Reviews

A very positive slice of life vertical drama

I watched this while doing a vertical drama marathon with Wang Bing Xiang and quite surprise to see him pairing with Zheng Chu Chen because I haven't see her for quite sometime in vertical dramas.

This on is a non toxic and very positive slice of life vertical drama that I really enjoy watching it from beginning to end (but some people may feel bored because it take almost 3 hours to complete). There are less negative scheming drama or less face slapping here and there. This one more focused on building their life in fishing village during 1970s.

My personal opinion, Wang Bing Xiang really suited casting for this timelines drama (1970s, 1980s, 1990s), and he done a lot of it already. Love to watch interaction and relationship between the Village Head with Zheng Chu Chen character (both quite cunning and sly with each other).

Highly recommended to watch!!!

Note: I only watched this one version so far. There are currently 9 versions available (including this one) and all versions already finish aired.

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Welcom to 1980

Do you like ethical transgressions without consequences—featuring a bit of acting talent, plenty of filters, and an approach that perfectly portrays men as superior to women?
Then this is exactly the right thing for you!

No, seriously—
you can tell right from the first phone call, just by the way the woman speaks without any authority, that men are the ones who have to be listened to here, regardless of whether they’re right or wrong.
I was hoping the boyfriend might help her grow morally, but nothing doing.
The most unbelievable part, though, is a doctor disregarding his professional principles.

Sorry, but I don't need a second season; the storytellers and producers should probably just focus on inanimate objects instead.

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Love and Faith

I'm still not over this absolutely amazing and unforgettable love story. Honestly, I don't think any review could ever do this series justice. If someone asked me to recommend just one show to watch, this would be my answer without a second thought.

Everything about this series feels perfect—the plot, the characters, the storytelling, the emotions. Every single episode has a purpose, and not once did I feel like I was wasting my time. There isn't a single scene that I'd skip or regret watching.

What makes this series so special is that it isn't just about love between two people. It's about believing in yourself, finding hope when life feels impossible. It reminds you that even when everything seems to be falling apart, you can still find someone who makes life worth holding on to.

Tanrak and Barth's story beautifully captures the emotional conflict that many queer people experience. It explores the struggle between faith, identity, love, and acceptance with so much honesty and compassion. It shows that believing in God and being true to yourself don't have to exist in opposition. That message alone stayed with me long after I finished watching.

This series made me smile, laugh, cry, and sit in silence with emotions I didn't even realize I was carrying. Some moments are so raw and deeply moving that they reach places in your heart you've kept hidden for years.

What I admire most is its authenticity. Nothing feels exaggerated or unnecessary. The characters feel like real people, the emotions feel genuine, and the relationships develop so naturally that you almost forget you're watching a drama. It feels as if you're living alongside them rather than simply watching their story unfold.

This isn't just a BL romance—it's a story about love in its purest form: love for another person, love for yourself, faith, family, forgiveness, and hope.

I truly believe the hours you spend watching this series will stay with you long after it's over. It isn't just entertaining—it changes something within you. And by the end, you'll find yourself learning something from every single character.

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ENEMIES FIND LOVE

The story brings forth the couragious and ambitious female general, Fu Yixiao, of Jinxiu joining hands and later falling in love with her once sworn enemy, First Prince of Susha, Feng Suige, to find the people who wanted to kill her. However, later, they discover they both were betrayed by their closest ones. In this journey of finding the truth, they start trusting each other and work together to pull down their enemies and gradually fell in love.
The story is engaging with good character portrayal outstanding acting of every cast member. Sometimes the actions of the princess of Susha seemed to be very foolish but they teach a lesson in every person's life that we must never be blinded by love or by our own assumptions. It also portrayed how women are seen in society and also gives the lesson to every woman to be independent, couragious and brave. I, personally, have been liking the acting of Chen Zheyuan for a long time and I started watching it for him but at the end I also cannot help praising Li Qin's acting. Both of them were able to build every moment of this enemies-to-lovers story very smoothly.
The music was also very suitable for the plot, bringing the up the sorrow , love, deepness of the story and every single feeling to the viewers.

