Reviews

Fake news, questionable morality, and troublesome technology

"The Escape of the Seven" was an organized mess that had all the "charm" of a sinking ship. There were plenty of moments that threatened to send me scrambling for the nearest escape route (the poor character development, repetitive conflict, pseudo-romantic encounters, rushed redemption arc), and plenty of others that managed to serve up food for thought on the human condition

One moment of revelation was the ill-fated character "K," who was swapped at birth and brought up in a wealthy household. After discovering his origins, he was discarded by his once-doting family. K's words, "noone can be family unless you're related by blood" (episode 12, 32:34) and "since I was young, I was the one to entertain and serve Father, why am I the fake son?" (episode 12, 39:25), invite us to question society's obsession with "biological lineage." Far too often, adoptive families or children are seen as "less worthy." The pursuit of a biological "mini-me" takes precedence, as if blood were the determinant of familial bonds. This skewed perception belittles the love, commitment, and joy found in adoptive families

Another moment was the dichotomy between "the real and the fake" (episode 12, 39:00). The drama reminds us that no matter how convincingly something mimics reality, there will always be a distinction. Even if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it might not be a duck

The drama considers our unhealthy relationship with technology and the ramifications of unchecked technological advancements. It draws attention to humanity's "vulnerability" to the influence of fake news (episode 12, 15:16), a significant issue in the modern, tech-driven society

In conclusion, "The Escape of the Seven" was a blend of misguided, cringe-worthy storytelling and surprising insight. It had both irredeemable and redeeming qualities

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poignant and awesome storytelling

With so many Chinese dramas flooding streaming platforms today, too many fall into the same traps: fractured storylines, bloated casts, painfully stretched episodes, rushed endings, excessive CGI, and those gravity-defying wire-fu fight scenes that often feel more cartoonish than cinematic. Somewhere along the way, spectacle replaced storytelling.

But Light to the Night avoids nearly all of those pitfalls. What makes this series work is its restraint. Instead of constantly introducing new characters and subplots just to extend runtime, the drama stays grounded around a core group of people and a relatively confined setting. That focus gives the audience time to actually invest emotionally in the characters rather than merely trying to remember who everyone is.

And this is precisely why the show succeeds across 28 episodes without feeling unnecessarily padded. It proves that a drama does not need 40 or 50 episodes to create depth. Every episode here feels purposeful. Chinese dramas could learn from this approach: quality storytelling is not measured by duration, but by narrative discipline.

What impressed me most was how the tension continuously evolved. Just when you think you’ve figured out the mystery, the story quietly pulls the rug from under you. The twists are not cheap gimmicks inserted for shock value; they are carefully planted, making the audience question their own assumptions over and over again. That is intelligent writing. In an era where many dramas rely on visual excess, this series relies on suspense, atmosphere, and character psychology.

I also believe Pan Yue Ming absolutely stole the show as Detective He. His performance carried weight, subtlety, and realism. There was a quiet intensity in the way he portrayed the character that made every scene feel grounded. Yet credit must also go to Dylan Wang for understanding exactly what Captain Ran needed to be. Rather than overacting, he played the role with restraint, calmness, and composure, which balanced the series beautifully. Sometimes the strongest performances are the ones that know when not to be loud.

What ultimately separates this drama from many others is that it respects the intelligence of its audience. It trusts viewers to pay attention, to connect emotional nuances, and to sit with ambiguity instead of spoon-feeding every answer. That confidence is rare today.

In the end, Light to the Night reminds us that compelling television does not need endless episodes, flashy effects, or exaggerated action scenes. Strong characters, disciplined storytelling, and well-earned suspense are more than enough.

Tha final wave on the train in the end is how you end one of the best Chinese series.

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The High-Quality Power Couple Mini-Drama You’ll Devour In One Sitting!

Oh my word, talk about a major surprise! 😍 I started Grab Your Love on Rakuten Viki thinking it would just be another quick, skippable micro-drama, but it completely shattered my expectations. The overall production quality was vastly better than I anticipated, with stunning, vintage cinematography and high-quality sound that kept me totally immersed. Even better, the story was surprisingly engaging, fast-paced, and way more cohesive than standard short-form series. It is the ultimate weekend binge!

