This show started really well. The acting was great, gorgeous production with beautiful sets and costumes. However, the story quickly becomes repetitive, melodramatic and over-the-top, going from one situation of framing to another of our heroine. It got very tiresome watching our heroine suffer so much, and most of the drama's implausibility led to this suffering. I have to be able to be convinced that some of the events can actually happen, but asking the audience to swallow so much nonsense was a bit of an insult. If anyone can be convicted of a crime based on circumstantial evidence, then I am afraid it was very easy to kill an enemy. There were some plot holes, secondary characters disappear and some over-acting is also present. I liked the production, just not where it went later on.

Read More

Caution! This will mangle your heart.

I needed a few days to process what I had just seen before writing a proper review. My heart was way too invested in this and I needed some clarity before proceeding...

If you are a sucker for a good romantic melodrama, this one tops the list. The heat in the room gets turned up by the smoldering male lead, Jang Hyun, played by Namkoong Min. He falls for his lady the moment he set eyes on her and sets out to steal her heart by any means necessary. Our female lead, Gil Chae, is aptly played by Ahn Eun Jin (Hospital Playlist). Gil Chae has no interest in our ML, however, because she has her eyes set elsewhere. What is obvious to us, though, is that our FL has fallen head over heels for our ML but she is the only fool who doesn't realize it. What transpires is a delicious game of push/pull and how Jang Hyun would cut his heart out of his body for Gil Chae if she wasn't so self-absorbed to appreciate it.
We get a sweeping epic of historical fiction that will throw our leads together or tear them apart. We get lost in the intense gaze of Jang Hyun telling his lady he resents the hell out of her, while granting her the simplest of wishes. We are swept along in the tidal wave of their love and it is beautiful.

Unfortunately, this beautiful epic love story has its flaws. Most of the plot was taken from Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, in the first part and then riddled with cliches and sloppy writing in the second, leaving us confused and asking a ton of questions. There were time lapse issues, abandoned story arcs, and implausible scenarios. How is it that Jang Hyun can fight so well? He hates war and is a bit of a dandy, so when did he train to be so deadly with a sword? His past is alluded to but not clear. The storyline gets muddled and repetitive, so it would have been better to just stick with a simpler plot. After all, it was delivering spectacularly in the romantic aspect.

The OST...what an OST!! It was sonorous, sweeping, simple, and unforgettable. It conveyed the romantic emotions, the angst, the desperation, and the deep longing of two people who can't live without the other. Bravo!

Then there are unforgettable lines like, "I tried to hate you when you left me, but I couldn't, So, I hated myself instead." "I never left you, I just couldn't bring myself to have you." Add these to the stellar acting and breathtaking cinematography and you have yourself a noteworthy production despite its flaws, deserving of its many awards for best actors and best drama of 2023.

Read More

Lost in a sea of fluff and brand pushing

My first impression of this drama was that I would drop it because it just wasn’t capturing my interest. There were a lot of annoying characters, the storylines were fluff and the acting subpar. The show was one big commercial. There was so much brand pushing, and that damn ringtone just killed this show. It had some funny moments during the middle but then lost its fizz at the end. Secondary characters were given more air time than the leads to the point that they almost disappear. Only at the last episode do they reappear so that the production can rush the already draggy plot to its painful end. The show felt forced and joyless. Characters come and go and plot lines are started and then abandoned. It was one of the sloppiest shows I have ever watched. I almost thought I was watching meteor garden again with that silly club sequence. This was awful.

Read More

I think this series could have been more effective had they kept it at 25 episodes rather than bother us with a sub par sequel to Eternal Love just because they wanted to follow the three world formula. I am sorry, but I was hoping to like this more than I actually did because I was going in with greater expectations. Here we had the same production/writing team as Eternal Love but it lacked the magic. It's very difficult to recreate something so wonderful because you have a lot to live up to. Certainly, there were beautiful actors, worthy performances, and gorgeous scenery. Some of the characters have been recast and this works in some cases, but not in others. The storyline just didn't take me to the heights that Eternal Love did. I wasn't as invested in it, and sadly, the characters not as endearing. There were many episodes that were just unnecessary fillers. It just dragged out the series longer than it needed to be and did nothing to further the plot. I was also disappointed in some of the choices they made for some of the cast, the biggest being Ye Qing Ti's. I was hoping for a better written closure between he and Fengjiu. The past is barely mentioned and that didn't make sense taking into consideration all that transpired between them in the second world.

