The Lotus Casebook (2023)

XiangYi's Legacy Will Live On: The Intricate Layers of Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is such a masterpiece and a must watch drama for 2023. The entire storyline is very engaging and each of the cases kept me hooked, I honestly don't think I was ever bored watching this. All the cases had a lot of depth and they all somehow related to Xiangyi in the end. All the characters, especially the main trio of LLH, FDB and DFS, I feel like when they were together the episodes were really fun to watch, they have good chemistry! I also have so much respect for LXY/LLH as a character, and I feel like Cheng Yi pulled off his role perfectly. His calm demeanour, smarts, and the general change of his attitudes makes LLH/LXY such a great character, which really demonstrated his growth as a person. LLH/LXY also felt very human, although he was originally an arrogant grandmaster, he has many scenes were you can see him as a vulnerable person just like everyone else. Also, the fight scenes were really good, like they did not lack the budget at all and it was always so exciting watching any of the characters fight. I feel like this drama has so much depth that can be missed if you're not paying attention, but if you do pick up on them everything just makes so much sense. The ending I think its okay just the way it is, although I would of loved for a 'they lived happily ever after' that's not always realistic, and XiangYi will always be a legend that lives on. Anyways, MLC is a solid 10/10!

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i love difeisheng ?

i knew about it months before it was aired but kind of forgot about it until i saw it in my to watch list. i searched it up and to my surprise, it finished airing. i was actually very excited for this show because ive been looking for a chinese costume drama where romance wasnt the main genre. i originally thought that it would be just bromance but lianhua and xiaobao both have their love interests; it was an acceptable amount of romance for me. i actually didnt know what the plot would be like at all. when i noticed the main plot revolved around crime solving, i was even more intrigued. these kind of plots are one of my favorites. im usually good at predicting twists but never predicted any of the ones in this drama. (i never purposely predict it) i would say this is one of my favorite costume dramas now. had 0 suspicions on shangudao and thought difeisheng was the main villain. (hes not the best person but like). also surprised to see yebaiyi actor play this role (word of honor) i forgot the characters name already, but i hate him; glad wanmian or something left him!! difeisheng soon became my favorite character after he accompanied the other leads. (hidden identity part) i gave it a 7.0 in rewatch value because shows like these, crime solving and plot twists, arent that fun to rewatch since you already know everything thats gonna happen. funny story, my mandarin class played the ost as the song of the day while i was watching the drama. i started this on a sunday afternoon and finished it on thursday at night. i was kind of binge watching even though i had school. whenever i had nothing left to do, i would watch it. it was kind of difficult to watch it on my phone since i use one of those websites.

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Only Cheng Yi can pull off a carefree character like Li Lian Hua.

I mostly stick to romantic dramas, a little bit of romance is like a salt in food for me. However, I watched this drama solely because of Cheng Yi & it was worth it. This drama also helped to rediscovered Joseph Zheng. Last year, I had watched his Hi Venus and thought he was dashing but Fang Duo Bing was such a good character for him. Wish that we had more of Di Fei Sheng working along with them, however his screen time was very short.

Some of the cases were interesting while others were not, I mostly skipped some scenes and focused on those where the main trio were interacting. The main story was kinda weird with the bugs, bugs just remind me of starship troopers. Having seen Chen Duling in Till the End of the Moon, it was hard for me to think of her as the good guy, her character was so insecure and devious in it, especially since I had rewatched the drama a week ago. There wasn't much for her to do in this drama, she had but a small role to play and she did it well. Her fiancé was an immature idiot in this drama.

But anyways it was fun watching the main trio go on adventures together. At one point in time, I wondered how 4 horses managed to drag that big ass lotus tower all over the place. But then again, architecture is a marvel. It sure was so good to look at and would be such a great place to live in.

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A Strange and Delightful Story of Friendship and Forgiveness

I can confidently say this is a masterpiece among the C-dramas I've watched.

This was my first time seeing Cheng Yi perform, and he was absolutely incredible. Only Cheng Yi could portray the challenging role of Li Xiangyi/Li Lianhua in such a charming, cool, and amusing way.

The drama's plot progresses quite rapidly, with different cases being resolved every couple of episodes. However, each mystery is connected to the next, and each one is essential to solving the overarching mystery.

