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you know an episode is good when you just blinked and it’s done already,
such a very strong start , and definitely another masterpiece from PearlPeak ,
i believe people will clock in when more eps are out cause that is exactly what the fans wanna see 10/10
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It's a no.
i finally finished The Journey of Chong Zi and damn its worst than my previous drama, absolutly nothing works in this one. bad writing, bad production, only the FL is doing well. Like many of these lowcost drama the story is just a repetition of the same thing for 40 episodes. They always do a good start but its go bad very fast. Love Never fails had some potential but this one is just something to forget.Was this review helpful to you?
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Gay romance with physical & emotional intimacy done well
This drama caught my attention when it was released last year but I only watched it 16 hours ago after being reminded of it yesterday when I compiled a list of LGBTQIA+ short dramas for CShortHaven Discord. I had low expectations because of China's law on LGBTQIA+. However I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this drama.What I liked:
1. Writing - A plot that makes sense (most of the time) and executed well. I was surprised by sex scenes as I did not expect high quality production to have such scenes.
2. Xia Cheng Feng characterisation - I liked his character growth. He was quick to notice & make sense of his observations.
3. Romance - I have to say that I was bothered by how they started as a couple because Dr Jin Ye was aggressive with Xia Cheng Feng. However as their relationship foundation became solid, there were emotional connection that were beautifully presented. Thwy were hot for each other.
4. Acting - Wow, amazing performances by Pan Xin Yu and Zhang Qi Hao in their individual roles and as a couple. There was great chemistry between them. I will definitely check their other work.
5. Supporting characters - It surprised me that many of their close friends were supportive of their relationship. I liked Xia Cheng Feng's assistant, Dr Jin Ye's colleague.
6. Dr Jin Ye's characterisation - He was an alpha as a lover. I liked his doctor side although I think he was over the top with his treatments.
What I disliked:
1. Dr Jin Ye's actions - I disliked his possessiveness from the time he saw Xia Cheng Feng having a meal with the heiress to their first intimate moment.
2. Fan behaviour - Those racing fans were intrusive when they were at hospital.
3. Antagonist - He crossed the line after being rejected. I couldn't believe he even harmed the MLs.
4. Heiress - She behaved like a petulant child that it was a turn off. I disliked that she complained to Mr Xia when he didn't entertain her request.
Favourite scene
When Dr Jin Ye met Xia Cheng Feng after long time of not seeing him
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Silly, with no other solid categorization
The series started enjoyable with lots of silliness and with an adventure RPG feel. The ML has distinctive eyebrows so I recognize him from the recently watched Moonlit Reunion. He does a much better job in this series and is also much more charming. Not sure why so many reviewers are bashing on the appearance of the FL. I actually think she was a great cast for her role and unlike some other master/disciple romances, this ML/FL pairing made this part of their relationship very believable.Not familiar with the novel but this series is hard to define into any particular category. The clearest part of the plot is the ML growing in his cultivation with the friends he meets along the way. But otherwise, it actually felt more like a slice-of-life than an adventure or typical wuxia story. A lot of it consisted of the characters lifestyles and bantering with one another. There were a decent amount of action scenes but these were pretty poorly done. The underlying story of the sect and the unraveling of the main antagonist moved along in a zigzag manner on a path full of potholes.
Ironically, the best part of this for me was the FL and how her character is the type who hides her grief and pain behind a paradoxical real facade. The subtleties of when the relationship began to change for the FL/ML was good but it wasn't highlighted enough for it to maximize the impact. I sped through a large portion of the series only to finally get a slightly satisfying moment between the two at the end. Would recommend this only to those who are in the mood for mostly humor and the adventure RPG feel, with no expectations of a very in-depth plot. And if you're looking for real action, this one might be too slow paced.
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Watching for the Royal Glamour, Hoping for a Better Story ?✨
This is my first time writing a review for an ongoing K-drama because, honestly, I’m not a big K-drama fan. First of all, I want to say that this is actually quite a nice drama. If you watch it without thinking too deeply and are ready to enjoy it like a fairy tale 🏰✨, then this drama might be perfect for you.Usually, I’m very careful when rating a drama. When I really look into this one, I can’t say it has anything truly outstanding overall, but I do see some very top-notch elements. That’s the best way to describe my feelings — not fully satisfied, yet still impressed in certain areas.
About the acting and chemistry — honestly, I’m not very satisfied 😅. I don’t feel strong chemistry between the main couple, even though I expected it. In the first two episodes, I thought it was acceptable because the story was just beginning. But now that we’ve reached halfway through the drama, I still don’t feel the chemistry I hoped to see. Since the drama was announced, I had very high expectations because of the modern royalty theme 👑 and the A-grade actors cast as the leads. I also saw many people praising their past performances, so my expectations were naturally high. However, in this drama, both the acting impact and the chemistry feel weaker than I expected.
