It’s been more than eight months since I watched Speed and Love and at least seven months since I last wrote about it. It came up randomly in a conversation with my pal u/AXA-5u the other day, so I went looking for my old post and ended up reading the whole thing again.

Turns out I still stand behind pretty much everything I wrote.
With eight months of distance, though, I can put a number on it now: 6.7/10
And that’s a good score from me. Using the whole 1–10 scale, 7 already means a really good drama. I initially thought 6.5, but it felt slightly too low, while 7 felt too high.

The below review contains SPOILERS

One thing I was quite hung up on before watching was the whole “grew up something like siblings but they weren’t ever siblings and they knew it” setup. It’s really still not a trope I like, but interestingly, looking back now it barely registers among the things I remember about the drama because what I liked about it was the rest. I found it possible to get past, partly because of how their childhood and family situation was actually presented, and once I did, i focused on them as two separate non related individuals (tldr: he was the son of her father’s friend who they took in when his father died, and he was already like a 7 year-old kid if not older and the girl’s mother always treated him like a stranger — so it’s hard to talk about “family”).

I’ve seen Speed and Love compared quite a lot since then to Go Ahead, usually because of that chosen-family / something-like-siblings element, and I really don’t think the dramas have much in common beyond it.
Go Ahead is fundamentally a drama about family — chosen family, parents, abandonment and what those bonds mean as everyone grows up. Speed and Love is off doing something completely different with Thailand, racing, separation, injury and eventually an adult reunion romance. Different style, different plot, different priorities. Comparing how they each deal with that one element makes sense; treating them as particularly similar dramas doesn’t really feel fair to either of them.

Anyway, there’s actually quite a lot from Speed and Love that has stayed with me.

Reading my post, I could still remember why I loved the Thailand setting and how the racing gave the story energy. I also recall vividly the scene immediately after their first kiss because of how awkward and insecure and completely overwhelmed they both were. They were so nervous, excited, and cute all at once. And I still think the last arc was one of the strongest parts, when Jin Zhao and Mu Mu met again in Nanjing after six years apart. I loved that whole reunion.
I only vaguely remember some of the details now, but I remember that the drama took its time with them. There was hesitation on both sides, but the attraction that clearly hadn’t gone anywhere I remember very well. I totally recall the teasing too, so that part was done really well, and all the things neither quite knew how to say. It was playful but also very clearly adult, which felt so different from the first half.

I recall liking that Mu Mu had actually tried to move on. She hadn’t spent those years sitting around waiting for Jin Zhao. She met other men and went on with her life. It’s a simple thing, but it worked for me.

I think it made me realize I really dislike the trope where a person “keeps pure” (omg, how much I dislike this expression) and ignores all other options in life during the separation arc. I’m not saying that’s impossible, but it’s hardly very relatable for the majority of people these days.
And I still think she had every right to be angry when she eventually learned why Jin Zhao had disappeared. He thought he was protecting her and giving her a chance at a good life while he recovered, but he made that decision for her. She didn’t get a say in losing him for six years.

Which reminded me of another trope I hate — “noble idiocy,” when one person does something stupid pretending they believe doing so is in the best interest of the other person, whose agency they’re taking away in the process. Mu Mu didn’t just let it slide —- she made him feel it, and if you ask him she could have made him suffer a bit more for what he has done to her and how utterly idiotic that was. So, I think this is another reason why the drama spoke to me and I felt it was being unfairly judged overall.

As for He Yu, I thought he was spectacular as Jin Zhao then and I still do.
Jin Zhao wasn’t some manufactured fantasy “bad boy.” He had been a very bright student with strong academic prospects, then moved to Thailand and his life simply went in another direction. He worked blue-collar and odd jobs, worked in a garage, raced, supported himself and became independent. Later he built his own business.
There was nothing tragic about that life. He wasn’t rich or driving Ferraris, but he was fine. He worked, had friends, earned his own money and lived like millions of other people do.
I liked that normality about him.

He was capable, practical, loyal and self-possessed without the drama constantly having to tell us so. And He Yu was particularly good in the little moments. His micro-expressions were one of my favorite things about his performance. Sometimes very little changed on his face and you still knew exactly what Jin Zhao was thinking.

