A Serenade of Love and Delicious Foods

In a landscape where dramas are often dominated by convoluted plots and intense conflicts, Love Me, Love My Voice（很想很想你） stands out as a breath of fresh air.

Love Me, Love My Voice narrates the story of Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng, who encounter each other online accidentally and gradually get to know and fell in love with each other. The beauty of the drama lies in its simplicity. The drama refrains from bombarding the audience with exaggerated conflicts or confusing plotlines, opting instead for a narrative that revolves around the genuine connection between two individuals and delicious foods!!

What sets this drama apart is its realism - the drama narrative focuses on the gradual deepening of the relationship and connection between the main leads: love, career and family. There is no antagonist in the drama, instead the characters has a normal life, celebrate each other's successes, and navigate the complexities of their lives with a sense of unity and togetherness that is both heartening and rare in the drama realm.

The side characters in the drama are also all very lovely! The interactions between the main character and side characters are also woven together beautifully, each individual character arcs into the broader tapestry of the story, allowing each side character to contribute uniquely to the overall narrative. Not to forget, the drama also showcases a lot of delicious food and cooking. The inclusion of delicious food and cooking scenes adds a sensory delight to the storytelling, viewers are treated to a visual feast of mouthwatering dishes! (you definitely cannot watch in an empty stomach!)

Tan Jianci and Zhou Ye is the perfect choice for Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng. They have a great rapport and they look gorgeous and fitting together and deliver many squeal-worthy moments. They manages to portray a couple deeply in love through their micro expressions. Although some might complain that the romance is a slow-burn, but it is justified, as it is just the beginning of their relationship, they are still getting to know each other.

The cinematography of Love Me, Love My Voice also deserves special mention. The visual aesthetics are both vibrant and soothing, mirroring the overall tone of the drama. The scenic shots of the bustling city juxtaposed with the serene moments between the main leads create a visually pleasing experience that complements the narrative beautifully. In addition, Love Me, Love My Voice also has a very exquisite and beautiful outfit. Gu Sheng’s outfit are 新中式穿搭, a modern-chinese traditional style. The outfits are not only beautiful, but it also accentuates Gu Sheng’s love towards the Chinese culture.

Another notable mention the OSTs. The drama has an array of OSTs that complements the narrative perfectly. Each OSTs are carefully created with heartfelt lyrics and also thoughtfully placed, to enhance the mood of every scene! The OSTs resonate with the themes of love, passion, and more, creating an immersive experience that transcends the screen and lingers in the hearts of the viewers. Not to mention, Tan Jianci’s voice are so soothing and fitting to every song he sings.

Overall, Love Me Love My Voice delivers a heartwarming and soothing narrative, offering audiences a respite from the typical dramatic rollercoaster genre. A must watch if you love a simple but heartwarming drama!!

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Not Your Typical Drama

Adapted from a web comic 一人之下, I am Nobody (异人之下) is not like your typical drama! This drama is interesting, engaging, and funny!! The drama seamlessly blends elements of Wu Xia, superpower elements, and fantasy in a modern urban setting. It features intense battles, intriguing characters, and a mysterious plot that explores the hidden world of 异人 (outsiders - human with with qi/ powers!)

The story follows Zhang Chulan, an ordinary college student whose life takes an unexpected turn after his grandfather dead body was stolen. From that point onwards, he steps into the the Outsiders world, along the way he grow, make true friends, and also go on a journey of self-discovery!

I am Nobody plot is fast-paced, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats - it is funny and engaging making you want to know more about what will transpire. Although fast-paced, but the story still unfolds casually and unrushed, it still explains the characters, their backstories and relationship dynamics.

Other than a fresh genre, what makes I am Nobody stand out is it's well-crafted characters. Not only the main character, but the supporting characters are equally intriguing, like Feng Baobao, Wang Ye, Zhang Lingyu, and more. Each of them has their own unique powers and motivations, their character dynamics also makes the story more enjoyable! The portrayals of the characters are also conveyed realistically, each actor manage to imbues their character with the character characteristic, nuance and emotional depth, that makes it very enjoyable to watch!!

Not only that, but I am Nobody also has great CGI and also unusual editing! Most of the CGI quality is commendable, the CGI has fluid action sequences with stunning visuals that bring their powers and battles to life. In addition, the fight scenes are also choreographed with precision and creativity, showcasing a variety of supernatural powers and combat styles.

