I would say that it's not an overly original drama but that it doesn't feel cliched in a bad way.
Now, there are characters you don't even need to watch. I fully admit that once I got to episode 6 or so, I just started fast forwarding straight past the rich mother/father pair (who were meant to be humorous but all of their scenes were either the father cheating on his wife, or the wife screeching about something), the douchebag and mistress pair, and even sometimes the evil witch and his cronies. It's the kind of drama where seeing those scenes at triple speed and not reading every single subtitle is fine because there's nothing you can't figure out when Ton and Vana are next on screen anyway.
The special effects were about what you'd expect. I've definitely seen worse.
I would rewatch this but just Ton and Vana's scenes, just to watch them stare into each others eyes and look beautiful. Those actors had chemistry, I hope I can see both of them in more dramas to come. It helps that they're both very attractive.
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Over the top camp (cheese, what ever you want to call it) story involving love for your crappy home town even though everyone else thinks that place is the pits. Great Cast, great shout out to huge names in Japanese entertainment From Chiba and Saitama. I love a movie that doesn't take itself seriously and is made out of love and fun.
Make sure to watch then end credits and song lyrics.
This review will self destruct in 5 seconds. ; )
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A Heartfelt Ode to Macau
Begin Again is a charming drama aired during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to China after over 400 years of Portuguese rule. Beyond being a simple drama, it serves as a love letter to Macau, showcasing the city’s idyllic lifestyle, unique culinary heritage, and cultural blend of East and West. Macau is also a unique confluence of Mandarin and Cantonese, and the drama beautifully highlights this linguistic duality, adding depth and authenticity to its portrayal of the city.Set against Macau’s slower-paced lifestyle—a stark contrast to the hustle of nearby metropolises like Hong Kong and Shenzhen—the series weaves its story through vibrant visuals of local delicacies, historic landmarks, and contemporary attractions. Its promotional intent is clear, and it delivers beautifully on this front.
Storyline
The narrative takes its time to introduce the four main characters, whose chance meetings evolve into meaningful connections. While the overarching plot takes a backseat to Macau’s scenic and cultural showcase, the character interactions provide a gentle framework for the drama’s progression.
֍ Mai You Ge (Amy Chen): An advertising executive in Macau to oversee a promotional video project for an international hotel. Lost in a foreign city where she doesn’t speak the language, she meets Xu Jun Le (Sunny Sun), a charismatic local who doubles as her informal guide and companion.
֍ Chen Jia Hui (Zhong Chu Xi): An art director and artist representing Macau’s glamorous and artistic side. She crosses paths with Han Jun Hao (Elvis Han), a professional race car driver in town for the thrilling Macau Grand Prix. Their first encounter—a spontaneous and adrenaline-fueled motorcycle race—sets the stage for a story brimming with speed and passion.
֍ The third and quirkier subplot involves a hotel manager who finds herself babysitting an 8-year-old Eurasian boy—a piano prodigy preparing for a recital.
Each storyline feels secondary to Macau itself, which remains the true star of the show.
What Worked
The drama shines in its portrayal of Macau as a city of contrasts—new and old, glamorous and traditional, East and West. The slow-paced, idyllic lifestyle is a refreshing escape, and the sumptuous local cuisine is almost a character of its own.
֍ Cultural Representation: Through Mai You Ge’s wide-eyed exploration, viewers are treated to a culinary and cultural feast. Her onscreen enthusiasm for food is contagious.
֍ Character Diversity: Each character offers a different lens on Macau. Chen Jia Hui embodies sophistication and high society, Han Jun Hao captures the adrenaline-pumping excitement of the Macau Grand Prix and the city’s thrill-seeking side, and Mai You Ge represents those yearning to escape the chaos of modern life. However, the standout is Xu Jun Le (Sunny Sun), whose carefree, carpe diem attitude is infectious. His simple yet rich life philosophy resonates deeply.
֍ Language Differences: Though both Mandarin and Cantonese are considered Chinese, their spoken forms are vastly different—almost like separate languages. The drama cleverly highlights the nuances of these differences, often using them as a source of humor. Misunderstandings due to language barriers and differing terminology provide moments of levity and authenticity, giving viewers insight into the cultural and linguistic richness of Macau.
֍ Cinematography: The city is beautifully shot, with an emphasis on its blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy. The Grand Prix scenes, in particular, are brimming with energy, capturing the electrifying rush of high-speed racing and the iconic atmosphere of the event.
