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Lost in Dramaland
Great Friendships and Bromance and Character Development
Completed - 1/27/2022 - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0It's rare to see a C-drama with basically no romance, idols, or big name actors to have such a high MDL rating (8.8 at the time of this review). I have gone back-and-forth many times whether I want to watch this, since it's not really my type of drama. But the overwhelming positive reviews convinced me and I am glad I gave in. This is an excellent teen drama and not just about the game of Go, but of strong friendships, bromances and most importantly, our main lead's growth as a person.
Shi Guang (ML)'s character development is what I like best in this drama. We were first introduced to a 9-year old who is quite cute and smart. That little young actor is such a smartass that I can't help but laugh at and with him. He is actually quite mature of his age, when he sees through what Chu Ying wants from him, and that it might not be the road that he wants or is ready for. Throughout the drama, our ML has gone through enormous ups and downs. I actually find him quite annoying in the beginning as a teenager. The drama does a really good job in helping us see Shi Guang's thoughts and feelings, and the way he reacts to different situations, with the guidance of Chu Ying and his many friends. After finishing this drama and looking back at how annoying Shi Guang used to be, it's amazing how much I have grown to like him and the person he has become.
Shi Guang & Chu Ying have a great mentor/mentee relationship, in addition to being very close friends. Sometimes, it feels like Chu Ying is the father figure we never saw. It's fascinating when Chu Ying is teaching Shi Guang about chess playing, but it's also hilarious seeing how Chu Ying adapts to modern world technology and slangs so well. On the other hand, Shi Guang and Yu Liang have an 8-year rivalry. I really enjoy seeing the respective journeys of these frenemies. They have such an interesting dynamic throughout the drama. Shi Guang is really one lucky guy. He has some REALLY good friends in this drama, in addition to Chu Ying and Yu Liang. He has many supportive and caring friends in high school and in the chess club. These friends stick with him throughout his career as an amateur chess player to become a pro chess player. It's also quite amazing that I did not find any of his friends irritating or annoying.
The pacing of this drama is done well. I actually wanted more episodes to follow ML's professional career and international competitions. I don't think I've ever said that about a C-drama. I really enjoy the portrayal of the challenges in each step of ML's career. He's growing and achieving successes, and then, reality brings him back down to earth, and he has to face a new set of challenges. This makes the drama more believable, as we know even though ML could be a genius, he can't be an international champion just like that. The ups and downs in his career contribute to his personal growth. However, I do feel that the last couple episodes were a little slower and a little too much moping around. I understand why, but I don't think the drama ended strongly. Maybe that's why I wanted more episodes as it seems unfinished.
Another aspect I like about this drama is how all the actors look like real teenagers and young adults. Especially during the high school scenes, I feel like the kids are really teenagers and not actors pretending to be teenagers. They look like 'normal' people. They are not full of make-up or wearing fashionable clothing. Additionally, I like Chu Ying's transparent look. It gives a very fantasy-like feel to his existence, and that he's not just another person hanging out with ML. He is just so funny. He looks so much more handsome in ancient times without makeup though.
As someone who doesn't know anything about the game of Go. I have to say that the drama does not intend to teach me about the game. I am often lost and confused with all the moves, though they seem fascinating.
Overall, I really enjoy this drama. My gut might tell me that this is not a slam dunk 9-10 rating, but it's really quite good.
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Lighter version of "Remembrance of Things Past"
Completed - 1/7/2022"Delicious Romance" is a pretty underrated drama, and probably because the cast members are not idols and not as famous. However, it's a heartwarming drama about friendship, love, career and dreams. I feel that it's a lighter and happier version of "Remembrance of Things Past" (which I strongly recommend).
I enjoy the close friendship between the three main leads. They have funny and witty banter, are open and honest with each other, even if they are criticizing each other's decisions. I believe the friendship is what attracted most people to this drama. These ladies are 30 years old and are facing life's challenges as 30-year-old women in China. It's not surprising the following topics/challenges are covered in this drama:
1. Family and Society Prejudice against single, unmarried women.
2. Prejudice of divorced women
3. Sexual harassment and inequality treatment at work
4. Boss and Subordinate vs. romantic partner relationship
5. Stable and steady job vs. following your dream to unchartered territory
6. Income and Status inequality
This is a very short drama, only 20 episodes long at about 30 minutes each. The pace is fast and I was not bored at all. I quite enjoy the comedy inserted in the drama to deal with some of the heavier topics. I feel that the drama does a good job in introducing all three leads and show us their stories and personalities. I like them all and feel for them when they are faced with challenges. They each have their own flaws, but I root for them.
On the other hand, I feel the romance storylines are under-developed. I'd like to see more between Liu Jing and Jiang Shan Mu and how they fall in love, esp. from JSM. I also want to see a little more about the resolution between Xia Meng and Lu Bin at the end. As for Fang Xin and Zhang Ting, I want to see more of them after they get together. Because the drama is quite short, there isn't enough time for all, in addition to the other plots.
I also like:
- Xia Meng critiquing all the tropes and cliches in rom-coms.
- Jiang Shan Mu and his daughter's relationship - she is one smart cookie
- the funny drama shooting scene with the concubines
- first drag show I've seen in C-dramaland
Overall, I enjoy this very binge-able drama. It might not be as good as "Remembrance of Things Past", but it's an easy and enjoyable watch. I recommend this to those who like dramas of women-centric friendship and their life's challenges/decisions.
