23 July 2023

Brought us one of the most epic and beloved Wuxia dramas out there.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook 莲花楼 is honestly one of my favourite dramas and I know many amazing people on this sub who love it too.

The discussions have also brought so many people together, even at the slow and unpredictable pace they are currently following (sorry about that btw).

MLC makes me so happy and it makes my heart full and I'm so happy I get to share that love!

Happy Third Anniversary!

Thanks to the creators, the cast, the crew, and the other fans out there!

I'm going to Comicon as one of my favourite characters. Liao Ting Yan from When Destiny Brings the Demon and this is the first time I'm actually trying to do something special.

I have my outfit (second last photo) [I was too lazy to find the original image I made so I just downloaded it from the Reddit post I made the image for originally] and my basic accessories (last photo) but I need to think of my hair now.

My hair isn't nearly this long (to be fair, whose hair is?) and I know I need to get some hair ornaments and butterfly earrings.

I plan on using Temu because it's quick and also, it's not like I'm going to a wedding.

My questions are:

1. Should I just use my natural hair (length: below my shoulder) and follow a tutorial.

2. If the answer to 1 is "yes" does anyone have links to tutorials I can practice with?

3. If the answer to 1 is "no", should I try to find a hair stylist that specialises in things like this? I have no idea if that's even a thing, ironically, I'll probably only find something with someone who does hair for weddings lol.

I'm open to using temporary extensions as well but I don't think a full-on wig will have the effect I want unless I buy a super expensive fancy one, which is not within my realm of possibility.

The Inspiration

I don't know why, but recently I've been thinking back to last year's The Glory starring Chen Du Ling and Xin Yun Lai.

And by "thinking back", I mean that I get flashes every now and then of certain scenes or the intense feeling I had when watching the drama.

I don't think there was a single moment where the intensity of the drama dropped for me.

But it's not like I spent my time gushing about the drama while I was watching. I was just... watching.

And it's only now that I think

> Wow, that was actually an extremely well done drama

More Dramas

I have a similar feeling about The Blue Whisper. I mean, I was extremely critical of the drama while watching, but now... I miss it.

Another drama that was really just so good but unappreciated by me at the time is Blossoms in Adversity.

You don't know until you know

I find that most of the dramas I reminisce about in this manner are dramas that either had very little promotion (The Glory) or dramas that released before I knew anything about Cdramas (The Blue Whisper & Blossoms in Adversity)

Do you have "wait, that was good enough for me to think and feel things about more than a year later?" dramas that slowly creep back up on you?

The Legend of Rosy Clouds 云秀行 (2026)

I'm starting this review with my head in my hands. Or rather, that's the state I was in right before starting to type.

Look, you know it's serious when I pull out the laptop, but what felt like a plethora of thoughts running through my head during the last episode's midway point has now dried up into an expression I can only describe as:

>What?

First

Before I get into this review, I want to give a big thank you to u/Alarming_Tea_102, u/a_HerculePoirot_fan, and u/not_enough_griffons for hosting the drama discussions. I was meant to join but ran into some health problems on the way.

The Review

If you know me, I don't tend to say many negative things about dramas; I try to see the good in everything. But, if you don't mind, I'm going to quote what I told some friends after finishing this drama:

>Dear everything that is good and holy in this world, what was this drama. It's almost as bad as Beauty of Resilience.

Let's start this review, shall we?

I have this philosophy when it comes to actors and their abilities, namely, "it's about the role"; and let's just say:

I am so happy that Deng Wei had the opportunity to showcase his talent in last year's Love of the Divine Tree.

I am so happy that Zeng Shun Xi has dramas like Veil of Shadows and Mysterious Lotus Casebook under his belt. 

And I am so thankful that Li Yi Tong has A Dream within a Dream (and many other dramas) to prove her acting prowess.

The Characters:

Our main characters are bland, while our side characters bring a little bit of colour to the drama. It's a shame they are only present for about 5% of the drama, though.

