Reviews

A vibrant story about the Miao people full of hilarious moments

If you’re looking for a story about an ethnic minority in China with beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage representation, a modern vibe, and full of humour wrapped in a dynamic pace, this is the one.

The story starts with the return of young Miao entrepreneur Ma Qing Hao to his Miao village in Guizhou province. His departure many years ago created some conflicts in the conservative community, and the echoes of that past, together with the fact that someone would willingly return to a rural area after succeeding in the big city, give rise to all types of conflicts and speculation. Along the way, we discover the colourful, lovely characters of the main cast and their — in most cases — hilarious relationships and the situations that arise around them, as well as the cultural aspects of the Miao people and their exquisite embroidery.

Besides Ma Qing Hao — the successful urban Miao entrepreneur who returns to the village looking for a quieter life and to develop a tourism accommodation project — and Qing Yue Liang, his love interest and the beautiful and introverted Miao embroidery National Heritage inheritor, we have many memorable characters: Wu Ai Cao, one of his friends who is lost in life but loves cows; his wife Long Feng Bi, another Miao embroidery woman; and Ma Qing Hao’s other best friend, Gun Chang Pu - the female lead’s brother, Family members, villagers, and many more characters are also warm, funny, and charming. Special mention to Ma Qing Hao´s father.

What makes this drama worth watching?
First, the family, couples, and friendship dynamics in a small community where secrets are non-existent; second, how to preserve the essence and meanings of Miao embroidery while making it relevant to the market and transforming it into a sustainable activity, and third, how to adapt the local economy to the current times - a real challenge in China and all over the world.

Here, there’s no tourist coming to the rural area looking for the meaning of life, trying to heal themselves and discovering the beauty of the countryside. On the contrary, there are local people with a distinctive culture trying to adapt to current times — livestream e-commerce included — while being true to their roots and striving for a better future in their land and homes. As in City of Sunlight, this is a local story told through the lens of the local people. If anyone comes, they are investors, and the show depicts how they deal with the local mindset and how the locals deal with theirs.

The drama is full of hilarious situations and characters. My favourites were the main lead’s father-son dynamic - by far - and the best-friend married couple, as well as the friendship among the three friends: Ma Qing Hao, Wu Ai Cao, and Gun Chang Pu. The love story is also sweet and warm, with funny situations too. Of course, the drama has its emotional moments, but the overall tone is light, funny, and positive.

Finally, the drama is based on real events, as the Miao villages were part of the Chinese government’s rural poverty alleviation policy, in a joint project with the Mercedes-Benz Foundation and UNESCO. Many of the situations you see in the show actually took place, such as Paris Fashion Week, although of course they were adapted for the screenplay..

You can find more about the real story here (I leave the link in the comments) : https://www.reddit.com/r/CDramasBeyondIdols/comments/1rsq9xs/tales_of_wumeng_in_the_news/

Leia Mais

Writers and their artistic egos

Some may say that this drama reflects the reality of many relationships. True. But people are already slapped daily with reality, with the harshness of life and relationships. Entertainment, and especially K-dramas, should supposedly offer an escape, an alternative reality to the harsh everyday life, something that makes us believe that tomorrow can be more colorful, happier. But writers always want to do something different, artistic, that makes us think and blah blah blah. Make the journey, the story as difficult as possible, but in the end give us a happy ending. Reality is already harsh enough.
Anyway, the premise is good and the acting as well, but the ending, well, more of the same. Writers who prioritize their artistic ego's, and not the satisfaction of the viewers.

Leia Mais

game of true love review

Ok, so this is my first short drama that I’ve ever watched and I have to say, it is an adjustment. The dramatics of it all and the very like businessman, bossy CEO trope that is present with all short dramas is definitely a little bit cliche at times. Not to mention how the main relationship is always SO toxic. I gotta say, I do like the shorter episodes though. There’s something that just makes me seem so much more accomplished when I finish more episodes, even if the duration is shorter.

However, I have to say, I do love the connection between Xu Nuo and Shen Jiahe. Although they are so toxic for eachother and prob should never speak or interact with each other again for the mental sanity of both of them, they can’t stay apart. They know so much about the other and still really care for the other no matter what they try to say. So, I am rooting for them to stay together even despite all the millions of challenges that will come their way and I know of that. I love how Shen Jiahe can just read Xu Nuo so well and emotionally connect to her in a way no one else can. He always knows when she’s upset and knows how to calm her down or leave her alone. He is always there to protect her, from episode 1. Despite all the ups and downs, they are both always there for the other person and I am sure of that. That’s one of the things I love, is that no matter what, you can count on the other person.

