A Beautiful Mess, But Not My Cup of Tea

I get it—this show is supposed to be a journey of character development and all that jazz, so I shouldn’t judge it too harshly. But when I watch something, I cut out all the fluff—the music, the long-winded monologues, and whatever “deep” symbolism the director threw in. And after doing that? There was nothing left for me.

The Good:
• Music: Absolutely fire. The opening song is living rent-free in my head and might never leave.
• Male Lead: Solid performance.
• Atmosphere: The art style—even though blatantly copied from bigger artists—works well with the catchy music and vibe.

The Bad:
Alright, let’s break it down:
1. The Female Lead is... What?!
How is she not in a mental hospital? I mean, seriously. She’s either a psychopath or a sociopath, and neither option explains how she’s just out here, living her best life.
2. Where’s the Story?
What even happened? The ending was so dumb it made me wonder if I missed a few key plot points. The show keeps hinting at some harsh, traumatic past, but where’s the evidence? She doesn’t even seem that scarred—mentally or emotionally—for someone who’s supposedly been through hell.
3. Why is She Obsessed with the Male Lead?
She stalked him after seeing him once... and the dude didn’t call the cops? I mean, be for real. That’s not romance, that’s restraining order territory. And I know she had a small encounter with him when she was a child but there is no way she would recognize him and what if she did, there was no chemistry between them anyway from start to finish.
4. Male Lead’s Weird Behavior
Okay, so the male lead shows zero interest in girls throughout the entire show—so much so that you start thinking he’s just not into women. And then, out of nowhere, he’s into her? Why? HOW?! Bizarre. Honestly, it feels like they just threw that romance in because they couldn’t think of anything else. A little buildup would’ve been nice, thanks.

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A Perfect Start Met its Perfect Failure - At the End

The show had me hooked from the start with the main leads' love-hate chemistry. Watching them hate each other so intensely gave me life—like, "I hate you, but also, let's have epic slow-burn romance" vibes. The pacing was amazing in the first 8 episodes, and honestly, I was laughing way more than I expected. But somehow, they managed to fumble a seemingly perfect story, as if they saw greatness and thought, "Nah, let's add chaos."

The Good Stuff:
Perfect chemistry from the leads (they could probably hate-flirt their way out of a hostage situation).
First few episodes? Chef’s kiss. I replayed the first two episodes three times—who needs new content when you have those?
The songs slap hard. They set the mood so well that I’m now emotionally dependent on them.
The “Why Did They Do That?” Stuff:
The songs only worked when the leads were on screen. For everyone else? Meh. Except Grandpa—he carried the emotional weight of a Marvel superhero.
The villain? No rhyme, no reason—just villain-ing for the sake of it, which, in true drama fashion, is somehow the norm.
Side characters? Forgettable. I swear they were just standing there as furniture most of the time. And the female side characters... oof. Their acting was so bad it felt like watching an AI-generated soap opera.
And don't get me started on how the plot went from "lighthearted fun" to “political drama nobody asked for.” They had a perfect rom-com setup! All they had to do was ride that wave and give us more of their school life and pre-marriage shenanigans. Instead, they opted for... politics. WHY.

I’m not usually this serious over dramas, but those first two episodes were so good they made me believe again—for a hot minute. But then the pacing took a nosedive, and the whole thing became cheap, forgettable, and un-rewatchable. Like, I’ll maybe rewatch those first two episodes for old time’s sake, but beyond that? Nah.

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No One Would Have Cared if the Secret Got Out.

A promising premise with perfect chemistry between the leads and solid support from the side characters. It’s clear the cast gave it their all, despite having very little material to work with. I mean, you can only stretch a half-baked love story so far, right?

The story kicked off with some crazy ideas—an instant marriage proposal and everyone being cool with it? Wild. But seriously, if both families are basically one big happy family, why didn’t they just get married right away? They could’ve saved all of us a lot of time! Instead, the leads kept dragging things out, giving me emotional whiplash. The female lead couldn’t make up her mind, while the male lead carried the show like a champ, doing what male leads do best—keeping us hooked with charm and consistency.

But here’s where things went off the rails: one minute, they act married; the next, they’re back to awkward strangers. And let’s not forget the unnecessary secrecy—at work and at home. It’s like, why are you sneaking around when both families basically live together anyway? I know the male lead became her boss, but keeping their relationship a secret for that reason is so contrived it made my brain hurt. And again, the show is called “You Are My Secret”—but what was the secret? That they’re both wasting everyone’s time?

