Reviews

first 21 episodes are boring and make you mad all the time

visuals: awful, acting: good, story: 6.5/10, ending 4/10
episodes 1-21 were boring, after that the story gets better, but still not one of my favorites, there's to much betrayal of the female lead to the male lead, i mean, I'm not buying it🤦‍♀️ wey to much, also to much deaths, I mean is it posible that 80% of the characters die in the drama? Its too much, then the end, so bad, no body gets a happy ending, i love Zhang linghe but this drama was very bad 😞, I'm sorry I had to say it, Wang churan is a good actress too,just the posructon and the story is bad 😔 so sad, I tough it would be an awesome drama after seeing pursuit of jade my heart broke with this one

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This series exceeded my expectations. I thought it was going to be one of those stories where the characters enter the spirit world. But it turned out to be completely different. The spirit world created here is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and I genuinely loved how unique it was. The way the characters enter the spirit world is also incredibly creative, and the interaction between the two worlds through that method feels refreshing, especially amid the overwhelming number of supernatural movies out there. The spirits created here also feel genuinely original. I didn't know I would fall for this.

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?

Of course I was going to watch *Brave Citizen* when it has BOTH of my favorite actors. 😭

Lee Jun-young honestly gave one of the roles I can see him playing so well. He was aggressive, intimidating, and just completely unhinged as the villain. Don’t get me wrong, he can play anything, but this kind of character? I REALLY see him in it. He ate this role up.

And then we have Shin Hye-sun, who, as per usual, came to the table and delivered. She completely immersed herself in the character, and I loved watching her. She has this ability to make you believe whatever character she’s playing, and she did it again here.

I genuinely think *Brave Citizen* is underrated and deserves more attention.

What I especially loved was the storyline surrounding bullying. We hear so much about how serious bullying can become and how badly it can affect people, so seeing someone finally step in and stand up for the people being oppressed was incredibly satisfying.

There was something really beautiful about watching a teacher decide that she wasn't going to stand by and let these students suffer anymore. It gave the story that feeling of *someone has to do something*—and sometimes, all it takes is one person being brave enough to step in.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s the kind of drama/movie that gives you that satisfying feeling of seeing bullies finally get what they deserve. 😭🔥

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Hopefully tragedy

I was a little late to *Youth of May*, but honestly, this is one of the best tragic-ending dramas I’ve ever watched. 😭

And I’m definitely a sucker for a heartbreaking tragedy ending. There’s just something about a drama that gives you so much hope right up until the very end, only to completely destroy you.

I kept thinking, *maybe someone found her… maybe somebody saved her… maybe she’s still alive.* And then seven years later, they find her remains, and that little bit of hope just completely shattered.

The ending was absolutely heartbreaking, but it was so beautifully done. I went into this expecting a love story, and I left emotionally destroyed. 😭

Definitely one of those dramas that stays with you long after you finish it.

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started with an excellent move and seem promising. the cinematography was also excellent, it photographed everything i didnt know i need to see. the music is perfect like a cherry on the cake. the acting of all actors and actresses are amazing. i feel like the lady cop was build to be cool and clever and will solve everything at first, but it turns out her way of thinking is soo slow as a detective who inherits criminology psychologist father's blood. i just cant accept that. after all, i enjoyed the first 5 episodes, but i regret watching the last one. the ending is not like an open one, but just finish nothing. like i watched this and got nothing to tell to myself.

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Thirty Episodes and This Is Where You Leave Me?

