Never ending staring contest

As much I love the actress (she's in Bloody Romance) and as much as I enjoyed the first Go Go Squid this was a struggle for me to continue. I'll probably play on the side and eventually finish it.

Boring start and really not romantic if you think through:

1. Love at first sight feeling <-- ML liked her for 7 years prior to meeting her. Meets her instantly reaffirming he only wants to be with her (w/o any deeper understanding) but I guess that's "romantic" to some? He goes away boom ! another 3 years pass by and that's a total of 10 years already!!! They meet again the story continues.
4 ep in and already lots of staring ............... w/o words ............ just staring with some drama blinks.
14 ep in still not together but lots lots lots eye meets eye w/o words .... frozen in ep.

2. Supporting couple: the sister & Grunt <--- again immediate like w/o no interaction? He hijacks her drink, hoovers over her while she just stares at his hotness and that's how they met. Ep later in the bar she asks him while drunk "Do you like me?" and makes you wonder did you miss all the interaction in between?
First kiss ------------- kissing a drunk girl 1/2 conscious ? yeah NOT romantic

Story so boring compared to Go Go Squid 1 but there are quite a few fine looking faces if that can hold your interest.

**Update** Amazing I finished it at 2x speed because I am not a quitter. But nothing happened. Plot stayed boring as ever.

Leia Mais

HARD left field PLOT turn @ ep 16

This is a low budget Xian Xia drama started with a promising story line 8/10

I didn't mind the mediocre acting as I've seen the actors in their other works. I even enjoyed "A girl like me" with Neo Hou in it. But you are not going to feel the sadness when there's death or crying scenes because it's just not that moving. Not to mention there isn't an OST to help with that kinds of scenes.
I also didn't mind the cheesy CGI as some of the "Yao" are super kiddish cute and silly

Positives so far:
1. Good story line until ep 16
2. Beautiful cast not ruined by Xian Xia OTP makeup (i.e. Till the end of the moon)
3. Good multi dimensional interesting characters
-FL not overly annoying or weak. I love that she's honest and forthcoming with her feelings
- ML dragon emotional scars warranted for the initial reactions
- Bai Xiao Sheng (with his bad hair) provided so many comical relief
- Su Ying , crazy dragon stabber. I love that she's NOT a single dimensional antagonist. There is actual a reason to her hatred towards all Yao. Sure she took it to the crazy psycho B level but hey all xian xia dramas need one.

Then ...... ep 16 happens and then you are like uhhhh that came out of left field!
Literally the plot turn could've been avoided by 1 line "BRB" but "Bruh..."
Bai Xiao Sheng becomes the 2nd lead flip switch
Enters a flood of characters.... but I am happy to see (Liu Yao Yuan who was in The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty)

Last 10 ep plot is a hot mess IMO and feels like they are trying to stretch out the episodes with prolonged slow motions. 1.25x speed and they are still walking in slow motion.... Super draggy until the end.

Leia Mais

Fantastic Acting by the Trio! Bai Lu is the best character!

Crime thrillers in C-dramas often lacks graphic scenes and it's probably best as one of the case is quite grotesque. Rather than focusing on the detail of the cases, the character Bai Lu is what's most captivating about this drama.

These are rather short episodes, only 20 min long so 32 ep goes by quickly although 2 of the cases were pretty average and predictable. 1st 1/2 way better than 1/2 half (common themes in C-dramas)

Bai Lu played by Li Yuan is the best that I've seen of that manly independent strong female character. She's semi broken & complex. Her comebacks can be witty or fierce.
Actor Yuan Hao is always solid in every role that I've seen him in but his screen time is rather limited.
GuYu is a forensic doctor that teams up after the first case. There's a great scene with her and Bai Lu in ep 14 that showcased both actresses acting skills.

The only thing I wished for and this goes for most crime C dramas is that the pace of solving each case should be way slower. There should be more build up finding evidence leading to suspects.

