To be human vs an immortal
Simple story about immortal beings and the main male lead wanting to be human.The execution is well enough for a C-drama that I'm not fussed with the story. It did kind of rush the ending a bit and well no spoilers but it kind of felt like cheating at the end but you'll see what I mean when you watch it. There is flashbacks near the end and I mean too much flashbacks so I had to skip those. There's also a lot of irrelevant closure like some characters they're so useless that's it better to not even bother talking about them later.
The antagonist, easy to tell so there was no shocking revelations.
In my opinion "The Boys" makes a better series because it goes into a gritty world and straight through the jugular. I kind of imagine if the script writer was inspired by "The Boys" this series could have been a 10/10 for me because I can only imagine how much more gritty I would make this series and explore the core concept of this series in that nature.
Overall though the story is decent enough that it doesn't sway away from the theme but a bit too light for me to fully say it's a great story. It's a predictable Chinese script.
Fighting like I'm more into Jackie Chan style which means good fight scenes. This is about immortal beings so expect sky fairy style of fighting so lots of CGI is involved sometimes it clearly is bad CGI. There's not much choreography like it's weak but the focus of this series was never about the fighting and I'm a big time action fella so I love series and movies with lots of fight scenes and how much effort the actors put in which is very tiring like Ever Night season 1 has really good fight scenes while having like powers involved.
So I give the fighting a 3/10 and this is because when you see the most powerful immortals fight it doesn't feel GRAND. I'll say anime is possibly the best to see how grand you can make fights like even Hero Academia the fight was just like making me tear up because of how well they did it even against all odds just that struggle and the grand nature of fighting a more insanely powerful individual.
In this and most c-drama it's just weak like you can't be serious and say the end fights were any good. I would even say one fight they cheap out so hard they made the same things between both of the greats that I was like wow this was so underwhelming so that's it?
Once again fighting is not the focus of this series so I gave it a big pass but if it was about like Hero Academia style of story this would have ended up a 4/10 series for me.
The acting and cast like both main leads loved them and it's not really a lovey dovey series so I like the vibe of the tease I guess. The ending is also nice too and I really enjoyed a potential setup for further season 2 if they dive in.
One thing I will say there wasn't much supporting characters I really felt attached to so I think the script didn't do much of them justice and fact is when you fail at that the whole "here's their backstory" it kind of all falls apart. There's some shows that introduce supporting characters that I feel sad when they kill them off or I'm interested in their backstory and I just didn't get that vibe here so most of the time I wanted to just see the progression of the main leads rather than all these other support cast.
I did really enjoy the story about human kind preserving knowledge like that ain't no spoiler but it reminds me of historically like countries like South Korea vs Japan and what the Japanese did back then.
Good watch, had a good time. Would have been excellent if it was similar vibes to The Boys and just more gritty and heart wrenching. Ended on a good theme and if there's a season 2 I would love to see more from the main leads.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fun but a little long
There was nothing particularly wrong with this show, it was just a little long in my opinion for what it was. It was cute and fun and loved the characters, just a little repetitive. I loved the cast and was happy to see PerthSanta in something.Pobmek deserved more credit than he got for taking care of Sun/Solar the entire time. That is so much on someone. I know he had help but it was mainly on him and I think he deserves major props for sticking with it all that time. I loved seeing his growth over the season with the kids and learning that he loved being a teacher.
Sun was so adorable even if he was a bit of a troublemaker sometimes. He really brought so many of the funny moments in the series. Solar was really fun too. I loved how caring and loving he was. I'm glad he got to figure things in his past as well.
Jee annoyed me I'm not going to lie. He was just a little too weird for me in moments, but he was really helpful with everything.
Sodhuen might be my favorite character, either her or Pobmeck. I just loved her. She is so fun and caring, and I was so happy she got to the permanent principal at the end. She loved the school and the kids so much so I'm glad she gets to keep that role. She was a lot of help as well with the Sun situation.
The kids all made the show more enjoyable. I think they really helped carry the show to be honest. They were so fun and loveable. I loved the two boy friends and the three girl friends so much! The kids all did a great job with the acting as well!
The idea of the show is fun, and I do think they executed it well. I liked how it ended and loved that Sun wasn't there for the finale and just focused on how Pobmeck and Solar are doing after the fact. I do think they brushed over the fact Sun was abused pretty quickly. They kind of just blamed it on depression and moved on, but that kind of happens a lot so I wasn't shocked by that. Overall, it was fun and I enjoyed it.
Loved all the outfits in this too!
