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Xiao Zi

Inside your house

Xiao Zi

Inside your house
Completed
Who Rules the World
21 people found this review helpful
May 19, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Hei-Bai Feng Xi, a match made in heaven!

Who Rules The World (WRTW) is a Wuxia drama with all those things a Wuxia should have. This drama follows Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi, two great martial artists who travel the world and ultimately join forces with those who wish to conquer the world in order to make it a better place.

Who Rules The World is based on Qing Ling Yue's (倾泠月) novel of the same name, "Qie Shi Tian Xia" ((=且试天下). In 2007, this was one of the best-selling novels. This play contains numerous aspects, all of which are in such perfect proportion that none bear upon another, and none feels extraneous.

As I  have said, this drama revolves around the Hei-Bai Feng Xi pair.  Hei is the Chinese word for black, whereas Bai is the Chinese word for white. They may be identified by the colour of their clothes, which match their names.

Hei Feng Xi is the Foundain Abode's Head and one of the Four Gentries. Bai Feng Xi is a Tianshuang sect heroine who is characterized in the drama as "as beautiful as she is lethal." Both are unrivaled in skill and beauty. Bai Feng Xi is unrestrained and carefree, whereas Hei Feng Xi is exquisite and indifferent. Even though everyone believes they are rivals for greatness, they are actually quite good friends, and wherever Bai Feng Xi is, Hei Feng Xi will be there too. Although, they are described as opposite attracts, they feel quite similar, like inseperable sides of a single coin.

However, in reality, both Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi are the prince and princess of Yongzhou and Qingzhou, Feng Lanxi and Feng Xiyun, respectively. While Bai Feng Xi's family is aware of her dual identities, Hei Feng Xi had to feign illness and learn martial arts in secret. Bai Feng Xi studied martial arts because she was uninterested in politics and desired to live a carefree life. Feng Lanxi, initially, began practising martial arts to protect himself, but his goal evolved from saving the people to eventually ruling the world.

Feng Qiwu is the Chief of the Feng family and one of Yongzhou's Ministers. She assists Lanxi in managing his two identities and concealing the truth from Lanxi's father, the Lord of Yongzhou. She had a crush on Lanxi initially, but it faded as she realised Lanxi's love for Fengxi.

Huang Chao is Jizhou's heir. He is also a member of the Four Gentries. He is almost usually accompanied by Yu Wuyuan, the Finest of the Four Gentries. He also intends to rule the globe with the assistance of Yu Wuyuan.


Things I enjoyed:


I absolutely like how Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi are created equal and how they keep that throughout the show. It was believable and impressive. Also, many amazing elements in this drama left me speechless, such as the meanings of the characters' names. Lanxi, for example, literally means "breath of orchid." This is significant since the orchids in this state flowered around the time Lanxi was born. He even made Bai Fengxi an orchid garden. The novel's author, who was sadly not there for the drama's screenplay, deserves all credit for this.

Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi were excellent choices for the roles! They nailed it with their acting abilities and did not disappoint me in the least. This drama provided them with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their versatility in portraying a wide variety of emotions, which they did admirably. Despite her background in rom-coms, Lusi was able to play the serious side of her role and successfully drew the audience to herself. Yang Yang in a historical drama was something I was hoping to witness. He was excellent at portraying both the elegant Hei Feng Xi and the mysterious Feng Lan Xi. One of his strongest strengths is his ability to blend emotions of his character and make them memorable.

Many recognisable faces appear in the supporting cast, including Xuan Lu, Leon Lai, and Lui Rui Lin. If you've seen at least one of their dramas, you'll know that they're the best supporting actors a Wuxia drama can offer!

To be honest, the characters of Yang Yang and Lusi appeared to me to be brother and sister at first. At one point, I even shipped Bai Fengxi with Qiwu, who had such a deep relationship with each other that he seemed to be a third wheel in a scene with them and Lanxi! But I was confident that these two outstanding actors could sort out their connection over time, and I was not wrong. Their chemistry is one of the greatest I've witnessed in C-drama land to date.

Of course, I enjoyed the romance here as well. This was one of the sweetest and most endearing love stories I've ever seen. I like how they are portrayed as partners rather than lovers, with whom you can talk about everything. I like how they support one another throughout the show. Of course, the relationship was typical, but there were no unneeded misunderstandings, immature outbursts, or jealousy. Their love was shown without altering their genuine personalities, which is exactly as it should be!

I was also pleased to see the FL and SFL form a friendship rather than a love rivalry. I'm relieved that they didn't add a love triangle. That may have taken the pleasure out of the presentation by emphasising the romantic aspect and making the proportion of the elements in this imbalanced. The cinematography and choreography were both fantastic. This show features some impressive battle sequences that will leave you awestruck. Despite being jerky at the beginning, the CGI and editing were mostly good.


Things I didn't quite like or enjoy:


I was a little bewildered at the start because I hadn't read the novel and didn't know about the Empryean Token or the six states of Dadong. They should have been explained briefly in the first episode. For me, the last 2-3 episodes felt hurried, and the fight with the main antagonist seemed to be cut short. Some sections in between the drama felt disjointed, making it difficult to follow the main arc.

The revelation scene that Bai Feng Xi was the Feng Xiyun princess was a letdown because it didn't produce the expected effects and explotions. Even Lanxi didn't appear startled! Although the main villain was decently portrayed, there should have been more time for him to develop so that we, the viewers, could better comprehend him.

That's all.

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Completed
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
27 people found this review helpful
Feb 6, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

An OK Drama

Bulgasal literally means 'impossible to kill'. This drama is based on a Korean folklore. Bulgasal is mythical immortal creature or monster that feeds on human blood. This folklore dates back to the late Goryeo period.

Bulgasal: Immortal souls is directer by Jang Young Woo and screenwritten by a husband-wife team Kwon So Ra and Seo Jae Won.

Dan Hwal played by Lee Jin Wook was a human who was born with Bulgasal's curse. He bacame a Bulgasal himself after a series of incidents 600 years ago which led to him losing his family. He is now in search of a woman, who he believes to have killed his family and turned him into a Bulgasal in her past life. She has now reincarnated as Min Sang Un played by Kwon Na Ra. Hwal needs her soul to break free of his curse of immorality and leave the world.

The first episode is set in the late Goreyeo period, when monsters were alive. It shows the original story of Dan Hwal from birth to how he became a Bulgasal. Honestly, though a lot happened in the first episode, I didn't really feel anything. It felt really uninteresting and slow. There was a war inside my mind whether I should continue this show or put it back in my PTW list (I don't drop dramas) after I finished the first episode. Then, I decided to give the second episode a try. Most of this episode was set in the modern times and in this, unexpectedly the whole look and pace of the drama changed. It became more and more interesting and intriguing in the next episodes. It's really unpredictable what will happen next and arouse our curiosity. Each and every episode arises new new questions which keeps the story compelling.

