Reviews

A Little Journey Through Time, Romance, and the Art of Ceramic

An interesting one-hour drama about time travel that manages to be neither too complicated nor overly simple. The story follows two people who travel back to the Ming Dynasty and try to figure out how to return to their own time. However, that is only the setup. The real heart of the drama lies in the art of pottery making.

I really enjoyed the idea of two people from different countries, speaking different languages and coming from different cultures, finding a connection through a shared journey and a twist of fate. The romance is sweet, but what truly caught my attention was the cultural and historical aspect of the story.

I've always loved Chinese ceramics and learning about different civilizations, so this was right up my alley. My favourite part was the ending, where actual ceramic artists introduced the craft and explained the pottery-making process. I especially appreciated that the drama incorporated real artists and their techniques rather than simply using pottery as a pretty background for the story.

Overall, The Beauty of Glaze felt like a little glimpse into the history of ceramic art, wrapped in a time-travel story with a touch of romance. It's short, interesting, and a lovely watch if you enjoy traditional crafts, cultural history, and gentle romantic stories.

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Secrets, Revenge, and a Past Waiting to Be Uncovered

I came here for Jesse Ren, whom I had previously watched in Embrace in the Dark Night. I knew this couple had another drama with a higher MDL rating, but I hadn't really looked into the story of Visage and Soul before starting it. After watching the first two episodes, I was surprised when I checked the rating on MDL because I was genuinely enjoying the setup. I thought the story might lose momentum as it progressed, but surprisingly, that never happened for me. It turned out to be a really interesting revenge mystery and one of the better short dramas I've watched in this format.

The story follows Qiao Xiao Mi, who lost her memories after a fire incident three years ago. After her father's death, she becomes the heiress to his fortune, and during his funeral, our ML suddenly appears, claiming to be her fiancé. From there, the mystery begins. Who is telling the truth, who is deceiving whom, and what really happened three years ago? The first half kept me guessing about the characters and their intentions. By around episode 12, I had figured out the motives behind the characters' actions, but that didn't make me lose interest. Instead, I wanted to know exactly how everything had happened and how the leads would find their way through it all.

What I appreciated most was that the story maintained its momentum until the very end. There were enough secrets, twists, and unanswered questions to keep me hooked, and I genuinely wanted to see how everything would unfold. For a short drama, I think the mystery was handled quite well. My biggest recommendation is to go into it with as few spoilers as possible because discovering the truth along the way is a big part of the fun.

However, if you're coming here for the romance and intimate moments that Jesse Ren delivered in Embrace in the Dark Night or some of his other works, you might want to adjust your expectations. The romance isn't the main attraction here. The mystery, revenge, and uncovering the past take centre stage, so don't expect the same level of romantic intensity.

My biggest complaint was the directing. There were far too many close-up shots of the leads, to the point that they started feeling repetitive and tiring. I wish the director had used more creative camera angles and varied the visual storytelling instead of relying so heavily on close-ups.

Overall, Visage and Soul was a pleasant surprise for me. I came for Jesse Ren, but I stayed because the story kept me curious until the end. If you're looking for a short drama with an intriguing revenge mystery rather than a romance-heavy plot, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. Just go in blind and let the story unfold!

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A Curse Can Be Lifted—But What If He Forgets You?

Unlucky Bae is a cute campus romance with magic, a little sadness, and a lovely group of friends.

What touched me most was that Khofa had been made to believe he brought misfortune to others long before Lin accidentally cursed him. His uncle’s words had already shaped the way he saw himself. Watching him gradually regain his confidence, return to the things he had given up, and open up to other people was one of the pleasures of this drama.

Lin helps him move forward, but the closer they become, the heavier Lin’s guilt grows. He wants to lift the curse, yet doing so means being forgotten by someone who has become precious to him. That dilemma adds a bittersweet feeling to an otherwise playful story.

