Solid plot, 2 sets of romance, 5 friends

Worth starting inspite of the tropes? Yes.
Worth the time for 32 episodes? Yes, most of the time.

Things worth mentioning:
- Both ML and SML are steadfast and sure in their love. For SML its sort of love at first sight. PS: ML and SML have diff love interest, which is refreshing
- ML is wise, just and does not covet power.
- FL is observant and skilled at problem and crime solving
- FL has a lower EQ and initially close off due to prolonged staying as a loner
- ML initially appeared flamboyant and despite some post war trauma and eye injury, he is a warm person, quick to smile.
- ML is very attentive and tender to FL. Yet he balances between supporting her with trust and pride and protecting her from harm
- SFL is a bright and straight forward person. Not afraid to take intiative and unpretentious. She is also skilled in poison and alternate medicine.
- Both romance arc was nice
- FL's backstory is poignant and i feel for her. This makes her dancing scene pretty moving.
- Friendship among the 5 of them was gem and this was thankfully retained til the end. Teenager FeiYan was a great character too.
- Other secondary characters that are very likable like the da ren that helps Qi prince and the princess.

Deduction in score cause of some issues:
- Issues with pacing even though overall the plot is good and looseends were tied. But i felt they steamroll the first 5 to 6 episodes. Progress a little too rapidly. Would have been more organic and natural if they allow their interactions to progress steadily. This caused the romance arc to hit a plateau too early. By ep 20 there is a stagnant feel as it loses steam. Hence theres a lack of addicitve feel. ( For comparison: I hav previously watch a historical drama and did not lose that addictive must watch feel for 46episodes.)
- The makeup on SuCi especially her lipstick did not make sense since shes suppose to desperately hide her gender
- Emperor and later the dowager were characters that was very 1d. While the villain who was after power sadly only has that in his life.

Overall in spite of the usual tropes of cross dressing, tragic past, underwater kiss- the whole plot was mostly well thoughtout. It is serious in most cases and doesnt count as fluff drama. It doesnt have the soul searing romance feel that it could be. The acting was ok, not bad at all but wouldnt say amazing either. Sebrina's resting face have a same-ness expression. But other emotions she can still potray. Zhang Ling He is a newbie and while he's still alittle green; he manage to be charismatic and not wooden. The two were believable and manage to be non-cringey but again not out of the park chemistry imo. Was a good drama to binge-watch.

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Story: Romace-centric set in the palace but different from your usual C - drama. The romance is always the main plot. Not so much on politics or war strategy or palace politics or concubines fighting. Which is why it's my cup of tea and I love it when arranged marriage results in dislike turning to attraction turning to love

But I do find it to be not very refine (rough around the edges). The theme of male soul in female body while interesting might not be for everyone

Costumes.: Mostly a miss. Qi Sheng's mostly were ok until he don war armour paired with 3quarter pants and that translucent outfit.. What were the costume people thinking? Pengpeng clothes.. Maybe I'm prudish I prefer the ones that are more covered up. The green one bordered on vulgar.

- Spoiler-
Love a lot of romantic scenes that were touching and memoeable
When he explain himself and clear up that it wasn't love with 2nd brother's wife. I had alot of respect for him here
When he admitted later that each time he wasn't testing her he was betting that she would choose him and he would be the one she can rely on. So man
When he said he don't wan an empress, he wants a wife to be by his side and he wanted her while heart, not half.
When she woke from her nightmare and realise she has fallen in love with her unborn baby
When she was in the mud pit searching for the antidote for him
When she final admitted she loves him

All these parts are worth rewatchin.

My advise is watch Ep 1 to 35, skip 36 and watch the 3rd ending

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Perhaps my 8.0 rating is rather harsh for a drama i did enjoy. As it combines different elements that kept it interesting and fun like the fantastical elements, travel to past, human to cat form, some crime solving and developing affection then love between the leads..
I can say the journey watching was worthwhile. Yet i felt a bit let down by the ending.
The other thing is both male leads and female leads are great actors. They both fit their roles. Female lead has a beautiful infectuous smile and adorable like the cat she could turn to. Male lead was nice to see him thaw and trust in female lead. Their affectionate scenes were great but the more intimate ones like kissing werent done well.. not sure if its a directing issue.

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Yumi: Journey of self love

Great marriage of animation and drama.

Yumi's animated cells, every single one of them, we didnt know we need them until we saw them and love them so much. Lust cell cracks me up. Hunger cell is too cute. Interestingly my fav cell is rational cell. What makes it good is how relatable it is. Everyone has many sides to them. Similar with yumi, today fashion cell takes over and she makes a splurge. Or emotion cell takes over and she does a reactive reaction that she may regret. Even how the weather reflects yumi's feelings.

