Typical Romantic Fluff

What can I say about this story? Simple and it would have been so much better had the FL's character not been so irritatingly STUPID! I tried hard to see her as innocent and naive, but even innocents have more sense than this one portrayed. Loved the ML - liked the couples, and the unexpected ending for the FL's sister.

This series won't win any awards for CGI or really for much of anything else, but it was cute and once you could ignore the FL's dumbness for too long in the series, you might enjoy it for a bit of light watching.

The Empress was deliciously snobby, and just able the most believable character of the lot. The Crown Prince was clueless but cute, and he grew on me. Wish he had found his princess.

All-in-all, I love a happy ending. I skipped a lot of episodes because I just couldn't take watching the FL any longer - and fast-forwarded to the last two episodes which were surprisingly rewarding.

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This is What Rom-Coms Are

Light-hearted stories with couples that have chemistry, and plotlines you can follow. If you want historical facts and heavy material, then choose that kind of drama. This one was enjoyable, and the ML & FL had a lot of chemistry and if you like the romance (I do), a lot of that too. The SML & SFL also had chemistry although the SFL was a little irritating at times. The villains were convincingly hateful, and even if their actions were a bit repetitive, they were still characters you loved to hate.

I choose these kinds of series when I am in-between heavy dramas with a lot of episodes. They are great weekend watching, and they are light on the heart and easy to follow. The comedic moments were cute and funny but not overdone. I enjoyed the series and think the actors did a pretty good job. Don't overthink it - if you're just looking for something to watch and be entertained by this is a good pick.

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The ML Stole the Show

Everything about this drama was all about the ML for me. Easy on the eyes, intense - great fight scenes. Totally believable as a pirate, a hero, a lover. (And that mouth!) He alone made it an 8 rating.

The story was light had a lot of holes in it, and the editing was super-lousy. One minute you're in one scene, next minute you're someplace else. Good thing I was paying attention to whatever the ML was doing! (That soulful look...)

The FL left much to be desired. I kept waiting for her to smarten up or grow up. But no. She was an airhead throughout. It didn't do the couple any justice. Sorry. What a waste of a great guy and a potential supercouple.

I like this lead actor so much I can't wait to see him in a drama with a serious FL who he has chemistry with. They would burn up the screen, because he is smoking hot. (Did I mention his mouth?)

Good weekend watching. And I will be rewatching just to enjoy the eye candy.

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Couldn't stop watching

History is often cruel. Stories have to end the way they did in real life, and that doesn't always equate to an enjoyable story. I was so disgusted so many times in this series, but I kept coming back. I couldn't help myself. In the end it was worth it. I kept trying to find out ahead of time what the deal was with this series, but everything was very vague. Now I can say it is worth it to watch right to the end because they tie up a lot of loose ends.

The acting was pretty good in this drama - and although not every couple has a happy ending, the romance was realistic too. Not overdone and fake and the chemistry was really believable.

It's a long, drawn-out story - and I got confused with some of the characters at times and keeping up with who was doing what - but I concentrated on the main characters and their story arcs a lot more than the history and the politics. Will I rewatch? Probably not - but I did bookmark the episodes that had the sweetest moments and the little twists that I liked, and will probably go back and watch.

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Cruel and Unusual Punishment

I had no warning. I did not do my usual research before watching this drama, and I paid the price.

The story started out so well and moved along albeit a little slowly for my taste, but I really got invested in this couple. Loved the ML's sincerity and his well-intended if a little misguided actions. The FL did a great job of acting - but I can't say the character written for her endeared me to her. She certainly paid for the decisions she made and the biggest mistake of staying with the SML.

The writers blamed Fate to write the cruel destiny of these two lovers, and I despised them (the writers) for that. The tasteful and beautifully shot intimate scenes, and the unrushed way the couple fell in love was the heart of this piece. The ML was perfect. The FL was initially silly and naïve, but she eventually gave in. I was so invested. I loved them together until she made that stupid choice... and just when I thought it would all come together, the writers threw in that agonizing twist that just about broke my heart and had me screaming at the screen.

I am so sorry I watched this drama. So sorry! I will look for this ML's other works, and I hope there are some. But as for the writers of this, I will never watch anything they produce again. Ever. Lesson learned the hard way, next time I research before I click 'watch'. This was a very painful lesson for me.

