virgievirgie

Mature JieJie/DiDi romance with Excellent leads acting and chemistry.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Another pleasant surprise I found in “Sniper Butterfly”. I usually avoid JieJie/DiDi romance but due to liking the leads, Michelin Chen and Daniel Zhou, I decided to give this a shot for my challenge. Surprisingly, the big age gap did not bother me as much. I think this is due to the fact that ML, Li Wu, is such a mature character. Compared to the more cutesy rom-com drama such as “My Fated Boy”, this romance is more challenging, slow-burn and mature. This is not to say “My Fated Boy” is a bad drama as I liked it fine. They gave very different vibes and I’m glad “Sniper Butterfly” offers a different type of JieJie/DiDi romance.

My main criticism of this drama is not the plot, but the execution and the time spent during the high school days. I understand the need to have shown us a strong foundation of their beginning, so that we can believe in the loyalty and undying love Li Wu has for Cen Jin. However, as the drama switches back and forth between the present and past timelines, viewers already have a pretty good idea of what happened in the past due to what we’ve seen in the present. Because of this, I feel impatient when the past is still slowly revealed. I want to know what is happening to our leads in the present after they reconnected and reconciled. “Sniper Butterfly" might benefit from cutting a couple episodes to make the pacing and the plot a little tighter.

I’ve also seen other criticisms of how Li Wu behaved in the first few episodes and many viewers dropped the drama because of that. It actually didn’t bother me much. Given the history of the leads, I could understand why Li Wu behaved a certain way. He actually turned around his ways pretty quickly and I’m glad the drama didn’t drag on his ‘meanness’.

On the other hand, I really like the acting of the leads, especially young Daniel Zhou. I started liking him in “A Moment but Forever” even though he only had a supporting role. He was great in “Always Home” but here in this drama, he was excellent. One of the reasons why I like this drama so much is because of Daniel, and the character development of Li Mu. From being a shy, timid yet stubborn 19 year-old, to a gradually maturing, passion-finding college student, to a confident professional yet still vulnerable adult… Daniel did a fabulous job. It’s hard to outshine a veteran such as Michelle Chen. I recently watched Michelle in “Dear Enemy”. Though I like her, I don't like her character. But here in “Sniper Butterfly”, I enjoy her acting and her character, Cen Jin. Cen Jin is independent, feisty, protective yet smart and professional. Daniel and Michelle have great chemistry as siblings, family and lovers. Their kisses definitely do not disappoint and I’m so glad especially due to their real-life 19-year old age gap.

The secondary romance is cute too. And they definitely show us how opposites attract. But I felt that their romance abruptly stopped once they got together. There’s another pair in the drama, but they also felt like an afterthought. They’re married, but we skipped the courtship and everything in between. What exactly happened? Is it really necessary to show us this young couple?

There’s some business plot in the drama, though not overwhelming. In the end, “Sniper Butterfly” is a romance drama and not a business or business romance drama. The business plot features AI and Advertising, but luckily it doesn’t bombard you with “China is the best” propaganda.

“Sniper Butterfly” is a romance drama at heart. If you enjoy JieJie/DiDi aka Older Woman/Younger Man romance, you might enjoy this. The romance is slow burn and not in a romantic-comedy way. Witnessing the character development of Li Wu and Daniel Zhou’s acting are highlights for me. I wish they didn't dub Michelle Chen due to her Taiwanese accent, but at least all other actors seem to be using their own voices. In the end, I’m really glad I gave this drama a chance.


Completed: 2/3/2026 Review #664

P.s. Drama #3 - Self-Imposed Dropped List Challenge from @Anhua’s dropped list.

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Started off strong with a Cute romance before a few frustrating episodes towards the end

Many compared “10 Things I Want to do before I Turn 40” to the other very popular drama, “Old Fashion Cupcake”. They are similar, yet not the same. I think “10 Things” has a simpler, younger-at-heart and lighter storyline. It’s more slice-of-life. On the other hand, “Cupcake” delivers a more mature romance with a similar premise of self-discovery and change. I personally like “Cupcake” more, but “10 Things” is also very enjoyable.

Change has to come from within, and you have to be the one to take the first step. Suzume was lucky to have found Keishi, who walked beside him as he tried to check off his To-Do list before he turned 40. Taking this first step already takes a lot of courage. Eventually, he realizes it takes more than that first initial step and more than having someone to lead him and push him.

Suzume and Keishi are cute together. I enjoy all of their dates to check off the To-Do list. It’s nice to see Suzume open up a little, and show Keishi his love of cuteness and fluffiness. But what matters most is his feelings and he has a hard time opening up. Keishi is the one that took 99 steps forward and Suzume just took 1. But that doesn’t mean Keishi is ready to openly date Suzume. Technically, this is Keishi’s first relationship, yet Suzume acted like he’s a 40-year old virgin with no experience. Afterall, he’s had a boyfriend before, though it’s been a while. The last few episodes were heartbreaking when the reality of dating really dawns on them. Both chose to run away, before eventually resolving the conflict in the end.

I am not going to lie, it was quite frustrating watching those two in the last few episodes. It’s like they forgot they have been honest and communicative for most of the drama. They obviously like each other very much. Did they forget they can actually use words and talk to each other?

“10 Things I Want to Do before I Turn 40” is still a cute and enjoyable drama for the most part. It might not have delivered the same mature romance, chemistry and emotional impact that “Old Fashion Cupcake” has, but Suzume and Keishi are adorable together. Hey, at least they end with a nice kiss, not like THAT other popular JBL that ended with the elevator door closed in our face. LOL



Completed: 10/3/2025 Review #630

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A Fantasy Romance that romances for a little too long.....but there's Ryan Cheng x 3

Another day, another female general paired up with Ryan Cheng. At the heels of “Legend of the Female General” (LOTFG), “Shadow Love” fights for the attention of viewers, and hopes to do better than the other drama. I also finished LOTFG not too long ago, and it’s hard not to compare the two.

