Good first season.

It tells the story of the demons hunters called Counters, whose goal is to capture Evil Spirits that have return to earth in pursuit of Eternal Life.

It is the somewhat typical series that brings together several elements, such as endearing characters and forming a team that becomes a family. We cannot help but root for the characters, like So Moon, who is the new addition to the Counters, it is a pure and innocent young man, who has two adorable grandparents and a lively trauma left by the death of his parents. He is our main character.
Then, Do Ha Na a mysterious but sensitive young women, who does not hesitate to fight for those she loves.
Ga Mo Tak, who was a police officer but lost his memory seven years ago after an accident, strangely the same day when So Moon's father and mother died, who were also police officers. Ga Mo Tak becomes So Moon’s mentor.
Chu Mae Ok is the maternal and protective figure of the group, she is ready to do anything for them, even to sacrificed her own life.
And finally, Choi Jang Mool, who comes and helps the other Counters from time to time, he is in charge of all of the Counters' expenses.

The series comes down to politicians who use their power to crush anyone who puts themselves in their path, they do not hesitate to corrupt and kill, using the worst methods, even going so far as to poison water reserves that the population use without the slightest care of killing them.
The series also take a look at the bullying done in schools, with the bullies which are protected instead of the victims, generally because they have highly placed parents.
And then the heart of the series, the Evils Spirit that the Counters fight, including one in particular which is at the origin of many pains, losses and trauma of several characters.

The script is not complicated but it is well put together, it gives us action, humorous, touching, sad, painful moments, it is a complete package. On the other hand, I would be honest, a lot of plots are predictable and scenes that I have just skipped, so there is this modern cheesy element but in the end it is good.

In summary, it is everything that people are craving for, I am more curious to see season 2, I want to see more sides and depth to our characters, even new faces, I want to see new challenges.

So a solid and entertaining first season, good production and script, and acting (even though nobody really stood out among them - yet, I hope next season will change that), and I'm waiting for more depth for season 2.

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Good first season.

All of Us Are Dead is the typical apocalyptic series which this time tells the story of several students and their fight to survive against zombies.

The premise may seem like deja vu but it's really entertaining. Especially since it takes place in a school, and sometimes we are even entitled to comic relief moments. The series really relied on good production, be it the zombies, the gory and violent scenes. As for the script, I mean, it's fictional but it makes sense, through and through.

The characters are so adolescent representation that it's funny, between impromptu jealousies, friendships, enmities, and love, it was human.

I also liked how much the series also describes human stupidity, like this streamer who goes to the zombie zone just to do live and gain likes and subscribers, it represents our time so much, and is sadly too accurate.

I'm not going to write more, I'll finish saying that the series is good and entertaining, I especially hope that a character will make his return, his character might of seemed dull to some, but he was loyal and combative even if quiet. I hope he is transformed like the new species of zombies (which are not really) and that he will perhaps bring more depth and side to his character next season.

Can't wait for season 2.

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A promising first season.

I will make this short review. This is the story of Cha Hyun Soo and the residents of his building. One day suddenly people turn into monsters and they have to survive in this building at all costs.

To be honest, it's the typical kind of series with the monsters. Besides, I would have liked the monsters to have less CGI and more prosthetics, but it's probably a question of budget. We discover that among the people who transform, they can keep a human part and reason but for that they must fight in their mind to not give up to the monsters, it's a curse.
This is what Hyun Soo does, he resists and becomes a special kind of monster, very valuable. I don't want to reveal too much, but I like the story they found for him, and it's not just people fighting in a building against monsters. Many people die, and the essence of the series is our protagonists creating a community and trying to survive day to day, sometimes without water or electricity.

So the script is quite simple. On the other hand, they added characters over time that made the series finale interesting and further, which holds promise for future seasons.

I also want to mention that Song Kang did a good job in his acting again, I wouldn't say he showed it all, but this series is really a stepping stone for him and his future career. He is really talented.

If I had to summarize, it's not a super complicated story, it's more based on action and the survival of the characters, it is nice.

So I'm looking forward to the sequel.

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To not miss.

It's the story of a young woman with bad premonition dreams who meets two people who suddenly develop the same ability, they realize that their lives are now somehow entwined.

It was really a pleasure to discover this series. It's a relatively simple story overall. Three people who dream of each other, more particularly of their future/events.

