Reviews

definition of yearning

Firstly, the story of this drama is sort of different from the usual bl dramas. It is a drama that most people won't like in an instance. For me tho, I enjoyed this drama but the last two episodes were half and half expected and unexpected. The genre of this drama was something I like; younger top x older bottom, angst and psychological. The thing about most korean dramas are that they focus on angst like this drama. Both the characters yearned for their own wants was a really good addition to the story. Their yearning made it so much more pulling to watch the drama, especially the top's yearning. But this drama was different because there are not a lot of bl dramas with teacher x student trope. Really enjoyed this drama that was out of the ordinary plus focuses on psychological state of the characters, making it a cherry on top.

The actors did a really good job in their acting. Their acting added more realism to this drama. They could really blend themselves very well in the theme of this drama. Their chemistry also needs appreciation. They acted really well with their eyes and also quite literally seemed devoted to their respective characters. Not only the main leads but every side character seemed to have delivered their roles well.The ost was very relaxing. A typical korean bl having that relaxed homely feeling with very less vibrant colors. The intro itself really pulled me in along with the ost. The sketches in the intro seemed very cute and it added a really good feel into the drama ngl. The intro really matched the vibes and theme of this drama.

A solid drama that I probably won't be able to rewatch much because of the tension. The ending did make it feel like it will have a second season. I really hope a second season happens.

Lastly, felt very good to watch a drama like this that has different contents than other dramas but also greatly sad for both the teacher and the student, sometimes a man that yearns isn't a man that earns.

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Rather dull, like the teacher!

Found this show as dull as the teacher. Just wasn’t as impactful or tense as it should have been. Didn’t know what was going on half the time. Yeah I felt sorry for Hyeon Jae but felt like it was rather messy without any real back story.

The second couple didn’t really go anywhere, if anything I thought Seong Won liked Jeong Ha with how much he went after him and seemed to care for his wellbeing.

I don’t know maybe it just my comprehension of it all. I think it was better than a lot of the cheaply made KBLs we’ve been getting lately, and I was intrigued by the concept but I just feel like it undelivered and didn’t articulate the story very well.

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AMAZING SHOW! ONE OF THE BEST! CHENG LEI AT HIS BEST!

This is one of the best shows I've ever watched. Totally captures the zeitgeist of the time well. They do everything so well from the direction, the comparisons of Pingjun to the canaries and the flowers, the camera angles, the tension build-up, the side characters, the military plot, the set design and costume. Everything is beautiful and amazing. Feels like I'm watching a show with x100000 budget. Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan have insane chemistry. Have to give the flowers to the side characters too like Cheng Lei's parents here and Tao Ziyi who stole the show in Episode 19 when she was crying about her engagement. Amazing. Love how they show how life was during the Republican warlord era, then the war against the Japanese. I don't think I've seen a CDrama do this so well. Cheng Lei is insanely good in this show, I think this is his best work yet. Must-watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best Republican CDrama I've watched!!!!! Cheng Lei is at his best!!!!!!!!!!! Story is on point, direction is on point!!!!! The set design!!!!! The history fan in me is in awe!!!

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I CAN'T MOVE ON

One of The best dramas I have ever watched from when I started watching dramas. This was everthing a drama lover could ever want to see. The Kisses never fail to give butterflies. The chemistry is out of the world. Strong FL is all you need, visuals are just a piece of art, every little detail was perfect. The ML's relationship with his little sister-in-law is so cute and when he gets jealous you don't want to ,mess with him. I just love how he judges every single person around him. 100% recommended by me for new drama lovers or for someone who is searching for what to watch next.

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Not worth

I don't even know what to think after what I just watched. I started watching this show for the relationship between the female leads, but unfortunately, I quickly grew to hate Anueng, who is extremely childish. Her behavior made me see her as a 12-year-old rather than an adult woman, which in turn made it really hard to feel any chemistry. The romantic relationship itself is also deeply off-putting—manipulation, exploitation, a complete lack of emotional maturity. Anueng seems to be unhealthily obsessed with Khun Nueng, whose own feelings are totally contradictory and unexplainable. As for the rest of the plot, I actually had a pretty good time; I honestly think the romance subplot was unnecessary.

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Max 8 episodes would have sufficed. Lacked story.

Emi Bonnie deserved better. So does Film and this should have been max 8 episodes.

Emi Bonnie fan here but this show was disappointing. There was practically no world building in it, the side characters were basically non existent except for Film’s Jay. None of the characters had real depth and a lot of the show was just the same “story” on loop, making it boring.

Emi did well as Chan and Sun but Chan as a character was so 2D, she had no real character development throughout the show, making her not an interesting character to be leading a show.
Bonnie portrayed Key very well, one of her best performances. But Key’s trauma was dealt with so quickly it made no sense. Key deserved more actual character development too.
Film’s Jay was the most interesting character and portrayal in this show. The character basically seemed to have only one thought (like what?) but Film was so captivating, it made Jay interesting despite being very poorly written. Film is truly a fantastic actress for giving depth to (yet another) 2D character like Jay.

