This review may contain spoilers
Never Lose Hope in Seeking Justice & Love is the Destiny to Embrace.
(First review of a show in 2026) After seeing Wow the World, I had really wanted to check out CXX's work even more and the first one was LOTTL w/Reba which was decent and I liked his character though this one I already had on my watchlist. I knew LYX from previous other works so I knew she would handle herself as well as some of the supporting cast.Pros: Though the leads originally met in a VR game designed by the ML or XZY and the VR game was important, it wasn't centered to the plot. XZY was a lonely young man with one friend, one ally, and a small architect firm though growing in fame because of his natural talent. Behind all of that though, was for 20 years harboring a secret for justice and to vindicate his father who he and his uncle Xu knew was framed and killed after a stadium he and his business partner (ultimately the killer and the one behind the tragedy) were building, collapsed, killing 3 people and injuring 6 others. His name and identity was changed by his stepfather (the same psychopath responsible for everything else) and mother (who very conveniently and without waiting too long jumped into the arms of the business partner; I'll talk about her in the cons), XZY whose real name was QXY and he only used it in the VR game; which was his refuge. He studied in the states after becoming independent at a young age, not wanting to use his stepfather's or mother's money; he concentrated hard on earning his own money while also researching and slowly gathering evidence with the help behind the scenes of uncle Xu. By the time our story takes place he had gathered the majority of the evidence except some very key pieces.
FL or HX was a young woman working a job she hated because she studied architecture and that's what she wanted to do. She lived in her childhood home and after being dumped by her crappy fiancé on the eve of their engagement party, quit her job and decided to apply at different firms; the first one she was offered the same position as before so she declined and left. This was a big firm owned by XZY's stepfather that was originally started by him and XZY's father as well as named by him. The firm that she ended up working in was the one owned by XZY as that was her dream place anyways and the two of them met in real life after he rented her place and they had a series of funny encounters. He was aloof for obvious reasons so didn't warm to her quickly though she was bubbly and hardworking. But he did protect her and helped her get back at her ex fiancé among other things. She fell first and he fell later.
As cliche as things have to be, her father was one of those that were injured in the stadium collapse and his best friend was killed as both were engineers building it. This is where a rather unpleasant person comes in aka PZ; he was the GM of the big firm HX interviewed at as well as XZY's stepbrother, one who cheated, plagiarized, and tried to do anything to one up XZY. He hated him because XZY was always better and more natural. Furthermore, he was physically abused by his psychopath father which didn't help matters. First, he tried using HX to get back at XZY but she saw right through him and called him out on it. Than, after she gave him a band aid, he developed some convoluted feelings for her (Buffalo Bill style); but upon learning she was XZY's girlfriend, he exposed XZY's identity and name and the showdown 20 years in the making was about to hit a climax. I do have to say though the actor that played PZ or DX did a phenomenal job at playing him! This actor has done many characters, both protagonists and antagonists in different genres and I have to say he's very versatile.
The rest you'll have to watch yourselves; it does have an HE for all important people so don't worry. Both best friends of both leads were great, the rest of NPC's from the VR game, and FL's mom was alright. Loved uncle Xu, Xie Lyman guy, co-owner and the other employees of D Studio, were all good. The two antagonists were psychopath stepfather (justice was served after 20 years with all evidence found on him and he was most likely going to get the death penalty); ironically I had just watched him play a drug mastermind in a crime thriller before I started this show so he plays these types of characters very well and PZ who though thankfully didn't get a redemption arc because he did too much wrong, he did ultimately apologize properly to XZY for absolutely everything and left the industry (after turning himself into the police) though as creepy as he was, he took the used band aid HX gave him that he kept like a trophy with him. The thing probably already had fungus on it, 🤮.
Cinematography with the VR game was absolutely stunning for Republican era and all of the costumes for that period was beautiful as well as other scenes where you had outdoor shots were great. Oh and the kiss calendar was awesome (all dramas with romance should have them lol!); CXX is a very good kisser, just need LXY to be more natural and actually open her mouth so he’s not kissing her teeth as she pierces her lips together. P.S. There's an extra scene after the credits returning back to the VR game only with a role reversal, so came full circle.
