Reviews

Intense Thriller Drama

This is a series you don't want to miss because it is absolutely brilliant from the writing, directing, producing, cinematography, and the exceptional acting range from all the actors, especially the two leads who were masters of their craft. The male lead, Seo In-guk, showed such emotional range that I was left breathless from the realism in his acting. The role of this complex character was by no means easy mentally or physically, but this talented wonder was consistent in maintaining his character's complex personality all through most of the series. His costar was a very multi-talented match for his character adding the chemistry to lighten the heaviness a bit.
it was a thriller drama, dark in some spots and blended nicely with the subplots of the main character's trauma to keep you literally on the edge of your seat along his journey.
Well done by everyone involved in the making of this series.

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Beautiful Drama

I have watched this very emotionally moving series a few times because it was such a treat to watch... an uplifting, inspiring, intriguing, love story. For me the great writing gave the amazingly talented actors a solid structure to work with that included twists, turns, interesting subplots, and the slow progress of the romance for the main characters that eventually did make it.
The female and male leads were a good match and had that slow spark of chemistry that ignited and the supporting cast added a nice touch to the series.
For me it was a sweet love story with a nice balance to keep me entertained until the end.
Everyone who worked on this series did a phenomenal job.

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Wrong timing and a boring protagonist

Bittersweet Love had everything it needed to be a good BL: toxic, bold and hard to digest, yet with an interesting story full of twists.

However, that is not what we get here. The series starts with a certain impact but quickly sinks into a tiring plot led by a main couple with zero charisma and a completely confusing development.

Lu Qing is a confusing character. His motivations and behaviors change all the time. The series tries to create an aura of mystery and danger around him but he ends up reduced to a toxic, indecisive character who doesn't know how to communicate. And honestly, dumb and immature.

But nothing is worse than XiaoFan. It's hard to believe a writer would think such a pathetic, submissive, humiliated character with such low self-esteem could possibly be interesting enough to lead a series.
And the result, of course, is disastrous.

The series tries to pull off a plot twist with XiaoFan at the end that actually kind of works but the problem is: they miss the timing.

The revelation should have happened midway through the series, leaving time to develop the consequences and the plots behind XiaoFan's plan.

Yet even that isn't done right. His motivations only drag the character down even further and at no point do they change this perception of him as a pathetic character with no agency.

I wanted to see him getting revenge, speaking with confidence, proving to be an interesting character who knew how to turn the tables he was forced into.

That doesn't happen here; the ending is bland, emotionless, and rushed. There is no growth and the feeling is that we wasted 12 episodes watching a tiring story with charismaless characters.

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I disliked ML but this vertical drama version of You Are My Destiny moved me to tears

Today is Bai Fang Wen's birthday and as I scrolled Discover segment of melolo app, I noticed this drama. Watched it and wow I have mixed feelings.

What I liked:
1. Acting - I must say that both Jin Xi and Bai Feng Wen gave incredible performance. Jin Zi managed to convey pitiful FL without annoying me. Their portrayal of loss and sadness was on another level - it touched my heart that I cried.
2. Supporting characters - I liked Wei Ruo Chen's character. He courted FL but was never disrespectful . His advice to ML was powerful. I also liked ML's mother for her kindness and ML's assistant for being the logical one.
3. FL characterisation - I liked her growth from a mousy doormat to a more confident career-focused woman.
4. Styling - For a 2024 production, FL's clothes were pleasing to the eyes and ML wore nice clothes.
5. ML's action - I really liked that scene where FL had to convince ML's shareholders about the logo design.

What I disliked:
1. ML characterisation - He was an asshat for toying with feelings of 2 women. I didn't understand the "obligation to take care of a woman who prioritised herself over their relationship". He didn't seem to like FL as well.
2. Romance - I didn't buy their romance story at all. Since there were no scenes of bonding & spending quality time together, their dynamics seemed to stem out of pity & obligation. I can't believe FL for falling in love with him & giving him another chance. Him falling in love with her seemed out of the blue. The kissing scenes are fake!
3. Editing - The laugh tracks were so out of place! I also noticed the dubbing inconsistency. In a scene between Bai Feng Wen and Wei Ruo Chen, there was background noise when BFW uttered his lines but when WRC recited his lines, the background noise seemed muted or dialogue seemed to be recorded in airtight studio.

Favourite scene
The advice given by SML to ML

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Ack! What a Sequel.

I won't compare the two, but this one had all the punches, snappiness, adrenaline and fight sequences that made the first one so so so good ...
What it lacked in emotional anguish, it had in bastardy attitude, in abundance.
The story continuation, the beloved characters, the woo brotherhood, the pace, and even the surprise characters was done very well and packaged in 7 solid episodes. Rain's performance was amazing ...very rabid wolflike.
This has skyrocketed to one of my action/fighting favorites, just like the first.
Let's see what happens next in the world of bloodhounds 🥊💥

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12 Episodes In, Still Waiting for a Reason to Care

Dream to You is like a salad served with soup. It looks pretty, feels like it might be a fine meal, but eat only that and you go home hungry. It's not substantial enough.

