Have Lotus House Will Travel

The enchanting tale of "The Lotus House," also known as Lianhua Lou (莲花楼), paints a picture akin to a mobile haven, much like an RV, that has been Li Lianhua's (portrayed by Cheng Yi) cherished abode and means of travel for an entire decade. Amidst the harmonious simplicity of his desires, Li Lianhua seeks solitude and a modest existence. His days are devoted to cultivating sustenance, preparing his own meals, and embodying the role of a wandering country healer, a role that has earned him the moniker of the "miracle doctor" for his rumored power to resurrect the departed. Accompanying him is his faithful canine companion, Húlíjīng (Vixen). This captivating drama is a delightful adaptation of Teng Ping's novel, "The Lotus House with Auspicious Patterns."

Each character in this story possesses a clear and unassuming life goal. As Li Xiangyi a decade ago, Li Lianhua harbored ambitions of becoming the world's preeminent swordsman and achieving fame. His aspirations were intertwined with a pursuit of justice and a mission to safeguard the realm. Fang Duobing (Joseph Zeng) embodies the spirited zeal of youth, aspiring to be a valiant hero championing noble causes. On the contrary, Di Feisheng (Xiao Shunyao), a former adversary, remains fixated on challenging Li Xiangyi to a fateful swordfight, unable to reconcile being second-best.

Though Li Lianhua and Di Feisheng initially shunned the complexities of the "jianghu," their apathy is rekindled by the fervor of the youthful Fang Duobing, whose fervent commitment to the world's safety becomes their shared responsibility. Despite disparate backgrounds and personalities, an unlikely bond unites the trio, propelling them on a journey marked by cryptic clues, unraveling mysteries, and unmasking murderers. The threads of destiny interweave, leading to the revelation of a grand conspiracy, ultimately restoring equilibrium and justice to the realm. Amidst the challenges, lighthearted banter and camaraderie flourish, infusing the narrative with both humor and heartfelt moments.

Li Lianhua's character is multifaceted and deeply intriguing. His choice of the name "Lianhua," meaning lotus, initially piqued my curiosity. Once known as Li Xiangyi, he attained early acclaim as a martial prodigy, establishing the Sigu Men sect while still in his adolescence. His dominance in the martial world was unmistakable, yet it bred envy and resentment, straining relationships and leading to his isolation. This path ultimately culminated in solitude and abandonment, prompting Li Lianhua's poignant rebirth as the lotus, emblematic of purity amid adversity. In an atypical narrative arc, the main character's trajectory descends from the zenith, and Li Lianhua's journey captivates through graceful withdrawal rather than audacious ascent.

Li Lianhua's sagacity shines through as he contemplates his imminent departure from this mortal realm. His patient and earnest method of untying emotional knots and offering solemn farewells to those entwined in his life evokes both contemplation and reverence. The poignancy of bidding adieu with grace and tranquility emerges as a poignant motif, enriching the depth of Li Lianhua's character portrayal.

Cheng Yi's portrayal of Li Lianhua is captivating and well within his artistic range. The actor masterfully encapsulates the essence of a character marked by vulnerability and profound sentiment. His synergy with the endearing Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng characters is noteworthy, preventing his character from being overshadowed while complementing the ensemble.

My Verdict

While the drama's pace is brisk and features multiple layers, I had hoped for a more in-depth exploration of the intricate investigative cases, as well as a heightened suspense element. Despite this, the narrative retains a charm that delves into introspection and personal transformation. The story poignantly underscores the capacity for individuals to undergo profound inner change, revealing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

While the drama's tone embraces gravity through themes of murder and mortality, its dialogues are skillfully peppered with humor, and poignant yet brief romantic interludes leave a touching impression. The intricate dynamics between Li Lianhua and Qiao Wanmian (Chen Duling) illuminate diverse facets of love, revealing nuances of affection, sacrifice, and perception.

The characters' nomenclature carries an element of playful irony, reflecting the author's wit and ingenuity. The story exudes a delicate charm, its narrative craftsmanship interwoven with themes of transformation, forgiveness, and the fragility of life.

A captivating gem, "The Lotus House" is a worthy addition to your viewing repertoire—indeed, a delightful and enriching watch that should not be missed.

Bravo!

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The Sunset Boulevard

If you have elderly parents, grandparents or great grandparents, you sure can relate with the characters in this drama, each is realistically written with a story to tell. This is a story about a phase that all of us will eventually face one day, that is growing old. It’s frightening for many but inevitable, yet the drama has made it funny, blunting the pain of reality, at the same time, capturing all the details, good and bad, happy and sad, as we may eventually come to terms with when we grow old ourselves.

Sunshine Home is a nursing home taking care of the elderly from all walks of life. Some are ill with dementia and disability, some don’t have children to take care of them, some don’t want to burden their loved ones, but all have a story to tell. This story is told from the perspective of Ye Xiao Mei (Wu Qian aka Janice Wu). How she has come to inherit the senior home from her grandmother is heart-wrenching. As a passionate manhua (comic) artist, Ye Xiao Mei is reluctant to get involved in her grandmother’s mission. However, she eventually comes to understand what that mission signifies and she knows she has the duty to continue her grandmother’s legacy. And life in the senior home has also become the inspiration of her manhua story.

Ye Xiao Mei is intelligent, independent and strong. When others have given up in dealing with certain recalcitrant elderly, Ye Xiao Mei always finds a way, especially with the help of Guo San Shuang (Bai Jing Ting). With her compassion and firmness, she defuses tense situations involving various players. She has no qualm in getting her hands dirty, helping the elderly in their daily needs, dealing with foul temper old men and picky old ladies, and calming anxious ones. Wu Qian (Janice Wu)’s portrayal is amazing. As an actor, she naturally possesses that firm, no-nonsense attitude with a calm hand that fits perfectly into the role of the director of a nursing home. She is so natural and authentic that I have enjoyed every moment of her performance.

