Review for both Part 1 & Part 2

Ah, the heartache that revenge brings! You’ve got to wonder why it’s such a popular pursuit in the Asian culture when it causes so much angst. Yep, that’s right. This is another revenge-based drama, specifically ML is out to avenge his family that was annihilated during some past incident. And a whole bunch of other characters are also engaged in petty revenges and grievances that ultimately become their downfall. These people really need to learn the art of forgiveness. They’d lead much happier lives. Well, let’s get started.

First off, this drama is way, way too long at 56 episodes, and it could have been shortened by eliminating a few characters. We have to watch so much extra stuff with these side characters, and honestly, it’s difficult trying to remember who is who, especially when the princes and princesses are added to the mix. The first 3 episodes are brutal a.k.a. boring as we’re introduced to FL’s family. We have to listen to Grandma Sheng wailing – I recommend ear plugs – and watch ‘never happy with her daughter’ mom show unabashed favoritism toward Yang Yang while scolding and punishing FL. Granted, FL is a sly girl, but she’s only mimicking the behavior she's seen from her granny and 2nd aunt who raised her (if you can call it that). There’s very little romantic interaction between FL and ML in the first 15+ episodes (unless you call removing an arrow from a dude's well defined pec romantic) so we've got us a slow burn romance here. Oh, he’s smitten right away, but FL isn’t interested in him. Instead, we get the story of her first love with the puppy-like A’Yao. ML watches longingly from afar while SML, Yuan Shanjian, watches with sour expressions and snarky comments. The 2nd half of the drama, starting at episode 28, we watch this odd couple (Ling Buyi & Niao Niao) gradually grow closer, but it’s not until the final two episodes that they become a cohesive pair, in the sense that they're finally communicating and working together as a unit. They're finally walking side by side.

Mixed into their relationship progression, we’re treated to a lot of bullying by the cocky chicks, some political intrigue as ML continues to pursue his revenge and, thankfully, some cute moments and subtle humor. I think one of the best things about this drama is that the villains get justice applied fairly quickly. 3rd Princess, 5th Princess as well as the old hag, Princess Ruyang, get their just desserts after only a few episodes of bullying, and honestly, it’s fun to watch these characters go down. With 5th Princess’s takedown, ML also applies discipline to the fathers/brothers that spoiled the girls who assisted 5th Princess in her bullying. I cheered and laughed heartily! Parents who don't discipline their children are largely responsible for that child's bad behavior so yes, they ought to suffer the consequences along with the child. Just an aside, during the bullying of FL by 5th Princess, a snake is released into the pond. Honestly, I think the snake would have swam the other way instead of pursing and biting FL. Most animals just want to get away from humans. Just saying, ok?

Comments on ML – he’s the poster child for the phase ‘still waters run deep’. Most of the time, he looks like a stone statue yet it’s clear that he has some very intense emotion raging beneath those abs of steel for FL. It’s a very subtle change of expression when she appears, but it’s clear he’s smitten with her, and he’s also quite forthright about it. He even tells her earlier on that he admires her. He’s definitely a frightening sort of fellow – I believe it was FL’s dad who says ML gives him chills – and it takes FL (as well as the viewer) quite a while before she starts opening up and drawing closer to him. This is a result of his overall ‘aura’ (he's like a tightly wound spring of steel, if you ask me) as well as her personality. I didn’t love ML like I did Dongfang Qing Cang in ‘Love Between Fairy and Devil’, but I appreciated him and wanted this lonely, intense soul to get the only woman he’d ever love. Unfortunately, fallout from his revenge causes him to lose her for five years (thank God for time jump or it would have been another 20 episodes!). So, how are you enjoying that revenge now, ML? Feels real satisfying, doesn't it? You chose revenge over love, and now, you're trying to kill yourself on the Northwestern front. But dang, he looks hot with that unbound, wild hair! I hope people watching this film will learn that revenge isn't sweet at all. You might feel satisfied for an instant, but it doesn't last, and you're back to hating the world again. One last comment on ML – this guy drives a massive carriage! It’s the ancient equivalent of a Cadillac, the Batmobile or maybe even a tank! I don’t think even the emperor drives such a huge carriage.

FL – it was difficult to like her at first because she is scheming and sly. It wasn’t until episode 8 when she punches the bullying bitch, Wang Ling, in the face that I started genuinely liking her. I get so tired of FLs who just take the bullying instead of fighting back. Then her cleverness in rigging the bridge to collapse with those idiot girls was amusing as well – although doing something like that in real life would be very dangerous. We also see her enacting payback on both 3rd Princess and 5th Princess, the latter leading ML to feel hurt because she didn’t confide her troubles to him. Basically, she’s the type of girl that solves her own problems, and she doesn’t easily put her trust in others because of her family experiences. This, as well as general immaturity, is what her character overcomes as the drama progresses. Her final hurdle is learning how to forgive ML for what she considers the greatest sin of all – abandonment. Just a note: ML really has no moral ground to be hurt for her not confiding in him - he's keeping a lot of secrets from her as well. He was definitely wrong to not share his burden with her, and he was damn scary looking after the massacre, but after five years, you'd think she would have softened a bit, but no, she continues on being righteously stubborn. Heck, I'd be more upset about the massacre than his so-called abandonment.

For a few brief moments, I wanted her to go ahead and accept Yuan Shanjian, our grumpy but patient scholar. He was the last man standing of her trio of admirers, and honestly, I think they were better suited in temperament. I could just imagine them sniping at each other into old age. But, I couldn't damn ML to a lonely life. He was too pitiful a character. So, I was glad in the end that she didn't accept Yuan Shanjian.

Crowned Prince & wife - poster children for why people should be allowed to marry who they want to marry instead of being forced to marry someone else. It's even worse when one or both are in love with other people. Business/political marriages are a stupid tradition in any culture and should be done away with. Now if the children want an arranged marriage, then go ahead and arrange it but don't force them! Thankfully, the multiple wives thing has gone by the wayside; all it does is cause power struggles and discontent among siblings.

Best characters:

1) The Emperor – finally we get an emperor who has a sense of humor and doesn’t act like an absolute tyrant. He was approachable, reasonable and kindly. In many ways, you could say he’s been too lenient since he’s got a pack of rotten kids. He’s also willing to let ML chose his own bride. He nagged, but he didn't force. Honestly, he just wants him to marry; he doesn’t care who she is. The Emperor adds a lot of humor and warmth to this drama. I loved him despite having two wives.

2) Qi Qi – FL’s friend and future sister-in-law. She’s not the typical dingbat bestie. She’s got spunk without being annoying.

3) ML’s chubby sidekick guard, A’Fei. He just provided a lot of humor.

4) Prince Ruyang, the unfortunate husband of Princess Ruyang. He’s so funny because he wants to be rid of his loud, mean-spirited, arrogant wife. I was glad to see him stand up to her bullying for once in his life.

