Parallel World (2023)

Complex Fantasy Romance

This is my favorite type of story. It's definitely fantastic - no way are you going to think this is real by the end, but in the beginning it LOOKS real. There's cars and shadow puppets and desert sandstorms - understandable real world things. You sink into the complex magic and history of the worlds, see beasts that do amazing things, and think how is this happening? This makes no sense. Does the plot need something? There's a magic beast for that. The characters and their interactions pull you through this part. Excellent acting all around. The villains are not one sided. The female lead is amazing. I love strong women. The male lead is smart and puts things together - l like smart men. Then the plot hits a crescendo and all the things start coming into place, and suddenly all the stuff that didn't make sense sort of does. For this part, you have to pay attention. You have to have held on to all the pieces in order to piece them together. You might need to re-watch it to see what you missed. It's that complicated. If you like straightforward stories that don't deviate from the real world much you will not like this. If your blood sugar is low, or you're pulling an all-nighter and you're tired, you probably will be too confused to like this. If you want mindless entertainment, watch something else. The love story is beautiful and heartbreaking and wonderful in all the right places. One can argue that the end of certain characters was not ideal - in the same way that second lead syndrome can make one dislike a straight romance, but that's you, not the story. Not everyone will make the same choices you will. Even in a fantasy. The only thing I didn't like (and it was minor) was that the ending was poorly fleshed out. They showed you where it was going and then didn't show it. I would have liked to see it. I felt like it needed maybe 1-2 more episodes of denouement. Not enough to detract from the show.

Leia Mais

Sometimes gripping, Sometimes not

OVERALL
If you're looking for some adventure, even if it's rough around the edges, and a bit of romance, but fun and worthwhile romance, watch. If you're looking for a deep and well-written plot, or convincing CGI, or both, skip.

THE STORY
I started watching this drama when I had nothing else of interest to watch. I binged a couple of episodes when it got good, skipped parts in other episodes when it got boring. Before I knew it, it was over. My verdict is, it served its purpose. It's a good filler, but nothing more.

On the good side:
- There are enough twists to surprise you in the adventure plot, and you start out with enough mysteries to unfold to hook you
- The romance is surprisingly fun, with some comedy and some melodrama towards the end (but good drama, you know, the kind you want to happen to spice up a love story)
- FL is how I like them (strong, smart, but kind), ML is also how I like them (a bit aloof but nice)
- Most secondary characters are endearing and you won't feel the need to skip their parts
- The setting is fresh and interesting (no more Shanghai, yay! I LOVE that most of it happens in the desert)

On the bad side:
- Special effects are horrid in this drama, like REALLY bad
- You can get lost and confused in the fantasy elements and the way the plot is nonlinear (ie. the characters have a goal, but they keep going on side quests or tangents or wtv). It also makes the drama feel draggy at times.
That's it! haha But careful, the bad weighs nearly as much as the good (maybe even a bit more)!

THE ACTING
Good stuff! There are a couple of emotional scenes and the actors delivered!

THE MUSIC
Quite okay!

REWATCH VALUE
Uff...not high haha I might rewatch the romance parts. I liked those! The rest was a bit too much of a wild ride. I think experiencing it once is enough! :)

Leia Mais

Writer brought us 'Something Different' with an exciting 'new world'.

A very good Fantasy series. Really enjoyed it. Writer brought us Something Different with an exciting 'new world'.

Loved the characters and actors did a great job at portraying their respective characters. Liked Ye Liuxi's character and Ni Ni did really well portraying her character as well as Bai Yu as Chang Dong. Ni Ni and Bai Yu did great together and Chemistry was awesome and their love believable. Also enjoyed Fei Tang, Ding Liu, Gao Shen and He's characters as well as Lin Jin Ao .

Visual effects and Production were also very good. Liked the desert setting as well as the cities within the parallel world. The Inns and Gateways were also great.

Ost: loved it, especially 'As as Mirage' by Jane Zhang as well as Fierce Wind Raid by Liu Yuning.

Rewatch value : 8

Leia Mais

“The Doctor’s Best Kept Secret to Cure Insomnia”

DISCLAIMER: I watched this as a part of a recommendation challenge which is why I didn't drop it.

What did I just watch? Or better yet, what did I just sleep through? Instead of Parallel World, it should be titled “The Doctor’s Best Kept Secret to Cure Insomnia”. No sleeping pill works as well as this. I also remember calling it a “crack dream” at some point. The beginning was extremely slow. So slow, I kept falling asleep. When I didn’t go into a deep slumber, it was because I was multitasking, so I might as well have been asleep. I tried to keep up with the story, but by episode 10 I gave up on all pretenses and just kept the episodes running, occasionally looking up from my phone. I did try to pay attention a few times afterwards, but the result was just me falling asleep. The drama had sand zombies, pew pew, parasitic flora, golden snakes, and so much other stuff and it still bored me…to a narcoleptic-like sleep. I did enjoy some of the chicken parts though. There were also parts, probably due to censorship and trying to remind people not to look for the Jade Gate, that seemed like they were popped there randomly. Yes, the CDL and older man scenes. I was like “Girl, why are you here too?”

