Reviews

A must watch!

"The WONDERfools" was very good in a lot of aspects. It balanced action, comedy, and emotional moments perfectly, making it such an entertaining and fun drama from start to finish.

The cast was amazing, especially Cha Eunwoo and Park Eun-bin, who both delivered incredible chemistry & great performances as the leads. They portrayed Lee Unjeong and Eun Chaeni so well, bringing out their characters’ humor, vulnerabilities, and emotional depth. Their chemistry was strong and the scenes between them was memorable and full of energy. The rest of the cast meshed together well bringing cohesion to the group. The only character I thought was a bit out of place was Mr. Son who didn't contribute as much to the group or his family and he seemed a bit out of place with the group until near the end because he was money hungry & a but selfish at times. Overall, this is a must watch drama with 8 episodes on Netflix! I am hoping for season 2!!

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A Mortal’s Courage and an Immortal’s Heart

Love Beyond the Grave is a visually stunning xuanhuan romance carried by two beautiful lead performances, a haunting central love story, and some of the most striking fantasy imagery in recent C-drama.

Chen Feiyu is perfectly cast as Duan Xu, the cavalier, smiling, slightly maverick mortal general. His charm lies in that beautiful smile, but also in the restraint behind it. He plays Duan Xu as someone who appears light, clever and almost reckless on the surface, while quietly carrying pain, intelligence and courage underneath. However, while Chen Feiyu’s performance works beautifully, the writing does not always give Duan Xu the same level of development as He Simu. His emotional logic, especially the meaning behind his constant smile, could have been explored more deeply.

Dilraba Dilmurat is fantastic as He Simu. She brings both power and vulnerability to the role, making He Simu feel ancient, detached, lonely, curious and gradually more human. Her smile is luminous, but it is the way she shifts between command, innocence, emotional awakening and sorrow that gives the character depth. Her development is one of the strongest parts of the drama. Her arc feels well written because she does not become weaker through love; instead, she becomes more complete.

The love between He Simu and Duan Xu is one of the drama’s greatest strengths. It feels mature because it is not built on shallow misunderstanding or forced sweetness. Their relationship grows through honesty, testing, shared risk and emotional recognition. He is mortal, she is immensely powerful, yet his sacrifice proves that strength is not only supernatural. In the end, he gives her the one thing her power could not give her: the chance to truly live, feel and choose. That makes his love powerful rather than passive.

Miles Wei is excellent as Yan Ke. His villainy works because it develops gradually. He begins as controlled, elegant and loyal, but his love becomes possession, and his devotion curdles into obsession. His descent into jealousy, control and madness gives the drama real tension, especially because his feelings are tragic without ever being excused.

Unfortunately, the plot does become stagnant in the middle. At times it circles around the same emotional and political conflicts rather than moving forward. The Void had so much potential, and the quirky characters there could have added more humour, texture and emotional contrast. More development of that world and its side characters would have given the drama greater depth and made the middle section feel less repetitive.

Where the drama truly excels is in its visual storytelling. The fight scenes, CGI, costumes and supernatural atmosphere are exceptional. The drama knows how to combine darkness and beauty: battlefield brutality, ghostly imagery, flowing costumes, otherworldly lighting and emotionally charged action sequences. Even when the pacing falters, the production often remains breathtaking.

Overall, Love Beyond the Grave is not a perfect drama, but it is a memorable one. Its middle section could have been tighter, and Duan Xu deserved more character development on the page. But the central couple are heartfelt, the performances draw you in, the villain arc is compelling, and the ending gives emotional weight to the entire journey. It is a love story about power, mortality, sacrifice and the courage to feel — and that is what makes it linger.

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Tea dynasty chaos, schemes & Lu Jianglai’s deadly puppy eyes

Oh my God, where do I even start with this drama?! I just finished the final episodes and honestly, the last 6 episodes - the whole chaotic arc introducing Lu Jianglai’s biological family, could have easily been a whole separate Season 2! But let's dive into the absolute madness, the toxic sibling rivalries, and the sheer brilliance of the tea-dynasty power dynamics in this breakdown.

