Details

  • Last Online: 5 days ago
  • Gender: Female
  • Location:
  • Contribution Points: 0 LV0
  • Roles:
  • Join Date: July 5, 2019

Friends

Completed
A Tale of Love and Loyalty
16 people found this review helpful
Feb 19, 2024
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Grand plot of a long format made to work amazingly in short format, we stan

This drama deserves a far higher rating. I was soooooo excited to watch this drama. I saw a snippet on Insta and noticed that it is both FL and ML from Seal of Love which I really liked (and honestly, this drama could be considered as a continuation to Seal of Love imho). Richard Li and Ming Jia Jia are such an amazing couple cast, I hope they'll make it to bigger/more popular dramas. They look amazing on camera and have chemistry. I haven't watched many short format dramas yet (this is the third one so far). It is. The BEST. So far. I don't really have anything to complain about, I wasn't even mad about the ending. The character of Yu Wen Yuan is utterly reckless, despicable, rotten and toxic at first (we learned later where did everything come from, but still, that isn't the way to deal with your emotions), he softened up a lot towards the end. Richard Li is just so lovable and such an amazing actor even when he is casted as an pretend a-hole character. Su Yan is just trying to balance both men on each side according to her abilities, she doesn't want to go against her values but also tries to keep the decorum for the sake of her sister's wish. Yu Wen Yingren seems harmless at first, but don't let his eerie calm face fool you. The madness, the drunkenness of power, intrigues, the thrill, everything what usual long format dramas drag on for ages is condensed into this short format. Beautiful costumes and decorations, I appreciated that there was little to no CGI. I'm not a ost music type of fan, but I think the ost could've been a little bit better. Idk the budget for short format dramas, but as far as this genre goes, this drama worked magnificently for me.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Back from the Brink
3 people found this review helpful
Jun 30, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

I want to erase my memory to be able to experience this drama again for the first time

Where do I start, I have only superlatives to say about this drama. I jumped onto watching as soon as I recognized Zhou Ye, I loved her so much in Word of Honour. Neo Hou is so adorable, such a great actor too. The character of Bai Xiao Sheng has my heart (can I have him if he's still single /jk). Now, I'm the type of person who always questions actions and storyline. Would this character do this, why did this character not catch this thing happening since he usually knows about everything in the city, why did they do such a gut punch with the storyline etc. And you know what? Such questions never once crossed my mind once when I was watching Back from the Brink! It is such an exceptionally well executed story, I love it with all my heart. The story is so well paced, the storyline is interesting, the acting is top tier, the effects and costumes are superb. The drama is adorable, it's cute, it's lovey-dovey, it's goofy and funny but also has action in the right spots. It was exactly what needed at the time I was watching it. What I especially liked, there wasn't a moment in the storyline where writers would do a "reversing the car on the highway because you missed an exit" turn of the storyline. Just.... I really highly recommend this drama to anyone. It even has a good ending! And one last note, get your tissues ready for the final episode, I teared up so much.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Mysterious Lotus Casebook
2 people found this review helpful
Jan 18, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

EDIT: BRILLIANT

EDIT AFTER FINISHING THE DRAMA:
I certainly don't regret the subscription fee in the app. My points in the first version of this review still stand (read below). Everything had it's logic, no gut punching turning tides events for the sake of dramatisation, very nicely paced, keeps you glued to the screen. I especially appreciate Wanmian's character, you go girl!!! The character and actor of Di Fei Sheng (thank you so much to casting directors, I LOVE to see Xiao Shun Yao like this). There's an extra small episode in iqiyi app, but you don't really need to watch it, it doesn't add much to the ending. Although I would've appreciated a happy happy ending, the ending they wrote was understandable. Personally, this drama is up there on my list with the best ones on my list. I hope this writers team will do more dramas like this in the future.

