The Legend of Shen Li (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

Chinese Drama 2024

The Legend of Shen Li (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 


The Legend of Shen Li poster

  • Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction, Wuxia, Fantasy
  • Release Date:  18 March 2024
  • Origin: China
  • Cdrama: 36 Episodes

 

Cast


  • Snippets
  • This drama is a much awaited reunion of Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin after the very successful but rather open-ended drama, the Princess Agents.
  • 14 June 2022: Filming ceremony was held today.
  • Zhao Liying is producing this drama.
  • 4 November 2022:  It is a wrap after 144 days of filming.
  • 19 February 2024: Rumour has it that Shen Li will broadcast on both Tencent and MangoTV beginning 18 March 2024.

Quick Precis

Apparently, phoenix Shen Li fell into the mortal world as a chicken being sold in the market.

Xing Zhi bought the chicken😭😭😭

And their story begins.


Episode 1

The CGI is so good and it is very panoramic.  Lin Gengxin is just so handsome as he gets close up shots.  He should really do more historical drama.

Liying never ages.  Still as gorgeous as in her early twenties.

It was Lunar New Year’s Eve and children were excitedly setting off fireworks but then they got distracted by a more spectacular fireworks happening in the sky.  Above the sky were immortals begging Lord Bi Cang to return back with them in order to fulfill a political marriage within the Divine Realm.

Lord Bicang, however, refused to return as no way in hell would she marry the loser, General Zhu Fei.

Lord Bicang was chased by soldier including her subordinate Mo Fang.  To her shock, Mo Fang stabbed her in the chest.

Mo Fang then whispered to her that this was all he can do for her.  She understood as he looked at the worried sad eye of the loyal Mo Fang as she began to fall into the mortal realm.

Looking up the sky, Xingyun saw what was falling from the sky and knew that something was wrong.

The next day, Xingyun went to the market and bought a chicken.  The vendor tried to dissuade him from buying a particular chicken as it looks too ugly.  The vendor offered to give him Xingyun a discount but he declined to accept as he said the chicken will be affronted being bought at a bargain price.

Xingyun looked after the grumpy chicken who was cursing Xingyun as a silly mortal.

The chicken who said she was a phoenix was surprised to find out that Xingyun could read or understand her clucking.

By the light of a full moon, Xingyun could briefly see that the chicken is a beautiful woman.

Episode 2

Xingyun decided that they need meat so he went to the market with the chicken who insisted that she should go with him.

At the market, Xingyun stopped to listen to a fortune telling telling a guy that he needed to get married first to pass the imperial exam.  For extra 10 taels he will tell the guy where to find the woman he should marry.

Xingyun interupted and said that the man should go home instead otherwise his house will burn down.

The man did not know who to believe so Xingyun told him that he will be at the pier market till the afternoon and if he is wrong the man could come back to find him.

The man left.  The fortune teller was upset as he lost his costumer.  He wanted Xingyun to pay him but Xingyun said that they should make a bet.  The fortune teller agreed.  He said that if he wins he get the chicken and if he loses he will pay 10 taels to Xingyun.

At midday, the guy came back with to fat slices of pork belly to give to Xingyun.  He was so grateful because if he did not go home, his mother would have died in the fire at the woodshed.

Xingyun’s prowess with divination spread quickly.

Yuniang who had been waiting for her husband to return after the war wanted to know where her husband.  Xingyun declined to give a divination.

Chicken who overheard the request got curious and went to find Yuniang that night.

She saw her with the the spirit of her husband guarding Yuniang.

The husband went berserk at the intruder, although it was only a chicken.

Anyway, Xingyun turned up as well and helped Chicken to get away from the pugnacious spirit.

Chicken said that she the husband is a divine who had refused to ascend as he wanted to guard his wife.

Xingyun said that staying around his wife, the husband is shortening the life of his wife.

So Chicken said that she needed to get her physical body to help.

Xingyun said he could help her but she has to distract the husband while he does a stone circle.

When it was ready, Chicken went into the circle and then turned into a beautiful Shen Li.

