Reviews

10/10, Emotionally Devastating

I honestly don’t even know how to rate this drama after that ending. I finished the last episode and just sat there feeling genuinely heartbroken.

What I really loved about War and Beauty is that it doesn’t simply divide its characters into “good” and “evil.” The deeper the story goes, the more you realize that many of the women who seem cruel or manipulative were once innocent themselves, and the palace gradually turned them into what they became.

Consort Yu is probably the character who surprised me the most. At first, I thought she was simply another scheming villain, but learning about how innocent and hopeful she was when she first entered the palace, and how the loss of her son and years of palace intrigues changed her, made her character much more tragic. By the end, I couldn’t even look at her in the same way anymore.

And then there’s the ending… genuinely brutal.

On Tsin finally escaped with the person she loved, only for us to discover that she had already been wounded by an arrow and died on the way. The fact that he didn’t even know she was injured while carrying her made the scene so much more painful. And Art Sin never even found out that her real sister had died. That detail absolutely destroyed me.

Dr. Sun’s death also hurt. At some point, I was basically watching the finale thinking,
“Can ANYONE in this palace just survive and be happy?” Apparently not. 😭

What makes the ending even more frustrating is that the people responsible for so much suffering don’t necessarily receive the punishment we expect. The Queen, especially, made me furious. She committed terrible things and yet the story doesn’t give the audience the satisfying “villain finally gets what she deserves” ending. And honestly, I think that was intentional.

The palace's world is cruel because power doesn’t automatically come with justice. The people at the bottom suffer the consequences while the people protected by the system can survive.

I also couldn’t stop wondering about the Emperor during the rebellion. The fact that he left very early that morning, before sunrise, with relatively little protection made me suspicious that he may have known that something was going to happen. The drama leaves enough ambiguity for you to question how much the people at the top actually knew about what was happening inside the palace.

And that’s probably what stayed with me the most: not everyone dies knowing the truth, and not everyone who deserves punishment receives it.

War and Beauty is tragic, political, ruthless, and surprisingly emotional. It’s also one of those dramas where the “villains” become more understandable the longer you watch, because you start seeing how the palace itself destroys people.

I came for the palace intrigue and ended up emotionally attached to a group of doomed women. Terrible decision. Would absolutely do it again.

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Very enjoyable. I have started this ride and I am all in.

- Cast ... Perfect for their roles. I enjoyed each and every one of them.
- Characters ... These characters were written so well, deep, and charismatic.
- OST ... Very good.
- Cinematography ... Beautiful with a smooth flow.
- Choreography/fight scenes ... Delightful. This alone would make me re-watch.
- Storyline ... This is a maze with many roads, yet the stories hold their own. I enjoyed this series; it was compelling and had enough content and details to hook you and make you want to continue the journey.

Halfway through I started to doubt the characters, plot and even my sanity ... but I am glad I stuck with it as the story unraveled and my curiosity led me to the end.

After watching Time Raiders I decided to go back and watch this one. Now the next on my list ... The Lost Tomb 2 (2019)

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a good cry

i typically don’t tend to go for dramas where there’s a switch in between lives/souls or the minds or even parallel worlds. things like reincarnation i find unrealistic and while it is a genre/theme that is pretty popular and interesting to a lot of people i find it really unrealistic but regardless i found this to be a very good watch because of the cast.

the girl who played the character of the mother amazed me because in reality she’s really just a kid but she mimicked the qualities and the personality of a mother figure as if she was the mother, which in the case of the show she is. this show also has a very fulfilling and melancholic aspect to it: for a caring loving mother to be reborn to a family that is the opposite dynamic, and the fact that she was able to change the girls life and help her mother and daughter grow a stronger bond.

while i would not rewatch it, i definitely loved the acting and story itself. while it was not the ending i wanted i definitely think everyone was able to get the closure and grow to accept reality despite it being something out of this world, the unexpected. but nonetheless this is a good watch and i got a good cry out of it.

