"Summer Strike" is a series that requires a bit of patience to fully appreciate as it unfolds. Initially, I thought it would be a casual watch, one I did not anticipate to finish right away. But it was incredibly endearing; the pacing and the performances felt just right, and I found myself binge-watching late into the night.

The story begins with the female lead, who is exhausted by city life and the monotonous grind of work. After her mother passes away, she tries to continue her routine, but one day she takes a different path than everyone else. Her comments of noticing how beautiful the opposite direction the train was going was the start that made me stay. I knew this drama was going to be up my alley. And it was! She moves to a small town in the countryside and settles into a worn-down building with a dark history. Despite being a stranger, her kindness allows her to slowly connect with the townspeople, leading to a beautiful storyline filled with friendships that last a lifetime.

What I Liked About This Series:

• Relatability: Unlike many dramas where the main character is wealthy and seeks an escape from city life, this one features a gentle soul simply tired of the relentless pace and societal expectations.

• Kindness and Gentle Atmosphere: The series has a slow, thoughtful build that makes the relationships feel meaningful. It’s hard to describe without spoiling it, but this pace really resonated with me.

• Side Characters: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the supporting cast, including the dog, Bom, the grandma, Jae Hoon, and Sung Min. Each character has their own story that beautifully complements the main narrative.

What I Didn’t Like About This Series:

This is a personal pet peeve of mine. While I recognize that many viewers might appreciate and find closure from this, I found the inclusion of murder and unresolved crime—foreshadowed early on—unnecessary for this type of story. It seems like many K-dramas incorporate crime or psychological twists these days, which isn't to my taste. However, it did provide a backdrop for exploring the main lead’s trauma, which added depth to his character.

If you’re looking for a drama that offers a casual slice of life with a heartfelt storyline about a gentle soul rebuilding her life in an unfamiliar place and making meaningful connections, I highly recommend "Summer Strike." It’s a series that might just bring a tear to your eye.

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The suspense was killling me

This series was super engaging. FL was set to marry a general she never met. She is a strong mind-independent individual. She runs away from home and set up her own "divorce office" in the guise of a match-making office. She encounters two males who help her along the way. Throughout the entire time, the series keeps you guessing as to who the ML. Unfortunately, I was disappointed, I really was rooting for the second lead.

Toward the end when both ML and FL were getting together the storyline and the pace just slowed down. Because of that, I felt there were just fillers thrown in to make the series longer than it should be. I forward through a lot so I know a missed a lot of details. Due to that reason, my rating for this was a bit low. I give it a 7/10 and rewatch value is probably at 3/10

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It's been a while since I binge-watch a jdrama. I love them for many reasons and the biggest one is the genre slice of life. Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai is a heart-warming series about mother and daughter.

Here is what I love about the series:

The cast. It's been a while since I’ve seen Kanno Miho work so I was super excited for this series. Plus I love Hamabe Minami, she was super cute in here. I love that she is not your typical cute innocent main lead. Instead she this fun, sarcastic, manga enthusiastic. I love the interaction between daughter and mom.

The age gap and the potential romance line for each character. It was exciting and I couldn't wait to see who ended up with who.

Screenwriter Kitagawa Eriko. I’ve seen a lot of her works and the one that I can watch on repeat is Orange Days. This felt like a story similar to Orange Days, in the sense that it focused on the relationship between the characters.

I was hoping to see more romance for mom and daughter. I think there was more that could have happened but I think that was for another story. This one is about the relationship between them as mom and daughter. I recommend watching it if you’re looking for a cute, fun and wholesome series.

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Go Ahead and watch it!!

I want this to be a long review but there are so many great reviews about this series already! So, I’ll just say if you haven’t watched it already, go watch it! This is a beautiful drama that is very wholesome. I personally love the slice-of-life genre and this touches home for me! It is a heart-warming story that focuses on family. For a lot of Asian cultures, family means the world. For a family of three siblings that have no blood relation, this is unusual. The way how the story unfolds, how each character is developed, and the way how it is directed is just perfect!

