Reviews

Interesting and very engaging cases with a sweet romance

Well, to start off, the drama honestly hooked me right from the beginning. The storyline is super engaging and stays very true to the novel. The cases are twisted enough to keep you guessing, but still easy to follow, and the chemistry between the leads? Absolutely sweet and swoon-worthy.

The drama had in fact followed the novel very closely in terms of script but had slightly changed the beginning because of China's contents and regulatory standards regarding plots like rebirth, transmigration and so on, but the plot flowed seamlessly if you don't think too much into the identity swap of Shen Wan.

Now, about the ending—they did tweak it a little bit to cater to the majority of the audiences, who liked Shen Wan to remain as herself, the coroner who fights for justice. But personally? I kind of felt that with Li Landi’s portrayal, Shen Wan would’ve made a fantastic queen. Most readers felt that Shen Wan should remain free, and not be confined in the palace but I beg to differ. Let’s be honest—Shen Wan wasn’t all noble and selfless after all. She did do amazing with empathizing for the wrong souls out there, and investigating every cases until the truth comes out and justice prevails, but one got to admit that from the very beginning, her sole motivation was her father's innocence. Not that it shouldn't matter but I think if she became the queen, she could have taken her own brand of justice to a whole new level. She wasn't a normal noble lady, and Yan Chi wasn't the typical man of that times either.

Speaking of Yan Chi, Ao Ruipeng's acting was impeccable. He nailed it! Seriously, his acting keeps leveling up with every drama he does. His Yan Chi was everything I expected from the novel and maybe even better. From the very start, his fascination with Shen Wan is so obvious and the romance, while a little slow paced at first, it wasn't dragged on. Their relationship made perfect sense, and I loved how natural it was. All along the novel, Yan Chi had been nothing short of excellent, be it investigating the cases, or fighting for the justice, to pampering Shen Wan, and to the conflicts within the Royal family. Although, a major part of the novel had not been filmed, the part where he and Shen Wan were exiled, and Yan Chi rejoined the army and rebelled, it didn't cause any major plot hole. Though I kind of do wish that if that arc was actually filmed, it would've showed more of Yan Chi's military merits, which would’ve been epic to watch.

The side characters were honestly gems too. Especially, Bai Feng. I have noticed him in Moonlight Mystique, but here, he shined even more. Honestly, I do hope that he gets a main role because he does seem to have more potential in him. And Yue Ning, and Yan Li were equally amazing. These three supporting characters was the reason the show was engaging, having a slightly funny and light hearted romance. Again, I hope the side characters get to be the main leads in a very good script, because they honestly deserve it. The other side characters were equally very good. And let’s not forget the Emperor—if someone can make you hate him to your core, grit your teeth, curse him out, and then still shed a tear for him, then that someone is amazing. He is that someone. Overall, all of the cast were wonderful.

Now, onto the OST. Chef’s kiss. Every single song was beautiful, heartfelt, and addictive. The lyrics hit deep, the vocals were powerful, and the melodies stayed stuck in my head for days. Huang Xiaoyun’s “Don’t Sigh” and Zhou Shen’s “If by Dust” are masterpieces, you don’t even need to understand Mandarin to feel the emotions. And can I just say, I didn’t know Ao Ruipeng and Li Landi could sing this well! Their songs were surprisingly good (though I had heard Ao Ruipeng in Moonlight Mystique’s OST before). Curley Gao’s track was another sweet highlight, romantic and hopeful. Honestly, no skips here—I loved the entire soundtrack.

So yeah, this drama is definitely worth your time. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, and it might even make you hum Mandarin songs you don’t fully understand (been there, done that). My advice? Grab some popcorn, keep a box of tissues nearby, and settle in. Who knows—you might just love it!

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Love is esquire & Missed opportunities

The whole objective of the series is this:

«Love is esquire»

"Esquire" is used here in the context of young lawyers who are still learning the ropes. It is similar to old English "squire" (there's an etymology connection there).

"Love is esquire" means that love is an endless process of learning, just like an esquire must always learn to become better lawyers. (Or a squire to become a knight.)

No matter what form love takes, «love is esquire».

