Wanru's Journey (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Wanru's Journey (2023) - A no frills wuxia that is surprisingly watchable up until the lame ending

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:      5 Stars Enjoyment factor:   6.5 Stars

Wanru's Journey (2023) is a short, 

low budget, no frills wuxia drama. There are
24 episodes, each at 30 - 35 min long.  If you are wondering why it's called Wanru's Journey, the English title is a mashup of both of the names that the female lead goes by (Murong Zhu Wan and Xiao Ru).  I personally prefer the Chinese title 《少年江湖》which translates to "Youth's jianghu". 

This is obviously not Jin Yong quality, and the acting is nothing to write home about, but there really is a wuxia vibe to this one, including some decent CGI-lite fighting scenes. And there's Ao Rui Peng. Although this is decidedly not his best work, he looks great glowering in black or channeling young master vibes in white.

All in all, surprisingly watchable, at least up to the final 15 minutes or so given the lame ending...

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Wanru's Journey (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info: 

Title:  Wanru's Journey

Chinese title:  少年江湖 (Eng translation: "Youth's jianghu") 

Episodes: 24

Genre: Wuxia, romance, comedy 

Original network:  Iqiyi

Release date:        26 May 2023

Synopsis:

Impoverished Jianghu swindler Xiao Ru is unskilled in martial arts, but she always has tricks up her sleeve to make a quick buck and to make an even quicker getaway.  

In an unexpected turn of events, Xiao Ru is compelled to impersonate Murong Zhu Wan, the mentally impaired second young lady of the Murong manor.  

Sparks fly when she meets her 'brother' Murong Chong and her 'fiancé' Fu Hong, and she is unwittingly drawn into Jianghu conflicts.  Amidst open and hidden power struggles in the martial arts world to become leader of the martial arts world and the fight to possess the Manual of Mountains and Seas, the trio must join hands to defeat the ultimate evil. 

  

Romance on the Farm (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Romance on the Farm (2023) - Not much romance but there is family melodrama aplenty 

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

When I saw that Romance on the Farm (2023)  was headed by big eyed cuties Zeng Shun Xi and Tian Xie Wei, it went on my to-watch-while-airing list.  What's not to love about a historical slice of life drama set in a rural farming setting?  Historical/period dramas on commoners are far and few between, and there is an interesting twist in this one in that the female lead is a modern gamer testing a VR farming game.  Besides, having just watched Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023), I wanted to see Xiao Bao again and that cute doggy Hu Li Jing also makes an appearance as Dai Wang in this drama...    

However, Romance on the Farm (2023) is not what I expected. Although the name, trailer, and marketing gave off a fluffy romcom vibe, romcom this definitely is not.  The Chinese drama title 《田耕紀》"Farming Chronicles" is more apt. If you watch this one, be prepared for what can often be a melodrama that makes your blood boil because Man'er's extended family are a toxic bunch and their machinations would not be out of place in a palace drama. I also think the drama would have made more sense without the VR gaming premise.  

However, despite the family melodramatics and some rather obvious logic flaws linked to the gaming premise, the drama (and Zeng Shun Xi and Tian Xie Wei) kept me watching till the rather sweet play-on-words ending. 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Romance on the Farm (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Romance on the Farm 

Chinese title:  田耕紀 (Eng translation: "Farming Chronicles") 

Episodes: 26 + 1 short special episode

Genre: Slice of life, romance, historical

Original network:  iQiyi

Release date:        14 Oct  2023

Airing schedule:    14 Oct 2023 - 25 Oct 2023

Synopsis:

Lian Man'er enters a farming VR game set in ancient China as a tester, and soon finds herself on the Lian family farm.  To successfully win the game she needs to earn 1000 golden taels.  

When Man'er meets the mysterious Shen Nuo, she ropes him into helping her in various farming and business ventures.  As they work hand in hand, romance blossoms. But making 1000 taels is no easy task as they are repeatedly thwarted by events outside their control, as well as Man'er's problematic extended family. Shen Nuo is also not who he seems, and has a secret quest of his own to achieve.

