I want to give a special shout-out to the young child actors in this drama. Young Deng Yan, young RanRan and young FaFa are excellent. The flashback of young RanRan was so sweet and watching her being carried off by that despicable man really made me catch my breath. I wish I can grab him from my TV screen and choke him to death. And poor young Deng Yan living with the guilt and of course, FaFa being a victim but consider her kidnapper her "father". The girls are so precious that I just want to them a hug.
Just some initial thoughts on the drama after watching only 2 episodes. . . I love how the drama focused on the perspectives of the various victims' families and how they are still dealing with the aftermath of their missing loved ones. We have Little Spud's family who are angry, frightened and desperate trying to locate their sweet little boy. Then there is the sister with her brother missing for 15 years, latching on some hope that the police is doing everything to locate her brother. The most touching one of them (for me) was Madame Zhang and her restaurant being a center to locate missing people (the wall of pictures makes me so sad). I especially love her scenes with Deng Yan and I do hope that somehow RanRan can be returned to her family. Typing this makes my heart feel so heavy. I have cried or was teary-eyed in both episodes; the emotional element is very well done in the drama.
Oh, the show is scary, from the 1st episode! I'm nervous watching this!
Please keep on watching! I have read many comments here before starting and I was expecting it to be emotional due to the subject matter (and it is) but the pacing of the drama is so well done. The team is battling multiple cases at once and I am so anxious for them to recover at least one missing child/woman soon. It makes me antsy but I cannot stop watching. Really a moving drama...
When it comes to their children, they seem to lose their senses and believe anything scammers say. Unreal.
I feel for these parents and their desperation. It's hard to remain logical when they are desperate to find their missing loved ones. You and I might react the same way if we were in their shoes...
Watched 3 ep. so far & I am hooked!Reba is trying out varying roles and out of her comfort zone which is a…
Love your comment! Sword Rose is indeed a nice change for Reba to tackle a more serious drama. Her expressions and mannerisms were on point and I like this genre for her. I also appreciate the styling (loose, dark clothing) and the minimal make-up she had on which I would describe as “pedestrian”. She is still pretty in some scenes but not so striking that it detracts from the plot. Her action shots are also well done. I like that she did many of her own stunts, reminding me of her “Hot Girl” drama days when she played a bodyguard. Though it’s still early, I’m looking forward to be more pleasantly surprised by her and the story (btw, the supporting cast is also excellent). Hopefully, the drama can keep up the momentum from a great start!
I'm going to wait for a few more episodes to come out because I need to know if there's even 1% romance to watch…
Personally, I am pleased there is no romance in the storyline because it might detract from the message that the drama is trying to convey (awareness on human trafficking). If a viewer wanted to see romance, there are plenty of dramas that can fill the need. I rather the drama focuses on the cases, the victims and how the perpetrators are caught.
Besides, what kind of romance can be written that would be well-received and believable? Law enforcement is such a demanding job that the divorce rate is exceptionally high and having a family/ married/ romantic life is very challenging for people in this occupation. The only believable romantic relationship would be an officer trying to salvage his marriage while balancing the demands of his job and honestly, I don’t have a desire to see that.
Watched the first Ep. Why didn't the FL get rid of all threats immediately after she freed herself. Why did she…
Just a kind reminder that real life law enforcement officers under such duress have to make split-second decisions and it’s entirely believable that they might take the wrong course of action; they are after all humans. I would not place blame even if there were a better alternative as these officers are doing the best based on the information on hand. I know I cannot withstand the pressure of such a demanding job and would not fault Deng Yan if she is trying her best in saving the victims.
But as other posters have noted, Deng Yan reacted based on the facts that are available to her at the time and I also think it’s the right call and very realistic. As a viewer, I’m glad this drama is keeping the events as real as possible rather than have scenes of Deng Yan playing hero (like a Hollywood movie) in chasing down perpetrators rather than prioritizing the welfare and safety of the victim(s).
Can't believe it has been 4 years since Yu Tu and Jing Jing were brought to life on our screens. Their romance is forever one of my favorites to watch (and rewatch) and defines love, support and the pursuit of a dream can be so rewarding. Just love both characters!
