Women Unite to Blossom from Adversities by selling Dim Sum!

“Blossoms in Adversity” is not getting a lot of hype and it’s unfortunate as it’s a pretty good drama. Led by Zhang Jing Yi (of “Lighter and Princess”) as the main heroine, we follow her as she leads everyone to weather the storms thrown at her and the Hua family. This drama reminds me of “New LIfe Begins”, with a focus on the women of the family, though “Blossoms in Adversity” has more drama and less comedy.

Plot/Pacing:
A lot happened to the Hua Family in these 40 episodes mainly due to a mean, dictatorial, jealous emperor who couldn’t stand being criticized or questioned. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. With a mix of politics, overcoming hardships, family relationships/dynamics, business dealings and royal family disputes, these 40 episodes go by pretty quickly. There might be slight slow pacing in the middle but the last quarter of the drama picks the pace back up. I am not a big fan of harem scheming, so I was initially worried that I might dislike all these women in the family, especially when the hard times come. Luckily, the fighting only happens for a few episodes and they are not too bad. None of them is evil at heart, and this drama really does emphasize on how these women of all ages and social statuses come together to create a new life for themselves and their loved ones.

Romance:
The main romance is like a calming, steady river stream. Hua Zhi (FL) and Gu Yan Xi (ML) are both intelligent, mature and rational adults. Their romance is developed slowly starting as strangers, to friends, and then to lovers. Although this romance does not give you severe heartbreaks or cute and fluffy sweetness, it brings a sense of satisfaction, companionship and comfort. Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi are very honest with each other, and will communicate when they are in doubt. I would not say Zhang Jing Yi and Hu Yi Tian have excellent chemistry and it’s probably because their romance is just so comforting. It lacks a sense of passion or yearning. The acting is not bad, but also not enough to move or excite me. There’s only really one kiss scene but there is plenty of hugging and hand holding. On the other hand, the secondary romance between Shao Yao and Shen Huan is a lot more adorable. They are just so fun together and I enjoy their chemistry. Their innocence shines through like the bright sunlight.

Acting:
As the protagonist, Zhang Jing Yi did an admirable job as Hua Zhi. She met my expectations but I would not say she’s excellent, because I think the large supporting cast of veteran actresses share her spotlight. Hu Yi Tian is not horrible, and definitely better than in his other ‘cold’ roles in “Go Go Squid” or “Handsome Siblings”. He’s OK but not great. He still lacks expressions in some of the more emotional scenes, especially when he’s angry (gotta do more than open your eyes wide). Lu Yu Xiao really is a very promising young actress. She has played so many different roles in recent dramas and she continues to impress me. “Blossoms in Adversity” has a very large cast from the youngest to the oldest. There isn’t anyone that is the weakest link and luckily, there aren't any annoying characters.

Production:
This might not be an S+ production, but nothing looks cheap. I love all of Zhang Jing Yi’s costumes and hairstyles. She looks beautiful in this drama. When the Hua family has money, all the women’s clothing look nice and ‘rich’, though they seem to always wear the same clothes. I enjoy the OST but do think the songs are overplayed. I am somewhat pleasantly surprised at the action/fight scenes. There aren’t too many fight scenes but the few that they had, I was quite impressed, and especially surprised to see Hu Yi Tian fight hard and seems to know what he’s doing. I don’t recall being impressed with his fight scenes in “Handsome Siblings”. The fights are well-choreographed and I would have loved them even more if we cut down on the slow-motion scenes. Lastly, I am so glad that most of the actors and actresses use their own voice even if it’s from studio/post-production and not live. Eddie Ko (Grandfather Hua) and Myolie Wu (third madame), both from Hong Kong, seem to be the only ones dubbed by someone else.

Lastly, I am not sure if this is considered a criticism, but I find our heroine Hua Zhi a little too perfect. The drama does not outright tell you she’s perfect. In fact, when she was introduced, no one really liked her or cared for her, except for her grandfather. But as the drama goes on, we are shown time and time again how intelligent she is. She is able to overcome Everything quite easily. Hua Zhi can react to challenges rationally, and she can anticipate and prevent future crises, while coming up with new ideas to make money. She’s able to grow her small little food stand business to having her own dim sum store in less than a year!

Having said that, there really isn’t any big flaw “Blossoms in Adversity”. It’s enjoyable, decently-paced with lovely characters. If you enjoy seeing women band together to support each other, this is the drama for you. If you enjoy seeing how one overcomes adversities and blossoms from them (see my pun here.. LOL), this is the drama for you. I’m giving this a solid 8.5. It’s just missing a little something for me emotionally, so I can’t give it a higher rating. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend this drama.


Completed: 6/2/2024 - Review #448

Leia Mais

A Perfect man and a Perfect woman fell in love in a Perfect world.

Subjective Mood Rating: 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating: 7.75-8.0

I intentionally seek out a drama like “Love Me, Love My Voice” because I wanted something easy, simple and sweet during the end of the year holiday season. With that in mind, my rating might not have reflected my usual criticisms and expectations. Objectively speaking, this drama is too perfect. And yes, that is a flaw. But I am going to overlook that, because I am expecting a perfect world. If you are not and are usually too rational, then I do NOT recommend this drama for you.


Romance:
As my title says, a perfect man and a perfect woman fell in love in a perfect world. There’s no drama, no misunderstanding and no evil parents or ex’s. The romance is mellow, sweet and shy, with a surprising amount of kisses towards the last third of the drama. ML is successful, handsome, sweet, caring, considerate, professional, has a beautiful voice and is a doctor! When does he have time to have a side gig? Moreover, he’s flirty and actually quite passive aggressive. A perfect man! (with too much white makeup). ML confessed early, established a relationship before the couple really started to get to know each other. The romance is slow-burn in a way and viewers have to be patient and wait for our female lead to get more and more comfortable with her man. You do see that progression from super shy, not holding hands and standing far apart, to slowly holding hands and hugging, to a lot of skinship. ML dotes on FL, is a perfect gentleman and can cook! I was smiling the whole time watching this drama. I wasn’t expecting Tan Jian Ci to be so good in giving us a hopelessly-in-love-yet-horny look. 😘 LOL

Dubbing/Voice Acting:
I am not sure how realistic the portrayal of the industry is, but I am very interested in this part of the drama. I’ve watched enough C-dramas to know this industry is huge. Having the behind-the-scenes look into a studio’s operation is very interesting. I didn’t know there were chat rooms, big offline/real life offline concerts and performances. I really enjoy watching the 10th anniversary celebration, more so than the festival itself. The voice acting of the period pieces was phenomenal. Big props to the voices behind the actors. Now, let’s get the real actors voice acting lessons.

Tourism promotion + Product Placement
There are two trips/vacations and they make me want to travel with them. Beautiful places, scenery and delicious food! I’ve heard so much about Guilin and its beauty that I actually have always wanted to visit there. Having said that, the last few episodes of the drama are wasted on their lakeside trip. Nothing really happened aside from lovey-dovey moments, eating and playing (repeat for 3 episodes of a 3-day trip). Our old friend, Cold Medicine 999 is back. Even doctors in a hospital need to rely on them. Our FL loves snacks! She not only eats her snacks all the time but has access to a supermarket whenever she wants.

