#35stars — Public Fediverse posts

The Epoch of Miyu (CDrama review)

Miyu was once the picture-perfect rich man’s ewife—devoted, loyal and utterly consumed by her marriage. Then, she finds out about her husband’s affair.

But the betrayal didn’t stop there. She divorces him after finding out the mistress, Lu Zhen Zhen, is pregnant, but Nie Yucheng hid his money from her so that she gets nothing after the divorce. Broke, heavily in debt and utterly humiliated, Miyu is forced to take a job as a housekeeper at a luxury hotel just to keep her head above water.

When working in Purong hotel, she discovers that Ji Feng, the hotel manager who had initially hid evidence of her husband’s affair from her, is an important hotel guest there. And to twist the knife even deeper, Lu Zhen Zhen—now Nie’s new wife—is also working at the same hotel as a manager.

Miyu had to endure cleaning rooms and serving her ex’s social circle, putting up with the gossip from her new colleagues, who saw her as nothing more than a fallen socialite.

But here’s the thing about Miyu: after a lifetime of putting others first to her own detriment, she wasn’t about to let pride or the past stop her. She was determined to rebuild her life, even if it meant facing Ji Feng and her husband’s new wife every single day.

Characters

The Characters (from left): Qiao Qi, Duan Jr, Lu Zhen Zhen, Ji Feng, Miyu, Nie Yucheng and Tan Ji Zhou.

Xu Mi Yu (played by Zhu Zhu): A former wife housewife to a wealthy man, she loses everything after her husband’s betrayal. She is determined to rebuild her life and become a skilled hotel manager.

Ji Feng (played by Wallace Chung): The capable and stern general manager of Purong Hotel who becomes a central figure in Miyu’s professional and personal life.

Nie Yu Cheng (played by Jing Chao): Miyu’s ex-husband and a wealthy businessman. He had an affair, got his mistress pregnant and left Miyu penniless.

Lu Zhen Zhen (played by Li Meng): Nie Yucheng’s mistress-turned-new-wife. She is an ambitious corporate and social climber.

Li Qiao Qi (played by Cristy Guo): Miyu’s best friend and the acting head chef at the hotel.

Xue Rui (played by Na Jia Wei): Ji Feng’s assistant who often interacts with Miyu.

Duan Jr. (played by Xu Hai Qiao): A troublesome figure who causes chaos, he’s the son of a wealthy investor and rival of Purong hotel.

Tan Ji Zhou (played by Ren Bin): A wealthy and persistent admirer of Miyu.

What I liked

That barely restrained look of contempt… ;P

The acting: This may be a soap, but Wallace Chung and Zhu Zhu’s acting was top tier, and the character development was rich.

The makjang factor: I keep telling people this – if we wanted realism, we’d watch a documentary! The Epoch of Miyu is like those K-dramas with ridiculous plots but we watch because the actors carry the crazy emotional twists so well.

I enjoyed Miyu’s pursuit for independence and her dream of becoming a skilled hotel manager. She didn’t turn into a tough boss lady; she retained her kindness while enforcing clear boundaries. I like her refreshing leadership style; how she leads with heart.

I love the brutally honest communication style between Miyu and Ji Feng. It would seem that they are so comfortable with each other that they’re able to really say what’s on their mind to each other or be at their “ugliest” emotionally.

Ji Feng’s character: I appreciated Ji Feng’s harshness and the fact that he didn’t always rescue Miyu. He acted more like a tough manager than a simp.

The hotel’s political drama was fun—like a palace drama, but in suits! I loved watching Ji Feng take down the Nepotistic Quartet (the lousy managers that were running down the hotel).

Our couple’s slow-burn romance? Delicious. Wallace Chung and Zhu Zhu brought a maturity to their scenes that made it feel real. And when Ji Feng finally got vulnerable and half-mad because of her, it was hot.

What I didn’t like

I know a soap doesn’t have to be realistic, but there are limits: Some plot developments were just too over-the-top; Miyu’s ascendance in a year was godlike, and her development can be Mary Sue-ish.

One-dimensional villains: Lu Zhen Zhen was just so one-dimensional and villainous. I get that she’s the antagonist, but a little depth wouldn’t hurt.

Thoughts about the ending

CLICK TO REVEAL

When I first watched the last episode, I wasn’t very satisfied. I thought, “What? After all that, Ji Feng gets left alone for one and a half years?”

But after a second, more focused rewatch I appreciated it a lot more, especially the endings each character got.

Miyu’s biggest dream was to become a skilled hotel manager, and getting into a premier school in Switzerland will make her ultimate goal come true.