Cons: There were issues with fluidity with the story. Firstly, the synopsis on the site only covered the first few episodes and not what the story was really about, which sucked because it was this huge story intertwined within and we had no clue it had such serious undertones. Next, they should never have had her best friend married because they started by randomly chucking this couple into the show and their scenes felt like very much an afterthought. It was all geared up to eventually show him "cheating". But they both were at fault because he had mentally checked out a long time ago and was solely married to his work while she had just grown complacent and also never really put much work into their marriage. I've got friends that work as much as these characters do plus have kids and still find time for an occasional date night in or not or something to keep things spicy. If there's love there and you want to make it work, you do. If you don't, like he was hospitalized from all that work and the breakup and instead of "let's try marriage counseling," she just said "I choose not to love you anymore," gave her ring to him and walked away. The entire thing was just weird to me; because feelings like that you can't turn them on and off like what we saw with the leads, even when FL broke up with ML more from being pressured by her parents and guilt then because she wanted to after his real identity was revealed, couldn't even function and they weren't married but just in a relationship. He cared about his clients from his new business more than his wife and she didn't see anything nor put in the effort. Both were at fault.
I have 2 small issues someone else mentioned in the comments with the FL; that CNY ML spent with her and her parents and than later was invited by her to sit on the roof when she tried to kiss him. It was most noticeable here because he was completely shut off and hurting and she didn't see it at all. On the roof she just babbled about her dreams and whatnot while the man she cared so much about was going through something and not mentally there and not once did she ask him if he was ok. It's like men are supposed to be able to take pain and loneliness and just swallow it while women can just not see it right in front of their eyes and people blamed him for not seeing her and her feelings. He's dealing with so much and always apologizes for everything even if none of it was his fault. Also, when she did her speechifying without letting him talk which was highly annoying; with the breakup and then after the factory thing. This man has been hunting for the truth for 20 years with only uncle Xu helping here and there and now he's just supposed to open up to you after you've said a bunch of hurtful, untruthful shit to him (after the factory especially) when he's not done a single bad thing to you nor was he responsible for what happened 20 years ago. I understand people say mean things when they're angry but some of what she said she should have apologized for and I don't think she said I'm sorry to him once the entire show. He was the one always apologizing; it was ridiculously unfair. It's one thing when he was in the wrong, ok good, but when he didn't do anything wrong even put her dad up in a private hospital room and gave him all of that equipment. He didn't have to do any of that.
FL's father was fine up until he started blaming XZY for what his father was framed for. When towards the end and they met instead of XZY apologizing again even though his father's name was cleared by then and HX's father knew that, instead of saying "let bygones be bygones" he should have been the bigger man and said "I'm sorry for blaming you for something you never did, were a child when it happened, and that I couldn't see that, letting the injustice continue." That would have been what a real man would say.
XZY's mother on the other hand was a lost cause; she never cared about his father or really him, just herself. She was insufferable, playing the victim while XZY had to essentially grow up on his own and look for evidence more or less alone. What mother wouldn't know that a father would only call their son by a pet name or what that pet name was? If she was dialed in, when that text message supposedly from him came through to her with the wrong name for their son claiming he was at fault for the collapse, she would have known instantly, he wasn't the one who sent it. But she took every opportunity to berate XZY about losing "another family" when he and PZ got into a fist fight without even knowing what it was about, as well as speak up for her new husband and stepson every chance she got. She resented her dead husband without knowing the truth but hopped into his killer's and the one responsible for the collapse's arms and bed before the ink dried on his tombstone. Only went to see his grave when his name was cleared after the psychopath confessed and was arrested. She actually asked XZY why he never told her about his findings after which she apologized to him for being weak, unhealthy, and incompetent which just seemed like weak, BS excuses for not being a proper mother to him basically most of his life. She briefly acknowledged that he essentially did this for 20 years alone without a mother. He thanked her for being with him in the end and she hugged him but by his awkward reaction, it was obvious she hadn't hugged him in a long time. She didn't deserve a son like him, so I was happy she was returning to the US after the divorce was finalized. I didn't want to see her anymore. Just made me want to throw something at the screen; glad they didn't give her a lot of screen time.
Would I recommend it? I would, absolutely. Despite the cons, the pros were more favorable. The story was rich and deep and though it wasn't lighthearted and had a lot to chew through, it was worth it, so give it a go!
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Light and had its charms
This was a very light drama and was easy to finish. Nothing much for the plot but it is still an okay drama.For me, it was a little boring-ish even though the episodes were short.
The leads had good chemistry and I like that no one was acting silly.
They could have let us see them graduate and going on their lives too.
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This review may contain spoilers
Zhuang Xu count your fucking days.
