Short Sweet Stereotypical Story

To start, this drama is a little cliche. Women has ability to predict the future. Man has super sensitive senses. They met as children. Lost memories. Workplace romance.

I loved how misunderstandings were not the big point of the story (at least not until the later episodes).

The Main Couple have good chemistry. The kiss scenes were on point.

As for the second couple, I skipped every single scene they were in. I hated how clingy the SFL was. Like, he told u that he wasn't into you, so leave him alone??? Do boundaries not exist?? Why force a kiss on him and put him in such serious danger? I just really think she was a flawed character with the way she was so in love with him and then suddenly falls in love with FML ex. Also, the way she confessed love for SML in front of the entire world. While it seemed nice and endearing of her love, once again the boundaries.

As for FML ex boyfriend and her, they had no chemistry. I found their interactions quite stiff. Maybe it was supposed to be, since it was a "reminiscent" of their past love. But even then, it was portrayed as if he was so in love with her, and she was supposed to like him "a little," but that wasn't apparent.

I would also like to mention that the FML actions are very annoying sometimes. For example, when she finds out that he will be stabbed, she tries everything in her power to leave him alone, entering danger alone. She knows very well that she cannot change the future. However, she is still trying to fight it, and him, putting them in more danger. This irritated me more than just a little. She was logical about her future seeing powers, that they were always true, meant that she should break up with her boyfriend, all up to the point where it mattered the most.

Additionally, the whole fantasy aspect was very questionable. I get that it is fantasy, but please be more explanatory. I believe it was implied that they got their powers from the full moon? Not sure how that happened.

The ending was okay I guess. I liked that they were fighting, but it got annoying after a while about how petty they were being. Would have liked a few more sweet moments.

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Simple Story

Loved the beginning of the story. So much potential. But as it continued, I felt that it became bland.

The beginning: Interesting story line, but not 100% unique. Perhaps that is why Iiked it. It was the stereotypical actor + something else combo. I loved their interactions and their love hate relationship. The comedy was a nice twist, not too cringe. The perfect balance.

Additionally, I liked the relationship the FL had with her friends. As they talked about their struggles together, I laughed with them. It was just way over the top, which made it even funnier. They were all overworked and it was nice to see them get together and drink.

The bland and the bad: I felt some parts were just there. Let me explain. When it got to the stalker portion, it just felt like stuff being added in for no benefit. Sure, ML ended up getting hurt by the lady, but that lady's background is so questionable still. That was also the time that I took a break from the drama and I felt that I had to force myself to finish it. And I did.

Furthermore, the part where the ML got sent the letters, that was so underwhelming. I thought it would be a large confrontation and whatnot, but it barely lasted like a couple of sentences. I also didn't understand his motive (well i did, but it wasn't explained well.) Throughout the entire story, and all their interactions, it wouldn't seem like he would have a strong hate for ML. I don't know if it was the actor or the director. Like, I would think the story/conversation would be more fleshed out at that part considering the red envelopes lasted across multiple episodes, but it wasn't.

Also, when the ML and FL finally got together, it felt like the cat and mouse game was over. The side couples had my attention more than the main couple. I don't exactly know why. Maybe because it was more of a slice of life afterwards. Or maybe their interactions were different, but it just was not interesting anymore. I ended up skipping through a lot of their scenes together because of it.

And the ML, he kept causing trouble. I get that he's supposed to be kind of be relying on the FL to show her competence and cause trouble to highlight the problems of the entertainment industry, but some of the stuff he did were just plain stupid. For example, the part where he answered the phone and then ended up causing a scandal. Like I get you're in love with FL, but why are you doing this. In the beginning of the story, the scandals were all false and by other people, but he is intentionally causing scandals. Idk, I just found that part to be a little more annoying than enduring for his love for FL.

Rating Explanations:
Story: Beginning was good, so that kinda makes up for the mediocre middled/end where too many story ideas were added without being fleshed out.
Acting/Cast: Again, I felt that the side couples overpowered the main couple towards the end. I ended up skipping through it sometimes.
Music: Nothing Special or memorable that I can think off at the top of my head
Rewatch value: I normally don't rewatch unless its exceptional, and this is no exception.
Conclusion: Simple Cute drama to watch when you have free time.

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Communicating couple... (for the most part)

You read the title. Yea. That's the biggest adorable part of this drama, how in love the ML was with the FML.

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What I liked:

Character development. FML goes from being naive and trusting to being a strong independent woman. Not only her, but the entire trio. While, they occasionally depend on their men, in the end they take back their own power through their own measures (i think).

The chemistry. FML and ML had a lot of chemistry. And so did the other trio couples.

The supporting characters. they were very humorous, especially the scholars who often came to visit the tea house. They definately carried.

The groveling. Oh my god. The ML lost the trust of the FML, and she shows him (and the world) that women can be successful on their own. I love that message. He tries to run back to her after realizing his mistake and does everything. Sneaking into her window (sounds weird but he used to do it before and she was okay with it). But she put up traps, and he was caught. The PAIN in his eyes when he saw what she did. It was definitely because he realized how much he had hurt her. (This is me commenting on how good the acting was)

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What I didn't like:

Song Yin Zhang. Her character (sometimes). She was stuck up. Looked down on them and seriously had her head in the clouds. I understand that she changed, but FML accepted her a little too fast. But I guess it is part of her character.

