Reviews

i started watching cu it had two of my most favorite things in a cdrama - marriage of convenience and ding yuxi lmao, like these were actually my only two reasons
i was waiting for prisoner of beauty to air and melody of golden age was the closest to it and bonus bonus i get ding yuxi so i started watching it. i had almost no epectations from the female lead as i had never seen her before (imagine the mental turmoil i had to go through when i got to know she is younger than me and got to be with ding yuxi imma cry) and she did impress me with her skills. this might be a bit off-topic but i love her nose scrunch sm like ive never seen someone wrinkling their nose like that i found it so oddly cute lmao.
the story started out great with fl being married off to ml in the first few episodes for her to work as a spy for another palace official but she never wanted to be a spy but to only follow her passion, that is, solving mysteries and becoming an official. she does just that, all through the drama she solved quite a few cases advancing in rank as she did so. one thing i did not like about her was that she was rewarded way too often for absolute no reason at times, other than that i loved everything about her
ding yuxi was just the perfect ml wehn it all started but once he became soft for fl it was all gone with the tide amen (mind you im not saying the character went bad or something) he became a loser in love (with all due respect) and i love him for that, go baby boy. he was everything fr like girls this is the standard, however, the way his character progressed in the last two episodes did not really apeal with me that much. the ending they gave him was good but not good enough
the story is nice, it starts off nice and slows down quite a bit at the latter half like they were solving cases so well and the main mystery had so much potential but they revealed it so half-hazardly i did not enjoy it much, the explanation was good but the directory was just not it, it couldve been so much better.
i loved the side characters sm AND GOD FORBID i loved that no one i loved had to be unalived oh my god. i knew lai louzhi would die but still had some hope for him idk why but he kinda was a softie at heart kinda person even though i knew he was the most bipolar person there.
nevertheless i enjoyed it and i want ding yuxi in another character like this(who am i kidding all his costume dramas are the same character)

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Lovely Actress, Forgettable Plot—Still, No Regrets (Kinda)

I only watched this because of Song Xiao Ying Zi—yes, I fully admit it. The plot? Kinda there. Not terrible, just… stretched thin like a drama trying to hit a 100-episode milestone. Every episode feels like it’s 1 hour long, even when it’s not.

The villain? Let’s just say I’ve seen stronger threats in children's cartoons. Not smart, not scary, not even mildly stressful. Just there, existing. And the female lead? She’s lovely, but always waiting for someone to jump in and protect her, like a medieval princess in a modern fantasy drama.

But hey, this is just my opinion. If you loved it—good for you! Don’t come for me, I’m just being honest here. 😅

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Light & simple

Two mature main leads, one great group of friends that feels like group of friends and three couples with their own stories

Tang Yang & Shi Yan

The slowburn, the friendship, the romance it's all there. I do think that it's a great example of best friends to lovers because their romantic relationship didn't happen on a whim. There was no event where they were like "oh, I've fallen with my best friend". No, it was all in a little day-to-day things, from both sides. There's support, the fun, the friendship, trust and love between them and it's perfect. It's just a simple story without any drama (it has veryyy minor "villain" plot but honestly it didn't affect them at all). I love that they did write hesitance of turning 13-year friendship into romantic relationship and the awkwardness of the romance when it's still new for both of them. These two compliment each other so well but are still their own people without each other and I love that too

Jiang Yan An & Feng Wei Ran

This is basically friends to lovers thing that happened much earlier than main couple. At first I thought that they're just a comedic relief but I honestly liked both of them. They had their own very valid issues and they overcame them together. I truly admire the writers for including them too and not making them stupid like they like to do with typical second leads in a romcom

Cheng Hui & Sheng Ni Na

Oh, I wish we could have seen more of them! I really like the concept of grumpy guy/sunshine girl or black cat/golden retriever energy but this one actually opened my mind to black cat/black cat energy. They are very similar to each other, very honest and respectful. I do love them like that too (as a half-baked romance) but I'd wish they turned it into the proper second lead romance. There's 30 eps, they could have easily done that