I felt, at the beginning when I was actually trying to pay attention, that NiNi’s character was extremely childish and I did not enjoy that. None of the characters moved me and I did not care about their struggles. I was right about one thing I remember thinking before passing out “these guys are probably manipulating her”. I only remembered one OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Upvt_ac5IY and it’s because it’s sung by Liu Yu Ning, and even then it’s not really his best OST. But after searching for the rest, these did match the dull atmosphere of the drama.


I am grateful to this drama for one thing though. I tried watching the final episodes after finishing another extremely tragic show, but I fell asleep. Something I thought I wouldn’t be able to do after that other drama. And trying to recall parts of the drama while writing this made me want to take a nap. So, I will stop here.

Leia Mais

Un must to see pour les amateurs d'aventures et de fantastique!

Hum...... 2023 s'achève en beauté en ce qui me concerne. Après une pluie de coup de coeur phénoménal (avec quelques trucs pourris quand même...), l'année se termine dans un magnifique feu d'artifice. Non, non pas celui de Paris ou de Disney, mais un drama qui de prime abord, tout en me faisant de l'œil, paraît un peu cheesy. Non pas que je fasse ma marquise et que je sois du genre à cracher dessus, bien au contraire, mais j'avoue tout de même que ma conscience se plaît à me répéter que les trucs du genre série B ne peut au final que plaire à un certain public (dont moi). Et ô surprise, et dieu sait que j'aime ce genre de surprise ! Peu de choses pourraient être catalogué série B dans "Parallel World".
« Parallel World » est définitivement un de mes plus gros coup cœur de 2023. Par manque de temps, je vais écrire une critique un peu courte mais qui exprimera tout de même ce que j’ai pu ressentir durant 38 épisodes, qui m’ont paru extraordinairement courts !
- Le scénario : On ne vous prend pas pour un imbécile qui goberait toutes les insanités paresseuses du scénariste en mal d’écriture. Bien au contraire, l’intrigue est distillée avec intelligence nous menant en bateau presque de bout en bout (j’avoue, on était plus que prêt à suivre aveuglement ce bateau) sans pour autant nous donner cette impression familière de tirer sur la corde. Bravo au scénariste !
- La réalisation : nous sommes loin d’un « Ever night » (cela reste ma référence 5 ans plus tard) mais sincèrement, les progrès dans ce domaine sont visibles et nous ne pouvons que les applaudir et les encourager. Le visuel est soigné, les images du désert sont étouffantes et à la fois collantes de sueur, les scènes d’intérieur sont riches et colorées. Ni trop peu, ni trop assez. Juste ce qu’il faut pour nous dépeindre la grandeur et l'impression de danger du désert.
- La richesse incroyable du monde : Je suis une gameuse. J’ai joué encore peu à « suikoden » et sincèrement, j’ai adoré retrouver ce sentiment lorsque je joue à mes RPG. De la rencontre banale d’un personnage grandiloquent à un animal dont le mot « noblesse » ne nous viendrait jamais à l’esprit, c’est un monde varié et riche dont le bestiaire est à la fois attachant et inquiétant ! encore une fois bravo au réalisateur et au scénariste (et à l'auteur du livre).
Qui aurait cru que je serai fan d'un coq ?? Que le manipulateur de marionnette deviendrait un sorcier digne de ce nom ? Que le gémeau m’émouvrait à ce point ? Que le serpent doré serait aussi noble et majestueux ? Que les dragons nous apparaitraient aussi inutiles ? Bref, un bestiaire et des clans qui nous en mettent plein la vue en illuminant nos yeux d’étoiles enfantines.
- Les personnages secondaires : Ils vivent, ils évoluent, ils grandissent ! TOUS. Je n’ai rien d’autres à ajouter !
- Les vilains ? on adore les détester…. Ce qui signe aussi une réussite.
- Et le plus important ? nos deux protagonistes principaux : Je ne sais par lequel commencer, il faut le dire. Ce ne sont pas 2 héros. Mais 1. Ils ne forment qu’un. Et c’est une rareté que je voudrais souligner. Un couple aussi uni, aussi fort, aussi complice, cela se compte sur le bout des doigts. J’aimerai ne pas trop en dire et vous laisser le découvrir par vous-même. La maturité de ce couple est juste extraordinaire. Mon mari me le disait encore ce matin « on ne sait même pas à quel moment ils sont tombés amoureux », le naturel de leur relation était tel que nous avons suivi sans même nous rendre compte qu’ils étaient enfin ensemble. J’ai rarement vu un couple aussi solide et aussi complice. Leur moment de rire, de taquinerie était à couper le souffle. Ces moments d’intimité entre eux en était presque gênant pour nous, simple spectateur, témoin de cet amour si pur, cet amour si désintéressé. Leur retrouvaille, ce regard plein d’amour et de soulagement m’a fendu le cœur et j’en aurai pleuré e joie pour eux. Il faut aussi préciser que c’est un couple qui se dit TOUT. Fini les couples à malentendu à rallonge. Fini les embrouilles avec les ex qui apportent la discorde, même quand ils ne sont plus là. C’est un couple dont la communication sur leur peine, leur joie, leur doute, leur peur, vraiment tout est clairement dit. Ça fait un bien fou ! Et la seule fois où l’un deux cachent une information importante, cela ne dura que le temps d’un battement, le temps d’un cœur affolé, le temps pour l’autre d’agir sans une once d’hésitation. Bref, une romance avec un grand R. Un amour avec un grand A !
- Le jeu des acteurs? A l'image de ce que les chinois ont su me donner ces 5 dernières années. De la subtilité, de la finesse, une sincérité flagrante. Et une fois n'est pas coutume, une héroïne flamboyante! Badass et féminine, intelligente avec un coeur gros comme une montagne, des répliques acides mais qui cachent une sensibilité étonnante, elle est une des meilleures protagonistes féminins de ces dernières années. Nous sommes tombés amoureux de l'actrice. Elle est magnifique et son duo avec Bai Yu est explosive! En parlant de Bai Yu, c'est un acteur que j'apprécie beaucoup sans pour autant le traquer à chaque détour de son drama. Ici, il nous implique émotionnellement par l'intelligence et la maturité de ses actes. Punaise, un gars qui vous regarde et qui vous dit "est-ce que je peux t'avoir" avec cette lumière dans ses yeux!!! haaaaa. Pas étonnant que Liu Xi lui tombe dans les bras avec grâce (bien qu'elle n'attendait que cela). Un jeu d'acteur qui nous semble d'une telle réalité que l'on s'y prend au jeu avec l'envie mordante de nier autre chose que ce qu'ils veulent bien nous montrer.

En résumé, un drama dont nous avons pris un plaisir à suivre, où l’on rit, où l’on fond de tendresse, où l’on est intrigué. Un drama que je ne peux que vous recommander de tout cœur.

Leia Mais

Loved it more than expected

At first I found it a bit boring, but I got invested. The plot and story was intriguing me as the episodes came. I also think it was a unique kind of drama, I love the plot in general, the desert setting and everything, the 2 worlds. Never watched a drama like that.

I also really loved the romance, it was present more than expected. The leads have amazing chemistry, good kissing scenes and they are literally perfect for each other. No break up and I love their relationship. I also like the second couples, even if we didn’t see a lot of them.

I like the plot twist and the ending was good, a happy ending always make me happy. Even if some deserved a better ending 😭 and was a bit short, but okay

I love the reunion of the leads in the last ep, you can feel the emotions, the way they hug and kiss was perfect. That’s a good reunion in a drama

Leia Mais

good story, though the ending was a bit of a letdown

it was an amazing series... there were some details that could've been done better as well as the end was a bit meh... but the overall series was strong, the main leads were consistent in their actions and I loved that the fmc was strong from start to finish....
the secondary characters were fleshed out and had growth...
the antagonists could have had a different ending, considering what they've done.
at the end I think that it had a mysterious but slow beginning, a good strong development and a weak ending that had some loose ends.
But I have to admit that I enjoyed watching this series, the main leads were my favorite.

Leia Mais

What on Earth(s)?!

After 12 episodes I'm dropping this.
The two leads have decent chemistry and are doing ok acting-wise, but this drama is just meandering nonsense.
I'm not sure if it's because of censorship and that the paranormal elements were cut and written around, or if it's meant to be like this. But paranormal or scifi, this show is extremely unclear about where anything is going and why.
Characters travel to places and do things, and act like it's perfectly understandable and logical. But it really feels like one of those dreams where things seemingly happen, but when you wake up you realize it didn't really have a coherent plot or a story you could recognize behind things just...happening.
I just find it tiresome. Which is a shame, because the leads really are easy on the eyes and work well together.

Leia Mais

POETRY, INTELLIGENCE, LOVE AND HUMOR : J'adoooooore !

I loved so much this drama.
What a beautiful story, full of poetry, intelligence, love and humor. Thank you for this wonderful achievement and, of course, thank you to Ni Ni for her radiant interpretation and to the entire team of actors.
All the actors are excellent. They are often in the 2nd degree, which gives a lot of dynamism to the story.
Of course, Ni Ni is perfect for this role. She dominates the story, the fight scenes and the sense of seduction of this woman from a parallel world.
I discovered Bae Yu... and I inevitably fell in love with him. What an actor !

All is very strong !

Leia Mais

Hollywood - The Mummy, Indiana Jones?

It’s Hollywood like drama!!
Love this series as it’s kind of different from all those romantic love story and it has a fantastic storyline, just enjoyed it so much. Highly recommended drama..

Main leads are great, really a right Female/Male leads they’d chosen. Love the FL, superb acting and she’s sooo cool with her face expression + her figure. Admired !! (Another good FL for this drama can be Zhao Liying will be fine too)
ML, not bad. His silence smile is so charming, attractive. Both their chemistry matched, love it!
Others supporting actors are great too.
Conclusion of the story acceptable although it’s still have a space that made you feel - you fix the ending! 😊

Overall, no regret at all to watch this drama.
WATCH IT yourself…. Enjoooy!!

Leia Mais