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Growing Pains.
The Young Ones is an unexpectedly addictive crime thriller. After missteps in a case, Lei Xu gets appointed as the Director of the Juvenile Prosecution Department, a new department responsible for prosecuting juvenile cases. It is an effective demotion that sees him back in his hometown, leading an all-female team. It is an awkward transition for Lei Xu, who is more accustomed to dealing with hard core criminals than with sensitive, angsty, hormonal and mendacious teenagers. He also finds himself stepping on all kinds of toes dealing with some of the more prickly members of his team. Fortunately for him he has an interesting history with his high school classmate Du Ziyu, who smooths the way for him.The plot is not special and the villains are not smart and are known early on. By pulling together threads of a few seemingly unrelated juvenile cases, Lei Xu stumbles onto an old nemesis that enables them to bring down a much larger criminal network. What makes this drama riveting, horrifying and addictive are the teen stories. Their growing pains, their vulnerability and the way they respond to trauma is scary and moving at the same time. I am not a binger but I couldn't stop watching just one more episode well past my bedtime. The teen actors absolutely stole the show, notably Jia Xiaohan's portrayal of the layer upon layer that peels away to reveal what happened to Jiang Xiaojie. The way Jiang Xiaojie, Zhang Yunyun and Zhou Qiao, lie over and over again so convincingly and ingeniously to protect each other moved me more than anything else. These kids only have and trust each other; they really don't have any faith in adults and they are too smart; they ran circles around the prosecutors! Bravo to all the child actors, they were truly phenomenal!
The rest of the cast is solid overall. It is anchored by Zhang Yi, who is in his element in this kind of slightly flawed but dedicated good guy, slightly awkward around women cop. I enjoyed the hint of romance and how the team comes to work together seamlessly. The only thing that surprised me is Qin Lan's lines; they were simply dreadful and she seemed uncomfortable in her role. Overall this is just another one of many decent police procedurals that is elevated by outstanding teen related sub-plots and performances. Its a good watch to pass time during a drama drought. I rate it 7/10.
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Are there limits to an emperor's power or simply limits to an emperor's love?
A black cat slithers sinisterly through the households of Changán's elite seeking out its favorite meal of fish eyeballs; a series of eerie inexplicable events in its wake. When it dares torment Emperor Xuanzong, palace official and aspiring poet Bai Letian (Bai Juyi) and visiting Japanese monk Kukai pair up to track down and exorcise the demon cat. These two historical figures must uncover the cause of the cat's resentment in this wildly speculative account of the inspiration behind the most renown Tang poem in history 長恨歌/Chang Hen Ge/The Song of Everlasting Regret or Sorrow.Yang Yuhuan (Yang Guifei or Precious Consort Yang) is a cultural legend that stirred the imaginations of artists, poets and writers for centuries. One of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, she was the femme fatale that distracted a great Tang emperor from affairs of state and sent the empire into decline. In this opulent blockbuster, Chen Kaige conjures the fantastical sensuous decadence of the Tang empire at its zenith and the subtle decay of its decline. While Sandrine Pinna hardly leaps to mind,, she passes muster as this famous, captivating beauty that toppled an empire. I cannot rave enough about how masterfully this production evokes the famous poem, with its vivid, erotic imagery of an incomparable beauty, an intoxicating and toxic love story and the haunting intensity of eternal regret and sorrow. Are there limits to an emperor's power or simply limits to an emperor's love?
Where the movie falters is in the narration. Both the role of Bai Letian and that of Kukai are miscast and not well written. The movie dwells too much on Kukai's backstory, which is not interesting and peripheral to the plot. There is zero chemistry between Huang Xuan and Sometani Shota and neither actor conveys why their character is compelled to solve the mystery of this enigmatic and very spooky cat. In fact it is Liu Haoran and to a lesser extent Ou Hao's White Crane and Red Crane that resonate and absolutely steal the show. Liu Haoran's portrayal of youthful infatuation, betrayal, the terrible burden of holding a lasting grudge and the release of letting go leaves the strongest impression among all the performances. If the two lead roles were better written and articulated, I would easily rate this better than 9,0 instead of 8.5. Nonetheless this is one of the best ancient fantasy thriller mysteries I have watched in a long time.
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Homecoming.
Billed as a suspense drama, 2021's highly anticipated Mist Theatre debut is really a family drama about how guilt and regret fractures a family after their youngest, best loved child Xuan Zhen is murdered nineteen years ago. Xuan Liang, who neglected to pick up his sister that fatal day is a stifling, over protective and paranoid father who is slowly but surely alienating his eighteen year old daughter Nianmei, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her long dead aunt. Another seemingly related murder finally presents a potential break in this cold case for long suffering detective Yuan Fei, whose wife Xuan Min also cannot let go of her sister's murder. The homecoming of Xuan Zhu, Xuan Zhen's fraternal twin sister is the catalyst that finally connects disparate threads between the past and present.The best part of this drama is the exceptional veteran cast who deliver performances that exceed the quality of the dialogue and the logic of the storytelling. Their compelling acting reinforces how they, the survivors are the true victims of this crime as they are each tormented by the knowledge that Xuan Zhen would still be alive if only they had done something differently. The problem is that amongst such nuanced and immersive portrayals, the young actress playing both Xuan Zhen and Nianmei is completely out-classed and her portrayal by comparison seems a lot less compelling than it really is. It does not help that neither character is written to be that empathetic.
