Suzie Queue

Dreadful writing, despite the actors' efforts

What an abysmal waste of the talented actors in this piece. The fact that I liked so many of them (ML, Sidekick, Father Shen, Kid); despised some of them (SML, Dowager Empress); and was totally disgusted with just one of them (FL) proves that even good acting cannot save a crappy storyline. I don't know what the writer was thinking. And then to reward the slimiest character in the end with no Karma... that was hard to take!

I fast forwarded through entire episodes after around ep. 18. The deceitful SML's perfidy was repeated over and over, and the brainless FL was swallowing every story she could get out of a damn bird! The ML was like a sponge, sucking up all the blame and the betrayal in the name of misguided love. I only watched till the end to see reality hit the FL in the face - but still she kept on being just as delusional as she was throughout.

What a waste of a potentially good drama! You can bet your bottom dollar I wouldn't rewatch this if it was the only series playing. Sorry actors (who tried hard to save the sinking ship)!

Oh! Shout-out to the community on the MDL message board for this drama. Without their spoilers and reviews I would have been so much more frustrated, aggravated, and disappointed. Thanks, y'all!

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What an unexpected surprise!

I had been avoiding this drama for a while. Every time it popped up on the list of dramas, I would skip over it. Initially, the facial expressions of First Wife really turned me off. Third time's the charm. I watched the entire first episode, then the second, and then I was hooked. It's a hefty 43 episodes, but so worth it in the end! The story isn't overly complex and told in sections, so you know who the main focus is at the time. There are a couple of loopholes, but not so the story suffers.

The characters were endearing and hateful (whichever applied). The chemistry between the couples was believable and I really grew to like them. It was hard to watch the First Brother & his wife's story. He did her so wrong and didn't (I believe) make it up to her sufficiently. The villainess in that story arc did not get enough comeuppance for my taste, either. Favorite character? The matriarch for her grace and dignity. Least favorite character(s)? The housekeepers and maids in the mansion. Favorite couple? Sorry - not the ML & FL lead - Second Brother and his wife. They worked hard for that. Girl with the most guts? The Noble Consort, kicking the Emperor to the curb after he treated her so badly and expected her to fall back into his arms. Boom!

The OST - Lu Hu's voice is outstanding and so unique. His duet with Bai Lu 'The Purple Hairpin' was a work of beauty - I listen to it more than I'd like to admit and love it every time.

Overall, I liked how the entire drama told the story of the members of this family. Despite the bickering and competition (which reminds me - Third Brother's wife: what a money-grubber! I wish she had given him a little love), despite the ups and downs, this family loved each other as best as they knew how, and watching their stories unfold was really what held my interest. This one has made it to my list of favorites, and I will definitely be rewatching this at some point.

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Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse... it did!

The amnesia storyline is usually boring anyway, but in this drama, it was done and then done to death. Still, I persisted. In her own way, the FL's character was somewhat endearing despite her silliness. The ML's character was appealing, and he certainly was easy on the eyes. Their chemistry was just so-so. Still I persisted.

Then came the twist at the end, and hope sprung. Maybe we didn't waste the episodes after all and endured the crappy editing and choppy story-telling. And then came the biggest disappointment of all. That ending! The crappiest, most unsatisfying end to a drama as I have ever seen. It was pointlessly cruel and left me totally stunned. I searched for alternate ending; some explanation; a season 2 perhaps. But nothing.

I try to give a drama a decent rating because I believe the actors deserve credit for the roles they are given and strive to play. That is the only reason this drama got any rating at all. I hope never to encounter anything this writer does - and certainly won't watch it.

Absolutely NO rewatch value, and if you're looking for something to watch, stay clear of this one.

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A Pleasant Surprise

Nothing too complicated about this storyline. A few plot holes and loose ends, but overall, a decent watch. The actors did a fine job in my opinion. When you really like or really despise characters, you know that the actor did his/her job well. In this one, there weren't a lot of characters to despise, but there were quite a few to love. Jeremy Tsui did a great job as usual - his expressions say even more than his words do, and I love that about his acting. He can relay such emotion with one stare that it melts your heart! I'm a big fan of PDA, and this one didn't have too many scenes like that, but the attractions and feelings were portrayed well, and even felt sweet in some scenes.

