Bit formulaic if I’m honest
There’s lots to like and plenty to dislike in this drama.Likes:
The actors were great, even if the FL was very grating to begin with. The character development was spot on, the chemistry between the FL & ML slowburn and realistic (with its up and downs honest and believable) and the subplot of the embassy shenanigans was uncovered layer by layer which added intrigue. The production values and costumes were great even though the FL’s hair looked plastic.
Dislikes:
Although the ML quickly worked out whodunnit for each crime after a while I wished there had been less of them to solve as after a while I got a bit bored and I will admit that I skipped a few chapters (ok, about half). Additionally, the English accents and intonation was hilariously awful.
Would I watch this again, no.
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Lots to love but a bit disappointing TBH
This story continues the story from Flourished Peony also starring Yang Zi as Mudan and Li Xian As Jiang Changyang but gets a bit pedestrian in places though Jiang’s ghost, popping up in Mudan’s consciousness broke my heart.The two main characters continue to deepen their feelings and eventually (and I really do mean eventually 🤦🏼♀️) admit their feelings. The bad guys lose but even though they come to a sticky end I still feel very sad for Lui Chang, played so convincingly by Miles Wei as he continues to be a pawn cruelly used by Prince Ning (brilliantly played by Tu Song Yan who couldn’t be a more dominant, dysfunctional and selfish father and the absolute opposite of the cute, shy and supportive one he was in Go Ahead opposite Tang Songyun and Song Weilong) who realises too late that he’s backed the wrong team.
Overall the script writers did a great job, adding depth and subplot magic to this drama through the use of its supporting cast. There are plenty of other relationships that develop and for once we don’t really lose any main good guys to some pointless plot line which is refreshing but the end the concluding scenes was too sappy even for my taste. That said, why on earth the emperor didn’t just stab Prince Ning instead of completely collapsing to him I really don’t understand- this part could have been better written so I deducted points for this.
The production values, fight scenes and costumes/ makeup was top notch and often subtly conveyed additional context that the dialogue and acting alone did not which just gained this drama points in my eyes.
Would I watch this again? No because I was only watching it for the playful banter between Yang Zi and Li Xian and I think they did a better job in Go Go Squid
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Well I wasn’t expecting this to be so damn funny!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I watched this but the fact that Korn, a mafia Godfather, put up with the antics of a trainee body guard who pee’d in a pool killing the eldest son’s koi carp, was caught setting off the fire alarms while having a sly fag and got drunk on the job make sense later on. But at the time I saw this as just the very funny antics of a clueless, slightly feral, former bartender. There are lots of other incredibly funny moments that prevent this drama from becoming too dark and they are perfectly timed to show that even where there is violence and death there can be moments of hilarity. The script writers should be applauded for what we get to watch so I awarded extra marks to the story score because of this.The story basically revolves round Kinn, Korn’s son, and Porsche, a young man orphaned when his parents died in a car accident leaving him to look after his younger brother. The plot focuses on their burgeoning love story and documents the highs and lows of their journey set in a world of gambling, drugs and other nefarious activities, although these provide a backdrop rather than become the main focus.
As the story progresses it becomes clear that all is not what it seems regarding Porsche’s parents’ death but I deducted marks because one of the side characters - Kinn’s younger brother Kim - seemed to spend most of his on screen time digging into what happened but his efforts to uncover the truth just fizzled out so I didn’t really see why this sub plot was included. Perhaps it was to introduce Porsche’s brother to Kim but I think there were better and more logical ways for them to meet.
The chemistry between the two male leads is sizzling and the NC scenes leave little to the imagination but are tastefully and beautifully shot. There were occasions when they were so playful they were a joy to watch yet at other times you wondered if they would ever really trust each other enough to become totally committed yet through it all it was obvious they were deeply in love. Kudos to Mile and Apo for getting their characters just right.
Fairly early on we are introduced to Vegas, the Korn’s nephew and Pete, one of Kinn’s bodyguards and as the drama unfolds they become an unlikely pairing. The actors who played these characters were mesmerising and had as equally as strong a romance as the main leads, however how they come to be together was totally unexpected and quite shocking and although they were incredibly dysfunctional I was still rooting for them, even at the end I wanted them to somehow survive.