The core setup: Tea, power, and Jianglai's beautiful eyes, LOL.
The story kicks off in Linji, a place built on a legendary historical legacy where the powerful Rong family rules a literal empire of tea farming. Enter our main lead, Rong Shanbao, the oldest daughter and the absolute backbone of the family. She is sharp, calculated, completely unbothered by historical gender norms, and currently being groomed by the family matriarch, Madam Rong, to be the next successor. Shanbao isn't someone to be manipulated, and she’s constantly running circles around everyone else.
Then we have Lu Jianglai. When we first meet him, he’s undercover trying to bust a human trafficking ring targeting tea pickers, and let me tell you, his dedication to the bit is extreme! He literally dresses up as a frail grandma in a mask to set a trap. He’s not just a county magistrate; he’s secretly an imperial inspector with a royal edict. But after an absolute betrayal by his own inner circle, he gets poisoned, attacked on a mountain cliff, and rolls right in front of Shanbao’s carriage with a total case of amnesia!
Suddenly, this brilliant official is working in the Rong family stables under the name "Lu Fusheng". And the actor playing Jianglai? Absolute genius. The way he switches from a calculating mind to playing this innocent, subservient, pitiful character with these massive puppy eyes had me screaming! He uses those eyes like an absolute weapon to confuse souls and try to manipulate better living conditions out of Shanbao. But Shanbao? Smart girl. She's distrustful and keeps him close just to see when he'll reveal his true self.
The tension between them is elite. He is a stubborn, ambitious force, and she is used to the quiet, obedient types. Their chemistry moves from a battle of wits to deep emotional vulnerability, especially when he’s nursing her through a severe illness or clinging to her hand during nightmares.
But the plot really thickens when the Rong family opens its doors for a massive "husband selection process" to secure a match for Shanbao. Cue an absolute circus of noble suitors descending on the courtyard, throwing tantrums, pushing and shoving like toddlers, and scheming to get their hands on the Rong fortune. It turns the drama into a psychological web where literally everyone is following everyone, and nowhere is safe.

What I absolutely LOVED ❤️
The Masterful Scheming and Interpersonal Warfare: I'm not going to lie, this story has some of the most well-written, layered political and familial scheming I have ever seen in a Chinese drama. The script doesn't treat the audience like idiots. Every single character is playing 4D chess.

Rong Shanbao's unapologetic authority: Watching Shanbao shut down toxic suitors like Wang Lu and Yang Dingchen for trying to bring ancient sexism into her household was spectacular. She demands respect for everyone, handles crises with flawless acting, and always has a calculated answer ready for her overbearing grandmother.

The sibling and cousin dynamics: The house is divided into literal camps. You have the supportive, loyal cousin Shen Xiangling on Shanbao’s side. Then you have Rong Yunxi and Rong Yunyin who are the absolute captains of the hate-train. Yunyin is so consumed by bitterness and arrogance that she literally sneaks around breaking locks and starting fights. The psychological warfare between these sisters keeps the pacing lightning-fast.

The villainous Rong Yunshu: Oh, the blind fifth daughter, Rong Yunshu! The actress who plays her is the perfect fit for this role. She puts on this hyper-pretentious, fragile, innocent act to curry favor with Madam Rong while executing some of the coldest, most calculating moves in the dark. She is an absolute operational mastermind masquerading as a victim.

The scandalous side plots: Let's talk about Yan Jingyi (Madam Rong's butler) and the desperate suitor Song Yifang! Song Yifang gets caught stealing a gold candle stand, and instead of taking his punishment, he literally seduces Jingyi on the spot! Their literal "sexcapade" leads to her using her positioning to protect him the next morning. Talk about chaotic, high-stakes drama!

What I didn't like 😡
The Toxic Redemption Arc for Rong Yunshu: The writers really tried to force a redemption arc on Yunshu at the end regarding her relationship with the scholar Bai Yinsheng. After she literally betrays him, stabs people in the back, and lets others take the fall, we're supposed to find it romantic that she gave him medicine to revive him after he floated ashore? And then she has the audacity to play hard to get while he chases her toxicity? Absolute BS.

Madam Rong’s insufferable pride: Madam Rong is a tyrannical matriarch who treats her own family like trash, trampling on people based on status and blowing up at minor mistakes. When Shanbao returns from a near-death ordeal in a freezing rainstorm, Madam Rong doesn't even ask if she's okay. She only demands updates on the tea plantation! And even when she finally realises the psychological damage she has caused her grandkids, she still refuses to properly apologise. The stubborn pride of this woman made me want to throw things.