Overall if you want something simple, not overly sugary, mature and slice-of-life-ish, this one is for you. This drama has veryyy little plot aside of the romance but it really felt like it was unnecessary so it's not a perfect 10 stars

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Guarantee entertainment cause Suju never disappoint

It was such a great fun to watch all episodes...as usual Kings are Kings they don't disappoint and each one of the episodes bring laugh and laugh. There is no dull moment and anyone who watches will definitely stick to watch all episodes. Once start watching I didn't even realize that I have not skipped any scene and it ended so quickly when each episode is of like 50min -1 hr long. I have watched every single episode of sj tv since it's first season, and all of its are quiet enjoyable ...this one too felt like ended so quickly and I want to see more of Suju cause it's hard to see full group activities now that they are busy in individual work activities. Super tv is something that I can watch over and over again and never get bored or tired cause Suju will always make you laugh. I'm glad I'm an elf and will forever be an elf💙💙

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The drama is awesome

Simply awesome drama I found the first season production amateur somehow but the story was good but this one the story is following Tang San's and Xiao Wu's separated training and cultivating relationship after the battle where Xiao Wu was exposed to be a soul beast she was coerced to leave Tang San and first become stronger and content of herself and him and that's why they were so long separated also Tang San had to go through a special training on his own way where Xiao Wu wasn't even available to accompany him and the battle execution of the entire 20th episode where Tang San fought martial soul hall underlings to save Xiao Wu was simply what made me so in love with it...the scene how Tang San got bone torn for Xiao Wu and then she sacrificed herself to remodel his bones back to normal to him and turned into just a mere rabbit...that scene was so beautifully heart piercing filmed and presented that I finally felt after so long time of trying to find something like that again I finally felt like I'm really enjoying watching chinese dramas again and I mean again because many of the new dramas are not properly either written at all and acting feels bad and not interesting at all and when there's a story finally and "filming" and "releasing" that's as cool as this I can really feel like chinese dramas have a soul and talent of a writers and while I have already watched it when it released but not fully...now that I finally have watched it fully I figured out it's actually really awesome story and production quality is really high and I came to love it a lot as much as it deserve to be loved and I hope that some production team makes 3rd season

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Sincerity brings miracles..

I have no clue how to explain my current feelings right now. I'm on episode 32, and I can't believe this drama will end soon. This is one of the best Historical C-Drama I've ever watched. I've watched a lot of C-Dramas, particularly historical ones. I have always loved seeing Female Leads who can beat other people up using their martial arts, but this is definitely one of the rare cases where I loved the way a Female Lead can strategize her way out of danger.

I stumbled on this drama thanks to one Instagram reel, and I saw Song Zu Er, looking so... darn cute. I decided to give this drama a go right there and then, and I can't believe how it went. I went into this drama, hoping to only see Song Zu Er's beauty, yet was hooked to the story. I know that the plot is simply enemies to lovers, but I can't explain how I felt when I slowly saw that their quarrels are starting to be flirt attempts.

The story is basically resolving family grudges, Wei Shao, played by Liu Yu Ning, is known as a fierce warrior with a vengeance. Wei Shao's grandfather made an alliance with the Qiao family, vowing to live and die together. Due to this alliance, Li Su, a general from Bianzhou (a rival family), attacked Xindu, a Wei State, aiming to break their alliance. When Wei needed their help, the Qiao's decided to retreat, leading to the deaths of Wei Shao's grandfather, father, and older brother. Wei Shao has sworn to kill Li Su and the entire Qiao family, and after reclaiming Xindu and killing Li Su, aims to finally set his target on the Qiao family. But the Qiao family, sent a marriage proposal, aiming to cease hostilities and restore peace between Qiao and Wei. But of course, the history of their betrayal has left a huge grudge that cannot be easily erased. Yet to gain forces and Panyi, a Qiao state located strategically in the middle of all the other clans, Wei Shao decided to marry her just to gain Panyi. Not knowing that their love story had just began.

