A translation of Su Shi's "Prelude to Water Melody" (theme song in My Heroic Husband (2021))

A translation of Su Shi's 蘇軾 "Prelude to Water Melody" 水調歌頭 

One of my favourite theme songs in My Heroic Husband (2021) was the ending theme - Prelude to Water Melody 水調歌頭, which sets the famous Song dynasty poem of Su Shi 蘇軾 aka Su Dong Po 蘇東坡 (1037-1101) to music. It is sung by Zheng Yun Long in My Heroic Husband - you can listen to the song here. 

Ep7: A show stopping rendition

As well as being the ending theme song, Prelude to Water Melody is used to great effect in episode 7, when Ning Yi saves the day by pulling off a stunning performance of this song, directed with modern day special effects (wire work, lighting, petal machines, fireworks etc) and alongside a secret weapon break out star.  See here for a short clip💛

I think Prelude to Water Melody is a great choice of song for the drama - it captures all the wistful longing for reunion with loved ones who are far away and who may be wishing on the same moon...  

  

Final review - My Heroic Husband (2021)

Final review/rating: My Heroic Husband (2021) - An enjoyable game of two halves with a hilarious and sweet power couple

This is 8.5/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         8.5 Stars Plot:                       8.5 Stars Acting/cast:            8.5 Stars Couple chemistry:   9 stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      8 Stars Enjoyment factor:   8 Stars

The first arc of My Heroic Husband is laugh out loud comedy at its absolute best, with a hilarious and witty cast ably led by Guo Qi Lin's Ning Yi as the titular matrilocal husband (zhui xu/赘婿).  He and Song Yi's Su Tan Er are an unstoppable comedic duo and very cute OTP, running rings around their commercial rivals.  Definite shades of Joy of Life!

Unfortunately the second half is no where near as perfect as the first and the drama spends too long on the rather tedious bandit arc in an abrupt change of pace and tone, from about episode 18 onwards, no doubt to provide the set up for Season 2.  But overall, My Heroic Husband is still a very enjoyable watch. A solid 8.5 stars.    

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Final Review - Be my Cat (2021)

Final review/rating: Be my Cat (2021) - Fluffy, short, Cat-centric romcom

This is 6/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         6 Stars Plot:                       5.5 Stars Acting/cast:            6.5 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    6 Stars Re-watch value:      5 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7 Stars

There's nothing to write home about in terms of plot or acting with Be my Cat, but this short 16 episode cat-centric fantasy romcom is a nice way to unwind if you need a break from more serious angsty dramas. 

I think you have to be in the mood for light fluffy nonsense to enjoy Be my Cat.  There's plot holes and inconsistencies aplenty and no real attempt to tell a coherent story.  But cat lovers (and those with a sense of the ridiculous) may warm to this one.  It's one of those a dime a dozen, low budget, fluffy and short fantasy romance dramas with tropes a plenty.  

SPOILERS AHEAD

  

Be my Cat (2021) - Synopsis

 

Drama info:

Title:  Be my Cat

Chinese title: 我的宠物少将军 (Translation: "My pet, the young General")

Episodes:  16

Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance

Original network: Sohu TV

Release date:      8 Feb 2021

Airing schedule:  8 Feb 2021 - 1 March 2021

Synopsis:

Pet store owner Su Xiao He (whose name is literally "Peppermint") goes on a quest to find her missing older brother.  In the process, she comes into possession of the Blue Soul Orb - a magical artefact that also accidentally awakens a Cat Prince, Mo Xiu Ren from the faraway Cat planet.  

Mo Xiu Ren finds himself trapped in the body of a General and is contractually bound by the Blue Soul Orb to have Peppermint as his owner and master, much to his dismay.  But as the two embark on a sometimes dangerous quest to find other Orbs and to send Mo Xiu Ren home, Mo Xiu Ren finds that perhaps he doesn't want to go home after all.