Reviews

I do not say this lightly - TOTAL MASTERPIECE.

I have seen over 400 dramas. I have given a 10 to a drama only ONE time. But I will say unequivocally right now, that this is one of the best asian dramas of all time, and not only will I award it my second 10 ever, but if I could I would give it an 11.

Learning To Love stands toe to toe with the heaviest hitters of drama like What Happened in Bali, A Million Stars Falling From the Sky, Meteor Garden, Goodbye My Princess, The Rose, Secret, Que Sera Sera, That Winter The Wind Blows, Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Yanxi Palace, Kleun Cheewit, or Rise of the Phoenixes. This is so good it's hard to put into words, but for the sake of leaving a review, I will try not to go on too much and keep this brief... while still conveying the insane degree to which this show is both A) a really effing good watch and B) an incredible work of art.

Where to even start....

The main theme of the story is refracted in a hundred tiny ways all throughout -- each character and each action kind of mirrors possible past or future or parallel lives of the other characters in this incredible kalidescope where you can see how any character could 'there but for the grace of god' be another character, and they all reflect aspects of eachother while retaining a deep and unique individuality at the same time. It's so gorgeous how it's all laid out, and how everything subtly connects to everything else. It's just poetry. Every aspect of this drama transcends the sum of its parts in a myriad of fractals that would be impossible for me to describe in less than 10k words, so I'll spare you. Suffice it to say, it is just so damn good.

This leads into mentioning the cinematography which was classic, beautiful, balanced, powerful. Cinematography that actually added it's own voice to the story, like a narrator's voice in a really good book. Plus, it has that throwback feel we all crave and miss so much from classic asian dramas. We all complain that "they don't make em like they used to". Well, this IS like they used to make 'em. So much so, that when they mentioned "covid" at one point, it kind of threw me off for a minute, because this drama feels so much like one of the really good older dramas.

(And can I just mention here that the ost/bgm is a SLAVE to the story. It serves ONLY to accent the emotions carried in the scene, and it is just as perfectly executed as every other part of this production.)

The characters - all of them - are compelling and SO well-acted. A flawless ensemble, led by two fantastic actors that deftly carry the story and convey so many emotions... this was impeccable casting, and impeccable acting. I haven't been this impressed in a long time. This is where imo it stands above even major classics like Rise of the Phoenixes... Kimura Fumino and Murakami Raul Maito are doing double the lifting compared to Chen Kun and Ni Ni in RotP. I almost can't find an equivalent to compare them to, and they deserve to be considered among some of the best performances of all time.

The vibe of this drama has a very classic flavor, the emotional angst and tension is so palpable, so much happens in each episode, not a minute of screentime is wasted. Gives off an aura of 'A Million Stars Falling From The Sky'. And something really incredible happens as the episodes progress.... the story could end in so many different ways, or it could end on any scene itself and still be really really good. You know what's going to happen like a trainwreck in slow motion, and yet you don't actually know what's going to happen at ALL because there are so many possibilities for where the story could go, and as it hurtles toward it's inevitable ending, you still get the feeling like each new scene will hold some fresh magic in it. You get this incredible blend of dread and hope mixed together indistinguishably from one another, and it just relentlessly ratchets up and up through each episode as the possibilities for how it will end keep multiplying. Every character's psyche is peeled layer by painstaking layer and we are afraid and excited by what we will find at the core of each person. Each character is slowly and inexorably pushed towards their breaking point... the true selves they hide to the world have less and less room to hide... and it all feels so volatile and mysterious as you watch it unfold.

I am 1000% invested in this drama, I cannot say enough good things about it, and I cannot possibly recc it more to anyone prepared for a serious watch. This is gripping and angsty and a little bit of a hard watch, but so so so freaking good. Actors are just so incredible here. So much heart and soul are in this.... it feels like a masterclass in what an asian drama is supposed to be.

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I've only got one question to ask...

How does a woman completely forget a little boy from her childhood with whom she spent a lot of quality time and even made a promise with said boy? Ok, I can understand not recognizing him because he used to be chubby, but cripes sake, she apparently forgot the entire interaction with this little boy. How does one do that? Does she have a brain tumor? I can say with confidence that I remember all of my childhood friends, even the ones that came and went. I even remember kids that weren't my friends; they were just classmates or acquaintances and I remember a lot of my interactions with them. It just blows my mind that someone could completely forget a friend you spent time with and made a promise with. FL doesn't deserve Iori, and I sure as heck wouldn't have made any more promises with her because she doesn't know how to remember them or keep them.

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When two baddie met.

