Reviews

A Female Super Woman we can say!!

This series isn't a super-duper hit for me, but the sentiments carried throughout the story were what really stayed with me.

What I liked most was how the team never saw themselves as being above the law. Their mindset was simply that they were there to finish what should have been done in the first place, and that was carried well throughout.

The female lead handled her role beautifully, especially the way she balances being a loving mother while also being a killer. It's almost like watching two completely different personalities, yet she manages to make both sides feel natural. Her cute little family added so much warmth too.

And the child actress absolutely won our hearts! Her responses were so apt, and her acting was genuinely adorable.

The husband's reaction when he found out about his wife was everything. It wasn't exaggerated or unnatural—it was very carefully crafted and felt believable.

So, not a 100% must-watch, but definitely a lightweight drama with some action, family drama, and very, very mature romance and love. It was well carried for sure.

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Refreshing tale of entrepreneurship with ML points of view

I came across Pan Yi Hong's name in the cast list of Against the Current. I wanted to check out his work before starting that long-form drama so I chose Royal Upstart. It was a great choice!

What I liked:
1. Writing - Usually mini dramas are focused on FL's perspectives but this drama focuses on ML's perspectives and his professional goals. Refreshing. Some scenes are heartwarming too.
2. ML characterisation - He was smart because he transmigrated from modern world. He got good business acumen & I particularly liked that he offered employment to marginalised group.
3. Supporting characters - I was intrigued by Yan Ling Luo as I couldn't tell her allegiance. I liked ML's father - kind man. Other characters that I liked are ML's assistant and the emperor. FL's assistant was loyal servant.
4. Dynamics - I must say I liked ML-Ling Luo dynamics more than ML-Jiang Yun. There was sexual tension between the first pair. I think Ling Luo was attracted to ML because she had intellectually stimulating conversations with him.
5. Comedy - Some scenes were really funny. Lighthearted overall.
6. Acting - Pan Yi Hong, Fan Meng & Yuan Zhi Ying were good in their role.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - The Han father-son duo were conniving & greedy.
2. Su family - There were selfish & pathetic. The matron always looked down on ML. ML's bride Ms Su was stupid for agreeint to her mother & crush. I also disliked that arrogant male cousin.
3. Romance - It felt forced because I never got the vibe that ML was romantically interested in FL.

Favourite scene
When Ling Luo proposition ML

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Refreshing Plot

As we all know, CBLs are very well known for their toxic + dark-flag plots, but this one literally approached it in a completely different way. I really have so much respect for the company for taking the risk of exposing the “BTS of a drama” setting, because most of the time, they just want to show us the finished product, the “performance.” But what’s actually happening behind the curtain? Well… that’s the real deal. 🌚 It genuinely made me contemplate a lot about how real something like this could actually be in real life.

And just like the title itself, the story is full of layers, to the point where even we, as the audience, don’t know what’s real and what’s fictional anymore 😅​ And the aftermath of this series left me feeling so confused because of the chemistry between the characters and the cast. I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but looking through the comments made me feel safe, and one user caught my attention, "That's where he wanna be" so yeah, I guess that's it then 😂🙌🏻

Looking back at it, this series really makes you wonder about the difference between reality and the fictional universe. The fact that the ending literally left me utterly speechless, as the way it makes you think you understand the plot so well, only for the drama to be like, “Hold my glass.” 😊😭

For me, this series would be even more enjoyable if you watched it from multiple different perspectives, because each perspective can give you a fresh interpretation of the story and make you notice things you might have missed before. It’s one of those series where the more you think about it, the more questions you somehow end up with. 😂🫠

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Frustrating Yet Relatable: A Deep Dive into Toxic Asian Parenting and Child Resilience

This drama tells the story of two families, the Cao and Qi families, whose fates are inextricably intertwined—a bond that stems from a major tragedy in their lives.

While the main themes of family and growing up are quite common, what sets this drama apart is the character of Qi Shi, played by Guan Xiaotong, who is an albino. I have never encountered an albino character in any drama or movie before. Through this show, I gained a deep understanding of the struggles they face.

The drama maintains a steady pace. Conflicts are resolved directly and to the point without dragging on, and every issue is well-explored. If you're looking for romance, this might not be the right choice for you. As listed on kisskh, its genres are Drama and Family, so the emphasis is strictly on family dynamics.

Honestly, I really appreciate how this drama challenges us to stop romanticizing poverty and hardship. It portrays them as real obstacles that genuinely hold people back, rather than romanticized experiences that magically make you stronger, as many clichés suggest.