Other romances
I am not a big fan of the secondary romance. I can’t believe we have a 30-year old man being so shy and indecisive in courting a girl almost 10 years younger. One shy couple is enough, I don’t really need more. The drama spent too much time on them going back-and-forth. When they finally became a couple, the drama showed us the result but not the confession scene. The other romance has so little screen time even though it’s been implied. I much rather watch them than the other couple.

Music/OST
Love the songs and the soundtrack has a variety of songs. Tan Jian Ci really does have a nice voice and I added a few songs to my Spotify playlist. However, the romantic songs/music are so overplayed. Each time we have a romantic scene with the leads, music/songs will be played. Sometimes, I just want silence and really experience the love in the air without the music manipulating me.

Pacing/Ending
The drama is just too long. 24 episodes will suffice and 33 is just too many. Once the lead couple gets more comfortable with each other and starts kissing/skinship, the pace slows down. Nothing much happened plot wise aside from the preparation of the concerts and performances. The last 5-7 episodes are filled with fillers and events that don’t move the plot (actually, this drama doesn’t have much of a plot). Like I said earlier, we don’t need 3 episodes dedicated to a 3-day trip, nor 2 episodes dedicated to the ending. For those that don’t like rushed endings, this drama is perfect for you. It even tells you it’s taking its sweet time in closing this out.


I would only recommend this drama if you are a super fan of romance, OK with a drama without much of a plot and no conflict, perfect human beings living in a perfect world. If you are in the mood for such a drama like me right now, go for it!



Completed: 12/28/2023 - Review #388

Leia Mais

Recommended for Romance Slice-of-Life Lovers and Fans of the Leads (Amazing Chemistry)

Overall - 8.25
Subjective Romance-lover Rating - 8.5 (9.0 for first 10 episodes)
Objective Overall Rating - 8.0

“Road Home” is a true romance drama that focuses on the main leads’ romantic journey from when they were teenagers, separated for over 10 years and reunited again as adults. This is a slow-paced slice-of-life drama where nothing dramatic really happens. The side plots are all there to illustrate how Lu Chen (ML) and Gui Xiao (FL) manage their relationship. Although we see scenes of SWAT training, you will be disappointed if you are looking for a drama similar to “You Are My Hero”.

Recommended for:
1. Hopeless Romantics
2. Those who are in the mood to watch something romantic
3. Slice-of-Life romance lovers, who are fine with a slower pace and no dramatic plot twists.
4. Fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan


What I Like and Enjoy:

1. Acting (Jing Bo Ran and Seven Tan) - Without these two’s amazing acting, this drama would not be successful at all. There isn’t a lot of talking between the leads, because JBR’s character is very quiet and only answers in a word or two most of the time. But when you have experienced actors who can convey emotions with their eyes and subtle facial expressions, that makes the drama worth watching. It’s not a surprise to see Seven Tan play a high schooler and make it believable. I am more surprised to see the innocent look on JBR’s face as a teenager. Granted, he does look older than 18, but his expressions show a different side of him when he was younger. The white filter helps distinguish his younger and innocent days from the mature, battle-tested adult days.

2. Romance - This is the bread and butter of the drama. You have to love this genre to fully appreciate this drama. The chemistry is amazing and sizzling. To me, the best part of this drama is the first 8-10 episodes, before the leads officially got back together. The yearning, longing and hurt, the gazes of the desperate need to reconnect, sucked me right into their love story. Viewers need to watch the subtle facial expressions and read between the lines for all the indirect hidden meaning of what’s going on. Yes, the pace might be slow for some, but I love these initial meetings when they meet each other after 10 years. And to reward us for enduring the pain with the leads, viewers are rewarded with many romantic kisses, hand-holding, hugs and back hugs, and fluffiness in the second half of the drama.

3. Jin Bo Ran - I have never considered JBR as my type of handsome. However, there is nothing that prevents me from falling in love with him and his character. Who wouldn’t love a sexy man in uniform who cooks, cleans, pampers, and is considerate and thoughtful and never raises his voice at you? Jin Bo Ran has never been so sexy to me and I appreciate the drama showing us his nicely toned upper body, whether if he’s topless or wearing a wife beater and showing off his arms. I do wish he had a nicer wardrobe.

4. OST - Lovely songs in this original soundtrack. A few of the songs’ lyrics match the scenes perfectly. Seven Tan’s version of 《青春无恙》(Healthy Youth) puts me right in the mood in the first ⅓ of the drama. The upbeat song《恋爱在流行》(Love is Popular) made me happy and immediately brought back memories of the sweet and fluffy scenes between the leads.

5. Production Quality - Nice wintery sceneries, introduced me to the Chinese Grand Canyon (never knew it existed), making sandy/desert areas romantic (not pretty though). Lucky to see that the women have a nice wardrobe, which doesn’t always happen in a Chinese drama. All the men look good in uniform. Nothing seems cheap, with a few nice sets such as FL’s apartment and office.



What I don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:

Most of my critiques are due to the fact this is a 30-episode drama. If there are only 24 episodes, I might not be as ‘harsh’. I feel that there’s so much time that the drama can afford to better develop some of the side plots. The side stories could have been more impactful, and not just a forgettable mess in the presence of the main romance.

1. ML’s dad/family - Without getting too spoilery, I just want to say that the redemption arc is not well done at all. It’s laughable that everything is swept under the carpet after the conversation and agreement between ML’s mother and father. The drama made a big deal initially, but in the end, nothing really happened. FL wasn’t really put in a particularly difficult position once she officially met the father.

2. Secondary Romance - I would have loved to see some phone conversations to make me believe that those two can fall for each other. Viewers were told that they have gotten a lot closer, but never really showed us any meaningful scenes. This seems like a convenient and quickly put-together side romance, and not well-thought out.

3. Poor Kid - We got such an adorable young actor, but he’s being wasted. This child got passed around like a ball to stay at different houses. I understand the reason behind that, but I wish we had seen more scenes with him in it. Most of the time, he just gets sent to a different room because the leads or the adults have things to talk about or need to have some alone time. I wish there are more meaningful conversations, like the one he had with Seven Tan about growing up with divorced parents. What a wasted potential.

4. Bright backlighting - I am very annoyed with the strong white light behind the leads every single time they are trying to kiss or have a romantic scene. I want to see the facial expression, not be blinded by the light. The chemistry is interrupted constantly because of this light.

5. Flashbacks - For the most part, I like the drama’s use of flashbacks to tell the story of the leads younger days. However, I wish they had incorporated the days when they first broke up and were having a tough time. We hear that ML was living like a zombie, but I want to see. I want to see how hurt and depressed they were, so that I can feel even more when they’re reunited at the gas station. The drama practically ended in ep 29. I am glad that we got to see the male lead’s perspectives during their younger days. I am conflicted whether they should have left those scenes in the last episode, or if they should be introduced throughout the drama. But I guess in a way, the story came back in full circle. The first time he fell in love with her was at the same place where he saw her before the wedding. It’s fate. They are meant to be together.

