Ban Yin (2021)

THIS IS SO UNDERRATED

❤️ok❤️ so from what I see not many ppl watch this drama and the ratings are not great... besides dramatist, on douban, it has less than 10000 ratings (which is quite little for there), and it only has like 6.3 rating. I mean its not horrible but I dont understand cuz I think its not worse than those 7+ or8+ dramas.

lmao ok so my point is at first I was not gonna watch it like there are no reviews of it and it has bad view count and bad ratings, but one day I was bored and saw a mv of it...it was H O T. im not like horny or anything but I was bored so I thought id check it out for fun.

HOWEVER, from like 5 minutes in, I was captivated, and I never skipped a second of it. ig that is to be expected from a 16 episode 30 min each drama, but that doesn't mean much I can sit through much more and be happy with a drama. (shoutout: STORY OF MINGLAN IS AMAZING)

either way, it was at a very good pacing; I didn't feel as if scenes were cut or stretched.
even though im not a big fan of these fighting and violence modern dramas, I really liked this one. The dangerous background stories they shared together had me crying all night, and I felt as if I was there friends cuz I was praying as I watched for a happy ending.

as for the characters, BOTH ARE BADASS AND I LOVE IT. ml is so smart and fl is not the typical naive dumb dependent fl. they have misunderstandings but it gets cleared up real fast. even if it didn't, it is actually understandable for me so its not exactly annoying. but DONT WORRY ABT THAT cuz they are well most of the time.

im also particularly in love with second lead couple. tbh the 2nd fl was harassing 2nd ml in the beginning and I won't deny that. it was kinda wrong, but hey im a part of the audience. their ending scenes had me crying of happiness and sadness and everything and I knew was that they loved each other.

also xing Xing (their late "master"'s child under the care of 2nd couple) was adorable. I found her annoying at first but she's a child and later she was so mature and caring and understanding and adorable and yeah

music was okay, ive heard better but the story made up for it.

acting was great too. alike, ive seen better but it was more than enough to make the drama amazing. ps. ❗️kissing scenes were superior no dead fish

❗️ALL IN ALL❗️(im back in elementary lmao), it was a thrilling, quick ride for me and I loved it. some characters had their fault but i come to feel for them very soon. In the end, I love everyone (not the villains though I dont hate them either) ((they were pitiful and for some reason, I never found them particularly annoying)) (((they didn't last long anyways))) WOAH WHAT IS WITH ALL THOSE PARRENTHATHESIS apparently I cant spell either. ;-;

well this was definitely not a waste of time and I think it should be rated better and have a bigger audience. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

u prob cant read anything I wrote but ITS AMAZING, and I added emojis ? cuz I think what I wrote is like PeRiOd and needed to be emphasized

sorry im werid, byebye

edit: I FORGOT : ❤️HAPPY ENDING❤️ GUYS SO DONT WORRY again I had to emphasize

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Just got a recommendation from a friend to watch this, and definitely not regret it. It's really a good drama to watch and yes addictive for sure. Therefore, I only spent 2 days to watch it.

ML is so damn hot and interesting - kind of a cold and arrogant one that is possessive towards the FL. He own a security company that provide bodyguard or hosting an event (something like that). And the FL is so pretty, adorable, and smart. She works as a theater artist. They met because of a dangerous situation (which is you will get the explanation later) before and fall in love until they separate it cause of life and death situation. Then finally after 5 years, they met again, get back together, and solve the problems that hasn't done it from five years before.
The second lead couple also got an interesting story, and I just can't forget the daughter of SML. She was too cute and smart.

A great storyline, awesome cast, good chemistry between the couples. What can we ask more? Overall, totally worth it and enjoyable. Really recommend you guys to watch it! Short and not draggy at all.

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Abs-olutely Fabulous!

I rarely watch modern romance dramas but the lure of a mystery piqued my attention. And within minutes, I was sold at the first eyeful of Tsao Yuning's absolutely fabulous abs. Yes, this is one of those dramas that makes me embrace my shallow self. Because this dude is one sexy beast with the kind of tanned, toned, intensely masculine smoking hotness that reduces me to a speechless, foolishly grinning, puddle of drool.

