Reviews

A slow burn age-gap love story told with warmth and care

Started this drama with no strong hopes and ended up completely hooked. It is an age gap slow romance, but the story handles it with care and maturity, never making it feel uncomfortable. The relationship grows slowly and naturally, focusing more on emotions and connection rather than shock value. The pacing is calm and steady, which makes it perfect for relaxed watching after a long day.

The romance is soft, warm, and well written. It begins with care and protection and slowly turns into something deeper, which feels very natural. The chemistry between the leads is strong and comes through in their eye contact and quiet moments. The female lead is calm, mature, and emotionally grounded, while still showing vulnerability. The male lead starts off shy and reserved, but his growth over time feels earned and satisfying. His character development is one of the most rewarding parts of the drama, and it is refreshing to see a young male lead (in age gap romances) who is gentle and different from the usual stereotypes.

The supporting characters are also well done and add warmth to the story without stealing focus. The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it fits the mood perfectly and adds emotional depth to many scenes. While a few character arcs could have been explored more deeply, the overall experience remains strong and heartfelt. This drama is comforting, emotional, and quietly beautiful. It deserves more attention. I would rate it 8.5 out of 10.

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A gentle slow-burn with heartfelt chemistry

Shine On Me is such a warm, character-driven drama that I ended up liking a lot, even if I wasn’t as obsessed as I expected before starting it.
The biggest highlight for me was the male lead’s personality: calm, sincere, emotionally mature, and refreshingly free of hidden motives. His way of pursuing the female lead feels gentle and genuine, never pushy or transactional.
The chemistry between the leads is natural and comforting, and their love story feels well-paced and emotionally grounded.
I appreciated how the drama avoids common clichés and instead focuses on growth, communication, and quiet moments.
The slow-burn pacing won’t work for everyone, but it suits the story’s tone.

Overall, it may not be unforgettable for me, but it’s a solid, heartfelt watch with a romance that truly works.

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Was this all for nothing?

I really wish they would have gone with a slow burn romance instead of the incest plot. Both Kissing scenes in the beginning were hard to watch. One the FMC is drugged (not by the MMC) and Two the FMC thought the MMC was her brother and still kissed him. I can see where that would make people stop watching then and there. The snow man (I forge his name cuz it doesn’t even matter) was confusing to me because I thought he was the same as the painter. I didn’t get till the end kind that they were two separate ppl. I don’t understand the point of the snow man?? was he just there to kidnap the children??? I’m assuming the children were just used as canvases and when it didn’t turn out right he just idk killed them? The twist and turns were fun so I enjoyed that. I didn’t like that the MMC never got a true name or a life that was fully his own. He died nameless and that’s so sad to me. All the other characters pissed me off so much. the step mom was annoying and I do feel bad for at the end she just wanted her son but why be so mean to the FMC she wouldn’t have owned anything and she didn’t seem to want to take over the family business anyways so why everyone acted like she was this huge threat and to kill her was baffling. the father was a sh*tty person. he cared about no one. not even his daughter who for whatever reason I was convinced was tha daughter of the lover for some reason. so there was a third sad dead love interest I guess. The adopted brother just got too obsessed with her. I really wanted him to team up with the MMC so bad and redeem himself but nope had to go and get himself killed. the grand prince was a despicable Person! I love the actor who played him but hate that he’s mainly doing villain roles…I love him as a MMC….overall the acting and the filming were soo good! the plot and writing lost me a bit and I don’t like sad ending. so I give it a 7/10

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"Art of Barely Making It" manual by Wu Xie

Time Raiders is the drama to start your The Lost Tomb journey with. Putting aside the fact chronologically it makes sense to start here, I also think the storytelling and directing is the most digestible of what exactly is going on and how this, at times chaotic, fictional world works.

Yes, the whole lore is extremely complex and detailed. The story feels greater than life. The adventures are thrilling, exciting, sometimes scary. The plot is interesting, but for me I always watch these shows for the characters. They are what draws me in and makes me want to pick up different titles from “The Lost Tomb” series. And the versions of the characters presented in Time Raiders are some of the best and most loveable ones I have seen so far.

Starting with Wuxie. What’s to love? He was amazingly animated, hilarious, but also resourceful and less of a damsel in distress than in other versions. It’s one thing to have all the skills, it’s another thing to have a survival instinct. While he might have lacked in some areas, he for sure had a strong will to live. You don't have to go full martial arts in dire situations. Sometimes a simple “stab stab” with a knife is enough. He did what he could instead of standing there scared hoping everything will miraculously solve itself out.

