Reviews

Wasted potential.

Full disclosure: I made it until halfway through episode 10 before I called it quits. I started this drama having high hopes for a love story of a married couple whose relationship is on the verge of divorce, them rediscovering the reasons why they used to love each other, rediscovering their attraction to each other and then painfully working through the issues that tore them apart in the first place. By episode 10, the leads were divorced. Thus far they hadn’t any deep, vulnerable conversations about that went wrong in their marriage, they both spent the last 10 episodes doing the same dance of not communicating, having moments of attraction to each other, and then dismissing them and deflecting. Their scenes, although they started off good in the first couple episodes, quickly became repetitive - like a hamster wheel with no forward movement.

This story had so much potential. I would have loved to see the main leads figuring out together how to navigate her shitty family situation, with the ML from a small farming village, marrying a wealthy heiress, and then feeling trapped in this prestigious family who completely controlled his life, his job and their marriage. I would have loved to see more development on how the FL was drawn to this innocent, upright small town man who was far removed from the kind of life she lived, and to see more of that dynamic with the pressures she was under as the heiress to this major conglomerate. I would have loved to see them explore how she has to be ruthless and cold and distant in order to survive in her world, and with such a family that she had. I would have loved to see the leads process the loss of their child, how differently they each handled grief, and how their difficulties in grieving together and was what began creating that rift in their marriage. I would have loved more emphasis on her and her husband’s journey with her terminal cancer. I would have loved more dialogue, more of a character-driven story.

Instead, all of the elements that drew me to this show in the first place got swallowed up by a menagerie of less interesting, inconsistent side characters, side plots, and filler scenes with characters I didn’t give a shit about. Her powerful, controlling family turned into a joke. The FL’s cancer diagnosis as of episode 10 felt more like an afterthought, basically just accepted by the leads and not really emphasized much. Oh, but there was some psychopathic, possessive SML who cared more about the FL dying than her own spouse. Instead of open and honest communication with the leads, we had episode upon episode of refusing to communicate, misunderstandings, pushing each other away and basically nothing getting talked through or resolved.

Perhaps these issues would have been addressed in the last six episodes, but with the leads having maybe 10-15% of the total screen time in each other’s presence (and hardly satisfying scenes at that), the hope for more resolution and better development between them stopped being worth the other 85% of filler BS with all the other side shit going on.

The show should have stuck to the simplicity of a love story between these two complex people whose love for each other over the years has been impacted by grief, controlling in-laws, fame, social status, societal pressure and differences in socioeconomic backgrounds.

The two stars I did give were solely due to the great acting with the leads.

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One bound her in chains, the other set her free

This drama was an intense portrayal of an abusive relationship. If you’ve ever known someone trapped in such toxicity, you’d realiz,... it’s not just fiction, it’s a harsh reality for many in our society. The actors delivered powerful performances, especially the female lead and the deranged villain. Zuyi was charming, but the villain’s performance slightly outshone his. The ending, however, felt rushed, as the lecherous father didn’t quite get the punishment he deserved.


Overall it's watchable ..but even if you don't, you aren't missing on anything.

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Strong leads, well written villains - action packed - favorite C-drama of 2025 thus far!

Fated Hearts does an outstanding job of providing depth and backstory to its characters. I was entertained the whole way through.

I loved that both the female and male lead were strong characters - ready to kick ass. The enemy to lovers aspect was fun. I had only seen Chen Zheyuan in Hidden Love prior to this, and I am not much of a fluff lover so he didn't interest me there. He is SO GOOD in Fated Hearts, 10/10 he owned the role of Feng Suige. This has made me a fan. As for Li Qin, I had only seen her in Joy of Life, and I basically only remembered her as the sickly chicken drumstick eating girl. But when I saw her here as a bad ass general, I was *sold.* Our leads were fantastic together and I am so glad I got to see these two in another light. I didn't pick this show because I was a big existing fan of them, but I came away being one.

I loved that the villains were given a point of view, so much that you could empathize with them. I could accept their madness and understand their motivation. Qin Tian Yu (Xia Jinyan) gave a brilliant performance and I came to really enjoy his character despite his character having a vile backstory. I also was expecting Princess Royal level madness from Chen He Yi, (Xia Jinshi) and he did not disappoint.

The revenge in this story is satisfying, and it is not limited to simply one character as there are multiple revenge plots ongoing. I ate all of it up - I LOVED the intensity. All in all, a beautifully done drama. Highly recommended if you're a fan of big drama, want to see revenge come full circle, and don't mind some court politics.

