Uma Garota Como Eu (2021)

Read the novel instead

Funny thing is, I saw the author of the book this was based on and I instantly recognized them as the legend they are in the historical drama fiction novels. But I hadn't read this novel of them yet, so I went to watch first the drama, full of expectations and... yeah, I don't know WHY they didn't follow the novel 100%. Now, having read the novel, I can honestly say, it's SO much better.

Somehow, the ones who adapted the novel made the characters lose their shine somewhat, especially the FL, who is way more independent in the novel. They also practically changed the ending and added a lot of useless stuff that were absolute cliches when they had a more interesting development in the novel... which, why would they do that? I don't know.

As I said, go read the novel instead, you are better off that way. You'll have even more of the adorable quirkiness that the FL and her family have there.

Leia Mais

AMAZING, One of the best dramas i have watched.

I started watching dramas around july 2021 and i was addicted to romance category's. For a long time i was tryna find a good romance drama and after i saw some clips i wanted to watch it. Actually at first i found it kinda boring but then like the funny stuff started which was amazing. This family had the biggest and best story ever the way the mom and dad support their kids and they don't force them is just amazing. The family has another type of chemistry which i loved. The brother and sister relationship was amazing and the relationship you would see in a normal family. They showed real relationship it didn't feel fake. The romance story between Ban hua and Rong xia was top tier. We all love badass female leads. I absolutely loved this drama and it is highly recomeded by me i watched almost 300 dramas so far and This is one of them which was a 10/10 for me absolutely amazing loved the story.

Leia Mais

Quite Boring

In this drama,my favourite character is (Princess Dening) , grand mother of Ban Hua. The character she played is really enjoyable.She is so lively and entertaining even in her sixties. But in the last She died to protect her family which is quiet heart touching part for me.

SPOILER
At the beginnings of the drama, the main lead (Rong Xia ) character was shown quiet attractive and strong . But after some episodes his character was shown a little bit weak .Being the prince ,The second prince (Jiang luo) is not as much powerful as Ban hua. He is easily bullied by her.Even the crown prince (Jiang Zhang) look as old as his father (The emperor-Jiang Rui).

Acting- I am not criticizing them .But I found in some of the episode the expression and the action needed according to the situation for this historical drama is still lagging behind.

Leia Mais

Neo Hou is a handsome man...very gorgeous but he did a lot of 'space out' acting style. I think the drama was okey....kind of different from typical C-dramas but when character Shi Fei Xian came to the picture - it became so predictable. Ban Hua (Gabrielle Guan) was loved and spoiled by her family, her temperament and behavior wasn't acceptable as a noble girl at that time period but got a way a lot. Had engagement to 4 men but so unlucky enough to end up marrying to none of them. She had many dreams predicting the down-fall of herself and family. She figured how to avoid the disaster of falling-out in Royal family, being a cousin of royal family and a beloved niece of Emperor she had the freedom of princess around the palace.

Ban Hua was the most popular and beautiful Nobel lady while Scholar Rong Xia (Neo Hou) was the most handsome intelligent court First Gentleman that all girls dream to have him candidate for a husband, one of admirer was spiteful Shi Fei Xia which she created havoc in jealousy and bitterness after rejection from scholar Ron Xia. So, this is this the story about, Shi Fei Xia and a prince were collaborated to ruin blossom couple Rong Xia & Ban Hua in every way as well as taking away the reign.

I think somebody need to tell directors and ators not to act like 'gazing mindlessly' to the surrounding because I saw too much of it in C-drama. Act 'thoughtful' is more appropriate than just 'space-out gazing'....ask Mark Chao...he's good at acting 'thoughtful'. Yes, I finished the drama just to know how they ended the story. It's an okey, could be better though.

Leia Mais

Fully recommended

I’ve read the novel and I must say that the drama keeps quite close to the original storyline. Neo Hou’s Rong Xia is exactly how I imagined novel’s Rong Xia to look like. Don’t want to give any spoilers so I’ll just state here that this drama is definitely worth watching, and I also recommend those who can read Chinese to read the novel.
Oh yes—the background music is really a let down. Or perhaps it’s only me who think that electric guitars shouldn’t be used in soundtracks of period dramas. The only song I like is the one in the end credits sung by Neo Hou, “News of Flowers Blooming”.

