Reviews

This could've been the perfect Mulan live action, but they had to ruin it.

Firstly, beware of danger. If you're a perfeccionist like me, you must be warned: this was at least a nine until the last two episodes happened. I remember feeling pissed. So, so pissed. Note that I finished this back in november 2025, but I was just so frustrated that it took all this time for me to finally feel like writing anything. Anyway, let's get down to it.

The drama's pacing is quite ideal. From the few first episodes you're easily hooked with good revenge plot, smart and competent female protagonist in disguise and great dynamics with the male protagonist, that initially suspects He Yan of being an enemy spy inside his army. He Yan being able to see through his tests and outsmart him was the highlight of the first part of the show, prior the gender reveal. Their back and forth banter had the right amount of fun and chemistry.

And what chemistry, btw! I was really glad the gender reveal wasn't dragged out, since it saved our ML's face a little. It's always awkward to watch scenes with a certain romantic connotation while one of the characters involved is still unaware of the others real genre. So, the fact he found out about her pretty soon in the story was a great set up to their relationship's build up...

Which also brings this back to the first point I made:

Their relationship was so natural and well developed. They went from friends to partners, then to confidants and finally to lovers. The chemistry was through the roof. AND THEN. All of a sudden, the writers decided to put one of the greatest romances of chinese dramaland in the trash bin and all it took was one stupid scene. If I were in He Yan's place, I would never ever forgive Xiao Yue. I wouldn't even be able to look at his face anymore for the rest of my life.

That killed the romance for me and made me feel like everything that had happened between them was a lie. Xiao Yue's affection didn't seem as genuine and, from that point on, I couldn't make myself care about them as a couple anymore. Xiao Yue went from Hero to Zero.

So, my advice for anyone that still hasn't seen this yet is: sure, watch it. But skip the last two episodes, I beg you.

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3 Lifetimes of Everlasting Love

"Everything has started anew"
"Everything is just a beginning"

Even after 3 Lifetimes of being together I still can't have enough of Xiao Yao and Hong Ye
Throughout these 10000 years they laughed and cried, experiencing both friendships and hardships along the way. Every emotion could truly be felt through the screen!

What a touching story of love that is unshakeable by anything!

This is definitely a must watch. The actors have truly become one with the characters allowing the audience to feel as if they are part of the story. The execution is brilliant and the story behind each and every character is absolutely exceptional.

The strong love between the two truly reflects how any conflicts and desires can be resolved by understanding and empathy for all living beings.

Hong Ye and Xiao Yao will remain together in my heart forever and ever ❤️❤️❤️

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So cute and fluffy

Jan. 6, 2025

THIS IS SO CUTE AND FLUFFY. I love this Japanese BL, it is so simple yet it is so charming. There is something about the cast, the execution of the scenes that really carried out how to special this show to me.

The chemistry between the leads are off the charts, and it has attained such cuteness and fluff that I am not irked by it! Rather I am more hooked on as I move on the next episodes. It feels like I have found such show that has been kind of not as common recently.

This is one of those shows that I will definitely rewatch over and over again. I feel like I am such a child being amused with such joy. I am so happy to start of the year with this BL. I will definitely be putting this as those S-tier drama.

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HOPIUM, THE ULTRAMAN

Aaah, Ultraman Geed… what can I say? A very beautiful and well-written story. It teaches about forgiveness, revenge, loyalty, and purpose. There are so many great lessons that both children and adults can take from its narrative.
The visual effects are really cool, the fights are a bit underwhelming but well executed, and the music fits perfectly, adding a lot of emotion to the scenes. This has become one of my favorite Ultras. It’s amazing how a simple story, when done right, can make you feel genuinely good.
The final scene (no spoilers) delivers a very strong message about forgiveness and letting go of certain grudges… honestly, just watch it. Go for it.

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A Painful, but Interesting Watch

The somewhat mundanity of this film is definitely not for everybody, but for me, I liked it. For those who enjoy slice-of-life films that focus on the relationships between characters, growing up in an environment you want to run away from, loneliness, not seeing a real future for yourself, I recommend giving this movie a chance.

