Prisoner of Beauty - just WOW!
I’m honestly blown away. I’ve never been a huge fan of period dramas, but I decided to give this one a try after seeing the good reviews. I honestly expected to drop it after ep 1 - but I was completely hooked from the very beginning.Acting is top-notch, and visually an absolute feast for the eyes. Very palpable chemistry between the leads. The way they looked at each other melted my insides each time without fail. Despite the lack of skinship until the last few ep, it was still insanely romantic - every episode made my heart flutter like crazy.
Plus, plenty of funny moments to balance out the drama. Honestly, I either giggled, ugly cried, or sat on the edge of my seat biting my nails through all 36 episodes - but mostly giggled.
What I loved most was the strength of both main characters and their unwavering devotion to each other. They went through so many challenges, but their love just kept growing stronger. The awful things they endured only made them closer. No silly misunderstandings or over the top drama - just two people who were refreshingly honest about their feelings and never afraid to express them.
I’m the kind of person who usually skips the side plots or any scene not involving the main leads, but not this time. I watched all 36 episodes straight through, no skipping, no fast-forwarding - which is quite rare for me. That hasn’t happened since Hidden Love. Every second of this drama is pure gold. Pacing is just right. Binged all 36 episodes in 3 days, while working full time - well worth my panda eyes.
This is going straight into my rewatch list.
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Total run time: approx 5h 23m. Each episode is around 18-22 minutes long but have 5 minutes of credits and in some cases another minute of what happened last episode. Take that all out and the run time is a lot shorter. Easy to binge in one setting with the fast-forward button.
ACTING/CAST: Same basic cast that is in Love Is More Than a Word. So it was nice to see them in different parts. They all do a great job. I totally loved Lu Zhou in both dramas and in this one he's a gun-wielding bad-ass. Also, the villian, Gu Han, from The Fairy Fox makes a cameo in one episode; see if you can spot him.
MUSIC: It was great actually. It made this show seem like a sweeping epic.
REWATCH VALUE: Of course! This is a great show with so much intrigue I need to watch it again.
OVERALL: Amazing production value. Shot in full 1080p! The sets and costume design are spectacular. It's a gorgeous production. I wish each episode was longer: credits just chew up so much screen time. For those looking for the BL aspect, there isn't anything overt but maybe something will happen in season 2.
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This review may contain spoilers
When I first read the plot I wasn’t interested in this drama at all. Per coincidence I watched the first episode and was instantly hooked. The atmosphere of the show was amazing. Calm, lovely and honest. The leads deal with their very own problems and lived their lives by the rules.Lee Jung In, the female lead, knows what she wants. Her happiness grounds in staying independent. That’s one reason why she dates the selfish bank employee Gi Seok. But when he’s interested to tie the knot after four years different views crash. The characterization of this relationship is very honest and brutally cold told. The motivations of each collide with their happy relationship. When Ji Ho enters the stage Jung In experiences for the first time deep emotions that make no sense at all. Her inner fight is worth seeing and reflects realistic behavior at his best.
Ji Ho is a single father in a conservative society. His role symbolized the tolerance in korean society. It was interesting to see the moral standards of Koreans and how they deal with strange problems. The whole portray of this society was exciting to watch and made me fall in love even more with the characters.
The family members of both symbolizes different point of views and have to deal with problems of their own that aren’t less interesting. I loved everyone besides her dad. He was annoying from the start.
Seeing every episode made me happy. Each one was worth 10 points. I wasn't Ever invested in a drama like this one. I also give rarely 10 points but this drama clearly deserves it. I can just recommend it and will watch it again...soon. It’s a delight!
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Plot twist em cima de plot.
Quando a gente pensa que é uma coisa, dá uma guinada de 180º e a história é outra, muito mais profunda e complexa do que o subterfúgio de "universos paralelos" atualmente em moda no mercado cinematográfico.Tô curtindo muito a ficção que um dia, com avanço da ciência, pode se tornar realidade (não digo que seja positivo, só que seja possível).
