Reviews

Bittersweet & Reflective

I really enjoyed this. It stirred up a strong sense of longing and nostalgia while I was watching. Even though much of the latter half was bittersweet, it felt true to life—something I could identify with, empathize with, and even commiserate with. I felt a profound connection to each character, despite how different they were from one another, because each of them experienced a stage of life that we all go through as we grow older. That’s why I believe this drama resonates more with older viewers—we've faced more of life’s challenges and growth, which allows us to relate on a deeper level.

However, one major critique I have—and the reason this drama doesn’t sit on my top shelf—is the excessive use of flashbacks. By the midpoint of the series, they were overused, often repeating the same scenes, and sometimes took up nearly half an episode. I ended up skimming through them because I was already so familiar with those sequences.

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An Epic Story Undercut by Its Execution

I have such a love-hate relationship with this drama. If it hadn’t been a Guo Jingming adaptation, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to stick with it. It held so much promise for me, but the execution, pacing, and some of the side plots didn’t quite land. The narrative itself was truly epic: wonderfully layered and poignant. When viewed as a continuum—tracking what happened to the characters and how much their lives had changed from the people we met at the start—the ending becomes incredibly impactful. Their trajectory, character growth, and the life challenges they faced added a depth that really drew me in.

Unfortunately, it was weighed down by uneven execution and common cinematic tropes—especially the overuse of memory sequences. That said, I can still see the potential in this drama and the elements that were truly compelling or kept me emotionally invested. So while this wasn’t a win for me, I don’t regret spending so much time on it.

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I THINK I'M GONNA DIE IN THIS HOUSE

A pretty okay show that gets really sad and really dark if you think about it too much. This took me 2 years to finish because I am afraid of ghosts. It was good, and then the ending was just okay. I would give it an 8 (8.31) out of 10. I am gonna say what I liked, what I didn’t, and then an episode overview.

THEY HAVE CHEMISTRY. Thank god because if they didn't, this show would have been unbearable. They have chemistry, and it's actually pretty good. I will give them that. This show has such a dark undertone, holy fuck. And I do think they did that pretty well. The guy who plays Kawin or whatever Kevin idk, is so hot, Jesus Christ, he is such a fucking pleasure on the eyes. I am mortified of ghosts, and the first couple of episodes knocked me silly. The development of the main couple for the first 6 episodes was great, and I enjoyed it a lot. I LIKE THE LORE THEY DID WITH THE GHOST FAMILY. It made them actually feel like real people, and that was very enjoyable. Like they were actually people before they got their lives cut short, GUTTED. The kids were in high school, and the fact that they had friends, besides the brother, they had lovers, they had people they hated, THEY WERE REAL PEOPLE. FUCK THAT MADE ME SO SAD. Good chemistry and acting in their sex scenes, and I will be rewatching. This had me lowkey spiraling about how temporary life can be. I liked the full circle bit with him buying the house and taking care of it. That was nice, okay, that's about it.

The acting is lowkey mid as fuck and weighing more on the bad side. Like it was kind of a hard watch at some points, but that's fine, I guess. The ending. The weird time gap lowkey wrecked the fucking ending, and that pissed me off. It could have been great, but they just time gapped it and brought it through the mud with all of the random fucking bullshit they brought up. The whole thing with him being a live streamer was such bullshit, Jesus fuck that pissed me off. The way the ghosts just faded out. Bro, I wish we did a little more than just Oh, here is a half ass ending for the people who were the whole point of the show. Shut up. A bunch of random plots thrown together, and they try to make them stick. More on them nuking the characters, the actor guy is so selfish and so annoying, and he is a bitch. Like, just ruined this shit. Fuck off. I think that they could have connected the plot and each episode better; what they did was just kind of annoying and weird, and they had plot points, but not a lot of plot. Okay, that is it.

Overview time, we thank my dearest sister who recommended this show to me. "My lovely sister spoiled most of this show, but I am still scared lol. I was not prepared for this." "Love that scene, but everything else, I am so scared right now it's not even funny. The car rising out of the water scared the fuck out of me. I can't." Chloe then stopped watching for 2 years. "A bunch of random plots thrown together, I can't lie. I DONT KNOW WHO'S ALIVE AND WHO'S NOT. Fire transition. I am hella confused, but I assume the ghosts are gonna die." "An entire family killed is so unfathomably sad. DONT MAKE HER LESBIAN I AM GONNA GET MORE SAD. Nice connection with the sister. Dang, ruining two families. Life is so fucking temporary, it is scary." "Also, you are a terrible boyfriend and friend, he just lost all of his family, and god forbid he doesn't wanna be with you right now. Very selfish, also I wish they did more with the ghost and their deaths because they were the whole point of the show, and they just kind of faded away." "I am so confused, he just went back to the states? This show was good, and then idk what plot writing they did in this episode, but it wasn't good. Great chemistry, mid ass acting, I liked the full circle moment with the housing and leaving it frozen in time, I just wished they didnt do that weird time gap or jump, that was pretty meh."

