First Look: Lucky Tianbao

Set during the Ming Dynasty, Lucky Tianbao 吉祥天宝 proves to be outrageous to the core from outlandish costumes to its ridiculous storyline. I reckon that heavier stuff will follow later on in the series, though I think I'll pass on this one.

Episode 1 begins with a standard introduction that is present in nearly every historical drama except this time around, the big bad is Wei Zhong Xian, a eunuch commanding two powerful agencies, Dong Chang and Jin Yi Wei, both of which are more than willing to do his biddings.

Wei Zhong Xian orders the mass killing of prisoners except for one who breaks and spills the name Wang Wen Yan after being threatened with the death of his family members. 

Meanwhile, Yang Ruo Lan (Zhao Li Ying) armed with a cracking whip is wrecking havoc inside a brothel. Pleading for her to stop, the head mistress tells Ruo Lan that she should give punishment where it's due since there is an even bigger brothel operating in the city.

Sure enough, Zhu Tianbao (Kim Ki Bum) makes his grand entrance amidst a shower of confetti where he engages in a 4-way no holds barred duel. He wins the title of biggest evil man for the second year in a row, thanks to an enormous amount of foul play.

Just before Tianbao meets his harem, Ruo Lang barges in to declare her intention to become a contender. However, Tianbao blows her cover instantly and Ruo Lan vows to destroy all brothels so that Tianbao will remain by her side.

Insinuating that it's been done many times before, Tianbao turns her down again and reiterates that a good girl like Ruo Lan is better suited with his older brother, Zhu Tianxiang (Zhao Zi Xiao), who at the very moment is devising a plan to save Wang Wen Yan and expose the atrocities of Wei Zhong Xian.

First Impressions: Girl likes boy and boy doesn't, which begs the question of whether or not Zhao Li Ying really is the female lead? She gets ample screen time to say the least but Tianbao keeps raving about a girl in his dreams, who happens to be a real person and once they meet, it's practically guaranteed that they will end up together as most drama tropes go.

Ok I couldn't help it so I just sneaked a peak at the ending and my lips are sealed. For more synopsis, cast and ratings, see my 2016 Chinese historical drama listing. 

Lucky Tianbao

Lucky Tianbao 吉祥天宝 is a 30-episode Chinese drama starring Kim Ki Bum, Zhu Zi Xiao and Zhao Li Ying. Kim Ki Bum plays Tianbao, the happy-go-lucky youngest son of a prominent family who earns the irate jealousy of his elder brother, thereby causing a multitude of soap opera-ish drama for everyone involved.

The series will premiere as a QQ web-drama on Jun 6, 2016. Its quality and execution is miles away from what I've come to expect nowadays with scenes so over-the-top and tacky with exorbitant colors to boot. For some inexplicable reason, I still want to check this out anyway, especially since it is one of Zhao Li Ying's earlier dramas filmed in 2013.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 c-drama recommendations.

Princess Agents (2017)

Princess Agent 楚乔传 sounds like it could be a marriage of Rookie Agent Rouge and every other period drama starring Zhao Li Ying because this time around, she plays an agent stuck in ancient times. Given Zhao Li Ying's numerous projects for the past years, I seriously wonder how does this girl rest? 

Princess Agent will star Zhao Li Ying (Legend of Chusen), Lin Gengxin (God of War Zhao Yun), Shawn Dou (Tribes and Empires) and Li Qin. Filming began March 2016 and the drama is slated for a 2017 premiere.

Based on the novel titled Queen of No. 11 Agent by Xiao Xiang Dong Er 潇湘冬儿, the story revolves around an agent who is killed in action and time-travels into the body of a slave girl during the Xia Dynasty, no doubt accomplishing great deeds in her time.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: Aiweibang

Rookie Agent Rouge

Believe it or not, the sheer number of films depicting the war and the era when China embarked on its path to communism is too many to mention and I tend to steer clear of them because such dramas always strike me as having an agenda other than entertainment. Nevertheless, the ones I'd seen rarely included an idol cast.

Disguiser bucked the trend by breaking into mainstream popularity. Now, there's Hunter & Sparrow joining the fray and every one of them is headlined by today's top stars like Hu Ge, Huang Xuan and Li Yi Feng.

Rookie Agent Rouge 胭脂 is no different starring Zhao Li Ying, Lu Yi and Yuan Wen Kang and it is set to premiere in September. Finally, a title that is more than one word, clever and to the point. Is it actually a spy thriller with a touch of comedy or is that too far-fetched?

