Reviews

Great characters, fun and refreshing story

LOTFG is the best C drama I’ve seen in awhile. For the last year, I have probably been fast forwarding through every drama I’ve watched or at least fast forwarding through the angst arc. I just haven’t had the patience for the typical C drama formula.

However, I love Zhou Ye and I like Ryan Cheng in FoF, so I figured I’d give this a chance, and it did not disappoint. The story itself is a bit cliche, but the way it was executed really made this a joy to watch. There is never any dumb misunderstanding, the one or two “fights” they had are barely fights as this is a healthy relationship where they know and understand each other deep down. He Yan constantly flirting with Xiao Jue is fun to watch, and his more quiet and serious love for her is also a fun contrast. The side characters are all fun as well.

To me, this felt more like slice of life in a historical drama. I felt like they were friends that I wanted to tell me about their story, and I was never irritated during any drawn out angst arc. I know the last couple episodes got criticism, but even those, I just enjoyed watching them be a couple and show us all how much they loved each other.

I miss these characters a lot, and I would love a season 2 or modern drama with the main leads! I’m about to rewatch now actually but wanted to come here and express my appreciation of this good story with great characters before starting again.

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Every emotion you can feel is in this drama

This is an absolute rollercoaster ride of different emotions. Starting out happy and innocent to sad and extremely depressing, all within a matter of two episodes. Not knowing what the title "366 Days" really means when you start watching, you just need to stay focused and just keep watching.
Gordon Maeda, who I'm a long time fan of, gives a fantastic performance, playing really two roles, Haruto before the accident and Haruto after the accident. Alice Hirose is also brilliant at showing the difficulties when dealing with a catastrophic event in one's family or relationship. The two of them match perfectly together to make for a very believable story, giving you several tear-jerking moments.
The supporting cast is great, showing the importance of friendship, and how "best friends" are always there for you, in good times and in bad.
I must admit, I started having a change of heart toward this series around episode 7, not liking the direction is was going at all, almost to a point of not wanting to watch the final three or so episodes ... BUT I'm so glad I stuck with it. If you're watching it and feel an annoyance to even anger come over you later in the series, stick it out, you'll be glad you did. The final episode definitely makes it all worth your while!!!
A line given early on in this series definitely makes total sense at the end, "No one knows what the future will bring. You have to work today, for the sake of tomorrow"

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Farm/tree/seachange for everyone!

There are times when only a slow burn, mellow romance will hit the spot. This show fits the bill, but it also has a minor sting in its tail. We'll talk about that later.

The first couple of episodes is manic. Two already hectic urban lives are upended by life threatening illness as well as career setbacks. A double whammy you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. I can sense the "how low can it go" trope rearing its head already.

The daughter (YFL) finally had enough and ran away with her bestie to the sea. There she meets a handsome, helpful young man (YML) and his handsome, helpful father (OML). As luck would have it, the OML went to school with her adopted mother (OFL). There was definitely some entanglement back then.

One thing leads to another. Before we can say Tteokbokki, our female leads up sticks and moved to the small town where the male leads live. They made new friends and reconnected with old ones. They build a home and made a fresh start. Everything is going swimmingly except for the shadow of the YFL's illness.

As you'd expect, romance is definitely in the air. While there are two SFL's. They don't pose much of a threat.

The greater challenge lies in our leads sorting out their feelings and acting upon them. As per usual, this is quite a long and tortuous path. We got there in the end and everyone is happy until it is time for the YFL's operation. So much introspection and tears.

Now the sting I mentioned earlier. It is not really anything nasty but the show is unabashedly sentimental towards the end. Every trope related to relationships, found family, healing and growth are there. You might find it wholesome and sweet . . or not. I won't judge. ;)

However, the time skip in the end feels a little pointless. I see the need for the FL to heal, but it also implies nothing happen to everyone around her during the lengthy skip. Then everything rush ahead once the stasis is over. It feels quite arbitrary.

In the end, it is a pleasant watch. Several romances blossomed. The acting is good from the ensemble cast. Dr. Jung is a gem. Production value is on par. Ditto the OST. It might be too mellow and sentimental for some. Caveat emptor, chingu.

