Reviews

Most memerable drama of 2024

I enjoyed Seo Hyun Jin in Another Miss Ohh and The Beauty Inside, which I coincidentally watched only a couple of weeks ago, and so I was really interested to see how she would do in this new drama and wow I was not ready for how great she would be! The show hooked me quickly with its mysterious plot and the asymmetrical, curved, modern, wealthy yet cold and emotionless interiors or the main settings contrasted with where the FML comes from, not wealthy yet equally cold and emotionless. The cool tone of the lighting and the stark cinematography reflects how the characters feel no connection anymore to the world around them, the tone at times is so dark and foreboding that it felt difficult to watch, and found myself taking breaks to steady myself to watch further. The circumstances of the arranged marriage between the ML and Seo Hyun Jin's character is never really explained in a way that made any sense to this viewer, and one sort of has to set that aside and just accept that they have been thrown together into this situation. The reward for doing so is seeing the outstanding performances of the two leads portraying characters with hearts so broken come slowly back on line. Many of the most emotionally powerful moments of the film having little or no dialog whatsoever, with much being expressed through the eyes and small, silent kindnesses and affirmations, and I think it takes both great acting and mature, authentic chemistry between actors to pull that off, and they did in spades. Whereas I frequently forget a drama almost as soon as the final credits start rolling. I feel Seo Hyun Jin's performance, and also that of the other actors, was such that this show will stay with me, much as My Mister did before it, for a long time to come.

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Who is the Replica?

This is both a dark & light watch. The plot of the FL not having her memories & the ML being her bodyguard with secrets adds some drama & tension, while the Leads’ chemistry brings the swoons & heart flutters. I love when a couple only has eyes for each other throughout the whole show. It’s a true “you’re the only one for me” coupling & I’m a huge fan of that.

The FL is going through a lot & isn’t quite sure who to trust, but even when it seems like the ML betrayed her, she never actually loses faith in him. She’s a strong woman in a very confusing situation. She’s trying to connect all the dots & piece her memories back together, determined to uncover the truth of who she really is. All while quickly & completely falling for her mysterious bodyguard.

As for the ML - the way he’s devoted to protecting her, physically & emotionally, is so perfect. 🫠 He knows there’s more going on then he’s aware & he’s determined to keep her safe while helping her find the truth. Yes, he’s got a hidden agenda, but he never for a moment puts that above the safety or well-being of the woman he’s completely fallen for.

They’re a truly great couple who prove that, no matter what, love is always worth it! The trust they have in one another is well deserved as neither would ever do anything to sabotage the other. As the ML proves with the way he handles the SFL’s advances & flirtations. I love when the Leads put others in their place, leaving no doubt as to who they love & where the “love rivals” fit (or don’t fit) in the equation.

If you haven’t watched “Mysterious Love” yet, I recommend seeing that too. It was the Leads’ first drama together. The storylines don’t connect, but the main cast are almost all the same so it sorta feels like a duo set. You can watch one w/out the other, though, & still understand everything. 👍🏻 It’s just really great to see them on screen together again!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 6💋
- 2G : 8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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Love Among the Stars

When a video’s leaked with proof of an actress’s { Dilraba } gaming ineptitude, it threatens her contract with the developer. When she recognizes the proficient gamer she’s playing with as her first love { Yang Yang }, she asks him to help her hone her skills (without revealing her identity!) so she can redeem herself. Thus their story begins…

I enjoy that the FL stays kind & innocent throughout. She’s strong & stands up for herself while remaining humble. She never uses her fame as an excuse to be rude or act as if she’s better than anyone. She’s a very cheerful & honest person who has worked very hard for her accomplishments & doesn’t take the people around her for granted. She does have a few moments where I’m like, “girl, whyyy?” but overall I really enjoyed her.

I love watching the ML fall for her. He starts as a closed off person who isn’t mean, but rather burdened. He’s got the worry for his parents’ finances & health weighing him down, causing him to give up his career as an aerospace engineer for a more stable desk job. But the FL’s constant encouragement & unending belief in him give him the courage to once again chase his dream. Her sunny personality & quirky charms help brighten the darkness he’s been living in, giving him hope for a better future.

I enjoy the way he goes about pursuing her after he pushed her away & proving his feelings are genuine. He knows he messed up by letting her go, he realizes just how much he needs her in his life, & he sets out to win her back. And I appreciate that she isn’t cruel in her hesitation to accept him & that their separation doesn’t last long. It shows how serious they both take their relationship. Some shows drag this situation out too long to add more tension & drama, but I personally hate that. If you both love one another & want to be together, why would you be dumb & hold onto your pride when you could just apologize/forgive & hold onto each other instead?

