Reviews

Why DMD Friendship Season 1 Truly Worked

I thoroughly enjoyed this season of DMD Friendship. The conversations throughout the show were healthy, honest, and clear. Even though both the audience and the cast came in with certain expectations, the many plot twists—especially in who people chose for their dates—were genuinely fun to watch. I loved that unpredictability because it aligns perfectly with the show’s purpose: expanding your connections to ultimately realize who the one true partner is for you.

The challenges were well done and really showcased the different levels each cast member was at, as well as how they used their individual strengths and worked through their weaknesses to complete the missions.

Bringing Tle in at the midpoint was a great decision. He did exactly what a bombshell is supposed to do—create chaos—and he absolutely delivered. He fit in naturally and never felt overshadowed by the others, nor did he overpower the existing dynamics.

Most of this cast had already known and worked with each other at events, and that familiarity really showed. Their comfort level allowed for deeper, more meaningful conversations. Even when some cast members knew early on who they wanted to pursue and stayed consistent (like ThomasKong), I still appreciated those who went out of their way to explore other connections, such as Keng with Tee or Firstone with Tle.

What stood out to me most was that even when confusion arose, the cast remained clear and honest with themselves instead of being wishy-washy. The judges’ critiques were also constructive and made sense within the context of each challenge. Overall, it was a really enjoyable and well-balanced season.

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When the Plot Goes AWOL

My Dear Guardian tells the story of a soft hearted military doctor and a famously cold special forces officer whose lives keep colliding between missions, hospitals, and shared living spaces. Was it the dramatic rescue from danger or the everyday closeness that slowly broke down their walls? Love shows up quietly, right in the middle of duty and chaos. Xia Chu is a surgeon trained to stay steady when lives hang by a thread, while Liang Mu Ze is a battle hardened officer who has survived countless missions and locked his heart away because of past scars.

My Dear Guardian is the kind of drama I put on while eating or multitasking, and honestly, that is not an insult. It is an easy watch, very chill, very brain off, and sometimes very cringe. What pulled me in at first, aside from Huang Jingyu doing his military guy thing, was the classic soldier and doctor setup. I am a sucker for uniforms and emergency rooms, so this drama caught my attention.

The first half is where the magic lives. Watching Xia Chu train in the military environment was genuinely fun, and her early interactions with Liang Mu Ze felt natural and entertaining. Their meetings in the army base and hospital had that spark, and once they started living under the same roof, the drama leaned into cute acts of service and subtle care moments. Those scenes carried a lot of warmth and honestly did most of the emotional heavy lifting. The rescue moments were predictable but still satisfying, like comfort food you already know the taste of.

One of the biggest pleasant surprises was Liang Shao Xue. She started off as loud, rebellious, and low key exhausting, but her character growth was solid. Watching her mature into a more grounded and thoughtful person felt earned. Her relationship development with Tian Yong was also one of the more emotionally engaging parts of the story, which made their arc stand out even more compared to the main couple at times.

Now for the not so fun parts. Xia Chu’s cutesy voice and behavior tested my patience more than once. There were moments when her intelligence as a doctor seemed to vanish for plot convenience, and those irrational decisions pulled me right out of the story. The cringe factor was strong in certain scenes, especially when the drama tried too hard to be cute instead of letting emotions flow naturally. Tian Yong’s death hit hard, but not in a satisfying storytelling way, more like a why did this need to happen way. The entire Zhuo Ran and Pei Yu plot also felt annoying, too dramatic for my taste.

Pacing is where this drama struggles the most. The first half was engaging and smooth, but the middle to end dragged badly. There were many scenes that added little value, making it obvious the story was stretching itself to fit a long episode count. Tighter writing or fewer episodes would have helped a lot, because the potential was definitely there.

Is My Dear Guardian groundbreaking? Not really. Compared to other military and medical dramas like Descendants of the Sun, it falls short in impact and polish. Still, I finished it, which says something. It is predictable, light, occasionally frustrating, but also comforting in its own way. Overall, it is an okay drama, perfect for casual viewing when you want something easy, familiar, and not too emotionally demanding.