After starting this drama during the airing time, I realised that it was not a good decision because we will be at our wit's end wating for the next episode. The whole drama was fairly fast paced with no lagging.

Both Lee Jin Wook and Kwon Na Ra are veteran actors. As I usually watch C-dramas and only recently ventured into the lands of K-drama world, I have never seen them in any drama except Lee Jin Wook in Sweet Home (which I never completed). I liked his acting in Sweet Home and I think I know why he is cast for this role. Dan Hwal's character needs a commanding as well as terrorising (sometimes calm and caring too) look which Lee Jin Wook had.

I'm not really a fan of Kwon Na Ra but I canno't deny that her acting was nice in this drama. Eventhough the she was a bit annoying at first, she fairly pulled off her emotional scenes. But she dosen't make up to the list of my favourite actresses.

The actor that I liked the most in this drama is the villian's. I won't say who it is (probably you know whom I'm refering to) but, his acting is just superb. He nailed his character and this is what I really want from an villian character. His look, gestures and everything is really apt for his character.

Also the supporting character play a major role in the story of this drama, especially Min Shi Ho (Min Sang Un's current life sister) played by Gong Seung Yeon, Detective Kwon played by Jung Jin Young, Nam Do Yoon (an orphan who is often abused) played by Kim Woo Seok and Lee Hye Suk. Without them, the drama would feel incomplete. I really liked their bond between eachother. I won't elobrate their relations to eachother in their past lives as I don't want to spoil the fun for the future watchers.

The cinemaorgyaphy is awsomely done. It correctly captures the feelings of a scene. Also the background music is really eerie which well fit the atmosphere of the drama and makes our hair stand on end.

Some other OSTs from this drama:
"Leave" ( 하루) by 4Men
"Tunnel (with Kardi)" (터널 ) by Kim Ye Ji
"Can't Forget You" (잊을 수 없다면) by Min Seo
"Beyond The Time" by Jannet Suhh
All the OSTs are nice. But, Leave and Beyond the Time are among my personal favourites.

The main story arc sometimes feel difficult to understand and is confusing. It is like pieces of puzzles which we, audience, have to join and understand. Although there are only a few main and supporting characters, I was confused of their relations with eachother in their current and past lives at first.

Another problem lies in the romance part. There was absolutely no need of romance. Sometimes it works but sometimes not. If we understand the underlying logic in the romace part, it can sometimes be heart fluttering. But, this is not a drama for romance lovers. There are not kiss or intimate scenes. Just some piggy back rides and hugs.

However, I have to give a warning to everyone who is thinking of watching this drama. This is really bloody. This drama gives you pain and shocks. There are many scenes of self-inflicted wounds, deaths, monsters and many more scenes which give you goosebumps.

This drama is an ok drama for me. It had really great potential which is ruined by substandard direction and writing. It could have been a lot better. However, this is a recommended drama for mystry and supernatural genre lovers.

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Completed
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers
83 people found this review helpful
Apr 12, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Best adaptation so far

First and foremost, I have seen all of the adaptations of this story except the Korean version. So, I do have a good idea about the original story and added elements. I do enjoy this story, but must admit that it can be very toxic at times. But, I'm sure that anyone who has seen even one adaptation of this story can see that this is not one of those times.

Let's look into detail:

The story telling in this version is multi-layered and well-executed. The screenwriters did an excellent job of combining the best elements from all of the adaptations into one excellent drama. The story moves quickly, as in the Japanese version, and the time is well managed. While everything in the other adaptations feels preplanned and done for the sake of the story, the story in this Thai version felt more natural and like it was going with the flow. There were no fillers or extraneous side plots. The story had a lot more depth, making this adaptation more interesting than the others. The only aspect of the story that could have been improved is the ending. The amnesia plot appeared to be rushed. They could have spent more time on it or simply ignored it.

Another aspect of this story that stands out is the use of advanced technology, such as social media, to improve communication between the characters. In addition, the bullying in this version is more draconian and brutal. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but it's something to consider. In any case, this helped to deepen and flesh out the story and characters respectively.

While the other adaptations focus solely on the romance plot, this one also includes strong messages about patriarchy and other social issues that are currently prevalent in Thai societies.

There are many memorable scenes in this story that we will never forget. Without them, the story is incomplete. In most adaptations, it is done exaggeratedly, but in this case, it is more convincing. The scene in which Gorya kicks Thyme was well done, and when Thyme was stabbed, showing that it was his mother, not him, made it more plausible and also demonstrated Thyme's love for his mother. It enabled in removing many unnecessary scenes and moving the story along quickly.


Characters in this story are more developed and have more depth. It's clearer why some characters made certain decisions, which makes them more acceptable.

Gorya, the female lead, has the same character as before. Except for the removal of her confusion, no major changes have occurred. I believe you understand what I mean. In the majority of the other adaptations, she is unsure how she feels about the F4 members. She is frequently torn between her feelings for the male lead and her feelings for the second male lead. In this adaptation, however, she is certain of her feelings and fights for them. In this adaptation, she has a very strong and mature character, which I am very pleased with.

The male lead, Thyme's character, has undergone the most transformations. He has been fully developed as a character. It is made perfectly clear in this adaptation, why he is forced to be a bully, why he is forced to be the way he is. It is clearly shown that he has a very complex personality and that he is not a bad person. He beats people to conceal his vulnerable side, which he never showed to anyone else. He wants his mother to love him, which is why he does these thing: to prove that he is deserving of fulfilling her dream.

Ren's character, the second male lead, frequently leaves the audience wondering whether he likes the female lead or not. In the other adaptations, it is unclear what his emotions are. But, in this case, we get the impression that, despite accompanying Gorya through difficult times, he simply has a brotherly or friendly affection for Gorya. He is aware of Gorya's feelings for Thyme, and he is the one who brings it to Gorya's attention. He wholeheartedly supports Thyme's relationship with her.

I don't think there have been any significant changes for Kavin and MJ. Also their screen time is less than that of the other characters. However, both of their stories were told successfully without becoming overdramatic, as in the Chinese version. Kavin and Kanning's love is depicted strongly, but I didn't get the impression like he was playing with her emotions in this version. MJ's love story has taken a new turn. It appears at the end of all episodes, beginning with Episode 9, in the form of a KFC advertisement.

