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The BEST BL/Bromance I've Ever Watched
This drama had been on my watch list for years. I finally got to watch it last year. At first, I didn't understand much of the plot because it doesn't start in order without much context. However, as I continued watching, I found myself binging every episode. I thought I would get bored after a couple episodes; 50 episodes did look like a lot. But in reality, 50 episodes is just not enough... the things I would do to watch more.Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan did Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian JUSTICE!! I absolutely cannot imagine these characters being played by anyone else. Due to China's strict rules on non-hetero relationships in entertainment, I was a bit nervous on how they will turn a BL novel into a bromance drama. However, despite there being no kisses or direct love confessions, watchers could feel their love. This drama is the best example of how actions speak louder than words!!!! The supporting cast also did an amazing job. The acting and casting was a 10000/10.
The storyline was also very easy to get into as long as you stay attentive. I love fantasy and action, so this drama was my type of drama. I would rewatch it again in a heartbeat. The character dynamics is top notch.
THE OST!!! Wuji was on replay everyday after I finished this drama. It made me cry every time. I don't think I ever moved on from this drama despite watching it a year ago. It is just toooo good. PLEASE watch this drama, you won't regret it.
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My thoughts after dwelling on comments and eventually watching...
My hesitancy to watch this drama started with a quick look at the comment section. Many people weren't happy with the plot, screen time, and characters. I commented on my uncertainty and received replies that were fighting each other. So, I logged off to watch in peace and came back to write a review after completing it.MY ADVICE: If the synopsis interests you even a little bit, give the drama a try without dwelling on the comments. It seems like a hit-or-miss drama. Yes, it has flaws, but it is not as bad as some people may say.
First, I have some remarks about Rong and Wenxuan's relationship. Their misunderstandings were solved quickly, and I liked how their relationship changed for the better, compared to their past. What got me rolling my eyes most of the time was how Wenxuan could not stand up for himself when it came to Rong, and how Rong was not communicating her trust and love for Wenxuan. Yes, their arguments were solved quickly, but it felt so unnecessary to begin with at such late episodes.
However, my biggest concern reading the comments was Rongqing.
- Does Rongqing have a lot of screen time (compared to Wenxuan)? No, **IN GENERAL**, I wouldn't say so. Wenxuan has plenty of screen time, especially in the first half of the drama. The only part of Rongqing's screen time that confused me was the last couple episodes, especially his scene in the last episode.
- Did Rong love Rongqing? Hard question to answer, but I'd say maybe at some point in her past life, she did. HOWEVER, in their current life, she always worries for Wenxuan, cares for Wenxuan, and loves Wenxuan. What I can collect from watching her interactions with Rongqing, she definitely has lingering sentiments for him. Probably because he stayed by her side during the days leading up to her death in the past. But that is really it. She loves Wenxuan, and I never doubted her love for him. Did I get annoyed because of her soft spots for Rongqing? Yeah, it was annoying, but I guess it's understandable if you consider her past.
I personally thought the drama started out really strong—I was captivated up until maybe episode 30. I almost completely lost interest after episode 30, but kept watching for the main couple. They started bringing up the past (which I could care less about), and Rongqing's story (which I had no sympathy for), so I was just trying my best to watch until the end.
This drama has flaws, which is disappointing since the budget seems to be so high. There are things I wish they could have added, changed, or removed. Despite that, there were a lot of moments that I liked.. I can list some below:
- Wenxuan said, "If I admitted I liked you, it would feel like a form of surrender."
- Wenxuan confronts Rong when she assumes he still likes ZhenZhen, and Rong runs after him to clear up the misunderstanding even more
- Rong offended the whole Pei family because they hurt Wenxuan
- Rong writing countless letters to Wenxuan while everyone is telling her he's dead
- Wenxuan picking up Rong with the umbrella in this life (Rongqing did it in the previous life)
- Rong worries over Wenxuan in many instances
I'll stop here. Even if the drama isn't perfect, I'll still give it a 9.5/10. Stop hating on the drama; it scares potential watchers. The hate almost scared me away, but I'm glad I gave it a try. And you should too.. if you ended up reading this before watching :)
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My FAVORITE Kdrama!
I watched this drama a year ago out of pure boredom and because I had nothing else to watch. I was scared it would be another overhyped drama, so I didn't have high expectations. I almost dropped it after episode 2 because it was dragging a bit. I am glad I continued watching because, after Episode 4, every episode was AMAZING.I never rewatch dramas because I already know what happens, so it will never feel like the first time watching. However, I just finished rewatching this drama, and it feels just as exhilarating as the first.
Song Joong Ki did Vincenzo justice, and I fell for him after watching this. I love this plot and its twists, the acting, the cast, the romance, the humor, the OST, the action, and the suspense so much. I love anti-hero concepts the most of all, which is why I enjoyed both of SKJ's works (Vincenzo and Reborn Rich) so much.