Rookie Agent Rouge follows the story of a warm-blooded student activist with a burning desire to serve her country. She becomes a Nationalist but is quickly discouraged by the rampant corruption within their ranks until she meets an upstanding member of the Communist party who helps her become a true patriot.

On another note, Yuan Wen Kang got on my radar after watching Imperial Doctress and it's good to see him in different projects as of late, maybe a lead role down the line?

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: FSBUS, Cri

Dating News: New Loves and Old Flames in C-Entertainment

Love is in the air because who isn't dating or married?! Let's play a round of connect the stars.

Netizens still reeling from news of the Feng Shao Feng (born 1978) and Ni Ni (born 1988) breakup last year can rest assured since they each have found a significant other in the past month (bet they coordinated the release of the news).

Feng Shao Feng is one of China's eligible bachelors, a fuerdai 富二代 aka second-generation rich, good looking and successful in his own right while Ni Ni is supposedly pretty amazing herself. I say supposedly because I haven't actually seen her in anything except for Wonderful Friends (a celebrity reality show taking place in a zoo). Nevertheless, the couple of 3 years seemed like a match made in heaven so their separation was much to fans dismay.

Anyone speculating that the relationship turned south due to the 10-year age gap would have to renege on those words because here's a shocker with 37-year-old Feng Shao Feng (Ice Fantasy) currently dating 19-year-old Jelly Lin Yun (born 1996). The whopping 18-year difference doesn't strike me as weird, the fact that she's a teenager does.

Not to fret as Ni Ni (born 1988) subsequently announced her relationship with Jing Boran (born 1989) and both were coincidentally(?) bridesmaid and groomsmen in 2015's wedding of the year wherein high-profile couple Huang Xiao Ming and Angelababy finally tied the knot.

Jing Boran was in Love Weaves Through a Millennium opposite Zheng Shuang (born 1991) who used to date Zhang Han. She has since moved on to better things, becoming a face to be reckoned with because she's practically everywhere - dramas, movies, you name it.

Zhang Han (born 1984) didn't sit idly either, dating co-star Gu Li Na Zha (born 1992) from their collaboration on The Classic of Mountain and Seas. Gu Li Na Zha is the Uighur girl that literally went from unknown to starring role in Rift of the Sky, which also starred Liu Shi Shi. 

Having been a fan of Liu Shi Shi (born 1987), I am super happy to share her wedding shoot with real-life sweetheart Nicky Wu (born 1970). Yes, shippers' wildest dreams do come true even though it's technically Nicky Wu's second marriage after divorcing co-star Ma Yashu from his Xiao Shi Yi Lang days.

Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi officially wed last year, the photos came out this month and the ceremony is said to be held March 20 at Ayana Resort in beautiful Bali. Her 'sister' Annie Liu from Scarlet Heart will be the bridesmaid and the motif will take inspiration from the magnolia flower (wink wink). They definitely look adorkably blissful (more pics below).

Nicky Wu was recently with Zhao Li Ying (born 1987) in Legend of Zu and rumors say that she is dating a non-showbiz boyfriend. Am I hearing hundreds of broken hearts?  

Zhao Li Ying was almost always linked to Chen Xiao after the pair rose to fame because of Female Prime Minister Lu Zhen and their OTP so popular that it warranted a cameo for Zhao Li Ying as Yang Kang's wife in Romance of the Condor Heroes ROCH. 

Their onscreen chemistry might be sizzling yet in reality, I am quite happy for Chen Xiao (born 1987) and Michelle Chen (born 1983), both of which played the leads in ROCH. They have been dating since ROCH in 2015 and netizens are anticipating wedding bells by the end of the year, Jul 2016 to be exact.

Are you still following? Yang Rong has a supporting role in too many dramas (ROCH, Lu Zhen included) and I'm glad that she is breaking out of the mold to play the lead. Expect to see her in Legend of Flying Daggers opposite Hawick Lau and the love line continues since Hawick Lau (born 1974) is basically Yang Mi's (born 1986) hubby. 

Yang Mi is cast opposite Mark Zhao (born 1984) in upcoming c-drama Three Lives Three Worlds and doh, of course he's married too, to gorgeous Gao Yuan Yuan (born 1979) nonetheless.

There's no way to connect the dots with a non-showbiz person joining the fray as Zhang Tian Ai's rich boyfriend but my creative juices are flowing so here goes. Zhang Tian Ai's co-star Yu Meng Long, the 9th prince in Go Princess Go, is also going to be in Three Lives, so whaddayaknow, we've come full circle.

Source: GB.Cri.cn, YCWB, QQ, Tuxi, Baidu