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A Period Idol Mystery that was too easily solved with a lackluster romance.

This was frustratingly bad. The trailers and promotional material wove a web of exaggeration that portrayed the drama as an authentic, grounded Period Romance that was trying to do more than the age old tropes. But it was just Gollum leading me to Shelob...

A tense investigative drama that follows the format of the TV show 24, and shines with it's authentic Tang Dynasty lens, but can't string together a cohesive narrative.

4.9/10 Stars: Youthful Glory is a fluffy, brainless romp in the same vein as Royal Rumors (but YG wasn't as funny) and Les Belles (nor as good), but couldn't overcome an unlikeable Female Lead and a suddenly serious third act.

4/10 Stars: Another "let's torture the FL so she can overcome trials to ultimately succeed in business". Honestly, if a drama isn't going to be good, it should at least be bad with flair, but ultimately it was so mid and overdramatic, that it was boring. Skip for me.

5.9/10 Stars: A grounded historical drama of self-determination that yeeted itself into space with soap opera "Idol" dramatics half way through, and was both hindered and made more complex by an unlikeable FL.

6.6/10 Stars: A campy Xianxia/Wuxia hybrid with epic side characters, demon hunting, and a Male Lead who phoned it in.

6.8/10 Stars: A slower paced food focused drama where a whole modern day family is yeeted to the Tang Dynasty, and the female lead falls in love... with her ancestor.

7/10 Stars: Perfect for fans of Royal Rumors, Les Belles is a low stakes romantic comedy riddled with pacing issues, but finds its saving grace in its unseriousness, and with its likable Female Lead.

7/10 Stars: A shorter, low budget and low stakes drama that exceeds expectations with its comedy.

7/10 Stars: Somewhat stale in the romance and acting department, but the palace cases were intriguing and thought provoking. I recommend going into the drama with the mindset that it's not a romance, but solely a mystery.

7.5/10 Stars: The surprise hit that started the female coroner trend with an adorable romance, quirky FL, and interesting cases.

9.1/10 Stars: The sequel to Flourished Peony is just as beautiful, but not as fragrant.

9.4/10 Stars: An absolutely lush Tang Dynasty Drama with a sloooww burn romance and a woman determined to make it in business. There is no situation Mudan can't girlboss her way out of...