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How to make a noona romance work for 2 sweet and caring individuals

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

This is a simple Jdrama with a very common plot. If you like older women/younger men and fake relationships, then this is a decent watch. The plot is really nothing special but it’s comforting if you like certain tropes.

The leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is decent. I would have liked to see Mizuki’s cold personality last a little longer before he falls so in love with Yukino. Afterall, the English title of this drama is “Aoshima-Kun is a Bully!” Well, he wasn’t really a bully and even if he was, it didn’t last long.

The drama focuses on two kind and considerate individuals at different stages of their lives. When they get together, their approaches to romance and relationships are quite different. There’s a lot of back-and-forth guessing each other’s feelings and getting stuck in their own thoughts, instead of communicating. I would not say there are many misunderstandings, and they do talk eventually and resolve conflicts quickly.

What I like about Yukino (FL) is that she is a regular, working woman. She dresses appropriately for work and also at home in her casual wear and PJs. I act just like her when I am lounging at home! LOL Her reservations of love given her past experiences, are totally understandable and age-appropriate. What’s not age-appropriate is the typical shy and somewhat coy behaviors for an experienced 35-year old who had multiple relationships in the past. She might take the initiative to reach out for a kiss or two, but for the most part, she appears inexperienced in PDA.

My biggest complaint is probably the side plot about the family member introduced in the last couple episodes. I don’t think that storyline is needed and it was not well-written.

This is a quick and OK watch. I enjoy the fake relationship trope (though it’s not really a big focus) and seeing how two sweet and caring people try to make the relationship work.


Completed: 9/21/2024 - Review #487

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A good but not great drama that is more political than wuxia.

Completed - 5/18/2022

"Who Rules The World" was my most anticipated drama in 2022 because I am a fan of Yang Yang, Zhou LuSi and wuxia dramas. Though I wouldn't say the drama exceeded my high expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed it for the most part. At first glance, this seems to be a wuxia drama (or it's advertised as such), but it's actually more political.

What I Enjoy:

1. Smart Characters - It's rare to find a drama where almost all the main characters are smart and strong (emotionally and physically) from beginning to the end. Our Black (Hei Feng Xi) and White (Bai Feng Xi) lead characters are established and well-known martial artists in the pugilistic world. We don't have to wait for them to grow stronger throughout the drama. They are already two of the most powerful people. This creates an interesting dynamic between the two that is fun to watch as they compete and fall in love. We also have a strong supporting cast in Feng Qi Wu (badass female general), Huang Chao (intelligent and cunning crown prince), and Yu Wu Yuan (the two-faced Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the drama). No one needs to be saved all the time, and no one becomes dumb all of a sudden. I wish there are more dramas out there with such strong and intelligent characters.

2. Mature Main Romance - It's fun to see our leads bicker all the time, yet slowly fall in love. I quite enjoy watching our ML being the smartest cookie in the show, yet so clueless when it comes to courting our FL. A shy and embarrassed Yang Yang is a treat. This is a romance without misunderstandings, break-ups, or evil unrequited love rivals. Our leads love, support, and trust each other. A comfortable romance to watch and one to die for.

3. Costumes/Styling - I am usually not a big fan of the bun hairstyle for the male characters in historical dramas. But in this drama, I would say almost all of the guys look pretty dashing in their costumes. I think Yang Yang looks the best when he's ill with his hair down. He even looks great with white hair! Zhao LuSi is made for historical dramas. She is so beautiful here and her particular hairstyle as Bai Feng Xi suits her so well. All the ladies have beautiful dresses and hair accessories. Nothing is too overdone, but just natural and complementary. I also like how they color coordinated ML and FL's costumes in many scenes when they are together.

4. Acting - Though many criticize Yang Yang's acting and his role selection, I do feel that his role here provided him the ability to be cool, sweet, romantic, serious and heartbroken. He might not be as amazing as he was in "Glory of Special Forces", but he's not bad either. He's great in Ep 28 - heartbreaking palace scene with the emperor. Zhou LuSi can also be typecasted into the cute female lead. Similar to Yang Yang, her role here also provided her an opportunity to show the different sides of Bai Feng Xi - from the carefree girl, to the elegant queen, and finally as a commanding ruler and soldier. The rest of the supporting cast is pretty good as well.

What I have mixed feelings about:

1. Leads Chemistry - For some reason, I don't feel that Yang Yang and Zhao LuSi have amazing chemistry in this drama. They seem like good friends or siblings. Maybe because their romance is so calming and understanding? There's no sizzle, no longing, no real heartbreak or super fluffy moments? Perhaps that's why I am not feeling it quite as much, even though they have some romantic, fun bickering and cute moments.

2. Fight Scenes - I was quite happy with the first few episodes of the drama. It was so fun to see FL fighting with that long ribbon. The fan that ML uses might not be as entertaining but the fight scenes are pretty good with no slow motion movement or posing. But the number of fight scenes decreases throughout the drama when the plot becomes more political. The few fight scenes that we got are short and not well-done at all. The last two big fight scenes in ep 39 and 40 - war battles and the final one in the palace - are just actors flying here and there with very little actual fighting.

3. Sets/Props/Lighting - This is a very subjective category and it probably only bothers me. I am expecting a pretty decent, if not big, budget production where money could be spent on props and sets. For some reason, it was irritating me throughout the show to see 'fake' sets and props. The color of the furniture/decorations and inside the palace don't seem right, compared to other historical dramas or similar caliber, such as "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse". I am not expecting the quality of "The Rebel Princess" but still, something is off and it bothers me. Another area that bugs me is the lighting of the drama. I am not expecting awesome lighting or cinematography like in "Luoyang" or "The Longest Day in Chang'an", but the drama could use more candles and lanterns for NIGHT scenes, instead of bright light from the window or artificial lighting. On the positive side, there are many beautiful aerial shots over different kingdoms.

4. Pacing - I would have placed this in the "What I Like" category if not for the last few episodes. For most of the drama, the pacing is really good and the story moves along smoothly. I was not bored and the drama kept my attention for the most part. However, in the last 5 episodes or so, there are many war battle scenes. I get confused about the city names and the repeated back-and-forth advancing and retreating, making these episodes feel rushed. I think the two time skips also affected the pacing as well.

