Reviews

On the Verge of a Masterpiece, Yet…

A drama that conveys the struggles of being hearing-impaired very powerfully to the audience. The acting of the scandalous man, Jung Woo-sung (Cha Jin-woo), truly pierces into one’s heart. His gazes and expressions vividly reflect the effort of a hearing-impaired person trying to understand those around them. The charisma and handsomeness of the 50-year-old ahjussi make the drama all the more captivating.
Still, I can’t say the same for Shin Hyun-been - this is a personal take, but her acting feels very flat to me. I only ever see her in rather lifeless roles anyway. Perhaps it’s just that I don’t enjoy stories or performances where the female character feels so timid and lacking in confidence.
Another point is that while I liked the music of this drama, I found the heavy use of background music tiring — especially in a story that is supposed to capture silence. I would have preferred to experience that silence along with the characters. Having constant background music while portraying the struggles of not being able to hear was, honestly, quite ironic and almost tragicomic.

***SPOILER ALERT***
Although I enjoyed some of the supporting characters, I feel that storylines involving a third person, meant to make the plot more interesting or to keep it going, often ruin the viewing experience. Thankfully, this time the third parties weren’t inherently bad people.
Mo-eun’s (Shin Hyun-been) distancing later on, and her struggles in the later stages of her relationship with a hearing-impaired partner, didn’t surprise me. In fact, I thought it was one of the stronger aspects of the story. After all, doesn’t everyone start a relationship swept away by emotions, believing they can overcome any hardship, only to realize later on that reality hits differently? I think that dilemma was portrayed quite well. To me, Mo-eun’s sense of having failed to achieve something in her career, despite being in her thirties, might have been part of why she was drawn so strongly to this man. She was in a phase where she felt empty inside and needed something to hold on to. While trying to understand Cha Jin-woo pulled her away from herself, the way Jin-woo supported her career actually gave her a sense of confidence again.
Still, I think Mo-eun looked down on Jin-woo in some ways; her excessive caution, overthinking, and hiding of her true feelings and thoughts put her in a superior position, preventing the relationship from being equal (or fair). In the end, this imbalance always made Jin-woo feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, I also think Jin-woo was unfair to Mo-eun by not being able to fully distance himself from his ex-girlfriend because of unresolved issues from the past. He should have been more careful about that. Yet I can also understand why he couldn’t — his ex had once been a very important part of his life. Rather than erasing her existence, accepting it is understandable, though it still puts him in a position that could unsettle his current partner.

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Historical drama at its finest

I adore this drama.
The decision to showcase a lesbian relationship in the 18th century, set within a royal court and based on an ancient poem by a real poetess about real historical figures was *chef's kiss*

My only complaint is that there are still no english subtitles which is a tragedy. Such a well thought out and high quality show deserves international love, especially with the growing interest in GL.

I was able to watch and enjoy without the subs but I am very familiar with the historical time period and I also searched out information on social media pages to help me when i felt lost which was quite a bit of work even though i did it out of love of the show.

There is a focus on traditional thai dance and a sweet little romance between a male dancer and a policeman and well as two wonderfully portrayed female love stories.

The show, being based on real historical figures, some of them royal, references a number of actual historic events as well.

There is beautiful attention to costumes, locations, music and dance.
It is a history lovers dream and hands down one of the best thai GL stories to date.

Still hoping it will eventually get subbed so.i can rewatch and more people can appreciate this treasure of a drama

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What are YOU willing to do for money?

A cheesy but cute and at times frustrating (but fun) show that asks its audience to consider, what are YOU willing to do for money? Give up your integrity as a human being? How many are you willing to hurt in the process?

This Cinderella story turns a few of the classic tropes on their sides in ways that endeared me enough that certain moments in the second half didn't completely break it for me... although I wasn't much a fan of the "forgive abusive family members out of obligation because they're your family" angle the narrative took. It makes sense for these characters to feel this way in this specific plot (this family is all they've got) and I know I would have eaten this up years ago when "toxic family learns to love each other in their own ways through the pain" touched something gentle and desperate within me. Still, I do appreciate the emphasis on breaking the cycle by allowing people to grow and choosing to do better moving forward so you don't get stuck repeating past mistakes. The journey to that point is tough but very important and cathartic in its own way.

On a more nitpicky note (and maybe it's just me), each episode has like two songs that play multiple times and boy is it noticeable. I get it - they're good, thematic songs! - but it starts to feel overplayed to the point where the effect lost its intended hold over me.

