Fast Moving, Amazing Chemistry, Girl Empowering

The Autumn Ballad is an intriguing suspense romance story with strong male and female leads. Interestingly, the development of the story is almost distinctly divided into 3 sections: first section being both the main leads meeting and hating each other and yet they’re forced to work together to survive; the middle section being the main leads starting to warm up to and discover each other with many sweet moments together; the final section being they falling in love and fighting their adversaries hand in hand.

Qiu Yan (Qiao Xin) is not a conventional girl of her time. Having gone through a lot of hardship and heartaches growing up, she is strong, proactive and knows how to fend for herself without letting fate dictate her. During her mishaps, she meets Liang Yi (Jeremy Tsui) who is a ruthless cold hearted investigator. At first, Liang Yi thinks Qiu Yan a gold-digger, using her dirty schemes to land a big fish for marriage. After working with her to solve various criminal cases, Liang Yi changes his view of Qiu Yen and she begins to attract him. Mutually, Qiu Yan doesn’t like Liang Yi initially because she thinks he is cruel and heartless, but after working with him for a while, she realizes that’s just a façade he puts up to undermine others. Under that face is a kind and caring person who has helped her again and again. She begins to take an interest in him. Their interactions for the first 20 episodes or so really feel like a rom-com, with smearing and sarcasms against each other which is really fun to watch.

As they begin to develop feelings for each other, a few episodes are devoted to show their romance and this thrills many viewers. After episode 20 or so, it is an open fact that they are a couple without declaring their feelings to each other but each knows the other’s heart. They are almost inseparable solving mysteries and a huge conspiracy while saving each other’s life with their own. For many romance buffs, it is satisfying to see a couple that reads each other’s mind so well, and they give the viewers a lot of sweet moments; their chemistry rocks.

I didn’t quite like Jeremy Tsui when I first watched his work in Legend of the Phoenix. His pale face, sly smile had made me uncomfortable and I wasn’t even sure if he wasn’t an antagonist. But in this drama, I find his acting very believable with his minute expressions and overall charisma. I particularly love the scene when Qiu Yan tells him she’s the girl he has rescued years ago. His facial expression is priceless. Like many viewers, I am attracted and mesmerized by his magnetic deep voice, though some viewers criticize his unclear articulation in his dialogues. This is my first drama of Xiao Xin and I find her beautiful and natural. I really enjoy watching her especially when she starts her bickering with Liang Yi. Her look and emotions are adorable and convincing. The other characters are equally well executed by the cast.

My Verdict

I like this drama very much at the beginning for the first 20 episodes or so. Though I love their romance in the later episodes, somehow, the story starts to lose its appeal in the later episodes. There are still twists and turns, but no more surprises as things become predictable. Many unfathomable logic (such as how can one work closely with a person who has just killed the person who is like a brother to you?) starts to creep in. There are various such logic flaws throughout the drama – working with someone who has killed one’s loved ones. For the later episodes, Qiu Yan seems to be smarter than Liang Yi who has been a brilliant investigator in solving cases for years, and he is supposed to be the best who can see the bigger picture instantly before anyone else can. So it seems like a change in capabilities of the characters. As with the lazy writings of many Chinese historical dramas’ endings, this drama doesn’t escape the same fate. Quite a few of the prominent side characters perish unnecessarily. Though there are many plot twists which are unexpected, I find the final twist that causes the life of one of the characters rather needless. It leaves many questions marks on my mind.

Having said that, I have truly enjoyed this drama and its conspiring couple, both witty and share the same belief. These two love birds are like a pair of duets, always harmonizing each other. It is so good to watch this type of relationship. I also find Qiu Yan very inspiring as she doesn’t leave her life to her fate - she constantly reminds the viewers that.

This is a fine drama that I strongly recommend despite some of the flaws mentioned here.

BRAVO!

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Authentic, Moving, A True Treasure of 夫妻一唱一和

"Destined" is like a breath of fresh air in the world of historical dramas, breaking free from traditional norms with its liberal ideas. Forget about bloodlines determining the monarch or sticking to one family name, this story embraces diversity and challenges the importance of lineage. Gu Jiusi toys with the idea of giving his children different last names, mixing it up like a name buffet! Talk about breaking the rules!

Our leading lady is a timid girl who finds her groove and inspires others to do the same, even that "bad" boy who transforms into a remarkable person. And of course, we have the ultimate villain who's the result of a dysfunctional family. That's one twisted family reunion!

Let's talk about Gu Jiusi, the lovable slacker from the wealthiest family. Sure, he has a reputation which is not so flattering, but deep down, he's got a heart of gold. Bai Jingting nails the role, bringing a playful charm and an unexpected sincerity to the flamboyant Gu Jiusi. He's like a lovable troublemaker with a heartwarming twist!

Now, Liu Yuru, our girl-next-door. She starts off powerless, a puppet of fate. But as life throws her curveballs, she discovers her inner strength and uses it to help her family and support her husband's journey to greatness. Song Yi portrays her beautifully, capturing the delicate yet strong essence of Liu Yuru.

And let's not forget the rest of the cast! From the one-dimensional characters like General Zhou Gaolang to the weak and insecure Fan Yu, everyone brings their A-game. Bravo, folks!

My Verdict

The underlying theme of "Destined" is all about harmony, and they drive that point home! Forgiveness, unity, and letting go of hatred are recurring motifs throughout the story. It's all about finding inner peace and spreading good vibes. Gu Jiusi sums it up perfectly when he says, "Nothing is bad or evil in this world. Stay true to your heart, live happily, and leave no regrets behind." Wise words.

This drama is like a sweet duet, with every note harmonizing perfectly. Sure, there are ups and downs, but in the end, you're left with a blissful feeling. It may take its time to unfold, but hey, good things come to those who wait! So, grab some popcorn and dive into this world of good triumphing over evil, light conquering darkness. It may be slow at times, but trust me, it's worth the watch. Don't miss out on the "Destined" magic!

Bravo!

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How to be a Family

The idea of a contract marriage, and seemingly a child from a previous marriage, didn’t appeal to me initially. But how the story is being told and how everything unfolds make this drama a very worthwhile watch. All the characters are lovable despite each has his/her flaws, making them believable. A child is always the center of attention, and here this cutie is the most adorable child in recent dramas. What seemingly a fake relationship and marriage that initially try to address the psychological issue of the boy by giving him a complete family that he craves, have become a real outcome as the fake parents fall in love.

He (pronounced as “her”) Qiao Yan (Wei Zhe Ming aka Miles Wei) is the CEO of a conglomerate owned by his family and a single father. He loves and dotes on the child, at the same time tries to discipline him like an adult. The outcome is ineffective and hilarious until he meets Qin Yi Yue (Hu Yi Xuan), a child psychologist. Seeing how readily He Wei Fei aka Xiao Bao (Lennon Sun) takes Qin Yi Yue in as his own mother, He Qiao Yan coerces Qin Yi Yue into a contract, with high compensation, to be a pretend mother of Xiao Bao and a pretend Mrs He, for he is a “number” guy who does everything in black and white. Little does he know he falls head-over-toes in love with Qin Yi Yue himself. He misses and thinks of her whenever she’s not around, and he would find ways and means, using Xiao Bao as an excuse, to see her. The interaction is cute and hilarious. The family dynamics are warm and pleasing. What seemingly two very different personalities, he is meticulous and analytical, and she is spontaneous, come together and form an enviable family with a ready-made son.

