Reviews

Still Don’t Know What the Oath Was…

As a huge The Last of Us fan, I was always going to be interested in a BL set during a zombie apocalypse. And The Last Oath certainly knows how to appeal to that particular weakness. The atmosphere, the immune protagonist, the fight for survival and the relationship at the centre of it all reminded me of The Last of Us, while the combination of zombies and romance also brought Warm Bodies to mind.

But the more I watched, the more I felt that someone had looked at the idea of The Last of Us, thought it would make a great BL, and then struggled to bring that vision to life. Even the title made me wonder how much inspiration was involved. And after 24 episodes, I was still left wondering which oath we were actually supposed to remember.

The most noticeable problem is the production itself. The AI use or what looks to me like AI-generated or AI-altered material is difficult to ignore, particularly in the intro, the music, the aerial shots and parts of the world surrounding the characters. Instead of making the apocalypse feel vast, desolate and threatening, some of these elements pulled me out of the story. The result often felt less like a fully realised post-apocalyptic world and more like a rough approximation of one.

Could the series have been better? Absolutely. Could more creative choices have produced a stronger result without leaning so heavily on AI? I think so.

But I also don't want to pretend that production budgets and industry pressures don't matter. BL is a competitive market, with new titles constantly fighting for attention. Building a convincing zombie apocalypse is expensive, and I can understand why a production with limited resources might look for shortcuts. Understanding that pressure, however, doesn't mean I have to accept the result without criticism.

AI is not just another harmless production tool. Its use raises serious questions about creative jobs, copyright, the value of human artistic work and environmental costs. We are already incorporating AI into so many parts of our everyday lives that it's becoming increasingly easy to stop questioning where and how it is used. I don't want that to happen with entertainment, either.

I can understand why a production might use AI without believing that we should simply accept it. A limited budget can explain a compromise, but it doesn't automatically make that compromise a good creative decision. And if we, as viewers, stop pointing out the difference, what incentive is there to do better?

That said, The Last Oath isn't a complete failure for me. Its biggest strength is also what makes its weaknesses so obvious: the two leads. Chen Liang and Chen Ming Hao carry so much of the series that almost everything else starts to feel secondary. The supporting characters, the side plots and even the wider conflict often seem to exist simply to give the main couple something to react to. The chemistry and dynamic between the leads were what kept me invested, and I genuinely think they could have carried a much more focused story.

The second couple, on the other hand, felt unnecessary. I would have preferred the two characters to be actual brothers, rather than adopted brothers whose relationship also takes a romantic turn. Their bond, their loyalty and the lengths one of them is willing to go to in order to save the other would have been just as understandable perhaps even more affecting without the romantic angle. For me, that storyline added very little to the series and distracted from what was already its strongest relationship.

The plot itself is full of holes, and the writing rarely makes the most of its premise. A zombie apocalypse, an immunity that makes someone a target, corrupt pharmaceutical companies and a relationship built around conflicting loyalties could have offered so much more than this. I never needed The Last Oath to reinvent the genre, but I did want it to do something more interesting with the ideas it had.

And yet, here's the inconvenient truth: I had fun.

For zombie-apocalypse fans, this series is practically catnip myself very much included. I watched it as a kind of scrappy, fan-made BL take on a genre I love, rather than as a serious attempt at prestige television. Once I stopped expecting the world-building and storytelling to live up to the ambition of the premise, I could enjoy the parts that worked for me.

That doesn't make the problems disappear, and it doesn't mean I think the production choices should go unquestioned. I can criticise the AI use, the writing, the unnecessary subplot and the missed potential while still appreciating the two actors who made the central relationship work.

The Last Oath is not a particularly strong series, nor is it a cinematic achievement. But it entertained me, it gave me a main couple I enjoyed watching, and it scratched a very specific zombie-apocalypse BL itch.

Sometimes a series can be a mess and still be fun. I just wish this one had given its own ideas and its actors — a better world to live in.

