Reviews

Awwwwwwww

Such warm and fuzzy goodness. The leads were both super charismatic and lovable and I loved watching their relationship blossom. I appreciated their kindness, their strong communication skills, and the complete absence of contrived conflict. The beer stuff was handled in a way that was accessible to a teetotaler like myself. The direction was creative and I appreciated how the show used the beauty of the natural landscape and certain visual tricks such as animations and selective employment of black and white to enhance both the comedy and the emotional stakes of the drama. A few things were glossed over a bit too quickly or introduced haphazardly (such as the ML's past suicide attempt, the second ML's PTSD, the ML's father's change of heart vis-a-vis "proper" masculinity and displays of emotion) and the second couple's courtship initially felt random. A very satisfying finale that made me tear up. A sweet, warm puppy of a show that will charm the pants off of you.

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Honestly, revolutionary.

I genuinely think that this show is revolutionary. I am writing a review over three years since iv'e finished this show, but i don't regret watching it. One of my top five shows is Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and this show is lowkey giving the same big show vibe. I loved this it was goooood. The reason i gave it a 9/10 instead of 10/10 was because it thinks the of the way (at the time) i was such a hige fan of her ending up with Seojun. I think he would have never hurt her. I think that ju kyung and soo ho were seoulmates (hehe) but idk i think me and a lot of others wanted her with seojun. When i look back, the show was actully perfect, i will always feel bad for seojun, but reality is that the two book, rock, weirdos, were meant to be

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Ok Chanhwi made me stay

I was looking forward to this drama as I love the main leads, but the first few episodes were so Cliché and the towns people were quite annoying I kinda wanted to drop.

After the 3rd episode it started getting better Our male lead is so charming that you just don't want to take your eyes off him.

This is the 3rd drama I've seen Baek Sungchul in and I liked him fine before but now Chanhwi won my heart, I kept watching mostly to see what silly shenanigans he'd be up to. I want to see more of him a main lead maybe, and I know I'm not alone in this.

The last two episodes were quite boring, I skipped most of episode 12. It's an OK drama with some funny scenes, something to watch when you have nothing better to do.

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Great lead, terrible show

This show was very disappointing, especially since the female lead just outclasses everything about this production. Her performance is excellent, but everything else about this show ruined any attempt to push through just for her.

The direction and the writing are both so flawed that it really became unwatchable. It was actually very odd that every episode begins with a recap "last time on this show" and ends with "next time on this show" (which would spoil the whole next episode), both of which are a level of handholding that I have never seen used since like shows from the 80s or something.

But despite the choice to coddle the viewer with these episode framings; the actual scenes just start abruptly with no explanation of what happened since the previous scene. Many times the show just starts a fight scene and we don't know how the people fighting encountered each other or why they are fighting or where the other people that were present just seconds ago went. The continuity feels completely slapped together.

Along the lines of the jarringly poor continuity, the character motivations are also handled with similar lack of care. Characters take inexplicable actions that make no sense for their character for seemingly no reason other than the writers need to move the story to some specific plot beat, usually with some contrived conflict. To some degree, many shows do this, but this show does it to a degree that feels like it has no respect for the audience's intelligence.

Ultimately, I keep wanting to push through because the main character is such a pleasure to watch, and the core concept of good and bad "heart" cultivators is really interesting, but in the end the quality level was just too low.

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Ok but isn't that a bit of a drastic decision to make over a cancelled wedding?!