The insufferable uselessness of Wen Can: I thought Wen Can was kind of cute at first with his little pouting, whining routine when trying to win Shanbao's affection. But the more the drama progresses, the more you realise he is just an emotionally immature, spoiled, useless baby who throws erratic tantrums and swipes chess pieces off the board when things don't go his way.

The unnoticeable soundtrack: For a drama with this much sweeping visual tension and intense emotional stakes, the soundtrack was practically invisible. It didn't even start to register until around episodes 14 or 15, and even then, it faded right back into the background noise. It did its basic job, sure, but it completely missed the chance to elevate the cinematic atmosphere.

Classic movie tropes and logic flaws: There's a scene where a corrupt clerk tries to assassinate Jianglai by drugging him and setting a house on fire. Of course, Jianglai isn't actually knocked out and fights back. But it’s that classic, frustrating movie logic where the villain takes ten hours to slowly monologue and pour fuel instead of just executing the kill instantly. It completely punctures the suspense when characters act dumb just for the plot to move forward.

Final verdict: Despite some late pacing shifts and a few forced character redemptions, this is a wildly addictive, fiercely intelligent character study wrapped in historical tea politics. If you love explosive family dynamics, intense chemistry, and high-IQ leads, you need to watch this immediately.

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It's Interesting Enough...

IMO, I think anyone asking fans/viewers not to compare this show to the 1st installment is calling for a tall order. You cannot have a predecessor like the OG Only Friends and expect people to scrub it off their minds to watch this. Like it never happened. That makes no sense. Not only do they share a name, but it's set in the same universe, and the OG cast keep popping in. Come on now.

The OG show was also messy, daring, and different. Far from anything we'd seen b4 in the Thai BL space. Of course, it's going to leave a mark that many will remember. Also, I don't expect a show like Only Friends to be relatable. If they were, I'd be seeking therapy and a new friend group, not sitting in my bed on a Friday to watch a TV show. I'm here to be entertained (and lowkey stressed out), not to find something relatable.

🎭Ok, now for my actual thoughts on this show, the couples, & plot.🎭

1. Jack & Dean
Their start was interesting enough. When Dean seduced Jack in the 1st episode, then Mix proceeded to break the 4th wall and stare deep into my soul, I was sat. I was ready for the mess, to learn what this unforgivable thing Dean had done to lead to the breakup, and to hate him. Turns out, I wouldn't hate Dean at all. In fact, I ended up disliking Jack instead.

God forbid, but if I had a partner like Jack... Bruh, I'd walk straight into Nairobi traffic. Just take me out, man. That man is so fucking petulant. Holy shit! When he got punched in ep 10, I stood up and clapped. A whole standing ovation in the living room. He'd had it coming for so long.

Now, I don't think the reason for their breakup was handled very well in this story. They broke up because Jack found out that Dean was side hustling as a host. And so he drank himself into addiction, hated Dean, and spent the rest of the show punishing him coz he could no longer trust him.

I have beef with that. I think that sex work or sex adjacent work should be handled very carefully, especially in this case, where familial circumstances and poverty led Dean to start hosting. And correct me if I'm wrong, but Dean never slept with any of the clients, did he?
He wasn't in love with any of them either. The man was poor, had to support his mother, was dealing with a sister who had an abusive bf, and didn't want to ask for money from his bf because, well, pride is a thing. Plus, moneyXromatic relationships are always a slippery slope.

Based on that, I'll say that the plot tried to be deep, but failed as they mishandled the topics at hand. Dean's poverty and family situation are only used to show that he's maybe untrustworthy, shame him into everyone thinking that he can be bought for sexual favours, and thus, hard to love. Like Jack was trying soo hard to love him. despite it all. Boo hoo, poor Jack *insert hard eye roll🙄*. Come on, man.

I wish that he'd actually cheated. Then all the drama, the name-calling, the mistrust, and the guilt that Jack (and others) kept throwing at and piling on him could make sense.

Side note 1. I need someone from the GMMTV screenwriters' room to sit me down and explain to me how alcoholism works. In the 1st installment, Ray was back to drinking after ditching rehab coz Sand's love and care made him all better. In this one, Jack, who went to rehab for drinking because he was oh so heartbroken, is back to clubbing and drinking with friends with zero repercussions. What...? How..? Fuck the science of addiction, I guess

2. Arnold & Tua
I don't have much to say about them. Friends-to-lovers has never been the genre for me, so I never have much to say about it. There was a lot of yearning and very cute, heartwarming moments with them. Definitely a change of pace from the mess that was the other couples.

