A Jade Drama with a Dent

Love Like White Jade (白玉思无瑕) is a drama produced by MangoTV. Love Like White Jade is a historical romcom drama mixed with some elements of mystery. The story narrative mainly revolves around Jiang Baiyu (played by 张耀 – Zhang Yao ) who puts on a façade of being a playboy, however behind he disguises himself as the hero Shen Qingli to find the murderer of his father 7 years ago. The female lead is Shui Wuxia (played by万鹏 – Wan Peng), Shui Wuxia is a maid from Langya Hall, Wuxia is an excellent maid in every aspect. “Maids” from Langya Hall tasks is to help young childe to excel in their studies, basically being a secretary/ assistant, instead of being a “maid” who cleans and cook. From then one the narrative unfolds, with them falling in love, developing friendship, and finding the truth behind 7 years ago.

Plot: The drama plot is straightforward and uncomplicated which makes viewers understand it easily; it does not have frequent flashbacks. The pacing of this drama is excellent at the beginning ¾ of the drama. On the ¾ of the drama, the story unfolds casually and not rushed. The element of romance, comedy, friendship is blended seamlessly, even though the mystery genre is weak. There is not enough building and logic on the mystery/ criminal cases, the mystery story filler also has plenty of plot holes; which resulted in a weak ending. The ending lacked climax and intensity, as the truth was uncovered in the most ridiculous manner and the antagonist was finished so easily.

There are 3 couples in this drama, and I like how all couples supported each other no matter what. And there is tremendous character growth in each person and couple, they grow together to become a better person. Moreover, there are no excessive misunderstandings between the couples. Misunderstandings are solved in a mature way, and the other 2 couple's love and chemistry are also very strong. Also, what I like about this drama, is that the Jiang brothers did not scheme each other, instead, they had each other backs. The friendship part in this drama is not really that deep, but when one of them is in trouble, all of them had their backs. That is probably what I liked; it was realistic. Every one of them had their own life and routine rather than sticking with each other 24/7, but when any critical moment comes, they are there. And I can also sense a little feminism in this drama, which I LOVE!!

Cinematography and CGI: This drama cinematography is just like another idol drama cinematography, with excessive lighting, close-up shots, quick transitions, and a bright color scheme. There is nothing particularly commendable about the cinematography. The martial arts scene in the drama is decent for a low-budget drama, it is not too sloppy but it is not commendable too. There are some fighting scenes and qinggong (light skills) in the drama that I find kinda funny (where Qingli and Wuxia fly after throwing money on the streets). For the fighting scenes, it was okay, the choreographed actions are mediocre. Moving on, the CGI in this drama is bad but okay at the same time. As this is a low-budget drama, you shouldn’t expect grandiose CGI, choreographed sequence, etc. The CGI was bad, like for example the scene where Qingli and Wuxia met at the roof, the CGI was like from an animation movie. But with the combination of Qingli and Wuxia outfit color scheme, it did not become bad, it becomes bearable yet funny at the same time.

Acting: Zhang Yao and Wan Peng’s acting is commendable!! Zhang Yao manages to show the 2 sides of Jiang Baiyu, the playboy and Shen Qingli, the marvelous hero. Wan Peng also did a good job in portraying her role. The secondary actor and actresses also did a good job, even though some of their actings were awkward, it was still bearable. Not so bad, to the point that you cannot continue to watch.

There is nothing particular to be remembered about the music, the music fits in the scenario well, but it is not memorable. The only unique thing about the music is the opening music. The opening music is really upbeat and modern, unlike other historical dramas. Probably by hearing the opening music, you can guess what the genre of the drama is and where it is going to.

In conclusion, Love Like White Jade is a good drama to watch when you are looking for something light-hearted that makes you smile from time to time. Watching this drama does not require 100% concentration, you can watch this drama while doing other activities. As for the setbacks, the setbacks in the drama are not really visible and give off a big impact on the drama if you do not pay attention to it. Overall, it is a GOOD WATCH!!

P.s. Jiang Baiyu/ Shen Qingli's voice dubber in this drama feels so similar to Zhang Yao’s character in Love in Between, which is another plus point for me!!

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A Girl's Secret Crush Diary

Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住) adapted from the novel of the same name, is a youth romance drama revolving around Sang Zhi, and her secret admiration towards Duan Jiaxu, her brother’s friend and how it develops to a relationship.

Hidden Love is a captivating and heartwarming youth romance drama that explores the theme of love, friendship, and personal growth. The drama sticks closely to the novel, keeping the dialogues between the characters. In addition, the drama also manages to beautifully capture and translate the novel to life, capturing the nuances of the character’s relationship and also seamlessly intertwines comedy with poignant moments, romance, and many more.

Although Hidden Love treads some of familiar tropes of a youth romance drama, but it manages to distinguish itself with its heartfelt storytelling, nuanced character development, and some freshness into the genre. Sang Zhi isn't like any other young female lead who blindlessly chase after Duan Jiaxu, just because love at first sight and so on. However, just like any other young girls, she began to develop feelings gradually and secretly. Duan Jiaxu is also a very good male lead, whereas he truly looks upon Sang Zhi like a litttle sister, being kind to her, defending her, guides her, and more.

Hidden Love manages to strike a balance between tender moments of romance, family moments, and also youth leaving a lasting impact on its viewers. The comedic timing of the talented cast is impeccable, delivering punchlines and physical comedy with finesse. Although the drama primarily focuses on the youth and romance, but it also touches on deeper emotional themes. Moments of introspection and personal growth are woven into the narrative, allowing the characters to overcome their past and discover new aspects. Those elements bring an additional emotional depth to the story, ensuring a well-rounded viewing experience.

