Wonderful Acting by Sun Qian

This is a wonderful little drama out of my expectations. I didn't quite like it when I first started watching with episode 1 because I found it kind of cartoonish. But very quickly, the story moves away from the comical acts and becomes more serious without losing the humors. I was glued to the screen and completed the whole drama as it's aired.

The storyline is simple and straightforward with not many twists. Even the twists are easy to follow and the results are satisfactory. Although there are some kind of triangular love affairs, these do not impede the main relationship and doesn't leave a bad taste in the viewers' mouth.

Though the setting is outside of an imperial royal palace, it is very similar but at a very small scale; I would liken it to be an aristocratic manor house with soldiers and guards. To become an imperial doctor, Tian Qi (played by Sun Qian) has to disguise as a man. In most Chinese historical dramas when a woman disguises as a man, I'd roll my eyes for how gullible the public is for not recognizing such obvious womanly features in the disguise. Not in Tian Qi's case. I think Sun Qian has the best disguise ever done in this genre. Her chest is flattened, her demeanor is rougher than a girl during the period. With her chubby face and virtually no make-up (at least not obvious), Tian Qi can easily pass as a young boy with no suspicion. Indeed I want to commend how well Sun Qian has played this role. She's hilarious and authentic. I love watching her whenever she comes on screen. I can't say the same when it comes to Ji Heng (played by Huang Jun Jie). The character Ji Heng is supposed to be a ruthless, cold, authoritative figure feared by all; he's the ultimate superior of his region. Unfortunately Huang Jun Jie has not brought out that personality, or he tries too hard to do so by giving the character a stiff, constipated look all the time. What's worse is when Ji Heng meets the love of his life, all of a sudden, he becomes lovey dovey which is totally out of character. Though very good looking, I feel Huang Jun Jie has not performed as well as the other actors in this series. It is such a pity because this could have had a much higher rating had the character being done correctly.

Overall, I still feel this drama worth being watched for its entertainment value, especially performances by Sun Qian.

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Bland & Predictable

I have always loved a badass female lead, but despite the female lead in this drama who is said to be sassy, I can’t stand her. Therefore the first few episodes are very hard to watch for me. As the story unfolds, her character develops and grows, and becomes less annoying towards the end, but she is still not totally lovable as far as I'm concerned. I stick with the drama because it’s a very short one at only 22 episodes and I like Zheng Yecheng.

What I like

1). Zheng Yecheng, as Shen Yan, looks gorgeous in this drama in his uniform and informal wear.
2). Though not a fan of Merxat, I like his character here as Shen Yan’s brother, Shen Yu.
3). I like Shen Yan’s relationship with his brother. Despite they always throw sarcasms at each other, they love each other. They work together and help each other out, especially Shen Yu helping his little brother in all his dangerous assignments. I like both brothers being unmatchable great martial arts fighters.
4). Unlike other Chinese dramas, this drama doesn't kill off all the side characters at the end.
5). The official sound tracks (OSTs) are beautiful.
6). It is a very short series at only 22 episodes.
7). I love the beautiful embroidered guard uniform. Both Shen brothers look gorgeous in it.
8). Acceptable acting, props, camera work, script writing and editing.
9). There are no love triangles.

What I don’t like

1). The female lead character played by Yuan Bingyan is supposed to be lively, cheeky, bold, and full of spirit, but instead here, she is perverted, flamboyant, outrageous, cringey, clingy, unreasonable, inconsiderate, unbashful, and when she feels helpless, she cries. Her suggestive and coming-on-hard behavior is really a put off though it is just her facade. To me, this type of character is not really a strong female character because she has no dignity and is not fearless. Fortunately, the character grows and she becomes less blatant, and she knows how to use her status to her advantage and to help others.
2). As much as I like Zheng Yecheng, he lacks the cold, stonehearted look as the Lord of the Netherworld; Zheng Yecheng is too soft looking and his eyes are not piercing enough.
3). The romance in the beginning is rather tiring to watch: the female coming on hard, and the male is irresponsive; but when the male’s heart is melted, the female intentionally hurts him to make him leave “for his own good” – this kind of line is really overused and ineffective in capturing the viewers’ hearts anymore.
3). Rather bland story with no surprises nor twists.
4). Not much humor.

My Verdict

The plot is rather simple. All the antagonists are in the open in plain sight. There’s a conspiracy to usurp the throne. The perverted princess becomes rather useful after she falls in love with the supposed stonehearted commander-in-chief for the Jinlin Guards. There are some conflicts in the relationship and both characters are in turmoil every now and then, with the princess crying a lot that doesn’t capture my heart. The overall writing and editing are acceptable with not too many plot holes nor questionable logic. Overall, this is not a terrible series, but nothing special either. Watch it if you’re a Zheng Yecheng’s or Yuan Binyan’s fan but do not have too high expectations.