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Underwhelming (but not as disappointing as KPOP Demon Hunters)
Wonderfools aspires to a kind of narrative grandeur it never quite earns, settling instead for being intermittently entertaining when it isn’t busy circling its own indecision. The reliably lauded veteran cast deliver precisely what one expects of them (competence bordering on autopilot), though one suspects they’ve been given far more credit than the material warrants. For a series so eager to flirt with superpowered ambition, its central conflict feels almost embarrassingly underdeveloped, reducing potentially harrowing themes (fractured childhoods, moral divergence) into little more than decorative angst. Most disappointing of all is its villain, whose supposed grand vision lacks both scale and cunning, rendering the entire enterprise curiously small despite its inflated self-image.That said, one could do far worse. In an entertainment landscape that occasionally mistakes incoherence for ambition (KPOP Demon Hunters being a particularly egregious not so recent example), Wonderfools, at least, understands the basic virtue of watchability. It may never transcend its own limitations, but it remains consistently engaging and, at times, genuinely funny in ways that feel earned rather than accidental. Faint praise, perhaps, but praise nonetheless.
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Story of the Ages
Insane palace politics with high stakes and a slow burn that absolutely slow burned but when it started to burn, it was like a raging inferno. Majestic OSTs paired with masterful storytelling of reincarnation, this is fight to take back one's own destiny.Ning is just trying to redeem herself and get away from the morbid drama that caused the downfall of her last life, yet she is too smart and headstrong to stay out of it. She's an imperfect FL who's resentful, selfish, and ambitious but you can't help but root for her. It makes sense why everyone keeps falling for her because she's being her authentic self.
Here comes the star of the show, the batshit insane son of a bitch, Xi Wei. Never have I met such an unhinged and cunning character AND he's the ML. I love it. To me, it was so obvious that he had feelings for her from the beginning. He is definitely the fall first and harder, and never let go type. He just makes sense with Ning. Their insanity matches.
A breathtaking tale of revenge and redemption, not one episode was boring. While the romance was slow to develop, it made sense since both characters are too crafty to fall head in first. But believe me, once they (more so Xi Wei) took that first step, they dove off that cliff. Just craziness all around, one of my favorite dramas of all time.
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Hilarious and fun!
I thought this series was going to be bad, maybe because Cashero which had a somewhat similar regular people suddenly get super powers plot didn't click with me at all or just the vibes the poster gave me, a little bit of both, maybe.To be 100% honest, the main reason I watched the first episode was to see Cha Eunwoo, I thought I'd watch 1 episode to see him and then drop it, probably because of this train of thought I was a bit bored at first, but about 3/4 into the the episode it clicked, it's not only good but it is hilarious!!I laughed out loud a lot, and spent the whole 8 episodes giggling, it's just so good, not per, not excellent but still a pretty fun drama, with some great twists.
The super powers are so cool! Especially on the villains side, and the actors were so good, really the entire cast is fantastic, although I don't agree with people that say that Cha Eunwoo can't act, I do admit that he's not good, he's just OK, mostly looks I know, unfortunately that fact is highlighted by the fact that the other 3 are so damn good, but it still works somehow, where he might be lacking the others shine, and it's so funny to watch them act together.
To keep this short, Park Eunbin is a goddess, Robin on the heroes side and Huran on the Villains side were my favorites and although I am perfectly happy with this being a one season miniseries, I would gladly watch a second season if it happens.
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A true masterpiece and absolutely worth watching
Perfect Crown truly became one of those dramas I know I’ll carry with me for a very long time.Waiting every Friday and Saturday for new episodes turned into such a comforting routine for me, which honestly made watching the finale even more bittersweet. As excited as I was for the last two episodes, there was also this quiet sadness knowing I had to say goodbye to these characters and this story.
Tv shows have always been a huge form of escapism for me. Since I was younger, they’ve been my way of fully diving into another world for a while.. feeling every emotion alongside the characters, forgetting reality for a moment and just letting myself get completely immersed in a story. And Perfect Crown did exactly that.
From the acting to the chemistry, the emotions, the storytelling, the soundtrack… every single episode felt magical. Having some of my favorite actors in one drama already raised my expectations, but somehow this series still exceeded them. I laughed, cried, stressed, smiled and genuinely felt so connected to every moment.
What I loved most is that the drama never felt empty or forced. Every scene carried emotion, warmth and meaning. And the ending? Honestly perfect. It gave closure while still leaving behind that emotional ache that only truly special dramas can create.
For me, this is easily one of the best K-Dramas of the year, maybe even one of my all-time favorites. It feels like one of those stories you revisit years later just to feel something again.
A true masterpiece and absolutely worth watching. 🤍
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Seriously underrated
Honestly one of the best mafia / underworld BL drama I've watched so far. The storyline isn't perfect but still holds better than most shows that aren't essentially focused on romance (e.i. goddess bless you from death - which I really liked - but the plot construction and investigation make no sense at all).It is more brutal and action based than most dramas as well - I liked it for this, and it also, for once, was quite well done. for those who worry about how violent it can be, there are some tough moments but I still remains quite watchable of you compare it to US series.
