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Still, it isn't one I would likely re-watch because it is quite heavy overall, but the message it conveys is also quite healing, hopeful and worth contemplating. If you're a fan of Toby Lee or Tiffany Hsu, this is worth checking out for their great performances, as well as that of the supporting cast.
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A detailed production (I especially love the costumes) and a satisfying if bittersweet ending help make this a worthy binge watch and re-watch.
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A tale of women in the Tang dynasty
Female-centric stories have become quite popular in Chinese dramas lately. While Flourished Peony does not escape some of the typical tropes seen in these types of dramas, its tremendous cast carries the story forward with charm, dramatic tension and a much-needed dose of realism that is sorely lacking in C-drama land these days.He Weifang escapes from a ill-matched, abusive marriage with Liu Chang and flees to Chang'an from Luoyang in search of a new beginning. Gifted with skills in botany and in medicine/pharmacology, she attempts to re-invent herself and to restore to her own what was lost in being forced to marry into the Liu family (her mother's life, her freedom, and her happiness). Along the way, she encounters the mysterious, flamboyant "Flower Envoy" Jiang Chang Yang, and the two begin a tenuous partnership that blossoms to something more. Alas, we will have to wait until part 2 of this drama airs before we can see their full story arc.
You will also meet in this drama your usual villains such as the tyrannical Prince Ning and his entitled and somewhat unhinged daughter Youzhen, but enough is written into their characters to make them seem more dimensional that what is typically depicted in these types of dramas. One of the more interesting characters so far is Liu Chang, whose character actor Miles Wei manages to imbue with a sense of pathos despite his deplorable inability to see himself for who he really is. The rest of the cast from Mudan's friends to even the emperor feel like living, breathing people rather than typical supporting characters.
The beginning and end are the highlights - the middle of this drama does stray into blandness a bit but thankfully not for long. Hopefully part 2 brings more drama, excitement and romance.
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Life imitating art
This wuxia and transmigration drama may look great on paper - solid cast, great choreography for the fights, and a transmigration storyline - but its execution is much more mixed. The use of transmigrating a character from modern day to ancient China is not a new story device, and here, it indeed feels stale and underused. I found that it did not add much to the overall storyline. If it were completely removed from the story - everything would have flowed just fine.As far as wuxia goes, the story does attempt to bring out some classic elements - the brotherhood, the chivalry, and the search for a more just world, but not everything melds together well. For a whopping 40 episodes, it seems like not a whole lot is explored more deeply whether it is character arcs or thematic developments. For a cast featuring Cheng Yi at the helm and a slew of many other experienced actors, it is a bit of a wasted opportunity.
The fights are truly exhilarating - and it is still worth checking this out for this and for some great moments of drama scattered through the duration of the story. The soundtrack boasts a few great tracks from various singers, but the instrumental music is a hit or miss for me.
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Finding light after a long dark
The world of Dahuang can be a cruel and harsh place, as royal cousins Xiaoyao and Cang Xuan learn bitterly at a young age. Orphaned, lost, and tortured for many years, XY eventually hides herself in the small Qingshui Town working as the town healer of sorts. Also orphaned and forced to live as a hostage in a foreign kingdom, CX spends his early life fending off his murderous uncles. Fate brings him to Qingshui Town disguised as a winemaker. He and XY eventually reunite, but will they be together forever?In that fateful town, XY meets and saves the gentle Tushan Jing, who she calls Ye Shiqi. He too has his own tale of betrayal and torture at the hands of his half-brother Hou. Nearby is the enigmatic and seemingly harsh Xiang Liu, caught in his own struggle with his past and devotion to his adoptive father. These figures are forever intertwined as they are thrust onto a high-stakes adventure of fighting for a better, kinder future while at all times fighting for their own survival.
I would have liked to see season 2 first before writing this review, but at this point it may be a while before it comes out. As it stands, however, season 1 has a clear story arc focusing on XY and CX's endeavors to win the latter the Xiyan throne, so as a standalone season, it mostly works. There are a lot of other characters and themes that will need S2 to round out their arcs fully, particularly for TSJ, who ends S1 in a bit of a miserable state. I hope to write more about TSJ after S2, as he is one of my favorites. His kindness and genuine love for XY are a bright light in this often dark tale of very complex people trying to make the best of an unkind world.
The cast bring the story to life, and the writing is satisfyingly solid throughout the whole drama. No useless fillers or characters in this tale. Music and production are memorable, with the rare bits here and there of questionable CGI. Bring on season 2!
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A long good-bye
Adapted from a very long novel, of which only a small portion is captured here in this drama, The Immortal Ascension follows an ordinary mortal named Han Li on his journey of cultivation. Along the way, he encounters friend, foe and everything in between, as he discovers that seeking immortality and power is not even the half of it.This is a world that builds slowly - perhaps too slow for some - but the climax and finale are thrilling enough to leave an indelible mark with just enough emotional weight and depth to carry the whole drama (or should I say, season). Certain aspects of the story and characters are a bit underdeveloped, but an adequate foundation is laid to build upon characters and themes in subsequent seasons - if only that were an easy task.