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A cute little fairy vs a grouchy devil

A wonderful surprise by how much I actually enjoyed this drama. I came in not expecting much as I'm not a huge fan of Dylan but this drama completely changed my opinion of him. He went from an good looking mid actor to this hot smoldering adorable man. Had me giggling every time he's on my screen. It was the costume, the voice (although dubbed) and his manly look that made everything worked! Dylan and Esther had wonderful chemistry and they just look great together. A great enemy to lovers story and how they both try to overcome their obstacles to stay together. A definite recommended drama!

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Fantastic C Drama

I love this C drama. Actually, this is the second time I have watched this and I still love it and will probably watch it again. The storyline is very interesting and refreshing. Actors are all very professional and the chemistry between the ML and FL are off the charts not to mention they are both incredibly gorgeous. Side stories were also very interesting and the couples, characters well suited. Music costumes, set designs and photography is first class and very enjoyable. The only thing I wasn't fully satisfied with is the ending. The choice of the ML and FL both ending up at the Lawless Trade post is a given and understandable. However, I actually didn't get that they had twins and was a bit confused about why are they talking about two kids only a year later. It would have been nice to either see the FL beautiful and very pregnant or see the two babies already born and the ML's expression of seeing them the first time. This would have rounded up the love story very nicely instead of the FL coldly discussing the twin's separation. That wasn't cool! Which is why I took off a star from my review.

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In the Beiyuan Kingdom, a dark and tragic curse looms over the royal family: every emperor dies young. Because of this, being named Crown Prince isn’t an honor—it’s a death sentence.

And so, the princes do everything they can to avoid the throne.

Xiao He, the eldest prince, plays the role of a lazy, irresponsible playboy—constantly seen partying, flirting, and acting utterly unfit to rule. He’s not really useless—he’s just faking it perfectly.

While Xiao He plays the role of a “messy playboy,” the second prince, Xiao Yu, adopts a more refined version of uselessness. He pretends to be fragile and sickly—coughing on cue, fainting at banquets, always needing rest. By appearing physically "unfit" to rule, he ensures the Emperor will never pick him to be the next successor. But behind closed doors, he’s strong, sharp, and fully capable.

Then there’s Xiao Mo, the third prince—the only one who actually wants the crown. Eager and ambitious, he sees his brothers’ “failings” as proof that he should be chosen. He constantly tries to prove himself the most competent. In his constant attempts to prove his worth, he unknowingly plays right into his brothers’ plans to stay out of power.

What the princes don’t realize is that their father, the Emperor, sees through all of their schemes. After all, he was once a prince himself—terrified of the throne and the curse that comes with it. Unbeknownst to them, the Emperor has his own plan for choosing a successor.

That plan begins with Fu Qi, a spirited and clever princess from Dongling Kingdom, who arrives in Beiyuan for a political marriage alliance. However, her reason for accepting the marriage is far more personal than diplomacy.

Fu Qi’s father, the King of Dongling, has been stripped of his power and is effectively under the control of a corrupt and powerful Prime Minister. To reclaim her kingdom, Fu Qi needs external political influence and military backing—something only a powerful marriage alliance can provide.

To make that happen, Fu Qi becomes the ‘Lucky Princess’ that makes sure her husband becomes Crown Prince. And the "lucky" prince chosen? Xiao He, the eldest prince.

So now, the game shifts.
Fu Qi must turn the kingdom’s biggest slacker into its next heir—no matter how much he resists.

Now the questions:
> Who will succeed in the end?
Will Xiao He successfully avoid the crown at all costs, or will Fu Qi manage to push him onto the throne, whether he likes it or not?

> What about the curse itself?
Is it truly real—or is there something far more sinister behind it?

> And what of Xiao He and Fu Qi’s relationship?
Will their marriage remain a political partnership, or will genuine love grow between them?

> And finally—what will happen to the Dongling Kingdom?
Will Fu Qi succeed in restoring her father to power?

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.

Overall for short dramas this is really interesting. A very unique story, usually we get the prince that put the dagger into their brother just for the throne, but this one we get the reverse act. We also get a complete plot with clear beginning, middle & end.

