Amazing lead chemistry + many kisses but predictable with common cliches.

Completed - 11/22/2021

"Once we Get Married" is a cute and fluffy rom-com that is very binge-watchable and a good palate cleanser after a serious show. You don't need too much brain power and can just sit back and relax. Don't expect a mind-blowing plot as it's very predictable. However, the leads have amazing chemistry and they make me smile when they do cute things. :)

I recommend this drama if you are a fan of:
1. the actors and actresses
2. enemies-to-Lovers trope
3. contract Marriage trope
4. common rom-com cliches such as, accidental kisses/hugs/falls, phone battery died at convenient times
5. nice second male lead & evil second female lead

I am a fan of #1, 2 & 3, therefore, I decide to watch this drama. I know it's not perfect but I enjoy the ride. I saw our main male lead, Wang Zi Qi, in "Imperial Coroner" and quite enjoyed his role there. In this drama, he is not as reserved and mature as his historical role, and I am glad to see a different side of him. Here, he plays the CEO who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, acting somewhat childish and petty and jealous - but looking adorable as well. It's so nice to see Wang Zi Qi in two very different roles.

I've always been a fan of contract marriage dramas, and have seen quite a few of those. Therefore, I realize that "Once We Get Married" is actually quite average. The plot is predictable and you know the challenges that our leads will face in this type of set-up. However, I really enjoy the main romance between XiXi and SiChen. They are fun when they're enemies and argue with each other. Yet it's also adorable when they start to have feelings for each other and when they actually got together. There are lots of skinship and an amazing number of kisses (doesn't mean they're good kisses, just ok). I smile ear-to-ear when I see our leads bickering and flirting.

The secondary romance between Mu Ruo Na and Shang Ke is quite boring. I don't find either character attractive and don't care for them at all. I skipped most of their parts. This romance does not add anything to the plot and feels like a romance from a different drama. There's not much interaction between the secondary romance and the main romance, until the last few episodes of the drama.

We also have our typical second male lead, Mo Zi Xin, who has been in love with our female lead for a long time. He's one of those that will do anything for our female lead, even when he's been rejected. He will support her quietly and come to her rescue whenever the male lead is not available. On the other hand, we have our evil second female lead, Ran Xi Wei, who will do anything to sabotage our lead's romance. It's actually quite annoying that she keeps on doing that from the beginning of the drama all the way to the end. It's never-ending scheming and sabotaging.

Other observations:
1. This drama has the most accidental kisses I've ever seen in a drama.
2. Is Mo Zi Xin wearing a Pikachu tie? He wears that ALL the time!
3. Did I see our leads shop at Costco for groceries?
4. When did Nana become BFFS with XiXi?
5. Our female lead doesn't dress that nicely for someone who is a fashion designer
6. Wang Zi Qi and Ian Yi look amazing in suits!!

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A slow-paced romance that gives us the happy ending we needed

9/25/2021

Just like many, I have been waiting for the happy ending after watching "One and Only". O&O is a beautiful, tragic romance where no one got a happy ending. I am eagerly waiting for Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi's happily every after. This drama is not a romantic comedy and one should not expect cute and fluffy romance and lots of kisses. Instead, I feel that it has a very similar vibe to O&O. It's mellow and romantic in its own way. The romance is developed very slowly, even though they are engaged early on in the drama. Some might find the pace too slow because of ZZC's character and his awkward dorkiness. One need to be patient for the romance to develop and it's the central part of this whole drama. I do think that the drama could have been a little shorter.

What I like:

1. Zhou Sheng Chen/Allen Ren - One of the main reasons I enjoy this drama is because I enjoy a male lead like ZSC. I have a soft spot for a ML who is a little reserved, loyal, a little dorky, and shows his affections through quiet actions and not cheesy lines. I like how ZSC could only manage to utter a few words in the beginning of the romance. Then you slowly see that he speaks in phrases, then in complete sentences and then able to joke and tease. The way he talks shows the progression of their relationship. I am a fan of Allen Ren, but I never find him super attractive unless he's in uniform. But I find him VERY attractive in this drama. He looks good in a sweatshirt, in PJs and in suits, well, and topless. He looks especially good with his wet hair :)

2. *Spoiler* Ep 23 Bathtub scene - This is the most intimate, heartbreaking and romantic scene. It breaks my heart that ZSC was devastated from his grief. I felt Shu Yi's helplessness in not knowing how to comfort him. The washing of his hair feels so intimate and comforting. I love that ZSC asks Shu Yi to hug him and she immediately climbs inside the tub and give him a big, tender, loving hug. We don't need a passionate kiss here. All we need is that quietness and understanding of each other. This scene gives me the same vibe as my favorite nose-touching scene in One and Only.

3. Main Romance - I love how Shu Yi complements ZSC so well. They are both quiet people but Shu Yi is honest and straightforward, very similar to Shu Yi in One and Only. She's the one that always initiates and shows affection first, and that's what ZSC needs. I like how inexperienced our male lead is and the way he's always trying to ask Shu Yi to teach him. I agree with Shu Yi, he is absolutely adorable in his dorky self. The romance is mature and healthy. They trust each other and there isn't any silly misunderstanding between them. I also like their subtle color-matching outfits, esp. the yellow/tan sweater that Shu Yi wears and the yellow/tan jacket that ZSC wears (he looks so good in that outfit!).

4. Acting - Of course Bai Lu and Allen Ren are amazing and have great chemistry. I enjoy the supporting cast as well, e.g. Grandma, Uncle Lin, FL's parents and Little Ren.

4. Costumes - Everyone in this drama dresses very well. Our leads have a wonderful wardrobe of casual wear, formal wear and evening wear. It's hard to find a C-drama that I agree with the costume choices, as I've seen too many oversized clothing. Bai Lu looks absolutely beautiful in everything she wears. And of course, Allen Ren, who I gushes so much about already.

5. The Sites/Cinematography - What a beautiful traditional-style big house we have in this drama. The shots of the view of the lotus pond is especially beautiful when the red lanterns were up. I love all the rooms, all the yards and especially the library. I am also glad that we get to see sights in Shanghai and Xi'An as well.

