Reviews

Every moment is worth watching.

The Earth gave the 4 Elements series a strong start, and The Water has built on that tenfold. I’m not sure how The Air and The Fire are going to top this, but I wish them luck.

Before The Water, I would have said that Petrichor was the best script Englot had ever been given, but The Water surpasses it by miles. If this ends up being their final series together, I honestly could not ask for more. It would be a perfect way to conclude such a successful pairing.

The series featured exceptional writing, beautiful cinematography, and strong performances across the board. Every painful moment felt worth it because the writers delivered on the emotional payoff so effectively, which was elevated even further by Engfa and Charlotte’s undeniable chemistry and, most importantly, their talent. I would love to see them star in another series together because, whether the script is excellent or flawed, they always deliver. I will always look forward to seeing them on my screen.

The Water is not only part of the best ensemble project I’ve seen in Thai GL, but more importantly, it stands as a leading contender for one of the best series of the year.

If you haven’t started the 4 Elements series yet, do it. There is a lot of heartache, but you won’t be disappointed.

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This is going to be EPIC!!!!

Wow! This has all the ingredients to become a Spectacular show!!! So many of us have been waiting for a Wuxia BL that is a rightful successor to the unmatched drama that The Untamed is...this might just be it!! Story, screenplay, acting, twists, production values - all Top Notch. The only sad part is that it is just 8 Episodes 😔

BL-needle Score: 6. 5 Moderate BL-ness so far

To say that I'm hooked after the first two episodes wil be understatement. We had three Chinese BL releases this week and this is the last one that I got to, and it is, without any shred of doubt, THE BEST of all three!! The conspiracy theories are so delish and so is the understated chemistry of the leads!!

The script is script-ing, the cinematography is splendid, and the performances are fantastic!! The production values are also really really good...in one word, this seems slated to become an epic show of recent times unless they really screw up going forward, which, I doubt they will.

What are you waiting for, GO WATCH...like right now!!!!

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Seriously good!

I'm most likely getting ahead of myself but I think that even though the ratings so far have been fairly good, this drama is still underrated.

Seriously even with the great casting I didn't have anything expectations for it but it just so good. It's not the first workplace romance drama, there's nothing really new to the plot, but it's still feels fresh.

Joo In-Ah is such a great leading lady, scary at first but slowly showing her soft side, I'm crushing on her hard! I really admire her strength and dedication, she's not the kind of female lead that would play the victim, cower and cry, she stands tall prideful and strong, love, love, looove her.

Episode 6 so far has been the best, and allthough their love triangle has peeked it's ugly head around the corner, I'm still hopeful that it won't ruin what has been so far a nearly perfect drama, with the only flaw so far being that there hasn't been enough scenes involving Kim Jaewook, but I'm sure that he will be featured more in the second half of the drama. I am excited and hopeful that it will continue to impress me, so let's see what happens next.

Why is this drama only 12 episodes!!?? I'll be so sad when it ends, I just can't get enough of it honestly. I got my wish and the second half features Kim Jaewook a lot more and I love it, so much that I'd watch even if every characters was played by him every single one from the male lead to the rats rummaging tjrough the garbage, it'd be confusing, nonsensical, absurd and stupid but it'd be beautiful and enjoyable for me. With such a strong bias towards the actor playing him Jeon Jaeyeol hasn't triggered my second male lead syndrome. Hes seems to be a pretty nice guy but he doesn't come close to No Gijun, the guy is just perfect in every single way. I love this drama beyond words and simply cannot wait for more episodes!

