Secret to a Good Short Length Drama: Steal, Cheat, & Lie

I. The Good
I'm surprised that this drama is hovering at 7.8 stars at the time of review, but I'm more surprised by the ease at which I am rating this a 9 out of 10 stars. There are a plethora of good things to rave about.

The storyline is short, sweet, and compelling, told with a dash of titillating scenes. The FL is introduced as an unconcerned equal-opportunity hussy, who allows only good-looking toy boys to remain at her manor. Meanwhile, the ML graduated first class honours from bodyguard-cum-assassin training school. Quite early on, the audience are given hints that the ML is not who he says he is, but for his purposes, he introduces himself to the FL as one sibling of the pair that she'd save a decade ago. The FL is intrigued by his good looks and allows him to remain, and the first few episodes play with the question of where his loyalties lay. He ultimately proves himself loyal to the FL, whereupon she promptly devours him like a delicious snack (who wouldn't?). After the FL defeats who she thinks is the main villain, the real villains rise from the embers to steal her happiness and reveal who has been cheating and lying to her (spoiler alert: everyone). The drama does close with happy ending, so rejoice you faithless creatures.

The acting was surprisingly good. HYY (FL) was luxuriously seductive when playing the coquette, but could subtly shift her expressions and gestures to play the restrained daughter and weary human. LZH (ML) played his role as an outraged virgin, serious bodyguard-assassin, mortified ex-virgin, and shy simp with equal skill-- but I was so distracted by how he looked like Wang Hedi for most of his scenes. WTH (FL's brother) effortlessly portrayed a mild-mannered obsessive antagonist.

The makeup, costumes, and set are exquisitely gorgeous-- so much so, I'm wondering what was the budget for this drama. They were full-length-drama worthy. The theme songs were equally poignant and liable to give you stuck song syndrome.

II. The Bad (Major spoiler alert!)
The drama doesn't tie up all loose ends neatly. We never find out why the ML was so intent on killing the assassin he chased down in episode 1 (although one assumes that is who murdered Bai Chen), who is Ling Rong's father, when or why did Ya Shu join the FL's camp, or when did Zhan Yue Chi meet the FL and why is he so obsessed with her. The scenes also had minor struggles with continuity issues. For example, during their date night, the FL had run off with the lube and the ML was left holding the mask. But in the next scene, the FL is holding the mask in her left hand and dragging the ML along with her right. Cut to the next scene, and the mask is back in the ML's hand.

All these are minor issues that don't really mess with the audience's viewing pleasure. I still would have ignored these pesky details and rated this drama higher if it weren't for the ugly.

III. The Ugly
Episode 23 is quite literally ugly, and episode 24 is storytelling ugly. We've been given beautiful scenes and seamless choreography all the way up to Episode 23, when suddenly at the last minute, utterly awful CGI rises and smashes you across the face like a sperm whale. Episode 24 doesn't explain why the ML runs off, or why he is so adamant to not return with the FL. Although he supplies a weak answer about visiting his sister, the explanation doesn't justify his strong reaction. It is as if we're missing crucial 5 minutes that the production team ultimately decided to cut out, but failed to consider how the episode appears without those scenes. They tried to fix it with the FL's response and offer, but even one line from the ML along the lines of "You know me so well" would have smoothed out the incongruous scene.

IV. Final Words
Ultimately, this drama is captivating and unputdownable. Except for the few irksome flaws, you will blast through the ~240 minutes directly and go back for seconds.

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Trotting Me into Boredom (Major spoilers ahead!)

I. The Ugly
This drama is all about Lin Ze Hui's sexy clavicles and nothing else. It successfully took a bunch of good-looking people, a plot with some potential, and an expensive set, and set the whole lot on fire and watched as it razed all my expectations to the ground. I was so bored, and my boredom was not alleviated despite the ridiculously good-looking men: Lin Ze Hui as the ML seventh prince, Zhu Min Xin as the villain crown prince, and Zhang Zhexu as the FL's younger brother. Despite being linguistically challenged, I could use my limited Chinese skills to fill in the comprehension gaps and follow 95% of the drama. That tells you how cliched the script was.

In episode 1, we find out that the FL was originally meant to marry the villain crown prince, but he kills her father and brother on their wedding, supposedly because they were treasonous. Episode 1 opens with the FL unsuccessful in assassinating the villain. She then holds the ML seventh prince hostage before her vampiric disease is triggered by the scent of musk incense and she latches onto his clavicle like a baby calf to a cow's teats. The FL then poisons the ML to threaten him into helping her to investigate the allegations against her father. Their investigation leads them into many cringeworthy situations between episodes 2 and 5 which somehow ignites the sparks of attraction between them, and by the end of episode 6, the FL gives the antidote to the ML as she realises the poison is no longer necessary to secure his assistance and the ML confesses he is in love with the FL. At the end of episode 9, the FL meets her (supposedly dead) brother's doppelgänger but he tries to assassinate the FL and ML at the end of episode 10, and the duo only survive because the FL activates her violent martial artist vampire side with a sniff of her portable musk incense (they've basically written her as a crack whore). In episode 11, they find out that the villain crown prince had colluded with ministers to counterfeit currency, and he had likely murdered the FL's father and brother because they had discovered his crimes. By episode 14, the villain is determined to murder his own brother, the ML.

Here comes the absolute clanker: The assassination attempt in episode 14 fails, but the ML has been poisoned. So in episode 15, the FL confronts the villain. After she feeds the antidote to the ML, the FL is knocked out by the villain's subordinate and fed a memory-altering substance. The FL forgets her own identity and her family's deaths, but remembers that she is to marry the crown prince in a few days. The ML desperately tries to shock her memory back in episode 16, by bringing her to her abandoned childhood home (the scene of her father's and brother's murders). This fails but lo' and behold, in episode 17, the FL's brother returns healthy and whole, only this time he has his memory but she does not have hers. She regains her memory by episode 18, but continues to feign memory loss. The end of episode 18 and beginning of episode 19 spotted random comedy, and we get to see two beautiful men and one beautiful woman all squeeze into one bed. As it turns out, the villain is aware that the FL has regained her memory and they were plotting to find evidence against him in his palace. They are finally able to present evidence of the villain's misdeeds to the emperor in episode 21, with the (random) assistance of the villain's subordinate. The villain makes a last ditch effort to escape, fatally injuring the FL in the process. Hua Chanjuan's sister, Hua Mengchu (both portrayed by Zhu Xinyuan) is able to save the FL, on the condition that the ML marries her, to which the ML agrees. The FL is saved and Hua Mengchu insists that the ML marries her, but in episode 23, while the ML is ranting about how much he loves the FL, he discovers that his bride is the FL. Finally, in episode 24, they are able to confront the villain who goes on a lunatic's spiel and the FL gives him a less than tight slap. They ultimately discover that the ML was in the running for the crown prince position and was originally meant to be the one the FL marries, and they live happily ever after.

I have just summarised all 240 minutes in these two paragraphs. You no longer need to watch the drama.

II. The Bad
This is not Xu Zhenzhen's first collaboration with Lin Ze Hui, and yet there was absolutely zero chemistry. It felt more like a jiějiě 姐姐 appeasing her dìdì 弟弟. XZZ's acting also left a lot to be desired here. It was like she was playing a watered-down version of her role in Palace Shadows: Between Two Princes.