5) Consort Yue – I loved her cynical observations, her disgust with annoying family members and the smackdowns she provided to everyone who needed one. She was the complete opposite of the Empress who was kind to all.

Worse characters:

1) FL’s mom – this woman is a disgrace to motherhood. The best thing I can say about her is she wasn't loud or scheming; she was just overly stern and critical. She shows obvious favoritism towards Yang Yang and is continually disappointed in her daughter. She even runs her daughter down in public with the excuse that she was trying to save her from an engagement with ML. This was such a humiliating scene for FL - to listen to your own mother agreeing with the bullies! Even when FL does something noble (I'll die with the family rather than get special treatment bc of my engagement), mom still isn't happy with her and slaps her. This mom continually uses the same failed methods to discipline her daughter rather than using warmth and acceptance like the Empress, who basically becomes the mother the FL never had. Under the Empress, FL begins to blossom and flourish as her strengths are praised and her faults gently corrected.

2) 90% of all the female characters. This drama is packed full of bitchy, cocky and sometimes delusional women (those who thought they had a chance at marrying ML) that you want to slap. Also, wailing old ladies that split your ear drums - so annoying! By contrast, 90% of the male characters were likeable, which makes me wonder if this is a true reflection of Asian women, or if this is sexism that views men as poor, suffering creatures and women as devils straight out of Hell.

I didn’t like this drama as much as 'Love Between Fairy and Devil', mostly due to its length, so many side characters, and I guess, for me, Orchid and Dongfang Qing Cang were just a more romantic, loveable couple - but despite that, there were a lot of enjoyable scenes so you won’t be wasting 56 hours of your life, if you decide to watch. Also, I think I liked the message of the Fairy/Devil better since it was a message of overcoming hatred with love. I'm not big into revenge-based dramas because I think in the end, revenge only brings more suffering so it's better to forgive. The message I got from this drama is revenge is ok, but make sure you include your woman/man in your plans or they might get pissed at you and make you suffer for five years (or forever as FL was intending to do).

Although the music was mainly instrumental, it was quite beautiful and emotionally stirring.

My one disappointment - I wish we could have seen them married and living together in the house she built along with a couple kids. Maybe a scene showing them playing zither and flute. That, for me, would have been a more satisfying ending.

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Very sweet, very watchable

Finally, Zhou Junwei’s character gets the girl! He’s been in the SML position for far too long, and it was pleasing to see him move into the ML role. His song ‘Run to You’ grew on me as the drama progressed. At first, it didn’t sound as professional as other songs used in these dramas, but as I said, it grew on me to the point where I really loved it in the end. His voice and way he sings in English was unique, almost folksy in nature. He played the emotionally scarred character well, and honestly, he shouldn’t have to explain his mental illness to the public/customers. As a Westerner, it really bothers me how mental illness/orphans/single moms (even if they were married) are viewed in Eastern culture. I hope these dramas help in changing people’s perception of such groups. I can’t imagine boycotting a store or restaurant because the owner struggles with depression or panic attacks. And it’s even worse that this person’s private struggles are made public for everyone to gossip about. That’s really the worse part of this drama – the social media scandal which C-dramas are so fond of. I'm so tired of that angst trope.

As usual, I didn’t care about the second couple. ML's sister was nice, but I didn't care about her romance with the actor/model.

As for parents, I loved how supportive and accepting FL’s parents were of ML and his issues. These are the kind of Asian parents I like seeing in dramas.

And, of course, the little kid wins the ‘cute’ award. I was beginning to think ML should let Rui Rui confess for him since the kid would do a better job of it!

It’s a short and sweet review just like the drama. There’s nothing about this drama not to watch. It’s feel good and fluffy while still touching on controversial topics like mental illness.

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I've never connected so much with any other C-drama

I didn’t think it was possible, but this C-drama rivals anything I’ve seen in a K-drama, and I almost missed this gem! I wasn’t going to watch because the storyline revolved around an actor/actress, and I’m not crazy about celebrities, in fiction or real life. However, on whim, I started watching, and I was quickly hooked. Although the plot is based on ML getting amnesia after a car accident (an overused plot device) and thinking he’s the character he just played, it was fresh, interesting and an absolute delight to watch. It’s more like a split personality rather than true amnesia, and like FL, I dreaded the day that ML returned to his true self. The Grand Tutor was…I don’t know how to describe it…he was unbelievably perfect and absolutely adorable. It’s like every woman’s dream – her favorite fictional character coming to life and falling in love with her! The romance was heart-squeezingly good (brought tears to my eyes), and it didn’t rely on the usual, worn-out, predictable tropes/cliches to do so. The chemistry between these two leads was palpable. Now to the characters themselves.

Since I started watching Asian dramas, my all-time favorite ML was Ah Min Hyuk in ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’ played by Park Hyung-Sik. No other character/actor have come close to dislodging him from #1 position and certainly not any Chinese ML, although Gu Yanzhen in Arsenal Military Academy and Zhou Chuan in Moonlight came darn close. Now, however, Min Min has to move over and share his #1 rating with the Grand Tutor/Mu Ting Zhou played by Jeremy Tsui. I absolutely loved this ML, and I don’t say that about a lot of Chinese MLs. The actor did an outstanding job bringing this character to life. This character was quirky and eccentric, making him a delight to watch! I loved how when acting as FL’s assistant, he carried around an umbrella as though it were a sword and wore his sunglasses on the back on his neck like a modern-day fella. He was always so respectful and caring toward his ‘princess’, and he shared some pretty hot kisses with her around episode 15 (sorry, can’t remember the exact episode). He brought so much dry humor to the series as both the Grand Tutor and Mu Ting Zhou. Really, he was the ‘COM’ portion of this Rom-Com since he was the only one providing any humor. Yes, he did break FL’s heart when he regained his senses (make sure you have a tissue box handy for eps. 21-22), and briefly became a cold-hearted bastard (worse than when we first met him), but by episode 23, he's had time to process what occurred and starts to feel curious about it. As a result, we start seeing his 'cuteness' again, especially at the start of ep. 24. Although it was painful to watch, from Ming Wei's perspective, could the real guy ever compete with the Grand Tutor at this point? Did she really want to remain in the relationship when the Grand Tutor was essentially dead? Mu Ting Zhou had some big shoes to fill.

As for FL (Ming Wei), at first, I didn’t care for her because I didn’t like how she looked with the dynasty hair style, but as the drama progressed, I warmed up to her. I liked her quiet, calm and mature nature, especially for a 23 year old. She wasn't childish or cutesy like a lot of C-drama FLs. Never once did she dissolved into baby talk, pout or 'hmpf'. She was nice, but unlike a lot of C-dramas, she wasn’t bullied by the other characters because of her niceness. Yeah, we had a couple of bitchy side characters, but she didn't take their crap (even told Xu Lin she'd kick her butt), and their harassment wasn't overdone like in other dramas. Ming Wei was sweet and kind, the perfect stereotypical fairytale princess. She maintained this sweet, honest, kind and mature air throughout, and I really connected with her dilemma and heartache. I wept with her at the Grand Tutor's departure.