Many characters were unexplored. Emi’s Sun, Jamie as Key’s sister and even Chan’s best friend Phu. Namtan’s cameo got more story line than any of these characters.

What makes Moonshadow fall is because the side characters were practically missing, there was no world building and sadly even the main characters’ storylines fell flat. It failed to explore the relationship dynamic of Chan and Key, it insinuated the closeness but failed to show it and thereby failed to make the audiences root for them.

Apart from the OST, not much worked. And it was too drawn out. There’s only story for 6-8 episodes at max, and 10 episodes feels painfully long.
Truly hope their next project will be much better, so that they can shine like they are meant to.

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fabulous acting and story is very very interesting.

tian xiwei's by far the best performance I'd say. Yan an also did a great job apart from delivering only looks. I strongly recommend everyone to watch this drama for the plot, the acting, the drama, the chemistry, the characters ( all are very beautiful ), the delivery of dialogue, character development sooo goood. I think ppl watching it currently know this feeling of watching a really really perfect cdrama after many dramas I'd specifically say after pursuit of jade this is the best one!!
moreover it doesn't lag at any point...right on to the story right on point!
I gave it a rewatch value of only 8.5 bcoz the enthusiasm fades after u know all the twists and plots..so yeah!
watch it while it's still on air...you don't wanna lose the enthusiasm and excitement of waiting to see what happens next!

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✨ A DOTING UNCLE, AN INVINCIBLE PREGNANCY AND UNDENIABLE CHEMISTRY

OVERALL IMPRESSION🌟
This was a refreshing, well-paced and heartwarming version of a familiar age-gap romance. The story worked because Lou Cong Jue consistently treated Mu Ruan Ruan with tenderness, respect and affection rather than bullying or controlling her. Liu Yue Tao and Wu Yi Qiao shared comfortable chemistry and made their developing marriage genuinely enjoyable.

WHAT I LIKED💖
• Mu Ruan Ruan was adorable, innocent and hardworking, but she was not merely a helpless young wife. She gradually became more confident and showed impressive resilience.
• I loved her determination at the charity auction. She trusted her knowledge, stood firm against ridicule and proved that intelligence mattered more than wealth or social status.
• Lou Cong Jue remembered the FL after their one-night stand—finally, two people who recognised each other! He genuinely wanted to marry her and remained devoted afterward.
• The ML was mature, authoritative and wonderfully affectionate. His smiles, constant spoiling, protectiveness and numerous princess carries made him the drama’s greatest attraction.
• He remained clear-headed around the scheming women and never bullied, insulted or humiliated his wife.
• Mrs. Lou was an elegant, gentle and protective mother-in-law who welcomed the FL without judging her background. Her kindness provided a refreshing contrast to Mu Ruan Ruan’s greedy relatives.
• The FL’s father eventually found the courage to break free from his controlling wife, help his daughter and accept her support, giving him a small but meaningful redemption.
• The aunt and best friend added personality to the supporting cast, and both actresses delivered noteworthy performances.

WHAT I DISLIKED⚠️
• Mu Ruan Ruan endured too many dangerous incidents during her pregnancy, sometimes making the unborn twins seem almost indestructible.
• The SFL’s refusal to accept the marriage became increasingly foolish because the ML repeatedly identified Mu Ruan Ruan as his wife and clearly rejected the SFL’s advances.
• The FL was still left vulnerable whenever the ML was absent, and stronger security would have prevented several conflicts.
• The money-hungry relatives and herd-mentality bullying occasionally pushed the story into exaggerated territory.

PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCES🎭
Liu Yue Tao convincingly combined the authority of a domineering CEO with warmth, maturity and genuine devotion. Wu Yi Qiao made Mu Ruan Ruan sweet and youthful while still showing her gradual growth and courage. Their affectionate chemistry anchored the drama, while Mrs. Lou and the supporting actresses strengthened the family scenes. The familiar storyline felt more enjoyable because of the well-matched cast and steady pacing.

FINAL THOUGHTS💭
I loved this drama. It was refreshing, romantic and easy to enjoy, with a devoted ML, an endearing FL, a wonderful mother-in-law and a satisfying relationship built on protection rather than humiliation. Despite the nearly invincible twins and exaggerated villains, the chemistry and warmth won me over completely. I would happily rewatch it and gladly recommend it!

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The Inspiring Beauty

What does one do when they realise that the lovey-dovey husband and enviable marriage are all a sham, part of an elaborate scam to loot their family's wealth?
Unfortunately for the villains, Yu Meng is not 'beauty with no brains'. She's emotionally grounded, reasonable and intelligent. Rather than wallowing in victim mentality, she takes active steps to protect what is hers and her family’s. I liked how she navigated the complications of divorce and financial entanglements, fighting for what was rightfully hers without letting herself be defined by her circumstances. It's refreshing to see a well-grounded, emotionally stable FL who can think for herself.
The villains were well-written too, with their manipulations, victim complex, lack of self-awareness and refusal to take accountability feeling very realistic.

