This has come to a dramatic turning point! Will the romance started in the remote village survive these new developments? waiting for last 8 episodes... Yes the turning off lights to probably kiss in the cramped closet was unnecessary. I was jerked away from the moment, thinking in spite, from the frustrated fluff: why don't all the things stored there noisily crash down on them in the dark, with the whole family rushing at the ruckus to discover the guilty hiding pair , lol It could have been comedic, but it missed opportunities in every respect ! There were a lot of interesting take-away from this drama, as regards culture, psychology, mindsets, persuasion and prejudices, yin yang Daoism grounding the traditional healing methods, although the lecturing may not have been taken kindly by everyone : I am sad that it already triggered some rather harsh reviews here on MDL especially since the drama has not reached end yet. It was almost top ten in popularity in China last week, and rating here is around 8, polarized along lovers and haters perhaps. Personally, I am still enjoying it, and I rather like the "new" Tianzhen who started so badly when he still did not know Toutou. The story was not always running smoothly though, despite the beautiful vignettes of the solar terms and other details. Mengmeng was the rather annoying "buzzfly"addition to me, as I immediately thought she must be a nymphomaniac (old term now replaced by hypersexual) with OCD + phobic tendencies that ought to have been treated by psychiatry, instead of the "clingy child" taken under the Ren family protection, under baffling circumstances, that we sometimes were led to believe she was. Her age was not clear until recent episodes, where the confusion was made bigger when there was talk about her schooling. Zhao Liquan turns out to be not the deserving young doctor on par with young Peng despite different family circumstances. But wasn't he a dubious one from the start, with his sly glances? Roubecca is still a strange addition to the team. The Ren family, grand parents, parents, and the mysterious outsider Xiaoyan are getting into a more conventional groove. Toutou has delighted me with her spontaneity and way of listening when everyone thought she was bored, asleep, unconcerned : of course I'll wager that she will attain the inheritor status.
“ The one who falls in love first is always at a disadvantage ” if you following the story then you would…
PS. As a curiosity, here's a patriotic song that our hero BinBin sang with Bai Jingting in 2021 (good voices both and they answer to interviewer too, although there are no English subtitles) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCUhMjZSoYQ&t=9s
“ The one who falls in love first is always at a disadvantage ” if you following the story then you would…
Yes I know hahaha, Ren Jialun is unique, and his wife is supposedly very careful with what she allows him to do, power to her and kudos to the faithful family man! I like what Allen Ren does, his humor in live shows and his music : he is a good singer/rapper and hiphop dancer. His song "Who/ 谁" and the autobiographical "He/ 他” on his concept album 立 are among those I often listened to, together with "Dreamers never sleep". I am not a member of the 嘉人 crowd, though. I just like to look into what multi-talented Chinese actors and celebrities and their fans are up to. Like Vin Zhang, Liu Yuning, Yang Yang, Z.Tao, Luo Yunxi, Xu Weizhou, Zhang Zhehan (ik, but his recent songs are so good + the concert in Bangkok), Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo (incl his dances with Cheng Xiao), Chen Feiyu (Ever Night, L&P), Jerry Yan Chengxu (MG 2001-2002, F4 and solo songs + now The Forbidden Flower!), Jackie Chan (the oldest, but with many good songs too)..... I keep loose tabs on a good many of these different and interesting celebs. including C-pop musicians and singers from back when to present day activities : JJ Lin (thrilling JJ20 World Tour!), Jay Chou, GEM, Tia Ray, Ma Siwei etc.
And thanks for the cute AROTLF slow kiss link + reminding me about "The King's Woman" and "I Will never let you go", which are on my to-watch-list for later ;-)
“ The one who falls in love first is always at a disadvantage ” if you following the story then you would…
Hmmm 😁 ? én/嗯 ? ahā/哈!? I did not check the deleted scenes of AROTLF. Perhaps someone posted them in pinned discussion of the drama on MDL ? Where should I look if I get curious about those steamy scenes with Dilireba and the other actress ?