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Slow start, Excellent middle, Good finish
Completed - 1/6/2022A sponsored, big production, "Luoyang" opens with beautiful cinematography and set designs. It introduces many characters and multiple plot lines all at once and took me a while to find my bearings. I personally find the first 10 episodes a little slow, but once the leads interact with each other more and the plot lines intersect, the pace is fast and exciting. It did slow down a little towards the end.
What I Like:
1. Plot - I am not much of a thriller/mystery watcher, so I can't compare this to other amazing shows. However, I am very invested in the mysteries and the investigations. There are a few twists that I have an inkling of what might happen, but for the most part, I went along with this thrilling ride and was quite surprised.
2. Acting - It's my first drama of Huang Xuan, and no wonder I hear lots of praises He was amazing as Gao Bing Zhu, a multi-layered and complicated grey character (to start). I've seen clips of Victoria Song in "Find Yourself" and didn't quite like her there (or I just don't like the drama). However, I am glad that I get to see her in LuoYang again. She surprises me as I wasn't expecting her to perform so well in emotional scenes. I am no stranger to Wang Yi Bo, and his acting is on par to what I expect. I also feel that his character doesn't provide him with enough range to show off his (maybe there) potential acting skills. The person that surprises me the most is Yong Mei, who played the Empress. What a presence she has! She doesn't speak loud, doesn't do much, but when she's on my screen, I feel her presence.
3. Production - The lighting! After watching so many historical C-dramas, I have come to expect certain big S+ dramas to satisfy my hunger for natural lighting. I am glad to see that Luoyang does not disappoint. The amazing use of candles and lanterns in Er lang's room and the Joint Corps pleases me the most. Aside from the lighting, the set designs and ornaments are beautiful. No CGI was used to have fake people. The drama employs many real people in this drama to act as regular citizens, and there are many scenes with crowds. There are any beautiful shots of Luoyang and realistic shots in Unwelcome Well.
4. Gao Bing Zhu + 16 Night - The last scene between the two of them is so amazingly acted by both actors. It's so heartbreakingly beautiful when we finally learn of the backstory between the two of them.
What I Don't Quite Like or want Improvements:
1. Flashbacks/Black screen/Camera work - My number one complaint of this show is the blurry flashback scenes. Why are they always so blurry? They are giving me motion sickness and making me dizzy. There are also many black screens that pop up to show a different camera angle. I've seen black screen used in other dramas, but mostly for scene transitions. But for the black screen to show up so many times just to change a camera angle, gets really annoying. The blurry flashbacks really affected my enjoyment of the drama. I also don't like the bright light behind the actors. I think they use this camerawork a little too often. Of course, this is all very personal.
2. Voices/Sound - I believe the actors are using their own voices, and I greatly appreciate that. However, I found Wang Yi Bo's line delivery very unclear in the first couple episodes. It sounds like he's mumbling. However, he definitely improves later on. I would love to hear live recording, but unfortunately, they are studio recorded. But overall, I found the dubbing for this S+ drama to be lacking. There are times when the mouths and sounds are not matching.
3. Not enough leads together - I hope to see more scenes of the three leads together. They are oftentimes working independently or only in pairs. I think the three of them have pretty good chemistry when arguing or investigating.
4. Liu Ran - As a character, she doesn't seem to provide much use. Her sole purpose to "humanize" Erlang. If they are going to do that, they could have developed the romance a little more. Yes, Liu Ran does call out "Erlang...Erlang... Erlang" quite a bit in this drama. But maybe I knew of it and have low expectations, I wasn't as bothered. I've seen enough annoying characters that I don't even find Liu Ran and her brother that bad. I've built up my annoying-character tolerance.
Other Observations/Thoughts:
1. Saw a different kind of wedding ceremony. Don't think I've seen a tent for the bride and groom to greet guests in any other historical dramas.
2. At times, the BGM is a little loud and I can't hear the dialogs.
3. Erlang is so multi-talented. He's a foodie and an architect. But he's also a chemist and a coroner as well.
4. Slow motion fighting again. Why???????
5. *SPOILER* Ending - Gao Bing Zhu and Wu Si Yue have gone through so much and have lost so many people in their lives. Why can't you let them live happily ever after???
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One of the better High School BL Dramas - cute and sweet
Completed - 12/18/2021I can see why this drama has so many good reviews. It's a somewhat realistic high school BL drama with a lot of cute and fluffy content. It's really short that you can binge watch in a few hours. It's a good palate cleanser in between more serious dramas. Let's start with what I don't like about this drama.
What I don't Like:
1. Over-dramatic acting - This is personal taste as I don't usually enjoy the over-dramatic manga/anime style of live acting. I felt that our male lead, Aoki, is a little too much and I get annoyed with him at times. I understand he's made out to be a contrast to our other male lead, Ida, who is a little more serious.
2. Repetitive doubting - For such a short drama, Aoki doubted his relationship with Ida too much. After his confession and they started "dating", every episode following that, he's been questioning whether Ida likes him or not, or if Ida really wants to date him. I understand the uncertainty but it feels repetitive after a while.
What I Like:
1. Ida - I enjoy Ida's character. It's nice to see a quieter and more serious character that is not the traditional cold and mean male lead. He's just different and expresses himself different. He's serious in considering his answer and cares about others. I enjoy watching his slow discovery and realization that he does like Aida. I like how he protects Aoki through quiet actions.
