A Comedic Drama That’s Easy to Recommend
I enjoyed this drama. It is comedic and engrossing. The character development and dynamics matched what I like to see in roles and storylines. And the cast is incredibly talented. The only critique is that it didn't have a broad range of themes, making its subplots narrow, and it didn't explore backstories that would have added depth and complexity to an already enjoyable narrative. However, I would recommend this as a staple watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Not Perfect—But Perfect for Me
This drama isn’t perfect, but it was perfect for me. A big reason is that Luo Yunxi plays the lead role. His performances are always strong, elegant, and beautiful to watch. I love how he transforms in costume dramas—I think his transitions are seamless, even in lower-rated series. His background as a ballet dancer gives him an air of sophistication, and his footwork is impeccable—he could be blindfolded and still not make a mistake. His role is a major reason I enjoyed this drama.I’m not sure how others would feel if they don’t appreciate Luo Yunxi’s skill set. The narrative itself is engaging, but there were several moments where the misunderstandings were overplayed, making me dislike the female lead, and the story stalled as a result. The conflicts that kept the leads apart dragged on too long, and I found myself wishing those parts had been edited down to give the narrative a tighter pace. While I would recommend watching it, I think its audience might be limited to people who can easily forgive tropes. The storyline is heavily focused on the pugilist world and martial arts sects, so it might also be best suited for viewers who enjoy martial arts and wuxia-themed dramas
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Likable, but Best Watched All at Once
I enjoyed this drama and had many positive things to say in a first impression post and midway review. However, the more time I spent waiting for new episodes to update, the less inclined I felt to continue following it. While it is a captivating watch when binged, it wasn’t quite compelling enough for me to stay emotionally connected to the storyline during breaks. That said, I would recommend it to viewers who plan to watch all the episodes consecutively. It’s a cute and engaging series, especially if you enjoy stories involving demons and cultivators. The misunderstandings are minimal, the love triangle isn’t frustrating in the way they often are, and the antagonist isn’t truly villainous. As a result, the narrative focuses more on character development rather than getting bogged down in petty conflicts.Was this review helpful to you?
Richly Told & Visually Compelling
This short is only seven minutes long, but it feels incredibly rich. The film has a vibrant color palette, a distinctive visual scope, and storytelling that is raw and personal. It carries you through a continuum from childhood to adulthood, drawing you into the protagonist’s life and allowing you to feel the pendulum swing between the highs and lows of lived experience and self-growth.Although its aim is to be reflective with a central moral, the delivery never feels trite or heavy-handed. It doesn’t come across as if someone is trying to teach you a lesson or trample on your own life experiences. Even at just seven minutes, it stands out as a top-shelf watch—for its aesthetics, artistry, and script.
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Strong Moments, Uneven Execution, Not Highly Rated
I’m sorry folks, but this was just an okay watch for me. I thought the overall story was good and the beginning was compelling. There were several captivating moments that kept me watching, and the soundtrack matched the dramatic sequences perfectly. When the story hit, it really hit, and I loved the ending. Unfortunately, those strengths weren’t consistent enough for me, and I felt the pacing or execution didn’t quite work. It was great to see He Xuanlin and Gao Mingchen together again—especially after how rough their arc was in Love & Bid Farewell—but overall, I wouldn’t rate this one very high.Was this review helpful to you?
Good Drama, but Dragged Near the End
I enjoyed this drama, but I didn’t love it. It started extremely strong, yet felt essentially complete by episode 16 and dragged through the remaining episodes.Overall, I was fully immersed in the costume sequences, and the narrative was comedic, engaging, and filled with surprising subplots. The multiple twists were unexpected and kept me invested throughout. I would recommend this drama with one caveat: the final episodes may feel underwhelming, at least they did for me. But I do know people who loved the entire experience.
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A Quiet Portrait of Ordinary Lives
This is an interesting short film starring one of my favorite performers, Zhou Xun. It’s a slice-of-life drama that feels raw and genuine, capturing the everyday atmosphere of the 1990s and portraying ordinary people. The film is quiet and a bit awkward, which gives it an authentic tone while opening a window into the ordinary lives of two lonely, simple individuals.Was this review helpful to you?
A Strong Beginning That Loses Some of Its Magic
This had such a strong start, with impactful mini-stories all centered around a main case. The drama spent most of its time solving these smaller cases, each one gradually revealing clues that connected back to the central one. I found many of these stories moving and meaningful, and I was really invested—especially with the supernatural undertones that blurred the line between reality, fiction, and folklore. However, the final episodes and the big twist reveal didn’t land as strongly for me. I ended the drama on a bit of a low note compared to how I felt through most of it. Still, I think it’s a solid mini-drama overall—just not quite as strong as I expected based on the beginning.Was this review helpful to you?