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Worth the watch

I'm a big fan of bromances and Chinese costume period dramas.
This was the best of both worlds for me.
I have to say the chemistry and acting of the two male leads was phenomenal. Add to that, stellar looks, fantastic fighting scenes, great sets, hair, and costumes, and good acting from all the other actors - this checked all my boxes!
I agree, very Untamed vibes with the ending.
I would love to see a part 2.
Loved the reverse harem in this - and the actress who played the villainess while a bit over the top, was VERY entertaining!
This is definitely worth the watch. Although it's 24 very short episodes, the writers did a great job - there were no plot holes and the story built and grew as the drama unfolded.
Will watch again! And would love to see these two actors in other dramas!

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Hui Su, Eun Su and us

Before I'll start this review, I'd like to present some facts regarding violence against women in South Korea, in order to understand how important it is to have a drama that addresses this topic.

According to this article (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-24/national/socialAffairs/1-in-3-women-a-victim-of-relationship-abuse-Gender-Ministry-survey-finds/2293311) , more than one in three Korean women has experienced violence at least once in their lifetime at the hands of a current or former ppartner. The types of abuse are various and the most common ones are physical and emotional violence. Violence rates in South Korea have surged up, making society dangerous for women. When asked about whether they believed if korean society was safe or not, a total of 51,6% answered that Korean society is not safe from violence - a clear indicator of how common violence against women is in South Korea.

While most people watch kdramas in order to relax and ease up their mind, it's not possible to escape the hard cold reality. Many kdramas tend to glamorize korean society and sugar coat the hardships women have to endure. While it's by no means bad to present something light to your audience, we cannot (and we mustn't) hide behind our fingers. No matter how triggering the topic of domestic abuse might be, more people need to be aware of this problem in order to take more measures.

As You Stood By is a drama that deals with the ongoing issue of domestic violence against women. Through Eun Su and Hui Su's story, we observe the horrors that take place behind the closed doors and the trauma that's caused to the victims. The powerful message is presented on the first episodes and the writer's intention to illustrate the cruel reality are crystal clear.

On an interview the director, Lee Jung Min, stated how disturbing it would be to visually depict violent scenes and thus, the team decided to focus on the before and after rather the physical contact. Having watched the series, I could tell how much care and caution had been put in the making of these scenes. I dislike media which exploit violent scenes for shock value, especially if the victims are females. It gets to a point where the emotional impact is lost. When creators overuse violent scenes or present them too graphically, the message is not delivered efficiently.

That wasn't the case with As You Stood By. Obviously there were scenes that portrayed violence. But they were handled very well and instead of relying on the on-screen abuse, they highlighted the psychological distress of thewomen. Instead of showing the beating itself, we see Hui Su's face before and after the damage. Instead of showing Eun Su's father beating their mom, we see a montage of her and her brother hiding in the closet. The editing and sound design during these scenes was phenomenal, it added more tension and made the story even more impactful.

A particular scene that has stayed with me, days after finishing the drama, is the one from the second episode when Jin Pyo beats Hui Su with his shoe. While he kept hitting her on her head, we never see the beating but as he continues, the surrounding noises started to fade. It was as if we, the viewers, were the ones who were getting beaten. The scene felt so realistic and raw, I almost held my breath in fear while I was watching it.

When women like Eun Su and Hui Su are abused by men, what can they do? When society keeps protecting men with power in order not to tarnish their reputation, how can the victims find the courage to expose the truth? When the law fails to do its job and deliver justice, how can women trust it? The repeated cycle of abuse drives the victims to great lengths. In Eun Su and Hui Su's case, the solution is one: murder. Although murder itself is a crime, the drama makes us question the choice of the two women, raising interesting questions regarding morality.

The drama doesn't necessarily try to frame the murder of Jin Pyo as entirely good or bad. What it tries to do instead is showcase that when everyone fail to protect abused women, they will take matters into their own hands. Hui Su did everything in her power to put an end to her torture. She tried to be an obedient wife. She tried to report her husband to the police. She tried to leave. But nothing was achieved. So who are we to moralize her decision?

As You Stood By does an excellent job portraying ignorance towards violence as a serious crime itself. Knowing that a woman is getting abused and doing nothing about it makes us accomplices to the violence. Turning a blind eye only enables the abusers to keep doing what they do. When they are aware of the fact that no one is going to report them and that they cannot be punished, they feel more powerful and confident. This is why bystanders must take actions into their own hands and help the victims however they can. Otherwise, they contribute to the cycle of abuse.