I saw this series because I decided to see the work where Lee Jong Suk starred, and to be honest I'm not a fan of romance but I find myself enjoying his series and roles, be it the action and thriller to romance and melodrama. Up to this point, I believe I haven't seen any series where Lee Jong Suk would be bad. So, I picked up this series hoping to enjoy it but I really liked this one.

Already, I must say that overall although there is drama, it is relatively light-hearted. Lee Jong Suk plays Jung Jae Chan, a young prosecutor who starts his career and who, thanks to circumstances, finds himself dreaming and involved with Suzy, who plays Nam Hong Ju, a fearless young reporter who has premonitory dreams herself. The drama plays relatively well on humor and comedy, with romance and intense moments of suspense. Knowing the future, they find themselves trying to change it when it turns out bad, but the consequences can be worse.

I don't want to say more, but the script is really well written. Each character introduced is intimately linked to others, and especially the story of our three protagonists turns out to be more complicated than one might have thought. They each have their trauma and secrets.
The fact that this drama is light hearted also means that yes, "good" people always win. I'm not going to blame the lack of realism because I know the show wasn't filmed that way, but overall message was more of "do the right thing" to the audience.

It was nice, I also liked to follow the relationship between the characters even if I would have liked even more interactions between Lee Jong Suk and Jung Hae In (who plays Han Woo Tak). I believe it would have been a good opportunity to embellish a male friendship.

To continue on the series, the flow is really good, we go from one event and cases to another. The past, present and future intertwine and give us an intriguing web of mystery surrounding our characters.

Honestly, this series was really a pleasure to discover, not once did I get bored, the series made me feel joy but also sadness, it made my heart beat with fear and anguish for our protagonists. It's was really a good K-drama and I don't say this often in my reviews, specially when romance is involved. The series was human and relatable.

So, I recommend without hesitation.

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An interesting surprise.

This series is about a child, Park Hoon and his father who were kidnapped by North Korea. There, he was trained to become a doctor by his father who was already a doctor. Park Hoon became a genius-like heart surgeon. He then flees under terrible circumstances to South Korea after losing his loved ones. He begins to work as a doctor in South Korea's top hospital Myeongwoo University Hospital, but he become entangled in the shenanigans of politic figures.

This story is definitely something. To be honest, I'm a big fan of dark thrillers, and on a whim seeing Lee Jong Suk as the main actor when this series appeared on my feed, I thought why not.

So you can conclude that I'm not a big fan of romance. I tolerate the few romances I see, if done well then I can appreciate incorporating them into a storyline but generally I just go with the flow.

Here, to my greatest surprise I even felt involved. This is a weird and complicated love square. Two men and two women. All I have to say is that unrequited love sucks.
To talk about the romance, and without wanting to spoil, I have to say that it was done with realism, without unnecessary drama, without a childish attitude, just adults falling in love and sometimes hitting walls, sometimes making mistakes or careful choices. They're just humans setting their priorities, their desires, their hopes.

Here the romance was told against the backdrop of a political thriller. And although it's a series that dates from 2014, so we can expect some cliché or cheesy shots in the production or in the music, overall, I enjoyed it very much.

It's a grand web of revenge, greed and ambition that originates when a doctor just tried to do the right thing for a family whose father died of medical malpractice. It degenerates when this one is sent with his son to North Korea. The rest of the story is intimately linked to the situation between the two Koreas, and the ambition of a man who wants to hijack power by manipulating events.

Lee Jong Suk's character, Park Hoon will suffer immensely. From an early age and throughout history, he endured much and yet showed a very noble character. Han Jae Joon also suffers a lot, and I think the hardest part is when he faces those people who have hurt him, and he only asks for an apology for the wrong they have done, but that those people in their greed and power seeking refused to acknowledge what they have done. It's messed up.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that, but I'm glad I saw this series even though I'm not a fan of romance. The story is very gripping, the characters endearing and captivating.
I would say that the only negative point would be the competition between the two teams which lasted throughout the series when I would have liked us to move from this plot, I think they could have deepened the political aspect and less the medical one seeing how it turned out. I would say that this part of the story didn't fully elevated to its potential.

But I recommend definitively.

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One of the few short BL well done in 2021.

It's the story of Tae Kyung, a school student who is a loner by choice, because he never thought he needed anyone.
But one day, he starts questioning his own judgment want to make new friends. The teacher he confides in helps him join the school’s student council where he meets three different young men.
He discovers that making friends may be harder than it seems and he will even discover the first feelings for a person.

I know that most enthusiastic BLs may be disappointed, this series is less about the rush and the intimate moments, more about discovering your first love.
The series begins slowly, we discover our characters who learn to know each other and then to understand and assume their feelings.

