Reviews

The Price of Confession

Overall, this was a solid and well-made series. The cinematography was strong and effective, and the cast delivered consistently high-quality performances—there’s little to criticize when it comes to acting.

The series truly lives up to its title, clearly showing the cost of a murder confession and how far its consequences can extend. It also highlights how the person in charge of the case develops a strong bias against the suspect, a bias that ultimately turns Yoon-soo’s entire life upside down.

It makes you wonder what might have happened if Yoon-soo had never met Moo-yoon in prison. At the same time, the story raises questions about how everything aligned so perfectly for Moo-yoon’s plan to move forward. Although the chances of his plans succeeding were realistically low, he somehow managed to control events from within prison.

The character development was especially compelling. Moo-yoon begins as a lively, hopeful person, but the death of his family leaves him deeply traumatized, gradually turning him into someone driven solely by revenge. In contrast, the bold and fearless Soo-yoon transforms into a more cautious character, choosing survival and staying with her daughter over seeking revenge for her husband’s death.

The lawyer’s wife was another striking character—a truly disturbed individual who hid her violent nature behind a smiling face and the respectable social status she and her husband maintained.

However, the motive behind the woman and her husband’s involvement in the murder seems quite weak. The only perspective that somewhat justifies it is the woman’s disturbed mind driving her to kill and the husband’s instability in accepting his wife’s condition.

In the end, I enjoyed watching the series, but I cannot consider it flawless.

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A Life Lived for Vengeance

The Glory features the intriguing journey of Zhuang Han Yan who was hell-bent on revenge. Abandoned right after birth, Zhuang Han Yan grew up facing constant abuse by her foster parents and local kids from the neighborhood. It was not until her foster father attempted to assault her that she killed him and returned to her family in the capital city. Upon her return, she met Fu Yun Xi, a deputy minister with a mysterious illness an an agenda of his own. The story then follows her journey as she attempts to rekindle her relationship with her mother and works with Fu Yun Xi to plot revenge against the people that wronged them.

This drama is the type of drama that gets you hooked from the beginning until the end as you watch with anticipation as to how the story unfolds. Although the writing was a bit sloppy towards the end and the ending felt a bit rushed, it was enough to say that this drama was well-written. This story in this drama centers on Zhuang Han Yan's revenge, which later ends in a bittersweet glory. Zhuang Han Yan was never an innocent, virtuous, or righteous lady. Abandoned as a baby, she has lived a hard life ever since she could remember. She is cunning, resilient, tenacious, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She is a survivor and will always fight back. Despite her tough personality, there is also a vulnerable side to her. Due to her lack of social support, she was always skeptical against new people. She would also go on emotional outbursts and make impulsive decisions when something doesn't go as planned or when something unexpected happens. Regardless of her unfortunate upbringing, she knows how to be grateful and is loyal to the people who are kind to her. She would do anything she can to protect the people who are nice to her, even if it means sacrificing herself and her revenge. She is a very well-written character in this story that definitely leaves a lasting impact. Seeing how she has lived and her journey on getting revenge just makes you want to pat her back and hug her. Casting Chen Du Ling for the role of Zhuang Han Yan was the right decision. Chen Du Ling brought life to Zhuang Han Yan, exuding vulnerability and resilience. Chen Du Ling's visual and thin figure were also befitting for the character of Zhuang Han Yan considering the character's upbringing.

The male lead, on the other hand, was a disappointment. Fu Yun Xi is written as a master of political warfare with a calm exterior and impactful depth. With his cool facade, he bears great responsibilities in addition to being chased by time. He is a character integral to the story as he aids Zhuang Han Yan in her revenge. Sadly, his character did not leave a lasting impact due to poor casting. Xin Yun Lai definitely has the charismatic and cool visual befitting for the role of Fu Yun Xi. It is a shame that his acting was far from expressive. Throughout the drama, the only expression he had was a straight face. It was like he just woke up. The only part when he showed expression was when a prince was flirting with Zhuang Han Yan. Even then, he only gave side eyes. I couldn't feel anything from him.

Although the Fu Yun Xi's character could've been improved, the casting of other characters were great. I would give a special shoutout to Wen Zheng Ron playing Ruan Xi Wen, Zhuang Han Yan's mother. Not only did she resembles Zhuang Han Yan, she also exudes the beauty, charisma, vulnerability, endurance, patience, and intelligence of Ruan Xi Wen's character. Her expressions were definitely above par and she definitely managed to leave a lasting impact!

