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[asianhappinesss]

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[asianhappinesss]

About is love (season 2)

Summary

Wei Qing and Zhou Shi were in a long distance relationship. She had just returned from her studies abroad to celebrate his birthday. But they ended up quarreling after Wei Qing intervened to stop Zhou Shi’s overseas internship offer that will prolong their long distance relationship. During their cold war, Zhou Shi was forced to break up with Wei Qing due to some unforeseen circumstances. She also cut off all contact with him and her friends.

2 years later, Zhou Shi reappears in the country as an assistant to Wei Qing’s rival. They meet again and Zhou Shi is now required to get close to Wei Qing due to a business project. While they still have feelings for each other, Zhou Shi is hesitant due to her boss’ rivalry with her ex. On the other hand, Wei Qing is still sore over her unilateral decision to break up with him without any clue as to why. As the couple spend more time together, how will they resolve their past misunderstanding?

Review

Maybe For Fans

After watching 2 better quality romance dramas in a row namely, Dine With Love and The Oath Of Love, About Is Love S2 just seems rather lame. The temptation to quit watching halfway through is pretty strong with this one. The short episodes helped me persevere to the end. With only half an hour screen time for most episodes plus the fast forward button, I managed to complete this somehow. The fact that there are 3 couples in the drama might have lessen the boredom as well.

I think you might like this better if you are a big fan of the first season. But if the prequel is already mediocre to you, S2 is even worse overall. There is no depth to the story. Instead, it is all about bickering for 2 out of the 3 couples. Perhaps bickering couples is not my cup of tea. I just find it overdone and unnecessary. Somehow, the relationship dynamics just aren’t there to project the quarrels as sweet rather than pointless as the couple could have just communicated like adults.

There is also a business aspect to the drama but it doesn’t really have the intensity and excitement to make you feel hooked unlike Lie To Love or even The Lion’s Secret. I guess this is understandable as About Is Love S2 focuses on the romance. Hence, the business side of things is largely simplified with limited screen time.

Another Domineering CEO Trope

Basically, the male protagonist is a controlling CEO who does things behind his girlfriend’s back in the name of love. In the beginning, he did so in order to scuttle her job offer abroad. In the later part of the drama, he did it again to “protect” her. Therefore, the plot will give you these cliches which you would have seen in many other Chinese romance dramas. But the female lead is just as headstrong and that is why you will end up with a bickering couple.

Nevertheless, the 2 of them obviously have feelings for each other and this is where you will get this push and pull factor in the relationship. It is like seeing them blowing hot and cold throughout the drama. One minute, they will seem to be getting closer and the next, they will start another round of argument. There are a few of these cycles and if you find them enjoyable, then this drama would fit your taste. If not, About Is Love S2 can be a chore of watch.

Is It Necessary To Watch S1 First?

I don’t think it is really necessary as there are flashbacks in some scenes to give you some insights into the past. While you might not get a truly complete picture as some relationships could still feel a little vague especially in the beginning, the story is generally easy to follow. I believe you can still understand what is going on in S2 even if you haven’t watched the prequel.

Having said that, I would still recommend you to watch S1 first if you have not done so. The reason is simple. I just think that S1 is a better drama and if you like that, you can then choose to go on to S2. But if you don’t even enjoy the first season, you can forget about the sequel because it isn’t anything better.

3 Couples In One Drama

It is common for romance dramas to have more than one couple. At times, they are annoying and a waste of time. But sometimes, the side couples can be just as entertaining as the main couple like in To Fly With You. In About Is Love S2, I think having multiple couples is actually better for the drama overall. This is because the main couple doesn’t have too much going on between them except for squabbles. Hence, if the attention is always focused on them, the drama would be a drag unless there is more meat to the plot.

So, with 3 couples altogether, the screen time needs to be allocated to all the different characters and this helps to inject more variety into the story. I also doubt the main couple alone has enough appeal on their own to carry the drama to the end. Thus, having a multiple couples format is a strength rather than a weakness with each having their own issues and challenges for viewers to follow.

Acting And Chemistry

I find the chemistry between Yan Xi and Xu Xiao Nuo as merely average. There are worst on-screen couples but there are also plenty of better ones. The leads are not too bland as a pair of lovers but they also fail to emit that special spark to take the romance to another level. So, don’t hope for You Are My Glory or Love Is Sweet kind of special chemistry in the main couple although this is already the second project together for both leads. Neither would you have a strong urge to replay their scenes together including the kissing ones which aren’t exactly heart-fluttering.

Similarly, their acting is nothing great either. In fact, I think the second male lead, Cai Yi Jia, kind of overshadowed Yan Xi a little with the way he portrayed Ning Fei. While Yan Xi has improved a little from the first season, he is still seems a little stiff at times in his expressions. Overall, the acting isn’t disappointing but neither does it stand out to make you sit up and take notice of the leads’ efforts.

My Verdict – No Need To Watch!

In my view, About Is Love S2 is a waste of time. It is fine to have bickering couples but it is not okay to have poor plot execution. The whole drama is a mess with schemings that are not properly explained. While you can catch the gist of it, there are no details of what is actually going on when it comes to the business aspects which have a bearing on the overall story. There are just too many subplots which are being squeezed into a short 24-episode drama that also have multiple couples with their own stories.

The filler scenes in the middle could also have been used to properly develop the story to give it more depth. The meh ending for the villain is another source of frustration that will leave you wondering what were the good and bad guys fighting about in the first place when everything seems to be hunky-dory between them in the end. Basically, the whole drama gives you the feeling that the whole story wasn’t carefully planned and executed.

Therefore, for this About Is Love S2 review, I could only give it a score of 6/10. You can try watching if you are a serious fan of S1. If not, simply forget it. Personally, S2 shouldn’t have been produced at all if this is the quality dished out to the audience. There is no more link to the allergy issue of the male lead which was the foundation of the story in the prequel. This season is reduced to another controlling CEO and bickering couple romance drama which is a dime a dozen out there

[asianhappinesss]

I Am The Years You Are The Stars

Summary

Xiao Yu meets Jiang Bai Ju while on a bus. The latter is pursuing a man who is involved in the production of a secret drug. Everyone got down from the bus when a fight ensues. Xiao Yu then witnesses the bus plunging into the river with the 2 men inside. They are pronounced dead.

However, Xiao Yu who works at the hospital morgue, got the fright of her life when Jiang Bai Ju rises from the dead and starts mutating while she is on duty that night. She is knocked unconscious but remembers what happened the day after. Xiao Yu suspects Jiang Bai Ju is up to no good and is afraid for the safety of those close to her. She also wonders if Jiang Bai Ju would have a cure for her strange disease which will cause her to die within a year. Hence, she tries to get close to him to find out more.

On the other hand, Jiang Bai Ju who leads an immortal life is curious about Xiao Yu as she could prevent him from mutating. He is also suspicious of her as he fears she could be working for someone who is after him because of his powers.

Hence, both Xiao Yu and Jiang Bai Ju are not fond of each other when they find out about each other’s motives. But they are forced to live together when Xiao Yu is offered a large sum of money by Madam Dao to keep Jiang Bai Ju company and become his guardian. Jiang Bai Ju is closely linked to the Dao family for almost a century.

Review

I Am The Years You Are The Stars (我是岁月你是星辰) has all the signs of a typical rom-com. I watched this with no expectations that it will have the standards of an award-winning drama. But usually, I will still give such productions a go as they are great for some stress-free time. Moreover, there is always the fast forward button to fall back on when the story gets draggy. In my I Am The Years You Are The Stars review below, you can find out what I think about this drama. This is definitely not the best Chinese romance dramas out there but is it good enough for you to sit through the entire 24 episodes?

Weird!

I Am The Years You Are The Stars is actually a collection of different themes in a single drama. It has romance, mystery, sci-fi, medical, friendship, and bromance elements which are part of the story. They are not forcefully cobbled together but the drama still ends up weird to me. Maybe because it tries to make light of the solemn subject of death or perhaps the whole story is just incredibly farfetched. Not to mention the drama begins with no clear explanation on how the characters are related to one another and the length they would go to to protect the male lead’s secret.

In other words, the story is very different from your typical romance dramas such as Nothing But You and Love At Night. It has potential in that sense but the execution is lacking unlike Shining For One Thing which also has a sci-fi element to it. The romance blossomed out of the blue when the couple started off disliking each other and the subplots tend to drag the story out unnecessarily. Some scenes editing are off and the transitions look choppy. In addition, some parts also give the drama a low budget feel especially towards the ending.

If You Don’t Mind An Unrealistic Plot…

Basically, I Am The Years You Are The Stars is not meant to be an intelligent mystery or sci-fi romance drama. You can’t watch this and try to apply logic to the story. For instance, it doesn’t make sense for a girl to agree to live with an abnormal being who can mutate into a zombie no matter how much she is paid. Moreover, she didn’t like him to begin with. But this is how the story flows and you can’t question it too much as you watch if you want to enjoy the drama.

However, while the drama is weird and unrealistic, it also has a certain level of intrigue to make you watch till the end. Chances are once you start, you will want to know the protagonists’ fate in the last episode. This is because the girl is expected to die and the guy wants to give up his immortality when the story begins. Hence, you will be curious about how they will end up and whether they will be dead or alive. So, the drama is far from great but ironically addictive in a strange way.

Apart from that, the story also consists of a twist towards the end. It is not totally unexpected for those who are astute or have a suspicious mind. But if you have no inkling of what is to come, it adds a layer of surprise to the overall story.

Acting And Chemistry

Both the leads put up a respectable performance to me although I also don’t see anything groundbreaking. They did their part as required with Estelle Chen managing to portray Xiao Yu’s inherent personality of a cheerful and positive lass. She has this vibrant demeanor with spring in her steps. It may seem inconsistent with her situation as someone who is going to die but she that is how her character has been written rather than bad acting on her part.

Liu Hai Kuan’s character is harder to play as he has to be an old man trapped in a young man’s body. He did well to a certain extent as he displays a more reserved attitude that is consistent with men of his generation. But I also can’t help but feel that his acting in some scenes feels forced. He doesn’t look completely natural in that role but I guess Jiang Bai Ju is a very unique character with a lot of inner turmoil and conflict which the actor couldn’t convincingly express.

When the two leads are put together, their chemistry is lacking to me. They can be acting sweet and lovey-dovey but I can’t really feel the couple vibes between them in some scenes. Even the kissing ones fail to make my heart flutter unlike really matching on-screen couples such as the ones in Once We Get Married and You Are My Glory. Maybe it has a lot to do with this couple’s background which just doesn’t resonate with me.

Unconventional Couple

The pair in I Am The Years You Are The Stars is not your typical romance drama couple. Some viewers may find them refreshing but they give me the impression of having nothing in common with each other. The guy is an old soul while the girl is young and restless. He is tired of living and wants to die but she is eager to live with a zest for life. He views love as something serious and fated while she doesn’t mind trying out a relationship. I could just sense a generation gap between them.

Therefore, I can’t really get into this couple from start to finish. I did try to give them a chance to grow on me but their romance still falls flat as far as I’m concerned. It didn’t help that their relationship happened very abruptly when the girl simply decided she wanted to date. Maybe you will have a different view if you like the concept of opposites attract and an unconventional couple. Then, perhaps you will be able to detect a healthy dose of chemistry between them.

My Verdict – Not My Cup Of Tea

Well, I Am The Years You Are The Stars just doesn’t suit my taste for a Chinese drama. To be honest, I scanned and skipped as I went along as it got boring towards the middle. The subplots got too much air time which dragged out the drama. Although they are tied up with the main plot in some way, they could have been shortened or better executed. The romance isn’t great to me while there are no side couples to fall back on for alternatives.

However, there are still a few redeeming qualities despite my unflattering view on this drama. The mystery part should help viewers to maintain some level of interest to enable one to cross the finish line. The cute friendships and bromance are other positive factors which provide the needed lighthearted moments. So, it might not be a great drama but there could be enough attraction to make you plough on. After all, you can always quicken the speed for the boring scenes.

