Reviews

Incomplete / Rushed ending

The drama started off on a promising note, with an engaging premise and enough intrigue to pull viewers in. In the initial episodes, the pace felt lively and the story seemed to have the potential to deliver both heartfelt moments and engaging character development. However, as the episodes progressed, the excitement started to fade. By the end, the storyline had become repetitive and rather dull, making it difficult to stay invested.

One of the biggest letdowns was the chemistry or rather, the lack of it between the lead couple. Their interactions often felt flat, and instead of sparking excitement, their conversations dragged on to the point of becoming monotonous.
Surprisingly, the second lead story was much more engaging. Their arc carried more depth, warmth, and emotional pull than the main couple. Many viewers might find themselves more invested in the second leads than in the protagonists, which speaks volumes about the imbalance in storytelling.

Another major drawback was the unresolved plot regarding the four attorneys. A big part of the narrative involved their journey and struggles to secure a permanent position, yet by the conclusion, the show left this aspect hanging without closure. This incomplete development made the ending feel rushed and unsatisfying.

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Breaking Boundaries -The Untold Story of a Warrior Woman in The Legend of the Female General

The Legend of the Female General delivered a compelling and well-paced storyline with no stagnant moments something that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The plot was consistently engaging, although I’ll admit, it truly tested my anger management at times (in a good way!). The chemistry between the leads, Xiao and Yan, was undeniably strong. The female lead stood out with her incredible strength and presence her fighting skills exceeded expectations and added depth to her character beyond the typical romantic drama heroine. Xiao, the male lead, was also solid in his role. Although he rarely smiled even in scenes where it felt needed his love and affection were deeply conveyed through his eyes and subtle expressions, which made his performance emotionally resonant. The second male lead, however, felt weaker in comparison. His character came across as both greedy and lacking the strength or depth to be a true rival. That said, the supporting cast brought a lot to the table, adding richness and balance to the story as a whole. A major highlight was the soundtrack. The music was beautifully composed, with lyrics that perfectly matched the tone and emotional arc of the series. It really elevated the viewing experience. Overall, The Legend of the Female General was a satisfying watch with strong performances, gripping action, and emotional depth especially for fans of historical dramas with a powerful female lead.

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Short tale of love and sacrifices for one's happiness

I had saved this drama in my playlist for weeks but this morning decided to watch it because I was in the mood for something short. I was unfamiliar with Wang Jin but I liked Zhang Li Ren's acting. This drama is different from the typical Chinese vertical dramas I have seen. I wonder what was in the writer's mind when they wrote the screenplay.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - There was character development in ML. He was a miserable man who later received "a guardian angel" in the form of FL. He was silly to entertain requests from bai yue guang but learned the truth and tried to win FL's heart.
2. Acting - I liked Wang Jin & Zhang Li Ren's performance.
3. Opening - Captivating enough for me to finish the whole drama.
4. Ending - Wow, I didn't expect it to end like that.
5. Reality hits - I loved it when the maid scolded ML for being so oblivious of FL's treatment towards him.

What I disliked:
1. Misery - So much misery in this drama. ML & FL felt miserable at one point of their lives.
2. Relationship - The moment Yunli met Yanchen was short but meaningful. I wish there was explanation in the past.

Favourite scene
When FL & ML had fun spending time together

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More like, Thousand Reasons of Regret

With its decent MDL rating and a poster that practically twins Money Is Coming, I walked into this drama expecting a fantasy-romance feast. What I got instead was a buffet of kisses trying to cover up a plot that barely showed up. The premise—immortal love, demon realm politics, and celestial drama—had potential, but the execution felt like someone forgot to include a story arc between the smooches.

After watching him in My Decoy Bride, Yu Xuan Chen holds his own again. He’s charming, and the pairing with the female lead is visually sweet, and the romance is abundant. But every kiss feels like a distraction tactic, an attempt to keep viewers invested while the narrative flounders. The drama leans heavily on over-the-top theatrics—blood-spitting, anguished stares, dramatic proclamations—as if those alone could manufacture the emotional weight the story fails to deliver. Spoiler: they don’t.

The villains are laughably one-dimensional. Their schemes are predictable, their motives paper-thin, and they might as well have been drawn with crayons. They deserve each other, and honestly, the whole “celestial politics” subplot collapses under their petty antics. Any tension evaporates faster than a phoenix tear, leaving you wondering why anyone bothered scheming at all.

In the end, this drama is all style and romance, little substance. Gorgeous costumes, plenty of smooches, and moments of charm can carry it so far—but if you were here for story or stakes, consider this a reincarnation lesson in disappointment.