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I was hooked from the start

Korean BLs have long been full of dead fish lips and half hearted storylines lacking depth. But recently a handful of production companies have decided enough is enough and gone back to the drawing board. Does this series have NC? Yes. Is that the main thing that is going to be why you watch? Probably for some who only watch any BLs for the NC scenes, and we listen and don't judge. But is that what is going to keep most of us watching? Not by a long shot. This is a well rounded series with a great cast, an amazing OST, and a script full of emotions that keep you laughing and crying, applauding and cringing for our leads.

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All Roads Lead to Chaos

I watched Pull Strings on a whim. I knew practically nothing about it except that Ao Rui Peng was in it, which was enough reason for me to give it a try. I also heard that it was a comedy and that Ao Rui Peng seemed like he was barely acting because Chang Shou was basically himself. After watching it, I can confirm that the rumors were not entirely wrong. Pull Strings is a rather comical, unserious drama that happens to have a plot. It is not exactly a no-brainer because there is an actual story and some interesting ideas underneath all the silliness, but it is definitely a casual and easy watch.

The story follows Li Chang Shou, a 30-year-old terminally ill man who dies after falling from his hospital bed and getting hit by the comic books he was reading. He is then reborn as a cultivator inside Primordial Investiture of Deities and finds himself in the Primordial World. His goal in this new life is surprisingly simple: stay alive and stay out of trouble. With a prophecy warning of an impending calamity, Chang Shou decides to play the long game. He keeps a low profile, avoids unnecessary relationships, prepares himself constantly, and relies more on schemes and strategy than brute force. Of course, the universe has other plans. Before long, the man who only wanted to stay out of trouble ends up quietly pulling strings behind the scenes and becoming involved in a much bigger game of power, ambition, karma, and destiny.

The biggest charm of Pull Strings is undoubtedly its comedy. The drama leans heavily into slapstick, silliness, exaggeration, and outright absurdity. My personal taste leans more toward dark, deadpan, witty, and satirical humor, so I would not say I found myself laughing very often. Still, I found the drama entertaining for the most part. It was the kind of show that could be left on when I wanted something light and unserious.

That said, sometimes the comedy tries a little too hard. There were scenes where the joke was pushed so far that it stopped being funny and started pulling me out of the story. Some plot choices had the same problem. The whole vampire situation, for example, felt particularly random in a Primordial World setting. I could suspend my disbelief for a lot of things in this drama, but that one made me wonder where exactly the writers were trying to take me. Something like turning people into puppets or flies, especially considering the demon's abilities, would have felt more fitting to the world.

Ironically, what I found more amusing than the actual comedy was the clash between modern and ancient culture. Chang Shou being a modern person reborn in an ancient cultivation world gave the drama some of its most enjoyable moments. Watching him apply modern ideas in completely inappropriate historical circumstances was genuinely fun. He turns his shoe into something resembling Siri, makes a firefly-shaped phone out of hay straw, and finds all sorts of ways to bring modern concepts into the Primordial World. Those moments felt more naturally funny to me because the humor came from the situation rather than from the drama desperately trying to make a joke. Chang Shou really shines as a fish out of water.

Ao Rui Peng owned this role. Watching Chang Shou felt like watching Ao Rui Peng get dropped into a cultivation drama. His naturally goofy personality fits Chang Shou perfectly, and he manages both the comedic and emotional scenes well. He does not need to force the humor because his expressions and mannerisms already do much of the work.

What I particularly liked about Chang Shou in the beginning was the contradiction within his character. On the surface, he is this seemingly incompetent, overly cautious guy who is constantly trying to avoid trouble and karmic repercussions. Underneath that, however, he is constantly training, preparing, calculating, and making sure he has a backup plan for his backup plan. That combination of cowardice, caution, intelligence, and hidden competence made him surprisingly charming. He was not trying to become the strongest person in the room. He was trying not to die, and somehow ended up becoming one of the smartest and most capable people there. That duality was, to me, the most interesting part of his character.

Unfortunately, I started losing interest when romance and heavier responsibilities became more prominent. I understand that these things are part of Chang Shou's character development and are important to the overall plot, but they did not work particularly well for me. The romance felt distracting and somewhat out of place, especially because the drama had already established such an entertaining character dynamic without needing to lean so heavily into it. What started as a refreshing story about a man trying to survive through careful planning gradually began to feel like another "all in the name of love" story.