Can we talk about the familial roles in this one? Finally, there wasn't the heartless emperor or the wicked stepmother/sister/auntie/uncle. The families had their moments but were so much nicer and more unified. I really liked that a lot.

The ending was a little bittersweet for me, I like Karma and got very little of it this time. The couple I liked a lot didn't quite get much but leaves something to your imagination (which doesn't suit me - I want hard facts and gratification). There were a lot of very touching, heartwarming scenes which I appreciated and enjoyed as well. Still, I didn't fast-forward through much of this series which says a lot for me.

A good watch if you're looking for something sweet and simple (and you're a fan of Jeremy Tsui).

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Worth every minute!

I enjoyed this series very much. The story was well-told, and the pace was pretty good. I didn't fast forward once. I particularly liked that there was none of the usual fanatical sinister plot, the lies and subterfuge, and most of all, the female characters were not portrayed as empty-headed and obsessed with a man. However, I would have liked the relationship between Shang Guan & Lin Qi to have been a little less combative, as many perceive her treatment of him as abusive. I personally did not - taking into consideration where her character was from - a state of warriors, so naturally, she was aggressive. Every couple had their story arc, and all the sub-plots wrapped up nicely. Karma was served graciously, and even the villains got decent comeuppance.

The entire cast performed superbly. Some say there was no chemistry between the ML & FL, but I beg to differ. They were so sweet - and their relationship grew and blossomed into love for each other. At first, she was a little annoying, but there was no doubt she loved her Prince. The other couples were well-matched too - and all of the characters interacted well in their respective roles, making them a very believable and relatable family. Li Wei's maids were a hoot - I liked that they were smart and unafraid to speak their minds. But my favourite character of all was Su Shen. I laughed with him, I cried with him. He was the perfect interjection of humor and wit and sentimentality. The most touching scene for me was between Lin Qi and his father when Lin Qi comes to see his father when he is sick. This epitomizes what I think the heart of this drama is about. Family. All the different elements of this family and how its members co-exist and relate to each other. It is a touching story beautifully told.

I will certainly put this on my list of shows to rewatch.

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Shallow as Glass

I can't think what the screenwriter was thinking when she put this one together. The story itself had potential, but somehow got lost in the very shallow characters portrayed in the drama. The premise of a man growing up with the psychological scars of a trauma in his childhood, then finding a love to heal him was intriguing. This writer certainly did not do that scenario any justice!

The performance by the actors wasn't the problem, as I quite liked the ML's character and his growth by the end of the series. I liked the FL's brother and his silly girlfriend; I liked the ML's assistant and the FL's 'assistant'. I even liked the ML's mother. The character played by the FL was the one that spoiled this for me. She looked like a schoolgirl in a group of adults and professionals. She was so shallow, self-centered and insensitive to everyone and everything around her. She was petulant and demanding and spoiled. The choice of clothing for her was very unfortunate - making her look like a child, again, playing in the midst of adults. It was almost cringeworthy to watch the love scenes because while the ML looked hot, she managed to look like a frightened child who didn't know what was happening to her. (I hate the fish-eye trope when these couples are kissing. It is so unattractive!)

Let's mention the 'bad guys', shall we? Talk about plot holes and loose ends. What happened to the evil 'uncle' who was trying to sabotage the company every which way? What happened the bitch girlfriend-wannabe after ML found out she had tampered with the papers and caused all the plagiarism backlash? And they never even found out that she had sabotaged the FL in the first place. Again - the screenwriter dropped that ball!

I suffered through the 30 episodes with the help of the fast-forward button and a morbid curiosity to see how Karma might be served to those who deserved it. I got no such satisfaction. I persevered to see if the romance factor of both the couples would compensate me for my time and effort. Very little satisfaction there, although I will admit to some sizzle between the second couple - and a little between the lead couple if I could get past her looking like a minor. Still, there was very little development of the romances per se - one minute they were enemies the next, they were kissing and voila! A couple!

