Pupusa
Terra Firma
Most people will remember Vicky Zhao for “Huan Zhu Ge Ge,” but this series is probably her best work. She's one of those rare actresses blessed with looks, charisma, and sheer talent. She single-handedly made this mediocre series into something worth watching.
Vicky’s Lu Yi Ping is one of the most complex and sympathetic heroine. She grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive environment. Like a wounded animal, she’s bitter, vengeful, and tends to lash out unexpectedly. Torn between love and hate, she doesn’t always say what she means and doesn’t mean the awful things she says. That mental struggle is all there in Vicky’s eyes. There's a subtle tension and weariness in the way she carries herself as well. I was glued to the screen rooting for Yi Ping to put down her burden and find happiness, even if it’s with a wishy washy guy like Shu Huan.
Compared to Vicky, the rest of the core cast is a letdown. Ruby Lin doesn’t even bother to figure out what makes her character tick, which is a waste since her Ru Ping could’ve been much more interesting. Alec Su, likeable as he is, can’t do comedy and his attempts to be funny is cringey. Xu Lu is over the top fake as the insane Ke Yun. But the most unforgiveable performance has to be Leo Ku as Shu Huan. Now Leo doesn't have the screen presence of a leading man. He's also a so-so actor with a limited range of expression. His hospital reunion scene with Vicky is meant to be dramatic and heart-rending, but the look on Leo’s face is so dopey it borders on comical. How something like this makes it into the final cut is beyond me. The director should have made Leo redo half of his scenes until he gets it right, or just cast a different actor.
The writing itself fluctuates between the profound and the absurd. Do they honestly expect me to believe that the way to treat mental illness is to make the patient re-enact all the love scenes in their past? Or that a man who forces women he doesn't love to marry him is the most romantic guy in the world? Or that a wife and child beater still qualifies as hero? I get that the show is telling viewers that life - and people - are not black and white. It ends up undoing that premise by sugarcoating everything in an attempt to make us feel all warm and fuzzy.
Don’t focus too much on the show’s flaws or it will drive you crazy like Ke Yun. Just enjoy it for Vicky Zhao as she’s simply wonderful here.
Vicky’s Lu Yi Ping is one of the most complex and sympathetic heroine. She grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive environment. Like a wounded animal, she’s bitter, vengeful, and tends to lash out unexpectedly. Torn between love and hate, she doesn’t always say what she means and doesn’t mean the awful things she says. That mental struggle is all there in Vicky’s eyes. There's a subtle tension and weariness in the way she carries herself as well. I was glued to the screen rooting for Yi Ping to put down her burden and find happiness, even if it’s with a wishy washy guy like Shu Huan.
Compared to Vicky, the rest of the core cast is a letdown. Ruby Lin doesn’t even bother to figure out what makes her character tick, which is a waste since her Ru Ping could’ve been much more interesting. Alec Su, likeable as he is, can’t do comedy and his attempts to be funny is cringey. Xu Lu is over the top fake as the insane Ke Yun. But the most unforgiveable performance has to be Leo Ku as Shu Huan. Now Leo doesn't have the screen presence of a leading man. He's also a so-so actor with a limited range of expression. His hospital reunion scene with Vicky is meant to be dramatic and heart-rending, but the look on Leo’s face is so dopey it borders on comical. How something like this makes it into the final cut is beyond me. The director should have made Leo redo half of his scenes until he gets it right, or just cast a different actor.
The writing itself fluctuates between the profound and the absurd. Do they honestly expect me to believe that the way to treat mental illness is to make the patient re-enact all the love scenes in their past? Or that a man who forces women he doesn't love to marry him is the most romantic guy in the world? Or that a wife and child beater still qualifies as hero? I get that the show is telling viewers that life - and people - are not black and white. It ends up undoing that premise by sugarcoating everything in an attempt to make us feel all warm and fuzzy.
Don’t focus too much on the show’s flaws or it will drive you crazy like Ke Yun. Just enjoy it for Vicky Zhao as she’s simply wonderful here.
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