Reviews

Wonderful

I'm not a big fan of Thai BLS but this one was pretty good. The acting was amazing and the concept was new and refreshing, cinematography on point. The plot wasn't confusing, yes at first it is a bit weird after episode 5 but I'm slow as hell and figured it out pretty quickly. I do have to say I do not like the fact that there's a lot of NC scenes. If I knew there were that many I'd just watch the cut version, it was just unnecessary. There were so many storylines and characters, I'd rather have more of the main couple I'm not even going to lie. Otherwise this bl is very good. I wouldn't watch it again though.

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The Journey of the Pocket Watch

The Story
This drama is set during the Republican era—a turbulent time in China when ordinary people were faced with limited choices, uncertainty, and difficult decisions. The director has done an excellent job in creating a realistic portrayal of that period, supported by a well-written script that thoughtfully explores the political climate of the time. The inclusion of romance helps to soften the heaviness of the historical and societal themes.

The life stories of three generations are anchored around the old Lin family home, which evolves over time from a residential house to a hospital and later to a fabric factory that doubles as a residence. The romance of three generations of women in the Lin family, spanning from the 1930s to the 1990s, begins with Lin ShiYun, the granddaughter of the Lin family. After studying abroad and becoming a gynecologist, she returns to China with modern thinking and a bold spirit. She challenges her family’s traditional views and navigates the troubles caused by her irresponsible, gambling brother. Lin ShiYun is a strong-willed, clear-headed, and courageous woman—her personality is very likable. Once she sets her mind on something, she is determined to see it through.

I haven’t watched many dramas featuring Jelly Lin, and her performances usually didn’t captivate me. However, in this role as ShiYun, she truly fits the character and made me believe in her.

She meets Cheng Ao, a gangster lawyer played by Ryan Cheng. Though raised in a family with gangster roots, Cheng Ao was educated abroad and upholds patriotic values passed down by his adoptive father. He is the male lead in the first arc—a righteous, intelligent, and principled man who complements ShiYun’s strong personality perfectly. Ryan Cheng shines in this role, and I believe it’s his best performance to date, especially compared to his other recent leading roles in two major “S” Wuxia/Xuanhuan productions.

The first arc tells the story of Cheng Ao and Lin ShiYun finding love amid political turmoil, staying true to their beliefs, and making difficult life choices. They are among the lucky ones who survive the war and migrate overseas. I thoroughly enjoyed their romance—it felt inspiring and meaningful.

The second arc begins from episode 12 and centers on YiYi, ShiYun’s niece, who is deeply influenced by her aunt’s worldview. YiYi is widowed at a young age and faces discrimination from a conservative society. Her quiet, non-confrontational nature makes her a target of prejudice, but with determination and resilience, she finds her voice and love again. YiYi pursues her passion for clothing design and eventually thrives in the fashion industry. Her romance with a Communist Party minister, Wen Pu (played by Liu YiJun), is touching and layered with social tension. As always, Liu YiJun delivers a solid performance.

YiYi is portrayed by Tong Yao, an up-and-coming actress who feels very natural in this role. Although the second arc takes time to pick up—partly due to YiYi’s withdrawn personality—her quiet strength and artistic soul grow on you. As you begin to understand her grief and emotional depth, you can’t help but empathize with her and even wish that others would leave her alone. The side characters are frustrating at times, but they serve as realistic representations of the extreme ideological views present during early Communist China. The second arc concludes in episode 21, highlighting the hardships faced by YiYi and Wen Pu.

The final romantic arc follows YiYi’s granddaughter, Ye XiNing, whose love story begins with a chance encounter with schoolteacher Xiang BeiChuan. After being falsely accused and losing her job, XiNing’s journey is about rebuilding her career and discovering love. Among the Lin women, she is probably the most unlikable at first—impulsive, dramatic, and outspoken. However, she is also hardworking, resilient, and maintains a positive outlook. From working in a small jean factory to running an international clothing business, her growth is admirable.

