Reviews

So many cliches you can make a drinking game out of them, but I really enjoyed it!

As usual, I'm in the minority. I liked this a LOT better than The Love You Give Me.

With the number of cliches, you know it's not going to be an original story, but perhaps I was just in the mood for it when I started watching. Not only were the cliches abundant, they were also repeated numerous times. How many times did she trip over her foot, carpet, shoelace, air? I lost count. I'm notorious for using the fast forward button a lot in Chinese dramas, but I didn't have to at all here, until the last few episodes. I loved the main actors, I've enjoyed them in other projects, and once he falls in love with her, I thought he was precious. His family actually liked her, which was a nice change. We actually got to see more than one wedding, and multiple beautiful wedding dresses.

It wasn't without its irritants:
-the dubbing and ASMR. Minnie Mouse voices, and why do we need to hear them breathe?
-the female that was willing to do anything to break them up. It went on entirely too long and she didn't get what she deserved in the end.
-Why do they always make the characters that are supposed designers wear the most ridiculous outfits?! I laughed out loud at most of the stuff that Mr. Alex wore.

All in all, though, I really liked it.

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Zhao Zhendong and Han Jia Hui’s chemistry was so good I thought they were a real couple

This version will always be my standard of this story. It’s light-hearted with the right amount of angst with lots heart fluttering moments that got me squealing in the middle of the night.

Like:
1. ML: Zhao Zhen Dong is one the versatile short drama actors who can do both dark and comedic roles. He nailed both as Ximen Lichen. It’s not as dark as his Bo Wang role but you can easily see how different he is with Wan Zhi and with others (every girls’ dream). His smirks and his turned-on face everytime Wan Zhi flirts back is so freaking believable. And his “baobei” ugh i die and resurrect everytime

2. FL: I thought at first Han Jia Hui’s would be outperformed by Zhen Dong but there’s a scene where she made me cry because of how pitiful she looked. And she really looked so traumatized that i want to reach inside the screen and comfort her. Jia Hui easily matched Zhen Dong’s vibe. And character wise, I really like how Jiang Wan Zhi is portrayed here. She did resist Ximen Lichen first but you can easily see that she’s not really trying that hard.

3. Chemistry: this is why i keep rewatching it. Honestly even now i think there’s something going on between them because of how natural they looked lol they made it so believable.

4. Story: I like that they got together quickly and resolved the misunderstandings.

Dislike:
1. Details: it’s not that i dislike it but it is less detailed compared to other versions. The con of that is that there are some unresolved issues but the pro is it’s easier to rewatch cos it’s light hearted

Favorite scene
- ximen lichen acting so shamless
- jiang wan zhi flirting back

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this is my first time watch LYN and SZE drama and I never expect it's really so great.

Finally i can watch a best chinese drama again after vacuum of chinese drama for a long time,actually I haven't watched Chinese dramas for a long time, not because I don't want to but because I don't find good dramas and often drop in the middle of the drama, but this drama really revives my spirit... this is really an interesting and great drama for me

This drama has an interesting storyline and good character development. starting from a hostile relationship then slowly developing into characters who love, respect, support and fight together to achieve a noble goal for the sake of peace and the welfare of the people

ML is depicted with an initial cold character and burdened by revenge for the killing of 3 generations of the Wei state but has a soft heart and loves his people very much, FL is depicted as a smart and wise woman. FL's sincere attention, affection and love can slowly finally dampen the fire of revenge in ML's heart all this time, not only that FL also makes a great contribution to the peace of the Wei state and the Qiao state.

Both of main leads have a great chemistry and You will be lulled and feel as if you are in the drama story.
LYN and SZE

LYN and SZE also have acting that I didn't expect to be so good and great.. all their expressions and feelings are really poured out well in their characters... not only the main leads, our 4 favorite generals, and almost all the supporting characters in this drama have really contributed greatly to the success of this drama...they are really amazing for this... besides that this drama also has a good cinematography effect with the drama OST that sings according to this drama....

