My Favourite Dramas From 2018

I rate this drama an 8.6/10! 

This is the historical/ancient drama that made me fall in love with historical dramas!

I rate this drama an 8.2/10!

The first half of this drama was the best part of this drama. The mystery in the story, the investigations and the synergy between the characters... it was great and highly engaging! Unfortunately, the second half of the drama devolved into absurd story arcs and a mess of all the characters and pairings! My rating is really for the first half of the drama - that and because it stars my favourite actress Wu QIan (and her husband, Zhang Yujian whom I also love.)

This story follows a poor, dying scholar, Yang Ling, who was so moved by the devotion and love from his wife, You Niang, that he wanted to become a better man who could give her a better life she deserves in the short time they still have together. Yang Ling was given an opportunity to serve the county judge after finding himself a witness in an injustice case. When a sudden war is ignited between two countries, his county is the first threatened to be besieged. Yang Ling's intelligence becomes heavily relied upon as they await for military reinforcements from the court. Through his meritorious contributes, his name gradually grows in fame where he eventually works his way from an assistant at a county court into becoming a highly respected imperial official, and the trusted advisor of the young emperor.

This drama was adapted from a novel where the ML has dozens of wives but Youku changed the story pretty drastically for the drama so that it's not a polygamy story. I am really glad this change was made because we don't get many dramas with stories centered around a loving husband and wife pair in ancient times like this. Their devotion to each other is so beautiful and touching that it moved me to tears countless times.  Now, with that being said, the writers did retain certain elements from the IP: the countless woman who fall for him.  Although he has women interested in him throughout the drama, he always remained faithful and committed to his wife.

I really enjoyed the drama but it's unfortunate how they had to end it with a very abrupt and rushed ending. 7 episodes were cut and that was made very apparent. The drama as a whole is still enjoyable nonetheless.

Ever Night is the wonderful drama adaption of Mao Ni's epic novel: Nightfall. Ever Night tells the first half of the novel. Legend says that every thousand years, an eternal night is launched by the King of Hades where darkness envelops the land such that life cannot exist. The fear of darkness is what led to the bloodshed of General Lin's manor. As the only survivor out of the massacre at General Lin's manor, Ning Que finds an infant, Sang Sang, buried under a pile of dead bodies at the Yan and Tang border while narrowly escaping with his life. Beginning from that moment, an unbreakable bond would bind these two together. Against all the odds, the pair managed to survive the years of destitute growing up in the Min mountains with the need to avenge being the only driving force sustaining them. A decade later, Ning Que is given an opportunity to enroll in the famous Tang Academy: a place he was told where miracles can happen. The only way to seek revenge is to become strong, so he and Sang Sang decide to leave the only home they've known in the City of Wei to travel to Chang'An where Ning Que hopes to begin his cultivating journey.

This was a spectacular production! From the incredible directing and cinematography, to the choreographed fight scenes and seamless integration of special effects... it was all done excellently. The sets and filming locations were also breathtaking and the casting for the roles was perfect. Having read the novel, I'm very satisfied with how this drama turned out! I felt the Ever Night team did a fairly good job of following the novel in spite of budgetary limitations involved in all filming projects. Naturally, not all the scenes happened exactly the way they did in the novel but I felt they did capture the main content and feel of the novel. 

Whether it's the main story or the story arcs, the interesting characters or uniqueness of all the relationships, it all makes for a spectacular drama.

I rate this drama an 9.3/10!

They say only darkness and bloodshed exists in a place called 'Gui Hua City', home to a group of female assassins. When Wan Mei is offered a chance of survival after narrowly escaping death, she finds out the hard way the only way to survive there means to kill. Kind hearted by nature, she struggles endlessly with her dilemma: to live means to kill or be killed. But in the dimmest of places, never would she expect sincerity to exist where loyalty is expected, but often with strings attached. There he was, her 'shadow' - Chang An - like a beacon of light, guiding her and protecting her from the smothering darkness. Coming from humble origins during a turbulent period, Wan Mei has only experienced the harshness of the world, never once has she every felt genuine care and kindness until Chang An appeared by her side. The warmth he gave her becoming the engine to her beating heart; her hope and strength to press on. But there is a rule in Gui Hua City that prohibits love between the "Masters" and their "Shadows"... will the pitiful couple be able to hold tight to their pure love, or are they doomed to a bloody romance?

This was an amazing production filled with great directing and screenwriting, good cinematography, and a perfect casting job where every single actor brought brilliant performances, truly bringing to life their characters and the stories being told. Every episode was filled with emotional scenes that had you captivated from start to finish. What's more is Li Yi Tong and Qu Chu Xiao delivered gut-wrenching chemistry that tugged on heartstrings. Spectacular job by the entire production crew and cast. Plus, it has one of the most mesmerizing OSTs to boot.