2. Ida + Aoki - They do make a very cute couple. Their contrast in personality makes for a very enjoying and fun experience (albeit the Aoki's overacting). You can't help but smile when you see the together and they have great chemistry.
3. Supportive Friends - How nice it is to have such supportive friends of their relationship. It's a stress-free drama where you don't have to worry about jealous and mean-spirited friends.
4. Realistic Concerns - Even though this is a sweet and fluffy drama, it also addresses the issues facing a young same-sex couple, esp. a couple who never thought they could be attracted to someone of the same sex. Aoki is concerned about others knowing they are together and that is very real, not just in high school but in life. We have a teacher who is conservative and doesn't know how to deal with the knowledge of Aoki being with Ida. All these issues were handled well in the drama.
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Great Pacing, Excellent Acting, Smart + Badass FL
Completed - 11/29/2021"The Story of Yanxi" is one of those dramas that are universally praised and one should definitely check out if you enjoy historical dramas, esp. a fan of harem. I hesitated because it's 70-episode long, and the fear that it's going to drag prevented me from watching this for a long time. I am also not a big fan of harem. However, I am pleased to inform you that it has great pacing and it's not draggy at all. At times, I feel like some events actually resolve rather too quickly.
I recommend this drama for those who enjoy:
1) Historical dramas, esp. with real historical figures
2) Harem - concubines fighting for the emperor's affection and power
3) Strong and Smart characters
4) Qing Dynasty, esp. if you don't mind the bald hairstyle - took me a little bit to get used to it.
5) Revenge and Scheming
Plot - The big overall plot is about FL's investigation and seeking revenge for her sister's death. Through her journey of revenge, she entered the Forbidden City and caused all kinds of trouble. Since the drama is based on real historical figures, if you want spoilers, you can go to Wikipedia and find out what happened to most of the characters. I did look it up and though I was somewhat spoiled on some things, I also find comfort in knowing. There are many events and schemes throughout the drama by many characters. Because of this, the drama does not feel draggy at all. It's one thing after another.
Wei Ying Luo (FL)/Wu Jin Yan - This is my first drama of Wu Jin Yan's. For some reason (and it's very personal), I have a hard time liking her portrayal of Ying Luo. Ying Luo is everyone's favorite heroine. She is smart, funny, brave, loyal, cunning and ruthless. She's a strong badass character that doesn't back off and won't forget how you treat her, good or bad. But in the beginning, I found Wu Jin Yan overacted a little bit when she's intentionally trying to act cute or innocent. But once the character matured, I believed in her much more.
Ying Luo + Fu Heng Romance - This first love is sweet and loyal. Who doesn't want a man like Fu Heng. He is the ideal, dream man who is handsome, gentle, caring and understanding. Ying Luo and Fu Heng are soulmates. They understand each other and know how to support each other silently. However, I don't think there are enough scenes between the two in the beginning to make me believe that Fu Heng has fallen so madly in love with Ying Luo.
Ying Luo + Emperor Romance - This romance is much more interesting, from enemies-to-lovers, and I feel a lot more chemistry between these two, than Ying Luo with Fu Heng. I enjoy their arguments and threats. They are very similar people and match very well intellectually. They understand each other's actions and unspoken words.
Ying Luo + Empress Rong Yin Sismance - What a lovely sismance these two women have. They are so different, yet they are able to form such a strong bond. With a drama full of scheming between women, it's so nice to see a healthy and wonderful female friendship/mentorship between these two. Empress Rong Yin is one of my favorite characters and one of the saddest.
Acting - Definitely amazing acting all around. The "villains" are great and grey. You hate them (looking at you Yuan Chun Wang) but you also feel for them because they all have a background stories that are heartbreaking. I am not a big fan of the harem, so all the cat fights aren't my cup of tea, but I still enjoy this drama, and it's due to the acting of everyone. Each concubine has her own distinct personality and that makes it easier to distinguish who's who.
Production - big time production with beautiful Qing costumes for male and female characters. It did take me a little bit to get used to the bald hairdos of the guys, and not everyone looks good with it. Luckily, I do find our two male leads (Nie Yuan and Xu Kai) look quite handsome with the Qing style. The women have beautiful costumes, jewelry and accessories. The sets look grand and real. I am no historian, so I don't know whether everything is historically accurate, but I enjoy the visuals.
Other Observations:
1) Xu Kai - one of his earlier dramas. He did well enough, but not as good as compared to the veterans.
2) I've seen Charmaine Sheh in HK dramas when I was young. Wow..her acting has come a long way. She's amazing in this drama.
3) I've seen Qin Lan in "Rational Life" and found her absolutely stunning. She's beautiful here as well and such great acting. Very different compared to Charmaine Sheh but just as good.
4) I found Yuan Chun Wang (played by Wang Mao Lei) really creepy, like stalker-ish creepy especially his evil voice.
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Excellent Slice-of-Life Drama but very painful to watch
Completed - 11/24/2021Objective rating: 9.0
Subjective rating: 8.75
It is very difficult to review and rate "The Bond". Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. The acting is top notch - from the youngest actors to the most veteran actors. I have nothing to pick on. And because of the excellent acting of everyone, I come to hate so many of the supporting characters. I don't think I've ever hated characters from a drama this much, most notably Father Qiao. This piece of Sxxx of a father is the worst I've seen. The novel writer and the screenwriter are the same person, and I wonder if he has such a hard life that he would write something that gives me so much pain.