What I don't Like:

1. Reincarnation Ban - I read that China bans dramas of reincarnation and I think it affects the story-telling of this drama. For fans of One & Only, Forever and Ever lacks the connection between the two. As much as I like the dream sequences and the voice dubbing, they are not enough to provide viewers to feel the emotional connection and the leads past lives. That's why I find it hard to believe that Shu Yi would fall in love with Zhou Shen Chen at the airport because of a name.

2. Plot holes - Did ML tell FL the real reason for his proposal, that he needs to get married to inherit everything? Did I miss that part? How can a boatman not know how to swim? Didn't the crabs stay with FL's parents house and the cute dad was fanning the crabs? How come the little girl brought the crabs back to ML?

3. Lack of kisses - I did not feel that One & Only needs any kiss scene. But, I do feel that we need at least one or two more in Forever and Ever. We only get one in the car and it was going so well until it was interrupted. There were quite a few moments when I felt that a kiss will enhance the scene, e.g. when they were both soaked in the rain and got back to the hotel before their first night together. Or when they're in the snow on top of the tower before or after they whisper the "I love you"?

4. Family Drama at the end - I am not sure how I feel about the family drama in the last few episodes. It feels a little out of place.

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Great Acting and 80s Feel

Completed - 3/25/2022 - 8.25 rating

Before you watch Season 3, I strongly advise you to watch Seasons 1 & 2 first, otherwise, the storylines and relationships would be very difficult to follow. This is a review of all 3 seasons and not just on Season 3. I will mention who was killed in Season 1, but will NOT disclose who the murderer(s) is/are.

"Light the Night" is a drama that took place in Taipei in 1988. The series follows the stories of 6 women who work at Hikari, a Japanese nightclub (not prostitution) that caters especially to Japanese expats and also locals. Season 1 provides us with a lot of background information of the characters through flashbacks, and viewers are informed of a murder in the last few minutes of episode 8. Season 2 focuses on the murder investigation and explores each individual's relationship with their loved ones and the deceased. We also get to know the real Sue, and how she's not who she appears to be. With the final season, we have another murder that may or may not have anything to do with Sue's death.. And of course, we finally find out who the murderer is.

This is not a happy drama. It’s about life’s hardships and the consequences of our actions. None of the women came from happy families but have broken or disapproving families. Some have a much harder life than others - forced prostitution, jail time, rape, being kicked out of their homes, etc. Although we have romance storylines, this is NOT a romantic drama. There are great kisses and bed scenes, but they don’t necessarily bring happy and fluffy feelings. We do see some more romance in season 3 than season 2.

Season 3 fills in the blanks for all the missing pieces in seasons 1 & 2. And because of that, this season appears more interesting and exciting than the previous two. The pacing is better and there seems to be a little more “action” and less talking and flashbacks. In regards to the identity of the killer, I have to say the drama keeps me guessing. I am not an experienced crime/thriller watcher, so maybe I am just not smart enough. (I hope this is not a spoiler) but I should have guessed or at least guess the general direction of who the murderer is from the ending of Season 2. By the way, what happened to Wallace Huo’s character and the drug cartel in the end?

Love and obsession prompted our characters to make the wrong decisions. Jiang Han’s rejection of Sue prompted Sue to seek revenge, by devising ways to hurt those who are closest to her. The other women at Hikari also made a series of wrong decisions because they’re jealous, their love not reciprocated or they are trying to protect someone dear to them.

The acting in this drama is great. From the main characters to the supporting roles, they bring life to their very flawed characters and make you either pity them or hate them. I especially enjoy Cheryl Yang (as Sue) and Chris Wu (guest stars as Baby). Cheryl Yang brought the complicated Sue to life - the nuances in her facial expressions ranging from regal and gentle calmness, to brewing evilness under the surface. On the other hand, Chris Wu was hilarious as Baby. He’s so unrecognizable as Baby in a skinny tight suit and as Baby in drag. I love his acting and mannerism. This is my first drama of both actors. The other actors/actresses are just as good. Ruby Lin (as Rose) and Tony Yang (as Pan Wen Cheng) have great chemistry whenever they are together. Rhydian Vaughan surprises me with his portrayal of Jiang Han, and so different from his role in “Dear Diary”. However, I think the other more veteran actors did just a little better than him. All the ladies at Hikari were amazing.

If you enjoy the 80s, this is the right drama for you. Costumes, hair, makeup, music, cinematography, all feel right and authentic. The ladies put on heavy makeup when they are working at Hikari. But once off work, they all show a softer side to the audience. Aside from Ah Ji, who appears much older without makeup (as she should), all the other ladies are much more beautiful without the heavy makeup, esp. Ruby Lin. Ruby Lin is so pretty in her off-work clothes.. The heavy Hikari makeup makes her look really old.

Overall, I would recommend this drama if this is your cup-of-tea. Just know what you are getting yourself into.

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Torturous, Bloody Romances with Great Acting

Completed - 3/14/2022

I have gone back-and-forth on whether to watch this drama because I accidentally read a spoiler about the ending of a character and the mixed reviews I've seen. I am glad to take the plunge while lowering my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this drama. For a Chinese historical/wuxia fantasy drama, 36 episodes are quite short. So if it's not amazing, I am not wasting too much time. Since I didn't watch this drama when it was aired, I wasn't sure how popular it was. It does seem to be a little underrated and not being recommended enough. For a small budget production, the quality of set designs, props and costumes are well done. "Bloody Romance" has a 7.1 Douban rating, which is pretty good, but only 8.0 on MDL which is considered only decent.

What I Enjoy:

1. Li Yi Tong as Wan Mei (FL) - Li Yi Tong is such an amazing and pretty actress. She has such wide range when portraying the growth and experience of Wan Mei. This role allows Li Yi Tong to express feelings of hope, sadness, desperation, love, revenge and success. She was so cute and innocent in the beginning, esp. when she first fell in love with Chang An. Her beautiful eyes conveyed the sorrow and hurt when she realized promises weren't kept. The heartbreaking reunion scene in ep 16 was amazing.

