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An Intelligent, Captivating, Direct and Smooth Sailing Drama~!!
I'm full of Adjective and Praises. But let me use those 4 as my main subject to elaborate and discuss how spectacular this production is.Honorable Mention!! I specifically love the little black and white imaginary space Chu Chu and Jinyu's creating whenever they're to re-enact and solve the case. Most of the time it provides the most skinship and romantic interaction from the both of them. Love it so much. <3
Intelligent - This show just kept on showing and shoving things right into your face. The cases and mysteries that are being handled were all complex and tricky but that didn't stop them from presenting us with such high accuracy explanation but also kept ME, personally, in awe at how splendid and well-constructive they were. A true Masterpiece!!
Captivating - The main leads and their chracters visuals might have been the expected icon when I mentioned the word 'Captivating' but that's not just that; The real reason why I love this drama so much is how the Characters behave and display their characteristics in a clever yet silly, sassy and entertaining way. I'm glad that they all have their own distinctive roles to show and they all nailed it. Wanna give credits to all the actors and actresses for doing a magnificent job. <3
Direct - Most of the dramas are flooded with bunch of plots and twist before going into the main hurdle just to show the heaviness and complexity of the final disaster the Protagonists have to went through; yet this drama chose the completely same plot but made it more direct and straightforward. They focused on 1 definitive subject then provided clues that will eventually gathered all the other hidden tricks and flaws and finally ended it with a Marvelous series of mind-blowing strategies and scheme to finally finish the main antagonist.
Smooth Sailing - Honestly, this is base on how I was shock to know that I'm passed the 3/4 of the drama even before I realized it. It completely caught me off guard on how smooth yet entertaining the whole drama is. Not even once this drama made me felt bored or tired of watching it. It always offers new, unique and interesting set of topics to watch and never failed in making them great. Hahaha~ This sound so biased but I'm just really in awe on how well-made and produced this drama is.
Story - 10, Story is a cut from the most excellent script there is and it never failed to showcase how good it is. I wanna commend the writer, producer and everyone who worked behind the camera to make this drama as great as it is right now.
Acting/Cast - 10, They portrayed their characters the best and even owned all of them. I enjoyed it so much thanks to their neat and clever execution of their scenes. I got nothing to say but words of love, adoration and praises.
Music - 10, Honestly, Music and BGM is the least focus of this drama but i'm quite satisified on how they didn't overly rely on BGMs and Music to set the mood. I also love the mysteric and quite thrilling opening instrumental of the drama. It reminded me a lot of those times I was watching The Lost Tomb Series and I just love it a lot.
Rewatch Value - 10, I would watch it again for sure. No words and flowery words needed. This drama will remain special and memorable on its own. I highly recommend this drama to everyone regardless of the genres they like.
Overall - 10, Perfection and Impressive. I honestly got no comaplaints and was extremely satisfied on how things went through. It was an easy drama to watch that will surely satisify anyone without any doubt.
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TOP LEVEL Foodology and a combination of Greatness, Women Empowerment and Witty-Harmony in 1 show.
Oh God! I'm super in love with this show; so please!! do bear with me cause I'm about to list down all of them as much as possible. Hehe~1st, Lemme start how smooth, serene and harmonious this production is compared to all the dramas out there. It do provide the right amount of issues, tricks and problems but is always getting resolved within the same episode and even in a justifiable witty way. No excessive conspiracy that harm the Protagonists and even serves righteousness by dealing with them properly.
2nd, Women Empowerment. Like damn!! Dramas these days just don't provide proper exposure to how capable and flexibe women is and this drama showcased that in every way and form possible. The amount of justice and appreciation Women has received from this show is even greater than the last 20 dramas I watched combined and that speaks Volume and intelligence.
3rd, Superior Foodology. I never watched an episode without my mouth gaping open because of the exquisite and delicious cuisines they featured in this drama. As someone who has some knowledge and is interested in cooking it truly caught my interest and made me so curious to try those I think I can cook by myself. I know I won't achieve the surreal and almost perfect dishes on the show but I just want to try it nonetheless. Hahaha~
4th, Characters & Cast. How can all of them be this lovely and interesting on their own unique ways? This production surely gathered the best talents there is and put it under this Mellow yet fantastic drama that created such excellent balance and was able to cater to my palate perfectly.
5th, Overall Production & Script. I'm absolutely amazed and astonished on how well made and planned everything is. From the story line to unprecented events and conflicts to it's good little touch of romance; everything felt so well written and produced. Gotta give credits towards the set of great people behind it. They did an impeccable Job with this. What a Masterpiece!
Story - 10, No discussions needed. An absolute drama and can be considered as a Big Precious Pearl in a vast sea that you don't often witness with your bare eyes.
Artist/Cast - 10, Excellent selection of Artists. They all performed so well and I'm overly satisfied. A drama where I love almost 99% of it's characters and cast.
Music - 10, A great serve of Mellow Ballad that perfectly fits and compliments the show and scenes they're played and used for. I love the songs a lot too. <3
Rewatch - 10, Believe me or not I'm ready to watch it again today. That's how crazily good it is. This drama touched me so much that I'm not willing to move on. Forever engraved in me!
Overall - 10, OFCOURSE! Like duh? It is even a question? At this point IF you read through my commentary and probably saw my countless shower of compliments nothing will surely go wrong. I was never even once dissatisfied of anything. This is like a heavens gift for me for the New Year. Pouring all my love and appreciation for this drama. <3
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BEAUTIFUL~!! Chaotic yet Fascinatingly Heartwarming and satisfying. <3
I don't know where to start. This drama's probably the longest for me to finish but also one of fhe most worth while of all.Lemme start it by giving my earnest feedback; It all started as a very mysterious and adorable that gradually ended with so much schemes and fighting (Which I love as well). The thing here is that as time passes by you'll start to hate the supposedly 'Good People' due to their over judgement and hypocrisy and that very reason made me felt that bitter hate and distate. Thankfully this drama do provide justice and 'redemption' so almost all of those issue dissipated eventually when it neared its finale.
Secondly, I love how this drama served us different variety of feelings and emotions. It truly entails and showcases different ways and path of life and thought us/me how to look on the brighter side although it may look ridiculous. I feel like this production delivered in every aspect it possibly touched and has successfully handled them accordingly.
Of course, 'NO' drama is perfect and all of them mostly has flaws and broken holes but I feel like this story deserves to be place on a different level; separating it from the rest of it's origin. It is that impactful to me and it has successfully secured a great place in my heart.
Story - 10, The story is a continuous roller coaster of events that can make you feel differently each time but it surely is with a purpose. A well written drama with great plotd and overly irritating Minor 'Supposedly' Protagonist and Main Antagonists. It also overflows with love and tenderness coming from various individuals and their relationship towards the people around them. So much lesson to learn and way of life to appreciate and adapt to.
Acting/Cast - 10, SPECTACULAR!! i love all of the artists in this production. All of them truly delivered and expressed the greatest extent of emotions and actions their characters should present and I can't ask for more. I'm truly moved and triggered. Hahaha~ Special mention to Liu XueYi, as this is the first drama of him that made me hate him to core. Also wanna shower some love and appreciation towards the main leads and the minor leads. They're all splendid.