The settings were brilliant from sleazy bars to high end apartments everything worked perfectly as backdrops to the plot. The supporting cast was also well rounded and added strength and depth to the story an d the overall production values were high.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely but I would really like to know how Kinn and Porsche ended up in the middle of nowhere following an attempted abduction but in the version I watched on IQIYI someone thought it was a good idea to cut that bit for some reason!
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What a brilliant plotline
Update:This is now available on YouTube in its entirety and was so much more cohesive as a result though I still don’t know if Hua Yong ever revealed that he had Sheng Shao You’s grandfather’s watch. The plot line bets the second lead pairing made much more sense and as a result I felt so much more empathy for Gou Tu and the situation he forced himself into though more could have been made of the reunion.
Would I watch again as it’s whole in one place? Absolutely, if even just for the shirt clips scenes. Phew!
The world as we know it has been turned upside down by a virus that created three distinct groups of human - where Alphas rule, Omegas are their partners and Betas exist.
The story centres round two main characters a dominant CEO, Sheng Shao You who is a S-level alpha (top dog in the alpha hierarchy) and Hun Yong a timid young man who is one of the secretaries at a rival firm.
Over time their world unravels, truths are told and this new world order is turned on its head by the emergence of a fourth group of human, the enigmas. A group so rare that they are the stuff of folklore.
The two main actors, Qui Ding Jie who plays Shao You and Eliot Huang who plays Hun Yong are well cast and have sizzling chemistry. Even when the truth starts revealing itself there are sparks flying ( though how Shao You ever forgave Hun Yong is beyond me and IMHO the more we find out the more of a creepy, obsessed stalker Yong becomes though the writers glossed over this little issue).
The supporting cast are also well chosen and the second pairing of Shen Wen Lang and Gao Tu are also convincing even as they fail to act on their feelings. One has obvious feelings and it is only after he disappears does the other realise what was under his nose all along.
I’ve really enjoyed both the concept and the delivery of this drama and it’s a shame it was banned in China but I’d like to think this will not prevent the actors from continuing to delight us with their talent in other productions.
Would I watch again? Probably not as there is so much more out there to watch and I had to scramble across several platforms in order to get access to all the episodes.
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Cute little BL story
This cute little BL story centres around Prince Khanin played by Nunew Charawin and Charan, his body guard, played by Zee Pruk Panich. If you’ve watched anything else with them in you’ll already know that their chemistry is fabulous. In fact some of the kissing towards the end of the drama looks more spontaneous than staged.They meet in what should have been a simple ‘escort the young man home to meet the family he didn’t know he had’ situation but which turns into an all out rescue and scramble.
The younger actors are all beautiful and over time we are introduced to two other love interest pairings and a strong female, all of which face their own challenges - this drama has several sub plots from these people that add emotion and depth as they address issues created by parents or society. There are twists and turns (but I’m afraid I guessed the baddie quite quickly) where some of the characters take control of their lives, others own up to the misdemeanours they’ve created and a couple are beyond redemption. Unfortunately there are a few missed or downplayed issues that never really get addressed.
The fight scenes, especially at the beginning are terrible (sorry!) as you can clearly see that although punches are thrown, they don’t even get close to their targets yet still they fall. They did get better as the show went on, thankfully.
Prince Khanin’s butler Chakri, played by Ballchin Tanawat is utterly brilliant and manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on several occasions much to the two main characters’ frustrations (if you get what I mean) and throughout the drama he didn’t fail to put a smile on my face. I will be watching out for him…
Production values were excellent, even though the palace sets and costumes gave me Princess Diaries vibes, and apart from the fight scenes this is a great mini series.
What’s not to like about a country that is governed by the A-see-wot-e-wot-in family? Sorry, this name made me chuckle every time I heard it!
Would I watch it again? Just for the male lead chemistry and the fabulous A-see-wot-e-wot-ins I may come back but not any time soon.
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This short and sweet 4-parter provides closure to Cutie Pie
This series needs to be watched after Cutie Pie (and make sure you watch the uncut version) in order to gain full closure to that series.Kuea and Lian are now in an established and healthy relationship and are planning their wedding. However once their big day arrives things go down hill rapidly for a number of reasons but once they realise that the only important part of the day is the celebration of their feelings and that everything else is just window dressing, the day brightens up both figuratively and literally.
