Reviews

A pleasant, easy-to-watch BL with a fresh fashion concept

If this show hadn’t just popped up on one of the sites, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it at all. The love-triangle trope doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I ended up checking out the trailer anyway. I’m really glad I did, and I actually like how they played a little trick on us with the title.

The strongest aspect of this BL was building the whole story around alternative fashion. I like how they translated the clothing/design idea into human relationships, and how we only got the full picture in the last two episodes. At first I thought it was just about making connections, but it turned out to be about something much deeper - stitching together things that don’t quite fit, adapting them to new circumstances… exactly like what happened with our main characters’ relationship.

It was interesting to see the reversal at the end: it was the star chasing the ordinary guy, not the other way around. One more shout-out to what’s already been said: the actor absolutely nailed both roles and played them brilliantly. However, it’s pretty unrealistic that Chiaki, who kept stressing how hypnotised he was by “that gaze”, never connected Enaga with AE. They had so many close interactions, yet Enaga’s entire disguise was just a wig and a little hat. I wish they’d gone for some heavier changes. The ending also felt way too rushed. I get that Chiaki was mostly pretending to be angry at Enaga rather than actually being furious, but it still resolved too quickly. And honestly, I never warmed to Chiaki’s facial expressions, they felt exaggerated to me.

Overall, for the concept, the fashion, and the nice soundtrack I’d give it 7, but there’s definitely room for improvement! I think a second season would be awesome - showing them working together in the industry, dealing with rivals, etc.

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A Journey to Love: Stunning Visuals, Deep Emotion, and a Perfect Cast

In my opinion, this drama is absolutely stunning. The plot is strong and well-structured. Every episode feels alive, thanks to a perfect blend of exciting missions, tense political intrigues, and gradual character development.

The chemistry between the characters feels incredibly natural. It isn’t just about the romance, which grows through trust and sacrifice, but also about the heartwarming camaraderie of the team. They evolve from strangers into a true family who would die for one another. This shared journey and the genuine brotherhood they form are what make their bonds feel so emotional and profound.

The production quality also deserves high praise. The costumes are a feast for the eyes, especially the elegant purple uniforms of the Six Realms Hall of Wu State, and Liu Shishi, whose aura shines even brighter whenever she wears red. The OST is equally memorable; it isn’t just background music, but an integral part of the story. Just hearing it brings all the emotions of the drama back to life in my memory.

I enjoyed every single second. There were moments of laughter and happiness, as well as heartbreaking sorrow as the characters fell one by one. The sense of loss felt genuine because their care for one another was so sincere.

Many label this as a 'sad ending,' but I feel quite the opposite. The drama leaves a warm impression, especially seeing them happy in the afterlife in the final episode. For anyone who hasn't watched it yet, A Journey to Love is truly worth your time. Ignore the 'sad ending' tag, because it would be a huge shame to miss out on this drama.

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The Power of Good Over Evil

Wow, some of these reviews are really harsh ... I must admit, it's a very strange beginning that almost lost me, but I stuck with it, and I was glad I did. It took till about half way through episode 3 and then it started to really pull me in. When an episode ends and you can't wait until the next one begins, that's the sign of a good series.
You do need to accept and understand the entire evil spirit named Ma Wong. Once you can do that, things will fall into place. He really is a great antagonist in the story. Along with the Grand Prince, they truly are two characters to hate throughout this drama.
I've always been a fan, and maybe a bit bias toward Hyo Seop, but he gives another great performance from start to finish. He, along with You Jung are perfectly matched and make great chemistry together. They really start to gel after episode 6 when they finally realize who they are from their past. Once that happens, the series takes a new direction and definitely takes hold of you till the end.
I guess what stopped me from rating this series higher than a 9 was the final episode. Although it was kind of interesting to fast forward a few years, I hate when things get a bit rushed as the minutes tic down in the final few scenes. There seemed to be a build up of something big about to happen ... but we were left with an open ending. At first I thought there was another episode coming, maybe I miscounted ... but no, that was it. Given to our own imagination as to the major conclusion of the series. It wasn't a horrible ending, but considering how great the series was up till that point, it was a little bit of a disappointment. Other than that, it was extremely entertaining. A great story with great acting.

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Lighthearted and Predictable, but with a lot of Heart and Punk fashion

"Punks Triangle” has a very simple plot. There are no twists and turns, and you know what is about to happen. However, what it also has is a lot of heart and great acting by the two male leads.

