Dashing Empress

A random beautiful fate of mistaken arranged marriages!!!

What I liked about this drama was the simplicity of the story. The flow of how it was shown was never unfussy and clearly brought me to what I was expecting it to be. Much to my enjoyment, it was very light and contained minimal dramatic scenes. The characters of the five couples were sensibly built as to the role they were playing, noting as well the pleasant screen chemistry of all. It was amusing to watch these five couples supporting each other to protect their relationship, family, and friends.

I commend the creator for her candid style of writing. First, in those scenes where the main lead couple (Tian Xi Wei & Ao Rui Peng) always beat the wicked schemes of the adopted grandson in the Qi’s residence, unlike in other shows, the protagonist was inclined to be fooled by the villain and it was so frustrating to watch. Second, in the revelation parts of the switch identities of the brides that were not taken against them and swiftly gained acceptance from the involved parties. Third, the process of exposing and capturing the villain’s characters was done in a rightful end. And finally, it was a nice sight choice to include an interesting prank scene in the final episode that came as a surprise. The whole story ended where it began where the mishap of swapping happened and manifested their faith and gratefulness by going back to the temple.

I considered this drama as “less but more” in the aspect of being simple but substantially full in storytelling. It was a comfort watch, adding to the fact that Tian Xi Wei is one of my favorites.

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Such a pity the story messed up halfway through the end.

Watching this reminded me of the drama “Immortal Samsara” which goes with the same storyline of choosing between love and responsibility in the heavenly realm but this one hurdles the romance by the odds of being sworn enemies. The ordeal was how can you possibly take the life of the one you love?

Story: The early stages of the drama from episodes 1 – 18 went smoothly. When the exposition of the back story of each character began, as the crises of the ML and FL were destined to clash with each other was revealed, it became dull and boring. The writer kept on creating new conflicts every time the ML and FL were starting to settle. It was annoying changing the mood of the drama again and killing the supporting characters one after another. In the end, you would be confused about what happened to the main leads. Was it a tragic finale or they were given a chance to go back in time to change their fate?

Acting/Cast: Fairly enough all the cast sustained their own characters despite a setback in the story structure. Guo Hun Chen and Ju Jing Yi are indeed perfect for the roles. They were well-matched visually with so much resemblance to each other.

This drama could still be an option to watch but just some run-of-the-mill.

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It was BEAUTIFUL !!!

I am into Thai dramas lately and what I liked most about them was I was able to watch love stories differently. This drama was one perfect example, the creators of this made it complex and have its twist and turn without boredom.

This drama incorporated almost every genre in one show. Apart from romance, it has a mix of light comedy, action, suspense, and bl. Naturally, I would be deeply affected by the FL's emotional outburst but here, the ML was the one who made me sob entirely. He has tremendous eye expressions that genuinely showed emotions in all scenes that require love, pain, sadness, longing, and remorse. I was wondering why in one of the reviews I browsed over about this drama, his acting was criticized. I personally believed that you were an effective actor when you were able to transcend your emotions either with fewer words or even without speaking at all and that was what the ML has done in this drama.

There may be some flop scenes but certain to say that it would not out shadow the charm that this drama has especially with the presence of the two lovable kids playing as twins and the dorky father of FL's best friend who could have appeared early on in the episodes for some humor boost.

This was my first time also appreciating a Thai song played along in the drama. I may not know the meaning of the lyrics but its melody was pleasant to the ears and tailored to what the viewers were intended to feel about. Never seen this type of storyline in Korean and Chinese dramas which was why I got fancied over it.

Need to mention too that the houses and places here were often used in other dramas. For me, I think it lowers the aesthetic appeal of a particular drama because there were nothing much new to see. As a viewer from a neighboring country, aside from learning about their cultures, I look forward to seeing unfamiliar places. But due to repetitive choices of locations, I kinda feel deprived of the luxury of even exploring other places in Thailand on screen.

