Dramafan

If you appreciate the arts of China, it's a watch

This is a drama wrapped around producing a documentary about many of China's amazing culture of arts-embroidery, weaving, ceramics, laquer, opera, costumes, etc. so as not to be just a standard documentary series (of which those parts are actually rather boring--but it could be because the English subtitles were not great). It features a quirky girl who is said to have a disorder that makes her anti-social, yet she is so observant of others that she can constantly come up with creative ways to find a human story behind the artistry vs. just relating facts and features.
I had fun watching it to see guest stars (several current idol and well known actors) in episodes portraying those stories.
It in line with other "Celebrate China" (propaganda?) shows like Our Times (watch the episode called Night At A Tang Dynasty Banquet focused on a dance) so I bet that is why the stars chose to be in this project. So if you are interested in the arts, it's a watch.

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A, Are you sure you're not a bit bored? B. It gets ridiculous and doesn't improve.

Love Cheng Yi. I even rewatched Stand By Me as I awaited this drama. But sigh, having a hard time being excited about this drama. Even Deep Lurk was more compelling (but I dropped it, there are few Ming Guo era dramas I will watch to the end)
It's refreshing that CY gets to be playful and naive vs. most past roles conveying stoic angst, but the comic relief is just plain stupid and goes way past the punchline, and the obsession over an inanimate object does not make for a driver of the story. The antagonist characters are exceedingly one note, and, CY cries and whines a bit too much so far--perhaps it will be that this is the point--to show a character arc from lame/naive to true hero....which is why I keep watching. I also figured that his pastel costuming to the point of being very feminine was to show a too obvious transition from naive to mature.

Also I am amused that recent production gossip is that Cheng Yi is too old to play young man roles and that Wu Lei was selected instead--sorry but I disagree-- CY is ageless and he plays younger fine.
Oddly while not that compelling, I don't find myself wanting to speed up the video or to skip scenes (well wait I just did with the mourning), and every dialogue seems stretched out (ex: He's dead. Did you say he's dead? Yes, Dead, What, he's dead? Dramatic pause, What do you mean dead?...and it goes on).
Additionally the OST became over used and utterly obvious to confirm the emotion of the scene---super heavy and long--again-for clear sad portions, and plucky for the comedic (or trying to be funny) scenes. And the fights are okay tho' the reasons to fight are at a drop of the hat.
So for those of you loving it, great, for those seeking more compelling/sophisticated story and fight scenes, highly recommend Side Story of Fox Volant or the recent The Legend of the Female General.

B. SPOILERS (and rant) I don't usually keep adding to a review but as I arrived at ep 26, this story's downhill got crazier than the Hawaiian slide scene in Chief of War (ep. 5). The story looses any sense of logic at this point. Not only is there a new character who comes out of nowhere because ML says he does, that character can supposedly remain hidden as a spy in the "evil gang' and yet never gets suspected despite all the times he spends with ML. And the loser eldest brother role is SO single minded, one wonders if the actor said to him "is my character really this lame?". And well, so far every single female character's portrayal is pre-AI robotic--think Dalek from Dr. Who. Of course this lends to the zero chemistry between ML and the Tang heiress FL. Plus Guli Na Zha has a role that could have been edited out and wouldn't be missed so far.

The final straw that made me add to this is suddenly in ep 27 he receives all this power from masters (again, handily explained by ML: 'it's in the story I read" yet rationally there is zero reason for these masters from both sides to dump their power on a kid who walks into the end of their fray. And rather than asking why one of them has his father's sword sheath, he asks about the emblem on it. And of course, being this story is lame, get's no valuable answer but the dialogue/scene goes for minutes. Plus the once silly pair he encountered now has the skill and power to destroy the Power Gang bases--huh? Might have been a scene I missed where he says the story makes it so (snicker).