I have a feeling I will be rewatching again next year because all of the genres I enjoy are poured into this drama. I am currently facing drama withdrawal symptoms, and I simply cannot move onto another series.
PLEASE give this drama a watch, I swear it is so so good!!!
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A MUST WATCH (It's a masterpiece)
After being in a drama slump for a while, I picked up this drama due to the comments saying it was worth watching. Now, I usually prefer romance in dramas, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a drama without it. This drama is amazing from beginning to end.I do admit that I had to push through some episodes in the beginning, but I later realized that they were necessary for build-up and development of the plot. After episode 20, I was on my toes and invested the whole time. Even in the last episodes, I got goosebumps from the plot twists during the denouement.
Li Xiang Yi/Li Lian Hua is a thoroughly fleshed out character. His selflessness made him neither pitiful nor foolish. He had his own reasons and goals. He is smart and powerful, but also so so kind. He has had a very hard life, so it is not surprising he doesn't want to return to his old life. Whether he ultimately passed away or lived on a little more in the end, I'm sure he was at his own peace of mind.
Fang Xiao Bao might be my favorite character (to be fair, I think LXY, FXB, and DFS are all my favorites). He grew so much since the beginning of the drama until the end. I know he's going to become a martial arts legend. I saw some people in the comments saying he was annoying, but I never thought so. He is young and new to the martial world. He's the ray of sunshine and hope in the trio. I'm also happy with how things went with the princess... my romance-loving heart was rooting for them!
Di Fei Sheng was never the villain. But I think that is obvious to all viewers. Our A-fei is righteous and has a clear understanding of right and wrong. I would think that he was the pure/cute one in the friend group, if anything. If there's one thing I can understand about Jiao Li Qiao, is her feelings for DFS. I mean, he's really a good guy at heart (and handsome), I would've fallen for him too.
Their friendship was everything to me. I wish hugging was more of a thing in wuxias, because damn, I need a group hug from them so bad. Li Lian Hua, Fang Duo Bing, Di Fei Sheng... in another life, I hope you guys can become friends and roam the world together happily and healthily!!!
Truly a beautiful drama, and a must-watch. It is a soul-crushing and soul-healing experience ;,)
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Love When the Stars Fall
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Beautiful and Heartfelt
I told myself that I was only going to watch a couple episodes, but I ended up diving deep into this series. I have to say, this series is indeed magical, and the storyline was beautiful. I thought that we were going to see a lot of conflict and power struggles between the twins because of their different upbringings. However, they were one of the most powerful duos in the series, and I couldn't have hoped for anything different!To start off, I love the main couples; they complement each other so much that I can't imagine what it would've been like if their wedding sedans weren't switched. Qingkui and Chaofeng's story is touching. Kui is ever so kind and understanding, and Feng's character development might've been my favorite! Yetan and Youqin's story was so cute, and in a way, very pure. Tan, who rarely received love growing up, received it from Youqin, an immortal who grew up sealing away his feelings.
In terms of the cast, I LOVE all of the cast members in addition to the main leads. I loved it most when everyone gathered and worked together. Ziwu, Qingheng, Lanjue, Manman, Consort Xue, Hai Chao, Sushui, and more!! Everyone's acting was top-notch. I especially think CXX did amazing work portraying the shards. And Landy Li's acting was amazing from beginning until the end.
Sa Dingding's OST has been on replay ever since the first episode. I love how impactful the chorus is, and it somehow ALWAYS fits in with the situation. It is a song that truly touches my heart :)
My favorite duo next to the twins are Chaofeng and Youqin. Their bickering made me laugh sooo much. They are the best brothers in-law. (It's funny because they will be in a bromance drama together soon, so that little dialogue in the last episode about YQ falling in love with CF made me laugh).
Overall, this was a beautiful cdrama, and will forever stay in my heart. All the tears I've shed for it were worth it. The ending might've been a bit unsatisfying, but it does point towards a happy future, and it made me happy! I'm glad all the other couples I shipped ended up together!! <3
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Youngest Son of a Conglomerate
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The Ending is Understandable but Underwhelming
Overall, it was a solid drama. I think the only reason why I was a bit underwhelmed by the ending was that the build-up throughout the drama was crazy. I loved the first 12 episodes so so much. I was hooked because I am a b**** for anti-hero plots. I love any story where the main character gets their revenge on the people that looked down on them, and this was exactly the drama that hit those points.I also love the transmigration genre. I love reading transmigration manhwas, so seeing how this genre was made into a drama with Song Joong Ki... I was sold.
Song Joong Ki sure knows how to pick a good drama. His acting in this one is phenomenal as per usual. He is so expressive and eloquent, which makes every scene so much better. His chemistry with Lee Sung Min was also amazing. They were such a powerful grandfather-grandson duo.
The romance for a bit unnecessary to be honest. This is coming from a person that watches 90% romance dramas. I feel like Do Jun would have been better(?) off focusing on revenge rather than love. This was the one criticism I had with this drama.
