Dreaming Back to the Wan Dynasty (LOL)

Spoiler alert:

I started this pilgrimage to Wan Village for Zhao Liying and Luo Jin. Watching the first episode, I was aggravated by the backward thinking and lackadaisical viewpoints of the Wan Village People. "Wedding hazing has been a tradition for generations, and the young people were just having fun", they said. WTF? Wan Village was rife with sycophants, including He Xingfu's MIL Mr. Wang, FIL Mrs. Lin (...Wang), Husband Qinglai, BIL Qingzhi and SIL Xiuyu.

The Wang and the Wans' fate lines were intertwined. The prosperous Wans were poison ivy vines that stifled the Wangs at every twist and turn, so the latter could not catch a break. Emperor Wan Shantang, Crown Prince Wan Chuanjia and Princess Wan Chuanmei abused their privileged status, undermining the Wang family at will. Luckily the middle child Wang Qingzhi had escaped the clutches of the Wans, when he moved to the city to pursue a university education and a subsequent civil service job. The outsider, He Xingfu, became the avenger for the Wang family, demanding justice for wrongdoings, while battling the usual apathy and sycophancy from Mr. and Mrs. Wang, who vacillated in every scene: sometimes sounding intelligent, sometimes sounding stupid. Mr. and Mrs. Wang win Most Sycophantic Stupid Bad Parents Award. He Xingfu wins the Best Daughter-in-Law Award.

Money comes at a price. The Wan business motto was “Rule by Intimidation and Reward the Peasant”. Chuanjia, the golden son, seized the lands that Qinglai and Xingfu were farming, and refused to compensate them for their financial losses. After kicking Qinglai in the balls, Mr Wan agreed to pay him the requested compensation. There were many incidents between the Wangs and the Wans, but the next damning might be Chuanmei's identity theft of her childhood friend Xiuyu. Chuanmei stole Xiuyu's university spot, and continued the masquerade throughout her professional career. Why did Karma take ten years for payback and redemption?

He Xingfu was the justice fighter, taking on new challenges, while her tunnel vision husband, Qinglai, remained stagnant. He was a clone of his parents, who had taken him out of school at a young age, to work on the farm. Uneducated most of his thirty-something years, he would admit to Xingfu that he did not choose this life, and he had no ambition. He never liked farming, but it was the only thing he knew. Mr. and Mrs. Wang slighted him for the prettier second son, Qingzhi, and supported Qingszhi's academic dreams. They looked down on their third child, Xiuyu, and would not support her when she was wronged by Princess Chuanmei. Mr. and Mrs. Wang win Most Callous Stupid Bad Parents Award.

This melodrama drama had family conflicts, social issues and environmental issues. The rich and powerful Wans were regarded as godlike benefactors by the Village People. The Wan's family sheen would tarnish at the end. Chuanjia was sent off to jail for polluting the well water with lead discharged from his wastewater treatment plant. Chuanmei revealed her duplicity in robbing Xiuyu of her academic education and her identity, and made a public apology. Wan Shantang resigned in shame, from his position of Village Leader. Thank you, Karma and Retribution, for finally visiting the Wans, even if it took you forty episodes.

As I predicted, He Xingfu was appointed the new Village Leader. She deserved the job because she was a champion of the people, and her ethics were outstanding. Long live Empress He Xingfu! Qinglai stepped out of his box, and implemented the Village Farm Cooperative.

It is not very often that I feel compelled to write a review of a drama I just watched. I usually retain 20% of the plot, by the time the drama comes to an end. Story of Xingfu was different. I might remember 70% of the plot, because of the realism aspect. Life in a far eastern village is not the same level as life in a small western town.

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Beautiful period drama

DAMO was one of the most beautiful dramatic dramas, with the main actors, Ha Ji Won, Lee Seo Jin and Kim Min Jun, giving compelling acting performances. The story was very interesting and engrossing, and the emotions were high.