A história é muito envolvente, e quando começou parecer repetitivo, tudo mudou da água para o vinho.
Tô ansiosa para ver como essa história vai terminar!
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And what was this High Five?! Sarawat even hugged his bandmates when they won but highfived his boyfriend?! Are you serious?
My neighbor and me are closer than Tine and Wat as boyfriends.
This Series was a very nice pastime, nothing more and nothing less.
When there will come Season 2 there's much room for improvement
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This review may contain spoilers
I have just finished watching this drama after 20 days of happiness I got from them. I have watched ever made me this addicted. What really made me first watch this drama was I did have love at first sight with Han ShangYan character in the PC Room. At first I thought this was going to be a typical drama with cutie girl and cold ass boy and girl that can never stand up for herself and needs the guy to protect her but it was totally different. It was beyond my expectation towards this drama. STORY:
The plot follows your basic, this made the drama a lot more watchable because I wasn't constantly frustrated and think a lot with the characters and story. The story-line also progressed very smoothly and still in their pace without changing or adding character's point of view. I love how they chose the flashback and telling a story of Han ShangYan's past that made his emotions unstable. Nian Nian is a lovely girl who really damn smart and its really hard for her to not get in touch with someone she is really idolize the most. So we can feel the barrier of communication, feeling development and each moments of their relationship growing up beautiful together. I love how The actors were very convincing in their role and the chemistry was offcharts. The friendship bond between Nian Nian and her friends&family or Han ShangYan with K&K, family and Solo Team. Their friendship felt so real. It was simply gorgeous . Although we are ready knew the story ending but still this drama is full of surprises and still making us craving for curiosity about their romantic scenes and humors.
ACTING/CAST:
The characters have their own color and very much relatable. They have advantages and disadvantages that we dont have to mind since their advantages covered their disadvantages. There were many times when he was clueless about how to please her or what to do in a relationship, so he needed someone to tell him. I enjoyed the character development of each actors episode by episode.
MUSIC:
I love the BGM fresh and have a fighting mood since it is for a competition drama.
RE-WATCH VALUE:
I don't think I can re-watch the entire series from beginning to end, but I might re-watch some cute scenes
OVERALL: Overrated drama but Korean and Japanese drama cant beat Chinese simplicity drama with just a simple actor and acting .This drama was definitely a refresher for me in the abundance of dramas, that I can't seem to find interest so much, premiering nowadays. The storyline was simple yet beautiful and was one that guided the audience through the life of the main character's love story. honestly didn't have any problems with the storyline until the end and I enjoyed every episodes since the begining till end.
HANDS DOWN TO CHARMING HAN SHANGYAN.
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Visually stunning, Tragically beautiful.... Unsatisfying ending
If you a fan of mystery thrillers, then this is a must watch. It's got a similar feel to "13 years of Dust", "Bad Kids", "The Pavillion" so on....Well directed & perfect casting! The synopsis already explains what the story is about, so I won't recap that.
What I loved:
Entire Cast:
1. Young Nan Ya matches the mature Nan Ya. I loved that they didn't use the same actress trying to play down. Obviously, you can't really fake youth and all that collagen. Young Na Ya had the innocence slowly lost.
Mature Na Ya is played by Tong Yao who to me has a 70% resemblance to Zhang Zi Yi's facial features, but she definitely has her unique beauty and acting style. Physically, the natural makeup, lighting, camera works captured her best angles & every curve. She's definitely got that mature beauty that younger boys can fantasize about. Acting, I think she nailed the character Nan Ya perfectly.
2. Zhang Xin Cheng playing Zhuo Luo. He's one of the few talented actors that can play young mature characters that tend to internalize all emotions and explode one day.
3. Ye Zu Xin playing the cop that returned to the town. Nan Ya was his first love and there are definitely regrets in his gaze.