Original review I wrote after watching 10 EPs, unedited:
I've watched 10 episodes so far and boy, I'd binge this in one day if I could but I don't have the time for that lol.
Storyline is catchy so far, great cliff hangers which make you want to watch another episode. Some cliff hangers spread even through two episodes which I like, it's a smart move.
I've watched many series and dramas from many countries, so some mysteries are a little see-through for me but it's fine. It's good that the writers put the storyline logically.
I like that there aren't crazy fast movements from one location to another, no big storyline jumps, just a normal pace for when you want to chill while watching.
The only annoying thing so far is the immense amount of Fang Duobing's lines, like he's talking TOO much in some places, but I guess it's part of the charm of his character.
Two of my favourite things so far - Xiao Shun Yao is one of the main characters and he finally has screen time!
And most importantly THERE'S A DOG AND HE SHOWED UP REGULARLY IN THE SERIES.

I'll let you know my final rating once I'm finished :-)

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Till the End of the Moon
2 people found this review helpful
May 29, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

I liked it, but

Hooo boyyyyy this is the longest drama review I've ever written, the note in my notes app has seen all my rants lol. Now, that I finally finished it, I'll boil everything I've noted down.

First of all, I think this drama should come with a trigger warning for triggering topics like bullying, feeling of abandonment, loneliness and depression (also abuse). Honestly, if my struggling younger self would watch this, it would cause me a serious spiraling down.

TL;DR and don't want to get spoiled review: I think the storyline along with the topics have a great potential to discover more and it wasn't fully there for me. Truly outstanding acting, very beautiful costumes and really good CGI. Could've been made into more episodes.

Small spoilers ahead:
I've been waiting so long for this drama to air (didn't we all). I'm one of the few people who didn't come to watch for Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi (such a gorgeous man). I came because of Xiao Shunyao. I'm very much conflicted on this drama. While I absolutely loved the base storyline and the topics of time travel, butterfly effect, alternative storylines, changing personalities, character development, even the psychology level, I just disliked a good part of the storyline. I liked it until ep 20, eps 21 - 29 were just "what...is happening, you're losing me here" and I then watched pretty much only to see how it will end. Ep 30 gave me hope again, I liked how the storylines intertwined there, it felt complete. But the end of that episode made me afraid again. Episode 35 would've been such a great season finale, especially when a second season was planned. If the producers would have cut it here, then it would have been a good drama in my eyes. Buuut as tradition follows, I knew exactly that the writers are going to turn tides in the last 5 episodes completely and come back with a tsunami to hit the viewer right into the gut. 17 minutes into ep 36 the sh!t started to go down (do we always need such gut wrenching turn of events and so many deaths? I guess we do, just not my cuppa tea). Ep 39 just further cemented my opinion that this drama had THE potential to discover alternative storylines, dreams, different realities, like holy moly this episode was so good?? This energy should've been throughout the drama. Is it someone dreaming? Is it a main story? Is this someone's Bo're Life? That, my friends, is the potential I see in this type of story and prompt and it just wasn't fully there in my opinion.
Why I am conflicted on this drama: I mean, the storylines had their logic, it was clear where they were coming from but also not at the same time. I'm not going to go into much detail, to not spoil everything. What I was conflicted about (let's say contradictory statements and deeds in general) was resolved and explained in the last two episodes. Also sidenote, idk if I got it correctly, but the ep where Sang Jiu came to get her wedding night from Ming Ye, left quite a bad taste in my mouth, especially since she silenced him.... ?? raising my eyebrows

I don't want to end on a bad note, so here are I things I liked - Pian Ran x Ye Qingyiu storyline - perfect. Of course that I loved Xiao Shunyao as the evil brother, I think that the writers could've given this storyline more screen time, because we had a serious potential here (I felt that it was way too side storyish). At first, I loathed Ye Bing Chang/Mo Nv with every ounce of my being but in the end?? Mo Nv turning her character was very great development, I liked that. And of course, Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu are truly outstanding actors. Great applause for acting for everyone, in general. I nearly cried along with Luo Yunxi at the end.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The Blood of Youth
1 people found this review helpful
7 days ago
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Looking forward to season two

I'm two years late to this party and there are lots and lots of reviews here so my review will very probably get buried here. Nonetheless, I do want to write out my review even if very few people will read it. Here we go.

