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The Princess and the Werewolf is not a Beauty and The Beast remake; it is a fantasy similar in topic but it really tells its own story. The drama is a comedy, it has satire flair. There are some really funny and some warm moments but it seems grotesquely exaggerated for the most part. The drama is set in a historical era shadowed with a knack for the use contemporary effects such as: English language usage, the statue of Michelangelo’s David (1501-1504)-(covered by a cape, of course) that the Princess’ mother sent her from Europe, mention of abstractionist art, costumes with a modern flair, cocktail shakers and bartending tricks, a tango dance (a dance that originated in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century), and the character Chun’er which is the equivalent of a social media application, which indicates that this drama is not meant to be taking seriously for its content. For those that are expecting a great romantic story between the lead couple, it will lead to a great disappointment. The leading lady is supposed to be independent, smart, and “mischievous and lively” but, for most of the drama, her character is insufferable and she spends most of the drama been conjectural and manipulative. The leading man also comes up as only a deceitful person in her eyes even though he is constantly risking his life to save her. Also, for been a comedy, there is a REALLY unnecessary occurrence close to the end of the drama that leaves an overall sour feel by the end. The happy ending is rushed and uneventful. Was this review helpful to you?
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This is a drama labeled as romance. It is more a romantic comedy that failed in the romance department. First of all, although there is a great character development for the leading characters, it takes forever! The leading male, Li Tang (Jerry Yang), portrays a man with “Peter Pan syndrome”, an adult who is socially immature, and supposedly unreliable. Jerry Yang does a great job delivering this character but his childish demeanor is overloaded with weird facial expressions and tiring playful attitudes which diminish his high level intelligence and problem solving ability. On the other hand, the leading lady, Fu Fang Si (Maggie Jiang), is a fashion designer with low emotional intelligence who mostly cares for her fashion label because of its attachment to her deceased father. For most of the drama, she is constantly bickering with Li Tang and blaming everything on him. Granted that he keeps a lot of things from her, but she is impulsive and quick to condemn him while she is very understanding and forgiving of everyone else that has stab her on the back. By the very end of the drama, and having been through thick and thin together, they grow to understand, love, and appreciate each other; but the journey only gives the viewer great playful interactions between the lead couple, masterminded business antics with conniving antagonists, and a flat romantic chemistry between Jerry Yang and Maggie Jiang. Although, most of the time, the leading couple’s story is full of banter and misunderstandings, they get their happy and successful ending. The rest of the cast did very well bringing their characters to life. Ron Ng (as Yin Hao Ran) and Viola Mi (as Cheng Xiang Nan) were also excellent portraying their heavy laden and complicated antagonistic characters. Overall, with patience and tolerance of some over-theatrical acting, the drama is entertaining enough while waiting for a great one to come! Was this review helpful to you?
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Childe Xie’s Wine is a nice and cute romance fantasy miniseries with a good plot. The story is straightforward and uncomplicated with minimal amount of characters. The drama uses a technique called “breaking the fourth wall” which is a common convention in Asian theatre traditions where actors interact directly with the audience, in this case, the viewer. The drama is a comedy so there are some awkward scenes but the cast did a great job delivering their characters; the leading couple has very good chemistry and many tender moments but their kissing scenes, although nicely done, were always blurred or seen from a distance. Still, been that is a short drama, it is worth watching if the viewer is looking for something lighthearted and simple to kill some time. Enjoy it! Was this review helpful to you?
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Singing all along is a great historical romance wuxia drama. The drama is based on Li Xin's 2007–2009 romantic novel series Xiuli Jiangshan and it depicts the love story of Liu Xiu/Emperor Guangwu of Han (played by Yuan Hong) and Yin Li Hua/Empress Guanglie of Han (played by Ruby Lin). The drama is a fantastic production with beautiful customs; well choreograph actions scenes, magnificent cinematography, and splendid casting that did a great job bringing their characters to life. The drama does get draggy at certain stages and, if the viewer is not into war strategies, it could become a bit overwhelming trying to follow all the generals and the different factions that were either working together and/or fighting along the way as Liu Xu combats his way into becoming emperor. Yin Li Hua, even when they were separated by circumstances against her will, always loved and supported Liu Xiu as they both realized their common dream. Liu Xiu and Yin Li Hua loved and supported each other steadfastly, but not without enduring loss, heartbreak, and even betrayal. SPOILER ALERT: Although the love of his life was always Yin Li Hua, he betrays his vows to her of only having one wife when he marries another woman in order to get a strong ally that fortifies and secures his way to become Eastern Han Emperor. The chemistry among the lead couple and the strong familiar and friendship relationships come to life in a romanticized fantastical action and adventure tale of the bloody and successful resurgence of the Han dynasty. This drama, successfully and very artfully, condenses more than 35 years of history to bring out a beautiful and enduring love story. Even though the drama has some very draggy moments and incoherencies, it is still an excellent and very entertaining drama, enjoy it!Was this review helpful to you?
