Blood is thicker than water!

Initially, when this drama was aired, I was just thinking that this would be just a regular story about a family and its members – as simple as that.

When I started following this drama – yes, it is about a family more on the relationship between the siblings from the childhood moment up till their adulthood. One major difference with other family story was that on how this drama described the BOND (as per the title) of the siblings of Qiao family: Yi Cheng the oldest brother, Er Qiang the second brother, San Li the third daughter, Si Mei the forth daughter and Qiqi, the youngest brother.

To me the story looks very real – it started I believe before the China One Child policy, meaning started before 1980. Because the Qiao family already had 4 children and once the fifth children was born the story started.

The story also described on how chronic poverty hits the family, headed by a drunkard love to gamble father who worked as a rough labor with minimum wage, but he had 4 children and another one was coming. The problem became more severe once the fifth child was born and at the same time took away the live of the mother. The 4 siblings had to live a very hard life and the fifth child became the responsibilities of the siblings.

The rough situation shaped their personalities, especially the oldest son, Yi Cheng – as the oldest son – has to bore the responsibility of his younger brother and sisters. He was forced to take the responsibility because the father neglects them all. The father didn’t care about the wellbeing of his children, so the children needed to survive on their own.

Yi Cheng became overly protective to his siblings, not because he wanted to but because the condition forced him to take the responsibility. This also made everybody become overly dependent to the older brother.

The story was very touching – please prepare a box of Kleenex to wipe your tears. Once they grew up, everyone has their own stories, their own problems and they were told nicely in this drama.

Everyone was influenced by their childhood, their personalities were shaped from childhood, teenage till adulthood and each and everyone have different and interesting personalities. Everyone has their love interest, their own personal relationship and love story.

These elements made the story very interesting. And all elements of the story look very real and natural, as if you were taken to see the journey of each individual of the Qiao family. You will taken to emotion roller coaster ride. The story of regular people.

I admire Qiao Si Mei character, she is very lively, carefree, poetic, courageous. At the age of less than 10 years old, she travels back alone from other province to her home in Nanjing where she needs to take a train. She went to Beijing alone to watch her idol concert. She travelled to Tibet border to meet her boyfriend who is stationed in border military post. She is really remarkable, pursuing her happiness.

The acting of each main lead also superb. No exaggeration – just like watching what happened in your own family with every problem that you have to face.

The properties for this drama is also well prepared to tell the story from the 80’s to 2005. You can also see how technology developed from this drama. The Tube Colour TV, the Walkman, the Pager, ole mobile phones, old computers, big video camera and recording device, roller skate then transform to skating ring. All details and progress as years go by are really good.

So if you like a real life drama, you should watch this.

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Chinese version of Jason Bourne, spy vs. spy

Initially, I was a bit skeptical about this drama whether it will be good or not. The first episode hooks my attention where I already get some tense from the manhunt. That leads to the curiosity on what will happen in the next episode and the next one and on and on...

As the story goes on, from each episode onwards you will get that tense feeling and guessing on what will happened next. I think this is one of the best C-Drama with Historical, Political and war theme. It shows courage, patriotism, loyalty, integrity and all aspects of a spy should have. Really really interesting.

The setting of Shanghai in the late 30’s and the 40’s are well built, when you watch the episodes, you will feel that you are brought to that era. The cinematography is also good. In some tense moment the camera movement adds the effect on the dire, suspense situation.

The acting is also seeming natural, not exaggerating. I think every single character played very well and worth some appreciation.

Although this is not a romance drama, and the topic is more towards History, political and war but the relationship of the Male Lead and Female Lead was built beautifully. There are not many or almost non-romantic scene to describe their relationship, but it is able to show how deep is the feeling between both characters. Both Male and Female lead are giving their utmost act where you can see their feeling, their pain, their mutual affection clearly. You are eager to know what the end of these two characters will be, will they be together or not. That will make you more attached to the show.

You may not agree with the political views here i.e., communism – but despite of that, you may disregard your political view and just enjoy the storyline.

The series has a tight plot which able to create suspense and thrill, it is spy vs. spy. Depiction of intelligence world in China that day.

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The locomotive runs fast till it loses its steam… what a pity

“Every time I thought I would cry when the light fades away, look around for familiar sounds, slowly penetrate the tides and raindrops, even though I tried to carry on, and I leave my past behind, I seems to hear your breathing, the night becomes transparent, the dark tranquility of a city, when I am lost I close my eyes and you are there, forever shine for me, no fear of unknown dreams because I only think of you, forever shine for me, no matter how far you go you won’t doubt, so I love you very much…” (Forever Shine for Me)

A BEAUTIFUL romantic relationship between a young lovely kindhearted psychology student and a visually impaired person who can only express his feelings through music due to childhood trauma and abandonment syndrome causing low self-esteem personality.

Wu Yan (played by Wan Peng) is a psychology student; she is an optimistic person always look at the bright sight and has ambition to become radio broadcaster. She was arranged to have relationship with a man from her hometown – a man from family friend, a man who grows up with her. In one night, she saw him kissing her best friend from the same hometown, her besties from school. This event devastates her, and she runs to her hobby of listening to music from mysterious song writer Yi Jin.

