Tanky Toon

The first half started out strong. I liked a lot of the characters (both main and supporting), then the FL Jin Mi started grating on my nerves. She blames all her actions on others despite apologizing for them and people keep making excuses for her. If she weren't the main FL, she would probably be the same as the villainous 2nd FL. It just depends on perspective. Surprisingly, I liked the good-turned-bad, illegitimate-prince-turned-heavenly-emperor the most. Run Yu is a very complex character and Luo Yun Xi delivers as the long-suffering, eldest brother who was always expected to do the right thing yet his step mother keeps assuming the worse of him. He's like Cinderella, if Cinderella were to exact revenge on those who hurt them. We can't all be perfect. I thought this drama would equal or even surpass TMOPB/EL but it suffered from being too ambitious on the back end of the story and it is no fault of the cast because most of them are amazing.

The first two episodes were cringey for me as I dislike women chasing men so blatantly, and especially I wasn't sold on the female character looking awkward at the same time. The drama progressed better after the first few episodes then the characters, especially the male ones became more endearing. It's a heartwarming story about chasing your dreams, sacrifices, friendship and family.

SMK (Slapping my knee) hilarious!

It's a sweet story about two lovers who reunited after almost 10 years of being separated due to different circumstances. The drama has their moments, and its heartwarming, but I'm only invested in the main couple's story-line. It's very slow pacing prevented me from enjoying the drama as I felt this could have 10 episodes less and would still manage to convey the crux of the story.
I was more invested in the book that this drama is based on, about the true story of the author and her husband.

Light and fluffy romantic story that finally has its leads not at polar opposites. Hate those stories about most popular, handsome, smartest guy falling for the dumbest, weakest girl in school (I blame you ISWAK!) They got one end of the spectrum, with a genius but socially awkward scientist paired with a girl who has some brains on her head. No desperate clinginess from the female character which is a bonus. Although, the second couple annoys me, because they "settled" into the relationship after being rejected by their love interests. Otherwise, cute drama.

I can't say enough how much I love this drama. I just wish it was longer! Started out confusing because of so many characters, and the CGI could be better but the story trumps all of the flaws the drama could have. Its very meaty as it has everything: romance, revenge, family, tragedy, friendship, politics, melodrama, comedy, all the genres you can think of, this one has it. This drama kept me at the edge of my seat and the fighting scenes and cinematography were magnificent. The romantic subtext between the two male leads was palpable as the actors were able to portray their emotions through tonal nuances and facial expressions. The rest of the cast, even the secondary ones have the acting chops to support the drama.

I like the Male Lead character quite a lot, despite that he is not my usual cup of tea. Lin Yu Shen portrays the stiff, rigid businessman quite adorably. The banter that ensues between the FL & ML are engaging and their antics humorous. The secondary characters however, seem over-the-top for me and as comedic relief, failed on their end. If you are a foodie, this may be a good show to watch.

Gender-bender drama that is very tropey. Only watched it out of curiosity, pretty engaging only because of Darren Chen who is easy on the eyes. FL is better suited as a boy than as a girl. You have to suspend your disbelief for this drama in order to enjoy it. A guilty pleasure watch only if you have the time.

I was glad I gave this tropey drama a chance, as I'm not into ISWAK vibes (cold but smart man, warm but clueless woman). But their story was too sweet (without being too saccharine) to pass up. Miles Wei does justice to his character, an upright, socially-awkward and emotionally-stunted university professor. And so hot too boot! Xu Ruo Han manages to portray the naïve, "unfortunate" student without pissing me off, by being too whiney or clingey as other "dumb FLs" ought to come across. Together, they make an adorable couple who navigates through their contractual marriage and growing feelings for each other. Their marriage of convenience is mostly due in part of the ML's grandfather (a great supporting character!) whose dying wish is to see his grandson happily married, and circumstances led to Yun Shu as the chosen wife. Other supporting characters are also well-fleshed out, including the secondary coupling of the ML's Best friend and FL's sister. The love rivals in this drama weren't hateful and even the "villain" of the story (FL's cousin) served as a catalyst to bring the two MCs together. All in all a cute Rom-com that includes steamy kisses.

I was interested at first until the actions of the FL towards the second half of the drama irked me. Her self-righteousness became overbearing, and I don't think it's the fault of the actress. Just the way the characters are written are mostly one-dimensional, particularly the side characters. Towards the end I have very little love left to what could have been a good drama. Loose ends are forcibly tied and I didn't like the way how the "bad" characters ended up getting redemption, and some even receiving praise for the necessity of them being mean. I guess I should be more forgiving and carry with the thought that there are no bad people, just bad decisions made by people, but somehow this didn't fly with me in this drama.

This is the second drama I've seen of Rosy Zhao; her popularity as a young and up-coming actress is solidified by her acting prowess. She fits the bill of the female character who can be quirky and serious at the same time. Ryan Ding tries his best to catch up with the female lead and plays the love-lorn villain-turned hero decently enough. I like the well-roundedness and multi-dimensional characters in the drama, despite some of the show's plot holes that try to pin them down.
Not sure what I need to say more about this drama, except that it is a delight to watch and I am excited to see the sequel if it is the same cast. Hopefully, this time set in the modern era.