All the actors did an excellent job portraying their characters and their emotions. Jeon So Nee was great as Eun Su. I could see how conflicted she was and how guilty she felt over the fact she hadn't had the courage to report her father or the abusive husband of her client. Eun Su was a very complex character, whose motives were shaped by her abusive household. As a kid, she saw her father hitting her mother and she take it upon herself to become her younger brother's guardian by keeping him oblivious to the violence that surrounded her. As an adult, she learned martial arts in order to find some type of protection against men. She tried to ignore the violence around her and she pretended that her father didn't hit her mom but deep down, she knew that she just wanted to find a way to escape.

Eun Su's fear is not portrayed in a bad light. The drama doesn't try to accuse Eun Su nor put the blame on herself. But Eun Su herself comes to the realization that ignorance is equally lethal. She refuses to remain a bystander who does nothing and the moment she realises that Hui Su is in great danger, she immediately takes action. Her development was powerful and it reminded us that we can always find the strength to help the victims.

Lee Yu Mi delivered an award worthy performance. Hui Su's fear became my own. Her expressions, her body language, the wavering in her voice when she faced her husband. Her portrayal was painfully realistic and it pained me to watch her. I couldn't fathom how many women like Hui Su have to endure this kind of treatment every day, in all places of the world. Hui Su was a prisoner in her own marriage. She wasn't able to meet her friends or perform any activities that brought her joy. She wasn't able to wear different clothes, in fear of exposing her bruises. She was belittled and she was physically, mentally and sexually abused on a daily basis. Just by watching the fear in her eyes every time her behavior wasn't appropriate, according to Jin Pyo, I feared for her life. Lee Yu Mi was spectacular in this role and her performance was extremely powerful and moving.

The relationship between the two women felt like a breath of fresh air. Many kdramas have pitied women against each other for the sake of a man but As You Stood By breaks the norms by having its female leads teaming up against the man. Eun Su and Hui Su's unconditional support and love towards each other was so heartwarming to see. Both of them felt responsible for each other, especially Eun Su who wanted to save her friend from her abusive husband. The scenes between them put a smile on my face, particularly the brief moments of peace. Albeit, short, the moments of happiness and bliss brought a smile to my face. Hui Su felt so secure and happy around Eun Su. She could leave her guard down and enjoy her time, indulging in activities like an excited child. The few flashbacks we got highlighted their bond and the actresses had great chemistry which added to the characters' friendship.

Of course I couldn't forget to praise Jang Seung Jo's double performance as Jin Pyo, Hui Su's husband and Jang Gang, his look-alike. He was terrifying in both roles and he knew how to switch his character. Jin Pyo ignited great fear in me with his sadistic and unpredictable behavior. During the first episodes, there were times when I flinched just from seeing him on the screen. I could feel my survival instincts wake up and I was constantly alert. Seung Jo transformed into the character, although the character was cruel and scary, his performance was so captivating to the point I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, despite my discomfort.

His portrayal of Jang Bang was equally engaging. The contrast between the two characters was so bizarre and yet he switched his roles effortlessly. When Jang Bang revealed his true colours, I was once again terrified by his psychotic actions and outbursts. It felt like I was watching two different actors.

Aside from Jin Pyo, the series presents two other major villains: his mother and his sister. Both of these characters worked as a sad reminder of how some people not only remain ignorant of the abuse on purpose but they side with the abusers too. Both women were aware of Jin Pyo's actions and Hui Su's mistreatment and yet, they did absolutely nothing. Not only did they not hold Jin Pyo accountable for his behavior, but they shifted the blame on Hui Su. "If only people avoided provoking violence and both sides did their part" was one of the things Jin Pyo's mother said to Hui Su and I was shocked when I heard it. What do you mean "provoking violence"? How could the victims provoke it? And how could they do " their part"? It was as if she was implying that the abuse was deserved and that victims asked to be abused. As for the sister, she was only worried about her reputation getting tarnished rather the fact her brother was an abuser. Jin Pyo was sick but his family's behavior was equally bad. All of them were egoistic people, who only cared about themselves and who treated Hui Su as something disposable. Not a moment passed when I didn't wish for their downfall and thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.

As much as I acknowledge the importance of adapting a story like this and even though I have already praises the drama, I must say that while the first episodes were near perfect, the story went downhill during the second half. The first half was focused more on Eun Su and Hui Su. We saw their backstory, the violence they were exposed to and the trauma they had to deal with. The first episodes were emotional depth while the story was very engaging. But once the plot twist with Jang Bang occurred, I found my interest decreasing. If the drama followed the novel's story by the book, I could excuse this shift. Still, the execution could have been better.