One thing about men is their audacity. And Zhuang Xu is that man. I want to run him over, reverse, then do it again at least ten times. I thought I had met annoying second leads before, but my god, Zhuang Xu made me wanna rip out my hair more times than humanly possible. I swear to god, I’m so glad I didn’t have to see him so much after they graduated, cuz if I had to, I might have actually dropped his show. I can’t stand him. I genuinely can’t. I don’t care what your issues are, what you’re struggling with, or what you’re dealing with, STOP FUCKING PROJECTING YOUR PROBLEMS ONTO THE MAIN GIRL.This man reeks of insecurity, and he makes it OUR fucking problem. FUCK OFF. Usually, I don’t care about second leads; even more rarely, I fall for them, but this guy. This bloody guy. He makes my blood boil. He would just be standing there like a nob, and I would still feel myself getting annoyed. How the fuck were there THREE girls interested in him? THREE?! And the fact that our main girl was still hung on him after like a year?! GIRL PLS, WAKE UP WTF!!
People are right when they say men will do anything but take accountability and go to therapy. And add that with their fucking audacity, and they are insufferable. I knew this guy was going to be a problem the moment he called Xiguang pathetic for apparently “leeching off her parents”. His words, not mine. The moment I heard that, I knew this guy was for the fucking streets. Like, why are you projecting your fucking insecurities onto her? And don’t even get me started on him getting onto her for wearing heels because she wanted to look pretty. Like, excuse me!? Go die. Disrespectfully, go die.
And no, I don’t give a flying fuck that he loved her all along, and he didn’t know how to express it, and that he wouldn't have been able to confess cuz blah, blah, blah. No. Fuck you lot for trying to justify this behaviour. Our ML hated the FL and yet couldn’t help but love her. He pursued her DESPITE her being hung up on the SL. And what does our SL do? He calls her pathetic, doesn’t believe or defend her when she’s getting ganged up on, scolds her when she wears heels, lets countless opportunities go, and fucking expects the FL to follow him like a lost puppy.
And oh. OH. When he mentioned the promise. The rage I felt course through my body when he confronted her at the friend's wedding. Not only did he purposefully spill wine all over her hand because he was jealous, but he had the AUDACITY to be mad at her for “moving on”. I can’t. I’m sorry, if anyone likes this guy or even remotely tries to defend him, you're on my hit list. It’s giving bullying the girl you like, but in this case, he’s a fucking adult, he graduated at the top of his class and works at one of the most prestigious places. Get this stinky attitude out of my face.
And when he lost his shit, I was terrified. That was the look of a man who would hit you if you weren’t in public. Kudos to the actor because my god, he was able to make this man terrifying and annoying and so hateful. And Xiguang is a better person than me cuz I would have at least slapped him for the way he was grabbing her wrist. Talking about some missed opportunities and having nothing left to lose. Motherfucker you bought this upon yourself, go suck a cactus and choke. Fucking hell.
I can’t believe I spent this long talking about this loser. I just can’t stand him one bit. And this is the first time a SL made me this enraged. This drama got so much hype, and I can totally see why it did, but I guess it just wasn’t for me. I got the hype, but the hype didn’t hit me unfortunately.
Let’s talk about the positives now cuz I spent far too long talking about that annoying being that is a wet sock.
- I loved the character relationships. The friendships and dynamics were absolutely solid, and I liked how we gave every single one of them enough time. FL and her cousin might just be my favourite dynamic of all time. They’re so adorable, especially in the more serious moments.
- The main couple are amazing. I mainly watched this show for its romance, and I’m not ashamed to say it. Yusen is the perfect man and an incredible yearner. How Xiguang didn’t jump his bones from the get-go is beyond me. I think I focused more on Yusen’s face than I did on the actual show. Song Wei Long is a gorgeous man, and that face card of his has never once declined.
- I appreciate how down-to-earth both the leads were despite being rich. And glad that we didn’t do the whole poor girl x rich CEO trope that we usually see. They were at the same level, and that was a breath of fresh air. Sometimes I even forgot they were rich lmao. The scene where Xiguang claimed her mans in front of all the rich business people had me screaming. Like yes girl, that man belongs to you!!
- We got to see ML’s struggles with accepting not being a neurosurgeon anymore more than I expected. Honestly, I thought we were gonna forget that as the show went on, but it was one of the main focal points of the story, and I was so happy. Even the fact that we got to see him in medical situations, and how much he misses it. Glad he got to go back to doing a job related to it.
Now onto everything else I didn’t like apart from Zhuang Xu:
- The CGI in this show was fucking horrendous, my god. It made me laugh. Budget couldn’t have been that bad, right?
