Reviews

Love wishes for forever—but can forever make us happy?

NOUR left me thinking about love, life, and the loneliness of living beyond the people we love. The mystery drew me in, but the feelings it left behind are what stayed with me.

Chita’s story was especially painful. His lover turned him into a NOUR because he wanted them to live together, yet Chita was the one left behind. What began as a wish to share a life became an unbearable solitude. It made me wonder whether love and eternity are really such a good match.

The finale brought that question into focus through two very different relationships. Wanting someone to stay with you, wanting to save their life, and understanding what they themselves want can lead to different choices. Ken’s determination to save James while keeping his promise not to turn him into a NOUR moved me.

Some questions remain, particularly about James’s father. I would have liked a little more clarity there, but the emotional ending still reached me.

What I loved most was the thought that even without seeing a real rainbow, James could find all its colors in Ken’s smile. After so much grief and longing, that felt like enough.

A good drama that left me with a lingering sadness, warmth, and plenty to think about.

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Overrated. Tries to be too many things and fails.

This was so ridiculously overrated. When it first started I was actually hopeful, because it felt like a long version of the movie Taken, which is one of my favorites. I think it's fun to watch somebody kick butt on a bunch of really bad people, when it's fully justified and you don't have to feel bad about it. But there were two big problems.

First, the show took away from what could be at serious action movie, by introducing a couple of totally goofy characters. And they seemed mismatched. Agent Kim was a serious tough guy, again similar to the Liam Neeson character in taken. But then they paired him up with two goofy comic relief guys. So the show didn't know whether it was Taken or The Naked Gun.

And if that wasn't enough, instead of sticking to the relatable story of the father avenging his daughter, they crammed a ton of other complex side plots and flashback stories that weren't particularly interesting.

I survived for a bit just fast forwarding a lot, but eventually I had to drop it. Very disappointing

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THE MOST PERFECT CAST AND PLOT ?

I hope this doesn’t come off biased since I am a big day 1 AuauSave fan but Mr Fanboy really deserves the praise it’s receiving right now, the company could’ve made this series into a complete rom-com and not portray the issues as seriously but they didn’t and for that I’m grateful. The comedic aspects of Mr Fanboy are toned down so we can get a giggle but go right back to focusing on the issues the characters are facing, not just that but they also give more depth to each character. Even the makeup artists in the series who normally don’t speak much in other series, they too have important roles besides being there to provide comedic relief. No detail is to disregarded in this series, and it’s been so fun to see casual BL watchers be so engaged into the discussion about each episode, as a fan I’m so proud of the cast and production team for their amazing work truly!! My AuauSave you guys are finally on your way to stardom🥹 I’m so happy 🤧 another thing I’d like to add…the OSTsssss out of this world! Please keep up this standard, we need a DEXX song on this list neowww, don’t make me wait too long plz

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Complicated, Real and Thought Provoking

I wanna start off by saying to read the reviews, very specifically Kate's because it's such a great review of the series.

The characters are all extremely complicated., and it is hard for me to fully express that enough without giving a play-by-play on what, how and when (once again Kate's review is 10/10) The theme's that are covered are very raw, very real and don't skimp out on the morality of the romance itself.

I was wondering how exactly they were going to end the series and I wont lie and say it's a happy ending. It's not a sad ending either, in the normal sense of happy/sad endings.
It's really bittersweet.

I felt so deeply for Hyeon Jae from beginning to end, him attempting to combat the abuse and neglect he was receiving by acting out and clinging to the first semblance of affection he had gotten in who knows how long was both parts realistic and heart breaking.

There is a lot of story telling being done within 8 episodes, and I really wanna applaud the cast and crew for giving us this gem.

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Ryan Cheng Is Stealing the Show

I'm now on Episode 18, and Ryan Cheng is still the biggest reason I'm watching. His performance is magnetic, layered, and emotionally convincing. For me, he easily outshines the FL in terms of acting. He makes his character's pain, devotion, and inner conflict feel real.

