Completed - 3/4/2022 - 7.75 Rating

I wanted to watch a fluffy romance to make up for the lack of chemistry in the drama I watched earlier. I chose “My Love, Enlighten Me” due to its pretty high MDL rating at 8.3 at the time of this review. For a C-drama romantic comedy without any superstars, this is a pretty high rating. I am disappointed to find out that I didn’t like this drama as much as others.

I would recommend this drama for those:
1. Who love a silly, cute, fluffy romance with many hugs and kisses
2. Who enjoy common cliches and tropes in a romantic comedy
3. Who enjoy watching about the fashion and entertainment industries
4. Light-hearted and simple drama


What I Enjoy:
1. Chemistry between the leads is really good. Once the leads get together, they have many sweet and fluffy scenes, full of hugs and kisses. Kisses are more cute/sweet than passionate/steamy. I enjoy their cute bickering. Others might not like it, but I like that they are both petty and get jealous easily.
2. I like the female lead, Nuan Nuan. She is funny, outgoing, smart, stubborn, hardworking and really perseveres to finally achieve her dream. She has great character and career developments in the drama. I don’t think I’ve seen a character with so many different jobs in such a short drama.
3. Eleanor Lee - this my first drama of hers and I am quite impressed with her acting. It’s easy to portray a cute and sassy character. But she also does a great job in emotional scenes. I felt her emotions in all her crying scenes and the argument she had with her mom during mom’s visit.
4. I enjoyed the secondary romance, though the fake dating part lasted a little too long. Han Xue and Gu Li’s romance is kinda cute and I am usually not a fan of noona romance.


What I Don’t Enjoy:
1. Super bright white scenes. The drama has the common rom-com backlighting shots to show a romantic scene. But additionally, there are so many daytime scenes where the whole background is so bright. I am blinded!!
2. Tripping, accidental falls and the overuse of slow motion forced romantic scenes,
3. Wrist grabs - so many of them especially from the male lead.
4. Misunderstandings between the leads because of the Love Square.
5. Fang Han Chen really needs to back off. FL repeatedly told him she’s not interested and he still persists throughout the drama. Even Lin Jia Yi backed off after she had a honest but sad conversation with ML.


Other Observations:
1. The plot is actually quite predictable and nothing surprised me.
2. I am still unsure about the initial setup in the first episode. Did ML contact the management company to promote Lin Jia Yi, or was he hired by the company to do so?
3. I’ve seen Connor Leong in two other dramas (“Be Yourself” and “Definitely Not Today”) and his characters are quite similar - introverted, shy, or cold. I wish to see him in a different role.
4. They are really “creative” with the product placement of Oreo cookies and Wine/wine bottles.
5. There’s no way ML can spot FL climbing up the muddy hill in the pouring rain.
6. Shout outs to “10 Miles Peach Blossoms”
7. Hot Pot! Hot Pot! Hot Pot! They really like hot pot.
8. Connor Leong (ML) is the only one who didn’t use his own voice.

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A drama full of complicated relationships

Completed - 2/24/2022

I can't help but compare this drama to "Six Flying Dragons" which I have watched 29 of 50 episodes and then put on hold. There are a few common historical figures but with very different personalities. The production value and acting of both dramas are of high caliber. With my experience with “Six Flying Dragons”, I also realized that I cannot binge-watch this drama. This drama is intense with too much going on. The episodes are quite long as well (about 1 hr and 15 mins) and I lose focus and get bored when I binge-watched almost half of the show. I had to slow down and watch 1-2 episodes a day.

There are many different complicated relationships in this drama: Bromance, friendships, camaraderie, romance, father-son, and siblings.

Seo Hwi + Seon Ho (Bromance) - The friendship/bromance between our two male leads is different from other bromances I've seen. We actually don't see many scenes with Seo Hwi and Seon Ho together - mainly the first and last few episodes. They have been friends since childhood and through thick and thin. Their friendship is deep, even though they are from very different backgrounds and have very different life experiences. Throughout the drama, you can say they both have a common goal, but they go about achieving that through very different (bloody) means. They harbor sadness, anger and seek revenge, while pushing away the other's support and care. It's quite a push-and-pull relationship. They seem to hate each other at times, but in the end, they never kill each other when given the opportunity. The love has always been there, buried under their hardened hearts.

Seo Hwi + War Comrades - Seo Hwi and his friends provide some comic relief and lightheartedness in this drama. They bicker and beat up each other all in the name of fun and friendship. Without them, this drama would be too dark and too heavy.

Romance - Do not come into this drama because you want a lot of romance. Romance is only a very small part of this drama. Because this drama covers such a long period of time (many years), it cannot devote too many episodes on Seo Hwi and Hee Jae’s initial attraction to create a strong foundation of the romance. Therefore, it seems like they fall in love too quickly. We do see a few romantic and heartfelt scenes, but those are far and few between. On the other hand, the other pair, Moon Bok and Hwa Wol, provide comic relief. They seem like an unlikely pair but they are so funny and cute together.