Where this drama fails spectacularly is on the suspense thriller aspects. Despite decent camera work and a very dark and mysterious ambience, there is no sense of imminent danger or looming evil. As always Duan Yihong is so enjoyable to watch and between his Yuan Fei and his rookie sidekick Liu Xinli, the investigative aspects are logical and well presented. However, all of the credible suspects are eliminated very early and by the 6th episode, the who and the why is quite obvious. To meander through another 6 episodes of digressions into family drama to get to the how takes too long; what little suspense is built up fizzles out. The antagonist is also not interesting or sympathetic and their motive is not well fleshed out. It ends on a strong note as we are made to see and feel how important closure is for the Xuan family.
Even though this is a pretty forgettable suspense thriller, it is difficult to rate it too badly considering its strength as a family drama and the strong performances of the all-star cast. I give it a 7.0 overall as a decent watch if you need to pass time.
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The Devil Inside.
This is an excellent psychological thriller that can give any of the recent hits in the crime/thriller genre a run for their money. This drama grippingly explores criminal profilers - those who get into the minds of monsters - those who gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you. It is a dark story about how we all struggle with our inner demons and how the devil inside can be unleashed and insidiously take over. It is another excellent thriller with an unreliable narrator that sneaks up upon you.Fang Mu is a graduate student in criminal psychology who consults with the local police department to solve difficult and gruesome serial cases. He is considered a gifted profiler who is able to build an identifiable profile of the murderer from seemingly random and opaque clues. I am quite surprised at how some graphic and gruesome details of the rape/murder cases made it through the Chinese censors. That said, the introductory or peripheral cases fail to convincingly establish Fang Mu's credentials as some kind of profiling wunderkind although the shock or gore value is quite high. The two "real" cases however are meticulously mapped out and articulated.
After a traumatic case, Fang Mu struggles to matriculate and his police collaborators exhort his professor, another gifted profiler salvage their protégé by helping him battle his inner demons and complete his thesis. Another series of baffling murders compels Fang Mu to work together with the police department again. This awakens memories of the shattering case from three years ago that destroyed his confidence and left him a shadow of his former self. The story brilliantly weaves the destruction and subsequent salvation of Fang Mu's character into the two defining cases, one in the past and one in the present. Unlike some of the overrated the 2020 vintage that morph into character dramas (Horizon Tower, The Long Night), Fang Mu's character evolution an integral part of the plot and is not a digression from the plot.
There are enough clues throughout that it is possible (but not easy) to partly solve both of the main cases before the big reveals. At the very least, a very shadowy outline of the truth is visible in a way that made me want to keep watching; to find out if my suspicions were correct. This achieves that perfect balance between the element of surprise and anticipation or validation of the viewer's working thesis and I can't be more impressed. The acting and chemistry between the cast is excellent with the villains in particular being very subtle but still planting the smallest seed of suspicion. This really hit my mystery, psychological thriller, dark gore sweet spot. At the same time, in so many ways it is also a very human, very sad story. You will feel a ton of empathy for many characters and how the vagaries of fate and chance conspire to steal their dreams without completely killing them. Chen Xi and Fang Mu's story broke my heart - even though I was on to them from the second episode, I never wanted more badly to be wrong.
While there are some flaws and maybe some holes, this is an excellent watch - I rate it 8.5. It is very under appreciated but dark and complex.
If you are going to watch it on iQiyi be warned that the last two episodes are incomplete. Episode 23 seems edited to end the show with some of the most important threads left open. And Episode 24 is missing. iQiyi has ignored my many messages to complete the season so like me, you will have to watch the last two episodes somewhere else (Dramacool).
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A bot could have done a lot better!
The Journey of Legend (赴山海/Fù Shānhǎi) ambitiously reimagines Wen Ruian’s mid-1970s wuxia classic, The Heroes of China (神州奇侠/Shénzhōu Qí Xiá). Novelist Xiao Mingming, transmigrated into the novel’s world by a vengeful AI for daring to rewrite it with cheat codes, becomes the protagonist Xiao Qiushui. To return home, he must complete the hero’s journey in this sprawling martial world.Wen Ruian’s novel is a revered masterpiece among wuxia fans, celebrated for its epic scope, literary depth, and genre-defining influence. Layering an AI-driven isekai conspiracy arc over its already rich plot and character-driven narrative is a daunting task. Screenwriter Liu Fang, however, is woefully unequal to it. Her juvenile writing and shallow dialogue clash jarringly with Wen’s sophisticated, poetic prose. The first five or six episodes stumble through Mingming’s integration into the novel’s world, hampered by cringeworthy attempts at humor. The pace improves as the story aligns with the original novel, but periodic AI-driven digressions disrupt the otherwise stellar plot and character arcs. Ironically in terms of screenplay, a bot could have done a lot better! This drama is watchable if you ignore the AI subplots—they’re unworthy of attention.
