Reviews

Love the chemistry, acting and emotions

I started watching this series without expectations. I wasn’t hooked from the first episodes, however, I still wanted to give it a go and I don’t regret it. I believe from episode 8 I was already very invested and without realizing I started crying and feeling all the emotions. Noth actors did a great job! I was a bit frustrated with Shu He for being so stubborn and caring so much about a brother that wanted to kill him and a father that wasn’t there for him and couldn’t see how much Duang did for him and how he struggled and suffered just to be with him. But even like that, my favorite is still Duang for how involved he was in his role and how expressive in his pain, love and obsession.

I wish to see them both in another series. What actually touched me even more was their interview where they cried thinking back on their characters. It made me realize how much they have invested in this series.

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The price of power, love, principle and loyalties.

Legend of the Female General attempts to blend individual struggles with the wider currents of power, love, and morality, and what stands out most immediately are its characters, though their depth and narrative treatment leave space for critique.

He Yan emerges as the most compelling figure, shaped by her unusual childhood where she was forced to stand in for her brother. The drama portrays her as perceptive, practical, and painfully aware of the restrictions society places on women, yet also fiercely determined to challenge them. What complicates her is the contradiction she carries—resenting her brother for reclaiming the identity she built, while never fully acknowledging that this unconventional upbringing granted her resilience and clarity far beyond her peers. Her tragedy lies in endless pretense, forever wearing a mask, yet her triumph is the way she never allowed that disguise to fully consume her essence. Her advice to women around her, urging them to remain themselves even when life demands sacrifice, echoes her own journey and lends the character extraordinary poignancy.

Xiao Jue, on the other hand, feels underwritten despite being her counterpart. While the drama gives him gravitas and presence, it denies him vulnerability and layered humanity. His interactions in court and in romance reveal little beyond his attachment to He Yan, reducing his arc to a reflection of hers rather than a narrative of his own. His elder brother’s remark that he suppresses emotion is left unexamined, and instead of growth we are given a static portrait, handsome but hollow.

Xu Jingfu and Chu Zhao require joint consideration, because their fates intertwine like mirror images across generations. Xu Jingfu is drawn as an authoritative father whose principles begin noble—placing national welfare above selfish desire—yet years of power corrode this idealism until he can no longer distinguish patriotism from corruption. His desperate defense during the banquet, insisting his misdeeds served the country, felt less like persuasion of others and more like self-justification. Chu Zhao, the younger counterpart, initially rebels against this decay, even cooperating with He Yan and Xiao Jue. However, his transformation into a ruthless figure after Xu Jingfu’s death reflects how principles, when warped by ambition, can erase clarity. Together they embody the cycle of idealism twisted by circumstance, revealing how conviction without reflection becomes dangerous.

Yet, to fully understand Chu Zhao, one must bring Ying Xiang into the discussion. Deprived of unconditional affection after his mother’s passing, he craved a love that did not demand achievement. Xu Jingfu’s care, though present, was transactional, always requiring proof of worth. Ying Xiang offered what he longed for—an unspoken warmth that asked nothing in return, quiet yet constant. Tragically, Chu Zhao failed to notice the sanctuary beside him, seeking validation in harsher places, until her absence revealed what had been sustaining him all along. This dynamic not only enriches his downfall but also underscores how emotional neglect can shape destructive choices.

He Rufei’s arc is drenched in quiet sorrow. A boy robbed of recognition, raised in isolation, watching his name become a vessel for another’s survival, he grew into a man consumed by bitterness. For him, identity itself was contested, every honor claimed under “He Rufei” felt stolen, and the only way he could preserve sanity was by convincing himself he deserved all that was attached to his name. His father’s greed only deepened this resentment, and when parental support turned into complicity in wrongdoing, the fragile foundations of his selfhood cracked further. The tragedy is not simply his envy of He Yan, but the loss of any authentic sense of who he truly was.

In the end, Legend of the Female General delivers remarkable individual sketches, yet struggles to balance them with cohesive execution. Characters brim with potential, their contradictions fascinating, their wounds deeply human, but narrative choices often leave them underexplored. It is a story that shines brightest when it lingers on internal battles rather than political games, reminding us that the greatest wars in history dramas are often the ones fought within the heart.

