Solid Production with an Exceptional cast!
A lighthearted and not too serious dramatization about family & work life, My Treasure is one of the better directed & grounded tv shows in terms of family drama standards. It does not feel like a typical sitcom. All the sets and places are real which creates that real ambience city-life workplace setting. The heart of the story is Dong Na, the main protagonist who is a fresh out of college student finding employment in a professional work environment at an accounting firm.Vicky Chen is charming. One of the more skillful actresses her age even with a cast of veteran actors, her acting ability holds up so well. She has an incredibly good onscreen presence with her costars. She portrays Dong Na with a lively energy without it being over the top & has a natural presence both in acting & line delivery. Vicky Chen hits every beat. Dong Na is great example of a proactive protagonist, not just reactive who is up for any ventures. She is headstrong, smart, stubborn, and goodwilled who always finds a plausible solution to everyday problems in her life. She draws strength & knowledge from people around her, specifically her mother Qiu Xiao Xia.
Roy Chiu is charismatic as an unconventional type-boss figure, both in mannerism & speech to his appearance. He conveys emotions well through body gestures & facial expressions. He knows how to sell that image of Gu Fei who’s rational, capable, and honest who knows how to handle and take care of business and people, specifically in regards to Dong Na. Although Gu Fei falls into the trope of a male character with a tragic past, his trauma doesn’t hinder his efficient work ethics and professionalism in the workspace.
The drama builds ups great relationship between female characters. One of the major core relationships of the story is Dong Na & her mother Qiu Xiao Xia. Vicky Chen and Liu Min Tao portrays the daughter and mother relationship duo so well it is believable. Dong Na’s relationship with her boss Cheng Fan Yang starts from a cold-shoulder iciness to a warm almost maternal-like bond between the two. Her love-hate ‘frenemy’ relationship with Chu Ning, her college classmate, is hilarious & somewhat endearing. Their bickering towards each other is great throughout.
Dong Na forms a significant relationship with Gu Fei. There are memorable scenes between two from amusing banter and in-depth conversations in casual settings that doesn’t feel hollow, repetitive, or redundant. Dong Na & Gu Fei has a great momentum onscreen together with witty, heartfelt, & engaging dialogue. Their mentor-mentee relationship is a standout, both navigating through their uncertainties & trouble all while consoling the other when needed. I was wholeheartedly surprised by the chemistry and their unconditional support for each other. Dong Na and Gu Fei’s mutual and platonic sides of their relationship is more intimate and profound than any romance. The relationship develops & unfolds with such a natural progression. It has been a while since I enjoyed a relationship between a female and male character onscreen that does not make me want to pull my hair out.
My only gripe-issue is the romance. I don’t have anything against romance between the characters themselves but because the age difference between the actors. WenQi was a minor and Roy Chiu was an adult. The presentation of the romantic apsect towards the last few ep was awkward to watch. The story could have gone easily without any romance.
One of the strong suite is the dialogue, specifically in the conversations. The writer did a fantastic job creating a natural essence between the characters in the way they act, feel, and talk. Even with their appearances, nothing is overdone or gaudy. Besides the exceptional cast, the directing style is great. It is shot from a distant and at certain times from a wide-panoramic like angle which allows an immersive viewing of the characters within the environment they are placed in. It does not have those near close up shot that feels overly melodramatic. The comical sound effects is befitting to the drama’s humor. The last few episodes were a bit lackluster, in terms of its direction of the story. I like where the story was heading but not necessarily the execution in its writing. Cheng Fan Yang’s storyline in relation with her husband is the weakest since it is stagnant throughout the drama up until the end.
All in all, the drama had great moments between the characters. If you enjoy a more character driven-relationship type of drama with a hint of slice of life and humor that ends on a positive note, this is a good one to watch. There are definite tropes here and there but its not done in an overt exaggerated way in the usual family drama fashion.
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Wholesome Story, Excellent Acting, Great Pacing
Where do I even start? I came across this show serendipitously after watching Roy Chiu in Man in Love and boy do I not regret it.The story follows the life of Qiu Dong Na who despite having grown up poor is aiming to become a certified accountant. We follow her ups and downs as she joins the corporate world as an intern after college, and hopes to make a name for herself.
