an Unexpected ending

First thing to notice is this series has very good visual standards. I so much love the costumes here, the softness of fabrics and the natural looks of wigs/extensions! the genre has a strong comedy to it, mainly given by the FL naiveness, spontaneity and by the fact that us, viewers, are taken into her shared dreamworld.. it is hilarious!! (the following is not a spoiler but purely based on the opening, the closing songs AND on the synopsis given here on VIKI which are available to viewers since the first episode; I am myself on episode 4 as the program is currently airing): The development of the romantic interest reminds me a lot of the one from Story of Yanki Palace, where a young girl's first infatuation has then moved into a more mature one, initially forced relationship, to then become her TRUE LOVE.. still, in that story, Fuca (her first love) remains in deep love with her to the point of sacrificing his life for her.. a drama for sure, in which my heart painfully decided to stay loyal to her first love Fuca... Unfortunately I feel this series will be similar to the above example as, based on the Synopsis, this is described as a love story between Moxi and Wende but we do see her on the first episode to be infatuated with a younger man. From the Opening/closing songs, it looks like the young couple will be separated, him forced to marry her cousin but keep thinking of her... whilst the FL will gradually get closer to Wende, and with him she will go through ups and downs, bringing Moxi to be inevitably in love with Wende ( and this is purely my theory..). But regardless of my romantic expectations and preferences ( i prefer the young boy), after episode 4, I am ready for anything as this is going to be good! MY UPDATE AFTER EP30: i have downgraded this of 1 star because the way they have scripted the romance. Not convincing to me, i am not spoiling anything, but they have made a non believable turn of events given the personality of the character that was initially presented to us. Also they made us emotionally invested in one couple for 30 episodes, and then, for non believable reasons, from episode 31, only 6 left to the end.... they have changed into what it looked to me a slow burn love for a person which she was forced to be with, like a prisoner...someone has described Moxi change in love interest as the stockolm syndrome, and i agree... ? And i will get lots of dislikes in here which i dont care, but i still wish for moxi to end up with the SML ??

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That fine line between pleasure and pain....

I am very impressed how well the story is taking us, the viewers, into one of hundreds different BDSM's reality..
they have portrayed our main characters, 2 adults willing to explore their sensations in whichever way makes them feel happy; their relationship is very healthy and on the "light" side of many different BDSM practices. Seen by ignorant others as "perverts", the movie cleverly shows us who the real "Perverts" are, and in comparison, when looking at the two leads, you are just left smiling at the thought of them playing with a collar...

enjoy the view..

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A Stress Relief program!

In Europe is very difficult to find videos about your favourite C-Actors and the material online is very limited. this is the reason i enjoy watching Hello Saturday as it gives me a chance to see actors from a drama playing some funny games together! i love them and it makes me appreciating the dramas even more because i can finally see their human side and their reactions during the games.

the program itself is well organised, there is a memorable opening song and dance which i sometimes find myself singing during the day- it is positive, it is funny and it definitely has a re-watch value as i am rewatching the same episodes more than once.

the host are funny, they keep a very good atmosphere between guests and ... Dylan is super funny... but the man who stole my heart is Tan JianCi... he can dance, he can sign and act... and he is so easy going!!

Higly recommend to all Cdramas passionate!

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Fanstasy historical drama with a modern look!

This is officially my favourite fantasy Kdrama! We are halfway through S1 and you, screenwriters, are making us lingering for more, week by week, episode by episode.. well done!

please team do not let out too many spoilers for the S2, and I am talking about the news around S2 out there ... leave us, the mesmerised viewers, wondering until the very end as you are doing a great job so far!

AOS has all ingredients to keep you hooked: young and good looking characters ( ...sorry for being shallow :):):), a clever modern twist to costumes and make-up, some family unresolved issues ( who doesnt have it), a badass FL ( ..are we talking about Naksu or MoDuk here... or both really?), some SOul Shifting magical process that can sometimes go wrong ( a blindfolded girl seems to like interfering a lot in it, and i start thinking that it was not a mistake when Naksu entered the blindfolded girl on EP 1.. :), and a lot of sense of humour which makes you laugh out loud ! I LOVE IT!

