Reviews

Ryan Ren Smolders

I needed a short palate cleanser after long dramas, and Ryan Ren's tiny dramas fit the ticket. In this one, Ryan Ren did what he does best: look dangerous and kiss passionately.

Liu Nian was stunning in her chunky heels and gorgeous Qipaos. She's a tiny thing; Ryan Ren could pick her up and carry her about with one hand!

The less said about the plot, the better. The noble idiocy wasn't noble, but it scored high in the idiocy range, as an anonymous phone call would have accomplished the same without instilling angst and hatred. But that would have forced the writer to come up with a different scenario—wait, what am I saying? A writer? I don't think so. These Republic Era shorts are all cut/paste from other dramas. No originality needed. Writers optional.

Read More

Una cámara y un sueño

Qué bello encontrar lo que te apasiona y esforzarte por ello, en especial con la alegría que eso trae. Si bien eso fue algo corto para la protagonista por diversas circunstancias, esta serie fue una muestra de lo que es la resiliencia y también el aprovechar las oportunidades cuando se presentan.
Me encantó que hubiera tres parejas en la serie con su propia línea de historia que me hacía sentir que me trasladaba a cada uno de sus mundos, pero sin desligarse de la historia general. Me reí, lloré y enamoré viendo tan preciosas historias.

Si buscas una historia con toque de relaciones complejas y a la vez conmovedoras, espectacular romance y amor genuino en todas sus formas, disfrutarás de esta serie.

Read More

A surprisingly comforting royal romance

I honestly didn't expect to love Perfect Crown this much, but I ended up being completely invested in it.

One of my favorite things about the drama was definitely Hee-joo. I really loved her as a female lead. She's strong, outspoken, and refuses to let people walk all over her, even when she's dealing with royalty. But at the same time, she has her own insecurities, especially when it comes to her father and the feeling that she's never doing enough or that she doesn't fully deserve her place. That contrast made her feel very human to me, and I could relate to her in some ways.

And then there's I-an... probably one of the biggest green flags I've seen in a drama. I had a good feeling about him from the beginning, and thankfully I was right. He respects Hee-joo and her choices and never treats her as something that belongs to him. I also loved realizing that, even before he fully acknowledged it himself, he already seemed tired of the monarchy and everything that came with it. Finding out that he had loved Hee-joo since their first meeting at school made their relationship even sweeter to me.

Their romance was one of the highlights of the drama. There is technically another man who has feelings for Hee-joo, but I wouldn't really consider this a love triangle. I never felt like Hee-joo was torn between two people, and his feelings eventually became much more obsessive and possessive than genuinely romantic. So thankfully, this never had the frustrating love-triangle feeling that a lot of dramas have.

I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Secretary Do. I loved both her personality and her style, and I was so happy to see her and I-an's butler together in the end because I had been expecting something between them.

The ending was probably one of my favorite parts. I loved that the final romantic moment happened at a match because of how much it contrasted with the beginning of their relationship, when so much of what they did was an act and they couldn't even properly kiss. Seeing I-an and Hee-joo kiss openly in front of the entire stadium felt incredibly symbolic: this time, they weren't performing for anyone.

I also didn't expect the drama to end with the abolition of the monarchy when I first started watching, but as the story progressed, I began to suspect that it might happen. In the end, I think it was the perfect conclusion for these characters. Rather than Hee-joo having to change herself to fit into the monarchy, they finally get to live outside of the system that had controlled so much of their lives.

Another thing I really appreciated is how surprisingly chill the drama felt to watch. Even with the political conflicts and more serious moments, it never felt exhausting to me. It's actually the kind of drama I could easily see myself rewatching someday, which is something I can't say about every drama I love. There's just something very comforting and easy to watch about it despite everything happening in the story.

The plot twists may not be the most unpredictable or shocking I've ever seen, but honestly, I didn't care. I was so emotionally invested in the characters and their relationships that I enjoyed the drama immensely anyway. It even made me tear up several times.