All that said, the characters are fun and I did enjoy watching their growth. But Seo Woo and Yoon Seong are the best boys - no one can change my mind.

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Didn’t expect to love this this much. Now I’m obsessed.

Honestly, I started The Journey of Legend with zero expectations. First couple of episodes felt slow, but suddenly I found myself totally hooked. There's something about the quiet build-up — you really start to feel for Qui Shui and his situation. He didn’t just “transmigrate” and move on. He struggles. It hurts. And that makes his journey so believable.

Also… Cheng Yi is insane in this. He plays TWO roles — gentle but tormented Qui Shui and then boom, cold-blooded boss Li Chen Zhou. Same face, completely different energy. You will definitely feel the different as if they are not the same actor! Amazing!

Story-wise, it’s a mix of action, mystery, and emotional moments that hit way harder than I expected. There’s fighting, yes, but also a deeper message about standing up for what’s right when the world keeps testing you.

The drama isn’t loud or flashy, but it grows on you. It lingers. And the OST?? Gorgeous. I’ve been looping some tracks all day.

If you’re into slower-burn wuxia with emotional weight and great acting, don’t skip this one.

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Drama of the Year

Be on Cloud have never been afraid to take risks and right from their origins with KinnPorsche they have prioritised quality in all aspects of their drama creation.

With Shine they have reached their zennith, the costumes, the music, the cinematography, the complex, flawed characters the actors bring to life - all of it was outstanding.

The only thing i would change is having maybe 10 episodes so certain scenes could have played out longer with a bit more time to breathe.

The ending wasn't quite perfect but it was very close.
Their decision to set a story within such a complicated poltical time with characters defined and constrained by the expectations of society at the time felt authentic and bold.

I waited years for this drama and it did not disappoint. I am just greedy for more. At least i can console myself with the excellent soundtrack and a rewatch. A 10/10 drama for me.

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Had so much potential.

I didn't hate it, but I'll never re-watch it. It's just like every other "past life/present life lovers" C-drama you've ever seen. There were at least three "mystery" plotlines that held my interest. The last one with General Wen made my jaw drop. I did NOT see that coming.
The characters were distinct, but only Bai Shi Qi had an arc. The rest were the same person at the end of the drama that they were in the beginning. I knew the main leads were going to end up together, it was just a matter of which episode it would happen. The two characters Li Qin played were world's apart in personality and I found that very enjoyable and well-written. Lu Yan's brooding, over-protective, almost stalker-ish personality got boring fast. Emote, damn you! Even after he felt love for DengDeng, he stayed stoic and standoffish. He also kept his hands in his pocket so much I was starting to wonder if he had topical drugs in there.
Did anyone else notice that these two characters never kissed? Can you believe that? The MAIN LEADS never had a kissing scene. How'd that happen?
The villain was your basic bad guy, that's all. He was good-looking, though; he had an awesome costume, and the actor did a great job portraying him.
There were two characters that I wished had more substance than just "man-servants": Peng Da Hai and Xin. I would have loved to see those two in a quirky, but adorable romantic plotline. Da Hai maybe falling in love with a "spirit" person and giving up the mountain homestead he loves to be with her. Xin could have fallen in love with a human that LuYan didn't approve of, causing conflict between them. Still, these were good support characters and the actors gave 100% to their respective roles.
The last episode was a big letdown after DengDeng defeated the female villain. I don't understand why storytellers keep writing characters that don't work together to defeat obstacles and enemies. Instead they make the main leads lie to their partners about their true intentions, then have them go off and do their own thing, where they die. That's not true love, that's stupidity. And what was that scene at the end where DengDeng and Da Hai interrupt a business to re-state motivations and story beats? Talk about wasting screen time that could have been put to better use, you know...like FINDING YOUR TRUE LOVE! What a dumb and boring ending to a show that was already one-step above mediocre.
For me, this drama was a 6/10. It had the potential to be a 9, but it was just too close to average.

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A True Wuxia Comeback with Heart, Mystery, and Power.

The Journey of Legend is a rare wuxia drama that blends emotional storytelling, layered mystery, intense action, and a unique transmigration twist. The plot begins at a slower pace, which is intentional — it sets up the world and lets us understand Ming Ming’s internal journey as he transitions into the body and life of Qui Shui. His emotional resistance, gradual acceptance, and eventual awakening are portrayed with raw subtlety.