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Oh Lord Have Mercy - Huang Jing Yu!!!

I can't believe I had never seen any of Johnny Huang's dramas. Even harder to believe that this one has been out since 2018! I came upon it quite by accident and am so happy I did. For once, the screenwriter got it right, and the director made it all happen with a great cast of actors. It wasn't perfect, but then, what is? There were a few holes and a few things left hanging, but hey - in this one, the good outweighed the bad.

I'm not usually a Victoria Song fan. I find her to be a bit wooden and one-dimensional. In this one, she was just a little less so; but then, with Huang Jing Yu as her leading man, it's not too surprising. He was phenomenal. Just the right blend of quiet strength and self-confidence and a hint of innocence. And of course, that he is just drop dead gorgeous didn't hurt. I did love the character of Helan Xi, and he played it to perfection.

And let's not omit the real charm of this drama - the trio of Xiu Xian, Zhao Kuan Yong, and Xian Xiao Ju. What chemistry these three had - and I couldn't have chosen one guy over the other for her and wanted her to have them both! My only comfort was that the latter couple Li Jia Ming & Liu Yong Xi fell in love in real life. That made me so happy, and I wish them well!

The story got a little loose in some parts, which wasted precious time that could have wrapped things up a little better at the end. The timeline was vague and references to how long it would take for the foxes to regain human form were ambiguous. One minute it was hundreds of years, and yet in 6 months there was Helan Xi on the train. Hey - I took the happy ending anyway I could get it, but still there are lingering questions. Part two mayhap? We can only hope.

I liked this story. I liked the actors. I even felt it for some of the evil characters (not a lot of them). But I liked this drama and would definitely rewatch it. I will, however, fast forward through scenes with her 'best friend' and the female reported whose ambition caught up to her in the end (too easy if you ask me).

A lot of eye candy in this one, folks, but also a good story and solid acting. And Johnny Huang without a shirt!

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44 Episodes too Long!

What a waste of time this was. The story was neither compelling nor interesting enough for 44 episodes. Turned out we got more of the same shots of bloody operating room scenes, nurses stations, patients, more nurses stations, doctors in white coats, and far too many medical terms to keep straight. And for the record, it was 45 episodes not 44 as the blurb says.

The acting was ok - even though the actors had very little to work with given that screen writing. There was really zero chemistry between the ML & FL. She was supremely annoying in the beginning, and when she finally calmed down, she became unappealing. The older actors did well and were very convincing in their roles. Fu Bo Wen could have been something other than apologetic and repenting all the time. As unnecessary as his character was, I found the ER doctor Chen Shao Cong to be the most amusing and his girlfriend to be cute and amusing as well.

So many holes! One minute mama is in a coma, the next she's walking around at home! What happened to Zhuang Shu's sister? She needed to come down from her high horse with a serious dose of reality! Why wasn't the hospital dean locked up for his misdeeds? And what happened to Chu Jun?

If the writers and director didn't waste so much time on meaningless scenes with heavy cello and violin music (what was that for anyway?) Maybe they could have developed the romantic relationships better - at least give us some couple time! What was that ending?! It was ridiculous and a bitter disappointment after investing 44 episodes of boring medical jargon.

What a dismal disappointment this was. I don't care for Bai Bah He - but I like Jin Dong.

Absolutely NO rewatch value for me - and the OST was a bust as well - too heavy on the cello and violins, and they did very little to enhance the scenes. Whoever did the clothing needs to go back to design school too,

If you're looking for romance, this one isn't it. If you're looking for a riveting story, sorry, this one isn't it either. IF you like to pick apart the accuracy of the medical lingo and procedures, have at it. There isn't much else to recommend this one!

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Some Things Never Change

It took me a while to get through this drama. I started months ago, and watched with interest the first few episodes, and then it became harder to digest. This scenario is not a new one, and it has not changed nor improved with time. I think the thing that really bothered me the most was the misplaced righteousness, justice, sensitivity, and regard for the rights of victims. There is no one way to handle injustice. So, the story itself held more than a few flaws for me; some loose ends and plot holes, and that 'what if' episode at the end was thrown in there as if to appease those of us who were hoping for a neater ending that made sense of some of the relationships in the story.