Yi Jin is an alias of Su Nian Qin (played by Evan Lin), a reserved, closed person, cold hearted, visually impaired with lack of self confidence and self esteem personality due to childhood trauma.

They met each other in a park whereby Wu Yan is feeling down and sinking her mind in listening to music and singing it out loud with off tune voice. While Nian Qin was just seeking of quietness to calm him down. Of course, Wu Yan off tune voice disturbs Nian Qin and they look at each other where Wu Yan feels the vibe from the look of Nian Qin and then falls for him.

They met again in a special need school where Wu Yan has her internship there to complete her psychology degree, whereby Nian Qin is a substitute teacher there. Wu Yan learns that Nian Qin can play piano very well and starts to have interest on him. Their relationship builds up and Nian Qin despites sometimes got annoyed but her persistence melts his cold heart.

Their bond is getting stronger and seems like they can overcome any problems that they face in life. Nian Qin starts to have trust on her and falls for her due to her kindness, positivism, companionship, and her love.

Conflict comes when the family from both sides started to come into play. The demanding mother of Wu Yan opposing their relationship whilst Nian Qin who turns out to be an heir of critically ill prominent business group of companies. Nian Qin doesn’t have good relations with his family due to his conditions, visually impaired since birth causing issues between his parents that ends up divorcing his mother. The moment his mother put Nian Qin in the orphanage, is the time his mother killed in an accident making Nian Qin abandoned and must live in orphanage.

From the start of this drama till this part of the story, which is about half of the series, they are very good, sweet, some happiness, some sorrow. The script to this moment was flowing nicely, the story runs smoothly and very enjoyable to watch.

After big tragedy hit Wu Yan then the stories start to crumble. With conflict between Wu Yan and Nian Qin becomes greater, the story then falls into pieces and fall all over the place.

Surely, Nian Qin got his surgery to fix his eyes and then he can see again. He felt guilty to causing Wu Yan losing her last moment with her dad. He is afraid to face Wu Yan, his self esteem drops even deeper. He worked hard to be successful in managing the family business and after 3 years reach his peak of his career. He started to contact Wu Yan again, but Wu Yan’s heart has also been hurt deeply because of loosing her father and her heart becomes cold to face Nian Qin behavior.

From this part onwards the story tells on how Nian Qin pursuing his lover back.

There are several parts in the story that is not resolved well. Although that finally both reconcile and finally get married. For example, what is the further career of Wu Yan as special needs child therapist. Yes she’s been taking care of one boy with autism. What happened to Xiao Wei?

Seems like Wu Yan after experiencing some losses got a mental issue, a delusional syndrome, whereby she keeps having talked with her deceased college roommate whenever she needs a friend to talk to and even rent a house and live together.

The life after marriage also seems quite blend, no more lovey dovey part like the first half of the show. It only shows daily routine of Wu Yan as a housewife and Nian Qin as 9 to 5 CEO.

Nian Qin who has talent in music as song writer suddenly dropped his ability after feeling heartbroken and regain his visual. This is kind off not making sense because in the beginning part of the series, music and song writing are his way out in expressing himself. Although he did write song as last song after breaking up but he should utilize more song writing to express his emotions and feelings further. This has not been exploiting in the further half of the series.

What is the solution when the media found out that Yi Jin is actually Nian Qin, how he solves this and protect his family? During pregnancy, Wu Yan got stomachache and rushed to hospital during the issue where the media found out the identity of Yi Jin. She wakes up in hospital bed then the story jumps to several years later where Nian Qin, Wu Yan and their daughter walk in the park.

Seems like the writer got confused on how end this series. Or it looks like the series can finished after 20 or 22 episodes it doesn’t have to be up to 24 episodes. The second half should have been more compact.

Regardless of my takeout on the story, I give two thumbs up on Evan Lin acting, especially when he is still visually impaired. After he regain his vision, then the acting becomes regular not so exciting anymore.

Wan Pen is okay, she can reflect happiness and sorrow quite well. Chemistry between the two is adequate, the romance builds up well, how she adores him, cheer him up, care for him. Chemistry is okay but intimacy seems a bit lacking for a full in love couple.

For a romance drama with music as part of its there, the OST is really good!

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Everyone is a chess piece!

Honestly, I have a mixed feeling about this drama. Some good some bad.

From the personal preference and liking, I don’t like weak and too naïve character – that’s why I have a mixed feeling about this drama. This story is not for me but I am trying to be objective here.

If you like plotting and scheming stories, this drama is for you. The story is well written and excepts for the obvious villain eunuch sometimes you are just not sure each character stand on which side, the good or the bad. Some twist here and there because of the ulterior motives and sometimes you are just not sure what the motives are. So, quite surprisingly here and there.

However, watching at this drama from the beginning till the end, I must admit that it is a good drama. Here’s why…

STORY:
The story is quite interesting, whereby the imperial court was dominated by a very powerful eunuch chasing wealth, power, controlling the military and government. The emperor wanted to eradicate this powerful eunuch but failed and backfired whereby the eunuch cronies killed loyal officials and their family. Qi Yan the brother of the emperor played along with the eunuch just to gain trust and make plan for future retaliation. During the backfire by the eunuch, Qi Yan already planned to at least leave some survivor from the loyal officials.