I really thanks to the director, writer, main leads, all supporting characters and the crew who have given a solid performance and produced this quality and extraordinary drama..

rating 10/10 for this drama and I highly recommend it

and before I close my review, there is one statement from ML towards FL that really touched my heart "even if I succeed in taking revenge against my enemy (Qiao country) but if there is no you (ManMan) beside me anymore, then this life will feel meaningless and empty" and he chose to put his grudge in the past.Nice...

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Ma che cavolo!

Il drama fantasy più affascinante e peggio riuscito che abbia mai visto. L'idea era veramente buona: l'ispirazione ai miti orientali del re scimmiotto e del Viaggio in occidente era molto promettente. Storie di ogni tipo piene di bizzarre avventure che mi hanno creato aspettative quasi tutte deluse. Per rimanere nei limiti di uno spoiler modesto dirò solo che il finale è PEGGIO di quello di Goblin anche se non del tutto negativo. È vero che aspettarsi sempre un lieto fine standardizzato alla fine un po' stufa (ma solo un po': dopo tutto non guardiamo forse i drama per sognare un pochino?) e che, inoltre, la soluzione scelta dalle autrici non è arrivata del tutto inaspettata. Tuttavia...
Per tutte le puntate poi la sceneggiatura si contorce in spirali confuse e spesso non si capisce dove la storia stia davvero andando e il senso dell'ennesimo giro di valzer.
Parliamo allora degli attori. Tutti piuttosto bravi e famosi, ma gli unici due che mi hanno convinto del tutto sono stati la scimmia (forse anche complice l'indiscutibile appeal di Lee Seung Gi, che vedevo per la prima volta) e la segretaria Ma (Lee El) che ha fatto il 'cane' fedele di Ma Wang in modo fantastico e pieno di sbadata ironia. Una menzione anche per Lee Se Youn, per la parte iniziale in cui fa la zombie: molto divertente.
Per la protagonista femminile vorrei evitare commenti poco benevoli sulla sua espressività limitandomi solo ad osservare che la sceneggiatura ha annaccquato via via un profilo narrativo che era partito davvero alla grande: una bambina e poi giovane donna che aveva fatto di una sorte personale negativa un elemento di forza e successo.
Ma chi mi ha rattristato, quasi alle lacrime, è stato Ma Wang (Cha Seung Won, eccezionale in Our Blues!).
Un grande, brillante attore per il quale è stato costruito un bellissimo personaggio: ironico, tenero, collerico, bizzarro, simpatico, doppiogiochista, affettuoso ma che ha dovuto consumare tutto questo potenziale nelle puntate iniziali per poi ripetersi come una macchietta fino all'ultima puntata. Il suo fisico, il suo portamento da principe slavo, l'eleganza, spesso stravagante, del suo abbigliamento e la riuscitissima bromance con il protagonista, hanno solo un po' attutito la delusione.
Senza pecche e, anzi, per me pregevole, la colonna sonora. Solo quel che basta per la sufficienza dello spettacolo. Un'occasione sfumata!
Nota: baci spesso un po' sopra il grigio standard dello stampo, ma scene di pseudo intimità abbastanza ridicole. (giugno 2025)

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"To scar it with a knife is like to scar ur heart"

I need to write these before I’ll lose my mind😭

Special attraction happens only in rare circumstances. You can watch 20 trailers,or try 1 episode for many different C-dramas,but only one could pierce through to your heart.

The two main leads:a man with strong features and oozing sex appeal,is a perfect match with a woman of poised and exemplary beauty.

What it did to my heart:
😍I love all the "LQ" scenes, the best I love u is said during the fight eyy..eyy

😍I can't erase the episodes 2_ n 3_...eyyy don't take a shortcut,all the episodes are worth it if u watch it from down to the top

😔The painful part for me was when one of the Wei brothers died. One of my entertainers,the most bubbly one.

