From the latest entertainment industry trends and its role in the economy, to the latest censorship head-scratcher, to fandom wars and celebrity scandals, the Chinese and Korean entertainment industry can be just as fascinating, colourful, wild, and terrible as Hollywood. A lot of it can remain inaccessible to non-Chinese or Korean speaking fans, however, but once in a while, someone writes a great piece that puts a spotlight on these industries.
Read MoreBlossoms in Adversity is a wonderful historical drama that celebrates the strength and resilience of women by putting a spotlight on their incredibly oppressive lives in ancient China through the fall and rise of the once-illustrious Hua Family. I was willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy this magical and joyous fairy tale in wishful thinking, where the value of truth and the power of good will always prevails.
Read MoreI grew up mostly watching Western TV, but my television diet over the last several years has basically become 99 percent Chinese and Korean dramas. Every once in a while, I’ll come across an Asian actor whose overall looks, appearance from certain angles, or mannerisms remind me of a Hollywood counterpart I used to watch. Here are just a few doppelgangers that spring to mind. Do you see the resemblance too?
Read MoreA Taiwanese political drama on Netflix set off a #MeToo wave across the island that embroiled politicians, diplomats, academics, activists, celebrities, and many others. Half a decade after the movement swept through the U.S. and beyond, Taiwan was finally having its own moment of reckoning. But more than a year later, has anything changed?
Read MoreNot sure what to watch and looking for suggestions? Here are a few of my recommendations.
Read MoreA Time Called You is a Korean remake of the 2019 Taiwanese series, Someday or One Day. With a story this unique, making it as fresh and original the second time can be a challenge. The elements of suspense and surprise are gone, along with the initial magic of discovery. Any remake is already at a disadvantage right from the start; making comparisons somehow feels a bit unfair. Read my full review here.
Read MoreAuthor Abigail Hing Wen discusses her NYT best selling YA novel, Loveboat, Taipei and its film adaptation Love in Taipei, based on the Taiwan summer study tour that started more than half a century ago. I had the pleasure of speaking with her, where we chatted about the crazy escapades, her own experiences with the program, how her book and the film came together, and what it's like telling this story to a new generation of diaspora youth.
Read MoreDestined (长风渡) was wonderful, entertaining, and had everything I love -- swoony romance, a perfect amount of angst and humour, slice of life, palace intrigue, bromance, great secondary couples, heartwarming family/in-law dynamics, excellent pacing, multi-genre, no annoying characters (except for maybe one...) and green flags everywhere. For me, it is the best drama of 2023, and also ranks among my all-time favourites.
Read MoreI wrote these reviews after I watched Out of Court and The Murder in Kairoutei last summer, but never got around to posting them here. Both involve mysteries and investigations, but are otherwise quite different in tone and quality. One is a well-crafted and underrated legal drama, while the other is a bingy romance murder mystery romp.
Read MoreMy friend Wuulongcha got curious about what happened to Michelle Jiang Jia En (蒋佳恩), who made her debut in 2017 with the drama Chef Fang (花间提壶方大厨). She dug around and ended up writing this insightful post about some of the inner workings of the Chinese entertainment industry.
Read MoreAt just eight, intense and fast-paced 60-minute episodes, the drama is an effortless binge despite the relentless violence and absolutely ferocious fighting. With breathtaking build-ups, ridiculous tension-filled cliffhangers, superb pacing, and stunningly choreographed fight scenes and brawls, getting sucked into this drama and leaving some logic at the door is easy.
Read MoreTwo television series productions of the award-winning science fiction trilogy Remembrance of Earth’s Past by Liú Cíxīn (刘慈欣) (more popularly known as The Three-Body Problem, the name of the first novel in the series) are being released this year: a 30-episode adaptation produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and Tencent Video, and a Netflix version helmed by the same showrunners behind Game of Thrones. Here, I introduce the Chinese production, Three-Body, and recap the first episode.
Read MoreI’ve written here before that I am generally not a fan of voice dubbing in Chinese dramas. But every so often, a voice actor will be matched with a character — and it just works. The results are far superior and the dubbed voice is very much an essential part of the character. Meet Wáng Bǎoshùn (王保顺), the voice behind the character Dongfang Qingcang in the recent hit drama, Love Between Fairy and Devil.
Read MoreHeroes is one of the better Wuxia dramas I've seen recently. Visually well done, the actors convincingly pulled off the martial arts choreography. Some unevenness in the storytelling does not take away from its strengths. The main protagonist is a great, classic hero of the Wuxia genre — pure, selfless, moral and righteous— and he is supported by an ensemble cast of compelling characters.
Read MoreHave you seen Jackson Wang’s new music video? It is a riveting visual feast — cinematic, theatrical, atmospheric — with sharp, stylish choreography and smart camera work and editing. The video also reminded me of a 2006 dance number from Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. I revisit the routine and the competition show that pushed dancers and choreographers into the spotlight.
Read MoreFeaturing a smart and savvy female protagonist, a healthy and supportive romantic relationship, strong supporting female characters, and an unrushed ending, this drama ended up exceeding my lackluster expectations. Delusional antagonists who took up a fair amount of screen time still made for an often frustrating watch, however.
Read MoreWomen continue to face discrimination in China, encountering quotas and other restrictions, even as they try to break barriers in spaces traditionally dominated by men. High profile #MeToo cases have been dismissed, essentially ending in favour of the accused -- and that’s if they even make it that far. Some have been countersued by their powerful accusers, while feminist groups online have been shut down and activists arrested. How is this reality being portrayed in dramas?
Read MoreFrom Well-Intended Love to Professional Single, whenever I stumble across a comment about toxic relationships or matters of consent, these dramas come to mind. While this post is mostly focused on one show, my issue is with how some of these troubling behaviours are common enough to be considered tropes — even in the dramas we love — and the message that sends to viewers.
Read MoreA couple of quick takes on two dramas I personally enjoyed — with lots of caveats. First is Broker, a very flawed and soapy corporate espionage drama for die-hard Luo Yunxi fans with a kick-ass Victoria Song. Second is Ni Chang, a historical costume drama that I ended up enjoying, perhaps because I went in with extremely low expectations and fully spoiled on who lived and who died.
Read MoreSince I started watching Asian dramas, I’ve become increasingly curious about the world of subtitles, translators, and voice dubbing. In China, many dramas will employ separate voice artists to dub over the original voices of the actors. Some actors also dub their own voices. Ever wonder why?
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