I even liked and was interested in the second couple (Xiao Zhao & Ming Qiao). FL’s sister was spunky but not loud or annoying like a lot of C-drama besties. I liked her encouragement to FL to be brave and seek happiness while it’s there. I agree. You’re inevitably going to be hurt when Mu Ting Zhou recovers his memory so does it matter if it’s now or later? Just enjoy the Grand Tutor’s love while he’s with you. That’s essentially her sister’s advice. Carpe Diem!!! The drama didn’t focus too heavy on the second couple (until the 2nd half) so I didn’t fast forward through their screen time. Their romance and MC's were well balanced. I also liked the support these two provided to ML & FL. And three cheers for Xiao Zhao hammering home a few truths MTZ needed to hear about his responsibility in regards to Ming Wei's heartbreak.

Being a C-drama, we couldn't quite escape the perquisite drama devices, but they were toned down unlike other dramas that overdo the angst. Be prepared for the following:

1) Xu Lin - the childhood friend who's obsessed with MTZ. This chick is apparently older than both FL and her sister yet she's the one acting like a childish, spoiled brat. The men in her life apparently doted on her too much, and she's pissed when Ming Wei threatens her queen bee status. All Xu Lin brought to the drama was, well, a bunch of drama. The storyline didn’t need her, in my opinion, but Chinese scriptwriters seem to think we always have to have an obsessed female love rival to annoy the viewer. I was not at all upset when dad slapped her at one point; she needed some sense knocked into her.

2) Parental opposition on ML’s side to marriage while he was still the Grand Tutor, but in this case, I can understand their concern. What happens when MTZ wakes up and finds that he’s married to FL? It’s a valid concern, but the parents could have voiced their complaint in nicer terms instead of going bat crap crazy. Second couple also experienced parental opposition bc of parents backstory. I believe FL's mom and Xiao Zhao's dad's connection was added purely to cause angst for 2nd couple.

3) A scandal. Ming Wei suffers the fallout of MTZ regaining his senses, which affects her career until friends and an unlikely ally rescue her. Honestly, if I were a fan, I would be more upset that they broke up since they were a storybook couple that you love seeing together. I'd be ragging on MTZ, not Ming Wei, but in these dramas, it's always the female that suffers the most in these media scandals.

My favorite scene was when ML/FL were getting married in episode 28. I loved the traditional dynasty procession down the street with FL/ML family and friends watching and waving while that wonderful song 'By Your Side' played. It was as if their characters (the princess and Grand Tutor) were finally getting a happy ending as well. (FYI - if Grand Chief Cabinet Minister was an actual drama, I wouldn't have watched it. I hate tragic endings. The last two episodes appear to be that story told in its entirety - all the clips you see in other episodes come together into a short drama.)

Finally, the music was fabulous! It really boosted the emotional connection between characters and viewer.

If I could give this drama 20 stars, I would. Yes, it could have been shorter, but for once, I didn’t get fatigued midway, and I was sorry to say goodbye to the Grand Tutor and his princess. Just wish we'd been able to see the birth of Mu Ming and his sister.

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The fun continues!

So many C-dramas start off good and then falter in the middle as amusement turns to serious drama , but that's not the case with 'Please Don't Spoil Me'! It continues the fun it started in Season 1...probably because the short episodes necessitate a fast-moving storyline, which keeps things light and amusing. The expressions and actions of the supporting cast members are hilarious as well as FL's clever schemes to continue her quest to remain at the Cold Palace. ML, on the other hand, is trying everything in his power to get her out of it and into his vicinity since at this point, he's thoroughly besotted with her. He does manage to get in some quality romance time, which begins to sway our intrepid heroine, but with the threat of elimination hanging over her, she's continues to resist his wiles. However, with the appearance of the heroine of her novel, she starts to feel some pangs of jealousy even as she's determined to matchmake her two protagonists together. This angers ML - and rightly so! He looked so hurt when he discovers her plot! Awwww!

I'm really looking forward to Season 3, but I'm on pins and needles as to how the writer is going to keep these two together...please, please keep them together at the end! At one point, the ex-heroine doctor discovers that ML has something wrong with his body, which he requests that she keep secret, even from FL. Soooo, is this going to have something to do with how FL (and ML) depart her novel? It seems to me that she's going to have to depart. A person can't stay conked out in reality forever. So, the question is - will ML go with her or will he appear in real life? Argh, the suspense is killing me!

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Compelling but LONG!

Ok, I ended up fast forwarding, 10-30 seconds at a time, through all 70 episodes because it was just too darn long and just too darn sad and depressing. However, I’m still giving it a 9.5 because 1) it was well filmed, despite an overload of flashbacks. How many times do we have to watch JS & LS's childhood, wonderful though it was? 2) it was well acted, except Wallace Chung doesn’t know how to portray a blind man. His eyes moved too much. Evan Lin in The Crush did a better job. And 3) the music was beautiful and wonderfully poignant. Nevertheless, I took off 1/2 star because I couldn't be completely satisfied with the ending because of Liang Sheng's sad loneliness. I could not enjoy Tian You's and Jiang Sheng's happiness because of Liang Sheng. If the director wanted me to be happy with the ending, then he/she shouldn't have shown me such a beautiful relationship between these two 'siblings'.

FL (Jiang Sheng) – she started out as a spunky, strong character but deteriorated into someone who seemed constantly depressed and confused. She was like the weather vane on the Cheng residence, swinging back and forth between TY and LS. She's also constantly in the hospital with various injuries. I don't know about you, but in my lifetime, I've only been in the hospital maybe a handful of times. It's so unrealistic that she should get into so many accidents...and survive them all. As mentioned, she seemed unable to make up her mind who she wanted to spend forever with – Tian You or her ‘brother’. Really, around midpoint, Jiang Sheng and Liang Sheng should have just said to hell with the Cheng family (give me the parting teacup, Grandpa!) and runaway together, going back to the simplicity of their earlier life. That’s the tragedy of this drama – this family destroyed their absolutely beautiful relationship. If left alone, they would have happily lived together as brother and sister forever. But I digress - back to FL. I liked Jiang Sheng (and this actress), but I wish she’d shown some of her earlier spunk and stopped letting everyone push her around from Grandpa to Weiyang to Tian You and Liang Sheng who embarked on the pathway of noble idiocy in nearly every 10 or so episodes. She’s constantly at everyone's mercy as they decide what’s best for her, plunging her into new misery. It was frustrating for me as a viewer because I never knew what she was thinking because she never stated her feelings out loud; she just went around looking pained and morose. Tell the Cheng family and Wieyang to go screw themselves, honey! Stop being nice!

