Le Ho

I did not like this drama like all the hyped it was received

I don't know why Douban rated "A Dream of Splendor" 8.8 ratings. WTF. I have watched 30 episodes already, and it was dull, boring, stupid, and dragging, and the plot is suck.

I am unsure if I will finish this drama; aside from having a good-looking cast, the cinematography and coloring of the show are good.

I don't think this drama even deserves 5.5 ratings, and I don't understand what all the raves are about, and disappointed in AvenueX assessments of this drama as well. Grrr.......

The male lead (Chen Xiao) disappears in episodes 30-32, and his on-screen chemistry with Crystal Liu is not great. I don't like the FL character. I like San Niang better.

Read More

Zhao Lusi was good, and everyone else was bad. A horrible and boring script

"Gen Z - Hou Lang" is a melodrama about Chinese medicine. I finished watching the drama today, and I must admit this is not a great script.

Zhao Lusi acted better than everyone else in this drama. Still, her screen times were low compared to other series because it is an all-star cast, and the character building is very slow.

Her onscreen chemistry with the ML, Luo YiZhou is not great (she had the best onscreen chemistry with Yang Yang and Wu Lei, imo.) Her characters in WRTW and LLTG are much better, stronger, and more complex than Sun Tou Tou.

I didn't know that this was Luo Yi Zhou's first drama, and he did a decent job. Although he and ZLS played love interests, there was no kissing scene at all, so it was disappointing.

I love Zhao Lusi and her acting abilities; however, I do not like the GenZ script and Wu Gang's and Jiang Shan's acting. The drama is disappointing and draggy. It could be better if it were cut short by half. Wu Gang has been typed cast in the same type of role. He is an overbearing father prideful and stubborn husband who does not talk or express his feelings. Grrr…. If it were not for ZLS, I would drop this drama a long time ago. The curveball about Sun Tou Tou being Ren Xing Zheng's daughter in ep 35 was ridiculous, and it took until ep 39 to explain that she was not.

Between episode35-39 it added the Covid situation into the drama, which was unnecessary. The wife who cared for Ren Xin Xheng, because he had Covid, did not use a mask or protective gear. Even though it has a happy ending, overall, the acting was boring, and too much TCM propaganda. Bad script, so I give it a 6.0 rating.

Read More

I am a minority and did not like it like everyone. I am dropping the drama

Blossom is a costume time travel Wuxia drama starting Meng Zi Yi and
Li Yun Rui. I don't know why everyone is raving about how good this drama is. I watched 17 episodes and found it boring. The plot is not unique; it has often been done with dominating parents and the concubines bickering with each other.

I watched them at 1.5 speed, and the drama did not lure me. I can only watch one episode per day, compared to other dramas, which I binge-watch in one sitting.

The guy who dubbed Li Yun Rui's character where his voice is almost whispering, and I can't barely hear him. I am dropping this drama. I am happy that most people like it and elevate Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Rui to stardom. Good for them.

Synopsis: Dou Zhao became disillusioned with love and family after losing her mother, retreating to a remote village to study and protect her estate. One stormy night, she helped Song Mo, disguised as a merchant, protect the orphaned descendant of Duke Ding Guo. This fateful encounter led to their paths intertwining as they each faced personal struggles—Song Mo with his family's downfall and Dou Zhao with malicious rumors of an arranged marriage. Given a second chance, they slowly grow close, overcoming distrust and falling in love. Together, they navigate political turmoil, uncover secrets, and support each other through life's challenges.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 7.5
2. Script: 4
3. Music/OST: 6.5
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 6.5
6. Onscreen Chemistry: 7
7. Rewatchable: 4

Overall Rating: 6.5

Read More

If you like Seven Tan then this drama is watchable, but nothing special and predictable.

As Beautiful as You is a business rom-com about Ji Xing and her college mate, Han Ting, who lost touch for 10 years. Han Ting had a crush on Ji Xing and confessed his love for her while he invested in her startup company.