Just as Han Li says good-bye many times to several characters - many of them female admirers - we too as the audience must say a long good-bye until hopefully another season or two or three can hopefully be made.
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What endures
This is a great addition to the demon-hunting/solving cases genre, with some real attempts at probing some deeper themes and not just a light-hearted romance or adventure story. The first half of the show has a more eerie, creepy vibe that I found more interesting, while the second half did suffer a bit of being too long-winded and sentimental. However, overall, this is a rewarding watch for fans of the cast and period dramas in general.While the ending may leave some dissatisfied, when considering this genre historically in Chinese literature and mythology, it is not a surprising one. It also matches the overall tone of the drama - hopeful yet always with a tinge of sadness. Bittersweet, as some would say. Such is life, and such are the lives of many in this show. Only love perhaps can endure all bitterness and heal all wounds, but it may take time or a lifetime to find such love that can overcome all.
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To be continued
While this is an entertaining follow up to season 1 of Joy of Life, the story and themes do not resonant as well this time around. There are simply too many threads and characters to follow that much of the season can feel like going from one plot point to another. The set up from the end of the first season is that the main antagonist for this season should be the Second Prince. And while the schemes and back and forth between Li Chengze and our lead Fan Xian can be interesting to watch, ultimately it all feels somewhat inconsequential since not enough time is spent on fleshing out our antagonist's character. He simply begins and ends this season the same person, and the audience does not learn any more about his motivations or see his struggles (if he has any). He, like the Eldest Princess, is simply crazy bad. Other characters are sorely underused such as Yan Bingyun or woefully underdeveloped (and unfortunately miscast) such as Ye Ling'er.The more interesting character is that of the Emperor of Qing, Fan Xian's true biological father. I suspect (as I have never read the very lengthy novel) that he will be the main antagonist in the final chapter. Chen Daoming as usual gives a masterful performance of the very complex character who keeps his true intentions close to himself.
This is all not to say I did not enjoy season 2 - I certainly did. Some of my favorite episodes involve the Spring Exam and the downfall of Prime Minister Lin and the scenes Fan Xian shares with the emperor. The middle chapter of any story can be challenging to adapt. There is no real beginning or end, and I feel that lack of narrative focus when I watch this. Everything deeper was already said quite well in season 1, and I was hoping for its own story to tell in this season. I get the sense that this season is more of a set up for the final one to come, and hopefully we all get a satisfying conclusion.
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Bold, epic with a slight stumble to the end
There is a lot to love about this drama - it is epic in scope and dares to tell a complicated tale not only of love but also of friendship, duty to one's country and respect for your fellow man (or woman). Above all, it features many complex characters that develop throughout, notably several strong female characters including our fearless female lead, Ren Ruyi (played by Liu Shi Shi).Ren Xin, a former deputy leader of the Scarlet Guards of the State of An, is framed for the death of Empress Zhaojie and forced to reinvent her identity as Ren Ruyi. While on her own quest to avenge the Empress, Ruyi comes across Ning Yuanzhou (Liu Yuning), himself also the former deputy leader of the State of Wu's Liudao Pavilion (a sort of spy organization not dissimilar to An's Scarlet Guards), who is busy trying to leave the world of court politics behind. They find themselves working together and join the diplomatic entourage bearing special envoy Prince Li (who is actually Princess Yang Ying in disguise) to An to rescue the Emperor of Wu.
While the story may sound complicated on paper, it is actually quite easy to follow and watch, a testament to the strength of the show's writing and performances. Particularly in the first half of the drama, with the entourage's long journey as the framework for the show, we get a terrific balance of adventure, exciting fight sequences and character development. Under Ruyi and Yuan Zhou's guidance, Yang Ying (He Lan Dou) transforms from cowardly princess to steely prince in what is to me the most satisfying and interesting arc of the entire show. Along the way, we also get to know NYZ's gang: the pretty playboy Yu Shi Shan (a hilarious Alen Fang), kind and cheerful Yuan Lu (Chen You Wei), stoic and loyal Qian Zhao (Wang Yi Zhe), and lover of all furry things Sun Lang (Li Huan).
At midway, the drama sags a bit when Li Tong Guang (relative newcomer Chang Hua Sen) meets up with the rest of the cast as his character devolves into an injured puppy in what is probably the least desirable arc of the show - his obsession over his former master Ren Xin. I would not have minded a few episodes of this, as I understand what the writer was probably going for. Having suffered a difficult childhood and losing his mother and master during his youth, I can see why he would latch onto his master at their reunion, but 10 episodes of this is overwrought and threatens to undermine his character's development from boy to man and from general to de facto leader of a nation. Fortunately, LTG's scenes with Yang Ying towards the end of the drama somewhat salvage things for me. But it is a bit too little too late.