There were multiple inconsistencies and unexplained plot points. For example, in some scenes, the ML is quite skilled in fighting, but in other scenes, he requires the FL to rescue him. Another example, why would the villain want to force the FL to forget his misdeeds and try to marry her again, when the marriage would not benefit him anymore (her father being dead and all) and he was not in love with her? Also, why does the villain's subordinate have a sudden change of heart?

III. The Good
LZH is a beautiful man who also makes a beautiful woman in episode 7. The only reason I continued watching the drama was because he is truly good-looking and not a bad actor. You get to appreciate some sexy clavicles throughout this drama, sexy abs in episode 7, and some man-on-man action in episode 19.

IV. Verdict
Painfully boring. Skip unless you have nothing else to watch.

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Palatial Mediocrity

I. The Good
First up, let's appreciate the elaborate costume designs. The costume team outdid themselves, for both the ML and FL's costumes (except for that decision to add two shoulder handles on the imperial robe). It's been awhile since I've looked at male costumes and thought, 'That's a gorgeous piece of work'.

Another gorgeous piece of work is LZH (ML). I agree with the comments that LZH's nuanced and compelling acting chops has what it takes to promote him to full-length drama cast. One could see the physical changes as he assumes the demeanour of the crown prince or discarding it like a robe to embody the persona of the second prince. He singlehandedly carried all 3 hours. That's not to say that XZZ's (FL) acting was bad; LZH so brightly outshined everyone else that it left searing afterimages preventing us from observing anyone else. I did love LZH's sizzling chemistry with XZZ, especially when he was flirting with her as the second prince. Special mention should also be given to HEY (ML's sidekick, Du Bin), for his expressive comedy and chemistry with LZH, reminiscent of Gao Hanyu in Legend of Fu Yao.

The choreography for the fight scenes were so graceful and well-executed, it was like watching a dance. In the first episode itself we are treated to beautiful, fluid sword work by the ML and the seamless performance as the FL whirls around to assassinate her own assassins.

It has an open-but-leaning-towards-happy ending, which appears to be the concept of this drama. At the end of 24 episodes, you realise that the drama comprises shadowy wisps of storylines held together by elaborate costumes, ornate sets, dynamic chemistry, and whimsical humour.

II. The Bad
The plot is boring. The premise starts out strong: The solemn crown prince ML has a flamboyant twin brother who seems determined to aid Shattered Star Valley in undermining the royal family. The ruthless Shattered Star Valley assassin FL is assigned the task of assassinating the crown prince. Taking on the identity of the Duke of Yin's daughter, who is destined to wed the ML as his crown princess, she plans her murderous plot during the day. In a twist of circumstances, she is compelled to obtain royal sperm from the second prince, only to find out that the second prince is a Shattered Star Valley covert operative who has no qualms flirting with his sister-in-law. However, the storylines were predictable and uninspired. You're left watching it only for the sporadic comedy and gorgeous views.

III. The Ugly
There were some scenes that were so excessively unbelievable that it cut through the mood and slapped me like a giant flapping tuna. For instance, in episode 6, when the FL prevents the assassin from killing the real Duke of Yin's daughter, she's shot so hard, she's pushed 2 kilometres out from the forest, into the open, and over a cliff.

There were also scenes that dragged out for absolutely no reason such as when the ML is rescuing the FL from her homicidal aunt or the moments before the imperial physician is about to stab the ML's acupoints.

IV. The Verdict
This is a visually magnificent, easy-to-watch drama, if you are able to ignore the banal plot. I would have rated it an 8 or even a 9 but for the storyline.

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Fortune Favours The Bold: Subverting All Expectations

I. The Good
There's an unequivocal happy ending.

The plot is fantabulous. It's a refreshing take on the 'cannon fodder realises they're merely fictional characters; hugs big thigh to survive' trope. The FL refuses to succumb to her role as the evil cannon fodder, and stubbornly pits her wits against the Fortune Author once she discovers that she can push the storyline so long as the ink is not dry yet. The plot doesn't whitewash the FL as a misunderstood 'good' person. She is no meek, timid, mealy-mouthed damsel in distress. She is pragmatic, conniving, and arrogant, and will lie, cheat, and steal as means to an end. The FL commits all kinds of evilry to get the Big Thigh ML on her side and to ensure her own survival. Mr Big Thigh ML falls in love with the FL, sins and all, recognising that everyone has their good side and their bad, and she's just more honest about hers. The storyline constantly subverts expectations (e.g., the FL really isn't a 'good' person, the 2FL isn't really a 'bad' person, the various pot shots at cliche tropes).

I really, really loved the swipes taken at cliche tropes. In episode 9, the FL questions the need for people to hide in bathtubs. In episode 11, the doctor complains "Don't you think accidents happen to you too often? Two days ago she was poisoned, and today she's been shot!". In episode 13, when they were unable to feed the passed out ML medicine, and the 2FL is about to feed the medicine via mouth-to-mouth, the FL says "You couldn't get it in using your hand, but you can using you mouth? Do you think he has a special mouth-opening switch that turns on with a kiss?"

The costumes are gorgeous and intricate, even when the FL is dressed like Minnie Mouse in a few scenes. The details in the sets are superb, e.g., the delicate painting of cherry blossoms behind the ML and the exquisite lamp designs. The production team committed their entire music budget to one song, and it produced a beautiful, poignant melody with melancholic tailored lyrics that really elevated the scenes to full-length drama level.

LMC's acting as the FL has improved significantly, although she struggled in some scenes to emote sufficiently. Surprisingly, YSJ made a believable ML, which is a credit to his acting chops because his babyface was really difficult to get past, which leads me to the bad.

II. The Bad
YSJ's babyface had me struggling to believe he was supposed to be the merciless and ruthless ML. However, the combination of his acting skills and the strategic camera angles helped to glaze over this, especially during the steamy scenes (otherwise the audience would uncomfortably feel the need to sit in jail).

ZMY's acting as the 2FL was hard to watch. I get that she's supposed to play the ingénue role, but all she did was stand there widening her eyes and pouting her lips for every scene. The only time she came to life was in the last episode, when she and the FL are huffing at each other.

III. The Ugly
This drama is not for the liberals and for those who are triggered by some events due to some plot devices. The FL fakes a rape attack to trick the ML into taking her home with him. The FL physically harms herself and threatens suicide more than once.

There are also missing plot points, e.g., why or how did the Fate Book fall into the FL's hands, how did the ML break out of the Fortune Author's hold, when or why did the ML regain his memories.

IV. Verdict
I really enjoyed the constant subversion of expectations and will definitely rewatch this. For this drama to be pleasurable, you must not think too hard. It does make you examine why you think that only 'good' people deserve happy endings when really, most of us have our deep, dark thoughts that we never share because we're afraid of being marginalised and in all actuality, we would do the same as the FL.

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Unfulfilled Promise, Identity Crisis, Disappearing Orgasm

I. Introduction:

This short-length drama opens with the palace being besieged by usurpers of the throne, and Empress Su Yan (FL) having asked her ex, Prince of Nanchuan Yuwen Yuan (ML), for backup. Emperor Yuwen Yingren (2ML) who is of ill health suggests that no assistance would be forthcoming, but lo and behold, the Nanchuan army arrives to save the day. The first few episodes promised dog-blood melodrama but this is ultimately undelivered. There were some scenes suggesting a more light-hearted comedy, which were quickly buried in angst, suspense, and conflict scenes before you could even bark a quick laugh.

