John Hart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4WQvFgoFkQ

I almost ditched at the halfway point but I decided to press on. It picked up a little by Ep 26 and I started to look forward (a little) to the next episode. But I'm not saying 'come back' because this production has no clue what pacing is.

I found this film on YouTube if you've been looking, at Tag Theater. I have a question for anyone who has seen it --

-- there's a moment midway where the Mom returns to her apartment. Someone has painted in red something (apparently) awful on the door. When she walks inside, more red (blood?) falls on her. The apartment is flooded, a pipe has burst.

What is going on?!?

Does this series work if you only watch this installment?

Believe me I understand. If me and my grey hairs can pass on some wisdom, that most younger types worldwide don't seem to understand.

Difficult dramas? That make you feel sad or vulnerable? Like a story about death? Since 1973ish I've heard people say, "I hated that. It was depressing!"

Here comes the wisdom: the truth is depressing. Whereas fantasy is fun and fabulous and... FAKE. Because it's a lie.

Now. I'm not telling you to avoid fantasy. I get it. It can be blast. But don't watch something simply because it's flashy and colorful and 'magical'.

Only watch high quality content, no matter the genre. High quality is like having a nice meal, where junk is... like eating cereal with candy in it.

This doesn't mean avoid fantasy and watch concubine dramas. (lol) It means if you don't like... oh... American Westerns... that says more about you than the better Westerns.

If you hate stories about women fighting for their man, I get it, but you'll then miss the really GOOD ones.

My ability to seek out quality instead of 'the familiar' is the only reason I'm watching Chinese dramas right now.

May your voyage be as bold, my friend.

Arbaz: I hear you and understand.

RUYI was my first Chinese drama and, yes, my wife and I watched it for months. We were so hooked we had to see it 3 times a week. (We don't believe in binging because it takes time to take in everything you saw each episode.)

The series wasn't just good. It was INCREDIBLE. Every female supporting actress was phenomenal. XZL was my favorite

I live near Hollywood. If I knew Barbara Broccoli (the air and controller of James Bond) I'd BEG her to give XZL a spinoff Chinese Spy series. XZL is THAT good. Even in Chinese. I wouldn't need her dubbed in English. Her voice is a sarcastic yet sultry GOLDMINE.

So let me be clear there. I'm suggesting the Bond franchise finds a Chinese Agent in China to spy on China. The movie would be an American/Chinese co production. OO8, which I hear is lucky

I've seen her other movies. Too often she's used for her pretty instead of potent. It would be like being a fan of Patrict Stewart but refusing to watch STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION.

XZL is Princess Jia. She may never get as great a role ever again.

So let me set up how to watch the series.

1. Watch it with a friend
2. Three times a week
3. Like many Chinese Romances don't expect many kisses.
4. This is a human endurance story. How much can RUYI put up with and how much can you the viewer endure with her. It's hardcore compassion time, a human trait more of us need.

There is a surprise romance story within a romance story that is so touching you can't own enough facial tissues.

I will confess the story runs a bit long near the end. Let me explain. This is a story about concubines plotting to please the Emperor. Each plot is terribly entertaining (and often shocking) but it's like the story had one extra plot at the end. It was a good plot, mind you, but even my wife and I were becoming exhausted. They probably should have erased one of the plots in the middle and shortened another to shave off at least 8 episodes.

I've since watched 4 other C-Dramas and nothing touches RUYI. Young viewers want fantasy and dragons and super powers. If that's you you'd likely hate RUYI. But if you can open your heart and soul to the human condition --

--- RU-YI RU-YI WILL ROCK YOU

Have you seen RUYI yet?

This is my second witness to this 'forced kiss' thing. See my review. I think it's a weird cultural thing. I believe the Chinese consider a romantic kiss not a prelude to sex but basically 'as' sex.

And so in their culture a forced kiss isn't romantic and so it won't lead to sex, which in their eyes is watchable.

I can't believe all the fuss either. A flat almost non-existent story with otherwise amazing production values. Where we differ (if we do) is I felt the acting was solid. Maybe it was a casting problem?

The following only spoils a minor detail in Episode 1 -- but I had to say something about it somewhere because it's a first for me after 5 or so C-Dramas.

When I completed Episode 1 -- it occurred to me there was no obvious romantic nod between two people. No guy 'caught' a gal in his arms. No long slow motion meeting of eyes. Nice to have a break from this cliche.

I know, it may happen in Ep 2 or 3, but for now... I'm so happy.

An actress? Are you kidding?!? This show is a Who's Who of gorgeous actresses.

Dear Faithless,

Thanks for taking the time to explain that to me.

See my perspective was the YouTube (in America) has two types of Chinese offerings.

One is a bunch of low budget movies, often rural, typically about families. These films don't seem to star 'stars' but real people instead. One such movie is called 'Red Paper-Cut' (2017). I presumed these people were 'Communist' China.