😆The scenes of Wei Shao together with adviser Gongsun and the Wei brothers made me laugh and giggle during 2:a.m at night. Just their expressions,u will laugh hard

😆A very funny scene when they fished out the lantern boats to see Manman's wish,and the cold husband was not on the list.

💪The most powerful scene is when Wei Shao burns Manman's portrait painted by another man. His emotion there,the anger was in place,the jealousy was perfectly expressed and the rage was very strong.

😇Precious scene to me: When Wei Shao suppressed his temptation instead of following his desire. The struggle there to control his lust made me struggle too. Sorry I take it personal. A man of wholesomeness,respect to his wife won over his indecent desire.

What's on my mind:

✔️ Great casts/best portrayals/no one left behind/everyone gave their best

✔️Perfect blend of romance,laughter,hatred and love

✔️When the mind talks the heart won't listen,but when the heart talks the brain will be forced to listen.

✔️Love can destroy the game plan called "revenge"

✔️Marriage should be like this.

✔️When the men go to war no one will promise that they will return home safe

✔️War is always started by the villains and the heroes will be forced to defend.

What drives me crazy:
♥️ Unforgettable lines from Manman's darling: from "ur words drive me mad" to "Can u just be my wife"?

♥️Unforgettable lines from Wei Shao's wife: from "small eyes and small heart to "he is willing to become my prisoner and I am willing to be his"

My mental health:
😭Can u give me the elixir? I think I drank another poison called prisoner of love.

😭Love now,suffer later for forgetting this wonderful ship.
Best quote: "Accept insult without flinching,see faults without exposing"

Enjoy the ride,the story balanced the pain and happiness. In this c-drama, you are safe..😊

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This wasn't bad at all. Quite sweet & a little out of the ordinary.

Thai BL dramas are works which vary in depth of acting skill, of cheesiness, silliness, the number of 'extras' & of the scenery for example.
This drama is not in the regular realms of Thai BL. There's a cast of only two, two small parts & a couple of 'extras', which you would expect to think has no depth but it was actually so fun!!

For two previously uncredited actors in film or TV I think they did a way better job than some seasoned Thai actors. There were element of silliness & comical cuteness, charm, romance & nakedness as well as a nice amount of cheesiness & cliches (I won't leave out the BDSM scene which was surprising, cringe, funny & a bit raunchy!!) The lack of other characters in this drama did not impact the watchability at all. The scenery was really nice, lovely resort, cosy, well decorated, somewhere you could see yourself enjoying a few weeks of relaxation & possible romance.

The production team did a great job here. I read some bad reviews but went with my gut instinct to watch & I'm glad I did! The OST is reasonably good. (Also, just to mention, I usually get frustrated with cheesy lounge music but in this case it was present but not at all annoying.)

You have to keep in mind, and account for the director's critique when talking about the acting. For me these two did a great job of telling a story & keeping me interested, entertained & feeling the emotions. Wasn't perfect & I'm sure they know this & see where they can improve. I'm actually hoping to see them again soon! Their chemistry is good but their love scenes need a bit of work, I'd put it down to direction & confidence. I'm rating this high as an all round enjoyable drama.

The 'putting drunk man to bed' scenes were more true to life than any I've seen yet in any drama.

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I love this movie !!

This movie is so beautifully made and so many talented actors & actresses.
The two main leads are so talented and the chemistry between the two works so well its so believable and realistic!!
After I watched this movie I had to purchase the DVD and I even fell in love with the music so I just had to buy the CD as well. The soundtrack to the movie I also highly recommend.
I can say that I have watched this movie at least ten times already and I love it so much that I know I will be watching it many..many more times again!!
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏💐👏

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"Having a dream however small is a good thing"

Its a violent fun - a stylish action-comedy that perfectly blends brutal fights with dark humor. Don't expect deep storytelling here; this movie is all about over-the-top action and laughs. It fully embraces its genre mix, presenting all the killings from a light, comedic perspective rather than taking itself seriously.