LOTFG is a political war drama first, and then romance takes over. “Shadow Love” is without a doubt a fantasy romance, and then politics. Aside from having Ryan as the ML and having a female general, these two dramas are quite different. If you want more romance, then “Shadow Love” should be your option.


PLOT & PACING
As a fantasy drama, the plot is interesting. Love plays a central role in this drama, whether it’s about our leads, or the villains. If you don’t treat this as a serious historical drama, some of the unrealistic aspects of the plot or actions could be forgiven (if you are the forgiving type). But it’s hard for me to look at FL shooting arrows in battles instead of using a sword. How could you carry so many arrows in a war? In that sense, LOTFG did a much better job with strong fight choreography and close combat battles with different weapons. Well, unfortunately, in both dramas, the FL seem to need saving from ML quite a bit. I may not be the biggest fan of the amnesia trope but I like this amnesia + forbidden romance + enemies-to-lovers. Having said that, and being a lover of romance, the Jin An plot and amnesia lasted way too long. The drama could have cut down 3-5 episodes in the first half, and then focus more on Prince Annan, the angst between the leads and the politics in both kingdoms. I also would have liked to see a little more of Prince Annan before the amnesia. I want to get to know him better, so that I can compare his re-emergence in the latter half. If you are not a romance lover, you would have hated this drama. I am glad the drama wraps everything nicely in the end, and does give us a proper closure for all parties.

ROMANCE
Song Yi and Ryan Cheng have great chemistry. We don’t see a lot of the ‘enemies’ part, but the blossoming love is cute to witness. It brews slowly in the first 10+ episodes. Not sizzling with passion, but slow and steady, calm and reassuring until the sweetness overloads with a very smitten Jin An. As I mentioned earlier, some of these episodes could be reduced. But who doesn’t want a handsome ML who is your loverboy, your secret weapon and protector, and then your arch enemies who can’t forget about you? If you are a Ryan fan, this is perfect for you. Lots of skin and muscles. The kisses are not bad either. The leads are communicative, trusting and supportive. They are intelligent and observant of each other’s needs. It’s lovely to see. The love triangle is there, and not super annoying compared to others I’ve seen. The secondary romance doesn’t take up too much screen time and only happens towards the second half of the drama. They are cute but I think it could have developed more. Oh, I forgot how pretty Darren Chen is. His eyes sparkle like jewels!

ACTING
Song Yi and Ryan Cheng are both excellent in this drama. Both have emotional scenes that make me teared up. Yet their playful and serious moments are just as believable. I have to say, Ryan shows his range in this drama playing 3 different roles. This is probably his best acting yet, even though I also like him in LOTFG. But I do think that Ryan’s eyes are better suited at shooting arrows than hearts. Song Yi’s acting is generally good. But one might question if she’s casted well as the female general when she’s so skinny. It also doesn’t help when she has a naturally high-pitched voice, and her shouting commands are not entirely pleasant. I haven’t seen Bi Wen Jun in a while and I was excited to see him play a different character than his previous roles. I never thought he was a bad actor before, but when acting alongside Song Yi and Ryan Cheng, he was at a disadvantage. It’s also lovely to see Darren Chen again and his beautiful eyes can convey so much. There are also many guest stars in this drama. They never show up for long and eventually they all get killed off. LOL

PRODUCTION QUALITY
The first thing I noticed is the beautiful costumes, hair design and accessories. I was not anticipating that but I really love Song Yi’s long pony tail when she’s in her armour. The look is not too girly, and she does not need to fit in the male soldier look, like in LOTFG. Her other more feminine costumes are just as beautiful. Ryan looks dashing as Prince Annan, and the cool superhero look. But his Jin An look is not the best, and he’s has that look for the longest. What a shame! The Queen and Emperor’s robes are gorgeous and elaborate. Cinematography is OK, not the best nor the worst. A few fight scenes are well done, but they are not as good as those in LOTFG. There are also fewer big war battles in “Shadow Love” than in LOTFG. The OST is not bad and I don’t feel that the songs are overplayed. As mentioned earlier, Song Yi’s voice might have put off many. I can tolerate that because I’ve heard of her real voice and I appreciate her dubbing herself. I also like listening to Song Yi’s Chinese. I feel that she enunciates her words very well. I just wish Ryan was not dubbed, and Bi Wen Jun spoke his lines as well as Song Yi.


Overall, I had a pretty good time watching this. I did not have very high expectations, especially after finishing the other female general drama 3 weeks ago. I would only recommend this if you are a Ryan fan or a romance lover who can look past some unrealistic plot holes. Remember, this is a fantasy romance first and foremost.


Completed: 9/16/2025 Review #625


My review of “Legend of the Female General” if you are interested:
https://kisskh.at/profile/virgievirgie/review/488124

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A Roller Coaster Ride of Love, Hate and everything in between.

I went into “Kill to Love” with no expectations at all. All I wish for is that it is better and not as cheesy as “Meet You at the Blossom” and that’s a pretty low bar. Ok, I didn’t really watch MYATB, but I watched clips of the drama and it’s not my cup of tea.

Having said that, I was so happy that it’s not similar at all and definitely better for my taste. “Kill to Love” is very political and angsty, full of schemes and lies and 1.5 toxic relationships. Though listed as a drama from Singapore, it’s actually another forbidden Chinese BL licensed to be broadcasted and distributed in another country.

With a somewhat inexperienced cast, the acting is OK. I’ve definitely seen worse but none of the actors performed horribly. The early episodes are rougher but the actors improved throughout the drama. I found Zhang Zhe Xu improved the most from the 1st episode to the 12th episode, even though I think Mi Jin started off stronger. Maybe being in the role of Duan Zi Ang, Zhang Zhe Xu has more to work with as his character has gone through the most and requires him to act out various emotions.

