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

  

Song of the Moon (2022) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Song of the Moon

Chinese title:  月歌行 (Eng translation: "Moon Song journey") 

Episodes: 40

Genre: Xianxia, fantasy, romance

Original network:  iQiyi

Release date:        15 Dec 2022

Airing schedule:    15 Dec 2022 - 10 Jan 2023

Synopsis:

When Liu Shao was 8 years old she met a mysterious immortal who granted her three days of perfect happiness in exchange for permission to change her fate in 10 years time. She grows up as a happy, carefree heiress, with a yearning to meet the immortal again.  

At 18, Liu Shao's life is endangered when the demoness Ao Hen tries to steal her spiritual essence.  She is rescued by Lu Li, a handsome young cultivator with high spiritual powers, who looks exactly like the immortal from Lui Shao's past and who only has half a heart.    

  

The Starry Love (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  The Starry Love (2023) - Hilarious and heartfelt xianxia take on "wrong carriage, right groom" tale 

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

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

The Starry Love (2023) is brilliant! 

What I thought would be yet another cookie-cutter xianxia turned into an enchanting and very funny watch. This drama has well-written relatable characters that will tug at your heartstrings and a witty script that deftly moves between side-splitting comedy and pathos.  

Be prepared to go on an emotional rollercoaster - I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters time and time again while laughing and crying. I have honestly never laughed so hard watching a xianxia.   

While I think The Starry Love (2023) doesn't quite stick the landing in the final episode, that does not detract much from my considerable enjoyment of the drama overall.  And boy am I impressed with the leads: Chen Xing Xu, Li Lan Di, Chen Mu Ci, He Xuan Lin - these four are definitely on my radar as young actors to watch!       

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Ancient Love Poetry (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Ancient Love Poetry

Chinese title: 千古玦塵 / 千古玦尘 (Translation: "Ancient Dust") 

Episodes:  49

Genre: Xianxia, fantasy, romance

Original network: Tencent

Release date:      17 June 2021

Airing schedule:  17 June 2021 - 28 July 2021

Synopsis:

Mortals can ask the gods for help, but who can the gods seek help from? 

In the ancient realm上古界, the four true gods are Shang Gu (the god of chaos),  Bai Jue (the god of war), Tian Qi (the god of demons) and Zhi Yang (god of heavens).  

Shang Gu is the supreme god over all the ancient realm.  But despite her high status, her spiritual power is low and she lives a carefree existence.  Under the tutelage of the austere Bai Jue, Shang Gu later comes into her true powers, mastering the power of chaos to truly become a supreme god who can uphold and protect the three realms.   

An enduring love blossoms between Shang Gu and Bai Jue, but the tribulation of chaos is Shang Gu's inescapable fate. To save the three realms she must sacrifice herself to the power of chaos, never to be reincarnated.  

  

Hello There (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  Hello There (2023) - Slapstick humour in a light-hearted and speedy romcom

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

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

Hello There (2023) is a short and sweet romcom, at 20 episodes spanning about 30 minutes each.  The drama attempts quite a bit of comic slapstick humour, which is a little hit and miss. That said, it is a quick and stress free watch, with gorgeous leads!  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Hello There (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Hello There 

Chinese title:  公子贵姓 (Eng translation: "Sir, what's your name?")

Episodes:  20 episodes

Genre: Romance, comedy, fantasy

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      31 Jan 2023 

Synopsis:

Tang Bu Yan is a woman on a mission.  As the head of the Tang sect, she is doomed to prematurely age and die by the age of 25 due to her bloodline (all members of the Tang family are under a similar blood curse).  That is, unless she can find her 'destined person', one said to have a teardrop mole at the corner of his eye.  

While trying to find her 'destined person' Tang Bu Yan meets the coolly elegant Li Cheng Xi, who has a teardrop mole, but who is not the cure to her blood curse.  He and his younger brother, Yun Gai Xue, also have a curse of their own which needs breaking.