There's so much about this drama I liked, first of all hat's of to the cast for tremendously playing their role. A person who played villain in such a good way that you hate them really. Wow the emperor is not a deserving king, he knows everything still keeping himself in dark to spoil his sister, he is really spineless. Zhang Wanyi I am slowly becoming your fan, this is third drama (other are Rise of the Ning and Are you the one) I have watched back to back because of your handsome face and soothing voice. A actor with such a beautiful voice, it's music to my ear when you talk. This is the first fl drama of mine and she is baddie and beautiful. I loved that they never held back fl at any point, she always stood her ground even against powerful people than her. It's a must watch drama for me.

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Once again, the Chinese managed to ruin a good drama!

This was a good, solid drama until the final 25 minutes when they returned to their crappy lives. Sorry for the spoiler, but potential viewers need to know the truth so they don't waste their time and effort on this piece of junk. The only bright spot was that ML/FL seemed to retain their memories from this 22 episode dream so maybe their love survived. Their careers didn't. Neither did all the great things that happened to FL's family and friends. They got to continue in their previous misery. Who wrote this piece of garbage??? I gave it 9.0 for story because it was great until the last 25 minutes. I gave it an overall 3 because of the last 25 minutes. Don't watch it unless you want to have your heartbroken like all the characters in this drama who returned to their crappy lives.

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Not worth watching.

I've never written a review so I'll try my best to explain why this series is not worth your time.

The plot, the casting, the set, had so much potential so they could ruin the whole series in the last second.
There's not a proper revenge arc and the MC seriously lost the plot at the very first eps and tried to make the watcher believe the revenge plan was still in the process. I was really looking forward to watch this series, thinking it would be as good as the storyline indicates.

The last episode was what bothered me the most... the MC sexually assaulted the ML on their breakup scene, and for what? So it would be immediately forgotten later that episode?
Both the characters acted like nothing happened, going back to dating eachother... MC didn't even apologize and just said "I love you" to quickly win the ML back.

I'm so dissapointed, I really thought this series was gonna be good and actually expected good content from the little amount of episodes it had.

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A Wonderful Drama

Nobody really needs this review. There are 148 already, which probably tried plenty of angles. However, I will add this, because it's incredibly personal. I am a buff of k-dramas, but I owe my dedication to them to 2 k-dramas (I watched some until then, especially action ones, like IRIS, The K2, Signal and I liked them, but nothing more), in chronological order of viewing: 25 21 and Fated to Love You. The scene from hospital in episode 12, when she cries, is, without any shadow of doubt, Oscar worthy. I couldn't believe my eyes, while crying, obviously. The second time I watched it (oh well, there were about 10 more...), I just watched Na-Ra's face all the time. I was curious, because frequently, when actors/actresses are not in the prime plane, they tend to be a bit careless. Each and every gesture and reaction of Na-Ra were perfect. Why not at least a Baek Sang nomination? Oh well... I was pissed off, and I am pissed off about it. Try to get over Jang Hyuk's hyena laugh, which steps on everyone's nerves, and watch it. For Jang Na-Ra, who is stunning!! One million claps for her play!

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Poor Ae Joon :(

Now I really feel bad for Ae Joon. Poor him… he's so innocent. He sacrificed so much just to land this job, struggled with his low self-esteem, and now his feelings are about to be used and manipulated. I always felt something was off with the way Si Yeol was acting, especially how he rushed things just to get close to Ae Joon.
If Si Yeol is truly trying to get revenge for Jooha through Ae Joon, then I'm already preparing myself to be furious with him. Because if I remember correctly, somewhere in episode 4, when Si Yeol asked Ae Joon if he was seeing someone, Ae Joon clearly said no. So why pursue him? Why keep drawing him in, only to use him as a tool for revenge? That feels so unfair. Unless, of course, I misunderstood something in the story.
Also, the day Si Yeol was answering that student's question about love, he was probably describing Jooha. That scene makes so much more sense in hindsight.
Things are definitely getting more interesting, but I honestly don't want to see Ae Joon get hurt in the process. He's too pure, too innocent, and has already been through so much to deserve that kind of pain. Seeing his genuine heart being toyed with would be absolutely heartbreaking. I'm so ready to be mad at Si Yeol if he's going to hurt Ae Joon.

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To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often

AHHHHHHHHH this was a ride it was a treat it I loved it SO MUCH.

Acting:

I was pretty darn blown away in every way. I LOVE A GOOD CRIER. You HAVE to be a good crier to get me to really appreciate a performance, and these boys delivered me my meal fr. I enjoyed every minute. The silliness, the cockiness, the anger, the pain, the sadness, the love. Just so goooooood. Barely any notes to be made here.

Writing:

Well, it’s a drama, so I’m giving it some liberties because like I enjoyed it overall. But there were some interesting choices here. I understand that we need to move the plot forward and all, but like… I’d much rather go into medical debt than be indebted with my life and money to Boss fr… But okay, let’s go with it. I still loved this shit tbh. So dramatic, so wild, so fun!

