Reviews

The Heart Killers had a fairly decent start, but that was as far as it went.

I had not intended to write anything about this series. However, after reading the comments here on MDL, I could not resist leaving at least a brief note.

The cast, or rather the four main actors, are relatively new to me. This is only the second BL series I have watched featuring them.

At the moment, I am also watching the ongoing series Dare You to Death, with Joong and Dunk, and honestly, it is far more engaging than The Heart Killers. At least the script there makes more sense and offers a storyline with some substance.

The Heart Killers had a fairly decent start, but that was as far as it went. From the middle to the end, it completely lost momentum. The script is weak, the story shallow, poorly developed, and with very little that is truly interesting.

There is an excess of overly sweet and sentimental scenes, although I do acknowledge the actors’ effort in their performances. The acting was not outstanding, but reasonably solid, especially Khaotung as Bison. I must admit that the intimate scenes between him and Kant, played by First, were excellent. They do have chemistry, without question.

That said, despite the good scenes, pleasing cinematography, and the production’s commendable effort, the script simply did not support the project in any meaningful way.

By the end, I found myself fast-forwarding through several scenes, unable to endure the dragging pace any longer. Ten episodes would have been more than enough.

I would recommend it only for the visuals, the actors, and the mildly spicy scenes.

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Fun Antics with Unexpected Depth: A Seamless Transition of Laughter and Heartache

Let me start by saying how much I’m in love with this drama. Somehow it has just the right amount of comedy, tragedy, fluff and angst; the romance here is romance-ing, the chemistry is chemisty-ing, the flow is flowing - everything is just perfect. And I absolutely love the OSTs. I understand that enjoyment is subjective and not everyone might share my sentiments but personally, I have not come across a drama which I enjoyed this much in a very long time.

This is one of the rare dramas where watching the trailer actually inspired me to watch it. I went in expecting lots of comedy and was not only not disappointed but was also pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and the characters. All the characters (both main and side) are complex and layered, and the actors did such an amazing job at bringing them to life that you can’t help but end up loving or hating them.

On that note, this was my first drama of Cheng Lei and Wang Churan as main leads and am I in love? They are such a talented and beautiful duo that I couldn’t even decide who I liked more and literally loved every second they were on screen. Not to mention the visual fest - the costumes and the styling are totally on point and simply so beautiful that I had to rewind a few times just to appreciate their beauty.

The chemistry between the main leads is also impeccable. They are balanced characters and match each other’s energy really well. I love how much they trust each other and communicate quickly to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings, and while some secrets still remained, it’s not frustrating and if you see it from the ML's POV, it's really understandable.

I didn't watch any of the other adaptations before so I went in with a pretty fresh mind, minus the very blatant spoiler the synopsis gave out but personally I feel like knowing the ML's situation made a lot of his early actions make more sense and added more depth to them, like his absolute trust in the FL, his interactions with other people, the court sessions, etc. so I can't really say I mind it.

The plot itself can come off as a bit shallow at first, but it gradually dives deeper into a darker and more complex storyline without it ever feeling too overpowering. The flow and balance are so good that the comedy and tragedy can coexist without either losing its charm.

The pacing of the story is also just perfect for me, and I was hooked from the first ep but it could be considered a little fast for some people, especially since the transmigration plot and timelines can be a bit confusing but when it all clicks, the story is really good and it gets better with each ep. I watched it while airing and every episode was worth the wait, so props to the entire production team for creating this amazing drama cuz I loved every minute of it.

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Mercy For None is a good watch for people like me - without expectations

Despite people believing the story is lacking, I enjoyed it very much. I think as long as you go into it understanding that Gi-jun is out for revenge, the story doesn't need to be spectacular or have insane twists given it won't matter to the MC.

I loved the fight scenes, but because the series is only 7 episodes the fight scenes can feel rushed, especially when getting to the end. I don't mind Gi-jun winning, I expect him to, I just wish he didn't win so fast sometimes.

I will say, I wish this was the normal 16 episodes. However, I also understand that things could drag out. I just want more, and I know I won't get anymore. I plan on reading the webtoon as well, but just know I enjoyed this very much.

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Havent seen any movie about space that hooked me up and that i enjoyed like this one.

I will start by saying that :
-Almost didnt watch this drama due to 6.5 rating
-Not a fan of any of the actors ML or SL…i do know some of them and was glad to recognize them.
-When i saw the title, trailer & critics I imagined that i will not like it and switch after 1-2 episodes.
But i gave it a try.
That to say that i really had low or no expectations...so went watching it completely blank.
And then amazing scenes from space, life in space with no gravity and shuffle, expeditions etc

Really amazing how they pulled it off!
Kudos to all the team and actors!!!