Traditionally, dramas like this would end with her pregnant and married. Instead, they chose a different and braver route: celebrating her independence and her dreams. I appreciated the writers for honouring her journey and not derailing it for “love” (as they often do).

I celebrate the fact that she prioritized herself over Ji Feng, even though my heart breaks for him. The last shot of him staring at the Shanghai skyline and the fact that he often does this when he’s melancholic, was a bit heartbreaking. But hey, maybe seeing that he’s looking at it during the day time means that at least this time, while sad, he’s looking on with hope?

One and a half years is a short time. He can fly over to visit her anytime he wants; he’s rich, right? They can have Zoom calls and all. It will be hard, but as he promised, if she doesn’t come back, he’ll be there as the “velcro boyfriend.”

I loved how the drama celebrated themes of independence, ambition, and justice. Miyu’s journey was all about reclaiming her life and proving her worth, not just about a man that will her one true love.

The way the story tied up the loose ends for the other characters was so satisfying. Lu Zhen Zhen finally got what she deserved—fired and arrested, pitifully carrying her box out of the building. Poetic justice for all the pain she caused.

And Nie? Riddled with cancer, divorced, cuckolded. His downfall was pitiful and I almost feel sorry for him.

And I enjoyed the contrast between Miyu and Lu Zhen Zhen—two women shaped by difficult pasts, but who chose completely different paths.

Miyu’s mom and Lu Zhen Zhen’s mom both thought men were their salvation and Miyu and Lu Zhen Zhen grew up neglected as a result. However, Miyu chose kindness, while Lu Zhen Zhen became vicious, believing life was a survival game where you don’t win by being nice.

Conclusion

The Epoch of Miyu was a true dark horse, defying expectations and climbing the ratings charts to hit its peak at 35% on Yunhe.

Who would have thought a drama about hotel management could be this addictive? (Okay, fine, it’s also about CEO-like character falling in love with a housekeeper.)

Women on XiaoHongShu were posting photos of their boyfriends and husbands glued to the screen, with one poster sharing how her boyfriend insisted there was no romance—only hotel business. Turns out, even the most unlikely viewers couldn’t resist the soapy, high-stakes world of Purong Hotel.

Final rating: 3.5 out of 5

Not the most logical of dramas, but hey we’re not watching this one for realism!

#35Stars #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #ModernCdrama #TheEpochOfMiyu #TV #WallaceChung #ZhuZhu

Pursuit of Jade (2026) review

After he is seriously injured in a battle, the Marquis of Wu’an is found by Fan Changyu, a butcher from the village of Li’an. As he hides from his enemies in the village, he grows closer to Changyu and they eventually get into a marriage of convenience so that she can keep her house.

Meanwhile, schemes are afoot when a mysterious “merchant”, Qi Min, makes an appearance in their idyllic village.

Characters

Xie Zheng (played by Zhang Linghe): The Marquis of Wu’an, and famous general, he was ambushed and severely injured, forcing him to hide in a village.

Fan Changyu (played by Tian Xiwei): A simple lady who grew up in a family of butchers in Lin’an Town. Her parents died tragically at the hands of bandits. Born with immense physical strength, she is fiery, resilient, and tough.

Li Huaian (played by Ren Hao): Born into a prestigious family, he is accomplished in both literary and martial arts. He is ordered by his master to travel south to Lin’an.

Yu Qianqian (played by Kong Xueer): Manager of the Yixiang Lou restaurant and best friend Changyu. She has a dark past she wants to forget.

Qi Min (played by Deng Kai): A mysterious merchant with a cruel bent. He has a history with Qianqian.

What I Like About the Drama

The director’s craftsmanship makes this drama an exquisite experience. His camera work is absolutely gorgeous; every scene is framed like a piece of art. He knows how to bring out the best in his actors. I had seen both leads in previous works, but they were never as impressive as they are here.

The costumes, lighting, styling of the actors makes Pursuit of the Jade an exquisite experience.

The story’s bones is strong … mostly. Although I feel that the director spent a bit too long in the village, I understand the logic. He wanted establish Changyu and Xie Zheng’s motivations later. Consequently, the first half set in the village was excellent, even if slightly dragged out before the court politics kicked in.

Zhang Linghe performs well here. He hadn’t impressed me before, even in the much lauded Story of Kunning Palace much less Princess Royale. However, he did very well here. I feel that the director knew how to direct him, and he thrived under that direction.

Like I said, the director has a deft hand at bringing the best out of the actors and building up the characters, so they came to life, even the side characters.

