Unidas (2021)

What a crap!

DON'T WATCH IT.

I can write a whole review with the single line above... ah but I've to be reasonable enough to answer, Why? and fortunately (or unfortunately) it has tons of reasons for why.

One reckless, one stupid, one short-tempered, one who has doesn't have a thing called 'personality.' So when these four friends (?) come together what happens. I wouldn't even call them friends lol, they don't even trust each other nor have bonding just living under the same roof, friendship word doesn't deserve this coz almost all their interactions are seemed to be forced.. just made for sake of a so-called female-centered plot where there's the worst characterization of many female characters.

Even children's storybooks have better stories. Unrealistic and torturous would be the most suitable words for the plot. And freaking 35 episodes drag. I don't really get what writers think when they want to create multi leads drama themed with friendship with female dominance, as the top priority of this plot goes to male characters having pure trash personalities. Not just that... ah some bitchy and of course jealous female roles who don't have anything to do other than plotting against leads and destroying their life and relationship. For god's sake, this is 2021.

What a way to introduce Cheng Yi, he literally gave me creeps from his first scene, ah and the whole 'flirting' thing he was doing with Xia Yan can definitely consider as workplace harassment... with a very cliche hotel thing I'm supposed to ship them as a couple (Kindly note: He has some crazy women besides him). Sorry, I can't lol, and it's not like I like Xia Yan too, she takes everything for granted not to forgot her overconfidence I mean getting a job isn't like buying coffee that you can do whenever you need or want.

Han Shuang, she's irritating AF. Her temper is on another level.. can be also considered crazy (as per your convenience). Xiang Nan honestly I don't have any impression of her, not any interest in her love interest (Yes dubbing has a major role, he has the worst voice dubbing). And the award goes to Xiao Lei for being the stupidest character of 2021. From the very first scene of her, I know she's naive but didn't know to this extent. How can I believe in her profession people are supposed to be smart and intelligent enough to be a teacher.

Within this... there wasn't really time for me to notice if there was any kind of music there? Acting is mediocre, not any outstanding performance from anyone. What a waste of Vin Zhang.

In conclusion, I'll say, it doesn't serve anything neither friendship nor love, sure you'll end up having a lot of frustration.

Leia Mais

SAVE YOURSELF! this show is so bad it can only be written by some alien just landed on earth who understands neither life nor relationships nor women nor friendship nor humans?!?? storylines and relationships make no sense!!! People just randomly turn evil, have no backgrounds/concepts, get breast cancer just to bring all of the characters back together again….I am seriously, I still don’t know how or where or where or how one of the women were literally in a span of 10 mins underwent cancer diagnosis and never talked about again?!!

Worst of all, after having seen hundreds of Chinese shows, I am introduced to the THE WORST CHARACTER of all: Han Shuang!!!! Is there an episode where she doesn’t yell or scream at literally everyone?!?! Friends, parents, boyfriend, husband, employees, random people she just meet, this girl always ends up throwing tantrum at them or threatening to kill them. She has to be written by someone who hates women lol

God , so many terrible terrible characters. Anyway, yeah, save yourself and literally go stare at walls or something. Your time will be better served.

Leia Mais

Now listen idk who I pissed off while making my request for a drama with Sun Yi and Vin Zhang, but clearly they said “fuck you!” And served me up some hot garbage instead. I am so pissed off. This review is coming in fresh and hot off the finale. I could tell IMMEDIATELY that this drama was written by a man. I don’t want to see them pen any “sisterhood” drama ever again because this was the furthest thing from that we could’ve gotten. The women were constantly fighting in ways that made me wonder if they actually liked each other.. now I’m not saying that friends don’t fight but I think the writer missed the mark entirely in trying to portray the authenticity behind female friendships. This is just one of many flaws with this story.

I actually enjoyed the first few episodes of this drama that I watched (let’s say about 10ish) because it was entertaining, ridiculous and was giving the makjang vibes but something became very apparent once the episodes continued and it was that although the top billers for this drama were Vin Zhang and Sun Yi, they were going to receive the least amount of screentime. This wouldn’t be a problem in an ensemble cast, but when the poster for the show is these two stars AND they are front & center in group shots, you would expect that we would get more of them, but instead we’re stuck with the cheating ex boyfriend for a majority of the time. And yes, I am aware that they are the catalyst for a lot of the drama, but they're also not really seen much in the same token.