I would love to have a conversation with the scriptwriter of this show. I would love to know how they read THAT book and came to the conclusion to write...this show! lol
It's like if someone read Jane Eyre and ended up adapting it as a musical about learning the alphabet.☉_☉ That said, this is not a bad show or anything, it's just that the similarities to the source material are very slim, including the genre and I also wonder if this was meant to be this dark and elegant and highbrow from the start or if the show just changed themes as the high profile names started to get attached to it...you see, this show has every single cliche element of an average rom-com kdrama!
If I told you a show has:
1. Fake, contract marirage
2. Childhood connection
3. A crazy evil second female lead
4. A stalker with evil superpowers following the Fl around
5. A gloomy male lead with a tragic and sad backstory
6. A romance with a murder mystery subplot
7. Meddling auntie neighbour
8. Quirky tomboy best friend and baby-crazy, secret investigator friend
9. A small event in the FL's past leads her to some drastic career choices
What show would come to your mind?! 'Cause I think so many average Kdramas can come to mind...and the answer here is actually The Trunk. But then this show couldn't be further from your typical kdrama! It's so atmospheric, dark, and the production quality is off the chart!
...but I would say the plot is not as great as the rest of the show. For one, it's slightly melodramatic. If you squint, there are so many plotholes and a lot of choices and actions make no sense. And while I think the creators worked hard to preserve the essence of the novel's message, I think they lost a bit of its nuance in favor of adding flashy plotpoints like abusive parents and homophobia and actual love stories. That said, I like some of these additions and overall, the whole thing works and these details aren't really the main attraction of this show anyway. Because the main point is...
The Chemistry. Holy meow! First of, I think dramaland citizens generally over exaggerate the chemistry connection of actors on popular kdramas. Two actors will do the bare minimum but because the trope is a popular one, people will see natural chemistry where there is none! So many times, I see people just say two actors have chemistry because they're both the two most attractive people on screen in a show. That's not chemistry...that's buying into the show promotion bs, dearies! Actual chemistry means the actors seem to have this magnetic field between them, that even when there are so many others in a scene with them, it's like the two of them are swaying to the same wavelength. Their eye contact seems to hold secret conversations btween just the two and the actors just naturally play off of each other's acting choices. And that's the thing! You have to first be a good actor, to then make actual choices about your acting and then have an equally good actor play against you with their equally dynamic and responsive acting choices! It's...it's a big deal! Not everyone can do it! but my god...Gong Yoo and Seo Hyung Jin sure can! The best thing about this show was how the two of them managed to make the bare minimum plot work! You know a show is good when it gives you the illusion that you have just witnessed two soul mates reunite when the characters just barely had two positive interactions! That's sorcery! That's skill! That's admirable. And this show manages to do that so it's worth a watch for only just that if literally for nothing else.
Which, of course, it's not the only attraction of this show. Jung Yun Ha's acting is another part of this show that adds to its worth. I hope she wins some awards for this. She deserves the recognition. She was so good, she brought Seo Yeon to life and what an interesting character because she was so unhinged and disturbing in some ways but she was equally valid in other ways and I was so conflicted if I hated her for some of her actions or wanted to defend her for some of the other actions. To manage to capture both empathy and disgust, she sure showed some great skills. Granted, the character is very well-written too. Overall, the whole cast is really good but the four main ones stand out. This was my very first Gong Yoo show and guys...I get it. I GET IT! Who is this man?! How is he this charming?! How can someone so unconventionally attractive capture the viewers so quickly? He's too good! A bit dangerous! I wanna see more! lol
In addition to an amazing cast, the production, set design, lighting and special effects in this show were so good. This looks like a drama one would like to watch because it's a feast for the eyes...though in a drab way! There's no explosion of colors or textures. The whole thing is in earth tones and everything and everyone is so subdued but that's sort of the point here. So it's like...having a fancy dinner made of one ingredient! Well, maybe three ingredients.
Also this show is going to get the rare honor of having THE BEST soundtrack of any kdrama ever. It was so good, that 10/10 stars is actually for the music. I loved the music so much I sat through the credits just to listen to it more. Well-played, for a show with a music producer as a main character.
Rewatch: Yeah, no...
Negative: Why do Kdramas have weird pauses when they wanna make high quality dramas?! It doesn't make any sense why people pause so much in their conversations. Also...so many plotholes, so many unnecessary baits that lead nowhere, so many character moments that were abandoned halfway through...lol the script could have been better. hehe
Overall: This is a rare case of me enjying a show with a subpar plot as I usually care the most about plot but this show was too good in other aspects that the weaknesses of the plot are almost forgivable. This would have been a perfect 10 if the plot was a bit better. Highly recommend it though.

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The strive to unlock the code to one’s smile and define love in early adulthood

In an underwhelming world, where the sky is sometimes too cloudy to make out the stars, and where you can’t reach the top without falling, a group of individuals come together, find the good through the bad, and attempt to strive in a big and unfamiliar world that constantly tries to push them away.