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This Remake Didn’t Just Improve — It Completely Outdid the Original

I am on my knees for the Chinese BL industry — like, fully collapsed, no dignity left — because at this point they’re not just producing BLs… they’re out here crafting straight-up masterclasses and redefining the entire game 😩🙇🏻‍♀️🔥

Their expressions???? I don’t even know how to explain it — all I know is… they were absolutely on point 😭✨ Like, insanely good 🔥

The very first thing that completely hooked me (especially after watching the original) was their A-tier acting paired with S-tier chemistry 😮‍💨💫 Uffff, they did NOT come to play 💅🏻

The way they portrayed that teenage relationship?? And those rendezvous?? Executed in such a PEAK way 😩📈 — it felt natural, intense, and ridiculously addictive 🫠💖

Just 2 episodes in and I’m already fully invested 🎯 This is one of those rare dramas that has the audacity to keep you intellectually engaged from the very beginning 🧠✨ and I LOVE that ❤️‍🔥

At this point, I just know this series is going to dominate its genre and leave absolutely no crumbs 👑🔥

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Impressive!!!

OMG! This drama completely broke me, this was so impressive and i kept crying long after it was finished. The story was breathtaking and the dialogues were so impressive, and oh how i hate that mother!!!
This is nothing like any other BL i have seen, and for me it instantly became one of the best after The untamed and Until we meet again.
The cinematography was amazing and the music beautiful. I am so sad i can't find the music on Spotify.

The actors did such an amazing job. I already liked Pond's acting, but his acting in this drama was another level!

This drama is a must watch!!!
I will definatly watch this stunning drama many more times in the future.

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A Decent Arranged Marriage Drama Held Back by Mediocre Production

First Impression

I'll be straightforward — this drama is nothing special. It's filled with typical tropes you've seen in plenty of historical C-dramas. But if you like both lead actors, and especially if you are a fan of Song Weilong, and enjoy the arranged marriage trope, you'll probably have a good time with it.

The Gist

Youthful Glory is a historical romance with a bit of palace intrigue starring Song Weilong as Jiang Xu, a prince who returns to the capital to investigate a conspiracy, and Bao Shang'en as Ming Tan, a smart noblewoman who marries him to protect her family.

Production Quality

The biggest drawback for me was the lack of budget, and it shows. The color grading feels faded and outdated, giving the whole drama a washed-out and somewhat depressing look. I think if the cinematography and post-production had been even slightly better, it would have made for a much more enjoyable viewing experience and would really elevate the drama. As it stands, the writing, the plot, and the camera work are all fairly mediocre. But the acting is fine, so I stuck around because of that… and the romance. However, I do think fighting scenes were pretty decent. I saw way better, but definitely much worse as well.

The Pacing

The first few episodes are actually pretty good as they set up the romance and all the main conflicts. Things get a little boring in the middle after Jiang Xu and Ming Tan get married because there aren't any high stakes and we just watch him trying to pursue her to no avail. There are misunderstandings between them that I think writers genuinely need to retire at this point — come up with something else. The last ten episodes pick up and become quite interesting once the characters leave the capital and action, secrets, and real romance kick in. The final episode is light, fluffy, and cute, giving us an insight into the characters' future, which I think is very satisfactory since a lot of dramas have a very rushed ending.

The Romance

The romance starts out pretty strong, and we have a lot of time dedicated to our lead couple in the first few episodes and the development of their romantic journey. There are a lot of interesting and engaging situations between Ming Tan and Jiang Xu. The trashy kind that comes up out of nowhere, but I needed it at the time I watched this lol. So I didn’t care about the way those together moments were written into the story. Another thing I liked is that you actually get to watch how they get tangled up and why they end up getting married. And this drama takes its time setting up the premise, which I appreciate. I liked that because in a lot of C-dramas, arranged marriage situations happen fairly quickly within the first three episodes to bring our characters into a forced proximity trope faster. In Youthful Glory, things develop slowly before the marriage, and once they're married, the writers also take their time to let the characters get to know each other. And once they start getting closer, we get quite a few romantic tension-filled moments that I genuinely enjoyed. Again, I for some reason didn't care how they were written into the story.

I hated the stretch of the drama after Ming Tan's father was allegedly dead — I hated how she treated Jiang Xu during that period. And while I also disliked her stubbornness, I kind of understood why she felt the way she felt. Putting myself in her shoes, it made sense. But I can see why this made a lot of viewers hate her. Again, this is one of the elements that needs to be retired entirely from the script writing unless it's done right. And I don't think it was done quite right here.

