Reviews

a beautiful and healing masterpiece

The growth. The realizations. The love. The sacrifices. The friendship. The brotherhood. The love for the sport. This series tackled so much and was able to give justice to everything.

From the love of the sport billiards. To the family and brotherhood/sisterhood built from the sport as well. The story perfectly woved all these together.

And can I just gush at the level of whipped the male main character is from the get go? The weekend 14hr commute just to spend a couple of moments with her- and this is just a couple of weeks after they’ve met. His love for food and his reasoning for it and why he sees that as a perfect way to bond. It’s just so heartwarming!

I also want to give props to the honest and reliable bond that both main characters have with each other. It isn’t flashy. BUT it is the kind that feels home. Their relationship feels like the warm cup you need during winter. The blanket you need at night. It honestly just feels like the perfect company you need on any season in your life- it feels like that because it’s exactly the way they also portrayed it!

The romance was alrady top notched. Definitely 100/100! Adding the brotherhood, the supportive and loving family, this just made this series a billion times better.

The brotherhood itself needs its own paragraph because his friends never gave up on him. Even when they are on opposing teams or cities represented they both still made a truce to make sure that their long time friend was/is okay. They made sure he goes back to where he truly belongs. I mean that kind of bond and love is just insanely heartwarming! His bestfriend even went and lived to a different country just to be with him- that kind of loyalty is on a different level! This series is just so beautiful! It makes me want to tear up nonstop!

Honestly, to anyone who’ll ever read this. Watch it. It’s such a healing show.

PS. The music is also so freaking fantastic I need it as my ringing tone!

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Good idea and message, awkward realisation

The idea of this drama was a good one... in short, showing what virtual reality can offer meanwhile, and showing, what it definitely can't offer.
While everything in a virtual reality is hyper-perfect, hyper-glaring, hyper-cheezy and hyper carefree, in the end, it's meaningless, hollow, empty and unfulfilling. Only the real deal is that - the real deal with real emotions, real joy, but also real danger of getting hurt. So far, so good.

The realisation of this drama did lack in several aspects though. Contrary to many others I do not think it was Jisoo's acting, I even think she did comparably good in this one (and don't really undertand why she gets bashed so much when there - at least in my opinion - are a ton of educated actresses who are acting way worse, but anyways)

What this one lacked is realistically showing that significant difference between virtual realities and real life emotions.
The whole relationship between the FL and the ML, which only started in episode 6, came totally out of nowhere. Full five episodes before there was not even a hint the ML had only remote interest in the FL - no, not even hidden, also not hidden in obvious bickering, it was just non-existent. So when the ML suddenly confesses to the FL, it seems (and that is the bad thing especially in that storyline) like another artificial, cheesy line, not fitting reality - just like in the virtual reality programes the FL visited before. Accordingly, the following interaction between the FL and ML feel - totally unreal, staged, like some lines learned before a play. Also Seo In-guk, (who in former dramas ('The smile has left your eyes'!!) proved he is a fantastic actor, especially if it comes to real life drama) couldn't safe this, the writing and directing was just not good enough.

So, unfortunately this did not deliver, while the idea and basic storyline where interesting and had a good message.

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Did a marathon watch and it was awesome

I expected something more lighter than this but in fact the comedic parts are what made the drama more lighthearted. The device usage is like a combo of 3 Black Mirror episodes which I've watched but I forgotten the titles; 1. The virtual game where players can feel and taste everything 2. Subscriptions about personal life that needs monthly renewal or the person will feel lost 3. Where actors can go in to movies and relive the scenes like they're real.

FL has chemistry with everyone, and when she dislikes someone it's really felt; she doesn't like the guy she met from dinner and it feels distance between the two. So this really made us feel connected to her and her 'boyfriends'.

Really love the seamless writing of her ex and the boyfriends too, though she might not need the device if he didn't shows up with marriage news. She went from being curious to getting addicted to it, which was neatly explained with consequences and what her view on it.