If not to be praised for its lengthy and heavy plot, the series’ memorable cinematography and beautiful soundtrack will surely leave an everlasting impression on viewers. Humoristique, heartfelt, and a critique of today’s workaholic society—’Smile Code’ succeeds with satisfying ease in balancing out aspects that lean into the slice-of-life genre with elements of silliness and fun. The drama presents a refreshing twist on falling in love, with characters who fill the space in each other’s arms as though they are destined to come together despite their differences in lifestyle, personality, and outlook on life. It follows the compelling story of two individuals who try to navigate their relationship around the emotional distance that separates them, proving that love knows no barriers and that it presents itself in different variations. It is not a set feeling, but something abstract that is hard to understand and fully grasp the concept of without experiencing it firsthand.

Gu Yi, passionate and full of determination, is searching for her own definition of love. By getting closer to the one causing her the feeling, she gains a better understanding of herself and the concept of love. As the distance between them slowly closes on her end, Liang Dai Wen is experiencing this same exploration of oneself, but is forced to deal with trying to understand the entirety of his feelings—for the world and the girl he loves. The male lead will be forced to face his trauma head-on if he’s willing to understand not just his own feelings, but also those of the people around him. Together, he and Gu Yi serve as a perfect portrayal of the devotion, compassion, and effort that is required to keep and build a healthy relationship. The reasons behind their eventual separation, along with Gu Yi’s belief that "love is precious only when it's a little bit; otherwise, it's a disaster", resonate with the idea that these qualities can equally destroy a relationship as much as they can create one.

Lin Yi effectively embodied his cold role as Liang Dai Wen in a way that made his character feel heavy, with a smile dragged down by the weight of the world. This is fitting for the series, considering its overall message, which is to find a guide, or a code to unlock a smile. Due to his trouble in identifying, processing and expressing emotion, his creativity is overlooked as it is not regarded as ‘creative’ in a typical way. Rather than representing his empathic and artistic outlook of life in his art using music or painting, it is expressed through his feeling of needing to help others. His character is creative and artistic in an innovative way, capable of thinking from the perspective of others to create something that'll reflect them and their needs in everyday life, whereas music or art is more individualistic, with the artist creating based on their own perspective and experiences.

The side characters are all equally as enriching to the series. Remarkably, its second female lead, Guan Xing Xin, indirectly addresses the burden of the misogynistic, suppressive, conservative, and close-minded aspects of Chinese society. This is explored through modern-day problems concerning celebrity images and cyberbullying, as well as the public unwilling to understand her side of the story in a scandal. Her outlook on life differs from others as she was born visually impaired; completely blind. The unique perspective that she presents through her telling of her experience of gaining sight gives viewers unique remarks on life itself and of the human being’s ingrained and innate fear of being observed, perceived, judged, and critiqued.

Though she may seem misplaced at first, among the others in the series who are perhaps more visibly struggling, with debt to pay off, and no place to call home, she still draws many parallels to them despite her wealth and fame. Guan Xing Xin is actually just as morally lost as the other individuals presented are, searching for her place in the world. Even though her life seems simple and already set up for her by those in her surroundings, she rather feels suffocated and constrained by these expectations, and stolen of freedom. Despite being certain that her current life is not fit for her, she struggles to break free from it and pursue a new direction in life, not yet truly knowing her own self, her limits, and what she wants. Her similarity with those around her who are less wealthy showcases how everyone has their own battles to fight no matter their circumstances, and that one should not be so quick to judge. Altogether, the characters form a realistic portrait of people who feel like they don’t live up to society’s standards for one reason or another, enhancing the series’ underlying theme of struggling urban youths.