I also missed the goofy Chang Shou once the plot became more serious. As the stakes increased, he became increasingly serious and emotional, and that shift made him feel strangely distant. I think the drama could have preserved more of his original personality even during the heavier moments. He could still mourn, struggle, and take things seriously while handling the situation with the same goofy and ridiculous persona we saw earlier. In fact, I think that contrast would have made the emotional scenes even more effective.

The character I actually wanted to see more of was Zhao Gong Min, played by He Wen Jun. This man had one of the funniest comedy styles in the entire drama. His completely straight face while doing the most absurd things was hilarious. There was something about the sheer seriousness with which he approached ridiculous situations that landed much better for me than some of the more exaggerated comedy. Unfortunately, he did not appear nearly enough. Every time he showed up, I found myself wishing the drama would give him more to do.

As a Xianxia comedy, Pull Strings does at least have a proper story. There is a journey, there are conflicts, there are schemes, and there is a larger narrative moving forward. The plot was actually quite interesting in the beginning, and I liked how clear the direction felt. However, somewhere around the second half, the drama started losing me. There were simply too many things happening at once, and the increasing absurdity began competing with the actual story for my attention. It started feeling as though more effort was being put into making things funny than into keeping the narrative focused.

That eventually left me feeling bored, distracted, and detached. The story itself was still there, but there was so much noise surrounding it that I found it increasingly difficult to stay invested. The sudden increase in romantic elements did not help either. What initially felt like a clever and entertaining cultivation comedy gradually became a little too busy for its own good.

Visually, however, the drama is quite pleasant. The scenery is beautiful, and whatever combination of green screen, animation, and 3D rendering they used generally worked well. The environments looked convincing enough and the overall visual quality was good. The weaker point was some of the larger creatures and monsters. Those gigantic sea creatures on the beach, for example, looked noticeably more artificial. It was not exactly disappointing because this is a comedy drama and I was not expecting visual effects on the level of a big-budget fantasy film, but there is certainly room for improvement.

I also liked the costumes. The different characters have distinct colors and styles that reflect their personalities and affiliations, which makes them easier to remember. The OST and background music were similarly fitting. Nothing particularly blew me away, but the music complemented the overall mood of the drama well.

The ending, on the other hand, was a different story. There was simply a lot happening, and the delivery felt rather chaotic. Even having watched several Xianxia dramas, there were still parts of the ending that left me confused. For someone completely new to the genre, I imagine it could be even harder to follow. The ending also clearly leaves the door open for a second season, but rather than making me excited for what comes next, it mostly left me thinking, "Well, that happened."

Overall, Pull Strings was a casual watch for me. I went in with practically zero expectations and ended up with exactly the kind of unserious, goofy Xianxia comedy I was told it would be. I personally prefer darker and more subtle comedy, so the slapstick humor did not always land. To me, the drama was less laugh-out-loud funny and more absurd, silly, and chaotic in an entertaining way. If you want something light, goofy, absurd, and occasionally clever to take your mind off things, Pull Strings can do the job. It is not a drama I would call memorable, but it was certainly a decent way to lighten the mood.

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Simple yet captivating drama

If you want to watch something while eating, doing homework, or just playing it in the background, I would recommend this drama! Its such a simple drama that has some intense parts that are pretty violent, but overall has an atmosphere of a nice drama you could rewatch for fun. I do think its funny how the ML is in a gang, but acts so innocent and puppy-like. It did kind of threw me off of his character because he doesn’t seem the type to be in a gang, but some scenes with that serious face he has, WOAH. The FL is 100% perfect for this drama. Her acting id amazing and I think I couldn’t have thought of another actor for it. The drama cinematics is beautiful, but obviously the locations are very similar to a lot of other dramas and while watching it, I couldn’t help but think of Love Next Door. The plot was kind of new with the memory loss and kidnapping in order to protect was kinda creative..? (not rlly). Overall I would reccomend to watch it!

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Balanced and Splendid

Hands down maybe my 2026 drama of the year and before that I had The First Jasmine and Pursuit of Jade but this one takes the cake because I really liked the female lead here more than the other two.

