Reviews

Knight in Shining Armor/Prince Charming LAL

Ep 7 of #EnemiesWithBenefits just hugged my heart, politely wrecked it, and then offered me a warm blanket and a therapy pamphlet. This show isn’t just a romance — it’s a healing deep-dive dressed up in top-level face cards, and episode 7 proved it in the softest, most devastating way. 💚First, let’s talk about our girl Wine. Because here’s the thing: there’s nothing wrong with being guarded or building your walls sky-high. We build them to protect ourselves. We have those female instincts for a reason — being careful about who we trust is what keeps us safe. It’s not easy being a woman. Men can walk freely at night without thinking twice; we often have to stay alert and take extra precautions. There’s a reason we don’t call everyone a friend — some people are colleagues, coworkers, acquaintances… and some are wolves in leadership suits. When you’ve survived environments with misogynistic leaders who shift blame onto women at the drop of a hat, you learn to padlock your inner world. Wine didn’t build her fortress for no reason — those walls were constructed from disappointment, betrayal, and the kind of experiences that teach you to be very careful who you let in.Enter Lal. The walking, breathing definition of a green-flag Prince Charming for our angsty princess. Where Wine carries a whole storage unit of emotional excess baggage (the heavy kind with broken zippers and maybe a few live grenades), Lal shows up like a knight with a gentle smile, ready to haul that baggage one piece at a time — come hell or high water. Episode 7 gave us Wine spiraling into a dark place because something triggered that deep, raw anguish she buries inside… and then Lal arriving — not with grand speeches, but with soft eyes, steady presence, and the kind of rescue that feels like a warm blanket rather than a flashy sword. Some people accidentally poke old wounds and cause mental chaos; Lal sits beside those wounds and quietly asks, “Which one do you want to unpack first?” 😭Now let’s get into the delicious, complicated, why-are-you-like-this-Wine part: she absolutely wants to enjoy the benefits with Lal. The tender rescues, the patient smiles, the electric way Lal looks at her like she’s a storm worth weathering… the “benefits” are screaming. But ask her to put a label on it? Suddenly she’s a cat trying to avoid a bath. 🐱💦Why? Because “friends with benefits” feels safe. Labels mean expectations. Labels mean fully unlocking the gate and letting someone roam around in the darkest, most fragile rooms of your heart. For someone like Wine, who’s spent years reinforcing her emotional fortress, calling Lal her “girlfriend” would feel like handing over the master key. It would mean admitting she’s not the lone wolf who needs no one. It would mean trusting that this gentle, green-flag woman won’t one day accidentally (or deliberately) break what’s inside — a fear planted by past betrayals and a world that too often blames women for their own hurt. The “benefits” let her have the warmth without the vertigo of full vulnerability. Lal’s presence soothes the ache, but a label makes it official, and that’s terrifying when your survival has always depended on staying guarded.But here’s the magic of Episode 7: Lal isn’t pushing for a title. She’s just… there. Always to the rescue — not to control, but to support. She’s so patient I’m convinced she has a secret superpower called “calmly melt Wine’s walls without her noticing.” The way Wine finally let her in a little more this episode? Instant happy-tears. If Wine is the storm, Lal is the safe harbor — steady, unfazed, gently proving that the right person doesn’t run from your baggage; they sit down next to it and start sorting the chaos with you.So yes, Wine wants the comfort, the care, the (let’s be real) benefits of having a Lal-shaped light in her darkness. But a labelled relationship still feels like a trapdoor she’s not ready to step onto. And honestly? That’s so achingly real. Love this intelligent, emotionally layered series for showing us that healing isn’t a switch you flip — it’s a slow, tender rescue mission. Protect both of them in Episode 8, please and thank you! 🤲💖

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Ning'er and her mother finally reconcile…