What’s more - even though it was obvious he lacks some skill and expertise, they made it abundantly clear he has so much potential to grow. That’s how the opening of any story should be - starting with a character we can witness the development of. With each adventure he gets better instead of being this unstoppable force since day one.

On the topic of unstoppable forces, we need to chat about our lovely emo boy Xiao Ge, who in this version felt like an actual human being, even if he still had his supernatural emo magic qualities I love. The number of times he actually used his words was amazing. Some of these instalments are determined to turn the character into a silent film edition. Not here though. He still has this mysterious aura about him, speaking only when it’s actually necessary - man of few words, but many actions, but it feels more like a persona than performance.

Short note on bromance - great set up. You can sense there is a connection between them before they even know it.

For the other characters, similar to Wuxie and Xiao Ge, this is also the best Pang Zi - dude was actually funny and not annoying. Some of his lines and reactions were almost the highlights of the episodes. But as funny as he was, they made sure to present him as a skilled and useful addition to the team.

Francis Ng aced his performance as Wu San Xing - what a natural delivery. Even when he was in the background he used 100% of his abilities. Not a second nor a frame was wasted.

On the frustrating side - A Ning will forever be annoying, why not just let her die? She would have zero issue leaving them all for death. Sometimes you just need to stop being a gentleman if being one makes you a dumbass.

Plot wise, I greatly appreciated the actual stakes that made me tear up a little bit. Unexpected to be honest. I don’t exactly watch these dramas to be moved, but to be entertained. I expect magical over the top solutions for serious troubles, so it’s refreshing to see characters lose and there is nothing they can do about it. Seeing them deal emotionally with the consequences of their actions, witnessing how it affects everyone around them, making plans to lessen the impact - great way to add emotional weight.

Time Raiders somehow was able to deliver even pacing - 18 episodes for two stories seemed like the perfect choice. We had enough time to explore the area, lore, witness different interactions between the characters, and enjoy both the fun and the scary parts of the adventures.

The comedy was flawless. The funny lines, little moments, or even longer scenes focused on the hilarious set up were incorporated into the script effortlessly, lightening the mood without taking away from the tension completely.

As for the production - great. The CGI was actually mostly good. There was one scene that went a little bit (a lot) over the top, but it was hilarious to witness. I loved the sets - the caves, dark corridors, awfully tiny spaces that triggered my claustrophobia. I loved the lighting - well balanced when it was realistically dark for the setting, but bright enough for me to see what was happening. Good balance between realism and the accessible presentation for the viewers. And god bless these underwater scenes, because these were some of the best I have seen in any Chinese drama for ages.

The soundtrack perfectly accompanied the drama - got me tense when needed, hyped up for some cool action scenes that were about to happen. And they also knew when to not include any sound at all, which is in fact a valid and sometimes correct choice many directors forget about.

To add last note about the performances: Sometimes in dramas acting and the chemistry between actors is so good you start to question how much of what is happening is actually part of the script and directing, and how much is just the actors vibing and it just working together well. The delivery was so good if you told me they just let the actors act like themselves for realism, I would believe you.

Few extremely random thoughts I had while watching I don’t quite know where to place in the review:

We got a borderline Bollywood action scene and I lived for it.

Can we talk about how good at throwing Cheng Xiang is? Or how well Xu Zhen Xuan runs? What I mean is - I did not have to convince myself what they did could happen, because they committed to present it in a realistic fashion. Things need to be thrown into the ceiling? We are running away from something dangerous, or towards something we really want? We will be using all the muscles in out body. We are sprinting like an athlete, not half jog like it's a PE we don't want to be in. I hate when characters throw shit like a 5 year old kid using as little muscles and movement as possible and we need to pretend it was a great aim and strong throw.

The whole “oxygen issue” in the second story was an intentional comedy when you find out you have from 3 to 7 hours of oxygen left even when you are buried alive in a coffin. Ain’t no logic in that high stake, but I did not care.

I just love how every Tomb drama ends on the note that leaves you in a complete state of confusion, more questions than answers.

Overall, I’d say this is the perfect drama to start your Lost Tomb journey with. The story is presented in the most digestible manner while also making sure you understand there is a bigger picture behind these 18 episodes - you just opened the door, you did not even take a first step into this wacky and fun journey.

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Very cute, very fluffy

I was looking for a cute, fluffy show when Your Sky came up. I started watching without reading the synopsis because it seemed like exactly what I was looking for, but the experience was a bit of a rollercoaster.