Both Liu Yu Ning (Wei Shao) and Song Zu Er (Xiao Qiao) have given their all in order to portray their characters. I know that the story was somehow different (I read from someone's review), but I didn't know where since I didn't read the Web Novel (Zhe Yao, by Peng Lai Ke). All I can say is that of course the adaptations will not completely match the novels and sometimes instead change it to a completely different one, making it lose some important parts of the initial story. But I personally (speaking from someone who didn't read the Web Novel, I emphasize this segment once more) loved it, to bits. The story has a lot of serious, comedic, and romance moments. Even though their romance is slow-burn, it makes it that much rewarding to see... -> (episode 29 [18:27], episode 32 [28:40]).

How they both see each other changes due to their experiences with each other. Both of them are smart and think like each other, making their bond grow due to their way of approaching and solving a problem. Some misunderstandings cause them to grow apart, but grow even closer after resolving them. That's a normal "plot" for enemies to lovers, yet the way they solve them, and how they trust one another even when they "hate" each other, is so... alluring. Makes my skin crawl on some moments since they will sometimes drop a casual flirt here and there jokingly.

As for the side characters, they are doing their part as well, mostly in the comedic relieve moments. Most of them are likeable and memorable, since they have a close bond to the leads and have their own personalities. Especially when Wei Shao is contemplating his feelings towards Xiao Qiao and the generals and advisors are there to either be his sand bags, or just disappointed at how Wei Shao is so gullible at "love". As for the Villains, I only have one principle, if they successfully made us hate them, they have succeeded in fulfilling their role. Both Lady Yu Lou and Liu Yan have sad stories, making us pity them, but we have to remember that they made their own choices, and of course have to take the consequences of doing them.

In the span of 2 years (last 10/10 was given to Twinkling Watermelon, a K-Drama), I have not given another drama another 10/10 (not that my rating matters). I have watched a lot of dramas, and I will say that this drama is the one that is worthy of another 10/10. I gave this drama a 10/10 because of how it made me feel when watching it. I can't describe it with words nor with actions. But I highly recommend you to watch it if you like Historical C-Dramas. That's all for my review, I will end it with a quote from the drama.

Edited my rating to 9.5/10, just because... I don't really like how the story goes nearing the end (this is my personal opinion).

"Even if peace lasts only for a moment, a sincere heart can make it echo for generations."
- Xiao Qiao

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BELOW EXPECTATION

Zang Hai was originally the son of the Imperial Astronomer. However, when he was young, he witnessed the murder of his entire family. Deciding on the path of revenge, Zang Hai withdrew from the scene temporarily and began training himself by learning construction and the art of war. At the young age, he reconstructed his entire face (surgery) so his ebonemy won't recognize him to revenge, he becomes so handsome boy then a man Xiao Zhan. Ten years later, he returned to the capital as an unrecognizable figure and became—through mentoring—the adviser of his enemy, Duke Ping Jin. From the Lord's manor to the court, from an ordinary advisor to becoming the chief minister of the imperial cabinet, through all deception of loyalty and dedication. Zang Hai struggled in the face of treacherous political plots and battles, finally getting a chance to kill his enemy.

Xiao Zhan obviously a very handsome man, like no one else is better looking than him (thinking to myself that handsome of man he shouldn't be bowing to anybody). Even the Female Lead Zhang Jing Yi (as Xiang An Tu) can't outshine him, she's (what I call) frozen face actress. Zhang Jing Yi has poker face, can't really tell what emotion or reaction to the scenes - blank face and she smiles wanly - she has this cringe sourly smiles. I felt like Xiao Zhan is a diamond surrounded by common rocks.

So, I think 7 episodes is enough for me. I like Xiao Zhan but I don't think this drama is IT.

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This Is Totally Worth Watching!

This drama is exactly what you need whether you're in a bad mood or a good one. It’s pure fun from start to finish, with a cartoonish, manga-style live-action flair that makes it completely enjoyable. Honestly, I think China should make more dramas like this, Japanese-style storytelling, exaggerated expressions, quirky characters. It was absolute gold.

