Enslaved by Love (2024)

A very decent drama about a dark, angsty, misunderstanding-fueled red-flag romance.

(I don't want to spoiler anyone, so click "read more" to view, if you want the quick and dirty summary of this show :P )

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Mannn, it starts off with ML doing some really messed up shit to the FL. But it's all good, because she goes to great lengths to get even. And then mannnn does she do some messed up shit to him! Then they both feel very regretful, and kind of decide to do like a "do-over".

The kisses are decent, the show is kind of tame, but with a spicy kick. The ML and FL have mad chemistry, they look so freakin good together, and they both are great actors. They make such a good pair.

The other parts of this show are really on point. Acting by supporting cast, costumes and styling, music, direction, everything fits together very seamlessly and is so well done, that it's almost hypnotic how you get immersed and just want to keep watching another episode and another and another.... There were parts of the storyline that could have been made more clear, so it's kind of blocky and disjointed. But not too much, it's mainly fine. None of the dialogue really stands out as genius, but it flows nicely and there's no cringe.

This starts out as a toxic as hell romance, but it doesn't end as one. I guess you could say they get it all out of their system and become cured of their sadistic urges toward one another. There is an HE, but it's one of those last-minue HE's that isn't really super satisfying. But the bulk of the show itself is very satisfying, so..... you could see it as a trade-off.

I think it's mayyyybe rewatchable. If I decided one day to rewatch it, it would be for the ML and FL performances, and for the pretty ratcheted-up levels of angst combined with a pleasing dose of spice. The kiss scenes could have been better, but they also could have been a lot worse. This is a cut above the average short-length drama. Definitely worth a one-time watch at least.

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Love which Kills and Heals

I chanced upon this short drama and right from the very first episode, I was hooked. I could not stop watching one episode after another. Yes, this drama was kind of "sick" in the way the ML expressed his love and protection for FL by torturing her in the name of love. Nonetheless, FL was charming, beguiling and yet, super feisty and smart. She was a force to be reckoned with and I really liked that.

What I Like Quite a Bit:
- Both FL and ML are good-looking. Gosh, the FL is a great actress with a lovely face. She charms the pants off viewers by simply being so pretty. She oozes charm and appeal. It is my first time watching this actress and I am quite blown away by her beauty and her ability to act/ deliver her scenes. The ML is handsome and manly too. He has a nice built.
- This drama is quite "adult" if you get what I mean. I like the steamy scenes. ML and FL have plenty of "skinship" which I love to watch.
- Although the drama is very fast-paced, the plot is generally tied up quite nicely and machinations are explained.
- In general, the casting is good.
- In general, the plot is exciting.
- The ML loves FL wildly as well as truly and deeply. Likewise for FL. The drama's title speaks for itself.

What Can Be Better:
- The ending seems rushed. I think having one more episode to give FL and ML a happily-ever-after will be great.

On another note, I was devastated and felt pained when Cai Tian Xi died to protect his master, the ML (who was the City Lord). He was truly devoted and loyal and his death pained me even as a viewer.

I was greatly entertained by this short and yet, interesting mini-drama which featured an exceptional FL and a pretty awesome ML.

I highly recommend this very delicious and sort of sinful snack to those who enjoy steamy, hot, kind of S&M plots.

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Short, tropey to the core but what a treat!

Ok let me start by saying the ML comes at first as a toxic mfk who you want to slap to kingdom come. And lo and behold, our FL in just a few episodes slaps the sh*t out of him! What a treat!LOL! Not a woman to mess with, our FL schemes for almost all of the episodes to take her sweet revenge. All the tropes are here:toxic ML, misunderstood and sa FL, vicious SFL, villain, amnesia, misunderstandings, lost family members, revenge, blindness! There's also humour, like wtf??Need I go on? And yet... And yet reader! He 's really served humility in a platter! And they talk about it! They literally forgive each other like 2 adults at the end! It's so out of cdramaland that I'm shocked to grading it higher than what it's really worth! ML 's my new crush and oh, his smiles... A dream! His acting is also commendable. Now the FL is a known actress in such dramas, but damn girl, feel the kisses a little more, don't be so unfazed.

