My Girlfriend Is an Alien Episode 15
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The plot is really dragging at this point. By blowing away Fang Leng's memories of Xiaoqi they have basically recycled the whole plot from the beginning, only with some variations such as the scheming wanna-be-girlfriend and the annoyingly stupid Fang Lei thrown into the mix. Both are there purely to act as distraction relationships to pull the leads apart for no other reason than to kill screen time. Otherwise, much of this just feels like the first 10 episodes recycled. No real progress in anyone's character except slightly maybe in Xiaoqi, who slowly is showing signs of better understanding what her emotions mean. Everyone else seems either as dangerously stupid (Fang Lei) or mentally disturbed (Fang Leng, Jiang Xue, Aunti Zhou, etc., etc.) as they were at the start. The story at this point just recycles some of the plot gimmick from the early part of the series and otherwise throws in one cliche' drama trope after another. Some work as gags. Many don't.
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This episode kicks off with Pei Yi continuing to show how she is the absolute boss of all events happening. Her toying with the guards sent to arrest Luo Chen is masterful - especially after the way she toyed and took control of him! Next, her final revenge scene against Cui Min Zhong was so cold and badass it deserves to be shared as an isolated scene on YouTube for ages to come. But wait! There's more. She follows up THAT scene by boldly calling out the Emperor for HIS share of the blame and manipulating him as well! The air finally gets let out a bit when Consort Shu decides she will NOT run away with Pei Yi and will instead stay by the Emperor's side. It's not clear whether this is what Pei Yi expected all along or not. The subsequent scene of her and Xiao Huaijin having a playful snowball fight suggest that maybe it is as she seems so happy with how things turned out. As the episode wraps up the series, it's hard not to love some of the closure details. Obviously Wu Ren ascending to boss of the PIB and her relationship with Prosecutor Gu is an expected thing.. But it was also a nice touch to show Zhou Yudi mentoring young Yu Lan'er. The only thing left hanging is, of course, that they don't deal justice towards Prince Li Qiang, for his plotting against Consort Shu. I guess they will leave that for Season 2.
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Wow. This episode shows just how powerful a schemer Li Pei Yi is - she totally manipulates EVERYBODY in this episode to get the result she wants. Her cold calculus doesn't even spare Xiao Hauijin - she uses him like a pawn just like she uses everyone else. This is like Iago (see Othello) or Ozymandias / Adrian Veidt (see Watchmen) level manipulation of events. It's almost scary to realize that she has this level of ability. This episode is a grand display of her playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. The moment when she looks over to spot Prince Li Qiang glaring at her and she raises her cup to him, pointing out that she now knows HE is the villain behind the attempt to frame Consort Shu - that was so cold and satisfying! It's only sad because so many soldiers on both sides died in the fighting that happened. But she had to force Cui Min Zhong to show his hand in rebellion.
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Pei Yi is faced with the quandary of what to do about an 'ally' - indeed, a longtime close family friend - who has turned out to be a homicidal maniac. Worse - as insane as he is, he's aligned with her own personal revenge goals. Later, a tiny moment within Pei Yi's conversation with Consort Shu; When Consort Shu reveals that she knows all about the nursery rhyme, Pei Yi inhales, raises and lowers her shoulders in one those small but incredibly emotive gestures that only a really skilled actress like Bai Lu can pull off convincingly. I actually missed it the first time because it was so natural. Spotted it when I replayed the scene. Love to see good acting like that, where the attention to detail is so deep.
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My Girlfriend Is an Alien Episode 6
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Both Wan Peng and Bie Thassapak Hsu are just killing me with the comedy bits. Six episodes in and they are still catching me by surprise with 'snort my drink out my nose' moments. Watching Fang Leng rehearse the role of 'romantic CEO lead' with a pillow was precious! And man, Wan Peng has totally surprised me with how good she is. I had only seen her in a later role as the tough sister in Love's Ambition (in which she was fantastic) but that was a more dramatic role and not so much comedy. Her comedic skill with expressions and body language and just moving around quietly to skewer a scene is wonderful. I'm so glad I decided to bing this comedy series, even if it is a few years old.