Perfect Crown may not be perfect in every possible way, but it gave me almost everything I personally want from a drama: a female lead I genuinely loved, a green-flag male lead, a romance I could fully root for, no real love triangle, characters I became attached to, and an ending that actually felt satisfying and meaningful.

I really, really loved this drama.

Read More

A thrilling dark fantasy where ghosts are the least of your problems…

A well written dark fantasy, beautifully shot and produced! The plot is actually both pretty straightforward and amazingly thrilling at the same time. I especially enjoyed the little twist with Saenggang’s grandmother being the actual big bad mastermind behind the Evil Ghost. It makes perfect sense in terms of motive, practicality, profitability, as well as historical harem fight logic, and yet i was hooked into the show’s narrative of the Queen Dowager as the mastermind, so bravo writing team 😃😃! I also like the reveal that the late Crown Prince was always evil, that the King didn’t randomly kill his son, but did so because the CP killed his siblings first. Was I slightly annoyed that the very obviously dark-spirit, arguably Evil King was redeemed by the narrative in the end? Yeah sure. Especially with the story showing the late CP doing the exact same thing his father did, but was punished because he got caught and found out the truth. Because for me, the current King doesn’t deserve the crown any more than his dead siblings or his son whom he killed for discovering his secret. And the fact that our MCs spend the whole show resenting the King just to do everything to save him and spare him in the end. He doesn’t deserve to live after all that he did and the people that died by his hand/because of him. Ig they couldn’t let the throne be in chaos, and that he “atoned” for his sins by promising to suffer for eternity when he dies, but for me that plot resolution is weak 😭💀. Ig in a sense, he’ll always be haunted by his crimes, so yeah 😭.

I like that the message of the story is there are no ghost more sinister than the human evil. The story started with villainzing the ghosts and spirits, and ends with every arc revealing the real evil is the living human all along. From the Queen Dowager, to the King, to the King’s mother, they all are the real evils, scheming and killing innocent people. And the spirits are the poor souls just seeking justice. And although the Crown Prince being the main villain, the titular “East Palace Curse”, he too was shown to be sinful when he was alive. And I also like that despite everything, our MCs seek to let the souls pass to the other side in peace. Even Gucheon who claimed he didn’t want to send the Crown Prince to oblivion, while yes, avoid that choice out of fear of turning into a vengeful ghost like the CP, also avoid doing that out of his own compassion.

I also like the portrayal of parental relationships here. There’s all very dysfunctional, but still stem from a twisted type of love and care. Like the King being ruthless and evil, still care and spare for his only (?) daughter Saenggang, despite his disdain for those who can hear ghosts (stem from his own son learning his secrets), and her mother KNOWING his secrets. And even when he killed the CP, he was sad and haunted by it. And of course, our MCs’ relationships with their mothers. Saenggang who longs for and bear a grudge against whomever killed her mother, and Gucheon who is haunted by the death and oblivion of his mother. And then the King himself and his relationship with both his mothers, which are both typical of historical palace intrigue drama relationship, filled with schemes and resentment, but also ties back with his relationship with his children. The strained relationship being the cause of the CP’s villainy and yet Saenggang’s empathy.

Shout out to Gucheon and Saenggang! What an amazing duo! And although they had little romantic moments, their relationship and chemistry was beautiful. It really hits different when she drugged him and sacrificed herself to distract and kill the CP, and when Gucheon cuts his own neck to come save Saenggang faster, that was peak 🔥🔥

I did enjoy the leads Nam Joohyuk and Roh Yeonseo’s performances. It was nice. But my outstanding performances go to the King - Cho Seungwoo, Queen Dowager - Jang Youngnam and the King’s mother - Hwang Younghee. They are too good at being villains it’s sickening 🔥🔥 10/10 performances!!

