Korean Drama : Hellbound

 

Year Released

2021

Genre

Dark fantasy

No. of Episodes

6 - running time of 50 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Yang Ik-jun, Park Jung-min, Won Jin-ah

Storyline

Jung Jin-soo (Yoo Ah-in), the founder of New Truth religious group, received a prophecy twenty years ago about his own death. He has been travelling around the world in search for similar cases. For those who had the same prophecies, they were burnt to death by three gigantic beasts which seemed to appear from another dimension. The beasts vanished once their tasks are completed.

Jin-soo makes use of these bizarre situations and spreads the words that only those who had sinned would received message from God on their death. Another group named Arrowhead targets those sinners and their families by beating everyone up. Lawyer Min Hye-jin (Kim Hyun-joo) happens to be involved in a 'demonstration' of a victim on live broadcast. She is being attacked by the Arrowheads as she doesn't truly believe all these absurd acts are of God's will.

Fast forward years later where Hye-jin heads an organisation named Sodo which helps victims by making up with excuses such as being chased by loan sharks before they 'disappear'. When suddenly a baby is being prophesied, New Truth struggles to cover their lies while Sodo tries to save the baby.

My View

Okay, the drama ends with a cliffhanger which I hope it really has a part two as I'm very interested to know what's next. This dark fantasy is kind of sick as it portrays the reality in human society. 

I nearly died when I saw the baby being prophesied and thought that the scripwritter must be a psychopath. Was cursing all the way!!

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Confession

Year Released

2019

Genre

Legal drama

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Jun-ho, Yoo Jae-myung, Nam Ki-ae, Shin Hyun-bin

Storyline

Choi Do-hyun (Lee Jun-ho) becomes a lawyer in order to help his father, Choi Pil-soo (Choi Kwang-il), who was being framed as a murderer. Detective Ki Chun-ho (Yoo Jae-myung) inadvertently caught Choi Pil-soo and put him in prison without proper investigation. He realises his mistake after he gets to know Do-hyun from one of the crimes he worked on.

Together with reporter Ha Yoo-ri (Shin Hyun-bin) and Madam Jin (Nam Ki-ae), the four unravel the actual truth that leads to conspiracy of the real power who can moves Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House).

My View

The plot flows smoothly throughout every episode with not much draggy scenes. The way how secrets are being uncovered work perfectly.

I was literally laughing out loud when the villians were being charged and appeared in court (in their prison uniform).

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Save Me 2

Year Released

2019

Genre

Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Uhm Tae-goo, Chun Ho-jin, Kim Young-min, Jo Jae-yoon

Storyline

Scam artist Choi Kyung-seok (Chun Ho-jin) disguises himself as Professor Choi from Hankook University in Seoul. He befriends Jung Byung-ryul (Sung Hyuk) from Wolchoori village and later introduces himself as Elder Choi.

Elder Choi helps the villagers in getting maximum compensation from government for their soon-to-be submerged village to make way for a new dam. In return, he gets permission to set up a church in Wolchoori.

Elder Choi directs multiple 'miracles' to the villagers and also turns pastor Sung Cheol-woo (Kim Young-min) into believing that he has healing hands and is son of the God. Once most of the villagers decide to join as church followers, Elder Choi shows them about the religious community, Garden of Eden.

Only Kim Min-cheol (Uhm Tae-goo) is not buying all of these 'sweet talks' and had already seen Choi Kyung-seok's true colours long ago.

My View

As compared to Save Me part one, part two is way better. I certainly did not expect the well played scams and think I would probably be fooled as well. 

For those who feel offended about why a certain religion has to be marked as a cult, don't be. All religions have good teaching and the only reason why they look bad is due to the wrongdoing of evil people.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Save Me

Year Released

2017

Genre

Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Ok Taec-yeon, Woo Do-hwan, Seo Yea-ji, Jo Sung-ha, Park Ji-young, Jo Jae-yoon

Stoyline

The plot revolves around Guseonwon, a church in Muji town where Spiritual Father Baek Jung-ki (Jo Sung-ha) spreads his beliefs to his followers. He has support from Apostle Jo (Jo Jae-yoon) and Apostle Kang (Park Ji-young).

Unknown to his believers, Spiritual Father is actually a former criminal charged for fraud. He has also been involved in sexual assaults with young girls, mostly are the children of his followers. Baek claims that in order for everyone to enter paradise, he needs to marries a Spriritual Mother.