The FL's hatred of the ML is understandable in theory, given their history. My issue isn't that she hates him; it's how she expresses it. Her reactions often come across as unnecessarily harsh, even when he's clearly trying to help her and the people she cares about.

And here's what really gets me: when Ryan's character turns cold toward her, suddenly she wants his attention. But the moment he starts softening toward her again, she pulls away! Girl, what exactly do you want? 😂 Are we healing this relationship or playing an endless game of emotional tag?

She seems to expect his devotion and kindness while continuing to hurt him. I understand that complicated emotions don't disappear overnight, but I wish the writing and acting gave us more insight into her internal conflict. Right now, the back-and-forth feels more frustrating than romantic.

What disappoints me most is that she initially came across as intelligent and perceptive. I liked that about her. But somewhere along the way, she seems to have lost some of that sharpness, especially when it comes to recognizing how the ML is helping her and the people she loves.

Hot take: Guo Yu Xin is stealing the show for me, and her acting outshines the FL's by miles. At least Guo Yu Xin's character shows some spine!

The FL, on the other hand, seems stuck in a victim mindset. She pushes people away, insists she doesn't need anyone, and then ends up being saved by those very same people. I understand wanting to be independent, but there's a difference between standing on your own two feet and repeatedly rejecting help only to need it later. At some point, I want to see her take control of her situation instead of constantly pushing everyone away.

To be fair, I don't think the FL is necessarily a bad character. There's potential in her internal conflict, but the execution hasn't fully worked for me so far. I want to see more of the intelligent, capable woman she appeared to be at the beginning.

Meanwhile, Ryan Cheng continues to make his character compelling, even when he's being hurt by the person he cares about. His two closest friends are fantastic, too, and bring plenty of personality to the drama.

At Episode 18, Ryan Cheng and Guo Yu Xin remain my biggest reasons for continuing. I'm hoping the FL's character development catches up because there's potential here. I'd love to see her become someone I can genuinely root for rather than someone whose decisions leave me scratching my head.

For now, Ryan Cheng has my attention, Guo Yu Xin has my admiration, and the FL still has some convincing to do. Ryan, sir, you're doing too much emotional heavy lifting here. Somebody give this man a break! 😂

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Seventh and Last Season Finishes Strong

This seventh season consistently follows the patterns seen in the six seasons prior, and it finishes on an appropriate heroic ending.

The main character the Demon doctor herself moves away from the dance floor seen in the first season and focuses on her other main interest, food. Otherwise the early character changes very little and this is a good thing. The series reliably delivers the same satisfying medical vigilantism in each episode and over the whole season. She consistently overcomes all challenges from the male dominated medical hierarchy and never fails, as she promises in every episode.

If you liked the first six seasons you won't disappointed in this seventh.

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A MUDDLED MESS -- WITH LIKEABLE LEADS

Budget constraints, third-rate special effects, and an unbelievable script suck the life out of this series. The ghosts aren't ghostly and the monsters aren't monstrous. The girl in the well with the bad hair, the water spirit with raccoon eyes, and, most of all, the ho-hum colossal... whatever - inspire neither dread nor terror. In fact the monster-making funds are so deficient that we only see the feet of No. 3 in the beginning. (We do get to see him later--just a glimpse of a huge guy with bad skin.)

Plot holes big enough to swallow the Eiffel Tower are scattered across the filmscape. Yoon Gap is presumably killed-- although his dead body, occupied by a new tenant, continues to ramble about. Viewers (and especially Yeo-ri ) want to know-is the original inhabitant still alive or is he dead? Sometimes the writers suggest it's the first; sometimes they imply it's the second. Why does one Imugi (Gang Cheol) need a young girl's body to ascend to Heaven? But his brother (or is it his friend?) doesn't? Why is this series called "The Haunted Palace" on some platforms but "Return to the Palace" on others? Too many graybeards in the palace for the viewers (make that me) to keep straight. Confusion abounds.