Thyme's mother's character in this version is the best. While, in most other adaptations, she is portrayed as a ruthless tyrant who doesn't care about her children and only cares about business, in this she has been portrayed as an evil businesswoman yet as a mother who loves her children but don't know how to express her feelings. He wants Thyme to be happy in cruel business world, which is why she puts pressure on him to be the way he is.

The majority of the supporting characters, despite their insignificance, had rich backstories that didn't feel uninteresting or unnecessary. However, the time was also very well managed in this case. This really wowed me.

On an overall basis, all of the cast members did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Bright was competent, but his acting was occasionally unconvincing. I believe he could have done a better job if he had become more expressive. He's a good actor, but he needs to improve his acting abilities. Tu and Dew both did an excellent job portraying their characters despite the fact that this was their debut. I hope to see them on more projects in the future. Win and Nani also did their best with the limited screen time they were given. I'm impressed by the acting and chemistry among the main cast members. The chemistry between them was incredible, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.Cindy, on the other hand, is the best of the best. She did an excellent job as Roselyn. Even though I dislike her character, I can't deny her incredible acting skills, which allowed her to play an evil mother convincingly.
This is the only adaptation that managed the equality in looks of the leads. all were eye candies to watch!

Finally, this is the best Hana Yori Dango adaptation I've seen so far. Anyone who enjoys this should watch the Thai version. Also, if you needs some eye candies, come watch this. Indeed, this is a highly recommended drama.

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Completed
Ace Troops
8 people found this review helpful
Jan 18, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Story of striving throughout a span of 40 years


Like most of the watchers of this drama, I too watched this solely because of Xiao Zhan. The drama was quite good but, it left me a little disappointed. I expected a drama to which I could atleast give a 8.5 rating, which I could not because of its many flaws.

This drama is based on the story of young heroes of army, who strived hard to become the legendary Ace Troops. It tells us about their lives and dreams and how they made it through all the dark situations, which forced them to make difficult choices regarding their life and career. This drama revolves around Gao Liang, Gu YiYe and Jiang NanZheng. They came from different backgrounds and have different personalities. Although, Gao Liang and Gu YiYe were rivals in both career and love, they were great friends and cherished eachother.

The character development in this drama was an aspect that I liked. With their passing time in the army, all the characters learned new meanings and aspects of life, which became turning points in their lives. Gu YiYe's character arc was the best out of the three. As the story went on, he transformed from an proud, arrogant, know-it-all soldier to an ideal person, without altering his original traits.

The pace of this drama was really draggy. I had to fast forward many times. But, the ending was really heart warming. The romance plot in this was just meh, excepet for YiYe and A'Xiu's part. They were a perfect match. Although, YiYe married A'Xiu out of responsibility, it then turned out to be true love. I really liked it when A'Xiu told that she would rather squeeze in the small house that let YiYe take off his uniform. She had someting that noone else could give him. Another thing that I loved in this drama was the portrayal of the bond between the soldiers. They know how to care for others as well as fight against eachother.

Xiao Zhan's acting was just amazing. He delivered an emotionally intense performance in this. Johnny Huang and Elaine Zhong's acting was good, though not as memorable as Xiao Zhan's. The supporting characters like A'Xiu, Zheng Yuan too did an amazing job. I also loved the makeup used in the last few episodes. It made the actors look older and mature. It was just perfect!

The OSTs were stunning. They were perfect for this drama, especially the ending song. They helped to enhance the feelings in this drama.

Overall, it was a nice drama. It helped me to learn more about China's military. This drama also helped to lay out the advancement of military technology over four decades. However, I have to warn that this drama may turn out very confusing sometimes because of its flaws in the story. But, some of the mediocrity of the story will cancelled out due to the quality of the acting. So, if you like military genre and is a follower of Xiao Zhan, this drama will be a worthy watch.

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Completed
Old Fashion Cupcake
35 people found this review helpful
Jul 5, 2022
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

Another breath of fresh air from Japan's part!


Japan has recently been providing the fantastic BLs that we all yearn for. Their plots are consistently unique and captivating. Old Fashion Cupcake was like that. This is a story of love between a boss and an employee. It's not the typical cliched office romance plot we have always seen. This is one of the most mature, realistic, and endearing love stories I've ever seen. I can't believe they managed to fit such a heartwarming and endearing love story into just five episodes!

On the one hand, there is 29-year-old Togawa, who aspires to live a regret-free and purposeful life. The 39-year-old Nozue, on the other hand, believes he is too old to try anything new and goes through life in a cycle of sleeping, waking up, and going to work. However, things changed as they went to a pancake shop. From that point on, Togawa had been seducing Nouze covertly under the disguise of helping with anti-aging treatment, deepening their relationship.

The leads had good chemistry together. They seemed so exceptional and natural. Watching their interactions and conversations was fun. I adored the way Togawa seduced Nozue and made the most of the anti-aging procedure. This drama was very satisfying all around. Every single second of it was enjoyable for me. It doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes I feel like I want more! I'm hoping that Japan will continue to make such unusual BLs like these.

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Completed
Not Me
54 people found this review helpful
by Xiao Zi Flower Award1
Mar 20, 2022
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

A true treasure among the BL shows.

I noticed this while scrolling through the feeds, and everyone seemed to like it. I was in the mood for a thriller at the time, so I chose this one.

This drama's mystery plot isn't particularly well developed; it felt almost predictable to me. The political aspect of this drama, on the other hand, is extremely well done. If not well executed, it could have been extremely boring. The romance, which often feels unwanted or unnecessary in these types of dramas, is something I really liked in this. This is a one-of-a-kind drama that successfully blends romance and politics without making either feel out of place.

This drama is about twins, Black and White, who have a powerful bond that causes them to feel each other's agony during a near-death experience. Their personalities are as diametrically opposed as chalk and cheese. They were separated after their parents divorced, causing them to lose contact with one another. One day, after returning to Thailand, White learns from Tod, a childhood friend, that Black is in a coma following a brutal attack on him, which rekindled White's connection with Black. He also learns that Black is now a member of a motorcycle gang, and he suspects that one of the members—Gram, Yok, or Sean—is to blame for Black's current state. As a result, he disguises himself as Black and joins the gang to discover the truth.

Although Black appeared to be a little different to everyone, no one noticed that it was another person disguised as Black, nor did anyone know that Black had a twin. Sean seemed to be the most affected by Black's sudden change, as he began to develop feelings for him.

In a BL, usually the supporting characters, as well as the female characters, usually play minor roles. They are used as tools to bring the main characters together or to cause conflict between them. However, in this drama, they each had their own point of view and story to tell. This really impressed me. Except for a few scenes, the characters in this drama are very well developed, and their actions and reactions are understandable. Of course, the characters aren't perfect, but they all have their own unique charms.