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It's good but could be great if GMM-TV had some nerve

It's excellent to see Great and Sarin in a series that truly showcases their talents. Memoir of Rati is a series that truly deserves more recognition. It's a very interesting story but unfortunately something is missing.

I love the chemistry between Great and Sarin and they're excellent actors, but the characters are very shallow here.

For a story with the depth and impact of a romance between two men from different nations in an era where such a relationship would be scandalous, to say the least, the script never manages to create the tension or the feeling of a forbidden romance.

The characters lack personality; they're there but they barely add any impact to the plot. They begin and end the series the same way. Rati could be a spoiled and arrogant boy sent to Siam as punishment by his father. Thee could be a man full of charm and dreams that conflict with his image and what his grandmother wants him to be.

But what we have here is a very subtle romance, a very peaceful narrative and characters who simply accept their status quo. Thee has an interesting arc and I like the conflict between him and his grandmother but there's no interesting development there.

The supporting couple works well and while they don't have any big moments, it's great to see Aou and Boom get more screen time and decent development.

It's a fun series, it's light, it has great moments but it lacks emotion. It's all very dull and I miss a greater depth. It lacks conflicts that take the characters out of their comfort zones, it lacks more elaborate cinematography that captures the beauty built there, it lacks courageous direction that can bring out more expressive performances that embody emotion.

Rati's departure for France and his return five years later is an example of this. This should be an impactful and moving scene but it's so boring and predictable with weak dialogue that doesn't convey any feeling.

And I'm really tired of GMM-TV's pattern of adding time jumps at the end of its series and its lack of courage to tackle more serious topics or create more impactful stories.

It's certainly much better and superior to Wandee Goodday and is far from being a bad series but unfortunately, it's a series that borders on forgettable and lackluster.

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the 2ML actor kills in this role

Very good suspense, revenge drama. The FL was outstanding. I don't have time to go over every point, but you felt every single thing she felt. She cried, raged, loved, hated. Beautiful job. The FL and ML do not have a lot of chemistry between them, which is fine, maybe that really isn't the point. There's a lot of other things going on. ML character is pretty stiff. Again, maybe that's the writing. But the chemistry between FL and 2ML is on fire -- love, passion, hate, revenge. I'm a fan of the 2ml actor. In this role he exuded every emotion and flaw: love, passion, remorse, self loathing, evil. You never know where he is or if he's lying. At one point, because I clearly have deep-seated emotional issues and probably Stockholm syndrome, I kind of wanted 2ML to be able to repent and get forgiven by FL. Sadly, SPOILER ALERT
***
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Here it is below:

after you drug your wife, throw her in a pit, smash her face with a shovel and bury her alive, there's probably no coming back from that.

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an underrated cult classic

I honestly love this Thai GL series. There is always room for improvement, but there are so many qualities. For example, the actresses are gorgeous and do a swell job. Piano is the right fit playing Prey, her innocence comes through and the way she feels so deeply for Earl is relatable and moving! And Sprite playing Earl gives off a vibe of so unattainable and cold sometimes, and at times it shows how she's so sweet and caring towards Prey. Also, Sprite's single Stare at the moon (OST) is one of the best I've heard in a GL series. Overall, the story is beautiful and intricate, so it may take time to understand the relations between the characters, but when you get it, you only wanna watch it again. I've seen backlash from the public towards this GL but I appreciate it to the maximum, and in the future, maybe more people will also see what a hidden gem this is.

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The answer to the title: She's allergic to chemistry.

Transmigration and Chinese short dramas—name a more chaotic combo. It’s like every heroine has a punch card for reincarnation, but with barely enough runtime to unpack one lifetime, let alone two. This drama sets up a promising revenge plot with a reborn general, scheming royals, and a wedding night rewind. But the delivery? More ho-hum than high drama. The acting isn’t outright bad, but the chemistry between the leads is… well, not chemistrifying.

Wu Ming Jing as Qiu Yu looks like she’s emotionally clocked out. Whether her romantic partner is Brian Chang or a decorative pine tree, she barely spares either a glance. And considering they’re supposed to be the central couple, it gives major “I’m just here for the paycheck” energy. Meanwhile, Brian Chang’s Li Jian spends most of the runtime trying to convince himself that Qiu Yu is his wife. Either he can’t believe a general would marry him, or he’s too busy sulking about being the seventh prince instead of the first or second. All along maybe he's just wondering how many siblings had to mysteriously disappear before it was his turn at the throne.