Tian You (ML) - as I see it, he created this entire 70 episode ordeal by prying into his aunt's past so does he really deserve happiness in the end after he and his family destroy this beautiful relationship? Yeah, he's a sweet, caring guy, but he still started this whole mess. TY discovering his lost cousin (LS) caused Grandpa to go all tyrannical and separate LS from his sister. On the bright side, he did received his fair share of suffering. I think the most heart-breaking was when JS made him think she'd willingly aborted their child and then broke up with him. Later on, I didn't quite understand why he forced her to go to LS's bachelor party and then told her they would have nothing more to do with each other. And no, FL, it wasn't your fault he went blind. You didn't push him off the cliff; he freely chose to dive in after you. That's not your fault, so stop feeling guilty about it.

Liang Sheng - his sad, lonely character made my heart ache. Because of their beautiful childhood moments, he and Jiang Sheng just seemed like one of those couples that should be together forever, and my heart ached when FL was no longer at his side or treating him as warmly as before. As with FL, I had a difficult time reading him since he rarely told us what he was feeling or thinking. His video recordings to FL revealed the most, and I wanted to cry along with him. His biggest fault was his lack of firmness with Weiyang. He was far too passive with this nutcase, which almost caused him to be manipulated into a marriage with her. It was clear he didn't love her or want to marry her, but he allowed her to push him into an engagement.

Weiyang – a first class psycho chick who resorts to emotional blackmail to try and force LS to accept her in his life. I have no sympathy for people who threaten suicide to emotionally blackmail someone. I normally call her type of character a cupcake, but I came up with a new nickname just for her – dog poop – because she was like dog poop stuck to LS's shoe. He just couldn't get her off no matter how he scraped. Do women like her actually exist in real life? I hope not! Her obsession with this guy was insane (and no, I didn’t feel sorry for her when the director made us watch her boo-hooing. However, the scene of her dressed in red in an empty white banquet hall was visually arresting. She also had the best 'theme' song of all the music in the drama.). Just because you stalk a guy for years doesn't mean he's yours! It made me mad when her sister and Jiang Sheng tried to make him feel guilty for cancelling the wedding. He was not responsible for this girl's feelings. Yes, he should have never agreed to the marriage, giving dog poop hope, but still, he had a valid argument. We're all individuals, and he doesn't owe her his entire lifetime as compensation. If what the sister and FL said was true, nobody would have a right to break up with anyone without their consent.

Bei Xiaowu/Ke Xiaorou – thank the scriptwriting gods for these two characters! They saved Liang Sheng from marrying WY! That alone gave purpose to their existence! FL was not being a good sister by keeping WY's involvement in her miscarriage a secret from LS. You don't stand by and let your brother marry a crazy woman. I wasn't interested at all in Bei Xiaowu's relationship with the motorcycle chick and fast forwarded through it.

Tianen – can someone just put a knife in this weasel’s heart? And no, his wheelchair does not give him the right to be messed up in the head. Get him and dog poop matching straight jackets. Ok, I'm sorry, the moment he bite my hand, I'd be telling him and Tian You to get the hell out of my life, if I were FL. Yet she continues to allow herself to be sucked into the Cheng family (although Grandpa seems to think she's the one holding onto his family - no, it's your grandsons, you old goat!). I guess the Cheng family was dog poop on her shoe! Yeah, the weasel gets redeemed in the end, but I still hated him.

Grandpa – this old geezer just needed to croak. This is the 21st century. Business alliances should be made in board rooms, not by marrying off your offspring to rich men’s bratty daughters. And apparently, in Grandpa's mind, disabled people can't run a company successfully. But, hey, if don't want an arranged marriage, just cut your leg off and you'll be disqualified. The discrimination against disabled people in this drama was outrageous. Even Lin Jing's mom implied her daughter couldn't be happy with the weasel because he couldn't walk. But he's rich, mom, so how exactly will your daughter suffer because of the legs?

Ok, maybe I'm crazy but I liked Liang Sheng's real dad. Yeah, he was sort of shady, but he had no problem with LS marrying Jiang Sheng and even worked to make it a reality. He was one of those free-thinking parents, which is unusual in Asian dramas.

Lin Jing – I loved this character. She was a down to earth, non-annoying bestie. I just wish they've gotten her a better love interest than the weasel, not because of his legs but because he was a first class jerk and psycho. Unlike FL, she spoke her mind, and she gave FL good, reasonable advice.

Here’s an epilogue for all of you that - like me - felt sorry for Liang Sheng: After ten years of 'blissful' marriage, TY gets run over by a car (because, as we all know by watching Asian dramas, cars are running people over every day). LS, who has remained single (he’s the type that only loves once in a lifetime) comforts JS and with TY no longer confusing her, FL gets over the ‘brother’ thing and accepts him as a man and her 2nd husband. Or, for those of you who can’t get over the brother thing, they live the rest of their lives as brother and sister, sharing the same home, totally devoted to one another as they were before the Cheng family wreaked havoc.

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A delightful, sexy threesome

Finally, a Chinese historical that managed to tell a complete story in 16 episodes! Once they cut out all the interfering emperors, evil concubines/queen mothers, obsessed love rivals and palace intrigue, they were able to produce a drama that had just enough intrigue to be interesting, contained plenty of cute/romantic/sexy moments and, most importantly, didn’t fatigue the viewer. Bravo! Let’s hope more C-dramas follow this template rather than the one they’ve been using for years. UPDATE: Nooooo! I spoke too soon. Apparently, there's a sequel coming, and no doubt, it'll probably be angst-filled. I think I'll just skip it and end the story with them going off to war or whatever. They could have easily ended the entire series at episode 16 - General #2 was gone, off doing whatever he does, and MC was happily married. No need to further screw up this couple's life, ok?

Although I can't praise this drama enough, I’ll admit that this drama wasn’t perfect - there were a few scene editing issues, which created unanswered questions like how did ML come back to life after the witch doctor declared him dead or how did FL and SML get out of the water cage, but those things can be overlooked if the storyline doesn’t drag or become overly angsty around mid-way point. I’m honestly sick to death of delusional, obsessed female love rivals, forced political marriages and concubines. Yes, yes, FL was forced to marry in the beginning by imperial decree, but the forced marriages I’m talking about are those in which ML is being pressured by parents/emperor to marry an obsessed female. I have no problem with arranged marriage plots between ML/FL.

That being said, there is a love triangle in this drama, but it's so different than other C-drama love triangles. FL was not partial to either man until later into the series. She seemed to like both equally, and even leaned toward SML after their experience in the water cage. I’m so glad that she didn’t ‘friend zone’ him immediately, and the viewers were given some breathless, heart-pounding moments between her and Fang Xian Xun. I’m glad she took her time deciding which fellow she wanted to be with, and I liked her comment to her friend/sister, Ling, about having concubines. I agree – if men can have concubines, why not women? It’s clear she liked both men, and I’m all for the threesome she imagined and the drama gave us when 1) they were drunk and she was sandwiched between them in bed; and 2) when the earth vine tied them together. So cute! So sexy! So suggestive of a 'threesome', which I've not seen any other drama be brave enough to incorporate into a plot. There were a lot of sexy/suggestive moments with both men, letting us know she was attracted to both. Glad SML actually got a fighting chance and was actually preferred briefly. So tired of SML always getting friend-zoned and not given a chance to compete. I think it’s more realistic for the FL to be torn between the two (rather like us, the viewers!), especially if both are great guys.