Overall, I had fun with this one! I do like dark fantasy and last time I watched smth similar was Dear Hongrang. Pretty different dramas plot wise, but they give me same mystery dark, ritualistic vibes. Shoutout to music team as well, nice soundtrack! Bonus points because this one is HE! Although the leads didn’t officially end up tgt, they’re both alive and traveling tgt, so 10/10 for the HE! 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Overall rating: 8/10!

Read More

From Gangster Trouble to a Heartwarming Romance

Our Sticky Love may not be a drama with major twists or a revolutionary storyline, but that is precisely where its charm lies. Honestly, from the beginning, I never expected this drama to feel like a serious crime drama, even though it has a criminal backdrop. As a rom-com, I actually expected it to have plenty of jokes and entertaining moments. However, I felt that the humor in the early episodes was somewhat lacking. It was only toward the final episodes that I found the comedy more effective and genuinely funny.

Jung Hae-in and Ha Young truly brought their characters to life. Every glance, small touch, and piece of dialogue between them felt natural and sincere. Their chemistry is one of the drama’s biggest strengths and makes their relationship enjoyable to watch.

The village ladies and Tae-ha’s grandmother are also the heart and soul of this drama. They bring plenty of laughter and warmth, which help balance out the darker side of the crime storyline.

The depiction of Candy Village, with its beautiful and cozy atmosphere, is also visually soothing. The simple countryside setting makes the drama feel comfortable and relaxing to watch. The background music also complements the atmosphere well, although I don’t think there was any particularly iconic or memorable soundtrack.

I was somewhat frustrated with Dr. An’s character. At the beginning, as a psychiatrist, I felt that he was too foolish and naive when it came to understanding the situation. He didn’t really understand what his partner wanted and sometimes acted recklessly without considering the patient’s guardian’s consent. Thankfully, as the story progressed, his character developed and he was no longer portrayed as being quite that foolish.

In the middle of the drama, there were several episodes where the pacing felt rather slow. I became a little bored and found myself wanting the story to move on to the main conflict. Fortunately, the final episodes made up for it with a fairly satisfying climax.

Overall, I don’t think Our Sticky Love is a drama filled with iconic scenes or moments that would make me want to immediately rewatch it. However, it is still an enjoyable drama to watch. The story is light, the chemistry between the leads is fun to watch, the comedy becomes more entertaining toward the end, and the warm village setting adds a comforting atmosphere. It may not be a drama that will stay with me for a long time, but it is still a pleasant and enjoyable watch.

Read More

Last experiment is such a Bummer!!

I genuinely wanna know exactly WHAT WAS THE EXPERIMENT in the Heart King Game???
Six whole episodes for ONE experiment and somehow, there was barely any experiment in it! Honestly, it felt way too stretched out and this feels like every other dating show.

Also, Kang Ho and Ga-yeon need to get a room ASAP! Just send them somewhere private because they seem like they might pounce on each other at any moment. Plus Gayeon was never genuinely into Jeongmin and eventually will do him dirty. Poor guy deserves so much better he’s way too genuine.

And Yerim, girl… GET A GRIP! I honestly wish she had played it cooler and not given Kang Ho any reaction. But I guess she couldn’t act unbothered while watching something happen right in front of her. Thou I love how cutee and naive she is.

As far as other participants are concerned we barely see them! Soo I am gonna pass on the last episode bcz idc anymore and no couple is worth rooting for.

The first experiment was actually a REAL EXPERIMENT, and I loved it. But after that, all the experiments were mostly a letdown and not because the couples didn’t end up dating, but because none of them really felt that unusual or exciting. The drunk blind date was interesting too, but the experiments involving multiple people were just straight-up bizarre.

Read More

A refreshing drama!

At the first time when i saw the 7.9 on MDL i was not sure about start this drama but 7.9 is not a bad thing and i always judge my myself so i gave a chance to it.

And honestly it's was a good surprise, i can understand why people are a bit upset, it's a very light story, no big politics things, no big plots, it's not even a big romance BUT this lighthearted story has its charm. You don’t often get to see these kinds of settings and environments, and the interactions between the characters are really nice.