Acting: 8.5/10 — The leads absolutely carry the show with amazing micro-expressions!

Storyline: 8.5/10 — Way more engaging than expected, balancing business revenge and pure romance beautifully.

Romance Chemistry: 10/10 — Absolute fire! The sparks, the tension, and the un-chopped romantic scenes are electric. (The kisses where delivering)

Music: 8/10 — The intro track is a total vibe and the BGM fits every intense moment perfectly.

Rewatch Value: 9/10 — Because it's a fast-paced mini-series, it is dangerously easy to rewatch.

Overall Vibe: 8.5/10 — A fiercely addictive, high-quality romance that hits all the right spots.

Why I Absolutely Loved It!....

The Performances Were an Absolute Treat. I ended up thoroughly enjoying the actors' performances. They absolutely brought their A-game! Tan Yan Yan is phenomenal as Min Jiang Xi, completely rocking that fierce, independent, badass attitude as she strives to be the top tutor. And Wang Xuan as Qin Zhan, the "Villain of Shencheng"? Hello?! 🫠 His low, whispery tone and stone-faced demeanor are incredibly attractive, turning the classic protective alpha male trope into art. Their mutual chemistry is undeniable, throwing any cringey, forced mini-drama acting out the window.

Laugh-Out-Loud Peak Moments. While the corporate warfare can get intense, the comedy in this show is pure gold! The laughable moments between Min Jiang Xi and the adorable Qin family kid are wonderfully hilarious and completely steal the scene. Watching this intimidating, high-society "villain" slowly get completely whipped and outsmarted by a sassy tutor had me constantly giggling at my screen.

If you are looking for a fast romance with zero drag, incredible production quality, and a power couple that takes down corporate villains side-by-side, you need to grab this drama immediately!

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fashion fashion fa fa fashion.

seriously the storyline is so good!!!!! everything has a cute and calm theme. the love these mens had for each other was endearing I love it!!!!!

this drama was more of a fashion drama rather than emotional. every character had unique fashion sense for themselves. "pobmek" was a math teacher, he always wore complicated or horizontal lines type of clothes (even tho he had worn check shirts for half of the time in the drama). his boyfriend "solar" had a calm unique fashion sense because he was English teacher. "jee" was a PT teacher and the vibe was right there. my favorite is "the principal" oh my gosh the fashion sense of her was top-notch.

after all great story, recommended!!!!

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A Visually Stunning but Flawed Drama

I love the side characters, especially the ones who worked in the palace. They were so warm, loving, funny, and friendly. I'm such a sucker for side characters who bring so much heart and warmth into a drama because they make the world feel alive instead of just existing for the main plot. They added so much charm to the story, and honestly, some of my favorite scenes involved them more than the main plot itself. I love Choi Hyeon, Grand Prince Yi An's assistant. He was extremely loyal and funny. I found him so enduring.

This is the first drama I've ever watched from Gong Seung Yeon, and she did an absolutely amazing job as Yun I Rang. To be quite honest, besides the side characters, she definitely carried the drama for me. She brought so much emotional depth and elegance to the role without overdoing it. Her expressions alone told you exactly what her character was feeling. I also liked that Yun I Rang didn't feel one dimensional. She could be vulnerable, intelligent, composed, and emotional all at once, which made her feel fleshed out and human instead of just another typical villain.

I also seem to fall into the minority regarding IU's performance as Seong Hui Ju. I don't necessarily know if it was outright miscasting, but I often felt as though the performance was straining too hard toward authority and charisma instead of naturally embodying those qualities. As a result, Seong Hui Ju frequently came across as performatively arrogant rather than genuinely commanding. The moments where IU softened her performance were the moments where Seong Hui Ju became significantly more believable and emotionally grounded.

As for Byeon Woo Seok as Grand Prince Yi An, I thought he performed well within the limitations of the material, though I ultimately found the character somewhat underwritten. Grand Prince Yi An often felt less like a fully realized person and more like an idealized construct of nobility, intelligence, and emotional restraint. Personally, I like characters defined by contradiction, vulnerability, and internal conflict, so I found myself wishing the writers did more. I also disagree with criticisms that Byeon Woo Seok's acting was stiff. To me, the restraint in his performance felt intentional and entirely consistent with the realities of royal life within the drama's political environment. A figure in Grand Prince Yi An's position can't afford emotional transparency because vulnerability immediately becomes exploitable. In that sense, the emotional distance in his characterization made thematic sense.