Five years ago, aspiring actress Ruan Nianchu is at the wrong place at the wrong time and falls headlong into a hairy situation. She falls for a dangerous stranger who saves her life, evidently at the cost of his own. A hopeless romantic and optimist, she can't forget him and looks for him in countless blind dates. He reappears with a hidden agenda as Li Teng, as mysterious, intimidating and possessive as ever. The air literally sizzles between this couple who are now my gold standard for onscreen chemistry. There is no mistaking the intense longing and physical attraction between the two. The slow build up to the kiss scenes that usually starts with him invading her personal space and circling her is very hot. And yes, they go all in for the kisses, there are no birds involved. Its a good thing this is only 16 episodes cause my TV was in danger of burning out from the heat even with my air-con cranked up to the max.

I really like the way each episode opens with a flashback that reveals a bit more of the backstory. It is very effective in establishing the depth and substance of the feelings between Li Teng and Ruan Nianchu very early on and it adds to the sense of intrigue around what happened 5 years ago. Underneath it all, the plot is simple but fast paced and interesting even though it does have an its been done before feeling. The villains have rather boring motives and the final villain is revealed the moment they are dropped into the plot which is a bit clumsy.

I found the second couple to be a sheer delight. At surface they are a bit cliche but the kid is hilarious and mixes up their story in a good way. And Li Teng's camaraderie and loyalty to his sexy Men in Black like team of operatives is both cool and heartwarming at the same time.

Overall I rate this very entertaining watch an 7.5 even though its unlikely to turn me into a fan of this genre. I must confess that if Tsao Yuning flaunted his magnificent chest and fab abs just a few more times, I would have abandoned all standards and slapped one of my rare 10.0s on this one. If nothing else, I had several lbs of water weight loss from all that drooling.

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Explosive ... Hot ...

Holy Smoke this series was really awesome!!

The ML was super HOT OMG, the scenes he played gosh needed to keep the fan going (LOL)!!!! he is so damn hot and interesting - kind of a cold and arrogant one that he has possessive towards the FL, he had the whole domineering assertiveness right down to the tee. both lead characters were so smart and the FL is not the typical naïve dumb dependent The FL had there fair share of misunderstandings but it gets cleared up real fast. ML is particularly good with his jealous looks. This drama made me a fan out of Tsao Yu Ning (Where have you been all this time?).

Story line was really good, left you wanting more and a bit suspenseful trying to figure who the real boss was.

the music could have been a bit better, but its not all that bad.

and also the length of this series was perfect, it not drag on, and everything flowed through and came together really nicely!!

if anything just watching this series for the shirtless ML was definitely worth it!!

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I came across this drama thanks to a featured article on mydramalist. Otherwise, I would not have picked it up myself, given how I tend to shy away from modern day Chinese dramas after having been burned multiple times. And the poster and synopsis do not do this drama justice. But lo and behold, here is a modern day Chinese drama that’s only 16 episodes long and kept my attention from start to finish!

We first meet our heroine, Ruan Nian Chu (Yilia Yu), going on blind dates and musing about boys and dating with her fashionable, wealthy best friend, like a typical city girl. But we soon learn she went through a traumatic experience five years ago with a man she cannot forget (hence why she's single). He saved her from drowning, and I must admit at first, her continued interest in this man had me rolling my eyes. I mean, this was five freaking years ago. As the story progresses, however, we discovered through flashbacks that this mysterious man and her spent a significant amount of time together following the incident, with him protecting her by disguising her as his woman to deter any would be rapists in a region controlled by a crime organization where she was held captive. Now THAT is understandable. I mean, who could forget an experience like that? The flashbacks have a way of revealing major, romantically intense memories in a way that had me fascinated.

After helping her escape, he appears to have perished in an explosion, along with the rest of the gang. She has been longing for him since. Now, five years later, suddenly, he's back. And here's where we meet our hero, Li Teng (Tsao Yu Ning), now head of a security company; a cold man with an assured authority. With the two of them meeting again after such a long time, in a setting so far removed from their first encounter, can they finally be together? Things are not so simple as he’s more mysterious than ever before and his motives unclear. One thing is for sure though, their feelings have only intensified.