Not that i have been to space or have any major interest in it. But i kept watching cas it got me curious. And with that .. no episode was boring for me and the actors -most of them -did a fantastic job.
I would have split the ending in 2 episodes.
Not my favorite ending but if you go this way then give it your all.

There are a lot of serious themes touched -some more then others. And probably some were made lighter so it can add to the character building and overall to be diagested and not make it very heavy.

I also liked that the characters are not either white or black but rather with shadows and different kind of grey - just like in real life.
Sometimes you feel bad for the bad guy sometimes you dont agree on how the good guy reacts and so on … i liked th

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There are no words that can explain how incredible this masterpiece was!

OMG

I YOU'RE WONDERING WHETHER TO WATCH IT OR NOT, STOP WASTING YOUR TIME! GO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW! I PROMISE YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

I just finished this drama, I thought it was gonna be some kind of dark romance with trash plot but OMG HOW WRONG WAS I.

Now imagine THE PERFECT romance drama with a possessive male lead, but with a trashy plot (there are many dramas like that) BUT WITH A PLOT EVEN BETTER THAN THE ROMANCE.

With great acting and plot twists on every turn, this is truly an emotional rollercoaster! As a person who has watched 100+ dramas I can say I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT!

Just, great job to all the people involved in this amazing project!

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A toxic story for people who love toxicity without cheating.

That's it. That's all. If you love red and black flags who don't cheat. come on down. If you don't. Stay away. Too slow at times but nothing x1.5 or x2 speed won't fix.

I wish they did a mini series of the first 2 novels love syndrome 1 and 2 and the rest of the couples backstory so we could properly understand love syndrome 3, I had to go read love syndrome 1 the book to understand this series better but it's easily an enjoyable series without it.

lee long shi was perfection as day.
Long and frank had chemistry but I wish frank was more comfortable kissing long. It was awkward on his end.

I loved the friends too.
Wish more black flags series like this were being made like this.

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The art of fake life!!

The series was very good. It presented the events gradually to make understanding easier for the viewer, moving between past events such as Sarah Kim's life nd how she managed to create her own brand, nd present events such as the identity of the victim's body—whose was it? Someone else's, or Sarah's own? Who killed her nd why?

As the story progressed, we understood everything, with the message : when someone chooses to do wrong things to have a better nd more luxurious life, that life won't last forever. Instead, it will lead to serious problems +that wealth nd luxury were just fleeting pleasures. A person must work hard nd be patient, to achieve a lasting nd better result. This is what happened to Sarah Kim, in the end she lost everything.

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A Surprisingly Sharp Rebirth Drama with Heart

This short film stands out for its fast pacing, bold character dynamics, and unexpectedly thoughtful take on agency and partnership. What I enjoyed most was how the female lead is written with intelligence and decisiveness—she doesn’t rely on luck or romance alone, but on planning, boundaries, and resolve. That sense of control feels refreshing in a genre that often leans too heavily on coincidence.

The chemistry between the leads is another highlight. Their banter adds humor and warmth, balancing out the heavier emotional moments and power struggles. The film also weaves in ideas about effort, self-determination, and growth in a way that feels motivating rather than preachy.

That said, the film can feel a bit rushed at times. Some emotional turns happen so quickly that they don’t always have room to breathe, and a few side characters feel more symbolic than fully developed. Still, this is partly a limitation of the short-film format rather than a flaw in intent.

Overall, it’s an entertaining and engaging watch—especially for viewers who enjoy strong female leads, redemption arcs, and stories that emphasize choice over fate.

Lessons/ teachings/ memorable quotes:
1) "Fate is something you fight for."
Teaching: Don’t accept your “destiny” as fixed. You can change your outcome by taking action.
Quotes: “A person’s fate is in their own hands.”

2) Prejudice is hard to overcome, but not impossible
Teaching: People’s opinions can feel impossible to change, but you can still climb over them with proof and results.
Quote: “Prejudice in people’s hearts is a mountain.”

3) Don’t tolerate mistreatment—set boundaries early
Teaching: If you keep giving in, people will treat you as weak and push harder.
Quote: “A little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment.”

4) Revenge/justice mindset
Teaching: If someone ruins you, don’t let it slide—prepare and strike back smartly.
Quotes: “If you don’t nip it in the bud, it will grow back.”

5) Think ahead and protect yourself strategically
Teaching: Don’t only react—plan for risks, remove leverage from enemies.
Examples taught through actions: "pulling back dowry/resources so the 'prosperity' collapses without her."

6) Evidence matters more than loud accusations
Teaching: Don’t accept “black and white” claims blindly—test them.
Quotes/ lines: “Even criminals have the opportunity to defend themselves.” (argument used in the scene)

Relationship and character lessons
7) Respect is earned through loyalty and protection
Teaching: The person who stands up for you publicly shows real value.
Story-teaching moments: "husband shields her during her homecoming conflict."