💚 What I Loved
What really worked for me was how Han Li actually starts from the bottom. He isn’t some chosen-one genius who enters the cultivation world already knowing everything. He’s a poor village boy with mediocre talent, and even as the story progresses, he has to learn the basics—cultivation stages, spirit roots, pills, spiritual stones, formations, herbs, weapons, and basically how this whole world works.
I actually liked that because the audience learns with Han Li. His “quadruple”/pseudo spirit root makes cultivation slower for him, so instead of relying on overwhelming talent, he survives through caution, preparation, intelligence, medicine, strategy, and knowing when NOT to fight. That was probably my favorite part of the character.
And I liked that the drama didn't suddenly turn him into an OP ML just for the sake of giving us satisfying power-ups. His progress feels earned. Even when he reaches Foundation Establishment, there is still a huge world above him.
Yang Yang also really surprised me here. As young Han Li, he has that boyish look, but as Han Li becomes more experienced, you can actually feel the change in his presence. I came here partly because of Yang Yang after Fireworks of My Heart, but this role suited him much better for me. Several reviews also highlighted his more restrained portrayal of Han Li and the show's strong visual production.
The fight scenes, scenery and cinematography were another major plus. The production clearly invested in the cultivation world, and the real-location scenery mixed with CGI made the world feel much bigger.

⚖️ What Worked But Also Tested My Patience
The pacing is a little strange for me.
On one hand, so much happens in 30 episodes. Han Li goes from an ordinary village boy to entering the cultivation world, joining a sect, learning cultivation, surviving the Crimson Forbidden Land, reaching Foundation Establishment, getting involved with Nangong Wan, and eventually being forced to leave Tian Nan.
But on the other hand, I still felt like I was waiting for the story to really take off.
That's because the drama spends a lot of time establishing the rules and lower levels of cultivation—which I actually appreciated—but the payoff is delayed. Even by the finale, Han Li still feels like he's only beginning his journey.
And apparently… HE IS. 😂
That is exactly why the ending frustrated me. The final episode doesn't feel like a conclusion. It feels like someone suddenly said, “Okay, that's enough for Season 1. See you next season.” 😭

🚩 What Didn't Work For Me
My biggest issue is the ending.
After 30 episodes, I wanted to feel like I had completed a major chapter. Instead, Han Li gets completely drained by Nangong Wan, his cultivation falls back, his master Li Huayuan is gone, Yellow Maple Valley is basically left behind, and Han Li eventually uses the Ancient Teleportation Array and is sent away.
Then… that's it.
He arrives in a peaceful-looking place and we don't get the continuation.
I understand now that this is intentionally the end of the Tian Nan chapter, with Han Li moving into a new stage of his journey. But as someone watching the drama without having read the novel, it still felt incomplete.
I was literally sitting there thinking:
“Thirty episodes… and THIS is where you're stopping?!” 😂😭
The broader reception reflects that split: some viewers liked that the adaptation preserved the slow, grounded cultivation progression, while others felt that it plays more like the beginning of a multi-season story than a complete drama.

Angst: 7/10
There are losses, betrayals, danger and emotional setbacks, but the angst isn't what drives the entire story.
Chemistry: 7.5/10
Han Li and Nangong Wan have chemistry, but don't expect a romance-heavy xianxia. Their relationship is still very much at the beginning.
Slow Burn: 9/10
The cultivation progression is VERY slow-burn. 😂 This is a journey, not an instant power-up story.
Genre Type:
XIANXIA / Cultivation / Adventure / Fantasy / Wuxia / Romance

Description:
Han Li is an ordinary village boy with mediocre cultivation talent who accidentally enters the world of cultivation. Unlike the typical gifted protagonist, he survives through caution, intelligence, preparation and a willingness to calculate every move. As he gradually learns the rules of this dangerous world, his journey takes him through sect politics, dangerous trials, cultivation battles, friendships, betrayals and complicated relationships.
The drama's greatest strength for me is that Han Li feels like an actual beginner. We aren't just told that the cultivation world is complicated—we discover it alongside him.
And that's also why I wanted more by the end.

I genuinely enjoyed this more than I expected.
I liked Han Li as an underdog, I liked watching him slowly figure out cultivation, and I appreciated that his intelligence and caution matter more than having some ridiculously overpowered talent. Yang Yang also fits the role well, especially as Han Li grows from that young, almost boyish-looking beginner into a more experienced cultivator.
But I'm taking off half a point because Season 1 ended right when I was waiting for the next big payoff. 😭
It doesn't feel like I finished a complete story. It feels like I finished 30 episodes of setup for a much bigger story.
So yes, I enjoyed the journey…
but I am NOT satisfied with where they left me. 😂
Season 2, where are you?!

