made a good part of the story.

●MUSIC
The music was mediocre. “I can Fly Away” is the only OST that gives the vibe of ghost doctors which I enjoyed.

●REWATCH
Overall I liked this drama a lot. As I can acknowledge the flaws It's not going to make my favorites list, but it's certainly one of the good dramas I've seen in a while.

●RECOMMENDATION
It's a good watch, The story was pretty decent but got a bit draggy near the end, tho it was tolerable because of the bromance storyline. The chemistry between the male leads is undeniable.

●FAV SCENE
When the three ghosts show CYM how to be a better ghost.

●QUOTES
A doctor can wait for the patient, but the patient can't wait for the doctor - Ko Seung Tak

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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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