  

Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2023) - Cute and clichéd romance on a familiar trope 

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

Overall rating:         6.5 Stars Plot:                       6 Stars Acting/cast:            6 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      2 Stars Enjoyment factor:   6.5 Stars

Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2023) is a fluffy cheap and cheerful 24 episode romance, that is entirely predictable.  It is a remake of the original 2001 drama of the same name which I have not watched, so I can't compare this 2023 version to the original and can only judge it on its own merits.   

My verdict is that if you are wanting a fluffy low stakes drama that you don't have to engage your brain to watch, this one fits the bill. Both sets of leads are very cute, especially the Ao Rui Peng and Tian Xie Wei pairing, but this drama is definitely well within their comfort zones and does not stretch them as actors (which is understandable given the genre). The second pairing of Bai Bing Ke and Zhao Shun Ran have much less screen time, but also turn in competent and cute performances.  

Worth a watch if you are a fan of Ao Rui Peng and/or Tian Xie Wei but don't expect it to rock your world - it gets a bit draggy and repetitive in the middle and would have been better with 20 episodes or less.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Wrong Carriage, Right Groom

Chinese title:  花轿喜事 /  花轎喜事 (Eng translation: "Wedding Sedan, happy occasion") 

Episodes: 24 

Genre: Romance, romcom, historical

Original network:  Youku

Release date:        28 Aug 2023

Airing schedule:    28 Aug 2023 - 14 Sep 2023

Synopsis:

The powerful Du and Li families arrange marriages for their daughters, who are both reluctant to marry their chosen grooms. Li Yu Hu is to marry General Yuan Bu Qu, who is rumoured to have caused the premature deaths of two wives, whilst Du Bing Yan is to marry Qi Tian Lei, the sickly 3rd young master of the Qi household, who is rumoured to be at death's door. 

Both brides set out on the same day by sedan to their respective weddings, but due to a bout of rain, they both take shelter at a temple, where they meet and become sworn sisters.  

  

Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023) - All aboard the Lotus Flower RV for a fantastic tale of wuxia, mystery, and brotherhood

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

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

Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023) reminds me of why I love the wuxia and detective genres so much - the drama is a fantastic combo of both.

A wonderfully witty script, fascinating characters, and action packed scenes full of thrilling choreography as befits a wuxia, this drama had me hooked from the first episode right to the very end.  The ten cases are certainly interesting enough, but the draw for me was the bromance between the trio of male leads (Cheng Yi, Zeng Shun Xi, and Xiao Shun Yao), which was both hilarious and deeply moving. 

For those who find the staple fluffy c-drama romance tiresome, this drama largely eschews the usual romantic tropes and instead focuses on the close bonds of platonic male friendship and found family.     

Honestly, I wanted the trio to continue their travels in the lotus tower RV, solving mysteries and having jianghu adventures together forever. But in many ways, this drama is about letting go and saying farewell. There is bitter-sweetness in having to acknowledge that all good things come to an end, but sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.    

Also, can I just say I want a lotus tower RV of my own. The one in the drama looked so damn cool...

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Chinese title: 蓮花樓 / 莲花楼 (Eng translation: "Lotus Flower Tower") 

Episodes: 40 + 1 short special episode

Genre: Wuxia, mystery/detective, historical

Original network:  iQiyi

Release date:        23 Jul 2023

Airing schedule:    23 Jul 2023 - 9 Aug 2023

Synopsis: 

Ten years ago, the leader of the Si Gu sect Li Xiang Yi was the best swordsman in the world and the shining light of wulin. But both Li Xiang Yi and leader of the Jin Yuan alliance Di Fei Sheng disappear after a deathly duel in the Eastern Sea, leaving both the Si Gu sect and Jin Yuan alliance in disarray.  

Ten years later, countryside physician Li Lian Hua travels the world, with his faithful dog and a lotus tower in tow.  He inadvertently becomes famous for his medical prowess and is reluctantly dragged into the jianghu which he no longer wishes to be a part of. 

