The first 9 episodes are worthy of a 10!

The first 9 episodes are worthy of a 10! However, starting with episode 10, the story becomes unrealistic and starts to drag.

What I do like, is the first 9 episodes of this drama; the female lead is not a damsel in distress, but is rather quick-witted, outgoing, and smart. I like the chemistry between the male lead and female lead characters. I also, think the supporting actors and actresses did an outstanding job acting.

I'm currently watching episode 11 (the 50 minute mark), and I'm debating whether or not, I want to continue to watch this drama. What were the writers thinking, when they wrote episode 11?

Citeste mai mult

It had the potential to be a 10 out of 10, but...

I rate the first 39 episodes a 10/10, episodes 40-48 a 8.5/10, and episodes 49-58 a 7.5/10! I am not yet done watching all 70 episodes. I hope episodes 59-70 are better than 40-58.

I'm back, and episodes 59-70 are much better than the previous episodes. However, after episode 58, I dislike the female lead character. To understand the reason why, continue reading this review. BTW, I give episodes 59-70 a rating of 9/10. The beginning and end of this drama was very good, but the middle had a lot of bad writing. Thus, overall, I rate this drama a 9/10.

This drama is fantastic; the sets are beautiful, and is well produced. However, there are flaws in the writing. It had the potential to be a 10 out of 10 but the female lead character (not the actress, but the character) is not consistent. Yes, in real life we respond to situations differently, but even within the way that we respond to situations there will be a level of consistency. For example, the female lead is known to be brave and daring, but repeatedly said that her life is valuable to her. In episode 47, she drinks from a cup that is contaminated with the plague just because Prince of Chu is contaminated. Love shouldn't make you stupid, but wise. The intent behind the character doing this was to show how she wanted to help the doctor find a cure for Prince of Chu because he was really sick. However, the writers could have written a better storyline & solution. Perhaps, it would have been better for both of them to get sick at the same time, and the writers could have used 3 episodes to highlight the romance between the two while both leads presumed they would be dying, so they finally decide to open up to one another. Around episode 47 is when I start to lose interest in this drama. For me it's very hard to watch a 70 episode drama and not lose interest before episode 50. The romance between the female and male lead finally is shown after episode 40, but there isn't a conversation or moment that makes it make sense to us. Out of the blue, they begin to be touchy-feely. Yes, we know that they had feelings for one another but both characters swept it under the rug; both characters spent 39 episodes liking one another but not showing it, and then boom, the next episode they are touchy feely, and we're supposed to buy into the romance? We needed a better transition.

All the actors did a great job, but the male lead acted his butt off (meaning he did extremely well). In terms of favorite character, I love his character the most. The least favorite character was the female lead younger brother, who acted like he was 12. I believe the writers could have changed his character to be a strong character who act impulsive, as opposed to someone who acts like he is 12, and is totally clueless. It could have been an opportunity to use this character for a stronger storyline. The female and male lead actors are very attractive btw. I really like the fact that both leads look like adults, and not like they are in middle/high school.

I am not sure if I am going to drop this drama or keep watching it, but I am curious to know how it will end.

Edited after the review above:
I am glad that someone commented on my review and encouraged me to continue to watch it. I am on episode 70, and the storyline gets a lot better after episode 48, but then between episodes 57-59 it takes another turn in the wrong direction. The female lead is so shameless, as she disrespects King Helian, the same king who was willing to take her in, in order to save her life. We get that you love the Prince of Chu but like dang, why be ruthless to King Helian who is willing to accept you as you are (in love with someone else). The script writer should have written this better because now I am starting to like the female lead character less and less. Especially because of her selfishness in episode 66 (30 minute-35 minute mark). How can anyone like her character anymore? So she used a king ( King Helian) to protect her and the people around her, but then she kept going back and forth to the one that she really love, not caring at all about how she involved another person into her drama. If the female lead really had integrity, she should have offered to be killed, rather than to hurt someone else, in order to save herself and try to pursue love with the person she really love. This goes back to what I said at the beginning of this review... "It had the potential to be a 10 out of 10 but the female lead character (not the actress, but the character) is not consistent. " The ending made up for the middle! I am glad that this drama ended the way that it did. The new emperor basically becomes like his father, the old emperor... Realistically, there's no way that the female lead would have wanted to be the new emperor's, empress, with everything that happened between her family and his family. I would never want to marry someone whose immediate family killed my mother, and brothers. It wouldn't have been the same romance and love as it was in the beginning because too much happened for it to go back there.