Their chemistry is 🔥! They love to flirt & their banter is so cute. Their devotion to each other is 🫠. I love how they support each others goals & never let the difficulties of life come between them. It’s very nice that we get to witness the progression of their story too with the time jump. Getting to actually see them functioning as a married couple & how that works with both of their demanding careers is really well done, imo. Life doesn’t end after the “HEA” scene - that’s when a whole new life begins! They’re total married couple goals too. Just as flirty & affectionate as when they were dating. Lovely hugs & kisses. Their story is a joy to watch!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 21 💋
- 2G : 21 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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A Realistic Romance that Doesnt Feel Very Realistic By the End

This drama is shot beautifully and well acted. The OST might be the best part of the show. Up to a certain point the romance is a warm hug with no cliche misunderstandings. Then the dreaded kdrama episodes 12-16 hit this show like a white kdrama truck. Everything was going too well in the show, so the director needed to spice things up by adding in unnecessary melodrama that didn't fit the characters or tone they were building.

This brings me to my biggest point of contention with the drama: the breakup. Its realistic for couples to breakup over misunderstandings and miscommunication. My problem doesn't lie with the breakup, even if its a kdrama cliche, rather the problem is the writing and character assassination that took place to get there. There is a way to write the FL becoming unhappy with the relationship as she moves on from the honeymoon phase. The show presents the FL as nice, caring, thoughtful, and a sweet person in every single scene until episode 12 when she becomes completely different. Her actions don't make sense, she becomes bitter and depressed like she is a scorned lover. The show tries to tell us that the barrier to communication was the reason, but to the audience it seems like she just fell out of love. This would be fine if the show's message is about appreciating the time you spent together and loving in spite of knowing the end, but the show doesn't stop there! In the last 5 minutes we get a ham fisted monologue (in a play) and then the couple is back together. The writers clearly didnt know how to properly get the couple to break up in a realistic manner, and then we also get a patch work reconciliation at the end. Either the show should've put more effort in showing the audience why and how the FL eventually grew distant or they needed the couple to break up for good and have the last episode with them reconciling and moving forward without each other.

The overall plot of this drama hinges on the "fire event" during their college years. So much of the ML's, 2FL's, and weird friend's motivations and character makeup begin from this traumatic event. Unfortunately like many kdramas that try to play up a large traumatic event in a character's past, the actual event is messy, borderline nonsensical, incoherent mumbo jumbo. Ultimately it led to me questioning why we needed a random unknown stalker who whistles, why the friend side character (whose name I cant even remember) is even needed in this story, why the ML and FL didn't just communicate or read the police report of such a big event? Sure, the FL admits she was looking for an excuse to run away in the end, but there are so many leaps in logic that we, the audience, have to jump over to get to where we are in the present day story.

I enjoyed the side romances in this show. Jinwoo's class was hysterical and the best side characters in the show. The FL's roommate and her brother's romance was enjoyable too, but it was clearly there to pad out the run time to 16 episodes because they are never mentioned again after they become a couple and have no relevance to the overall story or the ML/FL romance. I was expecting something from Modam because he had such a strong negative first impression of Jinwoo, but nothing comes from that. Also, Jinwoo's reunion with his birth mother was very well acted and well earned.

Its a very slow drama. I think it's worth watching for the cinematography, OST, and the first half of the show. I didn't love the main couple as much as I wanted to, but other's may feel differently and consequently you may love the show much more than I did.

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Some bad, but mostly All Good!

The FL quits her job at an IT firm after being shamed for reporting sexual harassment. She becomes an entrepreneur, learning to navigate all the ups & downs. She accepts the financial investment of a powerful CEO who happens to be a college classmate she hasn’t seen in 10yrs. As they work together, their bond deepens & romantic sparks fly. Will they find love amidst the attempts to sabotage them?

This isn’t a fluffy drama. It focuses on starting a business, finding your niche, dealing with rivals, & earning your place. But there’s humor, sweetness, & love too!

I adore the female besties. They never fight, have stupid jealous fits, or make catty remarks. They have the friendship where they compliment one another’s gowns & fix each other’s crowns. 👑 They’re strong women chasing their dreams & finding love along the way.

Now for the Leads… they (of course) had a communication misunderstanding which lead to them having no contact for the past decade. That made a negative impact on their opinions of each other, but neither of them use it as some excuse to vilify or torment the other.

The ML is aces & I love him. He liked the FL in college, but duty took him away before he could confess. He’s never forgotten her, though. He’s devastated when he learns she’s in a long term relationship, but after their painful & unexpected breakup, he gives her time to heal & move on before confessing.