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A Masterpiece for the Ages — A Modern Retelling of Wuthering Heights

Born Again is a hardcore melodrama (some might say makjang, which I view more as creative freedom than criticism), so you definitely have to be into that, although my hatred towards the second lead was definitely a struggle despite my usually high tolerance (again, that's praise). I actually liked him a bit at first, but then it just kept getting worse and worse, but well, it’s a k-drama where growth and redemption are a thing, and usually character behavior doesn't come from nowhere, so you have to see how it ends.

I loved the leads and the story so much, everything was so well done, and I'd love to read Wuthering Heights (which is also known to have a supernatural atmosphere, while this drama has a supernatural plot). As I did a lot of research about the story and the ending of this novel, I realized Born Again was an even more beautiful and passionate drama than I initially thought. And on top of that, there’s a brilliant biblical reference at one point.

You get to see many different sides of humans, which is what makes it interesting. You have to look at it kind of like a chessboard, the development throughout the two lives is really well thought out (personalities, jobs, illness, psychological state, relationships/family, background lore, the unexplained dreams, the painting), and the MC’s story is really moving in so many ways. The only drama I wanted to drop but absolutely refused to drop because I loved it so much 😭 Can you believe that the leads got closer in the second life through their shared interest towards skeletons in a teacher-student relationship? This drama is the best.

Anyone who likes tragic romances with hope for a future and a beautiful spiritual touch (like the scene where she meets him in the church and touches him deeply with her empathy) absolutely needs to watch this. The actress has such a beautiful voice too, and she was basically my ray of sunshine throughout the drama. Of course, I was annoyed sometimes because I was seriously invested in the male lead, but that's what makes a drama good. And Ji Chul really reminded me of a wolf: a sort of wildness, his long hair, deeply anxious and traumatized, kind but misunderstood. His future self Jong Bum does too in his own way.

I'm sorry for those who mistook the second lead as the main lead, but I have bad news... you guys need to start seeing things a bit less at face value because of your love for an actor (considering him as such for being with the female lead from the beginning; as the narration is naturally yet not so directly painted as a tragedy between them, while the male lead was wronged from their perspective). Many dramas are underappreciated if not hated for being less straightforward and different. It was very obvious he was not in the first episode alone, hell, just seeing the premise and the poster is enough. Notice that, the male lead is the one who's placed further from them. A poster reflects the story, not the ending. You have a romance drama about reincarnation and you somehow expect the girl to end with the same guy from the beginning who did so much wrong? Anyway, not like this is a first-time situation.

Another weird thing, some of them apparently didn't get that Sa Bin was deeply confused because of Ha Eun's heart, leading her to have strong feelings for Soo Hyuk, and made up her mind later as she started to know her own heart and what those feelings were. No, she did not owe Jong Bum to become his girlfriend out of nowhere. But yes, it's obvious that she will be. The parallels in this drama were so good on top of the order and manner in which each of them slowly got their memories back. Absolutely thrilling.

Well, I can see that the second lead fans just watched for the actor lol. I myself like him now, thanks to this drama.

I could mention some themes that I can remember right off the bat, like not being able to choose the family you're born with yet the hope to start anew, found family (including a very nice bromance) and breaking free, history repeating itself, the danger of death penalties, wrong accusations, the psychology of the MC and his relationship with the FL, the topic of warm and cold empathy...

The journey also has enough happy moments of them side by side, the latter half is clearly more peaceful, and the ending after the final climax is a poetic one which kind of has the spiritual feeling of the author's books. In the end, everything that needed to happen took the time necessary. But they're together way before the end, and a certain kiss of the MC was memorable. Those who like complex, smart and mysterious characters will love Jong Bum. The most important in the end was to make things right.

I’m definitely planning to rewatch it, because I think I’ll suffer less this time around and it’s still more fun for me than a lot of dramas.