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Boring with nothing to make up for it

Things I liked

1 I thought the premise was good. I love radio and it seemed a good plot that could be funny, original and exciting. I was wrong.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. I didn't hate her, that would be too much, but after the first episodes, i started to see only her defaults. She wasn't a great actress to start with,, and although some thought it was good that she was ordinary, I don't care about ordinary when I watch a drama. I want looks and talent. Looks are objective so that's fine if I don't find someone attractive, talent will prevail each and every time. I didn't find her especially talented and after a few episodes I gave up. Life is too short for boring dramas.

2 The ML. I could write the exact same things. Not attractive to me, not talented enough, no chemistry with the FL. I'm not sure why I wasted my time to watch so many episodes. I hoped it would get interesting, but she never behaved like a woman in love and he never gave me any hero vibes. At the end of the day a mismatch that went nowhere.

3 The script. It was quite boring, and to be honest I think most people could come up with it. I love clichés and tropes but only if there are swooning moments and funny moments and here there was none. A true disappointment. I give it a 3 for the premise that was a bit original.

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Reborn Rookie : Every Episode Was a Blast!!

What an entertaining ride this was!! From start to finish, there wasnt a single dull moment. The pacing was fast and engaging yet it never felt rushed or sacrificed important aspects like character building, character development or plot progression. The drama knew exactly when to slow down for emotional moments and when to go all out with its twists.

Before starting it, although i was excited, i still had my doubts because of writer Kim Soon ok. Her last few dramas were quite disappointing. However, i absolutely loved The Penthouse so i decided to give this one a fair chance and im so glad i did. This time, she delivered.

Although the drama is adapted from a novel by the same author as Reborn Rich, its obvious that the writer made plenty of changes to better suit the television format and make the story more entertaining. Those changes really worked in the drama's favor.

At its core, the story revolves around the intense rivalry between Chairman Kang and his eldest daughter, Kang Jae Gyeong. That father-daughter conflict remains the driving force throughout the entire series but the soul swap twist, where the chairman gets a second chance in a younger body makes it more interesting and entertaining.

One thing the drama repeatedly emphasizes is that no matter how smart or ambitious the children become, their father is always several steps ahead of them.

Jae Gyeong inherited her father's business instincts, intelligence and strategic thinking. Throughout her rivalry with her twin brother and the emotional scars caused by her father's remarriage to their former butler, she gradually transformed into someone consumed by greed and power. While those circumstances certainly influenced her personality, i dont think they fully excuse her actions. She was already over forty years old and capable of making her own decisions. At some point, personal responsibility matters. Her greed, jealousy, insecurity and hunger for power were already part of who she was and i believe those traits would have eventually surfaced regardless of the circumstances.

Chairman Kang wasnt innocent either and the drama never tried to portray him as one. Infact, his character development was one of the strongest parts of the series. Losing his wealth, influence and authority after getting a second chance at life forced him to experience the struggles of ordinary people for the very first time. Only then did he begin to understand how his arrogance, prejudice and emotional neglect had deeply affected his children and those around him. Watching that gradual realization unfold was really satisfying.

One of my favorite scenes in the entire drama was when he finally realized what he had done to Hwang Jun Hyeon, poor but hardworking young man whose entire world revolved around soccer and his beloved grandmother. Chairman's sincere apology felt really earned and became one of the drama's most memorable moments for me.

The supporting cast was equally enjoyable, especially Jae Seong. Although he initially came across as a negative character, he ended up having one of the best redemption arcs in the series. Personally, i think his character development was even better than Chairman Kang's. I enjoyed him much more in the second half after he turned over a new leaf. Unlike Jae Gyeong, who allowed her greed to completely consume her, Jae Seong found his way back before crossing the point of no return.

The youngest daughter, Kang Bang Geul was fun and entertaining whenever she appeared. However, compared to Chairman Kang, Jae Gyeong and Jae Seong, she simply wasnt given as much depth. Those three characters completely carried the emotional weight of the story.

Acting wise, i must say both Lee Junyoung and Jeon Hyejin were absolute beasts. They carried the entire show on their shoulders.

