An Idol Drama That's Unexpectedly Enjoyable

I initially expected to drop this drama by the second episode since I'm not huge on romance, not to mention I'm not overly fond of Esther Yu. But color me surprised, I actually ended up enjoying it! Not only did I enjoy watching it, it was all I could watch for the past week! I'm still not a fan of Esther Yu's, but she did manage to convince me that she can act (unlike some of her peers) because of this drama. She can actually speak without her usual cutesy “aegyo” voice and knock her dramatic scenes out of the park. But even with her childish mannerisms and squeaky voice, I somehow became less annoyed with her as the drama went on.

The real revelation in this drama is Ding Yuxi, though. I tried to watch two of his other dramas, Love You Seven Times, which I dropped (I don't even know why I considered watching it), and White Cat Legend, which I put on hold. They didn't pique my interest and I thought he didn't quite have that leading man charisma. Boy was I wrong! Mu Sheng is definitely his breakout role and he even stole the spotlight from his co-stars. Let's just say that I'm totally giving White Cat Legend another go after this.

Storywise, Love Game In Eastern Fantasy is pretty much an isekai reminiscent of series like Re: Zero and The Rising of the Shield Hero. One of the reasons why I decided to check this out is because I do like this subgenre of fantasy. True enough, it did grab my attention from the get-go. It follows an ordinary girl named Ling Miaomiao who somehow finds herself inside a novel written by her favorite author. And in order to return to her world, she must play a game of love and win the heart of the crabby and standoffish, Mu Sheng. She must maneuver her way into this world, join the demon hunting team led by Mu Yao, and learn how to fight demons to survive. The story within this world is nothing new, though. I've seen a lot of xianxia and xuanhuan dramas and read fantasy books that follow similar plots. But I have to give credit to the writers for making it seem fresh and entertaining. For an idol drama, it's actually pretty good.

In terms of production value, I can't say it breaks new ground, though. It looks and feels like every other idol C-drama I've seen. Even the sets are the same. I know I saw those exact same sets in The Double and probably from other dramas I can't recall right now. The music, for the most part, is good. But again, the song choices are pretty much the same as other idol dramas I've seen. I feel like one of the reasons why people liked this is because it's familiar. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel or do anything innovative. It relies solely on its well-established story, which was adapted from a popular novel, and the acting prowess and star power of its actors. I read somewhere that this is an S+ drama but I was disappointed to see the same production quality I normally find in other dramas of its kind. I expected it to actually have better CGI, costumes, cinematography, color grading, and set designs, but it doesn't.

I was also disappointed with the second couple. I'm sorry but they are sleep inducingly dull. Every time the main CP weren't on screen, I dozed off. Zhu Xudan is actually not bad as Mu Yao, but her partner is just plain meh. The actor who plays the second male lead looks half-dead throughout the drama. Sorry, but I think if they had gotten a more capable actor for that role, who actually has an ounce of chemistry with the second female lead, the second CP would've been far more interesting. I found myself getting bored every time the story focused on them. That rarely happens to me as I often find the second couple more engaging than the main couple. I just wasn't invested in them at all. The rest of the cast are great, though. The kid who plays Cuicui is so cute! And of course the veteran actors excelled in this.

Now for the ending. I can't say I liked it but I can't say I hated it either. I know many viewers complained that it ended abruptly with no real resolution or explanation. But I do get why they ended it the way they did. They don't need to show Miaomiao and Mu Sheng reuniting, it's already implied in that last scene. Of course we all want to see that happen, but the writers left the ending to our imagination. And in my book, they found each other again and they got their happy ending. That's what I choose to believe. I guess I'm used to open endings in Japanese stories that it didn't bother me one bit. I do understand the frustration of some of the viewers, though.

All in all, this is a cute romance drama that'll take you on an adventure in a magical world filled with demons and demon hunters. It'll make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the first male lead. Oh wait, that's just me! Hahaha! I give this a solid 8 out of 10.

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An Engaging Detective Mystery Drama

Under the Skin is a thriller mystery detective drama starring Tan Jianci as a gifted portraitist working for the police bureau. It's only 20 episodes long, which is relatively short for C-dramas. But the fewer episodes allow the drama to make full use of every scene; not a moment is wasted and everything serves a purpose. Hence, it is one of the most well-paced C-dramas I've ever watched to date. In fact, it is more similar to American crime dramas from the 2000's like CSI, Profiler, Lie To Me, Criminal Minds, Bones, and the like than any C-drama I've seen.

The story centers around Shen Yi, a troubled art prodigy who finds himself involved in the murder of a highly decorated police officer. Overcome with guilt and remorse, he starts working for the police as a sketch artist in hopes to make a difference and ultimately find redemption. Shen Yi partners with a rough-around-the-edges hotshot detective who despises and blames him for the murder of his senior officer. Their uneasy alliance soon turns into a deep friendship that's founded on trust, and this partnership is the core of the story. So basically it's a buddy cop drama.