At first, I was terribly confused by the character relationships. I initially thought the characters were in high school, and when Rak approached Babe and her boyfriend to go home, I assumed they were Rak’s parents. Babe said something about spoiling Rak, which seemed to confirm my theory. She looked so young that the fact she was wearing a school uniform didn't even register until they arrived home and I realized they were actually siblings.

I was confused again when Rak recalled his encounter with Fah and Lee mentioned that Fah is his brother. Why would the group talk about Fah being a "Scary Looker" right in front of his literal brother? It seemed so disrespectful and weird. Plus, in the beginning, Lee and Fah don’t interact at all; no one would ever guess they are related.

Then there is Fah, a college student who somehow owns a massive bar? A college guy as a major businessman? How? Why? I understood him rescuing Rak from the creepy Oh by claiming to be his boyfriend; the fake relationship is a cliché, but it’s fine for a "cute" show. While Fah was portrayed as scary in the first episode, that didn't last. He doesn't actually look intimidating, no one is truly afraid of him, and he’s a total softy for the rest of the series. Then he goes and reserves an entire zoo, who reserves a whole zoo for a date?

As for the antagonist, Oh looked old enough to be a professor. I don’t understand why he became so obsessed with Rak after one simple interaction. He was downright creepy and did a few stupid things, but nothing ever came of it, and he was written out of the story in an instant.

Then there’s Rak. I’m fine with him being cute, but for someone in college, the characterization and the age didn’t match at all. I understand why he falls for Fah, but their physical chemistry felt "off" for the story being told. Their first kiss was during the MV shooting, and Rak looked like he had kissed a few guys already; he seemed far more experienced than his character should have been.

Don’t even get me started on the NC scenes. There was no awkwardness, blushing, or hesitation. Honestly, those two looked like they’ve done this together many times before. It was crazy how seasoned they seemed for a story that was supposed to be about a fresh, budding romance.

Overall, the show was cute, and I really enjoyed the first few episodes. There is genuine chemistry between Rak and Fah—I loved them together. Plus, the actors are all so handsome; it’s insane to have that much cute guys in one show. This drama is a good choice if you’re looking for something light and cute, as long as you don't go in with expectations that are too high.

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Superficial

Shine On Me is a drama brimming with narrative potential, but unfortunately, its execution remains largely superficial and steeped in clichés. While the premise hints at emotional depth and complex interpersonal dynamics, the storytelling consistently stops short of meaningful exploration—resulting in a frustrating viewing experience.

The story begins with the female lead (FL) harboring a one-sided affection for the second male lead (SML). Despite being clearly rejected, she clings to a youthful, idealized promise that she will “wait” until he falls for her. This dynamic—where the FL builds an elaborate romantic narrative in her head despite the absence of any real emotional foundation—is treated far too lightly. The drama misses an important opportunity to examine emotional projection, entitlement to affection, and the self-inflicted pain that arises when fantasy is mistaken for reality.
The second male lead (SML), by contrast, is introduced as an introverted character already burdened by significant responsibilities: severe financial constraints, a younger brother preparing for the Gaokao, and a mother in urgent need of surgery. He is emotionally withdrawn not out of coldness, but because his life is already in survival mode. Yet instead of being handled with sensitivity, this vulnerability becomes something the narrative exploits.
Enter the true antagonists of the story—Ye Rong and a manipulative roommate—whose jealousy toward the FL drives them to spread falsehoods and manufacture misunderstandings. These lies cause emotional fallout for both the FL and SML. However, rather than holding these instigators accountable, the drama pushes viewers toward seeing the SML as the villain. The real manipulators escape unscathed, never truly confronted or exposed. Also, watching complex emotional harm—especially the deliberate destruction of the FL’s confidence—be misattributed to the wrong character, while the true manipulators escape scrutiny, became too frustrating to overlook.

This narrative choice is particularly troubling because it mirrors real-life patterns of narcissistic abuse: introverted individuals or those overwhelmed by personal crises are judged harshly, misunderstood, and vilified, while narcissistic manipulators charm their way out of accountability. The drama glosses over this psychological realism, choosing instead a simplified moral framing that feels deeply unfair.

Although the ML is marketed as a “green flag,” his characterization is riddled with inconsistencies and questionable behavior. For instance, allowing or entertaining a female employer’s presence at his private residence is portrayed casually, despite being a clear boundary violation in real-life contexts. Additionally, when the ML believes his career is ruined and that he nearly died due to the FL’s actions (later revealed to be a case of mistaken identity), his immediate judgment and lack of investigation feel out of character—especially given his otherwise cautious and thoughtful nature.
Even the romantic beats often land awkwardly. A proposal delivered while the FL is crying or experiencing an emotional breakdown comes across as emotionally tone-deaf rather than romantic, undermining what should have been a moment of growth and mutual understanding.