Main couple love story is really really cute. Wish they had shown more. Think this is what they missed out on since the virtual bf looks like him, they forgot to give them more of their own moment with dialogues. However in general it was well put together. Truly enjoyed this that I had to leave comment since idk the last time I havent drop drama or romcom half way in..

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A Cozy Rom-Com That Feels Like a Magical Dating Game

Positive Points

- Classic romantic comedy formula that works very well. The series feels light, sweet, and entertaining.
- Very funny. Almost every date made me laugh genuinely, which is rare for me since my sense of humor is usually quite limited.
- Soft and cozy aesthetic. The pastel color palette and overall atmosphere make the show feel warm and comforting.
- The virtual reality concept works well. At first it feels strange, but the progression—from curiosity, to addiction, to hesitation about paying for the subscription—feels very realistic. I could easily imagine myself reacting the same way.
- The “dating videogame” upgrade after paying the subscription was adorable. The world becomes much cuter and more immersive, which adds to the charm of the series.
- The series stays very focused on the virtual reality aspect. Compared to other dramas with similar elements, it feels more coherent and consistent in how it uses that concept.
- Very strong feminine energy. The wardrobe scenes reminded me of a nostalgic videogame I used to play as a child where you dressed Barbie for different situations. Sometimes Mi-rae even uses the device just to try on outfits, which made the world feel playful and girly.
- Relatable emotional theme. Mi-rae’s dream of finding the perfect man is something many girls have experienced at some point, but the drama also gently reminds us that perfection doesn’t really exist.
- Well-written male lead. He is decisive, attentive, respectful, and romantic in a balanced way. Very cute without being exaggerated.
- Good acting overall.
- Unique romantic tone. I’m usually not a fan of overly cheesy romantic dramas, but this one feels different.
- It gives me strong Yumi’s Cells vibes. Not because the stories are the same, but because both explore dating in a deeper and more emotional way.
- The atmosphere is cozy and comforting. Mi-rae’s house is also very cute and aesthetically pleasing.
- The ending exceeded my expectations. The final scenes were beautiful and satisfying.
- For me, it is the best K-drama of 2026 so far.

Negative Points

- One small plot hole. The male lead’s face appearing in Mi-rae’s virtual date didn’t make much sense. Unless he had previously sold his image to the company as a model, the explanation feels unclear.

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Pursuit of Jade: When a Fake Marriage Feels More Real Than Real Life

🎬 Quick Take
🔹 Only 7 episodes have aired at the time of this review.
🔹 My standard for rating a drama is simple: writing, directing, and acting are the core.
🔹 For me, all three aspects already clicked by episode 7, so this is my honest first impression: 9/10.
🔹 Even so, I always think you should watch it yourself and see how the story, performances, and style feel for you.
🔹 If that sounds like your cup of drama tea, dive in.
🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes

💚 Why You Might Like It
🔹 You want a warm, romantic historical drama featuring a strong couple: a grounded butcher-shop heroine and a fallen marquis hiding his past, along with an unforgettable soundtrack.

📕 Overview
🔹 40 episodes, historical romance
🔹 Adapted from the novel "Zhu Yu" (逐玉) from Jinjiang
🔹 Zhang Ling He plays Xie Zheng, a fallen marquis living under an assumed name.
🔹 Tian Xi Wei plays Fan Chang Yu, a butcher's daughter who loses her family and is determined to become the head of her own household, butcher's knife in hand.
🔹 The story begins when they are brought together by fate, each with their own agenda, and enter a marriage of convenience that slowly shifts toward real feelings.
🔹 At the time of this review, 7 episodes have aired.

🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 It felt like entering a story where both leads are emotionally and physically present, and the fake marriage is sweet, funny, and gradually grows deeper without rushing.
🔹 What stood out to me early was the heroine's background as a butcher's daughter. Instead of a sheltered noblewoman, she feels practical and used to working with her hands, which gives the drama a more down-to-earth tone.
🔹 The atmosphere is romantic and emotional, showing village scenes alongside signs that war and old grudges
🔹 Themes: partnership, loyalty, war, family, duty, revenge, healing

✨ Cast & Acting
🔹 Zhang Ling He plays Xie Zheng, a war hero in hiding. Around Fan Chang Yu, he reveals a different side of himself.
🔹 Tian Xi Wei as Fan Chang Yu: She feels like someone you might meet in the market, practical and capable, able to work with her hands while also carrying the emotional heart of the story.
🔹 Supporting characters, including her family and neighbors, add warmth and humor while showing the social and political pressures they face.

