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Such great reviews came from China regarding this drama that it hit Douban ratings at a high of 8.9 in the first week or two of its airing. Now that the drama is just done airing, the rating remains at a high 8.5 (as of 7/2/2022). I came in with pretty high expectations as I am a sucker for amazing romantic chemistry between the leads.
Plot:
“A Dream of Splendor” tells the story of three women who for a variety of reasons, had to leave their hometown for the big city. They are strong and independent, and are feminists who are ahead of their times. We follow their journeys to build their careers and find love. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. There’s enough going on to keep me interested throughout the 40 episodes. Though the last few episodes are more focused on court politics, our three female leads are intertwined in this storyline as well. Compared to another female-centric drama “Marvelous Women”, this is less slice-of-life and hooked me right from the start. But as the story goes, I think I enjoyed the weaving/embroidery plot in “Marvelous Women” a little bit more than the tea house/restaurant/music plot in “A Dream of Splendor”. However, the tone in “Marvelous Women” is more serious than that in this drama. I rated this drama higher because the romance storylines are more interesting to me than that of “Marvelous Women”. There are many comedic moments in “A Dream of Splendor” and I am not sure I enjoy them as much as others. Dai Xu/Chi Yan Nei provides a lot of comic relief, but it’s too over-the-top for my taste and doesn’t quite fit in the general tone of the drama.
Romance:
I really enjoy the initial chemistry between our two leads and I can see why everyone is raving about it. I can totally see how Chen Xiao/Gu Qian Fan is so smitten with Crystal Liu/Zhan Pan Er. Every time he looks at her, I see admiration, respect, love and desire. However, I am not sure if I can say the same for Crystal Liu especially towards the second half of the drama. Maybe I am just too critical of female leads? I find Crystal Liu’s best scenes are of her as a business woman. But as a woman in love, I can’t see that passion in her eyes. Nonetheless, their romance is mature and honest (for the most part). The leads are very supportive of each others’ careers, and will not hesitate to provide some honest/harsh feedback when necessary. There’s a lot of PDA in this drama, which is quite rare for a somewhat ‘serious’ and non-romantic comedy. Are the kisses amazing? Not really, but decent enough that I see effort from both parties. I actually really enjoy the romance between Sun San Niang and Du Chang Feng. Opposites attract yet they are quite adorable together. The way they fall in love seems natural and I enjoy how Sun San Niang takes charge in their relationship. Song Yin Zhang is probably my least favorite female character but I pity her journey to find love. Poor girl just couldn’t catch a break. There’s plenty of romance in this drama to satisfy romance junkies like me.
Production:
There are quite a few nice scenes with lanterns and candles, but not quite the quality of top-notch productions such as “Luoyang” and “The Longest Day in Chang’an”. Those two dramas have become my golden standard. Nonetheless, we have beautiful people in nice costumes, decent set designs and props. A certain popular YouTube reviewer mentioned that Chen Xiao and Crystal Liu are the most beautiful couple in a period drama in recent years. I am not sure I agree with this reviewer. They are a good-looking pair, especially for a more mature couple, but there are plenty of good-looking couples as well. In this drama, I think Jelly Lin and Claire Jia are just as beautiful as Crystal Liu (or maybe more). I do think Chen Xiao looks the most handsome in his uniform. I also want to criticize the action scenes and the camera work in this drama. There are a few fight scenes, but the camerawork is shaky/blurry (maybe intentional?). This affects my enjoyment of watching Chen Xiao fight. The director also likes to use a lot of slow motion scenes in this drama for ‘dramatic’ effects, when it’s not necessary. I want to see Crystal Liu walk at a normal speed.
Other Random Observations:
1. I like the interesting tea competition - especially drawing on tea foam.
2. It seems like everyone can just go into FL’s house/courtyard. No security at all and the door is never locked.
3. It rains all the time - at least people don’t get sick often.
4. Spinning and pouring tea is a little too cringey for my taste.
5. I like boat rides as a major form of transportation.
6. I really like Xu Hai Qiao in "Lost Love in Times" but I hated him here as Ou Yang Xu. I wish to see another drama of his to fall in love with him again.
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Surprisingly entertaining short web drama
Completed - 4/15/2022MangoTV has been churning out these short web dramas that are surprisingly entertaining. I am not sure why this drama is called "The Killer is Also Romantic" as the Chinese title is the combination of the leads names, Nian Nian Wu Ming. It could be loosely translated as Missing/Thinking of Wu Ming.
In a little over 3 hours, this drama is able to tell a funny and interesting story about a couple who each has a hidden identity. The fun is when each of the leads tries to hide their real identity and personality, and of course, we want to find out what happens when the secrets are out. As another reviewer said, it's like the Chinese historical version of Mr & Mrs Smith. Coming into this, I have pretty low expectations, just like the other MangoTV drama "Emperor or Boss", which has the same male lead, Yang Ze. The plot is simple, but the chemistry and acting are decent. For a low budget web drama, I am pleased to see that nothing seems cheap. There is no annoying character, two smart and capable leads and we got some decent kisses (and many almost kisses).
If you need a palate cleanser from a serious drama and got a few hours to kill, this is perfect.
