Most Beautiful Drama of All Time

I’ve done a review for the full version of this drama Chenqing Ling (The Untamed) - it’s long with details (my review). In this review, I don’t want to reiterate what I’ve written before. I just want to do a "short" one for the new viewers.

Many viewers who have not watched the drama wonder if they should watch the special version or the full version. Many viewers are also uncertain why this drama has such high rating and if they are missing out anything, and if they should start watching it themselves. Some viewers also say they are disappointed and the drama doesn’t live up to their expectation.

I have read both extreme ends of the comments. Some viewers have watched this drama for umpteen times, read the novel, watched the donghua (anime), read the manhua (manga), watched all the BTS’s, read all the fanfics, fanvids, etc. (I must admit I’ve done likewise.) On the other extreme, many viewers cannot even get passed the first few episodes and cannot understand what the hype is all about. When they come to this platform (MyDramaList) to question, instead of getting answers, they get clobbered.

This drama is based on a very popular BL novel. To pass censorship in China, the BL part is suppressed if not totally eliminated. But, the production team has cleverly disguised the BL elements into thousands of little moments inserted throughout the series, including within the music, and these little moments are open to interpretation: BL fans see romance right away whereas others see only platonic friendship (that was my first impression in my first viewing). Either way, the story portrays chivalry, selflessness, and magnanimity. It provides many life lessons for all viewers.

This special edition is basically a shorter version of the drama. The original series has a slow start. Many viewers who have not read the novel get pretty confused, myself included. Many even drop the series because of it. In this special edition, the beginning 2 episodes of the original version are cut off; it goes straight to the very beginning of the timeline – 16 years ago. It also includes some scenes (very few) that are not in the original version. It cuts off many peripheral characters and scenes, and focuses more on the two main leads and their relationship. Like it or not, it is this relationship (among others) that has created the largest deluge for viewers who have watched and love this drama. It is also one of the main reasons that propels Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, the two main leads, into stardom. Currently the duo are the most popular actors in China, receiving countless awards.

For viewers who just want to test the water, the special edition may be a good start. However, the original full version provides better explanation and overall plot of the story. A lot of the questions of this drama have been addressed here: https://mydramalist.com/discussions/the-untamed.

This drama means very different things to different people. For many fans, this is the best drama of ALL TIME. For me, this is true also because it touches certain parts of my heart. It stirs up all kinds of emotions in me which I’ve never experienced before in other dramas – happiness, sadness, light-heartedness, agony, hopefulness, hopelessness, among others. It brings me through a lot of painful experiences, and yet gives me a lot of sweetness in between and in the end.

Yes, I’d say this is a MUST-WATCH drama. It really doesn’t matter which gender and what sexual orientation you are. It doesn’t matter which culture you’ve come from. After all, we all live on the same planet, go through similar injustices in life, and most of all, can relate to the characters one way or another.

Two thumbs up!

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Unforgettable Heart-Wrenching

For viewers who may be confused by the two versions of this drama, and wonder which one to choose:

The Director's cut is a better version of the drama. It has a great introduction that is not found in the other version that was aired. This version provides a proper build-up of what happens to Li Cheng Yin (Chen Xingxu) before he meets Xiao Feng (Peng Xiao Ran). And this introduction is absolutely important because it would give the viewers a very different perspective of the Li Cheng Yin character. I started with the other version while it was airing. Without the proper introduction, I came to detest Li Cheng Yin for his action. However, when this newer version became available, I came to understand the character better and began to empathize with Li Cheng Yin. The two dramas are basically the same, except for the beginning scenes (episodes 1 & 2) and some last scenes which are not included in the aired version.

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever watched. It haunted me for months. Had it not been the airing of another wonderful drama, The Untamed, I think I would still be stuck in the rabbit hole.

This drama was originally slated to be played by two very seasoned actors, Chen Kun and Fan Bing Bing. Due to a clash in schedule, two relatively unknown actors were chosen. I am so glad they made the switch and they have chosen well.

Chen Xingxu (plays the Li Cheng Yin character) didn't appeal to me at first look. As the story progressed, he started to grow on me, until at the end, he stole my heart. He is just amazing. Li Cheng Yin is a very complex character to portray. He is sunny and fun, at the same time dark and calculative. Chen Xingxu aced in every scene he played. At the climax, it was the most moving scene by him, screaming and crying for his lost love. I couldn't help but cried with him. It was really heart-breaking.

Xiao Feng is a happy-go-lucky naive girl. The experiences she encounters are so painful that she wishes to have her memories wiped out and start over. Without her memory, she begins to fall in love all over again with the same man that has hurt her. Her experiences from the beginning till the end are excruciatingly painful, and the viewers cry for her. Peng Xiao Ran is so natural, playing her role beautifully and convincingly.

After the last episode, I was speechless, empty inside. I walked and ate like a zombie, unable to erase the story from my mind. I had no closure. I guess many viewers felt the same. Soon there after, the production team released a few very short episodes of the same couple in modern life. The short clips did help a lot in the healing and closure.

This amazing drama also produces countless OSTs, all very moving and memorable. Until today, more than 12 months later, I still play the OSTs frequently, reminiscing the scenes and the experiences I went through.

Although this is a tragedy, it is a beautifully produced drama. It should not be rated poorly just because it's a tragedy.

This is one of the MUST-WATCH dramas on anybody's list.

TWO THUMBS UP!

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How To Become a Perfect Lover

I wasn’t planning to pick up “Hi Venus” in the beginning because I had had a bad experience with Liang Jie in “Time Flies and You are Here”. But I couldn’t resist Zeng Shunxi (aka Joseph Zeng) because I have really enjoyed most of his dramas thus far. He has a magnetic charisma that pulls the viewers in and his adorable good-looking face beacons. I was taken by surprise how enjoyable this series is. This drama gives viewers a perfect lover here in the male lead.

Though given a hospital setting as the background, the story is more akin to an office romance. There are no hardcore hospital scenes, nor talented/ambitious female/male lead doctors trying to save lives or inventing new medical technologies/procedures. This is basically a love story between a boss who has no medical experience, and his personal assistant who is a pediatrician with no administrative experience.

Ye Shilan (Liang Jie) is a fresh pediatrician of a private hospital. She is temporarily assigned to the Chief Executive Officer, Lu Zhaoxi (Zeng Shunxi) as his personal assistant. Reluctantly, she complies. Coming from a broken family with a father who killed himself and a mother who remarried, Ye Shilan is insecure and has a low self-esteem; she is awkward, guarding and reserved. Despite the inadequacy she feels of herself, she is upstanding, accepts her own mistakes, systematic, clear-cut, and independent. I’m so relieved that Liang Jie has handled this role very well. Her styling is soothing and down to earth, and her serious demeanor is appropriate for the character. Most importantly, she has an amazing chemistry with Zeng Shunxi.

Born with a silver spoon in an entrepreneurial household where his parents run the hospital business, Lu Zhaoxi is not the typical cold, rude, arrogant, and authoritative CEO. He is mature, considerate, playful, never imposing, optimistic, empathetic (as shown with him going through simulated childbirth pain), romantic, earnest, accommodating, sweet, warm, friendly, fearless (except for insects), intelligent and confident; he’s a perfect partner that all girls want and deserve.