The heart of this story lies in the clash between personal gain and true chivalry. It doesn’t give us a perfect hero, but someone flawed and deeply human — someone who struggles between survival, vengeance, and the ideals of justice. These themes are explored with maturity, asking what it really means to stay righteous when the world punishes integrity.

There’s also a solid mystery thread running throughout the story — with shifting loyalties, hidden agendas, and veiled identities. And here’s where the drama adds a powerful twist: Cheng Yi doesn’t just play Qui Shui. He also takes on the role of Li Chen Zhou, a cold, calculating hidden boss tied to the opposing side. This dual role performance is a masterclass — the contrast between the two characters is striking yet grounded, and Cheng Yi switches between them seamlessly, elevating the entire narrative tension.

The fight scenes are tight, fast, and purposeful — not over-choreographed. Every move has narrative meaning. The OST is beautifully chosen, enhancing both action and emotional beats. The production values aren’t flashy, but the cinematography, costume design, and editing are all elegant and focused.

Unfortunately, this drama has been subject to targeted hate and review bombing, especially toward the male lead. A lot of the low scores floating around are from malicious fan groups rather than honest viewers. These comments often ignore the actual story and production quality, and instead push personal agendas.

Despite this, “The Journey of Legend” is a real success in China — consistently ranking at the top of daily streaming charts and gaining attention from industry insiders. Cheng Yi has been praised openly by veteran actors for his discipline and dedication. These are not praises handed out lightly.

In short: The Journey of Legend is not a fast-burn idol drama. It’s a slow-build, emotionally rich wuxia tale that rewards viewers who appreciate subtlety, morality, and growth. If you’re tired of hollow hype and looking for something sincere, intelligent, and heartfelt — this is your next watch.

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Enjoyable "Forbidden" romance

At the same time, I enjoyed Forbidden Flower both more and less than I expected. The “older man/younger woman” trope is something I usually avoid like the plague, but for this one, I actually quite liked it.

Firstly, the cinematography was stunning. Every scene was a treat for the eyes, with a beautiful, rich color palette that gave the whole drama an almost luxurious vibe. Definitely a good watch for flower enthusiasts!

I loved the dynamic between the artist female lead, who loves drawing flowers, and the gardener male lead, who loves growing them.

The story begins with a 20 year old girl who becomes fascinated by an older man’s voice when she hears it for the first time at her salon while he’s washing her hair.

He Ran is a brave young woman who shamelessly and boldly pursues him, doing her best to catch his attention. I liked her character, spoiled and childish at times, but also really cute. Xiao Han, on the other hand, is calm and reserved, constantly trying to resist temptation because of their age gap and the differences in their worlds. But the little smirks and glances in his eyes give him away, and watching that struggle was fun.

Both actors did an amazing job. The chemistry between them was fire. Every hug, kiss, or even the smallest glance felt sensual and believable. Normally, I prefer the “before they become a couple” phase in romance dramas over the actual relationship. but in this one, their chemistry was so comfortable and natural that I loved watching them date. You could see the love in their eyes.

As for the second couple, I didn’t hate them. If you skipped their scenes, you honestly wouldn’t miss much, but I still enjoyed them. It did feel a little one-sided from the SML, though.

Han Yu, on the other hand, was just annoying, I don’t even know why he was there since he didn’t add much to the story.

Some of the side characters were more enjoyable, like Mr. Han, the hotel girl, and the roommate.

Overall, this is a melodrama with the FL hiding her sickness, a few breakups, and lots of emotional ups and downs. It made me laugh and cry. The ending could have been better, but it was still satisfying enough.

I would definitely recommend watching this!

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Chato

Primeiro achei q a personagem principal era muito irritante e mal escrita, depois percebi q isso se aplicava para o personagem principal tbm. Ele é grosso e mal educado com todos, mas isso é colocado como uma maneira de representar seu qi incrível e como ele é superior. Como disse, contém spoilers. Ele trata o assassino do pai COMO UM AMIGO. No final ele literalmente vê o cara e tá nem aí. Decepcionante, esperava ele na cadeia, junto com o irmão dele. Não sou muito fã de romance, mas se era para ter romance, que fosse bem feito. Ele trata ela SUPER MAL, some, e no final ainda "ficam juntos".

