A short and different healing drama with a dash of humor.

Completed - 2/26/2022

When I first read the synopsis of “Definitely Not Today”, I thought this would be a sad and depressing healing melodrama. After all, the story are about two individuals who are living their respective miserable lives and the male lead wants to commit suicide. I was pleasantly surprised that there’s a lot of humor to lighten the mood, yet not changing the vibe of the drama.

This short drama only has 8 episodes (less than 20 minutes each), with Chinese and English subs on Youku’s YouTube channel. The drama can’t really devote too much time on the backstories of our leads. However, it deftly tells us enough to let us know how their life experiences contributed to their current states of mind. Through a series of misunderstandings and events, our main leads are on the run. They started to get to know each other and develop an unlikely friendship, which in turn developed into a very subtle romance. Along the way, their lonely hearts are healed as they support and comfort each other via unconventional ways.

I have previously watched “Be Yourself” where our main leads, Connor Leong and Vivienne Tien, were a couple. They had a similar dynamic in that relationship with Vivenne being the assertive type and Connor as the passive one. But the vibe of their romance is vastly different. I also enjoy their acting in “Definitely Not Today” a lot more. They portray a wider range of emotions without feeling forced or over-the-top.

Those 8 episodes go by so fast. The pacing is great and I was fully engaged throughout the drama. I definitely recommend this to someone who wants a different kind of healing drama. But be aware of triggers - attempted suicide, depression and sexual assault.

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Completed - 2/7/2022 - 8.75

I want to preface that I am usually not a thriller/horror/suspense drama watcher. Therefore, my review is very subjective and I don't have many thrillers as a reference to compare how good "Happiness" is. The reason I am interested in this drama is because of the overwhelming positive reviews and because of Park Hyung Sik. I haven't seen him since "Strong Woman Woman Do Bong Soon" and I find him absolutely adorable. ?

For the most part, I enjoy the plot and the pacing of the drama. I think there's a good mix of action and drama in each episode to keep me interested and engaged. Towards the middle of the drama, I feel that the pacing slows down just a tad bit and you could somewhat expect that you will see the repetitiveness of infected humans + neighbor selfishness + leads heroic efforts. Having said that, I think this drama finishes very strong. Episodes 10-12 are very exciting and keep me entertained for the whole 3 hours.

For those who are scaredy cats like me and don't like horror stories and zombies, there are quite a lot of scenes of zombie-like infected humans in almost every episode. So, be warned! I am still OK with it but others might not. Moreover, though there are many "scary" scenes, the main focus of the drama is more about how humans will react to such a crisis. You see human greed, selfishness and evilness all come out when everyone is in lockdown mode. Luckily, we have our leads and a couple neighbors to bring some positive human nature to brighten the ugly selfishness. For some reason, the drama reminded me of Agatha Christie's book, "And Then There Were None".

I enjoy seeing two smart and independent leads. They are both strong mentally and physically, and are such great partners-in-crime, or shall I say heroes-in-crisis. If you are looking for romance, it is understandably a very small part of the drama. However, I do want to see more of the affection shown from the FL to ML sprinkled throughout the drama. I don't think there's enough to show me how devoted FL is to warrant her sacrificing quite a bit for ML in the end. I don't need/want a lot of romance, but just a little bit more would be nice.

As we see greed and selfishness during the lockdown, it's inevitable to have some annoying characters in the drama. This might be one of the few dramas that I would tolerate characters that I don't like, because that's what the drama is all about. I won't deduct points because of them. LOL However, that doesn't stop me from hating a few of them. ?

Acting is great all around, from the youngest little girl to the amazing veterans such as Jo woo Jin (Infectious Disease head), Lee Joon Hyuk (detective) and Bae Hae Seon (building rep). Everyone is great and I love and love-hate all of them. It's so great to see Park Hyung Sik's cute, shy smile again.

Other Observations:
1. Does Park Hyung Sik seem buffer than before? Such wide shoulders. Must be all that military training!
2. Han Tae Seok as the head of the Infectious Disease investigation should really wear a mask more often. ?
3. A few scenes have very abrupt cut or transitions
4. They don't seem to use soap when washing blood off their hands and face.
5. Aside from the English song, I don't see to remember much about its OST and BGM.

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Most Romantic + Amazing Chemistry without much Physical Affection/Touching

9/19/2021

I've wanted to watch this drama when it first aired, but hold off until I can binge watch it. I was afraid the drama might not live up to my expectations or all the glowing reviews I've read. I am happy to say that, it deserves all the praise. It's so beautiful and heartbreaking that you can only recover knowing "Forever and Ever" is coming right up! I love Bai Lu and really liked Allen Ren in "Under the Power". They have so much chemistry; you love them so much and cry with them every step of the way. I can't wait to watch when they can live happily ever after thousands of years later.

What I like:

1. Bai Lu/Allen Ren - They ARE the show. Their chemistry is amazing. All the loving looks, torturous looks, longing gazes, side glances... all of them. As my headline stated, there isn't much touching or physical affection. There is no kiss. But I never feel the need for them to kiss (and I LOVE kisses, esp. Bai Lu's kisses). If there's a kiss, I think it might destroy the pure, innocent romance. I am happy with a few touches, and a few hugs (though they are all sad hugs). When I see tears welling up in their eyes, my tears start to fall with theirs. Bai Lu has to be the most beautiful actress when crying. She has such a natural, beautiful, heartbreaking look when she is crying. I've seen quite a few of Bai Lu's dramas, and I love her the best here. Allen Ren has equally expressive eyes and he has even less to say in words, but more with his actions and his eyes. Oh, I feel his regret for swearing not to get married. When you watch the BTS of them, you realize how great their acting is. They had so much fun and laugh so much, yet their characters are totally opposite.

2. Acting - Aside from our main leads, the supporting cast is quite good as well. Everyone acted naturally, even the villains. Over-the-top and cartoonish villains are one of my pet peeves, and I am glad we don't find that in this drama. The veterans actors are of course great, but the younger cast is quite good as well. I quite like Wang Xing Yue/Liu Zi Xing, even though he doesn't have too many scenes.

3. Cui Shi Yi (FL) - I really like Shi Yi's character, our female lead. She is shy and reserved, but smart and brave. She is not a pushover and will speak up (or sign) for what's right and just. She is not afraid to show her affection for ML and is often the one that initiates any physical affection. She might be shy, but she's straightforward and honest about her feelings and communicates well with ML. I really like her as our female lead.

4. Allen Ren in Uniform - I know this is vain, but Allen Ren looks like a prince in white and dashing/fearless when he's in black. Just looking at his face, I don't find him super attractive, but when he's in a historical drama and wearing a uniform, he just oozes charisma and charm. I felt the same way watching in "Under the Power".

5. Fight Scenes - I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy the fight choreography and scenes in this drama. There is no slow-mo spinning or close-up of the actors' faces. No useless posing in front of the camera in the middle of the fight. The fights scenes are better than some I've seen in wuxia dramas.