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Excellent Slice-of-Life Drama but very painful to watch
Completed - 11/24/2021Objective rating: 9.0
Subjective rating: 8.75
It is very difficult to review and rate "The Bond". Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. The acting is top notch - from the youngest actors to the most veteran actors. I have nothing to pick on. And because of the excellent acting of everyone, I come to hate so many of the supporting characters. I don't think I've ever hated characters from a drama this much, most notably Father Qiao. This piece of Sxxx of a father is the worst I've seen. The novel writer and the screenwriter are the same person, and I wonder if he has such a hard life that he would write something that gives me so much pain.
The drama revolves around the life of the Qiao family. The Qiao siblings grew up without a mother and their father emotionally and physically abused/neglected them. Big Brother Qiao YiCheng had to grow up fast to take care of his younger siblings. Throughout the drama, you see the hardships that each sibling has gone through from their childhood to their adult life. But the BOND between them is unbreakable. No matter how much they argue and fight with each other, they immediately drop everything to come to their sibling's rescue. And because they all suffer so much that I wish the best for each of them.
I thought of writing a little bit about each sibling's journey, but then my review will be super long and possibly very boring. Let's just say each has a very distinct personality and has amazing character growth in this drama. All of their marriages go through ups and downs. This is no fairytale, as happily-ever-after does not come easy to the Qiao family. When watching this drama, I have to pause and only watch a couple episodes a day. I cry and suffer with them, and it became intolerable to binge watch. I endured all this suffering because I pray that it has a happy ending. I wish there are more light and comedic moments in this drama, to balance out the tough moments.
Other Notes:
1. I am glad to watch another Bai Yu (Brother #1) drama after The Guardian. His acting is no joke. He's excellent in this drama.
2. This is my first drama of Zhang Wan Yi (Brother #2). I became a fan and look forward to seeing more of his dramas in the future. He's quite handsome :)
3. So glad to see Rachel Momo (Sister #3) in this very likable role. I really disliked her in "Princess Wei Young". But then, it also speaks to her great acting ability.
4. Song Zu Er (Sister #4) grew on me. I didn't like her and her character that much in the beginning, but she has the best character development in the drama. I look forward to her upcoming dramas.
5. I am so glad that the actors are using their own voices and it also sounded like live recording.
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This review may contain spoilers
Must watch mature and realistic drama for those who left their hometowns for another city
10/1/2021 - 9.75 ratingAt the time of this writing, the MDL rating for this drama is 8.2. How could this be so criminally low? Is it because it's not an idol drama, no good-looking cast, not a fluffy romance, not produced by a big tv network? Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. Subjectively speaking and on a personal level, this is a near perfect drama. Thus, I am giving it 10.0 (rounding up from 9.75). This is the first drama I give a 10. This drama needs to be talked about and recommended more.
"Remembrance of Things Past" is about the lives of four women who moved away from their small hometown for college and stayed in Beijing after graduation to make it big and have a new life. As a transplant in Beijing, life is not easy and they encounter different hardships in romance, work and just trying to survive.
I have very similar experiences as the female leads - moving away from home, relying on friends to survive in a new city, only reporting happy news to family, long commute to work because housing is cheaper when farther away, loss of a loved one, single woman walking home at night, parents sacrifice for me, etc. Aside from all this, this drama also covered peer pressure at work and at home, marriage pressure for women in their late 20s and 30s, physical and mental health concerns, suicide and attempted suicide, workplace rivalries, materialism, physical beauty, renting vs buying a house, saving money vs living life, money scams, etc.
Episode 1 hooked you right in! Not knowing why a close friend committed suicide is a central plot in the drama. Her story is told through flashbacks, but the guilt is so very present within her friends. Each episode has a theme and an epilogue that narrated by the female leads which make you really stop and think. I love these thought-provoking epilogues. The last 15 minutes of Episode 10 was the most intense for me. The series of events happening at the same time with the three female leads and their subsequent big fight were explosive, intense and heartbreaking.
Romance isn't a main focus of this drama, though each of the three female leads has their own storyline. Maybe except for the romance of Xu Yan & Zhen Zi Chang. The struggles of their relationship is the central storyline, and it's also my least favorite of the three romances. I feel that it's somewhat repetitive and I really dislike Xu Yan and the way she treats her boyfriend. I am glad there's character development, but we don't see a better version of her until the very end. I wish there's more to Xu Yan storyline than about money and her boyfriend. I enjoy the shyness of Jian Yi Fan when he's somewhat courting Qian Xi Chen. I am a sucker for a quiet man who shows love through quiet actions. He seems like a different person when he's so shy and reserved, yet he's such a boss at work (calm and mature). I quite enjoy the banter between Xi Chen and Yi Fan, and they make a cute couple. Ji Nan Jia & Ou Yang's relationship is the sweetest. I love LOVE what Ou Yang said to Nan Jia about having children and raising children in a loving family. How could you not want to have a child with him after that? Ou Yang appears immature, but he's actually quite the opposite. The talk that Nan Jian had with Ou Yang's mother is also excellent. Those two don't seem like a good fit together, but they actually complement each other very well.
Of course, the best part of the drama is the friendship between the four women. I doubt they can survive in Beijing without each other.
Other notes: I watched this drama on YouTube and another site-that-shall-not-be-named. MangoTV YouTube videos blocked some of the music and the sound quality wasn't great. It really did affect my viewing and I couldn't really listen to the OST. The English subtitles also suck. Maybe this contributed to the lack of popularity. I wish this drama is shown on Viki, as I think the subbers would have done a much better job. I also found the accent of the actors quite hard to understand (with my conversational Mandarin skills). Maybe it's a very thick northern accent? Or I am just used to the voice actors these days, which is kind of sad but also why they have voice actors to do the dubbing.