Set in the fictional kingdom of Daxi, loosely based on the Southern Song Dynasty post-Jingkang humiliation, the story reinterprets the shameful betrayal of patriot Yue Fei through an alternate lens. The Beihuang invaders, likely inspired by the Jurchens, loom large, while a disillusioned jianghu (the martial world) fractures under the rivalry between the ambitious Li Chenzhou’s Power League (权力帮) and the enigmatic King Zhu’s River Sect. As the empire faces a controversial decision, young idealist Xiao Mingming/Qiushui navigates a family conspiracy that spirals into national stakes.
Cheng Yi plays both Xiao Qiushui and Li Chenzhou, narrative parallels designed to look uncannily alike yet embody opposing ideologies. Qiushui champions righteousness and chivalry (义, yì), while the cynical Chenzhou wields power and control (权力, quánlì). Cheng Yi struggles early to settle into these roles, but his portrayal of Chenzhou—a once-idealistic figure hardened by betrayal—outshines the vanilla, righteous Qiushui. Chenzhou’s complexity ultimately steals the spotlight.
The sprawling cast, however, is a mixed bag. Few characters beyond Li Chenzhou are fully developed. Lui Suifeng’s arc starts strong but fizzles, though it’s the best-acted role. Cheung Chi-Lam’s Crazy Yan is another standout, criminally underused. Newbie actors, overshadowed by veterans, expose the uneven casting. The main villain, a dumbed-down Qin Hui—history’s most infamous traitor—reduces a legendary antagonist to a trite middle-child syndrome caricature.
The saving grace? The martial arts. The action sequences are electrifying, ingeniously staged to deliver edge-of-your-seat thrills and imminent peril absent from recent wuxia dramas. Unlike the overly stylized twirling of Mysterious Lotus Casebook, these fights are intense, muscular, and flinch-worthy. If only the budget had stretched to a competent screenwriter! A straight adaptation of Wen’s novel, paired with these action scenes, could’ve been a masterpiece, dated genre or not.
I held off on weighing in on the rating controversy surrounding this production until I’d finished and reflected. Everything I loved—the profound, lingering ending included—stems from the original novel. Despite some clumsy moments, the finale respects Wen’s work. Yet, evaluated holistically, this adaptation desecrates a classic. I’m giving it a generous 8/10, almost entirely for the re-watchable martial arts. The storytelling scrapes by with a 7/10.
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Thief of hearts.
Five Kings of Thieves is a fast paced Republican period wuxia. Zhang Siye puts a mysterious artefact up for auction. This object is said to lead to the whereabouts of the first emperor's mythical cauldron. This draws many opposing interests out of the woodworks; including historic guardians of the treasure, the Five Elements Families. Revolutionary students determined to protect China's national treasures from Japan's Black Dragon Association also jump into the fray.Huo Xiaoxie is just a scrappy orphan and the only treasure he is after is just some nice dim sum to celebrate his shifu's birthday. He sneaks into the Zhang mansion to steal some and bumps into Shui Yao'er, who is after a far more valuable object. They fight into love as they are caught up this high stakes treasure hunt with devastating and life changing consequences. Zheng Zedao a constable with an unknown agenda recognises his resourcefulness and bails him out of a few tight spots. As their enemies encircle them, this thief of hearts races to unlock his own hidden powers to secure the treasure and win the girl.
This is a low budget action packed adventure with many twists that weaves in many brave and colorful jianghu characters with their own side stories. I enjoyed both Ren Min and Darren Chen's slightly exaggerated acting and cute chemistry in this. Its a bit rushed at the end and I could see some of the twists coming early on but still enjoyed watching them play out. The slightly slapstick sequences and the look and feel of this entire production is nostalgic of the old HK TVB Republican era action adventures. Its quite campy and the editing is not the best but with only 12 episodes its a nice, quick watch. My rating 7.0/10.0
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My name is Nalan Yue, you killed my father, prepare to lose your daughter!
