Reviews

A true period drama of intriguing character studies, not "just" a BL romance

Honestly it's rare in the BL space to find a drama with such an immense focus on presenting in depth character studies and backgrounds for all the main characters. I guess it's because this is in no way in line with your standard BL. It's a real true and proper piece of cinema that transcends the same sex relationships theme and touches on a variety of topics. There is a strong foundational plot outside of just the romantic relationships that is fresh and interesting, especially set against the backdrop of Thailand with 70s era styling (set in 69-71). This is one of those series that hurts you, but is worth the pain. It's not afraid to "go" there with its characters.

My most loved aspect of this is truly the acting though. Trin and Victor's micro-expressions and acting throughout was on another level to all the other characters in my opinion. I know Victor's character rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, but he was my favourite. And although his ending (and Veera's) very much hurt my soul, I could see how important it was to the plot. He was the true catalyst of change and led all storylines to their crescendo.

The storyline between Krailert & Naran was absolute brimstone and fire the whole way through and honestly had me gripped far more than the main couple. Although I tend to like a happy ending far more than a gritty, realistic one. I felt that the ending Krailert got was fitting considering his choices that were shown from the very beginning of his path (where his first partner was murdered and he remained compliant). He was right with his lines about how his choices led him here and he has to face up to that. (Although his wife was chaotically evil all of sudden which was a little jarring).

I would say the only aspect that was lacking for me was the romantic relationship between Trin and Tanwa. For being the main couple, I honestly felt like they lacked some screentime and development. They showed their development as separate people very well, but when it came to their romance building- I wish their had been more scenes of them building their relationship and emotional intimacy. Especially compared to how explosive the other main couple's interactions were- it was almost too slow-burn and mild by comparison. I'm not complaining about them not having more sex scenes, but in general they just skipped between vague scenes of them just hanging out casually for a significant portion of the series. For example, I personally didn't like Tanwa at all- couldn't stand him in fact. He's just not my kind of character and I can't relate too him. But maybe if there was more development shown between them, I would have enjoyed his character more in the end.

This reminded me of The Paradise of Thorns in the way that it's true cinema in every regard. The story line and characters are fleshed out, the cinematography, lighting, acting, fashion, everything is incredible. I've been thinking about this story ever since I finished watching it. It's rare media can leave me hanging and coming back to think about it and that is a true mark of something impactful. I love this series so much and desperately hope to see more like this, especially with the hopes of the actor for Victor having a starring role. He is honestly incredible!

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Heartwarming tale about FL hearing thoughts of half-dragon ML

I came across this inner thought drama on subreddit CShortDramas. The title implied that FL could hear ML's thoughts so I became interested and watched. I loved it a lot! I did a buddy watch of this drama with MDL user Fae.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - I love this drama because ML is a sensitive soul despite the tough persona. I think he maintained that façade but slowly lowered his guard when FL showed kindness to him. I also liked his curiosity and protectiveness over FL.
2. Romance - They were affectionate and sweet. Well FL cheated because of her superpower hahaha but it's a great setup for couple's communication.
3. Inner thought trope - I usually watch dramas in which FL's thought could be heard by ML but this is the other way around. It's refreshing to see/hear ML's inner thoughts.
4. Fantasy element - I loved the dragon arc even though there was only a few scenes. ML in dragon form is ker ai!
5. Styling - The makeup and props for dragon form was done well. The scales on his face & arm were beautifully done. Even the claws looked like a proper prop and not flimsy gloves. I couldn't believe he even had a tail LMAO. The walkie-talkie horns were
adorable!
6. The ending - I liked that there was a discussion on labour and the form of their child - as an egg or a human with dragon
features. My guess was wrong - I wish the child was born in half-breed form.
7. Antagonist - The antagonist here isn't that bad. He didn't overshadow the couple in terms of storytelling.
8. Supporting characters - I loved ML's mother. The relief on her face when FL knew his secret identity. She's such a wonderful lady to have raised an orphan who turned out to be different from other people.

What I disliked:
1. Kisses - There was no kissing scenes. I want to see lust & real kisses since their relationship was healthy.

Favourite scene
When ML's mother knew that FL was aware of ML's secret.