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The Guessing Game
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.
I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.
J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.
I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.
Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.
Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.
Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362
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Advance Bravely because it's a Train Wreck with Hot Abs!
The warning is correct: Advance Bravely! After watching a couple episodes, I thought to myself, What the heck am I watching? Why am I watching this? I wonder if it’s because I was watching this drama in 2023 instead of 2017, that I just couldn’t enjoy it. Watching “Advance Bravely” is like watching a train wreck that I couldn’t look away. It’s so bad that it’s hilarious and addictive?The only good thing about this drama is Jason Xu and his abs (but not his acting). He’s hot and I enjoy staring at him, just like most characters in the show. That’s the only positive thing I can think of. Oh, also, the action scenes are decent. If you like Gong Jun, you might like him and his skinny abs as well. If you are a fan of abs, there are many for your enjoyment.
However, the plot is weird. Why would you ask your brother to help you chase a guy that your brother doesn’t even know? Why would you kidnap and force someone to go through a medical procedure to ‘correct’ an embarrassing medical condition? Why is this sister so annoying and can’t take NO for an answer?
Additionally, we have a hot but stalkerish male lead, plus a childish and somewhat annoying male lead. I don’t really like any of the leads, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the chemistry even with the extended long looks and slow motion scenes. The second and third couples also have a weird romance/relationship.
The ending is ridiculous and it definitely has to do with censorship and the lack of funding. But even if I ignore how censorship could ruin this drama, there are just too many other things that are wrong and inappropriate. This is a very weird drama that I don’t know how to appreciate.
Completed: 2/23/2023
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Great Acting and 80s Feel
Completed - 3/25/2022 - 8.25 ratingBefore you watch Season 3, I strongly advise you to watch Seasons 1 & 2 first, otherwise, the storylines and relationships would be very difficult to follow. This is a review of all 3 seasons and not just on Season 3. I will mention who was killed in Season 1, but will NOT disclose who the murderer(s) is/are.
"Light the Night" is a drama that took place in Taipei in 1988. The series follows the stories of 6 women who work at Hikari, a Japanese nightclub (not prostitution) that caters especially to Japanese expats and also locals. Season 1 provides us with a lot of background information of the characters through flashbacks, and viewers are informed of a murder in the last few minutes of episode 8. Season 2 focuses on the murder investigation and explores each individual's relationship with their loved ones and the deceased. We also get to know the real Sue, and how she's not who she appears to be. With the final season, we have another murder that may or may not have anything to do with Sue's death.. And of course, we finally find out who the murderer is.
This is not a happy drama. It’s about life’s hardships and the consequences of our actions. None of the women came from happy families but have broken or disapproving families. Some have a much harder life than others - forced prostitution, jail time, rape, being kicked out of their homes, etc. Although we have romance storylines, this is NOT a romantic drama. There are great kisses and bed scenes, but they don’t necessarily bring happy and fluffy feelings. We do see some more romance in season 3 than season 2.
Season 3 fills in the blanks for all the missing pieces in seasons 1 & 2. And because of that, this season appears more interesting and exciting than the previous two. The pacing is better and there seems to be a little more “action” and less talking and flashbacks. In regards to the identity of the killer, I have to say the drama keeps me guessing. I am not an experienced crime/thriller watcher, so maybe I am just not smart enough. (I hope this is not a spoiler) but I should have guessed or at least guess the general direction of who the murderer is from the ending of Season 2. By the way, what happened to Wallace Huo’s character and the drug cartel in the end?
Love and obsession prompted our characters to make the wrong decisions. Jiang Han’s rejection of Sue prompted Sue to seek revenge, by devising ways to hurt those who are closest to her. The other women at Hikari also made a series of wrong decisions because they’re jealous, their love not reciprocated or they are trying to protect someone dear to them.
The acting in this drama is great. From the main characters to the supporting roles, they bring life to their very flawed characters and make you either pity them or hate them. I especially enjoy Cheryl Yang (as Sue) and Chris Wu (guest stars as Baby). Cheryl Yang brought the complicated Sue to life - the nuances in her facial expressions ranging from regal and gentle calmness, to brewing evilness under the surface. On the other hand, Chris Wu was hilarious as Baby. He’s so unrecognizable as Baby in a skinny tight suit and as Baby in drag. I love his acting and mannerism. This is my first drama of both actors. The other actors/actresses are just as good. Ruby Lin (as Rose) and Tony Yang (as Pan Wen Cheng) have great chemistry whenever they are together. Rhydian Vaughan surprises me with his portrayal of Jiang Han, and so different from his role in “Dear Diary”. However, I think the other more veteran actors did just a little better than him. All the ladies at Hikari were amazing.
If you enjoy the 80s, this is the right drama for you. Costumes, hair, makeup, music, cinematography, all feel right and authentic. The ladies put on heavy makeup when they are working at Hikari. But once off work, they all show a softer side to the audience. Aside from Ah Ji, who appears much older without makeup (as she should), all the other ladies are much more beautiful without the heavy makeup, esp. Ruby Lin. Ruby Lin is so pretty in her off-work clothes.. The heavy Hikari makeup makes her look really old.
