emberzmars

Reborn tale with reverse roles, violence and good comeuppance

I came across this drama on reddit. The actor and actresses were unfamiliar to me but the comments in Youtube were generally positive. I watched and enjoyed it. However please be informed that there are scenes of violence.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - In most vertical dramas, FLs are usually the ones doing the most sacrificing in relationship but not for this drama. It's refreshing to see ML being the "doormat" of the relationship. This is my first time watching Du Pei Yuan and he did well in playing this role. A good balance of kindness and pitiful.
2. FL characterisation - The FL is the scumbag of relationship between her and ML. It's refreshing to see a villainous FL. This is also my first time watching Zhong Ying Ling's drama and she was great in being sinister.
3. Supporting character - The doctor was played by Wei Jia. She left a lasting impression despite short screen time.
4. Ending - Good comeuppance.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Both FL and SML were atrocious. The actor who played SML looked familiar. Could he be Yang Chen, who starred with Si Jia Li in 'But Mr. Shen is too charming'?
2. Torture - Damn the scenes were painful to watch.
3. ML - doctor relationship - I want more!

Favourite scene
The ending

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Jiejie romance that would have been great if there were real kisses

Older woman-younger man romance is my favourite trope so I was intrigued by this drama. I was unfamiliar with both the main actor & main actress. The drama was a satisfying watch.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - She was smart, attractive and confident and Dai Qi Xuan played this role very well. I will definitely check out her other dramas.
2. ML characterisation - He was like a lost puppy who hides his inner dobermann. I liked him better once his secret identity was out. I liked Zhou Ling Feng's acting and hope to easily find his dramas online.
3. Styling - FL seemed to don an avant garde fashion. Her neon green gloves and oversized white hat definitely grabbed my attention. I liked ML's styling as it gave edgy allure to his character.
4. Supporting characters - I found the backstory of FL's stylist fascinating! ML's half brother was also an intriguing character.
5. Romance - Great mix of push and pull between FL & ML. You can tell that they love each other. There was also a hint of secondary romance in this drama.

What I disliked:
1. Kisses - Sadly the kisses were shot at angle that made them look like fake kissing. Despite that, I must say the chemistry was definitely there between Dai Qi Xuan and Zhou Ling Feng.
2. Backstory - I want to know more about FL's stylist backstory!
3. Deceit - I found the lie FL told to ML about her engagement was too elaborate. Pity ML.

Favourite scene
FL was hospitalised and realised how important ML to her

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Refreshing plot but not a fan of FL

Warning: This drama has scenes of domestic violence.

I became a fan of Wang Chen Peng after watching Wen Rou Ye Gu. This is my first time watching Chen Lu Xi. This drama had a refreshing plot but I am not a fan of Chu Suang. At the time of this review, I am not sure if I want to watch part 2 of this drama.

What I liked:
1. Acting - Chen Lu Xi and Wang Chen Peng were excellent in their roles as they were able to convey various emotions felt by their characters. I know Wang Chen Peng is very tall but wow, the height difference between him and Chen Lu Xi was staggering.
2. Troubled colleague - I liked this arc very much because I felt that this is a way for FL to learn about life. It was great that she was compassionate and resourceful. The domestic violence was hard to watch.
3. ML characterisation - He was a patient and understanding husband. He respected his wife's wishes and always treated her nicely.
4. Boundaries - It's scary that SML would approach FL even when she clearly brushed him off. I liked that FL told off SML when he wooed her.
5. Romance - I could see that they loved each other. I did feel that FL received more than gave back to the marriage.
6. Supporting character - I liked her bestie whom I found more mature than her. ML's family was nice and the chubby nephew was endearing.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - I love independent women but I felt FL emphasised too much on her needs to be on her own. She was a married woman so she should learn to compromise. Luckily for her, ML was around to save her from being harmed. I also found FL immature when it came to relationships.
2. Communication - I don't mind slow burn romance but I felt that communication was an issue for them. I disliked her for easily making assumptions without talking to her husband. I also disliked her for being insecure when ML's supposed ex girlfriend came to visit him at work. She should ask about exes from him before getting married but not asked someone else after marrige.
3. SML - I was surprised he jumped into conclusion after hearing office gossip. For someone who was well-off, he should have investigated.

