Reviews

Wonderful love story, but the plot has lots of problems

What I discovered after watching The Sword and the Brocade
- Women are bloody scary when they're having tea with you
- Forehead kisses are better than bedroom scenes
- Ming dynasty mother-in-laws are scarier than the T-1000.

I had long avoided *The Sword of the Brocade* for the following reasons:
- I was super not impressed with Tan Song Yun's performance and was majorly annoyed with her aegyo character in *Under the Power*.
- In general, I dislike harem dramas intensely. I just don't like watching women bully each other.

But for some reason I am suddenly in a romantic mood for mature, adult, slow burn, arranged marriage romance and the *The Sword and the Brocade* delivers.

I really loved Shi Yi and Ling Yi's gradual attraction to each other and I love Wallace Chung and Tan Song Yun's performance. I believe that Tan dubbed herself, and it really brought a lot of nuance and colour to her character.

I didn't find Wallace Chung attractive at first, but he is so manly, honourable and considerate as Ling Yi that these qualities end up making him very attractive indeed.

And yes, yes, this is one of those dramas with misunderstandings between our couple, but it's not at epic proportions like Love and Redemption.

I don't seem to mind misunderstandings and lack of communication in romance dramas as I find them morbidly enjoyable. But if you hate this be warned as the Show has one major arc with that.

(Also, I'd like to report that Wallace Chung is such a good kisser. Like, no fish-eyed kisses, people! But one filled with intense passion and desperate hunger. *Fans self*.)

However, I confess that I skipped or fast forwarded a lot of scheming concubine parts because I can't stand a lot of that. At times I found the mother-in-laws (both Madam Xu and Luo) intolerable.

Yet, despite their horrid scheming, I have a lot of sympathy for the concubines. I felt their pain and sorrow when Ling Yi rebuff their efforts to gain his attention. As for Qiao Lian Fang, the primary evil concubine? Nah, she deserves everything she got lol.

But while it tries to convey the painful lives of concubines and women in ancient Ming dynasty times, but it was clumsily done.

And as with so many Chinese dramas, for some reason, the last 10 episodes was a rush of betrayals and schemes, a lot of them lacking logic.

If I were to rate the way they had written romance between our main couple, it would be an 8.5.

But for the plot involving the evil Ou family, concubines and more? Oof, it'll be a 6 or less.

So, I can only give it an slightly above average rating rather than excellent.

But I still highly recommend this drama if you like watching slow burn romance and arranged marriages. Our leads are really good and you will really enjoy their performances.

Rating: 7.5

I wrote a longer, more detailed review here: https://dramatea88.wordpress.com/2024/01/09/the-sword-and-the-brocade-review/

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A profound experience that words fail to describe.

Watching this masterpiece leaves me at a frustrating loss for words to describe how deeply it moved and affected me, it's frustrating because no words adequately or even approximately convey the complexity of the feelings that it evokes at times and how the flavour of the feelings change with time.

Others have written excellent reviews and I will keep this short and not rehash. I wanted to write a review because this is the first series that's remained in my memory and subconsciousness long after I've finished watching it. The flavours of feelings, thoughts and complex emotions that keep coming are a cathartic reminder of the difficulties that all of us face in life, and at the same time an invitation to live life more lightly, and let go more and more.

This masterpiece needs to be watched at a pace that it defines for itself. It needs time for the complex layers of feelings in the story to really be seen, felt, experienced and tasted for what they really are. Rushing through it or binge watching, just destroys all the subtleties that make it special like nothing else I've ever experienced.

Even in a single episode, I found myself rewinding to certain points in time to re-experience the events and finding newer layers of meaning, feeling and context each time I re-watch. Each episode is a complex and subtly woven tapestry that evoke mixed and often conflicting responses, there's no simplistic black and white good vs evil, we experience flavours of human nature that are absolutely real, often painful and deeply flawed. What's truly amazing is how this is all presented - in a way that we can relate to very deeply and yet retaining the character of a well narrated story that evokes our imagination and touches our creative side, leaving us longing for more. I just don't have the words to explain this in any way that will make sense to a reader unless (s)he actually goes through the experience of the journey through this piece of art.

The characters of Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An could not have been played by anyone more perfect for these roles. They are brilliant, and I have nothing but the highest respect for these amazing actors who played their roles so perfectly, that there is no acting any more, they are truly living their roles and their characters. This is what makes the loss of Lee Sun Kyun so painful, having to leave this world at such a young age of 48. We will cherish your work and celebrate your life sir, you were a true master of your art.

