Reviews

Great chemistry, messy story...

The premise of the show was very typical in the beginning, but it changed with the 2nd episode which was good. You may question Tuos method because it was more or less forced and that always leaves a bitter taste afterwards. It was not about a confession for Junxi anymore it was about discovering his own feelings, his angst about himself, family and all people around. They also inserted a GL part but did not play it out which is a shame, but maybe that comes with a special episode.

It's a lighthearted show with a focus on the emotional journey, with very incredible chemistry which elevates this show beyond average levels. Also the children were incredible. They added the "past" scenes to give more context which was missing in the original manga and it pays off. That's what I liked most about this show. Of course production quality was also top notch.

There is not much more to say besides, that I liked it and I would recommand this show over many we have had this year.

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Nice Drama

I was attracted to this drama because of the ML who is very tall and handsome. The FL is very beautiful too. The first part of the story is so nice because of the romances and how they grow together as husband and wife. The second part is somewhat dragging and I think could have been edited by the director better.
I love how the ML is so loving and protective of his wife. His mother and grandma and sister are also very loving and caring people. In the first part the FL appears to be strong but in the later part she appears weak and vulnerable.
Glad that it has a happy ending and that justice is done to the villains.
It is highly questionable that after being in a coma for days the ML suddenly attended the company Board Meeting in full health and strong.
Still, it is a good watch.

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Time waits for no one

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a beautiful reminder that time waits for no one. The drama takes us back to the innocence of youth, where laughter, friendships, and first love feel endless — yet life slowly pulls the characters forward, changing them in ways they can’t control. What makes it touching is the way it captures fleeting moments that seem ordinary at the time, but unforgettable when looked back on. The nostalgic village setting enhances the sense of warmth and longing, making us reflect on our own memories and how quickly they slip away. It’s a bittersweet story — tender, heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking — showing that even though people may grow apart, the feelings we carry from those youthful days remain timeless. A must-watch if you enjoy reflective dramas about growing up and the passage of time.

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Transmigration, family & business rivalry are the important elements of this drama

I noticed this drama on iQIYI and got curious. I hadn't watched Zhang Qi Xuan drama in long time. I watched this morning and was pleasantly surprised by its storytelling & acting.

What I liked:
1. Acting - Top grade acting by Zhang Qi Xuan & Liu Yu Hang. Those emotional scenes were heartbreaking that I was moved to tears. On top of that, they got great chemistry.
2. FL characterisation - She was assertive & smart. Also kind enough to help the Gu family to stay afloat while the eldest sibling was comatose. I liked her lesson plans for the younger brothers.
3. Romance - While ML was in "coma", there was no two-way interactions between them. However ML fell hard for FL as she continued to show her resilience and smartness. Their first kiss was extremely hot with ML kissing FL like he was parched. Later we got to see ML pursuing FL and I liked those scenes.
4. Supporting characters - I really liked the second & third brothers. ML's assistant was unintentionally funny too.
5. Family - Family is the core theme of this drama. From ML to antagonist.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Formidable antagonists - they were business rivals who were hungry for money & status. Jiang Lei was evil mastermind - he didn't mind fatality whenever his plans were executed. Jiang Yichen was a delusional goon. Song Qingyun was another scumbag.
2. The Gu daughter - Gosh, she was so gullible. I couldn't believe she betrayed her family just because she was suspicious of FL's change in character. She should have confronted or at least discussed with her brothers.

Favourite scene
When FL scolded the youngest Gu sibling

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? Secret Lover: The BL Series That Will Steal Your Heart (and Spice It Up!) ?

Secret Lover is a beautifully executed BL series that blends friendship, hidden feelings, and emotional growth in a way that feels both realistic and heartwarming. The chemistry between Han Tuo 💙 and Lu Jun Xi 💛 is undeniable, and the slow burn of their relationship keeps viewers hooked from the very first episode. The series does an excellent job showing how childhood bonds can evolve into something deeper, without feeling rushed or forced.

One of the most memorable moments is when Han Tuo 💙 finally confesses his feelings during the college theater play. It’s simple, yet emotionally charged, capturing both the vulnerability and excitement of first love. And the little cute moments—like when Han Tuo 💙 shyly tries to help Lu Jun Xi 💛 with small tasks, or their teasing smiles when they’re together—make you melt just a bit inside. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, creating realistic challenges for the protagonists—from family expectations to societal pressures—that test the strength of their connection.