Deng Wei's character, Zheng Shi, could not have existed at all, and the drama would still end the same way.

There are three old men who try to keep the city together. They make no sense, but somehow I ended up feeling their camaraderie by the end.

Shoutout to Fan Yun's dad, Fan Qi, for being a super dad and my favourite character. Also, thank you to his brother Fan Hui for his giddiness when Fan Yun calls him "uncle".

Also, my condolences to Deng Xiao Ci (Jerome Deng)'s character, Wei Rong, and his excellent flute-playing skills, for being completely forgotten less than halfway through the drama. You will be missed.

The Story

*Crickets*

Let me quote myself again:

>I finished episode 12 and realised I still don't know what the plot is.

After finishing the drama, my sentiment remains.

Oh also, people fall hopelessly (and sometimes obsessively) in love without any buildup, explanation, or reasoning.

In Conclusion

I love these actors, all of them. From the leads to the guest stars, but The Legend of Rosy Clouds is not it.

Sidenote (slight spoiler): Did iQIYI gitch or does the drama actually, really, no joke, end >!right before a kiss during the climax of a song?!<

^(At least I got some funny GIFs.)

Disappointment

Two years ago, in 2024, I fell in love with Cdramas.

Needless to say, when some friends invited me to Comic Con, I knew I had to go all out and CDRAMA.

Well, my outfit arrived almost exactly one week AFTER Comic Con.

I have a lifetime membership to the best Hanfu store around New Hanfu, but my country's postal service sucks - hence, the delay.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with New Hanfu, they just form part of the story, lol.

They have a whole section dedicated to Wuxia so I decided to just choose an outfit and find a character that fits later.

Obviously, that never happened.

Well, this year I decided to brave Comic Con on my own.

That's right, as a little "self treat", and now it's finally time to use my outfit.

Just by the way, the outfit itself is amazing and I wear the skirt all the time, Hanfu makes for great work outfits. So it hasn't been lying dormant for two years.

Characters

I've spent some time thinking of characters who might fit with the outfit I bought. Comic Con is only in October so I've decided I'm not averse to adding a random cape or frills or a gauze butterfly or two.

I've identified the following characters:

• Liao Ting Yan from When Destiny Brings the Demon 献鱼 (2025)

• Xue Ran Ran from Love of the Divine Tree 仙台有树 (2025)

• Cai Zhao from Generation to Generation 江湖夜雨十年灯 (2026). I've actually identified two outfits that may work if I add some orange string to one of them or purple string to the other.

• Lu Xin from Shadow Love 与晋长安 (2025)

• A Yin from The Last Immortal 神隐 (2023)

• (and this one is a stretch) Xiao Lanhua from Love Between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) 苍兰诀

Questions

First: which character do you think fits the outfit most. Without any alterations being made to the clothing itself.

Second: Which character fits the outfit most of you assume that I know a thing or a half about sewing. (I don't but there is a first time for everything)

Third: This is the time to mention a character that I may have missed so that we can go on to number four.

Fourth: Which character would you choose overall and (double question) what would you add to the cosplay? Lace flowers somewhere? Maybe a sash in the middle. Maybe some pearl ornaments?

Don't forget I may need a sword or a staff. Otherwise wavy hand movements should be enough!

If I need to start playing around with the stuffs I might just pop over to r/Hanfu to ask for some guidance?

Thank youuuu

Mysterious Lotus Casebook 莲花楼

Remember back in episode one's discussion, I called these discussions "July in Christmas"? Well, now it's time for Christmas in July!

Mysterious Lotus Casebook aired on July 23^(rd) of 2023, and now in 2026, for its third anniversary, I will be picking up the rewatch discussions again!

Posts will be up at any time every second or third day - think of it as a quirky surprise!