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Good Story, High Quality Production

When I first came across this drama, I was ecstatic - another xianxia (historical fantasy) story which is one of my favorite genres. But when I checked out the cast, my heart sank. I was disappointed with the choice of the main male and female leads. Over the months, I’ve accustomed to young, beautiful male and female actors. I couldn’t fathom why the directors had selected these two, Chang Chen is in his 40s and NiNi 30s. A kind viewer explained the rationale of the selection to me. It finally dawned on me that such choices are intentional and this drama is going to be great. She is right.

Jiu Chen, the God of War, is supposedly 190,000 years old. Had a younger actor been chosen, it may not have played out so well. Chang Chen perfectly fits into the role of Jiu Chen as an ancient god with his stern and serious look; he is emotionless. Compared with the God of War, Ling Xi is a very young girl at 50,000 years old. Initially, I was not very convinced to see NiNi playing that role, despite that she is an amazing actress. However, I came to realize that she is the perfect choice as she goes so well with Chang Chen visually. Had a younger actress been chosen for this role, I think it would have been a mis-match.

As the God of War, Jiu Chen is supposedly not to have any emotions nor to fall in love with anyone. And yet he does. His clumsiness in handling a relationship is most hilarious to say the least. Ling Xi, warm and kind, melts away his harden cold heart. The relationship between the pair is open and loving. As both characters grow over time, the actors fit perfectly into their roles with their maturity and seriousness. I’m totally convinced with the directors’ brilliant choices.

There are a few very lovable side couples. My favorite pair is Si Ming with 13 (her real name). Their relationship is cute, funny and spontaneous. I also love the Yun Feng character, Jiu Chen’s little brother, who is care-free and does not hide his passion for the girl he loves. For her, he would do anything, landing himself in trouble and embarrassed.

I don’t usually fall in love with an antagonist as I do in this drama. The Jing Xiu character is very complex. He is feared but also loved by many, even Ling Xi also falls for him for his apparent kindness. Despite being evil, he is at the same time open about his mis-deeds and ruthlessness. The make-up and costume for this character are one of the most impressive, and Li Yuan is just amazing with his very unique good look.

Overall, this drama has a vibe similar to that of Eternal Love – Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. Many viewers are confused by this. Some think this is a prequel while others think it is a sequel. In fact, both dramas have nothing to do with each other, except for the similarities of the theme, the background settings among a few other things. Both dramas talk about the heavenly realm with gods and grand palaces, the animal/bird realm, the peach blossoms Shangri-la, the mortal realm, to name a few. Needless to say, both dramas were also directed by the same people.

The OSTs are beautiful and memorable as in most Chinese historical dramas. The editing, sound and visual effects, costumes, CGI are all high quality production, with a perfect pacing and good story telling. Although it has not given me the same deep emotional impression as the Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms has, this is still a very fine production.

I strongly recommend it.

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Navigating a Betrayed Relationship: Empowering Steps for Women

While I typically steer clear of dramas centered around betrayed relationships, as I find them to be emotionally taxing, showcasing the turmoil of a straying husband and a beleaguered wife, this drama paints betrayal with a stark realism that hits close to home for many around us. Too often, the wife finds herself adrift, battling depression, and tragically, some even contemplate self-harm. However, tears and self-destruction need not be the path. The author offers a more empowering approach.

It's entirely natural for most women to desire knowledge about the other woman in such situations. This inclination is quite understandable. Therefore, the author suggests locating the other woman. This isn't to coerce her to sever ties with the husband, for continuing such a relationship with a cheating spouse is futile; divorce is inevitable. Before initiating divorce proceedings, there are precautionary measures a woman can take to safeguard her interests and secure the best outcome possible. Lin Shuang (Zhang Xiaofei) takes the initiative to identify her husband's lover, Jiang Xi (Jenny Zhang). She establishes a camaraderie, imparting the realization that their mutual adversary is the unfaithful husband, not each other. This bond blossoms into a genuine friendship, with both extending a helping hand in times of need.

Next, it's crucial to reevaluate one's life goals. Revisit those initial aspirations. Lin Shuang recalls her days as a top-tier student, even outperforming the best of her peers. Nurtured by supportive parents who instilled invaluable values, she possessed a resolute strength of character. Recognizing the need to rediscover herself becomes paramount.

Returning to the workforce after several years devoted to family is undeniably challenging, but far from insurmountable. Lin Shuang confronts rejection in her job interviews, grappling with either being deemed too mature for entry-level positions or lacking the experience for mid-tier roles. Starting with a modest role and progressing upward is a viable strategy. Lin Shuang opts to become a ride-hailing driver, meticulously selecting routes that afford her insights into the job market and potential employers.

Furthering one's education is pivotal. The pursuit of knowledge and honing of skills should be a perpetual endeavor. Lin Shuang embarks on this journey, juggling responsibilities as a mother, daughter-in-law, and caretaker of the household. Through tenacity and diligence, she attains the qualifications and skills requisite for employment. This marks the initial stride towards financial independence, a pivotal factor in securing custody of her child post-divorce.