Oh : the product placement festival! Well, TV series often live up to their nickname of "soap operas", don't they,…
Actually, to me PP is just fun. I seldom am really attracted to try and never to fork out to buy anyway. Product placement just goes with the territory and the sillier and more obvious it is, the merrier. I even sometimes imagine how they could be enhanced with jingles and surprise out-of-character appearances, and then, lo and behold, my wish comes true in some dramas that were recorded with the true-blue commercial interruptions! That's where I pause, and reflect that in-drama PP is still better than cutting up the story to make wildly unrelated actors demonstrate say, scented condoms or worse!! I hasten to reassure you that this never happened on Chinese TV, at least not for my unsuspecting eyes. Although... do you remember the fun with the pack of ... I seem; to recall : was it fruit flavored condoms ?! in The Oath Of Love? And the numerous moments when MLs show their care to loved one by heading to pharmacy or supermarket to purchase tampons and sanitary napkins, in addition to the rock sugar brew to treat their pains? lol.
Wait! Where did this drama come from? Well looks like another I need to wait for. Is it good so far? I know, you…
Tencent WeTV. recommended on my app feed, lol It is okay so far, I have not dropped it yet and think I'll watch through the 32 eps. But I am a moderate fan of Vin Zhang Binbin and I do not hate Janice Wu Qian either. So I'm here for these "idols", lol
“ The one who falls in love first is always at a disadvantage ” if you following the story then you would…
Bear with the little rabbit who probably confused arguing with discussing, a linguistic mistake that some non English speakers often make. And who looks to be indeed very young, since he/she (they?) dare(s) to say that he/she/they will disregard what others might feel about his/her opinion... lol isn't is grand to be able to vent like him/her/them? Ooof.
Otherwise, I also consider FL character to be rather far from selfish and instead insecure (surprisingly since she is not supposed to be a "spring chicken" any longer). There are many contradictory vibes in both characters behavior from my point of view, and that could tire and drive some audience away. Both have (until the point I reached) rather bizarre reactions to each other : one remembers all her favorite dishes and whims and perpetuates the memory, going out of his way to purchase canned meat and live crayfish for her. He, folds his woolen scarf around her neck in the cold Shanghainese night. He folds his arms around her and holds her tight to shield her from the sparse traffic on the street, but looks into the distance over her head, while she stands frozen like a statue despite the sterling occasion for a passionate kiss and embrace ? She spends nights to help him but is shy to reveal that she is not a pauper, when obviously no pauper could up and fly to him the way she did... I have not read the novel so I am content with watching along, thinking there may be a mystery that will be resolved along the way.
Given the previous dramas in which Wu Qian and Zhang Binbin, I don't really expect red-hot passion like in the "Forbidden Flower", rather the contrary. Probably a relationship akin to most of Allen Ren's often hands-off dramas ? (Ren Jialun made up for his "no open mouth kiss" famously rumoured contract clause, through the use of sizzling glances and eye contacts instead, Zhang Binbin almost did likewise in "Romance of the Little Flower" if I remember well). That's okay, I don't always crave for a sugar overdose 🥺 Enjoying Zhang Binbin's good looks, and seductive deep voice ❤️ Amused by Janice Wu's not unusual way of acting, although sometimes thinking that her ways of acting cute are over-the-top, when she grabs a fold of his clothes and bats eyelids at him.
Granted that Vin Zhang is not as well known an idol as Xiao Zhan (whose most recent upcoming drama is even slower in airing, since it is "postponed" at the moment. Last news I saw from XZ was about his leading the song "Chinese dream my dream", for an Internet event and that's already several weeks ago). Nevertheless, both Binbin and Wu Qian have fan bases, who follow their work, so technically they can indeed already be branded as "liulang" "traffic idols" too. The drama Here We Meet Again was in my WeTV suggested items and in the top billed selection there on my end (far away "in deep space", lol). You didn't answer my query about Bin Ge's "special appearance" in LO2O. Well, it was a long time ago. I could find it myself I suppose, if I have time to go through it once more (although this one is not my preferred drama). Have a nice day, or night, as applies.