The plot itself is a roller coaster ride. In fact, I think the drama might have tried to do a little too much and should pull back just a little. It gets a little repetitive when you are expecting lies over lies with some guilt of true emotions mixed with it. The pacing is not bad but did slow down in the second half of the drama, until the final couple episodes.

How’s the BL romance? It’s good, if that’s what you are coming for. I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers development a lot. Even from early on, you can see the director intentionally show the unintentional (or maybe intentional) touches here and there. Linger around the waist to try to fish out something from the belt, the intimacy of applying medicine, don't forget the handwashing! That’s why this drama can never go past Chinese censorship. The chemistry and tension are there from the start with our two main leads. There are a few kisses, though not fish kisses, they could have been better (from Mi Jin’s part). A few cute and fluffy scenes before the angst starts. I wasn’t expecting the turn of events but I do enjoy the love/hate relationship. I actually like their ending and thought it was realistic given the lead's history of struggles, love and hate.

What was disappointing was the half-baked toxic relationship between Xiao Shu Qian and Huo Ying. It started off so strong with all the abuse, and I thought it’s going to develop into something more. But no, it just got dropped in the middle and left me hanging and wanting more.

We all know this is not a big budget production, but I do think the director did a good job in making everything look decent. The costumes are nice and the actors look pretty good, especially for Mi Jin/Xiao Shu He. The makeup is better than other bigger budget productions. But the fight scenes aren’t that great and I wish they got rid of the slow motion.

If you are looking for a historical BL from China, this is probably one of the better ones out there. I would recommend it if that’s what you are looking for. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride as you follow the development of the main romance and everything they need to weigh between feelings and responsibilities.


Completed: 9/11/2025 Review #624

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A lovely journey of self-discovery and not a cheesy rom-com (don't trust the ugly poster).

I would never have watched “Kururi 〜Who’s in Love with me〜” if not for my trusted friend’s recommendation, because 1) I am not a super big fan of amnesia, and 2) look at the ugly dated poster! LOL

However, to my very pleasant surprise, the amnesia was done really well and the three men are lovely in their own way. Looking at the drama’s poster, you might have thought this is a cheesy romantic comedy about the guys. Actually, this drama focuses more on the female lead, Ogata’s journey of rediscovering her old self, accepting who she is right now, and balancing the old and the new her.

We follow Ogata’s journey and find out who she was through her monochrome wardrobe, minimalistic apartment, testimonials of those who know her (co-workers and supposedly friends). Ogata was perplexed why she lived such an understated life when the Ogata with amnesia is full of personality and colors. Along the way, she discovered her real passion in life and is able to use her amnesia to jump start a new life.

On top of that, she found a mysterious ring in her possession and was trying to find the owner. She discovered she had this ring specially made for someone she loves, but who is this guy? No one has come forward to claim it or contacted her after her accident that he is her man. Instead, 3 other guys show who have shown an interest in her - the self-proclaimed ex-boyfriend, the self-proclaimed best friend from work and the self-proclaimed love-at-first-sight loverboy. But, are they who they said they are? Who is Ogata going to end up with? Or is she not going to end up with any of these three guys? You will have to watch to find out! I was happy I got the ending I wanted, but it took a while. I do think the drama can benefit from cutting 1 episode.

The cinematography is beautiful and I love the use of flowers. That little flower shop is my favorite place for a variety of reasons. The drama is able to slowly integrate flowers and colors into Ogata’s journey without force feeding you. The supporting cast is small but lovely. Aside from the 3 men, Mio, the little girl, is adorable and always has words of wisdom for Ogata. Kae is the best neighbor and supportive friend you could have when you have amnesia. Anri is a great mentor at work and in life, and Rui adds to the handsomeness in the drama. The older couple adds to the sweetness and sadness to amnesia and offers Ogata another perspective for those we were left behind.

I would recommend “Kururi〜Who’s in Love with me〜” for you if you are interested in the amnesia trope and how it affects the person and those around them. Actually, I think instead of asking who is in love with Ogata, the question should be, who is SHE in love with. This drama does not have over-the-top acting or an innocent and submissive female lead. Ogata is lovely and I am happy to cheer her on throughout her journey.


Completed: 9/1/2025 Review #619

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If only they reduced the excessive long pauses….

… I would have liked “Every You, Every Me” a lot more. This drama went under the radar since the lead actors are not as well-known and are still quite new to the industry. A few fast facts -

What I dislike the most:
* Too many long pauses between sentences. This dramatically slows down the pace of the drama and worse when it involves two young actors who are not experienced enough to show microexpressions on their faces.

What I have mixed feelings about:
*Inconsistent acting of the leads. They are still new, so I can’t expect them to be as good as many others. But that doesn’t mean I should give it a full pass as it did affect my viewing pleasure. But I do think Top and Mick were best in the last arc, and especially that short scene about the workshop.

What I like:
* The concept of the drama: where the same actors (Top and Mick) are in 5 unique storylines playing the main characters. I also particularly enjoy the last story when it’s a quick recap of the first 4 stories and expertly using the reaction video to tell us the romantic journey of Inn and Pun.

Ep 1 - Sun/Dol = I like this unique story about rain and color. It reminded me a little of the KBL “Color Rush”. The story is simple and cute.

Ep 2 - Prin/First = This is a more common storyline about the boss/secretary. We’ve seen a million of them. Grandma was cute but she’s crossing that boundary a little. This is an easy watch but the least memorable of the 5 stories.

