Firefly88

True

So there are two episodes left, the question is whether the ML and FL will take the next step romantically or whether they will stay as mentor and mentee...?

The ML and FL have a mentor mentee sort of relationship. He is guiding her, but there are special moments where you can see there are feelings, especially on her part, but it's barely there. There is a romance between two other colleagues however that is developed quite a bit, but the main focus of the story is the case and the law.

I am loving this drama so so much. I'm up to episode 7. It's got such a raw, real feel to it. These are the kinds of high quality, meaningful productions I want to see more of!

Thanks!

Out of curiosity, I just had a peek at your watchlist and it looks different than mine. It has pictures next to the drama name. How did you do that?

Hahaha "shipper goggles"... Well, let's see! 🥸

He also has feelings though... The last episode he was jealous because of that predatory client. At the end, he and her ex were furiously working out. There is definitely a romance developing here, but it's just a tad slow.

Also, there has been a focus on both his and her romantic pasts.

This is definitely a romance. She is sniffing his handkerchief like a cat with catnip. But I was expecting a little bit more progress by episode 6.

The last two episodes didn't measure up for me, and there is a lack of romantic development too.

What a mixed bag. Parts of this drama is top notch. The acting is fantastic, the relationship is realistic and everything is very authentic. The chemistry between the leads is great. It feels like real life, not a drama. This couple got me completely invested in their relationship.

But... hardly anything happens in 30 episodes. There are some similarities with Fireworks of my Heart, but that drama had a lot of exciting subplots showing the firemen at work. In this drama, the ML is a bomb diffusing expert, but we only get two scenes of him actually on a mission, the rest of the time he is giving long speeches, endless scenes of training or sitting in meetings or being surrounded by nameless support characters. It all feels very perfunctory. When Lu Chen is injured, we see the beginning of the scene, and then he's in a hospital bed. Did they not film these scenes or were they censored?

The same goes for the FLs career. Lots of scenes of her at meetings or with colleagues, but there's never any project that we as the viewers get involved in. A lot of the drama feels like a photoshoot.

Lots of strange scenes like they are going for lunch. They arrive at the restaurant. Then it cuts to when they leave. Completely meaningless scene. No meaningful conversations or interactions.

Incredibly repetitive. It could have been cut down by 10 or 15 episodes and you wouldn't miss anything.

There are far too many long flashback scenes that are repeated 3 or 4 times.

Certain plot developments never happened. For example, Gui Xiao's sister was mentioned several times because she's in the same field as Lu Chen. But we never see her once. We also never meet Lu Chen's other siblings. A colleague of Gui Xiao in the first few episodes disappears for the rest of the drama. There are lots of these kinds of inconsistencies. Some themes could have expanded upon like Lu Chen's alcoholic father and the mother with non existent self esteem, but they wrap it up in a very unrealistic way. Support characters behave in a very unrealistic way. Gui Xiao's mother is away when she is giving birth, and completely uninterested. The relationship themes with her parents didn't lead anywhere. Also a lot of writing mistakes where something has happened earlier that then happens again later. Plot holes. Such a mess if you look closely at it.

Despite all of these flaws, I felt very invested in the leads and their relationship. I just think it's a massive shame that the rest of the drama was so hollow. They had 30 episodes and did virtually nothing with all that sceeentime.

8/10 (for the fantastic performances of the leads, without it would be a 4/10)

I don't think his comments were bad per se. He asked a question about a sensitive topic, but netizens blew it out of proportion. He apologised but still got blacklisted. It's unfortunate. He's a very talented actor.

I started this some time ago but wasn't in the mood. Just started again and it's really good but why did they have to dub Shawn Dou's voice? Sounds nothing like him!

It's always a good idea to start with low expectations lol, then you might be pleasantly surprised.

2018-19 was a great year for dramas.

I watched Haolan as well, but I lost interest in the last few episodes. Fantastic production with great actors and performances. Some of those historical productions dealing with real historical people and events can occasionally become a bit too docuseries and the story loses its flow.

I watched up to episode episode 13 of Princess Gambit but it just wasn't doing it for me. I may come back to it and try again. Being in the right mood or headspace is so important for a drama.

I've watched most of the big historical dramas because it's my favourite genre, but I've dropped a few that lost my interest halfway through.

Short dramas aren't my cup of tea.

I watch a huge range of different types of dramas (historical romance, xianxia, wuxia, modern), just depends on my mood. I just finished Three Body, which was very intense and philosophical, and different from what I would usually watch. I've been trying to watch Princess Gambit, but it wasn't really gripping me, and while I loved Meng Ziyi in Blossom, I find her a bit grating in Princess Gambit.

Although I enjoyed the dramas you mentioned, I miss the old days before the episode caps.... Story of Minglan, Rise of the Phoenixes, Yanxi Palace, The Rebel Princess, Love like the Galaxy...

You're right though, the overall standard has increased a lot in the last few years. I'm also glad to see higher production and costume budgets and more dedication to historical authenticity like Flourished Peony. That drama was a real feast for the eyes. I recently completed the second part.

Ok... woah there. I think you misread my tone... Easily done online, I understand. Let me just be clear, I am not looking down on anyone, I was genuinely just striking up a conversation since you said you were also a seasoned C drama watcher, and we have that in common... I've watched hundreds now, but I think the ones we watch in the early days are always the most special. The more you watch, the more these typical C dramas cliches can become a bit repetitive, but my theory is you don't notice it so much when you're just starting out with C dramas because you don't have as much to compare it to... There are definitely dramas I watched in the beginning that I wouldn't think so highly of if I watched them now for the first time.

As for recommendations, many haven't watched or even heard of Longest Day in Chang'an since it isn't an idol drama. Although, like you, I have been watching C dramas for many years, I am always grateful for a recommendation because it's always possible I missed out on an hidden gem. Nevertheless, sorry if you found my recommendation offensive.

Oh yeah? How many have you watched? How long have you been watching C dramas for? Of course, we have different perspectives. It's all good. ☺️Speaking of investigation dramas, have you watched The Longest Day in Chang'an? Now that really is a masterpiece I can recommend 💯.

I'm up to episode 17 so I'm judging based on what I've seen so far... Let's put it like this. It's an entertaining watch and the plot is fast paced. As a seasoned C drama watcher, the characters are all pretty generic and it's not that deep. The detective work is pretty predictable and there is a lot of fantastical premises mixed in, typical of a C drama.
It's worth a watch, but for what it is, it's overrated, it's no masterpiece... I would lower the score to 8.3/10 to put it in the same category as other dramas of the same quality.

I haven't watched it in years. Don't remember the ending, but I remember it was a high quality production with a lot of twists and turns and I really enjoyed it.