Four characters in love whose situation might have seemed messy but turned out to be pretty well handled in the script.
I who am very critical of annoying FL, I find that Lee So Hee seemed rather relatable and intelligent, she certainly did a bad deed but she understood what she did, apologized and learned, we see her evolve for good and I like that the characters change.

As for the two protagonists, Noh Shin Woo and Woo Tae Kyung, their romance is slow, step by step and not directly from the "I hate you to I love you" that other series like to maintain.
No, here their relationship evolves with reality, without toxicity between the two even if they are young and stupid sometimes, their relationship is cute and adorable.

Honestly, I'm hoping for a season two that further develops their relationship now that they're finally together, because the actors have real chemistry.

By the way, I liked that the roles that seemed to be cliché in the summary weren't, like Noh Shin Woo, the cold guy who's actually just shy, and Woo Tae Kyung, the guy who seems sensitive is actually very forthright, brave, he can stand up for himself.
It's a change from the overly confident "cold" guy who tells the shy guy how to be and what to do.

As for Shin Da On, some say he deserves better, but in reality, in life, before you absolutely want to be with someone, it is better to find yourself, than to throw yourself into a relationship when you don't know who you are and barely what you want.

As for the production and the sets, frankly nothing to say, it was a pleasant series to watch, the few sets were well done, the production was good and also the script which really avoided the big clichés that interfere with the BLs theses days.
It was really nice to discover a short series with a cute and entertaining story.

I'm really looking forward to a season 2.

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Basic k-drama.

Well, this is the story of a young man, Lee Hyun, a young profiler, who returns to Korea after years abroad - in the USA - and who is interested in an investigation and murders that are related to the death of his father and the disappearance of his brother by a psychopathic criminal, Lee Joon Young. Of course, he has little memory of that time and the fateful day, so he tries to recall his memory and solve the mysteries.
He meets an investigator, Cha Ji-an, with whom he will team up to find Lee Joon Young.

Well, the set-up is typical of lighthearted k-dramas, the atmosphere of the series is rather comedic and not very serious, the inspectors are all nice idiots who don't know how to do their job, the "bad guy" Lee Joon Young is smart enough and manipulates everyone as he wants. The FL is stubborn, clingy, acts like an annoying stalker but she gives off the same energy as many other FL, she does not stand out with her acting.
It's really a series in k-drama fashion : comedy, a bit silly, some emotional scenes, a clumsy and boring romance with a decent ML.
Honestly, it's more the plot that stands out here, not that it's extremely well executed but the starting idea is good, it's also the story of two brothers.
I would have liked to see what this series would have done with a more serious psychological thriller and crime k-drama production. It would have been a gem among the genre.

People have painted this k-drama as one of the best but the storyline is basic, without surprises, the course of the story has been gently followed, the characters are just there to complete and without particular acting.
Honestly this k-drama is just one of many, nothing special, that doesn't need re-watching, with empty characters and no complexities.

However, special mention to Park Bo Gum, who plays the role of Lee Min, the little brother who is a killer, his acting is the one that stands out the most and makes us think that he has a lot of potential.
I hope to see him again in a crime and thriller series with a better production and script to match his talent, and not a banal comedy k-drama made to not make the audience think too much.

The ending is just as banal and even bad, a killer is just released into the wild thanks to the kindness of some of the characters, and I wonder what kind of ending is that which is far from realistic. Killers may indeed never be caught but people never release a killer because "he promised" to change.
So they are "bad guys" but not too much because be careful, they have extenuating circumstances and sometimes they show human emotions. So bad but not too bad.
The killers here were very romanticized for the audience. In short, really basic k-drama.

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Another very good series

Well to be honest, I understand the positive and negative reviews, let me explain.

To start, tell yourself that this is a series that begins on murders made 20 years ago, then we discover that a killer is spreading terror in current day as that was the case before.
Except the plot twist, there is a technology to find out if children have the genes of psychopaths.
Two children, who have the genes, will be the main focus of the series, the mysterious events of the past keep us in suspense on the unfolding thoses of the present, but above all, to know who are these two children, have they become killers ? And if so, who are they ? Are they related to the current day murders ?

The series has an incredible cast of actors who played their roles to perfection, especially Lee Seung Gi who delivers an incredible performance in the mind of a psychopathic killer.
They succeeded perfectly in playing on tones and colors, the series was dark and disturbing.

