Cotton Candy Romance

In Chinese, the terms 妹妹 (mei mei) and 哥哥 (ge ge) have double meanings - one refers to a sibling, the other can mean a lover. It is the mix up in the understanding and usage of the terms that has caused the hilarious misunderstanding of our naive characters that drives the plot. The love of one's sibling (platonic) and a romantic love can be confusing for someone who has never seen an opposite sex, let alone having a sister. This purity together with naivety leads to confusion and hilarious conclusions.

For the Chinese, it is very common for an admirer calling the admired "ge ge" or "mei mei". Using such terms helps to reduce the embarrassment of being too blatant in a relationship especially if it's hidden, as well as reducing the barrier in the name of familial relationship. In this drama, these two terms are repeatedly and interchangeably used and construed by various characters for different meanings.

This story is a fusion of the modern world with the ancient xianxia world. Our Female Lead Shi Xia (Wu Qianying) has accidentally travelled to the xianxia world while searching for her brother Shi Dong (Dai Yunfan). There in the xianxia world she meets the immortal Hou Chi (Zhao Yingbo) and falls in love with him. Hou Chi has never seen an opposite sex, nor heard of the term “mei mei”, and has no clue what a “sister” is, for Hou Chi is the purest of the pure and has been trained for 200 years to take over the role of the united ruler of the universe. But adopting Shi Xia as his “mei mei” to love and to protect changes his life because he also falls in love with her.

I really like Zhao Yingbo’s portrayal of the Hou Chi character. Hou Chi does look like a piece of wood, drained of emotions on his face, lack of understanding of any worldly matters and human relationship. Though slow in his motion, he is not stiff, and he is intelligent and loyal. Therefore when he eventually gives the viewers a slight smile, we know he is truly in love. The actor has an untainted look as pure as a baby’s face, with his innocent mind asking adult questions, it is really a joy to watch.

Coming from a modern world, Shi Xia is as astute as any of today’s young adults. Wu Qianying’s acting here is not bad as a sometimes-rebellious little sister, and can be rather sweet and cute at times. She and Zhao Yingbo make a very adorable pair with great chemistry. I love Dai Yunfan as Shi Xia’s protective big brother. The dynamics he has with his little sister and her boy friend, Hou Chi, are funny and warm, and the confusing interchanging use of the terms “mei mei” and “ge ge” is hilarious.

My Verdict

This drama is silly but absolutely adorable. At first, I wanted to drop at episode 1. But I was like licking a cotton candy that I couldn't throw away because it's too cute and fluffy. There’s not so much of a plot here. Basically, Shi Xia tries to find a way back to her modern world and Hou Chi tries to become the ruler of the universe so that he can help send her back. Then there is a couple of not-so-evil antagonists who suffer mental illness because of their wrongful perception, and perish eventually. The OSTs are very pretty and calming, just like our Hou Chi character and his relationship with the first girl he has ever seen in his life. Despite all the flaws and stuff, I was rather enjoying it.

Entertaining! Great watch!

P/S Though this drama is listed as having 35 episodes, there is an extra episode that tells the modern life of our love birds. Don't miss it. It super funny, and cute.

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Empowering Drama for Girls

I really love the female lead character in this drama - independent, unconventional, fearless, strong (good in fighting), forthright (doesn't hide anything - speaks her mind), intelligent, decisive, compassionate, confident, will not be manipulated, smart, at the same time, loves her family dearly and will protect everyone with her own life. Together with an eye-candy male lead, this drama is really an enjoyable and easy watch.

Ban Hua (Guan Xiao Tong aka Gabrielle Guan) has come from a bloodline of royalty. Her paternal grandmother is also the aunt of the Emperor who respects her greatly and grants the Ban family unlimited privileges and protection from the other noble families who constantly want to harm them and even want them dead.

Ban Hua doesn’t take orders from anyone, not even from the Emperor himself. Despite her high status, she’s being shunned by most eligible men in town because of her ‘bad luck’ reputation, her unabashed demeanor, and most of all, her being the best fighter around as she’s learned her skills from her grandfather who was a great general. She is fierce and forthright with her feelings, beats the shit out of men whom she finds intolerable, as she tells them “even the Lord of the Netherworld is scared of me”.

The Ban family is one of the most wonderful families I find in any historical dramas, with loving and open-minded parents who respect Ban Hua’s opinions and supportive of her, a little brother who is sweet and streetwise, and a couple of adorable maid servants who are like sisters to her. Despite the high status of the Ban family, none is well read. It is hilarious to see how they struggle to read a simple letter or poem flawlessly, and to make sense of it. The family dynamics are precious and it’s always a joy to watch them.

After an incident, Ban Hua is bestowed the ability to see her future in her dreams. However, most of these dreams are omens to the fate of herself and those she loves. She finds ways to change course of their fates. As one can imagine, the steps and processes she takes are hilarious. And as in her dream, she meets her true love, Rong Xia (Hou Ming Hao aka Neo Hou).

Rong Xia is the most handsome man in the world. Not only is he handsome, he is also the most intelligent man. In contrast to the Bans, Rong Xia is very well read and gentle. He is also the Emperor’s most treasured strategist who holds important official post. Together with Ban Hua, they resolve multiple conspiracies hand in hand, saving each other time and time again from death.

Guan Xiao Tong is very beautiful with great acting skills. As Ban Hua, she brings out the fierceness in her, at the same time, not losing her elegance as an anointed princess. Dressed in her unconventional outfits purportedly designed by Ban Hua herself, Guan Xiao Tong brings Ban Hua to life. I really love her stylish outfits with bold colors and designs.

Hou Ming Hao is one of the most handsome actors around. He looks amazing in his scholastic outfit with a fan, he also looks so good in his somber court official uniform, and he looks mysteriously wonderful in his dark martial arts clothing. His acting is good too in bringing alive the gentle Rong Xia who viewers come to love so much.

My Verdict
I really love Ban Hua’s kickass demeanor and her beautiful stylish outfits, the handsome face of Rong Xia, the wonderful dynamics of the Ban family, Ban Hua’s and the second prince’s hostile relationship, the hilarious rivalry between Marquis Xie and Ban Hua’s father, the lovable side couples, among others.

This is a wonderful and happy drama not to be missed. The badass female lead alone would make any viewers love this production. Together with a very smart and good-looking male lead, this drama indeed is a great entertainment for all to enjoy.

Recommended!

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Li Hong Yi is Super Hot

This is another one of those isekai time travel stories. It’s tropey and I wasn’t very impressed with the beginning of episode 1 when a girl bumps into a boy and rips his suit at his important occasion. However, as the story progresses, I was absorbed into the story by the narcissist Jiao Yang (Li Hong Yi) character who is a wealthy spoilt brat and scared of responsibilities. Though the character of Jiao Yang is cliché, his look is hilarious and eccentric.

To return to her own universe, Lin Miao (Kira Shi) must help Jiao Yang become the CEO of his father’s company. Though trying to avoid responsibilities, Jiao Yang also tries to prove himself, especially to his father who is almost tired of scolding him (Jiao Yang) in front of his staff. In contrast with Jiao Yang’s immaturity, Lin Miao is mature and capable, and very soon Jiao Yang falls in love with her and is inseparable from her.

