1
Suspicious minds: nail-biting suspense and doomed romance
đ¶we can't go on together with suspicious mindsand we can't build our dreams on suspicious mindsđ¶
This was much darker and more serious than I expected, even taking into account the heavy subject matter. BL shows usually have more comic levity and heart-warming moments, not suspense dialled up to the max.
But if I'm honest, it was that suspense that kept me watching when the mystery and romance fizzled out.
The first half had a nice dangerous vibe with a whodunit mystery and the two protagonists caught in a loop between suspicion and attraction. I loved dr Kan in the first couple episodes. He came off as seductive and dangerous - a mysterious homme fatale playing with the vulnerable policeman's feelings. Tew, on the other hand, seemed to be fighting a losing battle between his suspicious mind and other parts of his anatomy;) I thought it was a rather delicious dynamic, even if the two actors didn't have that much chemistry with each other. I wish they stayed like that till the end. Instead, in the blink of an eye, they became all loving and domestic (at least on the surface), which was hard to buy with no proper build-up.
I have mixed feelings about the way the topic of euthanasia was explored in this series. I woud've preferred a bigger focus on idividual cases and better balance of differing voices in the story. Tew was not the person who took daily care of his sick and dying mother, his sister was, yet she wasn't given a voice. But overall, the series did a good job showing the complexity of the subject and had some thought-provoking scenes. I'm not going to discuss the plot to avoid spoilers, but imo they made a wrong judgment call with how they resolved Boss's arc. It pushed the story in a direction I didn't care for and killed any goodwill I had towards dr Kan. Of course, this might've been by design, to make us question where the uncrossable line lies, but it just further soured me towards the romance.
The production values and acting were pretty good. Also, no blatant stupidity about police and hospital procedures in the script which was refreshing. Overall, it's definitely worth watching, just not for romance.
Was this review helpful to you?
Complex puzzle making up a painfully sad picture
Itâs an odd drama. Tonally, itâs all over the place. It starts as an old-school comedy where a constantly bickering rookie graduate and experienced local policeman get paired to investigate what looks like a prank, and ends up being a hard-hitting life drama with a multilayered mystery that irrevocably changes the two men's lives and continues to haunt them and their loved ones over 18 years.The story carries a heavy emotional weight that keeps growing as the mystery gets more intricate and emotional stakes deepen. The way the mystery was set up, it wasn't particularly suspenseful or engaging but rather bleak. Instead of feeling thrilled at being able to figure things out, I kept hoping my predictions wouldnât prove true as my mind spiralled into unpleasantly dark scenarios.
What kept me watching was the story of the mutual respect and friendship that grew from the initial rivalry and blossomed into a family bond shared by He Yuanhang, his daughter Xiaohe and âuncleâ Ran. The community and relationships parts were very well written with touching moments of warmth and support.
It was He Yuanhang who anchored the story emotionally for me. Pan Yueming brilliantly captured the characterâs transformation from a street-savvy, self-confident officer to an elderly man weighed down by life. Wang Hedi as the rookie-turned-captain-turned professor and Ren Min as the grown up Xiaohe also gave strong, heartfelt performances that helped pull me into the story.
The fragmented narrative follows the three protagonists as they investigate the same mystery in three different years - 1997, 2002 and 2015. The transitions between the timelines were handled very well, providing a fresh supply of clues, red herrings and misdirections to maintain the tension. The cinematography was excellent. Even though the story moved slowly, the shots were always interesting to look at, visually dense, with details and lighting that invited the eye and built a mysterious atmosphere, so it never felt boring. I liked the âhaunted buildingâ setting, thriller undertones and all the details that kept the story grounded in the time and place, but that realism also made the story weigh on me more than expected.
To sum up, this drama is a dissonant mix of absurd comedy, slice of life with realistic portrayals of human struggles, police procedural and human trafficking thriller, gelled together by skillful storytelling, emotionally resonant characters and great music!
Possible spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iâm in a complaining mood, so feel free to skip this part;)
Some events in this drama stretch credibility.
Taking a small child to a dark, out-of-use parking garage was negligent (especially since they had no problem leaving her with random people or alone at other times), but I guess it was needed so she could remember certain details 18 years later.
Another example is the method of killing that was faaaar from foolproof but incredibly worked every time! Just so it could be used as a clue.
Itâs hard to believe that no one knew about the culprits being best friends. Ex? Coworkers? The neighbours never saw them visiting each other?
Song Qingsongâs end made my eyes roll. Of course, he couldnât just stay abroad and live a good life. Same with the guilty parties. Everyone conveniently stayed around to be picked up by the police. C-drama reality:)
The crime investigation process was also unconvincing at times: jumping to conclusions based on scant evidence, sloppy searches, witnesses conveniently remembering key details from more than a decade ago, which is possible of course, but the script relied on it on too many occasions.