However, because we see both points of view—hers and Jiang Xu’s it made her insufferable. But she doesn’t know the whole truth, so I gave her a pass. Luckily, this rough patch didn't last very long. Things pick up once Ming Tan and Jiang Xu make up. For me, this was a really decent romance that gave us great romantic moments and several amazing kiss scenes. That one-bedroom scene with the soundtrack from Lars Huang was great. I don’t know why people say there is no chemistry between the characters. Yes, Bao Shang'en isn’t on the level of some of the A-list actresses just yet. But I felt the tension in that scene. So overall, as far as the romance goes for the main couple, I quite liked it. I think I probably watched this purely for the romance, to be honest.

On the Female Lead

There's a lot of hate toward the female lead on here, which I don't quite understand. If people are coming into this after some of the 2025/2026 blockbusters where female leads are generals or warriors, Youthful Glory is simply not that kind of drama. Some of us women are fragile by nature no matter how hard we train. This is in defense of women like me who have always had weak constitution. That does not stop us from being somehow less important than those who can go onto the battlefield or do manual labor. Not all leads need to be wielding a weapon to be leads. Ming Tan is presented as a woman who takes responsibility for her family, so how is this selfish? I don’t see it. She is compassionate. She arranges help for refugees. She does her part and helps Jiang Xu with the investigation of the smuggling case byt being undercover. I think the biggest problem is writing itself because she just doesn't read very consistently across certain episodes. I expected something a lot worse based on the criticism in reviews. But there is absolutely no need to say that she is selfish or worthless because her character is a whole does develop, and she has some positive traits. I'd say watch it and decide for yourself. Also, people criticizing her character for doing something extremely dumb and putting everyone in danger is really unnecessary. This is something that exists in every single drama because it’s a device for writers to get to the point where they’re trying to get, and they just can’t think of anything better. In 90% of the dramas, to put one of the characters in danger, writers always make them act without any logic.

Final Verdict

This is an okay drama to pass the time while you wait for a better one. If you want sweet romance and you enjoy the arranged marriage trope, it delivers on that front. Just don't go in expecting high production value or a groundbreaking plot, and you'll be fine.

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Pfff

*sigh* Yep, it is bad. Really bad. The expectations were low and yet it still surprised me. If someone tells you this is a 10, they are trolling you (or they are paid). Or they have a mental condition... Or they are missing the fact that a review should be about quality not personal feeling. So, again, a mental condition. But I digress.

Visuals. Well, the OP is better, now if feels like a proper show. And very sparse good cinematography. Other than that, bad.
Sound design. Does all the heavy-lifting. Seriously. Dunno who the guy in charge is, but he should get a raise. Fantastic work for every scene, even if the story was sht.
The pacing, dragging. Yeah, yeah, so everything is the same, you get the idea.

The "good" parts. While the first season was silly and you could enjoy the fun, even when the story was sht, this one got "serious" while still being sht. So, there's nothing left to keep it alive.
Lets start with the most obvious ones. The writing is extremely bad, full of red herrings, plot devices, plot contrivances and so on. Just to paint a better picture, I guessed every fkin' thing they tried to do. How? Just by guessing "let me guess, now they will make this happen, just because it would be silly. And here it goes, yep". When episode 3 ended, I was sad because I thought I guessed something wrong, but then episode 4 happened and I laughed. And now I'm talking about who the villain is. And I also guessed what his motivation would be. The simple reasons (the five ones), not all of what we got, there was no way to "guess" all that nonsense. And then I guessed the parts for the later episodes. All the red herring, all those "subverting expectations" failures.
Another point to mention here: the season is full of manipulative editing. Thats the proper name for it, I'm not calling names. For example, when a scene is modified by cutting out some dialogue while first watching it, only to be added later in a flashback, to pretend being a reveal. In other words, manipulating your emotions. And the "funny" part? Not only are they doing it every time for this season, they even added for some scenes that happened in the first episode, to change the narrative. Their would-be defense? "Well, we never saw it so you don't know, it could've happened like that". So yeah, everything changed. And with it, character assassination. Because making a "cool" character acting like a "loser", just to make the scene feel emotional, its exactly that, out of character. Anyway, you get the gist. I wont keep going about it. Just know that it is full and it is sht.
Oh, quick side note. You're a paramedic, a person trained to act under pressure and what do you do in case of danger/emergency? You just stay in place and only turn around, yes? And then just look at that person, zero defensive maneuvers, like raising your arms (something etched in out DNA, something that they even said in this sht show), yes? *sigh*
Another side note. This one make me cringe-laugh. "-Go in US and learn. -No, I'm going there to teach them our forensics methods. No one can compete with Korea's forensics skills in speed and accuracy". You gotta admit: that is funny as hell.

