Chinese Drama: Destined to Meet You 别跟姐姐撒野

Year Released

2022

Genre

RomCom

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 13 minutes per episode

Starring

Yang Ze, Lu Yanqi

Storyline

Gu Chongbei (Yang Ze) who was threatened by his stepbrothers to befriend Jin Rongrong (Lu Yanqi) to get information about her family business. Things did not go as planned and they got married in the end. The couple went through obtacles and overcame misunderstandings.

My View

Didn't expect this to be a web drama. Everything happened so fast before you knew it. I guess short stories is not my cup of tea though the plot is still acceptable.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: One and Only 周生如故

 

Year Released

2021 

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Ren Jialun, Bai Lu

Storyline

Zhousheng Chen (Ren Jialun) gains the name Junior Nan Cheng King as he has been winning multiple battles since young. He has been tasked to take in Cui Shiyi (Bai Lu) from the Cui's clan as his disciple. The pair becomes fond of one another but Zhousheng Chen once vowed to the Emperor he will never marry or have any children this lifetime to prove his loyalty.

Shiyi is engaged to Prince Guang Ling (Wang Xingyue) and has to leave Western District (Zhousheng Chen's territory). Due to political struggle, Zhousheng Chen was being framed of rebellion and put to death. Shiyi commits suicide thereafter when she knows she is unable to avenge for him.

My View

Short and nice pace of historical drama where love is always there though the couple did not end up together in the end. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : SKY Castle

Year Released

2018

Genre

Family, Slice of life

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 1 hour 30 mins per episode

Starring

Yeom Jung-ah, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Tae-ran

Storyline

A group of rich families trying to outshine each other by forcing their children to be the best in their studies. The parents' desire gives a chance for their children's tutor to brainwash and break their families' relationships. Sometimes, it is at the cost of one's death. 

My View

Quite a good plot here telling all parents that grades don't mean everything in life. What matters most is at the end of the day, family is there for you.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Master of My Own 请叫我总监

Year Released

2022

Genre

Office, Business

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Lin Gengxin, Tan Songyun

Storyline

After being secretary to Lu Jiming (Lin Gengxin) for three years, Ning Meng (Tan Songyun) decides to pursue her dream job to be an investor. Since she is unable to stay in Joint Capital (Jiming's company), she manages to get an entry position with its Limited Partner, Eaglestone Capital.

Jiming is interested in Ning Meng but refuses to admit his feelings. Due to multiple misunderstandings, Ning Meng ends up with her senior from college, Su Weiran (Liu Chang). However, Weiran is undergoing a trauma from his past relationship which leads him to mistrust Ning Meng.

At the same time, Jiming's business runs into problems (when he tries to save his father's business) and being forced to close down. Little did anyone know, Weiran plays a part in causing these issues.

My View

It all started well but halfway through the drama, I felt so bored. Feels like a typical plot where one could guess what's next. Watched this for Lin Gengxin though I'm not a Tan Songyun's fan. Kind of disappointed.

Rating

2/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Guardians of the Ancient Oath 山海经之上古密约

Year Released

2020

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

45 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Zuer, Wu Lei, Xuan Yan

Storyline

Plot revolves around You Kingdom ruled by Bai Li family. Bai Li Hongxuan (Xuan Yan) used to be the Crown Prince until his grandfather and father passed away without passing any decree. Bai Li Haohe (Wang Junkai) then became the King. Queen Dowager is always trying to control Hongxuan as well as his siblings, Bai Li Hongyi (Song Zuer) and Bai Li Hongshuo (Wu Lei).

While dealing with internal conflicts, the Wolf clan from grassland is also another enemy which Hongxuan has to face. All these incidents are pre-destined slowly pointing the Bai Li three siblings towards their entangled past thousand of years ago.

My View

I'm not sure why but I quite like the part when everyone were just usual human beings. The fantasy part is really a little boring for me. A lot of draggy scenes though this drama only has 45 episodes. Even Wu Lei cannot save it, sorry..

Rating

2/5 Stars

 

Chinese Drama: Immortal Samsara 沉香如屑 沉香重华

Year Released

2022

Genre 

Fantasy

No. of Episodes 

38 (part 1) & 21 (part 2) - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Cheng Yi, Yang Zi

Storyline

Plot depicts how Lord Ying Yuan (Cheng Yi) of the Heaven Realm meets Yan Dan (Yang Zi) from the ancient Four-Leaves Clan. Their love story starts from Heaven to Mortal Realm with lots of obstacle and misunderstanding. With multiple sacrifices, the pair eventually got to be together again. 

