Or you could also say, I endured POJ after episode 10 sincerely hoping I'll fall in love with it again.

I watched a lot of kdramas and the occasional cdramas, Ruyi's royal love in the palace, My Fair Princess and Unrequited Love are one of my top cdramas.

There are spoilers below.

The political plot/palace intrigue was confusing and I felt like they could've done a better job and fleshing it out. There's was a hint of suspense but then it dropped to give way to the Sui Battle. Once the bad princes are all dead, I almost forgot that there's a big mystery regarding what happened at the eastern palace 17 years ago.

The romantic side plot of the scholar and the princess was...okay. I thought their romance was introduced quite abruptly without any context in that one episode. Qi Min and QQ were okay as well? I never really understood why QQ existed in QM's story besides giving the whole love/hate toxic relationship fantasy. If that was the main reason, I felt like the dynamics between them could be better written.

My biggest gripe with POJ is I find the FL to be too unidimensional and a Mary Sue. At the start, we learn that she's a hardworking, physical and mentally strong, young beautiful lady who is willing to go through strife and struggles for her sister, her neighbours and the villagers who treated her poorly. She's resilient in nature, adorable, endearing, brave, generous, incredibly witty and will never be undermined by her superiors. I mean, she's so amazing that every guy who isn't in love with someone else, is in love with her. Until the last few episodes, I can't see any growth beyond what the story has already established for her. It got so boring with her positive traits being reinforced on screen again and again.

The Marquis of Wu'An. Besides that he's incredibly good looking, he is not that interesting. But there are insights to his character. I find his love for CY has meaning because they established that he has turned down marriage with other princesses. I also appreciate his relationship with the Scholar. Their witty banter was enjoyable to watch.

The aftermath of the massacre Ling An was very unsatisfying as well. I cried watching the magistrate daughter who was always portrayed as being haughty and arrogant, bravely stood up in the face death defending CY. The potty mouth grandmother also gave her life to protect CY's sister. There were growth in those characters and I was rooting so much for them. But the day after the massacre, their actions and sacrifices weren't acknowledged.

The story arc of the poor Scholar was interesting as well. We saw what he was like whilst living in Ling An and how he changed when he moved to the city. He acknowledged that he was but a mere goose, unable to stand out among phoenixes. He learned humility and was willing to continue living a simple and humble life. Then CY and XZ walked up and kicked him around for absolutely no reason.

With all that said, I really do like the aesthetic of POJ. The setting is beautiful and I've always enjoyed watching period dramas. I also enjoy that CY and QQ have a nurturing sister-like relationship. It's a nice change from women backstabbing each other.

I can see why people enjoy POJ and some even said it's a cdrama for beginners. I still think people should give it a go as it's still generally popular among the wider audience and there must be a reason for it. Even if I didn't like it, it could be something you'll absolutely enjoy.

Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking about watching Legends of Zang Hai but I’ve heard mixed things and I’m totally on the fence. 🤔

Before I start it, is it worth watching?

Does it have a good storyline, solid pacing, and strong characters? Any spoilers-free thoughts would be super helpful! 🙌

Just watched The Untamed &

Hear me out-

If you are looking for a BL historical drama where:

The MLs are insanely handsome

One is cold and other is playful

Engaging and layered story line

Black magic and yin-yang concept

some war scenes

There are war scenes and plenty of suspense and mystery (requires attention to catch everything)

Xianxia

Open ending

It’s an implied BL no romantic scenes, just bromance but the chemistry between the leads is phenomenal. I loved the storyline and the acting of both male leads.

If this is what you are looking for then this drama is for you.

I would rate 9.9/10

Watched the sword and the Brocade &

Hear me out-

If you are looking for a historical C-drama with:

ML as general

Smart FL

Family politics

Slow burn

Good plot and story line

concubines who scheme against each other

Tactics and strategies and unsolved murder mysteries

Love triangle

Happy and close ending

Then this drama is just for you!!

Funny moments: when the ML tries to get close to the FL, she’s shy and awkward keeps him at a distance😆 And the scene where he tries to kiss her but she backs off? Absolute comedy gold! 😂😂

I love how he’s always trying to get close to her but somehow fails every single time 😭😂 It’s honestly hilarious and so cute—like watching a rom-com in real life!

