Reviews

Just the right amount of everything= A Perfect Drama

You want chemistry?
You want a strong confident female lead?
You want a kind, courageous male lead?
You want heroes who use their wit and cunning to get justice?
You want side female characters who get their own character arcs?
You want a Xuanhuan with easy to understand lore?
You want villains to be more than just 'I evil'?
You want the main couple to banter and flirt and love and tease and trick?
You want fluff and love and angst and found family and enemies to lovers?
You want multiple beautiful storylines?

But, most important of all, you want a cdrama with a well executed happy ending?

If yes, then start this show RIGHT NOW!!!!

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A Mishmash of Historical Dumber and Modern Jargons

To put it simply, it's been quite a time since I last watched mini dramas. Sadly, I have a mid to bad impression about them due to the undercooked plot, mediocre styling and backgrounds, and last but not least, the cliche acting that makes me cringe hard, of course. All of these aspects culminates a mini drama into an awry watching experience, which is why most watchers avoid them like a virulent plague.

"Extraordinary" is no different from other mini dramas scattering around the world of c-drama, relying heavily on the intriguing premise of an engineer transmigrating to a fictional historical China after a car crash and and his goal to save his family's business and protect the nation from another war-mongering country. If it hadn't been for the refreshing idea of combining historical and modern world together (I mean, the knowledge), God knows I'm not going to touch this drama at all cost. To be honest, I'm really pissed off in the second half as the plot takes a nosedive and plunges deeper into an incoherent quagmire. And the final climax isn't that satisfying, prompting the watchers want for more. The villains are also predictable from the get go, I don't even have to guess what they're going to say and just press the skip button.

For me, the acting still has room for improvements for the whole cast. Prior to watching "Extraordinary", I have no idea of their existences (to put it frankly).

OSTs and BGMs are forgettable, so I think there's no need to mention anything.

Overall, I'll never rewatch it anymore. I know I'm being harsh here, but it's all proves and facts (I'm not lying, seriously). Time to end my review, good luck and happy watching if you're in a deep of slumber of new masterpieces.

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Enlightening secret desires in love-hate relationships

Dawn , the period between the  darkness of the night disappearing into the brightness of the morning light. The darkness that hide secret desires of people in the drama.
Drama started with a female driver crashing onto a lion statue of a big company, which fell down and revealed a  skeleton. The driver died on the spot. As police investigated and discovered  it was a desperate angry act of revenge of a scorned woman as her lover was going to be the future son-in-law of the Chairman of the big company. A love hate-relationship, that she rather died to revenge against her ex lover.

While police was investigating  who instigated and who knew a corpse was buried there they discovered a man was waiting for hours before the crash at the statue. That man committed suicide that night. That man was the ML's .GF, adopted father. Another  love hate-relationship, for GF never called his adopted father as "father" for he was beaten every time he wanted to know about his biological parents but otherwise his adopted parents were loving and caring. They in turn  thought he hated them for he never called his parents as father and mother and were cold and unloving, leaving  home as soon as possible. Hints of secret longings when  he knelt down and cried acknowledging  him as father. From then his relationship with his adopted mother gradually improved till he even came every day for lunch just to make sure she was fine and not harmed as he tried to find his biological parents amid harassment of the Chairman, WGH,  as the daughter, FF, was his contact because the buried corpse was his mother OM, and she was an ex- employee of the company.

Drama  dropped  lots of  hints, as another love hate-relationship and  secret desires was GF relationship with his ex girl friend. They had broken up, but her inner longings in the depth of her feelings was still deep that  she gave him a job in her bar, free food and lodgings, Plus support with encouragement in  his quest to find who killed his mother. That love  was so deep that she even  risked her life to rescue him single handedly in a house fire set by the villain's attempt to kill him.

