As long as you are by my side.....

The series has been adapted from the novel 'Dage' by the chinese author Priest. I don't know what made me check out this series, but I am glad I stumbled onto it. This is the first BL series that I have watched and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out to be.

The Unique Selling Point (USP) of this series for me was the strong bond between the Wei Family members. What makes a family? Biological family is the traditional form of family wherein we care for the members because we are born into it, however some families are formed due to the choices that we make and strengthened by sheer determination, sacrifice, trust and above all LOVE. It is the journey of two people, Wei Qian and Zhiyuan From 'UNKNOWN' to Dage to 'UNKNOWN' to Lovers.

When a young orphaned Wei Qian (Chris Chiu), shouldering an immense responsibility of being the sole breadwinner and a guardian of a young girl, his sister Wei Lili(Tammy Lin) takes on the added burden of providing shelter for a homeless street urchin Wei Zhiyuan (Kurt Huang) a different kind of a family comes into existence. The first few episodes show us how a deep bond is formed between Wei Qian and Wei Zhiyuan. Starting from the feeling of gratitude and dependency of Zhiyuan and commitment and devotion of Wei Qian, morphing into an unbreakable soulbond and a deep desire to be an equal partner, sharing all weal and woe together.

Obviously, it wouldn't be a worthy love story if the protagonists did not have to overcome a few hurdles in their path to everlasting bliss and happiness. From Wei Zhiyuan's side it was very clear from the opening that Wei Qian was not just his 'dage' but was the very air that he breathed. Throughout the series, Wei Zhiyuan showed and expressed his feelings very clearly, be it helping to pay bills by working part-time while he was a school student to taking care of Wei Qian's health by ensuring he took proper meals and rest. The hurdle in this relationship was Wei Qian. From the beginning Wei Qian as well as others around him had put him in a position of a guardian and caretaker so it was difficult for him to transition into a life partner. Even though it was evident how much he cared for Wei Zheiyuan, he was reluctant to change their status quo. Wei Qian had closed himself to romantic emotions, dedicating his life to the wellbeing of his sister and Zhiyuan. It took a major jolt for him to realise that he should grab onto the person who matters the most to him before it's too late.

Wei Qian had to realise that it was alright to reciprocate Zhiyuan's feelings. It was ok to leave the shroud of 'dage' and step into a new role of a lover and a partner. Wei Qian and Zhiyuan had to make their own family by finding the answer to the question WHO AND WHAT MAKES A FAMILY?

With each progressing episode, the viewers get more attached with this new family that was in the making...at the end of each episode, there was a quote attached to highlight the changing family dynamics. (Those quotes always caught my attention so I am compiling them here)

Episode 1 to 12

Episode 1 -The first- ever family that will never abandon you.
Episode 2 - The second kind of a family always leaves the light on for you.
Episode 3 -The third kind of a family is the one that makes you stay.
Episode 4 -The fourth type of a family member is someone who is always there for you.
Episode 5 -The fifth kind of a family is too good to let go.
Episode 6 -The Sixth kind of a family pretends to be strong and doesn't say goodbye.
Episode 7 -The seventh kind of family is always waiting in the distance, never leaving.
Episode 8 -The eight kind of a family shows care in his(their) own way.
Episode 9 - The ninth kind of a family is always there to protect you when the end comes.
Episode 10 - The tenth kind of a family loves you so much that they want to leave you.
Episode 11 -The eleventh kind of a family indulges you unconditionally because they love you so much.
Episode 12 -The twelfth kind of a family stays together for life.

What kept me invested in this series and the relationship between Wei Qian and Wei Zhiyuan was the fabulous performance by Chris Chiu and Kurt Huang. From the start till the end, there was never a moment when I doubted the deep love between Wei Qian and Zhiyuan due to their performance. Eyes cannot hide, what the lips cannot speak was proven correct in their case.

An honorable mention to the actor Kim Jae Hoon who plays the character of San Pang and actress, Tammy Lin who plays the character of Wei Lili. San Pang was a kind of friend who stands by your side metting out bitter truths but also holding your hands when you are down. Wei Lili was the sweetest sister who grew up under the nurturing care of two young boys.

A special mention to the OSTs, the lyrics were so suitable, they conveyed the feelings of the characters to the audience when the characters were unwilling to acknowledge them verbally.

It is clearly evident that a lot of attention and care was given by everyone to small details while making it. The production team, the screen writer, the director and actors worked in tandem to create a series that would set a high bar for other BL series in future.