I think the most compelling part of this movie is the acting. Bang Minah did an phenomenal job in every scene. It completely drew me in and pulled me inside of Kang Yi's head. I felt myself smiling with her, and I felt my heart breaking with her. She loved her friends a lot, especially So Young, and it was heartbreaking seeing how many times she continued to trust So Young and have faith in their friendship going back to the way it was despite So Young's changed attitude towards her.

It was heartbreaking how the characters' connections developed throughout the film, how these changes affected them and affected their dynamic, and witnessing Kang Yi's growing depression. Once these girls were all each other had and probably their own happiness, and then their own feelings and lives got in between their connections with each other. In adolescence, feelings are so big and confusing, you have no idea how to deal with them. This film is a depressing portrayal of life.

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Storyline

I never write reviews about dramas but this one annoyed me because they wasted a very good plot and characters. They really could've expanded the story and moved in a different direction.

They had 3 perfectly great characters they introduced in ep 30+ and they just killed them off after you end up vouching for all of them individually. Seriously? I think they could've skipped the more of the immortal spirit part as well. You could start at around ep 20? where she goes back into her 2nd life and still enjoy it. The 1st life was more interesting to be fair.

And the ending to have the ML sacrifice himself and the FL goes back to a moment she enjoys with him but he still stays stuck in that way, seems like lazy writing. Could she not have invented something else to go back and change reality. And who is that other female god that promised humans the Yuli spring just to tempt their desires and say they cant be changed? So at the end the takeaway is you still have to repent for your crimes no matter how you have redeemed yourself and you'll be stuck in a loop forever. I mean if that was the end message thats fine but to make it a good thing for the FL to stay in an illusion forever? They can do better then this.

This whole series could've been edited better to 25-30 episodes. I can see how some said messy writing. Omg.

Pros:
You buy into FL &ML chemistry in about ep 20.
The casting was good.
The production development was good.

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Perfectly Imperfect

A really good follow-up to the first season, with the second season maintaining the series' core identity. The already complex situations become even more complicated, and new issues regarding gay relationships are explored, along with some queer matters in general. One of them being the HIV, which was addressed in the first season as well, but in the second, they focus a lot more on it to raise awareness to the audience, which I find really important and praise worthy.

Regarding the addition of new characters, it feels very organic and necessary, as it actually helps to see the established characters in a new light and delve deeper into their lives and backgrounds. As for the acting, it's on point in this season as well, with the cast delivering very natural performances.

For those who watched the first season, I definitely recommend the second. It doesn't flop or become tiresome at all rather it complements the first season's elements in the best possible way.

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Ending wasn't only bad but disastrous

The ending didn't satisfy me at all! Regardless Hong Ye human arc was my favourite but Even after all those suffering, it was again Hong Ye sacrificing himself apparently because every sin is committed by him only and no one else is guilty at all .. It would have been a lil bit better if he could have recarnated atleast in the end .. but it looks like the story maker was a total Hong Ye hater , he couldn't be bothered.. Moreover, Xiao Yao learnt the new technique and went back to the time , when they first met ??? Like girl ?? What do you want? All to be repeated all again? Moreover all this time traveling was just so pointless in this drama .. people going back and not changing anything? She travelled back just to live the past life .. couldn't change anything at all !? In the end , I thought she learnt something new from ancient scriptures so maybe she'll go at the time of sealing the mirror and do something else and Hong Ye will be saved ! But NO 😭😭😭 She just wanted to live again with Hong Ye and watch him suffer all over again!😭😭😭 This drama has so much potential but story kinda ruined it.

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It's Not Amazing, Not Bad, Just Watchable

It’s not bad. The storytelling is not boring enough that you wouldn't want to tune in for tomorrow's episode, but also not interesting enough that you would be raving about it to all your friends. It's not infuriating in that there is no plague of "noble idiocy", unreasonably villainous characters, unnecessary conflicts springing up out of nowhere solely for the purpose of giving our CPs a reason to be pushed together. This author has set up a complex and logical world and the characters are logically flowing along in it.