Favourite scene
When FL bumped into ML at the airport

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ML's family made this longtime crush romance an enjoyable watch

I hadn't watched Feng Xiang Kun's dramas for awhile. I saw this drama on reddit and thought "Why not give this a go!". My first drama of Chai Hui Xin as FL as I had seen her playing green tea roles before.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - She was sweet, hardworking and opportunist. Thankfully her scheming was with good intentions. It was funny when her scheming backfired. Chai Hui Xin was good in her role.
2. Romance - Very sweet one with a lot of teasing. ML washing his underwear was unexpected. It's also refreshing that there is a short secondary romance involving ML's brother.
3. ML characterisation - He had long time crush on FL though he never showed it at the start of their marriage. I liked that he's calm & collected.
4. Supporting characters - ML's family was the comic relief. Loved his mum! FL's best friend was likeable too.

What I disliked:
1. Slander - Wow, that coffee shop scene was stressful. Wouldn't that be considered as sexual harrassment?

Favourite scene
FL met ML's mum for the first time

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Visually appealing CP but this is not my type of drama

I became an instant fan of Shi Yue Yue after watching her drama 'Qian Sui Qi Meng Yun Wei Yang'. When I saw the thumbnail of this drama on Youtube, I did not recognise her. Found out that she's the FL in the comments section. ML wore uniform so I thought it was going to be military romance but it wasn't.

What I liked:
1. Shi Yue Yue - I am not a fan of timid and cute FLs but she was endearing as a young woman coping with the presence of her crush.
2. Meng Jia Hui - Wow, he was extremely tall and handsome in this series.
3. Confession - I loved it when ML visited FL at the hospital and read FL's diary with her consent. Touching scene!
4. Health & fitness - I like it when a drama includes a health & fitness scene. The military style physical training in this drama was fun to watch. Reminded me of 'Got a Crush on You'.

What I disliked:
1. Romance - OMG the romance developed at very slow pace. I disliked that when ML confessed to FL, she suddenly made him 'chase' her, and let him think she's crushing on someone else. There were barely any kissing scenes.
2. Duration - The drama lasts 2 hour 40 minutes and some arcs could be shortened or even omitted from the drama.
3. Antagonist - Surprised she could commit crime many times without getting punished.

Favourite scene
When ML read FL's diary

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Mischievous ML & touching wedding scene led to enjoyment of this drama

There are 4 versions using this plot. The first version is titled "The Tenderness of Wild Bones" starring Charon and Meng Lu. The second version is titled "Zero Ambiguity" starring Li Shengjie and Zhao Zaoer. The third version is titled "Gentle Wild Bones" starring Wang Chen Peng and Zhai Xin Ran. I came across the fourth version on Youtube but didn't continue watching past 2 minutes because FL was hostile towards ML that I was turned off. I watched this version second after completing Wang Chen Peng-Zhai Xin Ran's version.

What I liked:
1. ML characterisation - I liked that he was mischievous and caring. This is my first time watching Li Sheng Jie and he did well in this role. I quite like that he was expressive (his smug look was perfect) and boyish handsome.
2. Romance - Their powder-keg relationship was entertaining especially the convenience store scene. This version had a role play session too hehehe. Their makeout sessions were hot because of the tension & framing.
3. Styling - I love her outfits from the black work suit and white jacket & white skirt to red swimsuit. Beautiful wedding dress. Her wardrobe looked expensive and elegant.
4. Music - Ed Sheeran's Perfect was played. Great choice!
5. Ending - This version has a wedding scene. Touching scene with FL's father. I love FL's bouquet!