---

The show also missed many opportunities. Some of these are:

- developing the story of the FL's mother
- a story about the FL's twin sister who is hard of hearing
- a case related to PWD rights, especially one related to the FL's twin sister, and her aunt's PWD family
- building more on animal rights
- exploring deeply the various forms of marriages
- how marriages are broken
- the bond between a human and their pet

There were a lot of relevant topics they could've delved on deeper instead of simply using them as a plot device. It was a waste, especially in the context or objective it set itself: Love is esquire.

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Twelve: Don Lee’s Panda Boxing Disaster”

I went into Twelve with decent expectations—especially with Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok) in the cast—but what I got was utter disappointment. The drama introduces angels who are supposed to be millions of years old, yet they’re written and treated like children. Their so-called leader, Teasan (played by Don Lee), comes across less like a wise, timeless being and more like a man-child stuck in a repetitive tantrum cycle. His main “power” seems to be clumsy boxing sequences that look more like a panda swaying without music than a battle-hardened immortal.

What bothered me most is the lack of trust or maturity within the angelic team. If they’ve existed for millions of years, you’d expect wisdom, teamwork, and perspective. Instead, Teasan runs a one-man show, constantly undermining his own team as if nothing has been learned over the eons. This isn’t leadership—it’s babysitting. Worse, Teasan is portrayed like a greedy loan shark, hoarding cash and acting more like a villainous moneylender than a celestial being. Heroes storing wads of money like mob bosses? What kind of “angel” is that supposed to be?

The writing really fumbles with morality. Teasan even kills a boy he raised himself—how is that heroic in any way? The supposed “hero side” feels more like a gang of bullies than protectors of humanity.

On Sung Dong-il’s Character

If there’s one character who defined wasted potential in Twelve, it’s Sung Dong-il’s. Why cast such an amazing, seasoned actor only to reduce him to a garbage-talking sideshow? His entire role feels like filler—just eating up screen time with endless rambling and zero contribution. It’s “sunset acting” at its worst, where an old veteran is thrown in not to shine but to babble.

And let’s talk about that ridiculous “magic stick.” It literally looks like a dual-sided toy you’d expect from a shady shop, not a divine weapon. He waves it around like it’s bedtime routine, and then what? A few seconds of half-baked magic that fizzles out in under two minutes. All the other angels lose their powers, yet this guy keeps his gimmicky stick of doom? Who thought this was good writing?

Instead of being a powerful immortal, Sung Dong-il’s character ends up as comic relief that isn’t funny, a magician whose tricks flop instantly, and a total waste of one of Korea’s most reliable actors.

On the flip side, Park Hyung-sik, cast as the villain, is the only shining element of the show. By episode 5, he feels like the true protagonist—a betrayed underdog whose girlfriend was stolen by Teasan (yes, the same “hero” played by Don Lee). To make it worse, the girlfriend’s memories are wiped, forcing her into a relationship with this old, selfish man Teasan (Ma Dong Seok)
That tragic setup makes Park Hyung-sik’s character infinitely more sympathetic than the so-called heroes, who come across more like the real villains.

In the end, Twelve feels like a wasted premise. Instead of exploring the depth of beings who’ve lived for millions of years, we got immature writing, an unlikable hero team, and a lead actor wasted on a role that reduced him to a caricature.

Final Rating: 1/10 (and that’s being generous)

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Consort Strategy Manual: Love, Power, and a Dangerous Swap

🔹 Would I rewatch? No

🔹 Quick Take: A bold twist on palace-swapping told in 10-minute episodes. It’s fun to binge, but it loses momentum by the end.

✨ What happens when love meant to protect becomes a prison, and one lightning strike changes everything?

