Minalapinou

Witty comedy of manners with a great ensemble cast

This show was exactly what I was hoping for : a blend of screwball comedy and matchmaking goodness. It's very witty, I laughed a lot, the ensemble cast is so, so good, I had a grand time. So glad I didn't sleep on it or listened too much to the early bad reviews. It's a clever comedy of manners about very human men and women treading the muddy waters of seduction and love in dangerous times. First couple is your classic her pride against his prejudice affair with a business war setting, second couple are sweet but stubborn scholars down on luck who overcome tragedy, third couple (my fav) is a mix between romantic comedy and legal drama with a side of amnesia, and fourth couple is a more shakespearian taming of the shrew with a twist and lots of adventure. It's varied, very well paced and they let talented lesser known actors shine. My only gripe is that I feel the last romance's third act was unfairly hijacked by their need to wrap up the story, and I also feel second sis was neglected (the lack of commentary in the conclusion for her couple was sooo awkward) and it did end the drama on a slightly sour note, but overall it was a very fun show that I enjoyed tremendously.

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Often cited as the best mini ever and with reason, it's lightening in a bottle

My first mini drama. Before trying it I was very skeptical of these soapy chinese shorts, I saw them as cheap cash grabs with superficial plots, but after finishing Familiar Stranger (and some other recs like Maid's Revenge), not only was I completely hooked but I realized they are kinda genius : the format allows them to be cheaper to produce overall, but it doesn't mean they can't be gorgeous, sharp, and well played by talented but lesser known actors, giving them an edge. Also they are less affected by censorship, and can be more daring (read : smuttier) than longer shows. Familiar Stranger is one of the best. As is the case for many shorts the plot is very far-fetched (a painter in search of her long lost sister gets cursed and wakes up in the body of the fiancee of her one true love) but it works. It's wonderfully directed by talented Zeng Qing Jie, Ryan Cheng's hotness is next-level, him and Ke Ying's scenes have a memorable sensuality. It also has a very chaotic secondary couple that I found at times even more compelling than the leads, but their ending was frustrating. That's the only shadow in an otherwise perfect picture that I will revisit.

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Solid revenge story, rest is lacking

This soapylicious revenge drama has some crazy imagery, like Yu Qig being ravaged while her family is feasting (pretty good metaphor about the whole toxic family profiting off of her body), giant bird cages, worm infested flowers...it's the kind of revenge drama that is running on vibes and style (the costumes are striking), and does it well. It's not without faults, the writing is okay-ish, sometimes bonkers and not always in a fun way (the whole dad revenge arc was too over the top with all his crimes, and everything about the kid made zero sense to me), the romance is enjoyable but just so-so, the beginning makes you believe that there will be more angst but no, she becomes his favored concubine and hidden weapon very fast and nothing really gets between them beside her secrets. I didn't care much about the tragic romance of the legitimate sister, I guess they were trying to say something about trauma bonding but it was clumsy. I love Deng Kai but I think he was a bit underused here. So overall it's a good revenge story with an explosive start (and first few arcs), but the rest doesn't really lives up to it.

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Polished prod, lovely actors, but the weak writing doesn't manage to maintain the initial tension

Yeah so there is no hiding, it's a big guilty pleasure, there is zero excuse for the very toxic plot at the beginning beside fulfulling some dark fantasies (I'm the target, can't complain). It starts with the hero going straight to the brothel to assault his ex instead of deflowering his bride, before throwing the heroïne in a snowstorm, literally putting her in ice and fire trials. I can't deny it, I really enjoyed the first part of this when it's very f*cked up and all "I will get my revenge on you but I'm also still very attracted to you, so my revenge will be agressively sexual with lots of angry kisses and biting". I also enjoyed the crazy ménage à trois with Bao Bao (Teng Ze Wen is delightful as a childish and vain first wife), but lost interest once it became more classic as the dynamic between the characters changes. It stays beautiful though, thanks to strong production values and direction. Deng Zhan Neng is known for churning some really polished short romances like this one, and I'm very excited to see what he does next. Plot wise, I really like this kind of dark romance where the revenge is personal (it's a whole subplot in Kunning Palace), but ultimately I found the writing not strong enough to sustain the tension until the end.

