Dramatic but boring plot
I liled the main lead from Phantom Lawyer so i watch this while waitinf for new episodes. At first, it looks generic with the description and poster. Then I tried first episode and got interested w the endingI binge watch this until episode 5 and thought the female MC is smart!! But she is starting to sabotage everytime she calls ML :v I dropped this since im tired of hearing only ML talking lmao and this kdrama can end if MC talks
I hope they add more characters to the kdrama thats not only mute girl and rich ceo boss. Will try to watch this again somedayy
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Ji chang wook show that's it
Ji chang wook acting should be more priority for you to watch this show .All the cast performance was great specially two ML , ji chang wook nailed his character. story maybe lack some places but overall it's a good watch for Action, thriller lovers.
Ji chang wook th actor you are
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Great show that could have been the greatest
I’ll be honest, I’m already a fan of this director’s cinematography and world-building, which was clear from *Fangs of Fortune*. Going into *Veil of Shadows* (VoS), my expectations were naturally high. In many ways, the show delivers. In terms of lore, structure, and pacing, VoS comes out on top, while *Fangs of Fortune* still does a better job with character likeability and emotional attachment.That said, I found VoS easier to follow because of its quicker pacing, especially in the first two-thirds of the show.
Before getting into what didn’t work as well for me, I want to highlight what the drama did really well, since these are also the things most viewers seem to appreciate.
The visuals are stunning. From costumes to set design to framing, almost every scene looks carefully crafted. The director’s style stands out and plays a big role in keeping the show engaging.
The cast chemistry also worked really well. The interactions between characters felt natural, and the emotional dynamics helped keep the story engaging even when the plot became a bit complex.
Another strong point is the layered storytelling and themes. The show explores ideas like identity, hidden motives, and the tension between fate and choice. When it works, it keeps you hooked as more details are revealed over time.
The action and fight choreography were also very impressive. The scenes felt dynamic and well executed. I even showed a few clips to a friend in the US and they were genuinely surprised by how good the fight sequences looked.
Coming to my issues, I don’t have any major complaints overall, but I do feel like the writers lost some direction in the last 4 to 5 episodes.
The biggest issue for me was the repeated cycle of characters dying, coming back, and then dying again. It reduced the emotional weight of sacrifice. When death stops feeling permanent, it weakens character motivations and makes some emotional reactions feel less convincing.
To be fair, the writers did a great job early on in building the characters. Each one had clear motivations, and the actors delivered those backstories convincingly. That is why it felt jarring later when some characters started behaving inconsistently or even naively.
For example, Wei Shuanguan was shown as stubborn and straightforward, but never unintelligent. He was powerful and action-driven, yet in the later episodes he is pushed into the background. His transformation into a dragon should have been a major moment, but it ended up feeling underwhelming and did not lead to much impact.
Cheng Du Li’s arc had a strong setup, especially with the reveal about her missing core memory, but it did not get enough development afterward. It felt like a missed opportunity.
Up until around episode 20, most of the main characters received balanced writing attention. After that, things started to feel uneven. The rewind element was interesting in concept but became confusing, especially in terms of character motivations.
A lot of viewers also felt that the narrative became disjointed toward the end, possibly due to editing choices or changes in the original structure. The pacing in the final stretch felt rushed, and some emotional moments did not have enough time to land.
What worked well was how the story unfolded in the beginning. Each character’s behavior made sense, and their motivations became clearer over time. It kept the audience engaged without relying too much on forced twists.
What did feel forced was the constant use of sacrifice in the final episodes. When it happens too frequently without real stakes, it loses impact.
From a technical standpoint, the show is still very strong. The cinematography, action choreography, and stunt work stand out. One common issue is the lighting. Characters often appear overly lit, which reduces the sense of realism. It is a common stylistic choice in high-gloss dramas, but still noticeable.
The music was decent, but it could have been more memorable, especially in key emotional moments.
Overall, despite its flaws, especially toward the end, *Veil of Shadows* is still an enjoyable watch. The visuals, performances, and core concept keep it engaging even when the writing becomes uneven.
It feels like a show that had the potential to be exceptional and came close in many moments, but did not fully deliver in the final stretch. (cleaned typos using gpt)
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Best fantasy Kdrama so far
Best fantasy Kdrama I watched, it reminded me of Chinese or naruto with the terms. Like the water thing they manipulate remind me of chakra. And the power rankings remind me of chinese manhuaMC is my fav female lead, she is powerful but nerfed and smart. I like the whole cast and MC's harem.
I like how the characters are also smart and not dumb to show the main characters are best. I like the start of the story where the ML is not OP and revealled to be weak. The MC is strong but became nerfed to the blind gurls body.