It reminds me somewhat of the Chinese animated series, Link Click, but so much better in terms of writing and charactertization. Unlike Link Click, Under the Skin makes an effort to build up its main characters, making them more relatable and sympathetic, so you know exactly who they are whether you like them or not. The cases they work on are even more intriguing and compelling. I found the story about the teenage girl who developed a crush on a tomboy thinking she was a real boy especially interesting. Considering that China has stringent censorship policies and homosexuality is taboo, I thought the writers did a good job writing about lesbianism without being too overt about it. I also rather liked the case regarding two women who plotted the murder of their abusive lover. The supporting characters are also well-written because I learned to care about what happens to them.

Generally speaking, the writing is pretty good. The dialogues, most especially, are written quite well. But there is stuff that defies logic no matter how they try to justify it. Some are too farfetched for me to even consider them plausible. I wish they had used more believable scenarios instead. The production value could've been better as well. But I'm willing to forgive those flaws because the good outweighs the bad.

All in all, this is a solid drama with great plot progression, acting, characterization, and screenplay. I give it a 9 out of 10. Season two is in the works so you can bet your bottom dollar that I will watch it the moment it hits streaming.

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A Faithful But Lackluster Adaptation of A Popular Sci-Fi Novel

Took me a while to write a review for Three Body because I honestly don't know how to start. All I know is that it's a deeply provocative drama about the nature of man. The drama is based on the Hugo Awardee science fiction novels by Liu Cixin entitled The Three Body Problem. It was also adapted by the same dudes who nuked Game of Thrones for Netflix. Sorry, I chose to forget their names. Hahahaha. I haven't seen that one yet so I can't say anything about that, but this C-drama version doesn't skimp on the science aspects of it. In fact, it never forgets to school you about physics, nanotechnology, space science, and so on. But the very core of this drama is about the good and evil side of humanity, our triumphs, failures, ability to create and destroy, and inability to appreciate life itself and see past our own flaws. The story follows an idealistic scientist specializing in nanotechnology and a scrappy police officer determined to get to the bottom of a series of murders connected to a particular cult-ish organization. At the center of this is a highly intelligent but troubled woman who made a regrettable mistake in her youth that led to a catastrophic mess involving the fate of humanity.

I like the drama for the most part as it is so brilliantly written that you'll either feel as if your IQ has increased after learning so much sciencey stuff or you're dumb AF because you can't comprehend any of it. Hahahaha! The characters are also well-fleshed out that I couldn't bring myself to hate even the antagonistic ones. Production-wise, it's pretty good but you can really tell that this drama could've used more budget for the CGI stuff. I found the computer generated imagery used in the scenes where they were inside the Three Body game very clunky and distractingly bad. The CGI versions of the characters showed very little emotion and moved awkwardly, I thought. They should've just used real actors for those scenes, it would've looked a lot better. This is one of the reasons I found the “game” scenes flat and dull. Another complaint of mine is they spend too much time inside the game with the characters being played by those horrid CGI versions of them. It was not interesting at all! I found myself dozing off every time they entered the game.

As a whole, this is a solid 8 drama and that's already a generous rating. The reason why I can't give it a higher score is because of the pacing. I watched the shortened version of the drama, cut down from 30 episodes in total to just 26, but I still found myself getting bored because of the slow pacing. I also felt that they should've made the science stuff more accessible to the masses, spelled it out in laymen's terms so to speak. I'm not saying they should've dumbed things down, just made them more comprehensible to those who aren't as well-versed in science. I understood the science elements for the most part but some flew over my head, and some I just didn't care for because I didn't feel like understanding them anyway. I was sick and tired of hearing the actors drone on and on about this and that. I think maybe the Netflix version did a better job at this. I haven't watched it yet so we'll see. But if you're into science, especially physics, then you'll appreciate this more, I suppose.

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An Underappreciated Gem

Under The Microscope is another engaging series that stars Zhang Ruoyun along with his Joy of Life co-stars, Wang Yang and Wu Gang. It is one of those shorter C-dramas that truly benefits from its 14-episode length. Unlike longer period dramas of its kind, this one has a simpler, albeit more socially relevant plot concerning issues that people can identify with even to this day. The story centers around an autistic mathematics genius named Shuai Jiamo as he uncovers an insidious plot that involves years of corruption and tax evasion of those who possess the most power and wealth. This continues to be a problem in our modern society so it's highly relatable. The rich become richer because they can get away with evading taxes and stealing land from the less fortunate, while the poorer become poorer because they're the ones paying the taxes.

It didn't immediately catch my attention as there's a lot of serious talk about taxation, mathematical equations, and calculations in the beginning. As I'm mathematically dumb, my brain kept shutting down, and I tended to nod off while watching the first few episodes. So I had to take a break from it. It wasn't until episode 5 when it finally picked up for me, so to me, it is a bit of a slowburn. But that's just me. If you're interested in mathematics and accounting, then this is right up your alley. By the time it picks up, though, it doesn't stop and ends in a truly satisfying fashion that it leaves you feeling happy for the protagonists because the little people won against those in power. This is the only C-drama I've seen thus far that really sticks the landing. And that ending alone is one of the major reasons why it is on my top 10 most favorite C-dramas of all time.