I can’t say enough about how I love this cast, the opening song, the storyline, and the characters. There are so many quotes that touched my heart that I plan to go back and re-watch them so I can write them all down. This is definitely a series I can re-watch over and over! Often, I skip the opening theme wanting to go straight to the series but this is probably the first one that I just let it play and listened. My heart aches and I cried each time I hear it. It reminds me so much of the struggle they all went through, especially He ZI Qiu. I often thought about when he confronts his mom, he asked “why is it me that is deserted every time? Did I do something wrong” I look forward to more of his work, as well as the screenwriter!

The only downside is that because the online version is a cut version, the end just felt a bit rushed. But again I didn't want this series to end!! T_T

10/10

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Sweet love

For a teenage love story, I find this very refreshing. It's not the typical macho-man-I’m-gonna-chase-you and you’re just gonna fall in love with me. There is a lot of character development from the struggles they go through to make them who they are.

What I like about the series:

The chemistry between the leads. Because of the relationship they developed in high school they have this support, love, and care for each other which I really like because it is different from “you’re good looking” let fall in love. I also like there a lot of gentle kissing scenes, almost like a cute peck stating "I adore you and you’re cute!" I also love how it differs from the strong passionate kiss we see often, this is a cute heart-fluttering moment I enjoy thoroughly throughout the series. Their relationship is very realistic and I love the way they handle it; with brains and hacking into systems, this is what you get when you get a brainy hot ML!!! Their relationship is so sweet, definitely on the sweet innocent cute side that you don’t see very often. It's one of those love stories where the ML doesn’t push to get it his way. He slowly and reassuringly lets her know he likes her and makes things work for her. I also like the parts where he is patient with her. He knows about the issue she faces and he can prevent it but he lets her figure it out, giving her the utmost respect, pride, and trust in her! I really like this kind of love story! It teaches you patience, kindness, respect, rightful pride, and rightful jealousy in a relationship. They communicate so well and so sweetly with each other, they try to make their relationship work and it just seems so genuine. I can say so much more about their relationship and why I absolutely adore watching it but I recommend watching it for yourself.

The side characters, some of my favorite are Boss Xie, Duan Ning, the professor, and Zhang Huai Wu. I love the bond and the chemistry male leads have with each one of them. I love how smart ML is for befriending and bonding, teasing, and get along with all of them, it was almost as if they were just like old friends.

The storyline. Even though it is a very typical love story and you know what going to happen, I still enjoy these once in a while. It is simple, ordinary, and very relatable which makes it appealing.

What I don’t like:

All these love triangles and is it worth mentioning a mistakenly love square (or is it pentagon or just a straight line??) between Chen Yi Chuan and Gu Xiao Man.

I also hate how passively senior Shi Ying handle her love life. She took advantage of a kind and naive Zhuang Fei and tried to create tension between her and FL. She also tries every opportunity to put FL at a disadvantage. For one so obsessed with a guy that won’t even look her way, I don’t know why she didn’t try harder to chase him instead of finding every opportunity to ruin FL. Just a small pet peeve of mine, I don’t get why girls hate on girls instead of trying to fix the issue between them and the guy. But I’m glad things clear up at the end.

Overall I recommend anyone looking for a cute and sweet love story. It has been on my watchlist for the longest time and I’m glad I finally made time to watch it.

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"Blossom in Adversity" isn't just a title; it's a promise of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity. As the men of the Hua family face exile, the burden of survival falls upon the women and young boys left behind. At the heart of the tale is Hua Zhi, with her skills, courage, and bravery she steps up and brings the family out from the countryside back to the city life with her business propositions and tricks that wow the city. She makes enough money to get her family out of starvation and they bond over time learning to lean and love each other.

What I love about this series:
What sets this series apart is its authentic portrayal of human interaction. The chemistry between the leads feels refreshingly natural. Rather than being a constant savior, the male lead subtly supports Hua Zhi. Moments like their journey from the jailhouse back to the countryside lingers in my thoughts after it ends. I also loved every conversation they had. He told her enough not to reveal his identity but he never lied to her. And with FL, her intelligence and kindness she extends to strangers not only touched ML heart, it also touched mine.