The drama suffered from an identity crisis, as if the production team could not decide whether to deliver angst, romance, comedy, or otherwise. While the drama has some beautiful visuals and the storyline held much promise, its lacklustre delivery and continuity gaps leave it feeling ultimately underwhelming, like a disappearing orgasm. By the way, no happy ending.

II. Story and Plot:

The drama started with a tight, logical structure as to why the FL abandoned the ML to marry the 2ML. There were curious twists to the usual palace drama storyline, e.g., the 2ML's early scenes left me wondering if he was concerned for the FL in a brotherly manner or did he develop feelings for her, or if he was most concerned for the throne and everyone be damned.

But the latter half of the drama was dragged down by lazy scriptwriting and editing, e.g., a random scene of the FL crying over a dying ML appearing out of nowhere, the FL taking a full episode to chat and then murder the 2ML, the theoretical-physics-level mental gymnastics required to understand why the 2FL would do what she did knowing what she knew or whether the FL and ML ultimately resolved their misunderstandings, and the random comedy that is episode 19 stuffed at the end because it wasn't just the black sheep of the 20-episode family, it wasn't even in the bovine family!

III. Characters

MJJ as the FL singlehandedly carried this drama. She was a beautiful, weepy, tired woman who just wanted to gently honour her late sister's memory. RL required MJJ's acting to deliver the melodramatic scenes between them. RL has too boyish a face to carry the ML role--he was unable to express the necessary cruelty his scenes required. But if you enjoy his abs, you will have the opportunity to view them. PQ delivered his scenes as a weak emperor better than his scenes as a lunatic. It was missing just a tiny bit of OTT to truly express how mad he had become.

IV. Production Aspects

The soundtrack is commendable, truly enhancing the melodramatic scenes to the appropriate level of angst and tragedy. There were beautiful quality costumes and set, but if I had one complaint, it would be the scene where the FL is rolled out on a makeshift battering ram. The tragedy was ruined as it made me laugh out loud.

V. Conclusion:

This is a visually beautiful but narratively predictable and weak drama. While it offers fleeting moments of entertainment and showcases impressive scenes that raised its overall score, its uneven development of plot points, continuity gaps, reliance on beautiful people to fudge bad writing, leave it feeling ultimately forgettable. If you're looking for an easy-to-watch drama with beautiful visuals, this might suffice. But for those seeking more complex storyline or even more romance between the two leads, look elsewhere.

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Lost in a Dream of Crack (Major spoilers ahead!)

I. The Good
If Love & Bid Farewell is about how many times YZX is stabbed like pork rind, Unspeakable Longing is about how many times YZX is soaking in a water tub like chicken soup.

This is a fairly straightforward short-length transmigration drama, with stereotypical storyline and plot devices. It's enjoyable if you're coming off something heavy (like YZX's Love & Bid Farewell) as it's easy to follow and doesn't stir up much thought or emotions. The OST 误入君梦 is an ear worm worthy of full-length drama series.

YZX's acting range is apparent here. From the crazy-eyes-unhinged-prince role in Love & Bid Farewell to the addled-single-minded-bastard-son role in Fate of Beauty to this, the adorable-yet-stoic-prince male lead role, YZX has excellently played his roles with skilful shifts in his expressions and body language. LXY plays the witty ingenue female lead adequately (albeit her scripted role was flatter than my chest), and LBY is a beautiful but braindead second male lead (whose role was unfortunately not fleshed out enough).

II. The Bad
There was so much they could have done with the storyline. Nothing had been fleshed out to its full potential, rendering the characters one-dimensional. There were also several random, unexplained plot devices that were used with zero recognition for story continuity (e.g., how did the ML hurt the FL causing her to faint, when or why did the FL and ML get married the first time, how did the FL return to the comic).

The female lead (FL) is a modern-day comic artist who isn't performing so well at work. Her supervisor criticises her latest work, unironically taking a potshot at the drama's own theme ("Who would still be interested in transmigration love stories in this day and age!"). Her supervisor threatens to fire her if she fails to change the storyline by the end of the day. Frustrated, the FL proceeds to write crack: the comic's female lead suddenly develops a strange health bar on her arm and requires a kiss from the comic's male lead to survive. Meanwhile, the comic's male lead (ML) is deathly allergic to females; he vomits blood or loses consciousness upon coming into contact with a female, even a female child. The FL is suddenly transported into the comic she'd just rewritten and warned that she must receive the ML's kiss by her 20th birthday in 3 months' time, or she will disappear from both worlds. They discover early on that the FL does not trigger the ML's disease.

The ML is the (seemingly) sickly fourth prince, tasked with keeping the nation's defence map safe. The ML assumes that the FL is approaching him to steal the defence map, when she is only trying to steal a kiss to return to her reality. After successfully stealing a kiss in a bath tub (because of course, why not), the FL is informed that it will only work if the ML is in love with her. Out of nowhere, the storyline expounds that the FL and ML are married, albeit the ceremony is incomplete. The ML shares his plan to annul the marriage and return the FL to her father's residence, and the FL shamelessly professes her 'love' for the ML.

The FL contrives to meet the ML again, meeting the sixth prince (2ML) in the process. The 2ML appears besotted with the FL at first sight. As it turns out, they had met as children and he has been in love with the FL ever since. The FL begs her father to participate in the ML's concubine selection, and he reluctantly (or perhaps not so) agrees. One of the selection candidates (2FL), who bears the face of FL's supervisor, is a governor's daughter skilled in the four arts. The ML shortlists the FL and 2FL, suspecting that one of them is a Xirong spy after the defence map. The 2FL is the spy, who is controlled by the mastermind using Gu poison. She nearly falls into the ML's trap, but realises the trap and plants evidence on the FL at the last minute. The ML and FL put on a show for the 2FL, to try and lure the mastermind out. The FL discovers the 2FL's identity and rescues the latter when the mastermind attempts to murder her.

The FL is bitten by a snake (which must have been the animal form of some vampire because why the hell would a snake bite the jugular), and the ML rescues her by sucking the venom into himself... in a tub. Bear in mind that the doctor only suggested sucking the venom out and never said anything about having to do it in a tub. Of course he's successful, at the cost of his own life. The FL is about to kiss the ML when she is warned that kissing him will end his storyline (i.e., his life) and return her to her reality. She chooses to not kiss him, thus dooming herself.

The 2ML is used as a plot device to foster feelings between the ML and FL, and as a foil to misdirect the audience regarding who the true masked villain is for the majority of the drama. The FL uses the 2ML to break the ML's heart so that the ML's health bar would refill. The ML falls into despair but still has the presence of mind to plot a trap for the Xirong spy. The masked villain, who had killed and replaced the FL's father when she was three years old, finally seeks the 2ML out to collaborate. The FL overhears their plans, and rushes to save the ML. Her first attempt fails, and the 2ML catches the FL and ML escaping during the second attempt. An assassin appears and the 2ML dies protecting the FL, revealing that although he was a fool, he was no villain.