The drama has done an excellent job in capturing the essence of the source material! This drama is probably one of the best drama adapted from the web comic, it stayed true to the original essence of the web comic!You can see that there are some parts where they exactly follow the web comics, from the shots and also more!!

While I am Nobody offers an exhilarating viewing experience, it does have its share of complexities. The plot can be convoluted at times, and viewers may need to pay close attention to keep up with the ever-evolving narrative.

In conclusion, I am Nobody is a definitely must watch if you enjoy adventure and action-packed battles! With it's intriguing storyline, well-developed characters, and impressive animation, it is definitely worth watching!!

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A Riveting Werewolf Game

My Journey to You is a 24-episode original script drama written and directed by Guo Jingming. It narrates the story of Yun Weishan, who infiltrates the Gong family for a mission. Amidst the mission, she encounter love, friendship and gradually discovers herself, what her heart wants. Each episode is around 1 hour long, although it might seems a little bit too long for a drama, but the drama manages to masterfully blends elements of espionage, intrigue, martial arts with romance as the sub-plot.

Set against the backdrop of the jianghu (martial arts world) with Gong Family and Wu Feng as the prominent player, My Journey to You mainly revolves around conspiracies, hidden agendas, and a game of wits that will keep you guessing until the very end. However, these suspenseful moments are perfectly balanced with comedic heart-warming interactions and thought-provoking dialogues, making it a series that is as emotionally engaging as it is intellectually stimulating.

🔗 Introduction to My Journey To You character summary: https://twitter.com/afterrnoont/status/1698267612042641644?s=20

What My Journey to You apart is it’s intricate and fast well-paced storytelling (initially). In the beginning, each episode unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony, revealing layers of deception. Each episode also packs a punch, leaving viewers on the edge of the seat from the beginning till the end!! Every character in the drama is also very intriguing. Each character feels like a fully fleshed-out individual with their own unique personality, motivations, and backstory. The drama have skilfully crafted a tapestry of lives that intersect and collide in compelling ways!! Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian are morally grey, smart and calculating. their dynamic is so interesting to watch because on one hand they have this protective camaraderie between them, but it also feels tense, just like you’re waiting for the impending betrayal. Meanwhile each Gong siblings are also very unique, each of them has their own motive, but overall it's still for Gong's family interest and good!

Another aspect that sets My Journey to You apart is its high-quality production. This is a big budget and high-quality production that features exemplary cinematography, elaborately authentic sets, exquisite costumes, well-executed action choreography, as well as beautifully shot natural landscapes. In addition, the editing, scene transitions and sequencing of the narrative progression appear cohesive and relatively seamless. The colour palette of this drama is also beautiful and eye pleasing!! The colour palette is sparse and dark toned with a dash of white, gold, and red sometimes.

At the heart of this drama is an ensemble cast that delivers remarkable performances. My Journey to You has a stellar cast, that delivers a profoundly compelling performance from the main role to the supporting role. Each actor nuanced portrayal of their characters adds depth and authenticity to the story. Yu Shuxin and Lu Yuxiao performance in the drama are really commendable! Yu Shuxin manages to show a different side of her, she provides us with further glimpses of her versatility and range with a vastly different and never-seen-before side – she can not only play a cheerful innocent character, like Xiao Lanhua, but she can also pull off a serious character with many layers. Lu Yuxiao also delivers a strong performance; her micro expressions and eye glances makes her character more fleshed out and rich! Another commendable actor is Tian Jiarui, although this is his first drama, but he has managed to show how good of an actor he is!! We can definitely look forward to his future works!!

However, there are also some aspects that made the drama fall short. Personally, I find that the drama becomes a little bit dull midway. The drama still progresses, it seems like it's moving but to nowhere. The drama make you keep on guessing and guessing but little answer is revealed. Another aspect that mainly turns me off the the male lead weak characterization (not to the actor), which is a speciality of Guo Jingming's drama whereas he tend to make the second leads of his drama stand out more than the main leads. Also another huge disappointment of the drama is that it has a dissatisfactory ending with unanswered questions. Although there are some answers, but the main answer remains to be a question. It feels disappointing and frustrating - you spend almost 24 hours watching the drama only to be left with more questions.

