Reviews

Light hearted drama with a green flag male lead!

I thought it was a bit different from other time travel dramas where only one of the leads go back in time, but this took back an entire family. Their dynamics were fun to watch. (A shame that they didn't keep their memory of going back, that's the only issue with the ending I have got.)

Apart from that, the script follow the basic plot of time travel drama so it was nothing out of the ordinary, for me, Li Yun Rui was the star here. He was so damn perfect for this role. Had it not been for him, this would have been more like one those mini dramas.

Thankfully, we have Li Yun Rui leading this, so I knew it wouldn't drop the ball in terms of acting, this gave me a chance to appreciate Wang Ying Lu as an actor. I might seek out some of her dramas as well now, especially When Destiny Brings the Demon.

The ending was as expected, for once I hoped that they gave us more than this simple and then they met again in modern times excuse.

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" Yummy Yummy Yummy — Tasty Beginnings, Slow Endings "

I just finished watching Yummy Yummy Yummy and wanted to share my thoughts from my personal vantage point.

✅ What worked for me

Fresh and fun starting premise

"Modern Shen family accidentally time-travels to ancient Yong’an, turning a promo shoot into a fun food adventure — mixing modern flavors and personalities with a historical touch, it feels fresh and fun. The setup of the family trying to survive/time-travel/adapt suited my mood for something not too intense.”

Mouth-watering food scenes

“In the early episodes, the focus on cooking and food really stands out as the Shen family uses modern knowledge to adapt to the past. With snacks like jianbing and other street foods, the drama even has a bit of a ‘food porn’ charm. If you enjoy mouth-watering visuals in period dramas, this part truly delivers.”

❌ What didn’t quite land for me

Slow pace & shifting focus

“The first 10–12 episodes truly deliver on novelty—food, modern-meets-ancient moments, and family fun. But as the story progresses, it slows down and shifts toward heavier plotlines, losing some of that initial charm. The romance also doesn’t pick up until around episode 30, so if you’re expecting early love scenes, the wait might feel long."

Characters: uneven execution

The male lead (ML) character: Cool, handsome, talented — standard for this genre, and he does his job. The female lead (FL): Starts strong — smart, proactive, the one carrying her family. But as the drama progresses, her decisions (or indecisions) in the romance/avoidance arc dragged her character for me.

The rest of the family: I share your frustration. The father-son “airhead” duo, the mother constantly blaming father, the granddaughter’s whining-eating – these characters felt exaggerated, annoying at times, almost cartoonish. While that can work in broad comedy, for my tastes the balance tipped too far into “annoying” rather than charming.

Romantic payoff & chemistry

If you’re watching for a strong, early-on romance, this might disappoint. The “romance” only becomes prominent much later, The time-travel/ancestor trope adds weirdness, which complicates the romance instead of simply making it sweet.

Plot logic & bugs

The family’s modern knowledge advantage is sometimes overstated; the big mystery substance behind the ML’s secret is introduced but feels undercooked.

🔍 A few extra thoughts & “tips”

Viewing tip: Don’t go in expecting a serious historical drama. Think of it more as a food-time-travel comedy with light romance. That mindset will help you avoid disappointment when the logic loosens.

Character tip: Focus on the FL’s arc and the ML’s quieter moments; skip over some of the more “family chaos” scenes if they get too grating.

Food scenes: Enjoy them. Pause if you must for screenshots of dishes! The food aspect is one of the high points.

Patience for romance: If you’re watching primarily for the romantic storyline, be aware you'll need to invest time (maybe 20+ episodes) before it truly gets going.

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Good overall slightly annoyed because of Situ Ling

Situ Ling idolizes the female lead to the point of an unhealthy obsession.

To give you an analogy. He is like that one super fan who has an overly excessive passion towards the person he idolizes to the point that he is willing to do anything and everything to get that person’s attention . It feels more obsessive and creepy instead of selfless and caring . He doesn’t respect female’s leads decisions and actively goes against her will despite rejections.