Lee Junyoung has such incredible range. Whether he is playing a positive or negative character, every role feels distinct. There are actors whose performances often feel the same regardless of the role but thats never the case with Lee Junyoung because he always makes sure each of his characters has its own identity. Here, the way he portrayed an old chairman whose soul was trapped inside a young body was absolutely fantastic.

Yes, his performance wasnt completely identical to Son Hyun joo's portrayal but i think that was intentional. For a large portion of the drama, his character had to be more comedic whereas Chairman Kang's original personality was much more serious. However, whenever the serious scenes arrived, whether with his loyal director or with his children, he perfectly captured the original Chairman Kang's intensity and presence. Watching him switch effortlessly between playful comedy and serious emotional moments was fantastic.

Another actor who left a deep impression with her acting was Jeon Hyejin. The way she portrayed the antagonist, Jae Gyeong, was absolutely brilliant. She had one of the most author backed roles in the drama alongside Chairman Kang and she completely delivered. Antagonist roles heavily depend on the actor's performance and she absolutely nailed it. Although Jae Gyeong was pure evil, i loved watching all her manipulative schemes and plots against anyone who threatened her position.

Jin Goo also did a fantastic job. His character had one of the best development arcs in the drama and he executed it exactly as required. His gradual transformation from an almost negative character into a positive one felt believable and convincing.

Special mention to Son Hyun joo as well. Although his screen time was limited, every time he appeared, you could feel his powerful screen presence and aura.

One aspect i especially loved was the emotional complexity of the father-daughter rivalry. I liked that this wasnt a battle between complete strangers where both sides only wanted to destroy each other. Instead, the protagonist was the father and the antagonist was his daughter. Even while trying to teach her a lesson, he still cared for her and wanted her to return to the right path. It made for a very unique and emotional protagonist-antagonist dynamic.

The plot twists were absolute bangers. Almost every episode ended with a shocking reveal or cliffhanger that kept me completely invested and excited for the following week.

At last i will say Reborn Rookie was an incredibly satisfying watch. I was a bit doubtful when it first started but it ended up being far better than what i had expected.

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“Date in Bed” Saving This Show!

I know it's a bit early to write a full review, but we're almost halfway through the season, and I feel like I've seen enough to get a solid sense of what this show has to offer. Unless they're saving something genuinely unique or a major twist for the second half, I think I have a pretty good idea of where it's headed.

Since it's called Love Lab, I went in expecting people to fall in love under genuinely unusual or experimental circumstances. The first story, Date in Bed, absolutely delivered. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the concept, but as the episodes progressed, I realized it was surprisingly meaningful while still being undeniably steamy. It struck a nice balance between emotional connection and physical chemistry, and I found myself genuinely rooting for the couple that came out of it.

The second story, Cabin in the Woods, was the complete opposite for me. It was so dull that it nearly put me to sleep. I kept watching because I was convinced there had to be some big twist around the corner, but instead it turned into the same "my ideal type," "puppy face," "cat face" conversations that I've already seen in countless other dating shows. There was nothing that made it feel like Love Lab.Honestly, this storyline could have wrapped up in three episodes, but it's apparently continuing into the next one too. Sigh.

As for the couples, I honestly think they'd all be better off going their separate ways. So far, I just don't see many genuine mutual feelings developing between any of them. And the athlete guy, in particular, gives me really shady vibes. Maybe the remaining episodes will prove me wrong, but based on what we've seen so far, I'm not convinced any of these matches have much long-term potential.

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Neither Hot nor Cold

I appreciated this series for being made with care and for daring to address the themes of religion and sexuality within the church, but the overall approach felt a bit restrained to me. I felt that Tanrak's inner conflict between his faith and his feelings wasn't explored with enough depth or with as much intensity, at least. There are definitely some strong scenes that got me in my feels, but regarding the rest of the story I just didn't get as emotionally invested. As for the main characters, they were well-written overall with an interesting background, but the plot focused too much on them, it made any support characters feel almost irrelevant to the story and the universe of the series feel small.

Acting-wise, Gemini and Fourth delivered as always and everyone in the cast in general did a great job with their roles.