Synopsis: Ji Xing has worked diligently for a top IT firm for three years but needs help to stand out in a fiercely competitive corporate world. Frustrated, she decides to quit and launch her own company. She soon attracts the support of a powerful mentor and investor, CEO Han Ting. With his backing, her entrepreneurial journey begins to gain momentum. As they collaborate closely, their professional relationship deepens, and unexpected romantic sparks fly.

My Reviews:
1. Nothing special about this drama; it is predictable but watchable.
Seven Tan acted well, and Xu Kai did his best acting in this drama, where he showed a little emotion when they broke up.
2. As I mentioned, Xu Kai is a handsome actor who is pleasing to the eye. Still, I cannot complete any of his historical costume dramas, only the modern ones, where his acting skills are more bearable.
3. The ending is predictable, and their brief breakup is understandable but also expected.
4. The supporting cast added too many unnecessary fillers (2nd CP, 3rd CP, 4th CP, etc.). The drama would have been better if it had been cut to 30 episodes instead of 40 because of fillers.

I am giving this drama a 6.5 rating because the script was nothing special and predictable but watchable because of Seven Tan.

Read More

Love Zhao Lusi, her acting was fantastic in this drama, but I did not like the script.

The Story of a Pearl Girl is a custom drama about Duan Wu, who was raised, physically abused, and grew up in a harsh Pearl Farm environment without the protection of her parents. She learned to fight, stay alive, and become a well-respected jewelry designer and entrepreneur. She ran her own business in a town full of corruption.

I admired Zhao Lusi for taking on a challenging role that stretched her acting ability. Her character was mature and ambitious, wanting to better her life and the lives of the people who grew up with her in Pearl Farm. I enjoyed watching her, but the script could have been better because it did not do justice to her character and the story as a whole.

Her on-screen chemistry with Liu Yi Ning did not work well in this drama; they had a better story and characters in The Long Balad. The men in this story are useless; it is more of a women-centric tale, which they should focus more on.

It would have been better if she ended up with Zhang Jin Ran's character rather than Yan Zi Jing. ZJR is a better fit for her than YZJ. I did not like the ending either. I would rather see that she spent her time caring for and departing from YZJ since he did not survive due to poisoning. The ending was bad and felt rushed.

Synopsis: After escaping a brutal pearl farm, Duan Wu, a skilled diver, meets merchant Yan Zi Jing and noble Zhang Jin Ran. Joining Yan's caravan, she gets drawn into the glittering world of jewels while uncovering secrets about her past. Along the way, she faces betrayal and loss but stays determined to find the truth. Renamed Su Mu Zhe, she starts her own "Clear Mind" business and teams up with Zhang to right an old wrong. In the end, Su Mu Zhe thrives at the Jewel Exhibition, inspiring women to take control of their destinies.

My Reviews:
1. Good acting from ZLS.
2. The storyline could be better. It is draggy and boring, especially about the jewelry-making process and the corruption surrounding building her own store. It is too repetitive and draggy.
3. LYN and ZLS's on-screen chemistry is better in the Long Balad drama than this one.
4. ZLS is expanding and stretching her acting ability. She acted so well in playing this role where she was oppressed and mistreated by people, yet her optimism, assertiveness, and bravery helped her elevate in society as a jeweler.
5. I agree with Douban's rating of this drama. However, because of the bad script, I give it a 6.5.

Read More

Bad director who ruined this drama with good acting from Zheng Xin Cheng.

Tender Light is a melodrama about the infatuation of a young boy who falls in love with a domestically abused older woman. The young man even admits to a crime he did not commit to save the woman. I did not like drama at all, even though I liked Zhang Xin Cheng a lot. He is a talented actor, but for some reason, he is not as popular as other Cdrama actors.

The scripts and roles he played undervalue his talents, and I am annoyed by the director of this drama.

