Lynn

Watch for Jin Dong

I wanted to watch this drama for the longest time but well, time flies and I finally managed to do so!
I fell in love with Jin Dong after watching Ode to Joy (both 1 and 2) and told myself that I had to watch The First Half of My Life.
I’m so happy that I did. Jin Dong is superb in this show. He steals hearts, mine included. He’s suave, manly, tall and good looking. Such gorgeous eye candy with excellent acting skills.
Just watch because of him.

To add on, the entire cast acted very well. Great drama to watch. Fairly fast paced. Slice of life drama that throws some nuggets of wisdom for the audience.

Go for it! This is a gem. Ending could have been a lot better though — ps: I’m a sucker for cliched happily ever afters.

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Pls skip this annoying af drama.

I decided to watch this drama after watching Jin Dong in “The First Half of my Life”. From the beginning, this drama has been a total let down. I’m at 30/38 as I write this. I’ll fast forward and ‘finish’ this show but I must warn others NOT to watch this drama.

Don’t watch because -
- All the characters (save for Xu Guang Ming’s dad who is still fairly decent) are Annoying AF x 100.
- Xu Ting Ting’s maternal grandmother, Lao Qi, has only one goldfish bulging eyes look. Total awful. Plus, she makes the most Horrendous Decisions in the show. I seriously wonder WTF is wrong with her and her mentality.
- The catchphrase in the show is ‘for your own good!’ . I cannot understand and I cannot agree. IMO: I shall decide what’s good for me, not you.
- The second female lead is ugly af and looks like a transvestite. Her teeth are messy and when she speaks, she looks really hideous and witch-like.
- oh, and I must reiterate—the characters in this show are truly Annoying, Frustrating, Blood-Pressure inducing af.

Skip. Spend your time on something better. It’s a 1/10 simply because I could not give it a big fat zero.

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Nothing Wrong with being AMBITIOUS - You Go, Girl!

I am not a big fan of ZLS although I think she is a fine actress. I have nothing against her at all. I am just not a fan of hers. Nonetheless, I have watched several of her dramas and I have enjoyed her in them. For instance, she was great in "The Long Ballad" and in "Love like the Galaxy". Her performances left good and lasting impressions. Similarly, I am not a big fan of WC. Again, I have watched a few of his productions and I must saw that he is a fine actor.

I was blown away by this production - Love's Ambition. <3

What I Loved:
- The FL was a go-getter. I liked how she was so smart and sassy. When she realised the error of her ways, she owed up and moved on. She was a flawed and complex character. She was so human and so relatable.
- The ML was suave and I liked that he, too, behaved like a mature man in love when he realised that he did love her after all.
- The outfits worn by the FL were so beautiful. She looked so charming and feminine in all her looks. She was truly quite ravishing in this drama. IMO, this role really made her "glow up" and "grow up". I'd say that this FL is definitely one of my favourites.
- The story moved quickly enough and there were many instances of suspense as well as hilarity. I was riveted and wanted to move from one episode to the next. There were some twists and turns. Some were expected while some were quite surprising and I liked being surprised.
- The FL's MIL turned out to be pretty likeable and great. The FL's grandmother was a gem. The scenes with the grandmother were mostly quite moving.
- I liked the happy ending.

What I Did Not Like So Much:
- Some parts were not edited well. Some parts were a little disjointed.
- There were annoying characters and some actors/ actresses could not act that well which marred the show a little bit.

Overall, I rate this a must-watch at 9/10! :o)
<3

I highly enjoyed watching both the FL and ML on my screen. Their chemistry was good. I liked that they behaved like pretty normal man and woman which made them relatable. I also liked their chemistry which set some slightly more adult scenes on fire. Thumbs-up for this drama! Be ambitious! Go Watch It and Love It! <3

:o)

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Such a moving drama ... this "always on the move"

I want to wax lyrical about this drama. It is spectacular. It is so very well-made. It is magnificent. It is fantastic. It deserves a standing ovation. Please watch this gem!

