This review may contain spoilers
What can I say? After watching all 40 episodes, this show does a good job of not letting the heroes always win. The story moves pretty fast, and if you're someone who loves mysteries and being a detective, this show is for you. The plot is something that caught me so off guard and you can never really guess what the real truth to any of these case is.Something I really apprentice in this show is its ability to portray what actually happens during the cases that they solve. Every case they solve, it shows us an actual play of the scene. However, one issue that comes with this show, is Li Lianhua is a bit too smart to the point where you don't even get a chance to guess what happens. Because everything that happens in the show is almost unpredictable, and Li Liana can guess what happens every single time.
Li Lianhua's character is very interesting. He is very observant and conniving. He is very slick and knows how to calculate, which is very impressive. It was such a pity to not see much of his fighting scenes, but there was other fighting scenes which caught my attention especially with Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng. Those 2 characters make the show give a bit more comedy.
Now the ending, not exactly a cliff hanger. He could have saved himself, but he didn't. I want to believe that he isn't dead but considering the fact that he was poisoned and he gave away the only thing that could save him, it was such a pity.
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Dull. (still)
EDIT:I originally dropped this after 3 episodes. Now I've finished the whole show.
(I'm leaving my original review below the line)
What do I say about this? It's still not great.
It's definitely been overhyped and at best it's sort of slightly above average.
The story is functional - you see where it's going from the beginning and it does indeed get there pretty much as you expect. Which is not a bad thing necessarily, it's just a bit predictable.
The bits I enjoyed the most were the case investigations. Sadly, there are two issues with that:
1) The cases are of fluctuating quality, and many of them are solved in a way you cannot do yourself. Because as in other badly done mystery shows - the show witholds crucial information from you and it is only presented at the very end, when the detective is explaining how he figured it out. That's just lazy and uninteresting.
2) The show insists on being a wuxia story about Big Things, and it constantly gets in the way of the fun.
My main problem with this show and why I still rate it fairly low is the premise and the main protagonist.
I am sick, so sick and tired of these Very Special Boys With A Mysterious Past. Li Xiangyi is VERY similar to the characters in "Love in Between", "Blood of Youth" and even "Nirvana in Fire" and "Word of Honor" to some extent - a soft sickly boy with lovely long hair and flowy robe and a fur lined cloak. And he used to be a powerful martial hero, the most specialest of them all, a real genius. But now he's sickly and disabled and look at the poor bunny, so cute.
And I get that this is a trope that people (especially lady fans of these idols/actors) like. I do not. It's tired now. I've seen it.
I think the story would've worked much, much better with older characters and actors.
So yes - I still put a lot of fault with Cheng Yi. He is older than Joseph Zeng, but it doesn't feel like it. They're too close in age and vibe. And he doesn't have the acting ability to pull this kind of character off, especially in the really dramatic moments. His serious delivery feels fake and flat.
In short - the only way we know he's this super special boy is because everyone keeps talking about it. He doesn't have that kind of charisma to make me believe it.
Joseph Zeng is mostly fine, he does the same thing in most of the dramas I've seen him in. He's like an ok piece of toast. Nothing you'd sing the praises of, but fine to eat.
The villains are kinda terrible. I get that the mustache-twirling evil-laughing villain is a genre thing, but they feel a bit out of place in a modern style drama. That said, I think Rain Wang is just bad, and she wasn't helped by the weird dubbing they did for her character.
The only person whose acting I enjoyed fully was Xiao Shun Yao - his Di Feisheng doesn't change a lot, but he pulls that subtle transition off pretty well. And at all times he FEELS like someone who could seriously hurt people, I believe when he fights.
Speaking of fights - they left them all for the ending, which was odd. They're...fine I guess. The bigger mass battles were a surprise, because the show had been so stingy with fights up to that point. They're all very modern wuxia cdrama in style - lots of flowy stuff, CG energy blasts and not a lot of blood. Compared to something like Sakra, or oldschool 90s wuxia it feels super sanitized. I wasn't impressed, but it wasn't offensively bad either.
In summary - this is a very run of the mill modern wuxia with all the typical flaws, or a mostly decent detective show ruined by also being a modern wuxia drama.
Don't believe the hype, but you might still enjoy some of it.
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Original rating: 3.5*
This is dull, incredibly dull. Just boring as hell.
I have to remind myself that cdrama hype is largely caused by fangirls looking forward to watching shows with their beloved idol/s.
Some episodes in this is just incredibly forgettable, entirely derivative and uninteresting.
The actors are bland as chalk bread, except for the main guy who's straight up bad. He's a bad actor, stop giving him roles where he's supposed to speak.