Overall, this drama is very enjoyable. Stupid dumb funny at times, with some really powerful moments, a pretty good storyline, extraordinarily handsome cast and incredible acting. I feel dumb for letting it simmer in my to watch playlist for so long, my online friend nudged me to watch it. Maybe it's because she presented this drama to me as "friends roaming the martial arts world with cool martial arts" that I expected something a little different. However, I still think the plot has quite some room for improvement.

I think the writers could've easily pushed this drama for even 60 episodes if they kept the spirit and flow. The storyline felt a little rushed, jumping forward three months here, one month there. I mean yes, we can't have a detailed report as a cut screen, but these fast forwards in the storyline line were put in quite often. Xiao Se, Lei Wujie and Wuxin promised each other to roam the martial arts world together and it lasted for like 5 minutes. I think this part definitely should've been longer. Wuxin and the white haired deity from Tianwantian should've appeared on Xiao Se's journey more often and overall could've had a separate story line which would occasionally intertwine with the main group. Wuxin gave Xiao Se and Lei Wujie two of his martial arts only for those two to use them minimally. Especially the Abysmal Eye should've and could've been used better. I loved the hell out of Mu Chunfeng, this part was really great. I think the storyline should've spent a longer time in the Lei Fortress. How dare they cast such a handsome actor for the new lord of the Lei Clan and give him such a short appearance. The audacity lol. The storyline of Lei Hong and Li Hanyi dissipated into thin air, especially since Zhao Yuzhen died. I think this love triangle was unnecessary. Fairy Luoxia and her disciple storyline felt a little pressured, we could've done without it (or made it longer with more episodes). I hated that we lost Tang Lian, Zhao Yuzhen's death was enough. I think that Tang Lian could've been made into the drugged puppet instead of Wuxin, although it was a very Wuxin thing to become a drugged puppet. But on the other hand, we wouldn't have had the grand scene of Lian's memorial, that scene was mind-blowing and breathtaking. The Tianqi city story and "fight" for the throne felt a little hassled. Twenty minutes ago, three friends wanted to have fun and now we're in an imperial fight, where did the time fly to? And this is why I think this drama would've benefited from more episodes. Just take it easier with the same flow, I'm sure the writers would've made it as incredible. I really loved the last two episodes, no tacky words, no forced happy end and marriage, just really ending on a good note and open for furthering the story. I just hope that if season two will be made into reality, that it will exceed this season. Or at least be equally enjoyable.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Burning Flames
2 people found this review helpful
30 days ago
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Love makes one do foolish things

Tl;dr: this drama gives a wonderful message about love, unity, courage and cooperation. Really loved it, some episodes could've been better, but overall, a well deserved 9.5/10. I highly recommend to watch ep 39+40 together so that your heart and mind can be at ease.

When I watched the first episode I had two things on my mind: 1. How does this have 9.6 stars in the iqiyi app 2. I really shouldn't watch dramas just because there is an actor I like in a side character. These thoughts changed very soon within the next few episodes. Episode one of this drama looks like a quite cringe live action imho and didn't really make a good job with the impression and getting one hooked on the plot. I mean, it did look very much like made exactly according to a comic book (I know that it is based on a manhua), but the comic-ness was a liiiiitle bit overboard in my opinion. The next episodes were so much more better, the plot and the settings got sky rocket high better and just so good, I ended up gulping down each episode. Until episodes 33 and 34 where I felt like something is different. I get that the storyline progressed to the finale and it should be more dramatic, but to me it felt kind of disarranged. As if the writers either had to remove some of the scenario due to not being able to cover everything within the number of episodes or as if they didn't have time and energy to write it with the same feeling as the episodes up until ep 32. Wu Geng's hairband kept magically appearing and disappearing in these two episodes and I also didn't quite understand his hairstyle change here. The following episodes made up for these two. Ep 39 was a huge wtf at first but it got cleared up fairly quickly. Definitely don't wait with watching ep 40 after this one.

