Reviews

I know this series won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it to be such a sweet, cute, and introspective story with a beautiful message. I had fun and got emotional following Kanade and Mashiro’s journey of growth.

Kanade Shinichiro is a quiet, reserved man living a quiet routine as an office worker. He carries deep emotional wounds and has chosen to hide his sexuality as a way to protect himself. But despite living an almost numb existence, cause he's afraid to allow himself to feel, he’s incredibly sensitive underneath it all.

Mashiro Kosuke, on the other hand, is more spontaneous, but he’s not without his own insecurities. He represents a part of Kanade’s past that he tried to bury, but that keeps knocking at his door.

I saw some criticism about the intimate scenes between the two characters, and while I agree with most of it, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything different from what we got. To be honest, a different kind of scene would’ve felt off to me cause it just wouldn’t match their personalities.

The rain in the story isn’t just a symbol of cleansing, it’s also nourishing. It washes away their repressed emotions and makes space for love to bloom. That little “wedding” scene in the café, which felt like an emotional sanctuary for them, was absolutely adorable. They’re not alone in the world anymore.

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30 episodes of slop before it gets good

So I was slogging through episode after episode of this terrible show out of blind loyalty to the author (Jiu Lu Fei Xiang). Then, near the end and long after I should have dropped it, it actually got pretty good. Truly a surprise.

I guess I’ll start with my issues with the first 30ish episodes.

This show is so unbelievable cheesy. Take the whole superpower thing, for example. If you think of the ML as a Marvel superhero, he’s not that bad- interesting premise and all. But if you're not comparing him to cartoons, then he comes across as… well, cartoonish.

His transformations are accompanied by thumping music, CGI effects, slow motion poses, and hair blowing in the wind. It’s clearly meant to be heart-pounding cool, but I found it super lame. Maybe because the proper buildup isn’t there, so rather than being emotionally invested and caught in the moment, I’m just sitting here rolling my eyes.

And then there are other scenes that seem meant to be squeal-worthy cute, moving, or touching. I was not moved or touched. They were cheesy. Maybe it’s because I didn’t connect with the characters that I just couldn’t get in the proper mood.

As for the characters… let’s start with Li Shuang, female lead and world’s most unbelievable general. I think we’re supposed to like her. She’s strong, capable, noble, and selfless; all she needs now is somebody to appreciate and take care of her. We’re supposed to enjoy watching her find love.

It might have worked if she had any depth to her, but she comes across more as somebody’s one-dimensional image of a paragon of virtue. She is constantly spewing platitudes about protecting the common people; her flaws include failing to take care of herself (because she’s so selfless), her emotions include sorrow for the peoples’ suffering, and her desires include world peace and prosperity. Get the idea?

I think that without any depth, to make her feel more real and relatable, all her moralizing lacks sincerity. She’s too artificial. About half the time she said anything, I rolled my eyes.

As for the ML, his defining feature for the majority of the show is his puppy-like devotion to the FL. He has hints of being clever or thoughtful, but most of his actions center around his obsession with her. You can’t blame him- it’s chemically induced- but that means even more that their romance is founded on nothing.

Sitting through 30 episodes of these two going through all the motions of a sticky sweet romance was truly a struggle. Manufactured cutesy scenes, sappy moments with slow mo and flowery music, incident after incident requiring skin to be bared, sacrifices and rescues, etc. I was either cringing or bored.

On top of this, both leads at times acted in ways I found extremely frustrating. For instance, the unnecessary hostility towards Mo Yun, whose goals are not contrary to theirs. And that poor Crown Prince- despite being a saint, the FL somehow has no empathy for him. As the show itself says, you can turn somebody down and still be kind about it. Their childhood friendship seems to mean nothing to her; she can’t pull out a hint of genuineness or regard for him.

Shows define their own reality. The obnoxious behavior is presented as justified and noble, which left me irritated and further resentful against the two leads.

I had a brief moment of enjoying the show somewhere in the middle, when Lu Xin (female doctor) gets some character development, and Mo Yun appears. In general, I found Lu Xin alternately annoying and very likable. I did like Mo Yun, but some of his character arc was also really cheesy (the detached sage learning to love… lol).

