Le Ho
Cupertino, CA
Great Acting from the entire Ensemble but it is long and draggy
I am giving Wild Bloom a 6.5 rating because of the following reasons:Positives:
- Zhao Li Ying did a great job playing a strong, persuasive, and caring businesswoman.
- The love interest between her character Xu Ban Xia and Zhao Lei was a supportive and mature relationship.
- Ou Hao did his best work in this drama compared to others in which I saw him.
- The acting was above average for the entire ensemble.
Negatives:
- The story was draggy in the middle and toward the end of the drama. It would be better if it is between 24-30 episodes.
- Adding the ex-husband's story toward the end was unnecessary because it has no value added to the drama.
- Too many repetitive scenes with business negotiations.
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I hated this drama, Vin Zhang is the only good actor in this drama that why I sticked to the end
I like Esther Yu acting better in Moonlight than in this drama. The character she played in this drama was annoying, and the nasal voice didn’t help much. The storyline is so stupid and ridiculous. The drama could have been better if it was 20-24 episodes; instead, it dragged to 30+ episodes. It was too painful to watch, and I hated Esther Yu's character in this drama.In addition, the script is bad, and the 2nd CP for more screen time than the main CP. 2nd CP's acting is horrible, especially the 2nd ML. Overall, I am disgusted at this drama. It was a waste of my time.
I am giving it a 4.0 rating.
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I don't like Republican Era drama, but this is an exceptional one with great acting.
War of Faith is the Republican Era drama about the rise and fall of the Koumingtang Central Bank during the 1930s in Shanghai. Led by Wang Yibo, Wang Yang, and Li Qin.I don't like the Republican Era dramas because most of them have the same theme and a lot of propaganda about the rise of the communist Party and the patriotism of the Party during the Japanese invasion of China from the 1930s to 1945. War of Faith is a bit different, with good script and exceptional acting by Wang Yang, Wang YiBo, and LiQin.
Synopsis: Set in 1930s Shanghai, Wei Ruo Lai, an ordinary employee at the Kuomintang Central Bank, rises through the ranks due to his exceptional abilities, catching the attention of the senior advisor, Shen Tu Nan. However, as he confronts the corruption within the Kuomintang's financial realm, his path diverges from Shen Tu Nan's. A chance encounter with Shen Jin Zhen leads him to make different choices.
Transferred to Jiangxi as part of the Party's plan, Wei Ruo Lai became a key player in the non-military battle to break the Kuomintang's economic blockade on the Central Soviet Area. This unfolds his journey of evolving from a Kuomintang insider to a formidable red financier under the unwavering leadership of the Communist Party.
My Reviews:
1. The Republican-era dramas all have the same storyline and are predictable. They took place in Shanghai from the mid-1930s to 1945, with the introduction of the rise of the Communist Party and its triumph at the end of WW2 after it defeated the Japanese with the help of the Americans.
2. I am done with the Republican-era genre, but this one is unique because the main leads' acting is so good.
3. Yibo showed his best acting talents in this drama compared to his other dramas. Exceptional acting from Yibo, Li Qin, and Wang Yang. I adored Wang Yang, he is a seasoned actor.
4. The script is good and focuses less on the Japanese invasion than other Republican dramas. It focuses mainly on the greed and corruption of the Kuomingtang Party and their brutality against people, especially the communist people.
5. The brutal crimes and politics behind the rise and fall of the Central Bank's financial market were luring and engaging.
6. There is no romance between Wei Rou Lai and Shen Jin Zhen, even though her brother wants it to be. They love and respect each other but never confess their love for each other.
7. Sadly, Shen Jin Zhen died in episode 36 due to the ambush of Captain Lin.
8. Zhang Tian Yang was awesome as Captain Lin in this drama. It is his best acting job thus far. He was okay and mediocre in other dramas, but he was good at playing the brutal and bad guy in this drama.
