Reviews

100% Emotionally Compromised

Revenged Love is not your average BL drama, it’s a masterclass in emotional manipulation, slow-burn chemistry, and character transformation. Wu Suo Wei, scorned by his wealthy ex-girlfriend, sets out on a revenge mission by seducing her new boyfriend, Chi Cheng. What starts as a calculated game spirals into a tangled web of genuine feelings, power plays, and emotional vulnerability.

If Revenged Love had been pulled due to content, it would’ve been a tragedy. This series doesn’t just push boundaries, it redefines them. It’s sexy, smart, and emotionally devastating in all the right ways. And yes, we NEED another season. Because we’re not done being ruined by Chi Wei.

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First cut ...

This is the first ever bl drama I watched. it has lead to years of obsession to bl dramas and books. Loved the story, the chemistry between the actors. first cut is the deepest cause I have really rewatched it as many times as I can.It really doesn't matter it's incomplete, what's available is perfect on its on. The story build up is perfect, the kisses look so real.

Will they ever be allowed to give us season 2? it's so sad and heartbreaking that was it. Even reading the book doesn't really heal. it isn't the same. Think this is one of the few series I have watched where I am addicted to the series more than the book.
Fingers crossed, one day

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A romantic sweet treat!!

If you are looking for a sweet romance that will make you smile, with real kissing.....this is it. The acting was wonderful, the FL was strong independent woman, while also being so adorable. The ML was intense, you could see his emotions in his body language and expressions so well. The second FL/ML are quirky and equally entertaining. This is romance all the way, with just enough angst to keep it interesting. Some may think this drama is formulaic, but after a terrible day, something comforting, like a sweet treat, a comfy blanket and a guaranteed happy ending makes the everything better.

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Good vibes only

TLDR: This show is the definition of straight wholesome vibes.

Overall: If you're having a bad day this is the show you turn on to give you the warm and fuzzies inside. The character chemistry is fantastic all around and I loved every relationship romantic or otherwise. Just watching them exist is a treat to watch.

Story: Not the point of the show. Literally just a vehicle to toss the characters into the room and watch them be super wholesome which is fine by me.

Characters: Amazing all around. Love both the FL and ML and think their performance here is incredible. Specifically the ML it is cool to see how different he is from some of his other role which is a credit to his acting ability. Their chemistry is amazing and watching them just be the giggly/bubbly honeymoon couple could not be more fun. The entire supporting case is fantastic and I love the Perfect's dynamic. They definitely give the vibe of a true group of friends who've known each other for a long time which is not always the easiest to pull off. Goes without saying but their performances are all great as well.

Can't say enough good things about the cast and characters. Just watch it and enjoy.

Music: lots of good stuff which is to be expected in a show focused on a VA studio.

Rewatch: High. Not going to be something you rewatch often I'd say but something to revisit every couple of months if you need that nice dose of comfort.

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Not for Me

I was excited to watch this because it looked great in the preview. Unfortunately, I only lasted 7 episodes. The FL actress is so pretty. She was very funny at the beginning where she was sucked in the script and died so many times. I love how she portrayed her role. But I don’t know, I just don’t see the chemistry between the leads. Maybe that’s just me. I watched the ML in another drama and he was great there, but sadly, I just couldn’t get myself to be hooked with this one. I watched the last episode back in July and it’s already September and I still haven’t gone back to watch it. Definitely not for me.

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Fun premise that kind of loses its way

TLDR: Super fun concept that carries some of the subpar moments in the show

Overall: In terms of medical dramas this is definitely one that doesn't lean too much into the hard medicine which suits it well. The character relationships and schemes are the main driver of the show and for the most part they do a pretty decent job at staying interesting. I think noteworthy performances are Rain as Cha Young Min, Uee as Jang Se Jin and Sung Dong Il as Tess. The rest of the cast fill their roles but aren't asked to do much. The exception being Kim Bum's character who I thought lacked the screen presence and emotional weight to carry his half of the show.

Story: This is the reason to watch the show full stop. It's makes for fun dynamics and comedic situations while also allowing for exploration of deeper themes. I do think the novelty of it wears off after a bit after the first few episodes but there are enough ups and downs to carry it over the finish line. Not going to spoil too much but has a very solid start that hooks you with a slow taper off til the end when you realize that it peaked in the first few episodes.

Characters: The main cast is overall great with one exception. Rain carries a lot of the show with his performance and charisma. He starts off as the aloof and domineering attending but thankfully the script doesn't force him off the deep end in terms of likeability like some dramas do. His transformation is believable and a treat to watch. I am always rooting for him despite the ups and downs he has. He is easily the stronger half of the main duo and is thankfully enough to carry most of this dynamic. He hits all the emotional beats the show needs from him and I think he gives a great portrayal of both the desperation and joy his character experiences.