This drama made me a fan out of Tsao Yu Ning (Where have you been all this time?). There were times when he reminded me of Lee Min-ki or Kang Ha-neul or Yeo Jin-goo but most of the time I just thought he was HOT. The dude looks seriously good from every angle. He's one of the most attractive men I have ever seen and even more so because he can act. He plays a man whose outside exterior is so cold but burning like charcoal inside for the heroine. I know that's a common character trope nowadays but he plays it so well I loved every minute of it. I loved, loved, loved his wolf-like, penetrating gaze. His chemistry with Yilia Yu is one of the best I've ever seen; whose character, by the way, is also easily likable. She is so delicate but so strong. Their characters’ sexual tension is palpable. A look here, a look there spoke volumes about their feelings. And their mundane, post confession romance is just as heart pounding and sweet. I couldn't get enough of their interactions that I rewatched for many days after finishing.

I was impressed with how the drama weaves the past and present together to help us understand the choices the characters make. The editing here is really top-notch. In a few scenes, the drama effectively conveys how the leads fall for each other before reluctantly parting ways. By the time they meet again in the present time, without much being said, we completely understood the characters' wants and the hidden layers. I do wish the flashbacks were longer; they spiced up the drama and gave depth to the story. Though not too many, there are some action scenes with excellent choreography. Li Teng felt like a real former special forces agent, capable and formidable. But at times you may feel as if you’re in a different drama because of how light the present story is. Overall though, it is a story that is a nice balance of light and intense. Thanks to its length, this was the perfect drama to binge on a long weekend and left me feeling satisfied.

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it's short and worth the time it takes !!

I don't think many people have watched this one ...and I think I wouldn't have either if it wasn't just 16 eps ...the plot is nothing more than what's mentioned in the synopsis ...so I don't think there is more for me to add ...!!
so jumping directly to the que - do I rec it ? yes I do
REASONS :
it's short ..lol ...
SML's daughter is just too too good ....adorable , cute and got some great lines ..!!
nothing is annoying or draggy ...so you won't need to skip much ...and me being someone who has befriended fast forward button this one is definitely gonna get the credit for making me stay away from skipping scenes...!!
the story line is simple but has got a lot to do with flash backs ...which I don't actually look for ...but then as I already mentioned I wasn't into skipping this time so you don't need to mind that a lot ...!!
the FL wasn't stupid ...(that's imp) and the leads trusted each other ...wow rare combination ...!! lol
the ending was really predictable and that got it down to 8 otherwise I would have rated it higher for sure ...!!
both couples had some great chemistry and they fit well, so casting I think was on point .

They did give proper time for things that actually needed time at the same time keeping it short and this is what makes it a worth watch ....do give it a try for sure you won't be disappointed if you already know that the ending is gonna be predictable.
and in a short time 16 eps 30 mins each, you get some good laugh (SFL and SML's daughter) a great friendship ( FL and SFL , ML and SML) a cute, smart and witty character (SML's daughter ) and 2 great couples ...!!

all in all I didn’t expect I would like it so much! ...so I am quite happy that I gave it a try !!
I hope you enjoy watching this one ... give it a try !!

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Great acting, strong plot

One of the better dramas this year. Main couple are excellent independently and together, and side characters are supportive and believable. The couple are very strongly for each other and no-one else (there is a point at which she says that a relationship must have trust & truth, and it takes him an episode or so to figure out how to tell her everything).

One of the best parts of this drama is the backstory. It explains how and why the main couple is so strong, and the evil that they face together. The second couple has an interesting set of knots to untie before they get together, and it's really well done. The male- and female- love rivals are far more believable than in most dramas.

Directing does a good job making people younger for the backstory. Actors do a good job of being together (chemistry). ML is particularly good with the jealous looks.

Not a lot of comedy in this drama -- this has a more serious foundation -- but the comedic elements were well done.

