Reviews

I love POJ so much, thank you for opening the door of Cdrama for me. I have rewatched this for 4 times already since this was released last March. The chemistry of the cast, the acting, the plot - although the second arc of the story fell short for my expectation it still delivered. It gave me those butterflies, emersion, joy and excitement, never did I feel boredom all throughout EP1 to EP 40. The highlight of this drama for me is the character of Fan Chanyu - Tian Xiwei portrayed it so well. No matter what the ha***r says, it deserves the success it earned and the cast to be recognized globally and more. Tian Xiwei you are so dear to me that I've watched all your dramas.

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Well written script

Luminosity Behind the Palace” (2025) was one of those dramas that slowly pulls you in until you realize you are emotionally attached to every character and every moment inside the palace walls. The storyline balanced power, loyalty, love, betrayal, and sacrifice in a way that kept the drama meaningful instead of overly exaggerated. The cinematography, costumes, and emotional acting made the palace atmosphere feel both beautiful and suffocating at the same time.

What touched me the most was the death of the emperor. That scene was done with such quiet emotion and dignity that it became one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire drama. Even with all misunderstanding about him, seeing the end of his journey and the emotions surrounding him felt deeply human and painful. It was one of those scenes that stays with you after the episode ends.

The final episode ended just right. It did not feel rushed or overly dramatic simply for shock value. Instead, it gave closure to the characters while still leaving behind the emotional weight of everything they endured. The ending felt mature, emotional, and satisfying — the kind of finale that reminds you why historical Chinese dramas can be so unforgettable.

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Life Just Happens

I loved this show. I was so excited to see a well known actor like Ok Taec Yeon main role in a queer show that didn't focus on family drama dynamics of a coming out story, but a story that focused on how life just fucking happens and you have to deal with it, and it's all about the choices you make.

Ryu and Jo Han showed a different side of what being a soul mate can mean. Whether physical or emotional, you got to watch them build a connection that superseded time and space. But that it's the choices you make and the decisions you make on behalf of other people that shape your life the the lives around.

I did not anticipate this to be a BL story, because BL is a very specific fictional category (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys'_love) and fully anticipated it to be a queer show similar to Love in the Big City, I over all felt this show had the vibe of being a cross between Love in the Big City and Mr. Plankton. I was glad it did not end up a tragedy, but it was definitely bitter.

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This is a WHOLE VIBE

I absolutely loved this show. I was hesitant to watch it because it could have easily turned into a terrible take on 90's culture and the whole comic book world that grew out of the 90's, but this show was an absolute riot and left me laughing through every episode.

Sure some of the story plot points were a bit cliche, but that was kind of the point in my opinion. This show managed to carry a 90's comic book themed superhero vs supervillain story throughout each episode without losing the plot. The acting was on point pretty much through the entire show, and man do you really fall in love with those idiotic fools.

10/10 I think everyone who experienced the 90's should watch this absolute entertaining drama.

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Truly Splendid

"Splendid Match" really surprised me in the best way. The cast selection, cinematography, and direction were all amazing. The drama had such a strong visual identity, and the actors brought a lot of charm and emotional weight to the story.

That said, around "Ep. 25", I did feel a noticeable shift in the writing and pacing. The episodes leading up to that point were strong and kept me genuinely intrigued, but maintaining that level of intrigue is one of the hardest things to do in a semi-long format drama. With such a strong cast and promising setup, it made me wonder how much of the story may have been removed during post-production editing or changed while passing regulatory review. Some parts later on felt like they were touched on too lightly, especially when it came to marriage, emotional expression, and deeper relationship development.

Still, I don’t have many complaints overall. This type of matchmaking drama has been missing from the C-drama space for a while, so it was refreshing to see it return with a more modern perspective. I appreciated how the story explored what a young woman can do after coming of age, especially while navigating expectations from both her maternal and paternal families.

The conflicts were harsh, but they usually had understandable reasoning behind them, which made the character dynamics more engaging. The character development was also strong, even if some themes stayed a bit surface-level. Overall, "Splendid Match" is still one of this year’s standout dramas for me. It had charm, beauty, strong performances, and a story world I actually wanted to stay in.

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Bonkers

I very much like the two leads in this drama, but in places the plot got so bizarre it took me right out of the story. In some places, the over-the-top silliness just broke my brain. Of course not everything has to be high art, but at some point I could no longer suspend my disbelief.

There’s one scene in particular on a plane where our whack–a--doodle FL passes herself off as a doctor and volunteers to heal a rando patient who turns out to be... sorry, not going to spill the beans here.

And that’s just the tip of the bonkers berg. I couldn’t really get what he saw in someone who was obviously a mental case (at least, so it appeared)–or what she saw in him, a man who alternated between concern and contempt.

This drama makes me suspect that we women are trading the exercise of our intelligence for romantic fantasies and mindless blather. Is that always a bad thing? Naw. Not if you keep part of your brain in the real world.

I always like a series where an arrogant, supercilious chaebol gets kicked around by a feisty female. If that appeals to you, you’ll like MY ROYAL NEMESIS.

Mostly I DID like it.

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The first five minutes of this drama had me gasping for breathe. The stabbing triangle scene had me laughing so hard I ended up on the floor. The rest of the drama was charming and fun but that first scene totally eclipsed the whole show. I basically never recovered—it's easily the funniest and most memorable scene from this drama.

The plot was plotting but the relationships and character progression needed a lot more, especially with the female lead Song Yimeng. I understood why Yimeng didn't trust Nanheng, especially after he tried to kill her so many times, but that plot trope dragged on for way too long. It hindered Yimeng's character development and as the main character, it dragged the whole story down. There were times she was unbearable. I wish she had been smarter or stronger or just more easily likeable.

Liu Yining's Nanheng was great in contrast. His character growth in romantic ventures and with comedy were really working for me. The rest of the characters were all generally likeable and served the plot well.

I think this really would have been a 10/10 banger if the writers had focused more on Yimeng's development.

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