A SLOW LONG 78 EPISODES OF NOBILITY LIVES

I felt like I deserve a pat on my back after finally finish watching long 78 episodes of Shen Ming Lan and Gu TingYe. Their life full of challenges, turmoils, as well as happiness and heart breaks. A lot of begging, kneeling, whining, crying, screaming and yelling between womenfolks. There're many poisonous snakes in the form of beautiful nobility women, which none of them is male antagonist - all about jealousy, greedy, bitter, blind ambition, and muddle-head women. Its probably the protagonist is a female, the production created abundance of sick-bitter-full of hatred women to ruin her life and happiness. 3 men love her, they would go above and beyond to have her, and she reproach them separately in different circumstances. I felt bad for Qi Heng - he earned my sympathy. Family is divided for the prestige of title and a kingdom divided for the power between newly appointed Emperor and Dowager Empress from previous dynasty. There are life lesson I learn from this drama...how basic human nature thought me to survive the most critical situation by switching hatred with sweet manipulation....how communication should be delivered in certain way to warrant peaceful solution - no matter how unresolved situation becomes worst just by smiling and bowing. Women who lives in so much restriction, confinement, constriction, they would device such a way using provocation to manipulate circumstances to their advantage, risking their life and name for the greater ambition. Rewatch value of this drama is 4 because I don't think I can go all over 78 episodes again.

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Season 1 and 2

This is what happen when I don't have anything to do in my free time, clicked here and there, and saw Seven Tan drama so I stumbled upon this one. Did I like it? Hmm....no comedy romance that they're talking about...but if I am a teenager or on my early 20th I would probably like this drama too. I couldn't believe this actors (and drama) won the awards, I wouldn't award them with my broom metaphorically. Gu JinYu the legal heir of a big business was kind of a flamboyant man, wonder how he got reputation as a playboy from? Gu ChengZe as an adopted son oblige to pay back the gratitude and filial obligation towards his adopted family by working hard, super dedicated to the family business, loyal, and respect. Li YanShu (Seven Tan SongYun) on the other hand lied a lot, provoke situation into awkwardness, said what's in her mind, put herself in Gu ChengZe apartment free rent and ate his foods, she's kind of a free loader that I would kick her out...who knew she's a famous designer from LA by the name Karen something...that fashionable people look for her famous clothing designs...or any major designer house would be honored to hire Li YanShu. She's being hired by the ChengZhe to pursue JinYu so he'd concentrate on the family business instead of a lazy heir....at the end though different result. A good thing about this drama was easy, critical thinking wasn't necessary, IN if you like it - OUT if you don't....I stayed on season 1 and 2!!

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4 EXES...IS THE BEST OF STORY

Alright, I admire this girl, she's married twice (going on 3) and has 4 handsome exes....that's an achievement especially for a girl from many century ago...a busy girl. She's beautiful, poise, kind, intelligent, strong will, determine, mature thinking, and has mind of brilliant strategist. BUT the story line was suck...badly. 1st & 2nd episode didn't make sense, she married with full blessing of Emperor but she tried to kill the Emperor with accusation of him murdered her father, in to jail she went for attempted murder, and her friend save her. Friend sacrificed herself in replace her burn to dead. Then, her friend's dad the genius doctor took her out of town - done up her face and voice cord, she miraculously changed into her friend's identity (Hmmm...modern genius surgeon won't able to do all that miracle just for one night) The writer(s) has done terrible job in writing a scrip for this drama; lazy writing full of short cut - not making sense - uninteresting dialog - a lot of plot holes.

But again I like every men she's with, they're special in their own way but who I like the most is Ning Yun Zhao (Wang You Shuo) he's polite, handsome, smart, dignify, well dressed, scholarly and kind. We don't get that kind of guy nowadays. The ML Zhu Zan (Jin Han) is kind of hot headed, loyal, martial artist, a prince, playful...he stick his face too close to the FL. They're child sweetheart but get separated, he loves her and thinking about love declaration when she reach 15. He blame himself for coming late to the capital after the dead of Princess Jun Jiu Ling on her marital ceremony to the trusted imperial guard Lu YunQi (Du Ya Fei) who had loved FL with mix of gratitude, admiration, obsession, love, respect and sacrifice. He's misunderstood, he came out wrong in his action, no body seems to understand his good intention - the dead wife treated him as a step stone although he laid his heart down...he remarried to the oldest sister with the intention to protect his in-laws family for the Emperor. His love to Jun Ling is boundless...