Overall, I would recommend this drama if this is your cup-of-tea. Just know what you are getting yourself into.
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Amazing lead chemistry + many kisses but predictable with common cliches.
Completed - 11/22/2021"Once we Get Married" is a cute and fluffy rom-com that is very binge-watchable and a good palate cleanser after a serious show. You don't need too much brain power and can just sit back and relax. Don't expect a mind-blowing plot as it's very predictable. However, the leads have amazing chemistry and they make me smile when they do cute things. :)
I recommend this drama if you are a fan of:
1. the actors and actresses
2. enemies-to-Lovers trope
3. contract Marriage trope
4. common rom-com cliches such as, accidental kisses/hugs/falls, phone battery died at convenient times
5. nice second male lead & evil second female lead
I am a fan of #1, 2 & 3, therefore, I decide to watch this drama. I know it's not perfect but I enjoy the ride. I saw our main male lead, Wang Zi Qi, in "Imperial Coroner" and quite enjoyed his role there. In this drama, he is not as reserved and mature as his historical role, and I am glad to see a different side of him. Here, he plays the CEO who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, acting somewhat childish and petty and jealous - but looking adorable as well. It's so nice to see Wang Zi Qi in two very different roles.
I've always been a fan of contract marriage dramas, and have seen quite a few of those. Therefore, I realize that "Once We Get Married" is actually quite average. The plot is predictable and you know the challenges that our leads will face in this type of set-up. However, I really enjoy the main romance between XiXi and SiChen. They are fun when they're enemies and argue with each other. Yet it's also adorable when they start to have feelings for each other and when they actually got together. There are lots of skinship and an amazing number of kisses (doesn't mean they're good kisses, just ok). I smile ear-to-ear when I see our leads bickering and flirting.
The secondary romance between Mu Ruo Na and Shang Ke is quite boring. I don't find either character attractive and don't care for them at all. I skipped most of their parts. This romance does not add anything to the plot and feels like a romance from a different drama. There's not much interaction between the secondary romance and the main romance, until the last few episodes of the drama.
We also have our typical second male lead, Mo Zi Xin, who has been in love with our female lead for a long time. He's one of those that will do anything for our female lead, even when he's been rejected. He will support her quietly and come to her rescue whenever the male lead is not available. On the other hand, we have our evil second female lead, Ran Xi Wei, who will do anything to sabotage our lead's romance. It's actually quite annoying that she keeps on doing that from the beginning of the drama all the way to the end. It's never-ending scheming and sabotaging.
Other observations:
1. This drama has the most accidental kisses I've ever seen in a drama.
2. Is Mo Zi Xin wearing a Pikachu tie? He wears that ALL the time!
3. Did I see our leads shop at Costco for groceries?
4. When did Nana become BFFS with XiXi?
5. Our female lead doesn't dress that nicely for someone who is a fashion designer
6. Wang Zi Qi and Ian Yi look amazing in suits!!
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How to make a noona romance work for 2 sweet and caring individuals
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75This is a simple Jdrama with a very common plot. If you like older women/younger men and fake relationships, then this is a decent watch. The plot is really nothing special but it’s comforting if you like certain tropes.
The leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is decent. I would have liked to see Mizuki’s cold personality last a little longer before he falls so in love with Yukino. Afterall, the English title of this drama is “Aoshima-Kun is a Bully!” Well, he wasn’t really a bully and even if he was, it didn’t last long.
The drama focuses on two kind and considerate individuals at different stages of their lives. When they get together, their approaches to romance and relationships are quite different. There’s a lot of back-and-forth guessing each other’s feelings and getting stuck in their own thoughts, instead of communicating. I would not say there are many misunderstandings, and they do talk eventually and resolve conflicts quickly.
What I like about Yukino (FL) is that she is a regular, working woman. She dresses appropriately for work and also at home in her casual wear and PJs. I act just like her when I am lounging at home! LOL Her reservations of love given her past experiences, are totally understandable and age-appropriate. What’s not age-appropriate is the typical shy and somewhat coy behaviors for an experienced 35-year old who had multiple relationships in the past. She might take the initiative to reach out for a kiss or two, but for the most part, she appears inexperienced in PDA.
My biggest complaint is probably the side plot about the family member introduced in the last couple episodes. I don’t think that storyline is needed and it was not well-written.
This is a quick and OK watch. I enjoy the fake relationship trope (though it’s not really a big focus) and seeing how two sweet and caring people try to make the relationship work.
Completed: 9/21/2024 - Review #487
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A fine drama but not hitting me with all the feels
A Japanese drama rated 8.9 on MDL is rare, so I have got to check it out. Unfortunately, I might not share the same enthusiasm as many. I don’t dislike “Our Youth” nor do I love it either. I think it’s fine.There are many individual elements that I like. I like the two lost, lonely souls finding each other and healing each other. They are the best kind of soulmates. I have always been a fan of Japanese dramas which are not afraid to use silence to convey emotions. Two good-looking young men play the main roles. All these are great. But for some reason, when these elements are added together, it’s not working for me. Silence only works when there are deep and profound dialogs for the audience to take a breather to think and feel the unspoken emotions. But the conversations in this BL aren't that deep and they actually don’t talk much. Then, silence slows down the pace of the drama and eventually I find the story somewhat….boring?
I do feel the chemistry and I think the acting is quite good. The drama just doesn’t hit me with all the feels as much as I would like. It’s probably a “me” problem.