The FL reluctantly agrees to remain by the ML's side, as she would soon perish anyway. She privately reveals the truth to the 2FL, but this is overheard by the ML. They share a romantic date during the Qixi Festival, before the Xirong spy kidnaps her. He threatens the FL with the life of the FL's maidservant, demanding her cooperation to steal the defence map. The FL returns to marry the ML, and the Xirong spies launch an attack during the ceremony. The FL is stabbed while protecting the ML and the 2FL successfully kills the Xirong spy in a surprise attack. As the FL lays dying, the ML kisses her to allow her to return to her reality and presumably dies after coughing up blood.

The FL returns to her reality and realises that the ML had sacrificed himself. She is reminded that there is no way to save the ML as the story had ended. She awakens to see her supervisor's boss, who resembles the ML, holding her comic panels. He walks away from her without any hint of recognition, and the FL starts sobbing. This would have been the end but the team added 10 more minutes because they were afraid the audience might murder them in their sleep. Some time later, the superior congratulates the FL for the popularity of her latest comic. The boss expresses that the readers are looking forward to a second season, inspiring the FL to continue the story so that she can save the ML. The FL returns to the comic, and the ML is playing sleeping beauty awaiting true love's kiss. She kisses him and the ML slowly wakes up like a beautiful princess and they lived happily ever after.

III. The Ugly
There is no trigger warning necessary, although the ML does try to force a kiss on the FL at one point; however, in the grand scheme of Chinese dramas, that is mild.

IV. The Verdict
Good for a single watch, not necessarily good enough for repeat watches.

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Could Have Been Good; Ruined by Bad Acting and Worse Editing

I. Introduction
I have watched quite a few short-length dramas by now, but this is the first time I found myself fast-forwarding through certain episodes. That is saying something considering each episode is only approximately 10 minutes long. I was intrigued by the premise: A reader (the FL) transmigrates into the cannon fodder character who is set to divorce the novel's villain (the ML) which brings about her subsequent tragic death at his hands when the novel's lead (the drama villain) uses her as a meat shield. She sets out to change her fate by refusing to divorce him and seducing him instead. Meanwhile, the ML is supposedly bewitched by his childhood sweetheart (the drama villainess) and an unknown voice instructing him to stick to the novel's original plot, but somehow falls for the FL instead. The execution of this premise was so underwhelming, I am more interested in watching my pothos grow.

II. Storyline/ Plot
Let me begin by summarising the story: After realising her predicament, the FL attempts to hug the ML's big thigh. The ML is understandably suspicious, but suddenly in episode 7, the ML is ready to sacrifice his childhood sweetheart to save the FL, without any relationship growth between episodes 1 and 7. There is some melodrama: the ML is forced by the unknown voice to proceed according to the novel's original plot and when the FL drags her battered and bruised self back to their residence, she witnesses the ML leading the perfectly dry and unharmed childhood sweetheart down from the carriage. However, they sweetly reunite over a horse ride (of all things) which is promptly interrupted by the childhood sweetheart requesting for the horse as a gift. Despite that, when the ML has to go off to war, the FL follows him "because she likes him that much". In episode 13, the FL discovers that the ML is aware of his ending according to the novel's original plot and they plan to break free. Before they've even sufficiently explored this plot line, in episode 19, the FL discovers her blood is a magical elixir, and the unknown voice tries to drive her out of existence in episode 20 when everyone literally demands for her blood to save themselves and loved ones. This, of course, drives the ML to become the villain he was originally written as. In the finale, the FL attempts to save the ML from hanging by throwing herself off of the parapet (I'm not sure I follow the logic here), and the story is ended quickly with a single PowerPoint slide explaining how the ML is saved in the chaos of people watching the FL fall to her death and how the emperor's last edict was to appoint the ML as regent to assist the third prince as the next emperor and a final scene of the ML wistfully saying he'll wait for the FL forever. If you've seen the extra, the ML somehow copulated with the FL's zombified body to produce offspring and they all live happily ever after. The underdeveloped plot twists are akin to pre-pubescent teens stuffing tissue paper into selected areas.

III. Characters
Overall, poor acting quality all around. SSS is not an actress and her talents do not lie in acting. This is also clearly one of LF's earlier works, as his acting here compared to his acting in My Decoy Bride, The Deliberations of Love, or even A Tale of Love and Loyalty is stilted and lacklustre. The supporting actors were equally bad at their jobs. Was everyone not paid well enough?

IV. Production Aspects
Never mind the actors, the production team was also clearly not paid well enough either. For example, in the penultimate and final episode, the FL is supposed to scar her own face, but the makeup looked like she drew cat's whiskers on her face instead. The editing team couldn't be bothered to piece the ending of the previous episode and the beginning of the next episode. Perhaps the only team that was paid was the costume team.

V. Conclusion
This drama fails to live up to its interesting premise. While the lighthearted tone might offer fleeting entertainment for die-hard fans of the genre, there's simply not enough substance here to recommend this drama. If you're looking for something worth watching while you unwind, look elsewhere.

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Good Premise But Cheap Comedy

I. Introduction
This short-length drama held promise with its interesting premise: In the heavenly realm, the FL and ML work together to defeat the villainous nine-tailed fox demon. The FL suffers spiritual damage and the ML expends all his immortal cultivation to preserve her life, resulting in the FL being reincarnated as a spirit matchmaker and the ML, a human. The FL is tasked with matchmaking the ML, who as an adult human, developed a severe allergy to females in general (except the FL, of course). Inevitably, the FL and ML fall in love with each other while the villain fox demon tries to keep them separated because together, they're strong like Bandai's Power Rangers.

The production then completely failed to deliver the promise, and instead delivered slapstick comedy with cheap tricks and cheaper CGI. The entire drama appeared as if the production team just wanted to take potshots at these kind of themes and costume dramas, but never fully committing to the satire, which earns it a lukewarm 5 out of 10 stars.

II. Storyline/ Plot
The premise is simple and straightforward. Yue Lao is tasked by The Big Boss (presumably the Jade Emperor, who is never seen onscreen, only heard) to reunite the FL and the ML. Yue Lao (the FL's boss) then tasks the FL to head to the mortal realm and matchmake the ML who has been unmatchable so far, with the promise of a guaranteed job promotion and pay raise if the FL succeeds. The ML inadvertently discovers the FL's touch does not trigger an allergic reaction, leading the ML to only ever view the FL as a potential love interest. At some point, they even figured out that a sachet containing her DNA is sufficient to act as a prophylactic agent. While on earth, the FL is unable to use her spirit powers, but she is sufficiently witty to outsmart the villainess in her own games.

What fails this drama is the complete lack of commitment to any one theme. The opening scenes take a shot at satire with the heavenly realm's cheap CGI and gold-coloured Bluetooth headset. The following scenes try comedy, tragedy, and melancholy in turns. It then ends with suspense bordering on absurdity because the open ending leaves us wondering if they both die at the end of the final battle or if the entire thing was merely a production skit. Any one of the themes could have been successful, if they would only commit to it.

III. Characters
LYY is an adorable, witty FL, who does the best she can at her job. JCQ is a socially-inept but intellectually outstanding ML who is learning the ins and outs of romantic relationships. SXJ is a comedic failure of a villainess. Given the mess of a plot and the mess of scenes, I'd say that the actors did the best they could with what they were given.