Ep 3-4 - Namping/X = This seems to be everybody’s favorite, but not for me. I have the most to criticize even though I was moved in the end. I think the script and the pacing are the biggest problem for me. I fell asleep during this arc (but also probably because it was Friday night and I was tired from a long week of work). Did X just fall in love by accidentally having a love-at-first-sight moment years ago? What’s the background story? Namping/Top is so gorgeously feminine that I couldn’t take my eyes off him. But I don’t agree with Namping’s decisions. Additionally, the side couple does not bring anything to the general story and it’s just there for the sake of being there.

Ep 5-6 - Sian/Blue = This is the flirtiest one and I like their chemistry and banter. Top was super handsome with the cool long hair, being topless and showing off his muscles every chance he gets. We got some wonderful kisses and skinship as well. However, that bit about Blue and his friend seems out-of-place.

Ep 6-8 - Pun/Roi-Inn = My favorite story of the drama to tie everything together. The acting is the best during this arc. There isn’t too many plotholes or things I dislike, except again, the long pauses between sentences.


Overall, I recommend “Every You, Every Me” due to its interesting concept. If you can tolerate the pauses and silence, you will enjoy it more than me. Giving this an 8.0 to bump up the rating a little, even though objectively, this is more of a 7.5-7.75.



Completed: 5/11/2025 - Review #575

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Perfect Lines = Cringey Lines?

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25

I don’t even know where to begin in writing this review. I have so many thoughts of this drama, both positives and negatives (mainly negatives).

I would recommend this drama if you are:
1. Die hard fans of the actors
2. So heartbroken and lonely that you NEED to see couples acting lovey-dovey and cringey ALL THE TIME
3. You enjoy hate-watching and like to laugh out loud at ridiculousness
4. You just want to watch something light and have a good time, and don’t care about anything else

But if you are #3, heartbroken and lonely, but want to wallow in your sorrow for a while, do NOT watch this drama. You will hate everyone in it and curse them to be as lonely as you are.

Couples:
Arc (Force) + Arm (Book) Episodes 1-8
Just those names confused me. LOL. I am not a fan of ForceBook and watching them was not fun for me. Arc is acting like a kid trying to be the meanie, but actually is a lovesick boy. Being possessive, aggressive and won’t take “no” for an answer is not sweet or sexy. Arm letting him do all that isn’t healthy either. But this is not the drama to judge them, just be aware. I am also annoyed and frustrated with their repetitive back-and-forth, and it’s not a good kind of push-and-pull. And after they got together, the amount of annoying and loud moments from Arm goes up exponentially. Thank goodness, Arc remains the same character in his aloof way through the end.

Yotha (Perth) + Gun (Santa) Episodes 9-16
The initial reason for me to watch this show is Perth. I find him the most attractive of the bunch after seeing him in “Love by Chance”. When I finally suffered through ForceBook to get him, I was so disappointed in his pairing with Gun (Santa). I couldn’t get past how over-the-top annoying and cringey Gun’s character is. He’s acting like a child all the time. I ended skipping their whole storyline and went to the next. But then went back and skip-watch their scenes. It’s unfortunate because their story actually has some depth and touching moments, but I was so put off that those moments were buried.

Faifa (Junior) + Wine (Mark) Episodes 17-23
Faifa and Wine single-handedly saves this show for me. I wonder how many viewers drop the show and miss their arc. I am most unfamiliar with the actors, and they ended up to be my favorites out of them all. I think they have the best acting, a coherent enough storyline for me to find them sweet and caring. There are so many heartfelt conversations without over-the-top cringe. Faifa/Junior surprises me with his outgoing personality without feeling over-the-top. When he quiets down and really shares with Wine, Junior is able to show sincerity in his eyes and deliver his lines believingly. This couple is shy and cute, but they are honest and communicative.

Side Couples = With 3 main couples, I don’t really need 3 more with half-baked stories. If I want more, I would love the drama to dive more into Klao and Warit’s romance and maybe switch out Arc/Arm and forget the rest of the 2 side couples.


Conclusion:
It’s really unfortunate that there are some really touching moments and great conversations between the lead couples, and their family members. But because of the overdramatic acting and the overdose of cringe in this drama, these precious moments can be overlooked. The family drama in Faifa and Yotha’s family, and their brotherly love are great storylines, but they were not being explored in a way that can be truly meaningful and impactful. Yotha’s past and insecurity and his relationship with Klao and Wa are worth diving in deeper as well. But in the end, all I can think of is how cringey this show is. I don’t need a full episode of fillers and everyone confessing their love for each other over and over again. I’m fine with a wedding in the end, but almost every single line out of the actors mouth makes me shiver. But you know what, if you want great kisses, every single couple delivers and there are no dead fish kiss. I don’t think I can honest recommend this drama unless you were one of those people I listed above. Having said all that, I understand this is my very subjective opinion and I am just probably too old and not the targeted audience. My tolerance of cringe is also a little on the low end.



Completed: 4/6/2025 - Review #563

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Lots of Deliciously-grilled food and a simple role reversal long-distance marriage.

“How to Grill Our Love” aka “Yaiteru Futari: Kosai 0-Nichi Kekkon kara Koi wo Hajimeyo” is a simple and adorable slice-of-life drama of an interesting marriage. Our leads met online and dove right into marriage without actually dating. Not only was this a lightning-fast marriage but a long distance one! They could only see each other on the weekend.

These weekends are filled with deliciously-grilled food, awkward adorableness and honest communication. I think 50% of the screen time is spent on the leads eating and cooking. The other 50% is of them getting to know each other, navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship and getting used to spending time being together learning each other’s personality traits (good and bad).

It also seems like the leads have their roles reversed. ML is the more emotional and clingy one in the relationship, who loves to cook and overthinks. FL is the calmer, cooler and more rational partner, who is also not afraid to speak her mind to set things straight, or ask for a hug or kiss. I wouldn’t say ML is my type of guy, but it works for FL. The acting is decent, and very typical Japanese manga over-the-top acting on the ML part. But that is to be expected.

