South Wind Knows (2023)

It was a 10 for me until the last few episodes. Then it dropped to 8.5.

This drama is a little rough around the edges with parts that don't flow very smoothly, especially toward the end. There's an intrigue that seems redundant, trying too hard to be sensational. However, the family dynamic is interesting to watch, and I personally enjoyed the power struggle between the Fu brothers. The cast is top-notch, no doubt about it. My biggest disappointment is that by episode 39, the drama fails to dwell too much on (well-deserved) consequences. Some characters commit atrocious acts that are not adequately punished or addressed (Yunshen's mother, I'm looking at you!). Cheng Yi is, yet again, the king of whump here. Seriously, his character has more lives than a cat. Shot, paralyzed, staked - you name it, he's been through it all. Overall, it was a great watch, except for the last draggy episodes that somewhat ruined the experience for me.

Read More

Loving this drama

I was waiting for another Cheng Yi's drama to watch & this drama didn't disappoint me. I am loving the chemistry b/w Cheng yi & ZHnag Yuxi both are amazing actors. Cheng yi always surprises he really nailed this role, i was so surprised that he can do so well in modern dramas too coz i have seen his all other dramas all are costume dramas. He is so good.

SWK is really good paced and romantic drama, I am really liking the story, It is a story which have enough of sweet & sad parts of life, really good. For anyone who like romantic dramas this is a must watch.

Read More

AGAINST ALL ODDS

I would say this is refreshing for me because, after watching many CDramas, I started to realize that most have the same story line but are delivered in different ways by different actors. If not a marriage contract, it's Cinderella with a child or children or a CEO falling in love with a poor girl. This drama was another kind. It has a touch of the old arranged marriage culture of parents but didn't succeed. Thank God. A story of two people in love facing all the odds surrounding them—people and situations—and how many times the ML got hurt where people around him intended to hurt him, and the character of a father's shortsightedness and how he blames people who helped him.
I like how their love story developed from their first meeting. The second meeting was more emotional, but it was where you understood how love should be shared between two people despite the odds. They are always ready to be there for each other. For better or worse. The chemistry between the two main leads was awesome. Incomparable. They convey their emotions naturally. I love watching these two lead actors because they tend not to overact their acting. Control and timing are their forte. Zhang Yuxi is very good at conveying her emotions. In her crying scenes, she does not need to howl to show how hurt she is. She is good at acting her hurt simply, but you can feel her emotions. The ending was not very grand, as some expected it to be the typical ending with wedding bells, bridal march, and all. The ending talks about them—simple people who are both in love and just want to spend their time together quietly and simply. Overall, it was good. Minimal criticism, for me, does not need to be mentioned because it is not important.

Read More

Cheng Yi lives!

If you've watched other Cheng Yi works (you should), this is a showcase to his talent for sublety of expressions, and a refreshing opporunity to see him play playful-- as most often he is at his best portraying angst--which this show is just about ridiculously too much of for character--but he finally gets a happy ending--without the addition of an extra episode to give you an alternate ending (tho'-chuckle, he still has to wait a long time to get there!). What was also different as a story was that there was no inherently evil villian but otherwise it is trope heavy in regards to weal and woe., so if you can't stand that, you might not like this work.

Read More

Sweet Love in spite of Tragedies

Well... First of all this drama was made 3 years ago and an A class budget drama. So considering these, its already outstanding, specifically in melodrama genre.

Indeed the plot full of angst and villains who cause the angst. But, again, isnt it a what a melodrama should be?

So if our expectation is a romcom, this one indeed not the one. Its a melodrama in classic and maximum version ?

The plot was cliche, conflict and power struggle around rich families which we are all may have watched a lot before.

But still there are some points where SWK excelled :
- whenever MLFL get together, its very sweet and adorable. They are cute like teenagers who fall in love for the first time ?
- a series of unfortunate events indeed happen in reality too, thats why we still able to get lots of life lessons from enduring Yun Shen and Xu Jiu.

Even from villains, because SWK very clear with what their background and motives in doing evil deeds.