Fast forward to 8 years later, Qi Yan now is the emperor – he introduced to Cheng Ruo Yu that become his sword bearer – the protector to the emperor. Ruo Yu is one of the survivors of the killing 8 years ago. She was rescued by Qi Yan’s uncle and handed over to a special force to be nurtured and trained as loyalist to the emperor.

On the other hand, Ruo Yu’s older sister Yan Zhi also survived and sided with the eunuch becoming prodigy while hiding her identity to seek opportunity for revenge to the eunuch for killing her family.

Besides those main characters there are also quite a few other characters building up the stories and it makes the story quite complex whereby everyone has their ulterior motives, and some were being manipulated to do things out of their will. Therefore, like I mentioned earlier, everyone is a chess piece.

ACTING:
Cheng Yi plays Qi Yan, as a puppet emperor under the powerful eunuch. Qi Yan is planning to overturn the situation and try his best to fight the eunuch. However, he must be very careful and discreet so the plan can be successful. Here through his acting, you can feel his pain, his sorrow, his helplessness, his ambition, his determination, his affection, his worry, his distrust and trust, and all other emotions. Superb acting by Cheng Yi.

Zhang Yu Xi plays Ruo Yu, a sword bearer protector of the emperor. Her character is building up from immature, weak, childish, fun loving, happy, optimistic person to more reserved, strong, and trusting the emperor and giving her full loyalty to him. During the show you can see and feel her transformation.

Other actors and actress also giving their best performance and able to depict the character very well.

OTHERS
The costume and sets are also quite impressive. Not overly done.

So, after long planning, fighting, and struggling to break from the powerful eunuch – you would expect a happier ending of this drama. But through out the story you kind of able to predict the ending because Qi Yan get stab multiple times in the chest so this impact his health for sure.

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Complicated XianXia with good CGI, good story but dragging and too long winded

I have quite high expectation on this drama. I love Xu Kai and he performs very well in this drama and can bring the character well. ZDY also performs very well, can depict the innocence of a low power, playful goddess. She can portray the emotions very well through out the story. Playful, naughty, desperate, in love, longing, sadness of separation, all emotions can be seen on her acting.

The CGI on this drama is also quite impressive considering this is a TV series with multiple episodes. I can imagine the creative and illustrator team working on bringing the CGI to live, it must be a tremendous effort to make it flawless.

Now my opinion about the story. The first 15 episodes can make me feel engage to this drama and keep wanting to go to the next episodes to see on how the relationship between ML and FL builds up. However, I was expecting more romance building up, but I don’t feel that I am getting it.

After that, I feel like the story started to be drifted and dragged to side stories of the supporting roles. Starting episode 16 onwards, ma patient ran out and started to be skipping some scenes, pressing fast forward. All because I was eager to see what will happen next between Xu Kai and ZDY. Are they going to be together? When they got separated will they be reconciled and how is the process of reconciliation?

Total of 49 episodes are quite too much for me, the pace is a bit slow and too many side stories. By fast forwarding some scenes, I didn’t lose much of the main story.

So in conclusion, if you are patient enough then you will love it. But is you are too anxious to see what will happen next (like me), then it kind of too slow pace. I am not saying it is boring but skipping scenes will help and may not lose the essence of the story.

But I guess it is fair to say that the story involves more than 60 thousand years lifespan so having a 49 episodes series is understandable ?

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Good social and cultural portrayal in that era!

This is one of my favorite costume drama

I am excited with the pairing of Wallace Chung and Seven Tan. I remember Wallace Chung played in ‘General and I’ with Angelababy, where Seven Tan, I saw her in ‘Go Ahead’. Both actors, in my opinion are very strong character where both can play a “heavy” role and consistent in their act.

The drama is set during Ming Dynasty, which is around mid-1300 to 1600. It is clearly depicted in the drama whereby to gain more power and influence, and in the end wealth and welfare; marriage alliance is common. Parents will send off their daughter to a more prominent family to increase prestige disregarding the love nor happiness or compatibility between the couple. Even if it is only to become concubine, the ties between family can be created for symbiotic benefit between families. That tie is more important even socially known that concubine is a lower status compared to legitimate wife. At that time, it is believed that love and affection can be build up after the marriage because the wife will serve the husband no matter what.

Government Officials also use marriage alliance to gain power and to help each other to gain more influence in front of the monarch. Once help is sent, it is bound as debt that needs to be repaid and sometime marrying the daughter is one form of paying debt or showing gratitude. Forming alliance and creating clique amongst officials are important to garner influence and can be used in determining the policy of the monarch. It is also used to gain favour from the monarch. Once favour is there, trust is built up from the monarch that leads to wealth from reward and favouritism.

And this is what happened between Xu Ling Yi and Shi Yi.

Wallace Chung plays as Xu Ling Yi, a General who faithfully serve the country. Xu Ling Yi is also the head of Xu family and become the patriarch of the family replacing his deceased father. He has a tough life, already joining army and battle since young then loss his father and he has to step up and heading the Xu family. Because of the tough youth – he become reserved and closed person. He needs to be meticulous and careful in every action not to jeopardising his family well being and he also needs to maintain the harmony in his family between his mother, siblings, in-laws, wife, and concubine. All of these make his character difficult to open his heart and tend to suppress his feeling and affection.

