Reviews

Firstly, I am so so sad I finished this. And before I get into anything else, I must say the amount of times they name-dropped Obama was nothing short of absolutely hilarious. Anyways, this drama was really funny and I enjoyed watching it. Kim Sun-a is amazing (as always) at playing a quirky, hard-headed FL but what I also noted she is excellent at is more serious roles involving important and complex plot like this one. I was so proud to see her versatility. I'm not very well versed in politics and I still feel like I was able to understand the majority of the jargon used in this show. Shin Mi-rae is such a complex, loving and caring character. She was the perfect mayor for Inju because she always helped her constituents so much that it got her jailed twice (even if unwarranted and agenda-driven). She grew up in Inju, she knew everyone's names, she always helped out her community, she was the perfect mayor until the end.
Cha Seung-won does really well at making you hate him while also seeing romantic potential, and he was great as a politician/부시장/국회의원 etc. His acting was amazing and I loved how one moment Jo Guk would be so cold and bitter with Mi-rae and then as soon as she leaves, he's either crying or thinking about her. Also his voice is very sexy and I love his bits of speaking quirks, his own satoori if you will… Besides that, I hope he became a better father to Rang to make peace with what a terrible father he had. Rang is adorable.
I hoped for a better ending for Lee Jung-do because he was so tender-hearted and adorable. At times, it did feel like SLS but now I just believe he’s a really kind, very very sweet, pure person. When he randomly changed his hair and took his glasses off I thought that was a bit silly but it was kinda funny and luckily he was still really cute. However I’m still really confused why they wrote hitting Joo-hwa into the script because that seemed extremely OOC for Jung-do. After finishing the show, I still didn't think his story with Joo-hwa was resolved well because they both have a lot to work on for a successful marriage and I don't see them as a good fit for each other, but it may just be that she was uptight and rude due to depression from not being able to have a baby. Maybe with her pregnancy, she became more compassionate as her husband.
I think the most important relationship by far in this show was between Mi-rae and Bu-mi. Mi-rae began to take actions that in turn affected Bu-mi as well which caused her to have to atone for her misgivings. Seeing Bu-mi support Mi-rae during voting time was very emotional and showed she still believed in her friend. Bu-mi was loyal all the way through and was the perfect sensical and logical addition to Mi-rae's political career. I really enjoyed scenes with her very much. Also, I know we only saw her sometimes but I need every single one of Maeng Hae-ra's outfits, they were so cute!!!
Overall, this drama was amazing and I would highly recommend to watch it!!!

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'MIXED BAG'

This new season has introduced new characters like Mr. Hwang, Na Jeok-bong amd others. Kang Ki-young, playing as a villain, delivers a chilling, high-fashion menace that is a far cry from his usual comedic roles. The Villains are much more powerful this time; they can absorb counter abilities, making the stakes feel genuinely life-threatening. Na Jeok-bong, a clumsy but earnest country boy with a super smell ability. While he provides comedic relief, I felt like his character is a bit one-dimensional compared to the nuanced backstories of the original team.

Furthermore, with a bigger budget, the fight scenes are more frequent, and the CGI ( especially the territory and telekinesis effects) is noticeably sleeker.
Also, Do Ha-na gets a much more personal storyline involving a past love, which adds a layer of vulnerability to her character that we didn't see much of in Season 1. The season revolves around a 'good person' turning into a demon, which forces So Mun to grapple with whether everyone is worth saving.

However, the downside of this season is that they almost made So Mun God-like in power, which shows struggles to create tension in the series. To compensate, the other counters often feel 'nerfed' or less effective that were in season 1. Also, there was a change in writers late in the season that carried over here. Consequently, the humor can sometimes feel forced or childish, and the pacing is less consistent. Much of the cozy, found family atmosphere of the noodle shop is replaced by high-octane superhero battles, which made the season feel a bit more generic.

Lastly, season 2 is a fun, flashy ride for viewers who just want more of the world and the characters. It's an action first sequel that trades depth for spectacle. It's definitely worth a watch if you loved the cast, but keep your expectations tempered regarding the plot.

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The most frustrating ML ever

I understand that once the ML is convinced that the FL loves him, the drama should end, but his resistance for everything the FL is doing is just too much.