You know what I don’t like though…Xu Mingli’s relationship with Bai Xia. That is just so weird. I can’t get over the age gap and the fact that Bai Xia doesn’t actually love him and likes Shen Jiahe, which is basically Mingli’s foster son. Like that whole dynamic is so weird. I hate Bai Xia’s character and it’s prob meant to make the audeince feel that way so good job. Bai Xia actually has no compassionate bone in her body and I hate how she always frames Xu Nuo to be the bad one, when she herself sets up most of the things that happens. Man, how obsessed can you be over money? And her mother is soooo annoying too. Like anytime I see her or Mingli with Bai Xia’s more intimate scenes, I inwardly cringe. Like it’s just weird I don’t like it. The fact that Mingli gives up his own relationship with his daughter and mother of his child just to be with Bai Xia is insane to me. Like there’s no way ur slapping your own daughter when you don’t know both sides of the story and just instantly take Bai Xia’s side. Like hello? How dense do you have to be?

What the heck? How could they ever be siblings? What is going on with this family? Xu Mingli is actually so toxic and manipulative. Same with Bai Xia. When Jiahe had to break the news to Xu Nuo, he still did what was best for her. It broke both of them, but he didn’t want her burdened with the truth that he was her biological brother (although don’t know if that’s true completely). The actor did a rlly good job with that scene though. The way u could see the physical pain on his face for having to treat Xu Nuo that way. There’s no way Xu Mingli basically “ra…” Jiahe’s mom bro. Ok they’re actually so toxic tho. The slapping and the hurting each other with words. It’s like two children fighting. But then, the making up and the locking in the house. Like, come on. Let’s be adults huh?

I'm glad it was a happy ending, but man was that a rollercoaster. There were so many plot twists that it started to become too much and like too unbelievable. But, the ending was nice. I'm glad that Chi Ye isn't hated on by Xu Nuo and Shen Jiahe because all he wanted to do was gain revenge for his family and keep his relationship with Xu Nuo. But, at the end, I think he realized there was literally no turning back. So, he ended up making the decision to end his own life. However, Xu Nuo and Jiahe still understood his reason behind it, so I liked when they went back to the place his ashes were thrown in the ocean to honor him. The little child at the end is so cute too, although, I wish we got to see more of their process becoming parents.

Leia Mais

Intense world-building wuxia of justice and power

The drama is not your average wuxia. It is a heavy with plot lines that build on one another with hidden identities, dangerous battles, and cross-kingdom politics. An entertaining watch that slowly captivates you with the sheer amount of lore.

The biggest standout is the leads' romance. Never have I witnessed such a healthy, mature relationship. They truly respect and view each other as equals. Such a partnership is hard to find where both the ML and FL come to each others' rescue. Their relationship is adorable, as they act like an old married couple. However, their romance is just not the focal point of the story.

Who Rules the World is a tale of politics and martial arts. It is a story that is constantly building as it escalates into war and death. The stakes are so high that it makes the romance simply not important enough. There are cute, sweet moments but there's always an insane amount of things happening that overshadow it.

Leia Mais

Un buen drama, pero no un drama feliz.

Desde los primeros episodios tuve claras dos cosas: La justicia es difícil de alcanzar. La justicia es imposible para los oprimidos.
Peiyi es muy valiente, es fuerte y determinada, también tiene una brújula moral muy bien definida. No soporta la injusticia y siente la necesidad de ayudar a los desfavorecidos más allá de su propia salud. Es capaz de hacer cualquier cosa por encontrar la verdad, y hara todo lo que esté en su poder para traer justicia y paz a quién lo necesita...
Pero ella misma sufrió una injusticia, por 15 años no tuvo respuestas, por 15 años soportó sola. Ni los que podían aliviar su carga quisieron explicarle.
Todos esperaban simplemente que soltara y dejara ir, que ignorara la justicia de su propio caso... mientras buscaba justicia para los demás.
Pero la trama una y otra vez le demostraba que la justicia solo funciona para ti si tienes dinero, si tienes poder, si tienes títulos nobiliarios, y si eres hombre.
A las mujeres solo les queda la venganza.
Las sirvientas abusadas solo pudieron usar sus propios cuerpos para vengarse.
La princesa y la médica solo pudieron abrir camino para las demás, usando sus propias muertes como un mensaje, porque su vida ya no tenía más futuro y su pasado tenía demasiado dolor.
La música tuvo que soportar que el culpable de la muerte de su amiga era el mismísimo Emperador y su lujuria.
Incluso Peiyi tuvo que acceder a métodos engañosos para poder terminar su venganza.
Y eso es todo.
Al final simplemente todo terminó.
Cansada simplemente se fué con su amorcito, a ser libres lejos de los nobles.

