3
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Lost in Dramaland
This review may contain spoilers
Cute and Fluffy - Cotton Candy has a whole new meaning!
Completed - 11/4/2021 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0
"My Dear Brothers" is a simple, cute and lower budget web historical drama. It suits my needs that I needed to watch something light as a palate cleanser. The beginning time-travel element reminded me of the Korean web drama "Splash Splash Love" (it's a short and cute drama as well).
What I enjoy:
1) The general plot of how the romance is developed. It's nothing too out-of-the ordinary or surprising. In fact, it's actually quite predictable for the most part. However, I enjoy the awkwardness of our ML and the cuteness of our FL. I appreciate the fact that even though our ML is innocent and naive, he's not dumb. He actually learns fast through observations and is quite perceptive. Our FL is not over-the-top with corny cuteness, but just enough for me to enjoy their sweet romance.
2) Cotton Candy *spoiler* - I love it when our ML keeps on calling kisses as cotton candy. It's just too adorable, especially when he said it with such an innocent yet matter-of-fact expression on his face. I don't blame him for treating cotton candy as the second most important thing in his life (aside from FL, of course).
3) Wedding - this is my first time seeing a fusion wedding in the cultivation world. I enjoy how they incorporated the traditional red and the modern white in the wedding. The vows written by Shi Dong are so sweet and funny at the same time. I sort of wish the wedding scenes last longer.
4) The Holy Tree - I did not see the plot twist coming regarding ML's real identity. No wonder they put so much emphasis of the holy tree throughout the series. I love everything about this holy tree - the lantern scene, the effort to revive the tree, ML's childhood memories, wedding night under the tree, and most importantly, how love gives meaning to ML's life and how love revives the tree to its former glory.
What I don't quite enjoy:
1) Makeup - I know this is a low budget drama and I know it's petty of me, but it really bothers me quite a bit with the makeup in this drama. You don't really need a big budget to do decent makeup. But for some reason, it's not done right and I can see through all the blemishes and imperfections. The worst is the chapped lips that our actors have, esp. for our ML/Hou Chi and 2FL/Qiu Li. Qiu Li has the worst lipstick application and chapped lips. Or maybe I am not up-to-speed on the new lipstick trend? I don't see our FL/Shi Xia having the same lipstick problem.
2) Holy Palace - in order to fully enjoy this drama, you do need to suspend belief and dive into this fantasy world. However, one thing that bugs me is how easy it is to enter the Holy Palace in the last few episodes. I thought you have to go through this scary forest that get you stuck in illusions and take the most important thing away from you. Isn't that why Shi Xia loses her taste and Bi Hong loses his eyesight? Apparently, none of this matters when the Devil Sect can easily go in and out of the Holy Palace.
3) Ending - I am confused about how they're supposed to save the world. What was it that flew out of Qiu Li's body when she died and into the formation? Her spiritual root? If it's her spiritual root, how did it affect the formation? How did our ML survive and was able to send FL and her brother back to the modern world, and transport himself as well? There isn't a whole lot of explanation.
4) Kisses - for a historical drama, there are quite a few kisses in this series. Unfortunately, they are all fish kisses with no passion. I can understand the first couple of fish kisses, since ML is still new to all this. But after that, I wish to see a little more passion and lip action. These kisses are not living up to the Cotton Candy reputation.
Other observations:
1) Overall acting is decent but not exceptional. I find FL's acting a lot better than ML.
2) First half is better than the second half - a lot funnier with sound effects, but could be cringey for some.
3) How did Shi Dong learn how to build everything in the Devil Sect? Just because he comes from the modern world, doesn't mean he can create and build shuttles, magical instruments, etc.
4) Family drama between Yuan Zhao, Bi Hong and Qiu Li lasted a little too long for my taste in the last few episodes
5) A few common tropes that you might not like - noble idiocy, fake amnesia, spinning hugs, falling into your arms, 2FL turns evil for the most part.
