Chinese Drama : Joy of Life 庆余年

Year Released

2019 - 2020

Genre 

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

46 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhang Ruoyun, Chen Daoming, Wu Gan, Xiao Zhan

Storyline

The entire plot is about a university student who writes a story about Fan Xian (Zhang Ruoyun) who has memory from the modern world though living in an ancient era. Fan Xian is constantly being assasinated starting from his birthplace Danzhou till when he reaches the Capital. 

His has the support from Emperor of Qing (Chen Daoming), Chen Pingping (Wu Gang) and his bodyguard, Wu Zhu. Fan Xian finds out the true identity of his mother, Ye Qingmei when he opens up a mysterious box which was left by her after death.

Fan Xian gets to know more about his mother when he escorts Xiao'en (Yu Rongguang) back to Beiqi. Little did he know, Xiao'en (under the manipulation from Pingping) mistakes Fan Xian as his grandson and shares with him the entire encounter years ago with Ye Qingmei. 

After rescuing hostage Yan Bingyun (Xiao Zhan) from Beiqi, Fan Xian begins his journey back to Qing but will be faced with multiple challenges.

My View

The whole drama is full of characters and almost everyone is a grand master in martial arts. Plot is extremely confusing yet intriguing. You need to follow every scene to understand and connect the story. I'mvery curious who is Chen Pingping's bodyguard "Shawdow". The ciffhanger is really my god... I was left in awe. Part two please start soon!

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : The Legend of Hao Lan 皓镧传

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

62 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Wu Jinyan, Nie Yuan, Mao Zijun

Storyline 

Plot depicts the life of Hao Lan (Wu Jinyan), Queen Dowager Zhao who is mother of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Hao Lan comes from the State of Zhao and is entangled with merchant Lu Buwei (Nie Yuan). She is later being presented to Ying Yiren (Mao Zijun) who is a Qin prince under hostage at Zhao.

With the help of Buwei, Yiren manages to escape back to Qin and later changes name to Zichu. Once Zichu becomes Qin's crown prince, he arranges for Hao Lan to leave Zhao for Qin to become his Empress. 

My View

For the first probably 20 episodes, it's all about Hao Lan being schemed and how she managed to clear her name. In between, also multiple love hate scenes of Princess Ya of Zhao (Hai Lin) and Yiren. I feel so sad for Hao Lan as no one truly loves her in her whole life except for Lao Ai I guess (Zhu Jian).

Most of her men may have loved her at first but in the end abandoned Hao Lan for their own prospects. Like Lu Buwei, Prince Jiao of Zhao (Hong Yao) and finally Yiren who dreams to unite the world.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Ancient Love Poetry 千古玦尘

Year Released

2021

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

49 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xu Kai, Zhou Dongyu, Liu Xueyi

Storyline

There are only four true gods in the God's Realm and they are Bai Jue (Xu Kai), Shang Gu (Zhou Dongyu), Zhi Yang (Li Zefeng) and Tian Qi (Liu Xueyi). Borned to be the Chief of God, Shang Gu needs to master the power of chaos. Under the guidance of Bai Jue and the former Chief of God (who turned evil), Xuan Yi (Zhang Xiaochen), she managed to become one.

However, Shang Gu has to go through tribulation and sacrifice her life as this is her mission. Tian Qi happens to know about this secret and made a decision which costs him his life. After Shang Gu died from tribulation, Xuan Yi attacks God's Realm. Zhi Yang and the rest of the immortals gave their lives away too to kill Xuan Yi.

My View

As this drama is just too good, I have skipped out lots of detail and also second half of the storyline. You need to watch it yourself to enjoy every single scene. I especially love Tian Qi's character here though Bai Jue is as good. Both of them are willing to give up their lives for Shang Gu.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: My Little Happiness 我的小确幸

Year Released 

2021

Genre

Romance

No. of Episodes

28 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xing Fei, Tang Xiaotian

Storyline

Wen Shaoqing (Tang Xiaotian) has been waiting for the love of his life ever since he was separated with Cong Rong (Xing Fei) during their childhood times. Fast forward years later, Cong Rong who is an intern for a law firm is assigned to Yun Ji Hospital. This is where she meets Shaoqing who is a surgeon there.

When Shaoqing finds out that Cong Rong is the girl he has been looking for, he starts to pursue her.

My View

I had great expectation as I watched trailer from the last episode during their wedding day. I guess I'm someone who enjoys heart-wrenching plot with ups and downs. So this short, calm and sweet drama is still okay.

Rating

2/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : The Oath of Love 余生，请多指教

Year Released

2022

Genre

Family

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xiao Zhan, Yang Zi

Storyline

Gu Wei (Xiao Zhan) is the attending doctor to Lin Jianguo (Xia Zhiqing) when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Gu Wei then falls in love with Jianguo's daughter, Lin Zhixiao's (Yang Zi). Zhixiao is always there to encourage Gu Wei and help him overcome his trauma when he could not save his teacher's life.

The couple eventually ties the knot after going through multiple ups and downs.

My View

A warm-hearted family drama which touched my heart at times. The chemistry between Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi is definitely sweet and melts my heart. Good watch!

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Chinese Drama : Miss the Dragon 遇龙

Year Released

2021

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

36 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Wang Hedi, Zhu Xudan, Deng Wei, Pan Meiye

Storyline

Yuchi Longyan (Wang Hedi), a dragon demon who meets Liu Ying (Zhu Xudan) while he was injured due to being struck by thunder. Liu Ying mistook him as a white snake and nursed him back to health. Longyan wanted to return her favour for saving him by marrying her.

