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Lost in Dramaland
Too short with underdeveloped plots and loose ends
Completed - 8/30/2022First half - 8.0
Second half - 7.0
Makjangs or makjang-like dramas are usually not my kind of genre. I’ve only watched “Sky Castle” so far and I’ve enjoyed it. So I am not sure how makjang-like “Remarriage and Desires” is. I would say that it was very interesting to see what the rich will do to gain power and money through marriages and remarriages. The good and bad thing about this drama is that it’s only 8 episodes long. You don’t need to worry about a draggy plot in the middle, yet you should worry about under-developed plots and loose ends.
I quite enjoy the first half of the drama and would rate it a solid 8.0, but a 7.0 in the second half, especially the ending. There are way too many loose ends that weren’t tied, and everything just magically resolved because the main plotline is completed. I was excited to see Kim Hee Sun again after “Tomorrow” where she was such a cool badass female lead. Unfortunately, I am disappointed in her role and acting.
Since this is a short drama, I’ll forgo my usual long review/ranting and go with quick bullet points of what I like and dislike.
What I Like:
1. High production value - glitzy, sexy, beautiful sets and costumes. Jin Yoo Hee has the most beautiful outfits in this drama. I love the scenes at the masquerade and wanted to see more.
2. Interesting setting with Rex, the high-end matchmaking company for the rich and powerful. It’s interesting to see how they match people up.
3. Jung Eugene (as Jin Yoo Hee) - she is sexy as hell and makes me hate her so much, thus, translates to excellent acting on her part. She is the STAR ⭐️ of the show.
4. I like the theme song - matches the feel and tone of the drama.
What I Don’t Like:
1. Boring and Bland female lead - I was waiting for her to do something more exciting to seek revenge. The whole revenge storyline is not revengeful enough.
2. Aside from being a little younger than the other rich guys, I don’t see the appeal for Lee Hyung Ju.
3. Not enough time to develop a believable romance; no chemistry at all especially from our boring female lead.
4. Many events and conversations were told instead of shown.
5. Ending - too many loose ends and everything just magically resolves. What about the company troubles? Legal troubles? Business partner trying to take over? All goes ‘poof’ just because the main revenge plot is over.
Other Random Observations:
1. Choi Yoon Sun (CEO of Rex) moves and talks so slowly. She gives me an evil and cunning queen vibe.
2. Two male leads have cakey and unflattering make-up. Personally, they are not my kind of handsome.
3. I got cheated by the poster. FL does not give off that vibe at all in the drama.
4. What is up with the ugly wedding dress?
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Non-judgmental storytelling about casual sex - unique but not great
Completed - 6/9/2022Japan really has its own unique style in telling stories. This drama not only focuses on our female lead's sex life with her 5 friends with benefits, but also touched upon subjects such as prostitution, asexuality, and transvestism.
This drama is not preachy or judgmental, but casually tells us stories of 5 working adults at a video production company. In order to enjoy this drama, one should be open to the above-mentioned subjects and the culture of having very casual sex. Each character is quite unique in their own way. I don't find any of them particularly lovable, and actually quite annoyed with the female lead. I am still trying to get used to Japanese humor and its uniqueness/weirdness.
It might seem like our female lead is enjoying her sex life just as much as all the male characters in this drama. However, she is not as liberated and carefree as it seems. Deep down, she is just like every other typical drama female character who longs for love and marriage, and is in love with someone who doesn't care for her. She's really no different than the women that her male colleague sleeps with. Maybe that's why, I don't particularly like her or her style of acting. I actually find the stories of her colleagues more interesting than her 5 sexual partners. Well, at least A-kun is quite handsome.
With such a strong focus on sex, this drama is surprisingly PG-13. There's not a whole lot of skin shown during all the intimate scenes and they are not sexy or sensual at all. I am actually quite disappointed (no, I am not expecting p0rn either). Towards the end, it does show some chemistry between two co-workers, but nothing much really happened. Maybe their story will continue in Season 2.
Overall, this is a quick and easy watch. It could be fun if you are open to the topic. It's not a drama I highly recommend, but watch it if you want something different. Oh, and I really dislike the opening theme song.
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Tearjerker + Amazing performance by Roy Chiu
Completed - 3/29/2022Subjective Rating - 9.0
Objective Rating - 7.5-8.5
Without really paying attention to the tags of this movie, I thought I was going to watch a romantic comedy. Little did I know I would be crying my eyes out. This is a definite tearjerker.