There are some moments in some episodes, you will know and feel them when they happen, that your mind goes blank, you have no words, there are just tears that you can't stop, and you know it has touched you in ways that you could not have imagined, you don't care who says what, you don't care who's looking at you, and you have no regrets. Again, these words hardly do any justice to the experience. At times, I just had to pause and sit there in quiet contemplation because I could not go ahead without experiencing the moment to the fullest. I could not do otherwise. And yet, all was well, it was all right, I was content, at peace.

I've truly never experienced a work of art like this. Not in my several decades in this short cycle of birth and death. This is art.

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The premise was good, the story not so much.

The arc where Fu Ze Yi falls in love with Jing Zhi Xia was so sudden that it was unbelievable. The rich guy making the FL do chores trope is kinda icky and doesnt make for good romance.

The story could have been so much better with a little bit more flow to it. While the ML was fine at times, it was hard to envision the female actress as the character she was trying to portray. She was very out of place in the whole setting.

Korean actress Lee Da-hae did a much better job portraying her character Ah Mo-ne in Hotel King, in a role very similar to what Joey Chua had to play.

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WE NEED s2 NOW!!!

?A bloody poem of unspoken problems, unborn friendships, and untold concerns. Weak Hero is not any kind of a manifest against violence, unlike Boyhood. It's a clear statement of what everyone could have had and what has lost to domestic and school violence. Friendship, trust, love, happiness, - all of them were wiped out with blood and boiling rage. It's been 1.5 years since the release of this drama, and I attest that the story gets better on the rewatch when you can closely examine the exquisite psychology behind it.

?The show proves that warlike personal relationships never bring any profit to anybody. Oh Beom Seok, aka the most hated villain, was adopted for his congressman dad's political influence. In psychology, bad relationship with parents can predict lower friendship quality, and it's exactly what happens in the drama with Beom Seok. His dad doesn't recognize him as an individual and physically abuses him on a daily basis, which results in Beom Seok struggling with social life. He is anxious even around his new friends and expects betrayal from them.

Beom Seok is so traumatized and broken that he can't navigate a regular relationship anymore. His new friends technically do nothing wrong, but they are no psychiatrists and they don't know how to treat Beom Seok in his condition. While therapy isn't going his way, and he reserves to violence as the only way to relieve his mental pressure. Hong Gyeong's performance as Beom Seok gave me chills. It is absolutely stellar.

?"Keep on pushin" says the slogan on Ahn Soo Ho's jacket, but, honestly, does he have a choice not to? He is all alone, without parents, working part time and sleeping at school. This life made him independent, taught not to expect anything in return and not to risk recklessly. But despite that, Soo Ho is loyal in good relationships. He trusts his friends enough to keep his phone unlocked. He is a little bit insensitive, but able to admit his fault and give someone a second chance. Exactly this attitude makes Ahn Soo Ho the best character in the show - and the one who's hurt the most.

?"You did nothing wrong", says Yeon Shi Eun's dad after his son causes major injuries to the three bullies who hurt his friend. Shi Eun is reluctant to form any relationship since his parents take little interest in his life, but he is considerate and caring in a friendship that accidentally came his way. He found his escape in keeping his brain busy by solving math problems, but math books will protect his friends only if used as weapons. As his rage grows he seeks justice in violence, too.

?Be careful when watching Weak Hero. You may find yourself falling for that violence when you start wishing some of the characters to be hit - this is exactly what the drama warns you about. After all the terrible things Beom Seok has done, you may start feeling satisfaction from seeing him being physically abused by his father, forgetting that abuse shaped him that way in the first place. There are many viewers who are angry for justifying Beom Seok's behavior, but there is no justification there, just as there is no justification for Shi Eun's aggression. It's just the way the society works. We cannot stop bullying and abuse if it's a regular part of our life.

That said, can you name Shi Eun the hero of this story? Or antihero? Or maybe this title belongs to Ahn Soo Ho? Or is it all a big irony? The drama wants you to decide yourself, and it doesn't offer a solution to the world peace. This brutality and honesty, in my opinion, along with the brilliant production is the root of its success worldwide.

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Highly Recommend To All

The really good parts of this series, I loved wholeheartedly. I found it funny and devastating and supernatural and uplifting. Even though most of the supporting characters show up for a short time, their performances are no less compelling and touching as the main characters’ performances. I really liked that the anthology style of each ‘case’ works on their own individually but also ties in together with the main story.

The reason why it’s an 8.5 and not a 9 for me is because from one minute to the next I was either extremely riveted or slightly bored (there was no in between). The riveting bits were really riveting and engaging. If I could suggest one thing to make it better, it would be for them to tighten up the narrative a bit.

