An Xiang! At last!!!!!!

I apologize because I know I have been posting like a chipmunk on speed but I must share.

I have been obsessed with watching An Xiang, Huang Xiaoming's drama, with my kryptonite "they are fake lovers who fall for each other for real" OTP, for literally years.

And DoReMii has just subbed the first three eps! My quest to get my hands on Huang Xiao Ming dramas is one step closer!

Watch this sample clip and tell me you don't understand my obsession:

Also, has HXM has EVER been in anything that is not bone-crushingly angsty?

Rhetorical question, I know. The man does cdramas, after all.

Btw, the tags are not a joke - there are some drama actors I like more than HXM, but none of them do I find hit me with their gorgeousness the way he does. Something about him just bypasses my sanity and goes straight for the lizard part of the brain.

An Xiang! At last!!!!!!

I apologize because I know I have been posting like a chipmunk on speed but I must share.

I have been obsessed with watching An Xiang, Huang Xiaoming's drama, with my kryptonite "they are fake lovers who fall for each other for real" OTP, for literally years.

And DoReMii has just subbed the first three eps! My quest to get my hands on Huang Xiao Ming dramas is one step closer!

Watch this sample clip and tell me you don't understand my obsession:

Also, has HXM has EVER been in anything that is not bone-crushingly angsty?

Rhetorical question, I know. The man does cdramas, after all.

Btw, the tags are not a joke - there are some drama actors I like more than HXM, but none of them do I find hit me with their gorgeousness the way he does. Something about him just bypasses my sanity and goes straight for the lizard part of the brain.

An Xiang! At last!!!!!!

I apologize because I know I have been posting like a chipmunk on speed but I must share.

I have been obsessed with watching An Xiang, Huang Xiaoming's drama, with my kryptonite "they are fake lovers who fall for each other for real" OTP, for literally years.

And DoReMii has just subbed the first three eps! My quest to get my hands on Huang Xiao Ming dramas is one step closer!

Watch this sample clip and tell me you don't understand my obsession:

Also, has HXM has EVER been in anything that is not bone-crushingly angsty?

Rhetorical question, I know. The man does cdramas, after all.

Btw, the tags are not a joke - there are some drama actors I like more than HXM, but none of them do I find hit me with their gorgeousness the way he does. Something about him just bypasses my sanity and goes straight for the lizard part of the brain.

Bu Bu Jing Xin - gorgeousness and nuance

I have a confession - I wasn't particularly interested in BBJX, the other 'woman time-travels to Qing to witness the fight for succession among Kang Xi's sons' drama. I love Liu Shi Shi, who plays the protagonist, but the trailers didn't grab me in any way, and Nicky Wu, the Fourth Prince and one of two male leads, is simply not my cup of tea in Qing get-up (now, if we are doing modern, we are talking!)

And yet when it recently started airing, every single person on my flist who watches cdramas, started raving about it. So, with some curiousity, I decided to watch the first episode. And the result was I fell in love, irrevocably so, within the first two minutes. It's gorgeous (one of the most gorgeously filmed dramas I've ever seen), well-acted, well-written, with a wistful tone throughout. And it's smart! It's a tragedy that doesn't forget the brain.

The story revolves around a modern woman who suffers an accident and wakes up as Ruoxi, a Manchu noblewoman in the later part of Kang Xi's reign. Throughout the story, she ends up getting involved with the (in)famous nine princes and, trying to prevent the bloody succession fight, might inadvertently bring it closer. I believe she interacts with most of the princes, but the two main ones for the story are the Fourth Prince and future emperor (Nicky Wu) and the Eighth Prince (Kevin Cheng. Where has this man been all my life? GORGEOUS).