This simple drama also has a lovely supporting cast. Everyone is caring and sweet, and roots for our leads relationship. If you are looking for a simple and easy watch, and learn how to grill delicious food, then "How to Grill Our Love'. Otherwise, this might not be exciting enough for many.


Completed: 2/14/2025 - Review #544

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Decently-produced mini drama with Good Acting and Chemistry

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“The Love Duel” is a short and very enjoyable transmigration mini drama. Despite its lower budget, the production quality is pretty good. It doesn’t feel cheap.

Although the cast is not A-listers, they are quite experienced, especially in the mini dramas. If you are a fan of the genre, you have probably seen female lead Smile Hu, male lead Wang Xuan and second male lead Leo Yang before. Hong Wu (2FL) is the newcomer of the bunch. I am actually quite impressed with the acting of this cast. I might have developed a minor crush on Wang Xuan. He has nice, big, expressive eyes. He looks a little bit like Xu Kai and Xiao Zhan, doesn’t he?

It’s nice to see a female lead who is the bosslady. She takes charge and is smart and fun (maybe a tad bit overdramatic). The personality contrast between the leads is nice and we don’t see this dynamic in bigger productions often enough. The chemistry between the 4 leads is good. I enjoy the development of the main romance. The secondary romance is simpler and more predictable. However, both confession scenes are a little anticlimactic for my taste.

You can say this drama has quite a few plot twists to keep things interesting and the plot moving along. However, I think my biggest criticism is that the plot is too busy. The political side plot isn’t written well. It seems like an afterthought and just put together half-heartedly. It could have a simpler political background story but focuses more on the assassin organization.

“The Love Duel” is binge-worthy and enjoyable. There’s a lot of humor in making fun of dramas that are self-deprecatingly funny. It’s not to kill a couple hours or as a quick palate cleanser in between some serious dramas.



Completed: 7/24/2024 - Review #465

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More Political than I anticipated - It's tough be be born into the royal family

I have resisted watching “Goodbye My Princess” for the longest time because I’ve heard how sad and angsty it is. Due to a watch challenge, I am finally watching this classic. I have previously watched clips of the drama and have definitely adjusted my expectations. I believe due to a combination of a few factors: 1) I watch this in 2024 and not 2019, 2) I’ve adjusted my expectations, 3) I’ve seen clips of the drama, 4) I am somewhat of a C-drama veteran, “Goodbye My Princess” did not hit me hard emotionally. I was moved at certain points of the drama, mainly due to the passing of a supporting character and not due to our leads’ story. Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time.

Main Romance:
My main criticism of this supposedly heartbreaking romance is the lack of screen time of Li Cheng Yin (ML) and Xiao Feng (FL) together in the long middle part of the drama. The palace politics took up a very large portion of the plot, and the lack of happy and fun times did not give me a solid foundation of the continuation of their romance. Without the contrast of super happy times, the sad times just didn’t give me a big gut punch, one that I was expecting and have heard so much about. The beginning of their romance is lovely though. ML and FL look so innocent and happy together. They really do have great chemistry.

Other Romances:
No one is happy in the romance department. This drama is full of one-sided loves that really do break your heart. I almost had second lead syndrome. But I think a big part is because Shawn Wei plays such a beautiful/handsome Gu Jian. Gu Jian as a character is quite common in the C-drama 2ML world, but Shawn has such expressive eyes. One look and he conveys the unspoken and subtle emotions so well. I was quite attracted to his role as Gu Jian, well, up to the part where he started to lie to FL again. Zhao Se Se is another pitiful character. Her love for ML saddens me but I’m glad she’s not the typical evil 2FL. For the most part, her actions stem from her love for ML and jealousy towards FL.

Plot:
Before I watched the drama, I was under the impression that romance is the main plot. After the initial 10 or so episodes, the drama took us to the capital, and I realized I was wrong. The central plot is about palace politics - fighting for the crown/power, harem cat fights, wars/battles, government officials scheming and plotting against each other. Romance is actually a subplot. It’s my fault that I was expecting something different.

Acting:
Great acting all around. I’m quite impressed with Peng Xiao Ran and Chen Xing Xu. This is their first drama as the main leads and they did a great job. PXR is especially great as the innocent but not naive, happy-go-lucky princess. Her emotional and crying scenes do break my heart. She is such a beautiful actress. CXX did pretty well too but might have overact just a little in the earlier episodes. I’ve already praised Shawn Wei’s emotive eyes. This drama has a solid young supporting cast and a very impressive veteran cast.

Production:
I love all the costumes in this drama. All the women look beautiful with elaborate and layered, good quality-looking costumes and hair accessories. Actually, some of the costumes seem quite sexy and revealing for a historical drama. The men look handsome and dashing. There’s a white outfit that Gu Jian wore that I really like. It was layered and fashionable for a costume drama martial artist. The different sets look nice with beautiful cinematography in the desert. I would have liked to see the use of natural lighting in some of the indoor scenes and not big bright lights. There are a couple OK fight scenes, but for the most part, they are not very good. The songs from the OST sound fine to me, but nothing stands out and I like enough to add to my Spotify playlist.


Overall, I had a great time watching this. If you are a veteran C-historical drama watcher, you might not find this as heartbreaking. I think I was hurt more badly when watching “One and Only”. This is a beautiful drama with interesting leads and supporting characters. This version has 55 episodes and it doesn’t feel too long and draggy.



Other Random Observations:
1. I do not like the dubbed voices for Xiao Feng and A Du at all. I find Xiao Feng’s innocent and happy-go-lucky voice a little annoying. A Du’s voice sounds too young and naive when she’s such a tough character.
2. Peng Xiao Ran is BEAUTIFUL!!!
3. I like Chen Xing Xu with his hair down as Gu Xiao Wu more than his look as the prince.
4. I don’t hate Li Cheng Yin (ML) at all. I found his actions understandable given his identity and what he has to do. I pity him.
5. Thank goodness for no annoying character.


Completed: 5/20/2024 - Review #440

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It's all about Lies, Lies and More Lies!!!!

Watching this Taiwanese classic in 2024 is definitely interesting and my expectations are high (maybe too high). I can look past the fashion and ML’s ugly hairstyle, but “Autumn Concerto” has so many different tropes and illogical things. I also feel that I need to stop my critical thinking and enjoy the ride on a more emotional level. That way, the drama is more enjoyable.

I love the mature Aidy An in “Legend of Dugu”. She’s the best part of that show. But a younger Aidy An is somewhat annoying in this drama. Her acting is not quite there yet and gave me this bland expression. But I think what’s worse is I don’t like her character, Mu Cheng. She is definitely pretty in this drama, but Mu Cheng keeps a secret for way too long. She should and could have spoken up many times in various situations, instead of acting like a victim. I also do not like her voice, which is supposed to be gentle and soothing. I just find it annoying, unfortunately.

Despite not liking Mu Cheng as a girlfriend, I like her as a mother. Her relationship with her son Xiao Le is the highlight of the show. This little kid is adorable but I don’t think there’s any other 5-year old who speaks like him out there. I am going to look past that and just enjoy how kind-hearted, sweet, adorable and smart he is. Xiao Le’s interaction with every single adult brings me so much joy. Yes, even the little kid bully.

Vanness Wu is another draw to watch this drama. But I find his acting very inconsistent. There are scenes I think he did fine and was natural, but not when it comes to more emotional (angry or sad) scenes. I really feel for his character. Poor Guang Xi suffered so much and is being lied to by everyone. I was rooting for him and actually wanted him to not end up with FL. I think he deserves better.

When it comes to acting, Chris Wu is the best out of the main characters, only second to ML’s mother. I cannot believe “Autumn’s Concerto” is his very first drama (He did have a few movies under his belt). But compared to Aidy An and Vanness Wu, he’s the less experienced one but I love his acting the most. If it’s in any other drama, his character would be the male lead. His confession to Mu cheng is so touching and sincere. I want to marry him! Chris Wu is the best part of the show and he doesn’t seem to have aged.

The pacing of the drama is a little uneven as well. I found the first arc when they were all in college went by pretty fast. A lot of things happened but each mini subplot or misunderstanding is resolved rather quickly. But once we switch to the present-day timeline, the pace slows down. They spend a lot of time in the village with those loud villagers. I am not surprised they are loud but at least they’re not too nosy. Towards the end of the drama, the pace picked back up a little with the court cases. But also felt that the editing and storytelling are choppy. I also think that the drama waited too long for the shit to hit the fan (the big secret to out).

For a melodrama with a focus on romance, it’s really hard for me to enjoy when 1) I don’t like the female lead, 2) I don’t think the leads should end up together, 3) I think the secondary leads should just go and date each other and forget about the leads who don’t deserve them. For a romance-lover like me, if I am not rooting for the leads to be together, there’s no way I would end up enjoying the drama. I also need to shut down my brain because there are too many ridiculous things that happened. I don’t want to list them all as they could be spoilers.


But luckily, we have an adorable kid, a handsome Chris Wu, nice secondary leads who are not evil and Vanness Wu showing off his abs. This is enough to keep this at an 8.0 for me. Even though I like the songs, they are WAY overplayed. I wonder if I would have loved “Autumn’s Concerto” more if I were watching this in 2008 and not in 2024.


Completed: 1/25/2024 - Review #398

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Finally a drama and role for a more mature and experienced Xu Kai

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Wonderland of Love” features two intelligent leads who always try to outsmart each other. That should be a pretty attractive premise to attract a wide audience. However, it doesn’t seem to be as popular as “The Story of Kunning Palace” which was broadcasted at about the same time. I guess a vampire gege is more attractive than a war hero Mr. Green flag. LOL There are many things I liked about this drama, but I do agree with many reviewers that the last arc wasn’t quite as exciting.


What I Like:

1. Xu Kai - I’m so glad I finally get to see Xu Kai in another drama worthy of his popularity and star power. His last few projects have been duds. I have liked him best as the more animated lead in “Arsenal Military Academy” and also his more subtle emotional acting in “Ancient Love Poetry”. But here in “Wonderland of Love”, I see the best of both worlds. I am thankful that he’s not another emotionless cold-on-the-outside character, but one that is mature and gives him the ability to showcase his acting range. If you are a Xu Kai fan, this is a must-watch.

2. Li Ni (ML) - Li Ni is a historical Mr. Green flag. He’s loyal, respectful, communicative, honest, courageous, selfless, can fight, can scheme (but not wicked and cunning). He’s a good son, a good brother, a good comrade, a good lover. He’s almost Mr. Perfect. His one flaw (if you can call it a flaw), is that he’s so in love with A Ying (FL) that it might have clouded his judgment and conceding to A Ying. He just can’t say No. But, as a romance-lover, he’s the perfect boyfriend.

3. Cui Lin/A Ying (FL) - On paper as a female character in a historical war and political drama, it’s nice to see a smart female lead who can fight and can think. She is as smart as Li Ni, and sometimes actually outsmarts him. She is independent, stubborn, and loyal to the Cui Army. She also has strong beliefs in bringing peace to all.