This drama had continuity flaws with the adult Chae Ok never looking the same throughout the drama. It seemed as if four different actresses played the role. To date, that is the most perplexing aspect of the drama. Chae Ok, Hwangbo Yun and Jang Sung Baek were immortals of Joseon. They would be injured severely and almost fatally, but they revived by the next episode; another perplexing aspect. Despite the occasional inexperienced acting, the three actors used their charms on the viewer.

The final episode was nonstop heartbreaking, heart-wrenching and torturous for the viewer. I was crying like a banshee during Hwang Bo Yun and Chae Ok's final goodbye, and the Chae Ok and Jang Sung Baek's final goodbye in the very last scene.

The flashbacks and flashbacking were very distracting. Korean directors and writers have been falling back on filler and flashback and flashbacking in telling their stories, instead of making the story cohesive with events shown in chronological order. Despite the flaws in the martial arts sequences, DAMO was endearing.

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Alternate title: Ballad of Yuhui

Slowmoving plot about Lin Yuhui and her extended family! It could easily have been related in 30 episodes. Very good production values in the directing, editing, acting, writing, music composition, costume design and set design departments. Hair and makeup were average. The open credits are virtually invisible which is a good sign, and flashbacks are used in the final episode only, which is also good filmmaking.

The underdog villain ML, Gao Jinbang, seemed to have too much screen time. Yuhui might be one of the saddest FL drama characters. She broke a smile occasionally. The senior actors did a good job.

Footnote: For a strange reason, the MDL cast list, as well as Dramawiki and IMDB are bare bones, missing about a dozen or more supporting actor credits.

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A love story

I bingewatched this entire drama in four days, completing it today. Overall, the drama has very good production values, except for the overly ambitious music editor running the loud BGM and loud singing continuously. The flashbacks finally kicked in toward the last half dozen episodes, pulling down the pace of the plot. There is story drag, as Xiao Qui pines after her lost love, but that reflects the pace of real life emotional conflict of the heart. I watched the young Godfrey Gao, and felt that this role was a premonition of his fate in 2019. What if they had written a happy ending, would he be alive today?

I watched this drama with the same anticipation of the Kdrama, Winter Sonata. In short, Remembering LiChuan is the equivalent of Winter Sonata, in terms of the fated loved story between the main couple of the two dramas. The female leads' first love went far away unexpectedly, and they pined away for the soulmate. Years later, the first love reappeared, and the reunion was slow and agonizing. Leading up to the conclusion, the first love went away again, due to illness.

The casting was perfect for the primary couple (Godfrey Gao/Wang LiChuan and Jiao Jun Yan/ Xiao Qui) and the secondary couple (Andrew Lien/Wang Ji Chuan and Wang Ruo Xin/Ye Jing Wen). The supporting cast performed well at their jobs.

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Intense drama

Without giving away too much of the plot;

Ji Sung is THE Superstar Devil Judge, the lone revenger, who recruits a protege, to help him take out the elite, narcissistic villains who control the dystopian society of Korea. There was filler material and a ton of unnecessary flashbacks to clutter the viewers’ concentration. Editing Department went out of control.

Acting:
Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung showed their seniority and acting caliber. The other actors gave either basic or over the top performances. President Park must have escaped from the asylum for lunatics. Give that man a straight jacket.

Fashions:
Men’s fashions were on point, Women’s fashions were average (…Cha Kyung Hee) or outlandish (…Jung Sun Ah).

Story:
The plot was hindered by the flashbacks, flashbacking and choppy editing. Storyboard was all over the place. The church fire reveal was underwhelming. The writer should have pinned it on Jung Sun Ah instead.

Editing:
Too many repetitive flashbacks and choppy editing! Viewers cannot focus when they see past and present juggled in front of them.

Music:
Average

Conclusion:
Rushed, but gratifying

What I read into the final scene, is that Judge Kang has gone off the radar, to complete his revenging mission. Cue to Season 2.

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Suspenseful and intense horror film

This is the most suspenseful, intense movie that I have watched. It is August 2021, and I finally got around to watching this movie, five years after the release. The K-movie production staff, crew and cast outdid themselves. All of Korea must have worked as extras. The last seven minutes had me tearing up.

