Reviews

It's complicated

By far one of the most gut-wrenching and promising storylines I've ever seen, but I'm not sure if it delivers as much as it implies.

It's not a secret that Chinese dramas only see the possibility of a woman-centric narrative if the male counterparts are diminished to a bunch of fools. Don't get me wrong; men are mostly evil and self-centered even when they are not trying, and it's very easy for them to be terrible in this show's time period, but if you are going to dabble into romance, you should at least save the ML from it.
I appreciate the reality of what a powerful man's obsession can do; the ML wants Lan Xiang more than anything and forces her into marriage with the highest power he can reach. It hits even harder when he's the man you're supposed to like and root for. But it has its consequences: they become the worst part of the show.

Lan Xiang can't leave him; she eventually has to lie down and bear his children. She endures being away from her parents and has to take care of his household until the day she dies. It's suffocating even when the story tries to say she eventually started to like Jin Qi, because of course she didn't.
She couldn't forgive him for taking away the life she suffered so much to get, and it's made worse by the choice of making Jin Qi mushy enough so she can force herself to accept and merge into the role of the heir's wife.

I find interesting how she was always an object, even with loving parents. When Han Liang started talking about proposing, it was never shown he was taking her into consideration, even as a free woman with free and caring parents; that aspect of her life was still going to be decided by them. It's even more evident when she writes the play for Jin Qi and tells him how she sees things: all those rules and filial duties mean nothing but a job to be done.

Lan Xiang appeared very unbothered by love the entire show, and she would've been unhappy with either Jin Qi or Han Liang.

Also, the plot in itself is very absurd and makes Lan Xiang this almost sentient being; in the beginning it makes sense since she has the noble education but had to live a difficult life as a slave, and she sees and understands a lot because she has been there before. But after the wedding, it's ludicrous how she almost senses things and gets into absurd conclusions (that are always right) from scraps when Jin Qi, who's a skilled and trained official, takes more time and effort to reach her.

It's the same problem I had with Pursuit of Jade: how can a woman accomplish so much in such an unknown, harsh, and imbalanced world when her man, the one said world was build for, can't?
That's not feminism or ideal; it's just lazy writing. Women should be given stories that are well written and in tune with the rest of the world, not plot armor and words of effect.

I find the other ladies storyline infinitely more realistic and satisfying; even Xiu Wan was able to find her way back into love without insane expectations or limitations from both sides. He has been married before, and she has seen the worst side of it from her sisters's experiences, and now they both can live together in peace.

When this show is good, it's great. Lots of impactful scenes, good conversations, important realizations, and the always-present necessity of protecting and uplifting women, but when it comes to the main leads, it loses steam very quickly, and all I could think about was any other development other than them.

It was possible to live a somewhat fulfilling life even in hard times; Lan Xiang should've been able to find this balance as well.

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silly and fun but sincere

I will keep it short:
- I really enjoyed this one.
- Max‘s comedic acting was great. Yet another actor who previously mostly had roles of the cold cool or ‚bad‘ guy trying a comedic character. With success. :D
- Idk if the 4th wall breaks were one touch too much in the comedic aspect of the story. They suited the character but they didn‘t need to be actual wall breaks. He could‘ve just talked to an invisible audience to the side. I thought they were fun yet a little random.
- also loved the consistency of Sarm and his over the top characteristics. There was still character development.
- the father-sons dynamic was fun too.
- that they turned the „wow“ and „Jam!“ into their own sound effects was really funny to me. Made me laugh almost every single time. Especially the „wow“. Just thinking about it makes me chuckle. 🤭
- the last two episodes were just fluff (or one could argue ‚already built in Special Episodes‘) and it was so fun to see their love life post main plot.
- the plot was fun and over the top. At times it just felt a little too zig-zag (if that makes sense to anyone). Jam‘s train of thought was a little bit confusing/frustrating. But overall lots of fun.
- especially on the island it had some beautiful shots. Really would love ot visit Thailand one day.