He Qiao Yan is a person who doesn’t express his emotions very well and openly. He doesn’t understand human relationships and has lived a monotonous life. In other words, He Qiao Yan is a boring person and Wei Zhe Ming captures that 100%. Despite being an immaculate person, I really love how he acts to protect Qin Yi Yue by dropping everything he’s doing and come to her rescue. He Qiao Yan may be a genius in everything but is an idiot in love relationship.

This is my first drama of Wei Zhe Ming. At the first look, he didn’t appeal to me. But he grows on me and by the end of the drama, I find him the most eligible single father to die for. His acting is so convincing with small little facial expressions such as a raise of the corner of his eyebrow, a blur look on his face etc, capturing all the essence of his character.

Qin Yi Yue is disorganized, intelligent and quick witted. Despite being a doctor, she is not very health conscious as she feasts on junk food. She finds He Qiao Yan a weirdo initially but moved by him when she sees his devotion for the child who is not his, and his consideration for her well-being unspoken. Their love development is gradual and solid.

I have liked Hu Yi Xuan’s acting in “Sleepless Princess”. I find her charismatic with an air of freshness and authenticity. Here as a child psychologist, she is soothing and gentle. Even at times of helplessness, she still smiles with tears and resignation in her eyes.

Chinese dramas will not be complete without some tropes such as arranged marriage for economic benefits which is not much different from marriages of the old days among the royals. And of course, there are the side couples who are also the best friends of our ML and FL.

My Verdict
This is a very enjoyable drama most romance buffs will love. I love it myself. It’s funny and light, especially when it comes to dealing with the child. The parent-child dynamics are really fun to watch. Both main lead characters are mature with a tsundere ML and a warm and approachable FL. Although some parts of the editing are lacking, it hasn’t turned into a disaster and ruined the story. Overall, this is a wonderful drama not to be missed.

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A Fateful Mix Up

She's the daughter of a street artist and is forced to marry a bandit. Another is the daughter of a prince and is arranged to marry a general. The brides are switched, all because of the misread of a simple character, resulting in the commoner marrying the general and the royal princess waiting to marry the bandit. It is this seemingly simple play of words/characters that has attracted my attention and drawn me into the story.

On that fateful day while waiting to be married off, both Xiao Wanzi (Li Gengxi aka Teresa Li) and Lu Yingyao (Sun Anke) are in their respective rooms in a motel until chaos strikes. In confusion, they run back into the wrong rooms because they misread the characters 竹 ("zhu") and 林 ("lin") which may look rather similar in certain calligraphy style. From there, they are sent to the wrong households as the wrong brides, and their fates totally change.

At the general's mansion, very soon Mei Shiqing (Huang Junjie) realizes Xiao Wanzi is an imposter. Nothing like a supposedly well-groomed princess, Xiao Wanzi is crass, has a common look and an illiterate. However, she is streetwise, honest, compassionate and upstanding as she protects others with her own life, and this is enough for Mei Shiqing to fall in love with her. He also has a secret identity as Ye Ling Xia that Xiao Wanzi idolizes. Like Batman, Ye Ling Xia helps the poor and weak. Numerous times, she comes forward to help him fend off the enemies, though he doesn't really need her help because he's a skilled martial artist and a superhero. But her selfless acts impress and attract him.

As Xiao Wanzi, Li Gengxi is very convincing with a lot of animated expressions, after all she uses to perform on the street and needs her vivacity for her acts. Many viewers find her not attractive enough, but for me, she fits the role well because Xiao Wanzi is supposed to be a very common looking girl with no sophistication.

Huang Junjie is very good looking and he looks extremely well as a wordless cold character. However, he still hasn’t grasped how to play such a stern character fully; frowning doesn't make him look serious but makes him look constipated. The only moments I find his acting perfect are when he tells people to “get out” in a stern voice, expressionless, and when he dresses as the superhero character with a mask.

I love the second couple here in particular Lu Yingyao who is well read, gentle and kind without the spoilt princess temperament. And she falls in love with the adopted son of the bandit, Xiao Bao (Ding Jiawen) who has a good heart. Under her coaxing, Xiao Bao eventually abandons his life as a bandit.

What seemingly two mismatched pairs become best of friends and love each other with no judgement of their respective backgrounds. Hanging around the mix up identities lurks something nefarious – smuggle, money laundering and conspiracy. The supervillain is not revealed until the final episode.

The Chinese title, “huā hǎo yuè yòu yuan” (the flowers are good and the moon is round), gives hints of the ending of the story. There are some pretty good OSTs here that I have enjoyed very much.

My Verdict
Though the storyline is not new, and can be tropey at times with predictable outcome, this is still rather a fun watch with a superhero protagonist, an animated first female lead, an intelligent lovable second female lead, an antagonist turns protagonist, and a hidden supervillain. The comedy is cute and sweet. For romance buffs, the two couples have never been separated since they first meet, and there are no misunderstandings that are not resolved quickly. There could be flaws here and there but the writing and editing are decent. Overall, it’s quite an enjoyable drama.

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Awkward and Poor Script

If not because of Zeng Shun Xi (aka Joseph Zeng), I don’t think I would have continued with this drama. The writing is weird, the dialogues are weird, the logic is weird, Liang Jie’s acting and character are weird, and the English title is even more weird. The only saving grace is Zeng Shun Xi’s acting and his character which I really like a lot. This drama is set in the Song Dynasty when often the emperors had no heirs of their own and were forced to adopt their nephews as their successors.

Zhao Xiao Qian (Zeng Shun Xi) is the adopted son of the Emperor. He and his older brother were brought into the palace to be groomed as the heir to the throne. Then the Empress conceived, and the two brothers lost favor. When the Empress had a still-born, Zhao Xiao Qian’s brother died and Zhao Xiao Qian was banished to Wu Jiang Fu, a city far away from the palace. He is happy living his quiet life, until Xie Xiao Man (Liang Jie) shows up and he falls in love with her. Zhao Xiao Qian cannot marry her because of their difference in their social statuses – he’s a noble and she’s a commoner from the countryside.

Fundamentally, Zhao Xiao Qian is a good person. He's kind and caring, generous and protective towards all the people he cares about. However, he is also hot tempered, entitled, unreasonable, demanding, authoritative and abusive, all an act to cover his pain and anger. Zeng Shun Xi's acting as the explosive Zhao Xiao Qian with a lot of pend up anger is very convincing, and I empathize with this character, despite his initial verbally abusive behavior towards Xie Xiao Man, which I feel she totally deserves. For some reason, Liang Jie’s acting of the Xie Xiao Man character here is not very impressive; she feels awkward and unnatural. I don’t know if her voice is dubbed, but she sure sounds cringey.

