My patience is tested to the limit! Highly Recommended!

The drama started out slow and somewhat confusing...(ep1-4)...almost dropped but really glad I stuck to it...
After ep 4, things picked up and oh boy...its agony waiting for new episodes to air...just like waiting for that phone call after the first date...

I'm back to update my review after I finished all 27 episodes for Part 1. I would give a score higher than 10 if I could!!!
These are the reasons:
This is an excellent CDrama - well-made - well done!!! From interesting storylines (not cliche), scripting, casting, directing, especially cinematography!

Storylines: 10/10 - Sub plots seem to get weaved into the main plot really well. Get to learn family values and tradition way and what young dynasty had to go through to survive.

Acting: 100/10
All actors/actresses did an excellent job in their roles...The male lead portrayed the cold, decisive, ferocious General LBY so well...he can speak with his eyes, being anger, love, caring....his gaze is unbelievable! Love him so much when he's in his uniform on horseback with his black armored guards...Also love the emperor and the female lead's dad - General Cheng...All other
casts did a marvelous job as well...make you feel like you are part of the family...
This was made possible by excellent scripting, casting and directing, I believe.

Music: 8/10
I gave 8/10 as I have seen better music from other dramas and I had to search for the OST, like Love of Thousand Years...

Rewatch Value: 10/10
I binged read the story from the internet to ease my pain and agony from the wait...I rewatched several episodes while waiting for the new ones to air so I should give more than 10....lol

Read More

Captivated BL Mystery Drama with Disappointing Ending

Storyline: The twists and turns plots will keep you engaged till the end. The quartet's (Lan Jue, Wang Yan, Zhang Ping and Chen Chou) stories were fun to watch...until the last twist when Gu Qing Zhang (Shulin) showed up...The last plot just didn't make sense when Shulin turned into a villain after spending over a decade as Lan Jue's very close friend. It was real disappointing to see how Empress Dowager got away with all the crimes she committed. Would have been a better ending if Lan Jue could help his friend whom he knew over 10 years accomplished the goal of taking Empress Dowager down rather than supporting her lies and helping her get away with all her crimes...what a pity. The fact that Zhang Ping with the straight forward personality who obsessed with truth would bend at the end and told lies for the empress just doesn't make sense...

Acting: The quartet did an excellent job in their roles. I also enjoyed Gu Qing Zhang's acting.

Music: Nothing to write home about.

Rewatch Value: Although the first time was great, I won't go back and rewatch like some other great dramas.

Read More

Beautiful Costumes/Excellent Acting

Speaking from one who doesn't know the novel for this drama or history behind it, I did enjoy the drama and think it's very entertaining.

Story: The writer did a good job building the storylines to show how the relationship between the three sisters fell apart. Perfect balance of wins and losses between the main characters and the villains, kept the story interesting to the end. Some of the plots, like the second sister who kept trying to hurt her little sister without any guilt were annoying.

Acting: Excellent acting all around, to name a few: Jing Chao delivered a great performance when his brother got castrated and I believed through out as well. We could tell from the fact that a lot of viewers wanted to slap him or really hated him for cheating on his Empress. Shawn Dou acted very well especially when his fiance was taken away. This was the first time I saw Charmaine and I was impressed with her performance. Tiffany's acting was good at the beginning but it could be stronger especially towards the end. All in all, everyone did an excellent job! The costumes for Ming Yi and Tiffany were so beautiful!

Music: nothing to write home about...

Rewatch: maybe on some episodes where the costumes were so beautiful and elegant.

Overall: This drama won't make you depressed after you finish watching it like some other dramas. I did enjoy it and highly recommend it!

Read More

I started watching this drama because of the two main leads. Having seen Zheng YeCheng in An Oriental Odyssey, Love O2O and Royal Nirvana and Zhao Lu Si in Love better than Immortality.

Story: Loved the story line - very sweet, funny and light unlike Royal Nirvana that caused depression. Not like other typical dramas where there are a lot of back stabbings or ill plottings against main leads. I deducted one point because the ending seems very rush. Instead of extending the show another 10-15 episodes, her last life time was crammed into the last 10 minutes of the final episode and caused confusion. Although this is a happy ending story but because it ended very abruptly and left us confused of what actually happened at the end. Luckily Chinese speaking fans were kind enough to clarify what happened in the novel.

Acting/Cast: Great job casting! Loved all the characters, Zichen, Xiao Bai, Meishan, Xuan Zhu, Er Meng, etc. Zheng YeCheng and Zhao Lu Si did an excellent job here and their chemistry is off the chart. Too bad this didn't start until the last 5-6 episodes. Really hope to see more dramas with both of them as leads. Other actors also did a great job.

Music: I love the soundtrack so much. Both opening and ending songs are so beautiful. The music in the first episode when Princess Yanyan danced to the song composed by Fu Jiuyun is also unbelievably awesome, unreal! The scene is so beautiful, breathtaking and celestial as well. Well done!

Rewatch Value: Absolutely! Just for the first episode for Princess Yanyan's dance and last 5-6 episodes for the love story and chemistry of Zheng YeCheng and Zhao Lu Si.