This is really a refreshing drama despite its youth theme, normally they are so cringey to view for older viewers like me, but it goes deeper than highshool romance. Not a fan of slice-of-life, I am impressed at how the show treated family relationships, childhood friendships and teenage drama. The social teen group are comprised of characters that are multi-dimensional, with their own flaws, but their tenacity to wade through their problems are endearing. They came across as being more mature than even some of the adults in the drama. Despite only in her mid-teens when filming, Ancy Deng's performance is on point. The decision to cast her in spite of her age is a wise one: because teens should be played by teens, and not by older actors who may not necessarily have that youthful naivete. I read reviews that many were disappointed there wasn't a kiss scene in a romance drama (due to Deng's minor status, and her age gap with the ML), but it should not detract from the story.

I was unsure about the reviews regarding this drama, whether it was inflated due to the bromance, but it was only a small aspect of it. Sure the eye candy helped, but what carried the drama are the intricate plot, the actor's strong performances, and the world building. The characters, even the secondary and villainous, are multi-dimensional. Sure there maybe some plot holes, but if you do not over-think the drama like I do, it is an entertaining watch.

The premise looked interesting as I liked the tropey, online/anonymous meet-cute between an idol and her fan. But the drama was bogged down by numerous factors. 1) The second story line between the supporting characters were cringey at best. I couldn't stand the woe-is-me outlook of Ma Shan Shan, and the annoying persistence of Su Bin Yu. 2) The love-triangle among the MCs and the SML is a no-contest, and unless you are okay with "Daddy" vibes, Ding Jia Yun just gave me the creeps. And the wardrobe they put on him didn't help matters, that he looked like a wash-down, trying-hard Elvis impersonator with sequined, sparkly, and leather clothes. 3) The rest of the supporting characters are one-dimensional and hardly worth noting. 4) The in-game sequences were cute at first but went overboard as the story goes along. Only positives I can see in this drama aside from the OST, is the cinematography. While there is chemistry between the leads, they were not enough to hold this drama up together.

I would have given this drama a lower score if it hadn't been for the amazing chemistry between Xing Fei and Tang Xiao Tian who carried most of the show. The premise of a boy crushing on a girl for over 20 years despite not having been together for most of their lives was interesting; however, it was less credible for me IRL. But keeping in mind this is a drama after all, I had to suspend disbelief, like I did with Wen Rang and Cheng Cheng's relationship. The episodes could be cut in half and still convey the same story. A lot of filler scenes especially towards the last few episodes.

Another drama about a celebrity and a commoner. Not necessarily an anti-fan but a non-fan. Add to this a dash of the supernatural, body-swapping,and you get a tropey drama. Stephen Zhang and Liang Jie were brilliant as the aloof idol Jiang Yi and the spritely entertainment reporter Yu Sheng. Their meticulous performance continues when they were purportedly inhabiting the other's body. What made me give this drama less than a full mark are a variety of factors. For one, the pacing is uneven, very slow in some parts, and quick to escalate on others. Secondly, the supporting characters had their own backstory and also, their own selfish agendas where I cannot feel for any of them, aside perhaps from Yu Sheng's parents. The second pairing is not a pairing at all, and it seems the writers tried just to grasp at straws to make the 2nd couple feasible. And finally, the most glaring error is the last 5 minutes of the drama, which threw the whole narrative into whack, and hence unforgivable in my eyes.

I thought that no C-drama that would rival my fave, The Untamed, but WOH is giving The Untamed a run for its money. The world building may not be as complex as The Untamed, but there's no shortage of duplicitious and intricate plot twists. Secondary characters are also well-fleshed out and are important figures in their own right. Fighting scenes and cinematography are also breath-taking. But I think what pushes this drama to the top are our Male leads.Soulmates Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing have an adorable push-and-pull kind of relationship, and magnified by the flirtatious gestures of Gong Jun and the stoic expressions of Zhang Zhe Han. I am amazed at these productions adapted from same-sex works, how they were able to skirt Chinese censorship but yet manage to drop hints, whether by slight touches, lingering eye contact or subtle references to source material. But also because of the censorship, tension between two characters needed to be nuanced and left to the imagination. It is a great way to bring mainstream and BL viewers under one roof.

I truly enjoyed this forbidden love story. From the intricate plot, to the cinematography to the acting prowess. Deemed as the "rebellious" Zhou Sheng Chen, Ren Jia Lun was perfect as the emotionally-stunted Master/warrior. While Bai Lu played the mute heroine with controlled grace and avoided becoming the clingy damsel in distress. Both leads effortlessly portrayed the pining and longing between them with subtle yet impactful gestures as they maneuver the political climate that prevented them from acknowledging their feelings for each other. Other characters gave credence in their roles as support or as obstacle to the lead characters' journey. The twists and turns in this drama, that culminated in its ending, were so well-woven that the sequel to this was unnecessary.

Yes. She is supposed to be the Ha Yeon that Yeon Seok was seeking.

I speak both Mandarin and Cantonese and the mouth movements in this drama correspond to them speaking in Mandarin. Yes, you would think that low budget dramas would do away with re-dubbing, especially if they are not broadcasting in Mainland China and are mostly for international viewers who would primarily not know difference in accents.