After the fifth episode, the message got kinda lost in translation. Instead of focusing on the women and their emotional journey, the focus was put on their attempt to stop Jang Bang. At the same time, Jin Pyo's sister got involved more but instead of feeling worried about our leads, I felt bored. There were times when I was tempted to skip some scenes that didn't involve Hui Su and Eun Su. I understand the purpose of the plot twist and the sister's involvement but it kinda ruined the story for me. I really wish the writers had explored the girls' feelings more or that we had seen more interactions with their families. It would have been nice if we had gotten more moments between Eun Su, her mother and her brother, especially once the brother acknowledged Eun Su's protection when he was little. It would have added more layers to their trauma and bond and it would have been a nice opportunity to showcase how domestic violence affects familial relationships.

Additionally, there weretimes when the script didn't feel that tight. I can still think of some plot holes that didn't get cleared away. How come neither JinPyo's mother nor the sister recognise Eun Su, since she was at Hui Su's wedding? I get that this implies how little they cared about Hui Su and the people she associated herself with but at the same time, I still cannot understand how come they didn't remember her. And what about Jang Bang's family? The CCTV showed him hugging his son once he landed at the airport but we never learned more of his background or if he faked it. Jang Bang's shift in general felt confusing since I really doubt that someone with psychotic tendencies like him would have been able to keep a modest facade for such a long time, let alone years. I really wish the writers had given answers to some of the questions instead of assuming the audience would just fill the gaps.

All in all, As You Stood By remains a vital kdrama. Its message is painfully relevant and it needs to be heard by more people. We cannot keep ignoring what is going on around us and we cannot keep turning a blind eye on those who need help. Let's not allow ourselves to be accomplices in violence. We can and we must put an end to it, if possible. This was not just Eun Su and Hui Su's story. It was about Eun Su, Hui Su and us.

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There is a "sequel"

I've actually watched this drama twice. It's a pretty basic trope of miscommunication and love. You have the standard Green Tea and you get some of the standard misunderstandings because the leads not saying what they truly feel.
First, the things I did like about this drama include the acting (I like He JianQi a lot). The cinematography is really good for a vertical drama and so is the sound/music.
The things I did not like were that there were some problems with the story line. Like why the male lead Yan Jing runs off to the US for 2 yrs and we never really get a resolution on why he did that or what occurred during those 2 years of separation, from his wife, whom he clearly had feelings for her before he left. I still wish we had seen what led to that 2 year long separation and the subsequent misunderstandings.
I originally gave this drama a 7.5 scoring but have come back and raised it to an 8 after watching the 'sequel' called Summer Rose.

It's not really a sequel, it's more of like a spin off following Yan Jings older brother, who we see a few times in this drama.
Summer rose is also an extremely heartwarming and sweet drama, and also kind of fills some of the things that this drama was missing.

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PERFECT COMBINATION OF CGI AND ACTION SCENE

What I loved most about this drama is the perfect combination of CGI and ML's action. It is so good to see how well the Wangquan sword and Dongfang Fire are played on Fugui's hand. Chengyi was the best actor for Fugui's character, with a wide range of expressions that made me feel his emotions too. Chengyi also plays another character in the last few episodes, and I absolutely love his white hair with a dark character.

This drama is worth watching, especially with its various awesome action scenes that should not be just ignored. Just because it received a lot of negative reviews and an unsatisfying ending, don't miss the opportunity to witness the fantastic scene of thousands of swords attacking Fugui while he carries Qingtong to get out of the Wangquan mansion. Another scene where ML shows the power of his Dongfang Fire and Wangquan Sword is one of the best fantasy drama scenes I've ever seen. Especially when Fugui attempts to break through the outer barrier and then uses the Wangquan Sword, Dongfang Fire, Water-Control Orb, and the Seed of Grief Tree in turn to defeat the Black Fox outside the circle, it is a must-see.

While this drama received negative reviews due to its seemingly messy plot. I think this story might be more captivating if it focuses more on Fugui's journey with his sword heart and his relationship with Hongye as his father. More screen time between FL and his brother should be shortened. However, let's pay no attention to these negative reviews since every cast member in this drama truly did their best. Even though their scenes appear frequently compared to the ML in the middle episodes, they performed very well, and I found their scenes enjoyable and not boring.