OK, the last 5 minutes or so were really fun/good. This time for real. Too bad the show wasn't full of all that.

To sum it up. Sht season. From the writing, to the editing, everything is extremely bad. And I must repeat myself. If you hear someone saying it is good, they are trolling you. You can enjoy it (I don't know who though, but again, there are people who enjoy hitting puppies, so sure, why not?), but the quality is bad. Since the ending of the previous one, when you can see them trying to make the story more "legit", you can feel that its gonna go sideways. Maybe they wanted higher viewership ratings or something, so they went with the safe approach: emotional manipulation of the simple people. Thats all there is to it.
It gets a rating of 4. Apart from the sound design and some sparse good acting (or even really good, from just a few), nothing works. No enjoyment, no rewatch value etc.

Have a lovely day.

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A turbulent journey towards seclusion and peace.

AJTL definitely hit the nail on the head when it came to portraying and executing a compelling and realistic journey— filled with constant ups and downs— heartwarming and hilarious one moment, emotionally devastating the next. It made me anxious, attached, heartbroken, and hopeful all at once. What immediately drew me in was how refreshing the dynamics felt. Instead of the usual cold male lead and softer female lead, the drama flips the trope entirely: we get a nonchalant, deadly female lead paired with a smug, emotionally intelligent male lead. It felt refreshing and surprisingly natural. It's such a full female-centric drama. Not to mention, a comforting found family trope: our Liudao Tang family!

The writing also balances seriousness with humor exceptionally well. It is an incredibly unhinged, hilarious, and entertaining watch— something the drama cleverly uses to mask the gut-wrenching emotions lying underneath, especially in the latter part. The humor never feels out of place; instead, it makes the emotional moments hit even harder once the drama strips away all the laughter and reveals the pain beneath it. More importantly, the drama perfectly captured the bond and dynamics between the characters. Their interactions felt so natural and lived-in that, as an audience, I became deeply attached to them. It made it easy for me to connect with their stories, understand their motivations, and empathize with their struggles, making every sacrifice and emotional moment feel even more devastating.

Hence, I want to take a moment to break down the characterization and development of each character— through my lens— because they are all genuinely written with such depth that they felt deeply human; flawed, layered, and emotionally real:
• Ren Ruyi/Ren Xin
She is genuinely one of my favorite female leads ever. A true badass female lead through and through. She is cold, ruthless, and terrifying toward her enemies— exactly how an assassin shaped by her past should be. Yet beneath all that is someone unexpectedly soft-hearted, awkward with emotions, and quietly yearning for connection without fully realizing it herself.
Liu Shishi portrayed her perfectly. I truly felt the contrast in her character: the deadly seriousness when killing paired with the emotional restraint and the subtle softness hidden underneath. Even her flirtatiousness makes sense because it stems from her White Sparrow upbringing. Nothing about her feels forced— every layer of her personality feels intentional and compelling. I am just truly in awe of Liu Shishi's performance— her portrayal of Ruyi/Xin perfectly captured the essence of the character. It allowed me to see both the assassin shaped by hardship and the woman slowly learning to understand trust, affection, and softness.