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A nice adaptation but could be better ??

✨ Spoiler Alert ✨

As someone who absolutely loves the Japanese adaptation, I could not help myself by comparing every nanosecond of the Thai adaptation to the Japanese one because for me the Japanese version is pure perfection. While it is unfair for them that I am comparing the two adaptations, I know they mostly based the series from the manga which is the original source and I kept trying to remind myself that while watching this series because some elements and decision makings in the Thai version I am not that fond off that the Japanese adaptation did better. 💁‍♂️

Let's start with what I like: 🙃

GMMTV choosing Tay and New as the pairing for this version and for me that's probably the smartest because the pairing has the this kind of faces that just suitable for office set up/environment (and if not them, the second pairing I can see is Jimmysea but that's just me). New's acting here is not his best acting to be honest but he did a really good job portraying Achi's clueless and innocent expression and Tay as Karan is where I am a bit confused with because Tay looked like he held back a lot from doing so much more but that is probably just me because I knew what Tay is capable off.

The adding of the much more side characters (the boss and the female manager(?) really bring the office environment much more livelier than the Japanese version and I appreciate that even though the characters are not necessary at all for plot in my opinion.

The casting of Junior and Mark as the second couple. this for me is probably my favourite part of the whole series because I have mixed feeling of the casting they did for the second couple for the JPN version. their chemistry is really nice to see as a couple and not realizing it, I mostly stay for them instead of the main couple.

Let's move on to the what I dislike: 😔

One main problem of this series is the pacing, watching it, I did not expect them to cram the plot where Achi had to go to another department and Achi and Karan getting married because the JPN production made a whole movie for that. This is a problem because for some reason Achi's character development in this version is much more tone down for my liking. this is just a miss opportunity because they didn't need to cram the whole plot in 12 episodes that some characters' growth are cut short. The pacing was really nice until episode 7 I believe where every drama and climax got thrown at the same time.

talking about cramming, I HATE the choices to make Rock and Pai a thing because in the JPN version Fujisaki(which is JPN version of Pai) decided to be single because that is what best for her and that idea alone is such a fresh air in this story where everyone ended up with someone. one thing about gmmtv I don't like is they keep making having a partner is the end off all thing, which is stupid. This whole subplot of Rock and Pai is just so unnecessary personally because they could have spend those time improving Achi's growth as a person instead

one finale little thing is how Karan(Tay) somehow got overshadow a lot in this series by other characters, maybe it is a me problem but I just can't get involved with his as a character which is weird because he's there for like every second of the series.

Personally, I prefer the JPN version and if you never watch it, I highly recommend it BUT this version also is nice even though there are a lot of improvement that could've been made which is a bummer because this is like first TayNew BL series in three years I believe since Dark Blue Kiss. my final say is it is a cute adaptation and they did a fine job with what was given (the time limit, the script, and stuff). would I recommend, sure if you are curious, watch it but if you are someone like me who adores the JPN version, do not expect much. 👔🐳

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A Parody of Cliches, That is Full of Overused Tropes

I finally got around to watching The Lost Romance after hearing it hyped as one of the best Taiwanese dramas, especially since I’m a sucker for transmigration into a novel stories. And… I have so many mixed thoughts.


On paper the premise is brilliant: a meta drama that parodies cheesy romance tropes, pokes fun at cold CEOs, second male leads who never win, and evil “perfect” heroines. It seems like it’s going to be self-aware and subversive. But here’s the thing: while it laughs at clichés… it also indulges in every single one of them.



The show calls out how Situ Ao Ran (ML) and Qing Feng (SML) both being in love with Chu Chu (the “novel FL”) is just writer convenience — but then makes Xiao En (our actual FL) fall for Ao Ran in exactly the same way. Honestly, their romance feels forced. There’s no reason they’re in love besides because the script says so.

Qing Feng + Xiao En pairing would’ve made far more sense. Qing Feng’s feelings were natural, his growth believable, and his interactions with her felt grounded. Instead, we got Ao Ran: a cold, personality-less CEO who magically softens once he “loves” her. It doesn’t read as romance, more like obsession.


For a drama that mocked the “evil SFL” trope, it was disappointing to see Chu Chu become the villain by the end. The satire collapses when it falls back into the exact mold it was mocking.