I have to say that I did appreciate Vengo's performance the most as he had the biggest journey in terms of character growth. He starts off as quite the ice cube, as Yan Chiwu nicknames him. He is guarded, stand-offish, and proud. That cold exterior is very off-putting for anyone but Bai Fenjiu. Falling in love, therefore, changes him. I like who he became after realizing he had fallen completely under our little Fenjiu's spell. He was more alive in a subdued way. He cried, he showed joy, anger and jealousy--all while staying true to Donhua Dijun's demeanor as an Imperial Lord. Well done!

Another character I liked to my surprise is Yan Chiwu of the Demon realm. He started off as such an annoying peacock with the way he walked, threw his weight around and arrogantly disrespected Dong Hua. But he was one of those unexpected allies that becomes indispensable. Though his wrap-up felt forced, I guess it was the only ending they could think to give him. I would much rather he'd given up and set his sights elsewhere. Wayne Liu did a great job as Yan Chiwu. At first I didn't know how I would feel seeing him come back as a different character than the one he plays in Eternal Love. Even the explanation of this is rather silly and unbelievable, but his character is much more interesting as a demon lord than as the bumbling disciple of Mo Yuan.

My biggest disappointment was the scene between Bai Qian and Bai Fengjiu. I was looking forward to Yang Mi's cameo appearance but the scene between these two actresses was awful. The way the scene was written, the vibe came off they didn't like each other. Bai Qian seems exasperated with Fenjiu and that was never the case between them in the past. Auntie Bai Qian loved her little niece and Fengjiu was ready to fight anyone that hurt her beloved aunt. Here, we have two important characters acting like feuding sisters. The choice to have Bai Qian saddle her niece with suitors is so out of character because she never would have done that. Bai Qian is the queen of the dis and never liked having suitors hoisted on her. Why would her niece be any different? That choice was so unlike Bai Qian and it bugged me. What were the writers thinking? The absence of Yehua is sorely missed, particularly during the climax of the series. I almost expected to see Mo Yuan, Yehua and Bai Qian, fan at the ready, to do battle with the evil Miao Luo. I hear this was the actual ending in the book. It's too bad they had to change the ending because Mark Chao was unavailable.

Music was good. Not as great as Eternal Love but tolerable enough to add to my Asian drama soundtrack playlist.

Read More

I was interested in this show because of the older woman, younger man plot. I was hoping the leads would treat each other as equals and make the drama worth watching, but that was not the case. The drama was more light hearted comedy full of sound bytes for batting eyelashes and all. I hate those types of shows.

The couple didn’t work for me for many reasons particularly because the male lead is not a very good actor. Not once did I believe that his love for the FL was more than a passing crush. He just couldn’t sell it to me. He spent the entire drama smirking when he was happy and sulking when he was mad. He acted like a young man and that’s okay, if the FL wouldn’t have treated him as such. No matter the age difference, the relationship works when the couple treats each other like equals. Our FL treats her boyfriend like the kid he is, so it’s not surprising that it doesn’t work.

The secondary love couple were even more ridiculous. Another couple with a huge age difference who act immaturely. There isn’t much buildup to the relationship as he treats her like an annoying little sister right until he decides he is in love with her. The girl has the IQ of a beetle who can’t find her way out of a paper bag. She is cute, but not marrying material.

The acting wasn’t all that noteworthy. They were annoying and foolhardy characters mucking through a superficial script. There are better shows out there.

I recommend Secret Love Affair for those who want to watch a passionate story between a woman in her 40s and a university student in his 20s. Excellent acting, well written script, and they treated each other like equals.

Read More

A Must for Lee Joon Gi Fans

I recently discovered actor Lee Joon Gi in the drama series Flower of Evil and I was so impressed with his performance that I set out to find other of his titles available on Viki. Lawless Lawyer is not nearly as well written as FOE, and not a genre (crime/detective drama) that I usually watch. I don't tend to enjoy gritty crime dramas, but both LJG and Seo Je Yi are two actors whom I have seen in other dramas and enjoyed their work. Both MLs are gorgeous and engaging to watch.

Both actors delivered fine performances as the tough gangster-turned-lawyer out for revenge and the young starry-eyed attorney who discovers realty is a bitter pill to swallow when the people she trusts are not who they seem. The past brings these two together and both become involved in a dangerous game to bring bad characters to justice. There are many comedic elements that serve to lighten the mood when the plot gets too heavy. Our MLs seem to enjoy each other and they have good chemistry.

