Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion
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The transition from teenagers to adults after the passing of 12 years felt disjointed. They didn't seem as invested in the characters as their teen counterparts. I hated that our lead male had turned into the worst kind of player, even though it was a coping mechanism to endure the past 12 years. He wasn't likable. None of the adult actors were. The moms were as crazy as ever and I felt I was losing patience with this drama. It's no wonder then that the show was cancelled and hastily wrapped up. Don't waste your time on this one.
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I watched the final 3 episodes today and I was heartbroken to bid farewell to my new favorite power couple. You know you have created something special when you grow to care deeply for the characters so much that they feel like family.
Ning Yi is the sixth prince of Tiansheng Empire, set in 11th century China. When he is set free from an 8 year imprisonment by his father, the Emperor, Ning Yi slowly begins his very calculated revenge on those who framed him and his favorite brother. The race to the throne, among his conniving brothers, is a game Ning Yi plays masterfully.
In this race to win the throne, Ning Yi's plans don't always go accordingly due to a young woman by the name of Feng Zhiwei, She is intelligent, funny and proves to be a perfect pawn and ally in Ning Yi's plans. Feng Zhiwei has tragic secrets, however, that might tear down the empire if found out.
Well written, beautifully directed, with an equally dramatic score makes this an epic worth getting lost in. The actors are talented and beautiful to behold and all deliver outstanding performances. If you don't mind the 70 episode storyline, give this one a try. (How could I mind when each episode was an aesthetic masterpiece?)
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Enjoyable, but Goofy
If you like your comedy dramas on the goofy side, this one is for you. This series doesn't take itself too seriously and that isn't a bad thing. It likes to flip flop between the campy and dramatic elements to keep it from stagnating. It has just enough elements to keep you engaged from the sets, to the stellar acting from the seasoned cast. I feel that Dylan Wang's performances improve with every series he is cast in. It is satisfying to see him grow as an actor and he has been very lucky to choose some really great projects. He can be the goofy little brother in one show and the cold demon lord in the other. There is no denying that he has onscreen charisma and deserves the success he has--and, here, he does not disappoint. There is a playful spark in his eyes in GOTD that just draws you in.His playfulness is tempered by his guardian master, Wei Yuan, brilliantly played by Liu Yi Jun, whose performances I have been impressed with since Legend of Fuyao. This man breathes life into his roles like no other. He is exceptionally talented. As the leader of the Guardian forces, he is quiet, guarded and calculating. He quietly "brings up" our ML, instilling in him a confidence that he would later draw from. He is very much the father figure our ML lacks.
Rounding out this exceptional cast are the essential buddies and colleagues needed to support our principal lead. All provide the right amount of comic relief and unyielding loyalty to keep viewers entertained. Unfortunately, the cast is too large and because of this, characters disappear for large stretches enough to miss them. Some of the writing elements were off--I never understood the present day setting as it isn't central to the plot. It gives me the impression that the writers were trying anything and everything in this mishmash of plots to see what stuck. I prefer more linear story lines with a less-is-more approach. If there is too much to keep track of that doesn't really further the plot, then it's just filler. Though it was interesting to see our ML go from one adventure to the next, I felt none of the storyline all that impactful. The hastily wrapped up cliffhanger ending was disappointing because it wasn't fair to the viewers. It left a lot of loose ends and unfairly treated some of its characters. I felt this was the weakest part of the show. I am hearing there might be a movie to finish the story, but I'm not all that invested in the series to follow it through because it didn't leave a lasting impression. So, good series, terrible ending.
OST was really great. I liked the different genres of music used and that there is something for everyone to enjoy. I rarely rewatch shows, so I really can't talk about its rewatch value. I would pass on a rewatch.
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Good for those who like conflict-free romances...
If you want a romance free of silly clichés and conflicts, this is the one for you. In terms of storyline it is similar to Love O2O in that once the main leads get together, the only thing keeping them apart is their jobs.Yu Tu and Qiao Jing Jing are old high school classmates who reconnect several years after graduation. He is an aeronautics engineer facing crossroads in his career and she is a famous actress. The pair meet up when our FL is forced to to improve her gaming skills when it is determined that she is a mediocre player by Netizens. Faced with the possibility of losing her contract with said gaming company, JingJing employs her former classmate, Yu Tu, to help her become a better player by the next gaming contest proving her skill.