Guo San Shuang (Bai Jing Ting) is originally a health supplement salesman who is desperate to meet sales quota, and has scammed the elderly whom he sells products to. His conscience calls, quits his sales job, comes to help Ye Xiao Mei and lives in the Sunshine Home. Guo San Shuang is cartoonish, to say the least. He is compassionate, intelligent with unlimited resources to solve all kinds of difficult problems for Ye Xiao Mei. His sincerity infuses with silliness melts all hearts.

Bai Jing Ting is such a versatile actor. From a wimpy kid (Ping Pong Life) to a police SWAT (You Are My Hero) to a salesman in this drama, he has it all. His acting is immaculate and convincing. Having an adolescent face with youthful energy, Bai Jing Ting’s Guo San Shuang is lovable and funny. He is comical most of the time with funny facial expressions, silly words and deeds, and he is unabashed. He provides the much needed humor that softens the cruel reality of life.

Ye Xiao Mei’s and Guo San Shuang’s romance is slow burning. In actual fact, there is hardly any visible romance at all, though Guo San Shuang is pretty blatant in counting himself as Ye Xiao Mei’s boyfriend and her family his. Though denying their special relationship openly, Ye Xiao Mei’s feeling for Guo San Shuang is undeniable too but she refuses to give him the joy in admitting she is his girlfriend. Therefore, in a way the romance is mutual but implicit, like couples getting to know each other so well that they don’t need to declare their love for each other anymore. They do things together all the time and they share everything. In time, they become part of each other. They know deep in their hearts, they have each other.

Throughout the drama, sharp tongues are thrown everywhere with piercing comments. The dialogues are hilarious, witty and unforgiving, and yet cute and endearing. The dynamics between the old and the young, friends and friends, are incredibly well written and executed. Being young like a grandson to all the residents here, under different circumstances, Guo San Shuang is often being addressed as “sun zi” which has a double meaning; one means grandson and the other is derogatory. It is this type of humor that makes viewers laugh out loud in the midst of chaos.

This drama boasts some very fine veteran actors. Their acting is natural and convincing as if they are the real characters themselves. Overall, the acting by the whole cast is amazing and believable.

Every character has flaws; some more so than others. How the dynamics between the characters play out help make them (the characters) alive, realistic and relatable. Learning and growing are not limited to the youngsters. Even the elderly continues to learn and grow and become better persons.

The sound track “Fearless” (Go Ahead) is played, appropriately depicting the inner voice of Ye Xiao Mei when she faces the biggest challenge of her life – succeeding her grandmother as the Director of Sunshine Home.

My Verdict
This drama boldly tells a story many shun – old age, dying and death. The writing is heart-wrenching and yet very funny. This is a very realistic story that all of us have to face one day and live through. The characters are real, with people from all walks of life, making a living with all kinds of trades – salesmen, debt collectors, scammers, etc. Some are decent people, some are despicable. The elderly is the group that is often forgotten by society. They are gullible and desperate, hence vulnerable, a perfect target for scammers which is highlighted here.

Though old and frail, at Sunshine Home, they are not lonely; they are being loved, cared for and cherished. This is their haven where they seek solace and maintain their dignity.

Life is bitter, and sweet, at the same time. All it takes is the perspective to have more of, or less of, either. Some of the characters here are positive and their lives tend to be sweeter, even when they meet challenges. Some are more negative, and they are bitter, draining themselves and the people around them. As old people were also once young like us, and we will grow old ourselves eventually, we need to be more compassionate towards them and empathize with them, and that's the message of this story.

A well written drama that deserves to be cherished. A great watch!

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The Hands Behind the Power

This drama portrays the life story of Liu E, one of the most prominent empress dowagers in Chinese history (b. 969 – d. 1033). She became the regent of the Song Dynasty for Emperor Zhenzong (reigned 997 – 1022) and later, for Emperor Renzong (reigned 1022 – 1063). Here, Liu E is depicted as intelligent, benevolent, decisive and visionary, far exceeds her male counterpart. Her journey from rags to riches based on historical facts, is interjected with fictional stories and figures.

The production cost for this drama is undoubtedly high with well know veteran actors, Liu Tao and Chou Yu Min, and the quality and acting are good. However, the editing is horrendous, in particular, for the first 10 episodes, making everything feel disjointed. There, events move very fast, from one big event to the next, supposedly unravelling over a span of time in days or weeks, even years, but the way the drama was cut, it feels like multiple events happening within the same day or hour, confusing and frustrating many viewers. The drama is said to have 80 episodes originally but drastically being trimmed down to 61 episodes.

Liu E has been portrayed as an evil woman in some literature which contradicts what historians think. In historical records, she was a very smart and courageous woman and had implemented many impressive projects that benefited the nation; her contributions were undeniable. Liu Tao's portrayal here is elegant and strong, and yet not lacking her feminine charisma. Whether or not this depiction is historically accurate, it is anybody’s guess. For me, compared with “Serenade of Peaceful Joy” where Liu E was portrayed in the first few episodes, I find some of the events in “Palace of Devotion” more plausible while others rather far-fetched with the writer’s imagination running wild. For example, how Liu E loses her biological children here seems over dramatic, but the request of wearing the emperor’s attire to a ritual ceremony seems out of place in “Serenade of Peaceful Joy” where a great deal of time is spent in arguing over the subject, whereas here, it becomes a brilliant idea by the Emperor himself to grant the Empress Dowager the status and privilege without much ado. Also how Cao (Empress Cisheng) comes to the life of Emperor Renzong is more believable in this drama than the previous one. However, I do love the dialogues in the former drama (“Serenade of Peaceful Joy”) which are more poise and humorous and the costume there perhaps more accurately depicted given Emperor Renzong was a very frugal person.