Both the main character and the supporting characters did an excellent job. Gun's performance was out standing and so was Off's. They portrayed every emotion almost flawlessly (Of course, nothing is perfect). Gun should be specially appreciated for successfully portraying two characters at a time who are too different to compare. The chemistry between the main leads was a visual treat and is very pleasing to watch. I hope to see Gun and Off together more often in the future. The actors who played Gram, Yok and even the actors who portrayed small roles like Grumpa and Tod were able to meet my expectations. The antagonists too were so well portrayed and this made this drama more appealing and entertaining.

Overall, this is a really outstanding BL that, in my opinion, deserves more attention and love. Almost every aspect of this drama is well-executed. This is a totally unique show that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys BLs, politics, or the actors.

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Completed
In Your Heart
13 people found this review helpful
Mar 4, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

Nothing new.. but watchable.

This drama had been one of my most curious dramas of 2022 . The drama being a BL, I was really surprised that China let it happen. But, I didn't have much expectation, knowing well about the bans and censorships that China usually impose on its shows. I watched it out of pure curiosity.

Honestly, I did like the first episode. But, the story didn't seem to keep a fixed pace. Some parts felt too fast, while some felt too slow to me. This is nothing new and I didn't seem to enjoy this as much as I would have watching a BL.

The acting was meh. I didn't feel it at all. Hu Shi Wen, who played Cheng Yi was alright but there is, of course, possibilities of improvement. Anyways, Hu Bo Wen seemed like a robot. The supporting too didn't do the job of making this interesting.

The music was good. This is the only thing in the whole drama that I wholeheartedly liked.

The editing was terrible. Sometimes, it makes the drama unwatchable. That is SOMETIMES. Overally, the drama is fairly watchable, in spite of some substandard elements.

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Completed
The Oath of Love
108 people found this review helpful
Mar 31, 2022
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Just Beautiful and Natural.

The Oath of Love is a much-anticipated drama that literally went to hell and back, leaving fans in an awkward situation. The Oath of Love, which was supposed to premiere in September 2019, was repeatedly postponed due to "Operation Qing Lang," which targeted celebrities with large, often chaotic fan bases. The drama was thought to have been postponed solely to put fans on their best behaviour. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the first episode of The Oath of Love after the very long two-year wait. And now I understand why the things we desire are usually the things that bring us the most joy.


The Oath of Love is based on Bo Lin Shi Jiang's(柏林石匠) novel "Entrust the Rest of My Life to You" (余生,请多指教). Because of the success of the novel, The Oath of Love already has a large fan base, and as proof of the cast's star power, the drama surpassed 700 million views in three days.


This drama centres on an uplifting romance between a doctor and a cellist. To be honest, the story isn't particularly unique. It's just a typical rom-com like we see in c-dramas. Except for the medical aspect of the drama, there is nothing unusual about it. But it's the characters and, of course, the cast and their acting is what makes this drama so endearing.


I was expecting a typical, ice-cold, and serious-looking male lead and a confused and senseless female lead based on the synopsis. But I'm really impressed by the character arcs and portrayal in this case.


Lin Zhi Xiao (Yang Zi), the female lead, is a third-year university student majoring in cello. She is energetic, positive, and kind but, sometimes acts on impulse. She is determined to achieve her objectives and does not give up easily. Although she is a little inexperienced and slow when it comes to relationships, once she is certain of her feelings and intentions, she will move forward boldly.

The love from family is irreplaceable in a person's life. This is an important life lesson that this drama teaches us. Difficult situations can make us more mature in all aspects of life. This is what one should learn from Lin Zhi Xiao.

Gu Wei (Xiao Zhan), the male lead, is the chief surgeon at a gastroenterology unit. He is a very capable doctor, but he takes failures and setbacks far too seriously, which led to psychological issues. Finally, after meeting Lin Zhi Xiao, he learns to look past the setbacks and learn from them. They transform into each other's suns and shine brightly.

One should not take setbacks to heart and stumble there, unable to rise. One should learn to learn from them and make their life more colourful with love. This is what one should learn from Gu Wei.

Gu Wei has a cold and aloof personality, but he is actually very warm and caring towards the people he should be. Lin Zhi Xiao, on the other hand, is equally warm and caring, in this case, to everyone. Lin Zhi Xiao's character development is one if the best I have seen to date. When in comes to Gu Wei, he is already and adult and naturally, there won't be any more development for him. But, his personality is so endearing that you would wonder if such a person would ever exist in this world. Their distinct personalities is one thing that makes this drama really cute and charming. You will know it when you watch the drama. The supporting characters in this drama are good, but their relationship advice can get really annoying at times.


I must say that the romance in this drama is both healthy and consensual. Nobody forces themselves on the other, and no one intentionally hurts the other's feelings. Despite the characters' 9-year age difference, the plot's romantic development felt very natural. Even I, who is not really a fan of age gap, which can become really creepy if not excecuted well, liked this drama very much. This is all due to the cast's efforts in bringing the characters to life.


Speaking of the cast, this drama has a star-studded cast that will compel you to watch it no matter what. Actually, I came to see this drama solely for the cast, as they are my favourite actor and actress. If you've seen at least one drama with them in it, you'll understand their allure. Both Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi deliver excellent performances, particularly in serious and emotional scenes. They have serious acting skills that only a few people have or can have. Their chemistry was on fire, and their interactions were adorable to watch, which, combined with the naturalness of their development, made one wonder if it was all real.


Special appreciation to the cast:
I'm really happy at the fact that Yang Zi can portray a character, who is much younger that her, flawlessly but, I think she should broaden her horizon and take up more serious roles.
Xiao Zhan's glamour is growing year by year and so is his acting skills. But, I think and hope he should take up more roles like Wei Wu Xian form The Untamed.


If a drama features Xiao Zhan or Yang Zi, the OSTs in that drama are bound to be fantastic. This drama's OSTs and BGMs too were fascinating and were amazingly in sync with the mood of the story. Here is a list of OSTs:

"The Oath of Love (余生,请多指教)" (Theme song) by Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi (This felt incredible because of the combination of their voices, and it is my personal favourite.)

"The Greatest Fortune (最幸福的幸运)" by Xiao Zhan

"Somebody Liking Someone (一个人喜欢一个人)" by Yang Zi


Even though it has its flaws, this is a fantastic show in general. This has become one of my favourite modern c-drama rom-coms that can make your heart skip a beat. This drama is not overly depressing and contains numerous comedic scenes. Of course, not everyone will enjoy it, but if you're looking for a light and fluffy drama with an amazing cast and lead chemistry, this is the show for you.