It was also interesting how the drama tried to keep the identity of her husband a mystery. Of the two men, I personally preferred SML because he’s my type (sort of a rascal, and I loved his long bangs – boy, did he ever look hot when his hair was wet from a bath!), and of the two generals, I think he’s the more dangerous because he’s deceptively easy-going. He hid his ruthlessness behind a light-hearted smile. ML was much more serious and straightforward, although he certainly wasn’t above using deception to achieve his goals. Actually, I think she should have been paired with SML; ML just seems to mature for her in both looks and demeanor. Don't get me wrong - I liked him - but they just 'look' like an odd couple.

I was relieved there were no female love rivals even though ML’s cousin pretended like she and ML were going to be married in order to help hide his whereabouts. It was a brief moment, and the viewer knows it’s not true so only the FL experienced any angst over it. There was one thing that annoyed me – how everyone was hiding the fact from FL that she’d been poisoned. Just tell her! It’s not like she was the shrinking violet type of female that would have dissolved into a million pieces at the news. Just a pet peeve of mine – keeping the truth from someone in order to ‘protect them’ – dramas do a lot of that kind of thing, and it’s super irritating.

Because this drama was relatively short, there was no secondary couple romance. Even though Director Liu had a crush on Ling, it didn’t overwhelm or take away from the triangle going on between FL and the two generals. This lack of a secondary romance kept the drama moving and blissfully short compared to most C-dramas.

Overall, it was a light and amusing Chinese historical that managed to add some intrigue without being blogged down with an overload of villains, which most viewers wish would just drop dead and leave MC alone. It was much sexier than the average C-drama with its prolonged stares, bared skin and intimate touching, not to mention the ‘threesome’ thing that provided the sizzle.

You won’t be wasting your time watching this drama. I hope more Chinese historicals will follow this template in the future – keep it short like the Koreans at 16 episodes and eliminate, or drastically reduce, all those elements that drive viewers crazy. There's going to be a sequel, but at least, they ended in a way that you don't have to watch the Season 2, if you don't want to.

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Good drama but unsatisfying ending

I'm always excited about a drama set in a time period other than the dynasties, and this drama delivered with beautiful costumes, atmosphere and suspense. My only complaint is the ending. For me, it ruined the entire series. I'm just not a fan of open endings, and honestly, why end it with the viewer not knowing whether ML is dreaming or if it's real? Such a disappointment and letdown. And I really hate the 'I can't be with you because your (fill in the blank) killed/maimed/cheated my (fill in the blank)' trope for separating a couple. Children should not have to pay the price for their parents sins, and has anyone in China/Korea ever heard of the word 'forgiveness'? I've never met a people so bent on exacting revenge...at least that's how these dramas portray the Asian culture. Because of this crappy ending, I subtracted 1 star from my overall rating.

I liked FL's mature, cool-headiness. None of that cute crap that Chinese dramas love in their leading ladies. She was smart and capable. Once again, I just didn't like her role/attitude in the ending.

I first watched Jing Chao in 'Princess Silver' and fell in love with his acting. He can go from cold and calculating to passionate and intense at the snap of your fingers. Unfortunately, once again, he didn't get the girl...but neither did ML depending on how you want to interpret the ending. SIGH.

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Still interesting although it's definitely a low budget B-rate drama

Even though this is definitely a low budget drama with B-rate acting on the part of most of the cast, I still found it enjoyable, mostly due to the plot and FL.

First, the plot. There's definitely holes that leave you wondering, and I never did really figure out what was going on with the marriage thing between FL/ML. They were definitely married early on (I can't remember which episode) because I saw the red books, but FL seemed to split her time between his place and Grandpa's mansion. And I was as surprised as they were when FL turned out to be pregnant since I wasn't sure if they'd actually slept together or not. I'm not even sure why an actual pregnancy needed to be added other than to get ML to finally confess and move into Grandpa's. And then I really don't understand the ending, but hey, as long as they're together at the end, I'm ok with it. Sort of like the movie The Lakehouse. Just turn off your brain and enjoy the happy ending. But other than these inconsistencies, I did enjoy the idea of her falling in love with the villain of the book. I also liked the twist concerning the FL of the book's true nature. I think with some tweaking this plot is worthy of a higher budget production.

Second, FL of the drama. I liked her and she's got enough talent to eventually make it into a higher budget film. Heck, she showed a wider range of expression than that plank of wood that played FL on 'Falling into your Smile' so if the plank of wood can break into the big time, hopefully, this actress can too. I can't say the same about ML. He was rather stiff and spoke too softly at times, but he was without a doubt a handsome guy. Maybe a different director can coax more expression/emotion out of him.

The rest of the cast was 'meh', but at least, there weren't any really hateful b***** or control freak parents. Overall, although not on par with the high budget films, I liked it better than other B-rates I've watched.

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An apologetic for cheaters

To me, this film spent too much time justifying the cheater (Gio) and making Cali (FL) out to be the bad guy (girl) because she didn't want to trust him again and take him back. Sure, go ahead and forgive him but don't give him a second chance to hurt you all over again, girl. Just say, 'I forgive you, but I don't want to see your face again.' No, not all men are cheaters, but this guy really did cheat, and I don't care if he was drunk or not. He was just downright stupid to begin with because 1) he hired this shank of a manager and 2) he got so drunk he slept with her. He KNEW Cali had a cheating dad yet he was stupid enough to place himself in a situation that's ripe for betrayal. What a dumbass. Yeah, when they meet again, he appears to have cleaned up his act (although he still has the bad influence of his cheating father and brothers, and uh, does he have a job?), but trust has already taken an fatal blow, in my opinion. Then early on, she's being pressured by all these fans of her blog to forgive him and take him back like she's the bad guy. I just don't like the message given out by this film or the way that FL's made out to be the villain. Why does this film remind me of that song by Gareth Gates 'Anyone One of Us', which is basically an apologetic for cheating? It's a great song in terms of sound, but it gives out a terrible message just like this film. And to make things worse, she's running after him at the end of the film as though, once again, he's the victim and she's the perpetrator. Don't waste your time on this one, especially if you're a person who, like me, draws the line at cheating. Yeah, people can change (which seems to be the theme of this drama), but why waste your time with a guy who has cheated when there's other men out there who won't?

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Very enjoyable to watch!