From the very first episode, the couple was already giving us all the spicy vibes! 🌶️ I was like, “Oh my god, this series is going to be amazing.” Lu Jun Xi 💛 and Han Tuo 💙… wow. I finally realized that Lu Jun Xi 💛 thought girls were always chasing Han Tuo 💙, but in reality, it was him that the girls were after! That’s why Han Tuo 💙 keeps them at a distance—because he truly, deeply loves Lu Jun Xi 💛. Can it get any spicier? 😳

And yet, amid all the intensity, the small cute gestures—like Han Tuo 💙 quietly saving a seat for Lu Jun Xi 💛, or Lu Jun Xi 💛’s tiny laugh when Han Tuo 💙 teases him—make the romance feel soft and real. I love how Han Tuo 💙 tries so hard to be there for Lu Jun Xi 💛, always supporting him. Their childhood bond makes their connection even sweeter and tighter. And their supportive friend? 💖 She’s just amazing—so understanding and encouraging. I really loved her presence in the story.

Overall, Secret Lover is a perfect blend of heart, humor, and just the right amount of spice and cuteness. If you love BL series with slow-burn romance, childhood connections, and moments that make your heart skip a beat, this is definitely one to watch. Prepare for laughs, tears, butterflies 🦋, and a few soft “aww” moments—because Han Tuo 💙 and Lu Jun Xi 💛 will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions you won’t forget.

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Extremely heartbreaking journey

Pretty engaging storyline, the tension buildup is brilliant and valid enough, the multilayered emotions worked out really well on screen as it spanned across four decades of timeline setting, though some of it was built directly upon coincidence linkage, the distinctive character design is still highly effective nonetheless, and the striking acting performances definitely gave this drama a huge boost. The mellow cinematography and sombre soundtrack also blended deeply into the meticulously written dialogues, the result is a melancholic artistic drama that is extremely heartbreaking as their journey of bittersweet life unfolds.

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Writing women into a historical framework

Two things increased my appreciation for this, and thus my rating. The ending. And reading up on the history. The long (and so very Thai <3) disclaimer at the beginning states that an aim is to "encourage viewers to take an interest in history...[and to] seek additional knowledge from experts or historians to gain an accurate understanding of Ayuttaya history."

It did succeed in getting me interested in the history - primarily what is recorded of Sri Sudachan. There isn't much and it's disputed. We don't even have her name or the names of the other concubines, only their titles. A starting trawl through Wikipedia though shows that the framework of men this story is built around is taken from historical records - Chairachathirat and his connections with Portuguese mercenaries and their war tech, Worawongsathirat and his many titles, Yotfa, Sri Sin, Phirenthorathep, Chan, Ratchasaneh.

And also things written about Sri Sudachan herself, or rather the fictionalised versions others chose to tell.

Part of me wishes I'd waited as I spoiled a few things for myself near the end, but it also brought the creators' intentions into sharp, crystal clear, unquestionable focus - this isn't a "historical" fiction flight of fantasy - it's very much about filling in gaps and creating a space for women to exist in that history. One woman, in particular, whose existence was recorded by those who benefitted from making her a villain.

Some of this short lakorn is difficult - war and brutal actions are depicted, sometimes on screen, a few thankfully implied. It's about power, corruption and conflict. It's condensed melodrama too, which will throw some off, especially those who are used to epic long Chinese court intrigues. That's just a different way of telling a story.

Through it all are the women - concubines, confidantes and servants, armed women guards and their leader - their conflicts with each other and struggles to figure out how to get by in a world where they are pawns with limited power and room to move, who they truly love and who they can truly trust.

For these few days, this woman - whose name the men couldn't be bothered to record - was alive again. They did a fantastic job with bringing her, and all of the complicated emotions of a woman in her position, to life.


Links in a comment under a spoiler for those who want to read more. So far it's just Wikipedia as they're understandable summaries and even within these few pages, it's clear how each one takes a different view of Sri Sudachan. I recommend waiting until you've finished the lakorn.

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Why seek therapy and help when you can just fall in love with your best friend!

The drama runs on the premise of the childhood friends x lovers trope. And when I see this trope, the first thing that comes to my mind is slow-burning romance where two people who grew up together with embarrassing memories and inside jokes, slowly come to the realisation that they are in love with each other all along. The yearning...the pinning.... the subtle hints...The holy grail of slow burn romance.

