Reviews

Perfectly Imperfect

A really good follow-up to the first season, with the second season maintaining the series' core identity. The already complex situations become even more complicated, and new issues regarding gay relationships are explored, along with some queer matters in general. One of them being the HIV, which was addressed in the first season as well, but in the second, they focus a lot more on it to raise awareness to the audience, which I find really important and praise worthy.

Regarding the addition of new characters, it feels very organic and necessary, as it actually helps to see the established characters in a new light and delve deeper into their lives and backgrounds. As for the acting, it's on point in this season as well, with the cast delivering very natural performances.

For those who watched the first season, I definitely recommend the second. It doesn't flop or become tiresome at all rather it complements the first season's elements in the best possible way.

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Ending wasn't only bad but disastrous

The ending didn't satisfy me at all! Regardless Hong Ye human arc was my favourite but Even after all those suffering, it was again Hong Ye sacrificing himself apparently because every sin is committed by him only and no one else is guilty at all .. It would have been a lil bit better if he could have recarnated atleast in the end .. but it looks like the story maker was a total Hong Ye hater , he couldn't be bothered.. Moreover, Xiao Yao learnt the new technique and went back to the time , when they first met ??? Like girl ?? What do you want? All to be repeated all again? Moreover all this time traveling was just so pointless in this drama .. people going back and not changing anything? She travelled back just to live the past life .. couldn't change anything at all !? In the end , I thought she learnt something new from ancient scriptures so maybe she'll go at the time of sealing the mirror and do something else and Hong Ye will be saved ! But NO 😭😭😭 She just wanted to live again with Hong Ye and watch him suffer all over again!😭😭😭 This drama has so much potential but story kinda ruined it.

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It's Not Amazing, Not Bad, Just Watchable

It’s not bad. The storytelling is not boring enough that you wouldn't want to tune in for tomorrow's episode, but also not interesting enough that you would be raving about it to all your friends. It's not infuriating in that there is no plague of "noble idiocy", unreasonably villainous characters, unnecessary conflicts springing up out of nowhere solely for the purpose of giving our CPs a reason to be pushed together. This author has set up a complex and logical world and the characters are logically flowing along in it.

And the ending is tragic but they set you up well for it (even if you don't have any context from the other drama/books, you should be able to guess who will survive or not if you're listening closely to what the characters say). And there’s not unnecessary tragedy and losses along the way.

+10 points because every male actor is incredibly good looking and makes watching super enjoyable.

I am a long time Ding Yu Xi fan, but before this drama I was starting to doubt his acting ability when re-watching his older dramas (they kind of lose their spark after the 3rd/4th watch). But now in an ensemble cast where he is not the ML and I can do side by side comparison with other lead actors at his level, I can pick out what makes him so great. The way he uses his facial muscles, how his expressions are actually distinct from one moment to the next. The way he tried to give the impression that he is reacting to the situation in real-time and is not just the plot armored “perfect guy”/ “always keep his composure as if I know what’s coming next in the script”. So this drama was good for restoring my appreciation for DYX.

So nice production overall, but only an 8.0 because it has no re-watchability factor.

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Why is the review that low? 7,6???

I definitely can’t understand the bad reviews so far. After three Episodes I’m feeling:
The acting is great, and the story feels different from the usual patterns we see again and again in dramas lately. It doesn’t try to please everyone, and that is exactly why it works for me. From the very first episode, there is an emotional weight that quietly settles in your chest and refuses to leave. This drama is not afraid to be slow, painful, and honest, and that makes it feel real rather than constructed.

The performances are strong without being overdone. Every glance, pause, and broken sentence feels intentional. You can sense that the actors trust the material, and that trust transfers directly to the audience. Instead of dramatic exaggeration, we get subtle emotions that slowly build until they hurt. It’s heartbreaking in a quiet way, the kind of sadness that lingers long after the episode ends.

What truly sets this story apart is its willingness to take risks. It doesn’t rely on predictable twists or forced cliffhangers. Instead, it focuses on emotional consequences, human flaws, and choices that cannot be undone. That makes the pain feel earned, not manipulative. You may not always agree with the characters, but you understand them, and that understanding is what keeps you watching.