2. Qu Chu Xiao as Chang An (ML) - This is my first introduction to Qu Chu Xiao. He might not have the classic handsome look to be the main lead of this drama, but he suited the role of Chang An so well. I think Qu Chu Xiao looks better in modern dramas, instead of historical ones. Playing the shadow, I am most impressed with the way he talks, moves and postures as the submissive shadow. There’s something about his voice that makes him the perfect shadow (he uses his own voice in this drama). Chang An is a stoic and more serious character, and doesn’t provide Qu Chu Xiao the opportunity to widely express his feelings, as much as the role of Gong Zi. I think his acting is pretty good but when compared to a powerhouse like Li Yi Tong, it does pale in comparison a little.

3. Wang Duo as Gong Zi (2ML) - It’s hard to not have second lead syndrome when Wang Duo acted so well as Gong Zi. Gong Zi is such a gray character that he would make an amazing sole male lead in another historical drama. As much as I love Chang An, I can’t deny Gong Zi also has amazing chemistry with Wan Mei. This is my first drama of Wang Duo and I am impressed with his acting. Playing the role of Gong Zi provided Wang Duo an amazing opportunity to flex his acting chops. Gong Zi reminds me of Rong Xi, Luo Yun Xi’s character in “Princess Silver”, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Gong Zi is such a mysterious character that you have to guess if he really cares for Wan Mei, or if it’s all part of his schemes.

4. “Bloody Romance” is a small budget production. However, the cinematography, costumes, set designs and props all look good and believable. It’s much better than other big budget dramas I’ve seen, e.g. “Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities”. I love the opening theme song, "Waiting For You (一生等你)" sung by Tia Ray. It just sets the mood for you to watch this drama. The rest of the songs are just as lovely, with complementary background music that doesn’t overshadow dialogs. The use of comics for storytelling is also interesting and well-done. Due to Li Yi Tong’s character, there’s quite a bit of dancing in this drama performed by her. She graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and you could tell she’s in her element. She looks beautiful and mesmerizing!

5. General Plot - I quite like the general plot and the main romances of this drama. We follow the journey of our female lead from when she was first sold by her father to becoming the strongest of all. Along the way, she learned and grew and also had two amazing guys vying for her affection. We have Chang An would support and protect her no matter the cost. And we have Gong Zi who protects her in his own scheming, unconventional way.

What I Don’t Enjoy As Much:

1. Inconsistencies/plot holes - I enjoy the general plot of the drama but I feel that some scenes or stories could use a little more time to show us or elaborate on what happened. I am unsure if the drama was cut short, thus we have editing issues. I definitely feel that the pacing is done so well that it could be extended to 40 episodes. There are other minor inconsistencies/weirdness:
= An assassin that never kills when she’s on a mission
= Wan Mei is given so many chances to fight for her life within the first 5 episodes
= Gong Zi forgot to act blind for a while
= Xing Feng’s scar seems to change color every so often

2. Liu Guang’s voice - I cannot stand the voice of Puff Kuo’s character, Liu Guang. She sounded like a little girl when she’s supposedly a powerful Supreme assassin. I can’t picture Puff Kuo’s beautiful, mature face with a whiny voice.

3. CGI/Fight Scene - While I praised the production quality above, the CGI is quite mediocre. I like the light effect of the blood bugs, when it’s the dream/hypnosis sequence by Cha Luo, the CGI is really bad. I guess with a small budget, something’s gotta give. CGI is also used in some fight scenes, but they also look fake. The fight choreography is fine but they also rely on slow motion fighting. The actual fights weren’t very exciting. As much as I love seeing Li Yi Tong dance, when she is waving her sword, there isn’t enough power. She fights like she’s dancing as well.

Other Observations:
1. Good acting all around
2. The King reminds me of Willy Wonka
3. I feel bad for the actresses with their thin costumes. I see steam coming out of their mouths when they’re speaking.
4. Though I enjoy the matriarchal society/organization, the major scheming is still done by men.
5. I LOVE the reunion scene in ep 16, but the reconciliation scene is too anti-climatic.
6. If you watch this drama on YouTube, the titles of the episodes could be minor spoilers

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Short but doesn't seem cheap - Enough to tell a decent revenge story with good leads chemistry

Director Zhi Zhu, male lead Jin Chao and female lead Qi Xia Xia came together again after their first project, “Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang/长公主在上” for a new short drama called “Dong Lan Xue/东栏雪”. I rated ZGZZ pretty low due to its cheap budget production which affected my viewing pleasure. However, “Dong Lan Xue” does not suffer from the same criticism. This 2-min per episode short drama has a pretty decent production value, on par with other longer web dramas such as “The Killer is Also Romantic”. This drama does not scream ‘cheap’.

The pacing of the drama is great and tells a decent story of revenge from start to finish in about an hour. The leads have pretty good chemistry. The acting is not bad, especially for the female lead Qi Xia Xia. She looks gorgeous, just like when she was in ZGZZ. I like her styling, especially her gorgeous costumes.

The action scenes also look surprisingly good. I wasn’t expecting the quality of an excellent wuxia drama, but at least there’s no slow-motion fighting or twirling. The drama doesn’t shy away from bloodshed and torture. I was actually quite surprised they came up with a way to torture FL without letting her run away. They did kind of blur the wounds, as I can understand it could be quite disturbing.

If you don’t have a lot of time and want a quick drama, this is pretty good. Short dramas like these are created for those who commute to work on public transportation and have time to kill or, need a quick drama fix.


Completed: 5/14/2023 - Review #306

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Not good enough to be a great political, romance, or Novaland Wuxia/Xianxia drama

Completed - 12/25/2021

I am disappointed that I don't love "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse". I have such high expectations for this big production historical drama with Yang Mi, William Chan and Xu Kai Cheng. It took me about 15 episodes to get into the story and overall acting and leads chemistry are lacking. I feel that it tries to have everything in this drama - court politics, romance, friendship/loyalty, wars/battles - but it doesn't excel in any of them.