Securing the services of a proficient divorce lawyer is essential. Lin Shuang's legal counsel imparts crucial advice on uncovering her husband's concealed assets, ensuring she receives her rightful share.

Initially beset by low self-esteem due to her circumstances, Lin Shuang receives a wake-up call from Gu Xu (Huang Xiaoming), a childhood acquaintance and academic rival. He admonishes her for failing to appreciate her privileged family background (her father being a professor) and her innate talents, which consequently led to a lack of respect. This revelation prompts Lin Shuang to understand that self-love precedes garnering respect.

Throughout her preparation for divorce, Lin Shuang grasps a fundamental truth: reliance on oneself, rather than others, is the linchpin to attaining one's desires. Placing hope in external sources is futile; true agency resides within one's own hands. There are no shortcuts in this world; success hinges on self-reliance. True security emanates from within; it's a gift one grants oneself. Once you've bestowed this sense of security upon yourself, none can wrest it away. Marriage isn't a sanctuary; it's imperative to first cultivate independence. Marriage isn't a panacea for life's troubles either; it, too, presents its own set of challenges. The onus to resolve these challenges invariably falls on us. Life mirrors the act of washing dishes: one washes, the other dries, achieving synchronicity.

My Verdict

This story weaves a tapestry of marriage, family, friendship, and work, resonating deeply with many women who've grappled with sacrificing their careers and ideals for the sake of family. Life, much like a game of cards, doesn't guarantee a winning hand every time. Yet, possessing the courage to play even the weakest cards can transform adversity into opportunity.

This drama serves as a guide for women facing similar circumstances, offering insights on protecting oneself from a cheating spouse, strategizing for divorce, and navigating the process.

As for the performances, the entire cast delivers commendable portrayals, with Zhang Xiaofei standing out for her portrayal of turmoil, struggle, shame, heartbreak, and vulnerability. Jenny Zhang's transformation from a clandestine lover to a soulmate is equally convincing. While Li Zefeng's portrayal of Wei Ming falls somewhat short, as he tends to maintain the same expressions regardless of circumstance, a touch of variety in his emotional range would have enhanced the portrayal. Huang Xiaoming playing Gu Xu, makes his first appearance on screen a few episodes later. Remarkably, he maintains a background presence even after Lin Shuang's divorce. I take pleasure in observing the authentic dynamic between Gu Xu and Lin Shuang. They share a genuine rapport, even though she becomes somewhat authoritative with him at times and he complains she bullies him. The overall performance is commendable.

This is a compelling watch, resonating with viewers who can empathize with the characters.

Great watch! Recommended!

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Ultra Slow Burn, Amazing Chemistry

This is going to be my shortest review ever! Love Like the Galaxy is one of the better Chinese dramas released so far this year. It is serious and yet so comedic. The acting is spot on though Wu Lei may look a bit stiff when he walks as he tries to look grandiose, but I can overlook this flaw because I love his character so much and Wu Lei looks great. His subtle emotions are convincingly done as he's supposed to be a stoic person. Zhao Lusi is simply amazing here and her character is so lovable and relatable. Overall, a drama well-done and deserves a TWO THUMBS UP!

BRAVO!

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Truths or Lies, Friends or Foes, These People Don't Die!

OK, I admit, I was so confused watching this drama. While I thought a character a friend, he/she turns foe, and vice versa. Perhaps this is what the writer trying to tell the viewers: don't believe in what you see; what you think may not be what it is. Through all those twists and turns, only one thing is real: the undying friendship between Li Wu (Leon Zhang) and Lu Zheng (Chen Ruoxuan). Their bromance is full of humor, deception, protection, and sacrifices.

Based on real historical events and figures, the story is set in the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Jianwen (r. 1398 – 1402) when he was trying to hold on to his throne with his uncle Zhu Di (Prince of Yan) infiltrating his government and bureaucracy, attempting to overthrow him. Everything goes back to some events that happened 10 years ago, and around the secretive Fisheye Lock (yuming suo) which holds the key to the top secret. Many people have died trying to protect the secret and many have died trying to find it.

By fate, Lu Zheng and Li Wu meet again after their first encounter as kids. Now, Lu Zheng is a Jingyinwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard), and Li Wu a street scoundrel who picks pocket and lies without blushing. Li Wu impersonates another Jingyiwei, Li Dongfang, and eventually takes Li Dongfang’s identity. In the Jingyiwei organization, the two become true friends, saving each other again and again, but most of the time, not trusting the other, and Li Wu continues to deceive in order to protect Lu Zheng.