Also, MC is slowly getting back her strength but not OP at episode 7. I like how she may be weak but is smart and can manipulate other cast
I liked the worldbuilding and story plot, though I have a job TvT so this is on pause until I can watch in the weekend.
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its different.. in a GOOD way
this was something new for me... first time watching a grim reaper type drama and it actually surprised me in a good way.the story is really strong... its not just one plot its made up of different stories different lives different struggles… and each one has its effect..
i really liked is how they didnt just show reality they actually acknowledged it like the pain the trauma the things people go through but no one talks about… this drama brings that forward properly.. and even the side characters.. theyre not treated like extras... every story n person feels important making the emotional impact even stronger
the acting was really good across the board. You can feel the emotions without it being overdone.
there arentt heavy plot twists but small turns..like more about emotional depth than shocking moments.. OST and music also fits nicely
ill be honest at one point it felt a bit repetitive like similar types of cases again n again… and I even paused it for a while.. but once I got back into it.. realized it was actually worth continuing... the ending felt slightly rushed yeah… but the final scenes still managed to leave a strong impression
its morelike a mix of trauma healing teamwork a bit of comedy… and a lot of emotion
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The resolution and aftermath resolution part have biggest impact for the whole series.
The idea and premise are interesting, but the execution was off. Especially the resolution and aftermath resolution part. Also, there are some points that missed.They put too much obvious clues in the First Door that have potential to make the tension decrease. The first three episode are really crucial, weather the viewers decide to drop or keep watching.
There's some plot holes. For example in Second Door. I think it's noticeable. I rewatched that scene to understand, probably I missed something. But I haven't found it (Please, tell me the reason that makes sense). In episode of Museum too. But, some episodes are well executed. My top three are The School, Sanatorium, and Box Games.
I think, the resolution and aftermath resolution part have biggest impact for the whole series. They put some clues about the people behind the games, which is good and it's not too much. Until they took another alternative and ruin the whole series. The plot twist seems to be forced.
The acting of the cast was not bad, but the main lead's acting (Ling) didn't really stand out and sometime the expression wasn't on point. I think the expressions are important to build a believable character.
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Clássico e clichês nem sempre são ruins.
Estamos no episódio 8 e Perfect Crown continua fazendo o clássico com muita competência. É um grande filme de princesa com 12 episódios.O maior mérito desse drama é que ele consegue entragar um roteiro consistente sem perder a qualidade em nenhum momento. Sempre começa o episódio no alto, no gancho do episódios anterior e segue na crescente para entregar um novo gancho mais alto.
As composições de cena estão belíssimas, só aqui já vale a pena o play.
IU e Byeon Wooseok estão impecáveis, o casal tem química, interpretam bem momentos e sentimentos complexos.
Com 70% do drama concluído, roubou completamente o coração dessa menina que cresceu vendo Cinderela, e conseguiu atualizar bem a história pros dias atuais.
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A well done 2016 classic romance with ice-melting chemistry
SOMETHING ABOUT THE 1% (2016)Completed: April 2026
Rated:9/10
I have to admit this drama had been sitting in my “continue watching” list on Viki for so long it basically became furniture. I don’t even remember why I left it there, but somehow I finally clicked on it… and that turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in these drama streets this year.
I’ve been avoiding writing reviews lately. Not because I wasn’t watching anything, but because nothing really moved me. Nothing hit that soft romantic spot or made me feel anything deep enough to sit down and write. And then this drama happened. When I finished it, there was this quiet emptiness… like something had been taken away. Dramatic? Maybe. But it genuinely felt like a breakup. I had to pause for a bit before jumping into another show.
Going in, I had completely misunderstood the title, and the synopsis didn’t help much either, so I expected something entirely different. On paper, it looks like your usual contract relationship setup. Rich, cold CEO meets poor, kind female lead. We’ve all been there. But somehow, the way this story unfolds feels fresh. The entry into the trope is different, and before you realize it, you’re invested in something that feels oddly real.
It all begins with a grandfather and a plan. Not a modest one either. He essentially sets out to repair his grandchildren’s lives and ties the challenge to his vast fortune. The ML, as the eldest, shoulders most of that weight. Then fate intervenes, a little chaotic as usual, and throws him into the female lead’s path in a way that’s far from graceful. When unfortunate circumstances lead her to cross paths with this seemingly homeless old man, she does what truly kind people do, leaving him standing there like… wait, people like this still exist? And so we’re drawn into the origin of a grandfather, a plan, and its unfolding execution.