Chen Zheyuan and Zhao Lusi is the perfect Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi! Both of their performances are nothing short of brilliant, both of them are able to bring Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu to life. Zhao Lusi is able to bring innocent Sang Zhi to life, she brilliantly portrays Sang Zhi from a young age to adulthood. Her cute little actions are so convicing that makes one think that she really is a high school student! On the other hand, Chen Zheyuan also did a brilliant job in portraying Duan Jiaxu. He uses micro expression and his expressive eyes to act and communicate. Both of their performance transports and immerse viewers in the lives of their characters, making us feel their every emotion, as if we are experiencing the joys and sorrows together with them. Both of their chemistry is also palpable, enhancing the authenticity of the relationships portrayed on screen and making viewers deeply invested in the drama.

The supporting cast also adds depth and charm to the narrative, bringing a diverse range of personalities and subplots that enrich the overall storytelling experience, keeping viewers engaged throughout the drama. For instance, Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s brother. Sang Zhi and Sang Yan’s on-screen witty banter and comedic timing add a genuine touch to the storyline. The banter between the two siblings looked so realistic, just like any other siblings argument; many of their actions looks genuine, and feels like it is unscripted!

Hidden Love cinematography manages to capture the innocence of youth, the sweetness and pain of one-sided love, and the intimate moments between the character. However, I personally am not a fan of the drama’s green/ grey muted filter in the earlier episodes, which I find it makes the drama looks a little bit dull. However, as the episode progresses and Sang Zhi grow into an adult, the filter became better! There are also few moments when the pacing feels slightly uneven. Some scenes could have been trimmed to maintain a tighter narrative flow in the earlier episodes. However, in the latter episode, a lot of the scenes are cut down, which may leave viewers a little bit confused and unsatisfied with the closure. Nevertheless, these minor hiccups don't overshadow the drama’s overall charm. The overall execution, engaging performances, and heartfelt moments compensate for the drawbacks.

Hidden Love soundtrack also perfectly encapsulated the whole drama, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Composed of enchanting melodies and emotionally charged ballads, perfectly complements the narrative and adds an extra layer of depth to the series.

All in all, Hidden Love successfully captures the essence of a youth love journey. It is a delightful concoction of youth romance drama! With the actor’s stellar performance, engaging story, it offers a fresh delightful take on the youth-romance genre! You will find yourself with smiling, laughing and swooning watching the drama ◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜

FYI. the male lead DOES NOT develop any romantic feelings for her until she is an adult

Hidden Love extra chapter (6) - Wedding Night: https://twitter.com/afterrnoont/status/1680883026438537216

Hidden Love extra chapter (7) - The Daily Routine of Life with Two Kids: https://twitter.com/afterrnoont/status/1680630598761861120

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Sisterhood. Love. Delicious delicacies

卿卿日常 (New Life Begins) narrates the story the life in Xin Chuan, how different women from nine regions come together and live their life there, also centering around the main couple (the sixth prince of Xin Chuan and a girl from Jin Chuan.)

Helmed by director Zhao Qichen, who also directed My Heroic Husband. You can expect a good laugh from the drama! There are a lot of elements in the drama that is intertwined together flawlessly, such as comedy, feminism, love, friendship, family, and a tad of (child’s play) politics and rivalry. There are so many plot devices and themes that worked together harmoniously, there isn’t any dull moment for me. It is well-paced, the storyline develops at a brisk and engaging pace.

What makes this drama different from other dramas is (at least for now) that the drama avoids going on the mainstream road. There is no rivalry and scheming between women, unlike other historical dramas. The drama has a very heavy element of feminism - how women in this drama showcase their abilities, support, protect, and have each other backs, and more. Other than it, the drama also focuses on what women experience: postpartum depression, domestic violence, marriage, and more. All the women characters in the drama are interesting, well-conceived, and realistically written - each of them comes from different regions with different mindsets and beliefs, thus making their struggles and actions understandable. The colorful and depths of the ensemble characters make the drama even more compelling.

In addition, almost every couple in the drama is very also lovely! Every couple’s romance is developed equally. It is nice to see how each couple grows fond of each other over time and also grow as an individual. Each character possesses their own distinctive qualities that when combined together make the overall development of the story interesting and fun. Each character is also multidimensional, each having its own interesting story arc. You will find yourself immersed and invested in each character’s growth through the experiences they went through. I especially love how Hao Jia (the second prince’s concubine) has an inner monologue whenever the second prince is near him!

New Life Begin’s cinematography is generally adequate. But some of their shots of food are beautiful, which will make you salivate. The color palette of the drama is light and bright-toned with a soft filter and vibrant color palette, which is pleasing to the eyes. Another thing I loved about New Life Begins is their elaborately authentic sets and exquisite costumes. Where each character has their own styling. Lastly, though not seamless, the editing and scene transition is cohesive. There are a lot of scene transitions in between however it’s understandable as the narrative not only narrates the character in a certain period of time but over a long period of time.

The characters of the drama are brought to life by an outstanding cast, who delivers compelling interpretations of their character. Both Bai Jingting and Tian Xiwei did an exceptional job in the drama, embodying the character! Tian Xiwei imbues her character as Li Wei with cuteness, nuance, and also elegance! Though she looks very cute and sweet. But she is not one of those sweet-looking girls that are easily manipulated. She manages to infuse her character with kindness, righteousness, knowledge, and standing by what she believes; which makes her character very interesting. It is unimaginable that anyone else can pull off such a character other than Tian Xiwei.

Bai Jingting also elevated his character with his micro-expressions. As the sixth prince who grows up to be sickly and secluded, he still managed to show us different sides of the character - how he grows throughout the relationship and more. Not only Bai Jinting and Tian Xiwei but each character in the drama were immensely elevated by all the cast’s excellent acting. The depth and richness of each character and their development were commendable. In addition, all the character’s interactions and chemistry are also realistically and convincingly portrayed.

Personally, I think this is a really great drama to watch when you're looking for something light-hearted! This drama is like a serotonin boost!