And the ending is tragic but they set you up well for it (even if you don't have any context from the other drama/books, you should be able to guess who will survive or not if you're listening closely to what the characters say). And there’s not unnecessary tragedy and losses along the way.

+10 points because every male actor is incredibly good looking and makes watching super enjoyable.

I am a long time Ding Yu Xi fan, but before this drama I was starting to doubt his acting ability when re-watching his older dramas (they kind of lose their spark after the 3rd/4th watch). But now in an ensemble cast where he is not the ML and I can do side by side comparison with other lead actors at his level, I can pick out what makes him so great. The way he uses his facial muscles, how his expressions are actually distinct from one moment to the next. The way he tried to give the impression that he is reacting to the situation in real-time and is not just the plot armored “perfect guy”/ “always keep his composure as if I know what’s coming next in the script”. So this drama was good for restoring my appreciation for DYX.

So nice production overall, but only an 8.0 because it has no re-watchability factor.

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Why is the review that low? 7,6???

I definitely can’t understand the bad reviews so far. After three Episodes I’m feeling:
The acting is great, and the story feels different from the usual patterns we see again and again in dramas lately. It doesn’t try to please everyone, and that is exactly why it works for me. From the very first episode, there is an emotional weight that quietly settles in your chest and refuses to leave. This drama is not afraid to be slow, painful, and honest, and that makes it feel real rather than constructed.

The performances are strong without being overdone. Every glance, pause, and broken sentence feels intentional. You can sense that the actors trust the material, and that trust transfers directly to the audience. Instead of dramatic exaggeration, we get subtle emotions that slowly build until they hurt. It’s heartbreaking in a quiet way, the kind of sadness that lingers long after the episode ends.

What truly sets this story apart is its willingness to take risks. It doesn’t rely on predictable twists or forced cliffhangers. Instead, it focuses on emotional consequences, human flaws, and choices that cannot be undone. That makes the pain feel earned, not manipulative. You may not always agree with the characters, but you understand them, and that understanding is what keeps you watching.

I actually think the criticism proves how different this drama is. Stories like this are rarely appreciated immediately. They require patience, emotional openness, and a willingness to sit with discomfort. Not everyone wants that, and that’s okay. But for those who connect with it, the experience is deeply rewarding.

There is something special about having a drama that gives you something to look forward to every single week. The anticipation, the emotional preparation, and the afterthoughts all become part of your routine. It’s not just entertainment; it becomes a feeling, a shared moment with other viewers who feel the same way.

That is why I already know this drama will be in my Top 3 of 2026. Not because it is easy to watch, but because it dares to hurt, to stay honest, and to trust its audience. I’m genuinely excited to continue this journey, even if it breaks my heart along the way, because stories like this are the ones we remember the longest.

Long after the final episode airs, I know I will still think about the scenes, the dialogue, and the emotions they stirred inside me. This is the kind of story that grows with you, changing meaning depending on your own experiences. That depth is rare, and it deserves more credit than it currently receives. I’m grateful I gave it a chance, and I will gladly defend it every single time, because sometimes the most beautiful stories are the ones that quietly shatter you and help you understand yourself a little better than before.

This drama reminds me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place, and why patience is sometimes the greatest reward of all. It stays with you long after watching.

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A Modern Sci-Fi Comedy Done Well

PROS
Great writing, even greater comedy than anticipated, and I’m IN LOVE with the 羊驼 (alpaca) song. And this drama is yet another data point to convince me that Gao Han Yu (Gu Yu's actor) only knows how to play incredibly likable characters.

CONS
The ML and FL had flaws in the beginning that I was not fond of (the FL was too quick to assume the ML’s bad intentions once or twice, and ML was unnecessarily unapologetic about his rude, yet truthful comments on appearance). Upon reflection, if I were in their shoes I would have acted the same, but I like to place an unrealistic expectation on drama characters to be more righteous, logical, compassionate and merciful than I am (which may be unreasonable, but it is fiction - people should be better and more ideal than real humans). Luckily the flaws were minute and not recurring, and the characters were mostly lovable and cleared up all misunderstandings and gave all necessary apologies in the end.

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