When Lu Zhaoxi falls in love with Ye Shilan and she him, both are not exactly sure of the other: she thinks he is too good for her and she doesn’t deserve him, and she fears losing him if she accepts him; whereas for him, through various rumors and conversations, he thinks she still cannot come out from the hurt of a previous relationship, so he hesitates for fear of being rejected.

Not only very good looking, I find Zeng Shunxi a very good actor. His large round eyes speak volumes, capturing his playfulness, thoughtfulness, exacerbations, romance, intelligence, and confidence. I always feel soothed watching him, even in my most critical drama of his in “Time Flies and You are Here”. Zeng Shunxi nails the role as Lu Zhaoxi. He’s perfect here and I don’t think another actor could do better.

The story is narrated through Ye Shilan's perspective, how she changes from an inferior character to a positive person; she meets her 救星 ("jiùxīng" or savior), her Venus. This is quite a slow burn, pull-push kind of relationship which is subtle and humorous. The couple’s official relationship begins in Episode 16 when they are more open to their closest friends. I'm usually not a very patient person with intentionally made misunderstandings and wasteful moments. However, I find the development of romance here very charming and interesting; it's the little moments that are precious and unforgettable. The dialogues are so funny that at times viewers must think twice to get the meaning and truly understand the words. I feel the scriptwriter has given the viewers one of the best dialogue writings here: subtly funny, humorous, oxymoronic, and paradoxical.

Among others, one thing that stands out to me is, there are no annoying bad parents forcing their kids to marry for wealth and status, or for people they (the parents) approve of. Here, Lu Zhaoxi's parents dote on him and give him freedom to discover himself, hence making him very close to them (the parents); he tells them everything on his mind, including his love life. In fact, Lu Zhaoxi's mother is his best confidante, talking and listening to him pouring out his happiness and frustrations every night, and his father warns him not to use his power to coerce his subordinates to go out with him. Rarely I see such open-minded parents in Chinese dramas. This has definitely taken out a lot of angsts in any romantic relationship.

There are also no annoying ex-girlfriends nor ex-boyfriends, no toxic relationship nor emotional hijacks, but a pair of very engaging best friends who later become our beloved side couple. Unlike in other dramas where the OTP’s best friends always give silly and outlandish ideas, the best friends here, Yao Jiajia (Li Linfei) and Lin Kaiwen (Zhou Zihan), are intelligent and analytical, giving our couple insights and sound advices, helping them to see themselves and find each other.

Finally, the background music is amusing, usually fast and upbeat. There’s a wide usage of assortment of musical tunes, including classical music such as Mozart’s Ala Turka, to accentuate the moods and blunders of the scenes. The flow of romantic music can abruptly stop when something unexpectedly happens. This adds even more humor to the moments and is brilliantly executed.

My Verdict

This is a story with a very simple storyline and no plot twists. I find the writing of the final few episodes not as engrossing as the earlier ones, and the drama becomes rather bland towards the end -- everything is smooth sailing. Nonetheless, this drama is soothing and light-hearted, a chicken soup for the soul, great for erasing away the stress and anxiety.

I love the writer’s humor. It’s so subtle that one may not catch it right away. To me, this is some very excellent writing and a lot of thoughts have gone into it. Many lines spoken here can be used by lovers to enhance their relationship. The “confession conversation” is the type of conversation all viewers should learn to say, in whatever circumstances. It can help us move positively forward in our life.

Another conversation that stands out to me is when Lu Zhaoxi tries to address Ye Shilan’s concern, “Many families are better off than ours, and many are worse off. We cannot use these, better off or worse off, to determine success or failure. But hard work, ideology, compassion can. So don't compare with others to chase after success; we compare within ourselves to have a better life, that's suffice.”

"If you want people to help you, you first have to extend your hand." "If you want people to save you, you first have to save yourself." And this is the message of the story.

Love life. Love everyday!

Great watch! Recommended for all romance buffs and all viewers with fragile hearts (like myself).

BRAVO!

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Hilariously Funny Great Watch

This is another Isekai story whereby a female scriptwriter goes into her own story with her male lead and both fall in love with each other in the parallel historical female centric world. Imagine a historical world that has the male and female roles switched. Just the idea itself is enough to engage any viewers.

The crazy logic and plot holes here and there - all these would have been considered poor script writing and poor editing in other dramas, but for this drama, they're done on purpose and left unedited and such, have made the series absolutely lovable and funny. 

The drama has a mixture of modern day directness and historical day indirectness. There are hilarious misunderstandings and strong tendency in jumping into conclusions, creating even more hilarious moments that can really make the viewers laugh out off their couches. What seemingly crazy plans always work out perfectly for Chen Qian Qian (Zhao Lu Si) and people would praise her for thinking out of the box; her mishits become perfect solutions. Han Shuo (Ding Yu Xi) has always tried to maintain his dignity and honor but with our crazy Chen Qian Qian, whatever dignity left is utterly gone because he's so hopelessly in love with her. All the dialogues are simple, childish and most of the times, illogical, but putting together, it's just so hilariously funny.

Zhao Lu Si's portrayal of Chen Qian Qian is absolutely adorable with a modern day teenager charisma. Her acting has improved tremendously in this drama. She is natural, authentic, relaxed, spontaneous and yes, very comedic. She's a perfect "Sha Bai Tian", literally means "Silly, Fair and Sweet". Zhao Lu Si is simply one of the cutest actors around.

Not particularly handsome comparatively but oh boy, Ding Yu Xi (Ryan Ding) captures hearts. He is an amazing actor, versatile in any roles from being a high school teenager to an accomplished professional. As Han Shuo, seemingly cunning and calculative, at a next turn, becomes the most silly and childish boy. It's like watching the most fearsome tiger which can suddenly turn and become a little fearful mouse. Ding's portrayal is absolutely fantastic and he brings life to the character and makes viewers truly empathize and love him.

All the side characters are brilliant in particular the two male servants of Chen Qian Qian and Han Shuo. They are stupidly cute and add enormous colors and comedies to the scenes. All their silly dialogues and facial expressions just make viewers laugh out loud, love and care for the characters.

With only 24 episodes, this drama waste no annoying fillers. Every episode is a page turner. Everything is concluded well in the end. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and hope new viewers will do too.

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How to Date Your Dean

I wasn’t sure to start watching this series or not because most of the comments I’ve read were not favorable. After one episode, it seemed watchable. The plot is rather simple and straightforward, the villain is revealed to the viewers very early in the story, Zhao Lusi is still Zhao Lusi – silly and cute, and the story is non-original with the-hero-gets-the-girl-and-the-bad-guy-vanquishes. In other words, it’s cliché and tropey. Nonetheless, I find Zhao Lusi’s cuteness irresistible.