📖 Overview 🎬
🔹 24 episodes, historical romance
🔹 At the time of this review, all episodes have aired
🔹 Lv Shao is a consort caught in a dangerous royal scheme
🔹 Li Dun is an emperor whose love slowly turns into obsession
🔹 When lightning strikes, Lv Shao swaps bodies with the mysterious Noble Consort Wen Zhao, throwing the court into chaos
🔹 Ideal for viewers who enjoy emotionally intense palace dramas in quick, 10-minute episodes

✨ How It Felt Watching 💙
🔹 It begins with a strong emotional connection, then jumps into a fantasy twist where the body swap shakes up loyalties and power
🔹 The mood is tense + dramatic + slightly surreal, with episodes that feel like quick bursts of palace gossip
🔹 Core themes include obsession + identity + survival in a rigid world
🔹 The idea was intriguing, but the loose logic and simplified palace rules left the story feeling underdeveloped

🎭 Cast & Performances
🔹 Lv Shao’s actress conveyed vulnerability and inner conflict with clarity, especially during key emotional shifts, though the fast pacing left little space for deeper character development
🔹 Li Dun’s performance leaned into intense emotions like jealousy and control, helping to raise the dramatic tension, even if his political role stayed more surface-level due to time constraints
🔹 The supporting cast brought energy and presence to their scenes, but with only 10 minutes per episode, there wasn’t enough room for anyone to truly shine

🎨 Visuals & Production
🔹 The sets lacked the grandeur expected of the genre
🔹 Direction moved quickly with sharp cuts, which kept things moving but didn’t let dramatic tension build naturally

🏆 Final Thoughts
🔹 What worked: A unique concept, a body-swap twist, and a format that made it easy to keep watching
🔹 What didn’t: Thin worldbuilding and the production made the emotional weight feel somewhat lacking.
🔹 Would I rewatch? No
☕ SpillTheDramaTea’s Rating: 6/10
🌿 Tea-Scale: Just lukewarm, nothing memorable

✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, I wanted this stormy romance to sweep me away. Instead, it left me outside the palace, watching the thunder without the thunderclap.

✨ Can a body-swap love story thrive if the rules of power feel more like suggestion than structure?

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A truly Beautiful show that deserves more recognition

What make this show stand out in my opinion, are two things.
One is its incredibly unique narrative flow, which feels like a breath of fresh air, especially in legal dramas. It is remarkably thoughtful, heavy in depth, oftentimes very complex, yet unlike many legal dramas, it’s not draggy at all, it stands on a perfect middle ground where every moment feels purposeful and well thought-out. The narrative unfolds at a deliberately crafted rhythm that allows the viewer to truly feel the emotional weight and intellectual depth of each story, all while expertly maintaining a nice flow of momentum that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It had a “Breezy”, lovely vibe to it throughout the episodes, which I genuinely loved.
Another is that, almost each case or story was impactful to the character development for both ML and FL and their future, and also that of other characters. And we actually saw the character development throughout the show, and the actual influence those cases had on the main characters’ journeys. Instead of treating each case as a self-contained episode with a done-and-quickly-forgotten attribute, which is pretty much the case for most high-octane legal dramas, this show connects every story like threads in a larger theme. The impact of a case in one episode can resonate deeply in the next episode with the characters, with each legal battle serving as a crucial chapter in the characters' ongoing journey.
Every single case has something important to teach us, that happens in many legal dramas. However, with this show, all these cases were, as if, building towards a powerful, cumulative lesson about the complex nature of love—a theme that feels both surprising and profoundly earned by the time the finale arrived.
It didn't teach us about love in one sweeping motion, it wasn’t a one-time exploration, rather, the show builds its theme piece by piece, like a Lego structure, but more organic, if that makes sense. Each legal case adds a new block, rearranging perspectives and revealing different facets of what love can be. I’ve seen many legal dramas, but this show is really unique in this sense.
After watching the finale, I understood that this show, was truly about love, all forms of love, or maybe I should all expressions of love. The show’s portrayal of love is remarkably mature and authentic, sidestepping the usual clichés and overly sentimental scenes that can feel cringey, at least to me. Instead of showcasing grand, sweeping gestures or unnecessarily cheesy dialogues, it grounds its romantic themes in genuine human connection. I guess that’s why the chemistry between the ML and FL felt, so … different, so beautiful, so … humane.
As I am writing this, as someone who isn’t that big on love in real life and quite practical about these things, I am currently fighting some of my old understandings about love and relationships in my head. But I felt like I had to write about this, despite part of me still cringing out writing about “Love” at length like this.
The way it was structured, it really felt like the writers knew what they were doing. They had a plan, and whatever modifications they had to make in the middle, they did their job quite perfectly. The acting was really Phenomenal, oftentimes too real that it hit close to home. The ML and FL both had complex past with issues, which actually made the show extremely thoughtful. Those issues, although not completely resolved, at least not in the “They all lived happily ever after” fashion, actually made me relate to them in a more “Real” sense, I guess.
There were of course power-plays and corruption and themes like those that we see in legal dramas, especially in the legal-workplace. However, it wasn’t too over the top and the writers made sure that the real stories don’t suffer due to those elements. This was a writing masterpiece in that sense.
That's all I can actually write at the moment. At times like these, I wish I were a writer who could write on end without feeling exhausted, but I'm anything but that. I'm pretty sure I'm failing at fully explaining what I'm feeling about the show, but I did my best.
My recommendation for anybody, even if you aren't a fan of legal dramas, is to give it a go. It's a truly beautiful show, and I believe it will be worth your time.