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The story were great...the cast were remarkable but

This is my humble and personal opinion. ..

The drama pulled me in so strongly that I binged it in just three days, sneaking in episodes whenever I had free time. The storyline is engaging, with a well-woven mix of political intrigue, power struggles, and emotional conflicts. The leads are definitely on point — their acting is solid, and the chemistry works well enough to carry the plot.

That said, I found myself missing the extra spark that makes a drama unforgettable. The swoonworthy moments are there, but not strong enough to make me want to rewatch. The male lead is complex and layered, but not quite loveable enough to sweep me off my feet. On the other hand, the antagonist, while mean, wasn’t menacing enough to be truly hateable. It left me feeling in-between — impressed, but not emotionally wrecked the way other dramas have managed.

Overall, it’s still a really great watch with a strong story and well-done performances. Just not one of those “rewatch again and again” kind of dramas. Would I recommend it? Yes — especially if you enjoy political plots with layered characters. But if you’re looking for that intense swoon factor and unforgettable villain you’ll love to hate, this one may feel a bit lighter than expected.

And lastly — Zhou Ye was dazzlingly pretty and irresistibly cute, but Ryan Cheng absolutely stole the spotlight for me. So manly, so handsome, and that whispering voice… arghhh, I’m in love. 😍 If only there were more lovey-dovey scenes, I’d easily give this a 10-star rating.

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Shit makes no sense!!

With all due respect, I was honestly just relieved when I finished this series. Wtf. At some point, I was literally watching only for the visuals of the actors and because I was curious about what would happen with ZeFang soul. But honestly? It felt like the series had no plot. No script. No real writing.

The actors themselves I actually liked, the whole cast was new to me, and to me they all had genuine chemistry. Everyone did a good job as actors. But the characters they were playing? They needed serious help. There was basically no character development. On the contrary, Hai Yuan seemed to regress instead of maturing, he got more childish as the episodes went on.

I fully get that love has no color, no age, no gender but, this story just didn’t land. Like… this guy has always known you, has always had a crush on you, and you never liked him back? But then suddenly, you fall for his grandfather, who ends up in his body someone you allegedly never even had feelings for before? The whole thing felt messy and inconsistent, and honestly, I’m still conflicted about it. Maybe I just didn’t understand the “purpose” of the show, but I feel like the plot had potential that was wasted. For example, the Thai series My Stand-In had a similar cross-body soul storyline but that one actually made fucking sense.

Again, my issue isn’t with the actors or their acting — it’s with the writing.

One character I did low-key like was Guan Ri Qing. He was clearly heartbroken, and even though his way of showing love was toxic, he still came across as one of the most relatable characters. I honestly wish we had gotten to see more of his relationship with Ze Fang, because my boy was really in love with him.

And lastly, one thing that really bothered me was Hai Yuan’s complete disregard for the loss of life and soul of Ze Fang. Like, one thing is not having romantic or sexual interest in someone but to not give a single fuck about another human being’s existence? That was too much for me.

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Beautiful ancient BL drama which deserved a 10/10

This is a truly beautiful ancient BL drama that deserves immense recognition for the incredible effort and talent of the lead actors. They masterfully convey longing and emotion through just a glance, and a single tear can evoke the deep heartache they've endured.

The acting layers from confusion to confession to tender, sentimental kisses are absolutely top-notch. Their chemistry is undeniably intense! No wonder both actors hail from a renowned Chinese acting college.

Without giving away too much, I highly recommend this drama to everyone! Among over nine years of watching BL dramas from various countries, this one ranks firmly in my top 10 favorites.

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Entertaining, but not memorable.

Xianxia comedy with a cute romance

PLOT: The FL, the spoiled daughter of a sect leader, accidentally swallows the ascension fruit that the ML, the immortal 9-tailed fox, was eagerly awaiting. So he descends incognito (for obscure reasons, mortals and foxes have been at cold war for centuries) among the mortals to retrieve his fruit. Great villains are at work behind the scenes.

