Date: 1/11/19- 1/17/19
I Will Never Let You Go (Chinese Drama)
With Ariel Lin and Zhang Bin Bin as the leads, it was really difficult to not get excited for this one especially when Ariel Lin’s character is reminiscent of her well known character in The Legend of the Condor Hero (2008, a beloved classic where she also dressed up as a beggar).
Synopsis: Admonished by her uncle since she was young that she must do everything to hide her identity, our heroine lived as a beggar even though she has a great talent in making money. Saved by her idol, the legendary masked swordsman when she was pursued by assassins, our heroine promptly loses her heart to our hero but of course our two leads must conquer the dark conspiracies hiding in our heroine’s past.
First episode looks great! Ariel Lin is obviously very comfortable with her character and it shows through her great comedic timing. I will admit that I was a tiny bit worried about the pairing of between Ariel Lin and Zhang Bin Bin since she is after all ten years older than him in real life. However, judging by the first episode, I think my worry was for nothing because the chemistry between our two leads is great so far.
(1/15: Up to episode 6) The show continues to be fun and I am really loving the fun chemistry between the two leads! The romance is not there yet since our hero still believes our heroine to be his half sister but he obviously is starting to care for her.
Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom (Japanese Drama, New)
Well known as the nice and easily bullied teacher of the school, Mr. Hiiragi’s 29 students of classroom 3A are stunned when a bomb goes off in their school 10 days before graduation and the teacher who they have always looked down upon declares that they are all his hostages from this point on…until they can figure out the real reason why one of their own had chosen to kill herself.
I really didn’t think I would be interested in a show with such a premise but the story was surprisingly compelling and intriguing…albeit still very depressing.
1/15
Detective Zero (Japanese Drama, New)
Injured while capturing a serial killer, our hero, a seasoned detective with a legendary reputation among the police force wakes up in a hospital room without any memory of the last 20 years. Scared that he would lose his job if his amnesia is known, our hero hides his condition but of course he is all but a rookie. Thankfully, the amnesia somehow gave our hero a heightened sense of smell and a photographic memory which help greatly as our hero bumbles around with his new partner solving crimes.
The crime cases are your usual J-criminal drama fare but our hero’s amnesia adds a great comedic flair to the story.
Queen (Japanese Drama)
Our heroine is a lawyer but instead of battling in the courtroom, our heroine’s expertise is in crisis management. Helping women who are trapped in scandals that could destroy their life, our heroine will do whatever it takes to help her clients while making sure justice is served.
This one has a fun wacky vibe and the cases are pretty heartwarming.
Lovely Unlovely (Japanese Drama, New)
As co-workers, our three female leads have very little in common other than their workplace…and the fact that they are all “ugly” in other people’s eyes. (Ugly here doesn’t mean appearance but in other ways such as personality or rejecting the world.) Resigned and fooling themselves into believing their way of life is just fine, the three women are stunned when a god shows up and challenge them into becoming “Just Right Ugly Woman”.
This one was surprisingly cute and fun. The show obviously doesn’t take itself very seriously at all and that’s part of the charm. While I think there will be some romance but the self discovery and growth of the three girls will most likely be the focus of the show.
1/17
The Crowned Clown (Korean Drama)
A remake of the 2011 K-movie Masquerade, The Crowned Clown tells the story of an ordinary street performer who ends up pretending to be the emperor, thanks to the real emperor’s obsessive suspicion that someone is out to kill him.
With Yeo Jin Goo (Reunited Worlds) playing out hero, I had high expectation for this one and is glad to report that episode one was everything I had hoped for. I haven’t had a chance to check out the other episodes yet but Mama Ninja has been following this one. Since Mama Ninja is fairly picky (the leads have to be pleasing to the eyes, acting solid, fast pacing and etc.) I take that as a good sign.
Somewhere Only We Know (Chinese Drama, New)
With the seemingly endless number of “innocent high school/college first love” C-drama out last bit, I have had a REALLY difficult time mustering up any interest in new shows with a similar premise. However, Somewhere Only We Know managed to capture my interest right from the beginning. The story has a lot of stereotypes but it feels refreshing and fun despite that so I think I might actually put this one on my watch list for now.
Shows I Keep Thinking I should Watch…But Just Simply Don’t Have Time:
Confession time. I rarely watch a show from beginning to end anymore. Not that there aren’t shows I am interested in but if I am going to check out new shows each week and write a post on them that means I have very little time to follow the currently airing dramas. Still, while I might not be following a certain show, I do wonder about the shows I thought was very promising and am dying to know if they continued to be as good as I had hoped them to be. So I thought I would ask you guys instead.