The characters are complex and easily relatable despite them supposedly existing hundreds of years in the past. Jiamo has the innocence and purity of a child who has yet to learn what mischief is all about and Ruoyun plays him to perfection. As I suspect that his character suffers from autism, he is often seen musing or mumbling to himself as he calculates complicated equations in his head and tries to make sense of what he has discovered. But when he starts talking about mathematics, he lights up with so much gusto, imparting his expert knowledge in accounting like a child telling his favorite bedtime story. He is, for a lack of a better word, amazing in this role. Wang Yang, who plays the lawyer, Cheng Ren Qing, is equally brilliant. In the beginning, he made me feel so frustrated as he battles wits with Jiamo and foils his plans. But by the second act of the series, he starts singing a different tune and you, as part of the audience, begin to wonder what his actual deal is. I grew to love his character by the end, which was the exact opposite of how I felt for him initially. Wang Yang plays this dubious role with such skill that he makes you genuinely dislike him at the start but you end up cheering for him. Talk about great character development! Jiamo's loyal best friend, Feng Bao Yu, is one of my favorites. You first meet him as a spendthrift playboy whose only real goal in life is to go to gambling houses and kill as much time as he can. But as the series goes on, you see a significant change in him as he grows more mature and responsible. His loyalty to Jiamo is exemplary and most definitely his best trait. It's his relationship to Jiamo that motivates him to become a better man. He is one of the funnier and more adorable characters in the drama. I also found some of the public officers funny and endearing, especially the Magistrate. Simply put, the characters and actors are all great!

As far as production value is concerned, I don't think it has the biggest budget based on the costumes and sets. But I kinda like the grittier and more grounded look of the drama. It makes it more believable and more like a historical documentary than a dramatic series. The music I wasn't very fond of, though. It didn't stand out to me so I can't say much about it.

All in all, this is a wonderful short series that I would most definitely recommend to anyone willing to give it a shot. It has great acting all around and a gripping plot about tax evasion and the shameless machinations of those involved to cover up their crime. It's only 14 episodes so it's very bingeable.

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A Good Enough Sequel

I can't say I loved this second season as much as the first but it was nice to see these characters again. It felt very familiar and pretty much a direct sequel despite the recasts and some of the actors obviously looking much older, bulkier or thinner because of the 5-year gap between seasons. I still enjoyed it but it doesn't have the magic of the first season. That was truly lightning in a bottle. And like most sequels that are used as setups for the final installment, it does feel like it doesn't have a beginning or an ending. There are some things that are introduced in preparation for the succeeding season. Thus, this should be taken as a transitional piece.

More characters are introduced in this season and I'm glad I finally got to meet the other princes, the dashing eldest prince and the bumbling idiot that is the youngest prince. They are both likable to say the least. But I'm disappointed that some of them just came and went without much ceremony. Some of the older characters like Gao Da only appear in some scenes and never return, which is a shame because he was one of my favorites in the previous season. I guess they are there for fan service only, nothing more.

The writing this season is a little bit all over the place. While the dialogues, political machinations, and plot twists are still superb, the plot progression is kinda slow, some scenes are dull and lackluster without the fight choreography from the first season, and there are subplots that just go nowhere. There are more illogical and you-must-suspend-your-disbelief aspects as well. I really don't get Fan Xian's motivations sometimes and why the overarching plot about the divine temple, androids, futuristic knowledge, and other sci-fi elements are barely mentioned and seemingly abandoned. I blame the original writer for this because even in the book, it is never fully explained. Again, why put science fiction elements into a story but never fully explore them??? From a writing standpoint, that is a complete waste of a concept and just lazy writing, period! He obviously excels at writing political dramas, so why not just write exactly that? Why introduce science fiction at all? Methinks this writer just wanted to set himself apart from the many Chinese authors that write historical novels, hence the ice age and advanced nation plot. But he may not be well-versed in this field and could not be bothered to actually do some research and incorporate science into his book. Such a travesty!

The music, just like in the first season, is hit or miss with me. If the first season had latin music, this one has a yodeling theme that reminds me of The Sound of Music. If you've seen The Sound of Music and are familiar with its soundtrack, then you'd know what I mean. Just horrible horrible choice in music! The costumes this season are better, though. At least they look more organic and worn unlike the plasticky costumes from the previous season. The cinematography is still excellent. But while the cast is one of the best I've seen in any drama, there's one I would rather not see again. Gina Jin is an awful choice for Ye Ling Er. They should've never recasted that role. And then there's the yogurt product placement that just takes me out of the drama every time it appears on screen. They even keep talking about it, too. Word of Honor did the same thing but they did it in a way that was hilarious, thus I was able to forgive it.

As a whole, this was a fun second season and probably better than expected considering it's the middle season and that most sequels are not as good as the original. I just hope I won't have to wait more than 2 years for the finale.

