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An Inspiring Show for Those Who Aspire to Become Lawyers

Before I begin my review, I want to say happy new year to all of you and hope that 2026 is going to be another great year for C-drama world with lots of fantastic new releases waiting to be promulgated when the time is ready. I also hope that all of fellow watchers stay healthy and safe as we weave into the long-awaited new year. For this new year, I decide to kick off my journey by watching “All Rise”, which seems pretty absurd to me. If you want to know why, check my review below.

“All Rise” is an original-script-based drama which centers around the journey of how to become good lawyers. In this show, we’re going to see how the story unfolds as it is interpreted by several POVs of the characters – the no-nonsense workaholic Ren Jiatong, the enthusiastic rookie Jiang Chen, the blithe and loyal bestie Guo Xiaoyu, the astute chaebol lady Yan Fei, the desperado of the year Li Ke, the hardworking Huang Yue, and lastly Wang Lu (his appearance is too short to make an impression for me). Aside from them, some senior lawyers are also involved in the story including the unrequited couple Song Yifan and Bai Xiao, the group’s senior brother Zhou Nian, Jiang Chen’s dad, Director Zhuang, and etc.

Based on what I can construe from the script, I feel that it is written quite well in terms of urban working life and how teamwork looks like (I can relate with this case the most because teamwork is arduous with my lazy bums of friends and it’s always me who have to carry the whole group). In addition, it also shows how the law in China works and what acts that must be applied should the parties undergo legal path – unfortunately, it is festooned by a plethora of law jargons, none of which I can decipher well (a minus point for me – however, since I’m not a law-ish person, I can only let the show flows naturally, sigh).

To be honest, the cast is consisted of mostly new actors, where I can only recognize Hu Xianxu, Zhou Yiran, He Landou, and Huang Shengchi. In my opinion, all of them have done well and embody each character seamlessly. I want to give a thumbs-up for Zhou Yiran who manage to capture the essential points of Ren Jiatong’s character. Ren Jiatong is quite similar to me when it comes to personality – workaholic (believing that work should be done until burning the midnight oil), guarded against others (due to her dad’s accident), huge desire of winning, lonely and have no one to rely on emotionally. Her budding romance with Jiang Chen is so-so at best, as I’m more invested in Zhu Zhisheng’s two-timing against Guo Xiaoyu lol. Meanwhile, I also love the awkward relationship between Lawyer Song and Lawyer Bai – they seem to be going in circles but never get the chance to stay together.

As far as I can discern, production quality is a tad of nice (I don’t know the exact budget, yeah, but it’s maybe a lower one) among a bunch of mediocre dramas. OSTs are good too, especially “Circles” by Li Tianzi.

Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say that I don’t complete the whole drama and still stuck in ep 17 because I’m just too lazy to continue (those jargons really create a headache for me). However, if you do have keen interest in law, this might be a good show for you for they will show how the full law procedure of solving an issue with ruthless precision. But still, it’s a 10/10 for me because I don’t want their hard work go in waste. I guess that’s all I can say, goodbye and happy watching!!!

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The Weirdo, the Ducky, and the Woodman

Hi there, I’m back again for my latest review after a great deal of hustle and bustle in my holiday time. I was quite busy that I couldn’t even watch dramas properly just like I did at home. Thank God I’d completed “Treasure at Dawn” shortly before I went on holiday. I’ll keep this review as laconic as I can since I don’t have much impression of this drama anymore. Let’s rock, shall we?

To put it simply, “Treasure at Dawn” is a drama based on original script (not from novel’s adaptation) so it may be a bit of tricky to guess the plot as you don’t have any forerunner coming from the OG source. Sadly, this drama has also been jailed for almost 3 years (since 2023, if I’m not mistaken) by the shitty Youku and it only premiered this December without huge promotion and buzzing viewership. Let’s not talk about this unpleasant thing and get on to the next section.

