Reviews

siblings and kind of toxic

The psudo-siblings aspect weirded me out from the beginning. Also, throughout, it seemed like he'd be reminded of them as being together when they were younger, as playmates. I think because he knew she wasn't his sister and she ended up knowing pretty soon after he wasn't her blood brother, i can see it more like friend of the family who grew up with me vibes, but anyway...

Jin Zhao keeping himself and his injuries from her for SIX YEARS is actually insane. The only redemption in that is that he had supposedly planned a life for them together in building and running the cafe, but even still, she was unaware of that. She forgave him too quickly and there was no communication about how moving forward TOGETHER would look. Yes, she was 20 when his injury/accident happened, but she also had the right to make up her own mind, not have it made up for her. I was so annoyed that we didn't really get this fleshed out.

I'm glad it ended happy and honestly the chemistry was so good, but is she either your younger sister you're protecting or the love of your life who you want to live by your side in both easy and hard times?

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Definitely worth the watch!

I can understand where a lot of people are coming from with the ai aspect but there's so many bls and dramas in general where they have to use it because of the low budget. Yes, it's bad but it's not like we can fly over to Asia and stop them. I personally just skip a scene i can tell is ai. If the plot is good then it has my watch.

Besides the ai, it's honestly so good. I've easily grown attached to the 2 main leads when i was only on episode 4. The chemistry is there and the music choices (sadly just found out that most if not all songs, are ai) are perfect as well. The only downside so far would be the zombies.. as someone who loves the zombie apocalypse trope, some of these zombies are lacking hard 😭. Anyways, i hope they'll be able to end it off right without leaving open endings or rushing it because i love it.

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A comforting watch

Found my way to Road Home because of The Early Spring. All I can say is, Jing Bo Ran I was not familiar with your game.

This was such a comfort watch. First off, TSY delivers as always. She's such a joy in every single drama. The revelation to me was JBR. Compared to TES, here we see JBR's subtle acting. This man has RANGE!!! I'm now officially a fan.

Overall, amazing, amazing acting from both leads, great story/writing, and great pacing. Some might find it too slow but I thought it was very similar to You Are My Glory. Just a natural unfolding of the daily lives of the main characters.

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Very similar to The Most Beautiful Count, but like a downgraded version.

Okay, I like the setting, the costumes, and the main cast is definitely handsome. The overall intent of the story is also fine. But I can't deny that there are a lot of things that could have been done better—and honestly, I'm not even sure if the problem is the execution or if the story itself just isn't that appealing.

Since last year, we've been getting quite a few period BLs: I Feel You Linger in the Air, Memoir of Rati, Love in the Moonlight, and The Most Beautiful Count. This year, we also have Edge of Horizon and Love Destiny. With so many period dramas around, I can't help but compare Love Upon a Time to them.

And honestly, this story feels very similar to The Most Beautiful Count, but like a downgraded version.

A sudden meteor appears, you get thrown back into the past, and suddenly you're living the life of your past self while trying to figure out what happened, who murdered your past self, and why. Then, of course, you start falling in love with your best friend. Hmm...

The main cast is good, and I think they are doing their best with the material. But I keep asking myself: why was this released when other, stronger period BLs are still fresh in people's minds?

The similarities to The Most Beautiful Count are hard to ignore. Even the settings felt very familiar. I really wish the production had taken more time to find different locations or create a more distinctive visual identity instead of using settings that have already appeared in so many period dramas.

For me, this series needed more time before being produced and released. It doesn't feel timely, and it doesn't bring enough freshness to the genre.

The pacing is also a major issue for me. It's too slow, too dragging, and there are moments where the story feels like it's taking too long to get somewhere.

Overall, I like the cast, costumes, and the idea behind the story. But the execution isn't quite there for me. It feels like a series that needed more development, a stronger identity, and better timing before being released.

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Truly Beautiful Bones!

My goodness, I cannot believe how beautifully this tragic story was told. I put off watching this because I’d heard that there wasn’t a happy ending and I’d have to watch a modern drama to get their HEA. I hate I waited so long to watch this because as much as I love a HEA I do love a good love story. And this drama is a labor of love whether it be blood relatives, found family, or romantic love it’s all there and it’s hard to watch their bittersweet end but it’s worth it.

Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lin were perfect choices to lead this cast, honestly I don’t have any complaints about anyone’s performance here. Liu Weiwei, the actress who plays Shiyi’s mother puts on a masterclass of feminine strength and motherly devotion that kind stole the show for me - loved her scenes as much as I loved the main couple’s scenes.

This is my first CDrama starring Ren Jia Lin and it won’t be my last. The man is an actor and I truly enjoyed his portrayal of the general as goes from unsure to embracing his feelings for Shiyi! His inability to compromise in the face of guilt and familial duty meant that he ultimately failed his found family and faithful companions in the end. But loved that in a tragic way Shiyi was the “hero” in the end and does her duty in service of those she loves.