Other Random Observations:
1. No one commented that the eldest prince (ML's older brother) can walk again?
2. Songs are not overplayed in this drama.
3. Does anyone find Zhao Lu Si's weirdly-shaped eyebrows distracting? No? Maybe it's just me. LOL
4. Where did teenage Han Pu find ingredients to make drugs in the war zone?
5. It's cool to see the soldiers waving the flags in a battle to communicate war strategies.
6. CGI is not good.

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Fun Rivals-to-Lovers with Great leads chemistry and no fish kisses

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Fake Fact Lips” is such a fun and easy binge! I really enjoyed the first 7 (of 9) episodes. This is a really cute rivals-to-lovers drama. For a Japanese drama and an adaptation of a manga, the acting is surprisingly ‘normal’ and not over-the-top.

The leads have excellent chemistry. I enjoyed their banter over the silliest things to the final challenge that changes the course of their friendship. The drama doesn’t try hard to hide the fact that one of them has fallen in love a long time ago. Therefore, it’s fun to see how he uses this challenge to try to get the other half to fall in love. I appreciate that this is a story of two working adults, and not little kids. They don’t act like virgins who don’t know how to express themselves. Of course, they have pretty different personalities, but when it comes to expressing their feelings, even if one can’t speak it out loud, he doesn’t hesitate to go for a kiss (or more). For once, the kisses are pretty good and not dead fish kisses. The sexy scenes are done in a tasteful way, but I wanted a little less slow-motion and a little more realistic action.

The use of flashbacks effectively tells us their background story. Their friendships went deeper than just two high school students trying to be the top of the class. They talked, supported and cared for each other. It must be very difficult for them to be away from each other during their college days. But one would assume they should have kept in touch, and knew they might work for the same company. Losing touch completely seems unrealistic. But I guess that’s how the reunion can be more surprising.

My main criticism comes to the last few episodes. The introduction of a third rival made me feel uncomfortable. This character is really annoying. It would have been better if this person had a different personality. I do understand the need to test this relationship,newly transitioned from rivals to lovers. I am glad that it shows maintaining a relationship can be challenging and for the characters to finally open up and be honest with themselves and each other. I just wish it was done without that annoying character.

Overall, I had a good time binge-watching this. I definitely would recommend it if you are fans of rivals-to-lovers, and a pretty fun J-BL.


Drama Completed: 6/19/2026 Review #696

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Smart characters scheming and fighting, while two different kinds of love blossom on the sidelines.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Surprisingly, “Love of Nirvana” is not as romance-focused as I thought. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a love triangle that lasts for a long time, and romance is definitely present. However, it does not feel like I am watching a romance drama for 40 episodes. Instead, this drama has a strong focus on politics, fight for power, maintain power, revenge and the reveal of truths.

I am having a hard time writing down a proper review, so I am going to dump my random thoughts here:

1. It’s lovely to see smart characters in a drama. Not only are the three leads intelligent but they try to outsmart each other every step of the time.
2. I love watching them try to scheme and one up each other. They never lost their intelligence throughout the drama.
3. One love interest tries to obsessively protect and keep FL safe by his side.
4. The other love interest believes in, supports and protects behind-the-scenes, and lets her be who she wants to be.
5. It’s also lovely to see true platonic friends. No spoiled princesses or annoying jealous suitors.
6. The pacing is decent. There are a couple episodes that I was losing attention (or probably because I was tired). But for the most part, there’s enough going on to keep me invested in 40 episodes.
7. The emperor and the ‘villain’ had few but powerful scenes. Props to veteran actors!
8. Acting is pretty good overall. Landy Li is such a talented young actress. Playing against Jeremy Tsui and Allen Ren, I think she wins!
9. Unfortunately, the voices are dubbed. I can’t hear Jeremy’s sexy deep voice, or Allen’s sexy raspy voice. But it seems like Landy Li dubbed the drama herself.
10. The drama does not seem to be a high budget production. For the most part, this is not a problem and didn’t quite affect my viewing pleasure, except for the war battles towards the end of the drama.
11. Pei Yan’s obsession with Jiang Ci lasted for quite some time. But when he’s out of it, after much pain and suffering, it was great watching the trio together.
12. I was worried about the transition from hate to love for Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci, given how much Wei Zhao tried to harm her. But I feel that the transition and romance develops naturally and realistically.
13. Both Wei Zhao and Pei Yan are standup individuals and are very similar. They have burdens and tremendous responsibilities on their shoulders. They respect each other as competitors and as friends. I actually wanted to see more of their friendship and brotherhood when they are on the same side.
14. I enjoy the understated and quiet romance between Jiang Ci and Wei Zhou. There are no sweet talking or fluffy cute scenes. But the time they spent together felt so intimate and romantic. I enjoy their playful banters and witty remarks and also quiet moments of caring and concerns.
15. The revelation of what actually happened 20 years ago is quite a surprise.
16. And the ending...... I wish it was different but I am not upset.



Completed: 10/19/2024 - Review #499

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A Martial Arts Lover's Dream Drama

Completed: 10/8/2022 - 8.25

I have not read the novel and don’t recall the HK adaptations that I watched when I was young. So this review is strictly based on how I feel when watching “Side Story of Snow Volant” as if it’s my very first time. This drama is a martial arts/wuxia lovers’ dream.

What I Like:

Martial Arts/Fight Choreography - It’s so rare to find a wuxia drama these days that reminds you of those back in the 80s and 90s. This drama is full of creative fight choreography and extended fast-paced fighting scenes (with minimal slow motion). We are treated to fight scenes with an array of weapons - swords, darts, whips, poison powder, spears, staff, shield, etc. But I am personally most excited to see many hand-to-hand combat and fist fights. Those are the best and the most exciting, and difficult for an actor to do well. Both Qin Jun Jie and Lin Yu Shen are believable martial arts experts, wielding their swords and kicking everyone’s butts. Although Liang Jie’s fight scenes are not as impactful strength-wise, she does not look weak and is quite a badass when swinging her whip. Moreover, this is one of the few dramas where you see exciting fight scenes frequently and throughout the whole drama from start to finish.