Music - 10, No discussions needed. Music is Perfect from the first Track till the end. Each and every Music touched and moved me to their own rhythm and melody. I enjoyed it the most among all of the OSTs of over 60+ dramas I watched this year.
Rewatch Value - 10, Solid 10. Highly RECOMMEND! Everything about this drama is spectacular and lovely in it's own way and deserved nothing but recognition, love and support. I would watch it a gazzilion times if needed.
Overall - 10, Any scores lower than 10 is absurd. This drama may not be perfect but there's no such thing as perfect drama and this one is like a cut from a very expensive and royal piece of clothing. Must treasure and protect.
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A Pure, Charming & Heartwarming Family Drama with such Realistic Plots~!!
Honestly, dramas like this should be place on their own category. It's very unique, easy to watch and mostly presented in a such realistic-Innocent way.First, I wanna commend how they avoid using cliche and overly used drama plots. Watching this and always getting fascinated on how they took the story in the most unexpected yet realistic way impresses me a lot.
Second, The characters are simply sooo well-compatible with each other, be it visually or character wise. 1st Lead Couple is so cute & adorable while 2nd Couple showed the most silly and naughty scenes and Finally, the 3rd Couple who may lack exposure yet got their shine at the finale made the drama even more interesting and enjoyable to watch cause there's no one left behind.
and Oh, Third, The star of this drama which is Xiaobao. OMG! This kid brought so much Flavor, color and spice to this production. It won't be as interesting & fun to watch without his cuteness & lovely role.
Story - 10, As mentioned above I'm extremely satisified and was even proud on how they managed to incorporate realistic scenes without touching the cliche plots. A very enjoyable and worth to watch drama.
Acting/Cast - 10, Perfect! They're just so compatible and very pleasing to the eye. I even love the bromance of He Qiaoyan & Ning Fang and also adore YiYue, Rouwei and XiaoAn's friendship. They are so fun and comfortable to watch. Acting is impressive as well. đŻ
Music - 10, The playful tone of the Opening theme/Main BGM made me love the Music in this drama in general. Be it the insert instrumentals or the ballad used for dramatic scenes felt so right. <3
Rewatch Value - 10, Obviously! I won't accept any slander to this drama, honestly. This is my cup of tea and I truly enjoyed it. People may have different taste but I assure them they'll fall in love with it.
Overall - 10, DESERVED! I don't even understand people who give this a drama a lower rating. Like I mentioned, dramas should be categorized in accordance to their genre and quality itself. and surprisingly this drama is exceptionally well created and well produced and so does made it different and unique even from its supposed category.
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A light-hearted, easy to watch and comically entertaining drama ~
A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED drama to those looking for Fun-Naughty drama genre.This drama brought so much comfort and laugh to me for the past few days I was watching it. This may not be the most outstanding when it comes to plot twists and story schemes but it is far ahead when it comes to providing good entertainment and bliss to viewers.
Something I like about this is how light-hearted the overall mood of the drama is. Like even when there seemed to be a terrible scheme awaiting the protagonists you'll be assured it won't be that bad and will surely not ruin the joyful mood of the story. A breath of fresh air from those heavily-plotted drama that continuously give us bloody scenes to satisfy peoples great expectations.
Another thing is the bond, trust and harmony in the Family. It shows great love, affection, understanding and forgiveness towards every family members and exhibits good relationship overall.
P.S. It has my Favorite ending of ALL! A family taking care and pampering each other with not just love but also respect and mischivousness that makes it even more interesting.
Story - 10, Despite it's flaws I still want to give it a perfect score for being different from others and for giving me such enjoyment and entertainment during the whole duration i'm watching it. The unique way they made this story filled-up all its flaws and mishaps.
Acting/Cast - 10, I love them all. Good acting and they just brought so much smile to my face. They did great doing the casting and I can't ask for more. They all fit their roles and even lived up to their characters emotions and actions with such great portrayal.
Music - 10, I'm kinda 'meh' with the opening theme at first but once you settled with the drama and put your mind and heart in place with how drama wanted to cater to its viewers you'll gradually love it. The insert BGMs are quite defent too, specially the sound effects. They're reallu fun. Hahaha. Very creative and good editing.
Rewatch Value - 10, Of course! It's a feel good drama that can make you feel at peace and excited just by thinking about it. It's really a laid back drama that can make you consider watching it If you feel like to.
Overall - 10, Honestly I've been giving straight 10s to the dramas I've watched for the past few months but I don't care. I'm giving such perfect rating not because I want to but because they deserves it. Dramas tend to appear similarly to some people but it should never be treated or classified as one in general because there's a reason as to why we have different 'Genres', and that's to keep them apart. Indeed a Good Piece. =)
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Enchanting & Enticing production that will fill you w/ great laughter & Happiness. Highly Recommend!
Ahh~!! Where to start? I'm disappointed that it has ended since I had so much fun watching and laughing with this production. How I wish to have more episodes of them taking care of their kids while being chaotic. I felt robbed that they didn't have any kids during the entire 36 episodes.This drama has brought me excitement, irritation, sadness and pain but more so smile and laughter. Its unique story is maybe identical to other dramas out there but it has its own identity that sets it far different from others as well. It may not have the best plot and drama elements but it can surely cater to variety of people. I must say that it will be suitable for anyone who enjoys Chinese Period/costume drama generally.
Looking at how this drama was created you'll immediately know that it has a great budget backing it up and it was not wasted any one bit. From the location, production, artists, music and other elements that contributed to make this drama as it is now, I have nothing but high praises. It is well produced and lived up to my expectations indeed.
SPECIAL MENTION!!! The passionate, soft and tender kisses always ended me with nothing but jealousy. How can they be so in love? Ghadd!!! Their shallow and/or torrid kisses never failed to leave me awestruck!
Story - 10, I initially thought of giving it a 9.5 since I felt like something is missing and felt that my satisfaction wasn't met entirely but the Final Episode did its magic and filled those empty spaces with great pleasure and satisfaction. This story had so much potential dramatic scene wise but they didn't completely dwell into that and focuses more on the fun and romance side of this drama and that made it extra special and unique.
Acting/Cast -10, FITTED PERFECTLY!! From Li Qian & MingYue's love-hate and passionate moments to YunSi & Aimaila's unfortunate and tragic fate to JinYu and Kanle's naughty and playful romance and to Li Qian, JinYu and Sikong's friendship everything just fell according to how they should be and It never felt lacking. Acting is an absolute Top Tier. God knows how I enjoyed and love the characters and actor of this drama.
Music - 10, I never read the English translations of the BGMs while it's playing but the Music of this drama is in a completely different level. The music are enticing and hypnotizing that I ended up going back and forth with each scenes just to make sure that i'm reading and understanding them wholeheartedly.
Rewatch Value - 10, I would definitely rewatch it IF given that I don't have anything to watch anymore. Cause this is such a precious production and I want to miss and enjoy it as much as possible every single time.
Overall - 10, It's Glory deserve every single piece of acknowledgement. I really hope that people who are contemplating to watch this drama can read and discover my review so that it can help them decide. Cause this drama truly brought so much fun moments and memories to me. A phenomenal and unique drama that can effortlessly put a big smile and let out hearty laughter's to everyone.