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its been so long since a cdrama has grasped my attention this well. life has been hectic and ive had no time to spend on myself so ive been jumping through different series trying to find the one that grasps my attention and this was the one. for the first time in my life i went into a series blindly. i did not know how many episodes it had, how long was each episode who was the main cast, i just knew one thing my roommate loved this drama and pursued me to watch it earlier but i did not do it and im so happy i finally picked it up cuz it had consumed me for the week. i used to come back from college and have some rest and then get into the series like i could not wait to find out what happened next, i binge watched the whole second half of the drama in a day and its been so long since a drama did this to me. im so happy. this is without any doubt one of the bests and will go into my hall of fame along with blossom, romance of tiger and rose, the double, love like the galaxy, prisoner's beauty and all
now coming to the story that was fucking immaculate. i went into the story blindly i just knew from the name that the female lead was a powerful general and after the first episode i knew there was cross dressing and the first episode itself grasped my attention. cheng lei (oh my god my eyes are fucking blessed) was so cool and nonchalant the whole series and u could see him falling in love and i feel like the funniest part of it all was everyone wondering if the general is gay (like obviously) the crossdressing couldve been better cuz honestly i wouldve never believed them if they told me that guy with a female voice, female demeaner, a petite body is actually a girl like no way mam shutup. the politics was so well written no questions asked the fight scenes uffff. the wutuo jiyang battle>>> i literally have clips screen recorded to watch again sometime in the future i loved them sm. the main aspect that i loved sm about this drama was the equality between the leads. the constant reminder that women can be as helpful and useful in war as men even if they dont know how to fight. i loved how huaijin and he yan were always equal and even when the emperor wanted to split them by splitting their armies they stood strong on their ground that they would rather not marry than give up their honor. i did want to see a cliche scene of him killing people cuz she was half dead or something or maybe rescue her when she was on the brink of death but im still satisfied. AH I LOVE THEM SM

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Watch out for the zombies! (or rather the humans)

The BL world is exploring new genres, and I'm here for it. 🔥
This is the first ever apocalypse drama I've seen. It's usually not my genre but I really did enjoy The Last Oath.

The story follows Lin Zai, who lost his brother during the apocalypse and is trying his best to survive. He meets A Lie passed out in front of his camp and nurses him back to health. But A Lie has a mission of his own – finding an immune subject... which would be Lin Zai.

I really liked especially the first half of the story. The MLs getting to know each other, searching for food and fighting zombies. The second half was a bit slow, in my opinion: I found it a bit boring that it only took place at that filming set and they didn't venture outside anymore. I also didn't like how Lin Zai suddenly turned completely weak. In the first half he was at least somewhat capable and went out with his group fighting zombies. But then he suddenly needed A Lies protection like 24/7.

Although I really liked both characters, I got quite frustrated with Lin Zai in between. 🙂 His stupidity in particular. He was afraid to go with A Lie because they don't know how Herin (the scientific company) will experiment on him. But he gladly accepts He Yao experimenting on him, although He Yao betrayed them just one episode prior lol. Where is the logic? I mean, I understand to some extent that he felt emotional because of his brother... but duuuh. I could hardly watch him even hiding it from A Lie. Let's trust a random stranger more than our bf ~

I actually wish we would have gotten to know more about A Lie's backstory. Especially his early days with Herin would have been interesting for me. But I guess they didn't have time, episodes and budget for this xD I'm generelly a bit disappointed we didn't see much of Herin or their research purposes at all.

The villain was great, actually. 😈 I hated He Yao so much and wanted him gone most of the time. But I still found his story very intriguing and wished for nothing more than him and Changhuan getting their happy ending. I could understand how he became like this, but I still loathed him lol. I loved him and Changhuan together. And strangely, I found their last scene quite beautiful in a way.

I also loved the whole rundown city aesthetics. The locations and setups looked awesome, especially that airport. Sadly the music was AI. Which means there is a singer and composer out there who lost their chance to get hired. Always keep that in mind. But I can't deny that the music was awesome. 🙈 The opening was so beautiful – I never skipped it. Some of the other soundtracks also hit exactly the right emotions for me. In this case, the AI usage didn't ruin my watching experience or anything. But it leaves a bitter aftertaste.

The ending felt pretty fresh. No cure. No end of apocalypse. No settling down. But their journey together continues on. And it leaves them the option for a 2nd season, if they want. It would have felt rushed if they suddenly got a cure in the last episode, or maybe there is no cure at all. Anyway, I'm glad they will keep fighting side by side together. ❤️

So, all in all, I think they put a lot of effort into this. The acting was decent too. I liked how the actual story was equally relevant as the romance development. I don't like when they have an awesome premise but then only focus on the romance and everything else is background noise. So, well done!

And don't forget to watch the post-credits scene, guys ;)

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Complicated, but overall, brilliant.

First, let me state, I disagree with everyone's animosity toward XiaoYu. I don't feel she is greedy or manipulative. She was lied to for years, thinking PengPai had already divorced. When she found out they were not AND his will was giving everything to the wife and daughter, she decisively left him.
I don't normally advocate for the homewrecker, but she was deceived and made to be one. All the years with him became a waste, all his professions of love became hollow. His promises, empty. Her youth was gone with nothing to show for it. His will symbolized how much he cared for their future together, which evidently was zero. That, I believe, was the true reason for her leaving.
I can see why she fell.for his lies again and took him back, but the pregnancy scene was the nail in the coffin. His objection was just like his will, showing he never really believed in their future together. It was very sad when she lost the baby and the ability to have future children, but with her personality, I don't think she would've made a good mother. I couldn't see that in her future. PengPai's karma slap was so satisfying. Thank ypu, Shanshan!
The other FLs showed more transformation than XioaYu, but that's fine. I don't think her character needed it.
Albeit a slow drama, it hit the mark and left me satisfied.