Once upon a dark and scary time, jianghu was controlled by Rong Jingfeng, master of the sinister Dragon Roar city. His favorite daughter Rong Hua (Zhang Huiwen) is rescued by Nalan Yue (Ren Jialun) and they fall in love. They uncover the secrets of JIngfeng's dark power over the sects and a continuing blood fued between their families. Evil jianghu dictator, revenge plot, Romeo and Juliet romance... yups, those are pretty much the most overused wuxia tropes out there. And yet this drama takes a very different and often enjoyable approach to these common cliches which is what kept me watching. I won't lie however, the editing is terrible and while there are some really fun parts, the whole thing does not come together that well.The story itself is a simple one that isn't that difficult to follow despite the annoying, often discontinuous editing. The action scenes are exciting and generally well done and is one of the drama's highlights. While it is at times hit or miss, they make a decent attempt at dark comedy, which I love. Unfortunately, as much as I respect Ren Jialun's attempt at taking on more versatile roles, his portrayal of Nalan Yue is not memorable. He takes the character's transition from a lighthearted and chatty young man to a darker, more mature and more burdened character well enough but fails to convey who Nalan Yue is at the core. His comedic timing is just not good and trying to grin while he is talking at high speed is a fatal error that must be as uncomfortable as it looks. That said, I respect and support actors who take on different roles and try to test their limits so I am pleased he didn't try to pull another Lu Yi here. I was wary of Zhang Huiwen because I really dislike her performance in NIF2, one of my all-time favorite dramas. But while not perfect, I definitely saw improvement in her acting and she is surprisingly good at dark comedy, which requires much more subtlety than silly rom-com humor. Her best moments in this show is when she vindictively has a beloved tree chopped down and her hilarious initial interactions with Bai Su.
Where this drama falls down is the two main romances were not properly developed. Both lead couples fell in love so quickly I had to rewind to make sure I didn't miss their courtship. As such, there is no buy in as to how as a couple, they would overcome the dreaded Romeo and Juliet trope - one of the hardest tropes to convincingly pull off a happily ever after with. And Ren Jialun's wife (just kidding, don't start rumors) must run the censorship bureau because there is no lip locking and not much in terms of eyeballing each other either. They just jump right into a mature, trusting and intelligent relationship with limited misunderstandings and only mild noble idiocy at the end. But it is still great to see the romance avoid a bunch of cliches and it is particularly refreshing the way the Xueman triangle is so smartly resolved. I also love how both brothers fall for such different sisters and oddly enough, it is quite clear why Rong Su and Liu Yizhou "click" but less so Rong Hua and Nalan Yue. Despite a lot of screen time together, Rong Hua and Nalan Yue have zero sizzling, squeal worthy moments together. For me, Xuanye and Liuli's romance is the most convincing and endearing one.
There are many very cool and properly dimensioned characters in this show. Even dark characters like Mohuan and Jingfeng have shades of grey and likable sides, no one is just simply black or white. They are all capable of love and doing good but tragically chose to do evil instead. Outside of Meiying, who to me is the most despicable character, I am moved to pity for the vain, lonely and ultimately futile quest for power and dominance that drove our main villains. I also like how the drama explores revenge not as an eye for an eye and is willing to free the next generation from the past generations greivances. I think if this drama went went down the route of "My name is Nalan Yue, you killed my father, prepare to die!", I would certainly have dropped it early on. It is differentiated in new ideas and interesting approaches to cliche tropes and a decent attempt at dark humor. It is a shame it doesn't hang together as well as it should have but I still enjoyed it. To me this feels like a 7.5 or possibly an 8.0 for not boring me with stale ideas.
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The Adventures of Shanghai Holmes
This drama unabashedly sets out to create a Chinese Sherlock Holmes that is an upgrade from the original. I wish they had not done that but that changes nothing about how awesome this drama is. Set in the lavish sophisticated glitter of 1930s Shanghai, the glamorous surface visuals stand in sharp contrast to the darker and more ominous undertone of its citizens' dark side. The production borrows heavily from recent popular Sherlock Holmes movies and dramas. This is most notable with the OST which sounds uncannily like parts of the OST from both the movie and the BBC hit drama but has the audacity of being well... just better!This fun and engaging drama follows gifted police consultant Luo Fei (Bai Yu) and his sidekick rookie female detective Qin Xiaoman's crime solving adventures. They are aided by forensic doctor Ben Jieming and criminal psychologist Dr. Huo Wensi under the eagle eye of Detective Supt. Shawei. Despite the overt allusions to Sherlock Holmes, this is really a crime solving team that is a bit of Elementary in the two leads combined with a bit of CSI and a bit of Criminal Minds. Despite the requisite sharp intellect and deductive talent, Bai Yu's Luo Fei is far too sociable, too stylish, too charismatic and way too relate-able to qualify as an iconic Chinese Sherlock Holmes. His interpretation lacks a defining obsessive eccentricity and that dispassionate deductive logic that is the quintessential Sherlock Holmes.
Nonetheless, the humorous antics of the all too human Detective Luo as he falls for his gamin and plucky young sidekick are simply delightful. Xiaomin is a strong, smart and tenacious female character who can kick ass but is also not afraid on occasion to just be a girl. I really like that about her. What I like less is how condescending Luo Fei is when explaining certain deductions to Xiaomin - all that "Elementary my dear Watson" crap is such an overused and passe preamble to a "this is how it went down" walk-through in this genre. In general, all of the lead roles are colorful characters that were well written, well developed and well acted.