🎵 OST 🎵
🔹 Careful with Fate (我对缘分小心翼翼) by JJ Lin
🔹 I Searched For Him A Thousand Times in the Crowd (众里寻他千百度) by Zhang Bi Chen

🎞️ Production Style
🔹 One of the drama’s biggest strengths is the cinematography. The director and team create scenes that feel beautiful and atmospheric. Each setting has its own visual style.
🔹 Fight scenes are clear and easy to follow, with steady camera work that highlights key moments without becoming chaotic.
🔹 Visual effects such as snow, embers, and battlefield dust support the mood of each scene.
🔹 Costumes match each character’s role and background, so you can understand who they are at a glance.

☕ Tea Notes

🌟 What worked:
🔹 A couple where both leads are strong and feel like equals.
🔹 The marriage of convenience is slowly moving toward a real partnership, and they already look like they belong side by side.
🔹 The director’s cinematography choices.
🔹 The butcher shop background and a heroine who carries a knife to protect herself and her loved ones, not just to cook.

🌟 What did not:
🔹 Some early scenes run a bit long, and I still wish the female lead could stay a simple, ordinary girl without too many extra "secret" hints.
🔹She is already interesting enough.

☕ SpillTheDramaTea's Rating: 9/10

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Not quite right

Let's be honest. I loved this at first - well, maybe love is a too strong a word. It was a breath of fresh air after struggling to watch a bunch of shows. That is until the writing kept going downhill. The acting and music didn't help.

Don't get me wrong, they're good actors but I feel like they've been used wrong. I feel like if the director had directed them better the show would have been a lot better.

As for the story... Ugh. It was good and it had potential but seriously, they should have done another draft of the script. The "real" moments felt theatrical. Nothing felt real. As I kept watching I began to become less and less immersed. I started skipping scenes... and soon found myself using the arrow button too much (to skip scenes).

It had potential. The costumes, idea, and sets are all great it's just a mess. It's a shame.

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No chemistry, no stakes. She's powerful yet she needs saving from a man. Embarassing

Wondering how you can take an interesting concept and give it the blandest execution? Look no further.

They do nothing with the gumiho tale that is embodied in two characters.

The series is a string of side-quests that vaguely bring the protagonists closer together. I say vaguely because we don't learn anything about them. Their previous life has no bearing in how they're dealing with their situation currently. They feel like empty vessels in aesthetically pleasing (according to korean beauty standards) faces. They should be passionate, hold grudges, carry the wisdom of a lucrative career (Si Yeol) and hundreds of years on earth (Eun Ho). Instead they move as though they're born yesterday and are forced to interact.

Both these actors have given decent performances before (Kim Hye Yoon in Ectraordinary You and Lovely Runner and Lomon in Branding in Seongsu) so it's not their fault. It's the writer's responsibility to construct a story that makes sense and that makes us root for them.

I feel bad leaving such a low rating, because compared to other series that are actively harmful in their messaging, this one was just meh. But it had promise and everything going for it, so the fact that it didn't deliver is a true letdown.

P.S. If you're gonna have a superhuman FL, don't ruin it by making her need saving. that's a slap in the face to the audience. learn to write meaningfully.

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There's one missing

I wasn't going to write about this, but, as usual, I can't shut up.

Other people have talked about how badly DID was represented, I agree and don't have much to add to that, except that you can't cure mental illness with "romantic love" and pushing that idea could stigmatise an already stigmatised condition and other mental health conditions by extent. I do know that shows have some creative liberty and the Cinderella DID, which switches at midnight, is a bit nonsense enough to maybe not be taken as a norm by people who don't know about the illness, but you never know.