The plot revolves around a mismatched bickering trio – the eccentric yet kind-hearted doctor Fu Sheng, the headstrong and no-nonsense Wen Jue, and the glib-tongued yet agile acrobatic dancer Gu Tian. At first, they only team up due to unfavorable circumstances and forced proximity as Fu Sheng is framed for the death of hundreds of physicians in Shangyi City (caused by his father). After this case, Fu Sheng and co travel to Xichuan City, where the real danger lurks behind. Together, they pool their skills to solve mysterious bizarre cases, which will lead them to an inexplicable truth buried for 20 years and how Fu Sheng’s father played a role in attempting to bring the truth to the light. Joining their team are Ying Ying (Hearsay-Capturing Pavilion’s owner), Hu Lu (Ying Ying’s adoptive little brother), Tuoba Ruo (Ma Gang’s female assassin), and the Wen family (including Wen Jue’s doting father Wen Yu and her protective brother Wen Jiu).

Based on my perspective, I think the script is done right according to a thriller murder mystery drama’s standard and the cases aren’t overlooked or overdone (the victims and suspects concerned also act so convincingly), which is a good thing to hear. Meanwhile, it also blends medical knowledge, anatomy of body, political storm, and treacherous palace soap opera so seamlessly that I can hardly find faults in every single detail. The punctual comedy timing isn’t overdone as well for I have a great deal of laughter from their wacky antics. The minor drawback will be the open ending as they go to the Central Plains to search for Fu Sheng’s master to cure Ying Ying (Gu Tian’s beloved) and the Treasure of National Books isn’t a treasure at all, but just an underground palace created by the late Emperor and how the current Emperor reflects on ruling his country (I thought we would be treasure-hunting, smh).

As for the acting, I have to say that everybody involved really nails his/her role flawlessly even though I have to put up with the witch doctors’ antics (that’s the most gruesome point of this drama, otherwise it will be a pretty nice experience). Li Hongyi has improved since “The Blood of Youth” and embodies Fu Sheng’s quirky yet naïve nature, proving him as a versatile actor. This is my first time watching Su Xiaotong, but I like her from the get go. Wen Jue isn’t your typical damsel-in-distress and a headstrong smart girl who always has to pull the boys out of the troubles they cause. It’s really rare to find such a character like her nowadays. For Yu Cheng’en, I really adore him as Gu Tian and deeply root for his brotherhood with Fu Sheng (he’s such an eye-candy too that I always ogled for his scenes lol).

OSTs are truly groundbreaking and club-bangers that I need to play it on a loop, especially the ones by Chen Lingtao and Zhao Lei. Backgrounds, settings, costumes are also stylish even though it’s not a high-budget drama (however, I don’t know if it is a fictional dynasty or a real dynasty in the past, but their costumes look atypical if you compare them with other historical dramas).

Would I recommend this? A 100% yes. If you’re into thriller murder mystery or trying to surf into medical world, then this show is for you (you don’t need to shut off your brain like “Love on the Turquoise Land”, believe me). You can also watch it for the comedy aspect or perhaps you’re into soap opera (trust me, it’s kinda superb). Okay, time to end my review here. Good luck and happy watching!!!

P.S.
I won’t reveal who’s the master boss here, so look out for yourself.

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"For Every Good Action, A Good Reaction Follows"

Truth to be told, I've been ogling for 'Weak Hero Class 2' because of its spectacular predecessor aka season 1. Straight after completing 'High School Return of a Gangster', I immediately jump to this show with high expectations. Thank goodness, everything goes smoothly for me. Let's delve into the plotline now.

The plot is centered around Yeon Si-eun's life as he transfers to a new school after a chaos ensued in his former school. For the sake of his promise to Ahn Su-ho, Si-eun doesn't want to get involved in fighting or brawls anymore. However, fate plays a cruel joke and he must face new threat in Eunjang High School as a syndicate dubbed 'Union' keeps targeting Eunjang's students. Alongside his newly-made friends - the timid and amicable Seo Jun-tae, the boisterous Park Hu-min, and his loyal sidekick Go Hyun-tak. Combining their wits and strength, they decide to end the fighting once and for all and bring the peace they yearn for.