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Dangerous gateway drug to a whole new world of epic romantic fantasy

This is one of the most popular xianxia, with reasons. Plot is so well written, art direction is top notch (so many frames look like paintings), OST is killer, costumes are legendary, there is tons of alchemy between the actors. It manages to be sweet, funny, heartbreaking. It's very well-paced and has no filler, which is rare. I even love Esther Yu's voice. It was my first xianxia and it hooked me hard on the genre, making me desperate to find other shows like it (and thrilled when I discovered that there was an entire catalogue of it waiting for me). What to say that hasen't been said about it already, just watch it.

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Addictive Die & Retry about redemption instead of revenge with a thrilling, dangerous romance

My second favorite 2023 drama after Till the End of the Moon and would you know it, it's another dark, sexy and twisted angst-fest with Bai Lu as its lead. The hype was sky-high, and it did not diasppoint. It is by no means a perfect drama, the story can feel rushed, the palace politics are hard to follow, and the production is of average quality with some weird lighting and framing choices (hate them or love them, here come the Chu Yui Bun lens flares and close-ups), but the plot is gripping. Bai Lu has chemistry with every character, and her (incredibly hot) slow-burn romance with Zhang Ling He's scheming and secretly unhinged teacher is rich, intense, and pays off wonderfully. It's sort of a harem, Jiang Xuening has three suitors who are based on classic tropes (childhood friend, incorruptible lawman and mysterious teacher) and after trying to convince herself that she wants the most righteous one that she missed in her previous life, she ends up falling for the most dangerous instead. Xei Wei is fascinating, and I kept rooting for him despite his ruthlessness and controlling tendencies. This is how you write a flawed character ! Yan Lin was also great, only Zhang Zhe was a letdown, and I don't know if I should fault the script or the actor (maybe both). I also really liked how the politics were cleverly intertwined with the romances and destinies of all characters, it made it all the more gripping, and the rythm was flawless. This is the kind of show that hooks you right away and never let go. I was sad to see it end, 38 episodes went by like nothing.

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Moody gothic romance with the perfect cast and amazing visuals

Loved it ! Nothing was really doing ot for me lately in vertical land, I was dropping things left and right, when that happens I tend to go back to basics, and a classic gothic Beauty and the Beast retelling with a bulletproof cast and strong production values fitted the bill perfectly. It didn't disappoint, I watched it in one go, wished it was longer. At first glance it looks like a vampire romance but I insist, it's more a B&B retelling : he's a powerful but frightening cursed man in a big manor surrounded by roses and concerned butlers and maids, his rival is the real beast, she is the cure, etc. There is some vertical tropes like a fake evil bestie, wet dreams, forced kisses and the obligatory aphrodisiacs-induced sex (I really wished we got more scenes about their romance when they were younger and the seduction more natural, we were robbed), the usual toxic workplace dynamics, but overall I think the drama manages to be its own thing thanks to the dark fairytale aesthetic that didn't felt cheap (ZZD costumes were a bit extra and cosplay-ish but also fabulous, no complaints) and a focused plot that didn't meander in useless fillers. Zhu Xiao Xue was delightful, she looked like a doll and played her ingenue role well. I hear the frustration about the writing and the fact that some things could have been cleared faster and dangers avoided if the ML was more honest, but I think the drama's idea was to convey that he can't face her with the truth like when they were young but can't stay away either, torn between his desire and his wish to protect her by keeping her in the dark (the fake fiancee story is not a bad cover). Anyway, I ate it up.

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Take my brain away

Lady Tian Tian foresaw the doom of her clan framed for treason by the hands of her betrothed, seventh prince Yan Li. She has no idea how a disgraced prince will come to power, how they will end up engaged and why he will massacre her family. At present she is the cherished daughter of a military household, marriage proposals are flowing in, and he's a candidate !