Story is simple, but it flows, it was rushed at the end but not a bad rush to conclude things. There was some unbelievable moments but not major plot holes. Balanced all the way through with it falling off a tiny bit. The female lead was the strongest before the time skip and her development was amazing. The male lead and the brotherhood shown in the first half was enticing.

I liked both but female lead carried the first half so a lot of viewers like me were connected to the female leads development more than the male lead and the brotherhood.

Story falls off a bit in the latter half after the time skip but I understand why they went here. Female lead had less impact and less development so that annoyed me. The male lead shifting was annoying like it felt like they wanted to go into a direction that they knew would be risky but then pulled the trigger back but that back and forth was a problem. I think you either go all the way in one direction or the other direction but once it gets stuck in the middle and becomes a tug-o-war situation you really need to figure out how to balance it better.

The brotherhood is gone too in the latter like I wanted to see more of that than the political drama.

That's the only things I'll say but I enjoyed it because the female lead carried the second half too while I started disliking the male lead.

Music is not the best, 2026 goes to The First Jasmine because I love 3 of their OST but I also like 3 songs here but they're not like put it on your day to day song list. There's one song I liked that is on my list but 2 are more like they fit well with the series so the music choices are on point but not as good as The First Jasmine.

Now I will say this series has a huge focus on females so if you don't like watching a series which basically says "a man should listen to their woman" then avoid it.

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Underdogs, antihero protagonist, messy romance.

The first episode is a very good introduction to the characters, and the story starts surprisingly fast-paced, unfolding through chaotic events. The scenes in America are also incredibly entertaining and funny, and the beginning made me truly excited about the drama. Ga Young's initial situation also gave huge Cinderella vibes, which I loved.

At the center of the story is Young Gul. Basically, he's a loser at the beginning, and then he meets Ga Young, who inspires him. But his ambition is ultimately much more morbid than a straightforward underdog story: it leads him towards his demise. His development was one of the main things that interested me, particularly the psychology behind it. Yoo Ah In is also an exceptional actor here, and this is my favorite role of his.

Ga Young is a far better character than you could expect based on the hearsay surrounding her. She's bold, passionate and talented, but she's also someone who can stay quiet and become defensive. I don't think her quietness makes her poorly written; it's part of her personality.

Her relationship with Young Gul is particularly important to understanding her. She started everything with him and was alone before, and when you see their story in the first episodes, you realize how deep their relationship is—especially from her side. Young Gul is somewhat full of himself and takes a long time to realize that he has feelings for her, while he's attracted to another girl and slowly losing Ga Young to Jae Hyuk. So I can't blame Ga Young for falling in love with someone who doesn't return her feelings in the way she wants.

Another good part of the criticism summed up for you: by all means, never hold the men accountable, blame the woman, and also trash on the actress playing an introverted character, all the while praising the actors. At least Koreans know Shin Sae Kyeong is a good actress who delivers her lines well. Plus, she has a genuinely impressive ability to cry silently.

I also liked that not only she can make the first step herself, she does eventually leave him and is capable of confronting him (to be fair she's like this from the beginning, before she meets him). You can understand a lot of what she's feeling from her eyes and subtle expressions, and that's part of why I found her more compelling than the reputation of the drama might lead you to expect. One thing she does is completely uncommon to k-drama female leads (a role given to male leads) especially considering the dynamic of the relationship. I always found a boyish charm to Shin Sae Kyeong and I love that she said she's attracted to atypical female characters.

And I'll keep saying it: Ga Young is a very good character and my personal favorite. Is she your modern girlboss? No. But she's not a static character. She has her own agency, emotions, ambition, and contradictions. And most importantly, crying doesn't make someone weak.

The love triangle was actually one of my favorite parts. It makes sense that Ga Young would start looking towards Jae Hyuk, especially as he genuinely falls in love with her. He also helps her at the beginning when she's trying her best to regain a place she unfairly lost. In fact, at some point I started shipping Ga Young with Jae Hyuk myself. On the other hand, Ga Young and Young Gul both ended up helping each other in Korea and New York, and I loved the storyline of Ga Young taking the risk to host him as he was researched by the police. This drama as a whole is surprisingly unique through its situations and interactions. It really has that raw and gritty feel of old dramas, and all the dramatic encounters between the characters got me thrilled.

