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Are we serious
I’m actually livid that I wasted my time on this. The ending was incredibly rushed, cliché, and predictable. JUSTICE FOR YUZU. He was yearning exactly the way a lead should; he showed up, offered comfort, and stayed present while the ML was nowhere to be found.I loved the ML from Mysterious Love, but he was so jarring here. He lacked any real personality compared to Yuzu, who was funny and was in a band. THE CRAZY PART, he never told her she was his childhood friend, which was the entire point. They spent so much time on the grandparents and the grandmother’s dementia, yet never used it to address the forgotten memories of the FL —what a waste of screen time. Why would you even raise this point if you weren't going to develop it.
There was zero communication. He never explained why he called her "easy,"no communication clearly and his move to America felt like a self-inflicted "crash out" rather than his mother forcing him. SHE NEVER forced him to pick between his grandparents' happiness and his. The fact that their long-distance relationship just "faded" made their entire bond feel surface-level and worthless. Then, after years of ghosting each other, he just reappears, they kiss, and everything is fine? It’s nonsensical. What kind of message is that even sending? Its not ok they were in a toxic relationship.
Overall, it wasn't sad at all, just very annoying. It would have been more emotional if they had done something similar to '20th Century Girl,' where he and the dog were both ill and died in america and she found out years later why they lost contact. Also, the dog storyline fell very flat; it wasn't even that sad that it died, to be honest.
Anyways they really pieced it together to get that ending. It's almost like they had decided the ending before the plot. This would have been way better if they changed the genre to a sad one because that's where it was heading for realistically. It did not have to be cliche they should have just faded out of their lives. He could never have shown up to that wedding, which also sends across an important message of moving on.
Yuzu was robbed 😔😔😔
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A promising drama that lost its way
What a pleasant surprise this drama turned out to be. I was hooked from the very first episode, largely thanks to the wonderful dynamic between the in-laws. The storyline is compelling, and I loved how each episode peeled back another layer of the family's secrets.The first half of the series was excellent, but unfortunately, the momentum stalled in the final four episodes. I found myself getting bored and even skipping through certain scenes—which is a shame, because this had the potential to be a truly great drama.
One standout aspect worth mentioning is the relationship between the wife and her mother-in-law. I believe this is the first drama I've watched where they form an alliance rather than a rivalry, and I absolutely loved their friendship. If the series had been trimmed to fewer episodes, it might have maintained its grip and kept the story more engaging throughout.
Overall, this is a strong drama that ultimately loses its spark toward the end.
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Masterpiece
Broken (Of) Love" Episode 1 is a fantastic opener for this Thai GL revenge romance.The story masterfully blends love and revenge in a gripping tale of betrayal: Arisa returns to destroy the powerful family that ruined her past, only to feel an unexpected and magnetic pull toward their daughter, Lalin. It seamlessly mixes corporate intrigue, emotional scars, and sizzling early romantic sparks, hooking you right away.
Performances shine brightest. Faye Peraya delivers her usual commanding, intense energy with great depth. Atom Pariya impresses as a strong newcomer, natural, charismatic, and perfectly matching Faye. Their chemistry feels electric and addictive from the start.
Production is premium and cinematic, with stunning visuals, sharp cinematography, polished sets, and well timed music that elevates the drama.
Overall, Episode 1 is intriguing, emotionally charged, and visually impressive. A solid 10/10 start that leaves you craving more. Highly recommended for fans of intense GL with heart and heat! 💔✨
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2 Episodes in
Episode 1 left me feeling pretty cold which is disappointing because the production quality is high and the plot looks interesting.My main issue is the rushing. They glossed over the couple’s first time how they fell in love and the start of their relationship with just a quick montage. I wish they had taken 2 or 3 episodes to properly establish the relationship so we could actually connect with them. The big daughter reveal in EP1 also fell flat. There was no buildup no time to feel the heartbreak or betrayal. Dropping it so early just didn’t land.
The show feels very different from the first trailer almost like a completely different series. Normally that ending for EP 1 would have given me goosebumps and a pit in my stomach but I felt nothing because I couldn’t connect with the characters.
Still I’m curious to see more. I hope Episode 2 slows down and fixes the pacing. It’s not bad it’s high quality but the emotional connection is missing right now.