Gu Yi, the female lead, catches the male lead’s eye first with her positive attitude. Liang Dai Wen feels entranced by the bright smile she chooses to wear despite her day-to-day struggles. At night, her smile radiates a sense of freeness under the stars like a twinkle amidst the busy streets of the bustling city. In the day, he sees her face morph into more stoic expressions, and witnesses how hard she works to carry the weight of her daily struggles. This contributes to Liang Dai Wen finding her smile's beauty more admirable and brighter than ever, furthermore drawing him into her strong pull. The contrast between her life in the day and during the night is something Liang Dai Wen struggles to understand. Because of his emotional condition, he can’t experience the duality of being practical in the day, and free, exasperated, and relieved at night. His lack of understanding intrigues him to give her a space in his life, because he has always been told that feelings can truly be felt only once they have been observed. Though he yearns to be observant and understanding of Gu Yi, his encounters with her brings him down and gives him the unconscious realization that there's something missing in his life.

"A human soul only weighs one ounce" is the quote of the comedy night club where Gu Yi works. This is probably in reference to an experiment led by a believer that a soul holds a physical weight, and who strived to determine if this was true or not, before coming to the conclusion that a soul weighed almost an ounce because that was the weight that left their body when they died. Of course, this theory has never been scientifically proven, but in the context of this series that explores the struggles faced by urban youths, this ideology can be interpreted that the human soul is light, and so it is easy to push around into a spiral of turmoil or hardship, as it is simple to alleviate this weight by wearing a smile. It highlights the human’s sole insignificance in the world, and how adapting this outlook on life that we are so little and overall insignificant can make us feel more free and weightless. Not only can this shift one’s perspective, but it can also allow one to embody their feelings better and wear them with great pride for the little joys experienced. When Liang Dai Wen says he’s searching for his ounce of a soul, he’s perhaps looking for the lively part of him that he’ll lose once he dies, as he is already a detached and cold-hearted person.

In the middle of the series, Liang Dai Wen has a breakthrough, reflecting deeply on his own self for the first time. These realizations are crucial for his character development and the choices he makes later on. He notices that whenever he sees Gu Yi smile, his wrist hurts, recalling how her smile never ceased to shine brightly in his memory. This wrist pain of his is ultimately a physical manifestation of his emotional incapacity to have feeling. Whenever the pain flares up, he is deprived from the opportunity to experience mundane human things, such as driving. This builds on the series’ main theme, which is alexithymia, and strengthens the focus on his inability to differentiate between physical and emotional pain.

At some point, Gu Yi mirrors his own behaviour in the way she decides to interact with him. She approaches the matters that bother her head-on, hoping that he will understand her better. The physical pain she causes him in the moment where she squeezes his hurt hand, telling him to remember how he feels in the moment, mirrors the internal pain he feels when she gives him back the pain he caused her. He pushes her away, shifting back into the cold and detached version of himself he has been stuck in since years ago, retreating into his old habit of using emotional numbness as a shield. His departure with Gu Yi only adds to his pile of regrets, alongside those he feels regarding his past and his Mom. His obsession with clinging on to the memory of things he has abandoned hints at his desire to stay in the past. Instead of trying to let go or welcome back into his life the things he misses, he just floats in the middle of these two options, numbing himself to emotion. But now, with Gu Yi, he has to make a move, make decisions based on what he wants—not just out of practicality like he usually does. He has to allow himself to be guided by his own emotions, because he can’t expect Gu Yi to wait for him forever.

The rollercoaster of emotion intensifies following the leads’ separation. Gu Yi, once full of innocent smiles and laughter, gains a new perspective on life through this experience and starts to understand Liang Dai Wen’s dissociation from all forms of emotion. She offers a unique interpretation to what she feels was a one-sided romance, explaining that the break up didn’t exactly happen between them, since their feelings for one another haven’t changed. Instead, it can be found in every moment they spent together—shifting from sweet memories to times they now wished to forget. Their bittersweet separation offers a taste of the series’ overall hopeful yet realistic portrayal of life in early adulthood. Filled with scenes that will tug at your heart and draw tears, it captures life from an interesting angle.

The series’ visual aspect beautifully mirrors its essence, enhancing the emotional delivery to viewers. The cinematography is especially visually pleasing, and its nightly setting highlights the little but bright beauty that light holds when it peeks through the darkness. Something about the mostly dark city setting causes feelings of excitement, bringing more intimacy to the leads’ interactions and allowing their love to shine amidst the night’s darkness. The soundtrack is diverse and beautiful, reliant on piano keys to bring its melodies afloat, allowing the songs to convey a light but determined touch to the series. This enhances the series’ overall vibe, a heaviness coupled with little bits of hope—because beauty can not exist without deep and heavy feelings such as despair and sadness.