What makes it good is seeing the journey of the cells which infers yumi herself learns from experiences- every fall, every heartbreak. And seeing how the cells lobby for her happiness.. its really a journey of self love. Learning how to open up, how to take intiative, how to flirt/be coquetish, how to give, how to stand up for herself and ultimately how to let go.

Romantic interest wise comic readers knows Woong and Yumi's rollercoaster. He may not be perfect but both him and yumi shared alot, experienced new things together and were once very happy. Hes definitely in a few volumes of encyclopedia in yumi's central library and forever will be up on her wall of special moments. He helped unlocked alot of things in Yumi's heart. I was glad he entered Yumi's life.

Lastly I noticed Kim Go Eun seems much more carefree in her acting here. Both her and Ahn Bo Hyun were truly great in their roles and played off each other so well. There may not be that much of Woong in the sequel but I still hope to see him.

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Deceptively comical on serious dark theme

At the fringe of society. Forgotten. Uncared for. Alone. Depressed. Hopeless

This is a societal theme that is very real, seldom addressed and rarely depicted in drama. Often cause its a theme that can be suffocating to watch. But here comes a director and script taking it on from a totally unexpected angle. From the opening theme to the nonchalant narration as well as inner monologues comes a dark comedy of two individuals who are "lucky".

When Mi Chong meets Zhi Liao who was fated to disrupt his 'plans', he found an unexpected will to live. While Zhi Liao finally found a sliver of warmth that she she hadnt had since she left home.

The storytelling lulls you into a sense of languid. Its only by mid of ep7 when it suddenly picks up. And for the leads it is good there found and have each other. No man is an island. And together they have a hopeful future.

Highlight is not just the interesting direction but also the impressive acting from the leads especialy Vivienne. While Leon Leong has notched his best work thus far.

Be warn though depressive themes of suicide attempts and references to sexual assault.

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Learn with and from the Qiaos

Cry, Ache, Smile and Laugh with the Qiaos through their tragic childhood, struggling adolescence, mistakes, ill fated relationships. But they weather through it all, being always present for each other.

Your blood pressure may shoot up because of Qiao senior- the irresponsible and mostly selfish father. You may find fault in the many short sighted decisions and choices the Qiao siblings make. But after finishing 36episodes you will only come to envy them. The siblings embody the term 'blood is thicker than water'. Of what true family is. On the outside it seems so dysfunctional, the 5 children akeen to orphan after their mother's passing. But eldest Yi Chen step in filling the role of father and mother. Even as they bicker, disagree, argue or fight, they love each other.

My favorite sibling is San Li. There's something about her quiet, shy, reserved character that makes me ache for her when shes hurt but doesnt voice it out. A near tragedy nearly ruined her and make her fearful of men. But thank God, He gave her an honest, simple man in the form of Yi Ding. I find quite alot of the men here are simple, sometimes a bit slow but adorably innocent. Er Qiang, the second bro as well as Qi Qi the youngest are the same. The same character that others can easily take advantage of. Then theres Si Mei who have her head in the clouds and is unrealistic in her approach to love and life. But you will find she is very similar to her eldest bro who she is arguably closest with. Stubborn as a mule.

The acting is spot on. Bai Yu and Rachel Mao doesnt disappoint. Lareina Song suprise me with her performance. Truly couldnt fault anyone. Stellar cast.

The drama is aptly named. That 'bond' that wouldnt and couldnt be broken. Every meal time scene where they sit together..Im reminded to cherish family times. How they rally around each other when something bad happens, including childbirth, injury, and even under quarantine together durng SARS outbreak. It makes you feel it will be alright even if the sky falls down because they all have each other's back.

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This is a review for episode 1 only: Wu and Rainie's story.
I like the simplicity of their story. From strangers to acquaintance to meal buddies.
I also like the message within that love comes in many forms from fireworks and heart beating faster to comfortable relationship where one can share thoughts and feelings and being there for each other. The chemistry is good too. The only negative i wish the 2 otps have like another 15mins of screentime after the reconciliation.

Just to mention i did try several other episodes but found i couldnt immerse myself into it like i did with episode 1.

Ps you can watch without subs on maplestage

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This is a case of bad script that no good cast can Savage it. I tried to be generous in my score because I love Moon geun yeong and always appreciate her ability to act and being different to typical k actress.

Back to the drama it started off really well. Initially the romance between se kyung and seung jo was cute. But the writing makes it that it was hard to root for se kyung and then somewhere along they abandon the illness part of seung jo which I thought made no sense. The other 2 supporting's cast character was equally uninspiring and doesn't invoke me to care about them either.