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

Chemistry was solid all the way through. From strangers to flirtatious heartfelt moments together, to enemies, to friends, to lovers, to a heartbroken pair, to lovers. SO GOOOOOD. This was alvoely romance even if it was a background plot to the story. SO GOOD. The kissing was good, fittingly frantic and passionate. Good work, good work.

NC Scene:

Wasn’t sure if we would get one in this series, but it was lovely. I LIVE for a “I need you now, we’ve been waiting for this for sooooo long” moment and they DELIVERED. So good, WELL DONE. Loved everything about it. 10/10 and VERY fitting to the story.

Music/SFX:

Music was pretty damn good throughout. The dubstep was jarring and fitting at the same time, somehow. Some corny drama music, but that’s alright.

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH I don’t know why I have put this off for so long. It had it’s questionable moments, so I want to give it a 9-9.5, but I loved it so much it’s gonna get thatf 10 overall no matter what. FIGHT ME.

Now, for some highlights form my notes:

- Pops gotta chill tf out
- We’re all going through it, huh
- Quite the time skip
- *Hate your face, hate your lies, hate the blank look in your eyes. Hate your needs, hate your wants, hate the way you love to taunt. Hate your voice, makes me cringe every time I hear you speak. It's uncomfortable to know you share the same air as me*
- God, I love a good crier
- Ooooooh boy looking clean in that tux
- My good boys
- Not the teaseeee love confess and promise just get married already
- Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss we all chant in unison
- Do these ladies not have a soul? Give the dudes the necklace that belongs to their deceased loved one wtf
- Nvm, keep the necklace, girly. This asshat doesn’t deserve shit
- HE FUCKING DIDN’T THIS LITTLE FUCK NO NO NO NO NO NO
- My boy TRUSTED you he THOUGHT you were a GOOD person I am livid
- WHAT?? Just take on some medical debt and pay it off later what are we talking about?
- NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE THE MONEY BUT HE WAS THE ONE WHO HELPED POISON GRANDMA
- OHHHHH FUCKING HELL YOU’RE DEAD YOU LITTLE TWINK
- *I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it. And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it. I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe*
- Baby would be a damn good bartender
- Hey, Boss. Real easy way out of this just -REDACTED-
- I feel empty
- Wow… He really just said that, huh
- I hate it here
- *I tried but, I don't think so. Maybe it was me who was fucking up. I gave all I could give but. It seems like it never really was enough*
- “We” hurt the ones we love the most??? WE???? Who is this we?? Because right now it’s just Jack and Pops, don’t put my baby Joke in that WE
- I’m still mad that talk wasn’t nearly enough to quell the burning anger I feel towards Jack rn
- Jack gonna be so mad at Joke for this
- It’s just a ring tho..? Is it like magic?
- A KISSSS???
- *Finally it has happened to me, right in front of my face. My feelings can't describe it. Finally it has happened to me, right in front of my face and. I just can not hide it*
- Ooooooh love an “I need you right here right now” moment EEEEE
- Your first step after getting a ring that supposedly makes you a major power of the country is to… kidnap and round up poor debtors who can’t pay you…?
- Girly dancing through the pain too cuuute
- Starting off math class for like 10-year-olds with GCD is kinda wild lol
- Pops in the schoolhouse, check the sky for pigs, bro
- You lost me with this whole one (of four) ring to rules them all
- But like… Homeboy doesn’t have the funds even if he has the ring so…?
- Ayooooo we got a plannnn huhh
- Pretty accurate to how real Monopoly feels at family game night tbh
- Oh my heartbroken baby boy
- MY SWEET BOY IT’S GONNA BE OKAY
- YESSS a LOTR REFERENCE
- I’m still crying
- SOBPLL SAVE OUR BOYYSSSS and PRETTY LITTLE LADY
- Again… Just a ring…
- AN AXE???? Okay babe
- The dubstep in this series always catches me off guard lol
- *Is it too late now to say ZORRY*
- Boss man finally doing the -REDACTED- as I previously suggested
- Boss sent straight to the void in the QuinDecim fr
- Ugh, he lives
- THIS LIL GUY IS BOSS NOW????????????????????
- K, ig
- Bossfailure fr
- Rose my giiiirlll
- THE RIIIINGSSSSSSSS
- Music a little loud rn
- CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE

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This is akward...

First of all, the reincarnation tropé is nothing new, but to have that in an instant when the body of the grandpa dies is so strange that I could not comprehend that for a second or two, because I understand that Yuan did like the outside of Ze Fang, but I can't understand that he is quite in love the moment the souls switched. That the other soul is the hetero grandpa is the cherry on top which makes this ridicilous.

Production quality was good, cinematography was ok, but overall I did expect more. This is a again a taiwanese show which does disappoint.