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A convoluted story which couldn't commit to its complex themes

Mouse is a kdrama I constantly saw people recommend and as a psychological thrillers lover, I decided to give it a try. I watched the first episode last year and I was conflicted. I didn't dislike it but I wasn't impressed either. The premise seemed complex and it indicated a complicated story, one which I didn't feel like committing my time to. Therefore, I put it on hold.

Having completed Mouse after re-picking it, my feelings couldn't been more different than the vocal majority. There were many issues and they outweighed whatever positive aspects the drama offered.

Mouse was too convoluted. While I didn't struggle keeping up with the different timelines, characters and plot points, I didn't understand why it was necessary for the writer, Choi Ran, to stretch the story so much. The brain transplant plot and Ba Reum's vigilantism were almost unbearable to watch. One does not need to be a descendant of Sherlock Holmes in order to grasp the intentional misguide. This would have been an interesting route for 2 or 3 episodes but the writer decided to add a "monster of the week" arc for multiple episodes, this time with criminals.

A main issue with Mouse is its inability to tackle the already complex themes about the "psychopathy gene" and the discourse around the abortion of babies with this gene. Instead of addressing them, Choi Ran kept beating around the bush. While attempting to add more "depth" and thrill, she threw plot twists left and right, making the story frustrating and tiresome. They made the story drag and most of the time, they were used for shock factor, not development.

Moreover there were issues with the way the reveals were made. Writers usually give hints to the viewers, creating a momentum steadily and once the timing is right, they reveal their cards. What Mouse did is constantly show the one side of the coin through misleading flashbacks and then, debunk the established narrative by showing the real events, which were hidden all this time. This is not how you create impactful plot twists, especially if it happens frequently. Instead of sitting in anticipation, I grew immune to the overwhelming amount of twists and whenever something supposedly important would happen, I was unfazed.

Mouse tried to tackle many different topics but Choi Ran fell victim to her own messy writing. At times, I started wondering if she had a clear vision about the script or if even she had gotten confused while planning the series. Mouse had a big identity crisis, it couldn't focus on one thing at a time. Instead of invoking conversations regarding the psychology of a criminal and psychopathy genes, it kept going from one point to another, disregarding its initial goal, only to return to it towards the end. Some themes were explored superficially while some others weren't explored at all.

As a psychology student, I had mixed feelings about the premise from the get-go since stories which present mental disorders as completely innate are usually lackluster. I tried to bat an eye to the pseudo-science but there is only so much that I could turn a blind eye.

I was more than willing to be open-minded about a fictional work. But Mouse should have never had the psychopathy gene element, since the writer wasn't committed to properly explore it. Even if this is a sci-fi thriller, taking an important topic about mental disorders and utilize it for shock value, for the biggest part of the drama, is unacceptable. I am tired of seeing stories which exploit existing issues by contributing to the stigma of a marginalized group. I expected nuance and sensitivity or at least some research.

Aside from the outdated usage of the term "psychopath", Mouse constantly presented people with mental disorders as some type of animals, who cannot control their instincts and who seek to breed in order to reproduce their genes. Whatever attempt to tackle the "nature vs nurture" debate was thrown out of the window the moment Mouse chose to prioritize shock value instead of presenting a compelling message.

By the time I had reached the final episodes, I wanted to give the benefit of doubt. I believed the story's conclusion would highlight the difference in Yo Han and Ba Reum's upbringings and the effects of their treatment as children. I hoped for an ending where society would realise that Daniel Lee's research about psychopathy genes had many eugenics undertones ("I want to find good genes. I want to find a way to tell genes for good-heartedness from the bad ones to create a peaceful world without war or crimes". His own words on episode 9). I hoped that people would realise that a "psychopath" can still gain emotions with the right guidance and that no one is born as a monster, therefore making the abortion bill for "psychopath" babies unethical.

Apparently I was asking for something that was beyond the writing skills of Mouse's production.