My Verdict
This is a rather well-done drama with decent CGIs despite the disjointed editing in earlier episodes and some inconsistencies in the logic of the fictitious events which are meant to spice up the story. Compared with “Serenade of Peaceful Joy”, “Palace of Devotion” is action packed with epic war scenes, spectacular warriors from Song and Khitan-Liao, and the settings are more opulent. The encounter of another great empress dowager, the Khitan Xiao Yan Yan, gives viewers two historically great women with strong personalities and powerful characters that leave deep marks in Chinese history; their intelligence and wisdom well supersede their contemporaneous male counterparts.

This is not a drama of great romance, and yet, Emperor Zhenzong is devoted to his Empress Liu. If not for the need of having a male heir for the throne, he wouldn’t have agreed to sleep with other women. This is pretty rare for a custom notorious for harems with thousand beauties.

Many viewers are also critical of the age of the main actors and complaint of their chemistry, Perhaps, these viewers are very used to having good looking young actors and fireworks type of romance. If so, this drama may not be their cup of tea.

“Palace of Devotion” comes with great character development and nice OSTs, at the same time, not lacking a sense of humor, tragedies and connivance.

Women have been an important force in shaping up societies and in politics. Seeing the two great empress dowagers of the time, a what-if question runs through my mind - what if women were given equal power, would we have a more peaceful and better world today?

Though not 100% perfect, this is a good historical drama for history buffs. I have enjoyed it. Great watch and recommended!

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A Gem Under the Radar

To me, a good drama doesn’t depend on the big names of the actors nor how esteemed the directors are, not even how complicated a story needs be. As long as the story is coherent, the logic makes sense, the actors immerse themselves in their roles, the costumes not garish nor gaudy, the main characters are lovable, and the overall struggles and conflicts of the characters capture my heart and my emotions, this is considered a good drama. The Letter from the Cloud is one such drama.

I don’t know the relevancy of the title to the story, which to me is still a mystery after completing the drama. Nonetheless, this is a story about power struggle for the throne that involves a girl whose whole family was wrongly executed by the Emperor, and a royal prince who tries to find his missing mother. They meet and fall in love with each other even though the girl has just got married to one of the prince's cousins who turns out to be a girl disguises as a man from birth. I love all the relationships between the characters here, including the second couple. The villains are in the open from the start, and all evil schemes are planted by the antagonists from start to finish.

Qi Zhang (Xie Binbin) inherited the title Prince Jing upon the untimely demise of his father. He is stationed in the north-west country guarding the border. Intelligent and a great swordman, he is lonesome and distrustful, determined to find his missing mother, so he comes back to the capital to his maternal grandmother’s home to track news of her. Here, he falls in love with a girl whom he initially recruits to work as his spy in his grandmother’s household.

I have liked Xie Binbin since the first time I saw him in Qing Qing Zi Jin. He exudes a clean, innocent and yet authentic aura that attracts viewers. Here as the impeccable Prince Jing, Xie Binbin aces the role. His styling and demeanor are perfect and lovable. His uncertainty, dismay, jealousy, joy, determination and more, are all acted out very appropriately without overacting and yet can stir emotions within the viewers. Excellent acting here.

After the persecution of her whole family, Gu Yi (Wu Jiayi) was adopted by a “Jianghu” doctor and changed her name to Shen Yu. Because of her horrifying childhood experience, Shen Yu becomes obsessed with money and will do anything for a buck. For money, she marries into the Zhou household and crosses path with Qi Zhang and gets hired as a spy for him in finding secrets that concern him in the Zhou household. Shen Yu is intelligent, fast witted and streetwise. With her amazing skills in medicine which she puts to good use later in saving lives and in her investigations.

I really love the Shen Yu character here and Wu Jiayi has given an excellent performance. Her Shen Yu is authentic and human, cheeky and yet relatable, and not too proud to admit to her mistakes and to show her vulnerability to her trusted. How she continually gains an upper hand with Qi Zhang is funny and well executed, and how she makes him jealous is fun to watch. Wu Jiayi is very natural. With her watery large eyes, pouting lips, and extremely contagious smile, she captures hearts. Viewers can empathize with her zeal for finding justice for her family, and her resignation when justice is not being served. Wu Jiayi has carried out her role with full marks.

I also want to applaud the whole cast including the actors who play the antagonists. The villains are being acted so realistically that viewers want to rip the villains' hearts out for the heinous crimes they commit. The cross-dressing is believable as actor Fu Jing (Zhou Yue) gives the viewers a sickly looking man with a raspy voice. A great performance here by all.

My Verdict

This series is said to have been adapted from a web novel. Upon my brief scan, I believe that the original novel involves a character with a name called 锦书 (Jin Shu), literally means “letter” in English. Though the script writing has been diverted from the original novel, the title has not, hence results in a confusing title here. I stand to be corrected.

Though with some details not further explained to clarify some confusions for viewers, the overall story here is rather intact with not that many plot holes. Some tropes, like falling off cliff, are used here and there which doesn’t seem distasteful. The ending is concluded appropriately with every character receiving its deserving ending, and without massive killing off the characters like many Chinese dramas fond to do. For the main couple, a three-year separation spurs their individual growth, and deepens their love and devotion for each other. The background music is cartoonish and helps in accentuating the funny moments and blunders the characters make.

Overall, a drama well done. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and strongly recommend it to new viewers. Great watch! Don’t miss it.

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No One is Above the Law

"The Legend of Anle" is an engaging drama that centers around Ren Anle, a courageous pirate seeking justice against the Emperor, who falsely accused and executed her entire family, along with 80,000 military men. The story also delves into her complicated romance with the Crown Prince of Great Jing, to whom she was betrothed since birth. Can one truly love someone whose family has caused so much pain and suffering to one? Adapted from Xing Ling's novel "The Emperor's Book," this drama features Dilraba Dilmurat as Ren Anle, portraying her with authenticity and charm.

