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?   

  

Rebirth for You (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Rebirth for You (2021) - An exercise in exasperation

This is 4/10 stars ✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         4 Stars Plot:                       3 Stars Acting/cast:            5 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      0 Stars Enjoyment factor:   3 Stars

Rebirth for You (2021) is, to put it mildly, an exercise in exasperation.  

It's a complete waste of potential, given what they had to work with in terms of the source material and two attractive and charming leads in Ju Jing Yi and Zeng Shun Xi.  Only for die hard fans of the leads, and even then, I would recommend judicious use of the fast forward button or perhaps skipping everything after episode 12 and resuming at episode 39.  Or episode 40.  Or not at all. 

*Sigh 😩

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Rebirth for You (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Rebirth for You 

Chinese title: 嘉南传 / 嘉南傳 (Translation: "The Story of Jia Nan") 

Episodes:  40

Genre: Historical, political, romance 

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      17 Oct 2021

Airing schedule:  17 Oct 2021 - 22 Nov 2021

Synopsis:

Commandery princess of Jia Nan, Princess Jiang Bao Ning grew up in the palace and is beloved by her Grandmother, the Dowager Empress.  She is also loved by Emperor Zhao Yi, but she does not return his affection.  While Bao Ning is a bird in the gilded cage of the palace, she is intelligent and resourceful, and she successfully resists becoming a puppet in the palace schemes of others. 

Bao Ning meets the intriguing imperial army guard Li Qian in one of her expeditions out of the palace.  Li Qian has secrets of his own and strives for higher office in order to investigate a cold case close to his heart. The two fall in love but must strive against the machinations of others to create their own destiny, for the love of a lifetime.  

  

A Female Student arrives at the Imperial College (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: A Female Student arrives at the Imperial College (2021) - Hilarious, light-hearted, and lightweight 

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

Overall rating:         7 Stars Plot:                       7 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      6 Stars Enjoyment factor:   8 Stars

A Female Student arrives at the Imperial College (2021) is hilarious, light hearted, but undoubtedly lightweight.  If you are expecting a serious drama on female empowerment, you will be disappointed because there is only a tokenistic nod to this despite the promising premise.  

But if you want laugh-out-loud if somewhat cliched romcom hilarity, you're in the right place. The first half delivers this in spades - after all, it is the Queen of Romcom, Zhao Lu Si at the helm!  

The second half takes a marked turn for melodrama and angst, wrapping up with an entirely predictable ending.  But overall, an enjoyable and very funny watch for fans of Zhao Lu Si. I'm also now a decided fan of Ao Rui Peng, who played Yan Yan with commendable comic flair.   

  

SPOILERS AHEAD

  

A Female Student arrives at the Imperial College (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  A Female Student arrives at the Imperial College

Chinese title: 國子監來了個女弟子

Episodes:  30

Genre: Romcom, historical, school, mystery

Original network: Youku

Release date:      22 Sept 2021

Airing schedule:  22 Sept 2021 - 14 Oct 2021

Synopsis:

Sang Qi wants to become the first female student at the male only Imperial College to fulfil her older brother's final wish.  As the only daughter of the Grand Marshal, she manages to wrangle her father into seeking leave from the Emperor for her to enroll at the Imperial College.  

However, prior to classes beginning, she makes a bet with the arrogant Lady Song Jia Yin that she will be able to get Yan Yun Zhi, the aloof no 1 young master of the capital, to accept her embroidered purse by the time of the Lantern Festival or be forced to perform on stage during the festivities.  

Sang Qi only realises after the bet that the gifting of an embroidered purse is considered a love token and Yan Yun Zhi is steadfast in refusing her purse despite the many hilarious antics Sang Qi tries to get him to do so.  When she arrives at the Imperial College, she finds, to her dismay that Yan Yun Zhi is the Dean (司業).  Opposites attract, sparks fly, and love blossoms, but Sang Qi's fellow student and childhood friend Zhou Wen Yuan is also determined to win her affections.  

  

My Dear Brothers (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: My Dear Brothers (2021) - Cotton candy sweet Xianxia drama with a modern twist 

This is 7.5/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         7.5 Stars Plot:                       7 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   8 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      7 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7.5 Stars

My Dear Brothers (2021) is cotton candy sweet and after watching it, you will probably never think of cotton candy in quite the same way😆  

A fluffy romcom that has some truly hilarious moments and a sprinkling of angst, it is a cute twist on the time-travel/inter-dimensional and xianxia genres.  It will have you wishing for a big brother Hou Chi and Shi Dong of your own, or a little sister Shi Xia to protect and love. While the drama has its flaws, it's so darn cute that you will forgive the occasional cheesiness, plot flaws, or ridiculousness. 

