This is the second drama I've seen of Rosy Zhao; her popularity as a young and up-coming actress is solidified by her acting prowess. She fits the bill of the female character who can be quirky and serious at the same time. Ryan Ding tries his best to catch up with the female lead and plays the love-lorn villain-turned hero decently enough. I like the well-roundedness and multi-dimensional characters in the drama, despite some of the show's plot holes that try to pin them down.

Not sure what I need to say more about this drama, except that it is a delight to watch and I am excited to see the sequel if it is the same cast. Hopefully, this time set in the modern era.

Leia Mais

I would have given this drama a lower score if it hadn't been for the amazing chemistry between Xing Fei and Tang Xiao Tian who carried most of the show. The premise of a boy crushing on a girl for over 20 years despite not having been together for most of their lives was interesting; however, it was less credible for me IRL. But keeping in mind this is a drama after all, I had to suspend disbelief, like I did with Wen Rang and Cheng Cheng's relationship. The episodes could be cut in half and still convey the same story. A lot of filler scenes especially towards the last few episodes.

Leia Mais

Another drama about a celebrity and a commoner. Not necessarily an anti-fan but a non-fan. Add to this a dash of the supernatural, body-swapping and you get a tropey drama. Stephen Zhang and Liang Jie were brilliant as the aloof idol Jiang Yi and the spritely entertainment reporter Yu Sheng. Their meticulous performance continues when they were purportedly inhabiting the other's body. What made me give this drama less than a full mark are a variety of factors. For one, the pacing is uneven, very slow in some parts, and quick to escalate on others. Secondly, the supporting characters had their own backstory and also, their own selfish agendas where I cannot feel for any of them, aside perhaps from Yu Sheng's parents. The second pairing is not a pairing at all, and it seems the writers tried just to grasp at straws to make the 2nd couple feasible. And finally, the most glaring error is the last 5 minutes of the drama, which threw the whole narrative into whack, and hence unforgivable in my eyes.

Leia Mais

I thought that no C-drama that would rival my fave, The Untamed, but WOH is giving The Untamed a run for its money. The world building may not be as complex as The Untamed, but there's no shortage of duplicitious and intricate plot twists. Secondary characters are also well-fleshed out and are important figures in their own right. Fighting scenes and cinematography are also breath-taking. But I think what pushes this drama to the top are our Male leads.Soulmates Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing have an adorable push-and-pull kind of relationship, and magnified by the flirtatious gestures of Gong Jun and the stoic expressions of Zhang Zhe Han. I am amazed at these productions adapted from same-sex works, how they were able to skirt Chinese censorship but yet manage to drop hints, whether by slight touches, lingering eye contact or subtle references to source material. But also because of the censorship, tension between two characters needed to be nuanced and left to the imagination. It is a great way to bring mainstream and BL viewers under one roof.

Leia Mais

Story: I am happy that finally that an LGBTQ film/short didn't feature hot studs or even unattractive but fit/skinny males who seem to get more action than the ones who tip the scale.

We can see that the MC is trying to put himself out there, trying to overcome his shyness by going to the pool and giving himself opportunities to get closer to his object of affection but sadly, most of us are all creatures who look towards physical appearances first before delving deep into the person behind it, even the MC is not exempt to this rule.

But towards the end, MC realizes that he can't force attraction that isn't mutual.

Acting: Average

Music: Nothing worth noting.

Rewatch value: Not really. Once is enough as it hit too close to home for me.

Leia Mais

Story: I was pleasantly surprised at how much content was packed into such a short film: there were elements of romance, drama, tragedy, family, youth, and also along with it a message to boot. The dynamic between the mother and the two men were palpable, and although conflict arose between the two men and the mother and son, they were tackled in a realistic manner.

Cast: The mother's acting stood out in this short film for me, but then the story and also the production (though not big budget) helped propped her character up to be a mother who has to choose between her happiness and her son's happiness.

Music: Nothing that stood out.