Jiao Yang’s journey to the CEO seat is arduous, having challenges thrown at him at all times from all directions. Each time he takes up the challenge and faces it head on with Lin Miao by his side. Their moments together are filled with sweetness and silliness, and it is this sweet romance that has made this drama the highlight of my days.

There is not much of a plot here. Whatever insignificant plot there maybe has not been developed well. Plot holes are everywhere and illogical. I stuck on with this drama because of the romance which I really like. Initially Li Hong Yi’s hair style baffles me, but then I grow to like it for its wuxia appeal. Li Hong Yi has the charisma and look of a guy who is always being misunderstood by others and yet he adopts a I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. Having said that, he’s desperate in proving himself to his father and to Lin Miao. Li Hong Yi’s performance is very convincing here.

Kira Shi has a mature look. As Lin Miao (current self), she’s perfect but as Lin Wei Jun (younger self), she’s overstretched a bit. I can’t say I like her as Lin Wei Jun (really hard to watch when she tries to act cute). The co-existence of Lin Miao and Lin Wei Jun is mind boggling and is not properly reconciled at the end. Therefore, despite being a time travel story, there are 2 people of the same person. This is a glaring intentional plot hole that doesn’t make any logical sense, and is very quickly swept under the carpet. The ending is sloppy. It feels like lazy writing to me. They just want to pack up and go home. What a pity. This could have been a very nice drama.

Overall, this drama is unexpectedly quite a fun watch despite the shoddy ending. I love the dynamics of the female and male leads which are perhaps the only thing that have kept me going.

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Follow Your Heart

Can one feel love, and love without a heart or with a mechanical heart? Though unthinkable, this story assumes a mechanical heart works just as good as a real human heart when it comes to love, maybe even better in times of trouble. As it is a fantasy, let’s just accept that people don’t need a real heart to fall in love; a mechanic heart works just fine, and can make a person fall in love just like a normal person does.

This drama is narrated from the perspective of Jiang Xiao Ning (Xing Fei aka Fair Xing). 10 years ago, she got into a car accident and Gu Chuan (Ren Jialun aka Allen Ren) was there trying to save her, and got hurt himself. 10 years later, they meet again without recognizing each other initially. And they fall in love.

Gu Chuan is a very talented young architect, but he has a secret: he doesn’t have a heart, he lost it in the car accident while he tried to save Jiang Xiao Ning, and in its place, he has a mechanical heart. He knows his heart will one day expire and he will die. Imagine how difficult it is to live a life constantly reminding oneself of death, and this is what Gu Chuan has been tormented for the last 10 years; he has been preparing for his imminent death. His mood is always somber and dark as he cannot have excessive emotions with his mechanical heart. He also doesn’t want to love nor be loved because he wants to avoid any heart breaks in the event of his death. He’s like a lizard, cold and hidden. Ren Jialun has a natural sour face which I’ve come to love. Looking like an adolescent yet with an air of maturity, he is perfect as the somber Gu Chuan who doesn’t smile. Ren Jialun is natural with this role as his sour face makes him very believable and his acting is not stiff.

Gu Chuan doesn’t expect to fall in love with Jiang Xiao Ning but he does because she gives him the kind of optimism he has never experienced before. Now life has meaning, which jeopardizes all his death plans.

Jiang Xiao Ning has a totally opposite personality from Gu Chuan’s darkness. She is sunny and positive despite of her bad lucks; she always views her glass as half-full and grateful for everything she has. She considers herself like a crow which people normally associate with bad luck. Jiang Xiao Ning is smart, considerate and protective especially of Gu Chuan. When they are together, there’s a big contrast of the two characters: Gu Chuan dresses immaculately and somber, whereas Jiang Xiao Ning is sunny and active, and dresses in oversized clothing. Their chemistry may not be 100% but their romance is quiet and rather sweet. As two unlikely people come together, cold becomes warm, bad luck becomes good luck. And sorry to disappoint viewers, there are no hot kisses, as expected. Most of the presumed kisses are zoomed out and blurred. Any closeup kisses are so close that no one knows if the lips belong to the same actors. Xing Fei’s bright eyes that seem to smile forever fit her well into the role of the sunny Jiang Xiao Ning and her acting is very convincing, especially when it comes to her heart breaking scenes.

There is an over-powering second couple with overly mushy dialogues which feel overdone and banal. However, they also give viewers some hot kisses. There’s also something nefarious lurking under the sweet romance, with murders and corruption which gives some fireworks to the otherwise rather bland story.

OSTs
This drama produces some of the best sound tracks. I particularly love the beautiful song “Exchange” sung by Zhou Shen. It’s so touching and amazing that it can bring tears to the listeners’ eyes. I also love the instrumental music played by the cello when Gu Chuan is alone in his deep thinking, reflecting his torments.

My Verdict
If you like love triangles, there are plenty here. Both male and female leads have their respective secret admirers who become the antagonists and attempt to cause harm to their love competitors, but each time, their attempts are thwarted, either because our leads are smarter or plain dumb luck they have.

I love Gu Chuan’s philosophy in his designs, merging western architecture with Chinese wisdom and culture. Facing death is frightening, knowing it’s coming to take one’s life anytime soon. This drama helps us feel how it’s like for Gu Chuan.

Overall, the drama is not bad, neither is it excellent. It has some tropes, such as splitting up in a relationship for-their-own-good stuff, which can be rather annoying. The comedy can be rather stale at times. There are some minor flaws here and there but not enough to destroy the story.

Despite a rather bland story, there are some good lessons here. As Gu Chuan is teaching Jiang Xiao Ning, "It doesn't matter how others look at you, most importantly you cannot look down on yourself. Crow is the bird that most looked down by people, but they have their quality - they know how to put a nut in the middle of the road and let passing cars crush it. They are devoted to their partners and will forever remain faithful to that same partners." (I didn't know that.)

In turn, Jiang Xiao Ning teaches Gu Chuan, life is not forever. Life, no matter how hard it is, we must persevere. Be positive. Look at the positives. Take life as it comes and make the best of it.

I would have awarded this drama a 8.5/10 but the OSTs are so good that a 9/10 seems to be more appropriate. Fun watch. Must listen to the song "Exchange" by Zhou Shen.

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What an emotionally tormenting drama! Great acting!

If I were to describe this drama in one word, it would be "INTENSE"; in the simplest form, it would be BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet, BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet - with capitals being strong and lower case being weak. It feels as if after the bitterness and one is given a lollipop, before one can take a second lick of the candy, it's taken away.

This is a "heavy" drama in every sense. Every episode is packed full with actions, plots, plots within plots, palace politics, murders, corruption, greed, power, fears, injustices, conspiracies, wars, fights, killings and more. The ugliness of human nature is vividly displayed and it has never receded over the hundred of years to these days. The writers and directors bring out all the ugliness of how power and wealth can corrupt a person, and the story is amazingly told in this wonderful drama. It is indeed disheartening for us to realize that we're still constantly repeating history over and over again, and we never learn.

The drama itself is serious and nerve wrecking. Every life is always on the line. Everyone tries to outwit another, and losers die. All the events are multi layers.

The events unfolding can be difficult to understand particularly if there are no English subtitles and the viewer not a native Mandarin speaker because everything moves fast and the plots are intricate and complicated. At times, I'd need to take a break away from this drama to get a breather because there is just too much information one has to absorb within an episode.