One of the main reasons I like this C-drama and gave it 10 stars, when it might have only deserved 9, is because it managed to avoid a lot of the things I hate about C-dramas...or at least toned them down so that they're not annoying as hell. I think we actually managed to complete 24 episodes without a social media scandal that caused FL/ML to get fired or break up! Amazing - especially considering that both leads were celebrities. It reminded me a lot of 'Be My Princess' - another C-drama that I absolutely love. In both, although the leads were actor/actress, social media scandals were toned down, and their relationships were, for the most part, accepted by fans. So refreshing!

I like this particular actress very much. I first saw her on Princess Silver, and I liked her maturity. In Princess Silver, she was a much more serious character, but in Double Love, she's playing the upbeat, cute personality type. However, she manages to be cute without being annoying! No pouting or baby talk! Bravo! Also, despite her 'cuteness', she is fairly mature. She doesn't take the bullying crap from the cocky chicks or the netizens, and when she gets mad at ML, she almost immediately wants to forgive him and only delays doing so because her brother tells her to make him suffer longer. Not only that but she's mad because of a very good reason (not some arbitrary childish offense), and it's the same reason the FL on 'You've Got Mail' should have gotten mad but didn't. Still, this short-lived anger did lead to my favorite scene in the whole drama - ML outing their relationship in front of the whole world...or at least those at the festival and those watching at home. So refreshing to see celebrities openly admitting to a relationship instead of hiding it like they're a couple of criminals. Celebrities shouldn't be afraid of their fans. They are entitled to private lives, which include having a girlfriend/boyfriend and marriage. Being a Westerner, I don't understand why Asian fans feel entitled to dictate their idol's private life.

As for ML, this actor played the same kind of role he usually plays - the tsundere. It would be nice to see him get outside his comfort zone (or type cast) and play a light-hearted, rascally character so we could see the full extent of his acting skills. I did enjoy seeing him with lighter colored hair, and I would encourage him to eat some food - he's much to thin for his height. I know FL said he had a nice figure, but honestly, he's a bean pole. However, the Chinese costume designer, for once, clothed him well in long coats and turtlenecks - very classy, very chic. I liked his steady, quiet presence, and he didn't have any childhood sweethearts clinging to him nor any previous relationships to cause angst except for his long lost mom showing up briefly at the end. He did, however, have a psycho chick obsessed with him, but she wasn't as annoying as most of the C-drama psycho chicks because he didn't give a crap about her nor did he have any previous or present interaction with her beyond work (she was an actress in the drama he and FL were a part of). In the game, apparently, it was a delusional rumor among players that they were a couple, but I saw no evidence of it. He was only ever interested in FL, both inside and outside the gaming world.

Also, this drama manages to focus almost solely on ML/FL's relationship. We didn't get a lot of side relationships, which waste the viewers time (well, at least, I feel it wastes mine). We did have an odd relationship between FL's brother and the actor, Qiao Bei, but it didn't consume too much time, and honestly, I think Qiao Bei had more reason to get mad at the brother concealing his gaming identity than FL had getting mad at ML for the same time. The brother wanted to sign him as an actor and pretty much harassed him - nicely harassed - but still harassed. Qiao Bei told him over and over again, he wasn't interested, but the brother kept pursuing him so I guess the brother was a male psycho chick. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the relationship FL had with her brother - they had good sibling chemistry.

Parents did not factor into this drama much and caused very little angst. They were actually pleasant, what little we saw of them - one episode, I think.

There were some characters, however, that were simply unneeded and sort of ceased to exist at the end. For example, FL's brother's friend, Zhao Jing Xing. Honestly, I really liked this character as a love rival for ML. He wasn't as handsome as ML, but he was damn cool. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out what he really wanted and why he was even in the drama. He told the brother he only viewed FL as a sister yet he behaved as though he was romantically interested in her. He acted down in the dumps when ML outted their relationship so I'm confused at what he really felt or wanted. Also, Yiwei, ML's childhood friend, who apparently had a one night stand with Jing Xing in the past? Not sure. All I know is she pursued him like a psycho chick - all the way to Europe. Why he was in Europe or where he got his money - I don't know. Then she (Yiwei) re-reappears at the end at the award ceremony without Jing Xing so I have no idea where that relationship went, if it went anywhere. So, Jing Xing was a very mysterious character, whose only purpose was to make ML jealous. FL's best friend's character was pretty useless as well...but at least she wasn't the typical dingbat bestie. We saw very little of her. Also, at the end, we see ML/FL married with children. However, they're totally focused on the girl while we're left to assume that the little boy is theirs as well. They don't acknowledge him at all, other than to pick him up and carry him inside. Is he theirs or not? We had one other 'romance', and it was practically non-existent. At the end, a bitchy actress that joined the drama halfway through is suddenly brother's girlfriend. So glad I didn't have to watch the details of that relationship.

I did like how they handled the game portion. I like that they spent equal time outside the game as they did inside the game, and I liked how all the game characters were real people outside the game so there was no leaving fantasy ML behind, etc. I liked how ML/FL got 'married' in the game - just like in Love O2O. My only complaint about the game is that we got to see the real person behind the game character with the fan, but we didn't get to see the real person behind the game character that became FL's disciple. He was part of their group and should have been on the video call with everyone else.

So, the drama wasn't perfect, and there was some loose ends that never got tied, but overall, I really enjoyed watching this drama because it wasn't annoying like a lot of C-dramas who over exaggerate 1) social media scandals, 2) obsessed love rivals; and 3) tyrannical parents. It was just a very enjoyable romance.

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Long but enjoyable

It was too long thanks to all the characters and their issues that needed to be resolved, but it did manage to tell a story without the usual Chinese template. There’s no tropey romantic moments (accidental kisses, blisters on heels, fireworks, etc.) and no love triangles, obsessed chicks or tyrannical parents. There was an internet scandal, but it was a past event in one of the side character’s lives (thank you, screenwriter, for not putting us through one of those!) This drama is mostly about relationships and the problems/benefits of living in a small village. There’s a slow burn romance between ML/FL, and that’s about it. We do have a side character (Mr. He, the musician) hooking up with an old lady (old compared to him but not old as compared to the various aunties or ML’s granny), but thankfully, their romance does not take a lot of time. I think he would have been better with the web novelist or even café worker, but for some reason, Asian dramas are obsessed with older women-younger men romances these days. I still don’t like an age gap of over 5 years, and this one looked about 10+!

My favorite character is probably Mr. Ma (or Haochao – I’ll always remember this actor by his Go Ahead role).

As for the leads, I definitely liked ML. I liked this actor an A’Yao better than his Go Go Squid role because he was friendlier, warmer, smiled a lot and was just an all-around nice guy. I also liked that he was just a normal guy – he wasn’t a born-rich CEO – trying to make a happy life for himself and his community. He was realistic as was his romance with FL. As for FL, I liked her quiet mature demeanor, but I wasn’t wild about her, probably because she was too reticent. Half the time, I didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling, and it took her until nearly the final episode to admit to loving ML…and she didn’t say it, ML said it for her. I like still waters that run deep, but I never really saw any ‘deep’ emotion from her. And at times, she could act childish – like when she got mad at ML for suggesting the café worker meet her problem head-on. But, overall, they were a realistic couple who didn’t rely on the normal tropes to express their devotion to each other.

