This review may contain spoilers
So... He died anyway ...
The story follows a sickly or poisoned former martial arts sect leader, LX, who gets unexpectedly tangled up with a rookie detective. Together, they investigate a series of strange murders and bizarre crimes. As they peel back the layers of each case, a much darker mystery connected to their own pasts slowly begins to emerge.For the first thirty episodes, the drama was actually pretty decent. It wasn't some masterpiece that would leave you speechless, but it was engaging enough. The slow-burn investigations, the mystery, the character dynamics... it all worked well enough to keep me watching.
But those last ten episodes?😮💨😮💨😮💨
They felt less like a drama series and more like serving a full life sentence.
No, seriously. At one point I caught myself looking at my syllabus books and thinking, "You know what? These are actually more interesting." That's how badly the plot started dragging.
The biggest problem was that everyone seemed to lose their common sense. The characters suddenly became frustrating, the dialogues turned painfully repetitive, and scenes that should have lasted two minutes somehow stretched into eternity. Take that pagoda sequence, for example. They were supposedly racing against time to find the mother bug, the villain could have returned with his entire gang at any moment, and what do our heroes do? Casually stroll around the crime scene, discussing theories, visualising events, and having long philosophical conversations as if they're on a sightseeing tour. The urgency was nowhere to be found.
And the worst part? The drama is packed with moments like this. Every time something important was about to happen, the characters would stop for another unnecessarily long conversation. It felt as if the writers were being paid by the minute and were determined to squeeze every last second out of each scene.
By the end, I wasn't even curious about the mystery anymore. I was just curious whether the episode would finally end.
It's genuinely disappointing because the drama had a solid premise, a fairly interesting central mystery, and enough potential to be memorable. Instead, the final stretch drains all the momentum built up in the earlier episodes. What started as an intriguing investigative drama eventually turns into an endurance test for the audience.
Now, onto the good stuff.
Cheng Yi was excellent. He played the role so convincingly that he was looking genuinely sick, exhausted and fragile. But I do think LX deserved his own victory moment, After making him suffer through illness, betrayal, and endless injuries the writer still chose to kill him in the end.... Like...
Why ?????? What was the reason??? 😭
Surprisingly, I found myself liking Joseph's FX more. Watching him grow from a spoiled, impulsive brat into someone with genuine ambition and purpose was incredibly satisfying. And I absolutely loved that he chose to continue travelling the martial world instead of settling down. It felt true to who he had become.
The styling was exactly what you'd expect from a wuxia period drama. Elegant costumes, beautiful scenery, and all the flowing robes your heart could desire. Nothing revolutionary, but it did its job well.
And the OST?
Oh !! It was an absolute banger. And why not.... It's sung by Yunning. That man simply refuses to release mediocre tracks.
In the end, this drama could have been so much better if the writers had stayed committed till the very end. The ingredients were all there: an intriguing mystery, compelling characters, and a fascinating world. But the final stretch stumbled so badly that it left me wondering if the writers themselves had lost the mother bug.
Would I recommend it????
Actually, yes. 🙈
Despite all my complaints, I think it's worth giving a chance. Try the first five episodes. If the characters and the investigative vibe click with you, you'll probably enjoy most of the ride.
Just be prepared for the last ten episodes.
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Dropped: Heavy on Interpersonal Drama, Light on Mystery (For Me)
This review is based on half the show (episodes 1–18).I’m sorry, folks, but this isn’t my cup of tea. What hasn’t worked for me so far:
. Certain relationship-focused plot lines have taken up more space than I personally enjoy, which affected my engagement.
. The story leans heavily into internal conflict and interpersonal scheming, which just isn’t my preference.
. Some of the character dynamics didn’t fully land for me.
. Overall, it feels more centered on family and relationship drama than the type of mystery-driven storytelling I was hoping for.
I usually enjoy smart, layered mysteries and intricate plotting, but this just didn’t connect with me in that way. After getting through half the series, I’ve decided to move on.
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A Multi-Lifetime Fantasy That Wasn't Perfect, but Deeply Enjoyable
I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t perfect—there were moments when the script or certain sub-arcs didn’t quite work for me, and it didn’t end up being a top-shelf favorite—but it was still a story I genuinely loved following.The setting was beautiful, and the characters were lovable and engaging. I especially enjoyed the layered storytelling that unfolded across three lifetimes. It’s a fantasy narrative that made me feel sad, happy, angry, and disappointed—and it even made me laugh. I was emotionally invested, and I loved discussing the story in the comments with everyone here, which isn’t always the case when I’m watching along week to week.
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This review may contain spoilers
absolute blast
I’m just putting this out there. I laughed at every. single. episode.The cut scenes of them acting out the BL were peak comedy, love cha hakyeons acting as always!!!
The song at the end caught me off guard but it was so silly and fun, I needed a feel good kdrama and this DELIVERED.