Acting - I am a fan of Qin Jun Jie and he doesn't disappoint. He plays the role of Hu Fei really well (though he does look a little old for an 18-year old). I enjoy seeing him play the inexperienced teenager in the initial episodes and follow his growth to be a more mature and smarter hero. Lin Yu Shen’s Miao Ren Feng might have stolen some thunder from Qin Jun Jie. Miao Ren Feng is a cool but pitiful character. It does remind me of Lin Yu Shen’s role in “Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre”, which he is also a fan favorite. I personally like the character in HSADSS more than in SSOFV. However, I think it requires more out of Lin Yu Shen to act with his eyes and facial expressions. He really doesn’t have too many lines in this drama. Our two female leads met my expectations. I have always been lukewarm towards Liang Jie and Xing Fei in their previous dramas, and I like them fine here.

Original voice - I am so happy that all of the actors use their own voices and there seems to be live recording on set as well. This is such a rare experience for wuxia dramas, as most of them are dubbed, and even more rare when none of them is dubbed!

Badass female leads - We have two smart, strong, and independent women in this drama. Not only are they not damsels in distress, they are actually the ones that bail Hu Fei out most of the time. There’s no jealousy between them and it’s refreshing to see a healthy love triangle where the male lead can’t go wrong with either one of them.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

Pacing/Side Plots - I feel that the drama focuses too much on some of the side plots. The pacing is uneven for me, and I often lose my focus when there is no fight scene. There aren't any plot twists to keep me on the edge of my seat.
* Too much time is spent on the relationship between Tian Gui Nong and Nan Lan. They have no chemistry and their arc keeps on going in circles.
* Instead, I wanted more romance or scenes with Ma Chun Hua and Fu Kang An. Even with limited screen time, I can feel their chemistry so much more than the romance between Tian Gui Non and Nan Lan.
* Feng Tian Nan + Hu Fei cat-and-mouse chase lasts too long. I keep on waiting for Feng Tian Nan to die.
* I want more scenes between Hu Fei and Miao Ren Feng. They are the most popular characters but Miao Ren Feng disappears in the second half of the drama.
* I also wanted more scenes between Hu Fei and Yuan Zi Yi. I am on Team Zi Yi!

Romance - I read about the ending and knew coming in who Hu Fei will or will not end up with. I am on Team Zi Yi because I think she’s a better match with Hu Fei. They are both great martial artists and have a strong sense of justice. The first few episodes of them causing havoc are so much fun to watch. However, I would not say they have sizzling chemistry even though I am a fan of longing looks. I believe she is Hu Fei’s one true love till the end. On the other hand, Cheng Ling Su has always felt more like a close friend or little sister. I feel for her and how much she’s done for Hu Fei, but something is also missing. I am sure Hu Fei loves her too, but not the same type of love that he has for Zi Yi. This love triangle is really not a focus of this drama and it shows.

Political talk - There’s too much political talk in this drama. I was hoping the focus is more on the pugilistic world and the different sects. Too much time is spent on the court officials and how corrupted they are.


Because I love the fight scenes so much, and also how frequent they are, I am giving this drama a generous rounded up 8.5. Surprisingly, this is only an OK watch for me and it did not prompt me to hit the “next episode” button enthusiastically. I thought I would like this a lot more.

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When duty to your family and reality Crush your dreams

Completed: 9/22/2022

“The Hymn of Death” is a beautiful tragic romance when the duty to your family crushes your dreams and love. I found it more satisfying to think of this drama as a 3-hour long movie, than a short 6-episode drama. If I think of it as a movie, my expectations are lowered and I am OK with the fast-paced development of all events. But if I think of this as a drama, I might complain about how fast-paced it is. I wanted more scenes of how the leads fall in love and how reality forces them apart. Otherwise, I can’t totally be moved by their romance. I did not cry at all while watching this, and I am usually a cry baby.

Shin Hye Sun is beautiful as the female lead, Yun Shim Deok. She acted so well, both as an outspoken college student and as a mature opera singer. I wonder if Shin Hye Sun is actually fluent in Japanese, as she sounded so natural to my untrained ears. Her mouth also matches her opera-singing voice and I could feel her emotions. Lee Jong Suk did an admirable job as well as our male lead, Kim Woo Jin. I particularly enjoyed his emotional outburst towards his father, but other than that, the acting is just solid, and pales a little in comparison to Shin Hye Sun. But then, what is up with him leading his woman on the whole time? That’s not cool and such a cowardly move!

The supporting cast is a familiar bunch. I am surprised I recognized so many faces, though they all look a little old as college students. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the scenes of the troupe and seeing their fun and silly scenes together.

I love all the poems in this drama. They really add a lot of feelings and emotions to the characters. I am usually lukewarm about opera music but the songs in this drama are all beautiful. I even enjoy the opera songs, and probably because Shin Hye Sun did such a great job acting as well. I really want to be moved to tears, but that didn’t happen for me. I would still recommend this if you are looking for a short and beautiful drama about a tragic romance.

Other Random Observations:
1. I noticed this about Lee Jong Suk from previous dramas, whenever he cries, it’s always one teardrop from his right eye. 🥲
2. Male lead looks just fine after being released from prison and being beaten. Aside from a few scratches on his face, it’s like nothing happened.
3. I love all the outfits. The leads look gorgeous together.

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It takes a Village to have a Safe and Nice Flight!

Completed: 9/12/2022

“Nice Flight” is a simple but educational drama about those that work at the airport - pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin attendants, ground crew, mechanics and more. This is a short and easy watch, and for the most part will put a smile on your face.

I was surprised by the amount of technical talks in the first two episodes. While introducing our male and female lead and their occupations, the drama does go into quite a lot of detail in the communication between a pilot and an air traffic controller. I don’t mind and quite like the educational aspect of this drama, but it just took me by surprise. If you do not enjoy all the technical/professional jargon, you might not like this drama as much.

The romance is simple and sweet. We have two individuals who work closely together by profession, yet have very different personalities. They are quite adorable and awkward together (my kind of cuteness). I might have wished for a more mature romance since the leads are not teenagers but professionals. I also wanted more cuteness when they’re a couple. Because the drama is so short, once they get together, we only get a few scenes of fluffiness and then we get into challenges of being in a relationship.