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Romantic and Meaningful

Love is Science? (戀愛是科學) is an 18 episode romance drama that revolves around 2 couples, Yan Fei - Wang Hsuan Yu and Ou Wen and Mark. Love is Science? is a slow but very heartwarming series. No antagonist, the characters are just sweet and natural. Though the plot is it’s rather cliche but it has a sweet atmosphere that makes you invested in it!! Plus, All of them have good chemistry, little misunderstanding.

Love is Science? the premise revolves around two couples, one bxg couple (Yan Fei and Wang Hsuan Yu) and one bxb couple (Ou Wen and Mark). The first couple's storyline is really sweet, it focuses more on how Wang Hsuan Yu unrequited love is finally being reciprocated, and how Yan Fei comes to realization that Hsuan Yu has been by her side this whole time. Watching the first couple, you will feel butterflies in your stomach (but slow butterflies), Yan Fei feelings realization towards Hsuan Yu comes rather slow. Therefore, all their sweetness is around the last episode. But while watching the earlier episodes, you won't feel bored because you don't see their sweet moments. Rather, the earlier episodes and every extra scene (Hsuan Yu's and Yan Fei's childhood scene) make their romance buildup more interesting and meaningful.

On the other hand, OuWen and Mark couple focuses more on character development and how they grow together, as a couple and as an individual. Mark started off as a playboy and a homophobic (Mark expressed his disgust towards OuWen when OuWen touches him and more). But over time, Mark started to open his heart and realize his feelings for OuWen. Their love story is really heartwarming, that it makes you go "aww". However, Mark and OuWen's story does not only revolve around them. Their love story also revolves around Qiao Anna (Yan Fei's best friend) who once hooked up with Mark, then to find out that she's pregnant. (The second couple story does overshadow the main couple, but I don't mind since I find the second couple story actually more interesting than the first one and yes, they deserve a separate drama for the second couple)
Each character is also designed very well done and 3-dimensional. Personally, I love OuWen as a character, he’s honest and confident but also vulnerable. One of my favorite dialogues from him is, "why a gay man cannot be manlier than you?". He might be confident about being gay, but he also takes into consideration people around him. Love is Science? storyline doesn't all focus on romance and love, but it also provides glimpses into slice-of-life, how each individual how they grow, family, friendships, and more.

In terms of production quality, technical execution, Love is Science may not be perfect, but it is satisfactory. The drama uses soft filters and vibrant color palettes that provide a generally pleasant and vivid viewing experience. In addition, it also has decent camerawork. The cinematography and color palette makes this drama an enjoyable watch. There are also several setbacks in this drama, but the only major setback I can think of is the male lead comes off to be rather awkward.

Overall, Love is Science? is a good watch if you're looking for something romantic but meaningful as well.

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A Background Story Review

P.s. this review focuses more on the background story, hope that others can grasp what's going on better.

Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities (镜双城) is a xuanhuan drama, adapted from the novel with the same title, 镜·双城by 沧月 (Cang Yue). The novel is broken down into 6 series: Su Mo, Bai Ying, Zhen Lan, Na Sheng, Yan Xi, and Yun Huan. But their stories are all correlated. Mirror Twin Cities drama adaptation focuses more on the story of Su Mo and Bai Ying.

A little background story for those who didn’t read the novel nor watched the donghua yet, the story takes place in the Yunhuang continent. In Yunhuang continent, there are 6 countries (Kongsang, Cangliu, and more). 7000 years earlier, Kongsang destroyed the sea kingdom. The previous sea emperor made a pearl to preserve his power and bloodline; and 7000 years later, a mermaid unaccidentally swallowed the pearl. Thus, Su Mo was born.

In Yunhuang, the mermaids were tortured and enslaved. A mermaid’s tears will turn into pearls, the mermaids were forced to cry; and if they cannot try, their eyes will be gouged out. Mermaids were tortured, forced to break their tails, and sold as a commodity and slaves. Both Su Mo and his mother are also very miserable. His mother has her hand and leg amputated and turned into a human swine. Su Mo was also tortured, and in order for others not to have his eyes, he gouged his own eyes. So Su Mo itself is a very dark character and he hates Kongsang people.

Mirror Twin Cities drama narrative centers around Su Mo and Bai Ying. Su Mo is a merman who also bears the identity of a sea emperor, he has the responsibility to bring the mermaids back to the sea. Meanwhile, Bai Ying is the eldest daughter of the Bai clan who has the responsibility to marry the Kongsang’s crown prince. The drama story timeline takes place when Kongsang was invaded by Cangliu, and after the sea emperor resurfaces again and wants to bring the mermaids back to the sea.

The first few episodes of the drama tell the flashback of what had happened 100 years ago. It has very weird and fast pacing, everything is thrown at you so sudden that you might need some time to process what’s going on. And you also won’t feel their chemistry yet. But stay and keep watching, it gets better! It has a pretty average script, but it has gorgeous landscape shots and CGI! But the editing and set are lacking, there is a lot of choppy editing especially during their fight scenes. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed, but the shots and choppy editing makes it hard for people to understand whats actually going on. In addition, the set is also poor, this is a S+ project but the set looks like its a low-budget project. The "real" locations such as forest, houses, mirror tower were still okay but some like the sea kingdom, underwater scenes are poorly executed

Mirror Twin Cities is led by Li Yifeng (Su Mo), Chen Yuqi (Bai Ying), Zheng Yecheng (Zhen Lan), and more. This drama is Li Yifeng’s comeback historical drama after almost six years. Li Yifeng's portrayal as Su Mo is right on the point. A lot of people may say, “his expression stays the same”. But that’s what Su Mo was like, he is a cold and emotionless man. And also Li Yifeng looks REALLY GOOD in a historical drama. Meanwhile, Chen Yuqi's portrayal as Bai Ying was fine, she did improve a lot from her previous projects. But I can’t help but to notice that she has almost the same expression throughout the whole drama (except when she’s crying). Last but not least, Zheng Ye Cheng acting in a historical drama never disappoints, from his fighting scene, articulation, looks, everything is superb. Zheng Yecheng is also really commendable for being able to portray two totally different characters

In addition, Mirror Twin Cities also has an amazing OST lineup with star studded singers! And I love how there’s a specific OST designed for each character and situation that’s happening. The line up for Mirror Twin Cities OST includes:
1. 念归去 - 周深
2. 无惧 - 阿YueYue
3. 爱若无声 - 毛不易
4. 不为喜欢 - 张碧晨
5. 我是你的雨 - 银临
6. 相思不相忘 - 利胜
7. 风月唱 - 锦零
8. 问酒 - 姚晓棠
Sung by Zhou Shen, Mao Buyi, and Zhang Bichen, you can expect how much angst this drama has.