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Court Politics At Its Finest

Joy of Life is a 2019 Chinese wuxia drama that centers around a young man named Fan Xian who was born in ancient imperial China with memories and knowledge of the 21st century. He grows up knowing about a far more advanced society so he has always felt alone and isolated like a fish out of water. That premise alone made me want to watch this drama immediately, but I had to wait years because I found out that it ends in a cliffhanger and there was no confirmed date for a season 2 release. Thankfully, they finally announced the premiere of the second season this year, so I decided to start the first season. I didn't regret it. I was able to finish this 46-episode drama in just 8 days. That rarely happens to me, but when it does, it's usually because the drama is really enjoyable and has gained my full attention.

I'm a sucker for royal court intrigues, and political scheming and plotting, so this captured my undivided attention from the get-go. Not to mention this drama has what I hope most series would have, a very engaging, interesting, and endearing hero that you want to root for and fall in love with. Fan Xian is hands down one of my favorite characters of all time! He is highly intelligent, witty, humorous, crafty, skilled, and relatable in his flawed nature. I haven't laughed so much since I watched Word of Honor. But this drama also made me tear up more than once because of the emotional beats and brilliant acting of Zhang Ruoyun as Fan Xian. Ruoyun really carries this drama and he does it with flying colors. Despite acting alongside some of the best veteran actors in the business, he is, in no way, overshadowed by his more experienced co-stars. I've liked him since I saw him in Under the Microscope and Joy of Life only helped me confirm his undeniable charisma and screen presence. The rest of the cast are fantastic in their own way. My favorite among the supporting characters is Chen Pingping played by Wu Gang, whom I suspect to be a legendary actor in the Chinese entertainment industry. If he isn't, then it's a travesty! He is that good! This drama has such a strong supporting cast that I liked almost everyone, even the villains. I absolutely abhor the Princess Royal, Li Yun Rui, but Li Xiao Ran is so amazing in playing this detestable character that I applaud her for it. Wang Yang is also great in this, as always. He only appears in the first half of the drama but he cemented himself as one of the more unforgettable characters in the series. I also have to specially mention the actor who played young Fan Xian, he does not only look like Zhang Ruoyun but also acts like him. That was such a great casting choice!

The script is one of the best I've seen in any drama. It's what I expect from other dramas of its kind, even better than Nirvana in Fire's in my opinion. The dialogues are remarkably well-written with carefully chosen wording only meant to hint at the true meaning behind the statements. You have to read between the lines, so to speak. And this, coupled with the subtle acting from the cast, brings more tension to the scenes. The script also interweaves beautiful poetry with tragedy and unpredictable plot twists that make you immediately think of plot armor as an excuse. But as things unravel you begin to realize that perhaps the so-called plot armors can be justified by a number of reasons, making you believe in the brilliance of the writing.

As much as I love this drama, I do have some beefs with it, though. As I mentioned, while some turns in the plot can be justified, I do think that there are far too many convenient coincidences for them to be logical. I will not mention those here but if you pay attention to how problems are handled by the characters as things unfold, then you will know what I mean. I also have some issues with the female lead. For the life of me, I cannot understand why they have to continually infantalize women in these dramas. I do not find these women cute whatsoever. It is annoying and tiresome! Lin Wan'er is played by the beautiful Li Qin, but the character is the cookie cutter type of pretty, feminine, and angelic damsel in distress. I do not want all women to be warriors like Haitang Duoduo, but Lin Wan'er acts like a cute little girl who has a penchant for stealing food from the kitchen. What is so amusing about that?! How old is she, 8?! And Fan Xian falling in love with her at first sight is far too cliché for my taste. I don't know why they can't seem to write really good female characters in these dramas. It's probably a culture thing.

Even though it's quite obvious from the cinematography and sets that this drama was not made with a meager budget, the costumes look so out of place and plasticky cheap. I mean, leather belts and leather-like garb? Weird paisely looking patterns in the garments? Did those exist in ancient China? I understand that they probably wanted to bring a more modern feel to the costumes because of the science fiction aspects of the story, but come on! The costumes are hideous! I feel sorry for the actors who had to wear those heavy-looking dreadful garments in the peak of summer! I was also disappointed with the fight choreography. There are far too many cuts that you can barely see what's going on. I expected better. It didn't hinder me from enjoying the action scenes, though. The music is hit or miss. There are some themes that work, some that do not. Whoever thought that latin music would work in a Chinese costume drama is insane! Some are inappropriately used, too. Seriously, why would you put sinister-sounding music when there's no imminent danger?! lol

But my biggest disappointment is how the writers (or original writer of the novels) failed to cleverly incorporate modern elements into the story. Considering that Fan Xian was born with the knowledge of a technologically advanced society, he rarely used that knowledge for his benefit. While he did use his expertise in poetry and literature to help him advance his career in politics, it didn't go beyond that. The drama also barely explores the true nature of Fan Xian's character and that of his mother, who supposedly came from another world. I expected it to be more like the manga/anime Dr. Stone wherein the characters are frozen in time when a second ice age hit the earth and they wake up in another stone age. They help provide the foundations of that world by introducing science, technology, literature, and even modern warfare. But this drama doesn't do anything of the sort. Instead, it focuses on political intrigues and wars of that primitive society with Fan Xian barely putting his knowledge of a futuristic world to use. He rarely even mentions it, which is a total waste of that concept. The science fiction aspects are just cosmetic tools used to make the story seem a little more unique but does not use it to its fullest potential. Shame. This drama could've been way better.