6. Too fluffy? - I can’t believe I am typing this in the critique section (maybe more of a mixed feeling). I feel that the last 10 episodes have too many cute and sweet scenes of the leads not doing much. Do I love how they gaze lovingly at each other with sweet kisses and hugs? Of course! But I also felt that it’s a little repetitive when the plot is not really moving.

I do recommend this drama for those who are in the mood for something romantic. However, it’s not an amazing all-around drama. If you are fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan, do not miss this! I haven’t read the book and if you did and watched the drama, do you mind leaving a comment and telling me if the drama follows novelty closely? Do my criticisms of the side plots also happen in the novel?


Other Random Observations:
1. I think a wheelchair should be used for Seven Tan a LOT sooner when she’s at the hospital.
2. Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan look handsome/beautiful in ep. 29.
3. No real annoying character.



Completed: 4/2/2023

Leia Mais

Melo-Fantasy Drama with Singing - But not quite a real Musical

Completed - 5/7/2022

I am a big fan of musicals, so when I heard that "The Sound of Magic" is a short Korean musical drama, I got to check it out. However, I think my expectations were too high, and the drama didn’t quite deliver. The premise of the story is good, and I enjoy the general theme of finding your true self and path, through the belief in magic. However, I felt that the execution is lacking a bit. I was expecting a more upbeat and hopeful drama, but this is sadder and darker than I thought.

If we’re talking about a musical, we can’t ignore its music. I was not very impressed with the first episode and found the songs and the singing to be just OK. However, I did enjoy a couple ballads throughout the drama, especially ‘Have a Good Night’ sung by the sisters. I do think the music is lacking in variety and there are only 2 group numbers. I would have liked to see more. Since the majority of the songs are slow ballads, I am missing the dancing/choreography of a musical. The singing is OK. I guess the actors are not really theater actors who can sing, and it shows. I have to remind myself not to compare “The Sound of Magic” to “The Sound of Music” or any of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creations. That would be an unfair comparison, thus, I didn’t lower the rating despite my minor disappointment. I do plan to get the OST from Spotify, and I might enjoy the music more as I listen to them more.

I do enjoy the acting of our young leads, Choi Sung Eun and Hwang In Youp. I am not familiar with Choi Sung Eun but I think she was very expressive in all her sad and teary-eyed scenes. Hwang In Youp is not that cool bad boy in “True Beauty” anymore but a studious student searching for his own path. Of course, the top attraction to this drama is Ji Chang Wook. I think as a veteran actor, he did fine. He isn’t as charismatic as the Magician as I would have imagined. I want his personality to be bigger (not as crazy as Willy Wonka, but a little more oomph). His best performance is in Ep 6. I enjoy the young actress, Oh So Hyun, as the little sister, especially her singing in ‘Have a Good Night”. She has a beautiful, young and pure voice. It’s also a nice surprise to see every actor's younger self, Nam Da Reum, to play the teen Magician. There has got to be one annoying character in these Asia dramas, and the award goes to Baek Ha Na, the classmate. I guess that means Ji Hye Won did a great job portraying her. Also, what is up with all the parents in this drama? They piss me off!

I feel the cinematography is a little uneven. There are scenes that are beautifully shot, usually the magic and fireworks at the theme park. But all the other scenes don’t look anything special and somewhat dull. I was just expecting a Netflix production to give us a little more. I understand the theme park is abandoned, so I don’t expect glamor inside. But the scenes shot inside the Magician’s office or the stage do not look very nice.x

Overall, do not go in expecting a big musical drama production. Think of it as a Korean melo-fantasy drama with music and songs. Oh, also don’t miss the stage performance of all cast members at the end of Ep 6.

Leia Mais

Tearjerker + Amazing performance by Roy Chiu

Completed - 3/29/2022
Subjective Rating - 9.0
Objective Rating - 7.5-8.5

Without really paying attention to the tags of this movie, I thought I was going to watch a romantic comedy. Little did I know I would be crying my eyes out. This is a definite tearjerker.

A Cheng is a kind-hearted debt collector who fell in love with Hao Ting at first sight. I have never been a fan of love-at-first sight, and I'm not going to lie, the way he pursues Hao Ting could be viewed as stalker-ish and problematic as well. But once I got past these 'hurdles', I am fully invested in their love story.

I love A Cheng. What he went through in this movie breaks my heart. I cried so much after things went downhill for him. He's always been so kind to everyone he encounters. I want him to live happily-ever-after with Hao Ting. Roy Chiu (who plays A Cheng) is fantastic in this movie. His acting range is in total display - silly, kind, violent, betrayed, in physical and emotional pain, and heartbroken.

It's really hard for me to put into words why my gut feeling tells me this movie is worth my 9.0 rating. Maybe I was caught off-guard by all the feels. Maybe I was too impressed with Roy Chiu's acting. Maybe I am just watching the right movie, at the right time, in the right mood.

Leia Mais

Beautiful yet Pretentious; Great character development but poor plot writing

“Fangs of Fortune” is no doubt the product of director Edward Guo. I enjoyed his other drama “My Journey to Love” so much that I wish I could feel the same about “Fangs of Fortune”. Unfortunately, just having a good-looking cast and beautiful cinematography are not enough for me.


What I Like:

1. Characters
The main reason I am not rating this drama lower than 8.0 is because of the characters. I like each of them, main cast, supporting cast and guest roles. Each character’s story is unique and I had a good time getting to know them and following their journey of growth. They are interesting individually and together as a group. “Fangs of Fortune” is able to make me care about each of them and their stories touched me.

2. Acting
I am happy to see a much-improved Neo Hou. He is able to convey more than just a blank pretty face. I am most impressed by Tian Jia Rui. This is only his second drama after “My Journey to You” and he has so much potential. Chen Du Ling is fine. Cheng Xiao improved from her blank look in “Falling into Your Smile”. The rest of the cast also did an admirable job and I don’t really dislike anyone’s acting.

3. Cinematography
Edward Guo’s signature beautiful cinematography and camera angles make every actor and actress look good. Screenshots of this drama flooded the Feeds with many posts throughout the airing and after the completion of the drama. But…..(to be continued below)

4. OST
This drama boasts a huge soundtrack of beautiful songs. I enjoy them all, especially ‘Spring Breeze Does Not Ask’ 春风不问 and ‘Broken-Tailed Bird’《斷尾鳥》. However…. (to be continued below)

5. Production Value
I love everyone’s creative, unique and beautiful hairstyles, costumes and accessories. I also like the use of natural lighting and the realistic sets in the indoor scenes. The fight choreography is unique and the actors did a great job with their wire work and moves. It does a great job in using Chen Xiao’s dance background in giving her excellent moves and she did not disappoint.


What I have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like:

1. Slowness
This drama is SLLOOOWW. The characters talk slowly, they move slowly and the pace is slow. This could have been a 30-episode drama (instead of 34) if people would just walk and talk at normal speed. The last episode is a waste of time. Everything could be told in 15 minutes. What pisses me off the most (my personal pet peeve) is characters standing around during important battle scenes. The good guys would be talking amongst themselves or crying or staring at each other, and the villains just stood there waiting. I just want to shout at my screen for them to move or do something! So much time is wasted and it doesn’t make sense!

