Reviews

Beyond the Bar: Guilty of Great Acting, Charged with Predictability

Overall, Beyond the Bar offers a compelling drama. It's fun to watch as new cases unfold in each episode that are engaging to watch. But more importantly, it makes the viewer think about moral and social issues that everyone hears and sees in their everyday lives. Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with the judgements and decisions, the point of the series is that law, ethics and morality are surrounded by grey areas that extend beyond a simplistic division of good and evil.

What is probably the strongest element of the series are the actors. Charming, thoughtful, intelligent, but also serious and occasionally fuelled by anger and intensity. They give the main characters authenticity and a fresh perspective on their humanity as opposed to robotic lawyers playing by strict playbooks.

While the episodes are interesting in their own right, the second half of the series suffers from overlapping subplots that aren't as interesting , diverting attention to diverse plots happening at the same time. As a result, the drama plays catch-up towards the end, wrapping up plot points very quickly , just not as compelling as it could have been.

That raises an important issue. The good guys win, but at what cost? Beyond the Bar positions itself clearly on the question of how the cases are to be processed. Even though the stakes are high, the main characters ultimately have the upper hand and seem to overcome every obstacle. The main lead is portrayed from the outset as an adept who can immediately take on the more experienced lawyers. Although her character develops as a lawyer, her side seems too good and uncontested, which makes the cases predictable. Therefore, the drama suffers from a formulaic approach that missed the opportunity to raise the bar in the trials

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The road of life seasons and lessons

When Life Gives You Tangerines is truly special and will be very hard to surpass. It carries the same warmth as Reply 1988, but tells its story in a completely different way. Depending on your age, it reminds you what you lived through as a kid, makes you concious about where you are now and how your life might develop in the future. True hardships of life over SEVEN decades shown here are not only telling a story - it makes you reflect not only on yourself, but people around you and how people and the culture have grown through the years.

This show doesn’t simply entertain; it teaches, provokes, comforts, and challenges. It will make you smile, laugh, cry, and above all, feel. Each episode unfolds with the care and depth of a short film, with not a minute wasted. Each decade detail is very authentic, the acting is breathtaking, and together they create a piece of art.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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More exciting parts yet to reveal

As a modern and sentimental person, Xiao Ming Ming (Cheng Yi) is teleported to the troubled martial arts world, and it’s challenging for him to fully adapt as Xiao Qiu Shui. He struggles to be pragmatic enough to save the chaotic world, as he hasn’t yet unlocked his full potential in fighting skills. This is understandable for someone crossing dimensions, so it takes time for him to adjust to his new role, which Cheng Yi portrays brilliantly. Nevertheless, I’m excited for more thrilling moments, mind-blowing stunts, and the introduction of new characters in the unfolding story. And of course, the hottest highlight has to be the captivating villain, "Li Chen Zhou"! Let’s journey through this legendary tale until the end.

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I expected gritty revenge tale from ML's pov but FL got too much screentime

This drama had been in my watchlist since the day it was released. I don't know why I didn't feel like watching it immediately but today I decided to watch it on iQIYI. I must say I was disappointed by this drama - I expected more.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - I liked that this drama is about ML seeking revenge for the death of his parents. He was smart, calculative and resourceful. However I don’t quite understand how he could have money & influence to blackmail and eventually own Zhou Group?
2. Supporting characters - FL's father was smart and I liked him a lot more than FL. Shu Qing, the other Zhou Group employee was likeable too.
3. Intimacy - Abundance of physical intimacy in this drama from fiery kisses to shower scene and bold dialogue. Even SML got a hot kissing scene. Anyway Wang Yi Lei excelled in onscreen kissing.
4. Styling - I liked that Wang Yi Lei looked rugged in this drama. I liked the asymmetrical jacket that he wore but oversized shirt & pants drowned him as he was very lean.
5. Acting - I liked Wang Yi Lei and Zeng Xi Tang's acting in this drama.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Zhou father and son were evil.
2. Screentime - Typically in vertical dramas with FL seeking revenge, most of the screentime goes to FL planning & executing her revenge. Unfortunately this doesn't happen with this drama. I was dismayed that FL got a lot of screentime. I would have liked to see how ML come out with his revenge plan and why those people were targeted instead of FL's arc.
3. Wu Chun Yi - I understood that she was a Daddy's Little Princess but I didn't like her acting. Her facial expressions were not good so her acting was underwhelming.
4. Romance - There wasn't any chemistry between Wang Yi Lei & Wu Chun Yi. I didn't buy that ML really fell in love with FL because their relationshipnl was purely physical (well at least what was shown to us).
5. Repeat - I watched on iQIYI and scenes at the start of drama were repeated in the third act. Editing could be better by only giving glimpse of what transpired at the start of the drama.