I enjoy seeing the character development of our female lead and her background story. Her tight bond with her grandfather is touching. We might have not seen much change of personality in our male lead, we do follow his career path and I learn a great deal about the process of being a pilot. Who knew you needed to go through full training again if you wanted to pilot a different aircraft? I didn’t but I do now!

Though the focus is on the leads, I appreciate the fact that this drama also sheds light on other important professions. “Nice Flight” stresses the importance of team work and passing the baton from one professional crew to another, in order to have a safe and successful flight. If the drama is longer, then we can learn even more about each profession.

Other Random Observations;
1. I wish to visit a gyoza restaurant like that. So many interesting and crazy gyozas!
2. Pilots must make a lot more money than air traffic controllers. Just check out the apartments that the leads are living in. Night and Day!
3. JAL must be a big sponsor. You don’t need any other product placements.

Special thanks to Windflows for subbing.

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Completed - 7/2/2022 - 8.25 rating

Such great reviews came from China regarding this drama that it hit Douban ratings at a high of 8.9 in the first week or two of its airing. Now that the drama is just done airing, the rating remains at a high 8.5 (as of 7/2/2022). I came in with pretty high expectations as I am a sucker for amazing romantic chemistry between the leads.

Plot:
“A Dream of Splendor” tells the story of three women who for a variety of reasons, had to leave their hometown for the big city. They are strong and independent, and are feminists who are ahead of their times. We follow their journeys to build their careers and find love. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. There’s enough going on to keep me interested throughout the 40 episodes. Though the last few episodes are more focused on court politics, our three female leads are intertwined in this storyline as well. Compared to another female-centric drama “Marvelous Women”, this is less slice-of-life and hooked me right from the start. But as the story goes, I think I enjoyed the weaving/embroidery plot in “Marvelous Women” a little bit more than the tea house/restaurant/music plot in “A Dream of Splendor”. However, the tone in “Marvelous Women” is more serious than that in this drama. I rated this drama higher because the romance storylines are more interesting to me than that of “Marvelous Women”. There are many comedic moments in “A Dream of Splendor” and I am not sure I enjoy them as much as others. Dai Xu/Chi Yan Nei provides a lot of comic relief, but it’s too over-the-top for my taste and doesn’t quite fit in the general tone of the drama.

Romance:
I really enjoy the initial chemistry between our two leads and I can see why everyone is raving about it. I can totally see how Chen Xiao/Gu Qian Fan is so smitten with Crystal Liu/Zhan Pan Er. Every time he looks at her, I see admiration, respect, love and desire. However, I am not sure if I can say the same for Crystal Liu especially towards the second half of the drama. Maybe I am just too critical of female leads? I find Crystal Liu’s best scenes are of her as a business woman. But as a woman in love, I can’t see that passion in her eyes. Nonetheless, their romance is mature and honest (for the most part). The leads are very supportive of each others’ careers, and will not hesitate to provide some honest/harsh feedback when necessary. There’s a lot of PDA in this drama, which is quite rare for a somewhat ‘serious’ and non-romantic comedy. Are the kisses amazing? Not really, but decent enough that I see effort from both parties. I actually really enjoy the romance between Sun San Niang and Du Chang Feng. Opposites attract yet they are quite adorable together. The way they fall in love seems natural and I enjoy how Sun San Niang takes charge in their relationship. Song Yin Zhang is probably my least favorite female character but I pity her journey to find love. Poor girl just couldn’t catch a break. There’s plenty of romance in this drama to satisfy romance junkies like me.

Production:
There are quite a few nice scenes with lanterns and candles, but not quite the quality of top-notch productions such as “Luoyang” and “The Longest Day in Chang’an”. Those two dramas have become my golden standard. Nonetheless, we have beautiful people in nice costumes, decent set designs and props. A certain popular YouTube reviewer mentioned that Chen Xiao and Crystal Liu are the most beautiful couple in a period drama in recent years. I am not sure I agree with this reviewer. They are a good-looking pair, especially for a more mature couple, but there are plenty of good-looking couples as well. In this drama, I think Jelly Lin and Claire Jia are just as beautiful as Crystal Liu (or maybe more). I do think Chen Xiao looks the most handsome in his uniform. I also want to criticize the action scenes and the camera work in this drama. There are a few fight scenes, but the camerawork is shaky/blurry (maybe intentional?). This affects my enjoyment of watching Chen Xiao fight. The director also likes to use a lot of slow motion scenes in this drama for ‘dramatic’ effects, when it’s not necessary. I want to see Crystal Liu walk at a normal speed.

Other Random Observations:
1. I like the interesting tea competition - especially drawing on tea foam.
2. It seems like everyone can just go into FL’s house/courtyard. No security at all and the door is never locked.
3. It rains all the time - at least people don’t get sick often.
4. Spinning and pouring tea is a little too cringey for my taste.
5. I like boat rides as a major form of transportation.
6. I really like Xu Hai Qiao in "Lost Love in Times" but I hated him here as Ou Yang Xu. I wish to see another drama of his to fall in love with him again.

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Must watch mature and realistic drama for those who left their hometowns for another city

10/1/2021 - 9.75 rating

At the time of this writing, the MDL rating for this drama is 8.2. How could this be so criminally low? Is it because it's not an idol drama, no good-looking cast, not a fluffy romance, not produced by a big tv network? Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. Subjectively speaking and on a personal level, this is a near perfect drama. Thus, I am giving it 10.0 (rounding up from 9.75). This is the first drama I give a 10. This drama needs to be talked about and recommended more.

"Remembrance of Things Past" is about the lives of four women who moved away from their small hometown for college and stayed in Beijing after graduation to make it big and have a new life. As a transplant in Beijing, life is not easy and they encounter different hardships in romance, work and just trying to survive.