Father and Son: Seon Ho and his father (Nam Jeong) have a love-hate relationship. Seon Ho found his father’s actions despicable and wanted to take him down. On the other hand, Nam Jeon seems to despise his son and only wanted him as a replacement for his dead older son. But in the end, do they truly hate each other? When there’s a chance to kill each other, can they really do it? Similarly the King and his princes also have some complicated relationships. The princes seek the throne, yet could they really kill their father for it? Will the king kill his sons to keep his throne? Without giving away spoilers, there’s a lot of internal struggles and is also a big part of the political drama.

Siblings: The princes might not want to kill each other for the throne. But circumstances might push them to do so. There are complicated feelings and internal struggles. On the other hand, we also see the tight bond between Seo Hwi and his little sister, Yeon. They have relied on each other since their father’s death, and the love they have for each other is deep. It’s no wonder Seo Hwi will go through hell, pushing his dear friend away, in order to seek revenge.

Other Observations:
1. Seon Ho is the saddest character. He goes through his journey of revenge and bloodshed mainly alone. At least Seo Hwi has his war friends by his side. Seon Ho has none. I think I enjoy Seon Ho’s journey and character development more than Seo Hwi’s.
2. All the characters must have 9 lives. They got slashed and stabbed by swords and arrows so many times, and they still recovered at lightning speed to be stabbed again.
3. Seo Hwi cries a lot.
4. But then, this whole drama is full of non-stop suffering and bloodshed.
5. I never saw Sambong’s face. I was hoping Kim Myung Min, who plays Sambong in “Six Flying Dragons” might show up as a cameo.
6. I like the OST. It’s quite unique for historical drama with what seems like a mix of different genres.

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Silly, Funny and Cute Rom-Com - Life's challenges of a New intern!

Completed - 2/23/2022

A silly, funny and easy-to-watch romantic comedy with a focus on career and life choices of an intern and her colleagues and friends. This is a pretty short 24-episode drama broadcasted on Mango TV. And it’s no surprise that the English subs on their YouTube channel are horrible, and maybe that’s why we don’t see many watchers and reviewers of this drama.

I would recommend this drama for those who:
1. Are new graduates or just got their first jobs.
2. Enjoy a no-stress silly, sometimes a little over-the-top and cute romantic comedy
3. Interested in the advertising and public relations industries
4. Doesn’t mind MangoTV’s awful subs and blurred background music/songs on YouTube

Our female lead, Ye Xuan, is a new intern designer at the start up advertising company 88 Ai Ke. She is full of passion and dreams in making it big in Shanghai. The drama is about her challenges as a new intern and her career development into an independent and strong woman. Along the way, she met some awesome friends and colleagues, and of course her romantic partner. I am not sure how realistic the workplace politics and procedures are for an advertising firm, but to an untrained eye, the plots are enjoyable.

Our male lead, Li Ze Nan, is a successful Sales Director of a big advertising company. He’s also our FL’s landlord, Party A, mentor, friend and lover. He might come off as cold and stoic at work, but is indeed warm and funny as well.

Our leads have good chemistry especially when they are bickering. They have a healthy friendship and relationship - supportive of each other, open and honest communication, no misunderstandings. This is a slow burn romance and they don’t get together until the last quarter of the drama. But once they get together, they are sweet, cute and funny together. There’s no shortage of fluffiness and skinship towards the end (though their kisses are not good at all) to make up for the long wait for their relationship to start.

The secondary and tertiary romances are just OK for me, esp. the tertiary romance between two colleagues. It happened too late and too fast, and doesn’t add much to the plot. The secondary romance between Hu Ya Nan and He Yu Cheng is kinda cute, but could have used a little more development.

This drama is definitely not a masterpiece and there are some inconsistencies in the plot (e.g. no cooking rule is out the door, no way FL has enough money to make an important purchase). However, I enjoy it for what it is - a sweet and fluffy rom-com.

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Not bad but doesn't live up to the hype - a little too cringy for my taste

Completed - 1/29/22 - rating 8.25

"Hometown Cha Cha Cha" is such a highly rated drama in 2021 that I was hesitant to watch it during all the hype. I was afraid I will be disappointed. Now I can finally say that personally, I don't think it lives up to the hype. I enjoyed the drama for the most part but there are certain things that did bug me.

What I Enjoy:
1. Small town feel - It's a nice change to watch a K-drama sets in a rural area. I've always enjoyed the small town feel as there are way too many dramas that are featured in big cities, tall high rises and fancy decors. I get to enjoy the sceneries from the beach, to the mountain to the view of the ocean. I especially like the houses of our ML and Grandma Kim. I would love to have FL's office view of the ocean when I look out my office window.

2. Romance/Chemistry (first 10 episodes) - Before our leads got together, the romance was a lot more fun. I enjoyed the bickering between our leads and how they get to know each other through mishaps and arguments. Though I am not a big fan of slow-motion accidental falls, I do like side glances. The chemistry was great. During these episodes, we also see two mature adults in their 30s, navigating through life's challenges and communicating openly and somewhat sensibly.