What impresses me most about this drama are how well written the cases are and how they come together in an overarching larger plot. I devoured the Complete Sherlock Holmes when I was twelve and have probably read every critically acclaimed detective out there since. I am not that easily wowed by just any old whodunit. These cases are intriguing, cleverly crafted, largely original with cheeky allusions to many of Holmes cases, both famous and lesser well known. They were mostly crimes of passion, where we end up feeling rather sorry for the perpetrators following the great reveal. In this sense, the cases are much more Agatha Christie than Arthur Conan Doyle.
The approximate three-episode per case format is just the right length to properly develop the backstory to each crime and the potential suspects. However, the production rushes through some key interactions, as if they don't really want the viewer to have enough time register what happened and think things through carefully. A really good whodunit lingers to the point of actually rubbing it in your face. The casting is also a bit off in the cases. For example, if there is to be a femme fatale in a case, she has to look the part. It is like saying Mrs Peacock seduced Professor Plum in the Conservatory - all you get is a big fat eye roll and yeah, right. Replace that with Miss Scarlet and then its oh yes, of course she did, that tramp! I suspect that the producers just don't understand that part of the big hook in this genre is the audience really does want to have a fair shot at more or less figuring it out. And between the rushing (every episode is really only about 30 mins) and the misleading casting, they are kind of cheating a little bit. But its not a big issue, just don't hesitate to rewind if you think you missed something.
[MILD SPOILER - PROCEED WITH CAUTION]
The way the cases converge towards the end is marvelous (and original) and builds towards a Reichenbach Falls like moment as a final homage towards Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle was bored with his creation and had intended to kill off Sherlock Holmes. I don't think that is the intent here - I think it this is clearly angling for a second season but even if that doesn't happen, I think the ending is excellent and can stand as it is.
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Saved by the long haired devil in Prada.
This is one of those dramas with many, many flaws but somehow still manages to be so very enjoyable to watch that it commands higher ratings than it deserves. It is also one where for me, a secondary lead playing a dark character completely steals the show and wins my heart.This is the story of Hua Qiangu (Zhao Liyang), a cursed orphan who has a tendency to attract demons. She is rescued from angry and fearful villagers by a powerful immortal Bai Zihua (Wallace Huo) who after many trials, reluctantly accepts her as his disciple. Of course they can't help falling in love but if the master disciple relationship is not obstacle enough, she is also fated to be his calamity and it is his duty to suppress the demon goddess within her by killing her. They come regularly in conflict with factions of the Demon Sect, who are out to steal a number of magical artifacts that when put together unleashes the demon forces. When her master Bai Zihua is mortally injured, Hua Qian Gu goes on a quest to recover all of the artifacts regardless of the consequences. This is a result of the machinations of a mysterious antagonist that results in a good surprise plot- twist.
As a couple Qiangu and Zihua would have worked better if Wallace Huo had not appeared to be icy-faced practically all of the time. He is a good enough actor that he must have just been a bit lazy in this role. As a result, his Bai Zihua came dangerously close to crossing the line of being cruel and indifferent to Hua Qiangu. I was still rooting for them as a couple but there were many moments where he really angered me. This made Hua Qiangu seem a bit silly for being so devoted to such a cold fish when she was surrounded by so many other more worthy suitors. Huo's rather flat performance left the door open for the secondary leads to steal the show and indeed they did. Andy Zhang was really very convincing as Dong Fang but it is Kyle Ma's Sha Qian Mo that shocked and awed.
I would probably have given this show a 7 or 7.5 without Ma's Sha Qian Mo. He was equally compelling as the fearsome and deadly Demon Lord as he was as Hua Qiangu's tender and protective Sha Jiejie. He is a total fashion diva that embraces his feminine side, pulls off these colorful, exotic and unambiguously female outfits and hilariously exchanges beauty tips with Qiangu. He would sadly advice her not to love her callous sifu so much despite sagely knowing she wouldn't be able to help herself. This was one of the characters from the show that really resonated with me and saved the drama. I'd like to see this actor again in some better roles!
The overall story-line is very interesting it moves at a nice pace for the most part and then at the end the story gets garbled, a bit confusing and then it ends abruptly. It is as if they ran out of time or something. This is really absurd because they wasted hours and hours on this super annoying, whiny CGI caterpillar character that turns into a noisy, talkative and thoroughly irritating girl. The directors and scriptwriters really deserve to be spanked for wasting time they did not have on this now hopefully unemployed actress. This could have and should have been a much better show. Still while rushed, the ending was not as terrible as some have described as the two leads did manage to click well in the finale. Its is still overall enjoyable and worth watching.
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It was a dark and starry night.
