Sakurax
This remake of a chinese classic is stunning in its originality and modern take on well loved characters. The story itself has been a long favourite of mine for many years, and to be honest, Wei Xiao Bao will never be the same again after you watch him portrayed by Dicky Cheung.
STORY:
A new take on an old story, filled with a few new twists that keep us oldies interested, but loyal enough to avoid offending our delicate sensibilities. Filled with deep political plots, thrilling fight scenes, as well as endearing interpersonal interaction; this drama will have you on the edge of your seat, laughing, and/or crying all at once. It will make you hold your breath, or try to catch your breath as you crack up like a maniac, and make you cry your eyes out. All in all, it has everything a good story should have.
ACTORS:
I can't begin to describe how brilliant the actors in this drama are. Every.single.one is a GEM in chinese television (except Ekin Cheng).
Never have the wives of Wei Xiao Bao been endowned with more vivacious and believable personalities before this series.
Whereas previous series have often focused on developing only one or two of the wives, this version gives each girl a wonderfully rich personality and a chance to show it off.
The actors themselves, too many to list, are all exquisitely skilled in portraying their roles and bring life to a story that has been done to death.
MUSIC:
Dicky Cheung is less known for his singing than his acting, but nobody ever said that he was bad. His opening and ending tracks for this drama are catchy and memorable, though admittedly, typically modern.
REWATCH VALUE:
Honestly, there are some moments you just have to relive. After you watch it, you'll know what I mean.
OVERALL:
It's old-school period drama at its best, with Dicky Cheung leading the cast with his amazing acting skills.
One of my all time favourites, and sure to be a favourite of many many more.
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Romanticism aside, the drama itself turned out to be a little less than I expected, but still very, very good.
The twists are not necessarily riveting, but they're complicated enough to keep you interested.
STORY:
The backstory for Dou Yi Fang is actually a little ridiculous and features (as usual) Ruby playing first, the mother of the protagonist, and then the protagonist herself. It's your typical tragic orphan story, turned cinderella.
It isn't until Dou Yi Fang enters the palace as a maid, reuinited with her childhood friend Shen'er, does the story get interesting as palace politics and intrigues take over. Her intelligence is a little exaggerated here, with the extent of her intelligence being displayed by little tricks, and convenient politics. (Watch and you'll know what I mean).
It's is Shen'er's story that ends up being far more interesting, which is strange, considering the actress, Wang Li Kun, is far less well known.
ACTORS:
Ruby and Sammul are well known for their acting prowess, but it is Yang Mi, Wang Li Kun, Luo Jin and Mickey He that take the screen by storm.
Wang Li Kun as Shen'er is the epitome of a scheming beauty, while Luo Jin strikes us as the tragic Emperor, caught in a web of lies and murder. Yang Mi proves to the world that she can be a wonderful femme fatale (literally in this case), with a heart of pure gold, while Mickey He is perfect as the hot-headed, well-meaning General of Liu Heng's empire.
Dai Chunrong and Bai Shan, both veterans of the acting world, are stunning as Emperess Dowagers. I could rave on and on, but if you've heard of them, expect nothing less than their best. If you haven't, then you haven't quite experienced life yet and you need to watch them.
As good as the leads are, I think in this case, their supporting actors totally stole the show.
MUSIC:
Typical, nothing outstanding.
REWATCH VALUE:
I see no reason to really re-watch it or otherwise. It tends to be somewhat overwhelming, personally.
OVERALL:
A good drama to watch and definitely above average compared to its peers. If you enjoy historical dramas, a bit of eye candy, and a dash of romance; then this is definitely for you.
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And I was completely wrong, thankfully.
Story:
Tong Hua's genius lies not in her premise (which a teenager could come up with) but with her ability to subtly weave in twists and turns that the audience doesn't quite expect. She keeps us guessing, despite the fact that we already know what's going to happen (because it's a period drama), and that is no easy feat.
The characters, with Maertai Ruoxi and YinZheng leading the crew are filled with wonderful, loveable and believable personalities. Maertai does not, according to typical tropes, run around insisting on forcing her modern ideas onto her new found friends and surroundings. Instead we see an intelligent, warm young woman who struggles to fit into her new world, which is a far more realistic plot development than the former, and much rarer. The realism is refreshing, and makes the fantasy so much more believable.
Acting/Cast:
I have not watched a drama where every single member of the cast has been so amazingly talented or believable in their roles. You forget they are actors, and you come to love them as the characters they portray.
Music:
Originally a 10, but strangely enough there's a track in there that screams 'Lord of the Rings' which takes aware from the rest of the Soundtrack, simply because it renders the scene a little ridiculous. Aside from that, the title tracks and insert tracks, which include songs by Hu Ge, and leading lady Liu ShiShi herself, are beautiful, memorable and fitting to the story. The remaining instrumentals are a lovely mix between traditional and modern; capturing the very essence of the show.
Rewatch Value:
There are parts I can't bear to watch again, but not because they weren't good, but because they awaken too many emotions. That in itself, is a remarkable achievement. You WILL rewatch it, because it's hard to let these characters go, and you will find yourself watching it all over again, just to be close to them. It sounds insane, but it'll happen! This is one show that leaves a very drastic impression on its watchers.
Overall:
AMAZING.
There will be very few dramas to ever top your list after this one. It is riveting, emotional, and beautiful. Thrilling, ingenius, and unforgettable.
The costumes and props alone make this show stand out from its peers. FYI, their costume designs were simple and very accurate to actual Qing fashion (contrary to say, Gong), and some of the artifacts were actual antiques, borrowed from collectors (worth millions of dollars).
History buffs will enjoy the beautiful loyalty to Qing fashion and artifacts, and romantics will be entranced by the beautiful love story between Maertai Ruoxi and her one true love.
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If you're looking for a deep plotted, serious period drama, I wouldn't really watch this. But in all honesty, I can see why people like it as good old light hearted fun.
For me personally, I'm not a fan. From the costumes, to the premise, it's everything I thought 'Startling by Each Step' would be, and thus, not really my cup of tea.
Actors:
I've actually seen many of these actors in other period dramas that I've liked, so it's no fault of theirs that I'm not partial to this one. The leading lady in particular is well known for her acting prowess in other shows and continues to do well here.
Music:
Typical pop, nothing much to say about it there.
Rewatch Value:
...I didn't even make it past the 1st episode once.
Overall:
For history buffs or lovers of deep story lines; no.
For something lighthearted; yes.
For anyone who's watched Startling By Each Step first; no.
I actually wish I'd watched this before and maybe I wouldn't be quite so biased as I am.
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