Seven Tan plays as Luo Shi Yi Niang, she is a progressive woman who wants to live a carefree life not to bound with complicated and restrained gender bias, social norm. She wants to pursue her own happiness and destiny. Despite of her low status as concubine daughter, Shi Yi Niang is smart, assertive and aspire to become a more independent woman who can earn her own money, able to work, able to do things that she loves to do, just and righteous, all of which are seen as quite rebellious, un-ethic, breakthrough for a woman in that era.

The story revolves around the relationship between Shi Yi family and Xu Ling Yi family. It tells on how Shi Yi is arranged to marry Xu family in replacement of her sister who already the wife of the General Xu Ling Yi but died due to illness. To maintain the tie between two family, Shi Yi is then arranged to marry the General as his lawful wife.

Because marriage alliance is very important, the road to become the lawful wife is not easy. Many Noble lady also seeking the marriage, even as the concubine. This situation makes arrangement become a battlefield – fight to earn right to marry the General become fierce. Conflict occurs through scheming and plotting. Once married, within the family conflict also arise amongst the wife as the patron and fellow concubine to gain favour from the General as the Master of the Family. This is because having heir is very important to boost the status and favouritism from the family. So, again it is the fight and battle through deception, scheming and plotting to eliminate one and another.

Shi Yi as a progressive woman for sure facing difficult time to accept the marriage arrangement. She even planned to escape with her birth mother, with the help of her friend – a successful merchant named Lin Shi Xian. But tragedy happened where Shi Yi loss her mother while attempting to escape. The event devastates Shi Yi, moreover the killer of her mother is unknown. She then determined to investigate.

Shi Yi has suspicion towards the General and his family in relationship to her mother’s death. She believes by entering the Xu family mansion, she can investigate more to know who killed her mother. Therefore, she finally agrees to marry to the General but since she has some suspicion, she cannot give her heart to the General. Moreover, she finds Lin Shi Xian as friendly and more understood her.

You may guess, the relationship between Shi Yi and the General is cold. But Shi Yi took high responsibility in managing the house of Xu. She experiences many trials, and she endures them all. Meanwhile, the Xu Ling Yi started to admire and respect his wife’s smartness, perseverance, responsibility, aspiration, etc. He started to trust her more and more, defend her, protect her and affection starts in his heart.

Shi Yi respects her husband – as per social norm and etiquette required. However, due to the misunderstanding and unsolved murder case of her mother, Shi Yi’s heart is still heavy to accept Xu Ling Yi. It took a while for Shi Yi to start trusting her husband, care for him, having affection and finally devoted to him.

It is a long journey for both and the way the story is written and told are flowing nicely. Full of deception, scheming and plotting to gain attention, favouritism, eliminating competitor, etc.

Following the story, you will see on how their relationship build up. They are bumpy but it is very nice seeing how each of them grows their affection. This is what makes the drama worth to watch. But, to warn you, you need to have patience in watching this drama to get the whole story.

The acting is also good. Both Wallace Chung and Seven Tan performs very well in this drama. Seeing both acting, you can feel their emotion, truly reflected in their eyes, gestures, body language. The set and costume also fit and just right. Not to extravagant and looks real. This drama can make you believe on the social cultural situation during the Ming Dynasty. The General is also more human, not a God of War. He can be sad, injured, worry some and not act as superhero. He is just a man trying to protect her family.

It is really recommended to watch. Good story, good acting, good music. It is one of my favorite costume drama.

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Beautiful (Unspoken) Love Story!

Bai Lu and Allen Ren cast are perfect for this drama. Both perform very well in their character. This drama will bring you to an emotional rollercoaster.

The plot is not that complex. It tells a story a young daughter -Shi Yi- of prominent imperial advisor who suffer of aphasia (inability to speak) due to psychological trauma because her father was sent away due to allegation of conspiracy to the royal family. She was sent to a faraway country to become a Prince disciple at her young age. The prince is a famous general who defend the border for many years and suppress rebel anywhere in the kingdom without any single defeat. The prince, despite of being a royal family make an oath not to marry and have children to gain trust from the emperor and to proof that he will not usurp for the throne. He will do whatever it takes to support the emperor though.

So the life of an aphasia girl sent to faraway land living in the Prince mansion as disciple started. Begin with awkwardness between the two, then admiration, devotion, affection then a very-very deep affection. The relationship is able to lift Shi Yi's trauma and she can speak again.

Complication arises when Shi Yi is arranged to be married with the crown prince.

Although the “three words” are never spoken but you their relationship is very strong. Both are restrained by the oath of the price and by the etiquette of master – disciple relationship. They manifested their love in building a temple called Azure Dragon Temple.

The acting of both leads is very good describing the character very well. Chemistry between Bai Lu and Allen Ren are built up very strongly, you can see it from their eyes.

It is an unspoken love, so the expression of affection, happiness, sorrow, and painful feelings are clearly shown by the actors. Superb!

Those who have soft heart, prepare box of Kleenex because you will be carried away by the story and the acting where you will feel their love and their pain.

Raised my hat for the writer of this story to create a such beautiful love story. High appreciation to the actors and actresses, director, cinematographer, music arranger, producer, for producing this good drama.

Can’t wait to watch the sequel!

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Just Entertaining, that’s all. Don’t take it too seriously

I always appreciate all the production team, crew and cast members of TV series – they worked hard trying to bring good show to the audience. Sometimes they are successful, sometimes not so. But, they’ve worked hard.