Fang ChengYu, 2nd husband is 15 years old boy who's sick and disable - she married him using her Bf's name (Jun ZhenZhen) for the reason of treatment option that requires intimate (medicated bathing) that only a wife can perform. He's a young cute rich boy, very delicate, smart, dedicated cousin as " ex-husband" out of respect, trust, young love and gratitude. She cures his illness and he's able to walk again. He divorced her after knowing the truth about their marriage but keep supporting and waiting for her. His young love is kind of innocent and always thinking the best for FL and Fang's family,

Her medical expertise is well-known and famous as a miracle doctor in which this story's making a detour to focus on rather her intention to take on revenge. The Emperor more interested in killing her and husband Lu YunQi had to deliver the order. The hatred she has to the current Emperor wasn't a big deal when she has 4 guys to mingle - she especially has a problem with Lu YunQi but to me he has the most legal authority to claim her - she married him using her legal status and name although she presumably dead on the day of their marriage - by right he's still her husband. Ok, she changed her identity and name a lot, can't keep up..Stuck on ep 20 as I started to get bore of the story line...

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UNDERRATED GREAT DRAMA

The two male actors did a bang job. I love Wang Duo so much, I can go on write good things about him. The pain, loneliness, hate, determination, love, care, and deep thinking is in his eyes and smiles. When the door's closing at him during last scene, I can see the loneliness and abandonment he felt....losing everything he hold dear. So much so he overshadowed everyone else. Shawn Qu also remarkable too...as a submissive reserved man that would look at Wan Mei with such devotion - he loved Wan Mei tenderly and would do anything for her. Li YiTong is great, her character flipped flopped a lot depend on whether she successfully finished the mission or not. In the book Wen Mei slept with every men, kind of gross me, the adaption is more relatable and have better story line. So much memorable acting from Wang Duo and Shaw Qu, I put them on top of best performance and favorite.
The best scene was when both Wan Mei and Chan'An went separately, thru the river Chan'An left....with hundred of bright firework lit the dark night sky - Wan Mei cried and run toward the river. Gong Zi run after her just to found out how heart broken she was, memorable was the significant of explosion of fireworks as representing how Chan'An felt about.
The drawing illustrations fit in to drama, adding more dramatic than spoiling the scenes because they put it together nicely between drawing and alive scenes - not come in at very important epic scenes (Note: Long Ballad needs to learn this). It broke my heart with the ending...I demand season 2!! This drama is one of my favorite...and I don't have very many of them...

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NOT IMPRESSED BY

Park Hyung-Sik
Does he lose weight? I can see his cheek bone, when he smile there's obvious deep wrinkles around his eyes. His baggy cloths, some part he acted childish. He's probably just acting cute, but he's a surgeon, did he forget his actual character that none of surgeon ever act cute? He's mischaracteristic his part. While Park Shin-Hye didn't make a better impression either (why did she flip her hair so much?).

Holding hand scene
Sigh....seriously though. They're not in High School anymore. 2 adults who acted like kindergarten first love, especially when they're both medical doctors who know so much about human anatomy and biology, why should they acted squeamish, petrified than simply shy. Although they both adults (not young anymore) first time in love, their acting was barely.

SYSTEM IN KOREA
I don't understand the system in Korea. Is that true that doctor can get pay cuts easily? A Professor can bully and scream on top of his lung humiliating intern just like that? 2nd ML got no patients because of....(he wasn't in tik-tok?), administer drugs to patient in operating room without knowledge from the anesthesiologist? Is it really hard to find job as a doctor in Korea?

