mysterious lotus casebook
ceritanya bagus banget, plot twistnya bener bikin kaget,jasad senior yang dia cari selama 10 tahun ternyata hanya tipuan, orang dia cari masih hidup dan penuh dendam terhadapnya,sangat terharu liat peran joseph sebagai fang doubing yang sangat sayang terhadap li linhua meskipun sering di tinggal dia tetap setia, di bohongi soal identitas sebagai gurunya li xianyi,meskipun dia marah tapi setelah mengetahui soal racun yang di tubuh gurunya dia membantu menacti obat penawarnya, di feisheng sebagai teman petaruhnya bagus banget ngelakuin hal yang bisa membantu li linhua agar tidak menyerahWas this review helpful to you?
Captivating and intriguing
I truly enjoyed this drama becos , I love this genre so much, the various mysterious cases, the case solving all reminded me of Agatha Christie's and the likewise detective stories I grew up reading n so i enjoyed this drama so much. All the actors did good job but i personally liked fang doubing ckt the most. Although I didn't watch last episode becos I didn't want to watch the sad ending n so by watching epi 39, i gave myself closure with the thought that it had happy ending and evryone lived happily like they wanted i.e LX roaming with FDB solving cases in martial world, n DFX helping them sometimes n always wanting to have a spar with LX😭, that's the ending I m going to live with in my mind, so I avoided watching epi 40.Although this drama seems underrated n not hyped much maybe due to no romance n love story part in it I would highly recommend this drama for mystery and thrill lovers.
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XiangYi's Legacy Will Live On: The Intricate Layers of Mysterious Lotus Casebook
Mysterious Lotus Casebook is such a masterpiece and a must watch drama for 2023. The entire storyline is very engaging and each of the cases kept me hooked, I honestly don't think I was ever bored watching this. All the cases had a lot of depth and they all somehow related to Xiangyi in the end. All the characters, especially the main trio of LLH, FDB and DFS, I feel like when they were together the episodes were really fun to watch, they have good chemistry! I also have so much respect for LXY/LLH as a character, and I feel like Cheng Yi pulled off his role perfectly. His calm demeanour, smarts, and the general change of his attitudes makes LLH/LXY such a great character, which really demonstrated his growth as a person. LLH/LXY also felt very human, although he was originally an arrogant grandmaster, he has many scenes were you can see him as a vulnerable person just like everyone else. Also, the fight scenes were really good, like they did not lack the budget at all and it was always so exciting watching any of the characters fight. I feel like this drama has so much depth that can be missed if you're not paying attention, but if you do pick up on them everything just makes so much sense. The ending I think its okay just the way it is, although I would of loved for a 'they lived happily ever after' that's not always realistic, and XiangYi will always be a legend that lives on. Anyways, MLC is a solid 10/10!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
i love difeisheng ?
i knew about it months before it was aired but kind of forgot about it until i saw it in my to watch list. i searched it up and to my surprise, it finished airing. i was actually very excited for this show because ive been looking for a chinese costume drama where romance wasnt the main genre. i originally thought that it would be just bromance but lianhua and xiaobao both have their love interests; it was an acceptable amount of romance for me. i actually didnt know what the plot would be like at all. when i noticed the main plot revolved around crime solving, i was even more intrigued. these kind of plots are one of my favorites. im usually good at predicting twists but never predicted any of the ones in this drama. (i never purposely predict it) i would say this is one of my favorite costume dramas now. had 0 suspicions on shangudao and thought difeisheng was the main villain. (hes not the best person but like). also surprised to see yebaiyi actor play this role (word of honor) i forgot the characters name already, but i hate him; glad wanmian or something left him!! difeisheng soon became my favorite character after he accompanied the other leads. (hidden identity part) i gave it a 7.0 in rewatch value because shows like these, crime solving and plot twists, arent that fun to rewatch since you already know everything thats gonna happen. funny story, my mandarin class played the ost as the song of the day while i was watching the drama. i started this on a sunday afternoon and finished it on thursday at night. i was kind of binge watching even though i had school. whenever i had nothing left to do, i would watch it. it was kind of difficult to watch it on my phone since i use one of those websites.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Only Cheng Yi can pull off a carefree character like Li Lian Hua.