You don't need to do a disservice to mentally ill people if you want to talk about the multiple facets women can have within themselves and how not all of them should be accepted and loved. It's a bit sad that, to show the multidimensionality of women, you need to make it into an illness that then is cured by love or whatever. It also raises the question of having to be healed to be deserving of love. People with mental illnesses are capable of having a love life and people who love them, even if they can't be cured.

What I really have to talk about is the sex trafficking apology. It is pushed as sex work, a personal decision for adults kind of thing when, in fact, that's not the reality. While trying to show the reality of sex work to the character, they ended up showing propaganda that has serious consequences in real life. I'm not a prude, it's not about sex or the individual right to sell whatever part of the body the person wishes to. Usually, we tend to see the individual stances, instead of the systemic forces and consequences behind it. They referenced sex work as a driver for tourism in Thailand as if that is a good thing. We all know (or should know) about passport bros and how problematic they are in Asia and other countries with high wealth gaps. It's an industry of exploitation, trafficking that doesn't just involve adult women or men (who usually come from poverty), it often involves children. Portraying sex tourism in a positive light is being compliant and complicit in the abuse of women and children. The FL does push the point that if people had other choices in life, they wouldn't chose that path. It's sad the show decided to push personal choice, instead of talking about the system that makes people choose this path or be thrown in these circles of abuse and trafficking by their family at an age when they can't consent. Not all money is welcome, not all money develops countries and classes in the same way or even in a desirable and healthy way. And we can't keep reducing systemic problems to choice and "girl bossism". There needs to be a social responsibility other than "money good" and "individual choice". We should, above all, protect the children. Promoting sex tourism is promoting the abuse of children.

About the show, it was ok. The actors were good, the cinematography fantastic, as per usual.

I might stop watching these type of shows because I have to turn off my brain to enjoy them and that doesn't happen very often, the cinematography alone isn't motive enough to get me to watch a story. There are so many parts that don't make sense, but I'll talk about the ending. It doesn't make sense to me that she asks Sun which one she should be, especially when she is Marnmok. It doesn't make sense to me that being cured means she sticks to one personality and not a 6th one who represents the unity of them all, since they are all her. It also doesn't make sense to me that Sairung, the "pretty and sexy" one, is the one who remains - it shows the shallowness of Asian beauty standards. The personality who had the most time with Sun (and with us) was Marnmok, she was the one who truly drove him to make an effort to become a better self and develop himself as a person, alongside herself. They both grew together. There's more history with her than with the other personalities, there's also friction and more of what being in love is about. With the others it's all more shallow and fleeting.

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VIEWERS CHALLENGED TO RETHINK & REFEEL THEIR ATTITUDE TO SCAPEGOATING

Below is my evaluation of themes & techniques found at a closer observation in the C-drama “The Journey of Chong Zi.”

TEST ON AUDIENCE
The main theme is the condemnation of scapegoating of an innocent girl who grows into a femme fatale by force of her environment’s warped perception of who she potentially is.

There are countless works on this subject-matter. Here, however, the authors manage to… split the audience. The tool is the creation of a beautiful heroine endowed with weaknesses & provoking viewers to utilise these. Just like the candidates for the sect have to jump from rock to rock to reach the shore or fall into the abyss, we also pass or fail a test of humanity.

Viewers who have had similar life experience and/or empathy, relate to Chong Zi, treating her shortcomings as a secondary matter. Having experienced or envisioned fight for survival & loneliness among the crowd, you are prone to understand her quirks are either scars or self-defence responses. Her appetite is the reflex to years of hunger. The habit of tugging at clothes is despair to keep someone engaged. Even the fact that she is not eager to learn is related to thwarted hopes for any investment in herself to start paying off. She has not quit the survival mode, her PTSD. Her persistence in honesty is proof of a strong will. She even avoids white lies & thus deserves a better love than Luo Yin Fan’s, who keeps her misinformed. Her resilience at the difficult age of puberty is simply astounding.