She explained to the husband that they could make him appear to his wife.

Episode 3

Shen Li wanted the moment between Zhou Sanglang and Yunniang to last a little longer but Xingyun told her that the formation he created could not last much longer.  They decided to make the couple decide for themselves by giving them the full info on their situation.

Yunniang said that she did not care if her life is short as long as she was with Sanglang.

Sanglang decided for them, he was going so Shen Li called the power of forgetfulness and sent Sanglang to his final destination.

Anyway, Shen Li and Xingyun was just walking the narrow path across the lake when Xingyun slipped and fell into the deep lake.

It then became the last scene of Princess’ Agents were Chu Qiao had to rescue the heavily wounded Yu Wenyue💜💜💜 from drowning. Now we have a little closure for the excellent Princess’ Agents.

But in this scene, it was not romantic but rather on the sadistic side because ShenLi pulled Xinyun to the surface by the hair.  Later on when Xingyun complained, ShenLi noticed the thick wad of hair in her hand.  Oops she unknowingly or rather uncaringly scalped him. LOL

Anyway, Shen Li returned back to being a chicken which was witness by Yunniang’s brother.

The brother immediately went to report what he saw.

Some guards arrived at Xingyun’s house forcefully dragging him away but Shen Li appeared and sent them the guards flying.

Anyway, Shen Li saw the stone that seemed to inhibit her spiritual essence, the delay in her acquiring a human body.

She was so annoyed with Xingyun, she manhandled him a little which he milked so she stays and look after him.

But he found that she does not have enourmous patience.

Episode 4

Shen Li is feeling like a normal girl.  She even started blushing when near Xingyun.  She was actually like feeling normal; not treated like a feared and respected killing machine.  She likes that Xingyun tells her that she is a girl and not to act like a man.  She likes that he calls her Shen Li rather than Lord Bi Cang Wang.  She likes that he seemed to want to know where she was and what she was doing.

Though she complains, she also likes that he asked her to do chores.

So despite being detemined to leave, she gives herself time to treat Xingyun better and be a little kinder to him.

So cute.  The chemistry is still smoking.  Love them.

Anyway, Gu Chengrui, who was expecting to be the heir to the City Lord of Qingsheng City came to see Xingyun as Xingyun to visit him.  He made an offer that Xingyun can’t refused but Shen Li refused it for Xingyun as she beat the many guards and Gu Chengrui himself.

Shen Li asked Xingyun what would he have done if she would have not been there to protect him.

He told her that he had a plan.  He took Shen Lin to visit the other master Gu, the younger illigitimate brother but known to be a little kinder and more approachable.

When then got to Gu Chengjin mansion, Shen Li found that the Chengjin is keeping a pretty little demon, Miss He, which surprised Shen Li.  What they did not see was that Chengjin had another woman tucked away inside a secret room in his library.  The girl in a coma.

Xingyun seemed to have a deja vu, when he saw Chengjin.  He knew him a long time ago.

The scenes are picture perfect like you see in glossy magazine. Stunning.

 


1
The Legend of Shen Li

Please rate this drama.

Thanks

Midnight Photo Studio (Kdrama Review & Summary)

Kdrama 2024

Midnight Photo Studio (Kdrama Review & Summary)

 


The Midnight Studio poster

  • Genre: Fantasy, Ghost, Romance, Comedy, Drama
  • Release Date: 11 March 2024
  • Origin: South Korea
  • Kdrama: 16 Episodes

Cast

  • Joo Won as Seo Ki Joo
  • Kwon Na Ra as Han Bom
  • Yoo In Soo as Go Dae Ri
  • Eum Moon Suk as Baek Nam Goo
  • Han Groo as Jin Na Rae
  • Ahn Chang Hwan asLee Seon Ho
  • Park Jung Ah as Kang Soo Mi
  • Kim Young Ok as So Geum Soon
  • Lee Bom So Ri as Kim Ji Won
  • Han Sang Jin as Manager Kim
  • Park Doo Shik as

Episode 1

It is an intriguing drama. Whoa, how and where do Kdrama scriptwriters/novelists get their ideas?!!! Weird but wonderful stuff.