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My Girlfriend Is an Alien Episode 5
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This episode seemingly tipped the key factor that will be important for the romance in that ML still remembers Xiaoqi after a rainstorm even though he forgets all other females. On the other hand the episode closes in mixed fashion with him on a date with the stereotypical 'scheming girl' and Xiaoqi innocently trying to help him on the date because ... well. She's an alien. The two are already bantering like a married couple but it's clear that she is still too naive and he has way too many neurosis that their romance is going to be slow to develop.
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This episode, like almost all recent episodes, was very well executed. And there is nothing major wrong with the plot, acting or production. But it's nevertheless ... just a bit sad and depressing. If there is a 'flaw', it is of course the plot making use of the 'noble idiocy' trope in having Pei Yi and Huaijin both stubbornly sacrifice their love, "for the good of the other". But it's not completely idiotic like it is in so many dramas. Their concerns and behavior is reasonable given their situations. But it is frustrating and sad to watch. Of course we know this is just part of the larger story, right?
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My Girlfriend Is an Alien Episode 1
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Wan Peng is hilarious. Her comedic talents are a total surprise. I was not expecting just how good she is with physical comedy. Not the fall-down-stupidly type of comedy either. Shey uses nuance and quiet motion brilliantly. Just the way the moves around a scene even when other characters are talking and _should_ be the focus., you can't take your eyes off her She's a total scene stealer.
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While the prior episode was about quiet, dramatic tension followed by sweet romance, this episode was cold calculation leading to dramatic violence followed by romantic collapse. I know some viewers might rate this lower because of the romantic 'downer' of an ending, but the overall quality of the episode cannot be denied. It's also, unfortunately, a simple inevitable trope that in c-dramas, the writers will contrive to separate the lead couple right about now, with just a few episodes remaining. So I wasn't really surprised by the ending. It just kicks off the final arc which will have the two climbing inevitably back together.
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What an episode. No exciting martial arts battles this time, but wow, some very high stakes quiet tension as Li Pei Yi puts her life on the line, coming to the brink of death while her colleagues and Xiao Huaijin work desperately to save her. The clock ticks relentlessly and the obstacles are subtle but seemingly insurmountable. But the episode isn't just about the race to save Peiyi's life. It also features a romantic arc as she and Hauijin are finally officially engaged for marriage and the episode features some sweet romantic moments and a very passionate kiss!
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The story is starting to really finally build out the emotional stakes for Li Pei Yi (and also, to a lesser extent, Xiao Huaijin) by fleshing out her back story. This is the first time we get a real look (through flashback) at her Mother and Father and it was cool to realize they are being played by the great veteran actors Ma Xiao Qian and Geng Le, respectively. Li Pei Yi's "forced" return to confinement in her ancestral family home feels like a calculated move on both her part and the Emperor's. Yes, it confines her. And yes, by putting her outside the palace, it makes her a possibly easy target for the villains. But it also serves to bring a seed of new life in the ancient manor and it also presents opportunities to lure the villains into making a mistake. I feel like the Emperor did exactly what Li Pei Yi wanted him to do by confining her there.On a side note, I'm really loving the side-couple of Wu Ren and Gu Ling Zhou.
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For much of this drama series, while the individual cases have been intense of themselves, our protagonist has usually been in the role of dispassionate investigator. But these more recent episodes are starting to really ramp up her emotional investment in the plot events and that is carrying us with her. This episode features a moment of remembrance for her late mentor that is achingly sad. Fortunately the sad is balanced somewhat by some incredibly cute flashback scenes featuring the young Pei Yi and the young Huaijin.
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After the Flower on the Wall I thought the villains were bad. Then came the absolute horror show villains of Secret of Auspicious Time. And now we get this disgusting word-weasel Wan Anping! How much more disgusting can the villains get? I'm guessing pretty bad because we haven't really gotten to the main villains responsible for the Le family massacre 15 years ago yet!
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This was a fantastic episode in almost all respects. So much plot closure on the Secret of Auspicious Time plot. There was tragic evil both revealed and avenged. And great fight action scenes as well. But man, the last few seconds ... that hurt.
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She moves around with such swagger in this episode. Constantly encountering resistance and each time boldly pushing right through it with her competence.
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