This movie opens with Hitchcockian flair as a man frantically begs indifferent local authorities on an exotic island getaway to find his missing wife. It was a dark and starry night the last time He Fei saw his wife Li Muzi. And his recollections seem fragmented, distorted by drugs and alcohol. The plot thickens as a seductive lady in red charmingly asserts she is his wife Li Muzi and can prove it. He Fei enlists Chen Mai, a high powered lawyer in a race against time to expose the imposter and find his wife. It is quite clear there is an elaborate grift at play but it is not clear who is pulling the strings.Despite the strong and intriguing start, the plot reveals itself too early. The sense of mystery collapses abruptly as too many too obvious clues are dropped that point to a very predictable and done before whodunit plot. The drama's tone swiftly switches into dark comedy that ventures too far into the realm of the outlandish and absurd as the perpetrator is trapped into telling all. At that point it becomes a tragicomic story of addiction, deceit, greed, and revenge.
Zhu Yilong steals the show with his riveting portrayal of the many facets of He Fei. He made me feel scared, angry and sad. The high point in terms of tension, chemistry and suspense is the cat and mouse between He Fei and Janice Man's imposter. I could feel the air sizzle with between them as they taunt each other. Unfortunately even though Ni Ni's portrayal is on par with Zhu Yilong's in terms of charisma and nuance, there is simply no chemistry or tension of any sort between them. Their moments of confrontation and conflict are flawlessly executed on both parts but somehow there is no feeling of intense connection or conflict between them. This is not incompatible with their respective characters and what they are about but with no shade on either actor, I think this is just not a great pairing. I also find the supporting cast a bit lacking and think they should have minimized the use of English in the movie.
Despite its flaws, this is a highly entertaining movie. As a big suspense watcher, it falls short of my expectations in the latter half but I still enjoyed it well enough overall. This is China's 2023 summer hit that makes for a very fun watch. My rating 7/10.
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A few good men.
I always love all kinds of female empowerment, dark revenge thrillers along the lines of Kill Bill, Why Women Kill, Gone Girl etc. Like many similar themed stories, this one explores how when pushed too far, women can be a little bit dangerous. The success of these kinds of plots always depends on how ingeniously the "revenge" is set up and a few good twists along the way. This hidden gem of a short drama definitely achieves that and is worth watching for that alone.At surface, the main protagonist Qiao Wei has it all - she is a beautiful socialite with a handsome, successful and adoring husband (Lu Zicong) and a young son. Her facade of a perfect life starts unraveling after a wild school reunion at a hotel reconnects her with her old flame Qi Kai and an old frenemy struggling journalist Su Yao. The hotel chef An Xin's friend Nicole saves the inebriated Qiao Wei and shields her from her Zicong's unreasonable jealousy and possessiveness. As it turns out, all three women have had unhappy experiences or axes to grind with Zicong or Qi Kai. Brought together on that fateful night, they come up with some gripping, badass schemes to free Qiao Wei from her unhappy marriage and serve up a Michelin star-worthy dish of revenge on these nasty men.
The only issue I have with this drama is that the tone and writing style of the first half of it is markedly different from the much better second half. I found the backstories of these women to err on the melodramatic side and it took me a long time to empathize with Qiao Wei. I just kept shaking my head at her appalling taste in men. But I found the friendship and rapport between the women to be very enjoyable and even though she is a bit annoying in the beginning, Su Yao is my favorite of the four. The writing in the second half of the drama really hit all the right tones for me - between darkly humorous yet psychologically thrilling, witty and subtle with a a nice dose of silent communication. It is like another writer took over and I really wish the backstories and some of the difficult issues in the first half were written in the same language.
The other thing I really like about this drama is that while they are not rescued by men, they certainly got a lot of help from men friends. As much as I love girl power, it is important to be reminded that there are a few good men out there. The ending is also realistic in that it shows us that nobody has everything and its ok. The plotting is diabolical and the twist at the end that leaves a lingering shiver of fear is the perfect final touch.
This is a very enjoyable 8.0 for me. Also a shout out to @Skibbies for the recommendation.
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Time after time.
Zhang Haifeng is a cop that will not rest even after he is caught in a deadly explosion with his daughter's alleged murderer. In a bizzare twist, time after time he has a close shave with death, he wakes up in the past but while each time the events, the people and their actions rhyme, they are not exactly the same. Yet gradually shadowy outlines of the truth emerge as he pulls at the different threads and uncovers hidden relationships and causality. The first ten episodes are full of suspense and the cat and mouse encounters between Haifeng and the antagonists brim with powerful undercurrents and inuendo. I was really hooked and this was the show I looked forward to and watched first. The encounters between Wang Qianyuan and Lu Han were superb - both actors really got it just right. Qiao Xin's subtly suggestive portrayal of Sun Xiaomeng also deserves special mention.And then I watched a murder take place right in front of my eyes. It is unambiguous. The censors did it. They massacred the last two episodes of what could have been an awesome thriller. It is really hard to tell what really happened with this. In any whodunit, we need to know who, when, how and why. It is quite clear who and even why but the full motive is not revealed or is not convincing. The when and the how really depends on which version of three different accounts of the events as they played out actually took place. It doesn't really qualify as an interpretation ending because there are too many open questions no matter what you think actually happened. I have an idea of what I think most likely happened but I am left with a deeply dissatisfying and unfinished feeling. So watch this at your own risk. I rate the first 10 episodes 8.5/9.0 and the last 2 a 4.5/5.0 for a 7.0 overall.