The drama revolves around the life of the Qiao family. The Qiao siblings grew up without a mother and their father emotionally and physically abused/neglected them. Big Brother Qiao YiCheng had to grow up fast to take care of his younger siblings. Throughout the drama, you see the hardships that each sibling has gone through from their childhood to their adult life. But the BOND between them is unbreakable. No matter how much they argue and fight with each other, they immediately drop everything to come to their sibling's rescue. And because they all suffer so much that I wish the best for each of them.
I thought of writing a little bit about each sibling's journey, but then my review will be super long and possibly very boring. Let's just say each has a very distinct personality and has amazing character growth in this drama. All of their marriages go through ups and downs. This is no fairytale, as happily-ever-after does not come easy to the Qiao family. When watching this drama, I have to pause and only watch a couple episodes a day. I cry and suffer with them, and it became intolerable to binge watch. I endured all this suffering because I pray that it has a happy ending. I wish there are more light and comedic moments in this drama, to balance out the tough moments.
Other Notes:
1. I am glad to watch another Bai Yu (Brother #1) drama after The Guardian. His acting is no joke. He's excellent in this drama.
2. This is my first drama of Zhang Wan Yi (Brother #2). I became a fan and look forward to seeing more of his dramas in the future. He's quite handsome :)
3. So glad to see Rachel Momo (Sister #3) in this very likable role. I really disliked her in "Princess Wei Young". But then, it also speaks to her great acting ability.
4. Song Zu Er (Sister #4) grew on me. I didn't like her and her character that much in the beginning, but she has the best character development in the drama. I look forward to her upcoming dramas.
5. I am so glad that the actors are using their own voices and it also sounded like live recording.
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This review may contain spoilers
A slow-paced romance that gives us the happy ending we needed
9/25/2021Just like many, I have been waiting for the happy ending after watching "One and Only". O&O is a beautiful, tragic romance where no one got a happy ending. I am eagerly waiting for Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi's happily every after. This drama is not a romantic comedy and one should not expect cute and fluffy romance and lots of kisses. Instead, I feel that it has a very similar vibe to O&O. It's mellow and romantic in its own way. The romance is developed very slowly, even though they are engaged early on in the drama. Some might find the pace too slow because of ZZC's character and his awkward dorkiness. One need to be patient for the romance to develop and it's the central part of this whole drama. I do think that the drama could have been a little shorter.
What I like:
1. Zhou Sheng Chen/Allen Ren - One of the main reasons I enjoy this drama is because I enjoy a male lead like ZSC. I have a soft spot for a ML who is a little reserved, loyal, a little dorky, and shows his affections through quiet actions and not cheesy lines. I like how ZSC could only manage to utter a few words in the beginning of the romance. Then you slowly see that he speaks in phrases, then in complete sentences and then able to joke and tease. The way he talks shows the progression of their relationship. I am a fan of Allen Ren, but I never find him super attractive unless he's in uniform. But I find him VERY attractive in this drama. He looks good in a sweatshirt, in PJs and in suits, well, and topless. He looks especially good with his wet hair :)
2. *Spoiler* Ep 23 Bathtub scene - This is the most intimate, heartbreaking and romantic scene. It breaks my heart that ZSC was devastated from his grief. I felt Shu Yi's helplessness in not knowing how to comfort him. The washing of his hair feels so intimate and comforting. I love that ZSC asks Shu Yi to hug him and she immediately climbs inside the tub and give him a big, tender, loving hug. We don't need a passionate kiss here. All we need is that quietness and understanding of each other. This scene gives me the same vibe as my favorite nose-touching scene in One and Only.
3. Main Romance - I love how Shu Yi complements ZSC so well. They are both quiet people but Shu Yi is honest and straightforward, very similar to Shu Yi in One and Only. She's the one that always initiates and shows affection first, and that's what ZSC needs. I like how inexperienced our male lead is and the way he's always trying to ask Shu Yi to teach him. I agree with Shu Yi, he is absolutely adorable in his dorky self. The romance is mature and healthy. They trust each other and there isn't any silly misunderstanding between them. I also like their subtle color-matching outfits, esp. the yellow/tan sweater that Shu Yi wears and the yellow/tan jacket that ZSC wears (he looks so good in that outfit!).
4. Acting - Of course Bai Lu and Allen Ren are amazing and have great chemistry. I enjoy the supporting cast as well, e.g. Grandma, Uncle Lin, FL's parents and Little Ren.
4. Costumes - Everyone in this drama dresses very well. Our leads have a wonderful wardrobe of casual wear, formal wear and evening wear. It's hard to find a C-drama that I agree with the costume choices, as I've seen too many oversized clothing. Bai Lu looks absolutely beautiful in everything she wears. And of course, Allen Ren, who I gushes so much about already.
5. The Sites/Cinematography - What a beautiful traditional-style big house we have in this drama. The shots of the view of the lotus pond is especially beautiful when the red lanterns were up. I love all the rooms, all the yards and especially the library. I am also glad that we get to see sights in Shanghai and Xi'An as well.
What I don't Like:
1. Reincarnation Ban - I read that China bans dramas of reincarnation and I think it affects the story-telling of this drama. For fans of One & Only, Forever and Ever lacks the connection between the two. As much as I like the dream sequences and the voice dubbing, they are not enough to provide viewers to feel the emotional connection and the leads past lives. That's why I find it hard to believe that Shu Yi would fall in love with Zhou Shen Chen at the airport because of a name.