Ran not telling anyone about solving the case before approaching the killer goes against both his training and common sense.
He Yuanhang choosing not to open a parcel with case details, just keep it at home for a decade, made me sigh loudly.
It was also frustrating that they weren't treating certain people and clues seriously or following up on some leads.
In other words, they acted professionally until the story needed them not to. However, for a case with so many suspects, red herrings and comedy parts it was still acceptable, I guess:)
Btw I never really liked the culprit - they seemed very fake to me from the start so I wasn't emotionally involved with their story, which probably also influenced my perception of the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
The guy may try to be good, but the people who cross his path have the worst luck.
I wish more people watched this, because there is so much to discuss and joke about in this drama:) The story centers around a security guard at a thermos factory who gets it in his head that if he commits meritorious service he'll be able to score a job with PSB. He's both stubborn and determined but most unluckily creates havoc wherever he goes. He also sets up a lot of events in motion that unfold over the course of the series to often tragic results. I should mention here that the comedy genre is definitely the black and deadly, not the feelgood, type.Other key characters in the story include Hu Ting - old Shang's nephew, policeman and husband of Lv Ling. Their marriage problems comprise one of the multiple story threads.
Then there's Shang Jin - Shang's somewhat estranged daughter and the youngest doctor in a county hospital. She tries to investigate strange symptoms in patients rumoured to have visited Laoyao Mountain. It's a mysterious place featuring in a lot of town legends that is home to either ghosts, aliens or Japanese gold, depending on whom you ask.
There's also Xueqin - a dumplings shop owner, who often acts as a sounding board for Shang's crazy ideas and has a brother who's walking trouble. Not sure why she's listed as a main character. Her storyline and acting are both on the weaker side.
Finally, in the background we have two local "crime lords" battling it out and an out-of-town criminal gang 'tiger brothers' who are one of the most unfortunate to have ever crossed paths with the good guy.
Stylewise the series is a mix of black comedy, crime thriller and life/family drama. There's off and on screen violence and some genuinely tragic moments. A lot of the humour is a miss for me but overall it's engaging fun.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Just too short...
Aya, this left me with such mixed feelings! There was a whole lot I liked about this tale of a man going to Yunnan to try and find himself (and of course finding love:)) The visual mood and beautiful scenery of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain massif for one. But then, you can't really have both internal and external conflicts in a story with such a short runtime and resolve everything in a satisfying way.I wish Qingyu and A-Ren were given a chance to decide on their own what they wanted to do with their lives, before outside forces interfered. There's enough tension in a love story between a man trying to find his own path in the sudden absence of his father's strict guidance - dealing with both the unlimited freedom and emptiness that followed, and a man who has a responsibility to a tight-knit community he grew up in. The film never made it as far as them 'choosing between tradition and love'. It was more in the line of one blockhead with prejudices against outsiders, finally finding a convenient excuse to go after the person he'd been gunning for from the start.
From what I've read, this movie references an old legend of the Naxi people about Jade Dragon 'disanguo' - the guardian spirit of people in love. According to the legend, couples whose love clashed with traditional social ethics, and who found it impossible to face reality, could choose to sacrifice their lives to gain access to another living space - an ideal/dream country. Leaving aside cultural implications, this was just too short to convincingly set up such a dramatic finale. Fortunately, the ending is quite ambiguous and really depends on your own interpretation of events and the titular third country.
Was this review helpful to you?
Firecracker flirting with still waters: a bromance
This was a casual but enjoyable summer watch for me. I'm a sucker for minguo visuals and was looking for a more lighthearted drama, and this one delivered. This is a classic story of a policeman and âspecial consultantâ developing a close relationship as they solve cases together all over Beijing. Yuan Hong is an illegitimate son of a warlord who joins the police to uncover the truth about his motherâs death. Zhao Shaoshang is a spoiled baby of the family of an ultra-rich cabinet minister in need of a friend and some growing up. Together they work hard to piss off everyone in the city whoâs got something shady going on, which is âŠeveryone;)Some cases were more interesting than others, but at least they were varied and the investigations progressed in a believable way (not counting some interrogation scenes that were pure comedy skits;)). They have a common theme of appearing supernatural at first glance but turning out to conceal thoroughly human motives. The spooky parts of the cases were fun, I think they couldâve leaned even more into it. The cast was great! There were some really colourful and entertaining secondary characters.
