This review may contain spoilers
A supernatural dream come true, turned a sappy nightmare
First of, this drama is undeniably pretty. The money for the drama was well spent on the production quality, location shooting, costume and interior design. Si Teng's outfits were everything for me. Everyone was well dressed and so much eye-candy! I like the flipped tropes of Guy saving Girl and mean male lead - instead it's Girl saves Guy and mean female lead. Si Teng was a sight for sore eyes when it comes to female protagonists and I want to see more like this. This drama had an interesting and impressionable dynamic for their ML/FL couple. Si Teng is more mature, powerful and wiser than Qin Fang is, so the subtle scenes of them in different scenarios and adapting to new situations is great because even their arguments are entertaining to watch.However, there the ending/s....
....I don't understand anything.
The last five episodes lost me completely and I stopped asking why anything was happening anymore. I would recommend this show but only to watch until episode 20 and then stopping there because the story just goes into utter chaos afterwards. Si Teng suffered character derailment when she was infantilized and pitied for being a child before the establishment of New China. (Yes, I noticed that.) Suddenly, Yan Furui becomes an unexpected hero who lives to old age, surrounded by success and family when he started off as a bumbling, pitiful comedy relief character. Quite insulting and mind-blowing because so many scenes will be iconic to me from this show, but the ending is so strange and mystifying that I will never truly understand what happened and I think it's better that way.
Still worth a higher score for everything else but the 180 plot line twist after episode 20 and the 'dates' (????) between the young Si Teng and Qin Fang at the end takes away from a 10/10 scoring. Try again and do better please, don't depower your main lead near the end of the show!
Was this review helpful to you?
Intriguing drama
When I first read the storyline,I was excited very much.After watching the drama,i felt it was the most different type of genre and plot that I've ever watched of all my 60 Chinese dramas of different genres.The plot is quite interesting.
Jing tian portrayal of Si teng is probably one of the best performances.Her way of portrayal of emotions,costumes,her attitude and her pain , everything about her was excellent.
This drama has all-horror,emotion,betrayal,mystery, determination,love.
It kept me hooked from the start.
The story was unpredictable.
Vin Zhang and the other star cast performed well.Everything else was good.
This drama haunted for me a long time,that I could not forget it's scenes when I went on a forest trip
Overall an excellent watch?
Was this review helpful to you?
Weird, but okay...I guess?
OVERALLI'm honestly at loss for words with this drama. If you love Chinese fantasy, strong/mature female leads and a tame slow burn, you might be down, but if you're looking for a deep, well-written plot, you probably won't. Then again, I was and still kind of ended up being down...so I guess you could just give it a try and see!
THE STORY
So...I came into this drama convinced I wouldn't like it. I really don't like Chinese fantasy series, it's usually too over-the-top with unconvincing CGI and poor writing. And yet, I ended up watching this drama all the way to the end, so it definitely was better than the average xanxia drama. What I think works out with this drama is: 1) the female lead is AWESOME, the kind I can't get enough of (but unfortunately C-dramaland prefers to recycle the ditzy, childish FL all the time), 2) the fantasy is mixed up with suspense because characters are trying to figure out their past, so the mysteries keep you hooked, 3) the CGI and fantasy elements aren't over the top (at least, for 2/3 of the drama), and 4) there're some really cool shots (the sets are so pretty!).
The problem with this drama is that it has some pretty serious, and I mean SERIOUS flaws. The last 5 eps are ridiculously bad. It feels like the writers were drunk when they wrote the ending haha The romance is also too tame for my liking. The problem isn't the pace (the drama does slow burn right), it's the fact that when things are suppose to heat up, we hit that 5 last eps mark and all hell breaks loose. With such a terrible ending, there's just no time/space to give us the juicy scenes the leads deserved. Other things bothered me, but they're more personal. I really don't understand some typical Chinese fantasy tropes, like the nemesis that is always ridiculous and acts like a caricature, so I had a hard time with some of them. Also, main lead legit goes to work once in the entire drama haha The plot was so out of touch with normal life, I couldn't take it seriously.
Bottom line: If you're in need of a filler, you can give it a try, but I don't guarantee you'll like it!
THE ACTING
I really like lead actress. I first saw her in City of Streamer and I loved her in that drama too. It's the vibes she gives. So cool! Lead actor wasn't bad but didn't draw my attention as much. The rest of the cast was okay, except the villains, who were too cartoony for my taste, and the child actors, who (except for one little girl) were particularly bad haha
THE MUSIC
Honestly, the instrumental stuff was cool, the songs were HORRIBLE.
REWATCH VALUE
Null. Not worth rewatching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Exceeded my expectation
This is one of the best Cdrama i watched for 2021. Sally Jing looks super gorgeous in cheongsam and didn't know cheongsam could look this elegant and charming. I almost wanted to drop this drama halfway through episode 1, but i must say since episode 2 i could not stop watching and finish binging the whole show in 2 days. If you like fantasy and mystery this is a must watch. It keeps you curious throughout and keep you guessing.There is 2 different ending to this show. i guess most people will categorise 1 as happy and 1 as sad ending. to be honest i feel that both ending can't be categorised as simple as happy or sad. i personally prefer the 1st ending which is supposed to be the "sad" ending. To me it is a good ending, better than the 2nd ending as i feel the 2nd ending is somewhat "forced" and does not make much sense or without sufficient explanation.