What I can say about the plot is that it is the most gritty and well-written storyline I've ever come across. It truly lives up to the season 1's reputation. The characters also have emotional baggage of their own, which adds a layer of emotional depth on them. I can't help but love this show more and more, even binging it for 3 days in one go. I must be crazy already, aren't I?

Acting are superb as well. Each actor is shining in their respective role. Park Ji-hoon comes back to reprise his role as the dark Yeon Si-eun and this time he deals with darker circumstance, where the guilt and remorse consumes him. Another worthy MVP maybe Ryeoun - he captures the essence of Hu-min's character very well and explores a wide range of emotions in an excellent way, including how he confronts his former best friend Na Baek-jin. Other casts also give strong performance and kudos to all of them.

Overall, a must-watch masterpiece that you shouldn't miss. I also wish there would be 'Weak Hero Class 3' so that we can see Si-eun's final year looks like. Good luck and happy watching!!!

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When a Gangster Becomes Your Best Buddy

Prior to starting the review, I'd like to say that I'd known this show for quite a time, but never got the right time to watch it. My friend also did recommend it to me before I turned down her offer. Later, while I was skimming MDL, I looked through the show's page again and became intrigued once more, given that I didn't have anything to watch except the trashy 'Eat Run Love'.

The plot is focused on a 47-year-old gangster Kim Deuk-pal. Aspiring to enter the college, he was good with anything but fighting. One night, he encountered a high school student Song Yi-heon, who wanted to commit suicide due to constant bullying and his inability to befriend Choi Se-kyung, his classmate. Kim Deuk-pal succeeded in saving Yi-heon, but his soul got swapped and entered Yi-heon's body, while his own body was dead. Determining to accomplish the goals Yi-heon had set before, Deuk-pal decided to take this treacherous path and protect what mattered to him.

Based on my experience, I can see that the script is quite decent, but not really that outbreaking if you compare to other dramas revolving around fighting. Nonetheless, the soul swap is a bonus point and I also love Yi-heon and Se-kyung's interaction.

As for acting, I don't have much to say but AWESOME. Rising actor Yoon Chan-young is definitely shining in his respective roles, as the cheerful yet caring gangster and as the brooding and depressed teenager. Bong Jae-hyun (Golden Child) also does equally well and their friendship is one of the best aspects of this show. Shout out to those who play Deuk-pal's underlings too. They're too funny to resist and the way they are clueless of Deuk-pal's real identity is freaking hilarious.

Overall, it is a must watch and I regret not starting it sooner. Gotta go right now, so good luck and happy watching!!

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Bright Time: As Bright as the Sunshine

Guys, we are all aware that BL shows is technically banned in China, most of which are stuck inside each platform’s dungeon respectively, and none of them will be seeing the light of the day. In other words, they are trapped in the obscurity of darkness for eternity until somebody can lift a hand to help them get out of this confinement. What I mean is that most of BL shows need to have international airing permit or cut down several intimate scenes so that the show can be censored safely without unnecessary conflicts.

This case also happens in Bright Time, the show that I will be reviewing today. Back in 2021, Bright Time had got the airing permit but never got the chance to air, supposedly because of the BL vibes in it. After 3 years of uncertainties, Bright Time finally aired in July 2024 though it was not overly hyped unlike other popular romance shows. Dating back to November, I coincidentally found Bright Time as I was scrolling at MDL as usual, while keeping my face to the grindstone for end-of-year exams. At first, I thought this was going to be another old-school drama where they deployed all sorts of tropes into one dish. But lord, was I proven wrong?