As someone who has read the novel, I’d say the drama has changed around 80% from the novel, especially character-wise. In the novel and donghua, Su Mo is a very cold and ruthless character. In the novel, Su Mo has no real feeling for Bai Ying at all. All he did was use Bai Ying to overturn Kongsang and try to rebuild the sea kingdom. It was only after Bai Ying jumped the tower, did he realized he was long fallen for her. However, in the drama, he is someone whose more emotional and compassionate (not that it is a terrible thing). For instance, during episode 1, you can see Su Mo as a bright young man helping other mermaids passionately, but that was not the case in the novel. Going through torture and betrayal when he was small, he was a dark and cold character. But in the drama, Su Mo has a straightforward attitude towards his love for Bai Ying. All in all, the drama focuses more on the romantic side of the story. If you have read the novel or watched the donghua, you may find the whole Mirror Twin Cities character deviate from the novel or donghua, except Zhen Lan. But when you are watching the drama, just try to forget the novel and donghua.

If this drama premieres after The Longest Promise (Xiao Zhan and Ren Min), the audience would probably grasp better whats going on.

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The Gray Area

Crime Crackdown (扫黑风暴) is a crime drama, where the narrative revolves around Li Chengyang (Sun Honglei). Li Chengyang was a policeman, however, he was accused of taking bribes, therefore his reputation was ruined and he was expelled from the police force. After being expelled from the police force, he then becomes involved in the mafia group. The drama then continues on with a group of officials who were sent to Lv Teng to clean up the mess in Lv Teng (crimes that have been in Lv Teng for years - such as illegal gambling, high loans, and so forth). Then cold cases started to get cracked and so on, which will lead to the big ultimate case.

What made this drama particularly appealing is the stellar cast and the directing. The cast of this drama is outstanding! For people who have been watching Chinese drama for a long time, I'm sure that you'll be familiar with the faces in this drama. With all the amazing casts, the acting is perfect!! From the main role to the supporting role, every character is portrayed very well done. And Lay did a really outstanding job in this drama, he had a huge improvement in his acting! Secondly, this drama is directed by Wu Bai, I loved his directing in Evil Minds, therefore, I was particularly looking forward to this drama.

The crime cases in this drama are okay. Some were interesting as several cases shown in this drama are based on real-life cases that happened in China. This drama is kinda draggy and it's a slow burn drama - it hints at you about the main goal from the smaller achievements they achieved. However, the small details are not attractive enough to keep you watch it and you might get kinda exhausted in the middle of watching it. In the middle of the drama, you might feel that you are not going anywhere, the story is stagnant. Therefore, it might be kinda taxing to watch it.

This drama production is not the best, but not the worst too. I really enjoyed the colour scheme and grading, with it's prominent shadows and textures. However, the cinematography, directing and editing is just average, there is nothing new and appealing.

As a crime drama, Crime Crackdown is a very good drama in terms of its acting and production. However, the weak and slow-burning narrative makes this drama fall short.

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Obsession and Possession

Enthralling. Intriguing. Mind-blowing

It is probably the perfect three words to describe this drama.

The whole drama narrates the story of Lou Qianyi and Hou Youze's relationship after an avalanche that renders Qianyi amnesic and how Qianyi tries to figure out her identity.

Initially, the plot of this drama is not straightforward and kinda complicated, which may leave your mind and train of thought all over the place. However, as the plot progresses, you will be able to gradually grasp the background and motivations of the various characters and understand the past incidents that shape current events.

The show is not draggy, you might get hooked unconsciously after watching a few episodes!! If I'm not mistaken, this drama was initially planned to have 40 episodes, and I am glad that they cut it down to 29 episodes. 29 episodes are the right number, it is not draggy and it is well-paced too. The pacing is well-paced and the drama also transitions seamlessly between suspense, tragedy and thriller with a few twists and reveals mixed in.

What makes this show spectacular is of course the male lead's acting. Ou Hao acted as Hou Youze, an obsessive yet pitiful person. His acting is spectacular!! He managed to bring Hou Youze role to life through his gaze and nuanced micro-expressions. I can't help but feel a bit scared while watching his acting. I watched a few of Ou Hao's dramas before, and he is really versatile, a quality which hopefully garners him more varied roles in his future projects!! Victoria Song's acting has also improved much!! She managed to play 2 different roles so well, she is getting better and better in each drama she stares in.

The background music and sound of this drama fits in perfectly with the whole ambience. The background music makes you feel the suspense and your adrenaline rushing. Though I feel like the background music was excessively used in some parts to the point that the background music is dictating you what you should feel. As for this scene, suspensive background music is used, therefore, you should feel suspense. But regardless of it, they still managed to make me feel the suspense and be on the edge of my seat while watching the drama.

As for the flaws, there are some scenes where it lacks logic and coherence. For instance, how can someone who just suffers a heavy accident and need to go through cosmetic surgery look so normal in just a month?! But if you don't really care about all the small details, you will love the drama!!

Another flaw is the CGI used during the avalanche, the CG looked so fake that I can't help but laugh a little, the cuts and CG used in the avalanche scene does not do justice to the quality of the storyline. But it is only a small part of it so don't mind too much!!