The Real-World Subplot was easily the weakest part. Tian Xing’s sibling rivalry and chaebol family politics were so boring I ended up skipping them. The “real world” added little, except showing that Xiao En is basically a stalker, she literally spies on her crush via cameras, sees him get thrown off a building, and doesn’t call the police. Make it make sense.

So in short..

ML (Ao Ran / Tian Xing): Bland. Never really developed.

SML (Qing Feng): The MVP of the entire show. His feelings made sense, his sincerity stood out, and honestly, he deserved the better. But I would've liked him to be better in the second half.

Xiao En (FL): Equal parts frustrating and entertaining. Embarrassing at times, but I couldn’t stop watching her antics.

Qiutian & the Lilies girls: Absolute gems. Their friendship with Xiao En was heartwarming and way more “romantic” than the actual romance. The comedy relief duo where actually fun.


The Ending is predictable, tropey, and unearned. The “happily ever after” felt like the drama ticking off boxes instead of giving us closure that made sense.

Overall

Despite all the plot holes, hypocrisy, and tropes it mocked but also embraced, The Lost Romance is still fun. The novel-world hijinks were the highlight, the friendships were delightful, and even the frustrating characters were entertaining. It’s one of those dramas you’ll rant about non-stop, and yet still keep watching.

Worth watching if you like meta set-ups, don’t mind cliché overload, and enjoy ranting while being entertained.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Learning about love through excellently-written unique court cases

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

Trigger warning: Violence & Abuse

“Beyond the Bar” is definitely one of the more underrated K-dramas in 2025. It started and ended without a lot of buzz, possibly due to the airing schedule of another lawyers-focused drama. I also wouldn’t have checked it out until I heard the good reviews.

I think all the court cases are the strength of this drama. It showcases unique writing for some pretty common themes that we see in similar genres, e.g. abuse, bullying, domestic violence, divorce, disability and infertility. Despite the episodes being over an hour long, they go by quickly. “Beyond the Bar” has excellent pacing and each episodic case is interesting and the storytelling feels fresh. I actually enjoy all of them, which is rare. As the series go on, the cases become more personal and start to challenge the lawyer's moral and ethical codes. I had such a great time that I *almost* don’t miss the lack of romance.. LOL.. almost… I still want some more.

ML and FL have great chemistry as boss and subordinates, mentor and mentee. I’m glad to see that ML is not the typical cutthroat and cold lawyer who would do anything to win a case. He’s just professional, a great mentor and at the top of this game. FL is introduced as a genius but someone clumsy. However, she was never too innocent or naive. Throughout the drama, you can see how she becomes more and more mature and professional. I enjoy watching all her court scenes. Both Lee Jin Wook and Jung Chae Yeon deliver good performances. The supporting cast is lovely as well. The litigation team has great camaraderie and is probably one of the lowest-stress-to-watch legal teams I’ve seen on TV. However, I still wish we can get to know each of the team members on a more individual level and give them a little more screen time.

Despite loving all the individual cases, I was disappointed about the downfall of the evil Lawyer King. The case chosen for his arc is quite boring. The writing on those last few episodes about that case is not as coherent as the rest of the show. In fact, his end is quite anticlimactic.

If you are looking for romance, well, don’t bother. There’s a small bit about another couple (and they are cute), but not between ML and FL. The leads do have moments that could have developed into more, especially towards the few episodes. But we will never find out what could happen, unless there’s a season 2 in the future. There are so many theories of love and marriage in the last episode, but the drama actually lacks romance, but not love - it has all types of love.

I will recommend “Beyond the Bar” if you are interested in episodic court cases written in a new light. The acting and pacing are great, and it hooks me from start to finish. There are some pretty graphic scenes of violence that can be disturbing. So be careful if that’s a red flag for you.


Completed: 9/9/2025 Review #623

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doomed romance masterpiece

God I just don't know where to begin with this. Probably about to be a long and slightly scatter-brained review.

