whoever decided on the pacing should be left behind and cut... jk not jk
production: i don't think the production looks low budget at all. even if it is, i didn't mind it and thought it was fitting for the storyline they had in mind.story: this is where they messed up. the plot can be engaging but the screenplay is the worst. the pacing is terrible, i don't know what's happening, and the end was clearly rushed. they could build the relationship more and tell the backstories much more but i ended but not satisfied... they need to invest on better screenplays because this is not it.
acting: the other two actors were good for bl standards, the actors that played yeong woo and yi bin. the other one that played ki jin is clearly a rookie and it showed especially on the "emotional" scene. but the acting didn't bother me it's the pacing that ruined this show for me. kudos on the kissing scene tho! they did a great job and it's not a dead fish kiss. like that's how you do a kissing scene!
ost: the ost is so good. i keep repeating the "wish upon the stars", it's a top 3 bl ost of all time for me
rewatch value: i won't be rewatching the whole show maybe some scenes like their date scene and the kissing scenes.. because that's the only good parts like why would i rewatch a show that has a terrible pacing.
overall: so much potential but they dropped the ball so hard... like the first few episodes are good but then they cannot make stories that feel fleshed out and not rushed. i feel like at this point, kbl need to focus on the story, because that's the reason some of us are watching. the kissing scene saved this bl for me, otherwise, it would've gotten an even lower score.
Was this review helpful to you?
Liar Game 2 is a continuation of the first and all the same elements of the 1st Liar Game are in play in this second installment.
The premise is the same but the games are different. I liked that for Nao, the stakes are higher. She gets involved with the games for a purpose and her over the top hope for finding the truth and honesty in humanity becomes a real part of the plot. Again, the relationship between her and Akiyama further solidifies as the games go on. There is character development. Not just for the leads but other character/s as well.
I actually liked the games in this one better; higher stakes, bigger losses, twistier games. All good things!
If you like Liar Game than Liar Game 2 is a natural progression. Why stop at the first when you get a chance to re-enter this strange world? I highly recommend this sequel.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Great Blend Of Politics, Romance And Women Empowerment
I just finished watching Dominion and Devotion, and I have to say, it was an incredible series. The short length worked well, and everything from the directing to the costumes, set, acting, and even the music was good. On top of that, the story was solid and engaging – definitely time well spent.The series is filled with political intrigue, which can get complex, but I appreciate how everything was explained. There weren’t any major plot holes, which is always a win in my book.
Story Overview:
The main plot revolves around Pei Shen Zhi, the son of the last ruler who fell, and now working as a eunuch with his foster father, Bai Hai Tao. Pei Shen Zhi manipulates the political turmoil surrounding the last emperor to install a puppet ruler, who ends up being Ning Jing Yi, the fifth "prince" of the Great Ning. However, Ning Jing Yi is actually a woman, hiding her identity. She tries to escape the palace with her aunt, but after being caught and facing the threat of her aunt’s life, she reluctantly accepts the role of the "puppet" emperor.
Both lead characters were smart and politically savvy, which I really appreciated. Their dynamic was full of tension, and the romance between them was done so well – from enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and a slow burn. The tension was palpable. I kind of wish Pei Shen Zhi had discovered her true identity a bit later (like after episode 4), but it wasn’t a big deal. His brief "gay panic" moment was fun. When they finally admitted their love for each other, it felt meaningful – not just a small, fleeting thing. The idea of a female emperor and a eunuch as a pair was quite intriguing and unique.
I also loved the antagonist, not because he was likable, but because he was well-written. He was ambitious, smart, and definitely a challenge to deal with, which made him an interesting character.
The supporting cast was fantastic too. Li Jing Xian, Ning Jing Yi’s aunt, was a great character. She was always there for the female lead and cared for her like no one else. While she wasn’t physically strong, she was incredibly brave when it came to protecting Ning Jing Yi. Huo Zheng, a court officer, had a strong sense of justice that I respected. Luo Wen Jing, a woman who had to disguise herself as a man to survive, was another character I admired.
What stood out to me in this show was how it validated women’s rights without downplaying men’s importance. It was refreshing to see women portrayed in such a powerful, empowering way.