The penultimate scene is a beautiful, raw, powerful and tender homage to the main couple’s love and you need to watch this series just for this scene alone. The music used is called Windfall by Megan Wofford (thank you Shazam!) and it’s also used in Jack and Joker.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely
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Great little BL rom com with sizzling chemistry - updated review after 2nd viewing
This series needs to be immediately followed up by Cutie Pie II (uncut) in order to gain full closure and I will comment on this second series as part of this review.The plot centres around Kuea and Lian who first meet when Lian is 7 and Kuea is a brand new baby. Lian immediately falls in love and they develop a strong bond which Kuea’s grandfather recognises and asks that the two boys enter into an arranged marriage. The drama is about their similarities and differences and whether they can weather the storm created by the fact that they try to be what they think the other needs rather than are true to themselves. Underlying this main plot is a sub plot highlighting the fact that love is love regardless of gender and the unfairness that gay couples face by not being able to celebrate their love through marriage.
Once the drama moved past the initially odd relationship between Kuea and Lian and I begin to understand what they were and weren’t saying to each other I became very invested in both the developing plot and their real feelings for each other. The acting is fabulous not just between the 2 males leads whose chemistry was electric but the rest of the main supporting cast who are equally talented and believable and there are some stand out performances including Foei, Lian’s right hand man who is crazy eccentric. Two other couples emerge as the story progresses and again there are wonderfully powerful scenes from them too.
The music scenes were really enjoyable because each time Kuea performed as Kilin he sang complete songs (that lasted for more than four lines and a quick chorus) with lyrics that were relevant to the situation Kuea and Lian found themselves in at that moment. Also the actor who played Kuea has a fantastic voice and excellent stage presence (yes, I know he’s a singer in real life)
The penultimate scene (in part 2) is a beautiful, raw, powerful and tender homage to true love and is something I will cherish forever. You need to watch both dramas just for this scene alone.
What’s not to like? Until the blanks are filled in through flashbacks I wasn’t really sure where the story was going to take me. Kuea is a sort of weird performing puppy dog on their date nights (always on a Friday) and Lian tries to control everything about him both on these evenings and during every other interaction they have. I initially thought ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ and I couldn’t get my head round the idea that all the parents seemed to think that a same sex arranged marriage was a safe and healthy place for Kuea. It probably took until about chapter 8 or 9 before I thought they should be together. I am not homophobic (IMO people should be allowed to love who they love and not be penalised for it in any way) but docked marks against the ‘Story’ category for how weird I found it that the parents assumed the boys would be happy to be in arranged marriage based on the assumptions made by the grandfather. What if the boys had not been gay?! Arranged marriages can be challenging enough at the best of times but in a country that did not recognise same sex marriage at the time this was filmed it’s doubly difficult to imagine that the parents would be comfortable for them to be together. IMHO the plot would have been so much more plausible if the grandfather had interviewed the boys (and the conversations interwoven into the story line) to give him grounds for recommending that they get married.
Would I watch this again? Despite the negatives mentioned, yes, yes I would
REVIEW UPDATE:
I watched this again as I came across the OST from when Kirin exposed his true identity at Gemini and unbeknownst to him Lian was in the audience and it made me keen to watch it again.
Not only did I find it much funnier (certainly in the first few episodes) but I fell in love with the giggles that emanated from Kuea and Lian in the NC scenes that reinforced the fact that s*x isn’t just about bodice ripping passion but that it can be playful too. It was refreshing to see this side of a relationship being portrayed in a drama.
Nunew was only 21 when he acted in this drama and he absolutely nailed the angst, fear and insecurity his character felt when he realised that nobody took him seriously as a grown up, capable of grown up thinking and decision making. He was also spot on in the more positive and heartwarming scenes. So kudos for his talent. The chemistry between him and Zee was so believable and they are a highly skilled, great pairing.
On watching this a second time I also realised much earlier that although the two main characters were groomed to become life partners by the elders, they probably would have fallen for each other anyway and what made it all more believable were some of the more subtle exchanges that I missed the first time round as I was too busy being judgy.
All in all I am glad I rewatched this as I got so much more enjoyment the second time around.
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This is definitely not a straight forward romance!