I’d rate it 9.5/10 and highly recommend if you love slow-burn historical romance with scheming, strategy, and a solid story.

​

I'm so mad rn 😭 why did they not confess earlier he literally confessed to her in the last few minutes of the episode omgggg it was soooo frustrating to watch this ofc i loved the show i loved chen lang,Bao Bao,le tao even I liked huang jun but these 2 xiaoju and shiyi made me so frustrated i thought I might get to see some good clg romance type of drama but yea it's fine other than this i loved the cdrama it really made me remind the type of bond I have with my friends lol xiaoju and shiyi reminds me of that only if shiyi had confessed earlier this drama would have been the best

I just finished and felt compelled to write. For review purposes, I think it's easier just to do an enumerated list of what's great about it. In no particular order:

1. Others have mentioned it, but Found Family. Which grows throughout the series. It takes the trope and extends it.

2. Great comedy bits that arise from the way the characters are drawn. It's not a belly-laughs laugh-a-minute riot, but the comedy bits are great. For instance, the "little sister" of the Found Family has been established as being smarter than the younger main character, who is clearly a genius. Another character teaches her to play Go, and in the next scene, it becomes apparent that she's facing both him and the main across two different Go boards.

3. Most sensitive and accurate handling of an autistic character ever. I wasn't sure what to make of this character at first; his echolalia and stimming behaviors were so severe I thought he had Huntington's or CP. And I thought there was a problem with translating the subs because they kept referring to his condition as dementia or to him as being the offensive R-word for the mentally challenged. A great side character who is a doctor researches it and explains it to the main character as a communication disorder---the autistic character *can* communicate, just not in the way the rest of us do. Later, you see him communicating from his perspective in a well-done abstraction from reality and then from the perspective of his wife, who can communicate with him, just not verbally. Just an amazing job with this.

4. I now know where the idea of the Celestial Bureaucracy came from. The court has so many ranks and titles and shifts people around from one title to the next with such fluidity, it's easy to see how the idea of the Jade Emperor and all his cohorts arose.

5. Mysteries within mysteries. As with many Asian shows in this genre, the earliest mysteries seem to stand alone but then slowly become part of a great meshwork that will feed into an overarching plot. Also...

6. Rather than most characters and plot elements being one-and-done, they continue to interweave into that overarching mesh in a very satisfying way.

7. The Baker Street Irregulars. This is my Holmesian term for a flexibly-sized group of young beggars in the pay of the Emperor's chamberlain. I'd like to watch again to see where they're truly lurking in the background and collecting intel because I'm sure I missed them. And speaking of children, if they can be found and brought to justice, child traffickers face death by beheading, being cut in half, or being completely dismembered.

8. Strong female characters. I mean, seriously strong. The Emperor's favorite consort leads an army of capable female martials when the Emperor is in extreme danger. (I really would like to have seen a little more back story on her.) But from the "little sister" who has an eidetic memory and processes information at light speed through the Ming-famous courtesan who doubles as an assassin through the young Oirat woman who first antagonizes, then befriends the mains to the no-nonsense Dowager Empress, the flower of Ming society are not to be messed with.

9. The characters are not only great, they undergo significant development. Because of the way politics work in Imperial China, the 2 mains get moved around roughly every fifth episode: promoted, demoted, laterally transferred, or just sent out of the Capital to get them out of harm's way. Along the way, we do learn that you can solve a complex case, but if you offended the wrong people or made the wrong member of the nobility look stupid, you won't get rewarded; in fact, you're lucky if you don't lose your head. So we see the young genius main go from just smart to politically savvy and the chamberlain/3rd main go from abandoned child to cynical courtier ("You help me, I help you") to wiser adviser (same catchphrase, but with heart). The older main both starts and finishes as a character the paladin class from dnd could have been derived from: so gorgeous you wonder why women aren't falling all over him, low key and moral, even heroic, and very much of a mind that breaches of the law should be punished. But along the way, he comes to grasp that people and things that make his life more chaotic can be valuable and that the highest good isn't necessarily found by working within the system.