First, let’s talk about the characters as a whole and then we’ll take a look at the two main characters, Qiu Dong Na and Gu Fei.
Before this one, I’d never seen such a humanistic take on characters in C-dramas. Every single character has very honest and realistic flaws. No character is shown as being perfect or as having it all together. No one is cancelled for making a mistake or for coming short. On the contrary, we are shown what it looks like to grow and to learn alongside people who are willing to support and love us despite our fallibilities.
This show doesn’t present this frail and incapable female character who relies on her boss in order to obtain what she wants. Instead, we are introduced to Qiu Dong Na who is nothing less of a brilliant, capable, creative, and hard-working genius. She is young, and yet she knows exactly what she wants, how she wants it to look like, and the lengths through which she will go through in order to achieve it. Qiu Dong Na is like a sponge, willing to absorb all the knowledge she can get from those who are more knowledgeable than her. She is strong and has a deep set of values that she is unwilling to trade for all the gold in the world. She is kind, introspective, curious, funny, helpful and immensely reliable. She’s deeply involved in all of her interpersonal relationships and doesn’t favour one relationship over the other. Qiu Dong Na is most definitely not the type of friend who will ditch you for a guy! She is a great friend, a great girlfriend, a great colleague, and even a great daughter.
This very well-written character could not have been brought to life without a great actress. Vicky Chen who I believe was only 17 when she filmed this drama is most definitely an actress to look out for. If this is what she’s able to do at 17, I cannot wait to see how her skills will evolve in 10 years!
As for our male lead, Gu Fei… Ah, what a good, and posh-looking man. I was swooning for this man during the entirety of this show. Gu Fei is obviously a genius, he’s kind, helpful, and witty with just the right amount of sassiness. Fei is a great mentor who knows when to get involved and when to let Dong Na learn for herself. He constantly pushes Dong Na to give her all and always knows how to encourage her. I love how assertive Fei is. He always says what he wants to say and there’s not a single word that he’s ever spoken to Dong Na that he hasn’t meant. He always shows up for Dong Na and truly is her biggest cheerleader. As much as he leads and teaches, he’s also open and willing to learn from Dong Na. I love that he doesn’t dim her light and that instead, he helps her shine brighter. He has never been inappropriate towards Dong Na as her mentor, and he has never used his position to take advantage of her. He respects her boundaries and also respects her pace.
I truly and honestly do not think that anyone could have done a better job at portraying Mr. Gu than Roy Chiu himself. He brings so much life to this character who could have been one-dimensional despite the great writing for his character. The emotions that constantly play behind his eyes… Man does it draw you in!
The last thing I’ll address is the reason I’m deducting 1 star, which is the age gap between the leads. I’ll speak solely about how it affected the show because the transition from friends/ mentor/mentee to lovers ended up being a bit lacklustre for me. The whole appeal behind Dong Na and Fei’s relationship before it evolved into a romantic one was the intimacy behind their banter, their serious talks, and even at the office. It was so clear that Fei had a soft spot for Dong Na. I was disappointed to see that that same level of intimacy and affection during their somewhat platonic days was unable to be carried into their romantic relationship. Obviously, Roy Chiu is an adult and Vicky Chen is not so that’s understandable. Yet, I felt like the casting folks compromised the romance aspect which is honestly not a huge deal since it’s such a small component of the drama itself.
Overall, this is the best C-drama I’ve watched. My Treasure will keep you engaged throughout all of the 35 episodes and will probably make you laugh, cry, swoon, and smile, but most definitely, it will remind you that the best thing in life is the people who love and support you during your best and worst hour.
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A drama that is worth to keep in your little box of treasured dramas
My Treasure is a drama that I wanted to keep to myself and don't want to put this on hype. hmm.. It's like a mini treasure that you don't want to share with others. Kinda selfish aren't I? Well, it's already underrated and was hidden to many viewers because maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea.Why I love this?
1. It magnificently tackles the real nature of humans.
The ability to survive in this harsh world whatever your status in life, the morals and dignity of a person, the effect of trauma and guilt from the past, and also the power of a parent's love to their children. Even the real situation of being an employee and understand their decisions. It's not just about loyalty but also some variables that you need to consider.