2. Plot holes - Did ML tell FL the real reason for his proposal, that he needs to get married to inherit everything? Did I miss that part? How can a boatman not know how to swim? Didn't the crabs stay with FL's parents house and the cute dad was fanning the crabs? How come the little girl brought the crabs back to ML?
3. Lack of kisses - I did not feel that One & Only needs any kiss scene. But, I do feel that we need at least one or two more in Forever and Ever. We only get one in the car and it was going so well until it was interrupted. There were quite a few moments when I felt that a kiss will enhance the scene, e.g. when they were both soaked in the rain and got back to the hotel before their first night together. Or when they're in the snow on top of the tower before or after they whisper the "I love you"?
4. Family Drama at the end - I am not sure how I feel about the family drama in the last few episodes. It feels a little out of place.
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This review may contain spoilers
They died, they didn't die... they died, they didn't die. Did they die or not??
Completed - 5/5/2022In Part 1, I praised the drama for its beautiful and colorful cinematography and costumes. Part 2 made a 180-degree turn due to its primary setting in the wintery North. We see snowy trees and mountains, frozen lakes and a beautiful house with unique blue lanterns. The wintery scenes are definitely beautiful. However, after a while, I crave colors instead of bright, shining, white backgrounds and black costumes. How I miss the colors in Part 1!
If I base my review solely on the first ⅓ of the drama, I might have given it a 7 or 7.5 rating. The pacing is so slow. After 4 episodes of seeing our FL being so sickly, and talking like she’s half-dead, I became very bored. This lasted for about 8 episodes (too long). I did not like Dilraba’s acting and/or her character in these episodes at all, and I also became annoyed with the voice actress. Of course, this is all very subjective and you might think this is Dilraba’s best acting, as she’s not cute and innocent, like her usual roles.
If Part 1 is all about misunderstandings, then Part 2 is about who can die sacrificing themselves the most. Let’s take turns doing that! Also, did they die or not? How many times did a character die and then not die?
Our leads are not that interesting in Part 2 and I am not really feeling their chemistry. This might be due to the fact that most of the romance happened towards the end of the drama. I am actually liking the other romances. I like the weird and adorable odd couple, and the opposite-attracts couple. I think both couples are more fun to watch and have better chemistry than our main leads. Additionally, there really aren't any annoying characters. There are no evil second leads due to unrequited love not returned! How rare is that in a xianxia drama! I think my favorite character is Shunde Fairy. She’s an interesting and complicated character, and I enjoy Cristy Guo’s acting.
Costumes and accessories continue to shine. Allen Ren and Dilraba continue to look handsome and stunning. Actually, every single actress looks beautiful in this drama. Props to the make-up artists and costume designers. I love the wedding gowns with the ocean theme - scales designs and mermaid tails. Also love the sea animal sky lanterns.
The songs are the same ones as in Part 1. The more I listen to the songs, the more I like them. I think my favorite song in Part 2 is Mao Buyi’s version of 如你所想 (As you thought). The male version, to me, sounds better than the female version.
The CGI in Part 2 seems inconsistent. There are scenes when the graphics are good. But others, such as the fight in the desert between the Head Immortal Master and the Jade Phoenix was very bad. It seems like they run out of money towards the end of the drama for special effects.
Lastly, without going into spoilers, the editing on the ending could have been a lot better. At first glance, the director seems to want viewers to come up with their own explanation. However, are scenes cut due to censorship? Is that intentional? Something seems to be missing. Thanks to MDLers in the comment section, I read the article with the explanation.
It is a pity that English subtitles are not readily available yet. Although this is not my favorite xianxia drama, I think many would enjoy it.
Other Observations:
1. For someone who until recently hasn’t had that many kiss scenes in dramas, Allen Ren surely has many fish kisses here. He's a fish afterall. ?
2. The secret room with the painting doesn’t seem to be that secretive, since so many got in.
3. Leaders in this drama like to keep plans hidden from others, and then others keep on messing up their plans.
4. Tian Jun (Heavenly Emperor) only has 2 gods to keep him company? Where are the others?
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I shake my head and roll my eyes throughout the drama - Messy and Too much going on
If this were a full-length drama, I would have given this a less than 5 rating. I am going to be a little more forgiving as this is a low budget drama. But this drama still cannot be compared to another web drama, “Provoke”. “Provoke” is so much better.The plot here is ridiculous and full of plot holes and unrealistic ‘twists’. They try to jam too many things into this short drama. I think a fake/contract marriage + enemies-to-lovers + revenge should be more than enough. But no, they added politics. The acting is decent, and the leads are a good-looking pair. The chemistry is pretty good in the beginning but the leads got together way too early and then the chemistry is gone. We do have a couple (not enough) shirtless hot abs scenes, but not passionate or good kisses (FL needs to work harder). The cinematography and production value aren’t that great, more on par with “Maid’s Revenge”. I am blinded by the super bright/white backlighting and camera flashes.
I can’t help but shake my head and roll my eyes when watching this. The good-looking male lead and the pretty female lead are not enough for me to recommend this drama. I have to force myself to finish watching. I enjoy watching this LESS than “Maid’s Revenge”, even though it’s about the same quality. So, I feel I need to rate “My Everlasting Bride” a 6.5 and not a 7.0.
Completed: 9/19/2023 - Review #356
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Watch this for Liu Xue Yi but not for a tightly-written mystery plot.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75I went into “In Blossom” blind without reading the synopsis or watching the trailer. All I knew is that Liu Xue Yi is the male lead and that’s the only reason I need. LXY did not disappoint, though I think his voice acting could be better. This is not a big complaint because aside from him, the main cast and most of the supporting cast used voice actors. I always appreciate actors dubbing themselves, even though they are not perfect. If you don’t practice, how can you get better, right?