Memorable Scenes:
The first kiss between the leads was perfect, and the wedding scene was beautiful too. The series did a great job building up their relationship, and when they finally came together, it was so satisfying.
One of my favorite arcs was the widow village. The women there were hardworking and managed to survive without the help of men. But of course, a man had to come along and destroy everything, and I was so mad at him. It really drove home the message of female strength.
Ending:
As for the ending, while it wasn’t the typical happily-ever-after with the leads living a peaceful married life, I still loved it. Pei Shen Zhi sacrificed for a greater cause, and his absence didn’t diminish their love. The final moments were powerful, showing Ning Jing Yi embracing her power as a female emperor. Her costume was stunning, and I loved how the show didn’t make her rise to power a quick, one-night transformation. The gradual change felt real and meaningful.
Overall, Dominion and Devotion is a fantastic series that balances politics, romance, and strong female representation. It’s definitely worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Thanks for believing.
This is an investigative Drama in which Romance is not a throw in the window.
Unlike your everyday detective story (especially the episodic one), This one has only one case through out
and it doesn't rely on how genius or clever the Protagonist is... or how awesome they solve the case.
Its a kind of drama that needs character investment. Every twist the plot will give you will strike lightning in your emotion. Observe, feel, analyze, it was very enjoyable and involving.
I know many viewers will pass this up because of its oldness and unfamiliar cast and if some random user attempt to watch it will drop it once he/she mis-concept it as a boring drama since the atmosphere isn't the same as the one we everyday saw in this generation. But if You have some dedication to taste a somewhat unfamiliar territory...you will be rewarded BIGtime as this was a genuine drama that are so rare and original.
Story
The first couple of scenes will give you an idea what the show will be going' and the first couple of episodes (which is somewhat slow but just need to build up the complexity of the characters).
It may somewhat buffles you especially for casual viewers..but after that..you will have the sense of it after you see ".....!!" and it will start to hook you..till the end. with Mind blown included. You will appreciate it greatly.
Characters
They are all 3-dimensional, They are all ingredients of the story..if one of them is not there, the story will not be completed. All of them behave different.
Any change in their behavior as the plot progresses affects a lot of consequences.
MUSIC
The OST here are overwhelming
The variety of music pieces have a sense of subtlety which is mesmerizing that doesn't need a lyrics to tell what they mean and let say it has a SOUL.
The sounds often tells many things more than the words not only just there to accompany the scenes.
Some dramas often have "saranghe" songs which is somewhat generic but sounds great ..that uses over and over again which is sometimes cheesy and you will not see it here
Replay
I think this drama is even better when see the second time around.
You know already the twist but you will get a lot of reasoning after repeating.
Good!
-Has a Very Complex Plot
-Moderate pace but detailed
-All Characters you see has a 100% importance to the plot
(3 dimensional characters)
-OST are very varied and haunting
-Very replayable especially for its kind
-Unpredictable
-Realistic (some plot devices can be superficial)
Bad?
-Old Drama
-Not Fast enough for casual
-Actors/Actress may not be familliar to you
-There is only one Song (OP)
-Some will think that a mystery drama has low replay value since you know what will happen the 2nd time around
-No Genius detective that uses more than 10% of their brain (this was proven a myth)
-no wacky moments out of nowhere (like we see in others of the same type)
My Enjoyment statistic
E01 8.5 / E02 8.0 / E03 9.0 / E04 10 / E05 9.5
E06 9.5 / E07 9.5 / E08 10 / E09 10 / E10 9.5 /E11 9.5
note: This is a Dark' Mystery Romance Drama but it is Moving.
There are less violence and not as disturbing as you think.
note2: I just put 9 on Cast and replay just you to notice how astonishing the 'story and the 'music is.
I really want to put 10s on all category in the first place.
Was this review helpful to you?
