Reviews

'THERE IS NO REAL DESPAIR, ONLY PRISONERS OF THEIR THOUGHTS' :O)

Be Passionately in Love is a gorgeously shot, expertly acted drama that suffers from a major identity crisis. It's like being invited to a five-course gourmet meal, only to find out the main course is a beautifully plated picture of a steak. Firstly, the title vs. the execution. For a show called Be Passionately in Love, there is a staggering lack of physical intimacy. Due to the lead actress's reported 'no-kissing' clause, the drama relies on 'fade-to-blacks', forehead touches, and camera angles that do a lot of heavy lifting. It creates a strange tension where the characters say they are burning for each other, but the screen remains polite and lukewarm.

Secondly, if there's a reason to watch this, it's Wang Anyu. Playing Chen Luzhou, he manages to convey a level of longing and smitten desperation that feels 100% autthentic. He's doing the work of two people to convince the audience that this relationship is high-stakes. Whether he's bickering or pining, his performance is the anchor that keeps the story from drifting into 'just friends' territory. Xu Zhi is not your typical bubbly C-drama heroine. She's cold, nonchalant, and hyper-focued on her architecture goals ( she wakes up at 4AM, the true horror of the show). Some viewers find her 'robotic', but I see it as a realistic depiction of a guarded girl with a complex family past. The problem is that when you pair a 'cold' character with a 'no-kissing' rule, the romance can feel one-side, like the male lead is chasing a beautiful statue.

Moreover, despite the 'plataonic' passion, the show is actually a very soothing, high-quality watch. It captures that specific feeling of young, pure love where a simple hairband or a shared umbrella feels like the world. It's a 'slow-burn' that eventually just...stays slow.

In conclusion, watch it if you want a 'healing' drama with a magnetic male lead and stunning visuals. Skip it if you need the 'passion' in the title to actually be on the screen.

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Love doesn’t mean sacrifice but to go through thick and thin together

LIKE

Whenever Bo Zai wants to look into a memory and gets interrupted

The innocent Bu Xiu and Meng Yang Qiu

Good pacing no draggy scenes

Benevolent Mu YuanFeng who thinks of his citizens and the whole world

The animals in this drama always like to sacrifice themselves

Chao Yuan's love for Ming Yi so touching seriously

Flawless this drama my god

DISLIKE

When he got struck by lightning what has she been doing??

Such a useless girl cannot stand up for herself and let Bo Zai protect her instead so selfish

MUSIC - personal fav

爱入青云 Ai Ru Qing Yun - 黄霄雲 Huang Xiao Yun
我愿 Wo Yuan - 龚淑均 Gong Shu Jun
若你的世界没有暖阳 Ruo Ni De Shi Jie Mei You Nuan Yang - 侯明昊 Hou Ming Hao

REWATCH VALUE

Shall re-watch when I have the time someday

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Most raw and real BL out there

Watch this! And thank me later…
This was a banger.. a solid BL done right ..
when the direction is good, the story is damn good and the chemistry & acting of the leads and the cast is over the roof, you get a happy viewer like me…
Idk where to start…
The acting, the chemistry, cinematography, how well it was directed, I’m impressed …..like that was really good direction, everything felt so raw, from the set up to the make up to everything that was shown it felt so real ..
and don’t get me started on offgun, I love offgun and their acting and chemistry esp in not me was over the roof, I was always waiting for their scenes…
Now the OST? Esp the one on the first and last kiss scene?
No….that was a genius move to make such cinematic kisses with the best possible background music.. background music can make or break the scene so watching a damn good music with one of the best BL kisses.. it was one of the best scenes of the drama..

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I only finished it for Liu Xue Yi and Tang Yan so draggy...

LIKE

Fairy but scared of ghosts lol

You are a God how is it you keep on dying?

DISLIKE

So draggy and lame after a while..

The A Xiu who never seems to grow up which is too slow there

What have the five top Gods been doing seriously??!!

MUSIC - personal fav

情骨 Qing Gu - 汪苏泷 Wang Su Long 张靓颖 Zhang Liang Ying
咫尺一眼 Zhi Chi Yi Yan - 张靓颖 Zhang Liang Ying
共赴 Gong Fu - 汪苏泷 Wang Su Long
语风 Yu Feng - 康子奇 Kang Zi Qi
如尘 Ru Chen - 陈冰 Chen Bing
飒 Sa - 刘端端 Liu Duan Duan

REWATCH VALUE

Nope

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Worth a watch

LIKE

When Young Ki drinks his hot soup - I’m in tears.. it's an acknowledgment from Yang Cheol

How Hyun Woo "foresees" the future and plays around with it

When Dong Gi throws a tantrum when he was scammed - that scene was so childish and funny I love this Ahjusshi