As Crown Prince, every move Xiao Ding Quan makes is always undermined by unseen forces. Injustices and luck always deal him a lower hand. What seemingly works out great for him would turn out bad in a twist. Danger lurks in every corner. Lu Wen Xi's fate doesn't fare any better. She's constantly wrongly accused and persecuted; her loss and pain are immeasurable. Her tormented undying devotion for the crown prince is heart-breaking. In every episode, I'd have to hold my breath - it's really that intense. The unfair treatments both characters face and endure makes the viewers sympathize with them and demand justice to be served.

The acting is impeccable. Both Luo Jin and Li Yitong are excellent actors. They effortlessly capture all the essence of their characters and play them flawlessly. I'm particularly impressed by Li Yitong in this drama. I love her bare face look with natural make-up. She's so beautiful.

Have I mentioned the romance part? It's painful and bittersweet. I also love the relationship Xiao Ding Quan has with his older cousin, Gu Feng'en. My only comment here is just the visual aspect of the actors and their characters - Luo Jin (38 yr) is obviously a lot older than Zheng Ye Cheng (26 yr) who plays an older role. Playing a youth of 20 as the crown prince, Luo Jin seems to have overstretched a little bit. The age gap is too large and this has given me a mismatched feeling, as least visually. Nonetheless, it hasn't hampered the amazing work of this drama.

I almost missed the epilogue had I not completed playing the ending OST in the last episode. In it (the epilogue), it reveals who Xu Chang Nian is. Before this, I had always wondered which side he's on.

I would fully recommend this drama to anyone who loves Chinese historical stories and can endure mental torments. In terms of acting and plots, this drama is a true gem. 

Two thumbs up!

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The Funniest Narcissistic Idiotic Moron Ever

This is one of the funniest dramas I’ve ever watched. At the beginning, I found it comedic and thought I wouldn’t like it. After the first episode, I couldn’t stop watching and laughing because it’s so hilarious. The narcissism is idiotic but at the same time so so cute.

Mu Jue Chen (Fiction Guo) is a narcissistic youth who is so absorbed into himself that whatever negatives would become positives in his mind. Everyone around him brushes his ego but rolls their eyes and curses him behind his back. All his actions and demeanor are bombastic and egregious. This drama has the most eye rolls and the Mu Jue Chen character is the most egoistic person that I’ve ever come across and it’s super funny. I must applaud Fiction Guo for his amazing acting as Mu Jue Chen. I have almost believed that Mu Jue Chen is Fiction Guo because the actor has really immersed himself into the character totally.

Qian Yu (Li Nuo) is the only person who knows Mu Jue Chen inside out; she knows all his strengths and weaknesses, and knows how to capitalize on this knowledge to her advantage. Though seemingly a lord and servant relationship, there is more to the relationship that is not revealed at the beginning. Li Nuo plays her character well as a submissive servant and then later as a powerful head of the valley.

By Episode 10, the plot thickens. There are hidden mysteries. Who is Qian Yu? What has happened in their childhood? Why is Mu Jue Chen so protective of her? All these questions drive the plot. The tone turns serious at times (only when Mu Jue Chen is not around - it's almost impossible to be serious with him around) with beautiful sword fighting and “qing qong”.

Everything is exaggerated out of proportion and the CGI is really bad, but together, the whole thing is simply hilarious and adorable. A lot of the dialogues are unexpected and many scenes are out of expectation. I almost choked when they start to play the tune of The Flight of the Bumble Bee. They have also used EDM (electronic dance music) as background music extensively, so much so that I have to roll my eyes too. There are a few dark humors here and there. Though they banter and fight all the time, the lead characters’ chemistry is wonderful.

I love the use of oxymoron phrases here, such as, “Don’t let my face lose face”. There is also frequent play with pronunciation of Chinese words, e.g. the character 恶 (e). Depending how one says it, it can mean different things - fierce or loathsome. Therefore, non-native Mandarin speakers may not appreciate such humors.

There are of course the typical tropes such as falling off cliff and memory loss stuff. Overall, if you want a drama to laugh and take away some stress, this is the one. I’m loving it!

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Torments, Melancholy & Emotional Turmoil For The Promise of Forever Peace

Accordingly, the Promise of Chang’an is a remake of the 2002 drama The Epic of Xiao Zhuang which was set in the Qing Dynasty. In the earlier drama, Empress Dowager Xiao Zhuang was in love with a general but forced to marry the general’s brother instead. Her son subsequently succeeded the throne and she continued to help her grandson who later came to be known as the Kangxi Emperor. The Promise of Chang’an draws many parallels from the earlier drama, with the setting in a fictional kingdom and era.

As I was pondering the title The Promise of Chang'an, I came to the realization that it has not meant the city Chang'an but its literal meaning as "forever peace" because the city Chang'an has not been a main feature of this drama except a by-passing event when Xiao Chengxu seizes the city. The literal meaning of "forever peace" makes more sense in this context: The Promise of Forever Peace which is the epitome of all the sacrifices Helan Mingyu and Xiao Chengxu have contributed throughout the story. They have sacrificed their whole life in order to achieve peace for the country. The brilliant use of "chang an" here by the writer is applaudable.

This drama is not for the faint of heart. I love historical stories based on real life characters and yet I still find this story depressing as it continues to give the viewers the sense of hopelessness and helplessness. The author has successfully captured all the pains in life as described in the Buddhist seven bitterness: birth, old age, sickness, death, hatred, separation, and yearning. This is a story with convoluted plot, layered storyline, and multi-dimensional characters. Our main characters go through despairs episodes after episodes.

The Promise of Chang’an was made prior to Love and Redemption but only aired after the latter. Therefore, upon completion of Love and Redemption, many viewers (like myself) have come to watch this drama for Cheng Yi, and sure enough, his torments and crying continue. Every episode of this drama is beautifully written and acted, but extremely painful to watch because of the torments our characters have to endure.

The Story
A young princess Helan Mingyu (Zhao Yingjuan) from the northern kingdom meets the young 9th prince, Xiao Chengxu (Cheng Yi) of the Sheng Kingdom, and they fall in love with each other. Hoping to make a name for himself and return to marry Helan Mingyu, Xiao Chengxu goes off to war. Little does he know his brothers want him dead in battle; they set him up to be killed. When news arrives that he’s dead, Helan Mingyu is devastated. At the same time, the Sheng King Xiao Chengrui who is Xiao Chengxu’s older brother, asks for her hand. Out of no choice, she agrees. When Xiao Chengxu makes it back, she’s already become his sister-in-law. Since then for years, the duo endures the pain of lost love, each walking on thin ice every day. The torment is so great that, even as viewers, it is unbearable.

When Xiao Chengxu finds out the truth about the death of his mother and the will of his late father appointing him the heir but stolen from him, he vows revenge and to take back what is rightfully his – the throne and his love. However, time and time, his schemes fail due to various reasons, and he’s saved by Helan Mingyu from death again and again. Deeply, their love for each other never wanes. Things become even more complicated when Helan Mingyu gives birth to the child of Xiao Chengrui who is now the Emperor. When the Emperor dies, he passes the throne to Mingyu’s 6 years old son, Xiao Qiyuan and Xiao Chengxu becomes the regent.