This is a story about class struggle and the oligarchy system which imposes injustices in the society with rampant corruption and abuse of power. The writing seems childish, written for young viewers. The characters are very immature with very simple dialogues and logic. Though they later grow to become more responsible and to achieving their dreams, they remain naïve because their thinking is still simplistic. More than 80% of the drama is spent in an academic setting where the characters are acquiring their education. Initially, the theme of equality emerges - one mustn’t judge another by their birth, in particular in gender equality when girls are inspired to nourish themselves with education and contribute to the society. Then this theme fizzles out with nothing much to show.

The writer seems to be flip-flopping with the characters, in particular with the Xie Xiao Man character. On one hand, she is smart, but at the same time, her actions are pretty dumb. She is supposed to be strong and brave, and yet she is so muddle and girly, causing misunderstanding again and again, that she is frustrating to watch.

Overall
This is a youth school drama in a historical setting with a theme that says, “Education is the most powerful weapon” when the characters, boys and girls, are encouraged to value education. Then enters gender equality when girls are inspired to perform as well as the boys and contribute to society. All these fizzle out; the world is still unjust with birth statuses still being the determinant of what one can and cannot do with one's life though Zhao Xiao Qian manages to upgrade Xie Xiao Man’s status so that he could marry her; girls are still being treated as the belongings of men and cannot make their own decisions for their own lives though an independent female businesswoman is being highlighted here; the rich and powerful still rule the world though Zhao Xiao Qian manages to take down some. Flaws and plot holes everywhere, the dialogues are boring and bad. Many viewers find the OTP’s relationship toxic, and they grit their teeth watching the romance development and continuous misunderstandings one after another, and the annoying behavior of Xie Xiao Man that always angers Zhao Xiao Qian. For me, he loves and wants her, and the feelings are mutual (though she also feels insecure), that is good enough for me (boy! I have such low expectation).

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Daring, Romantic, Beautiful

After CQL (“The Untamed”), many viewers called for more dramas like it, and are pleasantly rewarded with this drama. “Word of Honor” (WoH) is unexpectedly daring, romantic and visually beautiful. Adapted from a BL novel, “The Wanderers” by Priest, this drama was expected to have the BL elements toned down, if not totally eliminated, to pass censorship, To the surprise of many, here, the show of love is blatant and unabashed; according to readers, the adaptation is faithful and they are delighted.

Story
One is guilt ridden, and seeks to redeem.
One is revenge ridden, and vows to avenge.
One is young with no skills, and promises to become better.
They all have one thing in common - they’ve lost everything. When they meet, they become a family, watching out for each other. Life becomes meaningful again.

Many viewers ask the question how this drama is compared to CQL (“The Untamed”). Though of different genre, CQL is xianxia and WoH is wuxia, there are many similar parts, such as the search for some relics that everyone kills to possess, the monsters/zombies, music therapy (to heal, Wen Ke Xing plays the flute, Lan Zhan plays the guqin), herd mentality, dark can be light, and white can be black etc. They even use the same composer Lin Hai to compose the music. The visual effect of both dramas is very beautiful with amazingly good-looking actors.

“Word of Honor” is a very typical wuxia story with various sects and alliances, emphasizing on chivalry, altruism and compassion as virtues. Compared with “The Untamed”, the relationship in this drama is more explicit. Within the first episode, one would know it's more than platonic - there're more skin-to-skin contacts, and admiration words are flying everywhere. Having said that by episode 22, the BL elements become more subdue and the dynamics somehow shift to more brotherly. Nonetheless, the undertone is still the vow of “till death we part”. There is not so much of the actual plot, but this drama dwells deep into the inner feelings of the main characters – their fears, their hatred, their guilt – and how they try to redeem themselves. A lot of feelings are channeled in an unspoken way, leaving room for interpretation.

With Wen Ke Xing (Gong Jun aka Simon Gong), Zhou Zi Shu (Zhang Zhe Han) is understanding and benevolent. He has great respect and patience for Wen Ke Xing who is a broken man. Wen Ke Xing continues to use flamboyant words to cover his own pains and feelings, and constantly test Zhou Zi Shu with unanswered questions to determine if the latter can understand him truly. They become each other's soul mate, and accompany each other wherever they may go; their constant bantering and teasing is fun to watch, and their CP chemistry is undeniable. Many of the dialogues have deep meaning using analogies and idioms. The use of poems in expressing love and admiration for the other is lavishly done, making the declaration direct and yet classy and meaningful.

Acting
The overall acting is good, in particular for Gong Jun (Simon Gong) as many viewers have pointed out. He has a playful and at the same time a devilish mysterious look which helps him fit perfectly as the gray Wen Ke Xing character. His ability to change from a dark side with devious hatred in his eyes instantly into a bright, cheeky and flirtatious character, or vice versa, is commendable. All this is done aesthetically and convincingly. I particularly love all his fighting scenes, beautifully executed.

I am normally critical of Zhang Zhe Han's acting, but here, he nails it, either as the dark face rugged looking Zhou Xu or the handsome somber Zhou Zi Shu.

As many emotions are expressed through few words but with the actors’ eyes, both main leads have given a rich performance here.

OSTs
As mentioned earlier, the OSTs are composed by Lin Hai who has also composed the OSTs for CQL (“The Untamed”). For me, the OSTs here are less memorable though I have enjoyed listening to the title theme song.

WoH or CQL
I’m not trying to compare apple to apple of the two dramas. I’m just trying to answer some questions new viewers may have. When viewers express that BL not their cup-of-tea, they are being labeled as homophobes and attacked en masse by fans. But attacking others doesn’t make one less bigot.

The Chinese title for WoH is Shan He Ling, which makes me think, just because Chen Qing Ling (CQL) is successful, did they also try to copy the naming style of the title to give WoH a similar feel for the Chinese audience? Shan He in this case has less relevancy than Chen Qing in CQL (The Untamed).

For me, WoH has not touched me as much as CQL has. I have been almost in control, apart from some burst out laughter, throughout the whole drama whereas CQL has made me cry a river. I like the lighting and colors here, and the CGIs are probably done better here too. The fighting scenes here are very beautifully executed, especially with Gong Jun’s scenes (I know I’m repeating, but his fighting scenes are really very good). But the story is not as rich as CQL, the super villains are not as mysterious, and the pains not as intense. The BL elements though are very explicit which may turn some viewers away whereas in CQL, they are very subtle, expressed in thousands of symbolisms, songs, and minute actions. Some viewers even find the relationship platonic in CQL.

My Verdict
There is great character contrast - one is active and the other passive. Both characters have unbeatable fighting skills. The lavish use of poems to describe feelings is brilliant and sophisticated. Great cinematography and great fighting scenes. Visually, like CQL (“The Untamed”), this drama is beautiful. There is a lot of actions, and at the same time, the drama spends a lot of time exploring the inner feelings of the characters.