What I very much appreciated was, that the main characters were written well, logically and the writers didn't go overboard with the actions and behaviour of the characters (way out of character actions are a pet peeve of mine). Prince Wu Geng isn't overly gutsy, just trying to hold up the justice and get revenge for his parents, and Bai Cai isn't overly tomboy nor overly cute (those two characteristics are a pet peeve in FL for me) and I liked them exactly that way.

Another thing I very much appreciated was that the side characters didn't go mia in the story (in a way of appearing at the beginning of the plot, making them look important and then forgetting about them like they never existed). We got full circles here baby. I also loved that the writers didn't unalive characters right after some kind of reunion. In general, there were no unnecessary character deaths for the sake of dramatisation. Kudos to that.

I highly appreciate the soundtrack, the combination of "traditional" drama ost music to symfonic orchestra sections, to the melodic metal (sorry if I got the genre wrong), to the amazing guitar solos, a variety of everything. I'm not much of an OST person, but this OST is something I could see myself listen to.

The only kind of negative critique which boggled my mind throughout the drama was why wasn't the fact that Wu Geng is a half immortal half human emphasized more? I understood why it was concealed when he had to hide his identity and exist as Gou, but later on it definitely should've been mentioned. It is a pretty crucial fact for this story in terms of strength and abilities in my opinion.

Lastly, I want to mention who the actor I mentioned in the beginning is. It's Merxat, I really loved him in Legend of Yunxi. I'm so happy that his character was sort of a mini-boss. I love an evil yet still righteous man of his word character and I think Merxat did an incredible acting job to embody the pain, sorrow, and descent into madness in Shi Xing (can we also talk about his costume and hair because yes to everything about Shi Xing. Except the hairstyle in the other half of the drama, should've stuck to the usual hairstyle).

To conclude this review, if you are a fan of comic adaptations, definitely watch this. Really really great drama, amazing cast and acting with a wonderful soundtrack.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Seal of Love
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2024
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5

Why are demons always so pretty crying emoji

I loved this so much. I mean, it is an idea and storyline we've seen before but there aren't infinite plots in the world. I was a little unhappy from approximately the 18th episode (hard to tell since all the episodes were chucked into an almost two hour film lol), but in the end, I wanted more.
I really loved the costumes, the makeup and the jewelry. The CGI was.... Bad, but it did not take away from the story and there was not much CGI anyways.
I think I'll always fall for the demons, the actor is so pretty.
This is only the second short format drama I watched, I'm slowly getting used to it. But this one, this one was really good. If you're into pretty demons, definitely give this a watch.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
My Merman Brother
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2024
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Mermans are so pretty

First of all, this definitely would have benefited from a normal format of 45 min episode and 12 - 14 episodes. With more lovey dovey-ness and cuteness (I mean for the longer format, I loved the amount of cuteness in this short format).
Secondly, the hot scenes took me by surprise, I did not see that coming like at all. The scenes looked natural, truly great acting.
It's nice to watch a whole drama in just two hours lol but this 5 minutes format is still kinda weird. I really wish there was more of this story.
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Snow Eagle Lord
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 17, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.5
This review may contain spoilers

Chaotic. But also relatable.