What Could Be Improved
While the child actor playing the young Eurasian boy performs admirably, his babysitter Casey suffers from awkward and stilted dialogue. Additionally, Isabella (Lisa-Marie Tse) feels overly exaggerated, making her scenes slightly uncomfortable to watch.
Final Thoughts
Don’t expect a gripping or intricate plot from Begin Again—its primary goal is to promote Macau, and it excels in this role. The lighthearted stories of the characters serve as a vehicle to explore the city, its cuisine, and its culture. The Grand Prix scenes add a much-needed dose of adrenaline, and the language differences inject humor and authenticity.
More than just a drama, Begin Again serves as an invitation to visitors and expatriates alike to take a break from their exhausting "996" work lifestyle. It even subtly encourages the idea of moving to Macau for a life inspired by carpe diem—a slower pace filled with rich experiences and simple joys.
At its heart, Begin Again delivers a powerful reminder: the most important part of life is not about results, and it’s not just about the journey—it’s about the company we keep. The last two episodes are especially moving, as they highlight the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and making changes when life isn’t fulfilling. As Einstein put it, “If you keep doing the same thing over and over again, it will not give you a different outcome.”
For anyone curious about Macau or simply looking for a cozy, picturesque watch with a touch of high-speed excitement, Begin Again is worth your time.
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The plot might seem silly but its actually really good and heart warming. Its about teaching someone how to love. Even though the plot is a bit far fetched its still believable and thats one of the main things I love.
The acting is good, however I've never been a huge fan of Hayami Mokomichi and find his acting a bit lacking. I will admit I was biased and mostly watched this for Mizushima Hiro.
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This was an amazing movie but must be watched with the happiest, fluffiest, brightest movie you can possible find right after! *you will understand when you watch it* The main actress does this amazing job of protraying a blind person. And for some reason its very entertaining to watch Yoo Seung Ho PLAY HIS AGE! (lol!)
A great thriller, not really horror but its graphic (not in the sexual sense). But I WARN you its not for anyone that A) is very sensitive when it comes to death and rape and B) cries whenever the animal adoption harmed puppy dog picture commercial...thing comes on T.V.
Another Great MOVIE that is NOT ROMANTIC!!! (said from a die-hard romance buff...ME)!!!!
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An average story with outstanding actors
Vigilante - a person who tries in an inofficial way to punish a criminal.A very apt title to the story line. Here we get to see vigour of a young cop who is determined to punish criminals not by using law but by his own will. I absolutely enjoyed watching Nam Joo Hyuk as JiYoung, he perfectly expressed the angst and wrath hidden in JY. Must say i am more impressed by the actors than the story.
The story was just average to me as we already know who the vigilante was and expected kindof satisfying ending . No major twists in the plot and it just keeps flowing like a river with no barriers.
There are better thriller and investigation dramas out there but this stands out in terms of acting. I really like NJH, JiTae and JoonHyuk so whoever likes watching them can give this a try , like its just 8 episodes and definetly would not feel like a wate of time.
What i loved about this series is that they did not leave us on an edge cliffer hanging, loved how they ended it perfectly rather than dragging it to next season (if any)
What they failed to portray, we clearly know jiyoung has faced injustice in the past and has lost complete faith on the law and govt yey whay made him want to be a cop who abides by law ?
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Girl with nerdy appearance falls into water and goes to another universe (in ancient fantasy China) where she is the beautiful queen of 30 husbands. She tries to fulfill her role but can't really get into the reverse harem-life and starts to persue one of the guys. Her main friends at first are a doctor and her personal assistant. She slowely gets to know 4 of her husbands, mostly through getting drunk. Her job is to basically sleep with all of them in order to get them pregnant and they are very persistent about that sometimes. However, there is an evil plot waged against her to steal her husband(s) and drama occurs.
I don't know more than this since the subs cut off fairly early. The ending is not really an ending since there were supposed to be more episodes but it's still 20 episodes of content.
Acting
All the husbands are handsome and the acting is fairly ok for a drama like this. You'll find yourself mostly liking the male actors. The guy crying while eating a hamburger with musicians in the background is 10/10, that was some deep relatable stuff. Some of the temporary hairstyles in this drama are pretty wacky though.
Music
Chinese music, not much to say about it, its ok.
Rewatch
Episodes are short and it's easy to rewatch for certain fun scenes. For the BL/BR crowd, there are 2 scenes between husbands which are played for jokes but still pretty brave for China. They definitely still need to fix the subs though.