Uh, if you want to watch it, you can, but it is a pretty skippable show. Okay bye!

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A Heartwarming Journey of Dreams and Friendship

"Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" is a delightful blend of sports and romance, showcasing the journey of a young weightlifter as she navigates her dreams and emotional struggles. The series shines a light on the importance of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery. With vibrant character development, the chemistry between Kim Bok Joo and Joon Hyung provides heartwarming moments that resonate with viewers. The comedic undertones and heartfelt narratives create a balanced tone, making it both entertaining and inspiring.

While some plotlines may feel like filler, the show's overall charm lies in its authentic portrayal of youthful aspirations and the challenges that accompany them. The engaging performances, particularly from the lead actors, draw viewers into Bok Joo's world, making it easy to root for her success. With its captivating storyline and relatable themes, I would rate this series an **8 out of 10** for its impact and enjoyment.

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two stories intertwined: one of them is OK, the other one is atrocious

This drama has one huge flaw, which is like a big dirty stain on a dress.
The flaw I'm talking about, is the entire secondary plot—the story of Bing Zhu and Dreamshard Immortal/Pianpian.
If they'd cut out everything related to DI, all the episodes set in her realm, then all of Pianpian’s actions and Bing Zhu’s story and decisions, I would easily give this drama an 8 or maybe even 8.5 out of 10.
Not more, because an additional (though much smaller) burden is the weak chemistry resulting from Tan Songyun’s completely unromantic performance.
But even with this flaw, the story of Hong Ye and Xiao Yao, with their time travels and the backdrop of the human-demon conflict, would be quite enjoyable to watch. Moreover, in the space purified of the pointless secondary plot, they could have add more interactions between the main characters and potentially more episodic stories, like the one with the mountain elf or the squirrel who thought it was human.
The initial relationship between Hong Ye and Xiao Yao could also have been developed so that their feelings wouldn’t appear so suddenly and inexplicably. If it weren’t for that silly Bing Zhu, in the last episode the three powerful demons could have easily survived.
If I were to change things, I’d probably change the ending too, because the current one is mediocre.

Unfortunately, the screenwriter decided to “treat” us to this nightmarish secondary plot, which consists of some of the worst-written characters I’ve ever seen in dramas. Their decisions and behaviors are so utterly illogical that it’s painful to watch. It just doesn’t make sense. Why does Dreamshard Immortal No. 1 imprison Hong Ye, and force Xiao Yao to undergo a ridiculous test where she could lose her life? How would that bring her closer to completing the mirror, which is, apparently, her main goal? It would make more sense to imprison Xiao Yao and tell Hong Ye to bring the mirror to get his beloved back.
And what does Downshard Immortal 2.0, that is, Lu Pianpian, have against demons? Why does she set Bing Zhu against them? If she cares about him, she could arrange a wonderful life for him by manipulating the emperor’s dreams. And if, as DI, she absolutely has to kill someone, why demons and not humans? Humans hurt her much more.
The same goes for Bing Zhu, who has been a victim of human scheming since childhood. But it never even occurs to him to take revenge on those who actually hurt him. Instead, he’s obsessed with killing demons. He seems like a righteous person, but without batting an eye, he follows the orders of that disgusting emperor. His direct subordinate is a vile schemer who nearly gets him killed, but after Pianpian saves Bing Zhu, he continues to serve the emperor and—what’s even more absurd—his subordinate is still the same guy whose nasty character Bing Zhu has experienced firsthand. Why is he such an idiot?
Why does he keep listening to Hei Wu? And he’s not the only one. Hei Wu is generally a hopeless fool who just flails around chaotically, stirring up trouble everywhere, hoping it will somehow harm Hong Ye. But by episode 28, everyone should have realized he’s a psycho who’s not worth listening to or cooperating with, because he just jumps from one disaster to another and causes more problems than he solves. Yet he still manages to sow discord.
And Dali? For ten episodes, she’s Xiao Yao’s close friend. She’s nice and straightforward. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, she becomes a completely different character: false and cunning. Everyone in this side plot behaves illogically, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and ultimately it’s unclear what they even want, and the whole story is terribly unconvincing. That’s why from episode 26 onward, the drama is much better, because there’s much, much less Bing Zhu, Pianpian, and the whole gang.
So in the end, I rate the whole thing 7/10. And if Neo hadn’t acted in it, I would have dropped it halfway through.