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Really well written

I'm not a big one to watch lawyer shows because about halfway through, the storyline gets lost in weeds halfway done, and they forget how to move the main parts of the drama forward until episode 10-ish. By that time, I'm bored and move on.

This drama's writing is well-crafted, and the acting is above par. Not one episode dragged or lacked a thought-provoking storyline, BUT, the ending. Really? I'm not sure if they were hoping for a green light for season 2 or just wanted the viewer to write their own interpretation of the main leads' relationship, but I threw a couple of pillows at the TV after it aired. The ending should have complemented the previous 11 episodes and not left the viewer wondering, "What just happened?" Would I watch season 2? Yes, but I'd wait until all the episodes were released to make sure the drama didn't lack closure.

It's well worth watching, but do so with the understanding that season 2 is needed to know what relationship the two leads pursue. To me, writers need to understand that closure doesn't mean that a story is not followed further; it just tells the person watching what direction is chosen by the characters at that moment. I could understand if the main leads chose a mentor/student relationship or went forward to try a romantic one, but to leave off in mid-sentence is infuriating and my idea of lazy writing.

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Depth, and darkness with very little light

This is one of those stories that grabs your heart and squeezes it over and over again, while keeping you guessing who is who and how did they get there. The first letter clearly shows that we are in for a ride in to the darkest depths of despair not knowing if we will ever be able to get back out of it.

While some twists are mote predictable than others the way this drama unfolds bit by bit had me in a state of pain and fear throughout the whole drama, the mote I got to see the leads try to get out of the hell they lived in the more I got to know about them the more they made me feel stuff. As the writers really did a good job showing the human being behind the hooligan, how they got there and the bonds between the leads.

The two mains connections went beyond romance, beyond family, placing them somewhere between Better Days and Someday or One day type of storytelling brilliance. The mailbox, cat, past and present connecting timelines felt pretty secondary to the main story that took place in 1991.

The debt collectors, gang men got on my nerves more than once, however they had an important part in upholding the fear and contributing to the plot that I find myself appreciating the way they were written in to the story even though some of their parts where slightly rushed.

I do have one complaint and that is the casting of the older versions I get that they had a hard life but they looked closer to 75 than 55.


But other that that Id say this is one 0f 2025 best C dramas, it may even be one of the best drams released this year, the type of drama that really tells a story it may only be12 episodes long but it is nothing but a fast story , it is an easy binge but not an easy watch and there is not a single fast or fluffy carb in this only some slight hope of seeing some northern lights in the darkness.

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Good one

Guess Who I Am" is a slightly traumatic drama—not for casual viewers, but for the main character. An accident happened to the male protagonist during his teens, which caused him to forget the memories of the incident. However, he was certain it was not accidental and that someone was behind it. He then devised numerous plans, most of which were almost successful. On his journey, a girl—the female protagonist—helped him. She became the main link in his search for the truth. At first, they joined forces for their own ulterior motives, but eventually, they fell in love.

As the story progresses, a secret is revealed that completely changes the male protagonist’s identity. That part really makes you buckle up and get lost in the story. I hope you enjoy it. The chemistry between the leads is spot-on, along with the supporting characters and their love stories.