Drawbacks aside, All in all, My Journey to You is a is a remarkable drama with an engrossing plot, impressive cinematography, and art direction. If you love mystery suspense with a blend of wuxia drama, this is a good watch!

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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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A Romance of the "FOUR" Little Forest

A Romance of The Little Forest (两个人的小森林), is another sweet basic romantic-comedy drama narrating around a bubbly girl with her cold eventually turned warm lover. But what makes this drama stand out is the chemistry and adorableness between the two leads and.... when the main couple is actually not the main couple.

The drama narrative revolves around an internet beauty influencer chasing a botanic professor and eventually, both of them fell in love. The drama has any other cliche troupes you can find in other rom-com dramas, but the female lead's bubbly personality, adorable antics, and sweet funny and witty dialogues will make you want and unknowingly enjoy the drama!

Yu Meiren, the internet beauty influencer as well as a professor in ornithology (study of birds) is played by Yu Shuxin. This character is made especially for her, she is able to embody the character, and nobody can pull it off so accurately than her. All the adorable antics, carefree attitude, bubbly expressions and more. Though her character may come off as a 傻白甜 (those sweet, innocent, gullible female leads), but she is not. She is sweet and cute, but she has the brains and courage - she is willing to take risks for what she believes in and what she loves; she is not afraid to express herself. Especially during the end of the drama, where she finally comes to terms with her appearance and make-up.

Zhuang Yu, the botanic professor, is played by Zhang Binbin, and he did a great job, he manages to infuse himself into the character! Zhuang Yu is a cold and serious professor, but rather than making him a totally cold person, he uses subtle micro-expressions in the earlier episodes when Yu Meiren is around him or doing something funny. The subtle expressions definitely help the audience to understand and see the process of him falling for her.

What I loved about the drama is the chemistry of both leads and their character development after meeting each other. Zhuang Yu always reassures Yu Meiren - reassuring her that she is pretty the way she is, reassuring her well-being and more. And after meeting Yu Meiren, Zhuang Yu also became more lively! He can speak romantic words, that maybe cheesy but it is also romantic at the same time.

What I find lacking (irritating) from the drama and I believe most people find it too is... the second couple has more screen time (and probably a kiss scene) than the first couple. The second couple's narrative is also very classic, a village girl falling in love with a CEO and so on. The drama dragged the second couple's storyline so long and draggy causing the main couple's scenes to be cut by a lot. In addition, a lot of the main couple's kiss scene and sweet scenes in the drama is also cut short, the scene kiss scenes are even longer and more 🔥 than the one that made it into the actual cut. However, if you are craving more for their chemistry, you can watch the behind-the-scenes! Their behind-the-scenes are full of fun, sweetness and comedy!

A Romance of The Little Forest is truly an enjoyable drama, maybe not the best romantic comedy drama but it sure has its charm! Overall, if you are looking for a sweet romantic-comedy drama that will make you squeal do watch this!

P.s. this drama also has really good and enjoyable OSTs

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Beautiful Forbidden Love

Love Between Fairy and Devil is a xianxia drama, which narrates the story of forbidden love between a devil and a fairy. The drama has everything a xianxia drama has: forbidden love, reincarnation, a cold male lead falling in love with the warm and bubbly female lead making it his only weakness, female lead with hidden identity and more. But what makes this drama stands out from other xianxia drama is that it has a VERY BEAUTIFUL visual sequence, graphics, and cinematography. Love Between Fairy and Devil successfully brought the 仙（fairy） element into their drama, and I think the drama has raised the standard high for the next xianxia drama.

The narrative of Love Between Fairy and Devil is straightforward, about a fairy unaccidentally saving the demon lord and they gradually fell in love. The screenwriter managed to write a very cohesive and compelling story, also with a coherent storyline making it easy for the audience to understand. The drama also manages to seamlessly combine comedy, romance, also angst in the latter part. Every character in the drama also has their own background story with their own personal motive, each character is there not only for the sake of getting the male and female lead together nor just to make the drama plot more lively, but each character is there making their own decision which gradually leads and builds up to the whole drama plot.