That said, Qi Shi's character is a true fighter, and there’s a lot we can learn from her. On the other hand, Cao Xin—who suffers the most from his parents' reckless decisions—turns out to be the most understanding and mature character of all.

I was thoroughly frustrated by Qi Shi’s parents, who embody typical toxic Asian parenting: a dominant mother and a passive father. The father constantly allows his wife to express her love in toxic ways. Yelling at your child when you should be praising them is never the right approach. Their parents, especially the mother, are incredibly self-centered and lack self-awareness. She firmly believes she made the best decisions at the time and expects everyone to understand and appreciate her efforts.

I genuinely disliked the mother. Even though the story keeps reminding us that she has a soft heart deep down, what good is that if she can’t express it and ends up hurting everyone with her harsh words and sky-high ego?

At first, I also disliked Cao Xin’s passive father. However, by the end, I grew to respect him. Out of all the adults, he was the only one who genuinely felt guilty and was willing to apologize to his child. He swallowed his pride completely just to ask for his child's forgiveness.

This drama is frustrating yet compelling to watch. It irritated me because it reflects how many real-life parents still don't know how to communicate with their children—often guilt-tripping them just to avoid admitting their own mistakes.

Ultimately, this show made me realize even more that children are truly the most forgiving beings.

However, I have to say that the chemistry between Guan Xiaotong and Wang Ziqi is absolutely top-tier. It's such a shame that their romantic screentime was so limited. Every single interaction between them felt heartwarming and gave me butterflies, even though their relationship was never officially made explicit. Given that the drama doesn't focus on romance, I tried to be understanding. But honestly, if their romance had been explored just a bit further, I definitely would have given this drama a higher rating. It feels like a missed opportunity to not fully leverage such overpowered chemistry.

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Really enjoyable

I liked this show. I liked the plot, the acting, the production, and my favourite part was the cinematography of some scenes. I liked the concept of it and how the storylines were executed. It's not my favourite BL drama of all time, but it was definitely good, and I enjoyed watching it. Some characters pissed me off at times, like Eun Ji at certain points and Jun Pyo whenever he would meddle in moments between Ji Hyeon and Jae Won. And ESPECIALLY TAE HYUNG. The way he literally egged Jae Won on, and when Jae Won retaliated (rightfully so), he immediately played the victim? Yeah, no. But at least they made up in the end (I personally would never forgive a "friend" for that, but I guess Jae Won is just better than me). I absolutely LOVED Ae Ri. She was such a good friend to Ji Hyeon, always sticking up for him and being by his side. I loved her. I also LOVED Ji Hyeon's boss. She was such a good "mother" figure to him and was always there to give advice, comfort him, or cheer him up. I loved her so much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this drama. Again, it's not my absolute favourite, but I would probably come back and rewatch this at some point.

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Recommendable

I love that the ML is already OP. This is something i have not yet seen in a kdrama . I enjoy the pace of the show.


Something so different yet so captivating.


The casting on this drama is good . The characters are well expressed through their actors.
The FLs eccentric and chaotic personality really made this drama more interesting.

One thing I personally did not like is the 'romance ' that they tried to incorporate... it is something that could have been left out completely.

Over all I enjoyed the series , it ended well.

Highly recommended

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Definitely rewatch

I love this show really , a lot of giggles for me . The directors creativity was very well portrayed.
I actually prefer Lee Jun-Young in his bad boy always fighting roles . So this role really surprised me .
The show really managed to keep my attention, and played on almost all my emotions .

I like how the chariman experienced first hand how his kids really are ... and even how loyal his wife is .

I enjoyed this show over all .. maybe I'm a bit bias because of Lee Jun-Young .

But I've seen him in so many roles and this Man can act . Different genre , characters and emotions. He really is a on the same level as a Hollywood A list for me .

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Storyline could be better

I absolutely loved temped and cruel intentions, so when watching this my expectations were at peak. However I realised that each directors approach to these type of films are different. My No.1 is still Tempted.

I though that the drama was more sensual amd not really erotic. The drama depected more 'feeling through sense' than sexual desire . Which was very well portrayed. However the chemistry between the leads were not what i was expecting... it seemed they were still playing it safe in a sense

While the "chase game" seemed a bit off for me...Cho Won trying to seduce Hul Yeon.. it seemed redundant.

It wasn't great but it was not bad ... i just wish there were more 'on the edge of my seat' plots. Over all the acting was good and the premise was good...

