Contrary to naysayers, the story is intact. Brave and noble, too.

If you're looking for a fluffy, bubble-gum drama that would not require you to think, or if you just want to see Dylan Wang's kissing scenes and are not in the least bit curious about the title of the drama, take note - only by firing up some brain cells would you fully appreciate this.

Unchained Love tells the love story of Xiao Duo, a mysterious eunuch who is the second most powerful man in the empire next only to the emperor, and Bu Yinlou, a young concubine-born noblewoman who is swindled by her father's legal wife to become one of the aged emperor's concubines. Before Yinlou meets the emperor, he dies, leaving her to become one of his childless widows who are to be sacrificed as tribute ladies to accompany him in the afterlife. Xiao Duo saves Yinlou from this cruel fate, starting a collusion between two intelligent, cunning and passionate characters that develops into friendship and eventually love.

Dylan Wang is perfectly cast as Xiao Duo, the head of an imperial bureau that enforces peace and order in the empire. Six years ago, he entered the Imperial City then used his martial arts skills and charms to gain a powerful position that would enable him to investigate the murder of his younger brother. Yuqi Chen shows exceptional acting skills as Bu Yinlou, the illegitimate daughter of a noble family who pretends to be stupid and lazy to hide her intelligence and wit, refusing to participate in palace power games.

The rest of the cast is as remarkable and three-dimensional, notably Peter Ho as the new emperor who is obsessed with Yinlou, and Zeng Li as the previous emperor's empress who is obsessed with Xiao Duo. The emperor's and ex-empress's oppressive desires to possess the objects of their obsession contrast with the unchained love between Xiao Duo and Yinlou that seeks the beloved's survival, freedom and happiness.

The title of the novel on which the drama is based, Fu Tu Ta, refers to the tower where tribute ladies are sacrificed to join newly-deceased emperors. It is thus a symbol of oppression that brought about such inhumane practices as requiring newly widowed imperial concubines to either become tribute ladies or attend to their dead husbands' remains in the Imperial Mausoleum for the rest of their lives. Another oppressive law forces male palace workers to give up their manhood, that is, become eunuchs. Oppression is also manifested in the new emperor's obsession with Yinlou and the ex-empress's obsession with Xiao Duo.

Much ado has been made about scenes that were cut due to censorship. In my opinion, only about six cut scenes had some significance but none affected the story. The absence of those steamy scenes doesn't matter as the intensity of Xiao Duo and Yinlou's passion still shines through and the remaining romantic scenes are more meaningful than the cut ones. In fact, I think the removal of some scenes served the story better. I would have been immediately turned off Yinlou had the scene of her tastelessly jumping on and kissing Xiao Duo at the start of their acquaintance not been cut.

It's rather amusing how the censored scenes provide a metaphor for Xiao Duo's manhood. Despite the cut scenes, the story is intact.

In a genre that glorifies revenge-killing, I applaud the bravery of this drama in showing how true love can rid the heart of the oppressive power of hatred that fuels the obsession for revenge. In a master stroke of storytelling, justice for his brother is served without Xiao Duo resorting to such a cowardly act as killing an unarmed man cold-bloodedly. Thus, I consider any alleged flaw, such as choppy editing due to a few censored-out scenes, more than offset by the uncharacteristic noble values espoused by this drama - love, peace, patience and forgiveness, among others.

Another thing I love about this drama is how humor that is mostly subtle and witty is injected every now and then. The ridiculous knock-on-the-wall communication, Yinlou outwitting kidnapping attempts and other hilarious situations and witticisms had me in stitches.

And yet another thing I love is the ending that is so loaded with symbolism it could occupy hours of discussions about oppression. About hope rising from its ashes. About love prevailing over its chains. That scene startled me that a Chinese drama could be that poetic, daring to disappoint fans hoping for a more explicit ending. It also gave me respect for low-budget cdramas that could dare to choose art over a crowd-pleasing happily-ever-after scene.

Read More

Daily dose of laughter

If you're looking for a regular drama and would be disappointed with a sitcom, please give this a pass. Don't say you weren't warned, giving this a sucky rating because it's not in the format you wanted. But if you're the open, adventurous type, give yourself a treat and tune in.

The series is packaged in 30-minute sitcom-style episodes. It revolves around Planning Department 3 of Gaofa Electronics Group that is responsible for coming up with new products for the company. While the prevailing theme is comedy, there are also heart-tugging moments. As with any other sitcom, some episodes might not be your cup of tea, but there are many that I consider masterpieces, like the costume/historical segment in episodes 33 and 34. And even episodes that are not spectacular are useful in getting to know the characters better.