Along the way, Li Lian Hua meets Fang Duo Bing, who dreams of becoming a hero. Fang Duo Bing suspects that Li Lian Hua is not who he seems and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.  Meanwhile, Di Fei Sheng remerges in jianghu, recognises that Li Lian Hua is none other than Li Xiang Yi, and demands a rematch.

  

The Legend of Anle (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: The Legend of Anle (2023) - A decidedly average half-way house adaptation only made watchable by its cast 

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

Overall rating:         7.5 Stars Plot:                       7 Stars Acting/cast:            8 Stars Couple chemistry:   8 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      6 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7.5 Stars

The Legend of Anle (2023) could have been so much better than it was given that it is adapted from a fantastic source novel. I wanted to see the machinations of a brilliantly intelligent but morally grey (anti)-heroine as she schemes to avenge the unjust annihilation of her family and soldiers.  I wanted to see her playing a dangerous game of the heart with the equally intelligent hero who loves her, but whose family is responsible for the death of hers.  I wanted to see love, hate, angst, and if logically possible, redemption...

But rather than giving us a Nirvana in Fire-esque thrilling battle of wits, the drama seemed unable to decide whether it was going for serious epic darkness or bubblegum pink romcom, and halved the difference with questionable results. I blame the scriptwriters and directors.  They gave us watered down leads whom we are told are intelligent, a messy and at times boring script, too many filler scenes from an annoying imposter, and logic defying plot holes that require some serious suspension of belief. I know it is not entirely fair to compare this drama with one of the best C-dramas of all time and to find it wanting, but given the similar starting premise it's hard not to. And Nirvana in Fire this most definitely is not.  

To be fair, it's not bad.  It's just not very good.  And despite its flaws, The Legend of Anle (2023) remains watchable due to committed performances from the gorgeous main leads who managed to wring emotion and entertainment from the tired script. I have such mixed feelings because while I wanted a gritty dark drama, it was also enjoyable watching a flirtatious Dilraba playing the femme fatale to a flustered Gong Jun and on one or two memorable occasions seeing him give as good as he gets...

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Legend of Anle (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info: 

Title:  The Legend of Anle

Chinese title:  安乐传 /  安樂傳 (Eng translation: "Anle's tale") 

Episodes: 39 + 4 short extra episodes

Genre: Revenge, palace, political, historical

Original network:  Youku

Release date:        12 Jul 2023

Airing schedule:    12 Jul 2023 - 6 Aug 2023

Synopsis: 

The State of Jing was established after Emperor Han Zi An joined hands with the head of the Di family, Lady Di Sheng Tian, to secure the borders of a peaceful and prosperous nation. 

But when the Di family are unjustly accused of treason, they and their 80,000 strong troops are annihilated leaving only a sole survivor in the young Di Zi Yuan.  Her life is saved by Crown Prince Han Ye who claims her as his Crown Princess, but she is exiled on Mountain Dai.   

Ten years later, Han Ye meets the beautiful sea bandit Ren An Le, who claims to want nothing more than a place at his side as the Crown Princess in exchange for her dowry of 30,000 naval troops (or at the very least, an official position in court).  But there is more than meets the eye to Ren An Le - she is actually Di Zi Yuan, and her mission is to clear her family's name and seek justice for the dead.  

  

Till the End of the Moon (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Till the End of the Moon (2023) - A xianxia trolley dilemma and a Devil God that will break your heart

This is 9.5/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         9.5 Stars Plot:                       9 Stars Acting/cast:            10 Stars Couple chemistry:   10 stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      9.5 Stars Enjoyment factor:   10 Stars

It's fair to say that Till the End of the Moon (2023) (TTEOTM) opened to sky-high expectations, jumping from 1 million reservations on Youku in September 2022 to 5 million by 5 April, 2023, just prior to its premiere. After all, it is a S+ production, headed by the incomparable Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu in their second collaboration, in a no expenses spared extravaganza of a xianxia drama.  It's also based on a deliciously dark source novel《黑月光拿稳BE剧本》"Black Moonlight holds the BE script", with a deliciously dark anti-hero.