I will, however, thank this show for introducing me to the ship that is JossGawin. I hadn't seen Joss b4 and the last time I saw Gawin was in 2023 in 'Be My Favourite.' I enjoyed their chemistry and acting, and cannot wait to see them in the just announced 'Round One.' I've seen parts of the trailer on Twitter, and it looks interesting. A little different. My interest has been piqued. Thank the gods I have a chance to see them in something since 'Replay' was cancelled.

Side note 2: I need to have a serious talk with whoever was in charge of styling Tua for this show. Y'all put Jack in those absolutely delicious fitted crop tops and put that on Tua?? What in the...🙆🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. What were you trying to accomplish? What was the vision here?

3. Rome & Raffy
Now, if trophies were to be handed out to the couple with the most memorable NC scenes, they'd be taking them home. No questions asked. AouBoom is another new ship that this show introduced me to. Such incredible chemistry and good acting. Outside of their chemistry, their overall storyline was weak, though.

Rome was the good, long-suffering one, while Raffy was out there chasing and appreciating anything and everyone apart from the one person who showed him care. Yes, they got back together, but it felt a little rushed. Rome was really the 2nd option😭. Everyone left, and Raffy had no one, so he picked him. Tsk tsk.

I wanna see their future projects, but I'm weary of the upcoming 'Billionaire Biker.' I watched the trailer, and something about it gave me the vibes of 'A Boss and A Babe,' a show I could not complete. It's one of those GMMTV 'idol dramas', where the ship, their visuals, and their chemistry carry the show on their backs, while the actual plot limps and gasps for breath in the background.

🎭Other Thoughts🎭
a. The cameos from the OG cast were so much fun. I thought Sand & Ray cameos would be my highlight, only for Boston & Nick's conversation to come outta nowhere and take the cup. That was perhaps the best conversation in this whole installment. So heartfelt

b. Speaking of Boston, they used that man as bait. Had me all stressed out, only for him to work to push the couples together. Zero mess from him *sigh*. And then he had the most random 'come to Jesus' moment outta nowhere

c. What happened to the 100k that Pete stole? Yeah, he got exposed for the scheming, thieving, lying little shit that he was, but did he give back the money?

d. I wish they hadn't quickly dropped with that on-screen ship vs r/ship side plot that they started with DeanxArnoldxJack. I think that could have made a very interesting social commentary on the behind-the-scenes lives in the BL (and more recently GL) world

e. How did poor boy Dean end up in a high-rise with floor-to-ceiling windows? Did the pple behind the story forget that bro was poor? Or does rent in Thailand work differently than where I'm from?

f. Dean & Raffy's catty cutting fights were so fun to watch. Raffy was certainly in over his head trying to take on Dean.

g. Not enough 'cross kissing' for my liking

h. We saw Great in the 2nd-to-last scene. Does that mean we'll be getting a 3rd installment? If so, please, please bring back the mess - and tighten the plot

🎭Final Remarks🎭
Overall, the show is good. You can watch it, but perhaps lower your expectations on the messiness. It's nowhere near the levels of greatness set by its predecessor. The actors were good. The plot wasn't. It played it too safe and left many glaring plot holes.

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Nothing compared to season 1

A-Teen 2 is a decent but slightly disappointing follow-up to a beloved first season. It trades the magic of first love for the weight of real decisions, which is admirable in intent but not always successful in execution. The romance feels less electric, some characters are sidelined, and the pacing can be uneven.

That said, the newer characters breathe fresh life into the show. One of the clear wins of Season 2 is how much the characters have evolved. Kim Ha Na in particular goes through a satisfying arc — moving from the somewhat manipulative figure of Season 1 into someone more honest, open, and self-aware. Also showing more about Bo Ram, a character that was overlooked in Season 1. Her storyline — balancing friendship, romance with Gi Hun, and her uncertain future — is genuinely touching and one of the emotional highlights of the season.

The one thing I really wanted was more on Siwoo and Doha but this gave nothing 😭

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Its is a delightful, easy-to-watch Korean web drama that punches above its weight given its short episode runtime. It won't reinvent the coming-of-age genre, but it doesn't need to. Its charm lies in its warmth, relatability, and the quiet sincerity with which it portrays the messy, beautiful business of being a teenager.

