Reviews

They keep the quality for the sequel

I watched this drama on 10 January 2026 and tried to rewatch to get better review.

For a sequel, it's above average. Although the plot doesn't have any substantial progress, it still maintains the quality of the first season. The plot mainly revolves around the daily lives of the two main characters. The first season saw them progress from complete strangers to semi-mature adults, while this season shows their journey from semi-mature to fully mature.

I especially love watching FL tease the ML. She's a straightforward person who knows the answer but pretends to be stubborn and old-fashioned, and then seeing him look pitiful like a puppy looks so satisfying.

ML's old-fashioned character is further developed, and it's clear he's growing to love the FL and starting to change. The older brother still has limited screen time, but his appearances are always impactful.

The cons is the lack of original audio and editing is kind rushed. However, the overall viewing experience is still very good.

Recommended to watch.

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A Kingdom of Villains and Complicated Love

Love Like the Galaxy is honestly a must-watch for any C-drama fan, especially if you’re into general stories—because I am a sucker for those. This drama sets a very specific bar when it comes to generals, and Ling Buyi absolutely smashed it.
Ling Buyi / General Ling
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a ruthless, cold-blooded male lead in a historical drama. He was brutal to the extreme—like actually bloody, killing people without hesitation—and he never softened up just to please the audience. He wasn’t a green flag at all, and what surprised me most is that he stayed serious throughout the entire show. Characters like this usually “break” at some point, but he never did. That was just him.
The only moments where he softened—where he smiled, where he felt human—were with Shaoshang. Other than that, he was cold, harsh, and terrifying, and honestly? I didn’t mind it at all.
Leo Wu did an insane job. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone else pulling this character off. He has that strong, serious face and the ability to hold a character without cracking. The revenge arc, the heartbreak, the messiness of his emotions—it all landed. His character was chaotic, but not illogical. The whole “my revenge comes before everything” mindset stayed consistent, which made his choices painful but believable.
I also loved the twist with his identity—being the Hou general’s biological son. His relationship with the emperor completely stole my heart. The emperor basically adopted him, and that bond felt more genuine than the emperor’s relationships with his own children. It fed my soul.
Cheng Shaoshang (Niao Niao)
Her character is one of the most interesting FL I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not self-righteous, not a green flag, not overly kind. She gives kindness where it’s due—and revenge where that is due. She’s clever, petty, cruel when needed, and deeply broken underneath it all.
I loved the first part of the drama where it focused mainly on her story, even before the romance really kicked in. Watching her navigate life, survive, and scheme was genuinely entertaining. Honestly, I feel like her character had even more development than Ling Buyi’s.
Lusi was phenomenal here. This might actually be my favorite role of hers. She portrayed a broken person beautifully while still showing her cruelty, carefreeness, and villain-adjacent tendencies. That mix of traits is hard to balance, but she nailed it.
That said… her stubbornness did get on my nerves sometimes—especially near the end. When she couldn’t forgive him after five years, I was like, girl please loosen up a little. But at the same time, it was in character, so I can’t fully fault it.
Family Dynamics
Her family storyline was one of my favorite parts of the show. Her father? Absolutely top-tier. He was her rock, always supportive, always loving her like his baby girl. I loved that the show showed both a mother’s love and a father’s love—because her dad truly balanced out everything her mother failed to give her.
Her brothers were such a fun addition, and honestly, I think the show underused them. I really wanted more of their relationship with her, especially after the time jump. It felt like we were robbed of their stories—they had so much potential.
And don’t even get me started on the eldest brother. Why introduce him if you’re not going to bring him? I wanted him to show up and protect her at some point.
I also missed the third uncle and his wife in the second half. They played a role in shaping her early character, and their absence was felt.
The Emperor (Best Character, Period)
Hands down, the emperor was the best character in the entire show. The best emperor in C-drama history, in my opinion. He was funny, kind, warm, chaotic, and genuinely father-like to everyone around him.
I kept waiting for him to turn dark or suddenly put the kingdom first over people—but he never did. I loved his dynamic with the empress and the consort, especially the fact that they were friends. That storyline felt so fresh and mature. The empress choosing herself in the end was sad but powerful, and the way he didn’t forget her was beautiful.
Romance & Relationship Issues
Now… the main couple. I have mixed feelings.
As actors? Insane chemistry. Fire. Intensity. They carried the show together effortlessly. But as characters? Their relationship was exhausting—and intentionally so.
Ling Buyi kept accusing her of not trusting him, while he never trusted her enough to tell her the truth. Their relationship went in circles—secrets, manipulation, judgment, revenge—over and over again. And the thing is… it made sense for their characters, even if it drove me crazy as a viewer.
He’s not morally gray—he’s dangerous. And she’s just as selfish as he is. They both prioritize their own revenge and trauma over love. That’s why their relationship hurts, but also why it feels realistic.
I did find some plot points frustrating, though. The whole “he abandoned her” thing after the cliff jump made no sense. He was literally trying to save her life. If she jumped with him, they both would’ve died. That storyline annoyed me a lot.
Time Jump, Villains & Ending Thoughts
I usually hate time jumps, but for once, I didn’t mind it here. They needed time to heal, mature, and reset. Episode 51 honestly could’ve been an ending on its own—a bittersweet, realistic one where not everyone gets a second chance. It hurt, but it made sense.
I also appreciated that there was no evil second male lead. I really thought YSJ would turn obsessive, but instead he became a genuine friend and confidant. Loved that choice.
The show was full of villains, but none of them overstayed their welcome. Their storylines were fast-paced, satisfying, and they all got what they deserved.
That being said, I do have complaints. I hated how stupid she could be sometimes—she had zero survival instincts. She never trusted her gut, never noticed when people were very obviously trying to kill her, and she kept walking straight into danger only to wait for the ML to save her, and then somehow still blame him after. Her stubbornness also got on my nerves. Another thing that lost points for me was the wedding. We waited almost 25 episodes hearing about engagements and marriage, only to be completely robbed of the wedding. Them getting married off-screen, without the emperor—who had been hyping the wedding the entire show—felt ridiculous. The ending itself was rushed too. I feel like the last five to seven episodes were unnecessary and could’ve been written better instead of fast-wrapping everything. I wanted to see the whole family together properly, not squeezed in at the end. And listen… her hairstyle. Those two braids the entire show genuinely pissed me off. The costumes were beautiful, but the lack of variety in her hair was criminal. On the other hand, Leo Wu in a general’s outfit the whole time? Perfection. And the scene where his hair was down? Absolutely breathtaking. Devoured. No complaints there.
Despite all my complaints, this is an incredible drama that I’d recommend to anyone—especially historical C-drama fans. It has revenge, strong characters, sharp sarcasm, emotional depth, tension-heavy romance, stunning cinematography, and an amazing OST.
It’s serious, then suddenly hilarious, and it works. Not big on PDA, but huge on tension and chemistry. Overall? Absolutely worth the watch.