• Ning Yuanzhou
Ning Yuanzhou's characterization is so unexpected. At first, he comes across as smug, playful, and unserious, but beneath that humor is someone deeply burdened and emotionally scarred. What makes him compelling is how he disguises his harshness and trauma through wit and composure. He never wanted to worry his companions, often masking his own pain under the excuse of protecting the army’s morale. Yet, the drama makes it clear that even the strongest people need moments of vulnerability. This is exactly why he and Ruyi work so well together— despite their differences, they carry the same weight in different ways. Both of them understand duty, sacrifice, and emotional restraint, and it is in that shared burden that their connection feels so natural and grounded. He also feels softer and emotionally wiser even from the beginning. Liu Yuning actually looked so good here; this role suited him perfectly.

• Yu Shisan
Shisan completely won me over. He might present himself as a womanizer on the surface, but beneath that image is someone deeply reliable— someone who can be trusted completely when it truly matters. He is the type of person who would rather act like nothing is wrong— maintaining a nonchalant, unbothered exterior— while underneath it all is genuine worry and quiet anxiety for his friends. He truly feels like the older brother of the group, always carrying responsibility even when he refuses to show it openly. Even when the delegation constantly messes with him, calls him a playboy, and teases him for his antics, his presence truly offered warmth and comfort to the group dynamic. His humor and sincerity makes him such a quirky person— deeply charming in his own way. His antics consistently add color to the drama, ensuring there is never a dull moment with him on the screen. Alen Fang’s portrayal is phenomenal— bringing out both the comedic brilliance and emotional depth of Shisan in a way that makes him impossible not to love.

• Qian Zhao
Zhao might often appear as a quiet bystander, lingering at the sidelines, but his presence consistently brings a sense of steadiness and dependability to the group. He is the kind of character whose loyalty speaks louder than words. One of the most emotionally striking moments for me was when his true motivations were finally revealed. I felt almost baited and perplexed alongside Yuan Lu, Lang, and Shisan, yet at the same time, I found myself immediately empathizing with him. His breakdown and emotional collapse added another layer to his character— revealing that beneath his reputation as the Emperor’s most loyal subordinate, there was actually a resentment and quiet hatred he had been carrying all along. That contradiction made him feel painfully human rather than one-dimensional. His death hit especially hard for me, not only because he was the first to fall, but because of the timing of it all. It just felt deeply unfair— he had just retrieved the remains of his brothers, especially Chai Ming, with the intention of bringing them all back home. In the end, he fulfilled that promise for them, but he himself never made it back.

• Sun Lang
Sun Lang is honestly one of the softer presences in the group. Although he didn’t have much screen time and was often left behind by the four, his gentle nature still added a quiet warmth to the group’s dynamics. It’s also amusing and endearing to see how much he loves animals— especially anything fluffy and soft— which highlights his softer, more tender side beneath his composed exterior. His pursuit of “fluffiness” however, ended in a moment of sacrifice and bravery in order to save his friend, which revealed a deeper sense of honor and selflessness. He consistently prioritizes others over himself, always having their backs even when it means leaving himself defenseless. That quiet willingness to protect, even at his own expense, truly makes him the strongest in defense in the group.

• Yuan Lu
Yuan Lu absolutely broke my heart and left me deeply attached to him. He’s gentle, sincere, and emotionally pure in a way that makes you want to protect him. His kindness never felt naive— it felt genuine— making his fate all the more painful. The fact that he was aware he wouldn’t live long, yet chose to accept it and instead live each day without inhibitions or restraints, adds a quiet kind of bravery to his character. Even then, he still tried to shield Yuanzhou and his other brothers from worrying about him, always putting others before himself. However, it was his final moments that truly broke me. When he finally admitted that he wanted to live longer and was afraid of the day he would die, it was stomach-turning to watch— because it revealed the vulnerability he had spent so long suppressing. As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, his confession to Ying and his wish to ask for her hand in marriage in their next life only deepened the emotional weight of his ending. I truly felt empty after his death— that's how deeply I became attached to him. It was just ironic how he spent his life wanting freedom, and in the end, it feels like he finally gained it— wings to soar beyond everything earthly and painful. Somewhere far away, beyond the reach of any mortal, where he can finally rest in peace.