Yes, I enjoy watching this drama from the entertainment side. Simple story, short only 24 episodes, good actor Simon Gong which I saw him on Word of Honor and Flavor It’s Yours. Cute Zhang Hui Wen which I saw her in Love a Live Time, Nirvana in Fire 2 and Legend of Fei.

As mentioned earlier, the story is straight forward, that is the life of Firefighter Rescue Unit and the life of their counterpart, that is the doctors and nurses at the emergency hospital. Definitely both sides would intersect and cooperate in the rescue attempt and there will be some interaction amongst them.

This drama involves some rescuing action, whether it is multiple car accident, suicide attempt, raging fire, collapsed building, earthquake disaster, you name it and they got it all. They tried their best to create all the scene as real as possible. Some are good some are not. The scenes involving fire are quite good. While scenes of collapsing building, rumbles, are seen clearly as staged.

Some rescue attempt may seem unrealistic like immediately moving patient without neck support. So those rescue detail may be missing which you may not see in western medical/emergency series.
I praise the performance of Simon Gong who played as Huo Yan. He can bring the character to life with good acting. He can be as firm as a rock, he can be very calm and assessing the situation and make good decision, he can also be quick and decisive when the opportunity occurs, he can also be humorous and childish, he can also looked so worried and vulnerable. So, thumbs up for Simon Gong for his act.

Zhang Hui Wen plays as Yan Lan, a resident doctor. She is cute, fun and beautiful, full of love from parents and being well pampered. She has a huge dream but kind of insecure. Sometimes she can be tough especially in rescuing people and she is too fragile when it comes to saving herself. Therefore when she met Huo Yan character, immediately she felt comfort even when they met she only heard his calming voice.

The chemistry between both actors are good where it can show the sparks in their eyes when they interact.

In terms of the flow of the story, I must admit that some part seems to be skipped. How the relationship between Huo Yan and Yan Lan builds up in the early stages are not clearly depicted. This is either the flaw on script writing or the flaw on editing so some scene maybe missing.

I am amused by this type of story where it show courage, dedication and love to the motherland. Looks like a propaganda for the motherland but who cares, they build into the story very well.

So despite of some flaw here and there, if you are looking for just an entertaining show, this series is sufficient. But if you are a detailed person who are troubled seeing some jumps here and there, looking for a more logic story flow, then you may find it irritating.

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If I watched this series not long after its released, I would be so thrilled by the story and mesmerized by beautiful Zhao Li Ying. She is truly the Goddess of C-Drama.
Taking the set during Second Sino Japanese war where Japanese was occupying China, the story took place in bustling city of Shanghai. The intense spy war between the Nationalist and the Japanese intelligent services and to add to the complication, the involvement of the spy from the Communist China.
The story was interesting on how one can turn upside down due to a tragedy and change one's course of life during the war period. The story is about a female genius who has good observation ability from smell, hearing, photographic memory, ability to analyze thing, etc. She accidentally encounter the intelligence world and dragged down in this spy battle. With her ability she can navigate throughout the process and become heroine but it come with a great prize of loosing people around her.
The production was really trying to depict the Shanghai era during that period of time. Beautiful costume design, good action, suspense and thrill, deception, betrayal, you name it and they have it.
So, I raised my hat to this drama and production team, their cast, etc. Overall it is a good drama in that year.

However, I watched this drama just recently after I finished watching kind of similar theme drama which released this year (The Rebel - 2021) and I feel Rookie Agent Rouge (RAR) becomes obsolete. The spying technique were kind of doubtful. I am not sure whether the listening device were already invented in that timeframe. The wardrobe worn by the FL were too delicate and the design was too modern looking with lots of minis and sleeveless. I am not sure this kind of wardrobe really exist during that time in Shanghai. I believe majority of outfit worn by female during that period was Cheongsam dress. Having said that, I feel that there were several loophole in the drama. In the end, I started to skipping scenes starting ep 20 and finally dropped this on ep 38 and jump straight to ep 45 with lots of skipping.

Compared to the newer series: The Rebel (2021), in my opinion this is kind of heaven and earth in many aspects. RAR is more like a tale while The Rebel is more realistic.

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Is it sweet puppy love? Don't think so...

After seeing several dramas with technological/gaming/IT background such as Falling into Your Smile, You are my glory, I have high expectation on this one. The title quite intriguing – a female programmer striving for the best in the male dominant world. However, I am disappointed with this drama. Just immature.

The plot was simple, a female programmer (Lu Li) idolize a male programmer (Yi Cheng) who are a successful entrepreneur in the field of computer programming. She falls in love with his idol since university, once graduated she pursues him by joining his company. But unfortunately, Yi Cheng’s company doesn’t accept female programmer therefore Lu Li needs to disguise becoming a male to get accepted in Yi Cheng’s company.

So the story evolves around that thing… the struggles of Lu Li to enter Yi Cheng’s company. Some twist and turn whereby, Yi Cheng’s mother required him to get married and somehow Yi Cheng and Lu Li end up in forced marriage – Yi Cheng treats this as contract marriage that will be over after a year. Another twist when Yi Cheng ex-girlfriend came back to his life, and so love rivalry started.