Joo Ji Hoon will be the initial draw for many. His performance as Yoo Ji Ho is tremendous fun. While the character starts off ridiculously trusting and naive, his development in the second half more than makes up for it. This point is also where Ji Hoon settles into his element. Seemingly improved from Warrior Baek Dong Soo, Ji Chang Wook plays a precariously balanced role with ease. I wanted to hate his Yoo In Ha, but couldn't completely; he was such a pitiable man and, in another life, things might have been different. The three veteran actresses portraying the mothers were also compelling, Chae Si Ra in particular. It must have been difficult pulling off such a complicated character like Young Rang.
Music may be considered another star in Five Fingers. There were many pleasing vocals, including a sad theme by Ji Chang Wook himself: "Fills My Heart." Lim Jeong Hee's "Don't Love Me" seemed to play the most and nearly brought me to tears once or twice. Classical and original instrumentals pepper the rest of the scenes. These work marvelously to amplify their impact and while dynamic, never bring the action over into the cheesy.
Viewers should be aware that Five Fingers deals in themes of domestic abuse and portrays one of the most dysfunctional families ever to grace the screen. The portion before the time skip can be a little hard to watch, and personally my emotions were all over the place.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
TL;dr: I started this show and dropped it after like 2 minutes, because I was so annoyed by the style and biased by the negative opinions of others. But then I saw an edit and wanted to give the show another try... and I fell in love! We really need to care less about other's opinions when it comes to shows, because I watched so many shows that a lot of people dislike, while I enjoyed them. What a pity, if I would have missed all those gems!My Love Letter to Bed Friend, lmao:
I'm a huge huge huge fan of expressed consent, because this topic is really important to me. I also don't like to be touched without permission, so shows which tackle this topic are kinda special to me, because it's not often addressed. I just feel seen when this topic comes up, and I really really LOVE it. Furthermore, I giggle and smile like an idiot whenever this topic comes up in a show.
King absolutely respects Ueas boundaries with no doubt. He asks for permission and takes him serious. He isn't frustrated or annoyed by Uea stating his boundaries and saying "No". Not only that, but he gives Uea the time Uea needs to open up. That made me so happy and I smiled every time. But King also doesn't shy away to vocalize very clearly what he wants and needs. But he also makes clear, that he doesn't want to pressure Uea and respects any decision Uea would make, he is endlessly caring, patient and understanding. Nonetheless: It's not like King is only simping for Uea. But he gives him safety, and that's what Uea needs after all he went through. At the first look, it seems like King puts more effort in it, but he is just the more (talk)active part, who takes the initiative, because Uea is really careful and cautious, what is totally understandable.
The respect they have for each other is just so nice to see, especially since consent is still a topic that many people don't take seriously and belittle it/laugh about. So seeing a show portraying it that way made me really excited, glad and happy, because I can relate so much to Uea.
Good communication: Both leads reflect and apologize! Not one-sided attraction or love. That's often missing in other shows, but here it's stated as mutual in so many scenes, and I love it. They both see when they made mistakes and both take responsibility for it and don't expect the other one to apologize or take the blame. You can absolutely see that they BOTH want to be together and how they put effort into it, to make things work, to understand each other, listen to each other and support each other. It's healthy, mutual, full of respect, dignity and effort and I. Am. Whipped.
King literally devours Uea with his looks in every scene, and I love it. He looks so proud, attracted and whipped for Uea in every shot and I. Am. Melting. Get yourself someone who looks at you the same way King looks at Uea. That's so heartwarming. Overall, Nets acting is just really impressive to me. There are scenes where he only breathes in a specific way, and I'm like "Damn, he expresses so much right now" I could totally see and feel every emotion that both of them wanted to convey.
The acting could be a tiny little bit better here and there, because sometimes it felt a little bit off/stiff. That's also because the pauses between the lines, when they talk to each other, are sometimes unnecessarily long…but that's so little, that it didn't take away from my excitement and love for this show.
Also: Important topics get addressed, just as safer sex, STDs and testing, boundaries. Overall, their communication is just really wholesome, like I explained already.
Ultimate Plus point: No "love fixes all" trope. Yeah, King supports Uea all the way, but Uea puts work in it himself in order to get better! He works for the processing and healing of his trauma! Again: wholesome. He doesn't rely only on King. He doesn't think, just because King accepts and likes him the way he is, he doesn't have to change anything anymore. Furthermore, he works constantly on different things, he grows and he opens up, step by step. The development is great to see!
