Unchained Love (2022)

Better than I expected but still not great

This series is very divisive: people love it or hate it/couldn't even get through it. After watching it I can see exactly why. If it was entirely bad or mid, that's one thing, but there is so much potential and there are genuinely good aspects that kept me hanging on. Each time I wanted to drop it for one of the negatives, there was still enough positives that I was intrigued enough to watch a little more, then a little more.

Negatives:
-Cut scenes not only took out some of the kissy-face stuff we craved but it also made the story hard to follow at times or just made moments we were really looking forward to fall flat (like a key scene we've been waiting for so long to see got cut and only part of it is shown via a freaking FLASHBACK). The ending sucked, thank goodness they gave us the extra episode (that was actually filmed and not just a voiceover reusing old scenes!)
-Tonal shifts felt like whiplash. They may have been able to spin it as a dark comedy but the comedic parts were too slapstick and the dark parts were really too brutal.
-Yukee Chen's acting was better than I expected but still needs work. You can read other reviews, I won't dogpile on her.

Positives:
-The story was actually quite intriguing; not just the premise but enough of the story through the whole series has just enough interesting aspects that as I said above, kept me curious and wanting to see it through, despite the negatives. I wish someday we could see the whole thing uncut.
-The FL is not stupid and the couple trust each other. Obviously the plot needed there to be a few times where ML rushes to her aid but that's mainly early on when he doesn't realize she's capable of handling herself. As things go on they trust each other; there's even one time when she's captured as a trap for him but he doesn't go rescue her, assuring his aide that she can figure out the situation herself. There's other times when he had to act out but she trusted him to not hurt her. Other than one instance of noble idiocy, they're mostly pretty understanding of each other.
-Dylan's acting was good, he could do both the cold smoulder as well as convincingly play a man who isn't actually cold at heart but is tired of putting on the facade. Some people didn't like that he fell for the girl early but I think it made sense in this way. Usually the cold ML is truly cold but melts for just the ML, who then changes him; in this, he's never actually cold at heart but has had to pretend for so long that he's tired of it and found refuge in being able to lower his guard with her.
-Yukee Chen's acting was better than expected. She was funny and devious but in some serious moments she actually was quite chilling.
-Peter Ho's acting was very convincing, a bit too convincing in fact, it was honestly frightening

I rated the rewatch a bit higher because I think after watching, you can then know where to skip to watch the good parts. You can also find most of the cut scenes on YouTube to fill in gaps.

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This is not a final review/rating

Looks like a low-budget series that was done on the cuff. Notwithstanding, Dylan's performance alone is enough to keep me glued to the screen.

(During the reign of Long Hua, Xiao Duo, a powerful eunuch in charge of the imperial court, plans a palace mutiny with Prince Fu to help him ascend to the throne. Bu Yinlou, a tribute lady that was supposed to be hanged as a tribute to the late emperor was saved by Xiao Duo as Prince Fu fancies her. The two of them spend a lot of time with each other and develop feelings for each other, but due to their status, they have to hide their feelings. Xiao Duo goes to Jiangnan to supervise a silk trade with a foreign country, and Yinlou accompanies him to visit his relatives in the south, during which they fall in love and finally reveal their hearts. But the road ahead is full of obstacles, Xiao Duo's true identity, the threat of the King of South Court, and the suppression of the emperor in the palace. The two of them have to sacrifice themselves for the greater good and decide to enter the palace, but Xiao Duo misunderstands her. What is the fate between the two?)

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Bellissimo

Lui è assolutamente meraviglioso, Xiao Duo è un personaggio bene definito che non può essere visto solo come il duro della situazione, è sicuramente calcolatore e spietato ma sa essere anche morbido con le persone a cui si sente legato.
Adoro lui e Yukee, insieme hanno una vena comica che mi piace molto. L' importante è che mi trasmettano qualcosa non per forza ho necessità del romanticismo assoluto, nelle loro scene vedo complicità e supporto reciproco e questa cosa mi piace davvero molto.
Le ambientazioni, i costumi e le acconciature sono convincenti , il cast è interessante ma il punto focale rimane Dylan Wang che è veramente un grande attore, ha un' espressività che pochi hanno, credo davvero che sia uno dei più bravi in circolazione.
POV: chi dice che il miglior lavoro di Dylan Wang è Meteor Garden dal mio punto di vista capisce veramente poco, è sicuramente un bel drama ma non il suo lavoro migliore.

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Sorry but this drama is a flop for me - It did not lure or make me engage into the story.

Unchained Love - I watched 3 episodes already and can't see myself continuing with this drama. Too boring, and I am not a big fan of Dylan Wang or Yukee Chen.

I watched Dylan Wang and Yukee Chen separately in their other dramas, and in my opinion, their acting abilities are mediocre. Perhaps it is too early to tell, but their onscreen chemistry was not great. I liked Dylan Wang in Meteor Garden with Shen Yue, but anything after that drama was not good.

Yukee Chen is being typed cast for the same type of role.

I tried, but the ensemble's plot and acting did not engage me. I understand that many people like drama, and I am the exception. I am giving it a 4.0 rating.

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