Although I found the drama enjoyable, I did have some questions at the end such as:

1) FL apparently goes to Yunnan to heal from her best friend’s untimely death. Her friend had encouraged her to live life to its fullest, to find what she enjoyed. However, how is FL’s life any different at the end than what is was in Beijing? Yeah, she has a boyfriend now and strong relationships with the people she met while staying in the village, but she’s still focused on a career above all else. Rather than being happy with a single homestay in Yunnan, she wants several homestays throughout China. How is that relaxing? How can you stop and smell the roses with those big plans? How can she spend quality time with A’Yao if she (and he) is busy with work? For once, I’d like to see a drama where the leads are happy being together and enjoying a simple life rather than toiling away at a career. Success is not measured by wealth or prestige; it’s measured by how content you are with your life.

2) It’s been a year, and they still aren’t married. At least, the in-laws are finally meeting. Talk about a slow burn romance. Sorry – I’m not a fan of open endings. I like things signed, sealed and delivered. There's plenty of hints that they will eventually marry, but without seeing it, the story isn't complete in my mind.

3) I understand ML’s desire to develop the community so that there’s more jobs for the residents, but do they realize that development will change what everyone currently loves about the community? You’re no longer going to have the peace and quiet, the strong connection with your neighbors that you previously had when there's a bunch of noisy tourists everywhere not to mention all the new people moving in, forcing their values and ideas on you. There is a reason why some people chose to live in a small community, and they aren’t happy when the city comes to them, ok? Honestly, I could see those men who attacked FL’s construction site being more upset about that than not getting their fair share of the ‘wealth’. Living in a community that’s currently experiencing high development, I can well understand current residents not being pleased that their paradise is being changed. I think more time could have been spent showing the downside of development.

4) Also, the big development push is getting a bookstore to move into the community. Well, I like bookstores, but they’re starting to be a thing of the past thanks to e-books so how it that a benefit?

5) Finally, I preferred the homestay FL stayed in to the one she built. The one she stayed at was homey and quaint, idyllic even, while hers was nothing more than a hotel. There was no ‘home’ in the homestay, no character or warmth. It looked institutional to me.

I gave an overall rating of 9.5 because I wasn't wild about FL's character. I couldn't 'connect' with her even though I prefer mature characters. I had a hard time believing that she actually loved A-Yao because she didn't express the warmth of love very well. Also, I marked down the music because, although I liked the songs, I got tired of hearing them over and over again for 40 episodes.

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Better than expected but still a typical C-drama

Where do they come up with these titles? There’s no ‘sweet first love’ in this unless you’re referring to ML, and his experience wasn’t exactly sweet since FL kept him pursuing her throughout most of the drama. As for everyone else, they didn’t get their ‘first loves’ except for maybe Li Din, but who knows if Zihui was his first love or not? I suggest they go hire the people who give names to paint chips and nail polish to come up with more descriptive titles.

I honestly didn’t find this drama as bad as some people said it was. Sure, it was a typical high school to adulthood C-drama, but I didn’t get an ick vibe. I personally have no problem with foster/adopted/step siblings becoming romantically involved. As long as they don’t share blood, I’m fine with it. Yes, ML and FL were raised as siblings, but they were aware that they weren't true brother/sister, and it just seemed natural for ML’s parents to raise their best friends’ daughter. Honestly, for me, there's more an ick factor with older woman/younger men romances.

As for ML, he was certainly overly possessive, jealous and controlling, but I didn’t get a dangerous vibe. He was more a bully than anything else, but he did try to change in episode 21, doing things that he would have felt silly – like wearing a panda bear outfit, dancing with rabbit ears, cooking and even buying her a lizard. He was always there for her, and she did sort of take him for granted. He reminded me of the plant in Little Shop of Horrors because he was constantly telling her to feed him and used his stomach issues to gain her sympathy on more than one occasion. I’m not a fan of the poker face ML, but I do like how guys like this don’t give the obsessed female rivals the time of day. He was rude and dismissive of both Zihui and Ouyang Qingxue. I just wish he would have actually told Qingxue that he wouldn’t marry her even if FL hadn’t existed. He could have at least been more expressive to Qin Yao and told his friend he wouldn't marry that harpy for all the investment funds in China. The patch on his neck was odd, and they should have covered the tattoo with make-up, made him wear shirts with collars or get a patch that blended better. Back to his possessiveness – I didn’t find him as dangerous as some MLs I’ve seen (like the guy in Well-Intended Love that lied about FL having an illness when he could have just asked her out like a normal person). But, this is the great thing about fiction – ML will never become dangerous unless it’s written in the script. He’ll never cross the line so those viewers who like their men a little possessive can indulge without being frightened. In real life, you should take note of the red flags though, ok?

FL was cute without being too cute, if you know what I mean. She also wore sensible heels! She was definitely likeable, but I wish being ‘nice’ didn’t mean she takes all the crap flung at her by this drama’s trio of harpies (Qingxue, Monica and Qi Yuan) and their minions. At least, once in a while, she did speak up for herself, and she had the protection of ML and Ouyang Yu although I would have liked to see her take care of these harpies herself instead of relying on men to fight her battles. I really don’t know why these FLs let these b****** bully them so badly. You’ve got a mouth – use it! I agree with other reviewers about how FL reacted to Qingxue big revelation about her parents’ death. Why in the world would you believe this harpy over your adopted parents? I mean, who of the two displays the better character here? The harpy or the people who have taken care of and loved you all these years? I can understand being shaken at first, but after thinking about it, you should be reasonable and listen to their side of the story. At one point, she tells a dog she thought was a stray that both of them don’t have homes. Well, who’s fault is that? It was your decision to take off. But, on the positive, her self-imposed exile did help her grow up and take care of herself. I’m glad when she and ML went through a ‘silent treatment’ phase that she was the one that finally went to him, even though ML was at fault (jealous again, he was constantly jumping to conclusions). Why? Because it was always ML running after her. It was nice to see her seek him out for once. It was a little odd how she suddenly switched careers; ok, you can’t handle hospital work but what about medical research like she’d already done with Dr. Thomas? Why throw all that schooling away? And 1) where did they get the money to open this dessert shop and 2) when did she learn to make gourmet desserts?

Just a few comments on the other characters:

Le Diyin was a sweetie, but can't you just find this guy a new heart? Seems like a transplant would have been simpler.