Likeable support characters: Jade and Gun are great friends, especially Jade. What a cutie patootie! I know…a lot of people dislike characters like him and I can totally understand this, but I love Yim (I fell for him in Cutie Pie) and maybe that's why I have a soft spot for Jade too. I knew that Tutor will appear in the last episode, and I still smiled from ear to ear when he was finally there, because I am just abnormally whipped for them, and I am really excited to watch their story in Middleman's Love, even though I heard a lot of negative things about the show. The other people in the office are also funny and entertaining, and I laughed multiple times when Faii and Muay appeared. You really have to like characters like them to find them funny, and I am surprised by myself that I wasn't annoyed by them.
Funfact; I started Bed Friend a while ago, to get a quick look how the vibe is, and I didn't even make it through the introduction, because I was so annoyed, LOL. And now, I am absolutely in love with the show, the cast and everything. x)
Low angst: Obstacles get solved pretty quickly. It's not dragged, it's not getting boring. I love that! The pacing is absolutely to my taste. Every time when I watched a preview that shows some drama/obstacles, I was afraid. "Okay, that's the moment, where the show will f*ck it up. Now there's drama incoming, and they will drag it :(" but nope, every episode I got surprised again. The problems were solved quickly and nicely. Maybe for other people, too fast and unproblematic, but I absolutely loved this.
Lovely Soundtrack: The lyrics for the OSTs are very fitting, what I also like. It's great to think back to a show, when I listen to the OSTs afterward and the lyrics tell the story again.
Relatable characters: The characters make sense. Their behavior is understandable. Uea is absolutely not annoying! If you understand trauma, you also understand him. People who say he's annoying just don't understand what trauma does to someone. I can absolutely relate to him, and he is probably my favorite character ever. I love how he teases King and how King loves every second of it. But I also see the little moments, where Uea steps over his shadow and pushes himself out of his comfort zone, to open up to King and give him something back. To show him that he trusts King and wants this thing between them just as much as King wants it. They also share some lovey-dovey moments, where Uea doesn't joke around, just to tease King, but gives him serious the confirmation King asks for. It's a great balance of teasing, but making clear that he wants him too. Bratty characters are often written in a frustrating way, because either they never admit that they like the other person, or they take too long to admit it. So it can get annoying pretty easily. Characters like this have a high chance to frustrate me, because I want to see a relationship that shows me a mutual love story. I'm not interested in one-sided love, but shows with bratty characters have a high tendency to fail to deliver this, because it's easy to miss the chance to turn the characters' behavior just slightly, so they don't fail to sell me their love. But yeah, like I said, Uea nails this balance and his teasing always comes off as very loveable, without the intention to hurt King or make fun of him in a disrespectful way and the serious moments always come off as very sincere and lovely.
The Ending: Usually I don't like time skips at the end, because I feel disconnected from the story. It is just not connected to the rest and the smooth flow is lost. But in Bed Friend, I didn't mind them much. Maybe because they happen on a casual basis, so it was kind of part of the whole vibe. I also don't like it much when they pack the last episode full of sudden happy events. Like wedding, Pregnancy (well, more in straight dramas, but if you know, you know) etc. It just feels kinda off. I know that dramas don't need to be realistic, and I don't have this standard either, but somehow it often feels like too much and not fitting to the rest of the story. It feels like the writers try to use everything to push the happiness to the maximum level. But here again, I didn't mind it at all. I am so in love with KingUea, that it really made me happy, that they got the full package of a happy ever after in the end, because - especially Uea - they went through so much shit, that they just deserve every inch of happiness they can get.
Bed friend became an absolute comfort show for me. I enjoyed every second and I love love love it. I felt so relaxed, watching the show. KingUea are both freaking attractive, cute, adorable and sweet characters. The show gave me so many tropes that I just LOVE and adore (and don't find often in other shows, so I was even more excited). I was glued to my screen, devouring the show just like King devoured Uea and I definitely don't regret it.