With this second couple, I liked them individually, but the romance between them felt forced- maybe lacking in chemistry or something. Couldn’t quite get behind.

As for the villains, the empress dowager of Yao comes across as deranged and evil- kudos to the actress. I was satisfied with her story and resolution. The Taijin side… more complicated, didn’t quite like.

Around episode 30 is when the ML regains his old memories. The show suddenly gets quite good. The ML becomes more interesting, with much more personality as Prince Annan, and I actually began to like the FL and empathize with her. Li Shuang even has her first moment of humanity, with a genuine and valid regret.

Even more, the way it all plays out between them is at once cute/sweet, and heartbreaking. I guess the previous 30 episodes of sap were setting up for this; it’s a lot more poignant when you understand what was lost. I legit found it touching.

This arc is not without its eyebrow raisers. For one thing, there are now TWO of them competing for the spot of Most Virtuous Soul. The setup / situation is also a bit contrived. But I was willing to overlook all this. All in all, well done, +1 points (yes I was about to give this a 5).

Acting-wise, I’ll address first the complete unbelievability of Li Shuang as a general. It’s easy to blame the actress, and I think that’s part of it, but there are other components too. Things like: her voice; her pretty clothing and jewelry when everyone else is wearing armor; outfits and scenes that highlight her creepy level of skinniness; choreography that showcases her poor fighting technique; so on. I don’t want to bash on Song Yi, but maybe she wasn’t the best choice for the role, and maybe also direction/production could have done some things differently.

Other actors did well. Cheng Lei of course had to show a lot of range for his dual personalities and I thought he did a good job. If you like to see Cheng Lei shirtless, this is the show for you. Darren Chen as Mo Yun and Bi Wenjun as the Crown Prince both showed really good expressions with their eyes. I felt even worse for the Crown Prince with how troubled and hurt he looked at times, near the end.

The fight choreography is… not the best I’ve seen, and not that well executed. I admire the creativity of making her main weapon bow and arrow, but it really is not a short-range weapon, and having her rapid fire for close range combat just makes her sloppy technique even worse. Her sword swings are also uncontrolled. There are some battle scenes but they are all pretty standard.

This is definitely not a low-budget show, with lots of fancy costumes, sets, and extras. The CGI quality seems pretty good, and I did like the music on its own merits. But production can’t save a bad plot.

Ultimately, is it worth it to struggle through 30 episodes to get to the good part? Not sure. I did feel some really great emotions at the end, and I was interested and invested. But, ya know, a good show should have that all the way through, and >75% slop is kind of a lot.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





This show has a happy ending. The characters really could have achieved the whole thing with much less drama, but I guess it’s a show after all. About half of the last episode is devoted to telling you where everyone goes. It’s bittersweet for some of the characters but not that bad.

I had a lot of sympathy for the Crown Prince throughout the show. He gets pretty ruthless for a moment there, and I was afraid he would spiral into villainhood (the fate of all too many SML, it seems). And yet I wasn’t sure what he did that was wrong or blameworthy, except maybe when he failed to properly read her mind (right). Luckily they turn that around and ultimately he becomes a good emperor. I like him as a character, but all this personality yo-yoing is too dramatic, getting dangerously close to character assassination.

More than anything, I was really bothered by how FL treated him. I felt she should have at least given him closure, along the lines of “I really treasured our time together but we both need to move on.” Even at the end, he’s clearly struggling and she still can’t say anything nice to him. It somehow falls on our ML to say just one kind thing- “you are a good emperor whom the people love”- to comfort this lonely soul.

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Good, but felt a bit rushed.

I liked this movie, i watched it for the second time because i wanted to write a revieuw and the first time was to long ago to remember the details. I enjoyed it as much as the first time.

The story is good, but it feels rushed. I also watched the series and this story is a lot better as a long series, it just needs the time to realy tell the story right. Even if i hadn't watched the series i still would feel the movie feels rushed. But it's still a good watch as a movie.