Kanna Hashimoto shines in the lead role, effortlessly switching between playing an innocent young woman and a cold-blooded killer. Her deadpan delivery makes the character both funny and frightening. The action scenes deliver exactly what fans want - fast, bloody fights featuring guns, knives, and hand-to-hand combat, all filmed with manga-like energy.

The film adds an interesting layer with slight romantic tension between the leads, giving some welcome breathing space between the action sequences. The comedy works particularly well, with hilarious moments like Kei casually discussing murder during everyday conversations. These funny bits help balance out the extreme violence.

That said, the plot exists mainly to connect the action scenes, without much depth or surprising twists. The yakuza villains are also pretty generic and forgettable.

Overall, it's a decent movie that knows exactly what it is - violent, darkly comic action flick with just a dash of romance. If you're looking for serious drama, this isn't it. But if you want bloody fun with great dark humor, this is fine.

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Boring! Boring! Boring!

Oh my God, once again we are here watching this BL series and again the story repeating itself. It’s absolutely boring boring boring repetitive and just not worth the time.
The actors look exactly the same as other BL stories…. It’s just like a pattern of BL movies from Thailand. I don’t know if the producers and the directors or whoever is writing the series., they have no creativity. You know it’s just like movie after movie and BL series after BL series exactly the same thing it just becoming annoying.
Actually it’s really really boring.
It’s the innocent character who is looking to find a boyfriend or to go out with someone to have sex and when it comes the time to have sex is like very shy or a child they show like you know he’s saying he’s not ready. It’s just boring. I mean it’s just like I think I’m over it actually. !

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It’s good, but that depends on what you’re looking for…

In 10/10 shows, every character has an ending (a closure) and it’s always a Good one. A good ending doesn’t mean Happy ending for the character: a good ending/closure can be epic, happy, bittersweet, or tragic, but it’s never rushed or anti-climactic.

Well, that being said, this drama is :

A 10/10 if : you mainly focus on the lead couple. You like arranged marriage plot with no divorce, no amnesia, no fake death, no stupid separation. You’re not fond of love triangle, love when arguments don’t drag on and are quickly addressed. Not only that, but you’re in awe when the leads gradually grew closer and more intimate as time and conflicts pass. They don’t do the very cliché tango : one step forward, three steps backs. You can clearly see it, as well as the side characters (from the maids to the antagonists). Once they confess to each others, the FL’s brain doesn’t shrink, and she doesn’t become a damsel in distress ; the ML doesn’t forget about his status as a ruler, past friendships or grudges to only advocate for the FL (and by extension her clan) yet he never really makes things difficult for her. The chemistry is on fire, the intimacy over the top: nobody plays coy here. It’s a good HE for them.

A 9/10 if : you’re into all the above, and you also care about the leads’ close aides (maids, advisors, generals, family members). They must fit their role, be well-written and developed. If they are used as a comedy relief, their intervention must ease the conflict. You like when those characters have their own life, hobbies, and personalities (strengths and fears). They are their own and nobody property. They are loyal, but not to the point of obsession. Furthermore, they call out the leads, give them another perspective, and help them grow. You’re happy if those characters have a decent ending.

A 8/10 if you’re into all the above BUT want the leads’ close aides to have a good ending. For example, you don’t like when a character that plays a key role in the general plot ; in the leads’ relationship and in final battle not to be shown his full rise to lordship or how good he was in the battlefront. (I will keep it at that so not to give you spoilers).

A 7/10 for all the above AND you think that villains, especially main villains, shouldn’t be subpar. For you, good villains are as essential to the plot as the leads, and you can’t stand when the script purposely sabotages the villains just to make the MLs shine (here mainly the FL). You like when the villains' story is properly told, you want to see them struggle, lose some and win some, thus becoming wiser and deadlier. If the villains are put together, you want to see how they went from : “let’s form on alliance of interest” to “I admire what you did here” to “I think I’m falling for you”. Good villains force the leads to step up their game. Bad villains are just stepping stones.