I have very similar experiences as the female leads - moving away from home, relying on friends to survive in a new city, only reporting happy news to family, long commute to work because housing is cheaper when farther away, loss of a loved one, single woman walking home at night, parents sacrifice for me, etc. Aside from all this, this drama also covered peer pressure at work and at home, marriage pressure for women in their late 20s and 30s, physical and mental health concerns, suicide and attempted suicide, workplace rivalries, materialism, physical beauty, renting vs buying a house, saving money vs living life, money scams, etc.

Episode 1 hooked you right in! Not knowing why a close friend committed suicide is a central plot in the drama. Her story is told through flashbacks, but the guilt is so very present within her friends. Each episode has a theme and an epilogue that narrated by the female leads which make you really stop and think. I love these thought-provoking epilogues. The last 15 minutes of Episode 10 was the most intense for me. The series of events happening at the same time with the three female leads and their subsequent big fight were explosive, intense and heartbreaking.

Romance isn't a main focus of this drama, though each of the three female leads has their own storyline. Maybe except for the romance of Xu Yan & Zhen Zi Chang. The struggles of their relationship is the central storyline, and it's also my least favorite of the three romances. I feel that it's somewhat repetitive and I really dislike Xu Yan and the way she treats her boyfriend. I am glad there's character development, but we don't see a better version of her until the very end. I wish there's more to Xu Yan storyline than about money and her boyfriend. I enjoy the shyness of Jian Yi Fan when he's somewhat courting Qian Xi Chen. I am a sucker for a quiet man who shows love through quiet actions. He seems like a different person when he's so shy and reserved, yet he's such a boss at work (calm and mature). I quite enjoy the banter between Xi Chen and Yi Fan, and they make a cute couple. Ji Nan Jia & Ou Yang's relationship is the sweetest. I love LOVE what Ou Yang said to Nan Jia about having children and raising children in a loving family. How could you not want to have a child with him after that? Ou Yang appears immature, but he's actually quite the opposite. The talk that Nan Jian had with Ou Yang's mother is also excellent. Those two don't seem like a good fit together, but they actually complement each other very well.

Of course, the best part of the drama is the friendship between the four women. I doubt they can survive in Beijing without each other.

Other notes: I watched this drama on YouTube and another site-that-shall-not-be-named. MangoTV YouTube videos blocked some of the music and the sound quality wasn't great. It really did affect my viewing and I couldn't really listen to the OST. The English subtitles also suck. Maybe this contributed to the lack of popularity. I wish this drama is shown on Viki, as I think the subbers would have done a much better job. I also found the accent of the actors quite hard to understand (with my conversational Mandarin skills). Maybe it's a very thick northern accent? Or I am just used to the voice actors these days, which is kind of sad but also why they have voice actors to do the dubbing.

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Spicy but not too Spicy

Well, @Jojo said this is spicy, so I’ve got to check it out for myself. LOL 😉 Compared to your average J-drama, “Kiss de Fusaide, Barenaide” aka “Kiss Bare” does have more kisses and skinship. Are they all executed well, mm…. Not really. The first few kisses were fish kisses, but they do improve. There’s a stark difference between the first and the last kiss. But I do think the kisses and the intimate scenes happen naturally enough plotwise (except for the first couple episodes) and don’t feel too forced.

Shioya Daisuke (ML) is actually a reserved but good and sweet guy. But unfortunately, his introduction to viewers does not cast a positive light on him. He’s like a horny guy who has too much pent up sexual energy and can’t wait to release them all out, after FL showed her affection. On a very petty and subjective note, I don’t find the actor, Fujii Ryusei, attractive because of his bangs. I also didn’t like his acting very much. His supposed soft and caring eyes look pretentious and insincere to me. Actually, I don’t find any of the male characters attractive. But FL and the ex are pretty!

Plotwise, it’s a very simple office romance. Sometimes, we all need a comfort drama like this. But there are a few frustrating moments and decisions that make me cringe or shake my head.

I don’t think I would recommend “Kiss Bare”, as there are other similar dramas that are executed better. But if you are curious and want to check out how ‘spicy’ it is, the drama has only ten 20-23-minute long episodes, so it’s an easy and quick binge.


Completed: 4/26/2025 - Review #570

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The Guessing Game

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.

I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.

J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.

I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.

Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.


Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.



Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362

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Recommended for Romance Slice-of-Life Lovers and Fans of the Leads (Amazing Chemistry)

Overall - 8.25
Subjective Romance-lover Rating - 8.5 (9.0 for first 10 episodes)
Objective Overall Rating - 8.0

“Road Home” is a true romance drama that focuses on the main leads’ romantic journey from when they were teenagers, separated for over 10 years and reunited again as adults. This is a slow-paced slice-of-life drama where nothing dramatic really happens. The side plots are all there to illustrate how Lu Chen (ML) and Gui Xiao (FL) manage their relationship. Although we see scenes of SWAT training, you will be disappointed if you are looking for a drama similar to “You Are My Hero”.

Recommended for:
1. Hopeless Romantics
2. Those who are in the mood to watch something romantic
3. Slice-of-Life romance lovers, who are fine with a slower pace and no dramatic plot twists.
4. Fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan


What I Like and Enjoy:

1. Acting (Jing Bo Ran and Seven Tan) - Without these two’s amazing acting, this drama would not be successful at all. There isn’t a lot of talking between the leads, because JBR’s character is very quiet and only answers in a word or two most of the time. But when you have experienced actors who can convey emotions with their eyes and subtle facial expressions, that makes the drama worth watching. It’s not a surprise to see Seven Tan play a high schooler and make it believable. I am more surprised to see the innocent look on JBR’s face as a teenager. Granted, he does look older than 18, but his expressions show a different side of him when he was younger. The white filter helps distinguish his younger and innocent days from the mature, battle-tested adult days.

2. Romance - This is the bread and butter of the drama. You have to love this genre to fully appreciate this drama. The chemistry is amazing and sizzling. To me, the best part of this drama is the first 8-10 episodes, before the leads officially got back together. The yearning, longing and hurt, the gazes of the desperate need to reconnect, sucked me right into their love story. Viewers need to watch the subtle facial expressions and read between the lines for all the indirect hidden meaning of what’s going on. Yes, the pace might be slow for some, but I love these initial meetings when they meet each other after 10 years. And to reward us for enduring the pain with the leads, viewers are rewarded with many romantic kisses, hand-holding, hugs and back hugs, and fluffiness in the second half of the drama.