Mouse ended up contradicting its own message throughout its duration. Having "psychopaths" be presented as vile monsters, who are incapable of feeling emotions, only to alter the narrative in a half-baked way towards the end, is not the most efficient method to make your message clear. It's funny that Ba Reum's change of heart came after the brain surgery, when Yo Han's frontal lobe replaced Ba Reum's. So, in order for a "psychopath" to change, the solution is to replace their frontal lobe with one of someone who is capable of experiencing emotions? Yo Han having the psychopathy gene does not make this particular part less peculiar than it already was. As for the ending, it proved nothing. If anything, it highlighted the eugenics undertones in Mouse. The abortion bill still passed which was an extremely tone-deaf decision. But since the whole drama was tone-deaf, at least there was some consistency here, I guess.

I understand what Mouse tried to say. The problem is that its execution was half-baked. And all of that stems from lack of cohesive writing. It didn't know what it wanted to prioritize. By creating a pile of substories, plot twists and different characters, the message got lost in translation and in the end, everything wrapped up in a rushed way. Throughout the watch, my views didn't get challenged. What got challenged was my tolerance towards the writer.

Characterisation was as lackluster as the story. While the characters seemed interesting at first, as the episodes went by, it became more clear how disconnected I felt towards them. I don't expect to like every single character in a drama, nor become attached to them. That being said, in a plot driven story, with so many jumps and twists, there wasn't enough room to properly flesh out the characters - or there was room to do so but once again, the execution fell short.

The first seven episodes did a decent job establishing Ba Reum, Moo Chi, Bong Yi and Hong Ju. I was invested in them and their personal demons, particularly Bong Yi and Moo Chi. The second half ruined the potential of almost everyone. Instead of actual humans, they felt like pieces of a table game. The drama explored the characters' feelings and dynamics superficially, making it hard for me to fully emphasize with them.

Moo Chi started as someone who seemed to be to my liking and he ended up irritating me quite often. I love flawed characters, especially if their flaws stem from their unresolved trauma. But Moo Chi was painfully one-dimensional, for the biggest part. His damaged relationship with Moo Won was the most interesting aspect of his and yet it wasn't explored properly. The rest of the story didn't focus on Moo Chi's trauma, reducing him to a police officer who ran around in circles. While I acknowledge that underneath his cold facade lied a deeply traumatized individual, I wish the series had presented him in different light.

His relationship with Ba Reum was bland. They didn't have many heart-to-heart interactions in order to establish the "brotherly" dynamic the series aimed for and as a result, Moo Chi discovering the truth about Ba Reum didn't leave a strong impact on me. On the contrary, I liked his protective side towards Bong Yi, it showcased how deeply he cared for people.

Both female characters didn't receive much grace when it came to their writing. I didn't like Bong Yi's tsundere attitude towards Ba Reum at first and their romance in general felt so weird. At least there weren't many romantic moments but their dynamic never moved me. Bong Yi had so many layers, I appreciated the bits which had focused on her trauma but for the biggest part of the story, she was reduced to someone who was in love with Ba Reum. I preferred when the series highlighted her own issues and I wish we had gotten more moments between her and Moo Chi.

Hong Ju was the least developed character. At first, it seemed like the series would've explored her dynamic with Moo Chi but they barely got any scenes, let alone many meaningful ones. Her backstory and connection to the Headhunter deserved more attention aside from a few flashbacks. Although her character had potential, she was the least interesting one from the main cast.

Out of the main characters, Ba Reum was by far the most fleshed out. I never fell for his angelic persona and the moment the switch in his personality happened, he became more appealing. Although I still cannot say that I liked him as much as I expected, he was fun to analyse and had he been in the hands of a different writer, his character could have been explored even more.

I found myself pitying Ba Reum more than hate him. According to the script, he was born as a "psychopath" and his tendencies to kill were triggered by OZ. He was a murderer and he deserved punishment but at the same time, he was wronged by everyone. I will give props to Mouse for making me feel sad for Ba Reum. At the same time, however, his death was a dissatisfying conclusion for his character. I believe he could have repented in prison while being alive, instead of following a classic "atonement through death" trope. It would still be a tragic conclusion, considering he would have to live with all this guilt and the main takeaway wouldn't changed.