I greatly enjoyed this drama and gave it a 9.0 rating because of the ensemble's exceptional acting.
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Good story with many twists and surprises. Enjoyable to watch.
The Legend of Zhuohua tells the love story of a woman who overcomes many trials to become a female official and a general who has weathered many hardships on his road to victory.The acting in this drama is quite good, especially Jing Tian and Wang Li Kun. It has so many twists and surprises that it keeps me engaged with the story. I didn't know the story's villain was Princess Rou Jia, played by Wang Li Kun.
The death of General Liu Yan in episode 37 was a surprise, and I thought the empire would collapse because of the weak Emporer, Liu Chen (played by Zhou Yi Ran), but the twist was he faked his death and came back to help conquer the kingdom.
It was enjoyable to watch, and I gave it a 7.5 rating. I would give a higher rating if the production quality of the drama is better. What is up with TenCent when it comes to historical drama? They make everyone look so white, like ghosts. It was hard to see it on screen, and I wish they had used the natural skin colors of the actors.
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A decent Wuxia drama with good acting, but too long and draggy. Probably better with 30 episodes
Finally, I finished "Destined." starring Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi. The story is about Liu Yu Ru, the only legitimate daughter of a former cloth merchant living a stoic life with her mother in a household where they're mistreated despite their status. Due to a misunderstanding, she is married off to Gu Jiu Si, the notorious son of Yangzhou's wealthiest family, infamous for his idle lifestyle and indolent ways. At first, Gu Jiu Si does not like Liu Yu Ru, believing her to be calculating and scheming. As she settles into her new life, she learns business from her welcoming mother-in-law while growing closer to Gu Jiu Si. However, the storm clouds of war are gathering on the horizon, and the Commissioner of Yangzhou creates endless days of terror, forcing the Gu family into unimaginable circumstances. As the couple grows closer through their hardships, the benevolent pair becomes destined for greatness.The story is good and believable; however, I found it a bit too long and fell asleep watching it. I also FF many scenes and episodes to move the story along. The acting is good from the entire ensemble. BJT and SY did a good job, but I think the one who acted the best was Zhao Zi Qi, who played Gu Jiu Si's mother.
I give it a 7.0 rating, and I would give a higher rating if the drama were to be cut short by 10 episodes. The first 25 episodes were good; 25-35 were too boring and repetitive. The last 5 episodes were more interesting after the Emporer died.
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Stupid short web drama and bad acting. Don’t waste your time
Revenge is a short web drama with 8 minutes per episode and 20 episodes in total. It starts with Daisy Li and Peng Jian Xiong.This is a bad acting drama from the ML and the supporting cast of Chen Rui Feng and Yang Jie. The FL lead did an okay job, and she was better in Provoke than in this drama.
The most annoying is Yang Jie, who played Ji Yao; she can't act at all. The same for Peng Jian Xiong, who played the ML, Lu Ming Yu, and the second male lead, Chen Rui Feng, who played Gu Yan Jue, who cannot act either.
Overall, I give it a 3.0 rating, and don't waste your time even though it is short.
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Unrealistic, cheesy RomCom but watchable, the FL did a decent job
TGWSS drama is a RomCom 24 episodes drama. It is an unrealistic drama about someone's saliva can cure a strange disease.The plot is stupid and cheesy, but the acting of the FL, Jin Zi Xuan, is decent. The same cannot be said for the ML, Jia Yi. However, the love they have for each other is believable. I like Du Hou Jia's acting as He Le role; he is funny, and Bai Bing's character is annoying, stupid, and can't take 'No' for the answer.
I don't like female character who is conniving, clingy and do not think the best of themselves, and do stupid stuff like Bai Bing's character.
I binged watch it since it was released with 24 episodes on iQiYi; it is decent but not great drama. I give it a 5.0 rating.
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Very bad drama - don't waste your time.
