Reviews

I only wish it never had to end

Despite there only being four episodes, the pacing was always perfect. Each episode makes sure a lot is accomplished without giving the feeling of progress being rushed. We're given enough time to understand Err at the start while also being given room to understand him more as he lets down his walls around Mawin. At the same time, we get to learn about Mawin at a reasonable pace throughout the show. We are given hints from early on that there is more to him than what Err sees, without exposing it all at once so that we as viewers can get to know him alongside Err.

While the stakes seem high for the characters, there's no shortage of comedy. We're obviously not given as much time to learn about all of the supporting characters as we get with the leads, but they don't lack depth for the most part. We get to see them being kids and having fun. We see they have their own flaws, motivations, and goals. They aren't just there to be forgotten.

As for the lead actors, I think these roles really suited them. Sea's acting in previous work was on the weaker side; however, playing a socially awkward character in this series worked in his favour. It didn't feel like watching a charismatic actor pretending to be shy. It felt like watching a socially awkward teenager opening up, which is what you want. You don't want to watch a show and just see the actor. The best acting is when it's as though we are watching the lives of real people. And of course, his acting has improved as well. Keen also did a great job. He can believably portray both the fun-loving side of Err and the studious, anxious Err without making either one seem forced. Both leads clearly put effort into their portrayals and it carries the show.

There isn't a single scene that feels wasted or without purpose, and there aren't any visual plot holes aside from typical changes in position between takes. You can go back to rewatch episodes to look in the background or at smaller details, and they line up with later parts of the story. There's a good balance in the use of music, where it's not constantly crammed in and we are left to listen to the ambiance during certain scenes. Conflict in the show is reasonable and not drawn out for the viewers at least. I think with just one more episode, it would be the perfect show for me.

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A gritty show about resistance in its many forms.

What happens when you return home after years of fighting, only to find that the war is still raging, and your country is falling deeper under imperialist occupation?

This ensemble drama explores that very question. When the characters split apart, the series breathes life into each of their stories while also expanding the scope of its world.

At first, I expected a war series centered primarily on action. Instead, what unfolds is a profound study of diverse characters placed in the countless situations that only a brutal occupation could create. And at the heart of it all is the squad leader, played by the incredible Hu Jun.

What a character! From the commanding figure of his unit, he grows into an empathetic yet unyielding warrior, embodying a paternal role for his subordinates while never losing sight of the greater mission: to drive out the Japanese invaders. A natural leader and motivating force, his journey spans years of relentless battles, each fought with resolve and vision.

What keeps the series fresh is its bold transitions between genres: guerrilla warfare, prison drama, human experimentation (Unit 731), espionage, and more. Each arc reshapes the show, preventing it from becoming repetitive. After all, 34 episodes of forest skirmishes alone would be hard to sustain.

It’s been a long time since I felt the energy and drive to binge-watch something this quickly. The strongest elements are undoubtedly the storytelling, pacing, and performances. The series balances dynamic action with powerful character-driven moments, pulling you in episode after episode while also leaving room to pause and reflect on the weight of it all.

What impressed me most was how well the narrative managed its large cast. Every core character is compelling in their own way, and the constant shifting of perspective and tone gives the story both depth and breathing space.

In the end, this is a must-watch for anyone interested in Chinese television or in better understanding a pivotal moment in China’s history, one that helped shape the nation we know today.

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Do not destroy the concept of Kdramas!

I’ve always loved kdramas and felt like they were my comfort zone but this one is so disappointing and humiliating for Iraqis and I’m gonna defend them as an Arab.You gotta keep in your mind that a huge part of you audience is Arabs including Iraqis and you’re losing them day by day because of your irresponsible behaviour.This kdrama shouldn’t be aired and watched because it doesn’t deserve to.moreover it can’t be a face for south korea nor it’s dramas.I can’t even imagine that this kdrama could be the first kdrama that someone would watch! Be responsible and think carefully before you write a scenario again.I hope you take appropriate action.