+++ a cute CL with Wang You Shuo and Rain Li (very childish at first, but it's in the script).

### Limited budget, it shows in the sets, even the CGI.
### Sad finale (almost every body dies) --- Luckily there's a special 30.5 with a real HE.

=> Entertaining, but not memorable.
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Comédie Xianxia avec une cute romance

PLOT : La FL, fille gâtée d'1 chef de secte, avale par accident le fruit d'ascension que le ML, immortel Renard à 9 queues, attendait avec impatience. Il descend donc incognito (pr des raisons obscures, les mortels et les renards sont en guerre froide depuis des siècles) chez les mortels pr récupérer son fruit. De greats villains sont à l’œuvre en coulisses.

+++ un cute CL avec Wang You Shuo et Rain Li (très puérile au départ, mais c'est dans le script).

### Budget limité, ça se sent dans les décors, voire les CGI.
### Sad final (almost every body dies) --- Heureusement qu'il y a un 30.5 spécial avec vraie HE

=> Distrayant, mais qui ne restera pas dans les mémoires.

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Hands down, my favorite series of 2025. It’s a masterpiece.

1. Duan Ziang – a killer with a heart that still dares to dream.

Forged in the shadows as an assassin, Duan Ziang is the blade that cuts through fate, a storm held back, that walks like a shadow among men. He carries the weight of a life without choices, where killing was survival and loyalty wasn’t earned, it was forced. But in his chest beats a heart that still dares to dream."My heaven and earth, from the very beginning has only ever been you." Everything he did wasn’t for glory or ambition, but for Shu He. “I don't care about the kingdom, I just want one person.” In his boundless love, he wanted to protect Shu He in every way possible, which ended up creating an irreparable rift. His decision to kill the crown prince to protect Shu He is the culmination of this duality: an act of love that shattered the very love he was trying to save. He killed to protect, but in saving Shu He, he lost what he wanted most. When he returns as emperor, he seeks not glory, but redemption. His power is armor against the vulnerability that Shu He awakens.

2. Xiao Shu He – The prince who was never meant to rule.

As the sixth in line to the throne, he grew up free from the weight of inheriting it, able to chase his artistic and humanitarian passions. Sensitive and idealistic, he was supposed to be the prince who will not rule, but fate had other plans. Thanks to Xiao Shu Qian’s greed, he was forced onto the throne and burdened with a role he never wanted. When he reunites with Duan Ziang, he’s torn between the man he loves and the empire he’s now sworn to protect. Deep down, Xiao Shue He can't overcome the resentment caused by his brother's brutal death, nor the fact that he was an incompetent ruler for his people, cause his heart was never in politics.

Their love isn’t soft or sweet, it’s fierce. It’s built on loss, sacrifice, and silences that scream louder than words. Both of them are trapped in a world that punishes vulnerability. Their love defied kingdoms, but it couldn’t outrun the consequences.

3. Xiao Shu Qian - The invisible hand shaping the fate of the main characters.

He’s the character that keeps the game in motion, even when he’s not on screen. Xiao Shu Qian isn’t just driven by ambition. He’s the invisible hand shaping the fate of the main characters. A quiet strategist, he knows that real power doesn’t come from brute force, but from bending circumstances to his will. He’s the one who pushes love and loyalty to their breaking points. For him, love is just another currency in the power game. He is unmoved, and it’s that lack of empathy that makes him truly cruel. He doesn’t destroy for pleasure, but out of necessity. And somehow, that makes him even more terrifying. While Duan Ziang and Shu He fight to carve out their own path against the tide of fate, Shu Qian stands for a world that doesn’t bow to love, a world that demands sacrifice and punishes those who dare to dream.

4. Acting — Eyes that speak.

Huge, huge kudos to the entire cast for bringing this masterpiece to life. I’ll be keeping an eye out for all their future projects, but I have to highlight Zhang Zhe Xu as Duan Zi Ang and Min Ji as Xiao Shu He, their performances were absolutely breathtaking.