If you love watching men ogling each other openly, this drama is for you. Else skip the first 20 episodes, but then there's nothing much left to watch and you may not follow the story. Of course, all this boils down to personal taste. Some people didn't like CQL but love WoH. Likewise for viewers who have loved CQL and found WoH not measuring up. And some love both, like myself.

Though there are flaws, I must applaud the courage in producing such a work of art that does not conform. Overall, I have enjoyed this drama.

Great watch!

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Light And Yet Dark

This is a very delightful drama with comedic acting and jokes, at the same time, it is also dark with bloody plots and mysteries. Accordingly, it has been adapted from a novel and the characters have been drastically rewritten rendering dissatisfaction from the readers. There are many twists and turns, and with great endearing relationships between the main couples and the overall family as a whole, this drama is a rather entertaining watch.

The Story
Ju Mu’er (Xiao Yan aka Shane Xiao) is the daughter of a wine maker. In her daily business transactions, she encounters a miser, Long Yao (Xing Zhao Lin) who is a shrewd businessman running the largest conglomerate in the land. He has deep pocket and has a formidable relationship with the palace. Ju Mu’er is also a virtuoso of the Guzheng. When her shifu is framed and executed, she's determined to find the truth behind his death. Long Yao helps her after falling in love with her. Together, they go through ups and downs, marry each other three times (hence the Chinese title for this drama), and risk losing everything including their lives. Their entanglement also endangers their own family members whom they love dearly. In the beginning, it’s hard to discern who the antagonists are.

Long Yao has an older brother who is the head of the royal guards and a younger brother who is the leader of the wǔ lín (martial arts world). They all live together in an exquisite mansion financially supported by Long Yao through his business income. The Long brothers, though have totally different personalities, love each other dearly and would do anything to protect each other. I love the scenes when they eat their meals together daily, bantering with each other. The Long family is very powerful because they have the royal family’s full support. Long Yao’s miserliness is egregious, making him incorruptible hence trusted by the Emperor and the Dowager Empress.

There are some deadly fights within the harem and some light palace politics. During Ju Mu’er’s investigation, both Long Yao’s brothers meet the loves of their life who are also embroiled in the mystery. The eventual outcome is delightful, giving the audience three beautiful pairs of lovers.

The Acting
Xiao Yan is one of my favorite actors but as Ju Mu’er, I can’t say I like her very much. Her acting here is not that bad, but her make-up is terrible. Her eye make-up in particular, has made her so uncomfortable to look at. On top of that, she has a constant smiling face which makes her sad scenes difficult to comprehend; one doesn’t know if she is happy or sad, giving the impression that her acting does not synchronize with the situations.

Xing Zhao Lin’s acting is not bad as the crafty and prideful Long Yao who loves his money and charges for everything including tea money for the match-maker. Everything he does is viewed as a business transaction. He is very smart but not particularly good in expressing himself to his love, Ju Mu’er, Xing Zhao Lin has convincingly brought out the miser and the prude Long Yao.

The styling for the major couple is quite unconventional for historical dressing. It has a hint of western style and the couple’s costumes are always matching each other’s like lovers’ his-and-hers.

My Verdict
There are some very enjoyable scenes, but somehow, certain parts of the story are also not very coherent. This is very likely that the screen writers have changed the original story from the novel without properly addressing the plotline, hence making it illogical with plot holes and flaws. Having said that, this is a story with mysteries, crimes, investigation and super villains. It is funny and cartoonish at times, and yet dark and bloody. There are strong brotherly relationship and trusted friendship, at the same time, betrayal, deceits and deadly misunderstandings.

Overall, this is a drama with an interesting plotline. Had the Ju Mu’er character been more consistently written and acted, this would have been a very good drama.

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一将功成万骨枯 (Yī jiāng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū)

“For every champion lie thousands withered bones.” Most of the times, we see only the glory of a champion – an Olympic swimmer, a World Champion gymnast and skater - but we rarely see the struggles, sacrifices, obstacles, pressures, emotional turmoil that each has to endure. This drama brings us behind the scenes and helps us appreciate how such successes come with the price these champions have paid and the sacrifices made.

This is a story about setting goals, perseverance, and overcoming failures. It is unexpectedly funny and enjoyable to watch. For the last decades, China has been consistently producing world champions in every sports in particular in table tennis. This drama gives us a peek at how these champions are created. Having played table tennis growing up, I have an affinity for the game and hence have enjoyed watching the matches and prolonged sessions at the table. At the end of each episode, table tennis is being explained in details: the terminologies, techniques, rules, competitions, etc. and I find myself enthralled.

The story depicts two very different characters: Xu Tan (acted by Bai Jing Ting) is scrawny, wimpy and lack of confidence, but kind, humble and friendly; Yu Ke Nan (acted by Xu Wei Zhou aka Timmy Xu), with a powerful athletic physique, is overly confident, arrogant, rebellious, impulsive and hot headed. The story begins when both are 17 years old in 2007, and follows their journey to become champions of the world. This unlikely “ying yang” pair becomes best friends and root for each other especially in their most trying period. Countless times, both get punished but unknown to them, their punishment is actually a form of training that helps them grow, such as raising pigs in a farm and becoming a janitor in a boxing gym. Daily details of the years are well taken care of with changing of technology and apparel over the years, from nameless flip phones to Apple smart phones, from Butterfly sportswear to Nike and Adidas.

The drama dwells deep into the various style of coaching by the national coaches and their relationship with their players. Xu Tan and his coach, Lei Cheng (Liu Zhi Bing), are like father and son. His coach inspires him, helps him discover himself and grow. Yu Ke Nan and his coach, Teng Biao (Wang Jian Xin), are like a pair of good old friends, continue kicking each other’s ass and calling each other names, at the same time, they love and trust each other. There is also a super strict coach who produces top ranking players but such players are also the most unhappy with high injury and burnout rates. Another coach has a soul mate relationship with his player, seeing their own shadows in each other. Every character has its flaws and faces personal obstacles. The development of the characters shows how they overcome their obstacles, grow and succeed.

Acting
Here in this drama, I discover Bai Jing Ting. He nails the role as the wimpy kid that grows to become the world champion. Bai Jing Ting has given us some amazing acting and he is so convincing as a world class table tennis player. Whether it’s his body double or not (I really can't tell), I feel Bai Jing Ting can play the game very well; he has the styles, his actions and shots are perfect. Xu Wei Zhou’s acting here is good too especially when he becomes the adult Yu Ke Nan. Like Bai Jing Ting, his playing of the game is immaculate and convincing, making Yu Ke Nan the most formidable table tennis player in the world. I really love watching them playing the game, and there’s a lot of such scenes to satisfy ping pong fans.

My Verdict
If you’re a sports fan and love table tennis in particular, you’d love this drama as it gives us many amazing real-life games with shots and fantastic camera work. Every smash, every torque, every curve is thrilled to watch and viewers can feel the excitement and satisfaction of the shots perfectly executed.

You’d see how China trains its youth, which is nothing like the western world. The greatest difference is, for the west, winning is for personal glory, whereas for the Chinese, it is for their national pride.