This is a story of a girl enters a boys-only imperial college and becomes the first ever female graduate from the college. In the process, she makes her dean fall in love with her, giving the viewers a tabooed romantic relationship of a student with a member of the school faculty. At the same time, it also tries to advocate equal educational opportunities for all girls and boys regardless of their family status.

Sang Qi (Zhao Lusi) is said to be different from all the other girls. Growing up at the frontier, she is unrestrained, playful, active and intelligent. Zhao Lusi has everything this character requires. Similar to her previous drama in “The Romance of Tiger and Rose”, Zhao Lusi’s character is still the “Sha Bai Tian” (silly, fair and sweet) character with more bravery, smartness and chivalry this time. Many viewers criticize her for playing the same type of character again and again. For me, it is of course ideal if an actor is given the chance to play a different character so that she/he can widen her/his skills and scope. But on the other hand, this type of character is what Zhao Lusi is best at, probably more so than other actors, giving viewers an excellent and natural performance here. As in most of Zhao Lusi’s dramas with similar roles, she stumbles easily, gets herself all over her man, kissing him unintentionally (or intentionally?), making him fall in love with her, and she him (roll eyes).

Yan Yun Zhi (Xu Kaicheng) is the Dean of the Imperial College. He’s good looking and has a cool demeanor. He tries to be serious but with Zhao Lusi around, who can? I quite like the Yan Yun Zhi character and Xu Kaicheng’s portrayal. However, I find his expression overly joyous as he seems to grin at Zhao Lusi all the time. This, to me, doesn’t fit his supposedly stern and solemn character very well, after all, he’s supposed to be a teaching faculty that garners respect and admiration from his students and other teaching staff. Other viewers feel Xu Kaicheng is not totally suitable for costume dramas.

Comes the antagonist, Zhuo Wen Yuan (Ren Hao) who is Sang Qi’s childhood friend when they both lived at the frontier. He is intelligent and a valedictorian in the Imperial College, at the same time he is a complex and vicious schemer. This is actually my favorite character. Ren Hao has that angelic face that can turn devilish in an instant. His acting is commendable.

My Verdict

This drama has a predictable storyline, slapstick humor, and a dog blood script. The lack of attention to details is blatant (viewers can spot production team members in the scenes, etc). The conversations are comedic. Similar to Zhao Lusi's other rom-coms, this drama is entertaining if you want something to give you a good mood and to laugh about. Don't be too critical and don't take it too seriously. It's not meant to be serious. Acting wise, both main leads and especially the villain are good. The supporting cast is good too (super hilarious).

Despite all the flaws, I have rather enjoyed this light-hearted series.

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Incredible Romance

When I first came across Fake Princess, the title sounded cliche and the storyline tropey. I was not familiar with the actors. I thought I would watch the first episode and drop the series. To my surprise, not only I didn't drop it, in fact I was rather enjoying this drama.

She is a bandit and he's a crown prince. She wants his telescope so she steals it and they meet, and later marry each other without him knowing the actual identity of the person he is marrying. He has assumed that she's the granddaughter of the Prime Minister, his arch enemy, and a mole planted by him (the Prime Minister). But despite all the suspicions and distrusts, very quickly they fall in love with each other and become inseparable. Everything they do is for each other. Never once they betray the other. Each is always there to save the other. As a viewer, it's hard for me to drop such heart-warming storyline.

I love the Chang Le (Yu Kai Xin/Eleanor Lee) character - altruistic. wise, strong, humble, quick-witted, and intelligent. She is also unusually technologically talented. Yu Kai Xin has that casual expression and body language on her that fits perfectly well for the bandit character she's portraying.

Li Che (Zhao Yi Qin) the crown prince is one of the most adorable crown princes I've ever seen. He doesn't have the normal sharp good look of a crown prince that we are so familiar with. Instead, Li Che tends to have a blank face, a clueless look most of the time, giving the viewers the impression that he's not that smart. Perhaps he's indeed not as smart as his wife, but his devotion and upstandingness capture us all. In front of Chang Le, Li Che is like a teddy bear - compliant, devoted, silly and loving; he becomes a little boy, dependent and gullible. Zhao Yi Qin is new to me but his acting here is wonderful, delivering his character 100%.

My favorite scene of the couple would have been the moment when both try desperately to save the other from the 'poison' both have ingested. The altruism in each is amazing and brings tears to my eyes. Both are faithful to each other with one united heart.

There are 2 incredibly well-developed side couples here - Zhu Yan/Li Heng and Nong Yi/Gong Sun Mo. I have always thought the Zhu Yan/Li Heng couple would have a tragic ending whereas the Nong Yi/Gong Sun Mo a happy one. With a twist of events, they do not end as I have expected, and it's painful to watch the loss.

The villains are despicable characters. Having said that, the Prime Minister is villainous and yet super funny when it comes to his beloved teapots. I laughed so much at those scenes because they are so unexpected of his character. Being mean and nasty but not so intelligent make the villain characters very entertaining and a joy to watch.

The wuxia scenes are extremely well executed. Beautiful fighting choreography, floating hair and flying clothing making the whole scenes stunning to watch. Absolutely wonderful.

Yes, this is a good drama deserves our valuable time to watch. Don't miss it!

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How To Get 4 Men to Fall in Love with You at the Same Time

To enjoy watching this drama, viewers are advised to watch it with a sense of humor, and not with your normal logic, for this drama that seems dead serious (no “comedy” tag), may seem to have loaded with bizarre and unfathomable logic. Many actions and scenes are over exaggerated with overacting which are also embellished with playful music. The pace is rather fast with many events taking place in each scene, only temporarily slowing down for the romance. If viewers can endure the first couple of the episodes which may seem farfetched, the later part is rather addictive. Therefore, sit back and let the story take you away, and enjoy.

This drama is said to have adapted from a web novel of the same name. However, according to some readers, the main female character has been drastically changed “to make her seem more relatable for audience consumption”. In the novel, her personality is said to be, to quote a reader, “the most endearing element of the storyline. She's casual in demeanor but absolutely savage in her plotting. They did such a disservice to the female lead.” Even with the altered toned down version, I still love the female lead character as I find her strong, determined, intelligent and devoted.

Princess Jiuling (Peng Xiaoran) is an inspiring character. Despite the horrendous change of her life including the loss of her family, her identity and her look, she is determined to stay low, strengthen her power, and make a comeback for revenge. Her patience and her endurance to injustices, at the same time, honing her skills and waiting for the right moment, are qualities that are commendable. She exudes confidence and composure even in the most trying conditions, and her dignified demeanor captures all hearts.

Peng Xiaoran who plays the Princess Jiuling role, is an amazing actor. I got to know her in Goodbye My Princess when she was relatively unknown and was chosen to play that role because of a clash in schedule for the original actor who was a lot more popular. I was so glad they made the switch then as it brought us another talented actor who would have been buried if not for the opportunity. Here, as in Goodbye My Princess, Peng Xiaoran is so natural, graceful and authentic, successfully bringing her character to live.