I was intrigued to watch when YT algorithm suggested this to me and I saw Bai Shu in the cast, I love him so much. This drama reminded me on Fighter of the Destiny, because of the from zero to unintentionally hero story and Gulnezer Bextiyar falling for that guy lol.
Firstly, I want to mention what I really liked about this drama. And that is Xueying's character. It was written so well. We did not have a hero who was just an I'll Fight Bravely At All Times, we had a guy who had to grow up fast to become a support to himself and everyone around him. The internal torment, the doubts, wanting to run away from everything because it's too overwhelming, shouldering responsibilities, losing the will and reasons, that was just so perfectly written. That was very relatable.
And now, my long, long comments about the chaos this drama was. The scene and situation jumping.... Without an explanation of a buffer sentence, we jumped from one scene to another. You could figure it out, but I still would've appreciated some "we need to get here to obtain that" and cut scene, go. Speaking of cut scenes, I like the comic ones, that was something new. But why did they fade out throughout the drama? Maybe as the storyline progresses from a lighter story to serious and dark, the producers thought that the comic cut scenes would have ruined the mood or what. If they would have been placed well, it could've worked. Anyways.
I love this genre, but I will never come to terms with the abundance of good guys deaths (I mean too many of good guy deaths). In this drama, 98% of the good guys died. Why. Just why. Did we need to highlight the hero and put in more deaths to his burden? Ugh... Youyue should not have died. Give my guy Puyang Bo the transcendent wife, damnit. We could have has two happy endings, not just one. I generally dislike when they write a couple who will confess their love shortly before dying. Like, why now? I get it, it is like that sometimes. But Situ Hong and Zhuo Yi.... They definitely needed a longer development than 5 minutes of Episode 39. I would have appreciated if Situ Hong turned the tide a little more too.
Chi Quibai took the Soul Scouring Nail on him, he fought it, tried to remove it, Ao Lan told him that he could control him over it and then it just wasn't mentioned anymore. At one point it looked like Ao Lan removed it but there was no word of it whatsoever.
Another confusing point was, why were there only Uncles as half beasts? Were there more beasts? Why weren't they mentioned throughout? There's literally one scene in the first episodes where Zong Ling mentioned that he's a weresnake and his organs are different and thus the demonic poison affects him differently. And then we forgot about it.... also, even a hot headed guy like Tong San would have been more careful when he would discover a secret chamber with the bad guys in it. That plot was just dumb.
I did like the wedding but I disliked the drama. It was so unnecessary that Jinqiu found out the poison. This plot should have been successful and she should have been sent home in peace. We already had the emotional torment of "they can never be together", we did not need betrayal by friends and family.
The pendant which was given to Xueying also didn't really have it's potential. I thought that it would have some special energy in the end, like it could revive his mother. It should "have all you need" and as long as I understood, it kept stuff inside. Like the spices Xueying used for the fish. And then it was just a light up stone. Why was it given so much attention and plot time then?
This is all I can think of atm. Idk how to wrap this up... Maybe with a Watch if you like to, its okay. Just chaotic at times.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Legend of Yun Xi
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 8, 2023
48 of 48 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

Very good

I'm like 5 years late to the party, but anyways, here we go. I really liked this drama. The storyline was paced well, it was interesting, funny, goofy, dramatic. I didn't even mind the endings of the characters too much, I usually dislike when there are too many deaths. I think that only one (1) of the characters didn't have to die. I always have a soft spot for the third wheel characters, would definitely give my hand in marriage to Qi Shao lol. I appreciate that the producers made two endings although I expected a little bit more from both of the endings (like for example a truly happy happy ending with all the characters being shown getting married, having kids or simply having a good life and a true, sadder ending). Overall, I really don't have much to complain about here. Maybe the CGI and some of the music wasn't fitting, but that's really not the end of the world there. If you're a "always thinks about how to make plot more logical, why the characters acted like that and why the writers wrote this action contrary to the character's storyline, I hate the punch in the gut with completely turning the tides of the storyline" type of person, this drama is definitely a must watch.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Dropped 19/34
Battle through the Heaven
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 7, 2024
19 of 34 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

As a stand alone drama: okay-ish. As a loosely based story on the previous drama: trash

Edit: dropped in the 19th episode. All edits are marked.