If you have watched “Hikaru No Go” and liked that drama, you may like “Ping Pong Life” too. To be honest, I like “Ping Pong Life” better because I find the character development better and more realistic, and it covers a wider range of three-dimensional characters. I love the part when the two leads begin to build their deeper understanding with each other, they really spend a lot of time, literally tied, together. They learn to feel and trust each other without words and the process in doing so is hilarious and adorable. This process is not captured enough in “Hikaru No Go”.

I really love this drama because it reminds me not to look at the glory of any success. We should not lament why we have not been as successful as others, whether in music, sports or anything else, but rather we should ask ourselves if we are willing to sacrifice everything to achieve success, and that’s the message in this drama.

A wonderful watch. Highly recommended!

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Precious Chinese History, Poor Editing

The Imperial Age is the story of Zhu Di (Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty, reigned 1402 to 1424) from his youth to his death at 64 years old. Compared with other Ming Dynasty dramas, this drama has fewer fictionalized events though some historical events have been watered down to make the characters more appealing, while others have been dramatized for dramatic effects. This version of the story is perhaps closest to the historical records.

Zhu Di was the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang who was the founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty (reigned 1368 to 1398). His oldest brother, Zhu Biao was the crown prince designated for the throne. As Zhu Yuanzhang and his wife have humble origin as peasants (Zhu Yuanzhang was said to be a monk), the dynamics within the household are like any families of the commoners addressing each other informally. The Zhu household lives in harmony with loving parents and amicable children. Unlike most palace dramas, in this drama, it is very refreshing to watch the informality of parental and sibling relationships, with the Empress personally cooking in the kitchen for her family with no fanfare (there’s no wastage of food as in The Royal Feast, another drama set in Ming Dynasty). Palace life is simpler and happier.

Cheng Yi acts as the juvenile Zhu Di from episode 1 to episode 9. For once, Cheng Yi gets a happy and mischievous role as a prince who is well loved and pampered by his parents and siblings. His acting here is convincing as a 13-16 year old boy and rather funny as he gets paddled on the backside multiple times for his disobedience, and the actor’s bare back is even shown, fleetingly, when he’s being tendered for the wound.

Feng Shaofeng becomes the young 17 year old Zhu Di until his death at 64 as Emperor Yongle. Feng Shaofeng has a very affable demeanor, making the Zhu Di character very lovable, though he looks too mature for a 17 year old initially. Despite that, Feng Shaofeng looks very regal and authoritative, and has the charisma of an emperor. The drama lays out carefully all the events that have taken place prior to the uprising / civil war, and how Zhu Di comes to wrangle power from his nephew and become the Emperor. Ruthless and cruel as recorded in history books, the drama manages to show such cruelty is justifiable and the character is indeed a deserving respectable figure. Whatever it may be, I am not a historian and it’s not my place to judge the accuracy of such depiction. For me, the logic makes sense and ties in very well with the rest of the story and hence to call Zhu Di a great Emperor of his time.

My Verdict

The original version of the drama is said to be 80 episodes long. It is trimmed down to 45 episodes to fulfill the current government requirement. As such, one can imagine how the final product would become with a cut down of almost 50% of the work completed. There are many skipped scenes, making the story disjointed and can be confusing for non-Mandarin speakers. It’s at times like watching a jigsaw puzzle with the tail placed on the face, and the mouth on the rear side.

Despite the horrendous editing, this drama is still very enjoyable for its authenticity to the actual events. Though a palace story, there are no usual harem cat fights, no rivalry and scheming among the princes, but with a lot of resignations, tears and heartaches of losses. Feng Shaofeng has wept multiple times here with a unique wail. There are also long scenes of both the Emperor Hongwu’s (Zhu Yuanzhang’s) and Emperor Yongle’s (Zhu Di’s) accomplishments in their land reform, establishment of secret police (Jinyiwei aka Embroidered Uniform Guard), purging and execution of officials and their families, wars with the north-east, new capital and foreign engagement, military, bureaucratic reform, Zheng He’s expeditions to the south seas (just by-passingly, not in great details) etc. These scenes can be boring for some viewers who are more interested in action packed story telling. Having said that, some details are very funny and humorous. I believe many of such delightful details have been deleted in order to retain the main events for a shorten version of the story.

Emperor Hongwu has 26 sons from his Empress and various concubines, but in the drama, he’s shown to be only with his Empress all the time displaying his devotion to her. Likewise for Emperor Yongle who is devoted only to his wife Empress Xu. Therefore, there are no cat-fights among the concubines, and no revelation of how many concubines perish with the Emperors when they die. All in all, this drama tries to emphasize on devotion among the men and women in the story which may not be a reality.

The battle scenes are very well made though certain scenes have been reused again and again for various different battles. The endings of most of the characters are similar to what have been recorded in history books, with a few exceptions to make them more palatable for the viewers.

The whole cast is commendable, and the official soundtracks are touching and beautiful. If you are a Chinese history fan, you’d love this drama. I have thoroughly enjoyed it despite some of the shortcomings due to the massive editing. The original version (80 episodes) must have been a masterpiece.

Recommended for history buffs. Great watch! Bravo!

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Curiosity Kills The Cat

“Curiosity kills the cat” refers to Zhang Ping (Song Weilong), the Ramen Detective who, time and time again, places himself in great danger in determining to find the truth. Together with the elegant gentleman Lan Jue (Jing Boran), who initially seems like a “fu hei” (black belly) because he crosses the line which Zhang Ping tenaciously upholds, their fate intertwines and they solve cases after cases which provides them with more clues and leads them to unravel a greater conspiracy. The whole drama is intense and fast-paced, sinister with danger lurking in every corner, spurred on by the background music.

Acting:
The drama is adapted from the novel "The Case of Zhang Gong" 《张公案》written by Da Feng Gua Guo, on the encounters of the naïve, honest and upstanding Zhang Ping, and the diplomatic and graceful Lan Jue. I love both portrayals. Jing Boran has a natural air of elegance and grace. His Lan Jue is brilliant and convincing. At times of his torment and uncertainty, viewers feel for him and his sorrow. Song Weilong has a boyish demeanor and fits the character of the naïve Zhang Ping. His acting here is very believable and lovable. The other cast members are equally good, especially Wang Duo''s Gu Qingzhang who is mysterious and evil-ish, Guo Cheng's Chen Chou who is a true friend, and Hong Yao's Wang Yan character which unfortunately is only one dimensional.

Plot:
The plot is layered with plot within plot and plot twists. Here we have a power-hungry Empress Dowager, a seemingly useless Emperor, a perverted royal blood who would do anything to get his revenge, an upstanding official who is forced to compromise his integrity due to the rot of the system, and a scholar who is obsessed in solving unsolvable cases. What seem like unrelated cases all lead to a big conspiracy. The attention to detail is laudable, with spectacular crime scenes leaving clues for the discerning eyes. The lavish use of hallucination, hypnotism, illusion and deception further enhances suspense and mysteries. There is also a hint of BL for Lan Jue and Gu Qingzhang which further fools the viewers with Zhang Ping’s reaction. It’s only revealed at the end that Lan Jue is a widower with a son. I’m grateful that there is no infuriating Mary Sue characters.