6) There's an extra episode 36 - life in the modern world - short and cute
"My Dear Brothers" is a simple, cute and lower budget web historical drama. It suits my needs that I needed to watch something light as a palate cleanser. The beginning time-travel element reminded me of the Korean web drama "Splash Splash Love" (it's a short and cute drama as well).
What I enjoy:
1) The general plot of how the romance is developed. It's nothing too out-of-the ordinary or surprising. In fact, it's actually quite predictable for the most part. However, I enjoy the awkwardness of our ML and the cuteness of our FL. I appreciate the fact that even though our ML is innocent and naive, he's not dumb. He actually learns fast through observations and is quite perceptive. Our FL is not over-the-top with corny cuteness, but just enough for me to enjoy their sweet romance.
2) Cotton Candy *spoiler* - I love it when our ML keeps on calling kisses as cotton candy. It's just too adorable, especially when he said it with such an innocent yet matter-of-fact expression on his face. I don't blame him for treating cotton candy as the second most important thing in his life (aside from FL, of course).
3) Wedding - this is my first time seeing a fusion wedding in the cultivation world. I enjoy how they incorporated the traditional red and the modern white in the wedding. The vows written by Shi Dong are so sweet and funny at the same time. I sort of wish the wedding scenes last longer.
4) The Holy Tree - I did not see the plot twist coming regarding ML's real identity. No wonder they put so much emphasis of the holy tree throughout the series. I love everything about this holy tree - the lantern scene, the effort to revive the tree, ML's childhood memories, wedding night under the tree, and most importantly, how love gives meaning to ML's life and how love revives the tree to its former glory.
What I don't quite enjoy:
1) Makeup - I know this is a low budget drama and I know it's petty of me, but it really bothers me quite a bit with the makeup in this drama. You don't really need a big budget to do decent makeup. But for some reason, it's not done right and I can see through all the blemishes and imperfections. The worst is the chapped lips that our actors have, esp. for our ML/Hou Chi and 2FL/Qiu Li. Qiu Li has the worst lipstick application and chapped lips. Or maybe I am not up-to-speed on the new lipstick trend? I don't see our FL/Shi Xia having the same lipstick problem.
2) Holy Palace - in order to fully enjoy this drama, you do need to suspend belief and dive into this fantasy world. However, one thing that bugs me is how easy it is to enter the Holy Palace in the last few episodes. I thought you have to go through this scary forest that get you stuck in illusions and take the most important thing away from you. Isn't that why Shi Xia loses her taste and Bi Hong loses his eyesight? Apparently, none of this matters when the Devil Sect can easily go in and out of the Holy Palace.
3) Ending - I am confused about how they're supposed to save the world. What was it that flew out of Qiu Li's body when she died and into the formation? Her spiritual root? If it's her spiritual root, how did it affect the formation? How did our ML survive and was able to send FL and her brother back to the modern world, and transport himself as well? There isn't a whole lot of explanation.
4) Kisses - for a historical drama, there are quite a few kisses in this series. Unfortunately, they are all fish kisses with no passion. I can understand the first couple of fish kisses, since ML is still new to all this. But after that, I wish to see a little more passion and lip action. These kisses are not living up to the Cotton Candy reputation.
Other observations:
1) Overall acting is decent but not exceptional. I find FL's acting a lot better than ML.
2) First half is better than the second half - a lot funnier with sound effects, but could be cringey for some.
3) How did Shi Dong learn how to build everything in the Devil Sect? Just because he comes from the modern world, doesn't mean he can create and build shuttles, magical instruments, etc.
4) Family drama between Yuan Zhao, Bi Hong and Qiu Li lasted a little too long for my taste in the last few episodes
5) A few common tropes that you might not like - noble idiocy, fake amnesia, spinning hugs, falling into your arms, 2FL turns evil for the most part.
6) There's an extra episode 36 - life in the modern world - short and cute
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