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Love beyond life

I've been looking at some of So Ji Sub's series and movies. As I checked it out, surprisingly he is paired with Son Ye Jin.
Rightly categorized as fantasy, as Su A mysteriously came back to life.
We have questions in life, the what ifs and missing a loved one who passed away in an untimely manner. The movie somehow gave some comfort to the viewer, though I myself do not believe in this kind of comeback especially not having memory of her previous life.
It gives them some time to express their love even for a short moment.
The actors were great - Ji Sub showed a vulnerable character, someone sensitive as he may be amazed, surprised or dazed at the presence of his late wife, now alive. Ye Jin's character is just as sensitive as Ji Sub's, that though she did not have her memories back, chose to stay with them. The kid's excitement might be the reason for their sensitivity.
But she did not stay. We may treat this just like a dream. Life goes on keeping the memories of our loves one in our hearts.

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EXCITING PLOT & SATISFYING ENDING

I blindly picked this drama out of boredom. I had little expectations but to my amazement I found it worth watching.

The story was well written in my opinion. I love the comedic bits too. I was laughing, screaming into my pillow, and stupidly kicking / punching the air all throughout this drama.

There are the thrilling parts as well, where I was excited but at the same time worried about what's to come next. It was quite interesting, and the little bits of mysteries as well.

It does have pretty sad scenes, I got emotional at some parts because it was either too sweet or it was too sad. There was no intense or irrelevant plots, everything stayed on one track from start to end.

The romance is one that will have you laughing out loud and get all excited. Its not very lovey dovey or cheesy, it was cute.

There was also comradery and friendship displayed in this drama, one that would probably get you to shed a few tears because of how good it is. There was no major betrayals (with the good characters, the villains were villains from start to end lol) or love triangles.

The ending is what worried me the most but I was so satisfied with it. It has a very happy ending, I was able to see everyone living happily after all the chaos which in my opinion is very comforting especially after all theyve been through.

This review is MY PERSONAL OPINION.

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Loving yourself

Each time I watch a movie or a drama series, I try to look into some kind of value.
To some it is just light and cutie, and of course, it is a teen story. It is about first love. It is about all the insecurities that goes with growing up as a teen.
The FL is cute even with her Freezy hair, and just what Yun-Seok said, he likes her the way she is. I believe that there are plenty of adults who are still insecure in the way they look - hair, height, weight, complexion and many other things. The girl who tries to catch someone else's attention by changing herself eventually fall for someone else.
I only watched this to take a break from the other series that require much energy to process. Sometimes we need this kind of a break. And it is good that it ended in a happy note.

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Legends are made, not born

From the moment this series begun, the lingering question has always been "How is she like that?". All questions (at least the necessary ones), were answered through this movie. The most awaited backstory of Daimon Michiko was finally revealed. Although it is not what I initially expected, it is very humane and sonewhat realistic. What a way to cap off an amazing series (or should I say a series of series lol). The story was good, how the past and the present connected perfectly. Each character got their own time to shine, some redeemed themselves, some just existed for the sake of existing lol. Overall a good watch. Just wished characters like Kondo from Season 2 reappeared again.

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best series of the year

This is the first time I've seen such a unique and fresh script. This is what I've always wanted to see on screen. I love the theme of ancient China, it immediately gives + points to the vibe. This work is an absolute work of art. The series was created with great attention and love. Every dialogue, every emotion was so natural that my emotions jumped up and down every episode. I can definitely call this series the best work of the year at least. This is one of the best doramas in the entire history of bl. The bittersweet plot took me on a roller coaster and I felt all the empathy in my soul for these characters.