Music:
The opening music, “Red Bloody Fog”, is interesting, mono acoustic drum beats add on the mystery and suspense. I am actually very impressed by all the OSTs and the background music. Some tunes are upbeat with hope, most are sinister and dark, depicting imminent danger, evil and death. The OST “The World is Blessed” gives viewers an image of the common scenes on the street of the ancient time in the ancient city. The vocals accompanied by piano depict the simple life of the commoners, upbeat, and filled of hope for better tomorrows. I even love the tune sung by Zhang Ping’s shifu, “The Cow Wakes up to Eat the Grass”; I find myself humming to the tune repeatedly. There is an extended use of drums to give the feel of something ominous coming. The drop of each beat signifies a find of a jig-saw piece for the puzzle. The music can be mesmerizing, like the tune “Demon of the Heart”, sending listeners into a trance. In darkness and despair, there is hope because there is a person like Zhang Ping who insists on finding the truth as depicted with his tune on “The Ramen Detective's Noodles”.

My Verdict
A great watch for almost everyone. Don’t miss this wonderful drama.

Bravo!

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Let's Go Home For Dinner

“Let's go home for dinner” can even be an appropriate alternative title for this drama. For 48 episodes, the home scene of eating dinner together as one big family perhaps occurs the most times and in every episode. This scene is also the most endearing scene for me as I value family time having meals together as the most enjoyable event in life.

This drama is an investigative story with the three main leads working together from different angles to solve crimes and uncover conspiracies. They investigate government corruptions, punish the guilty, exonerate the innocents and save the kingdom. Though they have totally different personalities, they all have one common goal, that is to protect the Ming Kingdom from all dangers within and without, and to stay loyal to the Emperor throughout.

Tang Fan (Chen Kuan Hong or Darren Chen) is a low-level government official with a magnanimous heart. Though poor with a low income, he’s altruistic and generous to people around him. He has a mind of a genius but can be silly all the times, and that’s the fun part watching him getting into trouble, but somehow manages to come out in one piece. Darren Chen has a very beautiful face with delicate feminine features. Together with a slender body, he makes the most beautiful she-man I’ve ever seen. His acting with a bashful smile and puppy looking eyes catches many viewers’ hearts – he’s adorable.

Sui Zhou (Fu Meng Bo) is a calm, firm, forthright and upstanding man. Though cold, he has a warm heart. Time and time again, he covers Tang Fan’s back while Tang Fan helps him solve his investigations. He’s a good fighter and his fighting scenes are so good. A great cook perhaps in real life, Fu Meng Bo’s kitchen skill is applaudable.

I love the eunuch Wang Zhi (Liu Yao Yuan) who is perhaps the most cunning of all. Ruthless and with his enormous power, he’s also the one who helps both Tang Fan and Sui Zhou in every difficult situation they encounter. Liu Yao Yuan has a boyish face and his acting as a talented young eunuch doing all the dirty work for the Emperor and Consort Zhang, Liu Yao Yuan delivers this role convincingly. He’s perfect!

Despite their differences in personalities, all three work seamlessly together. I love the silent relationship they have with each other. Bromance or not, this friendship is utmost precious.

The supporting cast has done a most marvelous job in their respective roles. I love watching that little girl Dong’er (Huang Yang Tian Tian) who is also the adult in the room keeping the boys together in harmony. It is fun to watch how she outsmarts the boys and the disbelieved look on their faces when they are beaten. It is also fun to watch Consort Wan dresses in armor leading a team of girl soldiers to protect the Emperor.

The flashback showing how the three have met doesn’t occur until Episode 35. In this episode, it explains what has happened to their respective lives and how each gets to the current positions they are holding.

Overall, the drama has a very Jackie-Chan style. After all, he’s the director. It is fast moving, funny at times, silly dialogues, and misfortunate coincidences. There are a lot of chasing and fighting scenes, Jackie Chan’s stunts and moves. I like the great martial arts scenes with incredible sword fighting but dislike the background music during those fights. Although there are some minor plot holes, script writing and editing flaws here and there, this drama overall is a great watch. The ending is nicely done with proper closure for all characters and events. As how the final scene ends, I’m not surprised they are hinting for a season 2.

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Have Lotus House Will Travel

The enchanting tale of "The Lotus House," also known as Lianhua Lou (莲花楼), paints a picture akin to a mobile haven, much like an RV, that has been Li Lianhua's (portrayed by Cheng Yi) cherished abode and means of travel for an entire decade. Amidst the harmonious simplicity of his desires, Li Lianhua seeks solitude and a modest existence. His days are devoted to cultivating sustenance, preparing his own meals, and embodying the role of a wandering country healer, a role that has earned him the moniker of the "miracle doctor" for his rumored power to resurrect the departed. Accompanying him is his faithful canine companion, Húlíjīng (Vixen). This captivating drama is a delightful adaptation of Teng Ping's novel, "The Lotus House with Auspicious Patterns."

Each character in this story possesses a clear and unassuming life goal. As Li Xiangyi a decade ago, Li Lianhua harbored ambitions of becoming the world's preeminent swordsman and achieving fame. His aspirations were intertwined with a pursuit of justice and a mission to safeguard the realm. Fang Duobing (Joseph Zeng) embodies the spirited zeal of youth, aspiring to be a valiant hero championing noble causes. On the contrary, Di Feisheng (Xiao Shunyao), a former adversary, remains fixated on challenging Li Xiangyi to a fateful swordfight, unable to reconcile being second-best.

Though Li Lianhua and Di Feisheng initially shunned the complexities of the "jianghu," their apathy is rekindled by the fervor of the youthful Fang Duobing, whose fervent commitment to the world's safety becomes their shared responsibility. Despite disparate backgrounds and personalities, an unlikely bond unites the trio, propelling them on a journey marked by cryptic clues, unraveling mysteries, and unmasking murderers. The threads of destiny interweave, leading to the revelation of a grand conspiracy, ultimately restoring equilibrium and justice to the realm. Amidst the challenges, lighthearted banter and camaraderie flourish, infusing the narrative with both humor and heartfelt moments.

Li Lianhua's character is multifaceted and deeply intriguing. His choice of the name "Lianhua," meaning lotus, initially piqued my curiosity. Once known as Li Xiangyi, he attained early acclaim as a martial prodigy, establishing the Sigu Men sect while still in his adolescence. His dominance in the martial world was unmistakable, yet it bred envy and resentment, straining relationships and leading to his isolation. This path ultimately culminated in solitude and abandonment, prompting Li Lianhua's poignant rebirth as the lotus, emblematic of purity amid adversity. In an atypical narrative arc, the main character's trajectory descends from the zenith, and Li Lianhua's journey captivates through graceful withdrawal rather than audacious ascent.

Li Lianhua's sagacity shines through as he contemplates his imminent departure from this mortal realm. His patient and earnest method of untying emotional knots and offering solemn farewells to those entwined in his life evokes both contemplation and reverence. The poignancy of bidding adieu with grace and tranquility emerges as a poignant motif, enriching the depth of Li Lianhua's character portrayal.