Overall: Not to be missed, makes you believe in the adage, "Love Conquers All".
____________________________________________

Additionally, I have also written the episodes' reflection along with some special comments as and when they aired. If anyone is interested to read more they can read episodic musings written in the general comment section, I will leave the links to all episodes below as well as all clickable links as a comment to this review.

Episode 1 and 2
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16426687

Episode 3
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16480939

Episode 4
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16548613

Episode 5
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16617895

Episode 6
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16694139

Episode 7
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16769473

Episode 8
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16853383

Episode 9
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-16933581

Episode 10-12
https://mydramalist.com/762497-unknown#comment-17032049

Read More

An Emotional Rollercoaster

Dark, gritty and suspenseful thriller.

Warning: Don't get too attached to any characters. (vibe of this series is very similar to Game of Thrones series, so very possibly a few beloved characters of My Journey to You, may also share similar fate as that one. )

On the surface it is Gong family's males who control everything but real power is held by female characters.... Many species have females that are more devious and vicious than males due to their conditioning and survival instinct and so are the Female Characters in this series. The chief of wufeng is a female, even though the viewers never get to see her face even at the end... Shangguan Qian another great manipulator, even she wouldn't know whether she was telling truth or a lie...

Edward Guo, the director as well as the writer deserves major credit for the aesthetics of the drama. The picturisation has an enlivening effect, making it seem like watching cinema and not just a drama. The story is full of mystique, audience has to remain alert and engaged so as not to miss an important clue because the story is filled with layers upon layers of subterfuge and cunning.

The story starts with Esther Yu/ Yu ShuXin assuming a false identity of Yu WeiShan to enter bride selection process held by the Gong family. She enters under a false identity with a secret mission given by Wufeng, an assassin organization. Due to untimely death of the head of Gong family, Gong HongYu and the young heir, Gong HuanYu, an inexperienced and unambitious Gong ZiYu(Zhang LingHe) becomes the sword wielder(head) of the Gong family.. ....Yu WeiShan now becomes the chosen bride of Gong ZiYu and so starts their journey towards each other while navigating the traps set around them.



Some of the questions that the viewers grapple with from the beginning of the series are:

* What is the real intention of Wufeng organisation? Who is the mastermind?

*what is the real identity of Yu WeiShan?

* Who killed Gong HongYu and Gong HuanYu in the beginning of the series that catapulted a sequence of events?

*what is the mystery surrounding Madame Lan, Gong ZiYu's mother?

* And the most important question..... Who are allies and enemies? (Every character has a secret agenda)

As soon as the audience unravels one riddle another crops up in its place, keeping them on their toes and guessing throughout.


One major drawback that I see is the ending... I was mentally prepared for more mayhem and death but the ending seems more of a let down... The build up of the antagonist was larger than life, however we never got the ultimate confrontation with the BIG BAD... Even the open ending about WeiShan's fate and ZiYu was unsatisfactory, it felt as if the writer wanted to make the network happy so left it upto the audience to resolve it as they seem fit.........MAYBE Edward Guo the director as well as the writer wanted to continue with the stories of wufeng and is hoping for a second season or even if the second season doesnt work out, he is publishing the books so he may continue writing about these characters in his book so in his mind this series is just the beginning and not the end... However if that was the case I would have liked to have a hint at the end that their story will continue either in books or if lucky then in a second season of the series.


All the actors have performed stupendously making their characters come alive onscreen. Yu ShuXin, Zhang LingHe, Ryan Cheng, Lu YuXiao the main leads leave a lasting impression of their characters.


Overall, A good watch comparable with old school Agatha Christie novels(Especially, Then There Were None), the audience is kept entranced with whodunnit along with a good dose of romance taking them on a thrilling ride on an emotional roller coaster🎢

Read More

Maintaining Power Balance in the Royal Court.

The drama tells the story of 15th century China, It is set during the 14th year of Chenghua Emperor's reign. This drama has been adapted from BL chinese novel "The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua" by Meng Xi Shi. Due to restrictions in China, the relationship between the protagonists Tang Fan (Darren Chen) a sixth rank official working as a Magistrate of the Shutian Perfecture and Sui Zhou (Fu Meng Po) an embroidered uniform guard, at the Northern Administrative Court of Imperial Guards and a former soldier is depicted as bromance rather than romance. Another interesting character is Wang Zhi (Liu Yao Yuan) an Eunuch and Commander of Western Depot.