Maybe Qiu Yu’s apathy is less about romance and more about survival. With a scheming stepmother and a sister who wants her dead, she spends most of her time reciting excuses (probably ripped from the “Tragic Heroine’s Bible”) for why she’s still entertaining the 2nd prince—even after his betrayal in a past life. The drama tries to paint this as noble, but it mostly feels exhausting.

By the end, Qiu Yu’s expression is permanently stuck in “let’s get this over with” mode. Unfortunately, so was mine. The drama had the bones of an intriguing palace saga, but the lack of spark, urgency, and emotional investment left me disengaged. If indifference were a love language, this couple would be soulmates.

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A Legal Drama with a Little Love on the Side

Having just finished watching Law and the City, and immediately going into Beyond the Bar, I couldn't help but compare the two. Except for a couple of areas, young junior lawyers figuring out their careers, and each episode bringing the viewer interesting legal cases, the two could not be more different.

The Beyond the Bar series brought a lot more of the personal lives into the storylines of the lawyers. So, we saw more of a total picture. It wasn't just their work. It was the impacts and influences of their personal lives as well. It also included more storylines of the senior lawyers and partners. While Law and the City had a relationship develop between two of the main leads and once that happened it faded into a small detail, BTB's love relationship developed between secondary characters which built over the episodes and cumulated in a proposal. It was nice. It was the romance the story needed. There was a hint of feelings between the two main leads, but in the end it led to nothing. I think because they had too much respect for each other to take the next step. I know a lot of viewers will probably be disappointed, but actually I didn't see them as a couple so I didn't mind that they didn't get together by the end. Surprisingly the last episode was everyone's analysis of what love is. Brought on by the case of a couple who married but agreed to no love and no sex. This case made everyone think about the reality of love and marriage in the modern age. There are so many good quotes during this part, so have a pen and paper ready. Sadly, many of these personal storylines really didn't develop much. I think they would have been a bigger part of the total story if it would have gone to 16 episodes.

The legal storylines are what made this series so good. The ins and outs of the law, the tension of defense versus prosecution, and the effects this has on human lives makes for good drama, and this series had plenty of it. Sometimes the legal side intersected with the characters personal lives interjecting even more drama and tension into the mix. But,there were dips in the energy, some slow parts, sometimes the episodes seem to follow a pattern week after week that got a tad monotonous, but all in all it was a good watch. I liked the characters and that brought me back every week. I also enjoyed seeing places in Seoul that I remember when I visited last year. It's amazing to me that one trip and so many Kdramas, how much I recognize places in Seoul. "Oh, that's Gangnam....that's Insadong....I remember walking in that alleyway in Itaewon." That's pretty much me talking to the TV during a Kdrama. It's a surprising connection I now have with Kdramas and it makes them that much more enjoyable.

Like Law and the City, which so many stated was a slow-burn series, I'm sure many will say the same with this one. And it is. But it was a good legal drama and I think if you give it a chance, you'll enjoy it.

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Beyond the interpretation of the law on emotional issues.

I loved every episode. It was very eloquent, and I thought it was well-written and well-crafted. I saw the intrigue surrounding each character throughout the story. I consider this one of those dramas that draws you in, surprises you, and ultimately makes you obsess.

It was enjoyable. They showed us interesting cases, and in a way, it felt refreshing. I wasn't bored. They emphasized that defense isn't just about defending, but also about a new way of seeing or interpreting what justice means. There are moments when you think you're guilty or innocent from a legal perspective, and when you look at it from a different angle, it's the opposite. Different ways to approach and resolve each case. Of course, in the end, it's the judges who decide, and their interpretation of the law shapes their final verdict.

Regarding Yuyin's villains and internal conflict, I found them somewhat bland.
The characters are wonderful, each with their own unique development and, of course, their own perspective on love and feelings.

I would have liked more episodes, but oh well, it is what it is. The quotes and messages conveyed were very comforting, very philosophical. The script was wonderful.

Although, personally, I would have loved to see some emotional development between the two main characters. A little more action, so to speak.

I loved the ending, an ambiguous outcome, and I find it refreshing. It didn't have the typical ending.

I actually watched it initially because of the potential romantic development between an older man and a younger woman, and that they would show some of that, but as I watched the episodes, I realized the series wouldn't focus on that. It would be more in-depth and analytical, as it turned out.

It would be great if there was a second season, but I think it probably won't happen. The ending was something like, "It ends here, period."

"Love is like a rainbow. You go from one color to another, but that doesn't mean the passion and love are over. It's just a new way of seeing this feeling." "Love begins with passion, then it becomes reality and ends in solidarity."