Oh yeah, and does it even make sense that supposedly ML "wrote" the story and yet half the time it's about what he read--so even if scratch your head and think ok...he was able to modify the game story with this own character settings and scenarios, but then the system didn't like it, and some works and some doesn't then gosh how lazy it is to weave threads of it's in/it's mine/it's broken story to move forward. At least Love Game In Eastern Fantasy made sense (until the ending in the game to wrap it up)

All that said, even I can't explain to myself why I am still watching this. yI think I still want to see what Cheng Yi is up to and because there's nothing else new to view at the moment.

Wrap up: The totally illogical story points continue to the end-one minute it can't be done and a few scenes later, viola, second try-no problem. And OMG while CY dies tragically often in his dramas, he actually dies twice in this one. And what the heck he's in swishy pink as his final outfit? And yet I still watched to the end without being compelled to speed it up or fast forward...

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Another 'Noona' story and then ?

I really wanted to like this drama since I like many of the main leads but I've lost interest at 14 episodes in due to the simplistic plot is and how one dimensional the characters are. YangMi is playing the older woman to a T so much that basically she's just a staring monotone emotionless beauty (ok, the costumes and her makeup are great) and Simon Gong plays the naive smitten young guy since he can pull it off with his boyish looks but it's so obvious he's acting not-his-age--which is rather funny in that he really is younger than her in real life, but here, the age/maturity distance is even greater (hence my reference to 'Noona' which is what younger guys call their older female crushes in Kdramas). The relationships and roles are so obvious and the plot progress is so linear, that there is nothing to anticipate to challenge your expectations of the story..
Basically it seems all of the actors are too mature for their script--the dialogue/interactions are like what you get in a high school dramas.
So if you are fans of the leads, it's fan-fav fluff, but if you're looking for a clever, engaging story with twists/surprises, this does not seem to be it.

PS. To kill time I watched the rest of the drama once all the episodes were done and I am sorry to say it never got better. YangMi never cracked her demeanor til the last episode-by which time, you are utterly not convinced of their enduring love.
The ending scenes I guess are to give you a sense of happiness after several tragic stories but totally felt just stuck in so it didn't end sad. I watched it at 1.25 and skipped to get through it. The last love story with Zhang Ling He and Chen Du Ling was lovely eye candy but hard to say it was critical to the story except to create a reason for the last clash of differences. Had this story been more about truly overcoming prejudicesand misperceptions and the growth of understanding different cultures/people it might have been more brain worthy but it was just a idol trafffic drama.

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Looking for happy romance? This isn't it

A second collab for this couple that is equally anguish filled as Love In Between ancient drama (which I highly recommend despite the anguish). This 'modern' drama spans 10+ years of a relationship that really isn't one so there aren't the classic romance tropes and that is what makes this drama different...it is a bit creative in comparing the depth of efforts a person in love will go to and the logic they apply to their actions in order to support the happiness of their beloved via the leads, second leads, and support characters stories. Rewatch value?--it's too filled with heartache to put yourself through it again, but it was compelling to see where the story would go so that you move on to the next episode. That said, if you want mega heartache, watch ancient drama Royal Nirvana, which put me through the ringer--crying at each episode, but I'd watch that over and over again because the dialogue, intrigue and acting makes you want to catch nuances and details.

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If you like Xianxia, its better than others

I am cracking up that the some are criticizing the tropes-isn't that the premise in all of these dramas to provide the predictable? That said, there were some novel twists that made this drama far more enjoyable than the recent over the top tragedic arc of Til the End of the Moon, and Journey of Chongzi (where it sets up the lead as the supposedly 'evil' villian)
I agree that FL's hair design is rather the same in every one of her ancient dramas-BUT her hair was different at the beginning!
I think ML was particularly good looking in this drama too.
There were times I nearly fast forwarded 10 sec. but then the story moved on.
And, there are, as seemas to always be the case, plot holes-what happens to their kid after it is born for example?
That all said, it was satisfying enough given the choices to watch at the time. (I liked Back from the Brink better!)

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Dont' expect an ending!