3. Grandma Kim & Zone Chief Yeo - These two ladies are my favorite supporting characters in Gongjin. They are both tough as nails, strong and independent. They don't take nonsense from others and are caring in their own ways. They are the least annoying residents in the whole of Gongjin.

4. I really like the short but touching conversation between FL and 2ML in the coffee shop/bar. I always thought it was an unrequited love on Director Ji's side, but we found out it's actually mutual affection. If only one of them has confessed sooner and the timing is better, we might have a very different story. Anyway, I just like the feels I got when watching them and how kind and honest they are to each other.

What I don't quite enjoy:
1. Romance right after the leads got together. It seems like these 30-year-olds became hormonal and cringy teenagers. What happened to the mature adults we have in the first 10 episodes? Why all the baby talk and whining? Just because you haven't had a relationship in a while doesn't automatically turn you into such annoying people once you fall in love. The relationship could be done in a sweet and cute way without being cringy.
Sorry for the rant. I was really disappointed in the personality change, thus, I can't give this drama a higher rating.

2. Shaky camera work when shooting close-up. There are quite a few scenes that I get dizzy just looking at the actors faces. This only happens on close-up shots, esp. in the beginning and end of the drama. Since I have bad motion sickness, I was quite sensitive.

3. Annoying side characters - The most annoying support character award goes to the loud-mouth gossipmonger, Cho Nam Sook. She's so loud and annoying and I really couldn't stand her spreading rumors about every one. The drama tried to paint a more sympathetic picture on her by telling us of her history. However, I don't buy that. Just because you have a sad past does not give you a pass in spreading rumors and hurting other people. The other Gongjin residents are quite annoying as well. They are just so loud and overly dramatic.

Other observations:
1. First shot/scene of ML - why is he wearing so much lipstick?
2. They overplayed the song "Romantic Sunday" in the first half of the drama.
3. I like the cute and awkward romance between FL's bff and the police officer.
4. I like the adopted family feel of Gongjin, despite the annoying characters.

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Easy Watch, Good chemistry and Cool FL

Completed - 1/16/2022 - Subjective 8.5; Objective 7.5-8.0

From a personal enjoyment level, I am rating this a 8.5 (upgrading from my initial 8.0), but objectively, it's probably a 7.5-8.0. I might just be in the mood for a light, short, simple drama and my gut tells me that I really enjoyed it.

The drama itself is quite predictable and nothing really surprises me. It's refreshing to see a female lead in a Japanese drama that is independent and strong at work. She's a pro badass and won't be talked down too. She seems perfect from the outside, but actually quite innocent and insecure when it comes to love. On the other end, we have a male lead who seems cool on the outside (quite typical) but indeed is just as vulnerable. I do want him to be a little more vocal and took the initiative sooner. I like the scenes when they leads are together and they have good chemistry.

Takada Kaho (FL) is so pretty in this drama. I really like her acting and she has big expressive eyes. I also love her all her outfits. I don't find Toshuka Sota (ML) to be handsome, but I do think he fits in the personality of the lead. On the contrary, Izuka Kenta (2ML) is dreamy and sexy. He looks his age (35) and totally not the young college student in the "Pornographer".

For a drama about de-flowering and rated R, the sexual content is quite mild. There a couple somewhat intimate scenes, but nothing too explicit. The intimate scenes were done right and very romantic. I actually wanted a few passionate kisses but didn't get that.

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Quick watch for those who miss the old crew - but not of the same quality

Completed - 1/12/2022

When I first saw the title, "Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures", I thought this drama is a historical rom-com which rides the coattail success of "Story of Yanxi Palace". Well, I was wrong, this is not a rom-com. Although it is also not as serious a drama as its parent story, there are some parallel storylines that remind you of what happened before. All I could say is: Like Father, Like Son.... Like Mother, Like Daughter.

I was very happy to see Wei Ying Luo and Emperor Qian Long again, along with other familiar faces. Ying Luo and Qian Long are just how I remembered them from a few months ago. On the other hand, the introduction of their spoiled daughter was definitely different than when we first met Ying Luo. I've never seen the actress, Rain Wang before, but I think she did a pretty good job. Her character was more than what meets the eye and Rain Wang was able to portray the multi-layered princess well. Wang Yi Zhe as FuCang An was an interesting character. Although Wan Yi Zhe is no Xu Kai and his beautiful, expressive eyes, Wang did a pretty decent job as well. The weakest link out of the leads would have to be Wang Yu Wei, the Mongolian Prince. His facial expressions were a little bland compared to the others. He's one with the least experience and it's probably unfair to compare him with the others.

There is certainly an interesting plot twist towards the end of the drama. And with only 6 episodes, the pacing is fast. One can also say that it's too fast and I wish to have more episodes to develop the romance a little more and make the two romance storylines more believable.

We also get to see the same production value and dedication of beautiful sets, costumes and head accessories. The quality is quite on par with what we've seen in "Story of Yanxi Palace". I am also glad to hear the same OST as well.

