"My Roommate is a Detective" is a Chinese detective comedy done right. It has all of the ingredients: funny charming (and hot) characters who always look sharp in their impeccable period get-ups, genuinely funny slapstick humour, engaging banter, and fresh cases (especially for those unaccustomed to Republican era dramas). Most importantly, the story is very consistent and fast-paced so occasional silliness of the cases is easy to forgive.
The titular roommate-detective Lu Yao is particularly delightful as the story never lets him get out of any situation with his dignity intact. One moment he's a genius Sherlock Holmes wannabe / arrogant Oxford alumni and the next he shamelessly stuffs his face with free food, gets his thin lies (and pickpocketing habit) exposed, and runs away at the slightest sign of danger.
Inspector Qiao, on the other hand, is a stern no-nonsense official who can bark orders like any other quasi-military personnel but who is actually very patient and easy-going. His street-smarts allow him to spot and hire Lu Yao while his patience allows him to tolerate the genius detective's antics. Inspector Qiao's perpetual dry amusement and air of contentedness is a a balm for the viewer's soul.
It goes without saying that both characters are played by gorgeous actors.
The female lead Ms. Bai does grate on one's nerves at the beginning of the drama. She gets away with some really outrageous actions and her struggles are hard to sympathise with. I wouldn't agree with those who say she isn't necessary for the plot because she does provide case details and occasional funny banter. Moreover, her scenes become less and less eye-roll worthy as the show progresses.
The cases themselves are a bit on a sillier side but quite inventive. They lean more towards Conan Doyle than Agatha Christie with the focus on forensic analysis and gathering of the clues. None of that 'let's all meet at the ballroom in our evening best to dramatically reveal who is the murderer among us' stuff. On the other hand, the time period means that police brutality, nepotism, and dealings with mafia are the norm.
Moreover, C-dramas ostensibly can't portray good people being killed so every other victim turns out to be a person who has committed severe crimes. That makes culprits more sympathetic than the victims which is a weird dynamic for a lighthearted show where the viewer is supposed to root for the detectives.
Some problematic stuff appears here and there, not to mention that Inspector Qiao is a gangster but a honourable one?? The viewers aren't supposed to take any of that seriously but some cases really push their luck.
The opening and ending music themes are really nice.
All of the above concerns the first 12 episodes of the show. The 13th episode makes it clear that there will be no meaningful character development or dramatic story-line in the rest of the show. The heroes begin to act out of character and the focus of the story shifts to romance and family drama. This makes it harder to tolerate the silliness of the cases with their at times truly atrocious resolutions. The super-obvious fanservice and in-your-face romantic scenes are also nothing to celebrate.
If you aren't put off by any of that the drama continues to be quite watchable. I believe, though, that even as light-hearted as the drama is it should have taken itself seriously at least some of the time. Too many questions beg for answers (Will Lu Yao find the courage to stand for what he believes in? Will Inspector Qiao fight for real justice or remain a mafia lackey? Will Ms. Bai gain real independence? Will she get awareness of her own privilege?) while it becomes increasingly clear that the answers will not be in any way satisfying.
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SUPER ULTRA MEGA SPOILER BECAUSE I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED!
Yes, I dropped this because I was massively disappointed on how the events turned into! This was supposed to be a BL or even just a BROMANCE but they let Lu Yao marry Bain You Ning and just left Qiao Chu Sheng in the end! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BROMANCE! Uuuuugggh! They could just have them buddy-buddy until the end and no marriage at all.Yes, the story is interesting and not new but it was fun along the way. I like the interaction between the two male leads but I was disappointed on their story, like frickin’ disappointed to the core I can’t even describe it.
The casts visuals are really stunning, especially Yi Tian (I love him). As for their acting, tgey really did well in portraying theor roles. They did great in every episode. I think I would like to commend the female lead because she really annoyed me, always bugginv the two male leads, even snatching Lu Yao from Chu Sheng!
I was really disappointed to the reboot of this story.