Acting
I can't help but keep on comparing William Chan to Allen Ren in "One & Only". Allen Ren has such big expressive eyes that he can convey his emotions really well, even when he played a self-controlled, reserved general who can't express his love for Bai Lu. On the other hand, William Chen has dead and bored eyes for most of the drama, except for the last couple episodes. His eyes are unable to convey how tortured he felt inside. And unfortunately, that makes his character even less likable to start. I did not root for him for the most part. Fortunately in the last couple episodes, he was able to portray a more free-spirited Jiang Ming and a really sad one in the end. Yang Mi did fine as she always does. I wouldn't say she was excellent, but fine. This my first Xu Kai Cheng drama and I felt that he overacted a little bit in the beginning when he was this crazy king. He toned it down later on and I start to enjoy his acting more. The other supporting cast was fine but not excellent.

Romance
I thought romance is a big driving force for this drama. We have 3 different romance storylines, but I am not satisfied with either of them.
*** Hai Shi (FL) and Jiang Ming (ML) - I don't feel their chemistry at all. I am supposed to root for them and to suffer with them. But in the end, I didn't feel anything. Although they are both smart, their romance is built on secrets. ML might have FL's best interest at heart, but this secretive protectiveness lasts too long. It didn't make for good drama and didn't make me root for their happily-ever-after ending.
***Emperor Di Xu (2ML) and Ti Lan (2FL) - their relationship started of as abusive and it was hard to watch. I understand why so many condemn such a romance. I might be a little more forgiving and I understand 2ML's heartbreaking past and also being the all-power emperor. I actually enjoyed their romance in the first half of the drama more than the main romance. I like that 2FL, though quiet, has the internal strength and stubbornness to passive-aggressively fight with 2ML. But the romance went downhill once 2FL forgave the emperor's wrongdoings too easily. She should have waited and let him beg for her mercy or at least use actions to show that he's sorry. But no, 2FL forgive and forget and move on. Then she becomes a useless character for the rest of the drama lost her little spunk.
***Zhuo Ying (3ML) and Zhe Liu (3FL) - I really like their sweet and innocent romance. They were a breath of fresh air when the other two romances are disappointing. Unfortunately, the drama did not give them the proper goodbye in the end. I wanted to see how they re-unite but it was all glossed over. I wanted to see more of them!

Bromance
This bromance between ML and 2ML is the best part of the show. It's deep, complex, frustrating and saddening. I enjoy scenes when the two of them are together. First when 2ML is always angry and ML has to calm him down. Then as we know more of their friendship, the dynamics becomes more entertaining. I think they have the best chemistry, even better than with their love interests.

Court Politics
***spoiler****
The reveal of the fake prince is underwhelming. Actually, he wasn't a good villain to begin with. Then at the end, how General Tang can so easily be deceived in rebelling is so dumb. He's supposed to be a great General, and he didn't care to do his own investigation and just blindly believe? I thought he had something evil brewing from the start, but there's nothing!

Production Quality, etc
It is without a doubt a drama with money. The costumes, accessories, and sets are elaborate and beautiful. That's why I was disappointed when the execution isn't there. We do not see cheap fabric or flimsy sets. We see beautiful rooms with wooden fixtures and soft candle lighting. It also has decent CGI with the sharks and mermaid. The OST sounds nice but not too memorable. I do appreciate that they don't overplay the theme songs nor use the BGM to force me to think and feel a certain way. As part of the Novoland universe, I was hoping to see more fight scenes. In the first few episodes, they had simple and slow-motion fights. A few better fight and battle scenes sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to satisfy my wuxia/xianxia thirst. The only "Novoland" part of this drama is the mermaid. I guess it might be too much to ask for the Winged Clan. It seems like almost all actors and actresses use their own voices, except for William Chan. People complain about Yang Mi's voice not being the same as in her other dramas. I guess fans are disappointed that she has such a young voice. I am all for actors using their own voices, but I do have to admit it was quite distracting and annoying to hear Yang Mi's young voice when she's supposed to be a boy/man. Her voice does sound deeper when she became a soldier/general. I also find the voice and the way Zi Lan (3FL) talks a little annoying.

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Trying to tell too many stories, but a VERY lovely main romance & First experience

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Stumbled upon “Ripe for the Picking” on Netflix as it silently shows up without much fanfare. As I read the synopsis, I was expecting another over-the-top rom-com about a 30-year-old virgin and a socially awkward guy. But I was pleasantly surprised that this is lovely and heartfelt love story between two vastly different individuals.

This is a very short drama, only 9 episodes and less than 30 minutes each. I would say my biggest complaint would be too many side stories. As much as I enjoy learning each co-worker’s individual journey to love and finding themselves, they are too short and take away screen time from the leads. The leads’ love story has become an afterthought in the first few episodes, while the drama spends its precious limited time on:

A working mom trying to find work/life balance, and her own identity.
A career woman whose sole focus on work jeopardizes her personal relationships
A girl with low-esteem struggling to find love in all the wrong places and being shallow as hell.
A asexual co-worker whose story was mentioned in passing without much depth

These are all interesting stories individually, but with such limited time, they just seem to be stories that hit all the checkboxes. They are not given the proper time and effort in developing them into meaningful ones.

Having said all that, the main romance is lovely. The leads are both awkward but sweet individuals. Their encounters and subsequent development are lovely to see. Oh, and there are quite a few frustrating moments with communication, but I’ve learned to forgive them because they tug my heartstrings.

Female lead is pretty and quite successful at work, yet she hasn’t had a boyfriend since high school (hard to believe!). She’s embarrassed to be a virgin at 32 and is on a mission to sleep with someone. That drive and desire propelled her to take the initiative in approaching our socially awkward ML. I have to applaud FL’s shy forwardness because she is the one making all the moves and trying to clear all misunderstanding/miscommunication. My heart breaks for her when she was ‘rejected’ and was so confused about what happened.