Overall, I recommend this to those who miss "Story of Yanxi Palace" and need a quick fix. Just don't expect the same quality in acting and script writing. I don't think you need to watch the 70-episode long prequel to watch this. You just need to pay a little extra attention to the dialogs in Ep 4 or 5 to understand the history of Fu Cang An's family. Other than that, I don't think you will be lost if you only want to watch these 6 episodes.

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Never thought the 3 words "We are Friends" can be this annoying ...

Completed - 12/22/2021 - 7.5 (subjective); 8.0 (objective)

The general plot is nothing extraordinary. It's a typical teen first love drama started from 2nd year of high school to 1st of college. I was looking for a cute and fluffy drama, but I ended up being very emotional and cried more than I expect to (I am a crybaby). If this drama is a like a typical J-drama that is about 10 episodes long (60 minutes each), the pacing would have been a lot better. I would also give it a higher rating.

I was initially annoyed with the over-the-top acting in the first episode. It's really not my cup of tea, but after a couple episodes, I got used to it and was able to enjoy the drama better. I like that we are introduced to a strong and independent FL. She stands up to bullies and defends her friends. She is honest with her feelings and not afraid to be vulnerable and expresses them. I also like our ML initially and understand his background story that affected him tremendously. I really quite like this drama in the first 5 episodes. I would have given it a solid 8.0-8.25.

However, in the middle of the drama between ep 6-10, I became annoyed. Our FL suddenly cries all the time because of a boy. I understand her sadness, but this lasted way too long. I initially like the reasons why ML turned down FL's affection. After all that he went through, being cautious and serious about his feelings is very admirable and understandable. But his wishy-washy behavior becomes annoying and it drags on forever. This is when I thought, if the drama is shorter, we might not have this problem. I really like ML in the beginning as he's my favorite type of ML - quiet, caring and shows affection through actions without much fanfare. But towards the middle of the drama, I wish our FL would just go out with 2ML. Our 2ML is just as good a catch - outgoing, adorable and caring. Oh and Riley Wang (2ML) has a cute dimple! :) I love that 2ML uses the caricature drawing to comfort FL. That was a great scene.

The supporting cast also took me a little while to like them. 2FL is cute as a button and has decent character growth throughout the drama. FL's parents are over-the-top hilarious, but I needed their absurdity to lighten the mood. Same goes to the 3 color-coordinated high school girls. Basically, everyone except our ML and FL are funny and provide colorful humor throughout the drama. Though there are minor annoying characters, there isn't anyone that I hate.

I don't mean to sound like I hate the drama or ML. I do enjoy the drama's unique way of demonstrating ML's inner thoughts and inner world by using the black and white room. It comes full circle when ML and FL both leave this room together at the end. The leads got together pretty late in the drama. I would have loved to see more cutesy scenes between them to compensate for my patience.

Other observations:
1. Too many flashbacks
2. They overplayed the theme song - though it's a lovely song
3. Love the weird "Negative Energy" teacher
4. "We are Friends" means I like you but I can't tell you right now until I am 10000% sure I really like you, or 10000% sure I can stop liking you secretly and forget about you
5. Same writer for "Someday or One Day" and "Rainless Love in Godless Land" - no wonder we see so many guest starring roles in all 3 dramas.

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Plot twists and repetitive betrayals

Completed - 12/8/2021

Princess Silver is a lot more complicated than what the synopsis said. It also doesn't seem to be a highly recommended drama. It's not a bad drama, esp. if you enjoy revenge and betrayal plots. However, it's not a perfect drama as the pacing is a little uneven, and there are some weird illogical scene inconsistencies. I was thoroughly enjoying this drama in the first 25 episodes . But at 58 episodes, I think it's longer than it should be (which is quite common in Chinese historical drama). The sets and costumes are nice and elaborate. Girls look beautiful and Guys look handsome. Overall acting of the cast is pretty good as well.

This drama has a very romance-focused plot and all the "excitement" is because of these romances.

1) Rong Le/Man nYao (FL) + Prince Li (ML)
This is the lovely main couple. They love each other so much that they would suffer and die for each other. After the initial "surprise", they never doubt each other's love. However, I personally am not feeling the passion. I actually think our FL has the least chemistry with ML out of the other male leads. I am not sure if it's because I don't find Aarif Rahman very attractive, thus, affecting my perception of his acting/love for FL. Towards the second half of the show, I find it difficult to recall scenes in the first half that would justify his selfless actions.

2) Rong Le (FL) + General Fu Chou (2ML)
I find the chemistry between them the best, even though FL doesn't like 2ML. However, Jing Chao as our 2ML is such a good actor. I am so glad I got to know him here. In the bath tub scene, his acting was SOO good. I cried for him. It was so heartbreaking when he discovered who was in the bath tub and his eyes are full of emotions - or hard to control emotions. There are other monologues that he's done that were so heartbreakingly sad. The rare quiet times that FL and 2M spent together eating dumplings and watching fireworks, were my favorite scenes of theirs. Even when they were fighting, there's so much more chemistry.