Im Sang-mi (Seo Yea-ji) is the latest victim of Guseonwon and together with her friends Seok Dong-chul (Woo Do-hwan) & Han Sang-hwan (Ok Taec-yeon), they track down and uncover the truths behind this evil cult.

My View

Save Me is not too bad at first then after a while it starts to get a litte draggy. But the story goes back right on track after that but I think this thriller is not impactful enough. Good artistes there but the story is soso.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Backstreet Rookie

Year Released

2020

Genre

Melodrama

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Ji Chang-wook, Kim Yoo-jung

Storyline

Jung Saet-byul (Kim Yoo-jung) works as a night shift part-timer at Choi Dae-hyun's (Ji Chang-wook) convenience store. A series of misunderstandings lead Dae-hyun to believe that Saet-byul is a girl gangster.

After they get to know each other more, Dae-hyun eventually falls for Saet-byul's personality. 

My View

A light-hearted drama with exaggerating scenes since this is from a webtoon. Love the cute action part of Kim Yoo-jung apart from her usual adorable way.

Sincerely wish to see more action dramas from Ji Chang-wook. Melting Me Softly was meh and Backstreet Rookie is not too bad at least.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Haechi

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Jung Il-woo, Kwon Yul, Lee Kyung-young, Go Ah-ra, Park Hoon

Storyline

The journey of Prince Yeoning (Jung Il-woo) on how he becomes King Yeongjo of Joseon. Many a time, he impresses his subjects with his methods of ruling. Those who depise King Yeongjo at first eventually end up accepting and be loyal to him.

My View

A very different story of King Yeongjo as compared to The Royal Gambler. Though it looks like the same old political struggle plot, but Haechi kind of nailed it. The suspense keeps me going and wanting to find out what is going to happen in the next episode.

I was skeptical to watch this drama as I don't really like Jung Il-woo. His Cinderella and the Four Knights is okay, but that Night Watchman's Journal is hilariously bad. I mean B.A.D. Guess the scriptwriter is just like I don't know how to write anymore so just F it man! Lol..

As for Kwon Yul, I'm not used to his good character role here. I mean he is so intimidating in Let's Fight, Ghost and Voice series. I still remember vividly about one of the scenes in Let's Fight, Ghost like it scared the hell out of me. Whenever I thought about it, my heart just skips a beat.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Mystic Pop-up Bar

Year Released

2020

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 68 minutes per episode

Starring

Hwang Jung-eum, Choi Won-young, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

In order to atone her sins in her past life, Wol Joo (Hwang Jung-eum) has to stay in human realm and comfort 100,000 humans &/or souls.

Together with her is Chef Gwi (Choi Won-young) who used to be in the police squad in hell. The newly recruited Han Kang-bae (Yook Sung-jae) who is able to make humans talk to him about their problems just by sense of touch.

The trio then offer a special wine which allow them to enter to individuals' dreams and help people settle their grudges.

My View

Plot is of similar concept to Hotel del Luna and it is certainly an interesting fantasy kind of drama. Teared quite a lot here and I wish to watch more of such light-hearted stories once in a while.

Stars

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Hidden Identity

Year Released

2015

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Bum, Park Sung-woong, Kim Tae-hoon, Yoon So-yi, Lee Won-jong, Lee Kyung-young, Im Hyun-sung

Storyline

An undercover police investigation team led by Jang Moo-won (Park Sung-woong) has been trying to track down a criminal name "Ghost" and his accomplices. 

My View

The scenarios planned out by the team are pretty good partiularly the one where Moo-won plays a part as Nam In-ho's (Kang Sung-jin) acquaintance. Action scenes are not too bad, like the ragged look of Kim Bum.

The only annoying part I find that when the team members react to some news, they always go "No way!". Their expression don't look that genuine I think.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Extracurricular

Year Released

2020

Genre

Teen

No. of Episodes 

10 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Dong-hee, Park Joo-hyun, Choi Min-soo

Storyline

Oh Ji-soo (Kim Dong-hee) may look like a nerdy student in school. But in actual fact, he works with his partner Lee Wang-cheol (Choi Min-soo) in escorting underage high school female students for special services.

If the ladies' get into trouble, they would ask for help by tapping their wristbands. Ji-soo then informs Wang-cheol to save the girls out of trouble and often ends up in a bad fight. The partners' way of communication is by phone and exchanges of monies via packages stored inside train station's locker.