There are some strong performances from our MLs as well as the supporting cast, yet the writing is not so tight. Many implausibilities, plot holes and underused characters weakened its impact. It's still very entertaining, but when I question some of the characters' choices, I know the plot just isn't as good as it could have been. The end seems to get a little sloppy and loses its heart. As much as I love Lee Joon Gi's wide set eyes and intense gaze that reminds me of a cobra about to strike, I would much rather see him in better written dramas that showcase his immense talent.

Read More

This was not one of my favorites. There are too many cliche situations and I didn't feel there was much chemistry between the leads. Nai, the male lead, is very introverted but comes off emotionless and disinterested. He is also very handsome and one of the most sought-after campus hunks. He spends the first half of the series never smiling and gives off some negative vibes. Bei Weiwei, is a tiny, skinny little girl with great gaming capabilities. She is supposed to be a campus belle and, though she is pretty, the campus belle angle is not something I buy. Nai notices Weiwei in the game and seems to seek her out almost immediately, so there is no build up to this relationship. Once the two become a couple, their is no conflict between them. They never fight, they are always happy, and she is a dutiful girlfriend who never challenges him outside of the game. There was a patriarchal vibe between the two that didn't do much for me. The biggest flaw is that this drama has absolutely no plot. Nothing is going one except that envious classmates scheme to break them up, but because our MLs are perfect in every way, those individuals are always thwarted. Long, boring conversations about coding and game development slows down this already draggy show. There are some sweet moments between the leads, but I feel that Weiwei is stiff and doesn't seem to enjoy kissing Nai. She stands there with a closed, dry mouth. He, at least, is better at kissing and makes it look realistic. It detracted from the romance. Didn't care for the OST, played the same song over and over. The only character I really liked was Erxi. She was fun, bubbly and cute! I would have loved a best friend like that in school. She is also the only character that is human with flaws.

Read More

I usually like to stay away from dramas that make young women believe that with the right amount of love, a girl can change a bad boy. (Doesn't happen that way.) I was curious about this one because it had been remade several times and previous versions had gotten good reviews.

While there were some watch-worthy moments, this show really insults the audience's intelligence. There is much over acting and lack of continuity in the drama. People treat each other in unrealistic ways and the main characters are really not all that convincing. The only decent people in this show is Huaze Lei and Shancai's parents. I felt like the drama kept going in circles: they'd make up, then break up. It was overly long because every member of F4 needed a storyline even if the side plots were pointless. There were also too many cliches and silly scenes that you've already seen in other dramas.

The most frustrating scenes are the ending. It was campy, ridiculous and unrealistic. I would rather watch shows that make me care about the characters than hurt them.

Read More

Well, there's 15 hours I will never get back. Have you ever watched something that was so bad you just can't stop watching because you need to see the train wreck through? You absolutely have to see it through to the inevitable impact and watch the pieces go flying? This is that kind of show. Filled with all kinds of cliche plots and super-bad acting, The Outsiders offers more eye roll and cringeworthy moments to give you a workout even while seated.

This series was a stinker from beginning to end because you knew it wasn't going to end well. There are plenty of these types of bad-boy-in-trouble-with-the-law shows out there, but this one was very poorly executed. You wanted to root for the MCs but they were so darned stupid it was very hard to. Bad decisions, toxic masculinity, over the top misogyny, pushover mary jane types, it's all here. There is no lesson to be learned. A naive girl in love cannot change a bad boy and though this message is clear, the path to getting there is brutal and poorly written.

What stood out by far is the poor acting. The young actors just didn't buy into the situation at all, the stakes weren't high enough. Whether that is due to poor directing and/or writing, it's difficult to tell. It could be a combination of both. I think the writing is one of the biggest problems. Rather than create something original, our young leads are stuck in cliche situations that don't ring sincere in any form because the writing team hasn't taken the time to flesh these characters out and give them something real to be passionate about. Our MLs talk about their dreams but don't have the courage to take any steps towards them. Everything is written and performed in a superficial sense. They are all archetypes, not real people and that is where this melodrama fails. They certainly cast some great looking people. Dylan Kuo is devastatingly handsome and much younger in this dated, video recorded, low-budget production. Both our main leads provided eye candy, though they couldn't deliver all that much in solid performances. Ady An can cry at the drop of a hat but it's not enough to save this horrible production. Ady An also starred in another cliche-ridden drama I wasn't impressed with, Autumn Concerto, in another turn as the long suffering girlfriend.