Also, Atom's Acting was better than even Faye's. Faye's performance wasn't the best.
EP 2 the pacing is even worse and faster. The episode was all over the place and no time to sink anything in.
The pacing is so bad I would drop the show it if it wasn't for Faye. Please slow the show down. I get there's only 8 Episodes but you have to balance it.
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Wrong Rating
I only watched this in 2026, must have missed it when it first aired. This show is only for mature audience where there is no such thing as "happily ever after". The director had given it an open ending where the viewer can decide whether the ml and fl will be together. I decided for them to be together.Sometimes it may be a bit slow and I need to watch it a second time to relish the feelings of the atmosphere, excellent acting on the ML and FL.
Highly recommend this show to mature audience.
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Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
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A Quiet Rewatch That Belongs to Machida Keita Alone
I came back to this series on a rewatch, and funny enough, it landed a bit differently the second time around. A couple of years ago it barely registered — no “wow” factor, very sweet, almost too sweet, and honestly a bit forgettable. Part of that is probably on me: BL as a genre isn’t really my natural habitat. I tend to lean more towards bromance with some narrative backbone — crime, legal, office politics — something with a bit more grit. Pure romance, especially when it tips into the saccharine, can feel slightly artificial to me.That said, the rewatch had a clear agenda: Machida Keita. And here the series absolutely delivers. What struck me most is how understated his acting is. There’s a particular softness in his gaze — a kind of quiet, attentive tenderness you usually associate with how people look at someone they genuinely care about. It never feels forced. If anything, he carries the emotional credibility of the whole story on his shoulders, and makes it look effortless.
The issue, for me, lies elsewhere — I found myself struggling with Akaso Eiji’s performance. He’s clearly a good-looking actor, very easy on the eye, and there’s nothing overtly “wrong” with what he’s doing — and yet something feels slightly off. A bit stiff, a bit overly constructed. It might be an acting choice, or even a directing decision about how “shyness” should read on screen, but the body language and facial expressions didn’t quite ring true for me. I had a similar reaction to him in Super Rich, so perhaps it’s just a mismatch with my personal viewing preferences.
As for the chemistry — interestingly uneven. Machida seems capable of generating chemistry with just about anyone; he’s that kind of actor. Here, though, it felt somewhat one-sided. I wasn’t fully convinced by the dynamic as a whole, even if individual moments worked.
Still, I wouldn’t dismiss the series. What it does rather well is portray a surprisingly healthy emotional dynamic. Machida’s character is composed, emotionally regulated, respectful of boundaries — in short, an adult. There’s a grounded quality to the relationship that’s actually quite refreshing, especially within a genre that often leans into heightened emotions and idealisation.
So, if you’re in the mood for a quiet, low-stakes romance and, more importantly, if you appreciate Machida Keita’s brand of subtle, introspective acting, this is an easy, pleasant watch.
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Woman Physician Rose To Top
This was a very good drama. The acting was pretty good and the characters were good too. The emperor kind of got on my nerves; he yelled a great deal when he should have been much calmer. The main characters were great. The story was laid out very well and it was easy to follow.Hong Xiao was the female lead in this drama and she played as Rong Ze Lan. She was mistreated by the Rong family, with the exception of her mother and aunt. Her mother worked as a physician in the palace . She was set up and brutally beaten 80 times. She was brought back home and thrown on the ground in front of the Rong family. Rong Ze Lan (as a little girl) tried to get someone to help her mother, but every shunned her and her mother. Later on, Rong Ze Lan's aunt tried to attend to the badly injured mother, but Rong Ze Lan's father ran a knife through both of the aunt's hands. Rong Ze Lan's mother died as se watched. Eventually, Rong Ze Lan won a contest against her half sister and was able to enter the palace to start her training as a physician. She was met with hardship after hardship, even losing a close friend (Su Ye). Prince Song Ling Xiao befriended Rong Ze Lan and even protected her. He became very fond of her and asked her to marry him every now and again. After navigating through the palace trouble, Rong Ze Lan asked the prince to get engaged to her. He was happy. The emperor issued a decree of marriage between Rong Ze Lan and Prince Song Ling Xiao. Rong Ze Lan had been named as the first femal physician in the history of the dynasty and she became a part of the emperor's court. When Rong Ze Lan and Prince Song Ling Xiao married in the future, she would become a Princess Consort. She had a bond with the Empress Dowager and several of the consorts, especially after all the bad people were taken out.