Even though it has 33 episodes, it never felt like it dragged. Each episode was entertaining, lighthearted, and full of laughs. The comedy is front and center here, it’s not trying to be deep or heavy on the romance, The romance is more of a cute side dish than the main course, but still, I really liked every single pairing. The casting was on point across the board, every character felt like they were made for their role.


Zuo Qian Dai and Lu Ye Qi were super fun to watch. She has an obvious crush on him and keeps following him around, even after unknowingly getting rejected. Meanwhile, Ye Qi is the totally oblivious manga artist, laser-focused on his work and completely missing the signals, until feelings start to sneak in later. It was classic, chaotic, and adorable.

Jing Yue and Ruo Song might honestly be my favorite. She’s the badass sporty “jie jie” who everyone is a little scared of, and he’s sporty too, but a bit timid at first. Their chemistry was great, fun, playful, and full of energy. Watching them together was a joy.

Then there’s Gu Zheng Xing and Lu Dao, who are kind of the “unexpected” couple. Lu Dao is the gorgeous, popular tomboy that girls crush on, while Zheng Xing is tough and masculine but looks amazing in feminine clothes. Their dynamic reminded me of Tom and Jerry , constant bickering, tons of tension, but clearly fond of each other. Loved them.

Chai Zi Yu and Ye Zhen were technically a bromance, but let’s be honest, they had more “romantic” moments than the main couple at times. Their quirky-serious combo worked so well. Zi Yu, in particular, was my favorite character, the way he’d say cringe stuff and then get super embarrassed had me laughing every time. Hilarious and endearing.

And Kenji as Qian Ye was a perfectly cartoonish, unhinged villain. and I lived for his scenes.

Overall, this drama was an over-the-top, high-energy, ridiculous ride, and I loved every second of it. If you're into exaggerated humor, fun characters, and manga vibes brought to life, definitely give this one a try. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. A total gem.

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A disappointing mess.

first of all binbin and sun zhenni may be one of the hottest couple in cdramas, best cast by far.

anyways after reading the book i found initially they were actually following the plot almost exactly, just adding something here or there which i was ok with it, but it was the last 10 or 15 episodes when things become a completely mess:

•villain getting more screen time than them, getting redeemed and making us feel pity for him therefore having us to give another villain so he could get free of all his crimes;
•last episodes barely any romance, the fact that we don’t even get a wedding nor they show us their domestic life together;
•mu xuan ling not accepting the demon lord as a part of xie xue chen, but accepting nan yu xue as tian min;
•demon lord having to suffer twice what he was supposed to suffer, honestly why would they do that to him;
•just generally it’s in a way a HE but the fact that the book already have a HE and it was giving more satisfyingly, how can they had gotten it wrong?

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My Golden Blood: A Sparkly Mess of Vampire Fluff

I dove into it with high hopes, lured by the promise of a dark, sultry queer romance. What I got instead was a 12-episode rollercoaster of eye-candy chemistry, cringe-worthy dialogues, and a plot that felt like it was pieced together by a drunk GPS. This series had me hooked enough to finish it, but not without a lot of 2x speed sessions and exasperated sighs.

The story revolves around Tong, a college freshman with mythical “Golden Blood” that makes vampires go feral, and Mark, his brooding vampire protector who’s inexplicably shirtless in half the scenes. The premise sounded like Twilight with a gay twist, but it quickly devolved into a predictable, low-stakes romance sprinkled with vampire clichés that felt more like an afterthought than a core theme. The plot had potential like it's got vampires, forbidden love, a shady vampiric order but it stumbled over itself with filler episodes, lazy twists, and a finale that tied things up too neatly, like a gift nobody asked for. I waited over a year for this series after its announcement, and let’s just say my expectations were staked through the heart.

The acting, though, was a mixed bag. Joss Way-ar as Mark and Gawin Caskey as Tong are undeniably gorgeous, and their chemistry is electric. Every glance and touch felt like it could set the screen on fire. Their romantic moments, especially the steamy NC scenes, are the series’ saving grace, making even the cheesiest lines bearable. Gawin’s performance as Tong, however, felt off at times; his exaggerated expressions were cute initially but grew grating, like he was trying too hard to embody a quirky teen. Joss, on the other hand, nailed the brooding vampire vibe, though I suspect his abs did half the acting. The supporting cast, like Nakan and Thara, ranged from mildly annoying to stylishly tolerable, but none left a lasting impression. Tonkla’s death, meant to be emotional, barely registered because the writing didn’t give me a reason to care.