(The Liudao Tang quickly became the emotional heart of the drama for me. Their found-family bond reminded me so much of the Wei generals dynamic. And it left me devastated that despite everything they've been through, they were still never truly given the chance to live their lives with peace and happiness that they deserved.)

• Yang Ying
Yang Ying’s development is one of the most compelling arcs in the drama. Watching her slowly grow from someone timid, powerless, and out of touch into a capable and emotionally mature individual was incredibly satisfying. She learns how to use her resources to her advantage, proving that even without the delegation by her side, she is still able to survive and keep herself out of harm’s way. It is truly empowering to see her take control of her own fate— no longer relying on others for survival, but instead learning to depend on herself. Her growth feels earned, shaped by experience and hardship rather than sudden change. Her bond with Ruyi is also especially beautiful. Ruyi becomes more than just a mentor to her; she becomes a source of strength, guidance, and quiet reassurance. Through their master-disciple relationship, Ying not only learns how to survive, but also how to grow into someone stronger, more grounded, and more self-assured.

• Li Tongguang/Jiu
Tongguang is that kind of complex and conflicting character. He’s frustrating, tragic, obsessive, lonely, and emotionally stunted all at once. Despite his flaws, I found him compelling because the drama never simplifies him into just a villain. There’s always something deeply broken underneath his actions— still some of his actions are unjustifiable. Unexpectedly, I never anticipated him and Ying ending up married. That completely caught me off guard. Nonetheless, it actually made sense and offered peace and security in the future for both An and Wu.

• Chu Yue
I really appreciated Chu Yue’s character. She knows her priorities, stands firmly on her own feet, and refuses to be limited by conventions. More than anything, I appreciated how the women in this drama are written independent, emotionally intelligent, and capable of pursuing both ambition and love. She never let men hindered her ambitions and instead stayed true to herself. While it is endearing to see her end up with Shisan, their dynamic also carries a bittersweet undertone. Even though she felt like someone capable of grounding him and “taming” his chaotic nature, he ultimately wasn’t able to fully commit or fundamentally change who he is. Instead of a complete transformation, what they share feels more like a meeting of two distinct personalities that influence each other without entirely reshaping one another. In the end, it was a doomed love after all.

Of course, at the center of it all, Ruyi and Yuanzhou's relationship. It was genuinely one of the healthiest and most mature romances I’ve seen in a C-drama. They are both people shaped by violence, betrayal, and tragedy, yet instead of making each other worse, they soften each other. Their relationship is built on consistent communication, mutual understanding, respect, and emotional honesty. One of my favorite lines perfectly captures their dynamic: “Because we love each other sincerely. If we want to be together for a long time, we can’t just casually skip over one problem after another.” They don’t romanticize pain nor reduce love into omething that simply “fixes everything as long as we love each other.” Instead, it acknowledges that love alone isn’t enough if problems are constantly ignored or avoided. It’s this willingness to face hardship head-on, instead of escaping it, that makes their bond feel mature, stable, and secure. Because of this, by the end, no matter where life leads them, there is a quiet but powerful mutual understanding between them. They reach a point of acceptance— of each other, their flaws, their pasts, and everything they’ve endured together. In the end, it’s clear that a life shared with one another is not just what they chose, but what they truly and wholeheartedly wanted.

The ending was in no doubt painful. Losing beloved characters absolutely shattered me. However, I firmly believe that Ruyi and Yuanzhou truly got their happy ending. The drama repeatedly establishes the motif of faking deaths and escaping from chaos. Their story literally begins with faking their deaths and hidden identities— so ending it the same way feels intentional and poetic. To me, the ending symbolizes them finally achieving what they wanted— and perhaps never fully realized they needed all along: seclusion, peace, and a life filled with genuine happiness and love rather than politics and war. After everything they sacrificed, I choose to believe they are finally living quietly somewhere together with their children. If they truly died, it wouldn’t make sense for Chu Yue to be the one seeing them together with Zhao, Lang, Shisan, Yuan Lu, and their supposed “child,” especially since she had no knowledge of the couple’s plans after the war ended. That moment instead feels more symbolic than literal— suggesting a hopeful interpretation of their fate, of what could have been, rather than a definitive confirmation of death.