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Guilty pleasure, well-made mini drama

I accidentally found this on YT and gave it a try. It started like an old-fashioned bodice ripper romance, and very steamy for Chinese drama so I couldn’t help watching more. And the ML is OMG so handsome! The FL too, she looks almost like a manga character. For such a mini drama, the production was really high quality, with good actors, luxurious costumes and beautiful settings. It had a halfway decent plot which was okay but with the main focus on the romance. There was a lot of kissing, hugging and sitting half-naked in steaming bathtubs, more than I‘ve ever seen in a CD. What I really didn’t like: In the beginning, the hero did some things to humiliate the heroine (mainly due to a misunderstanding, he thought she’d betrayed his love) but it was very over the top, cruel and simply abusive. It really ruined his character for me and even if he somehow turned into that super gentle loving guy later, what he did to her should be unforgivable. I‘m really worried that such toxic relationships are presented as normal to young girls. As an adult woman, I can see that it‘s just a fictional fantasy. However, the love story soon turned sweet and the hero was humiliated, too, so he atoned for his sins in the end. The heroine was clever and feisty. All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining watch, but don’t take it too seriously. ?

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Unhinged, toxic male lead played brilliantly by Cheng Yu Feng

I have to admit - I am a massive fan of Cheng Yu Feng. I have read few comments about this drama on reddit. I usually steer clear from dramas with toxic characters but Cheng Yu Feng convinced me to watch this series.

What I liked:
1. Yin Ji characterisation - I am fascinated by how the writer developed this male lead. He started off in this series as an unhinged City Lord who seemed jilted by female lead's behaviour towards him. Toxic phase of Yin Ji is the best part of this series because I couldn't predict his line of thoughts. Oh I've never seen a sadomachoist in Chinese drama so wow, this series shocked me!
2. Cheng Yu Feng's acting - He was able to show many sides of Yin Ji: neanderthal Yin Ji, naive & younger Yin Ji, I'm-going-to-reclaim-my-City-Lordship Yin Ji.
3. Qi Yan - I like his character - trustworthy and kind. Actor Tian Guang Yu was handsome.
4. Xiao Bao Bao - I actually pity her character. Yes, she is annoying but then again she is the legal wife of Yin Ji so her actions are understandable. Teng Ze Wen did well as Xiao Bao Bao.

What I disliked:
1. Yin Ji decision - I understand that Yin Ji kept Xie Yun by his side to protect her but I don't like that he was mean towards her. The humiliation was too much.
2. Zizi Xu's acting - I understand that Xie Yun is a woman driven by vengence for her family but I couldn't connect with her. I think it's because of Zizi Xu's acting. It felt monotonous even when she forgave and accepted Yin Ji into her life.
3. Wang Xi Nu - This character doesn't have a purpose. There is already Xiao Bao Bao who is a stumbling block in Xie Yun & Yin Ji's relationship.

Favourite scene
The whorehouse in first episode.

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Story

Absolutely loved this drama. The two main leads were made for each other. Cheng yu feng (yin Gi) was my first watch of this Chinese actor and in my estimation played an excellent part especially when playing his emotional
scenes with Hu Yi Wei (Xie Yun). I loved the storyline..
A story of misunderstanding love between two people
who really cared for each other through bad times and good times to in the end an enduring love and happiness. Yin Gi and his wife at the beginning treated Xie Yun with contempt but she was tied to him for 3 years as his slave but he couldn't let her go in the end.
Cheng yu Feng was extremely good looking and I couldn't take my eyes off him.A tough cookie.
Hu Yi Wei was made for the part and her beauty stood out. All the cast were supurb. Will I watch it again.. Definitely. . Sometimes watching again you take more in than first time round and I get to watch Cheng yu Feng
again. Thanks to the producers.. Directors.. backroom staff and the scriptwriters ❤️

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