There were also plot points that kinda went nowhere but these were small plot points. I don’t know if this was a translation issue or an issue with the series itself. For example, they drew attention to something the boss’ male employee said that was ‘off’ in that school girl with the clips case but they never expounded on that or did anything with it. So, that part felt unfinished and like they dropped that part of the story.

I can’t stress enough though, that this is a really good watch and I’d highly recommend it. It gets you in the feels in all the best and most devastating ways. Like everyone else, I’m praying for a series 2.

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Even though Moonlight (2023) is a very good miniseries, the subtitles and OST copyrights take away from the flow of a nice story. The leading man, Fei Ming Xuan (played by Chen Xin Hai) is about to marry Fang Min (played by Kay Song) believing that she was the girl that saved his life and kept him company through his darkest time, a case of mistaken identity which he realizes when he meets Su Xiao Xiao (played by Ke Ying). The two friends, actress Fang Min and her stuntwoman Su Xiao Xiao join hands to bring down Fei Ming Xuan to stop his arranged marriage to Fang Min who is in love with someone else. As Su Xiao Xiao gets involved with Min Xuan, she starts to realize who he really is and, after her boyfriend Tang Song, who was using her to also bring Min Xuan down, betrays her, she starts to get closer to Min Xuan and, eventually, they fall in love. This drama was good but, with a bit more time, it would have been better. The cast did a nice job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple has very good chemistry that got better once they got together. This drama is nice and entertaining.

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Cute, too short and had some unnecessary characters.

Overall the story was cute. I thought the two male leads were good enough for these small roles.

The resort staff gal was annoying. I'm tired of lame fujoshi female characters in BL's.

Both the one guy's boss and the other guy's... whatever she was... were completely unnecessary characters. There was no reason for the phone calls with either of those gals.

If the resort staff gal was more normal and less of a goofy, obnoxious fujoshi and you cut out the phone calls with the other two females and gave the two male leads more time together then I could have scored this significantly higher. Maybe even do one more episode, because the sweet story between the leads was decent.

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The story and casting are good especially role by wangxingyue

Scent of Time" follows the story of Hua Qian, an ambitious young woman, who becomes infatuated with Zhong Yelan, the heir to a renowned Chinese incense empire. Determined to claim his affection for her own, she craftily schemes to steal his heart away from another woman. However, her plans take an unexpected turn, resulting in her family's downfall. Trapped in the consequences of her actions, she finds herself slipping into a mysterious coma.

Miraculously, Hua Qian awakens to find herself back on her wedding day, presented with a unique opportunity to rectify her past mistakes. Can she navigate the complexities of love, ambition, and redemption, rewriting her own fate? Join her enthralling journey as she embarks on a quest to right the wrongs that led her to observe the sands of time.

The talented Zhou Ye takes on the role of Hua Qian, showcasing her versatility and captivating performances and wang xingye as zhong ziwu

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my friend recommended me this show and i absolutely loved it!!! i really like the plot and the back story of each character. it is not cliche and some parts are unpredictable which i liked a lot. although i got my heart broken watching this show but it's all worth it. i also liked the ending because that's the most appropriate ending for it. i don't want to consider this as BL because it is so much more than that! it's about life and friendship, really. it would be weird if they ended up as lovers because one, takashi is literally dead and two, koki is a 30 yr old guy while takashi was still in high school like?? chill out, guys. but i have to admit that they really have the chemistry. i really enjoyed this show and maybe i'll rewatch it someday <3

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WOW!

i havent watched such a good thriller is so long !!
lemme tell you i was HOOKED from episode one!
im really happy i let all this episodes air and then binged everything in one day even tho i had a paper due the next day XD BUT IT WAS SO WORTH.
every episode kept me on edge, and i love how fresh this concept was and this new game.
all actors did such a wonderful job.
i did see people complain about the show but personally i loved it and didnt think its was bad at all, and the ending well i can understand why people did not like it and i too have some issues however i think it was a good ending nevertheless