I was especially fond of Lin’s friends, Ohm and Jeannie. Funny, endearing, and loyal, they made the friendship scenes something to look forward to. I think their support was a big part of what kept Lin going.

This was a sweet, easy watch for me. I enjoyed spending time with these characters, especially when the romance and friendship brought out their warmer, livelier sides.

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Impressive for a short run drama (7 episodes, 24 min avg each)

## Rating: 9/10

### Review

This one pleasantly surprised me! The story is predictable, but I still found it deeply emotional, especially considering how short the drama is.

I've watched plenty of short dramas that feel rushed, as though someone took a much longer story and squeezed it into a few episodes without leaving enough room for the characters to develop. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here. The pacing was good, the writing gave the characters room to develop, and the romance felt believable rather than forced.

The leads had good chemistry, and I bought into both their friendship and their transition into a romantic relationship. I also appreciated that the characters had insecurities and emotional baggage. They weren't perfect people whose problems disappeared the moment they fell in love, which made the relationship feel more realistic.

This is a great choice if you enjoy friends-to-lovers romances and want something quick to watch without sacrificing emotional depth. It's more than a movie but doesn't require the commitment of a full-length drama.

Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? Absolutely! **9/10.**

### Spoilers

I liked the way the drama handled the fear of turning a close friendship into something romantic. When you care deeply about someone, risking the friendship can be just as frightening as risking a romantic relationship. But sometimes the friendship has already changed once romantic feelings enter the picture, and avoiding those feelings doesn't necessarily preserve what you had.

Shogo Nihei was too angsty and immature for me to see him as a good match for Himari Shibasaki, although he did help bring some of the main characters' feelings to the surface.

I was glad Himari ultimately chose to fight for her relationship with Kazumi Hojo. Given his past, he seems like someone who will need reassurance and security in love. I liked that his emotional baggage made him feel like a real person rather than a perfect romantic lead.

People don't magically stop being insecure when someone loves them. Sometimes they need reassurance that they're loved, that they're doing okay, and that their mistakes won't automatically destroy the relationship. Of course, both partners have to do their part, but understanding each other's vulnerabilities matters.

I enjoyed seeing a romance where the characters had things to work through rather than everything falling perfectly into place. Their feelings were believable, their relationship had a solid foundation, and the drama made good use of its limited time.

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Please take me back to Molie

Without a doubt, this is one of the most special BLs I have seen in my life, it is a must watch. Instead of focusing on a back a forth love story between an idol and another boy, the director creates a very passionate and mature relationship between Quilang and Chanyang and just throws difficulties along the whole series.

I can say some very positive things about this series, but it has also had some parts that have been disappointing. I will start with the good ones:
- amazing lead actors (Feng Quilang and Chanyang) that made me wonder if they really felt something for each other. The show has especially in the middle a lot of very affectionate and tender shots that completely melted my heart.
- beautiful scenery. A big chunk of the movie happens within the mountains and some of the takes will stay forever in my memory. Chanyang's house in Molie is my dream house and this movie has convinced me to go to the mountains of SouthWestern China (I don't usually travel far for environmental reasons).
- great soundtrack that blends traditional and western music styles. As with almost all dramas, it is overused but most of the times its presence is appreciated.
- Gay actors. Out of the 8 main actors, 3 of them are visibly gay (Feng Quingtian, Han Lu and Brother Guo). It is nice to see the LGBT community represented and not just commercialized by straight people. A shame that the two male leads are not visibly or openly gay (I would become the happiest person on earth if Xiong Yi Wen (Feng Quilang) was actually gay).
- tea, tea and more tea: the third most important character of the series is definitely tea. It is always present and provides a grounding floor of purpose, meaning and ritualism. While I am so grateful of all the tea and rituals that this series brings, I wonder if the main sponsor is a tea or the tea thermos company...