I suppose the best romance was Han Shuang and Ma Ke cause they actually got to kiss each other and experience romantic woes that didn’t involve exes. I’m happy for them, truly, but I can’t help but think of how much was wasted with Vin Zhang and Sun Yi.. it annoys me. We got such few cute moments from them and if they were in a domestic scene it was mainly a breakdown of company drama like jfc .. I honestly skipped through Dr and her boy but the nice exploration vacation with the horrible green screen was not lost on me. Won’t even speak on Xiao Lei and Lin Hao.

Tbh by the end of this drama I effectively hated almost everything about this show. Never thought I would give a drama with my husband this poor of a rating, but you know what? Fuck this shit because the only thing that I liked was probably the earrings and fits that Han Shuang and Xia Yan wore from time to time. Skip it and save your time.

Leia Mais

I KNOW YOU WANT TO WATCH IT FOR BINBIN BUT DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS DRAMA!

I usually watch any drama after reading few reviews and judge whether it is worth my time or not and I did the biggest mistake by not reading the reviews in this one and directly jumped in to watching it because of the soul reason - VIN ZHANG
On personal basis, it was not a whole time waste for me as I got to learn one thing from the drama, infact, from the negative character, Lin Hao, is that when we have a breakup with someone who was so close to us and we loved them truly, we often romanticize their personality, their traits and everything, but in real when someone does wrong to you and you find yourself blaming your own self is the biggest sign that you are not wrong and above that, the other person is never going to change or come and apologize to you (in real sense). even if they do, they will be there for some benefit only and not because they love you just like LIN HAO. I find this cruel and not so comfortable thing very real in this drama. Yes, we do have so many Lin Haos moving around us and over lives- the ultimate manual of RED FLAG was portrayed by the single chatacter and that was simply outstanding for me.

The drama has the capability of making you frustrated by thinking that in the poster they have shown Vin Zhang as the lead but the whole drama has surely more frame of the negative character than the male lead.

Some good points about the drama:
1. The character Yan
2. The learning of how to deal with a toxic ex.
3. Han Shuang's dressing style.
sorry no other...

Negative points
1. LIMITED LIMITED screen presence of both the leads.
2. Terrible trust issues among all the characters makes me feel like how come they have. shown the solid friendship amongst the people who have basic trust issues.
3. Too much stretched. (utter wastage of time)
4. Non sensicle entry of ML's ex
THERE ARE MANYYYY MANYYY OTHERS!

Leia Mais

Had potential but crashed and burned

Storyline had good potential but it just fell flat. The main couple had no chemistry at all. A lot of the characters/actors were annoying. Skipped thru a lot of it.

Acting:
- FL: I like this actress. I've seen several of her shows. She's not the best actor w/ a ton of range, but she has a cute charm about her.
- ML: I don't think he can pull of the main lead of a show. He's good looking, but his acting is basic. Every show I've seen him in, he's got the same whiney facial expression. He had zero chemistry w/ the female lead. He could not pull of this role as an impressive, high powered corporate exec. He's better suited for support roles.
- Most of the support characters were rather annoying and flat acting other than Zhao Xiao Lei. She is type casted to play that pitiful, kind hearted, unwavering loyalty type role. You just felt so bad for her in here. But yes, she was the biggest idiot/fool ever. I actually liked the storyline of the older bookstore owner/artist guy - but that just went away, and then the last few minutes of the series he randomly appears again.
- Lin Hao character was well played - he was believable as both the kind/hard working, and then the gradual change into a sinister evil person.
- Han Shuang character was really annoying - just kind of over the top with the abrasive, hot-headed, constant yelling approach.
- That musician love interest of the doctor (Xiang Nan) - he was like a wet noodle. Their relationship was not believable at all. And his voice...WTH, he sounded like a pre-puberty teen boy. Whenever he was on screen I couldn't take it, skipped all his scenes.
- Xiang Nan (doctor) - they tried too hard to make her the older, wiser, rational, all-knowing sage. Like who nominated her to be their representative.

Storyline:
- Had good potential but crashed. Lots of draggy and repetitive parts. The last episode seemed oddly rushed and then the ending was just flat. I felt nothing.
- Predictable, over-used trope of the jealous-for-good-reason female colleague/superior that you risk your own career (and going to prison) just to oust the person you don't like.
- Some storylines made no sense, under developed then went nowhere.

Leia Mais

Watch Bin Bin lips move...and that's pretty much it.

Stealth bomb crap. A slow-burn workplace romance drama that forgets it's supposed to be a workplace romance drama by being overly ambitious about the work, without a foot in reality, while boring itself to death in the process.

Don't believe me?
I dare anyone to watch this up to episode 17 after reading this review.

The Cons:
A spin- and repeat of a jealous supervisor that's willing to risk it all for a Bin Biscuit (LMAO)
Mass misogyny from all the genders in the room.
Who needs enemies if you have friends like these.
Poor girl really needs to stay on top of those health checkups, 'cause 'erybody fallin out.
Watered down Sex and the city vibe that can only be explained as: someone heard about Sex and the City by way of third party belching and decided to have a go.
Who da'f decided that one of the guy's voice dubbing was good to go....Aww man I got it in my head again
Kangaroo court investigations
Whole as Presidents/CEOs with thousands of employees being ridiculous on live Tv.
Every other man on screen is a different variant of cockroach, they just keep coming back.
We ain't going to apologize for terrorizing you for 2 days and humiliating you on the 3rd because of 72 hours and all.

The Pros:
Bin Bin's Lips move
In a suit,
In a car,
At the bar,
On the street,
and he eats.

There you have it, on a scale of "watch while folding laundry" to "don't blink"...It's a don't watch at all.

Leia Mais

Absolute mess

Save your time, energy or your bed time for this hot mess drama lol.

I don't usually write reviews on dramas, however I really need to vent my anger after wasting almost 35 hours of my time.

First thing first, I don't know what is more shaky, the camera/screenplay or the plot itself. Sometimes I don't really understand the conflict.

The C in this C-drama is cliché. Full of plot holes bigger than my backyard potholes. Mr/Ms writer seemingly sleepy during writing the script.

However, the ONE GOOD from this C-drama is the casts. I could feel the emotion and chemistry(?) between the casts. Hoping to see them on different, well written drama.

Alas, again, thanks for nothing

Leia Mais

kinda a waste of time

i just finished watching this title, only bc i was rushing to finish it. usually when i start a title, i feel the need to finish it.
the beginning of the drama was decent, so that's why i kept watching it. but as i got more into the drama, everything felt so rushed. only at the end of the drama did everything start to happen. the ending was so abrupt.

i only watched this because zhang bin bin lmao, but the kiss scenes were so cringe and all the toxic friendships/relationships. yea, some areas were entertaining, but when put all together it was too much. the friendship between the 4 girls is so toxic. theres clearly 2 that are closer with eachother and 1 that always feels out. the relationships just confuse me too. i don't want to spoil anything so i won't say anything specific about it, but my point is that this drama isn't worth watching.

Leia Mais

What a disappointment!

I love Bin Bin but omgggggggg!!! What a disaster this was (through no fault of his own, other than accepting this project.)
I watched the show on fast speed and skipped some chunks in the middle because I just could not handle it.


Plot:
Ridiculous.

So, we have four main female leads.
A martyr, a shrew, a doormat, and a doctor. Trust me, those are the nicest terms I've found to describe them. At least the doctor had a modicum of common sense to her.

The male leads are their own mess.
One goes from smarmy to devoted in an eye-blink.
Another is kind and sweet up until the minute he decides to become a full-blown psycho in order to "save face".
Then you have a fully grown man-child who happens to be a surgeon, if you'll believe it.
Add in the obligatory artistic "free spirit".
And to round off our circus, a younger brother who's abusive and oblivious to the point where I'd have cheerfully strangled him given half a chance.

The story itself deals with the struggles of relationships, families, money, and health. It's almost a slice-of-life of a group of people in their thirties.

Except the characters and the sceneries they face are improbable and ridiculous.

My gripes:
1) Grown people behaving like children. (Remember, these people are close to or over 30!)
2) Successful professionals risking reputation, businesses and money in the name of "love"
3) Successful professionals being unhinged emotionally, just full on looney-tunes
4) Inconsistencies of the characters. One goes from smarmy to nice. The other goes from nice to psycho. Just...why?

Acting:
Good.
Considering that I wanted to slap and/or scream at the characters 99% of the time, I have to give the actors credit for a job well done. 7/10.