For Reba’s next project, Reba fans, any preference on what type of genre you wish to see Reba? Romance, xinxia, historical/period or serious modern drama? I have, for many years, wanted to see Reba in a republican drama with spy elements. I am open to historical if the script is interesting. Villain of any genre is okay with me too (even though this possibility is rather remote). Whatever her next drama may be, I just hope it would challenge her and make her grow as an actress.
I saw on Weibo that some yz fans (also called by C-net as yi xing or one star cafe) were trying to falsely accuse…
Why are these anti fans even complaining? Reba fans have waited 2 YEARS for her drama to air while they get to see YZ at least once a year and she seems like she has good projects too. These fools just want to stir trouble up for no reason and rain on our parade!! Regardless, Reba fans should focus on supporting her new drama! I for one cannot wait for the Sword Rose to drop!
I've come across several clips of Sword Rose circulating online, and they really hit hard. The film’s raw portrayal…
I am looking forward to Reba in this role; the storylines and cases are definitely not for the faint of heart. I will probably get emotional watching this but from the many clips floating around, the cases are so touching and the acting of the victims are superb. I really hope this drama will air to great reviews and Reba can showcase a different side of her acting to the audience.
It's just a rumour and some people are already starting hate train for reba. Mdl page of "Rebirth of the Malicious…
The same old antis trying to bring Reba down, now that her drama is finally airing after a drought of two years! I love the novel when I first read it but this plot seems so similar to many "revenge" historical dramas of couple of years past. Reba has moved beyond these types of roles and as her fan, I wish for something much more for her. I would love for the role of Shen Miao to go to a complete newbie; if a seasoned actress is cast in this lead role, she would not doubt be drowning with haters screaming she is not good enough for this character.
PLOT EXERCISE - I would kill for Baba to be a wuxia as a cold hearted assassin. Baba plays a cold, calculating…
I have wanted Reba to portray a gray character for so many years! This kind of plot is something I would love to see and it's even better if seasoned actors are portraying complex characters!
Although I am late to the party, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Ari and JulyMoon for this lovely and comprehensive Reba write-up. I’m always interested in reading how viewers discovered Reba and what dramas/ engagements would prompt fans to follow her career. It’s been great reading some of the comments in this thread! More importantly, I’ve learned more details of her past, especially how performance arts influenced her career path (the bit on her interest in dancing and how she turned to acting was news to me). Thank you so much for that!
The qualities that I admire most about Reba are her sincerity and her perseverance. I feel her ethnic beauty is a double-edged sword. It definitely offers her more opportunities but at the same time, she is limited in the parts she can take (you did mention this bit in your write-up which I do appreciate). This is especially true early in her acting career as she was almost limited to modern dramas and whatever historical productions she was involved in, she was styled oddly as if the costume and makeup team could not figure out what would enhance her features and beauty. She does not have Han-like features so she was likely passed over for many period or historical dramas. In fact, for one year, she did not film a single drama and that was even after her breakout portrayal of Bai Feng Jiu (Eternal Love). So one can see how challenging it is for an Uyghur actress to become popular and mainstream and plus the ineptitude of Jaywalk have made her acting journey a lot more arduous but she persevered! I think it is due to her authenticity, her kindness, her hard work and yes, her acting abilities which millions of audience members relate! 😊
I am so thankful that she did well in The Long Ballad and You Are My Glory (both are my favorites) because currently, she has more control over her drama selections (it remains be seen how much longer she is with Jaywalk). At present, I don’t necessarily think she has limited range or that she is typecast. Most of the time, I feel that Reba gives me the right emotions in her (recent) dramas. I like her subtle expressions; in crying scenes, I don’t think bawling hysterically is the only way to express grief but smiling through teary eyes with sadness is just as powerful (I’m talking about you, Ji Yun He, from Blue Whisper). Of course Reba has bawling scenes too (Li Changge from Long Ballad) but for me, I always felt she never overdoes it in her drama performances and I see the subtlety of what she is trying to convey. Of course, this is an opinion, a subjective one at that but for me, that is one of the many reasons why I love watching her onscreen.
As for drama roles, I don’t feel like she is typecast presently. I would say that was more true early in her career – she excelled in the cutesy characters or she tend to portray beautiful actresses. However, I think she also has quite of bit variety in her acting and characters as noted below:
Hot Girl – She was a tough bodyguard and it was refreshing to see her play a “tomboyish” role.