That‘s it. :) Thanks for reading

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Awkwardness is the plot

This series is pure awkwardness, but not in a bad way. It’s the storyline itself. Honestly, I love how the awkwardness was established from the start until the end because, for me, that same awkwardness is the depth of the series.
But why is Sui awkward in the first place?
Sui has been bullied for a long time, especially when people around him learned that he was gay. Sadly, this isn’t a new scenario, especially in places where queer people still struggle to be fully accepted. And I think this is where his awkwardness comes from. The walls he built around himself became his safe space, protecting him from being hurt again.
His friendly personality also feels like his way of fitting into a society that has already judged him just because of his sexuality. He tries to get along with people, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he feels comfortable letting them get close to him.
And that’s where Harutora comes in. 🥹
Their relationship was also built around the walls they had created for themselves, but we slowly saw them learning to let each other in. Their progress towards being more open about their relationship, starting with close friends and eventually their families, was something I appreciated. It wasn’t just about falling in love, but also about learning to feel safe enough to let other people see that love.
Honestly, the depth of their lines is what makes this series good for me. There were conversations that made me stop and think, especially when Sui tried to explain what it means to become one with the person you love. It’s not just about sex, but about becoming one in your own way. I really loved that because it gave their relationship a deeper meaning beyond the usual romance we see in school-setting BLs.
On the downside, what I liked least was the acting itself. Most of the scenes felt stiff, and the romance wasn’t always highlighted well through their expressions and interactions. There were moments when the dialogue was meaningful, but the delivery didn’t quite give it the emotional impact it deserved.
As for the storyline, it does feel a bit cliché for a school-setting JBL. But honestly, I’m not surprised since a lot of JBLs explore similar themes of bullying, self-acceptance, and the fear of being openly queer.
It may not be the most outstanding JBL for me, but I still appreciate the message it wanted to share.

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I really hope this isn't scripted. I just hope they're not misleading the viewers who genuinely believe in and root for these couples. I'm a fan and watch it every week, but hardly any of the people who've been set up on dates through the show seem to have actually worked out. I really thought Taebum and the ballet dancer from the previous season were genuinely dating, and I was rooting for them, but then they just disappeared without any explanation.

This isn't We Got Married or some drama, so I really hope they're not manufacturing romantic feelings just to get viewers invested in these couples and have them rooting for something that was never real to begin with.

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Sweet, light and ridiculous

İf i to describe this show it would only be that, its sweet because the two leads had a lot of funny cute scenes, light because it's very quick and straight to the point with little drama, ridiculous because it doesn't make sense and everything is made to fit the narrative.

So overall it's a good palate cleanser show, if you watch a heavy or dark drama and want to get it out of your system, this us definitely the show for you.

But on the other hand, it's very cliché, predictable and underwhelming, in some scenes i questioned the two leads chemistry and wonder why some characters are they way they were, also the way everything is solved in the end is just lazily written so, nothing stick with you after you are done with it, and that's why it only should be watched for a specific target audience or as i said, to change your mood after something heavy.
Unless, of course, you are a huge fan of the genre, cliché chaebol romance, or any of the leads.

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Came for the drama, stayed for the music

I love a bad boy in a drama--and so a series with a demon or two is always worth checking out. Most of them aren’t high quality, but this one’s an exception. It has its silly moments, but I thought most of the characters were appealing–even though Ha Rip’s angst could get a bit tedious at times. The Devil was delightful and I liked the fact that the FL was a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.

If you’re looking for a logical plot, this might not be the best choice. A lot of metaphysical mumbo jumbo was served up as serious theology–but the overall message, which was never strident, was this: when in doubt just treat other people with kindness and decency.

This is a seriously underrated drama with a lovely musical score.

A number of well-known actors had cameos in this drama–including, one of my favorites: Lee Jung-eun. If you want to see what a fine actor this woman is, don’t miss “Our Blues.”

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King the Land Review - ZyKuu

"A true smile comes from the heart" - The story is pretty bland but it does allow the viewer to follow easily. The trials and tribulations each character faces are easily comprehensible and eventually solved as the show progresses. Cheon Sa-rang is a kind hearted woman who chases her dreams as a kid of working in a hotel that she visited with her mother. Sa-rang not only is able to land a job at King Hotel but she is able to climb her way up the corporate ladder due to her professionalism and expertise in all departments. Gu-won is the Chairmans' son who owns said King Hotel. He had a rough upbringing as his mother was not there for him and his father was mainly focuses on his businesses. His goal at King Hotel is to change the culture and create a place where nobodies smile is a facade. Both Won and Sa-rang have a boss-employee relationship that eventually blooms into a relationship. Their romantic relationship is very healthy and endearing as they genuinely love spending time with each other. The sidecast was ok for the most part. I believe that No Sang-sik was the most memorable between the "six siblings". Sang-Sik was definitely the gag character and he performed well. Gu Hwa-ran was somebody who I wished was explored more because I felt her character was rushed during important plot points. The OST is playful and replayable. Overall, this show was very enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a K-drama that will make you Hermes!

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Amazing story, held back by execution

This drama has a good story but when you get to around EP 35 the script writing gets incredibly lazy. Doing so many time skips so you don't have to fill in the gaps is just irresponsible in a drama this meaningful. This thay built up in the beginning were glazed over or skipped, example: They should have shown his struggle and coming to terms with what the FML was telling him about serving the emperor but they just show his outrage of the play and then him walking out of the palace, they didn't even show him discussing it with the emperor, just skipped it entirely. They didn't clearly or cleanly confirm he knew who she was until the end. His realization should have been more impactful, but all they did was point out that someone of her status wouldn't have the skills she had, they were taught in a prominent family. They could have used their visit to the grave site in the flash backs because her reaction makes sense in context. They should have kept the time skip in the beginning, the one when they are older and the one where she is old and show time moving through visuals and seasons and children getting older, but to just skip so many times disconnects there story too much.

