Reviews

this drama did insane things for the bl industry

Genuinely just as impressed with the entire show second time around. The acting is actually insane, the cinematography and special effects are incredible; the only thing that brings it down is the writing every so often. I agree with what oomf said about their mom being alive and the back and forth on what’s the truth and what’s not. It just felt overwhelming at some points. They very easily could’ve wrapped it up a different way without their mom being alive and it wouldn’t have made a difference.

PORSCHE YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING like genuinely one of the best written characters ive come across in a good while. Every scene he was in i was captivated and glued to the screen. Apo you’re truly incredible.

Tankhun seems like he was such a fun character to portray. There’s so much you can do and improvise with and the actor did an amazing job at that. Made for entertainment when it was otherwise dreary.

I have to admit I did still skip almost all of porchay and Kim’s scenes again just because it had absolutely no impact on the plot and i was genuinely uninterested in them. I watched a few more scenes this time than the last but I still couldn’t do it.

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do the writers not know the lore to their own show?

i have mixed feelings regarding how netflix decided to end it but im going to ignore that for the most part because aib deserves to be remembered for more than that. this season's focus on usagi was beautiful and while i was at some points lost in like… why… just in general for everything… my confusion is with so many things.

- why usagi wanted to go back to borderland (i know it had to do with her dad but that reasoning still doesn't make sense to me)
- what ryuji's deal was with usagi i couldn't tell if he was interested in her or what he just was a such a complicated character that they didn't really delve into enough in my opinion
- what the point of the joker guy wanting to bring arisu back was (wanted smarter players, but his goal was to make arisu a citizen???

it just felt like the writers themselves forgot the lore of the show and was just writing whatever they felt like to create some sort of plot

all of that aside……i really enjoyed seeing usagi and arisu as the doting couple they deserve to be. and somehow we got a happy ending?????????????? in 2025??????? that's insane to me because them surviving borderland TWICE would've been unthinkable in s1 lmfao.

this season was really short and i think that's why it felt so empty at some points. and i agree w the person that said the scene where they were like swimming at the end felt dragged out cuz they were kinda losing me there. this season doesn't beat s1 or s2 in any means but i think they should be given credit for at least being able to maintain and deliver their point they were making unlike a certain similar show… aib at least gave us a solid conclusion and reason for what borderland is and what the message of the show is…

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Watching This Series Means Feeling Different Kind of Emotions

If you’re looking for a pure, feel-good romance, Shine might not be the one for you. But if you’re into something more mature — with historical and political drama set in the 1960s — then this series is definitely worth checking out.

There’s a lot going on in Shine. The romance between Dr. Trin and Tanwa is a slow burn, but don’t worry — the emotional payoff is worth the wait. In the first three episodes, they barely have scenes together because the story focuses on other characters, subplots, and political events. Surprisingly though, I enjoyed those parts just as much. The storytelling feels layered and intentional.

One of the things I really appreciated is how every character gets their moment to shine — yes, just like the title. Even the supporting cast has depth, and I found myself caring about their stories and what they were fighting for.

Dr. Trin is serious, reserved, and idealistic. Tanwa, on the other hand, is outgoing, cheerful, and always has a smile on his face — though behind that smile is a painful, traumatic childhood. He masks it well, but you can feel the heaviness underneath. Dr. Trin has his own emotional baggage too, which is probably why, despite their contrasting personalities, they find comfort in each other.

Then there’s Krailert and Naran — two people instantly drawn to each other, even though Krailert is already married. That’s where the infidelity begins. Aside from their forbidden romance, they’re also on opposite sides of a political fence — Krailert is a soldier, and Naran is a journalist. Their love is tangled in the same national conflict that affects everyone else in the story.

Let’s not forget Victor. His character plays a surprisingly important role, and whoever decided to include his arc made a smart choice.

