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

Korean Drama: The Ghost Detective

Year Released

2018

Genre

Horror, Mystery

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Choi Daniel, Park Eun-bin, Lee Ji-ah

Storyline

Lee Da-il (Choi Daniel) and Jung Yeo-wool (Park Eun-bin) have a common goal that is to look for the ghost who killed Da-il's mother and Yeo-wool's younger sister. Seon Woo-hye (Lee Ji-ah) had a bad childhood and died after her suicide. 

Woo-hye uses the selfishness in humans to make them turn against themselves. Da-il eventually makes her realise her wrong perception.

My View

Plot is all good with a litte twist here and there but in the middle it starts to get kind of boring. But the ending is overall not too bad so I have decided to rate a 4 instead of 3.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Cute Programmer 程序员那么可爱

Year Released

2021

Genre

Office, Romance

No. of Episodes

30 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xing Zhao Lin, Zhu Xu Dan

Storyline

Lu Li (Zhu Xu Dan) admires Jiang Yi Cheng (Xing Zhao Lin) as he is a genius programmer and they both played games together anonymously back in the school days. Due to betrayal by fellow girl programmer Li Man (Sheng Lang Xi), Yi Cheng only recruits male employees into his Co. 

Lu Li had no choice but to disguise herself as a male. She was recruited but her identity was eventually exposed by Yi Cheng. They somehow got involved into a contract marriage. Yi Cheng began to fall in love with Lu Li but was still entangled with his previous love, Li Man.

In the end, Lu Li divorced Yi Cheng and left him for good. Yi Cheng vowed to chase Lu Li back when he realised his true love was actually Lu Li all along.

My View

Quite an adorable drama and I kind of like Bambi here.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Third Charm

Year Released

2018

Genre

Romance, Slice of life

No. of Episodes 

16 - running time of 75 minutes per episode

Starring

Seo Kang-joon, Esom

Storyline

On Joon-yeong (Seo Kang-joon) and Lee Yeong-jae (Esom) met each other when they were twenty years old and fell in love almost immediately. An unfortunate event separated them and the pair reunited seven years later after clearing up their misunderstandings.

But their relationship did not last for long due to insecurity and difference in personality. Fast forward five years later, when Joon-yeong was about to get married and Yeong-jae suddenly re-appears into his life. 

My View

A simple plot but touched my heart a lot. Cried like mad till my eyes went swollen. I enjoy watching drama like this where a relationship lasts for a long time from young. As in everyone has different mindset at different age, like you don't know what you want. The ending was great as in something I'm looking at.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Reply 1997

Year Released

2012

Genre

Comedy, Family

No. of Episodes 

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Seo In-guk, Hoya, Jung Eun-ji, Shin So-yool, Lee Si-eon, Eun Ji-won, Song Jong-ho

Storyline

Plot about a group of schoolmates in the late 90s struggling between studies, first love and going after their favourite idols.

My View

Not too bad being the first of reply series with tears and laughters here and there.

Rating 

4/5 Stars