Xiao Chengxu tries to treat Xiao Qiyuan as his own son and groom him to be a wise emperor, but the results are not what he has expected; the little emperor is spoilt rotten by the two dowager empresses and becomes a bratty tyrant. At the turn of events when dethroning his nephew the tyrannical emperor becomes impossible as Mingyu constantly protects her son and plays Xiao Chengxu out, the death of his little brother and friend, Xiao Chengxu loses all hope to continue living.

At this point, most viewers are disgusted by Helan Mingyu’s actions and how she has treated Xiao Chengxu who continues to be a poor lovesick boy. I've been trying to give credit to Helan Mingyu and empathize with her for the actions she has taken in situations that she has no control over. I can feel her predicament: on one hand, she's still in love with Xiao Chengxu and wants to elope with him, on the other hand, she's the mother of the Emperor and she knows if she were to run away with Xiao Chengxu, the country would descend into chaos as the young Emperor is still too naive and gullible, and can be easily manipulated by those who are eyeing at the throne. Giving up the throne is not an option as she knows there would be a lot of bloodshed, including losing all her loved ones. Until the end, Helan Mingyu is still Xiao Chengxu's Achilles’ heels: he would do anything for her, even giving up his own life.

Episode 50 is probably my favorite episode, and yet it's also the saddest. I cry for the painful loss, Xiao Chengxu's selflessness and miserable life. At the same time, it also feels like a stone lifted from the heart; all the knots from the beginning have disappeared after episode 50. Xiao Chengxu maintains his dignity and becomes an immortal. The final chapter has ended, and the epilogue begins. I sigh a sigh of relief.

The Acting
Xiao Chengxu is a very difficult character to portray. On one hand, Cheng Yi has to show his torments to the viewers, on the other hand, these torments have to be hidden from the eyes of those around him, in particular, from the Emperor. As Xiao Chengxu, he grows from a care-free risk-taking youth overnight to a patient, calm, strategic, mature, calculative person when he loses his mother and lover. Xiao Chengxu’s crying at his losses is so painful to watch that viewers cry with him. This is some incredible and brilliant acting and I salute this actor whole heartedly. Cheng Yi is an amazing actor. He has an air of melancholy surrounding him and a poker face which tailor-makes for the Xiao Chengxu character who has to hide his emotions at all times in order to survive the palace politics. Tormented by love and duty, Xiao Chengxu’s emotional turmoil is incredible. His crying really rips the viewers' hearts out. The character is a miserable character living a miserable life. Cheng Yi has successfully brought all these out on the screen for the viewers. Incredible acting!

Helan Mingyu is another difficult character to portray. At the beginning of the drama, many viewers criticize the use of Zhao Yingjuan (aka Sarah Zhao) as Helan Mingyu because she looks too mature for the role. As a 16-17 years old wild girl from the steppes, it is indeed a hard sell; Zhao Yingjuan is very lady-like, gentle and soft. However, as a consort later, she is beautiful, elegant and regal. Still, many viewers are not convinced by her performance complaining that she has few expressions on her face; most of her expressions are either apologetic or indifferent. It’s hard to see her heartache and resignation despite those are supposed to be the situations she's in. Her role also seems confusing. Many viewers conclude that she’s just been very selfish and unlikable. For me, I can feel Helan Mingyu's pain and her resignation. She has to hide all her feelings inside, no matter what. Watching her, I can feel I'm almost exploding with feelings but at the same time, I'd have to exercise self-restraint to suppress those feelings. It's extremely hard to play and Zhao Yingjuan has successfully achieved that.

All other cast members put up equally incredible acting. All the costumes and settings are beautiful, appropriate and believable.

My Verdict
The Promise of Chang'an reminds me why I didn't like to watch historical dramas in the old days, in particular the palace genre. This is because most of these stories are very heart-breaking, portraying all the pains of human life. I have become "braver" in the recent years, consuming historical dramas as soon as they're airing. Most of these are pretty light-hearted. The Promise of Chang'an is one of those once-in-a-blue-moon type - sad, depressing and yet realistic.

This is a heavy drama with a lot of torments and emotional turmoil. It is not recommended for viewers with depression or high blood pressure as the story may make you feel so helpless and hopeless which is indeed a rotten feeling. Having said that, this is a very well written and produced drama. There are no apparent plot holes nor flaws. Everything is tied up properly and concluded plausibly. Most of all, Xiao Qiyuan and Helan Mingyu have both redeemed themselves towards the end. Despite how some viewers have condemned the storyline and how unsatisfactory they feel some of the characters are being written, I have thoroughly enjoyed this drama. For me, this is how a drama should be written, directed and acted. This is a story of forbidden love, regrets and resignation. Power, duty and country take over.

At this end, I've always pondered, is it ever possible for a love like what Chengxu and Mingyu share, after everything that has happened between them, to last for decades till death, and hence how realistic this drama is? And yes, perhaps it does exist. I find the answer in the current British royal family, Prince Charles and Camila Bowles. Their story could be quite an excellent live example. Only that this British couple has a happily-ever-after ending.

Incredible story. Incredible production! TWO THUMBS UP!

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Sherlock Holmes, Criminal Minds, Forensic Files - All in One

What an interesting drama this is. All the main leads are new to me, so I watched it not for them. After the first episode, I realized it's a love triangle. Normally in other dramas, love triangles usually give weaker or less liked 3rd characters. In this case, it's hard not to like either of the main male characters. In fact I was pretty torn in the beginning because I found both male characters desirable and attractive in their own ways.

This drama is a combination of Sherlock Holmes with Criminal Minds and Forensic Files. As a forensic expert, Ran Yan (played by Zhou Jie Qiong) is a daring, unpretentious girl who is always determined to find the truth. Unlike most girls of her time, she has no qualm touching dead bodies and slicing them up. Even the men around her are sickened by the sights and many cannot even stay on. I love this character so much. Though she has flaws, she is courageous, kind and upstanding, without the annoying noisiness and self-righteousness of many main female characters in other dramas.

When Ran Yan first meets the man who has saved her and falls in love with him, I fell in love with the man she loves too. Su Fu (played by Tim Pei) is cold and mysterious. How his cold heart is eventually melted by Ran Yan's warmth and kindness, and in the end falling madly in love with her is really a fun journey to watch.

Of course the main story revolves around the two main characters, Ran Yan and Xiao Song (played by Toby Lee). I absolutely love the dynamics between them, how they toy with each other and hang each other out to dry. The constant bickering and bargaining are really fun to watch. Each gives the other nickname that becomes part of the character; Xiao Song calls Ran Yan, "Fox", whereas Ran Yan calls him, "Human Fish". The addressing seems to stick for each other till the end of the show. I love watching the look on Xiao Song's face when he's seething with jealousy over Su Fu. Seeing how a powerful figure of his stature fighting for the love of a woman and getting jealous over her is very amusing, and Toby Lee has performed this role perfectly with his piercing eyes. Together with Ran Yan, they work as one, melting two minds together. They reconstruct crime scenes, figure out motives of killings, put the jigsaw puzzles together; their chemistry is simply enviable. Though there were some misunderstandings between the two, it's quickly dispelled without making the pair losing their love and care for each other.