I actually think the criticism proves how different this drama is. Stories like this are rarely appreciated immediately. They require patience, emotional openness, and a willingness to sit with discomfort. Not everyone wants that, and that’s okay. But for those who connect with it, the experience is deeply rewarding.

There is something special about having a drama that gives you something to look forward to every single week. The anticipation, the emotional preparation, and the afterthoughts all become part of your routine. It’s not just entertainment; it becomes a feeling, a shared moment with other viewers who feel the same way.

That is why I already know this drama will be in my Top 3 of 2026. Not because it is easy to watch, but because it dares to hurt, to stay honest, and to trust its audience. I’m genuinely excited to continue this journey, even if it breaks my heart along the way, because stories like this are the ones we remember the longest.

Long after the final episode airs, I know I will still think about the scenes, the dialogue, and the emotions they stirred inside me. This is the kind of story that grows with you, changing meaning depending on your own experiences. That depth is rare, and it deserves more credit than it currently receives. I’m grateful I gave it a chance, and I will gladly defend it every single time, because sometimes the most beautiful stories are the ones that quietly shatter you and help you understand yourself a little better than before.

This drama reminds me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place, and why patience is sometimes the greatest reward of all. It stays with you long after watching.

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A Modern Sci-Fi Comedy Done Well

PROS
Great writing, even greater comedy than anticipated, and I’m IN LOVE with the 羊驼 (alpaca) song. And this drama is yet another data point to convince me that Gao Han Yu (Gu Yu's actor) only knows how to play incredibly likable characters.

CONS
The ML and FL had flaws in the beginning that I was not fond of (the FL was too quick to assume the ML’s bad intentions once or twice, and ML was unnecessarily unapologetic about his rude, yet truthful comments on appearance). Upon reflection, if I were in their shoes I would have acted the same, but I like to place an unrealistic expectation on drama characters to be more righteous, logical, compassionate and merciful than I am (which may be unreasonable, but it is fiction - people should be better and more ideal than real humans). Luckily the flaws were minute and not recurring, and the characters were mostly lovable and cleared up all misunderstandings and gave all necessary apologies in the end.

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Qian Sanyi and Lin Miaomiao ❤️

What I loved most about Growing Pain Season 2 is how naturally it shows the characters’ growth—from proud, playful, and sometimes immature high school students to young adults learning how to navigate life, dreams, and friendships. The transition feels honest and relatable, capturing the confusion and vulnerability that come with early adulthood.

The highlight of this season is definitely the continuation and deepening of Qian Sanyi and Lin Miaomiao’s relationship, which was left unresolved in Season 1. Sanyi’s character development is especially touching—seeing him gradually set aside his pride for Miaomiao shows how much he has matured. At the same time, Miaomiao surprises us by becoming a gentle, thoughtful girlfriend, a side of her we didn’t fully expect but deeply appreciate. More than lovers, they truly feel like each other’s best friends, and that emotional foundation makes their relationship incredibly meaningful and lovable.

Guo Junchen and Zhao Jinmai’s chemistry is unexpectedly beautiful. Perhaps it feels so natural because we’ve watched them grow together from Season 1 to Season 2 (even though I binged everything in a week ?). Their performances make the relationship feel genuine rather than idealized, and it left me wanting to see more of them—whether in another season or even in a completely new drama.

I also appreciate how Season 2 leans more into realism compared to the lighter tone of Season 1. Life isn’t always happy, and the “adulting” stage is filled with disappointments, wrong choices, and self-doubt. This season doesn’t shy away from that. Instead, it shows how growing up means learning, failing, and moving forward together—with friends and loved ones by your side.

Overall, Growing Pain Season 2 feels mature, heartfelt, and deeply relatable. I’m still holding onto hope for a Season 3—maybe one where Sanyi and Miaomiao are married… or even middle-aged and still growing together. That would truly feel like a full-circle ending

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The Best Adapatation in the TBOY Series

So amazing!!!! The peak level of friendly platonic bromance! And the constant subversion of expectations when your main characters are all bad guys just trying to be good.