The music was actually not too bad. Though I don't know the titles of any of the pieces, they weren't at all bad and seemed just right for the situations. May try to look for those on iTunes.

To wrap up, if you like dramas with gang situations and aren't hard to please, this might be for you. If you want more depth, bypass this stinker.

Read More

I’m really getting tired of Chinese dramas that treat women like garbage. What is up with these men? Do they really think women are so stupid that they have to talk down to them? Mi Mieli is a young woman who pines for an arrogant boss. He will never look at her until tragedy strikes and she’s forced to go through a transformation.

Clichés, plot holes, horrible set designs, a poorly written script, and general foolishness ensues. Characters disappear and reappear without explanation, and most of them really don’t do anything to further the plot.

The story itself could’ve been so much better if the writers had made better choices with the characters and the storyline. Our main hero has a dysfunctional relationship with his father and his past has shaped him to be who he is. However, the writers don’t really delve into a sincere storyline that allows him to grow and make peace with the people who hurt him. He comes off as a spoiled, petulant little boy from beginning to end.

Our heroine is one big doormat, getting hit from all sides. As much as the writers would have us believe that she becomes a stronger female in the end, she really is not. Her actions make no sense taking into account what she suffers at the hands of so many people. Rather than believe in her goodness because of this, I find her actually much more exasperating and disingenuous.

The only character I actually liked was the long suffering best friend. I believed in his kindness and love for our heroine and rooted for him the most.

I heard the original version of the series had over 60 episodes. Taking into account how poorly written the script was, I could never sit through that many episodes. Even cutting this down to 24 episodes couldn’t save this train wreck.

Read More

Cute and Wholesome

I never thought I would love this but, here I am, a fifty-something mother of three children close to the ages of the main leads. I usually try to stay away from dramas with very young characters, but I love Zhao Lu Si and will watch her in anything. What struck me the most was just how well written this was, how earnestly the screenwriters took up the subject material and didn't turn it into some goofball situation like so many dramas of this kind. Many young women, and even older ones, can relate to this young lady, who idolizes her first love. We all remember that special someone. We laugh with her, cry with her, dream for her and just celebrate her youthful hopefulness.

I love that her ML never minimizes her feelings and doesn't treat her as an annoying little sister. He seems to have a big soft spot in his heart from the beginning even though his feelings turn into something else later on. He is always willing to help her out and most importantly, he gives her his time. How could you not fall for an older guy like that? Because the series falls into the wholesome category, it is suitable for age 14 and over. Victor Ma, however, delivers the sex appeal lacking in the main couple. He has this snarky little smirk that can drive anyone up a wall. The bromance between the male leads is also fun to watch as much as the romance between the FL and ML. Look for Zeng Li who is once again cast as Lu Si's mom. She is a beautiful and talented actress.

Would definitely watch this again.

Read More

Close, but not quite...

This limited series had an interesting premise and I appreciated the strong performances, but I felt that not enough attention was paid to the characters. There wasn't any kind of relationship building. Everyone was closed off from each other and the backstories didn't go far enough to establish any kind of emotional connection to the leads.

The show started off promisingly. I loved the suspense and it kept me watching, waiting to see what secrets the team would uncover, but it doesn't go far enough to be the kind of series I would recommend to others. I feel the good performances are lost on a show that should have gone more in depth to tell the full story. Squid Game was superior in writing to this.

I like the Sci-fi genre, especially ones about abandoned space stations with dark corridors, waiting to give up their secrets. This drew me in, but sadly, didn't deliver. Now if there is a second season promising more backstory then maybe I might give it another chance, but not if they give me more of the same superficial story.

Read More

This show was weak in acting and plot. How do you make an audience sympathize with a bloody, murderous tyrant? Give him a love interest. Unfortunately it doesn’t work. He is too arrogant, distrustful and cruel to be lovable. The love interest then comes off as a pushover. The MCs are young and not seasoned enough in their craft to truly pull off the depth and inner struggles needed to add weight to their performances. The supporting cast actually does a better job at this, Madame Chu being an excellent example. She even grows as a person and has a fabulous ending. She won my respect.

I found it difficult to sympathize with any of the characters in this drama They all do unrealistic things. Han Shen is the only exception, as the long suffering senior brother who sacrifices all happiness to protect the one he loves.

