Your reunion with family and life dramas
This one is pretty popular in the mainland, but ceases in popularity here. I think that's unfortunate. Huang Lei and Hai Qing (as well as all the other actors) are a masterclass for acting, and the easygoing storyline hides intricately written character development for both the students and their parents going through the 'gaokao' (college testing) period of their life.There's a lot of themes explored here too, including depression, stress, parental pressures, single parenthood, etc. It all comes together wonderfully to make a heart-warming yet sometimes heart wrenching drama.
My only criticism is that this drama does get into nitty gritty things. I think that it's kind of the point with a drama like this, but I find family dramas have the potential for a lot of fluff for how much substance they have. Here, the fluff is interesting, but it doesn't mean it's necessary.
For OST lovers, the OST is fine, but not great... I don't think this drama focused its budget on the OST more so than the actors (a lot of famous veterans here).
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Cute dumpster fire that I couldn't summarize even if you asked me to
One-dimensional characters, unresolved love triangles, miscommunication break-ups, foolish FL, typical CEO ML, cliche plot done badly, know-it-all BFF who knows nothing, dragging, dragging, dragging plot...If you like this, I don't know what to tell you. If you don't, you probably shouldn't watch this drama unless you're trying to support some of the actors (who honestly did fine, the script was just... unbearable).
I did like Qin Shiyue though, and I liked how Shen Yujie portrayed her. Will keep looking out for this rising actress because she's adorable : )
These dramas make me wish that good actors and actresses could genuinely get good, thought-provoking plots sometimes. You know?
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It definitely had potential. Key word is HAD : (
Zhou Ye was experimenting here with a new type of personality for her, and she definitely pulled it off. The outfits and set were cute. The romance could've been cute. The script was not, throwing all potential this could've had into the gutter.Like every other comment here, the whole thing ended before anything actually started. You get some 18 episodes of bickering, weird coincidences, and basically nothing else? It's interesting to see though, because this drama seemed like it aimed for the no-love-triangles and no-weird-breakups trope which I actually appreciate. I guess it was a good effort, but it also proves that conforming to stereotypes and following the trends don't actually make for good works sometimes : (
That being said, if you love Zhou Ye and Lin Yi, you might give this a try. The first few episodes are funny and fine. In fact, I probably enjoyed them. That's my two cents : )
(Review written 4/11/24 and published 5/30/24)
In case I ever edit this which I probably won't
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Misleading Trailer but Decent Show Nonetheless
"Love in the Clouds" is advertised as a dark, angsty enemies-to-lovers romance in the trailer.However, the drama itself is much more a fluffy, light-hearted fantasy romance than anything angsty. While there is a healthy dose of both trauma and lies in the leads' interactions, the love story itself is incredibly pure; there is no true hatred or vengeance despite the hurt both characters experience. For those who enjoy watching intimacy, there's a surprising amount of those scenes that somehow passed the CCP's censorship. The chemistry between the ML and FL elevated the romance significantly and may have "carried" the show a little.
Regardless, I would say, overall, that this show was enjoyable. The abundance of comedic sound effects and one liners (cue 27) combined with the beautiful visuals give the show a distinct, charming quality. This lighthearted charm helps the show balance poignancy, reality (well, as much as a fantasy can afford), and romance without spiraling into the C-drama "tragedy and angst" rabbit-holes where emotion is singlehandedly delivered through crying scenes, betrayals, and blood-vomiting.
Additionally, I found the use of "strong FL" tropes to be well-executed in this show. Both the FL and the 2FL are imperfect but resilient in different ways, and they genuinely have personalities that are likable and extend beyond being symbols for the feminist empowerment movement (this year, many C-dramas seem to be set on the strong FL trend and as a result create characters that are a little too obviously manufactured to fit a certain mold).
My only and main gripe with the show is its one-dimensional antagonists. While the protagonists all undergo reasonable character development and have mostly flushed out character arcs, the villains are underdeveloped and carry underwhelming/simple motivations. The lack of complexity in the antagonists sadly flattens a lot of otherwise dramatic climaxes in the show and makes some episodes/arcs feel slower pacing-wise.
All in all, I found "Love in the Clouds" to be a cute show that's honestly worth a watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
"People do not pass away... they die and then they stay."
This is a drama deeply close to my heart; I thought extensively about this review before writing it. While there may be some articulation errors in my writing, I hope that it compels you to at least consider watching Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC).At first glance, MLC is nothing more than typical. It has all the elements of your conventional Wuxia C-drama: an overpowered protagonist; an up-and-coming Jianghu hero; some jealous one-dimensional antagonists; uncomplicated female characters; not-so-difficult to solve mysteries; and many more I am too lethargic to name.
But as commonplace as it may seem, MLC refreshingly breaks convention. Unlike most Wuxia stories, there is no real climax or overblown melodrama. The story's events—no matter how curious—proceed with a slice-of-life-resemblant matter-of-factness. Furthermore, MLC evokes genuine skepticism of the too-often-glorified Jianghu. Through the lens of our protagonist, the Jianghu is an uncertain environment where heroism—driven by ruthless ambition and self-righteousness—costs human lives. Most importantly, though, is that MLC's protagonist Li Lianhua is not on a legendary journey to becoming a Jianghu hero; he is a former Jianghu hero accepting a lonely and tragic decline.
