Reviews

Compelling historical drama with some strong performances

This probably won't appeal to some people since it's a serious drama, becomes increasingly depressing and doesn't have a strong romance. However I'm still thinking about the characters after finishing it and despite some of the flaws, it's probably one of the better historical dramas I've seen in a while.

As most viewers probably know, this show was supposed to air in 2022 but was pulled at the last minute so it's not clear how much of this final version has changed or been edited.

Set during the death throes of the Qing dynasty it explores the various factions - royalist and revolutionist - trying to change China for the better. The five leads have diverse personalities, flawed characters and are not obvious heroes. Alot of the early action takes place in Japan, which is unusual for a C-drama (usually the Japanese are portrayed as obvious villains but here they are more nuanced), and everything looks big-budget with loads of extras, carriages, costumes and lots of period detail.

All five leads are interesting. It's strange to see Li Xian play the rather grey character of nobleman Liang Xiang instead of his usual hero roles. Then we have the rabid bomb-making anarchist, the idealist revolutionary, the pragmatic opportunistic soldier and the woman who inadvertantly becomes a revolutionist and is involved with three of the male leads. The FL's character is very different to what we usually see in C-dramas, both passive and active, and surely non-conformist for the times. There were some scenes when I did want to slap her and say " wake up woman!" but generally you root for her.

There are important real historical figures as well as the fictional ones, which made me read up on my Chinese history. Apparently, even Liang Xiang is based on a real person.

The acting is of a good standard and this is clearly a quality production. However, it does suffer from editing and sometimes I just wanted to see more of Shuhong rather than the endless military politicking but I did not fast forward once which says alot.

Recommended if you enjoy historical dramas based on fact and don't expect to see a big romance.

Read More

A Short remake but still enjoyable!

I liked the og version and watched it when it aired. had to go back for a rewatch to refresh my memory and start this one.

I don't think it's closely following everything from the og since it's short and also a Japanese remake, which they tend to change everything to fit their own aura of production.

The story is fast-paced, with not many details going on. The leads have a decent chemistry and are not cringeworthy IMO. The chemistry development is pretty decent up until episode 5.

I personally am not watching it, hoping to see the exact scenes and plot from the original suspicious partner, but that doesn't make this drama less entertaining.

Overall, an enjoyable watch, yet the last 3 episodes went downhill and their relationship could have developed to better.

Read More

I really really liked this documentary.

As a fan, of course it will the best documentary that i watched in this life.
The moments, the live action, the feelings shown are so true and there was not a single moment which I felt they are not doing great. Caroline really showed us what we've been waiting for. The camera director really captured those heartfelt moments. We have seen their tours and behind the scenes but we didn't see how Blackpink was formed and I happy that we got to see it today. The only thing that saddens me is that the video seems so short . It is short but it's worth it. I hope they continue to produce Blackpink's later journey in this form.

Read More

Good but falls flat towards the end

For a show about movies they forgot the oldest motto ‘show don’t tell’ in the last episode. It’s just back to back scenes of people rehashing their feelings. I wanted to see more of the movie making process but they just skipped over the whole production. Also the 2nd couple ending is ridiculous, even though they tried to have a heartfelt scene saying it’s officially over, they are really just back at square one. If you have to completely avoid each other and sit in a music shop listening to your ex’s music then you aren’t really over it. The brother’s story was my favorite and was such a tearjerker. I also loved all the wide shots they did throughout the drama.

Read More

Wattpad Romance but questionable takes

I went to the show expecting a wattpad romance and this IS what I got, but I still had a few things that rubbed me off in a way that I can't rate it higher even when I watched it without expectations.

1. Both the leads are almost thirty (29 i believe to be exact) and yet their behaviour is so immature and frustrating. for eg,
a. Male Lead wants to take revenge from Female Lead. why? well as a kid he was overweight, the FL treated him like a friend instead of bullying him and when he asked her out she said they weren't a good match. yep. That's it. This almost 30yo wants revenge over that. (and the way the drama wants to justify it later does nothing to what an alarming thought process he has -- in the last episode he says "in next 12 years too, i would be here supporting you" and all i could think was who fucking knows brother, maybe youd think she didnt treat you correct and would demand revenge over it)
b. FL has absolutely no personality and i know plane janes are the first requirement for a wattpad romance but MY GOD WOMAN DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING, OTHER THAN LOOKING TROUBLED and/or telling yourself/others how ML saved you.