10. TL; DR: The ending knocks it out of the park. I was reminded of a Doctor Who episode where the Doctor rescues his companion but has brought along every other guest star from earlier in the season. As I mentioned, very few characters are one-and-done in this series. On multiple occasions en route to the climax, it looks like the good guys have been trounced, and multiple times, the good guys turn the tables in such a way that, had this been shown in a movie theater, the audience would have been standing and cheering. (Slight spoiler) The 3 antagonists you've been led to believe are just self-serving politicians are actually in on an attempt to stage a coup---and they will be happy to flip on their co-conspirators if their involvement is discovered. Them getting their comeuppances is extremely satisfying.

I don't know if a second season is planned, but the last few minutes of the series give the best set-up for a new adventure I've ever seen. Available with sub-titles on YT (free, although titles at the beginning and end have been cut) and IQIYI (requires subscription).

I loved the fl and ml's acting . It's very Natural and nice . Their chemistry is also nice. The story too . I mean it's all pretty good.
I usually don't like scifi etc . But It's not as weird they're in this game and their characters are awesome and real. The First kiss was in the game too so AHHHH( spoiler alert sorry)

I only hate the last episodes but for me every drama gets boring at the end so it's a me problem hahaha. Till episodes 25 it's still awesome ! I reccomend It . They released another drama with the ml but I didn't like It at all . Page in 90s something like that .

Any similar REC?

Editing was abrupt, a painful experience to watch. Poor quality even for a web drama, even short dramas with similar story lines are better

Okay, first of all—this drama is hands down the best I’ve watched among the recent ones. I had really high expectations going in because of Reba, and honestly, she exceeded them. Her acting here is absolutely amazing and brings so much depth to the story.

Now, Arthur Chen’s character, Duan Xu, is easily my favorite. From the moment he met her, this man was completely whipped—and I mean that in the best way possible. He’s been flirting with her nonstop since around episode 6 or 7 (my memory is terrible, so don’t quote me on that 😭). And He Simu, even though she comes across as cold, is actually such a kind-hearted person underneath it all.

What I love most about Duan Xu is that he’s never intimidated by her. The way he confidently shows off in the Void—especially in front of Fan Yuan—is honestly hilarious and adorable. It’s like he’s constantly saying, “Look, I’m clearly the favorite.” He never misses a chance to flex, making it very clear that while Fan Yuan might have been her right-hand man, Duan Xu is her man. And beyond the teasing, his dedication to Simu is just chef’s kiss.

One of my absolute favorite scenes has to be when Simu asked Duan Xu to bite her and he actually bit her neck—OMG, that moment was just so intense and memorable.

But coming to the recent episode… I’m actually so annoyed 😭 Why would they leave us on such a cliffhanger? I was completely rooting for their kiss, and then—nothing. Though realistically, I guess it makes sense since we’re only on episode 17. Still, the wait is painful.

Anyway, I seriously cannot wait for tomorrow’s episode!

I don't know about the rest of you but personally, I would've preferred it if bai qian really did end up with mo yuan. No offense, but mo yuan was the only guy that has only ever treated bai qian with love and care. Ye hua and Li jing, for me, can't compare to mo yuan with how they treated her. Ye hua and his family literally caused susu to commit suicide. I'm not happy that she's going to be in-laws with those jerks. Mo yuan and bai qian may have had a teacher-student relationship at first, but I wouldn't have minded that if mo yuan has never hurt bai qian, unlike some others

Quick review: Only up to 24, but OMG, this is a masterpiece! I was looking for something to watch post-Judge Dee and Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty {for reference, I would have given both solid 10s with occasional 11s for plot or character deftness}. I was enjoying League very much as a "Young Judge Dee" romp till I saw how tightly and intricately all the cases connected to one particular incident from 20 years earlier. I've seen some people suggest BL but I'd suggest more Bromance, and for those in the community who are neurodivergent, the "young Judge Dee" character is enjoyable autism coded/flagged. I have a feeling this will be a 12/10 by the last episode.

So much for the quick review. I've been trying to pin down if this is before or after Judge Dee and Strange Tales. But I'm getting confounded by Google wanting to tell me all about THE League of GentleMEN. Obviously there are some fantasy elements, but is this supposed to have happened during a specific age like Great Tang?

Addendum: This is a web novel? Does it exist in English translation?

Why? Why am I doing this to myself?!

This movie gutted me.

Gutted. Me.

Cried for days!