Here are the flawed but endearing members of Planning Department 3 who can tickle your funny bone and warm your heart if you let them:

Li Tianran (Zheng Kai) - wishy-washy but cool guy whose ambition is to be a team leader

Fan Si Si (Chen Yu Qi) - competent worker who has had enough of being duped into working overtime thus gets herself transferred to Planning Department 3 after noticing that the team area is usually dark after 5 pm indicating nobody works overtime there

Bai Ma Shuai (Dylan Wang) - incredibly rich intern who does not want to depend on his dad's money to get ahead in the world

Ji Wa Wa (Liang Chao) - devoted family man who sometimes has to choose between home and work

Yu Qi Miao (Zhang Shao Gang) - the department head with a fiery temper

Jiang Mei (Zhong Li Li) - pretty, earnest and pleasant but turns wild after a few sips of alcohol

Yao Si Wen (Wu Ya Heng) - lonely bachelor who forces his officemates to have dinner with him

Wu Yi Mei (Cheng Zi) - beauty-obsessed professional whose face has been rendered expressionless by too much plastic surgery

Wu Ming Shi (Zhang Yue Chi) - introvert who oftentimes feels invisible but is the team's unsung hero

Read More

Love is the key

Ever Night 2 is a fantasy gem about two people who could be the keys to stopping a catastrophic everlasting night from befalling their world. The cinematography and soundtrack are awesome. Roc Chen's background music is sublime. And underneath its beautiful facade and riveting action sequences, the story runs deeper, spanning mortal, spiritual and supernatural realms, with the survival of the world at stake.

The love story between the main leads is scintillating, shining brightly amidst their harrowing circumstances. Despite the attention of the world's most beautiful women, Ning Que would stick by Sangsang's side, loving, protecting and taking care of her even when the whole world has made it almost impossible to do so. Dylan Wang successfully brought the lead role of Ning Que to life with his boundless energy, swagger, passion and charismatic good looks. Ireine Song is perfect as Ning Que's cute Sangsang who can also be feisty, tough and passionate when needed.

The main defect I saw in the drama was that it did not depict the deepening romantic relationship between Ning Que and Sangsang adequately. Instead, it enhanced the role of the other woman, with Ning Que acting like a goo-goo-eyed love-sick puppy whenever he was with her. Ning Que and Sangsang's tender moments, like their first kiss, were actually romantic, yet the drama always showed them being awkward with each other when it came to romance. I think if the drama had gotten the romance right, viewers might have been more receptive to Dylan Wang as the new Ning Que in season 2.

Nevertheless, the love story was so extra-ordinary and intense that even though the drama missed several opportunities to titillate viewers, it still charmed. It was interesting to find out whether the shameless Ning Que who did not have the best moral compass would understand the distinction between love and like and act accordingly.

Read More

A brilliant masterpiece

This is one of the best TV dramas I've watched, up there with Sherlock, Wolf Hall and The Crown. More thought-provoking and less violent with hardly any sex scenes, I much prefer this to Game of Thrones. The story, writing, direction, acting, music, cinematography and over-all production are top-notch.

Hu Ge is flawless as political strategist Mei Changsu/Su Zhe who is bent on restoring his family's honor as well as those of his much-admired cousin Prince Qi and 70,000 soldiers of the Chiyan Army who were wrongfully accused of rebellion thirteen years ago. The rest of the characters, notably Prince Jingyan (Wang Kai), Duchess Mu Nihuang (Liu Tao), the Emperor of Great Liang (Ding Yong Dai) and Mei Changsu's young but capable bodyguard Fei Liu (Leo Wu), are as compelling. Watching Mei Changsu navigate the political arena in the imperial court is like watching a grandmaster playing chess. His metamorphosis from vibrant young marshal Lin Shu to a frail, soft-spoken but formidable strategist unrelenting in his search for justice is awe-inspiring but heart-breaking as well, such that even just hearing the beautiful opening and ending themes makes me tear up.

The first few times I watched the opening sequence, I was underwhelmed, wishing that, in addition to butterfly wings, there were also dramatic images of people to complement the stunning music. Then I realized there ARE human forms, I just had to be more observant. Turns out, the opening sequence is more beautiful than I could imagine. Since then, every time I watch it, I would try to find more hidden images, much like discovering forms in clouds. Another delightful feature is the original dialogue that I understand is poetic, making me want to learn Mandarin. These easter eggs show how meticulously crafted this gem is.

The emotional impact is not forced but grabs the viewers organically, from the story, acting, music and other elements that subtly add to the power of each scene. I cried almost the whole finale episode, even though there were hardly overly dramatic scenes. In fact, I think it's because the emotional expressions are muted that I felt the urge to release pent-up emotions. Even now, I still tear up whenever I remember the scene where Lin Shu bowed and silently wept in his family's ancestral hall after he successfully restored the family's honor.

It is a testament to the brilliance of the storytelling that a sucker for happily-ever-after endings like myself cannot fault the ending. While a fully fairytale ending would have been inconsistent with the tone of the story, this may be considered as having a happy ending, one that Mei Changsu/Su Zhe/Lin Shu would have approved of, having been able to give his all in the service of truth, justice and country.

Read More

One of the best Chinese dramas

The Sword and the Brocade is a compelling story about concubine-born Luo Shiyi who marries Xu Lingyi, Marquis Yongping to honor a dying sister's wish. Seven Tan and Wallace Chung are outstanding in their roles, the former as the smart, diligent and kind Shiyi, the latter as the cold, strict and upright Lingyi. The sweet, heart-fluttering slow-burn romance between Shiyi and Lingyi develops in a charged setting laden with scheming concubines and political rivals.