The romance is well acted and the chemistry is there. As opposed to many other shows the pacing is that strange - but it's true that there aren't that many intimate moments. Of course I wished we had a little more happy moments to witness between them !
Overall, would really recommend watching!
SPOILER PARTS
Now what I thought about the story and characters.
About the general plot - it holds quote well together but there are some inconsistencies, and moments where things make no sense. One of the first moment like that for me was when he was in prison, and when they saved Mei. For the latter, when the cops came, they could have 100% tried to take her back but just stood there shouting at each other whereas they totally had the manpower.
Another thing I didn't really understand is how the elder brother completely disappears out of the story once he's hospitalize.
Finally, Mei is quite annoying - she doesn't hold a grudge to Peace at all in the last episode, but is mad at her brother and quite unbearable throughout the whole thing. It could be explained by trauma but she's quite normal with everyone else, so it just doesn't hold up and overall renders her quite frustrating.
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Boring and without ending
It's started quite ok. The FL was quirky and the ML royal. But then it got worse and worse.I wasn't interested in the final two episodes.
There's no interesting problems. While there are background stories to old the characters they are rather soppy and do little to progress the story. The villains could have better reasons for their actions. As it is their reasons are so predictable and boring there's no interest left for the final episodes.
Wasted potential.
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This review may contain spoilers
Perfect CHEMISTRY for the not so PERFECT Storyline
This was one of my most highly anticipated dramas ever since the casting choices were first announced. Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous projects of both IU and Byeon Woo-seok, to say I was thrilled for this series would be a massive understatement. Furthermore, a romantic comedy set in a modern-day monarchy featuring a contract marriage trope sounded like an absolute jackpot. However, whether the show actually delivered remains highly questionable.I genuinely appreciated numerous aspects of the production, most notably the stunning cast, their palpable chemistry, and their stellar performances. That being said, the narrative completely fell flat during the second half of the series. The political subplots were not only poorly executed, but they also left a multitude of loose ends untied by the finale. Cramming in too many plot twists solely for dramatic effect ultimately stripped away the emotional depth of the story's progression. Before viewers were granted enough time to fully process a subplot, it was abruptly swept under the rug as the narrative rushed to the next conflict.I strongly believe the creators should have extended this into a standard 16-episode series. The world-building felt incredibly underwhelming, as did the motivations of most characters,particularly the antagonists. Even after being repeatedly targeted, the protagonists never proactively attempted to unmask the masterminds, instead going about their daily lives as if nothing had occurred. In all honesty, I occasionally felt as though I were watching a high budget vertical drama where the plot progresses at breakneck speed but lacks any real substance.Ironically, the only widespread complaints I encountered online regarded the lead actors chemistry, yet I personally found their onscreen chemistry to be one of the finest I have ever witnessed in Kdramaland. Their compelling dynamic and powerful acting were the primary reasons I persevered through to the end. I sincerely hope a director casts them together again in a future, heavily plot driven project.
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Hybrid Chaebol-Historical-Fiction Kitsch
Who wants nowadays another standard chaebol story? Well, the combination with fictional historical style is not standard, but everything else has been shown 1000 times and more already. However it is fair: the kitschy title says all, so if you do not like this kind of kitsch, then you should not watch. Myself I had to fight to keep watching, Because of the story I was almost throwing every five minutes. I endured it in order to enjoy the acting of IU and some other actors; all of them are very good matches (yes a prince is supposed to be expressionless and dumb, what else?), as expected, the whole team is highly professional, they are not joking around. The music is excellent and worth listening to outside the drama, too. The only part of the writing that I liked were the two episodes where the writer seemed to embrace the irony towards the historical type of drama. Unfortunately that part ended fast and the banality filled everything else. After seeing it all, I think that I wasted my time. IU played in dramas that are more worth watching than this one. Go for them, if you have time!Was this review helpful to you?
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The King who didn't like the kingdom
It was a great series. I watched it with great interest. Initially starting as a romantic comedy, the series later turned into a mystery. Events within the royal family became the focus. We saw those who wanted to kill the King and the Prince, the plans made against them, and the palace wars. It was very enjoyable. It was intriguing.In the end, those who attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince were punished as they deserved.The King's first act was to abolish the monarchy.Finding such a subject and portraying it beautifully is a skill. Therefore, I congratulate the screenwriters and director. They portrayed it beautifully. I liked it. As I said, I didn't expect to see anything like this at the beginning. The acting was weak, the performances were poor. Only the visuals were emphasized. Later, when these mysterious palace conflicts began, the series improved and ended beautifully. I initially found the actors bland. But later, I got used to them. I embraced them. IU was an actress I liked. Her presence was enough. Byeon Woo Seok is a model-like boy. The filming focused especially on this aspect. He was prominent for his good looks. Steve Noh was very successful. He was the kind of actor you'd expect. In my opinion, Gong Seung Yeon was the star of this drama. She was the best actress. She acted very sincerely. She portrayed both good and evil very well. She conveyed the pain well. I really liked it. In my opinion, she gave an award-winning performance. Yoo So Bin was very successful. Well done. Lee Yeon was very successful. Well done. I also really liked Lee Jae Won. I recommend it to those who haven't seen it.