THE CHARACTERS
Su Chang He (Chuang Hua Sen's character and SML) was PERFECCCCTTTTT!!! I know everyone is agreeing that he is the standout character/actor in this show. So complicated, but ultimately motivated by such intrinsic goodness and loyalty. So willing to lay down all power, control, prestige, for his friends. Gains everyone's following and the highest leadership title so early on, and yet forever acts subservient to others. A real humble king-like character: super OP, but always taking the humblest position.
Gong Jun's character really grew on me as well! It was nice that he was not always a goody two shoes, took justice into his own hands, trusted and understood SCH so unconditionally, and only really got murderous when it was to avenge SCH.

THE FLAWS
The worst 2 parts were 1) the romance, and 2) the unrealistic way that so many people lived for the sake of loving the "art of the sword", and treated every conflict like there were no real issues of life and death or strife in the world. Like when the city is under attack and the OP guys are somewhere playing chess and just commenting on how power is changing hands right now somewhere nearby (like why don't you do something about it and lend a hand???). People have important missions and they are willing to abandon them mid-mission just to fight a "worthy opponent" (unprovoked, not their enemy, just happens to be present). And if they get defeated, they just brush it off and fly away like it was not important to begin with. Most fights have no meaning, most people live so frivolously that you wonder how their society is functioning, because who is actually earning money, doing agriculture, running the city, building infrastructure, etc?
And the romance was just such an obnoxious deterrent from the ICONIC bromances going on, every last one. The only saving grace for this is that **spoiler** none of the CPs worked out in the end ;)

BETTER THAN TBOY
But this is so much better than the other stories in this world - The Blood Of Youth and Dashing Youth - b/c there was actually some MEANING to most of the battles. The Blood River folks had a purpose for their fights and power struggles. They never just fought to test out their skills (even though some non-Blood River people did), but they were fighting to the death to gain the title of the Patriarch, and then to free themselves from their patrons, and then to gain allies to help them re-write their name in society. Always a tangible goal, and always a fight that if it was not won and both sides made it out alive and unscathed, they could not allow the other to continue. Not like TBOY where **spoiler** they had so many fights in the first 10 episodes over the guy in the coffin, and then ultimately he just walked out on his own and kept going in the direction that everyone was trying to take him to (which was the SAME direction btw, I don't even know why they had to fight in the first place).
And also, the friendships here were so real, deep, and full of history, unlike the TBOY friendships that were formed on the fly in real-time and resulted in loyalty and proclamations of brotherhood that seemed to come out of nowhere and be rooted in knowing nothing about each other, very unrealistic.

All in all, so many positives that it cancels out all of the negatives and warrants a near perfect score.

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I LOVE IT! One of the best-produced C-dramas I’ve ever watched!

Zhao Jinmai (Maimai) and Song Weilong’s chemistry and visuals are chef’s kiss—they truly bring Nie Xiguang and Lin Yusen to life. Weilong’s frustration and yearning, so powerfully conveyed through his eyes, paired with Maimai’s beautifully delivered lines, make every scene feel incredibly real. For me, they are truly among the best actors, and I completely fell in love with them.

The story is captivating and engaging in every episode. Although it’s a slow-burn romance, the courting stage is portrayed so delicately and romantically that you barely even notice they haven’t had their first kiss yet—it’s that enchanting.

The soundtrack is perfectly placed in every scene, effortlessly enhancing the emotions. This has officially become my top 1 favorite C-drama 💕 Thank you, Gu Man, Maimai, Weilong, and the entire cast and crew for such a wonderful production

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A sweet story of falling in love—slowly, but surely

I am so happy that this was the last show I've watched in 2025 and the first show I've watched in 2026. This drama is sweet, warm, fluffy, and overall cozy—perfect for the cold weather!

STORY:

This is a masterclass from Gu Man about letting go and finding a love that you deserve.

I saw that some people have commented that this drama is boring because of the slow progress between the main leads, but I think the slow progress between them is actually the highlight of the show. I would like to think of Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang's love as a tree (funny how Lin Yusen's name is related to this)—growing slow and steady. And when it is big enough, it is strong and can withstand any hardships and the flowers that blossom from it is beautiful. The story of how Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang got together basically laid foundation to their future that was shown by the end of the show and it's a very full circle moment for me to watch that. You know that Tiktok trend about "which movie/series couple will definitely break up after the events of the movie/series end"? Yeah, you will never catch Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang in those lists.