I wish the show had the budget it deserved so it could have more episodes and the plot would be given more time to breathe because everything happened so insanely fast, but the story behind this is so solid. Xiao Shuhe and Duan Zi'ang became friends as children but circumstances separated them shortly after they formed their bond. They meet again years later after Duan Zi'ang has been manipulated by an assassin organization to be their weapon against Xiao Shuhe's family and he's given the mission to kill Xiao Shuhe's brother, Xiao Shuqian. Then begins a game of manipulation. Xiao Shuhe realizes Duan Zi'ang is the assassin who tried to kill his brother almost immediately but due to the fact of their shared history and a plot of his own to ensnare the palace official who has corrupted his brother, Xiao Shuhe allows Duan Zi'ang to stay in his residence. As the two of them spend time together, they start to fall deeply in love and decide to abandon their revenge plans, and as Xiao Shuhe's relationship with his brother becomes more and more strained and his life comes under threat, the two of them can no longer deny these feelings. Then Duan Zi'ang makes a choice to save Xiao Shuhe's life -- an action that Xiao Shuhe had previously warned him would be unforgiveable if he took it -- that shatters their romance. While there's resentment and anger and hurt between them, the love never went away. Duan Zi'ang desperately tries to cling to the past, becoming a monster that even rivals Xiao Shuqian, while Xiao Shuhe becomes a shadow of his former self as he's lost everything he held dear due to that one action Duan Zi'ang took.

MAJOR props to Zhang Zhexu and Mi Jin for the way they portrayed these characters. There are so many moments in the second half of the show that basically left me breathless because of their talent in bringing this story to life. I can't even begin to imagine how grueling it must have been to perform some of those downright devastating scenes. And we also have to give huuuuuuuuge props to Li Yixiang, who portrayed the beloved Shen Song in his first time acting and is also one of the script writers who gave us this beautiful show.

Also as a lover of horny media, I have to say the first half of this show is one of the most erotically charged pieces of media I've ever seen. The sexual tension was insane every time Xiao Shuhe and Duan Zi'ang interacted prior to their first kiss, and while that energy was less frequent in the second half due to the circumstances of their situation after Duan Zi'ang's "betrayal," there are multiple moments where the sexual tension is still palpable, even when Xiao Shuhe has every reason to hate Duan Zi'ang. I feel the need to discuss the sensuality of this show because I feel like A LOT of erotic media tends to include scenes of dubious consent or straight up non-con and depicting it in an erotic way [stares at Revenged Love and Desire]. So any media that has an erotic atmosphere but doesn't try to gaslight me into finding assault desireable is already revolutionary in my book. In addition to that, there is also a beautiful scene of a wedding ceremony which just the visual of that alone is revolutionary and it means so much to me as a lesbian to be reminded that we have always existed.

I do have a few gripes with the show though so I can't give it a full 10/10 - the fact that the only women in this entire show are unnamed maids who show up for a couple minutes and a Ji Bei princess who is given a name but doesn't even get the chance to speak; the abuse apologia of trying to make Xiao Shuqian seem less bad when he gives Huo Ying the antidote to the poison when he's dying, as if that makes up for the fact that he poisoned Huo Ying in the first place or how horrifically Xiao Shuqian treated him for the previous 7 episodes (or how abusive he was to Xiao Shuhe!); some plotlines feeling very incomplete (Gu Yuanshan never has to face justice for his responsibility in getting multiple people close to Duan Zi'ang and Xiao Shuhe killed and he just fully disappears after Xiao Shuqian dies, Duan Huaiyi's very odd behavior and the fact that his reunion with Duan Zi'ang happened through the assassin organization which seemed to be setting him up as an antagonist for Duan Zi'ang but it just goes nowhere); the (very likely) AI usage in episode 9 given the very limited budget the show had; and honestly the final scene felt like pure wish fulfillment as it contradicts the scene that came just before it. But overall what a beautiful and epic tragedy. Xiao Shuhe I love you sooooo much.

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How This Drama Rained on My Expectations and.......Gave Me Fish Kisses

I don’t know how to feel about this drama. The premise and title made it seem like it could be something deeper. But what I ended up with? A light-hearted feel-good drama with a sprinkle of parent and workplace drama, and that’s about it. It’s just so forgettable. I literally don’t know what to write here (literally not me saying this nonsense and then proceeding to write a whole essay). It felt monotone, bland, and dry in my mouth. I needed something to shake it up, like a rainstorm to pour over me.