With noteworthy lines, thought-provoking quotes, and metaphorical comparisons, ‘Smile Code’ outshines its ‘rom-com’ genre by fueling its romance and bits of comedy using everyday happenings and aspects that moreover resemble those of the slice-of-life genre. "Isn't it sad that we operate like machines?" is a line shared to Gu Yi by Xu Guan Rui, someone who pursues an opposite life to hers—one with artistic and metaphorical value. It was said in the context of humans overworking without the acknowledgement of how much their drive for money and place in society is shielding away typical human creative expression and search for meaning in life. It compares this dehumanizing nature of overwork and the way people oftenly get so obsessed with practicality, routines, or survival to a robot, void of freedom, expression of oneself, and emotion. Gu Yi makes a reflection on these words, perhaps comparing it to Liang Dai Wen, who she considers robot-like because of his neurological disorder that limits his range of emotion and gives him the inability to feel or process feelings or seek true human connections. Since the show's focus is struggling youths in Shanghai—a very big, fast-moving, and competitive city—this is fitting because it is easy to learn to suppress our emotions in order to thrive. One can easily get swept up in only living in the goal of surviving to abide by the mold societal pressure tries to fit them into, making it easy to turn a blind eye to the human need for connections.

In the same train of thought, Xu Guan Rui also encourages Gu Yi to take a pause on what’s truly worth pursuing, and to question herself on why she is living her life in this rushed way that doesn’t make her happy or give her a particular sense of fulfillment in terms of her emotional needs, implying that she orient her goals to something more self-fulfilling. Her lacking response suggests that she hasn’t given it much thought, drawing a parallel between her character and people living under similarly current societal pressures and letting their need for money dictate their way of living. The comparison gives her a better sense of understanding of Liang Dai Wen, who she once thought so different. It enables her to see how she also embodies some of the qualities she thought were robot-like and depressing, such as following the cycle of routines, and acting based on practicality rather than emotions. And since she attributes these struggles of hers to pain, and relies on the creative expression of laughter as a painkiller, she feels for the male leads’ burdens in life since he has no resort that frees him from his struggles.

Essentially, the story conveys the idea that a love that grows slowly is more special than a spontaneous type of love. Its spark never dies because the memories continue to grow on each other, instead of leaving behind something beautiful that is only worth reminiscing about. It is a must-watch series that is heartbreaking as much as it is healing and refreshing to the soul.

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Read the reviews on the 'cut' version.

For a series created in 2023 I would think the BL film industry and audience would have a higher standard. This story was very shallow even though the subject matter was about some serious subjects: abuse in all forms. I watched all eps waiting for a deeper story to emerge, instead the quick examples of abuse seemed to just be 'rage bait'. Mom does a good job of spitting out all that vitriol. The actors werent given much to work with so I cant blame them for the poor acting. EXCEPT James. This person should NOT have had a main role. Him looking stiff and blank does not create a feeling of poignancy.
Also, the pacing in most scenes was poor, I thought I had the playback speed set incorrectly on youtube. Nope, it was the directors fault. I can forgive a few continuity mistakes but whats the point of dragging each scene out?
I started a 2018 Taiwanese series** that was SOOOOOO much better, so why did so many people think this Bed Friend was good? The music was orchestra- loud, intrusive, and irritating. If this show was for the younger audience, shouldnt the music have reflected that? I would recommend avoid this show.

** HIStory2: Crossing the Line

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I Will Love You No Matter How Many Lifetimes

This drama caught me by surprise. I thought it was going to be the ML being not only obsessive but abusive to the FL, this was not the case. This was a man that was willing to give his life over and over again to have the FL live even if he didn't.