Jae Hyuk has his own storyline as well. He struggles with his position in the fashion company, as well as with his father's expectations. He has a somewhat jerkish and childish personality, and his feelings for Ga Young put him through an internal conflict. Meanwhile, the second female lead is Jae Hyuk's girlfriend. She struggles because she lacks talent, while Young Gul is attracted to her.

Yet another detail is how the drama subverts some expectations and tropes, even if it doesn't always do things in a way that will work for everyone. And most importantly, if you like modern and straightforward romance, don't bother. But if you like different and layered dramas, go for it.

The production side was another reason I enjoyed it. The OST is amazing, and I really liked the cinematography, some good shots. In particular, I noticed the contrasting colors at the beginning and how they gradually softened with time. Combined with the New York setting and the atmosphere of the early episodes, it gave the drama a visual identity that I found very appealing.

As for comic relief, the drama had its fair share thanks to the side characters, specifically the factory's ahjummas who liked to gossip about our main characters.

And then there's the ending. I know it's a major reason many people disliked the drama, but I personally didn't regret watching it because of the ending. It's open to interpretation, so you can choose how you understand it, but I liked the meaning (as there were two symbolic meanings which were related). I also appreciated the foreshadowing surrounding it. For me, the ending didn't erase the enjoyment I got from the rest of the drama. Instead, it was a powerful and fitting ending, even if it's a dark tale. Definitely one of the most shocking and artistic endings ever seen in a k-drama.

One thing that came to mind was the impact capitalism can have on people. Class conflict is an obvious theme throughout the drama, reflected in the disgust between the two men and their constant clashes. There’s also the blind obsession with revenge and greed, even extending to the psychology of wanting to live one floor above someone else while coming from a poor and chaotic background.

In the end, you have to be willing to enjoy its old-fashioned melodrama, character interactions, back-and-forth, and the increasingly troubled psychology of its main character. But personally, I found it genuinely fun. I liked the characters, I was invested in the romance, I thought the psychology of Young Gul was particularly interesting, and I loved the beginning in America, the OST and the cinematography. The female lead was likeable, the second lead became someone I actually wanted to see with her, and Yoo Ah In's performance was excellent.

Honestly don't care about the rating, many people like it, I recommended it to friends too, and you shouldn't rely on the bad reputation it has. Even in Korea, I've seen many positive comments and it had over 10% ratings.

(Check out the comment section of my review for more including about the ending)

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Bromance but great tension nonetheless

GUYS DISCLAIMER I spent the entire show waiting for these two men to kiss. THIS IS A BROMANCE. it wasnt in the tags when i started it and I was honestly not in the know about this being aired until i started it since it looked fun and interesting. ALso I just realised after writing all of this that this became a bit on the longer side.

So to the actual review of the show, as I went into this expecting an enemies-to-lovers situation. The setup was honestly right there, police x crime lord. The tension? There. The chemistry? There. The constant feelings of me yelling at my screen “why are you looking at him like that?” moments? Also there. SO loads of potential for that but censorship I know.
And then about 10 episodes in, after till no kiss and not even an actual romantic subplot, I discovered that this is, in fact, a bromance.

A little recap of me that i feel like this show needs for people to get my feelings correctly. Me knowing this was bromance did not stop me from yelling at my screen for the rest of the show:

“Okay, you should kiss him now.”
“Aww… this is the perfect time for a kiss.”
“He deserves a kiss. KISS HIM NOW!”

But honestly, even without the kisses, the sweetness between the two leads was there throughout, and there was some genuinely great tension between them. They have the kind of chemistry that makes you constantly wonder "surely they’re going to kiss this time?" only for the show to once again say absolutely not. And IMO thats what a good bromance does. Always makes you wonder if they will ever kiss or if that tension surely wouldnt delve into something deeper.

I also have to admit that I went into this expecting more of a mid-50s undercover cop vs. mob/triad leader kind of story. I had NO idea there was a supernatural element involved, so when the whole “werewolf poison” thing started happening, I was sitting there like… excuse me, what show am I watching? I was super thrown off, but well my fault for going in blind.