By episode 7, I honestly felt disappointed with how Dr. Trin treated Tanwa. He blamed him for what happened during the protest, when in reality, it was Victor and the other students who organized it. They should’ve taken responsibility. I get that Dr. Trin saw Victor as a younger brother, but putting all the blame on Tanwa — your own lover — felt unfair. And he just left him without any explanations. It was also at this point that I realized something: I thought Trin was the one totally smitten, but turns out, he may have fallen first, but Tanwa definitely fell harder.

The emotional rollercoaster really hit me when it came to Tanwa’s backstory, especially his relationship with his father. They argue a lot early on, but in the end, when Tanwa was at his lowest, his father just couldn’t turn his back on him. That moment hit hard.

Tanwa’s character development was probably my favorite — from a carefree, almost reckless hippie to someone who eventually becomes a novelist. Meanwhile, Dr. Trin’s character felt a bit monotonous. He didn’t really evolve much compared to Tanwa.

If I had one gripe about the ending, it’s the way they broke up and only reconciled after two years — especially considering there were no phones or easy communication back then. It felt a bit unrealistic. The only thing that reconnected them was the book Tanwa wrote and dedicated to Trin, which is romantic in theory, but still a stretch.

That said, Shine might just be one of the best BL series of 2025 so far. The performances were solid, the production quality was excellent, and the visuals and cinematography were top-notch. If you’re looking for something deeper and different from the usual BL formula, Shine is definitely worth watching. 💙

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On pins and needles

I absolutely love this drama!!! I'm on the last episode and have been on pins and needles throughout; not wanting it to end the way I anticipate it doing so; goodness, he feels like my friend at this point and I'm worried about Jae mi, well all of them now, lol. I hope he's realized that he's had what he's been searching for this whole time--value, to those around him. I Even though I feel like I know how this is going to end, I remain hopeful that it doesn't, lol. It's such a beautiful story of love... falling into, giving up, rediscovering, treasuring, growing from, etc.; about what family really means--spoiler, it's not all blood relations, lol, and it's also a bit of a reminder of how much the small things touch us. So, people, be sure to go and do small things!! lol... Love fiercely, wholeheartedly, unselfishly, without limits (this excludes insanity and insane behavior, lol) and without regret!!! I have 10 minutes left on this last episode, so let me go... lol. i won't spoil how it ends, but i will let you know what the ending meant to me...... i don't want to but i do want to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

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The Tower of Whispers / 三更雪: Revenge Tied to Rebirth

🔹 Addictiveness & Bingable: Yes.
🔹 Rated for binge factor and lead chemistry: not big-budget looks or deep story arcs
🔹 What happens when the tyrant who once destroyed you is suddenly powerless, and fate brings you back together?

📕 Overview
🔹 24 episodes, historical romance and revenge
🔹 Adapted from the novel "三更雪 (The Tower of Whispers)"
🔹 He Landou plays Lu Yingying, a reborn heroine trying to change her fate.
🔹 Deng Xiaoci plays Jun Che, once a feared ruler, now a slave.
🔹The story begins after Lu Yingying’s rebirth, when she buys Jun Che for revenge, only for their lives to intertwine again.
🔹 At the time of this review, 6 episodes have aired.
🔹 Out of the short-form costume dramas airing now, this one caught my attention by being both gripping and emotional

🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 It felt like I could not put the cup down. The revenge hooks and obsessive romance made the first 6 episodes fly by.
🔹 Tone: dark, addictive, emotional
🔹 Themes: rebirth, revenge, obsession, redemption
🔹It reminded me of Love Lurking since both are short dramas built on dark romance and survival, but The Tower of Whispers leans into historical intrigue instead of modern suspense

✨ Cast & Acting
🔹 He Landou as Lu Yingying: Strong and determined, with just enough vulnerability to make her sympathetic.
🔹 Deng Xiaoci as Jun Che: His smirks and gaze make the role unforgettable, even if the character is unsettling.
🔹 Supporting cast: Adds energy and tension, though the focus stays tightly on the leads.