But also, I believe that along with Beyond Evil, this is one of the best Korean drama thriller and psychological series to come out in 2021.
Beyond Evil focused more on the victims, we lived the events through unreliable narrators, always linked to murders or disappearances years earlier, and although the main characters were morally gray and complex, we were fully in the perspective of the victims and how to rebuild or live with that.
Here, Mouse on the contrary has infiltrated the mind of a psychopath by playing on "And if he can feel emotions, regret ?", we also have here unreliable narrators, and the characters are intense.

I think overall, the show has a pretty good way of scripting how to portray the mind and reasoning of a psychopath even though there's a lot of fiction in it, like in any drama.

I was however a little disappointed by the plot, which I must say is not boring at all, from the beginning to the end, we are hypnotized.
What bothers me is the story that could have made an excellent psychological thriller even more intense and complex if they had extended the life of some of the characters, if they had forgotten some storylines, especially on the end which involves an organization in the upper class - a recurring plot in dramas theses days - and a conspiracy.
Also, I find that at times the answers were a little easy - while at other times it was not - and the real "bad guys" are quickly arrested and the evidence appears as if by magic - wrapped up in few episodes -, it was not the best end of a series that was so sensational.

I find, personally, that the plot could very well have focused around our main character and his identity, this struggle between good and evil which was abandoned far too soon in my opinion but which was most memorizing.
I would have liked to see more of Kwon Hwa Woon, his character was very intriguing and not used enough in my opinion.

But, Lee Seung Gi remains the highlight, he is fascinating in this ambiguous role, his acting and his character are perfect throughout his performance. I discover with pleasure this actor, who left me dubious at the beginning but who was exceptional.

Summary :
The characters were on top, nothing to complain about, the sets and the tone of the series too, on the other hand some points of the plot were weak - particularly at the end.
I recommend this series to fans of series with tension, action, suspense, psychology.
The overall rhythm is very addictive, I binge-watched the series.
I don't recommend to those who want a series in light tones and messages - it's quite heavy and mature - and romance, because there are little bits of it - and still it's not really romance.

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A profound and poignant series.

I have to say that Korean series excel in thriller, suspense and detective genre.
Here I must say that this overall has a superb production, direction and themes are dark which goes in line with the story being told.

We discover a small town supposedly quiet but with a name attached to a bloody and heavy history.
This story goes back to a series of disappearances and murders that happened 20 years earlier.
I must say that the direction is great, we got flashbacks at the most critical moments, the tension is at its height and these flashbacks not being omniscient, they can be misleading and leave us with lots of questions for the future.
So we have a narration of the facts of 20 years ago in parallel with the resurgence of this case which has never been resolved in current day.
A young detective, not so innocent as that, takes the initiative to continue this case, which leads to an unfortunate situation and the plot becomes more complicated. Especially since it turns out that one of the suspects from 20 years ago is now one of the small town police, and he's as dark and deranged as his reputation suggests.

I'll leave the plot here, without saying more, but I must tell you that the story and script were very well written, especially to highlight the acting of the characters.

Having dark tones, the main characters are just as dark, especially those of the small town, who carry a heavy sadness, a lot of pain due to the disappearances and the questions that have never been answered.
Over the course of the series, we begin to suspect everyone - which often happens in detective series - and sometimes with good reason.

The character of Shin Ha Kyun is overwhelming, he is very complex, intelligent and raw, we can feel his pain, his hopes and doubts. He definitely deserves his Best Actor - Television at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. His character is striking, and it is difficult to forget such a performance.

He is joined in this series with a young actor, Yeo Jin Goo, who plays the young detective ready to stir up the past. Who also delivers a beautiful performance, his character struggles a lot in the series, to know who to trust, but above all how to discover the truth. He has amazing chemistry with Shin Ha Kyun.

For the secondary characters, they are all equally mysterious, complex and their characters have been well written and acted.

To sum up, if you like good productions, plot and character driven, in very dark, mature and complex police and human tones. Then this series is for you.

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A daunting drama

This drama really stirs different emotions in me. It is typically a story about two young men, In Ha is rich but rejected by his family and Tae Oh is poor but ambitious and intelligent, who grew up together as best friends. Initially brought together under the goal of being on top of the world but things will inevitably change when a young woman, Hye Won, comes between the two.

I'm frustrated that an actress was added to play this role, giving us a love triangle that we already know is going to end in heartbreak when we see that she deliberately chooses the one with the most money instead of the one she loves. This will not only strain the beautiful friendship between the two men, but also break their hearts individually.