Overall
Liked the show, would recommend it if you want to see a different scenario for a period drama. I think most people will just watch it because they read ''she has to impregnate the husbands'' in the synopsis and get curious.
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This review may contain spoilers
Old Boy is the first slice-of-life drama that I've seen come from China. This genre is done well in Japan and Korea, but for it to really work for Chinese dramas, they are going to have to cut the episode count. There is a lot to enjoy about Old Boy but the episode #, as well as a late (last 10 or so episodes) move toward the normal cliches/tropes seen in Asian dramas soured my enjoyment of this series. Honestly, before the last episodes this would have been an 8 but that is what happens when filler and cliches take over a script.What I liked:
Actors: All solid and really written well though I think the female lead was a bit of a princess but I love the actress so much, it was easy to overlook.
Story: You get it all: romance, bromance, father/son, girl friendship, student/teacher etc. With 45 episodes (not 47 listed on MDL), there is bound to be a storyline here and there that doesn't totally work or one finds boring and this did happen but the main friendships and such worked for me enough to overlook or judiciously fast forward.
Music: Love it.
Production Value: The best I've seen in a contemporary Chinese drama. Money was spent on this and I wanted to get on a plane and go to Shanghai.
What I liked the best: The relateability. For slice-of-life to work for an international viewer like myself, I have to be able to relate to it on some level and the drama does this well with relationship and job woes. Did they all work that way, no, but enough did and generally didn't go so over-the-top as to be silly. Also, none of the characters are perfect, they all have their flaws and we get frustrated with them but that's reality so it works here.
Special Shoutout: The father/son relationship was handled in a non-makjang (to borrow the Korean word) way. The young man who played the son was great, and I think it is my favorite relationship story out of all of them.
What didn't work:
As mentioned before, with so many stories going on, there were a few that didn't do much for me.
Job Scenarios: We see career woes that the main characters have happen, which is fair as they tend to happen to us all. I thought some of them, especially regarding the pilot were on the contrived side. Also the job situations that popped up with the lead female character could have been handled better as well as she sometimes seemed to not know her own mind on what she wanted to do which wasn't believable to how her character had been written in the beginning.
Last 10 episodes: So while the writer did a nice job on many relationshps like the bromance etc, after the romance gets going it goes into the normal cliches that one sees in so many Asian dramas. I was so disappointed. The writer also throws in a bunch of drama where there needn't have been any in this genre especially when there are real issues that any modern couple would face. I don't want to do spoilers but it shows how in a rut the writers are when it comes to romance storylines. I freely admit, I had to fast forward through a lot of the last 10 episodes because of my frustration.
What else you need to know:
Romance: it doesn't get started until halfway through so if you have to have that genre right away, this isn't for you.
Full Disclosure: Pacing: It is not a fast paced drama. I'm moody about this and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. At around episode 15, I turned this into a background drama and watched while doing other things and actually saved this drama for an evening of laundry or some organizational chore and still found it easy to keep up on the events of the drama. This works for me but might not be how others want to view dramas.
So overall this was a solid, but overlong, drama. It's relateable and I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. The modern vibe and flawed but likeable characters made it easy to get into but it easily could have dumped a few storylines, done a better job when the romance actually got going instead of relying on tired tropes and cut the episode count. Nonetheless, it's beautifully filmed, no dubbing, solid acting and if anyone ever told me I'd see Irish clogging in a Chinese drama, I would never have believed them but here we are. Hope this gives the reader some insight as to whether this is their cup of tea. I don't regret watching it but wish they could have stuck with the same tone of the first 35 episodes in the last 10 episodes.
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The acting is amazing. Lee Byeong Hun is a spectacular actor and I love him in pretty much every project he does. If you only watch for one reason, watch it because of him. Song Hye Kyo is beautiful. Ji Sung was kind of in the background a lot of the time, but he is very solid, as usual. Park Sol Mi was the second female lead, but pretty forgettable when the main couple were so powerful already. I'm glad to see the younger actors, Jin Goo and Han Ji Min in dramas as adults.
I love the music, along with everything else about this drama.
I've watched it maybe 3 or 4 times and I'd watch it again.
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This review may contain spoilers
SO MUCH MORE than just a fangirling/idol drama! This had depth, emotion, and LOVE.