A Cheng is a kind-hearted debt collector who fell in love with Hao Ting at first sight. I have never been a fan of love-at-first sight, and I'm not going to lie, the way he pursues Hao Ting could be viewed as stalker-ish and problematic as well. But once I got past these 'hurdles', I am fully invested in their love story.
I love A Cheng. What he went through in this movie breaks my heart. I cried so much after things went downhill for him. He's always been so kind to everyone he encounters. I want him to live happily-ever-after with Hao Ting. Roy Chiu (who plays A Cheng) is fantastic in this movie. His acting range is in total display - silly, kind, violent, betrayed, in physical and emotional pain, and heartbroken.
It's really hard for me to put into words why my gut feeling tells me this movie is worth my 9.0 rating. Maybe I was caught off-guard by all the feels. Maybe I was too impressed with Roy Chiu's acting. Maybe I am just watching the right movie, at the right time, in the right mood.
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I was in the mood for a fluffy rom-com after a couple of more serious dramas, and came across “I Hear You”. It’s one of the older rom-com starring Zhou Lu Si and Riley Wang and the plot looks promising. It has two of my favorite tropes - pretend/contract relationships & enemies-to-lovers. The expectations are low due to the comments and reviews that I read. And because of that, and also knowing what I am getting myself into, I actually quite enjoyed the drama….except maybe a couple illogical scenarios and the last episode.
Characters - Riley Wang plays the typical cliché cold/stoic character. Zhao Lu Si is the more optimistic but thank goodness, not super bubbly nor naïve female lead Bei Er Duo. What a fun name! Er Duo = Ear. I would say Riley’s portrayal is not very convincing and comes off as a little too emotionless. I like him a lot more as the second lead in “Attention, Love” and “Love is Sweet”. Zhao Lu Si is Zhao Lu Si. This is the type of role that’s made for her and she plays it well. Their chemistry is just OK to me. I think our secondary leads, Yuan Hao (as Yu Sheng) and Gratitude Dai (as Tang Li) have much better chemistry together. I would say the acting in general is fine in this drama. No one is horrible but no one is great either. One good thing about this drama is that I don’t find any character especially annoying. Also, for once there’s a foreign character that speaks believable English and Chinese. He’s actually very likable! How rare is that??
Main Romance - I do quite enjoy the development of both romances. It did take a very long time for the leads to develop from enemies to lovers. This is definitely a slow burn romance and it’s done quite well. There is enough going on with the dating show to provide entertainment for most of the drama. I do wish that the leads would have gotten together maybe an episode or two sooner, leave us some time with a couple episodes of plain cute, fluffy romance. We have waited a long time and we want that! There are complaints about the last episode and I agree. I would have liked to see most of what happened in ep 24 to be in ep 23. Save the last episode for when they are pursuing their dreams and end on a high and sugary note. Without going into spoiler mode, the last episode really could use some work. There are a few illogical decisions that happened and didn't give viewers a well-written ending they deserve.
Secondary Romance - This romance is a lot more mature than the sweet, innocent first love that our main leads have. It’s a nice contrast. We have two working professionals, being partners for a long time. They know each other well and got very used to each other. However, without a real confession, one could never know if it’s all wishful thinking. I really like Tang Li as the second female lead. I emphasize her internal struggle and applaud her courage to speak up and set the record straight. She made a painful but necessary and right choice. The back hug scene is sad but provides closure.
I have no experience with violin playing and making or the dubbing industry. So I am not going to comment on how accurate the drama depicts both industries. They seem ok to me but I am sure someone is fuming while watching this drama. LOL.
Other Observations:
1. Everyone looks so good after waking up, being drunk and after surgery. Hair and makeup are perfect! Actually, they look perfect all the time.
2. Riley Wang looks horrible in those historical costumes! He’s so handsome in his modern looks.
3. I’ve never seen Zhao Lu Si look so horrible in any historical dramas, but here with the first outfit. How can you give her such a bad wig?
4. How does FL turn on ML’s laptop without his password? Oh, and privacy issues? But we need her to do that to move the plot along.
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Sweet and Fluffy - Good Chemistry of Main Romance
Completed - 12/4/2021As part of the Sweet On series, it is to be expected that this is a light and fluffy romantic comedy. If you are not into rom-coms, it's best to not watch it, or at least don't have too high an expectation. Sweet Teeth has three main romance plots. Our three main leads all have very different professions and I am glad that we are not confined to the traditional C-drama occupations. They also have three very different romances.