2. The 2ML literally sexually assaults her - hugs her without her consent twice, things that should call office HR but it is all brushed off and he gets a redemption arc ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

3. Apart from the FL, it feels like every woman was a b*tch, no other word to explain their roles - the FL's mother, the ML's mother, the ex's gf, the ML's fiancee. Such weird writing choices because how is every woman bad in this universe (or irrelevant) other than the FL? Did the FL even have female friends?

4. Also, yes I questioned the writing choice to make women villains, but in a contradictory point I would also like to express my hate for how many asian dramas, including this one, just excuse abusive parents under the "oh they just want good for you" carpet. the parents never apologise, the children are just expected to understand -- and pulling this trick in the last 15 mins of the show? DERANGED.

Read More

Lots of loose ends; the ending was set up for another season

Review

8.5/10 is my rating. Overall I really liked this and would highly recommend it. My main disappointment is just that it, in my opinion, ends with a lot of loose ends because it is obvious they were planning for another season. I do not personally like when they do that because, with streaming platforms, there is no guarantee there will be another season. Also, for me, I watch so many dramas that if the other season does not come out quickly I will have to rewatch the first season. It is really intensely focused on the mother-daughter relationship. The romances are more of an aside. So, I wouldn't recommend it strictly for the romance aspect more for family dynamics and slice of life.

Spoilers

The mother could be extremely selfish. She did not encourage the relationship between the daughter and the father which I thought was very wrong. If she had done it because she thought it would be harmful it would be one thing, but her motivation seemed very selfish. I started out really liking the mother as a free spirit but then, as the series progressed and she did many things (like locking her daughter out or stealing her underwear when she was angry) I liked her less. And that might be my personal bias as I have a relative that she very much reminded me of. It is real though. There are mothers like that.

The daughter not desiring any relationship with the father did not make sense to me. She seemed as if she always wanted that and then this nice person comes along and wants to be in her life and she just refuses.

I thought the series would show how the mom and daughter had this co-dependent relationship that was unhealthy and it would evolve into a much healthier situation. But it didn't seem to go that way. They did not change a whole lot through the course of this first season. It may be one thing they are setting up for future seasons but it didn't happen in this first one. That was disappointing.

Neither romance fully took off. It was clear the mom and dad would likely stay together. But the daughter and "senior" had that one night then he said never mind and she decides to go off on some long journey. They had their touching I will miss you and I will wait for you moment but, come on, that is all we get? Another one where i think they were setting it up for a second season.

Introducing the grandparents did not make complete sense either. They were on the brink of becoming a complete family, they pulled their jerk move, then there was zero resolution or reconciliation. It is hard to picture a Korean family operating like that. Based on everything else I have seen their culture doesn't tend to write the elders off that easy. But that is another situation that seemed set up for something in the future. Maybe it will be picked back up in a 2nd season but having it be so transitory did not make sense in the context of a relatively short first season.

Scroll down for a Unique Synopsis

Synopsis

This is a 2023 South Korean romantic comedy drama that centers on the relationship between a mother and daughter. There are 12, 60 minute episodes.

Kim Eun-mi (Jeon Hye-jin) became pregnant with her daughter Jin-hee when she was still in high school. Surprisingly she elected to raise her daughter herself as even as a grown woman she remains very free spirited. To support her daughter she became a physical therapist and is much sought after at the clinic where she works. Kim Jin-hee (Choi Soo-young) is the opposite of her mother she is mature and calm is often the stabilizing influence in their household keeping her boisterous mother out of trouble. Jin-hee was a lieutenant at her previous station but got caught in a situation where an influential criminal got in trouble and she took the fall. She was temporarily demoted (1 year) and sent to serve at a new precinct under Eun Jae-won (Park Sung-hoon) a man who she has a not so good past with who thinks she is only book smart. An ear, nose and throat doctor Park Jin-hong (Ahn Jae-wook) emerges and it turns out he is Jin-hee's father who abandoned the two women when Eun-mi became pregnant. The story centers around the troubled relationship between the mother and daughter as they learned to understand each other. Romance is right around the corner for both women.

#NotOthers #JeonHyeJin #ChoiSooYoung #AhnJaeWook #ParkSungHoon

Read More

"I've never not chosen you, Oaboom."