As the playful and forthright Ren Anle, and later as the determined and resolved Di Ziyuan, Dilraba's acting is truly convincing. Alongside her, Gong Jun shines as Han Ye, the virtuous and selfless Crown Prince. Despite some criticism, his performance exhibits good chemistry with Dilraba, showcasing the complex dynamics of their relationship.

The entire cast has been thoughtfully chosen for their respective roles, and the high-quality costumes and props reflect the dedication of the production team. The beautiful and touching OSTs add to the overall appeal of the drama, making it a captivating watch.

However, it's fair to mention some negative aspects of the drama. There are instances of plot holes and childish logic, which might detract from the viewing experience. Additionally, repetitive narratives stretching into many episodes can lead to viewer fatigue (eg. Ren Anle harps about her 30,000 navy force as dowry, Han Ye insists that he would only marry Di Ziyuan, Di Cheng’en laments that she has suffered on the mountain for 10 years, Ren Anle laments of the 80,000 dead Di soldiers, etc.). Nevertheless, the character development remains consistent, even with some changes from the original novel.

My Verdict

While the drama primarily focuses on scheming, revenge, espionage, and war, the last three episodes gracefully shift towards the main couple's romantic journey. Overall, "The Legend of Anle" may not be flawless, but it is still a decent and worthwhile watch. So, if you're a romance fan or a fan of Dilraba or Gong Jun, don't miss out on this one!

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An Epic Drama!

I'm hooked to this drama from the beginning. The production is fantastic. Amazing sound effects, wonderful cinematography, authentic costumes/makeup. Everything feels like one of those high budget productions like "The Great Wall", and other Hollywood movies. The warriors are big and fearsome, and the wuxia fighting choreography is beautiful and real.

This is a complicated drama. There are multi-facet developments. There is a lot of manipulation of the mind, rendering one questions oneself what is right and what is wrong, and for the sake of survival, is there such a line (right or wrong), is it (right and wrong) important anymore. These are the questions that keep haunting me long after I finish watching each episode.

The acting by all actors is most impressive; it is almost flawless, to say the least. Each plays his/her role convincingly. I love the seemingly naive but warm-hearted Yu Ran who wants best-friend-forever relationship with her two best friends despite she falls in love with one of them. She would go anywhere to search for them and to ensure their safety. I love the focused Ji Ye who wants to become successful and make a name for himself. He would go out all his way to achieve his dream, except, he would not betray his best friends. I love Lu Gui Chen for his love of humanity, and would not condone anyone who threatens it. His love for his two best friends has never wavered.

The settings of this drama are equally impressive, with the use of large scale human power, costumes, background props, landscape. Everything seems so realistic that you may feel you're actually standing right in front of the dry desert, or the steppes, or the palaces. Even the CGI is very well done and leaves few flaws.

The music is dark and mysterious. The drum and horn of war is menacing. The scale of the battle field is breath taking – I’ve never seen such a grand scale. Only Chinese movies/dramas can produce such grandness. The battle horses and the knights supersede any Hollywood/western productions of similar grandiose. All actors, in particular, the supporting ones, are amazingly convincing – the cunning ones are very cunning, the devious ones are very evil, the righteous ones are unbending, the upstanding ones are selfless.

Having said all these, towards the end, I find myself not crazily in love with any of the characters, including the 3 main ones. Not that they are not lovable, but I find them to be not as well developed; they have not captured my heart. In fact, I find myself loving Ying Wu Yi (aka Li Gong) more than anyone else. He is brave, upstanding, ruthless and yet fair. He does not stab anyone on the back like the others do. He is hated and feared by everyone but faithfully loved by his own men. Even Lu Gui Chen and Ji Ye respect him deeply.

The whole drama centers around warfare and politics, and at times, I feel suffocating. There is so much bloodshed, and men playing politics with others' lives on the line. The use of dark forces, zombie soldiers and scarab beetles can be frightening and yet brilliantly produced with similar vibe as in the Hollywood movie, "The Mummy". It is both dark and mind-provoking. Romance is pretty limited. I don't feel any heart wrenching love, passion and longing. Nonetheless, this is still an epic production.

My final verdict:

Despite what I have written earlier, at the end of the drama when all episodes are aired, I was asking myself, "That's it?" Who wins the final battle? What happens to all these other people? Who is now in charge of the Wings clan (Yu Ran's clan)? Is Jie Ye the leader and protector of the Tian Ju group after Asule entrusts him with the power? Does Princess Xiao Zhou really marry the mentally handicapped prince? Where is Ying Wu Yi? What happens to his daughter who is in love with Jie Ye? So many unanswered questions. There is no closure. After episode 56, I was still checking to find out if I was wrong about the number of episodes. No wonder I saw some comments online asking, "Where is episode 60?" I didn't realize it meant this until now.

Overall:

If you like warfare, politics, dark forces versus the light , this is a must watch!

With such an open ending, I'm not surprised that the production company is planning for a sequel or some sort. For me, I don't think I'm waiting for it as anxiously as I am for others. It is such a pity for this high budget production drama with all the epic scenes, quality sound effects, costumes and everything else, to end up like this, unloved.

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An Excellent Whodunit

Not all dramas with famous actors are good and not all dramas with relatively unknown actors are mediocre. This drama hasn’t got the big names but has one of the best story writing, directing and performance in recent drama history. It is unfortunately not under many viewers’ radar on MDL, hence not receiving the due attention and ratings it deserves. The story is set in later Tang towards the end of the dynasty (within 5 decades) during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong II (r. 846 – 859).

This is a fictional story based on historical events and figures (though not explicitly mentioned). Emperor Xuanzong II was said to be the last capable emperor of Tang as the succeeding emperors were either too young or controlled by the powerful and corrupt eunuchs. With that background, the power struggle between the ruling royals and the eunuchs can be seen here in this drama, and has set the major plot of the story.