8) “Don’t compare yourself to others.”
Teaching: Competing out of insecurity makes you miserable.
Quote: “Sister, you can’t compare yourself to others. You can’t be so competitive.”

9) Don’t believe sweet talk—watch behavior
Teaching: “Love vows” can be fake; actions show truth.
Quote: “Men are all spineless; what they can’t have is always the best.”
(This is presented as a cynical “teaching” from the scheming mother.)

10) “You can’t hit a smiling face.”
Teaching: Staying calm and respectful can soften conflict and protect you socially.
Quote: “As the saying goes, you can’t hit a smiling face.”

Learning/studying/exam lessons
11) Studying changes your status and power
Teaching: In that world, passing the exam is a ladder out of being looked down on.
Key idea repeated: “Study and pass the imperial examinations” as the strategy to break the deadlock.

12) You can be capable but still choose not to show it
Teaching: Sometimes, hiding your talent is protection.
Example lesson: “It’s not whether I can pass… it’s whether I want to,” because passing makes him a threat.

13) Test-taking advice (direct teaching)
Quotes: “Once inside, don’t panic! Calm down and try your best to answer the questions.”
“Even if you encounter questions you don’t know, fill the entire test paper!”

14) Great talents mature late
Teaching: A late bloomer can still become great.
Quote: “Great talents mature late.”

Social / power lessons in families and politics
15) Money = leverage, and removing it changes the whole game
Teaching shown through action: Once she retrieves her dowry and stops subsidizing, the “main house” weakens fast.

16) Public reputation controls people
Teaching: Nobles fear scandal more than fairness; use that against them.
Lines that show the idea: fear of “outsiders will think…”

17) “If you overstep, you get targeted.”
Teaching: In a toxic household, competence can provoke backlash—so you need backup plans.

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Lost me along the way.

I loved this drama, and I hated this drama. So- I loved the Wang - Wang couple chemistry- both as a couple and as two people getting past things in life. I LOVED the young child actor. He brought so much to this drama! I did not care for either of the other couples. They seemed just there to balance out the drama only they were not compelling enough. Cute? Yes. Compelling? No. The whole drama just seemed out of whack. It really was a commentary on women's' struggles in life only they didn't lean fully into that. Instead it couldn't make up it's mind and got lost along the way.

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Just consider it don't exist

Ignore it if you loved the fist season, it's just bad. The emotionnal aspect, the character development are not there anymore.

Beshie is just an insufferable character who the core personnality is to complain about others for anything or simple jokes, the "joke are fun except if it target the LGBT community" mentality, self-centered and wanting to educate (forcing is a better word) everyone about his ideology...

Che, initially want to get Rocky back with her, without knowing he's with Judah, is actually the only moment where you see interraction between Judah and Rocky, because of course Ju is not okay about Che flirthing with his man.

But after that, the show only focus is about the strange couple between Kulas, Beshie and Che and let Ju and Rocky behind.

Ending is awfull, two people who are together, loving earch other, showing no emotions when they will go apart for a long time and maybe forever.

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A breath of fresh air

I just finished watching the 10th episode. I have to say that this show is honestly a breath of fresh air. I feel like most Chinese historical dramas these days always focus on the revenge plot line or just a super serious plot, and while I do like those storylines as well, it does get old. For instance, the drama that is currently airing alongside this one is called Jade wind. And that one seems to follow along the same type of plot that we have just seen over and over so I'm not really very into that show much even though I do love the actors. However, this show is very fresh and fun. I know the whole (falling into the book)has been done before, but somehow this is being done in a fresh way and I love how the leads were together from literally the first episode and we didn't have to build up to it. There's just a mutual trust between them which I think is beautiful. It's not too heavy and depressing like a lot of the Chinese dramas these days. There's humor in there. It's kept very light-hearted, most of the time, and I don't know there's just something about it that is really fresh. Not to mention the costumes are beautiful.Especially the female leads costumes.They are 10 out of 10 for me.You can tell this was a big budget drama and I am loving it. The male lead I have seen in many other dramas and always loved him. But I really think that after my journey to you, this is his next best performance. I love how he is basically playing 2 characters. The serious king and then the goofy partner of the female lead, he switches up so well and I love that. Yeah, I just really have nothing bad to say about this drama at all. Every episode has me hooked and Honestly, it's rare for me to feel happy when watching a Chinese drama because like I said, usually they are more revenge plot based, so I'm like so invested in the characters getting their revenge and killing the bad guys, etc. So I wouldn't say that I feel happy while watching those dramas while I do love them, but with this one i feel happy while watching and then waiting for the next episode. The last show that mademe feel like that was "yummy yummy yummy" that was my comfort drama while it aired lol But yeah , this drama just feels lighthearted, fun and fresh , and I can already tell this will be one of my top favorite dramas of all time. 😊

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My view on the characters and story

The story is a bit cliché, but I don't think it is bad. I like that they show different characters who have different growth. I like that it talks about the bad things in relationships and not just fluffy everyone is always happy.

