Reviews

Daily dose of... episode(s)

I decided to give it a try: watching on a daily basis, according to the series' schedule rather than piling then binging and it... works! So far. I commend the writer, director and production. They were able to compact these single episodes that at the end, I am satisfied and still looking forward to the next day (sans the annoying urge like that of many popular idol drama series). Truly a light-hearted drama. No wonder it occupies the 9:30PM time slot. This episode sees Fei Fei bonding over their shared experience and opening up to one another. Fun with a dash of cuteness. They are slowly building up their relationship - wherever it leads them, I'm not a bit worried. I'm also not worried about the entitled co-worker, director Fang Yun or even the ex-boyfriend. They serve their purposes in the story. If they are found irritating or infuriating, the actors must have done well themselves.

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How I miss fun slice-of-life works like this

The story continues. It's fun, light-hearted, entertaining with some seriousness and level-headed handling. I'm enjoying.I just want to say, I'm the opposite of several complaints about the series:1. The two lead actors' heights, I see no problem. I actually enjoy their proximity much more, compared to the now popular "size gap". It gives them an equal footing not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and intellectually. This goes hand-in-hand with the development of their characters and their relationship, which is built from zero, to landlord-tenant, then friends, and in the future: life parters. I think of their shoes preferences as being part of their characterisation. Li Fei wearing chunky platform shoes maybe he is aware of his height. But worry not because he seems confident in himself, his capability, and don't seem to shy away from tall girlfriend(s). Qian Fei wearing flat sneakers maybe because she knows she's considered tall by standard too. But maybe she's also that dynamic, active, go-getter girl. Once in a blue moon, I'm glad for this sort of breather in fiction and for the actor to not have to buff up every cell and every fiber to look... painfully glamourous. Moreover, I'm not going to complain about anything or anyone remotely reminds me of Tom and Zendaya. 2. The Mama Boy Best Friend and the Gamer Best Friend finally show some characterisation and progress, hail hail. Their misunderstanding adds hilarity to this episode. Them caring about their best friends is not just cute, but heart-warming. A bit of busy-body doesn't hurt, especially when it'll bring these two forever-alone blockheads together.This episode, Mama Boy Best Friend shines. He isn't as spineless as I thought. He shows that he really is Li Fei's best friend, knowing him well, his habits, even Li Fei admits to it, LOL. Some fun bits that I'm quite fond of: + The REALISATION. Finally, Fei Fei become aware of the other and their growing feelings in the most obvious ways! Even though... they still try to downplay it and carry on a less complicated living situation separately and collectively. + Li Fei, being the grumpy dumpty that he is, is also a tsundere, a sweet-talker, a blunt confronter who never shies away from speaking his mind and clearing up any misunderstanding. He also cares and makes efforts in his own way. Thank you for giving me a fresh, new ML, Tan Jian Ci.+ Qian Fei, being an overthinking worrywart, a hard worker, an incredibly cutie patootie with the charms of both the girl-next-door and the bickering enemy-to-lover troupe. I watch this series, thinking I might find another character similar to her "evil" queen in "How Dare You". Most fortunately, I find someone else, someone fresh and new that I'm also in love it. Thank you, Wang Chu Ran. Please give me one comedy-then-romance per year. Ah, that reminds me. I find WCR's facial feature both baby and mature. She was likely 24 when filming this drama. But I'm convinced of her 27-year-old master-degree holder portrayal. + Li Fei's father and uncle Jiang are both good-looking older gentlemen. I hope to see more of them and Li Fei in the upcoming episodes. Character development, anyhow. I can't help imagining them living together when Li Fei was younger. Was it like "Two and A Half Men" but less idiotic? + I wonder about Li Fei's father too. His wife passed away. Unlike Qian Fei's father, who is now living with a seemingly considerate auntie, Li Fei's father seems sufficient with his dog. I'd love to see more of their fathers.