This is my eternal gripe with both Chinese and Korean dramas—long stretches where nothing happens. Either trim the episode count or give us more character development! Is it too much to ask to just watch the leads’ love blossom naturally? Instead, they gave us secrecy, unnecessary drama, and long scenes of... basically nothing. It felt like the leads were allergic to marriage and just burning through runtime doing absolutely nada.

Ultimately, the leads had potential, but the story squandered it by being repetitive and indecisive. I just wish they committed to the romance early on and let us enjoy the ride instead of dragging us through endless filler. If you ever feel tempted to watch this drama, prepare yourself—because the real secret? The only thing hidden is a sense of urgency.

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I met myself and can't forget.

I casually stumbled onto this drama one day, thinking it would be just another forgettable watch. The first episode felt simple but oddly captivating. Then, out of nowhere, this random female character shows up—and let me tell you, her acting hit different. First thought: “There’s no way they kill her off. I need more of this character.”

Well, guess what? Plot twist. And right after that, the whole tone of the show shifted, and holy shit, it was GOOD. Slow? Yes. Simple? Absolutely. But somehow, every character, every house, every little detail feels alive and real. Even the songs hit so hard, I have to skip some of them—they bring back this overwhelming nostalgia, like I’m reliving simpler, better times I never even had.

And can we talk about how there’s no villain in this show? Finally! A drama that’s not drowning in random evil masterminds showing up to ruin things just because the writer got bored. Seriously, why can’t Chinese dramas stick to this formula more often? No Buddha-tier main characters who are weirdly perfect, and no surprise villains popping up halfway through to cause unnecessary drama. Everything here feels believable, and somehow, this show made me feel like I’ve lived in these houses. I’ve never even been to China (yet), but now I’m weirdly intrigued to go.

There are very few pieces of media that grab me by the soul and refuse to let go, and this drama did just that. Honestly, I’m scared to rewatch it—not because of the emotional rollercoasters, but because of the memories it stirs up. It's like revisiting an old photo album and realizing just how much time has passed.

All in all, this isn’t just a show—it’s a whole experience. And now, I’ll probably be thinking about it for the next decade.

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Tried Hard, But This Show Just Didn’t Click for Me

I am sorry to be harsh but I judge everything to a gold standard especially to western dramas.

Oh man, I really tried to get into this show. I gave it my best shot, but the first few episodes felt like a random assortment of nonsense. I finally just skipped to episode 7, and honestly, that felt like the real first episode—where the girl grows up and finally starts using her brain. I get that the show is supposed to be light and easy with zero substance, so I’m willing to give it a pass there.

That said, a couple of episodes were enjoyable, but I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. It feels like one of those disposable, low-budget dramas with minimal writers, but the director worked magic to somehow keep it from falling apart. Seriously, amazing direction.

Outside of the two leads with their “decent” chemistry, every other character felt like a throwaway. Even the brother, who’s just there to provide comic relief, just popped in for random phone calls and small talk. I’m not trashing the show—there’s just nothing happening. No meaningful introductions, no plot twists, no side characters worth remembering. I haven’t even finished the series and, honestly, I don’t feel any urge to. But hey, if I ever have way too much free time, I might give it another shot.

Also, let’s address the weird elephant in the room: the male lead falling for the girl who was basically a sister to him. Yeah, I know things like that can happen in real life, but the first few episodes really sold him as the protective, older-brother type. He was already a mature grown-up while she was still a teen, and the sudden shift into romance felt... off. Like, c’mon, how do you go from “big bro” to boyfriend that fast? But hey, maybe I’m just reading too much into it.

Now, despite all the nitpicking, I have to say the hospital episodes (somewhere around 9 or 11?) were fantastic. Those scenes felt real and had actual substance. I just wish the rest of the show had some kind of plot to match that.

In the end, it's not garbage like most shows, but it’s one of those shows I’ll probably only finish out of boredom. Not bad—just... forgettable.

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Great Atmosphere, But the Main Leads Had Me Scratching My Head

I’ll start with the positives—the production quality and music are top-tier. The opening episodes sucked me in with the incredible atmosphere and pacing, and the chemistry between the second leads was chef’s kiss. But I have some serious gripes with the story and the main characters that made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster with a broken seatbelt.

The Main Leads: Confusing at Best, Cringe at Worst
The Male Lead is… Old, but Also a Child?
I mean, come on. He’s ancient—very, VERY old. Like, we’re talking multiple centuries of experience here. But somehow, he acts like a confused teenager. When he was a soldier, the guy was calm, calculating, and cool. But fast forward to his immortal life, and he turns into this soft, awkward mess. What happened? Did immortality give him eternal wisdom or just eternal awkwardness?