To unravel these mysteries, Li Lianhua, Fang Duobing, and Di Feisheng embark on a quirky and entertaining journey together, which is absolutely hilarious! The dynamic between these three very different characters, as they argue, laugh, and work together to solve cases, made me laugh and cry multiple times.

Li Lianhua learns to forgive others, something Li Xiangyi never did. He forgives and frees the people connected to his past. However, Li Xiangyi himself cannot forgive himself. This aspect is very sad and poignant, highlighting his humanity.

I highly recommend this drama to those who enjoy mysteries and human dramas!

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What can I say? After watching all 40 episodes, this show does a good job of not letting the heroes always win. The story moves pretty fast, and if you're someone who loves mysteries and being a detective, this show is for you. The plot is something that caught me so off guard and you can never really guess what the real truth to any of these case is.

Something I really apprentice in this show is its ability to portray what actually happens during the cases that they solve. Every case they solve, it shows us an actual play of the scene. However, one issue that comes with this show, is Li Lianhua is a bit too smart to the point where you don't even get a chance to guess what happens. Because everything that happens in the show is almost unpredictable, and Li Liana can guess what happens every single time.

Li Lianhua's character is very interesting. He is very observant and conniving. He is very slick and knows how to calculate, which is very impressive. It was such a pity to not see much of his fighting scenes, but there was other fighting scenes which caught my attention especially with Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng. Those 2 characters make the show give a bit more comedy.


Now the ending, not exactly a cliff hanger. He could have saved himself, but he didn't. I want to believe that he isn't dead but considering the fact that he was poisoned and he gave away the only thing that could save him, it was such a pity.

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Dull. (still)

EDIT:
I originally dropped this after 3 episodes. Now I've finished the whole show.
(I'm leaving my original review below the line)
What do I say about this? It's still not great.
It's definitely been overhyped and at best it's sort of slightly above average.
The story is functional - you see where it's going from the beginning and it does indeed get there pretty much as you expect. Which is not a bad thing necessarily, it's just a bit predictable.
The bits I enjoyed the most were the case investigations. Sadly, there are two issues with that:
1) The cases are of fluctuating quality, and many of them are solved in a way you cannot do yourself. Because as in other badly done mystery shows - the show witholds crucial information from you and it is only presented at the very end, when the detective is explaining how he figured it out. That's just lazy and uninteresting.
2) The show insists on being a wuxia story about Big Things, and it constantly gets in the way of the fun.
My main problem with this show and why I still rate it fairly low is the premise and the main protagonist.
I am sick, so sick and tired of these Very Special Boys With A Mysterious Past. Li Xiangyi is VERY similar to the characters in "Love in Between", "Blood of Youth" and even "Nirvana in Fire" and "Word of Honor" to some extent - a soft sickly boy with lovely long hair and flowy robe and a fur lined cloak. And he used to be a powerful martial hero, the most specialest of them all, a real genius. But now he's sickly and disabled and look at the poor bunny, so cute.
And I get that this is a trope that people (especially lady fans of these idols/actors) like. I do not. It's tired now. I've seen it.
I think the story would've worked much, much better with older characters and actors.
So yes - I still put a lot of fault with Cheng Yi. He is older than Joseph Zeng, but it doesn't feel like it. They're too close in age and vibe. And he doesn't have the acting ability to pull this kind of character off, especially in the really dramatic moments. His serious delivery feels fake and flat.
In short - the only way we know he's this super special boy is because everyone keeps talking about it. He doesn't have that kind of charisma to make me believe it.
Joseph Zeng is mostly fine, he does the same thing in most of the dramas I've seen him in. He's like an ok piece of toast. Nothing you'd sing the praises of, but fine to eat.
The villains are kinda terrible. I get that the mustache-twirling evil-laughing villain is a genre thing, but they feel a bit out of place in a modern style drama. That said, I think Rain Wang is just bad, and she wasn't helped by the weird dubbing they did for her character.
The only person whose acting I enjoyed fully was Xiao Shun Yao - his Di Feisheng doesn't change a lot, but he pulls that subtle transition off pretty well. And at all times he FEELS like someone who could seriously hurt people, I believe when he fights.
Speaking of fights - they left them all for the ending, which was odd. They're...fine I guess. The bigger mass battles were a surprise, because the show had been so stingy with fights up to that point. They're all very modern wuxia cdrama in style - lots of flowy stuff, CG energy blasts and not a lot of blood. Compared to something like Sakra, or oldschool 90s wuxia it feels super sanitized. I wasn't impressed, but it wasn't offensively bad either.
In summary - this is a very run of the mill modern wuxia with all the typical flaws, or a mostly decent detective show ruined by also being a modern wuxia drama.
Don't believe the hype, but you might still enjoy some of it.
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Original rating: 3.5*
This is dull, incredibly dull. Just boring as hell.
I have to remind myself that cdrama hype is largely caused by fangirls looking forward to watching shows with their beloved idol/s.
Some episodes in this is just incredibly forgettable, entirely derivative and uninteresting.
The actors are bland as chalk bread, except for the main guy who's straight up bad. He's a bad actor, stop giving him roles where he's supposed to speak.
The premise, the story, it's all cliches piled on cliches, nothing cool or intriguing happens, the fights are not entertaining.
Just another super mediocre/bad wuxia drama.