There is of course some romance, a slow-burn romance we are all waiting to see unclosing... is there a love triangle? ... not sure about that, well you need to watch the series to understand the implications of a person in someone's else body: how would you feel in Naksu situation? would you be able to love someone if you were wearing someone else's skin? how Naksu see herself in someonelse's body? can she love.. completely? and .. is UK's love interest directed to MuDeok, or for Naksu..? how will the Hong sisters respond to that? i am very intrigued to see how things will unfold..

in the meantime, we see great chemistry between the main couple: the way they understand each other, with their looks ( sometimes very cheeky and playful) , the way they protect each other... it is not only because of their "duties", it goes beyond that.. and i simply find myself drawn into this circle of emotions, and I don't want them to be apart ...
UK and Mudeok help and support each other, there is a mutual respect and neither of them is taking control over the other's decision and action; yes, they agreed on having this teacher-scholar relationship , but yet, you cannot really tell who is what as they are both learning from each other! Fantastic!

I am updating my reviews as i continue to watch the new released episodes, but i can tell you it gets better and better. if all the episodes were already completed , i would definitely add this series to my "Binge-watching list"!

a big WELL DONE to the whole production and post-production team, you are putting together a dynamic, aesthetically appealing work, dreamy OST ( teh music in some of the fighting scenes are in rhythm with it. or vice versa..?)

- well done team! let's see what the next episodes will bring to the table :)

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Controversial opinions..

I have some controversial views for this cdrama. First, i love the ML , is a good actor, knew him from love and redemption. I dont find him sexy but i cannot deny he can take your breath away with his mysterious aura.... the FL ..well.. i love and hate her at the same time, sometimes she plays clever, she surprises everybody because she seems to know it all... but at times she is like an adult with childish traits... far too naive for my taste. And her childish voice at times could have been avoided to add on credibility for the type of role she is covering, an imperial guard, the sword bearer. This cdrama is about how to take a slow... very slow... revenge. I am at ep 43... 1 to go...and it seems the bad guys cannot be punished , it gets to my nerves to see how the evil eunuch seems to have more power than the emperor, i would slap his face hard! How dare you!! Please silence this super human evildoers!

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A Very realistic representation of daily struggles of people in relationships, not only amongst married couples though! I personally believe a couple of years of struggles are enough to prove if a relationship can continue or not as everyone has the right to love and to be loved the way we want and, if the partner we are with doesnt want to compromise, it might not be the right partner for us in that moment. Long term relationships require both sides to compromise and make efforts, if one of the 2 doesnt want to or feel the compromise is too much, sorry but it only means the couple needs to split for the psychological and physical wellbeing of both. I am curious to see how the production will make this series end, if following the usual old sense of morality perhaps accepted by the majority, with following sense of guiltyness and self pity. Or if they are open to a more overjudged possibility.. i opt for the latter... AFTER VIEWING LAST EPISODE, an unexpected ending, didn't make any sense from my prospective .. a very morally correct choice... but for the sake of entertainment i would have prefer the 2 divorcees to end up together...i have taken a star off because the ending as personally not satisfying

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a Masterpiece of beauty and elegance

I score 8 on Story just because it doesn't end the way I wanted, which is how the majority of C-dramas ends: there is this willingness to sacrifice ( either something important to you or your own life!)- after watching nearly hundreds of C-dramas, i get it, Chinese audience seems to love the drama/sad ending- I normally read how a c-drama ends to avoid disappointment, and i knew i wouldn't have like the rise of phoenixes's end, so I fast forwarded the last few episodes just because i wanted to finish it.
regardless of this, I would definitely recommend it to everybody, especially to c-dramas beginners because it was my first c-drama , the first that got me hooked to the point that since then i have been watching c-dramas only, paying for Asian streaming channels/app, and only watching costume/historical c-dramas....!!
i have appreciated the beauty of costumes, the elegance of body movements, the slow scenes, the subtle romance going on between the 2 main leads, the fact that for once the wigs worn by the actors didn't look ridiculous nor fake ( a weakness in historical/costume c-dramas!!) . c-dramas are known to have hell lot of episodes; with its 70 episodes, this drama didn't make an exception to this trend; but at any point, it never get boring or too slow but , the many episodes were simply taking you deep down into the character development.... you get very deep into the story, you understand it better, and you don't want it to finish.... but then of course the finale might, to some viewer, leave you unsatisfied and wanting for more...