The Female Lead is Just… Odd.
Okay, she’s totally cool with some random guy popping out of nowhere with magical powers? If I saw a dude with a sword sticking out of his chest, I’d run so fast Usain Bolt would take notes. But nope—she just rolls with it like it’s the most normal thing in the world. I get suspension of disbelief, but come on.

Nitpicks & The Stuff I Loved
The music? Amazing. It fits the tone so perfectly that I’m still humming it at random moments.
Honestly, I would’ve preferred a show focused on the Grim Reapers. That storyline had much more potential than what we got. The second leads? Gold. I wanted more episodes just to dive deeper into their characters and give them the impact they deserved.
When the Wheels Fell Off
The first 10 episodes? I was hooked—completely in. But then came the moment when the female lead tries to run away from the male lead, and wow. That scene was so cringe I almost threw my remote. I get that they were going for emotional conflict, but it just came off as forced and awkward.

Final Thoughts
This show had everything going for it—fantastic production, music, and promising side characters. But the confusing behavior of the main leads and some awkward story moments derailed it for me. If it had focused more on the second leads or the Grim Reapers, I think this could’ve been legendary. Still, it’s worth a watch, just don’t be surprised if you find yourself cringing here and there.

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An adventure show with great vives

The show mixes a between a lot of genres and often succeeds in most of the parts it is trying to play. It's main issue is that the show is short with a very simple plot that could have been a 2 hour movie.

The main 3 characters have decent chemistry between each other, one often carrying the other; however, it is often annoying that all of them feel incomplete and don't talk their mind ever. The male lead is dying but refuses to tell anyone and even in the end he does not feel that sick so that story point seemed moot. The female lead had issues getting pregnant but It did not have any meaningful impact in the story and no one really cared at all about the issue. And other the male character was so incompetent in everything that I always ignored him.

It's a shame that none of the plot points mattered and it is just a simple journey/adventure show, where you get to see new things and places. I enjoyed the first few episodes but later nothing seemed to happen between any characters. I was confident after episode 4 or 5 that the main lead is gonna be fine after the show and it is going to be a simple ass ending and I was right. I am not saying it is a bad thing is that I would have loved to have some changes to happen and something of consequence to occur in each episode. And in my opinion nothing was going on.

In conclusion, the show had a bit too small of a plot to not be a movie and be a full fledged series. It is a mini series and it succeeds in doing that. I would have loved the show to have some consequences or some changes in situations between the leads and the people surrounding them as I got super bored after episode 6. But it is a well acted and directed mini show that delivers in what it promises.

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A Historical Drama with Too Much Substance for Its Own Good—A Masterpiece of Chinese Culture

This drama is like a slow-brewing cup of tea that takes forever to steep, but when it’s ready, it slaps you with flavor. The opening music? Insanely good. It’s like an orchestra of ear-bending notes that left me wondering why other shows don’t even bother attempting something similar. I caught myself replaying the intro just to bask in the melody—that’s how mesmerizing it is.

Female Lead: Carrying the Show Like a Boss
For once, the female lead pulls so much weight that I often forgot the male lead even existed (no offense, buddy). She’s in the title, so it makes sense, but the way she owns every scene feels like she’s not just playing the role—she is the role.

Finally, a Power System That Makes Sense
Here’s the thing—most Chinese dramas are guilty of throwing immortal powers around without any rhyme or reason. One moment the characters are peasants, and the next, they’re floating in the sky with no explanation. But this drama actually puts in the work to make the power systems feel logical and well-thought-out. I found myself appreciating how much thought went into every type of entity and how they came to be. It’s a nice change from the usual “let’s just say they’re powerful and call it a day” routine.

Action Scenes That Feel Earned
Action sequences are often just filler fluff in dramas, but not here. Every single fight felt telegraphed, deliberate, and essential. It was refreshing to see that weaker characters could outsmart stronger ones—it gave the battles more weight and made the power dynamics more believable. Honestly, I wish more shows took notes from this.

Songs That Are Too Good to Ignore
I normally ignore soundtracks and random garbage when reviewing a show, but in this case? Impossible. Every song creates such a surreal atmosphere that it’s like stepping into another world. It made me realize how much thought and heart Chinese culture puts into storytelling through music.