BTW, one of the directors is an actor who plays the female lead older brother (Liu Hai Bo).

Citeste mai mult

Wait, a nude scene...in a C-drama?

This is first historical C-drama that I watched in which there were nude scenes, and I was shocked. It totally caught me by surprise lol. Hu Bing who played Tian Hui Di is a hottie. He looks like he could be brothers with Ethan from Legend of Fu Yao.

The storyline is actually really good, although it's very similar to most Chinese historical dramas that I've watched.

What I did not like is the Ou Yang Ning Jing character (not the actress). She bullied, harassed and forced herself upon the character Chu Xi Feng, although he told her several times that he wasn't interested in her. No means no! This drama could have def. done without their story. Additionally, I find the cold guy acting (meaning the acting skills of the male leads when they are supposed to be aloof and cold) in C & K-dramas very strange. The director could have kept the cold guy persona, but had the male lead character Long Fei Ye act cold through his words and actions, and not via hs facial expression which looks like he just seen a ghost. Also, I just hate in C-dramas how after a couple gets married they are basically asexual, c'mon now! I'm not saying that they should be having sex in every scene or even show sex scenes, but it would be nice to show the married couples in bed together, thus, alluding that they've been intimate.

I will give the first 14 episodes a rating of an 8.5. I will update this review after I finish watching the whole drama.

Citeste mai mult

Not your typical C-Drama romcom, and that's a great thing!

Chinese romcoms are moving away from having adult female characters (ages 30+) act cutesy and clueless, and I am glad. Finally, we are seeing female lead characters who are normal and real. I was so surprised by the female lead character because not only did the actress do a fantastic job, but the character is someone that women between the ages of 28-40 can relate to. I was also surprised by the interaction that she had with her female coworkers about their job, while they were inside of the restroom at the bar/restaurant. The reason I was surprised is because they were speaking up about the conflict that many women face around the world, when working at a corporate job or in tech; sexism in the workplace is real and horrible.

Side note: I'd date a man who is 6 years younger than me, as long as he is not in his 20's. What I like about the male lead character is that although he is young, he is confident, and isn't interested in living for the moment as most male 20 year olds do nowadays. Also, the actor is cute, and I like his haircut.

Citeste mai mult

The male lead is hot, but...

I did not like this drama because of the storyline. I felt it was a bit too cruel, so I dropped it after watching about 6 or 7 episodes. However, the acting was on point, the production was great, and even the script was pretty good. I just don't enjoy watching rich traumatized teens/young adults intentionally try to destroy someone else's life that did nothing to them.

Not my cup of tea...

Woo Do Hwan is FINE!!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.
This is like a more cruel version of the American movie, Cruel Intentions.

Citeste mai mult

Feminism - The Academy of Male Virtuousness

I hadn't finished watching this drama yet but what I LOVE about it thus far, is that it's not the usual toxic historical Chinese drama, in which the female lead is a damsel in distress that needs saving and the male lead is perfect and doesn't make mistakes. This drama reminds a little of Mr.Queen (a Korean historical drama that is a remake of Go Princess Go, a Chinese historical drama). The difference is the roles are reversed; the male lead is the stay at home husband who wakes up with amnesia, while the female lead is the business woman. Episode 3, at the 39 minute mark is my favorite. It's the scene at The Academy of Male Virtuousness.

Note: What could have made this drama better for me, is if the actors/characters were between the ages 25-35 and looked like it. I tend to stop watching dramas, if the characters look under 25 because I am in my 30's. I don't want see romance between high school aged characters lol.

I am so glad that C-dramas and K-dramas are moving away from toxic characters. I will update this review after I've finished watching all of the episodes.

Citeste mai mult

Yup, check it out!

At the time of my review, this drama is still airing. So, I cannot rate the whole drama but I can let you know whether or not I think this drama is worth the watch based upon the first episode. This drama is definitely worth the watch, although the storyline and tropes are pretty common in Korean romantic dramas.

What I really like about this drama thus far is the pacing. I am glad that episode 1 wasn't dragged out to 3 episodes. I hope that this drama continues with this pacing, and the female lead character is likable. Although she is a woman in love, she doesn't act cutesy and that's a plus for me!

Citeste mai mult

So-so, but was hoping for better!