3. Jin Bo Ran - I have never considered JBR as my type of handsome. However, there is nothing that prevents me from falling in love with him and his character. Who wouldn’t love a sexy man in uniform who cooks, cleans, pampers, and is considerate and thoughtful and never raises his voice at you? Jin Bo Ran has never been so sexy to me and I appreciate the drama showing us his nicely toned upper body, whether if he’s topless or wearing a wife beater and showing off his arms. I do wish he had a nicer wardrobe.

4. OST - Lovely songs in this original soundtrack. A few of the songs’ lyrics match the scenes perfectly. Seven Tan’s version of 《青春无恙》(Healthy Youth) puts me right in the mood in the first ⅓ of the drama. The upbeat song《恋爱在流行》(Love is Popular) made me happy and immediately brought back memories of the sweet and fluffy scenes between the leads.

5. Production Quality - Nice wintery sceneries, introduced me to the Chinese Grand Canyon (never knew it existed), making sandy/desert areas romantic (not pretty though). Lucky to see that the women have a nice wardrobe, which doesn’t always happen in a Chinese drama. All the men look good in uniform. Nothing seems cheap, with a few nice sets such as FL’s apartment and office.



What I don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:

Most of my critiques are due to the fact this is a 30-episode drama. If there are only 24 episodes, I might not be as ‘harsh’. I feel that there’s so much time that the drama can afford to better develop some of the side plots. The side stories could have been more impactful, and not just a forgettable mess in the presence of the main romance.

1. ML’s dad/family - Without getting too spoilery, I just want to say that the redemption arc is not well done at all. It’s laughable that everything is swept under the carpet after the conversation and agreement between ML’s mother and father. The drama made a big deal initially, but in the end, nothing really happened. FL wasn’t really put in a particularly difficult position once she officially met the father.

2. Secondary Romance - I would have loved to see some phone conversations to make me believe that those two can fall for each other. Viewers were told that they have gotten a lot closer, but never really showed us any meaningful scenes. This seems like a convenient and quickly put-together side romance, and not well-thought out.

3. Poor Kid - We got such an adorable young actor, but he’s being wasted. This child got passed around like a ball to stay at different houses. I understand the reason behind that, but I wish we had seen more scenes with him in it. Most of the time, he just gets sent to a different room because the leads or the adults have things to talk about or need to have some alone time. I wish there are more meaningful conversations, like the one he had with Seven Tan about growing up with divorced parents. What a wasted potential.

4. Bright backlighting - I am very annoyed with the strong white light behind the leads every single time they are trying to kiss or have a romantic scene. I want to see the facial expression, not be blinded by the light. The chemistry is interrupted constantly because of this light.

5. Flashbacks - For the most part, I like the drama’s use of flashbacks to tell the story of the leads younger days. However, I wish they had incorporated the days when they first broke up and were having a tough time. We hear that ML was living like a zombie, but I want to see. I want to see how hurt and depressed they were, so that I can feel even more when they’re reunited at the gas station. The drama practically ended in ep 29. I am glad that we got to see the male lead’s perspectives during their younger days. I am conflicted whether they should have left those scenes in the last episode, or if they should be introduced throughout the drama. But I guess in a way, the story came back in full circle. The first time he fell in love with her was at the same place where he saw her before the wedding. It’s fate. They are meant to be together.

6. Too fluffy? - I can’t believe I am typing this in the critique section (maybe more of a mixed feeling). I feel that the last 10 episodes have too many cute and sweet scenes of the leads not doing much. Do I love how they gaze lovingly at each other with sweet kisses and hugs? Of course! But I also felt that it’s a little repetitive when the plot is not really moving.

I do recommend this drama for those who are in the mood for something romantic. However, it’s not an amazing all-around drama. If you are fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan, do not miss this! I haven’t read the book and if you did and watched the drama, do you mind leaving a comment and telling me if the drama follows novelty closely? Do my criticisms of the side plots also happen in the novel?


Other Random Observations:
1. I think a wheelchair should be used for Seven Tan a LOT sooner when she’s at the hospital.
2. Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan look handsome/beautiful in ep. 29.
3. No real annoying character.



Completed: 4/2/2023

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Only watch if you have a HIGH tolerance for annoying, pouty, & fake innocent main characters.

Completed - 7/13/2022 - 7.75 (rounding up instead of down because of Ady An and Jeremy Tsui)

*warning - hard to write this review without spoilers - so read at your own risk*

“The Legend of Dugu” centers around the three Dugu sisters and the Dugu prophecy. This drama spans about 30-40 years, from when the sisters were only teenage daughters of the Minister of Northern Zhou to become mothers and empresses. Each sister feels differently about this prophecy and chooses different ways of life because of it. My biggest warning to future watchers is that, if you have a LOW tolerance for annoying, pretentious, pouty, despicable villains as main characters, you might not have a pleasant time watching this. I am OK with such a character in a supporting role, but as one of the main leads, I have to endure such hatred that I almost quit this show.

What I Like:

1. Dugu Ban Ruo/Ady An - The eldest sister of the Dugu clan, Ban Ruo is a badass. She’s smart, independent, harsh, ruthless, and scheming. She took the Dugu prophecy at heart and will do anything to be the Dugu to rule the world. She’s such an interesting gray character and I can’t help but admire her. Her goal never changes, even when against the love of her life and the road that led her demise. Despite her ruthlessness, the sismance between Ban Ruo and Jia Luo and how she puts family first were central to the plot. This is my first time watching Ady An and she was amazing as Ban Ruo. Out of the three sisters, she’s the only one that makes it believable to portray a teenager/young adult all the way to being a mother and empress. She carries herself with such grace that she reminded me of Qin Lan

2. Yuwen Hu/Jeremy Tsui - Playing against Ban Ruo is the handsome Yuwen Hu played by Jeremy Tsui. Unfortunately, his voice is dubbed so we can’t listen to his deep and sexy voice. But, we can still stare at his handsome face and expressive big eyes. He’s so good as our villain that you can't help but love him instead of hate him. His undying and obsessive love for Ban Ruo is one of the best things about this drama.