Viewers who fail to see these psychological mechanisms see a troubled & troublesome individual, with underdeveloped social skills & unsteady emotionality. Some will stop at this. Some will find her defencelessness as an opportunity to project their atavistic deficiencies (easy target). Earnestly, do they not resemble Sima Miao Yuan, Ting Xue, Min Yun Zhong or the baozi thief lyncher?

FLATNESS VS ROUNDNESS + VACILLATION
For disambiguation: a flat character is one who remains unchanged; a round character evolves. Main characters tend to be round, but it is not a prerequisite. Flatness is not inferiority: it can denote a timely selection of the right path. Flat ones serve as points of reference, but can be fully-fledged too.

Most characters entrench themselves in obsessions, incl. Luo Yin Fan. He undergoes improvements as the master of the reincarnated Chong Zi, responding to her desire to start eating well, granting her more freedom. However, he clings to insincerity. The first & only radical change happens in the last episode, as he decides to revoke his overprotection & sacrifice himself. Worth noting is the way he accumulates thoughts before a short utterance & how decisive his protective movements are. Zhuo Hao & Qin Ke soon pick up this feature.

The most solid personality is Qin Ke’s. He seeks to appease every conflict; if mediation has no effect, he takes the blame on himself. He exudes doubtless pureness, unlike the volatile Mu Yu or the mercurial Zhuo Hao. Qin Ke’s exaggerated modesty might partly result from Deng Wei’s awareness of viewers’ reception of an earlier drama, “Miss the Dragon,” where his vivid rendering of a supporting role outshone the whole cast: here, he seems to be restricting himself, leaving room for Xu Zheng Xi’s character to bloom. Thus a modest, self-restrained character emerges, serving others & refraining from being served. His reincarnation in the extra episode might be a tribute to his pillar-like consistency.

The roundest characters are Wan Jie & Zhuo Hao. Life forces them into attitudes foreign to their natures. Also Dragon King, Leng Wan Li & Yin Shui Xian are round. Wang Yue turns out to be exceptionally responsive for a villain.

Chong Zi goes beyond the flat-round paradigm. A frantic pendulum, lost between the opposite forces, trying to adopt but rejecting. This vacillation accelerates to disorientation & exasperation. It deliberately gives us a taste of pain such friction must cause.

POTENCY OF MORAL CONCESSION
Moral concession is commendable, its improper use is destructive. Observing Luo Yin Fan’s adamant protection of Chong Zi with an inherent demon element, our heart feels right, but our logic cries for caution.

Instances of misdirected or excessive concession abound. The authors display special tenderness towards Demons’ world, except Wang Yue’s attendant.

Demon agents among Immortals, Yan Zhen Zhu & Mu Yu, repetitively seek to expose Chong Zi to the contact with the demonic objects, murder an innocent person to frame the heroine & force her environment to break the last bond with her. Yet she keeps treating them with trust.

Immortal Min Yun Zhong crowns his lifetime of hypocrisy with a heroic death. Yu Du’s blind loyalty calls for punishment – instead, he survives to usher next generations into the new order.

Being or becoming a mortal is viewed as more meritorious & enhancing chances of survival. When Chong Zi & her master meet the notorious village bully, they talk generously to him, show support. Ting Xue is allowed to survive. Sima Miao Yuan gets violently mutilated in a way C-drama generals do. She is granted a possibility to execute herself & earns Qin Ke’s compassion.

Goodness or neutrality do not pay off – we witness the tragedy of the benevolent Zhuo Yun Zhi, the ‘converted’ Wan Jie, the withdrawn Dragon King & his spouse. Unmerited concession is granted to men’s possessiveness in courting: Luo Yin Fan, Mu Yu & the early Zhuo Hao.

In this unfair world, Chong Zi is equipped late (upon her desperate request) with rudimentary knowledge & a blunt weapon, victim to her inborn disposition, difficult childhood, overprotection, abuse, her inconsistency & inaptitude to learn.