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Time Travel Through Letters

I just finished this drama...
My Little Summary:
A story of a couple stuck in a twisted fate, leading them unable to be together. Thirty-five years later, their children started looking for them as they went missing on the same day. The only clues they received was a letter and a mail box. Where did the letter come from? Will they ever find their parents? Does their parents know each other?

Spoilers + What I think:
The drama goes back and forth from the present to the past. It starts off in the present where you will met Nian and her father who is ill with dementia. They were caught in an argument since her dad didn't want to leave his home. The next day he goes missing. She was only able to find a couple of clues which was the mail box that her father always guard with his life and was waiting for a letter. She stared at the mail box until a cat arrived and a letter appeared. In shock, she used this letter as a clue to find her dad. She goes find a woman, Tang and bumped into Tang's son. Her son came back to take her with him, but she was missing. So they had to work together to find their parents.

In 1991, Tang (FL) is dealing with some thuds because her father borrowed money to help his family but instead he was gambling it away. In the group of thuds, she meets Xun (ML) who becomes her classmate the next day. She receives a love letter written from Xun which caused troubled at her school as some kid dugged in her backpack for her notes. This lead a untold truth of her father's behavior entering the screen and a turning point in Tang's and Xun's relationship.

Shen Cheng and Yu Nian:
I honesty hated Shen Cheng. The way he assumed that Nian's father kidnapped his mom and was not even listening to her words! He irritated me soo much in the drama that I wonder why Nian tried to convinced him when he doesn't believe her. If I was in her shoes I would had left him at that cause she already told him that letter was the only reason why she was there in the first place. And omg.... he was so annoying when she took him to her father's place and didn't believe any words again! I understand that he is right that she could have fabricated everything, but from her tone and body language got me so stressed out for her. Also, he still didn't believe her after receiving a letter in the mail box that no one touched! And his constant reminder that she is still a stranger to him is crazy!! Like boy it's been 4 to 5 ep since yall knew each other. But every time he was on the screen, I keep wondering what is he thinking now. Until the end...he sacrificed his existent so his mom can be with the one that she loved.... It made me cried so hard. Yu Nian had it worst. She was in between everything even thought she wasn't blood related to her adopted father, she had to find out about his past and when she finally got to see him. He passed singing Tang's song.... She also remembered everything...

Tang and Xun:
These two were fated to be apart from the start Her horrible fate of an abusive father and a dream of getting out of Meixan. His fate of being a thud was the only thing that held him back from being with her. However, they constantly fought with fate and kept on trying to prove they were meant to be together. While Tang was being abused by her father, I realized how cruel it must be back then. The part where Tang said, "Father is disciplining his daughter." made me so upset that there was no adult for them to talk to. They had to rely on each other only since no one will listen and help them. They honestly had a very sad story.

Storyline + Overall:
How they executed the drama from the beginning was pretty interesting and constant which some can find boring. But I felt that they threw in an unexpected episode to gain the audiences' attention which definitely worked for me cause it was the episode that I cried the most on. Overall, this drama gave me so much emotional turns left to right and the songs are so good. I am always listening to it. This drama deserve an award for how everything was pretty planned out since for me some chinese drama don't know what they want at the end. This ending was a happy bittersweet ending for some characters. Oh, one thing cdrama needs to stop doing is NOT SHOWING US THE CHARACTERS HAVING THEIR HAPPY ENDING. I was pretty upset that I wasn't able to see them happily together.

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Arghh I like them so much

Honestly, I really like all of them in ABO Desire. If I close my eyes and randomly choose one of the cast, I don’t think I would ever make a wrong choice because all of them are seriously handsome and hot. Their visuals alone are enough to catch attention, but what makes it even better is that their acting is totally top tier. Every scene feels alive because they put so much emotion and intensity into their characters. It’s not just about looks, but also about how convincingly they bring out the complicated feelings, the conflicts, and the obsession that this story is known for.

Among all the characters, Hua Yong is definitely my favorite. He’s really crazy in love and so obsessed with Sheng Shaoyou. That obsession makes him unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, but also really captivating to watch. The way he expresses his emotions, the passion and desperation, it really hits hard and makes the audience glued to the screen. His character shows how love can turn into both strength and weakness, and honestly, it’s addictive to watch his every move.