Here are the shows I have been wondering about this week. Please drop me a line if you have been following it and let me know which one I should sacrifice my beauty sleep for:
The Story of Ming Lan: How’s the pacing on this one? How’s the chemistry between the two leads once they are grown up?
Behind the Scenes (C-Drama): I was on the fence on this one because I thought it had the potential to be good but it could also get draggy. Anyone following this one? Please tell me our two leads will eventually stop looking like they will fall over at any time.
Encounter (K-drama): I am only up to episode 6 on this one but I really want to go back and check it out. Are you guys liking it?
Fates and Furies (K-drama): I am only up to episode 8 on this one. I loved the sizzling chemistry between the two leads…must find time to get back to it.
The Last Empress (K-drama): I thought the first 8 episodes were just all right but I am curious if the show improved once the two leads actually started to interact with one another.
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i interested with “I Will Never Let You Go”
let’s watch 😀
I currently watching The Story of Ming Lan, this one is worth for you to sacrifice your beauty sleep lol 😀
Even sometimes i feel the drama is too slow but still can’t stop watching it, i curious about the prosses, how they can end up together
About your question, they chemistry is so great
Btw, i watching “I Will Never Let You Go” too (until eps 4), it’s pretty good but not yet sure b’coz The King’s Woman dissapointed me so much, so i doubt this one until the end of episode or reach the end of episode
Btw i have a request….
Please translate “three lives three worlds, ten miles of peach blossoms” (bai qian & ye hua)
And “the legend of chusen” novel
😢
For me to be tempted to translate a novel a few conditions have to exist first. 1.I have to like the novel. 2. The drama changed the story AND left out the good stuff that it would be a shame to not share the good bits from the novel. 3. There is enough interest in the novel translation.
Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms is a good novel but between the novel and the movie, everything in the novel was covered. It was kinda of a light story so not only did the production used everything in the novel but they had to add more details and secondary storylines to have enough material for the drama. Which is why I wouldn’t be tempted to translate Ten Miles since there is really nothing new you would gather from the story.
As for The Legend of Chusen…I haven’t read the novel yet but I will take a look at it. I didn’t follow the show…and the ending wasn’t the sort that made me want to go back and check it out. So unless the novel has a different ending then I can’t see myself doing this one either.
Ok, i understand for ten miles.
For the legend of chusen, i though this drama is really bad (even i still watching it, lol 😆 ).
i know a little about the story because i played the online game (MMPORG-jade dinasty) and the game’s story was adopted from this novel.
I have read the novels translations too but not many, so i think your translation will be good.
Like the journey of flower, in fact i don’t like the drama (especially bai zihua character), but after reading your translations…..
wow …. i like it 😚
So…hope you are interested enough to translate it (the legend of chusen)
Lol 😄
I’m currently watching I Will Never Let You Go (ep 9) and am finding it pretty interesting…but then again this is just the beginning of the 50+ episodes run.
I’ve dropped Flipped…it became draggy and lost the plot pretty quickly.
Another one I recently picked up is Destiny of the White Snake, not to be confused with the recently released The Legend of White Snake. One stars Ashes of Love FL and the other Han Yuxi FL. The drama is addictive….my only hope is that it doesn’t end in blood & tears….my laptop’s blood and my tears…LOL! Have you watched it?
Haven’t watched any of the ones you listed except a few subbed scenes here & there, so can’t comment on them.
Thanks for taking time out for the recaps & chatter.
Destiney of the White Snake got really good reviews. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I watched the beginning then like the last 12 episodes…and cried my eyes out. I liked the ending though so no worries there. I love the OST as well and has been listening to it the last bit.
That’s a relief..!! Seeing the leads separated after watching them for 50-60+ epis, trying to be together, is such a heart burner!!!
Now I can watch the series with a lighter heart! Thank you!
Story of Ming Lan is definitely high quality! The pacing is definitely leisurely, but I don’t consider it draggy. The series takes care to establish relationships, so everything feels natural and organic and the show quite often gets me in the feels. Also, I personally find the chemistry between the leads believable (I mean, they got married IRL! lol) – but I mean they JUST got married in the drama so I’m hoping the chemistry will only build from here.
In any case, if you’re in the mood for action or a fast paced drama, this won’t be a good fit, but whenever you’re feeling a relaxing, family-centric drama that brings emotions to life, do give it a go 🙂