The shining star of this series is the ensemble cast. The actors did a superb job of bringing the characters to life. While I found the two FLs more unrealistic than I like my heroines to be, they put their all into these characters. The supporting group were also very believable and endearing - every one of them told their stories and drew the viewer in. And perhaps the most masterful performance of all was the villain Wu Lian. What a great piece of acting! It was easy to despise him, but then to feel a modicum of pity for the circumstances which brought him to his unfortunate situation.

I was not a fan of jumping back and forth in time - it got a little confusing for me if I wasn't paying attention. I was not happy with the demise of two of my favourite characters - the story could have been just as compelling without their needless deaths. The characters deserved for their stories to have a better conclusion than they did. In the end, it didn't feel like anything other than revenge was achieved. And as usual, that revenge came at a bitter cost. I think the heroine in this piece lost sight of the harm that her efforts to avenge her friend did to other victims. In the end, it begs the question, did she do more harm than good? Whatever one's personal opinion is in that regard, this was not an easy drama to watch - and for me, once was enough.

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A Look at Real Life

This was a pretty well-told story about an important issue facing many societies worldwide. Mental illness is often the elephant in the room, but it touches so many lives. I think this story portrayed that sentiment very well. In twelve episodes, I hoped there would have been more time to develop the personal relationships between the three couples and not just their friendships. A lot of time was wasted on the young couple who eventually called it quits in such a bittersweet way. As much as I disliked the female character and liked the male character, theirs was a fitting end for them. I wish more time had been spent on the development of the lead couple and especially the second couple. A lot was just taken for granted in that last relationship - but there were more complexities that could have been explored.

I liked that what villainy there was, was not the main focus of the drama. The friendship that the girls had, the things they misunderstood, overlooked, took for granted - are all understandable when relationships happen. In hindsight everyone sees things they wish they knew before. This story certainly proves that.

The relationships with the parents were also quite realistic. I liked that the main emotion underlying all of the characters and their families (and even their friends) was love. At the end of the day, these are the relationships that most people want and cherish, and this story showed that.

I wish we could have had a better follow-up at the end - so much is just left to the viewer's imagination, and that was short-changing the commitment we had to the characters. For a 12 episode series, a great deal of time was wasted which would have been more valuable at the end, but hey - I'll take a happy ending any day.

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Because of the Dismal Writing and Directing

I was initially drawn to this title by the number of episodes. I actually like long dramas that give the viewer an opportunity for longevity, to get invested in the story and the characters. Boy! Was I wrong about this one, and was this a dismal failure!

First, let me clarify that the acting was not the issue. That the audience loved (or hated) the characters is testament to the talent of the actors portraying the roles they were given. I like Deng Lun anyway, and although his character was a little too easy-going for my liking, his moments of seriousness and intensity were on point - signature Deng Lun! Actresses Wu Yu (Yu Xin), Joy Pan (Hui Jie), & Guo Hong (Wang Ai Yu) who portrayed the main villainesses really pushed the 'hate' button. Other cast members were believable and as an ensemble cast, the relationships, the interactions, good and bad, were realistic. Unfortunately for me, the most underwhelming character was Zhang Guo Guo - and all I can say about that is that Sun Yi played the role she was given but didn't shine in this one at all. I found the character weak and whiny and even more unfortunately, saw very little chemistry between she and the ML. She came across as wooden and cold even in their love scenes. Despite rave reviews on the children in this drama, they were just that - children. Nothing spectacular in their performances but again, the storyline, the directing.

56 episodes needs a riveting story. A well-written and executed script to keep the viewer interested and invested. This one had neither. I'm afraid I stuck it out only out of morbid curiosity to see IF/how the writer could tie it all together or justify the ridiculousness that played out throughout this drama. I hoped the writer and the director would have pulled it together sooner rather than later and spare us the repetitious (and wearisome) tropes that they started out on. 'Entitled character thinks she deserves more and goes on a campaign to achieve her goals repeating the same sentiments over and over... I won't let anyone take this away from me at any cost'. OK - we got it after the first 6 or so episodes! We were done to death with the antics of Wang Ai Yu always choosing her birth daughter over the fostered daughter - begging and crying when she got caught then doing the same evil thing over and over and over again the next minute. I believe the FL must have been paid for every time she said the word 'Maah' - and the same for the SFL calling 'Maah or Baah'. How many parents did these two accumulate in 56 episodes! It was positively annoying! Thank goodness for fast-forwarding.