Chu Chu (Su Xiao Tong) is an aspiring coroner. She’s come to Chang’an to get certified as an imperial coroner. Here she meets Xiao Jinyu (Wang Zi Qi) who is in charge of the Federal Investigation Unit. He also has the title as the Imperial Prince of An. Xiao Jinyu is very impressed by Chu Chu, as her knowledge and intelligence are beyond anybody else he knows. She becomes his coroner, following him solving criminal cases.

There is a huge conspiracy, counterfeit money, mysteries involving the background of Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu, even the legitimacy of the Emperor is in question. Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu are embroiled in solving the crimes and linking all the pieces together, and at times, they walk right into danger. With a champion chess player’s mind, Xiao Jinyu tends to see steps ahead of their antagonists, and with a meticulous mind and intelligence, Chu Chu sees what others don’t with the dead. Amidst all these, humor is not lacking.

I love the Chu Chu character. She is sensitive, observant and intelligent, and yet she is also pure and innocent. All she wants is to become the best coroner in the land. Su Xiao Tong’s acting is close to perfection here. With an innocent look and a girly face, she brings out everything Chu Chu is, with a-matter-of-factly demeanor. I really love the natural acting of this young actor.

Xiao Jinyu loves Chu Chu for her competence and pureness. With an intelligence beyond everyone around him, Xiao Jinyu manages to piece things together quickly and correctly, hence solving any crimes most people are unable to. I have never watched Wang Zi Qi’s dramas. Here, I’m falling in love with him. His somber charisma elevates him from the others, giving him the air of nobility and authority. Bravo to his fabulous acting.

I find the chemistry and dynamics between Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu so wonderful that I cannot have enough of them. Subtle and devoted, I simply love this type of relationship. I also love the dynamics between Xiao Jinyu with his brother Xiao Jinli (Wang Yan Bin) and Jing Yi (Yang Ting Dong). The comedy here is cute and subtle. I love the play of words and accents, such as, Xiao Jinyu also sounds like “little gold fish” as Chu Chu initially thinks.

My Verdict
This drama sounds serious with a very serious opening music, and yet subtly funny too. I like how each episode is laid out, with the beginning recapitulating the previous episode. I also like how Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu reconstruct each crime, explaining the details graphically to the viewers.

The script writing is compact and clear, and the logic is natural. There is no unnecessary filler to make the series longer. The opening music is dark and mysterious in the beginning, then turns grand, uplifting and bright, giving the listeners a sense of a hideous crime being solved. This is a brilliant use of music to cast the mood of the story.

This is a must-watch for all. Two thumbs up! BRAVO!

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Happily Ever After

This is an epilogue released some time after the final episode of The Sleepless Princess and I almost missed it. The epilogue in effect is an alternative ending to what was released in episode 35. Here, Xue Yao doesn't jump off the cliff holding a sleeping Xu Chu Yue in his arms. She wakes up in the nick of time and they make up all their lost time together, traveling the world.

To make it even sweeter for the distraught viewers, the production team also added life after they get together. They have a child who Xu Xing Chen is babysitting while the lover birds are honeymooning. Xu Xing Chen by now is the Emperor. Accordingly, the couple is like being glued together and has been living away from everyone for the last 4 years. Between them, they have a private wedding vow with no elaborate feast. Their married life is an ideal life for any couples - traveling the world just by themselves, without the kids. However, at times, they're also like normal parents, worried about and protective over their kid.

The epilogue also includes all the things that are not concluded properly previously and gives everything proper closures. All the other second couples finally have their happy endings. I believe this happy ending makes many viewers very happy too.

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Humorous, Beautiful Romance, Super Cute, Fine Acting

I love this delightful drama. It is visually aesthetic, the plot is light but deadly, the romance is cute and satisfying, the acting is on spot and convincing, the comedy is oxymoronic and can be ironic, both male and female leads are good looking, and the second couple is adorable. This is a story about a group of young and talented musical instrumentalists coming together and forming a girl-only heavenly orchestra during the fictional Sheng Dynasty in ancient China. There, little fox meets old fox.

Li Sasa (Bao Shang’en) is an excellent first seat pipa instrumentalist. One day while performing, she mysteriously time-travels back to 1,000 years ago. To return to her present life, she needs to divorce a man who mistreats his wife, Li Runiang, her other self, and then to seek out and marry Li Runiang’s true love. After divorcing her good-for-nothing husband and losing everything, Li Sasa is desperate to find shelter so that she can find Li Runiang’s lover. Impressed by her talent, she is taken in by Lu Jingnian (Wu Chengxu) who is in need of a pipa instrumentalist for his team to take part in a very important competition in front of the Emperor.

Lu Jingnian seems like a Casanova on the outside as he’s loved by all the girls in town and he’s very kind and nice to each one of them, and with his colorful and flowery outfits, he earns the nickname “flowery peacock” from Li Sasa. Lu Jingnian is also very intelligent, crafty and cunning, thereby is double named as “the old fox”. Bringing her present-day directness and smartness, Li Sasa seems like a “little fox” to Lu Jingnian. But behind that flamboyant façade, Lu Jingnian is a devoted man, just like his father who finds life meaningless when his wife dies, and follows her in death soon after.

Lu Jingnian has a noble but dangerous mission to accomplish. As he and Li Sasa encounter problems with their team members, mysteries and dangers, each time Li Sasa assists Lu Jingnian overcome the problems, and in turn, Lu Jingnian selflessly saves her multiple times. They fall deeply in love with each other. When Li Sasa realizes she will leave Lu Jingnian and back to her modern life one day, she’s torn. She knows Lu Jingnian would be devastated to lose her. What follows becomes very heartbreaking and the story is being told beautifully with coherent logic.