This bird brain drama had no idea what it wanted to be, so it tried to do a bit of everything. It teases us with a typical enemies to lover "kiss and kill" opening (quite efficient, I must say : I fell for it), he's her enemy, but he's also in love with her, so how things came to such an end ? Don't expect any clever explanation because the drama doesn't truly care, you can see the final "twist" coming from miles away, and until then things are hunky dory for our heroïne : tragedy completely avoided, she just had to uncover the (very obvious) villain and voilà, now she can have her happy ending with the prince full of cute babies. But oh noes, the drama got rid of its main villain, our main couple is wed, and we are only halfway through ! What's a drama to do ? Suddenly, a wild green tea appears to save the plot ! At this point I was used to the drama's numerous plot holes and brutal transitions (at several moments I wondered if I had missed some scenes or skipped an episode) so I ketp watching. Thankfully the snake was played by the very graceful Sun Lu Lu (loved her in Wutong Courtyard) so it was at least well acted. Honestly the drama didn't deserve its cute and talented cast : handsome and soft (but also fierce !) Hei Ze, and the adorable and expressive Zhao Jia Min. Chemistry was good, they were cute together, kisses were good, I was contented. The direction was also good, they kept things simple but delicate, with lovely costumes, scenery and pastel colors. The plot is obviously the drama's weakness but for all its problems, they did realize that they were not telling some grand masterpiece and switched pretty fast to what they knew : tropey but fun adventures. In conclusion : don't believe the title there is nothing "dangerous" about this lover, the drama uses it as a hook but it becomes a cute romance with some (mild) adventure very fast, until they remember they need to go full circle to justify their opening (and the way they do it is so contrived...). So...yeah, another bait and switch. The cast is criminally pretty in period garbs so there is that.

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Heart of the fire

A very good romance thriller. I was surprised by the strong production values, this is actually on par with legit cop TV shows. It really took me by surprise as those romantic modern day minis tend to make do with scraps and feel amateur. Not here, this is Serious Fare baby, we are not here to play we are here to make you feel you are right there in the heat with our heroes. The actor's direction is on the same level : there is very little camp (you can even argue there is none), I found myself thinking Leo Yang (chosen more for his energy, talent and charisma rather than perfect skin or hair) could be playing this role on the big screen, and nobody would bat en eye. I think Han Ye Lao is one of the most beautiful actress on the mini/micro scene, and she can act ! Her character was a bit cliche and out of her depth but she's so charming I was forgiving of her naïvety. The tone and story reminded me of the dark tragedy A Bittersweet Life where Lee Byung Hun plays a gangster who falls in love with his boss' mistress played by Shin Minah. This version of two lonely souls connecting in society's seedy underbelly is less sad, and dare I say sexier. The way he looks at her and holds her is everything you want in a Noir-coded romance. If you want something a bit more classy and old school than usual with a sweetheart heroïne and rugged hero this is a fine pick.

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Hunks, Boyfriend Swap, and Poetic Justice

I wanted a romance with my latest drama crush Cheng Cheng and was not disappointed with this one. I love the plot : You Xin's boyfriend has the seven-year itch and is fooling around with her best friend (it's always the best friend or the sister/cousin). After an light accident You Xin feels playful and innocently pranks them by pretending to have amnesia, but her plan has unexpected results and she sees horrified her boyfriend and bestie taking the opportunity to make her believe THEY are a couple and that her boyfriend is his friend Yan Zhou. Her boyfriend thinks himself very clever and that his great plan will somehow result in her pining after him because her instincts/deep love will prevail (lol) while he will get the freedom to enjoy his affair, but it backfires (duh) when Yan Zhou takes his new boyfriend role very seriously, making him nervous.