I already had some longer discussions about the characters in the comment section (I am normally not that opinionated, but some things did bother me a bit).



About the characters (of course this is just my point of view and my opinion), this will have spoilers:

P'Toh: I want to start with him because I think he is the most complex, but also because I saw some comments that confused me the most. Some seem to think of him as simply annoying and that as the "older" (adult) person he should be more mature and not that "stupid", he should simply have listened to others and that at the end it's his own choice and fault for falling for Jimmy.

P'Toh is the embodiment of pure, untainted innocence, making him a primary target for exploitation. At an age where most have become cynical, he remains sheltered, naive and soft, viewing the world with a sincerity that lacks any natural defense mechanisms. He is a true victim, and the argument that he chose his suffering is a fundamental misunderstanding of the psychological trap he was in. P'Toh was systematically dismantled by love bombing, a flood of manufactured affection that blinded his judgment, followed by intermittent reinforcement. This later showen "push-pull dynamic" creates a powerful emotional situation, by the time Jimmys cruelty surfaced, P'Toh was already trauma-bonded, desperately trying to find the kind person he first met. He didn't choose to be hurt, he was methodically manipulated by a person he was never equipped to defend himself against. I am happy to see that he chose to walk away at the end, but am also sadly aware that he will most likely forgive Jimmy in the end...

Jimmy: Jimmy is far more dangerous than a simple "player". He is a predator who operates with a hollow ego and an extreme lack of empathy. While a player might be non-committed, a predator like Jimmy is intentional. He identified P'Tohs innocence as a vulnerability and strategically exploited it as a bridge to first reach P'Fah and later hurt Teh. Jimmy knows exactly how to flip the script, using Toh for physical gratification and then intentionally labeling him clingy or annoying to maintain total psychological dominance. His cruelty is absolute because it is calculated, he doesn't view Toh as a human being with feelings, but as a tool to be used and discarded once its utility is gone. He doesn't lack realization of his feelings (like some seem to say) he lacks the humanity to value others.

Teh: I think, Teh is more a player in the classic sense, he lacks the predatory calculation of Jimmy. He is a person driven by a flawed search for connection, repeatedly pursuing people in hopes of finding "the one," only to realize the spark is gone once the chase ends (creating a trail of (un)intentional hurt). Unlike Jimmy, he doesn't lie to his partners or lead them on once he realizes his heart isn't in it. He is a protective brother who cares deeply for P'Toh, often warning him about the dangers of the world. While he is flawed, espacially in his decision to hide his relationship with P'Fah out of fear of conflict, his actions are driven by a search for genuine connection rather than a desire to control or hurt others. He is a someone caught between his own fickle heart and his genuine loyalty to those he loves.

P'Fah: In my opinion P'Fah is the most socially intelligent member of the group, he is someone who knows his value and uses his high standards as a shield. He is far from innocent, he understands how the game of attraction works and isn't afraid to use strategy to protect his own heart. I clearly think his "only once" rule with Teh was a calculated tactic, a way to challenge Tehs pattern of getting bored and force him to actually invest emotionally. P'Fah serves as the check and balance of the story; he is the only one with the maturity to recognize Jimmy behavior from the start making him comletly uninterested. While he is a strategist, his intentions are protective, he uses his insight to help Teh grow and to provide the clarity needed to save P'Toh from Jimmys toxic web.

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those blinking xmas lights were my brain cells dying while watching this

Overall: the first 2 episodes were so bad they were funny, but episode 3 was not enjoyable to watch at all nor was a lot of what happened after. 8 episodes about 30 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/tide-of-love-2-episode-1-q7bb46xfuk?lang=en_us and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6193/tide-of-love-2025-s02e01 (not available in the Americas, Spain, Portugal, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or Korea) Here is my review of season 1 https://kisskh.at/profile/blcompilations/review/512672

Content Warnings: drugging, sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, slap, manipulation, past intimate partner abuse, rape? (it did not look consensual at the time), violence, drugging

What I Liked
- unintentionally hilarious in the first 2 episodes, wth was that ankle bracelet thing
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- episode 3 was full on intimate partner abuse, preventing him from taking his class, taking his phone away (isolation is a classic abuser tactic), tracking him, chaining him without consent/refusing to let him leave the house, that slap, ugh, none of it was sexy or fun to watch
- mismatched kissing, one guy went all in and the other kept his lips shut (even during times when he allegedly enjoyed it)
- I don't normally take off points for production value for indie series, but this is egregiously low budget feeling with so many continuity errors
- practically had a mustache twirling villain (with super zoomed in close ups of his "alcoholic" beverage)
- love rival
- worst "punch" ever
- that drugging

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