XiNing and BeiChuan are complete opposites: she is loud, emotional, and blunt, while he is quiet, cautious, and principled. At times, it’s easy to feel sympathy for BeiChuan as XiNing’s dominating personality overwhelms him. But their romance grows as they work through misunderstandings and eventually commit to each other. Spoiler: this couple is the only one we see getting married on-screen.

A beautiful touch in the story is the symbolic passing of a pocket watch—from Cheng Ao to Lin ShiYun, then to YiYi, and finally to XiNing—representing the passage of time and the enduring values passed down through generations.


My Thoughts on the Couples (CPs):

Many viewers came to this drama for Ryan Cheng, who only appears in the first arc (up to episode 11). I particularly liked his role here, so I wanted to share my thoughts on the romantic arcs:

CP1 – Cheng Ao & Lin ShiYun

Their story is about spontaneity, contrasts yet shared values, courage, and remaining true to one’s roots. It’s a tale of ordinary people becoming heroes in extraordinary times.

CP2 – YiYi & Wen Pu

This is a story of forbidden love and defying social norms. It highlights the limitations imposed by society, and the endurance needed to triumph over adversity.

CP3 – Ye XiNing & Xiang BeiChuan

Their romance shows how love can blossom under unlikely circumstances. It’s about opposites attracting, seizing opportunities, holding onto beliefs, and striving for success while staying grounded.

All three love stories are intricately woven into the fabric of time, each representing a different response to the challenges of their era.

There are many powerful and thought-provoking lines in the drama about relationships, choices, and the consequences of decisions made. I truly enjoyed this drama and hope that more people will come to appreciate its depth, storytelling, and emotional richness.

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a nice story about pure heart

The drama follows Tian Yao, a dragon spirit betrayed and left in pieces, and Yan Hui, a spirited young woman who stumbles into his quest to recover his dragon bones. What begins as a reluctant partnership evolves into an adventure of trust, healing, and romance.
Yan Hui becomes Tian Yao’s true “heart protection,” guarding him not just physically but emotionally, helping him heal from betrayal and loneliness.
this drama is about love Heart Protection as follow:
Second chances — even a betrayed dragon spirit can find trust again.
Healing romance — love as mutual protection rather than sacrifice.
Partnership — the FL is not a damsel; she actively shapes the journey.
During this journey, Yan Hui often risks herself to protect Tian Yao, and he, in turn, becomes her shield — emotionally and physically.
What amaze me is the test for a couple in order to get the book of ghostly theology, this test make yanhui reconsider what happened before.

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Ragebait or Masterpiece?

How do you even put it into words when you love and hate something at the same time? That’s exactly what this drama was for me. A 15 hours of pure ragebait that I couldn’t stop binge watching.

I loved the overall aesthetic of the show. The plot was well written, and I liked how it took us through every stage of the main leads’ lives while also touching on the stories of the supporting characters.

Now let’s talk about the second female lead (SFL). Whew. She drove me crazy. The way she treated the first female lead (FFL) was infuriating, and what made it worse was how the FFL just let it slide for so long. But then the second half hit, and the FFL finally clapped back. That shift was so satisfying.

The thing is, nobody in this drama is perfect. Everyone’s flawed, sometimes to the point where you want to throw your laptop, but honestly, that’s what gave it depth. The romance, too, was compelling. It carried that nostalgic spark of first love, and Kim Go Eun and Kim Gun Woo delivered outstanding performances. Still, like many first loves, theirs was imperfect and painful.

Now… I still don’t know how the FFL managed to forgive the SFL. Like, yes, she was sick, but after everything? Personally, I could never. That girl needed therapy, not endless passes to dump her issues on everyone else. But the show made a point both the FFL and SFL only got to where they were in life because of how much they pushed (and sometimes broke) each other. Messy, complicated, necessary. A frenemy arc that could only end the way it did.

By the end, I realized this drama mirrors the FFL and SFL’s relationship itself. Just like they couldn’t decide if they loved or hated each other, we might feel the same about the show. And honestly? That’s what makes it stick with you.

Would I recommend it? Yes… but also be ready to scream at your screen.