There is a brief spoiler in the comment section of this review with what I think happened.
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How to top an already phenomenal first movie.
Brotherhood of the Blades 2 is one of those rare second movies that I liked better than the first (which also rocked). In this prequel, the younger Shen Lian stumbles upon a larger political conspiracy in the middle of an assignment to eliminate a controversial artist. The plot falls more along the lines of a mystery with just the right number of plot twists and betrayals. While the action scenes are still bloody, intense and masterfully choreographed, there is a better balance between close up lethal swordplay, suspenseful cat and mouse evasions and gripping high speed chases.The plot in the prequel is easier to follow and more interesting to me. The cast is stronger and the characters are deeper and have to grapple with more inner conflicts. The three main characters - Shen Lian (Chang Chen), Lu Wen Zhao (Zhang Yi) and Pei Lun (Lie Jia Yin) have agendas, loyalties and morals that are at times in outright conflict, making them alternately allies and adversaries. Yet they are bound by a certain code of conduct and mutual empathy shared by those who are ultimately just expendable chess pieces. Chang Chen's Shen Lian silently brimmed with intensity from barely suppressed defiance, to lethal violence, to cold calculation and to longing and desire in this movie. Lie Jia Yin as Pei Lun was his perfect foil with his nonchalant mocking insolence and casually deadly innuendo. Their chemistry as both friends and foes was spot on - I could not get enough of them. In the first movie, the third male lead, his sappy love interest and the female lead were insipid superfluous characters. This second movie doesn't have any notable weak links in the cast. In fact all of the supporting characters were exceptionally well acted.
Also two thumbs up for the strong, yet paradoxical female lead character - a brave and independent woman with a voice that will not be suppressed but who yet loves not that wisely. Ever at fault with a damsel in distress, Shen Lian's reluctant yet burning infatuation with her had me squealing with delight. I was shocked however to discover Yang Mi's truly awful real voice - it is thin, reedy and at odds with the strong character she portrayed. She pretty much owes all her success to her voice dubbers and undoubtedly this is why she hasn't graduated to the big screen despite her popularity and success. Still there is something inexplicable about her that connects with all her leading men and Chang Chen was no exception here.
Overall a fantastic movie to revisit, one that is hugely satisfying for any Chang Chen and/or Lie Jia Yin fans suffering from withdrawal after 2019's top dramas.
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The curious case of Bambi in the headlights.
The short mini-series format is fantastic for mystery and intrigue. I have been meaning to explore this promising genre for while. I chose Day and Night due to its strong international reception. Although it delivered in terms of an intriguing plot and decent script, the overall execution was poor. It starts out as a mystery/suspense but ends up like just another cop drama.The plot is built around former lead investigator Guan Hongfeng's secret mission to clear his fugitive twin brother Guan Hongyu, who was wrongly accused of brutally murdering an entire family. Hongfeng conceals Hongyu, who covers for him at night while he wrestles with his fear of the dark. That they are identical twins gives wide scope for multiple fun plot twists, something the writers took advantage of. Back at the crime investigation department, the twins alternate as Hongfeng to secretly try to solve Hongyu's case while assisting with ongoing investigations. There is only one conspiracy to uncover; all the other cases are presented as police procedurals so we only have to keep track of one set of clues for the one big whodunit. There were too many side cases - the drama ended up morphing into an action oriented police thriller with great high speed chases and fist slugging action. The one good, meaty suspenseful, whodunit conspiracy I was so looking forward to ended up taking a back seat. The many other excellent cop thrillers out there sets a high bar, relative to which this is at best a mediocre effort.
Where this drama crashed was with the uninspired acting by a B-list cast. The lead actor (Pan Yue Ming) only did a decent job playing twins - this is hard to do but it can be a fun, challenging role for a more versatile actor to shine in. He was good at conveying a barely discernible difference in mannerisms between each twin. But while his Hongyu was engaging as the more outgoing and charismatic twin, his portrayal of the introverted, cerebral Hongfeng fell far short. This character should have more intensity and quiet gravitas; an intellectually intimidating veteran detective with a giant secret instead of a lethargic, sleep deprived, monotonic and mostly expressionless character. Zhouxun (Wang Long Zheng), Hongfeng's ex-partner and successor as head of the department was well acted. He came across as a politically savvy, mercurial, cunning and suspicious friendemy of Hongfeng but tended to over-act, notably the temper tantrums. The critical casting error was Liang Yuan as Zhou Shutong, Hongfeng's rookie newbie mentee. This actress thinks rookie is synonymous with vacuous and that best describers both her performance and her favorite facial expression. This destroyed the chemistry of the entire cast - they couldn't interact with her nauseating deer in the headlights Bambi routine. Consequently, there was no convincing team dynamic between the cast. This rapport did eventually emerge and feel natural in the last 10 episodes, notably in scenes with no Shutong. Unfortunately Shutong got a lot of airtime as her role closely touched all of the lead characters. They should have just cut their losses by turning her into the victim of a serial killer.