Bae Gyu-ri (Park Joo-hyun) finds out Ji-soo's real identity and would like to be involved in his business as well.

My View

The first episode was kind of interesting as I thought it was some vigilante plot where a saviour is up to catch this psychopath.

After a while, the plot actually got too artistic for me. I just cannot continue watching and keep on fast forwarding each episode.

Rating

1/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : The Crowned Clown

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes per episode

Starring

Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, Le Se-young

Storyline

King Lee Hun (Yeo Jin-goo) who is not being loved by his father changes from a kind prince to a cold-blooded King after his father's death. Lee Hun orders to kill his own younger brother and is being haunted with nightmares. He seeks the help of drugs arranged by Left State Counciler, Shin Chi-soo (Kwon Hae-hyo).

Lee Hun requests Chief Royal Secretary, Lee Gyu (Kim Sang-kyung) to help him find a solution as his life is constantly being threatened in the palace. Gyu happens to run into a commoner Ha Seon who resembles exactly like the King.

When Lee Hun's condition worsens, Ha Seon takes over his place as the King.

My View

Not too bad a drama and the loyalty and trust between Ha Seon and Lee Gyu is quite admirable.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Catch the Ghost

Year Released

2019

Genre

Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Seon-ho, Moon Geun-young 

Storyline

Go Ji-suk (Kim Seon-ho) gives up his dream to become a detective due to his mother's dementia. He decides to be chief who handles minor crimes happening around train station. His new partner Yoo Ryung (Moon Geun-young), however, goes the extra mile to solve major crimes.

Ryung has another motive in joining the subway police, that is to investigate on her twin sister's (Yoo Jin) disappearance two years ago. Ryung suspects Jin might be the victim to subway serial killing which police has been unable to locate the murderer till date.

My View

Did not expect this drama to have such a great plot. I was suspecting everyone to be the serial killer and the ending really caught me off guard. The show is just so full of tears. Seldom rate a 5 for crime drama as most of the stories are pretty much the same.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Vagabond

Year Released

2019

Genre 

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time for 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Seung-gi, Bae Suzy

Storyline

Cha Dal-gun's (Lee Seung-gi) nephew Cha Hoon was abandoned in an orphanage by his mother after his father passed away. Dal-gun works as a stuntman to raise Hoon. Before Hoon is killed in an airplane crash, he sends Dal-gun a video file.

Just when Dal-gun is still grieving about Hoon, he spots a man similar to the one in Hoon's video file. Dal-gun then suspects that the plane crash is not an accident but a terrorist attack. He works with Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy), a NIS agent to track down those involved. 

Little did they know that the whole Korean government is entangled in this political conspiracy.

My View

When I heard everyone raving to have a season 2, I was under the impression that Vagabond must be so good. But oh well, the ending was a cliffhanger.

Quite an interesting drama which is different from Mad Dog, and I certainly hope for a part 2. A little weird seeing Shin Sung-rok playing the good guy here. He is quite a villian in My Love from the Star and semi-villian in The Last Empress. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Flower of Evil

Year Released

2020

Genre

Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won

Storyline

Do Hyun-Soo (Lee Joon-gi) is accused of being an accomplice to his dead serial killer father, Do Min-seok (Choi Byung-mo). After waking up from a car accident, he takes over the identity as Baek Hee-seung. 

Hee-seung marries detective Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won) and leads a happy life with their daugther Baek Eun-ha (Jung Seo-yeon). Hee-seung's life turns into a complete mess when Ji-won starts to suspect his real identity while re-investigating on the serial killing case involving Do Min-seok.

Review

A little twist here and there and I do pity the real killer's parents. They have to live with their son, going crazy trying to help him cover up his crimes. One touching part where Ji-won (in her mind) said that she is all Hyun-soo has all this time. 

Another one being fellow detective Choi Jae-seop (Choi Young-joon) who decides to let it slide when he is supposed to arrest Hyun-soo. Some crimes happen for a reason where the victims most likely deserve them.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Squid Game

Year Released

2021

Genre

Thriller

No. of Episodes 

9 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, Wi Ha-joon, Heo Sung-tae, Oh Young-soo

Storyline

For those people with bad debts, they are being offered a chance to win some money if they agreed to play games for a few days. Little did they know that the price to pay would be their lives should they be eliminated in the game.