To be clear, the castperforms admirably. The actors bring sincerity and effort to their roles, doing the best they can with the material provided. Unfortunately, strong performances cannot compensate for a script and direction that consistently favor surface-level drama over emotional and psychological depth.
Ultimately, the cumulative effect of these narrative missteps led me to drop the drama entirely. The frustration of watching complex emotional issues reduced to simplistic tropes, coupled with the refusal to hold true antagonists accountable, made it impossible to stay invested.

In the end, Shine On Me is a case of squandered potential. With its layered setup, social themes, and emotionally charged conflicts, it could have been a nuanced exploration of love, boundaries, manipulation, and emotional responsibility. Instead, its superficial handling of key issues makes it a very frustrating watch for someone looking for honesty and depth.

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BRILLIANT character work but underwhelming on the romance front

When it comes to the character work, there are very few shows that have done it better. It's truly masterful writing and very realistic, and both Komagine Kiita and Niihara Taisuke did incredible jobs with said writing. Shirasaki's insecurities pushed a lot of the plot in the first season, and it was the same this season — it becomes very clear right at the start of the first episode that he feels like Hayama is too good for him, so Shirasaki is constantly trying to prove that they are equals when it comes to acting. This propels the main plot thread of the season — a stage play that both of them want the lead role of: the director of the play is someone that Shirasaki desperately wants to work with, and Hayama loves the novel that is being adapted and playing the lead is his dream role. This understandably leads to some (minor) friction in their relationship, and as Hayama is a people pleaser, he ends up dropping out — primarily because of a movie role he is being offered that his agent is urging him to take, but also bc he can see how important this role is to Shirasaki. As the first season didn't really get to dig deep into Hayama's people pleasing tendencies, season 2 takes the opportunity to do that. I also thought it was brilliant how their roles reflected where they were mentally — Shirasaki playing a character who murdered someone and inhabited that person's life (the rehearsal scenes harping on the fact that he has "replaced someone" when he feels inadequate to play the part... *chefs kiss*) and Hayama playing a character with a fraught dynamic with his mother causing him to finally confront things he had been avoiding. The interiority of the two characters is just so rich this season and there were so many scenes that knocked the wind out of me.

BUT for a show that is categorized as a romance, the writers really really dropped the ball there. The season starts really strong on that front as the first episode is mostly dedicated to showing them in a functional, established (albeit secret) relationship and even when the idea of a breakup is brought up as they are a bit worried about how their relationship being discovered might affect their careers, they reassert that they want to be together and even take the step of moving in together. (Like last season, the metatextual analysis is exquisite — the unflinching discussion about what it's like to be openly out in the entertainment industry was so, so, so good!) But as soon as the stage play becomes part of the plot, the romance takes a backseat to the character work — which, in and of itself is fine! I don't mind romance being more peripheral to the story, but their relationship did not feel very reciprocal to me. Now a lot of people on here (and other social media) seem to have a lot of disdain towards Shirasaki bc of his fixation on trying to catch up to Hayama's career, and I do think a lot of people's responses are a huge overreaction, but it was honestly frustrating and a little confusing to see the direction their relationship took. Hayama is a top tier boyfriend — constantly being emotional support for Shirasaki, constantly reassuring Shirasaki when he starts having his insecurity spirals, being generally supportive. And while Shirasaki's headspace is understandable, he constantly seemed to be oblivious about what was going on with Hayama and was so myopically focused on his own distress. Like (spoilers lol) their argument in 2.09 gave me such huge whiplash bc Hayama is finally discussing how he is struggling with the movie role — something he didn't want to do bc he knows about Shirasaki's stress over the play and doesn't want to put more on his plate — and then Shirasaki immediately starts talking about how he's struggling with the play before returning to what should have always been the focus of this conversation: asking Hayama if he actually wants to do a recent job offer. Idk I don't hate Shirasaki like a lot of viewers seem to — I'm still invested in them being a couple even — but it was irritating to see how Hayama was always thinking about him and constantly prioritizing him and then Shirasaki was just so self-absorbed. Like the appeal of fictional romantic relationships for me is reciprocity!! And season 2 just didn't really give that.

Idk, I definitely think season 2 is worth a watch and I have to applaud the writers for taking me on a ride where I truly had no idea where things were going to go, but I'm nowhere near as likely to revisit this as I am to revisit the first season.

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A (Semi) Deep Dive Into the Tale of Dear X

I rarely write reviews on here... but I will do for this drama because how much I genuinely enjoyed & liked it. Now that I've finished and mostly processed the finale/show, allow me to yap...