3) Rong Le (FL) + Rong Qi (3ML)
If you are watching this drama because of Leo Luo, you might be disappointed. I would not classify him as a main lead, but more in a supporting role. He doesn't really have that many scenes in this drama. However, when he's there, you can see the usual Leo Luo elegance and sadness. This romance was sweet and sad at the same time. Rong Qi has to be the saddest character in this whole drama. However, I do find the love/hate relationship between the 'siblings' a little too repetitive. I would have loved the drama to spend more time showing us their earlier relationship and not wait till the end of the drama.

Other Observations;
1. Leo Luo is the only lead that uses his real voice.
2. Nice sets and costumes - but I find the clothes too big on the actors, esp. male actors.
3. Many pretty ladies in this drama!
4. There aren't too many fight scenes, but the choreography is quite good.
5. How come Prince Li can touch women all of the sudden, even when he's not in love with them?
6. FL's amnesia lasts a VERY long time - too long for my taste.
7. Abrupt scene changes
8. After watching "Sweet Teeth" I can't help but focus on the actors' teeth and find FL's crooked teeth a little distracting. LOL ?
9. Most characters are pretty smart. There isn't any dumb, annoying character in this drama.

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It's not perfect but I get the hype and high rating - Very Binge-worthy

Completed - 11/14/2021 - 8.75 (my gut says it's not quite a 9.0)

I am adding my LONG review to hopefully help someone who is on the fence about watching this drama (that is, if you can find this review among the hundreds of reviews). I debated whether to watch this drama because it was so popular and overhyped, and I was concerned that I would be disappointed. I am glad to say that I enjoy this drama very much, though it's not perfect. But I can see fans of Yang Yang and Dilraba would definitely love it. I am not a big fan of Dilraba, especially her voice (though I am not going to dock a point because of that since it's a personal preference). Her voice is a little too young and whiny for my taste, so I have to rely on Yang Yang's visuals to help me out (and gosh..he is very attractive in this drama and the drama does not fail to remind me of this fact).

I would recommend this drama to:
- fans of Yang Yang and Dilraba - they look really good together and have great chemistry
- fans of sweet and fluffy romance with a decent amount of believable kisses and hugs
- fans of gaming (though you can't treat this as a e-sport drama). It's not on the same level as "Cross Fire", "Gank Your Heart" or "Fall into your Smile". It does have great graphics.
- those who are interested to learn about Chinese aerospace field
-who likes a slow-burn mature romance with no misunderstandings or love triangles

I would NOT recommend this drama to those:
- who do not like a CONCENTRATED heavy dose of fluffy sweet romance
- who do not enjoy gaming (there's a lot of gaming in the first 15 or so episodes)
- who find the aerospace industry boring (it's our ML's profession and has a good portion of that in the drama).
- who don't like Chinese propaganda - as the showcase of aerospace engineering and technology could indicate that

Even though the drama starts with Dilraba/JingJing/FL's shenanigans, this drama is very much about Yang Yang/YuTu/ML's character development. It starts with ML's indecision about his current dream career after 10 years, when he is forced to face with financial reality, and ends with his dream coming true with the support of FL. The first half of the show has a lot of gaming and the slow-burn romance of our leads. ML's aerospace profession is sprinkled throughout the drama. I am actually happy to have a drama focus on such a unique profession and for me to learn a little more about the challenges that staff and family face. I don't know how accurate its depiction of the profession is, but I generally enjoy it. I do find that it could have done a better job to introduce the profession regarding the Xi An shuttle incident with more layman's terms. It was quite hard to follow all the scientific and engineering jargons and explanation. The super sweet fluffy romance starts at around Ep 22 when they get together. This is a heavy dose of concentrated sweetness. It somehow can make viewers think that this is arbitrary sweetness for fan service, to overcompensate the lack of it in the first half of the show. My main complaint about the plot/main story is the uneven distribution of gaming/aerospace/romance/fluffiness. I also feel that the drama could be 24-28 episode long, instead of 32.

We all know the romance is the main selling point of this drama. It definitely does not disappoint as our leads look great together and have really good chemistry. All the kisses and hugs seem natural and sweet. This is a very mature and healthy romance with witty dialogs and banter. We don't have to worry about love triangles/squares or misunderstandings. I do find FL acts a little too young for an almost 30-year woman in the beginning of the show. Her little girl voice doesn't help either. However, I am glad to know that she might sound young, but she's witty and smart and has a high EQ. Dilraba looks beautiful and she acts well (maybe she's just being herself). I just don't like her heavily white foundation/makeup on her face. I read reviews of people not liking Yang Yang's acting and thinks he's wooden. I have to respectfully disagree. In the first half of the drama, he's in constant internal conflict with himself about his career and relationship with FL, and I think Yang Yang acted really well. I can see that turmoil in his eyes. You can see how he's changed once he is in a relationship with Jing Jing and his witty and more outgoing personality comes out. I applaud our FL for taking the initiative to profess her love when they're in high school and at present. I am also glad that ML takes the initiative after they are in a relationship because FL has done so much already. You can say it's a personality change or character growth for him - from a somewhat distant, logical and cool guy to a passionate and lovey-dovey guy. So much better than the ML in another show who has a personality change all of a sudden when he's in love (looking at you ML in "Falling into your Smile") LOL

Other Observations:
1. Did I mention Yang Yang looks hot in every single scene? LOL. He looks so cool in the gaming scene that it reminds me I need to watch "King's Avatar"
2. This drama keeps on telling us that our leads are good-looking - like every single chance it gets. It has too many slow-motion shots to show us how beautiful they are.
3. I love Janice Wu as Dilraba's BFF
4. I enjoy the voice chat during gaming and wish to have more of that.
5. There isn't any annoying characters and the supporting cast is great.

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Big Production, Great Acting but very SLOW

Completed - 11/1/2021

"The Rebel Princess" indeed is a big-budget production, where Zhang Zi Yi herself invested in and recruited many world-class experts that she works with in the movies. The costumes, music, cinematography and sets are beautiful and elaborate. There is nothing you can criticize in its production value. The drama boasts a huge cast and their acting is superb. My #1 complaint of this drama is the slowness. It's not the plot that is slow and draggy, which happens in almost all long, historical C-drama. But I find the show itself is full of slow movements and dialogues (too many pauses). To binge-watch this slow 68-episode drama is very difficult. Maybe if I am watching this when it's broadcasted live and follow along week-to-week, I might have enjoyed this more.

Plot:
I enjoy the overarching main plot. There is a lot of court politics in this drama. Everyone wants a piece of the throne, whether they are royal or entitled to or not. All parents sacrifice their children for power, and they all do it in the name of "love". It's ironic that our main leads are not one of them, and yet they are probably the most qualified to bring peace to the nation. There are many subplots and I do enjoy how they weave together to contribute to the full story. As mentioned above, I personally find this drama to be too slow. If everything is sped up a little bit, it might be easier to binge-watch. However, I do understand that directors and producers are not making dramas for binge-watchers. But if you are a binge-watcher like me, just be aware. The drama also is narrated from FL/Ah Wu's point of view. It's a little interesting/weird that her monologues happen quite often, instead of just the beginning or ending of an episode. I feel that the pacing of the last 20 episodes is faster. Since the assassination, there is a lot more action. This event also started the strong finish of the drama. I greatly enjoy the ending (last 2-3 episodes) and feel that it brings closure to almost all storylines and characters.

Main Romance/Leads:
There are so many complaints about Zhang Zi Yi (ZZY) acting as an 15- year old girl. It is somewhat hard to forget that she's 42 (even if she's a beautiful and young-looking 42-year old woman). However, she only needs to act like a 15-year old for about 6-7 episodes. Once she's forced to marry our ML and all the events happened around that time, she is forced to grow up and doesn't act young anymore. In fact, I feel that her character grows up too fast and she becomes too mature, to match our older ML. A big selling point of this drama is our awesome male lead played by Zhou Yi Wei (ZYW). He is an amazing general and and an even better husband. The leads have a very mature and trusting relationship. ZYW brought this character to life. A minor complaint that I have is that we need more ZYW. There aren't enough scenes of him, and even less with him and ZZY. Our leads are separated from each other most of the time. Although the chemistry was good when they are together, their romance doesn't give me the same feels as in my other favorite shows "The Rise of the Phoenixes" or "Legend of Fu Yao". When they are together, they are too calm and mature. It's lacking some playfulness and lightness to this romance to hook me in.

Costumes & Production:
They must have spent a lot of their budget on costumes. I feel like ZZY has a new outfit each day or each episode. You can see they are elaborate and expensive (though I do not always like her style). I also particularly enjoy ZYW's black casual outfit. It fits him like a glove and he looks so dashing it in. Additionally, the red and black court officials outfits might be my most favorite court officials costumes in all of the historical dramas I've seen. It's such a nice combination - simple colors but work so well together when layered. All the ladies also have very nice costumes, but none can be compared to our female lead's. On the other hand, I am most impressed with the war and battle scenes. You can see that they spend money in hiring extras to be in these battles. When they say it's a big battle, you see a big battle and not CGI fake people or comics (looking at you "The Long Ballad"). The Mount Lianyu battle is especially amazing and greatly shot. That battle is one of my favorite events - from the white horse running to the black horse and towards the enemies, to the tragic death and self-sacrifice of the general, and the black horse kneeling down to get our male lead on its back. Everything is perfect.

OST & Dubbing:
I really enjoy the background music in this drama. The music complements the scenes so well. The few songs that were sung were nice as well and I especially like the duet. I don't feel that the songs were overplayed but just enough at the right time. One of my personal pet peeves is when the music is so loud that it overpowers the actors dialog. For the most part, we don't have this problem here. However, because of the live recording, I feel that at times, the music is a tiny bit louder than I like. Speaking of live recording, it's a pleasure to be able to listen to almost all actors real voice, either live or post-production dubbing. Only a few actors and actresses were dubbed, mainly because they do not have the Mainland Chinese accents.

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A Crazy, Funny, Heartwarming drama

10/26/2021 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

It's always hard to know whether I enjoy a jdorama that's adapted from a manga or anime, as sometimes I find the acting or the story to be too dramatic for my taste. This drama is just crazy enough that it hasn't gone overboard. But if Minase Aoi acts a little more childish, I might have lowered my rating.

