A comfort mystery/thriller

S.C.I. made me so happy. The arcs were so interesting and engaging and I love forensic psychology, so this was super fun for me to watch. You don't get bored watching S.C.I. The scenes between the second main couple are so bad but they're just so hilarious that it's kind of fun to watch them. Baizhan is the perfect bickering childhood friends-to-lovers couple and I love the combination of their skills in the criminal investigation field. Although the characters are slightly different than they are in the book, a lot of the dialogue is word-for-word, so I’m not upset there. Also, I tend to view book characters vs tv characters as different entities of the same mold, so I think both portrayals of most of the main characters are great. I’m not mad about the fact that a lot of the male characters in the book are female in the drama because the plot isn't different, most personalities aren't different, and Ma Han and Bai Jin/Qintang as females are just so badass and my gay little heart collapses at the mere sight of them (especially Ma Han with [her] precision rifle). Ma Han is definitely a win for the bisexuals >:) S.C.I. does have some flaws such as a rushed progression of events making processing major things difficult, introduction of characters that feel a little irrelevant to the plot and/or make it more confusing, and wonky transitions. Also, the arcs aren’t super cohesive, like we just kind of jump from one thing to another and I feel like Zhao Jue was just thrown in there to have something that pulls us back to the main plot, but we easily lose sight of what that plot is supposed to be. I feel like so much more could’ve been done with Zhao Jue’s character, he’s so interesting! Despite these things, S.C.I. is a great combination of mystery, fun, romance, action, and is a very interesting look into the psychological aspects of criminal investigation and violence. It’s a lot like Hannibal the TV show in theory, just wayyy more lighthearted, romantic, funny, and less intense. Would definitely recommend.

Read More

A bold, crazy, action-filled package of fun

It’s not the best--uh bad--because the storyline is all over the place, it’s largely comprised of fanservice (though they poke fun), the side couples and characters aren't great, there is some internalized homophobia, stalker stuff, and probably criminal actions that are brushed off, and the ending sucks; HOWEVER, if you overlook that, it’s a nice slice-of-life romance with bonus comedy and action. The chemistry between the leads is very good (Junjun is so cute in this role and though Xu Feng’s character comes off strong, he does a good job bringing a tenderness and likability to him distinct from the novel's character (who is ok but...) and the relationship of their roles is quite cute once the stalker stuff passes.

The show is also very brave in its portrayal of the main couple which is definitely what leads to its ultimate self-sabotage. It's really tragic. It was released a bit after Addicted/Heroin (上瘾) was taken down, so they were probably walking on eggshells with what they could depict, somehow a lot was included. I gained a lot of respect for Chai Jidan, I'm not gonna lie. I won’t spoil much, but let’s say you’ll become a living surprised Pikachu face. You might even scream a couple of times out of incredulity...or horror.

TL;DR I would recommend it because it’s cute, but action-packed and will make you laugh and smile and feel sad at times. If you are willing to overlook some--many--problematic/bad elements, you might be in for a really enjoyable time :)

Read More

Like a compilation of clips, but ones worth watching

This is one of those series that I'd talk up so much that when people actually watch it, they'd be confused.

I. Loved. Yun. Qian. I'm in love with their love. Also...BADDIE WUXIA GAY GIRLS?? I think yes.

Because the world is lesbophobic (and because censorship is terrifying), the budget for this show was probably very minimal and the runtime is about 60 minutes total. Each episode is about 4 minutes long. However, I am still impressed with what they were able to put together.

The stunning visuals, beautiful costumes, good acting, surprisingly decent SFX, and chemistry between the leads make up for the forced absence of adequate development. The plot had the potential to be good as it was witty, cute, funny, sad at the right times, and had a bit to offer to everyone, but because of the lack of resources, it ended up being rushed and campy. Overuse of on-screen text and comical editing (present in every light-hearted Chinese interview ever) normally annoys me, but I think it added to the cuteness of the production. What was annoying, though, was the excessive amount of music changes. Like, not necessary, but the music was good. The storyline got kind of confusing in the middle and I kind of lost track of the plot at one point, but who cares? There were gorgeous, badass women with swords...

Although it was more like a compilation of clips put together, the fact that this show contained an actual storyline with charming (and really pretty) characters makes it impressive and definitely worth a watch. It made me soooo happy to see queer girls in my favorite Asian drama genre (wuxia lol) and I really hope that we can get shows like Yun Qian in the future with more time, money, plot, and other resources. I know that they will be amazing :)

Read More

campy, chaotic, completely charming

If it weren't for the incredible chemistry between the main leads, the soundtrack, the shattering of stereotypes (strong female characters and healthy masculinity for the win!) and the absolutely stunning, intimate relationship of Du Zifeng and Pi Yanuo, this drama would've received less than five stars from me. Don't get me wrong, I love drama. But I think that they tried to fit way too much of it into this show. And at random moments too. The cheesiness is just off the charts.

Though I appreciate the relationships between Zifeng and his father, Nana and Qingyang, Qingyang and Zifeng, Yanuo and Zherui, and Nana and her father, the story that accompanies all of this is too plot heavy and often takes away from the beautiful relationships the show is set up for.

The fight scenes are pretty awesome since the actors do a lot of their own stunts, but definitely more funny than serious.

The the over-the-top drama is well-placed in Zifeng and Yanuo's actual relationship, though. The rooftop scene, the food truck scene, the paint gun scene, etc. Melodramatic and funny as they are, some of the dialogue exchanged between DuPi in these scenes is just so heartwarming and shows how genuine and strong their bond is. I could talk about their relationship for hours, because they are so in love with each other no matter background, gender, or circumstances.

I truly love this drama and have watched it at least ten times. I’ve practically memorized it in Chinese. It's one of those feel-good shows that you watch when you just need an incredible romance or something that will make you smile. As bad as it is, I will never hesitate to recommend this show that really helped me in trying times.

Read More