Steve Noh as Min Jeong U did a really great job too, but I seriously hate when writers make a character's entire identity revolve around loving the male or female lead. That's exactly what happened with Min Jeong U. If you remove the fact that he was in love with Seong Hui Ju, what character do you really get underneath all of that? Not much. That's frustrating because Steve Noh clearly brought enough charisma and presence to make the character more interesting, but the writing never allowed him to fully stand on his own. He constantly felt trapped in the role of emotional support and longing rather than being given his own ambitions, motivations, or storyline outside of romance. Characters become way more compelling when they exist as individuals first instead of just being a plot device, because when you remove Min Jeong U from the story, Yun I Rang realistically could've fulfilled the same narrative role he did.

My favorite scene in the entire drama had to be the fan scene where Grand Prince Yi An used the fan to cover the lower half of his face. You could immediately tell it was an incredibly intimate scene even before the meaning behind it was revealed. It felt subtle, restrained, and emotionally charged. And for those who don't know, in Victorian era fan language, covering the lower half of the face with a fan symbolized "I love you," which made the callback even more romantic and meaningful. What I loved most was that the drama didn't need a huge confession or dramatic dialogue. That scene alone was enough for me.

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Why This Binge-Worthy Gem Will Punch You Straight In The Feels!

Oh my gosh, prepare to be completely hooked! If you are looking for a Japanese drama that you can easily binge-watch in just a day or two on Rakuten Viki, I Wanna Punch That Scumbag! (Ano Kuzu wo Nagutte Yaritainda) is the absolute perfect choice. It has the ultimate mix of comedy, swoon-worthy romance, and boxing, but underneath all that chaotic energy, it serves up some truly beautiful, deep life lessons that I did not see coming! 😭💖

Acting: 9/10 — Nao is an absolute powerhouse as Hokomi, and Yuta Tamamori is effortlessly charming!

Storyline: 8.5/10 — A perfect, fast-paced blend of sports growth and complex romance.

Romance Chemistry: 9.5/10 — The tension, the glances, the kissing scenes—absolutely electric!

Music: 8/10 — The ending theme "Meriba" by People1 sets the absolute perfect mood.

Rewatch Value: 9/10 — Short, punchy, and so easy to click "next episode" over and over.

Overall Vibe: 9/10 — Heartwarming, motivating, and incredibly satisfying!

What makes this J-drama stand out from a standard rom-com are the incredible nuggets of wisdom it drops along the way.

Here are the five massive takeaways that will stay with you long after the final episode:

1. Look beyond the label (but don't play fixer!) Not all scumbags are bad and not all good guys are good. However, that doesn't mean you should go around trying to reform every single scumbag you meet! Kairi might have a womanizing, messy exterior, but his hidden depths teach us that people are multi-layered. Still, save your energy...you are not a rehabilitation center!

2. Your inner strength is waiting to unlock. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for with the right perseverance and support group! Watching Hokomi literally transform her heartbreak into boxing power is the ultimate motivation. With a solid gym family and your own determination, you can survive any hit life throws at you.

3. True freedom comes from releasing the past. Let bygones be bygones. Holding onto resentment, old betrayals, and deep-seated guilt only weighs you down. The characters show us that true peace only comes when you finally decide to unclench your fists and drop the heavy baggage of the past.

4. The world keeps turning, and so must you. Although it's hard to walk away from a terrible situation, you still must move on. That doesn't mean you feel less guilty, it's just that life keeps moving and stops for no one. Whether it's getting left at the altar or dealing with heavy trauma, the drama beautifully shows that taking that next step forward is mandatory, even when your feet feel like lead.

5. The heart follows its own rules. Love knows no bounds and you can't force your heart to love someone just because it fits society's norms. The heart wants what it wants despite the risk of being hurt in the end. You could choose the "safe, perfect-on-paper" option, but true love is wild, unpredictable, and completely worth the risk of getting a little bruised!