But what I love best about this drama is how it gives us a sweet, awkward but very realistic portrayal of a first sexual experience. I’m glad so much care and thought are put into writing their intimate time together. It was beautiful to witness (and quite embarrassing as I feel like a voyeur). When they do open up to each other, no matter how weird and awkwardly frustrating it is, it feels honest and intimate. And special brownie points to great kisses that feel romantic, tender and a lot of desire.

This drama might not be for all, especially if you usually get upset with a lack of communication. We have some of those frustrating moments, but they get cleared up pretty fast. I had a lovely time watching this and shed some tears of (seemingly) heartbreaks for the leads.



Completed: 4/21/2024 - Review #431

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Only watch if you have a HIGH tolerance for annoying, pouty, & fake innocent main characters.

Completed - 7/13/2022 - 7.75 (rounding up instead of down because of Ady An and Jeremy Tsui)

*warning - hard to write this review without spoilers - so read at your own risk*

“The Legend of Dugu” centers around the three Dugu sisters and the Dugu prophecy. This drama spans about 30-40 years, from when the sisters were only teenage daughters of the Minister of Northern Zhou to become mothers and empresses. Each sister feels differently about this prophecy and chooses different ways of life because of it. My biggest warning to future watchers is that, if you have a LOW tolerance for annoying, pretentious, pouty, despicable villains as main characters, you might not have a pleasant time watching this. I am OK with such a character in a supporting role, but as one of the main leads, I have to endure such hatred that I almost quit this show.

What I Like:

1. Dugu Ban Ruo/Ady An - The eldest sister of the Dugu clan, Ban Ruo is a badass. She’s smart, independent, harsh, ruthless, and scheming. She took the Dugu prophecy at heart and will do anything to be the Dugu to rule the world. She’s such an interesting gray character and I can’t help but admire her. Her goal never changes, even when against the love of her life and the road that led her demise. Despite her ruthlessness, the sismance between Ban Ruo and Jia Luo and how she puts family first were central to the plot. This is my first time watching Ady An and she was amazing as Ban Ruo. Out of the three sisters, she’s the only one that makes it believable to portray a teenager/young adult all the way to being a mother and empress. She carries herself with such grace that she reminded me of Qin Lan

2. Yuwen Hu/Jeremy Tsui - Playing against Ban Ruo is the handsome Yuwen Hu played by Jeremy Tsui. Unfortunately, his voice is dubbed so we can’t listen to his deep and sexy voice. But, we can still stare at his handsome face and expressive big eyes. He’s so good as our villain that you can't help but love him instead of hate him. His undying and obsessive love for Ban Ruo is one of the best things about this drama.

3. Romance: Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu - They are not meant to be, given their family backgrounds and political positions. But their chemistry is sizzling. Whether it’s a good or bad thing, they are two peas in a pod and are so similar. Even though they are so in love with each other, nothing stands between them and their hunger for power. Ban Ruo’s wedding night was ‘WOW’. The way she stood up to Yuwen Hu and put him in his right place was well-acted by both. Ban Ruo is a badass and she keeps me guessing whether she still loves Yuwen Hu at the end.

4. Jia Luo’s Wedding night - Without giving too much away, the story behind the masked groom and all that happened inside and outside the tent was so touching.

5. Costumes - Such beautiful and patterned costumes for both men and women. For some reason, I think all the clothes the women wear seem to be too big, but beautiful nonetheless. I also really like the black/gold court official uniforms. They reminded me of my favorite red/black ones in “The Rebel Princess”. There are four weddings in this drama, and each bride has bright red and/or green wedding gowns and golden headdresses. The headdresses are intricately designed and royal/grand. I also see some of the tallest hairstyles and elaborate hair accessories on the women.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

1. Pacing - I am not sure if I should categorize the pace to be slow or just OK. I think the first 25 episodes have pretty good pacing. A lot happened and my favorite romance also takes center stage here. Then it seems to have slowed down a little but it might be due to the fact that my least favorite character is taking up too much screen time. Then the last 5 episodes seem to be too fast and I wanted more episodes.

2. Romance: Jia Luo + Yang Jian - The chemistry is a little iffy. I waited for a long time for their romance to officially start and for some good push and pull. But things are resolved too quickly and they fall in love too fast. They actually seem more like friends or siblings but not lovers or romantic partners.

3. Different ages: Jia Luo and Mantuo - Hu Bing Qing has such a young face that I believe her when she plays the 15-year old Jia Luo. However, it’s hard to believe her as the empress and a mother of a teenager. Towards the last few episodes when she’s in the same scenes with her daughter, I think her daughter looks like an older sister. She’s quite petite, and she doesn’t carry herself with as much grace as Ady An as the empress. On the opposite end, Li Yi Xiao looks a little too old to be a teenager in the beginning episodes. She is a lot more believable after she’s married and scheming against the concubines.


What I Don’t Like:
1. Dugu Man Tuo - This is very personal, as I really can’t stand her fake pouty and innocent face. As Man Tuo is a main character being one of the three sisters, there is a significant amount of screen time devoted to her journey. Her scheming becomes repetitive as she uses almost the same method to get rid of people she doesn’t like or in her way. The worst thing is that she lasted throughout the drama and didn’t really die until the very last episode. It seems so unfair sometimes when I had wished Ban Ruo would have lasted that long. I guess I should credit Lil Yi Xiao’s acting for making me hate her so much!

2. Yang Jian - It’s rare for me to not like the main male lead of a historical drama. He’s OK at first, but then he loses his charms. This is my first Andy Zhang’s drama and he’s a veteran, so I am not sure if it’s because I don’t like his acting or the writing of his character. Yang Jian is not charismatic or charming enough for me to like him.

3. Kisses - ALL the kisses are bad in this drama. It doesn’t matter if it’s a kiss on the cheek, forehead or lips, they all make me feel uncomfortable watching. Very disappointing.