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just testing this function please ignore

blah blah blah and don’t be mad about me because I’m a good girl I just want you know I am not good for anybody else I just wanna make you feel bad for you I just wanna know if I don’t have a problem and if I can get it to me I will do that and then I’ll do that I just want it and then I’ll just go ahead with the plan I don’t want you guys being upset I don’t wanna have any issues and just have to deal and just do what you want I don’t wanna do what you need and I’m trying and I’m just don’t have any problems with it and I’m just gonna be OK I don’t wanna get upset and I’m just saying that you know that you know I don’t wanna get hurt or something else to make me a lot more money I just wanna be happy with you guys just want you guys know I just wanna know that I just wanna know how to get some more than I know you guys are the only reason I just want tytttttt and I’m just trying not being rude to you know I just wanna know I don’t want you guys have fun I love y hahahah and I’m just wanna make you all right I love y hugs love and be careful love and be kind and sweet and kind and I will talk with you later bye love you bye love you bye love you bye love you bye love to talk later I hope to hear back later I hope you’re doing well and I’m gonna see my mom tomorrow and see

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Nothing is Secret That Will Not be Revealed...

Thanks to Tat for the recommendation. I needed a break from blood -spewing wuxias and mindless romcoms, and this was a welcome change. Zhao Lu Si was perfection as the closed off, careful schemer. William Chan did admirably as her chameleon lead, at first charming the viewer as a thoughtful suitor until he revealed his cold, manipulative nature.

I hate lying, despise liars, and tire of drama misunderstandings, but those issues were dealt with a deft hand and made sense. I was sympathetic to the FL's need to create a carefully crafted, totally bogus image of herself. The misunderstandings that derived from her duplicity occurred naturally and were understandable. The overriding narrative of the drama is that nothing remains secret forever, and there is a price to pay for dishonesty.

The character development of the ML and FL was compelling as their masks were dropped, and they became increasingly honest with one another.

The final episodes sullied the drama a bit by having too many over-the-top conflicts presented and overcome. At least one, if not more, of the ridiculous scenarios should have been discarded. I can only suspend belief so far until reality rips me out of the story.

I added a half star for Zhao Lu Si's acting.

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it started great then fell off. filler filler filler testing testing testing why is there a minimum word count blah blah blah
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Royal Drama, Scriptwriter’s Favorite Child, and Everyone Else

The Princess Royal is a compelling but deeply uneven drama. At its best, it delivers sharp political intrigue, emotionally intelligent romance, and one of the most solid male leads in recent memory. At its worst, it bends its own logic and sacrifices narrative balance to overindulge a character who does not earn the sympathy the script desperately wants us to feel.

Story
It’s another nostalgic trip to the past: a royal power couple, thoroughly miserable, die due to political betrayal and poor life choices. At least one of them wishes for a second chance, and, generously, half the cast gets one too. What follows is a cycle of fixing old mistakes, making new ones, uncovering conveniently hidden secrets, and reacting to past events with fresh “insight.”
It’s a good story, engaging enough, but hardly a groundbreaking one.

Characters
Princess Li Rong and her long-suffering husband Pei Wenxuan get the coveted do-over. Fortunately, they’re both intelligent, competent adults who actually learn from past mistakes and tackle problems together which in itself is a rare miracle. PWX is easily one of the better MLs in recent dramas. He is consistently supportive, deeply devoted, and capable of something revolutionary called critical thinking. Li Rong, meanwhile, upgrades from mistrustful royal strategist to full-fledged diplomatic powerhouse. Very satisfying.

Su Rongqing gets a second chance - lucky for him, disastrous for everyone else. The drama tries to sell him as a tragic, misunderstood soul - white Cinderella wardrobe, sad violins, the whole package - but let’s be real, he’s evil. Maybe a victim once, but now he’s the mastermind of betrayal, murder, and moral gymnastics, all while whining about his “love” for Li Rong and setting most of her traps himself. He’s not tortured; he’s a delusional, self-righteous killer with a full-blown victim complex. No amount of sad music can save him.

The supporting cast lives comfortably in various shades of grey and black, with the notable exception of Qin Zhen Zhen. As for the real villains? The Emperor and Empress - one an insecure ruler, the other a spectacularly selfish excuse for a mother.

Acting
Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mei - hands down, in that order. These two are the reason the drama works at all. ZLH delivers a performance miles away from Kunning Palace, nailing Pei Wenxuan’s quiet cunning and fundamental decency with astonishing ease. His screen presence alone accounts for most of my positive viewing experience.

Zhao Jin Mei matches him beat for beat, making an authoritative, coldly pragmatic Princess Li Rong not just palatable but genuinely lovable. You root for them instinctively. Frankly, I’d watch an entire drama of just these two thinking their way out of problems.

And now for my controversial take on Chen Heyi’s Su Rongqing: just… no. Maybe he’s a good actor. I’ll reserve judgment until Mysterious Lotus Casebook or Fated Hearts eventually make it off my TBW pile. But here? I’m not impressed. His performance cycles through the same tired, droopy expressions and melancholic smiles as if permanently accompanied by an invisible violin. Unfortunately, it drags down more than a few scenes.