I don't really like Ji Chang Wook acting , i think I've watched maybe 2 of his dramas. But this was not one of those shows that I'd rather skip because of the cast.
And the ending was a bit bland for me ... when you start high end high to .. this happens a lot in kdramas I've watched
Well done crew , I think shooting a film like this isn't easy , and they did well..

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The Scandal — My Honest Thoughts

I wouldn’t call The Scandal a masterpiece, especially with the expectations I had going in, but it’s still a very good drama. I had a good time watching it, and the performances were genuinely too good. It started so well, with so much momentum, and towards the end, there was some sense of fulfilment, but it still wasn’t enough for me.

The biggest problem is that the momentum faded in the middle. For an 8-episode drama with such a strict runtime, there isn’t much room to explore character growth, but even within that runtime, there were a lot of scenes that felt too slow. There were moments where the drama went into a very dead zone. At the same time, there were so many relationship dynamics, especially between the supporting characters, that could’ve been explored much more. I kept thinking about certain scenes that could’ve been replaced with something more meaningful.

The most disappointing part for me is that it never became as dark as I wanted it to be. The potential for obsession, jealousy, possessiveness and all those complicated emotions was clearly there, but the drama didn’t explore them deeply enough. That doesn’t mean there are no such moments. There are moments where it absolutely explodes, and I really loved those scenes. But they are too few, and the progression of the characters could’ve been much stronger.

And the chemistry… somehow, it was missing. I don’t think this is on the actors. Ji Chang-wook, Nana and everyone else portrayed their characters really well and were consistent throughout. But chemistry is also part of the director’s job. It’s the director who has to bring that chemistry out of the actors and make you feel the attraction, tension and relationship dynamics. So for me, that part definitely falls more on the direction.

Technically, though, the drama is really good. The production value is excellent, the music is top-notch, and I loved the visual representation of the er0tic and sensual scenes. Some of the choices were genuinely creative. The er0tic and sensual scenes are not bad at all, and honestly, some are very well-crafted. There could’ve been more, and they could’ve been more direct, but that doesn’t mean what we got was bad. They do show emotion and serve their purpose; they just don’t hit as hard as they could have.

I also loved that long shot of the whole area towards the end. Little technical choices like that reminded me of the potential this drama had. Somehow, I feel like the soul of the drama got a little lost in the middle.

But I still had a good time watching it. I binged the whole thing, and it’s definitely not a bad watch. The hate it’s getting feels unnecessary to me. I also think people need to be a little more open-minded about the er0ticism and sensuality. Yes, it could’ve been better, but that doesn’t mean those scenes were bad. They had something to say and, in many moments, they worked.

And I really have to applaud Ji Chang-wook and Nana for having the courage to take on characters like this. When you have that level of popularity and status, taking challenging roles comes with a lot of risk. I have nothing but praise for them.

I honestly want more K-dramas in this space: obsession, er0ticism, sensuality, thriller, jealousy, forbidden love, and that feeling of not being able to have the person you want because you’re not powerful enough. I’d love to see more of this genre.

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worth every episode

Light to the Night had me hooked from the start. The story kept me guessing, the atmosphere was brilliant, and I loved how the tension slowly built rather than giving everything away too quickly.

Dylan Wang was fantastic as Ran Fangxu. This role really showed a different side of him as an actor, and some of his quieter scenes were actually the ones that impressed me the most.

Definitely one of those dramas where I kept saying “just one more episode” and suddenly it was way too late 😂

Great cast, gripping story and a drama I’d happily watch again.

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pointless and trashy show

disregarding all the unnecessary s*x scenes in this show,it was so boring. they leads had no chemistry whatsoever either. idk if the ML was too scared of the duck lips widow or what but it was like a cold stove. I love the FL from crash landing and some other shows but this one...idk what happened...she had the same facial expression in every scene and was so stiff. there was no plot except getting one chick to have s*x with him...like what? what was the point of the show? I had to fast forward so much just hoping to find an interesting scene or two but it never came. the best part was the ML offing himself at the end and the evil,scheming FL ending up alone and miserable 🤣🤣🤣 haven't seen a show this horrible in so long 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

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"Life is Shorter Than We Think..."

.... which might exactly be one of the reasons why I suggest that you check out this drama.

It's not perfect; it's rushed, messy and ends up having loose ends and more questions, yet it somehow falls into place. Because the characters manage to stay true to whom they are until the very end. And Nour has several webs that are worth checking out. May it be for friendship, love or family.