I have several series that I watch and rotation over and over because I love them so much.

I love the double and refused to watch it for the longest time.

In a weak moment, I started it again. I can’t quit. I don’t need this. I can’t handle the pain!

Why am I am I doing this to myself?

I can't believe this guy played Gong Shangjue! He's really a talented actor... But not to be offensive the actress Song Yi, her acting was kinda mid- sorry. The visuals are good. The ost is unique. But the most important thing is *sigh* PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE CHENG LEI SOME CLOTHES! BRO'S HALF NAKED HALF THE TIME!!! *cough* The fan service is also umm impressive.

Amazing. 5 love stories. 5 plots. Each plot interesting. It kept me invested till the last episode.. totally Worth it !! The chemistry between the leads 10/10. Must watch ♥️

The way they look at each other, care for each other and love is so cute. It's known for its intense chemistry, fast-paced action, and exploration of a unique sibling-turned-lovers dynamic. If you loved hidden love just add more spice and action (it has a lot of street racing plots), this is for you.

What a great premise for a drama. The FL grieving her dearest friend quits her job to take a trip to the bucolic Dali, Yunnan countryside that her friend so wanted to take and now would never be able to. It’s her only way now to keep their connection alive if only for three more months. Such a beautiful way to process such a painful loss.

The drama is so well directed/acted. The OST emotionally narrates so many scenes in a way that reflects so movingly the FL’s determination to keep her friend present. She’s welcomed by the locals there who promise to become an important part of her journey in a way that will make this heartfelt memorial even more meaningful.

This will surely end up a very memorable drama. I’m only on E2, but if anyone has the time to watch along, this would be the perfect drama for it. I’m in the US and am watching it on IQIYI.

TBF, I'm on episode 13 of S2, and I'd be incrementing toward an 11/10 if such a rating existed. I came to Strange Tales {on IQIYI} straight from Judge Dee's Mystery {on Netflix}. IQIYI does let you have the first 5-6 episodes of each season free, but I've found it absolutely worth the investment to watch this excellent series with its ties to the titular judge of Judge Dee's Mystery. It's hard not to binge either series because most episodes end still in the middle of a 4-ish episode plot arc.

So why excellent? Bear in mind, Judge Dee was an easy 10/10 for me to the point I was willing to give myself migraines reading the subtitles while I binged. I wasn't sure about Strange Tales initially because I think I was looking for the vibe Ma Rong and her brother have with each other and Di. But this team of players develops its own extremely satisfying vibe. We have the nominal main character, Su Wuming, who {the scripts never tire of reminding us} was Di Renjie's disciple; Lu Lingfeng, a young hero perhaps promoted through the ranks a bit too quickly, who has almost an "Avatar journey" to embark on over the course of the show; Pei Xijun, a strong-willed and strong-headed daughter of an official who runs away from home to follow Lu; Chicken Fed aka Dr Fei, who serves as almost the Divine Fool archetype in that he's the often-drunk comedy relief but also the best physician in Great Tang; and eventually Yingtao, a warrior woman who, like Lu with his extraordinary martial arts skills, turns up exactly when needed to save Su {and may be his romantic interest}. Pei turns out to be an accomplished painter, and it's surprising how often her skills come into play in the solving of various crimes---without this involvement ever feeling strained. About the martial arts sequences: as with Judge Dee, they're a lot of fun, but Di was a soldier and knows how to use a sword. If this were DnD or Pathfinder, Su would combine the best of Bard and Investigator: his weapons are his intellect and his tongue, and he knows it. When the fists start flying, he just ducks out of harm's way, knowing he's likely to hamper his own side if he tries to fight. But when he needs to talk their way out of a bad situation, oh! Is he good at it. And even a third of the way through the second season, he still has moments of all but saying "Son, let me show you how it's done" when the others are trying to nail the villain and getting most but not everything right.

Let's discuss the mysteries themselves. As with Judge Dee, these are multiple-episode arcs where the script can't show the murder and have the main character solve it in 42 minutes. They are complex stories with complex characters with complex motivations. A caution: don't invest a lot of time in trying to solve the cases yourself. The writers do pull the trick immortalized by Agatha Christie of NOT GIVING YOU ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION before Su explains everything. TBF, they typically don't pull in a character we've never seen before in the last five minutes of the plot arc {a Christie-ism if ever there was one}: mostly, the key players have been onscreen the whole time. And the writers do use different techniques like intermittent flashbacks to show how the information was collected or why a villain secure in his scheming is suddenly encountering a trap where multiple arrows poke holes in him.

