would love to see her in a drama where they dont put her in platform chunky high heels - I get she is tiny - but its the same white platform shoes everywhere!
this is one of those dramas that I liked, mostly, but also disappointed in the end. It really had me loving it in the beginning, but ultimately lost it in the end. I loved the attempt to address obsessive fans (such a HUGE problem) - although, ultimately, none of them faced any serious consequences for their behavior. I didnt like the FL out the gate because she was a fangirl (while not stalker/obsessive - it was an unhealthy level of fandom) - so I was glad that part of her story was dealing with that and it felt like we had gotten to a happy/heathy appreciation level of being a fan and then, nope - in the end, she literally throws the idol out of her bed to go buy merch - like WTF?? Bought tickets to a concert when he gave her a ticket. She went right back to where she started and it just felt like it negated the whole point of the drama. As to the ML and FL relationship - just not written well - had potential, but it was like they just couldn't decide what they wanted. It had potential - so it just never got there. For me, it felt like, mostly because the FL character didn't get there completely. She was so awkward. Part of it was because they kept having her give him these beautiful life lesson moments - like she is some great sage, when, really, she is just as much (if not more) of a hot mess. So, felt more like a mentor at times. Part of it was a so much of their time together was about the case and too little time spent on building a romantic relationship that it feels like an afterthought at times. Dont get me wrong - one of the best kissing scenes - but we dont get it until the very end. Thought ML actor did a great job - FL actress, not so much - not bad, but not that great either. Loved the relationship between the FL and her boss - so cute Its worth a watch - purely for the take on Idols and fandom - not so much for the romance part.
This one will go down as one of the calssics - the show you tell your friends to watch if they are new to cdramas. Just, all around, well done. Good writing, wonderful characters, beautifully filmed, amazing costumes (a special shout out to whoever did the ML's costumes - just superb!) They hit the high notes right, hit the low notes right and hit the comedic notes perfectly (these scene when the empress dowager is paralyzed and they wheel her out and she cant keep her head up had me spittin'!) I think this is Ryan Cheng's best work to-date - he was masterful here. Man, did he know how to walk into a room and own it - in almost every scene, but especially when he was in 'emperor' mode - then could switch to soft and sweet with that crooked smile - made you swoon! -thenthe madness and pain - you just felt it all. I enjoyed the FL and thought she did a fantastic job - just wasn't blown away from her performance as I was the ML. Mr Bie - ah, Mr Bie - don't think I can say enough about how awesome this character was. From the scene where he reunites with the ML and the whole discussion about why he is disguised as woman until the end - the two people playing this role were fantastic! I would almost give this a perfect 10 if it weren't for a few things - would have like to have seen consort xie alive and well back in the real world and would have like a little more time with the main leads back in real world (and how did they get there?when did they get there, etc..) Overall, though - so well done - kudos to all who worked to make it happen!
Just finished this - but it took me a while because the story got kind a boring half-way through. The cast and characters were fantastic and this is really what held me through. Every character was so well thought out, had depth and were interesting. The relationships to the ML was were so good. But the story itself was kind of dry. Started off strong with the escape and meeting the Chang's - but once he actually got home - start to fizzle. Then really fails towards the end - especially the big reveal and consequences of that. Thought the Ms Su character got completely wasted in the second half - which was a shame - she was sooo intriguing and there was so much potential there. And, while we didnt need a big romance - a bit more attention to this would have been nice. Also bummed we didnt get to see Pengwen get married. Ending was very unsatisfactory.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if the FL wasn’t so childish, especially when with the ML. I mean, did she just forget she slept with him or what? And she initiated that encounter. It’s just weird how she turns into this absolute child with him after that. So wish they would stop writing FL characters like this.
To me they were both different dramas, but this drama is not as well written. I could not continue to watch it.
the dramas aren't the same at all - I am talking about the FL characters are similar - two different things. It also doesnt help that it's the same actress.
I dropped it 'cos of Esther and the creepy brother/sister storyline
I am kind of interested to see her new Wuxi/historical drama that is coming out - lets see if they give us the good EY and not this childish girl stuff.
Another drama I have watched recently that, at the end of the day - was just not for me. I dont mind slow burn - but this was molasses. It hits me that I am bored with a drama when I notice that I am fast-forwarding through much of it. really just lingered through cause of ML FL character - constantly reminded me of FL character from Amidst a Snowstorm of Love - same character - just slightly older - and in both dramas - just did not find it that interesting of a character and when you aren't interested in one of the main characters - thats not good.. But, hey, we all like and dislike different things.
