This review may contain spoilers
This is for adult viewers or people who want more than just fantasy
This is a romance between races, but also tragic story of self-sacrifice. Most folks will hate the ending, but for me it was a world better than The Love Between Fairy and Devil!From the first episode I was spell-bound. Considering I am not a big fan of fantasy this was one of the best I had seen in general and the best of 2024. Why? Consistent production. Great editing. Fun costumes, awesome color palette. Solid acting. Good story and interesting characters. Music and the lyrics! But what beats Burning Flames and Love Game for me was complex subtext of this story. The whole idea of animosity between two groups is nothing new but I have not seen anything like this before. I admit I only saw 350+ dramas, but this script was smart inside out. I was raised during the era of post-communist regime in the country where we could not openly speak of the tragedies and terror around us, so we developed an artistic, metaphoric way of communicating our observations, dissent and longings. I loved this drama because of how it spoke to that. If you are looking for an easy, HE romance, nah. Skip it. If you want a good story that is visually beautiful and filled with wisdom - give it a try.
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Ignore the Ratings – This Drama Is a Gem
A Visual and Emotional Masterpiece"A Love Story of Oiled Paper Umbrella" is a visually stunning and emotionally rich Chinese drama that masterfully combines fantasy, historical romance, and deep emotional themes. From the very first episode, it captivates viewers, drawing them into a world of mystery, love, and self-sacrifice.
Impeccable Production Quality
The drama’s production value is truly exceptional. With mesmerizing costumes and detailed set designs, it seamlessly blends historical authenticity with a fantastical charm. The color palette and cinematography amplify the mood, turning each scene into a visual feast.
A Story with Depth and Meaning
While exploring themes of love across divides and the power of trust, the narrative brings a fresh perspective that feels innovative. The layered storytelling is thought-provoking, offering viewers a meaningful journey filled with rich subtext and profound emotional moments.
Strong Performances Bring the Story to Life
The cast delivers standout performances, with Yu Meng Long and Li Zi Xuan leading the way. Their chemistry and emotional depth make the characters’ journey heartfelt and engaging, leaving a lasting impression.
Music That Complements the Magic
The soundtrack, featuring haunting melodies and meaningful lyrics, elevates the drama further. Each piece of music enhances the emotional weight of the story, lingering in the audience's memory long after the final episode.
A Must-Watch for Thoughtful Storytelling
If you’re seeking a lighthearted romance, this may not be the right choice. However, for those who appreciate visually stunning, deeply moving stories with meaningful narratives, "A Love Story of Oiled Paper Umbrella" is a must-watch. It’s a tale that resonates long after it ends, making it one of the standout dramas of 2024.
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This review may contain spoilers
Demons, and human, and oh my
Plot-Demons Hunters hunt down demons only to learn one of them is one and yeah if you seen Love in an Eastern game or fangs of Fortune it's basically the same type of deal. It doesn't really stand out as better or worse honestly while the other show has cliche characters that don't really matter because they fit the mold so they work, this show character feel hollow and empty
Music -
I can't really recall any of the music and I legit spent episode 16-24 before writing this thing. I think they had a song about an umbrella.
Characters -
Empty for troupes
Female lead(Meng) she spend most of the show in a hypothetical back and forth everytime she finds out something new about herself (yes she is the demon) she starts breaking down this happens every 5 episodes. The romance between her and the male lead I don't exactly like. But seriously she should have ended up with the Prince he was the better choice and honestly was better looking.
Male lead(baize you) is your stereotypical good guy in a sense he is the hero at the female expense. It doesn't help that the way the show is framed that even if he was torturing her to help her both us and the audience don't learn until way after making it harder and harder to accept their love because some of the torture wasn't even necessary but to make him look good in the bad guys eyes, he barely stands up for her unless it's to help progress the plot. It feels like he is forced by plot to be with her. Even for a cold character that secretly has feelings it doesn't work. My favorite part is when they left a take in with Oreos around his mouth for no reason but to show the viewers they didn't care about the show.
Goa ji- boy did they try to give him a redemption arc that didn't work. Honestly the first time you meet him he is trying to drug his Jr into sleeping with him, trying to get her dad to force her into marriage, and then keeping it a secret that her father is possessed just to get with her, then trying to kill the leads (which good for him) by using the emperor, only to be castrated by the empress which honestly most people wanted done from the pill scene. The reveal he was a demon actually trapped in the painting the entire time doesn't really make his redemption worth it.
The twin officers - they are barely characters but I didn't like that they were going to stay in a corrupt organization just for the money and torture the man they called their brother. Their deaths was anticlimactic because you kinda feel like it's karma.
The Empress - being a bad guy was well obvious. I mean how did no one think that if they planted someone as a prime minister they wouldn't have done it to say an Empress because emperors in these are either really good or horny slime balls with 2 braincells.
Dream demon- that character hurted especially since he was the best looking one besides Uncle Wu anytime they appeared on screen I was feeling like I can keep watching but yeah the ending for him was legit lame. I didn't want a secret villain. I wanted to see him actually not be another horrible male love interest. Like every male love interest in this show besides the prince is scum.
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