=======Kanade and Mashiro======

The premise? Pretty simple: Kanade reconnects with his childhood friend at a café. Great starting point, right? (Note the sarcasm.) Honestly, what bothered me the most was how Mashiro was so clingy and pushy at the start, like he just had to reconnect. I get it, but it pissed me off. Read the room, dude, Kanade doesn’t want to, but he kind of does. We all know Kanade secretly wants to reconnect with Mashiro, but why are you making such a big deal?
And can we talk about Kanade crying in the café? Dude, chill. He’s so sensitive. But I get it, since he has trauma from a past gay love rejection. Then he’s like, “I’m GAY! and I liked you,” and walks out into the rain like he’s starring in his own moody indie film. And of course, Mashiro, being himself, chases after the “princess.” 🙄 As expected, he doesn’t want to lose Kanade. Anyway, they sort out their feelings and navigate their relationship.
Kanade was a bit reserved when it came to getting intimate, and Mashiro wanted more but respected Kanade’s pace: I liked that part. I’m sorry to say this, but their kiss felt awful, like two school kids kissing. Japan, get it together and don’t give us a fish kiss here. 🐟💋 Their NC scene was awkward and looked uncomfortable. I wanted passion, or at least a kiss that felt/looked real. They were gentle, bland, and had no intensity. The chemistry was definitely lacking. I felt no heat/burning passion in their eyes. Maybe that’s how the drama was supposed to be, and I missed the memo (I know that this drama was supposed to give warm comfort vibes).
The flashbacks to their younger days were surprisingly effective. They gave just the right amount of emotional backstory to explain the present without drowning us in nostalgia soup.

========Workplace===========

But can we talk about the workplace women for a second? 😤 Ugh, they were so annoying. I was ready to yank my hair out. The young woman who confessed to Kanade was like, “Hey, I like you, you have a GF ?” and he responded, “Yup.”. Fair enough. But what really got me was that old office lady who told Kanade he should talk to the young woman who confessed. Like, who are you, Grandma, to be giving love advice when it’s not your business? Thank goodness Kanade had a spine and told her off, the best moment of the series. At least he knows when to set boundaries. Then suddenly, these two women and Kanade become buddy-buddy. Just kidding—they work it all out, of course, and they even help him with his love life with Mashiro. I liked how they bonded and offered genuine advice.

========Parent Issues==========

The mom drama with Mashiro was honestly not satisfying enough. First, he was ignoring most of his mom’s calls. I can’t blame him. I’d do the same if I had an overbearing mom calling me multiple times a day. Attachment issues from her husband’s death. She even made sure, during high school, that Mashiro would come home immediately. Damn it, Mom, you’re just keep pushing Mashiro further away. Anyway, she doesn’t approve of her son’s gay boyfriend, Kanade. Finally, Mashiro snaps at his mom, which was a huge relief.. And I think, after that, she sort of reflects on it? (I can’t quite remember.)
Since Mashiro had mommy issues, Kanade has daddy issues. No surprise there. His dad is like, "You’ve got to be a man," and whatever nonsense this dad was spewing. Like, I get he wants his son to toughen up and not always cry, but you’ve got to understand the dad’s a traditional guy and is set in his ways. But when his dad caught him with Mashiro? Woah. That scene was intense. It was the most fire I’ve seen so far, yet we got their NC scene, which didn’t live up to that tension at all. I liked that the mom and sister knew Kanade was gay, but it took him this long to confess to them. I get the dad. You can’t talk to him about things, but the mom and sister are so sweet and less judgmental. It makes me wonder if Kanade was always reserved and never forthcoming with his feelings, holding everything inside until the last minute. I have to say that the talk he had with his dad was the deepest moment in the whole series. It felt real, raw, and finally gave me the emotional depth I’d been craving. That’s saying something.

=========Best Part==============

The best part of the drama, hands down, was the friendship group reunion. It was wholesome, sure, but it also totally exposed Mashiro as the jealous mess he is whenever Kanade gets close to anyone. This guy’s jealousy knows no bounds. He even got jealous when Kanade posed for a BL poster design with a male coworker. I couldn’t, I was dying—like, I legit needed a tissue from laughing so hard. 🤣

========Final thoughts===========

This series was boring with a few funny moments (very few). Their love was sweet and wholesome at times 😘, but it lacked passion. The pacing was alright. Did it have character growth? Yes. Did they resolve their parent issues? Yes. But overall, it felt too safe, too predictable. If you're in the mood for something light with a touch of drama, you might enjoy it. But if you're craving something with real intensity or depth, this one might leave you wanting more. One redeeming thing? The intro song—“It’s Morning Morning.” 🎶🎶 The OST lifted my mood and spirits every time.