The drama is not bad, but it suffers in terms of pacing. Because there is virtually 20 percent conflict between the pair and not much of a storyline, the bulk of the plot is taken up by gaming showcases in the first half and the Chinese aeronautics program in the second. In between, we have their co-workers fawning over them as they date each other. It's almost like a rehash of Love 020, but with older actors. Once in a while you will see a jilted ex-girlfriend, an ill colleague, or a semi-meddling mother added to the story to spice things up a bit, but those conflicts are wrapped up in one to two episodes, with the bulk of the conflict squarely on our ML's lap as he tries to navigate his own inadequacies on his way to love. Once that is resolved, the only thing left is watching a lot of playful and adorable banter between our main leads and a lot of filler that stops the pacing of the the drama in its tracks.
The acting is good, particularly on Reba's part. She is always a joy to watch, but her character as an unaffected-by-her-career celebrity seems a bit of a stretch. One would expect her to be just a little more spoiled and self-absorbed given her career choice and success, but she is completely sweet and likable as the day she graduated high school. I guess the writers wanted to make her as sweet as can be, but it doesn't make for a more compelling drama. I would have liked to see a celebrity changed by love, but that's just me. The plot is neatly wrapped up and implausible in terms of how the couple is able to juggle going long stints without seeing each other. Both are well-adjusted and incredibly accepting of the months apart from each other that their careers demand of them. It is quite an ideal situation and perhaps this drama was only interested in showing the ideal aspects of a conflict-free romance than a more realistic portrayal of two people working to compromise in order to make their relationship work. The storyline here makes it look much too easy. The last episodes were complete filler and did not add anything to the story except in terms of giving the ML his much anticipated dream.
OST was completely forgettable. Nothing stood out to warrant a search on Spotify.
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Zombie Mystery Theater
I was in the mood for a good zombie show and this one fit the bill. What I liked about it was that it was also part mystery and didn't dwell a lot on gore and straight up horror. It has an interesting storyline and the mystery component was engaging.Yun Sae Bom is a special units law enforcement officer who jumps at the chance at getting an apartment at a new complex, but she has to be married. She asks her old school friend Jung Hyeon , also a cop, to pose as her husband and share the apartment. Harboring a secret crush on her, he accepts. Things begin to get sinister at the complex when a virus breaks out and the residents start acting strangely. Soon the complex is on lockdown and both cops are taxed with keeping the peace and protecting the building from the infected.
The best part of this show is the interaction of the residents and how the virus changes them for better or worse. The courage and intelligence of the police couple keep the residents safe and you grow to care about them . The acting is very good from the ensemble cast as we get to know the residents on a personal level. The writing keeps you interested in the drama especially as the virus begins to affect their mental health and how they interact with each other.
Good OST, acting and interesting story makes this a recommended watch.
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Up There with TMOPB
If you are a fan of xianxia dramas, or any kind of good romances, then this is the one to watch. I got hooked on the xianxia genre after having come across the Chinese TV series Three Lives Three Worlds and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, renamed Eternal Love on Netflix. I was so impressed with that series, that I worried I wouldn't find something that good again. I was wrong. I was sucked into the world of heavenly beings and their adventures completely in Ancient Love Poetry because the writing, production and performances were that good.Once again we have a world of heavenly gods, demons, and lower immortals that co-exist happily, and otherwise, in a realm filled with beauty. If Heaven were like this, I would truly never want to leave. The landscapes, though CGI created, are stunning to behold, pulling you right into their world and to the story. Here we have two young people who gradually fall in love as they navigate hardships and responsibilities. Bai Jue, masterfully played by Xu Kai, is the serious, heavenly god who keeps to himself, preferring a simple and peaceful life to the lively social scene in the heavenly realm--earning himself the title "Ice Cube" by his peers. He is forced out of seclusion when he is tasked with the duty of training a new chief goddess by the name of ShangGu. ShangGu is his polar opposite--unruly, spoiled, unserious and full of mischief. Her efforts to lighten him up exasperates him to no end, as her relentlessness slowly breaks through his barriers and into his heart.
ShangGu, played by the breathtaking Zhou Dongyu, knows she has a big responsibility but she would rather spend her days being idle and sleeping late, much to the chagrin of her very strict master Bai Jue. She resorts to coming up with all kinds of mockery to revenge herself on her exasperatingly handsome, wet blanket of a teacher. Egging her on are her close friends Tian Qi ( Liu Xue Yi) and Yue Mi (Luo Qiu Yun). When war threatens the heavenly realm, ShangGu is forced to grow up and take her responsibilities seriously. She comes to learn quickly that the future of the world lays squarely on her shoulders as the life she envisions for herself could be in jeopardy.