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An interesting drama that is overwhelming with colors and varieties. P.S. Watch out for KISSES!!
I ended this drama with the words "弽ĺŻçą/ Hao Kei Ai"~!! Their Little Soldier look so cute and fluffy.This drama may not be the most strategic, complex and well funded but it do live up to peoples satisfaction with its best.
Honestly, up until the last couple of episodes I'm still feeling annoyed at some cliche twist but it all went well and those things are the 'common elements' of a drama so I just accepted it. Anyways, despite all those scenarios I still wouldn't take credits off of this production for such silly reasons.
I'm lost for actual words and phrases so let me just enumerate the things I like and dislike about this drama.
â Dislikes...
- It's more of the disappointment I have with some plot that supposedly the MAIN HINT for the dramas development but ended up being unexplained and useless; and I'm talking about the Phoenix Flower. I mean, Why? Why?
- I'm really irritated during those times Chu Xiuming is being unreasonable and immature same goes with Shen Jin's lack of retaliation and self-worth during those moments she's trying to show his feelings to CXM. Like, Why Miss? You're better than that.
- I HATE the 2nd & 4th Shen Sisters. Those 2 bitches seriously got nothing to do but to go around being toxic and envious.
â Likes
- I love how common yet original the story is. They obviously followed the norms but they made it sweeter and more playful.
- The kissing scenes. Like there is so much of them that I always felt like floating over cotton candy's. Hahaha
- Story development of this drama is something I commend. The pace of how things worked out just felt so right and I never felt it was purposely slowed down or rushed.
- Character development and such felt so nice as well and I love how they cover and showed us their share of happy endings.
- The Final Episode.. I hope it was longer... It really hit me when all of the important character went to the General's Manor to witness SJ unexpected Delivery of her child; that scene felt so conventional and warmth my heart so much.
Story - 10, I would admit that it's not the BEST but it surely deserved this perfect rating as this drama satisfies me with it's own colors and varieties. I just can't think of a reason why this production deserve a lesser point or two when i absolutely enjoyed it.
Acting/Cast - 10, Well executed and they really played the colors of their characters pretty well. Aside from the Main Leads the Supporting Character couples made this drama extra special. They're indeed a sight to see.
Music - 10, Honestly? I only heard 1 song the entire drama duration LOL. Maybe i'm just so engrossed with the drama itself that I didn't notice all of the sounds used for each scenes. Hahaha~! It only means that they never bothered me and instead made me more comfortable watching those moments as well.
Rewatch Value - 9, Up till this point i'm still contemplating whether to give it a perfect 10 or not but i still ended up giving it a 9, not because I'm dissatisfied or something but more of 'contented'. This is the type of drama that feels right just by watching it once but will surely recommend it to other people.
Overall - 10, Definitely a Perfect 10. It's a one of kind drama that will make you feel different emotions just by watching it. It offers a wide variety of feelings that is very comfortable and relatively easy to watch.
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A simple yet decent & mysterious intro for The Lost Tomb Series
I'm writing this review months after watching this drama but the feeling and impression it left me never faded away; so I would like to take this opportunity to encourage and invite people on watching this Series through my words.This drama started with Wuxie and his friend escaping from a set of people who is after the ancient relic they've obtained and how he met his 'Best Buddies' Wang Pangzi and Zhang Liying. As a fan who have watched the entire Series at this point, I may say that this drama does consist some trivial scenes that shouldn't have existed in this drama yet it worked out greatly and did make people more interested about it (I'm talking about the copper fish auction).
It also showcases the different attributes and characteristics of our Iron Triangle Trio and left us hanging with anticipation on how awesome they can be once they work it all out together.
Story - 8.5, This is a rather decent introduction for the 1st season oF TLTS and they did great on making the people curious about it but I felt like they could have done better. They did a big leap showing some scenes that shouldn't be there in the first place and watching it being included on the other Seasons like Lost Tomb 2 & Ultimate Note made me a little confused.
Acting/Cast - 10, Li Yifing and Yangyang did well with their execution and the cast did great portraying their own characters as well.
Music - 9, I can vaguely remember the BGM of this drama but I remembered not skipping the opening and ending of it just to check the music out.
Rewatch Value - 8, Would probably rewatch if I feel like watching the entire thing again. Nonetheless this 1st installment is a fundamental to start when you're planning to watch the whole series.
Overall - 8.5, Despite all the things I've mentioned above about this drama, It still highlighted the crucial points and characteristics of our Main Leads and how the story will unfold.
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An interesting drama that shows how great yet restricted and loving Women are.
Where do I even start?! Hmm, actually I'm contemplating whether to give it a 9.5 or 10 cause there're some part that I felt upset about but then I realized that this is a drama and that is its plot twist. So the moment i get my emotional involved only means I'm sold. Hahaha~! Definitely a 10, Story wise.ĂĂ Dislikes
â I hate how Kyoko even thought of keeping his relationship with his husband after he cheated. Like, I know she almost forced him to marry her but cheating is cheating. Sooner or later he will do it again. Sighs.
â I symphatized a lot with Yuri but i'm kinda irritated on how she's bearing with his authoritative husband.
â I hate how Women need to go through such pain and stress and act as if nothing has happened! They deserved the BEST!
â I HATE how SHORT this drama is, I need MORE!
ĂĂ Likes
â I just love the passion and kindness inside Nami. Someone who's very determined to change herself and to seek for peace and normal life.
â I enjoyed the moments when she's with her Friends learning new things and it made me excited to see what she's up next.
â Fighting Scenes! It's not the smoothest and cleanest but she DELIVERED! Some of it maybe corny or ridiculous to others but as I drown deep into J-Dramas, I simply understand their unique way of making their own masterpieces.
â Nami's interesting way of cutting the vegetables and how she cut it perfectly when she confronted her husband. That gave me the "Bitch she's real mad" feeling.
Story - 10, I enjoyed it a lot. I was swayed and got myself excitedly anticipating for each coming scenes. I love how they highlighted Housewives/Women's concern as a whole and how Men shouldn't be trusted in any possible way. (I'm a guy btw)
Acting/Cast - 10, They delivered and it was fun watching them act. It was able to sent me warmth and place a refreshing smile ony face. I hate all the guys (their Characters) though. Hahaha.
Music - 10, That one sound they always play when something's about to happen just set the scenes for me. I guess i didn't notice the other BGMs if there is? but i'm satisfied.
Rewatch Value - 10, No questions needed to be ask. Release a sequel and i shall rewatch it right away. Hihi
Overall - 10, Well deserved! This drama made me think IF giving a 10 is okay? then I started re-evaluating the entirety of the drama itself and found myself uttelry satisfied. I realized that every drama has its own flavor and taste. The genre doesn't lining up to my usual standard doesn't mean it should be a level lower but it's more of ME finding another genre I'm starting to get into.