Fujibayashi Yasunari plays a fabulous double role as the popular fashion model AE, and a clumsy fashion night school student, Enaga Ayumu. As AE, he’s tall and sexy, with a gaze that pierce into your souls. It’s no wonder Sumiura Chiaki is so obsessed with him. But as Enaga, he’s adorable and clumsy. The sexy gaze becomes a little clueless and uncertain. His eyes are so pretty to look at. Where did Japan find these actors who can play such an awesome dual identity??? Matsumoto Leo in “Cinderella’s Closet” is just as fabulous!

But Fujibayashi is not the only one with a dual role. I feel that Nagano Ryota also did as well, even though he’s only Sumiura Chiaki in this drama. But Chiaki presents such a different personality when he’s with AE and Enaga. He’s star-struck and smitten when he’s with AE, but full of life when he’s with Enaga.

The first half of the drama sets up their relationships and characters really well. But it was the second half starting from ep 5 that I really get attached to the drama on a more emotional level. The heart-to-heart talks finally surface instead of a bunch of internal monologues. I am finally invested in their happiness, even though I can see from a far how this drama is going to end.

The supporting cast is small and lovely. There isn’t any one who would annoy you. We actually have a supportive makeup artist acting as a love guru, and co-workers and classmates who care.

But this drama is not without fault. I wish there were fewer internal monologues. There are times I wasn’t sure if those are spoken lines or thoughts in the characters’ heads. A little unpredictability would be nice as well.

If you are looking for a light and easy watch with good acting, “Punks Triangle” is a good choice. I don’t know much about punk or punk-style, but do enjoy see AE catwalks and photoshoots, and Chiaki’s wardrobe. The OST has a couple songs and they are fitting and lovely.



Completed: 11/27/2025 Review #646

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starts strong but falls apart

I'm not the biggest fan of historical dramas out there, but I had to give this a go because regardless of what my other review says, I did want to watch an LJW show. Considering how I already knew the plot of the novel, I'm very happy that it stuck to the original ending. That being said, the show still left me unsatisfied. Only fake-Hongrang's character stayed with me after I finished the 11 episodes.

What I liked about the show was the cinematography, the music, and the characters of the Grand Prince, Min Yeonui, and fake-Hongrang. The fighting scenes were solid and entertaining. The creep factor and the dark themes were interesting. It was an interesting story and I'm glad they stuck to the webnovel ending.

What I didn't like was, first and foremost, the romance. It was uncomfortable and even downright disgusting to watch in some scenes. I understand it's supposed to portray the characters' moral and ethical and psychological turmoil, but I couldn't see it from that perspective. Especially the scene in the forest where Fauxrang sucks on Jaeyi's finger hours after confirming to her that he's her brother. The development felt off to me but perhaps it was how the two characters mirrored each other and could relate to each other that made the feelings so strong in such a short time. Nevertheless, I will never be a fan of the fake siblings trope. None of the romantic moments were heart fluttering to me but I managed to watch it anyway.

Jaeyi's character was a big disappointment. I'm not the biggest Cho Boah fan, but I felt she was okay in Destined With You. All she does in this show is cry and stare as if her eyes are about to pop out. Jaeyi is meant to be a stronger character and clever when it comes to business (webtoon+novel). Seeing how she survived for so long in such a terrible home, with Min Yeonui hanging over her like the devil, I assumed we'd get more from Jaeyi instead of seeing her be rescued every episode. I couldn't sympathize with her or Mujin's character as I found the acting funny in certain parts.

The Snow Man was an interesting character and I would've liked to know more, but I understand he was only a side character.

I thoroughly enjoyed Min Yeonui, from start to the way her story ended.

All in all, good effort. Not a show I would recommend but not one I'd discourage from watching.

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Disappointed

I really like LingOrm and I am very certain that they are good actresses, but this show was not it. And the problem was not the plot, that was quite interesting actually. The problem here was the cutting, too many scenes were too long, and the pacing was wrong. If some scenes had been shortened and or cut, for better emotional impact, the show could have been great.
The acting was mediocre, even though I know that the actresses can do sooo much better.
There were phases where their acting was great, which showcased, what I knew that they have talent, but damn... and the next drama from them also doesn't look promising. I dropped the show 3 times and now I finally finished it... I'm sad because this might tank LingOrm's acting reputation even though they are amazing actresses! They need new writers, and directors in the show and better workshops.
What I disliked the most were the employees of Tawan... let them be serious and silly but not only one thing.
:(

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when destiny brings the boredom

Objective Review of the Drama
(Final Rating: 6.5/10)

(For anyone hesitating to start it or looking for a structured, balanced opinion)


1. Plot:

The drama is divided into three narrative arcs: Immortals → Demons → Humans.
The first arc is by far the strongest—emotionally rich, well-paced, and focused on Simajiao’s background and character growth. It keeps you hooked, and it's also where the leads’ relationship develops the best.