Seo Ki Joo is the seventh generation of his family to become a ghost photographer.

It started with his ancestor whose daughter was dying.  In order to cheat death, he went to the underworld to steal the camera🤣🤣🤣

The pissed off grim reaper found the father with his daughter who was in her deathbed.  The grim reaper was suitably moved so he gave a condition to the father.  He said he would allow the daughter to live until she reaches 35 years of age and this will be the fate of their generations to come.

Seo Ki Joo has only just over 100 days left before he reaches 35.  He is resigned to his fate and would crossed out each day on his calendar.  Still he still liaise with the living and the dead though photographs.  He has two ghostly assistants.

Then he met a sort of kindred spirit so to speak.  She is not dead but seemed to have a special power because she could enter the secret realm.  She is a lawyer who was down in luck and was just kicked out of her apartment for non-payment of rent.

They worked on a case together about a comatose husband whose wife was about to put a pillow over his head.  She was so stressed from looking after him as well as trying to deal with their mounting debts.  She did not go through her plan but she felt so guilty and hopeless when her husband died so she confessed that she killed him.

Now, Seo Ki Joo had to reconcile the dead husband who was trying to get back to his wife who he felt sorry for.  Seo Ki Joo arranged for a last photograph of the two just to say goodbye.

In Blossom (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

Chinese Drama 2024

In Blossom (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 


In Blossom poster

  • Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction,  Romance
  • Release Date: 15 March 2024
  • Origin: China
  • Cdrama: 32 Episodes

 

Cast


Quick Precis

Yang Cai Wei was murdered on the day of her wedding.  She was then resurrected as a badass Shang Guan Zhi determined to avenge her ‘passing’. The number one suspect was Pan Yue, her husband.

She later found out that he had really loved her deeply but still, the course of their true love is far from cut and dry.


Snippets
  • 14 July 2023:  It is a wrap.
  • 4 December 2023: the distribution license was issued today.
  • 18 March 2024: On the third day of its showing, In Blossom became the fastest drama to hit 10000 on Youku for 2024.

Episode 1

Whoa, what a compelling start!!!  Love it.

Pan Yue is the first born but illigitimate son of the Minister of Justice.  He was on the wayward side because of he was treated growing up.

To this day, he remembers a girl who befriended him when he was a boy.  She was always on his side especially when he was mournful.  But then she disappeared ten years ago.

Pan Yue sabotaged his legitimate brother’s chance of marrying a princess.

The Minister of Justice told him off but Pan Yue was unrepetant and said that he would continue being disrespectful and a source of trouble for the family until he gets the information he had been asking from his father.

The Minister finally told him where the girl Yang Cai Wei was but on the condition that Pan Yue will forget that he has a family.

Instead of being upset, Pan Yue told his father that he would hold him to what he said and not to change his mind later on.

The young Yang Cai Wei had grown into a rather sad character but she was very upright.  She works as a caretaker/pathologist under her master who was the coroner but had gone crazy.

Poor Yang Cai Wei is treated like a pariah and called Ugly by villagers because of the nature of her work as well as the unsightly scar on her face that goes from her forehead down to her cheek.

One day, she was called to go to Mr Li’s house.  When she got there, every single one of the family of 9 was dead.

Upon examination, she concluded that they had a mass suicide but when the magistrate turned up he had her arrested because of her verdict.  He reckoned that it was murder.

Poor Yang Cai Wei was tortured to submission but she refused to sign the letter of confession that she was the murderer.

The torture got more severe but it suddenly stopped when Pan Yue turned up.  He punished the magistrate and had Yang Cai Wei treated.

He asked her if she recognised him but she pretended she did not.  Anyway, he was really happy to see her so he started turning up wherever she was.  He found her again at the Li house where she did an autopsy with the bodies.  She found out that they were poisoned but not enough to kill them but to make them delusional that they had to kill themselves.