I will not rant further, because storywise this was dumb. When I consider we have 2025 and there is still the hetero to gay tropé - a tropé which is sooooooooooo outdated and should not have a place in any BL. When I remove the obvious stupid parts of this story, it's a decent BL with no heights and quite everything is standard. It's pleasant to watch cute/handsome actors but that's it. Because of the story I have to downrank this show, because it makes no sense for me. If you like it, good for you, but I do expect more and of course, I'm not a girl. 🤣 I was never invested in the characters, so when I rate this as medicore, than it's because they went not the GMMTV/Domundi way which would make all worse... Watch it, if you have the time, skip it if the story is important to you.

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Total waste of time.

No matter how much you try to convince others that this plot makes sense or deserves a higher rating, let's be real—it’s trash. The idea that a grandparent would want their grandchild to sacrifice their life for them is not only unrealistic but also ignores the natural instinct of grandparents to protect and prioritize their grandchildren's well-being. No one in 2025 would make such a ridiculous choice. No grandparent would want their grandchild to give up their life for them in the name of love. Even if the grandchild decided to do so, no grandparent would accept it.

You're not going to make it seem okay for someone that old to get another chance at life while a young person in their 20s dies for love. This narrative glorifies self-sacrifice as the ultimate act of love, which can be harmful and promote unhealthy relationship dynamics. If they were truly destined to love each other, why didn’t the boy fall for him when he was older with grey hair? Why did he have to love him only when he was in a young body? Does love only become valid when it’s visually appealing? It seems like the narrative is prioritizing the older character's desires over the younger person's life, which is a concerning power dynamic.

I’ve been watching and reading danmei for years, and I’ve seen some plots defy common sense, but there was always a semblance of humanity. This is the worst plot I’ve seen in BL, and the way they justify everything is infuriating. There’s a limit to how much nonsense one can take, and this is where I draw the line. This is trash and shouldn’t be encouraged. To the writer, let this be your first and last attempt at this kind of plot.

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One of my first cdramas that I will never forget and also one of the first series that I allowed myself to rewatch. When I found out that I didn't have a review for this gem yet, I had to fix it right away and now. Jiaxu and Sang Zhi won my heart in the first episode without having to try, the same with Sang Yan (who also managed to do it in First Frost Imao). I don't regret the day I watched the series, but I regret finishing it and then drowning in tears that this masterpiece ended. As I already wrote, it's one of the dramas that I've watched for the second time, which is a miracle because I don't normally do something like that haha and I laughed, cried and cursed again. I love Hidden Love and all the spin offs connected to it. I love the main characters and the supporting ones, played by actors on the 1st. I love the story itself and the OST, which added a touch of spice to it. I love the whole Hidden Love thing and applaud those who put so much work into it because this masterpiece is worth watching. I said it in 2023, I'm still saying it in 2025.

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Underrated

I understand the reason why some might dislike this drama. Yes, the soul swapping with a grandfather is a bit iffy but if you can get passed that in a similar way to a 1000 year vampire, a 3000 year goblin, then this might be enjoyable for you. Although you might still be a bit disappointed. The drama certainly kept me guessing.

I enjoy these types of genres so it was quite a fun ride. The writers did have me worried though. I wasn't sure if they would be able to give a reasonably good finale but it was quite heart-warming with lots of sweet moments. I found myself tearing up at times and smiling at other moments.

Looking back Martin Wong delivered a really good performance. I liked the two distinct versions that he played and he pulled it off quite well. The other cast members were great as well. I might even do a rewatch now that the show has finally concluded.

The OST is also quite enjoyable!

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The Most Romantic Series of The Year!

That's what they promised in the trailer and they kept their word. From start till finish, this series, above anything else, is deeply romantic. It's the old-fashioned romance you'll find in novels, which may sound cliché or cheesy by modern standards, but it's also so charming and pure and very fitting for a period piece. The costumes, the cultural and political references along with the careful attention to detail, crafted a really strong and authentic world, successfully maintaining the illusion of a true period setting.

Despite the series' main focus being on the more serious themes, clever humour and light hearted moments have been naturally incorporated into the story, without feeling out of place. All the characters are multidimensional with their own goals and motives, as well as their own unique sense of humour, which makes them more charming and lovable. Great, Inn, Aou and Boom did an amazing job portraying their roles and delivering a wide range of emotions. Even the smaller characters contributed more to the plot than just being a comedic relief --like they usually are-- and gave heart to the series.

However, as good as this show was, it would have been amazing, had it had more episodes. It's among the few BL series that could have sustained multiple seasons, without getting tiresome. Many plotlines, close to the end, got a bit rushed to wrap up the series neatly with no loose ends, resulting in less depth and emotional impact than it could have achieved.

Overall, I definitely recommend this show to people who enjoy period dramas and romantic stories.

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