Can we talk about the real gems in this piece? Yes, thankfully there were just barely any. The character Song Xiu Hua (played by Liu Min Tao) was so believable and endearing (until she kept that snake Wang Ai Yu in her house after she told that egregious lie - why Xiu Hua didn't kick her out and still treated her like a friend, only the writer and director know for sure). I really like that actress and she played her part so well. The other character who endeared himself to me was Lu Si Chen (played by Kelvin Li). He started out seeming like a bad guy, but eventually we see what the unconditional love of a parent really looks like. I'm sorry his story didn't end better, he of all people really deserved something good for his character the unselfish single dad - but hope was thrown in there from Zheng Guo Guo's assurance to Le Tong that they could 'take a plane to visit him'.

Re-watch? Absolutely not. Again let me reiterate - the train wreck that was this drama was the sole responsibility and fault of the absolute inability of the writer to produce a decent story and the short-sightedness of the director to utilize the talents of the actors so that a decent story could be told. If you're looking for a worthwhile long drama, this isn't it. Run far, run fast!

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Many More Misses Than Hits

Unfortunately, this one disappoints. I was drawn to the premise of a 'strong woman' finding her path, making both professional and personal strides. I can't say I was in the least bit impressed with the character of Yan Wei at all. I found her to be shallow and even a bit pretentious, and more single-minded than intuitive especially business-wise. I tried but failed to like her husband Cheng Liang's character. What a spineless dishrag! And between them, not even a spark. So much for the lead couple (Strike 1).

I grew to like and respect the second couple - An Xin & Lu Ze Ning. The major downfall with her character was that greedy, money-grubbing family of hers who made me cringe in every scene they played in. Every last one of them! (Strike 2) But there was definitely chemistry between that couple, and their story gave me the only satisfaction I got from this drama, and they were the reason my rating made it to a 6/10.

And the couple I liked least of all was Liu Xiao Xi & Wang Wei. I fast forwarded through 90% of their scenes. They were neither cute nor entertaining. She was a whiny mess most of the time, and he was just a simpleton. (Strike 3).

I would have liked to have seen the reunion between Tao Ruo Yan & Bian Cheng. I would have liked some comeuppance for that pervert Feng Wen Yi., and the smarmy GM 'Bob', and see some kind of justice for the way Xu Wen was done dirty by her company. I also would have liked the kid (Mike) to get some happiness other than mommy love.

There is something wrong with the sound on the series of videos I watched (You Tube), so I wasn't able to hear much, if any of the OST hence the low rating. You have to be able to hear the music to rate it!

No rewatch value for me. I barely made it to the end of 40 episodes with a lot of fast forwarding through scenes with characters I couldn't stand, or those who were just plain boring. So many missed opportunities in this one.

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Enduring Love Wins - And a Smoking-Hot Hero Helps!

Right off the bat, I chose this drama for Yang Yang. Despite some of the nasty remarks and reviews I read; I think he did a very good job with this character. The hesitation to trust, holding himself back, his sincerity. I loved Song Yan more than any other character. Yes, the camera has a love affair with Yang Yang, but he is talented in his own right - and we are the recipients of his good looks and his talents.

The ensemble was great. There was such chemistry between the firefighters - there was such chemistry between the family members - even the dysfunctional ones. Xu Qin's parents and her brother gave compelling performances. I don't think there was one character who wasn't convincing, and I loved the side couples a lot too.

The story itself was ok - the writers and the director scored pretty much on their telling of the bravery and commitment of these first responders and gave them all very human sides. Even the bystanders and general public were both as heroic and sometimes as disgusting as people can be in real life. I think there could have been a tad less action and more interaction between the individuals to develop their connections - but I appreciated the moments of sentiment and emotion. The most touching part for me was Dapeng's parents reading his letter. There was not a dry eye in the house (or mine either) - the raw emotion of every firefighter in that room was real and raw.

Wang Chu Ran scored as Xu Qin. Her character, in my opinion, was the most flawed of all. She managed to bring all of that dysfunction and insecurity to life. Xu Qin was an indulged, insecure, protected woman who understandably was so impacted by her upbringing and her own personality. She finally managed to stand on her own two feet and appreciate the love she had in Song Yan. It sure took her long enough! Best scene for me? When Zhai Miao dropped the bomb on what Xu Qin's mother had done to ruin Song Yan's career efforts and reality bit. Hard!