Cheng Yi's portrayal of Li Lianhua is captivating and well within his artistic range. The actor masterfully encapsulates the essence of a character marked by vulnerability and profound sentiment. His synergy with the endearing Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng characters is noteworthy, preventing his character from being overshadowed while complementing the ensemble.

My Verdict

While the drama's pace is brisk and features multiple layers, I had hoped for a more in-depth exploration of the intricate investigative cases, as well as a heightened suspense element. Despite this, the narrative retains a charm that delves into introspection and personal transformation. The story poignantly underscores the capacity for individuals to undergo profound inner change, revealing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

While the drama's tone embraces gravity through themes of murder and mortality, its dialogues are skillfully peppered with humor, and poignant yet brief romantic interludes leave a touching impression. The intricate dynamics between Li Lianhua and Qiao Wanmian (Chen Duling) illuminate diverse facets of love, revealing nuances of affection, sacrifice, and perception.

The characters' nomenclature carries an element of playful irony, reflecting the author's wit and ingenuity. The story exudes a delicate charm, its narrative craftsmanship interwoven with themes of transformation, forgiveness, and the fragility of life.

A captivating gem, "The Lotus House" is a worthy addition to your viewing repertoire—indeed, a delightful and enriching watch that should not be missed.

Bravo!

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Brotherhood, Self-sacrifice, Touching, Funny, Great Acting

This is an uplifting youth drama. It is humorous and heartwarming with amazing story telling and fantastic acting. There is no romance, which I’m very pleased because I’m tired of the tropey romance that has been churned out repeatedly. This story is about brotherhood and friendship, set in the year of 2005 when flip phones were in use, in a third tiered city north of Beijing close to the border of Korea where the Korean language is widely spoken.

Ye Xiaowen (Chen Youwei) is a 17 year old orphan living in the orphanage when Gao Yang’s (Xin Yunllai) father, Gao Bin (Lu Fangsheng), a divorcee, finds him and takes him home to live with them, without telling Gao Yang Ye Xiaowen's background. Gao Yang is also 17 years old and both kids sit together in class and sleep in the same bedroom. At the beginning, Gao Yang cannot understand why his father has taken home a boy whom he has never known, to live them and he’s pretty unhappy about it. In every way, he tries to make life difficult for Ye Xiaowen. Ye Xiaowen is an introvert who doesn’t show his feelings easily and endures all the abuses Gao Yang throws at him. Through misunderstanding and rumors, both Ye Xiaowen and Gao Yang had thought Ye Xiaowen a bastard child of Gao Bin, and this has created hilarious events until Gao Bin proves that he’s not the father. Gao Yang later finds out that Ye Xiaowen is an orphan and since then, he vows to take care and protect Ye Xiaowen with everything he can.

Gao Bin is a PE teacher but he’s not very well disciplined and Gao Yang has no confidence in everything his father does. Ye Xiaowen is a competent long-distance runner and Gao Bin becomes his coach and he aims to help Ye Xiaowen compete and win scholarships to get into his dreamed university. However, due to Gao Bin’s lack of discipline, his son becomes Ye Xiaowen’s second coach and both go through ups and downs together, never abandoning each other. Their relationship grows over the days and brotherly love for each other is solid and genuine. They encourage each other and want the best for each other.

This drama gives the viewers very strong character development, from an undisciplined teacher to a responsible one whom everyone loves and respects, from a lazy and rebellious boy to a hardworking compassionate young adult, from an introvert to a bright, hopeful, striving youth. All the other side characters also undergo strong character development and achieve their dreams.

My Verdict

This is a great story of compassion, selflessness, courage, and brotherhood. It is touching and yet very funny. All the characters are relatable as they are just like your everyday neighbors with similar flaws. There is a lot of genuine care and love with community spirit; everyone watches out for each other. The acting is very natural and believable, the directing and the editing are close to perfection. All the scenes are delightful, and the sad scenes can draw tears because we, as viewers, can relate. Every character has a story to tell and a dream to fulfill. The selection of actors is appropriate and the chemistry between the main leads is wonderful.

There is nothing BL about this drama. To me, the relationship is not even bromance, just simple brotherhood and trust, like a family.

This is a fun drama for the whole family. Don’t miss it!

Strongly recommended!

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The Hands Behind the Power

This drama portrays the life story of Liu E, one of the most prominent empress dowagers in Chinese history (b. 969 – d. 1033). She became the regent of the Song Dynasty for Emperor Zhenzong (reigned 997 – 1022) and later, for Emperor Renzong (reigned 1022 – 1063). Here, Liu E is depicted as intelligent, benevolent, decisive and visionary, far exceeds her male counterpart. Her journey from rags to riches based on historical facts, is interjected with fictional stories and figures.

The production cost for this drama is undoubtedly high with well know veteran actors, Liu Tao and Chou Yu Min, and the quality and acting are good. However, the editing is horrendous, in particular, for the first 10 episodes, making everything feel disjointed. There, events move very fast, from one big event to the next, supposedly unravelling over a span of time in days or weeks, even years, but the way the drama was cut, it feels like multiple events happening within the same day or hour, confusing and frustrating many viewers. The drama is said to have 80 episodes originally but drastically being trimmed down to 61 episodes.

Liu E has been portrayed as an evil woman in some literature which contradicts what historians think. In historical records, she was a very smart and courageous woman and had implemented many impressive projects that benefited the nation; her contributions were undeniable. Liu Tao's portrayal here is elegant and strong, and yet not lacking her feminine charisma. Whether or not this depiction is historically accurate, it is anybody’s guess. For me, compared with “Serenade of Peaceful Joy” where Liu E was portrayed in the first few episodes, I find some of the events in “Palace of Devotion” more plausible while others rather far-fetched with the writer’s imagination running wild. For example, how Liu E loses her biological children here seems over dramatic, but the request of wearing the emperor’s attire to a ritual ceremony seems out of place in “Serenade of Peaceful Joy” where a great deal of time is spent in arguing over the subject, whereas here, it becomes a brilliant idea by the Emperor himself to grant the Empress Dowager the status and privilege without much ado. Also how Cao (Empress Cisheng) comes to the life of Emperor Renzong is more believable in this drama than the previous one. However, I do love the dialogues in the former drama (“Serenade of Peaceful Joy”) which are more poise and humorous and the costume there perhaps more accurately depicted given Emperor Renzong was a very frugal person.

My Verdict
This is a rather well-done drama with decent CGIs despite the disjointed editing in earlier episodes and some inconsistencies in the logic of the fictitious events which are meant to spice up the story. Compared with “Serenade of Peaceful Joy”, “Palace of Devotion” is action packed with epic war scenes, spectacular warriors from Song and Khitan-Liao, and the settings are more opulent. The encounter of another great empress dowager, the Khitan Xiao Yan Yan, gives viewers two historically great women with strong personalities and powerful characters that leave deep marks in Chinese history; their intelligence and wisdom well supersede their contemporaneous male counterparts.