My View

Story is in fact okay to me, somehow like quite expected who the villian is. There is not too much of ups and downs for Ying Yuan and Yan Dan as I did not actually feel heartbroken when watching unlike Yang Zi's other fantasy drama, Ashes of Love 香蜜沉沉烬如霜.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Love and Redemption 琉璃

Year Released

2020

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

59 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Cheng Yi, Yuan Bingyan, Liu Xueyi

Storyline

Legend has it that Mosha Star (who rules the Demon world) will distruct the three realms and God of War (from Heaven Realm) is the only one who could destroy him. Chu Xuanji (Yuan Bingyan) is the re-incarnation of God of War and meets Yu Sifeng (Cheng Yi) who is the 12 feathers Golden Bird Demon. Both have actually been with each other for the past nine lives but with bitter ending. 

In this life, Sifeng suffers in silence when he has the Lover's curse and saves Xuanji from danger multiple times. King Bailin (Liu Xueyi) from Heaven Realms wants Xuanji dead and to destroy Liu Li lamp in fear that Mosha Star's soul would be awaken. Bailin holds an unspeakable secret for a thousand years.

My View

Would have rated 5 stars if not for the unnecessary episodes which side tracks so much. I think 59 should just cut down to probably 39. Though storyline has certain plot twist here and there but the number of blood puking scenes are way too many! The scriptwriter is just torturing poor Cheng Yi seriously.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Who Rules the World 且试天下

Year Released

2022

Genre 

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Yang Yang, Zhao Lusi

Storyline

In the martial arts world, there are two highly skilled masters named Hei Fengxi (Yang Yang) and Bai Fengxi (Zhao Lusi). As both shared the same name, Bai Fengxi likes to challenge Hei Fengxi to see who is more superior. She is under the impression that Hei Fengxi is a manipulative person. Little did she know, Hei Fengxi is in love with her and trying to protect her.

During these turbulent times, the Imperial family is being tricked by evil doers which in turn caused chaos to the world. Due to a fake token, it causes six States trying to fight to be the only ruler.. Hei Bai Fengxi are involved in the political struggle and eventually helped find peace.

My View

Story is not too bad and don't expect too much romance because this is more like a wuxia kind of drama. I guess Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi do not have on-screen chemistry or is it Yang Yang just doesn't match well with anyone except for Zheng Shuang (IMO) in Love O2O 微微一笑很倾城.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: The Rise of Phoenixes 天盛长歌

Year Released

2018

Genre

Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

70 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Chen Kun, Ni Ni

Storyline

Ning Yi (Chen Kun), the sixth prince of Tian Sheng Empire had been imprisoned in Zhong Zhen temple for years after being plotted by Crown Prince Ning Chuan (Hai Yitian). After his release, all the other princes died one by one as part of his revenge for the late third prince Ning Qiao (Liu Zhehui) and his late mother Ya Le (Mei Ting).

Ning Yi meets Feng Zhiwei (Ni Ni) and initially uses her as part of his chess piece to bring down Crown Prince. The both fall in love but were unable to be together due to their statuses.

My View

Definitely a great political struggle drama but rather slow and steady one. It seems too long a story but to bring down every single prince, falls in love and the plot twist at the end shocked me really.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Chinese Drama: The Taoism Grandmaster 玄门大师

 

Year Released

2018

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

46 - running time of 46 minutes per episode

Starring

Tong Mengshi, Pei Zitian

Storyline

A little related to God of Honour 封神榜 whereby God Yang Jian 杨戬 had predicted a grandmaster would be saving the world regaining peace between Wolf clan and human realm thousand of years later. In the meantime, he sacrificed himself to create a barrier to prevent heaven realm from destroying Wolf clan.

Zhang Ling (Tong Mengshi) meets Tie Lang (Pei Zitian) together with many others from different sects to participate in a competition and train to become the only taoism grandmaster who protects the world. Their aim is to retrieve back pieces of armours left over by Yang Jian.

My View

The plot is overall pretty good whereby the participants go through trials as a form of training before actually fighting with Demon Fox Bai Qianji (Pan Shuangshuang), who seduced King Zhou bringing Shang Dynasty to its downfall. 

I can only rate 3 stars because though there are a lot of fighting with demons but just too many and draggy. There are like four trials then probably like five competitions to find those armours. In one on the competitions, another three barriers or something.

Too much for me to bear seriously and only twist was I did not expect Tie Lang to be Wolf King.

Rating 

3/5 Stars