DISLIKE

My first impression was why the Jin family members are all sooo old then I realised.. lolol

Though there was some plot twist to why Ha In Suk saved Do Jun but nothing was explained

MUSIC - personal fav

Gravity - Jong Ho
Mother - Shin Yong Jae
I Love You - Seo Da Hyun
Like a Star - Moon Sua
In the End - Kim Woo Jin

REWATCH VALUE

Five for now

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Possibly worth watching

It's nice to have a more accurate (I assume) idea of this story, I've only previously watched film adaptations that cut out a TON of stuff.
That said, it felt really really long, longer than 40 episodes.
It doesn't help that more than anything this feels like a series of Shaw Bros movies - everything looks cheap and there are many crappy sets. (and that has its charm, but it does mean such a long production lacks "juice" and spectacle at times)
Most actors do pretty well, I'd say mostly the women. Tony Leung is...I can't tell if he's bad, or if he's playing Mokei as borderline mentally challenged - it would be in line with other Jin Yong protagonists. But genuinely it feels like there's a full second of delay in his reactions and he's often just staring into space blankly.
The fights range from very cool to lazy palm slapping. Mostly it's just "ok".
Moral of the story is, in the end, that you shouldn't lead multiple ladies on and make up your mind about which one you actually wanna bang.

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amazing drama with a calm vibe

The first twenty minutes might feel a bit boring, but just be patient
Ba Tai's Kazakh dub wasn’t very smooth, felt a bit awkward

Overall though, it was absolutely amazing, genuinely great.
Their chemistry was insane —Ba Tai had a pure testosterone energy.

The locations and the overall vibe of the series were very simple, rural, and really comforting.
I didn’t like that final incident though; it made their relationship and chemistry feel a bit awkward and off. Still, overall, it was excellent.

One thing that was never explained though —
who actually dug those silkworm mushroom pits in the end?

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"We will have a perfect happy ending." This drama started off dramatic and classy melodrama vibe, but delves into the very question of loving someone and being loved. It is one of those unique, creative and deeply human dramas. Where the scene continues to play in your head even after it is over. I loved the storyline, how beautifully and honestly the whole psychological angle is shown. The self-doubt, hopelessness, confusion, PTSD, dual identities, all the emotions taking the spotlight.

Cha Muh Hee and Joo Ho Jin made a great couple. Always there for each other, and understanding each other slowly and truly. They revealed them whole to each other and finally were not embarrassed about it. The deep secrets and scars Cha Muh Hee was carrying. Her mother/Do Ra Mi acted as a felicitator to their love, a side brought up from her childhood darkness. Her alternate version where she could so everything she want without any fear or shyness. Those buried desires and notions of herself. The opposite voice in her head.

For me, Cha Muh Hee was very strong person, who had the courage to face her past and share it with the other. She sets off to meet her mother too at the end to close this chapter completely. She never backed off from what she truly wanted. A powerful depiction of starting a new life. Her story was an inspiring one, I loved her personality. Her small talks, awkward laughs, and hiding behind smiles. To discovering her true emotions and memories, and coming face to face with them.

There was no such villain in the drama. Both the villain and hero resides inside her brain. It portrayed a fight within oneself and how it impacts your loved ones too. The second ML was as great as an actor and really gave some respite to the emotionally heavy drama. He acknowledged his own regrets at the end, for not fighting for his love and actively pursuing FL, but now he has learned it though applying it in his career.

The whole scenario of Korean film industry, auditions, interviews, scandals, really revealed how easily fame and support can be manipulated. Do Re Mi was a memorable character of course, but Cha Muh Hee was the true inspiration and winner. The whole concept of shooting a romantic trip in France and Italy, between a Japanese Romance Boy and Korean Horror Girl, was extraordinary in itself.

I enjoyed so much watching the whole drama, it was a perfect balance of light and heavy. Never had I felt a single episode boring or repetitive. Every episode revealed a deeper insight of everyone's character and their stories. The side stories, second couple, their parents, their coworkers, everyone had a character with a message/story, and it all came out on the screen perfectly.

I loved how different languages were used, truly love doesn't need any language. Universal language of love doesn't need to be translated. It felt like love transcends all the boundaries, and have a globally shared meaning. The whole drama felt joyous, wholesome and courageous in some sense. It may not be thriller or mysterious, but it explores the very fabric of being human and some scenes cut deep into your heart.

If you are unsure about this drama, do give it a try and be patient. You have to be open and you will find all the answers and meaning it is trying to explore. I loved them watching Aurora together, and how she said he will be reminded of her whenever he will see it but there is no Aurora in Korea and then later she wished may Auroras light up the whole world.
And how the drama ends with them watching the dark sky filled up with stars. Their reunion at last, really did justice to the title, "Can this love be translated?"

I love the FL's smile and how her eyes speak, and the ML's blushing and complaining look ;) Their chemistry was on point.

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Now I understand why everyone would hate this but I really really liked it ~~

First of all, no I'm not sick in the head, secondly, I liked the storyline more than the story, some parts of it were really insufferable but some really were guilty pleasures, so if you look at it as a whole, it's a mess, but the way everything unfolds is great imo.

The ML is the epitome of a bad guy, and seriously when someone write about a "bad guy" falling in love they would literally make him a nice guy in disguise, but sometimes we want to see the evil deeds too, at least I do, that's why I liked the ML, not as someone I fancy or want to meet IRL mind you, but as an evil character in love I like to watch or read about, that's how I'd imagine Agamemnon or Typhon in love lol.

Be that as it may, the pure evil here is really the SFL, she was the Eris of the show, and a very obsessed one, definitely beyond redemption, the FL was nothing but a punch bag so I can't really say anything about her.

I loved some scene, where we can see the awkward tenderness of the ML, one of the reasons I liked the ML is how he is amused in some intimate moments, of course he deny his love all the way till the end but that's understandable.

The end was abrupt however, which is weird considering this is almost 4 hours long and didn't need to be that long, since it's full of suffering and pain the FL is facing, we didn't get to see the redemption arc the ML is supposed to walk through, also the Evil SFL wasn't really punished or anything and that's why everyone was furious I believe, we couldn't see how the ML would make up for what he did, and we didn't see any sweet moments between the two leads that wasn't tinted by humiliation.

My overall rate is high, the two leads were great, and I liked the storyline as I said so it's higher than it deserve but I was entertained so I've nothing to complain about ~

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feud

I completely fell in love with their chemistry. I honestly can’t believe how much I liked the chemistry between Bai Jiusi and Si Ling.

I didn’t really enjoy episodes 8 and 9. The Hong Lian storyline didn’t interest me at all.

The illusion arcs started to feel a bit repetitive for me, but I actually loved the reveal at the end — when it turned out that the child was symbolically their own. That part was really beautiful.

I didn’t like the final fight or the last villain. It felt random and over-the-top, like he suddenly destroyed everyone for no real reason.
about the ending, it left me with questions:
when she changed the past, What caused them to end up at that point again?
What happens to their child?
Or did the story create a whole new timeline or alternate dimension?

Bai Jiusi was amazing. So gentle, pitiful, and lovable. The way he kept asking, “Why do you hate me? Why do you want to kill me?” with that soft, wounded energy… even though he got hurt by her multiple times, he never once truly harmed her.

And those scenes where his spiritual core was damaged — he was like a child, so innocent and sweet. Absolutely adorable.

I understood Si Ling’s resentment, and I was okay with it up to a point. But once she found out that Bai Jiusi had been suffering and tortured the entire time, and she still didn’t let go and said that to him — she became really irritating. For a moment, she reminded me of Li Susu, just in Si Ling’s body.

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Finalmente

Allora, al netto che non ho ancora capito come la Wabi Sabi mandi in onda le serie e al fatto che sembra che la prossima parte dovrebbe uscire quando. Vabbè il leone non si interessa ai problemi delle zebre o come si dice. Passando alla serie sono contenta che sia stata fatta bene (e chi vuole capire capisca) visto che Phoon e Fah sono i miei personaggi preferiti, quindi ci tenevo venisse fatto tutto bene. A parte la prima puntata che ho trovato noiosa, ma forse perché avevo letto il libro ed (nonostante anche il resto lo fosse) letteralmente presa parola per parola quindi mi stava stufando, il resto mi ha particolarmente (e piacevolmente) sorpreso. Mi è piaciuta la chimica fra i protagonisti, mi è piaciuto il fatto che abbiano riportato le amicizie sia dei 4dottori, sia dei loro fidanzati (che era una delle cose che più mi era piaciuta vedere nella parte precedente) e il fatto che North e Johan abbiano quel patacco sbrilluccicante al dito non ha fatto altro che migliorare la mia visione della serie. Ora aspetto con ansia la prossima parte (quando uscirà, non si sa) sperando che sia della stessa qualità di questa parte.

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the double

Positives:

The first episode is a bit theatrical and might not hook you right away, but once the story really gets going, it becomes great.
Jiang Li is incredibly smart, and that alone makes the whole story much more engaging. Duke Su is pure presence and authority — the way he calls her “A'li” from the very beginning is such a nice touch.

Episode 11’s competition was a masterpiece.. One interesting detail was that out of the five judges, two female judges betrayed their own side and took bribes, while the male judges voted honestly.

The courtroom arc in episodes 23 and 24 — especially 24 — was insane. Once Princess Wanning directly entered the battle, the tension went through the roof.
Up until episode 29, the story stayed strong, and Tong’s death was genuinely heartbreaking.

Overall, it’s a beautiful series with a healthy relationship — no constant misunderstandings, just clean and satisfying.
There weren’t many hugs or physical romance scenes, but their chemistry was really good and carried it.
The final villain and the ultimate showdown were done well too.


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Negatives:

The case involving the Ye family was resolved a bit too quickly and vaguely around episodes 17–18; I didn’t fully get it.
From ep17 till episode 20, the pacing stayed kind of flat, and it felt like the show slipped back into that overly dramatic tone from episode one.

The kiss in episode 34 was just… what was that? 😭😭😭
Also, talking directly to the camera — sometimes worked, but when it happened too often, it felt fake and annoying.

about the story
princess wan ning on fire 🔥
The princess’s fake pregnancy storyline was really cruel and uncomfortable. made me sad
Wen Ji and Lu Ji Death felt like rush and forced from the writer once they realized the ending is getting too be happy.

I honestly think the last ten episodes could’ve been tighter — if it had been around 36 episodes total, it would’ve felt more compact and impactful.

And lastly: Wang Xingyue needs a drama where he’s a general from start to finish, fighting in battles the whole time — just like those last few minutes of the final episode 🔥

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a scar

i honestly did'nt expect this drama to be this good. based on the synopsis, it seemed like a fairly ordinary story, nthn too special at first glance. but once i started watching, i quickly realized how wrong that assumption was. everything in this drama is crafted with so much care n balance. the way comedy, horror, n investigation are blended together feels surprisingly natural, never messy or forced. instead of clashing, these elements support each other n make the story richer n more emotionally engaging.

the trio of yiyong, chu ying, n guang yan is 1 of the strongest aspects of the drama. they truly complete one another. each character brings something unique, whether it is emotional depth, logic, or warmth, n together they form a dynamic that feels both entertaining and meaningful. their interactions are not only enjoyable to watch, but also help ground the story, especially when the narrative dives into darker n heavier themes. their teamwork feels sincere, n h can sense a genuine bond growing between them as the story progresses.

one of the most touching parts of the drama is how every episode carries its own meaning. every time they help or resolve the story of a wandering spirit, it is never just abt finishing a case. there is always an emotional message behind it, often related to regret, injustice, love, or unresolved pain. these stories leave a lingering impact, making each episode feel important rather than disposable. the drama takes its time to remind the audience that every soul, every story, and every loss matters.

the comedy is also placed very well. it doesn't undermine the seriousness of the plot, but instead eases the tension at the right moments. bcz of this, the drama never feels overwhelmingly dark or exhausting to watch. the lighter moments make the emotional scenes hit even harder, creating a balanced rhythm that keeps the audience fully invested.

the plot twists, especially toward the end of episodes, are genuinely shocking. the revelation that the cake seller was the murderer completely caught me off guard. it was unsettling and heartbreaking at the same time. the possibility that he suffered from mental illness adds another layer of tragedy to the story. even though the drama has not fully explained his motive for killing the two children, that ambiguity somehow makes the story feel more realistic and disturbing. not every crime comes with clear answers, and this unresolved question lingers in the viewer’s mind.

overall, this drama is deeply moving and exceptionally well made. it is the kind of story that slowly pulls u in n refuses to let go. by the time i finished watching, i realized i had cried without even noticing when it started. this is not just a drama meant to entertain, but one that stays with you emotionally long after the screen goes dark

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I heard a lot about it, so I had big expectations. And it didn't disappoint.
But I'm happy, I didn't wait every weeks. I watch it in almost one sitting (couldn't only because day are only 24hours and I need to sleep...)

Namping, I'm in love with you. He is such a great actor, he act really well. I was almost feeling his emotions every time. I was hurt when he was hurt, and happy when he was.

The main story with the ghost was so so so great!! I felt so sorry for her, she didn't deserve all that. I'm sorry but I was on her side (expect for the little girl, she was so young and under the manipulation of her mother - mother who did right to choose her safety. Even though it was unfair, I get her, maybe the king wouldn't believe her).

The secondary couple, please "We are gay in every timeline". Lesbian and gay at the same time qjdjqdj Incredible. And I love how they love Khem in every timeline. It's so beautiful. I hope they have each other in the next time line too.
It made me almost say to my best friend, that I know we are together in every timeline.

I do really love when ghost/enemies have a reason to be bad, and want to curse everyone. and I love soulmate in every timeline! So it was a 10/10.
All the song were incredible, their are in my playlist now!

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