Leia Mais

Not bad.

I love Ban Hua`s familyy. Very supportive. Thats what I like in this drama. Regarding the story, it is nice but it is not something that will surprise you or something. Basically if the watcher is after some light story, this is good. But then I want stories with surprises or story that will rip my heart so yeah gave it a lower rating hehe. Another thing I didnt like much in this drama is the fact that many guys fall for the female lead. But thank God it is tolerable and not that annoying as that of the princess agents and scarlet heart. Also, the ending was rushed. The pair ups were very very random. The production team didnt even bother to build up chemistry. The weirdest pair up is prince akeqi and the slave of Banhua. Like huhhhh??? They should have removed that part. It destroyed the story. Everything else is okay.

Leia Mais

The Most Entertaining Historical Drama... so far really good!

I took it up after finding out it had two of my favorite actors starring in it so I had high expectations and it reached them.
The story had a perfect flow and I loved how the FL, though, was strong and rough on the outside but was innocent on the inside. Their love was simple but heartwarming and how they sacrifice for each other had me supporting them from the beginning to the end.
They each had their goals and motives for approaching (especially the ML) but they neither allowed that to be a reason for interfering their love which was another point I kinda liked as it made the story filled with all emotions and feelings but were neither heavy and changed my thoughts and outlooks on the show.
The drama is of 40 episodes having each episode different from the previous with no plot repeated and showed the storyline perfectly without any confusions. This made me understand the story better and grasp the whole concept. It was a little bit similar to The Sleepless Princess as in both the dramas the FL is a princess, they both see or predict the future and try by whatever means to change fate and of course the ML's both try to uncover the truth behind their family's downfall but again were different on the character sketch and were unique on their own.

After Untouchable Lovers this was Guan Xiao Tong's next historical drama and I found great improvements in her acting. She displayed the role of a free spirited woman perfectly and nailed all the scenes which showed various sides of the character giving us a gush of emotions and also feel the moments along with her.
This was Neo Hou's first historical drama from what I know and I am anticipating for his next. He portrayed a role of a scholar who is on a venture to find the truth behind his family's downfall and on the way he falls in love with a woman who is like no ordinary soft and weak woman. After watching his performance I can't wait to watch his next.
The whole drama had me looking forward for the next and wanting to find out what will happen. It was a simple yet enjoyable drama and I have also rewatched it so I totally recommend this drama for all who love watching Chinese historical dramas.
P.S
It is not a tragedy so don't worry it's happy one! :)

Leia Mais

Fierce heroine + stunning romance + BEST family dynamics = nice blend of comedy and drama

When I first started this drama, a couple of things felt familiar to me (the ML's cunningness, the FL's wild ways, ensuing hilarity, etc), and when I looked at the synopsis again I saw that the novel it's based on is a familiar author! While fans are still translating this particular novel by Yue Xia Die Ying, I've read her other works which have similar elements, so it's no surprise that this premise drew my attention and I ended up loving the drama (even with differences from the original novel).