When it comes to Chinese historical/period dramas I like to give my review 10 episodes at a time, because they tend to be 40+ episodes long, and I don't want to forget my thoughts about the drama when I finally reach to the last episode.

Review for episodes 1-10
•This drama had little to no character development in the first episode, and it didn't captivate me because the pacing was way too fast. When I watch historical/period dramas, if there's romance, I like for it to be realistic, and to also have a good ongoing development between both characters. I didn't know until almost episode 3 that in episode 1, the female lead character "fell in love at first sight," it was not obvious to me, it came off as bad writing/script.
•Originally, I did not like the dubbed voice for the female character in this drama, although it's the same dubbed voice that I've heard in a lot of other dramas. I think it could have something to do with the body movement of the female lead actress. IDK.
•I like the storyline, but thus far the execution is a bit sloppy and rushed.
•In episode 2 at the 30:00-33:00 minute mark the leads joke about rape. I'm not sure if I will continue after this episode.
•Towards the end of episode 2 I start to like the female lead character. If you reason that she's probably 15 years old, and not a modern day 15 year old but a 15 year old living during ancient times (w/o technology and social media), then you would understand her behavior. Additionally, there's an intentional playfulness/humor in this drama that eventually I caught onto, but I wish they made it more obvious because at first I just thought it was bad acting. For example episode 2 at the 40-43 minute mark. I nearly spit the oatmeal that I was eating, out of my mouth due to laughing so much LOL.

I DECIDED TO DROP THIS WHILE WATCHING EPISODE 7

Citeste mai mult

Sigh, from a Black American!

Season 1 and season 2 of Penthouse were good, but honestly, season 3 was not needed, and is silly. I dropped Penthouse Season 3, before episode 2 even aired. If you don't know by now, episode 2 is when the Penthouse writers show their racism by having an Asian American actor dress like a stereotypical Black American man. Note: the percentage of Black American men who dress like that is far less than Black American men who do not dress like that. FYI it's also important to mention that I don't see a problem dressing that way. The reason why Penthouse Season 3, episode 2 is problematic is because when Black Americans go anywhere, for example South Korea, Koreans think that it's okay to approach black people by using discriminatory slang, like yo-yo, gang-gang, that or they are afraid of black people, thinking we want to rob them. FYI, I noticed the subliminal racism in season 2; the Black American actors were thugs, while the White American actors were having fun in a bar or were businessmen. If you're interested in understanding systemic racism please click on the following link [https://youtu.be/FdrNuSw0yII].

The reason why I dropped this show after watching episode 1 in season 3, is because it was too unrealistic. I know that it's a fictional drama, but there has to be something that we can identify with. For example, in episode 1, Joo Dan Tae / Mr. Baek leaves jail and is transported to a hospital, he has heavy bleeding, and he makes 3 stops before going back to the hospital. One of the stops that he makes is pulling up to the house of the governor (or some political figure) in a tractor truck, while bleeding out. LIKE, SERIOUSLY? What made me decide to call it quits, was the last 5 minutes of episode 1 in season 3, when they push Cheon Seo Jin off of the cliff. So, Shim Soo Ryun becomes the same person, she spent the last 2 seasons trying to imprison.

Citeste mai mult

I am not sure why this drama is averaging a rating of a 9!

Before I get started with my review, it's important for me to mention that I typically don't like Chinese romcoms. I've tried to watch at least seven over the last 5 weeks, and in most cases I couldn't make it past episode 6. I fancy Chinese period and historical dramas. Chinese romcoms tend to be over the top with it's effects (e.g. slow motion) and unrealistic romantic love between the two leads. Personally, I like for there to be some realism even in fictional romcom dramas.

I think the reason why this romcom is receiving such a high-rating is because it's a feel-good drama, as opposed to a drama with true meaning behind the story. If you want to imagine that there's a perfect guy out there for you, watch this drama and it'll give you hope lol.

Regarding the acting, the female lead actress (not the character) seems to act the same way in this romcom as she did in her previous drama, The Imperial Corner (a period drama). I am starting to notice that the younger Chinese actress/actors don't have versatility when it comes to acting. In this romcom she wasn't very expressive, and she looked clueless; that type of acting worked in The Imperial Corner, but not in this drama.

Citeste mai mult

Kind of good, but kind of bad!