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1 of the BEST~!! A Loving and Lively Family relationship. + Women Empowerment â
EXCEPTIONAL~!! Let me start this with such heavy remark to make it even more easier for people to decide on selecting this Series.Probably the BEST drama I've ever encountered this year in the Chinese Drama Land. It contains not only the spontaneous, exciting and naughty sides but also represents Women's worth, power, grace and capabilities. It was so well made that I have indulged myself on each of it's episodes making me almost forget that I was watching a 40min+ drama. The scenes were always so fun that it made me felt like it's only taking me 5-10mins to finish each episodes; I was even disappoonted whenver I see the ending credits and such. Hahaha!
There's so much I like about this drama in which I won't dare to specify but I want to say that this drama production as a whole is indeed a PERFECTION~!!
Story - 10, It's well created and written that I barely notice any mishaps and even made me praise and love it more everytime an episode passes by. I also love how the entire Ban Family almost didn't lose anyone (aside from the Grand Princess) and was given such beautiful, satisfying and Happy endings. The scenes were not Heavy but instead is full of Fun, thrill and Excitement.
Acting/Cast - 10, No Words needed. They're perfectly in-sync with their characters and even made me love them so much. Oh, God! This drama gave me so much hearty laugh and adoration towards the artists. I am a big fan of Neo Hou and I watched it because of him but I also started it Bcoz Guan Xiao Tong is here (I'm a big fan of Luhan) I was never fond of her but this drama just gave me so much of her and she impressed me greatly to the point where I love and finally approved her as she is.
Music - 10, Great choice of music. It do fits the scenes specially the Song they're using on the Main Leads Romantic and intimate scenes. Ballad can never go wrong!!
Rewatch Value - 10, A drama i wouldn't be tired watching over and over again. Probably the 2nd Chinese Drama after The Word of Honor. It's actually on par with it. Both exceptionally outstanding.
Overall - 10, IF you read my review do I even need to explain. It is a MASTERPIECE that doesn't require any explanations. Just watch and fall in love with it.
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What do y'all mean Mediocre? This is a Gem!
I honestly started watching this drama because of Choi Sooyoung and was quite surprise on how many people left reviews with the word "Mediocre" so i'm hear to rip that off.This drama actually started rough for me, during those moments i kept asking "I need a 2nd lead" & "This drama lacks a 2nd leading man to console the Female Lead" but after few more episodes it all comes to me as to why the writer made it that way. It's simply because the Female Lead is a grown up woman who thinks rational and can decide for her own and that's her charming point that sets her apart from other FL out there.
I must agree the ML is a bit toxic at first but you just gotta hang in there and see how he turns out to be the nicest and most compassionate of them all. This drama doesn't follow the norms of the current trendy drama of 2020-2021 and that's the main reason why I love how this drama was delayed till this year, since it was able to give off such different vibe and made me nostalgic of how dramas were created 3-5 years ago.
Story - 8.5, The story is very unique that will remind you of how dramas were usually created back then. It helps me open my mind to various ways of how people can deal with tons of situations in a mature & rational way.
Acting/Cast - 10, Definitely!! The set of Artist of this drama made me feel so much and they all deserved an applause or two for that.
Music - 9.5, I may not have notice the Music and BGMs at first since I was too engrossed to the story but it will definitely hit you hard when you're at the middle part of the drama. Every song suits the scenes well.
Rewatch Value - 8, This is the kind of drama that i may not watch for months or so, unless I need to remind myself on how to deal and cope up with situations in a rational way. It has that significant Rewatch Value.
Overall - 9, Definitely a MUST watch specially to those people who needs inspiration and is on a pinch situation where it's hard to find motivation to remain positive and optimistic.
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Sensual, Lustful and Arousing Making out scenes from the Main Leads~
Okay! come on, calm down. Lol~ I know some people might be weird-ed out by my Drama Highlight but when I think of something that left the most impact on me watching this drama I got nothing except for Yang Mi & Mark Chao's kissing and Making out scenes. Hahaha~For someone who've watched tons of dramas with such heated scenes I must say that the way they deliver and execute them is by far the most utterly jaw-dropping and drooling among all. They exude the passion, devotion and very intense emotion that can make you feel differently. Hahaha~
P.S. I finished watching this drama 1 week before I complete the entire series. Hahaha~ So, apparently I was so busy with work that I can't watch the whole show in one go, so I ended up spoiling myself by fast forwarding, Jumping and Leaping through its scenes episode per episode on Youtube. So I watched this drama completely spoiled and aware of what's to come. The very first drama I felt impatient about. HIHI~
Anyways, let's move on and discuss some other things I love and some other stuff I felt like the production felt short of.
â Likes...
ĂĂ Probably the way they kept Yang Mi's character look and feel proud and regal 80% of the time. The way her character was created is something that I love. Whenever Sujin tries to harm her and way she retaliate always satisfies the real-b*tch out of me. Like "Yes Girl feed her with humiliation" Hahaha~
ĂĂ Next is the side characters/couples. This drama just made sure that it is giving justice to almost anyone they start a story with. Most specially with how Zi Lan and Yan Zhi's story ended. It is really heartbreaking and saddening but that only shows how much the producer tries his/her best to end the other relationships they built to make sure that nothing is left hanging even after the drama ends.
ĂĂ Oh God, Here we are!! Zhe Yan && Bai Zhen's subtle Bromance, Kyahh! Aside from the Main Couple their cute-sweet-tiny moments gave me so much joy whenever they appear on screen. They're like an old couple who silently takes good care and pamper each other most of the time. I hoped to get more from them. T.T
â Dislikes...
ĂĂ This is tough but I gotta say that the first half of the drama kinda bored me out. I felt like most of the early stuff could've been shortened and it would be more perfect. 58 Episodes is really a lot but it's all worth it. However I felt like they could've used some of the unnecessary fillers to give us Bai Qian && Ye Hua's story enjoying their time with A-Li. They really felt short in showcasing that cute and wonderful child.
ĂĂ Next is some questionable plot materials that felt odd & ridiculous. First is Ye Hua's custom-made prosthetic arm that shouldn't be useful but right after his Heavenly Trial in Mortal Realm he was able to use it instantly and even utilized it in fighting the Former Ghost Lord. Like, common! Second is how the Soul-gathering-lamp was broken after Bai Qian threw it. I mean, I know she's a High God but that thing is supposedly an old artifact that should've been sturdy and magical... So how? Third is the power scaling... Being on that position of High God means that you got prestige and insane power, right? yet most of Bai Qian's fighting scenes is simply lacking and unimpressive. I don't wanna pick on this but it just stood out like a sore-thumb and it truly bothered me.
ĂĂ Finally! The fight scenes in general. It was so underwhelming and unimpressive to the point where I'm quetioning how come how are they defeating their opponents with such slow and pathetic movements. This is one of the areas where this drama left a huge hole for me and made me quite disappointed.
Story - 9.5, I went through so much contemplation and consideration before giving this rating cause the drama is certainly not perfect but I felt like most of the things I find underwhelming about it doesn't necessarily affected the story in a bad way and I felt like although some of them do affects my mood while watching the drama I just can't discredit it for how well-made the main story is. It was still a brilliant plot that gave us so much character development and story progression.
Acting/Cast - 10, Definitely! I must say that they got one of the FINEST among the C-dramas I've watched so far. The artists in this drama are magnificent in their role and I never felt bothered by anyone's acting even one bit. Even the side and extra's felt so damn good. The set of artists casted in this production is really remarkable.