Favourite scene
Makeout session on the sofa

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Intense Kept me Intrigued wondering what was going to happen

Interesting story - afraid to share how you feel b/c you might get hurt or get loved.not in return. I can see this happening in real. Same sex relationships haven't always been acceptable. I don't see this as a same sex issue, as much as being fearful f sharing how you feel. I can see how someone would be afraid to express their emotions for fear. For me, i was divorced and i liked /loved a few important peoplle but i was afraid of getting hurt so bad I wouldn't let anybody in. Its drags a good bit at times a lot. It could have been shorter and just as good. The relationships were tense, I kept wondering what would happen. It could go either way - I was waiting intently on finding out. to me, the intrigue of finding out was what kept me going. You have to watch it to find out what happed. There are much better series, the acting was ok, nothing stellar. OK not worth a rewatch

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crying my eyes out

the headline for this review was true for the first half of the series. i loved the story of when they were in elementery school. the friendship, followed by the jealousy, was greatly protrayed. the child actresses were really good! and then when they were in univeristy, the grief they had for Sanghak was very very emotional. 1.) when Eunjung ran away after hearing Kim Sanghak’s name, 2.) during the group trip when Kim Sanghak didn’t answer his phone and she thought he was dead, 3.) when Cheon Sangyeon saw the last photos taken by her brother for the first time, i cried a river. the emotions were very well delivered.

i enjoyed Kim Goeun’s acting when she was falling in love with Kim Sanghak, it was cute.

as for the second half, i lost interest because it was more slow-paced and what Sangyeon did to Eunjung was evil, and using the terminal illness card to ask for forgiveness was a no for me.

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I have never enjoyed a drama as much as this

Usually I watch drama for the male leads or female leads, unless it have very good recommendation in mdl. When I know this is Dylan Wang’s drama, I don’t plan to watch but my sis told me it’s very funny. She was only at episode 7 and keep talking non stop about it. So I decided to give it a try and it’s a no return. Started out as slapstick but managed to make me laugh so loud my neighbour came to find out what is happening. Yet, in the midst of all the laughters, Dylan’s acting captivated me. His eyes, his demeanors, or even his speech are all on point. Together with rest of the crew, this is one of the best drama I have watched in many many years.

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Looking for your next obsession?

Harmony Secret is a series you don’t want to miss. Every episode keeps you hooked from start to finish.The mix of rivalry and romance is so addictive.
Lookmhee & Sonya don’t just act, they live their roles. Their chemistry is so natural that sometimes it feels like you’re intruding on real moments rather than watching a scripted series. And that’s rare. Every scene between Mewika and Aiwarin is full of tension and emotion. Outstanding performances.
The scenes look beautiful and flow smoothly, the music hits just right, and it really makes you feel what the characters are feeling. Even the side characters are fun and interesting, adding to the story without stealing the show from Mewika and Aiwarin.
Honestly… this is THE GL of the year for me.

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A Worthy Match for Nirvana in Fire – And a Villain Who Refuses to Fall

This drama is a gem. I rate it a solid 10/10 for its gripping story, compelling characters, and flawless execution. It has everything – an intricate and layered plot, electrifying on-screen chemistry between the leads, a truly formidable villain, an outstanding cast, stunning costumes, breathtaking cinematography, lively set designs, and a beautifully composed soundtrack.

Chen Du Ling and Xin Yun Lai shine as the lead couple. Chen brings depth and vulnerability to Zhuang Han Yan, a girl wrongfully branded as the “barefoot devil” after a dubious Taoist priest blamed her for her grandfather’s death. Sent away to live with her father’s friend, she endures mistreatment at the hands of a mentally unstable guardian before finding her way back home. Yet her return is far from peaceful – her biological mother, the legitimate wife, wants her gone, and the priest resurfaces, threatening her life once again.

Enter Fu Yun Xi, deputy minister at the feared Investigation Bureau – an institution notorious for extracting confessions through torture. He pressures Han Yan to reveal the truth about her foster parents’ deaths, threatening to expose her involvement if she refuses. Throughout the series, he straddles the line between foe and ally – investigating her while secretly helping her. The tension between them is electric, their past shrouded in complexity. Is Fu Yun Xi truly her enemy, or is he the only one she can trust?

Once you press play, it is almost impossible to stop. At first, the villains seem clear – scheming concubines and their children – but soon, deeper layers unravel. The true mastermind is revealed as the adopted son of Pei, a once-powerful eunuch rumored to have hidden a vast fortune that vanished with his death. Tracking him down, gathering evidence, and bringing him to justice is no easy feat. He is one of the most challenging villains to defeat, and taking him down risks implicating many innocent lives.

This is what makes the drama so compelling – the moral dilemmas, the complexity of justice, and the sense that every decision comes at a cost.

I absolutely recommend this drama. Its current 8.3 rating on kisskh feels far too low for a production of this calibre – a score closer to 8.7 or even 9 would be much more fitting.

However, I find the English title 'The Glory' rather irrelevant and lacking the poetic resonance of the original. It feels somewhat disconnected from the essence of the story, as if chosen mainly to echo the success of other popular dramas. A title like 'The Return' would be far more fitting and much closer in spirit to the original Chinese title.

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Honestly...Idk if I can finish it

The show was so good the 1st half although they're were holes in the plot. But after she was discovered to not be the grand daughter the plot just imploded. To fit the ending of the story, it had some ridiculous plot. Like a man breaks into her house that she remembers as the person that kidnapped her but she still chases him. She then somehow got locked in the back of a truck and had no signal to call her friend but somehow got a call from the ML. The friend also just ran into the office of a CEO?? Also, the other jewelry company was a rival that threatened legal action but somehow she became the best person to marry?
Also, people say that she fights for her love but really she doesn't. She pathetically keeps pushing herself onto him although he rebuffed her so many times. In the beginning i though it was cute that she fell for him 1st but it got annoying after a point when they broke up and she could've leave him alone. Like gurlll stop calling him and crying. Cry on your own and move on. I don't know if I will finish but I'm really trying to push through without getting annoyed.

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