PROS
❀ Powerful female lead + calculating male lead = complementary romance | Huahua takes no prisoners and goes after what she wants. She's brash, straightforward, and protective (especially when it comes to her family). I absolutely LOVED her character as a female lead as she goes against the grain of society. She can do anything (archery, sword-fighting, etc) EXCEPT the virtues of women during the time, including calligraphy and poetry. But that's all good, because the male lead Rong Xia balances her out. He's the hottest scholar of the nation, a gentleman through and through who knows poetry and calligraphy. He also has a calculating side, as he's trying to figure out the mystery behind his family's death. HH and RX worked so well together and I loved their mutual respect and admiration towards one another. They accept each other, flaws and all, and stay supportive, loyal, and protective. HH's rambunctious family takes in RX as one of their own, as well, and it's really endearing to see her protect him after all his years of solitude. Truly, a match made in heaven. While their romance starts out with mistrust and hidden motives, it progresses into a pretty honest and open relationship (for the most part, other than when they're trying to protect one another lol).
❀ MOST WONDERFUL loving family | I can't gush enough about the Ban family... from the silly dad, playful son, fierce mom, and dedicated maids, the Ban family really made this drama shine. Their family dynamics were written so well and made for some wonderful comedic scenes. And while the drama is mostly light-hearted, there's some pretty dramatic moments when it comes to the plot. It's not exceptionally intense, but it's still there.
❀ Despite being 40 episodes, I looked forward to each ep | I'm the type to struggle through anything over 30 episodes, but A Girl Like Me never dragged, and I ended up binging it in one weekend. Each plot addition was exciting and I was never bored, even when watching the leads fall in love towards the middle (in fact, those were my fave scenes hehe). I definitely applaud the drama for keeping watchers on their toes and keeping the pace going.
❀ Beautiful sets and gorgeous costumes | Wow, Huahua's outfits were always STUNNING. The lead couple looked gorgeous in every frame (in fact, the ML looks exactly how I picture a ML in Yue Xia Die Ying's books look like, lmao) and the supporting cast also looked amazing. I was impressed with some of the set choices, such as the ice skating scene and the ones that took place in a cave (both very romantic scenes). Maybe this is a translation of the show's budget, but it made for some very captivating moments.
❀ While the villains weren't the best, they made for some intriguing court politics | I don't think the antagonists were super smart but the actors conveyed their desperation (especially the female scholar) pretty well. The second prince also had some entertaining scenes, although he stayed immature and whiny until the end. But like I said, they kept the plot moving and in the end had a super satisfying comeuppance.

CONS
✕ Sometimes the editing got weird... | I feel like there were scenes that were cut out so the transitions were odd/jarring. But this happened only a handful of times so it wasn't a big deal, just something I noticed.
✕ The ML was so beautiful but also so stoic | I'm not sure if this was just a part of his character, but the acting felt a little stilted towards the first half. After the main couple's love gets solidifed, I definitely felt more emotion from him, but his stoic, expressionless face is one that I saw often. Gorgeous actor, a little questionable acting.
✕ Veers away from the original story | I'm not sure how involved the novel author was in the script, but I'm pretty sure it divulges story-wise and the ending is different. Although I'm immensely happy with the drama ending, I think the novel ending would have been more triumphant to see (lol). You can probably find the ending in the reviews for the novel in NovelUpdates.
✕ There's a bit too much back-and-forth | It seems like it's for the sake of adding drama so I was fine with it, but this back-and-forth is definitely exacerbated by the antagonists and pushing the main couple in tough positions which kept happening, lol.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10 | They happen, BUT I think the writing doesn't let it drag on. The leads are both quite smart so it doesn't mar their relationship in a significant way and instead allows them to grow closer. I didn't think they were too annoying and while some of them weren't necessary, they also didn't bog down the story.

OVERALL
The refreshing and intelligent female lead made me fall in love with this drama! This hit all the right notes (and tropes) for me and I ended up loving it. Definitely recommended if you love headstrong FLs and MLs that are supportive partners.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

Leia Mais

female lead is unlike other girls but nothing special

To me this drama is a flop ! this drama is soooo boring.... the plot is boring... like literally the first 20ish episode is about the failed arranged marriage of the princess aka female lead. She is a princess through her grandmother being the aunt of the king....

Her personality is loud , proud, bold and daring. The male lead is a official of the king, he seeks revenge to find out what happen to his parents death. Turns out its about a hu fu ( which is this panther looking thing that holds military power) I believe the king's aunt husband was the general who held the hu fu. The female lead also gets dreams thats gets her glimpse of seeing into the future. ( but to me those scenes arent done well, its so random and choppy)

Who said its good, i skipped so many conversations lol.... the relationship between the female and male lead is not very believable. The chemistry is not there. Neo Hou has more chemistry with Yang Chao Yue on the love script variety show, then with Guan Xiao tong. They are quite a boring couple. I mean I like the male lead but I am contemplating dropping this drama.

