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A matured ending
This drama deserves better rating, another reason why you shouldn't watch drama based on reviews or ratings as they can be misleading. Everyone's just whining about the ending but no one is actually talking about the main issue or point which was center around both leads. Saving the female lead and stopping the curse from repeating itself was the male lead priority, i personally love it especially the ending, i mean not every drama has to be all nice and full of roses. The main focus right from the start was on how to save the female lead which he succeeded in doing, Xi felt obligated and guilty, i mean he continues to lose the one he loves in every life time, he felt obligated to save her from the curse because she didn't deserve it and also because he loves her. They covered everything in the drama, told us about his return and that of his two sidekicks, just because we didn't get to see them together doesn't mean the ending was disappointing because i disagree with this. We have were they met each other and connected which definitely says everything.Was this review helpful to you?
Chinese drama version of My Love From The Stars/Legend of the Blue Sea and supersized.
Moonshine and Valentine or another name is The Love Knot: His Excellency’s First LoveI am having a Chinese blast with Moonshine and Valentine (2018 and PG13), which is a modern fantasy love story with story arcs rooted in the historic past. If the Korean Dramas My Love From The Stars (MLFTS) and Legend From The Blue Sea (LOTBS) had a baby drama together, it would be this fusion Chinese drama. I am surprised at how the storyline so perfectly incorporates the premises of both Korean Dramas. However, Moonshine and Valentine creates a fantasy world which exists alongside the world of humans. You quickly will buy into this world within a world. Throw in a perfect drama music score, then lean to the side and accept this ride.
This is a story about aliens from Another Star Far Far Away, escaping the eminent explosion of their world by settling on earth, which is a sister-like planet. These sentient beings are part of the Fox Clan of beings with higher powers. While being dissimilar to earthlings, these Shape-shifters have learned to mesh into the world of humans and live among them, being unnoticed for millennia (like My Love From The Stars). The second in charge of the Fox Clan on earth is 900 years old and is now an antique dealer in present times. He is He Lan Jing Ting (Johnny Huang). Because of he physical nature, He Lan Jing Ting is blind during the daylight hours, but has super senses at nighttime (Hemeralopia), when he can live less restricted. He Lan Jing Ting has had but one love throughout the millennia (Legend of the Blue Sea). She reoccurs through time and is at present a reporter Guan PiPi (Victoria Song). Guan PiPi has been assigned to cover He Lan Jing Ting for a story, not knowing their past historic romantic connections. As in both Korean Dramas MLFTS and LOTBS, the past historic storyline is served up in delicately and precisely introduced flashbacks. After actor introduction, the flashbacks mostly are introduced at the start of each new episode and will be pertinent to the new episode to follow. I loved how this was done.
Similar to the Korean Drama Arthdal Chronicles, this fantasy world created in the Chinese drama Moonshine and Valentine/The Love Knot: His Excellency’s First Love is totally inventive, highly imagined, and well written and acted. At 25 episodes of 45 minutes each, the time commitment is only 19 hours to binge. The story does detour a bit towards the end, but tries to get back on track by the end.
Moonshine and Valentine/The Love Knot: His Excellency’s First Love stars Chinese Actress Victoria Song as the Female Lead, an actress whom I have noted in the past as having the acting aurora of the Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun from both Korean dramas MLFTS and LOTBS. Therefore, it is fitting that Victoria Song gets the part of the Female Lead in this Chinese Drama. Also, staring as Male Lead is Chinese Drama heartthrob Johnny Huang, and I must say, in all his glory.
The chemistry created between the two leads can only be termed magnetically sensual. Throw in some rocking minions, brothers who are the total opposites. One (Li Jun Xian/Shen as Xiu Xian) has tried to keep up with the changing trends through time and is a loosey goosey rocker. The other is a sophisticated but antiquated ‘stick in the mud’ (Li Jia Ming Leo as Kuan Yong), stuck in the classical past eras. It will be your privilege to try to imagine for which one you would fall first. Of course, there is the usual handsome Second Lead and boyfriend (Xu Kai Cheng as Tao Jialin) to stand in the way of love and the handsome villain (Jiang Qi Lin as Zhao Song [Left High Priest]) to stir up things. For The Ladies: there is lots of eye candy, the whole cast deep. I am going to be shallow here. A lot of times I forgot to read the subtitles, because of gazing, and had to rewind.
Chinese Dramas are known for their second couples. You should enjoy these two Fox Clan supermodel brothers competing for this human chick (Liu Yongxi). Although Liu Yongxi had a difficult choice between brothers in this drama, apparently “stick in the mud” stood out in real life. They are now engaged to be married.
Disclosure: Some of the alien habits of some Fox Clan group members might be disturbing to some.
In addition, Fox Clan might become a phrase synonymous with the word gorgeous .