Last case circles back to GuYu but ..... kinda lacking in plausibility.

Leia Mais

= Day Time Soap

I guess this is C-drama version of American Day Time soap and how did it ever get high stars that's just puzzling!

7 years of "misunderstanding" due to even tho we were married BUT I am going to believe any A Mao A Gou's words.
Scene started out w/ Evil jealous model followed by Evil jealous sister ex in law
followed by some over dramatic soapy music enters the FL
ML FL hate each other through hearsay. Nasty grandpa comes in chews her head off
Jealous rival of ML has a grand evil plot continues to target FL but no wait, final episode reveal it was over a hamburger!
This is straight up day time soap just needed some hair pulling and water splash on face action

What was good?
hmmm the little kid? Cutest boy ever memorizing all those lines.. Impressive!

Leia Mais

Crash course in proper casting

Honestly I don't understand why the rating is so high for this drama. There are 2 major issues that killed the drama for me.

1. Proper casting complete fail
Really no offense to the FL as I've seen her other works, however this is all about age appropriate casting based on the character. Lets say FL's character was around ~22 years old & ~13 years later she should at MOST be in the late 30s. FL actress is 50 and definitely looks older than her age. Literally ALL the other moms looked younger than her. So when there are comments like "Oh she looks too young to be a mom." .... umm she can be grandma status. Needless to say there was zero chemistry between the leads. Scenes were cringe worthy....

2. For a drama that was promoted as a romantic comedy it turned into a dark theme with murder suicide? Whole story line felt forced but predicable.

The only reason I continued is because of the strong student cast and some more interesting characters like Chi Yeol's scretary, the Detective & FL's bestie. This story line would've been better if it was more of a school series like Solomon's Perjury. It's already got the beautiful young talented actors in all the classic student roles. So if you skip literally all the ML/FL's scenes, this drama will be actually enjoyable.

Leia Mais

Quantity doesn't = Quality

Positives:
1. A "Watchable" Frozen Face Hu Yi Tian drama. (yes I'll probably get a lot of hate comments, but I've watched and given up enough of his dramas to conclude his frozen face syndrome)
2. Decent storyline with strong lead characters. Although not unique but it's enjoyable. The pacing of the love developing is very good.
3. Enough good supporting characters (but you'll need to weed them out) One's I actually enjoyed:
ML's sister Shao Yao & Shen Huan
ML's 2 sidekicks (could've used more screen time)
Hua's cook
Prince Xian - a worthy bad guy

Skippable
1. Quantity < Quality. Overloading on non-necessary characters (to fill in 40 episodes) is a HUGE waste of time. Lack of character development for these side characters makes the drama feel draggy.
2. Due to the characters dump, there's a lot of annoying scenes. Plenty Aunts, cousins, maids' repetitive lines make it unbearable at times. Even with the pairing on these excess characters you'll feel nothing because essentially there's no build up.

Leia Mais

Important lessons from the imperfect victim

I've read a few reviews where the reviewer blames the victims of poor choices. This drama is for the mature audience with an open mind and a open heart. As the title suggests "imperfect victim" is just that. The young victim made all the wrong choices but that doesn't mean she deserved to be assaulted. Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and/or rape often face society prosecution in addition to dealing with legal hurdles. Even in the U.S. the stats of % of women that are sexually harassed, assaulted, raped are staggering. Although this subject is rather heavy, the drama does contain a lot of good information worth knowing.

Cast:
FL lawyer - Amazing! I love her acting & her character.
FL Victim - I think she improved a lot as an actress but could be better.
ML the accused - He's one of my favorite veteran actors.
Strong supporting cast all around, my favorite being FL lawyer's side kick, the female cop & the ex security guard.

The drama introduces the FL lawyer entering a dinner party responding to a guest pressuring her to drink: "I will only have one drink. Anyone that expects more than 1 drink I will leave." She's confident, successful & powerful.