  

My Sassy Princess (2022) - Final Review

Final review/rating: My Sassy Princess (2022) - A rapturously romantic feel-good romcom with sass and swoon-worthy chemistry

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

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

My Sassy Princess (2022) is romance with a capital R, with gorgeous and talented leads in Yuan Bing Yan and Zheng Ye Cheng, whose chemistry light up the screen. 

This is an eye-candy filled romcom that will tug at your heartstrings while making you laugh out loud as you watch a sassy flirt chase down her man. Sometimes you will be cringing with second-hand embarrassment, but that's all part of the fun.  There is also sufficient angst to make you root for the couple and their happy ending. 

At only 22 episodes long, this is short, satisfying, and very very sweet 💕

 SPOILERS AHEADS

  

My Sassy Princess (2022) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  My Sassy Princess 

Chinese title: 祝卿好 (Eng translation: "Wishing you well")

Episodes:  22 episodes

Genre: Romance, comedy, historical

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      16 April 2022 

Airing schedule:  16 April 2022 - 23 April 2022

Synopsis:

Liu Ling, the beautiful Princess Chang Le, is infamous for her domineering ways and her reputation as the most evil lady in Jiang province precedes her. Not that this sassy princess cares.  

When Liu Ling meets Imperial Guard Shen Yan, she falls in love with him at first sight.  She begins a determined pursuit of Shen Yan, using every flirtatious trick in her arsenal, but can "Lady Evil" melt the heart of her "Cold-faced Hades"? Liu Ling wrangles her way into joining Shen Yan's investigative team to find out.  

At first it seems that Shen Yan will be entirely impervious to her wiles.  But as Liu Ling and Shen Yan face danger together and come to a better understanding of each other on their journey, they find that they may have met the one person in the world that they cannot live without...

  

The Starry Love (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  The Starry Love 

Chinese title:  星落凝成糖 (Eng translation: "Falling Stars form sweetness") 

Episodes: 40

Genre: Xianxia, romance, fantasy, comedy

Original network: Youku

Release date:      16 Feb 2023

Airing schedule:  16 Feb -  11 March 2023    

Synopsis:

Twin girls are born to the mortal realm's Emperor.  

The elder sister, Princess Qing Kui, is beloved by the Emperor and betrothed to the heavenly prince. She is gentle and kind. The younger sister, Princess Ye Tan, is loathed by the Emperor for being inauspicious and betrothed to the demon prince.  Although she is also kind-hearted, Ye Tan has survived the last 18 years on her wit and cunning, and her prickly exterior hides a vulnerable heart. 

Despite their upbringing, the sisters share a close sisterly bond.  

On the day they are due to be married off to their respective grooms, a mix-up occurs and Qing Kui ends up in the demonic void realm, whilst Ye Tan ends up in the heavenly realm.  But perhaps some mistakes are meant to be as Qing Kui finds herself falling for the devilish 3rd Prince Chao Feng, while Ye Tan finds that sparks fly between her and straitlaced heavenly prince Shao Dian You Qin.

  

Wulin Heroes (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating:  Wulin Heroes (2023) - What's an amnesiac ginseng fairy to do when she meets all the boys she's loved before?*

* Or the boys she thought she loved and who claim to love her but betrayed her and/or will betray her; or the boys who truly loved her and lost her; or most importantly, the boy who is her one true love?  

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

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

Despite its title, Wulin Heroes (2023) has precious little to do with wulin and the martial arts world.  It is probably generous to class this as wuxia. Think of it instead as a romcom with a large side of amnesia: What's an amnesiac ginseng fairy to do when she meets all the boys she's loved before?*

The trick to enjoying this drama is not to go in with unrealistic expectations. If you are expecting true blue wuxia like Li Hong Yi's recent The Blood of Youth (2022) you will be disappointed.  On the other hand, if you are wanting a somewhat chaotic, cheap and cheerful (and in my view rather charming) romcom with eye candy galore, this one is for you. 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Under the Microscope (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Under the Microscope (2023) - A quixotic quest to right a mathematical injustice in an unjust world

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

Overall rating:        9 Stars Plot:                      9 Stars Acting/cast:           10 Stars Chemistry:             10 Stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      9 Stars Enjoyment factor:   9 Stars

Under the Microscope (2023) gives us Zhang Ruo Yun in a refreshingly different historical drama.  

