Reviews

Hidden Gem!

This drama truly was impressive! After watching the Kdrama “Cinderella and the Four Knights” I was stunned by Jung Il Woo, that’s when I started looking for other dramas starring Jung Il Woo. Then I fell upon this drama, at first I was skeptical about it since I had never heard of it. There was no hype or anything about this drama, so I was really wondering whether I should watch it. In the end I watched it and it was 100% worth it!! Ngl this is one of the best historical Kdramas I have ever watched. I loved the character development in the characters. The young actor who played Il Woo’s son was absolutely phenomenal! I liked the plot, I felt like it was quite different from usual cliches. This drama really opened my eyes on trying other dramas instead of those which are hyped. DO NOT HESITATE THIS DRAMA IS AMAZING!

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Don’t Skip This Version!

As someone who has seen the Korean version and read the WEBTOON, I would definitely suggest watching this version as well. I especially liked the acting of Reina and Tomoya, I felt like the actors did a great job of showing the inner feelings of the characters and their motivations. The soundtrack was excellent as well. There were some small changes to the story that kept viewers like me interested and made it feel more like its own story. I think each version (the WEBTOON, Korean, and Japanese) had aspects of their own story that I preferred, so I can’t say that there is one version better than another. If you are wondering if you should start this show, do! if you are in the middle of it and thinking, hmm should I continue? please watch until the end, that is the best part!

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Totally Worth Your Time!

I remember being extremely bored and seeing that there was a new xianxia drama out. At first I did not expect much but this turned out to be amazing! This reminded me of Love Between a Fairy and Devil quite a lot.
Arthur Chen and Wang Ying Lu were perfectly casted for their roles. I felt like Ying Lu’s character was quite realistic and overall her character was very likable. Arthur Chen’s character just got better as I was watching! We could see his character evolve from being a cold hearted “villain” to becoming extremely caring and lovable.
Haven’t had such a good xianxia in a while! I was not a fan of the amnesia plot but ngl it was not that bad. I was able to enjoy this drama to a max!! The leads had a ton of chemistry, lowkey wished the ending was a little more flavorful but totally worth my time!😭😭

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Script was not fair to Wang Yilun

I began watching this because of Zhao LuSi. I have a tendency to stick to a drama unless is truly bores me to death or I accidentally read someone's spoiler and find out a character I like dies (hello, POB and JTL) Anyway, I kept wondering why the ML was so stone-faced. Just didn't seem right.
I have since seen Wang Yilun in other dramas where his character smiles a lot and is humorous. He fits that style of drama much better than this one.
I definitely feel the ending could have been written better. But at least we got an opportunity to turn it into whatever we wanted. He did respect her desire to go alone to Japan by not getting on the plane even when he was called three times on the overhead speakers.

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I came into this with expectation not low enough

I liked TSOU, so I had similar expectations. The plot sounded good, but the actual show dragged on. A lot of the plot of four episodes could be told in one episode. The beginning is a good 7.8, but now it's more of a 6.

After watching ep 13, all I gotta say is.. what the actual fuck is this plot???? I wanna like it, I really do, it takes a lot for me to actually wanna drop a show AS SOMEONE WHO WATCHED BLANK and LOVE SENIOR AND FINISHED THEM AND FOUND THEM TO BE OKAY. Whoever wrote this shit can start counting their days. I'm sure this really is not Ling and Orm's fault and happened to land on a poorly executed project since they can't really refuse the scripts they get. i just hope CH3 will do better in the future, cuz this was straight up ass

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Fan-Tastics

I liked this! I think the story is adorable, I believe that with the timeframe this company and to work for the story, worked well, and overall, I loved our main characters. Was is brilliant? No, but it was catchy, and I really enjoyed its more natural, fluffy side.

Let's Dive In.

I'm not immediately obsessed with our leads, actually it takes me more than a while to really get into them, but when I do, I'm in love. Thank you the BL gods for not putting in music over their kiss scenes (sounds were immaculate) Other than that weird-ass music during their NC scenes, there was no problems in the physical department. Actually, out of any K-BL I've seen, I think this one takes the cake in terms of physicalness. So well done. Also, whatta height difference, you've got to love it.

My only real problem with this plot is the problem I have with most plots trying to be lazy. It's the whole "oh no, the world know we're dating" and in the next episode it's, "I suddenly don't care anymore what the world says!" It's just such lazy writing to hurry and come to a happy conclusion. It was all Jiwon cared about the entire series, and then suddenly, with a magical wand, he doesn't care anymore. Sigh, okay. I would've love some more play into this, something I haven't seen yet would've been nice, but whatever.

Moving onto my favorite underlying story, the best friends. I think it's so unique how unexpecting their story is, and them BAM, we're given all these hints by Euno about his little crush on Seungjin. I don't know if they're gearing up for their own story, but I'd love to watch it. It'd be so silly, and soft, and somehow deep, and I really think I'd love it.