So, I pretty much loved this show. It was very dark, I'll say that right now. Darker than most dramas I've watched, and I watched all 3 seasons of Penthouse lol. The atmosphere was perfect. BUT! The cinematography, OST, and the acting? Amazing! That BGM kicked ass too! Also, Kim Yoo-Jung is now one of my favorite actresses... this is my first time seeing her as an adult. She made a seriously great impression on me. It's almost like she became Ah-Jin, and it was chilling to see. Kim Young-Dae surprised me as the brooding(?), but flawed and unlikable Jun-Seo... I was never a fan of his before, but his performance was great here. Kim Do-Hoon, who played the loyal but tragic Jae-Oh (RIP to him, he was a real ride-to-die...) I'm checking out more of his dramas. I already plan to watch Moving, because he blew me away here. Lee Yeol-Eum as Im (or is it Kim?) Lena... nothing much to say. She did a fine job. The supporting actors were all great too (it was nice to see Bae Soo-Bin again!)

The story and characters... I will admit, yes, I rooted for Ah-Jin because I love a villain origin story! Did she do terrible things? Absolutely. But I partially rooted for her out of spite, because some of the things people were saying here were wild. I love villain protagonists (YEAH, SHE'S A VILLAIN PROTAGONIST. SHE'S *EVIL!* SUCK IT UP!!!) in general. BUT she was my girl, her backstory with her parents (SCREW the dad) was so sad! It's toxic, it's complicated. Moving onto... Jun-Seo. This is a weird one, because I didn't like him, I found him to be hypocritical and selfish... but that reveal at the end... I didn't expect it. 👀 I'm still confused, though. was he the real villain of the story all along, or was it Ah-Jin? Really makes you think. Onto Jae-Oh... again, very tragic. I didn't like him at first, but when I actually got to know him, I felt so sorry for him! 😭 He didn't deserve any of what he went through, and his relationship with Ah-Jin was so fucked up. Wow, my heart is still broken for him. Lena, I don't have much of anything to say about her, I didn't care about her nor did I like her. I was relieved when she left. Bye, bitch! Love how complex the main/central characters were.

BEFORE I CONTINUE! Let me say right away, I didn't give a single DAMN ABOUT THE ROMANCE IN THIS SHOW. I did not ship Ah-Jin with Jun-Seo or Jae-Oh at all, not even when they were in high school. Jun-Seo had a massive savior complex and Jae-Oh was essentially in a symbiotic toxic friendship with her. I didn't even care about Lena's little crush on Jun-Seo, and even the relationship with In-Kang (that poor man...) and Ah-Jin felt somewhat out of place. (Yes, I know it was a part of Ah-Jin's plan, but still.)

Do-Hyuk... okay, while I think he was a great villain and I loved his slow introduction... he felt... kinda random? I was cool with him getting away with the awful stuff he did since it reflects real life (all too well), but... I think the issue is that he felt underdeveloped. Yes, and ended up being underwhelming. He drove his wife crazy, tormented Ah-Jin, and seems to be this total control freak, but... why? A backstory would've sufficed, a flashback, anything! Ah... the supporting characters. Sung-Hee? Got what she deserved, and I feel like there was no point to her character. And she reminded me too much of Ha Eun-Byul from Penthouse. Probably why I despised her lol, but In-Kang... another unfortunate casualty of Ah-Jin's ambition. Also didn't care for him. CEO Seo was fine. Ji-Sun- I HATE YOU BITCH! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU AND I HOPE YOU DIED IN THE FINALE FOR REAL! GO TO HELL!!!!! (Yes, the actress did an amazing job.) The grandmother is the only one I had some sympathy for, along with the baseball player (Mr. Choi.) I like that Mr. Choi ended up being one of the few decent people in the end.

Critiques? Some scenes honestly felt too drawn out to the point where it was awkward. Lots of staring, lots of silence, interesting shots. It was likely a stylistic choice, but it kinda hurt the pacing of the drama for me. This is common in k-dramas, though, so whatever. Second, Ah-Jin being tormented by Do-Hyuk went... nowhere? It was beyond stressful to watch, yeah. I feel like she should've realized he was "toying with her", then faked being crazy and killed him "accidentally". Now that would've been WILD! Third, the final episode... I'm still confused. Was Ah-Jin really a sociopath or not? Was it all through Jun-Seo's perspective? What was the point of the documentary? Why did Jun-Seo pick up Ah-Jin when she went into the street? And why did Jun-Seo turn on her like that when he was enabling her all along? I loved the final scenes, though. I hope there's a season 2 that explains everything, or bonus/special episodes... something. (I also wish it wasn't a miniseries, but I can't complain.) I guess the ending being open-ended was fine, it's unconventional which is what I liked about it. Sometimes the best ending is a pyrrhic victory- getting what you want, but at the ultimate cost.