- As much as I loved all the medical stuff, I feel like that was just a gimmick to make this series stand out from the rest of the office romance dramas out there. Yeah, the guy went through a life-changing tragedy, and he had to change careers, but I feel like he could have done something that wasn’t a CEO. I don’t know, you could just tell the writer wanted an office romance, but wanted this to stand out somehow and figured, hey, what do the girlies also love? Oh yeah, hot doctors! Like, the ML is the youngest AND the top neurosurgeon, but also a CEO? Come on, pick one or the other. I get that Chinese MLs can basically do anything, but even this is a bit of a stretch. I guess they somehow managed to link it back to his childhood backstory, but still.
- Story felt incredibly slow. I’m amazing with slow-burn dramas. Some of my favourites are slow burns that don’t have much going on in them plot-wise. But this show just didn’t do it for me. The start was pretty solid, but somewhere in the middle, it got so boring and draggy that I had to use my skip button. Maybe because I liked the medical stuff more than the business. Which really doesn’t bode well when this is an office romance.
- The weddings. I’m sorry, did we blow out the budget in the last two weddings? What the hell was that? They’re the main couple, and we don’t even get a proper wedding? When the hell can we start having proper modern wedding scenes in Chinese dramas? I’m sick and tired of this shit.
- Ending lowkey felt rushed. Don’t know why we always have to include them having children. I mean, it was cute, but that’s always the ending. Give me a proper wedding instead, damn it!!
I guess this was about it, really. The edits made me watch this show, and I think this is the first time that the edits were better. Which is sad to say, because I love Zhao Jin Mai, and I was so excited to see her back on my screen. But I guess it is what it is. LIN YUSEN, YOU’RE STILL MY FAVOURITE!! AND ONCE AGAIN, FUCK ZHUANG XU!!
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Hooked from the start!!!!!
I started this series without much expectation from the storyline, but since FirstKhao are one of the best actors and I love all of their series, I thought to give it a go . Boy was I wronggg, I became obsessed within 10 mins !!! I love love love some fantasy or supernatural elements in any story and since I am a cat person, I was literally giggling (more like laughing like a maniac) when I got the best of both worlds. Supernatural element is minimal as of now, but I am content with that.As always, FirstKhao are so natural and have one of the best chemistries (in my personal opinion). I am glad they finally have a cute, fluffy series, since I always re-watch there other series like Eclipse (when I feel frustrated) and Only Friends (when I want drama). Now I have a go-to series whenever I feel down.
I am a binge watcher and this is first series of my life i am trying to watch as it gets aired, since I wrongly assumed it as a monotonous and cute only story (blame is on me since I didnt watch any trailers). Now did I enjoy the episode? You bet I did !! Do I regret not waiting to binge watch ? regretting a wee bit (if wee bit defines as alot) since I will have to wait for a week now ... and again and again and again. But a new experience is always welcome, I kinda like this feeling of waiting for now atleast.
Definitely looking forward to next episode (><)
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This review may contain spoilers
Translated Well, Written Thin
“Can This Love Be Translated?” is a mixed bag for me. Some things worked, some things left me with question marks about the intent behind them. I kept oscillating between ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) and ( ꩜ ᯅ ꩜;) ??Overall though, I had a good time.
Story
It’s not a deep story. A struggling actress (FL) meets a polyglot (ML) abroad, gets smitten, and they part ways. An accident boosts her popularity, she signs up for a travel diary show with a foreign rising star (SML), lo and behold - the ML is hired as their translator. He is emotionally closed off, she is very openly interested, and after a lot of push and pull (plus some unnecessary secrets), they end up together.
Is there much substance? No.
Is it particularly engaging on its own? Heck, no.
Characters
Cha Mu-hee and Joo Ho-jin carry the drama. She’s insecure and prone to self-flagellation; he’s hyper-rational to the point of rudeness. She is smitten with him; he is not interested at all. This reversed dynamic is refreshing and a welcome change from the usual ML-chasing-FL trope. Both make assumptions, stick to them, and unintentionally fuel the conflict. Their flaws actually work for the story.
Hiro, unfortunately, is pure wasted potential. What could have been a genuinely compelling character is reduced to a forced love triangle that doesn’t even form a proper triangle. The third line barely exists. Everyone else, also unfortunately, feels undercooked. The secondary romance adds nothing, The emotional weight rests almost entirely on the leads, and the drama wobbles because of it.
Strengths
The biggest strength is the lack of tropiness. Refreshing, honestly. The cinematography and production are lovely, and the dialogue lands well even in translation.
Performances are solid. Go Youn-jung shines as Mu-hee, making her relentless pursuit endearing rather than creepy. Kim Seon-han’s Ho-jin is sharp and practical, and their contrasting personalities create charming chemistry (though Mu-hee carries most of it).