Which ending do you prefer?
Was this review helpful to you?
Super weird: story about E.T. "rattan / ivy" with superpowers, humans and other clans who fight
I love the ML and the reviews were overwhelmingly good.However, I watched the whole drama trying to find a meaning, a guideline, ... incomprehensible and incoherent (despite the superb work of the actors) until the end (no, until the 3 alternative endings, each more bizarre than the next).
The director undoubtedly wanted to play the strange card. He succeeded, even OSTs are weird!
Excellent casting, rhythmic and dynamic production, frames ++ with very beautiful images,
BUT
OST and storyline weird !! Still no sense after 25 ep.
Honestly, I was left puzzled, I wouldn't recommend it, but I'll let you make up your own mind.
Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful love story
I was happily surprised by this beautiful sci-fi love story. I even shed a few tears at the end of it.The main female character was so entertaining. Her facial expressions were absolutely priceless. And yhe actress is such a stunningly beautiful person.
There were times when I laughed sooo loud while watching this series. So many emotions from the beginning all the way through to the end. I enjoyed each episode.
I truly love all of the characters in this series. The actors did a wonderful job.
Was this review helpful to you?
Best Drama With Supernatural Concept.
Was this review helpful to you?
A unique conncept!
Even though we have seen alien related plots before, having an alien of plant origin take human form?! Well that's new! The best part about this drama I felt was nothing in it was overdone; plot, cinematography or acting wise, it maintained its aesthetic till the end. A very graceful drama that had a lot of underlying dark plots but never let the overall vibe of the drama to sink into that darkness and instead kept itself a light-hearted watch. Acting wise I felt the story and cinematography overall was not demanding of the most professional of acting there is so the actors did a fairly good job, anywhere they lacked, the plot and cinematography made up for it. Romance was given prominence over everything else, my kinda story, and the romance was simply perfect. I always feel Chinese drama tend to drag their plots unnecessarily but this one seemed much less than usual, in fact could say it's just about right. Overall a must watch and even if its not very famous, thats only because it's underrated.Was this review helpful to you?
A drama beyond expectation
(Posted this review Google but would like post it hete again as this show is really that awesome.)I started watching this show without much expectation as I only wanted to watch something during my lunch time. But this show is really beyond what I imagined, it really blown me away! It feels eerie and mysterious, but sweet and exciting altogether. The story plot is relatively fresh to the world of Chinese dramas, you can't find similar plot like this elsewhere.
Also, this is one of the only few Chinese dramas that I watched without skipping any scenes. The storyline is so catching that you'll be so absorbed into the whole story and you'll forget about wanting to skip any parts! The best part of this show is that (SPOILER), there is an alternative ending! The filmmaker really did a good job to satisfy our desire here.
The actors' performance are fantastic as well, they really brought life to the characters! One very noticeable fact is that Zhang Binbin really improved alot in his acting compared to his previous shows. Especially the part where he screamed so painfully (at something shhh), it felt like something within him broke. It was so... heartbreaking. Lets not forget to mention Jing Tian. The way she presented herself throughout the show made me felt that she was literally Rattan! Her acting is so powerful. And her fashion style? Wow. It's a mix of classy, elegant, and stylish. Qipao with a mix of Western elements. Her outfits and the confidence she portrayed literally made her seem like a goddess throughout the show!
Highly recommend this to anyone who would love to have a thrill!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Unique Story , Beautiful Cinematography and Amazing Costumes
7/21/2021The reason for me picking this drama is mainly because of Zhang Bin Bin (ML). I first saw him in "Ten Miles Peach Blossoms" and had a minor crush on him. I've been trying to look for another drama of his with good reviews and a happy ending. This led me to Rattan.
Plot/Pacing: This is a unique and weird story, that is quite different from other C-Dramas. It's a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I find that you either really like the story or you hate it because it could be confusing. I liked it but I do find certain areas a little confusing without enough explanation. All that happens is probably due to love + obsession + stubbornness + revenge. I found the twists and turns quite un-predictable esp. the revelation of who Bai Ying is. I enjoyed the first half of the drama, when Si Teng (FL) is trying to piece together what happened to her and what happened after her death. The pacing was done well. I got a little bored towards the early 20s episodes but the pace picked up again towards the mid-20s episode. There are some plot holes and illogical parts of the drama. Did ML ever find out the real identity of his best friend? If FL told him about her fight with his best friend, did he not care at all? Never confront him? On another note, he's a successful architect but he never really went to work? Even if he was there, he wasn't really working. When he's hurt and almost dead, did they really transfer him out of the hospital to his home without any lifesaving medical equipment? I know this is not a medical show, but you gotta at least do the bare minimum and give him some IV and an oxygen tank!