You might like or hate the ending. But for me personally, I think that ending is a perfect ending for this drama!!

Lover or Stranger is probably one of my favourite dramas of 2021!! It is rare to see a Chinese drama that takes on this genre, and in the future, I hope to see more kinds of Chinese dramas with this genre!! Give it a try, you might love it!!

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Scheming For The World

Who Rules The World is adapted from the novel of the same name, 且试天下 (Who Rules The World) by 倾泠月. But the novel author did not take part in the scriptwriting thus there have been changes to the drama. Though promoted as a wuxia drama, Who Rules The World is not 100% a wuxia drama as it also has a combination of romance, court, and political intrigue (heavier on the romance and court side). The drama has a lot of elements, but the drama manages to blend them all seamlessly, it doesn’t confuse you.

As a Tencent S+ project, the drama has a big budget and high-quality production, and the high production values are reflected in the overall production. Who Rules The World features outstanding fight scenes, authentic sets, lavish costumes, beautifully shot landscape, and remarkable CGI. In addition, the drama is also helmed by Yin Tao, the same director who directed Love and Redemption and Ancient Love Poetry, you can expect a good watch!

The drama opens with Bai Fengxi and Hei Fengxi's adventure in Jianghu, but also shows the interconnection between the court and jianghu. The story narrative unfolds at a fast but also leisure pace, it gives viewers enough time to understand the character’s relationship and their connections. The plot and character points are planned well in advance and the story unfolds in a way that pulls us into various plot threads and the partial reveals.

To me, what makes the drama stand out the most is the two main lead characters and great choreographed fighting scenes. I love how both leads are equally strong, and they understand each other well. There is no damsel in distress, it is always them fighting side by side against the enemy together and protecting each other when one of them is in danger. It is also entertaining to see them argue with each other, and their push and pull relationship! Hei Fengxi (Feng Lanxi) is a smart and strong character, he is a formidable foe. He’s always ahead of each other, know what others are planning, has a backup plan, and more. But you’ll understand why he did all that because it is the survival of the fittest. In order for him to be safe from all the schemes, he needs to schemes, outwit others and think ahead. On the other hand, Bai Fengxi (Feng Xiyun) is a dauntless and free-spirited character. She has a genuine heart, she cares for the world but at the same time, she does not let those bad guys off easily. Bai Fengxi uses white silk as her weapon because she believes in the world of martial arts, the highest level is not to kill.

Who Rules The World also has immaculate fighting scenes. It has a brilliantly choreographed fighting scene with engaging shots and thankfully no slow motion. The drama has adequate cinematography with bright also appropriate levels of color grading along with close-ups, immersive, and tracking shots.

Anchored by Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi, you can expect eye candy in the drama! Both of them are gorgeous actors whose emotions and facial expressions transform and make them compelling in their appeal. Moreover, the drama also features a large ensemble cast with many familiar faces. Zhao Lusi has once again surprised us with her new role. Her acting as Bai Fengxi has really shown her great improvement compared to her previous drama. From her articulation, bearing, posture, and acting, everything about her is perfect! On the other hand, Yang Yang imbues his character with elegance, grace, and wittiness at the same time. Zhao Lusi and Yang Yang have great rapport and chemistry, especially if you watch their behind the scenes. I also absolutely adore scenes where they bicker and fight side by side. I personally feel those scenes have more “sugar” rather than the actual romance slo-mo part. Though indeed, in some parts of the drama, Zhao Lusi and Yang Yang have an awkward interaction and bearing.

Who Rules The World is not flawless by any means. Who Rules The World has choppy editing, a rushed storyline, and some bad CGI towards the end. The drama was supposed to be a 45-episode drama, but they cut it down to 40 episodes, hence the choppy editing. Some scenes are not coherent with the others, you can still understand what's going on, but it's not pleasant to see. Another drawback because of the choppy editing is a rushed storyline towards the line. The drama spent too much time on the political side, it is too draggy. It would be better if the political plot was actually intriguing, but I personally feel like the political plot was like a child's play, I didn't feel there's a need to spend so much time on it. The drama spends too much time on the political part making the jianghu plot unattended and left out eventually. The rush to closure also makes some parts of the drama anti-climatic, for instance, the part where Feng Lanxi discovers that Bai Fengxi is Feng Xiyun. Furthermore, I feel towards the ending, the CGI gets bad. The CGI during the beginning (their adventure in jianghu) is very remarkable, especially the CGI of their fighting scenes and Bai Fengxi's white silk. But towards the end, the CGI looks cheap and fake, especially the fight scene ending.

Overall. Who Rules The World is a good watch if you are looking for a light historical drama (also a good watch for those who are new to cdrama).

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You Are My Most Favourite Surprise

Make My Heart Smile tells the story of Ye Wei Mian who disguises as her twin, Ye Zheng Han due to some circumstances. Through disguising as Ye Zheng Han, she met Gu Yan Luo and embark on a romantic journey. The plot is straightforward and not complicated. However tho, the storyline is very cliche, you can literally predict everything that is going to happen, it is your typical story of an average woman who meets a "god-like" man. And also I can lowkey feel a hint of the Korean drama, School 2015. As the title name goes, this drama makes you smile from time to time, you can feel the sweetness between the leads. The plenty of sweet kiss scenes in this drama definitely made up for the lack of storyline and plot holes. Such as, there is no explanation about the twin's parents, Yan Luo's dad, and so on.

Luo Zheng's character in this drama is someone who is cold yet warm to the one he loves. And I can say that Luo Zheng did a pretty good job since most of the characters he portrayed are similar. The actress, Ji Mei Han also did a pretty good job. I've watched some of the dramas she featured in before, but she did not leave any deep impression, so I can't really comment on her acting. However, I gotta say, some of her scenes were really cringey and greasy. Another thing that does not sit in right with me is her costume, why does the wardrobe and design team dress her like she is a 7-year-old kid. The wardrobe team could've definitely done better.