🎞️ Production Style
🔹 I thought the sets and lighting kept the mood dark and tense, which matched the story’s obsessive tone.
🔹 The pacing is fast, designed for binge drops rather than long build-ups.

☕ Tea Notes
🔹 What worked: Addictive pacing, chemistry between the leads, and a binge release that kept me hooked.
🔹 What did not: Some of the blood effects looked unconvincing, and the forced-love trope might not appeal to everyone.

☕ SpillTheDramaTea’s Rating: 9/10
🌿 Tea-Scale: Full of flavor
✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, it felt like sipping a daring brew… Do you think love and power can really coexist?

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All Wet

I didn't find this light and fluffy, on the whole. It started well and with promise, but it devolved into stupidity, misunderstandings, love triangles, despicable second leads, noble idiocy, and nonsense (employees take off whenever and no one complains or seems to notice if they're gone for several days). Too much angst for me. If the middle dozen or so episodes had been discarded, I would have enjoyed it more.

Look, it's not "love" if you don't trust the other person. It's infatuation or admiration. Love believes. It was tortuous to have the leads mistrust and misinterpret one another's actions. I like the actress, but the character of the FL drove me out of my mind with her naive, blank stares, inability to have a rational thought, and the stupidity to keep liars/saboteurs in her life and allow them to manipulate her. Naturally, the liars/saboteurs were unscathed, forgiven, and flourished.

I gave an extra half star because I love swimming competitions (I spent last evening at a meet cheering on a favorite swimmer who won both her events), and I liked the supporting characters (except those duplicitous, scheming second leads).

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A Diamond in the Rough!

I was looking for a good drama to pass the time with while waiting for more episodes of When Destiny Brings a Demon to drop and I got HOOKED on the Story of Yanxi Palace. This drama has it all--great story, costumes, sets and outstanding performances. You can't go wrong with this drama. It grabs you from the very first episode and doesn't give you up until the last. It is very bingeable--with 70 episodes in the library, I sometimes binged 10--12 episodes per day. I got so caught up in it that by the time I got back to WDBAD, several episodes were already waiting!

Wei Yingluo, masterfully played by Wu Jin Yan, is a young woman who enters the Forbidden City to investigate the murder of her older sister. She is young, clever and incredibly cunning for a girl of barely 16. She navigates the palace drama with ease and quickly rises among the ranks, staying one step ahead of those who wish her harm just to survive. Along the way, Wei Yingluo finds love, loyalty and friendship among those in the palace who she befriends, but also becomes the target of many envious servants, princesses and concubines. Wei Yingluo weathers every storm and rises to every occasion. She is the proverbial IT girl as she takes the Forbidden City by storm.

Watching this drama is a full immersion of Chinese culture and history, as the drama is a fictionalized account of life during the reign of Emperor Qianlong who ruled from 1735-1796--one of the longest reigning emperors of the Qing dynasty. It is said that most of the production budget for this drama was spent on costumes, set construction and props. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold. The actors, though not paid as much, were all at the top of their game, delivering noteworthy performances. My favorites were Tan Zhuo, as the evil Noble Consort Gao, the beautiful Qin Lan, as the long suffering Empress Fuca Rong Yin, and Jiang Zi Xin, as Mingyu, Empress Rong's handmaiden and Wei Yingluo's friend. The script is tip-top, no messy plot holes, or loose ends. What we are given is a highly entertaining romp behind the scenes of life in the Forbidden City. It literarily makes the audience feel like the "fly on the wall", listening to all the dark secrets and low-down plots that could bring down the empire.

By the time this drama draws to a close, we have been introduced and bidden farewell to many wonderful characters, and lived through years of life among this extended family. I was ready to let go and move on, appreciating the the time, dedication and patience of the production team in creating such an unforgettable masterpiece. Bravo!