So all in all the scriptwriter ruined the drama and Cinderella spin of it. Waste of MGY's acting talent too.

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Palatable pass time

There were things that worked and things that didnt.

It started off on an intriguing note. A FL who has some street smarts and toughen through having to make a living to support her and her childlike father. And a ML in an authority position who is wise, sharp with hidden cunning.

Then it gets ruined by how things and people are so obvious, compound with evil female and a pacing thats hard to follow. You get a ML who first catches the FL as a possible accomplice and linked to a wanted man of the state to fallen in love and proposing before we hit the middle of the drama. There's this uneveness of which its directed and written that makes it hard for me to stay on. Its like sitting in a car on fast speed then brake n bam and start again. The kind of jolt thats not welcome and makes me lose interest. I actually went to watch something and come back to it..telling myself to finish.

The things that worked is the ML-FL pairing. They look good together and for the most part their interaction is easy on the eyes. They are both physically comfortable with each other so theres no awkward kiss scenes. I'm not familiar with FL but she gives off a friendly, naturally cute vibe. Her emotional scenes has room for improvement. Then there's ML. I think this is the 3rd drama I've seen him in and he has grown a tad. But i still get this borderline greasy feel when he's delivering his lines or when he stares at people. Im not sure if it's overacting but personally felt some parts need dialing down.

Lastly for all they have gone through I didnt enjoy how the last episode is written. Did ML not understand how precious life and love is..I was like.. come on man! This hits the nail again that the plot needs work. I really dont particularly like this screenwriter. Putting up a redflag for me, really..

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A regurgitated concept that failed to materialise

The drama from the way its written, the screenplay and the direction kept me feeling its a regurgitated mess from the writer's mind. Literally like she was in a pensive mood, staring out the window on a rainy day, thinking of life and death.

The fantasy bits were to suit the whim of creating a helpless deity that meddles with people's fate and a doom whose mundane life of endless days and night to bring doom. The way it is written creating an unusually emotionally strong FL and an interesting meeting with Doom that then spirals out to nothing. FL's brother and aunt was never fleshed out to give the family arc that the FL is supposedly protective of. They were just there for the writer's machinations.

The other triangle was even more pointless. Other than sharing the same office space as FL, it felt like 2 different sets of drama and story in one setting. Worse off, it wasnt interesting and I dont care about them.

As with many other people's thoughts, I thought the casts were wasted. ML in a few bts clips was asked to remain expressionless..iys like taking the soul out of a soulful actor. FL should probably take a break from Fantasy genre. I love her to bits and hope she rebounds with a better movie/drama next time.

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Cup of flower tea

This is a drama you'll watch with special fondness. One I'll archive under watch again.

From the opening theme, it already hints of what comes next: calm, pleasant, ingenuous.

FL checks a lot of the neither box. Simple but not backwards. Innocent but not naive. Lively but not obnoxiois. Silly but not stupid. She treats people with a genuine heart and that attitude wins people over. Shes one that draws and keeps people around her. Its just one of her many charming qualities.

ML is sharp minded but not manipulative. Strategic but not greedy. Noble but not arrogant. A bit sickly but able to fight and defend. He lacked love and warmth from his parents. But theres not a bone of meanness on him. He mostly masked his ability to safeguard himself in a palace riffed with powerplay, particularly those in cahoots or bowed to the 2nd prince.

ML-FL had a genuinely believable, well-paced relationship. From minor misunderstanding develops to an understanding, forming a cordial employer-employee existence. But far from mundane their interaction and day to day lives are peppered with hilarity and warm moments. That reliable companionship is almost like a form of courtship unique to them. Textbook case of "Familiarity breeds fondness".

My greatest praise for him would be how respectful he is of her. He learn that her valies are different to what is typical of his country. He does not force her to follow in his ways, instead every step of the way he lets her choose, gives her as much freedom as possible and backs her up even as it goes against palace norms and rules.

My greatest praise for her is her genuine personality. Whether it is ML or others, she stays true to herself but also treats others fairly. She can answer ML honestly and he can count on her for being truthful. I love how to takes her time in considering the ML and their possibilities. Entrusting your heart and the rest of your life to another is not sth done at a whim.

My greatest praise for the drama is the entirety of the casts and the stories they rell together. Unlike other palace dramas that can be hair pulling or super angsty but this one is done jus right. FL has this huge gang of sisterhood that was so remarkable and heart warming. Sisters of no blood relation that supports and helps out one another. Than theres the prince brotherhood that reluctantly forms through the ladies. Not to forget the head butler and chef of the 6th Prince that provided a lot of comedy. So many of them had such great comedic timing.