The romance between Ai JinChu, a dentist (or should I say an orthopedic surgeon) and Zeng Li, a librarian/coffee shop owner, takes center stage in this drama. And their romance is really what kept me entertained throughout the drama. Their journey, from misunderstanding to being doctor/patient, to being friends and finally lovers, was satisfying and sweet. We have two pretty likable characters with similar personalities. The chemistry between them is good, and their visual is good as well. I didn't really recognize Wu Xuan Yi (FL) as the FL in Duoluo Continent. She seems way younger in DC, and she looks like the Korean actress, Jo Ba Ah, in this drama. This is my first time watching Bi WenJun (ML) and I didn't find him that handsome in the first few episodes. But then, maybe his character's personality slowly opens up and I find him quite attractive later on and at certain angles, he looks like Neo Hou. Both of their acting is decent and they make me want to root for them. I am a fan of slow burn romance, so I didn't mind they officially got together quite late in the series (at least late for a traditional rom-com).
The noona romance between Wu Ying and Lui Yu Cheng was adorable in the beginning. I am a lukewarm towards any older woman/younger male storyline. For this one, I do think YuCheng is a little too young (age 21) to be with Wu Ying (age 27). It's not the 6-year difference that is the problem, it's that YuCheng is only 21. However, both of them do have similar interests and YuCheng did appear and act very mature for his age. So, I was rooting for their romance. But personally, I feel that it loses some steam and I lost interest of their stories in the last 5 episodes or so.
I was the least interested in Ma YiYi and Deng Hao Ran's romance. I was annoyed with YiYi's personality in the beginning. She doesn't act like a 26 year-old but a teenager. However, I have to say she has the most character development and towards the end, she matures and becomes true to herself. As much as I enjoy her banter with Hao Ran, I felt that everything happened too late.
Other observations:
1) You learn quite a bit about dental hygiene and care in this drama
2) I love stories with libraries and books - I wish there's a more romantic use of books in this drama
3) I wonder if Wu Xuan Yi really did wear braces throughout the drama.
4) Why are they using so many English songs - they sound OK but the lyrics are a little weird.
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Short and Average BL drama
10/16/2021This is a very short BL drama, eight 10-min long episodes. I would be pretty annoyed if I have to wait each week for just a 10-min episode. They should just make a movie. The drama is a low-budget production, which is not surprising. However, it's pretty average comparing to other BL dramas.
Considering this is the first acting gig for the whole cast, they did a decent job. I would say Kim Yoon Hwan, who plays the main lead, Euen Gyu, might be the better of the bunch. His chemistry with Cha Woon Min wasn't bad. However, the plot is too simple and not much happened. It's just many glances/staring between the two. The love triangle isn't done well.
I would only recommend this drama to those who think the actors are cute and good-looking to watch. I don't find them that attractive, except maybe Kim Yoon Hwan, so I didn't enjoy it as much. Of course, this is all subjective. I am not the target audience, esp. when I am an old woman. LOL.
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This review may contain spoilers
Must watch mature and realistic drama for those who left their hometowns for another city
10/1/2021 - 9.75 ratingAt the time of this writing, the MDL rating for this drama is 8.2. How could this be so criminally low? Is it because it's not an idol drama, no good-looking cast, not a fluffy romance, not produced by a big tv network? Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. Subjectively speaking and on a personal level, this is a near perfect drama. Thus, I am giving it 10.0 (rounding up from 9.75). This is the first drama I give a 10. This drama needs to be talked about and recommended more.
"Remembrance of Things Past" is about the lives of four women who moved away from their small hometown for college and stayed in Beijing after graduation to make it big and have a new life. As a transplant in Beijing, life is not easy and they encounter different hardships in romance, work and just trying to survive.
I have very similar experiences as the female leads - moving away from home, relying on friends to survive in a new city, only reporting happy news to family, long commute to work because housing is cheaper when farther away, loss of a loved one, single woman walking home at night, parents sacrifice for me, etc. Aside from all this, this drama also covered peer pressure at work and at home, marriage pressure for women in their late 20s and 30s, physical and mental health concerns, suicide and attempted suicide, workplace rivalries, materialism, physical beauty, renting vs buying a house, saving money vs living life, money scams, etc.
Episode 1 hooked you right in! Not knowing why a close friend committed suicide is a central plot in the drama. Her story is told through flashbacks, but the guilt is so very present within her friends. Each episode has a theme and an epilogue that narrated by the female leads which make you really stop and think. I love these thought-provoking epilogues. The last 15 minutes of Episode 10 was the most intense for me. The series of events happening at the same time with the three female leads and their subsequent big fight were explosive, intense and heartbreaking.