The second arc, while still decent, starts to lose impact. Some story choices create a slight sense of fatigue, even though the amnesia trope is handled relatively well. The arc picks up again toward the end.

The third arc, centered on humans, is the weakest: slower pacing, repetitive episodes, and a clear feeling of unnecessary extension. The story stays coherent, but the narrative execution is much less controlled.
You can really tell the ending could have been shortened there are a few episodes too many, which bog down the rhythm. A tighter conclusion would have worked much better.

Overall, it almost feels like each arc was written by a different team, considering how uneven the pacing becomes.

2. Characters & Development:

The true strength of the drama is Simajiao. Arthur Chen carries the entire show his growth, his emotional depth, and his attachment to Tingyan make him extremely compelling to follow from start to finish.

Tingyan is a very grounded, realistic character: she just wants to eat, sleep, and relax. But she gradually matures and becomes more responsible, especially after a key event that forces her into a situation she didn’t want. From that point on, she grows significantly.

The major flaw is that all the other characters are sidelined. They barely develop, don’t have lives of their own, and mainly exist to support the leads. They quickly end up forgotten in the background.

3. Romance:

The romance is a bit tricky to judge.
Yes, there are kisses, teasing, and cute moments but the best part is clearly in the first arc. Once the leads officially get together, their relationship stops evolving. It becomes repetitive: lots of kisses but less emotional connection it felt empty + less chemistry.

You also feel like they don’t spend enough time together; something is always keeping them apart

4. OST

Solid soundtrack. The music fits the emotional scenes well and is pleasant to listen to.

5. Recommendations

- If you're watching mainly for the story, expect a simple plot that drags a bit toward the end but remains overall watchable.

-If you're watching for the romance, you’ll likely enjoy it in the first arc .

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It is all about the payout

You don't see many 12-16 eps c-dramas. Sure, there are short form ones that are basically chopping a mini series into 8-10 minutes segments. Then you have ultra short vertical dramas dominating phone screens nowadays! It is rare to see one that seems to share DNA with k/j-dramas though.

As A-plot goes, it is old school. It is centred on a 40 years old bachelor who is set in his ways. He reads like a thesaurus for a zero EQ personality. Taciturn, self-centred, opinionated, and that is him before breakfast! It gets worse, much worse. If I'm honest, it was exhausting to watch him in the early episodes. He is not evil or malicious, but you will thank your lucky star that he is not your friend, better yet . . your neighbour!

It is quite obvious who is our OTP from the start. As expected, they start off on the wrong foot. It is their romantic journey we are invested in.

This is where we can truly appreciate the acting abilities of our leads. They are handsome/attractive. As far as I'm concerned, their maturity gave them an edge over young idols. This is a double edged sword though . If you are in the idol drama demographics then this show might not appeal to you.

Of course, the ML took his time to grow into a "human being". It is just as well his progress is measurable or you will be tempted to rage quit by the half way mark. ;)

While there are the odd second leads, they are low angst and have minimal impact on our OTP. In that sense, they are their own worse enemy. With all the prevarications and heartfelt scenes, you would expect them to progress faster.

Thankfully, our dear writer didn't go down the j-drama path and leave them in limbo. Picture this typical j-drama scene . . they look longingly at each other . . across a bridge . . snowing . . fades to black . . (Shudder)

Hence my comment about the pay out. The second half of the last EP is the ultimate reward for our patience and forbearance. It was dreamy, sweet and swoon-y. I haven't felt that way about a c-drama for a while. There have been some great romantic c-dramas, yet this one just creeps up on you and hits you with the swoon-y stick when you least expected! LoL

In the end, it is a good drama. Hardly original, yet better than expected. A lot of that comes down to the acting of our leads. There is also a hint of k-drama structurally, and it worked. The storyline is not cluttered. The pacing is on point. The support cast earned their pay. You gotta love the old bikers. ;) Production value is solid. OST is nice. A neat and tidy bundle, if I say so myself.

I can recommend this drama . . as long as you can put up with the behaviours of the ML or . . hit the skip butron. ;) Peace.