SPoilers incoming!
- okay even tho i enjoyed the show, i cannot deny that some things did not make sense.
like when the bullies tried to kill woo ram, like everyine brushed that off after he was exposed to be the mafia. like i was honeslty suprised how the bullies weren't voted out at the start when they were basically the worst. but i guess plot armour and ngl the episode where they start to point figures at each other was pretty good.
for the endning i think it did make sense all the thigns happening were a stimulation, because that would explain how everyone lost their memory of se eun and the weird things happening like the telephones not plugged or when our FL fell thru the vent into the basement etc etc.
however at the end it was revealed that this was the work of the se euns parents for revenge.
now this is actually BRUTAL becuase what they've been doing is seriously wrong and doesnt make sense, like yes okay you daughter was bullied into exiting, ofc i understand the pain and anger the parents must have had but to make the whole class suffer is just wrong since some of them didnt even talk to se eun or participate in the bullying al all ,and there were people who were her friends like Ml and Fl, so to put them all thru hell instead of putting the actual people who made her life hell just doesnt make sense to me.
the main culprits were basically the guy ( the last mafia beside jung won) who made that fake video, and then the bullies who made him post it publicly and the mi so and her bully friends.
it would have been satisifying if they were forced to play the game rather than the whole class and then we find out that these kids were actually 2 faced this whole time or some plot twist like that.
i do think the father felt guilty at the end but the mom just cannot move on.
another thing is why keep erasing their minds if you want them to suffer, why not let them remember everything that happened and what they did to their daughter, itll torment them alot more and they would feel atleast some remorse.
that aside, the parents could have just hired a PI to find out who spread the fake video etc (since the parents are really rich as we can see) and then take matters legally to court or smt.
idk but yeah i just find it unfair the whole class has to suffer and were probably kidnapped and sent to their lab or smt.
the last scene gave me chills, i finally thought okay are they back in real life?, but then BOOM jung won.
i honeslty feel sorry for jung won, i feel se euns spirit is in her but she cannot do anything to end the game when her parents are in controll.

neverthless this is going to my top 10 favourite thriller shows, and ngl i kinda enjoyed it a bit more than all of us are dead.
not sure if we need a 2nd season but i'd be excited if there were another!

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Sweet friends to lovers.

Muy lindo. Los personajes principales me parece que tienen muy buena química.
Las canciones me encantaron, la voz de Do Yoon es preciosa (Una Carat aqui)
Ambos hicieron un excelente trabajo.
En cuanto a los personajes secundarios, nada que sea relevante, solo estan ahí.
La historia es muy simple pero muy dulce no hay giros en la trama.

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The story and casting are amazing

The Zhong family is the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city of Huang, selling incense and medicine to the royal family. The young Zhong Xi Wu is the head of the family and rules with a firm but kind hand. General Manager Hua has a haughty and arrogant daughter, Hua Qian, who would stop at nothing to marry a member of the Zhong family Zhong Ye Lan. With the help of her father, she successfully marries him and also disposes of a rival manager and his family, the Mu family. Her misdeeds do not go unpunished as the daughter of the Mu family, Mu Yao, seeks revenge against Hua Qian. Hua Qian’s entire family is sentenced to death or exile. She tries to escape but faints in the chase.

She wakes up to find that she’s transported back to her wedding day to Zhong Ye Lan. Stunned at the turn of events, Hua Qian tries desperately to rewrite history and make amends to those she has wronged. However, she never accounted for how history sometimes will go a certain way exactly because of human nature. In her journey to change, she loses more than she bargained for but also forged new relationships in which she does not know the outcome.

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Watch for the Male lead's acting, chemistry btw main couple & some charismatic side characters

Love and Redemption is easy to get into as there is a nice pacing throughout the beginning of the story, accompanied by nolstagic bgm and a strong male lead who is able to convey emotions very well with his microexpressions, leaving no one doubting his pain and suffering in any form- emotional or physical, nor his affection for the FL.

Enter the FL. In my opinion, FL (Crystal Yuan) qualifies to be in the running for the worst actor award in a cdrama with her inability to emote and her excessive use of eyedrops that ironically highlight how poor her acting is than aid with any emotional scene itself . I will say she does have strong chemistry with the ML which is probably one of the reasons why it was easy to get hooked onto this drama if one is able to switch off when she had a crying scene or a scene where she is meant to act betrayed but just looks constipated.

I need to mention the actress who played SFL Ling long did not fare that much better than Crystal and Mingyan had a pretty useless existence in this drama despite being on the posters and all.

Side characters Brother Liu and Tengshe were a much needed presence and comic relief to this drama and helped pushed the story forward with renewed energy and charisma.

As for the narrative itself, there were lots of plot developments that make love and redemption quite an interesting journey, however it's a shame that this drama couldn't be the masterpiece it could have been because logic and character development were thrown out the window, with the story relying instead on misunderstandings to drive it forward.

You can watch this if you enjoy fluff knowing its just fluff and if you want to know what propelled actor Cheng Yi to his current fame. Just know that you WILL need to practice restraint when FL appears (post beginning stage) because you will wonder how she was ever able to become an actress and why nobody in her inner circle had the integrity to stop her from choosing this profession.

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