What I disliked:
1. FL characterisation - She was pitchy and her reactions to ML's teasing were quite hostile. However I liked her because she verbalised her gratitude for her husband's love. I think Zhao Zao Er was good in her role.
2. Status announcement - They informed that they were married to each other at their high school reunion. However I wish they had shown us when their colleagues found out about their relationship and how shocked they were.

Favourite scene
The wedding

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Kickass FL, sweet ML & great comedic moments made this romcom super fun!

I watched this drama on 12 January 2025. I enjoyed this drama immensely and I thought it deserves recognition so I submitted a New Title page for 'Sweet Travel' on 19 March 2025. Delighted that the page is now up & running.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - I loved FL because she was spunky, kind & quick on her feet. She was also funny and honest. That very first scene of this drama set the tone right. Anyway I had watched Yi La as bitchy SFL in another drama. I was pleasantly surprised to see her as FL in this drama. She did very well in comedy and I am definitely going to watch her other dramas.
2. ML characterisation - ML is a nice and humble CEO. I liked that he was attracted to FL because of her wits and kindness. This is the first time I watched Zhang Yi Lun's acting. I was captivated by his eyes. So striking!
3. Romance - Gosh the romance between FL & ML was very believable even though Yi La and Zhang Yi Lun did not do proper kissing. I saw the gradual growth of their relationship from strangers whom met & married to friends and life partners who developed affections & love as time passed. I felt like they were best friends! Chemistry was on point between Yi La & Zhang Yi Lun.
4. Supporting characters - FL's mother, ML's assistant and ML's mother were great additions to this drama.
5. Comedy - This is one of the best romcoms in vertical drama land. That scene in which FL saw ML and his assistant in his office was hilarious!

What I disliked:
1. Styling - FL's outfits (except the white dress) were so drab! Antagonists wore nice outfits unfortunately. I am not a fan of long fake nails and sadly Yi La had them in this drama.

Favourite scene
That scene in which FL saw ML and his assistant in his office

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Rich guy/poor girl romance with heavy kissing

I was in the mood for Li Ke Yi's dramas after enjoying her drama with Lu Shan Dong. I have seen Xie Yu Wang's dramas so I was intrigued by this collab.

What I liked:
1. Romance - As expected, the kissing scenes were hot. ML was devoted towards FL from the start.
2. Supporting characters - ML's mother was a nice surprise.
3. Editing - I loved the frame transitions when the couple was heavily kissing. Beautiful shots!
4. Music - Theme song of Lighter & Princess was used a few times in this drama. I like the song anyway.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - SML never even liked her but didn't want anyone else to "have" her. His mistress was horrible too.
2. FL characterisation - Underdeveloped. The scene when FL saved a kid was interesting but sadly it stopped there. I wanted to know more about her other than being a love interest.

Favourite scene
Frame transitions

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Great acting but the story was a mess

I am a massive fan of Guo Yu Xin and while I don't watch many Liang Si Wei dramas, I really enjoyed his acting in Define Your Style. I wondered how this drama would go because the introductory scene was filled with negativity. This drama was similar to a roller coaster ride.

What I liked:
1. Acting - This CP was a matching pair as both seemed to challenge each other's acting capability. The emotional scenes were emotionally intense for both actors.
2. Romance - This is a second chance romance drama. Once they reconciled, they were a sweet couple. There were also hot kissing scenes. One YouTube user even pointed out that Guo Yu Xin was a better kisser than Meng Na when paired with Liang Si Wei.
3. Supporting characters - I liked FL's bestie, mother & her male friend because they showed genuine concerns for her.

What I disliked:
1. FL's decision - I hated that FL never told ML about her illness early on when they were on good terms. She was a coward.
2. Ending - I didn't know what to deduce from the ending.
3. ML's behaviour - I disliked him for being cruel to FL once they reunited. Some scenes were stressful to watch.
4. Antagonist - ML's admirer & his mother were horrible.

Favourite scene
When FL requested for divorce around 40th minute mark

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Zhen Zi Qi was adorable as playful hubby but lack of chemistry couldn't save me from feeling bored

I am a fan of Zhen Zi Qi. Found this drama on Youtube a few days ago & watched it this evening before dinner. I have mixed feelings about this drama.