This drama's main focus is the mother/daughter relationship and the meaning of family (blood-related or not). Aoi and Sora's relationship gives me a very Gilmore Girls vibe. Both moms and daughters are witty, funny and sarcastic in their own ways. Both families have gone through a lot of hardships to form such a tight bond. I really enjoy how Aoi and Sora grew throughout the show. It is a little hard for me to stomach how childish Aoi could be at times, but then I also enjoy some of her crazy dialogs. The way these two ladies are so honest and speak their own minds is very refreshing to see in an Asian dramas. Oftentimes, there are too many quiet pushovers, but I'm happy to see that more Asian female leads are showing more power and strength and ready to fight back in this male-dominant drama world. Additionally, the extended family from Odaya is a great addition to the mom/daughter dynamic. Family is more than blood. The way Gon and his dad are there for them is very heartwarming.

Aoi and Sora have their own separate romance storylines. All the potential suitors are decent guys, and I do like the main love interests for both ladies. The secondary love interests are a little bland comparatively and there's definitely no second-lead syndrome for me. I actually would have loved to see more scenes of them together with the main love interests in the end. The last episode only very casually and indirectly shows us who then end up with. I would love to actually see them together, esp. Sora + Hikaru. They are so cute together and I wish a little more time is reserved for them and a more direct confession from either one of them.

Speaking of Hikaru, I would like to learn more about his relationship with his family. We only got a snippet through his phone call with his mother. I was hoping we know more, and then to have Sora be by his side to support him. Alas, we didn't get anything.

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More than just a regular Rom-Com

10/5/2021

I randomly came across this drama while browsing a MDL Friend's watch list. I have never heard of this drama nor see any promotion of it. When you just look at the poster, this is probably not something I would watch, as it seems like just a regular rom-com about boy bands and cutesy/fluffy romance. This is by no means a perfect drama, but it's enjoyable (to me) and I enjoy the romance, plot twists and mystery.

What I Like:

1. Smart and strong female characters: Both of our female leads are smart in their own ways, and pretty much kept their brains throughout the drama. We oftentimes encounter female leads that started off as smart, but then make dumb decisions and lose their intelligence as the show progresses. Jiang KeLe is street smart. She can talk her way out of any situation and still be lovable. Guan QianYa is more mature and business smart and in critical thinking. The both of them are a highlight of the show, especially their strong friendship.

2. Secondary romance: I enjoy the romance between Guan QianYa and XuNian more than the main romance between Jiang KeLe and Lu Xiao. The Guan/Xu romance is a little more mature and it's developed more logically. I believe how their feelings are developed through their special 1:1 interaction in the game, and love their conversations. They communicate their feelings honestly with just the right amount of physical affection and kisses. I've seen better kisses from Zhang Ling He/Xu Nian in "Maiden Holmes" though. =)

3. Plot: As I said, there's more to this drama than a regular romantic comedy. There are surprising plot twists that I didn't see coming. The drama is not all rosy and light, but touches on the darker side of the game/business and the background stories of the 4 male characters. However, there are just enough comedic moments and one-liners that made me chuckle, esp. from our villains, without being over-the-top.

4. OST: I enjoy all the songs in this drama. Music is used appropriately without annoying, overplayed songs. One of my pet peeves is the volume of the BGM and I am happy that the music does not drown out the dialogs. I tried to find the OST on Spotify, but couldn't locate them. Too bad.

5. Acting: The acting is surprisingly decent for such a young cast. I've seen Zhang Ling He in his debut drama "Maiden Holmes", and he has definitely improved since then. I've seen Dai Lu Wa in "When we were young" and "Cross fire" and I think this is her best performance out of the 3 dramas. Her character here has more range the other two, and does not cross my personal line of being overly annoying and cutesy. This is my first time watching He Luo Luo and Fan Shuan Qi, and I think their acting is not bad either. He Luo Luo is definitely good-looking and portrayed the different personalities of his character well. I really like Fan Shuan Qi and will look out for more of her dramas in the future.

Minor things I don't like:

1. Minor illogical incidents: I am never a fan of C-dramas and CPR. They are never done correctly and can kill someone than save someone. Why are the compressions done on the heart? I also don't think having a fever and going to visit someone in the ICU is a good idea. Our 2FL has no money and can still afford to buy our FL a scooter?

2. Ending: I like a happy ending, but giving the 3rd and 4th male leads (Luo Ke and Qi Chuan) girlfriends in the last episode seems somewhat forced and rushed. If the drama wants to give everyone a happily-ever-after ending, maybe the two romance storylines should have started a little sooner to give it more credibility. The drama could have gone into their background stories a little more as well.

Other observations:
* The air balloon rides are a great idea, but the CGI is awful.
* Still have accidental kisses and slow-motion romantic shots with the sun behind the characters
* Hard to imagine the two female leads are of the same age.
* Can they really fight so well? Able to escape each and every time without getting caught?