Rong Ze Lan when back to the Rong family house and confronted them. They all had to bow down to her and she laid the law down on them. She walked with her aunt and enjoyed their time together.
There was a very happy ending. The End.
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A Hilarious Time-Slip Royal Romp with One Major Letdown
Mr. Queen is a wild ride through Joseon-era Korea, where a modern chef's soul swaps into the body of Queen. Shin Hye-sun nails the dual role—switching seamlessly from sassy, foul-mouthed Jang Bong-hwan to the poised royal she inhabits. Kim Jung-hyun as King Cheoljong brings brooding intensity with perfect comic timing, making their enemies-to-lovers chemistry electric. But what truly elevates this drama is the acting from every character, even the side ones. Seol In-ah's scheming Jo Hwa-jin oozes menace, and the ensemble—like the bickering eunuchs and conniving in-laws—steals scenes with impeccable delivery. No weak links here; it's a masterclass in ensemble comedy and drama.The storyline hooked me from episode one. The fish-out-of-water premise blends slapstick humor, political intrigue, and romance effortlessly. Early episodes shine with clever gags (Bong-hwan cooking fusion disasters in the palace kitchen is gold) and sharp commentary on gender roles. Twists keep you guessing, and the world-building feels lived-in, from lavish sets to authentic costumes.
Then the ending torpedoes it all. Sending the guy back to the present world? It makes zero sense! The king fell deeply for both versions of her—the fiery soul and the woman herself. How does the director justify spinning the story like that, undoing everything with a cheap, illogical twist? It left me furious and heartbroken, dropping my rating from a perfect 10 to an 8/10. What a waste of buildup!
Stream it anyway—the highs are worth it. Just prepare for rage-quit potential.
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In the meantime, this drama can be found on YouTube under the caption: “100 women auditioned, but the CEO chose the village girl with a birthmark—for 7 fiery nights!”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eunAY-xWGvU)
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Overrated
The story is good yes but the ending was abrupt and acting was good but some characters were doing over acting and was kind of cringe to watch.I had quite high expectations regarding this series because of its high current rating of 8.7. Honestly this series didn't meet my expectations, but seriously this series was good. Though it could have been better though, still i enjoyed this series a lot and it entertaining for sure.
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Series with a blend of everything ...
This was an extremely enjoyable series, giving us a mix of just about everything, drama, comedy, romance, along with old fashion thinking blended with modern day logic.Being a fan of Ryoma Takeuchi, he again shows a side of himself different from past roles. The story starts out simple enough, showing how "old" customs still exist in Japan, but some are not for the better ...
I think what makes this series so enjoyable, is watching each character evolve so much as each episode goes deeper into the series. At times you feel for both protagonists, seeing how they are dealing with the changing personality of their significant other.
I must admit, you really don't sense any chemistry between these two main characters in the beginning, but as time goes on, you can't help but feel how they've become a great match for each other. It's brilliant by the writing, showing us different sides of each actor, not to mention the actors themselves, they really are great in their performances. They, along with a great supporting cast, truly make this a great series to just sit back and enjoy.
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everything's just perfect
damn. this drama damnnnnn. the pain lasted 16 episodes but the happiness was like… 2 minutes. but even the ending is just perfect (but I NEED MORE)I actually hate it when plots have tiny misunderstandings and get blurry eventho the main problem isn’t resolved yet, then I end up hating the characters because they act foolish. what I love about this drama is that all the characters are understandable (except for the cheaters may they rot in hell). shim woojo is really one of a kind. and ofc lee sungkyung the actor that you are!!!!!
also, the camera work is INSANE, I even checked out the director’s profile to see their other works, and turns out they also directed Idol I (which im not a fan of)
honestly, the filters were kinda dizzying but at the same time gave me that tight-chest feeling because the vibe hit SO HARD. there were even silent scenes that made my chest hurt as hell. I would give it 100/10, if i could, but damn the pain is SO REAL that I don’t even wanna rewatch it… writing, directing, ACTING. totally insane.