Nice episode today, a lot of TCM informative information. I had a feeling the woman with the asthma/bronchitis/lung…
Oh : the product placement festival! Well, TV series often live up to their nickname of "soap operas", don't they, from the US to Brazil and everywhere? I once reviewed a sweet drama starring Liu Te which was a total product placement epic : they not only had the usual TCM cough granule boxes, the usual face masks, the usual yoghurts and slightly alcohol-laced Rio lemonades, the instant noodle or soup brands, including the dreaded luosifen, the usual beer brands, and car brands, and clothes brands, and phone brands, and how to use WeChat or Alipay to pay for stuff (which you can't easily order abroad unless you really need it and find a way to bootleg it in traveler's luggage lol) but that one even had kitchen appliance brands (Fotile)... It was actually very funny. There are the usual "drama tropes" to look for, as added "insiders" entertainment, with the way the se tropes get twisted this way and that ; and also these interesting foreign brands that you can't buy, so it's perfectly safe for your wallet ! The trip to food market is also always a source of nostalgic mirth to me, with the wealth of fresh vegetables that can't be found in many Western countries, and the live crayfish and fish swimming in tanks instead of left to rot on piles of ice. I even remember with nostalgia the live poultry that were brought home to be sacrificed and plucked and emptied, like my mom used to do long ago, purchased direct from friendly farms like in but far from China. The freshly pressed juice from long sugar canes, fresh pomegranates or dried persimmon, so much tastier than the candied ginger. The flowers to mix for healthy teas : blue cornflowers, chrysanthemum, rose and hibiscus petals, that could be purchased in bulk at the supermarket... Goji berries can be found in Western stores, when in China, artichoke was absent. In fact, in other countries' movies and dramas there are also ever so often product placements too, of chocolates, wines, Cognac, whisky, luxury perfumes or else, and cheese, foie gras, caviar, that are not common in China, so they like to get it as gifts. Cars, shoes and clothes of course sport brands that have become multinational. Looking with envy at the Tesla and other electric cars that can be recharged so easily in China, when it still is a hassle in most other countries...
Who couldn't notice Vin Zhang's charm, twinkling eyes and to-die-for deep voice? I am waiting for next episode while perusing his modeling pictures for Elle and Vogue, as collected on CPopHome where he now ranks 23rd among top Chinese celebs, after Zhang Jingyi and Yang Zi and before rising Cheng Xiao and Esther Yu with whom he played in "A Romance of the Little Forest". Listening to a few of his songs on YT. This handsome 江苏人 pairing with 吴倩 / Janice Wu drew me to this new drama (Janice did not play easy roles in her latest dramas, with LYX etc, but I can't forget her charm in carrying "The Brightest Star In The Sky" with Z.Tao, and she is now 38th on the celeb list, not bad, before Landy Li who so enthralled the audience of "The Starry Love" back in February). I am following "Here We Meet Again" on WeTV since I have VIP subscription, but noticed that the drama also reaches international audiences on YouTube where it is free to watch until ep6 at the moment : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbo-nGkgDPY&list=PLpOa-OrneXm0rvusu1VNEjuRO5CD9avW3&index=1 Trickling in at snail pace one episode a day, like on the free to watch part of WeTV. Liking it very much, so far ! oh, and since you seem to be into 彬淇淋, I have a question for you : do you remember in which episode 二彬 made a special appearance in 微微一笑很倾城 ?
I found one of the songs in the drama, the one by singer actor 胡文煊 Hu Wenxuan: 恩宠en chong (Grace). It is on Youtube with pinyin transliteration but no translation into English : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHjTZiy_T1M
As of May 26, it is fully subbed until Ep 15 on WeTV, in raw until Ep 23 on kiss or cool, but available as subbed until 12 on dailymotion where image is distorted. Lots of turnabout moments, some demoniac magic, some treason, a heartless and treacherous crown prince, an illegitimate other prince, some foreign princely "Kun" state that has perhaps an axe to grind with the rigid "Wei" emperor, some undead people... and a pretty girl who does not know who to trust and who to love. ML is maybe not the most handsome of the princes, but not bad looking either. Not boring. Short episodes, so binge-watchable as "dessert candy". Presumably, it will be released sometime after finale of today, as a "movie-edition" one.