Before I get on to anything else, I want to address the big elephant in the room - Jade Palace Lock Heart. For those who have watched Jade Palace Lock Heart, the set-up is startlingly familiar (though here her OTP is Four). A lot of people I've seen who love BBJX are people who really disliked JPLH. I am here to assure my fellow JPLH lovers that it is possible to love both. Because I do. The thing is, despite the similar plot, the story itself is very different. JPLH made me think of a cracky, shippy, giddy shoujo manga. BBJX is an introspective period piece. Each has a place in my heart. Both have strong heroines, gorgeous men (though as a Feng Shao Feng fangirl, even all the princes in BBJX put together do not trump him for me :P). If you want a more traditional love story, JPLH is the better bet (BBJX gets very messy and appropriately period-complicated). But BBJX is so very smart and subtle and nuanced and gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Oh, and a word on Nicky Wu. While I still think that Qing style does him no favors, I am kind of adoring his Four whenever he is on screen. He and LSS have amazing chemistry and his on-screen presence is compensating for the looks. Even if I am still Team Eight. Because Kevin Cheng - oh my God. Oh my God. I think I need to watch Ghetto Justice asap.

Have the song from closing credits. It serves as a good preview of the drama, to see if it's your thing:

I have just watched the first ep and need more like a crack addict needs more.

Bu Bu Jing Xin - gorgeousness and nuance

I have a confession - I wasn't particularly interested in BBJX, the other 'woman time-travels to Qing to witness the fight for succession among Kang Xi's sons' drama. I love Liu Shi Shi, who plays the protagonist, but the trailers didn't grab me in any way, and Nicky Wu, the Fourth Prince and one of two male leads, is simply not my cup of tea in Qing get-up (now, if we are doing modern, we are talking!)

And yet when it recently started airing, every single person on my flist who watches cdramas, started raving about it. So, with some curiousity, I decided to watch the first episode. And the result was I fell in love, irrevocably so, within the first two minutes. It's gorgeous (one of the most gorgeously filmed dramas I've ever seen), well-acted, well-written, with a wistful tone throughout. And it's smart! It's a tragedy that doesn't forget the brain.

The story revolves around a modern woman who suffers an accident and wakes up as Ruoxi, a Manchu noblewoman in the later part of Kang Xi's reign. Throughout the story, she ends up getting involved with the (in)famous nine princes and, trying to prevent the bloody succession fight, might inadvertently bring it closer. I believe she interacts with most of the princes, but the two main ones for the story are the Fourth Prince and future emperor (Nicky Wu) and the Eighth Prince (Kevin Cheng. Where has this man been all my life? GORGEOUS).

Before I get on to anything else, I want to address the big elephant in the room - Jade Palace Lock Heart. For those who have watched Jade Palace Lock Heart, the set-up is startlingly familiar (though here her OTP is Four). A lot of people I've seen who love BBJX are people who really disliked JPLH. I am here to assure my fellow JPLH lovers that it is possible to love both. Because I do. The thing is, despite the similar plot, the story itself is very different. JPLH made me think of a cracky, shippy, giddy shoujo manga. BBJX is an introspective period piece. Each has a place in my heart. Both have strong heroines, gorgeous men (though as a Feng Shao Feng fangirl, even all the princes in BBJX put together do not trump him for me :P). If you want a more traditional love story, JPLH is the better bet (BBJX gets very messy and appropriately period-complicated). But BBJX is so very smart and subtle and nuanced and gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Oh, and a word on Nicky Wu. While I still think that Qing style does him no favors, I am kind of adoring his Four whenever he is on screen. He and LSS have amazing chemistry and his on-screen presence is compensating for the looks. Even if I am still Team Eight. Because Kevin Cheng - oh my God. Oh my God. I think I need to watch Ghetto Justice asap.

Have the song from closing credits. It serves as a good preview of the drama, to see if it's your thing:

I have just watched the first ep and need more like a crack addict needs more.

Bu Bu Jing Xin - gorgeousness and nuance

I have a confession - I wasn't particularly interested in BBJX, the other 'woman time-travels to Qing to witness the fight for succession among Kang Xi's sons' drama. I love Liu Shi Shi, who plays the protagonist, but the trailers didn't grab me in any way, and Nicky Wu, the Fourth Prince and one of two male leads, is simply not my cup of tea in Qing get-up (now, if we are doing modern, we are talking!)

