O Conto da Rosa (2024)

Not your usual romance

I think I really enjoyed this drama. I initially watched it for Kenny Lin but his character in this drama gave me frustrations beyond compare. However, I came out with a lot of lessons about life. I think it is a drama I would recommend to people who love matured themes and want to enjoy stories about relationships told from a realistic point of view. It is the tale of rose but the lesson is not everything is a bed of roses. I love the acting of the actors and actresses. Most are actors that I’ve skipped multiple of their dramas but now I will go back and watch whatever is on the table.

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Another true gem

"The Tale of Rose" starring the immensely talented Crystal Liu YiFei is a captivating drama that leaves a profound impact. Initially, the synopsis might lead you to believe that the series is a tear-jerking sad story, but it beautifully subverts those expectations, leaving you with a renewed sense of hope for life and a thirst for adventure.

Crystal Liu YiFei, known for her discerning choice of roles, delivers yet another stellar performance. From her previous work in "Meet Yourself" to "The Tale of Rose," Crystal consistently gravitates towards meaningful dramas that offer more than just entertainment—they impart life lessons and philosophies that resonate deeply.

The series is a treasure trove of messages about resilience, growth, and the beauty of life’s journey. Each character undergoes significant development, evolving into better versions of themselves, which is both inspiring and heartwarming to watch. The growth arcs are so well-crafted that you find yourself rooting for every character, celebrating their victories, and empathizing with their struggles.

The cinematography, writing, and direction all come together to create a visually stunning and emotionally rich narrative. "The Tale of Rose" is more than just a drama; it’s an exploration of life’s potential and the endless possibilities that come with hope and perseverance.

The soundtrack is amazing, too, and I find myself humming to the tunes in my head every day.

In conclusion, this drama is truly a gem. It's a series that not only entertains but also enlightens, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking a drama with depth and heart. Crystal Liu YiFei's performance is the cherry on top, solidifying her status as an actress who chooses roles with substance and significance.

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scary real, and scary good.

I caught this on a 2 hour youtube video spun as a love story about her first love. Wrapped up in a pretty bow so nicely, that I wanted to watch the rest. I'm on episode 24 now. I am not enjoying this as a story, but more as a fascinating psychological study.

This is her life in 3 parts:

Her first love. Beautiful, realistic. Painful. Passionate love affair. They break up because he's expecting their relationship to fit in with his work, and her to sacrifice her work. Instead she tries to fit their relationship around her work. In the end both choose their work and are heartbroken. I expect if they'd both chose the relationship both would be resentful. It's no magical happy ending. Raw and realistic. BF and FL are amazing in this.

2nd phase: To try to move on from the first love, and with the best of intentions, she chooses the opposite type of man, perhaps comfort instead of passion. And in the end, the woman who doesn't want to be controlled ends up jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Actor who plays husband should get an award for his portrayal of an insecure but honest and well-intentioned man who loves this woman but takes actions based on his insecurities and morphs into a gaslighting, controlling manipulator. Actress who plays his mother, who is there fanning the flames of that insecurity and calling him to tighten the leash, should also get an award. FL who in the first part was confident, self-reliant and outspoken, now because of her child and her married status, is vulnerable, helpless, trapped, and hopeless. FL is brilliant.

3rd phase: according to the synopsis, it's her love with the dying man. Haven't gotten there yet but riveted to the story so far. As it continues I am amazed at all of the cast, but especially actor who plays the husband's. When I think he can't get any better, he does.

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Beautiful story about overcoming life challenges and personal growth

Great cast and class acting, good script, filmography and music. Emotional (you might cry) and a bit inspirational.
I guess one could say the script depicts feminism (probably not the best choice of words, but I can't describe it better in English).

The script actually raised quite a lot of what I guess are stigmas and societal/cultural challenges, like divorce, remarriage, gender equality, traumas and more (without spoiling too much), and it did so rather elegantly. And with that I mean it didn’t really feel too “preachy”/ moralistic, as some other shows I have seen have been.

If anything bugged me I guess it is that especially Rose didn’t really age visually. I don’t mind her looking youthful at the end, but then again - maybe it was to show she kind of found herself again?
I spotted one very obvious blooper (brand new car model spotted in Paris-scene).

One of the things stopping me from giving full score:
Some lengthy scenes and flashbacks could have been shortened, and it was VERY obvious what car brand put their marketing budget to use here (so much so that I found it a bit annoying ?).

A show I definitely will recommend if you like quite realistic dramas without big intrigues and plots.

