Reviews

A Brilliant Plot, Gorgeous Leads, and Incredible Acting! One of My Favourite C Dramas!

WOW! I started watching Where the Mask Ends on Netflix and ended up binge watching the first 11 episodes in one sitting! It is very rare for a drama to hook me so completely from the very first episode, but this one had me glued to the screen. Honestly, ignore all the negative reviews because there is a reason why this became the most watched non English series on Netflix. The storyline is incredibly addictive, the acting is fantastic, and I just could not stop watching!

First of all, what a fascinating and unique plot! We follow A Chou, a poor, hardworking young woman who has spent her entire life struggling to survive. She has to look after her sick mother and two younger siblings while dealing with a horrible gambling father who makes her life even more miserable. As if her life was not difficult enough, her father sells her to a creditor to settle his gambling debts. When the man attempts to sexually assault her, A Chou fights back and kills him in self defence. Right from the beginning, I admired how strong, courageous, and determined she was despite everything life had thrown at her.

Then we have Wei Rao, a wealthy, spoiled, selfish, and absolutely evil young woman who looks exactly like A Chou. Wei Rao is supposed to marry Lu Zhuo, a nobleman who is lying unconscious and believed to be dying. Of course, being the selfish woman she is, she refuses to marry someone who might never wake up. Instead, she forces A Chou to take her place as the substitute bride.

But here comes the twist! Lu Zhuo unexpectedly wakes up, and suddenly Wei Rao realises what she has given away. Now she wants her handsome husband, her marriage, and her position back! Meanwhile, A Chou finds herself trapped in a dangerous household where she must constantly use her intelligence and quick thinking to survive. To make matters even more complicated, Lu Zhuo does not trust her and believes she is hiding something. Seriously, what a brilliant setup for a historical romance drama! I was hooked immediately.

Now, can we talk about Tian Xi Wei? WOW, what an incredibly talented actress!

For the first nine episodes, I genuinely believed that A Chou and the real Wei Rao were played by two completely different actresses. I was actually curious about the actress playing the villain because she was doing such a fantastic job portraying someone so cruel and manipulative. So I decided to check the cast list, and imagine my shock when I discovered that Tian Xi Wei was playing BOTH characters!

That was when everything finally clicked! There were numerous scenes where A Chou and Wei Rao confronted each other, argued, and even fought, yet I never once realised that the same actress was portraying both roles. They used a stand in for scenes featuring both characters, and the result was so convincing that I was completely fooled.

What impressed me the most was how Tian Xi Wei managed to make these two women feel like entirely different people. A Chou is hardworking, brave, intelligent, and compassionate, while Wei Rao is arrogant, selfish, manipulative, and cruel. Even their facial expressions, mannerisms, and overall presence felt completely different. It takes serious acting talent to portray two contrasting characters so convincingly, and Tian Xi Wei absolutely nailed it! This is only my second time watching her after Pursuit of Jade, and I am becoming an even bigger fan of her acting.

And then we have Yan An! Where do I even begin?

I had been seeing his photos and videos all over my Facebook feed, and I was immediately attracted to how tall, handsome, and charming he is. Not only can he act, but he can also sing and dance! He is such a talented performer, and I will admit that he was one of the main reasons I decided to start watching this drama in the first place.

And wow, he certainly did not disappoint! Every time Yan An appeared on screen, my heart fluttered. He is incredibly handsome, and his portrayal of Lu Zhuo makes him even more attractive. I loved his commanding presence, his expressions, and the way he carried himself as a powerful nobleman. His chemistry with Tian Xi Wei was another major highlight for me, and I really enjoyed watching their complicated relationship develop from suspicion and distrust into something more meaningful.

Apart from our two gorgeous and talented leads, there is so much more to appreciate about this production. We have a huge supporting cast, beautiful historical costumes, gorgeous settings, wonderful background music, and an intriguing storyline filled with family conflicts, deception, jealousy, romance, and political schemes. I particularly enjoyed the constant tension between A Chou and Wei Rao, especially knowing that one woman is desperately trying to protect her new life while the other is determined to steal it back.