It's not the drama of the century but if you want something light, with a lot of humor, a bit of romance, it's a drama for you.

Read More

Don't trust hate reviews. It's better than you can expect

I don't know about you but this is actually so good. So long since i enjoy a really good kdrama. I know its just a drama but why do i can relate to some characters. I've watched a lot of kdrama this year and this one singlehandedly my #1 for this year. Tbh I have a little expectation too since not a lot of people talk about this but it surprise me in a very good way. I found myself waiting every week for a new episode till the end. Beautiful ending. Beautiful characters. Beautiful storyline. I love the concept of hearing each other thoughts. I get boring with some kdrama switching soul and body and all. The main characters visual is so pleasant to watch i know them in other kdrama and as expected they did so good here as well. Hope to see them again in another season.... If possible. Don't trust other hate reviews though. It's really good.

Read More

Revenge, Grief, Corruption, and Chemistry That Earns Its Place

Payback was my first Thai drama of any genre, and it was a very strong introduction.

What impressed me most is that this is not a romance carrying a weak plot. The story would still work without the romance. At its core, Payback is about grief, revenge, corruption, exploitation, guilt, and the way power can distort an entertainment industry from the inside.

Sun enters Dream Entertainment specifically to get revenge on Bank/Sunny, the ex-boyfriend who stole the money Sun had saved for his mother’s cancer treatment and disappeared after Sun’s brother was killed. What Sunny does not realize at first is that Sun also overheard him admitting that he had encouraged the man who killed Sun’s brother. That makes Sun’s revenge much deeper than simple betrayal or theft.

I really liked Sun as a character. He is physically strong, blunt, observant, emotionally closed off, and almost completely uninterested in celebrity status or hierarchy. He doesn’t even recognize the most important people in the industry. Minlee Thanakorn also completely transformed for the role. I had already seen him off-screen being sweet, playful, and extremely huggable, so I genuinely did not recognize him immediately as this tough former debt collector.

Jay is equally interesting. At first he seems like the polished, powerful, slightly frightening man who controls every room he enters. Then we discover that “Director Arthur” is actually the son of Dream Entertainment’s founder, whose company was taken from her through manipulation and corruption before her death. Jay has quietly returned to dismantle the people who destroyed her company and helped destroy her.

That is why one of my favorite moments comes at the end. For most of the drama, the title Payback seems obviously connected to Sun’s revenge. But when Jay walks into the board meeting, reveals that he legally controls 61% of Dream Entertainment, destroys the corrupt takeover plan, and is asked what exactly he thinks he is doing, his answer is:

“It’s payback.”

That line reframes the whole title. This was never only Sun’s revenge. It was Jay’s too.

The relationship between Sun and Jay worked for me because it developed slowly inside the larger story. Sun is attracted to Jay much earlier than he wants to admit, but he spends a long time pushing him away because he has convinced himself that happiness is something he no longer deserves. Jay recognizes that before Sun does and repeatedly confronts him with the fact that he is still alive and allowed to want a life.

One of the most emotional moments for me was when Sun nearly dies and dreams of his dead brother and mother. His brother tells him to stop living for them and simply live his own life. That scene absolutely destroyed me.

The supporting characters were also unusually strong. Kajorn became one of my favorites because he genuinely cares about the actors he manages and repeatedly tries to protect them from an industry where young performers are treated like commodities. Sky’s camera trauma was painful but handled with real care, and I loved Pakin’s role in helping him begin reclaiming something that had once terrified him. Sia Jo was one of the best surprises of the show: intimidating appearance, huge heart, and some desperately needed comic relief.

The entertainment-industry corruption plot got extremely dark. SP, Kongkiat, and the people around them are not just shady businessmen. They exploit young actors, use sexual access as currency, manipulate casting and scripts, destroy careers, and eventually reveal themselves to be capable of far worse. The series is very clear about what happens when money and influence are allowed to operate without accountability.