Music - 9.5, The Music started as SO-SO during the first half of the drama but eventually redeemed itself towards the latter half. Although I find 50% of this dramas BGMs as flat and unimpactful they were still decent and never affected my mood in a bad way.
Rewatch Value - 9.5, I would Probably skip some of the scenes on episode 10-20 but I'll still surely watch it nonetheless. This drama gave me so much emotion and feels watching it. A drama that gets better and better as you watch it.
Overall - 9.5, Considering the things I felt underwhelmed about... I feel like this is the perfect score I can give to this production as a whole. This drama is truly impressive specially with its story progression and its highlight scenes but I can never overlook some of its flaws that made me a little bored and dissatisfied. Overall A Great drama that depicted Passionate True Love even after several misfortunes and challenges.
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An eternal, unwavering love first blossomed & later bloomed deep within the vast Red Sorghum field.
"You're a man. Even if the sky falls, you have to hold it up." - Dai Jiu LianBefore anything else, let me just clarify and reiterate that this drama is titled Red Sorghum primarily because that's where they performed the 'deed' and where the tragic ending occurred, and not entirely because of the essence of winemaking. đ¤Ł
I don't think I can start this review any other way than to express my indifference and contemplation on how I should feel about this drama. I am torn trying to decide whether to start a rant about how revolting the narrative wasâcompletely brushing aside the fact that it is closely referenced on real life eventsâor give this production a staggering round of applause for its impeccable depiction of the excruciating, harrowing, and impoverished quality of life during the Minguo period. I am in distress!
From the very start, I was welcomed with multiple layers of explicit, disturbing, and violent content on top of one another, which on the surface may have seemed like a friendly reminder but in reality was a blatant warning that the journey ahead will be an utterly appalling, despicable experienceâone that's heavily centered around scornful, contemptuous, and revolting events. Therefore, anyone planning to watch it better brace themselves and proceed only after taking extreme precautions by setting up proper expectations, performing thoughtful deliberation, and adopting a more receptive, broader perspective of the writer's intentions, as it is a piece that will undeniably induce growing animosity the more you watch it.
If there's a collective characteristic I truly disdain and feel disgusted by in this drama, it would be the legion of vile and nasty elements (abuse, cruelty, violence, murder, abduction, infidelity, rape, to mention a few) that were brazenly woven together and later meticulously wrapped in profound devastation, injustice, and suffering to create a seamless facade that masks the underlying inherent grim nature of this story. I was literally speechless after watching the first quarter of the drama because I never expected the theme to be this heavy and messy, that if someone were to ask me if I liked it or enjoyed it, I would answer, "Yes, with still reluctance and misgivings." Because despite my unquestionable irritation and frustration towards the narrative's brutal and unvarnished abhorrent depictions, there still are several aspects that made me stay seated and stick to watching the show. However, I don't think I can ever deny the reality that I was completely horrified, disturbed, and revolted multiple times due to the extremities of the story's premiseâthis is despite the fact that I grew up watching soap operas heavily induced with such content, yet I still struggle to sit through the show without flinching, especially since it's mostly women who are subjected to those atrocious and unjustifiable acts.
Conversely, I want to commend this production for effectively executing its core concept by masterfully embodying the turbulent, chaotic, and messy plot devices. It allows the story to retain its raw, bold, passionate, and unadulterated depiction of the scenes without holding back, serving us an exceptionally poignant and realistic presentation that enabled viewers to remain deeply invested in the narrative despite the inherent dark and sadistic nature of the writing.
Looking back at the time I spent watching this show, I must say that this is truly an interesting, bewildering, and evocative story that relentlessly went against and defied my expectations. It kept me guessing and had my anticipations high because nothing ever went the way I anticipated. The sheer unpredictability of the plot left me at my wit's end countless times for how uniquely unconventional they moved the story forward and how vastly unexpected and different the direction they took in each plot point compared to the majority of the dramas out there. I even reached a point when I started questioning my own comprehension as I struggled to determine if I was simply getting lost in translation or the story was just too eccentric and audacious that I ended up feeling led astray and lost multiple times. It was a writing style that never ceased to render me in shock for how frustrating and annoying it was, but at the same time, satisfyingly entertaining the entire time.
This is a drama that left me dumbfounded, seething out of frustration countless times because of the multiple scenes that never failed to make me go "Huh? This doesn't seem right...?" yet never failed to entertain me with their unconventional, audacious takes. It's one of the rare dramas I completely enjoyed despite its unusual storytelling. A production that left me in utter awe and made me realize how Minguo rural dramas are truly done differentlyâraw, dull, and almost bleak yet simultaneously full of hope because of the invigorating will, resilience, and enthusiasm of people to simply survive and live a better life.
The part of the story that left me completely speechless, out of sheer disappointment, was seeing a solid, promising climax wasted by an anticlimactic ending. Up until this point, I still cannot comprehend how we ended up with such a tragic, open-ended story when it could have easily been a satisfying, closed-ended one, especially considering its staggering 60 episodes. Like, what was their intention in leaving us hanging after killing almost everyone? Even the FL was not spared! They could have easily utilized her death as fuel to ignite the fire and retaliate even harderâbut they did not. Seriously, where is their commitment? Geez! I was genuinely waiting for more, as I somehow thought it had 65 episodes given how much was left to uncover, so I was utterly baffled when they just ended it right there and then. This is a total disrespect I never foresaw and will never forgive. Ever!
That said, let me list down some of the scenes that stood out to me in a negative way for how ridiculously questionable and infuriating they are:
⢠The relentless and blatant drive to persecute the male lead, Yu Zhan Ao. They cornered him so hard that it eventually forced him to become a fugitiveâor, as Jiu Hao San claims, a bandit. He was pushed beyond his limit, leaving him at a point of no return. It's absurd how he was always blamed for the inadvertent deaths of the people around him when it's technically not his fault, making it feel heavily contrived after the third instance. Those people died due to their own misactions and incompetence, yet he still ended up being blamed anyway. It's like the heavens were playing games with him, forcing him down a corrupted path when all this time he had been working hard to live a simple, earnest life.
⢠The countless times Jiu Hao San committed such immoral and wicked deeds. I've lost count and totally forgotten the many instances where he crafted such vicious and vile plans, so I have decided to simply provide a couple of examples of his heinous acts. Among them were how his insecurity and doubtful views of Yu Zhan Ao inevitably forced him to become a fugitive, and how he opted to use Jiu Er and Yu Zhan Ao's children as hostages. Absolutely despicable!
⢠The plot in which Jiu Er was forcing her son, Dou Guan, to address Shu Xian as Motherâthat entire sequence was so exasperating that I was left with nothing but pure rage toward Jiu Er the whole time. I can't imagine how horrified and traumatized Dou Guan must have been! One of the most incredibly loathsome plots in the story.