But despite all that, I still give this drama a high rating of 9 out of 10. I recommend this to anyone who wants to watch an intelligently written drama with fleshed out characters and an engaging plot.

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One of the best dramas I've ever seen, period!

Oh No, Here Comes Trouble! is a gem of a series and one of the few I rated a perfect 10 out of 10 because of the original plot, relatable and well-written characters with great character development, balanced pacing, praise-worthy acting, and excellent overall production quality. This is a heartwarming drama about family, friendship, growing up, and coming to grips with our own shortcomings and sadness.

The drama centers around a teenage slacker named Pu Yiyong, who dreams of becoming a comic book artist. He comes from a long line of innately talented traditional calligraphers who possess a unique power. This is where the creativity of the writer comes in as I have never seen such powers portrayed in that way in any media before, not in Japanese manga or anywhere else. After surviving a freak accident, he comes into these powers that allow him to see things ordinary humans cannot. In this world, human obsessions that are so strong can give life and manifest beings driven solely by these desires and longings. Only he can see and help release them from their prisons. One example of this creature is the one born out of people's wishes to protect their children while crossing an accident prone road. This being that exists in the spiritual world becomes somewhat of a patron saint or guardian of children crossing that road. These beings seek him out and request for his aid.

Pu Yiyong enlists the help of his friends and a policewoman who aspires to become an accomplished detective. Together they solve mysteries relating to these supernatural incidents and help both humans and spirits come to terms with their tragic experiences and move on. And in turn, they help him deal with his own personal problems. I love how his character matures as the series progresses. From an irresponsible and self-centered kid, he becomes a more reliable and emotionally intelligent adult who wouldn't think twice about extending a helping hand to those in need. In short, he transforms into the hero he only writes about in his comics.

The rest of the characters are equally great. His mother is such a badass woman, I can't help but like her. His dad is an awesome person inside and out. Watching him interact with his father made me feel all warm and fuzzy, reminding me of my relationship with my own father. I wish his relationship with his grandfather was a little more fleshed out, though. That's my only beef with this drama. His partnership with Chen Chuying is amusing and their banters are some of the funniest in this drama. But it's his rivalry/bromance with Cao Guangyuan that stood out to me. They go from being mortal enemies to best friends who positively affect each other's lives.

It's amazing how much I loved this drama when I used to avoid watching Taiwanese dramas in general because I found them overly cheesy and melodramatic with subpar acting. But this one hits all the right spots and more. One minute you're laughing out loud, the next minute you're bawling because of the well-placed tonal shifts. I have to give props to the writer for accomplishing this feat because tonal shifts can often feel disruptive and awkward.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this drama whether you like fantasy stories or not. It's one of the best dramas I've seen to date. I wish they'd make a second season. There are certainly more stories to tell.

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The Most Daring Costume BL Drama China Has To Offer

Needless to say, I really really really liked Word of Honor, and it's probably the best BL drama (including the Japanese and Thai series) I've seen thus far. Among the C-dramas I've seen, it definitely has one of the highest rewatchability percentages because I actually wanted to rewatch it the moment I finished it! I loved it so much that I felt compelled to read the book version written by the popular danmei author, Priest. But despite my obvious bias, I cannot ignore the fact that it is not a perfect series.

The positives:
This series has the best male leads in any BL drama I've seen, period! They are utterly perfect! Some would most likely disagree, but for me, their onscreen chemistry is so palpable I can taste it! Hahahaha. Don't get me wrong, I do not ship the actors, I don't do that sort of thing, but their portrayals of Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing are undeniably spot on. I feel that they really understood what they needed to do to bring these characters to life and just had a blast doing it. I was so shocked to see so much touchy-feely scenes and the sexual innuendos in the dialogues are so blatantly obvious that even if you were as pure as Mama Mary herself, you wouldn't be able to brush them aside and just say, “Oh, they must be really close.” But for someone like me whose brain is practically living in the gutter, I almost choked on my own saliva from laughing so hard and giggling like a maniac. I'm surprised they were able to escape the proverbial axe of China's censorship board. I am still wondering how they were able to make it work. But BL stuff aside, I found these two characters incredibly interesting. Both have questionable morals and tragic pasts, and they go through redemption arcs. I love that most of the characters in this series are gray and they could go either way. I was sometimes confused whether to despise or sympathize with particular characters because of it.

Zhang Zhehan as Zhou Zishu is captivatingly gorgeous. I have to admit, there were times when I would just stare at him and not understand what was going on. Hahahaha. But he brings a certain depth to the character that I didn't expect. You'd think he's just another pretty face, but the subtlety of his micro-expressions effectively convey the self-loathing, guilt, sadness, and remorse of Zhou Zishu. As the founder and leader of a massive private army of assassins and spies working for an ambitious Prince, he projects a cold and ruthless front. But the weight of that responsibility and the guilt of working for a megalomaniac bears down on him, so he chooses the most brutal of means to buy his own freedom. He starts out as a more stoic character but slowly becomes more playful and even cheeky as the series goes on, especially when he meets Wen Kexing and Cheng Ling.