Actual Story: Everyone is intertwined. There are secrets, jealously, lies, betrayal, love, lust, obsession, every human emotion possible. However, it's not for the faint of heart as there are some serious disturbing subjects.
Set/lighting/makeup/production quality: Visually stunning. The small-town feel is uniquely beautiful.
Poetry & Music: It's very artistic. The music elevates every emotional scene.
Decent pacing until ep 14 then felt slow. Ending...... Hate it....... A moment of "Did I just spent 28 x 53 min episodes for this kind of ending? ...... Tragic on its own.
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Dedication, Devotion & Sacrifice
This is a story of a dedicated friendship to an Emperor, a devoted love to a “shifu” (teacher) and the sacrifices of the main characters for the greater good. The romance is heart breaking and the bromance is heartwarming. Adapted from a novel which I haven’t read, some of the characters are said to have tamped down to make them less ruthless and more likeable according to some readers. All in all, this is a high quality production with recognizable actors and a beautiful storyline.In recent months, there have been a few dramas with the theme of romance between teacher/shifu and student/disciple. This is one of them, and I can’t help thinking, “Is this a recent fad?” I don’t want to get into the morality of such a relationship and will leave discussions to the viewers. Without having read its plot in the novel, how the adaptation turns out here is very plausible and palatable for most viewers.
Ye Hai Shi (Yang Mi) is rescued and adopted by Fang Jian Ming (Chen Wei Ting aka William Chen) when she is very young. Under adoption, she's disguised as a man and changes name to Fang Hai Shi. He teaches her everything from academics to combats. In the process, she admires and falls in love with him, and he is also attracted to her as she grows up. Whenever he detects danger, he always comes to her without fail, as she is precious to him. But he cannot be what she wants, a lover or a spouse, because he is a “baixi” for the Emperor, an invisible link whereby he would endure harm, pains and death for the Emperor. It is this type of love-and-pain relationship that propels the story and makes the characters lovable and the viewers empathize with them. Together with Zhuo Ying (Wang Sen), another Fang Jian Ming’s adopted disciple, they form a spy ring cum secret service for the Emperor.
I love the young actor who plays the juvenile Ye Hai Shi. She has an innocent face, and yet exudes a charisma of a boy - among others, strong, forward, fearless. Yang Mi plays the adult Ye Hai Shi / Fang Hai Shi with a different charisma, giving viewers a different feeling for the character. Here under her, Fang Hai Shi is still headstrong and valiant, at the same time, very feminine even when she dresses as a man. When leading her soldiers fighting the enemies, Yang Mi’s acting is passable but lacks the robustness of a male general. When facing her shifu, Yang Mi is like a little girl secretly admiring a lover, peeking at him under her lush eye lashes - that, she scores 100%. Many complaints of Yang Mi stem from her using her own voice in the dubbing. Though she has a very unique and nice voice, as a commanding general, her voice sounds too girly, and as a woman, she sounds too mechanical and lacks the spontaneity a woman normally possesses.
As a veteran actor, it’s not a coincidence that most of Yang Mi’s co-stars for her major works are not from mainland China. In this case, Chen Wei Ting is from Hong Kong. Though part of China, Hong Kong has its own movie industry and actors, and has very different values and styles. Very popular as an actor, however this is my first Chen Wei Ting’s work. I love the Fang Jian Ming character he plays here. I also love his styling though some viewers complain about his look as well as his acting. Despite not being 100%, I still like Chen Wei Ting’s portrayal as a calm, scheming, dedicated, strong fighter character with great physique cladding in white.