6. *SPOILER* Episode 16 - this is my favorite episode. It's one of the more heartbreaking but super romantic episode. We have the death of a teacher/father figure. Our leads just spent a little couple time together to heal each other and then we got the announcement of FL's marriage again. The scene when FL tried to touch ML's nose, and he leaned forward and let her touch him.... my heart. That's one of the most romantic scenes ever esp. because we know what will happen to them in the future.

What I don't Like (nitpicking here):
1. BGM - The background music is a little tad loud for my taste. However, when the dialog resumes, the music is toned down and I can listen to what the actors are saying.

2. Sign Language - it seems like even some people who don't know FL well or long can understand her sign language?

3. *SPOILER* FL's ending - It's a little unrealistic that she was so heavily guarded for so long, yet when she walked off by herself to go up the tower, no one followed her? Only that one general who knows what's happening. But what about the other guards, maids, etc.? Literally no one until the King comes?

Other observations:
1. OST - There are a few songs in this drama and they all sounded beautiful. I'm happy that they are not played all the time but only as needed. The BGM also complements the scenes well.

2. It seems like no one is getting a happy ending in the romance department, not even the supporting cast. This has got to be the only drama I've seen that no one ends up happy. I wish they all live happily ever happy in "Forever and Ever".

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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 Manipulators: Sizzling Chemistry between walking red flag ML & walking red Flag FL

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

After finishing “Scent of Time” not too long ago, I was worried that I might find this drama repetitive. Both dramas have a similar premise of being given the chance to go back in time to correct past mistakes. “Scent of Time” focuses on family relationships more, and this one focuses on revenge and politics more. I like both dramas but like “Story of Kunning Palace” a little better overall.

What I Like:

1. Pacing - I am pleasantly surprised that I am kept entertained throughout the 38 episodes. I did not lose my focus or feel that the drama dragged in the middle episodes. In fact, there’s so much going on that I enjoy all the side plots and characters. It’s not perfect, as I want more episodes of the romance between Jiang Xue Ning (FL) and Zhang Zhe (2ML) in the present timeline, and less of the evil girl causing drama. Overall, I am quite satisfied.

2. Xie Wei (ML) and Zhang Ling He - I always love a good gray character, especially for the male character. After the success of Dylan Wang’s character in “Love Between Fairy and Devil”, I am happy to see another deliciously evil and cunning male lead. Oftentimes, he would be a second male lead. This is possibly Zhang Ling He’s best acting to date. This intriguing character provides ZLH an opportunity to showcase a side of him that we haven’t seen. He is so much better in this drama than in “My Journey to You”. Many fans (myself included) love seeing Xie Wei’s side-eyed glare, petty jealousy and cunning ruthlessness. Xie Wei is such a madman and I wish to see more characters like him in the future.

3. Acting - the overall acting of the cast is pretty good (but not exceptional) - both the younger and veteran cast. Bai Lu is Bai Lu. You know what to expect from her, though I wouldn’t say she exceeded my expectations. I just saw Wang Xing Yue in “Scent of Time” and felt that his acting is much improved and better here. Even though his character is quiet, he’s speaking with his eyes more. I want more of him.

4. Main Romance - Even though it took a very long while for us to see Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei’s romance to develop, it is worth it. They have so much chemistry together. I enjoy the development of their relationship from enemies to working together, then trusting each other and falling in love. Xie Wei is a walking red flag, and Jiang Xue Ning is not that much better deep inside of her. They really are a match made in heaven as they understand and accept each other’s strengths and flaws. The kisses are exploding with chemistry though not gentle or sweet (unless you watch the extra special). But no matter if they were in the past or present, scenes of them together are sizzling hot and you yearn to see them on the screen together more.

5. Sisterhood - I am pleasantly surprised at the relationship between the Zhang sisters. Oftentimes, we either see sisters hate or love each other. But true to the plot and because of the history between the two, their sisterhood develops organically and realistically. They are not forced to be super close.

6. No annoying character - sure there are villains and a girl here and there that are jealous of the female lead. But for the most part, they are not super annoying and are not frustrating to watch. I like many of the characters - the three male leads (all lovely in their own ways), the princess, the best friend, the guards, the sidekicks, and even those girls in the palace. No one really makes dumb decisions that make me want to shake some sense into them.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Jiang Xue Ning (FL) + Zhang Zhe (2ML) Romance - I was deeply moved by the flashback scenes of them together. Zhang Zhe’s internal struggle of doing the right thing vs. doing the wrong thing for the woman he loves. These flashback scenes are minimal, but they gave us such great emotions and just enough to tell us their story. However, their romance in the present time is not given enough opportunity to develop and move me as an audience. It’s such a waste as both Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue also have great chemistry together. The way they steal glances, try to express their feelings through their eyes, but struggle internally - all could have contributed to a great romance and a big contrast to the main romance.

2. Xie Wei + Sidekicks/Guards - I would like to know the backstory between Xie Wei and his guards and friends. How did they all work together in support of Xie Wei? What else did they go through back in the day? Why are they following him and not the rebellious group?

3. Forced rom-com directing/editing - For a serious historical drama, we should never have so many forced romantic slow-motion scenes and music blasting to tell me how to feel. We have good actors who can convey feelings through their acting and subtle facial expressions, we don’t need these cheap and cheesy shots. I am also so irritated by the bright white backlighting that the director seems to like so much.

4. Dubbing - While I appreciate actors dubbing their own voices, not all are great at reading their lines yet. Bai Lu almost always dubs her own and does it well, and I think Zhang Ling He can learn from her. Some of his lines are spoken in monotone, or he screams and growls a little too overdramatically. Having said that, I am glad Bai Lu, Zhang Ling He and Wang Xing Yue all dubbed themselves. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast didn't.

5. Production Quality - “Story of Kunning Palace” does not seem to be a big budget production. The sets are on the small-to-medium scale. The costumes and accessories are average. As I said earlier, I don’t like the lighting and they did not use natural light. Bai Lu’s makeup is uneven and she could have been much more beautiful. I also dislike the use of BGM playing over the music instruments. The OST is OK. Compared to “My Journey to You”, this drama pales in comparison.

6. Fight Scenes - Except for the big fight in the last couple episodes, I am not impressed with the fight scenes. I feel that they are over dramatic and not enough good close-combat battle scenes. Since this is not a wuxia or xianxia drama, seeing someone being punched once and then fly over to the other side is quite hilariously unrealistic. Some guys got slashed multiple times and survived. Others die with one stab.


Overall, I had a fabulous time watching this drama. I enjoy the plot, the pace of the drama (though the ending is a tiny rushed), the development of the main leads’ relationship and romance, and of course the anti-hero male lead. It’s a good mix of romance, friendship and politics.