Though both have their love interests, Li Mu in Shu Tang (Sun Yi) and Lu Zheng in Zhang Junqing (Ma Yujie), romance is not the focus here. Things move fast, and the main characters don’t die even though they are mortally wounded, multiple times. In the next scene, they are up and running as new. For this, viewers are advised not to look too deeply (otherwise you would roll your eyes). Acting wise, the whole cast is fabulous, though Leon Zhang’s expressions confuse me at times.

My Verdict

This is a rather enjoyable and funny drama with some wuxia actions executed convincingly. It is also intense, suspenseful, and rather dark. The background story is very interesting, but the storytelling is rather confusing, chaotic and requires some reading between the lines. Overall, it is a fun watch for more serious and patient viewers as skipping forward may make it even more confusing.

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Talk and More Talk

When this drama was released, I had such high hope because I had wanted to watch Luo Yunxi as the first male lead in a drama. The initial scenes were beautiful with Luo Yunxi portraying Shangguan Tuo in white robes with a fan. However, 10 episodes in, I was greatly disappointed. The pace of the drama was snail-pace slow with a lot of to and forth dialogues that had been repeated umpteen times. The plot was shallow if at all developed, and there were hardly any worthwhile actions despite its wuxia tag. For me, it’s a great let down.

Accordingly, this drama was adapted from a novel, but readers have claimed that the adaptation has almost totally changed the story and definitely changed many of its characters. Half way through the drama, I realized there wasn’t much material to make up the 48 episodes, so the production team used plenty of slow dialogues of ‘repeat and reflect’ to fill up the episodes. The whole story felt like a broken record, going round and round and round, with talks and more talks, no ends coming. The director tried to tell the viewers that Shangguan Tuo (Luo Yunxi) and Chong Xue Zhi (Chen Yu Qi) were the One True Pair and how much they loved each other. Unfortunately, he overdid it by running it through almost 40 episodes just for this confirmation. He (the director) also tried to play with our emotions by capturing our tears (there's a ton of crying). For some reasons, I just couldn’t empathize with the characters, probably because how badly they were developed. I'm sure the gist of the story was beautiful, and I loved the 2 main leads. It's just the composition of the story, among other things, that was not right for me.

Painfully, I stuck up with this drama till the end because I had felt the two main characters, being powerful with their respective cultivation, had great potential in bringing out some real fireworks in combating their adversary hand-in-hand. To my disappointment, my coveted epic scene had never realized and the whole story eventually fizzled into oblivion.

My final verdict – If you’re a fan of Luo Yunxi or Chen Yuqi (Yukee Chen) or Zhou Ting Wei, you may want to check this out. Luo Yunxi, despite his extremely thin body and white face, is an amazing watch from afar, with a fan in hand, hair flying and robes floating. However, if you’re into wuxia and want some action, you’d probably be greatly disappointed because the fighting is pathetic to say the least, as one viewer commented, “No one knows how to fight.” It's a pity that there were so many details in the dialogues (talks and more talks) but they skimmed through the plot. Though it (the plot) thickened slightly for the final 10 episodes, the execution of it was rudimentary and childish.

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Lying or Not Revealing the Truth

Is there a difference between lying and not revealing the truth? To me, there is. Do articulation and lying mean the same thing? To me, they don’t. However, in this drama, it takes a broad stroke to cover the meaning of lying: not revealing the truth is lying, and articulation is lying. I do not agree with the writer and find this as flaw which permeates throughout the story. Having said that, I have still enjoyed this drama because of the male lead character’s frankness, and the female lead character’s diplomatic approaches.

One of the many flaws we have in us is we love flattery languages. We often feel hurt when we hear the truth about ourselves. Fang Zhi You (Xin Yun Lai) is a very frank and direct person. He doesn’t like to beat around the bush or use flowery language to flatter; he just says things as they are. To many, he’s crude. Though he doesn’t have a face that melts hearts immediately, Xin Yun Lai’s acting is to the point as a dull, unflattering Fang Zhi You. He maintains a serious looking face with few facial expressions. His ‘no cheating’ quality persuades everyone around him, including Xu Yi Ren (Liang Jie), to trust and love him. Deep inside, he is a sweet and kind man.

Xu Yi Ren on the other hand is very diplomatic. She can defuse a tensed situation with her quick wit and a few kind and diplomatic words. She helps others to save face and step down without escalating matters further. I feel she has been wrongly labelled as a girl who likes to lie. To me, such qualities should not be considered as dishonesty but a very precious diplomatic skill. As a new actor, Liang Jie has played this role very well.

Both Fang Zhi You and Xu Yi Ren have qualities that complement and supplement each other, and enable them to start their love relationship from the very beginning through the end of the drama. Their relationship has never flinched. She is his pillar supporting him all the time without conditions, and he’s always there protecting her. They trust and are devoted to each other.

This is a very easy drama to watch, not too many conflicts to resolve, and a very cute and intelligent little sister to love. There are multiple love triangles, a second couple and an evil sister. The storyline is a bit cliche and some scenes are tropey as expected in Chinese dramas. Not outstanding but sweet and enough chemistry to make viewers feel the love and loved.