For this I Am The Years Your Are The Stars review, I would give it a score of 6.5/10. I don’t really recommend you to watch this drama unless you can lower your expectations before you start. Not everything is properly clarified either when the drama ends. You won’t feel dissatisfied but some clarity would have been good. Watch it if you want some mystery and sci-fi elements in your romance dramas. But stay away if you can’t stand cheesy romantic lines and prefer more realistic and conventional couples.

[asianhappinesss]

Because Of Love

Summary

Tan Jing is leading a hard life as she has to work and raise money to treat her young son, Ping Ping, who was born with a heart defect. The boy’s father also often gets into trouble with the law which she has to handle. As Ping Ping grows older, he needs surgery as soon as possible to repair his defective heart. Due to his complicated case, Ping Ping is referred to a better hospital for treatment and surgery. As a result, Tan Jing runs into Yu Sheng again as he is a cardiologist at the said hospital.

Tan Jing and Yu Sheng used to be lovers when they were university students. They were from the same high school and he was her senior. But she broke up with him all of a sudden against his wishes. This caused him immense pain and he couldn’t completely get over her even after 7 years have passed. When they meet again due to her sick son, he tries to be unaffected by her re-emergence in his life but finds it difficult not to care especially when Tan Jing just couldn’t find the money for her son’s treatment.

While Yu Sheng is angry with Tan Jing for leaving him and supposedly marrying another, she also has her own hatred and problems to deal with after they broke up. After 7 years, there is still a lot of pain and longing buried in their hearts. Can they untie all the knots and misunderstandings in their relationship to give their love another chance?

Review

I have actually been putting off watching Because Of Love (今生有你) (also known as A Chance Meeting) until it has been fully aired. I just knew this is a drama that I need to binge watch because of the sad tone of the story. It will be too hard to wait for the next episode if the drama could really stir your emotions and weigh you down. Furthermore, melodramas isn’t really my cup of tea but I also can’t resist watching another Wallace Chung project. So, I completed this very quickly and the engrossing tale certainly helps in that aspect. Below is my Because Of Love review of this Chinese romance drama.

Prepare Tissues !

Because Of Love is not your typical fluffy romance drama like To Fly With You or Love At Night. This has a more matured and depressive mood to it with a past heartbreak and a struggling mother who is always short of money to treat her sick son. The plot is not anything groundbreaking with a link to the past as young lovers before circumstances forced the girl to initiate a breakup which actually reminds me of Here To Heart. Then, of course, the pair meet again and all the pain is then brought to the fore. In short, this is a second chance romance story with tissues needed along the way.

So, my guess is it could be slow-moving and predictable for some. But it is also a very well-executed drama that effectively moves you and touches your heart. Just like Shining For One Thing, this is achieved through a brilliant cast, great cinematography, and a very apt setting which enhance the overall angsty mood. It is the whole package that makes Because Of Love very real to the audience. It may not have a refreshing plot but it is exactly the seemingly ordinary that makes the story relatable.

Having said that, there are also two weaknesses in the drama that I think are worth highlighting – the way the flashbacks are told and a faltering last third of the story.

Constant Flashbacks

Because Of Love relies on intermittent flashbacks to tell the viewers what happened in the past. So, the scenes will flip between the present and their student days whenever the leads are triggered into reminiscing about the past. This happens quite often in the first 8 episodes or so. It is done without warning at times and you will have to adjust to the change in time setting before it reverts back to the present just as quickly.

Therefore, if you prefer flashbacks to be told in one long sequence rather than in a back and forth manner, then Because Of Love could start off being highly annoying. Personally, it did take a few episodes for me to get used to the story telling technique. I guess this is done to heighten the viewers’ angst and to emphasize that the leads are still thinking of each other after all the years apart. So, don’t get turned off when you start watching and discover all these constant flashbacks. The story will grow on you and leave you with a strong desire to see the couple reconcile.

A Not So Great Last Third (Spoilers Alert!)

To me, the first 20 episodes of the drama is highly engrossing. But it starts to lose its intensity and falter in the last third. The mental regression suddenly changes the tone of the drama and Yu Sheng’s recovery looks too simplistic to be real. The couple is then shown to be back together after the real culprit is exposed which has nothing to do with Yu Sheng’s father.

However, the viewers are shortchanged here as there is a lack of scenes of the couple towards the end to address everything that has happened in their lives. At the very least, there should be a heartfelt communication between them after all the misunderstandings and pain. Unfortunately, there is no such satisfaction for the viewers.

As for the side couple, their ending is also a bit rushed with no proper accounting of Vicky’s thought process on how she arrives at the decision to leave. It is not a bad conclusion to the drama overall but there just seems to be a few missing scenes here and there which could have increased viewers’ satisfaction and fulfillment.

Wonderful Acting

The casting director deserves accolades here for picking the right people for the roles. The last time I caught Wallace Chung was in The Sword And The Brocade which is a period drama. In Because Of Love, he delivers as usual with a very convincing performance as a pensive and melancholy doctor who can’t seem to get over a lost love. He is not a handsome hunk here and he doesn’t try to be. Instead, he gives the character a sort of depressive vibe. The pain and yearning are written on his face that viewers will automatically feel for him.

Li Xiao Ran is also excellent as Tan Jing to me. This is a very steely but sad character due to her circumstances. So, you can see it through Li Xiao Ran’s impassive facial expressions which show her determination and stoicism on the surface but her eyes will tell you how she is suffering inside. Her chemistry with Wallace Chung is also impressive as both of these veterans know how to take advantage of their characters’ anger and longing for each other to set the mood in their scenes together.

Li Xiao Ran’s chemistry with the child actor is also worth a mention. They manage to bring out a very special bond of mother and son and for his part, Mi Ke is a joy to watch as a viewer. For someone so young, Mi Ke delivers his lines so well and with an innocent charm that fits the character perfectly. Mi Ke and Morni Zhang’s scenes are also extremely touching as both young and old seem to have a natural affinity for each other.

A Stoic And Cold Female Character (Spoilers Alert!)

I suspect that Tan Jing may not be a likable character to all. This is because she is cold and impassive on the surface and her actions may not be agreeable to some viewers. For instance, she didn’t tell Yu Sheng that Ping Ping is his son which is grossly unfair to him. She also didn’t trust him in her custody fight with his father. Hence, Tan Jing is a flawed character with a lot of stubbornness and pride in her. Her coldness might also not win her any supporters.

Personally though, she is not a hateful character to me. Whether you can relate to her will depend on your ability see things from her perspective. I can understand why she broke up with him and kept quiet about her pregnancy. That is because she didn’t want to drag him down with her so that he could fulfill his potential. Moreover, his father’s involvement in her father’s death is a major barrier for her. When they meet up again, she just isn’t prepared to confront the past as that would be opening up old wounds. Moreover, he is dating Vicky then.

Basically, Tan Jing is not that type of person who can easily forgive and forget. If you can accept this flaw in her, then her pain and actions will be easily understood. Otherwise, she will seem too cold for a female lead character and that will take away some level of enjoyment from this melodrama.

My Verdict – Watch!

Because Of Love is definitely worth watching to me. It moves away from the typical substandard romance dramas that are getting too common like Meeting You Loving You and I Am The Years You Are The Stars. It is hard to get a matured love story that is well-executed with great acting and this is where Because Of Love shines. The couple’s past is also revealed bit by bit and this also helps to make it intriguing. As this is a serious romance drama with the lead couple being in their 30’s, it will resonate better with a more matured audience. In fact, I would think the younger viewers might find the pace to be too slow and hence, boring.

If you are worried about this being a tearjerker, then I would say that it is not as sad as it seems. If you can tolerate One And Only or Go Ahead, this should be less taxing on the emotions. Yes, some scenes will make you cry and tissues will be needed. But they don’t weigh you down considerably and it is not all sadness and tears throughout the whole drama. Some scenes are touching rather than truly sad especially those that feature the little boy. Thus, don’t let the tearjerker label stop you from giving this a go.

For this Because Of Love review, I would give it a score of 8/10. Watch it for the acting and simple story that successfully evokes deep feelings in the viewers. The plot is really nothing great. But this is a more of an emotionally driven romance drama that relies a lot on the acting skills of the cast to move viewers which was effectively achieved. This is what you will be signing up for when you get on the ride!

[asianhappinesss]

do love watching c-dramas ? and why ?

CHINESE DRAMAS

I fell really hard down the Cdrama rabbit hole for almost 2 years now and I have no plans on digging myself out of it any time soon.

Just a few years ago, I was deadest on my thing that I hate Chinese dramas that I could live without ever seeing one (and I’m so happy I grew up from this thinking) One of the reasons was the language. Growing up my dad loved watching the classic martial arts movies from Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and so on and although I enjoyed some of them for their entertainment purposes I have never quite liked listening to Mandarin or Cantonese.

I guess it was the intonations, how tingling it sounded it my ears (blaming bad dubbing on this one) every time I was Chinese movies with my dad. I was young and to be a honest naïve and ignorant but as I grow older and have interacted, worked with and for Mandarin speaking individuals the language kind of grew on me, that I slowly fell in love with it, with all its uniqueness and complexity.

How did I fall in love with Chinese Dramas?

Well… I was already watching a lot of South Korean dramas and I was at a point that I felt like I have watched everything I wanted to watch and there was no new content that was catching my attention so I turned into my trusted friend Youtube into recommending me some good Asian dramas or movies. So I just typed “Korean Movies 2019 Eng Sub” and I don’t know how their algorithm works but it somehow recommended me a movie that completely changed me.

When I first saw it, I was like “well, I really don’t have anything to watch and just looking for something to pass time. Its not like its gonna hurt me to watch” so I clicked the movie and it was One Smile Is Very Alluring. It was starring AngelaBaby (whom I’m already familiar with since I saw her on Running Man once) and Jing Boran, it’s an E-sport movie based on a novel with the same name written by Gu Man. and I was just hooked.

I was so tired of the emotionally draining Korean movies and dramas that I just wanted to have a relaxing watch and this movie delivered. It was just a cute college E-sport romance movie between two computer science students and I was living for it. and lets just say, that movie opened the floodgates into the world of Chinese Dramas and Movies.

[asianhappinesss]

Coffee Prince

Summary

Choi Han Gyul is the grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dong-in Foods, a company that has a thriving coffee business. He has never had a job and does not care for responsibility. Han Gyul is hung up on his first love, Han Yoo Joo, who only sees him as a friend. Go Eun Chan is a 24-year-old tomboy who is often mistaken for a guy. Her father died when she was 16 years old and since then she has taken over as the breadwinner in her family. When Han Gyul and Eun Chan meet, he, not knowing that she is a girl, decides to hire her to pretend to be his gay lover so that he can escape the blind dates arranged by his grandmother. After getting an ultimatum from his grandmother, Han Gyul takes over a rundown old coffee shop, later renamed "Coffee Prince," to prove that he's capable, to both his grandmother and Yoo Joo. In order to attract female customers, he only hires good-looking male employees. Eun Chan, desperate for money, continues to hide her gender to get a job at Coffee Prince

Review

Coffee Prince narrates the story of Choi Han-kyul, a carefree but rebellious young chaebol, whose family runs a prospering coffee business and Go Eun-chan, a hard-working girl, who is often mistaken for a boy because she dresses up like one. What happens when Han-kyul is asked to run an old coffee shop to prove his worth? He is joined in his adventure by Eun-chan, Choi Han-sung, played by Lee Sun-kyun, Han Yoo-joo, played by Chae Jung-an, and the staff at the coffee shop, who add layers of romance, jealousy, confusion, and comedy and brew it well to provide a rich aroma to this coffee.

To be honest, I watched this drama because of Gong Yoo, and he did not disappoint me at all. But at the same time, other characters also made their presence felt. I was moved by the character of Eun-chan, who faces the difficulties that life throws at her with such strength and dedication.

As the bread earner in her family, Eun-chan spends most of her time doing odd jobs and even fakes her identity to secure her job at the coffee shop. But her cheerfulness, innocence, and friendly nature wins everyone’s heart in an instant. Yoon Eun-hye, who portrays the role, lived the character and made it her own. She is convincing as an industrious girl often mistaken for a boy, who has dedicated her life to her work. She does not beat around the bush and is a delight to watch.