What makes Love Between Fairy and Devil distinctive from other xianxia is definitely its art department and how well they articulate it. The drama manages to articulate the vision of the fantasy world and everything that comes with it. It is beautifully and enchantingly portrayed that you would actually believe the presence of such world, where there are pink skies with whales, a pavilion full of flowers, a castle on top of a hill, and more. It has been a while since there is such beautiful and mesmerizing graphics in a drama. You can see that the drama spends most of its budget on its art department, starting from costumes, CGI, graphics, more (IQIYI also offers the drama in 4k quality!).

Firstly, the drama costumes are very beautiful, the costume department puts a lot of thought and effort into their costume. Everyone's outfit is fitting to their character and demeanour. DongFang QingCang’s outfit is mostly black but also with a hint of gold, showing his sovereignty as the moon supreme. Xiao Lan Hua’s outfit is in bright pastel colours fitting with her character and personality as a fairy with a bright and bubbly personality. Other than the main characters, the side characters also have very pretty costumes, such as Chang Heng’s war costume. Moreover, the drama also has very beautiful headpieces, especially for the male characters, which are rarely seen in other historical dramas.

Secondly, the graphics and CGI of each realm, location, and power special effects are rendered so smooth that it resulted in an ethereal and mind-blowing result. Such as DongFang QingCang’s hell flame, when he summoned the dragon, the arbiter hall, and more. The drama is meticulous in every aspect from its colour palette, visual art, CGI, and lighting, everything is well thought. I especially love the scene where Rong Hao and Chang Heng entered the painting, they really ook like they're in a painting, they look 2d, which beautifully reflects the beauty of China's culture.

Thirdly, I also love how the drama sets a certain persona and design for each tribe and realm meticulously. For instance, in the fairy realm, the gods use bright and light outfits and headpieces with overexposure to the lighting. The fairy realm has a very heavy element of the Chinese culture, meanwhile, the demon/ moon realm has a hint of medieval elements in its location, outfits and more. The drama team also paid attention to those small actors/extras like the guards, their outfit is not sloppy, it is fitting to the overall persona they set. Such as the moon palace guards has dark and big outfit which looks intricate!

Yu Shuxin plays Xiao Lan Hua (the orchid fairy), but she’s also Xi Yun, the goddess. I think she did a really good job in acting as Xiao Lan Hua, a character like Xiao Lan Hua can be easy to hate since she might come out as being too fake or too flamboyant, but Esther Yu manages to pull off the character effortlessly. She is able to radiate different energy in different situations but still remembers the essence of her character, a warm and bubbly fairy. Some may dislike her character because she is a damsel in distress, often waiting for others to save her, but it’s understandable since she is only a “lowly fairy” with limited power. Other than acting as Xiao Lan Hua, Yu Shuxin also acted as DongFang QingCang and the goddess, and she's able to pull off the three characters flawlessly. She is versatile, she is able to change her demeanour and articulation according to each character. Yu Shuxin also used her own voice here, I personally love her voice, I find her voice very fitting to the character. I am definitely looking forward to her future work!

Wang Hedi showed tremendous improvement since Miss The Dragon. His acting is much more natural here, he is able to show real expressions and blend into the character. Despite being the moon supreme with no emotions, he’s still able to show slight emotions and show how his icy heart sea slowly melts. I think he did a great job portraying the emotionless moon supreme, DongFang QingCang, through his body and eye language, he is especially good when he is being majestic and when he is attacking others. As he is also slowly transitioning into someone with emotions, he gradually makes more micro-expressions and gestures to show how he’s gradually starting to fall in love, have empathy and more. His crying scenes are also very infectious, you would empathize with him and feel what he's feeling as well because that is how good his crying scenes are.

Moreover, Love Between Fairy and Devil also has a very beautiful soundtrack and background music. The soundtracks are very ethereal and fitting to the drama, it is stunningly beautiful that it will make you think of all the magic, beautiful places and situations in drama. The drama also has notable music scoring, the music scoring used in the drama intensifies each and every scene.

Another special mention to the whole production team of Love Between Fairy and Devil. The actors, production team, and marketing team, all have done a very outstanding job, they are passionate, putting in all their heart into it, thus producing such a best drama! The production team doesn't hesitate to spend money to where it should be spent, such as the special effect, outfits, music scoring and more. The production team also spend a lot of effort and thought on the drama's posters and artwork. The drama soundtrack artwork is STUNNING, unlike other dramas where they just used background or a picture of the couple with some borders and stick the title on it, Love Between Fairy and Devil has some really meticulous and well-thought album artwork. The soundtrack's artwork is paintings of their character with very beautiful scenery, if you haven’t seen it, I am highly suggesting you take a look at it because it will definitely render you breathless.

