Absolutely beautiful drama
I had alot of fun watching this drama. For once the female lead and second lead were genuinely strong female characters. They were honest, blunt and mature.Its very rare that a female lead looks mature even when trying to act cute.
I really enjoyed every single episode. Each character was well written and acted.
The male lead and second lead were also very well casted. Their rivalry bang on. It's been a long time since I have enjoyed a modern day Chinese drama this much. It was the perfect length also. Any more would have been a drag. I highly recommend this drama.
For me the most refreshing thing was how a female lead was portrayed in this drama. No damsel in distress here. Need more such dramas.
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This Drama is a 10
This Drama was sooo good. It had me laughing, crying, kicking my feet in the air. The Actors did such a great job portraying the charakters and i especially loved fahs' hungry eyes when he looked at phoon. I also read the novel and while I'm sad that we didn't get to see Tiger's, Jo's and Fah's revenge on Phoon's father from the book (I really wished they'd shown that) I still loved it a lot. I'm really sad that Fah's & Phoon's Story is over but I'm also really looking forward to seeing Arthit & Daotok next week.Was this review helpful to you?
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Chemistry - on top but what's going on with the plot???!!
Overall: do not recommendWhy? Is it bad acting?
Not this time. Actually, actors did their best to make this watchable 'cause if not them I wouldn't be able to continue after first 10 minutes...
Why is it bad?
1) Relationships - they're so toxic, I can't comprehend how those two ended up not by killing each other, but dating instead, as both did terrible things (manipulations, literal SA, drugging etc) from literal 1 ep. However, in the end both went blind...
2) Dumb characters - even though they had brains and guts to do all shit I've just described, main character was dumb enough to
2.1) record on camera all the actions of assault where it's clear as a day that other mc is drugged and call it 'evidence' that will 'destroy' other's reputation at uni if posted (clearly not thinking that HE'S LITERALLY THERE SHOVING HIS FACE INTO THE CAMERA and that he's gonna be accused of SA...)
2.2) leave the memory card AND the camera as it is in the same room where assault happend until morning, later waking up shocked that memory card disappeared, along with our victim... (there's a lot more, that's just what I've remembered first)
3) Motivation - main character's motivation is just something else... He tried to destroy other's whole life and risked his own reputation and freedom by doing the dumbest revenge I've ever seen just because others' project at uni was more successful and he is more popular... WHAT EVEN IS THAT???!!!
4) Ending - at the end everyone forgot about all the manipulations and shit like it was never there, everyone is madly in love and happy end (obvi), but in reality I think both definitely need a visit to therapist and mc to jail NOW
Period.
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utilisation IA
la série partait pourtant bien. la comparaison du fruit pour les relations intimes et la représentation majeure de relations homosexuelles étaient très interessantes pour la représentation, cependant l’utilisation de l’ia pour ces « œuvres » de représentation gâche tout le principe voulant être exprimé dans cette série. j’étais étonnée et admirative au départ mais je vais complètement arrêter de regarder cette série qui ne sait reconnaître des métiers respectables qui auraient dû être impliqué. le jeu d’acteur n’est pas terrible mais ce n’est pas ce qui m’a repoussé, je pensais qu’ils auraient pu s’améliorer. maintenant c’est vraiment l’ia qui me dérange,et, ne soutenant pas cet outil, je ne soutiendrai pas cette série non plus.Was this review helpful to you?
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I really enjoyed this overall, especially because the leads were so strong. I wasn’t familiar with Kim Jae Yeong at all, but he impressed me here — his scenes dealing with grief, mental health struggles, and being accused of murder were some of the best in the show. He and Choi Soo Young had great chemistry and carried a lot of the emotional weight. I do wish the drama had pushed harder on its critique of obsessive fan culture and media bias. The show touches on how idols are treated as less than human, but it never digs as deeply as it could have. Even so, the performances and core story kept me invested.
Even when the writing gets predictable or overly dramatic and some plot points land flat, the themes and character moments kept it watchable.
2/1/26
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Don't get your hopes up
Honest Feedback (Subjective Perspective):Translation: The low ratings are largely tied to poor translation quality. If budget is an issue, many fans would be willing to assist; just ensure they sign an NDA before starting the work.
Direction: The director’s influence is undeniable, and this project felt poorly paced. It dragged significantly, with the first real spark of excitement appearing only in Episode 9 of a 10-episode run.
Chemistry: Casting relies on budget and chemistry, with the final word coming from the director and producer. In my view, the leads had zero chemistry, making the casting choices quite baffling.
Production: This was the strongest area. The costumes, props, locations, and lighting were all excellent and met expectations.
The Plot: The premise is genuinely engaging—a "straight" man jumping between girlfriends before unexpectedly falling for a man is a compelling trope. However, an interesting plot requires a strong storyteller to turn it into a cohesive story.
Final Verdict: Despite the solid production values, I cannot recommend this series.
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Wow I am out of words!
What can I say? I am in ep 14 now, and it seems like you will be guessing until the very end. I really wish Luo Yunxi would take on more projects like this. All the other actors in the drama have done a 10/10 job as well. This drama reminds me alot of Justice in the Dark, gives similar vibes. I really wish I knew Mandarin at this point, so I would be able to focus more on the drama, especially the expressions, so I would not miss a single micro expression.Was this review helpful to you?
enjoyable dynamics
Overall: this is a fun series to watch. Aired on GMMTV Official YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI5mgMqk8OoJKiHi5w4sjv77&si=EYdqKME7kRZUBekz (not in U.S, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) and WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/hweztzqcn9jg8di/j4101hgdaaf-EP01%3A_My_Romance_Scammer (in the U.S. and maybe other countries that are geoblocked with YouTube).Content Warning: manipulation, slaps, non con touching, non con kisses
What I Liked
- visuals/styling (though some of the styling felt like it was from the 70s/too oversized)
- easy to understand premise
- made me smile several times
- how Pai and North had different personalities
Room For Improvement
- was disappointed by the lack of impact/groveling
- antagonists suddenly were supportive
- Tim's parents put him through so much for nothing, why didn't they talk to him
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Terrible story
Half Awake is a senseless and disappointing drama that fails to justify the time invested in watching it. Even if you have nothing else to watch, this drama is easy to skip. The storyline is built on a very weak foundation and relies heavily on unnecessary misunderstandings rather than meaningful character development.The plot revolves around a boy who holds a long-lasting grudge against a girl because of a silly misunderstanding. Instead of communicating or trying to understand the truth, he lets resentment guide his actions for a long time. When he finally comes to know the reality, he realizes that he has already lost everything that mattered to him. Unfortunately, by that point, the emotional damage is irreversible, and the story fails to offer any satisfying resolution.
The ending is especially disappointing. Instead of providing closure or emotional relief, it leaves the viewer feeling empty and unsatisfied.
Overall, Half Awake lacks depth, emotional balance, and logical progression. While the concept had some potential, the poor storytelling and unnecessary drama overshadow it completely. This is not a recommendable drama, especially for viewers who appreciate well-written plots and meaningful character development.
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The plot may gleefully leap into and over plot holes, but the characters are consistent and well-delivered, This, and its abundant energy, is what makes it work - whether it's zinging through one nonsense or another, slipping into lakorn parody, or bringing the family closer together.
There were moments when Carissa and Pingpong were having so much fun bouncing off each other I wouldn't be at all surprised if the entire premise (4 half-siblings with mothers from different countries) was devised simply to let them play phi nong. Kao and Punpun are calmer in their roles, giving it some balance.
It's a VIU Original and available on all of the sites for the different countries they serve. If you're lucky enough to live in one, or have a VPN to pretend you do, look there.
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A silly funny beautiful romcom!
This is a romcom which also makes you cry in the last few episodes, but everything ends well beautifully!So if you are a person, who just wants to laugh after switching off your brain, get ready for a silly funny comedy with romance ride! They are going to do all the cliches very well while also making a parody of them but still facing them!
Comedic timing too good, leads acting really good, chemistry excellent!
Its just lovely and makes you happy!
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better then average but i have complaints
If they could just fix their writing issues this would be a rewatchable show for me as I like these actors and their characters. I mean if your going to make an Interesting story about the second leads that I'm almost enjoying it more, then you might as well follow through with giving it purpose.At first I hated that horrible gross emperor in Jinxiu. I didn't think his little bit of character growth would grow on me, but by the time he dies I'm just so annoyed because I wanted to see the full change where he would end up redeeming himself . but no he just exists so the male lead can have some epic revenge ..meh!
And I really enjoyed the princess as well. She started off with that ironically unchangeable prince who used her, thinking she could change him (how naive). Then winds up changing that evil emperor which wasnt her intention, she was just desperate to save her brother but ends up realizing he could actually learn to care about her. I honestly would have just given them that basic life and death scenario but have the brother arrive just in time. Maybe take out some of the unnecessary dragged out scenes to make the story more fulfilling, you can still have the epic battle and finish growing the characters. Ah well.
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Show, Not Tell: A Rebirth Done Right
What I really loved about this drama is how well it handled show, not tell. A lot of rebirth dramas basically spell out why the main character deserves sympathy, ‘my previous life sucked, so of course I want a do-over.’This one felt different. It wasn’t about justifying regret; it was about curiosity. ‘If I make different choices, will my life actually turn out better?’ That subtle change made the whole story feel smarter and more mature.
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WORST SHOW EVER DOINT WATCH PLS SAVE YOURSELF
MDL doesn’t have negative ratings as an option, but if it did, this would be DEEP IN THE NEGATIVES. THIS IS EASILY the worst show i've ever watched. theplot is CRAP, the dialogue is unbearable, and half the lines sound like they were written without any understanding of how people actually speak because what??Was this review helpful to you?
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Where Fantasy and Love Meet
I’m a sucker for shows that hook you from the very first moment, and even though I didn’t expect this one to do that, it absolutely did. I went in nervous because of the hype, especially with the sci-fi/fantasy + romance mix, but wow—this show was so worth it.I wouldn’t fully call it sci-fi. The VR aspect at the start was honestly genius and a huge reason the show worked. Those VR episodes were stunning—the aesthetics, architecture, and vibes felt like a Republican-era fantasy blended into a modern drama. You really got two worlds at once. The VR outfits were gorgeous, the game concept was fun and well written, and the idea of escaping real life into another world was delivered perfectly. Every VR scene felt cinematic, like watching a movie.
Now the male lead—I’m so glad CXX is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He truly shined here. The small smiles, serious expressions, quirkiness, and shamelessness all worked perfectly. His broken character was portrayed beautifully, and honestly, he could pull off a psychopath role because of how well he conveys deep emotions. And the wardrobe? Insane. Runway-level looks, designer vibes, full model energy. Easily one of the best-styled male leads in a modern C-drama. Character-wise, he was a green flag with a revenge arc—passionate, layered, and very well written.
The female lead was one of my favorite LYX characters. She was mature but still had a youthful spirit, had a backbone, and went after what she wanted. I loved that she wasn’t the typical shy FL—she was confident, outgoing, and never backed away from him. Her cute moments never felt childish, and her emotional scenes, especially her crying, felt raw and real. Her character was genuinely well done.
The romance was one of the strongest parts of the show. Their chemistry was insane—natural, effortless, and believable. Their kissing and intimate scenes didn’t feel scripted at all, and I loved how the show fully invested in the couple. They didn’t shy away from closeness, and it made everything feel real. If you’re watching for romance, this absolutely delivers.
The second male lead surprised me a lot. I had such a love-hate relationship with him, but by the end I was really happy with how his story was redeemed. His character was clearly messed up, but the abuse and constant comparison from his father made it easy to understand why he turned out the way he did. He wasn’t a good guy, but he felt real regret, knew when to let go, and that made him feel human. A lot of this worked because of DX’s acting—if it weren’t for him, I don’t think I would’ve connected to the character as much. Plus the suits, the glasses, the charisma—he stole the spotlight more than once.
My favorite scenes were definitely the VR ones—they felt magical. The cinematography was dreamy, the production quality was high, and the OST fit perfectly. Everything looked beautiful.
As for complaints: I wish we had more VR scenes later on, the reveal could’ve been written better, and the FL’s outfits were hit or miss—especially compared to the ML’s flawless styling. And my biggest complaint: why only 28 episodes? I wanted more. I never got bored, even after they started dating.
Overall, this show is 100% worth the hype. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves romance with a fantasy twist. Beautiful characters, amazing chemistry, stunning cinematography, a great OST, and no dragging. Easily one of the best C-dramas of 2026 and such a strong start to the year—a show that really stays with you.
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