Re-watch value: I could only because it's short, but I wouldn't as I don't re-watch, and usually move on to the next drama / movie.

One of the lead characters also directed and wrote this short film, which is really something to me. Not that he did something super amazing, but at least he tried and did not end up with a bad film as some bigger productions do. It was even nominated at the local London Film Bunch, a net-working community based in London that features mainly short films. I was mainly happy that this film did not end up like most BL films, especially coming from China.

Leia Mais

Story: Plot is nowhere to be found, just a sea of bodies in tighty whities.

Acting/Cast: I did not even realize that Chris Wu is in this short film, until I saw the credits. What a waste of talent but I guess everybody has to start somewhere.

Music: Head-achy, the same as the strobing lights filtering throughout the short film.

Rewatch Value: Once is enough.

Overall: This short is trying to pass as film noir by interspersing the dialogue with the lines of two poems, but it came across more as a low-budget porn film that does not even satisfy. Please give me back 13 minutes of my time.

Leia Mais

I dropped this once after I watched a couple of episodes. Then I thought maybe I wasn’t giving this drama a fair chance, so I picked it up again. But no, I had to drop it halfway as my first instincts were right about this: It’s a vapid show about two people stuck in the feelings of their teenage years, but the years that passed didn’t add to their maturity (at least on the Female’s part).

Xu Qin is still under her mother’s thumb despite being a hotshot doctor. Also, the push-and-pull games she plays on Song Yan would also make me exhausted, even just by watching. I could not understand how a character, who has so much sass when confronting her colleagues, becomes like a cowardly cat with her tails stuck between her legs when she goes home. It looked like Wang Chu Ran had only two speeds, and I was lulled to sleep with her flat delivery.

And what the fahk are all those coincidences? Am I supposed to believe that after years of not meeting each other, all of a sudden they cross paths like every five minutes??? Really?? Is Xu Qin the only doctor in the city??? Is Song Yan the only firefighter in that area??? And all the safety protocols they seem to abandon, just so they can get a love shot between the two, is just making me shake my head vigorously that I could have suffered from whiplash.

I only stuck around for Vin Zhang’s character, but after he left the Fire Dept, there was no more reason for me to hold on. Even Yang Yang’s pretty boy face could not make me watch this long, drawn out drama which is more like a PSA for the front liners. Yes, it was commendable that it portrays the livelihood of firefighters and doctors, and how they make decisions that save countless of lives. But it wasn’t enough for me to continue the story.

Leia Mais

Disclaimer: My review is a minority. Just because it is not my cup of tea, doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it.
Please watch and judge for yourself.

I have to admit, I hated this movie. Maybe it's just me, but there I said it and I'll say it again: I hated it. Even that is an understatement and I am being nice already to give it a 2.5.

Story: I normally read reviews before watching any movie or drama, and since this movie is really new and only had 1 amazing review, I decided to give it a whirl.
Bad decision on my part. Good news is: it only wasted less than two hours of my time. The story was so draggy, I fell asleep that I had to rewind again to see what I missed.....nope, I didn't miss anything apparently. It's like watching those daytime soaps where a scene of somebody slapping can run from a Friday episode to next Monday's. That's why I don't watch daytime soaps, and I shouldn't have watched this movie.

Acting/Cast: Despite my bad review, we have some pretty decent acting over here. I was only able to finish watching this movie because of the eye candy provided here. The mother's acting was poignant, and but not good enough to feel her pain.

Music: I fell asleep....was it a lullaby? I couldn't tell.

Re-watch Value: Once is enough. Unless I'm a masochist, I won't watch this ever again. EVER.

Leia Mais

I really tried to plow through this train wreck of a drama but couldn't. Just the gratuitous shots that are inappropriately placed was enough to make me hurl. I don't have a problem with half-naked bodies, but it seems to me that this drama is just an excuse for girls/guys to take their clothes off every chance they get. They shove boobs in front of the camera and some ass-pushing going on that seems forced.