Romance isn't a main focus of this drama, though each of the three female leads has their own storyline. Maybe except for the romance of Xu Yan & Zhen Zi Chang. The struggles of their relationship is the central storyline, and it's also my least favorite of the three romances. I feel that it's somewhat repetitive and I really dislike Xu Yan and the way she treats her boyfriend. I am glad there's character development, but we don't see a better version of her until the very end. I wish there's more to Xu Yan storyline than about money and her boyfriend. I enjoy the shyness of Jian Yi Fan when he's somewhat courting Qian Xi Chen. I am a sucker for a quiet man who shows love through quiet actions. He seems like a different person when he's so shy and reserved, yet he's such a boss at work (calm and mature). I quite enjoy the banter between Xi Chen and Yi Fan, and they make a cute couple. Ji Nan Jia & Ou Yang's relationship is the sweetest. I love LOVE what Ou Yang said to Nan Jia about having children and raising children in a loving family. How could you not want to have a child with him after that? Ou Yang appears immature, but he's actually quite the opposite. The talk that Nan Jian had with Ou Yang's mother is also excellent. Those two don't seem like a good fit together, but they actually complement each other very well.
Of course, the best part of the drama is the friendship between the four women. I doubt they can survive in Beijing without each other.
Other notes: I watched this drama on YouTube and another site-that-shall-not-be-named. MangoTV YouTube videos blocked some of the music and the sound quality wasn't great. It really did affect my viewing and I couldn't really listen to the OST. The English subtitles also suck. Maybe this contributed to the lack of popularity. I wish this drama is shown on Viki, as I think the subbers would have done a much better job. I also found the accent of the actors quite hard to understand (with my conversational Mandarin skills). Maybe it's a very thick northern accent? Or I am just used to the voice actors these days, which is kind of sad but also why they have voice actors to do the dubbing.
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Interesting 2nd life (redemption arc) but unsatisfying romance
“Scent of Time” does not seem to be a very popular drama and the main reason is due to its unavailability. I believe Youku did not have the drama available for their international audience. But HBO seems to be picking that up! The synopsis of the drama on MDL is also incorrect as this is not a drama about transmigration (since it’s a censored topic in China). The novel is about transmigration, but not the drama.I don’t have much expectations, but because I liked Zhou Ye very much in “Back from the Brink”, I want to check this out for her. And, she did not disappoint. Her acting was a standout among all the younger actors and she carries the show on her back. Her character, Hua Qian, is very easy to root for. She's smart, observant, and courageous. She was given a second chance to correct her past mistakes so that there’s a better outcome for her and her family in this second life. The redemption arc is a highlight of the show and I think it’s pretty well-written. There are plot twists I did not expect and the story is very engaging throughout the 30 episodes. I just wish the ending was a little better and longer.
Before I watched the show, I thought the romance plot with 3 male leads would be the highlight for me. You would think a reverse-harem would be a focus. Not quite what I expected. This story is about Hua Qian’s growth as a person. The men in her life are just a part of her character development.
Zhong Ye Lan was the first man in her life. One she was obsessed with in her past life and tries to undo all of that. Zhou Ye Lan has a lot of screen time in the first half of the drama. Though I like parts of their story, I do find Peng Chu Yue’s acting a little lacking, especially when compared to Zhou Ye. His character is more muted, and more quiet. Thus, it requires good acting to not appear bland and wooden.
Zhong Xi Wu as the Lord is an interesting character. He has a unique relationship with Hua Qian and has much better chemistry with her than the other two male leads. I just wish we got more screen time of the two together. Their romance is quite subtle on Hua Qian’s part. It was hard to see whether she had feelings for him, except for that one item (which I shall not spoil) and was shown in the later part of the drama. It’s also interesting to see Zhong Xi Wu lose his cool when it comes to Hua Qian. He actually lost his cool a little too fast and uncharacter-like for a lord.
Hua Rong Zhou is the trusted guard who vows to protect Hua Qian with his life. This character appears too perfect and boring. He’s also bland in the beginning and Zhang Yi Jie’s acting is a little wooden. He was much better when he wasn’t a lovesick puppy following Hua Qian around. I like that when he’s talking back and being a little bossy. Other than that, Hua rong Zhou is not charismatic enough to be a male lead.
The rest of the supporting cast isn’t bad, except for Mu Yao, played by Zhao Qing. Her acting is the worst of the bunch for me. She has that one bland look and dead eyes on her face all the time. The veteran cast (Elder Princess and FL’s parents) obviously did a much better job than the younger cast.
The production quality is pretty good. I like the hairdos, accessories and the costumes of the female cast, and the sets and props look decent. “Scent of Time” only has 3 songs in its OST but they are lovely, just a little overplayed. I am however disappointed with the dubbing. I wish the main cast had used their own voice.