Overall, this series has definitely quality and it's well-made, but this more optimistic take, just didn't click with me. Maybe, I had set my standards higher based on the pilot trailer and expected a more dramatic result, but I still recommend the series. There's nothing really bad or wrong about it -- it simply didn't resonate with me as a viewer.

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A piece of art

TTH was the most intense serie I’ve watch so far. Gem4th SLAYED their acting so freaking hard, combined with P’Aof directing and attention to details, the lighting, the editing,..... You don’t just watch them struggle and emphatise with them. You FEEL with them. It’s a whole experience and I’m not kidding. I’ve rarely felt so much while watching a serie. I have no words. It is perfection.

There’s no need to be religious to watch the show. From the very beginning, I’ve been feeling that God (and Father Anon), could be viewed as a personification of “society” rejecting gays (or any type of alternative relationship/love). If you see it from that perspective, everyone can identify to Barth/Tanrak, even when you are not religious, as long as you struggle to be yourself in fear of being judge by others. And the whole show is just about the fear of being rejected when you are different, and how that fear can be worse than anything else. (On that, I would have loved to see them address more directly the fact that the whole lying and hiding the relationship was the real sin, and once Tan accepted who he was, he was back on God’s path, especially as it is one big point in what the Father says to Tan (‘love is never wrong, it’s our actions that matters’)).

I would have wanted to see them go back to school and be accepted/forgiven directly. But I think the timeskip might have a symbolic: If you see god/Father Anon as a personification of society, it makes sense to make us wait for 2025, when gay marriage is legal, to have them come back and be acknowledged by god, aka society. I still would have preferred them to show us more: More of BarthTanrak growing up, how they would have learn to come at peace with who they are and their believes,.... Instead of having them talk about it. But I’m still satisfied with what P’Aof gave us, cause I think it’s what mattered to him. So I’ll just take it, cause this man is a freaking genious.

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A good experiment

The “Meet in bed” couple had the heart racing with enthusiasm. Each interaction had an energy of yearning. The audience (myself) is engaged in having them become a successful couple in their relationship. The “Cabin on the hill” couples challenged the dynamic of natural instinct, where our innate ability to win over a mate is displayed. The mind overtakes the heart, in which reason gives way to connect themselves with superficial human identifiers. The authenticity of each participant is exposed. Making it a worthwhile debate as to who best deserves whom. Love it!

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This drama makes a strong first impression with its nostalgic atmosphere, emotional storytelling, and excellent chemistry between Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi. The first four episodes beautifully establish the leads' complicated childhood bond, balancing warmth with heartbreak as their lives become increasingly intertwined.
Song Weilong delivers a restrained yet deeply emotional performance, while Zhang Jingyi once again proves why she excels at portraying resilient, relatable heroines. Their interactions feel natural, with plenty of quiet moments that speak louder than words.

The cinematography captures the 1990s setting beautifully, and the pacing is steady, allowing viewers to become invested in both the characters and their emotional journey. Although the suspenseful storyline is only beginning to unfold, the drama already hints at deeper family secrets and future conflicts that promise plenty of angst.
After four episodes, Love for You feels like a heartfelt slow-burn romance with just the right amount of mystery. It was worth waiting for this long.....

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A Splendid Match? More Like a Splendid Surprise

I am genuinely SHOOK by how good A Splendid Match was. I did not see this coming at all. The show was not highly rated or talked about that much, so I went in with pretty normal expectations, but damn, was it good.

I do think this show is not for everyone because it is a VERY slow burn. It takes its time, and romance is not the main focus, especially in the first half. The actual romance really kicks in after Episode 20. However, the show is so interesting that I genuinely did not mind waiting. It has everything: court intrigue, family disputes, romance, war, revenge, friendship, business, and almost a chess-game-like battle of minds. Surprisingly, despite having so many different elements, the plot is very easy to follow and never becomes overly complicated.

There was honestly never a boring or dull moment for me. Even when the focus was not on the romance, I was still completely invested. I genuinely enjoyed this show so much, and so far, it is one of my favorite dramas of the year. I definitely think it deserves more attention, although, again, I understand that the slow-burn structure will not work for everyone.

First, I NEED to talk about the male lead, Chi Sha. OH MY GOD. I have watched him before, but are people sleeping on this man?! I really hope this drama skyrockets his career and opens new doors for him because WHERE HAS HE BEEN?