This is one of the first dramas in a while that I didn't fast-forward through parts. It is also the first I've considered finding the music for. Both mood and lyrics were excellent.

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Intense kissing scenes and chemistry but.....

Production of this drama was quite poor, sorry to say. All the voices and sound were dubbed, and editing was sloppy. The plot and base storyline was actually good, that’s why I gave it a 7. It had some thriller/ mystery/ romance elements but the flow was just... meh. The plot twist towards the end was also extremely predictable.

The main characters were interesting, but unfortunately I don’t think the actors pulled it off. (Sorry!) Their chemistry was good though, and the kissing scenes were intense. Actually that was what got me to watch this after seeing some snippets online :):) However, the drama itself fell short of what I thought would be a good one. The SFL was plain annoying, and the second couple lacked chemistry.

The few songs in the OST were quite nice. I’ve already added to my Spotify list :) A special shout out to Productive Procrastination for subbing this in English :) There were also some deleted couple scenes which you can find online ;)

Watch it if you’re in between dramas. It’s a short one - 16 episodes and 30mins each. Don’t expect too much, just enjoy the chemistry ;)

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Nice chemistry and easy to watch

The Leads have veeery good chemistry! The FL is not annoying and the ML is no stoneface. Very refrehsing!^^
There is no real love triangle and we got a very sweet side couple :3 In general this drama gave me different vibes than the usual Cdramas. In a good way!

The story was interesting and their romance was beautiful! :) It was super easy to watch. I even wish it was longer. They could have made it twice as long and included the background story chronologically instead of giving us flashbacks. The flashbacks gave the drama dynamics tho... anyways, I enjoyed the drama a lot! :) This was not just a love story, but also with action/suspense involved. The Main Leads are a nice match :) <3 And I really loved the group of bodyguards too xD

For a modern Cdrama this was pretty awesome. Loved it! <3 I want to see more Cdramas like that!

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Male leads character made it hard to watch

No major spoilers

Maybe this is just a personal problem, but I really didn't like the male lead. First, he started off his relationship with the female lead being untruthful, and second, he kept harassing and following her around even after she ended things with him. All in all his character made him very unlikable to me; to be completely honest I wasn't rooting for the leads to get together at all.

The female lead, on the other hand, I liked overall. She wasn't weak and a pushover like you can see in other dramas. When attacked she fought back, when cornered by the male lead she would get out of his hold when there was a misunderstanding she didn't jump to conclusions, and when the male lead messed up she would tell him off. And a big plus for me is that the staying of her character was on point.

In the end, I dropped this show just because I just didn't like the male lead. ( which has never really happened to me)

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Harlequin Romance Meets Chinese Drama

I remember when I first saw this drama on this site I read comments that likened it to a trashy romance/Wattpad story. Two episodes in, I felt myself thinking "IT'S SO TRUE." Mysterious Love had all the tropes and components of an action/romance Harlequin novel (they're well-known for being light/quick/romantic reads) and a stereotypical Chinese drama. If you're the type to enjoy romance for the sake of romance and not think too deeply about the action plot going on in the background, this one's for you.

