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A story with good potential ruined by bad writing and lot of plotholes
The only reason I watched this series is cz I like Chen's work so far. All of them have been pretty good. But this one just too bad. The story telling is terrible. Every second the version of the backstory keeps changing. The characters make no sense. If you're gonna come to my reply and explain the plot. That exactly means the story failed to explain the story to it's viewers. That people had to come and explain. Worst part is I've had people explaining me the plot but everyone told different things🤣🤣Now coming to the things that could be done better
- the eye cover for god sake that doesn't look real. You cover the patient's eyes cz you don't want them moving their eyeballs so it's usually secured with a pading and then wrapped with gauze
- the reason song comes to hongkong... to look for a godfather who left u in ur pre teens?? Hmm just didn't feel like a strong reason
- the story about the godfather. One minute it's like he left cz he fell for someone and had his own family. Another minute it's contract marriage and the next time u see he is basically a trash who was using young fei to get the mom
- fei's trauma is left unclear for super long. Like the triggers aren't understandable sometimes it was when he entered that room and the 2nd time was cz song left him?? Lacks clarity
- the mom - she claims to love fei but all that woman did was hurt him repeatedly.
- the senior - is she fei's friend or the mom's like girl made 0 sense and was pretty trashy for most of the series. 1 second she's shipping 2nd second helping mom get rid of song
- they hint that the senior knows about the mom's relationship with her mom and all those details n kinda about fei and all the reasons but then when song reveals things her reaction was like "oh my mom looked like she was missing someone. Now i know"
- song shows pictures of the moms and fei but then in the backstory that woman says they were separated even before fei was born
So yeah if you skip this i feel it'd be great. Saves u getting irritated. But yeah it's bearable not bad not good
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A Beautiful Autumn Story Full of Emotions and Outstanding Performances
I absolutely love Republican-era dramas, and The Lament of Autumn is definitely a must-watch! What an emotional rollercoaster this drama has been. I laughed, I cried, and there were so many moments that genuinely touched my heart.First of all, Cheng Lei! I honestly think Yu Changxuan is his best role so far. His acting was simply magnificent. The way he brought this character to life, the emotions he conveyed through his eyes, his expressions, and even the smallest gestures, everything felt so real. Especially at the beginning of the drama, his performance was incredibly intense. I was completely hooked and couldn’t wait for the next episodes to come out!
I also really loved Xu Ruohan as Ye Pingjun. She portrayed her character’s pain and emotional struggles so convincingly. You could really feel what she was going through, and I think she did a wonderful job.
And I have to mention Li Boren and Gu Ruitong! I absolutely loved these two. Such wonderful characters and such loyal brothers-in-arms to Yu Changxuan. Their friendship, loyalty, and the moments they shared made the story even more special.
Another thing I adored was the atmosphere of the drama. The beautiful autumn colors, cinematography, costumes, and music were all so well done. Everything came together to create this gorgeous, slightly melancholic autumn feeling that suited the story perfectly. I loved how the visuals and music made the emotional scenes even more powerful.
Overall, this drama gave me so many emotions, and that’s exactly what I love about a good story. The acting, the characters, the friendships, the romance, and the beautiful autumn atmosphere made it such a memorable experience.
Definitely one of my favorite Republican-era dramas, and I would absolutely recommend watching it!
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generic plot saved by the characters
The story itself is just a generic comedy/crime mystery and has very little unique elements to it. It doesn't do anything wrong though, it's just really straightforward. The good part of this show though is the characters. They provide a lot of the comedy and make the show fun to watch. Nishijima Hidetoshi does a really good job with his role, and i'd almost say this show is saved by him. Thats not to say the other characters are bad, but I found myself laughing at most scenes with Hidetoshi.In general this show's greatest saving point is that it has a really good balance between comedy and serious moments. The serious and dramatic moment's aren't anything special but they balance out the comedy aspects of the show in a good way.