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Another hilarious episode

Family dynamics:+ I didn't think I'd enjoy the lunching scene between Li Fei and his father that much. This scene explores not only their dynamic as father and son, but also their characters. The distinctive ways they eat subtly hint his father was from a humble background while his picky, a bit ill-mannered son didn't receive a lot of care growing up. Even though, Li Fei said his mother died when he was young and he has a difficult relationship with his father; Here, there seems to be no distance between the two. (Li Fei just ups and steals his father's rare and expensive tea set in a swoop. Kids, LOL.) They don't hide from each other. It's genuine and healthy their dynamic. It's actually a bit too nice and rosy given the seemingly immense wealth their family possesses. + The dynamic between Li Fei and uncle Jiang (his father's driver/butler/assistant/etc.), although short, was full of care and love for one another. Not simply a helper but a part of the family. (I think of the domestic workers in Singapore. But it pains me to just have this thought because of the abuses and discrimination many face, even though their work is never short of tremendous...) Flatmate dynamics:+ It seems to me that Li Fei will grow to care, and actually take actions to show that he cares, for other people living with Qian Fei. She pays close attention to him when he receives the call of his father's accident. She waits for him to return, focusing solely on his wellbeing, making him snow ear mushroom soup... For sure, that is not in Li Fei's bingo card of that year, or even of that life time LOL. I like how they make it a touching moment, but don't dwell in a more dramatically emotional path but a comedic one. It's light-hearted, but still memorable. + By this episode, Fei Fei are quite comfortable with each other. They still bicker, going back and forth with their banters. Most importantly, they don't shy from being and showing their true selves. I fully support this kind of individuality and foundational relationship. You must be comfortable with who you are to be with other people. And you only live once, why live as anyone other than yourself. + These two are a joy to watch whenever they are on screen. I don't know if the upcoming episodes will divide them in any sort of ridiculous situation. But I hope, if so, they'll think about the times they exercise/dance/play in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere together, eat with each other, drink with each other, care about and for one another to... communicate and sort things out just as they have been doing.Great episode except that scene of the 2ML fumbling because he doesn't have any agency in the presence of his new rich girlfriend and her scheming father. It's annoying. But I'll tolerate because they are essential to the storyline. I wonder how harsh the "you reap what you sow" parts at the end will be.

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Now I will have to question everything...

The way Haixia's lower lip trembled when Hailou asked him what was going on and mentioned that strange expression on his face... Haixia seems so afraid of himself. 😟🥺 With Haixia now becoming the unpredictable one and Hailou having to keep him in check and clear up the mess, it makes me wonder: did the writers decide to keep Haixia alive just to give Hailou a better growth arc? 🤨I already had so many questions and doubts, but now with the "Hidden Thread" strategy and that seed of doubt about whether Haixia is Mo Yungao, they are going to make me question absolutely everything!If that theory actually turned out to be true, what would it even mean? Would he have dissociative identity disorder, or perhaps a literal Jekyll & Hyde case? If I remember correctly, we only saw Mo Yungao on screen back in episode 2—could that have actually been Haixia all along? But he was already burned by then, wasn't he?Or maybe... Mo Yungao is working for Haixia, using Mo Yungao's face as a front? But then that would mean Haixia has been planning all this evilness for years, playing everyone—even Master—infiltrating the Archives, and purposefully letting Hailou spill secrets about the Archives back then just to move his plan to the next phase... 🤯 Nah, I really don't want to believe that theory.But now that he's heading off on this dangerous mission, I bet his good side still plans to do as much as he possibly can for the sake of Hailou and the Archives. 🥹🤧