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Completed
Bad Buddy
32 people found this review helpful
Jan 21, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

The best BL drama out there!

I have always avoided BL dramas. The only BL watched in my life was The Untamed because BL wasn't it's main theme. After seeing many good comments and the high rating, at last, I decided to start my first Thai and fully BL concentrated drama - Bad Buddy.

The main reason why I avoided BLs was that I feel that it is toxic. There will be many odious scenes and dialogues. But, after watching this, I reaslised there can be healthy BLs too. I have never seen any BL like this before. So cute, well written, has good lead chemistry, and overall, it's HEALTHY. It kept on getting better and better from beginning to end.

This drama is based on the Thai novel Behind The Scenes by Afterday and -West-. As you have read in the synopsis, this is a shory about two boys, who were forced to be rivals because of their family problems. They had to compete against each other for almost everything. As they grew tired, they became really good friends and then, without even realising, lovers.
Although primarily looking like a comedy drama, it becomes an emotional roller coaster and takes us through all kinds of emotions including happiness, anger, surprise and sadness.

As this is my first Thai drama, I was utterly unfamiliar with the cast. But, this problem didn't last for long. In the first episode itself, I concluded that I am watching a drama with amazing actors.
Nanon Korapat Kirdpan (I still don't know how to say the name) plays Parakul, nicknamed Pran, a neat and tidy perfectionist who always loses his earphones (lol) and Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee plays the masculine Narpat, nicknamed Pat, who is an impulsive, cheeky guy. They nailed their characters very well that it was very convincing and lovely. Their relation was a kind of love/hate relation at first and they had good chemistry between them. Their kisses were awsome. I have never seen any kiss so pure and true in any BL.
And about the supporting characters. I must say Pa and Ink make an amazing pair. Also the actors who played Pat and Pran's friends also did an amazing job.

The music is nice. I especially liked the songs sung by Nanon himself, 'Just Friends?'. I really liked the lyrics of the songs that implied the relation between Pat and Pran from friends to lovers.
Top soundtracks :
Just Friend? แค่เพื่อนมั้ง by Nanon Korapat Kirdpan
Secret (Won't Tell Anyone That You Like Me First) จะไม่บอกใครละกันว่าเธอชอบฉันก่อน by Kacha Nontanun
Our Song เพลงที่เพิ่งเขียนจบ by Nanon Korapat Kirdpan

The rewatch value is very high, which is rare for any dramas. I will certainly rewatch this drama at any point of time in the future. This is an ideal watch at depressing times. Pran and Pat will help us to relieve our stress with their cuteness.

As I said, I don't ususally watch BLs, particularly the ones with intimate scenes and kisses. I am glad that I did not avoid this one. Bad Buddy is a unique BL production that would change the perspective of BL series. I really appreciate all the cast and crew members who contributed in producing such a fine work.

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Completed
Twinkling Watermelon
74 people found this review helpful
Nov 14, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 9
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Brain says "Flaws!" but heart says "I don't care!"

When I started this drama I expected a light and funny story with a time travel twist. The synopsis looked interesting- a boy going back in time and meeting his own parents when they were the same age as him. But as I got on with the drama, I came to know that this might not be as light as I expected it to be. This drama has made me laugh, be on the verge of tears, and was even was kind of thought provoking.

The story mainly revolves around Ha Eun Gyeol, a model student with a passion for music. He is a CODA (i.e. Child Of Deaf Adults) and is the only peron in his family that can hear, so he acts as the bridge between the silent world of the family and the outside world. (Actually, I went into this drama not knowing this crucial piece of information, and in the first scene when Eun Gyeol and Eun Ho, his brother, were at a coffee shop and were interacting in sign language, I was all confused, and was like are they trying to act cool or did they not want the waitresses to hear their conversation? lol. Everything only became clear to me after the narrative explained it.)When his father, Ha Yi Chan, learns that Eun Gyeol is in a band after school hours, he orders him to quit. Ha Yi Chan is proud of his son's academic achievements and considers Eun Gyeol the family's "trophy." Eun Gyeol rages at his father and runs away. Torn between familial obligations and his passion, he chooses to abandon his passion and destroy his guitar. But then the quiet night turns into a night with two moons, and the strange, mysterious music instrument shop Viva La Vida lights up. As Eun Gyeol walks into this mysterious shop, his adventure begins.

The 1st ep of this drama was the best ep for me, it pulled me in right away. This ep focused on Eun Gyeol's backstory and on Eun Gyeol's family and their bond, which, imo, is the best part of the story. To me, this story is not about romance, but the development of each characters as the story progresses and the people that they come across in the journey.

Among the main characters, I like Yi Chan's and Eun Gyeol's interactions the most. Despite the fact that Yi Chan is Eun Gyeol's father, the bromance between them during the time travel is what I'm all for. I also really liked how Yi Chan and Cheong Ah's romance developed. Cheong Ah had a crush on Yi Chan before he knew she existed, back when he was all smitten with Se Kyeong. Their conversations, how Yi Chan learnt sign language for her, and everything were so heartwarming. Amoung the suporting characters, I liked Ha Eun Ho and Viva the best.

The cast did an amazing job is portraying their characters. I had seen Ryeoun in 18 Again only, where he had a minor role. But I liked him there. I liked him even more here, he has the potential. I had set my eyes on Choi Hyun Wook since 25-21 and Weak Hero Class 1 and I loved him here too. But my only comlpain, which is unrelated to the drama, is that he does only the same kind of roles. His roles in all the dramas that I've seen him in, including this, is very much similar. Seol In Ah also did a good job but.. I was kinda annoyed at her though out the series, idk if it's her fault or the character's. I loved Shin Eun Soo in this. This is the first drama I've seen of hers. When her character was introduced at first, I thought she had stiff expressions. But as we began to explore her character more, I liked her more and more. I also liked the actors playing Eun Gyeol's parents as adults.

The comedic timings in this drama were perfect. After all Choi Hyun Wwook is there in this drama. I loved Ha Yi Chan blurting out random english words in the middle of the sentences. lol

Overall, this was a very good drama. I really loved it. A solid 9/10 from me. But there were many plotholes and things that were not explained and didn't have a proper closure. Though the ending wasn't rushed, I think that a few more minutes or an addictional episode would have been good.