And yet when it recently started airing, every single person on my flist who watches cdramas, started raving about it. So, with some curiousity, I decided to watch the first episode. And the result was I fell in love, irrevocably so, within the first two minutes. It's gorgeous (one of the most gorgeously filmed dramas I've ever seen), well-acted, well-written, with a wistful tone throughout. And it's smart! It's a tragedy that doesn't forget the brain.

The story revolves around a modern woman who suffers an accident and wakes up as Ruoxi, a Manchu noblewoman in the later part of Kang Xi's reign. Throughout the story, she ends up getting involved with the (in)famous nine princes and, trying to prevent the bloody succession fight, might inadvertently bring it closer. I believe she interacts with most of the princes, but the two main ones for the story are the Fourth Prince and future emperor (Nicky Wu) and the Eighth Prince (Kevin Cheng. Where has this man been all my life? GORGEOUS).

Before I get on to anything else, I want to address the big elephant in the room - Jade Palace Lock Heart. For those who have watched Jade Palace Lock Heart, the set-up is startlingly familiar (though here her OTP is Four). A lot of people I've seen who love BBJX are people who really disliked JPLH. I am here to assure my fellow JPLH lovers that it is possible to love both. Because I do. The thing is, despite the similar plot, the story itself is very different. JPLH made me think of a cracky, shippy, giddy shoujo manga. BBJX is an introspective period piece. Each has a place in my heart. Both have strong heroines, gorgeous men (though as a Feng Shao Feng fangirl, even all the princes in BBJX put together do not trump him for me :P). If you want a more traditional love story, JPLH is the better bet (BBJX gets very messy and appropriately period-complicated). But BBJX is so very smart and subtle and nuanced and gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Oh, and a word on Nicky Wu. While I still think that Qing style does him no favors, I am kind of adoring his Four whenever he is on screen. He and LSS have amazing chemistry and his on-screen presence is compensating for the looks. Even if I am still Team Eight. Because Kevin Cheng - oh my God. Oh my God. I think I need to watch Ghetto Justice asap.

Have the song from closing credits. It serves as a good preview of the drama, to see if it's your thing:

I have just watched the first ep and need more like a crack addict needs more.

I think I have an obsession!

Ever wanted a period cdrama with epic battles that was yet woman-centric? I think I may have found one for you - Ruby Lin's upcoming magnum opus Qing Shi Huang Fei, starring Ruby herself as the protagonist, a princess tangled in plots and rebellions of the time, Yan Kuan (who I loved since Da Ren Wu) as her OTP and Wallace Huo (!!!!!!) as the story's antihero. It is set in the fractured times between Tang and Song dynasties.

Plus, this official MV made me nearly die of glee at the angst and shipping and hurt/comfort and swords and dysfunction.

Here is the official trailer:

I think I have my most anticipated drama for 2011.

It's a good thing I adore YK because I'd find it hard to resist Wallace Huo, furs and desire to marry a woman by threatening her OTP notwithstanding. In Ruby's place, I'd totally do timeshares with the two of them.

( Gorgeous stills )

I think I have an obsession!

Ever wanted a period cdrama with epic battles that was yet woman-centric? I think I may have found one for you - Ruby Lin's upcoming magnum opus Qing Shi Huang Fei, starring Ruby herself as the protagonist, a princess tangled in plots and rebellions of the time, Yan Kuan (who I loved since Da Ren Wu) as her OTP and Wallace Huo (!!!!!!) as the story's antihero. It is set in the fractured times between Tang and Song dynasties.

Plus, this official MV made me nearly die of glee at the angst and shipping and hurt/comfort and swords and dysfunction.

Here is the official trailer:

I think I have my most anticipated drama for 2011.

It's a good thing I adore YK because I'd find it hard to resist Wallace Huo, furs and desire to marry a woman by threatening her OTP notwithstanding. In Ruby's place, I'd totally do timeshares with the two of them.

( Gorgeous stills )

I think I have an obsession!