This story is about a female called Mu Qing Ge who heads up The West Mountain Sect, has a reputation for being a frivolous demon who takes on only good looking apprentices but who is wise beyond her smoke screen facade and Su Yi Shui a young, very straight laced, talented young man who is coerced into joining her sect.Over time they develop a bond which is put to the ultimate test when she sacrifices herself and Su Yi Shui does everything in his path to undo what has been done.
Deng Wei was perfect for this role (which is high praise as I still haven’t forgiven him for stealing the girl in Lost You Forever) and is able to portray both the angry young man forced to join The West Mountain Sect and the older heart heavy cultivator who ends up dealing with a young woman who is everything he used to be. Julia Xiang is fabulous and portrays a frivolous woman one moment and a deeply caring one the next. Their chemistry is great and you feel for them as they navigate their way through this story.
The plot holds together well and the supporting actors are believable with three dimensions and character development, especially the evil sister, played by Zhang Wei Na.
Production values, costumes and the music score all add to the overall feeling of this story.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely
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The Boy Next World Special Episode: A World Where We Don’t Know Each Other
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This special episode clears things up yet tantalises
In order for this review to make any sense you need to have watched The Boy Next World first.In the first half of this special edition we encounter a very timid, bespectacled Phu (he is alluded to in a couple of snippets from season 1) who is stalking 2nd Cir (the pony tail version). This half of the special is absolutely hilarious and the culmination of their interaction ends with Cir practically devouring Phu.
At the beginning of the second half ‘our’ Phu wakes (it’s morning and he’s lying in bed with Cir) from a dream where he is the timid and bespectacled version of himself and ‘our’ Cir gets jealous when Phu recounts his dream. In addition as this segment unfolds we get a better understanding of the time dimension anomaly.
The final scene is tantalising and I’m hoping that it’s because a second series is planned - let’s be honest there is so much scope with this concept and although Boss and Noeul are sizzling together there is so much more that could be explored like will The Hag get her claws removed? Will Loukprai marry the younger brother? What happened to create the 3rd Cir and these time dimensions etc etc.
In both halves the chemistry between the lead couple is engaging and heartfelt and in the alternate reality P’Wim and P’Jin are an established couple and very sweet to watch. The script is on point and the use of existing characters such as Tee and Nalin etc is a nice touch.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely
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The English version is highly censored, grrr
Having read some of the reviews I now realise it was not me going mad, but there are bits that made no sense because whole sections had been edited out, for example the consent and cond*m scene between Rain and P’Payu was completely missing - I saw them chatting in the bath then all of a sudden Rain was alone in bed so there was no understanding of the fact that their relationship had moved to a whole new level. Another example is that I couldn’t understand why P’Pai was so interested in Sky as the version I saw didn’t even have them chatting at the race meet (where they ended up in bed together) so future references made no sense whatsoever. These are two of the most obvious examples (can’t think why…) but there are several more.If anyone can recommend how I get to see the complete story I would be most grateful
The chemistry is off the charts for both couples and I loved how P’Payu wanted Rain to put his studies first and P’Pai was so supportive, understanding and protecting of Sky. They really are wonderful examples of loving and nurturing couples.
Rewatch value? 100% if it was the complete, non censored version
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Confused? You will be!
What a brilliant concept for a BL storyline that keeps the audience guessing!PLEASE NOTE: Don’t bother watching the English version put out on YouTube by Me Mind Y as there are whole chunks missing (the child swap thing towards the end of the series is a perfect example and you won’t get some of the dream sequences either) that make an already confusing plot almost unwatchable. Make sure to watch it on iQIYI where you can view the whole thing as well as the special episode (I’ve left a review for this too).
The plot starts at university where we meet P’Cir who wakes up from an accident telling everyone that Phu is his boyfriend and then he escapes from hospital to run to Phu’s student apartment to check that he’s ok and to tell him they they are in a relationship but that he is from a parallel universe. Phu is completely surprised as he’s never spent any time with Cir but is so worried about him that he decides he needs to help him return to his own world.
There are plenty of humorous, steamy and poignant moments in a drama with an excellent cast (the two main leads work really well together with fabulous chemistry and the secondary pairing is also believable and engaging).
There are twists and turns and by the end you realise that although Cir is not from a parallel universe, there are other versions of himself that exist with other versions of Phu and that he’s met a couple of his counterparts.