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Bad acting galore and no plot

Things I loved

1 Yin Jie, the friend of the FL who works with her. Such a beautiful and lovely actress and her role was great as well. She shone in every scene and I wish she gets roles as the main lead. I think this is the only positive thing I have to say for this awful drama and I can't believe this has a 8.6 rating. I understand different strokes for different people, but come on. There is nothing in this drama to justify this rating and it makes the whole 8.6 ridiculous.

2 The cousin of the FL. Sweet, lovable, funny and the only one who provided with Yin Jie some lightness. I wish he had more scenes. He even was the voice of reason sometimes.

3 I loved the mother of the FL, and the parents of the ML. Decent people that also would love to see more.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. She has no range, her acting is mediocre at best and her role wasn't better either. I've seen another series where the FL was the granddaughter of the owner of the company and she did a great job with the role. Here there was nothing for the actress to work with but she also didn't have the talent to work with the mediocre script. Also how many times can you label her gorgeous and beautiful. I'm sorry but although we don't like all the same things and certainly beauty is on the eye of the beholder there's a point that it becomes ridiculous to shove this down our throat every other scene when the actress is an average girl without anything striking or particular special.
Also her character was beyond ridiculous sometimes. She threw a tantrum because the ML didn't call her when he was in an ambulance. Her reasoning he didn't think of her. Tell me you're entitled without telling me. I sympathized at first with her when she was wronged by her college room mates and I thought her character had potential but I was so wrong. Her character was weak and went nowhere. So disappointing.

2 The ML. No acting chops whatsoever. It's my first drama with him and maybe he's better on others but here his acting was robotic at best and I felt nothing. Nothing about the romance, nothing about his career loss. That alone tells me that the acting is beyond awful. Also the unfitting outfits and the fact that I don't find him handsome at all and he gave me he and the 2ML vibes of Heathcliff made me laugh rather than fall for them. It was too much the brooding style from both of them. Now about the character arc. I didn't even get why he was suitable for the job he got after the surgeon career ended. AS for being a prodigy, unfortunately even when I want to suspend any belief, the numbers don't work and the premise that he was that perfect neurosurgeon is flimsy.
Now about the romance. No chemistry at all with the FL and why on earth should we care about their relationship? We didn't see anything to justify that he fell for her. From Monday to Tuesday suddenly he let go of his resentment and started pursuing her. Give me a break. The resentment was for a ridiculous reason but at least gave us something to wait. To wait for the revelation. Ridiculous character development and it was frustrating to watch the romance. I think I liked one scene when they got together at the party at episode 27 and even this scene was underwhelming.

3 The 3ML. I didn't hate him like others. To be honest, I found him as bad as the rest of the cast. Another Heathcliff wannabe and an untalented and unattractive male lead. I did get why he was the way he was at first, though, and while I don't excuse him I find his arc better than the main arc. His relationship with the FL and Rong was frustrating to watch since he never had the guts to be honest with any of them. But again I didn't care enough to hate him and I get where he comes from. No excuse for listening to Rong though and don't trust the FL.

4 The father of the FL. He was an idiot and no sympathy from me although frankly he was at least more interesting than the main leads. Same for the mistress and her daughter. Slimy people but still had something to make me stay with them and see where this was going. I can't say that much for the main couple.

5 The way they spoke about Switzerland and the food in Europe. This is the first time I hear such negative opinions and so unfair about Europe. He said he was skiing because there was nothing else to do abroad which is stupid and unworthy of anyone with even a little intelligence. If you can't find anything to do in Europe and in Switzerland you are just a lazy or idiotic person.
Same thing about the FL who traveled to Europe for two months and bashed the food when she came back. Really? I like cuisines from all over the world, but it bothers me more than you know to hear someone say so inaccurate things about food in Europe. Who the hell can take seriously someone who says things like that? Have you ever heard of Greek cuisine, French, Spanish, Italian? What the hell again? I lost the little respect I had for these leads and the screenwriter. There was no reason for the bashing.

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A sweet mixture of angst, intense romance and fluff

Everyday I browse through cdramaland and kdramaland hoping for a fulfilling drop of water in the desert that is the GL landscape.

Lo and behold, this series dropped out of nowhere. YouTube's algorithm clearly did the Lord's work for me, surfacing it into my feed.