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Top notch yearning and kisses
Starting from best parts and going down from there (note: I didn't read the novel)🥇🎇Romance🎇
The absolute best part of this drama is the romance and chemistry between two leads. From the start till the very end, it just delivers 🎆🎇🧨🔥
Although I usually follow actresses rather than actors, I have to admit, Zhang Linghe as ML absolutely stole the limelight of this duo. He's beautiful, tortured and utterly obsessed with FL in the most delicious way possible. His kissing scenes are just something else. For this part alone it's worth to watch this drama. Kudos to the entire team for making him shine so bright 👏 No matter what the plot says, he's a true jade of the entire production.
🥈Cinematography 😍
Visual experience is the next level. Everything in here, from town life to massacres is simply stunning. It will be so hard to move on to less artistic productions. I consider myself spoiled and ruined. My standards have been risen to the soaring levels.
🥉Fan Changyu (mixed feelings)
Tian Xiwei performance as FL was what carried emotional weight of the show for over the half of episodes. Everyone agrees that show starts great and she's a strong reason why. Either as a cute butcher or suffering heroine, with those big eyes of hers she gets us feel everything. It's the after the first battle when she gets lost in the narrative and never really makes a comeback. Things then generally start falling apart in many areas, but main character arc is bound to pain us the most. I have no idea is it book's fault, or creators initiative that made her fall back in her own story, but it's the shame nevertheless.
🚨 The Capitol Arc
It's sad to admit but show really didn't manage to keep its own level. Last chapter was particularly messy and somewhat unsatisfying. Even with angsty & steamy romance pushing us forward, many aspects were concluded without satisfaction. Like big palace conspiracy, that wasn't really directed like a mystery and didn't even stole a fraction of my interest throughout the entire show. The final court room scene was just not very good. Same with Fan Changyu secret identity that didn't really made an impact. Neither emotional nor on the plot, really. I could go on but...
No point going into every confusing detail.
Was it book's fault? I don't know, but if so, then production should've made better creative choices in the end.
If book was great and was ruined compared to the show, then you have to let me know. I'll run to read it 🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
Concluding, even with everything, It's still a great show, where highs more than enough compensate for lows. It's just the loss of a potential that pains the most.
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It is backed up with 10000 IQ
This drama is made with so much care and emotional intelligence and it's so noticeable that the directors and screenwriters and all the team behind have put so much effort in creating this masterpiece. Like I love that there are so many broken people here and no one is perfect and all the emotions are delivered so well here by the actors. The team behind did a very good job in playing with our heads during the scene with the grandma's accident and they totally convinced me that I was searching for reasons to hate Baek Ah jin and that we usually do that all the time in real life, we try to find reasons in our head to hate on others, not knowing what they went through, so that we can be at peace victimizing us. At least that's one of the conclusions I came to. Also, I love the surviving part at the end, it's clear that this time too she did what she was best at: surviving. It honestly would have been weird if she died too, after all the effort she put in making her life a better place for her. I want season 2.Was this review helpful to you?
A Cornered Wolf Fights for Survival
19yo Fan Changyu had just lost both her parents last month, and now she was left to care for her sickly younger sister Fan Changning by taking up her father’s job - pig butcher. She is known throughout the Xigu Street where she lived as the girl with extraordinary strength, having to knock out a full grown pig with one slap. On her way back from work, she stumbled upon Yan Zheng in the snow. Seeing him unconscious and heavily injured, Fan Changyu was unable to turn her back and went to carry him home, despite knowing she had no means to support another mouth to feed. In the same courtyard as the Fan humble house there is another house of the Zhou couple, almost like an adoptive parents to Fan sisters. As Yan Zheng was recuperating, numerous incidents occured that led to Fan Changyu proposing to Yan Zheng to be her married-in husband. Seeing this as an opportunity to lay low and further investigate the Jizhou massacre 17years prior that involved the death of the crown prince and his father, Yan Zheng readily agreed. Little that he knew, his fate and Fan Changyu’s ran deeper than even the murky waters of revenge he was in.I am happy to say that this is definitely a great adaptation work, not surprising that the production team include the people from Blossom team that managed to turn a crappy novel into a masterpiece adaptation. Although Zhu Yu novel wasnt as bad as Blossom, the character for ML is particularly horrendous in the last quarter of the story, much like the grapist Wei Shao from Prisoner of Beauty novel (not the adaptation of course). It’s one of the turnoff when i finished reading the novel last year, and hoped so badly that the production wouldnt follow the crappy ML characterization by the original author. I had my wish come true and beaming with joy all throughout the show!