What more do you need to believe her, mate? She literally did everything to show that she loves you, even seduced you a few times, and how exactly is her wanting to sleep with you is a trick that would somehow lead to her divorcing you or getting back to her lover! That isn't logical at all...

And I know better than to expect logic from a vertical drama but still, the questionable behaviour from the ML is quite irritating ~~

Took him 2 hours to yield but anyway ~~

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Hands down, the best POWER BOTTOM EVER??❤️

This series really traumatized me, I mean would you look at how toxic and manipulative Fan Xiao is…?? And you want me to believe that he just changes it whole f**king nature in just a snap of a figure?? Naah, I don't buy it. Honestly until the end, until now, I don't buy that he actually changed. I still think he was acting.

Don't get me wrong, until episode 8, I was in love with Fan Xiao, but the way he said, "I never lied” to You Shulang when he says, "can I trust you?”
Bro I literally had tears in my eyes when he said that but the audacity Fan Xiao had to say he never lied made me mad angry at him. I cried for hours when You Shulang cried in his room after learning the whole truth. And after all this, when Fan Xiao, still, forced You Shulang to be with him, the way he was so dead inside. You could actually see his soul has left his body 😭😭

The acting was so great that I could actually feel the pain through my phone screen🤌😭😭

But honestly, I loved You Shulang so much🤌❤️ I mean this guy is the definition of Power Bottom. The best POWER BOTTOM EVER, hands down 🙂‍↕️

The way he handled the hostess thing, was the first time I realised he had the guts to stand up for himself even if it's Fan Xiao 🫡 And when he found out the whole truth about Fan Xiao, my god🤌🤤❤️
I mean I know he was broken inside but after all that the Aura that guy had when he said “Fan Xiao is a terrific actor" I could not stop screaming🤌❤️

Although, I was very disappointed by the ending. I did not want them to be together. The way Fan Xiao treated You Shulang, he deserved to be left alone.

And, this series had major timeline issues, I mean in a snap a year is gone and no signs to tell us that, you need to figure it out yourself. Episode 1 there's a baby by the end he's grown up so fast. Honestly until episode 12 I was going to give this a solid 10/10 but after seeing the end, I'm not so sure.

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I'M ABSOLUTELY MARVELED

I genuinely love the idea of infusing modern fantasy with thriller elements. This series was seriously captivating, and I never felt bored throughout the entire season 1. Obviously, you have read the synopsis, and yes, this series is based on the idea of four characters called 'Counters' who hunt demons using their unique supernatural ability and banish evil spirits that possess humans tocommit murder.

The core chemistry between the four leads, So Mun, Mo-tak, Ha-na, and Mae-ok, is the show's heartbeat. Their bond feels authentic and provides a necessary emotional anchor between fight scenes. The series introduces a unique afterlife hierarchy called 'Yung', where the counters' powers originate. It's a fresh take on the reaper/exorcist trope that avoids being overly cliché. Also, beyond the demons, the show tackles real-world horrors like school bullying, corporate corruption, and political greed. Watching the counters use their powers to take down 'human' monsters is often just as satisfying as the spirit-hunting. Moreover, for a TV production, the choreography and special effects are impressively polished. The red tracksuits have since become an iconic visual for the series.

Lastly, 'The Uncanny Counter S1 is a must-watch for viewers who love the supernatural team genre. It's a hero story with a lot of soul, focusing as much on healing trauma as it does on punching demons.

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Confused and Not Having Fun

I told myself this year that I would stop forcing myself to continue shows that don’t resonate with me in the slightest, and Melody of Secrets is exactly that kind of series. It’s confusing, perplexing, and having to constantly rewatch scenes just to figure out what on earth is happening is not fun. A solid -1/10 experience for me.

Let’s Dive In.

I wanted to like this because I genuinely enjoy ForceBook as a duo, but this was exhausting. If you love theorizing, interpreting, and piecing together a puzzle where nothing is immediately clear, this might be your show. For me, though, I need a plot that makes sense, preferably sooner rather than later. Surrealism and mystery are fine, but they still need internal logic, and this series simply doesn’t have it.