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A beautiful roller coaster of emotions

For me, this drama was close to excellence. It was intense and subtle at the same time. What a sterling way to tell a story of redeeming oneself from being hated to being most loved. Watching this troubled my emotions from start to end in a good way I must say which made this drama sensibly beautiful. There was a balance of transcending your emotions from feeling mad and smiling.

I can't think of any actors and actresses involved in this drama who fell behind in their actions because all of them from the small role to bigger ones gave tremendous justice to their individual characters. I would like to commend Mark Prin's acting here most especially because, during his saddest and most heartbroken scenes, you could see and feel the melancholy in his eyes even without crying. If it was part of the director's instructions not to drop a single tear during those scenes, he was brilliant in showing the soulful performance of Mark Prin. I could say that the FL's father's best friend who in turn became her fostered father was the key role in this drama. I liked his character as the one who balances the harmony in the family with boundless patience in himself.

The locations where they shoot this drama were a sight you would never forget. Just imagine living in a place surrounded by a garden of beautiful flowers, greenery of plants and trees, and an unpolluted river. It added a substance to feel the warmth of this drama despite the chaos happening in their lives every day due to misunderstandings and unverified ill thoughts toward one another.

Just watch this and be reminded that it's always your choice that will influence what your life will be like and the power of love regardless of its form whether parental, romantic or friendship, has an unimaginable strength to change a situation.

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A different ROM-COM because Snowhite and the 7 Dwarfs are here

I hardly watch Thai dramas because not to be mean, I find the sound of their speaking a little distracting. So far, I have watched 5 Thai dramas already, and after seeing "My Husband In Law" I started to appreciate them.

I liked the story of this drama. It was nicely presented and agreed with how the flow of the story proceeded at a pace that I myself found leisurely. One of the reasons that will make me decide to watch a certain drama is the attractiveness of the lead casts. I am not so familiar with Thai actors and actresses but the pairing of the couples here was a perfect choice. You will particularly distinguish the dialogues and interactions of the lead and second couple here much better and more captivating than in a number of other dramas shown n the Rom-Com genres.

This drama was so detailed and got to understand why each character has to become like that. It was rare for a drama to lay also the back story of the villain which will confuse your rationality about whether to hate or pity him in the end. Thus, it validated the fact that childhood life plays an important factor in how a person will be in the future, and making wrong decisions in the past will haunt you and make you restless not unless corrected.

I only have a few aversions, like the policemen here easily cried and were too emotional which made them look weak. The scenes where reporters were conducting interviews in front of the police station, it could have been improved in a way that will make the reporters look intelligent and professional.

The best scene-stealer here was the young teenage gay.

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Praise worthy!!! Double the joy of loving when you are each other's first love.

I love everything about this drama. What a way to start it by having episode 1 early stirring up your excitement. The screenwriter knew how to play it well and made a difference in stimulating the viewers’ interest in a common story of a school youth romance. All scenes are perfectly placed into sequence and it was not hard to follow moving from the back story during their high school days and then connecting it to their college lives in the present time. All the actors portrayed their respective roles in a seasoned way, unexpected for their age and while watching, it was as if you were seeing them in real because their acting out flaunted naturally. Of course, you will love the sweet, gentle, innocent, and provoking intimacy of the lead couple. It was a clever idea also to let the female lead get involved with a couple of men and supplement the conflicts of romance in the story. The second lead couple appeared especially charming unexpectedly and was given almost the same amount of exposure as the lead couple. Their friendship here was very ideal. Moreover, I so loved those parts in the story where the male lead's father was showing his approval and support for his son's dating.

Again, Chen Fang Tong has etched her name here for a short rom-com genre. She has become one of my favorite Chinese actresses ever since I saw her in “The Maid’s Revenge” and started checking out her drama projects like this one. She has such an adorable and lovely face. She’s like the Park Bo Young of Korea in terms of looks and can equally play serious dramatic and light comic roles. I gladly enjoyed this drama and have never been this satisfied compared to watching a few of the same kind. It was something plain and general but came out tasteful.