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Review thus far, just finished episode 4
I saw edits of this drama on Instagram and the shapeshifter romantsy vibes really had me interested. I love the grandeur of the palace and the costumes. I haven’t read the webtoon and I’m sure the plot and script is flowing it very closely. Overall as a character, Rashta annoys me so much. The actress is doing a great job of portraying this helpless, ignorant, attention seeking girl. Completely makes sense why the character is acting the way she is. Not a fan of the character, the whining, crying, attention seeking, fit throwing if she doesn’t get her way is not appealing.Did anyone else notice that the empresses dress changed from the party speech to her on the dance floor?
very eager to keep watching and see the empresses romance unfold!
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The finale is narrative brutalism, though everything else is awesome!
Ok, so let me explain the narrative brutalism tidbit. There are certain objectives the author wanted to reach before the closing credits & I also wanted those objectives reached too & ultimately we got there. However every major plot plot point in the last episode just feels wrong.The main logic of time travel completely breaks down at a crucial time & honestly setting this up so that memories from time travels can be shared with other people at will could have been woven into the story early on, would have been a bit strange maybe, but with careful planning it could have been done. There is also the final scene with Kie, like seriously what the fork was that???
Anyway this whole thing feels like the author wrote the most compelling story they could have done & then just half assed the ending, because as always there is very little financial motivation to spend more time and mental effort on a well wrapped up ending, when neither viewership numbers nor product placement revenue will be impacted by the sloppy work. It's also hugely rushed, but that's just a minor complaint really, considering.
Almost everything else is excellent, if not for the ending this would've been the best GL I've ever seen. The main villain may be very low class & cartoon villainy, but they have so little screen time or plot relevance that this is more than okay.
Every character with plot relevance is an excellent casting choice, there is great chemistry between the leads & their romance is amazingly well told. It's also worth noting that the two characters with superpowers are actually using them frequently and in ways that make sense & are very plot relevant, as opposed to superpowers being gimmicks in the vast majority of Asian dramas, or they're just something to lose in the finale.
Alas the ending exists & with that in mind this is only the 3rd best GL I've seen, after Clairebell & `Love beyond Dreams`. Considering how juvenile & lacking in depth most GLs are, this is is still a gem.
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I NEVER FAIL - Dr Gye sujeong
When it comes to medical K-dramas, I've watched plenty. And while watching them all, I always ask the same question: how does this one stand out from the ones I've watched before? What's making _this_ one special?
This is probably the same question many are asking about *Doctor X: Mafia in White*.
As you already know, it's inspired by — or adopted from — the Japanese Doctor X. I don't want to use the word "remake" because it isn't the Japanese Doctor X. It's its own show with some similar themes.
*Preview:* Set in a private hospital known as Guseo, a hospital run by influential figures, it tells the story of a lone wolf, Dr. Gye Sujeong, who is recruited as a contract surgeon to help out the general surgery department due to a shortage of labour. She walks into the hospital with her combat boots on, ready to do her job, her skills and scalpel at hand.
Now, why does it stand out for me? What makes it special?
I'll start with the answer that's on the tip of my tongue: the female lead, *Dr. Gye Sujeong*, brought to life by Kim Jiwon.
Gye Sujeong is introduced to us as someone who is confident in her skills. She's blunt, direct, and bows to no authority. Her motto: *I NEVER FAIL*. She's like a super surgeon, fast and efficient, always wearing a blank look. Isn't she impressive?
But then you slowly get to know her and you realise she also likes to eat a lot. She's the kind to disguise herself to get a second serving at the cafeteria. Ahhh, she's cute too.
Then you're given a backstory and you realise she has her own wounds and vulnerabilities that shaped her as a person and as a doctor. She isn't just the invincible surgeon, but a human being coping with her own loss and trauma. And then you get an elaboration on her motto: I NEVER FAIL, not because I can't, but because I can't afford to. She's the kind to see it through to the end, even if it means she walks into that operation room on her own.