Wen Kexing is played by Gong Jun, who is also frustratingly attractive I kept screaming at him to stop being so cute. Hahahaha! Wen Kexing is the leader of a notorious group of criminals who are so terrible and repulsive that society no longer sees them as humans but ghosts or devils. He, too, has a painful past that drove him into the deepest pits of hell and made him obsessed with revenge. Gong Jun plays him to a tee, animatedly displaying Wen Kexing's flamboyance and flirtiness, but also showing his more sinister, volatile, and melancholic side. And his interactions with Zhehan's Zhou Zishu are some of the most touching and humorous moments in the series.

Apart from the main actors, I would also like to mention, Zhou Ye, and her character, Gu Xiang. I gotta hand it to her for making me initially annoyed at her silliness, but eventually loving her character that I cried because of her and her suffering.

As for the plot, I suppose I could sum it up to a power struggle between warmongers and ambitious politicians all racing to find a vault that is supposely filled with all the ancient martial arts secrets known to man. Knowledge is power, after all. But it's actually more than that. In fact, it appealed to me more than some of the C-dramas I've seen because it reminded me so much of the kung fu films I saw as a kid. It just has that same vibe to it.

The fight choreography is one of the best I've seen in any wuxia film or series. It's so poetically beautiful that I almost forgot how bad the CGI could be sometimes and that some of the backdrops didn't quite suit the scenes. But for a wuxia drama that only had half of the budget of The Untamed, I'd say they did remarkably well with what they got.

The musical score is surprisingly good, too. I don't normally like musical scores in C-dramas as they don't usually stand out to me. But I actually liked the soundtrack almost as much as I liked the soundtrack of Mysterious Lotus Casebook.

The negatives:
First off, this drama was supposedly made with just 50 million RMB, which was considered cheap for an epic costume drama. So suffice to say, the production value of this drama is nothing to write home about. There are parts when the CGI is just plain awful and the sets are obviously reused again and again. Not to mention, the costumes and props look plasticky and inexpensive. I don't think it will hinder people from enjoying the drama, though. It certainly didn't take me out of it.

Second, the editing is a little clunky, inhibiting the smooth transition between scenes and affecting the pacing. But I guess it's because they had to cut down the number of episodes due to budget restraints and move the plot around to fit the planned scenes. I thought the last few episodes were rushed and would've benefitted from more episodes to flesh things out better.

And last, the fact that the supporting characters are mostly morally ambiguous, as perfectly imperfect as they are, they are unlikable to say the least. Aside from Ye Baiyi, I couldn't bring myself to really care about the others. Even though I found Qianqiao's misguided love for the wrong man heartbreaking, I can't say I cared about her enough to empathize with her. And that has something to do with the writing, I think. And probably with the acting as well.

Overall, this series led me down a rabbit hole for weeks on end. I couldn't make myself watch anything else and that doesn't happen to me very often. It was a very entertaining 36-episode ride!

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The best wuxia drama I've seen thus far!

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is hands down one of my favorite Chinese dramas to date. Though it is not perfect by any means and it doesn't have the most satisfying ending, it didn't leave me frustrated or disappointed unlike another C-drama that would've been without flaw if not for its horrid ending. In fact, it leaves you hungering for more with its open ending that may or may not lead to a second season. Despite the fact that it is a solid detective story dripping with political intrigue, mysticism, and evil schemes for world domination, the true driving force of this series is its characters. It boasts of well-written characters that each have their own story arcs and go through significant character development as the plot progresses.

Cheng Yi plays somewhat of a dual role, the young and brash, Li Xiangyi, who basks in the glory of his achievements in the martial arts world, and Li Lianhua, the reclusive wandering physician with a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. I love how he contrasts these two characters, showing how much the ambitious and arrogant Xiangyi has changed over the years and become the more mature and grounded Lianhua, who is content in lazing about with the company of his dog and growing vegetables in his garden. I love love this snarky bastard! 😍

Zeng Shunxi is Fang Duobing, the young and impressionable son of a noble man who grew up idolizing Li Xiangyi. He also undergoes a major change as the series goes on, from a bratty rich kid to a young man worthy of becoming Xiangyi's successor. Xiao Shunyao plays Di Feisheng. He starts out as an anti-hero but soon proves to be one of the most compelling characters in the series. His friendly rivalry with Li Xiangyi or Li Lianhua is quite possibly one of the best bromance dynamics I've seen in any drama. While he is the typical stoic “tsundere” character, his interactions with the other two protagonists are the funniest moments in the whole series. And damn, he's such a striking figure, an absolute badass!

The villains are absolutely despicable! You will never find an ounce of sympathy to spare for these hateful people. But they are not exactly your cookie cutter type of villains since their motivations aren't solely rooted in the fact that they are evil. The supporting characters are also engaging albeit some of them are not as memorable as the others. But perhaps the one character that really struck me was Yun Biqiu. His story of remorse and redemption is truly touching.