IV. Production Aspects
I nearly dropped the drama 30 seconds into Episode 1, as the CGI was really, really cheap. There is no excuse for how cheap it looked, given that this is a 2024 production. I persisted, and then nearly dropped it again 2 minutes later because the hair and costumes were awful. Again, why the cheap production quality when this is a 2024 production and we have been given so much better? The production aspects improve when the story focusses on the mortal realm, and the costumes and set do not appear as cheap-- but this is relative to the initial 4 minutes and not in comparison to other short-length or web drama quality. The only reason I could see why they'd have used such quality is to portray satire (like in a crosstalk skit) but again, the storyline failed to commit to the satire so we are left with a cheap, poor quality drama.

V. Conclusion
I've watched a series of budget productions recently, and I am not even sure whether this can be a 'Watch Just to Get It Off Your Watch List' drama. It might be worth watching if you go into it as an analytical review to see how many cheap production aspects you can identify or how many cheap trope tricks they're pulling out of the hat. But if you're watching it because you'd like a story, I don't think this drama is for you.

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Wasted Potential: All the Promise, None of the Delivery

I. Introduction
I am no stranger to angsty dog-blood melodrama, and in fact I have been known to secretly indulge (hello, Circle of Love!). This short-length drama promised all of that and more, but delivered none of it. It's better described as a collection of scenes rather than a short-length drama, as viewers are tasked with Olympic-level mental gymnastics to fill in the blanks between scenes. It requires viewers to have a long history of watching/ reading angsty dog-blood melodrama to even consider this a 5 out of 10 stars, because our extensive experience and imagination would bridge the gaps where the scenes failed to deliver. It is as if someone wrote a collection of one-shot fics for a full-length drama and had them acted out, including the forced happy ending.

II. Storyline/ Plot
What storyline? To call it a line is a stretch; it'd be better defined as a series of story dashes or basic running stitches. The first few episodes contain some backstitches, with the objective of making the angsty Romeo-and-Juliet theme believable because otherwise, even if you are a Cirque-du-Soleil acrobat, it is tough for you to believe the FL could ever fall in love with the ML. Episode 1 opens with the ML insisting the FL watch him bed the villainess on the ML and FL's wedding night and closes with the ML setting the FL's dead brother on fire. In Episode 2, the ML shoots the FL's entourage dead around her, to satisfy the villains that he remains in their camp. A random backstitch comes, explaining how the FL had previously saved the ML's life and they had fallen in love then, and the ML promises to return to marry the FL, only for them to next meet on their wedding day in a politically-arranged marriage. The ML purports to have done his cruel acts to save the FL's life (and not her mental state) as the villains were watching his every move, but if that is the case, he should have let her remain as Qin Ruo Yao for her safety since no one else would have recognised her anyway. The last episode suggests that the FL could not forgive and forget just because the ML finally kills off the villains, but does a complete U-turn two minutes later.

Halfway through the drama, a randomly gapped running stitch reveals a secondary plot. The 2ML had subconsciously changed the FL's face to that of his dead wife's. This plot thread had a lot of potential, but was never developed further as to whether the 2ML had fallen for the FL or he remains enamoured of his dead wife's face.

III. Characters
The characters were as confused as the storyline. LMC is a beautiful FL, DK is a beautiful ML, JW is a beautiful 2ML, and that is all I can say about the characters. Again, it was as if someone wrote one-shot fan fiction and threw it at a bunch of actors to enact the scenes. It's difficult to comment on the characters when they are more underdeveloped than the average 15-year-old's brains and the actors haven't had a chance to showcase strengths (or weaknesses).

IV. Production Aspects
Other than the writing and editing, the production team did a good job creating a show that I wanted to watch. It had beautiful, detailed costumes, melodramatic cinematography, haunting theme songs, and extravagant sets and scenes. Unfortunately, because the storyline was so poor, none of these aspects could elevate the score for the drama.

V. Conclusion
If you have nothing else to watch or if you just want to tick this off your 'To Watch List', sure, go ahead. But I have never felt so strongly about not wanting to rewatch something before. There weren't even any scenes that I wanted to go back to to rewatch over and over again (you know, like THAT scene in episode 13 of Love Between Fairy and Devil).

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Surprisingly Enjoyable, Abrupt Ending

I. Introduction
I expected this to be a budget short-length costume drama, but I surprisingly enjoyed it overall. This drama enacts all the times we read a novel and felt the urge to write fan fiction to right the wrongs in the novel. In Episode 1, we find out that the FL had written a horrid ending to her web novel for shock value, as her earlier 'logical' works did not garner much readers' interest (or generate money). FL is sucked into her web novel to, well, write (get it?) the wrongs.

It was difficult to determine the mood the drama intended to invoke. The drama oscillated between comedy and explicit gore and torture, ending in sudden tragedy for the third couple but a happy ending for the main couple. Romance also wasn't really the main theme of this drama, but if it was aiming for palace intrigue, well, the real villain is practically tap dancing naked across the screen. This identity crisis, together with some poor production choices and editing, lands it a solid 8 instead of a higher score.

II. Story & Plot
The larger part of the drama fleshes out the motives and desires of the novel characters, giving flesh to what was the FL's skeletal web novel. While you can spy the real villain from a mile away, the overall pace was engaging and consistent.

The one thing this drama fumbled is the romance aspects. The romance between the FL and ML doesn't spark until episode 18-- in fact, the ML is actively trying to murder the FL in episode 1 and thus, the FL assumes the ML is masterminding a horrible death for her every time he tries to romance her. The FL discovers some hidden skills in her character (but these skills are never mentioned again when the drama needed the ML to show his heroic side) and successfully escapes. The FL scurries around like a busy hamster solving cases and causing the 2ML (who is the ML in her novel-- oh the inception!) to inadvertently fall for her brains instead of the 2FL (the FL in her novel). The ML is constantly testing the FL, with no real intention to kill her after episode 1, but suddenly develops a life-sacrificing affection for the FL when he realises she had saved him from assassins. What I did enjoy was the general lack of misunderstandings between the FL and ML-- any misunderstanding is quickly resolved, because both actively choose to trust each other. Meanwhile, the 2FL bravely confesses to the 2ML, and the latter in a moment of serendipity, agrees to marry her. Their relationship never develops beyond friendship, and they abruptly retire to the countryside to live an idyllic couple life at the end of the drama. The 3ML and 3FL fall in love with each other at first sight, and like Romeo and Juliet, failed to consider the ramifications of their actions and lack of communication, despite both supposedly possessing intelligent characters.

The story ends on a rather abrupt note. People are offing themselves and dropping like flies, although not unexpected. The storyline was designed so that you wouldn't be shocked by the decisions made, but at the same time, the last episode felt like they had too many loose ends to wrap and so they took a giant pair of scissors and snapped off all the threads in one go.

III. Characters
The casting team did a good job casting the right actors for the right roles, even for the supporting and guest roles. None of them are familiar to me, but each took to their role adequately. At times, the script appears to completely forget the quirks and idiosyncrasies that had been written in for the characters, just so that the writing/ editing team could fallback to common tropes, but none of this is the fault of the actors. IS as the FL is a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed hamster who is busy trying to piece a proper story together so that she can return home quickly, completely ignorant of the ML and 2ML's amorous intentions. DZR is a twisted ML, traumatised by his past and now has no qualms returning like for like. I won't delve into the supporting characters as there is a really long list, but suffice to say, I have no complaints about their characters or acting.