Just had to warn you that the story does not have a finale so I was a bit miffed to have spent 3 hours to watch it. But it is not a bad time-killer as the story does have an interesting plotline for a low budget mini drama. I actually kept watching when I would normally give up if the story and acting are too silly or has lame dialogue but this one was intriguing even with the standard tropes of romances. To some degree it was actually more intriguing than Fox Spirit Matchmaker Red Moon Pact airing now which to me is a super time killer that I'm watching simply because ML is good looking.

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Cinematic and compelling. Ignore the dubbed voices.

Being the prior 2 in this IP were duds, I didn't have high hopes but maybe the practice makes perfect---same Director but this time the feel is more like a movie in lighting and sets, and the camera angles, lighting, and even the cutaways make this drama far my eye-appealing. Leads fit their roles and the way all characters are shot makes them beautiful--2nd lead Fiction Guo looks esp. good looking right from his appearance even with a bandana allowing only his eyes to be seen. Just the choices for voices of leads is irksome-likely selected because they sound younger than the actual actor's voices/age.
And that's just about the visuals!
(Detractors might say the animated demons don't fit but I think they worked fine and better than the creepy half real faces/half CGI bodies i recall from Disney's Maleficent)
Story--perhaps some will say tropy terrible childhood back story but it propels a "I want to know more" story and character motivations and links well to predecessor drama.
Watch and make your own decision! So far equivalent to Love in the Clouds, not a snooze dialogue-fest like Blood River, and while yet another sad ending for Cheng YI (does he always pick projects where he dies at the end?) FAR superior to the prior dramas in this trilogy and CY;s Journey of Legend.

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So much tragic circumstances beyond belief.

Another female general---equivalent viewability as Shadow Love. Still liked Legend of Female General better. And look for The Rebirth-mini drama condensed to 6 1 hr episodes--far more intriguing.

Spoilers rant:
Be prepared for nearly every character's backstory to be filled with tragedy and betrayal and yet the leads end up as righteous people to the point of being nearly saintly.
And what really fell apart for me is how unbelievable the sister story was---was she really so naive spoiled and stubborn to throw a tantrum when her crush declares he won't love her (despite it being a political marriage) to the point of screwing him over and jeez, actually screwing the lunatic brother and getting pregnant?.....and yet ends up being the 'wise' ruler of her realm???
And gosh two overbearing dowager mothers-so exhausting. Their costume colors were so similar I had to look twice to know which mother was the focus.
Plus while beautiful Li Qin just seems older than the rest of the gang.

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Oh the male eye candy is awesome! AND a great watch.

For visuals, you can't go wrong with Neo Hou. But then OMG there are several more exceedingly good looking guys to come in each episode, and I'm only at ep 8! FL actually plays her role well here--not her fan--tho' she has portrayed characters well in My Journey to You and Blossoms in Adversity but I think she failed in Serendipity, Perfect Match, and Love You Seven Times.
The set design could be more engaging-consider Moonlit Reunion (and not the overly gothic Moonlight Mystique) but I think the CGI is fun-very Disney!

More, now at ep 24.
Sorry nay-sayers, this story is compelling--perhaps revisit it when you have nothing else to watch. Better than Blood River that is going on at same time. Sure it has it's share of reminiscing flashbacks but they do make sense---I've seen worse use of repeat scenes to fill episodes. The life and death commitments between characters is conveyed as being family ties, and I found that it covered for the depth/breadth each pairing goes for each other.

Having binged to the end:
Male costumes are beautiful and Female's hairdos are gorgeous though lost some originality in the battle costumes.
The angst scenes made me cry- was the acting, the OST, the reason? All as I don't always react this way with most dramas. (The #1 tear jerker for me is Royal Nirvana..--every episode was heart wrenching)
The story played out and tied up all storylines of characters well.
Of course it had tropes but they were applied in watch-worthy ways (like how watching how Santa Clause Is Coming To Town Rankin & Bass animated puppet Christmas classic explains Santa's backstory--you keep saying "oh that's the reason;)
Few are likely to read this review since SO MANY positive review as already in and it was memorable so I won't need to check a review to recall this. But had to wrap this review up. Does it change your life? No, but Enjoy!