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. It has its fault, but as a whole, I like the pacing, the redemption and character growth, and I am really becoming a fan of Zhou Ye.
Completed: 11/9/2023 - Review #375
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The Guessing Game
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.
I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.
J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.
I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.
Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.
Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.
Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362
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Watch it for Romance/Obsession or Dylan/Peter - But not for Revenge or Palace Politics
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75“Unchained Love” has such an interesting and unique general plot that unfortunately the writing and editing did not deliver. The lure of a forbidden love between a eunuch and the emperor’s woman, with revenge in the backdrop, seems to be such an amazing story. I missed the comedy tag, as I thought this would be a serious, heart-wrenching story of love and revenge. The comedy in the first few episodes threw me off a little, and the revenge plot is a disappointment. Having said that, I did have an enjoyable time watching the drama, thus I am rounding this up to an 8.0. If I solely based on the plot disappointment and the sloppy and illogical writing, this would be a 7.0-7.5.
What I Like:
1. Smart Lead Characters - I really enjoy the first third of the drama when the leads are trying to outsmart each other and then form an unlikely and unwilling alliance. I am a fan of smart female leads who can hold their own and be on the same intelligence level as the male leads. I found Bu Yin Lou (FL) has some similar characteristics to Cheng Shao Shang in “Love like the Galaxy”. They are both smart but have to hide their true self due to their upbringing. Similarly, Xiao Duo (ML) is similar to Ling Bu Yi in “Love like the Galaxy” as well. They both appear to be ruthless and cunning and are out to seek revenge, but love their women tremendously, in very different ways. Maybe that’s why I like “Unchained Love” because of these strong characters and similarities. I cannot stand a dumb female lead anymore, or one that is innocent and naive. But the similarities of both dramas end there. “Love like the Galaxy” is a much more well-written drama.
2. Acting - Well, Chen Yu Qi might have overacted a little in the beginning during her comedy parts when portraying Bu Yin Lou’s outgoing personality. But for the most part and especially after the first third of the drama, I do find her convincing. I was never a big critic of hers and found her acting decent. I am actually glad to see this funnier side of her acting, since her other roles I’ve seen are more serious or standoffish. Most of us probably watch this drama because of Dylan Wang. And yes, he plays the ruthless Xiao Duo very well. Though I am not a fan of how his character becomes a love sick puppy, that’s not his fault. He acted well. But the actors that shine in this acting category are the veterans Peter Ho (as Murong Gao Gong/Emperor) and Zeng Li (as Empress Rong An). Many have sung praises for Peter Ho in this drama and he indeed is excellent. It’s an amazing journey to follow his character’s change in this drama. Zeng Li is the only main character that uses her own voice, and I think that is why I like her acting. Coming off her other memorable performance in “Love like the Galaxy” (oh, another reference to LLTG), her acting here is more manic but also nuanced. The rest of the supporting cast did a fine job but no one stands out against the main four.
3. Production value - I don’t think this is a S+ production, but everything looks nice. It has good solid sets in the palace and also in all the houses. The props, fixtures, and furniture look good and sturdy; and nothing looks cheap. The costumes are beautiful and women’s hair accessories are tasteful without feeling overdone. The men also look good and handsome in their costumes. Dylan Wang really looks good in all his attire. Oh, except for the bad makeup for the women - too white and cakey.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Dubbing - I am disappointed that 3 out of 4 main characters are dubbed. I recently saw Chen Yu Qi in “Hi Venus” and “Story of Fox Valiant” and she wasn’t dubbed. I still remember her voice and when she speaks in this drama, I couldn’t place her face with the voice. Peter Ho is probably dubbed because of his Taiwanese accent, but for such an experienced actor, it would feel so much better if I can hear his voice when he’s going all crazy. I think all Dylan Wang’s historical dramas are dubbed, so I wasn’t surprised. At least I heard his real voice in “The Rational Life”. But when you look at the major supporting cast, it seems like most of them are using their own voices. Then, why dubbed the leads???
2. Action scenes - This is not a wuxia drama, so I won’t judge the action scenes too harshly. There are some fun scenes and they definitely make Dylan Wang look good. However, I do feel that they are somewhat overexaggerated and theatrical. The flips and jumps were overdramatic and the wire work wasn’t done well. There are a few scenes especially in the last 5 episodes that it was too unrealistic to have someone standing there, everything in slow motion, and the killing just stopped. Well, I think a certain character should have been dead a long time after being pulled by 5 horses. Instead he’s just suspended in the air for a long time. This is also why I criticize the writing of this drama.