The premise, the story, it's all cliches piled on cliches, nothing cool or intriguing happens, the fights are not entertaining.
Just another super mediocre/bad wuxia drama.
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They'll never let you go, hard as you might want it.
Li Lianhua, Li Lianhua, what a beautiful story. The trailer didn't do justice to this drama as it was vague and didn't reveal much, I could have missed out on this one.This drama was worth all my 40 hours spent on it. Very suprisenly for me, there was no character I hated in here, even the bad ones.
Although LL adopted FDB as his own (not what happened in the drama, you'll understand if you watch it), I wish he had actual kids of his own for FDB to raise.
Everyone had their role to play and everyone did it beautiful, no cheesy, no overcompensating, just professionalism.
I would watch a sequel if one ever gets into the works.
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The best wuxia drama I've seen thus far!
Mysterious Lotus Casebook is hands down one of my favorite Chinese dramas to date. Though it is not perfect by any means and it doesn't have the most satisfying ending, it didn't leave me frustrated or disappointed unlike another C-drama that would've been without flaw if not for its horrid ending. In fact, it leaves you hungering for more with its open ending that may or may not lead to a second season. Despite the fact that it is a solid detective story dripping with political intrigue, mysticism, and evil schemes for world domination, the true driving force of this series is its characters. It boasts of well-written characters that each have their own story arcs and go through significant character development as the plot progresses.Cheng Yi plays somewhat of a dual role, the young and brash, Li Xiangyi, who basks in the glory of his achievements in the martial arts world, and Li Lianhua, the reclusive wandering physician with a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. I love how he contrasts these two characters, showing how much the ambitious and arrogant Xiangyi has changed over the years and become the more mature and grounded Lianhua, who is content in lazing about with the company of his dog and growing vegetables in his garden. I love love this snarky bastard! 😍
Zeng Shunxi is Fang Duobing, the young and impressionable son of a noble man who grew up idolizing Li Xiangyi. He also undergoes a major change as the series goes on, from a bratty rich kid to a young man worthy of becoming Xiangyi's successor. Xiao Shunyao plays Di Feisheng. He starts out as an anti-hero but soon proves to be one of the most compelling characters in the series. His friendly rivalry with Li Xiangyi or Li Lianhua is quite possibly one of the best bromance dynamics I've seen in any drama. While he is the typical stoic “tsundere” character, his interactions with the other two protagonists are the funniest moments in the whole series. And damn, he's such a striking figure, an absolute badass!
The villains are absolutely despicable! You will never find an ounce of sympathy to spare for these hateful people. But they are not exactly your cookie cutter type of villains since their motivations aren't solely rooted in the fact that they are evil. The supporting characters are also engaging albeit some of them are not as memorable as the others. But perhaps the one character that really struck me was Yun Biqiu. His story of remorse and redemption is truly touching.
The writing could've been better, though. There are parts in this series that left me scratching my head, trying to find logic in them. Some seem too contrived, convenient, and coincidental that I had to suspend my disbelief more than a few times in order to enjoy this series. I wish they could've been more precise in the writing department, but since it is a fantasy drama, I figured I could just chalk it up to mystical arts.
As for the production value, they didn't skimp on the set designs, costumes, and cinematography although there are some scenes that looked iffy to me. I suppose I could attribute that to bad CGI due to lack of budget. The fight scenes are spectacular, though. Most costume C-dramas don't play around with their fight choreography, but this drama, in my opinion, has some of the most convincing fight sequences and the main actors really look like martial artists. I give the stunt coordinators and fight choreographers (apart from the actors of course) the credit for that.
All in all, this was an enjoyable 40-episode drama that I don't regret watching and would probably watch again if I can't find another series to obsess on, or when I miss Li Lianhua. But for now, I'm saying goodbye to my old friends, Lianhua, Fei, and Duobing. Yes, they're my friends now!