Historically, Emperor Chenghua favoured Noble Consort Wan who was around 17 years elder to him. Wang Zhi, the crown prince , Commander Wan of Northern Imperial guards are real historical figures. The story is expertly woven around the real historical figures and fictional characters blending them together to form an interesting story of a brilliant crime solving seluth, Tang Fan and a stoic imperial guard, Sui Zhou suffering from a bad case of PTSD.

The story starts with Sui Zhou and Tang Fan solving petty mysteries that morphs into a bigger conspiracy against the Crown. Sui Zhou and Tang Fan during their first encounter seem as different as oil and water somehow fit together very well as they get to know each other while solving crimes and mysteries. Tang Fan who is quite impoverished after having given up his property as a dowry to his married sister Tang Yu, supplements his meager income by writing erotic love stories. Sui Zhou a former soldier belonging to a noble family is quite prosaic, living all alone in a vast house. Tang Fan is tempremental and mercurial whereas Sui Zhou is calm and collected. After getting to know each other while solving a few cases, Tang Fan moves in with Sui Zhou. They also redeem from the brothel and save a young girl Dong Er(Huangyang Tian Tian) who was a servant at Tang Fan's previous land lord's house. Dong Er is a child prodigy who is like their adopted daughter and seems to fit in well with Sui Zhou and Tang Fan. Together the three of them form an unconventional but endearing family. Tang Fan loves to eat good food while Sui Zhou gets satisfaction in cooking for him. Cooking for Tang Fan and providing stability for his family also helps Sui Zhou manage his PTSD. Due to their cases, they frequently encounter Wang Zhi whose philosophy is "I help you and you help me". Wang Zhi, Sui Zhou and Tang Fan form three corners of a power triangle. They even mange to prevent a coup at the end of the series.

As the story progresses more beloved characters become a part of this unorthodox family, Duo Er La and Wu Yan the Oirats living in iron market, Tang Yu and her son He Cheng, Doctor Pei Huai each having their own short story arc.

Apart from Tang Fan and Sui Zhou's family and friends the series also depicts the power struggle within the Royal Court. Another powerful triangle in the series is the three departments.
1.Eunuch Shang Ming the head of Eastern Depot, 2.Commander Wan Tong the head of Northern Imperial Guards as well as Noble Consort Wan's brother.
3.Eunuch Wang Zhi the head of Western Depot who seems to be gaining more authority and power, acting as the Emperor's informant. He has developed a vast spy network even recruiting smart beggar boys.

The rumours among the officials is that the Emperor is quite passive and real power is wielded by the Noble consort Wan Zhen'er. The Emperor is surrounded by corrupt officials and can rely only on Wang Zhi's loyalty. However the Emperor is also wary of Wang Zhi's growing powers. The Eastern Depot, The Western Depot and The Northern Imperial guards are often an loggerheads, each trying to usurp the other department. The political intricacies, back stabbing and plots by the court officials form quite an interesting part of the drama. Also mixed in the main arc of the story is the family background and fate of family members of previous rulers and rebels.

Jackie Chan is one of the producer of this series and many stunts of the drama take inspiration from his fighting style. Tang Fan's unserious attitude combined with 'keep on moving' philosophy of Sui Zhou makes most of the cases quite humorous in a satirical manner. The drama brings in its share of laughter and tears as the viewers become witnesses and companions of these characters' journey.

First thirty five episodes are quite fast paced and gripping however the last twelve episodes feel draggy. The last plot of the coup and the main antagonist, Li Zi Long's role seems to overshadow Tang Fan's brilliance. All decisions made by Tang Fan are gullible and foolish. I was waiting for the Eureka moment where the viewers would be astonished as to how Tang Fan pretented to fall in their trap but had the situation well under control however that doesn't happen. Li Zi Long temporarily outsmarts Wang Zhi and Tang Fan and our protagonists hobble behind just about barely manage to save the day.

Overall: An Engaging drama, it may not be The best mystery series but certainly has its own charm. Definitely worth Watching.

Read More

Compassion versus Law & Mercy versus Murder

My first thought when I saw the first episode of the the series was that it tried to establish a strong connection between showing mercy to a suffering animal by putting it to sleep and showing mercy to the suffering terminally ill human.

The topic of Euthanasia is very debatable and that's why only few countries have made it legal...there are various concerns regarding the choice of Euthanasia by an individual, whether:

*the person is in a fit mental state of mind to decide.
* The person is being coerced ( by the family)
* Doctors' abusing the power given to them. Etc etc.

I believe a person who is still mentally fit should be allowed to decide if they wish to end their life.

However, Can a person suffering extreme pain whose mind is clouded by pain medications be competent enough to make a rational judgement? Should the family members/ doctors' have the right to decide the fate of a terminally ill patient without their explicit consent (as in the case of putting an animal to sleep)?