Completed: 11/27/2023 - Review #381

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A Character-Driven drama for those in the mood of some sweetness and cuteness!

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

A 9.1 MDL rating for a romantic drama is no joke as there are many other critically acclaimed ones that don’t reach this milestone. In order to give “Hidden Love” a fair chance to maximize the enjoyment of watching this, I prepared myself and will share my recommendations for those who hesitated. As an ‘older’ and veteran drama watcher, fluffy and cute romances don’t always work on me anymore.

Recommendations/Tips to prepare myself:
1. I am a romance junkie
2. I am in the right mood for a cute, sweet and fluffy romance.
3. I like the main leads.
4. I am OK with and am prepared for a character-driven drama.
5. I am OK with an age-gap that could seem big.

I know if I watch “Hidden Love” when it’s airing or when it just finished airing, I will be extremely critical in finding faults since the hype is real and positive reviews are everywhere. Therefore, I waited until I was ready. And I am ready now.


What I Like:

Acting - I am quite familiar with Zhao Lu Si’s acting and know that she has no problem acting shy or cute. She did not disappoint me. On the other hand, Chen Zhe Yuan surprised me in a positive way. I’ve seen a few of his dramas but don’t recall him having the ability to subtly control his emotions (happy and sad) and his big, beautiful eyes speak volumes in this drama. It’s only been a few years’ time and Chen Zhe Yuan has improved so much since his “Handsome Siblings” days, the first drama I saw him in. The rest of the supporting cast also did a great job. But this drama is about Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu. If Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan can’t act, this drama will be a disaster.

Siblings - Many have pointed out the amazing chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma. I echoed the praises that they are so fun to watch. Their banter, argument, and horseplay brought so much color to this otherwise quite mellow drama. Their conversations are fun and witty, and you can still see how much they care and love each other.

Sang Zhi (FL) - At first, I thought I would be very irritated with Sang Zhi. I’ve seen clips of her acting all shy with that baby voice. However, I enjoy seeing her character grow from a spunky 14-year old girl, to an independent strong woman who can think on her own, make her own choices and protects the man she loves. We’ve seen female leads who are supportive of male leads. But Sang Zhi took it to a different level. She not only supports her man, but she’s there to protect him (physically, verbally and emotionally), to dispel any prejudice and stereotypes against him, and stand up for him. In a way, she was more emotionally mature when she’s 22 than when Duan Jia Xu was 22 or 27.

Duan Jia Xu (ML) - How can I not love a walking green flag like him? Yes, he’s too perfect and that could be a criticism. But I am also not going to deny the fact that he’s going to my Hall of Fame for Best Boyfriend/Partner. He is gentle, kind, considerate, understanding, and thoughtful. A unicorn that you can’t find in real life but I can indulge myself in this drama and pretend he does exist.

Main Romance - Chemistry is great. I was actually waiting for the college days to come so that I can finally see them interact as adults. I love the secret confessions in folded stars, the shy-but-in love glances/looks, the courting, the heartfelt yet somewhat awkward conversations by two inexperienced lovers, and of course, the hugs and kisses. This drama is made for romance lovers. I can’t help but smile throughout the drama.

Sang Family - I am so glad to see Zhao Lu Si and Zeng Li act as daughter/mother again. After the traumatic experience of “Love Like the Galaxy”, I am so glad to see them in a much different dynamic. The Sang parents are so lovely as well. Even though they disapprove of Sang Zhi’s rebellious trip, they never yelled at her, but just tried to talk some sense into her. They might have disapproved of the leads’ relationship, but the conversations are mature, reasonable and all come from the heart and love for their daughter. It’s so rare to find such amazing parents in a C-drama. Adding the fun Sang Yan to the mix, it’s no wonder Sang Zhi is able to grow up to be someone worthy of love and can protect her love.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

Sang Zhi’s baby voice - I can understand Zhao Lu Si using a somewhat younger voice when she’s 17, but when she’s a college student, that voice has got to go. She can speak normally with her roommate, so I know she can speak normally to her boyfriend. Towards the end of the drama, she has grown to be a mature young lady, and that baby voice really doesn’t match her. Is that Zhao Lu Si’s over-acting, or the director wanted her to act that way? I would never know.

Sang Zhi (14 years old) - No matter how short Sang Zhi is supposed to be at 14, the amazing young actress can’t convince me she’s 14 years old. She’s 12 in real life but she looks like she’s 10. If you are going to use such a young actress, maybe they should have a different younger actor to play the male lead.

Stalker girl - The side plot about the stalker girl lasted a little too long. I also think her presence changes the overall tone of this drama. I understand the reason for her existence in telling ML’s back story, but I wish that side plot was written better. Luckily, she’s the only annoying character and she’s still tolerable.

Supporting Cast stories - Because this drama focuses on the leads’ story so much that the rest of the side characters are forgotten in the back burner. This can be a good or a bad thing. If you just want to focus on Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, then this is not a criticism at all. But I wanted a more well-rounded approach and wanted to know more about other characters. What happened to Sang Yan’s personal life? Did he really have a girlfriend? What is up with his knowledge of childbirth? I thought he got someone pregnant! What about the romance of the dorm mates? If you don’t plan to give them time, then let’s not start to begin with. Not every single character needs to have a love interest, but don’t start and forget.

Age gap - I don’t know if they have to keep on talking about how much older Duan Ji Xu is. 5 years isn’t really that big of a gap. It is central to the storyline, but it doesn’t need to be repeated and reminded so many times.


Overall, this is a great romance drama if you are looking for something easy, sweet and fluffy. The leads’ acting and chemistry are great and it’s a drama full of love, care and personal growth. If you are like me and like my tips above, that will increase your chance of enjoying this drama.


Completed: 8/27/2023 - Review #346

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Excellent development of the Brotherhood and Interesting Mysterious Cases. Love Cheng Yi!

Amidst a sea of not-so-good romantic xianxias and period dramas, “Mysterious Lotus Casebook '' is a breath of fresh air. Despite being a romance junkie, the brotherhood between our three main characters reminded me that I don’t always need romance in a drama. This drama has excellent casting, acting, pacing, storytelling with interesting mysterious cases and some pretty good action scenes.


Casting/Acting
Isn’t it nice to cast actors who play characters their age and act their age? In the drama, Li Lian Hua and Di Fei Sheng are both in their early 30s, and they are played by Cheng Yi (33) and Xiao Shu Yao (35). Joseph Zeng (25) plays a younger Fan Duo Bing who is in his 20s. Just because of this, the drama gets a big thumbs up from me. The three male leads act their age and exudes the necessary aura of either someone wise or inexperienced. They are really well-casted and I can’t imagine other actors playing these roles. I have to say I am very impressed with Chen Yi. We have all seen him spitting blood (he does that in this drama as well) and playing the angsty romantic male lead. Who knew he could play a sly and sarcastic fallen hero so well! Xiao Shun Yao’s tall frame and broad shoulders exude that cold brutalness and reminded me a little of his gray character in “The Blue Whispers”. Joseph Zeng’s big eyes brought out the youthfulness and inexperience of Fang Duo Bing. “Mysterious Lotus Casebook” has a large supporting cast of veterans and younger actors. No one stands out like a sore thumb and no character irritates or annoys me. I quite like the female villain and found her beautiful and manic!