SIMILARITIES:
❀ Bubbly, outgoing and artistic FL x possessive, cold and strong ML | Another trope: he saved her in the past. I think if American romance novels and Chinese dramas have a Venn diagram, this combo would be in the middle. The FL is a hard worker but is thinking of Lee, the guy that saved her years ago. When she meets him again, she's shook because he's acting so cold and impersonal (he even has a different name!). What she doesn't know, is that he's been thinking of HER these past 5 years too, but has been staying away "for her own protection." We love our emotionless noble idiot MLs, I guess.
I wasn't a fan of the ML in the beginning (especially when he was pushing her away "for her own sake" (ugh) (barf)), but he grows from such Neanderthal behavior. The FL is smart and holds no prisoners, so he learns to communicate quick, lol. Beforehand, he was the type to be reticent and make up for not speaking with aggressive actions but later on he can't deny his feelings and ends up opening up to her. He definitely has the makings of a CEO/security officer/Alpha wolf/cold celebrity + brooding MC that we see in Chinese dramas and Harlequin novels.
✕ Action/suspense in the background of the main couple's relationship | This suspense was not too bad and definitely added to the plot - but to a certain level. In each episode we see a bit of flashback with what happened between the couple 5 years ago when they were hanging with a gang (she was accidentally kidnapped, he was undercover). If you asked me about the criminal syndicate/gang subplot, I could not - for the LIFE of me - explain. They were just bad people??? His team was just getting rid of them even though they're supposed to be just bodyguards (they were on a mission)?? They came back to life after their leader died 5 years ago and are taking revenge? Like... these things happened, but I feel like the writing gave the bare backbones of a plot that was loosely held together (I know I watched this show in the background of doing other stuff but I usually get the general gist of subplots). The show tries to be intense/edgy in some scenes but I learned to not take it seriously. Also other scenes had me watching between fingers LMAO they were so cliche (non-derogatory tone).
❀ Everything is romance-driven | Whether it's the characters' actions, the villains' machinations, or the plot, everything serves one purpose: le racy romance(s). If you like in-depth plots and characterizations with logical consistencies, it's time to look away from this drama. What it DOES serve is a nice dose of jealousy and possessiveness from both the protagonist and villains' standpoints. The action is straight up there to highlight such emotions. Background logic for kidnapping/killing people? They just want to end up with the ML or FL, after all!! There's literally nothing deeper than that.
✕ Acting/characterization were fine but not deep | In terms of acting, I think the actors did the best they could do given the limits of the script. The FL did a good job in being a spunky girl with a brain in her head and the ML's coldness was exactly in-tune with his character. There was also a secondary couple (spoiled, rich princess x stoic, single dad bodyguard) that I have the same lukewarm feelings about - the 2FL was cute and preppy, I really liked her character, and the 2ML was emotionless and stayed that way throughout the drama. He also had a cute but sometimes annoying child that softened up to the 2FL (I think she acted pretty well!). Just like a Harlequin novel though, their characterizations were pretty basic, cliche, and predictable, with not much novelty going on. But, that's also common in Chinese dramas as well, so nothing surprising on that front.
❀ Happy ending for everyone | Well, except the psycho baddies. But, since this follows the plot of a Harlequin novel, we been knowing. >:)

DIFFERENCES:
❀ The FL is smarter than usual | In both trashy romances and Chinese dramas, the FL either succumbs to misunderstandings, instigates them, or in general is very naive and ignorant. The FL in Mysterious Love, Nian Chu, is not like that at all. She's the type to think things over (especially when they seem suspicious) and choose common sense/logic over hysteria. NC isn't a Mary Sue and good at everything though - she literally just uses her brain, which is refreshing. (Since it's 2021, I only want these kinds of FLs in Chinese dramas going forward.)

OTHER NOTES:
❀ I'm a big fan of the music | For a drama that doesn't look too pricey in production, they really utilized the background music to a surprising level. I don't think the drama itself has original soundtracks (not sure though), but the songs they used were really catchy and added depth to the scenes. Intro music is a mysterious/suspenseful instrumental track, and outro music is a song release in 2018 I think that's pretty popular. Although I'm not a fan of ballads (which sucks, because Chinese people love sad music lol), I really enjoyed the ending song. Fighting scene tracks are good too - I remember in this one scene they matched the action with the instrumental music, which was a classy detail.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | The ML purposefully hides things from the FL in the vein of an (idiotic) noble savior but she pries the truth out of him. Other than that, FL was written with common sense and doesn't fall for cheap misunderstanding tricks that potential villains go for. We stan a smart female lead.

OVERALL
Quick, romantic, and to-the-point, Mysterious Love is definitely a romance/suspense to watch at face value. (Note: high in romance, low in suspense.) I truly never understood the whole background of the gangs and island history, but who cares because you get to see the characters look hot in the jungle. *shrug emoji* The actors did their part, and overall it was interesting enough for me to watch in the background while doing other things. Recommended for a light watch (it's quick too, at 16 30-min episodes!)

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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