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If Only

If only she did not get married to the King, if only. But, fate has decided for her, in what ever corner she turned to, she will end up to the King. then, she chose the King after so many flirting attempts.

Little did she know, she turned into a different woman. No more smile, no more laughing. She only sat in her chamber all day long, without her friends, but court maids.

Undeniably, The Red Sleeve is such a great series and I enjoyed my time in watching it. I did cry a lot because of how painful and pitiful it is to be the female lead. She deserved the love, but she also deserved her life as a normal people. If only she did not get married to the king...

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I enjoyed this period drama . The story actually had a plot with a little bit of complexity. The various attitudes toward a homosexual relationship were realistic for this time period. I liked that the main couple and the second couple respected their partners opinions. The main couple seemed to normally kiss with almost a detached peck on the cheek type attitude. The secondary couple kissed with some real passion. It's worth a rewatch. I almost couldn't breathe when the count ignored the professor at the end of the series as if he had grown indifferent to him. Thank goodness it was a misunderstanding and they still both loved each other deeply.

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a yearning man

Nam Si-heon, the yearning man that everyone could ask for.

"What if I miss you so much that I could not bear with?"

A! YEARNING! MAN! Ive repeated myself that the male lead is such a yearning character. I love how he potrayed his love towards Han Jun-hee. How he instantly knows how to differentiate between Han Jun-hee and Kwon Min-ju. Trust me;

'To be yearned for, to be seen" has been the criteria that I am looking for in a man.

A Time Called You is a time-travelling series and it is hard to understand all hence you need to watch till the end, then you will start to understand the storyline. I am happy that Jung In-gyu deserves his love line after all the hardships in the beginning, and the jealousy. We will never can be another person. It's always us, ourselves that need to change anything related to us. Someone's help can be considered, but it's always you.

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I know Lee Jun-Ho can choose better stories than this. I know he worked hard on this but the story line sucked. I wasn't confused how the character received their super powers. I mean seriously, alcohol and bread and money??? c'mon now! The only power that was worth it was the time reversal. All he used was a watch not unless I was missing something. Whoever wrote this storyline needs to go back and rewrite it because it makes super powers look weak. I wished that Jun-Ho next drama will drop a 10 in ratings. Lee Jun-Ho please choose a better storyline next time. This isn't you!

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korea history

this drama only worth watching in 30 epiosde, 2 last episode is not good.this drama should finished in 24 episode. The start was quite slow and gets fun around episodes 8-14 when taejong start rebellion, from 15-24 in his king era is okay. i not recommend watch until end because two last epiosde about his son became king which for not enjoy to watching. i want give 9 but only 8/10. hope joo sang wook get more drama as main character not support only. some people say this drama cruel because hurt animal but i dont care because the rating should judge on actor/actress,story,action or music. other part not important for me to judge in drama

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Worst storyline and acting

This south korean drama is very poor script writting and film direction. Poor actor and actress choosing. This drama dialogues are very bad.

One of the biggest problems is the **weak and inconsistent storyline**. The show introduces interesting ideas about fame, control, and the music industry, but it never explores them properly. Scenes feel disconnected, as if they exist only to provoke reactions rather than move the plot forward. Instead of building tension or emotional investment, the narrative jumps around and leaves the audience confused or bored.

Another major issue is **poor character development**. Characters lack clear motivations and emotional growth. The protagonist is presented as complex, but the writing rarely shows her inner struggles in a meaningful way. Side characters feel underused and shallow, making it hard to care about their actions or outcomes. When characters don’t feel real, even dramatic moments lose their impact.

The drama is also heavily criticized for its **overuse of explicit content**. Mature themes can be powerful when they serve the story, but in *The Idol*, they often feel unnecessary and excessive. Many scenes appear included purely for shock value, not to deepen characters or themes. This distracts from the message and makes the show feel exploitative rather than artistic.

Additionally, the **tone of the drama is unbalanced**. It tries to be a psychological thriller, a critique of fame, and an erotic drama all at once, but it doesn’t blend these elements smoothly. As a result, the show lacks focus and emotional clarity. Viewers are left wondering what the drama actually wants to say.

Lastly, the **dialogue and pacing** are major weaknesses. Conversations often feel unnatural, and episodes drag without meaningful progression. Even strong visuals and music cannot save a story that lacks substance.

In the end, many people consider *The Idol* a bad drama because it prioritizes style and controversy over storytelling, character depth, and emotional honesty. Without a strong narrative core, shock alone is never enough to create a truly good drama.

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I mean seriously...

What was that y'all? I can't believe they continue the ending for Season 2. LMAO. I was so furious... That was the only thing I had a problem with. The storyline for the male main lead, Kim Jae Yeong who played the character, Do Ra Ik, did very well, I believe the tears and fears. He being the suspect got me. Since there is a Season 2, and suspense is making me more anxious. How can one be cleared and then indicted. Actress Choi Soo Young who played character Maeng Se Na, was very convincing. The suspense and the storyline has me throwing a shoe at my TV. That means the storyline is not complete. (ugh)

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Real life Noona Romance

I normally an not a reality show watcher, but from the first episode the immediate spark between Bonhee and Mujin was captivating and undeniable. I just had to keep watching to see what's going on with them. They were the most interesting the entire time.

It's so fascinating that despite them being the couple with the biggest age difference being 12 years. they were very much of the same mindset of coming into this seriously looking for someone to date with marriage in mind. When they went on that date and kept saying they wanting to hiking at these specific high level difficulty places with their husband or wife respectively and then made matching rings, they were were so on the same page. I haven't gotten to see the special episode, I hope everything works out for them.