Separately the victim, who's young & beautiful. She's timid and one night got pressured into drinking till she passes out leading to a night of unfortunate events. Later on she's judged as the gold digger and a party girl because she was drinking with powerful old men. She didn't say "No" therefore she was "fine" with it even if all her body language clearly shows she detested all that was going on.

There are going to be lots of frustrating scenes but it's also realistic and maybe it can bring more awareness on social norms that need to be changed & on laws that need to be improved upon.

Well done drama with a very good cast on a topic that's often overlooked. Probably not going to be a popular drama but I think it would be beneficial especially for women to watch this.

Leia Mais

Thrilling all the way

If you love crime solving mysteries this would be very enjoyable. The story involves the tragic death of a beautiful girl who's life was already miserable. It will hit home with many of us who grew up under these unhealthy cultural norms. It will hit home when the victim's parents yelled out "I gave you life!" Therefore that gift of life justifies controlling the kid's every decision in life ultimately leading to her death. The toxic love that prior generation can't see as an issue until it's too late.

As the story continues it also focuses on the FL cop marriage struggles. Her inability to separate her job from her husband. Her mental state deteriorated as the case continued to the point of ruining her relationship with a perfect husband. Although the story ended on a high note, it was frustrating watching that relationship breakdown.

What I loved:
1. Cast. Every actor played their character well. This is the first time I've watched Song Jia (FL)'s work and she's amazing in this role.
Wang Yang - He's been one of my favorite veteran actor.
Hou Wen Yuan (supporting cop) - Hope I see him in more roles in the future
2. Overall story. Satisfying ending with many love & love to hate characters
3. Pacing of the story was very good. I like that the case had few twist and turns but not excessive.
4. Dialogue - Mature, insightful, relatable

Only dislike:
1. FL went overboard IMO by ep 12

It would be cool to see future dramas based off on this FL.

Leia Mais

Best Costume Drama of 2022!

I am so sad that it ended. I honestly could use another 30 ep of this.

Sure the drama started out with all the excessive ladies gossiping & doing evil things trying to get the ONLY bachelor in town but aside that minor flaw the story overall was executed close to perfection.

Why the perfect 10
1. ML/FL amazing chemistry. I've seen every Rosy drama but this pairing with Leo Wu was perfect. Leo Wu is just a talented actor since a baby.
2. Supporting cast. There were so many supporting characters that I equally loved in this drama notably:
- 2 Generals by ML for comic relief.
- Mom and Dad of FL. Dad is so funny and the mom's facial expressions always on point. I actually loved her character
- The Emperor and the 2 wives. The emperor especially was entertaining.
- Brother / besties of FL
- 2nd ML , 3rd ML (Yuan Shen) started out annoyingly funny then through character development became a worthy 2nd/3rd lead.
The whole cast was incredible.
3. Story . On the surface it's about love and revenge. However it's got:
-Plot twists. Not overly complicated. Not overly outrageous
- Best character development of main and supporting cast. Shao Shang started as a playful 15 year old. She went through varies struggles to learn about herself and the meaning of true love.
- Family dynamics, relationships between friends, family members
- Strong female characters
4. Beautiful costume, cinematography & music provided that dream land feel.
5. Rewatch Value. I already rewatched 3x.
6. Happy Drama overall. Not like traditional dramas where every character dies because let's face it, SAD endings sucks.
7. Ending of every episodes. Actors playing some games.
8. No cheesy voice dubbing. Unless it's due to actors having thick accents then I would always like to hear their own voices.

Sadly I really felt I want more in the ending not necessary story continuation but more of grand happy ending scene.

Leia Mais

Disappointing script

I love the leads in many of their roles, so I was excited to see the pairing in this promising drama.
No fault to the acting but the script is too absurd.
Matched up with some overly annoying support characters like the Madam Yoo , the ex wife of ML, the Mother of 2nd ML, Female office worker.... it was really hard to watch.
The plot of raising an orphan child bride just served no purpose.
Then pops in the ex wife adding to the annoyingness of the whole story

The few parts I did enjoy:
ML's character in general. His awkwardness and comments in the beginning episodes were hilarious. The more awkward he got the more FL finds him cute.
Gay roommate/BFF/BF/Husband. His character is the most lovable.
Pretty much those are the only factors why I continued with the drama.