With a rather unconventional storyline that's not in vogue and mature characters, Nour is unsuspectingly addictive, both with it's cleverly written mystery that is irreversibly linked with its romantic aspects.

And deeply melancholic.

The very basement of the drama lies on a string of murders and arsons executed by a meticulous perpetrator who incinerates even the breathe of his existence off the planet. This said perpetrator also happens to have the incredible power to kill off a 'Nour' - an eternal being that cannot be killed.
And the investigators involved have two different purposes: one of them is a victim who seeks justice for his father while the other is a 200 - year- old Nour who seeks him to discover the secret to killing himself.

☆ While the mystery serves as the basement, the underlying tone of Nour is rather depressing. It's ironic that the Nour is essentially a being created out of love - Someone loved you deeply enough to gift you an eternity of joy and companionship.
Yet, Ken actively seeks death. To him, immortality serves no purpose. He couldn't die even if he wished to and he has closed off his emotions for centuries.

While humans attempt to cherish the time given to them, he sought death whilst never really living his life. "What was the purpose of existing for an eternity if you haven't really lived it?" -- a character whose life was cut short by a diagnosis asks this to him. I don't know why, but it struck a cord in me.

In contrast to him exists James, who lives with carpe diem as his motto. One had been alive far too long and yearns for death, while the others have their life cut short or cherishes their transient time on this planet.

☆ The mystery is well written. And cleverly directed. Viewers are not provided with a preview and even seemingly unassuming characters are having allegations hurled at them. It's absolutely hilarious to watch this while airing because almost every single possibility is out there once we dig in.

☆ The story is buoyed by an ensemble cast and a director who made sure that his vision was somehow conveyed to the audience. Be it a gripping mystery or a rushed, yet worthy romance that forces Ken to question himself.
The cast is a mix of veterans and fresh faces who deliver equally thrilling performances and I never once felt that this was created by a team of relatively novel crew.

☆ The writing itself might be off putting to some. But, kudos to the team because the pace is perfectly balanced; they knew that having to cover the grounds for at least a dozen characters was not going to go well if we had actual intelligent and shrewd ones.

Instead, we have a wacko Inspector James introduced to rival the enigmatic and terse Inspector Ken. His impulsive actions and energy impacts everyone at the lazy station. And the cases come to a close because of him. And half the plot moves forward because of him. (It worked for me anyways.)

☆And inspite of being completely immersed in its lore, I'm beyond annoyed. Because the worst case scenario applies to every single character, whether I like it or not. The Director wanted to convey the meaning of life, and there is no character who is right or wrong.

But, I was in too deep to extricate myself and this drama had become my companion amidst my University examinations. So, it's definitely a memory that's not meant to be forgotten, whatever the outcome. It might be bitter, but I'm happy that I stumbled across this little imperfect mosaic of a story.

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I genuinely got heated

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT ENDING?!?! WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH YOO HAN??? I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD, BUT IT WASN'T CONFIRMED, AND THEN AFTER THE CREDITS, HE'S COMPLETELY BANDAGED ALL OVER HIS HEAD… THEN IT FUCKING ENDS. IT'S BEEN FOUR FUCKING YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE SEASON… SO WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENS? I'M SO FUCKING PISSED. I DON'T EVEN CARE TO TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THE SHOW BECAUSE I'M SO FOCUSED ON THIS. GOOD FUCKING BYE.

Actual review:
I did really enjoy this show. I seriously missed Yoo Han. The acting in the show was really good, other than the fight scenes. Some of them genuinely had me laughing at how obviously fake it was; there weren't any sound effects added, so it was just silence after an apparent punch to the face… Also, Yeon Woo's Aunt finding the mom's headband in the lake honestly was heartbreaking, but it was a good way to conclude what unfortunately happened to her.
I loved the plot and how they added on to the show, though; the whole drug aspect of Mono's trying to experience colour rush and the surgery was a cool addition, and I really liked it. I don't really like how they were so close to having Yeon Woo and Se Hyun get together cause the whole time I was thinking, "your boyfriend got kidnapped, and here you are catching feelings for another guy?" So at the end, where there was the kiss scene, I actually got mad. Until they revealed that it was just Se Hyun's imagination and I cooled down. THANK FUCKING GOD IT WAS JUST HIS IMAGINATION CAUSE YOO HAN IS LITERALLY ALIVE. WHAT THE FUCK. HERE I WAS THINKING THIS MAN WAS DEAD FOR HALF THE SHOW.
Anyways… I really did enjoy watching this, and I will definitely be coming back to rewatch this at some point in the future.

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