Reviews

There is no denying this is a hypnotic creation.. Proof once again that even if the idea itself isn’t anything new, a genius execution of an exciting theme can work wonders.. Especially when orchestrated with immaculate rigor.. Every detail in the drama reflects a rare aesthetic.. It’s no exaggeration to say the drama unfolds as a complete experience..

The visuals in this drama are pretty good with some really striking shots.. And of course, BJT absolutely kills it not just in the action scenes but with a powerhouse performance overall.. The execution of the complex narrative structure is near perfection.. Time loops are tricky but the drama handles them so smoothly that while the story may feel confusing at times, but never messy..

The first episode was a perfect 10 for me.. It set the stage beautifully and instantly made me interested in the story and its characters.. The comedy was on point and the squad’s chemistry was just too good.. The action scenes were meticulously done.. BJT excelled in both hand to hand combat and gunfights, it clearly showed his dedication and wholehearted commitment..

There were two things that felt a bit off to me.. First, even though this isn’t a romance drama, the chemistry between the ML and FL felt lacking.. Their supposed feelings for each other just didn’t connect with me.. Maybe that was intentional, but it still left me unconvinced.. Second, the way he became a time loop perceiver felt underdeveloped.. They could have handled that part much better.. Again it was not convincing..

Overall, this is a truly remarkable drama.. You can see how carefully everything was thought out and pieced together and above all, you can feel the passion poured into the drama by everyone involved.. And that’s why it comes across as such a mesmerizing work.. Beautiful to the eyes, ears and heart.. It’s perfection in the form of a drama, one that will be hard to forget..

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Great Story So Disappointed In The Acting! Shame!

I was a bit surprised as to how inward and esoteric this series was. It was prodigiously reflective. I found myself surprisingly moved by its content and the detailed struggles of the major players. It is not just a BL; it was also a story about verity. To be sure, maybe too much scope was covered in such a short period of time. However, I appreciated its thoughtful efforts in coveting normal issues of everyday people in warmly touching routines. The screenplay is very good overall for this series. And admittedly, the individual acting is good to very good. Where this series utterly failed is the execution of its very theme. Although they were trying to convince us that they had, they never did. Love. Where the acting completely and I do mean completely failed and collapsed is trying to persuade us, one, that they were a couple, and two, they were in love with each other. It was obvious that the two of them had little to no screen chemistry together. I did not believe for a second that they were a ‘couple’. They were tense, uncomfortable, awkward, and insincere when together as a couple. It showed on their faces and in their movements. Secondly, ALL their kissing scenes, were ‘dead fish’ kisses. Honestly, I have never seen worse kissing in my life on screen from two guys. They could not even pretend to like it or enjoy it. Both looked like they were going to vomit. Their lack of physical connection was simply appalling.

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Perhaps the best modern CDrama of 2025

This is the perfect example of when not to trust reviews. This drama slaps. In all ways possible.

I literally don’t even know where to start— the beautiful leads, the perfectly annoying antagonists, the wow factor of a “ceo coming back to life” introduction, that OST?! I’ve watched hundreds of dramas and this honestly is in my top five cdramas, def my top modern cdrama of 2025 by a mile.

First of all, our badass female lead shows no weakness in front of her enemies. She just survived hell for the past three years to make an epic comeback in front of the family that stole her family’s legacy. From the brink of death to reclaiming her throne, as she should, her beauty and brains blind all. Even when any other normal person would fall in defeat, her determination to avenge her family and bring justice was truly commendable.

And then our male lead 🥰 This is the first time watching this actor act, but his puppy dog persona juxtaposing our headstrong female lead was just the cherry on top. Having been abroad with sports, his morals aren't corrupted by his business-focused family so when he trusts and approaches Haimeng whilst everyone legit pulls him away, I melted. He's just so soft and innocent but not in the weak way where he doesn't know how to differentiate between right and wrong. He knows how to protect his girl **swoons**

Their CHEMISTRY especially, was off the charts. Normally, the idea of getting with an in-law sounds pretty revolting, but in this case I could not encourage them more. (and good, because the ex-husband doesn't deserve her) The cinematography captured each of our leads' perspectives SO WELL (BRAVO). The lighting and colors, light and/or dark, capture the beauty of Haimeng and Siyu as seen from each others' eyes perfectly. I found myself falling for them at the same time as them HAHAH. It started with Haimeng's icy exterior melting in front of Siyu, the only person in the house who doesn't treat her with contempt. With the gradual increase in trust came the natural development of respect and soon after, feelings. I love how until the end, they chose to trust each other despite what could've turned into a situation of messy misunderstandings.