The story starts from the ending showing Shangguan Wei Yang (Vicky Liang) shooting an arrow into the back of Ye Bei Chen (Zhang He) who was about to kill her beloved Ye Ming Xuan (Wang Jun Hao). She killed Ye Bei Chen in hatred and fell from the city wall. Watching her fall and holding her lifeless body Ye Bei Chen was left heartbroken and filled with regret for failing to protect her.

Feeling such remorse, he was told that even though she was on the brink of death she could live again. Willing to do anything he takes her to see the Old Poison Freak. This begins the cycle of life and death for Shangguan Wei Yang and Ye Bei Chen.

Ye Bei Chen was the King of Kan and brother to the emperor and also the uncle to Ye Ming Xuan. Ye Bei Chen meets Shangguan Wei Yang after she saved him. He was haunted by memories of Shangguan Wei Yang, his niece-in-law, that he discovered was the woman that his nephew, Ye Ming Xuan was planning to marry.

At all cost Ye Bei Chen protected Shangguan Wei Yang in the shadows. Realizing she was given another opportunity to rectify what had happened in her past life, she was willing to do whatever it took this time to stop Ye Bei Chen. Every time she thought she had outsmarted him; he found a way to wreck her plans. So much so, until he was able to get the emperor to make her his queen nullifying the marriage of his nephew, Ye Min Xuan. This did not sit well with her. All the endless misunderstandings came to head when she found out that it was not Ye Bei Chen who was the culprit but actually the man she had given her heart to, Ye Ming Xuan who was behind all those misdeeds.

Learning of all of this, Shangguan Wei Yang, was regretful of how she had treated Ye Bei Chen. You will be so mad at her because this goes on for quite some time with her treating him so bad. He is injured time after time. Always putting himself on the line for her. By episode 14, they will finally find some common ground, and that leads to the hottest kissing session!!!

Not to be outdone, Ye Ming Xuan was so mad about Ye Bei Chen taking Shangguan Wei Yang from him he vowed to get her back. He sets Ye Bei Chen up for the killing of her father, which again, she believes he did. Something in her mind made her realize it wasn't him and stood up to the emperor to defend him. They both work together to find out what had happened. Of course, it was Ye Ming Xuan because her father found that he was trying to kill his father to become emperor.

We also have Ye Bei Chen knowing that his time is limited with the poison in his body and one of them must die in order for the other to survive. Not telling Shangguan Wei Yang this, he makes sure that she has beautiful memories of being with him. She has finally (you will all be happy) fallen for him. This man really shows he loves her. I mean he will beat anyone if they do anything to her.

There is another prince who is in love with Shangguan Wei Yang, Feng Xuanyi, who is used by Ye Ming Xuan to set up Ye Bei Chen. He also causes issues between them when he tells him that he wants to marry her. But at this point, we knew that would never happen.

You will love in episode 18 when Ye Bei Chen snatches up Ye Ming Xuan and tells him, "So what if you're the Crown Prince. If you dare to disrespect my fiancé again, I'll make you understand what despair truly means." You have to love this man who really sticks up for his woman. The number of times he is injured, is just unprecedented. You can see the happiness but then here comes Huan Yan, she is the apprentice to the Old Poison Freak and in love with Ye Bei Chen. In spite, she tells Shangguan Wei Yang that only one of them can survive. In reality, it's the Life and Death Gu that was planted in Ye Bei Chen's body. When the time comes, if she doesn't die, he will. She doesn't believe her. She further explains that only those who have the King Gu with them can control Gu worms. The only way to bring someone back is to use one's body as a vessel, enduring the pain of a thousand ants drilling into the heart, and the agony of a thousand worms eating the bones. The Death Gu is used to activate Ling Gu, reversing the course of the sun, moon and stars.

Knowing all of this information Shangguan Wei Yang sets up Ye Bei Chen. She gets him drunk and when he wakes up, he finds Huan Yan in his bed. This was her plot to separate and save him. Of course, our men is too smart and knows something is up. He gets all the information from Huan Yan and bans her from his mansion. At this time, she runs into Ye Ming Xuan who now takes her in. But here comes Ye Bei Chen spear in hand coming to get her. This was the perfect opportunity for Ye Ming Xuan to see if she was truly loyal to him. She kills Ye Bei Chen with an arrow. But she always knew he carried a spearhead that she used in killing him in his first life, which we find out stops him from dying. He then becomes the white-haired Sorcerer King.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Wei Yang was trying to win over Ye Ming Xuan because she wants to kill him in the worse way. She tries everything but each time she just manages to not get caught. She finally figures out the Sorcerer King is Ye Bei Chen. Again, these two and their kisses. Happy reunion. Not to be outdone, Ye Ming Xuan figures out it is Ye Bei Chen too because his man reports back, they discovered the body of the real sorcerer.