In terms of chemistry, I also think the casting is bad. Hye Won has none with any of the cast. Felt like Hee Joo, Ih Na's little sister had more with Tae Oh even though he's supposed to be cold to her, which says a lot.

As for the story, it's interesting but not really very creative, rich people fighting for the succession of a huge corporation, some intrigues, childish behaviors displayed, lies. It reminds me a little of "Reborn Rich".

All this series showed me is that Lee Jae Wook should delve into more dramatic, mysterious or action roles, he's really great.

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One of the best Thai BL series ever made.

Already I must say congratulations, it's one of the best Thai series I've ever seen.

The story begins with Gene who is a professional writer, and his work usually focuses on thriller/horror (if I remember correctly), however, he try writing a genre-Boy Love which end up being acclaimed and commercially successful.
So successful, in fact, that it gets adapted into a BL drama. Despite the fact that he attaches little importance to this novel and its adaptation, Gene is invited - or rather forced by his publishing house - to attend the auditions and to give his opinion on certain actors for the main role.
This is where he meets Nubsib, an actor, who right from the start shows his affection to Gene.

I have to say this series is a great slap in the face to all Thai BL series that have been produced for years now and the fans.
First, this series strips away all the clichés that are so synonymous with BL dramas, like kissing when you're unconscious - and even more so, saying that your partner is playing the role of "woman", the control scenes and of aggression that are romanticized, the "I'm not gay but it's just you".
All these clichés, the series does not only get rid of them but in addition it highlights and denounces them, as when it comes to rape or harassment, which is not romantic, at all.
It also sheds light on the fans who can't separate real life from fiction, and how it affects the lives of actors, the invasion of privacy, fetishization, the fact that the leads actors outside the series are really hard shipped and that even the most banal looks or gestures are taken as signs of a secret relationship.
But also the mentality of the productions, which focuses on the show off therefore the sexual scenes rather than on the characters and their development, which advocates fan service above all else even at the expense of the actors.

This series shines a light on these industry practices, the heinous behaviors of fans who are entitled.

So really, I think that's why this series takes the top spot of all-time BL series, because I'm sick of watching series that are just romanticizing dangerous and problematic behaviors.

Here, the character of Gene is mature, not only is he kind and sweet, but he knows how to set his limits and make sense of things in critical situations.
He changes from the clichés of the weak and enamored lead who accepts everything from his partner, including abuse. Here, he places his limits very firmly on what his partner can or cannot do with him.

Nubsib is also refreshing in his role as the lead who is confidant. He is caring and not afraid to express his feelings, he knows how to respect his partner and even give him the space he needs. He is very far from the leads who are borderline homophobic and who are jealous, violent and abusive.

I think the scene that really shows their difference is when Gene gets into an unfortunate position with Aoey, and Nubsib steps in, he doesn't throw a tantrum or get vile from jealousy, but just silently helps respectfully his partner, and once they get home they have a calm and mature discussion with empathy for each other.

Their couple is so soothing and rewarding to watch, it shows the positive and how gay love should be portrayed.

The secondary characters are also just as great, the best friends who are supportive and loyal, the family who despite the complicated news (you need the context of the series to know) to know their children are gay manage to communicate and make it positive despite their fears.
The only problematic character was Aoey, in addition to embodying a jealous being, he is also manipulative and petty. And although he represents one of the obstacles in the love story of our characters, his character is really not correct, he also represents these actors who want to succeed at all costs, even at the cost of the actors with whom they play.
I'm thrilled that his character and his actions are being called out by his loved ones, even if he doesn't take responsibility for those and doesn't wish to make it right, at least it shows that also the loved ones around these people can draw the limit.
And it shows that if a person is ready for anything including pushing good people away and ruining people's lives, they must be prepared to have the success they certainly wanted but they will have to enjoy it alone, is it really worth it ?

I want to say that even here, in the MDL page, the comments show how much this series is THE best.
Many comments say they got bored while the show is very entertaining and the love story building is one of the best, it just shows that without toxic actions and storylines, these BL fans are bored, which highlight what they are really looking for in a BL series.
These fans are problematic, and I'm glad this show is calling them out.

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A surprising friendship.