So, yeah. The point is: The slowburn is the whole point of the show. So, if you're not into that, you'd probably never enjoy it. (Also, it makes sense for their love to be slow because Nie Xiguang is hesitant after the disaster that was her first love.)

Going to the next point, the story also shows a comparison of what love should feel like. The comparisons are not explicitly said, but you can see it in how Nie Xiguang interacts with Lin Yusen as compared to how she interacts with Zhuang Xu (her first love). On top of my mind, an example would be how Nie Xiguang—even when she was still not close to Lin Yusen and even when they started off at the wrong foot—feels at ease with him and feels confident enough in expressing herself. Meanwhile, with Zhuang Xu, it's like she's always walking on eggshells, afraid that one squeak would earn yet another unsolicited scolding that only breaks down her confidence.

Aside from comparisons of what love should feel like, the story also shows comparisons of what friendships should feel like. They showed two different types of friendship—one from her university days and one from her work days, and you can clearly see which of the two Nie Xiguang was happy with. And I really love how they showed Nie Xiguang's healing not just in terms of love but also in terms of friendship. It's what she deserves.

Another thing that I love about this show is that the love and care is not one sided. As much as Lin Yusen gave light to Nie Xiguang's life, Nie Xiguang also gave light to Lin Yusen's life. The mutual affection was very obvious and you can clearly see how they were very much into each other. They truly lived the title "Shine On Me" because they definitely shone on each other's lives—a constant source of warmth, affection, and encouragement; and this was so consistent until the end.

Special Mention: Lin Yusen's first love (medicine) plot line. I feel so sad whenever I think about how he can no longer operate and be a surgeon like he had always dreamed of. And it's so frustrating whenever someone asks him why he's not a doctor anymore—like, that's a sore spot, don't ask anymore! It's just so regretful to think how a brilliant doctor and a rare talent like him ended up not being able to use his talent at all. At least, not in the way he dreamed of. But one striking line in the show was spoken by one of his mentors, Professor Xi, "If your hands can no longer dance to your mind's rhythm, then perhaps it's fate guiding you to another path to save patients." And I'm so happy he found that other path.

Another Special Mention: I feel like the ending of Nie Xiguang's parents was a foreshadowing (and a warning) of what would have happened if Nie Xiguang ended up with Zhuang Xu. I think it's a good detail to explore because the story did show some similarities between Nie Xiguang's dad and Zhuang Xu. I love how decisive Nie Xiguang's mother was to cut him off her life, though. And it mirrors Nie Xiguang's resolve to shut down Zhuang Xu later in the story.

ACTING/CAST:

Like I said in an old review, my only criteria to say that an actor is good is when I'm able to enjoy the show while watching him or her. If the actor delivers what he has to deliver and make me feel for their character, then they're good in my books. And for this show, everyone definitely delivered. My heart fluttered for Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang. I 100% rooted for them and their endeavors. I got pissed at Zhuang Xu, Ye Rong, Nie Xiguang's father and his little side family, and even Siliang. And I have fond feelings for Yin Jie, Yu Hua, Dr. Fang, Jiang Rui, and Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang's close family and friends.

To be honest, when I saw the first trailer, I wasn't particularly gagged by Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai's chemistry. But since they were actors I'm quite fond of individually (I always watch the works they release), I still gave it a try and I was blown away by how amazing they actually were together. (Sorry for doubting you, monarchs!) I hope they have another project together, hopefully a costume one. Or maybe a mystery and adventure one.

MUSIC:

Let me just say, I was so invested with this show that I already know which OST is going to play in a specific scene. And Zhang Hao's Coming For You, went platinum in my household and in my heart! That's SOTY for me now. Whenever I need something to make my heart flutter, I'll just listen to Shine On Me's soundtracks and relive the scenes in my brain.

Like, the music is so effective, I can vividly relate scenes to every song.

REWATCH VALUE:

This is such a feel good show, that you will never hesitate to rewatch it. I, myself, will 100% rewatch it when I need something to make my heart flutter.