Sheng Shaoyou, on the other hand, is like the calm yet powerful Alpha. His presence is strong, and the way he handles all the situations shows maturity, but also a side of vulnerability that makes him lovable. Gao Tu is such a pitiful character at times, and I can’t help but feel sorry for him. His struggles, his attempts to hide his identity, and the way he gets caught up in everything make me want to hug him. And Wenlang… when I catch you, seriously, you make me so frustrated yet you keep the drama spicy.

Overall, the story, the cast, and the emotions all blend perfectly. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, it’s intense, but that’s what makes ABO Desire such an addictive watch.

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Love is enduring and transcendent

This drama is one for the acquired audience who appreciates how enduring and transcendent love can be! I read a bunch of critique (and way too many comparisons with L&P….) and honestly don’t sleep on this show!!!! The drama portrays a love that is organic, poignant, realistic, not as something fleeting, but as a force that persists through time, pain, and change.

Cast - The cast is stunning with visual compatibility and both online offline chemistry. Believe me I watch so many BTS and interviews! On screen, I love the puppy golden retriever playful extroverted side of CFY which is refreshing compared to his usual cool reserved roles. Off screen, their BTS is a show on its own. Both CFY and ZDF obviously hit off very well. CFY usually dissociates and is introverted with little interaction with his female costars but ZDF really brings out the playful fun side of him. They’re always seen playing / laughing / bantering / joking with each other with comfortable skinship.

Storytelling - I love how their love transverses across each season of their life (school, work, debts, career, dreams). Their love story as college sweethearts was so adorable to watch. Just the right amount of awkwardness & clumsiness and endearment & first love innocence. The way they navigated social class differences was thoughtful, the way they navigated long distance was bittersweet - uplifting when rooting each other but filled with longing and yearning each parting. When they got older and reshuffled their priorities, they learnt to be strong for love in spite of trauma and getting hurt. To learn to be bold in taking risks and sacrifices for love.

Character - I love Sabrina Zhuang’s portrayal of a FL who is strong and delivers queen energy. She is principled and draws clear boundaries without compromising and knows to prioritise herself and her peace. Her way back to finding love / finding him is nuanced & authentic. Some say her behaviour towards the ML is hateful and the pace for reconciliation is “slow” but can you blame her?? it’s a realistic execution of showing how one struggles with a heart wrenching break up and trauma that is long drawn-out —— this pace is deliberate to give her space and room to let go and forgive, rediscover what she wants (how much she loves me), get past the torture of hurt & self-blame & guilt and then to trust and love again.

The journey of heartbreak and healing (done both apart and together) is necessary to elevate the emotional impact of their reunion. It shows how love is hard earned! It reminds us that love is not only about finding someone, but growing with them in spite of regrets and mistakes, losing and rediscovering them, and realizing that true love is powerful and worth risking it all.

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The problem with this series isn’t that the script is weak, it’s that it’s fundamentally misguided. I can deal with a weak script if the core idea is solid but just poorly developed. But deciding to base the plot around an alleged rape and treating that as a good narrative choice? Sorry, but that was a huge misstep. Dragging out the false rape storyline for two whole episodes was wrong, and the way the topic was handled, so carelessly and without depth, made it even worse. It was a string of bad decisions that should never have made it past the writing room.

I don’t blame the actors, though. They did the best they could with what they were given. Overall, I actually enjoyed the performances of the six main actors and thought the chemistry between the couples was strong. Arm came off a bit stiff at first, but he grew into the role nicely. Tum and Klah definitely deserved more screen time. The jealous female characters felt unnecessary. I look forward to seeing this cast again in future series, but with a better script.

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Kinda reminds me of Love Like the Galaxy

Cons: The drama never mention of FL being the number one female scholar
In the last episode, FL sold the academy.
This pothole is infuriating: The third master after getting a deep wound in the neck came back alive. His wife and son is missing and no-one mention in the family mention them after the incident.
FL brother decided to reappear and has 1000 tael gambling debt. If he was dead for a long time, then that means his wife was living as a widow for a long time. Why is the wife in a hurry to repay her husband gambling debt? If I was her, I would leave him or at least try to sue him for emotional damage. After that episode the brother wife didn't make an appearance in the drama and her fate is unknown.