Finally, sapphics, we get ourselves a proper Chinese GL that is well made, well acted with a gorgeous cast, and amazing chemistry. And did I mention it's a HE? Believe it or not all these factors are pretty rare, especially that last one.

When I say this is a proper GL, I mean it. It's two girls that actually say I love you. They are intimate. They share physical affection. They kiss in well lit spaces! There is no dancing around censors to recategorize it as sismance or friendship despite everything onscreen showing us otherwise. We don't need to perform mental gymnastics to understand the depth of their relationship.

The story is straightforward and well told. The flashbacks are just frequent enough to fill in the gaps. I do wish that this was a longer series and we got even more of their interactions in the flashback. The short length, which I'm attributing to a small budget, really does a disservice to building up their gradual attraction. As a result, I feel like we only ever get the "highlights" but never anything in between.

The side characters are not intrusive and are there to service the two main leads. The sister is a gem and seriously one of the best sisters you could ask for in a cdrama.

Zoe Chen (Gu Qingshui) probably gives one of my favorite performances. Her subtle facial expressions really communicate the weight of Qingshui's emotional depth that she tries very hard to suppress around others. She pulls off the cold beauty thawed by love archetype so well.

Celia Liu (Shen Fang) delivers a very anguishing performance. Her heartbreak is clearly felt and the joyous moments in between when she lets down her guard to be swept up by Qingshui again are so endearing.

They both have amazing chemistry together and the success of the drama is due to the amazing commitment they've both put into these roles.

I will be on pins and needles waiting for their next collaboration.

P.S. There is a hair drying scene. IYKYK.

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The Stethoscope, The Chaos, and The Boy Who Opened A Savings Account ?

9.5/10
Resident Playbook snuck up on me completely. I started it as a side watch because the episodes were honestly movie-length and intimidating, and somehow it became the drama I couldn't stop thinking about between episodes.
Let me start with what this drama does differently — it doesn't romanticize medicine. It shows you the exhaustion, the humiliation, the politics, the impossible hours. Yi-young returning as a repeater R1, sitting beside fresh graduates while her in-law & direct senior in med-school is now her R4 supervisor? The shame of that is written all over her face without a single line of dialogue explaining it. That's just good storytelling.
The OTP dynamic is genuinely refreshing. He was gone for her first - quietly, stubbornly in denial about it, while she fell mid-drama after he defended her without making a big show of it. No dramatic confessions under the rain early on. Just two people in the same building, slowly becoming inevitable. And when Do-won finally cracks and comes out of denial? The man opens a WEDDING SAVINGS ACCOUNT without telling anyone and giving her a PROMISE RING. No grand gesture. Just quiet, certain planning. I was not okay 🥹
The ensemble is what elevates this above a typical medical romance though. Jae-il and Sa-bi's "I'll wait a whole year" setup, Nam-kyung getting her first successful delivery AND her hand held on the same day, Professor Seo being "The Witch" who was actually the most devoted mentor in the room, every single character had a complete arc.
And Myeong Eun-won getting passed over for the professorship after the nurses and interns were consulted?? JUSTICE SERVED COLD 😂
Now. I need to address something in this comment section that has genuinely baffled me.
The people saying the FL is "too pretty" for the ML; I genuinely don't know what drama you were watching. Do-won carries himself with the quiet confidence of someone who has never needed to announce himself in a room. He is an excellent & empathetic SENIOR.That understated, steady, sardonic energy IS attractive. Handsomeness isn't a single template and if your entire metric for a leading man is a sharp jawline and double eyelids then I'm afraid you missed the whole point of this drama. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and apparently some beholders need their eyes checked 😌
The man opened a savings account for their future wedding while she was still paying her debts. If that's not the most attractive thing a male lead has done in recent kdrama history I don't know what to tell you.
9.5/10 — lost half a point purely because I need season 2 immediately and the fact that it isn't confirmed yet is a personal attack on me, and 90mins episodes are kind of intimidating. 😤

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Shit

shitty trashy ml
i drop at 4 so what I saw

start- ml Is somewhere travelling and saves FML ,they argue and fight end up bumping into eachother, ml finds out she is childhood friend, his dog accidentally tore FML dairy he picked up, now doesn't know how to give he keeps refusing her ,
acts rude,cold to her? even though he was her friend ? and he finds out she has skills, forces her to work as his assistant only then he will return the dairy ? he even read her diary, then he tore a paper throws it and tells FML to pick it ? she is receptionist still
,the more and more I see him he is unlikable

2nd ml ? was kind to her but seems to be using her for his own gain, inviting her to party where he invited her ex ?