Kudos to everyone who actually read all of this. I don't even know how this could have happen. That's for sure my longest review ever. :'D
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I'm not really sure how I feel about this drama. I don't want to say that I really enjoyed it but I don't want to say that I dislike it either. Great things in this drama:
-the acting
-the chemistry between the main lead actors
-it's loosely based off a real person in history
-formidable villains
-the pace generally isn't too slow unlike many dramas
-some character development
-happy ending unlike many Chinese historical dramas
-well thought out uses of symbols and cinematography
Bad things in this drama:
-the setup for the ending
-frustrating villains but this is what the drama intended so it's not actually a bad thing
In comparison, the good things should outweigh the one real bad thing, which is the ending. However, the ending really decides how good the drama is. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the drama writers kinda pulled a deux ex machina from their butts at the end which I wasn't particularly happy about. I appreciate the effort to end the drama on a positive note but still...
In any case, the journey through most of the drama itself will probably negate the weird ending. I'm rating the rewatch value lower because I'd skip all the angsty villainy parts and just rewatch the good romantic scenes. Overall, pretty good drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
Refreshing dynamics is exactly what we all need from time to time.
Love Tractor just does not follow any of the cliché character portrayal and I love it.Is the story complex? No. Do any of the side characters have any depth? No. Is there any solid conflict? No. And that’s why it’s so good and serves as a perfect fun and relaxing watch. Each episode makes you fall in love with a new aspect of the drama. At first I just adored Yechan, then I started to appreciate the aesthetically pleasing shots of the rural area. Without me even noticing I started to like Yul more and more and by the end I was completely smitten by his dynamic with baby Yechan. It just gradually builds positive emotions and energy - I could not stop smiling as I was watching.
Some scenes and plotlines seemed a bit random, most were underdeveloped, but at the end of the day, the focus was on the growing relationship and trust between Yul and Yechan, and I’m fine with it.
The acting was great and I will even defend the village head chief (or however they called him). Was his presence extremely random? Yes. But somehow even that aspect was endearing and his friendship with Yechan was simply adorable. I loved how Yoon Do Jin was able to make extremely expressive Yechan feel natural and never over the top in an unrealistic manner. I appreciated how Do Won’s presentation of Yul showed you can have a more reserved character that does not come across as cold and distant.
Production value was great. The visuals were stunning - both in terms of cast and the scenery ;)
Overall, such a pleasant watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Where Something in the Rain tried and failed, One Spring Night tries and scores a home run.
He is "flawed", he is a single dad of a son. She's got a boyfriend at the start and are starting to talk about Marriage, but she's not on the same page and frustrated with the relationship. This sets up the tone for a story with lots of factors working against the couple, whether it's the notion that she might be considered to have "cheated" on her boyfriend, or whether others will accept that she wants to get involved with a single dad and all the "baggage" that brings. Parents on both sides bring challenges but they're different, the ML's parents are over protective about things that might bring him the kind of sadness that left him a single dad and the FL's parents are traditional and "difficult".
I was absolutely delighted with the FL's mother in this, you can see her growing and evolving around the changing situation around her and reacting in a really great and supportive way - even if it takes her a bit to get there. The same actress played the absolutely nasty mother in Something in the Rain so this was a redemption from my perspective, as odd as that might sound :)
Initially I was confused about why the FL wasn't being more direct about breaking up with her boyfriend, and I must confess that I'm married to my first love (24 years now) so... i'm totally inexperienced in this kind of thing... but as the story progressed I grew to appreciate that it hadn't been a binary switch-off, it made the time that things properly change that much more valuable when it happened, and also meant that her previous relationship wasn't trivialised and thereby her attitude to relationships in general wasn't.
It did also somewhat talk to one of my other general meanderings - if someone cheats, betrays a partner, and goes to someone else... surely the new partner must always have in the back of their mind - that person has already demonstrated that they have the capacity to change, to betray and to move on, what worked in their favour today could happen again but against them. The ML's insecurities about this surface at an important point and it creates some tension but I thought it was dealt with well.
There are other arcs in this as well, I think that the general arc that follows her and her sisters around and the things happening to them is probably just as important as the main love story.