A very enjoyable 7.5 stars 💕     

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

My Dear Brothers (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  My Dear Brothers 

Chinese title: 亲爱的吾兄 / 親愛的吾兄

Episodes:  35 + extra episode

Genre: Xianxia, romance, historical, fantasy

Original network: Mango TV

Release date:      15 Sept 2021

Airing schedule:  15 Sept 2021 - 22 Oct 2021

Synopsis:

Shi Xia and her older brother Shi Dong have depended on each other since the deaths of their parents while they were young.  When Shi Dong mysteriously disappears without a trace, Shi Xia becomes worried and searches for him.  

In doing so, Shi Xia teleports to a strange Xianxia world, where she meets the handsome immortal Hou Chi.  Having been tricked by the leader of the demonic sect into believing that his cultivation has not improved because he does not understand the concept of guarding/protecting (“守護”), Hou Chi adopts the reluctant Shi Xia as his little sister.  

But when Shi Xia finds her older brother Shi Dong, she discovers that he is the leader of the demonic sect in this Xianxia universe to which they have teleported. As both Shi Dong and Hou Chi vie with each other to guard and protect their little sister, hilarity ensues.  

Especially because the clueless Hou Chi's feelings for Shi Xia are anything but brotherly... 

  

Your Sensibility, My Destiny (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Your Sensibility, My Destiny (2021) - A sweet and satisfying drama that engages the senses  

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

Overall rating:         7 Stars Plot:                       7 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   8 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      6 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7 Stars

Your Sensibility, My Destiny (2021) has a bit of everything (romance, comedy, mystery, palace intrigue, revenge etc) and balances sweetness with angst particularly well. Not too heavy, not too light - just right for a 24 episode drama in my view.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Your Sensibility My Destiny (2021) - Synopsis

 

Drama info:

Title:  Your Sensibility, My Destiny 

Chinese title: 公子倾城 (Translation: "A Prince who topples cities")

Episodes:  24

Genre: Romcom, historical, mystery, palace 

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      16 Sept 2021

Airing schedule:  16 Sept - 2 Oct 2021

Synopsis:

A prophecy began circulating in the palace that a demon with the ability to destroy the kingdom will be born to the Emperor.  When Prince Ji Ding Lan is born, the Empress discovers that her son is unable to taste, smell, or feel. To protect his life and to keep his secret, she sends him far away from the palace. Prince Ji Ding Lan adopts the name Mo Qing Chen, and grows up in a lonely manor, far away from the palace and its intrigues.   

When quirky trickster Lin Chi accidentally gets into the wrong getaway carriage, she meets Mo Qing Chen.  Destiny has clearly brought them together, because when Mo Qing Chen touches Lin Chi, he can feel everything she feels.  Intrigued by the possibility of being able to perceive the world through her senses, Mo Qing Chen contracts to keep Lin Chi by his side.  

  

Miss the Dragon (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Miss the Dragon (2021) - Xianxia lite, which does not quite hit the right emotional notes 

This is 6.5/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

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

Miss the Dragon (2021) is what I would call Xianxia lite in that it does not quite hit the right emotional notes.  There are some gorgeous set piece scenes and the usual themes (eg undying love through many lifetimes) that you would expect in the Xianxia genre. But because Miss the Dragon seems to have just copied and pasted iconic moments from other notable Xianxia dramas in a mishmash fashion and ambitiously tried to give us four lifetimes worth of the romance of the main leads in a 36 episode drama, it is difficult to get emotionally invested in the story.  

That said, there are moments of genuine humour, and the outstanding chemistry between the loveable second lead couple is delightful. If you are in the mood for Xianxia lite, then give Miss the Dragon a go. A solid 6.5 stars from Pandafan🐼  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Miss the Dragon (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Miss the Dragon

Chinese title: 遇龍 / 遇龙 (Translation: "Meeting a Dragon")

Episodes:  36

Genre: Xianxia, Fantasy, Romance

Original network: Tencent 

Release date:      10 May 2021

Airing schedule:  10 May 2021 - 31 May 2021

Synopsis:

When the immortal Dragon King Yuchi Lonyan is saved by a young mortal maidservant Liu Ying, he falls deeply in love and promises to marry her.  However, when a wolf demon endangers the life of Liu Ying's mistress, Yuchi Lonyan saves her at Liu Ying's request and at the cost of their happiness in the first lifetime and the next three lifetimes...    

