Qi Miao Zheng Zai Ru Shu Zhong (2023)

A UNIQUE CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED GEM

I started this out of spite but I was drawn to how it's theme seemed like something I haven't seen in C drama land in a while and I must say it continued surprising me throughout the episodes.
Before I give my likes and dislikes about it I must say it's not your usual C drama troupe..it's not gonna have a fast pace type of love story and neither does it solely focus of romance...it's wierd yet quite addicting to watch.
What I liked about this drama was the plot execution...which was quite different...setting the leads out on this adventure as she tells him stories which were quite connected to her life was refreshing to see...the fables( stories) were amazing and each taught a lesson, the plot managed to balance the romance and the humour and the main plot.

The cast, it's my first time seeing FEI in a drama and yes I can say she really out did her self in this her character was challenged to portray firstly the role of the female lead and then POTRAY the fictional fable characters and each had a different temperament which she did flawlessly.
Male lead was someone I've seen before in CEO dramas and he's character here was a breath of fresh air I must say, he was sunny and different from all the roles he has been potraying which I liked quite alot.

The CINEMATOGRAPHY was an absolute pleasure...this part is usually not put into consideration in many dramas but this drama made sure to put it into place..the cinematography was amazing and the creativity put into the leads outfit which allowed them to reflect their roles and also the cinematography was an absolute pleasure indeed....I loved it

My only problem with the drama was being short...like how can you give me just 30 or 27 minutes per episode for this beautiful drama..I needed more.......

This is highly recommended for people who want something unique...and interesting but if you looking for alot of romance then this isn't for you....

It's added to my top five dramas this year.

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it's a fine line between unique, weird and confusing

It's refreshing in a way, as it lacks not only many typical tropes but also the overall set up (road trip / being always on the go/ no fixed workplace) leaves you with little room for getting accustomed to certain surroundings, nor does it have many supporting roles as the story goes on. It's very much the story of the FL and her life's story turned into a manuscript, while the ML is a too-good-for-his-own-good new on the job guy, that is tasked with getting said manuscript but Wang Pu Tao instead asks him to take a road trip and so the story unfolds.

The first 10 episodes contain stories that come to life, the later part of the drama is focused on the leads (mostly the FL) and figuring out the meaning behind the stories of her new manuscript as well as confronting your past and seeing the present for what it is.

Review/Characters/Romance:

Now, while it certainly is unique and given the short duration of each episode, an easy watch, it's also a little undercooked. Maybe that's on purpose as the drama wants to remain slightly mysterious and give it that vibe, but for me it was a bit confusing at times. There is also a definitive cut between the storytelling part of the drama and the present reality, which contains the romantic aspect of the drama. I liked the ML, he was cute and his good heart but very realistic, utter confusion at the FL sometimes was funny. But I do think he deserved better communication, most of the time he was was trying to figure out what she's thinking or what she wants.
Many of the listed supporting roles only appear in select episodes and you don't get to know them all too well but everyone has their purpose and I felt like it was quite a realistic approach, since IRL most interactions are only fleeting conversations and you don't have to always know about everyone's business.

Circling back tho, the drama is like the FL, a little weird, unique but deep down her story is not that different from other dramas leads, it's just that they took a very different approach in telling the story - I can appreciate that.

Worth the watch if you want something quirky but not bubbly (at all), an imperfect and seemingly mysterious FL that is wrapped up in her creative mind and a ML that tries to get his job done but in the process gets more and more curious about who the FL really is.
Although it's about publishing a book/getting a new manuscript there are actually almost no office scenes, it's a very summer-y beach vibey drama. And it's not cringy or fluffly. The acting and production is above average, I also liked the music. Like everything in this drama it's a bit different than the usual OST.

To end this review: I'm still unsure if I like the drama or if I am confused since it's different in all aspects not just one, BUT it has many unique selling points and it's not like anything I watched before. The ending was like a movie ending, it fitted the drama very well and won't leave you hanging.
It's a fine line between unique, weird and confusing and this drama manages to balance on that line.

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Maybe this one won't be my favorite drama, but I'm gonna remember it for the rest of my life. The storytelling itself is unique and every Wang Pu Tao story has a strong message behind it, but is also creative and well inserted in the show.

Watching this was an emotional roller coaster: We had cute moments, dark stories, traumatizing pasts, and a lot of healing. Wang Pu Tao is unrealistically crazy and spontaneous, but also very fun to watch, while Feng Tian Lan is a real person, scared of her intensity, but smart and kind and is slowly giving in to the feeling of freedom that Pu Tao has all over her.

This drama is worth watching, but be sure to check the TRIGGER WARNINGS.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot: Wang Fei Fei is STUNNING, I was speechless.