So between censorship and expectations, it was probably never going to be all things for all people.  But from the moment the strains of a gothic-esque organ started blasting and the voice of Liu Yu Ning began to sing the opening theme, I was ready.  So, so ready.  

Is TTEOTM perfect? No. But is it entertaining? Hell yes! What a feast for the senses!  It will surely be hard to beat for sheer spectacle, state of the art CGI and special effects, and the rollercoaster of angst and anguish that it delivers with gorgeous leads who act their hearts out and share off-the-charts chemistry. Indeed, the truly god-level acting from Luo Yun Xi, who gives an intoxicating, heartbreakingly good, multi-faceted performance is worth the price of admission alone. That, and the way he rocks perfect eyeliner and his xianxia couture wardrobe with 360 degree perfection. And his voice... 

It is probably best to watch TTEOTM with the heart rather than the mind as there are way too many artefacts, parallel timelines, avoidable misunderstandings, and unanswered questions about predestination and free-will that are not always neatly resolved in the drama.  Just sit back, and let the addictive bitter-sweet angst of TTEOTM wash over you. It may break your heart, but I for one, do not regret letting it do that to mine.   

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Romance of a Twin Flower (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  Romance of a Twin Flower (2023) - Cute chemistry squandered by a patchy and unevenly paced plot 

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

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

Romance of a Twin Flower (2023) is what happens when you have great leads with great chemistry who are handed a bland script that is not particularly well plotted or paced.   It starts well, but drags in the middle, and limps to a rather predictable ending. In my view, there was probably only enough plot to satisfactorily fill a 24 episode drama, so 38 episodes was always going to be a bit of a stretch.  

That said, Peng Xiao Ran's plucky Ji Man and Ding Yu Xi's boyishly attractive Ning Yu Xuan had me rooting for this CP right from the start, so this may be one to watch if you are fans of both or either.      

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

The Trust (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  The Trust (2023) - A delightfully funny body-switching drama on the importance of love and mutual trust 

This is 8/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

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

The Trust (2023) is a delightful gem of a drama. I have always thought that the body-swapping premise can be hilarious if done right, and I am happy to report that this drama does just that 😆  

As well as providing laughs aplenty, this second-chance romance explores the importance of love and mutual trust.  It posits that to love is to trust (as aptly put by the poem from which the drama's Chinese title takes its name). 

But not to worry, this drama is not preachy or didactic in tone - everything is handled with a light touch and a nod to the whimsy of a modern imagination.  Highly recommend! 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

The Trust (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  The Trust

Chinese title:  恩愛兩不疑 / 恩爱两不疑  (Eng translation: "Love and mutual trust") 

Episodes: 30

Genre: Historical, comedy, fantasy, romance, palace

Original network:  Mango TV

Release date:        6 April 2023

Airing schedule:    6 April 2023 - 27 April 2023

Synopsis:

As the daughter of a great general, Xu Yu has grown up with a sword in her hand and is brave and forthright.

When she marries the scholarly and proper Emperor Xiao Jin Yun, their marriage is an unhappy one.  Between their marked differences in temperament, and the politics of the inner palace and harem, Xu Yu and Emperor Xiao Jin Yun find themselves estranged from one another.  Things change on a fateful day when they fall into a pool together and wake to find that they have swapped souls.  Xu Yu is horrified to discover that she is trapped in Emperor Xiao Jin Yun's body and he is equally horrified that he is trapped in hers.

  

Till the End of the Moon (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Till the End of the Moon 

Chinese title:  长月烬明 / 長月燼明 (Eng translation: "Lengthy moon, ashes bright") 

Episodes: 40

Genre: Xianxia, fantasy, romance

Original network:  Youku

Release date:        6 April 2023

Airing schedule:    6 April 2023 - 9 May 2023

Synopsis:

The invincible devil god Tantai Jin rules supreme over a helpless world, wrecking havoc and destruction in the three realms.  

To save the the world, immortal Li Su Su travels 500 years back in time and assumes the identity of Ye Xi Wu, with the aim of destroying Tantai Jin before he can become the demon lord. But as Ye Xi Wu, she is married to the young Tantai Jin, a mortal hostage prince from the Jing kingdom whose tortured past and painful present give her pause. Her quest becomes complicated when she develops feelings for Tantai Jin, and he for her.