2. Plot Holes
There are so many plot holes in this drama. Actions that don’t always make sense. Why parade a suspected murderer in front of a crowd to be easily recognized and then humiliated? If you knew you were the cause of a pandemic, why not kill yourself sooner? You already knew the solution! There are powerful demons and genius human beings yet you can’t detect someone is hiding around the corner eavesdropping? I thought you could smell their scent from a mile away! Plot logic becomes secondary (or sacrificed) when the drama focuses so much on the characters and making them look good. A good drama must be able to balance both plot and character development. Even if you can’t balance it well, it can’t be so lopsided.

3. Close-up/Camera angles
I complimented on how beautiful this drama is. But if you repeatedly show me a close-up look of a pair of attractive eyes every 5 minutes, it becomes really pretentious and fake. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed but if you give me the slow-mo version of it, it interrupts the flow and the excitement. I don’t need to see them posing when fighting. This drama also loves the fog and wind machines.

4. Non-stop Music
I also complimented the OST, but gosh, the music is overplayed. Song after song, music after music. It doesn’t allow the viewer to decide how to feel in silence, but manipulates my feelings with the non-stop music. I counted one scene (one conversation between the leads) when 2 songs + 2 more instrumental music were played non-stop! At times, the music is so loud that I could barely hear what the actors are saying. I really don’t need the fight song being played at every single battle, no matter how cool it is.

5. Romance
Disappointing main romance. I enjoy the initial bickering between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao. A battle of wits and sarcasm! But then, not much happened and not enough chemistry or longing looks. It was boring. I had more fun watching the guest roles suffer in their forbidden love than or sad romance than the main leads.


OK, if you are a fan, don’t hate me. Go back and read what I like before throwing stones at me. LOL🤣 I will still recommend "Fangs of Fortune" because it’s a well-acted darker story with a good-looking cast, beautiful cinematography and likable characters. If you are a big fan of character development, you will enjoy this. But if you are like me and can’t stop your brain from noticing plot holes and things you don’t like, you might have a harder time enjoying this.


Completed: 11/27/2024 - Review #521

Leia Mais

Different Tone from Part 1 - Court Politics, Revenge, Romance and Angst

Completed - 8/21/2022

Part 2 has a different tone and feels like a completely different drama. While Part 1 sets things up and gives us an introduction to all the characters, it has a focus on family and friendship with a dash of romance. Part 2 on the other hand focuses on court politics, revenge and our main romance. We have a more serious drama that’s full of angst and sadness with a dash of sweetness and comedy.

What I Like:

Cheng Shao Shang (FL) - I like that she is true to herself throughout the drama. Because of her childhood, she has abandonment issues. You can say that she has a lot to learn to be someone’s partner or wife, and has to learn how to love and trust ML. Yet, she is quite a feminist. She believes in her ability, and that she doesn’t have to follow the traditional footsteps of women to get married and be defined as someone’s wife. I like her revengeful attitude and her protectiveness of those who treat her well. I tend to like strong and badass female leads, but I have grown to like Cheng Shao Shang and she has become one of my favorite female leads.

Acting - I was not impressed with Leo Wu’s acting in Part 1, so I am very happy to see that his character is giving him more to showcase his ability in Part 2. He is excellent in all his emotional scenes, and he melts my heart when he smiles at FL. I really do feel his pain and internal struggles. This might be the best role I’ve seen Zhao LuSi in. She’s known for her cute and outgoing roles, and then she branches out to a more conservative role in “The Long Ballad”. But in “Love Like the Galaxy”, her role as CSS really allows her to flex her acting chops and to show how much she has grown as an actress. From being the naughty and petty 15 year-old, to becoming a mature and strong woman at the end of the drama, Zhao LuSi is the star of the show. Leo Wu and Zhao LuSi are still so young. They really have a bright future ahead of them. Supporting these two young leads is a very experienced supporting cast. I love the royal family - the emperor, empress and consort Yu.

Emperor/Empress/Consort Yu - What a lovely trio we have in this drama. Where else can you find a trio like this in a historical drama? The Emperor is hilarious and he’s the biggest fan of ML and doesn't hide his partiality. He also is the biggest cheerleader and matchmaker of the leads. I love all his funny moments, especially the last scene. I am so glad that CSS found the mother that she always wanted in the Empress. Under her love and care, CSS is able to grow and learn to love, and be the best person she could be. The sisterhood between the Empress and Consort Yu is lovely to see as well. This drama has a different type of harem, even if the princes and princesses do not always get along with each other, we also do have people killing each other for the throne. Maybe this has something to do with the awesome parents that they have. Lastly, my new favorite character, Consort Yu. I love her sassy retort. I look forward to all her scenes and want to hear what she has to say each time. No one dares mess with her and it’s fun to see her interaction with the Emperor. They are a match made in heaven. It would be interesting to get a side story of when they were younger.


What I have Mixed Feelings about:

Main Romance - I am very glad to finally see their romance begin in Part 2. However, the early development is what I have mixed feelings about. I feel that they have more chemistry when they are bickering and arguing with each other, than when they are speaking sweetly. I already know ML is deeply in love, but the way FL falls in love is quite a mystery. One episode she is still hesitating whether to marry or not, then in the next episode or two, she’s already very in love. I want to see the slow development as this feels pretty abrupt and unbelievable. However, once I got past this initial stage, I got what I wanted - the love, the sweetness, getting to know each other, angst, and understanding. I am also glad that the angst is not due to misunderstandings, but it’s actually because they understand each other too well due to their different upbringing and thoughts of the same situation.

Battle/Fight scenes - I applaud Leo Wu for his effort in all the fight scenes. You can see him and others are not just swinging their swords aimlessly. These are hard fought battles and the drama doesn’t shy away from some of the more torturous and bloody scenes. But what I don’t like is the slow motion. This is not a wuxia drama and doesn’t have continuous fight scenes. You really don’t need to slow down a slash or a jump. This makes the exciting fight sequence less exciting.


What I Don’t Like:

Uneven Pacing/Weird or underdeveloped plots:
I find it hard to follow all the characters involved in ML’s revenge plot. In the middle episodes of Part 2, I became quite confused about all the names mentioned. Some characters appeared in Part 1 and I sort of forgot their names or what happened. But the drama name drops all those involved, I had to pause and think who these people are. Eventually, I figured it all out, but those episodes have a lot of talking and court politics, thus, also slowing down the pacing of the drama. Some minor supporting characters disappeared for most of the drama, and then popped up again at the end to seek revenge. They seem to have come out of nowhere. So much happened in the last 5-7 episodes that it feels rushed. I am not sure if it’s because of the editing or the writing.

A few other weirdness:
1. What happened between Cheng Shao Shang and Yuan Shen after they visited CSS’s home?
2. When did FL’s 2nd brother and XiXi become so close that there are talks of marriage? Didn’t they only have one kiss?
3. I needed more scenes between 3rd Prince and ML to justify the behind-the-scenes happenings
4. Well, the rebel leader also seems to have come out of nowhere.
5. The way that our smart FL got in trouble in the end by falling into the schemes of the two female supporting characters is repetitive and underdeveloped.