The drama has a lot of lighthearted situational humour, which I really liked. I normally hate comedy sound effects, but the instrumental âlaughterâ here was kind of infectious:) The main characters' interactions were very entertaining as they got to know each other and used that knowledge for teasing and jokes. Their friendship has depth and develops in a natural way helped along by great chemistry between the two actors. As you can guess from the title, this is an intentional bromance sparing no effort to let the audience happily ship the two together;)
As for the main characters, tbh, I had no chance of liking Zhao Shaoshang because (1) Iâm allergic to screaming and his tantrums were driving me crazy, (2) I find this type of smart-ass characters annoying, especially when itâs paired with rich family privilege, (3) it took me a while to get used to Zhai Ziluâs acting, which seemed too exaggerated compared to the rest of the cast. He absolutely did grow on me as some depth and vulnerability materialized, and a lot of his earlier bluster turned out to be just a shield. I do appreciate that the drama didn't hesitate to expose his flaws. Ironically, I found his absolute pettiness and inability to keep his cool even under the tiniest of provocations quite endearing:D âŠif only he werenât abusing my eardrums.
Yuan Hong had an interesting air of mystery and capability at the beginning, but the actor lacked charisma and presence to really pull it off. For the rest of the drama, heâs mostly a tolerant âstill waters run deepâ type but rather one-note in emotional moments. If Zhai Zilu is a bit âtoo muchâ, then Ma Sichao is 'too littleâ, but they balance each other surprisingly well.
I hope season 2 comes next summer and keeps the same level of writing and production. The last few episodes switched to a more dramatic tone, so I hope the story goes back to the lighthearted and bromantic mood because thatâs where it shinesâïžâš
Was this review helpful to you?
The main character, Li Shande, is the innocent archetype - seeing no evil, hearing no lies and oozing naivete. This makes him a perfect hero for the comedy of errors that opens the drama, resulting in saddling him with the impossible task of transporting fresh litchis over the distance of 2,500km. The sincere earnestness with which he approaches the task is both deeply touching and hilarious. It becomes his armour and ultimate weapon against the sea of schemers surrounding him. He shares a close bond with his daughter, Xiuer. Their warm and playful moments were the highlight of the story for me.
The drama combines the structure of a morality tale with sharp satire and magical realism that may not be to everyone's taste. It relies heavily on exaggeration. In keeping with satire, a lot of the characters in this drama are larger than life, purposefully written to highlight certain traits. Same with places, the vibrancy of southern coastal Lingnan with its lush nature, a crowd of wacky personas and cockfights performed by live actors;) is juxtaposed with the lifelessness of Changan and its uniform, petty officials. The visual layer highlights this beautifully with the rich, hyper-saturated colors (going beyond realism) in the South vs. muted hues in the North.
What I didn't like as much was bringing in modern elements that broke my immersion, e.g. actors giving each other thumbs up or visibly trying to suppress laughter. Also, the music at times was as subtle as a gong to the head, forcing emotional reactions.
On the other hand, I adored the gallows humour in the early episodes (*knock, knock* Iâm dead!). I also loved how every episode started with a short story from the life of Li Shande or another character, showing us how life events shaped them into becoming who they were in the present.
My main problem with this drama is that the satire went on for way too long preventing character growth and stagnating the plot. Watching Li Shande get into the same kind of trouble again and again (and getting the same result) with no development made me feel like the story was spinning in circles and wore my patience thin. Itâs hard to keep rooting for someone who doesn't learn and repeatedly makes the same mistakes over the course of so many episodes. IMO the entire reenactment of Asterix vs. Ancient Rome bureaucracy battle in Changan was unnecessary. It brought nothing new to the story and didnât have a single memorable character.
In other words, there can be too much of a good thing. As much as I loved the political satire, petty scheming and wacky humour, it made the plot feel directionless for long episodes and tired me out to the point I needed a four month break before finishing the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Addictive!
This is like a sugar binge in a drama form. You just can't help but eat it all at once for the rush of excitement it gives you, then wonder how come there are no more episodes ...and what do you mean it's already Wednesday?;) It is a rare drama that's so unapologetically in-your-face about being pure emotion-driven entertainment without sacrificing the storytelling.đThe storyline can be divided into three parts:
The first focuses on the heroine's downfall, subsequent return to the capital under a new identity (coincidentaly on purpose both characters share the same nickname: A-Li) and her attempts at restoring the real Jiang Liâs reputation. Fortunately, most of the pain and suffering was reserved for the villains in this drama, so we're not hit with a prolonged account of all the wrongs done to both girls at the start. There's nothing groundbreaking here in terms of plot which involves the typical household scheming, but it's very fast-paced and entertaining.
Second part deals with A-Li trying to uncover the truth of what happened to her real family. She goes on a trip and gets herself thrown in jail (twice). We also see a lot more of the male lead, Duke Su aka Xiao Heng, as their intimacy grows, so we're treated to some epic flirting. Oh, the amount of double entendres flying around! They both loved to tease each other about everything from being a straight-faced liar to having a pretty sulking face ...and it was the FL that did the lying while the ML did the sulking.