My View

An extremely well-written plot that keep me glued to each episode and I completed the drama in a day. That's one good thing about Netflix series as they are short and sweet.

Found this site of Squid Game's spoilers which is quite mind-blowing actually. There are already tons of SQ's games on Roblox and one of them being Red Light Green Light which I enjoyed playing it.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: The Good Detective

Year Released

2020

Genre

Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Son Hyun-joo, Jang Seung-jo, Oh Jung-se, Lee Elijah

Storyline

The plot revolves around detective Kang Do-chang (Son Hyun-joo) who tries to correct his wrong when he arrested an innocent man Lee Dae-chul (Jo Jae-yoon) accused to have rape and killed a high schooler. 

My View

Quite an okay detective crime kind of drama. Some touching parts about Kang Do-chang's younger sister and his nephew. Also Lee Dae-chul's daughter as well and I felt sad when he was executed.

Rating

3/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Voice 4

Year Released 

2021

Genre

Crime, Thriller

No. of Episodes

14 - running time of 63 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Seung-heon, Lee Ha-na, Lee Kyu-hyung

Storyline

The same old Golden Time Team where call centre receives emergency calls and police officers being dispatched to on site. This time round revolves around Derek Jo (Song Seung-heon) from US LAPD entering into Korea to catch a criminal.

Under agreement with the Korean government, Derek is allowed to stay in Korea and to co-operate with GTT in search for his younger sister, Lisa Jo's (Lee Yi-dam) murderer. Derek believes that very same murderer is involved with his mother's death as well many years back on Vimo Island.

While chasing the culprit, Kang Kwon-joo (Lee Ha-na) uncovers secrets leading to her special hearing ability. Her memories slowly come back when she happens to be at a deserted hospital in Sonang Village.

My View

Compared to Voice part 1 to 3, part 4 is kind of mild. Not many cases involved and I don't actually feel tense like I used to have when watching thriller or crime dramas. But I have high expectation for part 5 as it seems like viewers are finally getting the answer to Fabre's beginning. Unless the scriptwritter decides to write some side tracks like part 4 and drag on a little bit.

Special mention on Lee Kyu-hyung as he is truly good in his acting. Liked him a lot in Prison Playbook and he is not too bad in Doctor John too.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Welcome to Waikiki 1 & 2

Year Released

2018 (Season 1), 2019 (Season 2)

Genre

Comedy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode (Season 1), 16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode (Season 2)

Starring

Season 1 - Kim Jung-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, Son Seung-won, Jung In-sun, Go Won-hee, Lee Joo-woo

Season 2 - Lee Yi-kyung, Kim Seon-ho, Shin Hyun-soo, Moon Ga-young, Ahn So-hee, Kim Ye-won

Storyline

Season 1

Kang Dong-goo (Kim Jung-hyun), Lee Joon-ki (Lee Yi-kyung) and Bong Doo-shik (Son Seung-won) are best friends since school days. They come together to open a guesthouse named Waikiki. However, they struggle to make ends meet. 

Joon-ki's dream is to be an actor, Doo-shik is a scenario screenwriter while being a part-timer at convenience store and Dong-goo starts from a photographer for baby showers before going back to be a film director.

Waikiki families include Han Yoon-ah (Jung In-sun), a single mother. Kang Seo-jin (Go Won-hee), Dong-goo's younger sister, who grows beard overnight if not shaved off. Min Soon-ah (Lee Joo-woo), Dong-goo's ex-girlfriend who stays at Waikiki due to being cheated by another man.

Season 2

Lee Joon-ki is still trying to hard to be a main lead actor. He has another two best friends, Cha Woo-shik (Kim Seon-ho) and Kook Ki-bong (Shin Hyun-soo) and they continue the guesthouse business. Woo-shik is a song-writer and Ki-bong an aspiring baseball player.

Waikiki families include Han Soo-yeon (Moon Ga-young) who is Woo-shik's first love. Cha Yoo-ri (Kim Ye-won), Woo-shik's elder sister who dreams to open her own restaurant. Kim Jung-eun (Ahn So-hee) who strives to be an actress.

My View

Both season 1 and 2 are equally hilarious in their own ways. I laughed so much that I cried seriously. Realise that Kim Jung-hyun is the lead actor in Mr. Queen (this drama is still in my pending list). 