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Title: Flash Marriage to the Prince of Beijing Circle (2024) Chinese Title: 闪婚京圈太子爷夫人她来自农村 is a very nice romance miniseries with ML: Zhang Beixi (as Li Ming Yue) and FL: Peng Qianling (as Yu Xi) in the leading couple's roles. The cast did a good job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple had great affinity and a sweet and lovely romance. This drama is about a romance that overcomes the economic and identity social divide; Li Ming Yue is a wealthy, honest, and powerful CEO in Beijing while Yu Xi is strong, resilient woman from the country side to better her difficult and poor circumstances. The leading couple were fated to meet, having a strong emotional intensity, they started to build their lives looking into the future with three babies on their way. This drama is well done and entertaining; enjoy it!
In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube under the caption: " Innocent village girl tamed a cold, aloof CEO into a clingy husband: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_kB204cFDE)

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A fragile illusion of love, where silence speaks louder than distance

At first when I started watching this, I was confused and didn't know if I should continue watching this but trusted my instinct and at the end, liked it more than the thought. So while waiting for the episodes to drop I started reading the novel and I must tell you, they were really faithful to the original source.

The original title, "Mao He Shen Li (貌合神离)" translates roughly to being together in appearance while staying divided in spirit. In my opinion few stories embody their own title with such quiet, suffocating honesty. What could have easily been a simple, cookie cutter contractual romance drama turned into a raw, deeply aching study of two people who loved each other from behind impenetrable emotional armor they had woven for each other.

What I loved about this drama was how instead of relying purely on loud melodrama, it let the devastation simmer slowly. The character's awkward glances across a dinner table, the lingering touches, everything real was left unsaid. Honestly, Ji Mingxuan and Shen Mo operated in a tragic paradox; living under the same roof, wrapped in the intimacy of lovers, and yet trapped behind walls built out of pride, insecurity, and the fear of showing their vulnerability. Ohh the angst! It was angsting real hard!

Storyline wise Ji Mingxuan’s cold exterior concealed a desperate, almost obsessive protectiveness towards his loved ones, but deep inside his inability to articulate it turned his care into a cage. He suffered silently, unknown to everyone. Opposite him, Shen Mo was like a painful chapter in a heartbreaking slice of life drama; his quiet composure wasn't the absence of feeling, but the survival mechanism of someone who had braced himself for abandonment so many times that he couldn't afford to hope and love. Through his guarded body language, he constantly monitored the emotional temperature of the room to cater to Mingxuan. Once a happy-go-lucky lively person turned into a soul that had learned to make itself small to survive. Watching their characters suffer, hurted me because their feelings were never truly false, only deeply misunderstood. When the facade finally fractured, I was left in tears. The audience had to put the missing pieces of the fate puzzle.

Overall, the drama leaves you with a lingering, bittersweet ache in your chest. It does have its shortcomings and plot holes but it worked for me. Give it a go if you like something angsty and complicated. Surely it was messy but tender, and deeply humane in a weird way. A reminder that the greatest distance between two people is rarely physical, but the words they are too terrified to confess.

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A tight emotional core is all a drama needs and TSR promises it in spades.

It might sound a little stereotypical to say this, but in the handful of shows I’ve watched by female directors have led me to believe that female C-drama directors might make shows with more tightly woven emotional cores, even if all else falls apart.
TSR is no exception from the way it starts. The first episode feels folkloric. Stunning cinematography, excellent pacing, sublime scoring and magmatic chemistry between the characters, fuelled by absolutely incredible dialogue. The characters feel real, the camera captures the weight of their personalities extremely well. Every interaction feels like it is revealing something about their characters.
I love the way the world is built. It feels grounded and immersive, rather than a set design or smudge in the bg where the characters simply happen to be.
The only thing I cannot comment on right now is plot, which will take a while to unravel as I get deeper into the story, but I can tell that no matter how the plot unfolds, it will be quite an experience to watch.

Will keep updated as more episodes come.