The twists and turns of this drama keep you glued to your seat and the 40 minute episodes make it completely binge-worthy. There are some slow episodes and Liu Xue Yi, one of my favorite C-drama actors, is sorely underused, but all deliver remarkable and memorable performances that stay with you. I can't say enough about Zhou Dongyu's performance as ShangGu. She is perfection in looks and talent. She doesn't just act. She becomes, and that is a rare gift. She made me cry so many times and made me deeply care for her character. Bravo! Xu Kai was sublime. His performances are so understated and simple in a way that draws him into your heart. He knows how to make you see his inner struggles. That is the mark of a person that truly knows his craft. I am very impressed by his talent and can't wait to see what he does next.
The OST is gorgeous and captivates the romantic nature of the show perfectly. ( Looking forward to adding to my my C-drama playlist.). I highly recommend this beautiful production for anyone who wants to great romance they can get lost in.
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Heavy on the palace intrigue. Lighter on the romance.
I will watch anything Zhang Ling He is in because he is devastatingly handsome and a wonderful actor to boot! In this he did not disappoint. The premise of this drama seemed interesting--having a second chance at correcting life's failures. But when the plot slowed and gave more air time to secondary characters and not enough on the main leads, I felt disappointed. The acting was very good in this. Jiao Jin Mai (Amidst a Snowstorm of Love) plays the imperious, self-absorbed princess to a Tee and the best part was watching her character grow and becoming adept at balancing personal life with palace intrigue.The same can be said for the ML. He wanted to be a better version of himself and sought to win his lady's hand. Unfortunately, he isn't given a whole lot to do, so the relationship, at times, feels unbalanced. Watching these two fight and make up, push each other away and finally find a way to make their relationship work, while dealing with people wanting to destroy them, was a job. The rushed ending and loose ends left unexplained was disappointing.
The costumes, acting, and sets were beautiful and I loved the OST. Those were the strongest parts of the drama, but the writing was weak and I felt the performers deserved better.
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Prepare to have your heart mangled!
Here is a reverse harem romance that is very well written and acted. It's also a costume drama which is right up my alley, so if you like romantic period pieces, then this is for you. What stands out in this drama, aside from the devastatingly beautiful performers, is their magnificent acting skills. There was not a bad actor in this bunch. Everyone seemed to have their character study down pat and each one made you care so deeply for them. There was no one to hate in this drama and I liked that. This was all about the drama around the main leads--and there are many. Each one brings a special gift to this series, each is different, but all are deeply in love with the female lead and wish to win her heart.What left me so impressed with this show was how well directed, written and produced it was. This was the whole package. I appreciated the twists and turns that kept me glued to the TV, and the comedic elements that provided a little relief from the tragic moments that made me weep. Thank goodness that they had solid material to work from, as it seems to have made a good basis for the well-written screen adaptation. Add some excellent direction, gorgeous and talented actors, and you have a gem on your hands. Each character had several layers to them which was slowly peeled back, letting you see the beauty and strength within each character. Some of the supporting cast even had character growth and became much more enjoyable to watch. The sets were breathtaking. CGI just keeps getting better and better.
The ending was both happy and sad because, obviously, one will win the girl while the other one loses, and that loss is devastating for those of us who had our favorites. The most beautiful part of all this is how well our main lead was loved--how lucky she was to have the love of three wonderful men, who were, each of them, a glorious catch. The way they looked at her took my breath away. Bravo, to the cast for such wonderful performances, for the gift of their talents and for taking us on such an unforgettable journey. I highly recommend this for romance lovers.
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Great performances from ensemble cast, but beware the violence...
Although the acting and writing is good, I can't rate it any higher than a 7 because the series is not yet finished, requiring a second season to explain its cannon. I almost dropped it because the violence was so over-the-top in the first episode. Human beings are fragile and the way people get knocked around in this show, and still manage not to lose consciousness, is a bit hard to swallow.This dystopian series depicts life in South Korea after a cult exploits a supernatural force terrorizing the citizenry to exert it's own power, setting up an authoritarian society where people are judged and their grisly ends televised to keep them in control. The stellar performance by Yoo Ah In as the New Truth leader pulls you right in with his charm and unassuming manner, ready to be of service but hiding a duplicitous persona with a dark agenda. There are also screen worthy performances by the ensemble cast and the camera shots were very good in pulling the viewer into the action.
