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

  

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