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This is a historical fantasy drama that has a decent script but fails to deliver. The reason is that the actors, for the most part, failed to show the proper facial expressions in order to convey the right emotions. Also, although the leading couple has a lot of screen time together, there is no chemistry between them or any other characters. There is also the fact that the female lead was supposed to be someone that had the ability to acquire great power but it never materialized and, to make matters worse, after finally finding her father, he dies as she helplessly watches. So, overall, the drama is somewhat boring and drags. Was this review helpful to you?
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This is a good fictional historical drama that, according to some viewers, was based on actual events and characters of the late Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Wuzong. The actors did a great job bringing their characters to life and, although the drama is about 10-13 episodes too long and there are plenty of unnecessary events, the drama is quite entertaining. The drama progresses too slowly, the leading actress is too impulsive and unreasonable trying to protect people that were obviously hurting her and the emperor which made her character quite frustrating. The Emperor (Cheng Yi) and Mike He (as eunuch Qiu Zi Liang) were a force to be reckon with portraying their characters. SPOILER ALERT: The drama would have been much better if they would have ended it after the Emperor wins over the bad guys but, at the end, the Emperor dies. (And who was the person that the leading lady was looking at so lovingly at the end?). Was this review helpful to you?
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This review is for both “One and Only” and “Forever and Ever” dramas but the rating is different:One and Only
This drama is really a masterpiece, almost flawless, if it would not be for the poor acting skill and expressions of one of the most significant antagonists, actor Wang Xing Yue as Liu Zi Xing. The production gives the viewer gorgeous costumes, dazzling sets, great cinematography, a leading couple that doesn’t need intimacy to immerses the viewer and evokes beautiful, heartfelt, and sorrowful emotions that leaves anyone breathless even when a romantic relationship between them was forbidden. The action scenes are well choreographed and the chemistry among the soldiers and Zhousheng Chen is strongly fused by their sincere feelings and camaraderie. SPOILER ALERT: Even with the tragic ending, the drama is still worth watching! Enjoy it!
Forever and Ever (SPOILER ALERT!)
If the viewer is looking for a drama that has a nice romance feel but lacks intimacy, then this is the right drama. I would not consider this drama a sequel since there is little connection to the “prequel” apart for the leading couple, flashbacks that give the viewer a glimpse of their past relationship, a leading male that belongs to an old and establish rich family with a matriarch that simulates a sovereign ruler of great power and rank, a leading female that comes from a “noble” family, and some supporting actors that can be somehow compared to others in the past life. Although the leading couple is connected to the past, find each other and fall in love, this drama doesn’t capture the intensity of their feelings like it was portrayed on the drama “One and Only”. For “Forever and Ever” been a modern romance, Zhousheng Chen’s character is almost emotionally handicap with an unrealistic innocence for a man in his late twenties, even if he has spent most of his life been a bookworm. Although the Zhousheng Chen from the past does not kiss Cui Shi Yi, he was not passive at all! So, overall, this is not a bad drama, it is just a failed attempt to bring an everlasting and passionate love to the present times.
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Review for Season 1 & 2
This drama is a fantasy, wuxia romance. It is cute, silly, light hearted, and entertaining. The leading couple has good chemistry and, once they realized that they liked each other, they remained steadfast in their pursuit of happiness. Although their intimate moments could’ve been better, there are many cute and nice romantic scenes. The drama has the usual travel back in time tropes that are well worked into the drama. The two male leads have a great frenemy relationship that it’s also well developed throughout the drama. This drama offers a light and nice entertainment. Enjoy it!Was this review helpful to you?
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