Truth or Dare (2021)

The Typical Product Life curve

Truth and Dare - The drama starts off solid - building a concrete base for the MC and SC and the characters around them giving out highlights on each trait good or bad of the character - be it the warm - cold-hearted mix of the general - to the mischief oriented but righteous outlook towards a life of a bandit. The Street performer's energy and the princess's upbringing - All are nicely brought to life. Midway into the drama - it reaches its short-lived peak that was predictable pretty much from Ep.02. and then plummets down - the story gets weirdly confusing - revealing sloppy plot holes that just don't make sense.

From the actors pov - The 2nd lead couple did more work and their effort showed through beautifully - however that chemistry expected from the main couple of a romance - was disappointing (and that's sugar coating)

The one thing that probably was the best in the entirety of the show was the soundtrack- the music the lyrics fit perfectly to the drama!

I would recommend this show for a beginner - or a one-time watch only!

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Contradictive much. Supporting role did great story rather than main role.

This is drama you'll likely fall in love with supporting role rather that main role. There are so much contradiction in this plot.

First, Shi Qing narrated as a very distant, cold-heart man that does justice. But man, he looks like fell in love with Wan Zi even from episode 1! Second, Wan Zi narrated as talented street performer because she's' the one and only that do chest-breaker. But she's acting dumb almost the entire movie! You'll feel raged. Third, in every single episode, audience informed that FL and ML had deceived The Majesty and surely be greatly punished, but in the end The Majesty granted FL as an princess just like that. So easy as though granting a person as a senior noble rank is nothing. Forth, almost every action scene flooded with CONVERSATION. Even in some dire events, every cast had its own share of flooding words!

On the other hand, however, the love story between Xiao Bao and Ying Yao are much more worthy scene even as a supporting love story. More mature, more natural, more make sense, and not cheesy at all. Xiao Bao that narrated as martial art expert bandit with no other capabilities, initially has much more brain than Wan Zi and successfully showing his acts of true love upon Ying Yao. Unlike Wan Zi that constantly messing up and only made effort once toward Shi Qing (that when he needed an oculist).

Still, if you are a not so critical, need a light, no-brainer twist plot, eye rolling scene drama then Truth or Dare could be the option.

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Honest review from an audience

Honestly lets just say this whole drama was cliche and it absolutely made me laugh because of how ridiculously good the protagonist halo is.

The best thing about this drama is the actors who carried this drama, Vesta Ding playing Xiao Bao Ye, Sun An Ke playing Lu Ying Yao and Rui Wei Hang playing Situ Lin.

I cannot fathom what this drama would be like without the three actors.
I have to applause to Rui Wei Hang because although his character is ridiculously stupid, he acted so much like a person with three personalities.

I really enjoyed the way the second lead couple were so cute! The main lead couple barely had any spice to their love journey. The way Xiao Wan Zi was overpowering in the beginning had my hopes high.
However, they decided to stop investing in her character and make Mei Shiqing look as good as possible.

The third lead couple just doesn’t make sense. Their romance barely ever happened and honestly they seem like really vague side characters like Qiu Hua, princess YingYao’s bodyguard.

To wrap it up, the villain behind the scene talks too much. He somehow has a good brain but is no match for Mei Shiqing.

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enjoyable but don't expect too much

It's been a while since I've written a review, but I'll try my best to keep it short.

I finished this whole drama in a week. It was nice to binge as a fluffy romance drama.
Overall I did enjoy this drama even though the plot was a bit rushed towards the end and you felt like they could've elaborated certain plot points to make the story more interesting. As for the MLs objective of wanting to find his mother's murderer was rushed towards the end. (he found out who it was, went to kill him and that was the end of that.)
I liked that it was about two couples and overall the basic concept was fun. I like both couples, but the second couple had more chemistry and kiss scenes. The main couple didn't have many kiss scenes, so I wished they had more.
I liked the cast and the acting. The FL was kinda dumb and naive and times which was a bit frustrating to watch, but Overall I liked this drama and would re watch their scenes again.
The best part is HAPPY ENDING!

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A waste of a good plot and talented actors !

Adapted from the novel "Wrong carriage, right groom"

PLOT: 2 FL, a princess (FL2) and a street artist (FL1), are reversed in their wedding procession towards a general (ML1) and the leader of a gang of bandits. The ML2, deputy leader of the gang, will help the FL2 and they will fall in love. The ML1, vigilante at night, helped by the FL1, will dismantle the Salt Gang and discover the truth about the death of his mother. All together (the 4) they face various conspiracies.

PROS:
+ The MLs are excellent actors and I like Huang Jun Jie as much as Ding Jua Wen. [On the other hand, I did not find the 2 FL convincing, in particular the very childish FL1].
+ The 2dary characters are well developed and played by good actors.
+ Good balance of romance, action, investigation.
+ Dynamic production, with well-crafted action scenes.
+ Good OSTs.

CONS:
- The coincidences are ridiculously stupid, there are caricatural characters, and the situations are not introduced properly / poorly implemented.