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a fantastic Bai Lu

Another great cdrama with BaiLu as FL! She is great in this character, it suits her best, with her cheekiness and childishly mannerism! PERFECT! the ML is from my personal point of view, super hot and jeez, his torso scenes, well... BRAVO! Definitelly worth watching... lol... jokes aside, the drama has an intriguing plot, good acting and the finale will leave you satisfied... even though, i feel the last episodes was trying to explain too many thinks to a point it was unnatural... i donno how to explain it... but there was too much politeness and calm reasoning going on in scenes where killing was involved... or it was supposed to be involved... and they were just calmly reasoning like a detective might do when solving a case in front of an innocent audience ... i donno if what i am trying to say makes sense... BUT regardless, i would definitelly advise this cdrama to anyon

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lovely romance

gina Jin can do romance perfectly! she is relaxed on screen even during more intimate scenes, a natural! i have completed this and have enjoyed it, but i personally get distracted by the excessive change of outfits, a production choice, which i cannot appreciate in any drama. And of course this is my personal taste. I just feel this fashionista choice is more suitable to attract a younger audience, amd can easily distract from the quality of the drama. i have started this after completing Falling into you and perhaps because in there the characters were wearing sportive attire, very light make up... i cannot deny that i liked that more, and i definitelly find the chemistry with Wand AnYu more passionate (they are actually my favourite cuple on screen xx). ? still, both dramas are well worth your time ?

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character development

I have started watching this for Cheng yi. I like his acting and his character is indeed interesting, mature and well developed. Shame , from the other comments i understand he is going to die.. like in most of the cdrama he does... for this, i wont continue to watch it as i really feel this time, his character deserved a happy ending! I am not in the mood for tears and unjust events, i am in a moment in life where i appreciate when someone receive what should be deserved! And what is wrong with that? But many c-dramas seems to emphasise pain and sacrifice.. and many people like it... but not me. Well, if instead you are all for tears and sacrifice, please enjoy yourself as this cdrama is definitely worth it. Which is why i score it 9. It is just me that i cannot continue watching it as i don't like how it ends..

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Those guys are so down to earth, so refreshing!

It is so refreshing to wach them playing togeher. I hope they really are like that and that they are not just playing a part as it happens in lots of european and american reality tv programs, when celebrities are still acting according to a script.
Saying that, they look so down to earth which makes them so lovable and relatable, it is so pleasantly surprising to see their introverted traits, instead of trying to be the star of the show! I have enjoyed the first episodes so far and I have to say it is so much better when teams are all mixed up so they get to know each other,making them a whole big team! I am a fan of Ji Chang Wook, but everyone here is stunning ? ❤️ ?
Thank you Viki for making this program available!

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Finally real kisses... and a lot!

Wow... i have been watching c-dramas since 2 years now and this is by far the most romantic with most of steamy and real kisses scenes i have seen! Finally a romance with proper romantic scenes! Ok i believe Alan Fang is my dream man now! I dont rewatch cdramas , but now that i have finished this one, with a very satisfying finale, i am ready for tomorrow re watch! The actors are good as well so you dont get bored watching this. I will repeat myself on this ... but ... yes, if you are looking to watch one series with LOTS of kissing, this is finally a cdrama for you! YEAHHHHHHHH

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Watch it with a hand to your heart and the other to a tissues box..

OK..this is not an easy drama to watch.. i have started watching it because of Ji Chang Wook , as an European viewer myself I find him to be one of the sexiest man on screen, beside being a complete actor, very versatile, capable of bringing a soul into his acting..
He can make every character believable.

JCW is portraying an ex-convict, abused in childhood, lonely as an adult.. his eyes... just penetrate you.. the sparkles when he cries.. his cheeky curiosity.. his genuine feelings...

And, regardless of his hard life , he is still capable of trusting others.. he wants you to get close to him.. with nothing to lose...

This drama is so intense that it is making it difficult for me to watch one episode in one go.. but it represents the reality of many working in hospice, supporting the last breath of life of many left on their own...

Thank you to the production team, because you have been able to discuss an heartbreaking topic.

And thank you to the actors for telling us this story with your natural and great acting! ?

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