Xu Kai Cheng’s portrayal as the Emperor seems on and off. The strong friendship he has with Fang Jian Ming is heartwarming but at times, confusing due to the inconsistency in Xu Kai Cheng’s acting. Playing a supporting character Zhuo Ying, in fact, I’m most impressed by Wang Sen’s acting. I love the dynamics he has with Fang Hai Shi as siblings. I also love the devotion and commitment he has with his shifu and the Emperor, and not least, I love the undying love and dedication he has for a woman he secretly admires. Acting also as his cruel look-alike brother, Duo Luo who has a totally different personality and demeanor, Wang Sen aces in both characters he plays. I am particularly impressed by the scene when he has a hand-to-hand combat with his brother. The fighting is so real and heart-pounding that it is one of the best scenes in the drama.
There are multiple villains here, most are right there in the open with blatant disguises. Compared with the original version in the novel, these villains seem to have died of easy and quick deaths.
Perhaps what I love the most about this drama is how they have adapted for the fate of both the main characters, Fang Hai Shi and Fang Jian Ming. From the novel, the Emperor somehow develops feelings for Fang Hai Shi and forcefully takes her away from his best friend to become his consort. Such action does not go down well with today’s viewers. The adaptation is swift and brilliant such that, though Fang Hai Shi still becomes a consort, it is a plan by Fang Jian Ming to protect her by stashing her away with the Emperor for safe keeping. So in the end, both couples - the Emperor/Ti Lan (Chen Xiao Yun) and Fang Hai Shi/Fang Jian Ming - are still faithful to and for each other only. This is a big relief for all romance buffs.
I just wish the sub plots are more prominently told especially with the Zhuo Ying’s arc, instead of the scenes being played out in his communication with his shifu and Hai Shi. Zhuo Ying is indeed a very impressive character and his story captivating.
My Verdict
This is a fantasy story that involves supernatural beings like a talking mermaid (and a few others), and dark magic. The CGIs are very good with very convincing sceneries, people and fighting scenes. There is no need to watch other Novoland series before this one as they are not related. The pace is very fast especially with the wuxia fighting scenes executed with heart throbbing beating drum.
Half-way through airing, the drama has a very low rating of 4.9 on Douban. It’s gone up slightly at the end of airing at 5.1. Many viewers do not like Yang Mi for various reasons - her look, her acting, her voice. Others don’t like Chen Wei Ting. Online criticism is ferocious. Don’t be disheartened by such poor ratings and negative comments because, flaws there maybe, this is still a wonderful and beautiful story with amazing characters, a lot of great scenes and commendable cinematography.
A great watch! Don’t miss it. Two Thumbs Up!
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My expectations were too high.
I get why everyone is obsessed with this show, I really do… it just wasn’t for me. There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s adorable and the characters are funny and the songs are catchy, I was just so bored the entire time. I almost dropped it twice but I didn’t and I kept watching, but overall I was really underwhelmed.I don’t know if it has to do with the fact I watched Moonlight Chicken first and fell in love with HeartLiMing, but I could just not get as invested with msp. I’m more disappointed than anything that I didn’t love it.
But Fourth slayed as always and I really liked Sound and Win, they were the highlight for me and I needed more of them.
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If the only thing that keeps you from watching this drama is the title, just ignore it. Give it a chance and you may be surprised by it. It's a story that tells about doctors who try to protect their ~romantic ideals and about doctors who yet have to come to their own ones as they grow with their difficult tasks day by day (and sometimes have to be pushed into the right direction). It's a story that shows what doctors can be like if society and power-ruling wouldn't interfere and darken single souls. Though this doesn't mean the drama is free from money-driven betrayals that go along with the main plot. It's still a k-drama thing.
Some of you may already know Han Seok Kyu and some of his works. If so, you might already belong to his fans. If not, this drama would be an excellent first try to get to know this wonderful, brilliant actor. His acting alone is worth a 10 and I have no doubt that he will also cast a spell over you - like he did with me some time ago.
His co-actors and co-actresses shouldn't be disregarded either. Though they might not yet reach the level of this acting senior, they did a very good job themselves in supporting the story. I liked many of the face to face dialogues as they gave special light to the respective characters and left quite the impact sometimes. But what I really loved and appreciated in this drama were all those small cases that happened all the time (and that helped keeping the pace and suspense of the story). Most times the guest actors were great with their short appearances and their stories really touched my heart. And I was pleased to see doctors deeply care for their patients in a way I imagine a doctor to be.