Leia Mais

The Importance of Family

A Girl Like Me is going on my list of my favorite historical dramas. The reasons why I rated this show so highly are as follows: the female lead is both smart and physically strong, the show is genuinely funny, and I love the overarching theme of how important family is.

At first I wasn't sure if I liked Ban Hua because she was so sure of herself to the point that I thought she was being rude to others. I quickly fell in love with her when I realized she is a character that takes no bs and sticks to her guns. She is not well read but she is very quick to pick up on things and highly skilled physically from being dedicated to learning military training. On top of being intelligent, I loved how kind she turned out to be. Even though she is rich and likes looking the part, she is humble enough to deeply care about people who have less than she does.

Ban Hua's family's interactions with each other are a guaranteed good time. They are all funny together and play off each other well. There are many humorous occasions surrounding the fact that none of them are book smart, but they readily acknowledge that fact and are willing to have others help them in that regard which was nice to see. There were also entertaining comedic moments surrounding the rivalry between both Ban Huai (Ban Hua's father) and Marquis Xie, as well as Ban Hua and Jiang Luo.

My favorite thing about this show was the thing that surprised me the most, how the plot kept circling back to the fact that family is the most important. Whenever I read a story or watch a show about people who lived in the past, especially when it centers around royalty, I'm saddened by how people were willing to harm or even kill their own family members to gain power. That desire to be at the top of the food chain comes from a place of selfishness, whereas a truly good leader wants to be in that position to help others that are suffering and would not harm people, especially their family, to get to that position in the first place. Ban Hua's family truly love each other and are there for each other through thick and thin, even making tough sacrifices to protect each other.

I also think the leads in this show compliment each other well. There is a delightful push and pull in Ban Hua and Rong Xia's relationship that always keeps things interesting. Furthermore I wasn't bothered by the inclusion of two side couples in this show as they both had cute interactions with each other as well. Overall I think this show was well written and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys either historical dramas or shows with strong female leads.

Leia Mais

Comedy and political conspiracy in one - Amazing is the word befitting.

This is yet another amazing drama released in 2021. The male lead is one of the most handsome Chinese actors I have come across. He has this refined scholarly look which I am sure mesmerised a lot of female fans, and for the male viewers: many pretty actresses. I was drawn into watching the drama because of him. He and the female lead both sang the theme songs as well - truly multi-talented. The soundtrack is sentimental and melodious - one of the best Chinese drama soundtracks. The two leads had this amazing chemistry - making the romance and courting scenes sensational. The pace was good with hardly any lull moments. The costumes worn by the lead actress were outstanding.

The first half of the drama was about how the two lead characters met and sought to get closer to the other with ulterior motives and for political reasons. They fell truly in love in spite of their differences in talents and interests. As they struggled through self-denial, jealousy started to emerge as other parties stepped into the picture. The humour and funny scenes really cracked me up. The video clips at the beginning and end were too much of a give-away on this - should have left some suspense on who the duchess would eventually chose.

Tension however built during the second half as the conspiracy and fight for the throne intensified and it became chaotic, although with humour interspace throughout. The two went through thick and thin to save the Ban family and help the crown prince.

The story is quite run-of-the-mill in Chinese dramas: love triangles, fight for the throne, jealousy, misunderstanding, rejecting the other in the belief it was for their good, tripping and falling into the arms of the other, saving the damsel in distress - all the common themes and tricks. It is the acting that makes this drama good. Of course, these are common emotions in real life with fight between princes for the throne a common historical occurrence in Chinese history.

The regret the drama left was the crown prince continued to look incompetent even at the end, which seemed not worth the fights to help him re-gain the throne. Somehow, I felt that the throne really should go to Rong, for he was the truly capable one. But this would be very much against the Confucious teaching of loyalty I guess. The writer could have given it a twist here.

With the ban on filming due to the pandemic lifted, loads of good Chinese dramas are released and we will see loads of it and this is one of them.

Leia Mais