I must applaud these two very young actors, Bao Shang’en 20, Wu Chengxu 22. This is Wu Chengxu’s second drama playing the main lead and Bao Shang’en’s debut. Their acting is natural and very believable. Despite their relatively inexperience, they have worked hard and put up an excellent show, making viewers falling in love with the characters instantly.

The overall acting by other cast members is good with some more convincing than others. The costumes and interior wall decors are very colorful and beautiful which match well with all the exquisite classical instruments. The ensemble is picturesque, and it feels like looking at a historical painting.

My Verdict

I have absolutely enjoyed this under-the-radar drama. The classical ensemble reminds me of today’s the 12 Girls Band of China. Visually, it’s beautiful and the ancient music is soothing. The romance is cute and humorous, and the acting and story are better than my expectations. Though some scenes are cliché and tropey, I love how the writer uses idioms to express the musical terms, and how coherent the overall storyline and logical the plot are. Cheeky instrumental music with animal sounds are widely used to match the funny scenes. Red eye and fake dimple makeups for the girls take a bit of getting used to for me.

Sacrificing one's life for love seems romantic but unthinkable. Though many people continue to live a fruitful life when the love of their life dies, many also die with their loved ones simply out of broken heartedness. Here, the ending of the ancient lovers feels like the butterfly lovers to me. Having said that, this is not a sad ending story (read comments below for my interpretation of the ending).

Yes, this is a wonderful little gem not to be missed. Romance buffs will love this story. Strongly recommended.

BRAVO!

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Wonderful Engaging Production

This is a through and through wuxia drama like in the old days with a mixture of seriousness and playfulness. Some scenes and dialogues are hilarious with simple, childish logic but I have thoroughly enjoyed the series. Being only 24 episodes long, every scene is a clue and every sentence can be a cue. The pace is perfect without any fillers. The scenes and dialogues are funny but without crassness. It has an Agatha Christie vibe, like gatherings of people who have all become suspects of a murder, and the case is solved by the process of elimination. 

The names of the characters are so funny and oxymoron - Jian Buzhi literally means "don't know a thing" but he's the brain; Zhao Wohuan literally means "I'll pay for everything" but he doesn't have a dime; Sima Dang literally means "take it as a dead horse" but he's the fastest person on earth; and there are many more names as such. The introduction of the Ming Yue (Miranda Ma) character was somber but then it starts to play the Beethoven Moonlight sonata for the background music because Ming Yue literally means "bright moon", and I laughed till I cried; it's just so hilarious and I love it.

There are many combatant sword fighting scenes with beautiful wuxia acrobatic moves, "qing gong", "nei gong" (inner energy), flying daggers and secret weapons. After each case is being solved, another different group of people re-gather and another mystery begins. All the mysteries and murders eventually tie to the bigger scheme of the overall mystery which is eventually revealed in the final episode.

The costumes of the characters are pretty basic except for Jian Buzhi who wears the most beautiful ropes with vibrant colors and patterns, and furs. His costumes make him stands out in the crowd of people whom he is constantly being surrounded by, and that's a very clever use of the costumes.

I love the bromance (if you want to call that) and romance in this drama; the bromance is good but the romance is greater. In fact, there are two main romantic couples in this story. Character development and the acting cast are fabulous. Everyone's acting is indeed very good, especially by Wang Yan Yang who portrays Zhao Wohuan. In fact, he's my favorite character. Despite physically well developed, he has a very innocent pure mind and always stands up for the weak. Wang Yan Yang's portrayal is absolutely amazing.

I also love how each episode ends. The editing is remarkable with the episodes cleverly end just before the revelation of the murderers or the next secrets, keeping the viewers suspended and hooked on to the story for the next episode. Just when you think all the mysteries are solved and the ending is nigh, an unexpected twist comes and blows my mind off. It's so wonderfully done and sets the expectation for a next season.

Yes, strongly recommended. A drama well done in every sense. TWO THUMBS UP!

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Exquisite Costumes, Mouth-Watering Culinary, Cat Fights from Royal Harem to Royal Kitchen

Royal Feast is a story of Zhu Zhanji (Xu Kai), the Ming Dynasty Emperor Xuande (reigned 1425 to 1435) and his fictionalized romance with the woman he loves, who later becomes his empress, Empress Xiaogongzhang (Wu Jinyan) of the Sun clan, and (not shown in this drama) bares him his successor, Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong). Apart from the very authentic looking exquisite costumes of Ming Dynasty and mouth-watering culinary, the whole script is poor with very little substance and it is frustrating to watch. In fact while watching the emperors and their harem enjoy laboriously prepared culinary to fill their stomachs, I'm filled with a stomach full of “qi” (anger).

More than 50% of the time is spent on food - cuisine preparation and presentation, food tasting, picky mouths, food wasting etc. Granted. The title of the drama is also named Royal Feast, so food is to be expected. But I've never expected to watch a drama that focuses so much on deliciously looking cuisines with tons of boring cat fights from the royal harem to the kitchen. Each episode, especially for the first 30 episodes, gives me a full stomach of fire. (I know I keep referring to my own stomach, well, you get what I mean.)

Here we have a prince who is groomed to be an emperor (Xu Kai) since he was born because his grandfather, the Emperor, favors him. He is powerful, and yet what he says doesn’t match with what he wants, especially when dealing with his relationship, be it with the woman he loves or with his friend and subordinates, and this has created a lot of misunderstandings that make him brood. Then we have a palace chef that turns empress who plays hard-to-catch with the broody prince all the time.

The plot is a mix of real and fictional events with real and fictional historical figures. Many of the fictional events are illogical with overdone plot twists. None of the characters are impressive and likable except only, perhaps for me, the eunuch, Chen Wu (Zhu Zhi Ling) who is a very small side character (you can see how poor the overall character development is for everyone).