Didn't like Kim Seon-ho in Two Cops and Start Up, but I find him funny in WTW. His on-going drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha with Shin Min-ah is having a blast now. My news feed are just full of them everywhere.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : My Roommate is a Gumiho

Year Released

2021

Genre 

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Ki-yong, Lee Hye-ri, Kang Han-na

Storyline

Shin Woo-yeo (Jang Ki-yong) is a gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who has been living for almost 1,000 years. Mountain spirit (Go Kyung-pyo) gives Woo-yeo a marble to absorb energy of humans in order to turn into a human.

Woo-yeo and Yang Hye-sun (Kang Han-na) know each other for 700 years. She became a human four years ago and they happen to run into each other in present time. 

Woo-yeo's marble accidentally goes into Lee Dam's (Lee Hye-ri) body and it absorbs most of her energy. Woo-yeo lies to Lee Dam that he is looking for a way to retrieve back his marble but in actual fact he wants her to stay by his side.

In the end, Woo-yeo tells Lee Dam the truth, gets back his marble and the two starts dating after that. When there are signs showing that Woo-yeo is slowly turning into a human, he disappears.

My View

The drama is okay I guess but I expected more for a fantasy especially about gumiho. No doubt about Hye-ri's madness here as she is still the same from Reply 1988. The funny part which I quite like is the extremely dumb gumiho-turn-human Yang Hye-sun. Lol!

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Start Up

Year Released

2020

Genre

Business

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour 25 minutes per episode

Starring

Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na

Storyline

Han Ji-pyung (Kim Seon-ho) and Seo Dal-mi's (Suzy) relationship go all the way back to 15 years ago during their childhood days. When Dal-mi's father Seo Chung-Myung (Kim Joo-heon) passes away due to a car accident, her grandmother Choi Won-deok (Kim Hae-sook) requests Ji-pyung to pretend as Dal-mi's admirer.

Dal-mi is accompanied by Nam Do-san's (pen name used by Ji-pyung) letters which encourage her to go through her tough childhood. She is separated from her mother Cha Ah-hyun (Song Sun-mi) and older sister Seo In-jae (Kang Han-na) when her parents divorced not long ago.

Fast forward to present where Dal-mi decides to look for Do-san to attend a party organised by In-jae. Dal-mi does not wish to be looked down upon. Ji-pyung eventually searches for the real Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) who is founder and developer of Samsan Tech.

Shortly after, Do-san, Dal-mi and In-jae join Sandbox (a company which assist start-up businesses in getting funding) to start their own business. Ji-pyung happens to be the team leader of Sandbox and also mentor for Dal-mi and Do-san's team.

A series of events and misunderstandings put Dal-mi and Do-san's relationship to test. They overcome them together in the end.

My View

As a fan of thrillers, mysteries, crimes, comedies, fantasies, romantic and historical period dramas make Start Up a rather slow and boring plot for me. Nam Joo-hyuk and Suzy's chemistry is somewhat lacking, I don't know why. 

Suzy was so good with Kim Woo-bin in Uncontrollably Fond and Lee Jong-suk in While You Were Sleeping. Nam Joo-hyuk was great with Shin Se-kyung in The Bride of Habaek and Seohyun in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

I know there are still lots of Suzy and Nam Joo-hyuk's dramas but they are currently queuing on my list.

The only plus point about Start Up is their business ideas to help visually impaired people and the song, Day & Night by Jung Seung-hwan.

There was also another part which made me cry when Suzy's father finally managed to secure funding for his business idea of having online F&B order and delivery developed as an app on mobile phones (that was 15 years back). When he called Suzy on the phone and asked her what she would like to have and the answer was fried chicken.

Their family was so poor that they could not even afford to have proper good meals. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Village: Achiara's Secret

Year Released

2015

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Shin Eun-kyung, Jang Hee-jin, Moon Geun-young, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

Han So-yoon (Moon Geun-young) has been staying with her grandmother in Canada. After her grandmother passes away, So-yoon discovers a letter sent from her hometown Achiara's village in South Korea. The content is about an old newspaper article of her family's car accident during her childhood days.

This letter prompts So-yoon to return to Korea in search of her relative. So-yoon is hired as an English teacher of a middle school. During an outing, she accidentally falls down a slope and finds a corpse. While So-yoon works with police officer Park Woo-jae (Yook Sung-jae) on clues of the corpse's identity, it turns out to be her older sister. So-yoon's late sister has changed her name to Kim Hye-jin (Jang Hee-jin). 