Mysterious Cases
There are several mysterious cases and they all contribute to the bigger plot/mystery of the drama. I like that they are not episodic and are allowed enough time to develop and to be solved. The cases are interesting to me, more so than those in “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty”. Although I was never anxious enough to be at the edge of my seat, they generally keep me engaged. There are so many details that I can’t really not pay attention. I was dozing off (not the drama’s fault, I was just tired) and had to rewind the scenes as I realized I was missing pieces of information to follow along. I also enjoy the mid-episode graphics and follow along the Lotus Tower to different locations. I realized I didn’t even take that many notes for my reviews while watching, because I was following along.

The Brotherhood
Excellent! It was so much fun seeing how the friendship develops between the three male characters. Their scenes are sprinkled with humor (and not second-hand embarrassment humor), thoughtful/caring conversations and understanding of each other’s words and actions. It is quite beautiful to see how each relationship continues to build throughout the drama - from strangers, idol, enemies to friends, frenemies, and soulmates.

Romance
Don’t watch this drama for romance because you will be sorely disappointed. I am actually fine with the small romantic plot of Li Xiang Yi and his ex-girlfriend, Di Fei Sheng and the obsessed villain, and even the very small one of Fan Duo Bing and the princess. But having Su Xiao Yong’s affection for Li Lian Hua is unnecessary. She has such a small role that it seems like her sole existence is to do household chores, be an interpreter and grandfather’s messenger, and act as a medical assistant to get help from a doctor. There are no lovey-dovey cute scenes and no skinship at all. But you know what, you really don’t need any big romance plot because there’s enough to keep you engaged.

Action Scenes
There are enough action scenes scattered throughout the drama to keep us wuxia fans satiated. I am glad the drama does not skim out on the big fight with the villains in the end. The action scenes are pretty good, but not to the traditional wuxia standards like in “Side Story of Fox Volant”. I wanted more close combat sword fighting scenes, instead of people getting thrown across the room, with a palm push or a sword swing. I want to especially commend Chen Yi. I never realized what a beautiful fighter he is. There are actors who fight hard and have the physique to do so. There are others who fight like they are dancing or not know what to do with a sword. But Chen Yi’s fight scenes are beautiful to watch. He has a skinnier frame and fights like he’s floating in the air (great wire work from him!) yet he doesn’t fight weakly. It’s a very nice combination of elegance and quiet strength.

Production Quality
It’s so great that the three main male leads are dubbing themselves. Though not often, I do think there are some live recordings from Chen Yi. But the supporting cast seems to all be dubbed by voice actors. The production quality is pretty decent. The costumes, sets, props and ornaments all look decent (not exquisite). CGI and music/songs are minimal. I don’t actually remember any songs played. There’s a dance performed by a male dancer/actor during one of the cases, and that performance is unique and beautifully danced.


Overall, I strongly recommend this drama, especially if you enjoy mysterious cases and are fans of the three male leads. I really don’t have any major criticism of the drama. I liked Chen Yi when he was in “Love and Redemption” but I think I became a fan after his role here in “Mysterious Lotus Casebook”.


Completed: 8/13/2023 - Review #339

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Recommended for Romance Slice-of-Life Lovers and Fans of the Leads (Amazing Chemistry)

Overall - 8.25
Subjective Romance-lover Rating - 8.5 (9.0 for first 10 episodes)
Objective Overall Rating - 8.0

“Road Home” is a true romance drama that focuses on the main leads’ romantic journey from when they were teenagers, separated for over 10 years and reunited again as adults. This is a slow-paced slice-of-life drama where nothing dramatic really happens. The side plots are all there to illustrate how Lu Chen (ML) and Gui Xiao (FL) manage their relationship. Although we see scenes of SWAT training, you will be disappointed if you are looking for a drama similar to “You Are My Hero”.

Recommended for:
1. Hopeless Romantics
2. Those who are in the mood to watch something romantic
3. Slice-of-Life romance lovers, who are fine with a slower pace and no dramatic plot twists.
4. Fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan


What I Like and Enjoy:

1. Acting (Jing Bo Ran and Seven Tan) - Without these two’s amazing acting, this drama would not be successful at all. There isn’t a lot of talking between the leads, because JBR’s character is very quiet and only answers in a word or two most of the time. But when you have experienced actors who can convey emotions with their eyes and subtle facial expressions, that makes the drama worth watching. It’s not a surprise to see Seven Tan play a high schooler and make it believable. I am more surprised to see the innocent look on JBR’s face as a teenager. Granted, he does look older than 18, but his expressions show a different side of him when he was younger. The white filter helps distinguish his younger and innocent days from the mature, battle-tested adult days.

2. Romance - This is the bread and butter of the drama. You have to love this genre to fully appreciate this drama. The chemistry is amazing and sizzling. To me, the best part of this drama is the first 8-10 episodes, before the leads officially got back together. The yearning, longing and hurt, the gazes of the desperate need to reconnect, sucked me right into their love story. Viewers need to watch the subtle facial expressions and read between the lines for all the indirect hidden meaning of what’s going on. Yes, the pace might be slow for some, but I love these initial meetings when they meet each other after 10 years. And to reward us for enduring the pain with the leads, viewers are rewarded with many romantic kisses, hand-holding, hugs and back hugs, and fluffiness in the second half of the drama.

3. Jin Bo Ran - I have never considered JBR as my type of handsome. However, there is nothing that prevents me from falling in love with him and his character. Who wouldn’t love a sexy man in uniform who cooks, cleans, pampers, and is considerate and thoughtful and never raises his voice at you? Jin Bo Ran has never been so sexy to me and I appreciate the drama showing us his nicely toned upper body, whether if he’s topless or wearing a wife beater and showing off his arms. I do wish he had a nicer wardrobe.

4. OST - Lovely songs in this original soundtrack. A few of the songs’ lyrics match the scenes perfectly. Seven Tan’s version of 《青春无恙》(Healthy Youth) puts me right in the mood in the first ⅓ of the drama. The upbeat song《恋爱在流行》(Love is Popular) made me happy and immediately brought back memories of the sweet and fluffy scenes between the leads.

5. Production Quality - Nice wintery sceneries, introduced me to the Chinese Grand Canyon (never knew it existed), making sandy/desert areas romantic (not pretty though). Lucky to see that the women have a nice wardrobe, which doesn’t always happen in a Chinese drama. All the men look good in uniform. Nothing seems cheap, with a few nice sets such as FL’s apartment and office.