My judgements: If FL brother wanted to fake his death to escape the army, he should at least use his senses to not gamble because his secret would come out. How come there was no punishment by the judiciary for those who fake their deaths? If there was no law or power for this situation, FL could set up a law to prevent other widows living a life of a servant for her dead husband family while her husband is living his luxury life with mistress (this can help to showcase fl skill as a scholar) Since FL is a tutor, there could have been a storyline of her getting help from her pupils (rich or noble birth) to get her revenge on the Third Master and later on, she could have her pupil infiltrate the imperial court. Thus, reducing the emperor power in the court. It would have been satisfying.

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Overlooked epic gem of political fantasy.

If the first season laid the groundwork of betrayal, atmosphere, and the suffocating weight of Zichuan politics, the second season is where the characters begin to truly grow. The leads start to evolve, to carve out space for themselves. The true nature of the Zichuan ruler is revealed more starkly, his paranoia matched with cunning manipulation, and it becomes clear how much danger lurks beneath every word and gesture in the capital.

Di Lin’s pragmatic attitude grounds the narrative, a constant reminder that survival often requires compromise. Even the female lead, who in the first season often served as comedic relief, shows real growth here. And a rival in love emerges for the male lead.

This is set against the almost ridiculous tactics and comic absurdity of warfare in Yuanzhou, particularly under the antics of Lu Di. This tonal juxtaposition keeps the narrative dynamic, offering relief without breaking the epic weight of the central storyline. I found myself waiting for the coin to finally drop and the identity of Guang Ming Wang to be revealed. The cliffhanger at the end may be frustrating but actually makes a lot of sense. The series succeeds in weaving together personal growth, political intrigue, and looming destiny into something truly epic.

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I came for brotherhood, and brotherhood I was served.

At its heart, the series thrives on the bonds between the male leads - their loyalty, betrayals, rises, and falls form the emotional core of the drama. This is not a story that leans on romance or superficial visuals. Instead, it builds a world of epic fantasy that feels quite dark in tone, which is perhaps why it strucks as something different.

The atmosphere of the Zichuan capital is almost oppressive. Manipulative and paranoid power figures cast long shadows, and the constant tension of court intrigue permeates every scene. Against this backdrop, the male lead unseriousness, his refusal to bend, to compromise his principles in a world that rewards duplicity, ultimately leads to his suffering. It is precisely this unyielding quality that makes his journey so compelling.

Though some viewers criticize the female lead as poorly written or even “stupid,” her role serves another purpose. She injects moments of comedy and lightness that balance the otherwise grim tone. Without her presence, the series might feel suffocating under the weight of betrayal, paranoia, and political scheming.

Eternal Brotherhood is far from flawless. The pacing in the early episodes is slow, demanding patience. The romance subplot feels underdeveloped, easily overshadowed. Yet these shortcomings are part of the show’s character: This is not a simple, easily digestible tale.

Ultimately, Eternal Brotherhood is an excellent watch for those seeking more than just romance and pretty visuals. It offers political intrigue, epic scale, and the raw humanity of characters who struggle under the weight of power. For viewers who crave strategy, tragedy, and layered power struggles wrapped in a darkly atmospheric world, this series stands out as something rare and rewarding.

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Bai Jingting Reigns as Time Loop King

Hold onto your time-turners fans of Reset because Bai Jingting is back with another addictive time loop drama! I love a good time loop story (Groundhog Day, Happy Death Day, Source Code) and Mobius does not disappoint. Reset centers around two students (with the help of the police) trying to logic their way out of the fatal groundhog day time loop they are stuck in. Mobius, on the other hand, presents a unique take on time-looping as Police Sargent Ding Qi (Jingting) takes advantage of his time-loop awareness to try and uncover the mastermind behind threats against biotech company executive, Mo Yuanzhi.

The series rarely slows down starting with the first action packed episode that also expertly sets up the time-looping mechanism. Subsequent episodes weave backstory threads into the central plot to create a suspenseful storyline. Looking for action? Mobius action scenes are exciting and well-choreographed. Want food for thought? The mystery surrounding the biotech company will keep you guessing. Like a little romance? Though subtle, the romance in this drama helps to up the stakes.