Creo que la historia es muy buena, muy reflexiva, muy feminista, pero también muy realista.
Porque todavía no hay justicia en este mundo.

Leia Mais

I love this drama

This is a really good show the characters relationships development is really interesting healthy and unique many of the tropes you see an Asian dramas that are usually not well written this is not one of them this is well written fun the the main couple enjoy each other's company that many other dramas show it as a not pleasurable for one of the parties that is participating in the action the sets are beautiful and costumes are beautiful it has a beauty and the beast theme where the female is the beast and the male is the beauty as a slight Gomez and Morticia feel to it they're romance that doesn't you don't see very often in Asian dramas or American

Leia Mais

Chaotic fun with intensely beautiful visuals

One of the most unique and fun dramas I've ever watched! Intense visuals, chaotic plot lines, and absurd humor.

The leads' partnership is such a beautiful thing to witness. They truly treat each other as equals and in a entirely strange new world, they only have each other. It's easy to see how their relationship developed into love especially with the ML's tender eyes. Zhang San truly carried the drama with his duality as the mad tyrant and silly jokester.

Honestly, I felt no butterflies with their romance which was weird because I love the he fell first AND harder trope. The chemistry was there but it felt underdeveloped. I didn't swoon or cry. Their love just wasn't the focal point of the story. It was a fight for survival and going against the script, not romance.

Leia Mais

Interessante até um ponto mas não assistiria de novo.

Meus problemas com esse k-drama são:

*De menor grau:
As musicas em certas "cenas" não são agradáveis e muito repetitivas.

O consumo irresponsável e exagerado de bebida alcoólica que é usado como alivio cômico quando na realidade deixou de ser engraçado a muito tempo.

*De maior grau:
A personagem Son Hee Jae é muito inconsistente e contraditória, a personalidade dela dá um salto muito grande que achei pouco natural, de um dia para o outro ela vai de uma mulher que estava satisfeita em viver mentindo e fingindo para agradar o namorado por 5 anos para praticamente uma maníaca capaz de pular na cama com o primeiro que passar na sua frente para realizar todos os seus desejos.

Ela então escolhe um alvo o personagem Kang In Chan (que é um amor de homem e honestamente merece coisa melhor) e começa a persegui-lo, entendo a honestidade brutal em não esconder que deseja somente usa-lo para se satisfazer mas a CONSTANTE insistência que ela emprega misturado com a infantilidade que ela demostra no jeito de falar e se portar (atuação física da atriz e expressões) foi vergonhoso e irritante, para mim ultrapassou os limites do aceitável e tornou a sequencia difícil de assistir.

Acredito que a historia da personagem Lee Mi Na foi mais significativa, uma pena pois teve menos tempo de tela.

Leia Mais

beautiful depiction of mental health!

this was such a great take on depression/PTSD/mental health -- chan going thru suicidal thoughts to being lifed but still plagued by ptsd/regret/guilt was so real. like even though you've "recovered" doesn't mean it still doesnt affect you-- and how mental health isnt just in seasons (start, end), it's not chronological! i loved it. and i loved how this changed my perspective on life -- memento mori -- enjoy every day and live every moment while you can. i love how chan noticed the same in haran; going through her "winter" or depression and did his best to help her. and this was so real and so relatable . feeling like doing nothing -- you don't have to be suicidal to be depressed! what a great take on mental health and a lovely couple that worked through it together.

i gave this 7.5 cuz wHY TF did chan leave fore a whole year?? like this does NOT make sense.. and haran not even hearing him out??? idk why kdramas ALWAYS do the "missing for a year" trope at the last episode>??? hello? also side note, I LOVEEEEE HAYEONG/JIHYUN. ugh. her acting is so cutie and i really wish i could embody her character irl. ive loved her sm ; shes so pretty and her enthusiasm is great. i hated that the secretary guy was so bland tho. like his acting was balls and he actually was not attractive at all in my opinion... lol. also i thought i would've loved hadam's relationship, but the miscommunication trope and mistrust was NOT it for me. I LOVEE how all the 3 sisters had couples (+ the grandma) but i with they extrapolated on that more. and ugh. idk . JIHYUN STOLE THIS SHOW FOR ME THO!! 100% started watching because of her.

grandpa -- HE WAS SO GOOD . ugh everyone needs a therapist like him in their lives. very cute!

Leia Mais