One of the best things about the series is the very relatable topics it deals with — real-life sources of anxieties such as exams, broken trust, arguments between friends, and feeling insecure around friends who seemingly have their life together.

The only thing that seemed very ideal was doha's reaction to kimha's betrayal. and the fact that it was doha who went to amend their friendship and not kimha, she was very toxic for what she did.

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♡ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ౨ Honest Review ৎ ‧₊ .ᐟ

˗ˏˋ I just recently finished this drama today after putting it off for a while. I loved all the characters, especially the main characters. Do Do-Hee and Gu-Won are a match made in heaven.. well, hell. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama, however, I will say that the drama started to feel rushed as it progressed, especially the last few episodes. An example I’d like to use is when Noh Seok-min showed up after supposedly “committing suicide.” Instead of explaining how he ended up alive, it was never explained. He now has a deep hatred for both Gu-Won and Do Do-Hee and will do everything in his power to put an end to them. To do so, he kidnaps Do Do-Hee and hurts her to lure Gu-Won to his location. This entire scene felt so rushed to me because one second he’s showing up, determined to end them both and then the next he’s already nowhere to be seen on screen. Do Do-Hee ends up dying in Gu-Won’s arms after being severely injured by a gunshot wound, but Gu-Won sacrifices himself to save her life, fading away into nothingness. That doesn’t last long, however, because now he’s suddenly back! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this drama a lot, I just have a bone to pick towards the end. For the most part, it was climactic, the acting was amazing from everybody involved, the characters are easy to fall in love with, and the romance is top tier. I definitely would recommend this to anybody and if you’ve been thinking of watching it I’d give it a shot! Although I need to knock off points for the rushed feel towards the end, It’s still a great drama nonetheless. ´ˎ˗

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En general me costó mucho terminar la serie, ya que no es que sea mala, pero había ciertas cosas que me aburrían demasiado y no me daban ganas de querer seguir mirándola, y por eso mismo la abandoné por mucho tiempo. el último episodio. encuentro que es muy bueno, y la primera mitad, o diría que un poco más de la mitad de ese episodio, me gustó mucho. Pero cuando ya va terminando, como que va a perder perdiendo algo. Y este mismo patrón ocurre en varios episodios: parten muy bien, tienen cosas muy bacanes, y se vuelve un poco aburrido de ver no la hace muy memorable

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Chaotic, Illogical, and Somehow Still Fun

*Disclaimer: This review contains major spoilers for the entire series, including plot twists and the ending. Read at your own risk.

This drama is so dumb — ridiculously bad. So bad that I can’t even be mad about it. What’s worse is that I think I might have actually enjoyed it at times. I didn’t know it was possible for a show to move this fast-paced while also going absolutely nowhere.

The setup was nice, and I liked the first episode, but overall the story made no sense. It felt like the writers just threw all logic out the window. The plot twist came out of nowhere and didn’t make any logical sense whatsoever. It was very clearly added purely for shock value, with no real thought behind it.

Like, you’re telling me Arisa dedicated her entire life to avenging her dead parents and somehow never realized her mother was alive, yet Lalin and King figured it out in a single day? Her mother must have just done a terrible job faking her own death because what even was that?

Mek being secretly evil was very obvious — I think most people guessed that from the trailer alone. It’s a very common trope in revenge stories like this, so it didn’t feel original at all.

The writers also couldn’t even commit to giving Mek an actual redemption arc. Instead, they just had him appear out of nowhere and take a bullet for Arisa in the last episode like that was supposed to magically undo everything. I literally didn’t even know he was there until he got shot. How did he even know where they were? Was he just stalking Arisa the whole time?

The characters were barely developed. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about either Arisa’s or Lalin’s personalities outside of the revenge plot, aside from Arisa being resentful and emotionally closed off. Lalin especially felt underwritten at times. She kind of only exists so Arisa can love her. The show briefly mentions the struggles in Lalin’s own life, but they’re rarely explored deeply enough to actually matter. As a result, Lalin mostly ends up serving as the person who helps heal Arisa and teaches her how to love again. Which is cute, don’t get me wrong — I just wish we had gotten to know Lalin a bit more as her own character.

The romance was also rushed (though that’s somewhat understandable considering the show is only eight episodes long), and for most of the series, not much of real importance actually happens.