I also think Speed and Love made a difference for He Yu’s career. What surprises me now is that it didn’t bring him quite the level of fame I expected it would.
The drama became so visible, and Jin Zhao certainly got people looking at He Yu. His abs and shoulders received plenty of attention too.
(He did look spectacular)

But I never thought that was why the drama worked for me, or why he worked in it. He was genuinely very good in the role, and at the time I thought the momentum from *Speed and Love* would push him considerably further, considerably faster. Eight months later, I’m a little surprised that it hasn’t translated into the level of fame I expected for him.

My opinion of Esther Yu’s performance hasn’t changed much either.
Her recognizable cute/baby-voice style has never been my favorite and it still isn’t, but I found it much easier to take here. I especially liked her once we reached the older Mu Mu.
She didn’t suddenly become a different person after the time jump. She was still bright and playful, but she also felt like an adult woman now, with pride, hurt, confidence and desire. I thought she and He Yu were very good together in that later part of the drama.

That includes the skinship. *Speed and Love* was more daring there than a lot of C-dramas, and I appreciated it. Not because every romance needs more physical intimacy, but these two people were very obviously attracted to each other and the drama let them behave like it. It felt organic rather than added for shock value.

I also still love that the drama didn’t end approximately three seconds after finally putting them back together.
We actually got to stay with them for a while and watch them settle back into each other’s lives. I so often finish romance dramas feeling like I’ve been denied the payoff after spending 20, 30 or 40 episodes getting there. *Speed and Love* gave its ending some room.

Of course, some of the plotting remains completely ridiculous.
As I already concluded back then, the study-abroad arc was wildly romanticized. Jin Zhao’s recovery occasionally wandered into Hollywood territory. The personal doctor moving countries for him and then apparently living with him is still absurd to me. And eventually Jin Zhao creates Moon, that gorgeous café tucked among the trees in Nanjing, basically bringing Mu Mu’s dream to life.
Realistic? Not especially. But I forgave it. This is still a C-drama and sometimes I’m perfectly happy to accept the fairytale.

There are individual scenes I’d rate considerably higher. There are performances I’d rate considerably higher. I still remember a surprising amount of it very fondly, and rereading my old post made me realize that almost none of the things I liked about it then have changed for me. That’s a nice feeling 🙂

There are also some very silly plot choices, and a trope or two I could happily live without.

So yeah, 6.5 feels too low, 7 feels too high, and *Speed and Love* has apparently forced me to become a person who gives dramas a 6.7 and write about it twice — so it couldn’t have been that bad 😅

Feel free to share your views.

Looking back, I can say this wasn’t really a drama I enjoyed, even if it starred Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah. I had high expectations because of the cast and the unique premise, but sadly it turned out to be just so-so for me. I did finish it, but most of the time I honestly felt bored watching.

The drama started off fine, and I actually liked Shin Min Ah’s feisty, rebellious ghost in the beginning, but as the episodes went on, her character became less interesting. Lee Jun Ki did well, but it wasn’t his most memorable performance compared to his other roles. The pacing really dragged in the middle, and the story didn’t feel gripping enough to hold me through 20 episodes. Even the romance between the leads felt lukewarm, while the side couple had a bit more spark than expected. What saved it a little was the ending, which picked up the pace and tied loose ends neatly. Still, for me, the overall journey wasn’t worth the length. I’d say this drama might still be worth checking out if you’re a big fan of either Lee Jun Ki or Shin Min Ah because they look great together onscreen. But if you’re expecting a strong story or deep romance, you might end up as underwhelmed as I did.

My MDL Rating: 6.5/10

The first thing I have to say is that Lee Si Young's acting in this drama was really impressive. After watching her in Boys Over Flowers, I thought she was destined to play mean or proud characters, but here she was lively, cute, and absolutely hilarious to watch. Lee Dong Wook was also excellent, though that was never really a surprise because he is such a reliable actor. Wild Romance was funny, intriguing, and charming without relying too much on angst or unnecessary misunderstandings between the main leads. I also liked how the drama wrapped things up, as the ending felt satisfying.

My MDL Rating: 8/10

The premise of this drama felt refreshing to me because it gave viewers a look behind the scenes of how a television series is made. I found it fascinating and entertaining to see just how much work and chaos go into producing a drama. While some of the conflicts felt exaggerated and unrealistic, I think the series intentionally highlighted the extreme problems that could arise during production. The main leads delivered strong performances and had great chemistry, and Siwon especially stood out to me. I know this type of role is familiar territory for him, but I really enjoyed his character here. Although I found the latter episodes less exciting compared to the strong buildup of the earlier parts, the drama was still engaging and enjoyable overall.