Three keys hold the fate of changing their destiny and that of the world: a dream, a teardrop, and a single love thread...   

  

Royal Rumours (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  Royal Rumours (2023) - Cute romcom with a pretty pretender and her prince 

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

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

Royal Rumours (2023) is a cute romcom with gorgeous people and gorgeous costumes that is the drama equivalent of comfort food  The tone of the drama is light-hearted and the stakes are low (no high highs or low lows), but there is plenty of gentle comedy to chuckle at with personable leads who have perfected pretence as an artform. 

The drama moves at a pedestrian pace and logic falls by the wayside in the later episodes, but that does not really impair enjoyment of a drama that is clearly intended to be light and fluffy.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Romance of a Twin Flower (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Romance of a Twin Flower 

Chinese title:  春闺梦里人 (Eng translation: "Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir") 

Episodes: 38

Genre: Romance, comedy, historical

Original network:  Tencent

Release date:        21 March 2023

Airing schedule:    21 March 2023 - 20 April 2023

Synopsis:

Nie Sang Yu is infamous for her wickedness and cruelty.  She is married to Ning Yu Xuan, a high ranking minister in the imperial court and the most handsome man in the capital.  But their in name only marriage is far from being a happy one as Nie Sang Yu's one sided infatuation is not returned.  

While being pursued for her involvement in the stabbing of her rival, Nie Sang Yu falls from a cliff.

Days later, Ning Yu Xuan finds his 'wife'.  But when she regains consciousness, Nie Sang Yu has lost all her memories, and her personality is entirely different.  Cheerful, kind, and with remarkable business acumen, the new Nie Sang Yu is full of good ideas for establishing a business empire and is determined to divorce Ning Yu Xuan to regain her freedom. Is she even the same person?

  

Royal Rumours (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Royal Rumours

Chinese title:  花琉璃轶闻 (Eng translation: "Hua Liu Li anecdotes")

Genre: Romance, comedy, palace, historical

Original network:  Tencent

Release date:        15 March 2023

Airing schedule:    15 March 2023 - 1 April 2023

Synopsis:

The kingdom of Jin owes much to the loyalty and military prowess of the Hua clan, whose armies have won numerous decisive victories, including that over the rival kingdom of Jin Po.

But the hearts of men are fickle, and the civil officials of the imperial court begin to make trouble for fear of the military might of the Hua family. Bowing to this pressure, the Emperor bestows the title of County Princess on the young daughter of the Hua family, Hua Lu Li, and summons her to the capital, ostensibly to enjoy the capital's prosperity. The reality, of course, is that Hua Lu Li is a hostage in all but name. 

To allay everyone's concerns, Hua Lu Li presents herself as a physically frail beauty - one that even the wind can blow over. Few see past her façade, but when Hua Lu Li matches wits with Crown Prince Ji Yuan Su, he discovers that she is more then she seems.  Eventually, both come to realise that they have meet their match💕  

  

Song of the Moon (2022) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  Song of the Moon (2022) - Decent acting from eye candy cast marred by a lackluster script 

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

Overall rating:         7 Stars Plot:                       6 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   7 stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      5 Stars Enjoyment factor:   6.5 Stars

Song of the Moon (2023) features a gorgeous main cast (Zhang Bin Bin, Wang You Shou, Wang Yi Lun, Xu Lu) in gorgeous xianxia settings, but the drama is mediocre at best.  

There are occasional moments that lift it above mediocrity in terms of xianxia angst and romance, but unfortunately, much of the 40 episode drama is spent on endless variations on the same theme.  

Even the heartfelt performances from the two deliciously gorgeous male leads failed to save this one from being something of a slog to get through. 

To be honest, my sole reason for persevering to the end and rating this a 7/10 rather than a 6.5/10 was because Zhang Bin Bin and Wang You Shou are just so damn fine...  

SPOILERS AHEADS