Then we have the final 6 episodes or so, which zoom by at a more frenzied pace, making one wish perhaps less time spent on obsessive LTG would have translated to a smoother build to the climax and a more satisfying conclusion. And while I enjoy Chu Yue's (and Chen Hao Yu's performance) scenes with Yu Shi Shan, from a writing standpoint the story did not really need her character in there to work. Personally, I would have liked the ending scene to have included YY and LTG instead. Looking at the narrative and characters, these two are the most affected by our main leads, and lacking a conclusion (or at least some kind of denouement) to their story is a disappointment.
Ultimately, however, the many merits of this drama outweigh the downsides, and this is one you do not want to miss for this year if only for the truly great creation of many strong, multifaceted female characters (including villains). If I had watched this before Story of Kunning Palace (to which I gave a 9), I probably would have rated Kunning lower, as this is by far the superior of the two recent costume dramas in terms of story, characters, performances and music.
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I enjoyed this one a lot when it came out in 2021. It's a great slow-burn romance, which might be frustrating to some because the leads do make mistakes initially. Their missteps threaten to undo their relationship altogether, but it's a journey worth watching as they learn to trust and love one another wholeheartedly. Additionally, great chemistry and acting from the leads, bolstered by a wonderful supporting cast and memorable soundtrack, help move the story along.It's not all about romance - life for a woman in the Ming dynasty is hard. The opening shot of the 1st episode lays out one of these main issues/themes: the difference between the legal wife/children and the "illegitimate". This plays out throughout the whole drama, with some to tragic ends and others with heartwarming journeys of redemption and reconciliation. Highly recommend, also a great one to rewatch.
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Missing, Longing, Yearning
This is a beautiful if tragic tale of the loss of innocence, betrayal and the eternal yearning for something to remind us we are alive, human and deserving of love. All the typical ingredients for a lavish sageuk poignantly performed by a terrific cast and a killer OST make this a standout Korean drama for this year. Definitely worth a watch for any lovers of period dramas, although it carries a heavy tone and more violence than most Korean dramas out there as a word of caution.Was this review helpful to you?
Cycle of darkness
This is a remake of the French show La Mante, which I never had the chance to watch. Judging this drama on its own terms, it is a serviceable police procedural and psychological thriller, but neither sub genre is truly explored in a satisfying manner. In fact, the show manages to make the police team main cast very unlikable for nearly the entire duration. Whether it is a lack of leadership from the chief to some genuinely annoying characters such as detective Bae, the police team spend a large amount of time displaying unusual incompetence and illogical decision-making skills.On the psychological front, there is an attempt to address the very real-world impact poverty and abuse can have on its victims, but I found it hard to connect with many of the characters emotionally - with the exception of perhaps Park Min Jae and of course our Queen Mantis herself, played with commanding presence by Go Hyun Jung. Unfortunately, I found the copycat killer reveal and story somewhat formulaic - I think trying to keep it a mystery box until the end without showing enough "clues" ahead of time made it difficult for me to believe it in the end. The set up of our male lead character was also lacking - I think if we were shown more of his youth/past and struggles with his hidden identity, I would have related more to him.
All in all, worth a check if you like the genre, but do not expect a truly gripping thriller. Also as a warning, there is plenty of gore and portrayal of abuse of many forms, including child abuse, so tread carefully there if that is an area of sensitivity for some viewers.
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Turning the tide of war
Set in WWII just after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Sunset Glory details the story behind the Doolittle Raid from both the US and Chinese points of view. It is a rare find in Chinese drama land, and for most of the 44 episodes, this is a well-produced, written and performed show. The spy storyline on the island drags a bit after the middle of the drama, but the story has a strong climax towards the end both in terms of the personal stories of the characters and in terms of the larger historical context. All in all, a great story of what is sacrificed in war - one's identity, humanity and sanity - and what mankind can do to turn the tides to end a war.If more time allowed, I would have preferred to see the pilots' rescue and aid from the Chinese afterwards in more detail rather than just with a montage and monologue over it, but perhaps that is another story to tell.
Of note, this is set during war times, so be prepared for difficult themes and scenes including rape, murder, etc.
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Learning to live
This drama has all the main elements of a typical romantic comedy, but it covers topics you may not expect to find. Overcoming a learning disability, navigating social norms and when life collides with them, and dealing with difficult family relationships are some of the main themes we get to dive into. Some moments are a bit over-the-top, and some story elements remain underdeveloped, but it's an overall pleasing watch compared to many rom coms out there.At the story's heart are two seemingly very different people from very different walks of life who connect deeply with each other - brought to life by Kimura Fumino and a surprisingly compelling Murakami Raul Maito. Bolstered by a strong soundtrack and a memorable supporting cast, this is one drama to check out this year if you love romantic comedy but with a poignant message (or several) attached to it.
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