Fighting for Love (2024) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Fighting for Love (2024) - Hodgepodge of cringe comedy, decent action, and poorly written palace intrigue that falls well short of epic

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

Overall rating:         7 Stars Plot:                       6.5 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   4 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      4 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7 Stars

I really wanted to love Fighting for Love (2024) - what's not to love about a drama with a kickass female general beating unbeatable odds in a man's world? 

The drama had such promise - a fantastic cast with Zhang Tian Ai, whom I remember fondly as the lethal foxy swordstress from Sword Snow Stride (2021), and Zhang Hao Wei, who has had a number of intriguing secondary character roles under his belt and who recently did a stellar job as the comical lead in The Trust (2023). Not to mention Wang Rui Chang whom I have not seen in a substantial role since In a Class of Her Own (2020) and whom you can always rely on for very watchable snark, as well as some veteran actors, such as Wang Yong Quan (whom viewers may remember as the iconic Xia Jiang from Nirvana in Fire (2015)).   

The source material for the drama is also great.  The drama is based on the popular novel A'Mai Cong Jun《阿麥從軍》/ (A'Mai joins the Army) which as at the time of writing this review has a rating of 8.5 on Douban, which is a high score on a platform not given to generous ratings. 

And yet, despite a promising beginning, this drama failed to deliver compelling viewing. I'm not of the view that a drama has to follow its source novel religiously, but watching this had me wondering how it was possible to butcher a great story this badly. It's as if the scriptwriter decided to demonstrate that with enough incompetence it is indeed possible to make a sow's ear out of a silk purse.  

It's not all bad - there are some decent fight scenes, some great acting from the older veteran actors, and Zhang Tian Ai holds her own with a committed performance as the lead.  I also thought that the ending was a fitting one.  But unless you are a huge fan of the leads, this is definitely not a must watch and an overall rating of 7 is probably on the generous side... 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Fighting for Love (2024) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:                      Fighting for Love

Chinese title:         阿麥從軍/ 阿麦从军 (Eng translation: "A'Mai joins the Army") 

Episodes:               36

Genre:                    Action, historical, palace   

Original network:  iQiyi

Release date:        31 Jan 2024

Airing schedule:    31 Jan 2024 - 21 Feb 2024

Synopsis:

A'Mai is a young woman disguised as a man, in a man's world. She lives for one purpose - to hunt down Chen Qi, the childhood friend whom she thought of as an elder brother and who killed her entire family when she was a child.  

In the course of her investigations, A'Mai meets Shang Yi Zhi, the happy-go-lucky son of the Grand Princess (the Emperor's sister). The Emperor repeatedly tries to assassinate his "nephew" Shang Yi Zhi, but A'Mai rescues him on more than one occasion, and the two form a close bond.

  

The Long Ballad (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: The Long Ballad (2021) - A binge-worthy epic journey of love, loss, and growth that does justice to the source manhua

This is 9/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         9 Stars Plot:                       9 Stars Acting/cast:            9 Stars Couple chemistry:   9 stars Music:                    10 Stars Re-watch value:      9 Stars Enjoyment factor:   9 Stars

The Long Ballad (2021) is as epic as I thought it would be when I first picked up the drama. It has been a while since I finished watching this one, but I wanted to give a final review that would do the drama justice.  As I explained in my spoiler-free synopsis (👉here), for once, this is a historical Chinese drama that has an aptly translated English title, because our titular heroine Chang Ge's Chinese name means a long song or ballad. 

So the Chinese title is《長歌行》(literally "Chang Ge's journey") and the drama is her song or her ballad, a retelling of her adventures, so to speak. 

And what a gorgeous song of a drama this is... Love, loss, growth, sacrifice, redemption set against a colourful historical background.  An addictively good, binge-worthy drama indeed with a young and talented cast, which does justice to the manhua on which it is based.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Final Review - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Final Review/rating - In a Class of Her Own (2020): Heartwarming tale of friendship that strikes all the right comedic notes 

This is a solid 8/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan!🐼

Overall rating:         8 Stars Plot:                       8 Stars Acting/cast:            8 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      9 Stars Enjoyment factor:   9 Stars

I highly recommend this drama if you want a friendship heavy, fluffy romcom that hits all the right comedic notes and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The cast are gorgeous, the scenery and costumes are gorgeous, the entire drama is gorgeous. 36 episodes is about the right length - some episodes did falter a little in terms of pacing - but I had so much fun following our Fab Four that I’d happily have sat through another 10 episodes of their adventures. I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to our Yuanshang Quartet - it’s been such a feel good, angst free, often laugh out loud 36 episodes with our plucky heroine and her hot friends. A real joy to recap 😃 

SPOILERS AHEAD

  

Episode 36 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 36 recap

In which we get a happy ending 

"Wen Bin" returns to the Academy to everyone's joy and all are proud of the Quartet.