Zhang Linghe as Xie Jiuheng/Yanzheng was perfect! I’ve always rooted for him after watching his fine work in My Journey to You, he even double triple his performance level since then! Hurrah! I am more than satisfied! I feel so happy that the production purified this character compared to the novel, which left me thoroughly resenting the ML by the last chapter.
And Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu is picture perfect! Breathtakingly beautiful but fighteningly strong in physique and character, Tian Xiwei nailed it to the core! I first saw her in Guardians of Dafeng and boy i hated her character to the bones, but when i saw her in the trailer last year, i somehow feel she would do a good job. She just had that Changyu aura. And she did!! Although she is small and slim, her depiction of physically strong woman is very much convincing, and her fight choreographs look extremely believable and amazing. I could tell she worked really hard in this part just by her performance on screen. And to see BTS clips where she literally carried Zhang Linghe on her back multiple times, ON HER OWN, without any wires to help with the weight really blew my mind. This girl truly has mystery powerpacks in that small and slim body!
The rest of the cast was amazing in performance hence why i rated 10/10. Deng Kai as Sui Yuanhuai was phenomenal and he depicted the wretched character of the novel really well.
And I couldnt help feeling sorry for the main mastermind in court Wei Yan, the person who orchestrated a grand ploy 17years ago that shaped a different courtscene as seen today on the show. As he is this cornered Wolf that was forced to fight fiercely for its survival. What the adaptation didnt include that the novel had written was the reason why Wei Yan had been very harsh towards Xie Jiuheng’s upbringing, which is to forge the sharpest blade for the kingdom. Wei Yan practically threw away his life, future and reputation as a statestman so he could raise a warrior that would protect the people. He had to be the villain so he could produce a hero. I feel so bad for this guy at the end of the novel, really. Hated him for so many chapters just to feel horribly sorry for him at the end. In this part, which is creating a great plot and storyline, i must say the original author had been remarkably brilliant. I just question the author’s moral compass due to how the ML character is molded towards the end of the story.
Fight choreograph is superbly done, fierce and strong aura filling up the screen in every battle, i cannot criticize anything at all. And the funny parts in the show worked put very well and are not cringy at all. And the songs are so nice!!! They stuck in my head for quite a while. Dangit i love them!
However, there’s actually one small thing that is bothering me, one that is prevalent not just with this drama but also most of other idol dramas with military general characters. I just wish they would do a more messy makeup for these characters to make it more believable. Something like the ML on The Rebel Princess. Now that is a pure ancient military general look closest to reality. That messy, harsh, brute look. Not the clean and slick, flawless porcelein-looking skin after battles with minor red scratches across the cheek. I get that idol dramas do tend to feminize ML characters, but coming from a wuxia freak i find this extremely cringy and ridiculous. Yan Zheng was also too flawless-looking when living in Changyu’s humble household. I was expecting something like Jang Siyul’s look from The Murky Stream, after all he wasnt supposed to bathe regularly since he’s injured and hot water is not readily available for poor household like Changyu’s. I am totally NOT against beautiful men, I love looking at them of course, but at least make them look that part when they just got out of (or still in) a hellhole. Nobody looks fine and flawless after battles, the words ‘battles’ and ‘looking flawless’ just dont go in line. Would it really hurt the rating if they look messy at certain parts of the story? I honestly doubt it. Fans would still swoon and non fans wouldnt have a thing to criticize.
I also dont get why people fall head over heels after unrealistic-looking characters and then get mad when their idols dont have as much screentime as they anticipated. It’s funny because the novel itself is a female centric piece which focusses more on the FL than ML. What’s even funnier is that many are complaining on iQiyi’s ep 38 of the lack of bed scene of the main couple. Gosh go watch some porn if you guys needed the action so badly, why demand to see it on screen of legitimate platforms? What a weird fetish. Get a life, folks.
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