If you've not watched cause of the tag 'slow-burn', dont be. Its like a cup of flower tea. Enjoy the steaming and beautiful fragrance. And when steep just nice, enjoy the sweet cleansing taste and lastly savor the aftertaste.

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A nice rom com on the light side for most part. And no better geeky nerdy guy then Je Su Ho. His character is very engaging and once he turns on his charm both Bo Nui and us are goners. Little did you know analytical minds are great at chasing girls. What works is that Su Ho's sincere and earnest decision to help Bo Nui. The takeaway message is that when you care for someone you try to understand them, persuade them if its irrational and when you cant persuade them you compromise. Su Ho literally does all of that. The truth is if he wasnt as tenacious or sincere he would never have moved Bo Nui who dedicates herself and all her world to Bo ra and the superstitions to allow Bo ra to stay save and recover. Although in her case is extreme, most of us can relate to being superstitious and fortune telling and resort to relying on it when all else fails. For Bo Nui it was the only way for her and Bo ra to survive.
3/4 of the way the plot seems to have slowed. And supporting cast in character Gary and Amy wasnt that interesting. They both developed a bit in their character.But Dal Nim, Bo nui's bestfriend is my favorite. Shes really cute and has her own charms.
Kudos to the writers for wrapping up this drama nicely. I love it their reunion ties back to their work. Often we see leads background abandoned secondhalf of a draman not in this case. I find it really sweet and great way to recap back all their times together and what they were to each other. And that letter from Su ho was simple but moving and the turning point to Bo Nui's decision to grow and be better. Su ho although inept and clueless in love always made the best decisions instinctively. He knows when to press the gas pedal and when to pull back to give her space. Oh my heart, il moss Je Su ho very much.
Ost part i love 90% of the songs. I find Junsu's track here better than the one he did for DOTS.
Wardrobe i find the stylist to be very bold. Su ho's tshirts sweats and shorts fit his character well. Most of the time i can tolerate Bo nui's boho look. She has the frame to rock it but 3 layers of denim is wrong. So its a hit and miss. And if theres too much negative comments on some of the dresses layered on bell trousers it means its distracting.
I find i enjoyed the drama better in marathon rather thn 2 episodes a week. Hence the last 6 episodes i waited it to air and watch in a go. Now i hope Ryu picks another nice project. Will miss him on the screen.

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Tragic. Poignant. Touching. Memorable

I seldom watch tragic melodramas cause I have a very low threshold when it comes to hearttwrenching tragedies and unspeakable loss of loved ones coupled by horrid antagonist that from the start you pray for their death. So I have to be truthful that for my sanity I skip parts that I couldn't stomach. usually I would have dropped the drama but the plot was too compelling. Ji sung and Jung Eum are so perfect for their role I can't imagine this drama will ever work or reach their emotional pinnacle without them.

Ji Sung really cements his ability as a fantastic actor with his role of President Jo Min Hyuk. His pain, frustration, anger, loss and even hatred was so palpable. You almost reach towards the screen either to comfort him or shake him. His expression and the way his eyes speaks when he looks at Yoo Jung was so multi facet. He really channels that looks of love and longing. Of wanting to be closer to her to keep her by his side and yet still tear himself away from her. Episode 12 to 14 has really memprable scenes of them

I never thought too much about Hwang Jung Eum. She really blew me away with her role as the pitiful but strong Yoo Jung. Yoo Jung really turns out to be a character I have to admire .. To survive those loss, abuse in the prison, self guilt and looks of disgust from others. Also I think she cried truckloads in this drama and made me reach for the tissues too.

If I have to be critical. I would say the ending scene of them was too short for my liking. For all the tribulations we witness them, I would have liked to be rewarded for more. Which is why after this drama I'm moving on to Kill me, Heal me, another drama of them together.

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Dark, heart wrenching, visual treat

✅️ Fast-paced
✅️ Aesthetics
✅️ Historical
✅️ Wuxia with fantasy elements
✅️ Intrique
✅️ Revenge and Retribution

This drama checked all the above. So if thats the genre and plots you prefer, this is the drama to watch.

Zhao Yi Qin continues his streak as a dark hero, this time equipped with S-tier level of sword fighting. Post betrayal and near death, the ML is also the antagonist. Seething with anger, the first few episodes are of him looking at the FL with thinly vieled disgust. Spoiler alert is some physical and verbal threats made to FL, that can be a red flag for some viewers.

As is part of the main plot, ML comes to know that the past happening was not as straightforward as he thought. FL who had amnesia also slowly faced with the happenings of the past. It can only be said that fate and the evil people are the reason to their suffering. Its starkly harsh and cruel.

If preference for sweet or vanilla romance, proceed with caution. This might not be for you.

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