WIth a slightly toxic sister relationship, this show really hit me in the gut multiple times. Because, while it is a very compelling GL romance, the heart of the story really is Ai and Oom and their fractured relationship. Both sisters have always felt in the shadow of the other and fall for the same woman---of course, in the end Ai and May can only be happy once this is healed.

On the whole, this is a great show, though the plot does meander a bit in the middle. Namtan and Film are both incredible actors, and Natman *killed* it playing both Ai and Oom. I was thoroughly impressed the whole way through.

My only real complaint is GMMTV's tendency to heal disabilities---this is the second show now following a blind protagonist that spent so much time focusing on them learning to live with their disability only to be miraculously cured by the end. As it did in Last Twilight, this cheapens the story and makes it seem like a happy ending isn't possible when you're disabled (which is, of course, *not* true).

But overall, this was a wonderful show and I'm glad I watched it! I would absolutely recommend it.

Read More

All the makings of a great drama that unfortunately falls flat

Serendipity has all the makings of a solid historical drama: tragic backstories, political intrigue, secret identities, and a hint of romance. However, somewhere between solving mysteries and its identity crises, the drama itself falls off a cliff, gets amnesia, and never quite recovers.

What begins as a light-hearted romantic setup soon veers into a drawn out mystery plotline. The amnesia arc feels forgotten until the end while both the romance and overarching plot are hurriedly tied up in the final episodes.

The mystery angle starts off with promise as the leads navigate through a series of cases that chip away at a larger conspiracy. However, with minimal setup and even less payoff, each lead fizzles out. Just when progress is made, evidence is conveniently lost or dismissed, forcing yet another detour. Heroes and villains alike walk away from each encounter unscathed, deflating any real tension. By the time the story regains momentum, the suspense is long gone—you’ve known who the villains were all along and were just waiting for their inevitable and predictable downfall.

The romance aspect isn’t any better. While the male and female leads are individually well-developed with strong and compelling personalities, the chemistry between them never quite ignites. After pretending to be siblings for most of the show, their bond really ends up feeling more familial than romantic. Yes, they make sacrifices for one another. Yes, they go through emotional turmoil. But the dynamic lacks the emotional pull of a true love story. On the other hand, it is hard not to get second male lead syndrome as the second male lead is nearly flawless as he is charming, smart, kind, loyal, principled, and emotionally available.

As far as production and editing is concerned, I am really not a fan of episodes that cut out mid-sentence as it feels clumsy and takes away from the overall viewing experience. All that aside, I enjoyed the OST, the costumes and the props/scenery.

In the end, Serendipity isn’t a bad drama, just one that loses its way. It’s watchable, especially if you’re a fan of the genre, though it doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

Read More

Yao Qing Li (2025) is a romance miniseries with He Cong Rui (as Gu Heng) and Ma Qiu Yuan (as Shen Qing Li) in the lead couple’s role. The drama has a mystery subplot that involves the female lead’s family and a romance that starts with a misunderstanding. The male lead seems to be completely infatuated with the female lead but, as the plot moves forward, the drama offers a background knowledge of situations and actions taken by the male lead that give glimpses of how deeply he loves the female lead, which has liked him since high school times. This drama is one that could have skipped the supposed “toxic” male dominance and still give the audience the anxiety build up with the use of the antagonists. The lead couple has great chemistry and the female lead is great in producing the effect of submission to his advances while still fighting to stay restrained since he “has an engagement” with someone else. The push and pull relationship of the lead couple is more an attempt to provide a noxious setting to the inception of the lead couple’s relationship, but one can see how deeply the male lead falls in love with the female lead that, after all, caused and didn’t clear the situation by involving him from the beginning. The leading characters are both strong minded and passionate, but their real feelings ooze deep love and tenderness as the drama progresses. This drama is good and entertaining, enjoy it!
For now, it can be found on YouTube under the caption: In order to cure her brother's illness, the heroine spent a night with her brother's mortal enemy
(Warning: As of today on this link, the English subtitles appear and disappear constantly)

Read More

POOR LIU XUE YI

I felt bad for Liu Xue Yi, a talented handsome actor has to endure partnering with a new actress Hu Yi Xuan (camellia demon Hong Ning) not just bad in acting, annoying childish voice, not to mention weird hair styles. Who did her make up and hair-styling? Very sloppy, doesn't compliment her, she appears between wild nymphs and gnomes. Long wavy frizzy hair, big flat nose, raspy bang, oversize red dress. I don't who should get fired first; the actress or the hair dresser? When they met again, bound by love, trials and destiny....I am choking. It's too much a stretch.

