The Autumn Ballad (2022) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  The Autumn Ballad

Chinese title: 嫣語賦 / 嫣语赋  (Translation: "Yan's poem")

Episodes:  34

Genre: Historical, mystery, romance

Original network: Tencent

Release date:      5 February 2022

Airing schedule:  5 Feb 2022 - 6 March 2022

Synopsis:

Qiu Yan is the clever but least favoured eldest daughter of the Qiu family.  On the day of her arranged marriage, her groom falls dead at the wedding, and her in-laws pressure her to remain widowed and to enter a nunnery.  

Qiu Yan is unwilling to concede to fate without a struggle and to give up her chance of happiness.  She fights to find a way out of her difficulties, including by investigating the truth of her ill-fated groom's death.  

Along the way, Qiu Yan meets the cold-faced duke Liang Yi, leader of the investigative bureau, and the gentle and kindhearted Qin Xuan, who falls in love with her.  However, it is between Qiu Yan and Liang Yi that sparks fly as they pitch their wits against one another whilst investigating various cases.  As understanding grows, mutual antagonism turns to mutual respect and true love.  

When the Qiu family fall from imperial grace, Qiu Yan's life is again endangered and she and Liang Yi must overcome overwhelming odds to secure their happiness...   

  

Heart of Loyalty (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Heart of Loyalty (2021) - Detective work takes a backseat to romance in this watchable but bland take on Kaifeng

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

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

Heart of Loyalty (2021) has a promising premise - the Kaifeng court under Justice Bao and the iconic "Southern Hero" Zhan Zhao are part of a Chinese literary tradition that is well known and well loved.  However, the execution is somewhat lack luster in that detecting takes a backseat to the somewhat trite romance storyline.  It's watchable, if a little bland.    

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Heart of Loyalty (2021) - Synopsis

 

Drama info:

Title:  Heart of Loyalty 

Chinese title: 一片冰心在玉壶 / 一片冰心在玉壺  (Translation: "A piece of ice in a jade pot") 

Episodes:  24

Genre: Historical, romance, mystery, wuxia

Original network: Youku

Release date: 29 November 2021

Airing schedule: 29 Nov 2021 - 20 Dec 2021

Synopsis:

Having recently entered the martial world/jianghu, Mo Yan aspires to be the number 1 heroine bandit around.  When her 5th martial brother is imprisoned by the Kaifeng court, she ventures there to prove his innocence.  

Because Justice Bao admires Mo Yan's investigative talents, he gives her a post as a constable at Kaifeng court.  There she meets the famous "Southern Hero" Zhan Zhao, who serves as Justice Bao's bodyguard and an officer of his court, and whose incredible martial arts is acknowledged by the Emperor himself with an imperially bestowed nickname of "Royal Cat".  Mo Yan soon styles herself as the "Heavenly Dog". 

  

The Flowers are Blooming (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: The Flowers are Blooming (2021) - A lighthearted fluffy romance with architecture and teamwork thrown in

This is 7/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

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

The Flowers are Blooming (2021) is a cute and fluffy watch.  There are no major surprises (only a mild dose of angst and no tiresomely drawn out love triangles).  One of the best things about it is the creative premise of the CP being in a construction team, so along with romance, you also get interesting architectural cases and building projects into the bargain.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

The Flowers are Blooming (2021) - Synopsis

 

Drama info:

Title:  The Flowers are Blooming

Chinese title: 清风朗月花正开 / 清風朗月花正開 (Translation: "Clear winds, bright moon, the flowers are blooming") 

Episodes:  24

Genre: Historical, romance, comedy 

Original network: iQiyi

Release date: 19 Dec 2021

Synopsis:

Princess Chen Lang Yue is the little sister of the current Emperor and a lover of all things architectural.  She is a gifted craftswoman and longs to put her skill to use outside the Palace.  One day, she absconds from the Palace incognito to join the Muyu construction team, headed by the genius designer and craftsman Li Qeng Feng. Sparks fly, and love blossoms...

Also in the construction team are a number of young and talented crewmembers, all with their own hopes and dreams.  Together, this group of eight collaborate to build interesting architecture and in the process, build up their self worth and make the world a better place. 

But will Lang Yue's true identity prevent her and Qeng Feng from having a happy ending?  Or can true love (and the ability to construct an answer) conquer all?