The special episode that aired independently and after this series also helps join the dots so is well worth a watch too.
Would I watch this again? I originally watched the YouTube version then found it on iQIYI so have already seen it a second time.
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Light and fluffy romcom at its best
If you’re looking for a cute story to make you smile then this is one for you. The plot is fairly simple and it’s easy to predict the outcome but that’s ok as the actors carry you along with them so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. The ending was perfect and even the bad guys’ ending made me smile and go “awwww” in a good way.The plot centres on the monarch’s son who is saved by a girl in the woods. Something miraculous happens, she saves his life and when they part they take with them one half each of a piece of very distinctive living stone that they name jasper.
Roll forward a number of years and they meet up again and have an instant connection when he hears her playing the drums on one of his many trips round the fictional kingdom his father rules over - a peaceful place that thrives on music and honesty.
There are two other couples in this drama and eventually the right ones pair up but there are plot twists along the way that make you want to strangle some of the characters for being conniving or downright stupid. The jasper is key to a lot of the misunderstanding between the two main characters but eventually the truth comes to light.
The actors are really good with great chemistry and no expense has been spared for the production value. I want to give a special mention to the costumes which are amazing, especially the three main female outfits which are just beautiful and one particular male costume that stands out has fans embroidered along the edge which The Young Lord wore at the Jiuru Banquet. Even Eleven’s extra thumb looked fairly real.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely
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Great little story
I’m not sure why I spotted this little BL story but it’s a great plot.There are plenty of emotions running through this and on the whole the acting is good although the body language between dialogue is a little stilted at times.
The story is about a poor little rich kid who has no love only duty to his father and his company and a rich little poor kid who’s been shown so much love by his father. Enough for the both of them.
Their path to happiness is not an easy one but eventually they get what they deserve.
Great production values and a realistic take on the harsh reality of real life for two men who take on the difficult decision to become a couple in a world not very tolerant of gay couples.
Would I watch it again? Probably not but it was a pleasant way to pass some time.
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Wow! Utterly awful yet brilliant at the same time
Wow! What an intense roller coaster of a ride! Not a story for the faint hearted or when you’re feeling down as there are so many utterly heartbreaking and angsty moments.I hated this story as it was so tragic with lots of character deaths that upset me with their poignancy (OK so the heavenly empress was an absolutely horrible person and all I wanted was for her to just crawl back under her rock and die which finally she did) and sad plot lines. However this was also the reason that I loved this story. There were so many twists and turns that took my breath away.
The acting was incredible and the whole cast was perfect for the role they played. I loved Luo Yunxi’s character, so tragic and compelling. Yang Zi acted incredibly as she grew from completely silly air head (think most of Ester Yu’s sickly sweet characters and you’ll be close) to a woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders who flip flopped between the two brothers. I’d not seen Deng Lun in anything before and it’s so sad that he left the industry due to tax evasion as I loved him in this. His sobbing at the end practically broke me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
There only seemed to be a couple of songs (but very haunting and definite ear worms) throughout the whole drama which was a bit weird as no expense was spared on the costumes, sets and CGI. The other frustration that I had was the floppy wig they gave Xu Feng as it fell all over his face in such a way as to detract from his beauty and acting.
Would I watch again? Probably not as it was so intense I’m not sure I’m strong enough to watch it twice!
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Great story, wonderful ending
I’m not going to say what the ending is but it is priceless!I will admit that for me the plot gets a little bit boring in the middle as the main characters take a very loooong time to unearth the truth behind a fire that claimed the lives of many people over a decade earlier but it all make sense in the end.
The ML and FL are brilliant and over time their romance blossoms and they fall deeply in love and there are super angsty bits as well as some lighthearted moments peppered throughout.
Production values, costumes and supporting cast values are high in this drama.
Ding Yuxi is brilliant and provides a stellar performance as the ice cold, totally focused Head of Imperial Guard and is the perfect foil for Anci Deng’s character who is sceptical about finding anything good in their arranged marriage. Over time they learn to trust and enjoy each other’s superior intellect and then love starts to blossom as they realise they are just what the other needs. Twists and turns take this otherwise very pedestrian plot up a notch as bit by bit they put the puzzle pieces together.
Would I watch again? Definitely
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