If you appreciate the arts of China, it's a watch

This is a drama wrapped around producing a documentary about many of China's amazing culture of arts-embroidery, weaving, ceramics, laquer, opera, costumes, etc. so as not to be just a standard documentary series (of which those parts are actually rather boring--but it could be because the English subtitles were not great). It features a quirky girl who is said to have a disorder that makes her anti-social, yet she is so observant of others that she can constantly come up with creative ways to find a human story behind the artistry vs. just relating facts and features.
I had fun watching it to see guest stars (several current idol and well known actors) in episodes portraying those stories.
It in line with other "Celebrate China" (propaganda?) shows like Our Times (watch the episode called Night At A Tang Dynasty Banquet focused on a dance) so I bet that is why the stars chose to be in this project. So if you are interested in the arts, it's a watch.

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Another 'Noona' story and then ?

I really wanted to like this drama since I like many of the main leads but I've lost interest at 14 episodes in due to the simplistic plot is and how one dimensional the characters are. YangMi is playing the older woman to a T so much that basically she's just a staring monotone emotionless beauty (ok, the costumes and her makeup are great) and Simon Gong plays the naive smitten young guy since he can pull it off with his boyish looks but it's so obvious he's acting not-his-age--which is rather funny in that he really is younger than her in real life, but here, the age/maturity distance is even greater (hence my reference to 'Noona' which is what younger guys call their older female crushes in Kdramas). The relationships and roles are so obvious and the plot progress is so linear, that there is nothing to anticipate to challenge your expectations of the story..
Basically it seems all of the actors are too mature for their script--the dialogue/interactions are like what you get in a high school dramas.
So if you are fans of the leads, it's fan-fav fluff, but if you're looking for a clever, engaging story with twists/surprises, this does not seem to be it.

PS. To kill time I watched the rest of the drama once all the episodes were done and I am sorry to say it never got better. YangMi never cracked her demeanor til the last episode-by which time, you are utterly not convinced of their enduring love.
The ending scenes I guess are to give you a sense of happiness after several tragic stories but totally felt just stuck in so it didn't end sad. I watched it at 1.25 and skipped to get through it. The last love story with Zhang Ling He and Chen Du Ling was lovely eye candy but hard to say it was critical to the story except to create a reason for the last clash of differences. Had this story been more about truly overcoming prejudicesand misperceptions and the growth of understanding different cultures/people it might have been more brain worthy but it was just a idol trafffic drama.

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If you like Xianxia, its better than others

I am cracking up that the some are criticizing the tropes-isn't that the premise in all of these dramas to provide the predictable? That said, there were some novel twists that made this drama far more enjoyable than the recent over the top tragedic arc of Til the End of the Moon, and Journey of Chongzi (where it sets up the lead as the supposedly 'evil' villian)
I agree that FL's hair design is rather the same in every one of her ancient dramas-BUT her hair was different at the beginning!
I think ML was particularly good looking in this drama too.
There were times I nearly fast forwarded 10 sec. but then the story moved on.
And, there are, as seemas to always be the case, plot holes-what happens to their kid after it is born for example?
That all said, it was satisfying enough given the choices to watch at the time. (I liked Back from the Brink better!)

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Dont' expect an ending!

Just had to warn you that the story does not have a finale so I was a bit miffed to have spent 3 hours to watch it. But it is not a bad time-killer as the story does have an interesting plotline for a low budget mini drama. I actually kept watching when I would normally give up if the story and acting are too silly or has lame dialogue but this one was intriguing even with the standard tropes of romances. To some degree it was actually more intriguing than Fox Spirit Matchmaker Red Moon Pact airing now which to me is a super time killer that I'm watching simply because ML is good looking.

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Looking for happy romance? This isn't it

A second collab for this couple that is equally anguish filled as Love In Between ancient drama (which I highly recommend despite the anguish). This 'modern' drama spans 10+ years of a relationship that really isn't one so there aren't the classic romance tropes and that is what makes this drama different...it is a bit creative in comparing the depth of efforts a person in love will go to and the logic they apply to their actions in order to support the happiness of their beloved via the leads, second leads, and support characters stories. Rewatch value?--it's too filled with heartache to put yourself through it again, but it was compelling to see where the story would go so that you move on to the next episode. That said, if you want mega heartache, watch ancient drama Royal Nirvana, which put me through the ringer--crying at each episode, but I'd watch that over and over again because the dialogue, intrigue and acting makes you want to catch nuances and details.