By episode 29, the plot thickens slightly when Zhu Zhanji becomes the Emperor, and the romance improves after episode 33 when the main couple comes closer together, and there are fewer kitchen and food preparation scenes though many bad logics still remain. The whole drama doesn't show much what Zhu Zhanji has done politically and in running the country or defending his throne from his uncles, though briefly shown he does visit the farmers in plain clothes and puts down a revolt by one of his uncles.

Xu Kai’s acting is decent here. We know he broods because he shows it on his face and in his body language. But the female lead character is quite another thing. I really don’t like Wu Jinyan’s acting here. She looks pretentious and her acting is confusing. Maybe that's how her character is being written. There are so many ironies and inconsistencies with this character. She is initially the chosen one for Zhu Zhanji as his Empress. After years of grooming, she is being replaced by another girl who is said to be very auspicious. She is bitter, so she changes her name to Yao Zijin (Wu Jinyan) and enters the palace as a royal cook (what the heck for?). As a kitchen chef, Yao Zijin is kind and cheery, and yet at the same time, secretly schemy. How can a person be still cheery when a friend she trusts attempts to kill her? Seemingly innocent, she also schemes to plot against her main competitor in the kitchen. She says she doesn’t want to be married to Zhu Zhanji and wants to stay in the kitchen to do what she loves. Then, immediately, to attract the prince’s attention, she purposely falls in front of him (roll eyes). Time and time again, those who try to murder her escape with impunity and continue to live normal lives. And in the kitchen, when the emperors hate everyone’s cooking, she’s the one who always saves the day. There are always incidence happening at the elaborate royal feasts -- assassinations, poisoning, allergies, deaths etc. Yes, you get the gist, an utterly ridiculous script and terrible plotline. Oh, have I mentioned Wang Yizhe’s acting as You Yifan, head of the Imperial Guard? His portrayal is really poor – stiff and awkward, and constantly showing a sulky face doesn’t pass as a cold and bitter man as the character is supposed to possess.

My Verdict

At the beginning, many viewers claim Royal Feast is similar to the Korean drama, Jewel In the Palace (Dae Janggeum, 2003). Far from it. A bad script and shitty plot can hardly save a drama despite its exquisite costumes, culinary arts and big-name actors. In fact I continue watching because of Xu Kai and I like the concept of “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” which is quite elaborately displayed here, explaining how each cuisine is being made and its medicinal benefits for the body. Apart from these, there is very little meat, and I’m sorry for spoiling the soup.

The drama stops short before the Empress bares Zhu Zhanji his first son, and the Emperor’s untimely death at 38, so this may have saved a lot of broken hearts. Historically, Emperor Xuande (Zhu Zhanji) had many consorts and at least 10 died with him under the Ming’s royal house tradition when he died. He also didn’t dispose of his first Empress the way it is shown in the drama, and the revolt from his uncle is a joke here.

Overall, I am neutral on this drama. My score here is all awarded to the costumes, food and official sound tracks only, and zero to the story and the script.

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A Clueless Shifu with an Unlikable Pouty Face FL

The Journey of Chong Zi is a romance story of a shifu (master) and his beloved student, and the challenges they face. However the female lead character is being so poorly written, interpreted and acted that it renders the drama unimpressive. Plot holes everywhere and are simply being brushed over with bad logic and poor screen play. The immortal sects are gullible with little intelligence, believing in any gossips, and the demon sect is a confusing sorry lot. This is one of those series that can make the viewers vomit blood, and yet I completed watching it, and aged 10 years.

The storyline is nothing new as teacher/pupil romance is rather typical and tropey in xianxia stories. We’ve seen it in The Journey of Flower and in various others. The story is basically about the venerable immortal, Luo Yinfan (Xu Zhengxi aka Jeremy Tsui), falling in love with his disciple, Chong Zi (Yang Chaoyue), and their journey of romance, retribution, death, reincarnation, and their eventual confusingly bizarre ending.

Chong Zi is pure and kind despite her birth. Apart from her shifu who is Chong Zi’s true love, Chu Bufu (Gao Han), Qin Ke (Deng Wei), Zhuo Hao (Asher Ma), Mu Yu (Li Daikun) all love her unconditionally and are willing to die for her. Even some female characters such as Yan Zhenzhu (Zhang Keai) and Yin Shuixian (Yang Xinying) love Chong Zi in their own ways. From here, we can deduce that Chong Zi is a very lovable girl. Unfortunately, this message hasn’t come through.

Yang Chaoyue is simply not lovable at all and couldn’t give the viewers an authentic Chong Zi. The actor has a constant pouting face, making her look angry all the time. Even when she’s supposed to be playful and mischievous, she is not funny nor lovable. Yang Chaoyue really has to go back to acting school. The writing of the Chong Zi character is bad enough, made worse by Yang Chaoyue’s unconvincing portrayal. Despite Chong Zi is loved by many in the story, she is not loved by the viewers.

The drama tries hard to portray all the injustices Chong Zi faces that leads to her capitulation into the Ultimate Demon. But all her encounters do not seem dire enough to lead her down that path; she has been misunderstood for most parts as the immortal elders believe in fake stories of her. She’s being blamed for things she doesn’t do, for trivial things she may have done unwittingly, for being loved by her shifu and by most other men who know her. It is really frustrating to watch how such misunderstandings have not been clarified sooner and the perpetrators manage to get away scot-free, again and again.

The reason for her final transformation into the Ultimate Demon is totally unconvincing. After having some blissful days with the man she loves hidden away, she decides to become the Ultimate Demon to protect herself because her man is away for some chores and cannot protect her. That is simply a glaring hole for me.

My Verdict
I pressed on with this series for the sake of Jeremy Tsui though the character he played wasn’t that impressive (what a dumb shifu he was). I give this drama a rating of 7.5/10 to reward myself in completing the story.

