Nepeta 22

I confess to only watching 4 episodes and haven't got far so it's just my impressions! With Under The Skin, I liked the first season more. The second season made Jin Shi Jia's character regress and almost like a support and uplifted Tan Jian Ci's character making the drama almost a different type of drama. Yes, the psychological side is very good. I'm looking forward to season 3.

It's good you see it flowing whereas I can't get into this because the flow is too fast and I feel the cases are rushed through, cutting off areas I feel should be expanded on. In terms of trio working together I felt Liu Yase very under utilised. Her portrayal as a police officer in See Her Again ranks as one of the best retro HK feel dramas around. Here she's quite in the background.

Maybe I'm struggling with the rushed feel of the cases. I don't feel details are there. I was hoping it would be a little like Unnatural Fire where details are never cut out & you can see and feel the research that had gone into the drama's content. There was a trio that worked really well. Even though each from different departments.

I agree the styling and filming is very on point here, but how the stories/cases unfold seems rushed making it hard for me to connect to the case and the characters.

Ha ha, yes, that reversed harem storyline is all the rage nowadays. No doubt this will bring out all the usual incels here whingeing about unrealistic scenarios and uplifting women who are wicked and ignorant.

But here, they cannot complain too much as ML has been written to be aware of the game, and will be the one winding her up.

Yu Zheng knows what sells. It's a tried and tested formula. Pitting women against women, full of in-fighting and gossip. Basically, this is just one giant version of Weibo dressed up in costume.. There will be the silly one, the fat one and the caricature villain for entertainment and filler. And of course in the middle, we must have beautiful leads to balance that all out. The issue is, has this template got a little too comfortable and now looking tired and dated.

Just an update that the Douban rating has risen to 7.7 in China. Hope more people get to see this quality drama.

Xiao Zhan looks like veteran Taiwanese actor Wallace Huo & Neo Hou looks more like veteran Hong Kong actor Andy Lau. Especially when he starts laughing 😉!

ML with Xu Tu.

No problem. I hope you like them. I suggested them because both have a style that is similar to this drama, although coming from a different angle on revenge.

I would have said The Legend of Zang Hai, but I do not feel it's in anyway close to this drama. The ML there shows growth throughout which is nothing like this drama, This drama depicts a cold and calculating individual.

At the top of my head, the closest drama with a revenge theme done in a similar style but told as a mystery crime solver is Ripe Town, using flash backs creatively. The Wind Blows from Longxi is loosely about spying at the core, but the underlying story is motivated by revenge.

Yes China is vast and of course all this info will not reach all corners of the country. But I think those that were educated at school will probably know on that part of history. There's a big effort to ensure the youth don't forget what happened in the past. especially when the country is going through huge shift into consumerism and commercialism.

I have been informed in elementary school, all kids wear a red neck scarf that signifies the colour of the blood shed during the revolution. If that sort of symbol starts young, then they will need to educate them on why and what has happened to China till today.

As for the desire to look like westerners, this is the same with many east Asian countries, not just China. This is understandable as the soft power of the west and many films and dramas from Hollywood sends a subtle message that west is best! It could take another 30 years for a shift.

I think, more representation of minority/ethnic groups in western-based films/dramas are slowly making a shift. Also, I notice China embraces its arts and unique point of costume dramas that is not easily westernised. The hair styles, the clothing is distinct.

If anything, I think this is China's soft power in the next few decades. International interest in China may come through dramas and films itself.

Although I haven't watch this but I'm imagining the domestic audience will know all this. Perhaps you are thinking from an international audience's point of view.

Depends what you might call a villain. If you think killing a host of people for revenge and the body count may exceed the original figure, then this and The Legend of Zang Hai may be regarded villains/morally grey characters.

I'm not far in, but it has a feel of Ripe Town if that helps. The narrative is straight forward enough, but you know large chunks are withheld from us to keep us and the ML guessing.

I will say something a bit controversial. It's because the viewing public there have been primed towards sensationalism. If you see how they market dramas nowadays you will see clips of kissing and steamy scenes. Chaotic messy relationships etc.

If this dramas have none of that, then there's no trending talking points for netizens to chat about. There are data that includes discussions and if there are less interesting or baity style storylines or topics covered then that also affects a drama's ranking. I will go as far to say, many dramas made now seems to be more motivated by that then concentrating on the actual drama itself.

I confess I have skipped a fair few dramas in the past due to being a bit intolerant of certain actors and nowadays trying to be more open minded. Regarding ZYR, my only knowledge of him was a very small part in The Bond. He was like child! Look at him now! All grown up 😉

I understand your point about Macau and cannot comment on how the people felt that lived through those years. Hong Kong might be a bit more different since it was still quite a new colony back then and I doubt those living through that time thought they weren't Chinese.

We have to remember at that stage, China had gone through a lot of changes and the KMT was very strong in those areas back then. The communist party is more like an underground party. But that does not change from the fact that the people felt un-Chinese because they were colonised less than 100 years earlier.

If anything, the commoner on the ground probably didn't even know what was happening as there was hardly communication to common people. Remember, no social media, no TV & a lot of people can't even read. It is only those in the upper echelons that could be better recorded, but that does not represent the whole area.

Depends on which perspective. If you are talking about the colonisers, then that's understandable. But this tar brush effect of assuming all those that resided at that time in those areas did not consider themselves Chinese seems a bit of a modern concept. Sometimes we need to open our minds when watching dramas when it's set in another era,

Regarding your last sentence. History is normally written by the victors. What you see here is no different to any other country.

That's a shame about ZYR. I was also skeptical of him too, but the role fitted him like a glove. Anyway, I am also like that, if I'm not into an actor, I find it hard to watch as well. I'm trying to be more open minded..😉

Have you watched Twelve Letters and The Triple Echo of time? They're very bingeable and great dramas.

Original scripts don't usually get as much attention but for me, they are more on the ball, fresh and very unpredictable. I would say heads and shoulders above some of the samey type dramas being churned out lately hinging on web novel fandom that normally revolve around the same themes.

What an amazing quality drama. Right up to the last minute, you just have no idea what will happen. Such an underrated drama. Beautifully made. You can feel the love.

Touches on the arts and creative industry in China and subtly weaves a passing commentary on art vs profits. Really liked the small touches and research gone into looking at what it was like in 2008 too. Hope to see more people watch this gem.

From the same screen writers as An Ancient Love Song, another time travel drama that has received a cult following. This drama is more complex and layered. All actors from mains to side characters did a great job. Hats off to Ma Tian Yu who lifted his character through all the character development and changes.