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Chinese Republican Era
I've never like Chinese Republican era. I don't know for sure but usually setting was too dark and this was the example - during that era where people struggled to live; poverty, war, politic and ideology division, starvation, darkest era for human's history. But I love the 2nd lead actors, Leon Zhang, saw him from different dramas and his funny side, Leon Zhang wasn't afraid for being silly, in here though his character was pretty serious - a cop who helped 1st ML to round up mystery. The land lady acted better than Shane Xiao - she nothing special. Different mysteries brought in different solutions just need to keep up what and when...there where I lost it....couldn't remember which mystery case when I had to pause or absent. I decided, after postpone it, to drop it. It wasn't interesting enough for me to get excited to watch it, curious enough want to finish the drama.Was this review helpful to you?
So if you're expecting to see any serious crime solving, this isn't it. It is almost like an attempt to do a live-action version of the anime Detective Conan by solving each case fairly quickly. However, unlike the anime, the cases here don't stimulate much emotions or empathy toward any of the players.
The two male leads do have a pretty fun dynamic (particularly Leon Zhang). Unfortunately, the female lead is just the standard irritating type and instead of adding any value, she pulls it down. The series had the potential to really be pretty good if they managed to do a better job at switching up that underlying comedic tone during what should have been more somber moments. The three leads are pretty monotone no matter what situation they are in and because of this, it ends up emphasizing the fact that they are just a bunch of wealthy kids with zero empathy who are playing detective. The attempted hint at a sob story for the lead female to explain her bratty personality really does nothing for me either. But if you're one who likes these type of characters, you'll find her adorable.
I do appreciate the respect of the multiple languages, where it isn't spoken in one of those nonsensical ways. It's also always nice to hear the Shanghainese language in more mainstream media. The heavy incorporation of foreigners in the plots, however, just doesn't work well here.
This is a series where you don't really need to pay much attention to and the cliffhangers are easy to walk away from. Since I don't hate it, I've been going back and forth on whether to drop it. There is the curiosity on seeing more of the background of the male leads but not much else.
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I Just Want to Watch this Because of Luyao And Qiao Chu Sheng, they have that Great Chemistry...I Love Both of Them....But after watching the ending that Lu Yao and Youning will be together...I stop Watching...
I find Youning very Irritating and They don't match with Lu Yao....I Just don't understand why they end up together....they Are unbearable to watch specially when they kiss...I feel like throwing my phone...I feel so sorry for Qiao Chu Sheng... That's Why I couldn't anymore bear to watch all the episode...
I will just watch the MV of Lu Yao and Qiao Chu Sheng to make me feel better...
I'm dropping this because of Youning...I really don't want her to end up with Lu Yao...
I know all of the people who watch this feel the same as me...
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HU YI TIAN'S ACTING WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU!!!!
This drama is my fav chinese drama i have seen it about 6 times already and i am wanting to watch it again. It is so good it just makes people wanna watch it again because even though you knkw whats gonna happen with all the actors and actresses acting it makes me feel like its mu first time watching it. I love how you can start to see the progression of Lu Yao and Bai Youning's live for each other. Even though it isnt really about the romance and all you focus on mainly is the cases getti g solved you can still see that romance brewing. I really need to see a season 2 of this drama i need to know what was written on that note at the end ahhhh that is the one thing that annoys me the most is that i dont know what was writtwn on that note. Also the ost was really good i love the music that plays when Lu Yao and Bai Youning kiss during the shoot out i tried to find the name of it but couldnt find it. Awake by Juno Su is also a good song i listen to it every day. Well sorry for this long review i just really love this drama. Now i am going to go a contimplate whether i should watch it for a 7th time.Was this review helpful to you?
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Had potential in the beginning. Also rewatch is 0 but had to mark 1
I'll start with the good. I enjoyed the investigations. I was in the mood for detective series and saw that it was like a Chinese version of Sherlock Holmes. Except this Sherlock is very money motivated versus BBC version he was driven by unique cases that peeked his interest. Though he still can draw a moral line and not do somethings just to gain money. The interactions between him and the investigator cop were good.My biggest frustration is the supposed comedy of the sexually harassing land lady and the female reporter. Though calling her reporter is stretching it quite a bit because she's more tabloid writer then reporter. I was putting up with the behavior of the land lady at first because she was keeping it semi contained. However ep 11 the whole FL tricking her into thinking our Sherlock was interested in her and she should still know enough even in 1925 that no means no, doesn't matter what someone else says. Then FL locking him into the apartment and him being dragged away and cut to black. I pause shortly after cause this dumb b just thinks it's hilarious what she did. I don't find it comedic in shows to joke about sexual harassment and or sexual assault. Doesn't matter if the victim is male or female neither one deserve it and it's not something funny to joke about. The fact the writers do is disgusting.