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A Ringing Phone Leads to an Interesting Mystery and a Sweet Love Story

To start this drama seemed a bit ridiculous. Why was the FL living her life as a mute when she could talk? And why was she secretly harassing and blackmailing her husband, the ML, when she could’ve simply ended their marriage if she didn’t want to be with him. Well as the story progressed it was quickly revealed that the situation wasn’t as simple as initially presented.

There were layers of reasoning behind the FL’s selective muteness, her arranged marriage to the ML and the incident that started the secretive harassment/blackmailing scheme. Of course in the mist of all the lies, crime and betrayal, love blossomed. The show had the usual trope that seems to be present in most k-dramas with the leads having known each other as children. During which time they formed a close bond of comfort and support.

The side stories and characters tied in perfectly to the main plot, and there was hardly any filler. Each episode moved the story along at a good pace. However, there were some questions left unanswered. Why did that special cell phone never need charging? Lol. Who was the ML’s mother? Did she abandon him at birth? Did his father take him from her by force and took measures to ensure she remained out the picture? Didn’t understand what the FL’s stepfather got out of covering up the murder of his son. What exactly did he get from the ML’s father that was worth covering up such a horrific crime? The ML claimed he’d been in love with the FL since forever, which is why he made sure she was the wife in his arranged marriage. And even claimed to have married her to free her from the “prison” that was her natal home. But then he is cold to her and treats her like she doesn’t exist until the harassment and blackmailing starts. His reason for being cold to her didn’t really track either.

Despite these questions, this was a really good series. There were a lot of unexpected and interesting twists. The acting was good and the leads had great chemistry. The ending was the best. It was wonderful to see them get their HEA, after all they’d been through.

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Not the straight grandfather

I already dislike these body-swapping plots but here they turn the story into something so strange that it's hard to really root for them.

The fact that he falls in love with Zefang's grandfather is hilarious. There were so many paths the series could have taken, but they choose one that really doesn't work.

The actors have excellent chemistry and it's an easy-to-watch series. The short episodes keep the series from dragging but the story doesn't really go anywhere.

I really dislike Xia Cha; he's an older, more mature man, but for some reason he acts incredibly innocent and completely unaware of the world.

There are some interesting moments, but overall it doesn't work very well. The whole plot with the grandfather creates a strangeness that the series can't shake.

Which is disappointing because the actors look excellent together.

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exceeded expectations

Why I started this drama...
I started this show with low expectations. I wasn't a fan of the main leads, and the cover photo + intro sounded cheesy....
Also, I did not enjoy the life of the general's daughter that was playing slightly before with the same main actor and a story of a general woman.... LOGD seemed shallow....so I was skeptical about this one too!!! however, shadow love's story sounded a bit original and the comments here encouraged me to start!

-Characters:
strong & real FL characters are hard to portray in dramas, they are rare but I think this show hit the mark. Not only did they hit the mark for the general Shuang, but also for the ML Janan/ Annan who was brillantly portrayed too.

Also, this is a show that really puts the ML and FL on the spot with their acting, I am glad they were on a production team where their chemistry, lines, expressions, development... all lined perfectly for a great result. ML had a really challenging role as there is the infamous "memory loss" trope, but he did it flawlessly!! i think this show is among the ones that played amnesia best!! well done!

all characters were very wholesome, bold, raw , credible and well played! (even the villains! ) and for me it's often a winning formula.

-Storyline:
the story moved fast in the first episodes but then it slows A LOT. it's in this big lump that character development happens. so I can't complain!! this show did not skip on showing the scenes that matter, unlike other shows who only tell or skip the little elements that truly make a story "genuine" "believable" and help us connect with the storyline.

I loved the incorporation of magic that was not over the top. just enough. I loved that we weren't given the clues of how that magic works and that it doesn't make the center of the story as much as we'd expect iitially. Which is great because sometimes obsessing with the magic rules/problem often ruins a story and makes it too melodramatic.... so points for making a great balance on that! Also, it wasn't a story that was meant to be tooo complicated, just enough. it was mostly a love story, and the title is brutally honest.

this story doesn't feel rushed, but I did feel like most episodes were like an epilogue and the main story actually happens in the last 10 episodes.

-Production:
While some scenes have very minor execution discrepancies, the actual execution of the story, script, costumes, lighting, etc... was well done. it shows that the production team had fun making this drama. special kudos to the music ( while sometimes it was a bit much, i really enjoyed the electrifying beat that matched the character's energy!)

It's one of these stories where i will miss seeing these characters interact with each other in the most wholesome way. even for the most mundane things!

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