Despite Jiuling is surrounded by numerous men who are deeply in love with her, she has only one true love, Zhu Zan (Jin Han) whom she had spent a great deal of time with when they were growing up. Zhu Zan is now a general guarding the frontier with his father since their separation. Free spirited and unrestrained, Zhu Zan is humorous and chivalrous. He continues to care for orphans, finding shelter and providing food for the displaced people due to wars and disasters. It is these qualities that Jiuling falls in love with him again as they align with her own values. Zhu Zan is infatuated with Jiuling, and regardless of how the world sees him and what trouble he may get into, he goes all the way out for Jiuling and helps her overcome her obstacles.

Jin Han’s portrayal of Zhu Zan is adorable, making the character very lovable like a big cuddly teddy bear. Unfortunately, many viewers criticize the choice and complain that Jin Han is not good looking enough. Perhaps these viewers hope to see a more effeminate actor as this seem to be the trend in today’s historical dramas, and Jin Han’s physical appearance is the total opposite to that. Some viewers also complain that they cannot place Jin Han’s face as a protagonist as the actor has previously played some antagonistic roles in other dramas. Whatever the criticisms are, I feel we all need to give these young actors opportunities to prove themselves, and Jin Han has proved that he is a versatile actor.

My Verdict

Sure there are flaws everywhere like in most Chinese dramas. But if we look pass these flaws and be less critical, this is a rather decent drama. A lot of the story only happens in conversations instead of in scenes, hence non-native speakers may want to get proper English subs to ensure accurate conveyance of the messages. The development of the main characters is quite well done with very well acting by the whole cast including the supporting cast. The storyline may be serious but this is a very humorous drama.

Overall, this is a drama deserved to be watched. I have enjoyed it very much.

Recommended! Bravo!

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Most Endearing Drama of All Time

This is one of the very few dramas that explores our human nature, our interpersonal relationship and its intricacies, in great depth. It is happy and enjoyable, and yet every episode makes me cry. I cry not because of any tragic events but because of the moments, the actions, the relationships and dialogues of the characters that are so moving, and they touch every chord in my heart. Right after I cry, I’m given a candy that makes me laugh out loud. The brilliant story telling has made this one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched.

This is a story about family and what it takes to be a family – not wealth, not blood, not even just love alone. It takes, including love, patience, sharing, compassion, understanding, empathy, courage, among others, to build a truly tightly knitted family and home, going through life and living together. It is beautifully written and acted. The characters are realistic, relatable and inspiring. In the journey, the story explores compassion and indifference, self-esteem and fear, abandonment and adoption, cheerfulness and depression. It shows us the things we may have neglected in our own lives ourselves and things that we have taken for granted. It helps us see deeper into ourselves and reflect. It captures almost all human elements that we may have encountered, one way or another, in our own lives. We can definitely identify ourselves with at least one of the characters here.

Go Ahead is a story about a widower who single-handedly raises his own daughter and two other boys who are entrusted to him. All of them have one thing in common: they do not have mothers. The children grow up together; the boys become the big brothers for his daughter, pampering and protecting her. She is their sun and the center of their universe. Everything they do, they do it together, and they do it for her (with a lesser extent, for their adoptive father). Their relationship is heartwarming and enviable. Their love for each other is pure and not tainted by anything.

Li Haichao (Tu Song Yan), an owner of a small noodle shop, has a very different view in parenting. He is very open minded and compassionate. He teaches the children to critical think for themselves, and how to stand up when fallen. His love is unconditional and his favorite thing to do is to cook meals for his 3 children. Tu Song Yan’s acting is one of the best – natural, believable and lovable. He has a calm and compassionate demeanor that would attract anyone, never assuming nor judgmental. He’s one of the most loved characters in the story.

Li Jianjian (Tan Song Yun aka Seven Tan) is a tomboy who enjoys the love and pampering from her 2 adopted brothers, growing up and doing everything together with them including sleeping on the same bed. Li Jianjian, like her father Li Haichao, is kind, tactful and compassionate with a sharp wit and mouth. The period of them living together as teenagers attending high school is perhaps my fondest moments watching this drama. Tan Song Yun’s acting renders me speechless. She is so versatile that she can take on any roles and ace them. At her actual age of 30, she is so convincing, transforming into an innocent 15 year-old teenager and then growing up into a 25 year-old sculptor. Tan Song Yun’s acting simply awes the viewers.

Ling Xiao (Song Weilong) is a deeply broken and tormented boy who goes through unthinkable tragedies and sadness. The only times he beams up and smiles are when he sees Li Jianjian, that's when the sun comes out, everything seems to become normal again. Ling Xiao is a neighbor living with a divorced father above Li Jianjian’s apartment. Song Weilong always has that look of sadness with a heavy burden locked between his brows. With few words, he gives the feeling that he has thousands words that are hidden and cannot be spoken. Song Weilong fits the Ling Xiao character to perfection. Every sad gaze from him conveys those unspoken words and sadness, and digs deep into the viewers’ hearts.

He Ziqiu (Zhang Xincheng aka Steven Zhang) starts calling Li Haichao “father” when he first meets him because he (He Ziqiu) thinks his single mother is going to marry him (Li Haichao). The marriage falls through and He Ziqiu is left in the rural area with no proper education and no prospect of a better life. He’s unofficially adopted by Li Haichao with the consent of Ziqiu’s relatives. Being abandoned, He Ziqiu always has a hole in his heart, and he has always wanted a complete family. At the same time, he’s been taught by his adoptive father to maintain a positive view as everything is a blessing in disguise. This attitude has made him resilient and optimistic. Zhang Xincheng has the look of a person who would take anything that’s thrown to him and he’s the person who gets ignored all the time. Zhang Xincheng has given one of his most impressive performance in this drama, making his character well-loved and jerk tears from all viewers.

Chen Ting (Ling Xiao’s mother) is perhaps the most abhorred mother. As much as I’m tormented by her, I sympathize with her because I have seen many such characters like her in my life, carrying a dark disease that is too stigmatized for anyone to talk about. Mingyue’s mother is a typical Asian Tiger mother and many viewers may carry some or all of her traits; she can be us without us even realizing it ourselves. I see myself in many of the characters at different stages of my life; all my flaws are portrayed vividly in them. It’s disheartening to see that many parents are abusive in certain ways, physically or mentally, just like how the drama is depicting. Such abuses are unfortunately widespread, in particular, in the developed world.

Most parents love their children. But love can be enlightening (as in Li Haichao with his children) or suffocating (as in Ling Xiao with his mother, Qi Mingyue with her mother, Tan Can with her mother) or even painful (as in He Ziqiu with his mother). This is a very precious human drama and the writers have not dragged on any misunderstanding for long; everything is resolved rather quickly without giving viewers the frustration. Funny moments are injected brilliantly throughout the story to subdue the pains that some of the characters are suffering from.

All the other cast members are equally fabulous in their respective performances, especially the child actors who play the juveniles Li Jianjian, Ling Xiao and He Ziqiu. Their acting is so natural, lovable and believable. The children capture the viewers’ hearts from the start of the first episode. All the main characters are well developed and three dimensional, including some of the supporting characters who seem to be just a part of our own lives.