The ending was okay in a way that Zhuang Han Yan got her revenge and Fu Yun Xi got what he wanted. Despite the symbolism trickery in the end through the alive and dead characters' blocking, as well as their outfit colors, I wish they made it clear whether or not Fu Yun Xi ended up dying in the end, hence the bittersweet glorious ending. All in all, this drama is definitely in my recommended list for those looking for a revenge plot.

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So Darn Cute - A Review For The Re-Edited Version

The story is generic - a bit of 'enemies-to-lovers' with a bratty, entitled idol & a straight-by-the-book couldn't-care-about-idol's status stuntman. The episodes are short, and the overall vibe is very soft, slice of life. And that's the beauty of it. It's uncomplicated, sweet, and straight to the point. Very calming and cozy.

The main actors have good chemistry with their interactions and their banter, and the side characters also did a good job. I wouldn't say I saw any cringey acting in this one. I will say that the 1st episode was a little shaky for me. The editing was abrupt, but I think that's because this was in reel format before. However, after that, everything is done well, and the story follows beautifully.

Also, a side note, Lee Tae Hyung, the actor who plays Gu Jae Yeon in this show, his ears remind me of Wonho's ears

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People are hating this series for no reason?

Crime+suspense is definitely not my cup of tea but I git nothing to watch and this is ForceBook so thought I'd give it a go. Let me review this episode by episode cz people are just being super unreasonable. This is the kinda series where u need to turn ur brain on and watch

Ep1: here i agree the 1st 10 mins can make u wanna drop this drama. It reminds u of forcebook enchantè and peaceful property at the same time. If u survive that it gets better. From what i see bot lost his memories and he gets his diary from before he lost his memory and his lover from 10 years ago asks him to meet but when he gets there they both get involved in a murder case.. from what i see i dont think tan has a twin instead i feel like after the accident he's here for revenge against bot and wants him to remember his past before he does it. Also the interrogation scene the script is kinda off. Literally guys 1st 15 mins the script and direction is off i can't say anything to save that after that it gets better

Ep2: now i kinda suspect probably tan is a twin but i still feel he wouldn't get intimate with bot that easily if he was a twin and is tan himself.. and his reason could be the same reason y he never contacted bot for 10 years. I think the murder is someone external not any of the main casts... lmao drama soo good i suspect everyone including the leads😆

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I am the newest sister looking for a perfect match

I love love love the found family aspect and the connections between all the couples. The plot was engaging, but it heavily pissed me off during the eldest sister arc. All the other arcs were fun for me and I enjoyed all the relationships + chemistry.
When I was watching, I kept recognizing actors and was like "I KNOW YOUUUU". I liked the casting choices yippie! I was surprised to find out that Winwin was a part of this show too.
Here is my couples ranking!!!
1. Kangning & Chai An
2. Haode & Huizhao
3. Leshan & Yang Xian
4. Shouhua & Du Yangxi/Fu Hui & Fan Liang Han
Anyways I would rewatch just to see my fav couples again. <3

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Seriously, ignore the critics on this one.

If you watch Fox Spirit Matchmaker 3: Sword and Beloved and complain about too many deaths or not enough kissing, you’ve fundamentally missed the point. This isn't a fluffy romance; it's a profound, heart-wrenching epic about duty, soul-deep sacrifice, and the enduring power of a love that costs absolutely everything.

This show is brave. It understands that true devotion isn't measured in sweet, lighthearted moments, but in the choices you make when destiny demands your life.

Wang Quan Fu Gui’s story is the ultimate rejection of his fate. He was bred to be a perfect weapon, but he threw away duty, status, and life itself just to protect his love, Qing Tong. His exile and the final definitive sacrifice to become the final weapon is the most breathtaking love confession I've ever seen on screen. Their bond is so powerful, so earth-shattering, that it creates an eternal connection that defies mortality itself. Tell me that's not romance!

And thank goodness the show wasn't just about the leads! The writers did such an amazing job deepening the world. The tragic arc of Quan Rumu and Long Weiyun—a parallel love that ends in absolute heartbreak—hits you like a punch to the gut, perfectly reinforcing the central theme that love is worth dying for, even if the ending is despair. Even characters you initially hate, like Wang Quan Hong Ye, are brilliantly nuanced. His cruelty turns out to be a desperate, twisted form of protection, making his final, dying moments with his son so incredibly powerful and earned.