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Acting: JH has the capacity to do better drama. His swagger and no expressions face are priceless. The FL did not know floor mats had a body. No chemistry she was flat the entire drama. Why this pairing. As for the side characters, really?
Music: one standout the Gui song and singer. Lyrics dreamy.
RW: not jut no but run opposite direction
Overall: JH seems be be paired with some of most shallow, weak, but visually appealing female actresses. Watch him at your own peril of drama bad script. Wasted eye candy!
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This review may contain spoilers
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUIN THE ENDING FOR YOURSELVES!Despite some skeptical comments in the comment section I must say this story is actually beautiful. For me the acting was top notch. The Main leads and the supporting did an excellent job. Few of them can be considered rookies even. The childhood actors too had great acting chops. All in all the amazingly beautiful OST wrapped the series up nicely. For me it was not too draggy and too fast paced either. It was perfect. Yes the ending left us wanting more. You can not say by any chance that it was a happy ending. I've read down there that the series isn't done yet and the last book is coming out this year? I guess that is why it was left in such a way. The last episode literally broke my heart to million pieces. No one, I say not a single person got a happy ending. Not even the secondary couples. Other than that you can not say they left the ending open either. They did give us a sliver of hope of showing the main couple meeting at the end but who knows? But with their history I'm sure He Lan would fall in love with her once again. Hopefully. I would advice people to watch this though, despite the comments shown. It was beautiful ride with all the characters. They simply tug at your hearts. Just for the OST watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=194&v=gLGhBXupeqI
Watch it. You'll love it if you loved the Bloody Romance OST and such.
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I like the Mr. Helen both the friends part most because their funny dialogue balance the drama which overcome the boreness and their pairing with Pi Pi 's friend. I thought one of them will pair with her but at the end of the drama they turn into fox . I don't understand the sense of 2nd last episode what is the need to show Pi Pi's story and that part is little confusing .Ending is disappointing if their is second season than it is ok and with the same character's but if their is no 2nd seasons then I don't like the ending and it seems to be incomplete story.
I like the children part also and they look cute together.
Last part of all the episodes of drama I like the most when she tell the conclusion of episode or can say about the feeling and satisfaction of love or consequences and coincidence happen in the life or the hidden secrets of a life.
All I say it is one time watch
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This review may contain spoilers
Surprisingly captivating from first glimpse! Highly entertating, excellent Work!
Love the script, love the script, love the script.Despite the limited resources, the kids are ALL brillant actors!
On top, the fabulous support roles are granted time, space again and again to build their respective roles.
And they do it so well that they manage to temporarily become main roles, without shadowing the leads at any time, improving greatly the overall series,.
THIS IS a feature as amazing as is difficult to create and highly achive! Congratulations!
Well done! Congratulations to both writers and producers, top Captivating and entertaning work.
ALSO fabulous soundtrack, loved the “live”moments! Not too much, not too little and very good quality on top ! :)
Still, and bearing bon mind the sucess of the series, the amazing reviews for the audience,
IT would be nice, IF possible, to listen to the audience and to reedit a bit the last two episodes. Just the last two, let the others be. Even the last two do not require much editing (Please don’t change much of the episodes nor the plot, don’t change the end), just do some more editing of a few mismatched frames to make the transitions more subtile, with a more obvious cohérence (ex. Whi did hé NOT take the father to the hospital too, IF he had gone in the restaurant to bring take-away food?!? And the scene of the kidnape o of the child is truly weird, a no go: leaves with and un known man, and is brought back an unknownmen....all creapy, all bad. These small changes could pease the vibrante and romantic Audience ;).
All in love, loved it! Excellent highly entertaining moments!
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Series revolves around so many people but I will say that the main couple or appear to be individual that had it connected pass and we’re now given a new opportunity to reconnect. The interesting part about that is it’s not the typical relationship there’s something tied to it which was not very pleasant. For the most part you’ll love it, but that ending though, you wonder what, why, huh. The ending somewhat ruined it for me, which gives it a low rewatch value from me. There loop wholes for main and side characters.
If you’re into romantic series where the female lead is very resistant and puts up a good fight before excepting the relationship and this will be it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Had a lot of potential to be really good but sadly it wasn't that great.
While I did enjoy the drama because of the promising story line and casting- the series kind of ended in disappointment.I love Victoria but I still think her acting needs major improving lol. She and Johnny had good chemistry and that was probably one of the reasons why I kept watching the series.
The storyline was so good in the beginning but it kind of just went all over the place later?? Wish it could of went more into the fox generations and their lifestyle and the reincarnations of Victoria's character.
Moving on to Victoria's character--- honestly I'm not sure whether it's just Victoria's acting or its Guan Pipi but I just didn't really like her. You know at first she's not really fond of Helan but he grows on her but it stills seems like she's kind of stuck up and is using him as a rebound? idk...really wish they had more character development for her. and the whole situation with her ex-bf & ex-friend was just horrible ugh.