Many viewers begin to dislike the drama when the platonic relationship turns romantic. For me, I love the romance and have been waiting for it because the writers have hinted this (the romance) right from the beginning, expressed in many subtle actions, dialogues and moments. Some viewers even totally drop the drama when they perceive a love triangle. And for me, I was pretty clear that there's none because, again through various hints dropped by the writers that the other relationship is plain platonic. I hope new viewers are more prepared and not being influenced by some negative remarks.

The official sound tracks are some of the best, with touching lyrics speaking out the words of our hearts - for parent and for child alike. The voice which sings the sound track “Fearless” sounds like the voice of Ling Xiao, singing his despairs and agony, and the soundtrack “I Will Be Here” expresses the hidden voice of a parent. All the songs make me cry.

Time passes us quickly. We grow up, become parents, and grow old, and the circle of life continues. This drama touches our soul, for all cultures and walks of life.

This is one of my all-time favorites and is a must-watch. Two thumbs up!

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Fighting Hand-in-Hand

This drama is a much-needed drama with a sweet romance to compensate the angst in the recently aired Love and Redemption, and numerous other open-ended dramas. It has a super handsome new actor who is making his debut and it is also one of the many cross-dressing dramas released lately. The story is semi-serious with cute and funny moments littered throughout. The pace is good and the storyline is not complex. It is certainly a very relaxing watch.

This is a story about palace power struggle. Right from the start, the antagonist is already made known to the viewers. Though unknown for the protagonists with no concrete proofs that all the mysteries and crimes they’re trying to solve are linked to the antagonist, nonetheless, the eventual outcome does not surprise them.

The Prince of Qi (Zhang Ling He) is a wandering prince who holds no political power. He has a great relationship with his younger brother who is the Emperor, but a nemesis of his uncle who wants the throne. He disguises as a wealthy aristocrat as Pei Zhao and frequents the brothels. There he meets and falls in love with Su Ci (Sebrina Chen) who disguises as a man working as a high-level investigator. Pei Zhao is patient, forgiving, condoning and protective towards Su Ci. He is strategic and very intelligent. Su Ci is upright, unbiased and detailed which makes her a great investigator. Together with their friends, a medical genius, a skilled sword man and the best cook, they make an ideal team with enviable friendship. Right from episode 1, Pei Zhao and Su Ci begin to work hand in hand, literally, solving crimes and unfolding a bigger conspiracy. They’ve never been separated since, everywhere they go, they go together and everything they do, they do it together. It is really very comforting to see they are always at each other’s side and trusting each other. Any misunderstanding is resolved almost as soon as it arises because they are being very honest to each other; it is indeed very heart-warming to see the couple holding hands all the time.

I’m delighted with Zhang Ling He’s portrayal of Pei Zhao/Prince of Qi. This is his first drama but his performance is beyond my expectation, far more convincing than many other more experienced actors. He has a very handsome face and a well built body. Acting as a flamboyant playboy and later as a devoted lover, Zhang Ling He’s performance is believable and lovable. I cannot help myself but looking at his handsome face all the time.

Su Ci has a calling – to find out what had happened seven years ago when her whole tribe was massacred, leaving her the lone survivor. Her investigative prowess helps her unravel the conspiracy and eventually bring justice for her tribe. Sebrina Chen has cross-dressed in several other dramas and she is very convincing, dressing as a man. Having a matter-of-factly demeanor, Sebrina Chen’s portrayal is authentic and wonderful.

The second couple is perhaps the cutest and sweetest side couple. Their love for each other is unmistakable and they help solve many crimes together. The other cast members are both good looking and wonderful in their respective roles. The ending is concluded properly with justice served - the good is being rewarded and the bad is being punished, and the lovers are happily ever after.

This is indeed a very enjoyable drama not to be missed.

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The 'A' Team | Mission Impossible Theme

When I first read the title, I thought it was some youthful drama full of modern vibes and silliness, so I didn't give it much attention. How wrong I was! Normally, it takes me 1 or 2 episodes to get acquainted with a drama and the actors. But with this drama, my attention is immediately captured.

I love the acting of all the characters - each has his/her own flaws, and greatness. They also have their own stories and aspirations. How they come together to work as a team eventually to beat the evil doers and to bring good to the country is something that is inspirational and heart-warming. The actors are good and play their roles convincingly.

This drama is out of my expectation! It is serious, and yet humorous with great taste. There are some lighthearted moments, but they are not from the story itself; rather, they are from the playfulness of the main male character, Yuan Zhongxin, and the dumbness of Wei Ya Nei.

The story starts with a lot of twists and turns evolving around Yuan Zhongxin; it becomes difficult to discern his orientation and loyalty initially. And that's exactly the reason that captures my interest. He is my most loved character - honorable, upstanding, wily, street smart, intelligent, and mischievous. He stands behind his friends and family fully, and one can be assured that with him, things will be taken care of. I also love the character Wei Ya Nei played by Bruce He. He is spoiled, dumb and silly, and yet he is honorable and funny. Bruce He is so convincing that I begin to love him. My other favorite character would be Zhao Jian who is a badass girl, beautiful, smart, decisive and skillful in fighting. She is a natural leader that makes me feel good watching this drama. The other characters are equally lovable and impressive. Together, they make the 'A' team, fighting and solving espionage cases.

The story is fast paced. Viewers can brace for something to happen in every scene. Sometimes, it's hard to discern what is true or false, what is black or white, what is right or wrong. Every time when something seems to be bad, becomes good, and vice versa. There are twists and turns till the end of the story.

The fighting scenes are wonderful with beautiful choreography; the young actors are convincing and good looking; the setting of Northern Song is authentic and believable; the politics, espionage and scheming are cliff hangers and page turners.

This is a really good drama. It is highly recommended.

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Song Wei Long is Adorable!

This is a sweet, sweet, sweet little rom-com. Sweet in every sense. Though there are some conflicts, nothing too outrageous or unsolvable. Song Wei Long who plays the character Yuan Song has definitely brought life into this lovely drama and his character. I'm normally not a light-headed blurry eyed person, but Song Wei Long has turned me into a silly teenager basking in his youthfulness.

When Song Wei Long made this drama, he was still a teenager (18). Despite his very young age, his acting is mature and convincing. As Yuan Song, he doesn't hold back with anything, especially when it comes to intimacy. He dares to kiss and love. Young, handsome and sunny, he is a heart throb. I just can't have enough of his scenes because I love watching him from the start. I love his youthfulness that doesn't lack maturity.

When He Fanxing (played by Victoria Song) meets Yuan Song, she's attracted to him. Fighting back her own emotions, she doesn't know what to do. On the other hand, Yuan Song falls head-over-toe in love with Fanxing and he knows this woman is exactly who he wants in life. Compared with Yuan Song, Fanxing is like a little girl emotionally; she doesn't have what a normal woman her age has. Though smart and strong, Fanxing is naive and clueless when it comes to intimate relationships. Yuan Song however, is mature and devoted. Despite a huge age difference of 10 years, the pair looks perfect for each other.