Two are big budget dramas, starring STARS like Wallace, Zhou, Janine Chang, Yang Mi and a slew of similar actors. I presumed THESE people were 'Western' Taiwan actors.

So when I saw this Taiwanese show on Netflix -- I was -- completely confused. It was a 3rd type. This would have bugged me for years but thanks to you only bothered me a week or so. <3

If I can return the favor, I highly recommend trying MAKE A WISH. The show isn't perfect but I prefer it to MOM DON'T DO THAT. You really start to love the characters in make a wish. A lot. (The only shortcoming is the show resets itself near the end where really it should have finished... urm... cleaner?)

In America there's a YouTube Channel called AvenueX. This Chinese woman is a critical monster and yet she had to give it up for MAKE A WISH. As she says, "The leads are just SO GOOD." They are. And I was happy to pay to see the series. No complaints.

As an American Non-Chinese person, I have a question that maybe someone can answer. I've been watching Chinese Dramas and movies for about two years. I've watched Zhou Xun in RUYI and IMPERFECT LOVE, Wallace Huo in RUYI and CRAFTSMAN, and the series REBEL PRINCESS and MAKE A WISH.

A young friend recommended this show and I immediately noticed the Chinese was... different. I don't know Chinese but I do know this show isn't speaking the Chinese of those other shows. This show (apparently?) is in Taiwanese. So my simple question is --

-- what language or dialect are those other shows using? I had a feeling those shows were sort of produced int 'Western' China but now that I see this show I suspect they're not.

Where are THOSE shows coming from?

She decided to play the character understated -- and it didn't quite work. If you think of the series Seinfeld, Jerry is kind of bland -- which makes everyone around him more interesting. The same thing is true with Rebel.

If you want an incredible female lead: RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE. In fact everyone in that production is incredible. But you'll want to kill yourself because it's so sad.

REBEL, on the other hand, offers hope. The rest of the cast is terrific and fun. The story is epic. But you have to give it about 8 episodes to GRAB grab you.

... and a fascinating coupling they are

He's in a photo in the final episode. The one beside Li Dong.

The above discusses how this otherwise brilliant soap FUMBLED the final episode.

I've completed the series and would like to say I'd have given it a 10 were it not for the final episode, which I believe FUMBLES badly enough to damage the series.

1. Li Dong accomplishes his goal and decides to -- vaporize? Wait -- what? We can't finally have the family together? The frickin' POINT of the show?!? Secondly --

2. -- am I crazy or was the show implying that Li Dong was gay? He never once looked at one woman, which is weird because he was surrounded by beauties. His biggest smile was seeing Dandy Du happy. And the way he ran off to the Revolutionary Army with his cohort? I don't care if he was gay but I had this feeling they were saying, "The only way Li Dong can have a happy ending is with a boyfriend... which he'd have to hide form his Lucy and Daniel. Even stranger --

3. -- was how their youngest brother emerged so nonchalantly. In a photo. As if we didn't want to see this moment. Or frankly a way better version of this moment. And Li Dong sure was lucky his youngest brother was carrying around a diaper with a special emblem on it. (WTflyingF was that?!?)

Any writer would have said, nope, youngest brother has to be seen and heard so that the family could have a group hug. I believe the easiest way to have accomplished this was to make the courtroom scene a REALLY BIG DEAL. That the press found it FASCINATING that three of four orphans had managed to drag a frickin' MINISTER before a judge. There would be a seen of people all over the nation reading this story -- 3 of 4 Accuse Du of Murder!

The youngest brother would wonder if he was #4. We wouldn't see that. We'd only see someone in the court room listening to the proceedings, being specifically shown when locations were mentioned. At the end, when our siblings were jubilant, he'd suggest he was their brother.

Predictable? Yes, a little. But this is what's known as an obligatory scene and something like it should have shown up. It's closure for us.

4. The worst botch, though, was Qi Nan's decision to finally commit to her. When he walked in on Hanjun in the hospital, Han's Mother (who I call 'Boop' because she looked like an elder Betty Boop) left the room. If I were her Mom I wouldn't have moved a damn inch. I'd point a finger at Qi Nan and say "Sh!t or get off the pot!" as we say in America. Meaning either accept my daughter's love or hit the road, Jack. At that moment Qi had the GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to say he loved Hanjun from the very first moment he met her and always will. THAT is when and why he should have been crying. Then Mom and Qi Nan sit by her side.

The way it was written you might as well have called Qi Nan "Dandy Shen". Did he actually say he did her makeup for her?!? (It reminds of a scene in RUYI where was as emotionally disconnected.) What we were given seemed to be that he had no character arc, that he was still the silly hurt street boy. It also implies that if Hanjun had not fallen ill he would have been done with her. VERY UNSATISFACTORY resolution for these two.

I can see you haven't seen THE GREAT CRAFTSMAN. She stars in the first episodes -- where a stranger becomes a friend, her servant, and the love of her life. As the Witched Witch of The West once said, "These things have to be handled very delicately."

Ouch! My bad!