The pacing is another thing I absolutely loved. There is always something happening, whether it is another scheme, a confrontation, a shocking revelation, or a romantic moment between our leads. I never felt bored, and every episode made me want to immediately start the next one. That is exactly what I look for in a great drama!

If there is one thing I would have loved to see more of, it would be the fighting and action scenes. With a character like Lu Zhuo and such a dangerous world filled with political intrigue, I think more intense action sequences would have made the series even more exciting. However, this is only a small criticism compared to everything else I enjoyed.

Overall, Where the Mask Ends has easily become one of my favourite Chinese dramas of 2026! The fascinating storyline, beautiful production, talented supporting cast, incredible dual performance by Tian Xi Wei, and the ridiculously handsome Yan An made this such an unforgettable watch.

I genuinely cannot understand some of the harsh negative reviews because I found this series entertaining and addictive from the very beginning. Of course, everyone has different tastes, but if you enjoy historical romance, strong female leads, identity swaps, family conflicts, and scheming villains, I highly recommend giving this one a chance.

I am so glad I discovered this drama on Netflix. It gave me everything I wanted from a Chinese historical romance, and I would absolutely love to see a second season!

One of the best Chinese dramas I have watched this year, and a well deserved 10/10 from me!

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Fantastic

Godzilla Minus Zero is absolutely fantastic. It's a solid sequel and the special FX are once again top notch. I almost lost it at the end when I thought something was going to happen that didn't. Takashi is great at pulling those emotional punches and making people question what they would do in a situation.

The musical score was phenomenal as well. The Godzilla theme music reminded me of the Darth Vader Imperial March.

Something, I found ridiculous and funny was that when they were trying to trap Ghidorah and they were all on top of that raggedy building and I just kept thinking no way they all staying on top of that building.

11/8/26

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When the Mask Falls, the Chaos Begins

One of the better dramas this year, and honestly, it started with such a promising premise that I was ready to forgive a little trope here and there. The execution is fast-paced, straightforward, and doesn't waste precious screen time making us solve riddles. Sometimes a little too straightforward, perhaps, because everything is practically served on a silver platter. But the real star here is Tian Xiwei. Shout-out to her for making Wei Rao (Achou) and Jundai feel like two entirely different people despite sharing the same face. Their mannerisms, voices, expressions, wide-eyed stares, and tiniest habits are so distinct that you could tell them apart with your eyes half-closed. And thank goodness Lu Zhuo has functioning eyes and instincts, sparing us the exhausting "she looks like my wife, but she isn't my wife" nonsense. The first half is deliciously entertaining: Jundai hires a lowborn lookalike to marry a supposedly dying Lu Zhuo, only for him to wake up and accidentally hand Wei Rao a life of wealth, nobility, and privilege. Naturally, Jundai wants her life back. The audacity! What follows is Wei Rao fighting tooth and nail to protect the life she has finally earned.

Unfortunately, once the identity deception is resolved and Wei Rao discovers she's actually the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, the story starts losing some of its original magic. Suddenly, we're moving from an ordinary woman surviving among the powerful to a noblewoman with an emperor-favoured mother, a powerful family, and enough resources to make half the kingdom nervous. Her new mission is to protect the unfortunate, fight injustice, and outsmart literally everyone who dares to cross her. Very Disney princess of her, except Cinderella apparently got tired of waiting for her fairy godmother and decided to overthrow the entire imperial court herself. I appreciate her determination, but the endless political schemes eventually become exhausting. One conspiracy, two counterattacks, three revenge plots, and another villain spawning out of nowhere. girl, can we have a break? Wei Rao is constantly securing her position, taking people down, and protecting everyone within a five-mile radius. I understand why she's guarded and perpetually on alert, but watching her remain in survival mode for almost the entire drama gets tiring. There's also an amusing contradiction in her characterization: the drama initially champions an ordinary woman's intelligence and resourcefulness, only to reveal that she's actually a noblewoman with an exceptionally powerful lineage. So, apparently, brains run in the bloodline after all?