The OST is also another favorite, I truly think they make or break the drama. I love Curly’s voice and was super excited to see her sing the opening. But the song that won my heart is Night and Day by Baby.j and Liu ZhiJia. I have to say Baby.j has been singing a lot of OST I love so I look forward to them each time. This particular song when it played each time it was usually when they were overcoming a situation, brave and strong. Just like the lyric “I don’t admit defeat or quit; I just run towards the first light” it just tears me up!

While the spotlight shines on the main characters, all the side characters shine just as brightly. I grew to love each one of them even though I couldn’t stand some of them to begin with. Personally love Shao Yao nuanced portrayal of autism and how her character grows as she later becomes a part of the Hua family. Chen Qing and Fu Dong mini love line is also another favorite! I’m rooting for them and hoping to see to grow.

What I didn’t like:
I’m going to get hate for this, but personally, I've seen some of the actors and actresses in other series and I had a hard time watching some of them in here because there was something different about them. And because of that, I felt some of their facial gesture just looked a bit stiff, so knocking off a star because I couldn’t thoroughly enjoy it.

Anticipating:
As the series hurtles towards its conclusion, anticipation hangs heavy in the air, especially for me. I truly hope the ending is not a disappointment.

In the meantime, the allure of the series proves irresistible, beckoning a rewatch as the countdown to the finale begins.

Update: finally finished the series and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this series to those who want a casual and entertaining series. I love the storyline, the pace, and the characters. The first series in 2024 that I truly enjoyed!

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Be your own scriptwriter

It is like finding your first love in your thirties.

I think this line summarizes the series very well. Honestly, I first started the series dreading the pace and how it was going. I don’t really like corporate series, nor do I know much about the cast. I probably watched one series of Elvis but the storyline was confusing, so I didn’t get very far. I have never seen any FL work so I was not sure if I wanted to proceed. But I saw an edit and I knew these two had amazing chemistry, so I had to give it a try.

I’m glad I did. Like every good story, you just need to get over the introduction of the plot. It starts out with FL living in a competitive world for lawyers trying to make ends meet and later meeting ML. Their coincident meetings blossom into a friendship with FL confessing later to ML. What I love about this series is that it is a mature love with a lot of corporate work but very relatable. You get to see that love does happen even when you’re in your 30s. As I mentioned earlier, I had never seen any of FL but I adore her soft demeanor but strong justice character. She always fights for what she thinks is right. She plays her character just right so I might start watching more of her stuff.

The ending sums up pretty much the whole drama “The city is still bustling, and it won’t stop for anyone. Just like life. Recalling every person I met, who didn’t start with trying to get ahead? Between the gaps of pretense, giving oneself another shot of adrenaline. Boss. Subordinate. Rival. Friend. Trapping yourself in one role after another, saying what you should say and doing what you should do. And believing that this is our life. But they, as if they had agreed, when they have perfected their act, they see a layer of truth. Happiness, success, and joy can’t possibly be the result designed by the scriptwriter of life. It can only be your own tangible experience. I’ve met many people in this city and they eventually taught me that the world is big, too big to imagine. So walk your own path, not according to the written script. Throw away the script and struggle to find your own life. It’s okay to fail. It okay to take the wrong road. Live freely. Isn’t that the most stylish thing?”

I thought this was just a corporate love story, but as you watch the ending, it reflects back to each character she met and the growth or fall of each one. I can’t help but love how the series unfolds. The one thing I love about this series is that there weren’t a lot of episodes and that the pace of the story was just right. Live life how you want. Because at the end of the day, you are your own scriptwriter, and finding the true key to happiness, peace, and your needs is within yourself. You never know what will be thrown your way so cherish each moment.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a mature corporate love story. It has great chemistry between the leads, and you can’t help but fall in love with the female lead as you watch her grow. Knocking off one star because it was just slow at the beginning for me. But every great story is always slow, to begin with :D

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There is so much I want to say about this series but only one word really sums it up – masterpiece! It has been a while since I’ve been on edge, waiting, anticipating but thoroughly enjoying each episode! I end up binge-watching this within a short time because I couldn’t wait to see what happen next!