On offer are maths, tax fraud on an epic scale, and an unlikely hero from the common people in mathematical savant Shuai Jia Mo, whose determination to correct the numbers stirs up a hornet's nest.  

Who would have thought that a drama on math and tax evasion of all things could be so damn riveting? Yet this surprisingly accessible gem of a drama packs an intellectual and emotional punch. At only 14 episodes long, Under the Microscope (2023) makes every episode count.       

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

A League of Nobleman (2023) - Final Review

Final review/rating: A League of Nobleman (2023) - An all-male cast shine in this atmospheric tale of vindication and vengeance 

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

Overall rating:        8.5 Stars Plot:                      8.5 Stars Acting/cast:            9 Stars Chemistry:             9 Stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      9 Stars Enjoyment factor:   8.5 Stars

 Zhang Ping and Lan Jue investigate

After languishing in pre-production and editing purgatory for what seems like an eternity, A League of Nobleman (2023) was released with little fanfare and in large tranches that can only be described as a binge-watcher's dream. 

It is an unabashedly male-centric drama and lordy, Jing Bo Ran is mighty fine in this as Lan Jue. And if you are wondering what's better than one intelligent man, the answer is definitely a whole league of them 😍 

This drama has intelligent detective work, drop dead gorgeous cinematography and cast, and more twists and turns then your average whodunnit.  

It is a pity that the drama has been heavily edited, but the drama still retains its coherency and an oh-so-subtle sensuous undertone.  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Under the Microscope (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Under the Microscope 

Chinese title:  显微镜下的大明 / 顯微鏡下的大明 (Eng translation: "The Ming dynasty under the Microscope") 

Episodes: 14

Genre: Historical, mystery, thriller 

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      9 Feb 2023

Airing schedule:  9 Feb -  19 Feb 2023    

Synopsis:

When mathematical savant Shuai Jia Mo stumbles across a county-wide discrepancy in Ren Hua county's land titles, he decides to investigate. 

He duly discovers that some devious shenanigans are afoot: For the past 100 years, Ren Hua county has been overpaying a mysterious "silk poll tax"(人丁丝绢) of 3,350 taels per year because it has been footing the bill for the surrounding 7 counties as well.  The number 3,350 is also a significant numerical signpost in Shuai Jia Mo's murky memories of the past...

While trying to prove the silk poll tax discrepancy, Shuai Jia Mo encounters many obstacles as those who want to keep the status quo try to prevent him from succeeding by any means necessary.  

  

A League of Nobleman (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  A League of Nobleman

Chinese title:  君子盟 (Eng translation: "Gentlemen's Alliance") 

Episodes: 29

Genre: Historical, mystery, detective, thriller 

Original network: Tencent

Release date:      30 Jan 2023

Airing schedule:  30 Jan -  13 Feb 2023    

Synopsis:

Lan Jue (courtesy name Pei Zhi) is a talented young assistant minister in the Ministry of Rites, whose star is outwardly on the ascent.  However, Lan Jue's little-known past casts a shadow on his present, and he has lived with a secret purpose for the last 20 years, the advancement of which could threaten not only his standing but his life.  

In the course of a secret operation, Lan Jue crosses paths with Zhang Ping, an impoverished young scholar who ekes out a living by selling noodles whilst waiting to sit the civil service examinations.  Because of Zhang Ping's inquisitive nature, talented deductive powers, and persistence, he solves the case.  However, this also inadvertently wrecks Lan Jue's carefully laid plans, especially when Zhang Ping later becomes aware of Lan Jue's secret. 

  

Wulin Heroes (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Wulin Heroes

Chinese title: 武林有侠气 (Eng translation: "Wulin has heroism") 

Episodes: 22

Genre: Romance, comedy, wuxia, historical

Original network: Youku

Release date:        29 Jan 2023

Airing schedule:    29 Jan - 15 Feb 2023

Synopsis:

When ginseng fairy Ye Xi uses part of her essence to save the divine physician and swordsman Bai Yue, she unintentionally binds their fates together.