Zhang Zhe Xu delivers a performance marked by restrained intensity. He doesn’t need dramatic outbursts, his eyes do all the talking. There are scenes where he doesn’t say a single word, yet you feel everything: the buried love, the regret, the longing for redemption. In the final scene, his gaze reveals flashes of clarity, as if he’s reading between the lines and sensing exactly what Shu He is about to do. His acting is powerful in every way: subtle, raw, and unforgettable.

Min Ji plays Shu He with devastating softness. He’s the prince who never wanted to rule, but was pushed onto the throne by forces beyond his control. There’s a quiet melancholy that runs through his entire performance, and that’s exactly what makes it so moving. The tension between duty and desire is the soul of his portrayal and Min Ji captures it with heartbreaking precision.

The chemistry between them is undeniable and intense. It goes beyond the script and turns every scene into visual poetry. This is the kind of show where eye contact tells its own story. Every glance between them is loaded with love, longing, pain, promise, and redemption. The words they don’t say hit harder than any dialogue, and every touch is charged with desire and sexual tension.

5. The peach tree

I got curious about its role in the series, so I did a little digging. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes immortality and unity, almost like a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual. Throughout the story, it becomes a place of refuge, the only space where Duan Ziang and Shu He can truly be vulnerable, away from the masks they wear as royals. It feels like a silent guardian, quietly witnessing their love. Every falling leaf is a memory. Every fruit left unpicked, a broken promise. Its deep roots reflect the shared past between them, even when fate cruelly pulls them apart. It stands for the resilience of a love that never died , even after years of separation. And more than that, it’s a symbol of longevity and immortality. Because even if their love never fully bloomed, like flowers that never open, it’s still eternal. A love that transcended time.

6. The ending

From the very start, I knew this was a story about doomed lovers. And even though I cried an ocean of tears, that bittersweet ending felt just right. For a brief moment, Duan Ziang and Shu He tasted earthly happiness, but they were never meant to be happy together in this world, not with all the guilt and pain they carried. In the end, they both got what they longed for most. Shu He finally makes peace with Xiao Shu Qian, who asks for forgiveness for shaping his fate. And Duan Ziang gets to live the quiet life he always dreamed of with Shu He by his side, far away from all the power games and political chaos. And yes, they did get their happily ever after.

This is one of those shows that’s going to stay with me for a long time.

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The ending came too quick so the story end in a weird way.

The story is interesting, a bit complex and confusing sometimes, but still good. The only thing I really dislike was the ending. I feel like they initially created 15 episodes and thinks that’s too long so they simply cut the 3 episodes before the last one and didn’t adapt the story to 12 episodes so the ending is actually good but came too quick. The relationship between all the characters switched too quickly and didn’t feel natural when considering what happened before and how much time pass. Because of that I personally was completely disconnected and not invested in the last episode.

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Not worth watching unless you are a massive fan of the leads!

The first few episodes were okay, but the show got really boring after that, so I marathoned through the entire show in half a day just to watch Liu Tao’s part, lol. She was the star of the show, in my opinion! I really loved her character transformation from a pampered, sheltered, naive but kindhearted, not the sharpest tool in the box but well-meaning princess to a neglected and heartbroken woman who walks on eggshells around the man she loves and does everything she can to please him, an empress torn between her home country and her new country, to a hateful and vengeful empress embroiled in harem affairs!! Her villain arc is not well written, but it’s more about the character and the director’s vision.

The show was really long without moving the plot forward for a large part of the show. Most of the characters were one-dimensional, and the show didn’t explore the characters’ intentions and purposes in a way I would have liked. And don’t even get me started on the hypocritical king who got no repercussions from any of his consorts whatsoever. I know the show is about Mi Yue, but I only liked her character until she parted with her first lover. Her character development seemed backward and inconsistent throughout the show. I absolutely loved Sun Li in Empresses in the Palace, but both her characters, Zhen Huan and Mi Yue, seemed like they could be the same person at different timelines. Despite having stellar leads, everything went melodramatic and even caricature-ish two-thirds into the show, though I blame it on the directors, not the actors.

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Can love survive when it’s built on lies? Can obsession ever be pure?