What I like about this series:

The chemistry between the leads. I know FL is a big star and she has done a lot of movies rather than series so I wasn’t expecting much. But I was taken by surprise. Being an experienced actor, she really did a great job here! Half the time besides admiring each and every different outfit she had on, I kept watching her expression and her gestures. I also enjoy ML performance. I forget what a great actor he is. He plays the great warlord, he is able to conquer all his enemies on the battleground as well as the emperor court. I can’t stop thinking about his love for FL. He was a man with principle, integrity, and love for his wife and his brotherhood. Often his choice was for the good of the country, his wife, or his army. Quite honestly, I was expecting a bit of a rough time when they got married. ML was not her first choice but as a chess piece, she was thrown into an arranged marriage. I love how the plot opens with them having an open heart to heart conversation, kicking off their relationship to a good start. I gotta admit I stayed because I knew from that point on, this was going to get good! I’m glad I stay for the whole ride! It was very impressive. There was so much that happened! It made you questioned who can you trust? Is blood thicker than water? Can you really hold your integrity as a poor humble being or will you fall for the beautiful temptation of what the emperor court offers? I’m actually glad we got seasonal actors because I don’t think a new face can pull off such beautiful acting, chemistry, and feelings!!

The plot and storyline. I was on edge and couldn’t wait for the next devious plot. If you read my previous reviews you know I don’t like fighting for the throne and emperor politics but this series got me thinking so hard I could barely sleep. All I can think about is, what are they planning next!

Cinemograph - the colors, the details, the outfits, everything was so appealing I didn’t know where to look.

The bad:

Just small little things that I chuckled at. There were a lot of scenes where it was slowed down to emphasize and heighten the emotion that was going through your head. One, in particular, got me chuckling, the scene where FL ran to the gate door after seeing that it was ML on the other end.

The other scene was when ML found out about her miscarriage, the doctor told him that she won’t be able to give conceive anymore and if she did, she can die from it. He grabs onto his heart from the attack. It was a bit over the top for me. His character was always this calm demeanor, no how bad the situation is. He took his time listening to the complaint, took his time understanding the issue, thought through the situation before taking action. I kept thinking about the time he stood outside waiting for her to respond.

What I often thought about:

The chemistry between the two. There is this mutual understanding, this love they have for each other. ML will do anything for her, even risking his life with his army to save her. They even had a fight for the first time about money, why can’t every couple's fight be this cute! I want and demand a Xiao Qi now!!!

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Anything but silent

I read a lot of reviews and saw a few spoilers about this movie, so I wasn’t sure if it was a film I wanted to pursue. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a shot! Seeing Yamada Ryosuke as a child actor who has grown over the years really resonated with me. His role in Ore No Kawaii wa Mousugu Shohikigen caught my attention and made me more interested in his acting career.

He often plays the cold bad boy or the heartthrob that everyone loves, but there was something about his character in that film that compelled me to pay closer attention. This is the biggest reason why I gave this movie a chance.

First off, I really like the title of this movie, Silent Love, as it perfectly captures the essence of the film. Expect a lot of quiet moments and pay attention to the small details—because these elements made the film exciting for me. For example, the gesture of the bell that signaled his presence while he patiently watched over and helped her was quite touching. I loved how he was drawn to her; despite being unable to speak, he did everything he could to help her dreams come true—even going to jail for her. That’s a sacrifice only someone who truly loves you would make.

I won’t delve too much into the storyline, as it is a simple love story: a mute boy in love with a girl who goes blind, and they connect through piano. It may not have the dramatic flair of K-dramas, but if you focus on the details of their acting and expressions, you’ll find the highlights in these subtle moments

Since it’s been a while since I’ve watched a Japanese romance movie, I’m giving it a pretty high rating as it did not disappoint. Instead, it reminded me of the slow pace and attention to detail typical of Japanese films. This was anything but silent for me.

Rating 8/10

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Fluffy and cute!

I decided to give short Chinese dramas another try, and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It’s simple, sweet, and full of fluff. The storyline follows the familiar trope of the ML and FL being forced to cohabit, along with the usual cute kid who brings them together.

I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a short drama filled with cuteness. I love that the misunderstandings between the leads don’t linger for long, making it an enjoyable watch to pass the time.