One thing that I find a pity is that the ending is too rushed, I would love to see more of DongFang QingCang and Xiao Lanhua's happy life :"))

Overall, do give this drama a try! Love Between Fairy and Devil is definitely a top-tier xianxia drama, there isn't any dull moment in it, and the drama will definitely make you hooked and render you breathless.

P.s. do check out their behind the scenes video!

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Shining as Each Other's Light

Love Like The Galaxy (星汉灿烂) is adapted from the novel of the same name (星汉灿烂, 幸甚至哉). Love Like The Galaxy narrative revolves around Cheng Shaoshang, daughter of the Cheng family, who was left by her parents when she was a baby; and Ling Buyi, a general who’ trying to unfold the conspiracy behind what happened in the past. The drama narrative then starts years later, during the return of her parents.

Love Like The Galaxy storytelling is executed nearly to perfection; the story unfolds at a casual pace, with a gradual development of the characters, unravelling their background story and relationships. The drama also has an interesting storyline with a really well-conceived and realistically written character, every character is multi-faceted and complex, with their own background story. It also has a lot of interesting characters and relationship dynamics; their relationship dynamic is realistically and convincingly portrayed.

The first 10 episodes of the drama started off with a hint of comedic and light-hearted note, which is really pleasing. I absolutely adore the comedic elements in the drama with the storytelling approach. The drama's comedic elements are not forced nor cheap, it is genuinely light-hearted and funny, and I adore how they use wordplay. I especially love how Shaoshang is always on her wits to fight back against others who bully her or people around her. The first 10 episode shows Shaoshang's family dynamic, her relationship with her mother, father, brothers, and more. Some scenes were really heartbreaking to see but also heartwarming at the same time. Moving on, the drama gradually shows Shoashang’s growth, how she learns to rely on herself, find love and more. There are happiness, sadness, anger, disappointment and all.

It is comforting to see a drama that focuses on the family dynamics, not all on romance. I personally love how the romance between Ling Buyi and Cheng Shaoshang is taking time, instead of both of them falling in love at first sight. We can gradually see how Shaoshang starts to develop feelings for Ling Buyi because of his gesture and actions, which is more realistic. Though they have very different personalities, it is very pleasant to see how they learn to love, learn to grow up and face problems around them; they are made for each other.

The drama is directed by Fei Zhenxiang, who is known for directing Candle in The Tomb series. This drama is his first time directing a historical drama and he did a really remarkable job. He is able to show his unique and distinct style, and deliver the picture he has in mind. Also because of his experience in tomb raiding dramas, he is able to portray those bloody scenes really well.

Love Like The Galaxy also has really impressive cinematography and sets, it has beautiful wide shots, immersive tracking shots, and many more pretty shots. For now, I especially love the one-long take on episode 7 and the lantern festival shots! The shot is really fluid and immersive. Moreover, the cinematography and colour grading really reflected every atmosphere and situation, it will leave a deep impression on the audience. Through the cinematography and set, you can see that this drama has a big budget and it is allocated well. The fire during the lantern festival is not created using CGI, it is real, the production team spent 3 days creating a new building and for it to be burned down.

The characterizations of each role in the drama are immensely elevated by the excellent acting of Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei. They deliver such an in-depth and rich character arc, with a myriad of emotional expressions. Both of the actors are able to convey their emotions through micro expression and the way they articulate every scene is really praiseworthy. They have small actions that reflect their emotion, for instance, how Ling Buyi’s eyebrow slightly raised when he saw Shaoshang; and how Shaoshang looks away when she saw her mother being close to her cousin instead of her.

The character, Cheng Shaoshang was stellarly portrayed by Zhao Lusi. She did a very good job, it is unimaginable that others can pull off Shaoshang’s character in such a compelling way. Through this drama, she also manages to show everyone that she can also play dramas other than tianchongs drama. She manages to show the character’s sincerity, but also complex and intriguing at the same time, not compromising on what the character experienced. Zhao Lusi manages to infuse her character with kindness and righteousness, also with a sense of pragmatism. Throughout the drama, she also was able to portray layers of Shaoshang; Shaoshang’s facade of being ignorant and unruly but also her fragility and her longing to be loved by her family. Zhao Lusi also uses her own voice here, I love how she has this milky and soft voice that is really soothing! But also, because of her milky voice, some part with heavier elements makes falls short, due to her lack of emotional line delivery.