3. Main Romance - I think the chemistry between Chen Yu Qi and Dylan Wang isn’t bad. But because I was expecting more angst, a more tortured romance that I feel something is missing. I was hoping for more longing looks and loving gazes but I ended up getting some pretty open looks and hang outs together. They spend so much time together that it doesn’t seem like a forbidden romance anymore. How can no one out of their small circle see that something fishy is happening? How can the suspicious emperor not suspect something sooner? Of course, for many romance lovers, all these happy and cute scenes are a plus. I was just expecting something different.
What I Don’t Like:
1. Writing/Editing - It is probably due to censorship, or just bad writing/editing that the second half of the drama doesn't make as much sense. It was especially bad for me in the last ⅓ of the drama with the romance plot. In one scene, FL was questioning if ML really likes her and she hasn’t realized her feelings yet. In the next scene, they both spend the night together and they are outright in love with each other? The couple's intimate scenes and dialogs were cut out, and this really affected the flow of the romance. We learned of certain conversations/events via a few flashbacks. FL has been portrayed as smart and cautious throughout the drama, but for the sake of convenience, let’s have her make dumb and careless mistakes so that the emperor can finally find out the big secret. What sloppy writing for this big reveal! Our leads have so many opportunities throughout the drama to elope, but they never did. And when that finally happened, it was just that easy to get out and leave the palace without being detected.
2. Pacing - I think this drama has a strong start in the first ⅓. But in the middle, the drama slows down. I would have thought that the last ⅓ would pick up the pace as that’s when all the revenge, reveal and action take place. But unfortunately, I find these episodes slow. It’s a lot of talking in circles, waiting for something to happen but didn’t really happen.
3. Revenge - On the one hand, I understand Xiao Duo’s realization that ‘an eye for an eye’ might not be the way to go. However, after spending 6 years plotting for a revenge (we’re told but we haven’t seen much), the ending to the revenge plot is very anti-climatic. You fall for a woman, and you throw that rage out the door pretty quickly. I really dislike a male lead who was so determined in the beginning and then became a lovesick puppy in the end. Dylan’s character in “Love between Fairy and Devil” was like that, and here in “Love Unchained’ is the same. That’s why Xiao Duo’s revenge can't hold a candle to Ling Bu Yi’s in LLTG.
Do I recommend this drama? I would if you are in it for Dylan Wang or Peter Ho. “Unchained Love” is a drama about forbidden love and obsession in love. Do not watch this for the revenge plot or palace politics. If you are a romance lover and can throw some logic out the window, I think this could be a very enjoyable watch.
Completed: 2/20/23
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Short but doesn't seem cheap - Enough to tell a decent revenge story with good leads chemistry
Director Zhi Zhu, male lead Jin Chao and female lead Qi Xia Xia came together again after their first project, “Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang/长公主在上” for a new short drama called “Dong Lan Xue/东栏雪”. I rated ZGZZ pretty low due to its cheap budget production which affected my viewing pleasure. However, “Dong Lan Xue” does not suffer from the same criticism. This 2-min per episode short drama has a pretty decent production value, on par with other longer web dramas such as “The Killer is Also Romantic”. This drama does not scream ‘cheap’.The pacing of the drama is great and tells a decent story of revenge from start to finish in about an hour. The leads have pretty good chemistry. The acting is not bad, especially for the female lead Qi Xia Xia. She looks gorgeous, just like when she was in ZGZZ. I like her styling, especially her gorgeous costumes.
The action scenes also look surprisingly good. I wasn’t expecting the quality of an excellent wuxia drama, but at least there’s no slow-motion fighting or twirling. The drama doesn’t shy away from bloodshed and torture. I was actually quite surprised they came up with a way to torture FL without letting her run away. They did kind of blur the wounds, as I can understand it could be quite disturbing.
If you don’t have a lot of time and want a quick drama, this is pretty good. Short dramas like these are created for those who commute to work on public transportation and have time to kill or, need a quick drama fix.
Completed: 5/14/2023 - Review #306
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Neither a Great Thriller, nor a Great Romance drama.
Completed - 3/17/2022I was hoping to watch a more mature BL drama, that’s not just a rom-com of high school or college students. Thus, “Manner of Death” became my choice. A crime/thriller romance drama sounds exactly what I am looking for.
Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed. I am not sure if I am not used to Thai acting, or the acting of the cast doesn’t live up to my expectations. I do not find the acting of Max and Tul, the two lead male characters, to be convincing. If I have to pick, I think Tul as Dr. Bun did a better job than Max as Tan. The drama likes to have close-up shots of the actors' faces for viewers to focus on their facial expressions. Unfortunately, the camera stays with the actors for a little too long (5-10 seconds, maybe) and their inability to convey emotions is more observable and makes me feel uncomfortable. At times, the music accompanied these close up shots made feel like I'm watching an American daytime soap opera. Of the cast members, I would say the actress, Meiko, who played Jane, is the best of the bunch, followed by maybe Great, who played Inspector M.
The chemistry of the two leads was pretty good in the first half of the drama, before they officially got together.. But when the second half focuses more on the crime investigation, the chemistry took a dip. The transition from crime investigation to the leads being flirty with each other appears out-of-place with a very sudden tone change. There aren’t enough sweet or sexy moments to satisfy the romance-at-heart, and the longing and tension from the first half of the drama are gone.
I like the general plot of the drama, a medical doctor who wants to uncover the truth of his friend’s murder. But I don’t think the execution is quite there. Our leads seem to have 9 lives, as they get hurt all the time, recover quickly, but they never die. There is a mix of predictable and unpredictable plot twists. I don’t know much about Thailand’s forensic/medical work, so I don’t want to say they are wrong. However, it does seem somewhat minimal and easy when Dr. Bun does his autopsy work. Overall, this is neither a great thriller, nor a great romance drama. It’s just OK.
Other Observations:
1. Inspector M’s uniform is really tight, showing his fabulous body. He’s the hottest guy in the drama.
2. The actress who played Jane is really pretty, both in casual wear and when she’s all dolled out.
3. Bad CPR alert!
4. Seems like a low-budget production.
5. do enjoy scenes of the small town.
6. Music is not bad. I like the theme song.
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Average typical Republican low-budget web drama. It's OK. Nothing special.
The Republican era seems to be a really popular time period for these low-budget short web dramas. How does “Miss Mystery” stack up against the likes of “Provoke”, “Maid’s Revenge” and “Everlasting Bride”? Well, I think it’s in the middle of the pack.The story is straightforward - hidden identity, secrets, revenge, and falling in love. Since this is a short drama, I’m glad it didn’t have too complicated a plot. That was my biggest complaint about “Everlasting Bride”. Cinematography, acting and chemistry are not as good as “Provoke”, and the ML is not as handsome as Mr. Abs, Dai Gao Zheng, but he does have some nice abs. LOL. I also don’t think the FL is as pretty as the female leads in other dramas.
Acting is not impressive in the earlier episodes, especially for the female lead. Her portrayal of the calm and smart FL is a little bland and emotionless. ML is a little better. However, I did notice some improvement towards the second half of the drama. For some reason, I found the dubbed voices ‘acted’ better than the actors themself. ML’s voice sounds so much more mature than the actor’s face.
The plot is nothing special and we’ve seen this many times. At least we have a male lead that’s not mean or abusive to the female lead (except for one drunken, frustrated scene). I would have loved to see the push-and-pull between the leads last a little longer, and the ML not falling in love and be so smitten that quickly. It doesn’t have the sexy tension that “Provoke” has. However, I do applaud them for some pretty good kisses from both leads. Female lead is also too smart. Everything goes her way and she’s the mastermind of everything.
Given this is a lower budget production, the quality is decent. Nothing seems too cheap. I like the mysterious opening theme song. I do dislike the use of slow motion in romantic scenes and especially in non-romantic regular scenes. Why would you do that?
It’s an OK drama and I probably won’t recommend it unless you are a fan of the actors or this type of genre. These are short 15-minute episodes, so if you want something quick and easy, it’s OK.
Completed: 3/14/2024 - Review #417
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A Buffet of Romance Stories
This anthology-style drama consists of 10 romance stories that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Except for the last episode, you can watch the other 9 in any order, and you wouldn’t be confused. For me, I just watched it from the beginning. Even though these are stories of love, they are not necessarily all cute and fluffy. But it does give us variety and viewers will probably like some more than others.“At the Moment” has a star-studded cast. If you watch enough Taiwanese dramas, you will recognize or have seen all of them in other dramas. It seems like the whole cast was in the “Light the Night” series, some as main/supporting characters, and others in guest roles. This is probably because director Lian Yi Qi also directed all 3 “Light the Night” dramas.
The acting is pretty good and the stories are interesting enough. I do have my favorites.
Ep 1 - Scripted Love - this is an interesting and not a bad introduction to the drama.
Ep 2 - Price for a ‘happy ending’ - this is one of my favorite ones. Love the actors and it’s funny!
Ep 3 - Blinded by love - not one of my favorites as I don’t like the female character that much. The male lead is quite good-looking though.