SML is a classic jerk with an inflated ego who thinks he's so great both women can only be grateful for his attention and forgive everything, so it's quite enjoyable watching him hoisted by his own petard, because his bro is sure not giving the girlfriend back. The drama started hilarious and sexy, I couldn't get enough of the ML swearing to SML he will never touch his girl, being all "I give you my word bro I would never betray you", and then flirting with her like crazy the minute after, going for a romantic sprint of steamy kisses, loud sex (in hearing range of the cheating couple), baby planning and proposals in a matter of days. Cheng Cheng is the perfect mix of intensity (while his friend was dallying with fake bestie, he was longing for her) and tenderness. At first it's clear You Xin is using him to get revenge, she didn't have the best first impression of him (she's self-conscious about her humble upbringing and overheard him telling her boyfriend she wasn't good enough for him, of course he meant the opposite but she was very hurt), but when things cool down she notices how sincere he is to her and isn't immune to his charm. It was fun and they had great kiss scenes, but once the seduction is over I would have liked a bit more tension in their relationship, maybe some cracks (ML is too perfect) instead of the very silly last minute "twist" showing us the endless meltdown of the cheating BF that went on for way too long.

Both Cheng Cheng and Ao Ri Ge Le are total hunks which made for some premium eye candy (the scenes where they are arguing together are a visual treat, too much sex-appeal in one small vertical frame), and if you enjoy FL having two very hot men being obsessed with her (while fake bestie makes a fool of herself), you know what to do.

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She's His Cure

Ben Wang/Lu Lu Lu version of the Yin/Yang plot in a period variant (I think I also read a manhwa with a more twisted take on this idea, The Cold Palace Empress ?). This one actually surprised me, I wasn't sure where they were going with a FL who had Principles and a ML who was onboard with human sacrifice "for the country" (yeah, sure) but they did a pretty good job, it reminded me a bit of Bai Lu's Feud at times. The tragic twists were a bit much, but the ending got me. Having Ben Wang play the prince was the show's main strength but it was otherwise well done, if a bit dry (it has a moralistic tone overall, whether you are okay with that in a vertical romance is for you to decide).

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Just watch Desires

Fasten your seatbelt, this is a vertical rollercoaster ! Crippled with debt, secretly pregnant (soon to be fallen) heiress FL uses the Noble Idiocy card to get out of her common law marriage with childhood friend/poor sweet trafficked orphan ML and pretends having an affair. Poor dude gets truck of doomed while running after her and we get teleported 6 years later at a fancy party where she has to pretend to be the two-years fiance of her sick kiddo's CEO doctor who secretly has feelings for her (don't ask, just roll with it). In the meantime, ex-hubby found his mandatory long lost rich parents, and he's back with a vengeance, hot, rich, engaged, powerful, and very angry. He happens to be her fake fiance's uncle (of course he is), and thinks she's after his nephew's fortune. She's fired from her job and drama gravity laws/destiny keeps pushing her in his arms in the usual hostess/client and assistant/CEO scenarios.

The 15 first minutes or so are a rapid fire of tropes, it's like they are aiming for some kind of world record. Hopefully you are familiar with some of them because I don't know how someone new to the genre can grasp what the hell is happening here without getting serious whiplash. The rest of the drama keeps being a snowball of tropes. I won't lie : I thought the writing was crap. First part is toxic CEO love flavored, then he meets their kid, parent trap style, forgets he's angry at her (the transition is very abrupt) and they share some sweet moments, until secrets are unveiled. On the seriously infuriating secret baby trope, I hope there is a special kind of drama hell for these moms who basically kidnap kids from their dads, usually I rage quit these shows but I made an exception here because I can't resist a Zuo Yi/Wang Kai Mu pairing with some push/pull dynamics. I must really love them because the FL of this show is frankly a huge asshole, always making decisions in her partner's stead, never giving him a chance to make a choice about anything in their life even after she learns about all of his abandonment trauma, doubling down one noble idiocy near the end (it was just idiocy at this point, nothing noble about it). I was cheering when he was considering suing her ass and fighting for main custody, even down with the idea of a stepmom because you know what ? Serves her right, that was exactly what she was planning to do to him. And then she considers noble idiocy for her kid because apparently that's the only way she solves problems in her life : running away. Thankfully at this point ML is (rightfully) fed up with the bullshit, tired of everyone dangling his (arranged) engagement as an excuse to deny his rights and erase what he's been through, and kidnaps back wife and kid. Honestly the FL doesn't grovel enough for what she did, she even gets rewarded and doesn't even have to come clean as the truth is revealed for her, but at this point I was really tired of the artificial angst and ready to move on to the cute reconciliation phase. They get back together, but the drama just refused to end and had last minute villain schemes because I guess there were some tropes they hadn't used...I was so over it.