The acting by the main cast was very good, and the Zombie extras must have had a lot of fun playing the ghouls. Sadly, only two of the train passengers survived. The director is a visionary, bringing the screenwriter's mental thoughts on paper to virtual life.

The virus that began in a lab seems to have an eerie message of a deadly virus that is unleashed on mankind.

It is a rollercoaster train ride from the time, the first zombie appears at the train station.

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Very good costume drama

This was my first major costume C-drama for 2021 that I looked forward to, weekly. The subbed episodes could not come, fast enough.

The casting of Dilraba, Wu Lei, Zhao Lu Si and Liu Yu Ning in the four main roles was an excellent decision. I knew Dilraba and Wu Lei previously, but watched Zhao Lu Si and Liu Yu Ning for the first time. The LeYan and Hao Du storyline was more interesting than Changge and Ashile Sun’s.

I was very impressed with Wu Lei’s acting in this drama. At 21, he has proved with this acting job, that he can out-act the seasoned actors who might be in their 20s and 30s. This may be Wu Lei’s best acting performance to-date. This could also be Dilraba’s best acting performance to-date. I also loved Liu Yu Ning's acting, and went searching for his other dramas while Long Ballad was airing. I also enjoyed Zhao Lu Si's acting. She was a tiny fireball. Le Yan went from timid to self-assertive over the forty-nine episodes.

The story flow was well done. There were some draggy parts with Khan, Khatun and their underlings, as well as the Tang palace personnel. The ending was a bit vague. The anime scenes overcompensated for story telling action. We know there are talented graphic artists in China, but many scenes could have been live action, or just recounted via dialog.

A lot of beautiful people in this drama! The OST was very good.

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Vincenzo is quirky and entertaining.

Vincenzo concluded, and the executions of Jang Han Seok and Choi Myung Hee were a gore-fest. Vincenzo is one of the quirkiest, most entertaining K-dramas, and it might be the best K-drama of 2021. I thought that it was an over-the-top silly slapstick/crime/suspense drama in the beginning, but I kept watching it every week.

Protagonists: Song Joong Ki shined in the role of Vincenzo, and he carried the show on his shoulders. This is his best acting role to-date. His special skills got the job done, while he regained his humanity. Jeon Yeo Bin was overacting as Hong Cha Young, who acted like a spoilt princess most of the time. Her supermodel catwalk strut and her facial mannerisms were very annoying. When she was serious, she radiated on screen.

Antagonists: Ok Taecyeon stepped outside the box, and chose a role that I never envisioned. Jang Han Seok was psychotic, bipolar, evil, schizophrenic and despotic. Kim Yeo Jin as Choi Myung Hee was the most irritating character in the drama. Her styling was off. She looked like a frowzy fashionista with dirty hair and expensive fashion wear. It looked like Kim never washed and combed her hair for twenty episodes.

Chump: Kwak Dong Yeon is memorable as the cowardly weak brother, Jang Han Seo, who developed a spine, and helped Vincenzo take down Jang Han Seok.

SPOILER ALERT
I found the opening segment of the final episode was very irritating. Master Executioner Vincenzo froze while Jang Han-Seok and Jang Han-Seo were having a showdown. This was so uncharacteristic in Vincenzo. I would have choreographed a better scene, with Vincenzo and Jang Han-Seo taking down madman Jang Han-Seok. Even if Jang Han-Seo was weak, he was still redeemable. As usual, the K-drama time jump wrapped up the drama. If the production team took off a week to fine tune the last four episodes, they surely raised the bar on the gore.

SPOILER ALERT
A Season 2 is probable, considering the gold bars are sitting in Hong Cha Young's shed. They could bring back Jang Han Seo, the good brother. I do not think that they acknowledged that he had died. He could be lying in a coma in a hospital, and reawaken in Season 2. The gold has to be redistributed among the Geumga Plaza residents and the lawyers. It can't sit in Cha Young's shed forever. They could build a better Geumga Plaza/residence/retailer/office building, and Han Seo could be the CEO. Wishful thinking!