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This review may contain spoilers
The Best Thriller This Year
Adapted from the novel “Auspicious Pattern Lotus House” (吉祥纹莲花楼) by Teng Ping (藤萍), Mysterious Lotus Casebook was one of the most anticipated releases this year, from the IQIYI flagship. Starring Cheng Yi, Joseph Zeng, Xiao Shun Yao in lead roles, this male centric wuxia drew attention because of its unique storyline and stellar casting. Directed by Guo Hu and Ren Hai Tao, the story focuses on the adventurous life of our main protagonist, Li Xiangyi (Cheng Yi). Once the revered leader of a powerful sect, Xiangyi falls from grace after an eventful battle with his arch nemesis, Di Feisheng (Xiao Shun Yao). Ten years later, he reemerges as a humble physician, Li Lianhua, while cutting all ties with the martial arts world. But as fate wouldn’t have it, his peaceful existence is disturbed when he accidentally gets entangled with Fan Duobing (Joseph Zeng), a rich young master who intends to work as a detective at the Baichuan Court.Mysterious Lotus Casebook raked in 4 million reservations on the date of its premiere. Audiences were ecstatic with the prominent casting, that includes some big names like Cheng Yi and Joseph Zeng. If you are an avid fan of the “Lost Tomb” franchise, then you will probably understand the charm. Both Cheng Yi and Joseph Zeng have been a part of this popular franchise; with Cheng Yi playing the lead role Zhang Qi Ling in “The Lost Tomb 2” and Joseph Zeng starred as Wu Xie in “Ultimate Note”. Those who are familiar with this storyline might know that Wu Xie and Zhang Qi Ling are an insanely popular fictional couple (known by their ship name, PingXie). As such, the excitement surrounding this show was high pitched. Cheng Yi was recently in news for his xianxia romance “Immortal Samsara”, while Joseph Zeng was cast in the recent wuxia romance “Heroes”; both being major Youku productions. Joining them on this crusade is Xiao Shun Yao, who is slowly gaining popularity after playing negative roles in “The Blue Whisper” and “Till the End of the Moon”.
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/08/19/mysterious-lotus-casebook-series-review-ep-1-to-40/
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A well-told story about the irreplaceable legacy of a sect leader after a selfless self-destruction
This was my very first watching a Chinese drama that was a non-romantic genre that hooked me all the way. A drama that has a substance in which the underlying conflicts, twists, and turns in the development of the story hardly made me stop watching it continuously. There were some predictable scenes at some point in the episodes however; it did not weaken the flow of the story.The selection of casts was great. Joseph Zeng was particularly outstanding here. His performance in this drama went beyond Cheng Yi’s acting as the main lead. His characterization stood out among the rest and was noticeable in the entire drama. I recently watched him in “Romance on the Farm” and he already captured my attention there with his baby face looks, not so much of the acting yet. But in this drama, he properly delivered the role and saw in him a promising actor to watch for.
The component of humor I think also brought this drama receptive to viewers. The shift of tone to make a certain dialogue or scene funny by adding background sound effects was amazingly done by the technical and editing team which indeed made me laugh. Well, the fighting scenes were given for the wuxia enthusiasts and I also enjoyed watching those sharp moves.
I was absolutely satisfied after relying on my choice to watch it from one of the many approving reviews I have read.
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Can’t find any fault
Great drama with so much suspense and things to look forward to after every episode. I love the story line, the smaller plots as they travel across cities and how they compliment the wider bigger plot of the drama. Not a fan of mellow dramatic plot so I’m glad it has minimal of that sorta stuff. Love the unexpected twist towards the end of the drama as well, it gave me such great satisfaction in the end. I must commend, superb performance/ acting by the cast especially Cheng Yi. I wished they’d casted someone else than Chen Duling though - her character is supposed to be a strong martial arts guru/leader but she looks so pitiful /weak 80% of the time. That’s the only miscast I can think of from the entire drama otherwise it’s a really great work by the team.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Wow, such an incredible show
Not much needs to be said about this show, it is one of the best dramas I have ever seen. The cast was incredible which is to be expected of Chung yi he is just so good. I enjoyed how powerful the women were. Qiao Wan Mian, Shi Shui, Su Xiao Yong, He Xiao Hui and Princess Zhao Ling. Were some of my favorites and Fan Duo Bings mother was hilarious. The script was expertly written, including Li Lian hua’s humor. I think Li Xiang Yi is one of my favorite heroes of all time now. His character development was incredible and the way he grew compassionate and humble was endearing to see. It’s incredible how much Dei Fei Sheng connected to him, he saw him as a contemporary. They had an unspoken bond that transcended their differences. It was odd at times and yet impressive. The cases added to the shows overall enjoyment. It is a must watch!!!Was this review helpful to you?
The arrogant will always lose
This drama was incredible. It quickly had me invested in the cases the two leads were solving, and as the story progressed and more and more cases fit together in mysterious ways, I was on the edge of my seat and staying up late to watch another episode. The main characters are wonderful to follow, and the more we learn about them and their world of cultivation, the more complex they become. We see their loyalties tested, past mistakes resurface, and secrets come to light. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that I wished the ending was different than it was.Fang Duobing has always wanted to become a detective of the cultivation world in Baichuan court. However, his parents will not allow it - he is set to marry the princess in an arranged marriage he doesn't want. The court states it will allow him to become a detective if he can prove his skills by solving three cases, which is exactly what he sets out to do. On his first case, he runs into Li Lianhua, known as a miracle physician who can even raise the dead. Duobing doesn't quite believe this, and intends to investigate this quack doctor. Instead, he and Lianhua end up working together to solve a different case, and work together on it quite well. Though the pair doesn't seem to get along all that well at first, they begin to travel together and solve cases, growing closer as they do so. The more cases they solve, the more the dark inner secrets of the cultivation realm come to light, and it seems the world will need a hero to save it.