Add to this the jaw-dropping action and visual storytelling. The choreography around the legendary Wang Quan Sword is simply gorgeous and carries so much emotional weight. This drama doesn't pull any punches; it maintains a tone of beautiful, high tragedy that elevates the whole experience.

If you are tired of shallow Xianxia and want a drama that rewards complexity, depth, and the kind of legendary love that defies lifetimes, you have to watch Sword and Beloved. It’s a masterpiece of heartbreak and devotion.

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Taiwanese BLs just hit different ❤️ this was soo damn adorable!!!!

Kyaaaaaa!!!!! They're soo damn cute and adorable. The whole drama i went 😄😭😆😄😭😆😄😭😆... i even binge watched it. I've watched couple of taiwanese bls and i think this one was the best!! Especially the 2nd couple🤭🤭 they made me laugh every time they came on screen. I looked for other dramas these actors played in but looks like it's their 1st drama and no other drama came after that. For a debut this was soo good. Recently I've been finding these dramas where its their debut but u cant tell. I feel soo lucky... i hope they have more dramas.. even if its not as couples

Oh yes the easter egg in the last episode. I am so happy i suspected the long outro and checked. That was cheating😭😭 i would have skipped it if i didnt check but yeah that was cute🥺🥺🥺 everyone got a happy ending n I'm 1000% satisfied 😌

Yes i know if it was soo good why 9.5? Well it's cz misses in minor details. Peng carries his phone everywhere but then not using it at points. And the cousins character that i didn't understand. Yang saved his life but then he tried to kill him even though yang literally was handing the business to him and there were no signs of otherwise. Also the fiancée.. i felt her trying to break them up was an unnecessary arc so 9.5

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It pains me to say this esp when the series features one of my favorite pairings but

This series started out so good, but I feel like after episode 7 it lost plot. Also, the official trailer was so different from what this show turned out to be. Did they change the story halfway after filming because I swear after Pheem shot Than and left him for dead in the same episode, seems like the writers had no idea what to do. The story was so different from what it was sold as in the trailers. I think some of those scenes didn't even air like the sex scene in the warehouse, Jet shoving Pheem into the chari and belitting him until Than came in and defended him etc. I really want to know what happened there and why this series was changed halfway without any explanation? I'm so confused. Not only that but Pheem was too much of a red flag to deserve a happy ending. His redemption was too fast, like I didn't even understand why Than still loved him in the end. Sure, they showed us that Pheem still had a heart and he sruggled with what he was doing at times, but I feel like Than forgave him too easily. Because honestly? Pheem went too far when it came to Than even if it was to save his life. I'm disappointed because I thought this would turn out to be my favorite DaouOffroad series when it started and it just turned out to be a mess in the end. Even the "villainous" character brother didn't make sense in the end. He was replaced by the sister out of nowhere.
Honestly if it wasn't for DaouOffroad's chemistry and acting I think sadly I would have dropped it. But for them I watched until the bitter end.
Overall I give it a 7 and I doubt I will be rewatching much unless I'm in the mood to rewatch this silliness.

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What is not to like in a drama

I just watched this moments ago and iwould like to raise up some points. Actually the storyline is quite ok. What i dont like is the absurd slowness of the drama episodes. Sometimes one scene would take up an entire episode. Lessen the dramatics a bit because it gets on my nerves. Mostly the dramatics are repeated over and over again. We know how it is and should never repeat it like we dont have a mind.
I dont like the fight scenes overwhelmingly dramatics. It seemed that the villain is giving them timeout and recess for fighting. Cut out the dramatics during fights. Fights should be continous! They can have lengthy and emotional conversations AFTER a fight, not DURING a fight! Isnt it laughable that the villain is giving them such an easy time?
Go easy on the music. I get tired of hearing it even if it's not needed! They cant even have a moment of peace conversing without the music? Cut out all the crying of zhuo yichen. A stoic hero and a crybaby? Not a compatible combination characteristics. I see it that the actor cannot act so needs to have moisturizing eyedrops? I dont like it that the goddess is so helpless. Her powers are not strongly shown in this drama. I dont like it that pei siheng, the puppet, is always showing up. I thought he is already dead. The storytelling is not flowing, because of many unnecessary dramatics all over the place, i have been distracted and sometimes forget a character when he is mentioned again.
This is the only drama that i watched that made me fast forward many scenes. I usually watch dramas if they have high ratings. Thinking that this is worth a watch, i tred it and found not liking it at all. Maybe if they lessen the episodes into half( there is not much story development) and do away with all the negatives that i stated , i might give it a high rating. If this xianxia drama can be compared to an animal, it is a hell of a SLOTH!