The whole discussion is never ending , so in the end it comes down to morality and legality.


I feel the show focuses more on Compassion versus Law and Murder versus Mercy.

In the eyes of the law, things are weighed as per the rules and regulations, no room for feelings.

Freeing someone whom you care about from further suffering is an act of mercy, but law considers it a crime punishable, similar to that of a deliberate murder.

Motive plays a primary role in differentiating between the deaths of various people... how is Dr.Kan's actions different from the other killers? when legally all are crimes. The question here is not who the killer is, but why and how that person chooses to take a life.

What is most interesting for me in this series is not the mystery of who dunnit because that is not the highlight of the series. The cornerstone of the series is the moral ambiguity of the characters.

None of the character is pure black or white.

*The police captain, Thiu suspects Dr.Kan strongly and wants the guilty to be punished as per law but his heart doesn't allow him to remain completely unbiased in this case.

*Dr.kan may have started on this path for mercy and ending the suffering of patients, but somehow along the way did he become immune to killing? What he did in episode 7 to Boss was for a selfish reason and a clear crime

* Boss, nurse Onanong, director Somsak: All these characters' actions are based on their past life traumas and convictions. Their experiences coloured their perspective and thoughts.

We live in a society of flawed humans. The law has many loopholes and is imperfect but by and large it safeguards our society by protecting the weak.
So the question is left up to the audience as to how they regard the actions of these characters and whom do they sympathise with.


Overall: thought provoking and trying to present various viewpoints on the much debatable, sensitive topic of Euthanasia.


__________________________________________________

:::::::::::::Trivia::::::::::::

Episode 1 and 2

Just by watching the first two episodes I think the series is posing a serious question as to when does Euthanasia cross the line of showing mercy Versus murder.

So far in the first two episodes, there have been deaths of three terminally ill patients.

1. The police captain's mother ( she seemed to be quite rational and seemed to be in too much pain, but did she choose to end her life? Didn't she want to spend some time with her son who was taking a transfer to be near her?

2. Another terminally ill person, but his family was taking quite good care of him...they were hoping that they could live with him for as long as possible. I don't know if he would have chosen euthanasia?

3.The aged father who was clearly a burden to his children....but for me, his death was a blatant murder... because inspite of his advanced illness and pain, he clearly resisted and showed signs of wanting to live.


So the question is, If Euthanasia was really a choice of the above three people or was it forced upon them?


Episode 3
In episode 3, Dr.Kan injects the terminally ill tribal man after asking for his consent...even though he may not have been responsible for ALL 3 deaths in the previous 2 episodes, he certainly Euthanised the man in episode 3.

So legally he could already be a criminal, as I believe active Euthanasia is not sanctioned in Thailand...

Therefore irrespective of other people who he may or may not have euthanized, he is already guilty and is punishable by law.

Now we just have to see whether there is someone else besides him who is ethuanising terminally ill without their consent.

Read More

Perfect Timing is of great essence.....

Portia : How many things by season season’d are;
To their right praise and true perfection!
( The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare)

Many things are better because they are perfectly timed, a similar theme is underlined in the drama as well as the reason for me to like this drama. Perhaps my fondness for this drama stems from the fact that I watched it when I was in a drama slump and nothing seemed to engage me as a viewer till this came along, riding on a white horse piercing through the fog of funk. I watched it after the full series had aired so was fortunate enough to binge watch all episodes and maybe that has coloured my judgement. For me, the drama is interesting when I immediately want to see the next episode as soon as I finish watching an episode and an invigorating drama is one that makes me stay awake sacrificing my precious sleep to watch just one more episode and then another and then another of the series...This drama ticked all of those boxes for me.

A modern-day fairytale with time travel thrown in along with certain elements of mystery. It is commonplace for many fans to be spellbound and adore an idol but when a good looking, talented star reciprocates the feeling of the fan passionately it becomes a story worthy to be narrated, very reminiscent of Prince Charming falling in love with a plain looking Cinderella. Such a situation is highly improbable and unrealistic hence it makes it alluring, a situation that most of us fantasize about.

So many time jumps and changing of people's fate in a single series, makes a person wonder whether the Time is really linear? The events that we see in the beginning of the series have a deeper connection to the past and as the story keeps unraveling past events and the changes in the past that affects the future, makes a person think about the age old question... whether the egg came first or the chicken? Everything becomes circular and all emotional connections are based on the new changes, but were those changes already in motion, even in the past? The time travel aspect has been attempted in many other fictional motion works too, so the concept is not innovative but the emotional entanglement of the characters makes it a gripping watch.