Closing Out the Tiny Times Series: Quietly Satisfying
"I didn't believe in those happy endings before. Because as they say, sometimes things don't work out the way you thought they would. However, we, though stumbling along, seemed to have ushered in the happy ending of our own."I absolutely loved the fourth installment. It’s highly comedic, thoughtful, and dramatic, all balanced by a soundtrack that perfectly complements each scene. While it might hold up as a standalone for those who don’t want to watch the entire Tiny Times series, I believe it’s important to follow the characters’ journey through college and adulthood. Watching them face different hardships at various life stages deepens the impact of the conflicts and strengthens our connection to their development by the final movie. The series centers on the ups and downs of four women, each with distinct personalities and life goals—but what unites them is a deep, unbreakable friendship. No matter what changes they experience, their ties to each other provide a lasting foundation that supports them throughout their lives.
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Emotional to Comedic Absurdity
I thought the first movie was underwhelming, but I loved the sequel, and the trilogy is no different. While the conflicts peaked in the second installment, the third film engaged me by turning absurd and unrealistic scenarios into comedic moments. Despite the uptick in humor, there were still tragic and human moments that connected the characters and drew me into the storyline, allowing me to empathize with what was happening.What I’ve noticed with Guo Jingming’s modern work is that he story tells in a compelling way that keeps me engaged, but it takes me time to get invested in the plot. As his characters evolve, I find myself gradually drawn into the story, and this has been my experience with his Tiny Times movies.
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A Strong Second Act That Redeems the First One
I thought the first movie was underwhelming, but the second movie had a much stronger emotional impact and felt like the heart of the story. It’s where the real hardships emerge—some characters face permanent changes in their life or never fully recover. The sequel offered real character growth and life progression, presenting hard choices and life directions in a more grounded, realistic way. I greatly enjoyed it and will definitely be watching the third and fourth installments.Was this review helpful to you?
Underwhelming but Enjoyable
I thought the first movie was underwhelming, but I still enjoyed watching it for the storyline and overall premise. It felt reminiscent of Sex and the City, with a narrative that follows the lives of four girlfriends living in a big city during their college years. You get to know them and their struggles as they begin navigating adulthood. They face disappointments and challenges, many of which are neatly resolved by the end—my biggest critique, since life doesn’t always offer tidy resolutions. Still, it was a refreshing change of pace to watch. And having seen the sequel, I think the first film serves well as an introduction.Was this review helpful to you?
A Game Show Built on Acting Challenges
This is a game show featuring performance face-offs, where teams of actors are divided under different directors, and each episode presents a series of challenges. Sometimes, team members compete against one another for seats and are graded by the lead directors. Other times, teams compete against each other, with the audience acting as the judges.That said, I had a lot of fun watching this show, which I started primarily for Guo Jingming. Since much of it wasn’t subtitled, it was difficult to consistently gauge the commentary, and I occasionally used a translation app to understand the praise or critiques given by the directors. Even so, I found myself really immersed in the clips and short performances, which I felt were the heart of the show and where the raw talent truly stood out.
Because the episodes are almost three hours long, by the midpoint this became more of a background watch for me. I paid closer attention to the parts that interested me most—such as the challenges—and less to the judging, unless Guo Jingming was giving commentary or performers I liked were on stage. That said, I plan to continue with season two, and I’m excited to see the performers that were cast.
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Short Stories, Big Sci-Fi Ideas
I absolutely loved this. I thought it was a unique and highly engaging watch. I even appreciated the art direction in the intro and outro credits—they were beautifully done. This is based on a manhua, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the graphics at the end were taken directly from it. I thought the stories translated perfectly to the screen. Since most episodes were self-contained (with a few continuing into the next), the shorter episode length didn’t detract from the plot or narrative flow. The sci-fi themes were compelling and often reminded me of something out of The Twilight Zone or Doctor Who. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre.Was this review helpful to you?
Mixed Reception, Perfect Match for Me
This drama received a mixed response from audiences, but I absolutely adored it. It currently sits on my top shelf of favorites, and I could easily watch it again. Almost every episode was hilarious, which played a big role in drawing me into the storyline. The narrative offered a unique spin and execution on a well-known theme, and the characters were easy to connect with and engage. I really appreciated the use of multiple timelines, the character development, and the way the story unfolded—each element added something fresh to a familiar tale. I was consistently entertained, whether through comedy, conflict, or romance. This drama was a perfect match for me. I had so much fun watching it, and I was genuinely happy with the time I invested each day to follow along.Was this review helpful to you?