What I don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:

Most of my critiques are due to the fact this is a 30-episode drama. If there are only 24 episodes, I might not be as ‘harsh’. I feel that there’s so much time that the drama can afford to better develop some of the side plots. The side stories could have been more impactful, and not just a forgettable mess in the presence of the main romance.

1. ML’s dad/family - Without getting too spoilery, I just want to say that the redemption arc is not well done at all. It’s laughable that everything is swept under the carpet after the conversation and agreement between ML’s mother and father. The drama made a big deal initially, but in the end, nothing really happened. FL wasn’t really put in a particularly difficult position once she officially met the father.

2. Secondary Romance - I would have loved to see some phone conversations to make me believe that those two can fall for each other. Viewers were told that they have gotten a lot closer, but never really showed us any meaningful scenes. This seems like a convenient and quickly put-together side romance, and not well-thought out.

3. Poor Kid - We got such an adorable young actor, but he’s being wasted. This child got passed around like a ball to stay at different houses. I understand the reason behind that, but I wish we had seen more scenes with him in it. Most of the time, he just gets sent to a different room because the leads or the adults have things to talk about or need to have some alone time. I wish there are more meaningful conversations, like the one he had with Seven Tan about growing up with divorced parents. What a wasted potential.

4. Bright backlighting - I am very annoyed with the strong white light behind the leads every single time they are trying to kiss or have a romantic scene. I want to see the facial expression, not be blinded by the light. The chemistry is interrupted constantly because of this light.

5. Flashbacks - For the most part, I like the drama’s use of flashbacks to tell the story of the leads younger days. However, I wish they had incorporated the days when they first broke up and were having a tough time. We hear that ML was living like a zombie, but I want to see. I want to see how hurt and depressed they were, so that I can feel even more when they’re reunited at the gas station. The drama practically ended in ep 29. I am glad that we got to see the male lead’s perspectives during their younger days. I am conflicted whether they should have left those scenes in the last episode, or if they should be introduced throughout the drama. But I guess in a way, the story came back in full circle. The first time he fell in love with her was at the same place where he saw her before the wedding. It’s fate. They are meant to be together.

6. Too fluffy? - I can’t believe I am typing this in the critique section (maybe more of a mixed feeling). I feel that the last 10 episodes have too many cute and sweet scenes of the leads not doing much. Do I love how they gaze lovingly at each other with sweet kisses and hugs? Of course! But I also felt that it’s a little repetitive when the plot is not really moving.

I do recommend this drama for those who are in the mood for something romantic. However, it’s not an amazing all-around drama. If you are fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan, do not miss this! I haven’t read the book and if you did and watched the drama, do you mind leaving a comment and telling me if the drama follows novelty closely? Do my criticisms of the side plots also happen in the novel?


Other Random Observations:
1. I think a wheelchair should be used for Seven Tan a LOT sooner when she’s at the hospital.
2. Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan look handsome/beautiful in ep. 29.
3. No real annoying character.



Completed: 4/2/2023

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Decent first 1/3, Draggy second 1/3 and disappointing last 1/3

Completed - 5/20/2022 - 7.25 rounding up to 7.5 because of 《喜欢你》 “I Like You”

When “A River Runs Through It” was airing, I heard many good things about it. So, I was looking forward to finally watching it. Unfortunately, I placed this drama on hold twice, before successfully finishing it on the third try. I’ve seen my share of high school/college dramas, I do not agree that it’s the best of the bunch. It’s not bad per se, but the plot and the romance are not interesting enough. A reminder, this is a very subjective review and don’t hate me for the following rants.

As with many teen C-dramas, the focus is on studying for the high school exam, entering college, friendships, love triangles and growing up. These are pretty common themes in this genre. I find the first half of the drama more interesting than the second half as we get to know each character and their dynamics. This drama is very romance-driven and didn’t really tackle a lot of serious student or social issues compared to similar dramas. I am a romance-junkie, so I am fine with looking forward to cute, romantic fluffiness. We have the cute bickering between our leads and feelings developing from friendship to romance. Unfortunately, it took 29 episodes for Shi Yi to finally confess his feelings. I am fine with a slow burn romance if the middle episodes weren’t repetitive and draggy. The unrequited love and love hexagon lasted for way too long. What I disliked the most were the last 5 or so episodes. They are full of coincidental misunderstandings one after another to keep the leads away from each other. If you think that the first half of the drama is a realistic portrayal of student life, you can’t convince me those misunderstanding episodes are realistic. There’s no way that could happen in real life.

Usually, I would be a fan of the ML in such dramas. Unfortunately, it’s not the case here. I am a fan of ML who secretly does a lot behind the girl’s back to support her and Shi Yi should be a prime candidate as one of my favorites. Unfortunately, aside from his adorable looks at FL, I find his character too rough and too mean. He manhandles Xiao Ju quite a bit and there’s a lot of wrist grabbing. It’s rare that I don’t have a favorite character, not the ML, FL or 2ML. Maybe I should applaud the drama for giving us flawed characters but I still want someone to root for. However, I was still very sad when Shi Yi’s feelings weren’t reciprocated and he tried so hard. But why force Xiao Ju to like him, when he himself turned down the affections of Shen Dou? Xiao Ju was also wish-washy for too long.

The overall acting of the cast is decent. I think Wang Rui Chang portrays his role as Shi Yi the best. Female lead, Hu Yi Xuan, isn’t too bad either. But the rest of the cast is below average to average. I find the acting of Judy Qi as Lin You to be one of the weakest cast members. For some reason, her voice dubbing is also the worst. I believe all actors used their real voice, but Lin You’s voice doesn’t sound right.

*SPOILER ENDING*

The last episode is a disappointment to end their marathon romance. They never resolved the misunderstandings from years ago. They had no contact for many years. Now they met, and Shu Yi played the meanie again and probably tried to gauge Shu Yu’s affection and bring back their childhood memories. But why would you propose at your friend’s wedding and steal their thunder? Why would you propose to someone you haven’t seen in years and is still mad at you? And lastly, why would you accept a proposal from someone who you thought had a girlfriend, was mean to you yesterday and had no contact with you for so long? That just doesn’t make sense. On a separate note, how can you not know who your BFF is marrying? What kind of best friend are you?

To end my review on a more positive note, the best thing about this drama is to remind me of the two lovely songs - 《喜欢你》 “I Like You” and《你知道我在等你吗》”Do you know I am waiting for you?” These two songs remind me of my younger years when I used to go to karaoke and sing them, esp. “I Like You” by Beyond (RIP Wong Ka Kui)

Personally, I think there are better high school/college dramas than “A River Runs Through It”. For example,
1. Forever Love (my favorite college romance)
2. Summer Again (sweet and innocent high school romance)
3. Lovely Us4.
4. With You
5. My Huckleberry Friends
6. When We Were Young

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Melo-Fantasy Drama with Singing - But not quite a real Musical

Completed - 5/7/2022

I am a big fan of musicals, so when I heard that "The Sound of Magic" is a short Korean musical drama, I got to check it out. However, I think my expectations were too high, and the drama didn’t quite deliver. The premise of the story is good, and I enjoy the general theme of finding your true self and path, through the belief in magic. However, I felt that the execution is lacking a bit. I was expecting a more upbeat and hopeful drama, but this is sadder and darker than I thought.