When the leads fall in love, their devotion to each other is so heartwarming you'd just want to keep watching how an intelligent and sensible couple who truly love, respect and trust each other overcomes one scheme after another, outmaneuvering enemies together.

My main gripes about Cdramas are their length and tendency to drag. But this is so good, with hardly any draggy parts, I just wanted it to keep going. The music is stirring, the cinematography is stunning and the story flows smoothly. The ending is one of the most satisfying endings in Cdramas I've watched.

This got a lot of flak for featuring the concubine system, which, for me, is tantamount to saying that all shows featuring war and crime are bad. In fact, far from supporting the concubine system, this drama shows how evil it is, causing much grief to everyone involved, from the husband to the wives, concubines and children. In the end, the male lead and his brother both abandon the practice. Thus, the flak this drama got was unfair and undeserved.

Read More

Beautiful love story + Top-notch acting = Magical viewing experience

'So glad I persevered with this series as the story started to get specially interesting for me in Episode 11. This is not to say that I found the first 10 episodes boring because they're not - they set the stage for the rest of the series. But it was in Episode 11, when Ye Hua (Mark Chao) and Su Su (Yang Mi) first meet, that the magic hit home for me. Their every interaction is precious. Even their exchanges when he is in dragon form are endearingly hilarious, like when he thinks, "How dare you!" when she kisses him and he forces himself to swallow the raw meat she is feeding him so she would not kiss him again.

Ye Hua is simply beautiful. Sure, the actor is handsome, but it is his manliness, depth, intelligence, wisdom, elegance, sincerity, strong sense of justice and most of all, love for and faithfulness to one woman that captivates. Another enchanting quality is his sense of humor that seems to be triggered only when he is with her like at the end when he is reminiscing their times together. Mark Chao did an exceptional job perfectly portraying such a compelling character. Yang Mi also did a great job as Bai Qian/Si Yin/Su Su, though I'm not too impressed with the character's fondness for wine to the point of severely affecting her emotions and decisions. Gosh, I'm sounding too attached to the characters. This is how powerful the hold this series has on its admirers. This is why I gave it a 10/10 even though the CGI is not perfect - the emotional attachment is off the charts.

The love story is indeed beautiful but it is the top-notch acting that raised this drama to a level of quality befitting its exalted position as the most watched Chinese TV series of all time, with over 50 billion views as of August 2018.

Update: Watching the series a second time was an even more satisfying experience. I felt the magic from the first episode. Every scene between Mo Yuan and Bai Qian/Si Yin simmers with affection, with the mystery of "does he love her as a disciple or a woman" adding to the enchantment, if not poignancy, of the story. And now that I'm well aware of the significance of the golden lotus (Jin Lian), Ye Hua's attachment to Si Yin/Su Su/Bai Qian takes an even deeper meaning. A truly remarkable, beautiful, wonderful, mesmerizing series.

Read More

Beautiful fairy tale

This Chinese version of Beauty and the Beast is romantic, funny, dreamy, heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The artistic CGI enhances the fantasy feel. I was blown away by the stunning music, beautiful set design and the heartfelt portrayal by the cast.

Dylan Wang nails a challenging role of the heartless and ruthless but inadvertently funny and loveable Supreme Lord of the Moon Tribe, Dongfang Qingcang.

Esther Yu as lowly Fairy Orchid Xiao Lanhua is initially annoying with her high-pitched, whiney, babyish way of talking but she eventually grows on you once you realize Lanhua is really a baby immortal, just 1500 years old compared to Dongfang Qingcang who is more than 30,000 years old. And Lanhua does grow up, becoming much less whiney and babyish as the drama progresses. However, she retains a baby's innocence and purity of heart, making her one of the most admirable female leads I've encountered in CDramas. Instead of the usual revenge-driven grudge-keeping CDrama characters, Lanhua sees the best in everyone and is quick to forgive and forget. She does not hesitate to come to the rescue of other people, with no thought of her own safety. Her pure heart, kindness and courage melt DFQC's heart, or rather, restore his emotional tree.

Roc Chen's sublime background music (also featured in Royal Nirvana) soars, a fitting accompaniment to the exquisite artistic visuals. The other musical pieces are equally stirring.

In summary, it's a beautiful and powerful drama that dares to make viewers believe in the supremacy of love.

Read More

Needs brain cells

If you wish to give your brain a rest when watching dramas, this is definitely NOT for you. You'll just find yourself obsessing over product placements.

If you do wish to keep your brain cells active even in front of a TV, if you relish unraveling challenging plot-lines, you're in for a magical, wonderful experience.

This is the best kdrama I've ever watched. Romance, fantasy and an awesome soundtrack have been blended together in a beautifully crafted unique story of a king and a detective from parallel worlds who meet, bicker, fall in love and risk their lives to save their worlds from impending doom.

Read More