And can we talk about the sheer population of awful people in this drama? Scheming consorts, manipulative relatives, abusive parents, spoiled princes, creepy officials... is there a single emotionally functional person left in this kingdom? I'm not asking for a palace full of saints, but surely evil doesn't need to be a national occupation. Eventually, all that hostility becomes less entertaining and more exhausting. Give me a handful of well-written villains with actual motivations instead of an entire villain factory operating around the clock. Quality over quantity, please. The male lead, Yanan as Lu Zhuo, is another missed opportunity. Considering this is his first drama as a leading man, I'll give him some grace, and he certainly has his moments. But his character feels painfully underwritten. He starts suspicious of Wei Rao before transforming into a devoted, down-bad husband who supports her and helps clear her obstacles. Sweet, sure, but beyond being handsome, capable, and romantically available, what exactly is his personality? No meaningful ambition, no independent motivation, barely any personal conflict. He's practically a gorgeous supporting accessory with husband privileges. And before anyone tells me this is a female-centric drama and therefore the male lead doesn't need much characterization: PLEASE. A female-centric story doesn't require its male lead to have the personality of a cardboard cutout. He can support his wife and have a life outside her existence. Revolutionary concept, I know.

Still, this drama has plenty of things going for it. The cinematography is gorgeous, the camera direction is impressive, and the OST absolutely understood the assignment. Unfortunately, the editing decided to commit its own crimes. The abrupt scene transitions and unexplained jumps occasionally had me wondering whether I had accidentally skipped an episode or whether the production team simply forgot to connect the dots. Overall, Where the Mask Ends is a genuinely enjoyable drama with a fantastic first half, a brilliant performance from Tian Xiwei, and an ambitious storyline that eventually bites off more than it can chew. It had the ingredients for something truly great, but somewhere along the way, it got so busy manufacturing enemies and political conspiracies that it forgot to give its characters some actual breathing room.

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Refreshing....

More often than not, I fast forward my Kdrama rom-coms. It has always been the same for me. A rom-com starts off interesting and by the middle, what drew me to it just fizzles out.

So, I started watching this with low expectations. Ended up loving it :)

I loved the FL's acting. She portrayed the conservative, virginal 20 something so convincingly. The chemistry with the ML is there and I am glad the ML has been given a chance to play the lead. (only saw him as a secondary character before).

The FL's family provided the right amount of comedic relief. Even the grandpa....

I would have thought that a story like this would have been called out as taboo in Korea. But it actually works well integrated into the lead's lives.

If you are in the fence whether to watch this, I would recommend you give it a try

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Imagine Being Transported Into Your Favourite Childhood Drama! A Nostalgic 10/10!

Growing up, I watched all three seasons of Princess Pearl and even the remake, New My Fair Princess. This series was such a huge part of my childhood, and I still remember the characters and storyline so well. I only recently discovered that Returning Pearl existed, and I was so excited to revisit a world that brought back so many childhood memories. After finishing all 31 episodes, I can happily say that it did not disappoint!

For those who grew up watching the original Princess Pearl, you will understand just how nostalgic this series is. The original three seasons had over 110 episodes combined, while the remake had 98 episodes, with each episode running for over 40 minutes. In comparison, Returning Pearl is extremely short, with just 31 episodes running approximately 10 to 15 minutes each. It was such an easy binge watch that I finished the entire series in just two sittings!

What I absolutely loved was the unique plot and concept. Lin Sui Sui lives in the modern world and makes a few changes to the original My Fair Princess storyline, including adding a new cold and mysterious male lead. Little does she know that after an unexpected accident, she will find herself transported into the actual world of My Fair Princess, not as a princess or someone important, but as an ordinary palace maid serving the Empress!

Imagine knowing drama, knowing the entire storyline inside and out, and suddenly finding yourself living inside that very world! That is exactly what happens to Sui Sui, and I found the concept so fascinating and entertaining.

One of my favourite things about this series was how Sui Sui already knew what was supposed to happen before the other characters did. She knows all the major events, the relationships, the dangers, and even the schemes happening inside the palace. I loved watching her use her knowledge, clever strategies, and quick thinking to navigate the dangerous palace environment. However, knowing the original storyline does not necessarily mean everything will go according to plan, especially when her own presence starts changing the events around her.