This drama was under a lot of backlashes due to a racist comment in the drama, "you look like a Filipino maid". I know it is wrong for the actors and production team not to clarify it, however, I personally feel that one shouldn't literally criticize the whole drama over a line of the scriptwriter's mistake. There is still a group of actors, directors, and so on hard work poured into this drama.

All in all, if you are looking for a fluffy romance that will make you smile this is the one! (if you don't mind the racist comment tho)

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Mint Drama!!

Dear Diary (我的巴比伦恋人 - My Babylonian Lover), is a 24 eps rom-com drama that narrates the story of how a diary that was once written by a 12-year-old girl come to life. The 12-year-old girl (Chen Meiru) once fantasizes and wrote a diary about herself as the woman whom the Babylonian prince single-heartedly love and would die for. However, her "diary" became known by everyone in her hometown. Thus, the 12-year-old girl was traumatized and she grew up to become a very closed and serious woman.

This drama is not like any other rom-com drama, it is original and unique. Dear Diary has so many plot devices and themes used harmoniously together. The drama is well-paced and there is not a single dull moment. Dear Diary has many exciting, interesting, and heart-warming plots along the way. Moreover, the drama also ​transitions seamlessly between comedy, romance, action, and suspense. All in all, the element of fiction and reality are seamlessly interwoven and executed.

The quality of storytelling is very well done, this drama grips you every single episode, it makes you want to watch more and binge the whole drama. Some people might find this drama bizarre and weird (because yes, it is), but when you're watching this, just turn off your brain and enjoy the drama. The drama isn't all about romance and comedy, there is a deep message hidden in it. The drama has some really meaningful dialogues, and the drama also displays tremendous character growth in all characters. In addition, even though there are 3 characters who were technically "fictional characters", but they didn't feel fake or generic, they felt like real people. All the characters are well-dimensioned, it is very well-written. Though there might be some plot holes, the plot holes are forgive-able.

All of the main cast did a very exceptional job. The actors are really commendable for acting delivering their lines without laughing, as there are a lot of scenes that are really hilarious; e.g. drinking from a fishbowl. Moreover, the interactions and chemistry between everyone are also realistically and convincingly portrayed.

The production of Dear Diary is also executed immaculately, the writing, direction, and production team pays close attention to the whole drama that making it a perfect drama!! The ​production team went to Iraq, Morocco, and Paris to shoot some of the scenes and to accumulate Babylonian artifacts and resources. In addition, the drama also spent 2 years on post-production, with its dubbing and editing. Therefore, believe me, it won't disappoint you. The technical execution of this drama might not be top-notch, but it is interesting and beautiful. It has immersive camerawork for certain scenes and appropriate levels of color grading. Moreover, the high production value is also reflected in the set design, costume, everything is fantastic.

All in all, Dear Diary is a wonderfully produced drama, it has an engrossing plot, impressive cinematography, beautiful writing. Dear Diary will keep you on the edge of your chair, with its comedy, thrills, and suspense playing out at a compelling pace. With it, it deserves more attention and it is definitely one of this year's dark horse.

Plus, I love how each episode ending ends with this statement, "MeiRu, I’m marrying you. We’ll be in a monogamous relationship and I’ll never leave you."

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Another Mary Sue Drama~

Twelve Legends narrates the story of Jasper Liu, Jin Xing Jian, a stone deity who tries to resurrect her lover, Ye Ming, a night pearl played by Guli Nazha. The story started after Jin Xing Jian sealed Ye Ming’s memory and put her to sleep. As a stone deity, Jin Xing Jian has “seals/stone stamps” – which is his original form. It all started because Ye Ming defied heaven’s will against Yu Shao Bai's death, which causes a domino effect to Jin Xing Jian, Ye Ming, and others. The drama storyline then focuses on the journey of Jin Xing Jian finding his 8 scattered seals and Ye Ming trying to figure out her past.

I gave this drama a 3.5 is because of its draggy storyline. There are a lot of side couples and stories in this drama. Almost every seal collected comes with a background story. The background story includes the right amount of suspense, action, emotion, and comedy. For instance, I find the nine-tailed fox side and xiao hu’s story touching. However, some of the side stories are presented longer than necessary, causing uneven pacing. As a fantasy/ supernatural drama it lacks lavish images, CGI and choreographed action scenes. But still, the choreographed action is still decent. From what I can see, this drama might have a high budget, and I can say that they allocated the budget well. Even though some of the CGI is terrible and fake (e.g. the mermaid, nine-tailed fox, dream eater). The CGI does not fit into the overall drama. And the transition was downright terrible. There are a lot of cuts, jumps and weird transitions and effects that looked like this whole drama is being edited on iMovie by a high school student.

In addition, the climax also lacks intensity. The protagonist and antagonist were killed easily. In the beginning till the end of the drama, the protagonist, Jing Xing Jian was shown as basically an unparalleled deity with strong superpowers. However, the reason for his death lacks logic and coherence. And Ye Ming did not have any character growth at all. She remains as weak and innocent or could I say dumb. Jin Xing Jian sacrificed so much for her, but she barely did anything. The only thing she did was reciprocate his love only by the last few episodes of the drama, she realized everything too late.

Jasper Liu did a tremendous job in portraying a cold and distant yet loyal and caring man. Meanwhile, Guli Nazha did an okay job. I watched some of her dramas before such as Weaving a Tale of Love, and her acting did not have any improvement. However, I gotta say that Guli Nazha looked very charming in this drama, she is very charming and beautiful especially when she is in a qipao!! but still, her characters evoke a 呆/ dumb vibe (Guli Nazha should pick a better script, almost every character that she acts evokes a 呆 vibe). But Jia Cheng and Zhi Ying did a great job as the second couple. I love seeing how they grow as a demon and a demon fighter to lovers. And there are also a few really awesome supporting cast, such as the Ye siblings.