Other Random Observations:
1. Leo Wu frowns a lot when he does his serious General face.
2. Impeccable hair even after fire/explosion/battles
3. Enjoy the background music and songs are not overplayed (actually I don’t notice them much).
4. So glad Yuan Shen is not an annoying high school boy anymore. He’s matured to be a good support for FL.
5. *SPOILER*

Waited this long and I didn't see the wedding???? It’s been talked about for 29 episodes.

Leia Mais

Inconsistent plot, acting and storytelling BUT definitely Sexy!

Completed: 7/10/2022

"KinnPorsche" is such a hyped up mafia BL drama that I figured I would check it out to see what it's all about. I then realize this is not really a mafia drama, but a mafia slice-of-life drama with a good-looking cast and many sexy scenes. I was expecting an action-packed mafia drama with a side of romance. But it turns out to be a romance drama with a side of mafia action.

What I Like:

1. Sexy scenes - Not going to lie, if you are 18+ and enjoy sexy scenes, this is the drama for you. The scenes are shot beautifully and well-acted. You can feel the emotions and the sexual tension. The scenes are both sexual and sensual, and they definitely could make you blush. Kinn and Porsche's kisses are a treat and they really put in the effort.

2. Good-looking cast - Yes, this drama is full of good-looking guys. Isn't this one of the biggest attractions? Of course, we all have our preferences, but for me, Porsche and Kim are my kinda of handsome.

3. Production - I am not sure if this is considered a big budget production in Thailand, but I enjoy all the scenes in the Main family house. Beautiful rooms with sweeping views of the city, gorgeously decorated interiors with high end furniture/props/chandeliers, etc . Oh, can't forget the gardens, fountains, koi ponds and the swimming pool (both indoors and the one with city view). Great cinematography, nice tailored suits for all bodyguards and the leads. Some of the action scenes are well done and don't seem too fake.


What I don't like or have mixed feelings:

1. Plot - There is no central plot to the drama. It's very character-drive the majority of the time, and it seems like a slice-of-life drama about bodyguards. It's not until towards the last couple episodes that a certain family plot becomes more prominent. There isn't enough about the mafia, and the focus is on relationships/romance. Some scenes and episodes are great and interesting, others are cringey and give me that "What the heck did I just watch" feeling.

2. Comedy - The comedic moments in this drama are too over-the-top for my taste. I am sure many love it, but I don't think they fit the general feel of the drama. I can take small doses here and there, sprinkled throughout the drama. But when the comedy is concentrated on a certain episode, that's too much for me to take. Thus, I feel this drama is very inconsistent.

3. Romance - Yes, I like the sexual and sensual scenes. But on the other hand, some of the scenes are too cringey. Two adult men are acting like teenage girls in love for the very first time. I thought these guys are in their late 20s, or early 30s, and have already been in different relationships before. All the romantic relationships in this drama are quite toxic and unhealthy. These guys are walking red flags. Relationships full of lies, mistrust, dishonesty and not always consentual.

4. Inconsistent acting - I feel that all the actors are best with the more emotional scenes. I particularly enjoy Porsche and Vegas' acting. Kinn's acting doesn't always hit the mark. I do not particularly like Porchay (I know it's an unpopular opinion). I find him too awkward and I don't know why Kim would be interested in a little kid like him.

5. Illogical plots holes- Let's just say there's no way we should still see Vegas after the final credits. All wounds heal ridiculously fast. No one needs to wear any bulletproof vest because even though you're showered with bullets, you won't die.


I will recommend this Thai BL drama if you want something with a mafia theme, sexy scenes, high production value and a good-looking cast. But don't expect an amazing drama with a good script and perfect execution. I enjoyed it for its entertainment value and WTH moments that make me laugh, thus a rating of 8.0. There are better Thai BL dramas out there, e.g. "A Tale of a Thousand Stars", "Not Me", and "I told Sunset About You".

Leia Mais

Super Cringefest that's only fun if you watch with friends and laugh together

If I have to use one word to describe “Playboyy”, it would be CONSISTENT. How can a drama be so CONSISTENTLY cringey, sappy, nonsensical with poor acting all throughout the 14 episodes??? That in itself is an amazing feat.

I debated whether to rate this lower than my lowest rated drama “Coffee & Vanilla”. I finally decided to give this a whopping 4.0 just because of the entertainment value. So, now it’s my second lowest rated drama. Watch this with an open mind and enjoy the ride. Nothing makes sense!!!

A few quick thoughts as I don’t even know how to write a proper review:

1. BAD acting all around. I was hoping they would get better, but nope, it’s one of the worst-acted dramas I’ve ever seen.
Well, at least some guys are hot and have nice bodies.
2. I am fine with all the sex and the different fetishes, fantasies, etc. In fact, I wanted the drama to go bolder and more explicit.
3. It ended up wanting to be unique but not quite achieving that. All the sexy scenes are just cringey.
4. I also cringe every time the random English dialogs pop up out of nowhere.
5. Too many names and I don’t remember who’s who. I barely recognize all of their faces. Gotta go with the nicknames.
6. There are some crazy outfits worn in the drama, especially by Nant.
7. I wonder if the actors all get boxes of underwear as part of their deals. There’s so much product placement in this drama.
8. I quite liked the romance between Zouey and Teena (Greek god) in the beginning, but then they disappeared after they got together, and became the most boring pair. The drama threw in a twist in the end and then gave you the worst writing ever.
9. What the heck is that ending??? Is there going to be a season 2? Did the drama run out of money to write a complete season 1? The screenwriter got to be fired.

Unfortunately, I did not join any watch parties. This would be an amazing drama to watch with friends and laugh about it. Do I recommend it? Definitely NOT unless you have nothing better to do, or you just want a cringefest to laugh with your friends.


Completed: 3/2/2024 - Review #411

Leia Mais

Disappointing Sequel, Poor Editing, but Great Leads Chemistry for a romance drama.

Subjective Gut Rating; 8.0
Objective Rating as a sequel: 5.0-7.0

Rating this drama is interesting because I can go either way. Did I have a good time watching it? Yes, I did because I enjoyed the romance in the first 8 episodes quite a lot. But is this a good sequel to an amazing season 1? Absolutely not. No more badass FL and poor editing and storytelling.

I reviewed in Season 1 that I find the chemistry between the leads a little lacking. I might be in the minority, as I don’t mind the lead actress changing to Go Young Jung and I find her beautiful and perfect as the amnesiac and inexperienced FL. Jang Uk (ML) has gone through a lot in the last three years, and his personality is totally different than in season 1. Meeting the sunny and optimistic Jin Bu Yeong (FL) is what he needs at that point in his life. I like how she’s the one to recognize him (unconsciously), chase after him and want to be there by his side protecting and supporting him. It’s like a role reversal from season 1. I enjoyed their interaction, their banter and the great kisses. It’s so nice to see two willing partners going at it and being passionate when the plot requires them to put a lot of emotions in those kisses. They look good together!