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Short, cute, and funny love triangle in a half-baked drama

If not for Chen Fang Tong I could have not finished this drama. It was amateurishly made with so many scenes to polish. There were scenes that were shortly cut and randomly proceeded to the next one that I think needed more detailed actions to finish it well and it fell short because of these abrupt shiftings. The fighting scenes were not executed as convincing as they should be for martial arts and kung fu experts that were engaged in a brawl to showcase their skills. Further, the two male lead actors were both not strong enough alone to protect the female lead and always took turns to play the hero when the other one and the female lead was in danger. Given that the story was not so appealing, I had bits of enjoyment watching this because of the funny, cute naughty interactions between the three leads sparring in a romance. In all fairness, those scenes were simple but were sharp to cheer your heart. I was not in agreement with Chen Fang Tong and Li Jui Lin acting as lovers here because they were more likely to pass as siblings. She was better paired off with the second male lead who looks younger and certainly showed much steady chemistry. Aside from Chen Fang Tong, the acting of the rest was not that outstanding. but still, not entirely a bad choice to watch.

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Wickedness overload

Oh boy, Song Joong Ki literally has such a divine pretty face here. He did prove in this part what an elite actor he is. After part 1, the story unfolded naturally similar indeed to what I was expecting. Evil deeds and barbaric killings s one after another will make you sad and infuriated. Just so we are lucky to have not lived in their times and we have human rights laws to protect us now. Yeah, right I know it was fictional tho! Well, there was one single scene I had a quick smile but I will not reveal it like you might wonder when was it. Your curiosity will heighten every episode and new characters are joining the journey of Eonseom. You will interestingly enjoy part 2 this time. There were so many names acting as support in this drama and yet you will not be lost each time they appeared in a scene as to what role they were playing.

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Watch this patiently to appreciate part 2 & 3

Obviously, I watched this drama because of Song Joong Ki., my second time seeing him in a non-dashing and undesirable look after in "My Werewolf Boy". I believed this drama was either the first or one of the few that produced a reimagination of the lives of the earliest people; It was fascinating to hear their dialect, particularly on the kids' cast, overflowing with talents for them to memorize and pronounce it The build-up of the story was tortoise-like but I had to press down my standards since it was a chronicle, needed a long and detailed narration as precedence. On the contrary, your eyes will be delighted by the sight of nature's beauty and the pride of its cinematography.

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Impressive for a mystery & crime investigation genre

I was encouraged to watch this drama because it was well-received and got a lot of appreciation from the viewers that I personally stood correctly. I must say the plot was cleverly presented, every turn of events has surprising elements, and the revelation of the mystery itself though dragging the story long did not bore me at all. Watching this drama made me a smart viewer because as the male lead went on his personal investigation, I myself was thinking along with him. It was a surprise that each protagonist and antagonist has his/her own wittiness to beat one another. However, the male lead stood among the rest. His tame personality and well-behaved manner disguise his inner guts to fight and you will love the charm of his sarcasm while gently talking back to his superiors. This drama exhibited the importance of having great skills in the field of investigation as a prosecutor so that you don't have to solely rely on your working detectives to solve a crime and eventually serve justice uprightly. The only flaw I found in this drama was the scene of the high school students hanging out in the house where the murder crime happened, it was irrelevant and unnecessary to be included. But I have to note that the emotional scene of the culprit shedding tears was a stellar performance of all. As I myself experience to be entertained by this show, it has to be known that it was close to perfection in line with its genre.

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The most sincere love you will ever received after hurting someone

The story was ordinary, however, the solid performances of the actors made this drama likeable. I was bored in the first few episodes but as the story progressed, my enthusiasm to go on watching revived. The lead couple's interactions made me smile especially in scenes when Park Ju Hyun acted awkwardly cute though in most of the scenes, you will just end up in tears. Notable scenes for me were the love teasing of the team members when finally the lead couple's dating was discovered by all and the two fathers betting whose daughter to come first and bragging of their future son in-laws. I liked the character of the male lead who I happened not to be familiar with. He has his own wounds and yet, he has a great sense of responsibility and matureness in dealling with his love relationship with Park Ju Hyun, the genuine and purest kind of love a girl could wish for.

