Reviews

Rushed Ending but worth watching for Xu Kai & Tian Xi Wei

There were other costume dramas released at around the same time when “Moonlit Reunion” aired. This drama felt like it didn’t get a lot of buzz compared to a few others. I waited and hesitated to watch due to its lukewarm reception. But, it’s Xu Kai and I have always been his fan. With low expectations, I embarked on this mystical journey and had a great time!


What I Like:

1. Wu Zhen (played by Tian Xi Wei) - I was pleasantly surprised to have a ‘playgirl’ female lead in a costume drama. I was worried that Wu Zhen is another cute and innocent FL who needs to be saved by her man. Luckily, she’s not and she’s actually the cat lord! Wu Zhen is powerful, independent, smart and forward-thinking. She matches evenly with her man, her supporting man and the villains. I love a strong woman who can dress up prettily, beat up some guys, crave attention from her man yet not be afraid to initiate affection.

2. Main Acting - Xu Kai and Tian Xi Wei are both excellent in this drama. Both of them have very expressive, big eyes. Their eyes can convey so much emotion without words being spoken. Their chemistry is pretty good, though I wouldn’t say excellent. Their romance doesn’t give us a lot of sweetness and fluffiness, but the angst was quite good. Hey, both actors can kiss and I appreciate effort, especially a couple passionate ones.

3. Costumes - Set in the Tang Dynasty, I love the elaborate hair designs and accessories, and the colorful hanfu the women wear. To distinguish the mortal world from the demon world, the characters have a different style in their looks. I love both looks and we don’t have crazy, ugly demon wigs for the cast (maybe just some ugly, alien masks for the unimportant demons). Oh, FL has the sexiest ‘pajamas’ I’ve seen in a costume drama. LOL She always sleeps with bare shoulders and arms.

4. Cinematography - Chang’an is always vibrant and lively, no matter which Chinese drama you are watching. “Moonlit Reunion” did a great job in showing the colorful side of Chang’an with beautiful cinematography. Is it as beautiful as “The Longest Day in Chang’An” or “Luoyang”? Definitely not. But I don’t think this is an S-level drama either.

5. Interesting Plot - I like the plot and all the side stories of the drama. I might have liked a little more time in certain areas, but as a whole, the drama keeps me interested throughout the 38 episodes. For the most part, I like the pacing as well except for the last few episodes.

6. Bromance - I love the fun bromance between ‘Grandfather’ snake and Mei Si. An unlikely friendship developed between them, and I actually would like to see more scenes of them, and also with Liu Tai Zhen (Snake lord).


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Wu Jun Ting - I love him in all his other roles as the young high schooler or college student who is usually the greenest of flags. I am happy to see him branch out to a very different role here in “Moonlit Reunion”. Having said that, I think there’s room for improvement in his acting when trying to act ‘unkind’. His eyes are too kind and sweet. He wasn’t horrible, but when he’s acting alongside Xu Kai and Tian Xi Wei, he’s not quite up to their level. I hope he continues to try out different roles and improves.

2. Last few episodes - the editing and storytelling are choppy in the last few episodes. I felt like a lot was cut out especially when ML met the former cat lord. Though they try to show us some flashbacks, it doesn’t feel right. The ending was rushed and not properly developed. The great villains are easily defeated. I thought there would be one or two big fights or battles but was sorely disappointed. And hey, where’s the big baby? Never really made an appearance and I was looking forward to meet him.

3. Supporting Cast acting - I love the main acting, but the supporting cast is a mixed bag for me. Yi Da Qian is pretty good as Mei Si, but Wang Jia Yi’s Liu Tai Zhen is a hit-or-misss to me. When she tries to be cold, she appears wooden. The rest of them are good enough but not excellent.

4. Special Effects - The quality is quite inconsistent as there is some really cool CGI, e.g. the tornado of pages for Wu Zi Shu, and a few of the fight scenes and magic. But then, some other scenes do not have the same quality of special effects.

5. Makeup - Tian Xi Wei has beautiful makeup. But I can’t say the same for the male actors. When closeup, you can see the uneven thick white foundation (no smoothing filter on) and whether the guys shave properly. It bugs me everything there's a close up of Xu Kai's handsome face.



Although “Moonlit Reunion” is not a perfect drama, from an entertainment perspective, I had a great time. I like the main leads’ acting, the beautiful costumes and hairstyles, the interesting plot with decent pacing and nice cinematography & music. Despite a rushed ending and other minor criticisms, I am giving this a solid 8.5. I think watching this with low expectations and waiting for the right mood helps with my enjoyment. I’m also glad we have a costume drama that is not a transmigration or a traditional xianxia about the 3 realms. Oh, don't forget there's a small epilogue after the ending credit in the last episode.


Other Random Observations:
1. This drama has the most amicable and sweet royal family.
2. Xu Kai looks tired in a few scenes with big eye bags. 🙁
3. I’ve never seen the flower pinning ceremony at a wedding before.
4. There’s a lot of wind, therefore, a lot of flowy fabric, flowy hair.
5. The kid actors that play the younger versions of the leads are the two of the best. You’ve seen them in many other dramas before, and they are just lovable.