This historical drama had the potential to be really good based upon the storyline in the first 2 episodes, and the male lead character and acting. However, I decided to drop the drama after watching the first 6 episodes, and here's why:

#1. The acting is bad. The only 3 actors that I like is the male lead, the female lead prisoner friend, and the female lead father. Respectfully, I did not like the female lead acting.
#2. The crowned prince character (not the actor) is horrible. He mumbles, and is basically an illiterate prince. After he suffers to save his two brothers in episode 6, who btw, tried to overthrow his kingdom, would have killed him and his family, I knew that this drama just wasn't for me.
#3. The sword used by the 2nd and 3rd princes are made of wood. We can see the wood chipped from the wooden sword in episodes 5 and 6. I am sure that dramas are expensive to make. However, swords are one of the most important props in historical/war dramas. Perhaps, they could have used a dull silver plastic sword instead.

Citeste mai mult

Review for episode 1 - Is this drama worth the watch?

At the time of my review, this drama is still airing. So, I cannot rate the whole drama but I can let you know whether or not I think this drama is worth the watch based upon the first episode. I do think it's worth the watch but the storyline was totally different than what I expected it to be, based solely upon the title of the drama and the drama's profile image. From what I can gather, there are 3 stories going on within episode 1 (and probably the rest of the series), and I believe at some point in the drama we will see how the storyline intertwine. This drama includes the story of a rich family with a bratty daughter. A story of a middle class traditional family with a handsome son who is struggling (note this statement is not the case), and then another middle class family that is not as traditional, with a handsome son who has a nice job. The con thus far is the cutesy and naive type of behavior from the female lead character. In the first 3 episodes the female lead calls her fiance oppa at least 50 times, it's a bit annoying. I hope directors would stop portraying the cutesy/shy character trait for Korean women characters over the age of 21. Women don't have to act cutesy and shy, in order to be modest and respectable.

Side note: While it's a 120 episode drama, the episodes are only 30 minutes long, unlike most dramas which are 1 hr 15 mins long. So really this drama would have 45 episodes if each episode was 1 hr 15 mins.

UPDATE:
By episode 3, you will get a clearer picture of the storyline. I don't like the female lead character (not the actress) because they made her character clueless. I believe this drama should have had a more serious undertone, rather than a fluffy cute undertone. I was thinking this would be more like the drama The World of Married, but it's more like My Golden Life but in a not-so-good way. My original rating was a 8.5 but after episode 3 I dropped it down to a 8.0, and now after watching episode 4, I am dropping it down to a 7.5. By episode 5 it does get better.

I don't like weak female leads (see the definition below). Watching the female lead beg her husband to love her and their child, and to be with her and their baby at the beginning of episode 7 is not relatable to me. She has been in denial for the last 5 episodes, especially the last 2 episodes. Does she really expect things to go back to how they were, even if he decided to? For a woman being a single mother is one of the most scariest things that we can experience, but raising a child with an emotional abusive, cheating dad/husband should be just as scary. I would never want my child to grow up with a toxic parent. Sometimes being a single parent is a better option.

What makes a female character weak?
A weak female lead is someone who doesn't use wisdom, allows the male lead to ruin her life, while she sit idly by for the sake of love (leaving is a really great option, that female leads rarely choose to take up), and chooses the toxic male lead because they had chemistry at one point.

What makes a female character strong?
A strong female lead character is not necessarily someone who knows how to fight physically, but is a female character that
1. Uses wisdom most of the time (not all the time) - A lot of the female damsel in distress characters lack wisdom. They act on impulse, and make decisions that almost always lead them to depend on the male lead or second male lead for the whole drama.
2. Does not allow the male leads to ruin her life, while she sit idly by for the sake of "love," that really isn't love -Dramas tend portray a false image of love when it comes to romance. Love is not a woman taking abuse (verbal, emotional, or physical abuse) in order to be with a man. Almost always in dramas we see that the female lead is deceived, manipulated, or intimidated into a situation by the hands of the male lead. What's the female lead response? They either stick with the male lead through heartbreak and pain, or get back together with the male lead eventually. We often see the male leads choosing their family, revenge, or their title over the female lead, and or we see the male leads leading the female lead on a romantic chase, metaphorically speaking. The female lead in dramas while angered, end up being okay with being the last priority on the male lead's priority list.
3. Is free to choose who she love, even if it's the second lead and not the first - For goodness sakes, dramas will have people thinking that females love attractive toxic men, while hating the good guys who are caring and attractive.

So, yeah... I am dropping this. Unless I read that it gets better, I don't plan to pick this drama back up.

Citeste mai mult