I modified the overview of Daoism in the discussion of traditional Chinese culture, to show the hexagram 31 and its interpretations from the Book of Changes, that Mrs Dong referred to in her conversation with Rebecca in Episode 22. If you'd like to have a peek, it's linked above or through this direct link https://kisskh.at/discussions/hou-lang/100789-about-traditional-chinese-culture?page=2
Is this drama being promoted as a romance drama to begin with? I for one did not go into this drama expecting…
Same. I am a sucker for fluff once in a while as dessert, but wasn't expecting much of that sort in a drama about new generation pushed to new times, and TCM, and quite a big dose of realism. Wondering why people crave that much for romance in ALL dramas. Even if there is a mention of romance, it may only be a side story, and perhaps not really satisfying. Even the dramas strongly put forward as romances can end up unsatisfactory for the crowd that craves romance AND Happy End ever After (like in unbelievable fairy tales). I think we should be reasonable and just enjoy other things too. I like the Houlang drama as it is, mostly. Interesting confrontation of very traditional outlooks (gender-based work division) and Daoist faith (Ep. 18 - the Master : "How much help can we provide to patients? ... If we have faith [in ourselves, and/or progress] everything should turn out fine." This is a very Daoist outlook, consistent with the type of TCM he is teaching based on yin and yang interconnections.) I've added an overview of Daoism in "About traditional Chinese culture" discussion, in case someone is interested in the origins of that thinking, the ramifications in sects and places and texts and martial arts. And if you'd like to try coin-based divination with the Yi Jing too, lol, since the hexagrams are one development of the Taoist trigrams and bagua notions. Also pointing to Ken Liu (translator of The Tree Body Problem and gifted SFF writer himself) new translation of the Daodejing "scripture", available on Audible only, at the moment : Taoism looks like it is quite trendy, these days.
2 
4 
1 
Yes the turning off lights to probably kiss in the cramped closet was unnecessary. I was jerked away from the moment, thinking in spite, from the frustrated fluff: why don't all the things stored there noisily crash down on them in the dark, with the whole family rushing at the ruckus to discover the guilty hiding pair , lol It could have been comedic, but it missed opportunities in every respect !
There were a lot of interesting take-away from this drama, as regards culture, psychology, mindsets, persuasion and prejudices, yin yang Daoism grounding the traditional healing methods, although the lecturing may not have been taken kindly by everyone : I am sad that it already triggered some rather harsh reviews here on MDL especially since the drama has not reached end yet. It was almost top ten in popularity in China last week, and rating here is around 8, polarized along lovers and haters perhaps.
Personally, I am still enjoying it, and I rather like the "new" Tianzhen who started so badly when he still did not know Toutou. The story was not always running smoothly though, despite the beautiful vignettes of the solar terms and other details.
Mengmeng was the rather annoying "buzzfly"addition to me, as I immediately thought she must be a nymphomaniac (old term now replaced by hypersexual) with OCD + phobic tendencies that ought to have been treated by psychiatry, instead of the "clingy child" taken under the Ren family protection, under baffling circumstances, that we sometimes were led to believe she was. Her age was not clear until recent episodes, where the confusion was made bigger when there was talk about her schooling.
Zhao Liquan turns out to be not the deserving young doctor on par with young Peng despite different family circumstances. But wasn't he a dubious one from the start, with his sly glances?
Roubecca is still a strange addition to the team.
The Ren family, grand parents, parents, and the mysterious outsider Xiaoyan are getting into a more conventional groove.
Toutou has delighted me with her spontaneity and way of listening when everyone thought she was bored, asleep, unconcerned : of course I'll wager that she will attain the inheritor status.
I am not a member of the 嘉人 crowd, though. I just like to look into what multi-talented Chinese actors and celebrities and their fans are up to. Like Vin Zhang, Liu Yuning, Yang Yang, Z.Tao, Luo Yunxi, Xu Weizhou, Zhang Zhehan (ik, but his recent songs are so good + the concert in Bangkok), Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo (incl his dances with Cheng Xiao), Chen Feiyu (Ever Night, L&P), Jerry Yan Chengxu (MG 2001-2002, F4 and solo songs + now The Forbidden Flower!), Jackie Chan (the oldest, but with many good songs too)..... I keep loose tabs on a good many of these different and interesting celebs. including C-pop musicians and singers from back when to present day activities : JJ Lin (thrilling JJ20 World Tour!), Jay Chou, GEM, Tia Ray, Ma Siwei etc.