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A bizarre Love Story

For me, this was such a unique, bizarre & mysterious series. I think anyone that went into this thinking it was going to be a horror or suspenseful thriller, because of the title, would be highly disappointed ...
That being said, this was a drama that truly captivated me from episode 1, simple because you couldn't figure out where this story was heading. Episode after episode Dong Jin tries to explain the events surrounding Mi Jeong, but falls short to any conclusion other than she's a witch. You know that can't be the case, so you continue to watch, hoping for some reasonable explanation. It's along wait, but I didn't mind.
Early on, I think it's fantastic how they show us different points of view of the same situation. You get to see the different interpretations, depending on who is telling the story. Jin Young is so great portraying Dong Jin, a great character throughout the drama and he does such a wonderful job at showing us how not to give up on something you believe in. There are so many touching moments with him and his mom, played by Hye Jin. If you don't find yourself tearing up, there's something definitely wrong with you.
As we move through the later part of the series, so many things begin to come into focus. I think the biggest revelation comes when Mi Jeong explains how she knew of Dong Jin all along. He thought he was being so inconspicuous watching her, but she noticed all the time. Truly a great part of the story.
As you approach the final episode, the mystery continues, especially since the main protagonist is completely absent. It's taken down to the final minutes, but we finally understand most of what's happening. There's a few things left unexplained, but that's life after all.
There's a line said by Dong Jin's mom that really hit home with this entire series ... "The people we are destined to meet will surely come, as it is meant to be". ....
A very enjoyable series.

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Incredibly....fine

Peach Trap was a show that I seemed to forget about every week. While I did enjoy watching the three potential love interests fight over the mc (and frankly, was surprised by who won him at the end), this show REALLY lacked any character development, ESPECIALLY for the mc! He had three men fighting each other trying to win him over, and he is the most BLAND character ever.

Doha is wrongfully fired from his job. His supervisor feels bad about this and tries to help him get a new job, while also flirting with him. Meanwhile, Doha's childhood best friend has been secretly in love with him for years, and the barista at Doha' favorite coffee shop has been crushing on him too. The three men all try to win Doha's heart, while Doha tries to find a job.

I still cannot understand how three men are all SO in love with the mc. Doha truly had no personality besides a couple of tears shed here and there. The only character trait he really had was "unemployed"! That being said, I really enjoyed the three love interests, and was pleasantly surprised by how it ended. However, with not enough time to give any characters real development, and a main character that's boring as hell, this show didn't really do it for me. Not the worst watch, but not the best.

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There is no way to miss this gem

A promising start. I really enjoyed the first two episodes.
Unfortunately, iQIYI treats its subscribers according to the tier they pay for. Some have the privilege of accessing multiple episodes at once, while others do not. So I will have to wait before continuing the story.

Although it is still too early for a proper evaluation, I found the plot quite interesting. And seeing the wonderful Wang Xing Yue in yet another detective role is simply delightful. I absolutely loved his character Xiao Bei Ming in The Wanted Detective, which, by the way, is a spectacular drama.

And here, set in the 1930s during the Republican era, Wang Xing Yue is an absolute treat for the eyes of his fans.

There is no way to miss this gem.

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Extra spicy vertical drama

I really liked the story, as the revenge for the FL was well deserved and satisfying to watch. This is the first time I have watched a drama with Ke Chun and wow , that guy know 's how to kiss! This drama earns a two 🌶️🌶️spice rating from me, because that ML was on 🔥. Although this is a vertical drama, it still took nearly four hours to finish, so it was not too choppy like most short dramas are. The ML's character empowered and paved the way for the FL's character to achieve her revenge, while at the same time caring for her and admiring her inner strength and tenacity.

I would recommend this drama to any spice fans or to those that enjoy watching people who abuse others get what they deserve.

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a darker revenge short series

Overall: this was not a fluffy romance but I didn't judge it by fluffy romance standards. 6 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx4ez-PNNMmmFsAt8zwjDhsj&si=tbfb1Upl2OXvxJGa

Content Warnings: sexual assault, violence, blood, non con recording, stalking, manhandling, blackmail, deaths/murders, non con kissing turned consensual, drugging, past bullying, threatened suicide

Notes:
- to skip most of the content warnings start episode 1 at 2:15 and episode 4 at 4:45, then end it at episode 5 9m30s
- the subtitles say half brother but it might mean step brothers (i.e. not biologically related)

What I Liked
- bath tub scene
- the BL manga
- when a character decided to change (in ep 4 after 4:45)

Room For Improvement
- flash forward/present and then went back to start
- seemed needlessly dark with the third guy
- no consequence shown for a terrible character

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kawaaiiiiiiii....