***SPOILERS***

I actually have many questions about the ending.
First of all, how did Cheong Ah convince her father to let her marry Yi Chan if he was going to sent her abroad to study and never let her return? They should have never shown that scene where her father said this if they weren't going to answer this.
And did Yi Chan recognise Eun Gyeol? I kinda understand that they left this for the audiences' interpretation and why.. but I would have liked an answer to it.
I also think that they should have added scenes with what happened with Yi Chan and Cheong Ah after the accident and Eun Gyeol left.
Another question is does Eun Gyeol remember his life after the time travel like the 18 years of his life when he grew up wealthy?
And how and why did Viva become a time traveller? This is another question left open. But it would have been better to leave him as a mysterious man who helped them.

OMG there are so many questions! But this is a rare kind of drama that makes me forget it's flaws. If I were to take all the flaws into account, the rating would have been much lower.
I kinda knew that it was going to have a 'fate can never be changed' kind of ending. If everything was going to change nothing would have remained the same and there wouldn't have been any guarantee that Yi Chan and Cheong Ah would have ended up togther just because they were dating during high school.


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Completed
Snowdrop
57 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 12
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

"A perfect spring day! Enjoy it while it lasts because you don’t know what’s coming.”

It's a quote by Marty Rubin in my title

Snowdrops are the first flowers that bloom in the spring. It is a sign of the end of long and cold winter. This white and delicate bell-shaped flower symbolizes purity and hope. The title itself us a glipmse of the content of the drama and that itself is compelling enough to convince you to watch the drama. I originally watched this for Jisoo and to find the meaning of the title. I had doubts as well as great expectations for this drama and I can assure you that it vanquished all by doubts and overcame all my expectations.

Snowdrop is adapted from the handwritten notes of a man who escaped from a prison camp in North Korea. This is director and screenwriter of this drama are Jo Hyun Taek and Yoo Hyun Mi respectively, who also worked together in the drama SKY Castle. Due to the drama accussed of being set against the backdrop of the 1987 Democracy Movement in South Korea or the June Struggle, which is an important historical event for the South Korea as it led to the establishment of democracy is South Korea, and it bringing the people of Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) to good light, it faced many controversy before and after release. JTBC released their first official statement on the controversy on March 26 that read, "The drama is not distorting the pro-democracy movement nor is it glorifying the Agency for National Security Planning. It is a black comedy drama satirizing the political situation between the two Koreas under the authoritarian government in the 1980s. Also, it is a romance drama showing young people who sacrifice their love." On March 30, JTBC released a second statement regarding the controversy that read, "Snowdrop is set around the 1987 presidential election, and not a drama that deals with the pro-democracy movement". Also, the Blue House did not intend to interfere in its production adducing the protection of freedom of expression in South Korea's Broadcasting Law, which guarantees broadcasters' independence and prohibits extrajudicial regulation or interference.

To simply put the plotline, Eun Young-ro is a freshman in Hosoo Women's University in Seoul and Lin Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in), a North Korean spy sent on a mission to South Korea. They first meet during a group blind date and Young-ro falls for him at first sight. After this incident, they kept running into eachother, which led to Young-ro hiding and taking care of him in her dorm despite the strict rules and dangerous situation, whithout knowing he was a North Korean spy, when he jumped into the dorm injured while being chased by ANSP agents. She also helped him to escape from the dorm without suspecion. The period when Young-ro took care of Soo-ho was the time when he started to have feeling for her. Again, while being chased while accomplishing the mission, he enters a shrine, without knowing that it led to the dromitory. This inadvertantly led to him keeping the students hostages, to escape. From here, the pair's story begins to unfold against a political disruption.

There are other main characters other than Young-ro and Soo-ho in this drama. Jang Seung Jo plays Lee Kang-Moo, a NSA agent who dosen't obey orders from his superiors. He has a fiancée Jang Ha-Na played by Jung Eugene, whom he left for some reason and joined NSA. She too later joined NSA to find him. Yoo In Na plays Dr. Kang Cheong-Ya, a National Medical Center surgeon. She is also Nam Tae-Il's, Secretary General of the Democratic Aemin Party, mistress. Yoo Se Ah plays Pi Seung Hee, the strict yet caring housemother of the Hosoo dormitory. Kin Hae Yoon plays Kye Boon Ok, the telephone attendent of the dorm, who was at first friendly to Young-ro. All these characters have an important part to play in this drama. There are many supporting characters too who are indispensable for the progress of the story.

Snowdrop well succeeded in deceiving the audience at first. Most of the charactres in this drama have secret or hidden identities and a back story to tell us, which changes our perspective of the drama and the character. All these makes the character and the story rich and intriguing.

Although most of the drama is made in one set, the dorm, it is really interesting to watch. The mood of the drama changes episode by episode. In the first episode, it felt like Snowdrop was going to be a light and fluffy rom-com but, the whole mood changed as the episode ended. This drama is an emotional roller-coaster which takes us through each and every emotion possible to be felt by a human. The drama became serious and dangerous as the story went on. This drama is a slow-burn romance drama with political and melodramatic elements. Also, unlike someother dramas, the story started intersting and it didn't cease being interesting. You can't guess that they are going to show next. I was hooked from the very star till the very end of the drama.

And when we come to acting, I don't know what to say. As I said before, I came to watch this drama because of the cast. As I recently wandered into the k-dramaland, among the actors of this drama, I was only familiar with Blackpink's Jisoo and Yoo In-na from Goblin. Some of the actors like Jung Hae In and Kin Hye Yoon are the ones I have only heard of and always wanted to watch their shows. So, I took this opportunity to satisfy all my wants and wishes.

I have heard that Jung Hae In expresses his feeling through this eyes and smile. Through this drama, I realised that it is ultimately true! His eyes spoke so much emotions that I could have watch his eyes alone to understand the whole moods of the drama. The character of Lim Soo-ho needed aura of mystery and secretiveness but really caring and warm personality. Jung Hae In had it and gave his all too make his character perfect. I have become his fan through this drama and he is now my favourite k-drama actor!

I came to watch Snowdrop, mainly to watch Jisoo's acting. I wasn't really ecpecting anyting but, the usually average idol acting. But, I was really astonished and stunned watching her performance. At first, I didn't even believe my own eyes! I really can't believe that it's her first time acting in main role. She just nailed her character perfectly. Throughout the drama, she had to act many emotional scenes and she acted like a professional veteran actress who have done many projects!

Do I have to say about the other actors? They were all amazing. Yoo In-na as usual and nailed her characted perfectly which her acting skills and charms. As I had said before, she was the only actress whose acting I was familiar with. So, I don't know how the other actors are usually. But, in this drama, they were flawless. I wasn't disappointed with anyone's acting. Everyone were perfect for their roles.