Yo Han was another character who picked my interest. I didn't buy that he was the real culprit and I was curious to see more of his backstory and connection with the other characters. I wish we had gotten to see more of his childhood, if we had more scenes between him and Ji Eun, the contrast between his treatment as a child compared to Ba Reum would have been more impactful. Just like other characters, he had interesting aspects but he was underutilized.

Usually, I tend to finish my reviews by pinpointing my issues but this time, I left the positive remarks for the end. Mouse had a quite strong beginning. The story was engaging, albeit not flawless and the first part kept my interest. The production was remarkable and the dark tones and lighting added to the bleak atmosphere.

The acting was the drama's strongest card. Seung Gi did a great job portraying the different stages of Ba Reum's character. His performance towards the end conveyed Ba Reum's confusion and inner turmoil perfectly, allowing the audience to witness the change of a character who had been granted emotions after living like a "monster". Lee Hee Joon, whose performance in " The Scarecrow" left a great impression on me, elevated the character of Moo Chi. Had it not been for him, I would have lost my interest forthe character altogether. Hee Joon's depiction of Moo Chi's anger and inner grief made me feel for Moo Chi and it added more layers, despite his treatment from the writing.

Park Ju Hyun as Bong Yi did a good job as well, I liked her fierce performance and I'm looking forward to see her in "Extracurricular". Kyung Soo Jin was the weakest out of the main cast but that is mostly the writer's fault for making Hong Ju less developed. She did her part well enough, I just would have preferred some stronger emotional moments. And of course I couldn't praise enough the child actors involved in this story, all of them did a phenomenal job despite their age.

I understand why Mouse became so beloved. It's a pity I cannot share this sentiment, but my expectations weren't met. There are other stories which tackle the debate around nature vs nurture with more nuance and there are thrillers which excited me much more. The idea was interesting but the execution couldn't match the height of the ambitious and complex script.

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Amazing plot, captivating stories and great performance by all cast especially the main leads.

I have watched several dramas by Seven Tan and I am always amazed by how natural her actings are. She became the character in the story, and you are glued to her performance. Her every expression captivated you. I also like all the casts. They all did a wonderful job making this drama great. All their performances are so good and natural. Their facial expressions are spot on. I also love the stories and all the side stories of each woman in the movie. They all are fighting for survival. This movie also showed how women in the past had no freedom and cannot choose their own path. Seven Tan did a wonderful job to show all the different emotions like inner conflict, pain, suffering, weeping and fear. You cried along with her when she was weeping for her family. There were so many emotional scenes in the drama that will touch your heart. I could not wait for the next episodes. Always looking forward to seeing the next episodes. This is by far the most beautiful and touching stories in Chinese Historical drama that I have ever seen. I would say this is one of the best drama Seven Tan has done. She also has a great chemistry with Liu Xue Yi. They are both great actors and also low key and underrated. This is a must-see drama and would recommend it to everyone. I am glad that everyone can finally see how great an actress she is.

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Watched So You Don't Have To... You're Welcome hehe

ok... the intro alone was such a hot mess ahahaha *ahem* anyway...

We open with a crap load of women in the back of a stretch limo all struggling to zip up dresses, slip into shoes etc because obviously no time could be spared for them to quickly dress, idk... in a room before entering said limo? This is probably setting the scene for what's to come in the drama ;-)

EP 1-6 Recap
The 1st episode was super-fast paced with a lot of villainous characters introduced including ex-maid stepmom, adopted? bro and even the butler dude. Adopted bro is so over the top with his actions that everyone in the entire city must hear/see his evil actions.
By EP 2 we know FL's dad is richest man with tons of money and connections at his disposal, yet he's played for a fool for how many years by a mere maid borrowing his prestige as his new wife? FL enters the family as a maid because... why not?

