2
13
3
virgievirgie
Lost in Dramaland
FL who is way ahead of her times. Power Couple + Amazing Chemistry
Completed - 3/23/2022 - 8.25 rating
I believe many are attracted to "The Autumn Ballad" because of the two main characters. It's rare these days to have an original script and not any IP adaptation. I believe this drama was shot back in 2020 but isn't aired until early 2022. With an original script that's only a couple years old, it's really great to see scriptwriters spending time on strong and interesting characters, such as Liang Yi (ML) and Qiu Yan (FL). They are both flawed but interesting.
What I Enjoy:
1. Qiu Yan (FL) - It's not a surprise that I like Qiu Yan. It did take me a while to get used to the acting, but as a whole, Qiu Yan is a refreshing female lead. She is way ahead of her times. She sounds like a modern girl stuck in a historical drama. She wants gender equality, she wants to fight for injustices, she wants to have the freedom to do what her heart desires, and she doesn't give in to fate or traditions. On top of that, she's smart throughout the whole drama. How nice is it that we don't have a female lead who loses her intelligence after she falls in love? How nice is it that she actually helps devise plans to save people instead of the one being saved? There really isn't that many smart female leads out there. On top of my head, I can only think of Wei Ying Luo (Story of Yanxi Palace) and Jun Jiu Ling, who are smart from start to finish.
2. Liang Yi (ML) - We are seeing more and more grey male leads and I am loving it! Liang Yi is smart, ruthless, scheming, and evil. But he's also loving and caring and will do anything for his love. His best quality is that he supports Qiu Yan's dreams, knows when to let go and really wants what's best for her even if it hurts him deeply.
3. Actors' own voice - With a quick search, it seems like almost all actors/actresses are using their own voice, except for Kabby Hui who played Qiu Min since she's from Hong Kong. It's really rare to have a period/historical drama that is over not overdubbed. It really adds to all the emotional scenes and the audio enjoyment of the whole drama. I do think that Jeremy Tsui needs to better enunciate his words. If you are just reading subtitles, it might not matter. But if you want to learn Chinese along the way, I find that he mumbles a little. But I will take a little mumbling over dubbing any time of the day. Besides, his voice is so deep and sexy. LOL
4. Main Romance - Qiu Yan and Liang Yi have such great chemistry throughout the drama. This started from when they were enemies and bickered all the time in the first 1/3 of the drama. When this slow-burn romance continues to develop, I just can't wait for them to get together. I am usually a fan of slow-burn romances but for this drama, I actually want them to hurry up! That's how amazing their chemistry is. I want to see some cute and fluffy scenes between them because you know they will continue to bicker and their sweet scenes are not going to be the typical rom-com sweetness.
What I Don't Quite Enjoy or Feel Lukewarm:
1. Ending - I've read complaints about the final plot twist in the last episode. Without going into spoiler mode, I do agree that it's unnecessary. I see where FL is coming from, but there's no way in hell that ML will believe her. It's evident how smart ML is and how well he knows FL. Why bother?
2. Secondary Leads - I am not a big fan of Qin Xuan (2ML). Even though he is very nice and sweet, I find him quite boring and don't see any chemistry between him and FL. I just want him to go away. On the other hand, I've never liked Qiu Min (2FL) from start to finish. Even when she's timid and shy, she seems too manipulative to me. She would cry and then let FL do all the dirty work for her, so she won't end up being the bad person. I can't stand her obsession with Qin Xuan. I find her resentment dissolving way too easily in the final episode. Why do we always have evil 2FL who are jealous, backstabbing and manipulative?
3. Investigation Plot - I am lukewarm towards the different crime/investigative storylines in this drama. There isn't a whole lot of excitement because our leads are so smart that they see through everything. There was never a time when I was worried for them.
4. Fight scenes - I know this is not a wuxia drama but the fight scenes are mediocre.
Other Observations:
* There's way too much make up on Jeremy Tsui's face. He looks so white. If he is a little tanned, he would be so much more good-looking.
* I noticed this in "Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2" as well that Jeremy Tsui seems to slouch a little. He is always looking down eve when he's not talking to someone, and his neck is slightly protruding forward? Am I being weird and imagining it all?
* I don't understand the sisterhood between Qiu Yan and Qiu Yan. Does Qiu Yan hate her elder sister or not? At times, she seems to resent and hate her, and then turn around she would be all sisterly.