If we’re talking about a musical, we can’t ignore its music. I was not very impressed with the first episode and found the songs and the singing to be just OK. However, I did enjoy a couple ballads throughout the drama, especially ‘Have a Good Night’ sung by the sisters. I do think the music is lacking in variety and there are only 2 group numbers. I would have liked to see more. Since the majority of the songs are slow ballads, I am missing the dancing/choreography of a musical. The singing is OK. I guess the actors are not really theater actors who can sing, and it shows. I have to remind myself not to compare “The Sound of Magic” to “The Sound of Music” or any of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creations. That would be an unfair comparison, thus, I didn’t lower the rating despite my minor disappointment. I do plan to get the OST from Spotify, and I might enjoy the music more as I listen to them more.

I do enjoy the acting of our young leads, Choi Sung Eun and Hwang In Youp. I am not familiar with Choi Sung Eun but I think she was very expressive in all her sad and teary-eyed scenes. Hwang In Youp is not that cool bad boy in “True Beauty” anymore but a studious student searching for his own path. Of course, the top attraction to this drama is Ji Chang Wook. I think as a veteran actor, he did fine. He isn’t as charismatic as the Magician as I would have imagined. I want his personality to be bigger (not as crazy as Willy Wonka, but a little more oomph). His best performance is in Ep 6. I enjoy the young actress, Oh So Hyun, as the little sister, especially her singing in ‘Have a Good Night”. She has a beautiful, young and pure voice. It’s also a nice surprise to see every actor's younger self, Nam Da Reum, to play the teen Magician. There has got to be one annoying character in these Asia dramas, and the award goes to Baek Ha Na, the classmate. I guess that means Ji Hye Won did a great job portraying her. Also, what is up with all the parents in this drama? They piss me off!

I feel the cinematography is a little uneven. There are scenes that are beautifully shot, usually the magic and fireworks at the theme park. But all the other scenes don’t look anything special and somewhat dull. I was just expecting a Netflix production to give us a little more. I understand the theme park is abandoned, so I don’t expect glamor inside. But the scenes shot inside the Magician’s office or the stage do not look very nice.x

Overall, do not go in expecting a big musical drama production. Think of it as a Korean melo-fantasy drama with music and songs. Oh, also don’t miss the stage performance of all cast members at the end of Ep 6.

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Only watch this for Xu Kai's handsomeness and Wang Yang's charisma

Completed - 8/22/2022

If you are not a fan of any of the actors, this might not be worth your time. For me it takes Xu Kai’s handsome face to get me through the first half of the drama, and then add on Wang Yang’s charisma to finish it.

I was quite excited about this drama in the first 1-2 episodes. I was pleasantly surprised that there were some decent fight scenes and creative fight choreography. I’ve already heard that the CGI and green scenes were horrible, and yes, they were indeed not good (running on rooftop and flying around with statues). The production value of this drama is quite low. Even so, a handsome Xu Kai + charismatic Wang Yang + Cool fight scenes = What I like. Unfortunately, my interest and excitement died in the next 10 episodes. All they did was talk talk talk about that stupid bone, with no action. No wonder so many people dropped the drama after the initial episodes. But if you are able to tolerate such boredom and poor plot with the help of Xu Kai’s handsomeness, the plot did get better in the second half of the drama with more action. But such a positive trajectory did not last until the very end. The last episode was rushed and we also have a poor redemption plot that was quite abrupt. The ending was a mystery. What the heck happened? Did we lose a full episode and jump right to the last 2 minutes? Is this due to censorship? (very likely).

Let’s talk about romance since it’s my favorite topic. The short review is: BLAND. Our leads started off as good friends and they are supposed to slowly develop feelings for each other. Well, I didn’t quite see this development. What I see is our FL suddenly really wants to marry ML not because of the bone, but because she is in love with him. I then see our ML never really showed much romantic interest in our FL, and then all of a sudden he is in love. If the friends-to-lovers trope is not done right in the beginning, then the latter part of the romance will become friends-to-lovers-with-no-chemistry. In the second half of the drama, the romance has gotten better once they are together. There’s enough decent skinship and I’ve always loved Xu Kai’s expressive beautiful eyes. But overall, the romance is lacking.

Our male lead, Ding Yun Qi, is a genius. He’s never wrong and is always steps ahead of others. He may not be the warmest person initially, but he’s not a cold tsundere either. He’s smart, loyal, caring, has the best martial arts skills, is a doctor, and also knows everything that the Heaven Official should know even though he left home for 6 years and really didn’t have a lot of time to learn. Well, basically he is perfect. Our female lead, Wu Shuang, is the opposite. She’s outgoing and friendly, curious and likes to fight. Luckily, she’s not dumb and can be quite smart in her own ways. Many dislike Wu Shuang, but I am ok with her. She is usually on the sidelines until the latter part of the drama.

The acting is decent and I don’t see anyone especially bad or cringey.. As much as I love Xu Kai (I bet by now you know I really like him), this is not his best acting. I think the acting all around is OK by the younger cast. The better acting is done by our veterans, Wang Yang as Luo Yun Song, and Morni Chang as Zhou Qiu Hai. These two never disappoint, no matter how bad the script is, you can trust their acting abilities. I also like that they use their own voices. I think I can recognize Wang Yang’s voice by now as he always dubs his own voice. Props to him! There are a couple interesting supporting characters that I quite enjoy - Meng A Sai as Sun San Xuan and Bao Bei Er as Luo Jiu Tian.

I don’t think I can wholeheartedly recommend this drama, UNLESS you just want to look at Xu Kai’s handsome face and Xu Kai looking dashing in a variety of nice suits. There are too many other good dramas out there.

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Beautiful production but SUPER slow

Completed - 4/5/2022 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

It's really unfortunate that I don't love "The Longest Day in Chang'An". It's a masterful production with a great general plot and meaningful lessons of loyalty, friendship and sacrifice. However, I was really forcing myself to finish this drama. I just couldn't get into it. The pacing is really slow for me. It took me about 15 episodes to get into the story. By approximately Ep 16-30, I became more interested as finally, there's action and explosion. Unfortunately, after Ep 30, things slow down again.

I wish this drama is only about 30 episodes long. We can use a couple episodes for the setup/buildup, then one episode per day for the real plot, and then another episode or two as an extended epilogue. 48 episodes of talking is really too much.