My rating... tricky. This is one of the best k-dramas I've watched in recent years. Of course, it's not perfect. But it was intense, I got hooked onto it, and I loved Ah-Jin and her ruthless climb to the top. Nailed it as a psychological thriller. So I'm giving this a 9/10. Would I rewatch this? Uh... probably not. Some parts were definitely heavy for me, I had to either skip it or look away lmao, but this was a great drama. And impressive for my first webtoon-turned-k-drama (which I've never been into/liked, personally.)

Thank you to SunOh and a few commenters on here for recommending it to me and pushing me to start it- glad I fell for the hype!

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A Playful Love Triangle

This is the fifth series in the Meteluv anthology. The story focuses on Na, a medical intern who has a crush on Nine, who is also an intern. However, Na grows closer to Leemai, a girl on whom Nine also has a crush, which creates a love triangle.

Honestly, the mini-series was entertaining and well acted. Na’s character is quite questionable at times, especially because of some disrespectful remarks toward Leemai, but it’s clear that she doesn’t do it intentionally, which makes her more forgivable.

I really liked the ending; it was a very good conclusion.

If you’re looking for something quick to watch without overthinking it, this series is for you.

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love scout: a pleasant surprise

i gave this drama a chance since it kept getting recommended to me and i can see exactly why it's so well-loved.

right from the first episode, it does a great job introducing the characters and their dynamics. the interactions feel authentic and grounded and you immediately get a sense of who these people are and how they relate to one another. the cinematography and editing are excellent too, subtly setting a cozy, natural mood.

i'm usually not too keen office romances, so i wasn't initially drawn to this one. but the cast and their performances completely won me over. i didn't even realize how many actors i already admired were in it. and it's not just the main cast; the supporting roles and even the cameos are consistently strong, adding depth and texture to the world.

what i particularly appreciate is how well the drama captures slice-of-life moments. even amidst conflicts and tensions, there's a calming, almost meditative quality to watching these characters navigate their daily lives. and while this isn't a comedy, it does include lighter humorous moments that land beautifully. they feel organic, never forced, and offer the perfect balance against the more poignant or emotional beats.

the romance is handled with impressive subtlety. heart-fluttering moments are crafted so naturally that they never feel overblown, and the chemistry between the leads is effortless. their connection feels real, lived-in, and utterly believable.

certain character dynamics reminded me of dramas like encounter and why her, and i particularly loved how the male lead's role as a father adds layers of care and grounding to his character, it gave me similar vibes to flower of evil.

the only thing i did not like was the use of the childhood connection trope. it was not necessary, but it didn't bother me too much because it didn't have a huge part in the drama overall. the ost was a bit underwhelming, but not terrible.

overall, love scout exceeded my expectations. it's a charming, deeply satisfying drama with a rich, lived-in world, natural romance, and moments that are both calming and engaging i'm genuinely glad i gave this drama a chance.

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A very lovely ending, though I wish these episodes are incorporated in the drama itself

Ep 1 - 7.5
Ep 2 - 8.5
Average - 8.0

There really is no good reason for breaking up these special episodes into such short ones, except for creating and prolonging the hype. And because it’s broken up, I’ll have to evaluate the episodes separately.

I was disappointed in the first episode and was concerned that it might undo the happy vibes and positive reviews I’ve had for the drama. Was it a bad episode? Not necessarily. Was it great to see a longer, more close up kiss? Definitely. But the episode of the game has no substance. The focus is on the latter part when the make out session happens. Yes, I like a longer kiss, but it was not a pretty kiss. It’s forceful yet not passionate. Therefore, I was worried it ended on a vibe that’s different from what the series gave me.

However, episode 2 restored my faith and what I like about the drama. It was cute and fluffy, the personalities of the leads are still there. Most importantly, the honest and open communication of feelings are still there. It feels that they have really grown as a couple and are more comfortable with each other. It’s nice to finally see Hioki hear Watarai’s side of the story, even though as viewers, we already know. Additionally, we got a little more skinship that feels romantic and passionate. Well, it's still a somewhat disappointing kiss to me. But this episode is so much better than the first one.

I wish the drama had incorporated these special episodes into the drama itself. If ep 2 was the ending of the whole drama, then I would say the drama ended on a high note. Instead, episode 10 ended on an OK note.