What I Loved:
- Bai Jing Ting does not disappoint. While he is not the most handsome of all the male leads out there, he is certainly one of the most versatile and skilled. Having watched several of his dramas, I must say that he is extremely versatile and he lives and breathes that very role that he embodies for that particular drama. In this drama, he is awesome yet again. I loved that he was very believable.
- All the characters from the main leads to the supporting cast were beyond excellent. I really felt as though I was transported to another time and another era. It really felt as though I was watching their lives unfold before me. Never did I think "Gosh, the acting is so raw that I can act better". Rather, I was blown away by how natural their acting was that it did not feel like I was watching people acting. It felt real!
- The plot was engaging and I liked how everything was linked together and explained well and resolved. The sense of closure was fulfilling. Some cases were solved quickly while some took many episodes to solve. I felt that it was like, how in real life, some things are resolved fast while others take years. It was very realistic and meaningful. It also kept me riveted as I wanted to know how things would eventually pan out. I felt a little bit like a sleuth too. I sort of guessed that Jia Jin Long was a baddie and yup, he was. Additionally, I liked seeing the growth of the characters. For example, Niu Da Li decided to do something to earn more money and to make something out of himself and work hard he did. I was so surprised to see how he did not shun smelly and hard work. Rather, he was positive that he would succeed. Yao Yu Ling rose and then, fell. It was "interesting" to see how a lady who was superficial and materialistic turned out to be the downtrodden one. Life has its ways, I suppose.
- There were many stand-out scenes. For instance, how Su Fang loved the abandoned little boy and how they adopted him and treated him as their own son; how the neighbours rallied together for one another in times of need like during Cai Xiao Nian's wedding; how Ma Kui treated the blind man with so much patience and kindness and never wanted anything in return; how the man cheered for Ma Kui whenever he threw a goodie bag to him and how he cried sorrowfully when it was Wang Xin who threw him that last goodie bag most probably prepared by Ma Kui for him. (I am tearing up as I remember the scene. It was heart-wrenching.)

What I did not Like:
- Actually, I really liked everything - the cast (especially), the plot etc. However, it was tragic to see Ma Kui die in the end instead of having his happily ever after.

This drama is fantastic! It is fabulous! I fully enjoyed it from start to end. I enjoyed the entire journey with the cast. The plot was beautifully shot and unfolded so nicely too.

As my partner said, "This is a simple 'heartlander' show but shot with such love and care and artistry that it feels like an award winning masterpiece!" To me, this is a masterpiece indeed! Please watch! Much love! Bravo!
<3
:o)

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Formidable ML & Feisty FL

I am a (small) fan of both the ML and FL after seeing their outstanding performances in other dramas. Thus, I was more than happy to give this drama a go and boy, it did not disappoint and I am truly delighted about this!

What I Loved:
- ML was so tall, so handsome, so cute, so goddamn powerful and strong. I loved that he wielded such authority and yet, he did not abuse his power (in general). The fight scene where he walloped the previous Commander of the Security Bureau was extremely cathartic as well as both jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. Wow! That punch punch punch punch punch!!! Loved it!
- I loved that ML was also devoted and sincere to his lady love.
- Good chemistry between ML and FL. I loved seeing ML as well as both of the love birds on screen.
- I always love a feisty and intelligent FL and FL in this drama did not disappoint. (Of course, I suggest gently to suspend all disbelief and just enjoy the drama and the powers of what a FL can do.) She was supremely capable and plucky. She was highly intelligent and modern in her thinking. She was confident and yet, human.
- Acting was great from everyone in the drama. The supporting cast of four women acted by veterans was awesome. They definitely understood their assignment and was beyond great. Everyone else in the show like the lackeys from the Security Bureau, FL's grandmother, Shen Huan, Shen Qi, the maids, the children and so on delivered great performances. Thumbs-up!
- I liked that everything was paced very well. There was nothing draggy and there was nothing that was too quick that it was, to me, considered not properly explained or accounted for.
- Riveting and intriguing plot which made me want to watch on and on. So many interesting and suspenseful things were happening. There were elements of cute too. Great plot! Well directed!
- The music sounded very modern and catchy. I liked the tunes.
- Happy ending!

What I Didn't Like:
- The king was all sorts of crazy and had his own selfish agenda. He was also so paranoid about losing his throne and was so very bloodthirsty.
- Hua Jing was absolute nutcase number 1. She should have leveraged on herself and not constantly blamed others and desire for things out of her control.
- All the bad people such as all the abusive husbands.
(I mean I get the memo from the script writer. I'm just saying.)

Overall, Blossoms in Adversity is a superbly wonderful drama and I highly recommend it! <3
It is well-made and the cast is all great! There is also a bit of a moral in place too that we should all blossom in adversity. Adversities abound in life. How we respond/ react to adversities and how we overcome them are more important. Problem-solve and continue to blossom and grow in adversity and despite adversity. <3

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One's Insecurity & Lack of Self-Esteem Leads to One's Downfall

I decided to watch this because (i) there are only 8 episodes which means it's quite easy to finish this drama and (ii) the cast is top-notch.