The only other nit-picky, not-that-big-of-a-deal thing I had was gymnast are typically extremely built and large, and Jiwon is the exact opposite. It was hard to play into the whole "I'm a gold-medalist olympian" thing, but again, just something super-duper minor, but I still noticed it.

Overall, this is a very fell-good series with a decent runtime and an incredible cast. Most scenes where friends get together I skip cause I get bored easily, but this friend group was incredibly endearing to watch. I don't know if I'll remember this series in like a year, but me now really enjoyed this.

Ratings;

Story: 8/10 - Entertaining enough. Flowed naturally and didn't have too much filler or anything unnecessary. Really stuck to the story of the main couple which I liked. More time would've meant more room to grow in other aspects, but this was as good as it could've been.

Acting: 9/20 - Good! I especially loved Rakyeong's acting.

Music: 4/10 - They thought, "Why don't we put these EDM beats behind a moment that is suppose to be super lovely dovey and sensual?" SO annoying.

Recommendation Value: 7/10 - Yeah why not. Lighthearted, fun, and some great couple scenes. Unfortunately, there's no moment we get to see Jeongu take his shirt off besides the NC scene, but no pecs. Sigh.

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Feeling a little like 2012?

If this were 2012-15 BL era, this would be a 7, today it’s a 5.5.
This drama insults the expectations of the audience while simultaneously not giving us what we really want to see…..the secondary couple.
This is episode after episode of 80s softcore of a deranged “enigma” doing unnecessary things to get his already-got man’s attention, leaving the crumbs of the couple with a real plot sitting on the sidelines.
Legit gave us 2-3 minutes one episode that had to be written as “sad man leaves office with box” another, “man leaves message again”
Yeah yeah it’s been said, it’s probably a setup to do a second season with these 2, but I doubt it. Especially with that ending that feels so 2009.
At least no one ends up dead for their troubles.

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I ugly cried

I have never ugly cried for a straight 30 minutes in my life over a show. This changed that.

But to the point. The first 9 episodes were amazing and honestly this show could have probably been wrapped up in 10-12 episodes. The repetition from episodes 10-15 has you saying, “really? We’re going through this again?” There was just too much that wasn’t needed in order to still have a great story. Episodes 16 was still very much needed though. Holy moly….

Lee Jong Suk is dreamy to watch…but they didn’t give his character much dimension in the emotions department. Scenes where you thought he should be crying he just…didn’t? And scenes where he could have used more laughter he just…didn’t? I don’t know really got to describe it but his emotions and character just didn’t seem to line up with how you would expect him to act in certain situations in order to further the deep romantic connection we are supposed to believe the ml and fl have.

My high-ish rating is solely based on the first 1-9 episodes for story development and then including the last episode 16 for the emotional experience I never knew I could have during a show.

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A Breath of Fresh Air — Guardians of Dafeng Is the Genre Revolution C-Drama Needed

I’ve watched Chinese dramas for nearly a decade, and Guardians of Dafeng is the first time I’ve seen a single series combine so many genres so seamlessly — time travel, historical fantasy, mystery investigation, intelligence, emotional and psychological maturity, romance, and comedy — all in one.

While many recent Chinese dramas tend to stay within one or two genres, this show dares to do everything — and succeeds. It’s fresh, intelligent, and deeply human. Every episode carries suspense, depth, and a sense of wonder.

Dylan Wang’s portrayal of Xu Qi’an is outstanding. He doesn’t just act; he embodies the character. Watching him evolve through the story — intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically — feels natural and real. That’s the essence of character development, and this drama gets it exactly right.

What I appreciate most is that Guardians of Dafeng doesn’t rely on trends or star power. It’s built on strong storytelling and meaningful growth. Even the minor flaws add charm instead of taking away from the experience.

I’ve noticed some dramas with higher ratings rely heavily on marketing, popularity, or visuals but lack genuine suspense or emotion. Guardians of Dafeng stands out precisely because it stays true to the unique soul of Chinese storytelling — thoughtful pacing, moral depth, and emotional authenticity.

⭐ 10/10 — A masterpiece that blends every element of drama into something rare, intelligent, and unforgettable.

#GuardiansOfDafeng #DylanWang #CDramaReview #ChineseDrama #FantasyMystery #XuQi'an #CDramaFans

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10 10 10 Across the Board!!

This drama is very different in a good way! What I probably love most about this drama is the father being the true villain behind everything! I find that particularly interesting because the birth fathers are NEVER the villain! It’s always the stepmothers, grandmothers, Aunts, hell sometimes even the birth mothers! And then for him to act sooooo innocent from beginning to end after doing so many horrendous things was perfection! I was TRULY SHOCKED that he was a villain! He had no shame! Bravo to the actor he did a PHENOMENAL JOB!!

Another thing I loved was how the romance wasn’t the main genre of this drama. I mean, don’t get me wrong I love romance dramas as much as the next person but if the main focus was romance for this particular drama I feel like everything else been overshadowed!