Also, Sun San Niang's son. (i don't remember his name) He was annoying. Then suddenly, he walks to the capital and acts entitled. Sun San Niang is way too forgiving. (I think I am seeing a pattern with this show of everyone forgiving too easily)

Plot holes / things not shown or explained (especially at the end). So near the end, Gu Qian Fan sneaks into the empresses room. She tells him that the emperor will have his head if he finds out and all she has to do is like call for help. My confusion is how he got in. It IS the empreress's room after all. Isn't is supposed to be more protected. I would have expected a scene of him deciding / foreshadowing his attempt to find the empress. For example, like him storming out, and jumping over palace walls. Instead of from the queen's perspective of him walking into her room. How did he get there?

Also, the fact that the empress was scheming to get rid of FML, and the emperor got furious because it "looks bad" and "goes against the will of the people." I get that. But how could the empress not see it? She was also supposed to be very intelligent and good at scheming, and manipulative (or that was how she was portrayed) How could she do something so blatantly obvious it was her?

Another thing (in the end ofc) was Ou Yang Xu getting caught for the murder of his servant for seeing to much. Except, to be honest, was never shown on scene. It was implied that he would be killed after seeing the murderous look in Ou Yang Xu eyes, but we the viewers never got that suspense. In fact, it would play a key role in the investigation. So magically, Song Yin Zhang finds a music score hidden in a temple, which by the way, i didn't even know the servant boy could play music. I get that they wanted to make Song Yin Zhang seem helpful, but they just showed her presenting the evidence to the court without searching for it, or even mentioning it existed.

There was also a mention how Ou Yang Xu needed to win the trial for the power struggle in the court. After he looses, there is no mention of such power struggle, or the aftermath of it. It was just a ended with showing a marriage.
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Overall:
Story: 8.5 - Strong start. Okay ending. Some plot holes. I can tell that the ending was rushed, especially since they had to fit it into 40 episodes.

Acting/Cast: 9 - Again the acting of characters was mostly good.

Music: 8.0 - I think I liked it lol. Don't trust me on this one because im basically tone deaf.

Rewatch Value: 6.5 - I don't rewatch, so this score doesn't mean much

Overall: 8.5 - Semi complex drama with power struggles, but some plot holes

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So much betrayal

Ok, so I would like to start by saying that I liked this drama, but not for the normal reasons. Morally grey character? yes. But quality of the story? That was questionable.

The entire cat and mouse game kept going in circles. "I am Luo Xiang. I am not Luo Xiang. I am Luo Xiang." Furthermore, the story was not fleshed out at certain points. It felt rushed. The part where Su Qing died was a really good example of such. She was shot and it suddenly ended. I want to know more about his little kid (i forgot her name) because she was def one of my favorite characters.

Also, why does everyone suddenly trust everyone? Like you were already betrayed so many times??? And you still decide to trust them? Officer Yu was obviously evil, and then suddenly turns good, then bad again. It was just really confusing to follow who was the "good guys." Everything seemed to fall into place too easy. The villian being outsmarted, then the hero being outsmarted. Like the transmitter just existing there at the end of the story from the previous visit, that was a little bit to easy for the hero.

The acting was also shaky at some points. I was not fully convinced of Luo Xiang actually liking Su Qing. I get that there was no romance tag, but they supposedly were engaged.

What I did like was the action and scheming. Sometimes it did catch me off gaurd, but I was so confused on the villian's relationship to one another. Even now, as I am writing this, I remain a little confused. (That is probably why I would not watch it again)

The ending was bitter sweet. I was disappointed that Su Qing died, but it made sense for the plot. With the problematic behavior of drugs, Officer Liao would end up alone trying to fight for what he believed was right.

Overall: Corruption, a lot of action, and semi-satisfying demise of all the villians and a few heros :(

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ignore the bad character development

What I liked:

Kang Yo Han was definitely my favorite character, but that is mainly because I am a sucker for morally grey characters. He was "the law" but did not abide by it and often used violence and money to get his way. However, it was to "protect" the country.

My favorite scene was the "we are the light" Was it predictable? Yes. The moment they pulled out their phones I just knew what it was going to be. But the scene was just *chefs kiss*

The chemistry between Kim Ga On and Kang Yo Han's family was prenominal. They were sooo cute. Moments of fluff I loved.

What I did not like:

Everyone was just so easy to manipulate. The good guys, and the bad guys. Jung Sun Ah was manipulated into believing that the virus was real, but after being told, she goes to the site, looks around and bam she suddenly turns good again. Like no one tried to stop her as she entered, she just made a pained face, and went back to the other judges to fix the shit she created.

Kim Ga On was also very easy to manipulate. His teacher turned out to be bad... Woah didn't see that one coming ;-;.... Oh no, turns out he did a very bad thing by reporting his co-worker to the police.