Romance: There are several romances in this show and that's where all the hate and revenge started all the drama. First we have Qiu Shan betrayed by his Tribe Yi lover, thus started his hate for all Tribe Yi and Si Teng. We also have the unfortunate romance of Bai Ying and Shao Yan Kuan which ended with the death of Si Teng. But of course, we have the main romance of the leads. I would say FL and ML have decent chemistry. I wouldn't say it was off-the-charts. I personally enjoyed a slow burn romance, and theirs is slow burn. But I feel that it's lacking something to make me believe that they are so in love that they would die fo each other and go through what they did in the last couple episodes. I feel that I need to see a little more passion in that slow-burn romance to believe in it more. I also feel that ML is too perfect of a character. He's good-looking, rich, sweet, caring, attentive and rarely shows his temper. Is he a perfect guy? Probably. But not as multi-layered as I want a male lead to be. FL, on the other hand, is a much better written character with development throughout the show.
Acting: The overall acting is not bad. I enjoyed FL's sassiness and ML's sweetness (gosh, he is such a joy to look at..LOL). The supporting cast's acting is not bad either. I particularly enjoy the two child actors. They are so cute and adorable. Young Si Teng did a great job in showing her sassiness and facial expressions at such a young age.
Cinematography/Setting/Music/CGI: What a beautiful show! I love all the sceneries, the village, the forest and the architecture and set designs. It's refreshing to watch a modern show not set in the glitzy city setting. The majority of the show takes place in the rural part of the country. All the accommodations at the rural areas have their own distinct architecture and design. The sweeping views of mountains, lakes, grasslands and forests are beautiful. I also enjoyed all the songs in this drama. There seems to be quite a number of songs and you don't get that same annoying song played over and over again. However, one BIG negative for is that the music is just way too loud. I watched the show on Viki and also on YouTube, and I found the volume of the actor's voices are drowned by the background music. When music or songs are played, I have to turn down my volume, and then turn it back up when actors start to talk again. I am not sure if it's because of the version that I was watching, of just a problem with editing. I also quite enjoy the special effects of rattan whipping and fighting. It was especially beautiful when FL builds this canopy/umbrella for ML when he was crying. What a beautiful use of her talent in this touching scene.
Costumes: Si Teng's wardrobe deserves its own category. I read that this is not a big budget drama and I think most of the budget is spent on costumes. FL looks amazing in her collection of qi paos, and also her more modern looks. However, towards the second half of the show, I find myself missing seeing her in qi paos. Not that she's not pretty in her other looks, but there's just something special when a gorgeous Chinese lady wears this traditional dress. I even find the cross-dressing June Wu looks great in qi pao. ML's costume changes when he's in the rural area vs when he's in the city. He dresses so young and casual when he's in the village. But when the setting changes to the city, he looks so handsome and dapper in those long coats and dress shirts. Oh, one more thing, why is there so much makeup on ML's face? He look so white and it's not attractive. He looks SO much better with a more natural tan look.
Ending: I have mixed feelings about the ending of this drama. I felt that the show could have ended at Ep. 27 when FL disappears and the show ends on a sad note. Yes, it's sad but I think it's more fitting and more beautiful this way. But then, there are a few more episodes with rebirth and a young Si Teng. In a way, it's also fitting that FL and ML ended up somewhat together and went back to nature. I guess fans were not happy with that ending and we got Ep 31 with a happier ending. As much as I love seeing ML with a happy ending (since that's my main reason of watching the show), I felt that the Ep 31 ending is my least favorite one.
Was this review helpful to you?
Different in a good way
Wow this drama was really amazing, I am a huge fan of the ML and this series really made him shine, and we got to see a totally different side to him, and the role he played.The scenic shots were amazing and the different places that they travelled around, but this drama has exceeded expectations, introducing us to the leads in a dramatic opening-- ML almost died in a car accident but his blood revived the FL, and in turn she brought him back to life. The struggles due to personality differences between FL and ML, and FL's struggle to comprehend the new world while the story brings in a host of supporting characters. FL’s arrogant and domineering manner contrast with ML’s soft and submissive attitude was a refreshing watch!
Each episode was thrilling and filled with romance and comedy, completely gave me an emotional ride. There were a few scenes that left me doubtful and confused but I later on understood them so I can't say this is one perfect piece and is completely flawless.
in short, she is a joy to watch. Together with Qin Fang (Vin Zhang) and Yan Furui (Zhang Yichi), this trio is the heart of soul of this c-drama.
A big thumbs up to the ML for having done some so different and carried out so well, definitely well worth watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Unimaginable twist and turns
This was the best chinese drama which i had watched recently.The music ,storyline everything was perfect and heartwrenching . I literally liked the ost . And the graphics was also really awesome. The best thing which i had liked about this drama is the way that female lead gives order and bosses around the male lead ???? . Chemistry between the leads was very warming.????❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ In this drama the main part which really had attracted me was the female lead character which was very story as in most of the chinese drama the female leads were very childish and immature they always used to clinge me .Was this review helpful to you?