Completed: 10/14/2025 Review #633

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I didn't enjoy this slapstick comedy but acting was good enough

I was on a marathon of Sun Qian Xun's dramas and this time I selected this drama. I enjoy quirky robot / AI themed dramas so I had expectations for this drama. Sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

What I liked:
1. Acting - Both Sun Qian Xun and Wang Nan excelled in comedic acting. Their chemistry was fantastic and they bounced each other's energy. The cast gave good performances too.
2. Main characters - Likeable. At least the ML wasn't stupid to blindly follow antagonist's scheming.
3. Supporting characters - Assistant Wang & the scientist were my favourites.
4. Styling - I really liked the burgundy sports wear and ash blonde wig that the robot wore in the opening scene.

What I disliked:
1. Plot - There was too much time spent on antagonist's scheming and less time spent on ML - FL relationship (past & present). I increased speed to 2.0x because those scenes were nothing new for me. The drama was too long & draggy.
2. Antagonist - Typical jealous half-sister who fought FL for ML's affections. FL's father & stepmother were horrible people.
3. The daughter - This arc was severely underdeveloped I felt there was no need for it. The child actress who played the role probably only had a total of 2 minute screentime.
4. Humour - Slapstick isn't my thing so yeah I didn't enjoy the comedy.

Favourite scene
The opening

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Fated Hearts out here stealing Hearts?

If you love c-drama that has it all this drama is for you. Right from episode 1 i was so hooked that i watch it through to episode 12. I can't remember when was the last time i got gagged this hard by a drama but here we are LOL. The storyline, acting, and the drama is just top tier that will make you eager to watch the next episode. Hope all the wondering souls on here sneaking on the review section thinking of giving this drama a chance i encourage you to do so. Hope this helps now i'm grabbing my popcorn i have a lot of catch up to do into episode 13 i go.. bhyeeeeee

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One of my Favorite watch this Year!

I read quite a few negative reviews about this show on MDL, I’m here to refute the claims!

I’m still trying to figure out how this show raked up so many negative reviews on MDL, but then to each, their own. I’m not exactly a huge fan of the “Netflix” format where they drop all episodes on a single day. But I was intrigued by the concept and mostly invested in the main leads. I wanted to watch for myself what kind of chemistry they will bring to the table. And they do, Kim Woo Bin & Bae Suzy have the kind of chemistry that takes eons to establish. It might be because both are veteran actors, and they knew how well to deliver the premise. So, what happens when a socially awkward psychopath meets a quirky Genie who is also the Satan? Chaos ensues and all hell breaks loose, while these two circumnavigate their romance from Dubai to South Korea. Major portions of the show have been filmed in Dubai, so you can enjoy the risqué scenery. I was seated for this unusual love story from the first episode; mainly because the said psychopath doesn’t act like a serial killer. Instead, she spends her day toiling in her garage, trying to act as a normal person because that’s what makes her grandmother happy. Our Satanic Genie is even worse; he loathes humanity and yet keeps falling in love with the same human again & again. These two make a riveting pair and their story drives the narrative in the right direction!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/genie-make-a-wish-series-review/#more-2098

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bad script and more

I want to start by saying I am a fan of both Zhao Lusi and William Chan, and I believe many viewers tuned in for the same reason. There was significant excitement for their drama, which has become one of the most-watched shows this year. However, its popularity has left me genuinely puzzled, and I feel the need to dissect why it didn't work for me.
I began the series with great expectations, but my interest waned so significantly that I ultimately dropped it before the finale. The primary reason was the exhausting repetition in the plot. It felt less like one continuous story and more like watching the same short drama on a loop—a cycle of similar misunderstandings and reconciliations that became increasingly boring.
My frustration extended to the character portrayals. Zhao Lusi's character, with her overly amplified proper manners, began to feel one-dimensional and failed to show meaningful growth. Her clothes are also completely impractical for the occasions she's in. No one dresses like that for the office or just walking around; it makes it seem like she's constantly on a catwalk instead of living in a realistic world.
Similarly, William Chan's character, introduced as a sharp and intelligent figure, devolved into what I can only describe as a "love-sick puppy." This shift undermined his initial charisma and made his character feel inconsistent.
Given these flaws, I find the show's stellar ratings difficult to comprehend. It leads me to believe that its success is driven largely by the power of "idol worship"—the dedication of fans who are there for the stars rather than the substance of the story itself. While I understand the desire to see a favorite pairing on screen, I was ultimately disappointed by the weak narrative they were given. It's a classic case of fantastic actors being let down by a repetitive and unengaging script.