The uncut intimate scenes were far more explicit than I had seen in a drama before. The chemistry was excellent, and the intimacy had emotional meaning. I generally watch C-dramas, and most of the BLs I’ve watched have been Chinese or Chinese-adjacent, so this being my first Thai drama made that difference especially noticeable.

Still, Minlee and Toptap are excellent together. Their off-screen chemistry is playful and adorable, while Sun and Jay feel completely different onscreen. I especially loved the little callback to their first meeting when Jay tells Sun that he is Sun’s now, and Sun is confused until Jay reminds him:

“You bought me for two baht, remember?”

That ridiculous half-smoked cigarette transaction somehow became one of the sweetest running jokes in the entire drama.

Overall, Payback gave me exactly what I want from a BL: a strong story that does not depend on the romance to survive, layered characters, meaningful supporting roles, real thematic substance, and chemistry that feels earned rather than inserted.

A very good drama, and a very intense first introduction to Thai television.

Read More

Actual 2ML syndrome

Overall I enjoyed this show. It was quite fun and didn't ask too much of me. What I did find refreshing was that I couldn't tell who the 1M & 2M leads were going to be until the beginning of the third episode. Normally I identify 2MLs and dislike them straight away. But I really liked the 2ML and would've been happy with that result too.
Generally I like Park Min Young. I liked her in this too.
I enjoyed how the cadre of good guys were all working together against outsiders. The love triangle was fun and not overly dramatic. The villains were villainous.
My main metric for any drama is whether or not it's fun to watch - even the unhappy parts. And this was mostly fun if a little slow at times.
Then of course the third act break-up / noble idiocy trope. My least favorite of all the bad K-Drama tropes. I was already checking out when it started but it played out with a tenderness that was actually very bearable.

Also... Korea definitely needs to come and get its Chaebols. They're drunk and getting out of hand.

Read More

Whodunnit with Romance

Landi Li and Ao Rui Peng made an appealing on-screen couple: mature, intelligent, and supportive of one another. It was also a nice change of pace to see the FL initiate some of the kisses with the ML instead of dodging them like most chaste drama heroines.

The drama excelled when the couple were in their element solving cases. When the focus shifted to palace intrigues, it suffered with the ending becoming overly-melodramatic and a bit overly-stabby (although it was an efficient way to tie up loose ends!).

Quibbles: FL's white deerskin gloves remained pristine through all the blood and gore. Hardened soldiers became ill viewing an autopsy.

Read More

Suspenseful, Sinister and Fatalistic: A Bloody Vendetta

The Vendetta of An is not a drama for anyone looking for romance, light-hearted moments, or a comforting happy ending. This is a dark and often brutal tale of revenge, political ambition, betrayal, and bloodshed, in which almost no one seems safe. From the beginning, the drama makes it clear that power is won and maintained not by virtue, but by cunning, loyalty, manipulation, and a willingness to sacrifice others.

I have to give the English title, The Vendetta of An, full marks for capturing the essence of the drama. This is, at its heart, a vendetta — a long, bloody, and deeply personal campaign for revenge, played out against a backdrop of political intrigue, shifting loyalties, and ruthless ambition.

At the centre of the story is Xie Huai An, the son of a prince and a capable general, whose life is destroyed as a child. He witnesses the betrayal of his father's army by his deputy, Yan Feng Shan, the massacre of his family, and his father's murder. Yan Feng Shan seizes power and places the young Xiao Wen Jing on the throne as his puppet. Growing up with this trauma and a burning desire for revenge, Huai An vows to destroy everyone responsible.

Years later, Prince Wu Yang recaptures Chang'an, the capital, and summons Huai An back to court to assist him. However, the political situation is far from stable. Wu Zhong Heng, leader of the Northern Tiemo Tribe, is waiting to exploit the chaos, stir up internal conflicts and seize the kingdom.