The editing is especially rough. One moment we’re in one location, the next we’ve jumped somewhere else entirely. Characters change clothes and then revert back in the very next scene. It’s disorienting in a way that feels careless rather than intentional, and I don’t have the patience to keep rewinding just to understand basic continuity.

ForceBook also feel oddly forced here. The chemistry isn’t landing, everything feels a bit awkward, and Force is once again stuck in the “stoic man with one facial expression” role. I found myself watching just for the sake of finishing, and I’ve decided I’m not doing another year of regret-watching.

Ratings:

Story: 3/10 - Far too disorienting, and I don’t enjoy being confused for confusion’s sake. Also, why didn’t they cast actual teenagers for the younger versions? I’m sorry, but you cannot convince me that Force, Book, or Junior pass as teens.

Acting: 7/10 - Not terrible, but not impressive either. No one truly stood out.

Music: 5/10 - Honestly? I don’t remember it.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - Maybe if your love for ForceBook is unshakable, or if you’re craving unnecessary complications in your life. For me, I do not (and yes, thank you Force for taking your shirt off several times, but that alone cannot keep me here).

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This didnt hit me :(

I feel like I am the only one who was struggling with this drama. I get the storyline about 3 Lifetimes and finding each other.
Here is the thing, I really like Hou Ming Hao fantasy dramas because he know how to play his roles and I like Tan Song Yun work because I have watched alot of her dramas too.
They had great chemistry, dont get me wrong and that is why I pushed through to finish it but for me, there was just something about each episode that I cant put a pin on.
Xiao Yao character was so childish and her voice in the drama was a bit annoying. I started to deal with it when she was playing a different her other selves.
And then the "little demons" were too childish for me.
I didnt really get much of Xiao Yao being a very strong FL in this series and I love a strong ML and FL.
Fast forward to the end, I knew I was going to expect an ending like but it was good and other persons seems to enjoy it and I am glad they see and enjoy what I didnt.

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Not great but actually some good comedy

First off, this is barely a GL, though it has women loving women, it just isn't structured like a romance drama, if that makes sense? It seems to be structured more like a sitcom.

Also it is overly focused on giving the large number of actors time to use the screen. It feels like MGI used this as a vehicle to test a bunch of potential actors?

As long as you go into it understanding those aspects, and managing your expectations, you may have a lot of fun with this.

Where it shines is the comedy and honestly even the acting is surprisingly good. Engfa and Charlotte show way more range in this than we got to see in Petrichor, this actually gave me renewed interest in their work.

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Stop it Apo and Mile

I am so, so done with them. They have set my bar for BL series impossibly high, so high that nothing else even comes close. Their acting carries such depth that it does not just move you, it seeps into the soul. I do not even know how to explain it, but even the production house operates at an exceptional level. They know exactly who they are casting, as if they understand the magnitude of the stars they are bringing together. Two perfect constellations aligning in the same sky.

And the depth they have infused into the story feels painfully real. Watching their series has always felt like stepping into the realm of ApoMile, as if you are crossing a threshold into a world that breathes, aches, and lives on its own. And if I speak honestly, it is not just about the acting. It is the flawless storytelling, the striking cinematography, the intentional use of music, and a supporting cast that delivered their roles with grace and precision, each element working in quiet harmony.

Watching them together in a storyline so distinct from what we are used to feels less like viewing a show and more like inhabiting it. It opens doors to emotions we never knew existed and teaches us feelings we never realised we were capable of experiencing, feelings they made tangible simply by existing together on screen. I do not even know what I am rambling about anymore, but watching this series has been nothing short of a beautiful and unforgettable journey for me.

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Attack on Sanity - The OST

“I suddenly felt that it was all the same to me whether the world existed or whether there had never been anything at all. At first I fancied that many things had existed in the past, but afterwards I guessed that there never had been anything in the past either, but that it had only seemed so for some reason. Little by little I guessed that there would be nothing in the future either… nothing mattered to me.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Watching Satomii get wasted on this script genuinely broke my brain. She brings a natural weight to the screen that the writing seems determined to undermine at every turn. The writers failed her, the director failed her, and the production might as well have apologized in the credits for handing a powerhouse a pile of wet garbage. Her presence is sharp and unyielding, yet the narrative traps her in a world where basic communication is treated like a confession wrung out under torture. I despise noble idiocy, and this show might as well be a masterclass in how to weaponize it against its own story.