Weaknesses
Unnecessary plot points. Since there isn’t much story to begin with, the drama pads itself with twists and secrets to stretch across 12 episodes. The final twist is especially underwhelming. Ho-jin’s mother’s track isn’t irritating, but it begs the question: what does it actually achieve? And Ho-jin and Ji-seon’s confrontation toward the end…what was the point, other than ticking a romance drama checklist box? Eh.
Also, certain repetitiveness. It’s like they all have short term memory losses. The push and pull between the OTP as well as with Hiro, is the same rinse and repeat over and over again.
Overall
This drama wants to be thoughtful but settles for pleasant. It’s uneven, padded, and carried almost entirely by its leads. But as a laid back, low stakes watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon, it does the job.
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This review may contain spoilers
So Sweet, Yet I Wanted More
"When I Fly Towards You" is a very warm and comforting coming-of-age drama that truly shines during its school arc. The development of the characters in their teenage years feels natural, emotional, and meaningful. Watching them grow, especially seeing how the female lead supports the male lead in overcoming his insecurities and psychological barriers, is the strongest part of the story.The male lead is written as an introverted and emotionally reserved person, which makes sense for his background and personality.
During the school phase, this works very well because every small step he takes feels like real progress. His growth, both academically and emotionally, feels genuine and satisfying, and the relationship develops through small, quiet moments rather than dramatic scenes, which makes it feel realistic and sincere.
However, once the story moves into their adult lives, the emotional progression slows down significantly. While their relationship remains sweet and stable, it also feels somewhat stagnant. The male lead stays emotionally in the same place, and although that fits his personality, it creates the feeling that his internal journey is never fully explored or resolved on screen. The romance becomes more about comfort and companionship, but less about emotional depth and transformation.
The ending, including the pregnancy announcement, is symbolically beautiful and shows that their love continues into a new stage of life. Still, it feels more like a life milestone than an emotional climax. It confirms that they stay together, but it doesn’t quite deliver a strong emotional resolution to their personal growth, especially for the male lead.
Overall, this drama is perfect for viewers who enjoy calm, healthy, and gentle romances with strong school development and a comforting atmosphere. It may not be emotionally intense in the final episodes, but it remains a sweet and heartwarming story about growing up and growing together.
Rating: 8/10
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This review may contain spoilers
A super cute, quick moving drama
This series was really cute. However, I do think it could have contained more content. There was only a cheek kiss (Come on, we know we wanna see the smooching!) but other then that, it was very wonderfully done. It moved a bit fast, but for being 10 episodes, that's expected. It was pretty cute, and it's actually nice to see the male protagonist fall for the female for once, normally it's the other way around.I recommend if you want a quick watch, as you can absolutely binge this in a day. It was fun, silly, and full of life. A super cute "rainy day" drama.
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good « life » genre but …. Please TOO MUCH DRAMAS
Love Me is the kind of drama that truly touches your heart because it tackles universal themes that everyone can relate to: loneliness, family, love, illness, friendship, success…From the very first episode, I was completely captivated, thanks in particular to the remarkably nuanced performances of the actors and actresses.
The drama follows three love stories within the same family, giving viewers the opportunity to recognize themselves—at least in part—in one of these journeys. The father… he truly moved me. Even with his wife, it was incredibly difficult to see how much he did for her, clinging to hope at all costs, even if it meant denying reality. The first episode alone devastated me, and the rest of the series took me on a real emotional rollercoaster—which is undoubtedly one of the drama's drawbacks for me.
Indeed, I found the whole thing a bit overdramatized at times, a technique I already disliked in More Than Blue (a Taiwanese drama). Just when he finally gets a second chance to love and be loved, a new element darkens the story and plunges us back into a flood of tears. In my opinion, this was completely unnecessary, especially since their interactions were already powerful enough and warmed the hearts of the characters as much as our own.
Another couple I really liked, even if they sometimes seemed to become a little too routine. They get together quickly and everything seems to flow naturally, until she discovers he's already a father. A twist that ultimately has little impact on their relationship—and that's a good thing. The little boy's "mother," on the other hand, tries to become an obstacle, or at least plays the part.
Several moments with this trio made me smile and moved me. I particularly enjoyed the development of her character as a stepmother, as well as the overall chemistry between the couple. However, I would have liked to see more of it: little by little, their daily life becomes very normal, almost too normal, leaving aside the magic or the "little something extra" I was hoping for, in favor of a stronger focus on family and work.
Nevertheless, I really loved their relationship.