* Acting is OK all around. No one is especially amazing, and no one sucks. Jeremy does have very expressive big eyes.
I believe many are attracted to "The Autumn Ballad" because of the two main characters. It's rare these days to have an original script and not any IP adaptation. I believe this drama was shot back in 2020 but isn't aired until early 2022. With an original script that's only a couple years old, it's really great to see scriptwriters spending time on strong and interesting characters, such as Liang Yi (ML) and Qiu Yan (FL). They are both flawed but interesting.
What I Enjoy:
1. Qiu Yan (FL) - It's not a surprise that I like Qiu Yan. It did take me a while to get used to the acting, but as a whole, Qiu Yan is a refreshing female lead. She is way ahead of her times. She sounds like a modern girl stuck in a historical drama. She wants gender equality, she wants to fight for injustices, she wants to have the freedom to do what her heart desires, and she doesn't give in to fate or traditions. On top of that, she's smart throughout the whole drama. How nice is it that we don't have a female lead who loses her intelligence after she falls in love? How nice is it that she actually helps devise plans to save people instead of the one being saved? There really isn't that many smart female leads out there. On top of my head, I can only think of Wei Ying Luo (Story of Yanxi Palace) and Jun Jiu Ling, who are smart from start to finish.
2. Liang Yi (ML) - We are seeing more and more grey male leads and I am loving it! Liang Yi is smart, ruthless, scheming, and evil. But he's also loving and caring and will do anything for his love. His best quality is that he supports Qiu Yan's dreams, knows when to let go and really wants what's best for her even if it hurts him deeply.
3. Actors' own voice - With a quick search, it seems like almost all actors/actresses are using their own voice, except for Kabby Hui who played Qiu Min since she's from Hong Kong. It's really rare to have a period/historical drama that is over not overdubbed. It really adds to all the emotional scenes and the audio enjoyment of the whole drama. I do think that Jeremy Tsui needs to better enunciate his words. If you are just reading subtitles, it might not matter. But if you want to learn Chinese along the way, I find that he mumbles a little. But I will take a little mumbling over dubbing any time of the day. Besides, his voice is so deep and sexy. LOL
4. Main Romance - Qiu Yan and Liang Yi have such great chemistry throughout the drama. This started from when they were enemies and bickered all the time in the first 1/3 of the drama. When this slow-burn romance continues to develop, I just can't wait for them to get together. I am usually a fan of slow-burn romances but for this drama, I actually want them to hurry up! That's how amazing their chemistry is. I want to see some cute and fluffy scenes between them because you know they will continue to bicker and their sweet scenes are not going to be the typical rom-com sweetness.
What I Don't Quite Enjoy or Feel Lukewarm:
1. Ending - I've read complaints about the final plot twist in the last episode. Without going into spoiler mode, I do agree that it's unnecessary. I see where FL is coming from, but there's no way in hell that ML will believe her. It's evident how smart ML is and how well he knows FL. Why bother?
2. Secondary Leads - I am not a big fan of Qin Xuan (2ML). Even though he is very nice and sweet, I find him quite boring and don't see any chemistry between him and FL. I just want him to go away. On the other hand, I've never liked Qiu Min (2FL) from start to finish. Even when she's timid and shy, she seems too manipulative to me. She would cry and then let FL do all the dirty work for her, so she won't end up being the bad person. I can't stand her obsession with Qin Xuan. I find her resentment dissolving way too easily in the final episode. Why do we always have evil 2FL who are jealous, backstabbing and manipulative?
3. Investigation Plot - I am lukewarm towards the different crime/investigative storylines in this drama. There isn't a whole lot of excitement because our leads are so smart that they see through everything. There was never a time when I was worried for them.
4. Fight scenes - I know this is not a wuxia drama but the fight scenes are mediocre.
Other Observations:
* There's way too much make up on Jeremy Tsui's face. He looks so white. If he is a little tanned, he would be so much more good-looking.
* I noticed this in "Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2" as well that Jeremy Tsui seems to slouch a little. He is always looking down eve when he's not talking to someone, and his neck is slightly protruding forward? Am I being weird and imagining it all?
* I don't understand the sisterhood between Qiu Yan and Qiu Yan. Does Qiu Yan hate her elder sister or not? At times, she seems to resent and hate her, and then turn around she would be all sisterly.
* Acting is OK all around. No one is especially amazing, and no one sucks. Jeremy does have very expressive big eyes.
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