The character Li Lianhua (formerly Li Xiangyi) is what single-handedly elevates MLC from a mediocre, enjoyable watch to a haunting and empathetic story. Li Lianhua is indubitably a case of "overpowered protagonist", a trope I harbor deep skepticism for; there are simply too many opportunities for characterization inconsistencies, over-indulgent author self-inserts, and extreme uses of plot armor. However, Li Lianhua is a character designed so intricately that he not only avoids those common pitfalls but is relatable for average audiences. He is perspicacious yet uncertain; cold yet kind; arrogant yet penitent; a compulsive liar yet honest; and accepting of fate yet deeply loyal to those he loves from the past. The contradictions and his struggling attempts at reconciling them make Li Lianhua thought-provoking, likable, and most importantly, human. Cheng Yi's performance of Li Lianhua is superbly compelling but may tend over-empathetic for some.
However, in the same way that a good conductor cannot singlehandedly "carry" an orchestra, the characterization of Li Lianhua cannot single-handedly define MLC's quality. While the remaining cast of characters are comparatively one-dimensional (with the possible exception of Di Feisheng), their relationships/interactions with Li Lianhua give their presence meaning. For one, the doomed romance between Li Lianhua and his former love interest (Qiao Wanmian) is portrayed with an unusual level of maturity, modernity, and sensitivity (in the context of Wuxia dramas and historical gender structures). Additionally, while the main antagonist has independently shallow motivations, his relationship with and perception of Li Lianhua create plot intrigue. In the show's more cliche and over-explored relationships (E.g. Li Lianhua and Fang Duobing), MLC successfully uses clever dialogue and surprisingly worldly insight to substitute for the lack of storytelling direction.
Finally, I'd like to talk about the BGM. While the OST is catchy, the BGM is immersive and extremely beautiful. Much of (40-50%) the BGM is structured around 4 sets of "Variations on [X] Theme". Despite revolving around the same theme, the separate variations are rhythmically and creatively diverse enough to feature in scenes with vastly different emotional tones. The fact that they all revolved around the same theme, however, added a subtle and effective additional layer of cohesiveness. Beyond the variations, there are tracks that are intimately beautiful (my personal preferences are for "涟漪" and "诉说“, which both have excellent guzheng solos).
MLC may begin slow, so perhaps give it 10-15 episodes before deciding whether or not you like it. But while the production is simpler than many of today's high-budget cinematographic "making-of-a-myth" stories, MLC—through its simplicity—leans into inquisition, normalcy, and the destruction of kitsch, apathetic Jianghu myths. Even though it is by no means perfect, it has left an indelible imprint on my heart.
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Huh... well I actually really liked this
I know I typically enjoy non-problematic tropes. Seeing a bad boy x good girl sort of trope with a multitude of side characters who hurt and create obstacles in their relationship would usually never appeal to me.I guess it's just because I never saw it done well... until now.
Lighter and Princess is a must watch, with a compelling storyline (it's very thorough) and well thought-out character arcs. Characters truly have their own distinct personalities, and there's a lot of realism in their development. They all have their strengths and their flaws, and the drama does make you question what's really good or bad or in the gray zone. It doesn't hurt that the cast is absolutely eye candy, including Jenny Zeng, Arthur Chen, and Zhang Jingyi.
I was one of the people putting off watching it because I thought it'd be one of those stories where a female lead revolves and orbits around a toxic male lead. I found instead that the female lead, Zhu Yun, really found her independence, identity, and goals in life after working with Li Xun, something she didn't have before. Li Xun received care and learned love from Zhu Yun. It was a complementary relationship that I enjoyed watching. Of course, no sane girl should go after a Li Xun like character in real life; however, I really thought this relationship was one of my favorites watching the show. I don't see the anti-feminist or misogynist implications that a lot of people try to place here.
The storyline is a great revenge/strategy plot like you'd see in a Wuxia drama seamlessly woven into a sweet romance. I really enjoyed it and binged watched this whole thing in three days (yeah, definitely not good). It is melancholy, it can be dark, and it does explore themes such as depression, monopolization, jealousy, etc.
Overall, a masterpiece. I think 2022 was a really good year, yielding both Reset and this.
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This review may contain spoilers
For better or for worse, this is "unrealistic realism" in a drama.
PROs:1. Good acting. Xu Kai has matured and has expressive eyes. Seven is consistently wonderful throughout all her scripts.
2. The ML, Han Ting, has some growth + character development throughout.
3. Relationship is portrayed in a less delusional, awkward way than most other dramas. There are highs, lows, and a lot of romantic scenes (for those who enjoy romance).
CONS:
1. 40 episodes for a romance is a little much, and the result is a rather draggy drama with many filler scenes from side character plots or the business side of this drama (not particularly useful in enhancing the drama though it may more closely resemble the book).
2. The FML, a supposedly smart and talented entrepreneur, makes the same mistakes over and over. Although I quite liked her general character in the beginning, I think her arc falls far too flat given how much time the drama had to develop it.
3. ABAY has some beautiful moments but a LOT of rather boring moments, too.
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