Onto Kim Bum as Dr. Seung Tak. I'm not sure what happened with his character but either the actor was horribly miscast or the script just did him dirty. I don't think he displayed much emotional range outside of class clown that doesn't care. His character jumps around quite a bit as well. Spoilers, but there was one scene where his character says something along the lines of "I can't stand watching anyone die" and I was like ???? Are we watching the same show? This is the same guy that blew off work, avoided picking up patients, and sat sipping a coffee while people were actively dying during the first 5-6 episodes. I think this was intended to show how much he grew by the end but the negligence+class clown vibe of the character just made him quite difficult to empathize with in any capacity. Even after the 'big reveal' of his back story I'm still left wondering how any of that is an excuse for his earlier behavior. The characters actions and attitudes also seem to change on a whim as the story needs which does no favors to the already poor characterization.

Uee is great as the supporting FL. She isn't given a whole lot of screen time but when she is she consistently knocks it out of the park. Sung Dong's character is fun as the mentor figure and it feels like he's been wandering around with too much time on his hands. The rest of the side characters are just kind of there. All other doctors outside of the main 3 are made one dimensional and incompetent by the script which is kind of a let down since there was quite a bit of potential to make them complex. The only real glimpse of 2D any of them get is when Dr. Ban gets like 5 seconds of showing he cares about his patients then after that nothing else.

The romance in this show ranges from fine to bad. Dr. Cha and Dr. Jang's relationship is fine, but outside of the flashbacks they aren't given a whole lot to work with since one of them is unconscious for 90% of the show. Seung Tak and Soo Jung's relationship made no sense to me. I didn't really get any sense of chemistry other than maybe a one sided crush. I think the actress does a reasonable job but her screen time is so limited already that she has like 5 min total in the show to make us believe in a relationship that is already weak to begin with. It's also not a great sign when I was far more invested in the ghost relationship and kind of speaks to the weakness of the second lead dynamic. That one scene at the door packed more emotional weight than every scene between the second leads put together.

The brother is suitably goofy and does lean into the heavy handed Kdrama cliches a bit but overall nothing too egregious. Dr. Han is a fine obstacle for the leads to overcome and the actor does a good job but wasn't asked to flex his acting muscles much so can't really knock him for anything. Dr. Ahn's character I thought was probably the most interesting villain. He gets at least a reasonable motivation and despite how scummy his character is I thought the actor put in a good performance from overworked fellow to desperate criminal who's in too deep.

Music: fine, nothing great and nothing bad.

Rewatch: I'd say pretty low. The novelty of the premise wore off during my first watch of the show so any repeat viewing is likely going to make that worse.

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I could watch until 5th generation

These series inspired in the manga/anime is just a guilty pleasure. The first cohort was amazing and had me glued to the screen. This second cohort was not so inspiring the first 2 episodes but then, their story starts to build and the team gets connected. Next thing I knew, I was as excited as with the first circle of players. Each character has details that make them precious. Their strugles, their fears, their Aha! moments, all sums up. Around episode 7 you get to see the others from the first circle and the dopamine multiplied. If I ever learn Japanese, it will be to have a chance to play karuta. These series really sparks that desire. I hope we can keep seing other adventures of these 2 circles.

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About that ending....

This drama is the perfect kind of “brain in a jar” watch for when you’re tired at the end of the day and don’t want to think too hard. It does all the thinking for you—telling you exactly what to feel with its intrusive score, stock characters, and black-and-white moralism, hammy acting included.

At times, I found its agenda disturbing. We’re asked to cheer when tormentors themselves are tormented, with no compassion, no learning, no recognition that wounds shape behavior. Growth is absent; the goodies are rewarded, the baddies punished, justice neatly served. All is right with the world—or at least with the script.

The one place a sliver of ambiguity sneaks in is between the leads. How are we meant to read their intimacy? Friends on the edge of something more? Fate nudging them closer when a blind date pairs them up? But the ML is explicit when he calls the agency—he wants companionship from someone of similar age and experience, not a romance. Even the taxi scene, when their hands fall side by side but never touch, feels symbolic. Lines are drawn, and he knows it.

The ending, however, is a cop-out. Cutting off mid-sentence feels like the writers couldn’t decide—were they leaving space for a sequel, dodging backlash about workplace power imbalance, or simply shrugging at love as an ongoing negotiation? For me, the disclosures between the leads felt intimate, but not romantic. I rooted for the ML, but not for him to be with the FL.

On another note, the Deaf representation was clumsy at best. Lip-reading is nearly impossible for most, yet here it’s treated as easy. The idea you could become fluent in sign language from a book is laughable—it takes years of use, just like any language. And the trope of a parent sending a Deaf child to “live with their own kind” is an outdated stereotype, not reality for most families. As a sign language user myself, I rolled my eyes more than once. Did no one think to consult Deaf advisors?