Would I recommend this series? Honestly, if you want to make yourself suffer like I did, go right ahead. But hey, to each their own. 🍷

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Promising Story that Could Have Been Better

Chu Qiao woke up to find herself a slave in Yuwen household after surviving a nerve-wrecking cruelty at the hands of the noble youngsters - becoming a target in their hunt, fighting off wolves in the process while trying to escape their arrows. The sole survivor of the ordeal, she was left to recuperate by herself in a shed in Yuwen household, where she found out that her other name was Jiang Xiao Liu, and that her adoptive brothers and sisters were also slaves in Yuwen household. As she tries to survive in the compound, she decided to try to catch the 4th master eyes, Yuwen Yue, for protection, while she look for ways to escape. Yuwen Yue realized her potential when he saw how she survived the hunt, and took her under his wings and began training her to become a spy. Yuwen Yue was actually the heir to a spy network for the kingdom, as his grandfather had been its leader. Just when he thought he began to feel differently towards her, Chu Qiao found an opening to escape the household and went along with Yanxun, a hostage prince from Yanbei whom she befriended while living in Yuwen household, as he was going to return to Yanbei. To their dismay, the emperor’s approval for him to return to Yanbei was a ruse to execute his entire clan for mutiny. Yanxun was placed under house arrest with only Chu Qiao by his side. Drawn to Yanxun due to his ordeal which she felt similar to hers, she stayed with him during the house arrest, and together, they started to devise a huge plan to escape the capital and return to Yanbei.

First off, although I loved Chu Qiao as a character, i found Zhao Liying rather stiff at times. I loved her chemistry with Lin Geng Xin who played Yuwen Yue though. They rocked the relationship even though they mostly bicker with each other after her escape from the capital. Lin Geng Xin was okay here, and i love his ice lake scene the most. His anguish when he realized he could not be with Chu Qiao due to the difference of allegience was genuinely conveyed. Zhao Liying could really cry too. The ending was devastating and I cried each time the scene comes on.

The costumes are so smart looking, even the women dresses are so nice. And dont let me start with the songs, gosh the songs are truly the bomb. This is the first drama that I saw of Zhao Liying, which i first watched in 2020 during the covid lockdown, and I instantly became a fan. I rewatch this now for the 3rd time i think, cuz the sequel is coming up next year.

Although the ending ripped my heart to pieces, reading the novel definitely provided some consolation, since the novel was indeed a thousand times better than the adaptation.the novel Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue were even more badass than depicted on screen. I know the production could not help but tweak the storyline since transmigration/rebirth plots are frowned upon in China, but mannn, they really missed out a lot and instead created many plotholes in the adaptation. I guess I can only dream of the novel becoming real on screen.

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I wish I could watch this for the 1st time again

It's literally so amazing. Not even overhyped at all. I'm so happy that the actors were able to pull off their roles without it feeling forced. They have so much chemistry together. That doesn't only apply to the main couple either....loterally EVERYBODY has chemistry together. The storyline is really good even though the later episodes made me so mad because they lacked communication...ugh. But yes I love love love this. Nothing will beat the feeling of those weeks waiting for the next episode to come out and staying up until 8am just to watch it when I had nothing better to do LOL.

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Sorry but no.

This is my second time trying to watch this and really get into it, but it's literally just so terrible to me. The actors are like a 7/10 at acting so it feels mediocre, but the storyline is literally just so boring to me. I'd rather watch (I think his name is Gao tu). The main story is just so boring and the editing is pretty bad to me also. I was really excited for an omega verse but I can't lie this heavily disappointed me. I think the main reason it's so boring to me is because it literally just constantly talks about work and business and I hate the type of stories that focus more on all the data and graphics. It feels like I'm in school just trying to learn/keep up with the story. So respectfully this is a full no for me. Maybe if someone told me what the hell is going on I'd enjoy it better. I literally got lost in ep1 and ever since then it led me no where. Hopefully another time I'll be ready to give it a 3rd time, but right now ima rewatch revenged love lol.

