I'm quite good at guessing what's gonna happen next in a drama. But this time it was impossible. The plot kept surprising me - in a good way (it gets boring if the plotline is too obvious).
The acting was well played. The music didn't ruin the drama. In some dramas the music chosen - or the time it's played at - are so misplaced that you end up paying too much attention to the music in stead of the drama. But in this drama the music was well matched.
The ending was a bit too much, but still a nice one.
So if you like a surprising plot, time travelling, romance, pirates and a lot of action you should definitely give this drama a chance.
It's one of the best time travelling dramas I've watched so far!
I've only given a 5 rewatch value because I - almost - never watches the same drama twice. No matter how good it was. But I guess it would be fun rewatching - at least parts of it - when you already know everything you'll end up knowing in the end...
(For English subs just search on Google - you can't find it on YouTube. )
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The ending of this story was without-a-doubt the BEST!!!!!! I'm not going to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it, but it was a lot more uplifting than I expected. I have watched other "traveling to the past" sort of movies/tv series, like Scarlet Heart and A Step Into The Past and Love Through A Millennium, and usually they would end it either in a completely heart-rendering or somewhere along those lines. Even when the ending ends on a lighter note, I would still feel gutted in some way because, to me, it was not a happy ending that was complete. But the ending in this tv show is a great difference. It was unique, original, and did not leave me yearning for a true happy ending. I think the ending, alongside with some other factors, made the show really worth watching.
Acting/Cast: I've read many things about how the acting was "elementary" and was not up-to-par, but I totally disagree. I think the choice in the cast was a good choice and it made sense incorporated into the storyline. The fact that Grace Chan may looks like a foreigner when she is actually not fits with Wong Tai-Mui's character in the show. Not only that, but I now cannot imagine how the show would turn out if the casting was not like the same. In my opinion, the casting of this show really did enhanced my watching experience as a viewer. And their acting abilities were a great/primary factor in this as well...
The music was also really great. There were primarily 3 songs throughout the whole show, even though there were many different interpretations of each songs here and there. I gave the music a top score because I actually enjoyed the music, and when it was played in the show really helped enhanced my emotions for that scene even more. I think in a great show/movie/drama music plays a big factor on how immersed they can get the viewers to be in the film..... and the song selections and timing of these songs in this show was commendable.
When I get the chance, I will definitely rewatch this show again.^^
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This is definitely worth watching, especially because of the casts. I watched this drama because of Ruco Chan and I enjoyed it because of him. His portrayal of the 11th Prince was impressive, and to see him changing from Bowie to 11th Prince and back to Bowie again, the contrast is really huge. His acting is top-notch.
Not to forget, the interactions between Wong Tai Mui and Cheung Po Tsai was hilarious + depressing. My emotions had one helluva ride while watching them.
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.Story: Grace Chan is Wong Tai-Mui a HK Police Officer that helps save a tycoon from being kidnapped (several times), she's very "black/white" with her ideals. For example, all bad guys are bad guys, regardless of what they're doing. You'll see her change her views as she goes back 200 years into the Qing Dynasty. When she goes back into the past, she gets into all kinds of antics, including trying to pair up her great great grandparents (because the weren't going to come do it on their own). She also joins the pirates and helps them fight against the Qing Dynasty, and then gets the pirates to try join the Qing government. Huge plot twists in this drama.
Acting: I thought acting was good, it wasn't the BEST I've ever seen but thought it was good because it fits the story. I really like Grace Chan playing Wong Tai Mui, I think it's funny they play off the fact that she looks foreigner, so many times they referred to her as the Western Girl and even asks if she's part white and if her mom loved a white man.
Tony Hung is hilarious as Cheung Po-Tsai. I liked him from the get-go and it's great seeing his character develop. I especially thought he was funny when he got transported into the modern realm.
Ruco Chan does a great job as Prince Man Ho with his serious role. He ends up being quite loving, and likeable. He has a great face for playing a prince, or even if they re-do old wuxia classics. I found him to be quite handsome in historical costume.
There's a few cameo's in here at the end when they bring in the Qing dynasty characters, as modern folks. They don't play the same characters, just happen to pop up at the end (perhaps their descendants).
Raymond Wong who was suppose to originally play Cheung Po-Tsai pops up at the end, and we even see Evergreen Mak pop up in here at the end too. I believe he played a character with the same name in another drama.
Overall, great drama with cute ending.
Note: There are things that bug me about this drama, like the how fast Wong Tai-Mui's character switches love interests. I just wasn't sure who she would pick, and am still perplexed with how fast people move on in this drama. But perhaps because Wong Tai-Mui had a rough relationship at the start, and she's a strong independent woman she don't need no man she moved on fast? If you've seen this drama and would like to chat, feel free to message or comment. :)
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Listening to Cantonese in a drama...when the characters raised his voice I was suddenly taken back to Malaysia as if I was hearing it in the background while there. Haha.
The story telling is quite weird. Mui seems to be making up a boyfriend and then bang the boyfriend is introduced to the viewers. I guess I can see what people mean when the story is written as the drama is filmed. In Korean dramas, you meet all the important people in the first episode.
The personalities are really lacking.
The way they threw up some drama with the boyfriend being unreasonable about Bowie feels quite unnatural. And even her response to it is so Home and Away. Isn't that weird, that Cantonese dramas still fall into Western traps? But I think being exposed to Kdrama “moment” fests I have more tolerance for forced sweet moments between couples. But this CG is so crap. My eyes!
Is it weird that the brother in law is so creepily Cantonese and annoying? But with familiar mannerisms and familial arguments.
I like how the relationships developed and the girls got together to get what they wanted.
Cheung Tsai Po
I quite like his style of Cantonese. And his personality is so ridiculous.
Mui
She's pretty tough on herself. I do like that she's just killing the bad guys off like flies.
When she's crying in the bathroom and telling herself off. “Why are you crying? He's the one who did wrong, not you.” I was impressed.
Of course I have to be nitpicky first thing when comparing a show to Kdramas. The sisterly moments feel quite meaningless. But that was a pretty great moment when her sister beats up the husband.
I don't know what the characters in this drama are really feeling. Did Mui really love her boyfriend? If she did, a Korean drama would've told me. She's resilient.
I eventually grew to like Mui's cheeky brash and somewhat cheeky personality.
And when it comes to warfare, she's pretty awesome.
Romance
The secondary romance was much more fun and smexy than Mui's. Her's was just awkward.
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