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An Undervalued Precious Gem

This drama has not been discovered and watched by many. What a pity! It is a wonderful drama and I'm glad I found it and wanted to watch it. The scenery of the Yunnan region is simply breath-taking -- so natural and so beautiful. The minority group living there, the Dai, is one of the most beautiful people with beautiful costumes, graceful culture and traditions. People, together with the scenery, make the setting of this drama out of this world.

The Dai people are very spiritual people. They live with nature. They are contented. They love life. And most importantly, they are grateful for what they have.

I love the simplicity of life living in the rural areas. No traffic, no smog, no noises, no high rises. You're surrounded by fresh air and trees. Nature abounds and time stands still. One really doesn't need a lot of money to live a meaningful life. If not for the story, one can still enjoy watching this drama for the beautiful scenery, exotic minority people, and most of all, the cultivation of tea. I hope more viewers discover this wonderful drama like I did, and decide to give it a try.

All the main actors are new to me. The male lead, Xu Hao Ning played by Roy Chiu, is one of those wealthy princelings living in Shanghai. He is also a doctor. But despite his wealth, he is lost. He is spoiled and doesn’t take responsibility seriously, but he has a kind heart. Roy Chiu is amazingly handsome. So good looking that he may melt many hearts with his wonderful acting skills. He convinces me that he is really Xu Hao Ning, the character he portrays.

Lu Kira, the female lead, has a quiet and unpretentious persona, perfect for her role as the Dai ethnic Yu Bo who is shy and timid. Her beauty and acting skills simply fit into the portrayal of an ethnic girl living in a tucked-away community, far away from the cities.

The love story between the two is seemingly doomed from the beginning as both have come from totally different backgrounds. They don’t seem to have anything in common. Their value systems are totally different and may even be opposite; they know very little about each other’s values. They fall in love at first sight which seems frivolous; their relationship seems like a fantasy and a spur-of-the-moment. Any yet, with their deep love for each other, they are willing to learn and make sacrifices for each other.

The predicaments faced by these two lovers are actually what we are facing ourselves in our own life. If we stop and think for awhile and ask ourselves this question - what do we want in life? Religions tend to tell people to stop asking such question as God has already planned everything out for us. But for non-believers, this is a real question. The searching and discovery is really a process we all should do, just like Xu Hao Ning and Yu Bo do.

The story also touches on a current sensitive issue about development, something many governments are facing. Should a government allocate funds to develop a seemingly poor and backward area, and bring its residents out of poverty? What seems like a noble intention may not end up as the best choice - many communities suffer the so-called development; they get exploited, their culture, traditions and way-of-life lost. However, if a government does nothing and let the communities live as they do for probably as long as they have existed, the government is being criticized as unfair and uncaring. This situation really echoes what we are seeing in China at the Xizhang and Xinjiang areas; when the government tries to improve the areas, they are being seen as trying to take away the identify of the people by the conservatives; when they leave the areas alone, they are being seen as ignoring the needs of the people by the liberals and progressives. Either way, they will be criticized. Striking a balance perhaps is the hardest thing to do.

Then we have to ask the question - what is development? Is it to make more money and have a "better" lifestyle, or is it to conserve one's culture, tradition and way of life for the future generations? This is a difficult question to answer. No matter what, this drama has brought up all these questions and let viewers to ponder and search our souls.

A lovely romantic story - a true gem waiting to be discovered.

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Lovely Couple but Poor Editing

This is supposedly a very interesting and light-hearted drama. The plot is intriguing and the cast is fabulous, especially the two female leads Bai Lu and Xiao Yan. The romance between the major characters, Lu Zhao Yao and Li Chen Lan is simply adorable and sweet. I love the main theme song so much – the verses are meaningful and the tune is beautiful. But that’s all the positives I can say about this drama.

Inconsistencies and holes are everywhere. There were “dead” and “undead” people. The cutting and editing are particularly bad; it’s simply confusing. There are various so-called versions of the drama, but in essence, the contents of each episode are the same, except, perhaps one version has a prologue and the other has a preview at the ending. Having said that, episodes 19 and 21, followed by the last 4 episodes, are utterly confusing unless one finds the better cut version.

The initial pace and flow were not great but acceptable. It can be draggy at times. People talk super slowly, walk super slowly. All their motion is super slow. I feel I age 10 years after watching this drama. But the final few episodes were a torture, with a lot of time wasted on people looking at each other blankly. I found myself holding my breath, trying to endure till the end without screaming and pulling out my hair.

I initially enjoyed watching this drama so much because it was a panacea for me after watching the heart-wrenching “Goodbye My Princess” – a drama airing at the same time. This drama (The Legends) provided the little relief I needed as it was funny with a straight face and the characters are adorable.