Secondly, the costumes and set were pleasing to see. The republican era costumes such as the qipao, suits, dresses were very well made and detailed. The set such as the Hua Xue gallery was also well-made. And lastly, the OSTs were very fitting into the overall ambience, however, it is not catchy and memorable.

Overall, Twelve Legends is an average-bad drama. Some aspects of the drama are bad, however, if you watch it without thinking much, then it will probably be an okay drama. If you have a lot of extra time or if you are a fan of the actors, go ahead and watch it!!

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Under "Your" Skin

Under The Skin is a 20 episodes crime drama produced by Linmon Pictures . The narrative revolves around a forensic criminal profiler and a detective who meets again after 7 years and proceeds to work together to solve cases while uncovering what happened 7 years ago. Under The Skin is compelling, thrilling, and emotional. It has an engrossing plot, impressive cinematography, and art direction.

As a crime drama, Under The Skin is not groundbreaking, but in my opinion, it is one of the best out there. What makes Under The Skin different from any other crime dramas is how they solve the cases. Instead of just going through the tracks and pieces of evidence like any other crime drama, this drama focuses on another aspect, forensic art, which is rarely seen in other dramas.

The drama has simple yet interesting cases, it is compelling, easy to follow, and has good moral messages behind every case. The process of case solving is also relatively simple, but still engaging. Each of the story arcs manages to be complex and intriguing while still showing the very real human emotions being experienced by the characters. I love how there is always a human element in each case, the culprit is not labeled as a "black" character, but more to grey. The drama shows you their own fascinating background story and makes you understand why they took down "THE" path.

Under The Skin script shed a light on social issues, there’s a human element and empathy in every episode. For instance, in the first case, you can see women’s prejudice in the workplace and what women need to go through to break the glass ceiling. The cases are realistic, it may resonate with the audience. My personal favorite case is in episodes 11 and 12, “girls help girls - woman can understand woman, woman protect woman”

Under The Skin is written by 6 scriptwriters, 5 of them are females which is why you might find that a lot of the cases and plot mostly revolves around women. The drama also manages to showcase the diversity in the police force, there’s a female detective, police officer, forensic doctor, and more (also there’s a lot of pretty ladies in the drama).

Other than a compelling script, the script is also immensely elevated by the excellent acting of every actor and actress in Under The Skin. The actors and supporting actors and actresses acting are phenomenal, they add so much emotional nuance that brings the characters to life. Both of the male leads, Tan Jianci and Jin Shijia portray their character very well. Tan Jianci as a natural and gentleman, and Jin Shijia as a charming yet rough character.

Despite all its hits, it also has it’s miss. For me, the only miss from the drama is the plot holes in the cases and some of the cases are not wrapped clearly and perfectly. But other than that, the whole drama is a hit!

Under The Skin keeps you at the edge of your seat with the thrills and suspense at the end of every episode. I believe this drama is worth the binge, those who watch this will feel addictive to consume the whole drama in one sitting.

Fun fact: yes the whole criminal profiling profession is indeed that amazing and 神奇. In 2017, the murder of Zhang Yingying in the United States. The police was not able to identify who was the culprit, and they asked help from a Chinese forensic profiler, Lin Yuhui. And he managed to draw out the culprit just from a blurry CCTV and helped solved the case!

P.S. Season 2 is coming! on one of the scriptwriter weibo post, she mentioned she went to gather some materials for Under The Skin season 2 and she also mentioned the drama should've have some more art aspect but was omitted due to the limited number of episodes, and she hopes that she can put those ideas in season 2 and the extra episodes!
Weibo post: https://m.weibo.cn/1461807075/4673683987108245

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A Train is Coming ......

The Devil Punisher is a 2020 romance fantasy supernatural drama co-produced by Sanli and Netflix. This drama includes some elements of mythology. I was originally really pumped waiting for this drama to finish airing since the synopsis looks pretty interesting. I ran here after finished watching the drama, and all I can say is it is a train wreck.

In Chinese mythology, Zhong Kui is a demon fighter (you might have seen pictures of him posted on doors). According to legends, when he was a mortal, he lived during the Tang dynasty era. He participated in the palace examination, however, due to jealousy, the prime minister framed him and he took his own life. Meanwhile, Meng Po is known as the goddess/ grandma who cooks forgetfulness soup so that souls who reincarnate will have no memories of their past life, thus there is no grievances nor resentfulness. This drama narrative revolves around Zhong Kui and Meng Po as lovers that transcend over time.

It all started after a hateful spirit burned a bridge in the underworld realm and dragged Meng Po to the human realm. Upon arriving at the human realm, Meng Po memory was erased and her heavenly aura was sealed, making Zhong Kui unable to find her for a period of time. Shortly after finding Meng Po, Zhong Kui and Meng Po crack stranger supernatural cases together, and in the process of it, Meng Po falls for Zhong Kui once again. However, not long after problems start to brew bigger. The problems they were solving were like dominos that lead to one another, which ultimately lead to the big plan and the villain. The villain in the drama is really predictable, after watching a few episodes, I am pretty sure that most of the viewers are able to guess who is the big bad boss.

This drama was funny and interesting in the first few episodes, I laughed quite a few times watching the earlier episodes. However, it got really draggy and it has a lot of nonsensical plot and plotholes in the middle of the drama. The climax lacks intensity, and the ending of this drama was really rushed and full of nonsense. Why go all around circles, ups and down when the problem/ trial could be solved easily. For real, the problem-solving in this drama was really funny and nonsense. In addition, one episode of this drama is around 1 hour long, which will probably make some fall asleep or really sleepy while watching this.

The characters in this drama are straight so bland, they have no personality or whatsoever. I don't know if the characters were written in that way. And I'd like to give a slap to En Xi, she acted so bratty and took everything for granted. The actors and actresses' acting was emmm, it was like a child's play. I watched one of Mike He's dramas, Cambrian Period, but his acting does not give me any impression, meanwhile, this is the first Ivy Shao drama I watched. Their acting was downright bland, I am sorry to say this but I feel like all of the actors in this drama were just reciting lines. I mean yea the male lead looks hot and the female lead looks cute but they have no chemistry at all. I always laughed at their kiss scenes, I feel like watching 2 fishes kissing every time they kissed...