The synopsis focuses on Deuk Mi's secret life as a fangirl, but this story goes FAR beyond that! This drama tells the story of friendship, family, acceptance, and above all - LOVE.I was honestly surprised where the drama ended up going story-wise since I was not expecting it. It was so deep and I felt like I was in a rollercoaster. There were so many hilarious moments (especially around her fangirling) that made me literally laugh out loud. How fangirling was depicted in this drama was so painfully true as well (I could relate!)! But then, there were these heart-wrenching moments of self-reflection and forgiveness that made me cry my eyes out.
The level of maturity in this drama was outstanding. Again, the synopsis focuses on her fangirling. Kiiind of immature sounding, right? Wrong. This drama hits on so many points: from pro-LGBTQ+ (this was done deliciously well and so funny too), to searching for one's passion, finding one's worth, and forgiveness. There were so many things that came together at the end and it's just beautiful.
Also, I am in LOVE with our male lead's character. Sure, he's first portrayed as that cold and aloof male who seems to have it all figured out; but we later learn that that's not really the case. He had lost himself along the way and was on a journey to find himself again. We also see him actually apologize for his wrongdoings, talk about his emotions, and CRY about his feelings. We see him at his worst and we see him at his best. He was not the one-dimensional male leads we often see these days - we see him as the strong male lead we love to watch but glimpse his vulnerability as well.
And speaking of strong leads... shout out to our female lead. Strong and independent woman right there.
Last, the icing on the cake for me was our leads' incredible chemistry. It almost felt voyeuristic watching this drama because it honestly felt like I was watching a real-life couple. They had some bumps before they to admitting their feelings, but boy was it worth it. Their touches, their smiles, their KISSES, their conversations... it was all just perfect.
Supporting leads were amazing as well. Cindy became a favourite.
Overall, Her Private Life was a well-executed drama that gave me a pleasant surprise!
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Being loved by a prince has never been so bittersweet
Goodbye, my princess is a gorgeous deconstruction of the “three lives, one love” trope that we see in a lot of Chinese dramas (but specifically xianxia). But unlike those epic magical romances that end with eternal bliss, this show brings that fantastical set up to a historical, realist setting and studies the dark side of it by exploring the sentiment in a very cutthroat world with irreversible consequences. This sad story unfolds through three romances: first, the young love of two innocent teenagers, then a prince and a princess united through a political arrangement to bring their countries closer, and lastly, the horrifying entanglements of a ruthless and power-hungry crown prince and his unwilling crown princess who is more of a political prisoner than a bride.I really loved this show! In fact, it’s my new favorite Chinese drama. The worst part of watching this show was seeing stupid comments under the videos. Otherwise, the show itself was nearly perfect. Not perfect maybe, there were things in it that I didn’t love but they were no glaring issues.
Also fair warning: I also read the book while watching this show so 1)I will not shut up about the book and 2) I will compare the show to the book. So minor spoilers in the “negative” section. Really minor. Tiny.
You should watch this if you like:
1. Tragedies
2. But also, sad middles and semi-sad beginnings. It’s not all sunshine then tragedy. It’s just: sad-oh cute!-oh sad again-haha funny-oh that’s too sad-OH NO-NOOOO!
3. Extremely well-done morally ambiguous characters (everyone is good and bad. Except for Xiao Feng. She's a sweetie)
4. Innocent female leads (but not dumb. She's just 15yo, ok? Cut her some slack!)
5. Historical fiction focusing on political schemes
6. Wedding night like: me, my new spouse, and our murder weapons of choice
7. Magical realism genre
8. Romeo and Juliet-esque dynamics
9. Mature stories about life and love. It’s not idealistic at all.
10. The threat of maybe…being attracted...to the villain…I don’t know…it’s more likely than you’d think!
11. Did I mention it’s sad?
It starts so cute and sweet, like children just playing at romance but the stakes get so high so fast and it’s so overwhelming. It is a tragedy in slow motion. From the first moment the story starts, all these small machinations come together to set up a situation that could only end in blood and tears.
The main plot is not really the romance. The main plot is “How to survive as an eastern palace resident in the grander palace environment, as depicted through Xiao Feng and Li Chengyin’s dysfunctional survival tactics.” So, the romance is a part of that, but so is the political intrigue and the revenge plots and the haram catfights, etc. And that’s why I like the plot because there’s a bigger picture and a lot of the smaller details are all connected to each other but they also branch out into B plots that do not take over the main plot’s time but develop slowly and surely in the outskirts of the main plot. I just think it’s important to have fair warning. This is a tragedy and it’s set up that way from the start. If you are looking for a cute romance between two people trying to work out their arranged marriage and find happiness, this show is not it. It’s simply not one of those soft historical fiction dramas. This is more like those hardcore political intrigue shows with big productions and seasoned actors, except it just happens to view that kind of story from the perspective of a young princess so the cast are young and new!