  

Love like White Jade (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Love like White Jade (2021) - Cute romcom that needed to be about 10 episodes shorter 

This is 6.0/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         6 Stars Plot:                       6 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      4 Stars Enjoyment factor:   6 Stars

Love like White Jade (2021) is a bit of a mixed bag - there are some hilarious romcom moments that will have you laughing out loud, but the drama also drags out too long with some not terribly memorable middle episodes and a mystery so obvious that the final denouncement is anti-climatic at best.  That said, it is easy on the eye and and one of those frothy dramas that can be fun to watch when you want some mindless eye candy. 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Love like White Jade (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Love like White Jade

Chinese title:  白玉思无瑕 (Translation: "White Jade thinks of Flawless")

Episodes:  32

Genre: Romcom, historical, mystery

Original network: MangoTV

Release date:      11 April 2021

Airing schedule:  11 April 2021 - 11 May 2021

Synopsis:

When Shui Wu Xia, a prestigious maid from Langya Pavilion, is hired by the Jiang Manor to assist young master Jiang Bai Yu with his studies and martial arts training, sparks fly (and not the good kind).  She despises his lazy good for nothing attitude, while he finds her an inconvenient addition to his life. 

Both harbour secrets - Wu Xia is trying to find her long lost older brother, while Bai Yu is investigating his father's murder under cover of being a wastrel by day, and as the masked vigilante Shen Qing Li by night.  

  

Qing Luo (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Qing Luo (2021) - An average romcom that's a bit hit and miss 

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

Overall rating:         6 Stars Plot:                       5 Stars Acting/cast:            6.5 Stars Couple chemistry:   6 stars Music:                    6 Stars Re-watch value:      4 Stars Enjoyment factor:   5 Stars

Qing Luo (2021) looked promising. An original set up not usually seen in Chinese historical drama land (a single mom heroine!) with a very cute, precocious kiddo in tow.  That and Liu Xiu Ye in his first starring role, ready to flex some comic muscles (and real muscles) had me giving this one a go.  

Alas, the script and the comedy is largely hit and miss, and the eye candy that is Liu Xiu Ye (and the rather adorable father and son dynamic he had with Nan Nan) were the only reasons I managed to finish this one. It's not a complete train wreck but don't watch Qing Luo with too many expectations.  

SPOILERS AHEAD

  

Qing Luo (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Qing Luo

Chinese title: 清落

Episodes:  24

Genre: Romcom, historical, wuxia, mystery

Original network: Youku

Release date:      19 May 2021

Airing schedule:  19 May 2021 - 3 June 2021

Synopsis:

Yu Qing Luo is a skilled "ghost" doctor, who uses poisons to heal.  She is also an amnesiac single mother, who wants to find her missing memories and a father for her precocious 7 year old son Nan Nan, who decidedly does not want any father but his real one.       

On her journey, Qing Luo meets Prince Ye Xiu Du, and sparks fly (not all the right kinds). She mistakes him for a notorious Casanova, while he is both annoyed and intrigued by the feisty doctor who may be able to cure his brother. Nan Nan, takes a liking to Ye Xiu Du though, and takes him on as a 'disciple' in exchange for endless supplies of fried chicken.

Despite their bumpy beginning, Qing Luo and Ye Xiu Du fall in love. But when there is amnesia involved and enemies left and right from the past and also the present, the path to happiness is not exactly smooth...

  

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 (1037AD-1101AD) 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《水調歌頭》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《水調歌頭》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 (2021) 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 (2021), 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.  

  

The Long Ballad (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  The Long Ballad

Chinese title: 長歌行 (Translation: "Chang Ge's journey")

Episodes:  49

Genre: Historical, Action, Romance

Original network: Tencent 

Release date:      31 March 2021

Airing schedule:  31 March 2021 - 3 May 2021

Synopsis:

The Tang Dynasty, in the year 626 AD...  Princess Li Chang Ge's entire family is slaughtered after the infamous Xuanwu Gate Incident - a palace coup in which her mentor and uncle Prince Li Shi Min successfully wrests control of power and becomes the Crown Prince, and later, Emperor Tai Zong.     

Vowing vengeance, Chang Ge flees Chang'an city to muster an army powerful enough to overthrow the new emperor.  

  

My Heroic Husband (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  My Heroic Husband

Chinese title: 赘婿 (Translation: "Matrilocal Son-in-Law")

Episodes:  36

Genre: Historical, Comedy, Romance, Time travel

Original network: iQiyi 

Release date:      14 February 2021

Airing schedule:  14 February 2021 - 3 March 2021

Synopsis:

Ning Yi, a modern day financial businessman, is double crossed by a commercial rival and left for dead...  His story is "rewritten" and he is transported back in time to the Wu dynasty and into the body of a man who is about to be married into the prosperous Su family as a matrilocal husband of lowly status.  

Using modern day business methodology and his own special brand of acumen, Ning Yi helps his wife Su Tan Er prosper in her business, cornering the cloth market for her and his friends, and successfully battling corrupt local businesses.  Love blossoms between Ning Yi and Tan Er, as their marriage of convenience becomes a marriage of equals.