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A gem of beautiful dance and music

This 4 episode piece is the first of a compilation....it could be interpreted as just public relations for China but I think it was
a good watch.
I never write reviews but since this short drama had none, I just had to share how lovely a story this is in all dimensions: concept, storyline, and visuals, and music. Only four episodes featuring several known actresses who have dance credentials, I came across this by accident on youtube. Find it yourself, as well as the videos of the finished performance, and you'll not be disappointed. You don't have to love chinese dance or music to appreciate the journey of members of a struggling dance troupe striving to each renew their motivation to dance and to deliver a memorable work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xdd-wM9ra4

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Ignore the low rating, it's enjoyable!

Rowoon is handsome as ever but his comedic acting is far better in Destined With You. FL well suited to the role and I'll be on the lookout for her other works.
The story is entirely entertaining--the only 'cringy' plot is the pairing of a teenager with a 27 y/o---in actuality I don't think the marriage would have been endorsed given the rank of the groom and the purpose (in those days) that a wife is chosen to bear heirs and provide political support from her family.
What works is that romance is in the air among several couples and it makes sense for the whole story vs. typical romances where you wonder why there is a second or even third couple story except as filler to make the drama long enough.
The intrigue and twists work to propel the story forward as well. And the actress who plays the Matriach hits it again in this role being evil but for a reason ..consider The Red Sleeve where she plays the senior court lady.

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MOM! Stop it!

See if you agree to some degree with my rant.
I was really enjoying this 'coming of age albeit at age 30' family drama but Mama's incessant obstinance to judge and meddle could no longer be tolerated as 'it's just her way of showing her love." Perhaps the actress played shrewish single mindedness on securing money so well it finally became intolerable for me. So I've stopped midway as the story takes a ridiculous turn even though it did set up 'the move in' of the ML-- it's far to contrived for someone to do (I was going to say normal person but part of the set up is that he hasn't grown up in a normal household)....but if having an over overbearing relentlessly meddling mother you tolerate for 10 years (of adult life) is normal, sorry I don't get it.
Add a over the top mean potential sister in law whom nobody seems to be able to stop the vile from her mouth (and also wierdly lives at her parent's without her child and husband for pregnancy (again, an apparent set up that her pregnancy is why she lives with her parents?) AND a lazy rich boy who gets by playing video games yet is supposedly a dream boyfriend for 3 years to a smart and industrious girl AND a well off best frend who can open a jewelry store and pay for whatever a drop of a hat yet doesn't have the business savvy to fend off her ex...and sorry this story gets too melodramatically ridiculous.

I think part of also why I am stopping here is that the end will be obvious--the two will end up togehter (btw,, yes, their acting in these roles do click) with or without marriage, and Mama will realize her life's ambition for her daughter to secure wealth (skipping that she has nearly zero after thoughts for her son's happiness-which even that is set up in backstory as to why she's little invested in his happiness and the father utterly absent in connecting with his son) and herself to finally be wealthy due to exploiting the good things that come her way vs her daughter who works for it (btw where does her daughter's wisdom from anyway since it's clearly not from mom--oh yeah, the other setup--the wonderful non-biological Grandma (yes, this relationship was sweet to watch)). Mama will likely have some sort of aha (though I can't tolerate the story progress to see it happen) and our guy gets a 'normal' family and their joint efforts to run Grandma's legacy will be solidly successful after a few more bouts of obstacles from the stereotypical bad person (ooh, but it's fresh-it's a woman! --being sarcastic).

When I run out of things to watch and this runs its course, I may go back to finish it just to see if the twists and turns in the last half are surprising and fast forward when Mama appears (again, her character is a plot device to make many of the roll your eyes 'events').

Highly suggest Blossoms in Adversity instead for a more rewarding watch about a tenancious businesswomen and family.

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