You can't convince me that a character like that isn't one I'll remember for a long time. Her name alone is imprinted on my mind. *DR. GYE SUJEONG!*
Another reason is the boldness of the writer. You know you can tell when a writer isn't playing it safe, and it's clear in this show. The social commentary. The way he points out the wrong. By that I mean the corrupt organisations that drive these hospitals, and doctors that bow to that power. The ignorant and unprofessional doctors that care about image but not their jobs. The hierarchy between patients, where social class determines how you get your medical treatment. The surgeons that walk into these operation theatres drunk. The ones that imprint their initials onto livers. The uncomfortable and messy side of hospitals and the people that work in them. The medical strikes and how they affect the patients and the work of the hospital. This show gives it to you on a platter, the uncomfortable and disgusting side. And honestly, it's needed.
Another would be the realistic setup. I'm not sure how to explain this, but it feels real and lived in. The way it actually feels like you are in a hospital. Nothing grand is happening, but cases are being worked on, doctors are fighting to save lives, some are slacking off, and more.
The flawed, grey characters. Like I said, this show gives you two sides, the good and the bad. It shows you doctors that are willing to leave it all or lay it all down for their patients, but also shows you the doctors that forgot their oaths. They work, but they aren't even sure why. Usually they would just be "villains," but the show tells you otherwise. They're a work in progress. They are people who lost their way and are slowly regaining their passion for their work. With a little push and nudge, they can be the doctors they swore to become. No one is evil, well, some are obviously, but some just lost their way. Those real, relatable human characters were the heart of the show.
The different stories. Each episode or two covered a different story, each leaving you with its own emotions and lessons to learn.
The walking us through the surgeries. I'm not a med student, but I love how most surgeries are briefed to us like we, the viewers, are part of this, all the way to when they operate. We are part of the entire process. It feels lived in.
The comedy that's unintentional, but it's really because of the fun characters. Dr. Gye Sujeong, the intern Park Taegeong, Dr. Kim, Dr. Jo Wonjin, Mrs. Jang and more. The comic timing was absolutely amazing, in that a show that would have strictly been serious made me laugh a ton of times.
The acting was nothing short of perfect, thanks to the wonderful ensemble.
I am glad I gave the show a chance and decided to watch it, because honestly, I don't regret it ever. We still have the finale left, and I'll be sure to wrap up my review next. But if you're looking for yet another fun, thrilling medical K-drama, you should add this to your list.
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What a different kind of show- keeps me guessing in a good way
First the genre is refreshing since it's kind of the Xianxia but no immortals, but has dragons, demons and some sort of cultivator.At the first half of the show I never knew who was the antagonist and who was the protagonist, it really cycled through almost all the main characters and that in itself is remarkable. Even towards the end, I kept guessing who was going evil. And I also kept guessing who was going to die but it was a happy one in the end.
The story is very emotional and lots of good messages. All the actors did so well emoting and I was really tearing up in so many areas. They all play a variety of characters too!
There's a lot of twists and turns and unlike other dramas which give me more whiplash with their changes- this one's execution is more subtle and it's like all the elements were already there but you're just learning more of the pieces as you go on. More like this is a mystery that you start off in the middle of and then you're piecing together puzzle pieces.
However my one gripe with the show is that it's too slow paced. You can watch it in 1.25x and it would still be in slow mo. So instead of 29 episodes, it really could have been like 24. Kind of similar speed as in Journey to You. So even though I loved watching it and it was very heartwarming to watch, it look me more than half a year to finish it. One of the shows where other shows got to be too much anxiety and I would come back to this show which has steadier feels.
I was mainly drawn into Ji Ling and LWY's romance since it was so cute. The other romance was less interesting to me.
This show's actual protagonist has Voldemort style kind of vibe. Which along with some of the time travel mechanisms could get drawn out for some viewers. But I thought it was still pretty refreshing though I will admit that I didn't fully understand all the subtleties in one run through.
Then the OST and all the soundtracks were amazing! They're all more on the epic or emotional side (without being too soft and sappy like some). And Flower Scales is one of my favourite songs. Also the cinematography and outfits are very pretty, just a bit too much slo mo.
Anyways, this is a great show. Sometimes the going can be really slow (literally took me 7 months to finish) but I really loved the messages, the mysteries uncovered, the romance, the acting and the music! Give this a try.