So it should come  as no surprise that the villain WGH, had a secret desire for his mother, OM, a singer and hostess of WGH's night club. Again drama dropped many clues, the lady in red painting hanging in his room, was OM, when in 1 scene, drama  directly panned from  the painting to her singing dressed in red at the nightclub. Clear hint .Clues dropped, almost all conversations between HY, WGH's wife, the  madam of the nightclub  and WGH, there were mentions of OM. Odd thing  also , was OM was never  beaten unlike his wife, HY, who was beaten blue and black for going against him and  even when OM was forced to acquiesce to return to nightclub  while  other gangster dramas she would likely be beaten  along with her lover, YWY. When YWY was killed , she was offered lots of compensated money which she would have used to escape . Meanwhile  WGH was subtly hinting she would be better off with him but she rejected and flee by saying a client was waiting, that scene showed he lusted after her. She was only killed when she fled with incriminating evidence of his crimes .She was buried beneath a lion statue like some sacred and precious object beneath a Sphinx, where he can see her daily when he went to work. Twisted  unrequited love.

The ending was that he was finally destroyed by his fruits of  unrequited love, the twins, for the brother was ,GF and sister was FF. During 1 scene showing he forced  himself on the unconscious and heavily drugged OM. Karmic ironic twist. FF would probably be stuck in love-hate feelings for him for gaslighting her for so many years but not GF, who hated him. WGH must have hated it when his flesh and blood, just like OM, had a hand to destroy him ,destiny and karma had the last laugh at him.

Re-watch for it's about  courage with efforts of persistence and perseverance  to change the odds even for the oppressed and the suppressed to walk towards the   light of  a new  dawn.

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The Most Important Law K-Drama of 2025 (and to date?)

much like user @/eighthsense, i feel that many of the ratings have been lazy, hateful slop. i want to promote more critical analyses and media literacy that don't come from a point of hate and close-mindedness.

if you are turning on a show called PRO BONO and hoping for anything less than a raw fight for marginalized communities, i really don't know what to say other than to please learn about the world around you..

what should the law and those expected to uphold it stand for if not human rights? that is the very essence of what a pro bono lawyer fights for. i do not want to engage with anyone who does not have basic empathy and tries to cut down this show using terms like "too woke", genuinely refers to the lgbtq+ community as the "alphabet community", etc. and there's been way too much of that in this review section. and no, i will not have a discussion with someone that believes using very clearly harmful language is a human right lmao.

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Pro Bono is a show that does well in many aspects at confronting social issues and injustices affecting South Korea. I do not believe that it is a perfect show, and I actually do have quite a few issues with it—but many of the things it stands up for, and how strongly it does so, in comparison to many of the other law dramas I've seen—is something that i can get behind despite its imperfections.

i have never seen a more outspoken law drama than this one and that goes to how it has brought attention to not only marginalized communities, but the social issues/injustices plaguing them.

the sheer amount of representation (while it is not perfect) of communities like: the physically disabled, Deaf and HoH community, immigrants and foreign workers, abortion and reproductive rights, teenage mothers, impoverished individuals and families, family abuse & violence, sexual abuse against children and adults, predatory contracts and business practices, child workers and unfair wages, the list goes on and on! ^i personally believe that it is commendable to see such a wide variety of people represented, but that is Not to say that we should settle for what we got. Pro Bono was successful in many ways, but also fell short in others. I personally agree with @/eighthsense in that they presented progressive ideals and abandoned them in a way that may have upheld neutrality as the aim. as someone who is well-educated on the topic of abortion, i was not personally swayed by such "neutral" resolutions, and i agree that it is important to see such ideas through-- that a teenage girl forced to give birth is not a throwaway plot point, but also something that deserves a real fight. much like the lgbtq+ representation, which was something i was excited about- only for it to barely be featured despite repeated visual references. i would have greatly enjoyed and appreciated a case on lgbtq+ rights, but i can acknowledge the minimal representation it did receive.

representation matters. and stopping here would be foolish. Pro Bono is a great stepping stone for the fight for marginalized communities in South Korea. in recent years, we have seen a bold increase in media representation and depiction of marginalized communities, yet still so many Koreans (and people internationally) shiver at the mere mention of "lgbtq+" of "women's rights". not to mention that same-sex marriage is not even legal in South Korea, further outlining the need for the acknowledgment and protection of queer people under the law-> something this drama highlights on a mainstream stage such as Netflix with famous actors.

continuing the fight, appreciating the effort that was made to uplift such communities, and to be able to engage in productive conversations as to how it can be improved, is how we can take strides forward. forward to a day where it is not seen as a "too woke agenda" for literally just people being shown on screen. (and people who use woke as insult are just 🤦 .... another conversation)

Pro Bono is a great drama that skillfully spotlights those in the dark. In a way that calls us out of passiveness and into action, especially in Kanghoon and Kaya's respective cases. They are my personal favorite cases simply because of how real they are for many people. They are very dynamic cases and I could tell that Pro Bono did not run from illustrating the huge mental toll that these issues cause and perpetuate.. I could rave about them so much for great storytelling and a raw confrontation of how things really are, But also! they sre Not devoid of their flaws (such as: the aforementioned instance of abortion rights for a teenage girl playing only a minor part in the case).

I was truly feeling alongside the characters. Such real and unfortunate events are not things that exist only in media. There are countless people who face these hardships every single day and are forced to accept them, because they are not receiving the attention, respect and justice they deserve. Shows like this that work to destigmatize such communities and their lived realities, is how we can begin to draw that attention. Aaand continuously fighting for them, making media that properly highlights them—without pulling any punches—is how we can maintain and expand that attention.

I highly highly recommend this show in sincere hopes that those who watch are able to interact and engage in such media without sacrificing empathy nor critical thinking. many of us are so extremely privileged who see the problems depicted as nothing more than a show, it is something we can turn off, and for some, it is even something that can be reduced to some kind of "shady agenda."

Pro Bono is an amazing drama and I have so much love for those represented, so many feelings and a deep and renewed sense of inspiration to fight for others, but it is also a drama with its shortcomings--none of which are for being "too woke" but for actually not being woke enough.

very brief definition of "woke" to clarify what I mean when I use it: (woke originates in AAVE meaning to be aware and alert of racial injustices against the African American community, and has expanded/ been co-opted(?) to include a broader scope of social injustices--which is the context in which I use it in this sentence above.)

other things that rubbed me the wrong way that i have not seen mentioned by others, random unnecessary parts of the script such as: ["Dawit? Are you from Israel or something"] --rough quote-- and the random inclusion and presentation of AI-generated/altered videos as a good tool? among other glaring issues mentioned by users like @/eighthsense

needless to say, Pro Bono is not the show to turn to for a "fun", "lighthearted" legal drama. And for those who only look for that, I ask you to re-evaluate yourself and your priorities.

it is impressive that people will turn on a law drama and not only expect, but demand only palatable, "non-heavy" topics that reinforce their privileged ability to ignore real world issues and stay in their bubble of "tis folly to be wise".

they hide behind statements like "intense division is not what i want to watch in a kdrama, i'd rather see neutrality" when in reality they're uncomfortable with the mere idea of representation for marginalized communites, much less a deep dive into the REALITIES of how they are treated in the same korea they routinely consume and expect 'mild', 'lighthearted' media from.

it is one thing to want an escape from reality, a silly show you can turn on to laugh at and mindlessly enjoy. but it is another to bash on one that sheds light on the same ideas you refuse to acknowledge as MILLIONS of people's realities.

i ask those of you living in your koreaboo fantasy, expecting korean media to cater to you and your ignorant worldview, to wake up. South Korea is not all rainbows and sunshines, and yes! there are Queer Koreans, there are disabled Koreans, there are muslim Koreans, there are Koreans who are the bad guys you so badly want to ignore, and there are Koreans who dedicate their whole lives to fighting for the world you wish to ignore and boil down to "K-Dramas".

I have many many many thoughts on this drama and as an inexperienced reviewer, I apologize if my thoughts were a bit all over the place, but I hope it was clear that: I stand by the overall positive message of always fighting for human rights, but not the specific ways in which it was poorly executed and the backpedaling that was employed to pacify certain audiences.

Pro Bono was a big step forward in many ways, but there are still countless steps to take!! Do not turn a blind eye to injustices and always carry empathy and kindness in your heart. before accepting a review's words, please first reflect on whether or not it is centered on humanity and compassion.

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Apaixonante

Eu tenho tanta coisa para dizer sobre esse drama que fiquei até com medo de me alongar demais, mas considerando que ele é longo, acho justo permitir que a review também seja.


Primeiro de tudo, uau, simplesmente uau. Eu terminei esse drama bastante impactada, a ponto de ter dificuldade de organizar os pensamentos. Depois de ler tantos comentários negativos, eu não esperava ser fisgada desse jeito, então já começo dizendo que eu fui muito surpreendida.


Eu já gosto naturalmente de tramas de viagem no tempo, especialmente aquelas em que alguém do presente vai para o passado. E aqui a ideia já me ganhou de cara: uma médica do presente vai parar na dinastia Goryeo e se envolve com um capitão que vive cercado por guerra e morte. Ela é alguém que passa a vida tentando salvar pessoas, ele é alguém que passa a vida convivendo com a perda delas. Essa oposição se reflete lindamente na personalidade dos dois e cria embates muito naturais entre eles. Isso deixou a dinâmica do casal extremamente envolvente.


Na história, para salvar a vida da rainha, um capitão atravessa um portal e sequestra uma médica do futuro, prometendo levá-la de volta assim que a missão fosse cumprida. Só que o portal se fecha, e ela acaba presa no passado. Por ter conhecimento do futuro, ela passa a despertar o interesse de figuras perigosas, e boa parte da trama gira em torno disso.


Tecnicamente, o drama começa fraco. A cinematografia não é muito bonita (dá pra sentir o peso de ser uma produção de 2012), o figurino parece de baixo orçamento e as cenas de luta são muito coreografadas, às vezes até artificiais (e mentirosas) demais. Mas algo curioso acontece, com o passar dos episódios, tudo isso melhora muito. As lutas ficam mais naturais, o ritmo melhora e a encenação ganha fluidez, o que faz sentido se lembrarmos que antigamente os dramas eram gravados de forma mais linear, então o elenco ia se entrosando aos poucos.


Ainda assim, o grande mérito dessa obra está longe de ser técnico. Está na escrita.


A trama política começa simples, e eu gostei disso. Um rei recém-coroado, que passou anos em território inimigo (a dinastia Yuan) e agora tenta aprender a governar, enfrenta um príncipe manipulador, irmão da imperatriz de Yuan, que apesar de não quer o trono, sabe jogar o jogo do poder. Ambos se interessam pela mulher do futuro, o que cria uma tensão inicial quase como uma “guerra fria”. Achei que ficaria só nisso, mas a entrada do tio do rei transforma essa dinâmica e a política cresce muito, ficando surpreendentemente boa.


Mas o que realmente brilha são os diálogos e os personagens.


Os diálogos são excelentes: naturais, orgânicos, sempre com função narrativa e emocional. Nada parece jogado só para preencher tempo. Cada conversa revela algo, move a história ou aprofunda os personagens, e tudo flui com uma naturalidade impressionante.


E os personagens, minha nossa, eu me apaixonei por eles. Não só pelos protagonistas, mas também pelos secundários, que têm voz, presença e importância sem precisar de tempo excessivo de tela. Eles não são figurantes de luxo, eles tornam o mundo mais real.


Os protagonistas, em especial, me marcaram muito. Há algo na química deles que faz parecer que estamos vendo um casal de verdade. Eles não precisaram de rivalidades artificiais, nem de intrigas forçadas. Tudo o que acontece só os aproxima mais. Eles discutem, discordam, batem de frente como qualquer casal, mas nunca se afastam de verdade. Discutem, ele sai e volta logo depois. É lindo como eles não conseguem ficar longe um do outro.