I also think a story that tries to combine revenge and romance like this needs a decent amount of emotional angst for both aspects to really work together, and Broken of Love surprisingly had very little of it. Considering the drama is built around betrayal, trauma, and revenge, the emotional tension felt oddly low most of the time, which made a lot of the drama feel underwhelming instead of intense.

I think the best episodes were Episodes 1 and 7. Even though all logic disappears after Episode 6, that’s also when the plot finally starts moving. The earlier episodes mostly just felt like buildup.

Of course, the show wasn’t completely bad. The acting was decent overall, and Faye and Atom had enough chemistry to make the romance one of the more enjoyable parts of the series. Even when the writing lost me, their scenes together still worked. The love scenes were also shot really well and felt surprisingly tasteful and intimate compared to other GLs.

I also liked the dynamic between Wei Ling and Arisa. Their rivalry had a fun push-and-pull tension that kept their interactions interesting, and I found that aspect more engaging than rest of the revenge plot. Visually, the show looked great too. The cinematography, lighting, and overall aesthetic were very polished and satisfying to watch, which definitely helped make the drama more entertaining despite all its flaws.

Overall, this is one of those dramas that’s objectively a mess but still somehow entertaining enough to keep watching. It had potential, but the weak writing and lack of logic held it back from being anything memorable.

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It Should Have Been 16 Episodes | How Story-telling Can Cheapen Acting Performances

Hear me out— Perfect Crown ’suffers’ from two completely contradicting ‘issues’: The premise of the story is actually extremely deep yet the storytelling is strikingly shallow.

Disclaimer: At the point of writing this review, I haven’t yet watched the last two episodes.


At the beginning of the episodes I felt like something was missing from the two main lead’s acting. It felt like there was a backstory that was never told. Seong Hui-ju has a kind of “chip on her shoulder” personality that is a little off-putting and uhh…well, a bit exasperating. It’s actually obvious over the course of the series that, in the earlier episodes, she is putting on a front, yet we are supposed to pretend like we understand the character and sympathise with the character from episode 1 even though we know nothing about her.

The few snapshots of her past just weren’t enough to have me hooked to her character, and I probably only continued watching because I felt like IU would have picked a more nuanced character than the earlier episodes depicted. In reality, Song Hui Ju is a scared little girl who just wanted to be loved by and a part of her father’s family, and sought to get there by being the best at everything—essentially buying her family’s love through perfectionism.

The reality of Song Hui-ju is that she isn’t as much of a sociopath as the earlier episodes lead us to believe, and I know that this is the point, but by adding 4 more episodes (16 eps total) there would have been time to understand her backstory or even show the first moments she first began trying on that sociopath-type mask. They could have shown us the loneliness she felt after feeling abandoned by her mother, and her obsessive need for love from her father from such a young age by really digging into the backstory. And then shown us Song Hui-Ju’s first devolvement into her sociopathic front and how it WORKED FOR HER as the reason why she kept putting up that front. But all we get is jumping right into a female lead who we have little reason to like. The only clue that Hui Ju may not be crazy is how loyal her secretary is to her—meaning she must be a pretty good boss. There is basically no context for IU’s performance in the earlier episodes, which kinds of makes watching the character of Hui-Ju a little uncomfortable. IMO, I think IU nails the portrayal and the “mask” Hui Ju wears. I saw some characters saying IU’s acting felt fake because it felt like she was pretending to be Hui Ju--but i think that’s the point! “Mean” Hui Ju is an exaggerated persona of the real Hui Ju. When the mask starts to slip in the later episodes we get a glimpses of her true nuances. Think about:

........Sp0iler: the car scene and how the immediately pushed the car to the side to protect the young king, therefore putting herself in more harm. A sacrificial nature in Hui Ju is not depicted in the earlier episodes at all, but it IS in her. I feel like they could have told a better story by letting the mask slip at least a little bit to foreshadow that more nuances to the character is coming


It’s the same thing with I-AN’s characterisation. I-AN is characterised by restraint but there’s no full backstory to really understand what he is restraining from. We get bits and pieces of backstory that he’s a “spare,” but how are us real-world commoners supposed to understand the weight of existing as a back-up who—conceptually—will likely never be needed. That kind of backstory is incredibly deep, but its storytelling portrayal is surprisingly so much lighter than the premise behind the character.