The first blow to my sanity was Masaki vanishing (and his reasoning for ghosting). He leaves "for her benefit" and the show is actually dumb enough to have him literally running away from her. It is pathetic. Little bro folded instantly. Muzan at sunrise levels of cowardice. Absolute joke. The writing then leans on the most tired gimmick in the book. He mumbles one last thing while fleeing and she just cannot hear him. What a lazy middle finger to the audience. He decided he was the tragic anime protagonist of her life without asking her permission. He really thought he was pulling a shonen exit.. Naruto running into the night to “protect” her

I think I blinked and she went from seeing the ring from the BF to kissing Masaki. Nothing earned. Every ounce of suffering, every shred of dignity... just gone. A joke. And if that weren’t enough, he’s telling what happened on the day of the accident while the music plays like we are visiting a Zelda fairy fountain. What a mismatch. What’s next… Saria's Song? … Garuda Valley?

Somehow, it gets worse. The script shoves Satomii into the same martyr box at the end because the writers clearly ran out of ideas and defaulted to the most exhausted cliché in existence. It is a total assassination of her potential. Seeing an actress of her caliber forced to play a woman who just waits around for a coward is insulting. She does everything she can to sell the silence and longing, but she is chained to a plot that crumbles like Wall Maria getting bodied by the Colossal Titan. No amount of talent can salvage a story that survives purely by making its characters miserable for no reason other than stalling the plot.
I kept waiting for any semblance of communication. None came. Nada. The writers apparently charged by the Kanji and they couldn't afford to buy an adult conversation. The rest of the cast barely gets anything to do, devoured by a script that is more blackhole than narrative.

One of the main "tensions" … the fire.. Nothing needed to happen. Yuki said did nothing wrong and said nothing right. Masaki said everything by saying nothing. The idiots are not noble. Everything here should have been solved with adult conversations. This isn't Vegeta exploding to protect, this is the script bombing.

By the end, this FL is everything I hate. Satomii is brilliant, sharp, and the script slams her into every wall it can find. Every beat of noble idiocy, every fake martyr moment, every second she freezes while the coward runs is pure humiliation. The writers grind her talent into dust while he gets to wander free. I want to bow in shame and attend its harakiri. I am sure Link can second with the master sword, maybe entertain us with some ocarina. The OST wouldn't have to change to fit.

I have become Dostoevsky. Nothing matters. Nothing.

Every choice, every scene, every insult, every missed word collapses into the same blah void. Past, present, future... meaningless. The show might as well not exist. Satomii’s brilliance gets wiped out the same way Sung Jinwoo wipes out bosses. Hhyped threat shows up, gets clapped in thirty seconds, and vanishes like it never mattered. No weight. No consequence... noise pretending to be stakes.

Dear god.. find a white van... isekai me out of here.

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Aweful

I don't know where to start, but I will be brutally honest and ruthless. First of all, let me just say that I am really picky with the kdramas that I will watch. I don't just watch anything. If the trailer catches my eye, I will watch it. I don't like leaving things unfinished, so i watched this ridiculous drama until the end, even if I literally thought of dropping it at least 10 times! It was a huge struggle to finish it. It had terrible acting from the main cast in the first season. thank god the second half of the season actors got better, especially Cha Ewn Wo,. The directing was ok, but the screenplay was the worst in the history of dramas. Like: "Who writes this shit?!" It is an ok story, if you read it in a book, but this adaptation was a huge failure. I mean, at least in a book, or written scenario, you don't get to see it, you know? You must be extremely atheist, or living in a cave, to be able to accept this adaptation of catholic priests, acting like superheroes, and resurrect themselves from the verge of death?! Without ANY explanation during the episode about it?! What?! Don't let me start about the costume directing, right?! The main actress rolling the most important scene in the whole series with fluffy slippers! Let us not forget about how characters die here and there, very dramatic deaths, just to make the bad guy look more bad, without that being even necessary. And of course, remembering to incorporate a bunch of new characters, from the second half of the second season, without ever getting deeper into their existence, even though the series was not renewed for a third season, so leaving the series totally incomplete. Ok, I will leave it here, I am tired.