Wu Lei also did a very notable job! Seeing him in the drama, really makes me feel that he has really grown up, he is no longer the kid in Nirvana in Fire. Ling Buyi is a hard role to play since he has a cold and indifferent exterior, but at the same time he is also complicated, he is sincere and sinister at the same time. But Wu Lei managed to execute it to perfection with his articulation, bearing, stance, and his micro-expressions. He especially displays a remarkable line delivery, which shows Ling Buyi’s authority. Some might dislike how he only has this one expression throughout the drama, but I love it. Because you will gradually see how his character starts changing, how he began to smile more because of Shaoshang’s presence.

Love Like The Galaxy also has enchanting music scoring and realistic yet sweet lines. The drama has bold music scoring with traditional Chinese instruments that match every situation so well. The diegetic and non-diegetic sound is very fitting to every situation. Moreover, the dialogues in the drama are also very realistic. Though realistic, it still didn’t take away its romantic essence of it.

The drama also has some very interesting detail, such as:
1. Ep 11: Yuan Shen broke the shaoshang string while he was playing the guqin, foreshadowing that he’ll not end up with Shaoshang.
2. Ep 12: Shaoshang used a shaoshang string to save Ling Buyi. The string was drenched in blood, which also becomes a red string, connection to 月老, god of love
3. Shaoshang and her fiancées carriage detail:
- Luo Yao-open cart. He won’t be able to go through wind and rain (difficulties)
- Yuan Shen-carriage. He sat in main seat (self centered)
- Ling Buyi-big stable carriage. SS sat in main seat, he sat on side guarding her.
4. Ling Buyi is often framed in a wide shot and positioned in a high place. Showing that he has high and influential power, but also makes him look lonely. And It was only after he met Shaoshang, that those wide high angle shots gradually lessens.

Love Like The Galaxy is considered to release early, they released the drama and also working on the post-production at the same time. LLTG team still did a notable job in editing, but I can’t help to notice that in the latter episodes the CG was not as good and as smooth as in the beginning episodes.

All in all, do give this drama a try! After watching the first two episodes of the drama, you'll find yourself wanting more. The drama visuals, story, and emotion will pull you in deep. And every episode keeps on getting better and better, with unexpected comedic and heartbreaking twists and turns. You would find yourself watching back some of the clips just to appreciate the dialogue and actions.

P.s. I also love how they especially edit their trailer, unlike other drama where they just edit a 1-minute scene of the next episode, LLTG team especially meticulously edit their trailer, leaving the audience to guess and interprets what is going to happen in the next upcoming episode.

“Might as well expect less from others, and be better to yourself. You’ll live more comfortably.”

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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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Mermaids Only Listen to The Heart's Voice, It Says You are Worth It

The Blue Whisper: Part 1 (与君初相识) is a 22 episode drama adapted from the novel 驭鲛记, The Blue Whiper by 九鹭非香. The Blue Whisper is set in a universe where there are magical races (demon) and spiritual masters (human with longer lifespan). The narrative revolves around Ji Yunhe, a spiritual master but also a nine-tailed demon fox and Chang Yi, a mermaid and the lord of north.

Helmed by Zhu Ruibin, the director from Ashes of Love, The Long Ballad, Noble Aspirations and more; you can have a high expectation for this drama! The Blue Whisper has a high-quality production that features a splendid set, lavish costumes, remarkable cinematography, brilliantly choreographed scenes, an enchanting music score, and more.

The Blue Whisper sets, props, scenery and people are simply eye-catching, which keeps one visually interested all the way through. Unlike most historical dramas lately, The Blue Whisper has a vibrant and bold colour palette and outfit which makes it refreshing to see! The drama also has exemplary cinematography, the use of soft filters and vibrant colour at the same time provides a pleasant and vivid viewing experience. Every shot is also beautifully angled creating a feast for the eyes. Moreover, The Blue Whisper also has a beautifully done and well-rendered CGI and special effects. The use of authentic set designs and props also further enhance the realism of the whole universe.