The drama's greatest strength is its suspense. Rather than simply presenting Huai An as a powerful hero who can overcome every obstacle, it places him constantly at a disadvantage. Surrounded by enemies, political rivals, traitors, and hidden infiltrators, he has to rely on intelligence, deception, and an increasingly elaborate network of spies and former loyalists to his father. The various subplots are woven effectively into the main story, keeping viewers guessing not only about how Huai An will achieve his objectives, but sometimes what his real objective is in the first place.

It is particularly gripping to watch Huai An's tactics and strategies unfold. He is not a conventional righteous hero. His childhood trauma has clearly left its mark on him, making him seem at times almost half-psychopathic. He is masochistic and fatalistic, repeatedly choosing the most dangerous path, even when one wrong move could lead to death or horrific torture. This makes the drama constantly tense because Huai An never seems to take the safe option. There is something immensely satisfying about watching how he goes about achieving his ends - although at times it does backfire as the young emperor can be an unhelpful baggage.

Cheng Yi is excellent as Xie Huai An. With his dark eye makeup and sinister appearance, he brings an unsettling quality to the character that suits the role perfectly. Huai An is a deeply damaged man, and Cheng Yi successfully conveys both his intelligence and his emotional detachment, while allowing glimpses of the pain beneath his calculated exterior. He looks rather fuller in the face than I remember from some of his earlier dramas, but this does not detract from his performance.

Be warned, however: this drama is extremely bloody. The writer appears to have a particular fascination with burning people alive, and there are scenes that can be genuinely disturbing. There is little attempt to soften the consequences of ambition and war. Innocent people die, loyal people are sacrificed, and sometimes those who deserve to survive are killed while the truly wicked continue to prosper.

That is also what makes the drama emotionally effective. Beneath all the plotting and bloodshed is a painful reflection on the human cost of individual ambition and obsession. Yan Feng Shan's ambition for power and Wu Zhong Heng's determination to bring his people south to kinder weather and more fertile land leave a trail of destruction behind them. The drama repeatedly reminds us that when powerful people pursue their ambitions, it is often ordinary and innocent people who pay the price.

There are also some interesting observations about power and human nature:

Even villains can inspire unwavering loyalty from their followers.
Bringing down one tyrant does not necessarily mean freedom; another tyrant may simply take his place.
The person who eventually sits on the throne may be an absolute fool, elevated there by circumstance rather than merit.

I rank The Vendetta of An highly for its suspense, political intrigue, and emotional intensity. It is an emotional roller coaster, full of moments that make you sigh in anguish when an innocent person falls or when someone you hoped would survive is killed. The constant sense of danger keeps the drama compelling, while Huai An's unpredictable and self-destructive nature makes him a fascinating central character.

Do not expect romance. Do not expect a gentle love story. Expect betrayal, political manoeuvring, revenge, torture, death, and an absolute bloodbath.

And if that sounds like your kind of historical drama, The Vendetta of An is well worth watching.

Read More

sweet- but something was missing! 7.5-8

I really enjoy coming of age dramas, and so naturally I enjoyed this series. The main couple has a very healthy dynamic, and the show does not rely on unnecessary drama to move the plot. If you like low-stress series, I would recommend!

However, I do have some grievances.
1. At certain points i felt that rangrang was a bit too nonchalant like sometimes it really did seem like zaizai was harboring a one-sided attraction.
2. the highschool portion of the series was too long, while the adulthood portion was only a few episodes, I absolutely adored the 2nd couple in the series and their story was completely neglected during the adulthood portion!
3. It felt like a rushed ending.

Read More

Underrated CBL Dark horse with excellent Leads Acting & Chemistry, but with Production issues.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I believe “Blue Lips” is the underrated darkhorse this year amongst a sea of Chinese BLs. It was a short web series (20-min episode) that had to compete with other more popular BLs. This drama is obviously very low budget, as most of my criticisms are targeted at the production quality.