Overall, the production quality was genuinely off the charts. The cinematography elevated both emotional and action scenes beautifully. The suspense sequences were gripping and immersive. And the OST? Absolutely phenomenal. Every single song hit exactly where it needed to emotionally. The soundtrack amplified the heartbreak, tension, yearning, and hope perfectly. It'll definitely stay in my playlist for years.

While the plot itself isn’t particularly unique— in fact, it follows fairly common tropes at some times. What truly makes it compelling is its strong focus on character writing. It works more as a character-driven narrative than a plot-driven one, and that’s where it shines. Every arc and development feels meaningful, which is why I found myself deeply attached to almost every character. Every journey felt dangerous, every victory felt hard-earned and satisfying, and every loss felt devastating. At times, it genuinely felt like I was part of the delegation and the Liudao Tang family itself, sharing in their struggles, bonds, and emotional weight. Therefore the Liudao Tang family (Zhao, Lang, Shisan, Yuan Lu) playing in the snow stands out as arguably the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching moment in the entire drama. The stark contrast between that peaceful, almost fleetingly warm scene and Yuanzhou’s looking at them from afar completely shattered me. It didn’t just feel like a memory— it felt like a moment that already slipped away. That moment deeply gutted me and made me grieve them alongside Yuanzhou, as if I too was mourning them and the life they could have had.

Everything about this drama is such a wonderful experience. It delivers a wide spectrum of emotions all at once— joy, tension, heartbreak, and warmth— yet the ending ultimately makes the entire journey feel worthwhile and fulfilling. In the end, it becomes genuinely difficult to say goodbye and move on from it. It’s the kind of drama you only get to experience once in the same way— so impactful that you almost wish you could erase your memory just to watch it again with fresh eyes and feel everything all over for the first time.

Definitely a drama I'd recommend— not for the sake of heartbreak, but for the sense of fulfillment and emotional depth it ultimately delivers.

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It's been several months since I've fully watched a Korean drama. I dropped so many that I decided to take a break and come back. The reason: too many ad nauseam romance dramas.

I did like this drama though. I like supernatural dramas if they're done right. It's hard portraying ghosts because of the amount of special effects that have to be used to achieve the desired effect.
I liked how they made the MML become possessed whenever emotions from his ghost clients ran high. The way you could tell was by the change in the color of his cheeks. He portrayed every ghost client differently from the way he would act which made it even better to watch. I most definitely loved when he had to deal with female ghosts. The dancer/singer ghost was hilarious!
I even got choked up on two episodes because those two hit home for me.

I liked how the episodes weren't drawn out. Usually Kdramas will have one subject and will focus on that throughout the entire series. This one, most scenarios lasted for two episodes. One subject only lasted for one and the last three focused on the MML's dad.

Now to the cast: I couldn't put a finger on where I saw the MML and had to go and check and realized he was the main character in a drama that I dropped: When The Phone Rings...

Still bitter about that one.

He was completely different in this drama. I liked how he had grown attached to his clients. They all connected in a way that even left me wanting for them to stick around.

The MFL was OK. I liked her in Taxi Driver. She got on my nerves at first but she grew on me.

I absolutely loved three supporting characters: the mom. the brother-in-law, and the priest. They brought a chemistry that kept me drawn to this drama.

There were some eye rolls I have to address though. The premise of how the MML was able to see ghosts by just inhaling some incense. Really??
The one episode where they made it seem like he wasn't able to see ghosts truly fell flat. That was the worst episode for me.

The fact that they heavily focused on the shaman only to show him for a split second close to the end of the drama and just left it dangling with no type of closure and how they dealt with the MML getting shot and being able to fully recover within the next few seconds almost had me in a tourettes moment.