However, the romance-focused storylines took up a majority of the screen time, and thus not leaving enough time to develop the fantasy and mystery part of the plot. As a sequel to an amazing plot-driven season 1, this drama is actually very disappointing. If you are attracted to “Alchemy of Souls” because of a badass assassin FL, there’s not much badass-ness in this season. FL is reduced to a lovely Cinderella, waiting for prince charming to save her and love her. Her powers and memories were recovered too late to showcase her prowess as the priestess. There actually isn’t a whole lot of substance aside from romance in the first 8 episodes.

Episodes 9 & 10 seem to have a big tone shift back to what season 1 was like. All of a sudden, we’re talking about power, revenge, saving the world, different identities/souls in a very rushed manner. Without previous indication, all the baddies team up together. So much happened that I needed to concentrate hard so as not to miss anything. The editing was choppy and weird. What happened to Jang Uk’s love for Jin Bu Yeong in the first 8 episodes? Without going into spoilers, the romance doesn’t make sense anymore.

On a positive note, I think both Hwang Min Hyun (Seo Yul) and Shin Seung Ho (Crown Prince) improved their acting. I see a little more emotions in Hwang Min Hyun’s eyes. My favorites continue to be Leader Park Jin and Maidservant Kim. They are golden, but slightly more cringey than in season 1.

Overall, this is a disappointing sequel but if you watch it as a standalone romance-focused drama, you will have a better time.


Completed: 1/27/2023

Leia Mais

Magnifying relationship concerns through Sex talks and issues.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

I’m not going to lie, watching “Us Without Sex” is because I am craving for a mature drama that gives me some good sex scenes. I know Taiwan is not shy in that regard and not afraid to dive into some taboo and sensitive subjects. What I wasn’t expecting is how moved/touched I was. I thought this would be funny and sexy, but in the end, I cry so much that my eyes are swollen.

“Us Without Sex” magnifies underlying relationship problems by addressing sex concerns and problems. The drama does have a few sex scenes but nothing too explicit. It actually focuses more on the stories of the couples, some seek advice from our female lead sex therapist, Zhang Jia Chen. I applaud the drama in covering a variety of topics, and shedding light on different types of couples (straight, lesbian, gay).

The main plot focuses on another female lead, Song Qin Yu, and her inability to have sex with her husband. As she goes through therapy, us viewers get to know her experiences, thoughts and past mistakes. Her story with her husband, Lin Shu Zhe, brought me to tears. I was cheering for them, then I thought Lin Shu Zhe is too good for Song Qing Yu, and then I pity them both. I want them to live happily ever after. As a therapist, Zhang Jia Chen, also learns to discover herself and heal past wounds. Her personal story is not on display until the latter half of the drama, though we saw snippets of her experiences here and there.

Acting is phenomenal and that’s to be expected from a veteran cast. I first discovered Cheryl Yang in the drama series “Light the Night”. She was amazing in it! In this drama, she plays a cool and supposedly carefree therapist who is not afraid to have some sexy fun. But she also excels in some of the more controlled emotional scenes. This is my first drama with Ella Chen and she makes me want to love and hate Song Qing Yu at the same time. Each time I start to hate her, Ella makes me want to love her again by playing such a conflicted and flawed character. Oh, Tony Yang as Lin Shu Zhe is so lovable. He’s so cute when he’s a doting husband, but damn sexy when his shirt is off. I love him so much here! Jacob Wang is dashing in his suits and was introduced as a sexy leading man, but that charisma seems to have gone away when he’s officially introduced (it’s the acting but not the actor). The supporting cast of friends and colleagues, and all the patients make up a very, very solid group of actors.

There are some interesting sensitive topics being covered in this drama. So, if you are sensitive to sexual harrassment, attempted rape, S&M, sex dolls and sexual disorders, you might want to re-think watching this. For the most part, the therapy sessions are quite interesting, fun and educational, and they don’t dwell on the serious issue. There are no villains in this drama, just flawed people not knowing what to do and making mistakes.

Maintaining a happy and healthy relationship is hard, and “Us Without Sex” clearly reminded us of that. Only love is not enough, as life and people are complicated. I thoroughly enjoy this drama and will recommend this to those who like this genre. Because I came in with low/no expectations and was blown away by how it makes me feel emotionally, I am giving this a high rating of 8.75 (rounding up to 9.0), well, also to pull up the rating a little bit.
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I hope that if there’s a drama special later on, the two couples will reunite and rekindle their romance (I am a big fan of second-chance romance). At this point in their lives, they are not ready to be together. There’s work that needs to be done in getting to know themselves, becoming braver and to grow individually. But I so wish Lin Shu Zhe and Song Qin Yu would meet in a few year’s time, still deeply in love with each other and what they want in the future aligns perfectly. This is my imaginary ending as a hopeless romantic.



Completed: 11/10/2024 - Review #511

Leia Mais

Great Chemistry and Interesting Romances but could be Shorter and Tighter

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

For some reason, a non-suffering Luo Yun Xi is not attracting a big crowd to watch “Follow Your Heart”. Don’t you want to see him not spit blood and be happy for once? LOL.

For the most part, “Follow Your Heart” is a really enjoyable drama. It is just a tad too long (like many C-dramas) and then plot holes start to happen when you’re unable to keep up with the writing. The first ⅔ of the drama is great, especially the dynamics between the two main leads before they are officially together. The side couples are sweet and there really aren't any annoying characters.


What I Like:

Jiang Xin Bai (ML) and Yan Nan Xing (FL)
Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi did an excellent job in portraying the two main characters. They are experienced not only in acting, but also in delivering lines without the use of voice actors. I really appreciate that very much. Jiang Xin Bai and Yan Nan Xing are both intelligent characters with fun banter and dynamics. The chemistry is great and I enjoy how they slowly develop from strangers to comrades to lovers. The romance develops slowly and naturally. They trust each other and have honest communication.

Ryan Cheng
It’s nice to see Ryan in a role where he’s not just cold after all his mini dramas and “My Journey to You”. In fact, he’s hot-headed and impulsive yet a little dumb and adorable when in love. It’s a different side of Ryan Cheng that I haven’t seen. Acting alongside Luo Yun Xi and other veterans, he holds his own.

Platonic Friendships
I love the found family trio of Yan Nan Xing, Tong Sai Er and Liu Ruo Qian. They are just three very different individuals who happen to all settle into Yan Nan Xing’s shop. They support and care for each other. It’s lovely to not see any romance developed, and yet they help each other out in the romance department. This trio brings a lot of joy to the story. On the other hand, I am also very glad to see another platonic friendship between Shang Bie Li and JIang Suo Luo. I guess they are united because of their hatred/animosity towards Jiang Xin Bai. But this pair is mature and supportive, and really look out for each other’s best interests in a non-judgmental way.

Supporting Romance
Oftentimes, the secondary and tertiary romances are not as fun as the main romance. But in this drama, I really enjoy all three pairs. Each pair has a unique story and I root for all of them to live happily ever after. It also helps that we don’t have an evil, jealous secondary female lead who won’t take no for an answer. In a way, this is refreshing and nice.