The visuals are stunning, good music and good special effects.
The actors did a good job and the dynamics and chemistry of the leads were good. Plus i really can appreciate a good kiss!

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So lovely! A masterpiece kdrama - mix of cute, sad, happy, harsh, and warm

You have to watch it to see what a real kdrama looks like :)

The cast is amazing

The story is great and is told so well, we get insight into their lives ....

And yeah this is not for some snotty brats with money and expensive cell phones and brand name clothing :) This drama is RAW, ral life, RAW TO THE BONE, survival - within your family, within society, within the bounds that are called your life circumstances.

This drama is just CUTE AND ALIVE . There is so much hardship and suffering - some people are from poor families and/or disfuctional families some are rich but from disfuctional families, and everyone is STRIVING to move on and live better and be happy.

King from MrQueen is here too and he brought instant comedy and aliveness, just a few seconds on screen....

FL is from Itewon Class and 9 Puzzles but here she is a cute insecure and poor good girl from family that basically sacrificed her so that her brother can attend college. She works sooo hard. Can hardly wait to see her grow up and grab the dude.

The dude is a hot dude and we find him boxing :) but hopefully he turns his life around.

This drama will disappoint all consumers and shallow people who love STUFF and glitzy plot with glam ppl. There is no glam here. THere is only some REAL HUMANS

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cooking survival show but make it joseon

gonna update this review by the end if I don’t forget

I starters this drama simply because I was bored and had nothing to watch and it didn’t disappoint
the first 2 episodes were funny

in terms of acting wise idk yet but for the amount of criticism LCM has gone through for playing the male lead I think he did well especially that he only had a few days before shooting started

by the time more episodes came out I just realized that this was just a cooking survival show but instead of Gordon Ramsey possibly screaming at you, you can possibly lose your life instead

the editing is really funny cause I was rather shocked whenever they ate the food and just transcend and those edits are just hilarious that I have wondered what in the food porn is this lol

story wise not much to say as there’s still much to see but so far for me it’s decent but fun and entertaining

I haven’t read the original source material but I deeply hope it’s not end in a k-trauma

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In twelve characters: Utter Failure

Twelve is a show that feels like it was written by a twelve-year-old. The plot moves like it only had twelve episodes to work with, the story could’ve been told in a twelve-minute short, and the final fight against the big bad lasts about twelve minutes. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this surprised by how bad a show could be. This show was written by Ma Dong Seok for Ma Dong Seok to shine. But it failed even in that task.

I still don’t understand how that cast read the script and accepted the offer. The only reason the score isn’t lower is because most of the cast is at least okay. Not even Kopiko would be crazy enough to sponsor a second season.

Just for fun, here’s a list of the terrible elements of the series:
• Samin has powers and a sword… but chooses to fight hand-to-hand against someone whose only skill is “punches good.”
• One punch... and the big bad, who literally consumed the dragon soul and part of Haetae’s power, is defeated.
• Mirr does absolutely nothing the entire show except get defeated and captured.
• Haetae is mentioned constantly but we don't learn much about him at all. Also defeated in a single punch.
• The dead angels coming back… why?
• Bang Ul doesn’t speak and then decided to speak in the last episode.
• And finally, the worst decision in the entire show: the amount of screen time given to the old lady, who contributes nothing to the actual plot. We get more of her backstory than we get about what happened to the angels during the war against evil. The time spent on her is only second to the amount of time they are eating or talking about food.

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Easily one of my favorite BL series ever. Even if it broke me.

I love everything about this series. The pacing was excellent, and while it’s a BL romance at its core, it offers so much more — comedy, friendship, and the deep love between family members all play meaningful roles. The story unfolds beautifully, with plot twists that are clearly and effectively presented, keeping me emotionally on edge and constantly craving more answers.

And the ending… was completely unexpected. I genuinely did not see that coming. This was my first BL series with a truly sad ending, and I’m still struggling to process it. I didn’t cry — but my heart definitely ached. The story and its twists lingered with me long after the final episode. The emotions it stirred were intense and unforgettable.

