Ivah Barrera-Hagner

This show is brilliant. I love how this show just hurts and heals. It was both painful yet heartwarming. This is the story of two sisters. A story of a culture that expects too much yet gives too little. Park Bo-young is an amazing actress. No question about this. She played the part of twins like there were actually 2 actresses. You can tell which is which. She acts with such restraint and force, it just works. She's definitely one of my favorite K-actresses. I would watch anything she's in! This series is 12-episodes short/long, it is engaging and the story is character-driven. The pacing of the story is seamless and does not drag. If you want a story about empathy, healing, identity, family, and some intergenerational trauma mixed in, this is for you.

This show was just what I needed right now. Just when I have been very disappointed with K-dramas of late, here comes C-dramas saving the day! This series has me on a chokehold. I have watched many costume period dramas, both Chinese and Korean, and this one has been one of the better ones, in my opinion. The cast, costumes, production, cinematography, setting, story, dialogues, action, every single thing is just top-tier. The only disappointment I have with this drama is that it was only 36-episodes long or short. Usually C-dramas run forever but this one was just too short for me. I even had to stop myself from watching it just to make it last longer!!! I love the mix of drama, action, comedy, politics, history, and romance in this series. There is definitely something of everything. I was hooked from episode 1 and couldn't stop watching it. I do feel like they could have done more towards the end because it felt a little rushed and not enough time was spent on the ending but that is why I am complaining how short this 36-episode series is! The ML and FL's chemistry is chef's kiss. They both are amazing in their roles. The supporting cast is perfect. The subplots are easy to follow and flow into the story well. I would kill for a Shao Wei. All the funny and sweet things he does for Man Man are just so endearing. I was just a rollercoaster of emotions while watching this show. Honestly, if you have never watched a Chinese historical/period costume drama and want to try it out, this is a really good place to start. Well, this is the perfect one to start with! It is a masterpiece.

This drama is just EPIC. I just finished watching this and I am both drained mentally and emotionally from the roller coaster of emotions this series just put me through. I could not express enough how this series felt like my heart was being ripped into pieces. The story in itself is a masterpiece. All the subplots and minor characters were written so well. It is so multilayered and crafted wonderfully that it all created a wonderful tapestry of a story. The lead actors, the supporting actors, even the extras were all so incredible. The storytelling, the cinematography, the action and fight scenes, the OST came together so beautifully. My heart is ruined for Eugene Choi, Go Dung Mae, and even Kim Hui Seong. These characters were some of the best in K-drama land that I have seen in a long while, and Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Byun Yo-han were amazing in these roles. No one else would have played those parts the way they did. And of course, Kim Tae-ri?! She's wonderful. I also stan Kudo Hina's character (she's my favorite in the series). I honestly couldn't pick one. I love so many characters and have grown fond of a few of them. The villains also did an amazing job. They really made you hate them because they were so good at being bad. Acting was just topnotch for this series. I love how universal the story of this series is and how even in this world's climate today, it still is very much a reality. There are still oppressors and people who are greedy of power everywhere. There are always people who will fight and choose to stay on the right path, to protect the ones they love and care for the most even in the face of danger and persecution, even death. Please watch this series. It is heartbreaking. It is painful. But it is worth it.

It took me forever to finally watch this show. I have had this on my watchlist for a while and I finally had time, energy, and fortitude to be able to watch this. And let me tell you - it was well worth it. I was both sorry I waited so long to watch it, and sorry I already watched it and it finally ended. It was a masterpiece, for lack of a more eloquent term to describe it. Lately, I have been on a K-drama slump and have really been struggling finding good series to watch and so I have been either rewatching old favorites or watching C-dramas or J-dramas. However, this one really made me remember the good old days of K-drama, especially the really fantastical storytelling of historical dramas of the past like Jewel in the Palace, Empress Ki, Jumong, The Great Queen Seondeok, to name a few. My Dearest is one of the best historical dramas I have seen so far. It had all the right elements to make the series into such a beautiful saga of love, loyalty, friendship, found family, and fealty. The leads did such an amazing job - I fell in love with Lee Jang Hyun and Yoo Gil Chae. Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun-Jin were phenomenal. The supporting cast also made the whole series flow beautifully. The cinematography was the perfect backdrop to the storytelling. The soundtrack just wrapped your heart and soul. I swear, this series has me on a chokehold. I love this show so much. WATCH IT. YOU WILL CRY. BUT IT IS WORTH IT.

4 episodes in and I am in love with this show. I love how they have made a role reversal in the CEO-secretary trope. It's refreshing in a way. The power dynamic shift in the gender roles in this drama is such a vibe. I love that they've made the male lead an amazing single dad and such a green flag of a guy too. There's plenty of healthy relationships (not just romantic) that are portrayed in this drama and I love that. I hope the story continues to be told well. I have always loved Han Ji Min's dramas but Lee Jun Hyuk is definitely killing it in this one! He is the perfect romantic k-drama lead. Why has he not been in more romcoms? I can't believe that. I am in love with him.

I just finished season 1 and I cannot begin to tell you how I love this show so much. Enough that I am even writing a review for the first time here. I have watched so many kdramas (and Asian dramas) and this is the first time I am writing a review here. I also don't typically like period or sageuk dramas but this is the first one that I truly have enjoyed and loved every single episode of. Each storyline and character is so well-written and so well thought of that it really makes for a good story. I am impressed with the cinematography, screenwriting and acting in the show. The chemistry of the main leads is just perfect. The cast is also well put together. I also love how they did not make the crown prince so power hungry and evil (yet?) in this season. The development of relationships and characters in the story is really very interesting and kept me interested and invested. I am so excited for season 2. I really hope Jung So-min would still be in season 2. I love her as an actress. She was so good in season 1 as Mu-deok. Her and Lee Jae-wook together are so perfect. I can't wait to see how their relationship evolves in season 2. Needless to say, Alchemy of Souls has hands down become one of my favorite dramas that I would easily recommend to anybody even without them asking 💜

I just finished binge-watching this show and OMG, I felt like I was transported back to my first love Era. Now I've seen many Asian dramas but this show just tugged at me differently. I usually prefer Kdramas to Cdramas but I've seen a my fair share of Cdramas and not a lot that I particularly liked. This one, I love!!! CZY and Lusi are perfect for this. They really have such great chemistry. There were so many sweet moments that I was always screaming with glee at the TV. I can really feel and relate to what they're going through even though I'm in my 40s, married, and way past that first love stage. I've watched several of CZY shows but this was my favorite. Victor Ma was also great here. Although I was left wanting more of his story, I think he was amazing as Sang Yan. I look forward to more of him! I truly enjoyed every single episode. I couldn't get over the young Sang Zhi too. That girl is going to go places. If you are hesitant about watching your first Cdrama, don't hesitate any longer. Watch this one!!! This is definitely going to be on my fave list!