Blossoms 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MoreI wasn’t planning on writing anything about Falling Into Your Smile, but the particularly high rating it’s gotten on MyDramaList and Rakuten Viki by a statistically significant enough number viewers compelled me to offer a counterpoint.
Read MoreThis drama left a bittersweet ache in my heart other campus dramas never managed to pull off. Infused with a sense of nostalgia for the early 2000s where much of the story takes place, the drama centres around a group of five (later six) friends and their trials and tribulations from youth to adulthood over the course of a decade.
Read MoreHave you ever watched a show so terrible you were compelled to actually write about it? This was that show for me. Guys with Kids was relentlessly, unmittigatingly, thoroughly frustrating from the get-go. The urge to share how ghastly it was, was so strong that I actually created a MyDramaList account just to pen this review.
Read MoreI had a few friends ask for my thoughts on the film and the criticisms around it, so I thought I would compile some of the conversations and articles around Mulan I came across which resonated or which I found illuminating.
Read MoreIn my last post, I mentioned a particular friend who is my go-to expert for all thing C-drama related. I’m excited to say that she has launched her own blog to discuss all things Chinese drama-related.
Read MoreThis was an exceptional series with a truly wonderful cast of characters. A quick review from August, 2019.
Read MoreI Will Find You A Better Home made it pretty high on my top 10 list. It turned out to be a surprising gem that I’m not sure will necessarily get much attention from viewers outside of China. If that’s the case, I am here to give it my whole-hearted endorsement.
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