However, there are some topics that slightly spoiled the series:
- Besides the two lead actors Fen Quilang and Chanyang, and Feng Quigtian and Xing Lan (the original company director and Fen Quilang's 3 previous lifes mother), the rest of the acting was mediocre and melodramatic, in line with what you see in other BLs.
- Poorly developped/resolved arcs. The moments of joy, tension and especially the moments of deep sorrow are brushed away within minutes. The show feels very rushed, especiallly in the end, with many things happening and no time to stop on any topic or mourn the death of !!!3 of the support roles.
- Hunter school: really? the dream of Chanyang is to go to an elite military school? are you serious? You were not able to find anything else that would make Chanyang passionate? that was very disappointing...
- Rich people story. Both of them are loaded with money and the story shows it explicitely throughout. There was no reason to make Chanyang loaded. While the tea brings a grounding layer of depth and meaning, portraying the frictionless life of rich people detaches from it. It is a story about hardships and struggle but where many problems are solved by scanning a qr code. The only moment in which we see "something poor" in the more than 10 hours of video is inside the couple that lost their son (that I found confusing and unnecesary).

In any case, I had a blessing watching this series and I will keep happily staring at Fen Quilang and Chanyang in my dreams.
Thanks Zelia.

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A Green-Flag ML in a Twisted Revenge Story

A Republic-era drama where the ML is actually a green flag while the SML is a complete sadist? Sign me up! I really enjoyed Misplacement because it offered a revenge story with an interesting setup and characters whose relationships kept me invested.

The story begins with the FL searching for the SML to take revenge on her sister for abandoning her. Along the way, she meets the ML, who has returned from abroad to uncover the truth behind his mother's death. Things become even more complicated because the ML is the SML's uncle. I liked how these different motives and family connections came together to build the story.

The ML was easily one of my favourite parts of this drama. He was his own character with his own goals and personal journey, rather than simply existing to support the FL. At the same time, he supported her unconditionally and trusted her decisions. I loved that he didn't constantly question her, throw childish jealousy tantrums, or create unnecessary misunderstandings just to manufacture drama. He could stand beside her without trying to control her, and their relationship felt so much better because of it. We need more MLs like him!

I also really appreciated the bond between the sisters. Despite everything they went through, their connection remained strong enough that they were willing to take risks for each other. Their relationship added emotional depth to the revenge plot and made their struggles more meaningful.

The second couple's story was another interesting part of the drama. Their love story was more tragic and twisted by fate, which created a different emotional dynamic from the main couple. I enjoyed following both relationships, and the chemistry among the cast made their interactions even more engaging. Meanwhile, the SML's sadistic nature added another layer of tension to the story.

Overall, I thought the story was well developed, with revenge, family bonds, complicated relationships, and romance coming together nicely. What stood out most to me was that the ML could be strong and independent while still being a genuinely supportive partner. There was no need for childish jealousy, pointless misunderstandings, or unnecessary cruelty between the leads to keep things interesting.

A very enjoyable drama with a compelling story, great chemistry, a strong sisterly bond, and an ML who deserves appreciation. If you enjoy revenge stories with a green-flag male lead and couples who actually trust and support each other, Misplacement is worth watching!

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A clear 10/10 in my book

What is there not to love about Shadow Punisher? Half of the Whispers of Fate cast, amazing soundtrack and mystery solving historical fantasy drama is right up my alley.
Story. A prince who lives under another identity is finding out who was responsible for the attack on him but he uncovers something much more sinister behind it. The last few episodes had me really guessing who's side are we taking at the moment. I really liked the subdivisions of the respective cases throughout the story. What I especially loved was that we finally did not have any romantic involvement of the main leads (I've said before that not every story needs it and yay!!). Instead we are getting heartwarming companionship of the four divine constables, gentle moments of the third and fourth prince and that I really appreciated.
Cast. The chemistry between Luo Yunxi and Fang Yilun is clear, it's simply amazing. I highly appreciated that the casting directors did not cast all young actors (I mean around the age of 25) as the main heroes. The main characters required matureness of seasoned actors. I was a little surprised by Li Si's character at first, it was quite unusual to see Luo Yunxi as that slightly mischievous, the-room-belongs-to-me-when-i-walk-in character. I also appreciated Asher Ma not being the kindhearted dummy guy in this story.
OST. I especially loved the song by Baby J. I thought at first that it's Jeremy Tsui singing it, especially because of the scene where it was used (I was a little sad when I found out it wasn't him, his voice is just gorgeous).
Rewatch value. I think this might be the first time I'm giving a 10 on rewatch value on a regular format drama. It's interesting, the cast has an outstanding chemistry, there's companionship, what's not to love?