For some reason, I do not believe to the plot and story – it just too exaggerating, if only Lu Li and Yi Cheng can be honest with each other, accepting each other then you don’t have to have these long winded 30 episodes. If they are just being honest about their feeling – maybe in 12 episodes this drama is finished. No conflict here and there, no love rivalry, just plain simple and sweet romantic.

Side stories also not that interesting and important, the relationship of Yi Ming and Yi Cheng sister, Xiao Qi love story, Lu Li’s co-workers stories – they are actually irrelevant.

There are too many dishonesties between main cast, twist and turn that make it long winded.

The good thing is that Bambi Zhu (Lu Li) – good looking, nice and pretty so it is enjoyable to watch. And that is it, about the story – not so interested, so fast forward button is really helpful.

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The Dramatization of Cheongsam History

The overall story is interesting, talking about famous traditional Chinese dress called Cheongsam or in other term Qipao (long dress).
It’s taking the event of the fall of Qing Dynasty and the start of China revolution to become the republic. This also describes the rise of Chinese fashion during that era where women fight for a more equal right to men and has the right to “show” their body more (in a positive way) to express independency and a new era generation.

The production is good where you can see lots of beautiful dresses made. Kudos to the wardrobe team. The cinematography also good – they uses kind of sepia color in some part to emphasis on the condition of that particular era. Not using full white bright light.

The set also well-chosen the old Beijing part of town. The imperial palace. The old Shanghai area. In Beijing during late Qing dynasty era, the use of horse cart, rickshaw, and car blend in showing the transformation era from old to modern world. The depiction of Shanghai as fashion city in that era.

The plot was two family of tailors, The Su family of Triple Cutting House, Su Jing An and The Bai family of Sihe House, Bai He Nian. Both are well known tailor during late Qing Dynasty due to their workmanship and beautiful design embroidery. Both competing each other to become official imperial tailor.

Initially, Su Jing An and Bai He Nian came from the same grand master of tailor. The Bai should have been inherited the legendary Seamless Stitching technique for his grand master. Bai He Nian was sent by his master to out of town for business trip, unexpectedly before Bai return, the master passed away, with no chance of passing the technique to Bai. There is a manual book of Seamless Stitching technique and when the master passed away, it was given to Su Jing An without actually teaching it, just handing over the book. This event creates severe rivalry between the two for many years.

The Su family has 2 main disciples Lu Yuan Zhi and Jiang Mo Sheng. These two grew up together and create strong brotherly bond. Su also has a daughter, Yao Yao and the three of them grew up together, taking care each other and cares for each other. In the coming age of adulthood, the relationship become complex and starts the triangular relationship.

The Bai family is kind of unfortunate in terms of family linage and only has a god son as sole disciple of Bai He Nian.

Lu Yuan Zhi is a more carefree character but with strong principles to hold justice and an upright person. Jiang Mo Sheng is more reserved and calculating person with high ambition to become the best tailor. Both actually compliment each other and Su Jing An put more hope in Jiang Mo Sheng because he is seemed more talented while Lu Yuan Zhi character which is more playful is never been taught how to make dress. Yuan Zhi secretly learn from Mo Sheng. But with his natural talent, open minded, carefree, intelligence, full of ideas, he is actually a better tailor.

The rivalry between two person, Su Jing An and Bai He Nian spreads through out the family as well between Lu Yuan Zhi/Jiang Mo Sheng and The Bai’s god son. In one instance these disciples involved in street brawl where Bai’s god son unexpectedly died. With rage, Bai He Nian want to use this event to take down Su Jing An and his Triple Cutting House by putting Yuan Zhi in jail and demand a life for a life payback.

To save Yuan Zhi, Mo Sheng agreed to become Bai’s god son to replace his late god son.

Since this event the rivalry now not only between Su Jing An and Bai He Nian but also between Yuan Zhi and Mo Sheng, the so called brothers, forcedly become opponent and rivals.

And the story developed and revolve around this brotherhood rivalry.

The first part of this drama talks about the late Qing dynasty and how the two tailor houses fight each other to gain favor from the imperial court, i.e., the Empress Dowager. In this part the story is very interesting on how both families strive their best to create ultimate wardrobe to pleases the Empress Dowager within the limitation of palace rules and taboos. This is when Yuan Zhi meets with love of his life, princess Kang Ning. They create bond and start helping each other and then falls in love. But along the way, they face lots of hurdles and challenges.

Second part is when Yuan Zhi was running away to Shanghai due to failed attempt in helping Kang Ning run away from her forced marriage. Here Yuan Zhi struggles to gain footing in the tailoring industry in Shanghai to become a renown Cheongsam tailor.

Third part is when Yuan Zhi back to Beijing to reopen Triple Cutting House and to find Kang Ning and save her from Opium addiction.

Last part is when Japan trade commission trying to rub on brotherly rivalry as their way too dominate the tailor and clothing business in China. In this part, conflicts between Yuan Zhi and Mo Sheng is inevitable, where Yuan Zhi is anti-Japan while Mo Sheng works together with Japan.

First part is very good and interesting. Second part starts to become long winded. Third part is even worse and bit boring because the pace is slowing down. Last part starts peaking up again.