Bright Time’s story revolves around seven youths consisted of the wild and unruly Lan Jinghui, the stone-faced straight-A student Ling Dong, the cute and adorable Xiao Xiaohua, the foodie Xia Qingtian, the optimistic class monitor Chen Luyang, the playful Ma Yiming, and the school belle Xu Mengyu. Together, they bravely face the challenges of highschoolers’ daily lives and learn the importance of friendship and self-discovery and embark on a fantastic journey to find their true selves.

Actually, the plot focuses more on Lan Jinghui and Ling Dong’s storyline, with Xiao Xiaohua as the ‘mediator’ so that Bright Time can pass censorship. Widely known as an unruly bad boy, Lan Jinghui becomes notorious for his silly pranks and constant neglection of schoolwork. Therefore, his father and the principal, who happens to be an old friend of his, decide that Lan Jinghui is better off to be tutored by the cleverest student in the class, which is none other than Ling Dong. When they first encounter each other, Ling Dong is dismissive of Lan Jinghui’s antics but still has to teach the ruffian for greater good. Unexpectedly, Ling Dong’s daily routine is turned upside down by Lan Jinghui’s sudden appearance and thus marks the start of a heartwarming and passionate story of the youths who want to pursue their dreams and be each other’s life companion.

If you’re a BL lover, you’ll immediately discover that this show is a BL disguised as an ordinary friendship drama. There are a lot of not-so-intimate scenes where they sleep or lie on the ground together, or perhaps when they hug each other for a certain period of time. I’m sure there are more of it, but since the shitty censorship is playing cruel, we can’t have dozens of scenes like this (it’s already such a fortune that it doesn’t get banned like other BL)

I must also appreciate for the actors’ phenomenal acting especially Hao Fusen and Bian Cheng. Hao Fusen is a talented young actor who can easily capture the essence of Lan Jinghui’s character and he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. His facial expression is also on point, which makes me easier to relate to his character. In contrast, Bian Cheng plays the cold and aloof Ling Dong, a role which is neither challenging nor complicated. Despite this, he still pulls off Ling Dong’s character seamlessly and also explores a wide range of emotions with the aid of his good micro-expression. I’ll also looking forward to seeing his future works – bet he’s going to be a rising star lol. Also, the other actors also contribute to the success of the show, and I would like to commend them for tackling and understanding each character pretty well.

OSTs, cinematography, costumes, sets, and backgrounds are of high-budget value and look pretty nice. I can’t help but fall in love with the song that they sing at the Art Competition – it’s quite something, I must say.

Overall, a brilliant ten of out ten. I highly recommend this show for those who’re still longing for BL or perhaps who want to see an outstanding high-school drama amongst a bunch of flops drifting here and there. Have a good watch and good luck!!!

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A Decent Family Drama Blended with Funny Camaraderie of Mother and Son

While trudging on Fox Spirit Matchmaker, I accidentally found this show when I was looking on the main review section. I admitted that the casts looked average, and it might be a low-budget show. But it was the plot that made me glued to my seat as I skimmed through the whole 20 episodes.

The story revolves around the happy-go-lucky and cheerful Qi Yue, the stoic and no-nonsense top student Lu Xiao, and her grown-up yet childish son Qi Shuo, who claimed to have come to Qi Yue’s past time so that Qi Yue didn’t suffer in the future. Logically speaking, if you were Qi Yue and your son suddenly came out of nowhere, telling you that he came from the past using a time machine, would you be baffled? Nah, that was what happened to Qi Yue. Slowly, she started to acknowledge the existence of Qi Shuo. In order to avoid the misfortunes in the future, Qi Shuo became the matchmaker and persuaded her to pursue Lu Xiao as well as she could, because in his eyes, Lu Xiao was the best candidate for Qi Yue’s future husband.