=> I had to try twice to get to the end, thanks to my friend "the FF button", because the clumsiness of the production makes this series difficult to watch!

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Drama adapté du roman "Wrong carriage, right groom"

PLOT: 2 FL, une princesse (FL2) et une artiste de rue (FL1) , sont inversées dans leur cortège de mariage vers un général (ML1) et le chef d'un gang de bandits. Le ML2, sous chef du gang, va aider la FL2 et ils vont tomber amoureux. Le ML1, justicier la nuit, aidé de la FL1, va démanteler le Gang du Sel et découvrir la vérité sur la mort de sa mère. Tous ensemble (les 4) ils font face aux conspirations diverses.

PROS:
+ Les ML sont d'excellents acteurs et j'apprécie autant Huang Jun Jie que Ding Jua Wen. [Par contre, je n'ai pas trouvé les 2 FL convaincantes, en particulier la FL1 très puérile)].
+ Les personnages 2daires sont bien développés et interprétés par de bons acteurs.
+ Bon équilibre de romance, action, investigation.
+ Réalisation dynamique, avec des scènes d'action bien travaillées. + Bons OST.

CONS:
- Les coïncidences sont grossières, il y a des personnages excessifs, et les situations ne sont pas introduites / mal amenées.

=> J'ai dû m'y reprendre à deux fois pour aller au bouton (avec mon ami "the FF button") car la maladresse de la réalisation rend cette série difficilement supportable !

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It's not as disappointing as many people make it sound

Accidentally found this series via some of their short snippets in my YouTube feed. Honestly, I really like the show. The story line may not be the best but it is also not bad. I would say it is great. I love the chemistry between the 2 couples throughout the whole show. I find the Male Lead and Female Lead quite nice - especially the Male Lead from watching Eternal love of dream. Overall, it is quite a cute, funny and adorable drama. Something light and not too long to relax with.

Unlike many previous comments, I do not think the Female Lead is disappointing. She comes from a extremely poor background, a street performer. For someone who lives on the street, with no basic education whatsoever and a father that loves gambling, you don't expect that child to be completely competent, serious and matured especially when entertaining is your main source of income. On the contrary, seeing the Male Lead taking the initiative to teach her writing and the princess' maiden in waiting teaching her some manners, I see improvements in her throughout the show. You can teach an old dog new tricks but you can't just remove the spots out of a leopard.

My only opinion to those reading this is, if you like what you read in the synopsis of the series, give it a go. If not, proceed to the next series.

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Justice at it best

Stop rating low due for subtitles as it hurts the rating and complain under discussion where it will be seen. If you can complain then help and become a volunteer and Thank You volunteers for your hard work ??This drama was full of excitement and for me never boring as I enjoyed the storyline. Some complain because the actress Teresa li was not up to there liking/strength I liked the aloofness of how she played Xias Wan zi with her facial emotions and smiles. CAST:
Xiao wan zi grew up as a street performer with her dad He Yizhi who was a bad gambler and owed alot of money. So the bandit decided to take her as collateral to marry Xiao bao ye who is at the age to be married and it will clear his gambling debt.
Xias bao ye was an orphen boy taken in by Nan Ba Tian as his adopted son who was raised as a bandit and forced to do some terrible things at a young age that he has always reqretted and as he grew up he tryed not to hurt/kill anybody. He's at the age of marriage and so he will marry Ziao Wan zi.
Nan Ba Tian aka Master of Dragon Fort gang who is a horrible person that kills with no mercy be it man/women/child in order to steal money, silk, herbs, salt etc.. will use his men & family as bait if needed. His Daughter
Nan Xiang's is spoiled rotten to the core and brutal enough to harm others. She has an unrequited love for Xiao bao ye, but he sees her as sister only.
Lu Ying yao the 9th Princess who has received the edict from the palace to marry into the Military General Mei family order by the emporer and can be killed if refute.
Mei shi qing who is the son of the general and they don't really get along as he accuses his father for putting the salt war first. Then he locked up his mother, him and 4 servant in a house where bandits broke into and he watched as they killed his mom and all he remembered was the cane/walking stick.
General Mei chang Yun who was in charge of stopping and capturing the salt gang members in which he did and received honor.
Si tu lin is a mystery man that shows up and see Wanzi and has a flash back of her on a swing. He ask to sit with her and her name which she tells him she married and no need for exchange. He starts to follow her and instill himself into her life as a friend
Step mother and brother and all they do is stir up trouble for shiging and princess.
Now the story begins as both brides meet by accident in the hallway of Ruyi restaurant and as each tells there stories someone yells to see if there ready. In a scramble they run into the other room and get dressed then someone comes and bring them to the wrong carriages. Not until the ceremony did Wanzi realized that she was in the wrong place, but tryed to stop it and was pushed back in. Upon sitting in the bridal suite the princess aides realizes that it's not her and start to freak out where is she and who is this? Wanzi tries to explain what happened and that she was trying to stop the wedding when the groom shows up and they both agree not to consummate and to play along.
The next day they quickly try to teach her the etiquette in greeting the parents and thankful they have new met. Now the actual princess Yingyao arrives at dragon fort and is taken into Baoye room where she removes her vail and realizes she in the wrong place with wrong groom. He shows up drunk and she tells him no they'll talk tomorrow and he's OK with it. Then the next day they have to meet his father and once he see her he wants her for his own. Later that day he feeling Baoye out to see if they consummated the wedding yet and then tells him he want her for his own and Baoye can marry his daughter. He leaves all upset and goes back to tell Wanzi and she tell him to find this herb that she allergic to and will cause red dots. He gets it and wow it works and the chief no longer wants her. So now the adventure begin as they have to figure out how to get the real princess back and switch places. As time goes on the battle over the bandit raiding and stealing the locals supplies of herb spices silks money and the laundering of salt. The story plays out as Baoye want to surprise wanzi with a visit from her dad and boy what a surprise for both as she hugs him she whisper she'll explain. Baoye leaves to get food and they can talk as she explains how they switched places and once he leaves hell find wanzi and get the princess out. Only problem is Baoye didn't tell him once you comes you can't leave and so he convinces them he needs to get wedding stuff and what he left behind. So he is granted to leave after but going down Mtn is full of maizes and traps.
Now without telling the whole story there are a few battles between the dragon gang and the remints of salt gang which general Mei though he exterminated all. All the bad people are starting to show up as each are revenging they families lost and we findout who is the bigwig behind Si tu lin? Also fun to watch what happens to Nan ba tian he gets what he deserves