In spite of all this, the two leads do a decent job. I especially liked Yoon Gap, whose devilish smile and boyish (often childish) personality steal the show-in fact, he basically saves it. The actress who played Yeo-ri was appropriately admirable, but she was too earnest and grim for my taste. Couldn't we see her playful side now and then? And much as I liked bad-boy Gang Cheol as a character--C'mon! He's a narcissist, glutton, liar, and he hates all humans except for Yeo-ri. Not exactly mate material. He would have been more appealing served up with some moral heft.

And Yeo-ri, poor benighted girl-Is she really about to hook up with this dude based on the discovery that he didn't murder her grandmother? Yes she is. She does bawl him out for his despicable ways later in the drama. We’re supposed to believe that’s enough to get him to reform, but when has nagging ever worked?

One other mention – Cha Chung Hwa, who is still beautiful and elegant plays the Mother and she does a wonderful job, making that character sympathetic and believable.

Yeo-ri and Yoon Gap are not the only characters whose values are out of whack. For example, the king gets points for wanting to free the slaves. That's a signal to the viewers that he's basically a stand-up guy. Then why does he torture people to death in such a ghoulish way, the innocent as well as the guilty? Right. That's how they did it in those days. I don't have to like it, though.

For some reason, the creators of this series are concealing the number of episodes from the viewers. But by episode 11, this series lost all its energy and began to drag. I could feel the writers had run out of ideas when they showed Yeo-ri being kidnapped for the third (or was it the fourth?) time.

That’s enough for me. I was going to give THE HIGHER PALACE a higher rating, but some of the problems listed above knocked it down.

I moved it up to six stars

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Low budget monster flick

Desert Monster was a low budget, very low budget, monster flick set during the Republican Era. Presumably so that they could use a few modern amenities, minus telephones, while also wielding knives and bows.

Meng Xi and Xia Xuan are the only survivors of their team sent into a research lab in the desert. Their mission was to bring back the “original virus solution to neutralize a bacterial infection.” The lab had messed around too much with nature and ended up creating a vicious monster from desert lizards. Monsters that could breed like rabbits and hunted by sound and smell. Meng Xi and a wounded Xia Xuan escape to a small village where they accidentally set off a barrage of arrow slinging booby traps. The people who built them live underground and bring the two below to safety. Numerous villagers are suffering from a virus spread by the desert monsters. The only way to create an antidote is to breach the monsters’ lair and capture the queen.

Meng Xi is one of the typical heroes from these cheap films. He can do anything and nothing bothers him. He dodged a hundred arrows Matrix style without getting a scratch. Villagers might die to accomplish the mission? Sometimes you have to crack a few eggs to save the world. He asked scintillating questions such as, “I wonder why they live underground?” Maybe because there were a thousand of those vicious man-eating monsters above ground? The ones you were running from. Ying, the lead warrior and archer from the village, was a typical poorly written female character. Brave? Yes. She was also emotionally unstable. Every few minutes she cried that it was all her fault. What was? Everything. When someone died, she fell down, pounded the ground, and wailed. Even when there was a monster breathing over her shoulder. “Back off, I’m trying to emote here!” Fallen characters were given touching flashback scenes. Why? They might have had ten minutes of screen time, not sufficient time to bond with the character. There was the requisite rousing speech by the village elder and enough noble sacrifice to fill a fleet.

I was generous with my score because despite the many, many drawbacks, including the hocus pocus science, the film did try to carve out a space for itself in the crowded cheap monster movie genre. It just needed better writing, acting, and AI critters. Not the worst low-budget creature feature I’ve watched, but that’s not saying much. Only if you need to kill a little over an hour and enjoy bargain basement monster movies.

21 October 2026

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A very mixed opinion …

I'm a little disappointed with this series, probably because I had high expectations going in, especially with actors as EXCELLENT as He Yu and Meng Zi Yi!