Ning'er and her mother finally reconcile - just as she's about to leave, of course. But better late than never. Boy, did it make Papa Jiang happy to see his wife and daughter hug! Later, the assassination attempt on Xie Wei and Ning is predictable and it was fun to see Dao Qin and Jian Shu flex their martial skills. It was also a bit surprising to see Xie Wei actually show out with some fighting skills, though not armed conventionally. Some climate / wildlife inconsistencies: On one hand, Ning comments on how cold this mountain feels - like it's about to snow - but on the other hand a snake is active enough to bite Xie? Snakes do NOT go out and about in the cold. Also, the attack of the bobcats was weird. Other than the females of a pride of lions, I don't think any cats attack as a pack like that. Aren't all other cats solo hunters? The forced psycho kiss by Xie Wei upon Ning was about as unromantic as you can get and I'm trying to figure out how his psychotic behavior is supposed to make him attractive as a romantic male lead? Well, he did start to behave better after they got to the post. And his consent to put his health care in her hands by surrendering the xinshe pills we kind of a huge step. Despite all my nitpicking about the wildlife, overall this was a good episode because it finally feels like forward progress (however weird and psychotic) in their 'romance'.

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Some quick observations while watching this episode

In Ning's memory of her seduction of Xie Wei in her past life, it's notable that the music soundtrack is completely different from the music that plays whenever the two have a moment together in THIS life. In all the scenes of them together in THIS life, the music song is one that evokes yearning and hope for something unreachable. In the former life scene, the music is calm and cold, almost with a sense of dread looming. Later, just when she seems poised to run away from everything, it's interesting how insightfully Lyu Xian manages to drop the responsibility of caring for Xie Wei's health and emotional state onto her lap. He is one of the few who have read correctly the depth of feelings between the two and manipulates her sense of caring adeptly.

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WTF

They confessed to each other but all I noticed is that the woman said she’s never been lucky ever since she was born and this made me so mad. Girl! How do you define luck? You’re pretty, healthy, smart, has a good job as a doctor, has the most supportive best friend ever and lives in a beautiful place, which is even bigger than my place and I don’t call myself poor. Obviously the rent for that place is not cheap and definitely not a price that a normal ‘poor’ salary person can afford. You’re definitely not as poor as you think. I don’t get why she’s always calling herself poor and miserable. She’s not poor! I’m so done with the screenwriter. If you want to make her a poor and miserable woman, at least make her look and live like one. Do you know how a rented house for poor people look like? Even though I don’t live in China, I’m pretty sure the female lead’s house is not for the poor there. 😩😒🤦‍♀️

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Reality or dream?

Quite heartbreaking to watch how Hailou carried Haixia's body all over the city from one place to another, only to learn that everything he knew might never have even been real. 😢 And then to learn it actually was, but his recklessness forced the Southern Archives to disappear entirely, and Haixia once again took the responsibility for his actions... even leading to his death now. 🥺💔I hope Miss Dong reveals she is Haiqi, but I'm not sure if she can trust Hailou enough yet, since he might expose their secrets once again. 🤨 And for goodness' sake, how long has Haixia been dead? Has it been a week already? It was definitely multiple days on the ship... Shouldn't the body have a noticeable smell by now? 🫣

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One Mistake After Another

I really liked the Grand Emperor. He's far wiser than almost anyone else in this drama. He always loved his family, especially his sons, and in the end he died repaying his debt to the Empress. His story was moving.I feel terrible for Ying Ying and, something I never thought I'd say, for the Lu family as well. At least she'll become the main consort, but the circumstances are still heartbreaking.As for Chu Mu... I can't bring myself to feel sorry for him. He put himself in this situation, and hopefully once he matures and learns from his mistakes, he'll be able to move forward.Who is Xiong Rui again? I can't quite remember. Was he part of the acting troupe that died alongside Chen Ji?What frustrates me the most is the Crown Prince. He just can't seem to stop making mistakes, bad relationships, bad allies, bad decisions, and terrible judgment. I really hope he becomes more cunning and politically savvy as the story progresses.

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Secrets well hidden

The story of the imperial decree and Ye Li's mother is way more twisted than I imagined. And who is the body in the pond? The maid who was accidentally killed during the struggle for the decree, or Ye Li's mother? 🫣🤔Prince Li looked like Zorro there, all in black and masked, lol. 😂 I don't think Prince Ding's men will catch him just yet. We'll have to wait a while for that to happen. 😔Loved how A'Li said all the right things to her sister. 👏 I really hope she'll start to reconsider her choices regarding her husband very soon. I am still anticipating the start of her self-growth arc. 🥺P.S. Why do I get the feeling Prince Li will use A'Li's handkerchief to stir up some trouble later? 🤨😔

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