OST wasn't all that - so I couldn't give many points for that. And I definitely wouldn't re-watch this.

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This Director Does a Great Job!

This is not your garden variety CDrama. At first, I was a little dazed, but kept watching anyway, and it paid off. I loved the characters. Loved the chemistry. There are still a few holes and parts of this storyline that left me scratching my head and wondering if I missed something... but the truth is that I just liked the actors and the fact that we got a happy ending even after some moments of angst and emotion.

The ML is undoubtedly one of my favorites. He was so endearing, and I loved watching his gamut of emotions and his sincerity with his FL. She was a little simple in the beginning, but as a part of the storyline it made sense. Rain Lu plays dumb really well, but as she grows up in the part, she is also endearing. Loved the second couple, and even though I despised the SML at first, I really liked how he thawed and became a better person to match that sweet SFL.

Definitely the most kudos must go to this Director and the writers. Their series of short dramas are all favorites of mine, and I plan to watch everything they collaborate on or have a part in.

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Cliffhanger Hell

I searched long and hard to find episodes after episode 8 - and with English subtitles. I was really into the story up to that point. I liked the interaction between the characters, their friendships and their loyalty. The chemistry between the ML & FL was cute and believable.

And then I got to episode 18 and got a cliffhanger! Oh no! Is there going to be a Season 2?! Can't find information anywhere, and now I'm left with this gaping void of unanswered questions and 'what happens next'?

I have to mention the great acting that Duan Xing Yu (Cha Zi (Purple)/Fei Yan) did. She was a treat to watch - her quirky side switching from personality to personality, and her tragic side in the end.

Can't wait to see Season 2. Could we be warned next time there's a cliffhanger?!

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You will have to try to stick with it

It was not easy to stick with this story to its conclusion. To make matters worse, the subtitles in the last three episodes were utter garbage. Word salad that made NO sense whatsoever; you couldn't even get the gist of what people were saying. Good thing the main storyline had pretty much wrapped up, and you could glean from the actors what was happening. Unfortunately, the FL was the most irritating - her character was pretty dumb and clueless. The ML wasn't too far behind. The Crown Prince and Concubine WU had the most chemistry - loved them! The villains were pretty evil but I wish they had gotten more comeuppance. All in all, the story could have been better told, and although I watched all the episodes (even those last awfully subtitled three), it took a lot of commitment on my part. I definitely wouldn't rewatch it.
On an entirely different note, watching these dramas makes me want to run out and learn embroidery!

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Such a Good Watch

This is such a well-told story. There were some sweet moments that had me reaching for a Kleenex. The acting is superb, and the music was great too. The cinematography was excellent - some great close ups and shots of expressions on faces, and external cues. The watcher can almost feel the emotions at times. The villains were awful but believable - the good guys were admirable and even loveable. The leads were spectacular. I really liked this series. I liked that there were no senseless deaths, a lot of heroes, and a whole lot of love - lasting love, not just fluff. If you're looking for something you can sink your teeth into, this is it.

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This One Was Eye-Candy Only!

Dai Gao Zheng. That's the reason I lasted through 30 short episodes. I was rewarded by every shirtless scene and even a few of the kisses because he is hot. HOT! Admittedly he had much better chemistry with this FL in Maid's Revenge, but she was very disappointing and underwhelming in this drama.

The story was weak. The acting overall was mediocre. I would say the only really believable character was the ML's adopted brother. The story had so many holes, and the story was really not very well developed. Poor writing was the contributor to this, I think.

The only reason I gave this as much a rating as I did was because of the ML. And I knew that it wasn't his acting I was really paying attention to. He was much more convincing in MR (but I watched that one for the shirtless scenes and his sex appeal too). Same applies to rewatch. I wouldn't come back for the story or the acting, just to look at this very appealing ML!

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The Good Guys Win in This One!

What a great series. Honestly! It was really well done. The story was simple and straightforward. The villains were villains and no surprises. The good guys were GOOD GUYS, and I could relate to every single one (well, except for the poison girl, but even she had redemption in the end).

