Michelle Topham

Because MDL has a huge problem with trolls who aren't even watching a drama but downrate is massively because they "don't like the ML or FL" or are "offended" by something in it. You can't fix stupid. Don't even try :) -- And honestly, nobody pays any attention to MDL ratings. The site lost any reputation it had, ratings-wise, a long time ago as it allows the trolls to operate without any attempt to stop them.

Put your comment about the ending in a Spoiler please. Those of us who haven't yet watched it don't want our enjoyment to be spoiled.

Yep, he's so manly, isn't he? LOL -- and Season 1 of Lost Pearl is excellent, then Season 2 goes to hell in a handbasket. But still worth it for XSY!!!

And I'm in 7th Heaven with Fate Chooses You, because him, Liu Xue Yi, Allen Ren, Riley Wang, and Zheng Ye Cheng - the casting call must have gone out for "Hot guys only need apply" - hahahaha.

I just sat through 20-odd episodes of the worst C-drama in YEARS (Season 2 of The Secret of the Lost Pearl) because he was the ML. I like him so much :)

Hahahahaha

"Weren't you dead? Apparently not dead enough. Let me finish the job".

Love this FL. So feisty. Kicks ass first, asks questions later :)

She really is. Imagine filming movies and TV shows, while taking care of a baby and a husband, AND being in an 18-month Masters degree program in Paris. All at the same time. She obviously knows how to prioritize her time :)

Completely obsessed with the guest cast list -- one of the best in eons. Xiao Shun Yao has already shown up, and that just made my day. :)

EDIT: He's another actor who is not stereotypically handsome (has a huge nose!) but is sooooooooo sexy :) Brilliant singer too.

This video on YouTube of Zhu Zhu is interesting as she talks about how she got into acting. She has SUPERB English language skills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzEBRerON6I

And btw, she's extremely intelligent. Undergraduate degree in electronics and information engineering from Beijing Technology and Business University, and a very recent Masters degree from HEC Paris - this short is her talking about being in the 18-month Masters program, while filming movies and TV shows and being married with a baby. She's pretty amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EYwzs6OGUts

You're correct that travel/living in other countries really does open your mind to different views and ways of living. I notice that with my friends who have spent years/decades living overseas. They just look at the world differently.

I've lived in six countries so far (UK, U.S., Thailand, Malaysia, Spain, Austria) with the longest being 14 years in Thailand. Currently in my 10th year in Austria but getting itchy feet to move somewhere else. :) Probably back to Asia at some point :) The deep traditions/culture/superstitions/customs of that continent interest me like no other countries. Life always just seems richer, and more vibrant there than anywhere else I've lived.

And yep, let's sign up for that anger management class together - hahahaha.

Exactly. They're both equally strong. I guess that's why the Chinese title is "The Perfect Match" :)

I grew up in the UK (England) where we have around 40 different accents, some of them are very strong. So strong, even I have a problem understanding British movies nowadays and have to use subtitles as I left the UK decades ago :) But yes, I still love hearing them.

I also love hearing the Chinese dialects, as they add such a strong personality to a character. Same when I lived in Thailand - I always loved the "upcountry" Thai accents instead of the Bangkok accent, as they always sound so welcoming and friendly.

And yep, that's very nasty for a streamer to criticize actors' accents. Personally, I think every Chinese actor should dub their own voice, as many of the voice actors they choose don't "fit" the actor or their character. It would add an extra layer of authenticity to a character, IMO.

And I know what you mean about anger management classes. I feel the same way sometimes :)

It's literally a romance drama/novel. Chinese title is 佳偶天成 (The Perfect Match).

Ah thanks for the correction. I don't use the app, so didn't realize it didn't have that. They should add it. It's very useful :)

"Main character syndrome" -- Yep, very true :)

It's weird, isn't it? It's like people who downgrade dramas they're not even watching. Not even Episode 1. What is the purpose of that, and what possible good does it do to anyone? Including the people wasting their time doing it. Weird.

Same. I went to an all-girls high school in the UK and got a superb education (I didn't realize at the time how good it was). I went to university in the U.S. and realized quickly American students were still studying subjects in university that my high school in England had taught when I was 12 and 13 years old. We were even mandated to learn Latin for 5 years :)

So much so, my understanding of Physics, Chemistry, Geography etc. was higher than a huge percentage of American freshman at my school. I knew it was bad when a Geography MAJOR told me "You speak excellent English" and I asked "Why?", and she said "Don't you speak French in England?" -- a GEOGRAPHY major thought that -- LOL.

It's a shame as, IMO, American students aren't any less intelligent than anyone else when they start out, but their "education" system doesn't properly educate many of them like it does in other countries. I currently live in Austria, and have met average Austrians with average jobs who speak 4 or 5 languages fluently, have in-depth knowledge about world politics, and know more about the U.S . than an average American.

Where American education does excel, however, is at Masters and PhD level. I taught high school in Thailand for many years, and I always recommended my students to attend undergrad university in Thailand, and then do a Masters or PhD in the U.S.

I love the U.S., and love being American, but it's such a shame the education system spends most of its money on sports and on promoting "woke" ideology that isn't benefitting the students its teaching.

There's a time counter that runs at the top of every MDL drama listing. Easy to see how long it will be before the next episode drops.

I'm holding out great hope for Against the Current too :) He is such an incredibly talented actor, but most of his dramas have been "meh" and don't get me started on the awfulness of The Princess's Gambit -- ROTFL

I even attempted to watch an older drama of his last week -- Love at Night -- and it's so bad, I couldn't get passed Ep 4.

Again he was an absolute standout in it, but the writing is garbage.

Tan Song Yun is his co-star in ATC too, and she's always superb.

I also liked how they had the school reunion group speak earlier in the drama. I don't understand much Chinese, but I loved the way they all ended almost every sentence with "La".

BTW, can I just point out what an amazing job Jia Nai Na did as the centipede/Madame Flower. Just a small guest role, but such a standout in just the few minutes she was on screen. Loved her in Love and Sword (such a horrible person with no redeeming qualities), but she was even more mesmerizing in this one.

That drama had some negative commentary, but I enjoyed it. Superb ML and FL too, and one of the few Liu Xue Yi dramas where he actually GOT a good script :)