The music was a highlight, with Gawin’s intro OST catching my ear early on and the full soundtrack became a personal obsession by episode six. Those sweet boyfriend moments, backed by the OST, were like candy, addictive, even if the rest of the meal was bland. Conversely, the CGI was a disaster. From reptile-like vampire eyes to laughably bad green-screen sequences, it screamed low budget. I’m no VFX snob, but when a climactic fight looks like it was filmed in a community theater, it’s hard to stay immersed. The cinematography had moments of brilliance, especially in intimate scenes, but the overall production felt like GMMTV cut corners and hoped the leads’ faces would distract me.

As for rewatch value, I wouldn’t touch this series again with a ten-foot stake. It’s a one-time watch, good for killing time when you need a break from real life, but it left no lasting impression. The vampire lore was tacky, the humor fell flat, and the pacing dragged worse than a vampire in daylight. Episodes four and nine were particularly sluggish, and I only powered through because of my completionist streak and those sexually suggestive thumbnails. The final episode’s attempt at a romantic, Edward-and-Bella-esque resolution, where Tong becomes a vampire for their “happy” ending, felt recycled and uninspired. I’m not saying I wanted a bloodbath, but maybe something less predictable than “vampire boyfriend saves the day” would’ve been nice.

Overall, My Golden Blood is a guilty pleasure saved by its leads’ chemistry and a decent soundtrack, but it’s bogged down by a messy plot, weak dialogue, and vampires so tame they might as well be drinking tomato juice, which Mark already does. I’d recommend it if you’ve got time to burn and a soft spot for pretty faces, but don’t expect a masterpiece. I’m cautiously optimistic for Joss and Gawin’s next project, Only Friends Season 2, but I’m praying they pick a script that matches their chemistry. Otherwise, I’ll be back on 2x speed, muttering about wasted potential.

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Good drama.

I see in the revieuws that people love it or hate it, but most of the haters, hate it because of ethical reasons. People this is a tv show, it's fiction. Ofcourse also non ethical story's are made. This one has some abusive elements in it, but that doesn't make it a bad drama. And besides that, things like this also happen in real life, so i think it is a good thing that there are also scripts that show these kind of relationships.

I really liked it, the story was wel written, the visuals were stunning and it has a very beautfull OST (one of my favorite OST's out there).
Acting was also very good by most actors, i only had a little problem with Gulf. His acting felt overdone part of the time, especially when he acted that he was angry.

One thing they could have done better in the script is handling the case of Lhong, they just let him go instead of making him take responsibility for what he did.

This was the second time i watched the whole series and i will definatly watch it again in the future.

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Started off spectacularly, but got tamer later, watch it for the leads #WeWantMoreOfPondPeterpan

I was so waiting for Pond and this drama and finally when it arrived, it just blew me...it started of as an absolutely ravishing, scintillating show, but the storytelling and script gradually got tamer ...Pond and Peterpan still slay, the less-than-great script notwithstanding .....while I feel this was a missed opportunity...I would still say watch it for the Pond-Peterpan magic!!...

BL-Needle Score: 8.5. High BL-ness

The script started off really great but then grew increasingly tamer with time, and in the last few episodes heavily depends on the Pond-Peterpan lovey-dovey, which is disappointing, to say the least, given how good both of them have been...the production values are really high though and the frames look really seductive....Pond is ravishing and Peterpan is plain dandy, and together they have us eating out of their hands....only if they could keep the script more polished and taut....imagine what a cast like this could have achieved!!

After 180 Degrees, I had high hopes for this to be the next best BL for Pond, but well..it disappointed...but Pond and Peterpan are outstanding....watch it for them.

#WeWantMoreofPondPeterpan

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