Reference Post & Index For Previous Episodes (still needs updating)

Flashcards:

• Main Characters and Concepts
• Guest Characters

Some Guidelines

1. Use Spoiler Tags if -
   • You are discussing anything that happens after the episodes we have already covered.
   • You are commenting on the importance of something from the current episode because of what happens later in the drama.
   • You are discussing a character in a form that will reveal their future friendships and allegiances.
2. If you accidentally include a detail that has not yet been revealed, don't worry, hosts will be monitoring the comments and will gently remind you if spoiler tags are needed. Don't feel bad if this happens to you. All of us have made this mistake at some point during discussions.
3. Keep the environment positive.

Episode #32 - We're Back Baby

Who's back?

Me, of course! With the discussions!

But also, our long-lost you're-gonna-wish-he-stayed-dead elder brother Shan Gu Dao. Also known as - the actual villain of this drama.

When Gu Dao returns, he has a particular line in his "evil monologue" that I could not help but comment on. Gu Dao says:

>This is destiny.

I'm sorry, but I am going to have to correct you there; this is not destiny, this is a victim complex, bruh.

Imagine having Li Xiangyi as a brother who absolutely idolises you and ending up butthurt about some nonsense. Honestly, this man was never actually neglected, only loved and cherished.

Rama Lore

Four-faced Qingzun's wife, Liangyi Fairy, was locked up in the Ninth Prison. The last piece of the Rama Heavenly Ice was last seen with her.

I'm going to let Di Feisheng do the talking for me:

>Four-faced Qingzun was seriously injured and died in prison. He left the Rama Heavenly Ice to his wife, Liangyi Fairy.

>After Four- -faced Qingzun died, Liangyi Fairy also died of hunger strike. But strangely, I found the whereabouts of Liangyi Fairy after her death in the residence of Mr Pi, who guards the prison.

>Mr Pi comes from the Tianji Hall. We're going to the Tianji Mountain Manor anyway.

And off they go...

The Case

Fang Duobing and Li Lianhua go to Tianji Hall for He Xiao Feng's wedding, and He Xiaohui reveals that someone sent her a piece of the Rama Heavenly Ice, but it turns out to be immediately missing.

You know who else is missing? Xiao Feng's husband - Wei Qingchou. Well, the majority of him is missing; they do find his tattooed skin in the happy couple's wedding chamber.

The People

Let's get the most boring dude out of the way. In this episode, we are introduced to Xing Ziru, the owner of Ruyi Private Bank and clear "baddie on the hunt for some ice".

Then we get a slightly (very much) more interesting character, Zhan Yunfei. He is the guardian of He Xiao Feng and known as "Dragon of the martial arts world".

Yunfei has quite a fun backstory:

After losing a bet with Li Xiangyi ten years ago, Yunfei promised to stop brushing his hair. He has been faithful to this promise for 10 years.

Also, excuse the vulgarity, but...

He's hot.

Questions for the Audience

1. What are we feeling about Di Feisheng's tentative "in-cahoots-ness" with Shan Gu Dao?

2. How amazing was the reunion between the two brothers?

I've Been Looking For You For Ten Years

In Pursuit of a Definition

In order to open up a sincere and productive discussion regarding the perspectives we all hold regarding idol and non-idol dramas, I'm going to do my best to introduce an accurate and easy-to-understand definition.

Disclaimer: I am not well versed (or at all versed) in the art of Mandarin. I have used the online dictionary/app Pleco to help find a breakdown of certain upcoming phrases.

Instead of trying to find my own way with words, I am going to quote MarkusHere from his Chinese Entertainment Update Episode 939 from Jan 21 2025.

>According to Google's AI Overview, it's a TV Series that features idols and the music industry, and often includes actual idols in the cast. The actors are chosen for their popularity with young viewers.

>And what are idols?

>Entertainers who are marketed for their image, attractiveness, and personalities. They are often singers, but may also be trained in acting, dancing, and modeling.

>So that's a generic but quite accurate explanation.

>I would also add that there are certain characteristics that are consistent in idol dramas like romance, tropes, perfect hair, catchy soundtrack etc.