And thanks for the cute AROTLF slow kiss link + reminding me about "The King's Woman" and "I Will never let you go", which are on my to-watch-list for later ;-)
I did not check the deleted scenes of AROTLF. Perhaps someone posted them in pinned discussion of the drama on MDL ?
Where should I look if I get curious about those steamy scenes with Dilireba and the other actress ?
That's where I pause, and reflect that in-drama PP is still better than cutting up the story to make wildly unrelated actors demonstrate say, scented condoms or worse!!
I hasten to reassure you that this never happened on Chinese TV, at least not for my unsuspecting eyes. Although... do you remember the fun with the pack of ... I seem; to recall : was it fruit flavored condoms ?! in The Oath Of Love? And the numerous moments when MLs show their care to loved one by heading to pharmacy or supermarket to purchase tampons and sanitary napkins, in addition to the rock sugar brew to treat their pains? lol.
It is okay so far, I have not dropped it yet and think I'll watch through the 32 eps.
But I am a moderate fan of Vin Zhang Binbin and I do not hate Janice Wu Qian either.
So I'm here for these "idols", lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvGM2qh8qGw&list=PLpOa-OrneXm0rvusu1VNEjuRO5CD9avW3&index=6
Otherwise, I also consider FL character to be rather far from selfish and instead insecure (surprisingly since she is not supposed to be a "spring chicken" any longer). There are many contradictory vibes in both characters behavior from my point of view, and that could tire and drive some audience away.
Both have (until the point I reached) rather bizarre reactions to each other : one remembers all her favorite dishes and whims and perpetuates the memory, going out of his way to purchase canned meat and live crayfish for her. He, folds his woolen scarf around her neck in the cold Shanghainese night. He folds his arms around her and holds her tight to shield her from the sparse traffic on the street, but looks into the distance over her head, while she stands frozen like a statue despite the sterling occasion for a passionate kiss and embrace ? She spends nights to help him but is shy to reveal that she is not a pauper, when obviously no pauper could up and fly to him the way she did...
I have not read the novel so I am content with watching along, thinking there may be a mystery that will be resolved along the way.
Given the previous dramas in which Wu Qian and Zhang Binbin, I don't really expect red-hot passion like in the "Forbidden Flower", rather the contrary. Probably a relationship akin to most of Allen Ren's often hands-off dramas ? (Ren Jialun made up for his "no open mouth kiss" famously rumoured contract clause, through the use of sizzling glances and eye contacts instead, Zhang Binbin almost did likewise in "Romance of the Little Flower" if I remember well). That's okay, I don't always crave for a sugar overdose 🥺
Enjoying Zhang Binbin's good looks, and seductive deep voice ❤️
Amused by Janice Wu's not unusual way of acting, although sometimes thinking that her ways of acting cute are over-the-top, when she grabs a fold of his clothes and bats eyelids at him.
Nevertheless, both Binbin and Wu Qian have fan bases, who follow their work, so technically they can indeed already be branded as "liulang" "traffic idols" too.
The drama Here We Meet Again was in my WeTV suggested items and in the top billed selection there on my end (far away "in deep space", lol).
You didn't answer my query about Bin Ge's "special appearance" in LO2O. Well, it was a long time ago. I could find it myself I suppose, if I have time to go through it once more (although this one is not my preferred drama).
Have a nice day, or night, as applies.
I once reviewed a sweet drama starring Liu Te which was a total product placement epic : they not only had the usual TCM cough granule boxes, the usual face masks, the usual yoghurts and slightly alcohol-laced Rio lemonades, the instant noodle or soup brands, including the dreaded luosifen, the usual beer brands, and car brands, and clothes brands, and phone brands, and how to use WeChat or Alipay to pay for stuff (which you can't easily order abroad unless you really need it and find a way to bootleg it in traveler's luggage lol) but that one even had kitchen appliance brands (Fotile)... It was actually very funny.