Gentlemen of East 8th is the worst drama that I have watched, with Zhang Han as the ML. I watched quite a few dramas where he always plays the arrogant and bossy character.However, in this drama, it seems life imitates work. He plays one of the four gentlemen in their late 30s and (early) 40s who have not been in a marriage or lasting relationship.
The story's premise and flow are dragging and boring, and the acting of the supporting cast is not good either. I can understand why Douban only gives it a 2.0 rating.
I have watched 14 episodes already, giving it a 2.0 rating. I may finish it because I want to know why these four guys take so long to settle into any relationship and how Tong Yu has a son. So far, there is no mention of it, and YouTube has an auto-translated caption which is no good. Stupid but expected ending.
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A decent and watchable drama and the dishes and presentation of the food makes my mouth water.
Fry Me to the Moon is another women-centric drama about three female friends who rely on each other in the cruel business world of restaurants and their competition to stay afloat through investors and acquisitions.Synopsis: Three women who wouldn't have known each other without a fight go against the routine and stand side by side in facing life's challenges. They never give up their persistence towards love and pursuit of ideals. Lu Zhen Zhen, who takes her career very seriously, returns to Chengdu while disregarding everything for the sake of love. Gu Man Ting, who married her childhood sweetheart very early on, wants to escape her marriage. She invites Zhen Zhen to join her business, "Chuanbailou." The sudden appearance of catering entrepreneur Liang Qing Ran disrupts their trajectory, and the crisis at "Chuanbailou" allows the three very different women to truly get to know each other. As their love, career, and ideals are tested at every level in the city of Chengdu, what choices will they make?
My Reviews:
1. The story progresses nicely in terms of the lives of three women and how they cross paths.
2. They worked together to avenge the takeover of Gu Man Ting's dad's restaurant.
3. They not only worked on their own problems but also became good friends and supported each other in business and personal lives.
4. The dishes and presentation of the food in this drama make my mouth water, and I want to try some of the dishes.
5. I enjoy it. It is not a fantastic drama, but it is watchable.
I give it a 7.0 rating for decent script and decent acting from the cast.
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It is surprisingly a short and decent drama that solves a mysterious murder of main CP's parents
The Farewell Song is a melodrama about 4 young kids who grow up together in Chengdu, and their families intertwine with each other when the parents of Ma Zhuo and Xia Ze are murdered.Synopsis: The Farewell Song delves into the emotional journey of Ma Zhuo, a young girl from Ya'an, Yucheng, whose life takes a dramatic turn when her mother, Lin Guoguo, relocates to Chengdu. She connects profoundly with Xia Gang's son, Xia Ze, who becomes her first love. Their lives are shattered when Lin Guoguo and Xia Gang are unexpectedly caught up in a murder, leaving Ma Zhuo and Xia Ze emotionally adrift, their destinies entwined in a perilous quest for the truth about their fathers.
My Reviews:
1. Surprisingly, it is an interesting drama with an interesting twist, with the mysterious deaths of the main CP's parents.
2. The acting is mediocre from the cast, but the storyline is decent and engaging.
I enjoyed it and gave it a 7.5 rating because of the good script and production quality from iQiyi.
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Awesome Wuxia drama with a disappointed ending. I would rate higher if it has a better ending.
"A Journey to Love" is a Wuxia drama starting Liu Shi Shi (Cecilia Liu), Liu Yu Ning, Alen Fang, Chen You Wei, He Lan Dou, and Wang Yi Zhe.The Synopsis: Female assassin Ren Ru Yi, the former left envoy of the Scarlet Guards, becomes a member of the Wu State's escort delegation to save the King of Wu, who has been taken hostage by the State of An. Together with Ning Yuan Zhou, the leader of the Wu State's Six Realms Hall, the free-spirited Yu Shi San, Princess Yang Ying, clever teen Yuan Lu, and the imperial guard Qian Zhao, they experience love, life, death, and grow together.
I enjoyed the drama, and all cast members' acting is undeniably good, especially Cecilia Liu, the FL. Liu Yu Ning did a decent job as ML as well.