>In Chinese entertainment, be it movies or dramas actors are kind of grouped into two different factions; the idol faction, and, for lack of a better translation, the true talent faction (偶像派 and 实力派).

>The idol faction are usually very good-looking actors who are idolized by many fans, whereas the true talent faction are the ones who are more recognized because of their talent.That's the generalization of it.

The Idol Faction - 偶像派

A breakdown:

偶 - noun: image; idol

像 - noun: likeness (of sb.); portrait; picture; statue

派 - noun: political group; faction; school of thought or of art, etc

The True-Talent Faction - 实力派

A breakdown:

实 - noun: reality; fact || adjective: true; real; actual

力 - noun: power; strength; ability || adjective: strong; efficient; capable

派 - noun: political group; faction; school of thought or of art, etc.

Personal Perspectives

When looking at the two factions, 偶像派 and 实力派, as well as their accompanying definitions, it's no surprise that some personal perspectives lean towards (for my lack of ability to find better phrasing) seeing idol dramas as "lacking in quality" when compared to non-idol dramas.

Many perspectives include classifying idol dramas as "shallow", "style over substance", and, well, just plain "vanity projects".

My Personal Perspective

I get it, I really do. I understand the tendency to view idol dramas as "full of air", but my personal perspective does not adhere to this definition.

First, I see the majority of idol dramas as "escapist", and if escapism is inherently "airheaded" or "shallow" then my mind must be empty.

For the record, I'm not accusing anyone of labelling fans of idol dramas as "airheaded" or "shallow".

Second, escapism does not inherently refuse to touch on serious topics. It is very possible for a beautifully-costumed CGI-heavy drama to draw attention to hard-hitting topics like poverty, sexism, and abuse.

Idols themselves. How are they defined?

I'm going to avoid using names, because I do not feel that this discussion needs to be dominated by fan wars and actor comparisons.

However, there are many actors who are perceived as "idols" because of the public's tendency to, well, idolise them.

Why are they idolised?

The answer to this question does not lie with the actor as much as it does with their fans. There are quite a few classically trained actors who have fallen into an "idol" classification even though they do not come from a musical or otherwise celebrity-based background.

The dramas themselves. How are they defined?

I remember a situation where a director was scolding an actress asking something like "do you want to be an idol forever? Then go and pose on a Ferrari".

Despite the clear problematic and deplorable nature of this situation, the drama that said director was busy with was, and is still, defined as an idol drama in itself.

This begs the question: where is the separation between "idol dramas" and "idols" themselves.

In Conclusion

A lot of what I've mentioned may feel like open-ended statements that seem to lead nowhere.

And maybe they are.

But I wanted to start a discussion without imposing any of these "personal perspectives" on anyone reading this.

I wanted to mention my perspective while inviting individuals to reflect on their own ideas regarding idols, idol dramas, and their respective audiences.

I can think of quite a few "idol dramas" that have left me feeling a certain way about the world. Dramas that have left me thinking.

But for the record, even if a drama leaves me feeling nothing other than "happy and content", I firmly believe that drama can still be defined as "quality".

What are your feelings regarding public perceptions of idol dramas?

Edit for Drama Identification

From the graphic I included:

The following are idol dramas: Moonlight Mystique, Lost You Forever, Immortal Samsara and Ashes of Love.

The following are non-idol dramas: The Vendetta of An, Swords into Plowshares, Born to be Alive, Northward, and She and Her Girls

One More Edit

Hey guys! Thank you to everyone who participated/have been participating in this space.

I feel some of the discussions have become, I don't know what word to use, demeaning?

Please know that this post was meant to foster a space where we can all feel heard and, as dumb and cheesy as it sounds, a place where we can all feel loved.

I, unfortunately, I did not foresee that some opinions people "feel need to be heard" can be a bit on the demeaning side.

Please, don't take this space as a free for all to bash those who enjoy idol dramas, and please choose your words carefully. There is no need to bring anyone, or any audience, down and to demean them. Thanks!

That's it, that's my post.