E, ainda assim, o roteiro não os transforma em um casal meloso ou infantil. Eles não são “pombinhos apaixonados”, são dois adultos que, mesmo com uma relação recente, parecem ter uma intimidade profunda, quase como se estivessem juntos há décadas.


Eu torci por eles o tempo todo. Eu me conectei com eles.


Sobre o final, também me surpreendeu. Viagem no tempo costuma ser confusa, e eu demorei um pouco para entender completamente aquele desfecho. Mas quando entendi, me emocionei muito. Tudo fez sentido. Minhas dúvidas foram sanadas, não senti pontas soltas e achei a história muito bem fechada.


Por fim, preciso destacar o Lee Minho. Ele fez um trabalho excelente, especialmente considerando que ainda era muito jovem e contracenava com uma atriz mais velha e experiente. Mesmo assim, ele brilhou. Ele tem um carisma muito forte, e isso tornou seu personagem guerreiro mais humano, mais acessível, mais real.


Enfim, um drama lindo, bem escrito, muito bem planejado e eu fiquei genuinamente feliz por ter assistido.

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Beautifully underrated & A MUST-WATCH for any working adult!!

Maybe it's because I'm a Gen Z introvert. Maybe it's because I work in corporate. Maybe it's because mundane interactions with anyone are super difficult for me to navigate.
But my goodness, this show hit me HARD!!

Few series ever show realistically cold workplace environments, the burnout, or interactions that slowly chip away at your spirit, let alone weave in an interesting supernatural element. But this BL does.

Akihito's character arc is so genuine and beautiful that it makes me see a lot of myself in him. A lot of my generation is now entering the corporate workplace. Throughout this process, I still ask myself: How do I make myself seem capable? How should I speak with my colleagues? How do I handle the mistakes I've made? Even people who have decades of corporate experience may be in a similar boat. Feeling like they're barely surviving in a world built for the naturally charismatic. I found myself being comforted by this short series, even taking some communication inspo.

I'd describe it as being like Cherry Magic but removing the fluff and comedy, and replacing it with a cold ambiance, existential crisis, and realistic improvements to navigate your work life. Overall, good chemistry, but amazing writing, plot, acting, soundtrack, editing, and cinematography. Definitely recommend to anyone needing something comforting and relatable.

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up to ep. 10 so far so good.

I'm loving this show so far. there's just enough push and pull with the main couple but nothing to overt the top dramatic. just two people who by fate keep meeting and slowly grow closer together. they are adorable. I love the FL as an actress I first saw her in Love In The Clouds and thought she did amazing. so happy to see her shine in another show. the male lead I've only see once before and it was a while ago in My Boss. but I'm quite impressed. he's doing so well. the show is cast very well, both for main and supporting actors. I have high hopes. 🤞 please give me a good ending. it seems like so many last ue as r started strong then ended up leaving me wanting something more. I hope this one gives me a perfect ending. ♥️♥️

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The Best Ending.

I’ve watched over 100 cdramas and this is the first ever review i’m writing. Truly, at the beginning I thought it was slow, but it started to pick up and become more fast paced (mostly because of Lin Yusen). Anyways, the main thing that stuck out to me was the work part. I think this was truly a well done modern/slice of life/office romance, though it kind of got boring at some parts. It wasn’t really the stereotypical office romance where the coworkers all find out and rumors start spreading… Actually I would say that the reaction of the coworkers was forgotten. Some other small plot points were also forgetten, like what happened to Xiguang’s dad, how his surgery went (not that I really care but it was kind of just left out) as well as the dad’s mistress and her daughter (for the most part-ish, it just ended their story abruptly). And recently a lot of shows have been getting parts cut out due to censorship, so the endings are rushed. But I actually enjoyed seeing <2 mins of their wedding and then seeing them with their daughter more. I think this has been one of my favorite endings in cdramas in a long time. I love this new perspective, it sort of felt rushed but also it didn’t really and I enjoyed it better than ending with the wedding, I wish more cdramas ended it similar to this (a bit of their life after marriage etc…)

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An Intense Game of Chess..