Lee Jae In, played by Ha Seok Jin, is easily one of the most convincing CEO characters I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot of drama CEOs. This man actually works. His phone rings so often I started feeling stressed on his behalf. I joked with a friend that it sounded too real to be acting. But beyond that, he brings honesty to the role. Whether he’s making tough decisions, being frustratingly cold, or completely soft in moments of love, it all feels lived-in. Nothing about him feels forced.
And when it comes to romance… he delivers. Fully. The chemistry between the leads is the kind that makes you pause, rewind, and smile like a good third wheeler. Their "skinship" feels natural, their kisses don’t look choreographed, especially the ML, yes he might have been the Ji Chang Wook of the 2010s...There’s an ease between them that’s hard to fake. Honestly, if there were awards just for chemistry alone, they’d have this one secured. Also, yes, the drama is rated 16+, and let’s just say… you’ll understand why.
Jeon So Min as the female lead was such a refreshing surprise. Strong, firm, and very clear about her boundaries. Her “no” actually means no, and her “yes” doesn’t come easily. She’s not there to be pushed around or to exist just for the male lead’s growth. Watching a female character stand her ground without losing her warmth? That was satisfying.
At this point, I can confidently say I’m a fan of director Kang Cheol Woo. After watching a few of his works, including Perfect Romance and So I Married an Anti-Fan, this one really seals it for me. There’s something about his storytelling that feels effortless.
Someone on the platform, commented that this drama feels like the director just set up cameras and told the leads to go live their lives. That’s exactly what it feels like. Nothing is overdone, nothing feels artificial. It just flows.
This is the kind of drama that stays with you. The kind you go back to when you need a reminder that two people can actually change and heal each other without loosing themselves. Like one of my drama chingus said, they rewatch it to remind themselves that the human race is still worth saving. And honestly… that line couldn’t be more accurate.
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Perfect in all sense.
I loved him from When the Phone Rings, but loved him more and more in this show, just awesome and can't wait to see him in his next projectttttt.............................................................Ah just when I become a ghost, bring me to Shin I-Rang, and I will be passed on easily (hoping i am not dead wrongfully ahhhh)
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The Feelings!
This was an intense ride my friends! So where to start...The story is not that big and very well writing BUT the acting, the acting! Dilbara is fantastic, very good acting and Arthur and the rest of the rest did well too. It's more about the love of 2 people than really a big plot but it's very beautiful.Very nice CGI, very nice OST, Chemistry between FL and ML is on the top, it's a great drama if you want something not deep in term of story and something more focus on the feeling.
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A Classic Midway Shift
I’m sorry, folks, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea. I really wanted to love it — especially since I’m a big fan of Li Geyang and Huang Haoyue. I thought their performances were fantastic and well-executed, and the beginning of the drama really pulled me into the story. However, about a third to halfway through, the narrative started to change for me. Developments felt predictable, and the drama didn’t seem to explore them in compelling ways. I also found some of the character shifts unconvincing. It felt like a once-strong character suddenly made decisions that felt totally out of line with how they were introduced at the beginning. This was somewhat jolting, and didn’t engage or entertain me.I understand what the narrative was aiming for, but for me, it just didn't work.
Overall, the direction didn’t quite land. So, I was disappointed to see that kind of inconsistency given how promising the story was at the start.
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Something was missing...but damn Zhou Yi Ran was superb
This was one of those dramas where I kept wanting to love it more than I actually did. Zhou Yi Ran is an actor that I'm very excited about because he feels like a true performer, and this is my first impression of Sabrina but she looked so nice from the promos that I really wanted to give this drama a fair shot.However… Like I didn’t hate it. I actually think it’s decent. But by the end I was left sitting there feeling like something important was missing and I still can’t fully pinpoint what it was. The vibes were there, the actors were definitely trying, the emotional beats occasionally HIT… but the overall show felt strangely hollow. I think a huge part of that comes down to the fact that the drama never really figured out what it wanted to be.
The high school portion was genuinely my favorite part by far. The friendship dynamics, the found family aspect, the quieter emotional moments all felt warm and grounded in a way that made me really attached to the characters. There was this comforting slice of life energy to it that worked SO well. Then the university timeline starts and suddenly it feels like I accidentally clicked on a different drama.
The found family aspect gets pushed aside, the tone shifts, and Shen Juan’s storyline takes such a sharp turn into sports that the show almost starts feeling sports focused instead of coming of age. Which would’ve been fine… if it felt cohesive. When you think about it Shen Juan is a physics major, a silver goods craftsman and a genius sharpshooter all by the age of 18? Like my dude was out here collecting skill sets like Pokemon cards. And yes, there was technically some setup for the sharpshooting thing earlier on, but not enough for how heavily it later shaped his character arc. There were just too many ideas competing for attention.