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Korean Genies from the Middle East Makes for a Strange Fantasy Drama

Seeing as you have Korean genies and angels whose origins are in the Middle East one has to come into this not taking it too seriously. It works to start when Genie is spending most of his time trying to corrupt sociopath Ka-young and wrecking havoc by granting wishes that will inevitably go off the rails for the wisher. However, the story did eventually turn serious. Getting lost in the lies and sins of Genie’s spiritual brothers and sisters, past lives, karma and the obligatory character seeking power. Of course, the love story is thrown into the mix too. At this point, the story just wasn’t all that interesting anymore. So, I ended up dropping it.

I know the series could not go on forever with the Genie granting wishes and causing chaos, but I wish it could’ve kept that premise. The show did have a couple of nice surprises with Song Hye Ko, who looked stunning as a genie, and Kim Ji Hoon, making cameo appearances.

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Good Crime Drama that sometimes suffers due to Lapses in Logic i.e. Lazy Writing.

What an interesting way to start a series with a cop whose mother is an imprisoned serial killer. However, someone is mimicking her kills, which brings mother and son back together after 20 years. There were so many layers that could be explored with this story, and some were. The ML struggling to reconcile the mother he remembered, who was kind and caring, with the monster she became. The monster that is his mother who despite her depravity seems to have true love and care for her son whom she wants to protect.

I found myself wanting to root for the mother, but just couldn’t get there because of her depravity in killing what was believed to be “innocent” men. And then there was the question of who was mimicking her kills and why? If the series had really zeroed in on these interesting themes this could’ve been an excellent show.

Unfortunately, the main character doesn’t live in a vacuum. He has a spouse and colleagues. All of whom had some contrived moments to push the story forward. Moments that could’ve easily been written in a way that would’ve organically driven the story rather than having people do incredibly stupid and unrealistic things. Despite these lapses in the storytelling this was a good series. There were some great twists and the acting was good. The way the series ended there is the possibility for another season. If there is a S2, I’d watch if nothing else but to learn what happened to Detective Choi.

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When gold-digging goes bad, well sort of….

To start it is believed, this is the typical story of the poor wholesome girl trying to fit into the world of affluence that surrounds her future husband. However, this conclusion is quickly shattered when it’s revealed that the FL’s entire imagine – name, family etc. is all a fabrication. With this reveal the story immediately becomes incredibly interesting.

The series proceeds with the audience watching the FL carefully and cunningly weaving her web of lies while tap dancing her way out of her duplicity nearly being exposed. Of course, her plan to build the perfect life doesn’t go as planned. For her wealthy fiancée who is nothing short of amazing has weaved his own web of lies.

Things eventually crumble with both she and the ML having no room to deride the other considering each had contributed their own deceptions that led to the disaster that blew up their marriage. In the mist of the leads trying to work through the lies and rebuild their marriage on love, this the series, incorporated some ambition career moves for them both , nice personal growth and shocking corporate treachery.

There was always something interesting going on. However, the show did overdo it with the struggles the FL encountered, and the interlopers to the leads and the second leads relationships was insufferable. Their presence in the story was simply to cause unnecessary drama. Moreover, after all the drama around the ML’s secret kid, the writers decided to undo that fact in the end. Again, drama for drama’s sake and completely unnecessary. Additionally, the ending to the corporate storyline was a little wonky and the series created all the drama with the son, but once he served his purpose we didn't see him again which was odd.

That aside, this was a really good series. The love story was lovely. Zhao Lu was fantastic as the FL. Great acting. She and William Chan had a natural chemistry that made their coupledom absolutely believable. Xu Yan and Shen Hao Ming were such a bada** power couple who could make any business deal happen. Loved them. This was an enjoyable series. One that I will rewatch often.

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This was a project I had been waiting for from Yang Yang. I kind of missed seeing him over the last few years and was wondering why he hadn’t come out with anything new. I read somewhere that he felt like no one missed him, so he wasn’t active. Honestly, thanks to Yang Yang, I was reintroduced to C-dramas—and I’ve been in love ever since.

I was super excited when I saw the trailer for Immortal Ascension and found out it was airing this year. I thought I’d have time to watch the series, but sadly, that hasn't been the case. I'm going to share what I love about it first, and then explain why I’m putting it on hold for now.

First off, I love that he’s trying a new kind of role. I’m so used to seeing him as the powerful character who always wins. In this series, it’s the exact opposite—he uses all the tricks he knows just to survive. He suffers a lot and overcomes many challenges to get to where he is, and it’s refreshing to see that kind of growth.

I had to look up who directed this series because from episode one, I couldn’t help but think of Ever Night. Turns out the familiar scenery and storyline weren’t a coincidence—this was directed by the same person. No wonder the landscape and overall feel seemed so familiar.

So far, the series is moving at a slower pace than I expected. I know the story is far from over, but I was anticipating a different direction and pacing. Because of that, I’ve decided to put it on hold. This has nothing to do with Yang Yang’s amazing performance—I just wish I had read the synopsis beforehand. This is a cultivation-based xianxia drama, and I usually find those hard to binge-watch because of all the intricate details.

I’m putting this on hold, but I hope to come back to it one day.

Rating: 7/10

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