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A fun, over-the-top, twisty soap opera with great chemistry
==Breakdown==Background plot - 60%
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - A soap opera, but a lot of fun
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - Good
This was a super fun watch and I recommend it to anyone who wants a face-paced historical drama with lots of plot twists, where the heroine outsmarts everyone. The chemistry between these two was quite good. I loved both leads and look forward to whatever they have coming out next.
There's not much else to say. It's a good time and it's not that deep.
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A Nice Little Nightmare for a Saturday Watch
First things first: I need to gently break some news. Dead-End Job isn't a movie. It's an eight-episode Netflix series. I know, I know. You sat down for a quick 90-minute scare and accidentally signed up for a whole weekend binge. Honestly, that's the most relatable horror of all.The premise is beautiful in its simplicity: Byeon Hyeok-jun (Lee Jae-wook) is drowning in debt, because apparently making terrible investment decisions is his actual full-time job. Just when dignity has left the chat, he finds the a shifty employment agency offering part-time work at 50 times the minimum wage. Fifty. Times. The only rule? Never talk about what happens during your shift. That's not a red flag; that's the whole communist parade.
So off he goes. Night shift at a convenience store? Haunted, obviously. A clown gig where the rule is "never lose sight of the clown"? Sir, I lose sight of my own keys daily. A milk delivery route paying 200 times minimum wage? At that point, just hand the ghost your soul and a loyalty card.
Here's where it gets fun: the show is genuinely creepy, but it's also funny. I'm talking laugh-at-the-absurdity-one-second, jump-out-of-your-skin-the-next funny. One reviewer perfectly described it as "laughing at what was happening on screen, only to get startled by a jump scare right after". That's the whole vibe. It's not trying to traumatize you; it's trying to mess with you like a friend who hides behind a corner. Rude, but you respect the commitment.
And can we talk about Lee Jae-wook? The man carries this entire series on his financially ruined back. His comic timing is chef's kiss — the way his face cycles through "I need this money," "what is that sound," and "I should have stayed in debt" is genuinely art. He makes the supernatural feel believable because his reaction to a ghost is exactly how I'd react to a ghost: screaming, then checking if the pay was worth it. It wasn't. But he stayed anyway. Relatable king.
It's not a masterpiece. The CGI is... there. Some episodes drag. But it's exactly what you said: nice. Like a good Saturday watch. Not "cancel your plans" great. Not "demand a refund" bad. Just a weird, creepy, oddly charming little show that knows it's a weird, creepy, oddly charming little show. It's the television equivalent of finding a twenty in an old coat pocket: unexpected, pleasant, and gone before you know it.
So yes. It wasn't great. It wasn't terrible. It was just... nice. And sometimes, nice is exactly enough.
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Where the Mask Ends: A Compelling Female Lead and a Story Worth Telling
I really liked *Where the Mask Ends*. And I don't think there's necessarily a problem with an adaptation being different from its source novel. An adaptation is based on the novel; it isn't necessarily a retelling of it. You can have two different versions of a story, and both can be fine. You don't have to have an adaptation that is exactly like the novel. You just need one that doesn't insult it, which I think this one successfully achieved, even though it was quite different.**Wei Rao is a very compelling female lead.**
I particularly liked the grit they showed in her character, even from childhood. Some people complain that she seems to know everything: business, politics, manipulation and so on. But I don't think she actually knows everything. What she understands is how to manipulate people's hearts. She seems to have a natural understanding of people's desires and weaknesses, and how to provoke them or twist her words to get what she wants.
And this makes sense considering her upbringing. Unlike most children who grow up with their parents' protection, she was scheming for survival from a very young age. Her adoptive mother saved her life but didn't love her, while her father was an abusive gambler who saw her as something to trade.
Yet, despite everything, she remained deeply hungry for family affection. That's why she returned after being rescued from the grave, not just because she didn't want her younger sister to suffer the same fate.
I think this is one of the things that makes her interesting. She is ambitious and selfish, often ruthless, but she is also genuinely kind. She wants to help people, but she's perfectly fine with using people too. And I don't think those qualities contradict each other. You can be kind and selfish at the same time.
