Chinese Webdrama with Amazing Acting
For those looking for something small, Cdrama-fantasy-like and quick paced. This is a fun watch with great chemistry and decent production for just 18 (8 on Viki) episodes.This is the first time I've ever really watched a chinese webdrama, but wow did I just enjoy every bit of this. The pacing was quite nice, storyline intriguing (with its teensy plotholes), and the chemistry was adorable. The production is also surprisingly good. I came in with no expectations and loved it.
A 9/10 from me ^^
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This drama proves how much mini cdramas are improving
I have so much to say but don't know if I'll be coherent enough. If you've been keeping an eye on the Chinese drama entertainment world, you'll know that they've been venturing a lot into the short series world. Just in the past couple of years, the short series have grown tremendously and have ranged from being 2min-14min long and varied in production quality.Usually, the 2min-per-episode kind of dramas are low in plot and acting, but hit all the fun clichés and tropes. The dramas that are longer in length are typically better in all areas: soundtrack, acting, characters, plot, and production. I put the dramas "Queen of Attack," "The Killer is also Romantic," and "Night of Love with You" on the list of better short cdramas. Now, I am also adding this drama to the list.
This drama is directed by the same person who did "The Killer is also Romantic" and that can already tell you a lot about the cinematography and quality of directing and editing. This person does a fantastic job and I trust them wholeheartedly. They understand how to tell the story VISUALLY and there are many memorable moments in this drama that I adore. (Fireflies! Scene!)
I love the soundtrack and listen to it weekly.
The acting for these fairly unknown actors are prett good, but I especially have to applaud Cheng Lei. I was one of his first fans since his first drama in "Queen of Attack" and he also did great in this drama. I suspect that he'll make it big in the future. He has the charisma for these kind of roles: the stoic or cold male leads who have a vulnerability to him. But overall, I think all the actors did a good job. Their characters, too, were intriguing and there was nobody that I found annoying or unnecessary. (It's a short drama so the plot is tightly woven throughout.) Best of all, the main couple was SO good. (The tension!? The kisses!?) The male lead was such a good kind of male lead where he was trusting despite otherwise and was protective and loving. The female lead was smart and always tried to do the right thing by the male lead. I loved her.
The only reason why I didn't give it a full 10 was because of 1 plot choice that was done near the end of the drama. I thought it was a strange decision, but it didn't ruin my overall enjoyment of the show.
If you're looking for a good short Chinese drama, this is it. Tip: watch it on Viki. The channel mgtv on youtube generally sucks with subtitles so I wouldn't trust that. Happy watching!
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One of the best mini dramas out there
I have just finished it and i loveeee ittt!!! This is no regular mini drama.A round of applause for the plot: I will let go the fact that they can swap face without any harm. Other than that, the story is logical and consistent. The love between the main couple is natural and convincing. I love how the ML is so smart he figured it out what is happening on his own. How he recognises the FL is also logical with him stitching all the clues together.
I'm not a big fan of a weak FL. But with this drama, I'm ok with Shi Qi. It makes sense for her when other main characters already have strong personality. Han Sheng is my favorite and together they have great chemistry throughout the series. The 2nd couple is depicted quite clearly without being overshadowed by the main couples. I secretly hope for the 2nd couple to be together.
Another great character is Yuan Bao. I rarely see a good child character. Most of the times, the kid in a movie or series is quite annoying and is there to piss off the main characters. Yuan Bao is just adorable and a great addition to build the love story between her mom and dad.
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This review may contain spoilers
This was a very cute short series. The way how this story was told and how the directing of this story went reminds of me a short web series. The details that went into this short series were amazing. This series is basically about FL looking for her sister but was tricked by the prime minister's daughter. She wakes up with her face the next day and is wedded to a powerful general. She later realizes this is the general she had been crushing on the entire time. Even though her face may have changed, her personality and body are still the same. ML later realized his wife was the familiar stranger he had encountered before. I didn't expect much with the cast but it was surprisingly cute and fun to watch. I only wish the side stories for the side character, particularly the sister was a bit longer.I look forward to seeing more short series like these. Cheesy but cute and fun!
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This review may contain spoilers
This series managed to pack a decent plot in such a short length. I was dubious at first how the face-swapping could be achieved in this scenario, fearing that it would lead to much confusion, but surprisingly it did not. Although I would have liked the reverse happened, with Kay Song portraying Shi Qi and Ke Ying to be Shen Qin, the current casting also worked well in this case. I became more intrigued the more that I watched, especially wanting the ML's to discover the switch. But I was mildly disappointed towards the end when Shi Qi did not get her face back. The plot twist was not nearly as unexpected but it was definitely a good effort. Was this review helpful to you?