In the end this short drama is really worth your time to watch…

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Mature JieJie/DiDi romance with Excellent leads acting and chemistry.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Another pleasant surprise I found in “Sniper Butterfly”. I usually avoid JieJie/DiDi romance but due to liking the leads, Michelin Chen and Daniel Zhou, I decided to give this a shot for my challenge. Surprisingly, the big age gap did not bother me as much. I think this is due to the fact that ML, Li Wu, is such a mature character. Compared to the more cutesy rom-com drama such as “My Fated Boy”, this romance is more challenging, slow-burn and mature. This is not to say “My Fated Boy” is a bad drama as I liked it fine. They gave very different vibes and I’m glad “Sniper Butterfly” offers a different type of JieJie/DiDi romance.

My main criticism of this drama is not the plot, but the execution and the time spent during the high school days. I understand the need to have shown us a strong foundation of their beginning, so that we can believe in the loyalty and undying love Li Wu has for Cen Jin. However, as the drama switches back and forth between the present and past timelines, viewers already have a pretty good idea of what happened in the past due to what we’ve seen in the present. Because of this, I feel impatient when the past is still slowly revealed. I want to know what is happening to our leads in the present after they reconnected and reconciled. “Sniper Butterfly" might benefit from cutting a couple episodes to make the pacing and the plot a little tighter.

I’ve also seen other criticisms of how Li Wu behaved in the first few episodes and many viewers dropped the drama because of that. It actually didn’t bother me much. Given the history of the leads, I could understand why Li Wu behaved a certain way. He actually turned around his ways pretty quickly and I’m glad the drama didn’t drag on his ‘meanness’.

On the other hand, I really like the acting of the leads, especially young Daniel Zhou. I started liking him in “A Moment but Forever” even though he only had a supporting role. He was great in “Always Home” but here in this drama, he was excellent. One of the reasons why I like this drama so much is because of Daniel, and the character development of Li Mu. From being a shy, timid yet stubborn 19 year-old, to a gradually maturing, passion-finding college student, to a confident professional yet still vulnerable adult… Daniel did a fabulous job. It’s hard to outshine a veteran such as Michelle Chen. I recently watched Michelle in “Dear Enemy”. Though I like her, I don't like her character. But here in “Sniper Butterfly”, I enjoy her acting and her character, Cen Jin. Cen Jin is independent, feisty, protective yet smart and professional. Daniel and Michelle have great chemistry as siblings, family and lovers. Their kisses definitely do not disappoint and I’m so glad especially due to their real-life 19-year old age gap.

The secondary romance is cute too. And they definitely show us how opposites attract. But I felt that their romance abruptly stopped once they got together. There’s another pair in the drama, but they also felt like an afterthought. They’re married, but we skipped the courtship and everything in between. What exactly happened? Is it really necessary to show us this young couple?

There’s some business plot in the drama, though not overwhelming. In the end, “Sniper Butterfly” is a romance drama and not a business or business romance drama. The business plot features AI and Advertising, but luckily it doesn’t bombard you with “China is the best” propaganda.

“Sniper Butterfly” is a romance drama at heart. If you enjoy JieJie/DiDi aka Older Woman/Younger Man romance, you might enjoy this. The romance is slow burn and not in a romantic-comedy way. Witnessing the character development of Li Wu and Daniel Zhou’s acting are highlights for me. I wish they didn't dub Michelle Chen due to her Taiwanese accent, but at least all other actors seem to be using their own voices. In the end, I’m really glad I gave this drama a chance.


Completed: 2/3/2026 Review #664

P.s. Drama #3 - Self-Imposed Dropped List Challenge from @Anhua’s dropped list.

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It’s absolute psychopathic writing. There is no other way to describe it.

So this one is 24 episodes at approximately 45 minutes and if I thought flourished peony was bad this sequel is probably worse.

In the writing of In the Name of Blossom, the creators have confused "moral superiority" with "total lack of self-preservation." They are using a tired, outdated trope to keep the plot moving, and it fails for several reasons.