Music/Cinematography:
Forgettable


Re-watch Value:
0

Leia Mais

My impression of the first 10 episodes can be summed up in one word – infuriating! But, on the bright side, we’ve gotten Xia Yan separated from her scumbag boyfriend. The series begins with Xiao Lei finding out that her fiancé had a chick on the side, thus ending her wedding, but this guy was an angel compared to Lin Hao. By the end of episode 10, I absolutely loathed this guy. Not only was he the boy toy of a married woman, but he allows everyone to believe that Xia Yan’s relationship with President Xu is the reason for their break-up, acting as though he’s the injured party. He's a despicable coward who has the unfortunate ability to look innocent in those glasses.

To add gasoline to this hot mess of infidelity, we also have vindictive b****** (VBs) bursting at the seams. XY’s first boss installed his mistress as XY's boss, causing XY to jump ship when Xu’s company offers her an interview. However, Director Xue has the hots for Xu so she does everything in her power to keep XY from being hired. Thus, VB#2 makes her appearance, and you’ve got to ask yourself – why the hell would anyone accept a position, no matter how good the pay or opportunity, when you’ve got another VB just waiting to take you down? You’re jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

As for Xia Yan’s friends: I like the maturity of the doctor, Xiang Nan, but I find the love match the scriptwriter created for her a bit odd. I love the combination of Xiao Lei with the older, divorced bookshop owner – they seem perfect for each other. I’m hoping the scriptwriter won’t disappoint me, but I won’t bet my life on it. She's showing signs of Lin Hao worship. As for Han Shuang, I dislike her. The only reason she’s not in the VB category right now is because she’s one of the friends.

Despite what I said above, I’m giving this drama 9 stars, based purely on the likeability of Xia Yan and President Xu (Cheng Yi). XY is one of those rare gems – a mature C-drama heroine…although she does have an unfortunate tendency to wear her skirts/shorts too short. Also, kudos to her and Xiao Lei for not having any stuff animals sitting around their living room. But tell me - what is it with C-dramas and Chanel? This is the third drama where someone has been wearing Chanel jewelry! As for Cheng Yi, he’s another rare gem – a CEO who’s not an unemotional, overbearing jerk. Right now, he’s actually a pretty decent guy although he could have told her the truth about that night at the hotel when she woke up. I’ll keep watching this drama for these two. I’m hoping now that we’ve gotten rid of the scumbag boyfriend, XY can start to fall in love with a guy worthy of her affection, but of course, we still have a slew of VBs waiting in the wings to wreak havoc and cause me to reach for the Nerf bricks.

Episode 14: Shuang has just gone up in my esteem since Xiaolei plummeted to last place. A divorced dad you can't accept but a cheating, mentally unstable creep is ok? I'm really disappointed in this character.

Episode 17-18: VB#2 makes her move. Lin Hao needs counseling. Prediction: Ling Wei is going to show up at some point. The ex always shows up in C-dramas unless they're dead.

Ep 19-22: And, as predicted, the ex flies in on her broom! Where the hell is the company's apology to Xia Yan for falsely accusing her? I love Xu, but he's such a nice guy I worry that lingering feelings for VB3 will blind him to her true character. Shuang's right - Xiaolei is stupid.

Ep 23-24: Still infuriating. I fast forwarded thru most of it. I can see breaking with your friends over a man who's worthy, but everyone knows Lin Hao is a cheating weasel so Xiaolei is just a gullible fool, a really pathetic character. Shuang's impulsive marriage is crazy and typical of her.

Ep 27-30: This is an utterly exasperating hot mess! If it wasn't for MC, I'd drop it. Shuang's a psycho - totally controlled by her emotions, and Xiaolei is absolutely pathetic. And they saved the ultimate VB for last since you just know Ling Wei is behind all this. I'm removing another star bc these episodes were just unbelievably crazy.

Ep 31-32: More stars coming off. Thank God there's only a few more episodes left in this train wreck. How many times is SG going to falsely accuse XY in the same sterile, stainless room with the same jerk? Bet she doesn't get an apology this time either.

Ep 33-34: Apparently, President Yan is the only smart, clear-thinking man in this disaster. Too bad he's not ML. I hate to say it but Cheng Yi is too nice a guy. So, our finale can be summed up as VB Strikes Back and Return of the VB.

Final thoughts: President Yan is the best character. 35 episodes of hot chaos and you couldn't have a better ending for MC? At least, MC didn't let misunderstandings/other people separate them - just career opportunities. Hate this trend in dramas where career trumps love.

Leia Mais