3. Romance: Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu - They are not meant to be, given their family backgrounds and political positions. But their chemistry is sizzling. Whether it’s a good or bad thing, they are two peas in a pod and are so similar. Even though they are so in love with each other, nothing stands between them and their hunger for power. Ban Ruo’s wedding night was ‘WOW’. The way she stood up to Yuwen Hu and put him in his right place was well-acted by both. Ban Ruo is a badass and she keeps me guessing whether she still loves Yuwen Hu at the end.

4. Jia Luo’s Wedding night - Without giving too much away, the story behind the masked groom and all that happened inside and outside the tent was so touching.

5. Costumes - Such beautiful and patterned costumes for both men and women. For some reason, I think all the clothes the women wear seem to be too big, but beautiful nonetheless. I also really like the black/gold court official uniforms. They reminded me of my favorite red/black ones in “The Rebel Princess”. There are four weddings in this drama, and each bride has bright red and/or green wedding gowns and golden headdresses. The headdresses are intricately designed and royal/grand. I also see some of the tallest hairstyles and elaborate hair accessories on the women.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

1. Pacing - I am not sure if I should categorize the pace to be slow or just OK. I think the first 25 episodes have pretty good pacing. A lot happened and my favorite romance also takes center stage here. Then it seems to have slowed down a little but it might be due to the fact that my least favorite character is taking up too much screen time. Then the last 5 episodes seem to be too fast and I wanted more episodes.

2. Romance: Jia Luo + Yang Jian - The chemistry is a little iffy. I waited for a long time for their romance to officially start and for some good push and pull. But things are resolved too quickly and they fall in love too fast. They actually seem more like friends or siblings but not lovers or romantic partners.

3. Different ages: Jia Luo and Mantuo - Hu Bing Qing has such a young face that I believe her when she plays the 15-year old Jia Luo. However, it’s hard to believe her as the empress and a mother of a teenager. Towards the last few episodes when she’s in the same scenes with her daughter, I think her daughter looks like an older sister. She’s quite petite, and she doesn’t carry herself with as much grace as Ady An as the empress. On the opposite end, Li Yi Xiao looks a little too old to be a teenager in the beginning episodes. She is a lot more believable after she’s married and scheming against the concubines.


What I Don’t Like:
1. Dugu Man Tuo - This is very personal, as I really can’t stand her fake pouty and innocent face. As Man Tuo is a main character being one of the three sisters, there is a significant amount of screen time devoted to her journey. Her scheming becomes repetitive as she uses almost the same method to get rid of people she doesn’t like or in her way. The worst thing is that she lasted throughout the drama and didn’t really die until the very last episode. It seems so unfair sometimes when I had wished Ban Ruo would have lasted that long. I guess I should credit Lil Yi Xiao’s acting for making me hate her so much!

2. Yang Jian - It’s rare for me to not like the main male lead of a historical drama. He’s OK at first, but then he loses his charms. This is my first Andy Zhang’s drama and he’s a veteran, so I am not sure if it’s because I don’t like his acting or the writing of his character. Yang Jian is not charismatic or charming enough for me to like him.

3. Kisses - ALL the kisses are bad in this drama. It doesn’t matter if it’s a kiss on the cheek, forehead or lips, they all make me feel uncomfortable watching. Very disappointing.

4. Dubbing - Another reason why I dislike Man Tuo so much is the voice actor that dubs her voice. That voice is annoying!! Moreover, I actually don’t like much of the voices of many of the characters. How I wish they didn’t dub Jeremy Tsui.

5. Bad CGI - The CGI of animals is one of the worst I’ve seen, esp when the drama is only 4 years old. The green screen scenes are also not believable and you can totally see how fake they are.


Other Random Observations:
1. There’s such a big contrast between Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu’s romance and Jia Luo + Yuwen Yun’s romance, and each couple’s last scenes together. The circumstances and the feelings are so different, yet so memorable.
2. Also a big contrast of their wedding night scenes.
3. A drama full of lovebirds who can’t marry who they want.
4. The last conflict between Jia Luo and Yang Jian broke my heart. It’s not because of the incident, but how Yang Jian reacted afterwards.
5. Yang Jian is supposedly smart but he falls for Man Tuo’s tricks so many times.
6. Who does Man Tuo love more in the end - Yuwen Hu or Yuwen Wei?
7. Who does Jia Luo love more in the end - Yang Jiang or Yuwen Yun?
8. Power can make you lose your mind and forget promises….which you will regret later on.


Wow… this is a long review. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end.

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Great Acting and 80s Feel

Completed - 3/25/2022 - 8.25 rating

Before you watch Season 3, I strongly advise you to watch Seasons 1 & 2 first, otherwise, the storylines and relationships would be very difficult to follow. This is a review of all 3 seasons and not just on Season 3. I will mention who was killed in Season 1, but will NOT disclose who the murderer(s) is/are.

"Light the Night" is a drama that took place in Taipei in 1988. The series follows the stories of 6 women who work at Hikari, a Japanese nightclub (not prostitution) that caters especially to Japanese expats and also locals. Season 1 provides us with a lot of background information of the characters through flashbacks, and viewers are informed of a murder in the last few minutes of episode 8. Season 2 focuses on the murder investigation and explores each individual's relationship with their loved ones and the deceased. We also get to know the real Sue, and how she's not who she appears to be. With the final season, we have another murder that may or may not have anything to do with Sue's death.. And of course, we finally find out who the murderer is.

This is not a happy drama. It’s about life’s hardships and the consequences of our actions. None of the women came from happy families but have broken or disapproving families. Some have a much harder life than others - forced prostitution, jail time, rape, being kicked out of their homes, etc. Although we have romance storylines, this is NOT a romantic drama. There are great kisses and bed scenes, but they don’t necessarily bring happy and fluffy feelings. We do see some more romance in season 3 than season 2.