My only downside is that it took him a while to confess to her, but the affection after the confession was so cute that I can only knock it down half a star

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When you lose yourself along the way and instead focus on growing up and trying to live the dream you thought you need. Often time we forget about our pure and childish self. The things we were so passionate about and loved as young adults. The responsibility and the standard of this world tears us down and we slowly let go of ourselves. This is what this movie was about to me.

Ni ni plays two characters, the 28 and 17 years of herself. She was ready to marry her longtime boyfriend who promised her forever, but slowly ten years passed, and they had not reached that stage. She dreamt of being his wife and doing things a housewife should. Instead, he proposed a breakup. Like any other girl, she eats to forget about the pain. She orders these chocolates that were supposed to help her but instead, these magic chocolates transfer her back to 17 years old. Both of them go through ups and downs with each other. They fought and bickered. They had ongoing issues with their relationships - the 28-year-old with her current boyfriend and the 17-year-old and her new beau. But through it all, they eventually learn to accept one another. It will always be a fight to find that balance, a struggle but I hope we never forget that moment when we shine our best and learn to accept and love ourselves from that point on.

These were some of my favorite quotes specifically from the scene when she was going to lose her 17-year-old self. I couldn’t stop crying during this scene:

“It was you who changed me”

“Don’t be afraid, I will never let you go again”

“I admire your purity and bravery. You know it was you that gave me back the beauty in me that was lost”

“Big Liang, this life is yours to live. I’ll never be far away, just listen to the small voice within your heart.”

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This was a very cute short series. The way how this story was told and how the directing of this story went reminds of me a short web series. The details that went into this short series were amazing. This series is basically about FL looking for her sister but was tricked by the prime minister's daughter. She wakes up with her face the next day and is wedded to a powerful general. She later realizes this is the general she had been crushing on the entire time. Even though her face may have changed, her personality and body are still the same. ML later realized his wife was the familiar stranger he had encountered before. I didn't expect much with the cast but it was surprisingly cute and fun to watch. I only wish the side stories for the side character, particularly the sister was a bit longer.

I look forward to seeing more short series like these. Cheesy but cute and fun!

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The reason why I dress up

I watch this not knowing the English title. It was after watching this towards I did more research on the series. When I realized the title, I couldn't help but chuckle and think "what a cute and fitting title!" Being an influencer, FL has to show the best part of her life, it doesn’t show when she having a hard time crushing on her boss or crushing on her new roommate. When you dress up, you want people to see the best of you - chasing your dream, finding romance, seeing the beauty of the world through your eyes. But we all have our bad days, but people only see what is on camera. Once the camera is off, behind the scene, the pain and the burden the individual has to carry as an influence, no one knows.

What I like:

The cast, I’ve always had a crush on the Boss. Seeing him play a different role from a hot temper good looking guy I enjoy watching him in this role. I've also seen a lot of Yokohama Ryusei's previous work and a lot of them were memorable roles so I was excited to see him as a carefree guy who lives life by his own rules. It was fun and lighthearted that I didn’t think I would like his character so much.

The OST. I searched the entire internet trying to find the ost, I even ask Siri if she knew the song ? “Your story” was the instrumental piece that I love and it always plays at the right part.

The chemistry between the characters. The main lead and the supporting roles. This is what I love about jdrama, each supporting and leading character always has a story. FL is this uptight individual showing her best and ML is the opposite – marching to the beat of his own drum. They were so opposite but because of food and (ahem) alcohol they slowly draw close to each other.

The relationship between Haruto and Ayaka! I didn’t think Haruto had any feelings for Ayaka, seeing how the conversation was going between him and ML about FL. For the longest it seems like it was one-sided, I’m so glad that Ayaka realized her feelings and went for it!

The dog!! OMG, the dog looks so much like my dog; I couldn’t stop watching. So cute!

The catching lines and phrases they use. There were many but the one I love the most was when they were at the sakura picnic and Saotome Kouko mention the problems we all face. When you’re 20 you’re chasing your dreams, when you’re 30 you’re thinking of marriage and settling down or having children, and when you’re 50 you think of your parent's health. Each point was a direct hit to my heart! Which is why I love jdrama, one of their specialty and charms!