But although the drama itself was pretty good, I just had to take off a point. I got irritated every time an emergency occurred and they just stood there, arguing with themselves, arguing with others, having the whole staff watching them while nobody is actually working. I do get that doctors are humans, too, and they can have a bad day or feel bad or whatever. But the whole thing doesn't work when everyone plays along and nobody sees the actual emergency right in front of their eyes. A problem many medical dramas face and sadly, Romantic Doctor couldn't escape that cliché either. Although it's not as bad as I've already seen it in other dramas - this one is still bearable.
So, overall a great show worth watching - either you get bothered by the flaws mentioned above or you just ignore them. Your choice on missing out this wonderful drama or not ;)
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Watch It!!!!!.
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Epic love story that never really was…
As I watched the story of “Thousand Years for You” unfold, I was looking forward to an epic love story that broke barriers and transcended time. Sadly, the show failed to deliver on the romance, and the ending left me feeling empty in that aspect.It is not as though the show lost its focus midway. From beginning to end, the story was about the love journey initially between a powerful saintess, Yun Xi, from the spirit clan and a valiant mortal general Lu Yan. Then later between Yun Xi’s doppelgänger, Deng Deng and Lu Yan, who waited 3000 years for Yun Xi.
Unfortunately, the pairing of Li Qin as Yun Xi/Deng Deng and Ren Jia Lun as Lu Yan fell flat for me. No matter how good they looked together, I just could not get the feels from them, and the chemistry was seriously lacking. They were definitely a visual treat, but I enjoyed the show more by seeing them as mystery-solving partners instead of a couple.
For me, the show would have fared better if they had removed the romance aspect and focused on the mystery and adventures. A xianxia set in the Republican era was interesting enough, and the different storylines were refreshing. It was entertaining to watch our sleuthing duo and their sidekicks battle the evil elements of the spirit clan. Most of the other characters, especially the second couple, helped bring this drama to life; they were all likable individuals in their own right.
The show was a pretty well-balanced emotional roller coaster of emotions, switching between humor, suspense, and melodrama. That said, the script did need to be polished, and there were plot holes and dialogue that should have been tighter.
I loved the details put into the costumes. One could tell that a lot of thought was put into the styles of the characters. Deng Deng often wore masculine clothing, but there were touches of femininity. The outfits for Lu Yan were chic and perfectly tailored. They highlighted Ren Jia Lun’s good looks so well. I also appreciate the color palettes that also matched the characters perfectly.
The best part for me was the excellent OST, and the songs were mainly the ingredient that got me tearing up. The CGI was also well-done, and the fight scenes were well-executed, except for some scenes that ended up hilarious instead.
Acting-wise, I was impressed by Li Qin, who delivered the emotional scenes perfectly and effortlessly transitioned between the ethereal, refined Yun Xi and the tomboyish, brash Deng Deng. There was criticism of her portrayal of Deng Deng because some thought she over-acted, but I thought she did fine.
Ren Jia Lun did what he did best, playing a calm, cold, emotionless person who gradually warmed up to the female lead. However, I felt RJL lacked his usual intensity compared to his other dramas. It could be due to how he interpreted his character, who was supposed to become indifferent during those 3000 years, trying to bring back Yun Xi by transferring energy into his last remnant of her. Regardless, without his usual magnetic emoting, the romance failed to come alive for me.
It also did not help that RJL used his voice this time, and one can tell he lacked experience with voice dubbing. It often sounded like he was reciting lines and came across as dull. On the other hand, Li Qin also used her voice but was better in delivery; however, her dubbing suffered from the volume being too loud, making her sound annoying sometimes.