He’s still very attentive & does all he can to be with her, though. Him waiting to confess does not mean he isn’t slowly & subtly pursuing her. And when Ms. Delulu tries cr@p, he shuts her down quick. I LOVE how he cut ties with her - a true “mess with my woman & I’ll mess back” type. 🫠 I swear I could just gush about him for awhile!

The FL is just as great. She goes through a LOT but it all makes her stronger. Through all the sly & underhanded attempts to foil her business’ success, to the personal heartbreak she experiences, & with all the new things she’s needing to adapt to & learn in this new career path she’s chosen - girl is a total boss & never lets anything give her a victim mentality. With every setback & hardship she faces, she perseveres & proves herself worthy of recognition for all her hard work. She truly grows to be the ML’s equal in the corporate world. And her affection for him is precious. She’s intent on never doing anything that’d harm him, neither professionally or personally.

Okay, having said all that, I do feel I should point out a few issues I had -
1) Whyyyyy would she go to her exes wedding? Not only that, he’s marrying one of her previous best friends! Totally broke the girl code there. Neither of them were honest with the FL about it, they just expected her to accept it after they were already together. And she did! I just didn’t like that. Wish them well if you must, but boundaries, girl!
2) Communicate! Their heartbreak could’ve been less harsh if they’d just been honest with one another. ML should’ve come clean about the business stuff before they started dating. FL should’ve spoken to him rather than breaking into his safe (especially since what prompted that was words from people she KNOWS want to hurt her.)
3) Act your age. Be mad & hurt & all the things, but don’t let it make you stupid. After all you’ve done to grow your business (not to mention all the hard work of your colleagues!) don’t make rash decisions in the heat of the moment as payback against your partner. Honestly, her decision didn’t damage him, it damaged her. And he totally saved her butt in it too by getting her business back from their rivals. Why do people turn to the known “villains” in those moments? Can we say petty & childish?!
4) Wardrobe. It really bugged me how much skin the FL had to show. Is that normal in China, for business women to wear what amounts to a shirt to the office? Can they not cover their legs or wear longer skirts/dresses? I always feel like they’re being made to use their bodies to help advance their careers, as if their brains aren’t enough. Can we like, stop normalizing that, please?! The guys are in multiple layered suits. If they can succeed while being fully clothed, don’t ya think women can too? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Okay. Done with my rant, haha! That list made it seem like I don’t actually like this drama but that’s so not true. I LOVED it!! I know others have different opinions & I’m completely fine with that. And it’s totally cool if you think differently too! 😉

Back to the Leads. I honestly love them. They’re perfect together, despite their mistakes. They both learn & grow from that experience, recognizing the things they did wrong & determining to do better in the future. When they come back together, they have an added layer of maturity to them, as well as a new level of devotion for & cherishing of one another. They’ve experienced what it’s like to be apart & they know it’s not something they ever want to face again so they put in the effort needed to maintain a healthy relationship. The ways they love, support, & protect one another are total couple goals. 💚 The ending is sweet yet leaves an ache. Definitely watch a bonus episode! It’s a HEA, but it’s THE END & I’m simply not ready to let them go yet…

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 22 💋
- 2G : 24 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : 31 💔
- B2G : 36 ❤️‍🩹

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A very different tale than usual melancholic dark dramas. Acting was so perfect, well you don't expect anything less from these actors.
Cinematography and directing was an art. The mystery around murder itself was handled very gracefully. Usually when there is non-linear story telling, it tends to overdo itself and we keep jumping the time to lose focus on the main aspect of the story. This wasn't the case here and you don't lose the anticipation and grip of main story flow. Characters being consistent, plot being equally paced, it gives sense of a well made and thought drama.
The story of healing of the characters from their past is done well but you only end up sympathising with them as the backdrop of these dark past is so bizarre you hardly co-relate. Nevertheless, it felt natural in this plot dimension itself.
A worthwhile watch, a fresh concept and equally fresh execution.

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Amazing Couples

such a beautiful drama! the chemistry between the leads was so insane,

some people did not like the politics of the show but I LOVED it, it added more to the main leads story and we got to see more evil villains!

the romance was so beautiful, I cried at every scene bc I was so happy for them! when they cried I cried!

I love how everyone supported her and did not take her to be “weak” she is such a strong female character and we need more of these! and the male lead was so smart, and such a green flag!

please watch this drama! I promise it’s so good, the ending is so good and worth it! this and the long ballad are my fav dramas iv ever seen in the cdrama world!!