Playing along Ye Ming Xuan moves the wedding up, and here comes Ye Bei Chen to get his woman, which he does.
Just when they thought everything was going their way, they had gotten rid of Ye Ming Xuan and all of his men, he escapes. Putting them on edge again but enjoying all of their time. These episodes you will like. His brother makes him the emperor. Not that he wanted the position, but he felt with his love of the people the country that this would be best.

Due to all of the ministers complaining and finding out that someone must die, she decides to leave the palace with Feng Xuanyi. One of Feng Xuanyi men decide on their own accord to blow up the palace killing everyone in it. You know Ye Bei Chen figured it out and replaced the bombs with fireworks. Coming to get her once again, we see Feng Xuanyi standing in front of Shangguan Wei Yang taking an arrow and dying.

One last play, and Ye Bei Chen finds out where Ye Min Xuan is and goes to the forest where they have an epic battle. He finally kills Ye Min Xuan along with Huan Yan who dies as well protecting him. You also see that before she died Huan Yan killed the Old Poison Freak so she would be the only one who knew about the Life and Death Gu. She does tell Ye Bei Chen, "Ye Ming Chen you must live on. Remember, life is death and death is life."

The fight was too much for Ye Bei Chen who dies in the arms of Shangguan Wei Yang but not before he saw that she stabbed herself and died beside him.

Time goes backwards and she sees the life that these two have had together. Taking Shangguan Wei Yang back to the tower wall with arrow in hand, she lets the arrow fly, while Ye Bei Chen with his spear, kills Ye Ming Xuan along with the arrow from Shangguan Wei Yang. Looking up with tears in his eyes, at his love, Shangguan Wei Yang, she thinks, "All the past events are like a grand dream. Ye Bei Chen, our story has only just begun."

I believe you really will enjoy this drama. The ML and FL are two hot together. The kisses they have going on are fire. Definitely one to add to your list.

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The Brewing Process of Life and love Journey

Even though I don't drink alcohol, the metaphor of brewing is quite captivating as it underscores the messages conveyed in the stories. The drama’s introduction beautifully illustrates this brewing process.

1. Malting & Mashing. The malting phase parallels our early years, which lay the groundwork for who we become. Our environment nurtures, educates, and shapes us. The mashing stage represents our formative years, a time filled with a mix of sweet and bitter experiences.

Chae Yong Ju comes from a humble background; she’s been trained to be both physically tough and mentally resilient to survive, yet she often overlooks her own emotions. Yun Min Ju, on the other hand, is a neurodivergent individual sensitive to physical, emotional, and social cues. He is empathetic and creative but struggles to gain his father’s acceptance. Bang A Reum grew up surrounded by material wealth but lacked emotional support. O Chan Hwi enjoys a loving family, but the burden of his duty as a soldier has exposed him to life's darker sides, particularly the harsh realities that come with taking innocent lives.

2. The boiling stage can be likened to the trials we encounter in life. We face these challenges and, ultimately, emerge stronger. Each main character gains strength by acknowledging their past and embracing their true selves. This is where transformation happens—akin to fermentation—where we evolve, change, and mature, much like yeast converting wort into beer.

Chae Yong Ju realizes the importance of accepting and embracing her personal needs and emotions, a lesson she learns from Yun Min Ju, who is attuned to feelings. In turn, Yun Min Ju discovers that he can be accepted, loved, and cherished by others, particularly through his connections with his staff at the brewery. When he falls for Yong Ju, he learns the value of opening up and sharing his feelings with those he loves. Similarly, Bang A Reum also learns to be open with her parents and reveals her true self to O Chan Hwi. In response, O Chan Hwi dares to be genuine in front of Bang A Reum and eventually confronts his family, though this resolution isn’t explicitly shown in the drama.