Overall: This is a very good drama, romantic, sweet, funny and won't leave you depressed at the end.

Read More

One of very few dramas with great chemistry between ML and FL

I started watching this drama mainly because of George Hu...and was glad to see the second ML - Prince He from Story of Yanxi Palace.

Story: Storyline is quite similar to A Love so Beautiful with several added evil plots. Great job with the flashbacks to the time they were in Art school. Could be better if the ML and FL get back together in the first half of the drama instead of towards the end.

Acting/Cast: Excellent job casting and acting all around. The main characters are all well developed. Great performance from George Hu - fits his role perfectly, from a college grad who didn't know what his dream was to a confident young man who followed his heart back home. Hong Yao also did an outstanding job as the second ML portraying famous basketball player who loved the FL unconditionally for seven years. This is the first time I saw Adi Kan's work. She is also perfect for this role! I could see her character developed from an innocent girl in Art school who fell head over heels for her Senior and followed him like a little puppy to a mature grown woman seven years later that still loved her Senior unconditionally. Will definitely check out her other dramas.

Music: Loved the music - Don't Say Goodbye sang by George Hu

Rewatch: Yes! all the great scenes when the FL and ML get together...skip all the evil plots!

Read More

Start watching for Leo and become a big fan of Jing Chao

I started out this drama not knowing any of the main characters except for Leo from Ashes of Love.

Story: It seemed like there were three different storylines: FL and ML Prince Wu You, FL and 2nd ML (General Fu Chou) and FL and Emperor of Qi (Leo). For FL and ML storyline between them was really weak and in addition, there was no chemistry between them at all. In fact, the storyline between FL and 2nd ML (General Fu Chou) kept me captivated and continued to watch till the end. The storyline between FL and Emperor Qi wasn't developed very well but still much better than the FL and ML storyline. I'd probably give a higher score if the storyline for the FL and ML Prince Wu You was dropped and we could focus more on the other two storylines with General Fu Chou and the Emperor Qi.

Acting/Cast: I was not impressed with FL or ML as there were no chemistry between them and their storyline was really weak. To my surprise, this was the first drama I watched the 2nd ML - Jing Chao as General Fu Chou. His acting was excellent and on point. I was crying watching the scene where he caught the FL, his wife then, and ML in the bathtub together. His voice and facial expressions brought tears to my eyes. He was the one that kept me following his storyline to the end. For Emperor Qi, Leo did an excellent job portraying his heart ache through his eyes and his expressions as expected. His sacrifice for the FL at the end also brought tears to my eyes.

Music: The theme song for FL and General Fu Chou was my favorite of all, its a very sad song though.

Rewatch Value: I gave an 8 as I would prob go back and watch only the parts with the 2nd ML - General Fu Chou and Emperor Qi

Overall: good drama especially General Fu Chou and Emperor Qi storylines and their acting skills!

Read More

Journey of his Love Story

I started watching this drama because I am a big fan of Zheng Ye Cheng.

Story: The drama started out with ZYC telling his love story to a group of kids. The journey begins with ZYC a great general with military power entered into an arranged marriage with the Princess and lost his power to the Emperor. A lot of interesting twist and turn plots that keep you engaged through out. Lots of funny and sweet moments. I'm hoping that this will be a sweet and happy ending. My only complain is that there is a delay for eng subs and we only have subs up to ep 28.

Acting: ZYC did an excellent job portraying a cold general, yet caring, sweet, gentle towards his love. He looks amazing in the uniform or in the white costume in the first and last episodes!!! With his acting, you'll feel like you're part of the journey, on the roller coaster ride with him. First time watching Xu Chu Yue, she also did an excellent job portraying a cute innocent Princess. Haven't seen any of the support folks but they all did an excellent job as well.

Rewatch Value: I plan to rewatch once they add eng subs to all episodes, especially the ones with sweet and funny moments.

Looking forward to more of Zheng Ye Cheng's dramas with happy ending!!!

Read More

Cliche story lines/plots---Short Falls on Everything!

I was so looking forward to Cheng Yi and Yang Zi drama...both leads' acting is great and there's enough chemistry between them...However....it just can't make this a good drama, let alone a great one...

Story lines: 2/10
It reminded me so much of TMOPB and Ashes of Love and a little bit of Goodbye my Princess...when the FL jumps or take meds to forget about her love...just backlashes from her own twin sister and another crazy fairy that caused heartache and misunderstanding...How could a heaven realm have such dark and evil fairies that can get away with their bad deeds!

Acting: 8/10
The score is for the male and female leads as I really liked both of them. I was not impressed with other cast members...
However, the two leads just can't carry the drama or make it a good one when everything else fails

Music: 4/10
Nothing to write home about..

Cinematography: -10/10 and yes that's a negative score!!!
The scripting, plotting, casting, directing is not up to par at all...

Rewatch Value: -10/10
I had to drop after only 8 episodes so the rewatch value would definitely be in the negative as well.

Read More