Now, they had to find the real murderer.

Yes, I love this first episode and Zheng He Hui Zi who plays Yang Cai Wei was delightful.

Episode 2

Ju Jingyi as a bad girl is equally as impressive.  This is her best role yet.

Anyway, Cai Wei and Pan Yue managed to make the real murder confess to his crime.  He was  Mr Chen, a member of the notorious Silver Rain Terrace.

For helping Cai Wei, Pan Yue told her that she had to fulfil the condition he has.  He told her that the condition was to marry him as agreed by their parents a long time ago.

Cai Wei told him that they now belong to two different world and she was absolving from marrying an ugly girl like her.

She added to find someone else more suited to his looks and status.

Pan Yue told her that he will only marry once in his lifetime and the woman would only be her.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Zhi found out about Pan Yue’s impending marriage to Cai Wei.  She went mental and went to Sunrise Garden where Pan Yue was lodging.  She started making a scene and that was how Pan Yue found her.

He did not have any sympathy for her and told her that he had only tolerated her because she was the sister of his best friend, Shangguan Lan.

Shangguan Zhi was furious and told him that she had tortured herself to make herself perfect over the years for him.

He never thought of her even remotely in a romantic way, never will.

Shangguan Zhi was not giving up, she went to Cai Wei and had her kidnapped.  She told Cai Wei that she can’t have Pan Yue.  Shangguan Zhi then instructed a man to take measurement of Cai Wei’s face.

Five days later…

Pan Yue married Cai Wei.

Hmm wow mysterious.

3

4

Episode 5

Really enjoyed this drama.  I watched the first five episodes and ended up wanting more.

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32


4
In Blossom

Please rate this drama.

Thanks

Chicken Nugget (Kdrama Review & Summary)

Kdrama 2024
Netflix Original

Chicken Nugget (Kdrama Review & Summary)

 


Chicken Nugget poster

  • Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Mystery
  • Release Date: 15 March 2024
  • Origin: South Korea, Netflix Original
  • Kdrama: 10 Episodes

Cast

  • Ryu Seung Ryong as Choi Seon Man
  • Ahn Jae Hong as Ko Baek Joong
  • Kim You Jung as Choi Min Ah
  • Kim Nam Hee – [Employee]
  • Yang Hyun Min as
  • Lee Ha Neui as
  • Jung Ho Yeon as Hong Cha
  • Lee Jae Woong as
  • Park Jin Young as Yoo Tae Young,
  • Jung Seung Kil as Yoo Tae Man
  • Ko Chang Seok – [Baek Joong’s father ]
  • Moon Sang Hoon as Jung Hyo Bong
  • Yoo Seung Mok as Yoo In Won
  • Kim Tae Hoon as
  • Hwang Mi Young as
  • Jung Soon Won as
  • Heo Jun Seok as
  • Park Hyung Soo as
  • Lee Joo Bin

Episode 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 


 

In Bed with a Stranger (Hong Kong Drama Review & Summary)

Hong Konger Drama 2024

In Bed with a Stranger (Hong Kong Drama Review & Summary)


In Bed With A Stranger poster

  • Genre: Romance, Mystery
  • Release Date: 26 February 2024
  • Origin: Hong Kong
  • HKDrama: 25 Episodes

Cast

  • Joe Ma as Yeung Man Sum / Sam
  • Mandy Wong as Koo Ching Ting
  • Kelly Cheung as Sin Mei / Rachel
  • Joey Law as Gam Cheung Sing
  • Frederick Cheng as Ling Chun Seng / Alex
  • Cheung Kwok Keung as
  • Maverick Mak as Chan Jeun Gau
  • Tsui Wing as Lou Ching Fai
  • Jim Tang as Dang Ging Chiu
  • Rachel Lam as Man Kei
  • Venus Tang as Nga Man
  • Siu Lai Man as
  • Janice Pang as

Quick Precis

A wife gone missing but after seven years when the husband was just about to tie the knot with his girlfriend, the wife turned up.