Ep 36: Awww💓

Meanwhile Han Sheng Zhi drinks alone. Miss Mu comes to see him, he tells her to leave, saying he has nothing left. But Miss Mu says - you still have me (🐼:Awww💗)  

  

Episode 35 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 35 recap

In which all is revealed 

Just as Xue Wen Xi is about to be killed, Miss Mu comes to the rescue in black with some very stylish moves. Lei Ze Xin also arrives to lend his aid, telling the girls to run, while he holds off the rest of the assassins. 

  

Episode 34 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 34 recap

In which the Academy rise up to take down Lord Han and the heroine turns herself in

Commander Lei watches, worried, as Feng Cheng Jun is taken away... At the Han manor, Miss Han pleads with Lord Han to see reason and not to use his office to pursue petty personal vengeance, but he slaps her for speaking up for Feng Cheng Jun. (🐼:Not a nice man that one😠).  

In dorm room 2, Xue Wen Xi is distraught and wants to rush to Feng Cheng Jun's rescue, but Yu Le Xuan reminds her to keep the big picture in mind. He says that Feng Cheng Jun's background will protect him - they will need more evidence to pin anything on him - and that he must have confessed to protect someone. (🐼:Looking at you, girlfriend). And Xue Wen Xi realises that Feng Cheng Jun must have found out that she's a girl. 

  

Episode 33 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 33 recap

In which three in black roam the City and the Quartet face peril

Ep 33: Watching over "Bin-de"

In dorm room 2, Feng Cheng Jun watches over Xue Wen Xi as she sleeps. When she wakes, he asks if she can remember what he said earlier about having explained things with Miss Han. She says, no, then asks why he has done so. Feng Cheng Jun replies, "because I love someone else. Actually, you know her too..."

Ep 33: "You really care about who I love, huh?"

Xue Wen Xi asks who "she" is. Feng Cheng Jun playfully asks why she cares so much who he likes. She angrily tells him he is a fickle so-and-so. He is super amused, saying she is right to reprimand him. (🐼: Cheeky).  

  

Episode 32 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 32 recap

In which Han Sheng Zhi finds redemption and a Competition reveals the past

Ep 32: Yu Le Xuan offers friendship and advice

Han Sheng Zhi is suspicious but also touched that the scholars have come to his aid. He asks Yu Le Xuan if he hates him. But Yu Le Xuan smiles and says that actually there are things to admire about Han Sheng Zhi too. He says he hopes Han Sheng Zhi can become a fair and just Student Council President, leaving the latter pensive.  

Lei Ze Xin tells Yu Le Xuan that Feng Cheng Jun is acting really weird and looking at him is getting on his nerves. Yu Le Xuan laughs, and tells him to look at something else then. (🐼:Haha).

  

Episode 31 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 31 recap

In which our hero (finally) finds out the truth

Lei Ze Xin plays it cool, having shed his black clothes. "I'm just here for wine" he says, and saunters off. 

Those red pamphlets are fueling the rumour mill though and Governor Feng is unhappy because they all say that he is the one taking bribes (🐼: remember how that ledger cunningly switched all references from Lord Han to Governor Feng?) Lord Han says to Governor Feng that as they will be family soon he would get to the bottom of the rumours. "And by the way, why hasn't your son come to officially propose to my daughter?" (🐼: Yes, wonder why). Anyway, Lord Han figures that it must be "Wen Bin" behind the red pamphlets and resolves to silence her. 

  

Episode 30 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 30 recap

In which our heroine is jealous and our hero is about to make a hideous mistake...

Ep 20: Xue Wen Xi jealous

Feng Cheng Jun solves Miss Han's three riddles - they spell out "Today"; "Specially"; "Thinking of you". (🐼:Hmmm, she couldn't get more obvious). She does seem to be new and improved though - now well read and not as clueless as before and they talk about books as she shyly flirts with him. Feng Cheng Jun is still somewhat wooden but impressed by how much she has changed - he even invites her to attend the Academy's open day, so that she can visit the library. She's thrilled. Xue Wen Xi, who is spying on them, is definitely not. 

  

Episode 29 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 29 recap

In which friendship and justice triumph and the hero starts hallucinating again  

Feng Cheng Jun continues the defence, saying that the laws of Yun are wrong to discriminate - Yu Le Xuan is only wrong in trying to hide his origins. How can we wreck his future because of his birth? Xue Wen Xi adds her voice to his, saying that she is also from a poor background but that the Academy opened its doors to her to let her chase her dreams.  She argues that that chance should be given to Yu Le Xuan too. Lei Ze Xin adds that no one can choose their origins, but can choose their destiny and says to Yu Le Xuan that, being who he is, he will always flourish, whatever the circumstances. (🐼:💛) 

  

Episode 28 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 28 recap

In which Yu Le Xuan faces his moment of truth and finds the meaning of true friendship

Han Sheng Zhi demands the ledger from Xue Wen Xi, with a mixture of threats and cajoling. She almost hands it over, but Yu Le Xuan arrives to intervene. But a masked man steals the ledger, and when Lei Ze Xin also arrives on the scene, the two fight. Each kick the other in the chest, and the ledger lands at Yu Le Xuan's feet. Lei Ze Xin chases after the masked man.  