The plot is actually nothing new in a generic family drama though there is a little element of sci-fi through the time travel trope. Fortunately, they don’t dwell very much on it and the plot picks up again where it leaves off. Another good aspect of this show is the bickering relationship between mother and son. You can see that they always argue for trivial matters every day lol. As noted by Lu Xiao, they have similar personalities too. Furthermore, there is no third wheeler which is a fresh air for everyone. All of Qi Yue’s friends are supportive of her and even help her to chase Lu Xiao. The ‘real’ future husband of Qi Yue, Xu Zhaoyang, also has a crush on her, but little does she know about his violent nature, and thus makes the wrong decision to marry him. After Qi Shuo convinces him, he decides to stop chasing Qi Yue and watches her being happy from afar. There is also Liang Yufei who is Lu Xiao’s close friend. She is indeed annoying, but after several episodes, she’ll also let go of Lu Xiao.

Though average the casts may be, they are able to pull off their characters seamlessly. Every arc is done perfectly though there are a few glaring plot holes. The ending is kinda of bittersweet, but I’m glad they make it this way. Personally, I find that Qi Yue has more chemistry with her son compared to Lu Xiao. I don’t know why, but I just can’t feel anything when Qi Yue and Lu Xiao are together (this is just a matter of taste, I suppose). The shooting locations, sets, and wardrobes are nice too.

If you want to watch something simple/short or a fan of bickering family drama, you can give this a shot and see if this is to your liking. Overall, a ten out of ten for this hidden gem. Good luck and happy watching!

Quote:
- Lu Xiao to Qi Yue
"Don't listen to what other people say. Just do what you think is right."

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An Amazing Tomb Raiding Show with Suspense and Slight Horror

Actually, I had done this drama last year while waiting for Neo Hou's new work which is 'Back from the Brink'. To my surprise, Cheng Yi also starred this drama, and I couldn't help but to get excited because two of my favorite actors actually collaborated together. Alright, I'll get straight to the plot and here we go...

The Lost Tomb 2 is the continuation of the previous story (The Lost Tomb) about Wu Xie and his group of tomb raiders. If I'm not mistaken, in previous one, they ventured through Seven Star King Lu Palace and found an artifact known as the Snake Eye Copper Fish. In this story, they went into a new adventure to the Underwater Tomb of Paracel Island to retrieve another Copper Fish. Aside from the Paracel Island, they also went to the Bronze Tree and a tomb that has been designated as a residence in the Republican era (that's all I remember, I'm too lazy for another rewatch). For your information, there will be a lot of flashbacks of Wu Sanxing's (Wu Xie's uncle) journey too. Thank goodness, they also sprinkled some humor here and there to ease the growing suspense of the plot.

As I've expected, the acting is wonderful from Neo Hou and Cheng Yi alongside the one who portrayed Pan Zi. They had a lot of bromances when they were together and even still had time to bicker how they were going to survive inside the tomb LOL. Credits for Li Man who pulled off the best version of Ah Ning that I've ever watched. Aside from the four main characters, I also like Xie Yuchen/Xiao Hua and Huo Xiuxiu (who were portrayed seamlessly by Liu Xueyi and Huang Yi).

Despite the good plot and nice character development, I stopped at ep 37 (somehow, they went to the Korean border by magic) and considered it as completed. If you're not into horror, you'd better avoid this one in case you're too frightened to continue (I once had a nightmare because of this drama LOL). If you like it, then this is for you. Good luck and happy watching!

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When a Lunatic Psychopath and a Former Assassin Form an Unlikely Duo

So, how am I going to start my review? For your information, I've dropped this on ep 5 before I picked up where I left off. As I continued further, the story became more and more interesting. So, let's just begin!!!

Alright, let me explain the plot first. It revolved around the former head of the Window of Heaven who stepped down from his position due to his own reasons - Zhou Zishu and the head of the Ghost Valley - Wen Kexing. As you can see, the both of them had very different personalities and it would be too UNLIKELY for the both of them becoming soul mates. After experiencing the ups and downs amidst the chaos in the martial arts world, they became more attached and decided to trust each other for this lifetime (just like those sworn brothers did, but I guess soul mates are on a more intense relationship, considering this is a censored BL).