This was a great show. Great actors who portrayed their characters beautifully. Epic storyline. Kept me wanting to know what happens next. As usual Cheng Yi nails his role. Plus i love him with white hair. The pacing and the amount of episodes what perfect. Even with so many characters and their back stories the director gave each one their time develop without being rushed or leaving me disappointed. So many shocking surprises and jaw dropping scenes. The story keeps you on your toes. Now would i recommend it.. YES! Just know this is not a love story. This is a revenge story. Would I rewatch.. YES! I love watching shows like this every now and then to break the cycle of just watching love stories and fantasies 💜

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Kind of Disorganized drama made by Deadliner

I need to apologize but this is one of Wang Haozhen mediocre drama.

The first half of this drama is like a cultural tourism promotional video, with a slow pace, showcasing the picturesque scenery of ancient villages, exquisite ethnic costumes, and the simple and honest villagers.

The narrative in the latter half of the series is somewhat disorganized: a gambling and thieving ex-boyfriend; an aunt and cousin plotting to seize the family fortune; the various aspects of life in a mental hospital… There's too much content to express, but not enough space, making it seem disorganized drama.

I don't see any chemistry between Wang Haozhen and Wang Gege even though their acting are completely fine. And the worst the characterization for the lead are inconsistent especially ML. ML's character, supposed to be an undercover police officer who emotionally restrained, wary, and somewhat detached but for some reason, the male lead in the series seems to be in a "love-struck" state (if they make his character as CEO it would be fine but current restriction made drama less rich CEO character persona).

Watching this feels like mending mismatch puzzled and try to glue with low quality paper stick.

Recommended to Wang Haozhen and Wang Gege fans only.

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Love, Leaving, and Lingering Feelings

another rom-com that quietly tests your patience with questions—why not stay, why leave, why struggle so much just to hold on to a relationship? But then again, if all those questions were neatly answered, there wouldn’t be a drama at all. This is a show best watched without overanalyzing the logic and simply letting the emotions lead the way.

I watched this drama mostly because of Park Seo Joon, and he did not disappoint. He conveyed pain, hesitation, and longing with remarkable subtlety, making his character feel deeply human. His eyes alone carried conversations that words could not. The supporting cast complemented him well, adding layers of quiet tension and warmth to the story.

What worked best for me was the emotional atmosphere. The drama captures the feeling of loving someone at the wrong time, of wanting to stay but feeling forced to leave. It’s less about perfect choices and more about imperfect people trying their best.

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Plot is poor and mess

Ma Lejie seems to like taking script about pseudo-incest lately but this is too messy.

I'll just go through it in order. Plot is about ML father brought the FL and her mother into the family when they were young. When they grew up, ML discovered that the FL had a crush on him and they accidentally slept together. Later, ML's mother committed suicide due to depression. ML believed it was caused by the FL's mother's affair with ML father.

I skipped through parts of it; I couldn't have continued watching if it weren't for Ma Lejie and Liang Siwei and i just cannot force myself to continue the drama since the plot is going nowhere. The script was poorly done, and the editing was very disjointed. It's a pity for these two actors. Dropped.

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Cute and Fluffy romance between two Green Flags, but don't expect a lot of Excitement and Twists

“Shine On Me” is either going to be one of the most romantic and sweetest dramas of the year, or one of the most boring ones. In order to enjoy this, you need to check your mood for what you are looking for, and know what to expect.

This is best enjoyed if you are looking for:
1. Main romance without a lot of ups and downs, or angst
2. Visually pleasing and great-looking leads
3. Great chemistry between the leads with decent skinship (love the hand-holding when pushing the grocery cart) and good but not amazing kisses (if you are patient enough to wait for them to happen eventually)
4. Sweet and witty banter between the main leads
5. Super green flag perfect ML who only has eyes from FL from start to finish
6. FL who is not afraid to speak her mind, stand up for herself and others, and pretty much a green flag herself (except when dealing with 2ML early on, but still more interesting than green flag ML).
7. Sweet and supportive family relationships: ML and his mother, ML and his grandfather, FL and her mom and extended family, FL and her cousin (my favorite character of the show).
8. Great co-workers
9. Strong women, whether you like them all or not - FL, FL’s mother, ML’s mother, FL’s aunt, the evil ‘villainy’ other woman, and even 2ML’s co-worker Chris.
10. The Photovoltaic Industry and all the business talk (LOL)