That said, I really enjoy the second female lead’s acting. Even though she is playing a darker or villain-type character 🖤, her performance feels convincing and engaging. She brings life to her role in a way that keeps my attention.
Now, about the plot — this is another area I care a lot about. I personally love complex stories filled with twists and layered conflicts 🔍. Yes, I know this is considered an idol-style drama, but I still expected more substance. Right now, if someone asks me what happened in the first six episodes, my summary would be very simple: a grand prince who suffered under royal responsibilities since childhood, now acting as regent for his nephew, enters into an arranged marriage with a smart but illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman who dreams of becoming noble. Their arranged marriage slowly turns into love, while political conspiracies unfold in the background. That’s basically it so far. I really hope the story becomes deeper and more eventful in the upcoming episodes.
About the music 🎼 — usually, I don’t pay much attention to OSTs, but I do have a good feeling about this drama’s soundtrack. Some pieces already feel memorable, and I think they match the luxurious atmosphere very well.
Now, the biggest reasons why I’m still watching this drama are the truly top-notch production elements. First — costumes and accessories 👗💎. A huge shout-out to the costume designers! They selected very high-end, luxurious brands, especially for IU. Honestly, this is one of the biggest reasons I continue watching. Seeing IU in those gorgeous dresses and accessories is such a visual treat — she perfectly matches the elegant royal image.
I also really appreciate BWS’s imperial costumes, especially his entry costume in Episode 1 and the imperial and military-style dress uniform in Episode 6, which looked particularly striking and regal.
Another major highlight is the architecture and interior design 🏛️✨. The palace settings and the Grand Prince’s private residence look stunning. They truly give off a sense of real royalty and pride. The world feels rich and carefully built, which makes the drama visually enjoyable even when the story feels slow.
The cinematography 📸 is also worth praising. There are many beautiful visuals throughout the drama. I still can’t stop thinking about the fireworks scene in the first episode — it was truly wow-worthy and left a strong first impression.
One of the main reasons I had such high anticipation for this drama was the royal theme itself 👑. A grand prince paired with a billionaire young woman feels like a perfect match — wealth meeting nobility. It’s refreshing because this isn’t the usual domineering CEO and poor girl cliché. Here, the female lead is neither poor nor foolish — she is intelligent and capable, which I really appreciate.
Another reason I chose to watch this drama is that it clearly feels like a true S+ production 💰✨. Everything — the sets, costumes, locations, and overall visuals — looks extremely luxurious. While watching, you can literally see the money on screen. 💸👀
Overall, even though I have my disappointments with the acting, chemistry and the pacing of the story, the visual richness and royal fantasy atmosphere keep me watching. I truly hope the drama improves in the second half and delivers stronger storytelling and emotional depth in the episodes ahead. 🤞
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Inconsistent
Things I loved1 Enemies to Lovers or Second Chance or Best friends to Lovers paired with legal cases is a perfect combination for me. I expected this to be great. It fell short though.
Things I liked
1 The FL. At first I loved her but after a while she fell to the liked list because her characters didn't grow the way I was expecting. She still did a great job and I liked her more than disliked.
2 The ML. I wasn't fond of his tortured character. This wasn't the drama to be that secretive about his feelings and act aloof. It's like the director didn't know what he wanted from him and of course he wasn't able to deliver. I also liked him more than disliked hence the high score. That said, I won't go out of my way to find any other dramas with him or her.
Things I disliked
1 The cases. Some were interesting, some were dull, some were awful. I'm not sure at the end of the day that they should go for drama. I think lighter cases and more comedy would have been greats for this premise.
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Unfortunately, I was truly disappointed with the show.The beginning of their meeting should have laid the foundation for their love story, but it was so quick and banal that it didn't convey the deep feeling between the protagonists (especially the acting of ML was very flat).
Everything that follows seems strangely forced and awkward, it is not clear whether he remains close to this woman to keep the promise of engagement, out of humanity or something else (I know it is supposed to be for Love, but only on paper).
Once FL wakes up from the coma, things don't improve much... it's interesting to see the long and arduous rehabilitation process. I felt like I was watching a documentary, but what about the emotions?
I might be considered "insensitive," given that it's also based on a true story, but I have to be honest about what this film left me with, and the answer is: nothing. A real shame, because the potential for a great story was there.
The music bothered me and I didn't find it appropriate to accompany the film's scenes.
I consider it a barely decent film, which is too quickly forgotten.
I apologize for any mistakes, English is not my language.
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LOVE IT SO MUCH
i have rewatched this series three times already even though i normally nver review a series. The chemistry between the characters was so good and its something new. It isnt like the basic japanese bl but also not too dramatic. I can really recommend it to people that just want to watch a cute chill Japanese bl.Was this review helpful to you?