IV. Production Aspects
This is where I will question the taste and style of the production team. There were very odd hairstyle choices, e.g., the FL during the ancient era, the ML during his villain arc, the ML in the modern era, the 3FL's formal hairdo, and odd costume choices, e.g., the FL's cold shoulder dress, the ML's cold shoulder dress (yes, you read that right), and the ML's silver rooster comb. Any complaints that the casting team casted the wrong actors should really be a critique of the costume and hair team for the awful choices. Otherwise, there were some beautiful costumes, beautiful sets, beautiful takes, and beautiful melodies.

V. Conclusion
I was pleasantly surprised-- but this could be because I had very low expectations for it in the first place as I had erroneously assumed this would be 10-minute episodes. It is a remix of (yet another) transmigration-themed drama, but it had sufficient number of novel plot points that I wasn't bored with any part of it. Due to the abrupt ending, this may not be for everyone. Only watch if you will not get invested in the side pairings.

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Solid 8/10

I. Introduction

I came across a teaser clip on Facebook Watch and was sufficiently intrigued to seek out the full drama. This drama delivers the usual xianxia tropes with a well-paced plot, charming main characters, and better production value compared to many other xianxia short dramas/ web dramas/ mini series. However, its few weaknesses relegate this to a mere 8/10 stars.

II. Story and Plot

The story comes with a twist: The female demon realm ruler (FL) kidnaps the male immortal realm lord (ML) after defeating him to force him and his people to submit to her rule. However, in episode 1 itself, we find the FL getting on her knees and begging the ML to return to his realm and the ML turning deaf, blind, and dumb to her pleas. The narrative progressed at a satisfying pace, dropping trope twists here and there for refreshing effect.

However, from episode 11 onwards, the writing and editing teams got lazy and resorted to cliche tropes (mistresses, miscarriage, misunderstandings) and banal script. The resolution effectively concludes the central conflict (albeit abruptly). Most importantly, there is a happy ending for the FL and ML, leaving viewers with closure rather than requiring Olympic-level mental gymnastics to draw a conclusion.

III. Characters

TZY and YXC are convincing in their roles as the FL and ML respectively. The two main characters are intelligent and skilful-- at least until episode 11 when suddenly they dropped brain cells on the way to reincarnation. The same cannot be said for K and SYE, because they must have been told to hold a certain expression for their villain roles and they clutched those expressions harder than dames clutch their pearls. Their characters regretfully did not get the same clever twists, and were mere hateful cannon fodder throughout the drama.

IV. Production Aspects

I was surprised by the quality of the CGI effects, costumes, and sets, which were full-length-drama worthy. The soundtrack is also ear-worm worthy. You are free to immerse yourself in the storyline without being abruptly jarred by something out of place.

V. Conclusion

It's heartwarming and satisfying if you're looking for something short, no loose ends, clever comedy, bad people getting their comeuppance, and the leads living happily ever after. It's not perfect, but it's rewatch-able.

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Lovesickness and a Case of Bad Directing (Major spoilers ahead!)

I. The Good
I have always thought YZX looks like a kissing gourami-- the man's lips are made for kissing, pouting in petulance, and smiling mischievously. We finally get to see all that in this drama as he plays the cheerful playboy for a few episodes.

The drama had an interesting premise and a fitting ending which closed off the paradox of time travel. That, the titular OST, and YZX's acting chops carried drama. Everything else was as flat as your taste buds and as confusing as your fevered brain were when you had Covid-19, and I got sick of the show pretty quickly.

II. The Bad
YZX's cast members struggled to play their respective roles. YYL as the FL was very good at furrowing her brows and aegyosal to look confused, crushed, and conflicted, and as her mother must have warned her, she was stuck with that face. She had the same face even when she was supposed to be confident, cheerful, or contented. WZF as the 2FL/villainess performed better in her role as the innocent, kind young miss than in the villain arc. ZWL looked like he was a college kid in his first improv class--not willing to make a fool of himself and commit to the role.

The story starts with the 25-year-old FL reading a love letter uncovered in an archaeological dig and noticing that the jade ring illustrated in the letter looks exactly like the one she has at home. The ring transports her and she meets the 28-year-old ML. The ML, however, has met her before and accuses her of abandoning him 7 years ago. The FL also meets the 2FL, the dowager empress, who greets her as '姐姐 Jiějiě'. The FL assumes she bears the appearance of the ML's 'white moonlight' and he is merely treating her as a substitute. However, that does not explain how the ML knew about her dipping sauce composition, birthday cakes, and Jay Chou's lyrics. The FL meets the villain and describes him as gentlemanly, much to the ML's ire.

The 2FL and villain form an uneasy alliance, as the 2FL wants to murder the FL and the villain wants military power. We get to see YZX's naked shoulders and cleavage in episode 6, when assassins chase the FL. While the FL got to see other things, we the audience are not lucky enough. In yet another assassination attempt, we see that the 2FL has Feelings™ for the ML. In episode 9, frustrated with the FL's continued denial, the ML shows her their selfie painting, which does absolutely nothing as the FL attempts to escape his residence before being kidnapped by the villain. The ML appears to die trying to save the FL in episode 10 (it's only episode 10, nobody really dies until the penultimate episode or there'd be no story).

For absolutely no reason whatsoever, the villain demands to marry the FL. She neither holds power nor wealth so there was absolutely no reason for the villain, a royal prince, to marry the FL, a maid in the ML's residence. The villain attempts a coup on their wedding day, which is interrupted by the very-much-alive ML. The ML carries off the FL (God knows why because she wasn't injured in any way) and before his deceased parents' tablets, declared his feelings and promised to let the FL leave if that is her wish. Who knows when on earth the FL developed feelings for the ML, and yet somehow she agrees to marry him and they perform the rites before the tablets and consummate their marriage in episode 11. How could the 2FL allow this, so of course she releases the villain and drugs the FL in episode 12 for the villain to kidnap. The ML kills the villain but the 2FL have both the ML and FL killed before they could escape.

The FL returns to her time in episode 13 and of course the first thing she does is check Wikipe-dead. She finds out that the ML 'died during the villain's rebellion'. Distraught, she runs to her apartment building's rooftop to time travel (because she cannot just disappear in her room?). This time she meets the 21-year-old ML in his playboy era. She discovers that the people she knew were not around (yet), the ML was an unskilled fop who had yet to inherit, the old emperor was still alive, and the 2FL was still a lowly concubine's daughter being bullied by her legitimate elder sister.

The FL considers trying to kill the 2FL now, but is unable to bring herself to do so and develops compassion for the 2FL's situation. She tries to stay away from the ML and 2FL, but ends up befriending them instead. Through a series of events, the FL realises that she's the one who taught the ML Jay Chou's lyrics for a poetry contest, the existence of birthday cakes, and the composition of dipping sauce. Realising her deepening feelings, she tries to pair the ML with the 2FL instead. This, of course, fails miserably because the ML is not a pair of Prada boots. She attempts to run away but meets the villain instead, and plots to serve at the villain's residence for an opportunity to murder him. She ends up encountering the ML again, and inadvertently confesses her feelings when he pretends to be dying in episode 21. YZX was absolutely adorable in this scene.

The 2FL is understandably upset when she discovers the FL and ML together in episode 22, but she gave them her blessings. The FL advises the 2FL to take control of her own destiny and reject the edict to marry the old emperor. The 2FL takes this advice and attempts to run away, but is caught by her elder sister. Believing that the FL had betrayed her, the 2FL agrees to marry the old emperor and poisons the FL. The FL willingly drinks the poison in exchange for a promise from the 2FL to never harm the ML. In episode 23, the FL dies before the ML returns from the palace, leaving behind a goodbye note, causing the events to come full circle.