Personally, I don’t really like Yuan Zhi character – though he is smart and lots of ideas, having principals, upright and hold justice, he rarely think of the consequences of his action that always causing him or his family trouble that needs to be resolved by sacrificing others. All the conflict in this drama started with Yuan Zhi challenging Bai’s god son and have street brawl which ends up being used by Bai He Nian to crush Su family. If that didn’t happen, we don’t have this drama. That single event creates this 40-episode drama.

To my surprise, I personally admire Bai He Nian character. Despite of being a villain between Su and Bai rivalry, Bai He Nian is actually man of principle and fight for his right. His hatred toward Su Jing An is understandable, his emotion to crush and destroy Su’s Triple Cutting House is justifiable. He took Mo Shen as god son and stick to his decision, love him, nurture him, give him confidence to compete with Yuan Zhi, inherit him the Sihe House and strive to make Sihe House flourish. He burry his hatches once he has fulfill his wish in crushing Su Jing An and not dragging the hatred towards Jing An wife and daughter. He rejects Japan clothing and loyal to his Chinese heritage. Really awesome character.

The chemistry between Yuan Zhi and Kang Ning also not developed well. In the first part of the drama where they interact quite often – it is just a transactional relationship. He helped her, she helped him. Even when the romance between them developed, it is not clear when it is developed and progressing. Seems like after several interaction then Yuan Zhi madly in love with her.

So overall it starts good but then become a bit dull and boring. You just want to skip and find out what next and what will be the ending. If you patient enough, you press fast forward. If not then it’s okay to skip some episodes just to find out about the ending.

The side stories, although related to the main story – they are just adding some complication and make the drama longer.

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Perseverance Prevail!

I was intrigue when looking Steven Zhang starring this drama. I watched him in other dramas: Go Ahead and The Day of Becoming You where I praised him on his acting capabilities. These was my motivation watching this drama, because of Steven Zhang.

I am now praising him again on this drama with his superb performance and acting. He really able to portray the character very well from a street child and just a mere shop assistant to a successful banker!

I don’t really understand the banking industry in overall, merely the situation during China republican era, but I still enjoy watching the drama. What hooked me the most is the relationship between Cheng Yi Zhi played by Steven Zhang and Wu Li Zi, played by Elvira Cai.

Their relationship was a roller coaster of emotion, sometimes cold, sometimes sweet, and you didn’t realize on how deep your love is until you get separated.

My heart sank when they separated in the mid of the drama – really unbearable but I still have hope that it will reverse and this what make me stay on the drama, hoping to see a good ending for both of them.

For me, it is a good drama, a good story to watch. Good acting by Steven Zhang and Elvira Cai, good chemistry between the two. Superb acting.

The story flows nicely from one episode to the next one. Once you finish one episode, you immediately want to watch the next one, want to know what will happened next. Problems occur in each episode and how you want to see how the problem is solved.

The set was quite interesting, recreating Shanghai in the republican era. The use of old car, rickshaw, old telephone they are built nicely.

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Simply Sweet! ❤❤❤???

After watching several dramas with quite heavy theme (plotting, scheming, deception, etc.), I was looking for a lighter, fun, romantic theme and found this one.

This drama is about friendship, family, seeking of true love, true self, and seeking of happiness. It is light, romantic, happy, a bit of sadness, and sweet. There are one main story, i.e. Zeng Li's story and two more stories about her best friends in seeking a perfect love and happiness. All stories blend well forming this 22 episodes drama.

Dentist Ai Jing Chu who is known as the most handsome in the university where he teaches there, and the hospital where he works. He is smart, diligent, kind, but a bit reserved and lack of social life due to his childhood past. He met with university librarian Zeng Li.

Zeng Li comes from a complicated family, when she grows up her family struggles economically and her parents quarrel and fight all the time impacting her childhood and school life. Eventually her parents got divorced and her mother re-married to have better security to support her. Even her mother remarried 3 times just to ensure that she can support her.

With her mother past experienced, her mother pushed her to go on multiple blind date to find good husband for Zeng Li. With several unsuccessful attempt, her mother came to conclusion that Zeng Li needs to align her teet so she may look more attractive. She forced her to go to the dentist. At the same time, Zeng Li misunderstood Ai Jing Chu as heartless playboy because she saw Ai Jing Chu in the process of breaking up with her friend.

When her mother made dentist appointment, Zeng Li tries her best to avoid being Ai Jing Chu patient. But faith played her, and at the end Zeng Li became Ai Jing Chu patient.

So, interaction begin between the two of them. In several circumstances they meet and helping one and another. Ai Jing Chu start opening her heart and so does Zeng Li. But there are still some obstacles in Zeng Li’s heart.

Besides as a librarian and coffee shop owner, Zeng Li is also a novel writer – she writes novel anonymously using Carol as her pseudo name. The novel is actually telling her childhood story and struggle, and her fondness of her childhood sweetheart who left her to study and work abroad.

While her relationship with Ai Jing Chu grows, she is still not sure on her feeling for him. Ai Jing Chu likes her but having difficulties in expressing his affection into confession, and Zeng Li who still unable to forget her childhood sweetheart.

The main story itself is interesting, that is the relationship between Zeng Li and Ai Jing Chu. Besides that, the side stories are also good. The side stories tell about Zeng Li’s two best friend love story. One is Ma Yi Yi the celebgram and the second one is Wu Yin, an ER physician.