Synopsis: Zhou Luo, a straight-A student, is the first one from Qingshui Town to enter a prestigious university. However, he returns to his hometown before completing his degree and goes to a cram school to repeat a year of school. His decision causes quite a stir in this small town. Had he not faced criticism, he would never have noticed another talk of the city, Nan Ya. Nan Ya is a very beautiful clothing store owner, and there are always a lot of rumors about her. She travels between the clothing store and home daily, caring for her sick daughter, Wan Wan. As Zhou Luo becomes more acquainted with Nan Ya, he realizes that Nan Ya's marriage is not happy, and her husband, Xu Yi, a businessman, has a brutal side at home. Zhou Luo has witnessed how Nan Ya was assaulted by Xu Yi. Besides, the "Bridge Case" sheds light on several issues regarding Xu Yi's business operations. All this causes Nan Ya's marriage to be in jeopardy.

My Reviews:
1. Too many flashbacks from different viewpoints about the murder from all the supporting casts that were interviewed by the police.
2. The director did a bad job retelling the story, which needed clarification. Still, as the story unfolded, I got more annoyed and frustrated.
3. I watched on high speed and FF because there were too many repetitive scenes that had no new angles as they tried to review who had murdered her abusive husband.
4. It was also too long; it would have been a better story with 12-16 episodes.

I give it a 4.5 rating because the director did a lousy job directing and editing this drama. The only kudos for this drama are the acting talents of Zhang Xin Cheng.

Read More

Don't waste your time - Listening to dubbing is annoying and acting was bad by the entire cast.

The Journey of Chong Zi - is a historical fantasy drama that is not my genre. I am watching because nothing interesting has been released this month from CDrama land.

The plot is so stupid and repetitive. Chong Zi was killed by her master Luo Yin Fan; why did he bother to resurrect her into another life and name it Wen Zi? Brought her back to the heavenly realm, then renamed her Chong Zi again. It was ridiculous. When he brought her back to the heavenly realm, there was no appearance in the huge age gap between them.

The onscreen chemistry between Yang Chao Yue and Jeremy Tsui was awkward and bad. What's up with the dubbing? Listening to it was annoying, and Yang Chao Yue's acting was so bad. She is a one-dimensional actress. After 22 episodes, I was hoping for something more exciting and better plot, but it was the same old thing.

I am dropping this drama and giving it a 4.0 rating. The production quality was not good either, and everyone was so white. Tencent does not know how to produce good quality production drama.

Read More

Don't waste your time with this drama. Awful script and onscreen chemistry between YY and WCR,

YY has better onscreen chemistry with ZLS in WRTW and acted better in that drama. I rewatched that drama so many times I lost count. Whereas, his onscreen chemistry with Wang Churan sucks. I would not recommend you watch FWOMH with Yang Yang and Wang Churan. I was frustrated watching this drama because of his awful onscreen chemistry with WCR. I have already watched 20 episodes of this drama, and the pace is so slow, and the script is stupid. I don't like WCR's character in this drama, and YY isn't convincing as a fireman. I think William Chan is a better fireman in ADWTF.

Twenty episodes in, they are still not together and bickering, and her overbearing adoptive mother is a hateful woman and a bitch.
WCR's character is weak and annoying to me. She is a strong ER doctor who speaks up about her viewpoints with her superiors but is annoyed and timid when standing up for her relationship with YY's character.

Who at this stage still interferes with their children's love lives. It is unrealistic to have doctors co-exist and perform medical services with firemen. The drama forced their unions to the point that it was ridiculous and unrealistic in real life.

I am dropping this drama. I like YY, but he needs to pair up with a better actress to make him a better actor where he can stretch and grow. I think WCR had better onscreen chemistry with Peng Guan Ying in "Have a Crush on You." Her character in that drama is better; she acted better in that one than in FWOMH.

Let's hope that they will not be paired again in the future. I give it a 4.0 rating, so Don't waste your time with FWOMH.