I also want to specially mention a very important property which contributes to the story - the Glazed Armor. The Glazed Armor was made by the 5 righteous sects in the martial arts world. It was rumored to be keeping all sorts of martial arts techniques and manuals which have been hunted by lots of people. However, the actual KEY is the jade hairpin that Wen Kexing always wore - not the Glazed Armor.

I just can't help it, but I really root on Wen Kexing also known as the Lunatic Wen. He's a real psychopath and had deep hatred engraved in his heart. The last thing he wanted to do was to destroy the world and then pay for the sins he had committed. However, after he encountered Zhou Zishu, he changed his perspective and tried to cherish his life as possible.

Adding the depth of the story are Gu Xiang (Wen Kexing's loyal subordinate), Cao Weining (Gu Xiang's lover), and Zhang Chengling (an orphan who was defected by the Ghost Valley's ambush which killed his family in the process and also Zhou Zishu's beloved disciple). By the way, the sad ending for Gu Xiang and Cao Weining was unnecessary at all. Why should you kill them off and causing bloodshed again? That double-faced master of Cao Weining - he shouldn't have trusted him or this kind of accident wouldn't happen at all.

The acting is... WOW!!! Sometimes, I just can feel the main leads' bromance. I'm not a great fan of BL, but this drama has made into one. Shout out to Gong Jun who portrayed Wen Kexing flawlessly. I hope he will get more psychopathic roles in the future. Zhou Ye did marvellously too and it is where she showcased and utilized her full acting skills which helped her gaining popularity. Not a great fan of Zhang Zhehan, but his acting is commendable, I would say.

The set, CGI, and cinematography is quite nice to me. I don't understand why people said everything was fake and cheap-made. Overall, a ten out of ten and will probably rewatch when I'm in the drama slump.

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When You Mix an Illogical Story and a Cliffhanger into One Mess

Okay, I have to admit that I stumbled upon this show weeks ago just to kill time while waiting for Amidst A Snowstorm of Love's new episode.

The plot is nothing new for a xianxia drama and some scenes are rushed pretty quickly. I used fast forward and finished watching it under 2 hours.

The story focuses more on the FL and I feel that the ML got minimum screentime. There's no logic in the story and it follows typical xianxia tropes such as reincarnation, battle between immortals VS demons, and etc. The ending is a bit of cliffhanger and I wonder when will they start the second season.

The sets look quite nice plus the costumes and the headgears can be considered as decent (love the ML's hairstyle. It fits him so well). It's obviously a low-budget mini series, so don't expect too much of it.

It is an one-time watch so I don't think I will rewatch again soon.

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If I Don't Let You Die, then You Won't Die

Hi hi, welcome back to my review and I apologize for the delay in writing this review because either I'm just too lazy to do it or I'm in a very hectic schedule. Anyway, I'd completed 'When Destiny Brings the Demon' some time ago and I want to share my views about it. Let's rock, shall we?

The plot is centered around a love story of three lifetimes involving a transmigrated office worker who loves to slack off, Liao Tingyan and her hot-tempered yet vengeful 'big boss' in the cultivation world, Sima Jiao. At first, they never get along given their contrasting personalities. Furthermore, Tingyan's quirky attitude and modern slang keep Sima Jiao pondering why her behavior who this woman is actually. However, as they spend time together through the three lifetimes (involving amnesia and reincarnation trope), they begin to see the real them, heal each other's wound, and save the world from the purging evil forces, which aims to annihilate the two of them.

Personally, I feel that the story is kinda refreshing despite being some sort of a humdrum due to limited settings and backgrounds. Of all the arcs, the most boring one is probably the part when they have a grand battle with Shi Qianlv (exquisite CGI makes do of it so I won't be complaining no more) and also the one in the mortal world (I wish it could be removed from the script tho). Aside from these issues, I also want to see more screentime of the second couple. Other people may say that their relationship feels forced, but to me, it's a different case. Compared to the main couple, I prefer the second couple more (firstly, I like the actors. secondly, their awkward interaction creates slight sizzling chemistry, which is my cup of tea, of course).