Pretty Li Hui Zhen – She portrayed a clumsy girl and Reba played it up where her awkward expressions in this role were classic. She really tried to dispel the audience of her beauty even though the drama made her beautiful near the end (which I hate but it was a story line issue). Overall, I did like her interpretation of this character!
The Long Ballad – I think this role was the most demanding of her emotionally. She had an array of emotions throughout the drama and she had made Li Changge an iconic character.
Blue Whisper - Ji Yun He was quite manipulative in the beginning and I liked seeing this deceptive quality in her portrayal. Later when she became sickly, I thought Reba was great in showing her physical weakness (she did lose a lot of weight to make it look realistic).
Prosecution Elite – Her line delivery was excellent, which made her portrayal of a prosecutor so realistic (she did receive praises from Chinese prosecutors for her portrayal). Honestly, Reba does not receive enough credit for her wonderfully clear voice and enunciation; I wish that she would dubbed herself in all her future dramas. Using her own voice with her own inflections and emotions is also acting and can be just as convincing as her facial expressions. Sidebar: Reba is quite adept in voice acting as she mimicked Anna from Frozen and also of an older woman. There are some YouTube videos of her showcasing this skill on a Chinese variety show.
Legend of Anle – The script was not up to par but I thought Reba expressed the duality of her characters so so well – the flirtatious and witty Ren An Le as compared to the driven Di Zi Yuan.
Sword Rose (not released) – A serious police drama that I am anticipating. Deng Yun is also another character that will be different from Reba’s prior roles. Her styling (from promotional pictures and the trailer) is on point and I like that Reba looks “pedestrian” as it should be based on her character’s occupation.
Love on the Turquoise Land (not released) – I can’t wait for this drama and can’t wait to see her chemistry with Chen Xing Xu!! This modern fantasy drama will be unlike her other typical modern dramas. Reba excels in this type of strong female lead with (hopefully) good romantic chemistry but this supernatural setting is very exciting to me and a new genre that Reba has not touched on.
From her recent script selections, it seems to me that Reba is branching out quite of a bit to explore different types of characters, many different from her prior portrayals. At least to me, she is not settling on just doing romantic dramas/comedies or relying on romantic historical dramas (both which are more mainstream) but she is willing to try serious roles. They might not be as well received but she is not afraid to at least attempt something different. I think these different roles can only help her improve as an actress so it’s exciting to see where this growth takes her.
I really hope they win , i am tired of antis belittling Reba’s achievements and only calling her a traffic actress…
If anyone truly believes Reba’s awards are bought by Jaywalk, then he/she is dumb as dirt. That stupid company would not even clear up dirty rumors on her behalf but rather tried to maximize every little gossip to its benefit. Reba and her team are pretty much left to fend for themselves for many years. With a company like that, I cannot believe Reba is as popular as she is. It just goes to show that she is where she is based on her own merit.
Let this be a melon as this actor gets way above his head as well. Reba doesn’t need problematic co-stars.
Thanks for the link! I have read this novel and I agree, it’s a great one and one of my favorites! But to be honest, I don’t think Reba fits the FL physically as the female character is diminutive and is a young girl (though her mentality is older) for most of the novel. I can see criticisms for Reba if she were to be cast as a FL so I would actually like to see a younger actress playing this role. Ideally, I hope Reba portrays another character in the novel, like a guest role as the beautiful villainess; although it likely would not happen but it would be fun and different to see her exude her feminine wiles onscreen.
Besides, what kind of romance can be written that would be well-received and believable? Law enforcement is such a demanding job that the divorce rate is exceptionally high and having a family/ married/ romantic life is very challenging for people in this occupation. The only believable romantic relationship would be an officer trying to salvage his marriage while balancing the demands of his job and honestly, I don’t have a desire to see that.
But as other posters have noted, Deng Yan reacted based on the facts that are available to her at the time and I also think it’s the right call and very realistic. As a viewer, I’m glad this drama is keeping the events as real as possible rather than have scenes of Deng Yan playing hero (like a Hollywood movie) in chasing down perpetrators rather than prioritizing the welfare and safety of the victim(s).