Wei Rao helps people partly because it builds her power, but also because she genuinely hates oppression. Seeing other people oppressed is a reminder of her own painful past, which she hates. So yes, her kindness is partly rooted in her selfishness, but that doesn't make it any less genuine.
**Her character is also remarkably consistent.**
I don't quite agree with the argument that the story changes direction dramatically between the first and second halves, moving from her struggles as an impostor to a revenge story.
I don't see a huge shift. Wei Rao has always been petty, revenge-minded and ruthless. She simply didn't have much room to pursue revenge in the first half. Even then, she did what she could. She hit back when she could, retaliated when she could, and when she was raped, she didn't just retaliate physically; she made sure her attacker died.
She didn't suddenly become a different person. I would say she experiences more character growth than character transformation. Her circumstances, resources and influence expand, but who she is at her core remains largely unchanged.
Even before becoming a substitute bride, she was already cultivating relationships and scrambling to gain what she could, from an old nanny, a poor scholar, a retired prostitute. These seemingly small pieces of knowledge eventually helped her survive.
So I don't find her ability to think quickly in difficult situations particularly unbelievable. When she became a substitute bride without preparation, she immediately considered how to protect her family and secure the best possible position for herself, even without knowing whether she would survive the marriage. She was always observing, learning and looking for whatever advantage she could obtain.
I also understand why some people find the revelation of her noble birth off-putting. But I don't think the story makes her abilities a consequence of noble blood. Rather, it shows that though she was born a noble, being forced to live among common people shaped who she was. Her empathy comes from her experiences, not some inherent superiority. I actually think that's a pretty sensible way of handling the revelation.
**I also disagree that the male lead is one-dimensional.**
I think people overlook something when they say he blindly follows Wei Rao and supports all her schemes simply because he loves her. Whenever he schemes with her, he usually gains something from it.
Yes, he consistently chooses to support her, and his feelings make him more forgiving and tolerant of her. But that doesn't mean he's foolishly gambling his future for a woman.
First, he trusts her character. He knows she isn't going to plot to murder the king he is supposed to serve. Second, he shares her principles, particularly her desire for peace and prosperity. And third, their enemies overlap.
Han Liao was already his sworn enemy because he had schemed to have him killed through a treasonous act of betrayal. Even if he had used different methods, the fight would still be on.
Because our ML respects and admires her, he is willing to work with her methods, which actually turn out quite well most of the time. So no, I don't think his support is simply blind romantic devotion. There are shared interests, principles and mutual respect involved.
**The political conflicts also make more sense than some people give them credit for.**
I also got tired of Han Liao surviving. But the story eventually lets us know that the Empress Dowager protects him because he is the most capable member of her maternal family. The younger generation of the Han family was largely mediocre, while Han Liao was the one person capable of preserving the family's influence and glory.
Once that is established, his repeated survival makes considerably more sense. That said, understanding why he is repeatedly protected doesn't necessarily make watching him survive yet another confrontation less tiring.
And when your enemies include the Emperor's mother, her maternal family and his sons, the princes, bringing them down is hardly straightforward. They didn't simply execute one clever scheme and defeat everyone. They gradually undermined their enemies through successive political manoeuvres.
I also liked that the story continued exploring Wei Rao's life after she reclaimed her position. In real life, you don't defeat one enemy and suddenly have no more problems. Different circumstances create different conflicts, and new adversaries emerge. I thought this was a natural continuation of her story.
**Her relationship with her family is another thing I think people misunderstand.**
Some viewers seem to interpret her inability to completely sever certain family relationships as excessive forgiveness or softness. I see it differently.
Wei Rao has always been hungry for family affection. She desperately wants the family bonds and sense of belonging she was denied growing up. That doesn't necessarily mean she is attached to every family member in the same way or that she is willing to accept whatever they do. But she isn't foolish about maintaining those relationships. She doesn't simply forgive everyone and allow herself to be exploited. She's strategic about maintaining those relationships and maximises whatever benefits she can obtain.
Her treatment of her father shows that she's perfectly capable of being ruthless towards family when necessary. You can call her emotionally attached, but I wouldn't call her foolish. Even describing her as soft-hearted is stretching it a little. She cannot let go of the family bonds she still wants, but she's certainly not naive about it.