OVERALL:

My heart was happy the whole time I was watching this show—and that's all that matters. This is definitely going to my Top Idol Dramas Hall of Fame.

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Showcasing the Light that one can experience after Trauma, but the Traumatic Experience is Very Real

It was excellent. As expected from writer Mo Shu Bai (also wrote Destined, the Princess Royal). Vin Zhang is truly an amazing, amazing actor. I don't know if his physique or his demeanor or just impressive acting skills, but he always fully embodies what it looks like to be a “man”, he is the kind of person that is essential to have by your side if you go through what MXT's character has gone through. And I am happy that it wasn’t so traumatic and they masterfully highlighted all of the light in the midst of such a dark synopsis. MXT is really cute here too.

**spoilers** I do wish more people got convicted in the end, there were too many "turn over a new leaf" moments at the final trial. They made it so only one guy was the villain, but it would’ve made for better, vindicating storytelling if his wife, the secretary, and Chuchu never repented for their ways and faced the full repercussions of their actions.
I also wish the husband didn’t go to jail for 2 YEARS, but I understand why it has to happen because the CCP requires all crimes to be properly brought to justice in modern dramas, and the intent of his crime was grave enough to warrant the jail time, even if he surrendered before fully following through (and his crime was probably so grave because those were the actions he took in the book, so it had to be true to his character).

Anyway, I’m rating it a 9.5 rather than a 10, not because of the few critiques I listed above, but simply because it’s such a heavy story that I don’t think I could ever watch it again. So 0 re-watchability.

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Never thought this day would come

After 3 LONG years, I finally finished this show. I was so excited for this show, and then it turned out to be so bad, and that pissed me all off, so yeah. Also, I don't think the first couple of episodes have reviews because it has BEEN SO LONG. I dont think I started doing that yet, so the rating is a little skewed, and I am sorry. (I DID, WE ARE IN LUCK) I would give it a 7.5 (7.6) out of 10, and I am gonna say what I liked, what I didn't, and then an episode overview to finally put this show to rest.

I will give it to them. The start was pretty good, and I think they set this up really well. That's it, I fear. The rest of the show was unwiped ASS.

2x speed will be your best friend. I am just saying. It helps you take in information faster without having to scoop your eyes out with a spoon because this shit is so boring. Slow burn. Not all slow burns are bad. This one was bad, tho, and the fact that they don't know how to write a plot without dragging it out was their downfall. It got confusing in the second episode. The sex scenes were terribly placed and also added to the show's downfall. It went from cute lesbian love to just straight fetish shit, my lord. We suck at plot writing and also character writing. So many one-dimensional shity ass characters, INCLUDING LADY SAM. SHE WAS SO ONE-DIMENSIONAL AND HAD NO SPINE, AND WAS A TERRIBLE AND TOXIC CHARACTER. This show was terribly boring. WEIRD AS FUCKING LOVE SQUARE BETWEEN KIRK, LADY SAM, MON, AND THE GUY I THOUGHT WAS HER BROTHER. TERRIBLE. Everyone in the office is terribly irrelevant, and office romance fucking suck. They had so many fake issues to drag the plot out, and it was boring af. The pacing was awful fucking terrible. Like it was a slow burn, and then we jumped the gun and made a drag plot. Their own relationship was so toxic, Jesus fuck. They had chemistry at the start of the show, and then it just died, and it made this a harder watch. And that's it.

Okay, my overview time. "I liked the start. It was a slow burn, and it really showed us which characters are likable and which ones aren’t. Great start, really. I’m really excited for this show. I’ve been waiting for it to come out." I was then shot in the back of the head 57 times. "Hey, we are going to make a really boring episode and then put all the drama and tea at the end, so you will go to the next episode." "These episodes feel so damn long and literally nothing happens." "This is the most bullshit plot ever, what the fuck." "YALL MAKE ME WANNA BE VIOLENT. I SWEAR TO GOD. OH MY GOD. The pacing of this is awful, because we take one step forward and five steps back; it is pissing me off." "Random bitches just keep getting added, and we are all so irrelevant because our main couple isn't even relevant." "If someone makes you cry this much, I don't think you should be with them." "Irrelevant side characters and bad character writing equal a terrible show."