The opening song was cool. The plot of this drama was simple but the script was written remakably that it will remain in your thoughts after watching it.

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The chemistry is exploding and is becoming an addiction!!!

So far after four episodes have been aired, nice going for this drama that has been feeding my cravings for excitement. At this early, I can tell this drama speaks volumes by getting a significant viewership percentage. It's not surprising at all after watching! It has the perfect cast, narrative style that engages emotions and leaves the viewers something to think about, creative camera techniques like when it shifts to relive an event from the past and the angle movements when focusing on someone or something, that effectively bring substance to the scene, and by itself, the deep crafted story.

The story's start hooked me instantly and I rooted for the two main leads. I liked that they are both rich here, as opposed to the usual romantic characters of poor girl – rich boy or vice-versa. Yoo Yeon-Seok and Chae Soo-bin's characters' psyche was interestingly teased out here in the details of their life, family, experiences, passions, dislikes, and fears. They play the roles of a married couple – a distant husband bearing the spokesperson position to the President of Korea and a mute wife working as an interpreter in a television network, who is not lawfully acting on their matrimonial duties as their union was forced by both families for business and political convenience alliance. The stable and non-communicative marriage was disrupted by the sudden abduction of the wife and the series of blackmail calls. The dynamics of the couple's relationship change afterward, eventually giving us romantic thrills with the scenes of the husband’s protective demeanors and toned-down jealousies towards his wife. This grows my anticipation as to what will happen next and the situation that will prompt the couple to lay bare what was long hidden in their hearts.

I am happy for Chae Soo-bin having starred in this project. She has a mark of her own in acting and has stamped herself as a celebrated serious actress through this drama. Her professional efforts in her 2-month studies of sign language give us a real-life portrayal of a mute person. And who would have thought that her chemistry with Yoo Yeon-Seok would blow up to such a degree showing an effortless connection that makes their relationship believable to the viewers. And yes, his attractiveness is like a vitamin to my eyes. He is strikingly charming with the wedding ring on his finger just like Song Kang in "My Demon".

Looks like I am seeing glory days for this drama. It’s awaiting performance recognitions and possibly Best Couple awards.

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I was not prepared to become engrossed in the series!

I haven’t watched local series (Philippines) for years along with being unaware of who the new artists are.  Social media in this case comes a handy information aid, I got to watch a reel showing the two main casts (Richard Gutierrez & Kaila Estrada) in what looks like in a romantic gestures.  That was what I thought the series, an exploration of the complexities of love too - one of my favorite genres to watch, but I also appreciate thriller action dramas.

This action crime drama series is about six individuals, former in combat roles, who are grouped and are working privately under the direction of the contractor played by Ian Veneracion.  They are being commissioned and paid handsomely to conduct special operations that are beyond the capabilities of normally trained personnel in capturing and demolishing highly sheltered criminals.  Each main character has unfinished personal issues bringing conflicts in the relationship among group members and putting at risk their mission.  I was impressed that this local production has improved greatly and can be equally compared to other Asian drama productions of the same genre.  The narrative weaving, actors’ performances (regardless of roles), visual effects (cold-blooded killings & fighting), the advanced elements of soldiers’ gears and equipment, and the filming locations are solid.  On top of that, the plots are not sensationalized and exaggerated. The seven main characters represent a mix of flawed persons of different ages who are not typical noble heroes, yet are steadfast in their principles and moral code.  As you would have noticed the five men in the group do not possess the toned and fit build that is a classic look for their characters as we all have seen in other series.  This detail of human imperfections inflates the conviction and relatability of the screen audience.