I was tempted to give this drama an even lower rating. However, there are certain aspects of the drama that are excellent, and prevented me from lowering my rating even more.

1. Acting - Top notch acting all-around. Nothing more needs to be said.

2. Production quality/Cinematography - I didn't do the research, but I heard the drama is very historically accurate - set designs, props, costumes, etc. You do not see flimsy sets or props that are about to break. Everything is top notch. The cinematography is also fabulous. I have a fondness of natural lighting from candles and lanterns. With the lantern festival as the backdrop, there is no shortage of beautiful night time scenes. It's no wonder "Luoyang" is being compared to this drama so much, esp. when it comes to cinematography. I would say the colors of this drama is more natural and realistic. Whereas, the colors in "Luoyang" are more vibrant and high-definition.

3. Actors voice - All actors use their own voices and there's no dubbing. You can also hear there's actually live recording on set, in addition to studio voiceovers. Occasionally, you do hear a dubbed voice during post production maybe because of censorship. It's just such a delight to be able to hear actors own voices in a historical drama. It makes the acting and emotions shown so much more realistic.

4. OST and background music - What a beautiful original soundtrack "The Longest Day in Chang'An" has. Traditional songs and music just complement the scenes so well. Many of the song lyrics are actually poems from the great poet Li Bai. Though the BGM could be loud at times and overshadow the dialogs, the music is just beautiful.

5. Fight Scenes - I enjoy the gritty, realistic fight scenes. They are gruesome and harsh, but each time a fight broke out between our ML and a bad guy or his former comrade, I can feel the ML's emotions. There are no weak punches by anyone. Every single actor gives it 100% when fighting. And, how badass is our lady assassin!

Even though I listed all these positive aspects of the drama, the rating comes down to my personal feeling. Unfortunately, the sum of the parts do not bring me great enjoyment.

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Is this a healing romance, a melodrama or a fluffy rom-com?

9/2/2021

This drama has really good reviews when it first started airing, that's why it attracted my attention. However, the writing is inconsistent and the drama seems to be having an identity crisis. It wanted to be a good healing romance, then it became a melodrama and then a fluffy rom-com.

Things I like:
1. Evan Lin (ML) - I am glad I discovered Evan Lin, as he's a newbie and this is his first drama. He is gorgeous to look at with beautiful eyes and smile. He also has a very nice, sexy voice and his singing is beautiful. His acting surprises me and he plays the role of a blind, introverted songwriter and teacher really well. I enjoyed all of his scenes before he regains his eyesight. He also did a good job as a jealous, childish, overprotective, lovesick CEO. Though I don't like the writing of the second half of the show, Evan's acting is good.

2. Challenges of the visually impaired - I enjoy watching the show's tackling of the challenges and life adjustments for the visually impaired. I am not sure how realistic they are, since I am not blind, but that part of drama is most interesting to me. I like scenes at ML's home and at school. I also like the relationship between ML and the little girl, and how caring he is to her. I enjoy the scenes at the school's fundraising event, where the little girl was "used" by those who might have the school's best interest at heart.

3. Music - The songs in this drama have great lyrics and melodies. Several different songs were played throughout the drama, and I like every single one of them. I already added them to my "Liked Songs" on Spotify. The piano instrumental bgm is nice as well, except for one (which I will discuss below).

4. Chemistry between the Leads - Evan Lin and Wan Peng have great chemistry and I totally enjoy their banter. As much as I enjoy the sweetness of their hugs and kisses in the last few episodes, I enjoy the quiet companionship they have at home before ML regains his eyesight. That calm romance when they're just sitting on the couch reading and cuddling, or taking care of each other in their own little ways, are more romantic than any cheesy love declaration or fluffy silliness. I do wish Wan Peng can kiss better because Evan Lin seems like he would be a good kisser. I can see all that love in Evan's eyes.

Things I don't like:
1. Plot change/Plot holes - There are just too many convenient circumstances that broke our couple apart. Both fathers in the hospital at the same time, losing cell phones, and all the lack of/miscommunication are just too convenient. The 3-year time skip is not a favorite of mine. If they were going to stop talking for 3 years, I would like to see a longer courtship from ML in order to win FL back. What's with the surprise death of a friend and PTSD? It came from the left field and was subtly and easily resolved by watching the movie and coming out of a dream. FL is a psychology major and although I don't expect her to know everything, she did not seem to be doing a good job at the Autism research center. And why does she have to ask others to analyze her boyfriend's actions? I thought her EQ was pretty decent.

2. BGM - There's this one particular instrumental piano piece that comes up each time and sounded like the music of doom. Whenever that song is played, I feel like something bad is going to happen (but not necessarily). I also find BGM comes up quite often, and often a little too loud for my personal taste.

3. Secondary romance - This has to be one of the most uninteresting and boring secondary romance I've seen. The acting of the actor/actress isn't that great either, granted they are pretty inexperienced. You can totally skip all their scenes, and won't be missing a thing.

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Different Tone from Part 1 - Court Politics, Revenge, Romance and Angst

Completed - 8/21/2022

Part 2 has a different tone and feels like a completely different drama. While Part 1 sets things up and gives us an introduction to all the characters, it has a focus on family and friendship with a dash of romance. Part 2 on the other hand focuses on court politics, revenge and our main romance. We have a more serious drama that’s full of angst and sadness with a dash of sweetness and comedy.

What I Like:

Cheng Shao Shang (FL) - I like that she is true to herself throughout the drama. Because of her childhood, she has abandonment issues. You can say that she has a lot to learn to be someone’s partner or wife, and has to learn how to love and trust ML. Yet, she is quite a feminist. She believes in her ability, and that she doesn’t have to follow the traditional footsteps of women to get married and be defined as someone’s wife. I like her revengeful attitude and her protectiveness of those who treat her well. I tend to like strong and badass female leads, but I have grown to like Cheng Shao Shang and she has become one of my favorite female leads.

Acting - I was not impressed with Leo Wu’s acting in Part 1, so I am very happy to see that his character is giving him more to showcase his ability in Part 2. He is excellent in all his emotional scenes, and he melts my heart when he smiles at FL. I really do feel his pain and internal struggles. This might be the best role I’ve seen Zhao LuSi in. She’s known for her cute and outgoing roles, and then she branches out to a more conservative role in “The Long Ballad”. But in “Love Like the Galaxy”, her role as CSS really allows her to flex her acting chops and to show how much she has grown as an actress. From being the naughty and petty 15 year-old, to becoming a mature and strong woman at the end of the drama, Zhao LuSi is the star of the show. Leo Wu and Zhao LuSi are still so young. They really have a bright future ahead of them. Supporting these two young leads is a very experienced supporting cast. I love the royal family - the emperor, empress and consort Yu.