Then Oh Jin Joo was soo easy to manipulate as well. Like she believed this person who was bought over by Kang Yo Han, would end up betraying him. That would be her downfall.

Some scenes could have been elaborated a little more to increase suspense and the number of scenes trying to do suspense could be reduced so that it doesn't feel rushed.

Yoon Soo Hyun was also terrible in the way her character was useless. I didn't understand what everyone was complaining about until I got to episode 12. She was acting as a foil to the main character, but their romance was not even convincing. I knew nothing about their background to make me believe they were in love. Then when she suddenly dies, like omg you were told not to go there. Like everything is almost her fault. I did not even feel anything at her death since there was nothing to feel. She was not developed at all besides being a "cop." Like what drives her morals? Why does she not listen to Kim Ga On when he tells her that it wasn't them who killed them, besides the obvious reason that she is a cop. Because there are are evidently many corrupt cops who have reasons for their corruption like family, greed, etc. Furthermore, she is a main character, so its probably important to provide more background on her.

Overall: lots of background information could be provided to characterize their current development.

Story: Morally grey characters. Could have been better with the build ups.
Acting/Cast: Some of the characters could have been better portrayed. Might have been the screenwriters fault. Specifically Soo Hyun.
Music: Wow it was pretty good. Normally I don't remember music unless something stands out. This was memorable. I loved the opening song.
Rewatch value: I rarely re watch stuff. This one i probably won't because i already know whats gonna happen so there is no suspense.

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Potentially in the drain

Story: I loved the beginning story and thought it had SO MUCH potential. However, at a point, I felt that their relationship turned bland. The ending was also rushed.

Love Hate Relationships: I am a sucker for these. Which is why I had expectations for this show that it didn't meet. I thought they would hate each other for a little while longer, but that was apparently not true. I thought she liked him a little but too fast, but that is understandable because of the 40 ep limit. They probably had more hate interactions before the story takes place.

Secret Identity: I am also a sucker for these. Princess in a foreign country and falls in love with ML? Sign me up for that show. It was just that when ML found out FML secret identity, it was rushed. Like probably less than a 5 minute clip. But when the ML told FML his identity, it was a big secret thing that she couldn't tell anyone AND it was a major relevant point to the plot at the time.

Annoying Characters: All dramas have their fair share of annoying characters and this one was no exception. The daughter of the grandmaster who was killed and accused FML of killing her father. (Shes so irrelevant that I forgot her name LOL) I get that her relative was killed, but she accused the person she trusted most and grew up with. If this is a little out of character, I don't know what is.

Kingdoms: So there was problems on both sides of FML and ML family. However, the ML was over many more episodes than FML. I would have liked a more equal distribution of both. Also, it felt that the FML was just an accessory during the ML struggles. She was just there... too make him happy and cheer him up. It kind goes against the whole "Strong FML" that I was hoping for and was supposed to get. On the other hand, the ML was the person who saved the FML during her struggles. Like she was in the middle of a battle field about to die and then reinforcements show up. They were brought by the ML. This irked me a little, but its just a story :D

I don't know if it was the 40 episode limit or the director, but whatever it was, the story suffered.

Acting/Cast: I love both actors. Trust me. I've watched *a LOT* of their shows. But sometimes I do not think their chemistry is there, or it feels forced. Specifically the FML. There were moments when they were interacting where I felt disconnected from the actual plot. It felt like a separate show from what I watched earlier. Other times, I loved their interactions, like the kiss when she was stabbed.

Music: I honestly can't remember it so I am giving it a 6.5 since it wasn't memorable.

Rewatch Value: I never rewatch. This is no exception

Overall: okay

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So Mid.

I had to force myself to finish this... with 2 times speed

Story: I watched the beginning and would have loved their first meeting/history. I wish there could be a whole drama dedicated to just that meeting. I think the beginning is what is carrying my story rating. The FML was kinda annoying at times, like how she kept following him around (I just found her rlly clingy). Also the way the FML doesn't trust the ML. She is always believing others. And the story was rlly predictable. I just knew the doctor guy was going to be a bad guy. Also, why did no one question his existence as a nurse/doctor or whatever? I thought it was very hard to get into medical school or whatever. Also, given that he was practically raised on an island, does no one question how he learned/got the resources to attend? Don't get me wrong, I am all for moving up, but when someone from the past comes back, does no one question anything???

I knew the second FML was going to be... a b*tch and clingy. I also just knew how the FML would be absolutely useless and get herself kidnapped/used. The story tried so hard to be unique but was so stereotypical. Like the fact that the biggest nuance about this show was their first interaction and history together. I don't think I have ever watched a show like that. But by the end, it followed every single drama plot out there: kidnapped + useless FML, ML abs, annoying second FML, hidden child (second couple), ML ignores FML first, and that is all that I can think of off the top of my head.

I also found the second couple to be more entertaining than the FML.

Acting/Cast: I don't feel that their interactions were outstanding and I wasn't convinced the ML actually liked the FML. ML had nice abs though.

Music: Nothing special. Doesn't stand out.

Rewatch Value: I don't rewatch unless its exceptional. This is no exception.

Overall: Mid

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