“In Blossom” has a little bit of everything - slow-burn romance, crime investigation/mysteries, action/martial arts and some comedic moments. I do think the drama balances all these elements pretty well. More on romance and mystery in a little bit. I want to comment on the action scenes. I know this is not a wuxia drama, but I feel that the fight scenes are below-average to average. There aren’t too many, but enough for me to wish they are better choreographed and actors fight a little harder and faster. It’s not going to ruin your enjoyment of the drama, but I am a little picky in this area. Comedy is enough to be sprinkled throughout the drama. I enjoy the little comedic moments by the supporting cast, or just a sarcastic remark here and there. Humor brings some light-heartedness to this somewhat serious drama without going over-the-top.
The romance is slow-burn but is developed nicely. ML falls in love with FL again, not because of her looks and wealth, but because of the person inside. They started out as enemies, then frenemies, then partners-in-investigation and eventually partners-in-love. Even though I like the writing of how the relationship is developed and written, I found the chemistry lacking. Liu Xue Yi is only 4 years older than Ju Jing Yi in real life, but when they stand next to each other, LXY looks so much more mature and older. In fact, he seems better matched with the original Yang Cai Wei in the first few episodes and have much better chemistry. LXY and JJY seem more like siblings or best friends when they are bickering. I wonder if it’s because there also seems to be a personality change between the original and the new Yang Cai Wei. The original YCW appears older and more mature, after all she had a really tough life carrying corpses everywhere. The new YCW seems younger and more outgoing and friendly.
That brings me to mystery and crime investigation. There are MANY small investigations in these 32 episodes that tie back to the main plot and mystery. I am usually a fan of how these mini stories, that are not episodic, integrate to the main storyline. But in this drama, there are just way too many, and eventually I lose focus and don’t care anymore. There are also some plot holes and illogical inconsistencies. I do not think the mystery part is tightly written. I feel that if I want to fully enjoy this drama, I need to turn off my brain and not think critically. If you are a big fan and a veteran of crime investigation and mysteries, you might not be satisfied.
The acting as a whole is pretty solid. Liu Xue Yi lives up to my expectations. Ju Jing Yi has a bad rep, but I think she did fine. Not exceptional but also not horrible. 2ML Li Ge Yang might be the weaker of the younger cast.
Lastly, I want to comment on Liu Xue Yi’s wardrobe. He has some beautiful costumes that do not look cheap! You can see the quality of the cloth and the beautiful designs and patterns. Even though Ju Jing Yi’s costumes aren’t bad, I can’t keep my eyes on how handsome and dashing Liu Xue Yi looks. And he looks great both with his down and up in a bun.
I would only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the leads, especially if you are like me, watching this solely for Liu Xue Yi. It’s also not bad if you want a drama that has a good mix of romance and mystery. But if you are picky about tightly written plots, intricate and sensible crime investigation, then you might not find this drama enjoyable.
Completed: 4/8/2024 - Review #425
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Don't miss the scenes during and after the ending credits in the last episode!
Rating - 8.25I remember back when Hikaru Utada’s song “First Love'' came out in 1999, many were obsessed with it, and I was one of them. I played this song many, many times. So when I heard a drama is coming out based on this song and starring the amazing Satoh Takeru, I have to watch it. The expectations were high and did the drama meet them? I am afraid not quite.
“First Love:Hatsukoi” is a beautifully made drama. Most of the drama was set in snowy Hokkaido and the cinematography was great. Even when it switches to Tokyo, the color palette fits the tone of the drama, especially when telling the story of our hard-working female lead. Because the drama was based on two songs, I was initially concerned that those songs would be overplayed. I am glad that wasn’t the case. It didn’t make me hate “First Love” (the song) but made me love it again. There are quite a few English songs in the drama, which I have hoped are Japanese instead. Maybe Netflix has something to do with it. It does give some sort of American feel to a supposedly very Japanese drama.
Acting is top notch. I am already a big fan of Satoh Takeru and his micro-expressions are no joke. It’s so nice to see him play a regular guy going through tough times. It’s fun to see him displaying a fun side when he’s a security guard joking with his co-worker. It’s a nice change from seeing him as a hotshot doctor, an over-the-top baker or a cold-blooded swordsman. I am glad to be introduced to Mitsushima Hikari. When she was first introduced in the drama, she was a hard-working but tired-looking taxi driver. But throughout the drama, you see different sides of Noguchi Yae, and Mitsushima Hikari does a beautiful job in portraying a young and naive wife, a young mother, a downtrodden divorcee and then a supportive mother to her teenage son. As amazing as these veteran actors are, the two young leads might have stolen their thunder a little bit. Yagi Rikako playing the younger Yae, and Kido Taisei as the younger Harumichi light up the screen. Their infectious smiles and bright sunny personalities make the drama so much fun to watch. Their story is more enjoyable and makes a bigger impression on me than the adult leads.
Not that the adult version of the love story is not memorable, it just lacks a certain gut punching feel. I was hoping for more angst, more heartbreaking moments between the adult Yae and Harumichi. I wanted more scenes between the two, more longing looks from Harumichi and more touching moments. I think the side story between Tsuzuru and Uta might have taken too much time from the main storyline. I don’t find this young romance too interesting, though the purpose of their romance is to remind the adults to pursue their dreams and loved ones. The pacing of the story is quite slow and I can certainly feel it when I am binge-watching this in a day.