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Twists abound on this journey…

A boy with the power to sense other people’s secrets with a simple touch. A girl who will do anything to hide a traumatic secret. Both dealing with past traumas in their own ways. What happens when these complete opposites meet & their worlds collide?

I really enjoyed the relationships in this show. The ML { Jin Young } & the FL { Shin Ye Eun } have great chemistry & share a wonderful bond. It’s a unique situation due to the ML’s abilities, but they navigate it well. I mean, think about it - you’re falling in love with this great person but you have this huge secret you’re not ready to share because of how others who know the truth have treated you in the past. But this person you’re falling for will be able to know all about it with a simple touch between you. Would you have the courage to continue to fall for them?
And from the other perspective, you know the person you’ve fallen for is holding back from you due to a secret - a secret you could discover just by a mere touch. Would you be patient enough to wait for them to tell you while continuing to stay by their side? They hit a few snags along the way, but I think they handle this whole situation rather well.
Watching them grow closer as they work to solve the case is a journey I liked witnessing.

The second couple,( ML’s best friend + FL’s best friend, both since high school I believe) are a nice bonus. Him { Noh Jong Hyun } with her { Go Youn Jung } son is absolutely precious. What a total green flag!! 💚

I also liked the bromance between the ML & SML { Kim Kwon } so the ending was bittersweet, imho. I don’t want to give too much away, though, so I’ll leave it at that & let you make your own judgments 🤭

The Leads get their HEA so that helps make up for any lingering feelings of drama trauma I felt 💕


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 8💋
- 2G : 9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏼
- BU : Almost, but no 😅

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A pain-free fall into Love

Away from home & stranded in a snowstorm, the FL { Zhao Jin Mai } receives help from a kind stranger. The ML { Leo Wu }, took one look at her through a window & felt his world shift. Little do either of them know how this chance encounter will change their lives forever.

Winter may be white, but this couple is pure G R E E N 💚💚💚

She’s a rising star in the world of professional billiards (& yeah, that’s a thing! 🤷🏻‍♀️) Years ago, he was a true genius in the sport, basking in the spotlight. But he left, both the sport & the country, after a scandal with no plans of coming back. As they spend time together, though, she inspires him to return to the world he left behind. And the whole journey is a delight to watch.

The ML is total boyfriend material. From that first glance, his entire being focuses on her. And it’s not in an unhealthy way where he lets everything else in his life fall apart, but rather in the sense that he now has a new purpose & drive to succeed in all his endeavors - so he can give her the very best version of himself. He’s very attentive & affectionate. He prioritizes her & does all he can to make her feel secure in his feelings for her. He’s all in & he’s not afraid to let the whole world know.

The FL is just as enamored with him as he is with her, though she’s a bit more hesitant to act on her feelings. He makes it safe for her to do so, though, so she jumps & joins him in the free fall to love. She’s mature for her age in the ways she doesn’t whine or try to manipulate him into doing what she wants. She’s willing to face any obstacles with him rather than demanding he just make them all disappear. She’s respectful of his goals & encourages him to chase his dreams, promising to be a source of unending support for him. And while her familial situation causes them to keep their relationship a secret from those outside their close circle, she’s fully devoted to him & makes sure he knows it.

I love this for its total lack of any drama-trauma. No rival interference, no jealous teammates, no stupid breakups - it’s a story full of love, respect, trust, support, & chemistry. Oh my wowza - their chemistry is both sugary sweet & smokin’ hot. 🔥🫠 They personify the saying, “the eyes are the windows of the soul”. The things they say with just a glance or gaze… it makes you believe the actors aren’t just acting!

I could gush over this so much, but instead of reading more of my opinions, you should just push play & enjoy the absolutely beautiful & precious story for yourself! 🩵💛💜💚


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 9 💋
- 2G : 9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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One of the best; my favourite BL this year

"I hope the boundary between me and you will fuse and disappear..."

Now, THIS is how you do the bad x good person trope! The storyline is nothing unique or unheard of, yet still manages to captivate you, make you feel, laugh, and cry. 🥰

Minase Jin is a top student from a wealthy family, already facing a prosperous and successful future, lots of career opportunities. All he has to do is to be a "bystander", focus on his studies, and not get into trouble. However, all changes when he accidentally discovers that the deliquent of his class, Hirukawa Haruki is being abused by his father. He smokes, hangs out with shady people, barely attends lessons, and couldn't care less about his grades - not the good type of people to befriend. At least, so does Minase Jin think, yet not matter how hard he tries, he finds himself falling deeper and deeper for Hirukawa. Until the house of cards he carefully built falls apart.