Of course nothing sails smoothly in life. Comes the killjoy Ye Lu Ming (played by David Wang). He tells Fanxing that their friendship is only platonic, she believes him and treats him as her confidante. But he uses this opportunity to winning the hearts of her parents and making her indebted to him. He creates dates after dates pretending these are their innocent hangouts, and she is oblivious to the facts. He plays her naivete to the fullest. At this point, many viewers curse the Fanxing character, and inevitably the actor herself. This is silly because Victoria Song should not be condemned for being such a good actor that brings the Fanxing character to life.

Initially I questioned the writer for giving us such an emotionally naive character as in Fanxing, and such a foxy character as in Ye Lu Ming; I thought such characters were unrealistic. However, when I searched deep into my own experiences, such characters do exist. I used to know someone who used the same tricks as Ye Lu Ming does, and trapped a girl that he had been pursuing without the girl realizing she was being trapped.

I love the side couples here, in particular Cai Min Min (played by Esther Yu) and He Can Yang (played by Zhang Yu Jian). Cai Min Min is so adorable like a little toddler. He Can Yang's relationship with his twin sister He Fanxing is simply so cute and silly. It's rare for Chinese dramas to portray parents as open-minded as the He's - both of their children have a penchant for very young partners, like at least 10 years younger. The family dynamic is amazing and nostalgic for me.

Many viewers show doubts in following a story that involves a large age gap between the main couple. To this, I'd say, keep an open mind. It's always socially acceptable for a man to marry a very young wife, but not so the other way round. I understand the rationale behind such norm as there is a limitation within a woman's body when it comes to the biological clock and reproduction, but who were to say a couple must always produce offspring in a relationship? Intimacy in a relationship can be expressed in many forms. How Yuan Song plays out in this drama makes me believe that happiness does exist despite the age gap.

I hope through this drama, some single ladies take up the courage to start dating younger men of which I'm supportive. Discard any social pressure or traditional norms. Follow one's heart. Find one's true love. Don't make do with just any men. No one can tell how one should live one's life.

What a wonderful sweet drama this is. Worth watching.

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A Delightful Sweet Fluffy Romance

If you want a romance that is sweet from the beginning till the end, this is it. Since their first meeting in episode 1, our main couple holds hands, sleeps together and hardly gets separated. There’re hardly any moments they are not together, and when they are not, they miss each other dearly and cannot wait to get back into each other’s arms again. This drama is easy to watch with very little angst though the last few episodes become rather tensed. All the characters are lovable, an antagonist that is revealed from the beginning, and an ending everyone loves.

Ji Dinglan (Wang Xingyue) is a prince born with no taste buds nor emotions. He cannot feel pain, happiness nor sadness. No one knows about his condition because if exposed, he is deemed a demon and would be persecuted. He becomes a hermit, changes his name to Mo Qingchen (meaning strange light dust), and lives far away from the palace and everyone else. When he accidentally touches Lin Chi (Bu Guanjin), all his senses come back temporarily. For the first time in his life, he experiences a new world which he has never known before. Since then, he attaches himself to Lin Chi and they quickly fall in love and inseparable from each other. They also realize they can transfer their power to and fro via each other’s tears. Lurking under this romance is Ji Dinglan’s ambitious and vindictive half-brother, Ji Dingyue (Nie Zihao). Time and time again he tries to expose Mo Qingchen’s secret, and he tries to hurt the couple to achieve his goal. Again and again he fails because of the unyielding love and devotion Mo Qingchen has for Lin Chi and she him; both do not hesitate to sacrifice for the other.

I have watched some of Wang Xingyue's previous dramas and find him an excellent actor. This drama is his first drama as a main lead, and his acting here is believable and again outstanding. At the tender age of 19, Wang Xingyue has a chisel good look and mature in his demeanor. He has a great potential ahead of him. Bu Guanjin on the other hand is a lot older than Wang Xingyue, but the pairing doesn’t look awkward because the couple has great chemistry together. Her acting is natural without trying too hard making the Lin Chi character very lovable. As with most young actors, Wang Xingyue is not stingy with his kisses. Nie Zihao has been acting as antagonists for several dramas I have watched. He has a very good-looking face with a sliver of hideousness in it and he is perfect for this tormented role as Ji Dingyue whom I’ve come to empathize. His acting here is applaudable.

I like the second couple and all the side characters. The acting by the whole cast is solid with an intact script and commendable editing. The background props look authentic and the costumes are carefully designed and made. The official soundtracks are some of the most impressive ballads in recent historical dramas.

My Verdict

This is such a delightful drama that has a very clear plot with very few visible plot holes or flaws. The flow is good and the pace is on spot. Despite the couple spending a lot of time conveying their love and admiration for each other, this doesn’t feel draggy because there are other things happening simultaneously. The acting is solid by the whole cast. The comedy is light and dialogues are humorous. Though rather predictable, I find this drama a great de-stressor that gives us a make-believe world that perhaps such love and devotion do exist. If you’re a romance buff and want something easy to watch with no angst, this is it. This is a story well told and deserves a bravo!

Don't miss it!

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How to Date a Single Mom with a Child

I didn’t start watching this drama when it began airing because I couldn’t get over the image I have of Liu Xueyi as Hao Chen in “Love and Redemption”. But one episode in, I was completely drawn in by the acting, the storyline and the humor. It's exhilarating and funny, at the same time, rather serious, dark and oxymoronic, with a hidden super villain, mysteries, conspiracies, murders and plenty of hot kisses. This drama beats many other dramas which are concurrently airing.

Yu Qingluo (Wang Ziwei), a single mom with a 6-year old boy, Nan Nan (Zhang Zihan), is trying to find a father for her child. Time and time again her dates are being sabotaged by the little boy until she falls in love with Ye Xiudu (Liu Xueyi). Strangely Nan Nan also takes a liking to her lover, as if they have some sort of an invisible bond. Indeed Nan Nan has earlier made Ye Xiudu his disciple who has to pay with the price of unlimited supply of crispy fried chickens.

Yu Qingluo is a brilliant so-called “ghost” doctor (“guiyi”) as opposed to an “angel” doctor (“shenyi”) because she uses poisons to heal. She is strong, calm, unpretentious and fearless. She is always flanked by 4 very young, good looking and formidable leaders of prominent organizations/sects as protectors who vowed to protect her and her son with their lives because she has saved all of them under different circumstances. Though kind and vows to save lives, she also kills as a tit-for-tat. She pays back anyone who has come to harm her or her child. This quality really thrills the viewers (well, at least me).

Wang Ziwei is beautiful and mature, and her acting is top notched as a young single mother. She makes motherhood look excruciatingly fun with her super intelligent 6 years old son. And what an adorable bundle Nan Nan is. I am so impressed by the child actor Zhang Zihan’s acting. He brings to life the little Nan Nan’s character, adding a lot of joy to the drama, making the viewers love not just the little boy himself, but all the characters around him, in particular Ye Xiudu (Liu Xueyi). Nan Nan’s favorite food is crispy fried chickens and there is no lack of chicken dishes in almost all Nan Nan’s scenes, that would certainly make many viewers salivating (I feel hungry watching the crispy fried chickens, KFC is of no match). I adore the mother/child relationship here. Their dynamics are heart warming and really funny; ear twisting, face squeezing and pony tail pulling are norms. Throughout the drama until he finds out who his birth father is, Nan Nan has been sabotaging his mother's relationship with any men whom he finds overly intimate with his mother.