The younger couple was the one I liked the least. Not because of her—on the contrary, I found her far too good for him. The lead's brother, on the other hand, annoyed me tremendously. Initially obnoxious and superficial, I had a lot of trouble connecting with his character, right up until the end, especially when he displayed misplaced jealousy of his partner's success.
There isn't much to say about their dynamic: after their first scene as a couple, I didn't really enjoy their time together. Nevertheless, I'm glad that each of them eventually found their own path.
Overall, a very beautiful slice-of-life drama that tackles several themes, especially loneliness, through three different perspectives and journeys. I had a wonderful time, I cried a lot—sometimes even too much, to the point where I felt like I was hurting myself.
Each of the three stories has its own charm, but it was the adults' stories that touched me the most. Despite a successful conclusion, I would have liked a slightly more positive note in their romances. In the end, I don't really feel a "happy ending" for each of them, but rather a very realistic one: harsh, but beautiful nonetheless (everyone can judge for themselves).
The acting is impeccable, and despite the slow pace, I was never bored.
I recommend it… with the option of tissues.
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As someone who finished reading the novel, this series is in fact 90% romantic comedy, and 10% drama for Lynx. I also love the fact that they included details that aren't mentioned in the novel. There were scenes and details they excluded but added more meaningful scenarios to it, which is surprisingly make sense to it.
10/10 to the actors, and it's only for episode 1. Kudos to everyone, Cat For Cash will be everyone‘s comfort show.
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DMD Friendship Reality, the Third Chapter
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Downgrade and Disappointment
Was this series a joke?They didn't even try to lipsync in the last episode, although they are actors and the audio was bad nonetheless.
These companies need to stop trying to make everyone an all-rounder. There are guys with ZERO experience on this show and its obvious. Thats fine, that's normal. But why would they put singing, dancing, acting and doing allnof these live on them at the same time?
The results?
1. Couples that only have chemistry because both of them are attractive, so every interaction will be visually pleasing.
2. Performers that look unsure, uncomfortable, dont perform live and aren't acting their age and bandwidth.
3. Bad series, because you try to pump them out in a way that is pleasing to the broad mass rather than giving different vibes with different couples.
Before you get mad, I have examples of pairings being done right:
TutorYim are balanced, comfortablewith each other (but they got treated with a fu*kass scipt for their own series and way too little screen time during CutiePie)
TeePor, no dumb stereotypical roles put on them, they are god performers and started their group after several attempts in the entertainment industry and their first minor role in YourSky.
Jj and Net aren't out yet, but what I saw of them was full of harmony in a way that both of them WANT this. They chose each other, not because of a certain expectation, but because both of them love to act and want to make it in the industry and actually, thats what actors should portray.
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EP1
At first, I didn’t have very high expectations, BUT I knew it was going to be good. Then when I started watching, I was surprised because it actually exceeded my own expectations. I really enjoyed it the whole time. There were so many scenes I liked, and if you’re reading this, you really should watch it.And aside from FirstKhaotung’s chemistry (which is already unquestionable), their chemistry with the other cast members is also really great. I could truly feel the connection between all the characters. Overall, episode 1 was already so good for me and it made me want to keep watching the next episodes.
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Upside down gender dynamics; FL always a scheme ahead
My favorite part of this show might be all the girl power, baked right into the setup. The matriarchal Rong family, powerful enough to hold its own in a patriarchal society, may not be quite historically believable... but it still provides the perfect context to reverse all the traditional gender dynamics! I found it so satisfying to watch, even when these women are unfair or wrong. It’s just so casually a reality in their world, that the women- whether they are protecting the men, using them, or trampling over them- are in control.I think the writer(s) must really like women. The female characters are generally interesting and multifaceted, as are their relationships. There are some typical power struggles and rivalries within the family, but refreshingly, not a whiff of love rivalry. These women are concerned with bigger things.
At the helm is the female lead, Rong Shanbao, who is so completely badass- confident, in control, outsmarting everyone. I did not find her relatable or, to be honest, even that likable. She lacks a certain humanity and genuineness. However, she always acts on the side of “right”, and it’s pretty satisfying to watch her run circles around everyone else.
The male lead, Lu Jianglai, is decently capable, just not quite to her level. I like the way their relationship develops, which allows them to stay in each other’s orbit without turning into a sappy couple. The care and attraction are there, but their interests are not always aligned; this creates some interesting situations and dynamics.