  

Episode 27 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 27 recap

In which the hero begins to doubt his sanity... 

Ep 27: A bit of lip rogue  

 

Ep 27: "Pretty, huh".

Feng Cheng Jun stares at Xue Wen Xi, but all he can see is her as a Lady in Red. He is adorably confused, gesturing at some lipstick that she hasn't managed to remove. He's about to help, when Yu Le Xuan and Lei Ze Xin join them. The latter wipes it off, while Feng Cheng Jun looks anywhere but at Xue Wen Xi.

  

Episode 26 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 26 recap

In which Lei Ze Xin is (hilariously) awkward and overprotective and our hero is stunned by a Lady in Red

Ep 26: Lei Ze Xin - awkward...

It finally clicks! Lei Ze Xin realises that his "junior brother" is a girl... He is (🐼:adorably) self conscious and, very reluctantly, leans over to do CPR, but thankfully for him, she revives before he has to. (🐼:Hahaha!) 

Ep 26: No mouth to mouth CPR occurred, I swear

Don't get the wrong idea, he says. "You revived before I needed to do any mouth to mouth resuscitation, as that would have been awkward between us two grown men." 

  

Episode 25 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 25 recap

In which the Quartet investigates and Lei Ze Xin makes a discovery

Ep 25: "You think I'm handsome?"😘

Lei Ze Xin wants to beat up Han Sheng Zhi, because they all know he's behind the framing. Yu Le Xuan manages to stop him, but only just. The Quartet get ready to investigate. 

Xue Wen Xi tells her Feng-ge that he looks handsome in the official's uniform. He's quite happy about that and there's a funny scene in which, for once, it's Feng Cheng Jun who loses his balance and needs to be rescued by Xue Wen Xi. (🐼: Ha!). 

  

Episode 24 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 24 recap

In which our heroine finds parting to be sweet sorrow and is framed

When Xue Wen Xi answers the door, it's Teacher Ding, He's shocked to see her (expecting Lei Ze Xin) and hints to her that someone else is in the store room. He gives her the keys to Ming Lun Hall instead. Grateful, she ducks out, Lei Ze Xin none the wiser about her true identity. Lei Ze Xin asks Teacher Ding if he was the masked teacher who gave him the mysterious note, but it's not Teacher Ding.

Ep 24: Nursery rhymes for Bin-de 💝

In dorm 2, Xue Wen Xi is jealous and suspicious at Feng Cheng Jun's sunny mood. She asks if it's because he is in love. It's not. Feng Cheng Jun was happy because of the nursery rhyme performance - he wants to give a special performance for his Bin-de, to make her happy again. It makes her very happy.😍 

  

Episode 23 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 23 recap

In which Team 2 shows class aplenty!

Ep 23: Yu Le Xuan the archer

Yu Le Xuan's arrow strikes true, scoring x9 points, meaning he wins the 2nd round for Team 1. It's still 1 all though.  

In Round 3) it's Lei Ze Xin v Gu Zi Ming.

Gu Zi Ming gets x6 points.  Feng Cheng Jun tells Lei Ze Xin to take it easy, but he takes his mark with characteristic bravado. He's really ill though.  His aim is true, hitting the bullseye dead centre, but there's not enough strength in the shot and the arrow falls to the ground, meaning 0 points to Lei Ze Xin. Round 3 to Team 1.     

In Round 4) it's Lu Zhao Rong v Lin Bing Shen.

Lin Bing Shen just manages to land the target for 5 points, much to Han Zhi Sheng's anger. And Lu Zhao Rong for Team 2 scores 6 points, arthritis notwithstanding, much to general glee 😁 

  

Episode 22 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 22 recap

In which Team 2 enter the field! 

The weakest link in Han Sheng Zhi's team, the hapless Lin Bing Shen steps up to take his shots. But terror of failure mean he gets less than perfect scores of 7, 7, and 6 points. 

Meanwhile it looks like all hope is lost for Team 2, but guess who arrives at the 11th hour? Lei Ze Xin! Yu Le Xuan is overjoyed and yells encouragement; Lei Ze Xin gives him a cheeky wink. (🐼:Gotta love these two):

Ep 22: Yu Le Xuan: "Add oil!" Lei Ze Xin: 😉

  

Episode 21 Recap - In a Class of Her Own (2020)

Episode 21 recap

In which Lei Ze Xin shows his mettle   

Ep 21: The Han siblings share a joke

For once, we see a nicer side to Han Sheng Zhi as he and his sister share a few words and jokes. 

The pleasant side to him doesn't last and the weakest link in his team, Lin Bing Shen, who is jealous of Wen Bin's progress is terrified of failing. 

Meanwhile, Xue Wen Xi is worried as Lei Ze Xin is missing the night before the archery contest.