Other than the romance, I also found the villains lackluster. I like Leon Lai and his acting, but as Zhu Rong, the main antagonist for most of the show, I was not entirely convinced by his motivations and actions, especially towards the end. Plus, the last-minute addition of another villain just felt too rushed. Ultimately, the final showdown was somewhat anti-climatic.
Overall, even though I did not get the fantastic love story I expected from a RJL drama, it was still a show worth watching. It was fun watching Lu Yan and Deng Deng play detective to uncover who was threatening the spirit clan and humanity.
Full OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9iDlX-GIwI
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qV032sg5Faeju8KTDQbeJ?si=3a9110beb0c34f61
1. 吾 (I) - 任嘉伦 (Allen Ren) 00:00
2. 有时无期 (Indefinite At Times) - 张碧晨 (Zhang Bichen) 04:40
3. 光年爱情 (Light Year Love) - 王靖雯 (Wang Jingwen) 07:54
4. 你是我唯一 (You Are My Only One) - 陆虎 (Lu Hu) 11:38
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Geometry, abs and lots and lots of people who need to learn about boundaries.
Watching this drama is like watching a collection of more or less every trope available for a c-drama but without the Rio and the cruel grown ups as I am sure you could fill a whole game brick of cliches and stuff you have seen before. The use of water in this show is as overwhelmingly beautiful as the use of abs as the show has a variety of umbrellas, drowning and people caught in the rain, the scenes themselves are not really special but the umbrellas are innovative, gorgeous and given the love they deserve, caught in slow mo and what not.The male lead is more or less he typical god with a one track mind and complete lack of understanding of the word consent as he forces his kisses on the female lead more than once as well as pretty much stalkes her both online and IRL just to be near her (without the whole imagining stuff and violent tendencies) as this guy is very much aware of her not wanting him to get close to her. The guy does however do all from stalking her online, follow her from behind and go wherever she goes and collect mementoes of their interactions... Lovely to watch but so many red flags mayday in china seems flaggless... Still the guy does have a pure heart and good intentions that will make you forget all that... Oh and his voice sounds like a 45 year olds...
That and the second male lead is even worse when it comes to boundaries, respect and reading the room... it seems his job in this drama is to show off his abs (yes he shows them in about 80% of his scenes). And is there to annoy the audience and make us forget all the flags shown by the male lead, as chances of getting SLS in this show are slim to none. I am sure the writer loved abs as she wrote in a whole lot of scenes where the potential love threats, friends and whoever could got their abs shot from a bunch of angles and close up (including the male leads) . In short the writer seemed to love abs, geometry, and water...
The ML roommates are dumb and dumber, annoying most of the time and only there to prolong the show. The FL roommates are kind of meeh but the friendships over all in this are nice, especially the female friendships who have few traces of jealousy and seem more supportive than the typical C.
The female lead is mostly cool and pretty decent, she is not super stupid, and is rater a girl who with the right help from the ml can do anything,,, she does however seem a tad oblivious, defensive and while she keeps telling people she is not that vulnerable, people seem to treat her as someone in need of constant protection ... Which feels a bit (a lot) out dated.
The second couples female is called persistent... I would call her lacking boundaries, needs to learn about consent and how to take a no... The guy here is however pretty good looking, and the type who seemingly needs that type of girl... yes very out dated indeed...
Annoying characters: A lot
Consent:What is that?
Trust: What is that?
Communication: What is that?
Abs: 999999
Water:99999
Bingabilaty: 9
All this said, it was pretty entertaining most of the time so it gets 8 for entertainment and abs...
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The best competition kshow of all time
Definitely worth the hype for all it has to offer, an ultimate journey of food porn topped with extremely classy cinematography and fiery soundtrack all cooked in an unimaginable scale. The thrill and suspense of the matches are so flavorful, it is truly engaging to watch. This is really hands down the best competition kshow of all time, so well made and a huge feast well served for the eyes.Was this review helpful to you?
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