That said, at some point Lu Jianglai goes full sap for her while she stays an ice queen. I get that she is the clever and powerful one, but she doesn’t seem to respect him very much. At least he has the decency to be upset about it at some point, but then he is mollified by... a kiss on the cheek. Right. Like so many other men in this show, he didn't totally have my respect, either.
A special shoutout to the grandma. Her sometimes-misguided authoritarian character is usually reserved for men, here it is fittingly the matriarch. I thought it’s interesting that she enforces “traditional” hierarchies even in a convention-defying family; it reminds us that the Rong family is not “modern” per se, but still a product of its times.
The plot is generally decently paced, though the reverse harem at the beginning gets a bit draggy. Other than that, I was happily binging this show, which involves taking down evil schemers and that sort of thing. Some of the side stories are also quite nice, like the second sister’s, but that one ends up suffering from lack of attention and resolution.
There is a little bit of humor sprinkled through the beginning to middle, but only on a small scale. It’s not quite a funny or lighthearted show, but I found it generally low-stress, mainly because things tend to work out and it’s pretty clear who to like and who to hate. Sympathetic antagonists are largely redeemed; those who aren’t, are revealed to be less sympathetic. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call this realistic or masterful storytelling, but I was surprisingly relieved that this show takes it easy on my emotions.
My main complaint, I don’t know how to say without spoiling all the “plot twists”... but basically, there are just too many of them.
“BUT WAIT! It was part of her plan all along!” - happens over and over again. I may have been impressed the first one or two times, but after awhile it just feels tired and excessive.
The show doesn’t bring us along with the FL’s plans, it’s all revealed afterwards (plot twist style). Some of them don’t even make that much sense- how could she have predicted all those things with such precision?- but they are revealed in such retrospect that I couldn’t keep track. Of course it’s satisfying to watch the FL outsmart everyone, but it does make her feel even more cold, distant, and unrelatable. And it is, honestly, just a bit too much.
The last arc breaks from this formula. The FL barely seems relevant; in fact, the entire thing seems to be more about other people than about our leads. It’s not my favorite arc, but it’s better than, I would say, the majority of Cdramas, which often fall apart towards the end. At least I stayed interested.
The acting is ok. Gulnezer plays her calm, composed Rong Shanbao well, but I don’t know if there was anything she could have done to make us like her more. Neo is also fine, though I thought his voice (his own) was strangely wispy and weak, and had a lisp. I honestly don’t think they look that good together- Neo just looks so young and delicate next to her, which I suppose matches their dynamic- but that’s not their fault. I thought some of the sisters overacted (the ones who were supposed to be catty), but the grandma did a fantastic job.
The costumes and such are ok. The settings are pretty nice, the tea plantations are pretty. The background music is good at setting the mood, like lighthearted vs intrigue. The songs didn’t stand out for me. The occasional fighting looks very sped up.
Overall this is a fun watch and I loved seeing women kicking ass and dominating. The story and characters are not without flaws, but it kept me interested and hooked.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This a fairly happy ending. For a minute it looks like things won’t work out, but it all shakes out last minute, with a path visible for them to stay together.
That said, I wouldn’t consider this a particularly satisfying ending. The immediate situation is resolved but there is no view of what the future would actually look like. I did hear hints of a sequel and I think this is a good setup for one, since it’s somewhat open.
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Unexpectedly fun!
I never write reviews, but this show is underrated. I think maybe you have to have read manwhas to appreciate how crazy and over the top the premise and first few episodes are. It’s cartoon motivations and violence, basically. People make insane decisions and get up multiple times from injuries that would be deadly in the real world. The comedy is, at times, ridiculous, which I usually don’t like, but I think this made me actually laugh out loud more than most shows I’ve watched.The actors are good. As I watched this, Oh Yeon Seo reminded me so much of Bong Soon’s energy. I think it’s the hair, the tiny cuteness factor and the OST which seems to be from the same artist, though I didn’t look it up.
It does take a turn into a mystery around midway through and I enjoyed it more after that.
Overall, I found this is a fun, fast watch and I think it deserves a better rating.
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This review may contain spoilers
I think this series is fine for a one-time watch, but nothing more than that. It wasn’t engaging enough to linger in my mind afterward or make me want to come back to it later. While watching, I had the impression that it had a lot of potential, but that potential was wasted. Many elements of the series felt like filler to me, and even if they weren’t meant to be, the script turned them into such. A lot of potentially interesting topics weren’t developed, and some of the solutions were simply absurd.Starting with the main culinary storyline, which for most of the series was the most interesting and, in my opinion, the best handled one — toward the end it became full of absurdities. Beginning with the fact that no one at the restaurant knew they had been awarded three stars and only found out from other people or the internet. Then there was the biggest flop, which at the same time had great potential: the cooking battle — how on earth did no one verify the results if it was announced as a win rather than a draw? Why did the guy who was the head of Diamond storm off offended instead of explaining the situation? An absurd situation, topped off by the cherry on the cake: a family breakfast and a mother who suddenly allowed them to run the restaurant, even though she herself hadn’t changed for the better at all. In the end, the restaurant that stole recipes and falsified competition results kept its three stars, and no one tried to do anything about it. The falsification of the results of the first competition was also never explained. I also don’t understand what his mother was planning next. Some new restaurant — but why all these mind games?