I particularly enjoyed watching Xiao Yan playing 2 roles - one as a timid Qin Zhi Yan and the other as the badass Lu Zhao Yao; she portrayed the characters so well, switching in and out. I also love the romance between Lu Zhao Yao and Li Chen Lan. I love the feeling of having a man, standing right next to or behind me, quietly protecting me and doting on me all the time. He is powerful and yet not overwhelming. He is a lion facing his enemy, but only a small sweet kitty when he’s with me. With one thrust of his hand, he is able to send one into oblivion; or he can arrive at his destination in a whiff. I particularly love the line he told Lu Zhao Yao, “You fight, I’m your sword. You retreat, I’m your shield.” This line truly melts my heart.

I also love the character of a badass female, controlling the world, feared by all and yet admired and loved by all her followers. Bai Lu has played this character convincingly. She is beautiful and delightful.

Xu Kai has a very good-looking baby face. Having a timid and quiet persona, he portrays the Li Chen Lan’s character effortlessly and effectively. And yet, he is powerful and lethal at a click of the fingers. One always feels safe with him around.

The underlying theme for this drama is, good can be bad and bad can be good. What looks good on the surface can be rotten inside, and what’s bad about a person, can be a kind and upstanding one. Hence in this drama, you will see the supposedly good people touting they are doing the righteous things, are in fact the despicable characters, whereas the labelled son of demon, is in fact the most upstanding kind-hearted person of all.

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Great acting | Wang Yibo is angelic

I came to check out Wang Yibo’s acting after The Untamed. To my surprise, this is a delightful drama which has not been properly appreciated. The acting by the 2 main leads, Joe Chen and Tong Da Wei, is excellent. They are funny, lovable and natural. Having said that, I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the two. To me, they are best friends who help out each other in times of need. On the other hand, I feel Wang Yibo’s love towards the Joe Chen character more intense and sincere despite they are not meant to be together.

At the time of filming, I believe Wang Yibo was still a teenager or just beginning to enter adulthood. Bearing this in mind, I feel he did a fantastic job in acting the role of Di Zhi Wei who is a spoiled brat from a filthy rich family. Wang Yibo has a natural cold look and a don’t-give-a-damn expression written all over his face naturally, playing this role is a brilliant selection of the directors. Wang Yibo really fits in the character so well. He is so good looking with an angelic face, so when he is facing failures and forced to grow up, one’s heart really goes all out for him wanting to shield him from the pain he’s facing. But look is not his only asset; Wang Yibo is multi-talented. In this drama, he showcases some of these talents. He is an amazing dancer, and some of his dance moves are inserted in the drama; he loves long boarding and again he demonstrates his skills here; he loves gaming, and in this drama, he has a new startup company developing gaming apps. Despite his age, his acting is pretty good; he is funny, silly, very lovable, tender, and super cute. Playing Di Zhi Wei feels like Wang Yibo is playing himself, totally natural.

A fun drama to watch. Don’t miss it!

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How to Catch a Seditionist

In "The Legend of Zhuohua," we follow the journeys of two determined women in a society that doesn't always favor them. Our main character, Mu Zhuohua (played by Jing Tian), studies hard, passes her exams and rises in the government. Another woman, Princess Rou Jia (played by Wang Likun), secretly aspires to become the Emperor. Both women dream of bringing positive changes and cleaning up corruption in the government.

Their goals are similar, but they have different approaches. Mu Zhuohua wants an honest government and a stable monarchy. Meanwhile, Rou Jia gets consumed by revenge and a thirst for power, and she hides her true intentions behind a mask of philanthropy.

The story begins with Mu Zhuohua focused on her career, putting love and family on the backburner. Even though there's a deep connection between her and Liu Yan (played by Feng Shaofeng), they choose a unique path, deciding not to get married or have children. But as the story progresses, it shifts towards a full-blown romance, with Mu Zhuohua and Liu Yan growing closer. Unfortunately, Mu Zhuohua loses some of her initial spark as an ambitious woman striving for success. Nonetheless together, they crack the greatest conspiracy and catch the seditionist who is the mastermind of the whole thing.

It's said that the author was asked to change the storyline involving a female emperor. This shift causes Princess Rou Jia to end up as another negative character with a predictable ending, and perhaps the tone down has also weaken Mu Zhuohua's character.

In terms of acting, Wang Likun does an impressive job portraying Princess Rou Jia. Her transformation from grace and benevolence to calculated malevolence feels genuine and leaves a strong impression. Jing Tian's acting is decent, although it's a bit hard to picture her as the young and brilliant Mu Zhuohua due to her mature appearance. Feng Shaofeng's portrayal of Liu Yan, ailing but with a magnetic allure of a mature man in a deep voice with few words, is fine. However, the robotic voice dubbing is unbearable and distractive.