And honestly, it took me a couple of episodes to adjust because I was so convinced I was watching one type of story and suddenly we were dealing with supernatural elements. Also, I’m just saying, that “werewolf poison” looked suspiciously like vampire stuff to me, but whatever. That is admittedly nitpicking on my part once again.

Despite all that, it was funny, engaging, and entertaining enough that I ended up glued to the screen for a couple of hours. It’s not something I see myself rushing to rewatch anytime soon, but I definitely enjoyed my time with it.

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Masterpiece, must watch drama

I originally reviewed on the payback page which has now been turned into the uncut version, odd, but i definitely watched uncut, 100% sure of that as if it were anymore uncut it would be a different show! That being said, they do NC scenes perfectly, the emotional depth is intense.

Absolute masterpiece of a show, i've rewatched through twice now because i just keep going back and enjoying the character progression. Everything is so well acted, the story is intense, probably one of the hardest to watch BL shows i've seen so far and i've seen a lot of shows! But it's all done for a reason, nothing feels like filler scenes, or violence/nudity just to up viewership, which some shows throw these scenes in just for the fanbase, not for the plot, i'm fine with this, but for this show, everything is relevant, all of the storylines are interwoven beautifully, and despite the intensity, there are some really good humour moments.

If i could, i would ask the whole acting and production team to stay together as i would love to see more projects by them all, its rare to find a story so well rounded and that feels so complete.

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If something gets bathed in the moonlight, it becomes a myth. I guess our story will become a myth.

~ Why do you think you're the water god?
~ What sort of question is that? Then you, why do you think you are human?

The Bride of Habaek has a lot of meaningful subtext that many viewers seem to overlook. Beneath the surface, it’s actually a beautiful fantasy — a bit unconventional, quietly layered, and laced with humor that gives it its own charm. Not everything has to be about high-budget showcases of flashy superpowers.

The icing on the cake: Shin Sae Kyeong has a fear of water and Nam Joo Hyuk is afraid of heights, so they really had to push themselves and supported each other.

The Bride of Habaek starts with a little girl talking to an old man, introducing its universe as a balance between both realms, the Gods serving to maintain the nature, a symbolic scene of So Ah's story, an unfinished painting of Habaek. The Gods simply appeared many years ago, with no such thing as growing up. Ironically, they aren't much different from us. With their own complicated stories, sometimes immature, sometimes selfish, sometimes clueless. The story is the journey of a psychiatrist who sees Habaek as another of her patients, and they grow to be more human together. Why Habaek lost his powers? Why did he get them back only to save her? Remember his conversation with the old man when he asked why he had to go the human world to deserve his future title.

A fun detail: Habaek is actually part of Korean mythology, and there is a sequence where So Ah tells him what she read on the Internet, which was false.

About the ending: (in the comments)

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Fate and will

This drama is not all that it seems. What it lacks lacks in production value the drama makes up for with its heartwarming and fun storytelling. It tells of the age-old story of fate versus free will, centered around our male lead Li Changshou, who tries to avoid bringing about calamity by scheming his way into apparent mediocrity. Only eventually does he realize that his avoiding ways actually bring about the harm he had been so desperate to avoid.

With a lot of humor and a little romance, this is a great ensemble story to enjoy. At first you wonder what is going on with all these wacky characters and plots. But by the end, like Li Changshou, we realize that no one can shoulder the fate of the world solely on their own shoulders. It is only because of love and our bonds of fellowship that we can hope to change the fate of this world for good. Is it fate or our own free will? That is the question for the ages.

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So Darn Cute

The story is generic - a bit of 'enemies-to-lovers' with a bratty, entitled idol & a straight-by-the-book, couldn't-care-about-idol's-status stuntman. The episodes are short, and the overall vibe is very soft, slice-of-life. And that's the beauty of it. It's uncomplicated, sweet, and straight to the point. Very calming and cozy.

The main actors have good chemistry in their interactions and their banter, and the side characters also did a good job. I wouldn't say I saw any cringey acting in this one. I will say that the 1st episode was a little shaky for me. The editing was abrupt, but I think that's because this was in reel format before. However, after that, everything is done well, and the story follows beautifully.

Also, a side note, Lee Tae Hyung, the actor who plays Gu Jae Yeon in this show, his ears remind me of Wonho's ears

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