It's a bad directive, not good acting, too much fillers, this drama can be finished by 10 ep top.

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FROZEN FACES

Since the men of Hua family are forced into exile, all glories and properties are taken away, leaving behind the women & children in predicament living in dire strait and nothing. All women whose use to live in luxury and privileges, now suddenly has to face the hardship of survival in a moment notice. Basic needs can't have them, about 10 women and few children know nothing how to do simple chores, depends on maids - who stay just for their slave transaction documents with head-madam. Hua Zhi, the oldest Daughter of the family, no longer stays low-key and steps up. She braves hardship and leads the women of her household to manage to avoid starvation and danger. She transforms family to successful in businesses and becomes the head of family. Female center of drama, can't say I like it, too much washy-wooshy. All those pitiful begging, whiny, crying, jealousy, virtue signaling, toddler-likeness voice from supporting female actors...so cringe.

To me Hu Yi Tian has frozen face, like too much of Botox, can't really express anything. He's so much better when he has the mask on, only his acting we can judge. Zhang Jing Yi has also frozen face, plus her smile is a (rictus) stoical grimace, her acting so so - nothing special. Because they both have frozen face, they seems to have a dispassionate love story.

What I like is Hua Zhi doesn't need Gu Yan Xi to help her all the time. Behind the mask, Gu Yan Xi is another character. I don't know if Hua's men all finally come back home from their exile because I don't finish the drama. What finally happen with Gu Yan Xi's future? I might have to fast forward to final episode....

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My kind of love story

Indeed...it's my kind of story. Love Yang Mi and Li YiFeng in this simple and sweet love story between Su Xing Yu and Tian Xin. They both fallen in love in the beginning of their career - a humble 'instrument tuner for a rock band with the band's assistant'. They got separate because Su Xing Yu went to England for further education while Tian Xin pursued further her dream job as an artist manager, Tian Xin broke up with Su XingYu over the long distance phone call because she thought she hold him back. 5 years later, they met again when Tian Xian applied a new post as artist manager where already famous XingYu's office representative, so happened he had dispute with his manager Mei and choose Tian Xian (who new on the job) to be his manager instead to proved Mei that Tian Xin would do a better job in managing his most interest in music.

They rekindle their feeling after plane turbulence and got pictured by a paparazzi. Mei, the ex manager, bought the pictures from the paparazzi to save them from scandal with the conditional that Tian Xin quit from the job. Tian Xin agreed and left the job, home, town....left the man she loved for the sake of XingYu's reputation. XingYu once again heart broken and devastated with their second separation (broke up). In the award, he gave a very touching speech in how much he miss his love and ask her to meet him in their 'long ago promise' designated spot. They met and live happily ever after.

What critics don't know...this kind of love story is very enjoyable as we hope to have our own happy ending with the person we love. As critic said this was'plot a "mediocre pic" that was reduced to an unrealistic romantic dross' we don't want to other complicated serious drooling bore of a love story. So, I love it.

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Zhao MoSheng and He YiChen - film version

I love Yang Mi and Huang Xiao Ming in this romantic love story between Zhao Mosheng and He YiChen. This movie was way much better than the drama version. The powerful lawyer authoritarian He YiChen character is better with Huang XiaoMing personality than Wallace Chung on which he naturally very tight lips. The wrecker was He YiMei, He YiChen foster little sister, although they share same last name they weren't any blood relation but just closest family friend. Because of dispute in both family and some misunderstanding, they're separated ocean away to lead their own ways. 7 years later they met again by coincidental run in. Still single, He YiChen tried to pursue her again and tricked her to marry him. Who knew MoSheng was a divorcee and He YiChen tried to deal with that fact...he thought that MoSheng wasn't really love him and faithful when she's in the US (because marrying another man) without wanted to listen to her explanation. He met MoSheng's ex husband after collage's reunion and finally found out the reason MoSheng marriage and divorce. He YiChen also dealing with Pei FangMei (Joan Chen as Mo Sheng's step mom) as he believed she's the reason why his dad killed himself and ruined his family.

