This is ML first major ML role. Most of his previous works he's supporting or the story is not really focused…
I know that it's doing super well in China for a short drama. The leads just finished shooting an "epilogue" of the drama as a thank you to fans for achieving a certain level of pupulatity. This drama has a tagline going around in some Chinese social medias - "A short drama that took 19 days to shoot managed to achieve what other dramas cannot do with 190 days of shooting" as a slap at other C-dramas in general.
Side note, the ML gained a lot of fans within a week and those who are addicted to the drama are calling him the "August boyfriend/husband" Lol
This is the same director from A Killer is Also Romantic and A Familiar Stranger so I am patiently waiting until the 14th to binge it in one shot. One episode daily is just "provoking" haha.
Director Zeng knows how to create sizzling chemistry and tension for his CPs and his dramas always look high class despite its limited budget. He knows how to magnify the actors and actresses' beauty under his lenses. I never realized how nice the ML's fingers are from his previous dramas lol (so many close-up shots in this drama).
For those who are not sold yet, maybe check this video from Bilibili. I am completely captivated by it: http://b23.tv/swG8D7a
A nice and cute drama to binge watch over the weekend. If you watched The Killer is also Romantic and A Familiar Stranger, you should watch this as it's the same director and there are so many A Killer is also Romantic references and connections here hehe. I must say, Director Zeng never disappoints in kissing scenes lol.
I was hoping the FL can torture the ML a little bit and have him do some serious chasing but OMG, starting from Ep 19 onward, I forgive you Ding Ran! I was grinning like a little girl during the last few episodes and their sweetness=diabetes alert! The parents were hilarious, sweet and cool as well. The secondary CP was a little cringey but it wasn't annoying.
This is a guilty pleasure drama, it has so many over the top elements but turn off logic and brain, you can enjoy it.
If I did not see some BTS clips that a lot of action scenes and stunts are done by the cast themselves and how much effort the production team put in the drama, I probably would have drop it earlier.
The ML character will be a crazy/badass CEO that may take a while to outhrow lol. His MVP weapons aka neckties as well. ;)
Started without much expectations but there were a lot of recommending posts on XHS so I gave it shot and I am glad I did.
The toilet humour and the high pitched dubbing of the FL might be a bit too much but I can close my eyes about it since it was such a fun ride! I was on the edge of my seat when each episode ends. The ending suggests a sequel (YES, PLEASE!). It's a drama that gets better as it goes. I didn't want it to end so fast.
Kuddos to the director and scriptwriter for knowing what fan service means haha. A bunch of topless men flashing abs, check! (Although the ML admitted that his abs were enhanced by makeup lol). Hot kisses (from 3 CPs in one single episode!), check! It has the tropes that you would normally roll eyes but there are so many [funny] unexpected twists that come with it. I especially loved the friendship between the ladies so I was so saddened by the ending of Zhi Lan. Ep 8 & 9 are epic with kisses and Ep 12 and last episode are epic for Zhao Nan's badass. Each character has its glorious hilarious moment.
The actors and actresses must had a lot fun while shooting the drama as it looks a lot of bloopers made in the final cut. I would love to see more BTS videos of it. ;)
For those who are discouraged by the BE, there is actually an epilogue mini-movie about 35min long out there that has a HE, with less angst and more comedy. ;)
I watched it with low expectations, knowing the ending in advance and yet I cried buckets at the end. Despite flaws in editing and script, everything else is above average. It's visually appealing with nice costumes, props and sets. The leads are gorgeous looking with intense chemistry. Their kisses (just go watch ep 5, 8/9 lol) and hugs did make my heart flutter haha.
I can generally tolerate BE if nicely done so this one did not frustrate me as much as some other BEs like Maid's Revenge or the FL's last aired drama Don't Forget My Love.
It's really a shame that Mango dramas suffer from bad subs because I think MangoTV made the best short dramas in 2022 and yet the subs issue alienates a large audience...
It's been a great year for short dramas and this one definitely raised the bar on a new level. They were able to tell a good and complete story in 3 hours vs. some full length dramas that could potentially drag the same story for 50 episodes. Acting, cinematography, costumes, sets, dubbing, all were spot on. I laughed + sqealed like a little girl so much and sobbed at the ending. It's the most appropriate ending I think.
I will probably have major withdrawal symptoms for awhile. I watched some bits of the four leads get together livestream and they seem to have good camaraderie and had fun teasing each other. Wishing them success while keeping the humbleness. ^^
A Familiar Stranger will be a top pick to rewatch whenever I need some sweetness fix or if I ever get pissed off by a short fused brain male/female lead character haha.