FL helps evil adopted bro's pregnant wife and thus gets a pass at being the 2nd bro's live-in caregiver (who was in a car accident 3?6? months prior and is in a coma) because... why not, right? Obviously she happened to go to nursing college/has a degree.

Butler and evil stepmom have truly ridiculous interactions.
FL pisses in everyone's cheerios right out of the gate and expects to live with them all and not die sooner rather than later.

& (of course) we find out evil maid/stepmom is banging adopted bro (her stepson) as well. -_- everyone is aware adopted bro is domestically abusing his pregnant wife.
The little dance the butler makes all the maids do each morning is absolutely ridiculous LOL what? why???
Also it's "hinted at" (but not really hinted, more like BLASTED) that the reason the butler has certain proclivities is because the FL kicked him in the junk when she was little and quite literally "unmanned" him which legitimately pisses me off. That is NOT how it works.
FL nearly freezes to death under butler's scheme but 2nd bro wakes from a coma and springs out of bed and into action just in the nick of time!
Daddy McBucks comes home by end of EP6.

EP 7-12 Recap
FL teases evil adopted bro to make him do her bidding but somehow escapes from being SA' d by him over and over again
A fake heiress shows up (didn't see that coming /sarcasm)
Fake heiress is busted rather quickly by FL/ML
FL's stupid dad is hospitalized
ML finds out FL is real heiress
Evil stepmom loses her shit in one of THE most hilarious melt downs EVER looking for her hubby's will. >_<

(me STILL not over the crazy ass intro)

EP 13 Recap

Ep 13 starts out with evil stepmom's epic nightmare and FL taking her place back in the family.
BRO... FL accuses evil stepmom of murder in front of her dad and brother and literally stepmom says "impossible" and walks out of the room and no one stops her, gasps, or ANYthing. LMAO.

old butler re-enters the picture because FL's revenge on him obviously ONLY included getting him kicked out of her house even though he helped stepmom KILL her mother and trafficking her as a child. Yeah.

ok ok I know you're not gonna believe this but next scene she comes in and sits at family table like nothing happened and Papa BigBucks announces.... he's leaving FL his estate *gasp* I kid you not. Nothing about stepmom committing MURDER.
I guess FL's dad decides she doesn't get any inheritance since she killed his wife, but, she can go ahead a keep living like a rich wife. WHUTTTT?

looks like rest of my review got cut off/deleted :(

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Great showcase of Hong Kong talent

I am writing this before next week because i know that after the end of the show, i will have to drag myself out of the rabbit hole with great difficulty.
I am pleasantly surprised to see this production after "Sammy's children's day". It doesn't shy away from the story of the location, use local talents where visible, and this truly pays off and gives an authentic feeling of the show. More importantly, the action scenes are slick (comparing to KP from BOC), story lines are sensible (comparing to the novel), supporting cast is professional, and makeup is natraulistic (a bit on the heavy side but at least they matched the foundation to the actors skin tone). I don't actually want to mention that the leads are gorgeous and their acting is of an acceptable standard, because I feel that's something I normally "accommodate " when watching productions in this genre, which is a shame. The whole thing shows how, despite that Hong Kong tv/film's golden era in the 90s has long gone, local talents remain and are just awaiting the right opportunity and investment.
A couple of things can be improved. The NC scenes feel a bit vanilla and staged to my personal taste. But then again, although Hong Kong has a great tradition of category 3 movies, they're mostly sex comedies, so maybe that's not where local strength lies. The music writing can really do better. Apart from Kingston's cover of a late artist's song, the others can really do better. I am not asking for full revival of the glory of Cantopop but at least don't just copy and paste a few notes to the background music because you want 3 more seconds of arm caressing, it just bothers me, who is not all that into "free jazz".
Overall it's an entertaining watch, and for me personally, to have a BL series in my native dialect is a treat.
Outside of the series, LeoKing pull out all the stops and faithfully play their lovers role in both reactions and dating vlogs, and I find myself mindlessly watching them play camping after a hard day's work. That's the main reason why I will need to drag myself out of this after next week.

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