Acting is quite decent with Wang Yinglu coming out as the MVP of the show. I first saw her in 'The Outcast/I am Nobody' as the emotionless Feng Baobao. Clearly, she is a very versatile actress and captures Liao Tingyan's essence in an engaging way. Meanwhile, her co-star, Chen Feiyu is also shining as the cold-outside-warm-outside Jiaojiao. At a first glance, Jiaojiao may appear as a bad-tempered jerk – but, don’t let that image fool you. He’s just a lonely boy who needs love and healing from someone he trusts, and surprisingly Liao Tingyan becomes his emotional anchor when he’s deep in trouble or facing his inner demons. Also, I need to specially mention Wang Yiting and Gao Han for becoming one of the best second couples that I’ve ever come across despite the limited screentime.

Costumes, props, background (limited places and sets – very obvious from the director of 'Love Rebellion', and CGI give off a mesmerizing appeal for the watchers while the color palette is seamlessly blended to fuse a better watching experience. If I must say, the OSTs are pretty heart-wrenching especially the one sung by Tia Ray and Huang Xiaoyun. On the other note, I’m also ogling for Liu Yuning’s song – and as usual, he never disappoints me.

Will I rewatch or not? This time my answer will be a no as it only serves as a one-time watch (to be honest, watching it for second time will make the show stale itself). However, for those who crave for a refreshing transmigration xianxia story with quirky main leads, then this show if for you. I guess that’s all for my review. Good luck and happy watching and sorry for the delay again!!!

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The Best Masterpiece of 2024

Honestly, I went here without any expectations plus I'm not a big fan of Wu Lei. However, I've watched Zhao Jinmai before and she has impressed me in 'Reset'. Months before this show aired, I've read the complete version of the novel so I will make my judgement based on what I watch and read.

The plot, in my opinion, is quite simple. The story basically tells us about two strangers bumping into each other in a bar on a rare snowstorm night. Then, the ML starts having a crush on the FL when they shared the same apartment days later. He also learns that she is a popular nine-ball player and it sparks more of his interest towards her. Because of her, he starts over his already-retired career as a snooker player and becomes a famous player once again.

I can say that the chemistry between the leads is swoon-worthy. I found myself constantly giggling in front of the screen for no reason. Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai really nailed the role and fitted the description of Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo. I can't imagine any other leads being them. They were just too perfect in being a green-flag couple. Special mention to the supporting characters too, including Meng Xiaodong, Jiang Yang, Wu Wei, Chen An An, and Meng Xiaotian. I also love the master-disciple relationship between Lin Yiyang and Mr. He Wenfeng. I'm usually indifferent when it comes to the angst. However, I shed some tears in Mr. He's funeral scene.

OSTs are quite nice and adds more sweetness in the scene. I like nearly all of the OSTs in this drama. Usually, I would've skipped the OSTs, but this time I'm all ears for them.

I seldom rewatch dramas, so I think I will only watch some clips and try to rewatch it if I have spare time. Kudos to all the casts and the production team. All in all, this the best modern c-drama I've ever watched (the best gift for celebrating Lunar New Year). This is the end of my review. Enjoy your day and happy watching!!!

P.S.
The drama follows closely to the novel except they changed the shooting location from the USA to Finland (and France for a brief moment).

As for the ending, the novel ends after Lin Yiyang proposes to Yin Guo after singing a song. However, in the drama, 3 years later, they return to Finland and take Jiang Yang's son with them. In the last scene, they go back to Redfish (the bar where they met for the first time) and listen to 'Love and Shine' again. The final scene shows that they've left Redfish and walked together side by side. Nevertheless, it's a HE and you won't be disappointed.