The Blue Whisper narrative is brilliant and captivating, even if you don’t read the book beforehand, you would understand the drama as the overall narrative is easy to follow and well-paced. The drama storytelling is progressively paced and satisfyingly engaging with hardly a dull moment or substantial fillers. There are some light-hearted scenes with pure comedy, and some of the drama’s dialogue is also witty and sprinkled with light humor. Although some may find the troupe of lying to each other in order to save them is kinda cliché but this one doesn’t bore you.

What I adore from this drama is that every character in the drama is extremely well-written, each has its own distinctive personalities and qualities; they are multi-faceted and complex. Each character is properly dimensioned and balanced, even the “bad” characters have shades of grey, no one is black or white. They have their own background story and obsession, which leads to their action; thus, you might even feel their actions are justifiable. Although the main couple is the focus of the story, other characters and their relationships are not cheated out of a good storyline too! In addition, I also love how the side characters build up and enrich the whole story, instead of being just there for the necessary of the drama plot. You care for the characters and even if you don’t like some of the characters, others will most certainly capture your interest and heart.

Ji Yunhe and Chang Yi is stellarly portrayed by Dilireba and Ren Jialun. Both actor’s facial expressions and emotions are compelling. Their acting can make us relate and feel the character’s happiness, anger, pain that you can’t help but shed tears for them. Both of the actors can also convey their love, heartbreak and everything through their eyes and micro-expressions. It is unimaginable that anyone can pull off Ji Yunhe and Chang Yi in such compelling way other than Dilireba and Ren Jialun. Furthermore, Dilireba and Ren Jialun also have explosive chemistry; there is a great rapport between them and the romance are very good. They look fitting together and there are many squel-worthy moments.

Ren Jialun’s portrayal of an innocent tailed fish to an overbearing North lord is excellent! But what I find really commendable from his acting here is his acting of an innocent and pure tailed fish, it is unlike something he has shown before, he has acted as a cute and innocent 8 year old kid before in Under The Power, but here he is totally different he evokes a different charm. Ren Jialun character didn’t speak a word on the early episodes (until eps 3) but he still managed to convey his emotions with his eyes (sorrow, happy, anger and more). That’s what I find really amazing from Ren Jialun, he can simply convey his emotions with his eyes, and here with his pouty lips.

Dilireba also did a very commendable job! Dilireba has the ability to blend into every role, and in my opinion, Dilireba’s performance as Ji Yunhe here is several notches above all her works so far. The way she conveys her emotions through nuanced micro-expression and articulating every scene is beyond words. Especially on those scenes where she was laughing and crying at the same, when she turned into the nine-tailed demon fox. Every single Dilireba performance here is really praise-worthy.

Also, special mention to Hu Yixuan, she is adorable. Luoluo is loyal, bubbly, and clueless and Hu Yixuan manages to portray her and her lovable quirks so precisely. I bet she’ll steal your heart! Her scenes with Dilireba is also heart-warming and cute to see!

The Blue Whisper music scoring is also incredible. Sa Dingding is the music director for The Blue Whisper and she did a really great job! Every single OST and background sound is hauntingly beautiful, it’ll give you goosebumps. Each song also encapsulates a deep, beautiful and meaningful story. The poignant classical instrumental piece that accompanies the scene also sets a dramatic and emotional tone.

Overall, The Blue Whisper keeps you engaged and engrossed, you’ll find yourself wanting more new episodes!

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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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I Like You, Always Have and Always Will

Shining For One Thing tells the story of a woman who is unsatisfied with her current life. One day, she gets a chance to time travel back in time by deleting messages in her old phone. She goes back and tries to do well on her high school examination in hope of changing her future, but she was always sent back. It was only after several times that she realizes that there is more of her return to the past.

Shining For One Thing indeed has cliche troupes: childhood sweethearts, unrequited love, smart guy-cheerful girl, high school memories, and more. But what makes this drama stands out from other drama is that it has a logical, coherent, and tear-jerking plot, top acting, beautiful OSTs.