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A gem of beautiful dance and music

This 4 episode piece is the first of a compilation....it could be interpreted as just public relations for China but I think it was
a good watch.
I never write reviews but since this short drama had none, I just had to share how lovely a story this is in all dimensions: concept, storyline, and visuals, and music. Only four episodes featuring several known actresses who have dance credentials, I came across this by accident on youtube. Find it yourself, as well as the videos of the finished performance, and you'll not be disappointed. You don't have to love chinese dance or music to appreciate the journey of members of a struggling dance troupe striving to each renew their motivation to dance and to deliver a memorable work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xdd-wM9ra4

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Ignore the low rating, it's enjoyable!

Rowoon is handsome as ever but his comedic acting is far better in Destined With You. FL well suited to the role and I'll be on the lookout for her other works.
The story is entirely entertaining--the only 'cringy' plot is the pairing of a teenager with a 27 y/o---in actuality I don't think the marriage would have been endorsed given the rank of the groom and the purpose (in those days) that a wife is chosen to bear heirs and provide political support from her family.
What works is that romance is in the air among several couples and it makes sense for the whole story vs. typical romances where you wonder why there is a second or even third couple story except as filler to make the drama long enough.
The intrigue and twists work to propel the story forward as well. And the actress who plays the Matriach hits it again in this role being evil but for a reason ..consider The Red Sleeve where she plays the senior court lady.

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MOM! Stop it!

See if you agree to some degree with my rant.
I was really enjoying this 'coming of age albeit at age 30' family drama but Mama's incessant obstinance to judge and meddle could no longer be tolerated as 'it's just her way of showing her love." Perhaps the actress played shrewish single mindedness on securing money so well it finally became intolerable for me. So I've stopped midway as the story takes a ridiculous turn even though it did set up 'the move in' of the ML-- it's far to contrived for someone to do (I was going to say normal person but part of the set up is that he hasn't grown up in a normal household)....but if having an over overbearing relentlessly meddling mother you tolerate for 10 years (of adult life) is normal, sorry I don't get it.
Add a over the top mean potential sister in law whom nobody seems to be able to stop the vile from her mouth (and also wierdly lives at her parent's without her child and husband for pregnancy (again, an apparent set up that her pregnancy is why she lives with her parents?) AND a lazy rich boy who gets by playing video games yet is supposedly a dream boyfriend for 3 years to a smart and industrious girl AND a well off best frend who can open a jewelry store and pay for whatever a drop of a hat yet doesn't have the business savvy to fend off her ex...and sorry this story gets too melodramatically ridiculous.

I think part of also why I am stopping here is that the end will be obvious--the two will end up togehter (btw,, yes, their acting in these roles do click) with or without marriage, and Mama will realize her life's ambition for her daughter to secure wealth (skipping that she has nearly zero after thoughts for her son's happiness-which even that is set up in backstory as to why she's little invested in his happiness and the father utterly absent in connecting with his son) and herself to finally be wealthy due to exploiting the good things that come her way vs her daughter who works for it (btw where does her daughter's wisdom from anyway since it's clearly not from mom--oh yeah, the other setup--the wonderful non-biological Grandma (yes, this relationship was sweet to watch)). Mama will likely have some sort of aha (though I can't tolerate the story progress to see it happen) and our guy gets a 'normal' family and their joint efforts to run Grandma's legacy will be solidly successful after a few more bouts of obstacles from the stereotypical bad person (ooh, but it's fresh-it's a woman! --being sarcastic).

When I run out of things to watch and this runs its course, I may go back to finish it just to see if the twists and turns in the last half are surprising and fast forward when Mama appears (again, her character is a plot device to make many of the roll your eyes 'events').

Highly suggest Blossoms in Adversity instead for a more rewarding watch about a tenancious businesswomen and family.