Acting wise, nobody acted naturally and the supposed chemistry between the two men who are engaging in an adulterous affair...was not even there. I felt that the actors especially the one playing Jack is so stiff, as if he didn't even want to be there. And the one who is playing Palm is too flamboyant as if he is playing a one-man orchestra.

The characters in this drama are so one-dimensional and almost predictable and therefore I did even bother to watch the rest of the drama to know where it's headed: disaster.

Leia Mais

Dropped halfway through the series. I'm struggling with this drama, not because it isn't good. But I have never wanted to take so many knives out of my cupboard because of so many characters. Typical dramas have one or 2 hateful characters (usually a spiteful mother-in-law or an annoying SFL). But this!!!!! I wanted to smash the heads of Yeo Joon's so-called-friends who accuse others of leeching when it fact they are the worst ones do so. If there is an award for the worst family, Yeo Joon's parents take the cake. (Maybe tied with the psychotic mother in IOTBO).
And all those girls who are just jelly and abusive toward So Bin because Yeo Joon didn't choose them should just go to hell. Even though they are kids, those who made fun of So Bin for not having a mother are just plain mean. The professor who pilfers her student's work without crediting them, as if it was her privilege shouldn't be teaching. It's like they put every scumbag in one drama and it is making my blood boil!!!!

Leia Mais

I actually enjoyed this show more than I expected. I was reluctant to watch this at first, because of how Miao Yi looks so much like Ariel Lin, who I forever have pigeon-holed in her “It Started With a Kiss” character of a dull-witted female chasing genius male, which this drama is almost akin of. Although Xiao Tu is similar to Xiang Qin from ISWAK on that front, she does not throw herself needlessly at Ling Chao, and has her own adorable charm. And though he appears aloof at most times, Ling Chao is unlike Zhi Shu and has a soft heart for his childhood friend.

The drama is mostly light-hearted, but it has its emotional moments, like when Ling Chao is dealing with his absentee father or when Juan Juan was coping with her relationship woes. But the gang of misfits provided comic relief, and Miao Yi certainly proved herself to be a natural. While there are some cringe moments, it is easy to overlook them. I love how this drama does not take itself seriously, and it is such a fun watch.

Leia Mais

How to rate a drama where the first part had me at the edge of my seat, while the second part almost lulled me to sleep? Hence my dilemma with Alchemy of Souls. I wasn’t sure where part two went wrong, or was it because part one was so amazing, it was hard to replicate the same excitement when I watched it?

The good of Part 1:

- The chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min is chef’s kiss. The banter between Master and Disciple, or Master and servant in some cases, showcased expert choreography and finesse in the performance.

- The cinematography, especially during the fighting scenes, was executed with remarkable precision.

- The plot, although sometimes over-complicated, was intricate and kept me on my toes.

- The supporting characters were not one-dimensional and had depth in the roles.

- The show explained the supernatural elements later, despite them being sometimes difficult to keep up with.

- The humor is quite refreshing and quirky

- The swoon-worthy music supported the emotional journey of the characters

Part 1 Verdict: Off to an amazing start!

Combined score: 9 out of 10.

Overall impression: Should have stopped at Part 1.

Leia Mais

Story: Two friends on a motorbike because one is jobless and the other left his things at his ex-girlfriend’s place. With this plot, I really do not expect much of a story.

Acting/Cast: Middling as this was supposed to be an LGBTQ story but the way the two actors portray it, they could just be friends. I could not even feel the pining.

Music: Bland at best.

Rewatch Value: Nah.

Overall: This short film tries to be artistic and profound but fails in execution. Although we are supposed to believe that one MC is in love with the other who is oblivious to his friend’s feelings, but the portrayal leaves so much to be desired. All we see is one trudging up a mountain just following whatever the other says, and coming down without accomplishing anything. It’s like taking a trip to the department store but coming up empty-handed.

Leia Mais