It's nice for Yeong Gyeong and Hyeon Jun to end up together too. Him missing taking care of her is so sweet. I think what's important in any relationship regardless of the age difference between the two adult people is maturity and both sides have it.

So Hyun is so lively and pretty, she deserves so much better than Sang Hyeon who is so wishy washy and I don't know if it's an editing thing, but he was clearly extremely late to the meeting spot to the point that she was leaving, but he didn't even apologize.

I'm neutral to the hosts, they didn't do too much or too little.

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What a fun ride! I hope there's a sequel.

Adorable and funny. Strong female lead that doesn't take crap from anyone (which is a very nice change from delicate effeminate female leads that we see way too often) but is still full of heart and purpose. The male lead was freaking adorable! Loved his changes from stiff CEO to lovesick puppy.
Loved it! Wish it was longer.

Only negative things for me:
*It's a bit weird that she's still 18 but the guys pursuing her (even though they're technically her age) are 29.
*I felt kind of cheated at the ending, but maybe they'll give us a sequel?
*The romance isn't well developed, which is fine if this is a part 1, but not as a standalone.

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Might Be the Greatest BL of All Time

The story. The cast. The acting. The freaking OST. Everything was amazing. This is probably the most well done BL we’ve ever had. I am just overwhelmed with how great this show was. I even loved the secondary couple, and I usually can’t stand them lol

Wow. Just wow!

That moment when you finish a masterpiece, be it a drama or a novel and are so lost because you don’t know where or when you’ll be able to get your next fix…

Is the novel this good? Excuse me while I go hunt down Chai Ji Dan’s novels…except Addicted, been there lolz

If we could get Thai BLs to be written and acted as well… 👀

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Good Chemistry, Weak Characters

I really wanted to love Hidden Love. I enjoy slow-burn romances, well-acted leads, and dramas where characters know what they’re doing. Age gaps and inexperienced male leads don’t bother me at all, and I usually binge dramas in 1–3 days. Yet, this one turned out to be a different experience entirely.

I first started watching it in 2024, and I was intrigued by the story. The first two episodes were enjoyable, with sweet chemistry between the leads, Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. But after that, I couldn’t get fully invested. Over time, I found myself watching sporadically—maybe one episode here and there sometimes taking months between episodes.


The strongest point of the drama is the lead chemistry. Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu’s interactions are natural and easy, and the romance has genuinely sweet moments. I found myself giggling, smiling, and even kicking my feet during their cute interactions. Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s older brother, is another standout. His playful, protective personality adds humor, warmth, and depth, making me wish he appeared even more often. Sang Zhi’s parents are also well-portrayed a calm, mature, healthy couple, which is surprisingly comforting.

However, there were several issues that made it hard for me to continue. Sang Zhi’s early behavior in college felt overly childish, and the timid first interactions with Duan Jiaxu were a little cringe at times. The pacing was very slow, and repeated reminders that “Sang Zhi has grown up” felt unnecessary and repetitive.

The biggest problem for me was Duan Jiaxu’s sudden shift in feelings. While Sang Zhi’s crush develops naturally, his emotional change felt abrupt and came out of nowhere. It disrupted the slow-burn dynamic that I normally enjoy and made it hard to fully connect with the romance.

Side characters were also underdeveloped. Their stories felt cookie-cutter and bland, leaving large parts of the narrative feeling stagnant. Even after almost a decade passed in the story, character growth was minimal, which made the journey less engaging.

Over nearly 1.5 years, I tried really hard to keep up with the drama. I forced myself to watch an episode almost every day, but it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Finally, around episode 16, I decided to drop it. While I enjoyed the leads and their chemistry, the lack of side character depth, the slow pacing, and the abrupt male lead development were too much for me to continue.

Overall:

Hidden Love has sweet moments, excellent lead chemistry, and heartwarming family dynamics. Fans of slow-burn romance with a feel-good, calm atmosphere will likely enjoy it. But if you value consistent character development, engaging side characters, or a gradual emotional arc for all leads, this drama may test your patience.

Rating: 7/10

Tips for viewers:

Perfect if you love slow-burn romance and heartwarming family interactions.
Be prepared for very slow pacing in the early episodes.
Don’t expect strong secondary character development.
Requires patience, especially if you tend to binge-watch.

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