The costumes, design and on location departments get top ratings from me. They did a wonderful job making the show a feast for the eyes as usual. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough to help a show that lacked substance in plot. Nothing was really happening and the final 20 episodes tended to meander towards a predictable end.

My biggest pet peeve was the spoiler previews. What was up with that? I could have skipped whole episodes with all the storyline they gave away. Great soundtrack, weak drama that left me sad and disappointed.

Read More

As much as I love Ni Ni and the fine performances churned out in this series, I don't think it surpasses or even equals the magic of TLTWTMOPB. There are some beautiful moments, mind you. The world is the same and I enjoyed being back there, but it doesn't have the same pull because the plot is just not as strong. It took over 25 episodes for this series to find its mojo. It meandered and felt disjointed. Juichen was not likable and I felt sorry for Lingxi. TLTWTMOPB only took about 9 episodes to take off and stayed gripping throughout.

I understand that Juichen is supposed to be very fierce and serious. He does not show much emotion, but a very talented person can convey this while still being alive in the role. I felt Chang Chen could have made him a little more human, and less icy. Too often many actors portray a cold character as emotionless and dead. There has to be something going on behind the eyes or the character becomes boring. I often found myself wondering what Linxi saw in Juichen. Unfortunately, he is so much older than Lingxi and it was difficult to find his appeal convincing. Understood that his love for our heroine changes him, but overall I found him quite a stick in the mud.

Ni Ni, as always, is perfection. This girl can cry at the drop of a hat. She wears her heart in her sleeve and has such beautifully expressive eyes. I have loved her since I first saw her in Rise of Phoenixes. She can be warm and fierce and sell it to me completely. This is what I found lacking in Chang Chen's performance. My favorite character was Ethan Li as Jingxiu. He was interesting and had so many layers to him. I love characters who aren't 100 percent good or bad. He was very human in his choices and was the perfect tragic character.

The supporting characters were all wonderful and endearing. The best part of the plot happens in the mortal realm. I felt more connected to those situations than in the heavenly realm. The music was beautiful as was the set design and costumes. Ni Ni's costumes while she was in Shangling Tribe were breathtaking. It was certainly entertaining but does not come even close to its predecessor TLTWTMOPB.

Read More

Great Production That Left Me Unsatisfied

I really loved this drama and feel I haven't watched anything this engaging since TLTWTMPB. The best part is that it has an OST that knocks your pants off! The production was a feast for the eyes: gorgeous sets and costumes, attractive leads, entertaining storyline, character growth, and originality. However, there were some aspects that left me unsatisfied which I thought detracted from the production, weakening its impact.

The drama starts out strong from the beginning and draws you right in. There is plenty of action and romance. I especially enjoyed the slow burn of romantic tension between the main leads (ML). Unfortunately I feel as if it's something of a tease, because I never feel as if they are all in. Without giving too much away, they never seem to really settle their relationship with one another. We know our MLs love each other, but there is an unsatisfying lack of closure. This is unsurprisingly why many fans are hoping for a second part. The most frustrating thing was watching the actors touch each other awkwardly and pass off their tender moments with light brushing of lips for kisses. There is kissing in romantic scenes with the secondary characters, but you barely see anything with the MLs! This really killed me. The big moment was a hug in a blurred out scene, which I imagine was supposed to be the moment they finally give in to an expression of tenderness. This makes me wonder if there is some kind of production code that the producers had to follow given the young age of the male lead, and perhaps the intended viewers? Whatever it was, it made me feel exasperated and strung along. I am never quite able to believe in the reality of the romance because of the awkwardness in the actors. Romantic scenes have to be well rehearsed like any other or it rings hollow.

Some of the performances were great and some were just acting. When they were invested, I believe it. When they weren't, the performances were painful to watch because they felt overacted and insincere. In order for me to believe in a scene, the stakes have to be high, meaning the actor has to make me believe it. There are several moments where the director could have pushed for a more believable moment. Lei Wu's strongest performance came during a horrible tragedy. Boy did he make me cry! He spent the rest of the show giving a very nuanced performance. This actually worked. A look here, a smirk there. He was strong, composed and sometimes stiff. He is a wonderful young actor who can take you to the moon with the right direction. The inconsistency in performances hurts this drama as does the implausible storylines and plot holes. Characters manage to survive after being shot with arrows, and fall from cliffs. They disappear and reappear, others are one dimensional. Even so, the talented team of producers managed to put together a very entertaining drama I thoroughly enjoyed.

Read More