The blonde teacher was a little annoying but he made the story so much funnier. All of the teachers dynamics were hilarious and I still can’t get over the Korean lit teacher having crazy tattoos. what an icon.
Overall, will definitely rewatch when I’m sad or just in need for a giggle.
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Stayed for Yan Zixian, Not the Story
Let me start by saying that Yan Zixian is one of my favorite performers. That said, I wasn’t a fan of this drama.The premise centers on a solitary figure whose journey is shaped by vengeance and important relationships that form over time. The narrative makes use of shifting timelines to highlight key moments in the characters’ lives, which I found visually and thematically interesting. However, the pacing and execution didn’t fully hold my attention. The storytelling felt a bit dry at times, and several romance elements came across as underdeveloped or unconvincing for me. As a result, the emotional core of the story didn’t land as strongly as it could have.
I did follow it through to the end, but the highlight for me, as always, was seeing Yan Zixian onscreen..
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Real Adult Protects Children
Kim Deuk Pal, #2 man of Chulsang Gang encounters a suicidal teen trying to jump off the overpass during his drive back from meeting the boss. As he rushed towards the boy to save him, his soul is somehow transfered into the boy’s body, Song Yiheon, before Kim’s own body is run over by a truck. Waking up as Song Yiheon, he had no choice but to live his life while prepping the surrounding for Song’s soul’s return. Kim Deuk Pal managed to keep himself busy juggling between taking care of Song’s highly medicated depressed mom, getting rid of Song father’s secretary cum mistress who is hell-bent on taking over the legal wife position, fighting off bullies at school, making friends with Song’s classmates, all while studying hard for the college entrance exam.I honestly started this show with a low bar because I don’t really like teenage soul swap fantasy genres. Surprisingly, this show turned out to be extremely well-written with fast paced and engaging plot. I couldnt stop myself from hitting the next episode button, so it took me less than 10hours to binge this.
First off I wanted to say that the actor Lee Seo Jin for the middle-age Kim Deuk Pal is extremely handsome and looked really good for his age. I really love his charisma as the righteous gangster challenging himself by taking the college entrance exam as the middle-age gangster boss even before his soul transference. And second, I truly commend Yoon Chan Young for being able to imitate the original Kim Deuk Pal’s character into his teenage Song Yiheon’s role. The way he successfully portrayed the outcast teenager and the domineering #2 gangster boss was very convincing. He also managed to act out a rather wide range of emotions for this dual role, and I am thoroughly impressed.
I love how the story came out to be more about friendship, loyalty, growth, and redemption with the emphasis of the role of an adult instead of pure violence. I love how the middle-age Kim tried real hard to keep the kids in school and studying, and how he protected them from missing classes even at the risk of himself being detained into juvie. The way he carried himself is exactly how a real adult shouldve acted for children. There are many character growth here, especially on Choi Sekyung and Hong Jaemin, although they did whip up a reality check scenario with the other goon highschooler who wouldnt admit their wrongs, because there are people like that in the real world.
The last episode made me cry buckets until i came to the ending, which was actually a happy ending. Glad for that.
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A Fun VR Game Time-Travel Watch: Predictable Plot, But Very Entertaining
I didn’t know what to expect, but this turned out to be a fun watch. It’s one of those VR-game-based time-travel stories where the female lead has to complete missions to return to her modern world. We’ve seen dozens of dramas like this, all following the same basic formula, so there’s nothing new in terms of narrative. But what made this one enjoyable, was how entertaining it was—the comedic one-liners and the funny situations. It didn’t feel like a true repeat because the specifics were fresh enough, and the short runtime helped. I will say it could have been trimmed down to about 20 episodes; several tropes felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing. And the finale left me a bit confused. Overall, though, this was a great Le Geyang watch to fit in between my more serious dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
A Spooky Investigation Told Across Timelines
This was a good watch. I did have some issues with the pacing—the storytelling felt a bit sleepy at times—but the overall narrative was really unique. It follows a constable investigating a series of crimes connected to a girl he loved when he was younger. The story unfolds under the cover of eerie events told through different characters, and we weave their accounts together into a full backstory as the timeline shifts between past and present. I thought the execution and plot angles were handled well, and it hit all the spooky marks. Some of the flashback sequences dragged a little, but overall, this was a solid watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Palace Intrigue Done Exceptionally Well
I absolutely loved this. I typically struggle with Ren Jialun’s performances, but I have to say this one is a top-shelf favorite of mine. Everything worked—even when it didn't.While the overall narrative wasn’t entirely new, with its focus on palace infighting and conspiracies, the execution was so effective that I was fully absorbed, hanging on every line and plot turn. I loved the rich martial arts and the bold characters whose power and potential weren’t limited by gender. Each character captured my attention and drew me into their storylines in impactful ways that stayed with me throughout the drama. I was truly invested in their lives, and I appreciated the multiple layers in both the plot development and the character growth as they navigated identity and relationship dynamics.
This drama isn’t perfect—there were a few moments that made me raise a brow—but everything else made up for what became minor flaws. This is a 10/10 win for me.