But first, let's start with all the positive points that earned this show an 8 as for me:

About the FL:
The FL's personality and demeanour were very satisfying. She wasn't the type to let others walk all over her, and she always acted with wisdom and thoughtfulness, never rashly. She showed great insight and knew when to act and when to be patient, which gave her a truly enviable charisma. Her trust wasn't given lightly; it had to be earned. (Which, incidentally, led to a bit too much hostility towards the ML for my taste, but otherwise it was fine.)

About the ML:
A man who has mastered the art of flirting, and whose cheerful, teasing personality gives the series a fun and exciting edge. Beneath his somewhat petty exterior and mocking demeanour, he is very strong and capable of bearing heavy psychological burdens. He's intelligent and calculating, but also tender, passionate and warm-hearted, although his love for the FL perhaps made him a bit selfish. Be that as it may, there wouldn't have been a series if he hadn't been a little like that, would there?

Overall:
The costumes and sets were spot on: beautiful and well done ✨ The fight scenes were quite good too. It's a shame they couldn't be pushed further because of the ML's illness, but they were still enjoyable.
The bond between some of the brothers was touching at times, and for once, we have an emperor who's actually a good guy 🌷



Now, let's talk about what took a bit of the magic away:

It's a shame, because the premise was promising and there were plenty of interesting storylines and captivating characters (such as Prince Lee, Tian Yuan, or Shen Ying Ruo, the FL's younger sister), but unfortunately we never got to see them developed further. I've also seen better chemistry between leads. It wasn't bad at all, it just lacked that little touch of magic…
I would also have liked the affectionate moments between the leads to be spread more evenly throughout the series, rather than packed in towards the end, just before the ML's death.

Overall, the series lacked balance: the beginning was far too slow and dull, and it wasn't until around episode 25 that the real issues were addressed, but too quickly and in a rushed way. You don't get time to truly appreciate it…
And finally, please, what was that ending??? I'll be honest: I'm not a big fan of sad endings, but this one!! They should have just left the ML dead. It would have been far more believable and kept the emotional impact intact. Instead, they wrapped everything up without properly explaining or justifying anything, which destroyed the series' credibility.



So why 8?
I personally gave it 8/10 because, when it comes to dramas, I rate based on the emotions I feel. A single episode can raise or lower my rating by a whole star. That was the case with episode 32: an emotional breaking point, perfectly delivered by our amazing actors ✨!!

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A Little Village Chaos With a Surprisingly Big Heart

One of the most underrated C-dramas of 2026, and a slice-of-life story that turned out to be so much more than I expected.

At first glance, Xiao Fang looks like a lighthearted rural family comedy about an unexpected pregnancy, a broken relationship, and two families caught up in everyone's opinions. And trust me, there's plenty of chaos, gossip, matchmaking, and family drama! But beneath all that madness lies a surprisingly thoughtful story about family, growing up, marriage, and the courage to make your own choices.

What I loved most was how unpredictable the story felt. It wasn't simply about whether Xiao Fang and Xiao Wei would end up together. The pregnancy sets everything in motion, but the story gradually expands to explore the lives, struggles, and relationships of the people around them.

Xiao Fang is the heart of this drama, and Wang Yinglu did a wonderful job bringing her to life. She's not perfect, makes mistakes, and doesn't always have everything figured out, but she has a strong sense of self. I appreciated that the story never reduced her identity to being an unmarried pregnant woman or made her entire future revolve around finding a husband. Instead, it asks a much more interesting question: why should a woman's life be defined by marriage in the first place?

I loved the message that marriage should be a choice, not an obligation, and that a woman's worth isn't determined by whether she has a husband or follows society's expectations. The drama isn't saying marriage is bad or that being alone is better. It's about having the freedom to choose the life you want. It also presents a realistic side of relationships: money is a necessity in marriage, while genuine love can sometimes feel like a luxury. Love matters, but so do financial stability, responsibility, and maturity. Sometimes, loving someone doesn't automatically mean you're ready to build a life together.