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I want to vomit blood

Brace for the most annoying second male lead (2ML) and second female lead (2FL) characters. This drama practically has the most annoying supporting characters and yet they are very prominent in the story. The story started off pretty decent with an unconventional princess and a great male lead played by an actor I have come to love. To watch, viewers need to have a lot of patience. If not, you would want to strangle many characters here, maybe even including our FL and ML at times.

The acting by the two main character is actually not too bad - Ju Jingyi is her usual self with pretty the same kind of demeanor and unconventional costumes and head ornaments, and Zeng Shunxi (Joseph Zeng) is very lovable and convincing. But poor writing has made them look very bad at times, and resulted in their inconsistent acting and dialogues.

Both the 2FL and 2ML are super super annoying with a lot of screen time. The 2FL is obsessive with no dignity and the 2ML is also obsessive, super annoying and dumb. Though there are multiple lovable second couples, they are mostly one-dimensional and have rather poor acting skills.

My Verdict

Everything seems to have gone wrong with this drama, starting with a baffling English title, Rebirth For You (what the heck does it even mean?) The writing is so bad, lazy and inconsistent. The directing is haphazard and continuing angering me as the director doesn’t seem to care how viewers feel. The dialogues are boring and predictable. The war scenes are lazy and unconvincing with repeated scenes. For the supposedly final “big” battle for the finale, there are only a few people standing around. Plot holes everywhere with flaws that the editing team doesn't even bother to hide. The whole thing is like a non-serious, half-baked, kiddie costume drama that makes me roll my eyes until they hurt.

Watch it for Zeng Shunxi and Ju Jingyi if you’re their fans, just be prepared to protect your computer/TV screen so that you don’t accidentally smash it.

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A Kiddie Wuxia

To start and continue watching this drama, viewers need to remain patient. Many of the actions of the main characters are childish but by the middle of the drama, they become more responsible and mature. Nonetheless, the overall writing still comes across as immature and at times, nonsensical. By the end of the drama, I breathed a sigh of relief as I congratulate myself for enduring and completing it eventually.

This drama started shooting with the pandemic hitting shortly after. It stopped shooting until the authority lifted the lockdown. I was really surprised that it managed to finish shooting and cutting, and released within the same year before the end of 2020, all done in a matter of a short few months.

Fierce fighting erupts among viewers on almost every discussion board. Wang Yi Bo’s fans are angry at Zhao Li Ying for playing the female lead as she is a lot older than him, and fans claim they don’t feel any chemistry between the pair. They also attack any viewers who criticize their idol. Zhao Li Ying’s fans come to her defense and attack Wang Yi Bo’s fans. Impartial viewers are also viciously attacked for their honest opinions which can be merciless towards the two main leads and the overall production, and are labeled as haters.

Accordingly, the drama is adapted from a very popular novel, You Fei, which literally means Bandits. However, for the drama, the word “Fei” (bandits) is changed to the word “Fei” (jade) as in the name of the female lead character Zhou “Fei” which means jade. From here, we can see the original story emphasizes on the “bandits” as the 48 Camps imply, but the adaptation has shifted the focus to Zhou Fei (Zhao Li Ying). Many readers claim the original work has been butchered. This is also confirmed by Zhao Li Ying herself when shooting started. According to readers, large sections of the original story were deleted and replaced with badly conceived plots and writings, rendering the whole story fragmented and ruined.

Zhao Li Ying is convincing with her styling as a very young girl who is strong and rebellious. Her makeup may look a bit cakey closeup, but she looks fine from afar. She looks tired and listless though. Wang Yi Bo is perhaps a bit out of his comfort zone but his character as a cocky and flamboyant Xie Yun is adorable and Wang Yi Bo’s acting is passable.

What I Like:
• I like the wuxia elements here – justice and righteousness.
• I like the storyline – the kids mature, each learning their respective skills and take on more responsibilities and become the leaders for their sect. There’s a lurking conspiracy, a treasure hunt, and the fighting for time to save a life.
• I like the OSTs especially the tune played by Xie Yun on the recorder.
• I like the characters of the two main leads, Zhou Fei and Xie Yun, both strong and composed, though the Xie Yun character is also playful and cocky.

What I Don’t Like:
• Horrendous screen writing.
• Camerawork is everywhere and haphazard.
• Special effects are embarrassing.
• Immature script writing. YouTubers can write and shoot better.
• The dialogues can be funny but out of place most of the times.
• Dubbing is off at times, especially with the Xie Yun character as if he’s inhaled nitrogen gas.
• The characters are inconsistent. At times, they show leadership, at times they’re simply dumb. The kids lack the sense of priority and urgency. Everything sounds like fun to them even when they’re under hot pursuit by their enemies.
• The martial arts fighting scenes are inconsistent. Sometimes, they are passable. Sometimes, my cats fight better.

My Verdict
Do not hold high expectations for this drama just because it stars Zhao Li Ying and Wang Yi Bo. Overall, I don't hate this drama, but I don't particularly love it either. And yes, there are kissing scenes – one just for a fleeting moment, the other from afar, and quickly blurred. The chemistry for the main couple is not 100% but also not totally zero. This drama is basically like a rom-com in kiddie wuxia style. Watch it if there’s nothing better to watch.

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Annoying Secondary Characters

Let me go straight to the points. For me, this is an annoying drama. Despite the fact that Deng Lun is one of my favorite actors, the story, dialogues and acting (apart from Deng Lun’s) are definitely lacking. Most of the characters are super annoying, making me want to throw the pillows at the TV most of the time. The story seems to go around and around. The logic of the story and characters is outrageous and unfathomable. On top of that, the dubbing is super bad with lips not synching. Everything is a cliche and predictable. 

Having being so critical of this drama, to be fair, I want to praise its music which is pretty good and I have truly enjoyed it.

If you have better dramas to watch, don't waste time on this one unless you want to watch Deng Lun, or you like Republic era dramas.

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