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One Stars

watching ep 9 am wondering if someone forgot to take their medication or doubled the dose... like what was this sh*t??? 1st of the older brother is still an adult & just cause he resigned, it doesn't make him dating a student ok! but he came to declare he (groomed) pursued a student(???) in front of the whole school & now they r together??? & suddenly the "fiancé" let alone the whole town that were after him r ok with the older brother's gayness let alone his dating a student?!? ***************************& the fiancé is ok with his new love - & has forgotten about her dead brother - cause? cause she found a love-interest of her own. is that how it works?!? **********************************************************************************************************if this wasn't enough of a WTF, we get a gang that Zhan Wang tries to take on all on his own & then cause he is stabbed - runs back home & that whole scene is acted out like he is "on the run" & in the middle of nowhere... why can't he seek help (ER? his own older brother?!?) why??? just so we would end up with a NC scene??? what the actual f*ck **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************this wasn't perfect, but there was some semblance of logic until this ep. as is at the start of the ep, was feeling sad for Xu Yuan cause ironically he chose someone that is terminal & is gonna leave him thinking his Jinx powers r the cause... oh well, one last ep to go...

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Interesting... But ignore my episode rating here. I assure, it grows.

Not too keen on modern Chinese drama, but reluctantly picked this up because of: + "Comedy" tag (before "romance" and "drama"); + Wang Chu Ran, specifically in a comedy-then-romance similar to "How Dare You", which I adore. I am currently at the latest episode and decide to go back to record some of my thoughts. Full disclosure: I like this series so far. It is light and fun but does not take its audience for granted or tries to dumb them down. 1st episode, honestly, not a strong impression. - FL's costumes are ridiculous, more so given her ripe age of 27. BUT, this got explained in episode 9. Gradually, it feels like part of the character. It also makes her more relatable, down-to-earth. This isn't an overblown, idol, historical, costume drama. - The setting, styling, colouring, overall the feel of the show seems dated. I find out, it was made three years prior due to the 2ML's scandals. Oh well, it grows onto me anyhow. - 2ML got replaced with another actor's face. So, yes, it's weird and limited his acting and expressions. Most of the time, he looks elsewhere instead of his scene partners. Looking closely, I notice the blurry green screen and different lightning as well. SO, props to the production team for trying and pushing over this immense hurdle, to get this released. Not to worry about 2ML, he doesn't appear a lot. Likely, his screen time got severely reduced. The story and lead actors will take over everything anyway. Some minor stuff like FL's best friend and ML over reacting, the lukewarm introduction of the supporting cast, the weak hold of both the leads, in this episode, didn't deter me from reaching for a few more episodes. Because: humour and charming lead actors.

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Demon Lord Fufeng meets Mortal Magistrate Bai Shanjun

"Voices echo in the forestweeping at every turnMimicking human speech,drains away vitalityOld keepsakes return,rousing the heartWithout the rightful owner-Calamity will not cease"A beautiful lady in her abode murmurs, "He is back. The source of all calamity."Eerie woods and regal stones transform into green misty mountains, recalling one of the songs for the drama:https://kisskh.at/profile/Xiang83/feeds/6PpeebSxEn route to his destination, buying buns and tea, newly-appointed county magistrate Bai Shanjun learns about the Great Demon who has guarded the Yin-Yang Crossing for a thousand years. [ Reminds me of Ning Cai Chen. Heh. Earnest. Graceful. Innocent. ]Stepping on a cute little gourd girl demon and nearly tripping without realising, he finishes most of his simple meal, and makes his way to his appointed destination. Lady Fufeng picks up an oddly-imprinted paper near abandoned sesame cakes. Her purification ritual of corruptive taint is interrupted by- These two do not have an endearing start with each other. Misunderstanding is naturally abrupt and ill-received. He lives in the present. She is temporarily caught by the past.The story, backgrounds, and all else unfolds naturally. As abundant and beautiful and poetic, as the green that suffuses this episode. Eerie green of deaths in the woods. Lush foggy mountains. Green robes, hairpieces and ornaments of Lady Fufeng. And that is how he winds up at the Mansion of Lady Fufeng i.e. 洗铅华 (an abode that stands for washing away the powders of superficiality and camouflage). He recalls the words of the old man, whose little gourd he stepped on: The corruptive taint and what it does to people...The tree heart and its mystery springs alive, as demon and mortal dive into conflict. The first case must be investigated. How will I retrieve my heart?

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