There are the usual "drama tropes" to look for, as added "insiders" entertainment, with the way the se tropes get twisted this way and that ; and also these interesting foreign brands that you can't buy, so it's perfectly safe for your wallet !
The trip to food market is also always a source of nostalgic mirth to me, with the wealth of fresh vegetables that can't be found in many Western countries, and the live crayfish and fish swimming in tanks instead of left to rot on piles of ice. I even remember with nostalgia the live poultry that were brought home to be sacrificed and plucked and emptied, like my mom used to do long ago, purchased direct from friendly farms like in but far from China. The freshly pressed juice from long sugar canes, fresh pomegranates or dried persimmon, so much tastier than the candied ginger. The flowers to mix for healthy teas : blue cornflowers, chrysanthemum, rose and hibiscus petals, that could be purchased in bulk at the supermarket... Goji berries can be found in Western stores, when in China, artichoke was absent.
In fact, in other countries' movies and dramas there are also ever so often product placements too, of chocolates, wines, Cognac, whisky, luxury perfumes or else, and cheese, foie gras, caviar, that are not common in China, so they like to get it as gifts.
Cars, shoes and clothes of course sport brands that have become multinational. Looking with envy at the Tesla and other electric cars that can be recharged so easily in China, when it still is a hassle in most other countries...
I am waiting for next episode while perusing his modeling pictures for Elle and Vogue, as collected on CPopHome where he now ranks 23rd among top Chinese celebs, after Zhang Jingyi and Yang Zi and before rising Cheng Xiao and Esther Yu with whom he played in "A Romance of the Little Forest". Listening to a few of his songs on YT.
This handsome 江苏人 pairing with 吴倩 / Janice Wu drew me to this new drama (Janice did not play easy roles in her latest dramas, with LYX etc, but I can't forget her charm in carrying "The Brightest Star In The Sky" with Z.Tao, and she is now 38th on the celeb list, not bad, before Landy Li who so enthralled the audience of "The Starry Love" back in February).
I am following "Here We Meet Again" on WeTV since I have VIP subscription, but noticed that the drama also reaches international audiences on YouTube where it is free to watch until ep6 at the moment : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbo-nGkgDPY&list=PLpOa-OrneXm0rvusu1VNEjuRO5CD9avW3&index=1 Trickling in at snail pace one episode a day, like on the free to watch part of WeTV.
Liking it very much, so far !
oh, and since you seem to be into 彬淇淋, I have a question for you : do you remember in which episode 二彬 made a special appearance in 微微一笑很倾城 ?
Not boring. Short episodes, so binge-watchable as "dessert candy". Presumably, it will be released sometime after finale of today, as a "movie-edition" one.
If you'd like to have a peek, it's linked above or through this direct link
https://kisskh.at/discussions/hou-lang/100789-about-traditional-chinese-culture?page=2
and as a commenter on Youhug noted : "Congratulations to Houlang for breaking through... 10,000 popularity."
Wondering why people crave that much for romance in ALL dramas. Even if there is a mention of romance, it may only be a side story, and perhaps not really satisfying. Even the dramas strongly put forward as romances can end up unsatisfactory for the crowd that craves romance AND Happy End ever After (like in unbelievable fairy tales).
I think we should be reasonable and just enjoy other things too.
I like the Houlang drama as it is, mostly.
Interesting confrontation of very traditional outlooks (gender-based work division) and Daoist faith (Ep. 18 - the Master : "How much help can we provide to patients? ... If we have faith [in ourselves, and/or progress] everything should turn out fine." This is a very Daoist outlook, consistent with the type of TCM he is teaching based on yin and yang interconnections.)
I've added an overview of Daoism in "About traditional Chinese culture" discussion, in case someone is interested in the origins of that thinking, the ramifications in sects and places and texts and martial arts. And if you'd like to try coin-based divination with the Yi Jing too, lol, since the hexagrams are one development of the Taoist trigrams and bagua notions. Also pointing to Ken Liu (translator of The Tree Body Problem and gifted SFF writer himself) new translation of the Daodejing "scripture", available on Audible only, at the moment : Taoism looks like it is quite trendy, these days.