On the other hand, we have Gong Yoo. He is an exceptional actor, and after watching him portray a mature character in Goblin, it was a pleasure to watch him as a rebellious, independent entrepreneur who wants to prove his worth to his family. He puts his heart and soul in the character of Han-kyul. One can notice his evolution from a carefree, rich brat to a mature, responsible man as the story progresses. He also adds vulnerability to the character and does not shy away from showing his weaknesses. He works on his emotions with different people around him beautifully.

This drama has the right blend of a simple storyline, soulful OSTs, and remarkable performances that makes it a classic K-drama. Not high on drama, the key to its success lies in its simplicity. It gives off a warm and friendly vibe. The first thought that comes to my mind when I think of Coffee Prince is people sitting in a cozy café, enjoying their favorite coffee with freshly baked cakes, and being engulfed in that old school feeling of simplicity.

Do not expect any extravagance, fantasy, or nerve-wracking episode endings in this drama. There is only the magic of real emotions. Coffee Prince is as refreshing as a cup of hot coffee on any given day. You simply need to enjoy every sip slowly.

What are your thoughts on the classic drama? Share your thoughts in the comments sections. If you are yet to watch it, you can catch it on Netflix.

[asianhappinesss]

City Of Streamer

Summary

Shi Zhen’s family got into hard times when her father’s pharmacy was burnt down together with all other shops in the area. Her father was injured and became addicted to opium during treatment. She wanted justice and ended up working for Meng Xu An who is an influential figure behind the scenes. They have a common enemy in Rong Ding Kun who is a very wealthy businessman in Shanghai and was responsible for the arson.

Behind the facade, Rong Ding Kun runs a series of illegal businesses. In order to bring him down, Shi Zhen got a job in the Rong residence as a governess to teach his 3 children. This would allow her to spy on him and find out about his business operations. However, Rong Ding Kun’s eldest son, Jia Shang, is instantly attracted to Shi Zhen and falls for her.

Initially, Shi Zhen sees Jia Shang as a tool for her to fulfill her mission. But she gradually develops feelings for him as well and feels conflicted over her role. Jia Shang also tries his best to make up to Shi Zhen but neither can he escape from his responsibility as the eldest son of the Rong family. With Meng Xu An stirring up trouble for the Rongs, Shi Zhen couldn’t bear to see Jia Shang being harmed as she gives in to her feelings. But an explosive well-kept secret threatens to split them apart.

Review

A Good Start

City of Streamer could really have been a great drama from start to finish but somehow, the wheels fell off as it crosses past the 30th episode. The story starts off well as it is engages you with the relationship complexities of the Rong family and the excitement of Shi Zhen’s spying activities. We are also not told what exactly happened in the past. Hence, there is the intrigue and curiosity there as to why certain characters are against the villain.

Moreover, the female lead is an educated, courageous, and independent woman despite it being a Republican era drama. So, there is a certain satisfaction in watching her story develop and how she is able to think for herself. However, there is a shock to the story in the last quarter of the drama and this is where it gets overly dramatic to me. It doesn’t render it unwatchable but I strongly believe it could have been better written. This is because once the shock is revealed in Episode 30, the plot basically becomes predictable.

A Revenge Plot (Spoilers Alert!)

If you expect City Of Streamer to be a fluffy romance drama, you will be disappointed. The main focus is actually revenge with love thrown in to up the ante and dramatic aspects of the story. Where it starts to falter is the reveal that the couple could be half-siblings. By then, they have already consummated their relationship. Now, this is where it gets predictable to me because you know they can’t be related since they have already slept together. From there, it doesn’t take much for you to guess who killed the female lead’s parents. What is left is only the details and the fate of the couple and villain which will then keep you hooked to the end.

The other thing that doesn’t feel good to me is the whitewashing of the second male lead’s crimes. In the last quarter of the drama, he is suddenly depicted as a good man when he had tried to kill Jia Shang earlier for the sins of the latter’s father. The collateral damage he caused in his quest for revenge didn’t seem to bother Shi Zhen as she worked closely with him to bring down the villain towards the end.

So, there are weaknesses to the plot which are concentrated mainly in the last 10 episodes. The focus on the revenge to wrap up the story may be apt as it started out that way. But I think some parts are shortchanged in the process and it shows in how the story flowed towards the conclusion.

Not A Really Romantic Story

City Of Streamer is not a typical breezy romance drama with a lot of lovey-dovey moments like Love At Night or Why Women Love. It has a more matured and serious feel to it. The guy is hopelessly in love with the girl while the latter wants revenge against his father. So, you can already expect theirs to be a complicated relationship. There is no simple getting together because they fell in love. In fact, their actual dating life only lasts about 4 episodes out of 40 in total. Thus, this couple’s sweet moments and skinship are definitely in short supply in this drama.

What replaces a full-fledged relationship though is the yearning and suppressed feelings especially on the girl’s part due to her need for revenge. The love undertones are obvious to the viewers but it is just that you don’t get that satisfaction of seeing them throwing caution to the wind and embarking on a romance until pretty late in the drama and that also for a rather brief period.

Therefore, City Of Streamer may not fit the bill of a truly romantic tale unless love vibes and chemistry alone are enough for you to get your fill of the romance. Furthermore, some viewers might have issue with the female lead who appears rather cold at times because of what happened to her family.

A Revengeful Female Character

If you like watching a smart and independent-minded female character, you would probably be able to relate to Shi Zhen. But her past caused her to become revengeful towards the villain. Hence, she can’t let go of that need to see justice done despite how much the male lead loves her. In City Of Streamer, Jia Shang’s love for Shi Zhen is pure and sincere. He tries his best to accommodate and make it up to her.

But Shi Zhen’s love for Jia Shang is more restrained. At certain times, her hatred towards his father seems greater than the love she has for him. So, if you are looking for a sweet romance, then Shi Zhen might appear as too cold and cruel towards the male lead. But if you are watching this for the revenge plot, then Shi Zhen’s actions will become understandable.

Personally, I find her coldness went up a notch in the last quarter of the drama which is a little inconsistent with her overall character and the depth of her feelings for Jia Shang. But it is still acceptable to me though because I don’t think it will be realistic either for the character to easily forgive and forget.

Chemistry Drives The Romance

The leads’ acting is commendable in City Of Streamer. The casting and styling were done right with the female lead appearing more matured than the male which is consistent with the characters in the story. Jing Tian gives Shi Zhen an aura of confidence and modernity. She is neither too cold nor too ardent and appears to be able to strike a balance between a revengeful and caring woman at heart with her depiction of the character.

Timmy Xu plays Jia Shang well and portrays him as a wuss when it comes to love but stubborn and determined against his father. The hardened expressions and anger when interacting with his father gives viewers the impression that he is a man with a spine. But when it comes to Shi Zhen, the softened expressions and yearning in his face reveal the depth of his love for her.

Put Jiang Tian and Timmy Xu together and the chemistry is obvious on screen. The longings are expressed through their eyes and gazes. They may not have a lot of sweet moments to show off their love in the drama but their interactions are ladened with unspoken feelings and desire similar to Because of Love. In short, their sizzling chemistry drives the romance in the drama to make viewers crave for more.

My Verdict – Go Ahead And Watch!

City Of Streamer is definitely a Republican drama that is worth a watch. No doubt, there will be the usual concubines and the inferior status of women as part of the story. But it is not the focus of the drama if you are worried about watching a group of women fighting for a rich man’s attention. Instead, you will be getting revenge as the main plot with greed, murder, illicit love, and other heavy topics being present along the way. Hence, I’m not too sure if younger viewers will enjoy this as City Of Streamer is far off from the usual school romance dramas like Shining For One Thing and Our Secret.

The overall story is captivating to me and chances are you will get hooked in the beginning. The pace slows down a little around the middle but it doesn’t really feel dragged out unnecessarily. It is easy to fall in love with the male lead and there is developing maturity in his character as the drama progresses. The female lead may be colder but she is a strong character that viewers can root for. They are not many kisses to look out for but they did include a passionate one that would make you press for replay.

For this City Of Streamer review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. There are weaknesses to the plot and screenwriting but they are not a serious hindrance to the overall enjoyability. Watch it for the plot and the leads’ chemistry but don’t expect a fluffy romance drama to avoid disappointment.

[asianhappinesss]

Why Women Love

Summary

Jia Xin is passionate about motorbike racing but is forced to return from abroad to work in his mother’s company. This is because his best friend is in a coma following a racing accident and Jia Xin made a deal with his rich mother to work in Link Technology for 3 months in exchange for getting the best treatment for his friend. His mother expects him to inherit the business one day and sends him to work as an assistant to Jiang Yue who is the General Manager of Link Technology.

Jiang Yue is a no-nonsense lady boss with much achievements under her belt. She is 30 and 8 years older than Jia Xin. Due to her workaholic and independent nature, she finds it hard to fall in love. But when she launches a dating app for Link Technology, her single status becomes an issue. Hence, she makes a promise that she will find a partner within 3 months to prove her company’s matchmaking effectiveness.

However, Jiang Yue learns that finding a man to date is not as easy as it seems. As Jia Xin needs Jiang Yue’s nod of approval to get out of Link Technology to return to racing, he makes a deal with her to teach her how to attract a man and fall in love in return for his freedom. But he then finds himself falling for his boss instead as he starts to get jealous of her potential suitor.

Review

Why Women Love (不会恋爱的我们) is a welcome change for me after watching 2 heavy dramas in a row. This one is a really light and flirty romance drama. I don’t think anyone would have thought this would be a hit given that the male lead has a limited number of starring roles to date. But somehow, it still managed to make many viewers swoon and crave for more from the leads. Why is that so? Well, my thoughts on this Chinese drama is detailed in my Why Women Love review below.

Flirty And Sweet!

Why Women Love is a really typical Chinese romance drama in essence. But I also know that for many romance drama fans, the storyline is secondary. It doesn’t matter if there are cliches or recycled plots. It is also not a dealbreaker if there are no big names and superb acting. As long as the story and characters have no major annoyances and the chemistry between the leads is on fire, then you will have a potential hit among viewers. I think this is where Why Women Love fits in.

When I started writing this review after completing the drama, the one word that kept popping in my mind is flirty. Yes, this is a very easy to watch title with no angst to stress you out. There is not even much to the plot to begin with. Instead, the focus is on the interactions of the main couple and this is where it is done really well by taking full advantage of the leads’ sizzling chemistry. So, viewers will be treated to gazes, touches, close proximity, and other instances to make you sense that flirting is in progress especially in the first half of the drama.

Hence, watching Why Women Love is about going along with the flirtations and sweetness. You get on to experience the fluff and sugary feel and that is about it rather than to appreciate the plot itself.

Nothing Much To The Plot

This is not a drama that relies on a story to drive it like City Of Streamer and The Lion’s Secret. In fact, it has a very simple and thin plot that basically has the male lead as an assistant to the female lead because his mother says so. He thought he could get out of his mother’s company by teaching his lady boss how to love so that she can get a boyfriend and fulfill her KPI. Of course, it is predictable that he will fall in love with her instead.

Thus, without a solid story to sell, you will have to rely on the leads’ chemistry and sweetness to pull you through the finish line. If you like the couple and think they look gorgeous together, then Why Women Love will be a very watchable romance drama. But if you cannot feel anything special about them, then this would become a very mediocre production instead. Personally, I think they do look very compatible on screen despite their age difference.

In the drama itself, the girl is portrayed as 8 years older than the guy. While the age gap did make her think twice about the viability of an older woman and younger man romance, the issue is not made to be the focus of the story unlike Find Yourself. There is no deep exploration of the problems and societal pressure associated with such a relationship. The drama remains a light one throughout the 24 episodes.

Leads’ Chemistry Is The Main Attraction

I think Gina Jin and Wang Zi Yi is definitely one of the more attractive couples when it comes to age gap romance dramas. I guess that is largely because the girl is pretty and the guy is cute. Hence, their appearances give us the right visuals for a pair of lovers. In fact, you don’t really notice that big age gap which is far more obvious for the couple in My Fated Boy.

Although Wang Zi Yi’s acting skills are still substandard given his inexperience, I don’t think most of the viewers mind at all. Somehow, the blazing chemistry managed to hide a lot of weaknesses in the drama. Wang Zi Yi’s job is to look cute, handsome, sweet, and romantic rather than displaying perfect acting and emotions for all the scenes. So, in a way, he is the right choice for the role of Jia Xin.

Therefore, if you are into more seasoned acting that moves your deepest emotions, you should be watching dramas like Because Of Love. Why Women Love is merely a feel good tale for a heavy dose of romance and escapism. It is not for you to appreciate the finer details of a drama but simply to enjoy the leads’ interactions and swoon over them. The couple managed to do this successfully to draw viewers in as they look very natural and comfortable with each other in their scenes.

My Verdict – Give It A Chance!

There is really nothing much that I can say about Why Women Love as it isn’t meant to be a masterpiece. It won’t impress in terms of acting, plot, cinematography, or even dialogue. This doesn’t have the standard and status of You Are My Glory which also relies on the leads’ chemistry as one of its main selling points. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a chance either. At the very basic, Why Women Love managed to give what viewers want in a romance drama – a beautiful couple, sizzling chemistry, obvious flirting, and sweetness.

I think you should have a pretty good idea if this couple is your cup of tea within the first 2 to 3 episodes. If you can’t feel anything extraordinary, then just drop it because there is nothing to the plot that will make it worth your while. But if you think they are great together, then their interactions will get more interesting as the story moves along. You don’t get a lot of kisses despite their great chemistry as the couple only got together pretty late in the drama. But there are plenty of flirtations and love undertones to give you that romantic vibes.

For this Why Women Love review, I would give it a score of 7/10. This is a breezy watch with no toxic love rivals despite a clingy second female lead. She could be annoying for some but I think the annoyance is largely overshadowed by the sweetness of the main couple. Basically, this is a typical Chinese rom-com but with a matching pair of lovers and their oozing chemistry to make up for any shortfalls.

[asianhappinesss]

The Autumn Ballad

Summary

Qiu Yan is marrying General He’s son when the groom suddenly drops dead during the wedding ceremony. In order to escape being labelled as jinxed and buried together with her just wedded husband, she is forced to investigate the actual cause of his death. This causes her to cross path with Liang Yi who takes advantage of her situation to achieve his own aim in manipulating General He to work with him.

After the case is settled, Qiu Yan crosses sword with Liang Yi again when she sets her sights on marrying Qin Xuan who is from a prominent noble family. As Qin Xuan is Liang Yi’s friend, Liang Yi tries to scuttle her plans as he thinks that she is too cunning and a gold digger. At the same time, Liang Yi wants to marry Qiu Yan’s younger sister, Qiu Min, to tap into her father’s influence among scholars.

However, complications arise when Qiu Min also has feelings for Qin Xuan while he only has eyes for Qiu Yan. The problem worsens when their father is framed for embezzlement by Liang Yi’s rival. As Liang Yi works to free the Qiu family, he also begins to get increasingly attracted to Qiu Yan.

Review

The Autumn Ballad (嫣语赋) is a historical Chinese drama with a very strong female lead. It should resonate with those who are into women empowerment and a blazing fighting spirit to chart one’s own path in life. While the story’s foundation is pretty solid, the drama still fails to live up to its potential. The reason is obvious once you reach the last quarter of the drama. I have The Autumn Ballad review written up below for a greater understanding of what happened for those who are interested to learn more.

Marred By The Ending!

The Autumn Ballad could have been a really great drama if only the producers have kept the story intact all the way to the end. To me, it is such a waste as the story has been going well for most of the episodes. It starts to falter somewhere in the last quarter of the drama which worsened in the finale when the screenwriters tried to do too much within one short episode.

It boggles the mind why they would want to introduce a twist so late in the story but without laying a strong foundation for the subplot to take root. On top of that, it doesn’t feel satisfying to have the female lead doing what she did although her intention is good. Everything just feels superficial and inconsistent as a result when the main characters have been projected as tough and smart all along. One of the villains also doesn’t seem to get the punishment he deserves. All in all, I can only say that a lot happened within the last 6 to 7 episodes which is not as well-executed as the earlier parts of the drama.

Unnecessary Plot Twist (Spoilers Alert!)

A twist in a story is always good to give viewers a surprise but only if it makes sense and done well. In The Autumn Ballad, this twist is rather unnecessary to me because it doesn’t have a strong basis to the plot and the follow-up is disastrous. The female lead ended up leaving her hero because she thought he will be too weak to learn the truth about his mother’s evil deed. But he knew anyway because he is a smart guy to begin with and ended up pining for her. So, all the unnecessary melodrama did nothing to increase the value of the story. Instead, it made it rather silly.

In addition, the second female lead’s story is also not properly laid out towards the end. She was not prepared to save her sister and ran away when the latter was under attack just an episode earlier. But she suddenly took an arrow for her in the following episode and became a good girl again after a near death experience. I just see it as a lazy way of ending a story. Moreover, her relationship with the second male lead is also not properly accounted for.

The drama also takes a different turn when the bitter rivalry between Liang Yi and Yuan Lang switches to cooperation as they go against an external enemy. Basically, a new villain is introduced very late in the drama which feels a little detached from the earlier part of the story. The fact that Yuan Lang also got promoted instead of punished despite his crimes also made the ending kind of unusual. Thus, the overall conclusion just feels not in sync with the beginning which is much more coherent and engaging.

A Very Opinionated Female Lead

A strong female lead is not something unusual even for historical dramas and for that Jun Jiu Ling and Song Of Youth come to mind. But in The Autumn Ballad, the female lead is much more than having brains and inner strength. She is obviously ahead of her time as she questions why women have to play a secondary role to men in society since she is a victim of that unfair structure. So, to further her own interest and change her fate in life, she ends up as tough, rebellious, opinionated, and stubborn.

At times, her character is rather hardhearted to me. At others, she also appears as a little selfish. The 2 men in her life are devoted to her but she has her own dreams that she wants to fulfill. Overall, Qiu Yan is an unconventional female character for a historical drama. Personally, her actions are understandable but her character is not exactly likable to me. Her strength and fighting spirit are commendable and she drives the story forward with her actions. But she is too opinionated and confrontational to make her affable.

Therefore, just be aware that the female lead in this drama is not someone sweet and amiable. You won’t hate her and at the very least, she is not whiny although she has been dealt the short end of the stick. But there is a rough edge to her that might just rub you the wrong way every now and then throughout the 34 episodes.

Good Chemistry

This is actually the first time that I have watched Bridgette Qiao in a historical drama. Her last 2 dramas that I watched were contemporary ones, namely Dream Garden and You Complete Me. So, it is a change for me to see her in a different time period setting. But her acting is still on point. She managed to give her character that toughness and pride needed to bring out Qiu Yan’s personality. Bridgette Qiao didn’t try to make her character likable. I think if she did, it would be inconsistent with Qiu Yan’s nature. Instead, she let the natural personality of the character speak for herself without over-packaging it for the viewers.

Jeremy Tsui is also great to watch as the ever cool Liang Yi. The deep voice added to his charisma. He paired off well with Bridgette Qiao and they did have a certain level of chemistry as they bantered and fooled around each other in their respective roles. Theirs is not a steamy romance with lots of kisses like The Eternal Love Season 3. Neither is it an emotionally heartbreaking one à la One And Only. They are simply witty characters with dialogues to help them display their mutual attraction towards each other.

My Verdict

The Autumn Ballad is largely watchable up until the last episode. In a way, you can pretend that the story ends within the first few minutes of Episode 34 if you are not adventurous enough for an unexpected and unnecessary twist. In fact, the drama would have received many more plaudits if it had ended there. But I guess no one would like to leave the last half hour unwatched after sitting through 33 episodes to get there. So, just be prepared for it to be a little bizarre, rushed, and inconsistent with the characters’ nature up to that point.

For me, the decline already started around the last quarter of the drama. It doesn’t have the same engagement anymore with a poorer story execution compared to the first 25 episodes or so. It is not a dealbreaker though and the story is still interesting enough for you to plod on till its conclusion. But the flaws of the last episode simply reminded us how it all started to go so wrong.

For The Autumn Ballad review here, I would give it a score of 7/10. It really deserves better with the good casting and acting. It is just a pity that it was let down by poor screenwriting with an ending that leaves viewers rolling their eyes. Nevertheless, I would still recommend you to give it a go. Don’t let the last 30 minutes scare you into dropping this title. It is enjoyable for the most part and that is something to look forward to. The ending may leave you with some frustrations but I’m sure all of us have also seen worse when it comes to Chinese dramas.

[asianhappinesss]

Memory Of Encaustic Tile

Summary

he year is 2002. There are 5 friends who live in the same neighborhood and attend the same school. They practically grew up together. Their parents also know one another. Some of them are good friends of each other and work as antique and cultural relic restorers in the palace museum.

Among the 5 of them, Shao Xue shares a special bond with Su Nian who lives just next door. He is 2 years older and she regards him like a brother. She is also close to Zhang Qi who is her classmate. As time passes and they grow older, the feelings among them also start to change. Su Nian and Zhang Qi start to see Shao Xue differently and begin to fall for her. But they hide their feelings and Shao Xue is oblivious to it all until much later.

Shao Xue’s dream is to venture abroad and explore the world. Su Nian prefers to stay put and wishes things will never change. But when tragedy strikes, hard decisions have to be made. Over time, the 5 friends also have different paths in life that they have to take once they leave school and become adults. Will Shao Xue and Su Nian’s relationship endure the passage of time and circumstances?

Review

Memory Of Encaustic Tile (昔有琉璃瓦) struck me as a nostalgic drama and it has been some time since I watched one. Thus, I thought why not and decided to just dive in without expecting much. Frankly speaking, this kind of drama has always appeared similar and predictable to me but they can still be interesting with proper plot execution. Whether this one managed to secure my vote as a great drama will be detailed in my Memory Of Encaustic Tile review below. But if I have to summarize my opinion in one word, I would say that it is slow-moving.

Heartwarming But Long-Winded

Memory Of Encaustic Tile gives viewers a very nostalgic and heartwarming feel. The friendship among the younger generation as well as their parents will touch you as you watch. Chances are you will cry for some of the scenes. You will be affected by both the sadness and heartening moments as the characters journey through life.

However, while there will be tears, I don’t find it to be as strong a tearjerker as Go Ahead which is also another coming of age drama. That one is more emotionally moving as the drama includes the characters’ experiences and bonding as kids. Memory Of Encaustic Tile begins with the kids already in their teenage years. Their lives are pretty much stable with loving parents who care a lot of them. A tragedy only occurred around the halfway mark. So, for the first half of the drama, you will merely see a bunch of kids with their typical teenage life that revolves around school, exams, crush, mischiefs, and friends.

Personally, I find the drama to be too slow paced. After 8 episodes or so, I can’t wait for the characters to grow up and give us a more interesting story. Maybe because the plot is just too predictable for me to have the patience to sit through it without skipping. It gets boring after a while to watch a few teenagers plodding through life. I guess if you like slice-of-life youth dramas, then Memory Of Encaustic Tile might fit your preference. But if you want something more from the plot, then this would be lacking.

A Subdued Romance

For those who are looking for a full-fledged college romance drama like To Fly With You or even Our Secret, I wouldn’t think Memory Of Encaustic Tile would fall into that category. Firstly, the couple got together pretty late in the drama. For the most part, their relationship has a brotherly-sisterly feel to me. Add in the various friendships among the characters, the drama does not have a strong romance flavor to it.

Secondly, the story to the main couple’s romance is not exactly well-executed either. There is a lot to digest once they started dating and problem cropped up. There are time jumps here and there that the story seems rushed towards the end. So, it is hard to figure out at times how long time has passed for some scenes. It also feels inconsistent with the slower pacing that dominates a substantial part of the drama.

Perhaps if you like a big brother to lover transition to your romance, then Memory Of Encaustic Tile will seem sweet. The guy really cares about the girl and they do like to be around each other. You would also know that they will end up together as you watch. Thus, it is predictable in that sense. That is why I also wondered if it could have been more interesting if the screenwriters have made it less obvious who the female lead would end up with. After all, 2 guys are in love with her and the time period stretches more than a decade.

Acting And Chemistry

I think the overall cast did a good job with their respective roles. Yukee Chen is still convincing as a high school student despite her age. I have only seen her in xianxia and historical dramas prior to this such as Ashes Of Love and Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre. So, it is a change for me to see her in this drama with a teenager role. But she still managed to give life to the character with her cutesy antics and expressions. She projected a very bubbly Shao Xue to the viewers to give us the feel of a very energetic and cheerful lass.

However, some may feel that the actress’ portrayal is overdone and exaggerated as she is trying too hard to be cute. Some scenes may appear so but overall, I’m okay with her acting. At the very least, she doesn’t put me off. You would have to watch a few episodes to see if her portrayal resonates with you as her character largely remains that way for the whole 34 episodes.

As for Lin Yi, I don’t think his role is a challenge for him. After all, he has played a student before in Put Your Head On My Shoulder and Love Scenery. He appeared calm and cool as Su Nian and his emotions can be seen from his eyes. Although he is much younger than Yukee Chen, the age gap is not obvious at all in the drama. They have pretty good chemistry together but I wouldn’t term it as top notch. At most, they are sweet rather than sizzling as a couple.

My Verdict – Okay For A Youth Drama

I think you really need to like this genre to find Memory Of Encaustic Tile to be a great watch. You need to like the slice of life feel and coming of age stories to be able to relate to it. Yes, it is heartwarming and will make you teary. This is where this drama shines as it depicts the daily lives of the various characters who are neighbors and good friends. Not many dramas can effectively stir your emotions and this one happened to be able to do so up to a point.

However, it is also a little slow-paced and predictable. You wouldn’t enjoy it if you expect more to the plot and want things to move faster rather than be stuck with tales of school and teenage life for more than half of the total episodes.

In addition, it is also not a romance-heavy drama. In fact, I find the romance part falling flat with too much melodrama. The guy’s selflessness isn’t necessary and even seems a little cruel to me. Some may find quiet sacrifice as romantic but it is still too cliche to my liking. Furthermore, a guy who doesn’t know how to support his girl’s dream and talk things over is not good optics for a viewer when it comes to an ideal on-screen boyfriend.

Overall, I would give this Memory Of Encaustic Tile review a score of 7/10. It is okay to watch and remember to have a few pieces of tissues within reach. The fast forward button is always there if you start to find it boring like me. You won’t miss much even if you scan and skip. I would say forget the romance and just enjoy the interactions among the different characters. The romance wouldn’t make you swoon unless you really have a thing for childhood friend-cum-big brother vibes to your love story.

[asianhappinesss]

Royal Feast

Summary

Zi Jin enters the palace to work as a maid in the food preparation department during Emperor Yong Le’s reign of the Ming Dynasty. When she gets the task of delivering meals for the Emperor’s grandson, Zhan Ji, they begin to be curious about each other. Zhan Ji finds himself being drawn to her and vice-versa. However, Zi Jin has a mysterious background which she rather not divulged. Her talent, knowledge, and ideals also make her hesitant to deepen her relationship with Zhan Ji and become his woman.

With the power struggle and palace politics among the royals, officials, and eunuchs, the Food Bureau is also part of that complex web of relationships. Each person has their own agenda and ambition including those around Zi Jin. They will make use of others and resort to underhanded tactics to achieve their aims. Zi Jin is inevitably drawn into their plots especially after her background becomes known and she becomes a target for those who feel threatened. At the same time, Zhan Ji has to protect his father and fend off moves by his uncles to grab the throne.

Review

Not For Everyone

Royal Feast (尚食) is a much anticipated historical Chinese drama starring Xu Kai and Wu Jin Yan. In fact, I was also looking forward to it but with a certain degree of trepidation that it might be a big bore. After all, the title seems to suggest that it is all about luxurious food and sumptuous banquets and the inevitable palace politics that come with it. But it does evoke some curiosity on how the food preparation and politics will be weaved together to give us a story. And is the story worth following? My Royal Feast review below will give you my impression on this drama.

After watching a few episodes of Royal Feast, it is already pretty clear to me that it would not be appealing to everyone. This is a historical drama that uses language, history, and ancient tradition to tell a story. For instance, some dialogues contain poetic verses which would be difficult to grasp its meaning if you are do not know Mandarin. Then, you also have the tradition of burying the concubines with a dead emperor which the female lead is opposed to. So, if you have no idea about this practice, you could be confused about what is happening to some of the concubines. Even the names of the dishes and their presentation have symbolic meaning.

In short, Royal Feast could be a big bore for international audience especially if you have no Mandarin proficiency. Of course, you can still follow the story with the subtitles but the “flavor” would be missing. To make matters worse, the story itself is slow-moving with lots of food preparation, banquets, eating, and dish explanation scenes. Hence, if you don’t enjoy these scenes, the drama would be a drag.

On the positive side, the food shown are mouth-watering. There are many dishes introduced in the drama which will delight any foodie. The costumes is another item that would make you sit up and take notice. It is obvious money has been spent there compared to low budget flicks such as Hold On, My Lady. While the dishes and costumes have their aesthetic value, a drama still needs a good plot to make it interesting overall.

Not A Detailed Plot

Royal Feast doesn’t have a focused story like The Autumn Ballad or the intensity of Luoyang. Neither does it offer detailed power struggle and schemings that are typically found in historical dramas like Sword Snow Stride. Instead, the plot largely revolves around a few rivals in the imperial kitchen and the women in the royal harem. The politics is reduced to brief conversations here and there to show that the officials are corrupt or the emperors are doing their job and a looming rebellion rather than actual action and elaborate plotting.

Therefore, what you can expect in terms of story is mainly jealousy and rivalry for position and power among the women with some romance thrown in. The presence of the second male lead as a palace guard adds a little mystery to the overall plot. So, incidences of poisoning, catfight, revenge, and collusion will be common. All of these are interspersed with the food preparations and dish servings.

Since much screen time is dedicated to the food aspect, it is only natural that the plot details are lacking with so many characters with their own issues. While you will know the background of the main characters and what they are after, the execution of their persona agendas is simplified and straightforward. Thus, if you expect excitement and intrigue, this drama is not it.

Romance Is Secondary

I’m really not sure if those who watched Royal Feast for the romance will be satisfied overall. This is because the main couple’s time together is quite limited in the entire 40 episodes. They only physically interacted with each other after 7 episodes. The female lead is resistant to the idea of being with the male lead for two-thirds of the drama. In a lot of episodes, you will find her being angry with him and vice-versa. Hence, there is a sense that this couple is not on the same wavelength at times despite their affections for each other.

The kisses are also limited to a few pecks only just like in The Long Ballad. This is nowhere near The Eternal Love Season 3 kind of smooches which is understandable given the historical figures featured in the story. Therefore, I think the romance is not really the selling point of Royal Feast especially with the limited screen time allotted to it. Unless you really like the prolonged push-pull nature of the couple’s relationship and their chemistry, the romance will seem muted overall.

Acting And Chemistry

This is the first time that I have watched Wu Jin Yan in a historical drama after catching her in modern titles namely, My Bargain Queen and Something Just Like This. Personally, I’m okay with her portrayal of Zi Jin in Royal Feast. The character exhibits strength and an unbending will and the actress managed to give her that air of defiance and pride as required.

Xu Kai’s role is perhaps more challenging as his character has to change in a subtle manner as he is elevated in rank as the drama progresses. But neither can it be overdone as the character will then seem to have an inconsistent personality. To me, the actor did not disappoint in his depiction of Zhan Ji but he wasn’t impressive either. In other words, he didn’t stand out and carry the show when given the opportunity.

As for Wang Yi Zhe, he plays a salty Lord You. This is such a drastic change from his role in Song Of Youth which he did rather well. He wears the same impassive face throughout the episodes in Royal Feast which is suited to the character but also makes him one-dimensional. I think he failed to display the inner turmoil and complexities that should accompany the character.

As for the chemistry between Wu Jin Yan and Xu Kai, it is slightly better than average in my books. It could be better but they really have not much room to develop it further with the limited screen time and intimacy.

My Verdict – Unique In Its Own Way

It is really hard for me to say if Royal Feast deserves a watch or otherwise. This drama will only appeal to those who can appreciate the Chinese food culture and understand the story from the female lead’s perspective. Be forewarned that she is an overly kind and forgiving character. That is why I think it will be difficult to get into the story if the female lead’s behavior doesn’t seem realistic to you.

In addition, this drama also requires attention to watch. Some issues are not explicitly covered and you will have to make your own inference and deduction such as those paintings of Zi Jin. Perhaps some scenes have been deleted to keep it within 40 episodes that certain things have been left out. Hence, you can sense that the scene transitions and editing are less than smooth at times if you have been attentive.

For this Royal Feast review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. Personally, I find it to be mildly engaging rather than a big bore. I could understand the symbolism of the dishes and the explanation behind them for those eating scenes which are littered throughout the drama. I think that helps to reduce the boredom factor. Of course, I have also added marks for the aesthetic value of the dishes and costumes as the effort put in is obvious.

Overall, Royal Feast doesn’t have a typical romance storyline and the plot may not be detailed and perfectly executed. But it has a peculiar taste to it as it tries to balance between the culinary aspects and the characters’ story. Whether it succeeded or not in your eyes will depend on your tolerance for a looser plot, kitchen rivalry, and the amount of time dedicated to the mouth-watering dishes.

[asianhappinesss]

Reset

Summary

Shi Qing got on bus no. 45 for a ride downtown from her university stop. She fell asleep during the journey and thought she had a bad dream of an explosion on the bus when it hit an oil tanker. But the cycle kept repeating itself that she found that she has been caught in a time loop. Each time she died or fell asleep, the whole incident would begin again. She would awaken on the bus and find herself being confronted with the same situation of a horrifying crash and explosion which caused many deaths.

After a few cycles, Shi Qing knew exactly what is going to happen. So, she dragged the guy sitting next to her, He Yun, off the bus with her in a sincere attempt to save him by accusing him of being a pervert. But He Yun still died because he got into a cab after alighting which trailed right behind the bus which subsequently exploded. As a result, He Yun also ended up in the time loop.

Hence, Shi Qing and He Yun have to stop the bus from colliding with the oil tanker. While they managed to do so by warning the driver to be careful, the bus still exploded because one of the passengers had a bomb on board. In the subsequent cycles, they end up being suspects when they tried reporting the matter to the police and it also didn’t prevent the explosion from occurring. This forced them to race against time to figure out who among the passengers has a bomb in their bag in the later cycles.

Review

Reset (开端) is really much better than I expected. I watched this without knowing anything about the story but felt compelled to give it a try because of the male lead. It is also a short story with 15 episodes which is not the norm for Chinese dramas. So, the brevity is a welcome change to me as longer dramas tend to get dragged out unnecessarily with plenty of fillers. Anyway, I think the production team and cast for this drama deserve praises for a job well done. My Reset review below will touch on this drama in further detail and why it might just remain as one of the top titles for 2022.

Short And Intriguing

First of all, I think they got the length right with this Chinese drama. 15 episodes is just nice for a time loop theme. Any longer, it would become repetitive and the risk of boredom will get higher with each additional episode. It is certainly not easy to get a time loop drama right because the same events will start happening again and again with each cycle. Hence, there must be new elements being introduced each time and the repetition has to be cut short to make the overall story exciting. Reset managed to do that effectively to leave viewers craving for more as the story unfolds.

I guess the plot has a lot to do with the excitement because each time loop is about eliminating suspects. This takes up about half of the drama before the protagonists found the culprit. Then, it is about how to stop them. So, the second arc will see the leads returning to the same bus ride each time they fail to stop the explosion. They will be trying different ways and improvising each time they are sent back. There is also a background story of why an explosion is being planned so that the motivation makes sense to the viewers.

Intriguing Storytelling

The first part is like a whodunnit and this is where it gets intriguing with the way the story is presented. You can say that the seemingly endless time loops allowed takes away some of the tension. By the time the protagonists found out that is not the case, it is already towards the end of the drama. However, they do have to race against time as well in certain scenes as they only have a small time window before the explosion occurs in each cycle.

The storytelling hooks you because it includes the personal tales of some of the passengers and how they ended up onboard. They are not long-winded but help to inject some variety and emotions into the drama rather than just numerous cycles of a bus ride and explosion. I think it cuts down on the boredom when the story is structured in this way.

In addition, the protagonists also become suspects in some time cycles when they seem to know more than they should in what is essentially a confidential police investigation. This again adds another layer to the drama for greater intrigue and excitement.

Most importantly, the story is kept short and straightforward. Reset is not a confusing drama at all although it has a sci-fi element to it. Many time travel and time loop stories end up being confusing or nonsensical but not this one. This is because it focuses on the action and what the protagonists need to do. It does not drag the viewers into why and the how and all the nitty-gritty details which usually invites confusion.

Simple Plot But Lacks Answers

Having said that, Reset’s greatest strength is also precisely its main weakness. With its simplicity, the existence of the time loop is not properly explained to the viewers. Therefore, don’t expect to know why and how the protagonists are dragged into the time loop while some passengers are not. You just have to accept that the female lead is the chosen one to find the villain and stop the explosion.

Similarly, you won’t get any answers of why they are out of that loop once they have successfully stop the explosion and save everyone’s life. You can make your own deductions and some things may be implied. But you won’t get any clear answers from the drama. You will have to refer to the novel for that. I guess you can blame the strict Chinese censorship rules as some topics are just off-limits. So, vagueness is to be expected for dramas that touch on the supernatural stuff like Reset. For instance, The Day Of Becoming You also suffered the same fate with its body swapping tale.

Nevertheless, I’m fine with the lack of detailed answers about the time loop in the drama. The intrigue and action-oriented storytelling overshadowed the need to get mired in the technical details of the time loop to me. So, I’m satisfied that the female lead just so happened to be drawn into repeated time cycles and she has to save everyone’s life in order to get out of it. But if you are the type of viewer who prefers everything to be neatly tied up and explained, then Reset will have that glaring plot hole.

Commendable Acting

Bai Jing Ting is such a natural in Reset as He Yun. He appears as timid which is so different from his role in You Are My Hero. That timidness doesn’t look forced but very much as part of the character’s inherent personality. Bai Jing Ting makes the character real to the viewers with his facial expression and body language. He knows how to project self-doubt, uncertainty, and anxiety as the events happen. I think his acting does help to make the drama more riveting overall.

Bai Jing Ting’s chemistry with Zhao Jin Mai is also surprisingly good despite the age difference. She was still a teen when this drama was filmed but that didn’t stop her from matching up to her co-star’s acting skills and pace. It is comfortable watching her as Shi Qing with a dash of brashness coupled with fear. It is consistent with the character who wants to do the right thing but fearful of the danger at the same time.

My Verdict – Don’t Skip This One!

Reset is only 15 episodes long but it doesn’t have that poor quality or low budget feel like Plot Love. Thus, you have more reasons to watch it than not. Don’t be put off by the time loop theme because the story is told in a way that is easy to follow. The repetitiveness of each time cycle is cut to a bare minimum that you don’t really feel it dragging the drama down as the story progresses. In case you are wondering, this is not an action romance drama like The Lion’s Secret or Mysterious Love. That little bit of romance in Reset is limited to the last episode. So, pick something else if you want that sugary fix of sweetness and fluff.

Instead, watch this for the great storytelling and plot execution of a time loop thriller. You have that element of suspense of a whodunnit, the tension of being suspects and hunted down, and the curiosity of why someone wanted to blow the bus up. So, the story will evoke a lot of interest and intrigue in you and get you drawn into the protagonists’ journey.

I would give this Reset Chinese drama review a score of 8/10. It would have been higher if not for the omission of the time loop details as mentioned above. The important thing is the drama still makes sense. Think of it as a missing small piece of a puzzle. You can still make out the overall picture but it just lacks perfection without that last piece. With a tightly focused storyline and short length, there is no room for boredom and annoyance with this one unlike longer dramas like Lie To Love and Never Say Goodbye. So, don’t skip Reset 2022 if you can!

[asianhappinesss]

Sweet and Sour

Summary

Faced with real-world opportunities and challenges, a couple endures the highs and lows of trying to make a long-distance relationship work.

Review

It’s been 2 hours since I finished watching the film Sweet and Sour on Netlfix, and my brain keeps asking me, “what just happened?” on repeat. So here I am, trying to make myself understand if I liked the movie or not. The first half of this review is spoiler-free so if you are here to know if you should watch this movie, don’t worry I will give a spoiler warning for the ending explained.

If you happen across people talking about this movie online, you might notice how people either hate it or love it. I am somewhere in between. I don’t think that this movie was a waste of my time, I also don’t think that this movie was poetic cinema. For me, it was somewhere in the middle. There were parts of the movie that I really enjoyed and some parts that felt very draggy.

As the title suggests, the movie was sweet at times and sour at other times. It sought to portray a realistic side of couples struggling to find a balance between their work-life and love life. For the most part, it worked. But sadly, the movie attempted to be more than what it was intended to be. The story was a mix of melodrama, comedy and romance genre.

In an attempt to bend the genre, the story lost its depth.It never tackled the hard themes introduced in the story and moved on like nothing happened. If the first scene was melodrama, the next was comedy. So even when the couples were dealing with hard times, they didn’t focus on an issue or even discussed it.

There was no point where they thought about their actions and how much they might affect the other person in the relationship. Even worse, there was no consequence to their actions at all. Both of them were like robots moving from one day to another.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not calling the actors robots. They were completely amazing. Jang Ki Yong, Chae Soo Bin and Krystal were the lifelines of this movie. They did a great job portraying their flawed characters. The problem was the script of this movie that added a lot of complexities to a simple story by bending genres and making these characters look shallow.

That said, I will still recommend this movie if you are looking for a light movie to watch. Even though Sweet and Sour was melodrama it most certainly felt light since the difficult subjects were sidelined as quickly as they arrived.

Speaking from a critical point of view, if you are going to talk about these issues you need to at the very least address them. However, it still made a decent watch. It had some highs and some lows.

Conclusion

Whenever I write a review I know if I liked it or not but it is hard for me to say with certainty if I liked this movie or not. So please watch it and judge it for yourself, at the very least this movie was a good one time watch. Don’t go into this movie expecting romance.

If you have some free time and a Netflix subscription I will recommend Sweet and Sour to you. Please come back to let me know if you liked it or not. Also, to talk about the ending with me.

Spoilers - (CW: Mentions of cheating and abortion)

If you are a little confused about the ending, this is where I will try to explain what happened at the end of Sweet and Sour.

There were two Hyuk in the movie – Jang Hyuk (Jang Ki Yong) and Lee Jang Hyeok (Played by Lee Woo Je). For simplicity, I will call them Hottie Hyuk (Jang Ki Yong) and Cutie Hyeok (Lee Woo Je).

When the movie starts we are instantly jumped into the story of Cutie Hyeok falling in love with the nurse Da Eun. Even though Cutie Hyeok is a patient and Da Eun is the nurse, Cutie Hyeok takes care of her more than she takes care of him. Within the first 20 minutes, we see them go from strangers to going on a trip to Jeju.

She gifts Cutie Hyeok a pair of sneakers before their trip to Jeju as a couple’s gift. Cutie Hyeok wears the sneakers and runs around at the airport in excitement while she waits for him to come back. The camera shows him start running with determination to lose weight and then cuts from Cutie Hyeok running to Hottie Hyuk running in the same couple’s sneakers. The intention here is to say that they are the same people and the Cutie Hyeok lost weight and became this Hottie Hyuk.

The director very smartly diverted all our attention throughout the movie by adding hints that both Cutie Hyeok and Hottie Hyuk are the same by giving them exact same personality traits and background story. Both are pushovers and let Da Eun order them around. Both took a car from their parents to drive Da Eun around. Both are Engineers. Both met Da Eun at the hospital as patients. Both hate the Doctor guy that keeps hitting on her.

In the first part, we see Cutie Hyeok refuse macaron on their date and then later in the movie Hottie Hyuk says that he hates sweets – further confirming the audience that he is the same person. There are several other instances where we think that it is the same person, like the nurse trying to remember if she has seen Hottie Hyuk somewhere. We think that she realised that it is the same guy and he lost weight. However, in reality, they are not the same people.

The movie is not chronological. It jumps back in time when we are introduced with Hottie Hyuk.

Da Eun is dating Hottie Hyuk for a while when we meet him for the first time. When her relationship with Hottie Hyuk starts getting bad, she meets Cutie Hyuk at the hospital. The night she is going through a very hard time with her abortion and Hottie Hyuk leaves her to go to work, the same night Cutie Hyuk finds her number and calls her. She tells him that she is alone at home and he should come over.

Cutie Hyuks changes the light bulb and throws the trash that Hottie Hyuk didn’t. Their relationship starts getting worse as time progresses. Da Eun starts dating Cutie Hyuk while Hottie Hyuk is busy at work and unable to go home. They still try to keep the relationship working but after a particularly nasty fight where Hyuk accidentally calls Da Eun Bo Yeon (Krystal), they break up with no discussion that they are breaking up.

Later, Hottie Hyuk cheats on her with Bo Yeon (Krystal) and doesn’t go home for some time. He tells Da Eun to take anyone she wants to Jeju which she does.

Both the first airport scene and the last airport scene are the same scenes. Da Eun gifts Cutie Hyuk the sneakers and Cutie Hyeok starts running in excitement. This is when Hottie Hyuk finds her at the airport and then both Hyuk and Hyeok crash and fall down.

I hope this explains the ending.

Thoughts

Even though the ending had me scream at my tv and then start laughing hysterically, I still think that this ending was the weakest and the strongest part of the movie depending on the way you see it. On one hand, it gives a fun, unexpected twist to the melodrama but on the other hand, it makes the entire relationship meaningless.

At the start when the camera cuts from one to another, we don’t want to believe that Cutie Hyeok lost so much weight that he turned into Hottie Hyuk. But as the movie goes on they kept adding hints in the movie that just makes us convinced that both are really the same person. It was brilliantly done and we need to give the credit where the credit is due.

That said, cheating is not cool.

If you are watching the movie from a critical point of view, the movie loses its charm. Throughout the movie, the couples did nothing to show that they should be together. Both were terrible to each other.

Da Eun takes advantage of Hottie Hyuk the entire time she was with him (much like what we see her do with Cutie Hyuk in the beginning). Hottie Hyuk gets a car and commutes for hours just to spend the night with her. He does house chores and drives her around. She is never considerate of his hard work and his exhaustion.

Hottie Hyuk (side note: I think I have probably called Jang Ki Yong hottie over 100 times by now but did I lie? lol) was also a terrible boyfriend. He never listens to her and only talks about his problems with her. He doesn’t tell her about his girl colleague and keeps lying to her about it even when he was not cheating on her. He is also doing the bare minimum for her. Especially, when she needs him the most.

Had the writers not tried to make the story realistic and melodrama, the rest of the story would have made much more sense, and the ending twist would have even been funny.

The entire time the couples were not honest with each other, they had no emotions towards one another. Even after going through such a hard time, they barely communicate or even fight for that matter. Da Eun goes through abortion, she gets cheated on, her boyfriend is never there for her but when the movie ends we forget it all and she becomes a con artist that takes advantage of men.

“Where did it all go wrong?”

I would like to argue that the entire relationship was wrong. He was a pushover and a liar. She was selfish and a liar.

[asianhappinesss]

All of Us Are Dead (2022)

Summary

A high school becomes ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. Trapped students must fight their way out — or turn into one of the rabid infected.

Review

An unconventional zombie series that skilfully pairs two classic genres: apocalyptic devastation with high-school shenanigans

What would happen if your school was attacked by zombies? Netflix’s latest hit K-drama, All of Us Are Dead, attempts to give us a solid answer to this question, as Hyosan High School turns into a fast-sinking ship when a science experiment gone terribly wrong results in a virus-induced zombie outbreak.

For a few years now, South Korean entertainment has been pushing the narrative boundaries of the zombie genre. They have deftly used it as a vehicle to explore not just present-day political and social issues (#Alive, 2020), but have also inserted the undead in their period dramas (Kingdom, 2019).

However, what makes All of Us Are Dead stand out amidst this growing list of K-Zombie content are the central protagonists in the series. The motley crew of survivors are not your gun-slinging, machete-wielding, adept zombie-killing protagonists, these are teenagers who quite literally have to grab the object nearest to them and hastily fashion a weapon out of it.

This is also where the show finds its sparingly lighter moments. Friends dole out advice on dealing with high school crushes as bloody zombies snarl in the background (!) But beyond these interactions, the series takes a massive departure from the traditional route of keeping a zombie apocalypse setting somewhat comically chaotic. Instead, directors Lee JQ and Kim Nam-su choose not to shy away from tackling the emotional weight of death and mayhem.

The best example of this is seen when the show deals with the zombification or “turning” of humans. A shot usually reserved to fulfil the horror quota is turned on its head to play out poignantly heartbreaking scenes. In place of a hastened transformation, we get a drawn-out process, in which the horror stems from the now-undead zombie reconciling with the loss of their humanity, often right in front of their classmates.

The directors do not whiplash the audience back into zombie-infested reality; instead we sit with the students in numbing grief as they lose their friends, classmates and teachers, over and over again. The heavy storyline doesn’t feel misplaced, as writer Chun Sung-il richly fleshes out these teen characters to carry forward the complex tale.

Nam On-jo (Park Ji-hu) serves as a narrative protagonist who bands together with her childhood friend Lee Cheong-san (Yoon Chan-young), her crush Lee Su-hyeok (Park Solomon), and the aloof overachieving class President Choi Nam-ra (Cho Yi-hyun) among other classmates to fight zombies and school bullies alike.

Director Lee JQ’s choice to cast actors “unfamiliar to the audience” pays off masterfully.

The makers also ensure that the layered storytelling does not come at the cost of high-adrenaline action scenes, jump scares and well-executed VFX gore. Mirroring the title sequence, the directors slowly descend the audience into a zombie-filled reality, and the series conveys the same visually. What starts off as a brightly-lit, vividly colourful school, eventually transforms into a nauseatingly dull place with the colour saturation dialed back, as the virus spreads.

When required, the filmmakers also immerse us into the zombie experience. The cinematography during the zombie-human confrontation scenes moves fast, never quite fixating on a single character, which makes for quite unsettling viewing. It is havoc heightened for the students, as well as the audience watching, as we learn along with them, who survived and who didn’t.

Another unconventional directorial choice comes in the form of how the show is paced out. With 12 episodes, each almost an hour long, the story stretches out the events of each day over multiple episodes. The material to fill this time comes from the pockets of survivors it creates throughout the city.

Though the storyline follows a core group of students trapped in high school, we are also given glimpses of a politician scrambling to escape her office; a social media influencer trying to farm the crisis for viral content; and two police officers, mismatched in their levels of courage, racing to retrieve the antidote.

These different dynamics are crafted for the series to also address multiple systemic issues. With the origin of the zombie virus itself rooted in a history of bullying, the school becomes ground zero for the show to explore social class hierarchies.

Additionally, for the senior students of Hyosan High, the zombie apocalypse does not even figure as a priority stressor. With the university entrance exams looming over, Park Mi-jin, a student, laments, “It’s impossible for me to get into college even if I live,” while practicing her zombie killing techniques.

The dynamic between how the State handles this crisis and its effect on students also serves as a microcosm for how authorities react to apocalyptic situations. Unfortunately, this is also where the plot wavers a bit. The series often attempts to pack in too much, as it stretches two separate storylines involving teenage pregnancy and sexual assault across multiple episodes. Not enough time is spent on either narrative to create meaningful conclusions or provide these characters with a kinder, more humane ending.

Ultimately, in a genre teeming with Hollywood’s undying need to provide the perfect post-apocalyptic male-hero zombie killer tale, South Korea has bravely put forth a story of survival. Oscillating between the alive and the undead, the show makes an impact by centering the fact that endurance doesn’t always mean strength, sometimes it is born out of repeated acts of kindness.

[asianhappinesss]

The Lion’s Secret

Summary

Wan Qing has taken over the helm of Maoyuan Heavy Industries from her father who has retired. But she is facing obstacles and threats from people within the company. So, her father arranged for her to marry Liu Qing whom he believes could protect his daughter. Wan Qing agreed in order to maintain stability in the company but she hated him on sight.

Liu Qing is a former special ops soldier and his late father was a good friend of the Mu family. He has feelings for Wan Qing and would risk his life to keep her safe although he would always puts on a jovial and non-serious face when he is with her. But behind the facade, he had a traumatic experience during a failed mission while he was a soldier.

After the marriage, Liu Qing’s past seems to have caught up with him when he crosses path with his old comrades again. The meetings are too much of a coincidence when Wan Qing is also dragged into mess with threats to her life. Her rivals are also conspiring against her as Li Qing rushes to flush out the mastermind behind all the troubles.

Review

Could Have Been Better

The Lion’s Secret (赖猫的狮子倒影) seems like a pretty low-key drama as I have not seen much promotion for it. I initially thought this is a rom-com as the male protagonist is kind of a joker. But I was wrong! It has quite a bit of action with some flashbacks that have a traumatic undertone to it. The drama is not depressing or melodramatic because of that in case you are worried that it will weigh you down emotionally. You can check out The Lion’s Secret review below for more details about this drama. For a start, it has a more matured theme and the CEO isn’t the typical domineering man but a woman!

To me, The Lion’s Secret has a lot of potential but somehow, the production team messed it up. It has a combination of romance and action/crime but it seems as if the producers cannot decide which genre it wants the drama to lean towards. That is why those who watch it for the romance will feel disappointed when they are expecting more sweetness for the main couple especially towards the end. At the same time, those who are waiting for a climatic ending for an action drama will also feel let down by the last 3 episodes’ lack of quality.

I think the problem with this drama is that it starts off from a contract marriage angle. So, it gives an anticipation of romance and an intense one when viewers are under the impression that the female lead might be in danger and the male lead is her protector. There is also flirting going on on the man’s part and the thawing of the woman’s heart for the first 10 episodes or so.

Hence, you can see the main couple’s relationship developing as the drama progresses. But you don’t get that satisfaction of a great romance because those sweet and intense scenes are lacking. So, it leaves me with the feeling that they got the romance right halfway but it stops there to give attention to the action part.

Not So Simple Plot

The Lion’s Secret does not have a straightforward plot. It uses a roundabout way to tell the story and to link the male protagonist’s past to the present. In other words, you don’t really know how his past is related to all the current issues that are happening. So, it can be confusing as you try to figure out what the antagonists are trying to achieve and this will only be fully revealed about three-quarters into the drama.

This kind of storytelling is fine but the weakness of The Lion’s Secret is that it lacks suspense unlike Stealth Walker. You can do a gradual reveal but it needs enough suspense to make it exciting. For The Lion’s Secret, it is more confusing than suspenseful especially the corporate maneuverings against Wan Qing which is poorly explained. Neither is it heavy on strategies and counter-strategies as the good and bad guys square off like in Never Say Goodbye.

Instead, it relies on snippets of Liu Qing’s past to pique your curiosity and keep your interest. But the overall execution just fails to elevate the drama into a gem. Furthermore, when the story shifts to a drug syndicate in a rural town, the drama also begins to feel a little unrealistic because it seems detached from the previous 20 episodes. But I guess it is needed to link it to the male lead’s past where it all began.

Acting

The leads are fine in their performance and the main couple’s chemistry is certainly noticeable. Zhu Ya Wen played his character well and gave Liu Qing a very likable personality despite his tragic experience. He is always smiling and appearing clownish around Wan Qing but in a very natural way. Yang Zi Shan gave Wan Qing’s character a cold demeanor publicly but would soften her expressions for the character’s private moments. She did this very comfortably and viewers can see the different layers of the personality.

To me, I think it is a pity that the production team failed to maximize the chemistry of these 2 leads. If there is more skinship and a more intense romance, perhaps the drama would have a stronger attraction to the viewers. I know dramas don’t necessarily need a lot of kisses to succeed and Forever And Ever is one good example. But more passion simply fits the overall story of The Lion’s Secret and that is, unfortunately, missing from the drama.

As for the minor supporting cast towards the end of the drama, their acting certainly sucks. They may not have a lot of screen time in the drama but their presence is a pain whenever they appear. This is typical of many Chinese dramas that have to use foreigners as part of their plot. It reduces the overall viewing enjoyment which is partly why many are questioning the quality of the last 3 episodes of The Lion’s Secret.

Loose Ends (Spoilers Alert!)

The ending of The Lion’s Secret is obviously lacking with glaring loose ends not tied up. It appears to me that there could be more scenes but they were cut out for some reason or other. For instance, there is no accounting of why Yu Ting ends up as a nun. It could be related to her brother’s death but we are not told what went through her mind when she is shown in a habit at the end of Episode 33.

Similarly, we do not know how and when Wan Qing recalled her childhood experience with Liu Qing. It is just implied that she got back her memories of Liu Qing when they were kids. This is supposed to be a meaningful event because viewers are told of their childhood link very early on in the drama.

Therefore, the last episode feels rushed without proper explanation of some of the issues. You will still get the satisfaction of seeing the bad guys dead but the ending doesn’t feel wholesome because of all those loose ends which could have been easily addressed.

My Verdict – Okay To Watch

Despite the criticisms above, I still think The Lion’s Secret is watchable. It is not a really great drama given the weaknesses but neither is it boring overall. It should hold your interest until the end although you might feel that the last few episodes could have been better executed. After all, the acting is on par while the story has its purpose although a tad confusing in the beginning.

The female character may annoy some people due to her cold and harsh attitude towards her partner initially. Thus, you will have to give it some time for the character to warm up to you. She will soften as the story plods along. The other pitfall would be the concealing of information by the man to so call protect the woman he loves. For instance, he didn’t tell her that they are childhood friends because of her past trauma or about his dark past. So, there is still that silly trope of “protecting” her in the name of love by withholding information.

In short, if you buy into that kind of reasoning, then the guy will seem romantic and selfless. But if you don’t, the romance and hence, the drama will fall apart because of the lack of honesty and communication. As a result of all these flaws, the score that I can give for The Lion’s Secret review would only be 7/10. The potential is there given the interesting story of the male character but it was let down by the poor plot execution. It tries to be a romance and an action drama rolled into one but ends up being lacking on both sides. Nevertheless, it should still be able to evoke some level of curiosity and anticipation and hence, do give it a go on that score.

[asianhappinesss]

Shining For One Thing

Summary

Bei Xing is approaching 30 years old and works at the local zoo. She is about to get married to her high school sweetheart, Zhan Yu, but he asks for a breakup all of a sudden. In a last ditch attempt to save the relationship, she texts Zhan Yu to meet her at the school that they attended. She also brings along her old mobile phone that she had used during those days.

While fiddling with her old phone, she meets Zhan Yu as well as Wan Sen. Later, she realizes that the meeting has taken place in a parallel universe which brings her back to 10 years before. She also learns that deleting a message on her old phone will trigger the switch. As Bei Xing is unhappy due to her failed relationship and mediocre career path, she decides to take advantage of the ability to go back to her past to change her life.

However, Bei Xing gets kicked back to the present each time after a short interval. Then, she discovers that she will get teleported back to 2021 whenever she receives news about Wan Sen’s death. Wan Sen is reported to have died in 2011 on the last day of the college entrant exam. He had fallen to his death from the lighthouse.

Therefore, when Bei Xing returns to 2011 again, she needs to prevent Wan Sen from dying. This means she needs to get close to him so that she could protect him from the potential murderer. As Bei Xing and Wan Sen spend more time together, they also start to fall in love with each other.

Review

Shining For One Thing (一闪一闪亮星星) is a Chinese romance drama with a parallel universe theme. It has a rather high rating on some sites among the international viewers at the time of this review. I presume this will be attractive to the younger crowd due to the high school romance which forms a substantial part of the story. There is also a mystery bit which helps to differentiate it from the usual youth dramas and this is what kept me going to the end. I have written my opinion in the Shining For One Thing review below. So, do read on if you are interested to find out my overall verdict.

Not A Fluffy Romance Drama

Shining For One Thing is not your typical sugary youthful romance drama like To Fly With You or Our Secret. It has a bit of mystery with a dark undertone and melodramatic feel towards the second half of the drama. So, it reminds me of Crush in a way as it moves away from the conventional. It is good if you are sick of recycled plots of contract marriages, domineering CEOs, and the likes.

However, Shining For One Thing is also kind of angsty and the melodrama means a few pieces of tissues may be needed for all the tears. “I like you” would be a romantic confession for other dramas but not this one. Personally, the sadness is not in the league of Go Ahead or One And Only which is much more of a tearjerker to me. Perhaps more matured viewers will not cry buckets over this one but I think it will definitely evoke pain for the younger ones who are into high school romances.

What actually kept me going though is not the romance but the curiosity of what happened to the male protagonist and how the screenwriter will tie everything up between the original and alternate universe. Thus, it is not only the romance that is driving the story but also other elements which helps to broaden the overall appeal for this drama.

Simple Time Travel Plot

Many dramas with similar themes tend to be confusing or lack an ending that is properly tied up such as Love Under The Full Moon. However, Shining For One Thing is pretty easy to understand. It doesn’t get bogged down into details of how the time and space travel happens. An old mobile phone is the link and it is left at that. Instead, the story concentrates on the leads’ relationship and the prevention of the guy’s death.

While the romance is a substantial part of the plot, it is of the innocent kind given that it is set in a high school environment. So, don’t expect any real kisses except for simple pecks. The boy is shy and reserved and loves the girl in secret. It is sweet in that way and should resonate with the younger audience. But I’m not too sure if older viewers would find this romance equally moving given the teenage feel.

The way the story is told is that the female lead would move between the original and alternate universe a number of times. Each travel will bring her to a different year or month and hence, some things are changed along the way. These changes prevent the story from becoming repetitive although the overall setting remains the same. The different time dimensions that she ends up in has its significance which is revealed later on in the drama. I think it makes the plot more meaningful that way. It is also these little details in the story that add to the emotional impact.

Main Weakness (Spoilers Alert!)

The main weakness of Shining For One Thing is the lack of explanation of what really happened to the male lead. This is not a drama that outlines everything for you from start to finish. Although what is implied in the end seems pretty clear, there are some other things that require your own deduction or imagination. For instance, if the male lead is still alive, what happened to him after he fell off the lighthouse is up to you to fill in the blanks.

Similarly, the link between the female lead’s time travel and the male lead is also open to interpretation. After all, her arrival in the alternate worlds is related to his regrets. Basically, you will need to connect the dots yourself and come up with your own picture as the story progresses if you are that type of viewer who can’t stand missing pieces.

Having said that, I feel that the vagueness, ironically, also enhances the story. It fits the tone well and adds to the intrigue. If everything is laid out to the viewer, it might well changes the tone of the drama and takes away the mystery. Moreover, the story doesn’t really allow you to get too absorbed over the details as your attention will be drawn elsewhere. Perhaps that is why the weakness is not glaring to the viewers as it has been overshadowed by the emotional effect of the romance and mysterious death.

Great Acting

Both the leads did well in portraying their roles. Their faces may not look young enough as high school students but their mannerisms are convincing to be at that age group. After all, Karlina Zhang is already more than 30 years old while Shaw Qu is over 25.

Nevertheless, Shaw Qu is brilliant as Wan Sen with his shyness and awkwardness as a teenager secretly in love with his classmate. He gives Wan Sen those little gestures to personify the shyness and anxiety that a teen typically experiences. For instance, the way he pulls his shirt whenever he nervously talks to Bei Xing is so apt for the timid character that he plays. It is a minor act on the surface but it tells a lot about the character’s feelings overall.

Karlina Zhang plays a more expressive character compared to her co-star and it is enjoyable to watch the contrast. Her emotions are on point and hence, she is able to bring the character to life. Together with Shaw Qu, they manage to make their on-screen relationship a touching one with their great chemistry. They complement each other very well in their acting to give us a vivid romance that feels real.

My Verdict – Watch Because It’s Different!

Shining For One Thing is not without cliches. The childhood link is one example of a typical romance drama subplot. But the overall feel and tone of the drama is very different from the usual. It has both sweetness and pain in the romance that might tear at your heart with a melancholic OST to deepen the heartache. The scene direction and cinematography accentuate the mysterious aura with gloomy skies and heavy rain. The time travel adds a level of anticipation to the eventual outcome. Everything comes together nicely to give us a coherent and touching story.

While this is a highly watchable production, the high school life encompasses more than a dozen episodes. Thus, if you are not a fan of youth dramas like me, some parts of this would seem slow-moving. Frankly speaking, I fell asleep a few times while watching the first 15 episodes or so. It is not that the drama is bad. It is just that classes, exams, friendships, and secret feelings are nothing new for this genre. If these themes still resonate with you, then Shining For One Thing would be a great drama from start to finish. Otherwise, some scenes would be skippable in my opinion.

For this Shining For One Thing review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. It doesn’t have the same excitement and thrill as Reset which is another sci-fi drama with a time loop tale. Instead, its strength lies in the melodramatic romance to move your emotions. If you can relate to an innocent love with feelings that run deep and don’t mind shedding a few tears in the process, then this is the drama for you.

[asianhappinesss]

Dream Garden

Summary

Xiao Xiao discovers that her best friend, Luo Luo, has visited Lin Shen’s psychological counseling center just before Luo Luo went missing. She is suspicious that Lin Shen might be involved in her friend’s disappearance. Hence, Xiao Xiao pretends to seek employment in his center in order to get the necessary evidence and clues on Luo Luo’s whereabouts.

Xiao Xiao is hired by Lin Shen’s partner. But Lin Shen could see through her pretense. Xiao Xiao is forced to come clean about her motive. When she realizes Lin Shen is is not involved in Luo Luo’s disappearance, she pleads with him to help her find her friend. Through hypnosis, Xiao Xiao could recall some small details to help them to track down Luo Luo who is merely hiding from her overly controlling boyfriend.

After the case is over, Xiao Xiao and Lin Shen cross paths again due to work. Xiao Xiao becomes interested to continue working for Lin Shen and study psychology as it is related to her job as a relationship expert who dishes out love advice. Together, they handle some psychological cases that come their way. As they see more of each other, feelings also begin to develop between them. But danger lies ahead as Lin Shen becomes a target of unknown parties lurking in the shadows.

Review

Dream Garden (沉睡花园) is a short Chinese drama with a psychology theme. I think it is good that this production is kept short and compact to maintain a relatively good pacing throughout. Many Chinese dramas tend to be longer than necessary just to fill the standard length that we typically see. The other thing to look forward to for this drama is, of course, Simon Gong and Bridgette Qiao. Do they have sizzling chemistry between them to make us feel engrossed in their story? Check out my Dream Garden review below to find out more.

Psychological Cases

Basically, Dream Garden is like a collection of psychological cases that are string together to create a drama with romance as the icing on the cake. The protagonists will encounter people that are afflicted with various psychological problems which they will need to resolve. These include delusional, gaslighting, and controlling behaviors. Each case could take about 2 episodes for a resolution. Therefore, characters related to each of the cases will come and go. Only a small number of core characters will remain throughout the drama.

One major issue about this kind of drama that revolves around a profession would be its accuracy or the lack of it. I’m not a psychologist and hence, I can’t comment whether the patients’ treatment and the characters’ actions in Dream Garden would fit reality. But you know it would be farfetched for someone who has not studied psychology to be hired as an assistant to the partner. This is how it is in the drama. So, I suppose you just have to treat it as pure entertainment and not nitpick on the details and accuracy from a professional angle. Otherwise, it would be very hard to get into the story.

Fairly Interesting Cases

As Dream Garden relies on psychological cases to move the story along, its success would depend on how interesting and convincing these cases may be. Personally, I find the cases to be fairly interesting. I think the brevity of each case helps to minimize the boredom as they do get resolved within 2 episodes or so. It also provides some insights into how people could be psychologically affected by the behavior of those closest to them.

However, I also think you must have some level of interest in the subject to find this drama worthwhile. This is because it is not a thriller or a suspenseful drama like Stealth Walker. The protagonists are mainly trying to help people with their psychological issues and hypnosis are constantly used as a solution. Hence, some may find it repetitive. With each episode being an hour long, it can certainly feel drawn out for those who prefer more excitement.

On top of that, there is also a revenge factor as part of the plot. This is the last case which is used to prep the viewers for a climatic ending. But it falls short and it is the least convincing case of the lot to me. The perpetrator obviously needed psychological help but the drama must have a villain. So, he seems like a convenient choice as a way to end the story.

Slow Burn Romance

Would I watch Dream Garden for the romance? My answer would be no. In fact, the whole drama could stand on its own without any romance being included. But I guess viewers always like some sweetness in a drama and a matching pair of on screen lovers does sell. Just like in The Lion’s Secret, the couple in Dream Garden officially get together rather late in the drama. However, they do spend a lot of time together from the very beginning which should satisfy that craving for some fluff and sweetness in their interactions.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for your sugary fix, I would still say that this is not the drama to watch. For that, you are better off watching You Are My Glory or Forever And Ever. In Dream Garden, the cases is the meat of the story while the romance simply offers a sweet distraction to make the drama less heavy throughout. Yes, there are also kisses towards the end of the drama when the couple started dating to spice things up. But it doesn’t automatically transform it into a great love story as the drama is not meant to be one.

Acting And Chemistry

Simon Gong is as good-looking as always and he does have the necessary acting skills to give viewers a satisfactory portrayal of his characters in all his project thus far. So, there is nothing much to complain about either with his portrayal of Lin Shen in Dream Garden. He depicts Lin Shen as a capable professional and does that convincingly.

Bridgette Qiao plays Xiao Xiao who is more impulsive and expressive compared to Lin Shen. Xiao Xiao is not an instantly likable or adorable character but the actress still managed to make her grow on you as the drama progresses. I think Bridgette Qiao did well with what she was given. Xiao Xiao is supposed to be smart but she ends up being rather dumb when it comes to the second male lead. So, I can’t blame the actress because that is how her character was written.

The chemistry of these 2 leads is great for a drama that is not entirely romance-focused. They are sweet when it needs to be and they look good as lovers. At the very least, I think Bridgette Qiao has much better chemistry with her co-star here than with Hu Yi Tian in You Complete Me. Perhaps the easy banter between them and Lin Shen’s cheekiness at times help with the couple vibes in Dream Garden.

My Verdict – Neither The Best Nor The Worst

I would say Dream Garden is neither the best nor the worst of the lot where Chinese dramas are concerned. Whether you would enjoy it would depend on how much you want it to mirror reality in the psychology field. If you think the cases presented and the leads’ actions as psychologists are unreal, then the drama’s watch value will go down the drain. To me, the cases are pretty interesting. While I do get the feeling that the leads’ behavior doesn’t seem professional at times, I also didn’t have the urge to question and nitpick over the details. So, I guess if you can just treat this as a drama and not expect the story to strictly adhere to the standards of the profession, then this would be more enjoyable.

Having said that, the sore point for me is the way the villain’s story is told. The female lead completely lets down her guard with him when she has been very astute in sniffing out the psychological problems of others around her. You might also roll your eyes over all the “coincidental” meetings each time he shows up in front of her. In other words, the execution of the revenge plot falls short to me. Since they have also identified a villain, his case could have been a suspenseful and thrilling end to a psychological drama. Unfortunately, this aspect is totally missing from Dream Garden.

So, for this Dream Garden review, I would only give it a score of 7/10. Without sufficient excitement, the romance is a sweet distraction and helps to make up for the shortfall. Overall, it is an average drama for me with little rewatch value. Give it a try and you should know within the first few episodes if this is up your alley.