What I Found Good:
- The acting is top-notch (I reiterate). I think Mike He's transformation to tired working class husband is very convincing. I think he acted the best in this drama.
- The plot deals with very real issues like relationships problems between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, dementia, care-giving and its burdens, the duality of life - Jian Qing Fen wanted her MIL dead as caring for her was so hard but when she finally died, she missed her presence, the challenges of being a working parent, the frustration with the mundaneness of day to day life, the dissatisfaction of simply just living day to day without anything much that's exciting... ...
- Thought-provoking dialogue.
- The child actor who acted as Jian Qing Fen's son was quite endearing. He seemed sweet and was not a troublesome kind of kid.


What I Did Not Find So Great:
- The segue from present to past, past to present was at times, very confusing for me. I tried to make sense and tried to join the parts together. At times, I found the segue to be frustrating.
- The young Rebecca had kind of weird make-up and behaviours. She acted very oddly like a diffident teenager with autism. It was strange to watch. The present day Rebecca was very much more normal.

On the whole, this drama is on the heavy side so if you are looking for a light-hearted and humorous drama, this isn't your cup of tea. However, if you are looking for a drama with good acting, good cast and is quite short, you may want to consider this drama. :o)

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49 Glorious Episodes of Wang Da Lu <3

I watched this drama purely for Darren Wang Da Lu. I’m a fan. Yes, I am. To me, he is a extremely hot, charming and handsome. I had to watch this drama for him!

I highly recommend this drama if u, like me, are a Darren fan. Please watch this drama to enjoy how tremendously handsome he is in it! I enjoyed seeing him on my tv screen. He is gorgeous.

Watch because:
- Darren is the male lead. He is so very manly and powerful in this show. He looks supremely gorgeous in his getup. He looks so suave and powerful on horseback. I love his side profile which we get plenty of. I love his kiss scenes which are tender and yet, hot and sexy! He is my main reason for watching and my fellow likeminded fan of Darren, pls watch to enjoy Darren. He is awesome in this drama.
- Great acting from most actors and actresses, especially Darren/ Bo Wang. I think that Darren deserves Best Actor Award for his performance in this drama.
- The sound track is well-made and I have been listening to it non-stop since I started on the drama. The best songs are the ones sung by Jolin Tsai and another two called Stone and Sirius. Well-made OST for sure.
- Storyline is fairly good - exciting and interesting.

The parts that I didn’t like much:
- Lots of bloodshed.
- The female lead got on my nerves quite a bit. She could have been re-cast and another better female lead would have been better. I can think of better/ more suitable actresses but I won’t name any.
- The nasties - meaning the bad characters - are awful. The King is mad for power. The second son is crazy and evil. There are a few very annoying characters in this drama.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this drama and I will definitely rewatch this drama for scenes with Darren/ Bo Wang. He is truly extremely handsome, charming and charismatic in this drama. I have seen him in movies and yet, in this drama, he is exceptional! Exceptionally handsome! Exceptionally powerful! Exceptionally great! Watch for 49 episodes of darling Darren/ Bo Wang. <3

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A must watch for men and women

As a mother, I was drawn to the show to find out what Birth Centre was all about. I found the show relatable on the whole.
Of course, there were some parts that weren’t that believable but it’s a drama after all and not real real life. The women were walking too comfortably and normally which is unlike how most women who have given birth naturally do... but, this is a show after all. Most parts were realistic.

I recommend this show for teens - boys and girls - so that they understand that pregnancy and childbirth are NOT walks in the park and to be careful with birth control.

I recommend this show for husbands, especially fathers-to-be, so that they know a little bit more of what pregnancy and child birth are like for their wives / partners. Pregnancy and birth are difficult.

I like the part in the show where the Manager of Serenity Postpartum Care Centre says: it’s very different from what you expected. Everyone says pregnancy and labor are beautiful but it isn’t necessarily true for all women. Pregnancy is exhausting, labor is cruel and the recovery process is miserable. — I totally nodded my head in agreement. It is a blessing to have a healthy baby but a mother’s sacrifices should not be ignored. A newborn baby’s needs are of utmost importance but a mother’s needs are equally (if not more) important. A mother has to be well to take care of her baby.

Another part which resonate was: the wicked 5 kg which can’t to gotten rid of (nods), the saggy boobs due to breastfeeding, the postpartum hair loss (terrible and horrifying).

The show was generally fast-paced and entertaining other than some scary bits. The show deals with weighty issues like a newborn’s death and how mothers are under pressure to be perfect mothers and wives and to continuously sacrifice to be seen as good mothers.