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Excellent “suspense” series, quite disturbing & a masterful role for Miles Wei

PLOT: Very unusual format and tone since it is essentially a road trip, with a duo : a young editor (ML = Miles Wei), beginner and shy, and a writer (FL), a little temperamental, mysterious, haunted by her problems, including blank page syndrome.
During the trip, she tells ML meaningful stories, to be taken as clues or life lessons.

PROS:
+ Different but masterful role for Miles Wei
+ Fascinating and mysterious FL
+ vivid production, with magnificent cinematography. The images are beautiful, the framing very studied.
+ Fascinating, intriguing storyline. Good balance of suspense, romance and humor scenes.
+ great OST, with lots of classic tracks, amping up the action.

CONS:
- FL escape behavior, understandable when you are under the influence of a psychopath.

=> Excellent “suspense” series, quite disturbing.
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PLOT : Format et ton très inhabituels puisqu'il s'agit essentiellement d'un road trip, avec un duo jeune éditeur (ML = Miles Wei), débutant et timide, et une écrivaine (la FL), un peu caractérielle, mystérieuse, hantée par ses problèmes, dont le syndrome de la page blanche. Au cours du voyage, elle raconte a ML des histoires, significatives, à prendre comme des indices ou des leçons de vie.

PROS:
+ Rôle différent mais magistral pour Miles Wei
+ FL fascinante et mystérieuse
+ réalisation vive, avec une cinématographie magnifique. Les images sont belles, les cadrages très étudiés.
+ Storyline fascinante, intrigante. Bon équilibre des scènes de suspense, de romance et d'humour.
+ super OST, avec beaucoup de morceaux classiques, amplifiant l'action.

CONS:
- Comportement de fuite de la FL, se comprend quand on est sous emprise d'un psychopathe.

=> Excellent série "suspense", assez dérangeante.

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Hope in life can lead to happiness

I liked the unique stories of the manuscripts Feng LinTian was writing in this series. These mini stories in Wang PuTao's book reminded me of Stephen King's movie "Needful Things". So interesting. I enjoyed watching and kept me glued. Not an ordinary short drama. I was able to understand all the characters' role and their relationship to Wang PuTao's experiences. I admired Fei's acting unexpectedly and she delivered! Miles Wei is the reason why I was vested in this series. I have seen him in "Unforgettable Love" and "Find Yourself".
I loved the quirkiness of all the supporting characters too. In addition, ending music was ok plus the beach vibe location of this series was awesome. A daughter like Pu Tao to an Alzheimer's disease Dad Wang is forgiving. We cannot judge her on that. A very difficult one for sure. I liked the ending that a princess can also save the prince! Girl Power! I will definitely rewatch this drama with a better English subbing (the only thing I did not like).

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Refreshing and unique

The story of this drama is unlike any other I have seen. Each of the short stories in the beginning left my jaw hanging in how well they were written. The production and directing are also amazing! Everything fit so well together. The acting was exceptional and each of the characters were so unique. To my knowledge, this drama doesn't follow any tropes I have seen before so I highly recommend it if you are looking for a break from the standard, formulaic dramas. I will say, it is important to get a good translation for this drama, otherwise the dialogue and story become confusing. I did take a pretty long break in the middle of the drama, and it was hard to get back into it, so I don't recommend doing that either.

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Old book, new cover

This show is based on the odd couple/road trip from hell trope. Variations of this theme has been done in other dramas. However, the first few episodes are engaging, and the fables are interesting enough to hold your interest.

The FL is a taciturn author who claims to be suffering from writer's block and needs to go on a lengthy road trip to get the creative juice flowing again. The ML is a try hard graduate who is desperate to get and keep this job. Of course, they hit is off like a house on fire . . . with them screaming inside.

The FL certainly didn't make the ML's life easy but at least she did produce the odd fable for our entertainment. There is no doubt who is the OTP.

With only a dozen or so hours to fill, you would think that the story would be very tight, and it was in the beginning. The first couple of fables were suspenseful and intense but the rest of the show becomes more and more languid. The pacing is inconsistent, especially in the later eps.

It is the second half of the series that fails to fire on all cylinders. Once we are firmly back in the ‘here and now’, the series runs through several subplots. They are cliché ones delivered in workmanlike fashion.

The inclusion of the real-life antagonist feels awkward. The show tries to transplant the darkness from the fables into the real world. It could have been very immersive and confronting but it didn’t quite hit the mark. The antagonist is a sicko but oh so one dimensional. You see what he has done and what he is planning to do, but you don't feel the dread. The fact that the FL literally put herself in harm’s way is unhelpful. The whole proceeding feels staged.

This also takes the wind out of the leads budding romance. It is in the background, but the other subplots subsumed its importance. The show made it work in the end, but it is not as swoonworthy as I'd have liked.

With a short run time, the show is watchable. I'm willing to forgive some trespasses, but the original premise has more potential. It is a shame that the drama falls back to time honoured tropes too soon. It is good enough, but nobody talks about runner ups.

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