The FL finds out that the ML still died during the rebellion, and time travels yet again. This time, she meets the 7 years old ML and dies saving him from assassins. When she returns, the distraught FL realises the ending still remains unchanged. She faints and dreams of the time when she was 18, and she nearly dies in a car accident. She was saved by a bearded, long-haired man who hands her a jade ring, telling her to 'go find him' and that he had left a letter for her. The FL wakes up from the dream, believing that the ML did not die and that it was the ML who had saved her from the car accident (which makes absolutely no sense because did the 28-year-old ML just pick his body up from the floor and walked off after being shot by numerous arrows??). The FL runs to re-read the love letter again, with the jade ring in hand this time. The drama ends with her dropping the ring, and someone in traditional costume picking up the ring, presumably the ML.

Many have commented on the abrupt ending, but frankly, if you leave a plant out with no water or fertiliser for ages, it will curl up and die a slow death like this drama.

III. The Ugly
Other than the random plot devices thrown in there (e.g., the villain insisting on marrying the FL for absolutely no reason, how the ML handed the jade ring to the FL, and when did the FL fall in love with the ML enough to marry him), nothing was particularly ugly.

IV. The Verdict
It's worth watching once, to see YZX play something else than his usual somber characters and salivate over the 5-second view of his bosom.

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The Calamity of Beautiful Faces and Boring Plots (Major spoilers ahead!)

I. The Good
Beautiful faces, beautiful costumes, beautiful set... and that was about it. The music neither added to the experience nor took away from it, and none of the songs are particularly memorable.

II. The Bad
Year 2024 must be YZX's year to play toxic characters that kill their love interest's family members for the sake of power (see Love and Bid Farewell). In this drama, YZX plays the second male lead (2ML) who has made the equally questionable decision of forsaking love and principles for power. The first male lead is played by ZHR, whose baby face lends credence to his role as the (seemingly) naive younger brother who only wants to live life peacefully with the FL portrayed by ZCH, whose acting skills were lukewarm at best. ZCH had a delicious role which she delivered without any enthusiasm, relying completely on her pretty face to carry the scenes.

The storyline is interesting for this sort of revenge-themed dramas: The ingenue younger brother is the one who wins the lady. However, the manner in which the storyline was expanded and the plot devices used were tepid like a glass of water left out in 36C weather. Episode 1 opens with a steamy scene of the 2ML and the FL supposedly enjoying a tryst as the ML furiously hunts for the 2ML, before the FL runs into the ML's arms crying offense. The FL and the 2ML were originally betrothed as children, before the 2ML murders her entire family and sets the estate on fire to please the Crown Prince. The FL's face is somehow hurt in the fire, but a witch doctor saves her and gives her plastic surgery, rendering her appearances beautiful and unrecognisable. The FL plots the 2ML's downfall, by using the ML to gain access to the 2ML. For some inane and inexplicable reason, this required the FL to plant a child-Gu bug in the 2ML, and if she failed to seduce the 2ML into falling in love with her within a year, she'd die from the mother-Gu bug in her. In episode 2 we find out that ML is the beloved Xiao grandson and the 2ML is the unloved bastard grandson and by episode 3, the FL has finagled a way to move into the Xiao residence and the ML is clearly crushing on the FL. The 2ML objects to the FL and ML's blossoming romance and the FL takes the opportunity to start seducing the 2ML. Episode 5 reveals that the 2ML's mother had murdered the ML's mother, so that she could marry General Xiao and give some legitimacy to the 2ML, but her evil deeds have rendered her paranoid. The 2ML confronts the FL in episode 7 for driving his mother's paranoia, and the FL takes it as an opportunity to seduce the 2ML further. The ML witnesses the FL and the 2ML scandalously entwined and confronts her with some oblique references to freedom. Episode 9 suggests that the FL and the 2ML did have sexual relations, but the FL denies it and obfuscates the reality by coyly flirting with the 2ML. In episode 10, the ML declares that he will surrender inheritance to the 2ML and he only wants the FL. The 2ML kidnaps the FL, and plans to render his brother disabled when the ML inevitably tries to save her. The ML successfully saves the FL without losing his limbs, but in the meantime, the 2ML had successfully executed his plan to fake-save their father, to gain their father's approval and secure heir rights.

The second arc begins in episode 13. To protect the ML, the FL cold-heartedly informs him of her plans to marry his brother who now was more likely to be the heir. As the FL unravels the 2ML's plans, the ML stabs his own leg to kickstart his own plans of dragging his brother down. Apparently, being rejected by a woman is the beginning of his villain arc. This provides the FL an opportunity to provide care to the 2ML and elicit feelings in episode 14. While the 2ML's feelings develop in episodes 15 and 16, the ML repeatedly rubs the proverbial salt in the FL's wound, because of course the 2ML is already betrothed to the Crown Prince's sister. The ML saves the FL from the princess' plot and it is revealed in episode 18 that he is aware of the FL's true identity and her plans for revenge, and that his cruel act was merely to assist her in her plans. They continue their act for the 2ML, who is revealed to be deeply in love with his childhood sweetheart (the FL) and who had murdered the Xia'an clan in exchange for the FL's life. It is also disclosed in episode 20 that it was the princess who had set the Xia'an residence on fire. The princess attempts to assassinate the FL in episode 21, but the ML saves her and with some kind of physics-defying gymnastics, he manages to climb back up a cliff that he'd fallen off, with no scratches on him. The 2ML, who had rushed over to save the FL, witnesses their loving embrace and goes into hiding. To lure him out, the FL and ML planned to get married, which brings us back to the opening scene in episode 1. Episode 23 confusingly opens with the 2ML presenting the FL as the surviving Xia'an member to the Crown Prince, after the cliffhanger in episode 22. As it turns out, the FL, ML, and 2ML had plotted the Crown Prince's downfall after the confrontation at the wedding, with the 2ML gifting evidence of the Crown Prince's crimes to the FL and ML for their wedding gift. Of course, the 2ML dies protecting the FL from the princess trying to stab her. Burdened by guilt, the FL tells the ML to forget about 'Ban Meng' in the beginning of episode 24, and they go their separate ways. But by the end of the episode, after the ML returns successful from some random battle, they meet each other again.

As you can see, not very creative, not very titillating, and definitely underwhelming. I can't even say I was secretly thrilled by the so-called 'steamy' scenes.

III. The Ugly
There's nothing particularly ugly and there are no trigger warnings (other than the mass murder at the beginning, but what's new).

IV. The Verdict
Beauty can only take you so far without substance. While the FL, ML, and 2ML are not hard on the eyes, there are better things to watch.

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Drama Named "Royal Song" Without a Song

I. The Ugly:
The ending, while fitting, is not a happy one. Stop at episode 26 if you wish to force a happy ending, even though it would seem abrupt. The last 5 seconds of episode 29 hint at a second season but no news as yet.

Also, trigger warnings: Sexual assault and attempted suicide.