My notes app was the most used app while I watched Battle through the Heaven (BTTH) and simultaneously rewatched Fight Breaks Sphere (FSB, we know it as BTTH as well but for the matter of this review, I'll use FBS to differentiate) because I didn't remember many of the things referenced in BTTH... I didn't want to compare these two too much but you can't have one apart from the other since BTTH is based on FBS.

But first, let's judge BTTH as a stand alone drama. It is pretty much your standard drama centered around the martial arts world. It is not exceptional, but it is also not too underwhelming. I liked that we were getting into things and stuff right away and we did not wait for the plot to unfold develop for ages. One of the main evil characters is eliminated in the first half of the drama, I have been missing such element in many other dramas. One thing I couldn't buy is Xun'er portrayed by Ding Xiao Ying, edit: I think a different actress (switching her with Xiao Yixian actress for example) would be a better pairing with He Luo Luo (end edit). If you don't know anything about FBS, you'll be able to enjoy BTTH. And if you did watch FBS like me and enjoyed it, you could still enjoy BTTH if you watch it with an open mind. Don't compare and think about the differences too much and it'll be fine. But, I am the person who was not fine and I did have to compare FBS to BTTH. Edit: I had to drop it in the 19th episode, because the cherry picking of FBS was.... Ugh (end edit.)

When I saw that there will be another BTTH, I was really excited and I thought this was going to be a new season, where they would pick up on the cliffhanger from FBS iykyk. I was WRONG. BTTH is loosely based on FBS. The writers cherry picked characters and events and just went with it. Which is not a terrible thing to do if you pick the right stuff, discard some things, adjust it and go, I was just a little disappointed (who out of us who watched and loved FBS wasn't, am I right). What I liked about this cherry picking was: Xiao Yan (XY) and Yao Chen's relationship, I enjoyed the chemistry between them far more here than in FBS. The playfulness, the jokes, the genuine kindness. I have to say that I loved Yao Chen in BTTH far more than in FBS (he was my fav in FBS). We got rid of the Soul Clan pact XY accidentally picked up in the medicine making competition in FBS and it gave us load of space to work it.

The CGI was pretty good in both, but BTTH wins this one. We had some new characters, but I'd have appreciated even more new characters or recurring characters from FBS. Chance to bring back at least Lin Xiuya since we traveled a lot in BTTH and elder Hai was missed. Especially elder Hai when we had Xiao Yixian back (little medicine doctor in BTTH). I wanted to say that I liked that BTTH did not clench into FBS but in case of XY and Xiao Yixian, copying this story wasn't executed well by the actors. What boggled my mind here was, the writers mentioned the beast flame in BTTH which XY acquired in FBS when he met Xiao Yixian and in BTTH XY does not even mention having the flame in eps prior to ep12. Cherry picking the FBS plot done badly here.

Now, onto more plot holes. TL;DR: I HAVE QUESTIONS. First of all, how and why did Yao Chen get into the spatial ring, and how did the spatial ring find XY? By getting rid of the heroes went far north to fight Soul Hall backstory completely, how was the spatial ring created? How did XY acquire the mystical ruler in BTTH when it was an item of Soul Hall and he acquired it after fighting a Soul Hall member? XY was a pharmacy shop apprentice and learned to refine medicine, even got accepted into the alchemists guild and used his skills in FBS. But in BTTH we are thrown into the middle of things and the only background of XY's skill is seemingly medicine elder. In my opinion, another thing which didn't make sense was using Bai Shan and Bai Cheng. Bai Shan was the more powerful one in FBS, has his pride and stuff and in BTTH they made him into this not so powerful power thirsty dummy blinded by his ambition. Then, when XY fell into the Blazing Qi Tower, why was the Snake Queen not able to control the python? Also, she made XY the temporary Snake King in FBS, so he should've been able to control the python too. Edit: As I later learned in BTTH, XY wasn't made into temporary Snake King, only later in the plot (end edit).

If I should describe FBS with one word, it would be grand. The filming locations, the amount of characters, the CGI, the plot, the music were simply grand. To surpass this grandness is certainly not an easy task and BTTH would not be able to do it, unless the writers would carry on the plot precisely and if the production cost would be the same if not even higher. In terms of loosely based stories and spin offs, BTTH is slightly above the average in my opinion. And lbr, the bar is quite low here. If definitely could've been better, but as I said, it is difficult to follow up on such a staple martial arts drama like FBS.

Last edit: at first, I wanted to say that I liked that BTTH writers didn't try to clench too hard on FBS. Episodes 15-19 made me change my mind definitely. Placing Yan Xiao identity into a completely wrong place and even the medicines making competition.... It honestly felt like they made BTTH into a plagiarized version of FBS. Just no. I was dedicated to watch it until the end and try to not have a bias, but I can't. Also, a big pet peeve of mine, XY in BTTH is a reckless dumbass who unintentionally made Xiao Yixian fall in love with him while not publicly acknowledging his relationship with Xun'er. Just why was he so oblivious to what his kind words and live saving actions would do to Xiao Yixian. Hence the score deduction from 7.5 to 6.5.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Call Me by Fire Season 1
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 25, 2023
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Simply one of the best

I truly appreciate survival type programmes featuring all the older idols, actors, singers, dancers etc.. Very dynamic, very funny mainly because of Jordan, Gao Hanyu with Pax Congo, all the language barrier shenanigans and more. You'll definitely cry with these grown men at times (Love Letters to Filmmakers is a strong cocktail). The last episodes featuring some contestants wives are pure gold (relationship goals sad lol). I highly recommend to watch. Just the last episode which is a whopping four hours is a little bit tiring with all the talking and stuff. Max Dance Company for the win.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Ongoing 12/50
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 26, 2024
12 of 50 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Just... Meh

I'll start with I haven't watched the 2003 drama with this same title, so in case I missed out on something, it's because of that.
I don't even know where to start.... It is my pet peeve when writers put so many events into a single episode of a drama and the whole drama then becomes PACKED. Let the plot brew and breathe for a sec, I can't keep up with you.
In the episodes I watched, there was mostly Duan Yu plot and honestly, they could've just cut this story out and call it "the ridiculous adventures of Duan Yu". His plot in those episodes was just.... Crazy. When he found out about the first half sister, okay, when he found out about his second half sister drama minutes moments after, I was just "well.... O-kay? Weird" And when there was the indication of a third half sister because apparently every woman who had a child with Duan Yu's father has a blood revenge on him and the Duan Family, I called it quits.
I put "not planing to drop drama" in the review but idk, I was thinking of dropping it after episode 4 already, then episode 6 and I don't know what kept me until episode 12. Very probably Bai Shu, even though characters like Duan Yu (dummies who are actually just too innocent and pure hearted for the world but gosh darn it, learn something from your actions at least???) are another pet peeve of mine.
There are some things I loved about this drama though, one is soundtrack, the music and singing matched beautifully to the scenery. Two is the what looks like warm autumn weather, when this drama was shot. And three is the teachings of the monks, my infj heart deeply appreciated those words.
I am curious about how this ends, might watch it until the end but right now, I am so tired of Duan Yu diving head first into all of the deep and murky waters.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Dropped 11/56
Eternal Love of Dream
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2024
11 of 56 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 6.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Not my cuppa tea

I actually dropped this after ep 6 I think but then I told myself that I'd power through, pick it up again and finish..... I could: not
I saw only much praise on the original story, and I also wanted to watch because of one actor.... To sum everything up, this type of story is just not my cup of tea.
It felt like the story was dragging on like a chewing gum stuck to your shoe. Personally, I dislike characters like little fox princess portrayed by Dilraba (her acting was really great though) who simply will. Not. Learn. Their lesson.
If you like romance oriented, main female character is running after main male character, unrequited love, cold guy Vs. bubbly girl this is for you. For me, this plot is a little annoying.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?