.........SP0ILER alert: the layered performance of BWS in the earlier episodes makes so much more sense after finding out that he knew all along that his sister-in-law denied his late brother’s request to abdicate the throne, meaning every interaction they had she was lying to his face and HE KNEW IT.

BWS’ performance in earlier episodes gives restraint, disgust, and most importantly a numbness that is difficult to understand without story. The earlier episodes force us to dive right into a backstory that we could never relate to, which I actually feel like cheapens the performance.


I am a fan of both BWS and IU, so seeing their acting be criticised made me do some real thought digging, because, when watching the earlier episodes, I actually AGREED—I was off-put by both performances and couldn’t figure out why. In the earlier episodes it’s not that the acting was bad, it was that their acting was much too layered for characters we know nothing about and can’t sympathise with because we just don’t know them like that. It’s funny because I have a tendency to think longer historical dramas can be quite boring, but there was so much room to show everyone’s backstory in more than just a few high school snapshots. Like for the evil queen instead of them saying “she comes from 3 generations of queens,” they could have shown us the generational pressure on both Inpyong (aka Jin Mu) and the Queen Mother to upkeep their own family honor and the greed it birthed within them. That would have been so cool to see, and then it would have made the Queen Mother’s devolvement into wickedness so much more conflicting for the audience. That kind of storytelling would have been incredible.

I do think the little snapshots are cute, but they had so much potential to actually be potent, not just cute.

I know the drama is trying to follow fluff trends and that in regular dramas we complain because we don’t usually get enough time spent on fluff between the leads. I do think that the drama delivers on the fluff the audience enjoys; however, again, it took me 10 episodes before I was able to intellectually peel back the acting-tone layers of the first 5-8 episodes. There is so much material for the story to work with but instead it hops right over excavating the real depth that is fundamental to the series’ premises, in favour of just delivering fluff. I think this actually ends up confusing the audience on the main lead’s acting performances.

The queen mother has been delivering at a high level; however, if you think about it it is easier to understand the angst behind her rage and evil because we are so used to evil mother characters and especially evil queen mother characters from other dramas (let’s be real, almost all queen mother/mother in law characters are evil in historical dramas). So we RELATE to her performance because she is the mother of a young king and her power depends on a child. Who wouldn’t be a little crazy under that circumstance?

Even the Prime Minister…the actor is a great actor, but all we really get in the earlier episodes from his acting is a numbness that is supposed to be validated by “his religion” but we have no idea what that religion means to him. If we had been given more backstory as to why he fell in love with Hui-Ju and what his religion means to him and why he interpreted his faith as meaning he needed to have restrained himself for literally decades from confessing to his love? Like how are we as the audience supposed to relate to that? That’s why:


.........SP0ILER: the later episodes where the gloves come off with the PM, the actor is doing such a phenomenal job because we now understand his anger and the darkness it entails…but it took 10 episodes to get there

On the Main Lead’s Chemistry:
I think “chemistry” is a subjective consideration; however, typically in dramas there is buildup between the main leads through the story and their meet-cute story that delivers a sense of angst between them, only to be relieved when they finally get together. Instead, the chemistry of Perfect Crown’s main leads is characterised by restraint and ***consent. Prince IAN wouldn’t make and moves on Hui-Joo without her consent, and Hui-Joo has a tendency to build up a personality armour to protect herself and “isn’t supposed to” allow herself to fall for a guy she has a business contract with that’s supposed to lead her to the perfectionism that is supposed to gain her the love and approval of her father— this leads to a relationship characterised by restraint. So even though the series delivers on their marriage fairly early, we don’t get the satisfaction of angst and buildup BECAUSE they already knew each other AND have to cordially respect each other. That’s why I feel like episode 10 really delivered…because.

.........SP0ILER: After all her attempts to have done everything to gain the love of her father, she kneels before her father to protect the guy she loves…meaning she has abandoned her desire to be loved by her father to instead serve her partner by giving him love instead.

Anyways I haven’t watched the last 2 episodes yet but I don’t think my take will change. I think it’s a neat little show but the earlier episodes are surprisingly shallow (story) and deep (acting). I personally think both IU & BWS did a great job overall and encapsulated the true nature of both characters. I also think that ironically, if they had actually had less layered performances (meaning technically worse acting), that might have actually gone over better with the audiences, but only because we have no ida what the story is trying to do until we get to the latter episodes.


But who knows, maybe i’m just giving preferential treatment!!! 🤪

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