tsuyoi_hikari

Oh I love Secrets of the Three Kingdoms! That is because it follows exactly like the history except with twists thus the reference of 'secret' in the title. The ending is not weird at all to me since I salute the creativity of the writer to follow the history while putting a twist in it and give us a happy ending instead.

In the history, there's no way Sima Yi & the Emperor are best friends and that is exactly like that in the eyes of the outsiders of other characters in the drama -- but secretly, they are sworn brothers that willing to die for each other. Its the same with the Queen's death -- everyone thought she is dead (just like the history) but she is actually living a happy life with the Emperor somewhere else. :D

Its available on KissAsian and other drama site like Dramacool & etc..

Agreed with mostly all of your choices except Ma Yi Deum in Witch's Court. This is because I find her unprofessional and morally compromised as a character. And most of all, I felt like I can solve all the court cases better than her in every single way possible. I blame it on bad writing though..

Thank you! :D

Some Chinese/Taiwanese dramas are really hard to get HD tbh. Even the recent ones. It always make me wonder -- why subbers always compress their file to be so small that it dropped in quality... :(

Thank you so much for your rec. It really helps me in making my decision on which one to watch first.

Just a question, you actually like this version of Heavenly Sword & Dragon Saber than the ones with Alec Su & YuanYuan?

What are the other series?

If I want to watch the trilogy -- starting with the Condor Lovers (1st part), which one should I try?

If I want to watch only one of the remake, which one do you think I should watch?

9.5/10 - I really love this drama. Its literally the greatest love story ever told in the history of movies/dramas imo. Forget Romeo & Juliet, the Shakespearean tragedy is so paled in comparison with this one. The level of heartache (lol) that I suffered when watching this drama is like what I have never felt before -- it makes the drama highly addicting and engaging. No wonder that this drama is the most watched television series in China as per this moment despite the many flaws that it may had.

Yang Mi as Bai Qian as a character is very interesting and fun. The kind of dedication that she showed and how headstrong she is in everything despite never act recklessly that can ruin her Master's sacrifices are really admirable. Plus, she got all those legendary script which is hilarious and funny as hell like when she tell her Master Mo Yuen having the face of a Boy Toy in stage plays as he is so handsome or telling Ye Hua she has no problem in having lots of children after they are married as long as Ye Hua is the one who gets pregnant lol. Her character is so savage and she didnt back off in facing evil people either makes her character as someone easily to root for. The fact that he actually propose twice to Ye Hua says everything.

Mark Chao as Ye Hua/Mo Yuen is really fantastic in my opinion. I'm actually really amazed with his acting skills. Both Ye Hua & Mo Yuen, despite having the same face, really feel like a different person since they totally have different vibes and mannerisms. His crying scenes are really well done that you can literally feel his heart is breaking everytime that he cried. He didnt care how he looks when he cried so you feel all those raw emotion even more. He didnt hold back, that is why you can feel Ye Hua's deep love to Bai Qian in another level. I have never seen someone love as deep as Ye Hua loves Bai Qian. The things he has to go through, the waiting, the sacrifices that he made for her are really selfless. The things that made Ye Hua really iconic is the fact that it one of a rare occasions when you can truly feel his deep love. Ye Hua actually wants Bai Qian desperately and sincerely and it shows in all his actions and words. His love is selfless, it didnt matter if he got her or not but as long as she is alive and happy, its all that matters to him and it is enough -- it is enough for him. That is why his love is great while at the same time sad as well. The writer made a good job writing such an excellent character and Mark played the character to perfection like he understood the very deep of Ye Hua's soul. And I love despite how much he loves her, he still never neglects his duty as a Crown Prince which in turn making his character as a whole really admirable and awesome. Or the fact that he is a great father to A-li -- who play with him, tuck him to bed, hands on towards him and give him warm childhood that he didnt have just make him even more dreamy as a character.

While I love the drama and understand the popularity behind it, the drama itself is not without faults. The CGI in particular are horrible and mostly all characters aside from the leads are merely a tools that do not have individual character's arch -- its like they are just there either to assist of hinder the leads from each other. It makes them one dimensional and uninteresting. But the biggest major complain about the drama that I have is that they shouldn't put A-Li in the equation as the writer wrote Bai Qian as someone with literally zero motherly instinct. While I super love the love story between the 2 of them, A-Li's story arch leave a bad taste in my mouth with how indifferent Bai Qian is towards him. My guess is the writer is not a mother thus she didnt know the natural instinct that all mother should have towards their children.

But despite it, the drama deserved 9.5/10 for the beautiful love story and 100% rewatch value. It is without doubt love with many trials & tribulations but stood the test of time.

8.5/10 - This drama is probably a drama that has the most twists in it. Just when you thought this is the truth, they gave you another twist to something that you thought its the real truth. I'm actually surprise no one has ever remake this drama despite its rich storyline. It was nicely done without things being too predictable since all the twists and turns are fits into the story and characters perfectly.