They finally got the happiness they deserved after long wait journey. I love it...beautiful ending.

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Voted for Zhao LuSi best couple

Zhao LuSi is always taking in role from modern life transported to ancient time and this is another one of them. No matter, Zhao LuSi also always won my heart with her beautiful smile and cute face. I like June Wu (Xiao Bai) better than the other guy main lead Li Hong Yi (Shenguan Qie Yue) because he's creepy although he's devious manipulative cruel bad guy..he has a soft spot for Chun Hua. The other hand, Xiao Bai was an influenced-up-right straight face boring fiance of Chun Hua while she believed he's the one for the love her life. Her choice was either the boring one (but kind of handsome) or the creepy devious one (but lead more interestingly life). The companions Liu YiTong (Qin LiuFeng) and the other two skinny girls were just hang out there, contributing nothing to the wealth of main lead characters. I watched on and off, skipped episodes, just to get to the end of story and how disappointed I was when Chun Hua were rather spend her life with the creepy guy. Heard that LuSi always have good chemistry with her leading men but not this one so I still voted Zhao LuSi's best couple were with Zheng YiCheng, Ryan Ding, or Liu YuNing....

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The first of trilogy

Don't read the book of Qian Yu Nian, it isn't as good as the drama. Zhang Ruo Yun is an excellent pick for Fan Xian, he's amazing for the role. He's intelligent, witty, smart, loyal, loves beautiful women. He's the master of poison, medical, strategics, fight, ambassador (man, he's good in argument and making deals) he has nothing that he is not good at, picture of a perfect gentleman and example of the best scholar in the whole kingdom. I love every characters; Fan Xian, Fei Jie, Fan RuoRuo, Fan Si Zhe, Chen PingPing, the emperor Qing, Gao Da, Wang QiNian, Feng Jie, Haitang DuoDuo, Si Lili, Yan BingYun, Yan XiaoYi, Shen Zhong just to name a few. Unfortunately, I don't really like Lin Wan'Er, she's the weakest character that seems like to hold Fan Xian back, and I don't think she's the perfect girl to be his bride/the love of his life. My personal opinion, Haitang Duoduo is more up to Fan Xian's standard although in the book they'd have an affair together but not end to marriage (Wtf..) my lovable character was Wang QiNian and Gao Da...I want them to have more air time. Fighting scene was close to real, we can see Fan Xian being thrown and hays/dust/dirt all over him, we can also see Zhang Ruo Yun got sun burned at rock forest (fight scene) which looked so real. I love it when he recited 1000 poems in front of people (iconic scene - won the title as a poetry God), poisoned Haitang Duoduo with love poison, he climbed on to of moving buggy to challenge every men in Qi's kingdom. Fan Xian shone when he representing his country to Northern Qi. laid strategy to one step ahead of Shen Zhong. Yan Bing Yun (Xiao Zhan) was a skinny lad...in the book he'll be a trusty right hand of Fan Xian but I don't know about the drama, he stabbed him at the end. I was like...wth??? Come on....I want a better ending than this. Looking forward for Season 2 soon (NTBA) and season 3 (NTBA) to finish up trilogy. Faster please....

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TALKING ABOUT MARK CHAO

This is one of my favorite drama. I would say Yang Mi and Mark Chao meant to play this drama because they're compatible in chemistry and performance. Sound tract was amazing. By watching this drama, you'll be hoping to have a great love story of your own. One thing that I don't like was visual effect, too much imaginary flashes although it's understandable since it supposedly out of this world - supposedly in heaven where Gods and Goddesses resides that has super power. Mark Chao were brilliant portraying both Mo Yuan and Ye Hua, their love to Bai Qian were pretty devoted and last eternally (yes, I think Mo Yuan has loved Bai Qian way long before Ye Hua too). Bai Qian had temper and attitude problem, she's a beautiful Goddess but don't mess around with her heart, look to what happened to Li Jing or even Heaven Crown Prince Ye Hua would get reprimanded. Her devotion to Mo Yuan was admirable, with his coma in so many thousand years, she took care his body hoping he'd come back which happening. But their relation had changed, not just he (Sin Jin) was actually a girl but also she had a son as well as a husband (fiancee) - the dynamic different and relationship far behind to catch up.