Let’s start with the obvious and one of the main reasons people are not watching “Blue Lips” - the frequent use of AI generated images and scenes. If you oppose using AI, please do not attempt to watch this drama. You will be completely upset and frustrated. But if you are like me, who generally are OK with the use of AI during transition scenes and images only, and especially for a low budget production, then I recommend this drama. I don’t want to turn this into a debate. But AI is a big deal in China and it’s not going away and we will only see more. But as viewers and consumers, we have the right to not support such productions. Because CBLs have a hard time already, and need to jump through hoops to avoid censorship and be produced overseas, I am more lenient in this regard, especially for low-budget CBLs. “Blue Lips” is still acted by real people and written and adapted by real people.

I’ll continue with the criticisms. The dubbing for the actors is not good. The dubbed over singing is even worse. I am sorry, who decides it’s a good idea to poorly dubbed over Wu Shi Xian’s singing and sometimes with songs unrelated or changed all of a sudden? The songs themselves are actually great (and a couple songs are sung by Wei Lin Yu) and I even enjoy the punk rock/heavy metal songs at the bar. But the editing, the background music, and the use of music in general is the one of my main criticisms. The transition scenes are choppy (whether they use AI-generated scenes or not).

The ending also isn’t very satisfactory. I am not sure if they are planning for a season 2, or if they ever will have enough funds for another season. A somewhat major plotline about one of the leads is not resolved. While waiting for the last 3 episodes, I was curious how the drama is going to close out on 2 major plot points. In the end, they left one of them as a somewhat to-be-continued…..or never-to-be-continued.

Now, why am I still giving this a pretty high rating? Because I LOVE the two main leads. I LOVE them as actors, and as characters. I cannot believe this is Wei Lin Yu and Lan Shao Yun’s first acting gig. I tried to search for their info but came up empty-ended. This can’t be their first time acting right? They are just too good!!! As characters, the older Teng Mo is funny, sexy, broken and also very mature. The younger Shi Xian’s early thorny and prickly exterior is attractive and inviting in a way. His vulnerability in the later episodes make me want to wrap him in a big bear hug and protect him at all cost. No wonder Teng Mo can’t help but fall in love with him despite a 9-year age gap. They both have so much chemistry together. From the early bickering, teasing and fighting, to the later attraction, controlled feelings and undisclosed facts and secrets, both actors did a fabulous job. Their relationship develops at a really good pace with enough comedy, sexual tension, controlled emotions, angst and honesty. Those episodes when the two of them are trying to protect themselves, withholding information yet all done in a noble-idiotic way, I was more moved than frustrated. Instead of saying they miscommunicated, maybe they just decided not to communicate. But once they do, it’s all honesty and support for one and another.

Speaking of comedy, episodes 2 & 3 are hilarious! The umbrella scene will forever be an iconic moment. Teng Mo’s parents in episode 8 are just as funny. You can see why Teng Mo is Teng Mo, because he grows up in such a fun and loving family.

The supporting characters are fine. I can’t decide if the sister’s acting is emotionless, or her character should be acted that way. The sister definitely acts and looks very sickly. Brother Hao is an interesting character. I wanted to see more of him and I am so happy the direction the story has for him. I really don’t need a love triangle or love square.

Without any expectations, “Blue Lips” captures my heart because of the story of Teng Mo and Wu Shi Xian. As a romance-lover, I enjoy their story, their interaction, their chemistry, kisses (for the most part) and intimate scenes. I enjoy how they push-and-pull and their heartfelt conversations. I was rooting for them from beginning to the end. I just wish the drama had more funding to fix a lot of the production issues. And I wish the episodes were longer so that they can better allocate time to give “Blue Lips” a proper and deserved ending. I am giving "Blue Lips" a somewhat high 8.25-8.5 rating despite all my criticisms, since it's a low-budget production.



Drama Completed: 8/19/2026 Review #714

Read More