Read More

Good action and surprised ending for this crime drama, but the pace was draggy and repetitive.

The Embers is a police crime investigation drama based in Thailand about a younger brother who has PTSD about his brother's death. Through the deceased brother, he solved the case with the help of the police and his brother's fiancee.

There is a lot of action, but the pace is slow and draggy. Many small stories eventually link to the main story, some of which could easily be eliminated. I found it repetitive and draggy. I skipped and walked away to bypass the middle episodes. The last two episodes were more interesting, where the killer was his adopted mother.

No romance whatsoever if you are looking for romance.

Synopsis: A tragic massacre in their childhood completely changed the fate of the Liao brothers. Will they break through the darkness for self-redemption or descend into the abyss of vengeance? Once inseparable and solving countless mysterious cases, the two brothers now stand on opposite sides.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 7
2, Script: 7
3, Music/OST: 5
4, Production Quality: 6
5. Cinematography: 5
6. Rewatchable: 6

Overall Rating: 6.0

Read More

It is a good Costume drama about the bonding of the five sisters as they manage life in a new city.

The Perfect Match is a costume drama about a widower who moves her family to Bianjing with five daughters, each with a unique personality. They tried to fit into the society then, where women were not permitted to be successful. Mrs. Li works hard and, with the help of her daughters, opens a small business in Bianjing. She eventually marries all her daughters to high-society gentlemen.

Personally, I like the stories of the first, fourth, and last daughters much better than the stories of the second and third daughters. Their stories were more interesting because they had rich plots, whereas the second and third daughters' stories were dull and ordinary.

Ni Hong Jie did well as the domineering yet loving mom to five girls. The sister bonding was good, and there were some funny parts. The mom is witty and dramatic.
- The older sister's story and acting are better.

Synopsis: During the Northern Song Dynasty under Renzong, Mrs. Li, from a wealthy Luoyang family, moves to Bianjing with her daughters, each unique in personality, to reunite with her second daughter and resolve a family matter. Despite their beauty and talent, her daughters struggle with marriage prospects, prompting Mrs. Li to seek new suitors in Bianjing. However, their journey is met with challenges, including social setbacks and difficulties in settling down. Ultimately, through perseverance and twists of fate, the Li family finds suitable husbands for the daughters, creating a lively comedy about marriage in the Northern Song Dynasty.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2, Script: 8
3, Music/OST: 8
4, Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 7.5
6. Rewatchable: 7
7. Onscreen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 7.5

Read More

Decent drama with good acting, but the flower business aspect a bit boring. Too long

Flourished Peony is a costume drama set in the Tang Dynasty, starting with Yang Zi and Li Xian. It is their second collaboration. The plot is mainly about Mu Dan and how she makes a name for herself after divorcing her husband with Jiang Chang Yang's help.

- Good Acting, especially from Yang Zi.
Li Xian's character in this drama wastes his talents. He is not as strong as Yang Zi and does not develop until episodes 18-20.
- I don't like the business aspect of the story. Too boring.
- Sheng Yi's character is annoying and weak.
- Women's centric drama with no romance.
- Miles Wei's character is also useless, but he acted well in this drama. The best I have seen him.
- Beautiful production quality with awesome coloring.
- Li Xian's screen times are much less than Yang Zi's, and he didn't come to rescue her when she was in trouble.

I hope the second part of the drama will be better as it develops and focuses more on Mu Dan and Jiang Chang Yang's relationship, especially after they have a fake marriage.

Synopsis: The story follows He Wei Fang, a merchant's daughter skilled in cultivating rare peonies in the Tang Dynasty. With the help of Jiang Chang Yang, an official in Chang'an, she left a marriage of convenience and started a business cultivating peonies. Together, they establish a flower shop, empowering women with difficult pasts and creating a thriving brand. As He Wei Fang witnesses the struggles of the poor, she transforms the industry to benefit the people, all while aiding Jiang Chang Yang in his mission to serve the country. Their bond deepens into a secret love. After overcoming a rebellion together, they retreat to live in harmony with nature.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2. Script: 7
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 8
6. Onscreen Chemistry: 8
7. Rewatchable: 6

Overall Rating: 7.5

Read More

Good story and acting. Good lesson for women not to get too deep in toxic relationships.

