Lion Pride (2017)

I really enjoyed this show. The story line was interesting and the characters are fun to watch for the most part (there were a couple that could be annoying, but that's par for the course in most dramas). The mystery is well put together with several twists and turns, but it's not a crazy sort of plot.

My only issues with this drama were that both the lead characters tend to get a bit too focused on stuff that ultimately isn't any big deal. I don't want to give away spoilers, but for example, the FL is extremely bothered by an issue with a certain character that from the very beginning you know is not a big deal. Like literally...it's NOTHING. But she can't seem to let the issue go. It becomes a bit bothersome to watch because it just doesn't make sense. There are a couple issues like that in the drama and they are frustrating, but they aren't the focus for an extremely long time, so it's bearable.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama a lot. I liked the growth arch of the second male lead the most. His character seemed to be the one you came to understand the most throughout the show. Though his daydreams (and everyone else's daydreams) are something I totally could have done without.

If you are looking for a show to brighten you day, make you smile, and intrigue you with a mystery, this one might be just the fit for you.

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There was nothing particularly wrong with this Drama, and enough that was right to make finishing it worthwhile. The OTP was cute enough, though their clicking seemed a bit sudden when it happened. The mystery was also ok, I've definitely seen much worse. I give the Drama credit for what it put the male lead through in the penultimate episode, it went somewhere I wasn't expecting.

The downsides were the annoying clownish tutorial head teacher whose past caught up with him, and the show's determination to basically just say "forget the past" for some pretty industrial-level betrayal and deceit. Said betrayal was obvious early on, the big reveal was "yeah, saw that coming from episode 2" kind of material, but the journey to that point was tolerable. The second leads were a big part of the reason for that, their arc was more nuanced and more crediblw than the leads. Finally, I love the song used for the OTP, "Siren Song" by Three Laws - a keeper for sure

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Taiwanese and Chinese dramas are definitely my thing and I throughly enjoyed this drama. I loved the chemistry between the two and loved how cute they were when they realized that they were meant to be and every scene they had was wonderful. Like every scene made my heart whoop. The thing is I think the whole murder mystery was dumb. Truly pointless. The whole oh my family’s dead, yours is too? Do they connect? Lawl. It was there for a reason because they had to keep the show going and well it was the whole point of the show but so cliche especially since the couple was so amazing. I liked the friendships and I adored the OST for sure. Like I downloaded the music ASAP. So all in all, this show was worth it. I liked it, either you like it or you don’t and that’s fair. Also I didn’t think the male lead was too great. The acting was kind of cheesy but it’s cool.

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The story line is interesting and unfolds slowly and is well distributed throughout the drama. What really stuck out to me was how the female lead is portrayed as a really dumb and ignorant character to the point that it makes no sense to me that the highly intelligent male lead could be her “soulmate”. After the first few episodes, their interaction and love story just feels unnatural and forced. There is no chemistry between them. Also, they used the SAME SONG FOR EVERY KISS SCENE so you always know that its going to happen and after a while it gets really annoying. Apart from the female lead, who I found a pretty boring character, the rest of the cast was pretty okay (esp. second female lead, male lead)

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The art of telling a good story with a very low budget!

I really like the realism (tinged with the "melodramatic" side of Dramaland) of Taiwanese series.
This drama begins with a very rom-com tone, before the focus is put on the investigation and the tone then becomes more emotional.

The plot is interesting: a math genius investigates a 23 years old cold-case, involving his father. He meets and falls in love with FL, then discovers that she is the daughter of the victims of this cold-case.

The characters are well developed:
- I really like the ML's evolution, from an hyper rational cold man to a caring and attentive boyfriend.
- I admit that I'm more reserved about FL, whose acting skills didn't convinced me.
- the characters of the friends (prosecutor and policeman) are there for the humorous touch. They really cannot be taken seriously!

Romance is well developed, step by step, from interest to trust, then love, support, protection. Ship moments are frequent and really cute.
The OSTs are only 2 or 3, but I really like the song that accompanies the emotional moments.

The production is lively, dynamic, so there is no length, no moment when the drama becomes boring.

The MAJOR FLAW of this series is the very low budget:
- no action scenes
- all the drama is done in a few locations (apartment, office, restaurant, school, hospital, etc.)
- the elements of the investigation (we only see 2 or 3 police officers in action) are not very credible

However, I watched this drama until the end because the actors are good (especially the ML) and the story is well told. Everyone wants to know how the plot will end.

=> Some Taiwanese directors really master the art of telling good stories with a very small budget.

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Male lead is very flat emotionally almost robotic

7/10 is my rating. This 2017 Taiwanese drama spans 16 episodes. It centers around two teachers who are polar opposites in both their approach to teaching as well as life. They do not know it but they are tied by mysterious events from their past which left Wang Qiang Da (Yen Tsao) fatherless and the female lead, Wang Qiang Wei (played by Amanda Chou) an orphan. As their relationship develops and they come together on common ground - the circumstances of their past threaten to tear them apart

Spoiler ? . I really wanted to like this one as it had all the elements I appreciate in Asian dramas - romance, mystery, love triangles, friendships, bromances but I just could not buy that such a vivacious and engaging character as the female lead would fall for a math teacher with about as much personality as some of the robots in the Star Trek series. I get the whole opposites attract thing and he did change both in looks and behavior over the series but she actually fell for him prior to that. It is not unwatchable - definitely had its moments, I just would not rate it very high compared to some of the more outstanding dramas I have watched.

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Franchement je m’attendais pas à être aussi immergées dans ce drama ! De plus les acteurs sont graves beaux et l échoppe principale était trop mignons ensemble ???????? Le Mystère est vraiment mystérieux ???????? mais en gros c’est ça. On s’attend pas à la fin (même si j’avais deviné) et elle est bien parce que c’est une fin heureuse et en même temps on nous montre la suite des événements. C’est à la fin qu’on remarque que quelque soit le point de vue ils sont tous liés entre eux et c’est ça qui est incroyable. De plus l’ost du début est magnifique ????

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