#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama

Day 16: A Drama Book Recommendation

Lang Ya Bang (琅琊榜) by Hai Yan (海宴).

Popular and highly acclaimed #Cdrama Nirvana In Fire is an adaptation of this novel, with a few minor changes. Hai Yan was the screenwriter for Nirvana In Fire as well, and the sequel Nirvana In Fire 2: The Wind Blows In Chang Lin. #NIF 3 is supposedly in the works starring Leo Wu for a 2026 release, again with Hai Yan.

Highly recommend especially for the Chinese idioms. #NirvanaInFire

#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama

Day 15: Some Undeniable Chemistry

Yang Mi and Mark Chao, as Nine-tailed Fox Bai Qian and Crown Prince Ye Hua of the Nine Heavens respectively, in #Cdrama #xianxia Eternal Love, Ten Miles Of Peach Blossoms. This drama was also my recommendation for "an epic love story." I can't imagine any other pair of actors playing these roles, and so convincingly. The scene at the East Sea Water Lord's banquet in Episode 30 is my favorite (out of 58 episodes).

#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama

Day 12: Stunning Production Design

#Cdrama #xianxia Ashes Of Love (2018)

A few years ago, this was my first cdrama and xianxia when I joined Netflix. Since then I've watched many more, but the imagery in Ashes Of Love still stands out. From the opulent Heavenly Realm, colorful Flower Realm, dark Demon Realm, natural Mortal Realm, each had a distinct look with several areas depicted throughout each realm (63 episodes). The sets and costumes also stood out.

At episode 24/34 in the #cdrama #FangsOfFortune I am very confused by the story.

Person X is dead. A couple episodes later, they are alive again.

Person Y is dead. A couple episodes later, they are alive again.

What could take an entire season of plot building is just spoken aloud as backstory in a single episode, and no longer important in the next episode.

Beginning of series: all demons are bad
Middle of series: ... Not All Demons
End of series (?): everyone is actually a demon

My wife is in the "I'm going to make you watch this episode of this #cdrama so that you can see just how OVERRATED this dude is" stage of watching Asian dramas

@grumpasaurus @JillsJoy Ah, then perhaps the #CDrama is more like the original. The #TWDrama ML was awful, and had near zero growth toward being less awful.

@grumpasaurus @JillsJoy FTLY is a rare case for me. I saw the #TWDrama original first and disliked it intensely. Saw the #KDrama remake and loved it, have had the theme OST as my phone alarm ringtone for 11 years now. Haven't watched the #CDrama or #ThaiDrama versions

@JillsJoy Both are remakes of the #TWDrama #FatedToLoveYou, although the #CDrama is a remake of the #KDrama more than a direct remake of the original

I think this is the same plot as the 2020 #cdrama #YouAreMyDestiny (which was very contrived but I also loved it? 9/10)