That being said, Zhou Yi Ran absolutely carried a huge chunk of this show emotionally. He’s genuinely such a compelling actor to watch, especially in quieter emotional scenes. I think his performance made me connect to Shen Juan far more than I normally would have on paper.
Same goes for Sabrina Zhuang. I thought both leads did a really good job individually. Which is why it’s even more frustrating that the romance itself felt so underdeveloped.
Because here’s the thing, I did feel the chemistry early on. The tension was there in the way they looked at each other, the pauses, the emotional undercurrents… but there was almost zero payoff. They genuinely felt more like best friends or an old married couple who occasionally hold hands than two people who had just fallen in love. Their romantic scenes, if you could even call it that, had the flavour of a cardboard box.
And I cannot stress this enough: the lack of romance really hurt the show.
I’m not someone who needs constant fluff or forced romantic scenes every five minutes. In fact, I usually prefer when romance is woven naturally into the story instead of being used to distract from weak writing. But this drama desperately needed something. A little more intimacy, more vulnerability, more moments that actually established them as a romantic couple rather than occasionally holding hands and calling each other boyfriend-girlfriend. Like, if you removed exactly two kisses from this show, almost nothing about their relationship dynamic would change. That’s a problem.
I also found myself less invested in the side character storylines as the episodes went on. None of them were terrible, but they lacked impact, and the pacing started dragging because of it.
What did work for me was the family dynamics. The show actually did a pretty good job making the world feel grounded and emotionally believable. There’s a realism to the writing that I appreciated, especially in the quieter domestic moments. But overall, I really think the writers didn’t fully know what kind of drama they wanted to make. Was it a coming-of-age story? A romance? A sports drama? A healing youth drama? It keeps touching all of these things without ever fully committing to one. They actually could have written a story that dove into all of these but this show wasn't it, which is frustrating because there’s clearly a good drama somewhere in here.
I don't know, it was just very meh.
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There better be a second season (and third?)
What just happened? Not one issue resolution in the entire finale!? This is killing me! I hope we get season 2, because otherwise I'm going to pine for closure for the rest of my days.This show has me hooked. The leads are adorable. They have amazing chemistry and comedic timing. Liuyi's facial expressions are everything. The character is great. The actor, He Yan Zhao, is fire. He should change his headshot to the caramel-colored deliciousness that we see in this series. He looks divine. I don't know if the asian entertainment industry generally has figured this out yet, but many of us prefer a little melanin.
He Chusan is great too. Sweet on the outside and a fierce protector on the inside. And since were talking about beauty, actor He Chang Xi is also truly handsome.
I dont know how to feel about the second couple. But we can sort that out during season 2.
I love the supporting actors. The dad is great. The main lackey is great. The number 2 is great. I want more of them all.
So go ahead. Start production on season 2. I'll wait. And don't feel like you have to resolve everything there. I'll watch season 3, too. I'm just saying...
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This review may contain spoilers
good one
start - fml gives ml trauma twice first in school 2md by filterthere's misunderstanding for both which clears in last 10 ? eps
in starting I felt bad for FML later I did for ml because FML was deceiving him alot ,she faked death of the filter people twice
misunderstanding - ml says she's looks bad he meant makeup she thought he meant ugly so she starts to dislike him he does too because of school memories so in start he doesn't care about real her but fake her the filter, the first 15+ eps are took over by fakes story more the side characters than the FML and ml interaction, he interact with fake version for 15+ eps than with real one ,fake version are 4 people, then the filter characters is coming to end they suddenly add colour blindness? that time I felt like I'm watching a complete new drama because after 15+ eps ml and FML finally started to interact for real, I thought he would be angry and won't forgive but it gets solved easily, I wished the side characters parts was less and more ml FML interaction,
2nd couple - not interesting I skipped, I wasn't interested in their romance and why the 2nd couple is always pregnant in every drama ?
Good Comedy alot of comedy,
romance is good too it's starts usually at last 10-13 eps, I liked it enjoyed, can't believe the rating is only 8.5 ? not 9 10?
got hooked which is rare for me
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A Bold Idea That Didn’t Work for Me
Definitely Not Today is a drama that deserves credit for being bold and daring in its concept. However, for me, it was simply too dark.I feel like it could have worked much better if there had been a balance — more grounded, intimate moments between the two leads. Their relationship wasn’t explored enough, and instead, it felt like an endless chase with bad guys, without giving the audience a real emotional connection to them.
Even though I managed to finish it, I can’t say I truly enjoyed the experience. Unlike other dramas where I feel engaged and excited to watch the next episode, here I was mostly just waiting for it to end.
I really wish there had been more emotional depth and closeness between the main characters.
Conclusion: An interesting and bold idea, but too dark and lacking emotional balance for my taste. Not for me.
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