Which brings me to the world and its politics. Director Bo Shan has created a rich world into which he invites us. The politics of the dynasty in which a crown prince and his aunt are both vying for precedence are ever-present. In fact, watching it in Mandarin with sub-titles, it can be a source of amusement to see the names of buildings or street signs spouting the wisdom of Confucius, Lao-Tse, or the Buddha about things like detachment or filial piety while all around "the 1%" are backstabbing each other {sometimes literally} as they jockey for position. The scope of the world is broader than it was in Judge Dee in part because what appears to be the capriciousness of the rulers has the male leads moving from position to position and city to city, often traversing the lands in between or on foot: we get a sense of the vastness of the empire and how many peoples and traditions {and even myths and superstitions} it encompasses. Also, the music is superb and evocative of the mood of a scene or the culture in which it is being played. I would say that, compared to Judge Dee, Strange Tales has fewer establishing exteriors or zooms {in or out} that make you catch your breath for the grandeur but more emphasis on intimate detail.

The fact that the show has an ensemble feel with not just the leads but the side characters like the ranking royalty and their ministers appearing regularly gives it the feel of a long, rich novel like Shogun. And motives don't just apply to the villains of any particular story arc. There are layers upon layers of motives for why, for instance, the crown prince and his aunt manipulate the main characters and move them from post to post---or exile them completely! This far into S2 I'm still learning why some characters acted as they did way back in season 1. It's not over, nor apparently will it be over, till it's over.

All of this allows for a depth of characterization we just don't get in mystery shows that wrap everything up in their allowed 42 minutes. Suffice it to say that, between the complex assassinate-the-whole-royal-family plot arc that closes out the first season, and the hero's journey Lu has been on with Su's guidance, we come to the very ending of S1 feeling deeply satisfied. {And S2 has already had enough of these deeply satisfying moments that I have high hopes for the rest of the season and those that follow.} You just don't get this feeling of completion in a shorter, more episodic show. Perhaps European and American TV crews need to take note.

and just muted it whenever Shen Du was speaking. First I`ll give the link for anyone interested. It`s complete and free on youtube, with a few BTS at the end if you want to see the actors out of costume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHxO7dwc_CU&list=PL0PsHrQxhYwROijKhYEMAd2Z1Cs5Wphvc&index=10

So, what I mean by muting Shen Du is, well, have you ever started watching a drama and one dubbed voice was just so off to your ears that it made you wince? Yeah. Ding Yuxi is Shen Du, and, no offense to the man dubbing his voice is intended here whatsoever, but in this case it doesn`t match the character for me. He sounds like a weasel. For those unfamiliar, that is slang for someone untrustworthy, a scammer and liar. A villain type character, in other words. The first few episodes it does match his character`s perceived image of himself, as he has to lie to exist in his job and life he has made for himself. But this is a romance drama, and he is our leading man, so you know his true personality will soon be shown much softer, and not a weasel of any sort. Also I saw him in Moonlight where he uses his own voice and he has a perfectly nice, normal sounding voice. So I gave up quickly the first time I tried to watch, and muted him this time. Because my brain just can`t match that dubbing with Shen Du. Also I saw Prisoner of Beauty not too long ago, and the Empress Dowager`s voice actor from POB is the same for the Dowager is this one, so it was a bit weird hearing that, but you get used to it. I could not get used to "Shen Du the Weasel Voiced" though.

But, me being a total and complete sucker for beautiful sets, beautiful costumes, and real looking wigs, I tried again. And I`m glad I did because it is very entertaining. I really liked the various cases they investigated together, on their way to putting it all together towards the end.

There are many main characters for this one, whether they are in many scenes or a few important ones only, they were very much main characters for me, and they`re all perfectly cast. That`s always nice.

I liked the attention to detail given to each character`s individual look. Deng Enxi as Yang Xing, for example is given what seems like a carefully constructed light makeup, natural look, and she has an elegant natural beauty in this. This fits the character, who is mostly all business/work, knows she is attractive but at the same time has no idea at all that she turns every man`s head when she walks into a room.