This is the bromance I didn't expect to stumble upon. We follow a young teenager, Yi Heon, who in his suicide attempt, welcomes the soul of a gangster, Kim Deuk Pal, into him. The premise is simple, he goes from a bullied, lonely and hopeless young man to a studious, social, popular one who likes to uphold justice in his school.
There, he 'meets', or at least connects with another young man, Se Kyung, with whom he will form a very strong friendship as this one tries to uncover Yi Heon's secret behind his change of personality. We witness scenes of friendship and support between the two young men from abusive households. They come to support each other.

I really didn't expect from the synopsis that this would turn out to be a bromance, I thought it would be a typical drama where the 'loser' reclaims his life, but it offers a better perspective that he finds people who care about him.

Similarly, the plot develops a little (as much as 8 episodes allow) with a secretary skemming to take the place of the chairman's wife, because yes Yi Heon turns out to be the illegitimate son of a rich chairman from a construction company. Along the way, Yi Heon meets Kim Deuk Pal's acquaintances, who obviously doesn't recognize him with his new body, this leads to a lot of action and misunderstandings.

Overall, it's really a 'break' series, that we consume between series that are very long or emotionally heavy. It's light and enjoyable, I would have liked the series to benefit from more episodes just to watch the friendship between Yi Heon and Se Kyung, but it makes sense that there are only 8 episodes.

The production and the actors are good. Yoon Chan Young is a rising actor that I kept my eyes on after his breakout series on Netflix, he keeps choosing interesting projects mixing action and complex acting, so to be continued.

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Not that amazing.

I am torn, the story begins as the synopsis indicates and that a young man - Yoon Jong‑woo - will live in a residence where his neighbors are more than suspicious.

The problem is that there are only 10 episodes, and they could have made more use of them.
We practically have to wait for episode 3 to have a first interaction between our two protagonists, and it is neither memorable nor long. The build-up is slow, not much happens except the fact that we know from episode 1 what kind of people are his neighbors, it's a shame that it's not a surprise or a revelation for later, it would have been nice for the audience to wonder who is who.
So basically, until episode 7, the plot is slow - which is not a problem in other series - but here the interactions between our two characters are rare, there are no surprises and major revelations. Seems more like it's the build-up to why Yoon Jong‑woo freaks out and gets violent.
I agree with a review that says the show is all about insanity. The story isn't that amazing and it's really focused on our main protagonist going from normal young man to giving a free ride to his violence, the series has build-up only that.
I would have liked more, more between our characters who have a certain chemistry, that we understand more the motives of these characters since they are not mysterious.
All we have are two twins who giggle and are murderous, an equally murderous perv, the manager who seems just as crazy, and Seo Moon‑jo the creepy dentist. It feels more like these characters are here for the grand finale and when people will inevitably have to die.

I would say otherwise that the atmosphere and the tones of the series are well created, it's more or less scary, dark and horrifying. The overall production is good - but there are plot holes - and the actors, all without exception, fit into their roles perfectly, but none of the characters marked me personally.
Like I said already, the two protagonists interact very little, and suddenly Seo Moon‑jo decides that Yoon Jong‑woo is very special to him, without there being a tangible relationship between the two, except Seo Moon‑jo being creepy since the beginning and stalking Yoon Jong‑woo.
It's really the relationship that pops up, out of the blue, which is why I wish I had more episodes or else had them interact earlier so it doesn't seem so sudden.

The very end - the last ten minutes - is really the exciting part of the show, that ending is open ended, our character is inevitably changed, and there's a last minute twist, which leaves us with a possibility for a season 2 - even if I doubt it - and the return of a character.

But it's a nice crime series overall, it's not the scariest of the lot, nor the best scripted, but it's nice for those who like the genre, not a lot of mysteries though, it's more into the impact of scenes that are made to be scary and made us feel for Yoon Jong‑woo, but hey without suspense, it's hard to keep an interest.
The characters play their roles well even if I would have hoped for more, even coming from our two protagonists whose performance is good but nothing more.

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Changing their destiny while finding their promised one.

The series isn't bad at all, if you're a fan of typical rom-coms, it's perfect. The series reminded me a lot of "True Beauty", from the execution of the acting to the characters themselves, so that tramples a little on the originality. I picked up the series because it was trending and the script seemed interesting.

The story is cute, and I liked it to pass the time, not too heavy, fun and romantic. The conundrum of changing the future while finding the person who is destined for us by random coincidences on their path (but are they really coincidences ?). Basically two people who fight for each other to survive the tragic events of their lives. It's touching.