Completed: 1/22/2025 - Review #537
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Great first half but loses its steam (and my attention) in the second half.
1st half - 8.02nd half - 7.0
I already lowered my expectations for “The Story of Pearl Girl”, yet I am still somewhat disappointed. This is a well-produced drama with beautiful costumes, decent sets and cinematography. I don’t think objectively this is a bad drama, but I lost my connection to the leads in the middle of the drama, and was unable to regain my attention in the second half.
“The Story of Pearl Girl” has an exciting start. The story of our female lead’s struggle to leave the pearl farm might not be realistic, but at least it’s interesting. Time spent on the ship and Duan Wu’s climb from the bottom of the crew to being a partner-in-crime are well-paced and exciting. The first half is able to balance Duan Wu’s story and Yan Zi Jing’s revenge plot pretty well.
Although the chemistry between the leads is not sizzling, at least they have some interesting and fun scenes together in the first half. I also enjoy the friendships of the crew members and especially Duan Wu’s tight bond with young Xia Mi/Little Shrimp. The first half has a good balance of angst, suffering, adventure, and humor. There isn’t anyone too irritating in the drama and the leads are all quite smart.
Unfortunately, the heartbreaking mid-drama episodes came much earlier than expected. After that, everything goes downhill. The leads are separated for way too many episodes when they’re off to their own adventures. The little chemistry that they had, disappeared in the second half, and was never recovered. Well, at least I never felt their chemistry anymore. During this time, the focus shifted to Duan Wu’s business plot. The male lead becomes a wallflower or an unimportant supporting character. The drama loses the balance of revenge excitement and business shenanigans. Eventually, it also loses my attention all the way until the end. The downfall of the villains in the last couple episodes is very anti-climatic. I expected more, when revenge is such a big focus in this drama. The last episode should elicit a lot more emotions from me because of the lead couple, but I think I felt more for the secondary couple, Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng.
The general acting of the cast isn’t too bad. I don’t think this is Zhao Lu Si’s best role. I still like her more in “Love Like the Galaxy”. But she’s good enough. The same could not be said for Liu Yu Ning. He lacks screen presence and charisma as a male lead. His acting also seems to have regressed from when I last saw him in “Heroes” (2024) where he acted alongside two very strong male leads. He’s still not very good with romantic scenes, and seems to be best when he’s with his band of brothers/bromance, such as in “A Journey to Love” or “Heroes”. The second male lead, Tang Xiao Tian, is a more experienced actor and it shows. There’s a scene when they’re side by side digging through the soil, and you could see the difference in their acting when displaying the same emotions. Fortunately, the rest of the supporting cast deliver solid acting.
I am not sure if I would fully recommend “The Story of Pearl Girl” to everyone. My criticisms are very personal due to me never recovering the interest after it’s lost in the middle of the drama. Normally, I would have rated a similar drama an 8.0. But if you are a fan of Zhao Lu Si, it’s worth checking it out. Her acting is still solid and she looks beautiful with different hair/makeup and costumes.
Completed: 12/19/2024 - Review #528
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This review may contain spoilers
Not good enough to be a great political, romance, or Novaland Wuxia/Xianxia drama
Completed - 12/25/2021I am disappointed that I don't love "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse". I have such high expectations for this big production historical drama with Yang Mi, William Chan and Xu Kai Cheng. It took me about 15 episodes to get into the story and overall acting and leads chemistry are lacking. I feel that it tries to have everything in this drama - court politics, romance, friendship/loyalty, wars/battles - but it doesn't excel in any of them.
Acting
I can't help but keep on comparing William Chan to Allen Ren in "One & Only". Allen Ren has such big expressive eyes that he can convey his emotions really well, even when he played a self-controlled, reserved general who can't express his love for Bai Lu. On the other hand, William Chen has dead and bored eyes for most of the drama, except for the last couple episodes. His eyes are unable to convey how tortured he felt inside. And unfortunately, that makes his character even less likable to start. I did not root for him for the most part. Fortunately in the last couple episodes, he was able to portray a more free-spirited Jiang Ming and a really sad one in the end. Yang Mi did fine as she always does. I wouldn't say she was excellent, but fine. This my first Xu Kai Cheng drama and I felt that he overacted a little bit in the beginning when he was this crazy king. He toned it down later on and I start to enjoy his acting more. The other supporting cast was fine but not excellent.
Romance
I thought romance is a big driving force for this drama. We have 3 different romance storylines, but I am not satisfied with either of them.
*** Hai Shi (FL) and Jiang Ming (ML) - I don't feel their chemistry at all. I am supposed to root for them and to suffer with them. But in the end, I didn't feel anything. Although they are both smart, their romance is built on secrets. ML might have FL's best interest at heart, but this secretive protectiveness lasts too long. It didn't make for good drama and didn't make me root for their happily-ever-after ending.
***Emperor Di Xu (2ML) and Ti Lan (2FL) - their relationship started of as abusive and it was hard to watch. I understand why so many condemn such a romance. I might be a little more forgiving and I understand 2ML's heartbreaking past and also being the all-power emperor. I actually enjoyed their romance in the first half of the drama more than the main romance. I like that 2FL, though quiet, has the internal strength and stubbornness to passive-aggressively fight with 2ML. But the romance went downhill once 2FL forgave the emperor's wrongdoings too easily. She should have waited and let him beg for her mercy or at least use actions to show that he's sorry. But no, 2FL forgive and forget and move on. Then she becomes a useless character for the rest of the drama lost her little spunk.