I loved the slow-burn romance between the main couple.

The female lead’s “strong woman” trope was handled well.

Deng Kai should give the director lots of gifts because he blew up thanks to this drama.

A surprise discovery: Deng Kai, the second lead. He is usually unremarkable in other shows—not bad, just not notable. But here, he gets a humongous glow-up. He is not only gorgeous here (that grey wig worked hard!); his character literally stole the show, and he has since blown up in popularity. (He’s now one of Shiseido’s brand ambassadors. Talk about fast rise!) I expect him to secure more prominent, perhaps, leading roles in the future.

What I Didn’t Like

The court politics were vague. Bits and pieces of the story should’ve been sprinkled throughout the arc, but too much of it remained a mystery until the last arc. This left viewers clueless for most of the series.

We are left wondering: Who is who? Why are factions rebelling? Who are the scheming ministers? Because these elements lack foundation, the second half feels rootless and somewhat boring, despite dominating the runtime. The first half, though occasionally draggy, offered enjoyable character interactions. The second half, however, felt hollow and rushed—a typical rushed ending.

The romantic intensity didn’t reach the heights of Fated Hearts, which felt perfect with off-the-charts chemistry. Whilst I appreciated the romance in Pursuit of Jade, it didn’t feel “hot” enough for me. Ironically, the second couple was hotter and ultimately stole the show.

What I Thought About the Ending

Click to reveal my thoughts

The second half, however, felt hollow and rushed—a typical rushed ending.

Oddly, I had to force myself to watch the ending, which was happy, fortunately. There was a cute alternate ending where we explore what happened if the fire hadn’t happened. I felt sad for Qi Min. He would’ve been a noble crown prince

Final Thoughts

Interestingly, the drama faced significant controversy during its airing. I felt sorry for the director, as this was his first large-scale project since Blossom.

I’m unsure if the attention helped or hurt him, but any publicity is arguably good. Zhang Linghe faced scrutiny, coinciding with an NRTA report urging the industry to prioritise scriptwriting over “traffic stars.” Whilst the report wasn’t specifically about Pursuit of Jade, the timing was uncanny. There was much discussion about Zhang Linghe looking “too pretty” to be a general.

Admittedly, the director shoots in a way that actors seem to look ten times better than usual, and Zhang Linghe, whom I hadn’t previously considered handsome, was actually stunning here. This weirdly led to scandals labelling him the “Foundation General” due to heavy makeup. Odd because the “foundation generals” have been a thing for years, and somehow Zhang Linghe became the mascot for the issue somehow.

Overall, Pursuit of Jade is a really good show, one of those rare dramas that grabs you by the throat. However, unlike Fated Hearts, which wowed me from start to finish and remains endlessly rewatchable, I would likely only rewatch the first half of Pursuit of Jade. I didn’t enjoy the court politics enough to sit through the second half again.

Final rating: 3.5 out of 5

#35Stars #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #CostumedDrama #PursuitOfJade #TianXiwei #ZhangLinghe

What a Wonderful World (在人间) Chinese drama review

The only light in Xu Tian’s (Yin Fang) life is Jia Xiao Duo (Zhao Li Ying), a regular customer he picks up in his “job” as a rideshare driver. As he drives her from destination to destination, he is dragged into her odd adventures. Xiao Duo keeps him from thinking about his bleak and lonely life. She’s the only spark in his life; something he looks forward to besides the daily grind.

But then, mysterious events start happening around him, all seemingly tied to Xiao Duo…

Thoughts

When I tried to write the drama’s synopsis, I found myself at a loss. It’s that kind of drama where even a hint of the plot could spoil the viewer, but a bland synopsis would not do justice to this drama’s mind-bending premise.

But I’ll tell you this straight away: This was not an easy drama to watch or even digest.

The first episode will leave you clueless.

The second episode will leave you with more questions.

The third episode will leave you even more discombobulated.

By the fourth episode, you’re exasperated and wonder if you can continue.

And if you decide not to, this drama is not for you.

And I don’t mean this in a derogatory, “you’re not smart enough” way. It’s understandable that you can’t continue on. Because this drama takes a lot of work and patience.

I’m not saying that only smart people can appreciate the drama. Modern storytelling (across all media) has trained many of us (myself included!) to expect quicker pacing and definite story beats.

In fact, I nearly gave up on this drama in the fifth episode. However, the twist at the end kept me going.

More than meets the eye

Zhao Liying as Jia Xiao Duo.