This is not a drama of great romance, and yet, Emperor Zhenzong is devoted to his Empress Liu. If not for the need of having a male heir for the throne, he wouldn’t have agreed to sleep with other women. This is pretty rare for a custom notorious for harems with thousand beauties.

Many viewers are also critical of the age of the main actors and complaint of their chemistry, Perhaps, these viewers are very used to having good looking young actors and fireworks type of romance. If so, this drama may not be their cup of tea.

“Palace of Devotion” comes with great character development and nice OSTs, at the same time, not lacking a sense of humor, tragedies and connivance.

Women have been an important force in shaping up societies and in politics. Seeing the two great empress dowagers of the time, a what-if question runs through my mind - what if women were given equal power, would we have a more peaceful and better world today?

Though not 100% perfect, this is a good historical drama for history buffs. I have enjoyed it. Great watch and recommended!

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Amazing story! Inspiring Characters! Incredible Acting!

This is a story with a setting in a closely knitted community in South China in the 80s at the onset of the country reopening its door to the outside world. The drama depicts vividly the life experienced by common folks where street gangsters roamed and interwove into the fabric of the society. Life was tough as the country rebuilt its economy, healed from the devastation of the revolution, and stepped onto the world stage.

The Story
The story is narrated from the POV of Yi Dongdong (Niu Junfeng), one of the main characters in the story. He recounts how he has come to meet Ma Xiaoxiao (Tan Songyun aka Seven Tan) and Ou Xiaojian (Xu Weizhou aka Timmy Xu) and how the two have inspired him. Though secretly in love with Ma Xiaoxiao and his love is never being reciprocated, Yi Dongdong is happy with this status quo for years from high school till adulthood.

Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao have grown up together on Mayang Street, a very tightly woven community where everyone knows and helps each other in times of trouble. Both Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao are soulmates and later become lovers to each other. They are role models in their neighborhood and in school with highest ranking in their academic studies. Tragedies strike repeatedly in Ou Xiaojian’s life and he grows up fast. While all the kids around him still in school, wondering what life is all about, he drops out of school, enters the police academy and is thrusted into a world that even most adults cannot handle. Unbeknownst to all, he becomes a mole for the police. To gather information, he hangs out with gang members, rendering everyone thinking he has turned rogue. Daily he’s involved in gang fights and getting hurt bloodily. His mission is to collect evidence to flush out the kingpin of the organization that has a seemingly clean façade, but deeply involved in money laundering, black market, smuggling, human trafficking, frauds, cheating schemes, street gangsters, and it has a giant network that spans to multiple cities and countries.

It is both happy and sad how the story ends. It makes me cry and my heart aches for my hero. I know deep down inside somewhere, Ma Xiaoxiao still remembers Ou Xiaojian dearly and cries for him.

The Characters and The Acting
The Ou Xiaojian character is a very difficult role to portray as he is multi-dimensional. On one hand, he’s a normal kid just like everyone on the same street. He goes through the same growing pains like others. But on the other hand, he has to act tough and fearless to protect those he loves. When he becomes a mole for the police, he has to act like a bad kid to blend in with the gangsters, talking rough and mean. Son of a dead police officer, he has a heavy burden on his shoulder that he cannot let anyone see. Misunderstandings are left unexplained because he can’t; he’s always in a predicament because he doesn’t want to purposely hurt the people he cares for. He is altruistic and magnanimous, and takes care of the kids in the neighborhood and helps them grow like a big brother, he's their guardian angel and everyone looks up to him. He's inspiring and very filial pious. And yet, life is cruel to him. Like his grandmother, I’m constantly fearful for Ou Xiaojian, fearing for him getting hurt again or even getting killed. Though I smile every time he comes on screen, as he gives viewers the security that Ou Xiaojian would take care of everything and everything would be fine, I’m fearful for him. The writer has successfully captured our sympathy for the character and brought out the motherly instinct of the viewers.

Actor Xu Weizhou has a baby face that plays well as the character of a 17-18 year old teenager as Ou Xiaojian. His ‘bad-boy’ aura makes him a very convincing gangster, albeit the best looking one, with a perfect physique even among the many Chinese actors. At 185 cm height, his long legs and strong chest make his every action move extremely good to watch; he’s really an eye candy for many viewers. Either riding his motorbike, running, kicking in fights, wearing his black biker outfits, he exudes a charisma no others can match. By the end of the drama, Ou Xiaojian has become my hero and Xu Weizhou gets enlisted on my favorite actor list.

Ma Xiaoxiao lives just across the street from Ou Xiaojian’s shop/home. They love and care for each other, watching out for each other’s back constantly. Ma Xiaoxiao is mature and commanding. A role model for her street and school, she is their big sister. She pulls the kids up when they lag behind in their studies. She’s their voice in school. Her friends love her and would fight tooth and nail to help her. Just like Ou Xiaojian who sacrifices for others, she sacrifices herself to make dream come true for her sister.

Tan Songyun has done it again, this time as Ma Xiaoxiao, an 18 year-old high school girl. At her actual age of 30, she continues to amaze me for transforming herself into a teenager playing the roles so effortlessly and convincingly.

I really enjoy watching the moments when Ma Xiaoxiao and Ou Xiaojian are together, not doing much, just holding hands, heads leaning on each other or gazing into each other wordlessly. Those moments really create ripples in my heart; their chemistry is exploding.

There are numerous veterans here, and multiple young actors, all giving their tip top performances, bringing alive the characters, making us empathize and love them.

The Official Sound Tracks
This drama produces numerous wonderful sound tracks, in particular the OST We Suddenly Grow Up, reminiscing the bygone childhood from the voice of a youth, and the OST Remembering You accompanied by a harmonica intensifying the melancholy, conjuring memories of a lost love.

My Verdict
This drama is one of those that once you start watching you cannot stop because the characters just pull you in.

This is a story with a lot of complexity. Its characters are multi-layered. Its attention to details is commendable. Many norms of the era are captured and depicted vividly here, such as how precious soda was for a child, how a big deal a pair of blue jeans was, televisions and phones were considered as luxuries. Private facilities were rare and common bathrooms for the whole community were the norm. Or the cooking of spicy or fermented foods that stunk the whole street. People living together like a big family, laughing and crying on each other's shoulder. The family dynamics and interpersonal relationships are being written so well that, these are all the small details that make this drama so relatable and endearing. It does make me ponder what does it mean by “a meaningful life”. Would one be happier living in a community like they do on Mayang Street, or like we do individually away from loved ones? No doubt there is a lot of conflicts living in a community like that – parents and neighbors fighting all the time, and secrets become public knowledge in no time.

This drama brings out the resignation and humor of life. At the beginning of each episode, the writer provides a lesson learned in the ensuing scenes with a fine statement for the viewers to ponder, successfully capturing the experiences all of us may have encountered in life. Sad as it is for a short young life of Ou Xiaojian, we should also celebrate him for living a life that he finds meaning in. The writer has successfully given us a very inspirational character.

A wonderful story that makes you keep thinking about the characters. TWO THUMBS UP!

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