Overall, this drama improves significantly after the first half. I didn't find major plot holes and significant flaws apart from some of the poor acting by peripheral characters like over exaggerated death scenes, obvious fake props (supposedly solid stone door that shifts when forced against), etc. Editing could be rough for some episodes. As for most Chinese dramas, the attention to details is still lacking. I wish the production team treats viewers with more intelligence. All this poor editing leaves tons of errors for all to see. Some logic is really bad and makes one rolls one's eyes.

Having said that, the acting of the three main leads is very good, despite this is the first major drama for Zhou Jie Qiong. Her performance is marvelous. The details of scenes that required further explanations are cleverly done in black/white flashbacks without breaking the flow of the story. It makes the story very easy to understand and follow. The twists and turns make the whole thing interesting and compel me to follow it faithfully for weeks.

Yes, a great drama to watch. Don't miss this one!

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Jing Boran is the Hottest Officer in Uniform

He is a man who cooks, does house chores, and protects the country. What more do we want of a man? The writer gives the viewers a perfect man who loves quietly, hurts quietly, never complains, never seeks glory, is courageous and always wants to help and protect. This is a lovely series which can be boring for some for its slow, everyday life story, but lovely for many for its quiet romance, a romance many can relate to - no fanfare, just love and devotion (if such elements still exist). It is the romance story of a special force police officer.

“Road Home”’s Chinese title, “Gui Lu” (means return road), is coined from both the main characters’ names. This is a story with beautiful scenes of the canyons and touching moments, spanning from high school in 2008 to the present time 2020.

Lu Chen aka Lu Yanchen (Jing Boran) is a special force police officer working under the explosive unit. He fell in love with Gui Xiao (Tan Songyun) in high school but they separated when they both sought different career paths. Years later they meet and fall in love again, this time for real. Knowing how dangerous Lu Chen’s work is, Gui Xiao embraces him wholeheartedly because she loves him. For once in Chinese drama, Lu Chen is not the type that says, “I leave you for your own good because I love you so much.” Lu Chen is delighted that Gui Xiao wants to marry him, knowing that there may not be a tomorrow.

Lu Chen is a very serious person. He is strict, doesn’t crack jokes, doesn’t laugh, and has few words. Most of the sentences he speaks are one-word sentences. For him, actions speak louder than words. He also has a complicated family story that torments him since childhood. Jing Boran has perfected his role. With a face that is not pretty but handsome beyond words, and a physique perfect for a tough law enforcement officer, Jing Boran tells the story through his facial expressions that say a thousand words which cannot be spoken. In reality, Jing Boran has a rather similar family story like the one in the drama. Perhaps he can feel the pains of the character better than the others can.

I love to watch how Lu Chen uses his coat to wrap around Gui Xiao from behind and gently holds her. These types of hugs are the most soothing, sensual and romantic; the warmth emanates through the screen, making the viewers soaked in peace, love and security. This is Jing Boran's amazing power and charisma; immersing in his embrace is so reassuring and warm.

Gui Xiao comes from a wealthy but broken family just like Lu Chen’s family. She is independent but when in front of Lu Chen, she becomes a little girl, totally dependent on him. With a face that passes easily as a teenager, Tan Songyun’s juvenile Gui Xiao is very believable and as an adult, her character becomes mature and continues to grow to be even more understanding and loving.

Official Sound Tracks
Two OSTs impress me the most - Youth is Well (青春无恙) and The Dust Maiden (灰姑娘). The former is touching with beautiful lyrics and tune that stays in one's mind. The latter is an old folk song that Lu Chen sings for Gui Xiao. The lyrics are appropriately expressing his feelings for her, and the tune is lively and cute.

My Verdict
This is a down-to-earth type of everyday life romance story. It portrays the life of a police officer on the front line, his love life, family and his sacrifices. There are quite a few episodes spent on just the natural and beautiful scenery of the north-west desert at the border. The pace is rather slow - there’s a lot of looking and waiting, but every second is precious to watch because the story is being told on the characters’ faces. There are no flowery speeches; the dialogs are rather common like things people would say everyday going about their life. All the characters are lovable, and there are no antagonists, though Lu Chen's father was initially thought to be one.

The story reminds the viewers of the sacrifices a country’s protective forces have to make, putting their personal safety on the line to ensure the safety of others. Their valor is admirable. Though the main character is a law enforcement officer, there are limited action scenes as the focus is on the romance development. Throughout, there are a lot of flashbacks, giving viewers the backstory of their romance.

The writer works hard to show the viewers how much the couple is in love with each other. There are a lot of kissing and intimacy scenes. One of the scenes even shows Gui Xiao staring at Lu Chen's naked body when he comes out from the shower. I wish she had gone up to hug him, or better still, gone into the shower with him. But this is a Chinese drama, and it has to pass censorship. Just some wishful thinking. The allusion that she is staring at his nakedness is rare in Chinese dramas.

This is a great drama for viewers who prefer a slow pace story with nothing much happening, for romance buffs who love a mature and quiet romance, or for anyone who just wants to look at Jing Boran.

Don’t miss it. Great Watch!

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Great Story, Fine Acting

Step into the enchanting world of "Divine Destiny," a captivating romance between Zhang Yinyin (played by Yang Ying aka Angelababy) and Ji Ruochen (played by Ma Tianyu). Their love knows no bounds as they face incredible challenges, even risking their own lives for each other. Together, they become stronger with their increasing supernatural abilities, fighting for love, for their fellow cultivators, and for the salvation of the three worlds. In the realm of fantasy, the gods are thought to reign supreme with goodness, and the demons and devils wicked and bad. In reality, it's precisely the opposite.

Zhang Yinyin shines as an intelligent, chivalrous, headstrong and spirited character who is adored as the big sister of her sect. She may be authoritative and explosive at times, but that's what makes her so endearing. Yang Ying's acting brings a lovable charm to the fiery Zhang Yinyin, even with a few moments of imperfection. And her stunning transformation into the foxy fox devil - the CGI work is top-notch!

Zhang Yinyin meets and falls in love with Ji Ruochen who has a mysterious background which adds intrigue to the story. From operating a black shop to a mistaken identity, his journey is filled with twists and turns. With a burst of enthusiasm, Zhang Yinyin simply couldn't resist bringing Ji Ruochen home to her sect, and that's where his amazing cultivator journey begins, and the sparks of love start to fly between him and Zhang Yinyin. Ma Tianyu does a commendable job portraying the seemingly clueless and obedient Ji Ruochen, and later, the powerful demon lord.

A compelling story wouldn't be complete without its fair share of antagonists. In this tale, we encounter several outright obnoxious characters and some with shades of gray. Among them, the most vexing is the consort to the crown prince with that distinctive sneer and high-pitched voice. Alongside the cunning prime minister, they plot and scheme to gain control. But their journey takes a twist, leading to a resolution that brings relief.

Among the more complex characters are the disgraced gods, whose actions stem from obsession and vengeance. Thankfully, they eventually come to their senses and reflect on their deeds. It's a journey of redemption for them, adding depth to the story.