It was also such a wonderful feeling to see all the familiar characters again! We have our beloved Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei, along with Er Kang, the Fifth Prince, the Emperor, and of course, the evil Empress. Seeing these characters brought back so many childhood memories, and I loved how Sui Sui slowly developed friendships with Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei. Their interactions were so enjoyable to watch, especially knowing how much these characters meant to me growing up.

Another highlight was the introduction of Jing Yuan, the new mysterious and cold male lead. I really enjoyed watching the romance develop between him and Sui Sui. Their chemistry was lovely, and I liked how their relationship gradually grew while Sui Sui was trying to survive palace life and find a way back to her own world. Jing Yuan added a refreshing new element to a storyline that I already knew so well, making the series feel both familiar and completely different at the same time.

I also loved how the series balanced romance, comedy, friendship, and palace politics. Sui Sui's struggles as a maid, her attempts to protect herself, her growing feelings for Jing Yuan, and her friendships with the original characters made this such a fun and addictive watch. Even though I already knew the world and its characters, I was constantly curious about how her involvement would change the story.

My only criticism is that I really wish this series had been longer! With episodes lasting only 10 to 15 minutes, everything moved incredibly quickly, and I felt that quite a few parts of the storyline were rushed or left unexplored. There was so much potential to develop the characters, their relationships, and the palace conflicts further. Considering how long the original series and remake were, I would have happily watched another 30 or even 50 episodes of Returning Pearl!

I would also recommend watching the original Princess Pearl or My Fair Princess before starting this series. A huge part of the enjoyment comes from recognising the familiar characters, understanding their relationships, and knowing the original storyline that Sui Sui is trying to navigate. Without that background, you can still enjoy the fantasy and romance, but I think you would miss much of the nostalgia and clever references that make this series so special.

Overall, I absolutely loved Returning Pearl! From its creative concept and nostalgic characters to the lovely chemistry between Jing Yuan and Sui Sui, the friendships with Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei, and the return of the iconic evil Empress, everything made this such an enjoyable experience. I was completely addicted from beginning to end and finished all 31 episodes in just two sittings without getting bored.

If you grew up loving Princess Pearl like I did, please add this to your watchlist! It is such a wonderful opportunity to revisit a beloved childhood drama with a fresh and imaginative twist. I just wish we had been given more episodes because I genuinely did not want it to end.

A beautiful trip down memory lane and an easy 10/10 from me!

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penthouse with less toxicity

ragebaited show but honestly I loved annoying show so it's still best
I loved how they have so many problems nobody is happy but somehow the show is funny which penthouse didn't do I loved that show so much and I am happy that I found sky castle in same genre I think nobody can touch this level of toxicity the way this shows does nobody is saint and I loved characters like this

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8 Episodes, 8 Deadly Jobs, and No Time to Breathe! The Higher the Pay, the Greater the Danger!

I binge watched all 8 episodes of Dead-End Job in just two sittings, and what a thrilling ride it was! Each episode is only around 30-40 minutes long, which is much shorter than the usual hour long Korean dramas on Netflix. The shorter runtime makes it a perfect series to binge watch, especially when every episode leaves you wanting to find out what happens next.

The concept actually reminded me of Squid Game, except instead of hundreds of contestants fighting for survival, we follow one main character who takes on increasingly dangerous jobs for money. Hyeok Jun is struggling with debt when he comes across a mysterious staffing agency offering ridiculously high wages, starting at 50 times the normal hourly rate. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, there is always a catch! Each job comes with terrifying supernatural encounters, deadly situations, and one strict rule that he must never reveal what happens at work.

What I really enjoyed was how all 8 episodes featured different jobs, each with its own unique horror elements, monsters, and challenges. The pay keeps increasing as Hyeok Jun accepts more assignments, but so does the danger. I loved the suspense, the creepy atmosphere, the monsters, and all the blood and gore. Episode 1, set in the convenience store, was absolutely fantastic and easily my favourite episode. It immediately hooked me and set such a high standard for the rest of the series.

However, as the episodes progressed, I felt that some of the later jobs were not quite as exciting or memorable as the first one. Don't get me wrong, they were still entertaining, but the convenience store episode was so good that I kept hoping the following assignments would deliver the same level of suspense and horror.

One thing I wish the series had explored more was the characters and their backstories. The pacing is extremely fast, which is great for keeping viewers entertained, but sometimes it felt like Hyeok Jun was simply moving from one dangerous job to another without even having a chance to breathe. I would have loved more flashbacks, character development, and a deeper exploration of his personal struggles beyond just surviving each assignment.

I was also glad we got a couple of episodes focusing on his sister, Ji Yun. It was refreshing and fun to watch the story unfold from her perspective rather than constantly following Hyeok Jun. Her involvement added something different to the series and helped break up the repetitive cycle of moving from one deadly job to the next.

Despite these minor criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed Dead-End Job from beginning to end. The series is fast paced, suspenseful, unpredictable, and packed with supernatural horror. There wasn't a single episode that I found boring, and I was constantly curious about what terrifying job Hyeok Jun would have to face next.

If you enjoy horror, thrillers, survival stories, creepy monsters, killings, blood, and gore, definitely add this one to your watchlist! It's a great binge watch that keeps you hooked throughout all 8 episodes. I just wish the later assignments had maintained the same quality as the incredible first episode and that we had been given more character development and backstory. Other than that, a very entertaining series and a solid 9/10 from me!

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I really enjoyed this drama, but I have to say, it's definitely not for everyone.

I absolutely loved it! Of course, I was really hoping for a different ending. Especially since some scenes played out differently from the novel, I couldn't help but expect a happy ending. Well... we all know how that went. 🥲

Cheng Lei is the absolute winner here! His looks, his hair, his expressions, and ESPECIALLY his voice! That voice is seriously addictive. I could listen to him all day! ❤️

Xu Ruohan did a pretty good job too, although sometimes her facial expressions left me a little confused. I was also slightly disappointed with her character, who seemed to be constantly looking for an excuse to run away. Hahaha!

But one thing I absolutely cannot deny is their chemistry. These two have such incredible chemistry together! Hopefully, that chemistry continues off-screen in real life too. Hehehe. 🤭

This drama may not be everyone's cup of tea, but overall, I genuinely enjoyed watching it.

What an emotional roller coaster! I actually considered dropping it around episode 31. But then I thought, if I quit now, wouldn't I just be acting like Pingjun, always looking for an escape?

HAHAHAHA! So I stayed until the end. 😂

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One of the best Chinese dramas I have watched! It's always my comfort rewatch.

It is hands down one of my favorite dramas and has become my ultimate comfort rewatch (have rewatched it many times already). I am in love with the characters and the plot. The romance is absolute slow-burn perfection, and the chemistry between the leads is completely unmatched because it’s built on genuine mutual respect. They are a total power couple and I love that. I also really enjoyed the fight scenes. The fight scenes are choreographed very nicely and they are exciting to watch.
I absolutely love how they portray the whole moon metaphor between them. Xiao Jue being her "moon" her guiding light who brought comfort during her darkest and loneliest moments is just so beautiful. When she says, "I love the moon, but the moon doesn't know," it was just so swoonworthy. The absolute best part is how they bring it full circle later on when he completely claims that title for her, telling her that the moon belongs to her. It was amazing journey watching it, especially because I loved the main cast too.

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Most gorgeous and emotionally devastating BL I've ever watched

How tf did I survive this sequel???? Genuinely??? I fell in love with these characters in I Told Sunset About You and this sequel lives up to how incredible the first series is. While I hated almost every plot moment that happened in the sequel, I couldn't deny that I was incredibly moved emotionally with the raw storytelling.

I will go in saying that I did slightly spoil myself before starting this sequel because I was so terrified of these two not having a happy ending. I knew going in that Teh cheats somehow and that they would end up back together. I'm glad I knew both of those things at the start, but I did say that knowing Teh would eventually disappoint me did have me resenting him and rooting against him since the start. When it finally happened, I was begging Oh-aew to leave him.