4. Dubbing - Another reason why I dislike Man Tuo so much is the voice actor that dubs her voice. That voice is annoying!! Moreover, I actually don’t like much of the voices of many of the characters. How I wish they didn’t dub Jeremy Tsui.

5. Bad CGI - The CGI of animals is one of the worst I’ve seen, esp when the drama is only 4 years old. The green screen scenes are also not believable and you can totally see how fake they are.


Other Random Observations:
1. There’s such a big contrast between Ban Ruo + Yuwen Hu’s romance and Jia Luo + Yuwen Yun’s romance, and each couple’s last scenes together. The circumstances and the feelings are so different, yet so memorable.
2. Also a big contrast of their wedding night scenes.
3. A drama full of lovebirds who can’t marry who they want.
4. The last conflict between Jia Luo and Yang Jian broke my heart. It’s not because of the incident, but how Yang Jian reacted afterwards.
5. Yang Jian is supposedly smart but he falls for Man Tuo’s tricks so many times.
6. Who does Man Tuo love more in the end - Yuwen Hu or Yuwen Wei?
7. Who does Jia Luo love more in the end - Yang Jiang or Yuwen Yun?
8. Power can make you lose your mind and forget promises….which you will regret later on.


Wow… this is a long review. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end.

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Completed - 3/6/2022

When “Bad Buddy” was airing, the MDL feeds were spammed with comments, screenshots, reviews, and everyone was praising this drama. I thought I would pick this to be my first Thai drama (I ended up watching “I Told Sunset About You” first). Maybe the expectations were too high, and I fail to see how the drama could justify a high 8.6 rating. As reviews are very subjective, please do not hate me for not loving it (I like it OK). I am a new Thai drama watcher, so maybe I am not getting some of the cultural or BL references/biases. I am judging this based on my enjoyment level.

What I Enjoy:

General Plot - I do enjoy this modern and BL take of “Romeo and Juliet”. Even though for the most part, I was confused about why the two families hate each other so much. The reasons given in the beginning of the show didn’t seem to justify the animosity. But I like the premise and how our main leads break that tradition. I enjoy the development of how Pat and Pran compete with each other since childhood. This sense of competition never goes away, even when they become lovers. I have always been a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and I think the transition of the different stages of their relationship is done relatively well.

Chemistry - Pat and Pran really do have great chemistry together. I love their bickering and the continued competition throughout their relationship. This I-am-not-losing-to-you spirit adds spice to their chemistry.. I like the embarrassed and twist-my-arm looks that Pran always has on his face. I also like the smitten looks that Pat has when he’s looking at Pran. They complement each other very well. Their few emotional scenes were done really well. The couple gives off a very rom-com vibe - cute, fluffy, sweet and fun. However, at some point, the flirting became a little too much (more in the negative section below).

Love who you want - I am not sure if other Thai BL dramas are like this, but this drama doesn’t make a big deal when someone is in a homosexual relationship. We have heterosexual, gay, lesbian couples in this drama. No one was alarmed, no one was criticizing or judging. It’s giving a message of “I don’t care who you love as long as you are happy”. It’s different from “I Told Sunset About You’. There’s no coming out of the closet angst, stigma or prejudice. We really need more drama like this to present a healthy, supportive message to the world.

Songs - I like all the songs in this drama. I always look forward to scenes when Pran picks up the guitar and sings.


What I Don’t Enjoy:

Excessive Flirting+Shirtless Pat = Fan service - I love flirting as much as the next romance watcher. However, the flirting in this drama is excessive and cringey to me. A whole episode was dedicated just to the leads’ flirting before they are officially an item. At times, I also find Pat annoying when he keeps on pestering Pran and just repeating these cringey love lines. I wish the drama had toned down on the flirting, and focused a little more on the family drama/history and not just waited till the last couple episodes. Additionally, are we having too many shirtless scenes of Pat? Don’t get me wrong, he’s hot and has a great body and I do enjoy seeing this handsome guy. But I feel like the excessive flirting and shirtless scenes are just for fan service to create buzz when the show is airing. It “cheapens’ the quality of the drama.

Faculty Rivalry - I also feel that the drama spends too much time on the Architecture/Engineering rivalry. These college students are acting like high school kids, with no self-control whatsoever. When you get busted so many times, it’s time to think before you act. With the excessive flirting and rivalry scenes, the drama could be cut down to 10 episodes only.

Product Placement - There are so many products being advertised in this drama. We have the usual suspects of drinks and snacks. I’ve never seen a printer advertisement by a male lead before (I guess we still need to change ink cartridges these days), and the multiple scenes of our leads cleaning each other’s face with makeup remover.


Other Observations:
1. Pat’s father looks Chinese and his character’s name is Ming. It’s also interesting to see him reading a Chinese newspaper.
2. Do Thai beers really have such light color and no foam at all?
3. The ending is good enough for me and we don’t need a Season 2. Love the subtle acknowledgment of the parents.
4. To show that the kids are adults, you just need to get their hair styled back - no more hanging fringes.
5. My first time seeing and listening to a Thai Xylophone. It sounds great!

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Short and easy watch with delicious food scenes

“Nagatanto to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou” also known as “Kitchen Knife and Green Chili Pepper” is a sweet, slice of life drama about a female chef’s fight to keep her family restaurant open due to financial difficulties. In order to save the restaurant, she has to marry a 19-year-old student, 15 years her junior. This sounds like a HUGE age gap, and it is. However, the drama does not give me an icky feeling due to this age difference.

Amane (ML) is way mature for his age and luckily, Ichika (FL) is not written as an innocent and irritating older woman. You really only feel the support Amane has for Ichika. He is there to push her to challenge her limits and to believe in her talents. He supports her by managing the business side of things, so that she can focus on her creativity in cooking. The duo complements each other. In the backdrop is 1951 Japan after the war. Ichika challenges the tradition of only male chefs in the kitchen and fights the prejudice against women. the drama shows us a glimpse of the struggles of Japanese women after the war.