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Great Lesson, But There is a Lack of Fictional Character Development…

Tale of Rose


Rose is flighty (she has poor impulse control) and throughout her relationships and life, this does not change. I’m disappointed because although I understand this is a realism drama, I was hoping and praying for her character development. I wanted her to take more time away from men and to truly discover who she was beyond the selfishness. I wanted her to ask herself why she thought she needed a man, why she thought she couldn’t be alone, why she rushed into things, why long distance relationships affected her so much.

I want to add that I think when I watch realism dramas, I acknowledge that it’s like the Truman show. The pattern recognition I see in a character may not be consciously known by the character. But watching means criticising, and I know if others watched my own life, I’d have my own flaws and necessary character development too.


Now, I loved her brother’s character. He was way more stable and willing to fight for what he wanted. He won in the end and I’m so happy for him! He definitely had moments of weakness, but he returned back to a stable state.

Towards the end, I got super bored. I’m glad Rose could keep going, I struggled to.

Ultimately, I’ll give the drama a 7/10 because it failed to meet my expectations for Rosie.

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Strong performance from Crystal Liu in a richly nuanced study of love & relationships

The Tale of Rose is a show that grabs you visually, immediately. Crystal Liu is Huang YiMei, & her story starts when she's a 22 year old art graduate in Beijing, catapulting in the art industry to the position of exhibition curator through sheer spunk. A walking work of art herself, she's stunningly beautiful & she knows it. She also knows her beauty makes her a target for others to blame for their own misfortunes, but she refuses to accept that responsibiity. Liu bursts through every scene like a tornado, sweeping up everything around her, and I don't know why but I can't stop staring at the clothes, the hair & makeup, the bouncy non-chalance. But it's an immature soul inside that huge cloud of powder, and tornados are destructive.

The story follows YiMei and her older brother ZhenHua as they both pursue love in whatever form it may present to them. ZhenHua's gentle nature is in stark contrast to YiMei's firey liveliness. In fact, YiMei's initial relationship with a work colleague was such a rollercoaster I wasn't sure I could stomach it for an entire show as I realize I'm only on Ep12 at this point. But those clothes, that hair. I think this is the 1st show where it's not just an actor simply wearing a designer outfit; Liu lives & breathes that fashion, completely embodying a character who wears a ball gown as easily as pyjamas.

Live & learn, as they say, & as time goes on, YiMei decides to go back to school in a much subdued state, leaving her family in Beijing to go to Shanghai where she meets her 2nd love. At this stage she has changed so drastically that the question is can she find true happiness if she is not her true self? And are men really different from one another? Whether they are lone wolves or mama's boys, they all seek to control when they are unable to grow. Empowering oneself without disempowering the other takes a lot of maturing.

And fact check needed: can a husband resign his wife from her workplace without her consent, or her employer even confirming with her since the spouse is basically an unvetted stranger? This can't be legal, even in China, so this is quite a stretch in the story. If YiMei has the guts to sue for a divorce, why wouldn't she also sue for her job? This question is more or less answered at the end when she realizes she'd rather let go than fight to keep things, including love.

Legalities aside, this show becomes a fascinating look at the push & pull, the hanging on & letting go, overcoming & being overwhelmed at any & all stages of relationships, spanning almost 20 years of the lives of YiMei & those around her. Not to mention differing attitudes toward success & family, particularly from money grubbing mothers-in-law. The story even includes a character who becomes a single parent by choice, further commentary on the role of men as partners in modern women's lives. YiMei never loses herself no matter what she goes through and her fearlessness in pursuing the paths she chooses never wanes, especially when she finally meets her true soulmate, another free-spirited artist. She's like an immortal who's banished to the human realm to endure all aspects of human suffering. The 3rd relationship felt underdeveloped & overdrawn within the story as it passes very quickly, & was harder to sympathize with. However, the show draws to an end with YiMei coming to a reconciliation with all the people in her past, while recognizing that she can never be settled with anyone other than herself. This might make her selfish, but at least she's honest & unapologetic about it.

Another detail that was too distracting: if you're caught in a rain storm on a mountain hike & you are wearing an appropriate outdoor jacket that comes standard with a rain hood, why wouldn't you put that hood on? Yes, it's more visually dramatic to to be soaking wet with water running down your face, but if you don't want to die of hypothermia you need to Put. That. Freaking. Hood. On.

Anyway, aside from a few annoying details, I think this is the strongest performance from Crystal Liu I have seen. She doesn't overact the character at 22 years of age, unlike other celebrities (I'm thinking Yang Zi). Tong Da Wei as ZhenHua gives a steady performance & makes his character an anchor against YiMei's tumultuous life. Overall, I found this show very richly nuanced & quite enjoyable.

