Yes, indeed I did watch this phenomenal series and, while not a gamer nor understanding much about the intricacies of this series, I treasured its theme and ambition. This series is breathtaking in its presentation, cinematography, storytelling, and acting. I was completely mesmerized and astonishingly could pretty much follow the gist of the story minus the minutiae and detailed storylines. Being a Westerner, I also got hopelessly entangled by the names and relationships of individuals. None of that mattered to me, however. My focus was on the two main protagonists and the heart of their story.
Category Archives: Chinese Reviews
“Adventure behind the Bronze Door” Series Review (Ep.1 to 32)
Wu Xie- I will keep him company from now, solve his problems and lead an ordinary life with him.
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“Meet You At the Blossom” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)
“Why do you always want to go back to the past?” – Quote from “Meet You At the Blossom”
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“Meet Me at the Blossom” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
Adapted from the novel Hua Kai You Shi, Tui Mi Wu Sheng by Shui Qian Cheng, the Chinese BL drama Meet Me at the Blossom brings together talents from China, Taiwan, and Thailand in a bold co-production. Starring Li Le as Zong Zheng Huai En and Wang Yun Kai as Jin Xiao Bao, The series revolves around Jin Xiao Bao, an affluent heir, who becomes infatuated with the mysterious Huai En, as Huai En’s true identity is revealed in dramatic and perilous circumstances.
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“Stand by Me” Series Review (Ep.1 to 20)
As is the case with most Chinese Bromances these days, Stand by Me premiered without much fanfare. It’s like most Chinese production houses are bidding their time to drop new releases without much promotions/marketing; especially if they are bromance/brotherhood related. It wasn’t surprising; what surprised me more was the classic pairing and the overall look as well as feel of this miniseries. If you love Republican era dramas, then you are in for a treat. Unlike “Winter Begonia”, which had a magnanimous setting and popular casting; Stand by Me does fall short of these things. However, it makes up for the loss with a storyline that is tight lined and actors that have a great chemistry. Obviously, Bromances are marketed based on the subtle, barely there romance between the male protagonists. We know it is there, we can see it, but because of Chinese censorship; we choose to ignore it. Tencent’s Stand by Me does live up to that premise; it is a beautifully orchestrated love story between two compatriots, who are also best friends. Let’s dig deeper and figure out if this short web series is worth your time!
“Stay With Me” Series Review (Ep.4 to 24)
How often do we see or read something that takes time to adapt or to process and then leaves us feeling lonely after we finished watching or reading it? Lots of BL dramas and movies are released every year, but only some of them leave a meaningful impact. Stay with Me is one of such dramas that left a deep impression on me. I was hooked from the first episode until the last one. Everything about this series starting from the story line, characters, settings to the direction, was topnotch. Like most of the people, I went into watching the series, thinking about how amazing and well-received the original Addicted was and I never thought that anyone can make a better version of the original show without ruining it. And I am very happy and glad to be wrong. As I had already mentioned in the first impressions- watch the show without comparing every little thing to original one.
“One In A Hundred” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)
Starring Liu Zi Rui as Baili Qian Chuan and Lu Dong Xu as Nan Bo Wan
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“Stay With Me” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 4)
“Stay With Me” is a Chinese BL/Bromance drama based on the novel “Addicted” by Chai Jidan. Anyone who is a BL lover and likes to explore things is already aware of the novels written by Chai Jidan.
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“Advance Bravely” Series Review (Ep.1 to 30)
When a novel has a series or movie version, expect it that it wouldn’t be exactly as the original content. Particularly if it is being adapted from Danmie/BL literature. Due to Chinese censorship restrictions, the love between the lead characters becomes platonic or bromance. It will then depend on the chemistry between the actors and their on-point acting skills to hook the audience to the said series.
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“In Your Heart” Series Review (Ep.1 to 8)
This is an astonishing and brilliant exercise in cinematic adroitness that has been, unfortunately misunderstood and misinterpreted, but not necessarily incorrectly. Does that sound like an oxymoron? Perhaps.
The BL Xpress 