2. All the cast did a great job even the villains.
Trust me you will be pissed off with them. I would like to commend Vicky Chen for her wonderful portrayal as Dong Na and Liu Min Tao as Xiao Xia. Even though sometimes they see Xiao Xia as a very annoying mother(sometimes I was annoyed to) but I understand her because my mother was like that. They cannot control their emotions especially when it comes to their children.
3. The subtle romantic scene.
If you are hesitating because of the age gap between Dong Na and Gu Fei, do not fret my friend. It was meticulously planned not to push in the age gap boundary but still gave me a lot and squealing and butterfly in the stomach moments. It was so cute that you will never think about their age. It's much much better in other romantic dramas that they gave you an all-out affection but then you get tired and dropped it. Here, it was slowly build up while sorting their past and grow together emotionally and mentally. Such amazing chemistry. oh.. I almost forgot about the very cute and mature relationship of Xiao Xia and Uncle Wang.
4.Charismatic Gu Fei.
Roy Chiu.. It's been almost 8 years since I saw him and I never disappoint because he aged well like a fine wine and truly improved his acting. Aside from being a really handsome and charismatic Gu Fei, his way of showing those microexpressions was exceptional. His mannerisms with his eyes and hands when he was awkward and nervous was stellar and don't forget that BEAUTIFUL smile. Also, Gu Fei was also a mentor that you wanted to meet. He will teach and guide you for the better even if he was harsh sometimes, you will never hate him.
Every relationship between the characters was very funny and touching. I really really enjoyed this a lot. As much as I wanted to keep this drama to myself, I do hope that it gets the recognition it deserves. hmmm... maybe I can create an article to promote this.
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The drama has taken a unique theme that I have not seen in many other dramas ie., 'How to master the art of Living'. Not the art of making money or being happy but the art of 'living'. The drama has also given warm characters to hold on to throughout the show with an excellent acting from the cast. It has also done a good job of showing that survival in the current world may not always be done in a vicious way by betraying others but also by taking life as it comes with a positive mindset .I especially loved the character development of Qiu Dong Na and her female boss Cheng Fan Yang.
There were a few loopholes here and there but not to the level of being dumb. I personally also felt that it would have been better if the drama was shortened to 24 to 26 episodes as it dragged a bit in the middle.On the whole I would definitely recommend this drama to those who like a warm drama that makes the viewers think in a more optimistic way.The female character and her mother are extremely smart that makes the watch even more delicious.
Definitely would not recommend to those who like overly romantic dramas as this one focuses more on mother-daughter relationship and family relations. Also it is not for the ones who want an eye candy watch filled with butterfly giving moments.
It takes a more mature take on life and living.
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This review may contain spoilers
Amazing Chemistry + A Highly Underrated Gem
In less than three days I completed "My Treasure" and it was, as in the name, a treasure.Often times the english version of a C-Drama title doesn't fit the story but this one certainly does.
This drama should receive a reward for details! Because, wow! I watch so many dramas day-in-day-out and yet very few feel as real as this one. The characters are three-dimensional and especially the ML feels like a deeply complex yet so genuine person.
It also has a high production value, so on that front everything is very pleasing.
The good:
The mentor-mentee relationship. This was just fantastic and like nothing I've seen before. Their origin story started before the drama starts so there is no push-and-pull, just supporting each other and already being very trusting.
He fully trusts her and is not like a typical ML, when he helps her it's not by doing her work but rather by teaching her how to do it herself and by expressing that she is capable and reassuring her.
The Treasure aka Dong Na, was exactly that. I don't think you could put her in a category saying she is this or that type of female lead. Yes, she is hard working, young and ambitious but she is oh so unique and real. Everyone surrounding her will at some point melt and start appreciating her. She cares so much for the people around her and especially her mentor. Really loved the writing and acting of her character.
+ the onion technique! if you watch the drama, you will know what I mean - one of the details I loved.