It is spectacular for me so far.  It showcases the remarkable range and acting prowess of Filipino actors. You might be wondering how these 128 episodes can substantially grow its viewership.  That’s my question too!  Filipino series generally follow a lengthy episode format airing daily.  Local viewers are not concerned about that since we are considerably drama spectators by nature and back then some even lasted airing for years.  This series is another something dramatic, exciting, thrilling, and impressive that unbelievably I anticipate what comes next. Just a little spoiler - be ready to see a protracted gunfight and chasing that seemed to never end at all.

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It has recognizable strengths and noticeable weaknesses, a show you can’t ignore nonetheless.

1. Is forgiveness possible for a collective betrayal of the people closest to you?
2. How far can you go in protecting your child and your reputation amidst the fact of his wrongdoing?
3. Do you have the right to mourn for your deceased daughter who barely received affection and practically experienced parental physical and emotional abuse from you?
4. Will you be completely happy from the liberation you get after learning the truths behind your sufferings?

The preceding questions generally connote my thoughts upon completing this drama. Not so much applause but fairly succeeded in giving the audience a justified mystery. It was a snail-paced screen narration of a familiar main plot with a fresh twist antagonizing the main character. I liked how the story went through the tension build-up and cracking down plausible liars around ML’s life. There was predictable on the side like for instance, the characters of a renowned male psychiatrist and his domineering politician wife, which obviously pointing an involvement in the murder case. This murder case that in the course of the investigation used a gas lighting tactic to a 19 – year old boy who endured physical assaults inside the prison, condemnation from his whole village, lack of support from everyone, and the devastation he caused his parents, until he met the right people that would eventually assist him shed the light of what he felt was unresolved in the case.

In the story, you may conclude that the two murdered young female students caused their own death. Their unethical rude eloquences provoked the inner demon of their perpetrators on the time of the crime. Jealousy and self-interest were two evoking forces here that solidified those conspirators’ reasoning to a pact of non-disclosure. And so I, who already invested so much sympathy for the ML was fuming as unraveling progress. Not so long, a sigh of relief came in when the ML’s deceased father left a “Gift” unknown to everyone that insinuated an early triumph in their pursuit of justice. But mind you, I find Byun Yo Han and Kim Bo Ra here sparked an unexpected affirming chemistry even without the flare of romance. I hope working together in this drama can influence future project reunion, a Rom-com probably focusing on their story.

Last off, I think showing of the recollections of past events were too many for me and along spoiled my viewing mood. Those could have been replaced by other sets of scenes that could properly consume the given air time and lose nothing in the story. Overall, it was a good watch per se.

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Great actors but decrease the watch value for its flawed story

Let me first mention some of the lines from this drama that set me clear to a realization of the essence of the court from a layman's perspective.

"Love that surrendered to principle and duty."
"Winning all battles doesn't make you great. What makes you great is when you make the enemy succumb without fighting."
"A trial isn't a means to decide who's right and wrong. It's a means to choose who's being more convincing within the boundaries of the law."

Sadly, this drama failed to meet my expectations. It became uninteresting because of repetitive scenarios every time a new case was assigned. The legendary lawyer got to handle it assisted by his prodigy, then the prodigy's emotional sensibility would get in the way to complicate the case. and in critical moments he would come up with a better solution to fix it. The flow of the story was so flat and didn't heighten my excitement about what to expect next. I didn't like the character of Park Hyung Sik here, an arrogant young man with a special memory recall ability, stubborn with the decision that put him in trouble most of the time and bothered by his weakness bearing an identity of a fake lawyer. I guess I'm just used to seeing lead actors portraying a strong impressive personalities with a small spot of weaknesses. Nevertheless, all the actors acted brilliantly having Jang Dong Gun leading the outstanding cast, and the English song played often in the drama was a perfect choice.

Despite my disappointment in this drama, I've learned a few things from it, informational in the aspect of the law and court proceedings that made me grasp my pen and take a few notes.

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