Final Thoughts: A Drama That Raises the Bar
This drama redefines what a historical/immortal series should be. The story is slow, yes, but it’s the kind of slow burn that stays with you. With music that transcends basic scenes, characters that feel real, and action that actually matters, it sets a new standard. Now I have a newfound appreciation for Chinese culture and a high bar for all future dramas to clear. Good luck to the next one—because this is going to be hard to beat.

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A Rare Gem Among Korean Dramas – Nothing Else Compares

I don’t have any specific memories tied to this show, but every time I think about giving Korean dramas another try, this one pops into my head—and honestly, nothing ever comes close to it. It’s ruined me for other K-dramas.

It’s weird how every other review out there gushes about the chemistry between the main leads—like, I get it, they work well together, but can we talk about the actual story? You’re watching a drama, not a couple’s vacation vlog. And here’s the harsh truth: most K-drama stories are trash, with pacing issues that make you wonder if they lost half the script halfway through production.

But this show nailed every aspect—acting, pacing, depth, relationships, friendships, and of course, the legendary production quality. Every scene, every shot, just feels perfectly crafted. It’s rare to say this, but I think this drama can hold its own against some of the best Western series in terms of overall quality.

If I had one complaint, it’s that I wish there were more episodes. A little more time spent fleshing out the backstory and maybe giving us a glimpse into the characters' future would’ve made it even better. But still, this is as close to flawless as it gets.

If you're looking for K-dramas with substance alongside entertainment for everyone, this is the gold standard. Good luck finding anything else that measures up. I’ve tried—and failed. (A bit of disclaimer I do not like dramas that has random and unnecessary actions and random ups and downs and also I actively avoid sad and emotional dramas so I have definitely missed out on a few. But that does not mean those are bad and also better than this drama)

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How to adapt a sport for the uninitiated

This show is a definition of how you combine an obscure sport with fantasy element to heighten the impact of both. I never knew what GO was but after this I really found a keen interest in learning even thought it seemed complex and difficult to master unlike chess.

The show starts of with a simple premise of a past spirit wondering the earth to meet his destined person to fulfill his wish. However, the twist is that the ghost has absolutely no power and can only annoy the connected one depending on his mood. So as the story progresses no authority is given to the ghost and even the super genius spirit becomes kind of like a mentor without stealing the limelight from little kids.

All characters are different in nature in this show unlike other dramas. No one is traditionally attractive so I found their minds more fascinating then the distracting facial features. No one acts and demand more than they should get and the drama feels more like a simple slice of life drama where people learn GO and get good at it in a reasonable pace while having interesting yet grounded adventures.

For me the best interactions were always between the spirit and our main character and his rivals. These golden trio while always weighted heavily on the side of our main character as he can cheat anytime, was made balanced due to him deciding not to cheat and get good on his own. To me it seemed somewhat annoying at times where he could have taken the help from the spirit to cheat way more but it is understandable that he was a honest kid and wanted to play fair and square.

Overall, the show was better than I imagined. No other sports show has produced so much interest on a obscure game such as this drama. I have watched many sports drama on Tennis, Badminton, Snooker, and many other obscure ones but none explain the rules and implement such rules as effortlessly as this one.

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Visual Treat on the Eyes and Ears

This show is what Chinese shows will be if they had less restriction on the direction and pacing from the producers. I can see how amazing the whole drama scene would evolve into a slow paced character driven show which runs on its merit.

The lack of flamboyant action, romance, character traits and music may be a turn off for many but it is what makes a show great when it stands just on its merit just from the acting and the power of the story. The direction was impeccable, giving ample time to enjoy the ambiance of each episodes.

The story of this show is simple, fall in love>propose>meet family>get married but this comes with a lot of caveats of Chinese culture. We get to meet how politics happens in wealthy yet down to earth families in China, how everyone is trying to stay quite be respectful yet getting hurt in every step of the way.

It is easy to write a villain with no morality; however, it is so trite and forgettable. This show takes the realism approach and tries to humanize with everyone even thought we want to hate them. Everyone is a victim and they are just trying to survive in this difficult world. The methodical pacing with artistic costume and set design made this show often contending with the best western shows. This show is a visual treat on the eyes and ears, while it is hard to binge watch something like this as it is made with immense care and depth, I would encourage everyone to slow watch it as it was meant to be.

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Romance Between Two Unlikely Candidates Does Not Work.

Doomed to fail would not be the first thing that comes to mind when you see the first two episodes. Both actors worked well and its is rare to see such chemistry from the whole cast as you progress. The super natural phenomenon were believable and doom as grim reaper felt natural in his role.