The main characters in this show really sold me on it. Fang Duobing's naive nature but strong cultivation paired with Li Lianhua's immense knowledge but weak body created a perfect duo. Lianhua's obvious (to the viewer) secrets are bound to come out sooner or later, and it's clear that Duobing thinks everyone is always honest. Even though the cases took multiple episodes to complete each, it never felt like they were dragging on too long because of all the twists in each one. I was never bored watching this show, and frankly couldn't afford to look away since the dialogue holds all the information. This was a fantastic watch and one of the best cultivation dramas I've seen, but be prepared for some heartache in there as well.
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Average but charming
It's a good series to watch if you aren't looking for anything that can cause lack of sleep due to wanting to get to the next episode. Having recently getting back into the Asian series mode, I was super excited to see a new Wuxia series with high ratings. However, the series has the same flaws as with many others. The acting of the main protagonists are just slightly less than average and the only saving grace is they have some chemistry with each other. It feels like actors these days are chosen based on looks and less on their ability to act and draw the audience in. The actions scenes were below average and it made me miss again the days when actors with some actual martial arts skills were chosen for these types of roles. The plot had potential but the transitions were choppy.I did appreciate that the historical costume and makeup weren't as ridiculous as some other series, and nothing was too overly dramatized. And despite it being an overall average, it was still entertaining enough to finish.
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Stand By Me, Immortal Samsara and Love and Redemption.
He is actually an excellent actor in all three although I appreciated his character, Si Feng, the most - in Love and Redemption.
L&R is still by far my top pick when it comes to Cheng Yi.
I have been waiting weeks and months for the MYSTERIOUS LOTUS CASEBOOK and finally it has been released!
What I like about this one so far (two episodes in) is that it leans more towards epic sword fights, physical battles, lots of action and adventure plus some good story telling rather than a drawn out love story or two which ruins it each and every time for me. 1%-5% is fine, but that is about it! However, this isn't original, especially if you have seen other dramas with murder cases being looked into and ultimately solved.
In this one I wonder if it is Cheng Yi's real voice being used rather than a voice over - if it is dubbed over I prefer the person that did it in L & R. However, it isn't too bad even if it is Yi's own natural voice, but whoever did it for the character of Si Feng had the best voice ever.
With most dramas it seems it is normal to start out great for the first 10-15/20 episodes, lag in the middle then pick up again for the last 10 or so episodes. Mind you, I didn't find that with L & R or Ashes Of Love probably because they were my first real C Dramas.
I'm hoping that MLC is going to be just as good and hope it will remain interesting throughout without too many boring moments.
I believe this is meant to be more Wuxia style than Xianxia so there is a strong chance it will deliver 100% as long as there aren't too many weak females in distress with annoying high pitched voices or overdone cliches.
Currently, Cheng Yi in this drama series is nothing like his other characters except maybe one. I'm sure as each episode unfolds there will be more to him than meets the eye.
Have watched 8 episodes now and although I like it - it isn't one of Cheng Yi's BEST drama series at all nor is it going to be one I'd rewatch compared to others.
32 episodes to go!
Made it to Episode 10 and don't know if I will continue - this is most definitely not Cheng Yi's greatest choice when it comes to dramas. His acting is fine, but he reminds me of another actor who played a very similar role. That actor was Li Hong Yi in The Blood Of Youth.
This would have been somewhat tolerable had it stayed with the three main males rather than bringing in an old love interest from the past, also, if Cheng Yi's character had more charisma and exceptional fighting techniques rather than a mere shadow of his former self with no fighting abilities whatsoever.
Cheng Yi needs to find another role like Si Feng only more Wuxia than Xianxia with little romance - bromance is fine!
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Frumos, Emoțional, Captivant
Mie mi-a plăcut mult acest serial, Merită de apreciat, și merită răsplătite eforturile și munca depusă de actori, Păcat că doar la sfârșitul serialului și - a aflat indentitatea reală Li Lian Hua În ansamblu, este acțiune, dragoste, și loialitate, totuși mie mi s-a părut puține că ucenicul : Fang la eclipsat pe Li. Ca deobicei Cheng Yi, este un actor calculat, muncitor, și de asemenea perseverent, astfel succesul nu va întârzia să apară și în Viata lui, eu îl voi sprijini mereu. Mulțumesc frumosWas this review helpful to you?