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After watching this drama, EXTRAORDINARY YOU (kdrama) and LADY OF DREAMS (novel, by WR Gingell) make more sense and have more meaning.

Perfectly beautiful production, distinctive set of characters who are well-acted overall, with ALL the tropes of the entire genre of shojo manga compiled together in ONE drama, but it still feels fresh and fun which is a good thing. ML goes through quite the redemption arc, which I always like to see portrayed. And they were right, the SML Syndrome is rather heartbreaking in this one~~ (I'm so glad that Yong Hwa has the perfect HEA he deserves in LADY OF DREAMS thank you Queen Gingell)

Very, very extra and somewhat campy. So be prepared for that. I already said shojo manga right~ But it's also gorgeous in production and cast (thank you for skipping all of the bad hair stuff of the other adaptations - but keep that terrible sense of fashion for Thyme), and serious and funny by turns, so what can I complain about (except a couple of nonsense stuff I don't care for).

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A feel good show

I have mixed feelings about the show. Some parts I LOVED it while some scenes fell flat. It was a character driven story with very minimal character development and plot however the acting, script, jokes and great showcase of friendship made it enjoyable.

The plot was simple and basic. No twists, no toxicity, just story about a pretty big group of friends. What I loved his the showcase of the bond. It felt very real as if I was watching the a video journal of a group of friends in their university time. However the biggest drawback would be how there's little to no plot and barely any character development. So when the group is not together and we get scenes with the couples it falls flat. It was cute but that was all it was. I wish it was explored on the character development side.

Cinematography was fantastic. I think this is what helped make this a slice of life comfort show. They successfully captured all the moments of the university life and friendship. The little jokes and the dumbest moves of a group boys is kind of fun to see.

Acting wise they all truly captured the essence of their individual characters well, especially Phuwin who I never thought would do good in comedy but I think this is by far his best acted show yet. The rest of the cast were absolute pleasure to watch. Satang as Toey was surprised me in the best possible way. They truly felt like a group of friends.

It's a show you need to watch with breaks. 2 episode a day while having meals is the perfect way if you want to just relax while watching something. It did gave me moments of comfort and overall it's a nice show.

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Zhao Lusi is the Queen of Comedy. Highly recommend First Half (Eps 1-13).

The first 13 eps are entirely preciously hilarious and had me wheezing constantly on the floor - PEAK COMEDY. Zhao Lusi's acting and perfect comedic timing and expressions + her character's fine cooking (the FOOD ahh!!) are the centre focus and that's what I was sold on and am here for. 10+ for the first half as I will certainly rewatch for a pick-me-up! Solid pacing and solid acting from her as well as the supporting cast (mostly her group/fam) here.

When it comes to the second half, however, we get to see less ZLS and her shenanigans, and more of the ML and his family's corporate/office drama, all of who I found entirely too annoying. It reached a point at which nothing about this drama interested me, as it did such a turn so fully we get to see neither ZLS' FL cooking much, nor the fun that was constantly served in the first half. This bait and switch was not a good choice.

ZLS for her part did all the chemistry and acting for the main otp throughout~ the ML left me completely cold and stiff - which is essentially doom as this second half of the plot focuses on him and the FL being subjected to ridicule and problems because of his family and their relationship. Also throw in a couple love triangles. Look, you CAN have a reserved/cold ML character to STILL be interesting (**looks at Leo Wu's performance as the ML in LOVE LIKE THE GALAXY**)!

Even if the plot is bland, the chemistry would have been able to redeem this drama for me if that was better (**looks at LEGEND OF THE FEMALE GENERAL**). Age gap is not an issue for me, but the ML's lack of acting is.