So-yoon uncovers more secrets about Hye-jin's death which are entangled with Assemblyman Seo Chang-gwon's (Jung Sung-mo) wife, Yoon Ji-sook (Shin Eun-kyung).

My View

This drama has quite a number of twists which I like. As it is amazing, I have decided not to write any spoiler here. All I could say is every character plays a part with secrets to hide. Things are not what it seems to be.

Special mention about Shin Eun-kyung because of her superb acting in this show. I did not really like her when she is in The Last Empress but she shines very brightly here. *Applause*

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : The Player 指尖少年

Year Released

2021

Genre

Esports, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 40 minutes per episode

Starring

Gong Jun, Chen Yao

Storyline

Gu Ling (Chen Yao), Ren Yixia (Gong Jun) and Long Ziche (Chen Bairong) are university mates. They meet up online while playing game as well. Ziche has been trying to hack into the game which can control each of the characters.

During a battle, Gu Ling, Yixia and several other players suddenly inherit super powers from their game characters. 

My View

This drama is really boring and I just stopped at episode 3-4 I think. Sorry Gong Jun's fans.. but I just cannot.. I was very excited as I thought this is another esports drama which may be as good as Falling into Your Smile 你微笑时很美 .

Rating 

1/5 stars

Chinese Drama : Twisted Fate of Love 今夕何夕

Year Released

2020

Genre

Historical fiction, Romance, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

43 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Jin Han, Sun Yi

Storyline

Wen Xin (Sun Yi) was killed in a battle in Ding Yuan rebellion. Er Yu brings back her life using the power of his flute. Er Yu then sends Wen Xin back to eight years ago in order to stop the battle.

The first time when Wen Xin gets back, she meets Feng Xi (Jin Han). As she loses her memories, Feng Xi names her Dong Yue. When Dong Yue gradually remembers the past, she knows that Feng Xi is also involved in Ding Yuan rebellion.

Dong Yue vows to get rid of Lu Yuan Tong (Zhang Zhi Jian) and Feng Xi before that happens. Both Feng Xi and Dong Yue are attracted to each other. Dong Yue detests the manipulative Feng Xi but cannot help and fall in love with him. 

Due to Dong Yue’s mistrust towards Feng Xi, he died while trying to protect her. With the help of Er Yu's flute, Dong Yue decides to time travel back again to the time before Feng Xi was killed. Her price to pay is that Feng Xi slowly forgets about their relationship.

Another occurrence leads to Feng Xi's death and Dong Yue time travels back to save his life for the second time. This time, it costs Dong Yue's life.

My View

I have not watched such a good historical drama in a long time. Plot is well written and scenes are not draggy. Everything is on point. 

Rating

5/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Oh! My Emperor 1 & 2 哦! 我的皇帝陛下 1 & 2

Year Released 

2018

Genre

Fantasy, Historical fiction

No. of Episodes 

42 - running time of 25 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhao Lusi, Gu Jiacheng

Storyline

Luo Feifei (Zhao Lusi) is a doctor from the modern world but time travels back to ancient time. She gets involved with masters of twelve zodiacs in Huang Dao country. Feifei happens to be the thirteenth zodiac, Ophiuchus. 

Ophiuchus clan is being avoided and marked as criminals when the former master killed Huang Dao country's King. This is actually a scam set up by people from Orion Land to sow discord among the zodiac masters.

The current King Beitang Yi (Gu Jiacheng) falls in love with Feifei as they go through thick and thin together. On their wedding night, all the citizens in Huang Dao country are being poisoned by Orions. Most of the zodiac masters are killed.

Ophiuchus being the only zodiac to heal others, sacrifice themselves to save the lives of everyone. Feifei then vanishes into thin air and returns back to modern world. In the end, she meets Beitang Yi again.

My View

Being a web-drama, the plot is not too bad. Just that I think the show does not have much budget so some parts feel kind of weird.

Most of the scenes are funnily lame that I have to roll my eyes. Have a good laugh though. This is the second drama where I see Xiao Zhan as the second male lead. The other one is The Wolf 狼殿下. 

The Untamed 陈情令 made him so popular and one would think why The Wolf, a much later drama still has him playing as second lead. Reason being The Wolf was filmed much earlier than The Untamed.

Also, as long as Zhao Lusi is in historical drama, it is usually from modern to ancient kind of concept. Like The Romance of Tiger and Rose 传闻中的陈芊芊 and Love Better than Immortality 天雷一部之春花秋月.