It put the female lead in an uncomfortable situation where she has to feel bad for him, because he constantly puts himself in harms way for the female lead. He constantly shoves himself to her. He is just— in my subjective opinion very annoying and insufferable.

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Frustratingly Beautiful

This show is frustrating to watch. Your ability to finish it depends on how well you can tolerate Eun Jung being repeatedly manipulated by her toxic childhood friend, Sang Yeon, throughout various periods of her life. Some cosmic force seems to keep bringing these two back together for the worse. The obvious solution would be to cut all ties, but then it would only be a three-episode series—and we can’t have that, can we?

It’s easy to hate Sang Yeon, but to me, she was equally pitiful because of the struggles she endured. I was deeply invested in whether she would ever find her moment of happiness. I really like shows that portray a character’s entire life, and it’s done here with Sang Yeon.

The show addresses some heavy topics related to Sang Yeon's family situation that I did not expect.

The big C is in this show (not a spoiler), and although it is not original, the acting involving it was a masterclass that brought me to tears.

Lastly, the soundtrack stood out to me. The three vocal tracks by Seori are so good.

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I watched it without expectations but turns out it's so good?
I dont get the snake plot, but the romance is romancing 🤣🤣

Red flag perverted male lead top, Chi Cheng, and naive crybaby bottom, Wu Suo Wei, is such a delight. Their journey to be a couple isn't smooth but it's such a bittersweet story.
Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei relationship with their bestfriend is a good addition to the whole story.
The bestfriends, Chengyu and Xiaoshuai, is the second couple and worth to watch too. The dynamics is so interesting.

Alsoooo, the bts. Damn. Watch the bts, people! The BTS is funny, more spicy in some scenes and feel like a fan-service to the fans😂😂😂

All in all, RL deserved the hype. Who would have thought a low budgeted series would blow up and up to this day, fans still can't move on?

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Is it worth to watch?

YES. The first BL series with the whole ABO elements. Unlike PittBabe, Desire is a true abo drama settings. Alpha, Omega, Beta, Enigma and their rut/heats/scents/pheromons etc, they stay true to the classic abo world.
They also have mpreg, and that subtle baby bumps (it's so cute).
The story itself is okayish, manipulative boyfriend and stalker behaviour of Huayong, kinda "forcing" himself to his crush Sheng Shaoyou. In the novel, HY is depicted as a black flag, cause he doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who stands in his way to get SSY. He even SA his so-called true love and continue deceiving him.
Even when SSY got pregnant, HY didn't come clean about all the things enigma could do to alpha, like got him preggy and turns his rut into heat. Basically turning an alpha to omega. It was too late anyway, SSY has been "tamed" in a way, due to the nature of enigma (the strongest of them all) and him being preggy changed everything (relying on HY for a soothing pheromones, permanent mark means they're partner for live etc).

As for the 2nd CP, oh my god it was too frustrated to watch. How could S-Class Alpha be so dumbed like Wenlang? and Gao Tu, albeit he's sweet and kind, didn't even try to communicate clearly with his longtime crush. They both at fault. They made me feel like I could just sit them down and explain everything to them so they could just move on to the happily-ever-after lives.

And the ending? Damn. They skipped a lot. We don't get to see SSY pregnancy taking a toll on him, how confused and embarassed he is, also just a few glimpse of Gao Lele in the end😭😭😭
WL and GT didnt even clear their misunderstanding.
I suggest you all to read the novel instead to soothe your broken hearts due to that ending scene.

Li Pei En, Huang Xing, and Qiu Dingjie acting is good, but Jiang Heng could learn a lot more (heard it's his first drama). Also, sometimes they cut the scene awkwardly. With a big budget as they say, the quality could be improve too (the settings or the story).

It may be not the best BL drama but still phenomenal. Afterall, it's a Chinese series with a pregnant man. Applause to the whole crew and actors of ABO Desire❤️

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THREE Routes to romance.