The drama storytelling is progressively paced and satisfyingly engaging without hardly any dull moment or substantial fillers. I particularly enjoy the fusion of romance, youth, and time travel. Furthermore, the love story between Zhang Wansen and Lin Beixing is very touching, if I were to use a word to describe it, their love is eternal. No matter what time and space, they would always eventually find each other and be there for each other. The cinematography is generally adequate, but some shots were beautifully shot and the color grading and filter used makes the drama even more fleshed out! In addition, the use of music scoring and the Impeccable OST encapsulated every essence of the story. The OST added so much emotion to the drama, it complements the drama montages and also the cinematography.

Zhang Jianing (Lin Beixing) and Qu Chuxiao (Zhang Wansen) did exceptionally well here! They added so much emotional nuance in the character, that makes the characters feel real so vivid to the audience. In addition, there is depth and richness from both the characters, each of their story and development arcs is also fleshed out. Not only the main characters, the supporting characters also did very well! Mai Zi is one of the characters I really applaud for, as a character he always does his best to protect his friends, even if he suffered physically and mentally.

All in all, if you love angsty time travel romance drama, do give this a try!

For those who have finished the drama, here are some easter eggs and theories:
1. Zhang Wansen didn't die in 2010, if you search his phone number (+86 13021991397) on WeChat, you can find his contact! Meanwhile, WeChat was launched in 2011.
2. Zhang Wansen didn't die, he's comatose and brought abroad by his parents. Years later, he woke up. But knowing that Lin Beixing is about to get married to Zhanyu, he doesn't come back. But he has the opportunity to time travel with Lin Beixing again - this explains why he always predicted the exam questions correctly and how his speech is exactly the same with what happened in the future, because he was from the future

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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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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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Ancient Poetry in Motion and Girl Power!!

Marvelous Women（当家主母）is a 35 episode drama produced by HuanYu Entertainment. The drama premise itself revolves around the art of Chinese traditional weaving culture, Kesi (cutting silk) and how the two women in that era tries to defy the traditional norms.

Produced by HuanYu Entertainment, the drama aesthetics itself is visually stunning. Marvelous Women uses a soft and muted colour palette and grading making it visually pleasing for the eyes. It has beautiful cinematography, such as wide, fluid shots that will draw you into the story. In addition, the outfit details and daily items details during the Qing dynasty is also shot beautifully.

What I loved about Marvelous Women is that all the characters are three-dimensional and real. Their actions are understandable, they didn't feel generic, they felt like real people with real stories. For instance, one of our female leads, Zeng Baoqin was once from an affluent family, but her family was ruined overnight, thus she was sold to a brothel. From then on, her personality changed and her outlook towards life has also changed, and through learning about her story, you can understand where she came from and why she does this and that. Moving on, the female characters in the drama are also not those young and innocent women but they are all strong and independent women. Both female leads started off as friends during their childhood, but then they grew up and become love rivals but then they became friends again. I simply love how both of them worked and racked their brain together to protect Ren family.

The cast of Marvelous Women is not stellar or star-studded but every single performance is stellar. This is one of the examples where drama doesn't have to have actors to bring tremendous traffic or to be star-studded; a good script, cinematography and production is the key. The most commendable actor I find is Zhang Huiwen (Lin Shufang) and Mao Zijun (Wei Liangong). There is not much to say about both the female lead's acting, both Jiang Qinqin and Yang Rong manages to be complex while never compromising on the very real human emotions being experienced by the characters. Meanwhile, other than Zhang Huiwen's character in Nirvana in Fire 2, I have never taken a liking to the characters she played until now. Her portrayal as Lin Shufang is excellent. YES, she tends to play dramas where she's cold and aloof, but here I can see a few changes and I find myself immersed and invested in her story. Mao Zijun on the other hand, his acting has never disappoints but his depiction as Wei Liangong here is very fleshed out. He managed to depict a sickly but gifted scholar perfectly, he speak through his eyes. Also special mention to the little boy who played Xiushan, he is so adorable!!

Moving on, honestly, I don't think I have any issue that I find in this drama, only that the whole drama is average in every aspect, the only thing that stood out in this drama is its cinematography and aesthetic. But as a Yu Zheng production, his aesthetic has always been the same, if you have ever watched Story of Yanxi Palace or Winter Begonia, you can find that there are a lot of similar and recycled elements. It is still pretty and beautiful, but it is just not refreshing.

In conclusion, the story itself isn’t that compelling but if you are looking for a visually stunning drama with a beautiful aesthetic, do pick this up!

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