A fearsome general and a royalty, Ye Xiudu has unbeatable martial art skills. On the surface, he is serious and upstanding, but at the flip side, he is quirky: he has vasovagal syncope and faints with the sight of blood (imagine that for a general who kills in battles, also reminds me of husbands who faint at their wives' childbirths. That's why he has to blindfold himself when he fights because he cannot look at blood), and he is narcissistic and bombastic. All these traits make the Ye Xiudu character hilarious, laughable and very lovable too. Calling his romance with Yu Qingluo super funny is an understatement. There is a pattern for the OTP: they meet, fall in love, lose memory, meet again, fall in love again, lose memory again, multiple times. I have been prejudiced by associating Liu Xueyi as an antagonist. But here I come to really like him. His acting is superb, capturing all the quirkiness there is of his character. He is a wonderful actor.

There are many very lovable and funny side characters and the acting by the whole cast is authentic and fabulous. At the most tensed and dangerous moments, conflicts are resolved in the nick of time; the hero always appears at the very last and crucial moments.

My Verdict

This is an amazing drama with a hilarious storyline. It is action packed, fast paced but balanced by the romantic moments. With only 24 episodes, it wastes no time with fillers. Having said that, the pace slows down a lot towards the last 2 episodes. There is a lot of kissing scenes, intentional or accidental, in almost every episode. Everything is crazy and over exaggerated, including the romance. The whole drama is like a mash-up that mixes “Butterfly Lovers” to the giant flying mushroom, to the blind wuxia fighter of Gu Long's Hua Manlou, with tropes like multiple memory losses and multiple falling-off-cliff-and-survive scenes. Random uses of random music and jingles add on the light-heartedness. Imagine hearing a Christmas song in a Chinese historical drama (at the end of Episode 10, the tune “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” is played, cheekily, to create a cute mood). Animal sounds, such as a cockerel's crow or a goat’s bleat, are played to signify a blunder made. And modern vibes are inserted here and there brilliantly. It is as if the writers try to make the whole thing as preposterous and as outrageous as possible to poke the viewers for fun.

Despite the fun and non-seriousness, the writing is pretty tight and the editing is quite good, even the CGIs are rather well done. I’m particularly impressed by Yu Qingluo’s pet scorpion which is also her weapon. This doesn't seem like a run-of-the-mill production.

I give this drama a very high rating because it makes me laugh out loud so hard. We know it's a dumb story as it constantly reminds us that this is a crazy drama with a lot of silly stuff. A viewer puts it succinctly, "It's not the comedy nor the music, but the whole thing so lame that makes it laughable." I agree. So one mustn't take it seriously. The whole thing is like a cartoon, with comical music to egg it on. So folks, lighten up! We all need it.

A great watch for the family and to fight off the pandemic lockdown blues. A delightful show you don't want to miss!

BRAVO!

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A Journey of Discovery

Growing up is a process of discovery. You discover what you like and what you don't, who you are, who you love….. A million questions asked. Some answered, some not. Hopefully with the few answered, you’re prepared to face the world. You may still be searching for answers throughout your life. And that’s how life goes. This is a story about three best friends growing up together in the same neighborhood, their friendship through high school, college and working life. This is one of the best youth dramas I have ever watched.

The Chinese title Shàng Yóu means upstream, depicting also growing up is not easy, having to face challenges and making the right choices. The story is so well written, directed and acted - funny, cute, nostalgic - with characters elaborated with depth, from the main to the supporting leads. The attention to details is immaculate, capturing all the nuances of the era (Gameboy, concern of Y2K for computer systems, flip phones, huge bulky computers with floppy disks etc). The story has a span of 10 years from 1997 to 2007, starting from the characters’ final year in high school, throughout all 4 years of their life in college, and the final 2 episodes on their adult working life, marriages, relationship, each living a separate life. Nostalgic? This is life.

Xia Xiaoju (Hu Yixuan) has just moved into the neighborhood. She has no friends and hates her new home as she has to share a room and a bed with her little brother. She always feels her mother being unfair and always loves her little brother more (many Chinese families prefer boys to girls). Two boys from the same street quickly become her best friends as they help her adapt to her new environment and catch up with school work. One is gentle and kind, the other is rough and childish. Naturally Xia Xiaoju falls in love with the ‘nice’ boy. Little does she know that the other boy standing behind her, quietly doing everything for her, is the rightful one for her. Xia Xiaoju may be naïve and has overly low self-esteem at times, but she is determined and is always a friend one can count on.

I have liked Hu Yixuan’s acting. I find her very genuine and natural without having to try too hard. Her acting as a teenager in this drama is so impressive. I have always thought Tan Songyun (Seven Tan) the best actor who can look and act like a teenager. Here, Hu Yixuan is equally good if not better. As teenagers, Tan Songyun is tomboyish, whereas Hu Yixuan is a very convincing timid teenage girl who is not confident of herself and fearful of showing her inner feelings. I love her interactions with her friends and her family. Hu Yixuan has absolutely nailed the role.

Lu Shiyi (Richard Zhang), an aspiring doctor who is hemophobic (fear of blood), tall, good looking and intelligent, is playful when it comes to his childhood friends. He doesn’t miss an opportunity in teasing Xia Xiaoju whom he has a penchant in getting his satisfaction out of her misery by pulling her ponytail, palm-turning her head (watch this https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1hP4y1a7Uc), bear-hugging her under his giant armpit, bickering with her and calling her names (like Pig); he simply ‘roughs’ her up all the time like treating a boy and the bickering is non-stop. How Lu Shiyi treats Xia Xiaoju would have been called out in today's cancel culture, but here, his actions are cute, innocent and heart-warming. To me, that's how people, especially good friends, should interact with each other, sincerely and lovingly.

Richard Zhang has a very unique look with almond shaped eyes. He may not even be considered as good looking by many viewers but he embodies youthfulness, energy, mischiefs, rebellion that fit perfectly into the Lu Shiyi character; he brings the character alive.

Cheng Lang (Chen Bo Hao) is the gentle boy with straight ‘A’s in class. He is kind to everyone especially to his best friends to whom he would give up anything for. He always tries to mitigate between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi when they brawl, and Xia Xiaoju has a crush on him since she first meets him. I have never watched any of Chen Bo Hao’s work, but here, he aces his role making the Cheng Lang character so lovable, a perfect white horse prince for any girls.

Even though the romance is not the focus, the dynamics of the main leads are remarkable. I love how the main leads are smart and caring for each other. Their utmost trust between each other throughout the drama does not falter. Having said that, there are some slight misunderstandings between Xia Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi that lead to their separation for a rather long period of time after college.