The third part is all about the villains reaping what they sowed and the culmination of a drama-long scheme involving the emperor. We also finally explore Duke Su's past, but it gets overshadowed by the villains drama. Be prepared for the dramatic intensity to go up a few notches. Best practice: take your thinking cap off entirely for the finale.
đ„What I liked about this drama:
The revenge story is emotionally engaging without crossing into ridiculous or depressing. It doesn't sacrifice logic (too much;)) for the sake of delivering a more spectacular face-slapping. The villains have some depth to them. Their backstories show how they were compelled to turn to the dark side, making their motivations more complex and understandable.
As a female-centric drama, it stayed true to the theme. I don't remember the last time I liked a female lead in a c-drama as much. She had such a calming presence and looked enviably zen while exacting her revenge. A well-rounded character that was genuinely strong, brave, cunning but also compassionate and protective of others around her.
The drama makes a clever use of music, visuals, pathos and comedic exaggeration to evoke strong emotions and create an immersive theatre experience. Some of those stylistic choices were jarring at first, especially the frequent use of extreme close-ups with actors looking directly at the camera (stopping a hairsbreadth from breaking the fourth wall). But overall it worked great to create a feeling of being invited to join the conversation, not just being a passive observer, successfully drawing me into the scene. I found it endlessly entertaining that Duke Su would always enter or exit the 'stage' in some kind of dramatic fashion.
Although romance is clearly not the focus of the drama, it was the highlight for me. From the start, there's this feeling of intuitive understanding or soul-to-soul connection between A-Li and Duke Su. I was convinced that they understood each other without words:) For most of the drama, they're busy with their own agendas while keeping an eye on each other and offering support when needed. No matter what sorts of storms raged around them, they stood strong together with unshakeable trust in each other, never missing an opportunity to flirt. My favourite type of couple:)
The leads chemistry went a long way to compensate for the sparseness of their scenes together. Both Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingyue seemed to have a lot of fun playing these characters and looked very comfortable with each other. They had little difficutly switching between the playful, more theatrical acting and the serious, emotive kind as needed. I liked them both immensely.
The harmonious relationship between the main leads contrasted strongly with the angsty, violent, misguided tragimance that was Shen Yurong and Wanning story. I can't say I liked them, but they were definitely memorable. No effort was spared to make us feel for what amounted to an emotional warfare between the fallen, once honorable, scholar and the disturbed, possessive princess. It's quite hard to stay indifferent to them as a result. Even if the only thing you feel like doing is actively cheer for them to kill each other. I have to admit they succeeded in softening my feelings towards Wanning somewhat by the end. Mostly because, I believed she genuinely fell in love, even if her method of securing that love was completely demented. Not with Shen Yurong though, I wholeheartedly detested that murderous coward right to the bittersweet end.
I have to give it to the actors, they were both chillingly good in their roles. Liang Yongqi left such a deep impression on me as Shen Yurong, I probably won't be able to enjoy him in another role for a while. Li Meng perfected the haughty princess I-can-trample-you-like-an-ant look, but there was a bit too much theatricality in her portrayal for me to really connect with the character.
đWhat I'm not so thrilled about:
Let's be honest, the drama has derailed in the finale. I don't even know what to call that last battle scene, other than some weird visual fetish. It's like they run out of episodes to tell the rest of the story but still had a lot of expensive scenes left, so decided to include them all with little care to the storyline. Better project management next time please!
I wish there were more happy moments with the lead couple and their families in the last few episodes. That would've been a much needed (and well-earned) breather from the angsty villain arc.
Some scenes were obviously just added for shock value, including an unnecessarily high death toll. Needlessly killing off well-liked characters is a sure way for a drama to get on my shitlist. On that note, going into battle with no armour or helmet had me facepalming so hard I hurt myself.
Why on earth did they bring MLâs grandfather so late in the story? We could've had 40 episodes of their banter!! I feel robbed. Duke Su deserved to be a better developed, more complex character. It looked like they planned for it in the last arc but run out of episodes...
I didn't like the way Shuran's story arc was resolved. It was way too convenient and incomplete, especially with how long the drama lingered on her story.
This one is more of my own making. I unfortunately went to Douban to read some comments when I started this drama. One of them said that the FL looked like a blind person and I couldn't unsee it for the rest of the drama... I liked Wu Jinyan's acting on the whole but sometimes her gaze really looked empty.
âšBut all that's minor stuff, go and let yourself be seduced by this epic melodrama with no regrets!
Was this review helpful to you?