My feelings about Xiao Wei were complicated. I wouldn't say I hated him because, to me, he was more immature than a genuinely bad person. His behavior frustrated me at times, but I didn't necessarily disagree with his decision to leave and pursue his dreams. The difference between the two leads' backgrounds was particularly interesting. Xiao Fang had a strong support system, especially her father and grandmother, which helped her grow into a confident and relatively carefree person. Xiao Wei seemed to lack that same foundation, and it showed in how he approached relationships and responsibility.

I think the drama wanted to show that sometimes people need to grow separately before they can become better versions of themselves. And their farewell? Honestly, it was beautiful. I appreciated that the drama didn't force a romantic reunion just to deliver a conventional happy ending. Instead, it allowed them to become supportive co-parents and genuine friends. Xiao Wei stood behind Xiao Fang when she pursued her dreams, and now Xiao Fang stands behind him as he pursues his own. Sometimes, two people can care deeply about each other and still be better suited as parents and friends than romantic partners. I found that approach refreshing, even if it wasn't the ending everyone might have wanted.

The family dynamics were one of my favorite parts. There are so many interconnected relationships, old grudges, differing opinions, and people who somehow believe they have a say in everyone else's life. The village practically becomes a character of its own! Everyone thinks they know what's best, and every attempt to solve one problem somehow creates another. Yet beneath all the gossip, arguments, and ridiculous situations, there's genuine affection.

These families aren't perfect. They judge each other, worry about appearances, and make plenty of mistakes, but they also show up for one another when it matters. I loved how the drama balanced its comedy with genuinely touching moments without pretending family life is always easy. As the story unfolds, we also discover that the people around Xiao Fang have their own secrets, regrets, and unresolved problems. What begins as her personal predicament gradually becomes a much broader story about family and community.

I absolutely loved Xiao Fang's relationship with her grandmother. She's easily one of my favorite characters and one of the sweetest grandmothers I've watched in a drama. What made her even more lovable was her surprisingly progressive outlook despite her age. I always appreciate older characters who aren't automatically portrayed as rigid or old-fashioned.

Her father was another character I desperately wanted to see more of. Xiao Fang's confidence made me appreciate how much a supportive family can shape a person, and her father played an important part in that. Unfortunately, he received far too little screen time for my liking. There were moments when he practically disappeared, and I really missed seeing their interactions. I would have loved more conversations between him and Xiao Fang, especially with him being a single father supporting his daughter through such a complicated period. Their relationship had so much potential, and I wish the drama had explored it more deeply.

The comedy was another highlight. The situations could be absolutely ridiculous, but in a way that made me laugh rather than feel frustrated. The humor comes naturally from village gossip, family arguments, matchmaking, and everyday misunderstandings rather than relying entirely on forced jokes.

And the scenery! The beautiful green landscapes, peaceful countryside, warm summer atmosphere, and lovely cinematography added so much charm. Everything felt refreshing and comforting, perfectly complementing the slice-of-life storytelling. The entire cast did a wonderful job, but I was particularly impressed by the leads. Having watched Wang Yinglu in *I Am Nobody* and the male lead in *The Glory*, seeing them in such different roles was a treat. Their performances reminded me how much range they have as actors.

Xiao Fang was such a lovely surprise. The first 17 episodes, in particular, were a joy to watch, with their heartwarming family dynamics, hilarious village chaos, beautiful scenery, and unexpectedly meaningful themes.

What stayed with me most was its message about choosing your own life. You can love someone without necessarily ending up with them. You can become a parent without giving up your individual dreams. You can make mistakes, grow apart, and still remain important parts of each other's lives. Sometimes, the right choice isn't the easiest or the most traditionally romantic one.

Overall, Xiao Fang is one of those underrated C-dramas of 2026 that deserves more attention. It's warm, funny, unpredictable, and full of heart. It's a comedy, a family drama, and a slice-of-life story that has a lot to say about women, marriage, responsibility, and growing up. If you're looking for a refreshing rural drama with lovable family members, beautiful scenery, genuine laughs, and a story that doesn't rely on a conventional romantic happy ending, I'd definitely recommend giving it a chance.