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I'm going to be honest: I dropped that show and intend to never finish it, if only because the casual use and mentions of torture upset me. Who would've known?
Now, the summary is actually very misleading. What truly happens is that one of the male main leads is arrested by the second male lead for murder and the female lead bullies her way in because of "plot reasons". That's not a task force, and it wasn't planned.
The main characters are all dicks in their own ways, so together they fill up a full Asshole Bingo card. Lu Yao is especially infuriating, what with how entitled, sniveling and manipulating he is. The guy who tortures people is somehow more honorable and respectable than the man who doesn't.
The opening is dope, tho!
Now that you've been appropriately warned, enjoy ! (I guess)
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Btw, I really like the opening song. That rapper is good.
Okay I'm on the second episode, soon, I won't be able to take this woman anymore... Any kindhearted person who can edit out all the scenes with that woman and let me watch peacefully.
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Enquêtes du style Sherlock Holmes ou Murdoch
J'ai regardé car au départ je cherchais un drama qui se passe à Shanghaï dans les années 20, 30; j'ai été agréablement surprise ! Des enquêtes pour meurtre ou disparition se succèdent, avec à chaque fois tout un raisonnement scientifique présenté par le consultant et qui tient souvent la route (parfois c'est tiré par les cheveux). Cela m'a fait penser aux enquêtes de Sherlock Holmes ou à Murdoch, sauf que tout a un lien.J'ai préféré le chef de police au consultant, quant au personnage féminin principal : irritante... Les personnages et leurs relations évoluent tout au long du drama, sans surprise. Des moments drôles.
Les lieux sont intéressants et varient : la salle de spectacle, le bordel, le théâtre des ombres, le restau occidental, etc...
Pour ceux qui aiment cette période, j'ai vu et conseille : "Cruel Romance", "The Lady and the Liar", "My legal husband"...
Je le reverrai certainement.
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Un bon drama/dectective
Un drama agréable à suivre. Les enquêtes font penser au manga Conan, on prend beaucoup de plaisir à trouver et à comprendre comment le meurtrier (ière) a fait . Les personnages sont attachants et on apprécie vraiment la relation très forte qui les unit. Surtout la relation entre Lu Yao et Chu Sheng, une bromance drôle et attachante. La relation entre Lu Yao et You Ning est sympathique mais la romance n'est pas assez forte et on a un peu de mal à comprendre l'évaluation de leur amour. Je recommande ce drama si on souhaite passer un bon moment à sourire et parfois à rire.Was this review helpful to you?
Top
Au départ j'ai entamé le visionnage sans conviction, l'environnement Shangaï pendant les années 1924, la pègre, les concessions, ça ne m'attirait pas du tout.En fait la série est top : les histoires sont remarquables, les décors superbes et ça donne même envie de se renseigner davantage sur cette période et cette ville.
Les acteurs sont excellents : bonne alchimie du trio. Je ne trouve pas la FL enquiquinante, c'est son rôle qui veut ça.
Moi qui n'était pas très bromance j'ai adoré la relation entre les deux ML avec une mention spéciale pour Leon Zhang qui est charmant +++. L'OST est agréable, j'ai eu un peu de mal avec le rap d'ouverture de "after journey" mais à force de l'écouter en fait j'aime beaucoup ! Les voix sont plaisantes.
J'ai beaucoup aimé retrouver le trio au fil des jours, d'ailleurs je me repasse la série tranquillement pour le plaisir de les voir et les entendre : une série rétro et pourtant moderne.
Un grand bravo aux acteurs, les rôles secondaires sont également formidables, vieux bai et salim notamment.
Cette série mériterait un plus ample succès amha :-)
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