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I’m intrigued and curious to what’s coming next!

I haven’t read the webtoon so this is solely from what we’re getting from the series. First of all the the synopsis on MDL is far from what the series is about, if you’re interested on the actual synopsis you can find it on iQYIY’s website, i’ll post a link in the comments.

Only 2 episodes in and it caught my interest. I’m still a bit confused to what the storyline will be like, but from these two episodes it already seems like it will be a pretty interesting one! Can’t wait to see what’s coming next. I really liked the songs :)

It’s being released on iQIYI, and it will be a 10 episodes series with what seems like an average of 25min each episode.

I’ll leave my review like this for now and might update it later when the series drops more episodes, and if I end up adding some spoilers i’ll turn on the the notice.

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A Mystery or a Fairy Tale…Make Up Your Mind

I had high expectations for Shadow Punisher, especially with two lead actors I genuinely enjoy watching. And to their credit, their performances were as good as expected. The production looked impressive, the mysteries were interconnected, and the story had all the ingredients of a great Chinese investigative drama…political intrigue, family rivalries, hidden enemies, and a promising bromance. Unfortunately, having all the right ingredients doesn’t always make a satisfying dish.

I love a good mystery, especially one that challenges my intellect and keeps me guessing. But with only 30 episodes, Shadow Punisher spends far too much time on lengthy investigations and pseudo-detective work. Each mystery takes so long to resolve that I eventually stopped trying to figure things out. I was simply watching and waiting for the outcome. Li Si dominates almost every scene, while Meng Rui feels more like a supporting character than an equal lead. Their chemistry is there, but the emotional connection never really develops. I understood their partnership, but I never felt deeply invested in it.

What disappointed me most was the poor character development. The four central characters deserved stronger introductions and more attention to their individual histories. Instead, we’re given bits and pieces of their pasts and expected to put everything together ourselves. The complicated relationships between the Emperor and his sons could have made a fascinating family drama, yet the palace intrigue feels almost like a side story. And then there’s Liluo, an enemy so powerful and deeply rooted throughout the empire that I kept wondering…if they had already infiltrated the palace and controlled so much, why wait until now? Why was Prince Xian suddenly so important? The explanations never completely convinced me.

Everyone seems to be a puppet, with someone secretly pulling the strings. But who’s the real puppet master? I’ll leave that for viewers to discover.

By the finale, almost every hero seems destined to sacrifice something, even their lives, to eliminate the threats. But where was the emotional impact? I should have been devastated, yet I barely felt anything. And when the final confrontation arrived, I couldn’t help thinking of Prince Phillip battling Maleficent in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Suddenly, this elaborate detective mystery had turned into a fairy tale battle between good and evil, complete with supernatural powers and heroic sacrifices. The difference is that Sleeping Beauty was always meant to be a fairy tale, and at least that fairy tale had a happy ending. Shadow Punisher offered no such comfort.

I don’t know whether it was the writing, the pacing, or simply poor execution, but this series feels like a missed opportunity. It left me with more questions than answers, and not the kind that make a good mystery. The actors did their best, but even talented performers can only do so much. Perhaps the saddest part is that I didn’t even need a happy ending. I just needed an ending that made me feel something. After 30 episodes, I had nothing to mourn, nothing to celebrate, and very little to remember.