So all three love stories are bending in quite nicely in the series. They are complimenting each other in showing how these besties are looking for a true love and happiness.

The way the story was told is flowing nicely. They are light and real. Not too exaggerating with some light comical element so it is very fun to watch.

It supposed to be rom-com so do not expect to have excellent acting – they are okay and adequate for a rom-com drama.

Just enjoy the story line and the sweetness of love.

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The Painful Reality of War

I just finished watching The Rebel (https://mydramalist.com/55281-the-rebel) and got hooked up with the China Post Imperialism Historical War Story and then I found this series “Battle of Changsha” (2014). It casts Yang Zi and Wallace Huo.

I googled Battle of Changsha to know more about its history. There are 4 major battles in Changsha where China soldier defending the city and repelling Japanese army. The story sets during the Second Sino-Japanese ware between 1937-1945 in Changsha.

The drama tells a story of Hu Xiang Xiang played by Yang Zi, a young high school student with her twin brother Hu Xioman and their extended 4 generations of Hu family with lots of family members during the Second Sino-Japanese war between 1937-1945 in one of the China’s foothold city Changsha. Xiang Xiang met with Gu Qing Ming played by Wallace Huo, a soldier wannabe who aspire to defend his country and to fight battle in the frontline but objected by his Gu family due to his status from prominent influential family background and as a single heir of this family. His father is afraid that their Gu Family line will stop if Gu Qing Ming killed in war.

They both met in an awkward situation and creates misunderstanding between both due to different family status and point of views. But somehow, their path keep intertwined where Gu Qing Ming always comes to the rescue of this young naïve Xiang Xiang. During the story, they manage to put aside their differences and start having affection one to another which escalates to a more serious relationship.

This drama not purely a romantic drama, it is more a family drama. The story revolves on the Hu family with so many members and each has their own story which blend in to make the Hu family as the center of the story in the whole drama. Each member has its own story to tell, has its own pain and sorrow, has its own cheer and laughter.

When watching the series, to me it was flawless for a TV series: from the storyline, the setting, the war scene, special effects, acting, the costume, props, etc. It was really engaging to watch because all of it looks so real. I really like when it combined a documentary film then transform it to the drama scene. The transition is superb that make this story looks even more realistic.

It was so real so you will be carried away into the story and want to know what will happen next. From the historical standpoint, you will be intrigued to at least want to know more about the real story/history behind it.

It was so real that you will feel the fear of war, that war can turn your feeling upside down, the pain of loosing someone, how your family is torn apart due to war. So real that you can feel the heroism, the patriotism, and the eagerness to repel invaders.

You will be shown on how war can bring you from a naïve 16–17-year kids and forced them to grow up beyond their age. They are just children, who are playful, not thinking of any danger, speaks up their mind due to having good education and rank at school. They have never experience war before so they still don't understand the fear of it. Imagine yourself in that age in that era. The war changes them, when the blood spills in front of your face it definitely changed your mindset.

The story also tells you on relationship of each family member, how they view each other, how they want to protect each other, how they care each other to survive during this period.

The story shows you the painful reality of war in a realistic way.

In conclusion, I have no regret spending hour of watching these 32 episodes drama.

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SUPERB Acting by both Liang Jie and Steven Zhang

I am fascinated by Liang Jie performance in ‘Time Flies and You are Here’ where to me her performance is very good, and I started to look for her other series and came across this one: ‘The Day of Becoming You’.

In ‘The Day of Becoming You’, Liang Jie is pairing up with Steven Zhan where I remember seeing him in ‘Go Ahead’.

‘The Day of Becoming You’ tells a story of entertainment reporter – Yu Sheng Sheng (Liang Jie) – and famous boyband star – Jiang Yi (Steven Zhang). Under certain circumstances they switch bodies.

You may predict that this will be typical boring body switching stories… Well YOU ARE WRONG! Although the broad idea of body switching may not new or original but the way the story goes and how the script is built are quite surprising to me.

The most that I appreciate on this series is the ACTING from both main leads. They can bring the character very well and make the character alive. The chemistry between them is also mesmerizing. Even when they switch bodies, Yu Sheng Shen becomes Jiang Yi and Jiang Yi becomes Yu Sheng Sheng, their acting is fascinating.

Yu Sheng Sheng as female reporter, lively, energetic, full of emotion and once swapped as Jiang Yi, she becomes cold, emotionless, a bit manly despite of in Yu Sheng Sheng body.

On the other hand Jiang Yi a cold, reserved and hide his emotion person when he swapped as Yu Sheng Sheng in Jiang Yi’s body, he becomes so girly, lively, full of emotion depicting Yu Sheng Sheng character very well.

So, KUDOS to both actors for bringing good acting and bring lots of fun, sweet, romance and affection, full of emotion moments in the series.

Another thing that is also good in this series, that will be the soundtrack. Beautiful song in this series: My Soul, I See You, Crush On, Whisperer. The way they use the soundtrack to emphasize certain scene is superb and spot on, brings more emotions on that scene.

My personal preference is “I See You”. Listening to this song is really moving and brings out a lot of emotion, deep love, despair, longing feelings… really a good song.

So, this is a must see series if you love to watch GOOD ACTING, sweet romantic chemistry of the actors.

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