But for the sake of expending at least some literary effort, let me continue.

I'm picking up a particular shelved project of mine and I'm busy finding important dialogue from episode 32 of Mysterious Lotus Casebook, meaning I don't have the sound on - I'm just using subtitles - and this brilliant sequence appears on my screen.

And I can't help but think "and some people say this man can't act?".

If you've seen this drama, you may be able to guess exactly what moment this is. All I can say is... wow, just... wow.

(Remember spoiler tags please)

Some actors get more praise than others, some get more criticism, and some even get more criticism because they get more praise.

• Chen Du Ling gets a lot of criticism for "wooden acting".

• Wang Hedi gets lumped into an "overrated" classification more often than not.

• Cheng Yi gets criticised for being "overhyped".

• Meng Zi Yi faces a lot of pushback regarding "pretty crying" and "doe-eyed acting".

• Zhao Jin Mai struggles with the same criticisms Chen Du Ling faces, namely, "wooden acting".

It's the way of society to try and push ourselves and others into categories and labels. However, when it comes to acting there is no denying that "ability" is influenced by many many variables.

Director, character depth, and storyline are just a few to mention.

Question

Who are some actors you feel get unfairly, or excessively criticised because of their popularity or simply because of a lack of opportunities to showcase more varied acting abilities and skills. And do you have any standout performances you want to share?

Image references

• Top left: Chen Du Ling and Wen Zheng Rong in the drama The Glory.

• Top right: Wang Hedi in Love Between Fairy and Devil.

• Middle: Cheng Yi in The Vendetta of An.

• Bottom Left: Meng Zi Yi in The Untamed.

• Bottom Right: Zhao Jin Mai in Reset.

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The Legend of Shen Li 与凤行 (2024)

The Legend of Shen Li aired between March and April of 2024. It is based on a novel by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香) titled "Yu Feng Xing" (与凤行).

If the author, Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香), sounds familiar, that is because she is the amazing creator behind the original novels for Love Between Fairy and Devil, Love You Seven Times, Back from the Brink, The Blue Whisper, The Legends, and the recently aired Shadow Love.

The drama follows Shen Li, (portrayed by Zhao Li Ying) "a powerful general born into the immortal realm" and her quest to save the three realms from an unknown evil. All while balancing her escape from the arranged marriage she's vehemently boycotting (featuring our man He Yu - who is also boycotting said political arrangement), and the mysterious man she can't help but fall in love with, Xing Zhi (portrayed by Lin Geng Xin).

Ratings

Shen Li has an impressive Douban rating of 7.2 with 326,239 reviews and an MDL Rating of 8.6 with 11,368 ratings.

Ruminations

The Legend of Shen Li is one of the best and most underrated dramas I have ever had the pleasure to experience. The OST is absolutely brilliant and awe-inspiring while the world and costume design just takes your breath away. Shen Li actually has a specific turquoise costume that I will acquire one day, even if I have to learn how to sew from scratch!

In fact, this drama is so good and special to me, that since the Love Between Fairy and Devil Rewatch Party was such a success last year, I would love to do a repeat with The Legend of Shen Li. Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香) has created a plethora of amazing stories and my top three include Love Between Fairy and Devil, The Legend of Shen Li, and Love You Seven Times. I might just do a rewatch a year.

Whether or not this happens, if you haven't watched this drama yet**, I highly suggest you change that.**

Wallpaper Worthy

The images attached to this post were created from the original artworks and promotional materials for the drama. In order to avoid cropping away any of the original artwork, AI was used to help adjust the ratios for the wallpapers. The exact method is showcased here.

I have also cleaned up some images from Weibo in order to showcase the drama's beautiful concept art and a few animated chickens from episode one. They can be found over here.

All artworks and reference images are sourced from the references included on the drama's Baidu page.