For a limited series, you get a lot of action packed into these one-hour episodes, but they are extremely violent so if that isn't your cup of tea, please be warned. So far, there is no explanation surrounding this supernatural force and none of the leads have yet asked the 20,000 dollar question: who are they and what do they want? Perhaps these questions will be answered in the next season. I like the storyline, so I will be watching season 2 to see where this all goes. The twist at the end can either make or break this series, so I will have to keep watching to see where it takes me.
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Great for bingeing or a la carte
I really liked this anthology of Taiwanese love stories between people from different walks of life. They were funny, sad, quirky, sweet, and thought provoking. What ties them together are well crafted transitions intertwined into the plot that could be anywhere from brief cameo appearances of a character, to a whole new plot surrounding the previous supporting cast in the next. The series then makes a full circle back to the situations of the first episode to tie all the episodes together. Some episodes are stronger than others, but they all deliver in the messages of love and connection during the Covid-19 pandemic as the driving force in the plot.From dating reality show drama, to cheating, to finding love in the most unexpected places, to navigating societal constraints, this anthology has it all. These 50 minute episodes tug at your heartstrings, making you wish you had more backstory, but what you are given is just enough to make it worthwhile.
I would love a season 2 to this. It was original and creative. I love it when writers don't fall on clichéd tropes to make a good drama. This was a diamond in the rough.
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High School Manga Tropes in Hospital Setting
This show was a little too syrupy for my taste. I really thought I was watching a high school manga made into a TV series. The way Sakura was portrayed reminded me of every romance manga I ever read as a youngster. The character cliches were rampant in this --the silly, love-sick girl goes after the unreachable, iceberg guy, the bumbling supporting characters who befriend the main leads, as well as the benign jealous ex, competing for the ML's attention. I have seen this so many times over and over, and over again. The only disturbing difference is that here the high school drama is taking place in a hospital setting among grown men and women.Our FL is the sweet girl cliche. She looks like a high school kid, acts like a high school kid, and when she acts extra goofy, reminds me of a deranged Easter bunny. She even has two extra long front teeth to boot! You can't help but love her and she tries really hard to make it so! Sakura is skillfully played by Mone Kamishiraishi.
Sakura meets Dr. Tendo in a street as a school girl and is so taken with him, that she decides right then and there to meet him again someday. This sets the course of her career path. It's kind of stalkerish behavior, but no one thinks it's weird and even encourage her to keep going after her childhood crush.
The only person not thrilled about this is Dr Tendo himself, played by the handsome Takeru Satoh, and our iceberg ML cliche. He doesn't have time for her nonsense and warns her off from the get-go. Here's the thing: there is no chemistry between these two. Never do I get the sense that Tendo even likes Sakura. I never believed in the romance between them for a moment because our ML doesn't have any internal monologue. He is a monotone, boring, wet blanket. Now, one might say that this is the point because Sakura is supposed to bring him out of his shell, but I never really see this happen until the last episode. It should be a subtle progression but he is so annoyed by her, nicknaming her "dimwit", that I asked myself why she even bothers. There were times when Takeru looked so bored, and annoyed, and like he hated every minute playing this role. I can't say I blame him. I would have enjoyed the drama as more a natural progression between grownups than the juvenile drama they actually went with. I think Takeru Satoh is miscast in this. He looks too serious and grown up to be doing these juvenile roles. At age 30, it's too much of a stretch.
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Recommended if you liked Hidden Love
Just finished this today and I give it a solid 7 stars. I liked this despite some flaws. The strongest part of this drama was the relationship between these two young lovers, played exceptionally well by Wu Lei and Zhao Jin Mai, while its weakest was in the elements of production.Both leads were well-cast in this romantic drama and my biggest delight was watching them playfully enjoying each other's company and slowly letting each other in. Our FL is at first suspicious of our ML since she is inexperienced and away from home. Our ML is living and studying abroad having left behind a troubled past. He is living a relatively uncomplicated life, but the appearance of this pretty young lady makes him realize how much he is really missing. We are drawn into their relationship and are made to feel a part of it---every glance, every smile, every intimate moment. I basked in this youthful love, reminded of my own relationship with my husband when we first started dating.