⢠Jiu Er's uncalled-for remorse after her plan succeeded as retaliation for Shu Xian's failed abduction scheme. I commend Shu Xian for keeping an unapologetic stanceâacting as if she had not orchestrated such a malevolent actâas it proves her unwavering commitment and dedication to her goal. What I can't stomach though, was her audacity to act victimized over her ruined reputation right after the success of Jiu Er's payback scheme, when she was literally being shamelessly unapologetic about her own actions just one episode prior! What a hypocritical crybully! However, believe it or not, what pissed me off the most was how Jiu Er immediately felt remorseful and tried to appease and console Shu Xian. I understand Jiu Er's actions given how kind-hearted she is, but she should remember how Shu Xian ordered the bandits to have her abducted and killed, whereas she only planned to ruin her reputation. If Shu Xian cannot accept such retaliation, then why act so vilely in the first place? She deserved it! If she wished to take her own life after that, then that was her choice. She brought it upon herself as a direct consequence of her own atrocity!
⢠Luo Han's double standard in blaming Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise. He was a total hypocrite. I will never fathom how he could blame Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise, considering it was simply the aftermath of her own actions. I was so mad when he directed all the blame toward Jiu Er, especially since all this time he had been standing right in front of Shu Xianâdefending her, shielding her, and justifying her wrongdoings. So he should be held responsible instead! I appreciate his initiative to save Jiu Er and how he kept his morals and logic intact most of the time, but I can never overlook how he always undermined and passed off Shu Xian's obsession, greed, and misdeeds as a mere byproduct of her long years of suffering, endurance, and hard work serving the Shan family, expecting people to just move on after damage had been inflicted, trust broken, and respect lost. Grrr! I am so infuriated. The only redeeming factor of his character was his devotion to his passion and to the women of the Shan familyâeven though it's as clear as day that he is biased toward Shu Xian.
⢠Jiu Er blaming Yu Zhan Ao for Luo Han's death. It was one of the scenes that made me go, "Whuttt?" Yes, Yu Zhan Ao failed to save him, but it was never his fault that Luo Han's unyielding morals and principles inevitably led him to his own death. I would even argue that Luo Han was insensitive and selfish for not thinking about his wife before taking that action, which eventually resulted in her choosing to die with him.
If I were to mention a remarkable scene that will forever be etched in my mind whenever I think of this drama, it would be Jiu Er's childbirth scene. It was hands down my favorite scene in the story. From the schemes, the build-up, the panic, the tension, and the emotional payoff right after, everything came together and created an unforgettable experience that went above and beyond! It was absolute perfection in every way, which also proves that kindness always pays off.
What stood out the most though was Zhou Xun's portrayal. What a stellar actress! She's the backbone of the story, and this drama would be nowhere near as phenomenal without her. I especially loved all of her juicy confrontation scenes, where she uses sharp, paradoxical wit to mask her sarcasmâfrequently leaving the other person in utter disbelief and deep reflection. Those scenes were satisfyingly delicious. I consumed them very well.
In retrospect, I think this show's greatest underlying message has always been: In turbulent times, all you need is a womanâone who lightens your gloomy day, pulls you up when you are down, puts logic into your life, and guides you back to the right path. One who will stay and always choose you at all timesâover and over again, no matter how dangerous and tough life gets. This passage ironically explains the ending, because after Jiu Er died, the whole show ended. Hahaha!
In conclusion, this story is packed with unconventionally frustrating plot points that left me feeling helpless and dumbfounded by how insanely unreasonable they were. What made it even worse, aside from the ending, were the tactless and thick-faced characters who shamelessly lectured everyone on righteousness while their own actions contradicted their every word. It pissed me off endlessly, yet I just couldnât bring myself to walk away.
P.S. I just want to dedicate this final section of my review to our Female Lead, Dai Jiu Lian/Jiu Er. She is Audacious, Bold, Courageous, Decisive, and Resolute. She is in a league of her own, a force to be reckoned with, and the very definition of "Who runs the world? GIRLS!"
Story - 8.0, Trust me, I so wanted to rate this higher, but the ending just spoiled everything for me. I had already ignored and exhausted every ounce of rationality within me just to look at the logical side of the narrativeâno matter how harrowing and heinous it had become. So, giving us such a disappointing ending in return after all that tolerance was just too much for me to forgive.
Acting/Cast - 9.5, Truth be told, this show got an overall impressive ensemble. I will never be able to stress enough how satisfied I am with this lineup. Aside from the dubbing on Zhu Yawenâwhich was such a pityâthe only performance I found lacking among the main cast was Wang Zijia as Xiao Yan. My top high praises still go to both Yu Rongguang and Qin Hailu, while my highest praise goes to none other than Zhou Xun. She's the very epitome of calm and collected to me, and I just love her unbreakable composure amidst all unprecedented calamities. She is the reason why I can't hate Jiu Er, no matter how annoying she is sometimes. Her face etches the very word kindnessâone where, no matter what, you know she will do you no harm. Truly an immaculate portrayal.
Music - 8.0, The only song that left a lasting impression on me was the poignant opening theme. It is the only song I can recall from this drama, aside from the woeful, melancholic tunes played during the heartbreaking scenes.
Rewatch Value - 7.0, The sole reason you can have me watch it again, given its daunting episode count, is for Zhou Xun and her alone. Although I can grasp the logic behind the scenesâonly after undergoing rigorous reflectionâeven those upsetting and seemingly illogical ones, it was still completely disappointing for a lengthy drama to have a tragic ending, given that they could have used the overwhelming 60 episodes to produce a much more reasonable and worthy conclusion. What a letdown.
Overall - 8.5, Watching this was never an easy journey, given its heavy and dark theme, but despite that, I still found myself binge-watching the entire show without even a tiny skip within 8 days, which says a lot since I can typically finish a drama of 30 to 40 episodes within 6â7 days. One thing is for sure: this show got me utterly hooked and greatly entertained, despite all its negative aspects.
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From Gripping to Deplorable: How Careless, Incompetent Writing Ruined the Final Arc | Stellar Acting
"Remember this, Jiang Taohua. I'm not someone you can just call on and cast aside. This marriage was your choice. Even if it leads to nowhere, you have to see it through with me." - Shen Zai YeMy main purpose for writing this is to refute and debunk the negative reviews posted for this show here on MDL. I feel like they have gotten completely out of hand, unfairly tarnishing the drama's reputation that it clearly doesn't deserve. It's just concerning how the review section was swarmed with massive backlash when, in reality, three-quarters of the show was well-made, making the story not bad at all. I think it is about time we give this story the love and appreciation it rightfully deserves.
Completing this drama made me question the immense hate it has received here on MDL. Honestly, I don't understand where those reviewers are coming from by dragging the entire story down, because contrary to the critically panned reviews I have read here, I, on the other hand, was deeply captivated and entertained while watching this show. It was not bad at all compared to how people described itâbe it the storyline, the plot, or even the execution. I would even argue that this is far better than most historical C-dramas you can find out there that utilize the same plots and over time suffer from overwhelming plot holes left and right.
The story was thrilling and compelling. The main plot was tightly woven, while the sub-plots became a great foundation that carried the story forward. Although I will admit that there are plot holes towards the final 6 episodes, but most of them are considerably minimal and did not entirely ruin the show for me. It did cause annoyance and irritation, sure, but definitely not to the point where I thought of dropping the show. Truth be told, throughout my watch journey, it never crossed my mind to drop this drama.