Jung Hae In ang Jisoo's chemistry is beyond words. It is one of the most convincing and heartbreaking chemistry I have ever seen. Although, there were some inadvertant misunderstanding between them, their love was deep, pure and passionate.

The makeup and costumes in this drama have a key role in setting the mood and vibes of the audience regarding the story. Costumes and makeup give the audience perception of the character wearing it and the time period the story is set in. Depending upon the role, the costumes and makeup may reveal truths or hide secrets. The makeup and costumes of the actors were really nice. It made them look like the people from the 80s. The cinematography of this drama too is ideal.

The drama have many nice OSTs in both Korean and English that takes us to the 1980s ambience. Some of them are:

"If You're with Me" by Sung Si-kyung
"Friend" by Kim Hee-won
"Looks Like a Real Thing" (Korean and English version available) by JeHwi
"Wishes" by Jamie Miller
"Memories More than Love" by Kevin Oh

Among these amazing OSTs, Friend and Memories More than Love are my personal favourites.

A quote from Harry Potter goes, "It is choices that shows us who we truly are far more than our abilities". This drama too is about the choises that the characters take. Though Soo-ho was forced to make many choices which were against his will, he choose what is right in the end. He was a righteous person from the very beginning but, his obligations to his nation made him desperate. There are many other characters in this drama who was like Soo-ho, on whom choices were imposed, making them hopeless. They too changed and stood with what is right.

This drama shows the political dispute between Noth and South Korea. It's hard to explain their relationship. I was really confused about the political part of the drama at first too. As this was my first historical political-fiction drama, everything seemed too difficult for me to digest. But, it got better.

I know that I truly and unquestionably like a drama if the skip botton lies idle throughout the drama. Such a drama was Snowdrop for me. Throught the course of 12 episodes, there wasn't a dull or boring moment for me.

"Your future is whatever you make it" - this is a quote I liked form Snowdrop. Altough the person saying it didn't say it in a good sense (I won't say who said it. It will be a spoiler), what the person said is undoubtebly true. This reflect the Harry Potter quote I said before.

"Of course, love is more important than ideology or principles. Whether you are man or women this is the truth of lofe"- this is another quote I loved.

I won't say anything about the ending. I don't wish to spoil anything for the future watchers who are reading this review.

Overall, this is one of the best dramas I have seen in my life. Of course, this is not perfect, it had its own flaws. Well, nothing is perfect in this universe. But, this dosen't keep me from giving this drama a perfect 10. It has all elements a drama should have to make it enjoyable and emotionally engaged. This drama is amazing through and through. I will certainly recommend this to anybody who is in need of a well-written, amazingly directed drama with amazing actors and chemistry.

Note: Let me know in case of any mistakes or faults.

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Shadow Beauty
20 people found this review helpful
Jan 12, 2022
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

A werid but unique experience

_____Story_____
Pros: The plot was unique, and so were the characters. The portrayal of people's internal conflicts astounded me. Ae Jin was so helpless at school that she pretended to be someone other than herself most of the time. She found pleasure in her second identity that she couldn't find in herself. The plot moved quickly, and the way things were revealed was intriguing.
Cons: The beginning was a lot of fun, but by the time we got to the middle, the drama had sunk. I won't say why because doing so would be a spoiler.
I really liked the idea that this drama was attempting to convey.

______Acting_____
Shim Dal Gi (Koo Ae Jin) and Choi Bo Min performed admirably (Kim Ho In). Dal Gi's performance as Ae Jin was superb, and Bo Min was successful in giving Ho In a psycho yet attractive vibe. He made a favourable first impression on me, and I was encouraged to watch his other dramas. The one flaw in Dal Gi's acting was that she exaggerated her performance. But, at times, I felt it was necessary because she was behaving like a mentally ill person.

_____Rewatch Value_____
The main reason why the rewatch value for this drama is high is because of the amount of episodes and its duration.

______Overall______
Shadow Beauty is neither a good nor a bad web series on the whole. This drama has its own set of weak and strong points. Some may enjoy it, while others may not. It all depends on how you look at it. Personally, I enjoyed it. I won't say it's a must-watch, but it's definitely worth watching, and I recommend it to everyone who reads this.

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Completed
Legally Romance
29 people found this review helpful
Apr 27, 2022
33 of 33 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Little things left unnoticed may mean very much to you

I've been looking forward to this drama since I heard about it because of its star-studded cast and the victory of the original novel, "Don't Fall in Love With the Boss" (才不要和老板谈恋爱) by Ye Fei Ran (叶斐然), which I haven't read.

This drama is told from the perspective of Qian Wei (Song Zu Er), a twenty-eight-year-old woman who was unable to write the exam to become a qualified lawyer for some reason. She now works as an assistant to Lu Xun (Hunag Zi Tao, aka Z. Tao), a former law school classmate. She saw him as an enemy, a rival who made her life as uncomfortable and difficult as possible, even back in college, when he used to beat her in everything she did. She also had an ex, Li Chong Wen, who was her law school senior.

She is involved in an accident that puts her in a coma one day. During this time, she fantasises about returning to her adolescent self, where she knows exactly what will happen. She seizes this opportunity to change her life. She plans her life to be exactly how she wants it to be. She works even harder to reclaim the things she lost to Lu Xun and swears she will never date her ex again. But something went wrong with her plan, and she fell in love with her very rival's younger self, Lu Xun, without realising it.

She awakens from her coma one day, torn between her perfect life in her dream world and the reality. Most importantly, she has lost her lover, Lu Xun, and is unsure whether he is still in love with her. However, she learns from her doctor that what happened in her dreams could be true because her subconcious brain may develop stories that people tell her while she is in coma. She then embarks on her quest to discover whether Lu Xun is truly in love with her.

I expected the typical office romance based on the title, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story's twists and turns. It was both strangely satisfying and entertaining. With their outstanding acting, the cast also contributed significantly to the success of this drama.

Song Zu Er, who plays the female lead, Qian Wei, performed admirably and convincingly in her role. Her acting is natural and adorable, and she can perfectly capture and execute each and every emotion of the character she is given.

When it came to Z.Tao, he was as charming as ever. Please do not avoid this drama because of his hair! He is, without a doubt, one of the best Chinese actors I've seen in a long time. Anyway, I think he looks better with his hair down.

The chemistry between the leads was fantastic! Much of the drama's great praise was directed at its two leads, who proved in this romantic comedy that they were more than just pretty faces.

One thing that I liked about this drama is that all the characters have their own stories to say and are independent of the main leads. They all have their own struggles to deal with and their own lives to live. Even though there was a love triangle in this drama, it was not chaotic or complicated, which improved my opinion of it.