Emperor/Empress/Consort Yu - What a lovely trio we have in this drama. Where else can you find a trio like this in a historical drama? The Emperor is hilarious and he’s the biggest fan of ML and doesn't hide his partiality. He also is the biggest cheerleader and matchmaker of the leads. I love all his funny moments, especially the last scene. I am so glad that CSS found the mother that she always wanted in the Empress. Under her love and care, CSS is able to grow and learn to love, and be the best person she could be. The sisterhood between the Empress and Consort Yu is lovely to see as well. This drama has a different type of harem, even if the princes and princesses do not always get along with each other, we also do have people killing each other for the throne. Maybe this has something to do with the awesome parents that they have. Lastly, my new favorite character, Consort Yu. I love her sassy retort. I look forward to all her scenes and want to hear what she has to say each time. No one dares mess with her and it’s fun to see her interaction with the Emperor. They are a match made in heaven. It would be interesting to get a side story of when they were younger.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

Main Romance - I am very glad to finally see their romance begin in Part 2. However, the early development is what I have mixed feelings about. I feel that they have more chemistry when they are bickering and arguing with each other, than when they are speaking sweetly. I already know ML is deeply in love, but the way FL falls in love is quite a mystery. One episode she is still hesitating whether to marry or not, then in the next episode or two, she’s already very in love. I want to see the slow development as this feels pretty abrupt and unbelievable. However, once I got past this initial stage, I got what I wanted - the love, the sweetness, getting to know each other, angst, and understanding. I am also glad that the angst is not due to misunderstandings, but it’s actually because they understand each other too well due to their different upbringing and thoughts of the same situation.

Battle/Fight scenes - I applaud Leo Wu for his effort in all the fight scenes. You can see him and others are not just swinging their swords aimlessly. These are hard fought battles and the drama doesn’t shy away from some of the more torturous and bloody scenes. But what I don’t like is the slow motion. This is not a wuxia drama and doesn’t have continuous fight scenes. You really don’t need to slow down a slash or a jump. This makes the exciting fight sequence less exciting.


What I Don’t Like:

Uneven Pacing/Weird or underdeveloped plots:
I find it hard to follow all the characters involved in ML’s revenge plot. In the middle episodes of Part 2, I became quite confused about all the names mentioned. Some characters appeared in Part 1 and I sort of forgot their names or what happened. But the drama name drops all those involved, I had to pause and think who these people are. Eventually, I figured it all out, but those episodes have a lot of talking and court politics, thus, also slowing down the pacing of the drama. Some minor supporting characters disappeared for most of the drama, and then popped up again at the end to seek revenge. They seem to have come out of nowhere. So much happened in the last 5-7 episodes that it feels rushed. I am not sure if it’s because of the editing or the writing.

A few other weirdness:
1. What happened between Cheng Shao Shang and Yuan Shen after they visited CSS’s home?
2. When did FL’s 2nd brother and XiXi become so close that there are talks of marriage? Didn’t they only have one kiss?
3. I needed more scenes between 3rd Prince and ML to justify the behind-the-scenes happenings
4. Well, the rebel leader also seems to have come out of nowhere.
5. The way that our smart FL got in trouble in the end by falling into the schemes of the two female supporting characters is repetitive and underdeveloped.


Other Random Observations:
1. Leo Wu frowns a lot when he does his serious General face.
2. Impeccable hair even after fire/explosion/battles
3. Enjoy the background music and songs are not overplayed (actually I don’t notice them much).
4. So glad Yuan Shen is not an annoying high school boy anymore. He’s matured to be a good support for FL.
5. *SPOILER*

Waited this long and I didn't see the wedding???? It’s been talked about for 29 episodes.

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Inconsistent plot, acting and storytelling BUT definitely Sexy!

Completed: 7/10/2022

"KinnPorsche" is such a hyped up mafia BL drama that I figured I would check it out to see what it's all about. I then realize this is not really a mafia drama, but a mafia slice-of-life drama with a good-looking cast and many sexy scenes. I was expecting an action-packed mafia drama with a side of romance. But it turns out to be a romance drama with a side of mafia action.

What I Like:

1. Sexy scenes - Not going to lie, if you are 18+ and enjoy sexy scenes, this is the drama for you. The scenes are shot beautifully and well-acted. You can feel the emotions and the sexual tension. The scenes are both sexual and sensual, and they definitely could make you blush. Kinn and Porsche's kisses are a treat and they really put in the effort.

2. Good-looking cast - Yes, this drama is full of good-looking guys. Isn't this one of the biggest attractions? Of course, we all have our preferences, but for me, Porsche and Kim are my kinda of handsome.

3. Production - I am not sure if this is considered a big budget production in Thailand, but I enjoy all the scenes in the Main family house. Beautiful rooms with sweeping views of the city, gorgeously decorated interiors with high end furniture/props/chandeliers, etc . Oh, can't forget the gardens, fountains, koi ponds and the swimming pool (both indoors and the one with city view). Great cinematography, nice tailored suits for all bodyguards and the leads. Some of the action scenes are well done and don't seem too fake.


What I don't like or have mixed feelings:

1. Plot - There is no central plot to the drama. It's very character-drive the majority of the time, and it seems like a slice-of-life drama about bodyguards. It's not until towards the last couple episodes that a certain family plot becomes more prominent. There isn't enough about the mafia, and the focus is on relationships/romance. Some scenes and episodes are great and interesting, others are cringey and give me that "What the heck did I just watch" feeling.

2. Comedy - The comedic moments in this drama are too over-the-top for my taste. I am sure many love it, but I don't think they fit the general feel of the drama. I can take small doses here and there, sprinkled throughout the drama. But when the comedy is concentrated on a certain episode, that's too much for me to take. Thus, I feel this drama is very inconsistent.

3. Romance - Yes, I like the sexual and sensual scenes. But on the other hand, some of the scenes are too cringey. Two adult men are acting like teenage girls in love for the very first time. I thought these guys are in their late 20s, or early 30s, and have already been in different relationships before. All the romantic relationships in this drama are quite toxic and unhealthy. These guys are walking red flags. Relationships full of lies, mistrust, dishonesty and not always consentual.

4. Inconsistent acting - I feel that all the actors are best with the more emotional scenes. I particularly enjoy Porsche and Vegas' acting. Kinn's acting doesn't always hit the mark. I do not particularly like Porchay (I know it's an unpopular opinion). I find him too awkward and I don't know why Kim would be interested in a little kid like him.

5. Illogical plots holes- Let's just say there's no way we should still see Vegas after the final credits. All wounds heal ridiculously fast. No one needs to wear any bulletproof vest because even though you're showered with bullets, you won't die.


I will recommend this Thai BL drama if you want something with a mafia theme, sexy scenes, high production value and a good-looking cast. But don't expect an amazing drama with a good script and perfect execution. I enjoyed it for its entertainment value and WTH moments that make me laugh, thus a rating of 8.0. There are better Thai BL dramas out there, e.g. "A Tale of a Thousand Stars", "Not Me", and "I told Sunset About You".

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