Watching them go from happy together to drifting apart was so heartbreaking, but so real when it comes to real life adult relationships. Even though I hated Teh and would never condone his actions, I understood how he got to the point he did. Teh was overwhelmingly in love with Oh-aew since childhood and he thought that loving someone meant they had to be similar, want the same things, have the same dreams. Teh was too early on in his love life to fully understand what love actually was. He saw Oh-aew changing, even if it was for the better, and he thought it meant that he could no longer love him the same way. I understood why he was shocked and confused. What I couldn't accept was how he handled it and what he did to Oh-aew, breaking his heart once again.

Watching Teh develop feelings for Jai was genuinely sickening. Seeing him look at someone else with the same longing he'd once had for Oh-aew in the first series was hard to watch. The emotional betrayal hurt even more than the kiss itself. The notebook, the dishonesty, his continued pursuit of Jai, and the fact that Jai ultimately had to be the one to clarify that their connection wasn't romantic made everything so much worse. Teh wasn't simply making a mistake that he immediately regretted and confessed. He was actively hurting someone who loved him unconditionally, and I struggled to find any sympathy for him in those moments. I genuinely wanted Teh to fuck off.

Oh-aew's growth was easily one of my favorite aspects of the sequel. Watching him discover his own identity, build meaningful friendships, and create a life outside of his relationship with Teh was beautiful. I especially loved how supportive his friends were throughout everything. By the end, he had developed a sense of self-worth that the younger Oh-aew in ITSAY didn't have. I remember in ITSAY Oh-aew crying to Teh asking what he's done wrong and telling him he'll never do it again at the beach. Going from that, to Oh-aew standing up for himself and what we deserves was everything.

And despite how much I hated Teh's betrayal, I actually disagree with the criticism that the cheating was inconsistent with his character. Looking at both series together, I think his actions make complete sense within the context of his upbringing, internal struggles, and emotional immaturity. In the first series, Teh struggled to accept his own feelings because they conflicted with the future he'd imagined for himself. We see that when he's struggling about what his family would think that he was in love with a boy and not a girl. In the sequel, he equally struggles with thoughts of his future because he sees Oh-aew changing before his eyes. He is terrified of change and the unknown. That doesn't justify his actions whatsoever, but it makes them believable.

As painful as their breakup was to watch, it was exactly what they both needed to really grow, understand themselves, and come back together as a healthier couple. The play Teh wrote for Oh-aew and the reveal absolutely ruined me emotionally. Even though I was completely against them getting back together, what ended up winning me over was Oh-aew, not Teh.

The final beach scene and Oh-aew's speech to Teh made me realize how much Oh-aew had truly grown as a character. I as ready to accept that even if I myself am terrified that Teh is going to continue hurting Oh-aew, he's not. He's prepared to go through the tough challenges that may come with being with Teh again because they are and always will be their first and greatest loves.

I Promised You The Moon was equally as masterful as ITSAY and even though it was tough to watch and I was angry most of the time, it made me appreciate the series as a whole so much more. I hated how much this series hurt me, but I can't ever give it any less than a 10/10 top favorite of all time because of how much it affected me emotionally. This is a gorgeous sequel and it's worth the watch to conclude one of my favorite love stories of all time.

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A problem and no solution

This...this is a strange movie by western standards.

This movie is very unlike any western movie, as it basically has no climax. Western movies always have a goal, and the climax is the very last fight for this goal, whether they win or not. Possible Love has no climax, it has no goal. You'd expect to feel kinda lost and bored, but I never did. The point of this movie isn't to solve a problem, it's to present you a problem and tell you that one family cannot fix it. And to show that while this problem might seem superficial, it runs so deep in society that every comment, every photo, every mind shows signs of it.

I love these kinds of movies where you can watch the entire thing, and then towards the very end finally understand what was happening all along. I'm sure I could deep dive into any major or minor character and find a whole world of symbolism, metaphors and foreshadowing hiding in the movie. While it might feel at the beginning like "why are we here? What's going on?" you eventually stop asking and just get sucked into what's happening. I watched this with my parents and I at some point asked if he would sit at the bench, they both understood which bench I meant and why sitting there would mean a lot for the movie. They understood because you get so ingrained in the characters' lives and stories, even if it's just their everyday.