3rd guy is her roommate ,in this drama only FML and her roommate seem good rest I can't watch them
he already treating her worse ? what to expect more?

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Light to the Night — A Story About Obsession, Choices, and the Weight of the Past

Light to the Night stands out because of the way it tells its story through three different timelines, slowly revealing how one event changed everyone’s lives forever. What starts as a missing persons case, then a crime mystery case becomes something much deeper: a story about obsession, guilt, choices, and the consequences people carry for years.

The three main leads are the heart of the drama. Dylan Wang delivers one of his most mature and outstanding performances so far. His character starts off charismatic, funny, and full of energy, but across the timelines you slowly watch the obsession consume him, replacing that warmth with sadness and emotional exhaustion. He balances humor and pain incredibly well, making the character feel very human. The other two leads are just as strong, especially during the emotional confrontations where nobody feels completely innocent or completely guilty.

What makes the drama memorable is that the mystery itself eventually becomes less important than the emotional damage it leaves behind. Every character is trapped by decisions they made in the past, and the series constantly shows how one choice can quietly destroy lives over time. The atmosphere stays heavy, melancholic, and emotionally tense until the very last episode, which makes the ending hit even harder.

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I can't get over this drama!!!

This drama is a different kind of mature romance that I haven't experienced and seen before. I love how they handle misunderstanding between them. I love how she calls his name(Chen Maidong). I love the kisses and all, it's sooooo good 😊
Granny Chen carries the show as she continues to matchmake her grandson and Fl nonstop 🤣
The Fl mom's nags non stop 😭
This drama is an eye opener, it teaches me that THERE'S ABILITY IN DISABILITY, DISABILITY IS NOT A DISEASE!!
I love how the FL carries herself even though she's disabled. I would recommend this drama to mature and realistic minds 💓

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Sweet side couples

This drama was a nice watch. The story was ok. It was nothing special and there were some holes in the story, but it was entertaining enoug to enjoy the watch.
I only had one real what the heck moment, and that was when she completely turned her back on him for something his Grandfather allegedly had done. At that moment they ruined the good vibe i had watching this drama.
The visuals were beautiful and the music was good.

The acting was good and all the couples had good chemistry. I liked both side couples a lot more than the main couple, but that's probably because i am not a fan of the acting skills of Shen Yue. Allthough i must say, she improved a lot after Meteor garden.

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this couple shares the same core values—such as contribution, commitment to justice, faithfulness

"I love that this couple shares the same core values—such as fair resource distribution, equality before the law, commitment to justice, faithfulness in love, virtue, and their care and kindness toward siblings, friends, and family. This is truly one of my favorite dramas.

Not to mention how perfectly their characters complement each other. Huge credit goes to the male lead for his love and respect, and for accepting her capabilities—even when she outshines or defeats him as her role demands.

Ji Bozai, the male lead, is someone starved of affection. It’s obvious he has never experienced love before, so he gives it his all while being utterly terrified of it. Once that trust is broken, he is deeply hurt and constantly doubts love, making him the most pitiful character. On the other hand, the female lead seems less starved of love, perhaps because she was too focused on survival at the time. In reality, she loves him deeply too. There are scenes where they beautifully share their love, sacrifices, and mutual pain with one another."

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REAL, HONEST, WHOLESOME, HEARTFELT, DEEP But Slightly Unstructured.

I promise you will not skip a single scene in this series!!! I actually started this series out of boredom, not expecting too much from it. But it was a blast to my idle brain!

The series is very righteous, targets the evils mindset of the society which are still very much prevalent in developing countries where they see being a part and/or ally of LGBTQIA+ community is a disease or much like a sin and are perceived as not being true to self.

Overall great writing, cast, acting, decent production and a fantabulous storyline which delivered the much needed message to the audience!!! TRUST ME Y'ALL NEED THIS, JUST GIVE IT A GO!!!!!

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