Under NO circumstances should you read ANYTHING about this drama before watching it -- because anything you read will surely give away the ending, and knowing the ending just kills the entire series. I was perusing a forum when I accidentally read something about the ending so I watched the entire series with that in mind and I just couldn't enjoy the series as much as I know I would have if I had not known what I knew. Confused? In short, do NOT read ANYTHING that may contain major spoilers.
Now...that being said, there's something I just have to vent about that will contain ***MAJOR SPOILERS*** highlight to read if you don't care: I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD SPEND ALL THAT TIME DEVELOPING FEI AND QUIN'S RELATIONSHIP TO HAVE THEM BREAK UP!!!!!!!!! DIE WRITERS!!!!!!**
*ahem* I'm fine.
Anyway, not done with the series yet. Just wanted to put up some fave scenes before I forget them. It's so good!!!!! Makes me wanna melt! *snifflez* (FYI, they're mostly between Fei and Quin)
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12/15/04
Just finished a few hours ago. Just want to reemphasize: do NOT, i repeat, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, read ANYTHING about the plot before you see this. I watched the entire thing with an impending sense of doom. And it killed it. KILLED it. I know I would've been moved to tears, but since I already knew the ending, it didn't really do anything for me.
Anyways, on to actually discussing the series...as I remember, there are ~13 cases, plus the last one, if you can even call it a case. I took the liberty of naming most of them. :pleased: Some are in viet, some English... dontchu love my vietnaminglish?
I: Crazy Lover
II: Star-Crossed Lovers
III: Bitter Love
IV: Letters from the Past
V: Mãnh Dụng Dạ Bích - Mother's Undying Love
VI: Cứu Người Yêu
VII: Giàn Cảnh Trấn Án
VIII: Di Hoa Tiết Mộc
IX: The one with the author
X: (Yu Lei and CYC)
XI: The One With Hung's Wife
XII: Si Tình Người Yêu Cùng Phái
XIII: Poisoned Toothpaste
XIV: Twins
Hmm...I can't really say which ones are my faves since I don't remember all of the first 7...
The last ones weren't very spectacular tho. Generally, the first half of the series concentrated more on cases, and the second half concentrated more on the relationships (cuz they got more complicated). But I loved loved LOVED "Giàn Cảnh Trấn Án" (for multiple reasons) :pleased::pleased::pleased: It was so sad when it ended. *snifflez* Sooooooo sad. *snifflez* "Di Hoa Tiết Mộc" was pretty cool, too, but I didn't like it as much as "Giàn Cảnh Trấn Án".
Anyways, I was debating whether I should give this series a 4.0 or a 4.5...I mean, without a doubt, it's good. Definitely was everything everyone said it was going to be, but I may be a little biased. (Louis and Jessica? What more could I ask for? 
) I considered a 5, but like any series, this one had it's shortcomings, and there were just too many elements I didn't like to give it a 5. In the end, I went with a 4.5. It's not bad enough for a 4.
Jessica was amazing. My heart really went out to her. Poor poor girl. Her crying scene wasn't much tho. I don't know if it's cuz I was watching it with my mom, or maybe because I was anticipating it...it was probably both. There was a part where Quin slapped Fei and he walks away saying something along the lines of "I don't want to play anymore. If that's really how you feel, then I'll leave", leaving Quin standing there looking after him...clearly torn between whether she should abandon her pride and chase him down, or hold on to it and just let him come back to her. Anyways, I would've really liked to see her kind of collapse in defeat and frustration in that scene.
 | *swoon* Louis' smile just makes me melt!!!! Too bad Roger doesn't smile in this series. Would've been a double melt. *swoon* lol. Anyhow, Louis was at his usual caliber. His tan bothers me sometimes though. How the heck is he so freakin dark?? |
 | Sunny...nothing really to say about him. He's a good actor, and he was pretty darn good in this series, but I don't find him very attractive. lol. |
Charmaine...I don't even know where to begin. I just hated her so much in every aspect. Except her looks. She was very pretty around this time. I guess from 99-01. Had such a cute little face. Dono what happened to her. She was hideous in Perish in the Name of Love (Trường Bình Công Chúa). Ok-looking in Point of No Return (Gia Tộc Hào Môn). Actually, she was prettier in Angels of Mission (Tam Nữ Thiên Sứ V?Danh), but not as much so. I don't know what it is about her that makes me dislike her so. Well, I didn't always dislike her. I liked her at some point....at least after Crimson Sabre '01 (Tân Bích Huyết Kiếm). Her acting was nothing to be proud of, but she was absolutely gorgeous and I loved her character. I also liked her in AOM. But in every other series I've seen, I've hated her character. This one was no exception. Từ đầu chí cuối, I couldn't stand her. I hated Mẫn at the beginning cuz she was so f*ing needy. And she couldn't think for herself. I mean, she must be 20-something, and yet she relies on her dad and bf so. GAR! And then I thot her character got kinda better...but no. **SPOILERS** She sees her best friend and boyfriend hugging and assumes that they betrayed her. Then she goes and nhường her bf cho her best friend. What is she? Stupid? Hell no. I'd be like "Back off! He's mine, bitch!" :censored: Try to steal my boyfriend before my wedding. Psh. But fine...I'll let that go. So she breaks up with him and pushes him away for an entire year...he finds happiness with her best friend, and she comes back and says "I still love you, can we get back together?" ALGKJAOEIRHA;JLAKJDF You little f*er. It was YOUR decision to split up him and break the poor guy's heart in the first place and now you want him back?!?!?! *bitch slap* It was YOUR bad decision. Your loss. YOU deal with it. No one forced her to break up with him. And he tried to wait for her. She just kept refusing him. Pft!** *deep breath* I'm fine.
Lee San San...There is something about her that I cannot stand. I really can't bear to look at her in this movie. However, halfway through, I realized that she was in Man's Best Friend (Duyên Tình Đôi Chủ), too, but I don't recall having a problem with her there. (I barely recognized her. She looks like a completely different person with the different lengths of hair) Well anyways, I didn't like her. First of all, who the hell rides a limo on a daily basis? Please. You're not that rich. Get over yourself. And...I don't know. It seems like her character's supposed to be a girly girl, but she's seems like such a tomboy. Not graceful/elegant at all. Không giống con nhà giàu. I'm not saying that all con nhà giàu have to be girly, but they do have a certain aura about them you know? No...of course not. Well, let's just say I didn't like her. I have no clue how she could have possibly won Miss HK. She is not pretty at all.
Hmm...who else, what else...
I don't know what the name of the actor who plays Tze Ching's husband is, but he and Maggie do not match at all. Whichever genius paired them up should be fired.
Anne was prettier at the end.
Halfway thru the series, I realized that Korean's Chinese name really means Korean. *hahahaha* That's hilarious.
Welp, that's all I can think of for now. BBL with fave moments, or if something else comes to mind.
bottom line: Must see. *thumbs up*