My Verdict

I initially liked the drama, but as it progressed, it became slow and filled with plot holes. The main lead characters seem to magically know the thoughts of their enemies. When they discover Princess Rou Jia's true nature, they show no surprise, which doesn't make much sense. The main female characters also become somewhat passive, and the male characters become rather banal.

My suggestion? Watch this drama while doing something else, like cooking or working out. It can be a background entertainment option!

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Sounds of A Family

This story is set at the onset of the Cultural Revolution in the 1950s/1960s. It was the times when all capitalist families were banished, western ideas were deemed corrupt and any association with elitism was seen as unpatriotic and condemned. Family members were pitted against each other, separated and moved away to be ‘rehabilitated’. This story is about what we call a true family. It is humorous and warm despite the trying times many were going through.

The Story
A divorced naval officer, Jiang De Fu (Guo Tao) falls in love with a beautiful girl, An Jie (Mei Ting) from a wealthy family. She is sophisticated and well educated whereas he is crude and poorly read. At first, she looks down on him, but because of her family background of being a capitalist, she is being sneered at and shunned, and can have no choice for a partner for marriage; any association with her is uncalled for. After some time getting to know him under various circumstances, she begins to see his qualities – kind, honest, humorous, witty, and compassionate among others. After a speech he gives about his own life, she is totally moved and falls in love with him, and they get married. After marriage, they continue to have 5 children, and this story is written by their youngest daughter who is a writer. In their old age looking back, despite all the ups and downs, bringing up a whole family and growing old together hand in hand perhaps is the best thing in life, and should be what life is all about - life is good.

The dialogues in this drama are hilarious, witty and unforgiving, and yet cute and endearing. Constantly sharp tongues lash out at each other, insulting with harsh words and yet, this is just harmless interactions soon forgotten; love often exudes in every word between the couple and within the family. Everyone talks this way, making it normal and no one feels insulted or upset. The dynamics between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings and siblings, friends and friends, are incredible, and well written and executed.

The story is told as it, exactly how things are. There’s no beautification for romantic effect. Everything is mature and up in the open including finding partners and having children. This is a great departure from the rom-coms that we are so used to involving younger actors with prudish characters.

The Characters and The Acting
This drama boasts some very fine veteran actors. Their acting is simply natural and convincing as if they are the real characters themselves. There’s some really amazing acting here by the whole cast too, in particular the child actors who are so wonderful showing the viewers amazing sibling dynamics and their relationship with the adults.

There are many flaws in each of the characters, but like us, no one is perfect. How the dynamics between the characters play out eventually make all these characters alive, realistic and relatable.

Jiang De Fu (Guo Tao) is perhaps the most lovable character in the story. Guo Tao may look too mature for a male lead in the beginning as a young naval officer, but as Jiang De Fu becomes a father and continues to be promoted to the position of a commanding officer, Guo Tao is perfect for the role. He looks amazing in his white naval officer uniform and his distinguishable charisma overpowers everything around him. Respected by all and yet warm and sincere to everyone, Jiang De Fu is simply an amazing husband, father, co-worker, subordinate and superior. He is tactful and articulate, manages to get the points forward without hurting feelings. With his wife, his subordinates, his children, his sister, his best friend, they banter, bicker and fight, yet they care for each other. Only he can deal with the strong character of his wife and defuse any tense situations with his negotiating skills.

An Jie (Mei Ting) comes from a wealthy family owning businesses. She is intelligent and well read. With a sharp tongue and unforgiving demeanor, she initially looks down on Jiang De Fu and his people for being ignorant and uncouth. She even feels his name is too unsophisticated and teases him. Since marriage, she constantly teaches him about hygiene and cleanliness. How she banters with her husband and bickers with his sister is really a joy to watch. Mei Ting’s portrayal is 100% as a by-gone ‘da xiao jie’ to a wife of a military officer with 5 kids. She is so natural and convincing.

As the younger sister of Jiang De Fu, Jiang De Hua (Liu Lin) has come from the rural area and is crude and simple minded. Despite the constant fights with her sister-in-law An Jie, she is loyal to her brother and his family. She helps take care of the household and all the children, and has become a very important part of the family. Over the years, her relationship with An Jie improves and they each care deeply for one another. Liu Lin’s performance is absolutely fantastic and applaudable.

My Verdict
This is a really delightful drama for the whole family. The inter-personal dynamics are very well written and performed. For a span of over 50 years, we see how life changes, from dating to marriage to parenting to growing old. Despite all the ups and downs, raising children and taking care of a household, life passes us quickly. Taking life as it comes, as how the characters in this story do, can help us see life with more enthusiasm, and love the people around us. Like we all have experienced, all the characters here bicker and fight all the time, as well as they tease and joke. After their harmless encounters, they make up and life moves on.

Life is good. Don’t miss this amazing family drama!

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Real Wuxia Story Like the Old Days

I’m a wuxia novel fan, and Gu Long was one of my earlier favorite authors during my growing up years. However, I’ve not read this particular novel, Juedai Shuangjiao (Legendary Twins) which is supposed to be a great novel that has been adapted in this drama. When I stumbled across this drama, I was ecstatic because I recognized Hu Yitian and has wanted to watch his new dramas.

For the first few episodes, I was disappointed with the quality of the drama. I was not only disappointed with the acting and the overall plot, I found it hard to understand the logic of the characters. Everyone seemed stupid and gullible. The heroes could easily give up their own lives for some very trivial and unreal reasons. They could also fall into the tricks of the same villains over and over again. Everything was noisy with obnoxious and over exaggerated characters. I was stuck at episode 8 and found myself unable to move on.

I couldn’t understand the high rating on MDL; I thought I must be missing something. So I returned to the series and continued. As I began watching it with a mindset of simple logic, and seeing the impossibilities as possibilities, I began to follow the mood and flow of the story, and in fact rather enjoyed it till the end.

The story is a typical story from Gu Long’s novel - a whole maze of characters that can be confusing and hard to remember, the heroes always get the shorter ends whereas the villains triumph (initially), all the pretty girls tend to fall in love at first sight with the protagonist. Admittedly, the drama is tropey and the consequences are as expected. Nonetheless, embracing its shortcomings, I found the drama rather entertaining after I got passed the first 10 episodes.

This is a story of two twin brothers separated at birth, their parents murdered. One twin is adopted by the killers and the other is raised by a group of villains. 18 years later, the brothers meet and are told to kill each other for no reasons provided. The story revolves around the two brothers who go through all the adventures together and separately, and eventually learn about their own story and meet the loves of their lives.

The twins have totally opposite characteristics: one is dull and righteous (played by Hu Yitian), whereas the other street smart, jovial, bombastic and mischievous (played by Chen Zhi Yuan). It is hard to assess Hu Yitian’s acting because the character he plays is quiet with little emotion (he’s been brought up with not much affection). On the other hand, I really enjoy Chen Zhi Yuan’s acting, which is cute, funny and natural. Chen Zhi Yuan has a young boyish face which really helps in his portrayal of Xiao Yu’er (little fish) that brings out his playfulness.

To my surprise, the official sound tracks are very nice. They are composed with an air of authentic Chinese wuxia tunes; the music is soothing and the lyrics are moving.

Overall, I can’t say I love this drama. But to be fair, it is an interesting drama that deals deep into the relationship of a pair of separated brothers, and in the end the righteous wins over the evil.

If you’re a wuxia or Gu Long fan, you may thoroughly enjoy this drama. If you’re not so familiar with the author and his work, you may find it overwhelming and unrealistic. All in all, this is not as bad as I have originally thought. In fact, I have enjoyed the sword fighting and qinggong (wire fu) scenes pretty well.

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A Perfect Mismatch

"The Longest Promise" is the most excruciating lack of mutual understanding I’ve ever seen in a drama! It's supposed to be a romance between a teacher and his pupil, but it's like watching two people trying to solve a Rubik's Cube with their eyes closed! They're attracted to each other, but they're so clueless about what's going on in the other's head, it's like a never-ending game of emotional hide-and-seek.

This drama is adapted from a novel called "Zhu Yan," written by Cang Yue who has also written the story for “Mirror: A Tale of Two Cities”, another poorly conceived drama which tells the story of the fish people of Su Mo, a character appears in “The Longest Promise”. While everyone else seems to be raving about this drama, I find myself fighting off yawns. The plot revolves around Zhu Yan's emotional rollercoaster ride, and it's like they're dissecting her feelings with a microscope. Talk about overanalyzing!

Zhu Yan is supposed to be a sweet, kind, and innocent girl, but the poor script writing makes her come off as plain stupid and unbearable. Ren Min's portrayal doesn't help much either. Every time she calls out to her shifu, I can't help but cringe. It's like innocence and seduction got tangled up in a messy knot!

Likewise for the Shi Ying character. Don't get me wrong, I love Xiao Zhan, but even his talent can't save this inconsistent and lackluster portrayal of Shi Ying. Blame it on the poor script writing, I guess. In fact, almost all the character writing is very poor; they are inconsistent and full of logic flaws.

My Verdict

The writers are on a mission to extract emotions and tears from the viewers, but it just feels forced and dry. The dialogues are as predictable as counting sheep to fall asleep, and plot holes are everywhere. And can we talk about that resurrection ending? It’s bizarre. Luckily there were no halos and water-walking this time (which happened in “Mirror: A Tale of Two Cities”), thank goodness!

I hate to be a party pooper, but this drama is just not my cup of tea, even with the talented Xiao Zhan and Ren Min on board. Sometimes, you just gotta accept that not every drama can hit the mark, no matter how much we adore the actors. Let's shake our heads, move on, and find something that'll tickle our funny bones for real! This drama is for Xiao Zhan’s hardcore fans.

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