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A Heartfelt Story of Family Bond and Drugs

Welp, before "Eight Hundred" aired for the first time, I'd been banking on it since the story involves drug traffickers and a police papa (a conflicting trope which I love to see). FYI, it's an OG source, meaning that I can't predict too much from the synopsis given. On the other hand, I've turned into Xu Kai's anti (being an anti doesn't mean I'm bashing, criticizing this or that, and whatsoever you call names about, but I just simply have no interest over the actors I dislike, that's all) and reuters' leaked pictures had shown that he would be paired with Ancy Deng as his co-star. Okay, so let's just rock, shall we?

The story takes place in 1990s in Fengyang Town, a little suburban district of 800-radius-meter which houses the coal mines and entertainment sources for the populace there. Chen Hongbing is a very dedicated and upright police officer who vows to dismantle every single crime scene for the sake of justice. He also has a loving family including his fussy wife Ding Yue, his son Chen Hui, his father Grandpa Chen, and Chen Hui's lover Gao Songge. The family always spends their mundane life peacefully in Fengyang until the appearance of Peidun Cough Syrup disrupts the peace in the little town. Through several investigations and raids, Hongbing and his crew manage to secure several downlines of the cough syrup, but they never find out who the mastermind behind these scenes. Unbeknownst to them, it is Chen Hui and Songge who stage the layers of deception to gather money for Songge's kidney transplant. As they are risked of being discovered and arrested by the police, the couple has no choice but to create multiple webs of deception to lure the police away until they earn enough to perform the transplantation. Chen Hui has a golden heart to save Songge's life, but his method is clearly wrong as he was led astray when he encountered Tian Jinhai, the cough syrup's tycoon who coerced Chen Hui to join the underground market of drug traffickers. And I'm guaranteeing 100% that you will see a super duper BE in the end.

First of all, I need to appraise the screenwriter for being able to develop such a heart-breaking story while not being explicit in the process, giving the audiences chances to guess how the story works out and what kind of plot twist will happen in the moment of suspense. "Eight Hundred" also manages to incorporate Hongbing's daily life as a police officer and his mission in tracking down the traffickers (it reminds me of "The Truth" by Gong Jun and Sun Yi, but the former turned out to be a fiasco that I dropped it in ep 7), which I appreciate very much. Another thing, we can see Chen Hui's unhinged personality being unveiled, as he strangles Tian Jinhai to death. When the father and son confront each other, I feel their pain and love simultaneously since they just want to be an ordinary united family who can stand against all odds together.

For the acting, I must say Xu Kai nails Chen Hui character seamlessly as he transforms into an ingenious outlaw yet obedient son. His micro-expressions are always accurate, which helps you feel his emotional impacts whenever he breaks down or just wants the best for his family. Ancy Deng also does well as Songge, though I wish Songge could pry more into Chen Hui's issues instead of letting him settle everything by himself. As a couple, Xu Kai and Ancy Deng complement each other pretty well and the two of them have palpable chemistry, as romance isn't the main focus of the drama. Ding Yongdai captures the essence of Chen Hongbing the police papa too, as his emotional turbulence always takes me drifting into the story. Special mention to Hu Ke (as Ding Yue) and Qu Zhazha (as Liu Na) too because they have a unique sisterly bond although they only meet several times. And don't forget the car crash staged by Huo Kaiming too.

OSTs are not published openly, so I can't comment on that part much further. Sets, backgrounds, and costumes are full of 90s retro vibes, which can make you feel deja vu if you're one of those in that era. However, I wasn't born in 1990s, so I can't make any comparisons with the real 1990s.

Would I rewatch this? Maybe yes, if I'm in a drama slump period again. To date, I'm still waiting for VIP tracks as I have no penny to purchase express package. But, I've seen leaked spoilers of the ending, so I might as well include it here. Overall, a ten out of ten and one of the best crime dramas I've ever seen in these years. Good luck and happy watching!!!

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