Ep 4 - ET phone home - this is quite weird to begin with but I like the interesting twist (thought somewhat predictable).
Ep 5 - Dodgeball - not one of my favorites because I don’t like the portrayal of the sudden change of feelings.
Ep 6 - Let’s try again - this one is OK, even though I like both leads.
Ep 7 - Hot and sexy revenge - there’s just something about Chris Wu that makes him so damn sexy, even though he’s not the typical pretty boy. Watch this for him. LOL
Ep 8 - Role Reversal - this one is different from the others. A very ‘normal’ relationship but it’s actually really sweet to see how the couple supports each other.
Ep 9 - Badminton never dies - a pleasant surprise to see the portrayal of such a relationship.
Ep 10 - I’m sorry Jie Jie 姐姐 - gotta include this trope within these 10 episodes. It was nice to have a quick recap of how everyone’s doing.
Completed: 11/21/2023 - Review #379
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The road to the Top of the mountain is a very lonely journey
First of all, “Stand by Me” is not a typical, cute and fluffy high school romance drama. It gives off a vibe similar to that of “The Bond”. The drama talks of life as a high schooler back in the 90s and how they endure hardships and challenges. All the main characters come from broken families and most have lower socio-economic status. There are definitely some fun and lighter moments, but for the most part, this is not a very happy drama. But it’s a great drama nonetheless, if you know what you are getting yourself into.There are many references to classic Chinese wuxia novels, Hong Kong dramas, movies, music and stars. If you are unfamiliar, you don’t miss much of the important plot. But if you are familiar (which I am), it feels very nostalgic in a good way. It’s similar to watching the very popular K-drama Reply 1988.
“Stand By Me” focuses on the journey of female lead Luo Qi Qi. We follow her from when she was an adorable and super smart young girl, living with her grandfather in the village. As she moved to the city to live with her parents, she was forced to grow up and it’s heartbreaking to see the outgoing and innocent young girl disappear. The drama spends the rest of the time telling the story of Qi Qi’s learning and discovering herself, identifying her goals and her dedication to achieving her dreams. Along the way, she met friends who supported her and encouraged her. But the road to the top of the mountain is a very lonely journey. Is she able to achieve her dreams with her friends?
A few quick bullet points on what I like:
1. Zhang Xi Wei who played the young Luo Qi Qi is fantastic.
2. I love the scenes of young Qi Qi and her grandfather. I wish I could see more flashbacks of them together.
3. Top notch acting by Zhao Jin Mai. She carries the show on her shoulder and runs with it.
4. The rest of the cast is just as good. I initially thought Wu Jia Kai (who played Zhang Jun) might be the weaker of the cast. But he grew on me and I think his acting improved throughout the drama.
5. I don’t question Bai Yu Fan’s acting, but I do question him playing a high schooler. He looks a little too older to be an 18 year old.
6. Love that the actors use their own voice. Big plus with live recording. This really adds to my viewing pleasure as there are many emotional scenes.
7. It’s nice to see a drama where the main characters are not geniuses or Mary Sues. They are all flawed and interesting.
8. It’s nice to see teachers who are decent and act like teachers.
9. It’s also nice to see parents who are real and not overly-bearing (just a little) or overly protective. They are not perfect, but the female lead’s mother actually communicates and wants to have honest conversations, after fiery emotions died down.
10. This drama is so real.
A few quick bullet points on what I have mixed feelings of:
1. This drama is so real. At times it was very difficult to watch, especially to binge. I do not recommend binge-watching this straight.
2. 30 episodes focusing primarily in high school is a little much. I lost focus and felt the pace slow down in the middle.
3. If Luo Qi Qi and Zhang Jun actually communicate honestly and openly, they would not have that many arguments. They make up and break up quite a bit (as friends).
4. I do hate Qi Qi a little bit sometimes for her stubborn and prideful personality. It’s OK to back down once a while and be considerate of others’ feelings. She’s an interesting character. I love her and I hate her.
5. The drama can seem a little preachy.
6. Romance is light, even for a high school drama. So, don't go in looking for romance.
Overall, this is a great drama. I can see why it has a high Douban rating (currently at 8.3,) as the local Chinese audience can definitely relate to what the characters are going through. But I am not sure the international audience will feel the same way, esp. if they are looking for typical teen high school C-dramas. I recommend this drama to all for its excellent acting and realistic portrayal of life in the 90s as a Chinese high schooler. I definitely do not recommend binge-watching this in 3 days. I tried and was watching this along with “My Dearest” (K-drama), and the cruelty of reality and life's challenges really got to me and I was very stressed out.
Completed: 11/20/2023 - Review #378
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