Can we talk about the ML & FL and SML & SFL? What chemistry!!! Their friendships were believable and even that had chemistry. Despite being timid and intimidated by his wife, QingJai's character was his greatest strength, and his love for his wife was evident in every glance and touch. A'Jaio's strength of character and her fierce protection of her husband were endearing, and as she came to understand and love him, it was precious to watch. BUT my overall favorite couple was Gao Zheng and Yu Niang. What a love-story, and what chemistry. Those two were electric. I just adored that couple.

Everything tied up in the end, and for once the final episode was not rushed and sloppy. I would have liked some more PDA but that's the romantic in me. I just rewatched the scenes I loved best.

This is one drama I will be sure to rewatch. I cannot say enough how well done it was. The story, the acting, the music (love that ending song that Zhang Han Yun & Tong Meng Shi sing - they are fantastic), and of course, the romance. If there was a score higher than 10, I would have given it!

I'm hoping for some leading roles for Chin Yi Long - there's just something about that actor.

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What Rain?

I have to say that despite a few hiccups, I enjoyed this drama. So much time wasted on side stories and characters who contributed very little to the overall plot. The war and fighting scenes were overdone and took up too much time for my liking. This whole drama could have been told in less episodes with less fillers.

First time seeing most of these lead actors. I realized the chemistry between the ML & FL immediately. The 2ML was handsome and all that, but despite her goo goo eyes at him, I felt little or no chemistry between them, so I had no problem with 2ML syndrome. I liked the pairing of 2FL & 2ML and how it kind of developed as their personalities and backgrounds were more appropriately aligned. BUT - that character of FengYao OMG! If she shouted, called out, called after, or moaned Mo Xi one more time I was going to throw something at the screen! Helpless, simple-minded and just plain useless! I'm glad she had some redemption in the end.

The FL is beautiful - even when she was scowling or making faces, she has a very pretty face. The ML was rugged and rough and scoundrel-ish, and I grew to like him. I kept mixing up the 'bad guys' and couldn't really keep track of the plots and who's working with who. And that gender-bender general was downright nasty! That actress played the part so well that was the one character I genuinely hated with a passion.

OST was pretty.

I might rewatch if I wanted to kill some time on a weekend. I'd still fast-forward through some of the scenes, but there are some scenes I enjoyed and would watch again.

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An OK drama to pass the time

I really don't care for these short episode format dramas. This one was not 'stitched together', so there were more opening and closing credits than drama content and that was annoying. If I have to watch a short episode drama, I would have to tough out the awful sound that comes as a result of running the episodes together. Anyway, I digress...

This was an uncomplicated story, and it didn't drag. The episodes were too short to allow that. The editing was awful, as many of the episodes did not run smoothly into one another, so the scenes were choppy. Still able to follow the general plotline, however.

The ML & FL didn't have an awful lot of chemistry, but it was believable, and the directors must have completed this before the nonsensical censorship that has since gripped the film industry. I found the FL to be stiff and almost expressionless in some scenes, but for the most part the characters and the acting were just ok.

I liked the ending, although right up to the end I was prepared for something else.

If you're looking for something light to fill the time, this isn't bad. Would I rewatch? Probably not.

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I admit I only watched for the ML

I dislike this short-episode format. This story had potential but too much in too little time made it fail for me. Scriptwriters have to do a better job pulling the pieces together and not wasting time on unimportant arcs (the evil stepsister after she served her purpose, the domineering mother - too many wasted scenes, the evil villain - too much time on his poor me story). The chemistry between the ML & the FL was there - but very much so because the ML was so smokin' hot!! I really watched the drama through to look at him. I hope we will see him in many dramas to come, and I would love to see him in a historical drama.

And can we talk about the ending? So many ways that could have been different - and what a let-down after so much time was wasted previously. And whatever that 'bonus' episode was meant for? It was a complete waste of time. The production was pretty good - costumes, sets, action, and the acting was pretty good too. It's the writing and the direction that fell short. To be honest, I only gave it as high a rating as I did because of Dai Gao Zheng.

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