TESTING THE DOOM’S LIMITS
Both main characters recklessly flirt with doom. Luo Yin Fan naively leaves his beloved one in prison & even lets her experience twice the same ordeal with hooks. He gives the reincarnated apprentice the same name. He welcomes the unknown red snake. He does nothing to trace agents.

Chong Zi shifts between the opposite camps, believing each time to be accepted. She disregards signs, e.g. Wang Yue’s repeated assertions of being a good man. She discards orders & friendly advice by Luo Yin Fan, Wan Jie & Zhuo Hao. She forgets to check on Hong Dou, then on Qin Ke. She takes oaths too lightly: ‘pinky swear’ with Qin Ke, assertions to stay home, even public declaration to fight on the Demon side. Wang Yue’s incredible leniency lets her break this promise & elope from the altar; no punishment comes from other Demons.

VARIOUS WAYS TO MATURITY
Two sets of modes of adolescence can be detected. Chong Zi gains hard lesson as an orphan, then takes a step back under an overpotective master. Reincarnated & introduced into a decent Wen family, she grows more ladylike, but the ‘demon scent’ makes her reach the same quicksand as an earlier uncouth findling.

As an opposite, Zhuo Hao sets off at a great advantage. He disrespects his father & will not share his aunt’s considerate disposition. Little does he realise how hurtful his behaviour must be to Chong Zi, for whom human wilfulness used to be daily bane. His maturity comes with unrequited love, loss of his father & the vicissitudes of the universe indifferent to his splendid self.

The 9th princess Sima Miao Yuan is prepossessed with the snobbish assertion of her alleged experience & moral qualifications – but proves locked in a state of conceited puerility so intense as to pose danger to herself & others.

As an opposite, the prince Qin Ke evades his parents’ support, relying on his own development. When Sima Miao Yuan’s parents lose power, he provides solace. Though not enjoying her presence, he acts brotherly & discreetly.

THE ESSENCE OF HOME
An interior is an important home-making factor. Chong Zi’s first home ever is exquisitely furnished, with bright woodwork, sunlight, comfy bed & rich library. There is no kitchen, but the resolute girl turns an incense burner into a stove to prepare a koi fish.

The Demon home is surprisingly liveable, with elevated aesthetics & functionality, flowers, figurines & fancy bed. This reflects the oddly welcoming nature of this realm: even intruders are treated like guests, given kind directions.

An ambivalent interaction between Chong Zi & her kidnapper ‘uncle’ turns the arid, crushing Land of Tribulation into home.

OBJECTIFICATION OF MEN… & MORE
This inherent flaw of C-dramas is also here. A crowd of suitors serves as proof of the heroine’s value. But also of her master, chosen among such valiant rivals.

Women are also targets: the allegedly upright sect leaders make use of Gong Ke Ran as a living bait (her uncle among them), like hunters do to female birds.

Chong Zi keeps hearing 3rd-person remarks from the Immortals, meant to question her capability of thinking, feeling, deciding for herself. Though at times they seem to accept her cleverness, charm & sharp tongue, it is a patronising attitude. Let us add the suitors’ careless language: ‘silly girl,’ ‘ugly girl.’

GLITCHES & FLAWS
- Mortals scarcely shown. The motive of a promising mortal sect Fusheng drops.
- Disregard for countrymen. Two negative comparisons by main characters.
- Forgotten demon creatures (cat, snake) or objects (Kunlun incense, fruit lantern).
- Convention taken for granted. Viewers expected to know that C-drama Immortals are generally hypocrites. That postpones their understanding of the discrepancy between the sect rules (no violence, even revenge) & their behaviour (scheming, human sacrifice, judging a priori, no intention evaluation, little use of Yu Du’s predicting capabilities).
- Selecting a young actor for the ‘uncle’ (Gao Han should urgently be cast in a major protagonist role soon).

APPEAL
The world is not likely to shake off its obsession with questionable beauty standards soon. Believing that Asian cultures attach importance to the ‘face’ as an ultimate value, please keep C-drama free from the unnecessary plastic surgery and tweakments.

Written by a nationless spirit confined in the decaying Mid-Europe.

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