I think the only person to take good look at is Liu Xue Yi.
His character though as a reserved immortal is that kind of boring. I don't think he's looking to the FL and think 'I love this demon wholeheartedly and want to spend my immortal life with her'.....because his eyes doesn't express it. His eyes is like saying 'let's get this over with' I know I can't read his mind...but that's the expression I got.

Other actors are barely has acting skills...as far as I watch the drama. Wouldn't recommend this drama to anyone. Need to change the title to "this love should have failed". Safe your valuable time for something else better...

Read More

MUST WATCH. BEST COSTUME DRAMA I'VE WATCHED SO FAR

I regularly watch c-dramas and I was just bored and clicked on the on-going ones-- and that's the best thing I did. From the first episode to the last episode it's so good, I looked forward to new episodes everyday. For their chemistry, it was the best. Enemies to lovers trope and why they are actually enemies makes sense. I was hooked as soon as they met. They complement each other so much that I feel their emotions with just them looking at each other. Did not fail with the micro expressions. Their love isn't something that happened instantly-- it was just right. Grudge cannot be solved overnight. They got together after the challenges and learned that whenever they have conflicts, they have to talk and understand each other.

Starting off with Xiao Qiao, the way her character is intelligent, not afraid to stand up for not just her own, but for the people she loves and protects is just amazing. I am not that familiar with Zuer and I discovered her through this drama, she embodied the character so well. Her eye acting is captivating .
Wei Shao is truly well-written. Liu Yuning embodied Wei Shao so well. He was betrayed but is not narrow minded-- he cares for the people and learned to let go of his hatred. He is someone who can be really scary but at the same time, be rational. I truly admire his character development.
The Qiao and Wei clan has really good characters. I admire Wei Grandmother because she was the bridge for ShaoMan, and considering she was one of the ones who were left in the clan, she still want WS to learn how to let go. The Wei generals may look like savages, but has warm hearts. For the Qiaos, Ci is great. If Xiao Qiao has the heart for the people, Da Qiao only has her heart for her love. I have to admit I was annoyed with her midway but honestly, she just loved. She admitted that she was not great herself but I admire her for what she did later and for sticking to her principle. General Wei Liang and Xiao Tao's love story also left a mark on my heart. I actually love how good Lady Yu Lou as a villian because I was irritated by her acting so much it's so effective. Liu Yan is just plain stupid and reckless.
I love the ost that is sung by Liu Yuning himself. Will I rewatch it again? YES! I actually rewatched it while it was still ongoing. The cinematography is top notch. I rarely get attached into the drama and it is the first time I really enjoyed every single bit of it. I really hope that the leads could be in a drama again in the future.

Read More

Director should have done better!!

This was an eye feast as a Ning ge's admirer, I found a beautiful actress to look upto in future, xueqin made me cry with amazing performance, 4 generals and advisor gongsun were really out there to ease out the tensions, I really loved two scenes first glance of leads and the last kiss

But....
Wei Shao's might was less shown in later wars, why focusing on Su ehuang and liu yan!!!! it was frustrating to see them on screen, that cunning lady doesn't even have a trace of gratitude for the xue clan general who saved her life, shame on her!!! why bother showing this dirty character when you can actually fish out really great fights with Wei Shao, that liu yan didn't even have a proper fight sequence in all 36 episodes, wow!! great director why is it this a choice?

really, wei liang didn't have to be killed, da qiao didn't have to fall off, can be written better.

Read More

A Beautiful Masterpiece

I had been in a slump for over 2 years because i couldn't find a good c-drama according to my taste. This year i suddenly came across this drama and started watching this because of Song Zu Er. I never write any review for any dramas but this drama had me writing for it. The starting, and romance , the plot , the comedy everything was perfect till the end. It would've been nice if Wei Liang did't die at the end but well........i think it was bound to happen. This was one of the true enemies to lovers where there relationship really took time to form based on mutual trust and feelings for each other, not like other where they become lovers suddenly. I really, really love this drama and would watch this again and again.

Read More