Unfortunately, the writing stops being realistic there after. A lot of what happens doesn't quite fit the modern setting. You'd expect people to look each other up online when they meet, rather than have a friend spring that information on them as a sudden revelation. Then we have experienced board members blindly trusting Di Liren. Where is the shrewdness that made them successful in the first place? And there's JX, supposedly a well-versed divorce lawyer who charges four times his usual fee but barely does any actual lawyering. Almost every proactive idea comes from the FL. At some point, he feels more like an overpriced emotional sounding board than an actual attorney. Also why is an established villainous care-taker continuously allowed near the patient? How difficult would it be to fire her?

The medical aspect is even more disappointing and a big red flag. The writers seem to have thrown around disease names whenever the plot needed them, without bothering to research the illnesses themselves. Weng Xin being certified mentally ill based on her husband's account was the most disturbing example. It's completely unjustifiable in a modern setting and sends a dangerous message about psychiatric care and patient rights.

Despite these flaws, the drama remains entertaining. The production quality, acting, editing and OST do a lot of heavy lifting, keeping the audience emotionally invested even when the plot falls apart under scrutiny. Too much of the story depends on manufactured incompetence, with characters and institutions behaving in ways that serve the plot rather than make sense for the times.

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A promising investigation undone by its own finale

This drama may not be the best in the investigative genre, but it carries considerable emotional weight and leaves a lasting psychological impact on viewers. Each story arc evokes empathy for innocent victims and for those driven to do terrible things by the circumstances they find themselves in.

Moreover, the drama does an excellent job of keeping viewers engaged in the investigative process. Cases are solved through a systematic process of information gathering, forensic examination, analysis, and brainstorming. In other words, the drama takes the time to show how the investigations unfold rather than simply presenting the answers. This makes the investigative process itself an integral part of the storytelling.

That said, the supernatural and magical elements sometimes make the very premises of certain cases difficult to accept from the outset. Examples include a tree that devours humans, human puppets capable of killing, mutated wolves, and so on. As a result, despite being an investigative drama, it asks viewers to suspend not only their disbelief but also, to some extent, their critical thinking, accepting phenomena that are impossible or scientifically implausible in the real world.

Beyond these aspects, another thing that drew me to this drama is its protagonist, Li Si, the supposedly deceased fourth prince. His backstory is fascinating from the very beginning. A brilliant prince and the king's favorite, he becomes the target of his brothers' jealousy and is eventually believed to have been murdered. However, the child who dies in his place turns out to be someone else. Li Si himself is secretly saved by his enemies, not out of compassion, but because they intend to use him as a pawn for their own agenda.

The moment he finally uncovers the truth—what really happened to him and how he, too, has been nothing more than a pawn in someone else's game—is truly heartbreaking. It is a revelation that makes his backstory all the more tragic. Unfortunately, Li Si's plot armor is ridiculously thick. At times, his survival becomes so implausible that I almost wish the drama would let him suffer some lasting consequences for once. After surviving multiple stab wounds and even a fall off a cliff, surely he could have been left with a serious injury or at least a scar?

Another downside is that the producers have made Li Si a little too flamboyant and easygoing for my taste. Given his tragic past and the disturbing truth about how he has been manipulated, I would have preferred a darker characterization, one that hints at something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface than what he allows others to see. There is so much potential in his backstory for a more complex and unsettling character, and I wish the drama had explored that side of him more deeply.

On top of that, the final arc feels far too cartoonish. The ultimate villain turns out to be someone who barely played a role in the previous arcs, making the revelation feel less like a satisfying twist and more like an arbitrary attempt to manufacture a final threat. The investigation and resolution in this arc also fall short of the standards set by the earlier ones.

Could the writers really not think of a better strategy than the rather contrived Trojan horse approach they went with? And did proving one's loyalty really have to involve killing people and acting cold toward one's own allies? The plot could have followed the same general direction, but I wish these actions had emerged as natural responses to a situation in which the enemy genuinely held the upper hand, rather than being deliberate performances designed to deceive the opposition. That would have made the characters' choices feel far more convincing and the resolution much more satisfying.

Personally, one of the things I dislike most about investigative dramas is when a supposedly meaningful chain of events turns out to have been nothing more than an elaborate act. Twists and deception are certainly part of the genre, but they need to feel earned rather than contrived. Unfortunately, that is exactly where this drama falls short. After spending so much time drawing viewers into its investigations and encouraging them to follow the clues, it ends by making the audience feel as though they have been fooled, too. For me, that is a deeply disappointing way to conclude a drama that had so much potential.

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