4. Fight and Battle Choreography - First of all, I am going to criticize the occasional slow-motion fights, and spinning/twirling to create a romantic effect. Having said that, “Wonderland of Love” has some of the more impressive fight choreography for close-combat fight and war/battle scenes. The drama started off with the leads fighting each other. There are a few sword fighting scenes throughout the drama that are pretty good, especially when this is a historical, political drama, and not a wuxia/xianxia drama. As other reviewers mentioned, the battle in episode 30 was well shot and hardcore. It was a bloody battle and many died in different ways. When the Laolan song is played, it breaks my heart. There are only a few other dramas (e.g. The Rebel Princess and Love Like the Galaxy) that I can think of with similar impressive battle scenes.

5. OST - There are several songs in the soundtrack and they all sound lovely and complementary to the scenes.

6. Acting - Xu Kai and Jian Tian both acted well and did not disappoint. The veteran supporting cast definitely outshines the younger supporting cast. I don’t think the younger cast is horrible, but no one shines through either.

7. Ending - No rush ending, in a way. The last episode is dedicated to show how everyone’s doing.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

1. Lead Romance - As I mentioned, I like Xu Kai and Jiang Tian’s acting. But for whatever reason, I am not feeling their chemistry as a couple, especially during the cute and fluffy scenes. I can’t get it out of my head that Jiang Tian is 7 years older than Xu Kai. I don’t feel this way when Jiang Tian is paired up with Timmy Xu or Vin Zhan. It’s probably because Xu Kai has somewhat of a baby face. I don’t think this is supposed to be an older sis/younger bro romance either. A Ying is a strong female lead, but not necessarily an easy-to-like female lead in a romance. There are plenty of kisses in the drama, yet none of them seems passionate to me. I also think the directing of the kisses is a little off. But if you look at the romance objectively, it’s a good one. They are both smart, have the same goal in mind, courageous and for the most part when there are issues, they communicate with each other. They might not take the same road to achieve their goals and disagree on principle, but they understand each other’s circumstances. I love their love letter correspondence during war time. All the good elements of a great romance, but I am just not feeling it.

2. Secondary Romance - I don’t particularly like or dislike it. It’s like every other secondary romance in many dramas. They’re cute and all, but don’t add much to the drama itself. I much rather learn more of Consort Xiao and the General love story.

3. Liu Cheng Feng (2ML) - I don’t believe his love and obsession for FL justify his actions. The way he seeks revenge seems way over-the-top when it comes to a country’s safety. I pity him when he was weak and then I just didn't care for him much when he turned to the dark side.

4. Final Arc (last 9 episodes) - I have to agree with others that the last arc of the drama isn’t written well. This part of the drama was draggy and anti-climatic after the big battle in episode 30. All that could be told in half the time. With the initial cold war between the leads, I find it somewhat annoying that our supposedly smart FL hasn’t thought of the consequence of the Cui army when she tried to push ML to be the crown prince. She should have calculated all of that politics, and not been surprised by the king’s decision to disband them. We wasted a couple episodes on this cold war. The villain tried to scheme and set up the general as a traitor. It was brought up without much info, and was resolved without much fanfare either. I thought it would be some elaborate plan but in the end it was just he said she said. The invasion was done half-heartedly. These foreigners were used by others for most of the drama. And when it came down to business, they were taken out easily and anti-climatically.

5. Production Quality - I don’t believe this is a big budget production. The green screen used during the leads’ horseback riding was hilariously fake. The wonderland scenery also seems fake to me. The set design, costumes and props seem OK. I am disappointed that almost everyone is dubbed. I find the dubbed voice for A Ying doesn’t quite match the face of Jiang Tian. And what is up with the pale faces of Xu Kai and Jiang Tian when they are soldiers, living under the sun and dust all the time. I think they could have darkened their skin tone a little. They definitely look too white, clean and pretty to be general/commander.

6. The King - He’s annoying as heck! I know he’s not the smartest cookie, but I can’t believe we need to tolerate his dumbness and ignorance for 40 episodes.


Overall, this is a decent drama to watch. I will recommend this if you are a fan of Xu Kai and Jiang Tan. I am rounding my rating up for Xu Kai, as I think this is his best role yet. I realize my criticisms are very personal and somewhat petty. LOL.


Other Random Observations:
1. The band of brothers are fun but way too loud.
2. I love the scene of the grass dragonflies when ML was sad.
3. I am glad Gu Wang Niang is not the typical evil 2FL. She technically didn’t do anything too evil, but this actress portrayed the character so well that I really dislike her! She gives off this cunning aura, without doing anything evil. Is it good acting?


Completed: 12/17/2023 - Review #383

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A Gentler, Sweeter and More Romantic Remake

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Stay with Me” is like the gentler, sweeter and more romantic little brother of “Addicted”. “Addicted” is the more rebellious, sex-crazed older brother, but it also paved the way for many future Chinese BLs (or caused censorship to put the hammer down).

The leads in “Stay with Me” are quite likable compared to their counterparts in the other drama. Wu Bi is quite adorable when he’s so in love with Su Yu and gets all pettily jealous over little things. In “Addicted”, Gu Hai annoyed the heck out of me with how pushy he was. But that was a 2016 drama, and times have changed. Back to “Stay with Me”, the drama never had Wu Bi or Su Yu declare their love for each other, but you know for a fact that this is not a bromance, but a romantic story between them. There are so many moments, gestures, hugs and subtle lingering touches that they shared and I wonder how these scenes pass censorship. I am trying to recall if I’ve seen a Chinese BL with kisses on the cheeks recently.

The main focus of the drama is definitely on our leads, Wu Bi and Su Yu. Two lovely teenagers go from enemies to lovers, complete and fill each other’s hearts with love and care. Surrounding them are Su Yu’s very supportive father and stepmother, an adorable little stepsister, Duo Duo, who is wise beyond her years. We also have a few friends who don’t take up too much screen time. Technically, there isn’t really a character that I dislike, except for Wu Bi’s cousin’s ugly pig tail. That is definitely not fashionable at all. LOL.