3. Conditioning Process. Like a finely aged beer, we refine our character and hone our unique qualities over time.

As for the genre, the drama can be compared to a beer with taste notes that blend fruity, malty, earthy, and hoppy flavors. This combination reflects the relationships between the characters, encompassing thoughtfulness, sweetness, happiness, and contentment. The emotional journey is engaging, evoking both laughter and tears, while also providing a sense of comfort and serenity.
Overall, the story balances creativity with some typical romantic cliches, yet these elements do not detract from its value or impact.


Music: Oh the music makes me feel the love in the air. That's all I can say about the OST hehe oh but finally, we've got to hear Kim Sejong again. :-)

Rewatch Value: Yes.

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So far so good!! >.<

*The Heart Killers* is an exciting new Thai BL series that’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. It brings a fresh twist to the genre by blending romance with a touch of mystery and suspense, making it feel unique and captivating from the start. Im also very happy that we finally get a new joongdunk and khaofirst series!! :D
The leads have fantastic chemistry, and their interactions are full of tension and heartfelt moments that pull you in. The storyline is intriguing, balancing light romantic scenes with darker, more intense themes. On top of that, the production quality is impressive, with beautiful cinematography and a soundtrack that complements the mood perfectly.
What really stands out is how the show keeps you guessing. It doesn’t rely on typical BL tropes but still delivers the emotional moments fans love. That mix of unpredictability and heartfelt storytelling is what makes *The Heart Killers* so promising.
So far, it’s been a great ride, and I’m hoping the series keeps up the momentum. If it can stick the landing, it has the potential to be one of the best BL dramas this year. Fingers crossed it doesn’t disappoint! :33

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I didn't like it. No offense to anyone. It didn't work. It doesn't have a plot. It's a very messy series. I think it's one of the first series of Wahg You Shuo, it looks very small and amateur. Her acting is low. Although the female actress is better, no attention was paid to her attire, the wig is very obvious. Her real hair underneath has grown out and she's grinning like a different object on top. It's very obvious. She moves her head a lot too, it looks bad. In other words, no attention was paid. Especially when they knew what that fish was, how can we eat it, I couldn't think of such a bad idea, scenario. You're bad, scriptwriter. Shame on you. You're beyond bad. You're very bad. I don't know when it was filmed, but it doesn't seem like a series of recent times. It reminds me of old series. I guess it's a comic book adaptation. It also seemed a bit childish. It's not for me. Some people may like it. I'm exercising my right not to watch it. I didn't like it at all. What a waste of effort.

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WHYYYY NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS??????

I'm so happy and glad that i watched this show!!! i loved itttt
Brewing Love is a heartwarming drama that balances humor, emotion, and valuable life lessons. While the female lead's acting initially felt over-the-top, her quirks quickly became endearing, and the chemistry between the main leads was sweet and satisfying. The second leads, however, stole the show with their adorable and impactful story, easily making them one of the cutest second-lead couples in recent memory. The supporting cast is top-notch, each character adding depth and warmth to the narrative. The grandmother’s death was a particularly emotional moment, leaving a lasting impact and reminding us of the importance of family. Overall, this feel-good drama is a perfect mix of laughter, tears, and inspiration, making it a must-watch for anyone who loves meaningful storytelling.

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Masterpiece -awesome production, storyline and fenomenal action of Tae Ri!!!

To be honest, I wasn't going to watch it as it is all female-centered, and the description of the story did not interest me. But after reading so many good reviews, I'm so happy I did. Not a single minute I was bored.

Wow, I did not feel this connection with characters in a long time. I was crying with them and laughing with them. I was hooked and felt the emotions of the story from the first minute and could not stop watching it. It is a beautiful story with exceptional production and awesome screenwriting. Also, it is one of the few dramas I thought was too short and wished for more episodes.

The acting of Tae Ri is just on a different level; not that the other actors haven't done a great job, but she is just fire. I wish she would have more projects lined up.

It is truly a masterpiece and one of the best dramas I have watched! I still can't get over it.

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