Cliche story, but good characterisations

Well, this was an interesting series that was ultimately ruined by what I call "catering to the masses" - or Disney-fication, if you want. The original novel which I read until chapter 9, is a nasty, difficult book not for the faint of heart, and while they did retain some of the originals' feel, they dumbed down and whitewashed so much stuff that it lost it's original taste, and became a mish-mash that would not satisfy lovers of dark romance (like me), but is definitely too hard core for lovers of fluffier, easier romance.
PLOT: Anybody who has ever read at least one Harlequin romance knows that the "Monte Christo plot" is everywhere - a man trying to get revenge on a woman for something her father/brother/husband did by making her submit to him. I myself read at least 10 of those books and they always have the same trajectory. Some stories are more violent, some are less violent.
Sealed with a kiss is no different. The story is one large revenge cliche, just done the typical Chinese way. So, if you want some quality storytelling, this is not the drama for that. Go watch Nirvana in Fire or something similar. All the typical stuff is here - crazy wives, never forgotten first love, scheming business associates...
ACTORS: This is where this series shines. Hawick Lau is top class! Incredible int he role. His micro expressions are priceless! Ying Er is a point of intense discussion,. Most people dislike her, but the problem is not the actress per se but the character - Tong Xue, a great sarcastic character in the novel was made into a weak willed, docile, fragile girl in the drama. While her passivity is often mentioned and is even a pint of criticism to the viewers, I think much has been lost in this transition. If they decided to make her so meek, there is one way to do it properly - to make it a cautionary tale about being an unnecessary martyr and the consequences that go with it. But they in fact often try and paint her as a incredible woman sought after by so many men because of her feminine elegance. WHAT! And I have to say that Ying Er even does this right is many regards. She's silly and annoying as heck and you want to slap her, but that's how she was envisioned and it's not Ying Er's fault. She's not a top actress, but pulls it of okay.

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