The show had so much potential, but K-drama has the tendency to make everything down to earth and give everything even gods human emotions which makes me confused all the time. I get it you gotta have a romantic story but the two, a human woman who is dying and an all powerful god of death acting like they have a chance at love is laughable without serious backstory and reason.

The whole cast worked well early but as the story refused to move forward and give us something of substance it slowly became more like a slog. There was no chemistry between the main leads and it felt like the female lead was forcing everything on the male lead, and he went along with it. It is stupid to see a super natural being acting like has feelings for a dying girl for no reason. They had no need to have any connection at all, at least it was not clear why they were chosen to be together by the deity. I would also like to know why everyone around acts so dumb as if the guy is not supernatural and teleporting everywhere is normal.

Finally, the show failed to keep me hooked and I just watched it by skipping most of the scenes later. He knew when she would die and she knew she was dying but there was very few moves from any side. Furthermore, she showed no romantic interest from the start but started living together has to be one of the most oddest move in modern history.

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Historical Drama Done Right (Not too slow, not too fast and not too much nonsense).

The show started of with being a simple forced marriage historical drama (which I really enjoy but are unmemorable), becomes a great character development show with business on the side (amazing); and completely plays an uno-reverse card shifting the light hearted tone and becomes a full on survival drama (WTF) and then to a series focused on war (I don't like fighting). I would lie if I was not burned out seeing too much drama on the show; however, it is the execution of all of these genres flawlessly that makes me appreciate the show so much.

I came into this show looking for something simple-lighthearted but left being exhausted and satisfied at the same time. The main leads had zero chemistry at the start and felt out of place in a historical drama but they really developed into something else in a good pace and believable manner. At the end no one doubted their love and bond and both became capable on their own rights.

The mother-in-law was the favorite character among all of them. She made some serious moves that not only felt refreshing, such as giving the female lead most of the power in her house-hold, but also gave her all the facilities to thrive in a male led business environment.

However, the villain seemed dumb as hell and came out of no where. His decision made no sense, as he wanted to help her as a friend but ended up harming her all the time. I don't get these one dimensional villains and why they cant have a life outside being a villain.

My main gripe is that I wanted more of their simple lives before episode 10. In other shows I feel jaded when they stick to one thing and nothing happens in most episodes but the director really took it seriously and really wanted to change things too much every episode. He did a great job at portraying the hardships is just that I would rather have less action and drama than lighthearted fun.

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A Perfectly Casual Delight

“Perfect and Casual” delivers exactly what its title promises—a simple yet heartwarming watch, driven by solid character development and a clear sense of purpose. The show sticks to its premise without unnecessary distractions, keeping the spotlight on the main leads while still allowing the side characters to shine when needed.

The beauty of this drama lies in its balance. The leads complement each other effortlessly—the female lead is immature, caring, and sweet (the ideal template for a drama heroine), while the male lead exudes maturity, intelligence, and quiet confidence. Their dynamic feels refreshingly natural, with none of the forced conflicts or over-the-top misunderstandings that often plague similar stories.

What sets this show apart is its relaxed tone and emotional honesty. There’s no unnecessary jealousy or dramatic breakups—just two people gradually getting to know each other and growing together. Even the side characters, though occasionally underutilized, add depth to the story and help build a believable world around the leads.

One of the show’s strengths is its pacing—it never drags and avoids inserting drama for the sake of it, which makes it feel more genuine and enjoyable. While the music and production quality are on the simpler side, the director makes the most of the available budget, elevating everyday scenes into small moments of joy that are pleasant to rewatch.

Overall, “Perfect and Casual” delivers exactly what it set out to—a sweet, lighthearted romance with genuine emotions and likable characters. A bigger budget and more prominent side characters could have turned it into a masterpiece, but as it stands, it’s still a perfectly casual watch—the kind of show you can come back to whenever you need a cozy, feel-good experience.

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First but not the last

My first ever drama. I searched the internet of what is the highest rated one it spat out this one.

Maybe its nostalgia however, it really has not kept up with the time. Its unrealistic and too cliche. The male lead was the highlight and is still one of the most normal looking Korean male I have seen.

The story now feels dumb as I think about it. It had poor pacing and nothing really clicked for me.

How the heck these two leads get in love I am confused. And how is everyone else so low IQ and cant figure out a person not aging for centuries is beyond me. It requires a lot of subversion of logic but still it is not the best watch.

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