As for the main couple — Mo Yeon Ju and Han Beom U — I have very mixed feelings. Individually, I find them interesting characters, especially him. I think he was very well written and acted. It was enjoyable to watch his character development, and you could really see how he changed, began to understand his mistakes, and tried to fix them. The only thing that puzzles me in his case is the storyline about his father, which was either never mentioned or handled so superficially that I don’t even remember it. She was also an interesting character to me. I liked her confidence and feisty personality, although at times I felt it was a bit over the top. However, in her case, the storyline about being abandoned by her parents felt like filler. It had potential and could have been interesting if it had been developed somehow — for example, if she had found her biological parents. When it comes to their relationship, though, my feelings were extremely mixed. Sometimes I liked the chemistry between them, especially from his side. From start to finish, his feelings and chemistry were clearly visible. With her, however, it was inconsistent. This was especially noticeable to me when her ex returned (which was also filler, but more on that later). I had the impression that she smiled more around her ex, was nicer to him, and that the male lead was like a clingy nuisance who was getting in their way. Maybe that’s a misinterpretation, but that’s how it came across to me. What also annoyed me was that the male lead never told her that he wasn’t the one who stole her recipes and that he had tried to prevent it earlier — in fact, he never really told her at all.
Next, I want to expand on the storyline with her ex, which I also consider filler — again, mainly because of the script. First of all, the whole idea of going to Japan with him was stupid. At that point, she was already involved with the male lead; they had been on a date, and she informed him about her departure only by letter. On top of that, she flew there with her ex. She could have gone alone, and she certainly didn’t need to spend all that time with him in Japan — visiting places from the past, shopping together, or cooking together. To me, this shows respect — or rather, a lack of respect — for a new, potential partner. Although this alone wouldn’t yet make it filler. The problem is that after the male lead stopped the merger and they returned to Korea, Le Murir was never mentioned again — not the restaurant, not the chef, not his illness, nothing. The whole topic just vanished into thin air, which is why I consider it filler. On top of that, I really didn’t like how Jeon Min, who harmed the restaurant’s founder’s health by throwing away his medication, faced no consequences whatsoever — on the contrary, he was praised and hugged by him because he supposedly cared so much about Le Murir. In what way? By selling it to a company that would later cause it to go bankrupt? I also still don’t understand why he tried to lure the female lead to Le Murir while simultaneously pushing for a merger that he knew would lead to bankruptcy.
As for other characters, I’ll only mention Jin Myeong Suk and Sin Chun Seung. I liked their conflicts and the way they teased each other. They made me laugh many times, so I consider them a nice addition. Sin Chun Seung’s character development was also interesting, and I’m glad he started doing better, finally proved his worth to his father, and took over the restaurant. The only thing I don’t understand here is the storyline with the actor from “Lovely Jogger.” Did they know each other from school? Maybe I just didn’t catch some of the comedy.
In my opinion, there’s no point in discussing the other characters, as they weren’t interesting enough to really stick in my memory or make me want to write more about them. A few pleasant characters, a few “semi-villains,” and that’s about it.
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A Perfect Way to Start 2026
Shine On Me is officially my first completed drama of 2026, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better start.From the very first episode, the drama pulled me in with its solid storyline, strong acting, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the undeniable chemistry between the main leads. There wasn’t a single dull moment. Every episode felt engaging, meaningful, and completely worth watching. It’s the kind of drama where you keep telling yourself, “just one more episode,” and before you know it, it’s already way past bedtime.
Despite my very busy work schedule, I found myself staying up late night after night just to squeeze in a few more episodes... and that alone says a lot about how good this drama is. Every bit of lost sleep was absolutely worth it.
Now that I’ve finished it, I’m already on the hunt for my next binge-watch, preferably one with lots of romantic scenes. Still, it’s going to take some time for me to move on from Shine On Me. This drama set the bar high and will definitely stay with me for a long while.
Highly recommended. 💖
Rating: 10/10
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