I also have conflicting feelings in the use of flashbacks in the storytelling. I like how the different timelines are interwoven together, and how one timeline picks up the story of another timeline. But it did take me a quick second to get used to the transition. Viewers do need to pay close attention especially in the first episode to get used to the switches, especially when young Harumichi and Tsuzuru have very similar build and hairstyle. I think my biggest issue is how short these flashbacks could be, thus making the back-and-forth switches very abrupt.
Other Random Observations:
1. I love the wedding and the speech with sign language. I also love the blue color theme.
2. I remember those Titanic moments and it’s fun to see the young lovers re-enacting the famous scene.
3. I wonder how Harumichi becomes a security guard. Did I miss the explanation?
4. I like the bonding between Harumichi and Tsuzuru.
5. Don’t miss out on the scenes during and after the ending credits in the last episode!
Completed: 11/26/2022
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Well-acted, Mature and Dark drama with a controversial Female Lead
At the writing of this review, its MDL rating is at 8.5. I am actually a little surprised that it’s so high. Not that I don’t like the drama, in fact, I really like it. But for the fact that with quite a controversial and flawed female lead, who has made some questionable decisions and said some mean words, I think some watchers might really be put off by her.“Will Love in Spring” is definitely not a romantic comedy. Death is a central theme, and if this is one of your taboo subjects, do not watch this drama. There are some funny and sweet/fluffy moments. But for the most part, this is a mature, dark, healing drama. It’s a character-driven drama that focuses on our main leads' development and their relationships with family members and each other. This is a mature drama that makes you think.
Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong have excellent chemistry from start to finish. Their romance is nicely developed from when they first met in high school, to reconnecting again as adults. They had a long and bumpy ride before they hit the final destination in the very last episode. Zhang Jie (FL) is an independent, feisty, outgoing professional woman who still struggles with low-esteem due to her disability. However, at one point, I do find her shenanigans a little repetitive. I also believe many viewers are mad at her during the New Year’s Eve episode (ep 15?). Her actions and words towards Chen Mai Dong (ML) were uncalled for and downright mean. But given what happened that night at home, her past trauma and what she’s gone through in life, I can understand her and choose to have faith in her. What was most disappointing to me is her decision in the last couple episodes. Not being honest with ML about her decision and plans until the very end is more unforgiving to me. They have always had an honest and open relationship from bickering to comforting each other. Why can’t she be honest now? But, I give props to the drama for not crashing and burning in the end. The final episode wraps out everything nicely and gives me closure to Chen Main Dong and Zhang Jie’s story. The conversation they had at the NanPing train station: FL’s realization of her actions and ML’s clear understanding of FL’s personality, strengths and weaknesses, and his explanation and forgiveness, brought me so much comfort and joy. In the end, they found love and learned to love. For romance lovers, let’s not forget to include the fact that this couple is very affectionate and not afraid to display their affections through kisses and hugs. Lastly, Chen Mai Dong is another green flag and only he can balance out Zhang Jie’s energy.
There are so many lovely side characters in this drama. I love the relationship of the siblings. Niao Niao (little sis) is played by the talented child actress, Zhang Xi Wei. What a little firecracker and smartass she is. She brings so much color to the drama. Wu Jun Ting plays the quirky and sweet younger brother, Zhuang Yan. Who has a pet goose and walks it like a dog?? Zhuang Yan! I haven’t seen Wu Jun Ting since “Time and Her are Just Right”. I loved him in that drama and remembered his nice deep voice. I also envy the friendship between Grandma Chen and Grandma Lin. They are the poster children for best-friend-forever friendship. I enjoy the sisterhood between FL and Wang Xi Xia. Wang Peng looks so pretty as the best friend. She looks so much more mature and sexy than in her previous roles. Last but not the least, FL’s mother. I bet she’s another character that many hate. She’s the typical loud Chinese mother, who can’t stop criticizing her children. She’s tolerable but at one point I also want to strangle her. Glad she got a lot better towards the last few episodes. I am not sure if it’s the actress or the character, but she always seems to talk and laugh with a fake smile.
I would love to see more of the funny romance between BFF Wang Xi Xia and the Doc. The Doc is so quirky and adorable at the same time. Their scenes give the drama a more light-hearted touch, as they are hilarious together. I just want more of them.
I am not familiar with the funeral industry or the role of an embalmer. So, I can’t comment on how realistic “Will Love in Spring” is portraying that. It’s not a profession that we see in dramas often, so I am glad to get a peek into ML’s job.
I would recommend this drama to those that love a realistic portrayal of life, struggles, and relationships. The characters in this drama are all flawed and they make decisions that we don’t always agree with. But life is not rosy and we are not perfect. If you don’t mind the topic of death, this is an excellently acted drama. I had a great time watching this, even if I had a roller coaster ride of emotions.
Completed: 5/4/2024 - Review #437
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The Bachelor + The Hunger Games = The hilarious and fun Ready, Set, Love
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25My first impression of “Ready, Set, Love” is BRIGHT! The colors are so vibrant and it feels so cartoonish! This is the perfect drama to watch if you want something light, a little over-the-top and hilarious!! Is it the best drama out there? Definitely not! But it brings me joy when I need some lightheartedness in my daily life. It feels like a live action adaptation of an anime.