- the OST are very very beautiful, kdrama vibe

Actually all the snows, ost, and environment all feel like in kdrama, even the plot also like in kdrama (a few years ago trend).

- acting quality is no joke, CY really portray despair and sad feeling like no one else. Ppl said there is brokeness feeling in his acting that we rarely found anywhere else. XYZ also act very well here, their chemistry feel natural and sweet.

Conclusion :
So if you are melodrama lovers and appreciate + enjoy acting skill (love to immerse on feeling of the leads) more than plot, i would say SWK is perfect for you.

But if you expect romcom and also demand unique plot, then just watch the sweet moments between MLFL, surely you will still able to smile alot looking at them, its very rare adult romance can be as cute and adorable as their romance and certainly you will not want to miss it ?

Read More

Something a miss

Watch this of course for Cheng Yi & Zhang Yu Xi 2nd drama. Again the best part of pick the old partner is no more awkwardness between the actor/ess.

Really want to like this drama. After everything that Fu Yun Shen (YS) & Zhu Jiu (ZJ) go through here. But in the end something feel a miss when they close the curtain. I really hope we get extra/special/ a little more episode to make this drama more perfect or ending with better note.

What i like:
+ the chemistry between Cheng Yi & Zhang Yu Xi. Feel like reunite 2 old friend.
+ my 2 fav old actor & actress, Paul Chun & Cao Cui Fen. Play as grandma & grandpa for our ML & FL.
+ all the hardship in YS & ZJ relationship only to make their bond stronger over time.
+ after everything that happen in FU family, in the end family still family. And as always, blood is thicker then water play a big role here.

What a miss:
The ending.... I don't know feel like they push fast forward button in the end. Everything wrap so fast we don't have time to swallow properly. Really hope they prolong the ending & shorten the middle part. Cause sometimes the middle part feel a little bored & it's like they prolong some scene....

Overall this quite good drama to watch...

Read More

average drama. If it was shorter it may get better

South Wind Knows (2023) -8/10 cdrama

this drama feels like very long story split to about ten story arcs. Aside from quite nice chemistry between main leads I enjoyed just about 2 story arcs from whole drama.

to explain it little more main story of ML and FL romance is there, but there is always something what changes, for example they separate for some reason and they meet at different place with different background story + very often these separation or change is story are very Makjang style, cause of characters making dumb decisions.

plot - FL is doctor, ML is silver spoon researcher for pharmaceutical company. Both leads meets in an underprivileged region while working and finds feelings for each other.

genre - romance

Read More

The plot ruined the actor

I watch with high expectation because of Cheng Yi

The Plot/Storyline/Script
I would say they have got idea to exposed on the medical side on refugee camp
but the execution is quite weak. There are so many unnecessary scene so that sometime i just i skip a lot because at the end i will know what happen.
Like i said they had good storyline but poor execution and poor script
Just a typical rich family greedy to married their son to other wealthy family
Chinese mother that never regret
Their love story is quite sad ML is sick and after that FL is sick
Too many sick for the ML

Actor/Actress
I would say the ML and FL don't have much compability
its seems they are more awkward side not feel the connection between them
Don't expect romantic scene because if there are any romantic scene you will not feel the connection.
But for the sad scene CY did great just he need to choose carefully the drama that he will be joined because
this character is not for him, to skinny and no charisma
but i like in Lotus bookcase

Read More

I don't usually write bad reviews because i think its a lot of work to produce a series. But this one was one of those dramas i was anticipating for a long time now and i was extremely disappointed!!

Lets start with the cast, both the FL and ML are my favorites and tbh one of the main reason i watched this drama was because of ML. I loved his acting in love and redemption. Both the leads did a great job in portraying the character but their chemistry was lacking.

The story on itself is hard to explain. You know how in kdrams usually the 13th episode has some tragedy and in chinese drama its usually the 20th episode but this drama on the whole felt like those episodes. Through out the drama the ML gets soo many injuries and faces near death experiences. The ML's family is soo messed up and the whole drama revolves around plotting and ML's accidents

There was no character development whatsoever!! The main leads chemistry reaches its peak around 10 or 11th episode after which they get stagnant. As for the ML's brother and his girlfriend i had soo much expectations but they have little to no chemistry after the first few episodes.