***Zhuo Ying (3ML) and Zhe Liu (3FL) - I really like their sweet and innocent romance. They were a breath of fresh air when the other two romances are disappointing. Unfortunately, the drama did not give them the proper goodbye in the end. I wanted to see how they re-unite but it was all glossed over. I wanted to see more of them!
Bromance
This bromance between ML and 2ML is the best part of the show. It's deep, complex, frustrating and saddening. I enjoy scenes when the two of them are together. First when 2ML is always angry and ML has to calm him down. Then as we know more of their friendship, the dynamics becomes more entertaining. I think they have the best chemistry, even better than with their love interests.
Court Politics
***spoiler****
The reveal of the fake prince is underwhelming. Actually, he wasn't a good villain to begin with. Then at the end, how General Tang can so easily be deceived in rebelling is so dumb. He's supposed to be a great General, and he didn't care to do his own investigation and just blindly believe? I thought he had something evil brewing from the start, but there's nothing!
Production Quality, etc
It is without a doubt a drama with money. The costumes, accessories, and sets are elaborate and beautiful. That's why I was disappointed when the execution isn't there. We do not see cheap fabric or flimsy sets. We see beautiful rooms with wooden fixtures and soft candle lighting. It also has decent CGI with the sharks and mermaid. The OST sounds nice but not too memorable. I do appreciate that they don't overplay the theme songs nor use the BGM to force me to think and feel a certain way. As part of the Novoland universe, I was hoping to see more fight scenes. In the first few episodes, they had simple and slow-motion fights. A few better fight and battle scenes sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to satisfy my wuxia/xianxia thirst. The only "Novoland" part of this drama is the mermaid. I guess it might be too much to ask for the Winged Clan. It seems like almost all actors and actresses use their own voices, except for William Chan. People complain about Yang Mi's voice not being the same as in her other dramas. I guess fans are disappointed that she has such a young voice. I am all for actors using their own voices, but I do have to admit it was quite distracting and annoying to hear Yang Mi's young voice when she's supposed to be a boy/man. Her voice does sound deeper when she became a soldier/general. I also find the voice and the way Zi Lan (3FL) talks a little annoying.
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Romance and Healing drama set in the land of war and bad English.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25As part of IQiyi’s Love On series, the focus of the drama has to be more than just about soldiers, war and killing. Romance has to play a big part of the story, at least 50%. If the romance sucks, I will not be able to give this drama a high rating. Luckily, I enjoy the main romance for the most part.
Romance:
Let’s start with the negatives: slowness! And I am not talking about just the pacing of the romance, but how slow the leads talk and move. Why are they talking so slowly? Is it supposed to be romantic? This is my biggest problem with the romance! LOL. Additionally, I was losing a tiny little patience during their initial flirting/getting-to-know-each-other stage. It’s very obvious that they like each other but it took them so long to confess. Why are they acting like shy high school kids when they are 30-year-old professionals? Why is FL acting like a lovesick girl always following ML around? Having said all that, I do like their flirting, their shy smiles and many cute and fluffy scenes. As a reward for my patience, the cute couple does deliver sweetness and fluffiness to offset the sad parts of the drama. I like the quiet stubbornness and strength inside them, and their unwavering loyalty and love for each other. I know others are less patient with their lack of open communication but I am actually OK with it. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are central to this story. It takes years for someone to be healed, so for them to hide that part of themselves, I do find that acceptable. Therefore, it was actually very satisfying to see them slowly open up to each other and let the other into their misery a little bit at a time. I especially enjoy their confrontation during the school bully arc. At first, that arc seems out of place, but it became the catalyst of them revealing their pain. I was worried about their ending as I’ve read some comments. In the end, I am at peace and am OK with it. I was preparing for the worst.
Careers:
I admit I am not familiar with volunteering in the capacity that ML is doing. Therefore, I find it hard to imagine that a volunteer can be so involved in military decisions and operations. Sure, they must have gone through a background check, but military business is no joke. You can’t have civilians doing what ML is doing. On the other hand, as a reporter, FL is not reporting much. Sure, it showed a little of her work during the initial episodes. But for the most part, she’s just tagging along and going on ‘dates’. I wanted to see more reporting, e.g. in episode 1, or more interviews and articles, and not just Weibo/WeChat moment posts. There’s so much more the drama can include FL’s career into the plot in a more meaningful and realistic way.
East Country and Wars:
The writing in the East Country also has plot holes here and there. I still can’t believe FL not wearing her helmet during that dangerous scene in ep 1. I so wanted to yell through the TV screen and shake some sense in her lovesick brain. This is just me, the English spoken gives me a headache. Chen Zhe Yuan’s English is probably the best and most tolerable out of all actors (Chinese and foreigners). It’s so hard to take this seriously when you know for sure English is not the primary language, yet every single one speaks English. Compared to other disaster and war-themed dramas, the execution and budget are just OK. The acting of the minor roles, such as people from the East Country, isn’t that great and their acting takes me out of the serious scenes. Luckily, the main cast really delivered and I became invested again.