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Love and Law

I heard so much positive feedback about this drama that made me watch it. Each episode is packed with cases that are quite difficult to handle, yet the Litigation team have handled them with much hard work and teamwork. As we see the ending, I anticipate a Season 2 for this - how will the restructed Yullim look like and what will happen for the rest of the corrupt ones.
What made me continue to watch is to see how the story of Seok Hoon and Hyo-min unfold, why they think that way and their interaction with one another.
I see why the title is Beyond the Bar - because it challenged their moral and ethical principles as well as how they view life in general. It shows humanity, mercy and love even in the hardest of cases they faced. There is compassion even when the sentence was pronounced.
The Actors
Lee Jin-Wook's demeanor is just right for the role of no-nonsense mentor. However, we also see a soft side of the character as he listens to the reasonings of his juniors and perhaps really a good reader of people. We see him transitioned for being 'all work' to enjoying his team, not just giving advise but also receiving.
I saw Jung Chae-Yeon in Family by Choice, and she looks so young there when in fact it was just last year. Here, she portrays a much older character, a genius, yet had some issues which only unfolded as the series progressed. Hyo-min is a breath of fresh air for the team and much more for Seok-Yoon who seem to be so stiff - as his teammates say their team is dry.
It is also good to see side stories of the other lawyers, both the good and the bad and how we all desire the good to win.
The 2nd lead lawyers' story added to the dynamics of love and law. In the end, love wins.
Should I rewatch it?
Perhaps after 6 months, when my brain cells can keep up with the terminologies... just kidding.
Overall, I rate this an 8.5, and wish that the Lead's story will continue to Season 2? Please season 2 soon.

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2 This is painful.

My main issue is that the characters where all horrible. Terrible. No one was likeable and they acted like adults stunted emotionally. The lead was supposed to be "innocent" and she was just dumb. The male lead was supposed to be aloof and I think he just ended up being immature and terrible. The second leads where even worse. The second lead was so terrible I was actually have a physical reaction to him.

There were some very humorous moments, but I just never cared for any of the characters. I felt like a lot of the cuter things just ended up being painful to watch. The music wasn't memorable, the story felt like it had potential, and the acting felt off.

This is one I can live with out.

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add this to the very short list of mature thai gl couples

i’ve been on a thai gl run lately, and us the series was such a standout. the storyline was engaging without being overly dramatic, and i have to highlight the acting — pam, rak, rak’s mother, and especially kawi absolutely killed their roles.

the pacing? best i’ve seen in a thai gl so far. the slow burn was worth every second. the chemistry between the leads was immaculate — every sweet scene had me grinning ear to ear. i loved that the show focused on tender, meaningful moments instead of just rushing into love scenes. both leads felt like real adults in a healthy relationship: no breakup/makeup cycle, no jumping to conclusions, just two people communicating and facing hardships together.

the side characters made it feel like we were slowly building a family, and i appreciated that the finale didn’t go the “forgiving father” route. gmmtv’s production quality was flawless as always — the visuals, ost, and cinematography were all stunning.

my favorite part was the message: family isn’t about blood, it’s about the people you choose. the chosen family theme was so beautifully done. my critiques are small but important — i wish there was more clarity around the timeline (like how long pam & kawi dated, how long after did rak & pam get together, kawi’s healing, etc.), and i would’ve loved more focus on oat & nene. their dynamic had so much potential, but after the time skip it felt like we barely scratched the surface.

overall, us the series was heartfelt, beautifully acted, and refreshing in how it handled adult relationships. 8/10.

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Jealous of The Ones Who Haven't Seen This Yet

Beyond the Bar exceeded my expectations. As simple as that. I'm not a close minded person, yes, the ending did made me sad a bit but I won't base everything solely on that. This drama made me love the legal genre more. From the interesting cases, to the OST, the character's development, their bond, all of it was majestically portrayed. If you're a logical person, you will love this drama. The little slow burn romance was cute, I expected more but it doesn't matter since I'm still hopeful for a second season. All in all, this series is worth to watch, and will definitely make your time worth the while.

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