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Slice of life, 2nd chance of love

I actually really enjoyed every single minute of this short drama. Not every single short drama needs to be fast and swept you of your feet or needs to be a recycle story.

A FL that knows when to give in and push forward, who was badly hurt and trustworthy in love and that is afraid to be hurt once again and a guy who finally gets to experience what is that someone makes ripples on your heart. Is definitely a slow burn but worth it.

The beauty of this story it is that it gives you a completely banal and plausible story that could happen anywhere and still capture your attention.

If you don't like slow burn, regular every other day slice of life office stories, this is not your cup of tea. But if you are like me that enjoy fluffy, feel good dramas, with no green tea and scheming villains, this is your story.

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Fast paced, well-acted, and realistic characters! What's not to love?

I wasn't sure I would like this drama just because I saw too many reviews saying it's overrated. I'm so, so, so glad I gave it a chance.

What I liked:
1. Romance plot
While I truly love the 'immature' FL trope, it was really enjoyable to watch a couple who was evenly matched. There was no pursuer; they both just fell in love and came to each other mutually. They understood each other really well and were a natural fit. I agree with the people who said they didn't really feel the chemistry between Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan, and I agree, but that's fine with me. They felt more like kindred souls than a 'burning passion' type of couple, and that worked.

Also, we can't talk about the romance plot without talking about the crazy Emperor. Props to that actor because he completely pulled off a redemption arc by the end, and that is hard to do.

2. Morally complex characters
Although some parts of the story had me furious, I appreciate that the writer created villains that felt human. I understood their motivations, even when I didn't agree with them, and it created a really rich world where everyone was just trying to play with the cards they were dealt.

3. Pacing
Speaking of creating a rich world, the pacing played a really big part. At no point ever did I feel like the story dragged. It took a while to catch my attention, probably 4 episodes, but after that I was hooked from start to finish. Complex characters + tight pacing = a 10/10 storyline!!

4. Acting
The cast brought their A game for sure. The Empress of Susha was captivating in all her scenes, perfectly balancing the role of the kind mother and the scheming Empress.

I know a lot of people were frustrated with Feng Xiyang, but the Xia Meng was probably the actor who took me most by surprise (which is a huge compliment cause everyone was great.) She went from naive to calculating, and it never felt fake, not even for a second. Xiyang's scenes with Xia Jinyang were my best part of the second half.

I also saw some complaints about Xia Jingshi, but I liked how Chen He Yi played him. If we didn't have access to his private conversations, we would never know what he was thinking, and we would never know who he actually cared about vs. who he was using. He played his cards super close to his vest, never revealing any emotion except with Yixiao. I think he was a compelling villain.

I'll be honest, the weakest actor for me was Chen Zhe Yuan, and I say this as a huge fan of his previous work. Some people loved his choices, I didn't. I struggled to feel his connection in scenes with Li Qin or Xia Meng. For me, his strongest work was with the soldiers or in fight scenes, but anything that required emotional depth didn't quite land. I also wasn't a fan of the heavy airbrushed look particularly on him. None of this was bad enough to make me not enjoy the show, but with everything else being damn near perfect, this stood out as a weak point and is the only reason for the 8 in my review.

5. OST
Amazing!!!!! No other words. Will be listening to it for a long time.

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Confidently good

Confidence Queen is a drama that I can confidently say is good. It's delightfully unpredictable, has great bromance and friendship, a nice set of unique characters that blend well together, i.e. the characters who are supposed to be bad make the viewer really hate them, the characters that are made to be supported have the viewers on their side. I would say however that there were a few unpredictable moments that made me confused, and I'm glad it ended where it did, as it was becoming a little repetitive; not bad, just on the verge of repetitiveness.

I enjoyed the vast range of themes and scenery alongside costumes and cinematography. The OST was wonderfully addictive and the cast was what I expected from the cast when seen on paper: great. There were a few minor characters who were a little off and the extras were made to look seriously dumb and stick out like a sore thumb, unfortunately.

In conclusion, if someone was to ask me about whether they should try 'Confidence Queen', I would say yes, watch it, but try and binge-watch it. I think watching it at a slow pace myself made it a tad less enjoyable. It's still a solid drama in the drama world, however.

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