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Blades of the Guardians: When Your Donghua Was Better But You're Still Having a Good Time

Okay, I need to confess something first: I was a Blades of Guardians donghua apologist before this movie was even announced. I watched the 2023 anime adaptation, I read Xianzhe Xu's manhua, and I had opinions about the casting. So imagine my surprise when I sat down for this live-action spectacle and found myself... actually enjoying it? Like, genuinely? Not just "pretending to enjoy it so I don't look like a hipster" enjoying it?

But let's get the elephant in the desert out of the way: the donghua was better. There, I said it. The animated series had more room to breathe, more time to flesh out the political machinations, and didn't have to cram approximately seventeen factions, eight subplots, and five historical name-drops into a two-hour runtime. The movie's plot is so dense that I'm fairly certain I missed three betrayals and a marriage proposal while blinking.

However.

This movie is very watchable. Like, "I will absolutely watch this again on a lazy Sunday afternoon" watchable. And honestly? That's high praise for a live-action adaptation of a comic book that had to condense what I can only assume was a 47-volume arc into something that doesn't require a PhD in Sui Dynasty politics to follow.

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The Plot (Or: How Many Factions Can We Fit in Two Hours?)

So we've got Dao Ma (Wu Jing), a rugged bounty hunter who used to be a cavalry soldier, traveling the Silk Road with his nephew Xiao Qi (Ju Qianlang). He gets recruited by Governor Chang (Jet Li) to train troops, declines because politics is icky, and then immediately gets framed for murder. Classic.

Cue the escape to Mojia Village, where Chief Mo calls in a favor: escort the empire's most wanted revolutionary, Zhi Shi Lang (Sun Yizhou), to Chang'an. Oh, and take his daughter Ayuya (Chen Lijun) and her friend Ani (Xiong Jinyi) along because he doesn't want her marrying a guy named He Yixuan (CiSha), who is such a piece of work that I genuinely hissed at the screen during his scenes.

Along the way, they meet Shu (Yu Shi), a bounty hunter with amazing hair and a mysterious past, and they all get chased by rival bounty hunters, corrupt officials, warring factions, and two mysterious warriors played by Nicholas Tse and Biying Liang, whose alignment is basically "yes."

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Hello, Yu Shi! I See You!

Speaking of Yu Shi, can we talk about this man's screen presence for a second? He plays Shu, the calm, collected bounty hunter with the white-streaked hair and the red scar. He gets maybe fifteen minutes of screen time, and yet I spent the entire drive home thinking about him. This is a problem. A good problem. The kind of problem that makes me want to watch Creation of the Gods just to see him again.

This is exactly what happened with Creation of the Gods. I saw him for ten minutes as Ji Fa and was like, "Yes, this man is my entire personality now." And now he's done it again. Yu Shi is a menace and I need him in more things immediately.

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The Action: A Masterclass from the Master

Yuen Woo-ping, the man who brought us Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix, Kill Bill, and Kung Fu Hustle, is back, and he's brought his A-game. The fight choreography is absolutely relentless.

The film's structure is basically "Mad Max: Fury Road but with swords and sandstorms." It's one chase scene after another, each more elaborate than the last. The opening fight between Dao Ma and the Two-Headed Snake (Zhang Jin) against Chang's men is so impressive it would be the climax of most action movies. Here, it's just the warm-up.

And then there's the Jet Li fight. Yes, the Jet Li. He shows up as Governor Chang, and the fight between him, Dao Ma, and Two-Headed Snake is a delicious appetizer for the main course. Li and Wu Jing feel a bit "restrained" in their physically demanding roles (they're both getting older, sue them), but honestly? I was too busy picking my jaw off the floor to notice.

The standout set pieces include:

· A sprawling sandstorm battle that is pure cinema
· Dynamic practical horseback stunts (no CGI horses here, folks)
· A desert oil field that becomes a flaming battlefield
· A villain who is, and I quote, "flame-engulfed"

The practical effects and on-location shooting in the desert regions of western China give the film a scale and texture that CGI just can't replicate. The elaborate costumes—Shu's white-streaked hair and flowing robes, Zhi Shi Lang's half-ghost mask with Sichuan Opera face-painting, Dao Ma's all-black ensemble—create a stark monochromatic color scheme that looks stunning on the big screen.