I struggle to find flaw with this, I was just so happy watching it all the way through, other than towards then end when I realised I was going to run out of show and this amazing couple were no longer going to be in my life, but, i'll probably get over that when I start my next drama :-P
Highly recommended, and as the flow is not really ruined by knowing what happens, it makes it all the more easy to re-watch again if you want 16 episodes of lovely warmth to keep you company on a cold weekend.
Was this review helpful to you?
The perfect comedy to cure your drama hangover/withdrawal
What an unexpected delight! This show is loaded with laughs and parodies of common costume drama tropes. It's so silly yet funny that you will pay no attention to its less than stellar plot.This is the perfect change-up to cure your drama withdrawal as its silliness and hilarity is sure to break the trance. Best of all, there should be no concerns about whether the plot will suck, angst, unsatisfactory ending, and all that nonsense. Just laugh along for the ride and get off investment free if the funny stops.
Also kudos to the FL for not afraid to look ugly occasionally for the lols.
7.5 (+1.0 MDL inflation)
Was this review helpful to you?
What an underrated, unexpected gem.I highly recommend, give it a chance! You won't regret it.
I give it 10/10! If I could I would give it 20/10! It wasn't the most perfect drama to ever exist by any means, it had multiple issues but! It made me VERY VERY happy! Constantly and consistently from beginning to the end, on multiple fronts.Amazing casting and acting. All the characters are very human and down to earth. None of them were perfect and all of their flaws and plus sides were shown equally in every ep. Sometimes they are progressive, sometimes not, but the show never judges them too harsh and instead sheds a sympathetic and understanding light on them which added SO much gravitas and strength to their characters.
It showed that period dramas can have women that are more than the "weak, pitiful, purpose is to marry well and make babies" stereotype and the "21st Century feminist who doesn't give a damn" stereotype.
Marvelous Women ladies were none of those, and both of those and also more at the same time. Even the most minor character got their own storyline and it was integrated well to main plot, so it wasn't forced or distracting.
From the premise I mainly just expected a typical pretentious Yu Zheng drama about Suzhou weaving and a dash of GL, but it ended up being quite the thoughtful discussion about period typical sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, polygamy, sex work, what does it mean to be "virtuous" and where does the woman's choice lie among all that, and much more to various but quite satisfying degrees.
I think it just shows how rare this kind of storytelling and how much I've been craving for it, when I think back about my initial impression of this drama, how unsure I was about what to make of it. I couldn't even pinpoint that this was exactly what I wanted at the beginning! Because I haven't seen such a work in so long, I was unused to it.
And now I think it spoiled me for period dramas. I'll be subconsciously judging and dropping 2x more dramas than I used to in future.🤭
Was this review helpful to you?
The Sound of Wulin with A Lot of Romance
This is a delightful wuxia drama which I almost skipped because I wasn’t very fond of Yu Menglong after The Love Lasts Two Minds. However, the overwhelming positive comments on the MDL page urges me to watch for myself, and I’m glad I did. The storyline of this drama is very typical of the old days wuxia stories whereby wǔ shù (martial arts) practitioners leave their sects and go to the world for experience and do good deeds by helping anyone in need.The Story
This is a story about a very young girl, Zhan Qinghong (Xing Fei aka Fair Xing) leaving her home and sect with her closest friend/maid to see the world. She comes to meet Lin Fang (Yu Menglong) who is the most handsome man in the country. Lin Fang doesn’t date women but somehow he falls head over heels in love with her secretly. For her, she falls in love instead with another man, Wen You (Merxat Yalkun) with whom they have gone through life and death together, helping and saving each other. Their romance continues for more than half of the drama before they separate due to circumstances beyond their control. Zhan Qinghong is devastated but Lin Fang is there with her all the time helping her getting through her pains and heal. She begins to fall in love with him. Together, they discover a greater conspiracy and eventually save the country.
I really enjoy watching wuxia stories like this about wulin, having all wulin virtues and values with “yi chi” as the utmost quality. Many of the wuxia heroes would sacrifice themselves for this virtue. Like the government providing a formal law and order for the country, wulin provides an informal law and order for people in the “jianghu” (pugilist communities). In this story, the flexibility of wulin is interlaced with the discipline of the government military, making it a formidable soldier with an intriguing story of supervillains, ingenious super doctor who can cure anything, mysteries, treason, espionage, conspiracies, battles, and more.