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Great Chemistry, Complicated Relationships, But Not Enough to Keep Me Watching

The biggest strength of this drama was definitely the leads. Their acting felt so natural, the chemistry was there, and so was the passion. You could tell they had really surrendered to their roles, and honestly, they were the main reason I kept watching for as long as I did.

Unfortunately, the story itself was a different experience for me. The first episode was quite confusing, with characters coming and going without much explanation of who they were or how they were connected. The editing felt rather choppy at times, with some very random scene transitions, and the overall pacing was painfully slow. I also never really understood the politics surrounding the music industry or the FL's workplace. Eventually, I stopped trying to make sense of those storylines because I simply wasn't invested enough, and musical-related plots aren't really my thing anyway.

The wealthy family's dynamics were another aspect I struggled with. So many of their actions and decisions made little sense to me, and some conflicts felt unnecessarily complicated just for the sake of creating drama. The supporting characters didn't help much either, as most of them failed to add anything meaningful to the story. I found myself caring far more about the FL's personal journey than anything else happening around her.

This is also not a drama you can approach with a fixed set of moral expectations. The relationships, infidelity, and circumstances surrounding the characters can make you question your own judgments. Whether you agree with their choices or not, the story seems more interested in exploring complicated emotions and relationships than in offering clear answers. It's very character-driven rather than plot-driven, so if you don't connect with the characters, the slow pace can make it difficult to stay invested.

As much as I appreciated the leads' performances, I eventually lost interest in their relationship too. I dropped it at episode 9, which is a little disappointing because I genuinely wanted to see their story through, but at the same time, I'm relieved I don't have to force myself to continue watching something I'm no longer enjoying.

I'm glad this drama worked for those who connected with it, but unfortunately, the acting and chemistry alone weren't enough to keep me invested until the end.

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A Cute, Quirky Romance With a Rather Unusual Sense of Smell

This was such a cute and sweet romance about two individuals who met under the weirdest circumstances but slowly fell in love and chose to stay by each other’s side. The story was simple, and I really appreciated the healthy communication between the leads. No annoying love triangles, unnecessary misunderstandings, or miscommunication! Thank goodness.

Natori’s unusually strong sense of smell was such a funny and unique concept. As someone who can smell way less than the average person, I found this whole aspect especially interesting! I liked how his ability played a part in bringing him and Yaeshima closer, not just when they first met but also in helping him understand her feelings.

Yaeshima is shy and introverted, with low self-esteem because of her past experiences, but I actually liked how they handled her character. She isn't a pushover, and even though she's not the most confident person, she still has her own personality.

The side characters and colleagues were quite lovable too, and thankfully, nobody really annoyed me. They weren't deeply developed, but I didn't mind because I was more interested in watching the main couple anyway.

My only real issue was that the editing and reactions could get VERY weird , and while the beginning had me hooked, I gradually lost interest towards the end. I also wasn't a fan of how some decisions seemed to depend too much on gossip and what people around them thought, as if they couldn't simply think for themselves.

Overall, it was a cute, quirky little romance with a surprisingly crafty way of portraying something a little naughty in such a sweet and playful manner. Not something I loved all the way through, but the leads and their relationship definitely made it a pleasant watch.

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I came for the story

stayed for the Eye Candy! sue me!
the premise of the story is nice. Learning that this is both the actors' first role is impressive! but that's it!
both are SUPER handsome, doing their part well, but the direscting is obviously amateur and the execution in general is boring, and they are obviously not comfortable doing intimate scenes, but both are hot! so i stayed for an eye cleanse.
that's it!

I think they would both do WAY better in a high budget drama and i see them shining in the future.

I wanted to drop it, but i thought i can just hang on for 9 episodes.

I wanted to give a bad review, but the actors deserve the good publicity! Give them a better script and higher budget and they will SHINE

I might sound harsh or inappropriate, but i literally stayed for seeing how pretty and well dressed and poised they are, nothing else is worth watching, I'd even keep the sound on mute and just see them, existing!

I hope they don't have an MDL account and see this 🤭🤭🤭🤭

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