The depiction of love, both romantic and the kind we feel for our family and friends, was excellent! I was moved to tears at times because it touched my heart.

What I liked:
# Unique plot line and its execution
# Good cast and their acting
# Well developed characters
# Independent side characters
# Uncomplicated love triangle
# Effortlessly humorous

What I disliked:
I have nothing to say except for Lu Xun's hair.

Final Thoughts

This is a fantastic college/office rom-com that has raised the bar for similar dramas. This is a fluffy romance show that is perfect for people looking for drama with a unique story line and an amazing cast. I would recommend this drama to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted drama that will make them laugh and cry at the same time.

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Completed
To Fly with You
22 people found this review helpful
Dec 10, 2021
35 of 35 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

One of the best sports drama there is!

I was just scrolling in MDL airing calendar and saw this. I just picked it up because beacuse its was long since I had watched a nice sports drama. I didn't expect to enjoy it as the leads were not familiar to me. (I had only seen Wang An Yu in Go Go Squid 2 and The Heiress.) But, when I finished 3-4 episodes, I realised that I was just hooked. If you are looking for a sweet fluffy romance drama or a nice sports drama or a combination of both, To Fly With You is one of them.

Story : 9 stars
The story was nice. It had the right amount of sports and romance. This story also shows the hardships and challenges faced by athletes. During the whole drama, there wasn't even a dull moment that made me bored.

Acting/Cast: 9.5 stars
Though I wasn't much familiar with the cast, in the first episode itself I found that I was watching a drama with amazing actors ans actresses. The chemistry between the leads seemed so natural that I thought if they were really in a relation haha..
The side characters were also nice which made the drama more lively.

Music: 8.5 stars
There wasn't much music in the drama. But I like the starting theme and the ending song.

Rewatch value: 9 stars
I don't usually rewatch dramas even if its my favourite. I don't have time to reawtch any dramas at the moment. But, If I will rewatch some dramas at any point of time, this will surely be one of them!

Overall: 8.5 stars
One of the must watch sports C-drama. This drama has everything a light-hearted drama should have: romance, comedy, sports and youth

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Completed
Immortal Samsara: Part 1
36 people found this review helpful
Aug 19, 2022
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 10
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.5
This review may contain spoilers

Not sure...

Immortal Samsara is the first Xianxia that I'm rating so low. I mean, I usually rate them a 9 or above because they are worth it. To be honest, Immortal Samsara was even one of my most anticipated dramas of 2022, mainly because of the cast. But, in this case, I'm not able to do so. There are many reasons for this, which I'll be explaining in the review.


THE STORY

This drama is adapted from a novel Chen Xiang Ru Xie (沉香如屑), which literally translates as Agarwood Like Crumbs, by Su Mo. The drama is a typical eternal love story portrayed in Xianxias. There is not much difference and it has great similarity to Ashes of Love (even the kisses are similar!). FL and ML are dieties in the heavenly realm who fall in love, where their love is forbidden and opposed. They'll be hurting as well as sacrificing for each other because of their love. They'll also have love rivals on both sides who constantly stir up trouble and try to make them fall apart. Then, for some reason (mostly because of those love rivals), they will go to the mortal realm, fall in love again, and one of them will realize that they fell in love for the second time with the same person who hurt them before. But, they can't hold off their love and realize how deeply the love has been rooted in their hearts, etc. etc.. This is the common story arc of Xianxias, which is again repeated here. The only difference is that they fall in love a little too early, i.e., the drama is fast paced. I'm honestly bored out of my skull by these kinds of stories! True, there were many new elements in the story which should have made the story much more interesting, but the love story of the main lead is a total let down. But, towards the end, it seems that their story is taking an interesting turn. Fingers crossed for an interesting part 2!

A good thing about the story is the side couples. Many may not give much attention to side couples but, here, they are very hard to ignore because, somehow, I've got a feeling that they have a better love story than that of the main couple!

Note: The story has a lot of time jumps and flashbacks, and therefore, it may seem a bit confusing.


THE CHARACTERS

The male lead, Lord Ying Yuan/Tang Zhou, is not so different either. The typical handsome and cold-and-aloof-on-the-outside-but-warm-inside type of high diety/cultivator whom everyone looks up to and fairies are head over heels for. The FL has the slightest difference: she is not the usual dump girl who doesn't know what love is or the clumsy, not-so-intelligent pretty face. Yan Dan here is much more mature, witty, and strong. She has great willpower and knows how to love. That was refreshing to watch.

All Xianxias come with at least a love triangle, or should I say, an obsession triangle lol. Anyway, it's a square in this case. But, the SML, Yu Mo, is not so obsessed with Yan Dan here (he truly loves her!). In turn, it was Fairy Ying Deng who was obsessed with Ying Yuan.

Another thing is that it is the ML who usually suffers the most in these kinds of dramas. But, it's not the case here. Both Ying Yuan/Tang Zhou and Yan Dan suffer endlessly. Sometimes, it's a bit hysterical to watch, but it's immensely satisfying to see that pain and misery are not biased towards one lead XD


ACTING AND CAST

I don't think I'll have to talk about the cast. This drama sure has a star-studded cast, which will compel you to watch the drama no matter what. They were the main reasons why I held on to this drama till the end. If you are a usual watcher of Xianxia/Wuxia dramas, you'd probably notice many familiar faces throughout the cast.

Cheng Yi, the God of Blood-spitting, finally has a lot less blood-spitting scenes in a drama. I'm happy but somehow sad too. He was so hot during those scenes with some red lipstick! Taking about his acting, I have nothing much to say. He is as awesome as ever! And so is Yang Zi. If you have watched at least one of their historical dramas, you'll understand their excellence and the quality of their acting.

Yang Zi and Cheng Yi can make chemistry with whomever they are paired with, but, in this case, it's even more so! They can't be more compatible as a bickering couple!


MUSIC

The music in Xianxia dramas is always so pleasing! They always give the right feeling in the right situation!

Some of the notable OSTs in this drama are:
Agarwood (沉香) by Jane Zhang and Jackson Zhang
World Records (红尘录) by Jackson Zhang
Watch the Day (望辰) by Yang Zi
Forget the River (忘川) by Cheng Yi
Partial Star (偏星) by Jane Zhang
Never Forget (无忘) by Zhang Lei


OVERALL

If you ask me if this drama is worth watching, I'd probably reply no, because it's not. You'll know this is definitely not the best Xianxia, nor is it any different from other Xianxias. Actually, it's even worse. But, it's definitely worth a try at least for the cast. Anyhow, I doubt if this would be a good watch if you really did try.

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