In conclusion i wouldn't recommend this drama. But, if u wanna watch then watch first few episodes then skip to the final coz u wouldn't be missing out on anything. I only stuck around for the cast and hope sincerely that the script writer will write his next drama while he is awake

Read More

will Yu Chen be able to walk again?

this drama is a very great drama, its very eventful so you will not feel ‘draggy’ or boring.

on episode eleven, YunShen got into a car accident and became a cripple since then. However, after going through a period of hard time, ZhuJiu manage to completely heal him.

AND

unlike other annoying dramas where the FL got scared of the Mother in Law and decided to give up on the relationship, here YunShen and ZhuJiu are very honest and holds on to the relationship.

Yes there are a lot of annoying character in this drama (especially YunShen’s mother) but it is still bareable imo :)

Read More

The best drama to think about war, family, and love. A compliment to humanity.

"Only bullet holes and shards of glass could be seen. Local health care systems are destroyed. Some clinics had to be closed. Fog and smoke pervade this place. I haven't seen the sun for a long time. Sometime I think, this might be another world."
"This people are brutal. They actually live on the same land. Why do they plunder and kill each other?"
"Because humans have desires."
~ Zhu Jiu and Gu Ruanruan

I beg to differ from most people in MDL. I love this drama so much. I don't believe what people said that this drama is not well written, not good directed, and deserved to be dropped. I have watched it without skipping a scene and it is proven worth my time. Released at this time (November 2023), this drama resonates so much with current global situation (Ukraina-Russia War, Hamas-Israel War) by showing us the experience of war and conflict from the point of view of medical personnel. War is horrible not only for civilians, but also the paramedics and doctors.

I landed at this drama after Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC; 2023) which I am very satisfied and Love is Panacea (LIP; 2023) which I hate. I enjoy Cheng Yi's performance in MLC and I want to explore more about his works. Meanwhile, LIP is such a waste because it didn't live up to its promise as a medical drama and in the end it is gravitated more on individuals romance. South Wind Knows (SWK) really fulfilled my longing for a quality medical drama. What I mean by "quality medical drama" is not a hardcore one like the US "The Good Doctor" which highlights more on medical skills and solving cases, but a soft one which leaves a deep emotional impression and contemplation.

Story (10/10)
If you read synopsis of SWK in MDL, I suggest you to not believe it because it mislead you. The story is greater than a mere romance (romantic love) between ML FL. Yes, it is true "the power of love conquer all", but it refers to a greater kind of love, including love for family and spouse as well as love for community and humanity. Most dramas themed with love commonly have various types of love in them. But, what makes SWK stands out is its comprehensiveness, balance, and detail.

The drama first takes us to a war torn country "M" to show us the basic kind of love, i.e. love that stems from sense of humanity (episode 1-11). Both ML FL have similarity in this aspect. They are young people with empathy, compassion, and same idealism. They are united by the desire to help disadvantaged and unfortunate people. FL wants to cure the new immune disease found there, whereas ML wants to support her by creating the medicine using the power of his family pharmaceutical company. This mission becomes the bridge that dissolves their differences. It is heart warming; from the beginning of the story we see a healthy and supportive relationship. Then, the story moves to Shanghai, to ML family story. It seems like an odd turning point for many viewers, but the purpose is to show that the making of the new medicine is not easy. The enemies (of love) are self-interest and profit orientation of pharmaceutical industry. The industry wants to monopolize the use of a very important herbal ingredient. ML tried his best to fulfill his promise to ML but to no avail. The worst, he was betrayed by his brother, the most trusted person he has, and involved in an accident. He lost his ability to walk, failed to recover, and sank into depression.