Mark Chao as Mo Yuan/Ye Hua was an excellent cast. A reserved dignify Crown Prince that express himself very little but intensity on his feeling, love once and hell with the rest of women. He could express his character in disgust, hate, stillness, regret and sad perfectly. No one could act the way Mark Chao perform as a serious (reserved) noble person, some actors need to learn his acting (as most acted like spacing out blank expression) while Mark has deeper expression in his eyes (glare, glance, happy, seriousness, anger, no nonsense) to communicate with his apposite. His lips could also indicate his feeling to his character. Mark doesn't have the beauty of God (maybe Yang Yang or Xiao Zhan can vouch for this type) but we all could relate to him, he's down to earth and charismatic (noble aura), he did an excellent job.

Bai Feng Jiu obsession to Dong Hua was tiring, in my opinion Dilraba's acting is not great as what her fans thought - She fakes everything like annoying baby brat voice & forced cried. Su Jin and Xuan Nu were worthy opponent for Bai Qian to win back their men, these bad s**t women fight to the teeth for love - all tricks and lies just to get rid of the common enemy. I love Si Ming and Lian Song, fluently delivering their dialog with spark in their eyes and smile in their lips. This drama became classic to me...

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BEAUTIFUL SETTING

Luo Jin and Yi LiTong were great in this drama....he loved her without knowing her face, the interaction was done behind the screen - her intelligent and voice attracted him, and he proposed marriage but rejected by her father (who happen to be his teacher) for reason of her 'well being'. Very unfortunately, it didn't happen and Lu WenXi (Li YiTong) went to service at the palace as a maid to help her brother/father out of jail because of the crime they didn't commit. I felt like the Crown Prince (Luo Jin) should have intelligent like no others but this one was pretty naive almost stupid. He didn't use smart tactics, his brusque action costed him punishments. Nothing's good came out from his actions, more heart breaking and short sighted. And the damn Crown Prince didn't learn from it, the next decision he made cost people jail. I sighed a lot watching this....a lot of emotional scenes product of his naivety and stubbornness. A lot of punishment scenes, beating, kill, house-arrest, poisons, all that to prove something done wrong by the Crown Prince. Xiao DingTang (Jin Han) the jealous brother ambitious to take Crown Prince title and most favored by the Emperor, wasn't favor by me - his devious schemes made me want to slap him on the face - that's include the Emperor. Too bad Jin Han's acting was at best 'kissing ass' a lot so since this I don't care to watch Jin Han's future dramas.

Last episode though, finally the Crown Prince proved himself worthy and his brother, the 'kissing ass' prince got shacked away. He finally found out the girl that he first fallen in love with was the trusty maid that's been on his side all along. But as she wanted to take revenge of the death of her innocent brother and father, she got send out to prison. Crown Prince cleared her family name by proving that family was being misjudged for political reason. He ran to her mansion to see her when the snow falling and they reunited...in embrace, promise, and kisses.

The set was beautiful, costumes were amazing, love the soundtracks, great acting from the lead actors, Zheng YiCheng part wasn't much...they could actually develop his part as his character was a positive one but the production preferred to emphasis the saddest parts of whole characters. The ending was good though...happily married and growing family...can't get over the romantic song 'To win a heart so dear'

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Compilation My Heroic Husband to Joy of Life

Most of actors were from drama Joy of Life. Gao Qi Lin and Song Yi were brother and sister while Gao Shu Guan was their dad. Kind of creepy when you know these were sibling in Joy of Life while in this drama they are husband and wife...now that Joy of Life is in the process of filming season 2-3...they'll be back again to original roles as sibling. That's just twist things in between roles (come on....make it right!). This is like a group syndicate of Zhang RuoYun and party, they hired same casts for different dramas, like they've contract from the same agency to act with the same people (and similar base line of story).