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Let go of the past or drown in it

I decided to watch because of Dou Xiao (Shawn Dou) being in a leading role. He is a really talented actor that I first came to know from his amazing role in Princess Agents as Yan Xun gege. However unfortunately he has previously had several roles in dramas that were not really super good, the plots and directing were not excellent, he deserved better. Lately he has been having much better roles that allow the viewers to see his skills and talent (The Lichi Road, small role, but still awesome; Kill My Sins, lead role, very good). After watching this drama I am happy he got yet another role and drama that allowed him to show off and to stretch his scope. This was first of his roles I have watched where he plays the bad guy. I felt a bit uneasy seeing him in such a role, but soon enough he swept me away with incredible acting and impeccable interpretation of his role. He manages to make the viewer understand him and even care about him, feel the heart ache for him, even though he is at the same time extremely evil. This is something that only an excellent actor or actress can achieve.

I am also happy to have gotten to know a new Chinese actor through this drama, Duan Yi Hong, who plays the other male lead. He immediately became a favorite actor, absolutely genius acting. He really brings to life his character with all the little details he shows, characteristics and habits of his that make his role feel so realistic and geniously explain what it is like for him to be this weird criminal study genius who can understand the minds of the criminals and easily notice things others miss and this way catch the criminals who otherwise would slip through the police's fingers. Very pleasant to watch him acting, and his relationship with his ex-wife was just the cherry on the cake for me, the couple that were divorced but yet still loved each other and kept being drawn back to each other in the middle of all the investigation and dangers without being annoying or stealing away from the main plot.

I noticed some comments in the comment section saying viewers were confused by the plot and found it difficult to understand. I myself had no such problems, maybe because I've watched so many crime dramas and movies before, so I find it easy to follow even a complicated case depicted in a crime drama. I would recommend watching this in one go or almost in one go, maybe within a couple of days, so the plot stays fresh in your mind and it is easier to remember and keep in mind what happened, so as to not get confused. This does require using those brain cells in your head, you need to pay attention and follow closely to form a full perspective of what's going on. It's not really a lazy half hearted watch while at the same time doing something else or a drama where you can just skip scenes and still easily follow the plot.

SPOILER ALERT, DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO KNOW THE PLOT!
Here come spoilers, so if anyone finds it difficult to follow the plot, one can read this and better understand:

Back in the day a boy called Xu Jing Zhi got kidnapped and given a new name, Lu Yuan, as he was sold to a family that already had a younger boy named Lu Ran. They encountered bad things, but kept each other company and had a brotherly connection. Lu Ran's mother was a kidnapped lady herself, and had gotten pregnant with Lu Ran after being molested by her kidnapper, who was also Lu Ran's father. With such a beginning, Lu Ran did not experience love at home. His father was an evil criminal, his mother hated him because of how he got concieved, him being a constant reminder to her of her sufferings. After some time had passed, the intelligent boy Xu Jing Zhi (aka Lu Yuan) found a way to escape. Unfortunately he could not manage to save Lu Ran and take him with him but was forced to leave him in that disfunctional family, as he himself was rescued and brought back to his family.

Xu Jing Zhi had done everything he could to help catch the human traffickers, drawing their faces for the police. He kept coming to the police station trying to ask for help for Lu Ran, but other than Lu Ran's father, the human traffickers were not caught, and Lu Ran's nightmare continued. As his father was in prison, Lu Ran then grew up with his mother who took out all her anger and resentment on him torturing him psychologically and emotionally.

Xu Jing Zhi, affected by his kidnapping experience as a child, grew up into a very intelligent man and applied to the police academy ending up being a detective. He kept in touch with Lu Ran, trying to teach him and guide him. Unfortunately Lu Ran had grown in such a crooked environment that despite of Xu Jing Zhi's care he started to become twisted already at a young age. While Xu Jing Zhi was interested in crimes from the perspective of catching criminals and preventing crime, Lu Ran took interest in his "older brother's" Xu Jing Zhi's notes and studies about crimes as a way to learn how to commit perfect crimes.