Even the midpoint part, which I thought would finally make me utterly frustratedâbased on other viewers' reviewsâbecause of the worn-out amnesia trope, surprisingly didn't put me off at all. In fact, it was executed with the utmost care, attention, and control, adding just the right amount of drama needed to progress the plot and develop the MLs (Shen Zai Ye) romantic feelings for the FL (Jiang Tao Hua) while keeping the story logically sound. I can go as far as to say that this is among the top 5 best executions of the amnesia trope I have watched in C-dramaland to date.
Let me also commend the deliberate utilization and execution of the espionage and political plot devices. I appreciate that they were not utilized mindlessly for some unnecessary drama, and were instead used in a more rational sense that maintains the harmony and consistency in the narrative. What's more admirable is that both of our main leads are not just intelligent but are equally experienced individuals who are capable of easily adapting to any situation they are thrown into, by anticipating outcomes and maintaining contingency plans. Those traits put me at ease and allowed me to enjoy the story without worrying much that one of them might suddenly make a dumb move that may put them in a dire situation. They both work independently but are always there to help one another whenever one is in need of assistance. Which actually leads to my next point...
Although I was particularly annoyed with Jiang Taohua in several instances for stubbornly rejecting Shen Zaiye's help and offers, I just appreciated how he was always there, instinctively, whenever she needed him. It was delightful to witness how he gradually evolved into a companion who knew how to read and understand her without words, and vice versa. This made their cooperation much more wholesome because both of them were present for each other's tough times, even without being asked.
If there's one factor that baffled and disappointed me, one that deserves fierce criticism, it would be the writers' careless decision, combined with their incompetence in providing us with formidable enemies capable of rivaling our highly intelligent main leads. I understand the reason why Empress Lv was kept as one of the main antagonist. However, I think it was otherwise an utterly foolish decision to take out Meng Huaijinâthe most promising enemy we could have reserved for the climaxâearly in the story, only to replace him with the obsessively smitten Mu Wuyin, who has a severe nanny complex. It was just preposterous how they confidently committed to the decision of eliminating their most capable and promising character but failed miserably to develop their chosen one to his full potentialâlater on even reducing him to a mere, pathetic, highly deluded, lovesick guy. It was just absurd how Mu Wuyin turned from a seemingly clever man into an insane, melancholic, heartbroken damsel in distress towards the pre-climax. They did him dirty, which eventually backfired as it reflects their miscommitment and haste in choosing their main antagonist.
To be clear, I initially wasn't bothered by Meng Huaijin's early death, as it was reasonable and an inevitable outcome at the timeâa crucial move to intensify the conflicts in the story and what I presumed would help the plot move forward to a more groundbreaking climax, especially since I had high expectations that they had something more impressive in store for us. However, it was after the pre-climax when the realization finally sank in how they had wasted Meng Huaijin's potential just to make way for the undeserving Mu Wuyin, who ended up being a pathetic and incompetent character in the end. I was left in a state of disbelief, disgust, and disappointment, to the point where I wished Meng Huaijin had not been killed. It's just unforgivable how they sacrificed what could have been an ultimate battle of wits and intelligence for a plot that's merely driven by lust and romantic obsession. It was even more frustrating that the main antagonists we ended up having are a pair of shallow individuals who are only capable when using underhanded schemes, but are greatly overwhelmed and outwitted once faced with unprecedented adversities.
In conclusion, the antagonists designated for the finale are a pair of pathetically disappointing and underwhelming individuals. The only praiseworthy villain that comes to mind is Meng Zhenzhen. I appreciate how they further developed her character in the story while maintaining her rationality until the end! She always had a redemption path laid out for her to choose from, and it's satisfying how she always chose that option.
The next point I want to talk about is the last six episodes, which encompass the climax and the ending. This is the part where minor absurdities and plot holes started spawning left and right. My review will be much longer if I expound on them one by one, so I will just list down my frustrations below:
⢠The blatant act of letting the main antagonists escape a couple of times: First, in episode 30 towards the end of the Luocheng Arc, they could have easily apprehended Mu Wuyin while his spirit was broken and he was in a state of total devastation after realizing Empress Lv's betrayal, yet they did not. Second, in episode 33, when they were trying to suppress Empress Lv and Mu Wuyin during their attempt to usurp the throne, they yet again allowed them to escape when they were literally right in front of their eyes.
⢠The hasty assumption of their deaths: In episode 33, I also cannot fathom how they almost immediately concluded that both Empress Lv and Mu Wuyin had died in the fire, without harboring any doubts that it might be a scheme.
⢠The clichĂŠ negotiation: In episode 36, Shen Zaiye tries to talk rationality into Empress Lv's head as if she would ever listen. Thank God Jiang Taohua was there. It was an utterly ridiculous scene to watchâa very worn-out, clichĂŠ element.
⢠The logical oversight with the Yinghuo Flower: In episode 36, when the Yinghuo Flower was burning, they could have literally used their feet to kick the flowers away, since some of them were visibly not engulfed in flames yet, but they did not.
⢠The frustrating inaction: In episode 36, after Jiang Taohua is freed from the cage cell, instead of helping Shen Zaiye escape as well, she simply stands in front of it in a daze, looking at her master, Qian Mochen, as he dies. At that point, I just gave up.
It's farcical how the script diminished their foresight and sharp judgment towards the end, reducing them from highly perceptive leads into sloppy and careless individuals who overlook obvious things just to create additional drama.
Lastly, I just want to express my gratitude to the writers for keeping the overly annoying and impulsive Xiang Qingying (Shen Zaiye's sister) at bay. She was initially my greatest character frustration in this show, and I am just glad she did not turn out to be even more irritating towards the end. I was even happy that her skills were finally highlighted during the Luocheng arc.
Story - 9.0, To keep facts straight, I totally enjoyed the first 30 episodes of this drama. My dissatisfaction only kicked in when they finally revealed the utterly deplorable path they had woven for Mu Wuyin, alongside the several narrative hiccups and plot holes I mentioned above.
Acting/Cast - 10, What a solid ensemble. What was shown here were top-notch, emotionally expressive, and controlled acting performances from the actors and actresses. I'm extremely impressed by how they truly embody their characters' emotions as if they were their own. Above all, I have to give it to our main leadsâMeng Ziyi's big, round eyes made me deeply fixated and absorbed in her acting, while Liu Xueyi expressed his character masterfully in every aspect.
Music - 10, What I love most about this drama's OST is that it's entirely ballads, and they exquisitely carried and heightened the emotional depth of the story.
Rewatch Value - 8.0, If only they didn't degrade Mu Wuyin into a nasty piece of lovesick shit and did not incorporate all those plot holes that tainted the main leads' formidably established attributes, I could have rated this higher.
Overall - 9.0,  Even with my complaints toward Mu Wuyin and the several plot holes in the story, I can still bravely declare that this is a nice watch overall. The last six episodes caught me off guard and left me completely baffled, but I don't think it was to a point where it entirely destroyed the foundation of the story. It is underwhelming, yes, but definitely not to a destructive level.