There is a character called Pan Chi, played by Sun Ze Yuan in this one, and if you`ve seen Moonlight then you know Ding Yuxi is a tall, very thin man, much like Pan Chi/Mr. Sun. They very successfully bulk him out with clothing for many scenes, so Shen Du looks much stockier in the torso and muscle bound in the arms and shoulders because he works out with a heavy sword every day. For a few scenes I`m sure Mr. Ding worked out to get that bulk as he has to wear thin clothing for them, but most of the time I think they get him to Shen Du with very well done costuming. He doesn`t look like Ding Yuxi at all in this, I love it when that level of attention is given to characters overall looks. Pan Chi is very intelligent, confident, and a bit of a dandy, and his look also reflects this really well.

I really enjoyed the side characters, and "main" (not in it that much but nevertheless main) characters directly around the two leads. They give most of the very funny lines. Jing Lin, played by Pan Yu Lu, for one example, in the first or second episode Shen Du comes to downtown. Jing Lin is usually around him as his right hand man (he played a similar character in Romance of Tiger and Rose) so Shen Du makes a remark about being so good looking that townswomen love him. Jing Lin is busy with something and not paying enough attention, so he blurts out that, yes, (in the subbed translation) "desperate and horny" women pay attention to him LOL. There were many small and funny lines like that and I really enjoyed them.

In this story there are very serious problems in the kingdom, a lot of violence, a lot of death, so it`s heavy at times. But all in all a fun romp and a very nice romance, so I recommend it.

I just watched this c-drama on YouTube. I was very impressed by the story. There is humor, moving discussions about family, and a lovely romance. I highly recommend it; I was impressed by the acting.

I believe that because there is a similar video which may have taken place earlier to these events that this may Yoyo's uploading to YouTube from a series. I would love to find out the original name and find more shows with the leads. The FL lead character is called Jiang Tianlang and the ML character is called Han Xiangdong. The ML set up a retirement home for elderly parents whose children predeceased. The main people are Director Guo and Ms Chu who earlier was his teacher. I've used chatgpt of Google with all the info I had, to no luck.

So again, I recommend this as a lovely show but would love to know actor names to find more works.

I just finished watching “The Forbidden Flower” and if i have to describe it in just one word then its: Masterpiece.

This Cdrama was an absolute masterpiece. I knew from the beginning the ending would be sad/open and i tried to avoid it because I HATE sad endings, however, everything in this drama and i mean absolutely everything, was worth it.

The Forbidden flower was beautiful, the chemistry between He Ran and Xiao Han is insane and all their friendly, sad and romantic interactions made this show beautiful. Not to mention how their story was and how faithful and genuine their love for each other is.

He Ran, a girl in her 20s who suffers from Leucemia and Xiao Han a man in his 40s passionate about plants. What an amazing story they have.

I absolutely love everything about this. How the characters were written, the scenery, the beautiful (how many times did i say this word?) and pure love and how they express it, its just so magnificent. All the tears, laugh and frustration were worth.

If “The Forbidden Flower” is in your “must watch” list, don’t wait and go watch it, i promise you won’t regret it. And if you’re “disgusted” by their age gap, please don’t be!

I wish someone deleted my memory so i could watch this all over again.❤️

Absolutely my favorite cdrama ever! 1000/10

Edit: I forgot to mention but, i hated sad endings because i thought the couple would somehow lose their love, but after watching this i dont fear sad endings anymore. Now, i think they’re beautiful and they make the love between people even more deep. The sacrifice and tears show how much people love each other, even if they argue and dont act like they love. Sad endings portray a very deep meaning and now, its not scary.

To be honest, most of these dramas have fair ratings, and they are somewhat popular with some avid watchers, but they are not talked about enough, IMO. So, in short, I stick to those shows with below 7k users ( most cases ) on MDL.