As with many wuxia dramas, the logic and dialogues are at times over-simplistic, shallow and repetitive, and yet, there are moments they are deep, endearing and intelligent, especially when it comes to the principles of sword fighting and the duty of wulin.
The Characters and The Acting
Zhan Qinghong is a forthright, naïve, happy-go-lucky girl with “yi chi” being her main calling. With a pair of forever-wide-open eyes and a frozen smile, Xing Fei’s portrayal is cute at the same time receiving a lot of criticisms from viewers. Despite this (flaw or not), Xing Fei gives the viewers an air of energy and as Zhan Qinghong, with her everything-is-good charisma, she always manages to turn anything bad into good. Together with her best friend maid, they create silly and happy moments, making the viewers laugh out loud; their dynamics are incredible and endearing, and earn the honor of being called stupid and dumb from Huo Yang (Zhang Kaitai). Flanking Lin Fang's side, Xing Fei makes a convincing protector, and her sword fighting choreography is also beautifully executed and very believable.
Lin Fang is an intelligent and meticulous strategic thinker. Having a sickly body due to poor health (he has been poisoned), he doesn’t know any wukong (martial arts), but he understands the principles of wukong as his father was one of the prominent wuxia heroes leading the wulin as its “Mengzhu” (united master). He outwits everyone and becomes the “Mengzhu” himself and has two top fighters, Wen You and Zhan Qinghong, flanking his sides as protectors. I have not been impressed by Yu Menglong because of his poor performance in The Love Lasts Two Minds, but in this drama, he seems to have improved slightly. Perhaps it’s the character that he’s playing, he still seems rather stiff, moving not unlike a robot. Despite this, I still love the Lin Fang character. Though sickly, he’s a mastermind of everything, always a few steps ahead of the antagonists. He feels like Mei Changsu (Nirvana in Fire) without the latter’s charisma. In later episodes, Lin Fang does transform into a more animated person, joking and moving around more freely and naturally.
All the other cast members’ performances are equally good and believable, in particular Tong Chun Yip (aka Kent Tong) who portrays the supervillain Wang Dun and Merxat Yalkun who portrays Wen You, each bringing out life in their characters on the screen.
There are multiple very adorable second couples here, with one couple ends in tragedy. My favorite couple is of course the Huo Yang / Xiao Lan pair with a super handsome cool guy and a direct innocent silly girl. The pair is simply hilarious and brings a lot of colors to the scenes especially when things are going intense.
My Verdict
This is absolutely a very well told story deserves our attention and precious time. It has all the tension and suspense coupled with silly actions and dialogues from the main characters. The cinematography is great and the CGI is convincing. Perhaps the only obvious flaw (among others which I don’t really mind) I find is the attention to details in particular the unmatched wedding gowns worn by our main characters. Overall, this is a very wonderful wuxia story with a lot of romance.
Enjoyable watch. Don't miss it!
Was this review helpful to you?
My Favourite Chinese Dramas of 2020
This drama has just ended timely for the year for me to pick as my favorite C Drama of 2020. Everything I love in a drama is here; touching human situations, unforgettable music score (a sucker for that), interesting story developments, great looking casts and stunningly beautiful prop and cinematography. The story and filming location is based in Dali, Yunnan which is my favorite province in China (I'm a Chinese Malaysian). You may notice the high quality setting and gorgeous interior design which I treasure a lot in the drama.The first few episodes may be a bit slow for some people especially with the dreamy location of Dali's lake district and laid back, vacation vibe of Erhai lakeside town. I was soon drawn into the series when I noticed the dual perspectives, that go on until episode 14., have been cleverly done . The whole drama wins me over with its non-predictable plots and three dimensional characters; there is no totally evil main villain here.