A few last words on the secondary characters, the cute kid was not a kid at all but a (very fun, I admit) audience substitute, doing all the work, scheming for mommy to get with the hotter daddy, dropping truth bombs and getting rid of the boring, annoying SML. His presence was really superfluous here, that kind of SML works when the ML is the sexier, more problematic option to create a real dilemma, but here the ML is also (after a brief vengeful phase) a true sweetheart so...what was his point again ? I wanted to strangle him when he dared suggest petitioning his grandpa to kick the ML out of the family and get custody : are you freaking for real dude ?? Why was everyone ready to bend over backwards for the FL when she was such a wimp ? Overall none of the characters felt like real humans, only walking stereotypes, and that comes from someone who usually have no trouble with cliche writing. The drama can thank its main leads for saving it from being a total bust and now I want to see another Wang Kai Mu/Zuo Yi drama that has decent writing, this was just not it.

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Who's a good boy

Another great find thanks to the amazing r/CShortDramas reddit page, casting is smoking hot, plot is very fast paced (never a dull moment), all wrapped in an efficient, no-frill direction. Hou Cheng Yue is, on the surface, your standard sub desperate poor girl who has to sell herself to save her family and Zhang Ji Jun your usual dom CEO who wants to take advantage of it and trap her in his snare, the very first scene teases a classic take on the trope, but !!! The dynamic changes immediatly when she's sent (or rather, he sents her to himself) to have sex with a poor, downtrodden crippled heir bullied by his evil rich family. Of course it's him (there is a hilarious "only in fiction" Superman/Clark Kent disguise going on with glasses and black/white styles), but she wants control in the relationship (big "only I can bully him" vibe) and he's more than happy (and horny) to give it to her. It's very kinky, very hot (both actors can kiss) with amazing choreography and fun dirty talk. I do have one regret : a very naughty part of me kinda wanted her to discover the truth earlier and play with him more, like, by cheating on him with his dom CEO alter ego, that would have been a fine, thrilling little revenge for all his manipulation, but the drama didn't go there. The plot itself doesn't really matter to be frank, we are here for another kind of "plot", but I did enjoy the psycho mom and psycho fiancee who raised hell for their sick version of love.

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Old recipe, great dish

Modest but talented and workaholic heroïne whose good will is taken for granted is neglected by her spoiled brat fiance who is romancing his green tea adoptive sis, slowly falls for his suave and commanding elder brother who's been longing for her for years. She thinks her fiance saved her life and gave three years to him, but her memories of the event are blurry and the truth might be different from what she believed. Despite the very classic, unimaginative plot we've seen a thousand times (seriously is there still people out there who give themselves to their savior, in this day and age), it's one of the best verticals of the year in my opinion. It's very subdued, very classy, Lan Lan and Liu Xiaoxu are seriously impressive in their roles (I can't get enough of their combined mature, smooth energy), they make the usual tropes feel natural and believable by what I can only call movie magic. The drama is well shot, taking full advantage of the vertical frame to create scenes that are visually striking. It also has a budget, showing in classy outfits and sets (love the whole traditional artisan workshop they give her). The plot might seem boring and tired but don't overlook it, it's a gem.

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Pure period Cdrama goodness

Given a second chance by fate, Dou Zhao decides to take her destiny in her own hands in order to avoid doom and live a decent life. She crosses path with Song Mo, a young general blinded by rage and revenge. Alone they can't overturn their downfall, by maybe together ?

So good and gorgeous. A rare case of a drama carried mostly by its direction. I mean yeah it's made by Zeng Qing Jie, an awesome director who did wonders with short formats, but wow, I'm still impressed. It's doing what every other drama is trying to do lately on love, country loyalty, revenge, second chances, destiny, etc. with limited means but waaay more talent and flair. The writing is solid but not ground-breaking or very deep, it's well-trodden waters, the actors are good but no acting gods either, it's the brilliant direction that completely transcends everything. There's no catch, the show is straight up good from start to finish, and totally deserving of the hype.

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