My Verdict

While "Divine Destiny" may have some plot holes and logic flaws, it's a delightful drama that keeps the viewers entertained. It's a pleasure to see familiar faces and enjoy the chemistry between the main leads. So if you're looking for some romantic fantasy fun while waiting for new releases, "Divine Destiny" deserves a chance.

Recommended!

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The Sound of Wulin with A Lot of Romance

This is a delightful wuxia drama which I almost skipped because I wasn’t very fond of Yu Menglong after The Love Lasts Two Minds. However, the overwhelming positive comments on the MDL page urges me to watch for myself, and I’m glad I did. The storyline of this drama is very typical of the old days wuxia stories whereby wǔ shù (martial arts) practitioners leave their sects and go to the world for experience and do good deeds by helping anyone in need.

The Story
This is a story about a very young girl, Zhan Qinghong (Xing Fei aka Fair Xing) leaving her home and sect with her closest friend/maid to see the world. She comes to meet Lin Fang (Yu Menglong) who is the most handsome man in the country. Lin Fang doesn’t date women but somehow he falls head over heels in love with her secretly. For her, she falls in love instead with another man, Wen You (Merxat Yalkun) with whom they have gone through life and death together, helping and saving each other. Their romance continues for more than half of the drama before they separate due to circumstances beyond their control. Zhan Qinghong is devastated but Lin Fang is there with her all the time helping her getting through her pains and heal. She begins to fall in love with him. Together, they discover a greater conspiracy and eventually save the country.

I really enjoy watching wuxia stories like this about wulin, having all wulin virtues and values with “yi chi” as the utmost quality. Many of the wuxia heroes would sacrifice themselves for this virtue. Like the government providing a formal law and order for the country, wulin provides an informal law and order for people in the “jianghu” (pugilist communities). In this story, the flexibility of wulin is interlaced with the discipline of the government military, making it a formidable soldier with an intriguing story of supervillains, ingenious super doctor who can cure anything, mysteries, treason, espionage, conspiracies, battles, and more.

As with many wuxia dramas, the logic and dialogues are at times over-simplistic, shallow and repetitive, and yet, there are moments they are deep, endearing and intelligent, especially when it comes to the principles of sword fighting and the duty of wulin.

The Characters and The Acting
Zhan Qinghong is a forthright, naïve, happy-go-lucky girl with “yi chi” being her main calling. With a pair of forever-wide-open eyes and a frozen smile, Xing Fei’s portrayal is cute at the same time receiving a lot of criticisms from viewers. Despite this (flaw or not), Xing Fei gives the viewers an air of energy and as Zhan Qinghong, with her everything-is-good charisma, she always manages to turn anything bad into good. Together with her best friend maid, they create silly and happy moments, making the viewers laugh out loud; their dynamics are incredible and endearing, and earn the honor of being called stupid and dumb from Huo Yang (Zhang Kaitai). Flanking Lin Fang's side, Xing Fei makes a convincing protector, and her sword fighting choreography is also beautifully executed and very believable.

Lin Fang is an intelligent and meticulous strategic thinker. Having a sickly body due to poor health (he has been poisoned), he doesn’t know any wukong (martial arts), but he understands the principles of wukong as his father was one of the prominent wuxia heroes leading the wulin as its “Mengzhu” (united master). He outwits everyone and becomes the “Mengzhu” himself and has two top fighters, Wen You and Zhan Qinghong, flanking his sides as protectors. I have not been impressed by Yu Menglong because of his poor performance in The Love Lasts Two Minds, but in this drama, he seems to have improved slightly. Perhaps it’s the character that he’s playing, he still seems rather stiff, moving not unlike a robot. Despite this, I still love the Lin Fang character. Though sickly, he’s a mastermind of everything, always a few steps ahead of the antagonists. He feels like Mei Changsu (Nirvana in Fire) without the latter’s charisma. In later episodes, Lin Fang does transform into a more animated person, joking and moving around more freely and naturally.

All the other cast members’ performances are equally good and believable, in particular Tong Chun Yip (aka Kent Tong) who portrays the supervillain Wang Dun and Merxat Yalkun who portrays Wen You, each bringing out life in their characters on the screen.

There are multiple very adorable second couples here, with one couple ends in tragedy. My favorite couple is of course the Huo Yang / Xiao Lan pair with a super handsome cool guy and a direct innocent silly girl. The pair is simply hilarious and brings a lot of colors to the scenes especially when things are going intense.

My Verdict
This is absolutely a very well told story deserves our attention and precious time. It has all the tension and suspense coupled with silly actions and dialogues from the main characters. The cinematography is great and the CGI is convincing. Perhaps the only obvious flaw (among others which I don’t really mind) I find is the attention to details in particular the unmatched wedding gowns worn by our main characters. Overall, this is a very wonderful wuxia story with a lot of romance.

Enjoyable watch. Don't miss it!

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A Hidden Gem

The Kingdom of Great Chu is a female-centric world where women’s and men’s roles are flipped. Women hold power and important office, whereas men stay home and do house chores, tend to the kids and are subservient to their wives. Here, we have a female emperor, and all the generals and ministers are women, and a powerful female shizi (世子) who holds the prestigious title inherited through her family. All families’ heritance and titles are to be passed down to daughters, and men are to be married into the women’s households. Courtesan houses are popular where men serve for the women’s pleasure.

Shen Ye (Yuan Hao) has fallen in love with Shu Cheng (Jia Ze aka Claire Jia) since they were both kids because she had shown kindness towards him. From then, Shen Ye disguises as various characters and hides within her circle, secretly protecting her. As the intelligent shizi, the Emperor is threatened by her prowess and military power her family holds, and secretly sends out assassins to kill her. Time and time again, assassinations fail because Shen Ye always protects her in the dark, and she always comes out unscathed.

After saving Shu Cheng yet again in an ugly humpback cover that leads to her falling in love with him, Shen Ye changes his identity and reveals himself to her as the owner of Feng Lou, a courtesan house where wealthy women come to drink and to be entertained by male courtesans. Here, Shen Ye is considered as a stunning beauty in the Kingdom of Great Chu. He is charming and fast to please, frivolous and loves money dearly; but all these are on the surface. Under that good-looking skin, Shen Ye is intelligent and schemeful; he is always ahead of everyone around him, and always has a solution for every problem he encounters. He has multiple identities which add additional mysteries to his character. Despite being such a complex character, Shen Ye is devoted and willing to give up everything for the one he loves. He has so many secrets that he says he would reveal to Shu Cheng at the appropriate moment, this has created a lot of hilarious suspicions and misunderstandings by Shu Cheng. How Shen Ye continues to overcome such obstacles and maintains Shu Cheng’s love for him is brilliant.

I am intrigued by the Shen Ye character. I almost spit out laughing when he wears a veil covering his face when appearing in public or meeting with other women (think of ancient women wearing veils). His visor-looking veil is really ugly and looks funny on his face. Perhaps this is the purpose – to make viewers laugh. Yuan Hao’s portrayal of the character is very believable. He has a face that can look feminine (to be called beautiful in the land of Great Chu), and yet he is also very masculine.