Centered around this love story is the sport of billiards. Both are young athletes who are competing in billiards tournaments and although somewhat interesting, (I had no idea there were so many different types of billiard games---Snooker, 6 ball, 9 ball, etc.), it often detracted from the main focus of these two lovers. Many gorgeous people abounded in the cast and the talent was underused. I think a more compelling story would have been to give some of these young people more to do than just stand there and look beautiful. One example was Dai Si. The plot seemed to be going towards a possible triangle, but instead underused her in the name of not creating conflicts. In fact, the only conflict in this drama is within our ML and his troubled past. There is very little in the way of outer forces working against them which makes for a very benign plot.
The last few episodes were weakest because they dealt more with a national billiards competition that took away much of the focus of the two young lovers, but gave the ensemble cast more screen time. I think the goal was to produce a youthful, romantic drama for a younger audience with as little conflict as possible. The lessons/message being: love your person, love your sport, love your country.
I also appreciated the on location filming in Finland and getting to see some of the snowy sites. The extras were great and it gave our main leads an opportunity to practice their English.
OST was great. Perfect mix of youthful tunes with just a touch of edgy songs for the billiards competitions. The piano score played during the couple moments was my favorite. I have already added it to my Spotify playlist.
I recommend this title for those who want something similar to Hidden Love.
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No depth
Without knowing anything on the real history of the Korean royal family, this fictional account left me unsatisfied. I feel like there wasn't much going on here. The princess is sent to Japan as a hostage, but it only touches the surface of her situation in Japan. There isn't much character development and I'm left with a sad story with no real depth.The acting was good. I felt for the princess who tried so hard to be a beacon of hope for her people, but was thwarted by the enemy. Our main leads were both invested in their roles and their performances were noteworthy. Unfortunately, the storyline wasn't very riveting, so there is only so much they can do with the script. I felt like some of the talent was wasted and underused in this film. Not worth the time.
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Great performances, but too much CGI
I liked this drama overall. The best part was the acting and the worst was the sloppy scriptwriting. The first 13 episodes that set the stage for the drama were the weakest. The plot meandered and we were caught in silly adolescent rivalries. I almost dropped the series then, but felt the acting was so good, I would continue. The best episodes were at the middle and the last few episodes, disappointingly, unraveled the already established cannon. I think if the writing could have been more linear and not so complicated with the numerous amount of villains and subplots, perhaps it would have been easier to follow. Another aspect that detracted from the drama was the over-the-top CGI that felt distracting.The best part, of course, was the well put together group of talented young actors. Boy, they took me with them to the depth of despair and joy. There were such heartfelt moments that made you care for the main leads. In that, they certainly had great direction. However, even the best of actors cannot carry an entire production mired in sloppy writing and too much CGI. Even though it was a fantasy piece, they were supposed to be mortals. Yet the producers would have us believe that the kind of power they wielded all came from spiritual cultivation? It's obvious a big part of the budget was spent on the CGI, but one shouldn't rely too much on that. The focus should always be on telling a good story. They gave away some big reveals almost as soon as they were established and that was a shame.. I felt disappointed mostly in the writing.
Period C-dramas are always a feast for the eyes in terms of sets and costumes. In that this production did not disappoint. I was still very entertained but felt the performers deserved a better written piece.
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There are better ones out there...
Although I have enjoyed this drama's main leads in other productions, I didn't so much in this one. The costumes, sets and story were okay, but the acting here was terrible, particularly in out ML. I didn't't have a problem with Alan Yu in TLTWTMPB and he was okay in Legend of White Snake, but I just could not tolerate his acting in this one. He was the main lead in a romantic drama and he failed miserably. He gets the award for best impersonation of a plank of wood. He has perfected the blank, emotionless stare, and it hurt this show tremendously. When it comes to romance, the couples have to be believable or it just doesn't work. We, as an audience, don't feel invested in them and can't feel for them. This was the main problem here. The FL was better but he, especially, was not believable. Because of his stick-in-the-mud personality, I just could not enjoy this drama as much as I should have. The supporting cast was better compared with the performance of our male lead.Some of the plot line was implausible and I found myself disappointed in the choices some of the characters made. It didn't seem to fit with their personalities. The OST was the best part of this entire production. I heard the theme song over a year ago and I wanted to see the drama from whence it came. I finally found it, and was disappointed in the production, but still love the song. There are better performed romance dramas that turn your heart inside out. This isn't it.
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