I love all the above except for #9, the photovoltaic industry. It is just not an industry that I know of or interested in learning. The drama spends a lot of time in this business world, but this industry is just not the right one for a drama adaptation. It might be better in the novel. The industry can’t really show us anything in action ,e.g. aerospace in “Your Are My Glory” with space ships and ties to ML’s character). It doesn’t sound or look good, e.g. the voice industry in “Love You, Love My Voice” and I love learning about the voice industry. Even the more boring traditional Chinese medicine in “The Best Thing” was more interesting, because ML actually uses TCM to flirt with FL and I found that romantic (though not super professional…LOL). “Shine On Me” really doesn’t hide Chinese propaganda in showing their photovoltaic industry to the world. Maybe that’s how they pass censorship or obtain a lot of sponsorship to fund the project.

I enjoy the slow burn main romance and how FL slowly falls in love. I think because of they are smart individuals despite new to love, they are not shy and naive. I love their flirting before becoming an official couple. Every single scene they are in, before and after being in a relationship, brings a super silly grin on my face. I just can’t stop smiling. I probably really enjoy this because I was intentionally seeking for a romance like that. Otherwise, as with many criticisms, the romance is somewhat smooth sailing that it can be boring. The super green flag ML is too perfect. You can have a green flag without making him into a boring character. Thank goodness he can flirt and has some witty comebacks. The love triangle lasted way too long. The 2ML’s storyline drags all the way to the end. I’m glad FL finally gave him a piece her mind and set him straight, I just wish it was done earlier and not drag for too long. But then, we have 36 episodes to fill. I personally don’t see 2ML as a handsome guy, but I do understand why ladies would find him attractive because he’s smart and hard-working. He’s just an expert in slimy Tai Chi - deflecting and not confirming his emotions to anyone until it’s too late for all parties involved.

The whole other family drama about FL’s parents and the ‘villains’ added a little extra ‘fun’ to the drama. Otherwise, “Shine On Me” is really boring. Yes, I do find these ‘villains’ annoying and I actually wanted a worse ending for them. It was sooo satisfying seeing FL finally said what she had to say to her father and defending her man and his integrity at the same time.

Because I know what I am getting myself into when watching “Shine On Me” and I really want a cute and fluffy drama, I had a great time watching it. It satisfies my cravings and I will recommend this to you if you like all or most of the items I listed above. However, I think of the 3 other fluffy dramas I listed above, this might be my least favorite of the 4, even though I LOVE the leads and romance. The business part is just too boring for me. If you want a twist-and-turn plot with excitement and chaos all the time, it’s best to skip this. Otherwise, you would be bored out of your mind.


Completed: 1/13/2026 Review #660

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Collectivism Propaganda Rooted in Women Writing Off Their Needs

The show portrays the complexities of being a parent. "All adults make selfish decisions, but that's because they'll do anything for their child." The writers threw everything they could at our main characters to make their lives so difficult that we can't help but acquiesce to the characters' selfish decisions.

The show was shot well. There were scenes that were very well performed. These are all characters you might know in real life. But I think the story lost itself in its collectivism propaganda. Ultimately, for a show titled (direct Chinese translation) "Beloved Child/ren", I didn't leave with "Wow, they really love their children," but with "Wow, all these freaking idiot men creating problems for the women in their lives and the women are just supposed to forgive and let go, unless the women plan to divorce these men."

I watched this show for the scene where Fang YiNuo and Xiao Luo meet up to divide their assets. I am leaving disappointed, but I think the actors did the best they could. I think there is value in a story about making sacrifices for your family and putting your own needs aside for the people you care about, but this show overdid it. Too dramatic.

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