The final episode was excellent, ending the show on a high note although only part of the conspiracy is revealed. There is no hard air date for the sequel and few details. Given the mediocre execution, I would not be surprised if it never eventuates. I am only mildly curious to find out what really happened so I won't be crying if it never happens. Overall this is an ok watch, it didn't live up to the hype for me although I will watch a few more in this genre.
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Unfinished Business.
Blood River/暗河传 ushers in a new era for Beili’s mysterious and powerful assassin's guild Anhe/暗河 or Dark River. A spin-off in Zhuo Munan’s shared universe, it peels back the curtain on the legendary shadow force that lurks behind Dashing Youth (少年白马醉春风) and The Blood of Youth (少年歌行). The tale ignites when Anhe’s long-reigning Patriarch is grievously injured and poisoned, unleashing a vicious succession struggle. Two prodigies, Su Muyu and Su Changhe, are thrust into leadership. As they seize the reins and wrestle free of their shadow masters, they discover that “going legit” is a blood-soaked tightrope.What hooks me hardest is the drumbeat insistence that Anhe must forge its own fate, not remain someone else’s concealed sharpest blade. That single theme slices straight to what I dislike most about Zhuo Munan—and the whole crop of self-styled “new wuxia” authors—stamping their seal on the genre. Real jianghu, the martial world at its molten core, is anti-establishment: outlaws and exiles who swear by their own code, patriotic yet allergic to any throne. In Zhuo’s realm, however, these legendary warriors morph into palace guard dogs for a dynasty that’s rotten, amoral, and utterly undeserving of their spilled blood. Blood River is the lone exception where the author finally gets it; it’s the only one of his works I’ll crown true wuxia in the classic sense.
The opening succession arc is pure lightning. Su Muyu clings to his oath to shield the fading Patriarch, pitting him against sworn brother Su Changhe’s hunger for a quick, clean coup. Changhe’s ambition burns naked; Muyu’s conscience is the thin leash. The script keeps spotlighting their clashing creeds yet repeatedly yanks the rug before the inevitable clash, letting plot contrivances dodge the showdown. Still, every sidestep plants seeds that bloom in The Blood of Youth, leaving a ghost of unfinished business between them. They’re magnetic characters shackled by a writer who chose to avoid conflict to tell the safe, crowd-pleasing story. That is all well and good but as a result, their character stories are not fully realised; the tension and conflict in their values never comes to a head.
I adore the pitch-black premise, but the drama starves its leads of the crackling personality and bromance that turned The Blood of Youth into legend. Writing Su Muyu as a stoic and boring slab is a fatal misstep; it’s a role that doesn't leave much for anyone to work with, let alone Gong Jun, whose acting is still a work in progress. He does not share a natural rapport with Chang Huasen and their bromance never establishes solid footing because of Muyu's vapid, and forced romance with Bai Hehuai. Romance is already not this writer's forte and it is made worse by the casting of an actress with the screen presence of Muyu's limp, overcooked noodles. Gong Jun’s voice work is serviceable whereas Chang Huasen is elevated by a stellar dubber and gains a depth and menace that Gong Jun's flat delivery can’t match. The saving grace? Supporting firecrackers—Li Daikun’s diabolical yet weirdly sympathetic Mu Ciling (my ride-or-die), plus the grizzled Patriarch, cunning Su Zhe, steadfast Lord Langya, and Spiderwoman Mu Yumu.
The drama could have told a much tighter story had it bowed out after the power struggle or the Swordless City arc. At that point, it is a natural parting of ways as it is clear that Muyu and Changhe are on different paths. Stretching further turns Muyu into a rudderless ghost; his dream to reclaim his name and rebuild Swordless City evaporates without a whisper. He becomes everyone else’s errand boy—doctor's assistant, failed chef, Changhe’s glorified wingman to ferry Anhe to the “Other Shore.” In a gut-punch twist, Changhe goes solo with his own hidden agenda and is never held accountable by Muyu for abandoning Anhe at its darkest hour. It mirrors Lord Langya surrendering the throne to an unworthy heir, then looking over his shoulder to keep catastrophe at bay instead of living the life of adventure in jianghu with the love of his life that he gave up the throne for. In a similar vein, Muyu is tied to Changhe and his vision and ambitions for Anhe.
The finale lands realistic, bittersweet, hopeful—yet screams that the villains quietly won. Like the story itself, the jaw-dropping fight choreography peaks in the first half and the sequences feel repetitive in the latter arcs. The writer’s boast that Muyu and Changhe wield true agency is as laughable as the handy twelve-year antidote to puppet poison.
Verdict: A damn fine wuxia that still feels half-told. 8.5/10.
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