But what I got was anything but that. Instead of character development, gradual tension and those push-and-pull monologues, what I got was fast-forward confessions with abrupt mood swings and no subtlety.
There was barely any tension or emotional build up. Just a series of "Oh, I guess I love you now" in a very reckless way.

Character Descriptions-

Han Tuo: In the BL world, we are familiar with a lead having a tragic past or a childhood trauma. A'Tuo was no different. This man didn't need a relationship, but a therapist. Despite having a backstory, none of it translates into actual depth. His internal conflicts existed but briefly and for name's sake. I wanted to sympathise with him, considering how emotionally distant his mother was and his abandonment issues by his mother, but somehow how it was portrayed and how he dealt with it as a character annoyed me.

His way out was to trauma dump Junxi with an invisible PowerPoint presentation with two slides - "I am sad" and "I love you". With his backstory came possessiveness on another level. If we remove the romance angle, it is controlling and manipulative. And let's not forget his communication skills, or lack thereof.

At best, he was an overgrown child desperately trying to prove that he is the centre of Jun Xi's universe and that being together is the ultimate solution to all his problems.

Lu Junxi: He was a third wheel in his own relationship and not in a cute way. He was always reactive to A'Tuo's mood swings and possessiveness, and somehow I wondered if he even liked him, or was it just the pressure and the anxiety that came with not having your childhood friend around that you mistake it for love. He makes all his decisions with the legendary stone, paper, scissors game and loses more often than you think.

Romance between them wasn't healthy, but if I remove the problematic lens, it was cute in fragments. It thrived on the notion that one partner constantly crosses boundaries because "that is how they show love", while the other passively accepts as if that's what love is supposed to be like.

There were many aww factors, especially when they were being absolutely sweet and domestic to each other. The way they bickered over the smallest things with silly arguments and small acts of care did entertain me, and I did enjoy their boyfriend era.
They had decent chemistry overall with some good kissing scenes, but honestly, the red flags were raised so high that there is no way to sugar coat them.

Lin Xiao Yang: She was such a breath of fresh air. She was understanding, supportive and out of the trio, the most sensible. I have many issues with how characters are written in the drama, but I am glad writers didn't turn her into the cliche female lead in a BL drama that we usually see, who only causes chaos and is irrationally protective. I wish they had explored her character more or in general, her friendship with the duo.

The other side character, He You Mei, was a hit and a miss for me. I liked her for her quirkiness, but sometimes her behaviour was abrupt. The emotional scene of hers came out of nowhere, and with much context.

I liked Junxi's parents for not being the stereotypical asian parent we see. Them being supportive and treating A'Tuo with so much love was heartwarming to see!

Acting-wise, I found both the leads passable. I mean, the emotional scenes could have been way better, but it wasn't unwatchable. The rest of the cast also did decently based on what the script had to offer, but nothing outstanding.

Writing & Production: I think writing was the weakest link here. The character arcs were painfully uneven. I kept expecting meaningful emotional growth both for the individuals and their relationship, but it rarely appeared. At times, we seemed on the brink of progress, only for the story to backtrack and reset us near square one. On top of that, there were far too many flashbacks to their teenage years, most of which didn’t add much to the present-day story. It felt unnecessarily redundant. Production seemed decent as well. The sets were clean, and the locations felt believable. (The college had students and everything).

Overall, this isn't a masterpiece by any stretch, but it's oddly entertaining in its own way. I reviewed it very critically but if I keep my brain aside, it has a weird charm to its flaws.

Will I recommend it? Maybe, but with a giant asterisk. If you are in the mood for some low-stakes entertainment but a clumsy attempt at romance and a hint of sweetness... then yes. Also, their height difference was really cute.
But if you are here for a deep, healthy relationship with a well-developed character arc, please look elsewhere.

Thank you for reading my review! I hope you have a good day! <3

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Legit Shit Thats All........

just selling legit shit i need my almost 5 hours back . Nothing new same old c- opera .
Plot same old garbage enemy to lover then enemy again . At the end both are doing shit that's all.
Why are you here for thriller noooooooooo????
Are you her for romance nooooo??? , lead chemistry nooooo if the plot is not good at-least show some intimacy and good kissing scenes sell something new .
Even vertical dramas shows same script but they have those beautiful moment whatever.
Accept FL is beautiful i m not simp if some one is beautiful i'll say it .
And what about "Wu Jun Ting" his talent is totally waste in this show . they just make him a dog who just wiggle his tail for his master ...... Waste

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