Overall, this is a drama best held lightly. Enjoy it if you want something simplistic and moralistic to zone out with, but don’t expect much warmth, growth, or depth.

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Unsatisfying ending…

The main tragedy of this show is Do-hyeon. The fl played with his feelings the entire season 2 and essentially emotionally cheated on him the entire time. Song-i absolutely disgusted me throughout the entire season 2 with how she strung Do-hyeon about it and essentially just picked Tae-oh since he has no job or familial responsibilities so he can just show up whenever she needs a guy. The show writers had Do-hyeon and Song-i as a couple for 13 episodes and just broke them up so she’d end up in a rushed ending with Tae-oh. Also the amount she’d just blatantly lie to Do-hyeon was gross and she studies architecture yet can’t even set up a tent properly. Also she got warned about that creepy senior from Tae-oh and her best friend yet she still idiotically gets into the dude’s car *smack.

Also Tae-oh is incredibly immature, has no goals in life and barely studies, just spends all of his father’s credit card money and thinks it’s okay to backstab his best friend.
The show never addressed Se-hyeon’s cheating with other guys properly since she never came clean to Tae-oh about it. Also that whole ridiculous side plot about Tae-oh’s mother faking her death for 20+ years just cause her siblings were breaking into their house for money made absolutely NO SENSE. Considering how rich Tae-oh’s dad was he literally could’ve just sued them or idk just don’t open the door.
This show essentially teaches you that someone hard working and responsible doesn’t deserve a girlfriend since he can’t drop everything at a moment’s notice unlike *cough cough* spoilt privileged brats.

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Revenge on revenge on revenge

Revenge? Check. Political intrigue? Check. Family drama? Check. Action? Check. Loyal friendships? Check. Romance? Check. Slow-burn romance? Check, check! This series really has it all. I mean, too much of it all, in fact. The revenge alone would have you going for hours. It was really engaging and I enjoyed how the revenge plots played out. It was pretty satisfying. The acting of both Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingue are topnotch. They were perfect for their roles. I could not have imagined a more perfect Xue Fangfei and Xiao Heng. They also have good chemistry. The side characters also did great. Totally love (and hate) the Eldest Princess Wanning. She was awesome and loathsome in her role. I also loved the cinematography of this series. It was so beautiful and added to the total vibe of the series. The breathtaking shots and angles were key to taking the storyline further.

Now, there are some things that I thought were problematic about this series. This was 40-episode long. Did it need to be that long? Honestly, yes and no. Yes, because it had so much to tell, and also no, because some plotlines just dragged on, and I felt that some scenes were unnecessary. And as much as the revenge plots were all resolved in the end, it all were just too good to be true and too convenient. And well, that ending? I usually do not mind an open-ending like that but seriously, you had me watch for 40 episodes and go through all of that just to give me a vague ending? That was just really painful and really unsatisfying, even unfair. I don't want to think of the end, please just give me a happy ending, for real!

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Familiar plot but gorgeous visuals (shots + cast) and charismatic leads made this fun watch!

This drama came to my radar through subreddit CShortDramas. I was intrigued by the first minute and after seeing a positive review, I decided to watch it on iQIYI. I enjoyed this drama.

What I liked:
1. Editing - Wow I must say that the shots were beautiful. This drama looked like a traditional long-form Chinese dramas with the colour gradation and set-up.
2. Acting - This is my first time watching Zhan Ni and I really liked her acting. She gave this elegant, understated but punchy performance. Wang Yan Xin was good in his role too. Zhan Ni and Wang Yan Xin had good chemistry too.
3. FL characterisation - I liked that FL was quick thinker and able to protect herself from bullies. The last scene with her family was bittersweet and I understood her conflict.
4. Styling - Gorgeous outfits from hotel employee uniforms to FL's casual work and night gown. ML looked dashing in his work clothes and even pyjamas but I wish he hadn't worn the glasses. Made him look like an uncle. SML's outfits were gorgeous and I also liked Xiao Xiao's styling a lot!
5. Romance - The romance was slow but there were good kisses and sweet moments, mostly initiated by ML. I wish there were more scenes of them bonding as a couple.
6. Supporting characters - I ❤️ Xiao Xiao! Her honest remarks about FL's relationship cracked me up. I also liked Shen Yu despite his attempts to woo FL.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Lin Yao Yao was annoying and incompetent. Gosh I loved it when she was demoted from ML's secretary to hotel staff - she was too nosy in other people's work. FL's mother was a surprise to me - I thought she was FL's stepmother but no she was her biological mother who treated FL badly. Glad they got retribution.
2. FL's action - It was frustrating when FL kept mentioning that they were in fake marriage numerous times. For someone who is great at anticipating customer's needs, she wasn't good at reading her husband's actions. Honey, you got a fine looking with good characteristics man whom you knew from school and why not take advantage of the situation since both agreed to that arrangement.

Favourite scene
When FL hung washed sheets on the rooftop

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