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The Historical Chinese BL drama we've all been waiting for !! (2nd Review)

I just don't know where to start. The title is literally what happens in this BL. This BL was so good that I had to give it a 10/10 review because this is my second one so far after finding out about MDL. I'm so happy I found it in my recommendations. I LOVED IT SO MUCH, I'M JUST SO HAPPY I FOUND IT BECAUSE I WOULD'VE DIED WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A BL ON CHINESE HISTORICAL DRAMA!.

Story: The story was so different from what I'd had in mind when I started watching it. I loved how it progressed, and it ended as I would have imagined after watching the 11th episode, but not entirely because of how different elements are added. I loved how the story writers didn't leave us hanging in the end, they left us with a bittersweet happy ending, which made me really happy because I thought it would end in one of them getting killed or not reuniting together, but no. (I still shed tears). incredible story, I loved every single bit of it. one thing tho, Shu He is so kind-hearted that he still went out with Zi Ang, who basically destroyed all his kingdom and family. I totally understood his feelings at the end because imagine going through all that?? He's more kind-hearted than me for sure.

Acting/Casting: The acting was phenomenal. Like they dropped tears where they were needed and gave smiles when needed. I just wish that Shu he given a little bit more words of affection on how much he actually loves Zi Ang(it's the diction problem with that one). Both Actors did AMAZING in their roles, they deserve to be more recognized for their hard work(plus they're handsome. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Shu He who is Mi Jin). Every single casting member seemed to be perfect, no flaws. They did amazing portraying the emotions and feelings for the viewers (I cried happy tears and sad tears, I don't know how many times), but yeah, amazing work.

Music: The choice of music was good too. I don't have much to say about it, honestly, but I love the OST(?) of the beginning and ending of each episode. I just love Chinese music where there's like a flute doing a beautiful melody or some other kind of instrument like guqin(it is called like that, right?)

Rewatch Value: I would for sure watch it again when I have the time. It's just that the emotions gets to me sometimes(I overreact), but yeah, I would for sure rewatch when I have no other things to watch.

OVERALL I'M JUST SO HAPPY I FOUND THIS BL! COULDN'T BE HAPPIER! 🫶🫶

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his was hilarious, satirical in its own way!!!!

I mean the drama made fun of " some nonsense common plot" from other dramas in such a funny way. The music was terrific although at times it would be a bit louder.

Now, here comes the division: there were some comments that clearly revealed that some people had missed the 1st episode, which laid the right foundation for the rest of the series. That is why I am not surprised that the overall rating of this drama is only 8.5.

This drama depicts that people love to blame others for all the unfortunate things that happened to them. It is much easier to have an escape goat for anything that does not work out right so that one will feel better and never take responsibility for his own actions.

Also, the self-righteousness nature of humans will be their downfall. Literally, cause when you believe that you can only be right and should never take the blame for any bad thing than it is easy to blame "your neighbor"

Now, the female lead role depicts the world of today!!!! We are blinded by what we have heard more than what we see. No matter how much the evidence in front of our eyes claims the opposite, we prefer to believe whatever nonsense we've heard cause it is just easier.

The male lead represents "the injustice of this world". Those who had been mistreated for no reason. Even if there there could have been a reason, no one has ever taken the time to listen to what might have been their reasoning.

Overall, great casting!!!! Love the plot twist and yes the end lives you with that "qu'est-ce-que" but it was a great watch!!! So it is a 10 for me cause they went above and beyond showing all those different aspects that plague our world of today

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not bad but I never clicked with it unfortunately

Two women decide to spend lockdown together when a pandemic hits and as they spend more time together, they start to fall for each other. It's a good set up and the two actresses have good chemistry. I think part of why I didn't vibe with this though is that for the first couple episodes, before they really know each other at all, their interactions just feel so forced? Sophie nearly drowns and Abi rescues her and then Abi is basically laying on top of her for like a solid 5 minutes with maybe 6 inches between their faces when that is not at all necessary or helpful esp if she's not giving Sophie mouth to mouth lol. Then shortly after when Abi is bringing her stuff into the B&B, there's this (longer than necessary) scene where they're pressed up against each other as they try to pass each other on the staircase and they're stuck and... idk. A lot of the first two episodes just felt extremely inorganic to me. And while I'm not asking for realism in everything I watch, I do want moments trying to progress a relationship to feel plausible and not just like the writers are pushing the two characters together bc that's what the desired narrative calls for, you know what I mean?