About the slight romance:
Again, have to give it to Gu Fei / Roy who was just so brilliant with this expressive eyes and most delicate details. Watching him find healing, peace, comfort and happiness once more all because of the treasure that is the FL, was just beautiful and gave me butterflies. As if I had never seen somebody like someone - in a way it was so much more than that. This is not your typical romance (drama). It's more so about realizing that you have a soulmate by your side and that soulmate inspires you to grow and heal.
I need to stop spoiling :P - but let me say one more thing. Gu Fei was so straightforward yet in the moment you could see him contemplating on what to say next to her and I believe even if the script had no lines we would have still understood what he told her. I loved, loved that and that it was important to him that she thought highly of him.
Despite the age difference they had fantastic chemistry, be prepared however that his drama is very PG due to that - but it does not impact the viewing experience at all since they are very in tune with each other.
The not so ideal: (spoilers ahead)
Chunky Plot arrangement. Our hard working FL is ever present and she is the leading lady for sure but every 5 episodes two episodes will focus on certain supporting roles and it happens in chunks instead of telling their story slowly over the course of the drama. However this critique point is a bit harsh as it's not something that bothered me too much, it's just something I noticed.
About half way through the drama it dipped into melo-genre for one storyline a few episodes and I just did not like that. Don't get me wrong it brought forth the BEST acting, raw emotions and certainly pushed the leads closer together but it did make the drama less "slice-of-life" and more like a melodrama. However that faded again, so don't worry!
And lastly, the "I grew up very poor, you have no idea how hard that is" speech was used one too many times and in situations where it was not needed at all. It made the FL look a tiny bit like a pushover at times but her overall attitude towards life made up for that.
Favorite Quote:
Maybe you're not smart enough to be an Entrepreneur or scientist.
But don't worry. So am I:
Maybe, besides day dreaming,
ordinary people like us
can work hard an strive
to become an artist of life.
The Conclusion:
I had a hard time rating this drama since I felt like it was better than the 8.5 dramas on my list, however it's a little too flawed to be a 9.0, so I decided to look up the production and see! - It has the same director as "The Rise of Phoenixes" and the writer of "A Dream of Splendor". Both those dramas made me feel like this - I have come to the conclusion, that they're exceptionally good at creating real characters and unique connections as well as the ultimate binge factor by casting actors that have off-the-charts chemistry with each other. But then the second half of the drama arrives... and it's just not as good as it could be. There was protentional for it to be phenomenal but in the end it was (just) very good.
So the dilemma is, does a fantastic first half justify a 9.0 rating, when certain episodes later on are a bitlack-luster or venture into melo? Nevertheless I watched it within mere three days and I loved it, highly recommendable despite a few things - that in all honesty aren't that much of a bother, since the two leads' story is just so intriguing that everything else is not that important.
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Mother-Daughter Duo and their growth through life challenges.
I am very glad I did not let the age gap deter me from watching “My Treasure”. However, I understand how it can be a turn-off. After all, Vicky Chen was 17 and Roy Chiu was 39 when they shot this drama. Though I think in the drama, Vicky is about 22 and Roy is about 35. There are many office scenes, but this drama is not a business drama. The focus of the drama is on the struggles, life challenges and growth of Qiu Dong Na (FL) and her mother, Qiu Xiao Xia (2FL). The supporting cast and their stories are an extension to illustrate their growth.What I Like:
1. Qiu Dong Na (FL) - It’s very hard not to like Dong Na. She’s brought up by a single mother and has to be careful of each cent that she spends, while sometimes has to act as the only adult in the family.. However, having a tough childhood does not stop her from growing up into an intelligent, optimistic, loyal, caring, and generous adult who doesn’t bow down to setbacks but perseveres to accomplish all she wants. She makes everyone around her to be a better person, especially Gu Fei (ML). I think the proposal speaks to how independent and great a person she is.
2. Mom-Daughter relationship - It’s lovely to see the duo supports, challenges and inspires each other through their unconventional way of life. I enjoy all the witty conversations and banter between them. They are honest with each other and don't hesitate to provide constructive criticisms when needed. We don't see too many dramas showing struggling families in this light - optimistic, opportunistic, annoying and loud at times.