The bond between this newly found family is the best part of the show. None of the parents are evil, they just show their love differently. However, the broken families have a big impact on the leads. They both just want to be loved. Simple as that. I love it when there are scenes of the new family together and the theme song, “The Meaning of Family” starts playing. The lyrics are perfect for these scenes, especially when Duo Duo starts singing if you need to look similar or have the same last names to be called family. The scene of this new family celebrating Wu Bi’s birthday is so heartwarming.

This drama is not without its faults. I think the acting of the leads could be better. I am also disappointed that they are both dubbed and not using their original voices. Heck, even Duo Duo uses her original voice and that adds 10000 points to her adorableness. There are a couple scenes with very fake green screens. There are only four songs in the OST and it lacks variety, though they are lovely. This is definitely not a big budget production, so maybe that’s why I am having all these minor disappointments.

Overall, I had a good time binge-watching this drama. The pacing is not bad but the ending might not be satisfactory to all. I knew what kind of ending it had before starting this. I am prepared, still not happy though 🙂


Completed: 11/3/2023 - Review #372

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A Docu-Drama? Recommend for those interested in Chinese arts/crafts/culture

“Hi Producer” is a very unique drama. It’s more of a documentary showcasing China’s rich culture and arts, than a regular drama. It tries to promote and educate via the production of a TV show and a very interesting female lead, Yu Zai Zao. Due to her disability, YZZ is unable to understand certain emotions. However, it doesn’t prevent her from coming up with creative ideas for this TV show. By working closely with the team and building a bond with everyone, she has slowly changed to be a different and better person.

If you are interested in learning about China’s thousands of years of culture, this is definitely a show for you. It showcases more than just arts and crafts. It also tries to spotlight the loneliness, challenges, and passing on the traditions to successors - willing, unwilling and overlooked successors. At times, the information comes to me like big ocean waves that it took me a while to digest what I just heard. There’s a LOT of history talk. I also really like the sentimental storytelling of the people behind such beautiful craft. The drama also pays respects to the real experts of each field by inviting them to share their real life experience during the epilogue of each episode.

Despite liking all the characters in the drama, the plot is somewhat thin. I feel that the drama is too long at 35 episodes, and with each introduction of a tradition (about 2 episodes per tradition), the stories become repetitive. I lost focus in the middle of the drama and thought about giving up. I wish it had cut down 5 or so episodes, and spent a little more time on the depth of each character of the TV show. The female lead is one of the most interesting characters. She’s adorable but also straightforward and rude. She’s fun but manipulative. When you start to pity her, she turns around and fools you with her intelligence. If you are looking for romance, then you will be disappointed. There are feelings, but no romantic stories between characters.

I would only recommend this drama if you are looking for a docu-drama and really are interested in learning about Chinese culture. If you are looking for a regular drama with an exciting or unique plot, or a romance story, then this might not be for you.


Other Random Observations:
1. I love the “I Won” doll and gift. Hilarious!
2. Something seems to be off with the styling of Zhang Bo (Professor Tao Tang). He’s only a few years older than Zheng Kai (CEO Gu) but looks so much older.
3. My first time watching Zhang Nan and she impressed me. Her portrayal of Yu Zai Zao is so funny and on point.
4. Not too many songs in the OST, but I enjoy the opening and ending theme songs. They fit the general feel of the drama.
5. It’s amazing how many actors/actresses the drama invites for special appearances.
6. I was mesmerized by all the dances in this drama. That actress is such an amazing dancer.


Completed: 10/21/2023 - Review #368

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Love at First Fart - I can't believe I am rating a Slapstick Comedy a 9.0

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would one day rate a slapstick comedy a 9.0 rating. I am someone who doesn’t like over-the-top comedies and usually avoid slapsticks. This drama is still not for everyone, however, the stars are aligned for me to enjoy it.

The Aligned Stars ★★★
1. I am in NEED and in the MOOD for a comedy. Just something fun and light-hearted.
2. I set my expectations. I know coming into this that this is slapstick with ridiculous bathroom and second-hand embarrassment humor. I wasn’t prepared when I watched “Euchalala Waikiki” and ended up dropping it.
3. Surprisingly, there’s a stronger focus on romance than I anticipated. I thought this was the slapstick version of “Good Manager” with zero to slight romance. I was pleasantly surprised.

Given these three factors, I had an AMAZING time binge-watching “Gaus Electronics”. I bet all the actors must have such a great time shooting this drama. I wonder how they could keep a straight face and not laugh every single minute of shooting this.

I do want to acknowledge the fact that a lot of the fun was built upon our male lead’s incompetence, clumsiness and misery. If you don’t like bullying in any form (funny or serious), stay away from this drama. These factors might turn a lot of people off. But I switched my brain off and went for the ride.

This is just a very funny drama. The comedy starts from the first episode all the way to the last. The pacing is great and there are so many things going on to keep me engaged throughout. We have enemies-to-lovers romance, unrequited love, rich chaebol trying not to mooch off of his family’s fortune, company politics/stress, and different kinds of relationships. I was pleasantly surprised how moved I was in the last couple episodes regarding the main romance. Acting is flawless and everyone is so well-casted. I really don’t have any major criticism of this drama.

If you are like me and in the same circumstances with the stars aligned, I strongly recommend this drama to you. But if you don’t like over-the-top acting, second-hand embarrassment, and making fun of workplace bullying, then it’s best to stay far, far away.


Other Random Observations:
1. How many managers do you really need for a small marketing team?
2. The references of other K-dramas was fun. It was also fun guessing the famous lines.
3. Yes, that gelled up hair still bothers me to the end.

Completed: 10/8/2023 - Review #365

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