The writing could've been better, though. There are parts in this series that left me scratching my head, trying to find logic in them. Some seem too contrived, convenient, and coincidental that I had to suspend my disbelief more than a few times in order to enjoy this series. I wish they could've been more precise in the writing department, but since it is a fantasy drama, I figured I could just chalk it up to mystical arts.

As for the production value, they didn't skimp on the set designs, costumes, and cinematography although there are some scenes that looked iffy to me. I suppose I could attribute that to bad CGI due to lack of budget. The fight scenes are spectacular, though. Most costume C-dramas don't play around with their fight choreography, but this drama, in my opinion, has some of the most convincing fight sequences and the main actors really look like martial artists. I give the stunt coordinators and fight choreographers (apart from the actors of course) the credit for that.

All in all, this was an enjoyable 40-episode drama that I don't regret watching and would probably watch again if I can't find another series to obsess on, or when I miss Li Lianhua. But for now, I'm saying goodbye to my old friends, Lianhua, Fei, and Duobing. Yes, they're my friends now!

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A beautiful and poignant live action adaptation of a beloved manga/anime series

Hikaru No Go was one my favorite anime and manga series from the early 2000's. It became so hugely popular that it spawned a newfound interest in Go, drawing many new players to the sport - me included (although I was never very good at it). But for some reason, the Japanese entertainment industry never felt the need to make a live action adaptation despite its massive fandom. It wouldn't be until almost 20 years later since the manga's inception when a C-drama adaptation of the series would be released. It's called Qi Hun in China, but it retained its original title for its international release. I didn't have the chance to watch it when it was initially shown because I didn't have subscriptions to Chinese streaming sites at that time. But recently, I remembered that I still haven't seen it and found it on iQIYI thankfully. As a fan of the source material, I went into this with a lot of skepticism because live action adaptations, more often than not, do not give justice to the original, so I didn't think they could pull it off. But color me surprised, they did and they did so with flying colors! I fell in love with the drama from the get-go. I could tell from the first few episodes that this was created by people who loved the manga and this was a love letter to the timeless work written and drawn by Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi. Yes, the setting, names, looks of the characters, and language are different, but they preserved the soul of the manga. It felt like Hikaru No Go through and through, not some cash-grabbing poor imitation of the original.

It follows the story of an unsuspecting young boy (Shi Guang/Hikaru) who stumbles upon an ancient Go board that is haunted by the ghost of a Go prodigy (Chu Ying/Sai) who met a tragic fate and has been waiting for more than a thousand years to obtain his redemption. Together they set out to find the “Divine Move”, something that most masters of the sport dream of finding. As the story progresses, Shi Guang grows to love the sport and Chu Ying starts to mentor him, teaching him everything he knows and molding him to become one of the finest players the sport has ever seen. The bond that they share is one of the focal points of the story and this drama gives justice to that. Their relationship is wholesome, touching, and heart-wrenching. Chu Ying isn't just Shi Guang's mentor but also his father figure and most avid cheerleader. They are thick as thieves! I cried buckets because of them.

Chu Ying is definitely the best character in this drama just like Sai in the anime/manga. He is such a pure soul and the perfect teacher. He's patient but strict. He encourages but he doesn't push too hard. He doesn't become envious of Shi Guang's growth and talent, but he feels proud instead. He knows that Shi Guang is his legacy and the only proof that he ever existed. Another thing that this drama got right is the rivalry between Shi Guang and Yu Liang (Akira). One of the highlights of this series is Shi Guang and Yu Liang's intense rivalry that develops into a beautiful friendship. Their tacit understanding of one another makes them a compelling pair. They may hate each other's guts sometimes, but they want the other to succeed and feel terrible when the other fails. Yu Liang is the complete opposite of Shi Guang and yet it is he who understands him best apart from Chu Ying.

Shi Guang's other relationships are equally heartwarming, from his supportive grandfather and high school friends to his comrades from his Go club who would do anything for him. It made me think that he is indeed fortunate to have friends like these. Hong He is one of my favorites among his friends, he is such a good guy and I found myself rooting for him. His love-hate relationship with Gu Yu is also interesting. I cried when Gu Yu confronted him and told him how much he envied and admired him at the same time. His teachers from his Go club are also very endearing as well as the nameless monks in Lan Yin temple and the construction guys who gave Shi Guang and the boys a hand. I also learned to love Yu Liang's senior, the arrogant playboy, Fang Xu. His character development is one of the things that I liked about this drama. I couldn't even dislike that spoiled brat who prides himself as the best player in their Go club because at the end, he becomes a little more mature and accepts defeat. I love every character in this drama except that braggart, Mu Qing Chun. He's a real piece of work! Hahaha!

