Le Ho
Cupertino, CA
This review may contain spoilers
Excellent story and acting from entire ensemble. An unconventional teachers/students relationships
The Hope is a student/teacher drama that focuses on the underserved and not well-to-do students whom society and teachers do not have faith in to pass the college entry exams of one of the prestigious schools in China, except for Lei Ming, an unconventional teacher who has faith in them and pushes their limit alongside the help of the psychology teacher Sang Xia.The Synopsis: Lei Ming, a former successful lecturer facing entrepreneurial setbacks, shifts gears to become a high school teacher. Leading a special class with psychology teacher Sang Xia, they aim to uplift underachieving students. Among them is Li Ran, an orphan with dreams of robotics, who was forced to consider dropping out due to his grandmother's illness. Lei Ming, who is dedicated to every student, intervenes and guides them through challenges with Sang Xia's support. Ultimately, the students overcome obstacles, secure spots in their desired universities, and prepare for the next chapter.
I am giving it an 8.0 rating for the following reasons:
1. It was a slow beginning, and I almost dropped it after 7 episodes.
2. I'm glad I stuck with it because it triumphed when the underdogs and underprivileged high schoolers got into college with high testing scores. They succeeded through the dedication of two devoted teachers who believed in and encouraged them and through their hard work.
3. Good acting from the entire ensemble.
4. I like the FL character; her character complimented well with the ML.
If you are looking for a typical rom-com romance, none exists in this drama; however, it has good character building, and the romantic element between the teachers is implied.
Was this review helpful to you?
It is good crime investigation drama about intelligent humanoid. Good watch.
The Bionic Life is another light-on-series from iQiyi, and they are the leader in this type of short series. I have watched many of their light-on-series, and they are excellent, and this drama is another good one.The plot is about investigating which humanoid is the killer of humans. Song Wei Long and Vicky Chen are this drama's lead actors/actresses.
The acting is good for both the lead and supporting cast, especially Vicky Chen. She is young and talented, especially in this type of genre. Song Wei Long acted his best in this drama compared to others he was in.
I enjoyed it and highly recommend you check it out. My only complaint is that humanoids are intelligent robots, so why is their blood when they die? Not realistic. I give it an 8.0 rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It is a watchable movie with love lost and love again. Steven Zhang is a good actor
"All These Years," a movie starring Sun Qian and Steven Zhang, is about the love story of Chen Jian Xia and Li Ran that span over 10 years.Chen Jian Xia grew up in a patriarchal environment and did not have a good relationship with her mother. She did not feel the love of her parents, especially her mother, as they were at odds with each other. Li Ran is a rebellious but kind young man who did not get the love of his father and stepmom after his mom passed away at a young age.
Li Ran's good grandfather left him with a large inheritance upon his death. Li Ran became a successful businessman. At the same time, Chen Jian Xia ran away and worked in Singapore.
She returned ten years later when her father was sick and passed away. She ran into Li Ran and rekindled their love for each other.
The movie is a slow start, but eventually, it gets to the main CP's good character building. Steven Zhang is a better actor in this movie than Sun Qian. It is a watchable movie, and I give it a 7.0 rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not a bad short version Romance & Thriller drama to kill time while waiting for good drama to air
The Next Stop @ is a short 11 minutes 24 episodes mystery love drama about Wu Yan Zhu, a trainee doctor in the real world, who accidentally broke into the world of the comic "W," drawn by her father Wu Cheng Wu, met the comic actor Jiang Zhe, and a series of thrilling events and a sweet love story begins.It was an interesting concept, and because it was short, I am enjoying it. It had romance and mystery as two worlds collide with each other. I was not too fond of the ending, but as expected.
The lead CP did a decent job, giving it a 6.0 rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
It was a slow start crime drama, but it gotten better in the last 2 episodes.
iQiyi light on series has great dramas, and "The Long Night" is one of them. Originally, I planned to drop it after 8-9 episodes because I felt the story was disorganized. The switching back and forth between the past and present timeline made it difficult to follow.The acting of the entire ensemble was exceptional. It does not need 12 episodes; cutting it short to 10 would be better. Some of the scenes from the past were repetitive. The script was good as it revealed and unfolded the corruption of police leaders who turned blind eyes to the killing of a professor and the raping of young girls.
It took dedicated and honest policemen to sacrifice their lives to find the truth, even serving jail for their misdemeanors. The last two episodes were the best, and I was glad I stuck around for it.
I am giving this drama an 8.0 rating for acting and good script.
Was this review helpful to you?
Don't waste your time with this drama - boring as hell.