Production Quality
I think aside from two supporting characters, all actors use their own voices. There’s a mix of live recording and studio recording (and dubbed over). I am a big fan of actors using their own voice, even if some are doing it better than others. “Follow Your Heart” also has good and high quality-looking costumes and hairstyles, sets and accessories. Even though the everyday costumes are simple, they look nicely made and not cheap. There are quite a few weddings in this drama, and I admire all the wedding gowns and beautiful headdresses and fans. The OST was not overplayed with songs that suit the moods of the scenes. There are a few very well-choreographed fight scenes. I actually wish I could see more of them throughout the drama.



What I don’t like or have mixed feelings:

Length/Plot holes/Writing
My biggest criticism of the drama, as mentioned earlier, is the length of the drama. It takes forever for the real villain to be exposed (I did guess it might be that person). 30 episodes are probably enough to tell the whole story. There are a couple plot holes, especially in relation to FL’s secret. She kept that secret for so long, and all of a sudden towards the end, so many people knew about it. No one seems to take it to heart that it is a BIG secret and you might want to gossip with doors closed. ML’s secret, on the other hand, was exposed without much fanfare. How the drama deals with the revelation of both secrets was not written well and very anti-climatic. I was expecting more, especially when the writing was pretty good in the first half. The love triangle at the end started too late. It needed more depth but instead, it’s hard to believe the guy fell in love so quickly and deeply in such a short period of time, and made enormous sacrifices.

FL’s secret
The face change plot takes a backseat in the first quarter of the drama. The secret was introduced but it doesn’t really affect what’s happening that much. I wonder if this disappoints many viewers. Although I appreciate this secret is not exaggerated to be full-on comedy, the writing and the usage of the face change could have been better.

Gu Zi Cheng (as Liu Ruo Qian)
Li Ruo Qian is a very likable character. He’s good-looking, smart, kind, sweet and a crowd pleaser. He’s a total green flag! However, there’s something about Gu Zi Cheng’s acting that doesn’t seem very genuine. When he smiles, that smile doesn’t always reach his eyes. He’s a handsome actor, but his acting does not seem natural. He’s not bad, but compared to solid actors like Luo Yun Xi and Ryang Cheng, he’s not quite up to that standard.



Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. The writing could have been better and tighter, but the overall acting and chemistry of the cast are really good. The veteran actors add a lot of flavor to the story, especially the multifaceted queen (ML’s mother).



Completed: 8/15/2024 - Review #471

Leia Mais

A Drama with No plot but full of Cheese and Fanservice

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25

I decided to watch “We Are” because I wanted something simple and light-hearted, a stress reliever. With that in mind, I made the right choice. “We Are” is so easy, and too easy of a watch. It’s a drama full of fluff, cheese and cringe.

Unfortunately, the drama does not hold my attention. “We Are” has no plot whatsoever. The whole drama is about a big group of friends hanging out, pairing up with each romantic partner, professing their love and kissing their loved ones. While I enjoy seeing the tight bond of these friends, especially the 5-some of Peem, Q, Tan, Pun and Chain, I cannot consume 16 hours of just hanging out. The drama is way too long for its lack of content. It ended up not really what I am looking for, but this might just be the right one for you.

The acting of the cast is OK. There really isn’t anyone who stood out as being excellent. The big selling point of this drama is Pond and Phuwin as the two main leads. I enjoy their chemistry and their scenes together. They are obviously comfortable around each other. Pond and his handsome face and loving gazes are what keep me going and not dropping it.

I also feel that the introduction of such a big cast at once causes some confusion. I was trying to figure out the first 5 and then the drama introduced another 6 guys to the mix. Aside from the main romance between Peem and Phum, I really didn’t care for the other pairings. Some characters are more annoying and cringey than others. The drama has many unnaturally long gazes and slow motion shots for every single supposedly romantic gesture or kiss. It’s somewhat trying to manipulate how the audience should feel.

“We Are” is a pure fanservice drama. I don’t think I’ve seen a drama with so many kisses from all romantic pairs, and so many “I love you” spoken. The kisses on the lips are actually not bad, much better than the pecks on the cheeks or forehead (don’t they know you should also extend your lips a little?). I would recommend this drama if you are a fan of the cast.


Completed: 7/29/2024 - Review #468

Leia Mais

Not enough time to fully develop and tell the stories of an interesting plot.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I think my biggest criticism, or I can call it weakness, of “Koisuru Keigo 24 Ji” is the length of the drama. Being a J-drama, it’s not surprising that the episodes are short (less than 30 mins) and only 9 episodes long. For most rom-com and slice-of-life, this might be an acceptable runtime. However, “Koisuru Keigo 24 Ji” actually has a pretty interesting plot and individual stories about the ML and FL. Add romance to it, the drama feels rushed and unfinished.

I really like the plot of the drama. Rika (FL) is being threatened due to a lawsuit where she defended a big corporation and affected the livelihood of many normal citizens. Her boss hires a bodyguard to protect her. Tatsunoskuke (ML), the bodyguard primarily assigned to protect Rika, also has his own backstory and mystery to solve. The leads have good chemistry and I really enjoy all of their interaction together. Iwamoto Hikaru looks fit and handsome as the bodyguard. I love his cool deadpan face, and also his cute smile when he’s off duty. Shiraishi Mai looks beautiful and believable as the tough lawyer.

The supporting characters are a lovely bunch. The drama is easy to watch and the acting is good. Since this is not an anime or manga adaptation, we don’t see the usual Japanese, over dramatic acting and I am grateful for that. I also really enjoy the action scenes. I was very impressed with all the actors in taking down the siblings. The punches, wrestling and takedown are all realistic and believable. I would have loved to see more of these action scenes throughout the drama, since this is about a bodyguard and security.

With a great cast and a good setup, the time restraint prevents the stories from being told adequately. I want to see more of the security threats to Rika. The bodyguard storyline goes away after the first few episodes, then the focus switches to Tatsunosuke’s investigation. Although we get some flashbacks to the past, I don’t see what present-day Tatsunosuke has done to solve the mystery. Romance also takes a back seat in the latter episodes. The main leads’ relationship and rapport are nicely developed in the first half, but too little screen time is given in the second half. By the time Rika supported Tatsunosuke in a professional manner, I was not moved emotionally and the chemistry between them subsided..

Nevertheless, this is an easy and enjoyable watch. It just has so much more potential that I am disappointed. I would recommend this drama if you enjoy the bodyguard storyline with good-looking leads and a lovely supporting cast. However, if you are big into crime investigation, this might be lacking.

Completed: 7/20/2024 - Review #463

Leia Mais

A Must-Watch for Qin Jun Jie Fans - History with a side of Treasure Hunt & Wu Xia

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

There’s so much to unpack in this year’s “Heroes” that I don’t know where to begin. I think to fully enjoy this drama, having a little cultural and historical context during this time would be helpful. Veteran and esteemed reviewer, PeachBlossomGoddess, wrote an excellent review providing some political background info. You should read that as well. I am not a history buff, so I don’t know much. But I know that during the setting of this drama in 1911, it was a time of change and towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. After watching many Republican era dramas of spies, I know that the fight for this change doesn’t end until a lot later. 1911 is only the beginning for the revolution.