AND the ending ugh we barely got any good Helan and Pipi interactions and then they get separated like wtf. Really wish they had a better ending and a sequel tbh.
Overall, I enjoyed the drama but was a bit disappointed because this drama could of been executed way better!!
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A supernatural love story
I watched this 162 weeks ago on Viki and never copied and pasted it. It keeps poping up when looking for other show and thought maybe they are doing a season 2 nope ?. I enjoyed this drama and the cast chosen did an awesome job portraying there characters. I found the storyline to be exciting, funny and full of adventure with a mix of fantasy, supernatural, fox clan, muder, jealousy and most of all Love. Helan was blinded(curse) as a child (with the most beautiful eyes) and in order to save him & his site he needs drink/eat the blood/liver from the one who he/she loves. Upon the ceremony when he realizes what his father had done he refuses and now to the future. Helan has been searching for centuries for his soul mate to protect her from his father and brother so it doesn't happen again. He's blind during the day and can see at nite and now that he found her he tries to stay away, but that doesn't happen and he has his two fox friends that have always help him.I definitely agree with all that the open ending sucked and i know leaving it makes people come to there own conclusions .. till now no season 2 which could have continued on. Still praying
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Oh boy. Where to start.
Ok. To be completely fair, I knew going in that this show was not a masterpiece.How can it when it’s about alien foxes?
The acting:
I think Victoria Song had the best performance out of the group and made this show bearable to watch imho.
Ok so I also enjoyed the dynamic between Xiaoju, Xiuxian, and Kuanyong, they also made it bearable.
Ok and the shirtless scenes of Huang Jingyu….
I will say I don’t think it was completely the actors’ fault. Doesn’t matter how good of an actor you are, you can only do so much with a bad script.
The writing:
HORRIBLE OMG SO SO SO BAD. Like I had cringe worthy moments because of the writing. And some things just did not flow at all! I am a very forgiving viewer, but oh boy, this one took the cake.
The ending:
Ok. I vaguely knew how it ended (I like to know the broad strokes but not all the details). So I knew how it “ended”, but there were still some surprises which I could kind of see the poetry behind the decision but also left me with a lot of mixed feelings.
I will say, I appreciate that this was not the most rushed ending I have ever seen. It felt kind of natural. It was also designed to imply how things end up between the FL and ML. Did I wish they gave a more detailed definitive future? Yes, but that’s more a “me” thing.
BONUS:
I appreciate that they had an implied polyamorous relationship for basically the whole show. But they had to go and ruin it with turning the two guys back into foxes meaning the girl would live the rest of her human life taking care of alien foxes in their Fox form. Like. Really?! This ending I wish was elaborated on more / made it magically different because man, I feel bad for Xiaoju.
Would I watch this again? Heck no.
Would I recommend it to anyone? Only if they were desperate.
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High Potential Story Slides into Dissatisfaction w/o Romantic Chemistry & Tight Storytelling
What a super cool idea! I love fantasy & science fiction & I just thought this was an awesome story. A different, darker vibe & the pacing moved really well up until the last 3 episodes. The more dramas I watch, the more I've started to pay attention to pacing since so many stories lose focus or direction mid-way through and tbh, I lose focus if the momentum isn't building the way I want it to be. This one did not & kept my attention throughout the entire story, even if I became unsatisfied with it. That was the good. (In addition to that, I would add the VERY hot half-naked Johnny Huang scenes as well as the strangely sweet & endearing "love triangle" between the 2 male fox friends & the cafe owner. LOVED them.)The bad was Victoria & Johnny's chemistry. Maybe her acting as well? Not sure, but there was very little romantic & sweet feelings felt between the leads so it was difficult to sell me their love story. I'm glad they had those glow thingies because I couldn't have known by looking at the characters interactions themselves. There was only 1 point you felt their intimacy, which was NOT ENOUGH for this supposedly epic 900 year love they had. Wait, what satisfaction canst thou have tonight? NOTHING. Because the exchange of love felt unearned from the leads. They grew very little as characters--actually few character achieved growth & this is another "bad" for me.
The worst was all the inconsistencies in the writing and production that just ruined a story with SO much potential. So for me, the worst is the end. It was a serious, fast, unwelcome decline & it didn't have to be. They could've taken those EXACT events, but not convoluted the story unnecessarily & created a different tone that left the audience with a feeling of satisfaction. Easy enough to gut the completely useless penultimate episode & anchor the resolution a little more strongly. But no! Here is yet another c-drama that fizzles out from poor editing/writing; who knows who's fault but it's just plain poor storytelling. :(
The music was an accessory & added to the darker vibe.
I would NOT rewatch the whole story but I will admit to rewatching some of Johnny's shirtless scenes. ;p
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