I would say this show will probably operate well as a gateway show to watch more critically acclaimed Chinese dramas with heavier plots and higher quality, if you are used to watching more lighthearted shows. It’s very in-between.
Plot: It’s important that you know, this show is a very good adaptation. I think this is important because knowing the book helps understand why the show is the way that it is. You see, the book is very short and very concise and it’s only from Xiao Feng’s perspective who is a foreign princess with limited knowledge of language and culture in her new country and very few people she interacts with. So for most of the story, she just has no idea what is going on around her. Then by the end, it turns out Li Chengyin was doing all this political cold war stuff behind the scenes. The show had to bring all the “implied” events of the book into life and that’s why the book is romance but the show isn’t. Because it just wouldn’t be possible to make a show that only adapts the novel's content. It’d be 4 episodes long and nothing would make sense! That’s why there are so many political subplots in the story and that meant Xiao Feng wasn’t really a big part of a lot of the stories going on.
I personally enjoyed all that they did with the plot. Overall. There were details I wasn’t crazy about. I’ll get to that later. I liked most of the story. Some things get lost in the transition from text to screen, like just how much Xiao Feng is out of her depth in Central Plains and how most of the things she does and how she does them are due to cultural difference but I still think the show managed to present her as a well-meaning if a bit confused girl.
Acting: The acting in this show is on another level for me. It’s so good. There’s a huge cast. A lot of them are older actors playing complicated people and they were all a joy to watch. For example, Zheng Xiao Ning plays Xiao Feng’s grandfather and his role is there for a short time but he’s just amazing. The way he carries himself, his voice, his gaze, all of it was just chilling and amazing. Or Nagima who plays the mute A’Du. Oh, she was unreal! She doesn’t talk for most of the show but her expressions are enough to cut into your heart like a knife. The things this woman communicated through her eyes. I cried, every time she cried. These are just two out of many actors who blew me away. Most of all though, Peng Xiao Ran and Chen Xing Xu just redefined my expectations of young actors.
A moment of silence to appreciate the fact that Chen Xing Xu was only 22yo when he brought the complicated and extremely enigmatic Li Chengyin to life. How?! What was I doing when I was 22?! I was mostly just crying (tbh he did a lot of crying in bts videos too, lol. Same dude, same!) I can’t compliment these young actors enough. They did such a wonderful job. Their performance was just outstanding. Peng Xiao Ran was also wonderful. She plays what would have been a typical playful cute girl in the hands of another actress but she brings such weight and groundedness to the character, without overacting or looking stupidly childish. She's so in control and I just love that in her performance.
And their chemistry! The chemistry between these two was so good that you can tell the censorship had them cut out kisses because it was just too much, apparently! They were that good.
Also as an ensemble, everyone did such an amazing job. There wasn’t really a performance among them that I can point out and say it was so bad it ruined the scene. Everyone hit their marks perfectly.
Music: The music in this show was great too?! And I don’t mean I got used to it so it was fine. No. It was actually good. It’s gorgeous. They use this heartbreaking leitmotif over and over again that must be some famous chord progression because it steadily made me sad from episode one even though nothing sad had even happened yet. Also fun fact: the most playful track in the music is called “Fear” and I think that’s all you need to know about the mood in this show!
Production: The production gets a special mention because it was that good. The aesthetics of this show are gorgeous. The color grading, the sets, and costumes, the number of sets, and the attention to details in each of them, was just so satisfying. Everything looked pretty expensive too. I don’t know if there really were expensive or not but the clothes looked really regal and the sets were so grand with colors that were so beautifully matched in thematically different settings. No conversation about this show is complete without mentioning the beautiful cinematography. A lot of the natural settings were filmed on location and that has meant the existence of golden dunes and majestic mountains that look breathtaking on screen. It’s a true feast for the eyes. The CGI was very good too. There wasn’t too much of it but you can really tell the director made sure that everything looked as good as it could. It was in little acts of continuity that you can see the dedication of the director to the project.
Rewatch value: Oh sure!