"Turn on the Right Way of Life" is about 42-year-old Bian Liang is at a loss with his career and life. It was an interesting plot to see how he maneuvers as he is juggling career and family life.I was interested in the story, but after watching 11 episodes, I lost interest and am thinking of dropping it.
It did not show his struggles with his job well, and his character is the passive-aggressive type I hate. He was too nice and passive at work but aggressive with his family.
His wife, played by Mei Ting, was too weak; she was a doctor and gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mom. The muddling between her mom and father-in-law was annoying.
Every episode is about the same thing work and family emotional problems; it would be much better if it were not draggy. It does not need to be 40 episodes long; I think it would be much better in 20-24 episodes.
I give it a 5.0 rating because the plot and the ensemble's acting abilities were bad.
Was this review helpful to you?
Another bad RomCom with bad acting, don't waste your time.
Only for Love is a rom-com about a cold CEO and a financial reporter.I watched about 8 episodes of "Only for Love"; don't waste your time. Here are the reasons why I am dropping it:
- Only For Love: The plot is boring, and the character Bai Lu playing is weak and a waste of her talents.
- Dylan Wang is not convincing as a cold CEO. There is no on-screen chemistry between the lead actors.
- For Dylan Wang's fan, I am sorry, but to me, he is a one-dimension actor who can't act.
I have wasted almost 8 hours with something so boring and unreal. Just because Dylan Wang is popular in LBFD doesn't mean that he should be teamed up with everyone, even the good actress.
I heard he will team up with my favorite actress, Zhao Lusi. I hope it will not disappoint me. I am dropping this drama because the plot is stupid, and the ML does not do justice to team up with Bai Lu (one of my favorite actresses.)
I give it a 5.0 rating because of the bad plot, acting, and production quality.
Was this review helpful to you?
OMG! Can we have better script and plot. It is bad in so many levels. Don't waste your time.
Love is Panacea is another drama about a top-notch, intelligent doctor who falls in love with his student.I watched about 6 episodes of Love is Panacea, and don't waste your time on both. I love Leo Luo, and Zhang Ruo Nan has better on-screen chemistry with William Chan than Leo Luo. Here are the reasons why I am dropping these two:
- Love Is Panacea: Leo Luo and ZRN's on-screen chemistry is cheesy and non-existent.
- The plot is so stupid, and they try to make things more exciting and dangerous, but the delivery of it is so bad.
- This one is similar to South Winds Know, which was so bad that I don't want to invest any more time in it after I have watched 5 episodes.
- Like South Winds with doctors go to M Country to help the poor and needy, then run into local terrorist-terrified people. In Love is Panacea, Dr. Gu went to Lacaya with a similar plot; instead of speaking English, they speak French.
I fell asleep watching it because it was so boring, and the 2nd CP acted so badly as well. It seems that Leo Luo did better with historical drama than modern one. I give it a 5.0 rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
I have no patience for the bad plot and the ML didn't do a good job (imo)
"Wonderland of Love" is a historical Rom-Com by Xu Kai and Jing Tian. The kung fu is awesome in this drama, and Jing Tian did a good job playing the army lieutenant. However, I dislike Xu Kai's character and acting ability.Xu Kai can't act, in my opinion, especially in historical dramas. I dropped every historical drama he was in, like Snow Eagle Lord, Lost in the Kunlun Mountains, Court Lady, etc.
I have a higher tolerance for his modern dramas like Falling Into Your Smile and She and Her Perfect Husband, where I finished the dramas but not historical ones. He is very handsome but a one-dimensional actor with the same facial expression for every emotional scene.
I gave it a 6.5 rating because I didn't like the plot and could not continue after watching 8 episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
Don't wast your time with this light on series with iQiyi
Why Try to Change Me Now is another iQiYi short series. I usually enjoy their short series like Bad Kids, Homesick, and Who is the Murderer, to name a few; except this one.I watched about 2 1/2 episodes, and I could no longer continue with it. It was too slow and draggy, and the story and acting were dull. Each episode is over an hour, and I could not see myself sticking with it. The characters' buildings were not there, and I ended up falling asleep watching the drama.
I am giving it a 3.0 rating and dropping it as well. If you have different opinions, please let me know. Too bad, it is only 6 episodes in total, but the plot did not lure or engaged me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Another typical career-focused 30s single woman drama, watched too many to engage into another one.