The plot is nothing unique and is actually quite predictable. I would describe this as a combo of the American reality TV show, “The Bachelor” plus the movie, “The Hunger Games”. We have women competing for the love and attention of 5 eligible bachelors aka Gentlemen. The ladies are thrown into ridiculous games to beat out each other, in order to win the chance to choose one of the 5 gentlemen they want to marry. Additionally, in this dystopian world, you can’t really escape the political commentary of this supposedly perfect world inside The Farm.
I really enjoy the competition part of the drama including all the hilarious characters from the Gentlemen, Ladies to the commentators. If you don’t mind over dramatic acting, this is perfect. The romance is not bad, just not quite enough for my taste. The couples are cute, but I wanted more fluffy scenes. I do appreciate the inclusion of a lesbian couple and a gay couple (just not enough screen time). On the other hand, I like the portrayal of sisterhoods between FL and her sister, and 2FL and her BFF. With only 6 episodes, the political plot and commentary might be the weaker part of the story. It’s no surprise they included this in the drama, but there is just not enough time to develop and write a satisfactory ending to that. Everything seems too easily resolved, and I was never worried that things would turn out badly for them. You can probably see from a mile away how the drama is going to end.
Nevertheless, I had a lovely time watching this. I will recommend this if you are looking for some over-the-top fun with decent acting and chemistry, a good-looking male cast (especially one who wants to show off his abs at any given chance) in very vibrant HDR colors but am OK with a simple plot.
Completed: 3/15/2024 - Review #418
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Timing is Everything.
Season 2 does not give me the same feels and gone are the innocence and sweetness. All the characters seem to have grown up and are forced to face certain challenges in life. No longer can they hide their feelings but they all become more courageous and more honest with themselves.The talk of the town is probably Kou’s indecisiveness and going back-and-forth between Yoshioda and Narumi. One thing Kou said resonated with me. He wants to move on but he’s also afraid that he will forget. Therefore, being with Narumi in a way is a security blanket. If you have lost someone close to you, you can probably understand where Kou is coming from. But of course, logically we all know he needs to cut ties with Narumi and be honest with his feelings. I also do not agree with Narumi’s emotional blackmail, but I can sympathize with her actions.
I liked Yoshioda in season 1 and I continue to like her in this season. She continues to grow and I’m glad she tries to at least not be a pushover and really wants things with Toma to work out. Toma is a lovely guy but it’s just not the same when your first love is someone who’s broken, and you want to heal with him and be with him throughout the process.
These characters are young and they are not perfect. Going back on decisions is not the end of the world. Sometimes, we just need to be more forgiving of ourselves and know that we can’t always make the right choices at first try.
Yuri has a very small part in season 2. The love triangle between Murao/Kominato/Tanaka has a little more screen time. I would have liked to see more foreshadowing/scenes in Murao’s final choice of the guy she ends up with. There doesn’t seem to have enough transition from one to another.
Season 2 did not hit me the same way as Season 1. But I did have an enjoyable time watching this. I’m glad the acting is pretty good all-around and even though Narumi is a third wheel, she wasn’t that bad.
Completed: 2/25/2024 - Review #410
Season 1 review: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/reviews/342617
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Everyday life of a Blind girl + Thai Home Cooking!
This is a recommendation from a fellow MDL’er when I was looking for an easy and light drama to watch. This definitely is one, even though the story is about a blind girl. Most dramas with a lead character with a disability focus on the challenges of everyday life. This one is no exception. However, compared to other dramas, it was not too harsh nor is the focus on really telling us how hard life is. Yes, it did touch upon that a little, but for the most part, this is a slice-of-life drama.Female lead Taem is a very likable character. She is not overly dependent on her friends, nor is she immune to the challenges of life faced by someone who is visually impaired. Through her monologues (and writing), we learn how she goes about life as a normal person - putting on makeup, learning a new route to work, typing on her laptop (writing articles), doing laundry, ironing her clothes and most importantly, cooking. It actually is very enlightening to learn the effort she puts into every single task with the help of her very patient best friend and with lots of practice. Amongst all these everyday activities, the drama focuses on her love of cooking and how she goes about learning to do that safely.
If you are looking for romance, you will be disappointed. This is a drama about life. The main leads have a lovely friendship and they might have very positive feelings towards each other. But there is no romance. Instead, we get to know a bunch of students in the cooking class. They come from all walks of life, different age groups and socioeconomic statuses, and face different challenges in life. This is a short drama, so it can’t really give each character a lot of screentime. But I feel that I know and care about them enough, especially Boem and the housewife. I really enjoy all the food scenes. The drama showcases simple, home cooked Thai food for your friends and family.. It’s a change from gourmet foods that are usually featured in dramas. The drama is quite educational as well.
But this drama is not without fault. In the earlier episode, I think it was uncharacteristic of Taem to leave her first cooking class without notifying anyone, even if she’s upset. She or her colleagues could have easily said something to the male lead. I guess that set the plot up for the rest of the show. A few car scenes are really fake (crappy green screens). The acting of the main cast is pretty good, but those with minor roles are below average.
Overall, this is a lovely drama to watch. It feels very warm and homey. Definitely recommend it if you are looking for something easy and enjoy cooking scenes. Both leads acted well and have decent chemistry as well.
p.s. I watched this drama on Thai PBS with English subs. https://www.thaipbs.or.th/program/SweetSensory/episodes/93887
Completed: 10/25/2023 - Review #370
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