3. Mentor-Mentee relationship - Qiu Dong Na (FL) and Gu Fei (ML) have known each other for years and have a very tight mentor-mentee relationship. They understand each other and are not afraid to show their vulnerabilities and not-so-pleasant sides. I enjoy their conversations and witty banter. Even if we take away the romance, they have great chemistry together just as friends.
4. Mature romance - I like the mature romance between Xiao Xia (mom) and Wang Shi Cheng. A drama about two individuals in their 50s shouldn’t be so entertaining but it is. They complement each other well, and because of their different personalities, they can also support each other in different ways. Their romance is a good contrast to the other two romance storylines.
5. Realistic wardrobe - Oftentimes, we see female leads wearing fancy clothes and accessories even if they come from a poor background. I am happy to notice that Dong Na actually wears the same white shirt and jeans quite often as her business attire. Her clothes fit her personality, background and office setting. The working class dresses like the working class. The richer folks all dress appropriately e.g. Gu Fei (Roy Chiu looks dashing in all suits and in casual wear), Cheng Fan Yang (wears nice tailored pantsuits and exudes independent boss lady vibes) and Li Chu Ning (always wears pretty dresses and purses showing her well-off background).
6. Proposal Speech - I love what Gu Fei said. Period. I don’t want to give out spoilers, but if you watch this, pay attention to his heartfelt speech when they were lying down.
What I have Mixed Feelings About:
1. Qiu Xiao Xia (Mom) - I may not always agree with all her decisions and actions, but I can see where she is coming from. She also has a very street-smart side of her, which contrasts and complements her daughter and Gu Fei’s way of thinking. But sometimes her actions seem immature and not due to her lack of education. Personally, I think she screams too much and her high-pitched voice is very irritating. She is probably the most annoying person in the drama for me (and this is a very subjective comment).
2. Frenemies (Dong Na/Chu Ning) - I did not like Chu Ning at first when she tried to sabotage Dong Na at her first job. But their love/hate relationship grew on me as more background information was given as to why Chu Ning disliked Dong Na so much. I actually want to see more of their friendship and feel that the writer is missing an opportunity to elaborate on the character development of Chu Ning.
3. Dong Na/Gu Fei Romance - We all have different opinions about this age gap. I am going to just focus on this romance between a 22 year-old and a 35 year-old. The romance is very minimal in this drama as the story focuses on their mentor-mentee relationship for the most part. I am not sure if it’s because of the age, I find the romance not developed very well. The realization of feelings towards each other does not have enough buildup to it. But when they do get together, this couple is super cute and adorkable (they are already very honest and communicative to begin with). I do question why they both act like teenagers when they have been in past relationships. I actually want to see more scenes of them as a couple. Maybe they are edited out, or the drama just tries to keep it as a bare minimum.
4. Dong Na/Cheng Fan Yang - I have mixed feelings about the supervisor-subordinate/mentor-mentee relationship between Cheng Fan Yang and Dong Na. I like it but I wanted more. It’s hard to pinpoint what is missing. Maybe I wanted more interactions? More heart-to-heart talk? But I am glad to see that Dong Na recognizes Cheng Fan Yang’s voiceless cry for help and is able to support her, and enlighten those around Change Fan Yang.
5. Not making me feel - This is super personal. I like dramas that elicit emotions out of me. Whether it’s to make my laugh or cry. After watching this drama, I don’t recall ‘feeling’ much. I feel like an outsider looking in, but not being there with the characters through their journeys. Yes, I am weird like that. LOL
Completed: 11/5/2022
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Really good story about ppl you probably know in real life
this is a really really good show..the story is solid.. if a bit overdramatized at the end -- but then its a drama soo.....
the cast is really really solid.. and the characterzation of each person is pretty grounded.. each has clearly defined needs and wants and how they believe to best achieve it.. each has their own quirks and thoughts.. strengths and weaknesses that reflect on their actions and how they do things and live their lives on the show...