**Final thoughts**
Is the story perfectly written? No. There are things that could have been handled better, but I don't think its imperfections are so fundamentally illogical that they undermine the story.
I would have loved a more conclusive ending, but I also understand why they left it open-ended. Leaving us to imagine how far her ambition might take her is arguably more meaningful than tying everything up neatly.
Ultimately, I enjoyed *Where the Mask Ends* because I think it understood its female lead. Wei Rao was never an innocent, helpless girl who suddenly became a ruthless political mastermind. She was a survivor who had always been observing, learning, scheming and fighting for whatever advantage she could secure.
The difference is that, as the story progresses, she finally acquires the power, resources and leverage to make those small advantages count on a much larger scale.
A compelling female lead in a very enjoyable drama!
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Almost an anti-BL. Some might find this healing.
It is a very short series, but the slowburn here is so subtle I would call it almost an anti-BL.The fire does not comes here, not even trhu frictioning sticks and hay; but there is warmth from the summertime, food sighting, spring water, beach walking, handwriting and stair climbing.
The angst is minimal but pungent and the homoerotic tension is non existent. It is essentially contemplative and chaste as a child gifting a flower to their relative on the way back home. It is also stereotypically japanese in its politness and personal formality.
Some might find this healing.
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Extremely watchable and refreshing romcom
==Breakdown==Background plot- 30%
Romance - 45%
Misc comedy - 25%
Background plot - Refreshing and new, good
Romantic chemistry - Really good
Misc comedy - Pretty good
Production value and direction - Pretty good
I really liked this one. It was a so, so good during the first 6 episodes; I was absolutely glued to the screen. But the series wobbled and ultimately fumbled the ending. The ending wasn't bad at all, but it lacked the impressive balance of introspection and spontaneousness of the earlier episodes. The spontaneous/freshness fizzled and it ended too carefully, where everything felt extremely tidy and everyone was excessively reasonable, which was a disappointment. They were cute together at the end, which was nice, but not what the earlier episodes felt like it was building toward.
Anyway, worth watching overall.
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Middle-school play production level.
Wow... this is so amateurish bad and obnoxious you can't feel nothing but cringe hard. Middle-school play level of acting and writing. Total garbage, sorry.Every female character is cartoonishly evil. The editing overuses slow-motion entrances and multiple angles of no importace. The nonsensical plot feels like a flimsy excuse to show off guys who look like walking ads for state-of-the-art plastic surgery procedures. And most of them can’t act. But if that’s all you’re after, just watch the BTS show instead. There are plenty of man boobs there.
In short, there are just too many BLs out there to discover, so I’m dropping this one and moving on.
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They Did This Themselves
My boys have done amazing! I am absorbed! The acting from everyone is great, the scenes mesh, the details are on point, the editing is smooth, the level of commitment and care that they put into their series is fantastic! This is only their second series after setting out on their own. They even had a scandal in between series and they still got big names in it and still produced a series of higher quality than half of what the big names produce!! Wars acting will never be subpar and their chemistry will always smack. I hope they get a massive return on this so we can have J&J S2!!!Was this review helpful to you?
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No Love
I can only see that there is no true love nowadays and the story tells that people can change anytime and cheat with loved ones and the person who loves will be cheated. In the story also the Mi Do get's feelings and butterflies form new male and why i that , is this because 10 years love is not enough with person and want to sleep with another person. Sorry to say this by seeing this drama people will not love anyone and start doubting about true love. In some stories we see that people die for love but what are we seeing nowadays only cheating.A story should be something like giving Hope to love and never give up and that is how future should be and not like having feelings for every new person who comes and goes in life and tat is not a life and true love.
Situations can come and go and problems can come and go and past is only a past not future. We have to live for our life and not for anyone else's. the hero didn't Make mistake from childhood and why he as to suffer and should be blamed why?
This story was really pathetic and i don't want to blame on the actor because that is there work.
Please love your soulmate and Have hope in true love 💕 Never give up ❤️ fight for your love.
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