This show is better than its premise. I started watching because I like romances with less than enthusiastic roommates. I watched through three times because the secondary couples are FANTASTIC. Part of the comedy of the show is that three female friends get married in the wrong order. The lead female knows nothing about Dating or Love. She is just looking for a place to live because her parents gave away her apartment to her younger brother and his pregnant girlfriend. The second female lead has what she believes are sound reasons for preferring one night stands to dating relationships. The other best friend has a long-term boyfriend and expects to be engaged in a matter of weeks. The friends intertwining stories are Shakespearean in their authenticity and eventual resolution.
What is delightful in the journey is that except for Female Lead's bad decision in the next to last episode, everything on screen is something that could well happen to real people. Two of the principal male characters and one of the female characters are obsessed with financial goals in ways that interfere with the normal process of dating. The second Male Lead lets his chivalrous instincts toward his crush get in the way of his company's welfare. The marriage minded girl-friend suffers an epic disappointment because she assumes that sharing a vision of the future is the same thing as sharing immediate priorities with her live-in lover. Even the shared apartment is presented a natural mistake. Both parties have names that might be given to either gender.
The FL hears about the apartment from a female friend so she presumes the landlord and fellow tenant is an another female. The ML learns about the prospective tenant through a male colleague; he presumed he was subletting to a man. There is no crazy emotional scene when the pair discovers the truth ; the FL apologizes that she cannot remain a tenant and leaves to sleep elsewhere. but her efforts go seriously wrong in a way that is neither comic nor far-fetched. And the failure sets up another scene well down the road. And the central scenario is now set, two single people of opposite sex are sharing a living space but trying to keep this information from their respective families.
Of course they fail, and of course one of them thinks the solution is a secret contract marriage. And what follows is a comedy/tragedy of expectations by outsiders being imposed on a couple who basically just met. Meanwhile an off-screen fling at a holiday party is the starting point for an unrelenting but courteous pursuit of an unconventional female by a decidedly traditional male. The second FL doesn't need a rescuer, she needs a supporter who knows the obstacles she faces. The second Male Lead has to convince her to let him be a friend, not just a secret lover. The third couple is already in love, but neither understands why the other party does not already know what they are thinking. Its boring to write about but heart-wrenching to watch
The acting is great, the characters are three dimensional, and enough of what happens takes you by surprise that you cannot wait to start the next episode.

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Hao Lan’s Legacy: Power, Sacrifice, and the Cost of Love

This drama is one of those rare ones that pulls you into a full-blown love-hate relationship with it. I loved it for its rich storyline, layered characters, and emotional pull—but I hated how it fell back on that old trope of men needing multiple wives. That part always grates on me, no matter how often I see it in historical dramas.

The story is inspired by real historical figures, particularly the female lead, Hao Lan, whose life was intertwined with the power struggles of the Warring States period. Of course, the scriptwriters took creative liberties—changing certain events, adding characters, and dramatizing relationships to heighten the emotion—but the essence of her story still carries the weight of history and heartbreak.

What stood out most to me was Hao Lan’s relationship with the King. From the very beginning, he was her protector, shielding her when few dared to stand by her. His love felt genuine, and for a time, it seemed unbreakable. But as he gained more power, greed began to erode the bond they once shared. It was tragic to watch him lose himself in ambition, and in doing so, lose her too.

I also wish the writers had developed the subplot between the doctor and the general more fully. There was so much emotional potential there—moments that hinted at deeper loyalty, compassion, and unspoken love—but the story moved past it too quickly.

One of the most touching parts of the drama was when Hao Lan’s son fell in love with a servant. That relationship echoed his father’s early love for Hao Lan—a beautiful parallel that tied the generational theme together.

However, what truly left me frustrated was how the male lead’s story unfolded after his return to Qin. Despite all that Hao Lan had endured for him, he took another woman to satisfy his mother and the royal court, fathering another son while Hao Lan remained in Zhao with their child. When he finally rose to power as Emperor, he never had more children with Hao Lan, and even in his final moments, he denied her the chance to say goodbye.

Historically, it’s said that he suffered greatly during his years as a hostage, leaving him in poor health for much of his life. But the drama portrayed his final act as one of cold detachment—ordering that all memories and gifts tied to Hao Lan be destroyed upon his death. It was a cruel end to what once felt like an extraordinary love.