I’m assuming this was low budget but girl, you can't even tell. Other than some crowds seeming sparse or lack of diverse locations, everything from outfits (our girl is a legit MODEL) to pace of storyline distracts you and honestly makes it seem like a very well thought-out, highly-sponsored masterpiece.
I don't ever write reviews, but this one was much needed especially with the weirdos giving this such poor ones! Please give this a try, it's the perfect length (not the super short ones but also not so long it drags the story) and really moves at a steady intriguing pace. It won't be perfect, with some loopholes, but they can be easily disregarded lol

LOVE IT! 🩵 SOOO glad I watched this. I'm happier :)

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I'm just glad that I finished it

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

I decided to give this series a watch because it has been a while since I watched an Oxin production, and the last (mini) series that I watched from them was surprisingly okay. Also, one of the MCs from that series (Haunted Hearts) was appearing in this series as well. I have finished it, and I am just... disappointed. There was too much going on with so many characters that I just got lost in it. Also, the only good thing for me in this whole series was Jarret and Gin and, unfortunately, they could not save this series.

The OST's of course, was awesome, until it started to border on the line of annoying for me. I was so out of it that I still don't know if the bad guy got his just desserts because I was zoning in and out in the last episode. I'm just glad that I am done with this series, and I am once again taking a (much) needed break from any Oxin production series.

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Passionate Piece of work

It’s clear that Shine is a true success in terms of writing and depth. The work on the characters, both main and supporting, is remarkable and makes them both interesting and memorable.

The five main characters are all very different, but they are united by common circumstances. I particularly liked Trin, Krailert, and Victor, who, despite the trials they face, continue to fight and do their best.

I found the historical context very relevant, as the series highlights the protests in Thailand and the weariness of a youth suffering from political corruption and deprived of their freedom and money. This subject, unfortunately, remains current even in 2025.

I would have liked the series to explore the potential love triangle between Trin, Tanwa, and Victor more deeply. Victor was rejected too soon. I also felt that the relationship between Trin and Tanwa deserved more development. Their couple doesn't exude great passion; it feels more like two people just having a good time together without worrying about tomorrow, even if Trin tries to clarify things. Tanwa's indecision and his inhibited side don't help.

In contrast, the relationship between Krailert and Naran is much more intense and passionate. They understand each other without needing to speak, but they have a lot to lose. Both are already in relationships, making their homosexual love impossible to live out in the open, which makes them very complex characters.

My favorite characters remain Krailert and Victor.

Krailert leads a difficult life. As a soldier, he is a victim of blackmail and repeatedly loses people he holds dear. He tries to do his best, but fate is against him. Furthermore, he suffers in silence from not being able to openly live his homosexuality. This is reflected in his personality: he is constantly on guard, as if he expects to be attacked at any moment.

As for Victor, he brings a breath of fresh air to the series. However, his character, initially described as a determined activist aiming to start a business, was relegated to the role of a student madly in love with his teacher whose love is unrequited. I like him a lot, because he represents what many young people should do: fight for their rights.

I would have loved if the politics on the show were not toned down but hey it is what it is. They take a side.

To conclude, Shine is not a classic BL. Far from being a simple romantic comedy, its political approach and authenticity set it apart from other series in the genre, and I wonder if the usual BL audience will appreciate it for what it is.

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On the Verge of a Masterpiece, Yet…

A drama that conveys the struggles of being hearing-impaired very powerfully to the audience. The acting of the scandalous man, Jung Woo-sung (Cha Jin-woo), truly pierces into one’s heart. His gazes and expressions vividly reflect the effort of a hearing-impaired person trying to understand those around them. The charisma and handsomeness of the 50-year-old ahjussi make the drama all the more captivating.
Still, I can’t say the same for Shin Hyun-been - this is a personal take, but her acting feels very flat to me. I only ever see her in rather lifeless roles anyway. Perhaps it’s just that I don’t enjoy stories or performances where the female character feels so timid and lacking in confidence.
Another point is that while I liked the music of this drama, I found the heavy use of background music tiring — especially in a story that is supposed to capture silence. I would have preferred to experience that silence along with the characters. Having constant background music while portraying the struggles of not being able to hear was, honestly, quite ironic and almost tragicomic.