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Unpredictable and sad

I went into this series knowing nothing about it and with no idea where it would take me. For instance, I didn't know there was a Chinese original. I didn't even understand who the ML was, and I like that the series plays with that concept in the beginning. However, I didn’t realize that the show would utterly destroy me and tear my emotional life to pieces the way it did. It made me hope and, even worse, trust in the ML’s relentless protection of the FL. Being ripped away from that sense of security was deeply upsetting. But that is exactly what makes the script so good. It is psychologically believable. You can understand how everything turns out the way it does, and sometimes I think the series primarily wants to expose the structures of power. Hae Soo (the FL) manages to change history on several levels, but she never succeeds in changing the structure that creates these intrigues and bloodbaths. I find it beautiful that the series highlights this, sometimes in a barely noticeable way (such as when the eighth prince’s mother in the final episode still hasn't given up on the idea of power, expressing a wish for her grandchild to take the throne). What initially seemed like a simple love story turned out to be about something else entirely, and we are given an early clue of what lies ahead when the old king’s mistress talks about how she lived and was treated by the king—what power does to these men (and the women around them). I think the script is brilliant but also cruel. However, it manages to stay on the right side of speculative.

The music is fantastic and fits the atmosphere of the series incredibly well, even though there is some comedic timing during the first few episodes. The fourth prince is quite brutal and mean to the FL, yet romantic music plays whenever he interacts with her in a not so nice way. It is as if the series wants to emphasize that he is the man we should root for, even though he hasn't shown any good sides yet. It doesn't matter that it is overly obvious and can feel a bit misplaced. It still works and delivers exactly the butterflies it is meant to.

There is a magnificent scene in episode 11 where the eighth prince turns away and abandons the FL while she, on her bare knees in the pouring rain, tries to influence the king to pardon her friend (who is also the king's mistress). With great cinematic poetry, the eighth prince retreats and walks away, and the fourth prince steps in—offering the only protection he can at that moment (his company and his cloak to shield her from the rain). It has to be one of the most powerful scenes in K-drama history.

The ending is somehow satisfying, even though it can also be perceived as unsatisfying. Besides how powerful it is to see the ML left standing alone in the solar eclipse during the final scene, promising that he will find Hae Soo, it is also a happy ending of sorts—if you let go and dare to rest in, and trust, the idea that they will find each other in the present day with all the lessons they learned through history. I can even appreciate the dignity of letting the viewer understand without spelling it out. Personally, I feel that this was exactly where Bon Appétit tripped at the finish line, with its polished and rushed ending in the modern day (which just felt cliché and overly convenient). That being said, it doesn't make Moon Lovers any less tragic and emotionally ruthless to watch. I felt so awful after finishing this series that I cried for hours before falling asleep, cried when I woke up, and then on and off for several days after. I also frequently felt angry during the later part of the series, starting from the point where the ML crossed a romantic line and got married (to a child he wanted to save from being forced into marriage). He did this without realizing it was the beginning of the end for his and Hae Soo’s future. Furthermore, he seemingly did it too lightly without looking for other options, such as asking his brothers. This is perhaps the only major script-related flaw I reacted to—that it isn't clearly shown why there are no other ways to save this child. After that, he crosses line after line regarding what a male hero can get away with, and you constantly hope he will stop, which he doesn't. However, it doesn't provoke the same kind of anger in the viewer (or in me, at least), because it is psychologically plausible and better executed in the script.

It is also terrible to watch the scheming, calculating, and cold-hearted princess actually win the ML in the end (even if not his heart). It is a shocking outcome for a viewer who isn't prepared for it. At the same time, even I understood that a historical drama must be anchored in history, and with that said, the FL could never have had a more prominent role in history, since she doesn't exist there, and neither does her daughter. It might also have been easier to accept the outcome if the ML's feelings for the FL had cooled down, but that is not what happens. He puts love on hold and repeatedly accepts that other things must come before love. He thinks he can protect Hae Soo later, that he must handle and secure his position first, but every concession makes the next concession easier to justify. In the end, he is king, holding the power he once thought would grant him freedom, but which instead leaves his hands tied and completely at the mercy of others. He gradually loses the opportunity to be with the one person who could have made him happy.

If you are receptive to it, you can become incredibly invested as a viewer in the characters and honestly the entire world of the show. It has been a long time since I was so affected and also deeply, profoundly saddened by fiction. Moon Lovers is just... pure, emotional abuse all the way to the end. A horrible experience, but I can't give the series anything other than a ten out of ten.

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This is not your typical fluffy BL .

Before watching this , Always remember this is really closer to bitter truth and melancholy . Characters like these are almost found in many schools . This is really really bitter yet realistic .
A character like Jang Giwoo , I really found realistic and about Lee Heonjae It's true that not everyone from rich background has nothing to fear or loose .
I remember there was a line "He has everything , but nothing to hold on" . Really justified his whole struggle and character and about the ending , I think they did the right thing . Not every has a good end and this is truth . It's not fairytale . Overall I really liked the concept . Hope this types of Bl would be made more in the future . Go ahead and give a shot .

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