I am dropping "Stand or Fall" with Qin Lan and Wang Yang after 8 episodes. They are seasoned actors, and I like them both in other dramas. I plan to finish it, but I could not get into the story because Qin Lan has been typed cast into the same type of role. A career focus woman who is still single in her 30s and hangs out with friends of the same age who are either singles or have relationship problems where she comes to the rescue.She played a similar character in Dr. Tang, Hello My Love, The Magical Women, The Rational Life, etc. I did not want to watch another drama with a similar vibe.
I give it a 5.0 for bad script and typed casting for Qin Lan. She is a good actress but should branch out to more emotionally charged drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Could not get pass episode 5. Too slow, boring, and annoying background music
My Journey to You is a historical drama about Yun Wei Shan, a spy longing for freedom, who infiltrates the Gong residence to complete a mission and falls in love with Gong Zi Yu.I cannot pass episode 5 of this drama. It is so slow, and the interjection of the background music is so much that it is annoying. The flashback between scenes is too confusing to follow for me. I like Esther Yu in Moonlight with Ryan Ding, but anything after that was so unbearable for me, especially the high-pitched voice that was her character in "A Romance of the Little Forest," which makes her dislike her even more.
I don't know how people like her acting; she has now been delisted from my favorite actresses list. Her onscreen chemistry with Zhang LingHe is not great either. I am dropping this drama and give it a 4.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Bad storyline, bad acting, and overall boring.
Fighting for Love is a historical drama about a female general disguised as a man seeking revenge against Chen Qi. I watched 9 episodes, which was so boring, so I am dropping it.The Synopsis:
The story follows A Mai, a female general of the founding era of the Southern Xia dynasty, who discards her feminine attire and dons battle armor, enduring hardships to become a legendary female warrior. A Mai, the daughter of the Duke of Jingguo in Southern Xia, witnesses her entire family being killed by her childhood friend Chen Qi. Years later, A Mai, now a young woman, disguises herself as a man and roams the martial world, seeking revenge against Chen Qi.
Through a series of coincidences, A Mai saves Shang Yi Zhi, the son of the Grand Princess. Subsequently, she helps him escape dangerous situations multiple times, intertwining their destinies. As war breaks out, A Mai sheds her feminine attire and joins the military, becoming an infantry soldier. With her exceptional military talents, she achieves remarkable feats and rises to the rank of General Mai. Alongside this, she assists Shang Yi Zhi, who is hunted and faces difficulties, in finding his true self and accomplishing great deeds.
A Mai repeatedly clashes with General Chang Yu Qing from the enemy forces on the battlefield. Despite their confrontations, they unintentionally go through life-and-death situations together, developing a mutual understanding and respect. However, faced with the brutality of war, A Mai willingly sets aside personal attachments
and uses her youth and fervor to defend her army.
My Reviews:
1. The drama didn't lure me after 9 episodes. I don't have much review to say about it.
I am dropping it and giving it a 5.0 rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
The acting is good, but I found the plot was boring, so I am dropping it.
Under the Microscope may have an excellent cast with strong performers, but I think Zhang Ruo Yun is being typed cast in investigative historical dramas. This is not the first drama I have seen him in, he played a similar role in Joy of Life, and I am sure Joy of Life 2 will be similar. The same goes for Sword Snow Stride, for they are all about solving corruption and/or murder in the royal palace or some dynasty.After 5 episodes, I could no longer continue because I found it boring and not enjoyable. I heard great reviews about the Joy of Life, so I am watching it but don't find it enjoyable.
I am dropping this drama and giving it a 6.0 rating because of the acting, but I don't care much about the plot. The visual and production quality is quite good. iQiyi knows how to produce good quality production dramas, unlike Tencent.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story did not lure me in after 8 episodes. Too bad it loaded with good stars.
Judge Dee's Mystery is a historical crime drama loaded with good stars (Elaine Zhong, Wang Li Kun, Zhang Ruo Yun, and Zhou Yi Wei). Still, it did not lure me in because the script was bad, and Zhou Yi Wei did not do well as the main character in this drama.Zhou Yi Wei acted better in The Rebel Princess than in this drama.
The Synopsis:
It tells the legendary story of Di Renjie, known for his crime-solving abilities. Di Renjie has conquered the imperial examinations and awaits his official appointment in Chang'an. However, he was suddenly dispatched by Empress Wu Zetian to a border town where he encounters many mysteries. Di Renjie stands up to the challenge of upholding the duty of the higher judiciary to bring peace and prosperity to the people.
My Reviews:
1. I like Zhou Yi Wei's acting in The Rebel Princess than in this drama.
2. The script is so bad and disappointing when loaded with good stars.
3. I am dropping this drama after 8 episodes.
I give it a 5.0 rating for a horrible script. It is my opinion so don't get angry.
Was this review helpful to you?