I have to hands this to Mark Chao as this is his first ever role and he got the prestigious Golden Horse Best Actor Awards for this drama. Has anyone ever manage to do this before? First role and they managed to beat the other veteran actors in the same category? I personally thought he over-reacted in the first few episodes but his acting skills improved tremendously in the later episodes that made me think that he actually deserved that award. And Vic Chou really surprise me here. The last time I saw him is ages ago in Meteor Garden and he's like a different person here since his acting skills have improved so so so much. I cant believe he is the same person lol. And his character is really interesting and a delight to watch.

Aside from all this positive points, it is also worth to note that this drama has one of the most interesting love storyline that cant be found in other Asian dramas out there. Everyone is basically in love with different people so the relationship dynamics turned out to be very interesting and refreshing.

But despite this, I still have complain since I feel like the storyline when they took the law in their hands was very distasteful. This is because if police officers start doing things that didnt follow the law (no matter how innocent are they), it makes them very hypocritical since they wont let anyone else do the same. If police officers start to run away from the law, then how can we trust the justice system? I'm all for dark knight / robin hood kind of justice but as a police officer, they have principle that they need to uphold and those principles apply to them and not just EVERYONE else except them.

9.5/10 - Forget the promotional poster for this movie -- movie is nothing like the poster depicted. I come watching this movie with low expectation but ended up really loving it. Now the story itself has become one of my favourite love stories of all time. I love how unpredictable it was and the plot twist was something that I have never expected. Everything finally make sense and it was sad and heartbreaking at the same time.

The movie started of with how our two main leads falling in love. At this time, A-Side of the story was told in 'Her' perspective thus you see all those sweet and beautiful romance between the two of them. What I find amazing is that despite how cliche many of the scenes are, it wasnt eyes rolling worthy since the director shot it beautifully that you ended up just simply enjoying those scenes. I already love the movie from that moment on as it portrayed their love story in 'innocent' way and the lighting and pastel colors were used very effectively to make everything more beautiful and dazzling.

Then, the B-Side of the story happened and this is where the plot twist was revealed. The same story was told in 'His' perspective and this is when the story just got a whole lot more interesting and engaging. You started to see the same scene in totally different light and everything clicked from over the top romance to his side of life that we didnt know before. It was refreshing to see the exact same scene reenect with little extra details and it feels like its a totally different story all together.

Mark Chao really delivers in this role. I didnt know he can sing and he is actually pretty good at it. From his rebellious personality to his vulnerability, he fits Gong Ning to perfection. Out of all his scenes, I find the confrontational scene with his father in the rain to be the most heartbreaking. Gong Ning was sweet, tender, funny and most of all very dreamy and Mark fits this role like a glove.

And I cant believe how impressed I am with Angelababy. It does seemed like she is like this in real life as well with how natural she is in this role. Shiqiao was kindhearted and full of life despite death was at her doorstep everyday. I love how romantic she was despite never being in relationship her whole life -- from the glow in the dark messages, to the flavour of sweet to saviour the moment, to the raincoat to the quilt she sew for Gong Ning with scene when they danced to the Latin song -- I love that most tug-to-your-heart romantic stuffs are done by her. It was nice to see a balanced relationship that both of them make efforts in the relationship.

I also love the fact that we are further will be surprised with how the story developed later which revealed another 2 plot twists. So do watch until the end past the post credit as more thing will be revealed later. The ending was done brilliantly and I like how she doesn't need words or explanation to believe in their love. Its rare and due to that will always remain special than any other love stories out there.

Hat off to Han Yan for written and directed this masterpiece. I'm not usually like to watch romance movies or dramas since I always find them inadequate but once in a while I will fall in love with the story when it is done right and I believe most of it comes from him as he found the right formula to blend cliche and heartbreaking story and make it memorable. 9.5/10

Rewatch material: 10/10 as I already rewatched this movies like 5 times lol in a matter of 3 days.

8.5/10 - Seriously one of the best romance T-dramas out there. Full of lovable characters, interesting plots and a lot of sweet and heartwarming scenes and not to mention amazing OSTs with awesome lyrics that fits the story perfectly. I actually have low expectation when I watched this drama but I was pleasantly surprise with how much I love it and not wanting for it to end.

Jiro Wang is so so so lovely as Michelin. He has those tough & brute look but he has a heart of gold and always always smiling. I cant say in words of how much I am in love with his character in this drama. His easy to embarrassed self, and not to mention blunt & honest personality was a delight to watch. But most surprise come from the leading lady Genie Chuo as Xiao Shu. I love her character so much! I usually find it hard to like leading ladies in romance dramas since they always portray as dumb or weak but she's none of that. I love how kind she is and most of all that overflowing confidence, despite being blind. And how smiley she is in everything -- for someone who cant see, she is very positive making everyone around her falls for her despite her disability. And I understood why everyone willing to sacrifice for her since she is worthy of all that. And another pleasant surprise also come from the 2nd male lead Danson Tang as Leng Lei. He has a lot of screen time as well and I love the fact how he is not petty despite he loves Xiao Shu as much as Michelin and the one who has been waiting for her for years. We can see different kind of love from him which I find really refreshing.