Shu Cheng has to pretend to be a playgirl to make the Emperor let down her guard and stop wanting to kill her. So, she frequents Shen Ye’s courtesan house and proclaims he is hers; she tries to look as bad as possible. She is taken by surprise when she finds out that the man she’s being decreed to marry by the Emperor is Shen Ye under a different identify, Su Rongqing, the only son of one of the Emperor’s high ranking ministers. Even after they get married, Shu Cheng still doesn’t fully know Shen Ye’s real identity and what is under his sleeves. She loves him and yet doesn’t trust him, whereas for Shen Ye, he respects and loves her with no holding back. Despite their sweet romance, the secrecy spurs the plot on.

This is the first aired drama for Jia Ze playing a main lead. I find her acting better than many better known names. As the shizi, Jia Ze manages to bring out her commandeering charisma, courage, earnesty and upstandingness, and yet she also shows her feminine side when she is tormented by the conflict of her love for a man whom she believes to be a usurper, and her love for her country that she swears to protect. Jia Ze is natural and convincing.

The second couple is amazing with a very compelling story. Both Li Zhehao and Peng Yaqi (aka Yakisa) put up a fine performance as a heart-wrenching couple, Shen Cong and Murong Wanqing, who endure revenge and love, romance and guilt. The Murong Wanqing character reminds me of the sweet-silly characters played by Zhao Lusi. In fact, Peng Yaqi and Zhao Lusi look somewhat alike in their aura and demeanor under certain instances.

My Verdict

Unusual, refreshing, great plot, captivating storyline, intense, lovely characters, good humor, sweet romance, fine writing, directing and production. Unfortunately, not many viewers are watching this wonderful drama because decent English subtitles are not available at the time of airing, therefore, the rating here is lower than it deserves.

An enjoyable watch. Don’t miss it!

P/S: A sneak peek of next season seems to be dark and even more intense with amnesia, deaths, and protagonists turn antagonists.

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Put Your Feet in My Shoes

Despite a 7.9 rating here on MDL as of this writing, The Trust is a lovely drama. The idea of body switching is not new, but the execution of it is interesting and very funny. Imagine a distrustful couple, the lord of a city and his wife, switches bodies, and they must continue to perform the roles of the other as if nothing has happened. Putting their own feet into each other's shoes, they finally understand the other's pains, predicaments, and perspectives, and come to empathize with each other.

This is a story of political power struggle and harem cat fights, though at a smaller scale but as deadly. Political rivals scheme to bring down the other, and the City Master tries to maintain the balance of power while silently fighting against the onslaught of his own uncle who is ambitious and treacherous.

Xu Yu (Song Yanfei) is the daughter of the most powerful general in the land, guarding the northern border with a formidable army. Growing up in such a household, Xu Yu becomes very adept in sword fighting, horse riding, bow and arrow, but not so good academically. She is a carefree girl and in love with Xiao Jinyun (Zhang Haowei) whom she has grown up with. After marrying him, Xu Yu finds life not what she had expected; she becomes disillusioned and unhappy. Disappointed, she stops caring about all matters in the household, and doesn’t vie for attention from her husband, while others in the harem fight tooth and nail. With such an attitude, her mother-in-law does not like her and she repeatedly gets into trouble, and is always being framed and blamed for everything that she hasn’t done by her husband's concubines.

Having a heavy burden to carry for his city kingdom, a discord court of academic (文官) and military (武官) officials, and a big household to maintain, Xiao Jinyun’s demeanor is serious, uptight and unaffectionate towards his wife and concubines (he has at least 4 of them). This has led to his concubines vying for his attention by backstabbing each other, especially they bully Xu Yu who doesn’t care to fight back. He is suspicious and wary of Xu Yu’s father, General Xu and her two brothers because of the strong military power they wield, more so when fanned by the academic officials like his scheming uncle. On top of that, the military and academic ministers don’t see eye-to-eye on anything and always bicker among themselves over even the most trivial matters. Again and again, the academic sect tries to take down General Xu at every chance they get.

On that fateful day, through some magical force from some meteorite stones and an eclipse of the sun, they exchange bodies; Xiao Jinyun lives in Xu Yu’s body and she in his. Now living in a man’s body, Xu Yu is liberated. She/he goes to the brothel, gets drunk, attends court assembly to fend for her father when he’s being attacked; she even goes to war to help her father in fighting the invaders. To others, their City Master has suddenly changed in character, playful, impulsive, an excellent sword fighter and an archer. To Xiao Jinyun’s surprise, Xu Yu manages her role as the City Master in court very well as her way in handling the disarrayed court officials seems to be effective.

For Xu Yu with Xiao Jinyun inside, her change is just as significant; she becomes mature, responsible, and calm in dealing with everything negative that comes her way. For the first time, Xiao Jinyun realizes how badly Xu Yu has been treated by his own mother and concubines; they criticize, backstab, frame her, and lie about her to him. In General Xu's daughter's body, Xiao Jinyun knows that the Xu family is totally committed to him; their loyalty is second to none, One of the hilarious scenes is when he also experiences her menstruation pains. As Xu Yu, Xiao Jinyun manages to improve Xu Yu’s relationship with his mother and helps her in reclaiming her status as the main wife, gaining respect from everyone.

As they grow to understand and trust each other more, all their misunderstandings resolved. They work together to tackle a series of crises, politically and at home. Their romance is gradual and sweet, from distrust to trust with no doubts.

I have never watched any dramas by Song Yanfei and Zhang Haowei, but I find their acting very natural and convincing here. I love how they each plays both characters, bringing out the contrasting individual characteristics and demeanor. How Zhang Haowei becomes girly and rolls his eyes when he acts as Xu Yu is hilarious, while Song Yanfei as Xiao Jinyun becomes the one that always has a plan, and makes the first move. The scenes are cute and very funny, accentuated by playful background music.

There are at least two BL/bromance couples here. The Xu Youran (Li Junchen)/ Xiao Jinming (Cao Junxiang) pair is amazingly good looking with wonderful chemistry. By the way, watch out for the rabbit Xiao Jinming brought for Xu Youran to care. I presume this is a hint of their relationship. The other pair, Jiang Tang (Feng Mingjing) / Xu Jun (Li Ji), is equally interesting and fun to watch. Too bad they have too few scenes and dialogs together.

My Verdict

This is a very underrated series. It is a lovely story, cute with very funny dialogs. As unserious the tone as it is, the acting and the plot are serious. The script writing, directing, editing, and acting are all brilliantly executed. The court powerplay is not boring as we have great acting here by Zhang Haowei, and the harem cat fights are not infuriating as Song Yanfei’s portrayal is brilliant and very lovable.

I've come to realize that the low viewership (hence rating) is probably due to the poor English subtitles. It is such a pity because this is a wonderful series that deserves to be watched and loved. Strongly recommended.

BRAVO!

Anime link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBakWosU0sfj2hkpghsp3loSDXl6w-P1h

Very good. Recommended!

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Beware: Sexual Assaults Uncut

Yes, this drama consists of some sexual assault scenes of one of the main characters, and viewers be warned to decide if you want to pursue this story or not. It's very rare to have a Chinese costume drama that has the women being violated. Nonetheless, aside from those rather upsetting scenes, the overall drama is consistent with how wuxia dramas generally play out: adventure packed, revenge, pride, justice, brotherhood, friendship, self-sacrifice etc.