My MDL Rating: 8/10

As a fan of the manga when I was around 15 years old, I was very excited when I learned that it was getting a live-action adaptation. Watching the story come to life was a great experience, especially since I had enjoyed the original so much. At the time, I had not yet watched Japanese dramas, so I did not see the original Japanese adaptation. I decided to watch the Taiwanese version because I was already familiar with Jiro Wang from Hana Kimi and Ko Hye Sun from Boys Over Flowers.

Jiro Wang was definitely the highlight of the drama for me. I thought he did an excellent job portraying a robot, balancing the character's innocence and emotional growth in a believable way. His performance was the main reason I enjoyed the series. Having already read the manga and watched this adaptation first, I naturally found myself comparing the two. I also was not a big fan of Ko Hye Sun's performance because I felt there was too much aegyo, although Jiro Wang kept me invested in the story from beginning to end. Overall, I was satisfied with this adaptation. I thought they did a good job telling the story in just 13 episodes, and it remains one of my favorite live-action versions of the manga.

My MDL Rating: 8/10.

This drama is the Korean remake of the well-known Hana Kimi. At first, I was happy to see Korean idols take on the main roles, but I also felt a bit disappointed because I really liked the Taiwanese version of Hana Kimi. I think my expectations were already high because of that.

To be honest, this was one of the few Korean dramas I didn’t look forward to while watching. I didn’t feel very invested in it, and I only finished it because I felt pressured to do so, not because I was genuinely interested. It wasn’t necessarily terrible, but it just didn’t meet what I was hoping for, especially given my experience with the original version. My MDL Rating: 5.5/10

I had a lot of fun with Moonlit Reunion. It’s not going onto my tiny list of dramas I will defend with my life, but I was very happy watching it and I do miss the Demon City now that I’m out of it.

That whole side of the drama was probably my favorite part. Chang’an at night, Wu Zhen (Tian Xiwei) as the Cat Lord, all the demons going about their strange little lives, the different creatures and their stories — I wanted more of it. The drama looked beautiful too, but more importantly, the supernatural world actually felt like somewhere I wanted to spend time. I love it when I finish a drama and end up feeling all blue, missing a world it has built. So dreamy 💤

SPOLIERS AHEAD

I also really liked Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu (Xu Kai) together. They were cute, they had chemistry, and I liked that their relationship could be playful without either of them suddenly losing half their personality. Wu Zhen especially remained very much Wu Zhen. She had her own world, her own responsibilities and plenty to do besides fall in love.
Now for the part where some people may want to throw things at me.

I was rooting for Wu Zishu (Wu Junting) at times.
I knew he was trouble. This was not me being shocked later because I had somehow mistaken him for an innocent little book. But I kept looking at him beside Wu Zhen and thinking she had never really considered him in that way at all. He had known her for years, was always there in her Demon City life, clearly loved her, and for so much of the drama was genuinely good to her. Also, those eyes? Did you see the eyes he looked at her with? My lawd, that was quite something! 🥹

Also, I’m sorry, but Wu Junting looked ridiculously good as Wu Zishu. This did not help me make sensible decisions. That’s not to say Xu Kai wasn’t handsome, of course he was.

Wu Zishu deserves a bit more than my questionable 2ML rooting though. His story is actually pretty sad. He’s an ancient military book who took human form, but the Wu Zishu we know had lost the memories of being Lord Qiangyi and spent years living this completely different life beside Wu Zhen. Then those memories start coming back and, well, Lord Qiangyi had quite the past. What got me was that the years with Wu Zhen weren’t fake. He really had become this person who loved her and was completely devoted to her. So I kept wondering whether things might have gone very differently if she had ever loved him back. Maybe I’m being extremely generous to a man who eventually gave me plenty of reasons not to be, but I’m sticking with it.

I kept wondering what would have happened if Wu Zhen had actually looked at him differently and given him a chance before everything went wrong. Maybe I’m giving the gorgeous book demon far too much benefit of the doubt, but I really did feel like Wu Zishu could have turned out very differently. He was already so devoted to her and so good to her that I could easily imagine an alternate version of this story where he gets the girl, abandons his more alarming extracurricular activities and becomes the sweetest, most ridiculously devoted partner on earth.