Writers often think a "perfect" FL must never descend to the level of the villains. By making her find excuses for them, they try to prove she has a "big heart." In reality, it just makes her an enabler who is responsible for the next victim the villain hurts.
If she actually finished off villains like the Flower Guild leader, teribble stepmother or the Princess when she had the chance, the show would end in 10 episodes. Her "mercy" is a cheap tool to ensure the villains can return to frame her again in the next arc.
I also understand that there is a traditional cultural trope where maintaining social harmony and showing "forgiveness" is seen as the ultimate female strength. However, applying this to people who are literally whipping you is a logic failure that feels like gaslighting the audience.

In the first season, she came across as a relatively smart businesswoman. In this sequel, her IQ has been lowered so the Male Lead has a reason to exist. If she were competent and ruthless, she wouldn't need him to "save" her every three episodes.
The whole thing was a complete mess, from the concubine trying to poison her and being let off. To the princess trying to burn her alive and throwing a tantrum with the writers playing sad music for us to try and feel sorry for her when she was literally trying to kill a load of people five minutes before.. to finally the inexplicable scene where the 2ML goes to the ML’s mansion and literally breaks down the wall but it’s only asked to apologise. He doesn’t receive any punishment he doesn’t even have to compensate him for breaking his wall.. property rights seem to have gone out of the window and the whole thing just descended into a complete mess.

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Double ML who have more chemistry with each other than with the FL

I watched this for Zhao Zhendong but surprisingly he had more chemistry with Wang Xuan more than Cui Shiyi.

Cui Shiyi was another good kisser in duanju but she lack of showing the vulnerable emotion from unrequited love. She may good on strong FL but her weakest moment still feel artificial.

Zhao Zhendong's portrayal of Older Brother is heartbreaking, showcasing a vast range of acting talent. He perfectly captures the character's restraint, timidity, ruthlessness, wit, and deep affection.

Wang Xuan's scenes are also explosive, portraying a complex mix of misunderstanding and love-hate relationship. The female lead's character is also well-developed; though she suffers from unrequited love, she gives genuine affection.

I quite like the brothers moment and the brothers deliver powerful performances. The entire drama is emotionally charged, full of tension, and highly immersive. Although the overall plot isn't perfect, the character portrayals especially the brothers and amazing, making it worth to watch for fans of actors.

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Bring tissues

If you love emotional distress, look no further than this drama. Unfortunately for me, I was mismarketed this drama as a bad boy good girl romance and didn’t bother to read the synopsis so I went into this drama expecting a cute romance. I was very wrong, however I actually ended up liking this drama even more than I would have if it had been a bad boy good girl romance. I’ve watched both actors in a few of their previous works and always enjoyed them but this drama really shows off their acting abilities. I believe they both have the potential to break into the full length drama industry but especially Peng Yao. She excels in both comedy and more serious roles like this, I really hope to see her in a full length drama one day.
About halfway to 3/4ths of the way through this drama, there is a massive shift in tone and I was not ready. There is a heavy feel for the whole duration but it becomes soul crushing and I had no warning so I just spent the latter half of the drama in absolute hysterics. If sad endings are not something you can tolerate then you need to avoid this drama. The ending is unbelievably miserable and I barely recovered. But if you don’t mind sad endings then I highly recommend you watch this drama.

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Healing Is Loud in a Silent House

Set in 2007, Reborn follows sixteen year old Qiao Qingyu and her family as they flee their small county town of Shunyun and resettle in the provincial capital, Huanzhou, after cruel rumors surrounding the death of her older sister, Qiao Beiyu. Determined to reclaim some sense of normalcy, Qiao Qingyu, with the support of her classmate Ming Sheng, uncovers what truly happened to Qiao Beiyu. As fragments of the truth slowly surface, Qiao Qingyu is forced to confront the injustice her sister suffered and finds herself walking a painful path toward truth, reckoning, and justice.

Reborn opens quietly, almost deceptively so. The Qiao family’s move from Shunyun to Huanzhou is framed not as a fresh start full of excitement, but as a fragile hope stitched together by exhaustion and grief. Their faces are tight, the music subdued, and right away the drama makes its promise clear. This is not a story about forgetting the past. It is about carrying it, surviving it, and maybe, if luck allows, healing from it. Loss hangs in the air, societal pressure presses down from all sides, and yet there is still a soft glow of hope flickering beneath the sadness.