He does not have that typical pretty-boy handsomeness, but at the same time, he is absolutely gorgeous. He has such a masculine presence, and the casting was perfect. His acting was amazing, and he suited this character so well. I loved the contrast between his cold, ruthless side and the incredibly soft side he showed only to her.

Yan Yuan is such an interesting character. He is definitely not your typical green flag because we literally start the show with him on the wrong side, killing people. He can be ruthless, but he is also capable of so much mercy and tenderness. I honestly think the actor is a huge reason I loved the character this much because he portrayed every side of him so well. He is charismatic, masculine, and ridiculously attractive. His smile? Amazing. His hair down? AMAZING. His costumes? Amazing. The black wardrobe? Amazing. His fighting scenes? Also amazing. I could talk about him all day.

He is officially my new male crush. I enjoyed every second he was on screen.

And Yan Yuan as a hopeless romantic? OH MY GOD, WE LOVE TO SEE IT. I love a man who is easy when it comes to love. Once he fell for her, he accepted it. He did not spend 20 episodes denying his feelings. He admitted it to himself quite quickly, confessed openly, followed her around, supported her, and was completely gone for her. I LOVE HIM.

As for Ren Min, her character here reminded me a little of her character in The Rise of Ning, but I loved her there, so I did not mind at all. I love a strong female lead who is not just kind and good but can also be ruthless when necessary. This girl was SLAPPING people left and right, and she refused to bend for anyone.

I loved the complexity of Jin Zhao. I loved her acting, her styling, and the shift in her appearance from an unmarried woman to a married woman. I also LOVED her businesswoman era. I enjoyed watching her relationships with the people around her, how forgiving she could be, how strongly she fought for justice, and how fiercely she protected the people she loved. I genuinely loved and enjoyed her character from beginning to end.

Now for one of the most beautiful parts of the show: THE MAIN COUPLE.

Their chemistry and romance were amazing. They are easily one of my favorite couples of the year. Their relationship was surprisingly mature, open, and supportive. I loved them so much.

And their scenes after they got married? OH MY GOD. They were so romantic, intimate, close, and touchy. Amazing. The way he was constantly picking her up? I loved every second of it. Their scenes together portrayed love and intimacy so beautifully. Their chemistry was not necessarily explosive or electric; it was something deeper, softer, and more beautiful. They genuinely felt like two people who loved each other deeply.

My only issue with their romance is that it starts WAY too abruptly.

The show spends so much time in the beginning focusing on the female lead and the second male lead, and then suddenly, after the three-year time jump, the romance with the male lead kicks into high gear. I do not think that transition was handled very well. We clearly see Yan Yuan falling in love with her throughout the beginning of the show, but with Jin Zhao, I do not think we saw enough of her slowly falling for him.

Suddenly, he admits his feelings, and she is basically like, “Okay, I love you too.” I needed more! I wanted to SEE her falling in love with him. This genuinely annoyed me because the foundation was there, but the emotional transition was rushed. Still, I loved them together, and once the romance finally started, I enjoyed every second of it.

You really do have to wait for the love story, though. I waited more than 20 episodes! But I was okay with it because so much character development and plot progression happened before then.

Now, for the hidden star of the show: WINWIN AS YE XIAN.

OH MY GOD. I LOVED THAT MAN.

I enjoyed him from the very beginning. I know a lot of people hated him for hurting Jin Zhao, and yes, what he did was wrong, but I understood his character. Ye Xian is someone with an incredibly high rank who is feared by everyone, yet he has never truly been loved by his father. He constantly puts on this strong, untouchable persona, but underneath it, he is deeply broken.

He also lives with a serious heart condition and always feels as if something inside him is missing. So while I absolutely think he made mistakes and hurt her, I understood where his behavior came from.

His character development was one of my favorite parts of the show. His chemistry with the female lead was also amazing. I fully expected him to become evil after she married Yan Yuan because that is what second male leads usually do. And yes, he had a reaction to the marriage, but honestly, his reaction was understandable. What I loved was that he never truly became evil. Instead, he had such a beautiful redemption arc.