I have very mixed feelings about this drama. I like it for the convoluted plot, forbidden romance and a costume BL from China but at the same time it's watching soap opera to pass as Shakespeare! But I do applaud the effort.

First thing first, if you are here for a cookie cutter romance drama, run the other way around because it is anything but that.
The drama doesn’t try to sugarcoat its plot. It’s messy, complicated and at times very frustrating as hell. It is a dark, twisted descent that leaves you with questions on what is love and how love can be anything but also destructive and beautiful! How isn't it just about warmth, gentle touches but also about unhealthy obsession and power struggle! How passion can heal you but also be destructive to shake kingdoms!

It is a story of Duan Zi Ang, an assassin who falls in love with his childhood friend Xiao Shuhe all while plotting to bring the kingdom's downfall and avenge his parents.
What stands out here isn’t sweetness or innocence. It’s the tension. To be completely honest, I do not sympathise with both the characters but the plot was compelling enough for me to want to see how far they both would go! 
They are trapped not just by duty or bloodline, but by their own desires and regrets. Very early on it is clear, their love story is fragile, intense but also doomed! Every interaction they share is a question.  Are they lovers? Enemies? Pawns of a bigger game? The drama never lets you be sure. Instead, it plays in the gray area where love bleeds into obsession and somehow dedication becomes control. There are moments of tenderness, but they are fleeting and laced with tragedy.

Another thing that I enjoyed was how politics wasn't too overpowering and boring. Somehow I enjoyed the tussle that it brought between personal feelings and political/professional duties! Though the war conflict aspect could have been way better.

Also, I was actually invested in the toxic love story between the Crown Prince and Huo Ying. Almost convinced myself that it was headed somewhere dark and interesting… until it spectacularly crashed. I saw it coming from the synopsis but those two had so much chemistry and you can't just ignore them.

Coming to what I have conflicting feelings about is the overall pacing. While the story before the assassination feels well developed, the second half of it feels a bit dragged. The conflicts were very predictable and somehow monotonous. It was delivered intensely but you could see the trainwreck from afar.

The second glaring issue was the choppy editing. At times, it felt downright confusing, with scenes jumping around so abruptly that making sense of the story became a real challenge. I know it isn't a big production, but I feel this wasn't consistent...few episodes were fine but where there was transition between past and present, that is where the issue was.

The cinematography was pretty and I did like their costumes especially Shuhe's hair accessories. Also, few of the angsty dialogues were really good and hit home.

Acting wise, I found both the actors pretty decent, like they gradually grew on me as the drama progressed. It was hard to get invested with the awkward delivery especially in the first few episodes . However, as the story picked up, so did their acting. Emotions landed more authentically and their interactions started to feel more believable. By the middle and end of the drama, they definitely found their rhythm.

Overall, if you are in the mood for something that messes with your head, leaves you questioning loyalty and makes you root for a love that probably shouldn’t survive… this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. It has its flaws but it is surprisingly enjoyable!

** Fav quotes **
ᡣ𐭩 Between us so much is beyond control. But no matter how chaotic the world gets Shuhe, I am still Duan Zi'ang

ᡣ𐭩 By the end I couldn't tell if I was deceiving him or deceiving myself.

I am going to talk about the ending at the bottom, please do not read/scroll below if you don't want to know.
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The ending ( SPOILERS AHEAD)
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And about the ending… if you were expecting anything even remotely different from what we got, congratulations, you have officially earned the title of my delulu friend because me too. Somehow, I saw it coming, but that doesn’t make it any less of a trauma. Serving such a beautiful episode only to hit us with that tragic ending felt like a cruel joke. Still, I loved Shuhe finally meeting his Gege and clearing out the misunderstanding.

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Suspenseful, But With Characters Who Can’t Decide What Mood They’re In

A solid watch with interesting fantasy and mystery elements, but the miscast lead, inconsistent character development, and a dragged-out ending make it hard to fully recommend.

First Impressions

The opening of this drama was an absolute treat! The serene tea-setting, combined with the calming guqin music, drew me in immediately. It started off with a mysterious vibe, and the tone quickly shifted into something much more lighthearted and, at times, hilarious. It's a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of atmosphere, but in a good way.