I like that show ended with: a good mother isn’t a perfect mother but a happy mother who’s happy with her life and thus, happy with her child. I think a main takeaway is that mothers are also human beings who should be seen and recognised for who they are and not simply as “so and so’s” mother. A mother is a unique individual and should be seen as one too (other than being a mother).

I recommend this for teens - watch to understand what not to get yourselves into.
I recommend this for husbands / fathers to be - to understand your wives / partners better.
I recommend this for women / mothers - to know that we are all in this womanhood / motherhood together.

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Watch! Thumbs up!

I really enjoyed this show!!

This show popped up on my YouTube. As a result, I decided to do some research. After my research, I decided to watch Chef Fang first before watching Chef Hua. Chef Fang was good enough. Thus, I decided to watch Chef Hua and it turned out to be better than Chef Fang IMO.

Watch this because:

* The chemistry between the leads is wonderful, heartwarming and heart-stopping. I love watching them together.
* I love the interactions and expressions of affection and love between the two leads. In the show, they truly love and care for each other. It’s so lovely to watch. ‘Heart Eyes’
* The story line is decent enough.
* The female lead is so cute and pretty.
* The male lead is manly, handsome enough and has a good build.

Overall, please watch! I highly recommend!!

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Watch for the Cute Leads

I’m not a fan of medical dramas but I gave this a shot because I like both the male and female leads. PSH is such a beauty. She’s lovely to watch on screen. KRW is really manly and handsome. He’s lovely to watch on screen too.

Watch because:
- beautiful leads
- overall, good-looking cast
- plot is generally interesting throughout
- plot is generally well-linked
- plot is generally fast-paced
- chemistry between the two leads is sizzling - I love watching them being lovey-dovey on screen
- kissing scenes on fire between the two leads
- love triangles that aren’t full of angst

Worth watching for sure.
Rewatch value is pretty high!
Enjoy!

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revelations upon revelations

As the rating for this drama was good, I decided to jump right in despite not knowing both ML and FL well. I liked it!

What I Liked/ Worked:
- The acting from the cast was good.
- Layers of plot. There was plenty of suspense and tension. Whodunnit?! Together with the ML and FL, the viewers get privy into what happened years ago and into the gory, painful, brutal truth.
- The soundtrack suited the show.
- The storyline was riveting even though many parts were dealing with the malicious nature of the people around.

What I Didn’t Like:
- The father was beyond hateful. He was exceedingly selfish and more cold-blooded than a reptile. He killed his own father to further his own evil and selfish causes. He ruined the precious and innocent lives of others like his wife and daughter in order to further his own cause. Worse still, he had no remorse and wanted to live on at the expense of others. He had no qualms about hurting others so as to protect himself. He was self-centered and wicked to the core.
- I would have liked more lovey dovey scenes between ML and FL. More romance would be better IMO.

I recommend this drama as it is engaging and entertaining.

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First Love Forever

I like the male lead though he’s not the most dashing of actors around. He is an excellent actor and carries his roles well.

What I Liked:
- The song track was very good. Catchy songs.
- The female lead was very good-looking. I had total hair envy just looking at her gorgeous locks.
- The plot was decent and the supporting cast of people whom the FL worked with in the Nan Wu news company were nice and I liked that.
- The ML was a good guy and was truly so in love. I liked that they were devoted to each other.
- I liked that FL was feisty and courageous. She tried her best to protect herself and she was brave in the face of adversity. How difficult it must have been for her to be abandoned by her mother after her father’s death. How difficult it must have been for her to live with her awful relatives without pure hearts and intents. How awful it must feel to be thus unloved and abused,

What I did not like:
- I didn’t like all the bad characters. Duh? The FL’s uncle was disgusting and immoral. Such a lecherous scumbag.
- The FL’s relatives were generally disgusting too. Horrid characters. Exceedingly selfish and immoral.
- The second lead’s story with the grandparents and all that was quite unnecessary though the second FL was cute.

Overall, I think this is an easy kind of watch. The cinematography is beautiful. It’s a good show though some parts can be a little slow. I think the leads did a good job to carry the show and their roles. ;o)

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Slice of life in a different world (from mine)

I decided to watch this drama because of Ma Yi Li. I watched her in a few other dramas and she was great. She was the only one I knew in this drama and decided to go ahead nonetheless. I must say that I was glad I did because I loved this short series dearly.