I mostly stick to romantic dramas, a little bit of romance is like a salt in food for me. However, I watched this drama solely because of Cheng Yi & it was worth it. This drama also helped to rediscovered Joseph Zheng. Last year, I had watched his Hi Venus and thought he was dashing but Fang Duo Bing was such a good character for him. Wish that we had more of Di Fei Sheng working along with them, however his screen time was very short.Some of the cases were interesting while others were not, I mostly skipped some scenes and focused on those where the main trio were interacting. The main story was kinda weird with the bugs, bugs just remind me of starship troopers. Having seen Chen Duling in Till the End of the Moon, it was hard for me to think of her as the good guy, her character was so insecure and devious in it, especially since I had rewatched the drama a week ago. There wasn't much for her to do in this drama, she had but a small role to play and she did it well. Her fiancé was an immature idiot in this drama.
But anyways it was fun watching the main trio go on adventures together. At one point in time, I wondered how 4 horses managed to drag that big ass lotus tower all over the place. But then again, architecture is a marvel. It sure was so good to look at and would be such a great place to live in.
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An existentialist Jianghu adventure
MLC is what I heard somebody described as classic wuxia. It’s got adventure and mystery, good-looking heroes with impressive martial arts abilities, and well-choreographed fight scenes. It's also got a good dash of humor.I was a bit hesitant going for this show because it has no female lead. I don’t particularly need romance, but I do like a strong FL to root for. However, after watching another show where I felt the romance detracted from an otherwise enjoyable story (Ancient Detective), I decided I could set aside my feminist leanings and just enjoy this story about men.
Ultimately what I really love about this show is its underlying existential crisis. From the beginning, Li Lianhua is waiting for his death. He just wants to tie up a few loose ends first. As I watched, I desperately hoped it would not happen, but I also understood that he was already on this path and it would be a win if he survived rather than a loss otherwise. At least his friends were right there with me, hoping and trying to turn this around.
This show contains a series of mystery cases strung together with an overarching storyline. I felt the cases themselves were a bit of a mess… they were so convoluted that they were hard to follow. There was often no chance of the audience solving it together with the characters, if only because the answer often involves strange magical feats. That aside, it just felt unrealistic that any detective could identify and then put together such a random set of clues to come up with such complicated explanations. But hey, our boy is a genius, so whatever- I just sat back and enjoyed watching them kick butt.
The three main characters are really loveable and where I think a lot of the fanbase lies. The brotherhood and also the humor between them is really great. Li Lianhua’s casual lying is hilarious; people have complained about Cheng Yi mumbling (they all dubbed themselves) but I think it captures Li Lianhua well, and not a problem if you use subtitles! Fang Duobing is sillily naïve and lovable, and Joseph Zeng’s anime-like expressions had me laughing. Xiao Shunyao as Di Feisheng unfortunately gets less screentime, but he is so grumpy badass when he shows up. I think all three actors did a great job capturing the spirit of their characters and making them likable, and their looks and styling all suited their characters well.
The show doesn’t have a female lead, but it does have some female side characters who are not too useless. Fang Duobing’s mom is a fan favorite. Qiao Wanmian, who is Li Lianhua’s ex, got a bit of hate but I actually really sympathized with her situation. I felt her arc was handled very well, a breakup she doesn’t want but has to accept- like the rest of the story, it's sad in a realistic way. I just feel she got a little shortchanged because they could have let her show off a little more. Her one sword strike showed no technique at all. Su Xiaoyong, I saw one snippet from the actress saying “I am you, the audience!” and that’s a good description- Li Lianhua’s fangirl. But in the end, neither she nor the princess actually factors in much (not that I would have wanted some random love story muddling the waters). Probably the strongest female character is Jiao Liqiao, who is batshit crazy and whose sole purpose in life seems to be to get the man she likes. So, across 40 episodes, I’d say this one might not even pass the Bechdel test. But I guess that’s ok, it’s a story about men in a men’s world.