***SPOILER ALERT***
Although I enjoyed some of the supporting characters, I feel that storylines involving a third person, meant to make the plot more interesting or to keep it going, often ruin the viewing experience. Thankfully, this time the third parties weren’t inherently bad people.
Mo-eun’s (Shin Hyun-been) distancing later on, and her struggles in the later stages of her relationship with a hearing-impaired partner, didn’t surprise me. In fact, I thought it was one of the stronger aspects of the story. After all, doesn’t everyone start a relationship swept away by emotions, believing they can overcome any hardship, only to realize later on that reality hits differently? I think that dilemma was portrayed quite well. To me, Mo-eun’s sense of having failed to achieve something in her career, despite being in her thirties, might have been part of why she was drawn so strongly to this man. She was in a phase where she felt empty inside and needed something to hold on to. While trying to understand Cha Jin-woo pulled her away from herself, the way Jin-woo supported her career actually gave her a sense of confidence again.
Still, I think Mo-eun looked down on Jin-woo in some ways; her excessive caution, overthinking, and hiding of her true feelings and thoughts put her in a superior position, preventing the relationship from being equal (or fair). In the end, this imbalance always made Jin-woo feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, I also think Jin-woo was unfair to Mo-eun by not being able to fully distance himself from his ex-girlfriend because of unresolved issues from the past. He should have been more careful about that. Yet I can also understand why he couldn’t — his ex had once been a very important part of his life. Rather than erasing her existence, accepting it is understandable, though it still puts him in a position that could unsettle his current partner.

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Historical drama at its finest

I adore this drama.
The decision to showcase a lesbian relationship in the 18th century, set within a royal court and based on an ancient poem by a real poetess about real historical figures was *chef's kiss*

My only complaint is that there are still no english subtitles which is a tragedy. Such a well thought out and high quality show deserves international love, especially with the growing interest in GL.

I was able to watch and enjoy without the subs but I am very familiar with the historical time period and I also searched out information on social media pages to help me when i felt lost which was quite a bit of work even though i did it out of love of the show.

There is a focus on traditional thai dance and a sweet little romance between a male dancer and a policeman and well as two wonderfully portrayed female love stories.

The show, being based on real historical figures, some of them royal, references a number of actual historic events as well.

There is beautiful attention to costumes, locations, music and dance.
It is a history lovers dream and hands down one of the best thai GL stories to date.

Still hoping it will eventually get subbed so.i can rewatch and more people can appreciate this treasure of a drama

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What are YOU willing to do for money?

A cheesy but cute and at times frustrating (but fun) show that asks its audience to consider, what are YOU willing to do for money? Give up your integrity as a human being? How many are you willing to hurt in the process?

This Cinderella story turns a few of the classic tropes on their sides in ways that endeared me enough that certain moments in the second half didn't completely break it for me... although I wasn't much a fan of the "forgive abusive family members out of obligation because they're your family" angle the narrative took. It makes sense for these characters to feel this way in this specific plot (this family is all they've got) and I know I would have eaten this up years ago when "toxic family learns to love each other in their own ways through the pain" touched something gentle and desperate within me. Still, I do appreciate the emphasis on breaking the cycle by allowing people to grow and choosing to do better moving forward so you don't get stuck repeating past mistakes. The journey to that point is tough but very important and cathartic in its own way.

On a more nitpicky note (and maybe it's just me), each episode has like two songs that play multiple times and boy is it noticeable. I get it - they're good, thematic songs! - but it starts to feel overplayed to the point where the effect lost its intended hold over me.

All that said, the characters are fun and I did enjoy watching their growth. But Seo Woo and Yoon Seong are the best boys - no one can change my mind.

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Didn’t expect to love this this much. Now I’m obsessed.