Even the characters that felt outlandish in their portrayal were perfect for the overly villainous characterizations. The best “villain” was definitely Yang Zhou, I could never truly understand his motivations and how he was written was how they should’ve written Liu Zixing, the Crown Prince. I’m loathed to blame the lackluster feel of the Liu Zixing on Wang Xingyue because I KNOW that young man can act. The character had no gravitas and was outshined by every villain he shared a scene with. And what made him so obsessed with Shiyi? They didn’t explore his character’s motivations at all beyond his complex about being demoted to the spare. And to make her a concubine after all that?! Honestly, it’s a small victory for me that she didn’t even up being his legal wife.

If I could change one thing about this it would be how easy the dumb villains brought down the mighty general, Chen Zhousheng. I cried and felt soo much heartache leading up to episodes 22-23 that how quickly it all ended felt like a huge disappointment. The pacing up to the final episodes felt perfect but those two episodes felt rushed and it’s why I couldn’t rate this a perfect 10. The final 20 minutes of episode 24 the show regained it’s emotional edge. That nostalgic yet poignantly heartbreaking flash forward at the end kept this a top-tier viewing experience.

I plan to read the book’s translation after I watch Forever and Ever. I loved every minute of this even when I was sobbing like someone I loved passed. I gave this a rewatch value of 10 but like the 2007 film Atonement this is too emotionally devastating to ever watch again. 😭

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This one was actually pretty cute. 🌸🤍 It took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I enjoyed the story and the characters more.
It wasn’t a new favorite for me, but it had some sweet, funny and emotional moments that made it worth watching. 🥹✨
7/10 from me! 💕📺

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THIS IS LITERALLY WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR OMG

waiting every week for an ep is torture but whatever.

I love how they tell this story in such a non linear way tho, like how We live in time by Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, and it's SOOO refreshing to me

And I love how you can clearly see the chemistry between the Williest as Dean and Moth in this show. The acting IS TOP TIER and I absolutely love BarcodeKin as Ten and Pun, arguably winning my heart over now omg.

The idea of reg flag characters are sort of given in a more realistic setting instead of the Mafia and the cheater and the abuser trope, like we can see that they have flaws that they're trying to fix and I'm okay with that 😭

anyway EVERYONE WATCH THIS SHOW

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A writer, A ghost, A fan

2016–17 kdramas were really something else 🫶🏻 There’s a certain kind of peace you get after finishing a drama like this... I don’t know, something about newer dramas just feels like it’s missing.

Drama: Chicago Typewriter (2017)
Episode: 16
Genre: Romance, Political, Fantasy, History
kisskh: 8.6
Personal rating: 9/10
1-line summary — A writer, a ghost, a fan 😆

I have been dropping new dramas left and right lately, so I thought, why not go back and watch an older one? And wow… this one was definitely worth a try.

Not gonna lie, I was kinda regretting starting this at first 😭 The plot just wasn’t hitting for me.. I kept wondering why this drama had so much praise when the story felt like it was going nowhere 😭 But after a few episodes, I got hooked and suddenly I was way too invested.... When they started showing the backstory, I was literally crying so much... Thank God it has a happy ending 💖

Yoo Ah-in as the male lead… I genuinely miss watching him act. I really hope he gets a chance to return to acting someday. And the female lead??? I literally developed a crush on her ☺️

Second male lead — 10/10. No arguments.

After so long, I finally watched a drama that made me realise why I love K-dramas.. Maybe I’m just nostalgic, but seriously… they don’t make dramas like this anymore.

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"What do you talk about with your husband every day?" "I have a cat."

Naruse Mikio explored a post WWII marriage where neither spouse was fulfilled and just treading water in Repast. The film was based on an unfinished book by Hayashi Fumiko with the studio wanting a “happy ending.” Fair warning, a happy ending for 1951 may have a different outlook than 2026.

Michiyo and her husband Hatsunosuke have been married for five years, three of which have been in Osaka. Michiyo misses Tokyo with her family and familiar surroundings and even the chance to work. Her days are a repetitive cycle of cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Her husband works long hours and his most scintillating idea of a conversation starter is “I’m hungry.” When his 20-year-old niece, Satoko, comes to stay with them running away from an unwanted marriage offer, the household is turned upside down. Satoko does what she wants when she wants and Hatsunosuke spends money entertaining her that they don’t have. He is very physically and emotionally affectionate with his niece, something Michiyo does not receive from him. When things finally come to a head, Michiyo escorts his niece back to Tokyo, not knowing if she will ever return home.

Repast showed the daily mindless drudgery so many housewives dealt with following WWII. Michiyo’s life was contained largely within the walls of her house and a few doors down with some neighbors. She’d sold almost anything of value she owned with the exception of her Shamisen. The young cat that visited was her sanity saver. Hatsunosuke’s daily life was no picnic. He worked long hours, but was also able to buy meals out and drink on occasion. The couple had fallen into survival mode, in a relentless, redundant, lifeless existence. Satoko’s entrance shook up the status quo as much as Michiyo’s trip to Tokyo. The big city wasn’t exactly brimming with employment opportunities for men, much less women. And Hatsunosuke discovered that Michiyo wasn’t sitting around eating bon bons at home when he was left to his own devices in the household.