What makes this drama a good watch is the phenomenal chemistry between the lead actors, Byeon Woo Seok(Ryu Sun Jae) and Kim Hye Yoon (Im Sol). Both actors are able to make the audience believe in the characters' enduring, everlasting, never changing love that will withstand any hardship in life but will always remain steadfast; that is a remarkable feat. Making it an epic story of all consuming love that binds two people as soulmates who defy destiny to stay together.

Other than the main cast, all the support casts have also done a marvelous job. The relationship between Ryu Sun Jae and his father, the nurturing bond between all members of Im Sol's family and the friends of the lead actors including the second ML, Kim Tae Sung.... Together they make the story relatable and believable.

Many thought provoking scenarios are shown but in a humourous and light hearted manner so as not to become too preachy or melodramatic. Some of the references are:
1. A sudden life changing accident that impacts a person's health often leads to a period of depression and a person needs just a ray of encouragement to come out of the darkness and see the light, but often times it is difficult for health care workers or family to make that person see the ray of hope. The person needs to be reached on a level that will enable them to see the hope for themselves.

2. The struggle of a disabled person to find a regular job, Im Sol's job interview in the first episode highlights the issue, even though everywhere in the world emphasis on equal opportunity for everyone, without any prejudice but the ground reality is often a little different. Im Sol looking at the staircase of the place where she was rejected, assuring herself that she would have been selected for the job if not for the stairs.

3. Expectations that parents have from their children to perform well often pressurise them constantly to keep going on if they don't want to see the disappointment in their parents' eyes and keep their parents' dreams alive. This often leads to frustration when the children are unable to achieve the desired result and may turn them delinquent. Both Ryu Sun Jae and Kim Tae Sung to some degree faced this but due to the understanding and overwhelming support from people around them they were able to transform their lives in spite of the limitations.

4. Select a different career path if you fail in your first choice, you may be more successful in that path compared to the first one.

5. Alzheimer; Im Sol's grandmother is shown to suffer from age related dementia. It is jarring to see a caring, loving family member changing to a person who barely recognises dear people and loses connection with reality.

6. Juvenile star struck fans; The series briefly touches on the fact that many young people are influenced and become star struck, they are unable to differentiate the real person from the star persona created on social media and often become stalkers and a great nuisance to celebrity. Many times the behaviour of such fans led them and others into a dangerous situation.

7. Restrictive life of a star due to constant coverage on social media; Constant speculation and rumours amongst the fans related to personal and professional life of an idol/ actor.

8. Life choices; upon reaching a certain age, one often wonders if they should have made a different choice. A person who has dedicated their life solely on building a career, sacrificing their personal life and a person who has dedicated their life in raising their family sacrificing their career choices, often speculate if their life choices were worthy.(Im Sol's brother and sister-in-law/ friend)



The drama is replete with symbolisms but two symbolisms that I would like to discuss here are of bridge and water:

1.Bridge; The bridge is inherently symbolic of communication and union, represents our aspirations to connect and choices between two possibilities in our lives. When a person is standing at one end of the bridge the choice is between crossing the bridge or staying in the same place because the choices we make change our life for better or worse. The series also shows the protagonists meeting on a bridge multiple times during different timelines. The constant struggle that they face is to select an option that is life altering, is real and painful to watch.

2.Water; There are many themes and ideas attached to water in literature. Water may be explored as a symbol of rebirth, cleansing, washing, drinking, playing in and it may have religious meanings or background. The protagonists are often shown to fall in water when they experience a life changing event. I feel it is used in the series as a means of cleansing ritual and rebirth, a new beginning, a second chance.

Conclusion: A perfect watch for a rainy day, hoping to have SOMEONE in our life who will always have an umbrella ready to provide shelter and warmth when things go South.

Read More

Power of Three

The story is set in the early years of the Republic of China in Jiangzhou in the southwest region.

Even though it starts a little slow and it takes a few episodes to get accustomed to the protagonists and their dynamics, it becomes quite gripping in the later part.

All three of the protagonists : Qin Huo Le, Song He and Fan Xiao Fan have their own strengths and weaknesses. Together they form the heart, body and mind of a strong Jiangzhou Police force.

1. Qin Huo Le(Xia Zhi Guang) is the BRAIN of the trio. In the beginning Huo Le returned to Jiangzhou from abroad (Great Britain/Europe). He had been sent by his father to study law but psychology interested him more. He has an unwavering compass for truth guided by his principles and a quest to find answers. He becomes the psychology analyst of the force.