Completed: 1/6/2026 Review #658

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One choice can change your whole world

I love that the parallel world depends on the ML choice and actions I stead of just being different people with different personalities.

It means we all have a choice to change our lives and shape it as we want, and the fact that the ML stayed true to himself and went back to his world instead of being in this idealistic fantasy is great.

So the story is very touching and lovely, Japan can make some great office romance dramas.

Acting too was good, the two leads have some type of sexual tension between them, subtle but can be noticed, specially the kabedon scene 😂❣️
At the end I didn't even care if they don't kiss or touch or anything, actually this part was lacking, I would have loved it more if they pulled a "cherry magic" and the two leads didn't even kiss.
But it was ok to say at least.

Highly recommended ~~

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Almost Perfect Drama for Zeng Hui-Han Yutong CP

OK For Zeng Hui- Han Yutong drama's this is my most their rewatched drama. Everything is almost perfect the plot pace, main lead chemistry, supporting cast, but the weakness are they are not show FL and ML's child time since they are need to get bounding after everything and FL's make up after face-off it feel too lazy to put only mole (K-drama Temptation of Wfe probably is scriptwriter inspiration). Personally i am glad this drama is getting dubbed.

The Chemistry is always on fire especially the bathtub scene. I like the supporting role especially FL's assistant relation everything is perfectly platonic and he just doing his job and go home.

Recommended to rewatch

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Marvellous masterpiece: 3 lifetimes 3 magnificent stories of main leads

It's one of my most anticipated fantasy and romance drama, I couldn’t be more happier when it was released. Ever since it has been released, I have been deeply engrossed and always excitedly waiting for next highly spell- bindind, gripping and mesmerising episodes.

💫The story of the drama is extremely refreshing and highly unpredictable yet it successfully enthrals, fascinates, engages, entrances and enchants the audiences with its extraordinary and unique top-class and out of this world plot💥💯. One of the noticable features of this storyline is time cycle encounters (where she learns about past lives). It's neither simple straight timeline nor just a circle. The main characters are influenced by irregular timelines, their identities and circumstances change in each life time. These encounters allows them to meet and confront each other. At certain points, the main leads loose their original memories in past lives. However, very importantly, xy's final time jump to place where she met hy in the demon valley, is completely different from previous time. In the last encounter, both have the knowledge of their previous lives ✨️.

💫Hong ye is highly complex and intricate character portrayed brilliantly, magnificently and impeccable by phenomenal actor HMH. Although, Hong ye at present is very morally good, just, kind, smart and responsible demon lord, he doesn't have the commanding aura of a formidable demon king, showing self-blame, repentance, and a deep internal struggle as he has yet to rediscover his true self. Fortunately over three lifetimes, particularly after meeting Xiao Yao, he gradually reconnects with the bold, trusting, fearless, extremely formidable and unrestrained version of himself that existed centuries ago. I absolutely adore Hong Ye, I love his extremely sweet, protective, romantic, mischievous (influenced by Xiao yao), strategic, playful, kind, bold, reflective and righteous sides. He is extremely precious demon who is Xy's treasure. He has stolen my heart ✨️❤️‍🔥.

💫Xiao Yao is also very complicate and sophisticate character, portrayed flawlessly and effortlessly by versatile actress TSY. Xiao yao(half demon and half human) in her original third lifetime is very special person, who has very pure and incorruptable heart despite being of very explorative, mischievous, jolly, and tricky nature. She always stays true to her heart and sticks to her moral principles. Always be kind, friendly, playful, just and protective of all beings around her whether they are humans or demons. Although she likes money, she always uses it for proper needs and is never blinded by greed or desire of extreme power or immortality. Xioa Yao with her untarnished beautiful heart molds and influences the opinions and principles of many demons, spirits and humans during her exciting journey together with Hong Ye in 3 lifetimes. I absolutely love her cute, adorable, bubbly, flirty, calculative, tactical, prudent, combative, witty, romantic, wise and thoughtful sides. She is very lovable and unforgettable character, she has won my heart 🥰🔥.

💫Hong Ye and Xiao Yao through the 3 lifetimes encounters always triggers long standing conflicts between humans and demons. We are shown through many stories, how desires, trust and moral choices effects the fates of both races. However, Xiao Yao's pure heart becomes a crucial power that drives the story toward reconciliation and redemption. Thus, making this drama different from conventional romance yet the 3 life time romance we experience between Hong Ye and Xiao Yao is extremely remarkable and heart-warming. Their chemistry feels incrediblly natural and romantic. Hong Ye is always extremely accommodating, malleable, attentive, soft, tender and protective to Xiao yao. Same goes for Xiao yao she is extremely observant of Hong yes's hidden feelings and worries, does anything to protect and help him and is always concerned for him. Their romance is extremely sweet, intimate, synchronized and natural, sending viewers hearts into total frenzy✨️💖.