What makes it worse is the script’s apparent obsession with elevating SRQ at Pei Wenxuan’s expense. Several of PWX’s moments from the novel were reportedly reassigned, and the result is painfully familiar.. think Harry Potter films where Hermione gets all the clever ideas, leaving Ron and Harry to play supporting roles.. To manufacture SRQ’s “tragedy,” the drama tells us how brilliant PWX is instead of showing us, while handing precious screen time to a performance that simply doesn’t justify it. If the goal was to inspire sympathy for SRQ, it failed - spectacularly, at least for me. ZLH manages to shine through the script’s neglect, quietly proving his acting chops

The rest of the supporting cast largely does its job. Consort Rou, however, is a mystery. One moment she’s unhinged, the next she’s gloating, followed immediately by a smug smirk, as if she’s auditioning for three different characters at once. Was the director so busy cueing SRQ’s emotional violin that they forgot to ask her to pick a lane?

Screenplay & Script
A full-blown Leaning Tower of Pisa, except less charming and far more irritating. Su Rongqing is unmistakably the scriptwriter’s cherished golden child, while everyone else might as well be fostered extras. Even in the finale when tension should peak, we’re forced to sit through extended montages of his wistful smiles and tragic reminiscing.
His exit is the final indulgence: a glorified self-impalement on PWX’s sword that frames him as noble, untouchable, and conveniently unaccountable. He dies undefeated, unconquered, and entirely unpunished because heaven forbid the narrative deny him one last self-aggrandizing victory.

OST
Brilliant.

Overall
Not a bad drama… if you fast-forward through half of SRQ’s endless pity party and self-congratulatory melodrama. Do I have to? Apparently, yes. Do I wish I didn’t? Absolutely. Skip the indulgence, and what’s left is genuinely good, but choppy, uneven, and an enormous squandered opportunity.

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A Satisfying Tale of Second Chances and Mutual Support

I don't rewatch many long dramas, but this one makes the cut! It's just so good--heartwarming and encouraging while still having some grittiness and angst and very hard sad choices along the way. But I adore the trust that blooms between the two leads and once it's there--mmm. No late-season horrible misunderstandings or any of that. They're such a great team. When one is distraught, the other is the steady rock, and then they trade as the emotional waves come for one and then the other.

Lots of clever maneuvering and strategy. Lots of delving into people's motivations. Questions of whether fate can change -- which kind of ties into the ability of individuals to make a difference in the sweep of historical forces. Questions of redemption, and digging down to examine your own weaknesses and decide to do better (or the failure to do so). Friendships, found family. And lots more.

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Take my brain away

Lady Tian Tian foresaw the doom of her clan framed for treason by the hands of her betrothed, seventh prince Yan Li. She has no idea how a disgraced prince will come to power, how they will end up engaged and why he will massacre her family. At present she is the cherished daughter of a military household, marriage proposals are flowing in, and he's a candidate !

This bird brain drama had no idea what it wanted to be, so it tried to do a bit of everything. It teases us with a typical enemies to lover "kiss and kill" opening (quite efficient, I must say : I fell for it), he's her enemy, but he's also in love with her, so how things came to such an end ? Don't expect any clever explanation because the drama doesn't truly care, you can see the final "twist" coming from miles away, and until then things are hunky dory for our heroïne : tragedy completely avoided, she just had to uncover the (very obvious) villain and voilà, now she can have her happy ending with the prince full of cute babies. But oh noes, the drama got rid of its main villain, our main couple is wed, and we are only halfway through ! What's a drama to do ? Suddenly, a wild green tea appears to save the plot ! At this point I was used to the drama's numerous plot holes and brutal transitions (at several moments I wondered if I had missed some scenes or skipped an episode) so I ketp watching. Thankfully the snake was played by the very graceful Sun Lu Lu (loved her in Wutong Courtyard) so it was at least well acted. Honestly the drama didn't deserve its cute and talented cast : handsome and soft (but also fierce !) Hei Ze, and the adorable and expressive Zhao Jia Min. Chemistry was good, they were cute together, kisses were good, I was contented. The direction was also good, they kept things simple but delicate, with lovely costumes, scenery and pastel colors. The plot is obviously the drama's weakness but for all its problems, they did realize that they were not telling some grand masterpiece and switched pretty fast to what they knew : tropey but fun adventures. In conclusion : don't believe the title there is nothing "dangerous" about this lover, the drama uses it as a hook but it becomes a cute romance with some (mild) adventure very fast, until they remember they need to go full circle to justify their opening (and the way they do it is so contrived...). So...yeah, another bait and switch. The cast is criminally pretty in period garbs so there is that.

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