I dropped it 'cos of Esther and the creepy brother/sister storyline
its just so sad that they keep type-casting her in these roles - they gave us My Journey to You, which showed us she can actually act, talk like a normal person, be serious and mature and then BAM! right back to these stupid cutesy, girly roles - it such a waste of her talent
Just finished this and this is one of those dramas that you walk away going - this was just not for me, and that's ok! I went in not so sure about because I am not a big fan of Esther Yu in these roles (the cutesy, pouty, childish roles - LOVED her in My Journey to You) - ultimately, I gave into watch He Yu as I was not familiar with him and man did he knock it OUT.OF. THE. PARK! He was captivating. The way he looked at her from the moment she walked into a room was intense and beautiful. You could feel his sense of longing, but needing to be restraint - all of it. Just so well done. FL - not so much - this was a combination of not enjoying the character - she was just so boring. I found I had zero interest in her from the get go - this entitled, childish, spoiled girl who shows up unannounced and then wants all the attention using the 'cutesy' tactic and playing games. Now granted - everyone gives in to her antics (which also annoyed me) - so I get why she keeps doing it - but it got old, real quick. Combine this with not liking the actress in the role - I thought so many other actresses could have done this better. The younger character is a character EY has played forever - its a 'schtick' if you will - she certainly knows how to do it - but it feels so fake now as she has been doing it forever. And there we too may place were I could actually see her going - oh, yeah - I am supposed to do this now. That being said - once they matured the character and got the character closer to the actresses real age - she got better. At the same time annoyed at the younger character - because we are then shown she is not stupid and can talk like a normal human being. Note to writers and directors - please, for the love of all that is holy - STOP casting 30yr old women to play 19/20yr olds - just stop it already. Cause it is so obvious that the 30yr old actress is not 20 - not even close. And then you make it weirder by having an actor who is young than the FL play a character is actually older than her - it works in the earlier arc - but not so much once they get older. Script wise - nothing new and some unnecessary plot ploys - one of them being the 'siblings' misunderstanding. I find this whole concept kind of creepy and weird. She, at least grew up thinking they were actual siblings - how one has ANY sort of romantic feelings for someone you think is your brother - related or not - is weird. Now he has known the whole time and is a big part of why he left - cause he knew it was weird to having feelings for his 'sister' - she just recently found out - but still - you grew up as siblings and separated before she was even a teenager. It just would have made more sense to have him as a neighbor that grew up with her. I know, I know it doesnt make it as riske' and you would have to rework the whole angle with her mom disliking him - but at least it isn't creepy. Thailand segments goes on waaaay too long, script then gets super messy around inevitable separation arc - like SUPER messy and confusing. Then gets a little more interesting in the reconciliation arc (mostly because she has matured a a bit) and then the typical rushed ending cause we spent way too much time on the front end of the story. And my god - whoever styled this FL just needs to be slapped up-side the head. The weird obsession with hair clips, bobby socks with dress shoes and micro mini's - just STOP. And the ultimately fail - that absolutely HORRENDOUS wedding dress - and it just wants the dress itself - the knee-high socks and what looked like ortho sneakers - it was just god-awful.
Fl is supposed to be a fashion designer, yet wears the frumpiest, most unflattering clothes. also - not that bright. and the whole break up scenario was just stupid
It really had me loving it in the beginning, but ultimately lost it in the end.
I loved the attempt to address obsessive fans (such a HUGE problem) - although, ultimately, none of them faced any serious consequences for their behavior.
I didnt like the FL out the gate because she was a fangirl (while not stalker/obsessive - it was an unhealthy level of fandom) - so I was glad that part of her story was dealing with that and it felt like we had gotten to a happy/heathy appreciation level of being a fan and then, nope - in the end, she literally throws the idol out of her bed to go buy merch - like WTF?? Bought tickets to a concert when he gave her a ticket. She went right back to where she started and it just felt like it negated the whole point of the drama.
As to the ML and FL relationship - just not written well - had potential, but it was like they just couldn't decide what they wanted. It had potential - so it just never got there. For me, it felt like, mostly because the FL character didn't get there completely. She was so awkward. Part of it was because they kept having her give him these beautiful life lesson moments - like she is some great sage, when, really, she is just as much (if not more) of a hot mess. So, felt more like a mentor at times. Part of it was a so much of their time together was about the case and too little time spent on building a romantic relationship that it feels like an afterthought at times. Dont get me wrong - one of the best kissing scenes - but we dont get it until the very end.
Thought ML actor did a great job - FL actress, not so much - not bad, but not that great either.
Loved the relationship between the FL and her boss - so cute
Its worth a watch - purely for the take on Idols and fandom - not so much for the romance part.
Just, all around, well done.
Good writing, wonderful characters, beautifully filmed, amazing costumes (a special shout out to whoever did the ML's costumes - just superb!) They hit the high notes right, hit the low notes right and hit the comedic notes perfectly (these scene when the empress dowager is paralyzed and they wheel her out and she cant keep her head up had me spittin'!)