As expected from a JBL, it was a top notch production. The details they went into creating the costumes from the manga was astonishing. And of course the cuteness-factor was over 10. 🤣

They showed us two persons with each two personalitites. Extrovert AE turns into introvert Enaga because he want's to learn at a fashion school. He is a top model but he has to hide his normal appearance otherwise it would create trouble for him and the school. Chiaki is an introvert and shy whenever he is is not at home, but he turns into an extroverted energetic designer after he opens up to Enaga who he has to be partnered with for a fashion competition.

Chiaki turned to fashion after he had seen AE on a runway and he also turned to fashion to give him courage to be the person he wants to be. Both character struggle in their own way. But Chiaki struggles more when he develops feelings for Enaga still not knowing that this is his idol/bias AE. But as it is also in real life, the truth will come out.

Both actors portrayed their characters to perfection imho. Everything was done just right. The only thing not as perfect was maybe the kiss - but I can forgive that, because at least it was not a deadfish kiss . 🤣 For me it's a show to recommand and for most it will be a light breeze in the autumn when there is some cold but also a lot of sun and it will make you smile most of the time.

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Extremely shocked at the terrible production quality

So I've finally decided to complete this show after so many years since it aired, since currently the incoming influx of C-Drama and K-Drama shows have been stale in quality. Not sure if it has anything to do with streaming services cutting down on the typical production budget.

But anyway, I'm going to keep this review short and simple. Healer is a show with a very good choice of Main Actor and Actress. Park Min Young was hot at that time, and all the girls seem to be crazy for Ji Chang Wook (this is likely the reason for the high ratings). The choice of actors alone, carried this show.

The script was nothing special though not as bad (I've seen worse in the plethora of 2024-2025 c-dramas being released with boring AF draggy episodes). Comparing healer's script to these latest productions, it can be treated as a "decent" script. In the first few episodes, the main character gets toss aside and the side/antagonists characters with their boring past consumes most of the screen time. A good script should introduce the main characters first or at least give them a decent amount of screen time, this doesn't happen in healer, so we pretty much did not care if the main character lived or die since there's no attachment.

Now on to the bad. (If you don't wish to read anything negative about this show, skip this portion you're done reading this review)

The camera work gave the nauseating feeling. Action scenes seem as if they were shot while there was a 9.1 magnitude earthquake hitting South Korea. It's as if the crew had forgotten to turn on their camera stabilizers or a camera gimbal and were simply running around with their camera. The footage was unbearably shaky in several scenes.

The OST, especially when the main character whoops the bad guys, is shared across multiple other non-action scenes, happy scenes, stress scenes, fighting scenes etc, somehow the production team decided to use this 1 corny tune on all these scenes. Ruining the mood of these scenes. This tune seemed as though it belongs to a game like Maplestory where cute characters fight against cute monsters. Imagine taking one of this game's background music and inserting it in multiple different scenes in this supposedly action thriller crime drama.

To summarize without spoilers, I'm confused as to how this show got such high ratings. But as stated earlier, it is likely due to the choice of actor and actress, especially the main leads. If you're a diehard fan of either, by all means watch this show and enjoy it. But if you're in the mood for a well-produced show and couldn't care less of the casting choices, the shaky camera work and surprisingly TERRIBLE background music choice will sting both your eyes and ears to oblivion in the first few episodes. This is the first time I've been turned off solely by shaky cam and terrible music. Now I can appreciate the importance of music and how it influences mood in dramas.

If you're looking for a great Ji Chang Wook action-romance drama, check out the K2 which doesn't suffer from the same complains as this show. It has better ost music that matches each scene, the plot focuses on the main characters from the start with little draggy scenes, and the camera work is free from healer's shaky nightmare.

If you're looking for some of the top action romance show and don't really care about the casting choice, check out City Hunter, Bridal Mask, and Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre. These shows, especially City Hunter, have top of the line production quality. Camera work, action choreography, music choices are of a high and acceptable standard (for a TV show it is impressive, just don't compare them to top budget movies from jackie chan / donnie yen or the MCU). Of course each of these shows have their own sets of flaws (no dramas are perfect), but at least they've definitely surpassed many shows which rightfully makes them some of the best in the Action Romance genre.

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