I didn’t give this drama a perfect 9 because, once again, the ending felt rushed—especially the final three episodes. After such strong storytelling throughout, it was disappointing to see the conclusion handled so hastily. Still, The Story of Hao Lan remains a captivating blend of history, love, and tragedy—a reminder that even the greatest of romances can be undone by power and pride.

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One of the best cybersporst representations in k-dramas

While this series is often considered controversial due to its theme and casting, I can't find any real fault with it.

Overall, it's a story with perfect chemistry between the leads, interesting visual effects, and a touching plot. This extends to its subplots, which are surprisingly meaningful, unlike in many other shows where they feel unimportant.

The main cast creates a genuine sense of camaraderie and a heartwarming, playful atmosphere that perfectly complements the central love story.

I wouldn't say there's anything overly complex about it, yet I haven't found another K-drama quite like it since. It's the unique atmosphere and the main characters that make it so memorable. The show's simplicity doesn't weaken the narrative; on the contrary, it allows the characters to reveal different facets of their personalities in relatable, everyday circumstances. Furthermore, it's one of the rare dramas that remains engaging even after the main couple confesses their love.

In conclusion, it's difficult to find the right words to recommend it. I'll simply say it's a great show—genuinely underrated and often misunderstood by the general audience, but nonetheless very deserving of attention.

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Style but no substance

THE GOOD:

The second couple is amazing

Lookmhee is an amazing lead

The soundtrack has some bangers

Lots of rich people style

THE BAD:

Nothing to care about. Characters have almost nothing compelling about them at all. Most don't even get a setup. Most won't get any motivations for why they do anything at all. Which is especially rough when there is not even any transition into people getting together, just *blast music* and start making out -- that's all audiences want right? :(

Tons of SA scenes and references treated completely flippantly. Some writer really just pulls the same card out every time to make someone "wronged" and feed the tension. Or worse, it isn't even treated like a big deal. Roofies? Screaming r*pe just to get your way? These are things that THE LOVE INTERESTS do to each other and never acknowledge as wrong.

The writing in general is very bad. Which is extra painful since the story centers on the premise of its business and conflict plotlines, which requires writing. Regularly characters act in inexplicable ways just to move the story along to the next scene.

Whole plot points are just dropped. Why was her mom sobbing? Is it really okay to roofie someone you love and never tell them and never apologize? Is it okay to beat your kids and threaten the life of their best friend if being a dad is "hard"? Another dad is going to gaslight his daughter into thinking he's dying so he can manipulate her but we just never acknowledge it or come back to it. The list could go on, but at some point the reviewer is putting in more energy than the writers ever did.

Especially disappointing is the writing for the FL, without a proper setup or motivation, she just comes across as entitled and immature. Her whole thing is that she wants to take her dad's job right out of college with zero experience, lmao, and wants to force people to accept it in one go by getting this deal as proof that she "deserves" it. She will go on to do nothing at all related to the business the whole time, other than trying to seduce one competitor. And for some reason make a whole point that she won't work with anyone because it will diminish her "accomplishment". The entire accomplishment this show is centered on is just picking a number for a bid.

Once the characters start fighting, the reasons for it are thin and don't even bother to engage the majority of the wrongs they actually did to each other. Each side mentions 1 wrong and thats all we will go on for 3 or 4 breakups. And for whatever reason one feels like she is way more wronged, even though she really isn't.

All around just no reason to care about the characters or the plot.

Well except for the second leads, I would watch a whole show about them. Too bad they get dropped for the entire middle arc. In fact the leads become so self involved that they don't even ever find out their assistants are dating. Can you imagine ending a show and not even bothering to include the leads ever even finding out about the second couple? It's not like they're strangers, they are your best friends and assistants. Was this even a romance drama? Just whiff whiff whiff.

The sound engineering at times gets carried away trying to be "cool" with some kind of styling for what it thinks suits rich/nightlife themes of this show. It can be quite jarring.

Villains are all one note performances. Get used to that face they're making, because they arent going to change expression ever.

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