As stated in the title of this review, the ending was understandable. I actually did get goosebumps when I finally realized the truth behind the drama and the Hyun Woo/Do Jun situation. I just feel like for how powerful the plot was in the beginning and middle-- the ending was a mood-dropper. Not in a bad way, but it just felt out of place. However, I do hope that people who were disappointed with the ending understand why everything happened the way it did (refer back to Hyun Woo's revelation in the last episode).
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Automatically Became my Top Drama
My confession: I started watching this drama because I had nothing else to watch after binging Vincenzo, and I couldn't find a drama to overcome my slump. Therefore, I had low expectations and thought I would drop it after the first episode. (I thought it would be another overhyped drama.)However, it is NOT. I think I fell in love with everything about this drama. I enjoyed Jung So Min's acting in Because This is my First Life, and was surprised to see her in such a different role. However, she absolutely blew my mind. Watching the behind the scenes of her in fighting scenes was so cool because she moved so fluidly with the sword. No one could've been a better Mu Deok than JSM!! I also want to bring praise for Lee Jae Wook; this was my first drama with him as the lead. I think he suits Jang Uk so much, and he did a great job portraying sunshine Jang Uk, and in the second season with dark Jang Uk.
I honestly don't know why I doubted this drama. I love magic and fantasy dramas (like the Untamed and Who Rules the World; they're both C-Dramas). I am happy that Korea is starting to do more fantasy-related dramas that aren't in the modern setting. Daeho, being a fictional country gives more room for creativity rather than the Joseon era or a modern-day setting.
Additionally, the OSTs for this drama are so heartfelt. "Just Watching You" and "Scars Leave Beautiful Trace" are two of my personal favorite OSTs; they just add to the emotions.
If you are looking for a drama that will pull on your heartstrings, keep you on your toes, fascinate your soul, and make you laugh at the right time, then watch Alchemy of Souls!! And watch the second season as well. Although I will be watching the finale for it tomorrow, I am sure the ending will be fitting. Although, I am hoping for a happy one after all of Uk and Yeong's suffering... have hope :)
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Alchemy of Souls: Part 2
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Shows How You Can Love Someone for their Soul <3
If I loved season 1, I adored season 2 even more. There is absolutely nothing I would change about their beautiful story. Uk and Yeong's story is not one for the emotionally weak. They both have suffered so much and still are completely selfless. They do not need fate; fate needs them.I love Go Yoon Jung as Naksu/Yeong. This season was so different from the previous but in a good way. Alchemy of Souls brought all the genres I love and combined them into one show. I also loved Lee Jae Wook's powerful character which fed into my love for anti-hero characters. Despite this, Uk was very levelheaded, and although he would have loved to just stay in paradise with Yeong, he knew he had to let her go. This feeling was not one-sided as Yeong also knew they both have to take the role of saving the world from chaos. However, it hurt my heart to see them suffer even more because of this. Sacrifices always have to be made.
This is a tear-evoking show. I watched episodes 9 and 10 bawling my eyes out. I expected an inevitable sad ending because nothing was going in UkYeong's favor. However, I ended up crying in relief in the end; I could not have hoped for a better ending. I am so glad everyone good in the drama survived. This drama evoked every single emotion out of me, but it is what makes it so good.
The dialogue was beautiful. The relationship between Uk and Yeong was even more so. I never thought kissing an eye would be so romantic. He was basically kissing and loving her soul. It was a beautiful scene. This drama just shows how a person can love another person for their soul, not their looks. Whether Yeong was Naksu, Mu Deok, Bu Yeon, or herself, Uk continues to love her unconditionally. If that is not pure love, I don't know what is.
Please watch this drama. I'm afraid it will be very hard for another drama to top this one on my list. It was a beautiful watch <3
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A Golden Drama in My Eyes
I absolutely love this drama for many reasons. Usually, I stay away from historical dramas since they get too political, angsty, or boring. However, I love the comedy aspect of this drama, so I was hooked from the first episode.I think there is a perfect balance of political/internal family affairs, romance, comedy, and suspense. The characters were fleshed out well, and the actors did an amazing job portraying their characters. Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun made this series even more enjoyable. SHS is an amazing actress, and her role in Mr. Queen deserves so much more praise because she was PERFECT for the body-switching queen. KJH not only played the funny, foolish king well, but he also played the badass side of the king well. They were perfect for this drama and plot. I also loved the (likable) side characters like court lady Choi , Hong Yeon, the head chef, etc.
I wish the ending was a biiit different, but honestly, I'm not complaining because it is still a happy ending!! Despite this drama being 20 episodes, it was interesting throughout the entire journey. This is a must-see drama; I cannot stress this enough!! This is my second time watching, and I remembered why this drama is in my Top 5. Please, please, please watch Mr. Queen; you won't regret it.
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