Season 3 fills in the blanks for all the missing pieces in seasons 1 & 2. And because of that, this season appears more interesting and exciting than the previous two. The pacing is better and there seems to be a little more “action” and less talking and flashbacks. In regards to the identity of the killer, I have to say the drama keeps me guessing. I am not an experienced crime/thriller watcher, so maybe I am just not smart enough. (I hope this is not a spoiler) but I should have guessed or at least guess the general direction of who the murderer is from the ending of Season 2. By the way, what happened to Wallace Huo’s character and the drug cartel in the end?

Love and obsession prompted our characters to make the wrong decisions. Jiang Han’s rejection of Sue prompted Sue to seek revenge, by devising ways to hurt those who are closest to her. The other women at Hikari also made a series of wrong decisions because they’re jealous, their love not reciprocated or they are trying to protect someone dear to them.

The acting in this drama is great. From the main characters to the supporting roles, they bring life to their very flawed characters and make you either pity them or hate them. I especially enjoy Cheryl Yang (as Sue) and Chris Wu (guest stars as Baby). Cheryl Yang brought the complicated Sue to life - the nuances in her facial expressions ranging from regal and gentle calmness, to brewing evilness under the surface. On the other hand, Chris Wu was hilarious as Baby. He’s so unrecognizable as Baby in a skinny tight suit and as Baby in drag. I love his acting and mannerism. This is my first drama of both actors. The other actors/actresses are just as good. Ruby Lin (as Rose) and Tony Yang (as Pan Wen Cheng) have great chemistry whenever they are together. Rhydian Vaughan surprises me with his portrayal of Jiang Han, and so different from his role in “Dear Diary”. However, I think the other more veteran actors did just a little better than him. All the ladies at Hikari were amazing.

If you enjoy the 80s, this is the right drama for you. Costumes, hair, makeup, music, cinematography, all feel right and authentic. The ladies put on heavy makeup when they are working at Hikari. But once off work, they all show a softer side to the audience. Aside from Ah Ji, who appears much older without makeup (as she should), all the other ladies are much more beautiful without the heavy makeup, esp. Ruby Lin. Ruby Lin is so pretty in her off-work clothes.. The heavy Hikari makeup makes her look really old.

Overall, I would recommend this drama if this is your cup-of-tea. Just know what you are getting yourself into.

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Great Pacing, Excellent Acting, Smart + Badass FL

Completed - 11/29/2021

"The Story of Yanxi" is one of those dramas that are universally praised and one should definitely check out if you enjoy historical dramas, esp. a fan of harem. I hesitated because it's 70-episode long, and the fear that it's going to drag prevented me from watching this for a long time. I am also not a big fan of harem. However, I am pleased to inform you that it has great pacing and it's not draggy at all. At times, I feel like some events actually resolve rather too quickly.

I recommend this drama for those who enjoy:
1) Historical dramas, esp. with real historical figures
2) Harem - concubines fighting for the emperor's affection and power
3) Strong and Smart characters
4) Qing Dynasty, esp. if you don't mind the bald hairstyle - took me a little bit to get used to it.
5) Revenge and Scheming

Plot - The big overall plot is about FL's investigation and seeking revenge for her sister's death. Through her journey of revenge, she entered the Forbidden City and caused all kinds of trouble. Since the drama is based on real historical figures, if you want spoilers, you can go to Wikipedia and find out what happened to most of the characters. I did look it up and though I was somewhat spoiled on some things, I also find comfort in knowing. There are many events and schemes throughout the drama by many characters. Because of this, the drama does not feel draggy at all. It's one thing after another.

Wei Ying Luo (FL)/Wu Jin Yan - This is my first drama of Wu Jin Yan's. For some reason (and it's very personal), I have a hard time liking her portrayal of Ying Luo. Ying Luo is everyone's favorite heroine. She is smart, funny, brave, loyal, cunning and ruthless. She's a strong badass character that doesn't back off and won't forget how you treat her, good or bad. But in the beginning, I found Wu Jin Yan overacted a little bit when she's intentionally trying to act cute or innocent. But once the character matured, I believed in her much more.

Ying Luo + Fu Heng Romance - This first love is sweet and loyal. Who doesn't want a man like Fu Heng. He is the ideal, dream man who is handsome, gentle, caring and understanding. Ying Luo and Fu Heng are soulmates. They understand each other and know how to support each other silently. However, I don't think there are enough scenes between the two in the beginning to make me believe that Fu Heng has fallen so madly in love with Ying Luo.

Ying Luo + Emperor Romance - This romance is much more interesting, from enemies-to-lovers, and I feel a lot more chemistry between these two, than Ying Luo with Fu Heng. I enjoy their arguments and threats. They are very similar people and match very well intellectually. They understand each other's actions and unspoken words.

Ying Luo + Empress Rong Yin Sismance - What a lovely sismance these two women have. They are so different, yet they are able to form such a strong bond. With a drama full of scheming between women, it's so nice to see a healthy and wonderful female friendship/mentorship between these two. Empress Rong Yin is one of my favorite characters and one of the saddest.

Acting - Definitely amazing acting all around. The "villains" are great and grey. You hate them (looking at you Yuan Chun Wang) but you also feel for them because they all have a background stories that are heartbreaking. I am not a big fan of the harem, so all the cat fights aren't my cup of tea, but I still enjoy this drama, and it's due to the acting of everyone. Each concubine has her own distinct personality and that makes it easier to distinguish who's who.

Production - big time production with beautiful Qing costumes for male and female characters. It did take me a little bit to get used to the bald hairdos of the guys, and not everyone looks good with it. Luckily, I do find our two male leads (Nie Yuan and Xu Kai) look quite handsome with the Qing style. The women have beautiful costumes, jewelry and accessories. The sets look grand and real. I am no historian, so I don't know whether everything is historically accurate, but I enjoy the visuals.

Other Observations:
1) Xu Kai - one of his earlier dramas. He did well enough, but not as good as compared to the veterans.
2) I've seen Charmaine Sheh in HK dramas when I was young. Wow..her acting has come a long way. She's amazing in this drama.
3) I've seen Qin Lan in "Rational Life" and found her absolutely stunning. She's beautiful here as well and such great acting. Very different compared to Charmaine Sheh but just as good.
4) I found Yuan Chun Wang (played by Wang Mao Lei) really creepy, like stalker-ish creepy especially his evil voice.

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