2. Song He(Caesar Wu) is the BODY of the team. Detective Captain of the Jiangzhou police force. He is more street savvy, being quite adept in martial arts and fighting skill. His background has not been revealed completely in the series but he is righteous and believes strongly in the justice system. He is trustworthy and reliable. In case he makes a mistake, even though a little reluctantly, he accepts it.

3. Fan Xiao Fan(Wang Zhi Yi) is the HEART of the operation. She is a female forensic doctor who acts as a coroner of Jiangzhou police force. Her father is the Governor of Jiangzhou, Commander Lei, the de facto ruler of Jiangzhou that gives her an opportunity to smooth things and open a few doors for the team. However her ingrained integrity and morality makes her a valuable member of the team.

In the beginning, I felt that maybe Xiao Fan would be a little weak but she managed to take me by surprise and became an essential glue that bound all three friends.
--------------------------------------------

It has a total of eight cases, due to the short duration of the drama, they seem to move on quickly instead of dragging on. (Very brief overview of all cases below)

Case 1 and 2. Human Clock murders ( title as per series) and Bomb threats.(Title given by me)
Qin Huo Le's father a renowned lawyer has been apprehended by Song He for murder of four people. These murdered people had been displayed as clock hands, each body arranged to shiw different time on the face of the clock. Huo Le couldn't believe his father was the actual murderer even though his father confessed to the crime.
*Also throw in a crazy bomber bent on blowing up the police station and other places of strategic importance. What is his grievance?


Case 3. Detective novels: The true wisdom is to know one's own ignorance. (Title as per series)
A reputed teacher of the school is found murdered in a bizzare manner. He is enclosed in a lantern and drowned. This scenario is very similar to a famous detective novel. After this murde,r the sale of the said book escalates. What follows are two more murders, all clues left by the murderer correspondences to the sequels of the famous detective novel.


Case 4.Three brothers: Beast walks alone, while cattle and sheep flock ( title as per series)
Three water bandits kidnap the daughter of a prominent business man. They demand the parents to come personally to ransom the girl. They cruelly kill the child in front of the helpless loving parents. Seven years later they kidnap the seven year old daughter of the same family( this daughter was born after their first daughter's death). This devastates the wealthy couple, they fear the same outcome as earlier, having already lost one daughter they are wallowing in grief over the possibility of losing their second daughter. (This case is personal for Xiao Fan because after the first daughter who had died was her very close friend, she believes herself to be responsible for his kidnapping and death as Xiao Fan had gone to get a rickshaw after the fall of her friend and her friend had been kidnapped as she was alone. After her friend's death, Xiao Fan decides to become a coroner)


Case 5. Badger enchantment: it is better to burn brightly than whither. (Title as per series)
A good hearted young man, the son of the Jiangzhou police chief who is considered a Playboy is found murdered in a brothel. Earlier that night he had a verbal argument with his business partner over his refusal to sell opium. After his death, his face skin had been peeled off by the murderer. Also there is a hint that he fell in love with a girl from the pleasure house but did later abandoned her.


Case 6.Theater panic: the desert is beautiful because somewhere it hides a well (title as per series)
The talented leading opera singer is stabbed by her male colleague on stage while performing in front of Commander Lei and the three seluths. This leading lady was compelled by the group leader of the Opera to perform on stage against her wishes. She no longer wanted to perform but as she was an indentured to the leader, he wouldn't allow her to quit. The leader wished to marry her to a rich person who would buy her at a high price. The male colleague who stabbed her was found to be under the influence of a drug that had been mixed in the soup he had consumed before the performance.

Case 7.The three tigers ( full title as per series not written)
The three tigers or the three pillars of Jiangzhou underworld are killed. These three prominent figures had a hold on the whole region. One was the owner of a gambling house, another the head of the rickshaw association and third the head of the pleasure house. The murderer of these three people seemed to have used hypnosis. The murderer in all three cases was a close associate of the deceased. The killer in all three instances was left disoriented after the deed. Huo Le who had earlier performed hypnosis was presumed to have met two of these people before their death. Huo Le was missing after the first two murders so he became the prime suspect. How will Song He and Xiao Fan save Huo Le? What is the truth?

Case 8. The Night God (tile given by me)
Who is this mysterious Night God? What is his agenda? So many criminals previously apprehended seem to be working for this Night God. On the other hand, Jiangzhou is facing an imminent war, there is a threat of invasion. Commander Lei has to rally his forces and make arrangements to meet the outside threat head on..but who is the real enemy? What sacrifices will be demanded from them to keep Jiangzhou safe.