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The Story: Dense, Convoluted, and Occasionally Incomprehensible

Remember how I said the donghua was better? This is why. The film tries to condense a massive multi-character comic book arc into two hours, and the result is a viewer being bombarded with a dizzying array of factions, subplots, and historical names that are impossible to track.

I'm fairly certain I watched the same five minutes three times without realizing it. The plot is so fast-paced that it occasionally feels like the filmmakers were worried the audience would lose interest if they slowed down for even a second.

But here's the thing: for genre fans, this doesn't matter. The story is a foundation on which to lay the stunning fight sequences, and that's exactly what it does. The narrative is compelling enough to keep you invested between fights, and the characters are well-drawn enough that you care about what happens to them—especially Ayuya, whose arc from naive girl to adult warrior is beautifully handled by Chen Lijun.

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The Cast: No Weak Links

One thing this film does exceptionally well is casting. Everyone is dialed in:

· Wu Jing as Dao Ma: Weary, sarcastic, and absolutely lethal when provoked
· Jet Li as Governor Chang: Charismatic, menacing, and somehow makes politics cool
· Nicholas Tse as Diting: Has the presence to be a massive crossover star
· Yu Shi as Shu: The reason I'm watching Creation of the Gods again
· Chen Lijun as Ayuya: An opera singer who proves she can act AND fight
· Sun Yizhou as Zhi Shi Lang: The mysterious revolutionary with the killer mask

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Final Verdict: Watch It, Then Watch the Donghua

Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert is an exciting, occasionally over-stretched, but ultimately thrilling martial arts extravaganza. The title is overly verbose (why the subtitle? What purpose does it serve?), the plot is occasionally convoluted, and yes, the donghua was better.

But if you're looking for two hours of jaw-dropping action, elaborate costumes, and stunning desert landscapes, this film delivers. It's part Lord of the Rings, part Mad Max: Fury Road, with a generous heaping of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. There's something for everyone here—even if the someone in question is just me, watching Yu Shi for fifteen minutes and then immediately googling Creation of the Gods.

Rating: 8 out of 10 (One point deducted for making me want to rewatch the donghua instead, and one more deducted for making me miss the donghua's extended runtime)

But seriously, go watch the donghua after. It's worth it. And while you're at it, check out Creation of the Gods. Yosh Yu is in it. You won't regret it.

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Went In Doubting, Left Loving

I put this drama off for weeks because I thought I wouldn’t like it. Recent dramas had been disappointing me, and I judged this one before even giving it a chance. Glad I finally did, because I genuinely enjoyed it!

The story started intensely but soon balanced comedy, emotions, romance, and action. However, sone parts in initial episodes were frustrating. Tae Ha keeping the truth from Eun Sae made me anxious because every time she regained a memory, she ended up approaching dangerous people.
The psychologist also irritated me with his insecurity around Tae Ha and his reckless decision to contact Eun Sae’s boyfriend.
But, my feelings towards both characters changed as the story progressed.

By the end, I had fallen in love with everyone in Taffy Village.
(I even felt little bit sorry for Baek Sang Hil in the end but he had it coming. His connection to the coach, which I first thought was unnecessary, turned out to add an interesting layer to his story.)

The final episodes were so cute and lovey-dovey.

A few things I especially loved:

- So glad they didn't kill off Grandma!
- So glad they didn't kill the dog or taffy village members for emotional impact.
- The dog being part of the engagement, wedding, and ending was everything!
- Taffy Village completely won my heart.
- The psychologist grew on me, too.
- The coach’s wife defending him was hilarious.

Overall, it’s not the best drama out there, but it was so much more enjoyable than I expected. A wholesome, fun, emotional, and cute watch with characters who gradually grow on you. ❤️

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