Yeah, no. Okay bye!

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The One Fatal Flaw is the FL's Acting

This was another perfect, well crafted story written by the masterful author, Mo Shu Bai.

This is the first adaptation of a Mo Shu Bai work where the main CP has not already been married for years before the drama begins (The Princess Royal, Light Beyond the Reed), or is not forced into a marriage by the end of the first episode (Destined). For once, we're not seeing a married couple learn to fall in love again (or for the first time), but we're seeing two individuals who have no ties to each other weighing the costs and benefits of letting a little stirring of emotions turn into a lifelong commitment.
While fundamentally different from the past works, it is a love story could have worked if executed well. And while Mo Shu Bai set up this couple perfectly to be successful, Victoria Song's basic lack of understanding of the character caused the main CP to crash and burn in a way such that even Ding Yuxi's acting couldn't save it.

CONS
The main CP was the worst, most uninteresting couple to watch and it was entirely Victoria's fault. Honestly their romance peaked when it was just a one-sided love from DYX, but once she started reciprocate his feelings and they tried to "Fight For Love", I was annoyed with them. The main flaw was that Victoria misunderstood CY's character entirely, and instead of acting as a mature, complex woman, she acted like a child blind-sided by a love confession, and then later blindly motivated by love without any plausible reason for romance to be blossoming. They truly had almost no chemistry (I say "almost" b/c DYX can truly have chemistry with a broomstick). And their "love above all else" attitude was infuriating at times, because in reality their love was not so great, was not worth fighting for, and should not have gotten so in the way of the bigger picture like it did.

PROS
EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER had depth, had a purpose, was never tiring to watch. Every side story, side romance, side conflict, was intriguing and worth slowing down for. And I loved every choice made by every character (except for the main CP when it came to choices made regarding their relationship). The story was constantly subverting my expectations with how great these characters could be. And I've watched enough C-dramas to see supporting characters, SMLs, side couples, etc. make infuriating, choices or "noble idiocy" moves or irrationally villainous choices that I was constantly expecting them, but every single time it didn't happen! I felt like I was constantly waiting to get betrayed by characters that I was growing fond of and that never happened (Song Shilan, I am so glad that I was able to root for you until the end, you had all the makings to become a villain or a backstabber, but you were not).
The politics were also great! Every time I avoided picking up the show again for fear of being disappointed by the main CP, we actually shifted focus to the war, to politics, to the bromances, to the great virtues of every side character, and I was pleasantly surprised and not disappointed after all.

I cannot give it more than a 9/10 b/c the show is called "Fight For Love" and that is essentially the only plot line that I hated, but everything else I loved and every actor was a rockstar (except for Victoria). Even though this is the lowest score I've ever given to a Mo Shu Bai work, all of the redeeming qualities came from the additional characters that she wrote, and I can tell that this drama might have even been a 10 out of 10 if 1) The FL was differently cast, and 2) the drama was allowed to do the original rebirth/reincarnation plot line that was in the book (which unfortunately had to be dropped from the drama adaptation due to China's outlaw of reincarnation plots in C-dramas). So I have no doubt that she is still a Top Tier writer and will only produce 10/10 works in the future.

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Outwardly, it's a simple enough story, but it takes its time - as so many of the best Thai films do - to let the depth of its emotions unfold and give them room to breathe.

And the emotions in this are exquisite, sometimes painful, sometimes beautiful, always grounded and real. Score and pacing are superb, acting excellent - everything working together to give it richness and depth, everything coming exactly when it needs to. I really do love the Thai way with a story, especially their two hour movies.

If I could see one piece of media over again for the first time, it would be this.

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Heart warminng

Worth the wait this drama was everything i actually disagree with negative comments i thought story kept on pace the story about love, greed, friendship, loss it just kept getting better and better every episode the love story between hong ye and xia yao was so beautiful the ending had me kinda confused but i get she went back time to be with him since he died in present time so happy/sad ending the fact that their love last 10,000 years 3 lifetimes so good drama had me tears and laughing. The leads def had so much chemistry i hope they do another drama together with a better happy ending. The music was chefs kiss great that both leads had song in the drama. I def recommend this drama and def rewatch.

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