Ever wanted a period cdrama with epic battles that was yet woman-centric? I think I may have found one for you - Ruby Lin's upcoming magnum opus Qing Shi Huang Fei, starring Ruby herself as the protagonist, a princess tangled in plots and rebellions of the time, Yan Kuan (who I loved since Da Ren Wu) as her OTP and Wallace Huo (!!!!!!) as the story's antihero. It is set in the fractured times between Tang and Song dynasties.

Plus, this official MV made me nearly die of glee at the angst and shipping and hurt/comfort and swords and dysfunction.

Here is the official trailer:

I think I have my most anticipated drama for 2011.

It's a good thing I adore YK because I'd find it hard to resist Wallace Huo, furs and desire to marry a woman by threatening her OTP notwithstanding. In Ruby's place, I'd totally do timeshares with the two of them.

( Gorgeous stills )

Revenge, Hong Kong style.

For my first foray into contemporary Hong Kong dramas, I picked 2008 revenge drama Last One Standing. Firstly, because revenge genre is one of my favorites and secondly because it stars Kevin Cheng and after the first ep of Bu Bu Jing Xin, I have developed a sudden and massive crush. Only one ep of BBJX is yet subbed but my new obsession must be assuaged. A lot of people recommended Seventh Day with him, but I am not in the mood for a terminal illness romance and I had LOS downloaded ages ago.



LOS revolves around Hei (Kevin Cheng). Ten years ago, in an (understandable) fit of rage, he murdered his stepfather, who has been molesting his sister. Convicted largely on testimony of his cousin Yip, Hei has been sentenced to a decade of jail time but is out as the story opens.

Hei's life is over. Nobody will hire him, he has no future, and his own mother (who would be the ideal wife for stepfather from Mars) thinks Hei is a murdering monster who maligned the dear departed. He is also a violent mess. If he wasn't a psycho before he went in, he certainly is borderline now. I actually really like it because, let's face it, if you do a decade of hard time, results aren't going to be pretty. (Contrast it with kdramas where, with the exception of All In, people come out of prison relatively well-adjusted. Ummm. No).

All he wants to do is revenge on his cousin, whose testimony had placed him in jail. Also (I got that from summary, it's not adressed in the first ep), it turns out that there is more to the murder than meets the eye and not all was as it seemed.



One episode in, I really like it. Granted, I am predisposed to like both revenge dramas and dark dramas, but this is genuinely engaging. It is also very dysfunctional and dark - the main character is a homicidal mess, not a noble avenger of wrongs. It is hard to find a likeable character so far - Hei is the protagonist but let's face it, the man is violent and irrational and hellbent on killing out of revenge someone whose only crime seems testifying. (He also kills the man's dog and sets fire to his house - umm, yeah, like I said, he's borderline psycho). But it is very involving. Plus, on the shallow side of things, Kevin Cheng is ridiculously, ridiculously gorgeous and with his chiseled cheekbones and intense eyes, I am a lot more invested in the story than I would have been if same character had been played by a fat dwarf.



( A few more caps of psycho hotness )

Have a teaser:

Apparently there is an OTP later on. Hopefully she is not a member of PETA :P

Revenge, Hong Kong style.

For my first foray into contemporary Hong Kong dramas, I picked 2008 revenge drama Last One Standing. Firstly, because revenge genre is one of my favorites and secondly because it stars Kevin Cheng and after the first ep of Bu Bu Jing Xin, I have developed a sudden and massive crush. Only one ep of BBJX is yet subbed but my new obsession must be assuaged. A lot of people recommended Seventh Day with him, but I am not in the mood for a terminal illness romance and I had LOS downloaded ages ago.



LOS revolves around Hei (Kevin Cheng). Ten years ago, in an (understandable) fit of rage, he murdered his stepfather, who has been molesting his sister. Convicted largely on testimony of his cousin Yip, Hei has been sentenced to a decade of jail time but is out as the story opens.