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It comes in at the right time in my life (I was facing transphobia..). I watch it in one sitting

A real queer story about acceptance, coming out and friendship.
"The pandora's box we could only open on the rooftop" what if I CRY?!!

They did really a great job on portreying queer people who struggle with their identity - even though I'm not a big fan of "they are homophobic because they are queer too" and "they bully you because they love you".

It's very japanese in the way they act, it's not bad, just a observation. I loved it.

If one day I'm too happy, i'll re-watch it to remember how sad life is.

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Troublesome misscommunication is the better title!

I really regret watching this drama!! It had so much potential..
The first 3 episodes were interesting but started to go downhill afterwards. yet I really hoped that the last episode makes it worthwhile but turns out it's just a frustrating shit show!

If you are here for romance, just run.. run far away from this mess.

ml's acting is stiff, fl is not bad.
they lack chemistry.
to be honest 2fl didn't fit the role. she did not look cute at all (considering how much emphasis was put on her cuteness).. her acting was meh as well.

without spoiling anything I could say that Some of the problems are rooted in fl's insecurity but ml's actions does leave room for assumptions!
If only the leads communicated....

the drama makes it look like fl is the problem with her insecurity and overthinking yet ignoring how ml's actions are as well a problem. (his actions are cheater-coded!)
why do they always keep fl in the dark? then blame her for becoming restless.
even when she voices her worries it doesn't get dealt with properly.

the drama title refers to a sentence that escalated the misunderstandings to the max! troublesome fiancee.. yet in my opinion their whole engagement was troublesome! not for them but for me! watching the painfully easy to solve issues turn into some big unsolvable problem. then blame it on fl!

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Marriage of convenience with great amount of spice, sweetness & emotional connection!

I came across this drama via subreddit CShortDramas. A member there wrote a glowing review of it so my interest was piqued. I wasn't familiar with the leads but upon checking I realised I had seen He Yi Ting before, in Zhang Shan - Cao Tian Kai first collab drama. I liked her in that drama. Anyway I enjoyed this drama a lot!

What I liked:
1. Romance - Damn, their first intimate encounter was 🔥 and the morning after was even hotter. It was obvious that ML was into FL from that scene. I enjoyed watching their multilayered relationship: boss-employee, husband-wife, secret couple. I was moved when FL admitted to liking ML - I wish ML had openly confessed to FL about his love for her.
2. Acting - Great performances by both leads and the actresses who played ML's grandma and FL's mother. I could see hands of ML's grandma trembled when she got the shocking news. I almost shed a tear. Also well done to actress who FL's mother for having a "meek" exterior but selfish and nasty personality.
3. Styling - I really liked the outfits for FL and ML. Thank you for not giving the conventional CEO outfits.
4. Main characters - Both of them were likeable. I liked FL because she stood up for herself when bullied. I understood her reason for wanting their marriage to be kept a secret. I liked ML too because he was exuded a cool, calm personality. His sulking moments cracked me up - it was endearing.
5. Supporting characters - I loved ML's grandma because she was wise & empathetic. I also liked FL's two close colleagues and ML's assistant. I didn't like Zhou Chen's persistence because it was harassment but he grew on me.
6. Storytelling - This drama covers tropes such as marriage of convenience, secret relationship, office romance. Plot wise nothing new but I enjoyed how the story progressed and concluded.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - I must say the biggest antagonist to me is FL's mother. She gave birth to her but was too gullible and stupid to listen to her husband and stepdaughter. Both of them were nasty. Bai Xin Xin is another typical antagonist - a delusional character who couldn't accept No.

Favourite scene
When FL told ML that she had started to like him

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A Beautifully Performed Story That Rarely Lets the Light In

This drama is undeniably well-made, with powerful performances and a gripping storyline but it’s not one that made me smile or laugh across its 12 episodes. Instead, it evoked a constant sense of fear, sadness, and unease about what might happen next. I found myself constantly hoping for even a glimpse of happiness for Ah Tang and Tang Yi Xun.