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They'll never let you go, hard as you might want it.

Li Lianhua, Li Lianhua, what a beautiful story. The trailer didn't do justice to this drama as it was vague and didn't reveal much, I could have missed out on this one.
This drama was worth all my 40 hours spent on it. Very suprisenly for me, there was no character I hated in here, even the bad ones.
Although LL adopted FDB as his own (not what happened in the drama, you'll understand if you watch it), I wish he had actual kids of his own for FDB to raise.
Everyone had their role to play and everyone did it beautiful, no cheesy, no overcompensating, just professionalism.
I would watch a sequel if one ever gets into the works.

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The best wuxia drama I've seen thus far!

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is hands down one of my favorite Chinese dramas to date. Though it is not perfect by any means and it doesn't have the most satisfying ending, it didn't leave me frustrated or disappointed unlike another C-drama that would've been without flaw if not for its horrid ending. In fact, it leaves you hungering for more with its open ending that may or may not lead to a second season. Despite the fact that it is a solid detective story dripping with political intrigue, mysticism, and evil schemes for world domination, the true driving force of this series is its characters. It boasts of well-written characters that each have their own story arcs and go through significant character development as the plot progresses.

Cheng Yi plays somewhat of a dual role, the young and brash, Li Xiangyi, who basks in the glory of his achievements in the martial arts world, and Li Lianhua, the reclusive wandering physician with a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. I love how he contrasts these two characters, showing how much the ambitious and arrogant Xiangyi has changed over the years and become the more mature and grounded Lianhua, who is content in lazing about with the company of his dog and growing vegetables in his garden. I love love this snarky bastard! ?

Zeng Shunxi is Fang Duobing, the young and impressionable son of a noble man who grew up idolizing Li Xiangyi. He also undergoes a major change as the series goes on, from a bratty rich kid to a young man worthy of becoming Xiangyi's successor. Xiao Shunyao plays Di Feisheng. He starts out as an anti-hero but soon proves to be one of the most compelling characters in the series. His friendly rivalry with Li Xiangyi or Li Lianhua is quite possibly one of the best bromance dynamics I've seen in any drama. While he is the typical stoic “tsundere” character, his interactions with the other two protagonists are the funniest moments in the whole series. And damn, he's such a striking figure, an absolute badass!

The villains are absolutely despicable! You will never find an ounce of sympathy to spare for these hateful people. But they are not exactly your cookie cutter type of villains since their motivations aren't solely rooted in the fact that they are evil. The supporting characters are also engaging albeit some of them are not as memorable as the others. But perhaps the one character that really struck me was Yun Biqiu. His story of remorse and redemption is truly touching.

The writing could've been better, though. There are parts in this series that left me scratching my head, trying to find logic in them. Some seem too contrived, convenient, and coincidental that I had to suspend my disbelief more than a few times in order to enjoy this series. I wish they could've been more precise in the writing department, but since it is a fantasy drama, I figured I could just chalk it up to mystical arts.

As for the production value, they didn't skimp on the set designs, costumes, and cinematography although there are some scenes that looked iffy to me. I suppose I could attribute that to bad CGI due to lack of budget. The fight scenes are spectacular, though. Most costume C-dramas don't play around with their fight choreography, but this drama, in my opinion, has some of the most convincing fight sequences and the main actors really look like martial artists. I give the stunt coordinators and fight choreographers (apart from the actors of course) the credit for that.