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Not worth my time

the overall plot was pretty avarege, but the dynamic between the exs felt forced. fantasy is not my genre of choice, so I cannot account for that aspect of it.

the side couple made little sense and was a huge red flag, again not to my preference.
the acting felt very stiff most of the time: most of the actors must be new as I haven’t seen them in other series.

the kissing scenes were bad, not horrible, but definitely not good (for both of the couples).

didn’t finish watching it as I think it’s a waste of my time. Dont really see how this is a comedy. expected better from Gmmtv
if you didn’t like it either, please don’t hate on the actors, but shame the company!

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I would definitely name this the best work of 2026. Great plot, cast, editing, and music.

I love the emphasis on "letting the female lead live a good life" rather than obsessing over revenge, choosing instead to move forward. She is genuinely kind-hearted, deeply filial to her adoptive parents, and works tirelessly toward a better life. Fortunately, she can defy the norms of her era because she found the right life partner.

The male lead is truly a good person—humble, unpretentious, and a calm, reassuring pillar of support worthy of an eldest brother. Toward his wife, he offers complete trust, tenderness, and respect. A husband made in heaven, truly.

I love how he teaches his children about fighting by telling them to look at their mother as an example: she never needs brute force, but if they ever must fight, they must do so smartly—always remembering that it is a fight to the death and they must give it their all, because their parents love them and cannot bear to lose them. It is such wise parenting, true to his background as both a former soldier and an official.

This drama is exceptionally well-crafted with magnificent storytelling. I absolutely loved it.

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Take Charge of My Heart — 7.5/10

Take Charge of My Heart is an enjoyable drama that manages to stand out just enough in a genre often crowded with familiar formulas and predictable storylines. While it may not offer anything particularly revolutionary, it has a certain charm that makes it easy to get invested in its characters and their relationships.

One of its strengths is the way it combines romance with personal struggles, giving the story enough emotional substance to keep things interesting beyond the central love story. The interactions between the characters provide some genuinely enjoyable moments, and the drama succeeds in creating an atmosphere that makes you want to keep watching. Although not every development feels equally convincing, and some aspects of the storytelling could have benefited from greater depth and a more consistent pace, the overall experience remains satisfying.

What I appreciated most is that the drama doesn't need to be groundbreaking to be worthwhile. It offers a pleasant combination of romance, emotional moments, and entertainment, even if it occasionally falls back on familiar genre conventions. The result is a production that may not leave a lasting impression as one of the great dramas, but certainly has enough positive qualities to deserve recognition.

Overall, Take Charge of My Heart is a solid and entertaining watch. It has its imperfections, but its charm and emotional appeal outweigh its shortcomings. A good choice for viewers looking for an enjoyable romantic drama without necessarily expecting a masterpiece.

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Doesn't deserve such low ratings

This was a good tragic story. A lot of people are saying they dropped it early because it was boring. I'd have to disagree, they were probably looking for more 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ because of the first episode and realized it isn't that type of drama and got bored. This drama wasn't perfect, I didn't really care for the side characters and the FML's friends interfere way too much because of their own opinions and not because they can actually tell her feelings. May those types of friends never find me. When she got back her taste they didn't make it a big enough deal although him trying to fix it was evident and his disappointment was clear when he failed every time. They just glazed over him finding out she had it back. This definitely doesn't deserve all the low ratings. solid 7.8/10 if I could give it that, so I rounded up. After they get over the first villain, the story does feel like it's losing momentum for a bit until they find another issue to resolve. But the build up makes sense. The chemistry between the main characters was there, she's awkward about it because she's been numb for so long and he melts his mask only for her. Always pouting 😂 It will make you smile, laugh, cry and roll your eyes.

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A love story that feel earned

My Dearest is a nearly perfect romance drama with excellent casting, outstanding acting, and a beautifully executed storyline. Every element comes together to create a compelling and emotionally engaging story that keeps me invested in the characters and their journey.

One thing I particularly love about this drama is how every character has their own flaws, strengths, and personal struggles. Rather than remaining the same throughout the story, they gradually develop and change as they face different challenges. Their growth feels natural because it is shaped by their experiences, choices, and the circumstances surrounding them.

What makes the romance between the leads especially satisfying is how naturally they fall in love. Their relationship doesn’t feel forced by the writer just to create a romantic pairing. Instead, their feelings develop through their interactions, experiences, and the challenges they face together. I can understand why they fall for each other, which makes their relationship feel believable and emotionally rewarding.

Overall, My Dearest is an exceptional romance drama that understands how to develop both its characters and their relationships. The compelling storyline, natural character development, and convincing romance make it a memorable drama for me. It is the kind of love story that feels earned rather than simply written into existence.

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