Brotherhood:
Yes, I can see why everyone said that the relationship between Ben and Sa Xin is more than just friends/comrades. Is censorship the problem? Did they intentionally try to bait us and frustrate us? I never read the novel, so I don’t know if they are more than friends in the book. Ben and Sa Xin do have some great and fun scenes together, but I might not be as in love with them as many others. On the other hand, I do enjoy this quiet and more mature bond between Ben and Li Zan. I would have loved it more if the drama actually gave us a little more scenes of them together. The earlier scenes are all about Li Zan and Jiang Lin. It makes it hard to believe that Ben and Li Zan already have developed as strong a bond as Li Zan and Jiang Lin.
I would recommend this drama for romance lovers who want war/healing/PTSD as a backdrop, but definitely not for those who want a serious and well-executed war-themed drama. I would also recommend this if you are fans of Chen Zhe Yuan and Liang Jie because their acting is really good. I am happy to see them move away from their usual rom-come selves, and try something more challenging. PTSD is not a topic commonly addressed in a romance drama, but I think “The White Olive Tree” did a good job in showing the reality of the suffering and healing process, especially with Chen Zhe Yuan’s excellent. The only other recent drama I recall that addresses PTSD was Yang Yang in “Glory of Special Forces”. Yang Yang, believe or not, also did an excellent job there. Despite my complaints, I enjoy the main romance and acting for the most part, and I like the OST. therefore, I am giving this an 8.25 rating.
Completed: 4/30/2025 - Review #571
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Spicy but not too Spicy
Well, @Jojo said this is spicy, so I’ve got to check it out for myself. LOL 😉 Compared to your average J-drama, “Kiss de Fusaide, Barenaide” aka “Kiss Bare” does have more kisses and skinship. Are they all executed well, mm…. Not really. The first few kisses were fish kisses, but they do improve. There’s a stark difference between the first and the last kiss. But I do think the kisses and the intimate scenes happen naturally enough plotwise (except for the first couple episodes) and don’t feel too forced.Shioya Daisuke (ML) is actually a reserved but good and sweet guy. But unfortunately, his introduction to viewers does not cast a positive light on him. He’s like a horny guy who has too much pent up sexual energy and can’t wait to release them all out, after FL showed her affection. On a very petty and subjective note, I don’t find the actor, Fujii Ryusei, attractive because of his bangs. I also didn’t like his acting very much. His supposed soft and caring eyes look pretentious and insincere to me. Actually, I don’t find any of the male characters attractive. But FL and the ex are pretty!
Plotwise, it’s a very simple office romance. Sometimes, we all need a comfort drama like this. But there are a few frustrating moments and decisions that make me cringe or shake my head.
I don’t think I would recommend “Kiss Bare”, as there are other similar dramas that are executed better. But if you are curious and want to check out how ‘spicy’ it is, the drama has only ten 20-23-minute long episodes, so it’s an easy and quick binge.
Completed: 4/26/2025 - Review #570
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Strong and Likable Characters in a Historical, Political Romance Drama
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75 (warning: long review)I did not read the novel, so my review is based just on the drama itself. “Are You The One” covers many different topics - lies, fake marriage, business, politics, fight for the throne, amnesia and of course romance. For the most part, the drama strikes a pretty good balance. Except for the amnesia plot that’s taken a little too long (more about this below), this drama holds my attention for all 40 episodes.
“Are You The One” is a dark horse favorite for me. I came in without expectation as I was in some sort of drama funk. A lower budget production without a big blockbuster cast doesn’t attract too much attention. But the popularity of Zhang Wan Yi from “Lost You Forever” probably drives some traffic. I personally didn’t watch that drama. Instead, I really like Zhang Wan Yi in “The Bond” and that’s also what prompted me to try this drama out. Let’s start with the ‘negatives’.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Length of the Drama/Amnesia/Plot
As mentioned above, I felt that the amnesia plot lasted way too long. I was waiting for Liu Mian Tang (FL) to gain her memory back and was anticipating a big showdown and blowout. As much as I enjoy the slow development of the lead romance, I can’t wait for more to happen. The business plot was fine in the beginning, but it drags on. I was also a little unclear in the beginning about the political strife between Cui Xing Zhou (ML) and Zi Yu+party. I wonder if these factors would be the reasons why many think the drama is slow and drop it. I think 30-35 episodes would be sufficient to cover all storylines and make the pacing better.
2. Sun Yun Er
She was so badass for half of the drama. She might be obsessed with Zi Yu and did crazy things to jeopardize her original plans, but at least she was interesting to watch. In the latter half of the drama, she is sidelined to become a petty and useless puppet. She was at least a ruthless puppet before.
3. Too Perfect Leads
This point is very subjective. It could be good or bad, or maybe you don’t care. Are Cui Xing Zhou and Liu Mian Tang too perfect? They are both intelligent, courageous, loyal, have a sense of justice, good-looking, and basically are better than anyone else in the drama. Additionally, Liu Mian Tang is a business savvy woman, learns medicine and poison from books, can support in war strategy and be the perfect wife and daughter-in-law. This woman can do no wrong. Are they too perfect for you? Even though they don’t bother me that much, it’s worth noting this down.
4. Part of the Ending
The villain has been calculating, cautious, detail-oriented for so many years. Yet he was triggered to act rashly in the end due to a few angry words from ML. It seems a little uncharacteristic but it’s the end of the drama, we gotta close it out. There’s a really nicely choreographed fight scene in the end. I was enjoying it until the slow mo romantic looks happened. I then can’t take it seriously. I also don’t think that scene is necessary in the grand scheme of things. It’s more of a fan service.