Overall, fully recommend watching the first half (eps 1-13) are entirely worth it, and skip the second half altogether (probably just watch or skim the final ep/scene). After averaging, this one gets a 7.5/10 (Zhao Lusi really IS the Queen).

~~~

Just found out that this drama's director - Cheng Chang - have also done LIE TO LOVE (Luo Yunxi, Cheng Xiao), NOTHING BUT YOU (Leo Wu, Zhou Yutong), AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU (Xu Kai, Seven Tan/Tan Songyun), and the recently premiered LOVE'S AMBITION (Zhao Lusi, William Chan). Already have all of these on my tbw except NOTHING BUT YOU which I've already watched and enjoyed~ Also it would be interesting to see if William Chan will be able to hold his part up in as the main otp with a large age gap.

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A thriller about justice, abuse and motherly love

When I learned about the plot of Queen Mantis, I became interested from the get-go. I love stories that center around complex female characters and the premise of a son who has to work with his imprisoned mother in order to catch the culprit promised a complex story with many opportunities for a deep insight into psychological aspects.

The first episodes made me so excited. The beginning was very strong and I got immersed very quickly. Each episode had me on the edge of my seat, my eyes were glued on the screen in order to not miss a single detail that could lead to more clues about the copycat killer.

When I learned that Queen Mantis and Black Out shared the same director, my expectations arose even more. Black Out is one of my most favourite kdramas so I expected Queen Mantis to be at least half as good as the director's previous work. And I wasn't disappointed. The camera work was really effective, during the investigation scenes it was chilling to see the arrangement of the weapons and how the culprit worked. The closeups of the characters during their dialogues added more tension, especially the ones between I Sin and Su Yeol. It was a very effective method that added more emotional impact in their clashes.

The writing for the main characters was overall good and made me feel for them a lot. Su Yeol is a really complex character who saw his life turn into hell because of his mother (at least, this is what he believes). In his eyes, I Sin is nothing more than a cold-hearted criminal. A murderer who killed people without remorse and who didn't think of the consequences of her own actions. He resents her for ruining his life. He is afraid of becoming like her and that fear still lingers inside him, even after becoming a cop in order to not step into his mother's shoes. Hate and anger accompanies I Sin's memories throughout the years.

And yet, there's a tiny glimpse of another emotion buried deep in his heart. And that emotion is love. Su Yeol hates his mother but he still cares about her, even though he'd rather die than admit it. The abandonment he felt and the trauma he went through made him build a wall between him and I Sin. But as he reconnected with her, even if it was because of the investigation's case, that wall started to crumble. And for the first time, Su Yeol's twisted image of his mother starts to shift.

Jang Dong Yoon was very good as Su Yeol. He perfectly captured Su Yeol's feelings. You could feel his frustration and tiredness from his expressions alone. His eyes always conveyed a hint of desperation and pent up anger. Desperation for truth and anger for I Sin. Dong Yoon was very strong in the more dramatic scenes, especially the ones between Su Yeol and I Sin. Every time Su Yeol would let his emotions take a tool on himself, I couldn't help but watch in awe at Dong Yoon's performance. Su Yeol's emotions were valid to a great extent and Dong Yoon did a good job at making his character look more sympathetic (even if the audience might not share the same opinion as him about I Sin).

And then we have the Queen herself: Jeong I Sin, also known as "Mantis". It goes without saying that I Sin became a favourite character of mine from the very first episode. Her skillful maneuvers, her soft-spoken voice, her expressions, her motives...It was inevitable not to care about her. I will not hide behind my finger and deny that I opposed to her actions. Yes, I believe of the importance of law and I also believe that taking justice into our own hands is not the best solution. But when the justice system itself fails to protect the victims, what's left to do? I Sin killed men who abused their families and tormented them. She saw that the police was unable to put a stop on this and decided to step up. And even though she remains a criminal, the audience cannot help but justify her actions (or even support them).

I Sin is by far one of the most complex heroines I've encountered in kdramas. She's meticulous. Dangerous. Manipulative. Unpredictable. But not a monster. Never a monster. She is not the cold hearted criminal who was incapable of feeling love, like Su Yeol's believed. She is an abused woman who became Mantis led by the abuse she endured from the men in her life. And above all: she's a mother first and foremost who did everything in order to protect her child.