Same old concept
It's the same old “first love” story, so well worn in k and c dramas it feels like a set of threadbare tires with no traction. As it is, it doesn't add anything new. Honestly, it reads more like love from his side and companionship from hers. I'm fine with that. Who knows what love is at 18?

My problem is the same imbalance continues into adulthood. Their relationship still feels lopsided, and their love doesn't feel deep enough to survive a decade apart, let alone the reconnection, which feels even shallower. He seems driven by guilt, she by gratitude for a second chance.

And I still don't get k-dramas' obsession with forced separations. Why does Yi Jae need to break up with Soo Bin at all? Canada isn't Mars; long distance isn't impossible if you're inclined to try. Why do these characters get to waltz out of a relationship to "find themselves" and waltz right back in once they've hit whatever goal they needed to hit? That's not maturity, that's just decisions handed down with zero discussion.

I know I'm rambling, but that's how I felt after 12 episodes back to back. I almost gave up more than once. My completionist tendencies are to blame.

What didn't work:
1. Yi Jae. In trying to show perseverance, they make her a rolling pin, oscillating between selfish and spineless. She's spent a decade angry at him for "ruining her life," but she's the one who chose to chase him. That's on her, not him. Yet she's furious with him one minute and sliding right back into romance the next. Some self respect, girl? She reads as weak or selfish more often than resilient.
2. Soo Bin. Wasted potential. Lovesick puppy energy aside, there's no growth here, not even in confronting his father: he cowers in one scene, throws a punch in the next, then takes a slap in the one after. Pick a lane, dude. He starts the same and ends the same, with no aspirations beyond winning her back. Maybe I'm too old for that Bella Swan style lack of personality. I don't find it charming.
3. Secondary and tertiary romances. The secondary one is okayish. The tertiary one.. just why? Didn't care a thimbleful.
4. Too much drama. The whole subplot around Soo Bin's illegitimate birth, his birth mother, and his abusive father feels bolted on. The show reaches for a bigger, messier story than it can actually resolve. Most of these threads get raised with weight and then dropped or rushed in the finale stretch, so the "drama" ends up feeling unearned rather than devastating.
5. No comeuppance. There's exactly one clear villain, and absolutely nothing happens to him. Ugh.
6. Whiplash character arcs. Su Hui and Ha Na go from exploitation to loving mother/daughter in the blink of an eye.

Performances
Nobody here plays it with real conviction. Hwang In Youp does the same emo-lover-boy routine, cute smile and all, which, to be fair, was one of the few things I actually liked. Lee Hye Ri, surprisingly, gives a flat performance. You neither sympathize with nor root for Yi Jae, because there's just not much being put across. I'd have taken overacting over this. Everyone else lands somewhere in the "also ran" category; nothing stands out.

Overall
I feel a little bad being this harsh about a drama, but I gave it three evenings I'm not getting back. Take a walk or catch up on sleep instead. You don't need to watch this one.

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A very mixed ending

There's some neat concepts going on here with the desert city & more exploration into what the other priest clans are like, a couple spectacular fights in the middle episodes and one very fun performance by Kodama Taichi that reminded me a lot of Zac Oyama but what should be a fond farewell to a character we're been following for 13 years is let down by some bland ass dialogue and the fact that the whole show was seemingly shot on LED screen sets which is never not obvious and distractingly cheap feeling for a series that used to have so much production value. If you really care about Ryuga & Rian you'll probably need to watch this, but if they're just another set of characters to you by all means skip it.

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Please add comedy to the tag. giving high praise to Fan Shuai qi and Dong Zi fan.

Both gave phenomenal performances, and the script complemented them wonderfully. The audience absolutely adores these two characters.

At first, I started watching and got hooked because I loved the Crown Prince (He Yu)—he’s a charming, roguish, and lovable character.

Then, I became utterly captivated by Shizi Bu (Bu Shulin). She’s handsome, playful, and acts like an unruly playboy, seemingly causing mischief everywhere without causing real harm—just petty antics. She’s brilliant at investigations and martial arts, though not much of a strategist. Unless you’re the guy on the receiving end of her punches, any woman on the receiving end of her flirting—like that hand-holding scene—would undoubtedly fall for her. Initially, she probably just looked after Cui Jinbai as an investigative partner, but gradually, her feminine side slipped out in front of him—through her tone of voice, her gaze, and her gestures. I’m certain A-Lin let her guard down, but strictly around the two people she truly loves and holds close: Deputy Cui and Xi He. Her demeanor shifted subtly, and later on, when she appeared as a woman, she was utterly adorable. My only slight regret is that her female look didn’t feel quite as cool as her natural charisma. Having read the novel, that’s how I interpret it. Bu Shulin is someone who is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. She loves Cui Jinbai deeply and can never keep up with him because he’s shrewd, a master schemer, and a lower skilled martial artist comparing to her. While Cui Jinbai can’t beat his wife in a fight, he certainly won her heart with his schemes.