-----------------------------------------------------
Some of the revelations at the end of the cases were brilliantly thought out and others quite expected. However the heart of the show is the deep friendship between the three protagonists and their dedication to uphold justice, this bond carried the show on its shoulder.

All the cases form short arcs and they are connected together to form a part of a bigger picture...I found that aspect to be well executed, it seems the previous arcs were cogs in a machine and when put together, they worked as part of a whole system. There is a strong hint of a second season.. whether the second season will pan out is anyone's guess.

Overall : A good mystery drama with strong main characters and endearing secondary characters.

Read More

Illusion Versus Reality

The drama is adapted from the web novel "Kaleidoscope of Death". The drama is a censored version of the web novel, the romantic relationship between the Male protagonists has been shown as bromance. My review is based solely on the drama version.

The protagonist, Ling Jiu Shi (Huang Jun Jie) an avid gamer and a programmer loves playing virtual online games. One day he gets drawn into a virtual game that is more life-like and the consequences of the game reflect in the real world. When Ling Jiu Shi enters the first gate, he is confused and doesn't know the rules, luckily he meets Ruan Lan Zhu (Xia Zhi Guang) inside who guides him through the 1st gate. Ruan Lan Zhu is a pro, having passed multiple doors previously so as he reveals the rules of the game to Ling Jiu Shi, the viewers also become privy to the information. Ling Jiu Shi and Ruan Lan Zhu team up later to pass the other gates. They have an intense relationship (if it was not a censored work, they would be romantic partners). Ruan Lan Zhu always protects and helps Ling Jiu Shi.

The game has 12 doors and the players have to finish the game once they start it. They cannot quit the game voluntarily. However the game has turned lethal as it is believed to be tampered by the (American) Capitalists. There is a different world inside each door, the players have to find the hidden door and the hidden key to pass the gate, the first person to insert the key gets a valuable clue about their next door. The game has become fatal because there are a number of disclosed and unrevealed taboos and if triggered the player dies. If a player dies inside the game, that person would meet with an accident in a few hours outside the game and would end up dead in the real world too.

Each game highlights unresolved feelings of the characters( NPC, door ghosts and others) that resonate with Ling Jiu Shi's life experience: abandonment, resentment, betrayal, regret, jealousy, greed, selfishness, grief.

Many aspects of Ling Jiu Shi's life bleed into the virtual game making it seems as if the game is somehow connected to him. The presence of a kaliedosope in every door (kaliedoscope had been given by Ling Jiu Shi's father and many memories of kaliedoscope are linked with Ling Jiu Shi's childhood friend Gao Dawei). Broken pieces, when viewed in a Kaliedoscope form a beautiful new picture with every turn of the barrel, similarly life is formed of broken pieces and when these pieces in a form of people and encounters come together, life forms a new memory that leave a unique footprint on the psyche.

Ling Jiu Shi and Ruan Lan Zhu want to find a way to limit the casualties and purify the game. How the experience inside the game changes Ling Jiu Shi? What do they discover at the end? It makes for an entertaining watch.

Overall: Definitely a must watch. As a person who doesn't play online games, the concept was quite unique for me.The twists and turns keeps the viewer invested in the story till the very end.



( More detailed spoilers written below)

:::::::::::::Illusion of Life vs Reality of Death:::::::::
The 11th door literally serves this dilemma on a platter as if it wasn't staring at viewers' faces throughout the series? The whole humanity is still searching for the answer. Is Death the only reality and is Life just a Dream or an Illusion? Many literary works and dramas address this topic.

William Shakespeare in the play 'The Tempest' "We are such stuff as dreams are made of; and our little life is rounded with a sleep...”

Ling Jiu Shi starts to realise the fleeting nature of life and for him as well as many other players, after passing through many doors, life inside the game (virtual reality) feels more real than life outside.

The thin line between reality and illusion blurs because life is temporary and death is inevitable for everyone.

After passing through the 11th door, Ling Jiu Shi discusses the significance of 12 doors with Ruan Lan Zhu. Ling Jiu Shi states the importance of number 12 in most cultures, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours of day and night, 12 months, 12 negative emotions etc.

According to Chinese Culture 12 negative emotions are Anger, Fear, Sadness, Worry, Anxiety, Grief, Shock, Impatience, Jealousy, Hatred, Regret, Guilt.