Negatives: As I said, there were some changes made due to the complication of perspectives in the novel. One of these changes was that they kind of do a character cleanse of Gu Jian and also add to his plotline. In the book, Gu Jian visits Xiao Feng three years after her arrival in central plains but in the show, he shows up three months later. That’s at least 21 months’ worth of nothing for him to do! So he just has all these scenes where is sitting around, getting drunk, and…it’s kind of pointless?! I think someone on the production team was probably a Gu Jian fan and they decided they wanted to give him a romantic redemption arc, or they figured since the male lead will become so cruel later, it’ll probably be in their best interest to have a blandly romantic second male lead to soften the blow. I guess?
For the most part, I like what they did with humanizing both men. Li Chengyin and Gu Jian are so much worse in the novel and a whole lot less likable generally but the show does a lot to empathize with both and I love that. I just feel like they sacrificed a bit of Gu Jian’s nuance towards the end of his journey. He managed to redeem himself in pretty much the same way in the novel as the show but for me, the book’s version was more powerful because you knew he was doing bad things before but the one time it mattered, he made the right choice and it was so powerful and I freaking sobbed reading that part. Unfortunately, the show’s version didn’t touch me as much. I was still emotional and very touched by everyone’s great acting but then…two sad-music montages? Come on! That was the only thing I fast-forwarded in the show!
This was a part of a bigger issue with the plot. There are three arcs in this story and the show did a great job with the first two but they kind of lowered their quality in the third and last one which happened to be my favorite part of the novel and the most emotionally touching part. So maybe part of my disappointment is that they derived so far from the novel in the only part that the book actually starts to give details and plots move forward really fast. I still understand why the show ended the way it did and they still kept a lot of my favorite and iconic scenes from the novel but towards the end, there were some choices that I squinted at a bit. It wasn't so bad though that I would redact points for it.
Overall: Best Chinese show I have watched so far. I loved it. I didn’t even expect to like it and I had heard it was so painful but I loved it anyway. I hadn’t cried this much over a show since The Untamed (and Yanxi Palace…it got me with their friendships, okay?!) so it’s somehow very precious that I watched this show a whole year since I discovered The Untamed. Very fitting.
Pro-tip: If you want to cry less while watching, read the book first. You’ll cry while reading the book and the show hurts less!
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A total mess but I kind of liked it
I know i am one of the few people that actually enjoyed watching this drama.It frustrated me a lot but i couldn't drop it because I like the leads, especially the female lead.
The story had a nice message but the execution was so wrong and so boring. It should have been 12 episodes, that way, a lot of things wouldn't have been dragged out but it had some nice moments.
The FL's parents were the main attraction of the show, they were very funny and they made the show a little bit bearable.
The friend that was dating two guys also made for some special moments but they didn't really give them much screen time.
All in all, i think the show was just trying to pass a message of live and let live. They just want people to know that marriage isn't always the ultimate and to let people live their lives however they see fit.
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On the stage, our souls face each other, and I'm a little bit ashamed.
Because even if I don't say anything, you always understand everything."
(–My translation of some lyrics from the ending theme)
TL;DR: if you're put off by the "Beijing Opera" theme of this drama, that may look old-fashioned and boring at first (it was for me), don't be. Watch it. You'll end up wanting to learn more about Beijing Opera and falling in love with the characters and their relationships. And crying too.
Winter Begonia is, in my opinion, the best long-format Chinese drama of 2020. This series does something that was never attempted before in any drama, and it does it beautifully: it takes us behind the scenes of the Opera world of Republican-era Beijing and lets us look closely at every exquisite detail that made up that world, from the precious costumes, to the colorful makeup powders, down to the clinking of the porcelains and the fuming cups of tea. And it takes us into the lives of people who lived in that world letting us taste their joys and their sorrows, always in such a vivid and evocative way that I've rarely seen in other dramas.
This drama has no filler scenes, no overused tropes; every character and every detail has a purpose and is treated with love and care. This level of care also applies to the technical aspects such as photography, editing, color grading and music. The music is especially beautiful, and the opera melodies are perfectly blended into the score. The costumes and makeup are gorgeous, and the Dan (female role) costumes and makeup look sooooo good on Yin Zheng. He's like a doll. And watching this drama is like looking at a series of paintings.