I think this is Ryan Cheng's best work to-date - he was masterful here. Man, did he know how to walk into a room and own it - in almost every scene, but especially when he was in 'emperor' mode - then could switch to soft and sweet with that crooked smile - made you swoon! -thenthe madness and pain - you just felt it all.
I enjoyed the FL and thought she did a fantastic job - just wasn't blown away from her performance as I was the ML.
Mr Bie - ah, Mr Bie - don't think I can say enough about how awesome this character was. From the scene where he reunites with the ML and the whole discussion about why he is disguised as woman until the end - the two people playing this role were fantastic!
I would almost give this a perfect 10 if it weren't for a few things - would have like to have seen consort xie alive and well back in the real world and would have like a little more time with the main leads back in real world (and how did they get there?when did they get there, etc..)
Overall, though - so well done - kudos to all who worked to make it happen!
The cast and characters were fantastic and this is really what held me through. Every character was so well thought out, had depth and were interesting. The relationships to the ML was were so good.
But the story itself was kind of dry. Started off strong with the escape and meeting the Chang's - but once he actually got home - start to fizzle.
Then really fails towards the end - especially the big reveal and consequences of that.
Thought the Ms Su character got completely wasted in the second half - which was a shame - she was sooo intriguing and there was so much potential there.
And, while we didnt need a big romance - a bit more attention to this would have been nice. Also bummed we didnt get to see Pengwen get married.
Ending was very unsatisfactory.
I dont mind slow burn - but this was molasses. It hits me that I am bored with a drama when I notice that I am fast-forwarding through much of it. really just lingered through cause of ML
FL character - constantly reminded me of FL character from Amidst a Snowstorm of Love - same character - just slightly older - and in both dramas - just did not find it that interesting of a character and when you aren't interested in one of the main characters - thats not good..
But, hey, we all like and dislike different things.
Serioulsy though - that wedding dress - my god!
I went in not so sure about because I am not a big fan of Esther Yu in these roles (the cutesy, pouty, childish roles - LOVED her in My Journey to You) - ultimately, I gave into watch He Yu as I was not familiar with him and man did he knock it OUT.OF. THE. PARK! He was captivating. The way he looked at her from the moment she walked into a room was intense and beautiful. You could feel his sense of longing, but needing to be restraint - all of it. Just so well done.
FL - not so much - this was a combination of not enjoying the character - she was just so boring. I found I had zero interest in her from the get go - this entitled, childish, spoiled girl who shows up unannounced and then wants all the attention using the 'cutesy' tactic and playing games. Now granted - everyone gives in to her antics (which also annoyed me) - so I get why she keeps doing it - but it got old, real quick. Combine this with not liking the actress in the role - I thought so many other actresses could have done this better. The younger character is a character EY has played forever - its a 'schtick' if you will - she certainly knows how to do it - but it feels so fake now as she has been doing it forever. And there we too may place were I could actually see her going - oh, yeah - I am supposed to do this now.
That being said - once they matured the character and got the character closer to the actresses real age - she got better. At the same time annoyed at the younger character - because we are then shown she is not stupid and can talk like a normal human being.
Note to writers and directors - please, for the love of all that is holy - STOP casting 30yr old women to play 19/20yr olds - just stop it already. Cause it is so obvious that the 30yr old actress is not 20 - not even close. And then you make it weirder by having an actor who is young than the FL play a character is actually older than her - it works in the earlier arc - but not so much once they get older.
Script wise - nothing new and some unnecessary plot ploys - one of them being the 'siblings' misunderstanding. I find this whole concept kind of creepy and weird. She, at least grew up thinking they were actual siblings - how one has ANY sort of romantic feelings for someone you think is your brother - related or not - is weird. Now he has known the whole time and is a big part of why he left - cause he knew it was weird to having feelings for his 'sister' - she just recently found out - but still - you grew up as siblings and separated before she was even a teenager. It just would have made more sense to have him as a neighbor that grew up with her.
I know, I know it doesnt make it as riske' and you would have to rework the whole angle with her mom disliking him - but at least it isn't creepy.
Thailand segments goes on waaaay too long, script then gets super messy around inevitable separation arc - like SUPER messy and confusing. Then gets a little more interesting in the reconciliation arc (mostly because she has matured a a bit) and then the typical rushed ending cause we spent way too much time on the front end of the story.
And my god - whoever styled this FL just needs to be slapped up-side the head. The weird obsession with hair clips, bobby socks with dress shoes and micro mini's - just STOP. And the ultimately fail - that absolutely HORRENDOUS wedding dress - and it just wants the dress itself - the knee-high socks and what looked like ortho sneakers - it was just god-awful.