As Zihui asked - was Qin Yao blind? Why did this guy continue to like Qi Yuan when he could clearly see what a vindictive, nasty shrew she was? For old times sake? He said she was a spoiled brat before her parents lost their money and you liked that? FL was his friend yet he just stood there and let Qi Yuan mock and sneer at her. He wasn’t worthy of being FL’s first love. He was an idiot....as a lot of first loves are. Why these people put them on pedestals is beyond me.

Qingxue was a first-class psycho chick who needed to be in a mental hospital. Her conceit was astronomical yet ML humiliated her as a child and gave her low self esteem? Really? FL didn’t do anything to her (except have ML’s love and devotion, which she didn’t accept for the majority of the drama) yet this spoiled baby had to maliciously harass her at every turn. Like that’s going to make ML fall in love with you instead? Then when ML turns down her investment/business marriage, she uses her family’s influence to make sure he’s not hired by someone else. And, at the end, she basically receives no consequences for all the harassment the MC had to endure because of her. I hate these kinds of characters, and it seems like every C-drama has one. And, let’s not forget her henchwoman, Monica, who tries her best to make FL’s work life a living hell because she wants psycho chick's brother who also likes FL. She didn't receive any consequences either. Just a question – are work places actually like this these days? Where groups of women will make snarky comments within earshot of their victim? I worked with women in a large company in the past, and I don’t remember this ever happening, but that was 20 years ago so maybe the current workforce is different. Or maybe Cdramas just exaggerate this? I don't know.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama, even though it was packed full of vindictive harpies who didn't get any consequences for their disgusting behavior. I like my leading men to be a bit more lively in terms of expression, but there was never a doubt that ML was devoted only and always to FL. I was glad they and their parents had a happy ending. As usual, I wasn't interested in the second couple's (Lihui & Li Din) romance.

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One of the better 'shorts'

I found this drama, which I call a 'short' because of it's short length, quite enjoyable to watch. The comedy bordered on what's called slapstick, especially the villain and his minion. The Second Prince (SML) could be annoying at times with his wailing, but I found the main couple quite likeable, and both were a decent actor/actress, whom I could see eventually landing a supporting role in a bigger budget film. ML was more beautiful than handsome (his lips, delicate nose, even eyes reminded me more of a female than a male), and I wish I could see him without the long Dynasty hair (I guess I'll have to look up the actor to get a picture of him with a modern hairstyle). FL was one of those rare actresses that actually look better with her hair long than up in a bun - I think because her ears protruded slightly. Her character was spunky and just a tad too cutesy for me - unlike Chinese men, I find nothing attractive about pouty women or baby talk. I prefer the personality of the SFL, but FL was likeable enough since she didn't overdue the 'cute'. Unlike a lot of these 'shorts', the supporting cast were decent actors/actresses as well, and if some gestures seemed overdone, I think it was intentional to emphasize the slapstick comedy. The only thing I couldn't figure out was why they called FL the 'second wife or concubine' in the beginning since ML wasn't married. I suppose it means that the first wife position is still open. Also, he was supposed to be the demon emperor and yet he's living with his emperor uncle...I guess because he didn't have this demon emperor powers yet. Just a little confusing but it didn't distract from the overall drama.

I don't think it's worth re-watching, but it's definitely something worth watching if you want something you can watch quickly that's light and amusing.

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Loved this B-rate series

It's low budget, but honestly, I'm loving it. Why? FL is kicking the butt of the would-be bullies, i.e. girl who cheated with her ex-fiancé and ex-fiancé's mom. This is so refreshing! Usually, FLs are doormats for these bitchy bullies, but this FL is no push-over. I loved it when she slapped the bitch twice in the office. Some people might think FL is a bitch herself, but hey, Wei Wei started it by stealing FL's fiancé and design, and she just won't let it be - she keeps picking at FL. I also loved it when FL flung the tea in her ex-mother-in-law's face! Although ML's power is helpful, this girl is quite capable of taking down the bitches herself. YAY! So, refreshing from most C-drama FLs. So fun watching the bullies get their just desserts for once.

As for ML, he needs to eat some meat (he's tall and skinny), but I like the mischievous look he gets on his face and the winks he exchanges with FL. Although he's the CEO, he hasn't been overly cold or bossy, i.e. grabbing or shoving FL up against wall. FYI - he knows her from the past and is already smitten with her. The best kind of ML, in my opinion. I like that ML willingly helped FL with her wedding stunt, and I like that FL is willingly playing the role of wife with compensation, which makes their relationship less angsty or combative. They're more like partners.

Although plus, ML's mom has already accepted her son's choice, and mom is a powerful figure in the family just like ML so the two harpies can't use ML's mom against FL. Another refreshing detail - I get so tired of the control freak, nasty parent plot device.

I don't know what the rest of the episodes hold, but right now, I love this drama despite it's low budget. I can't give it a 10 because of the lower quality in terms of set, acting, etc., but sometimes you don't need a 10 star drama to keep you entertained and cheering. I think this is the best low budget short C-drama I've watched...other than 'Please, Don't Spoil Me', but then, they ruined that funny, little drama with the 3rd Season and its ending. Bleh.

UPDATE: Watched the whole thing and I loved it! For a low budget, B-rate series, it was very good! Mostly, I say this because of FL and ML. FL was not the typical C-drama FL - she had backbone and doesn't react like a lot of these wishy-washy FLs. Only once was I disappointed in her reaction and that's when the psycho chick crashes ML's love confession. She totally overreacted and didn't give ML an opportunity to explain. Fortunately, in the next episode, she starts acting like the smart and mature person I expected her to be. She really shines when the truth about their marriage comes out and the reporters swarms her and ML. Unlike most C-drama FLs, she doesn't run away or break it off with ML; no, she stands up to the gossip and supports ML. She even kisses him in front of the cameras for everyone to see. YAY! Screw the gossips! At this point, they become a supportive and emotionally solid couple who work together to take down the villains. As for ML, he's really cute - especially when he's interacting with his secretary while planning the confession. I could see both of these leads moving into higher budget films in the future. As for the supporting cast, they were better than most B-rate films, especially the secretary, but ML/FL make this series worth watching.

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Just another version of Season 2

I say this is another version of Season 2 because somehow ML reverts back to being an immature jerk, probably under the influence of a new group of annoying, loud mouth friends and has to start the maturing process all over again. For most of the drama, ML/FL are married, but this jerk manages to lose her in the last few episodes (although they don't divorce) and has to get her back again in the final one. Also, FL goes from wanting to be a director to being a successful manga writer (her book is the title of this TV series). The stepbrother/half brother is no longer in the cast as well as the dingbat 'sister' with the bad dye job. Apparently, Wei Zhemeng had moved onto lead roles when this was made. The artist friend with the red/yellow hair has been replaced by another dude with similar hair, but this guy's personality is as arrogant and annoying as ML. Hey, ML can be cute at times, but he really needs to grow up and stay grown up, ok? Also, FL has a new group of besties. It's a happy ending, but they could have easily ended this at Season 2.

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