The second part of the drama starts in Germany after two years of separation and no communication. They meet again where ML turns to be different person from who he was. FL with her compassion and love, helps ML to be able to stand up and walk again (episode 12-17). When they come back to Shanghai again the situation has changed drastically. Driven by desire to revenge, ML's brother holds much power of the company and gives no room for ML to get what he wants. The worst, ML's mother turns out to be a despicable person who refuses to accept FL and harm her several times. The brother and the mother hate to each other and clash a lot. ML is caught in the middle while tries his best to defend FL and their wish to unite and continue their mission. The family hate and conflict might be not too interesting to watch, but it is just one besides several beautiful love and humanity stories/ subplots that keep the drama on the track. One, the story of FL family and granny, the granny lovely supports to the couple, her sickness, and the end of her life. Two, the story of Meng, a little girl with heart congenital condition, their work hard to keep her alive and console her and her family, until her inevitable death. ML FL become the source of support for granny and little Meng; they are like a family. Family should be the source of support and protection, but at the same time, ironically, can also be the source of hatred and harm. In the end, the innocent ML becomes the victim again amidst the clash of selfish people. Gravely injured, more handicapped, and seeing no future for family life, he broke his relationship with FL (episode 32).

The third part are the days ML FL parted. The Fu family internal conflict is resolved and the Brother revenged is failed. The truth is opened, justice is restored, and the rights of every family member are distributed equally. All conflicting parties learn their lesson and relationships are slowly repaired. In the last 3 episode, the story moves to country "M" again where now at war. Amidst war, the doctors' duties are getting difficult and life threatening. In the end, ML saved FL again, helped her with PTSD, and started a new relationship, now without enemies. FL now becomes a lecturer and ML serves the company. The last scene is their engagement.

***
What I like the most:

First, the characterization of ML and FL. They are very compatible in traits, interest, and life mission. They are good natured, kind-hearted, capable of empathy, wise, straightforward in communication, dutiful, and hard working. Importantly, they love one each other from the beginning, and their love comes from the shared concern for humanity. They don't become burden to each other, and use every means they have to care and support to each other. Their relationship is very healthy and they are able to trust even their third wheelers and maintain professional relationship well. Also, I like other supporting characters development towards the end of the story. All get redemption. Their stories are as full as the ML and FL, and so satisfying, even the mother and brother turned into good persons.

Second, this drama shows the process of love and hate so we get the full picture, how they start and how they end. Love starts with bonds, ends with ambitions. Hate starts with selfishness and ambitions, ends with justice and kindness. It makes us empathize to the antagonists (the brother, the mother) as they are not two dimensional when they are desiring power. The brother was once a good brother, but his mother was wronged, so he got angry and took revenge. The mother was once a good mother and wife, but she was wronged too by an unloving husband. Their dynamics as enemies are predictable. It is a bit cliché and tropey, but it doesn't matter and not disturb overall story line. Interestingly, the ML is able to maintain neutrality and level headedness to deal with his mother and brother.

Third, the compliment to doctor and medical professional. It is so poignant where death is showed as inevitable and a possible alternative every doctor must face during their career, especially when they are powerless. We see, doctors can't act alone. They are not powerful alone, but need helps from a bunch of people like nurses, families, researchers, journalist, and pharmaceutical industry as well as best friends. This drama shows their dedication, adaptation to harsh environment, loyalty to humanity, dedication to community, and sacrifice to fulfill their oath. In the end of the day, doctors are still human-being who can be hurt. Sometimes, the hero are also the victim of war.

Fourth, the balance and realistic portrayal of suffering. This drama is a rare gem because it is more than just a romance between man and woman. It holds high certain idealism we all agree, like the sense of humanity and community, family values, and that love should be the source of resilience as well as peace. It told multigenerational stories, from the grandmother/ father, the fathers and mothers, and their children (see how the social tradition and perspectives change). It has good balance on setting, too: from a big cities to remote villages with beautiful scenery of the jungle and the sea. Also, it is not afraid to depict the reality of suffering: refugees, the camp, the injured and the died, the cries, the devastation, the powerlessness, the weapon, the killing, the struggle to survive, the sacrifice. So, admittedly, the story is so grand and vast. And, the power of love outshines all adversity.

I have nothing to complain.

Read More