The romance develops naturally and sweetly. It’s not the focus of the drama, but it’s enough for me to satisfy my romance cravings. I enjoy all the cooking scenes and the explanation on how each dish is prepared. I don’t care much about the brother/sister-in-law relationship, but I understand we needed that for the main romance storyline and to showcase the beginning of a new era for women.

I recommend this if you are looking for a short and easy to watch drama with delicious cooking and food scenes.


Completed: 6/13/2023 - Review #318

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When duty to your family and reality Crush your dreams

Completed: 9/22/2022

“The Hymn of Death” is a beautiful tragic romance when the duty to your family crushes your dreams and love. I found it more satisfying to think of this drama as a 3-hour long movie, than a short 6-episode drama. If I think of it as a movie, my expectations are lowered and I am OK with the fast-paced development of all events. But if I think of this as a drama, I might complain about how fast-paced it is. I wanted more scenes of how the leads fall in love and how reality forces them apart. Otherwise, I can’t totally be moved by their romance. I did not cry at all while watching this, and I am usually a cry baby.

Shin Hye Sun is beautiful as the female lead, Yun Shim Deok. She acted so well, both as an outspoken college student and as a mature opera singer. I wonder if Shin Hye Sun is actually fluent in Japanese, as she sounded so natural to my untrained ears. Her mouth also matches her opera-singing voice and I could feel her emotions. Lee Jong Suk did an admirable job as well as our male lead, Kim Woo Jin. I particularly enjoyed his emotional outburst towards his father, but other than that, the acting is just solid, and pales a little in comparison to Shin Hye Sun. But then, what is up with him leading his woman on the whole time? That’s not cool and such a cowardly move!

The supporting cast is a familiar bunch. I am surprised I recognized so many faces, though they all look a little old as college students. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the scenes of the troupe and seeing their fun and silly scenes together.

I love all the poems in this drama. They really add a lot of feelings and emotions to the characters. I am usually lukewarm about opera music but the songs in this drama are all beautiful. I even enjoy the opera songs, and probably because Shin Hye Sun did such a great job acting as well. I really want to be moved to tears, but that didn’t happen for me. I would still recommend this if you are looking for a short and beautiful drama about a tragic romance.

Other Random Observations:
1. I noticed this about Lee Jong Suk from previous dramas, whenever he cries, it’s always one teardrop from his right eye. ?
2. Male lead looks just fine after being released from prison and being beaten. Aside from a few scratches on his face, it’s like nothing happened.
3. I love all the outfits. The leads look gorgeous together.

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It takes a Village to have a Safe and Nice Flight!

Completed: 9/12/2022

“Nice Flight” is a simple but educational drama about those that work at the airport - pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin attendants, ground crew, mechanics and more. This is a short and easy watch, and for the most part will put a smile on your face.

I was surprised by the amount of technical talks in the first two episodes. While introducing our male and female lead and their occupations, the drama does go into quite a lot of detail in the communication between a pilot and an air traffic controller. I don’t mind and quite like the educational aspect of this drama, but it just took me by surprise. If you do not enjoy all the technical/professional jargon, you might not like this drama as much.

The romance is simple and sweet. We have two individuals who work closely together by profession, yet have very different personalities. They are quite adorable and awkward together (my kind of cuteness). I might have wished for a more mature romance since the leads are not teenagers but professionals. I also wanted more cuteness when they’re a couple. Because the drama is so short, once they get together, we only get a few scenes of fluffiness and then we get into challenges of being in a relationship.

I enjoy seeing the character development of our female lead and her background story. Her tight bond with her grandfather is touching. We might have not seen much change of personality in our male lead, we do follow his career path and I learn a great deal about the process of being a pilot. Who knew you needed to go through full training again if you wanted to pilot a different aircraft? I didn’t but I do now!

Though the focus is on the leads, I appreciate the fact that this drama also sheds light on other important professions. “Nice Flight” stresses the importance of team work and passing the baton from one professional crew to another, in order to have a safe and successful flight. If the drama is longer, then we can learn even more about each profession.

Other Random Observations;
1. I wish to visit a gyoza restaurant like that. So many interesting and crazy gyozas!
2. Pilots must make a lot more money than air traffic controllers. Just check out the apartments that the leads are living in. Night and Day!
3. JAL must be a big sponsor. You don’t need any other product placements.

Special thanks to Windflows for subbing.

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Too short with underdeveloped plots and loose ends

Completed - 8/30/2022
First half - 8.0
Second half - 7.0

Makjangs or makjang-like dramas are usually not my kind of genre. I’ve only watched “Sky Castle” so far and I’ve enjoyed it. So I am not sure how makjang-like “Remarriage and Desires” is. I would say that it was very interesting to see what the rich will do to gain power and money through marriages and remarriages. The good and bad thing about this drama is that it’s only 8 episodes long. You don’t need to worry about a draggy plot in the middle, yet you should worry about under-developed plots and loose ends.

I quite enjoy the first half of the drama and would rate it a solid 8.0, but a 7.0 in the second half, especially the ending. There are way too many loose ends that weren’t tied, and everything just magically resolved because the main plotline is completed. I was excited to see Kim Hee Sun again after “Tomorrow” where she was such a cool badass female lead. Unfortunately, I am disappointed in her role and acting.

Since this is a short drama, I’ll forgo my usual long review/ranting and go with quick bullet points of what I like and dislike.

What I Like:
1. High production value - glitzy, sexy, beautiful sets and costumes. Jin Yoo Hee has the most beautiful outfits in this drama. I love the scenes at the masquerade and wanted to see more.
2. Interesting setting with Rex, the high-end matchmaking company for the rich and powerful. It’s interesting to see how they match people up.
3. Jung Eugene (as Jin Yoo Hee) - she is sexy as hell and makes me hate her so much, thus, translates to excellent acting on her part. She is the STAR ⭐️ of the show.
4. I like the theme song - matches the feel and tone of the drama.