This CDrama is not a slice of life, nor is it a romance. It’s kinda sci-fi-ish. Or maybe not. That much I can tell you. (If you’re impatient, you can skip to the spoilery review below. I think some people need to know what this drama is really about to truly keep going.)

In many ways this drama reminds me of Three-Body. You need to be the type to love experimental storytelling to appreciate this drama.

You need to be the type to patient enough to wait for the clarity that will come after the vagueness and confusion. You need to be comfortable not having a clue and not understanding what’s happening in the first few episodes.

Because the plot isn’t linear at all. Don’t expect the type of plots/filming method or storytelling style of a typical drama.

Yes, technically speaking, the script is weak at the start. It tried too hard to be mysterious, but only left viewers confused. The less patient and those with limited time to sit through a highly possible whacky/bad drama would bail.

So, why didn’t I?

I happened to be free, and was doing stuff around the house and watched the drama in the background. I was in also in a mood to be teased and to try something new.

If you’re not in this frame of mind, I don’t blame you at all for ditching it. I probably would’ve if I was not in a good mood that day and wanted something easy to digest.

But if you’re in a mood for some experimental TV, What a Wonderful World could just be the drama for you.

Spoilery review

(Please don’t read on if you don’t want to be spoiled)

Zhou Yi Wei as the scientist … or is he even real?

The reasons why I said it’s understandable that many won’t appreciate this drama is because the director made a commercial drama with zero consideration for the audience’s needs. It’s as if he wrote a fanfic for himself, so to speak.

Could it have told the story better and become more mainstream as a result? Yes. I think the storytelling is rough. Experimental it may be, but it could use a bit more coherence. But I liked how discombobulated I felt. It helped me step into the shoes of our main character.

That’s why I call this an “experiential” drama. It’s the kind of drama that will let you experience the mind and world view of our character, a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder.

In that sense, this drama is beautiful in the way it conveys the disorder.

There’s also another problem: We don’t know anything about our characters: There’s no backstory, no arc, no nothing.

To me, I think this is a good narrative choice. (Your mileage may vary.) It makes us feel disassociated, disconnected from the characters. If our characters don’t know WHO they are most of the time, denying us the God-level view is in, essence, helping us see things from their point of view. That’s my opinion, anyway.

That confusion you feel as a viewer, not knowing what’s real or not? Who’s an NPC or not?

Imagine being Xu Tian, not knowing whether YOU are real. Heck, you’re not even sure which character is really the real you?

Phew, imagine living this day by day. Which is why episode 5 is great, because our main character realises that the world they had been living, the woman/man they’d interacted with may not be real. That disorientation was painful, even for the viewer.

Sometimes it’s better to believe you’re not real. That you’re an NPC.

Because when our main character walks back to their real lives, seeing them scarf down a cold sandwich, lie in their cold beds in their equally bleak apartments … you’d prefer to be an NPC too.

Thoughts about the ending (spoilers)

Click to read the spoilers

At the end of the drama, I am left pondering about the meaning of life. I’m not even kidding. Our two leads’ ending has made me wonder: What kind of life is worth living?

Sure, the world says that you need to live life a certain way to be deemed successful or even be happy, but is it necessarily true for everyone?

The Easter egg scene at the end of the drama left me in a philosophical mood.

By normal people’s standards, their lives may be disturbing, but to them it is beautiful. And I think so too. (But the fact that I think it’s beautiful is also disturbing!)

Conclusion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-OSexHooOs

So, what do I think about the drama on a whole?

It’s a trip! hahaha. Literally, an acid-fuelled trip.

It’s an “experience”; it reminds me of art house movies that care more for experimentation than commercial norms.

Do I love it? Probably not in the same way I love crowd-pleasing dramas like A Moment But Forever or Feud.

But I adore that this CDrama exists because it gives me a lot of hope that there are some parts of C-entertainment that are trying to be different, to tell a story for the love of storytelling, not just for money.

Because surely the makers realise this drama is not the type to attract eyeballs or sponsors, but they made it anyway. We need this spirit to be nourished in Cdramaland.

CDramaland is often dominated by fast food storytelling that largely caters to audiences with particular tastes and aesthetics.

For example: the rising dominance of vertical dramas, it’s all about fast, steamy, wtf plots. And long dramas are starting to emulate their pacing and shock value.

And that’s why I am glad that A Wonderful World exists because it means that there are some parts of Cdramaland who dare to be experimental, to tell stories that are not conventional and most importantly, there are some people who are letting them! That gives me hope that C-entertainment can take some risks and not just fall back to safe but tired formulas.

Rating: 3.5

#35Stars #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #TV #ZhaoLiying