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More enjoyable than the Korean version

9/26/2021

This review will have some personal thoughts in my comparison of the Korean version vs Japanese version. I have not watched the Chinese or Thai version. Overall, I enjoy this version more than the original, "She was Pretty". Because it's only 10 episodes, the pacing is good and there isn't any filler.

I definitely enjoy the Japanese ML, FL and 2ML more than the Korean version. They are all cute and adorable, and very easy to root for. I cannot stand the how loud Huang Jung Eum was as the Korean FL. Unfortunately, I've watched a few of her dramas and there's a lot of screaming. Koshiba Fuka/Sato Ai, on the other hand, is a lot more mellow comparatively speaking. She is still inexperienced and clumsy, but she comes off as more adorable. Sosuke's character is also a lot more tolerable as the male lead than the Korean version. He is rude in the beginning, but we see his character development a lot sooner, thus, you don't hate him as much. The main romance develops better without many fillers. You can see how ML used to just hate FL, then tolerates her, to really enjoy her company. I might like another 0.5-1.0 episode to see how he slowly falls in love. 2ML in the Korean version gives everyone second-lead syndrome, and I bet many feel the same way for Akaso Eiji/Higuchi here as well. Overall, I liked Higuchi's character more as he's a little less over-the-top, but just as sweet and caring. As for Risa, I think I like the two characters about the same in both versions.

The Japanese version focuses more on the romance plot. There isn't a whole lot about the inner workings of the editorial department. It's not until the last few episodes did the focus really switch to the demise of The Most magazine. If you like mostly romance, this version might be better. On the other hand, because the Korean version is longer, there are storylines about the supporting cast/editorial staff, and the magazine business. I actually enjoy learning more about the editorial process.

Even though it's hard to pretend that our FL is ugly, it's also a great message that our FL changes not because of a man, but for her own sake. It's also nice to know that she wants to achieve her own dreams, and not just to follow her man, no matter how much she loves him.

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Watch it because you want to see Liu Xue Yi (ML)

8/19/2021

I watched this drama primarily because I liked Liu Xue Yi (ML) in "Love & Redemption" and would love to see him in a more favorable role, to wipe off the bitter taste of his character in L&R. He looks so handsome in "Qing Luo" and has a very different role. It's great to see him showing his acting range in comedic moments and heroic moments. I love seeing him in the different costumes here. I also enjoy seeing another strong and smart FL in C-dramas. However, I only find her acting OK. The child actor is cute and smart and did a fantastic job.

This is not a drama to be taken seriously as it's mainly a comedy with some political stories. The drama is also very tropey, esp. with those spinning-in-your-arms romantic moments that I don't enjoy. I was hoping to see the big fight scene of the final contest, but was disappointed. So if you are looking for something light, then this is it. But don't expect a serious historical/political/wuxia drama.

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7/23/2021

I was glad to see an MDL article recommending this drama. This is a heartwarming drama about pursuing your dreams and growing as a person and in relationship. It was a very pleasant surprise to see so many cooking scenes and beautiful food shots. I've watched ML in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru" creating beautiful Japanese sweets and now seeing him making delicious Spanish food. I wonder if he likes to cook in person.

The general plot is nothing unique or new. It's been done many times about communal living and the pursuit of your dreams. In J-Drama fashion, this short 10-episode drama is jam packed with all the goodies that hook you in and get you excited from the first episode. You want to follow the romance and the journey of the main leads and you really don't know their final decision until the very last episode. The pacing of the drama is good, and there aren't any unnecessary episodes. Just don't expect dramatic plot twists.

ML's character is very different from his character in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru" and he played it well. At first glance, it appears that he's a goofy and sunny guy, who takes everything lightly in his carefree way of life. But as you watch the show, you noticed he's a very complicated and multi-layered character. I enjoy his character development the most, to see how he slowly becomes himself again and pursuing his dreams. FL's character is interesting due to her being an influencer. The portrayal seems pretty realistic, as to how obsessive we are with our phones and Instagram posting. ML and FL are very different in personalities and values in life. But because of how different they are, they complement each other and encourage each other. At first glance, we are worried that ML won't change and FL has to be the one to accept and change for ML. At one point, I wish FL would just be less forgiving. But that's how they complement each other, as without FL's persistence and generosity, their relationship won't work. Though there are minor misunderstandings, they are always able to openly discussed the issue a day or so later, and resolve everything. Their romance is mature. I don't mind the love triangle as much, as their love is strong enough to endure some minor bumps and bruises.

I enjoyed the acting of our leads very much. The bickering was sweet and funny, and the emotional scenes make me cry with them. The supporting cast also did an admirable job. There isn't any annoying character that I want to hate. I even like the 2ML as the third wheel and feel for him. The secondary romance is OK. I enjoyed this more "natural" acting than most of the over-the-top cutesy acting in some J-Dramas. And the dog is the surprise MVP!

Additionally, FL has great great fashion sense and an enviable wardrobe. Aside from beautiful food shots and cooking scenes, there are some really pretty cinematographic shots when they went camping and fishing.

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