Minalapinou

I know this song and dance, trashy vampire period romance but add revenge, green tea, soul migration and a touch of fantasy (they have some kind of powers linked to plants ?). This is bordering on vertical soap to be honest but I don't mind, all the blood, violence and bare skin fit the gothic theme. I liked the execution and pacing a lot, even if I didn't always 100% understood what was happening (can't say if it's the fault of the mediocre translation or the script though). Sometimes the writing bends reality to fit the narrative but it's more hilarious than annoying (they had the perfect magical item for everything, lol). I had just finished Enslaved by Love with Xu Zhen Zhen and the same director when I started this, and I like the ML of this drama better : Ye Sheng Jia is damn good as debauched prince Pei Su, and his character has a darkness and layers that make the romance gripping. Secondary cast is also pretty good and rounds up the story nicely, as our heroïne has not one but two shady romantic interests, doubling the fun. Villains are your usual cackeling greedy cliches, but the actors have fun with it and the drama succeeds at slowly unraveling what is really happening and who is the true mastermind. Love the styling (the hime cut and choker are adorable on Xu Zhen Zhen, Ye Shang Jia looks gorgeous in open neck robes) and Deng Zhan Neng is a pro at making those shorts look expensive. The drama becomes tamer and less scandalous in the second part, loosing some of the initial spice and tension, but I felt the resolution was worth the investment. I also recommend this if you want more of what Shadow Love was doing with blood slavery/contract in short form, with a ML who is more wolf than puppy.