CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS AND A DOG
Overall, a very smooth journey with only minor bumps. Good story, great acting -- RECOMMEND as a brief diversion between longer more intense series. Bullets --
1. I don't know if its Chinese censors or Chinese sensibility, but I find so many of these C-Dramas set at a tone that's as intriguing as it's non-stressful. In American TV, we're assaulted with sex and violence to keep us awake, which if seen at night can make it harder to get to sleep. In China, even in a murder mystery, the settings are simply gentler, the people more normal than 'Norman Bates'. Can't deny I feel relaxed afterwards and ready for good sleep.
2. I know it's a translated title, but I just don't like it. Too technical for this piece. Something softer like DREAMS OF A GIFTED NOVELIST or THE WINDMILL MURDER. (We learn where this title comes from in the final episode, but the payoff isn't worth.)
3. It's hard to believe the female lead here is the same female lead from TO THE WONDER. (And I suspect I'll have the same reaction after BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI, which is next.) Here, Ma Yi Li's understated performance could be mistaken as phoned in, but instead is perfectly suited for her troubled home life.
4. Actress Lan Ying Ying was driving me crazy. She seemed so familiar, but in an American actress way. Each episode I could almost identify her. Then I was like, no -- she's very similar to Zhu Zhu from TALE OF ROSE. But then nope again -- until I realized Lan Ying Ying was in ROSE. Lan grows more and more interesting each time she returns. Such a great role for her. Also, a great ROSE reunion with her and --
5. Tong Da Wei. I forgot that I was introduced to Tong in THE DISAPPEARING CHILD, and so this is my third outing with him and now I'll watch anything he's in. Like Lan, just plain terrific.
6. Christine Zheng's performance is so... moving. It's not that her acting is exemplary. She just nails the role. She wouldn't hurt a fly, and we love her for this. To me, she's the Chinese answer to Elizabeth Hartman, an obscure but great actress from 1960's America. While we're on the look alike thing --
7. -- Liu Huan's portrayal of our FL's husband is great, but I'll be damned if he isn't the Chinese answer to Anthony Perkins. (That's the second reference to Norman Bates in one review.)
8. It's cool how there are two mysteries that divide the series in half EXACTLY at the halfway point of the middle episode. This makes this 15 episode series fly.
9. One picky note is that the series dispensed with characters or mentions of them a little too eagerly. The cop's husband falls out of the story completely in the second half, where a phone call between them could have reminded us of his persisting relevance. Similarly, the lady in the wheelchair had an arranged marriage fiance who disappeared from the story more out of convenience than much else. You'd think Wheelchair would be spend a lot more time complaining about his selfishness, but the story had a romance to tell and cleanly pushed this man out of the way.
This last note is a little spoilerish --
10. Again, this was an enjoyable diversion and frankly I'd like to see the 'Master' and her partner return for another mystery, joined by the separated husband, their daughter, and the cops good friend 'on wheels'. Plus we'd get to watch our FL's journey towards sensitivity and love.
1. I don't know if its Chinese censors or Chinese sensibility, but I find so many of these C-Dramas set at a tone that's as intriguing as it's non-stressful. In American TV, we're assaulted with sex and violence to keep us awake, which if seen at night can make it harder to get to sleep. In China, even in a murder mystery, the settings are simply gentler, the people more normal than 'Norman Bates'. Can't deny I feel relaxed afterwards and ready for good sleep.
2. I know it's a translated title, but I just don't like it. Too technical for this piece. Something softer like DREAMS OF A GIFTED NOVELIST or THE WINDMILL MURDER. (We learn where this title comes from in the final episode, but the payoff isn't worth.)
3. It's hard to believe the female lead here is the same female lead from TO THE WONDER. (And I suspect I'll have the same reaction after BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI, which is next.) Here, Ma Yi Li's understated performance could be mistaken as phoned in, but instead is perfectly suited for her troubled home life.
4. Actress Lan Ying Ying was driving me crazy. She seemed so familiar, but in an American actress way. Each episode I could almost identify her. Then I was like, no -- she's very similar to Zhu Zhu from TALE OF ROSE. But then nope again -- until I realized Lan Ying Ying was in ROSE. Lan grows more and more interesting each time she returns. Such a great role for her. Also, a great ROSE reunion with her and --
5. Tong Da Wei. I forgot that I was introduced to Tong in THE DISAPPEARING CHILD, and so this is my third outing with him and now I'll watch anything he's in. Like Lan, just plain terrific.
6. Christine Zheng's performance is so... moving. It's not that her acting is exemplary. She just nails the role. She wouldn't hurt a fly, and we love her for this. To me, she's the Chinese answer to Elizabeth Hartman, an obscure but great actress from 1960's America. While we're on the look alike thing --
7. -- Liu Huan's portrayal of our FL's husband is great, but I'll be damned if he isn't the Chinese answer to Anthony Perkins. (That's the second reference to Norman Bates in one review.)
8. It's cool how there are two mysteries that divide the series in half EXACTLY at the halfway point of the middle episode. This makes this 15 episode series fly.
9. One picky note is that the series dispensed with characters or mentions of them a little too eagerly. The cop's husband falls out of the story completely in the second half, where a phone call between them could have reminded us of his persisting relevance. Similarly, the lady in the wheelchair had an arranged marriage fiance who disappeared from the story more out of convenience than much else. You'd think Wheelchair would be spend a lot more time complaining about his selfishness, but the story had a romance to tell and cleanly pushed this man out of the way.
This last note is a little spoilerish --
10. Again, this was an enjoyable diversion and frankly I'd like to see the 'Master' and her partner return for another mystery, joined by the separated husband, their daughter, and the cops good friend 'on wheels'. Plus we'd get to watch our FL's journey towards sensitivity and love.
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