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An Honest & Real BL - Heartfelt

This is one of the more honest BLs to come out of Japan in a very long time. It is also surprisingly sincere and heartfelt. It had a deeply personal grok about it. There was an unawareness of the feelings that the individual protagonists were realizing, and those susceptibilities were projected into their actions and to a degree manifested into who they became and are. This BL is misunderstood. To understand this series, you must take it at its face value. Do not read into it more than is there; on the other hand, do not assume that what you see is all that is there. What is here is a story about two guys who grew up liking each other and were wounded by that. For that was in a stage of life in a culture when that could not be cultivated, and frankly the only acceptable way to display one liking another was by tormenting (bullying) the other. In this way, you fostered a warped sense of connection. This connection was usually expressed by a strange need to be close to and near each other for any reason. Yet, it was because of that unique bond where each just could seem to be able to escape the other. It became a hunger for both. It only brought him nearer to his tormentor. The tormentor could then socially express his love. Provided that expression was not too painful. Unfortunately, in ALL cases, it always ends up being so. Always.

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Classic feminist rags-to-riches tale

This drama was a moving and engaging ride, full of characters with real growth and development. From start to finish, it delivered emotional moments, tension, and satisfying resolutions that made it very enjoyable to watch.

📍 Female Lead

The female lead Hwa Zhi was really good, strong, determined, and inspiring. The only fault I found was that she was a bit too perfect, which became slightly boring after a while. Still, I loved seeing her struggles, her drive, and everything that made her who she was. She carried most of the emotional weight in the story, especially in her interactions with the male lead.

📍Male Lead

The male lead was fine, but he often felt like a side character. I didn’t enjoy the actor’s performance as he showed almost no expression, which made some scenes feel awkward. Overall, he didn’t give much to the story, leaving the female lead to do almost all of the work.

📍Villain

The villain was interesting and nuanced. Watching the king become worse and worse over time was compelling, and the angst was very well done. I was worried the family wouldn’t reunite at times, which kept me invested, and I was very happy when he finally died.

📍 Side Characters

The side characters were wholesome and lovable. You found yourself rooting for everyone. Mrs. Jin impressed me the most as she went from one of the most annoying characters to one of my favorites. Their development added warmth and depth to the story. And the family aspect was everything.

📍 Story & Pacing

The story was well-structured, a classic feminist rags-to-riches tale with satisfying character development. Hwa Zhi’s role in taking over family matters and helping everyone was particularly enjoyable. The pacing was generally good, though the last few episodes dragged slightly. Still, they were necessary for closure, and the ending with everyone reunited felt perfect.

📍 Production & Technical Aspects

Cinematography was good and a bit different from most dramas, which I really liked.
OSTs and BGMs were nice, though nothing particularly memorable.
The audio was a little uneven at times as dialogues were sometimes too quiet sometimes too loud, screams were cut off, or there was only background noise without music, which felt off.

📍 Acting

The female lead actress delivered an excellent performance.
The male lead actor was weak and had limited expression.
The actress who played Aunt Qin was not convincing and the other actors gave outstanding performances overall.

✨️ Final Thoughts

This drama is everything what "Blossom" hoped to be. Very good and moved me a lot. It conveyed a wide range of feelings 🥹 and offered a story with meaningful characters and growth. The adventure, struggles, and triumphs of the characters made it a truly enjoyable watch. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt, well-developed drama about family and everything about being human.

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Charming FL

This drama started with unreasonable plot with miracle of healing of face and ability to change voice into somebody's else. If you can turn a blind eye on that, it only gets better from there.

I like the characters on the series, not just female and male lead, supporting male leads are real male with integrity, including the cute younger cousin regardless the painful life that he's gone through, he doesn't develop into a bitter man, he is such an adorable youth.

The most eligible bachelor is indeed a gentleman, really doesn't disappoint us. It's nice to watch a drama with minimal petty jealous woman and man whose main role in life is to possess the lead.

The story is not bad, very conclusive with a happy ending. One thing I can't get over is why the eldest princess so useless, the FL is second princess and then a stranger but the younger brother was accompanied by her in the war, not eldest princess???

Anyway, I will watch it again just for the good characters.

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