What I liked:
1. Comedy - OMG the auction scene was hilarious! I have never seen 2 men competing against each other using those tactics hahaha.
2. Zhen Zi Qi - It's wonderful to see him in a light, comedic role. Gosh he looked so adorable when his character was playful with FL.

What I disliked:
1. Romance - There was too much resistance from FL even with 20 minutes to the end of the drama. They never discussed their marital problems so I was baffled about the reconciliation. I also couldn't feel any chemistry between Zhen Zi Qi & Teng Ze Wen.
2. FL characterisation - I found FL's multiple hats quite random & disconnected. By using this approach, I don't sense any depth in her characterisation.
3. Ending - WTH is the ending???
4. SFL - OMG ML's admirer calling him 'Jing Yun gege' every time she was on screen irritated me! Surprised she was punished after accumulation of a few successful scheming.

Favourite scene
The auction

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Enjoyed different dynamics but I struggled to complete this series

It had been awhile since I made use of my Youku subscription. 'Bound by Sin' was heavily promoted and since reviews were positive, I decided to watch this show. I usually can finish a mini drama in 3 days max but I struggled with this series. It took me almost a month to mark this as 'Completed'.

What I liked:
1. Hao Fu Shen - I found him captivating. His deep voice doesn't match his baby face.
2. Dynamics - FL was career driven & always scheming. ML seemed like a good boy but actually had an ulterior motive in approaching FL. I also enjoyed watching dynamics between FL & her siblings. The rivalry for leadership position was intriguing.
3. Romance - Intimate scenes were hot & plenty. That photo session at the start was bold! I think the sizzle was mostly attributed by the aforementioned dynamics. I liked them when they were together especially at the start because of the sexual tension.
4. Supporting characters - I liked FL's assistant, FL's younger brother & half sister.
5. Outfits - FL wore beautiful outfits very 1920s.

What I disliked:
1. Breakup - When FL decided to break up somewhere in the middle of the series, I lost interest in the series. I disliked that FL & ML spent more time apart than together.
2. Engagement - I think FL got engaged to SML for too long. This was another reason my momentum for this series decreased.
3. Ending - WTH is that ending??? I wouldn't even mind a sad ending.

Favourite scene
When ML finally gave in to FL's seduction & kissed her

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Kind & thoughtful ML made me enjoyed this baby mama drama

This is my first Xia Jing Ran and Wang Yi Ge's drama. I was drawn to this drama because of ML's allergy towards women (I had watched similar drama by Zhang Chu Xuan and Lu Shan Dong). Overall I really liked this drama despite its simple story.

What I liked:
1. Romance - I liked all scenes that had ML touching FL. The accidental kiss was haha expected in a drama like this. That bathtub scene was damn hot! Putting aside the spicy stuff, I felt the warmth whenever they were together. The Lamaze classes omigosh! Xia Jing Ran and Wang Yi Ge had great chemistry.
2. Ending - So touching!
3. FL characterisation - I like a smart & hardworking FL, which was evident in this drama. I also liked that she was resourceful in the case of strange fragrance. I enjoyed Xia Jing Ran's acting in this drama.
4. ML characterisation - I liked that ML was kind not just towards FL but also towards strangers. I liked that he was committed to FL's prenatal care. I was also impressed by Wang Yi Ge's acting as he was great at expressing longing for FL.
5. Duration - I consider this drama as short because total running time is around 1 hour 20 minutes. Well-paced storytelling.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonist - FL's family was horrible. ML's admirer was also malicious.

Favourite scene
The bathtub scene

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Good showcase of mental health disorder but final 15 minutes was a haste!

I enjoy Zhang Qi Xuan and Qiao Jia Le's dramas so I was delighted to find out that they have worked together. I was intrigued by the comments left on Youtube. Mental health issue is definitely not explored much in vertical drama space. That being said, I have mixed feelings about this drama.