In Between is a melodrama about three women who became connected to each other through their failed romantic relationships with men. The drama's interesting title in Chinese translates as "Half committed men & women."

The acting was good from Tian Xi Wei, Zeng Meng Xue, and
Zhou Yu Tong. The male leads were mediocre. I was surprised that Zhou Yu Tong played a support role; she could have been one of the FLs instead of the three MLs in this drama. The men were so useless and had no backbone in this drama.

Synopsis: The drama follows the lives of young people in a modern urban setting, each navigating their own path of love and self-discovery. He Zhi Nan's pursuit of love and Han Su's quest for a livelihood intersect, creating a unique twist in the plot. Qu Yi Peng is focused on survival, while Gao Peng, a wealthy second-generation character, bravely embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The drama's unexpected plot twists keep the audience engaged and curious.

My Reviews:
1. I did not plan to watch this drama, but I picked up on it while waiting for the story of Pearl Girl to drop new episodes.
2. I was glad I did because I enjoyed it by binge-watching them on YouTube.
3. The story and pace were good, and the three main actresses acted quite well and were believable. I wish I could say the same for the three male leads, but unfortunately, their acting skills were mediocre.
4. I don't understand why Xin Yun Lai is listed as one of the male leads. He does not have much screen time, and his character pretty much disappeared after 10 episodes, not showing up until the last two episodes.
5. Overall, it is a decent drama, giving it a 7.0 rating.

Read More

Excellent story and acting, and she got the revenge for her own life as well as Jiang Li

The Double is a historical costume drama that was very engaging to watch because it has many twists involving multiple characters, such as Xue Fang Fei trying to unravel and take revenge for her and Jiang Li's lives.

Synopsis: It tells the story of Xue Fang Fei, the daughter of a well-off county magistrate who lost everything after a major upheaval. Saved by Jiang Li, the daughter of the Secretariat Director, she took on the identity of Jiang Li and returned to the capital. With the help of Duke Xiao Heng and others, she overcame numerous hardships, tirelessly fought against injustice, rescued her father, who had been wrongly imprisoned, assisted Xiao Heng in upholding justice, and protected the common people.

My Reviews:
1. Excellent acting, especially the FL, Wu Jin Yan, and the 3 ML (Wang Xing Yue, Liang Yong Qi, and Chen Xin Hai) did a good job playing their characters as well.
2. The 2nd FL, Li Meng, did an excellent job playing the hated princess who is ruthless to everyone she comes in contact with.
3. The fighting scenes were well-choreographed, and the flow of the story was engaging.
4. My only complaint is that it was a bit long. It would be better if it ended in 35 episodes because it did feel draggy in the middle.

I give it an 8.5 for good acting and good scripts.

Read More

Too long, too draggy. It would be better if it cut down to 20-24 episodes. FL acted good.

"The Infiltrator" is a spy drama that occurred during the 1941 Japanese invasion and ruled over Asia, focused at Spy Station #76.

After watching 21 episodes, it was too boring and draggy so I skipped episodes 22 to 33. I watched the remaining 4 episodes and was very disappointed with the ending. This drama could be better if it ends in 20-24 episodes. There were so many unnecessary fillers that made the drama draggy, slow, and boring. The acting is good, especially the FL.

There was too much suspense music for scenes that were not suspenseful. I anticipated something would happen like they got caught, their plans were interrupted, the enemy was on them, etc., but nothing happened. No romance at all.

Overall, it is not a good drama, and I agree with Douban's rating of around 5.9. I give it a 5.5 rating.

Read More