This is my first time seeing Kim Hye Yoon as main lead, apparently she has appeared in other series that I have seen as guest but never stood out to me. Not much to say, she did her job but I wasn't overly impressed by her acting.
Byeon Woo Seok is another matter, I remember seeing viral clips of him during his series "Strong Girl Namsoon" (which I haven't seen) typically because of his good looks, I wanted to see if he had more to show and I think that is the case. He's blowing up as an actor, I think it's just a matter of time before he's offered roles more versatile than the boyfriend or good looking villain.

I honestly recommend this series, it's chill and enjoyable.

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Wasted potential.

This is the story of Sun Ruo Wei whose parents are killed on the orders of the Yongle Emperor in 1402, though she escapes death after being secretly adopted by Sun Zhong. Sun Ruo Wei becomes the concubine of crown prince Zhu Zhan Ji later on.

Unfortunately, Zhu Zhan Ji passes away after a decade on the throne, and Sun Ruo Wei is honored as Empress Dowager once her 7-year-old Zhu Qi Zhen ascends the throne.



This series is very long, so my review will be too long and I'll try to be as concise as possible. I also wanted to say I stopped watching it, and usually I don't do reviews on series I stopped but I had to give one.



During the first part (episode 1-20).



We are introduced to the characters. First, we learn the historical circumstances that led the Yongle Emperor to the throne, and the inevitable consequences that a change of power brings - much killing and massacres of members and supporters of the old regime and Emperor.

Sun Ruo Wei's parents, so the father was an official, are killed as expected. Sun Ruo Wei is separated from her younger sister who is saved by the Emperor's grandson and the Crown Prince, later handed over to an official high female who will raise her as her niece in the palace, as a servant.

Sun Ruo Wei is raised by a friend of her parents, who saved her in time during the massacre. She basically becomes a young girl among rebels and orphans, who plots for the death of the Yongle Emperor and the return of his nephew to the throne.

As for Zhu Zhan Ji, he is the son of the Crown Prince, so the highly favored Imperial grandson of the Emperor, I believe their relationship was the highlight of the first two parts of the series. Although we are not introduced to other grandsons, we quickly understand that despite the swarm that exists, only Zhu Zhan Ji is seen as the one who will bring prosperity to the dynasty by his grandfather. This one, who is very suspicious of his sons, and with good reason, chooses not the Crown Prince as heir because he thinks he will make an amazing Emperor, but because Zhu Zhan Ji will be the only heir after him. Although it must be said that the Crown Prince is talented when it comes to the administrative management of the nation, he does not have the stature of an Emperor.



During this first part, we see the relations between the members of the imperial family. The Emperor who despite his paranoia towards his sons, he does not want them to spill the blood of their own family. It's a kind of hate-love relationship, their interactions are sometimes hilarious, and their characters highly dramatic. Like when the Prince of Han argues with the Emperor, then in his anger and refusing to apologize, celebrates his own funeral, going so far as to lie down in a sort of coffin, waiting according to him for the inevitable imperial decree who will announce his death. The emperor, also angry, who asks that his son be locked up alive in the coffin to punish him for a few hours until he decides to apologize.

The relationship between the brothers - the princes, who know each other so well that sometimes in their scenes, despite the dramatic or hypocritical dialogues, each sees clearly into the other's game. They have some funny moments, especially when they have to deal with the Emperor's wrath.

And then as I said, the relationship of the Emperor and Zhu Zhan Ji. We have a lot of tender moments, where we see the Emperor being less serious and teasing than he is with anyone, towards his grandson. Zhu Zhan Ji seems to follow the Emperor everywhere, to be a kind of confidant, he is also his voice and has his confidence. It is no secret in the Imperial Court that he is seen as the ultimate heir, and that the Emperor moves his pawns to facilitate Zhu Zhan Ji's path. This does not prevent the Emperor sometimes from getting angry but here it is more in a certain worry for his grandson and more in order to teach him something. Whereas when he gets angry with his sons, it's because of his paranoia and he tends to give out a lot of punishment. Talking about Zhu Zhan Ji, he seems to admire his grandfather the most, even more than his own father. He is in awe of the character and has a lot of affection for him. He is often nicknamed "little monkey" by his grandfather, he is often mischievous with him, playing jokes on him but he is also a kind of helper, as he follows him everywhere, he is the one who helps to get dressed, to get into bed, to run errands for him. He's kind of the Emperor's handyman, and often it seems officials know that when Zhu Zhan Ji speaks, he's representing the Emperor's voice. This is also why this one gives him at one time the very precious gold totem which represents the voice and the power of the Emperor, giving him the possibility of doing everything and being the most powerful after the Emperor himself.