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Yet another Tomb installment

I started this drama on a whim last week, and did a marathon watch over five days. At the home stretch, I suspected that Ultimate Note would end at a dead end. The pacing was neither slow, nor fast. Some of the dialog was silly and unnecessary. I am disappointed that they did not finish the drama in thirty-six episodes. They should have added six episodes, and cut out the frills, to wrap up the Ultimate Note mystery. If the production company supports the project, they should start Season 2, and complete the story. They should keep the same cast for continuity.

I watched Mystic Nine, Tomb of the Sea and Time Raiders, so I was familiar with Nine Gates and a few of the characters. My favorite actors were Pacy Wan (Pan Zi), Liu Yu Han (Xie Yu Chen) and Joseph Zeng (Wu Xie).

The reason I picked the drama was because of Liu Yu Ning, who I have been watching in Long Ballad. His character is mysterious, but annoying.

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Roller Coaster Yin Yang Master

Yin Yang Master (Chen Kun) was a bizarre story. Monsters meets Star Wars meets Lord of the Rings meets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meets the Scorpion King meets Thing from Adams Family. The BGM sounded very Japanese, and no wonder. The composer is Shigeru Umebayashi. The creators had one hell of an imagination. Final message indicates that a sequel is in the plans. I hope the cast, including the CGI guardian characters, returns. William Chan's Claw Cimu will not make the cut. His incomplete antlers was funny. The Monster Snake was Sauron/Smaug.

Excellent acting by Chen Kun, Qu Chu Xiao and Shen Yue. I did not recognize Cici Wang (from Tientsin Mystic).

I gave it a 7.5 overall rating because I found my anxiety level was rising throughout the movie. Having seen the original Onmyoji movies with Nomura Mansai and Ito Hideaki, I have to admit that the SFX budget on this movie was astronomical, compared to the Japanese movies.

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Romance of Li Ge and Yi Kang

SOG was one of the few romance costume dramas with an actual love and romance story and chemistry between the ML and FL actors. The ML and FL started off, not on the same page, but the romance kicked in quickly, and maintained the momentum.

The writer and director should have kept the number of villains at two, and cut the drama length by 20%. Grand Consort stayed too long in the story line, backstabbing and front-stabbing Yi Kang, and stabbing herself in the process. Given the attention to detail and filler throughout the drama, the writer and director should have done a better job wrapping up the story. Instead, they gave us yet another ambiguous costume drama ending.

Cons: Too many villains, fillers and flashbacks, MV scenes, disruptive singing, editing, drama length
Pros: Acting and costumes

Favorite characters:
Shen Li Ge
Peng Cheng Yi Kang
San Bao
Shen Ting Zhang
Shen Zhi
Shen Feng
Xie Yun Zhi
Huo Yun
Wang Zi Jin
Chen Shao Xun

Least favorite characters:
Grand Consort Sun - villain
Wan Er - villain
Xiao Xin - Li Ge's maid
Madam Shen
Xue Qiu - villain
Lu Yuan - villain
Shen Le Qing - villain
Wang Mi An - villain

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I was very curious about this drama, because it referenced Wuthering Heights. I read the English Literature novel in school, and also watched a British drama and two British movies. I found the C-drama to be executed well. The director and screenwriter adapted the Literature novel into a Chinese melodrama, and did a very good job with the planning and execution. The production values are very good. The subtle use of flashbacks did not interrupt the flow of the story, and there was no blatant singing and overpowering BGM to stifle the characters' dialog. I give the film editor high marks for this drama, as well. The female director knew how to make good drama.

The casting was not impressive, except for the actor Wang Jin Song who played the Uncle. The actor, who has appeared in many series, including Nirvana in Fire, looked ageless. He filmed this drama while he was in the early 40s, and he looked like a teenager. He was the best looking actor in the entire cast. The ML and FL did a good acting job, but they were not the most photogenic or charismatic actors. Neither was the male SLS, or the "villain" Young Master. The ML's wardrobe, as an adult, was impeccable. His western suits and coats were tailored to his size, to perfection. Also, the male SLS dressed like he shopped on Saville Row.