Wang Xiaoshi (Zeng Shun Xi aka Joseph Zeng) leaves the mountains where he lives, and begins his journey of exploring the world. He meets Wen Rou (Yang Chaoyue) and Bai Choufei (Liu Yuning) and they become best friends and travel together. Wang Xiaoshi is upstanding, easy going, truthful, kind, positive and always sees the best in another person, whereas Bai Choufei is ambitious, ambiguous, cruel and has a shade of darkness around him. As Wang Xiaoshi just wants to see the world, Bai Choufei wants to make a name for himself. Just as they are going from places to places, they unwittingly embroil in the politics of “jiangfu” and meet Su Mengzhen (Chen Chuhe aka Baron Chen) who is the leader of the House of Sunset Drizzle, a powerful upstanding organization helping jiangfu by bringing justice to the poor and weak. Su Mengzhen is sickly and he needs talents to help him. The three men become sworn brothers and vow to stand by each other. However, as the story unfolds, Bai Choufei becomes dissatisfied to come under Su Mengzhen and he strays; he wants to be the number one.

I really like Joseph Zeng. He has an irresistible charisma that attracts viewers. As Wang Xiaoshi, he has really brought alive the character as a positive and unsuspecting personality, and later becomes mature and solemn. His transformation is great and Joseph Zeng has successfully executed the role convincingly. He is a wonderful actor.

Liu Yuning’s acting is equally amazing, from a cold, rather selfish character, to a half crazy, power-crazed lunatic, Liu Yuning has had a great performance. Every snicker he makes sends chills down my spine, that’s how good he is.

Chen Chuhe’s Su Mengzhen is painful to watch. Every time he coughs, my heart goes out to him. Despite being sickly all the time, his character is strong and amazing to watch when he fights. The acting is simply authentic and convincing.

Though she doesn’t, every time when Wen Rou is around, I dread she messes up other people’s plans. Yang Chaoyue’s acting here is a lot better than she was in Dance of the Phoenix and I hope she continues improving her acting skills.

My Verdict

This is a through and through wuxia drama. However, the screen writing is less than desirable with rather childish logic at times, multiple plot holes and tons of inconsistencies. This is supposed to be a story about brotherhood, that's why Wang Xiaoshi is guarding so protectively over their relationship, and that's why he's so devastated when he loses his brothers. The script writing has not really brought out the brotherhood essence strong enough but just bypassing it. What an opportunity lost. The story can get very slow as the love triangle develops, and the replacement of the “lou zhu” at the end feels very random. As in most Chinese costume dramas, almost all the characters that appear at the beginning of the story perish by the end. Having said that, the wirefu acting, martial art sword fighting are all very well executed and convincing.

All these shortcomings become trivial as we dwell deeper into the message of the story: it questions the purpose of life, the difference between living and surviving; it advocates for freedom of ideologies, and denounces authoritarianism; it is very political. The story seems parallel to today’s world in politics: power blinds as in Bai Choufei; government corruptions hurting its own people as in Prime Minister Cai (Lo Ka Leung). And we need heroes like Wang Xiaoshi and Su Mengzhen to clean up the rot, one by one.

This is a great drama for wuxia fans. Great watch!

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Lots of Actions, Frustrating Relationships

Recently, there have been multiple historical dramas set during the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong (626 – 649): “The Long Ballad” is set when Li Shimin (Emperor Tang Taizong) came to power whereas “Weaving a Tale of Love” is set at the end of Li Shimin’s reign and the beginning reign of his son, Li Zhi (Emperor Tang Gaozong). This drama is set in between those two periods with events that lead to the abdication of the first crown prince and the coronation of Li Zhi as the crown prince.

Fu Rou (Li Yi Tong) is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She is intelligent, well-bred and strategic with a mind that can instantly come up with win-win solutions. When Sheng Chu Mu (Xu Kai) meets her, he falls head over toes in love with her. Sheng Chu Mu’s father is a general serving the Emperor, and Sheng Chu Mu is pampered and spoilt by his mother and older sister who is married to Prince Han, making him a good-for-nothing flamboyant playboy. To get Fu Rou’s love, he vows to better himself, both academically and martially (military). What takes normally years to accomplish, Sheng Chu Mu turbocharges his accomplishments in weeks, if not days, for Sheng Chu Mu is not a normal person - he’s a genius. How he accomplishes his academic and martial prowess is similar to Gump in “Forest Gump”; it is really hilarious, cute and cartoonish. By the middle of the drama, he loses his youthful tomfoorlery and the drama turns rather serious and dark with outrageous actions and events.

Both Fu Rou and Sheng Chu Mu love their families and siblings, especially the latter. He has adorable relationships with his parents and his siblings. Their dynamics are really funny and enjoyable to watch. As Sheng Chu Mu, Xu Kai brings out his adorable charisma. He is egoistic and at the same time, self-deprecates. He is playful, shameless and babyish, but when the situation is dire, he instantly becomes the fearsome and formidable general; he’s the hero who saves the day. Though unrealistic, his scenes are hilarious and I really enjoy watching them.

Li Yi Tong is a natural beauty. Her Fu Rou character is stoic and calm, and she always sticks to the book. I can’t say I like the Fu Rou character very much because I find her too inflexible though this is necessary to maintain law and order in the palace, and to safeguard herself and those she cares. At times, I find it stressful watching Fu Rou for her saintly endurance of mistreatment. Multiple times Sheng Chu Mu and Fu Rou break up and then make up, only to break up again. It is really frustrating for the viewers.

Overall acting by the whole cast is fabulous. Each actor has totally immersed himself/herself into his/her character and it shows in their acting. Every minute emotion and expression is captured. Most characters are black and white except perhaps one or two who are greyish and the actors have brought all the personalities out on the screen.

Everyone seems to be in love. Apart from our main couple, we have Han Wang or Prince of Han (Liu En Shang) and his wife (Sheng Chu Mu’s sister), Princess Xin Nan and Sheng Chu Ling (Kris Fan), the Crown Prince and his wife, the Emperor and the Empress, and so on (you get what I mean). And quite a few lose their virginity before marriage. My favorite female character is perhaps Lu Ying Ying (He Rui Xian). She comes from a powerful and corrupt family with murderous father and brother, and yet she is kind, strong and truthful. Her only fault is for being born to a power-crazy father who has no mercy for others. Multiple times she is thrown into disarray yet she takes it in stride with dignity. Her ending, including the endings for some very well loved characters, is sad and undeserving. Most other characters end either with rewards for their good deeds or retribution for their misdeeds. Having said that, despite all the misdeeds by our antagonists, their punishments are not shown explicitly to satisfy the viewers, and are just skimmed over with.

My Verdict

This is a historical fantasy with a superman who saves the kingdom and the world. A lot of the actions by the leads are over exaggerated. It is intriguing and funny, and the pace is fast. Apart from the Emperor and his princes, most of the characters are fictional and the events are not based on historical records. The writing for the endings of many supporting cast is quite lazy, with many being dropped off like flies – they are dead, and some don’t even have endings, leaving viewers wondering what has happened to these characters. The editing of some episodes are also choppy and incoherent.

Despite these short-comings, this drama is still very entertaining, and I have really enjoyed the Sheng Chu Mu character as he reminds me of "Forrest Gump" which is one of my favorite movies. As long as viewers do not take this drama seriously, it is rather a fun watch.

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