His love for her could be intense and even violent at times, but it was completely in character for him. Winwin did an amazing job, and I genuinely cannot wait to see him in more leading roles because he deserves them.

Something else I absolutely loved was how close Jin Zhao remained to Ye Xian. You rarely see a female lead maintain such a deep and important relationship with the second male lead. Their friendship was beautiful.

What she told him about why she could never love him romantically was also so meaningful. She basically said that loving him would feel like loving herself because she saw herself in him. He was her mirror. That was exactly why she could never fall in love with him. She saw too much of herself in him.

Meanwhile, he also saw himself in her, which was exactly why he wanted her to love him so desperately.

Their story was beautiful even though they did not end up together. I was okay with that because, until the end, they still deeply cared about each other. She always tried to support him, and I loved that Yan Yuan never tried to stop her from being close to Ye Xian. Of course, he got jealous sometimes and fought with him, but he never tried to control her relationship with him.

And eventually, Yan Yuan and Ye Xian became friends too.

THEN THEY KILLED HIM.

OH MY GOD, DID I CRY.

I have not cried over a character like that in such a long time. His death completely broke me. And then Yan Yuan carrying him on his back? I was DONE.

What made it even more heartbreaking was how Yan Yuan allowed Jin Zhao to mourn Ye Xian. He understood how devastated she was. He was not jealous or insecure. He simply let her grieve someone who had been such an important part of her life. Ren Min's acting in those scenes was incredible. Every time I see that scene, I still cry.

As heartbreaking as it was, I also think it was a perfect ending for Ye Xian's character. It was better than watching him slowly die from his heart condition. He died proving his father wrong. He proved that he was capable of fighting on the battlefield and dying while defending his country.

I loved him. I loved his character. I loved everything about him. I am just still heartbroken.

And then his bodyguard died too. AND YAN YUAN'S BODYGUARD. Oh my God. Those last few episodes destroyed me. I cried so much.

I also need to mention the young emperor because OH MY GOD, I loved that kid. He was so cute and so much fun to watch. I only wish we had seen him at the end becoming a powerful emperor.

I also loved Jin Zhao's cousin. He was the definition of a supportive brother, and I really wish we had seen more of him.

On the other hand, this show had SO MANY vile, disgusting, insufferable characters that I wanted to reach through the screen and kill them myself. One of them was Jin Zhao's female cousin. That woman was such a brat, and I really wish we had seen her receive the punishment she deserved.

And Yan Yuan's nephew? OH MY GOD. I was genuinely so happy when he died because I was DONE with that psychopath. I hated him. I hated his storyline. I hated every second he appeared on screen.

There were a lot of horrible characters, but thankfully, the good characters were good enough to balance them out.

I would have given this show a 10/10 if it were not for that DAMN ENDING.

WHAT WAS THAT?!

It is not even that the ending was sad or tragic. My problem is: WHERE WAS THE ENDING? There basically was no ending!

I was so disappointed. You had 40 episodes and could not spare FIVE MINUTES to show us the characters being happy? No one wanted to spend the final minutes of the drama watching the villain! They could have removed so many unnecessary scenes and given us a proper ending.

The villain's downfall was also extremely unsatisfying. We should have gotten a time jump. We should have seen Jin Zhao and Yan Yuan happy together. Give them a child or something! Show us the young emperor growing into a powerful ruler. Show us the other characters. Give us the happily ever after!

Instead, the ending was rushed, incomplete, and genuinely bad. I was sitting there like, “NO. THAT'S IT?!”

Despite the terrible ending, though, I still loved the show. It was genuinely well made and such a pleasant surprise. The plot was easy to follow, the costumes were beautiful, the sets were gorgeous, and the makeup and overall production were very well done. The OST was also lovely. Nothing extremely memorable for me, but still very nice.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend A Splendid Match if you enjoy chess-game-style plotting, court intrigue, politics, family conflicts, revenge, friendship, strong character development, and a beautiful slow-burn romance. It has so many different elements, and somehow, they all work together.

This show genuinely surprised me, and despite my issues with the rushed romantic transition and that AWFUL excuse for an ending, it is still one of my favorite dramas of the year.

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