Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023)

Dresses in red and holding a sword in his hand, he will never lose in the rivers and lakes

But in the end he (Li xiangyi) lost and seriously injured. Leave his position as sect leader and his lover, he used a new identity as Li Lianhua ten years later. Worked as “miraculous” doctor and solved cases with detective Fang Duobing aka Li xiangyi “apprentice” along with his enemy which he fought during East Sea War. Travelling around the Jianghu world with his Lotus House and the more he travelled, the closer he is to what he has left ten years ago.

ChengYi brings Li lianhua to life. His appearance and clothing style is very lianhua I read in the novel. Simple and less stand out when he’s in crowd because lianhua gave less prominent aura compared to when he was Li xiangyi. Cunning and less ambitious because he already accepted his fate as no longer the number1 in Jianghu world but as a person who only has one year to live. Joseph Zhang the youngest among the trio irl and in this drama, the most cheerful and most ambitious and I think he played it brilliantly. Xiao Shun Yao as Di Feisheng, the enemy turn friend of Lianhua also bring justice to his character. The trio chemistry is very good and funny as the story goes on and sometimes I cannot stop smiling.

This drama handles each cases quite well and brilliantly which made you cannot stop guessing the mastermind behind each cases. But it's not bored. And how they put the twists here and there, it were brilliantly done. The most unexpected plot twist towards the ending. WOW. From smaller cases became big cases, everything revolved around lixiangyi himself.

This maybe one of few drama that villain is wicked but it's hard to hate them. The actors and actress played the villain very well and beautiful too.

One of the most good thing about this drama is the stories for each cases progressing so fast. The twist and secrets of other characters prevailed without dragging them except Lilianhua is LixiangYi.

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A Captivating Drama with a Unique Mix of Action and Mystery

MLC is not the typical fast-paced drama, as it mainly focuses on solving individual mysteries that all contribute to the main storyline. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for viewers who like non-stop action and romance, it presents a story and character-driven approach that is worth exploring.

Personally, I appreciate the drama’s dedication to providing copious details for each case. I occasionally appreciate the intricacies of detective work, if it’s decently executed, so MLC has been a rewarding watch for me.

Cheng Yi’s portrayal of Linhua/Xiangyi starts out light, but as the story progresses, he conveys his character’s deeper nuances with impressive skill. He proves yet again that he is an actor of remarkable finesse, his skill lying in his subtlety and ability to convey emotions without excessive theatrics. He might not fit the conventional or popular "visual" mold, but his versatility makes him stand out (not to mention he dubbed himself here, which gives his character some authenticity). The dynamic between Cheng Yi's character and Joseph Zeng's character is very humorous and engaging. Their chemistry adds a delightful touch to the drama, and when Xiao Shun Yao's villainous character enters the mix, things become even more intriguing.

While it might be tempting to drop MLC after just a few episodes due to the initial slower pace, I think doing so is a disservice to the show's brilliance. I know I gave it a chance, and I found myself drawn into a thrilling narrative that kept me hooked until the end. If you're looking for something fresh and different from the typical romance-centered c-dramas, I think MLC is the perfect choice. It’s smart, witty, and funny, but also pulls at your heartstrings in all the right ways! It is one of the best c-dramas of 2023, hands down!

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