The two male leads are very handsome and act brilliantly while the female lead is beautiful in a mature and graceful way. All the supporting casts also give excellent performance. Zhan Yu's character is empathetic and you will be happy to rewatch his scenes in the finale. This is one drama you will not think 40 episodes are too long because many characters are given enough screen time to make an impression including the adorable interaction of Zhao Ting Hui's (2nd Male Lead) subordinate cop in the last few episodes.
I hope other Chinese directors take note of this drama by not showing spoilers in the intro song and use original voice which make the watching experience so much better. In one of the climatic scenes involving a bomb, you could hear the music score changes from poignant to heart throbbing to heroic. The brilliant music scores move me many times to tears throughout the series and the few songs featured are also very melodic.
The last 15 minutes of the finale could have been rearranged to please more people but since this drama has been quite different from others, I guess the director wants it this way.
Thank you director for the fantastic series! I will remember the leads fondly and look out for Li Qing's (Zhan Yu in the character) future work. I was pleasantly surprised to see extra scenes of him!
PS: This has been a strange year for C Drama where my favorites are all modern dramas; this drama, Ordinary Glory, Hikaru No Go and 安家 as I gave up many period dramas with childish leads and ridiculous cross dressing FL.
Was this review helpful to you?
another light, fun, and pretty entertaining drama!
I was so happy because Chinese drama are getting better these year, especially in this quarantine time. From the first episode, this drama is very attractive and have a different kind of story. Not like your typical CEO drama, because the character of CEO in here is very stingy but it’s not a problem because this is the most funny and laughable part.This drama is a something new for me.. because the story in here is very different. The female lead, Meng Hui is a make up artist, but suffering a PTSD and it makes her become another personality at random and she has a scar in her face (oh yes, a scar on the face is really big problems in china) that make her suffering for years. She got this because of an accident when she was a kid. Although I don’t understand anything about physiological things, but this kind of story is really interesting yet confusing because I can't imagine how the female lead going through this kind of pain for years. And the male lead, Shen Yi is the main reason because of it. He is the CEO of cosmetic company, and he tried really hard to make a liquid foundation to cover the scar for the girl who he hurt before. Both of them have their own difficulties and struggles, and when they both fall in love, you know that it will make a different kind of emotions.
So, watching this drama you will feel happy, sad, regret, and cried too. You want they are together but at the same time you will feel bad to the female lead too.
However, you should watch this drama because it has a very beautiful and amazing story, all the main leads and supporting leads are very handsome and pretty! Every character is so good and all their acting are amazing too. The doctor, her friends, his assistant, the parents and even all the coworkers are great! Love their relationship. Another plus point is the supporting lead, which is Sui An (the doctor and the male lead's best friend) is very good looking and I am looking forward to watch his drama as a male lead.
Totally recommended because this drama definitely one of my fav drama too and surely will rewatch it later!
Was this review helpful to you?
An emotional roller coaster ride!
It's a heartwarming story that revolves around real life struggles, emotions, relations, family and friendship. It's one the most realistic dramas I have ever seen, there wasn't anything exaggerated. You can feel every emotion and every sentiment. It's just not only entertain but also teaches a lot. It does not have heavy romance but there are many cute and heart fluttering moments. No one is perfect, everyone has flaws and everyone can make mistakes and make wrong decisions sometimes but even if we cannot change them but we can improve ourselves to not make same choice again.I liked the fact that there were no silly misunderstandings, unnecessary breakups and some typical cliches in it. The story was well written and well executed. There were many heartwarming scenes that you'll feel flooded by emotions, I cried a lot not just in one or two scenes but many times I felt their pain, emotions. I love the relationship between father and daughter, the bromance, their trio, there friends. Even if you won't like some character in the beginning but eventually you won't hate them even there decisions were wrong but they had there reasons. I felt the ending was rush but it's only fact I don't like it overall it was a great experience. It is a cute drama that definitely bring a smile on your face.
It's one the best dramas I've seen so far so I totally recommend it to you, you'll definitely enjoy and love it as I did.
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Who are you most excited to see!!39 seconds ago -
LETS TALK ABOUT FASHION13 minutes ago -
Wen Zhicheng (闻至承)29 minutes ago
-
Role Reversal (RR) Drama Lovers Club50 minutes ago -
BL Drama Lovers Club52 minutes ago