the interplay between the ML and FL was great.. the tension the will they and wont they.. its a really slow burn love story thats not overt. (due to real life age difference -- but on screen it doesnt really show that much to me)
the mother of the FL -- was annoying and endearing at the same time.. just like all our parents
again the ending was kinda forced.. i think they tacked on just to give it some drama -- and the resolution was bleh
but overall really really good watch
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Criminally underrated
Beautiful drama, I fell in love with the story, the script, the actors... so much I can't move on! The lead actress is so good, I felt like Qiu DongNa is a real person, not just a character in a show. And visually speaking I adore this actress, even her clothes matched her personality and situation. May be the 1st time I see in a cdrama where the lead, being poor, actually dresses normally with barely any make-up.Her interactions with the other characters was marvellous, and it helps that there are no villains nor stupid characters. This is what I miss the most, how there are no fillers nor misunderstandigs nor miscommunication. Every interaction (with the mom, the female boss, the frenemy, the ex-cons) is sooo good.
About the romance... maybe not much for romance drama fans but for me it was the best & most wholesome. Gu Fei is truly a husband/mentor material, and Dongna the best student. Both of them listen to each other, support each other and are happy being together. Both of them learn from the other. I know people are wary of watching this wonderful drama bc of the age gap, but I truly only saw a 22-year-old eager just-graduated girl and a 35-or so responsible boss who respects his assistant very much. Their romance is like WangXian... shown through action and words instead of skinship, and that (for me) is even better. They are sooo sweet <3 Best hetero couple in dramaland (for me).
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A real treasure
Have you watch it? Please do watch it .It is a very good drama. Seriously. Give it a chance.
Tou will meet a wonderful character Qiu Dong Na played by vickey chen. A total admirable empowered girl. If i have a daughter, i want her to be as strong and smart as her.
Qiu Dong Na is a university graduate, in almost mid 20s, a stubborn hard working girl who loves her mom dearly and care for others. And the final challenge, to face his scumbag dad, is the real highlight. The most challenging obstacle a "daughter" has to face and she face it head on.
Roy Chui character as Gui Fei, an upright boss in mid 30s, played an excellent and important role as Qiu Dong Na mentor and guidance in her career. And in return Qiu Dong Na guide him to face his past.
The director do a good job in minding their age gap.
The writer write a very excellent script in expressing their deep and sincere affinity.
They do not need those elaborate kissing or hugging or skin-ship scenes to show their deep connection and understanding.
"My Treasure" , this drama really deserve it name -treasure. With this drama quality, I believe there are lots of jewel in T drama and i'm digging it for sure.
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This review may contain spoilers
Because Qiu Zhe.
I decided to watch this drama because it fitted my 2 criteria — at least 8/10 and no failures for reviews. Viewers praised this drama and so, I decided to go for it. I’m glad that I did.What I liked:
- Qiu Zhe - I think he is a good actor but I’m not a big fan of his. I have not watched many of his works and was rather surprised to see him as the male lead. (I dived into the drama without checking the cast in detail.) I am pleasantly surprised by his very fine acting in this drama. He’s handsome, charming and appears very real. He acted very well and charmed me very much.
- The actors and actresses were (on the whole) very good at their job. Thumbs up for fine acting.
- The colleagues in the firm were nice people on the whole. There wasn’t much office politics and such.
- The plot was rather fast-paced and kept me engaged. Things were happening and I wanted to know what would happen. The plot was riveting enough.
- The mature romance between female lead’s mother and the older man was rather endearing to watch and realistically portrayed.
- Ending was a little rushed but it was a happy one and I like happy endings.
What I didn’t like:
- The female lead was a bit OTT IMO. She behaved rather irrationally at times IMO and I didn’t agree with her perspectives. She wasn’t the most charming/ pretty female lead either and her chin was too ‘pokey out-y’ for me. It appeared witch-like. I think another female lead might have done a better job and would have had more chemistry with the male lead.
- The female lead’s father and his wife were seriously beyond irksome. They were vile and repulsive. How could a father purposely cause hurt to his own daughter to force her into donating bone marrow to his other daughter. Talk about being biased! I hated the scenes with FL’s father and his wife. Such awful and indecent people.
- The baby girl who keep screaming and crying in the last episode.
Overall, this is a good drama to watch and I recommend it! The rewatch value isn’t high and the two leads don’t have sizzling chemistry but the acting is good and the plot is good too. Watch :)
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