The third person I fell in love with in this drama is Cui Jinbai. I loved how he transformed from being stern, glaring at Bu Shulin with disdain and reprimanding eyes, and rolling his eyes in sheer disbelief, to showing pure devotion, protection, and sweet tenderness in his gaze. What I loved most were his schemes to bring A-Lin to him: arranging for Wang Sanlang from her gang to work with him just so she would visit, issuing an arrest warrant, tricking her into eating the food he brought, finding excuses to enter the Bu Manor, confessing his feelings, caring for and protecting her, rushing to her rescue, the breakup scene, and the moment he asked to go along with her. Every single shot was executed so well and looked so endearing.

Rewatching it several times, I noticed the meticulous attention to detail in their styling, makeup, hair, height, and footwear (both wore height-increasing shoes), as well as their body language—how they sit, stand, and walk. Bu Shulin has her signature way of sitting, while Cui Jinbai always kneels upright with a straight back. The farewell scene in the pavilion was hilarious because Cui Jinbai was kneeling formally, while Bu Shulin was sitting with her legs spread wide, resting her arms on her knees like a total dude. It looked so funny, and Deputy Cui seemed so delightfully whipped! It painted a vivid picture of what their future married life will look like. Thank goodness Deputy Cui never gave up. In the end, their two sons helped turn things around; if she hadn’t become pregnant to shift the momentum, she probably would have kept acting cold and breaking his heart over and over. Deputy Cui truly got lucky.

it's been a month since the end but I'm still watching this couple :) .

Meng Ziyi (Xi He) also delivered a great performance; I just personally wasn’t fond of the female lead’s characterization. While not entirely heartless, she felt rather cold and detached.

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A "James Bond" Feel

This was such a great series that suited Ji Chang Wook perfectly as a suave, handsome magnetic "James Bond " type, but more appealing as only Ji Chang Wook can pull off just by being in a scene without any dialogue. Those eyes of his can speak volumes, but most importantly, this is a seasoned polished actor and singer, who does it all with precision in any role he undertakes. His costar was amazing and I felt was a good match in acting for Ji Chang with a wonderful chemistry.
The story was intriguing, pulling you along with the rest of the characters that the talented supporting cast added for colour to the series.
The soundtrack was brilliantly composed and produced, and as usual Ji Chang Wook performed one of the most beautiful ballads called " Watch Over You" with his clear, powerful voice as the professional singer that he is.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this series.
Thank you to the creative geniuses involved who produced this series. Well Done.

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comfort watch

Overall: felt like a typical GMMTV romcom. If you aren't into g-rated slow burns then you could start watching at epsisode 8. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKSScKG6Xtlo

Content Warnings: bullying, fights

What I Liked
- forthright character
- easy to understand premise
- supportive brother and friends
- wasn't angry at his mom or future step dad and they weren't villians
- the comment "I just want you to do whatever makes you happy"

Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- he fell because of inertia
- the constant deflection
- wish they had shown why he liked him earlier than the end of episode 9
- I didn't need tongue, but even people who have never kissed before pucker their lips or move something for a kiss

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Sweet, Charming & Surprisingly Addictive and dont watch if you like sweets and cakes

Okay, I can honestly say this is one of the Japanese dramas I watched without getting bored or skipping scenes. I really enjoyed it!
I loved the acting from everyone, from the main leads to the supporting characters. The story is about a girl who falls in love with her boss and can’t control her feelings anymore—and honestly, I think anyone who has ever been in love can relate to that feeling.
But I have to admit something…i loved the second male lead more than the main lead
The ML was obviously very handsome and had that classic ML aura, especially with his glasses. He was charming and good-looking, we can’t deny that. But the second male lead was the kind of guy you’d want as your best friend the genuinely good guy who is there for everyone. I especially loved his friendship with both the ML and FL.
The FL and second lead had such good chemistry because he treated her so well. They had so much fun together, and I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow. He was caring, supportive, and just such a genuinely good person. And honestly, sometimes I wonder why girls don’t fall for these kinds of guys more often
My biggest problem was that I found myself rooting for the second lead more than the ML. The ML barely showed his feelings until almost the very end, and when he finally confessed and tried to convince her, it felt a little selfish to me especially because the FL was already dating his friend.
I wanted to see more from the ML. I wanted him to get jealous, to actually show how much he loved her, and to fight for her earlier. The chemistry between the main leads was there, but for me, it just wasn’t enough. I wanted to see more of their relationship and understand his feelings instead of waiting until the last minute.
I really enjoyed this drama overall. I absolutely loved the FL’s roommate and best friend. She was such a great character and basically her advice box throughout the drama Their friendship was one of my favorite parts.
And of course, the whole **sweets and cakes** theme made this even more enjoyable for me because I LOVE sweets and cakes! 🍰❤️
The friendship between the second lead and the FL, the fun moments, the food, the characters, and the overall story made this a drama I could watch in one go without feeling bored.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Sweet, fun, charming, and definitely one of those dramas that kept me watching without reaching for the skip button.