Michiyo and Hatsunosuke were both good people. For 1951 Hatsunosuke was a prize husband. He worked, didn’t run around on Michiyo even when given numerous chances, he wasn’t abusive, and he wasn’t stupid enough to gamble on their future with unsavory business types. Yet somehow the marriage appeared to be more of a business transaction than loving partnership. Michiyo’s sense of isolation and lack of purpose drained her of any joy. Her friends’ envy of her marriage made no sense to her, but then again, she was childless and not living with in-laws or trying to find a job that would provide a living like her single friends. Both spouses had to learn that maybe their lives and places in it weren’t as bad as they thought. Worth a viewing if you are a fan of Naruse or Hara Setsuko.

22 September 2026

Restoration note: The Criterion Channel has restored the film beautifully.

Writer’s note: Screenwriter Tanaka Sumie’s next collaboration with Naruse was a film I enjoyed more—Lightning (1952).

Creepy note: I found the overly tactile relationship between uncle and niece disquieting, especially since Hatsunosuke never tenderly touched Michiyo so it wasn’t like he was generally a physically demonstrative fellow. Maybe he had been with Michiyo at one time as she had married him against her family’s wishes. Regardless, it was a little disturbing.

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Deep In: An Extremely Intriguing Psychological Drama

Deep In follows Zhang Zhun (Shu Yuan), a struggling actor finally getting his shot at a leading role, who lands the film "Deep In" and gets pulled into a relationship with Zhen Xin (Ollie), an already-established star. Within the film, Zhang Zhun plays Gao Zhun, a deeply troubled patient, opposite Zhen Xin as Fang Chi, his psychiatrist, an unethical dynamic built on dependency and emotional manipulation. As the filming blurs into their real relationship, Zhen Xin's intrusive behavior sends things spiraling between the both of them to the point where neither of them can tell which feelings belong to the characters and which belong to themselves.

This drama has changed my entire perspective on dramas/BLs. Everything I thought I knew about my own taste has changed after this. I usually don't care for or dislike certain tropes such as: infidelity, SA-victim storylines, anything overly toxic because they're rarely done well. I tried a few Chinese BLs before this one, and they weren't to my taste either, so I'd basically written off the genre for myself. Then this drama proved me wrong.

What stood out to me is how the show handled tropes I normally don't like. The difference between other shows I've disliked for these same tropes and this one is in how it's handled . Deep In is unapologetically toxic and doesn't try to dull anything down, but at the same time, it acknowledges that toxicity and actually sits with it instead of dismissing it. The show never lets its characters easily off the hook for their behavior, which makes the whole characters blurring thing even more interesting. The scene where Zhang Zhun talks to Gao Zhun through the mirror gave me goosebumps. You can really see how blurred the line between the actors and their characters had become.

CHARACTERS
- Zhang Zhun — An actor low on opportunities who finally gets to act in a queer film. He already has a girlfriend, yet he can't control his feelings for Zhen Xin. Raised by his grandmother, he's terrified of disappointing his loved ones, and that fear stays with him and influences his thoughts a lot.
- Zhen Xin— A well-known actor who had already met Zhang Zhun before and was interested in him. He falls hard for MC and doesn't care about the consequences. Like Zhang Zhun, he also has a girlfriend, though his relationship with her is far more shallow.
- Gao Zhun— A rape victim carrying deep trauma. He goes to see his girlfriend's ex, a therapist, starts treating him as a safety net and becomes very co-dependent on him.
- Fang Chi — A psychiatrist treating Gao Zhun, who torn between his desire for his patient and his professional ethics.

None of them are green flags. They're all problematic in their own ways, which makes them more compelling.

ACTING
Ollie and Shu Yuan each had to play multiple characters. You can really separate all four characters, and the way they perform each character's struggles and pain is simply fantastic. I can't believe this is their debut show.

OVERALL
This has become my top BL of all time, surpassing all of my old #1 favorites. This show has opened my eyes to what a true 10/10 feels like. There's absolutely nothing I would change about it. It's perfect to me and has no flaws. With every other 10/10 I've given, there's always a thing or two I don't fully love, but not here. It's a superior 10/10. I'd give it a higher score if I could.

I will say you kinda have to turn off the morality brain to truly see the beauty behind this show. There's manipulation, infidelity, non-consensual acts, a doctor-patient relationship, co-dependency, and a bunch of other dark topics. It's both morally and ethically problematic, but that's part of what makes it so fascinating to sit with and watch. This is a deeply psychological drama that needs to be watched until the very end to fully understand how the actors' relationship, the "in-film" dynamics, and problematic topics blend in with each other. Truly an unforgettable show!

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