I was happy about the last episode until they had to turn it into a romance moment. I so hate when they do that!!! When that happens it loses its luster for me but in the end I loved how the last episode was done before the waste of anything romance related.

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What If and What Is.

August 17, 2012, was the worst day in Zhou Jin's life. It was the day Zhou Chuan, the older brother she adored, was brutally killed in a SWAT operation gone wrong. Her life continues to unravel as her childhood sweetheart, Jiang Cheng, betrays her. Five years later, she is numb and still seeking answers as she advances in the police force. A close call convinces her it is time to get on with her life. She decides to marry longtime admirer Jiang Hansheng, an acclaimed criminal profiler. Together, they unravel the truth behind her brother's death and race to track down Hansheng's nemesis: the Red Dress Killer.

There are two main plot arcs in this story. The first is the tangled triangle between Zhou Jin, Jiang Hansheng, and Jiang Cheng. It is one of the few well-written and complicated triangles where no one is truly to blame, and everyone's point of view is understandable and empathetic. All is fair in love and war, so I appreciate that everyone is slightly selfish and fights for what they want. After all, in matters of the heart, it is best to try and fail rather than give way and live in regret. In the end, there is no real winner or right choice—it all comes down to timing. The narrative skilfully explores Zhou Jin's heart wrenching conflict between what if and what is.

This is an excellent cast all around. As a huge fan of both Jing Boran and Qin Junjie, I was genuinely torn between Jiang Hansheng and Jiang Cheng. But in the end, Jiang Cheng won me over. I found Jiang Hansheng's obsessiveness and subtle manipulation too suffocating, although Jing Boran was masterful at highlighting his stoic loneliness and vulnerability. Qin Junjie floored me with how well he played the bad cop—I never thought he had it in him to pull off such an excellent gangster. Although Cai Wenjing always delivers a credible performance, I didn't like Zhou Jin, and I feel this was not her best role.

The crime plot is well-paced, suspenseful, and fairly well written, but there are enough holes to stop me short of calling it tight. What I really didn't like is how Zhou Jin was allowed to participate in what was clearly a personal investigation. She also recklessly charges into too many situations, and even though she can hold her own, I found her obstinacy and recklessness annoying. She was my least favorite of the three main characters, and she failed to convince me she was worthy of such devotion from the two men.

For me, the romance and character dynamics are worthy of an 8.5, but the crime story is a 7.0/7.5. This works out to be slightly short of an 8.0 from me—but Jing Boran is a sexy beast, so I can round it up to 8/10.

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Life post-divorce included new love, career restart & unfortunately ex-husband's harassment

I was in the mood for Meng Jia Hui drama so I picked this one because it's the latest on his MDL profile. The synopsis was fascinating. Xia Xun Zi is unfamiliar to me so all these added some excitement and expectation. It was a good watch despite bloated antagonist arc.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - This drama centred on FL's life post-divorce. I liked that she didn't have a pity party for herself. She knew her worth.
2. ML characterisation - I really liked him. He was smart, supportive & focused on his goal.
3. Romance - Wow, ML had tricks up his sleeve. Well he had crush on her for 10 years but never meddled in FL's relationship with previous husband. I don't like deception but the lie was discovered quite soon after the marriage. I liked that he negotiated with FL about the terms of their marriage.
4. Supporting character - I loved ML's mother who initially played along then decided to tell FL the truth.
5. Styling - Good outfits chosen for both leads. FL looked great and fashionable. XXZ seemed talk too because she wore kitten heels and height difference wasn't too big.
6. Duration - Just over 2 hours is nice.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Ex husband was scumbag for denying his cheating behaviour. The mistress was annoying gold-digger and an imposter. His mother and sister were selfish too. Anyway I disliked that antagonist arc was given too much screen time.
2. Romance - I wish the antagonist screen time was cut short and reallocated to the main couple. I'd love to see their romantic progression develop with substance.
3. Acting - While I liked her voice, I found her performance was monotonous. I didn't also sense much chemistry and warmth between Xia Xun Zi and Meng Jia Hui.

Favourite scene
When ML introduced his wife at the banquet

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