💫Not forgetting to mention, whenever, they have misunderstanding or disagreement they very quickly, effectively and proactively resolve it in best way possible, which very beautifully brings them even closer. Every trial or event bonds them together more firmly then ever. They trust, rely, and protect each other no matter what. Through out the 3 life times ardous journey, these two have created really powerful feelings and overwhelming emotions, which have greatly moved me. Both of them are striving towards establishing peace for humans and demons by employing their responsible, righteous, courageous and selfless hearts to attain this dream/goal.
I have completely melted 💘🫠 for this breath-taking, very compatible and beautiful unforgettable couple. They are totally made for each other.

💫All the others actors have also enchanted me with their brilliant, dynamic, dedicated, committed, creative and powerful acting. They have displayed their deep emotions, passion, feelings flawlessly and their stories unfolded magnificently and seamlessly well with good pacing. Their dynamic and smooth chemistry with each other and the main characters brought this masterpiece to life. The short stories were very touching and engaging endorsing the hearts with meaningful messages about making the right choice under various circumstances while always rememberering that demons and humans have good and bad people amongst them.

BZ's character development started out well, with him and his sister standing up for their principles while learning to distinguish between good and bad demons. But sadly he seems to have lost his way along the way for quite some time due to PP's predicamen. Thankfully, he got his sister back and redeemed himself. Now, for the other characters: my personal favorite are XM the cat demon, LL the pig demon, the little herbs and Bamboo demon. They are very adorable and funny, there is never a dull moment with them around. The 3 great demons, were at times very adorable, intriguing and funny. However, they made HY and humans suffer a lot, they got chance to change their ways and later they paid for their mistakes with their lives.

💫The CGI, FX and cenimatrography of this drama is incredibly beautiful and stunning💞🔥!The attention to detail, photorealism, seamless integrations, lighting and texturing makes geographical lands in the story enchanting and magical. The CGI in this drama not only gave us compelling visual experience in the action scenes but it effectively communicated the stories and emotions of the characters too. It successfully engages the viewers and leaving an everlasting impression. The gorgeous costumes, stunning hairstyles and mesmerising make up for the casts is breathtaking making the drama very enticing and inviting visual feast. But it's not just the visuals that stand out, all the OSTs especially the opening OST 'desire and calamity' and 'afraid it's only a dream' are extremely beautiful. They have emotional resonance, clear production, and originality. All OSTs give emotional and atmosphereic depth to the scenes and and events.

💫I absolutely fell in love with this most magical, sweetest, beautiful, adorable and naturally romantic couple. With their superb acting, they have manifested one of the top-class heart warming, touching, emotional, magical, romantic and unforgettable Xuanhuan ever for me. Looking forward to next episodes very eagerly. Only downside is that the episodes are coming to an end and I absolutely don't want it to finish because I just can't get enough of this enchanting unique magical story.

ENDING:

It seems that the main leads have achieved their major goal of bringing lasting peace to both races. Everyone, who has made bad moral choices either got retribution and paid for their sins some way or repented and redeemed themselves. Eventually, the vicious cycle of voilence and revenge between demons and humans was broken. Ofcourse, 10,000 years of chaos and feud came to an end with price of selfless acts of bravery.

Even though the end was little ambiguous, I find it totally worth the watch beacause there is really nothing HY and XY didn’t do together as a couple in 3 lifetimes.

✨️With XY (having special body) mastering the art of time travelling, I guess she can relive the numerous happiest times with HY in 3 lifetimes while correcting the mistakes made before or possibly find another way to seal the kunlun mirror! Possiblities are endless when she can travel any point into past and can change anything and this time she knows everything!✨️💞
☆⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝☆

✨️Any point she jumps to is a new beginning!!

"Everything has started anew"
"Everything is just a beginning"

✨️Thus, this timeline is not a never-changing cycle, nowhere it says that everything repeated the way it was.

🌈Looking at the last seen: both XY's and HY's aura was different from the original scene because both of them know and remember everything this time around and are about to start a new. It's already a chance to change every thing. 🎊

🌟So, it's Not a repeat But a Reset!!!💕💯⭐️

Overall, I thorougly enjoyed every second of this masterpiece 😍 ✨️ 👌 I highly recommend it to people who love fantasy and romance.

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