Shang Xi Rui, played by Yin Zheng, is undoubtedly the star of this drama. A genius performer who's only known a life on the stage, he's stubborn, hot-headed and has got the heart of a child– qualities that cause him to be unfit for a society made of rules and courtesies. When we meet him and for most of the story, he's like a cute puppy that turns feral when he's angry. But he also grows a lot and has great character progression, which is beautiful to watch.
At one point, Cheng Feng Tai says of him, "The other performers look like the characters they play. Mr. Shang IS the characters themselves." I think this quote also applies to Yin Zheng in his phenomenal portrayal of Shang Xi Rui. After watching him you won't easily forget the way Rui-ge runs, eats, laughs, cries, pouts or smiles. Or the way he speaks, with that unique, cute way of speaking and soft Beijing accent. It's a fantastic performance that will live on for the ages. A comparison with Leslie Cheung's Die Yi from "Farewell My Concubine" can't be avoided because of the similar roles, and Yin Zheng passes with full marks in my opinion. He's honestly just as good.
Dashing businessman Cheng Feng Tai (Huang Xiao Ming) is Shang Xi Rui's "god of wealth", patron, pillar of strength and his perfect counterpart. Where Xi Rui has his head in the clouds, Feng Tai has his feet on the ground; where XR is the reckless and pure-hearted child who always wears his heart on his sleeve, FT is the one who knows better how to navigate the nastiness of the world and keeps all the pain inside him. They also come from opposite social backgrounds as XR is basically illiterate and belongs to a profession that is treated as pariah, while FT is the richest guy in town who's studied abroad.
Cheng Feng Tai is not a really complicated role to play, but it would have been easy to slip and make this character too dull or too cheesy, or without chemistry with SXR. Huang Xiao Ming instead plays him as a well rounded character that balances the worldly, dashing hero part of FT with the conflicted, often flawed one. And the chemistry is there. He IS Shang Xi Rui's own beloved Er Ye.
The ensemble cast is excellent, and all the subplots and the background elements stand on their own and are never just filler in between the main leads' story, or wallpaper. But the dynamic between the two leads is of course the highlight of Winter Begonia.
知音 zhiyin is the word used to describe what they are to each other: closest friend, confidant, soulmate. Someone who can understand the other with no need for words. When others doubt Feng Tai's alliances, including FT's own wife, Xi Rui trusts him completely; when XR is hungry or hurt, FT is there to feed him or take care of him; when XR is lonely, the only thing he wants is having FT next to him. They're fully devoted to each other and would die for each other (this is not an exaggeration, it's what they really try to do). One of my favorite lines by Feng Tai to Xi Rui is "You think I won't be there to care about you [when everyone else abandons you]? Only when I'm dead!"
For them, the unspoken is heavier than the spoken. They never outright say what they feel about each other (of course, due to drama censorship too) but they still say it with their actions and expressions. XR says it singing on the stage, FT says it with THOSE LOOKS when he's looking at XR sing.
Finally, I won't say this drama has no flaws (that's why I couldn't give the story a 10/10). I think it has flaws in the stereotypical portrayal of most of the Japanese characters, in how some secondary characters could have been written better, in the not-very-clear passing of the time (it's always winter, the babies are always infants, the women are always pregnant). The execution of the story is also not flawless in terms of how the story beats connect to each other. But honestly, these things don't really matter when you look at the bigger picture. Which is an incredibly beautiful one.
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This is a rather serious drama, with animal surgery and a lot of animal topics that I didnt even know exsisted. Not much comedy, and a slight ( and I mean slight) bit of unrequited romance/ longing. Some of the major themes were: the little man fighting the big company, taking responsibility for your own life, compassion, and fighting your fears. I didnt like the ending because I wanted some people to get together (but oh well).
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This review may contain spoilers
a cliche story but alright until the finale
I started monthly magazine home on a whim and i'll tell you i had no big regrets at first but didn't enjoy how the story progressed and definitely hated the last two episodesAs a big fan of Jung so min she was my reason for clicking on that first episode, MMH focuses on
the lives of people who work in a real estate magazine and it shows how they go about in a workplace,
I learned a bit about real-state and some life tips for saving money xd The side characters did come off annoying at first but i still managed to like all of them, ok now the bad part...
I was enjoying this drama somewhat id say even though there were some obvious clichés I could get past that but the final two episodes ruined the whole flow of things, from unnecessary breakup to the very unwanted separation plot in the final episode i literally skipped through the last episode, I was going to give the rest of the drama an 8 but then I barely watched the last episode and hated the ending so I don't think that's fair so 7.5 it is.
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