I recommend this to anyone who likes a slice of life genre. This is a cute series that focuses on the relationships of people, the struggles we all face no matter what age we are in life.

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Disappointed

Doom at your Service

This was one of the series, I looked forward to but I was left utterly disappointed.

What I like:
The OST. Probably the first song that I kept listening on to repeat was Ailee's Breaking Down. The other tracks are just as good but I think this one stood out the most to me.

The second leading couple, Cha Joo Ik in particular. I never saw any of his work but I have heard a lot about him. I actually was surprised that I really enjoy the character he played here. He was a rather serious, straightforward guy who tells his feelings honestly. A lot of his lines caught my heart to flutter and chuckled. I also couldn’t stop staring at all the choices of clothes he had. Love them all!

The chemistry and playfulness between the leading couple. I think the behind the scene interview spoiled the chemistry as a couple on screen for me. I thought they were really cute, they look like they often were teasing and making fun of each other which I really like.

Seo In Guk, I haven’t seen any of his recent work but I think his acting has gotten better.

What I didn’t like:

I felt like a lot of the decisions that were made were just thrown in to make it more interesting. For example, the choice for her to forget everything that happened between the two of them and live her life as best as she can while she gets treatment….umm why did we throw that in there??? Just to get another episode??? I felt like it was a waste. There was more but I think this part probably disturb me the most.

Final thoughts:

I really want to like this series but there were many flaws such as how the story unfolds, often it felt like the plot and obstacles were quickly thrown together which I find it hard to watch. I felt like it was the typical drama to get you excited, fall in love with the couple, probably shed a few tears, and ask yourself why the heck am I crying and then try to remember why was this scene in here in the first place? I felt like it start out really nice until the writers couldn’t other obstacles to throw in their way that they randomly added their own plots. I just had a hard time following some of it. This is why sadly my rating isn’t as high as I like it to be.

Re-watch value: 2/10
I really want to see the two leading couple acting together again but I know I won’t rewatch this anytime soon.

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It's been a while since I watched a lakorn. The most recent one I finished as Love Destiny. I enjoyed it so much that I was looking for my next lakorn. A friend recommended this series, so far I’m halfway and I’m not sure what I feel about it. For sure it is not the next Love Destiny.

What I like about it:
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the history of past love. So it was intriguing to see the setting of this in a small town by the Mekong river (correct me if I’m wrong).

The opening theme, I heard of the song prior to watching the series but watching and hearing it play throughout the series just made me appreciate the music even more.

What I didn’t like about it:

Everyone wants to kill FL and find ways to hurt her. I think every episode there was at least someone new that wanted to hurt her or something new that can kill her.

You had to be patient and watch it through to understand what happened in past. I didn’t like that we didn’t get more sneak peeks even when we were halfway through the series. It was hard to fully understand the depth of their love at this point.

The ML was asleep almost all the time when crazy events happened at night. For example, mom was going to get the sword that can hurt her FL and they end up chasing her and throwing her body over the cliff. He woke up the next day to look for her.

When lady nakee asks who would ML love and he answers he loves FL but yet it was because Nakee that he is in love with her….hmm..I don’t think follow this reasoning.

We’re just a few episodes away from finishing. And I was expecting a tear-jerker but I still have yet to shed a tear. Yes, I’m upset at what they are doing to FL and I think that typically in lakorn but it is not enough to justify me to cry about it. I am disappointed, I was expecting a bit more. I guess it was one of those where the love didn’t build up like how Love Destiny was therefore, I have a hard time watching this.

Edit: painfully I did finish this series. It is one of those you have to watch to the end to understand the history of what happened. I wish someone could tell me, ML and FL fell in love in a previous life. She had a child and the humans end up killing her, causing her to go crazy and attacked the humans. In order for her to be with her love one, she has a trial/waiting period of 1000 years before she can become human. This brings us to the present. Very typically a star-cross lover story. The end was satisfying, finally, all the bad guys died after all that they did to her, especially her child. I know there is a part two and I know it is not on my “to watchlist”. Only recommend it if you enjoy the cast, the storyline was painful for me.

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