Official Soundtracks (OSTs)
Despite this drama produces a number of new soundtracks, none as memorable as the two oldies:
“Do You Know I’m Thinking of You?” (你知道我在想你吗) by Taiwanese singer/composer Chang Hung-Liang (张洪量) in 1997. This song stirs up a lot of memories for many viewers. It also captures our lead characters’ feelings during those growing up years, from teenage to adulthood. It’s fun to watch how our character struggles to learn singing the song so that she can perform it to the one she loves.

“Love You”(喜歡妳) by Hong Kong musician Wong Ka Kui (黄家驹) / Beyond in 1988. Sung in Cantonese throughout, this is another well-loved song that took Asia-Pacific by storm during the era. It appropriately expresses the adoration of our characters for each other and the moments they have together.

The use of harmonica and guitar to play the background music, simple and nostalgic, further captures the mood and conjures up memories of the time by-gone.

My Verdict
Growing up means changes. Things may not always turn out the way we plan, and our plans may not be as perfect as we have hoped them to be. We all need to learn to adapt to changes. Our characters change over time as they begin to understand life better. Not only they become stronger, they also become better for themselves and others.

Everyone can relate to this story one way or another. If you're a youth, you'd love this drama because you can relate to almost all the characters here - they can be your friends, your family, even yourself. Whoever you may be, you'd love this story too because it helps bring back all those memories of youth. Superb acting and captivating writing bring you back to those by-gone years of innocence.

I don’t usually watch youth dramas, but this one is a gem. Everything is so natural. It is so funny that I laugh so hard, and yet, I cry when I see my characters struggle. However, I have to point out that, like in most other Chinese dramas, lazy writing towards the ending spoils the whole otherwise wonderful drama. I wish the writers have been more thoughtful towards this end. It's such a pity because the whole drama has been so good. The last 2 episodes are just not keeping up with the initial momentum and quality. There are so many lost opportunities that the production team could have made this drama so stand out.

Despite from the "less than perfect" writing for the last 2 episodes, I still love this drama nonetheless. All the scenes are tastefully shot. I particularly love the scenes when Lu Shiyi rides a creaky bike taking Xia Xiaoju at the backseat. That beautiful screen shot encapsulates the whole story, Shàng Yóu.

Must watch! TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!

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Artistic, Beautiful, Classy, Elegant, Humorous, Sweet Romance, Mysterious

A Dream of Splendor is an adaptation of a very beloved classic story written by a playwright in the Yuan Dyansty (c. 1271–1368). The original story, titled 赵盼儿风月救风尘, in short “Saving the Courtesan” (救风尘), tells the story of Yinzhang marrying a man who forced her into prostitution. Zhao Pan'er came to help her by seducing the man into signing the divorce paper. Yinzhang later married the upstanding scholar who Zhao Pan’er was in love with. The story was so inspiring that over the years, it has been adapted into movie, TV series, dramas, plays, Chinese operas (越剧), and even into a comic book (manhua). In A Dream of Splendor, romance and politics are added to give it a complete flavor for today’s audience.

Though fictional names are used, this drama is said to have set in the Song Dynasty, around c. 1019, during Emperor Zhenzong’s reign. The Emperor was sickly and his Empress, Liu E assisted him in the ruling, handling various state matters. Having a less than pristine family background, court officials had divided opinions of the Emperor taking Liu E as the Empress. In this fictional story, the Empress was an entertainer in the past, and her image was captured in a painting as she was entertaining her host and guests. As a Secret Service for the Imperial Palace, Gu Qianfan (Chen Xiao) is ordered to retrieve the painting before it’s fallen into the hands of those who want to use it to expose the Empress of her past.

While searching for that painting, Gu Qianfan crosses path with Zhao Pan’er (Liu Yifei). After saving Gu Qianfan when he is almost killed, Zhao Pan’er comes to the capital city in search of her fiancé, Ouyang Xu (Xu Haiqiao), together with her best friends, Song Yinzhang (Lin Yun aka Jelly Lin) and Sun San Niang (Liu Yan aka Ada Liu). Each of them has had gone through the worst of their lives: Sun San Niang is jilted by her husband and denied by her son and she attempts suicide, while Song Yinzhang is abused by her gigolo husband. Zhao Pan’er has rescued both women while going through a breakup with a relationship for three years. The trio decides they need to maintain their dignity, depend on themselves and will not be subjected to the manipulation of any men. They first start a small and elegant tea house, and later run the most talked-about restaurant in town, employing the skills each possesses – Zhao Pan’er’s art of tea, Song Yizhang’s talent of the pipa instrument and Sun San Niang’s outstanding gourmet cooking.

Zhao Pan’er has a modern-day business acumen. She turns her adversaries into her allies. She is good in putting two and two together to figure things out. She is artistic, intelligent, and fast witted. In this drama, she ends with the best love of her life whom she deserves. Liu Yifei’s acting is natural and amazing. Her charisma exudes elegance, beauty, grace and calmness.

Gu Qianfan is a ruthless, intelligent head of the Imperial Guard, and he can fight very well. Chen Xiao’s portrayal is convincing and natural, and most of all, he has an undeniable amazing chemistry with Liu Yifei. Their dynamics are over the top, and their romance is sweet and real.

Other cast members are just as good and convincing. Here we have a comedic character, Chi Yanei (Dai Xu), to light up the mood and add colors to the story. There’s a lot of growth with the main characters, in particular with Song Yinzhang who grows from a naïve gullible girl to an intelligent decisive business owner.

My Verdict

As lovely as the romance in this drama, this story is about courageous women helping and saving each other from their most egregious times and conditions. It is heart wrenching and anguish to watch the reality of life for ancient women and such trend is still persisting in today’s world that women are still being treated harshly and unfairly, in particular in light of the recent abortion ban in the USA.

The 2001 version of the drama starred Le Jiatong as Zhao Pan’er and Fan Bingbing as Yinzhang. In this earlier version, there were no Gu Qianfan nor Sun San Niang. The two female characters were flamboyant and very strong since the beginning, especially Yinzhang. Their costumes were colorful and tawdry as they were dancers. The music and dances were some of the most beautiful scenes to watch and are commendable.

In A Dream of Splendor, the Ouyang Xu character is being vilified (vis a vis the scholar that was loved by both women in the earlier version), and the women’s characters are subdued and more dignify, giving them more class and elegance; Zhao Pan’er’s expertise in the art of tea and Song Yinzhang’s brilliance in playing the pipa instrument. Any viewers will be mesmerized by the beauty and elegance of these ladies when they execute their exquisite art forms. I like the way the characters talk, softly, and directly without beating around the bush nor losing grace, and without fear nor hypocrisy. The drama explores the main five senses of our bodies with some more in-depth than others: visual, sound, taste, touch, smell. Though the story and plot are not perfect with a lot of unplugged holes, the romance is warm and desirable, the aesthetic value is one of the best (Zhao Pan'er's art of tea, her dancing, visual of Yinzhang's pipa playing etc), and the instrumental music and OSTs are excellent.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable drama for all romance buffs and for viewers who appreciate the beautiful things in life. Don’t miss it. BRAVO!

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