5. Dubbing
This is very subjective as I am a big fan of actors using their own voices. It’s a little disappointing that Wang Chu Ran and Chang Hua Sen were both dubbed. I think the drama would be more intriguing and captivating if the lines were recorded live on scene (even if partially). The acting of the cast is pretty good, so I think being able to hear their emotions when acting would be so much better. Nevertheless, this is a lower budget production, so I shouldn’t expect too much. I think money is spent on other areas (more about this in the positives section).
6. Makeup
Also subjective here because I can’t stand the ugly white makeup on the male characters. And at times, Wang Chu Ran’s eye shadow reminds me of the racoon eyes that Luo Yun Xi has in “Till The End of the Moon”. Zhang Wan Yi also continues to look quite clean when he’s in a war battle (a few smudges here and there don’t count), or when he’s hurt and in prison. His white makeup is the most distracting, especially when he’s not ill.
What I Like:
1. Strong and Likable Characters
Despite my ‘complaints’ about the leads, they also make the audience want to root for them. Who doesn’t like a power couple? They are fun to watch when they are steps ahead of everyone. And it’s not just the main leads. The two supporting couples are also very easy to root for, especially, when they are not as perfect. They feel more real. They make mistakes but also evolve throughout the drama. With all three couples, they are likable individually but even better when pairing up to be better versions of themselves. I also like how the drama gives equal screen time to the female and male characters to have their own storylines.
2. Acting
Coming in, I wasn’t sure of Wang Chu Ran. She’s pretty and elegant. But is she capable of carrying the show on her shoulders? I think she did a pretty job and no less than her performance in “Fireworks of my Heart”. As I mentioned, I already like Zhang Wan Yi and I enjoy his portrayal of Lord Huaiyang. He’s charismatic as the lord, and lovely has a doting husband (he has a cute pouty look). Comparatively, I find Chang Hua Sen a little less charismatic as Liu Yu, but elegant and scholarly as Zi Yu. A surprise find for me is Yuan Yu Xuan’s portrayal of the timid and shy Shi Xue Ji. She is one of my favorite characters in this drama. Additionally, this drama has a large supporting cast by many veteran actors. Their acting is top notch.
3. Romance
If you are a romance lover like me, you might be pretty happy with this drama. There are 3 romance storylines and each of them is unique and special.
- Liu Mian Tang + Cui Xing Zhou - this power couple started as enemies/strangers and slowly developed feelings for each other in a fake marriage. I can’t lie that I wasn’t frustrated with the treatment of ML to FL during the amnesia plot. I think the fake identity dragged on for too long, but from a romance point of view, the hesitation can be viewed as reasonable. I also enjoy them supporting each other, being able to openly communicate their feelings for better or for worse. Their initial romance is calm and constant, and then it’s a little angsty in the middle before becoming sweet and supportive. It was a great journey.
- Shi Xue Ji + Zi Yu - we don’t see a relationship like this often in C-dramas. Political marriages are either portrayed as the couple hating/ignoring each other + a love triangle/square, or they fall in love during the process. But their relationship is different. They are not quite friends but more like partners and comrades. I hope true feelings develop in that very last scene.
- He Zhen + Marques Zhennan - they are the fun pair who bicker from start to finish. I actually think they got the short end of the stick, as their romance somewhat happened behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see the guy chasing after the girl and be as supportive as possible.
4. Meaningful Conversations + Implied meanings
Because the leads are quite communicative, there are many meaningful conversations throughout the drama. The drama also uses many ‘old language’ with idioms and poetry. I am not sure how they are translated in English since I was able to read Chinese subtitles. But when a drama is able to convey a secretive message with just a few words, it speaks highly of the writing of the drama or its source materials. I especially love ML’s confession to FL about how he loves all about her, and not just the adoring housewife that she was. Another favorite is the love birds analogy Shi Xue Ji told Zi Yu in persuading him to let go.
5. Costumes + Hair Accessories
I am a big fan of beautiful costumes and hair accessories. If this is not a high budget production, it’s dedicating enough money to have simple and elegant costumes for the characters. Zhang Wang Yi looks dashing in his simple attire, and only a little fancier in the latter episodes when he’s moved back to the city. Wang Chu Ran looks elegant and sophisticated with minimal makeup and hair accessories. But when needed, all the women in the palace have elaborate and not-faking hair accessories. I also appreciate the use of the hair pins in this drama. They don’t necessarily serve as a mere ornament, but contribute to important scenes and storylines.
- Hair pins are used to show the social status and hierarchy in a family
- FL’s hair pins are used as a weapon of convenience in a few scenes.
- FL’s special glow-in-the-dark hair pin was used in a couple storylines
- A 12-piece set contributed to the downfall of a character
This drama is definitely not perfect. But I think it strikes a pretty good balance in most of the topics it wants to cover. It has a strong and likable cast (ok, except one annoying auntie). The politics are not dry or boring. I would definitely recommend this to those who love romance in historical, political dramas. But if you are looking for a serious political drama, this might not satisfy you. I was tempted to give this drama a solid 9.0 when I finished it, but held back after I detailed everything in this review. Nevertheless, I had a fantastic time watching “Are You The One”.
P.s this is a long review. Thank you for reading until the end. 🙂
Completed: 9/8/2024 - Review #482
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