There are not enough words to describe Go Hyun Jung's performance. No words will do justice to this magnificent performance. Hyun Jung carried herself in such an effortless way. She didn't just play I Sin. She became I Sin. Every movement, every expression, every utter of words was carefully planned by Hyun Jung. Her performance alone was enough to carry the series, particularly during the second half when the plot started to become less engaging. I couldn't take my eyes off her every time she appeared, I was enamored and I got chills just by observing her. During the final episode, when I Sin finally broke down and let her emotions free after repressing them for so long, I couldn't help but cry with her. Hyun Jung's performance deeply moved me and I really wanted to give I Sin a hug and apologise for how the world failed to protect her.

The relationship between Su Yeol and I Sin is ultimately the catalyst of this story. Queen Mantis was not just a mystery thriller. It was an exploration of the complex dynamic between a mother and her son. The contrast between Su Yeol and I Sin added more layers in their interactions and personalities. On the one hand, Su Yeol was rightful for being unable to understand his mother after experiencing so much trauma and repressing his memories and feelings. He attitude was understandable for the most part and I couldn't blame him for his dislike towards her. On the other hand, I Sin was not the monster he painted her to be. Su Yeol, blinded by his sense of justice was unable to comprehend his mother's motives and threw accusations at her. Driven by denial and internal conflict, he refuses to excuse her or forgive her for abandoning him. And yet, I Sin never stopped caring about her son. Even if she expressed her love and care in a bizarre way and even if she caused distress to Su Yeol, she always cared about him and wanted to protect him and his family. Gradually, mother and son come closer and Su Yeol finally sees I Sin as the woman she is: a victim of abuse who did everything in her power to protect him.

In order for a thriller to maintain its thrill, it needs a fully fleshed story and unfortunately, in this area, Queen Mantis fell short. The plot about the copycat killer was interesting at first and I had many theories but after a while, I kinda lost interest. I think that the character of the actual killer was explored in a shallow way. Having an abused transgender woman following the path of Mantis could have been interesting if the writers had invested more in her character. I understand her motives to some extent and her admiration towards Mantis but they were presented in a sloppy way.

The police squad's incompetence and mistrust really got on my nerves. I could understand where they came from, it was logical for them to question Su Yeol's and Chief Jung Ho's closeness or Su Yeol's connection with Mantis but this hide-and-seek game became really tiring. It was clear that the writers wanted to add more tension and drama but there were better ways to do so. The squad saw how competent Su Yeol was and yet they were still questioning his abilities. It became irritating, it was as if I was watching a bunch of children, especially when it came to Na Hee and Sung Gyu.

I understand that since Queen Mantis was 8 episodes long, there wasn't room for much character development regarding the secondary ones. But this was another weak element which didn't help me connect with the story as a whole. Many characters had potential for something more but because of limited time, their personalities and motives weren't written in depth. I was disappointed at how Na Hee was handled because the writers could have done so much with her, even make her mirror I Sin in a way. By the time the writers attempted to add more depth in the last two episodes, it was late.

Moreover, I would have liked to see a deeper commentary regarding the justice system and how it fails many victims of abuse. The drama tries to do so by having Jung Ho silently approve of I Sin's actions since police didn't do anything to prevent the mistreatment of the victims but it was very superficial. If done well, even more questions could have been risen and more topics could be addressed.

Thankfully, the ending was satisfying enough and did not leave me with a bitter taste. It's a pity that Queen Mantis wasn't as strong as it began but it still left a lasting impression on me. It raised many questions regarding abuse and justice and it gave me a complex and yet beautiful mother-son relationship. I would recommend it to people who enjoy psychological thrillers for Hyun Jung's acting alone and I consider it as one of the most interesting thrillers out there.

P. S. Hyun Jung, I'll get you that Baeksang, Queen.

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