Abi's storyline about having breast cancer was really poignant and provides a nice through line for the occasional moments that get philosophical about mortality, and that plot thread really improved my view of the show in the final few episodes (even if it irritated me that the narrative was very staunchly against people choosing to enjoy their final months as much as they can when faced with a terminal illness instead of undergoing treatment even if the odds aren't great that said treatment will cure someone). I honestly just liked Abi a lot and I thought her interiority was good and learning about her illness made everything click about why she would want to stop planning and abandon this idealized life she had attained, as well as also making sense as to why she was so closed off. Sophie was okay at times and downright infuriating at other times (do not get me started on the scene where she upsets Abi and then asks if she's PMS-ing) and she did unfortunately occasionally give the vibe of "straight girl who wants to use a lesbian to experiment" which... didn't help with my lukewarm feelings towards the show. Idk. Good concept, mediocre execution I guess. Overall though, I'd say it's cute, moderately drama-free, and simple enough to be worth a watch if you're looking for a GL series.

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hmm... did it counterattack

to be honest, i think this show was just so overhyped and also the main leads, which is okay each their own preferences— i just don't really see the chemistry between the two male leads. although, i do commend tian xuning's acting skills because the dude can act so props to that.

the story of the two main characters were skippable at best and didn't really caught my interest that much as i wanted to and i did read the novel of which was based on this series in it's original language. the only interesting arc for me in this show was the xiaoshuai and wang shou arc which were shown in Ep. 10 and ownwards— now it didn't give me the expectation that i wanted but it did have the elements that was needed so it was not really that disappointing for me, the only down side was it was rushed.

i know it is the first acting gig of liu xuancheng (xiaoshuai) and he was lacking in some episodes but his eyes were expressive and also showing emotions which is great, with just the right amount of acting workshop if he really loves his craft and honed that talent of his, i believe he could go far. the downside is really his dubber, it just didn't really show the emotions that the actor was showing and that thicked me off so bad.

i also enjoyed the chemistry xuancheng had with zhan xuan — albeit they lack of screentime in this series. these two actors, although, they are just the second leads looked so natural in a way that you just can't keep your eyes off them and just really wants to know more of their story and the show just did not deliver that much of, which was totally disappointing.

now would i watch this show again? it really depends on my mood, but i'd rather just watch the cut scenes at most if i wanted to.

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FINDING BEAUTY IN BROKENNESS

Watching My Mister wasn't just about finishing another kdrama for me. It felt like peeling back layers of my own life, one painful and beautiful truth at a time. It's not the kind of drama that entertains you with crazy twists or exaggerated romance. Instead, it looks you straight in the eyes and quietly asks, Are you okay? Are you tired too?

The story of Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An is heavy, but not in a way that pushes you away. It's heavy because it feels so real. The loneliness, the quiet suffering, the unspoken burdens, they are things I've felt, and maybe things you've felt too. Their pain doesn't feel like fiction, it feels like watching your own scars being mirrored on screen. Sometimes I found myself crying not because the characters were sad, but because I suddenly remembered the parts of myself I'd been ignoring for so long.

The performances of the two main leads are beyond phenomenal. Every small glance, every silence, every restrained word carried weight. IU's portrayal of Ji An broke me. The way she bottled up years of pain, surviving each day, felt like embodiment of all the times I've swallowed my tears just to get through another night. And Dong Hoon, with his quiet kindness and despair, reminded me that in brokenness, there's still dignity and comfort left in humanity.

And then there's the OST. My God, the OST. Every track felt like a heartbeat echoing in the background of my own life. What makes My Mister so haunting and universal is that it doesn't pretend life is easy. It doesn't give you simple answers or happy illusions. But it shows that even in the bleakest corners of life, a single act of understanding, a single connection, can keep someone going. That's why people can relate to it. It's not about resolutions, it's about surviving the day, and maybe finding one person who sees you when the world doesn't.

For me, this drama was a mirror and a comfort at the same time. It broke my heart but also held it gently. And maybe that's why it lingers, it reminds us that even when we're at our lowest, there's still hope in connection, still beauty in brokenness, still meaning in simple enduring. None of this impact would have been possible without the brilliance of the director and screenwriter, kudos to them. It takes a rare sensitivity to tell a story this raw yet still give us space to breathe, and for that, I'll always admire them.

Let's be happy!

Plot 10/10
Acting and Characters 10/10
Cinematography 9/10
Writing 10/10
Pacing 10/10
OST/Score 9.5/10

Overall 9.5/10

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