There are many things I love about this drama - the list goes on and on. But two things I'd like to point out are the pacing and the characters. Everythings just clicks so nicely. Altough some find the pace a bit too fast (compared to the webtoon it's based on), but I think it delivers perfectly. Sometimes it's a bit faster, but when needed it slows down, taking its sweet time with meaningful silence, longing gazes. My heart flutters everytime these two look at each other! OMG, what a great couple! Also, the cinematography is beautiful, very Japanese like - minimalist but clean, not too bright, not too dark. Just perfect! 🇯🇵

HIRUKAWA IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER... He is written so well. A complex character! He is not the typical "bad guy", a nonchalant bully. Rather, he is filled with love, yet lost and lonely. Nobody really cared about him until Minase gave him a shelter in his own appartment - damn, I feel why Hirukawa can't hold himself back from kissing him. The fact that this is their first love makes it even more better. Two people who are polar opposites falling for each other, despite all the hardships and prejudices. 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Minase is such a nice person. At first, he comes off quite bland and awkward, but as the story goes on, you realise that being simple isn't that bad after all, and he has a heart of gold. Everybody tries to tell him not to befriend Hirukawa, and he tries, but clearly can't stop. From the moment their eyes met for the first time at the water fountain, he was done for good haha. The series is still on going, so I'm curious how the conflict between him and her mother will turn out...

Minase gave a safe place, a home to Hirukawa, meanwhile Hirukawa now became the meaning of Minase's live, the motivation to be himself instead of trying to impress others, especially his mum all the time. ❤️

So far, this is all I wanted to yap about. More's upcoming once the series finished airing. If you read this whole pharagraph, thank you very much, ILY <<33

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Funniest kdrama - absurdity + lots of heart

Gaus spoke to me from its first scene. It begins with an existential internal monologue from Kwak Dong Yeon's sweet, earnest, but inept dork Sang Shik... and I do not want to spoil the reveal of where/how he's soliloquizing.

If you are a fan of American TV, Gaus is spiritually similar to Community: it can lean hard into the absurd but is (occasionally) grounded by a very lovable gang of underdogs performed by a cast with top-tier comedic chemistry.

Gaus is packed with jokes and brilliant physical comedy. And their hair, makeup, & costume crews deserve the world--the attention to detail! Plus, lots of little easter eggs; I catch new things with each rewatch.

It also throws in some great references & trope satire for us kdrama lovers. But even the not-kdrama-obsessed people I've made watch Gaus love it.

If I haven't made it clear, this is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen! If you like smart-but-also-dumb comedy, it's probably also for you.

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The storyline was very interesting. but would not expect nothing less coming from this writer Sammon. I was loving the idea of 4 minutes , all thought we all know that Sammon stories are confusing at first, i still love watching them. The whole storyline
past, present, future make the whole story exciting and new. all though it was a tad confusing some of the English subtitles where i watch the show from where not the exacted word that they actually said but good thing i new a little bit of thai to understand. The acting was really good the hole cast was really good i like to highlight one actor though for i been watching him in other series shows as well Fuaiz Thanawat Shinawatra was really good in his role he portrayed all though this was a series that starred bible and Jess the series seemed more based on and made the actors playing Tonkla and Korn and win were very emphasized. it really made the story stand out more towered them as they were the ones more in the story then the main leads which is a little different for me.
The mood and darkness and the music included was okay all though for this series i dont even think music needed to be included as it was always full of action.
In all very worthwhile and also deserves a rewatch

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Headache-inducing heartbreak but sooo worth it!

I have a headache, I cried so much. At first, I didn’t even cry, but the last 10 episodes hit me as if a train and truck and bus had run me over. I thought I was okay in the last episode, but then they had to kill the 13th brother too… my heart hurts just a little bit 👌🏻.

To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about the romance because I found 8th prince’s advances … not that cool lol: he wants the throne AND his sister-in-law? Like, let’s not be greedy, you have her sister already, and she doesn’t even like you, bro. But, in comparison with the 4th prince, later emperor, the 8th wasn’t so bad, I guess. It was at least a lot more peaceful lol.

My poor Ruo Xi looked so… drained, tired, and exhausted from the second half on that I just felt so bad for her. Just like her sister, she longed for freedom and not for palace’s restraints and the prince’s schemes.

I really enjoyed the political intrigue and scheming of the drama; the storytelling and pace were great too, there was never a boring episode! Especially in the later episodes, I felt tense and I was anticipating the next plot… I really LOVED the costumes/styling and the music a lot too.

Anyway, I’m sad now and need a no drama-drama to heal my heart💗🧍🏻‍♀️. Might (probably) rewatch once I feel delusional again.

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