The qualities that I admire most about Reba are her sincerity and her perseverance. I feel her ethnic beauty is a double-edged sword. It definitely offers her more opportunities but at the same time, she is limited in the parts she can take (you did mention this bit in your write-up which I do appreciate). This is especially true early in her acting career as she was almost limited to modern dramas and whatever historical productions she was involved in, she was styled oddly as if the costume and makeup team could not figure out what would enhance her features and beauty. She does not have Han-like features so she was likely passed over for many period or historical dramas. In fact, for one year, she did not film a single drama and that was even after her breakout portrayal of Bai Feng Jiu (Eternal Love). So one can see how challenging it is for an Uyghur actress to become popular and mainstream and plus the ineptitude of Jaywalk have made her acting journey a lot more arduous but she persevered! I think it is due to her authenticity, her kindness, her hard work and yes, her acting abilities which millions of audience members relate! 😊
I am so thankful that she did well in The Long Ballad and You Are My Glory (both are my favorites) because currently, she has more control over her drama selections (it remains be seen how much longer she is with Jaywalk). At present, I don’t necessarily think she has limited range or that she is typecast. Most of the time, I feel that Reba gives me the right emotions in her (recent) dramas. I like her subtle expressions; in crying scenes, I don’t think bawling hysterically is the only way to express grief but smiling through teary eyes with sadness is just as powerful (I’m talking about you, Ji Yun He, from Blue Whisper). Of course Reba has bawling scenes too (Li Changge from Long Ballad) but for me, I always felt she never overdoes it in her drama performances and I see the subtlety of what she is trying to convey. Of course, this is an opinion, a subjective one at that but for me, that is one of the many reasons why I love watching her onscreen.
As for drama roles, I don’t feel like she is typecast presently. I would say that was more true early in her career – she excelled in the cutesy characters or she tend to portray beautiful actresses. However, I think she also has quite of bit variety in her acting and characters as noted below:
Hot Girl – She was a tough bodyguard and it was refreshing to see her play a “tomboyish” role.
Pretty Li Hui Zhen – She portrayed a clumsy girl and Reba played it up where her awkward expressions in this role were classic. She really tried to dispel the audience of her beauty even though the drama made her beautiful near the end (which I hate but it was a story line issue). Overall, I did like her interpretation of this character!
The Long Ballad – I think this role was the most demanding of her emotionally. She had an array of emotions throughout the drama and she had made Li Changge an iconic character.
Blue Whisper - Ji Yun He was quite manipulative in the beginning and I liked seeing this deceptive quality in her portrayal. Later when she became sickly, I thought Reba was great in showing her physical weakness (she did lose a lot of weight to make it look realistic).
Prosecution Elite – Her line delivery was excellent, which made her portrayal of a prosecutor so realistic (she did receive praises from Chinese prosecutors for her portrayal). Honestly, Reba does not receive enough credit for her wonderfully clear voice and enunciation; I wish that she would dubbed herself in all her future dramas. Using her own voice with her own inflections and emotions is also acting and can be just as convincing as her facial expressions. Sidebar: Reba is quite adept in voice acting as she mimicked Anna from Frozen and also of an older woman. There are some YouTube videos of her showcasing this skill on a Chinese variety show.
Legend of Anle – The script was not up to par but I thought Reba expressed the duality of her characters so so well – the flirtatious and witty Ren An Le as compared to the driven Di Zi Yuan.
Sword Rose (not released) – A serious police drama that I am anticipating. Deng Yun is also another character that will be different from Reba’s prior roles. Her styling (from promotional pictures and the trailer) is on point and I like that Reba looks “pedestrian” as it should be based on her character’s occupation.
Love on the Turquoise Land (not released) – I can’t wait for this drama and can’t wait to see her chemistry with Chen Xing Xu!! This modern fantasy drama will be unlike her other typical modern dramas. Reba excels in this type of strong female lead with (hopefully) good romantic chemistry but this supernatural setting is very exciting to me and a new genre that Reba has not touched on.
From her recent script selections, it seems to me that Reba is branching out quite of a bit to explore different types of characters, many different from her prior portrayals. At least to me, she is not settling on just doing romantic dramas/comedies or relying on romantic historical dramas (both which are more mainstream) but she is willing to try serious roles. They might not be as well received but she is not afraid to at least attempt something different. I think these different roles can only help her improve as an actress so it’s exciting to see where this growth takes her.