My only complain would be involving the plot regarding Leng Lei's father but everything else was near perfect. I love that the last episode made me cry and I was touched when Michelin said he used all his lifetime wishes for her in order for her to be healthy and happy -- those kind of selfless love is a really beautiful thing to experience. All in all, it was a perfect romance drama which love good plot and storyline.

Why you wished death to all of them? Is it because the dram was badly written?

TBH, I dont feel sad watching the Korean version since I really hope they explore more esp the goodbye as we had Yeo Jingoo as the perfect boyfriend -- you dont waste those acting talent in having him just met his end at the bus stop. '~'

The Japanese version make you feel hurtful rather than sad imo. Esp if you watched the special episode. You feel bad for everyone esp the 2nd male lead and the robot.

One of the many good things about this version is that the 2nd male lead is really likeable. He's nice and kind to everyone even to his love rival. And no, she does not end up with the 2nd male lead. This version made everything right except with the casting of Goo Hyesun as the female leads. And I really hope you can survive those overacting as it tone down a lot as the drama progressed. But she was good in sad scenes so I guess that one is a plus.

Ohh I didnt realize that. I watched many of his works but I never realised that he will be dead in mostly all of them. Unlike Sean Bean who I realised always die in his movies lol

I dont have problem of him dying tbh but what I dont like is that his death didnt make sense (stupid). Has the writer wrote a better death, I probably wouldnt have a problem with it. KES was adamant in making Aeshin a Black Widow as all the 4 leads are dead except her including the 2nd female lead.

Ohh I can relate to you so much regarding characters' deaths. Its very frustrating to watch a drama and feeling depressed at the end for its sad endings. Esp for characters who have suffered so much, I always feel that they deserve better than death or lonely lives. But sometimes, tragic death left a big impression on me when it is done right and rightfully. Like So Ji Sub's death in Misa -- I couldnt get over it but the death was necessary since its the only way for the drama to make sense.

Are saying he was originally the lead but was sidelined in the later episodes? IS there any reasons for that?

Kdramas in the early 2000's used to be all traumatic but now lesser and lesser had sad endings. I remember watching those dramas in the early 00's and we knew its gonna be tragic since we called that kind of drama; 'melodrama'. But it used to be sooo good though and I kinda miss that kind of drama tbh.

But Mr Sunshine would never make it to my list of sad dramas since I usually need my drama to make sense to be sad. The writer obviously trying very hard to kill everyone in 1 episode just for the sake to make it tragic even when it didnt make sense. Eugene's death was kind of stupid esp for an intelligent guy like him. And I dont have to mention anyone else esp HeeSung. I think the only one who make sense to die is only Go Dong Mae because of his injuries from the previous years.

Scarlet Heart writing is too frustating for me that instead of feeling sad, I was rolling my eyes the whole time. :'( I wished they hire a better writer for the drama -- it had so much potential

You missed the ultimate heart wrenching Kdrama which is So Ji Sub's I'm Sorry I Love You from your list. Man, the drama legit make me depressed and up until now, I will never be able to make a rewatch since its too tragic.

And I will shamelessly add Absolute Boyfriend Taiwanese version on the list as well. :P By the time the drama ended, I was in complete mess of my own tears lol. I think the way the Director shot the ending scene (Counting Naite's memories one by one by the second he had left) will haunt me for a very long time.... OTL

8/10 - As someone who loved Korean dramas more than Taiwanese dramas, I have to admit that I personally like this version more. For one, they actually cast an actual singer as a lead (not that Jang Geum Seuk wasn’t good since he is and I love everytime when he sings) but I think the biggest thing they made right is that they casted Jiro as the male lead since his voice is really fantastic and not to mention that he is both hilarious and hella charismatic in this role.

Another one would be is that they follow exactly all the things that made the K-version very lovable but added a few more cute & memorable scenes (a lot of new added scenes like the MV filming & etc) that made this version even more enjoyable and unforgettable. I kinda have no expectation watching the drama but I ended up loving it more than the original. This is one of the rare occasions where it is worth to watch both versions as both are very good and entertaining.

For me, the scene they outdid the most would be the MV making scene since that stuff is hilarious! And not to mention the original songs for this remake; 'Half of Me' & 'Can't Stop Loving You' -- this 2 songs simply outshone the songs in the original imo.

The only thing the Taiwanese version lacked would be the role of Jeremy which was played by HongKi in the K-version -- HongKi made Jeremy too iconic that no one can actually fill in the shoes for the character.