One time as a young boy Lu Ran realises his mother's hatred towards him has gotten to the point that she actually wants him gone for good by trying to poison him to death. The viewers never find out if this suspicion of Lu Ran's was true or if it was the product of his tortured twisted mind, however, it was real for him. Something then happens that leads to Lu Ran's mother's death. Xu Jing Zhi is called to the scene by Lu Ran. With his intelligence he notices small little hints and details that something is off but he is unable to piece the truth together because of his personal attachement to Lu Ran. The case becomes his obsession for years, leading even to his divorce from his detective wife, as his own mental health started to suffer and he began to see paralysingly disabilitating nightmares, even when awake. Lu Ran picks up on the fact that Xu Jing Zhi saw something about the death of his mother that didn't fit the official explanation, and finally decides to go abroad to study to get away from him.

While abroad, Lu Ran's mind keeps getting more twisted, as he realizes he is good at noticing people with dark secrets and desires and manipulating them into doing what he wants them to do. From the university he finds a suicidal student, and manipulates him into allowing him to switch identities with him after he has switched the data of their DNA's with each other. The official story is Lu Ran has died abroad even though it was the suicidal student Zhuang Ming Cheng, and after finishing his studies, the one who returns to China is now called Zhuang Ming Cheng, even though he is actually Lu Ran.

Obsessed with his past, unable to escape the cage in his mind, Zhuang Ming Cheng aka Lu Ran begans hunting down everyone who he wants to pay for his sufferings. He often seems to be a good samaritan, helping other suffering people, even rescuing sometimes someone, but everything he ever does is motivated by his incredibly strong need for revenge. In his mind, Xu Jing Zhi is a brother to him, someone he needs and loves, the only one who ever cared about him and the only one who ever made him feel safe, but also someone he blames for leaving him behind, feeling that he should be punished for abandoning him. He doesn't understand love, only obsession, and he finds ways to get close to Xu Jing Zhi and following him around, as if playing a game with him.

Zhuang Ming Cheng (Lu Ran) orchestrates elaborate crimes through manipulating other people to work for him. Xu Jing Zhi returns to the police force to help with the peculiar cases with his keen insight. Xu Jing Zhi follows the trail left behind by Zhuang Ming Cheng, who uncovers the evidence of the crimes committed by the human traffickers leading the police to catch them, and for a while it almost seems like he is helping the police and doing good deeds. That illusion does not last long, as he intentionally leads Xu Jing Zhi to uncover his real identity, wanting to pull him into his world of revenge with him and give him his acceptance despite of the choices he has made. He longs for Xu Jing Zhi's unconditional family love but when he can not get it due to Xu Jing Zhi having a conscience and rejecting him (telling him he is not his brother), Zhuang Ming Cheng finally snaps and attacks Xu Jing Zhi, and then later kills someone innocent as collateral damage, abandoning entirely any and all concepts of right and wrong. He tries to push Xu Jing Zhi into choosing between him and his ex-wife, and the confrontation escalates until finally Xu Jing Zhi finds a way to get through to him.

The story highlights the need of caring loving adults in the lives of young children to help them grow right and prevent their minds from being broken. At first, it seems that Xu Jing Zhi and Lu Ran experienced the same bad thing happening to them as children, but later one realises that Lu Ran went through much worse than Xu Jing Zhi ever did, starting from his identity being the product of a sexual assault and the target of his mother's bitter hatred, all the way to Xu Jing Zhi getting rescued and taken away from the nightmare whereas Lu Ran felt completely abandoned even by the one person who promised to be there for him. Xu Jing Zhi himself later mentions, that he had thought perhaps Lu Ran could come around and let go of his past just like he had until he realized that Lu Ran never had the opportunities and the good adults around him to allow him to be pulled out of the darkness.

The story also asks the question, whether Lu Ran really ever even had a choice, or if he was inevitable going to end up becoming the criminal master mind that he became. He constantly drowns into his past sufferings, unable to move on, stuck in the injustices and self-destructing his own life. Despite of the horrific incidents happening, Xu Jing Zhi manages to find a way out of his nightmares and back to his beloved wife. Finally, it seems like everyone else also eventually finds some sort of peace, as the criminals are brought to justice and punished for what they did. However, whether it was revenge or letting go of the past that more effectively brought the victims closure remains unclear.

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