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That was a wonderful story. Kind of a slow burn but i get it.. they were trying to build the characters story. Once the story got going i couldnt stop watching episode to episode. I love Cheng Lei and his characters.. hes always so damn manly 😍 this showed some softer sides of him which he executed perfectly. His acting is always so good especially emotional scenes. The FL i like that she actually seemed like an actual female general. She made me believe it with how she carried herself throughout the series. I love female characters who have a strong sense of self and not too cutesy. I enjoyed her character very much. Would i recommend? Yes. Just be patient with the early part of the story.. it will all come together smoothly and not rushed at all. I enjoyed this story very much.. it tugs at your heart 💜

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Letters of love, regret, and hope

‒Review‒

Twelve Letters is a unique concept that delivered plenty of hard-hitting poignant moments. Depending on whether you were fully immersed in the emotions of the main plot line or occasionally distracted by loose ends, this show will either be a memorable favorite or a promising setup that had a shot at greatness.

The highlight of the show is the humble, touching, but often tortured story of the main couple. As high school youths in a small village in the year 1991, the main leads were two strong, decent, and tragic characters entangled in a mess of circumstances beyond their control, and desperately trying to escape. The ML was trapped by previous run-ins with local gangsters that continue to threaten his family and the FL. The FL was trapped by a vicious, manipulative gambling-addict father despite her quest to free herself from him and the town through college. It's through the desperation of the characters, the injustice of society, and the cruel helplessness of circumstance that we come to appreciate the precious glimpses of beauty and hope. The young leads of Zhou Yirang and Wang Yinglu deliver terrific performances, as does the talented supporting cast, including several younger actors. Yu Nian (Zhenghe Huizi) and Shen Cheng (Ren Youlun) were decent, and the 1991 group of Li Chadong (Jia Hongxiao), Zhang Hao (Zhao Runnan), Tan Xin (Chen Haolan), and Wang Manyu (Lin Xinyi) were standouts who deserve more acting roles to shine. The show wraps up the anguish and tragedy by delivering on a final letter of hope that ultimately provides a happy resolution.

Despite the many positives of the story, this had potential to be much more poignant‒whether as a love story, a mystery, or an indictment of society or the human condition. The main issue is the blemished execution of the letter exchange and use of timeline. The story involved the letter exchange in the plot, but didn't fuse it with the narrative or the emotional core. All of the most important narrative, emotional, and thematic moments occurred in the 1991 timeline, with a few in 2005 when ML was released from prison. 1991 had all the consequential events, the live-and-death stakes, and moments that delved into the characters and cruelty of circumstances. Rather than enhancing the story, the letters often distracted from the 1991 timeline as the audience is left speculating about how to alter the events. Moreover, many of the letters were not of the impactful variety as the first love letter from Tang Yixun, or even essential details for unraveling the mystery and changing the past. The result is the additional set of characters, plot, circumstances, and speculations diluted the poignancy of the 1991 story. In fact, the story would have been much more powerful if it had scrapped the timeline travel altogether‒even by sticking to a more conventional setup of twelve letters to and from prison or twelve letters addressed to the other person, the narrative would have been far more profound and cohesive.

In comparison, a few other titles executed the timeline device much better. Reset was much more polished in handling the logic of the timeline and leaving pieces of clues that built up to the plot and thematic climax. It also assiduously kept the focus on the core of the story and didn't get mired in the hows/whys that wouldn't be explainable. Link Click delved into many philosophical aspects of regret, fate, and confronting or even changing the past. It did so through vignettes that culminated in a powerful finish. And Interlaced Scenes is probably the closest in mood and themes. Even though there were no time-alteration aspects, the story was methodically revealed through interlacing timelines that despite divulging some key plot points in the beginning, kept pulling the readers along by revealing deeper mysteries and resonant themes. The key to delivering such powerful story is the approach of subtraction‒excise all extraneous elements and make all the details count. Had Twelve Letters done that, this would have been a masterpiece. Nonetheless, the team clearly put in a lot of effort, and I appreciate the ambition and originality of the show.

--Category Ratings--

- Overall - 7.8 (--> 8.0 MDL)
- Plot - 7.5
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8.5
- Acting - 8.3
- Visuals - 8.5
- Audio / Music - 8
- Rewatch - 7
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7.5
- Subtitle quality - 8

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