This review may contain spoilers
High Stakes Games
Clothes and cars are 1920s, a unknown genius gambler appears shortly before the deciding tournament. It’s the gorgeous fl who approaches the Ninth Master (ml) for sponsorship.
She wants revenge for her murdered father, the ml seeks revenge for his former mentor. Opposing forces, deceit, betrayal, hidden identities all in front of sumptuous interior sets.
Immediately hooked by the classy outfits and sets, I loved the gambler and scam artist plot. First of all, the gambling involves cards, dice and mahjong. The last is translated as poker - why? only the translator knows. Because calling it “poker” doesn’t help understanding the rules.
But it wasn’t relevant because it’s all about the sexual tension between the leads *who don’t trust each other and still feel the mutual attraction build*. They prepare for THE competition between ruthless gamblers for the crown as “King of Birds”. Underneath all this the fl risks everything to avenge her father, including killing the ml, if necessary. The ml has his own agenda to find the “Ghost Master” and if the fl should be the daughter of a traitor, he’ll use her first and kill her later.
**Xie Yu Wang** is not only handsome but talented to boot. It’s a challenging role, physically- all these smart card and dice throws including using them as a weapon*.
He’s so good at showing a man usually in total control of his emotions who fights the allure of the fl. She’s a talented and flamboyant beauty with a sharp mind. It was a great performance, I don’t know many actresses who would have pulled this off.
She’s a character like Han Yu Tong in “Bloom in shadows” - but Sun Yiran adds much more sex appeal (think: Sharon Stone).
Their chemistry was palpable.
She wants revenge for her murdered father, the ml seeks revenge for his former mentor. Opposing forces, deceit, betrayal, hidden identities all in front of sumptuous interior sets.
Immediately hooked by the classy outfits and sets, I loved the gambler and scam artist plot. First of all, the gambling involves cards, dice and mahjong. The last is translated as poker - why? only the translator knows. Because calling it “poker” doesn’t help understanding the rules.
But it wasn’t relevant because it’s all about the sexual tension between the leads *who don’t trust each other and still feel the mutual attraction build*. They prepare for THE competition between ruthless gamblers for the crown as “King of Birds”. Underneath all this the fl risks everything to avenge her father, including killing the ml, if necessary. The ml has his own agenda to find the “Ghost Master” and if the fl should be the daughter of a traitor, he’ll use her first and kill her later.
**Xie Yu Wang** is not only handsome but talented to boot. It’s a challenging role, physically- all these smart card and dice throws including using them as a weapon*.
He’s so good at showing a man usually in total control of his emotions who fights the allure of the fl. She’s a talented and flamboyant beauty with a sharp mind. It was a great performance, I don’t know many actresses who would have pulled this off.
She’s a character like Han Yu Tong in “Bloom in shadows” - but Sun Yiran adds much more sex appeal (think: Sharon Stone).
Their chemistry was palpable.
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