What I liked:
1. Acting - Both Zhang Qi Xuan and Qiao Jia Le did well in their roles. I enjoyed their performances be it as their individual character or as a couple. They had good chemistry and I'd like to see them together in other dramas.
2. Romance - Their romance was a slow burn, which was a good choice by the writer & director considering FL's delicate state of mind. There were some nice kisses and other physical touch. I wish FL would show more desire/appreciation instead of overthinking ML's moves.
3. Mental health issue - It was done well but there was potential to go deeper with FL's lived experiences.
4. Supporting characters - In spite of the bad treatment, I actually liked FL's sis during a major reveal at 1:30:00 mark. To my surprise, she displayed compassion towards FL whom did not appreciate it unfortunately. Anyway I liked ML's assistant and grandma.

What I disliked:
1. Child issue - This arc was so underwritten that it didn't add much value to this drama. It could be omitted from the overall drama.
2. Third act - There were 3 major reveals in the last 15 minutes. Such lazy writing with this drama being 2 hours and 30 minutes long.
3. Ending - WTH is the ending about? It's like a random dream!

Favourite scene
When FL purchased and ate spicy dried fish

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Too much resistance in romance dept but kisses were great

I watched this drama 2 months ago when I was new to vertical dramas and was exploring Bai Yan's works after liking another drama of hers. This was my first time watching Zhang Yun Tao. I have mixed feelings about this drama.

What I liked:
1. Supporting characters - I really really liked ML's assistant as he was observant & sympathetic towards FL. FL's assistant, her senior and ML's friends were also likeable.
2. Kisses - Intimate scenes were hot. Kisses were good.

What I disliked:
1. ML characterisation - I didn't like him at the start because of the way he treated FL. I did howver like Zhang Yun Tao. He could portray cold demeanor very well.
2. Antagonist - She faked an illness & stayed at hospital. Insane for doing this to keep your crush close to you. Karma bit back for her.
3. Romance - There was so much push / resistance in the development of romantic relationship between FL & ML. They were not truthful with each other until almost at the end.

Favourite scene
The conversation in the car

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Crisp, coherent and well-written romcom that is best watched on repeat

I was having bad luck with dramas that I chose to watch this week. I've enjoyed Qian Zhe's dramas in the past and this one has a fascinating plot. Zhai Yiying's face seemed familiar. I think I've watched her as SFL in other dramas but can't recall the titles. Anyway I watched this drama at midnight and finished it in one sitting. OMG, this is one of the best romcoms I've watched recently.

What I liked:
1. Romance - I love their love story as it has great balance of sweet and spicy. They were affectionate with each other even in public. Their love language is definitely physical touch. There were a handful of kissing scenes - my favourite was the one they were in the car. Zhai Yiying and Qian Zhe had great chemistry considering that he is much older and larger in size/build than her.
2. FL characterisation - I loved how Su Ruan was written. She's smart and unintentionally funny. She was not easily intimidated. I also liked that she never played coy when being intimate with ML. This is my first Zhai Yiying drama as FL and I found her to be enchanting. I'll definitely check out her other work in the future.
3. ML characterisation - I also loved how Lu Hanting was written. He was sensitive, caring and loyal. I understand his trepidation about the white lie but I think that's a good decision. It's wonderful to see Qian Zhe showing softer facial expressions in this drama. This is my favourite role of his.
4. Screenplay - Well-written, crisp and coherent. Many dramas (including long length ones) lost its charm in third act but not this one. One of the best vertical dramas I've watched.
5. Supporting characters - ML's best friend and grandma were awesome for supporting ML's pursuit of FL. There was a nice character development for ML's mother.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Both antagonists were delusional and dangerous. They refused to respect FL & ML's set boundaries.
2. Support system - Just a minor comment. FL's parents only had a cameo in this drama. Wish they had more scenes especially when FL finally recovered her full memory.

Favourite scene
The ending was suspenseful, sweet and satisfying

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