What is good with this short drama is that there are no filler scenes, it's able to tell a coherent story so far. With a limited budget, we are actually getting big budget drama vibe.
Also kuddos for a male lead and female lead character who actually talk openly, no dragged misunderstandings!
Will this drama gets +3k comments like Its other short-length drama counterpart ? Wait and see
I doubt it, haha. The promotion of A Familiar Stranger is not as strong from MGTV and I think if you don't stumble on it, you will never know this drama.
Youku knew how to promote the other short drama by luring us with scenes of topless DGZ (let's be honest we all fell for it ^^) so we all made it until the end only to be hurt by the ending...
Finish ep 8. Still no progress with the sub. What's with the drug tho, sub said to have seizure once a month,…
OMG, are Mango subs that bad???
That drug is actually an aphrodisiac (haha), which is a special one that once in your system, it will be "effective" once a month (LOL). But there is a clever twist that ML and FL did not actually drink as it was spilled by the eunuch and got replaced by common wine. So what happened that night was purely from their hearts and had nothing to do with the "wine", which makes it sweeter. ^^
Side note, the ML gained a lot of fans within a week and those who are addicted to the drama are calling him the "August boyfriend/husband" Lol
But omo there is leaked version perhaps from the crew
lol: http://b23.tv/N17ZLpn
Director Zeng knows how to create sizzling chemistry and tension for his CPs and his dramas always look high class despite its limited budget. He knows how to magnify the actors and actresses' beauty under his lenses. I never realized how nice the ML's fingers are from his previous dramas lol (so many close-up shots in this drama).
For those who are not sold yet, maybe check this video from Bilibili. I am completely captivated by it:
http://b23.tv/swG8D7a
I was hoping the FL can torture the ML a little bit and have him do some serious chasing but OMG, starting from Ep 19 onward, I forgive you Ding Ran! I was grinning like a little girl during the last few episodes and their sweetness=diabetes alert! The parents were hilarious, sweet and cool as well. The secondary CP was a little cringey but it wasn't annoying.
If I did not see some BTS clips that a lot of action scenes and stunts are done by the cast themselves and how much effort the production team put in the drama, I probably would have drop it earlier.
The ML character will be a crazy/badass CEO that may take a while to outhrow lol. His MVP weapons aka neckties as well. ;)
The toilet humour and the high pitched dubbing of the FL might be a bit too much but I can close my eyes about it since it was such a fun ride! I was on the edge of my seat when each episode ends. The ending suggests a sequel (YES, PLEASE!). It's a drama that gets better as it goes. I didn't want it to end so fast.
Kuddos to the director and scriptwriter for knowing what fan service means haha. A bunch of topless men flashing abs, check! (Although the ML admitted that his abs were enhanced by makeup lol). Hot kisses (from 3 CPs in one single episode!), check! It has the tropes that you would normally roll eyes but there are so many [funny] unexpected twists that come with it. I especially loved the friendship between the ladies so I was so saddened by the ending of Zhi Lan. Ep 8 & 9 are epic with kisses and Ep 12 and last episode are epic for Zhao Nan's badass. Each character has its glorious hilarious moment.
The actors and actresses must had a lot fun while shooting the drama as it looks a lot of bloopers made in the final cut. I would love to see more BTS videos of it. ;)
I can generally tolerate BE if nicely done so this one did not frustrate me as much as some other BEs like Maid's Revenge or the FL's last aired drama Don't Forget My Love.
It's really a shame that Mango dramas suffer from bad subs because I think MangoTV made the best short dramas in 2022 and yet the subs issue alienates a large audience...
I will probably have major withdrawal symptoms for awhile. I watched some bits of the four leads get together livestream and they seem to have good camaraderie and had fun teasing each other. Wishing them success while keeping the humbleness. ^^
A Familiar Stranger will be a top pick to rewatch whenever I need some sweetness fix or if I ever get pissed off by a short fused brain male/female lead character haha.
Also kuddos for a male lead and female lead character who actually talk openly, no dragged misunderstandings!
Youku knew how to promote the other short drama by luring us with scenes of topless DGZ (let's be honest we all fell for it ^^) so we all made it until the end only to be hurt by the ending...
http://b23.tv/AeYUxIn
That drug is actually an aphrodisiac (haha), which is a special one that once in your system, it will be "effective" once a month (LOL). But there is a clever twist that ML and FL did not actually drink as it was spilled by the eunuch and got replaced by common wine. So what happened that night was purely from their hearts and had nothing to do with the "wine", which makes it sweeter. ^^