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Rewatched 5 times after it aired
Years ago, when this started airing I watched it while it was airing and at the time, bl's were still really upcoming. After it, this series has became a comfort series of mine. Even if many stuff is outdated like gay people not being able to get married or jokes and behaviour that are considered pretty cringe these days.One of my absolute favourite things about dmd is that music is peak, and we trust Nunew for sure. I love his voice and the OST might be one of my all time favourite songs. I can genuinely listen to ไอ้คนน่ารัก for 3 hours on repeat without getting bored of it.
It's zeenunew's first series and that makes it even cuter to my opinion. Nunew being a fan of Zee and ending up as one of the most successful pairs is insane in my opinion. I remember Zee being in Why are you paired with Saint. One of the things I do have to mention though is that I'm absolutely sick and tired of Dmd having Nunew play a role as someone who lived in the UK?? I'm rlly tired of this but Ig I have to blame newer series and not his first 'uk student' one (aka cutie pie).
When it was airing I couldn't stand Kuea at all, which I don't get at all?? Like I absolutely love Kuea nowadays. I was probably tired of his 'cute' behaviour but the whole point of the series is that he acts different than who he actually is. The tops acting mysterious and nonchalant around their fiancé's is the funniest thing ever. I love how they do a lot of their actions on purpose. Like Kilen teasing Kuea for nooo ass reason and Kuea taking it very personal.
A small detail I love is that Kuea calls Lian 'Hia', if you don't know why just search it up but it has to do with Thai/Chinese people. Can we talk about the friendship between Kuea and Thacha?? I feel like it used to be more common for Thai bl series to add 2 main best friends who had love interests who were also friends but maybe it's just me. Anyways, their friendship is adorable and I love how they know each others limits. Tbh reminds me of one of my best friends, just waiting for my future bf to arrive bro.
Kuea's friend group in general, talking about his fellow classmates, is like a safe space bro. No matter how many times I watched Cutie Pie, they stay soooo comforting. I also fell in love with TutorYim because of this series. At first you expect Nuer to have a crush on Kuea but whether or not he actually did, idk man. I love Nuer with Syn. Their characters are sooo cute together and one of the first pairs that I mainly loved. Sinsamoe being Buddhistic is hilarious and as a Buddhistic person it's not offensive at all. I think he's sooo cute.
You know the series is gonna be good when Perth Nakhun is a side character!! Loved gemini/jay for lowkey helping everyone from everyone's side. And I love how he was basically body guarding Kuea and sometimes Khondiao aswell. He was so funny but brought the characters, especially Kuea to realisations. Which I rllyyyy liked about Jay.
The more I watch this series how more I understand Kilen. Like he was not interested in Kuea or at least didn't show it at first BUT the more Kuea showed himself the more in love he became. I kinda hated episode 11 for having Kuea deny the proposal because even though I do get Kuea for refusing since he didn't trust Kilen I do also think he should've thought a bit more in dept about the situation if it's just me.
One of the Bl I genuinely suggest to beginners, 100% that I'll keep rewatching it every 2/3 years.
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Love, loyalty and everything in between.
Before I even begin, I rate this a 1000000/10. Anything that has me geeking out, smiling ear to ear, and kicking my feet up and down is automatically a must-watch show. From the way the actors portrayed the characters and their chemistry with each other—and I’m not only talking about Grand Prince I-AN and Seong Hui Ju—the cast delivered something truly special.The Seong family really brought out how people who love each other can still hurt one another when they don’t know how to properly express that love, yet still show up, help, and support each other when it truly matters. Kim Eun Ho, who plays the role of the young king, perfectly showed why children should be allowed to be children without carrying the burdens placed on them by family members. “IT'S OKAY FOR CHILDREN TO DISAPPOINT THEIR PARENTS.”
This drama was a culmination of striving, perseverance, loyalty, sacrifice, difficult choices, betrayal, warped entitlement, and the importance of actually showing up for the people you love. It covered modern-day views on monarchy, arranged marriages, greed, love, one-sided love, and legacies meant to be upheld. It was a beautiful story, perfectly brought to life.
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Pure enjoyment
Enjoyed too much to nitpick. Favorite IU role. BSJ is A dream king. Assistants were wonderful. Packed ensemble cast. I was confused when I saw the aggregate score and glanced at some of the other ratings. This is soooo good. Premise is interesting. Biggest difficulty was the 2/week release and Hulu with commercials. Still - Best Korean drama 2026 for me.Was this review helpful to you?