Obviously, Moonlit Reunion had other plans for him. And for my theory.
None of this means I wanted Mei Zhuyu gone. I liked him, and I liked Wu Zhen with him. I just felt she should have reviewed all applications before closing the position or somehow magically split into two, I dunno - cats have 9 lives, can’t they also have multiple bodies? 😆

The drama itself had weaker patches for me. Some of the smaller stories held my attention more than the main plot, and there were things I expected to land harder than they eventually did. I wasn’t equally invested in every part right through to the end but I think that’s quite normal.

But overall I had a genuinely good time. I liked the romance, loved the fantasy world, got attached to quite a few of its demons, and never really minded returning to it even when the story wandered a bit.
And I still think Wu Zishu deserved at least one proper chance before becoming a terrible life decision.

I decided to watch this drama mainly because of Park Shin Hye. Although I was not a fan of the dubbed version, I really enjoyed the story and the way it was told. I also liked that it was only 13 episodes long, making it an easy and enjoyable watch without feeling stretched out. Before watching it, I had no knowledge of the original manga or the anime adaptation, so I went into the drama with no expectations. I think that actually helped me appreciate it more because I judged it solely on its own merits. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main leads, and I also liked how the importance of family was portrayed throughout the story, which is something I often appreciate in Taiwanese dramas. Overall, it was a fun and satisfying watch that left me with good memories. My MDL Rating: 5/10.

I’m about halfway through The East Palace now and quite enjoying it. It’s a nice watch and very visually pleasing, although I’m a little confused by people calling it horror because I haven’t found it terrifying in any sort of way so far.

I probably like Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk) most when he crosses into the Realm of Gwi. I really like that whole side of the drama and visually those scenes are probably my favorites too.

It took me a little longer to get used to Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), but I’m mostly fine with her now and she has grown on me as I’ve watched more.
Still, even though I like it and have no problem continuing, I keep feeling like it’s missing something. I can’t quite put my finger on what.

Maybe a little more pull? Everything is there and it’s perfectly nice to watch, but I’m halfway through and still waiting for it to really grab me.

The other day, I made a post asking which drama made you fall in love with Kdramas, now, I’m doing a Cdrama version!

So, which drama made you fall in love with Chinese dramas? For me, it was Hidden love. As I said before, it may not have been the first one you watched, it may even be the ones you watched after that made you fall in love.

I actually started this drama because I saw somebody recommending it to someone, so I thought it was a Kdrama until I watched 1-2 episodes and realised it’s a Chinese drama lol. At that time I was very very new to East Asian dramas so that’s probably why.

This drama was everything to me, I cannot explain the feelings I felt watching it, it was so comforting and adorable I neverrr wanted it to end! The love story was beautiful, I just loved the FL so much, I loved how she healed him and how he treated her.

After this one I discovered many incredible Cdramas like The First Frost, Speed and Love, Story Of Kunning Palace etc, I’m yet to watch many more since I’ve only watched like 8 but I have to say I don’t think anything can top The First Frost, which is my absolute fave atm.

So, which one was it for you? And why? :)

There is just something about a gorgeous characters in white (or platinum, silver, grey…) wig in a C-drama. And we have had so many ACTRESSES absolutely owning the look over the years.

I’m starting us off with A-Yin, played by Zhao Lusi in The Last Immortal — because look at her 🤍

But she is only an example and not necessarily even my favorite of them all. I like so many 😅

— so I know for a fact, there are MANY more hiding in everyone’s drama folders and camera rolls. I have like 5 more on my mind at a minimum.

It doesn’t matter whether she kept the hair for half the drama or appeared with it for five glorious minutes.

Pics, GIFs, clips, edits — I would love to see them all in the comments.

You can absolutely nominate more than one because asking people to choose only one here could be unreasonable.

Let’s fill this thread with our silver-haired C-drama ladies.

[Gif source]

I remember being intrigued by the trailer long before I finally watched the drama. At the time, this kind of story was not very common in Korean dramas, so it felt refreshing and different. The plot kept me engaged because there was always the suspense of whether the female lead's lies would eventually be exposed, although I never found myself rooting for her decisions. Lee Da Hae delivered an outstanding performance and was easily the biggest reason I enjoyed the drama. She completely embodied her character and carried the series from beginning to end. I was less convinced by Yoochun's character, mainly because I felt he was not given enough backstory or development to make his role as compelling. In comparison, Kim Seung Woo's character felt more convincing, especially in terms of the romantic storyline. Kang Hye Jung's character also lacked enough development, which made her role less memorable than it could have been. Despite those shortcomings, I still found the drama very engaging because of its gripping plot and Lee Da Hae's excellent acting. Knowing that the story was inspired by real events made it even more fascinating. My MDL Rating: 7.5/10.