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Convoluted plot lines, only saved by the happy ending

Convoluted plot lines. Intertwined lives with too many coincidences . Villains sprout almost always out of nowhere that seems to cheat death over and over again.

The ML and FL annoyed me most of the time, specially at the first half of the show. FL was supposedly a very strong lady but she came off too childish in her action and a bit useless during fight scenes.

The romantic vibes from the secondary pair which is way cuter and sweeter than the lead characters.
It's so cute to see a bandit falls so innocently in love with his newly acquired wife and his princess wife to fully accepts and love him back..

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Unpretentious partner switch drama that is full of sugar!

Super fun and lighthearted show that I chanced upon and it’s all so satisfying.

Okay so its the basic switcheroo, with a princess ended up with a mountain bandit and a common street performer with a junior general. While there’s this swapped partners problem going on, we still got the usual main plot mystery happening that kept things interesting. Don’t take anything seriously, it’s a fluffy romantic comedy.

The leads are all adorable. I slightly liked the second couple (princess x bandit) better and perhaps they could have used more screen time. I still enjoyed the first couple though, very cute. Watch for a stress free show. It actually got me out of my cdrama slump.

Uncomplicated with minimal angst, and a very happy ending. Enjoy!

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I'm not bad, I'm just scripted that way

TL;DR version: This show is a fair introduction to Chinese period rom-com and is a must watch for any fan of the leads.
Long version: You would think that doubling down on the arranged marriage and mistaken identity trope would yield lots of opportunities for engaging stories and character developments but due to a lazy script and directions, this show just moved along the well trodden path and did little more than kept pace with other run-of-the-mill period dramas.
Like so many before it, the potential is there. The two different settings, two pairs of good looking CP's. Historical crime, present day felony, political manoeuvrings, unrequited love are all fodder for this genre and many a good yarn have been spun before. Yet this show just never seemed to want to take the bull by the horns so the characters were one dimensional, character developments were minimal, plots felt tired and by the book. Everything is serviceable but that's about it.
Case in point, the FL was a simple, naïve girl with a heart of gold, the actor played it dead straight and she was like that the whole show. That made her seemed gullible and a lot of her actions counterproductive. That is a shame as there were lots of room for her character to grow but it was barely explored. Ditto, the 2FL was lauded for her intelligence and cleverness, yet she was trapped in the same predicament for the bulk of the show. I'm not going to start writing about the antagonists as that would fill paragraphs and involve spoilers but you get my drift.
Overall, the actors did their best with the parts they were given so the problems must lie with the script and directions.
I thought the beginning of the show held a lot of promise but it soon settled into a trudge that included all the time worn tropes. There were cute moments but I don't feel a strong chemistry between the CP's. There were some production issues which is pointless to detail here but attested to the general lack of care surrounding this show. It was a fluffy, harmless viewing but that is damning it with faint praise.

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The storyline was cute. I felt that the main leads did their part with their characters. The idea of a switch marriage was very clever for a storyline. A supertype hero with a dual personality is also clever. Out of all the characters in this drama, I like Xiao Bae the best. Vesta Ding wasn't that bad at all... lol This is not the kind of drama I would watch normally and I just end up watching this one. The costumes were the norm for that period although, I loved the colors. I feel this is a good watch for others that enjoy dramas that had just a little fantasy. Martial Art was not enough for me but it was okay.

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