From early on, it is not hard to guess that Qiao Beiyu’s story is darker than the rumors suggest. The “pretty sister who took her own life” narrative feels too convenient, too cruelly simplified. The details remain hidden, but the unease is enough to keep you glued. As the Qiao family settles into Huanzhou, each member grieves differently. They try to perform normalcy, but it is painfully obvious that none of them have truly moved on. Qiao Qingyu, especially, lives permanently in her sister’s shadow. Even in death, Qiao Beiyu’s name follows her everywhere. As a teenager burdened by rumors about her sister suffering from AIDS and moral corruption, Qiao Qingyu becomes an outcast without ever doing anything wrong. Her blank stares and quiet stillness speak volumes. She feels numb, like someone who has already endured too much and no longer knows how to react.

School becomes both a relief and another source of anxiety. I genuinely held my breath when Qiao Qingyu first stepped into her new classroom, bracing myself for bullying or worse. Thankfully, her first day goes relatively smoothly, accidental pool fall included. What struck me most was how stoic she remains in situations that would have sent me spiraling. It feels like she has already survived worse back in Shunyun, so everything else barely registers. That emotional numbness becomes one of the most heartbreaking aspects of her character.

Then there is her mother. A walking textbook of conservative Asian parenting, complete with taboo views on sex education and an unhealthy obsession with reputation. Watching her scribble over a school issued sex ed book was infuriating. The moment Qiao Qingyu fires back that maybe Qiao Beiyu would still be alive if she had been given sex ed was cathartic in the most painful way. Boom. The family’s tendency to cover up what happened to Qiao Beiyu only adds another layer of suffocation. And yet, despite all that, the parents are not portrayed as monsters. Small moments of care, like immediately checking on Qingyu after she breaks bowls at the restaurant, remind us that love exists here, just deeply warped. Qiao Qingyu’s bond with her brother Jinyu is a rare pocket of warmth. They bicker, they conspire, they protect each other. The kind of ride or die sibling energy that makes everything hurt a little less.

Then there is Ming Sheng, wrapped in mystery and soft menace. His connection to Qiao Beiyu, his childhood history with Qiao Qingyu, the piano, the dance, all of it feels like pieces of a puzzle deliberately scattered. I will admit, something about him teasing Qiao Qingyu and dangling clues about her sister’s death felt infuriating and thrilling at the same time. It is a familiar trope, the boy who toys with curiosity before realizing he has crossed a line. Episode three confirms it when Ming Sheng reflects on his actions, guilt written all over his face. That quiet remorse gave me flutters.

As the story progresses, Qiao Qingyu’s mother becomes increasingly volatile, reacting to anything Qiao Beiyu related with anger or avoidance. Beneath that fury lies guilt so thick you can almost taste it. It keeps you seated, waiting to see when it will finally spill over. The drama does an excellent job showing how trauma mutates into control, especially in the way Qiao Qingyu’s mother polices her daughter’s every move while simultaneously criticizing her for being a loner. The irony would be funny if it were not so painful.

Ming Sheng’s world is not much brighter. His fractured family dynamic, marked by parental selfishness and misdirected blame, explains much of his guardedness. Watching him slowly realize that adulthood means responsibility, not just resentment, is quietly satisfying. His attempts to make amends with his father are awkward, understated, and incredibly human. Bonus points for him playing accidental cupid and saving his dad from a medical dispute like an overachieving king.

Qiao Beiyu’s story, however, is where Reborn truly tightens its grip around your heart. Revelation after revelation paints a picture of a girl starved of love, raised in a toxic family system that favored sons, protected abusers, and blamed victims. Her relationship with Qiao Jinrui is exposed not as romance but as betrayal on a systemic level. The dinner table confrontation after Qiao Qingyu learns the truth is one of the most rage inducing scenes I have watched in a long time. Every adult at that table fails her. Her father avert his eyes, elders rewrite history, and the family that should have protected Qiao Beiyu becomes complicit in her destruction. It is sickening, and it is devastatingly realistic.

The camcorder in episode nineteen delivers the final blow. Qiao Beiyu speaking directly to us, recounting her life with quiet honesty, was both beautiful and unbearable. From being unwanted at birth to being taken away from her parents, to believing she deserved abandonment and abuse, her words linger long after the episode ends. The cruel irony that her AIDS diagnosis finally earned her parents’ undivided love is something I still cannot fully process. I was not crying. I was just sitting there, stunned.

Amid all this darkness, the relationships between the younger characters shine like small lanterns. Qiao Qingyu’s friendship with Wang Mumu is tender and honest, built on shared wounds rather than competition. Ming Sheng’s friendships feel equally grounded, full of unspoken loyalty. And then there is Ming Sheng and Qiao Qingyu. Their relationship unfolds with a realism that feels almost rare. He teases before he understands his feelings, cares without making a spectacle, protects without grand declarations. The bike rides, the borrowed shoes, the quiet defenses, the pouting jealousy, it all feels soft and earned. Their connection is less about fireworks and more about warmth slowly spreading through frozen fingers.

The later episodes shift in tone, and while the brighter atmosphere is welcome, it does feel abrupt. Conflicts resolve quickly, parents soften almost overnight, and the narrative leaves several questions hanging in the air. The romance takes center stage, sometimes at the expense of the heavier themes that made the earlier episodes so powerful. The reunion is sweet, but restrained. For a couple built on so much longing and pain, one hug and one kiss feels criminal. We deserved more.

Still, despite its imperfections, Reborn is a drama that lingers. It is messy, frustrating, tender, and painfully human. It speaks about justice, family, gender, and societal cruelty without sugarcoating the damage they cause. It reminds us that healing is not linear, that love often arrives late, and that sometimes rebirth is not about starting over, but about finally being seen.

I came for a mystery. I stayed for the ache. And I left with a heart that felt heavier, but somehow fuller too.

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Wang Haozhen looks to tired in this drama

I watched it for Wang Haozhen but he is obviously look tired in this drama. But after fast-forwarding through it all, I was utterly blown away by the plot. This script really feels like it was created by deadliner – where's the logic?

FL approached the ML to raise money for her sister's surgery, and the difference in their social status and impure motives created a lot of conflict. But who would have thought they'd fall in love so inexplicably, only to break up and get back together again due to some nonsensical misunderstandings? Fast forward to 3 years later, ML's family is in troubles, his career slump, and FL's hardships are all glossed over, leaving the characters hollow and their motivations incomprehensible.

Actually Wang Haozhen and Guan Xin chemistry are still pass to watch but the plot is not for it.

Only for hardcore fans.

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Jane Austin's novel in a Chinese imperial setting

If you are looking for lots of fighting scenes - this drama is not for you. If you are looking for passionate love - this drama is not for you. But if you like well written scripts, consistent, logical, without plot holes, depicting complex relationships and full of interesting, engaging characters - you'll love it.
For me this drama has the vibe of 19th century novels, like Jane Austin's ones, where the background got as much attention in weaving as the main romantic story. All the secondary and tertiary characters are very well written, their actions are motivated and logical, understandable even if not justified. And most of them are not black or white but multifaceted and realistic. Even the righteous main characters are not cristalline: they are cunning and may be ruthless.
I love the pacing of the episodes 1-30: it is not fast, but very even. There are no boring streches you may find in many c-dramas (with, for example, the whole episodes of cooking and eating) and there are no avalaches of events either. The narrative develops in a steady rythm keeping you engaged the whole time.
I would've given this drama 10/10 if it ended on the episode 30. Unfortunately the producers decided to glue other six episodes with a whole new set of characters - much less engaging and "underwritten". Frankly, this whole part would be better off as the season 2 with 20 episodes that would've given them space to really develop the stories of those people.
The acting is fantastic. All the actors really delivered, portraying this little society full of realistic characters and their complex relationships.
It goes without saying that Hou Minghao's playing was - as always - impeccable. With his incredible versatility he is able to play convincingly a lowly scheming servant, and a proud ruthless official. Gulinazha was outstanding in portraying a cool-headed, intelligent and just leader of the family.
The whole cast was great, but I'd like to mention especially Zhang Nan in the masterfully played role of the blind sister, Zhao Yiqin who very convincingly portrayed his character with the unexpected twist and brilliant Li Fei (Richard Li) in the role of a villain.

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