II. The Bad:
While the story is intriguing, the telling of it was more convoluted than wired earphones left in a bag. I had to watch the drama a second time right after the first to understand what is going on. It doesn't help that the English subtitles available on YouTube are atrocious and I resorted to watching it with the Chinese subtitles and whipping out my trusty Google Translate where necessary. The FL was 17 when she meets an imperial examination candidate with vision impairment (Xie Qing Chen's older brother, the Major General, also portrayed by Lin Ze Hui) (episode 21). They fall in love, and they were engaged when the FL was 19. Before they could marry, the Major General goes off to fight a war. A year later, the FL happily greets him at the city gates when he returns victoriously, but that's when the old libertine emperor spots her and plots to steal her (episode 22). The old emperor had perverse kinks and tricked the FL into submitting, in exchange for her parents' and the Major General's lives. The FL holds out, believing that the Major General would rescue her. Unbeknownst to her, the soldiers had already killed her parents when they tried to protect their daughter and the Major General when he stormed the palace trying to rescue the FL (episode 23). The FL only finds out when her companion maid enters the palace a year later in search of her, and the FL attempts to commit suicide. After the day she 'died', the FL rose to claim vengeance against the ministers who assisted the old emperor to kidnap her and murder her parents and the Major General (episode 24). This circles back to episode 1, where she chose to submit sexually to the ninth prince Xiao Zhi (portrayed by Richard Li Fei) "since she was unable to attain the one she loves, she might as well attain the one who loves her", presumably to secure his assistance in getting vengeance.

The drama in its entirety suffers from an identity crisis. This is apparent from the absence of a dedicated theme song; episode 28 uses a song from Love Like The Galaxy and episode 29 uses the Dream of Chang'an theme song. At first glance, one would be confused by the costumes and set, as they are highly reminiscent of the Deliberations of Love. However, when you look up the director (Zhou Xiao), you realise that she was also involved in Ru Hua Ru Tu (2022) & (2023), The Deliberations of Love (2023), and A Tale of Love and Loyalty (2024). That is not to say that the costumes and set are not beautiful (that gorgeous fan in episode 4!), but it is difficult to dive deep into the story when half my brain is trying to connect the pieces to the dramas I've watched previously. It is as if they finished filming one drama and thought "Let's not waste this" and continued filming the other dramas back-to-back, especially when all the dramas involve Richard Li Fei and Lin Ze Hui in one form or another.

I finished Legend of Lin Ye and Ru Hua Ru Tu prior to this and thought to myself "I'd like to see more of RLF and LZH in the same drama", and lo' and behold I come across Chao Ge Fu. These two are very beautiful men, but note that this drama is focussed on Hui Yi Yao as the female lead and so, the two men receive limited onscreen time. Because they had such limited onscreen time, it is difficult to evaluate if they acted well or otherwise (although RLF gets a whole episode to cry and I thought that was... barely adequate).

III. The Good:
I watched HYY as the FL in Secrets of The Shadow Sect (2024) prior to this, and HYY more or less played the same role (profligate seductress bent on revenge) except in Chao Ge Fu, HYY also reminded me of Ming Jia Jia in A Tale of Love and Loyalty towards the end. I relished HYY's role as the vengeful, sharp-tongued, self-aware gorgeous puma in this drama. I absolutely cackled each time she refers to herself as "aijia 哀家" before flirting with some toy boy or swiftly verbally flagellating insurgents. Special mention is given to the FL's companion maid who acted very, very well. She is uncredited even on Douban, so if anyone knows who she is, please comment below.

I enjoyed and wanted more of the scenes between HYY and her companion maid if anyone knows her name, please drop a comment!). The duo had really good chemistry, like an old married couple who are used to each other's shenanigans. For example, in episode 14, when the FL asks the maid to frame up LZH's painting, the maid roles her eyes in exasperation. In episode 16, when the maid speaks impolitely to the FL's brother and the FL's brother exclaims that she's rude, the FL snappily says "yes, like your housekeeper who rudely snatched a woman off the streets and beat her husband and child to death".

IV. The Verdict:
This is an opportunity for an indulgent, self-insert fantasy where the FL is so beautiful that every man who lays eyes on her, including her brother-in-law, falls in love with her but she holds true to her one true love and the only thing she can do for the one who came too late was to leave him for his own good. If you can ignore the plot fallacies and absurd storytelling, it's a drama full of melodramatic dog-blood but beautiful scenes, good for one or two rewatches (the first rewatch is absolutely necessary to understand the story).

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Recipe For Disappointment: 1x Good OST, 1x Attractive People, 1x Bad Editing, 1x Bad Acting

I. The Ugly
You know it's bad when I start with the ugly. The ending is ugly because (a) no happy ending and (b) did they run out of memory card space? At least let the FL bawl over the ML's body for a bit. Maybe this was the production team's way of baiting for another season, since previous series with good potential failed to get signed for one. There were lavish uses of dog-blood tropes but for what purpose, I do not know because I do not know what were they cooking.

II. The Bad
Where do I start? This series had all the ingredients for a hit, but it's like a 5-year-old was given top-quality ingredients to cook in their little battery-operated play kitchen--the dish served was barely warm, over-flavouring in some parts, and under-flavouring in others.

Again, I'm no stranger to angsty dog-blood melodrama and in fact, I will eat bowls of it. This series dropped steaming piles of it in random places (episode 1 opens with the FL witnessing her father dying/ dead at the ML's feet before the ML carries her off, episode 2 shows how the ML protects the side chick because she supposedly save him and how the FL is betrayed by her father's trusted friend, episode 3 ends with a 'cliffhanger' of the ML potentially sexually assaulting the FL under the influence of drugged incense, etc., etc.). The problem was the lack of commitment to it: Unlike Circle of Love (my go-to platinum-standard angsty dog-blood melodrama), the scenes lacked the hate and passion. I'm not sure if it is due to the editing or acting. Instead of letting the angst build, there were interspersed placid scenes. Even the build up to the ending, where the ML is supposedly not as irredeemable as he appears or how the villainess is more iniquitous than a cockroach that refuses to die, was lacklustre and lacked conviction.

Coming to conviction, I'm more convinced of the chemistry between the ML and the side chick than I was of the ML and FL's. Their acting with each other was atrocious. It was as if they both recognised that the other was an objectively attractive person and... that's it. No sparks. No magnetic force. Not even during the skin-ship scenes. Not even a fart of a fizz.

All 4 of them (CZJ as the ML, JYYR as the FL, YZM as the 2ML, CHY as the 2FL) delivered their lines with as minimal emotion as they could get away with. It was like I had four slices of wild Alaskan salmon flopping around on my lukewarm countertop. The production team tried to use many tropes that only work with full-length dramas because the actors had built chemistry with each other (even between rivals) and background stories. Throwing these cliches out to an underdeveloped story is like burying your tuna poke bowl under sesame seeds when the ahi tuna is missing.

III. The Good
Well, they're good-looking. CZJ reminds me of Aarif Rahman, and he was paid more to bare his chest than he was to act. I'm glad to see that YZM finally has a non-villainous role (he's been so stereotyped, I kept expecting him to do something evil).

The theme songs, costumes, and set were top notch, worthy of a full-length drama. I'm quite amazed at the quality of the theme songs actually. Maybe if they'd taken half the fees for the songs and paid the actors or editing team more, we'd have a much better drama to watch.

IV. Conclusion
Watch if you like sexy skin and chopped up slices of angsty dog-blood melodrama scenes that are so incongruous, fan edits can take those out and nobody would realise the dish is missing anything.

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