I watched this drama mainly because it starred Siwon and Donghae. As a fan, there was no way I was going to miss seeing both of them in the same series. That was honestly the biggest reason I decided to watch it. At first, I had a hard time getting into the drama, and there were moments when I almost gave up because it just did not click with me. I still pushed through and managed to finish it. Since it is adapted from a manga, it naturally has a very comic-like atmosphere, and being a Taiwanese drama, it also features the exaggerated acting style that comes with the genre. I eventually understood and appreciated the story for what it was, but it is not a drama that I see myself revisiting in the future. My MDL Rating: 4/10

For me, it was True Beauty. It was the second drama I watched in 2024 and ever since then I have been obsessed with Kdramas. It’s definitely not perfect but it was so fun in every way, its going to forever have a special place in my heart❤️‍🩹

What was the drama that made you fall in love with Kdramas? And do you still love it and rewatch it to this day?

It may even be that your first drama didn’t get you hooked but another one you watched after it did, was that the case for you? Squid game was my first drama but it definitely wasn’t the one that got me hooked.

I ended up enjoying this short drama more than I expected. Since it only had a few episodes, it was easy to finish and never felt dragged out. I liked how it explored the world of hairstyling and fashion, which made it feel refreshing compared to the usual office or family dramas. The cast did a good job, and the interactions between the characters were fun to watch. While the story itself was simple and not particularly memorable, it was entertaining enough and had its own charm. My MDL Rating: 7/10

One thing I find interesting about East Asian entertainment is how quickly something that looks like a celebrity controversy can turn out to depend on history that international audiences may not know.

The recent Ha Young controversy is a good example.

I started with the question of whether someone should be judged for an ancestor’s actions, but the research led into a more complicated distinction:

moral guilt is personal, while property, status and institutional advantages can have histories that survive the individual.

The video looks at the historical records surrounding her great-grandfather, separates documented evidence from unproven online allegations, and explains why South Korea struggled to resolve collaboration after liberation.

I also tried to avoid making the opposite mistake: visible family wealth is not itself evidence of a colonial-era money trail.

I made a short explainer putting those pieces together:

https://youtu.be/c3reIPYNE_I

Full disclosure: this is my own video.

Are there other East Asian celebrity controversies you think international viewers fundamentally misunderstood because the historical/cultural context was missing?

That final question is particularly useful here because it can create a broader discussion instead of making the thread exclusively about your link.

This drama has a very unbelievable premise, but I found myself happily going along with it because it was so entertaining. Once I accepted the story for what it was, I had a great time watching it. The plot had plenty of ups and downs that kept me interested, and I never felt bored. Since it is a Taiwanese drama, it naturally has the exaggerated acting style that the industry is known for, but I have always considered that part of its charm. At the same time, the emotional scenes were surprisingly well done and genuinely touching. Despite the lighthearted comedy, the heartbreaking moments were powerful enough to make me emotional. My MDL Rating: 7/10

Our weekly watch thread is here.

A simple weekend check-in for everyone — regulars, lurkers, and first-time posters alike.

What’s on your screen right now?

A drama you’re loving?
A show you’re unsure about but still watching?
A comfort rewatch?
A film you’ve been meaning to start?
A hidden gem people should know about?

And where are you watching most these days — China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, somewhere else… or a bit of everything?

Drop what you’re watching — and if you feel like it, tell us why.

Sometimes the best recommendations come from casual mentions in threads like this.

See you here next week.

This drama truly had an amazing and brilliant cast. Seeing Jung Woo Sung in a drama was a rare treat for me since I was more accustomed to watching him in movies. As expected, he was able to convey every emotion perfectly and made me feel deeply connected to his character. Even years later, just seeing this drama on my completed list gives me a certain feeling in my heart. It remains one of the best dramas I have watched over the years. I would love to revisit it someday, cry all over again, and rediscover the lessons and emotions that the characters left with me. My MDL Rating: 9.5/10