Hei's life is over. Nobody will hire him, he has no future, and his own mother (who would be the ideal wife for stepfather from Mars) thinks Hei is a murdering monster who maligned the dear departed. He is also a violent mess. If he wasn't a psycho before he went in, he certainly is borderline now. I actually really like it because, let's face it, if you do a decade of hard time, results aren't going to be pretty. (Contrast it with kdramas where, with the exception of All In, people come out of prison relatively well-adjusted. Ummm. No).

All he wants to do is revenge on his cousin, whose testimony had placed him in jail. Also (I got that from summary, it's not adressed in the first ep), it turns out that there is more to the murder than meets the eye and not all was as it seemed.



One episode in, I really like it. Granted, I am predisposed to like both revenge dramas and dark dramas, but this is genuinely engaging. It is also very dysfunctional and dark - the main character is a homicidal mess, not a noble avenger of wrongs. It is hard to find a likeable character so far - Hei is the protagonist but let's face it, the man is violent and irrational and hellbent on killing out of revenge someone whose only crime seems testifying. (He also kills the man's dog and sets fire to his house - umm, yeah, like I said, he's borderline psycho). But it is very involving. Plus, on the shallow side of things, Kevin Cheng is ridiculously, ridiculously gorgeous and with his chiseled cheekbones and intense eyes, I am a lot more invested in the story than I would have been if same character had been played by a fat dwarf.



( A few more caps of psycho hotness )

Have a teaser:

Apparently there is an OTP later on. Hopefully she is not a member of PETA :P

Revenge, Hong Kong style.

For my first foray into contemporary Hong Kong dramas, I picked 2008 revenge drama Last One Standing. Firstly, because revenge genre is one of my favorites and secondly because it stars Kevin Cheng and after the first ep of Bu Bu Jing Xin, I have developed a sudden and massive crush. Only one ep of BBJX is yet subbed but my new obsession must be assuaged. A lot of people recommended Seventh Day with him, but I am not in the mood for a terminal illness romance and I had LOS downloaded ages ago.



LOS revolves around Hei (Kevin Cheng). Ten years ago, in an (understandable) fit of rage, he murdered his stepfather, who has been molesting his sister. Convicted largely on testimony of his cousin Yip, Hei has been sentenced to a decade of jail time but is out as the story opens.

Hei's life is over. Nobody will hire him, he has no future, and his own mother (who would be the ideal wife for stepfather from Mars) thinks Hei is a murdering monster who maligned the dear departed. He is also a violent mess. If he wasn't a psycho before he went in, he certainly is borderline now. I actually really like it because, let's face it, if you do a decade of hard time, results aren't going to be pretty. (Contrast it with kdramas where, with the exception of All In, people come out of prison relatively well-adjusted. Ummm. No).

All he wants to do is revenge on his cousin, whose testimony had placed him in jail. Also (I got that from summary, it's not adressed in the first ep), it turns out that there is more to the murder than meets the eye and not all was as it seemed.



One episode in, I really like it. Granted, I am predisposed to like both revenge dramas and dark dramas, but this is genuinely engaging. It is also very dysfunctional and dark - the main character is a homicidal mess, not a noble avenger of wrongs. It is hard to find a likeable character so far - Hei is the protagonist but let's face it, the man is violent and irrational and hellbent on killing out of revenge someone whose only crime seems testifying. (He also kills the man's dog and sets fire to his house - umm, yeah, like I said, he's borderline psycho). But it is very involving. Plus, on the shallow side of things, Kevin Cheng is ridiculously, ridiculously gorgeous and with his chiseled cheekbones and intense eyes, I am a lot more invested in the story than I would have been if same character had been played by a fat dwarf.



( A few more caps of psycho hotness )

Have a teaser:

Apparently there is an OTP later on. Hopefully she is not a member of PETA :P

Viewing list and possibly most perfect trailer ever!