What I Don’t Like:
1. Boring and Bland female lead - I was waiting for her to do something more exciting to seek revenge. The whole revenge storyline is not revengeful enough.
2. Aside from being a little younger than the other rich guys, I don’t see the appeal for Lee Hyung Ju.
3. Not enough time to develop a believable romance; no chemistry at all especially from our boring female lead.
4. Many events and conversations were told instead of shown.
5. Ending - too many loose ends and everything just magically resolves. What about the company troubles? Legal troubles? Business partner trying to take over? All goes ‘poof’ just because the main revenge plot is over.

Other Random Observations:
1. Choi Yoon Sun (CEO of Rex) moves and talks so slowly. She gives me an evil and cunning queen vibe.
2. Two male leads have cakey and unflattering make-up. Personally, they are not my kind of handsome.
3. I got cheated by the poster. FL does not give off that vibe at all in the drama.
4. What is up with the ugly wedding dress?

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A light and fun drama about the common folks. Follow the leads journey of love and growth.

Completed - 5/30/2022

“The Lady in the Butcher’s House” might not be a masterpiece, but it brought me joy with its comedic moments throughout the drama. But in order to truly enjoy this drama, you can’t take it too seriously. Also know that our FL might come off as crude and violent in the first few episodes. Many commented on her hitting her husband, and that is true. If the role is reversed and her husband is hitting her, we would be crying foul and calling the police. If you can move past this, you will be rewarded with a heartwarming and funny drama, and witness how this couple complement and support each other through good times and bad times.

Acting is decent overall. I recently watched Baby Zhang in “Delicious Romance” as a 30-year sophisticated, divorced woman, so it took me a few episodes to get used to her character here as a loud, a little violent tomboy. I do think she does a pretty good job acting as a teenager and growing to be a wife. On the other hand, I never would have recognized Tong Meng Shi as Uncle Wu in “Joy of Life”. I really like his portrayal of a timid husband, weak scholar and a just official. He is also hilarious with so many embarrassing scenes.

I enjoy stories about commoners and how they live through their everyday struggles.. Although this drama still has a subplot about court officials and the royal family, the majority of the drama is about our main couple’s journey. We follow them as they grow closer to each other, falling in love and working hard and supporting each other. They might be different on the outside, but they have the same values and ethics, and complement each other. They make for a very fun couple to watch. Although there are many comedic moments, mainly from Xu Qing Jia, there are also many heartwarming scenes. They have a rough start as a contract married couple, but they have very honest and open communication, and are there to support each other. Along the way, they make new friends, start up new businesses and save and help fellow commoners.

When you look at the romances/relationships in this drama, you will notice a role reversal here. The women in this drama are smart and strong. They are go-getters, savvy business women and often take the lead in their relationships. The men, on the other hand, are shy and quiet, and don’t know how to respond to their women’s advances or teasing. Actually, all the women in this drama are pretty independent and smart.

As much as I enjoy this show, I do have to say the plot and storylines are quite predictable. This could be a comfortable watch, or one that is lacking excitement/twists and turns. The pacing is pretty good in the first ⅔ of the drama, but it slows down a little in the last ⅓. There are some plot holes but they do not affect the main storylines. I would have loved to see more on how the second leads fall in love. I was told that they are attracted to each other but I wasn’t shown how. I also wonder how our female lead, who is only a butcher’s daughter, is so business savvy that she knows so much about tea and medicine to open different businesses. I thought she only knows about pigs.

Other Random Observations:
1. Love the animated opening theme.
2. Love the way ML looks at FL.
3. Putting a black covering over a rooster’s head? Genius and Hilarious! (PETA, don’t hate me).
4. No annoying character is a big plus.
5. Decent music and not overplayed

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A visually beautiful drama

Completed - 5/3/2022 - 8.25

"The Blue Whisper Part 1" is a visually stunning production with good CGI and a good-looking cast. It's a very pretty drama. We've seen many xianxia dramas in recent years that have a very toned down color palette with a lot of white and light colored costumes and scenery. However, this drama brings back the colors into the xianxia world. And it's really pretty to watch and makes you go ooh and ahh over the beautiful sceneries, costumes and CGI.

However, I have to say the plastic 6-pack torso that Allen Ren has is really distracting in a bad way. Pictures of that have circled around the internet and caused quite an uproar, and it's a totally justified uproar. I just can't ignore that. Luckily, this plastic torso retired after a couple episodes and what's left is Allen Ren's handsome face. I think he looks best visually in this drama. This wig fits him really well, with his hair down. And of course, the always beautiful Dilraba looks fantastic here as well.

Acting wise, both of our leads did a pretty good job. Disclaimer: I am NOT a big fan of Dilraba. She has been in similar roles before, the cute and outgoing girl that everyone loves. I can't say her acting is bad, but it meets my expectations. Disclaimer again: I AM a fan of Allen Ren. I love his expressive, big eyes. They speak to me and are able to show all his emotions, esp. in the first few episodes when he couldn't speak. You can see him change from the innocent Chang Yi to becoming the General of the North.

Plot wise, I do like the story of demon masters and their servant demons. At least, it's something different, and we don't have to deal with the three realms, as in other xianxia drama. However, that doesn't mean we could get away from the noble sacrifices of our characters, all in the name of love. I didn't check the tag, so I was not aware that 'misunderstanding' is one of them. Misunderstandings and noble sacrifices seem to go hand-in-hand quite a bit in xianxia dramas. The pacing of the drama is not bad. I did feel it slow down at Ep 9 or 10, but the story picked up in the last third of the drama. I do wish there are more fight scenes throughout the 22 episodes. I understand this is not a wuxia drama, so I wasn't expecting excellent fight choreography. There's just more talking than fancy fighting here.

The drama also has a few beautiful songs. They are not overplayed and not loud enough to drown out the dialogs. I think my favorite song is Zhou Chen's 鲛人之歌 (Mermaid's song).

At the end of Part 1, I have a somewhat lukewarm impression of this drama. It's not bad, but also not the best. Thus, I give it a 8.25 (B grade) rating. Just not enough to cross the 8.5 (B+) mark, based plainly on my personal enjoyment.

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