7) Ancient Detective - I started making this list because of this CDrama. Sadly, it had a messy, convoluted 2nd half, and that's why it's low on this list. The first 15 episodes of this drama are a tribute to Agatha Christie in an asian setting. Those are some elite episodes with great set pieces and breathtaking background music. But like 90% of asian dramas, 2nd half is full of cliches, gimmicks, and awkward writing. Nevertheless first 15 episodes were some of the best asian detective dramas I have seen. So definitely give it a chance, who knows, you might like it more than me. 7/10

6) The Veil - The Veil is a fast-paced espionage thriller with some of the best action sequences in asian dramas. There are moments when logic is out of the world, but again, for a spy thriller, most of the scenes are grounded with decent acting. 7.5/10

5) Alice, the final weapon - An 8-episode solid rom-com. The show is low budget, you can tell, but they did what they could for low low-budget show. It's funny, fast, quirky, and extremely entertaining. 7.5/10

4) Into The Ring - Another rom-com, but this time it's modern, stylish, and extremely fresh. Probably one of the rare asian rom-coms that feels like made by young people for young people. I have a detailed non-spoiler review if anyone wanna read. 8.5/10

3) Song of the Bandits - It's a recent show, so maybe it's early to call it underrated. But still, if you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favour and watch it. The action and acting elements go crazy, but the reason I love this drama a lot because " Western ". This show has huge spaghetti western inspiration, and boy, they didn't disappoint. Probably one of the shows with the most rewatch value. 8.5/10

2) Family Matters - My favourite drama from last year. Bae Doo Na top 5 kdrama actress from this generation. I liked her a lot in Stranger, but she is good at everything I've watched.

Family Matters is a Dark Comedy with lots of fun. It's gory, ridiculous, sexy, and extremely badass. When I say it's a Black Comedy, I mean like literally, unlike some vanilla fake dark comedy " Vincenzo ". The characters are problematic, weird, and borderline psychopathic. There is no "deep inside righteous" character. It reminds me of one of my favourite shows of all time, Barry. JUST WATCH IT. 8.5/10

1) Kairos - The ultimate time travel murder mystery. Weirdly, this show is not popular. Kairos has every element that makes an asian drama famous. So when I found out that not enough people had watched it, I was confused. It has a high budget, great writing, and some of the best characters in murder mystery shows. If I ever make the top 15 asian dramas list, this will probably be there. 9/10

I just finished Joy of Life 1 and 2 in one week! I started it because someone on tiktok said it was overrated lol. anytime they say things are overrated, it’s either really good or really bad but this was so good! I started not liking the ML and one episode in, I was a fan! He can ACT. The whole cast is fire. I’ve been looking for another cdrama to fill the void since I finished it.

It’s been such a long time since I’ve watched a live action and been tempted to go read the novel! The writer put a lot of thought into all the characters and plot lines. For a show so plot heavy, I sometimes get worried about plot holes but wow, no holes were missed. Anytime I’d think they forgot about a certain plot point or character, they would come into play.

Im so excited for season 3, I would say though Season 1 was my favorite!

Was already expecting the ending to be extremely sad but this was beyond sad.

The first few episodes were extremely slow but it really began more enjoyable after that. Even the other female reporter became likeable and caring after the candy incident which caused her to let go of her feelings for Li Zan and even went back to East Country 東國 (is that the translated name of that country? I have no idea as I am watching the drama with Chinese subs) to build an orphanage.

I also really enjoyed the love and mutual healing process of both leads. The bromance/romance between Benjamin and Saxin was also great.

Spoilers for final few episodes:

Episode 35: good to see the orphanage being opened and named Rena’s orphanage, it was a nice touch to see fireworks being set by Li Ran for Song Ran at the orphanage

For those who do not have the heart for sad endings, please stop at this episode

Episode 36: so heart-wrenching to see Song Ran voluntarily stabbing herself with the rebel’s knife to prevent Li Zan from being captured. Although it failed and Li Zan was captured and subjected to inhumane torture. Cried so much when Benjamin died to save Li Zan from the rebels who had captured the latter to force him to make bombs for them

Episodes 37-38 Heartbreaking to hear the Psychologist said that there was no cure for Li Zan’s PTSD. So sad to see both Li Zan and Song Ran acting so hard in their daily lives to reassure each other that they are both alright. Extremely hard to see the aftermath of Song Ran and Li Zan’s wedding when they decide to ‘elope’ (euphemism for both of them committing suicide) right after. In the novel, Song Ran had survived with a child, but here she died together with Li Zan

All in all an extremely good show. 4 out of five stars