As per Ling Jiu Shi, when a player in the game crosses all the doors they encounter all these 12 negative emotions and while finding the key and door they come to terms with them freeing themselves from the burden of that negative emotion. When all 12 negative emotions are shed away from life, a human is on the way to attain salvation.

I believe in the end Ling Jiu Shi attained salvation and immortality by shedding the weight of his mortal body and choosing to live an everlasting life of undying consciousness with people whom he loves. If that is not Heaven, I don't know what is?

::::::::::COMMUNIST PHILOSOPHY :::::::::::::
I feel the drama also brings forth the issue of whom to save in a dire situation? It is deeply rooted in communist philosophy of collective ideals and advocated to sacrifice the welfare of a single person IF it means fulfilling a larger responsibility towards the community. In the drama Ling Jiu Shi experienced a similar situation, in the real world when he had been a student, he had been buried under the wreckage of the secondary earthquake, his good friend Gao Dawei left him under the rubble when he heard cries of help from a group of people. This incident affected Ling Jiu Shi. Hence he always prioritised the wellbeing of Ruan Lan Zhu and his friends over those other unknown players in the virtual world. Ling Jiu Shi's attraction to Ruan Lan Zhu was also strengthened by the fact that Ruan Lan Zhu always valued Ling Jiu Shi's life above anyone else. The series poses a question WHOM WOULD YOU SAVE FIRST?


:::::: Ending that I had presumed::::::

I don't know why but I had presumed the last reveal would be that Gao Dawei had replicated his image in the game as an NPC, Ruan Lan Zhu.

After Ruan Lan Zhu would purify the game, in the real world Long Jiu Shi and Gao Dawei would meet, having reconciled inside the game, they would live happily in the real world.

The drama had always drawn parallels between Gao Dawei and Ruan Lan Zhu. The deep bond Gao Dawei had with Ling Jiu Shi in their formative years, how Gao Dawai was always there to comfort Ling Jiu Shi whenever he was feeling low etc....but the drama went the other way.

Also it is quite interesting that the same actor played the role of Gao Dawei and Ruan Lan Zhu.(As per info given by an MDL member, @Lyson)

Read More

Young Love is like Tangled Electric Wires

It's a remake of Lovesick2014 (supposedly the first Thai BL that went mainstream). I haven't seen the original 2014 version nor have I read the book on which this drama is based, so the review is solely based on the 2024 version.

The story is pretty generic, fake boyfriends who actually fall in love later. What made it an interesting watch for me was the chemistry between the main cast Almond(Pun) and Progress(No). These two young actors in their first ever main role do a fabulous job to make this a good watch. In 2024, when the series was released Almond was 16 years and Progress a mere 15 year old boy. So when they started shooting and were cast, they would have been much younger. These two have a great potential to be bright shining stars of the Thailand BL industry if their talents are utilised wisely by their agency/company, helping them to develop their acting skills. Even though the story was not the aspect that captivated me, their performance made me finish the series. I hope these two actors would get a chance to act in another series in the near future with a much better storyline.

The story reflects a realistic viewpoint of teenage love and the obstacles they face. The narrative manages to bring some real life teenage issues like unrequited love, bullying, parental expectations, finding your identity and coming to terms with your sexuality etc. to the viewers. Even though the story touches upon these sensitive topics, it doesn't dwell too much on them before moving on, making them seem a little trivial. Though the story is not unique, it depicts some of the struggles of students at the tender age when their emotions are warring with societal norms.

The series would have been much better if the makers would have focused on fewer couples. Here, too many couples are introduced but due to a limited episodes series, their stories are often sidelined.It is about adolescents experiencing Love Sickness with emotional ups and downs, navigating the murky waters of Love and Acceptance while confronting their Parents' idea of 'Ideal Life' at a vulnerable age. In my opinion, the series brings nothing new to the table except showcasing the new generation actors and their future capabilities.

From what I have read online, this series has made quite a few changes from the original one, making it more palatable and acceptable to the current audience. I have a lot of dissatisfaction with the plot even though it has been amended in many instances from the Original. But the original story itself that is at the core, even though true to life, is a little dated and behind times. For eg. Pun already had a girlfriend when he realised that No reciprocated his romantic feelings, Pun was rather passive about his relationship with his girlfriend all the while pining for No. If not for the circumstances, Pun would never have broken up with his girlfriend (I felt this situation was a little off putting and outdated). Moreover the constant obstacles in the path of No and Pun's dating, the almost kisses which were always interrupted, felt unnecessary and dragging at times.



Overall: Watch for the talented actors Almond and Progress, they breathe new life into the run of the mill story.

Read More