Due to the manipulation of Immortal of Fate (Zhu Zanjin), Longyan reluctantly watched Liu Ying went through another three lifetime of reincarnation as the lives of Ruan A'yu, Feng Chengyue and Gu Qingyan. He protected her for decades but just right to the last lifetime, he was badly injured by Xue Qianxun (Deng Wei) who was under Immortal of Fate's spell.

In the end, Qingyan sacrificed her soul to save Longyan.

My View

As a fantasy genre drama fan, glad that this xianxia turns out great and touched my heart. As much as Eternal Love 三生三世十里桃花 and Ashes of Love 香蜜沉沉烬如霜. A good watch with acceptable ending.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Chinese Drama : Love in Time 约定期间爱上你

Year Released 

2020

Genre

Romance

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Ren Yankai, Cheng Xiaomeng

Storyline

Lu Boyan (Ren Yankai) and Su Jianan (Cheng Xiaomeng) known each other since high school. However, both of them were separated due to a series of misunderstanding. Fast forward ten years, Jianan is forced to a contract marriage with Boyan to avoid taking over her father's lingerie business.

The pair eventually patched up and fell in love but were met with multiple obstacles created by Han Ruoxi (Liu Yuqi).

My View

A short and sweet romantic plot especially when Boyan was trying to feed Jianan her medicine. Though not too much of ups and downs but still acceptable IMHO.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Court Lady 骊歌行

Year Released

2021

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes

55 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xu Kai, Li Yitong

Storyline

A story about how Fu Rou (Li Yitong) becomes a court lady and how Sheng Chu Mu (Xu Kai) turns into a general to the Tang Dynasty. Together they collaborate to assist Emperor and Empress when they are faced with obstacles from external parties planning to overthrow the Crown Prince and sow discord among the princes.

My View

A pretty good plot flowing throughout the entire drama though not a lot of ups and downs. As in some parts are just cut off abruptly with no continuation. I understand the reason was not to make the entire show too draggy. But I guess I'm not too used to this kind of style as of now.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Painting Heart Expert 画心师

Year Released

2017 

Genre

Fantasy, Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhu Xudan, Xiong Ziqi, Sun Bohao, Bao Tianqi, Li Junchen

Storyline

Cen Huan (Zhu Xudan) is a painting heart expert who has been forced to leave her sect due to an attack from Jiu Si (Sun Bohao). Painting heart sect's mission is to protect Shi Meng Mo (dream-eating beast). The world that everyone is living in, is in fact a dream and once Shi Meng Mo is awake, everyone will disappear.

Jiu Si does not wish to see this happen as his mission is to protect Zhao Meng Shou (dream-creating beast). He has been controlling humans to get their rage so as to feed Zhao Meng Shou. Cen Huan happens to meet Physician Ning Wei Yu (Ziong Ziqi) and his assistant, Sima Kong Kong (Li Junchen).

The trio often work together to cure people filled with rage so as to destroy Jiu Si's goals.

My View

PHE gives me an anime-turned-drama vibe with multiple hilarious moments which I can only find from animes. Overall, story is not too bad with individual cases which painting heart expert manages to resolve. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Penthouse 1, 2 & 3

 
Year Released

2020 - 2021 (season 1), 2021 (season 2 & 3)

Genre

Family, Melodrama, Mystery

No. of Episodes

21 - running time of 1 hour 25 minutes per episode (season 1), 13 (season 2) & 14 (season 3) - running time of 1 hour 15 minutes per episode 

Starring

Uhm Ki-joon, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Lee Ji-ah, Yoon Jong-hoon, Bong Tae-kyu, Shin Eun-kyung, Park Eun-seok

Storyline

Soprano Cheon Seo-jin (Kim So-yeon) dreams to be the successor of her father's Cheong Ah Foundation and Cheong Ah Art School. Pinning her hopes onto her own daughter, Ha Eun-byul (Choi Ye-bin), Seo-jin forces Eun-byul to win against her peers especially Joo Dan-tae's (Uhm Ki-joon) daughter, Joo Seok-kyung (Han Ji-hyun).

Seo-jin's world collapses when Oh Yoon-hee (Eugene) and her daughter Bae Ro-na (Kim Hyun-soo) appear in her life. Both Seo-jin and Yoon-hee had extremely bad past together back when they were in high school. Seo-jin snatched away Yoon-hee's title to be South Korea's best soprano as well as her then-boyfriend, Ha Yoon-chul (Yoon Jong-hoon).

At the same time, Seo-jin is jealous of Joo Dan-tae's wife, Shim Soo-ryun's (Lee Ji-ah) luxurious life as the Penthouse's owner at Hera Palace, the richest property in South Korea. Wanted to be the next owner, she had an affair with Dan-tae. Their affair was accidentally found out by Min Seol-a (Jo Soo-min). 

Soo-ryun happens to find out her real daughter that she had with her dead ex-husband was Seol-a. However, before Soo-ryun could reunite with her, Seol-a fell to her death at Hera Palace. Soo-ryun vows to search for Seol-a's murderer and little did she know every member of Hera Club seems to be involved in this crime.

My View

Initially, I wanted to write the storyline of all three seasons but I realise I would have provided the entire spoiler. Anyway, first season was acceptable all good. Then come second season, I was totally mind blown at some point. During the finale season, I became very angsty and cried so much towards the end. All I could say is the scripwriter is pretty creative and dramatic.

Rating

5/5 Stars