The MDL cast list is very sparse. It shows less than 40% of the drama cast. The ML is missing from the list. Wang Yi is Wei Tianxi.

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Cliffhanger of the Season

I watched this drama because of Zhang Ruo Yun. In the beginning, Joy of Life did not WOW me, but as the episodes dropped every week, I became riveted to the monitor. This is the first C-drama that did not drag, or contain extraneous filler. The fleeting flashbacks were the only unnecessary nuance.

Overall, the production values were top notch. This Director knew how to supervise his departments; Wardrobe, Set Design, Music, Martial Arts Choreography, Cinematography, and Editing (...more or less), to produce a clean, efficient drama work. The Film Editor did a decent job 80% of the time, but he got carried away with some impossible scene splicing (known as scene intercut) toward the end of the drama.

Zhang Ruo Yun carried the weight of the drama on his shoulders. Modern thinker Fan Xian was a fish out of "historical" water, but he blended well into the fabric of the imperial dynasty. The other cast members did a very good job with their character portrayals. Fan Xian's handlers, Uncle Wu Zhu, Wang Qinian and Teng Zi Jing, were the most intriguing and well liked characters.

Generally, I would be irate if a C-drama had a cold ending, hinting at a follow-up season. Joy of Life is the only drama that I am eagerly awaiting Season 2, which I hope, does not drag on for two years. An extended interval between Seasons 1 and 2 would disrupt the momentum and continuity, and the Producers should know that they "should strike while the iron is hot".

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The premise of the plot is not original since historical costume productions, movie or drama, seem to be repetitive. With so many centuries of dynastic rule, "history repeats itself".

I was surprised to see Zhao Li Ying as the female villain; a two-faced, manipulative servant who rises above her station. Her character's fate was also not surprising. The ending was happy, but one wonders if it was the FL's wishing thinking. Her hallucinations or visions might equate to daydreaming. I thought the female lead actress was weak. Her character was weak, so it was perfect casting. I liked the actor who played Thirteenth Prince, and recognized his name.

The music and editing were well done. The story flowed from beginning to end, with some unnecessary flashback filler. The historical costume C-drama production teams should use this as a benchmark for drama time management.

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Time Stretching in Chang'An

For fans of the espionage genre, this drama gives a rare glimpse into the MI-5 of ancient China; the imperial secret service, the Peacekeeper Corps of Chang 'An, and its solitary field agent. The COO (…chief operating officer) is Li Bi, the young genius and ally of the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty. Li Bi has his pulse on every street, every alley, every house, every waterway of the capital city, via an impressive scale model that was designed by the famous architect, and he has a database manned manually by his underlings. (Roger that!) The lone secret service agent underdog hero is Army Captain Zhang Xiao Jing, a force of one, who bulldozes his way through throngs of soldiers who are armed with sword and crossbow. Everyone else shows up for a day's work, and their compensation is to live or die another day. (Spoiler alert!)

Conspiracy in the court, revenge plots, invasion, loyalty, villains popping out of the woodwork, and a grand scale Lantern Festival (that rivals the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony), are components of the plot. Forty-eight episodes are a very generous representation of twenty-four hours in the Tang dynasty. That translates into an average of two episodes per hour, but the timekeeper's random declaration of the time contradicts the equation. One might question how Time was interpreted during the Tang dynasty. There were a few draggy parts and lengthy chatty scenes and generous close-ups, but the clock stopped ticking many times, when flashbacks and flashbacking sequences interrupted the crucial minutes of the Chang 'An day.

The directing, writing, casting, acting, costume design and set design, music score high marks. Editing did not run away as it often does in C-dramas, but the flashbacking scenes were positioned in the wrong moments.

This is one drama where the Director reined in the supporting departments to work in unison toward a common goal; achieving high entertainment and high quality in television drama production. The planning and execution is apparent in front of, and behind the camera.

The marvel and lynchpin of the drama is the indomitable Zhang Xiao Jing, whose motto is “Never give up the fight.” In fact, he might have fought a few hundred soldiers in the course of twenty-four hours, without breaking a sweat. Emperor, give that man a promotion and the title of God of War.

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