2
4
Frost_edelweiss
Dai Gaozheng is spectacular
Dai Gaozheng as Gu Linyuan is spectacular in this costume drama.
I did not know Tu Zhiying (who plays Yun Feifei) despite she was in small support roles in Only For Love and The Pavilion, plus another one that I have yet to complete (was too busy at the time).
The story is well paced, time goes quickly since it is only 20 x 10 minutes or so; can be watched in two sittings with a pause for snack, or like a 2 hours movie. It is an original script.
Although a costume drama, it is not historical. It is a wuxia fantasy in martial universe, opposing a sect and an enforcement agency the backing of which is not very clear: sect or government? It does not really matter.
The synopsis says that Yun Feifei is the (female) "headhunter of the Six Sects", the incompatible rival of Gu Linyuan from "Qiankun gang". In Chinese, qian(乾) means heaven and kun(坤) earth ; qiankun （乾坤） is the universe. In many fantasy xianxia, wuxia or xuanhuan dramas, we may encounter a "qiankun bag", a magic one where all sorts of things can be stored and hidden from sight, but there is no such bag in this drama. Instead, qiankun conveys the occult, dishonest nature of the sect whose leader's daughter is a shameless minx, intent on tying Gu Linyuan to her in an unholy marriage and binding him and her minions further with a Perish Pill (a potent drug with addictive effect). Cultivation powers were just a tool for the leads, to use extraordinary strength, even bordering telekinesis, and to fight spectacularly, but not to the point of flying. But acupoints were used to subdue a victim, poisonous arrows were shot, and specially poisoned darts to cause memory loss. The leads still united to find a cure for the Perish Pill, despite mortal dangers and possible betrayers.
The sets are familiar for those who watch many fantasy or wuxia dramas. One scene with changing rooms had me chuckle since it featured the same rooms that were used in another drama (probably more than one): a modern one that also had a steamy scene there (Embrace in the Dark Night). Less than ancient urban setting, the story takes place in rooms of cult seats, "libraries", and away from town, in a remote but tastefully furnished ancient country house near a bamboo forest which sways in the wind, not too far from a temple which sports "fate" or "good luck wishes" : rectangular pieces of red painted wood inscribed by fortune seekers in handwriting and hung as pendants on "holy" trees, blessed by the fengshui master there (such good luck charms are traditional in some such real places in China).
That said, the chemistry between the leads in Lost You Found You was sweet, despite the induced misunderstandings, and the kiss scenes are quite excellent. We don't get as much a glimpse of Dai Gaozheng's spectacular abs (as in Maid's Revenge): after all, costume dramas can't go much into undressing! Anyway, the costumes are pleasing to watch, if expected, and the pendant in two parts is a nice looking sign and jewel.
The main, ending song : Your Last Name, My First Name (你的姓氏我的名字) by Liu Da Na (刘大拿) is very sweet, somewhat wistful : an ear-worm one.
The end was hovering between tragic and happy ; the happy one prevailed, probably in order not to displease audience, but I felt it to be rather implausible, so only 9.5 for me. But I would still recommend Lost You Found You to those who have some notions about this type of c-drama, and of course, to those who like watching the evolution of Dai Gaozheng's acting career.
I did not know Tu Zhiying (who plays Yun Feifei) despite she was in small support roles in Only For Love and The Pavilion, plus another one that I have yet to complete (was too busy at the time).
The story is well paced, time goes quickly since it is only 20 x 10 minutes or so; can be watched in two sittings with a pause for snack, or like a 2 hours movie. It is an original script.
Although a costume drama, it is not historical. It is a wuxia fantasy in martial universe, opposing a sect and an enforcement agency the backing of which is not very clear: sect or government? It does not really matter.
The synopsis says that Yun Feifei is the (female) "headhunter of the Six Sects", the incompatible rival of Gu Linyuan from "Qiankun gang". In Chinese, qian(乾) means heaven and kun(坤) earth ; qiankun （乾坤） is the universe. In many fantasy xianxia, wuxia or xuanhuan dramas, we may encounter a "qiankun bag", a magic one where all sorts of things can be stored and hidden from sight, but there is no such bag in this drama. Instead, qiankun conveys the occult, dishonest nature of the sect whose leader's daughter is a shameless minx, intent on tying Gu Linyuan to her in an unholy marriage and binding him and her minions further with a Perish Pill (a potent drug with addictive effect). Cultivation powers were just a tool for the leads, to use extraordinary strength, even bordering telekinesis, and to fight spectacularly, but not to the point of flying. But acupoints were used to subdue a victim, poisonous arrows were shot, and specially poisoned darts to cause memory loss. The leads still united to find a cure for the Perish Pill, despite mortal dangers and possible betrayers.
The sets are familiar for those who watch many fantasy or wuxia dramas. One scene with changing rooms had me chuckle since it featured the same rooms that were used in another drama (probably more than one): a modern one that also had a steamy scene there (Embrace in the Dark Night). Less than ancient urban setting, the story takes place in rooms of cult seats, "libraries", and away from town, in a remote but tastefully furnished ancient country house near a bamboo forest which sways in the wind, not too far from a temple which sports "fate" or "good luck wishes" : rectangular pieces of red painted wood inscribed by fortune seekers in handwriting and hung as pendants on "holy" trees, blessed by the fengshui master there (such good luck charms are traditional in some such real places in China).
That said, the chemistry between the leads in Lost You Found You was sweet, despite the induced misunderstandings, and the kiss scenes are quite excellent. We don't get as much a glimpse of Dai Gaozheng's spectacular abs (as in Maid's Revenge): after all, costume dramas can't go much into undressing! Anyway, the costumes are pleasing to watch, if expected, and the pendant in two parts is a nice looking sign and jewel.
The main, ending song : Your Last Name, My First Name (你的姓氏我的名字) by Liu Da Na (刘大拿) is very sweet, somewhat wistful : an ear-worm one.
The end was hovering between tragic and happy ; the happy one prevailed, probably in order not to displease audience, but I felt it to be rather implausible, so only 9.5 for me. But I would still recommend Lost You Found You to those who have some notions about this type of c-drama, and of course, to those who like watching the evolution of Dai Gaozheng's acting career.
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