This movie felt at times similar to Parasite, and the vibe or pacing of Burning. The filming style is distinct to this movie, though. Very unique.

I will say, that the movie isn't very enjoyable if you're not either a huge film-nerd or a sociologist; you might still like it, but the likelihood declines. There is little action, and while there is humour it's far from a comedy. Oh, and there's practically no romance, despite the name. The actors were of course incredible, no one's surprised there. But if you're looking for a movie showcasing extreme technical skill in filmmaking, a movie with an unforgiving view on society, or simply to try something you've never seen before, then you should give this a watch.

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If Romance Is What You're After, Look Elsewhere

First of all, a warning for anyone who might be drawn to this drama because of the word romance in its title: while there is a love story, it plays a very minor role and remains firmly in the background. If you're looking for a romance drama, you'll probably be disappointed. However, if you're here for the demons, their stories and some great performances, this drama is well worth watching. That's where its real appeal lies, not in the romance.

Song Zuer is wonderful. She's one of those actresses I always enjoy watching, and in this drama she's managed to do something I never expected: she's actually made me like Ren Jialun! Something none of his other dramas had ever managed to do.

The story drew me in from the very beginning, and for most of the drama I thought the writing was really solid. I also loved the variety of stories surrounding the demons. Although each has its own characters and conflicts, they're all connected and contribute to the development of the main storyline, which I think is one of the drama's biggest strengths.

Out of all these stories, the one that stood out to me the most was undoubtedly the puppet's. It was the one that left the biggest impression on me, sending shivers down my spine with how unsettling and engrossing it was. I was completely drawn in, and both Song Zuer and the actress playing the puppet delivered fantastic performances.

Unfortunately, I felt the story lost some of its momentum after episode 24, and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I had at the beginning. The ending didn't win me over either. It's a shame, because this started out as a drama I would have rated a 9, but ultimately ended up being a 7 for me.

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Most gorgeous and emotionally draining BL I've ever watched

This is my first review ever because this series affected me so much I had to put it into words or I was gonna go insane. I genuinely don't know where to begin with this series. This is one of the most beautiful and emotionally overwhelming love stories I've ever watched, and easily one of my favorite BLs of all time.

I was immediately drawn to our two leads and the emotions they were able to convey without even using words. I knew I was screwed when I found myself tearing up during happy, normal sweet moments between them. I could genuinely FEEL how much these two characters loved each other, even as friends before they realized their feelings for each other.

The YEARNING in this BL is genuinely unlike anything I've ever seen in a BL. The chemistry is off the charts. They didn't have to say a single word and you understand exactly what they're saying. The looks, the touches, the TENSION. The hammock confession not requiring an explicit "I like you" because it was already understood between them. THAT ONE SCENE in episode 3 starting with the back scratches is actually one of the most beautiful, intense, and intimate scenes in any BL ever. And Oh-aew staring into the camera as Teh walks away after was devastating, yet shot so beautifully.

Every little gesture, touch, look, symbol throughout the story felt so significant and made me so emotional. Teh hating coconuts until he smelled it in Oh-aew's hair, then being obsessed with them is one of my favorite things in this story. All of this with how gorgeous the cinematography was, the music, the quiteness of it all made this so intimate and beautiful to watch.

I genuinely believe Teh loves Oh-aew, maybe even more than Oh-aew loves him. Even though his character frustrated me to no end, I understood his internal issues and why his actions were what they were. He didn't want to accept himself, but couldn't control his love for Oh-aew. This is unfortunately how a lot of queer people feel when they first realize who they are. Even though they end up together at the end, I couldn't help but think that they wouldn't work out. I felt like Oh-aew was too easily led on, too quick to forgive and needed time to grow. I feel like even though the ending is a happy one, their love story is one where they are each other's greatest love, but maybe not the one who they're supposed to end up with.

All in all, this is an absolute masterpiece. I'm not sure how to move on to other BLs on my list after this. And yes, I watched the sequel and that devastated me even more.

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