And of course - Bai Jingting is a big reason to watch Mobius! Unlike his Reset character who is thrust into his first time-loop at the beginning of the drama, Ding Qi is a veteran looper when Mobius starts. This is clear by the intelligent way he makes use of the loops. Bai Jingting shows his ability to play a layered character filled with complex emotions who is also a bad ass hand-to-hand combat expert. (Anyone else getting those You Are My Hero vibes?) While Bai Jingting is good historical dramas, it's in modern dramas where he really shines.

I enjoyed every minute of Mobius. (Maybe many times??) The only question I have now that it's over is -- How soon will Season 2 come out?

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A Totally Unresistible Love-Story...

in all its wonder, youth and glory. Two individuals that may have met on a strange coincidence at the train, or a certain heroine manipulating that moment, or even the strange ties and work of the Cupid, alas fate. But indeed they were fated to fall in love, in this case our badboy male hero portrayed by the very beautiful actor Wang Xuan( huge fan of his work), falls first...and the poor sod falls hard.

He gave his heart to her in a silver platter. I love the feel this drama gave, it felt like a street town-ish environment with the new, cold and quite shy heroine and the so called trouble maker hero who saves her from trouble all the time. Their chemistry is simply terrific, and there were moments with them looking at each other i could feel MY OWN TIME LITERALLY STOP! They are that good in portraying Romance on-screen nowadays, breathless excitement is what this story gave me. Sending it so many stars in my heart..!

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A revenge series or a work of art?

A thrilling "return & revenge" series

PLOT: The FL, the only daughter of the very wealthy Ye family, marries the eldest son of the Lu family. During their honeymoon, they have an car accident, her husband dies, and she is seriously injured. She disappears for three years, but returns when the Lu family tries to take control of the Ye group. The ML, Lu's youngest son, detached from his family's affairs, will help/support the FL, entangled in the (deep) levels of the Lu family's conspiracy.

+++ Wu Jun Ting (❤ω❤) (I love her deep, raspy voice) as ML & Zhang Yi Shang as the LF, who form a very sensual couple, with beautiful chemistry.
+++ Very good OSTs: I particularly like Trevor Kuo's voice (❤ω❤)
+++ Lively production, with a very polished aesthetic (slow motion, lighting, costumes, etc.), sometimes almost too much so :( [some scenes are pointless and purely aesthetic]

### Business and financial sections not very convincing.
### FL2, which still needs to improve her acting skills (almost poker-faced).
### Far too many flashbacks (on the sweet moments) and freeze frames (to emphasize the emotional moments).

=> Very good short series (24 x 35 minutes), which manages to avoid most of the usual flaws of this format.

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Série haletante de "return & revenge"

PLOT: La FL, fille unique de la famille Ye, très riche, épouse le fils aîné de la famille Lu, amie. Lors de la honeymoon, ils ont 1 accident, le mari meurt et elle est gravement blessée. Elle disparait pdt 3 ans, mais revient qd la famille Lu veut prendre le contrôle du gpe Ye. Le ML, fils + jeune Lu, détaché des affaires de sa famille, va aider/soutenir la FL, empêtrée dans les niveaux (profonds) de conspiration de la famille Lu.

+++ Wu Jun Ting (❤ω❤) ( j'adore sa voix grave et rauque) en ML & Zhang Yi Shang en FL, qui forment un couple très sensuel, avec une belle alchimie.
+++ Très bonnes OSTs : j'aime particulièrement la voix de Trevor Kuo (❤ω❤)
+++ Réalis° vive, à l'esthétique très travaillée (ralentis, lumières, costumes,... ) parfois presque trop :( [certaines scènes sont inutiles et n'ont qu'un pur intérêt esthétique]

### Partie Business et financière pas très convaincante.
### FL2 qui doit encore améliorer ses acting skills (presque poker-face)
### Bcp trop de flashbacks (sur les sweet moments) et de freeze frames (pr insister sur les moments émotionnels).

=> Très bonne série courte (24 X 35"), qui réussit à éviter la plupart des défauts habituels de ce format.

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