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Maybe our hearts will find a way, Only heaven knows

As i am writing this, i just finished watching the series.

This has been genuinely the most well written stories I've watched recently. I finished around 5-6 dramas within a month with just days apart from each other. I usually just move on as fast and watch another drama. But this drama has me on a chokehold. This is what friendship, love and yearning is. That slowly and gradually grows on you. You don't know when it happened but you just woke up one day and you want to protect that one person with all your might.

If you don't consider Xuanye's background where he is supposedly a prince; both Xuanye and Banxia are just normal folks. Sure Banxia's family is a bit rich but they had little to no power nor influence. Their love story grew so so well because they gradually fell for each other. No other external factors. They were destined to meet, fate brought them together.

The story arcs were not as flawless but I love how it didn't just brush off the stories of each characters that made that arc work. Not too fast, not too slow. The progress of the story is just perfect. No more, no less. The reactions of each and every character to every plot device is not too cliche, it was as realistic as they can make it to be. Given that this was a supernatural/demon related story.

I am still in pain with how the series ended but I get it. The entire storyline kept on pointing on that direction, with multiple callbacks all throughout the series. The whole point was and is always will be how time will flow and that they are destined to be in different paths now that the causality sword was used. Their ties were severed. And Banxia knew that, that's why she asked him to spend that final day together with her, their friends and Chixue. At the end he was even able to tell his "human father" what happened.

Overall, I would say it was technically a Happy Ending for everyone. They all got to live peaceful lives. Its just that we never got to see if Xuanye and Banxia would ever be together. Its an open ending i guess since every 12 years the portal does open and now that the "flowers" are restored, thanks to the moon bugs.

Hence my heading:
Maybe our hearts will find a way, Only heaven knows
A song by Rick Price

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Honestly, I don’t even know how I managed to avoid this drama before! It’s absolutely enchanting I finished it in just a day and a half (only To sleep) The actresses were amazing and played their roles perfectly, even though I kept cursing Jung Yi Yeon for that ridiculous love blindness she had ? Anyway, the story is brilliant, even if it’s a bit confusing at times especially the way it shows secrets as memories. But I felt a strange sense of familiarity… not just because of how well each character was portrayed, but because it felt like watching different stages of one person’s thoughts, feelings, and attempts to figure themselves out. I felt so much warmth in the girls’ friendship even with all the bumps and flaws, that warmth just kept growing stronger with every moment.
I will not talk about the female actors and their characters, each of whom is literally like a particular decoration on a cake. Even though they are considered decorations, if you do not put them on, it is as if you are losing one taste bud after another on your tongue!
I really loved Park Jae Wan literally one of the biggest green flags in K-dramas, right after Yang Gwang Shik. Jung Yul… I’m sorry, but Eun Jae’s fantasies about you threw me off, and I had this strong feeling you’d suddenly show your toxic side at any moment. And Go Do Young how can someone be that annoying? I loved this drama so much. Even with its occasional gloom and over-the-top moments, I loved every emotion it made me feel. I’m really looking forward to the second season — but even if I don’t end up liking it, this first one is already one of my forever favorites, the kind I rewatch every now and then out of pure nostalgia ♥️

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Wuxia drama with great martial arts skills

It is one of the good Wuxia dramas to watch since you will watch the progress of ML from zero to master. This drama might seem slow at first, but the drama gets better and better after. The action of casts is fantastic. We can see a variety of martial arts skills from various sects. For fans of wuxia dramas, this one is a must-see.

I am amazed by how well Chengyi plays three different roles in this drama.

As Xiao Qiu Shu, his character is funny, free-spirited, and unambitious. All he does is play outside. Everyone in the family loves him so much, although he eventually has conflicts with his two older brothers. XQS experienced many hardships before becoming a great warrior. Each of his journeys was followed by challenges, while his character remained strong, upholding the principles of truth.

Li Chen Zhou is my favorite character in the drama. I can't even describe how excited I am to see him every time he appears. His white hair perfectly suits his character, who seems cruel at first glance, mysterious, and clever, yet gentle and warm at the same time. The first time seeing LCZ, many thought he might be a bad person, but it turned out he was a true warrior who was willing to make sacrifices in secret, including being poisoned by the emperor to ask for help for the sake of the people.

Xiao Ming Ming is a modern character of Chengyi. There's not much to say about this character, but his role is still excellent. I could sense the differences in each of the three characters, even though they were played by the same actor and in the same drama. Chengyi never disappoints when playing multiple characters.

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