Honestly, I started The Journey of Legend with zero expectations. First couple of episodes felt slow, but suddenly I found myself totally hooked. There's something about the quiet build-up — you really start to feel for Qui Shui and his situation. He didn’t just “transmigrate” and move on. He struggles. It hurts. And that makes his journey so believable.

Also… Cheng Yi is insane in this. He plays TWO roles — gentle but tormented Qui Shui and then boom, cold-blooded boss Li Chen Zhou. Same face, completely different energy. You will definitely feel the different as if they are not the same actor! Amazing!

Story-wise, it’s a mix of action, mystery, and emotional moments that hit way harder than I expected. There’s fighting, yes, but also a deeper message about standing up for what’s right when the world keeps testing you.

The drama isn’t loud or flashy, but it grows on you. It lingers. And the OST?? Gorgeous. I’ve been looping some tracks all day.

If you’re into slower-burn wuxia with emotional weight and great acting, don’t skip this one.

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Drama of the Year

Be on Cloud have never been afraid to take risks and right from their origins with KinnPorsche they have prioritised quality in all aspects of their drama creation.

With Shine they have reached their zennith, the costumes, the music, the cinematography, the complex, flawed characters the actors bring to life - all of it was outstanding.

The only thing i would change is having maybe 10 episodes so certain scenes could have played out longer with a bit more time to breathe.

The ending wasn't quite perfect but it was very close.
Their decision to set a story within such a complicated poltical time with characters defined and constrained by the expectations of society at the time felt authentic and bold.

I waited years for this drama and it did not disappoint. I am just greedy for more. At least i can console myself with the excellent soundtrack and a rewatch. A 10/10 drama for me.

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Had so much potential.

I didn't hate it, but I'll never re-watch it. It's just like every other "past life/present life lovers" C-drama you've ever seen. There were at least three "mystery" plotlines that held my interest. The last one with General Wen made my jaw drop. I did NOT see that coming.
The characters were distinct, but only Bai Shi Qi had an arc. The rest were the same person at the end of the drama that they were in the beginning. I knew the main leads were going to end up together, it was just a matter of which episode it would happen. The two characters Li Qin played were world's apart in personality and I found that very enjoyable and well-written. Lu Yan's brooding, over-protective, almost stalker-ish personality got boring fast. Emote, damn you! Even after he felt love for DengDeng, he stayed stoic and standoffish. He also kept his hands in his pocket so much I was starting to wonder if he had topical drugs in there.
Did anyone else notice that these two characters never kissed? Can you believe that? The MAIN LEADS never had a kissing scene. How'd that happen?
The villain was your basic bad guy, that's all. He was good-looking, though; he had an awesome costume, and the actor did a great job portraying him.
There were two characters that I wished had more substance than just "man-servants": Peng Da Hai and Xin. I would have loved to see those two in a quirky, but adorable romantic plotline. Da Hai maybe falling in love with a "spirit" person and giving up the mountain homestead he loves to be with her. Xin could have fallen in love with a human that LuYan didn't approve of, causing conflict between them. Still, these were good support characters and the actors gave 100% to their respective roles.
The last episode was a big letdown after DengDeng defeated the female villain. I don't understand why storytellers keep writing characters that don't work together to defeat obstacles and enemies. Instead they make the main leads lie to their partners about their true intentions, then have them go off and do their own thing, where they die. That's not true love, that's stupidity. And what was that scene at the end where DengDeng and Da Hai interrupt a business to re-state motivations and story beats? Talk about wasting screen time that could have been put to better use, you know...like FINDING YOUR TRUE LOVE! What a dumb and boring ending to a show that was already one-step above mediocre.
For me, this drama was a 6/10. It had the potential to be a 9, but it was just too close to average.

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Stunning historical drama

I waited so long to be able to see this film. Apo as a traditional dancer in the late 18th century was perfect, I only wish we had more scenes of him dancing to showcase the hard work he put in, training himself to not just be a believable dancer but an excellent one.

In an ideal world this would have been a series so they would have had more time to unravel the mystery and the politics woven into the story.

I would have loved an on screen romance between Chatra and Khem as well, I could see their feelings simmering under the surface but watching them fall in love and share their first kiss would have been divine.

Still, i am so proud of what they did achieve, the beauty, the historical details, the intriguing characters.

ManSuang, you’ll always be precious to me.

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