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A decent drama focused on the progression of grows into maturity of the FL.

The Tale of Rose is a melodrama about Huang Yi Mei's maturation over time through her choices of lovers, from a young college student to a career woman, and the lovers who passed through her life, including marriage and divorce.

Synopsis: Born in a scholarly family, Huang Yi Mei grew up carefully sheltered, like a flower in a greenhouse. From a young age, she showed her talents in the arts and thrived after entering the workplace. From there, she meets Zhuang Guo Dong, and they fall in love. However, due to fate, the two are ultimately separated by the pressures of life. After undergoing this tumultuous period of work and heartbreak, Huang Yi Mei grows and slowly understands the path she wants to take. Her decision to further her education and her subsequent marriage and divorce from Fang Xie Wen are all part of her emotional journey. As she starts her own business within the field of art curation and meets her soulmate, Pu Jia Ming, the audience can't help but empathize with her. However, Pu Jia Ming is terminally ill and only has a few months left to live. Death's scythe ultimately cuts the red string of love between them. Despite her grief and pain, Huang Yi Mei ultimately looks forward to the future, living her life most fully and dazzlingly.

My Reviews:
1. The story is okay, and the flow of the drama is good. It was good to see Huang Yi Mei's progression as she matured and made decisions that fit her needs and happiness.
2. The acting is decent from the entire ensemble. I particularly like the 2nd FL (Wan Qian, who played Su Geng Sheng). Her acting ability is better than that of FL, Liu Yi Fei.
3. The drama has some elements of comedy, so it does not feel draggy.

I like the drama overall and give it a 7.5 rating for good acting and a decent script.

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"The Tale of Rose": A Meaningful Drama with Life Lessons

"The Tale of Rose" is a very meaningful drama that provides a realistic outlook on life and its challenges, including love. The biggest lesson I took away from this is that life goes on, and it is better to move on rather than dwell on the past. Rosie meets a range of different men: Zhuang GuoDong (her first love, marked by miscommunication and fights), Fang XieWen (her first marriage, primarily for stability), Fu JiaMing (her soulmate, with whom she cannot spend her life), and He Xi (a younger crush that felt completely random). Each relationship presents different struggles, and Rosie learns something each time, continuing to strive and move forward in her life.

The female lead (Rosie) is an inspiration; she's very free-spirited and never feels constrained in her ability to learn new things or love again. I also really liked the second couple, Su GengSheng and Huang ZhenHua, despite their struggles, as they come together well in the end. As for the OST, I would say it was alright, but my main criticism is that none of the men ever get over Rosie. In this sense, it fell short because the main message of the drama was only conveyed through Rosie rather than all the characters. Her past relationships tend to hang on to the idea of her potentially coming back, even years after they broke up. I also feel like the actors really brought this drama to its full potential, especially Lin GengXin and Liu YiFei. This drama is definitely not for everyone; it suits a specific demographic, but it's a beautiful story that I rate 7.5/10.

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Worth watching

LIKE

What Jian Zhi said to Yi Mei about life

How Yi Mei grew up as a young girl to a mature lady after encountering ups and downs in her life

DISLIKE

I cannot imagine staying with monster especially they are your parents - Mother Su has a psychotic mind

When Yi Mei was young and uttered unbelivable words to her parents when they thought she came in between another couple's relationship

Insecure and control freak - I was laughing all the way when I watched Lin Geng Xin who cracked me up as I cannot imagine him in Princess Agents, Legend of Shen Li and now a jerk here... LOL

MUSIC - personal fav

远方的花 Yuan Fang De Hua - 雷佳 Lei Jia
风吹过的晨曦 Feng Chui Guo De Chen Xi - 周深 Zhou Shen
写在星星上 Xie Zai Xing Xing Shang - 吴克群 Wu Ke Qun

REWATCH VALUE

Probably re-watch some day when I have the time

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Sentimental drama

During her first relationship, I observed that she wanted to control all her boyfriend’s activities. As a result, he lied to her about being overworked when he was actually at a bar. When she found out he was going to Paris without informing her, she created a scene. While it was wrong of him not to tell her about the trip—anyone in her place would have been angry—she should have listened when he said he had a solution. Her brother communicated with him in a calm and composed manner, showing a different approach.


Although her questioning of his activities was justified, the manner in which she did it was problematic and came across as overly possessive. Despite her behavior, he tried his best not to lose her. He struggled in France to get permanent residence, and when she came to visit him, he was over the moon. However, after seeing his office circle and social group, she felt ambivalent about her feelings, as if something was eating her up inside.Her brother was a very understanding character and tried to encourage both of them to compromise. However, both were focused on their career goals and unwilling to back down.

In hindsight, it seems they started their relationship in haste and became deeply involved with each other, leading to emotional challenges for both.She made a unilateral decision to leave him, return to Beijing, and cut off all communication. She stopped receiving his calls, stopped replying to his messages, and messed up the room he rented. Silently freaking out, she caused him immense distress with her avoidance. I believe she was wrong in how she handled the situation.Since then, she has never talked to him, moved on, and started a new life.

To broaden her horizons, she went to Shanghai. Two years have passed, and she has taken admission to an art college in Shanghai, applying to the psychology department.From the day she started her new life, a boy who was also studying at her college began following her—not with any wrong intentions, but because he was genuinely interested in her and was looking for the right occasion to start a conversation. Gradually, they started their relationship.After spending a few months with this new boy, she married him and was living a happy life. However, her husband's nature, which seemed meticulous, innocent, silent, helpful, kind, and honest before marriage, began to change after they wed. His true colors started showing—he became over-possessive, and if others did not understand him, he perceived them as insulting him and not respecting his decisions. This led to bitterness in their married life. Despite this, she tried her best to understand him and address his thoughts and concerns, showing a significant change in her approach compared to her previous relationship.

To make matters worse, his mother constantly spoke against his wife and interfered excessively in their lives. Despite this, Rose, for the sake of her marriage, endured all the negativity and tried to maintain peace in her married life.Then they had a daughter, and everything seemed to be going great until she had an interview for a job. Due to her pregnancy, her husband made her quit her job. He didn't like her working and always wanted a housewife, displaying small-minded and immature thinking. He started tracking her every activity and wanted to control her life, which ultimately led to her decision to divorce him. She took the right step to regain control of her life.

The one who played the role of her husband is one of my favorite actors, and seeing him portray an arrogant, over-possessive, and obsessed husband felt disheartening. His character's actions were wrong, and it was difficult to see bad things happening to him.

One year passed after their divorce, and her ex-boyfriend started seeing her again. However, she saw him only as a friend. Despite their past and his renewed interest, her feelings for him had changed, and she maintained a platonic relationship with him.

At the same time, a new man entered her life—a musician, singer, and composer. She felt a connection with him because he gave her art a new meaning. His passion for music and art resonated deeply with her, and she found herself falling in love with him. This new relationship brought a sense of fulfillment and joy that she had not experienced before, helping her move forward in her life with renewed purpose and happiness.After so many hardships, she finally saw hope in someone. Unfortunately, it was the calm before the storm. The man who entered her life after her divorce died unexpectedly. This loss was devastating, but time made her strong.

She started living life to the fullest for the sake of her daughter, finding strength and resilience in the face of adversity.


My favorite character in the drama is her brother. He is such an understanding person. He took every step cautiously and always listened to his partner. He never let go of his relationship, tightly holding onto it. He cleared all misunderstandings and, though he sometimes hid things from his partner, he never lied to her. He proved to be the best husband, best son, best son-in-law, and best father.

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Story of an average girl.....seen with rosy glasses

First let's get the white elephant out of the room :: the FL'S beauty.
Agreed she is lovely but they take it to nauseating levels here.
I suspect this entire drama is made by someone who is so smitten with her that they focused on her looks and forgot they also had a story to tell.

It gets even more sickening when toward the latter episodes her brother says - in front of his wife and parents - that she is so pretty, had she not been his sister, he would've married her. Yuck!!

She is so great that she Rollerblades like a champ, rides a motorbike long distance, flies small planes but the poor thing can't cook.

Then let's talk about the loser males :
The first relationship was exciting and fun to watch. They break up a few times and finally she calls it quits. BUT the guy keeps reappearing!!

The second guy who she marries- my goodness - you can skip a dozen episodes to get over the poor marital relationship - including a saucy mother in law to boot.
They divorce - BUT the guy keeps reappearing!!

The third guy dies - so we are spared his reappearance, and the fourth guy flies away -into oblivion hopefully.

Honestly it is the smitten folks who made this drama that need to go away and find a life and another story.

But definitely need to call out the other female characters :
The sister in law had a stronger personality and story.
The brother's first gf had a soft side and an iron will.
The FL'S mother was a wonderful character too.

16 to 24 episodes would have made this bearable.......but 38.??
I guess I had nothing to do for 38 evenings and dragged through it.

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