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The chaotic escape in pursuit of reclaiming riches, living a better life and obtaining true love. <3
"Paths are made by walking. No path is predetermined. If we don't want this path, we can choose another. Follow your heart, and reach where you wish." - Luo LingyuStumbling upon and picking up this drama brought back great excitement and nostalgia to me. It took me back to the times when I was new to C-dramaland and was binge-watching idol dramas non-stop without much expectation or prejudiceâjust watching for fun, a good laugh, and a silly, cringey love story. It was a great reminder of how my obsession with C-dramas started and how much my tastes have matured since thenâespecially regarding production quality and valueâafter consuming countless S+ tier dramas.
Although this series exhibits the eccentric, unrestrained antics of a typical idol drama, what sets it apartâboth past and presentâis its narrative cohesiveness and impressive characterization. These elements feel like a long-lost art, especially since most costume idol dramas feel so hastily and carelessly put together nowadays.
Right from the start, the engaging plot piqued my interest. Even though it gets cringey at times due to typical idol drama tropes, Iâve never once felt irritated watching it. In fact, bingeing it episode by episode has been incredibly fun. It brings back a nostalgic feelingâsomething I've sorely missed. It feels like rediscovering a spark I thought was long lost, especially since the quality of costume idol dramas has plummeted over the years while my own standards have risen.
This show started strong and compelling, and it ended just as beautifully. Although there were occasional slip-ups, they were just minor plot holes that were resolved almost immediately within the same episode. So, whining and complaining about them feels nonsensical since they were literally addressed right away. Additionally, each plot point was indulgently thought out, resulting in a highly anticipated narrative that was incredibly entertaining to watch.
I had a lot of fun binge-watching the entirety of the story. Even though I found the entire Obsessive Ex-Husband (Fan Qing Chen) arc grating to watch, it actually wasn't bad at all. In fact, it flows and connects nicely to the main plot. If anything, my frustration stemmed from the choice of the final antagonist. I expected the climax and final conflict to revolve around defeating and convicting Prime Minister Chen and Mr. Kong of their crimes, not around Fan Qing Chenâs obsession and delusion regarding the female lead, Luo Ling Yu.
Anticipating a grand showdown with the story's true ultimate villains kept me on edge, so pivoting to a lovesick lunaticâwho should have been dealt with ages agoâreally ruined my mood. While Prime Minister Chen and Mr. Kong's downfalls were thoroughly satisfying, I still have a bitter taste in my mouth because they deserved to be the final hurdleâending act. Imagine gearing up for a high-stakes chess match, only to end up in a psychological thriller about an ex-husband. *Exasperated sigh*
All things considered, having Fan Qingchen as the final antagonist worked surprisingly well. His aspirations and determination were entirely valid; he simply took the wrong path because he was oblivious to, or directly disregarded Luo Lingyu's feelings and predicaments. This ultimately led to his miserable situation and downfall. Furthermore, given that the romance spanned three-quarters of the plot alongside the heavy political intrigue, positioning him as the final enemy feels entirely justified upon reflection.
The ending, on the other hand, fascinated me and at the same time made me extremely happy. At last, she found herself a matrilocal husbandâfitting what she was originally looking forâwho was wholeheartedly willing to be one.
"From now on, I live as a member of the Luo clan, and in death, a spirit of your clan." - Lu Yun
Moving forward, let me mention the plot holes, flaws, and some other factors that affected my experience watching this show.
1. Her sister's age doesn't make sense. She said that it was 10 years ago when their parents sent them to their uncle in Shouzhou City. However, during that flashback, her sister looked like she was at least 3 to 5 years old. Therefore, her sister should be between 13 and 15 years old in the current timeline, but she appears to be around 6 to 9, which doesn't make sense at all.
2. I was so flabbergasted that despite their tough upbringing, this little sister (Luo Yun Hua) of hers remained spoiled and unable to read situations. She's reliable, I'll give her that, but her unruly behavior completely negates her good traits. It totally reminded me of the time Luo Lingyu lectured her on the boat. What a whiny, annoying kid.
3. I read a kisskh (MDL) review last month by someone hating on a child actress for her irritating portrayal. At the time, I found it harsh and unnecessary. But man, weeks later, here I am getting so irritated by this child actress (Li Zhi Mo) for being unbearably annoying as time passes! This is one of the reasons why I was grateful that she received little to almost no screentime at all during the second half of the show.
4. In episode 25, Lu Yun invading the enemy camp alone was just utterly stupid. It was a total suicide mission. I get that his emotions got the best of him, but wouldn't it be way wiser to actually plan things first instead of attacking blindly and unprepared? Gracious!
I read through several MDL reviews and noticed how some people hated the FL (Luo Ling Yu) for how brazen, shameless, unapologetic, and merciless she was during the first half of the show. However, by contrast, those exact qualities are what made me like her and drew me to her character. I view her behavior as a coping mechanism, given the harsh environment she grew up in after her parents passed away. She was simply hardened by her own tough experiences, which is entirely reasonable if you look at it from a different perspective. Moreover, her strange ways and beliefs made her more interesting in my eyes. She was unconventional, impertinent, and clever, which became the ultimate catalyst for her chemistry with the ML (Lu Yun), making them far more chaotically entertaining to watch.
In addition, one striking quality I genuinely love about her is her unwavering optimism. She views every problem as just a minor setback. Sheâs like a human power bankâsomeone you can always recharge your positivity and energy from during tough times.
"Face challenges bravely, and deal with obstacles wisely. We'll overcome all hardships. Things will be resolved." - Luo Lingyu
Lastly, Iâm incredibly grateful that this production didn't force another CP into the story. That wise, magnificent decision allowed the two existing CPs to truly shine without crowding the plot with too many pairings.
P.S. I really love the royal family in this drama. They are all on the same wavelength, characterized by a light vibe, a kind demeanor, and an innocence that leaves them blissfully oblivious to certain thingsâwhich makes them incredibly adorable and pleasant to watch.
Story - 9.0, I could have given it a higher rating if they hadn't messed up the final antagonists and the order in which they were supposed to be dealt with. This element was a total game-changer for me because it changed the trajectory of the story from a nerve-wracking match of wit to a psychological thriller about an ex-husband. Additionally, I wish they had controlled and balanced the facial expressions and actions of the child actress playing Luo Yun Hua. I'm sorry, but she was really annoying! Huhu
Acting/Cast - 9.5, âI have decided to give this rating given that this is an idol drama and they should be acting silly, goofy, and playful most of the time. If anything, I want to commend our main castâAllen Fang, Jelly Lin, Charles Lin, Zhao Qing, and Guo Jiananâfor their exceptional execution of their characters. Dare I say that they're certified masters of idol drama acting. The reason why this is lacking that last 0.5 is because of Li Zhi Mo, the child actress. I am so sorry!
Music - 9.5, This show reminded me exactly what an idol drama OST sounds like. The entire playlist is the embodiment of the genre, perfectly capturing the vibe and complementing the mood of the show. The tracks exude a vibrant, playful, and beautiful energy that fits the drama perfectly.
Rewatch Value - 8.5, The story as a whole is nice and recommendable for people looking for a light and fun drama. Personally, I'm just not into idol dramas anymore and probably won't rewatch it. I'm giving it this rating because the plot is nice and it really is an enjoyable show to watch.
Overall - 9.0, It was truly an entertaining show to watch, and I think this score is the best rating I could give it, given my issues with it and considering my entire experience watching the show.
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