Dramas actively watching:

Ah Xiang (China)
A Thousand Kisses (Korea)
Bu Bu Jing Xin (China)
Last One Standing (Hong Kong)
Love Keeps Going (Taiwan)
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (Korea)
Ouran High School Host Club (Japan)
Relics of an Emissary (Hong Kong)
The Princess' Man (Korea)
Vigilantes in Masks (China)

So basically a totally bipolar viewing list - half utter (mainly period) angst and half utter chirpy fluffiness. I think if you combined AX, BBJX, LOS, TPM and ViM into one drama, the vortex of misery would consume the Universe. (And something tells me Relics will get majorly angsty later on). ATK, Gumiho and Ouran to the rescue! (Only something tells me I will be forced to rely only on Ouran when ATK will get into 'my mom is your stepmom' thing and 'one of you must die' thing isn't boding well for Gumiho either. And I've heard things about LKG).

Also, I found a subbed trailer for Qing Shi Huang Fei and not only that, but it's twice as long as the one I posted before.

OMFG, I think this is designed precisely by me to the last second! Also, based on the trailer, I can't say I like Wallace Huo's character (I can certainly see why Ruby prefers Yan Kuan. For once, the heroine does the sane thing and goes for the good boy), but he is going to be fascinating. He's insane and obsessive and does horrible things but somehow I still end up caring. (Though if the trailer is any indication, I am going to be RABID about Ruby/Yan Kuan).

Viewing list and possibly most perfect trailer ever!

Dramas actively watching:

Ah Xiang (China)
A Thousand Kisses (Korea)
Bu Bu Jing Xin (China)
Last One Standing (Hong Kong)
Love Keeps Going (Taiwan)
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (Korea)
Ouran High School Host Club (Japan)
Relics of an Emissary (Hong Kong)
The Princess' Man (Korea)
Vigilantes in Masks (China)

So basically a totally bipolar viewing list - half utter (mainly period) angst and half utter chirpy fluffiness. I think if you combined AX, BBJX, LOS, TPM and ViM into one drama, the vortex of misery would consume the Universe. (And something tells me Relics will get majorly angsty later on). ATK, Gumiho and Ouran to the rescue! (Only something tells me I will be forced to rely only on Ouran when ATK will get into 'my mom is your stepmom' thing and 'one of you must die' thing isn't boding well for Gumiho either. And I've heard things about LKG).

Also, I found a subbed trailer for Qing Shi Huang Fei and not only that, but it's twice as long as the one I posted before.

OMFG, I think this is designed precisely by me to the last second! Also, based on the trailer, I can't say I like Wallace Huo's character (I can certainly see why Ruby prefers Yan Kuan. For once, the heroine does the sane thing and goes for the good boy), but he is going to be fascinating. He's insane and obsessive and does horrible things but somehow I still end up caring. (Though if the trailer is any indication, I am going to be RABID about Ruby/Yan Kuan).

Viewing list and possibly most perfect trailer ever!

Dramas actively watching:

Ah Xiang (China)
A Thousand Kisses (Korea)
Bu Bu Jing Xin (China)
Last One Standing (Hong Kong)
Love Keeps Going (Taiwan)
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (Korea)
Ouran High School Host Club (Japan)
Relics of an Emissary (Hong Kong)
The Princess' Man (Korea)
Vigilantes in Masks (China)

So basically a totally bipolar viewing list - half utter (mainly period) angst and half utter chirpy fluffiness. I think if you combined AX, BBJX, LOS, TPM and ViM into one drama, the vortex of misery would consume the Universe. (And something tells me Relics will get majorly angsty later on). ATK, Gumiho and Ouran to the rescue! (Only something tells me I will be forced to rely only on Ouran when ATK will get into 'my mom is your stepmom' thing and 'one of you must die' thing isn't boding well for Gumiho either. And I've heard things about LKG).

Also, I found a subbed trailer for Qing Shi Huang Fei and not only that, but it's twice as long as the one I posted before.

OMFG, I think this is designed precisely by me to the last second! Also, based on the trailer, I can't say I like Wallace Huo's character (I can certainly see why Ruby prefers Yan Kuan. For once, the heroine does the sane thing and goes for the good boy), but he is going to be fascinating. He's insane and obsessive and does horrible things but somehow I still end up caring. (Though if the trailer is any indication, I am going to be RABID about Ruby/Yan Kuan).