Some reviews said there wasn't any chemistry between the ML & FL. I don't agree. Although Xu Qin's feelings for Song Yan were a little conditional at first, Song Yan's love for Xu Qin was always obvious in his touch, tenderness and the way he looked at her. As their relationship grew and Xu Qin began to realize the true wealth of his love, her own feelings blossomed. It was an understated but intense love portrayed so well by these two actors. (On a purely superficial note, I do hope they are a couple in real life).

I didn't need a wedding to wrap the ending up - but we didn't need a crisis either. It would have been more satisfying to spend the time to wrap up the side-couples' stories a little better.

Rewatch? I'd gladly sit through 40 episodes again for Yang Yang.

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All because of the Male Lead

The storyline had a few holes and wasted opportunities for both the characters and the plot itself. I'm learning NOT to rely solely on reviews and comments in the discussions, and I am glad I overlooked many of the negative ones and stayed with the series to the end. Each story arc was neatly tied up (even if the premises were a little lame) and even though not everybody got their Karma, I guess it didn't take away from the overall story. This is where the writers come in. If they don't keep tight control over the story they are trying to tell, the actors cannot do the drama justice.

The reason I watched this and stayed with it was Luo Zheng. He is such a feast for the eyes and is usually stereotyped in these emotionless, stone-faced CEO roles. However, he really did a good job in this one. He does arrogance so well - and the gamut of emotions he portrayed was so moving to watch. The pain in his eyes when she left him, even the psycho-stalking was believable. I like that he can show his emotions, whatever they are in the story - and I always take a second look when he is a main character in a drama.

I liked He Rui Xian in her role too. I liked her a lot in Warm on a Cold Night, and the chemistry between the ML & her was sweet. I wish they had done a little more with her character and had her (and her ridiculous mother) develop and grow a little more. I also would have liked for her to grow with the ML's character as well. She needed some growth and change too. But as I said, I loved their chemistry.

Would I rewatch? Maybe not, but I did enjoy the drama. I think anyone who likes these actors should decide for themselves and not buy into the negatives too much. Remember - it isn't real-life, it's fiction.

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Love with your heart, not with your eyes.

Evan Lin carried this drama. his portrayal of Su Nan Qin was almost perfect. Of course, everyone loves a happy ending, so his regaining his sight was a necessary evil, but I think the couple could have been happy if he didn't. The relationship between the ML & FL was sweet in parts, amusing in parts, but also a little disjointed too. As a psych major, Sang Wu Yan couldn't figure things out, but relied on Xiao Lu to analyze Nan Qin's actions? Sure - she could provide information about his past - but a psych major should have had more insight, in my opinion.

There were a lot of plot holes - which did not detract from the actual story but left the viewer with unresolved arcs. The flow of storylines did not seem organized. Just bits and pieces thrown in - Cheng Yin's death and 'ghost' appearance and then sudden goodbye; the various male characters (blind dates and Peng Rui Xing's roles) seemed to have little bearing in the story. Nan Qin's father and stepmother's backstories and why he hated her so much. Xiao Lu's relationship with Nan Qin was basically undeveloped.

The couples: Much as I liked the ML & FL characters - there was something missing in their romance. It was apparent that the FL was not into the romantic scenes at all. In a romance drama, the kissing scenes should at least be realistic or feel that way to the viewer. It was apparent that the FL did not want to do intimate scenes, and that kind of spoiled the feel of the romance for me. The second couple had no chemistry at all. Their characters were even less appealing and unfortunately, did nothing for the story and I could not connect with them at all.

The premise of the ML finding growth, love and healing was appealing to me. I appreciated the FL's character not being a shallow, giggling ninny. She really had a depth of character and strong will - and I like that portrayal of Chinese women. No delusional obsession, no petulant foot-stamping when she can't her own way, no silly behaviour, and no childish outfits and accessories - but wearing appropriate, grown-up clothing.

I might rewatch this if I wanted a series to kill some time - because I really quite liked Evan Lin's acting - and he is so very easy on the eyes too. He really earned the rating I gave this drama. I hope to see him in future dramas.

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