As the idealistic Ye Xi travels through jianghu hoping to do good, she finds herself embroiled in various fiascos as she meets, in various lifetimes, men who seek to exploit her martial arts prowess and/or her feelings for their own ends as well as those who truly love her.  Ye Xi's reputation is tarnished as she becomes known as a demoness siren. Time and time again, she is betrayed and 'dies', yet each time, it is Bai Yue who helps her pick up the pieces, 'burying' her in soil so that her ginseng spirit can regenerate. 

  

Who rules the World (2022) - Final review

Final review/rating:  Who rules the World (2022) - The ultimate power couple take on jianghu and politics 

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

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

Who rules the World (2022) was marketed as a wuxia, but is really primarily a political drama with some jianghu elements thrown in. It is an ambitious top tier (S+) production and it shows in the glitz and glamour, sophisticated CGI, and the gorgeous no expenses spared production quality.  Alas the production quality is not matched by an equally good script.

Although the power couple of Yang Yang's Hei Feng Xi and Zhao Lu Si's Bai Feng Xi are an absolute joy to watch, the script is at best mediocre and spends too much time and energy on the tediously predictable power struggles within Youngzhou.  It really could have been called "Who rules Youngzhou" instead...  

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Who rules the World (2022) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Who rules the World 

Chinese title: 且试天下

Episodes: 40

Genre: Wuxia, political, romance, historical

Original network: Tencent

Release date:        18 April 2022

Airing schedule:    18 April - 17 May 2022

Synopsis:

The Da Dong empire consists of six States, each ruled by a king swearing allegiance to Da Dong's emperor.  But when the imperial token is lost, unrest ripples across the political world because the token will lend legitimacy to any claim to be the next emperor, and the respective rulers of the six States do not lack ambition.  At the same time, an ancient evil sect long thought to be defeated resurfaces in jianghu, threatening to unleash destruction.    

Amidst this backdrop, jianghu's most powerful duo, the handsome and elegant Hei Feng Xi and the beautiful and carefree Bai Feng Xi join hands to uncover the conspiracy.  Both have hidden identities and must stay three steps ahead of their enemies, as they seek to unmask the hidden hand that is drawing all into a chaotic and bloody power struggle.  

But can Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi prevail against the odds? And who will ultimately rule the world? 

  

Heroes (2022) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Heroes (2022) - True blue wuxia that falls short of greatness 

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

Overall rating:         8.5 Stars Plot:                       7 Stars Acting/cast:            7 Stars Couple chemistry:   6 stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      7 Stars Enjoyment factor:   8 Stars

I've been missing traditional wuxia lately.  The most recent offerings have been an alloy of other genres...  For example, the brilliant Sword, Snow, Stride (2021) was definitely wuxia with a xuanhuan /fantasy bent (ie. slow-mo and CGI heavy), and whilst Who rules the World (2022) was marketed as wuxia, it was primarily a political drama with some jianghu thrown in.  

When Heroes (2022) came along, I was therefore very excited by the prospect of some true blue wuxia.  After all, 《說英雄誰是英雄》is one of Wen Rui An's seminal works, and Wang Xiao Shi's part of the story is a prequel of sorts to, and set in the same universe as, The Four Constables 《四大名捕》, which has been the subject of many drama adaptations.  Short of some Jin Yong or Gu Long (who have both been endlessly and not necessarily well adapted for the screen), Heroes (2022) offered the chance to witness traditional wuxia done right.    

Did Heroes (2022) deliver? Yes and no... There is enough fast-paced choreography, compelling characters, and jianghu elements to justify a spot on the wuxia mantlepiece.  The drama is also a visual feast for the eyes, gorgeously shot by a director (Li Mu Ge) who knows how to evoke beauty and atmosphere through his lens.  However, a less then deft mangling of the portrayal of one of the key characters which departs from the original source novel and the somewhat uneven acting by the trio of rookie idol actors meant this fell short of greatness.  

SPOILERS AHEADS