This drama got a pretty huge subsidy from the government, however, I wonder where all those budgets went. The production, the cinematography is so terrible it looks like a high school kid production drama. I don't know if because it is shot during Corona or what but it is terrible. I have no words on how to describe it, I The CGI was average, not too bad but not good also, even though there were some terrible CGIs. And even if the cinematography is terrible, I am still kinda looking forward to the actor's outfit but again, their outfit is soo bland.. And the historical/ period costume, makeup, the hairstyle was horrendous; I am sure even a small production period drama did it better. As for the BGM and OSTs, there is nothing catchy in particular.

I thought I'd give this 4.5, because there are some cases that were pretty touching (but still not well-developed), and for their comedy element in the early episodes, and lastly for the character development. The only character development I see throughout this series is Zhong Kui and Ouyang Kai. Their character develops as the story arc progresses- Zhong Kui became more "sympathetic and more humane", Ouyang Kai became more "mature".

I thought of dropping it halfway, but I kept on watching since I was curious if the story takes a better turn but It does not. Overall, if you are a fan of the actors or genre, go ahead and watch but for me who is not a fan of the actor nor genres, it is a waste of time and energy.

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Beware of Diabetes

If you are looking for a light-hearted. sweet drama with cute couples, To Fly With You is the one for you!!

To Fly With You main premise revolves around ice sports (figure skating, short track speed skating) and romance. But, it is indeed more to the romance and growing with each other. So, it is not a must for you to understand the ice sports industry, because while watching it, the drama itself also touch on it a little bit.

Produced by Linmon Pictures, I expect every production aspect of this drama to be amazing because Linmon Pictures had produced dramas with amazing production aspects, especially cinematography, such as Ancient Love Poetry, Nothing but Thirty, and more. But to my surprise, the whole production of To Fly With You from the cinematography, colour grading, sound effects differs from their usual style, and I am torn between of liking it or disliking it.

To Fly With You has the same exact cinematography as any other rom-com drama. But what probably makes To Fly With You stand out from other rom-com dramas is its comedic shots. The drama has some shots purposely intended for comedic elements, for instance, the shot where Shao Beisheng shoe was torn. In addition, the drama also adds other comedic elements such as witty lines and particularly sound effects. The sound effect used in the drama is.. difficult to comprehend. The sound effect does indeed go well with the whole drama and its comedic element but the sound effect alone is making me feel like I am watching a sitcom, particularly there's this one sound effect that sounds like a SpongeBob sound effect (not that I hate it).

Wang Anyu acted as Shao Beisheng, a talented and genius ice figure skater. Meanwhile, Song Zuer acted as Shen Zhengyi, a newbie to the world of professional short track speed skating. Both leads have an affable charm, cute and natural chemistry. If there's an award for the couple with the best chemistry this year, it would definitely go to Wang Anyu and Song Zuer. Their chemistry on and off-screen is just impeccable. You can just see the sparks they have in their eyes while looking at each other (please be together and get married).

What I especially love about the drama is that their chemistry and how their relationship progress, it is very realistic. The scriptwriter doesn't make Zhengyi fall in love with Beisheng right away just because he is a handsome guy. But there is a process in between them falling in love - both of them listens to each other, understand each other and gradually fall in love. In addition, the characters in the drama are also very realistic. Unlike other drama male lead, Shao Beisheng is a rather more realistic character to me. For instance, you can see how happy he is when he received his shoes and how sad he is when his shoes was torn.

Overall, To Fly With You may not be groundbreaking, but the drama will totally make you blush and gush and want for more.

P.s. do watch the drama's behind the scene, there are a lot more sugar on it!!

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Wonderful story, chemistry- wonderful drama

So at first, I watched the trailer and didn't really expect much, except for the Hikaru No Go crossover. At first I thought that this will be just like another adult drama with draggy storyline and annoying characters, however to my surprise, this drama is excellent.

The series revolves around the 2 best friends work and love life. Throughout the series, you can see how each character develop to become a better person. In this series, each person plays an important role, not only Li Yi Tong and Chen Jin as the main lead, but I feel like every one is the main lead in the drama. At first, I kinda grumbled seeing how the third couple (Ye Zhou and Guan Ye) has so many screen time, thinking that it was unnecessary and boringg. But after finishing the drama, I realised that every one of the character in the drama is the main role (even though their world revolves around Lu Ke and Shen Si Yi) . Each of the characters have their own story shown, even though not much of the screen time of them is shown. Every person that appears in the drama and the problems encountered help every one of the character in the drama grow, they grow alongside with the main lead (which is very unoften to see in dramas). Insignificant characters and their own story makes me very attached to this drama, it is their presence and each of their story that makes the drama a 很了不起的 drama.

And another important thing is this drama doesn’t have draggy problems and storyline. The problems encountered in the drama is very realistic and they don’t drag the problem solving. Also, (THANK GOD) there is no annoying male or female lead.

And of course, li yi tong and chen jin chemistry is impeccable!! Their acting skills and chemistry made me really though that I am watch a documentary series about them. Last but not least, the cinematography and music is also perfect. The camera angles, editing, and everything it is like watching a movie production. The slow-tempo and jazz music is the perfect combination for the cinematography. With both of them, you really feel the ambience of the series. You can feel that you are “IN” the series, watching alongside each of the characters and their growth.

In conclusion, if you are watching for a light hearted drama which makes you smile, laugh, cry this is the perfect drama!! My review can't really sum up how amazing this drama is, but I do recommend every one of you to watch this drama!!
And I don't know if they dubbed for this series, but god.. I am in love with Zhang Meng's voice and accent!!!

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