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Not for Everyone, but Familiar to Vertical Drama Fans
If you’re used to low-budget vertical dramas, this one won’t faze you. But if you’re new to the format, it might be a turn-off because it’s clear from the start that it isn’t as well produced or well financed as what you may be used to. That said, I’m familiar with vertical films, used to poor subtitles, and I love Guan Yue—so I’m definitely biased. While this isn’t his best work or even a hint of what he’s capable of, I didn’t hate it. It’s a casual, silly watch with a weak script and a short runtime that makes it easy to finish.Was this review helpful to you?
Tang Detective: The Broken Mirror Conspiracy
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A Casual Tang Dynasty Mystery Watch
I liked this. It wasn’t the best watch or the strongest of Guan Yue’s Tang Dynasty projects, but it was enjoyable as a casual watch and a chance to see another Guan Yue feature.There was detective work, martial arts sects, and secret arts involving puppetry, sorcery, and ritual techniques, along with rebellion and palace intrigue. While it didn’t hit as hard for me as The Crime Unit of Tang Dynasty or Tang Dynasty Unusual News Report—both of which I rated highly—I still liked this one. The script made me laugh, and I stayed interested enough to see it through.
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A Light Slice-of-Life Time Travel Watch: Food, Business, and Romance
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think it’s for everyone. The storyline is fairly light, and much of the drama feels more like a slice-of-life experience focused on daily living. There is a minor conspiracy arc, but it lacks depth, so the emphasis stays on the time-travel element and the central family.As far as my experience goes, the romance didn’t land for me, and I’m not someone who typically enjoys family-oriented dramas. So, I mostly watched this for the food, the art direction around menu planning, and the entrepreneurship. I also thought the comedic moments were well done and fit the overall tone. For me, I got what I wanted from this watch and for that, it was enjoyable.
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This review may contain spoilers
I started watching this because my mom got a Kocowa subcription on our Amazon Prime and it was rec to me by the algorithm and how I wish it never did. JK I really did enjoy my time with this but omg it was a DRAG once it got to ep 19-ish. The last episode felt exceptionally terrible to me and honestly left a sour taste in my mouth with how horrible paced it was comparing it to literally even the PREVIOUS episode. I don't need everything spelled out to me but everything was just left so ambiguously and really just not what I expected out of the show. Their 2nd wedding was cute though so we got that ig lol. Anyways...the slow burn was sooo good and felt deserved but the miscommunication got too annoying Jesus. Shin got on my nerves but YUL... don't bring up his name in my house I swear he was so bad to Chaekgyung arguably sometimes worse than Shin. I love the music and fashion from this show the 2000s fashion mixed with korean traditional is so glam and chic I literally can't every new outfit Chaekgyung popped out with made me so envious. If I were to rewatch it would be any episode before ep 18 becos the angst be ANGSTYYY. But Princess Hours/Goong was a fun watch. Was this review helpful to you?
A Layered Odyssey &Visually Stunning
I absolutely adored this watch. It felt fresh and new compared to what we’ve been getting over the years. It was intelligent and deeply layered, always evolving and building across episodes, with a plot that only got better and better with time. It was engaging, philosophical, and touching. I loved the characters—their growth and their dynamics. The sub-arcs made this a true odyssey, and the cinematography was beautiful.The twists were either predictably impactful or genuinely shocking, delivered consistently all the way to the end, keeping me on my toes the entire time. I can’t praise this drama enough, and I can easily see myself rewatching it without ever feeling bored by the narrative. This isn't something you can understand in a few episodes, and the ending, for me, was satisfying. This is a top-shelf favorite, hands down.
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Six Episodes of Doubt, Then It Clicked: A Romance That Won Me Over
I had a difficult time getting through the first six episodes. I usually love offbeat and exaggerated satire, but the stylized deliveries and constant misunderstandings just weren’t my cup of tea. I’m not sure if it would have worked better with a different lead, but something about the execution didn’t quite land for me. Still, I had a feeling the underlying storyline would eventually shine through—and I’m glad I stuck with it, because it ended up becoming one of my favorites.It’s not quite top-shelf for me, as those six rough episodes are hard to ignore, and the plot occasionally relied on convenient or hard-to-believe twists that separated the main characters one too many times. Even so, it was a drama I couldn’t pull myself away from, and it made for an easy, comforting watch while I was stuck at home recovering from a terrible cold.
The cinematography was beautiful, and the themes reflected many of the elements I love in Chinese dramas. I found myself connecting with both major and minor characters, and the villains were especially compelling—complex, morally gray, and backed by layered stories that made it difficult to truly despise them, even after witnessing the harm they caused. I also appreciated the character dynamics, the steady plot growth, and the overall narrative arc. While I don’t always enjoy the style of romance often found in popular Chinese dramas, this one suited my tastes perfectly. I absolutely loved the main couple and their relationship.
Overall, this was a win for me.
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