The screenwriters did a marvelous job at adapting the source material, something I really didn't expect. The dialogues are so on point and there are many quotable quotes, especially from Chu Ying. The emotional beats and tense-filled scenes are so well-executed that I felt nervous whenever they played matches. I love that this is not just about Go but also about life, growing up, love, and loss. I cried so much watching this drama. Yes, they made changes, but I actually have no complaints, especially with the way they ended it. Truth be told, the manga ends abruptly with no real resolution or closure that many people felt disappointed. So the fact that they ended it the way they did made it better.

The music is also well-suited to the series. The makers of the drama even went out of their way to do a Chinese remake of the iconic theme from the anime that was originally written by Kids Alive. There are tons of easter eggs and callbacks to the manga and anime that if you're a fan, you will definitely be able to identify them.

I cannot heap enough praises for this drama and I cannot recommend it enough. If you're a fan of the anime/manga, this is a must-see! But if you're new to Go or the IP, it is also a wonderful coming of age story filled with ups and downs, wins and losses. It's not perfect, for sure, but I give it a 10 out of 10 because it is the kind of drama that I would want to rewatch again and again, and I became so attached to the characters that I felt that they're already a part of me. I was so immersed in this world that I'm very reluctant to leave it behind. I thank the makers of this drama from the writers, director, producers to the cast and staff, you made me laugh, cry, and feel good about myself. This drama truly deserves the only perfect 10-rating that I have ever given a C-drama thus far.

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The Worst Idol C-Drama I've Seen To Date

This, quite honestly, is the most infuriating Chinese drama I've ever seen! It took me more than 2 weeks to finish because I kept taking a break from it. If not for the male lead and the second couple, I would've dropped this long ago. The plot is so convoluted and ridiculous that I think the writers themselves didn't know what to do with it exactly. It started out promising enough with the female lead dreaming about her future and trying to avoid the disasters that would supposedly happen to her and her loved ones. But that only lasted for a few episodes, after that, it was all downhill from there. The female lead is so poorly written that I believe almost everyone who has seen the drama thinks she's stupid, bratty, selfish, and does not really deserve to have a happy ending with the male lead. It doesn't help that Ju Jingyi's portrayal of the role is just downright awful. Her acting is totally out of place. It's as if she forgot that she's acting in a period drama or maybe she just doesn't know how women usually behaved in those times so she chose to be herself? And her makeup! OMG, she looks like a walking and talking filter! I'm convinced that whoever does her makeup is high on drugs! That is NOT attractive! She doesn't even look human.

The male lead, however, is close to perfect. Xu Jin is quite literally Prince Charming! I may be a bit biased since I like Zhang Zhehan, but he really did transform into a just, wise, kind, benevolent, and handsome prince who would do anything for the woman he loves. Despite playing a typically tsundere character, he doesn't appear cold and distant, and is in fact, very affectionate towards the female lead and displays various emotions whenever he loses his regal composure. I believe he cries several times in this drama because the female lead breaks his heart again and again. I wanted to strangle her for that! lol

The second couple was also delightful. Wu Bai Qi and his Fu Xuan should have been the main couple because they carried the show for me. I watched this drama for Zhehan but stayed for this couple and I wasn't disappointed. Even though the story has promise and the political scheming is interesting enough, the rest of the drama is just one BS after another. Most of the characters do things that simply have no logic. The main villain and the female lead are the worst written characters in the entire drama, and the worst actors too. They should've ended up together. I think the writers were either drunk or had their brain cells removed when they wrote the screenplay. As a whole, it was entertaining enough but I certainly wouldn't want to watch this dumpster fire again. I would give it 3 stars for the male lead and second couple, and political intrigue but zero stars for rewatchability.

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A Not So Scary Horror Film

Exhuma is a South Korean horror film that draws inspiration from Mudang or Korean shamanism and feng shui, and the atrocities committed by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation in World War 2. It follows a team of shamans and feng shui burial experts as they unearth a cursed grave that bears a secret darker than anything they have ever imagined. I can't really say much about the plot as it would be a spoiler so I'm going to stop right here. But this I will say, it doesn't deserve the praise it got.

Sure, the story is creative from a writing standpoint and it is intriguing as it is based on the superstitious beliefs of the Korean people. But it is not the least bit scary, at least not to me. The acting is nothing special, so I don't understand the multiple acting awards it received. Not to mention it could've benifitted from a shorter runtime. This was at least 30 minutes too long.

And my biggest beef with the movie is the unrealistic first scene where the leads are on a plane to California to meet their client. I believe that scene only serves to throw shade at the Japanese and introduce their anti-Japan propaganda. Yes, Japan did occupy and colonize Korea, and the Japanese committed all sorts of war crimes there. I know that because my country suffered from the same crimes and so did other Asian countries like China. I understand they want to make a movie about the common superstitious belief that Japan cursed their land somehow, but there are plenty of ways to go about it. They certainly didn't need to shoehorn that scene in the beginning.

All in all, this was an entertaining film with a unique plot. But that's about it. South Korea has produced better horror flicks in the past. It's a shame that they've followed in Hollywood's footsteps and become obsessed with inserting political agendas in their movies instead of focusing on making good films. I find their later movies utterly lacking and to think I used to be a huge fan of Korean cinema.

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