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Disappointment of the year

I was really looking forward to this drama because I love both the ML and FL actors. I will start by saying their acting was about as good as it could be, given what they had to work with. The problem with this drama was a terrible storyline, dark content that never really was resolved, and overused tropes against the ML that overplayed its hand. Seriously, how many times can the ML get shot, stabbed, beaten, and abused before you just throw your hands up and move on? The FL character was ridiculous at best. Her character was meant to be a dark beauty who is mysterious and vengeful, but we really got tired, paunchy, and the maker of bad decisions.

Again, this is no fault of the actress, who I think did the best she could. The character was mysterious, but her abuse and neglect of the ML was ridiculous. The only one who truly loved her, sacrificed 3 years of his life and took the blame for a murder that she committed, and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to her, she rebuffed and refused to share her past nor her future plans of revenge. She did it all in the name of "protecting" him, but she had no problem literally telling everyone else in the drama her business. ML is the only one who proved how much he loved her for her, not to use her in some way that benefited himself. And when we did discover why she held a grudge against him, it was for something that happened when he was a child and wasn't his fault in the first place. I expected the ML & FL to come to grips with each other and act on the love/passion they started. Even after she bore him a son, she shot back that she didn't want him to be the father - even though he was. I felt like the ML & FL actors didn't have much passion, and they didn't have great chemistry. That was sad because I loved them both in other roles.

The ending was probably one of the dumbest I've seen. And I've seen a lot! They had so much time to wrap this up and make it better, but they failed, and nothing ever gets resolved except in the end everyone pretty much dies. The ML mom and sister don't really get what they deserve, and that makes it completely unsatisfying. So for me, this was probably one of the biggest disappointments to date, and I do not recommend it. I would have given it less than one star, but it wasn't an option.

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Blue Is Okay

The truth: Blue Lips could have been much better than what this was. Ai, terrible singing, slow slow plot, too short eps, sub par acting sometimes, ages, inconsistencies with the blue hair, their voices etc. There was alot that stuck out. It was on a tight budget and it showed.

Also truth: The way Teng Mo looked at Xian and vice versa made their love story believable. I appreciated the no nonsense way Xian spoke to Teng Mo. Their last nc scene was a stretch but still there was something tangible between them. A level of comfort when they were together in the later eps that created the 'real couple' feel. When the sister was dying, I did get emotional. When Teng Mo put the ring on his finger I was grinning. So there was something that kept me looking. I'd have to say it was the earnestness of their love story and not the performance. I also liked that Teng Mo always seemed to be smiling.

While Lin Yu had the easier role, Shao Yun seemed to feel comfortable at the end. Probably removing the blue hair gave him a more believable aura. He certainly didn't pass for 20 and the other couldn't pass for 30 though according to mdl he is. He seemed more like a sibling to his mother than a son. There was an older man vibe to him. Teng Mo scared at the end and Xian speaking clearly was a nice scene.

If there is a compilation as one movie, I'd probably watch it again.

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The series asks: "If you can't tell whether something is fake, doesn't that make it real?"

I suggest bingeing this series so that you don't have time to focus on the mediocre script writing, and LJH's acting. But, I suggest that you binge it because moving through the mechanations and non-linear story plot seems like it would be a fun run and add to the multiple "hey - wait a minute..." moments

Story: I won't repeat the summary of others, and just get to what worked and didn't. The story had a set of twists at the end that made the rush to the end worth it..excpet for the last scene. "I just have one question...". Dear heavens, how trite. The script was poorly written in so many spots, with formulaic lines that insult the audience's intelligence, IMO.

Cast/Acting: The cast was excellent, except for Lee Jun Hyuk, who apparently specializes in having no facial expressions. All the other actors - right down to the bit parts - were excellent, which only made LJH's wooden performance more noticable. If the director insisted on that kind of performance, then shame on the director, because there were exellent visual elements & camera work, cut away scenes, entry scenes from odd angles, etc.

Music: didn't love it, didn't hate it either.

Rewatch: maybe., if I can ever stop rewatching Strange Tales from the Tang Dynasty Season 1

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