What I Loved About It:
- The cinematography was, to me, breath-taking. I liked the different shots of the scenery, the people, the animals...
- The acting was very good because it was very natural.
- "Oh my gosh, camels!" was my thought and I found it so amusing because it featured a slice of life which was so different from my own.
- There was a bit of a plot and romance and just plenty of small and biggish things going on in this place.
- It showed me a vastly different world from what I know and I felt intrigued and enlightened.
- I liked the romance between the Wen Xiu and Batay. They looked good together and I was glad that they were sincere about each other.
- A fairly happy ending in the end.
- Lessons -- Life happens. Choices have to be made in the spur of the moment or not but "time heals (?)" ... Life goes on. No matter where we are, we are just trying to make things work out (for us).

What I Didn't Like So Much:
- The scumbag in the form of Gao Xiao Liang made me detest him greatly. He was immoral and manipulative. He was a liar and a cheater. I hate such people.
- The death of Snowshoe turned out to be immensely sad. The whole scene tore me apart.

Overall, I am delighted to generously give this drama a 10/10. I truly enjoyed it and found this production full of heart. I highly recommend this drama! :o)
<3

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Strangely Captivating!

I watched the FL in "Our Glamorous Time" and that was it. Nonetheless, she left a positive impression on me - pretty and a good actress. I was stoked to see high ratings for this drama and decided to watch it without further ado.

What I Enjoyed A Lot:
- I love a strong FL and an endearing ML who is just oh-so-smitten-in-a-good-way about his lady love.
- The ML is so cute too.
- Acting for both ML and FL are top-notch. The supporting cast is great too.
- Drama is full of ups and downs which make it exciting and suspenseful.
- Music is dramatic and matches the different scenes well.
- The CG is actually nice to look at. The cartoon phoenix is cute.
- The plot, though (to me) at times really kind of bizarre and unbelievable, comes together in the end. I am amazed and delighted at how everything ties up nicely.
- The snake spirit is so cute. I like the camaraderie between the ladies in the show.
- I like Mo Fang before the weird transformation.
- The happy ending is wonderful. I like.

What I Did Not Enjoy So Much:
- Poor Mo Fang and his battle with that weirdo with a one-track mind.
- The fixated weirdos in the drama who want to rule everything and create ghouls.
- Some parts were a little strange and perhaps, too long and perhaps, not needed.

Nevertheless, this drama is exciting and dramatic. Everything is quite nicely tied up. Everything is explained quite well. I like such shows which do not leave the viewers hanging and wondering what is actually going on. I highly recommend this drama! I like it very much! Both leads are "da bomb"! <3

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Mature, Secure Man & Feisty Woman

The beginning of this 40-episode drama was really cool and great. I was taken from the get-go. The premise seemed funny and engaging. The leads are an actor and an actress whom I admire :) The rating would have been a notch higher if not for the ending...

What I Liked Very Much:
- Hands down, the ML and FL. Ever since I watched the ML as Hao Du, I have fallen much in love. He is suave and manly and tall and charming... I only watched the FL once in Bu Bu Jing Xin but she left a very positive impression on me. I was happy to watch this pretty actress who has the acting chops to match.
- I liked that the ML was a secure man who did not see the need or have to lord over his woman. I liked seeing a healthy man-woman relationship in which two mature people wanted to be together and chose to overcome their challenges to be together. Seeing them together was beautiful and heart-warming.
- I liked the growth of the characters like the growth of Princess Yang Ying from timid and weak to valiant and resourceful. I liked seeing the growth of the different main characters and how the characters matured/ developed as the plot unfolded.
- I liked the strong and fearless FL who unabashedly reminded others that she was the best assassin. She would kill and she could kill and that she was not to be messed with. The empress of Wu State turned out to be a strong woman too who was smart and resourceful.
- The plot, especially the first 20 episodes were fast-paced and riveting. Many things were happening and things were moving quite happily along IMO. There were several twists in the plot which were highly interesting and suspenseful.

What I Did Not Like Very Much:
- There were, of course, villains. I do not like villains even though I am fully aware of the need for both good and bad in a plot. The emperor of An State was insufferable. I was glad to see him gotten rid of.
- The ending was not a happy one and while I understand that both in reel life and in real life, happy endings are not guaranteed, I was desperately hoping for a more pleasant/ happier ending without that many deaths and suffering and bloodshed.
- The ending, to me, was also kind of ambiguous. Speaking for myself, I much prefer a more direct happy ending.

Nonetheless, this drama is an excellent one. The actresses and actors did a fantastic job. I recommend this drama! :)

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