Their relationship is the highlight. But also, we have some scenes between Zhu Zhan Ji and his parents, especially his father, he supports him a lot, above all, Zhu Zhan Ji is actually the one who fights against his uncles, the princes because they want the Crown Prince position (and this one kind of doesn't). It is therefore Zhu Zhan Ji who often faces his uncles and fights against their schemes. It is I believe the only relations in the imperial family where not once the scenes were positive or funny. Nothing but animosity reigns between Prince Han and Prince Zhao towards Zhu Zhan Ji. Many times they even try to kill their nephew. They actually know that the threat for them to sit on the throne is not the Crown Prince, but their cunning nephew, which is why he is the Emperor's favorite.



The first part really focuses on the characters who meet, Zhu Zhan Ji and Sun Ruo Wei. This part is quite light-hearted despite the sometimes dramatic scenes. We see how Sun Ruo Wei achieves good graces in Zhu Zhan Ji, what becomes of the rebellion and how it is linked to the power struggle in the palace.

Zhu Zhan Ji and Sun Ruo Wei relationship is often one-sided. Although it seems that only Zhu Zhan Ji fell in love with Sun Ruo Wei, that doesn't stop him from sometimes being harsh and manipulative when he needs to. As for Sun Ruo Wei, it's clear that she likes Xu Bin, and no one else, but she still likes Zhu Zhan Ji.



The second part (episode 20-30).



The mood goes down a bit, there are far fewer humorous scenes, but much more serious and dramatic. The sisters reunite, Sun Ruo Wei and Hu Shan Xiang. They both end up marring Zhu Zhan Ji, one as a consort and the other as a concubine. This part focuses much more on the issues of the border war and Zhu Zhan Ji's wedding celebration.

It is here that we have quite a few battle scenes between the Mongols and Uighurs and the Ming Empire. It is especially one of the first heart-breaking moments, because both the Crown Prince and the Emperor become very seriously ill. Zhu Zhan Ji scene with the Emperor in his military tent still brings tears to my eyes it was so terrible for him to hear his grandfather's tragic words.

Zhu Zhan Ji and his family find themselves in an awkward position, as his uncles prowl and patiently wait for the death of either the Emperor or the Crown Prince to try to steal the throne, and slaughter the Crown Prince's family. All this while they are at war and it is very critical for their country, which could sink into the chaos of a war of succession.

Some have criticized Sun Ruo Wei acting is in the first part was passionate then here she became much more passive, almost bland, And I admit that the change is really abrupt, but I also understand why she changes, it's not about achieving her revenge anymore but rather to put first the country and the population so they do not suffer from her actions, which in the end would be selfish to satisfy her revenge.

There's less interaction between the two, especially since he's going to war.

As for her, she stayed with the Crown Prince's family, and helped him manage the country even when he was sick.

During this period, the viewer definitely understands that the two leads will never be a couple, but rather partners who respect each other, and who will need to be united for the country.



The third part (episode 30-40).



It was during this part of the series that I lost interest. Why, and although I love series heavily based on shenanigans, power struggles, strategies, war and very little romance. This show should have enchanted me, but the strategies weren't really there, and if there were any, it was in the space of 5 min, we didn't have time to see the plan being built, unfolding nor appreciate if it works. The female characters have just become secondary characters, Sun Ruo Wei who appears very little, especially after the death of the new Emperor (former Crown Prince).

The character of Zhu Zhan Ji was so promising during the first thirty episodes that I wonder how we ended up with him just with scenes of anger with no thinking and cunning. As for Hu Shan Xiang, she becomes the Empress, and overnight she is pregnant, there is literally no scene between Hu Shan Xiang and Zhu Zhan Ji that shows they spent time together. Nothing. The only tender moment is when he caresses her hands after receiving the news that she is pregnant, but before nothing.



The thing is this part was very focused on the death of the Emperor, the Crown Prince ascending the throne becoming Emperor, then his brothers who scheme to rebel, then his death too, and finally Zhu Zhan Ji who becomes Emperor and defeats his uncles. Ten episodes that feel so empty, honestly, like really me loving shows like this, I'm baffled because I feel like it was really empty.



So, I stopped there, hoping to gain interest back again, watching few series in between but the will never came back.

So I dropped the series. Honestly to me, it feels that the potential was wasted, which is a shame, they could have done better with the script, because it is only about that, the actors were all very good.

A disappointment. I still recommend the series but don't expect highly complex writing of the script nor a satisfying character development.

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