Rating

3/5 Stars 

Chinese Drama : Falling into Your Smile 你微笑时很美

Year Released

2021

Genre

Esports

No. of Episodes

31 - running time of 45 minutes per episode 

Starring

Xu Kai, Cheng Xiao

Storyline

The story revolves around OPL (Onmyoji PRC League) where Tong Yao (Cheng Xiao) who is the number one player of character Tamamo no Mae 玉藻前 in whole of Chinese server. She joins ZGDX Gaming as a professional player and she plays as a mid solo.

Her team members - Xiao Pang (Sun Kai) as support, Lao K (Gao Han) as jungler, Lao Mao (Xiao Kai Zhong) as top solo and Captain Chessman (Xu Kai). With great rapport, ZGDX team members work together through their journey in getting the National Championship.

My View

Esports Chinese dramas are on the rise now and I find it pretty interesting. I was expecting only on-screen gaming but I'm actually quite surpised when they show some parts of characters fighting in animation which is very engaging for me. I hope to see more of such esports dramas.

The way Chessman handles the reporters and fans like how he reasons and rebuts them are quite cool. Esports gamers are also professional players and not doing nothing all day. They sacrifice their youth training and trying to get a champion title before it is too late as time waits for no one.

When ZGDX won in the finals, I totally teared for them. It's like I'm their little fan now.

Rating

5/5 stars

 

Chinese Drama : Love Better than Immortality 天雷一部之春花秋月

Year Released 

2019

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 36 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhao Lusi, Li Hongyi, Wu Junyu

Storyline

Chun Hua (Zhao Lusi) believes in love more than being an immortal. She enters a game in year 2196 looking for true love. When she wakes up in a historical era, she takes on the name Chun Hua. However, her former self was Hua Xiaolei, Xiao Bai's (Wu Junyu) fiancee.

The game rule is that the first male Chun Hua sees when she wakes up is her rightful man. Chun Hua thought Xiao Bai is the one for her but in actual fact, it is Shangguan Qiuyue (Li Hongyi).

Shangguan Qiuyue and Hua Xiaolei were once lovers. Chun Hua is constantly stuck between Xiao Bai and Shangguan Qiuyue. She is being manipulated by both so as to take over the world.

In the end, Shangguan Qiuyue sacrifices himself to save Chun Hua's life.

My View

The plot is just keep on repeating the same thing over and over again. Like Shangguan Qiuyue appearing out of nowhere and threatens Chun Hua.

Then Chun Hua being kidnapped and Xiao Bai and gang looking for her everywhere. It's exhausting.

The only reason why this drama is rated a 2 and not 1 is due to the true love of this couple Fu Lou (Hu Jian) and You Si (Lin Jing) in Chuanqi Valley. Though the leader belonged to evil sect, his love for his wife touches my heart.

Rating

2/5 stars

Chinese Drama : The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion 如意芳霏

Year Released 

2020

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes 

40 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhang Zhehan, Ju Jingyi, Liu Yichang

Storyline

Xu Jin (Zhang Zhehan) has been guarding the border since young and only comes back to Hengjing recently. On his way back, he is met with multiple assasinations. Fu Rong (Ju Jingyi) happens to save Xu Jin's life at Ju Shui Place.

The owner in charge is Ju Shui Farmer (Liu Yichang) who is also Xu Jin's imperial uncle, Xu Ping. Due to a misunderstanding, Xu Ping assumes that Xu Jin is the one who killed her mother ten years ago in a temple fire breakout.

He manipulates Ru Yi Pavilion's owner Liu Ruyi (Gong Beibi) who is a jeweler on the surface but actually the leader of real Ru Yi Pavilion which sells and trades information. Fu Rong is Liu Ruyi's disciple who manages Ru Yi Pavilion after Liu Ruyi's death.

Xu Jin is made believe to be Liu Ruyi's murderer. Fu Rong then marries Xu Jin in order to avenge for her master. The couple face numerous obstacles and near-death together.

My View

Overall, TBARP is still acceptable. The reason I give a 4 star is because of the ups and downs of its plot. Just that the main leads face too many near-death already. Like Xu Jin is always being attacked and injured. Lol..

All the male and female first second leads are extremely good-looking I must say. Even the bodyguards look cool!

Rating

4/5 Stars