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An Alluring Dark Fairy Tale
The drama is a hidden wonder - in a short time it manages to completely captivate with its premise and characters and tells the story concisely but satisfyingly. "A Familiar Stranger" could compete with a lot of full-length dramas, that are given the time and the budget to execute a concept but often fall short.This is primarily a fated romance story, and the drama delivers on the chemistry between characters and supplies an adequate mixture of warm feelings, tension and angst. Performances by both actresses are astoundingly good - they wonderfully emulated the two different characters and looked perfectly on screen, especially together.
Since there are some magical elements in the drama, it doesn't shy away from the darker turns of the story - it is tragic, melancholy and a little erotic, giving it a hazy fairy tale like atmosphere. I would definitely give this a go if you're looking for something bite-sized but still high-quality in between the longer dramas.
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STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Watched this bcz i saw a clip abt this drama on IG reels, and it was really the best decision I’ve ever made!it is indeed a mini and low budget drama, but when you watch this, it feels like a properly made one!
the way they transisions the scenes, the costumes were quite pretty n enjoyable even tough they keep reusing it all over again, the props quite acceptable, and the acting was superb in my opinion!
although the storyline has plenty of plot hole, it still can engage me to watch till the end with a normal speed (i hv a tendency to always finish every dramas that i watch till the end. thus if i got bored, i always play it with double or triple speed! ? if i didn’t to it at all till the end, means it really really really a great drama!!)
overall, this drama is really an underrated drama!! really enjoyable n properly well made!!! strongly recomended to watch this!! pretty sure i’ll rewatch this in the future!
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the best short drama
Rarely I really enjoy the short drama from begin to end & after that still re-watch it again & again. This happen to this drama. The drama that over us complete story from begin to middle to the end, with great acting & also not so min budget.The interesting thing about this drama is indeed they only swap face, not swap body. Many drama often swap soul, which mean body & face. So with only swap face, that's mean the body remain the same with all its scar. And that's how in the end our ML recognize our FL.
This drama not only offer us full complete story, but still manage to give us a good plot twist & a really good happy ending. The plot twist that no one ever expect or even suspect from the first. But yeah when you sharp enough, maybe you can still guess it. And I really happy how they not really rush the ending due to limit duration. Everything seem fall into its place on the right track of time...
Overall this really one good short drama you can watch & enjoy fully on Youtube
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This review may contain spoilers
Short series with a perfect tinch of mystery and a beautiful chemistry
This was such an amazing c-drama..totally fell in love with it when i first saw a few clips for it..but couldn't watch due to my exam..now finally they are over n i watched n is a definately worth a watch...I liked both the leads n their chemistry..the kiss scenes were really good...Shi Qi though weak n a bit helpless in the end but later fights back...Hansheng is one of the best ML's i have ever met...he already had someone in his heart but he respected n was courteous towards the FL even though he didn't love her unlike the other shitty ML's who give a cold shoulder to the FL n later repent on their mistakes...the mystery which Hnasheng unveils was not rushed at all n was showed with the perfect consistency...People say that if someone has crush on you keep some mystery which leads you to become more interesting in the that person's eyes..(saw this in one of the videos hile randomly browsing)...Hansheng also proved that looks don't matter...he believed his heart n knew she was the girl he still loves from 3 years ago...Both leads performed very well...
the villains n the side characters did their portrayal well...Prince Ning was a cunning n an evil character who was ambitious but slowly realised the meaning of losing someone so precious but realising it was too late too grasp them...her sister was totally devoted too the prince but was an obsessed lover...
Military advisor was a funny character:))...he kept saying he is a military advisor until the end he was taking care of Fubao...n i also liked Shen Qin's bro...he kept being serious was always ended up doing stupid things...n our devil cutie Yuanbao played the perfect cupid matchmaking role...
The music...i fell in love with it...the words of the song totally matched up with the drama...
Will definitely watch this again^^
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A Sweet Quick Watch
A poor painter finds herself married to a general after her face is swapped with the Prime minister's daughter. As she learns to accept her new identity she finds her loyalty being split between the general who saved her life years ago and her sister who is imprisoned by the prime minister's daughter.The show is really easy to watch. I watched it on Viki and it was 8 episodes with each episode being 20 - 30 minutes long. I watched it all in one evening and it was super cute. Shi Qi is intelligent and loyal not only to her sister but also the general. I love how the general realises almost immediately that she is not Shen Qin and chooses to put his trust in her. Since the show is so concentrated the plot escalates pretty quickly, and the plot twist at the end.... this was so good and was honestly better than a lot of the bigger name dramas that have been released this year
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