While I personally appreciated the drama for its talented cast especially Zhou Yi Ran and the lead actress the script felt overwhelmingly heavy. There should’ve been at least a sliver of light amidst all the darkness. Yes, Tang Yi Xun and Ye Hai Tang are each other’s rays of sunshine, and that was beautiful in itself. But as a viewer, I couldn’t shake the sadness I felt for them throughout.

Because of that, I wouldn’t rewatch this series or recommend it to anyone who prefers uplifting or light-hearted dramas. If you're already in a low mood, I’d suggest skipping this one. But if you're a fan of the lead actors, their performances might still make it worth watching.

That said, please remember this: “There will definitely be a ray of sunshine in your darkest moments.”

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A beautiful, compelling watch!

Many people would assume this drama is purely romance based on its synopsis or title. But nope! This drama has so much more to offer that you’ll forget the one thing where it fails in the romance department: an actual kiss scene.

Be Passionately In Love is a whole rounded show which I ended up loving despite the initial prejudice I had. Initially I stayed away from this drama because of the female lead’s alleged no-kissing clause, and I remember thinking to myself, “how could that be? one big aspect of this show is the physical intimacy between the main couple. not doing any kiss scene is a disrespect to the novel”.

But you know what? This drama worked for me! Maybe I’m just a sucker for young, pure love romance, or the amazing OSTs, or maybe it’s the convincing acting from Anyu/Haocun, or the lack of unnecessary toxicity from external factors. In any case, there’s many aspects about this show that tugged my heart.

I enjoyed the family dynamics in this show. It centred around compassion, forgiveness, acceptance. There was this scene where XZ looked at her father and noticed his white hairs, likewise there was a similar scene where CLZ noticed the same on his stepdad. They realized how their fathers were aging and decided to be more compassionate towards them. There was also this whole identity ordeal surrounding CLZ, and despite past conflicts or misunderstandings, he chose to let go of resentment and embraced it with compassion and forgiveness instead.

I also loved how this drama captured the essence of wholesome friendships without relying on unnecessary conflicts. Same thing could also be said for the relationship between XZ and CLZ. The talking or flirting stage in the beginning was fun, and witnessing how that casual connection transitioned to a deeper bond was mesmerizing to watch.

Another aspect that I appreciated from this drama was how inspirational it was. It featured a female lead who cared about her goals and not just her romance with the male lead. I love how it inspired me to wake up early (the FL wakes up at 4am!) and work hard to get what I want to achieve. Yes, XZ got a boyfriend at a young age but it did not make her forget her responsibilities to her studies. The FL worked hard to achieve everything she got. Even when she got together with the ML, she was still focused in her studies. One of my fave scenes was when XZ gave her speech in her high school at the end, saying:
“We can be insignificant, but we can also be great”
“As long as the sun rises, we will always have the future”
“In those rainy days, we can wring out our clothes. It can still go on”
“In the end, it is us who choose the world, and not the world that chooses us”

Having only 24 eps also means that this drama is not that long, which means there are little to no unnecessary side plots. Even if there is, e.g. side couple, they’re still interesting to watch.

Last but not the least, the acting of the leads was spectacular. I realized how Haocun was perfect to act as Xu Zhi. Her aloof yet soft hearted spot has been acted so well. She was great, but I still think that the real magic of why this drama worked for me was Anyu. He shined in this show! Anyu’s acting truly embodies CLZ – whether it’s joy, fear, love, doubts, longing – everything from his eyes to his body language feels natural and genuine.

Overall, this has been a compelling watch that combines emotional depth with stunning storytelling and visuals. It’s the kind that stays with you after the very last episode, not just for how it ended, but for what it made you feel in its entirety.

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Never thought I would be tempted into watching a drama like this

It was more focused on the Female leads struggles as she tries to leave her despicable cheating husband. The struggles were so beautifully and her relationship with the mistress was also an eyeopener.

The actors did a great job, making each moment worth the watch.

As much as I like it, I am not a fan of the direction the story took. Despite her trying handle things calmly, her trash of a husband tried to gaslight her and make it seem like it was all her fault. He even kidnapped their daughter who he rarely makes time for.

I wanted this to be more empowering for her but it lacked in that way.

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