Looking back, I did notice a bit of foreshadowing in the OST. While reading the translated lyrics, there was a line that said, “Why did you suddenly leave?” It caught my attention at the time, and I wondered what it might be hinting at — maybe a breakup or temporary separation. But never, ever, did I think “leave” would actually mean death. That subtle clue hits so much harder in hindsight.

I finally understand the hype — and yes, it's absolutely worth it. I'd recommend this series without hesitation (partly so I can drag others into this emotional pain with me). It’s one of those rare shows that hurts so good, you almost thank it afterward.

Even now, I’m still flabbergasted by how it ended. I wasn’t prepared. Right up until the last few minutes of Episode 9, I was in denial. I kept hoping it would swerve into something softer — maybe an "ICU but he wakes up" ending. But no. We got that ending. And I kind of hate it. But I also love it. Because that’s what makes it phenomenal.

Do I wish it wasn't the “funeral trope”? Absolutely. Couldn’t we have had a coma plotline and an emotional reunion instead?! At this point, what would a Season 2 even be? A ghost love story? A zombie resurrection? Both? Honestly, I’d still watch it.

In the end, History3: Make Our Days Count is painful, poignant, beautifully told — and easily one of my favorite BL series ever. Even if it broke me.

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It’s been a rough journey so far

I’m currently on episode 12 and really wanted to give this drama a fair chance. I’ve seen Cheng Yi in other works before—while I wouldn’t say I’m a fan with a bias, I was open to seeing how he would carry this story. Unfortunately, I’ve had several issues so far:
• Too many characters, too little clarity. The sheer number of characters makes the story feel distorted and hard to follow. Perhaps the novel provides more context, but on screen, the narrative doesn’t flow smoothly.
• Cheng Yi’s acting. His performance feels very monotonous. Maybe his character was written to have a flat affect, but aside from one emotional scene after a friend’s death (which still came across unconvincingly), his delivery lacks depth. I know he’s capable of better.
• CGI overload. The excessive use of CGI in fight scenes is distracting—especially in the era of 4K where the flaws become so obvious. Tom Cruise once said he refused CGI in Top Gun to keep the experience authentic, and I think that resonates here. Perhaps I’ve just hit my limit with the overuse of CGI in C-dramas.

That said, I’ll continue watching in hopes that the series redeems itself. Right now, though, I’m also watching Spirealm, which is far superior in quality, making the flaws here stand out even more. It leaves me with the same feeling I had watching Shadow Love—great actors stuck in mediocre shows

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A good enough blend of a watch

This isn’t bad. Most often I’d hang on if i feel that the leads brings interest to see where story leads. Though some actions early on in story is a turn off, that usually makes me hit the next search button, the female lead is a new watch and i wanted to see more of her acting. At conclusion, I’d say she’s growing and has lots of potentials. Looking forward to seeing her growth. As for male lead, the typical cold, hard to please character, played that part well. For someone unsmiling for the most part of series, it really did shine through when she said, “ah, is that a smile”. That was actually cute because it really was nice to see him smile. He outdid that cold demeanor role. He’s good.

What i liked was that the male lead was on top of everything from the background to keep her protected. In family conflicts for wealth control isn’t new plots but this one made for interest because the execution had some interesting twists, enough to hold me in. Biggest twist came few episodes before last that didn’t quite hit my fancy but at least it was resolved before last episode. Some may like it, i just think a better plot would be building leads relationship.

Again, this is a decent watch. Though it has blends of mystery and schemings plotting, it’s a feel good drama to see leads end up together.

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A Thai-Japanese mini series, very fantastic

This series immediately caught my attention with its tender yet powerful storyline, beautifully portraying the themes of regret, reunion, and how love can reignite even stronger than before.
The actors delivered outstanding performances, and the chemistry between the characters feels so natural and genuine that it easily draws you in and makes you feel those sweet, heart-fluttering moments.
Each episode is the perfect length—tight, engaging, and never dragging—plus you can watch it all at once without having to wait, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a romcom I would definitely recommend: touching, entertaining, and sprinkled with bits of cultural insight that make it even more memorable.

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