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Dilraba is as beautiful as ever..and that's about it

Update: The plot really does not improve, so just spend time on this drama to enjoy the looks (not the acting) of the leads and supports.
I also wanted to share how much of the background music is recycled from Royal Nirvana--where the music was amazingly in synch to the story and scenes but just seems to amplify angst in this drama. But that said, this music has also been used in Allen Ren/Bai Lu's One and Only as well as Ryan Ding/Yang Chao Yue Love You Seven Times, and even in Love and Fairy and Devil (which is even rather interesting, as Li Yi Tong who starred in RN is also in this drama) ---so perhaps the music is not even original to Royal Nirvana..

So as to the plot....

The first handful of episodes are 'fun' as Dilraba plays a smart and flirty girl, so you may overlook how lame the plot is to make her look intelligent and then it goes downhill dragging out the angst and guilt and obsessive greed to gain at the expense of the good of the people. The greed plots are lame-best example, the fake FL wants to become crown princess at all costs--but nobody points out to her that she would be choosing to escape one perceived imprisonment to another as a royal behind the palace walls--and of all people, the Crown Prince insists on her selection while insisting the girl he does love isn't chosen because he doesn't want her stuck being his wife.. So huh? he's insisting the fake becomes his wife simply because of a promise even if he knows it will make that person miserable--and he's the hero?
Those around the fake can bring armies to the fore but choose to be powerless to stop her and yet feel guilty that she was in a gilded cage...after barely being to eat when she was found...you could argue she was not given a choice when she became the fake-but still, isn't being housed, safe, elegantly clothed and educated a bit better than struggling to survive? And she insists on more than that to become a princess at the obvious risk of deceiving the emperor and losing her life? Is she really that dumb and yet conniving enough to pursue her obsession?

The story does not improve--the plot/script last arc of episodes are ridiculous---I have to point out my observations:
--They go to war...but as soon as FL is in supposedly in trouble, the ML drops everything to 'rescue' her--but whereas he isn't busted for doing so, the SML is-for defying imperial orders....but then when things end up badly...they seem to just hang around until FL decides to take action. and then suddenly there's an urgency to act--wouldn't they have been strategizing a response from the get go? And why is it she can just go to war with no provisions/resources?
--ML ends up being cared for by enemy princess...and it's just all good...um? where did she have the resources to save him? why save him? why isn't her brother figuring out the ML is there?
and I could go on, but others have already so will stop here.

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Was this really big?

I watched this finally since it received raves and awards for the leads and the drama from the MBC network....so it must have been a bad year for MBC if this was the mega winner. It does feature a different angle as to how the ML gets entangled in a power struggle but otherwise it is a standard overly dramatic Korean gangster/power abuse melodrama featuring lots of gang fighting and over the top cruelty against the powerless.. but the revenge against the abusers is not very effective or clever.
If you like the leads, he is as goodlooking as ever even when beaten up and when he weeps, and she is admirable but it was more pleasant to see her in King the Land.
Personally I thought that the ML as well as FL in The Forbidden Marriage that was in the 2022 line up with this show showed a far greater range of emotions and character depth in a well executed story in less than the standard 16 episodes in which this drama was drawn out to fill the space.

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ZLH rocks, the drama doesn't

If I thought ML Zhang Ling He was goodlooking before, he is eye candy 10.0 here! (His styling in his guest role in Red Moon Pact last few episodes was his handsome-est tho)
Rather than critique just this drama since other's have(yes, the editing sucked, and the plot falls apart everywhere), I want to share my thoughts compared to other works by these actors.
FL Betty Tian was far better in Wonderland of Love with Xu Kai--while I felt there was lovely chemistry between the leads, her acting (or the script) was lacking in this drama.
ML ZLH was so adorable in this even when he was 'evil' -and I totally accepted this character and his love story here even tho' I had just seen him in Princess Royal, Story of Kunning Palace, and My Journey To You each with 3 different-FLs--his subtle expressions and eyes convincingly drew me in here so I kept watching.
I thought there was too much air time for the support male lead playing the young Dragon Lord but he was predictably goofy as he has been in other dramas.
Darren Chen played his role as typically annoying at first but matured as the story continued--I still only have liked him in Sleuth of Ming Dynasty.
Master of the Great Path was equally as sinister as he was in Janice Wu's Faithful--I guess he is enjoying the bad guy roles.
For this 2024 Summer costume dramas, this drama was far more palatable than Red Moon Pact and less heartwrenching than Lost You Forever, but The Double and Princess Royal were better story/scripts.

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