Anyway, I love Gao Qi Lin, he's adorable. Cheerful smile and delivered his dialog fluently. He's awesome as a little brother, in this drama though he's a husband married into wife's family, who knew that he's so super intelligent that help establish wife's business (and later into politic) with modern strategic ideas. The main idea of story line was like another type of Joy of Life background, a modern man in which time traveled back to many dynasties ago, who used their knowledge and wisdom to the advantage in ancient times. Joy of Life is my favorite drama but I am not so fond watch same old same story line...then...I dropped it. The more I watched it the more stupid the story become...there's no mystery there...at the beginning it's funny and fun but not at all when the episode progress...

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FIRST JAPANESE DRAMA I WATCHED

This is my first Japanese drama and like it...I rated overall 8.

It's about the Tawara family, the last shinobi clan, who lived in a traditional 'house of ninjas' in present-day Japan. Six years earlier, the eldest son died during a mission to rescue a kidnapped politician, and the Tawaras abandoned their discipline. They aim to be a normal family, but struggle with some idiosyncratic dysfunctions. Some family member were longing for action because of the boredom, separately they involved in questionable activities while the Dad, the head of family strive to hold family together as ordinary as possible. The head of the Bureau of Ninja Management insisted the Tawara family to take on mission although been rejected multiple times.

When a crisis unfolds, the family is drawn back into the shadows of its past, the son that they thought died was actually survived and recruited by the enemy. The family must take on the greatest crisis as it became personal one and that threaten the nation on political trouble.

Action, little romance, family dynamic, revenge, mystery and comedy. Japanese has special dark humor that I can appreciate.

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WATERMELON....SUGAR!

Surprisingly this is a good drama, the best of this drama was the casts. Everyone had genuine smiles and great collaboration between them. I would give credit to the main actors who made this drama special.

Ryeoun as Ha Eun-gyeol
The only hearing person in a deaf family (Mom, Dad, & older Brother). Eun-gyeol was a perfect model student by day, but at night he lead a double life as a talented guitarist in a band. After having an argument with his father, where his father learned of his musical interest, he time slipped to 1995 and met his parents when they were Junior in High School. He surprise to know that his dad wasn't deaf but a hot-blooded youth whose in love with a girl from Seowon Arts HS, Choi Se-kyung: a student major in cello not his mother. Eun-Gyeol also learned there's accident causing his father lost his hearing and stirred his attention to the deaf girl Yoon Cheong-ah as he knew her as his mother. He strive to create a different outcome of his parent's future and to avoid the accident. ***Ryeoun was a delight to watch, he's not only great play guitar but also sign language, it wasn't fake sign language - no! He knows it well. His expression was excellent & great smiles, speech deliverance is awesome.

Choi Hyun-wook as Ha Yi-chan
A hot-blooded youth whose worry nothing but so cheerful and confident. He lives with his grandmother who owned an accommodation house named Snail House. He's in love with beautiful Choi Se-kyung: the cello goddess of Seowon Arts High School. Choi Hyun-Wook made a bet with Se-kyung he would be in a band and made her girlfriend. The bet was on, but out of the blue a crazy boy Ha Eun-Gyeol show up challenged him of her heart. With some reason that strange boy Ha Eun-Gyeol kept follow, helping & protect him. He finally warmed-up to him and they became good friend. ***Choi Hyun-wook is full of energy, has beautiful voice, good in play guitar.

Seol In-ah as Choi Se-kyung / On Eun-yoo
Se-kyung was a person considered to be everyone's muse with her beauty, talent and elegant aura, but she would have an unhappy marriage that made her a controlling mother to her only daughter On Eun-Yoo. Eun-Yoo was on the same situation as Eun-Gyeol, she determined to change her mother's love life so she would have a happy marriage, she looked for the man of her mother's first love. Eun-Yoo and Eun-Gyeol had an understanding to help each other shaping different destiny for their parent. ***Seol In-Ah beauty and sunshine character are significant with character she's portraying.

All ends well, great drama.

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