A 6/10 if you can’t stand when the script not only sabotage the villains but also their close aides. You hate when, for the leads' sake (mainly the FL again), a villain relative is forced by the script to act contrary to his heart. Or, you hate when plot armor is conveniently used in favour of the leads’ relative (mainly the FL) when clearly without it, the villain relative has the edge on a one on one fight. Here, when the villains have good advisors, their advices are seldom taking into account or the advisor is described as a caricature.

However, it’s a 5/10 or less if you expect a Nirvana In Fire or Secret of Three Kingdoms. Unfortunately, the political aspect is but a background noise that suddenly become louder at the last 6 episodes. The show browses on the financial, political, and military cost of the ML initiatives. The dynamics between the different clans are glossed over. The FL position as lady Wei is never truly challenge, she’s very much shield by the ML and his Grandmother from the get-go, as a result, her schemes just make her appear vile…

There is much more to say, but I’ll stop here. For me, it’s a solid 7,5/10 drama. If the premise was the same a Destined, it will be a 10/10. Like many comments point out TPoB is a romance with a political subplot, however Sound of the Desert it’s a better rendition of a sly FL pits against a manipulative villainess.

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The Good Bad Mother – A Bittersweet Masterpiece

I remember when this drama first came out. I was immediately curious about Lee Do Hyun's new drama. But I also knew it was about a difficult mother-son relationship, and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch it back then. For two years, this drama stayed on my watchlist, waiting for the right moment. I finally watched it and I’m so glad I did.

I’m giving The Good Bad Mother a full 10/10. In my non-expert opinion, this is a beautifully written, emotionally rich drama, elevated by phenomenal acting. Lee Do Hyun continues to prove himself with every role, and this performance absolutely cements him as one of my favorite actors. His ability to portray both physical and emotional pain, vulnerability, and resilience was just stunning.

This drama is deeply bittersweet. It broke my heart, and I cried so much watching it—but it’s not just a sad story. As the title suggests, The Good Bad Mother is about contradictions: the good and bad within people, within life, within love. It’s about regret and redemption, sacrifice and healing. While the focus is on a mother’s complicated love, it reaches far beyond that—it’s about life itself, in all its harshness and beauty.

What struck me is how the story balances this devastation with warmth and humor. The townspeople’s antics, their quirks and loyalty, provide the kind of comedic relief that doesn’t undermine the drama but supports it. It reminded me a lot of Reply 1988— in how it highlights the power of community. Watching this show made me mourn the fact that many people today don’t have that kind of tight-knit, supportive village in their lives.

I can’t speak to how accurate the portrayal of disability was—at times, it did feel a little idealized or unrealistic—but I appreciated the way the show didn’t shy away from showing how devastating and isolating that experience could be. The early episodes especially hit hard.

And then there’s the romance. I wasn’t expecting it, and I’m still not over it. It was subtle, painful, and incredibly beautiful—another layer of emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.

There were so many great lines and moments about life that I wish I had written down. I probably will go back and rewatch just to catch them again.

And finally, the acting. The acting. Every single person delivered—from Ra Mi-ran as the fierce, flawed mother, to Lee Do Hyun's jaw-dropping transformation. I was completely blown away.

💔❤️

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This is how you do the perfect enemies to lover trope

I waited for this for more than a year, and finally we get this drama, and it didn't disappoint.

This is just an almost perfect story of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and they nailed it. As a huge admirer of LYN, I feel immense pride in him once more, as he flawlessly embodied his role. ZZR also did an impressive job, and she was beautiful, and I applaud her acting here. They both perfectly delivered their characters, so I almost cry at how outstanding it is.

The other characters also needs to be applauded. It's like Journey to Love Again, where you love all the side characters.

I think we all agreed that this has the best intimate relationship ever. This demonstrates the physical affection between a husband and wife who love each other. It's not awkward or displeasing to the eyes. It's just two people who wanted to be in each other's arms. Love love this.

Overall, this is a wonderful show. It's fun, touching, romantic... it has everything.
This will be my favorite drama this year.

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