The fighting in this show is well choreographed, aside from a few nonsensical sword strokes. In general it’s also fairly well performed. Unfortunately Di Feisheng doesn’t really fight, he just swings his sword and everyone goes flying. Fang Duobing’s fights look great- this actor seems pretty athletic- but as a character, he leveled up a bit too quickly. I find it unbelievable that he was a sickly child… but, who needs logic.
In all these fight scenes, especially towards the end, I do think there was a bit too much strike-and-pose with hair blowing in the wind. Once upon a time I might have thought it was cool, now I find it cheesy.
Once again, I think the main draw of this show is its existential undertones. I really appreciated, under the very well-done humor and swashbuckling adventure, the sadly realistic tone of the entire saga. Li Xiangyi was a genius and admired by all, but also a legit difficult and arrogant person. Such a character is very realistic, reminding us that people at the top are not always perfect. Li Lianhua lives with guilt and memories and needs to find his peace; this is also something that we ordinary people struggle with. The realistic, life-isn’t-perfect message resonates with us as we navigate our own lives. This alone, to me, gives it a high rating, despite other flaws like nonsensical cases, dismissible female characters, and too much posing.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
The ending is, controversially, a forced open ending. I think it broke a lot of peoples’ hearts, but at least it gives you the option to believe what you want. Lengthy critical analyses abound on the internet arguing one way or another, I could totally see a high schooler writing a 5-paragraph essay for English class.
Personally, although I wish it were simply a happy ending, I also think that would have been too forced for a show like this and might have cheapened it a bit.
…that aside, I don’t see why he couldn’t have just eaten the flower and then saved everyone else afterwards using yangzhouman. The Styx flower was not even in the book, it was a gimmick added to the drama. It gave us all hope, then was ultimately used to generate dramatic flare. Honestly, the self-sacrifice theme was so overused and tired by this point. In this context, the whole plot device of the Styx flower was also a bit cheap.
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A Beautifully Crafted Wuxia Mystery Full of Heart
Mysterious Lotus Casebook is an elegant wuxia drama that blends martial arts action with detective-style mysteries and emotional storytelling. At its heart, it’s not just about uncovering secrets, but also about healing, loyalty, and second chances. The pacing balances thrilling investigations with heartfelt character moments, creating a narrative that is both exciting and deeply moving.The cast shines, with Cheng Yi giving a nuanced portrayal that captures both strength and vulnerability. The relationships—whether built on trust, rivalry, or brotherhood—add depth to the unfolding mysteries, making every case feel personal. The production is polished, with gorgeous visuals and carefully choreographed action sequences that honor the wuxia tradition.
If you love dramas that combine martial arts, clever mysteries, and heartfelt emotion, Mysterious Lotus Casebook is a must-watch that lingers in both mind and heart.
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A Strange and Delightful Story of Friendship and Forgiveness
I can confidently say this is a masterpiece among the C-dramas I've watched.This was my first time seeing Cheng Yi perform, and he was absolutely incredible. Only Cheng Yi could portray the challenging role of Li Xiangyi/Li Lianhua in such a charming, cool, and amusing way.
The drama's plot progresses quite rapidly, with different cases being resolved every couple of episodes. However, each mystery is connected to the next, and each one is essential to solving the overarching mystery.
To unravel these mysteries, Li Lianhua, Fang Duobing, and Di Feisheng embark on a quirky and entertaining journey together, which is absolutely hilarious! The dynamic between these three very different characters, as they argue, laugh, and work together to solve cases, made me laugh and cry multiple times.