All in all, this was an enjoyable 40-episode drama that I don't regret watching and would probably watch again if I can't find another series to obsess on, or when I miss Li Lianhua. But for now, I'm saying goodbye to my old friends, Lianhua, Fei, and Duobing. Yes, they're my friends now!

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The Best Thriller This Year

Adapted from the novel “Auspicious Pattern Lotus House” (吉祥纹莲花楼) by Teng Ping (藤萍), Mysterious Lotus Casebook was one of the most anticipated releases this year, from the IQIYI flagship. Starring Cheng Yi, Joseph Zeng, Xiao Shun Yao in lead roles, this male centric wuxia drew attention because of its unique storyline and stellar casting. Directed by Guo Hu and Ren Hai Tao, the story focuses on the adventurous life of our main protagonist, Li Xiangyi (Cheng Yi). Once the revered leader of a powerful sect, Xiangyi falls from grace after an eventful battle with his arch nemesis, Di Feisheng (Xiao Shun Yao). Ten years later, he reemerges as a humble physician, Li Lianhua, while cutting all ties with the martial arts world. But as fate wouldn’t have it, his peaceful existence is disturbed when he accidentally gets entangled with Fan Duobing (Joseph Zeng), a rich young master who intends to work as a detective at the Baichuan Court.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook raked in 4 million reservations on the date of its premiere. Audiences were ecstatic with the prominent casting, that includes some big names like Cheng Yi and Joseph Zeng. If you are an avid fan of the “Lost Tomb” franchise, then you will probably understand the charm. Both Cheng Yi and Joseph Zeng have been a part of this popular franchise; with Cheng Yi playing the lead role Zhang Qi Ling in “The Lost Tomb 2” and Joseph Zeng starred as Wu Xie in “Ultimate Note”. Those who are familiar with this storyline might know that Wu Xie and Zhang Qi Ling are an insanely popular fictional couple (known by their ship name, PingXie). As such, the excitement surrounding this show was high pitched. Cheng Yi was recently in news for his xianxia romance “Immortal Samsara”, while Joseph Zeng was cast in the recent wuxia romance “Heroes”; both being major Youku productions. Joining them on this crusade is Xiao Shun Yao, who is slowly gaining popularity after playing negative roles in “The Blue Whisper” and “Till the End of the Moon”.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/08/19/mysterious-lotus-casebook-series-review-ep-1-to-40/

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A well-told story about the irreplaceable legacy of a sect leader after a selfless self-destruction

This was my very first watching a Chinese drama that was a non-romantic genre that hooked me all the way. A drama that has a substance in which the underlying conflicts, twists, and turns in the development of the story hardly made me stop watching it continuously. There were some predictable scenes at some point in the episodes however; it did not weaken the flow of the story.

The selection of casts was great. Joseph Zeng was particularly outstanding here. His performance in this drama went beyond Cheng Yi’s acting as the main lead. His characterization stood out among the rest and was noticeable in the entire drama. I recently watched him in “Romance on the Farm” and he already captured my attention there with his baby face looks, not so much of the acting yet. But in this drama, he properly delivered the role and saw in him a promising actor to watch for.

The component of humor I think also brought this drama receptive to viewers. The shift of tone to make a certain dialogue or scene funny by adding background sound effects was amazingly done by the technical and editing team which indeed made me laugh. Well, the fighting scenes were given for the wuxia enthusiasts and I also enjoyed watching those sharp moves.

I was absolutely satisfied after relying on my choice to watch it from one of the many approving reviews I have read.

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Can’t find any fault

Great drama with so much suspense and things to look forward to after every episode. I love the story line, the smaller plots as they travel across cities and how they compliment the wider bigger plot of the drama. Not a fan of mellow dramatic plot so I’m glad it has minimal of that sorta stuff. Love the unexpected twist towards the end of the drama as well, it gave me such great satisfaction in the end. I must commend, superb performance/ acting by the cast especially Cheng Yi. I wished they’d casted someone else than Chen Duling though - her character is supposed to be a strong martial arts guru/leader but she looks so pitiful /weak 80% of the time. That’s the only miscast I can think of from the entire drama otherwise it’s a really great work by the team.

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