Character Dynamics

The central character, Zhang Ping played by Song Weilong, is a detective who's meant to be extremely smart and perceptive, but is written in a way that often comes off as frustrating rather than endearing. His impulsiveness, naivety, and lack of basic common sense felt like they were thrown in as a plot device rather than natural character traits, which really detracted from the story. I think part of the problem lies in the casting. While the actor playing Zhang Ping might have done his best, he simply wasn't the right fit for this immature role.

As for Jing Boran (playing the co-ML Lan Jue ), I had mixed feelings. His character felt off at times, as he seemed to shift from being impulsive and overly emotional to suddenly zen-like and philosophical. There were moments when he was either dumbstruck or acting like a drama queen, and it felt out of place given the tone of the show. These inconsistencies made his character hard to connect with, and the lack of a clear arc or emotional depth didn't help his case. While I didn’t dislike his performance, I found it hard to fully embrace his character because of these strange shifts.

On the other hand, Wang Duo was fantastic as the revenge-driven antagonist Gu Qingzhang. He truly brought his character to life and added layers of complexity and emotion that made him one of the standout performances in the drama. Unfortunately he appeared quite late in the drama.

Plot & Themes
The fantasy and mystery elements were interesting, with some exciting plot twists along the way. There were, however, moments that required a suspension of disbelief—like when a group of scholars suddenly turned into an aggressive mob. These moments were a bit jarring but didn’t derail the story entirely. The suspense around the Lan Jue and later Gu Qingzhang kept me on edge, constantly questioning if he was evil, misunderstood, or simply wronged.

The Drama's Flaws

Towards the end, the drama leans heavily into war propaganda, which felt off considering the rest of the narrative.

The drama’s conclusion could’ve been satisfying, but it dragged unnecessarily. Episode 26 provided a fairly strong ending, but then the show tacked on three additional episodes, trying to wrap things up in a “righteous” way that just felt prolonged and a bit forced. It became obvious who would live and who would die, and the attempts to add more twists started to feel illogical. There’s even a McGyver-esque solution to save the day, which stretched my suspension of disbelief to its breaking point.

The Disappointing End
The final episodes did a disservice to characters like Zhang Ping's mother and Lan Jue's father, as there was no justice for their storylines.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this drama is a bit of a mixed bag. It has a compelling mystery, unique fantasy elements, and some strong performances (especially from Wang Duo). However, the frustrating portrayal of Zhang Ping, the inconsistent character development of Lan Jue and a dragged-out ending that strained credibility really held it back. I would recommend this to fans of mystery and fantasy, but be prepared for some characters and plot points that may leave you scratching your head.

#CognitiveExplorer
#JusticeSeeker

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My beautiful general wife

I really enjoyed the series, it was fun and I got to see some cute reverse tropes (in the case of the general being all sweetly bossy to a helpless pretty boy) there were also some good villains that made me hate seeing them on camera. They pissed me off so hard. Some characters were developed nicely but at times that same development seemed a bit hasty.
While I loved the series and how it ended, I didn't cry a lot which is just my own personal metric for dramas. (if I cry at some point during the drama then that means that the drama touched me that deeply).
The soundtrack was really nice and the main theme and song were great.

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I found Haesu stupid, she did not act like a modern women, her falling in love with Wook was understandable but I hated Wook for it, like how can he fall in love with his sick wife's cousin, after he started plotting I wanted him to die really bad. I really liked So but I hated that he changed after becoming king most probably because of his trauma, but he shouldn't have listened and married Haesu, even he changed like Wook, he thought if he closed his eyes then Haesu will be better.
I almost cried when Eun and his wife were killed, I had really liked them from the start. But I did not understand why Woo hee had to die, I really wanted her to end up with baekha, he lost both his loves.
I really like Jung as a lover, I thought he would jeopardize Haesu and So's relationship but he did no such thing and respected Haesu, so like God's gift Haesu died in his arms and his wife and he raised Haesu's daughter. He was a perfect lover unlike So and Wook who thought about forcing their love on her.

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