This is an interesting time to have a wuxia drama. A drama that brought together three very different individuals with different ideals and backgrounds towards a common quest of treasure. Their approaches are unique to them, and they clash and fight and become frenemies. I’ve enjoyed each of their individual journeys.

There’s so much I want to write in this review and I don’t know how to organize it. Some random categories then.

Qin Jun Jie (Men San Dao) - I have always liked Qin Jun Jie and he has never disappointed me with his acting. He was FANTASTIC in this drama. He plays the main character, Men San Dao, a serious former emperor’s personal guard who was imprisoned for 12 years after the failed attempt of the emperor’s 100 Days’ Reform. For the most part, QJJ plays a very solemn guard. But you can also see the controlled emotions on his face, the softening of his eyes and expressions when he’s facing GeGe (the love of his life) and the slightly mischievous look when he’s with Lucky and Liu Lin. He has great chemistry with Maggie Huang (GeGe) even though they have very few scenes together. I can still feel their attraction and love, even if they never touch one another. The scene when Men San Dao was lost and confused in front of the emperor’s tomb, was heartbreaking and beautifully acted by QJJ and brought tears to my eyes. I can’t see anyone playing this role but QJJ.

Pang Han Chen (Wan Jia Luo) - I don’t recall seeing Pang Han Chen in previous modern dramas but I think he did a great job as Wan Jia Luo, the stubborn, righteous constable who never gives up on chasing and seeking justice. His character might not be the most endearing and is rather frustrating to watch, but PHC portrays the character well. I feel his uptight righteousness, his shyness when he’s with his girl and the frustrations especially in the last couple episodes. He also knows how to make an entrance! I do wish his character would use his heart and his brain a little bit more. His stubbornness costs him a lot, but also saves his life many times.

Liu Yu Ning (Zhuo Bu Fan) - I enjoy his acting here a lot more than in “A Journey to Love”. I do believe LYN’s acting has steadily improved. However, there are too many acting powerhouses in this drama, thus, I think he’s the weakest out of the 3 male leads. He’s such a tall guy, but he doesn’t seem to have good posture. As the #1 Swordsman in the country, he doesn’t exude charisma to live up to this name. However, I am pleasantly surprised that his fight scenes do look pretty good.

Romance - We have three forbidden romances, yet the writing or acting did not fully take advantage of this. It’s unfortunate because they could be so much more memorable. Of the three romances, the one that I actually feel something is between Men San Dao and GeGe. I might be biased because I like Qin Jun Jie, and this pair also has the fewest scenes together. Yet, I can feel their chemistry oozing because of two amazing actors. They don’t have to touch each other for me to root for them. Unfortunately, the other two romances have more screen time, yet are so bland. I am not sure if it’s Liu Yu Ning’s acting but I am not sensing his controlled emotions towards Huo Qin. This pair has no chemistry at all but their story could be the most heartbreaking. Jinna Fu (who plays Huo Qin) looks like an older sister to Liu Yu Ning. LYN is not responding to her affection. Lastly, Chen Si Che’s portrayal of Lin An Jing might be the weakest of the cast. And maybe because of that, I definitely do not feel any chemistry between Lin An Jing and Wang Jia Luo as a couple. I do have to say the last scene of them together was moving (mainly because of Pang Han Chen’s acting) but it was too late for me to like them as a couple.

Action Scenes - First things first, I still think there’s a little too much slow-mo fight scenes. However, compared to other wuxia and xianxia dramas, it’s not that bad. As a wuxia drama, there are quite a few well-choreographed close combat action scenes. The drama also does not shy away from blood, violence and deaths. The several duels between Men San Dao and Zhuo Bu Fan are very satisfying to watch. Both actors, QJJ and Liu Yu Ning, also did a great job and act like they really know how to fight. I do not see any actor who is just swinging the sword like they’re dancing and not fighting.

Lucky + Liu Lin - As individuals, both of them are quite insufferable and annoying at times. However, when they have scenes with Men San Dao, I like them both very much. Lucky just babbles way too much in the beginning and when he’s doing his sales pitch. But when he’s being roped into Men San Dao’s plans and they have scenes together, they have great chemistry and are quite hilarious. Lucky also brings out the mischievous side of Men San Dao that he doesn’t often show. Similarly, Liu Lin’s preaching can get a little much. But I do enjoy her arguments with Men San Dao. They are like siblings bickering with each other, though I think Liu Lin might actually like Men San Dao. Men San Dao probably just treats her as a little sister. But no doubt they both admire each other’s strengths and dedication.

Smart and Strong characters - It’s so nice to watch a drama with intelligent characters trying to outsmart each other. Everyone is trying to figure out the next person’s moves. We have smart villains and smart protagonists. Women play a pivotal part in this drama as well, and none of them is a damsel in distress. They hold their own - emotionally, intelligently and physically.

Acting/Voice - “Heroes” has a very strong cast, especially the supporting cast which features many veteran actors. I might have picked on a couple of them, but overall, the acting is excellent. It also has a wonderful cast of guest roles. I was immediately impressed with Yin Zheng’s very short scene as the Emperor Guang Xu. He only showed up in Ep 1 but his voice and his acting leave a very lasting impression. I was also very glad that actors are using their own voices. I also really enjoy the actors using different accents and dialects when they are at different cities/regions. For a drama with such historical context and so many important conversations, hearing the actors' own voices really highlight the acting and give watchers a different form of viewing pleasure.

Opening themes - I noticed there are few opening themes for this drama. The main one includes real historic footage during that time, mixed with drama footage in the same old-style cinematic color tone. Then there are two that have monologues from Men San Dao and Zhu Fu Fan, speaking of their experience, beliefs and regrets. There’s another romantic cheesy one featuring the supposedly romantic pairs and a few supporting cast. This one is weird but funny! I am one that fast-forward all opening and closing credits, but when I see the cheesy one with floating roses, I had to pause, rewind, and make sure I did not miss it.

Flashbacks - The drama uses several flashbacks to tell us the background history of our characters. They are not long and they don’t keep on repeating to annoy you. The one I like the most is the montage in the earlier episodes detailing the romantic history of Men San Dao, GeGe and Zhong Hai Chao. It was so well-done that it broke my heart.

Subtle moments - This is quite a serious drama but then once in a while, it will drop a scene that gives me a chuckle. It could be Men San Dao holding a black vase that can break up a marriage, or the three leads playing cards while killing time. On the other hand, scenes like tightly grasping a sword, or nonchalantly wrapping a necklace/bracelet around the wrist could mean something but not openly verbalized. Or the first real conversation between GeGe and Liu Lin is full of subtle flaunting of who is more closely associated with Men San Dao. This type of jealousy is shown through witty conversations and not petty behaviors. Many of these scenes you have to pay attention to because they come and go in a flash.


I strongly recommend this drama if you are interested in history with a side of wuxia and treasure hunt. The pacing is good and there’s a lot going on to keep you interested and invested. Pay close attention to the well-written conversations and the subtle moments to fully enjoy it. There’s romance, but not central to the plot and not really done well.



Completed: 6/29/2024 - Review #454

Leia Mais