Leia Mais

Make you miss S1

Everything felt different

Acting was still ok but the connection didn't feel as strong. Was there really feel of character development? Not really to me.
New addition was a fail. He wasn't funny and maintained his annoying status all the way through.
Evil characters - they out acted the good characters. I really enjoyed them actually. Kim Hieora played a crazy one eyed b*8ch really spiced up the show. I absolutely loved her acting. Kang Ki Young (one of my fav. supporting characters) who always played as the comedic supporting role really pulled off the evil role.

The story had too many loopholes that makes you ask why didn't ... that happen? Made no sense. Sloppy writing honestly.

Still semi enjoyable. if you just focus on the stunts and action. Prob should quite at S2.

Leia Mais

Love is a repetitive script

Watch if you love the leads as they are both big stars but literally its the same script over and over again. If the story , dialogue is good then a repetitive script with typical otp cliches can be done right. This is not that. Not only that the story was pretty much done for by ep 30 but they dragged it out by another 6.

Cliche story goes:
1. A boy who likes a girl in secret ever since a million years ago and never had any other love interest
2. The boy orders the girl around but is secretly helping her
3. Girl is COMPLETELY ignorant and cannot see he's helping her but thinks he's a bully instead
4. Girl is supposedly smart but yet let every one boss her around
5. Mean girl who can't get a clue or won't give up even after the leads got together
6. 2nd Lead who never had a chance but yet won't give up
7. 2nd Lead's confession is 20 ep too late? why not what? and of course the girl had no clue

Supporting couple not strong as well.

Few fun moments but majority is rather dull so if you are a fan of the leads then you might like it. Else skip for a better cliche love scripts that's done right.

Leia Mais

What's not to love about Zhang zi yi?

Yes not having a 16 year looking face is really distracting in the beginning but once you reach ep 10 you'll probably enjoy the story. Even her personality in the story is like a 30 year old so I wish they made the character at least in her late 20s. They also could've slowed down the love between the ML & FL as she seemed to fall for him pretty fast. It picks up more ep 16 on so be patient with this title as the cast, the story is very good. Although the story with political scheming isn't new but the stellar cast makes this drama a good watch. The high quality production with amazing costume design & cinematography is impressive esp ep 28 I was absolutely in awe.

Helan Zhen being the stand out character. He played a similar role in Rise of the Phoenix but it was short lived so happy to see him in this role.

Now I am near the end, the story is slow but I can't stop watching it because it feels like a fashion show with the endless costume designs. There are quite a few character's development that made the story have some depth but it's not a captivating. I didn't feel the love story was epic and I felt the love development was a bit quick no fault to the actors of course. The cast of actors were all very good. In the end despite the production / stellar cast , the story is not on the same level as a Joy of Life or Rise of Phoenix.

And I still love Zhangziyi !!

Leia Mais

Ep 37 she finally wore flats!

I started watching this drama for Dai Xu. It's been so long since I've seen him in a good drama like Burning Ice or the Legends.

But this drama is about a gifted housekeeper who can walk in high heels anywhere.
High heels walking on grass
High heels walking in the country side
High heels pushing a wheelchair down the slope

The FL "gifted housekeeper" can fix apparently everyone's problems (other than her own). She's a psychiatrist, a nurse, a nanny all in one. Much of the drama lacks focus since it's about everyone else's stories and not really about her.
I keep watching this for sometime of development but it never really happened.

Honestly the basis of the story line isn't bad. Had they drama focused more on the slow burn development between the FL and the Man bun ML (who will grow on you) then the drama would've been more watchable.
Instead I had to skip through the filler lines and creepy 30+ year old calling "MOMMY" left and right. ...

Leia Mais