I HAVE to give a shoutout to the actress who played the FL mother! She was AMAZING! When I first watched this drama her character in the beginning gave me THE CREEPS with her bulging eyes and haunting voice! I loved it!!! I have never seen a performance like that in a Chinese drama…like EVER!

In short, this drama made me feel excitement! It needs to have a higher rating on MDL! 8.3 is simply NOT HIGH ENOUGH! Truly an underrated gem ugh!

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Power of Love and Healing!

The series works because it doesn’t try to be anything else than what it is. Too often, especially in romantic dramas, the writers always attempt to introduce some new conflict to keep the story going rather than simply let the characters guide them.

The series is about love and healing. This is a touching and sweet series that endeavors to demonstrate that sometimes what we remember isn’t always what really happened, especially memories from childhood.

The series starts out with Seong Deok Mi, who is a curator at an art museum by day and a fangirl by night. Perhaps we get a glimpse of what it means to be a true fangirl. She and her best friend, Lee Seon Ju are obsessed with K-Pop singer, Cha Si An. They are both the masterminds behind Cha Si An’s biggest fan website, “Road to Si An.” Seong Deok Mi does her best to be wherever Cha Si An is in order to take pictures and then post them on the website. Her apartment is literally littered with pictures, drawings, and even pillows with Cha Si An’s face.

Enter Ryan Gold, a famous art director from New York who is brought in to take over as director of the art museum when the owner is caught in a scandal. He’s a bit stuffy and uptight, but he’s a good person. He also has a special interest in a series of bubble paintings by the famous painter Lee Sol. Ryan was abandoned at an orphanage at seven years of age, but he’s inexplicably drawn to these paintings, which seem to unlock pieces of memories with his mother.

In order to protect Seong Deok Mi from a personal scandal, Ryan Gold agrees to pretend to be her boyfriend. We’ve seen this set up numerous times, but it still works, as it’s obvious to everyone that despite the staged relationship, they’re drawn to each other despite not really liking each other initially.

The first half of the series is about how Ryan and Seong Mi become closer and finally enter into a loving relationship. However, the more compelling story is in the second half of the series when Ryan begins to discover who his mother is and how the paintings by Lee Sol help him to connect the dots from his broken memories. I’m not sure there is anything more painful than a parent who loses a child. In a compelling discussion, it’s pointed out that there are terms for spouses who lose one another, or for children who lose their parents, but there is no term for a parent who loses a child, perhaps because it’s simply too painful.

As the viewer, we wonder how a mother could possibly abandon her own child, and yet, we soon discover that things are seldom what they seem to be, as Ryan was left waiting at a playground while his mother went to a meeting nearby. She never made it as she was involved in a serious accident. Of course, Ryan doesn’t realize this until he finally meets his mother, who turns out to be Lee Sol, and that the bubble paintings were actually of him. This was an incredibly sweet reveal, which serves to remind us that a mother’s love never dies, even when it seems to be the case.

We also learn that Seong Deok Mi and her family her unwitting participants in how Ryan was left at the orphanage. The series is about love but also about healing and forgiveness. Ryan could have easily been resentful and bitter about what happened, but instead, he realizes that, despite the contrary, his mother never forgot him. The reunion between them is a powerful element of the series. People often forget that the only way to truly move forward is to let go of the past, and to realize that parents are people and that they often make mistakes too.

Once Ryan and Seong Deok Mi are together, and we also realize that Cha Si An is actually Ryan’s half-brother, it just seems a little creepy that Seong Deok Mi’s apartment is still filled with Cha Si An’s pictures to the degree that you wonder if Seong Deok Mi’s fangirling is pushing the boundaries, especially given Ryan and Cha Si An’s relationship to each other.

There were only a few things that I didn’t care for. First, Seong Deok Mi’s best friend, Lee Seon Ju just isn’t a very good friend, especially when it comes to giving relationship advice. Given her own marital problems, she’s the last person who should be giving feedback and suggestions. She was the only character who just didn’t work for me. A wife who cares more about being a fangirl than a wife is someone with a problem.

Second, when Ryan tells Seong Deok Mi that he has something to tell her (when he’s about to confess his feelings), she tells him that they should end their “fake relationship” and then stalks off without even giving him a chance to say anything, and also when Seong Deok Mi hides behind her brother when Ryan comes over to see her because she’s in her fangirl outfit, she behaves like a kid instead of a 33-year-old woman. Those scenes just made her appear cowardly and immature.

Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook turn in stellar performances, and it’s largely their chemistry that makes the story work so well. Park Min Young has an absolutely captivating smile, and Kim Jae Wook has real charm. My favorites were Kim Mi Kyung, whom I’ve seen in a number of series, and this veteran actress just never disappoints! She’s so good in everything she does. And even though she had a smaller role, I also really liked Kim Sun Young as the quirky and self-absorbed museum owner. She’s another actress who is fantastic in everything she’s in.

This is a warm and sweet series that doesn’t go overboard. It says a lot when the last eight episodes are more intriguing than the first eight. A series should get stronger as it progresses, and this one does just that. This was definitely one of the better romantic dramas that leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart.

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