I also like He Lan Dou; she did a better job in this drama than in "Tiger and Crane." The kung fu fighting scenes were good, except for the last 5 episodes, where some of the fighting scenes were unrealistic, like in the WRTW drama.
I was going to give it an 8.5 rating, but I am downgrading it to 8.0 because I didn't like the ending where Ning Yuan Zhou and his comrades were all killed, which was a big disappointment.
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Excellent crime drama with suspense and thrilling. Highly recommended.
I usually don't watch much drama from Taiwan, but Copycat Killer is one of the best crime dramas I have seen. It's much better than crime dramas that come out of China.It is short, only 10 episodes long, with 60 minutes per episode that you can binge-watch in 2-3 days. It was suspenseful and thrilling, and I didn't expect the killer to be someone else, and the person who played the killer did a very good job.
The only thing I didn't like was that in each episode, a woman got killed; not to spoil the ending, but his ex-girlfriend got killed, and Guo Jian went ballistic. The killer was narcissistic and crazy; he still wanted the camera to be on him even to his death.
The acting is good for the entire ensemble. Highly recommend this drama, and I give it an 8.5 rating. The production quality was good with realistic facial colors, and everyone was painted white like dramas come from China.
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Really enjoy this drama about life, forgiveness, fighting for injustice.
"The Road to Ordinary" is a drama about a group of lawyer trainees (Pan Yan, Shu Yinan, Zuo Na, and Zhu Xin Xin) working at Rongke Law Firm as they encountered confusion when they first entered the workplace as interns.During their internship, they are exposed to various litigations, from divorce to embezzlement, sexual harassment, etc. They also face growing pains in the workplace and in their own family, including relationships with their parents. With the guidance and help of senior partners Lan Hong and Du Fei Yu, they learn how to communicate effectively with their clients and parents and eventually become effective lawyers themselves.
This is my first drama with Guo Qi Lin as the ML (he played Pan Yan,) and he did a great job with good humor. Gina Jin played the FL (Zu0 Na), but it feels like a supporting role. The script surrounds the four trainees, but Pan Yan seems to carry the most weight. Gina Jin looks so skinny in this drama. There is definitely no romance between the ML and FL. It is more of a sister/brother relationship because Pan Yan dated Zuo Na's cousin (who later broke up with him.)
Surprisingly I like this drama because of the flow of the story and all the characters in the story. They are facing an ordinary day-to-day life situations, trying to help their clients and being extraordinary in what they do.
I enjoy it and give it a 7.8 rating which is higher than 7.5.
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A worthy short web drama to watch about love and revenge. Good acting of the entire cast.
Provoke is a short web drama based in the early 20th century about revenge. It is a story of love and vengeance, Du Jing Chuan.Due to the recommendations of AvenueX and CDrama Invasion, I checked it out. Initially, I was bored by it, but I decided to give it a second chance and binge-watched the entire 25 episodes.
Jiang Ying and Du Xun Yu were childhood friends, and Du Jing Chuan harmed their families. They worked together to find the truth about the death of their parents and eventually got the revenge they needed and fell in love in the process.
It is a decent short drama to binge since each episode only last 15 minutes. I give it a 7.0 rating and recommend checking it out if you want to binge-watch it in one shot.
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It is not high-traffic drama, but worthy to watch because it is relatable to modern society.
Our Ordinary Days synopsis is nothing exciting. It focused on three families that gave birth to their children simultaneously and on the same day and time.The emotional entanglement of 3 families and two generations unfolded little by little through the eyes of Xue Hua. As a parent, I can relate to what these parents are going through as they try their best to instill their values into their children. They want to control their children's lives, thinking that they can protect them, but as their children grow, they also learn to adjust and let go.
The acting of the entire ensemble was phenomenal, and I enjoyed watching it. It is not an idol or high-traffic drama, but the story's core is relatable. I am giving it a 7.5 rating.
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