Li Lianhua learns to forgive others, something Li Xiangyi never did. He forgives and frees the people connected to his past. However, Li Xiangyi himself cannot forgive himself. This aspect is very sad and poignant, highlighting his humanity.
I highly recommend this drama to those who enjoy mysteries and human dramas!
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This review may contain spoilers
Interesting show that keeps you engaged.
First thing - Decisions were made. Some of the choices were distracting that made me question my own sanity for watching (that first fight WTF, fight scenes, flashbacks, esp the one where Li Lianhua stole the ring, etc - hilarious/illogical) but overall I enjoyed this series.So many likable characters. Esp A Fei/Di Fei Sheng, Fang Duo Bing, Jiao Li Qiao. The Princess, Su Xiao Yong and She Shui. Everyone was unique with their own set of motivations, and what they wanted. The cases were always interesting - but they got me googling the heck out of some of the logic (no, not all eels are males, and no, these Jianghu techniques dont exist in real life). The acting was great all around. Special call out for Li Lianhua, Fang Duo Bing, A Fei/Di Fei Sheng, and Jiao Liqiao.
I did like how the series had twists and turns. I think the director did great tying in elements where its x guy from former cases cause it was nice seeing ppl again, but also most too the cases almost had 2+ culprits. Also, the main storyline wasn’t as typical as I thought it would be. There’s a tacit understanding some of these characters have with each other (esp Di Fei Sheng with Li Lianhua, and Li Lianhua with Fang Duo Bing) which was beautiful to see progress over the series. Each character (Li Lianhua with his cunningness, Di Fei Sheng stoicism, and Fang Duo Bing’s hopefulness, special Jiao Liqiao with her obsession hehe) has defining qualities and it was interesting to see those relationships. Im glad this wasn’t a full on romance series, and it was poignant in the way that Li Lianhua addressed Ye Bingchang I mean A’Mian after all these years. I forget, not all FML counterparts are equal, and Qiao WanMian is extremely flawed - in a way I dont like. Interesting character though. This show does feel like it didn’t end because it’s open ended, but also Im a bit mad at how it ended as well. Im not sure I would consider this a happy ending show.
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A story-telling masterpiece
I've been a huge fan of Cheng Yi since love and redemption and I have to say writers need to stop giving him roles where he goes through a lot all the damn time. My heart always hurt seeing him in pain!I kept pushing back watching MLC because there was no cultivation in the series, but Cheng Yi and Joseph Zhang drew me in, and I have to say I enjoyed every bit of it. I've always been a fan of mystery, and the cases they dealt with were delivered well, especially in connection with the main plot. Twists here and there will leave you in awe, and the interactions between the leads will amuse you from time to time. The martial arts here reminded me of cultivation dramas from time to time, and the stunts were cool to watch. Overall, it was worth watching, but my baby deserves better in all his dramas!
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This review may contain spoilers
What can I say? After watching all 40 episodes, this show does a good job of not letting the heroes always win. The story moves pretty fast, and if you're someone who loves mysteries and being a detective, this show is for you. The plot is something that caught me so off guard and you can never really guess what the real truth to any of these case is.Something I really apprentice in this show is its ability to portray what actually happens during the cases that they solve. Every case they solve, it shows us an actual play of the scene. However, one issue that comes with this show, is Li Lianhua is a bit too smart to the point where you don't even get a chance to guess what happens. Because everything that happens in the show is almost unpredictable, and Li Liana can guess what happens every single time.
Li Lianhua's character is very interesting. He is very observant and conniving. He is very slick and knows how to calculate, which is very impressive. It was such a pity to not see much of his fighting scenes, but there was other fighting scenes which caught my attention especially with Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng. Those 2 characters make the show give a bit more comedy.
Now the ending, not exactly a cliff hanger. He could have saved himself, but he didn't. I want to believe that he isn't dead but considering the fact that he was poisoned and he gave away the only thing that could save him, it was such a pity.
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