Previously on "Wallpaper Worthy"

• Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)

• Love You Seven Times (2023)

• My Journey to You (2023)

• Moonlight Mystique (2025)

• When Destiny Brings the Demon (2025)

Disclaimer: This is from episode 1

Archives: The Nanyang Mystery 南部档案

I wonder what (or rather "who") could possibly have gotten me to give Archives a try? Honestly, u/basilordinary3617 didn't have to ask me to watch. I just saw all her hype and love for this drama so I had to try it.

Its a VERY immersive and atmospheric show. How can I explain it?

How about this:

I was waiting to go in for surgery yesterday and switched on episode 1 to pass the time. After about five minutes I switched it off because I didn't want to be spending my escapist (and forcibly induced) dreams in the world of episode 1's creepy case.

Finally, after a night I would prefer not to linger on too much - I got to episode 1 today and I need to mention the banter and the humour. These two characters are THE perfect friends and foils to one another!

I can't wait for the rest!

Thanks Bas 🌿

Credit:

This clip utilises footage from iQIYI's 2026 drama Archives: The Nanyang Mystery 南部档案 and is accompanied by music from Tao Cruz's 2010 single Dynamite.

I find the emotional impact of a drama much more hard-hitting when there are more episodes. (Costume dramas anyway)

I may be biased, because the majority of my first dramas were all on the longer side - Love and Redemption, Ashes of Love, Immortal Samsara and The Untamed are just a few examples.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not referring to arbitrarily adding episode numbers and magically going:

"Boom! Emotional impact!"

I'm more referring to the way longer dramas approach storytelling, character dynamics, and the introduction of spaces (moreso than people).

I've been thinking of Love and Redemption, which has 59 episodes.

The drama has a large cast, but they aren't all introduced in episode one. In fact, you spend at least the first 10 episodes without seeing every pivotal character. (It's been a while since I watched this but I'm pretty sure it's more than 10 episodes, actually)

There are strong characters, heartbreaking characters, heart-lifting characters, and even abhorrent characters in this drama. And some of them you don't actually get to know until around episode 30.

What's more, with 59 episodes in total, you still have more than enough time to get to know these characters without feeling like anything has been cut, left out, forced, or rushed.

I've been feeling nostalgic for these types of dramas. Dramas that build worlds before they build stories.

They are such an iconic staple that I feel like calling them "modern classics" because, well...

a) If I call them "classics", I'm discounting many, MANY great dramas from before (insert appropriate timeline)

b) They aren't "new" anymore.

c) I personally think these dramas have shaped the viewing experience of the majority of the "newer" international audience.

* The concept of "newer" probably referring to 2020 and upwards.

I, myself, am a 2024 addition - May 2024 to be exact.

What am I trying to say?

I think, I'm saying that I miss it. I miss these dramas this era.

I'm not saying "bring back longer dramas" (I mean, the episode-count rule has already been lifted)

I'm saying that I'm feeling nostalgic.

Cdramas are amazing and there are going to be countless unique "eras" to come.

But today I just wanted to make a little post appreciating one of my favourite periods in Cdrama-land.

Also know as the era before we lost Yuan Bing Yan and Deng Lun to tax evasion scandals.

May our favourite stans continue to pay their taxes and bring us many many more amazing dramas...

Author note: The first picture is comprised of stills and official promotional images for the drama and the second one is filled with images from episode 1 specifically

When I Fly Towards You 当我飞奔向你 (2023)

What do you think of when someone asks you:

"What is your favourite drama?"

Do you think of your first drama? Or do you think of a drama that you have meticulously analysed?

Personally, if someone asks me about my favourite drama, I see that iconic (and maybe overused) shot from modern dramas where one person is standing still but you can see people moving around them all blurry.

Well, that's changed.

If you ask me this question, my answer will be simple.

WIFTY

WIFTY is the common abbreviation used for the drama that is the highlight of today's post - When I Fly Towards You 当我飞奔向你.

I've actually already done a post about the drama's details and why it's so special, so I'm not going to repeat myself too much today, but just know - the fact that a MODERN drama has taken the spot of "my favourite drama"... