Soberano Jiu Liu (2020)

disappointing

the story started out great---i really like the love-hate relationship between the mogul and the gangleader. It added element of age status between riches and rags. their banters are also very funny and cute. towards half of the drama I found myself asking myself several things, such as:
- why is the PRINCE himself doing the dirty work, going to brothel? where is the dignity of a PRINCE? is it because of love?
- at the beginning of the story there is a running gag that Li Qiuling couldn't touch woman, except for Long Aoyi. how come it is not being brought anymore at the middle of the story?
- why is the relationships between the lord and the companions so casual?
there are a lot of instances where the plot is forcing Li Qiuling and Long Aoyi to meet and join forces. and then it became ridiculous, the push and pull between the two characters. I find myself not liking Aoyi's brashness and Qiuling's uptight attitude. Instead of being endearing, watching this drama become a chore to me.

I watched this drama because of Leon Lai. I liked him in Who Rules the World as Prince of Jizhou, so finding him as main role in a colossal drama is exciting to me. but the writing of this drama is NOT it for me. this is also my first drama starring Bai Lu, and I have no doubt that she is good at acting, but her facial expressions as aoyi is not doing it for me. in the end, im dropping this drama.

Leia Mais

A GORGEOUS FABRIC that got SHREDDED to bits in the end

Yup.

What began with a gorgeous fabric .. was damaged beyond repair in the last 1/3 of show .. It's like the writer lost track of what design of clothing she started out with .. or maybe thought she could decide along the way??

Once I completed the drama I finally understood why most comments in the discussion thread called it a disaster.
I was SO PUZZLED .. because I was SO ENTERTAINED for 2/3 of the show.

I watched the first half of the drama (pre-palace entry .. well actually even several episodes into palace) laughing, chuckling; RELISHING every bit of Bai Lu's role as the kick ass Gang Boss, she is written SO well .. the knitting of the tension so engaging .. the various ways she outwits and keeps being Top Dog in a tough man's world.

FOXY is such a delightful way to describe her ..

And then it starts to unravel .. by the end the drama is shred to a nuisance pile of illogical rubbish; to say that there are plot holes in the second part is a compliment; there is nothing of plot left to even make a hole in it (ROFL).

The script is so schizoid !!! I was like WHAT!??

~ 8.5 /10 (pre-palace segment)
~ 7.5 / 10 (few eps of early Palace segment)
~ 4.0 / 10 (Ep 30 onwards)

Overall because
- I LAUGHED so much and ENJOYED the Gang Boss in Silver City literally "twerp" / wink her way through "wins"
- thrilled to have discovered a HIGHLY talented ML - Leon Lai - with so much potential who delivers along with Bai Lu

I felt generous enough to donate 1.5 point extra to the 6.0 I was itching to give it .. the end left such a BAAD taste.
So it's a 7.5 / 10

Have fun tripping on Bai Lu (and Leon Lai) in Silver City .. and then go glug a gin and tonic with a drama buddy and have a roaring laugh at the absurdity the drama descends into once Changan is reached.

Leia Mais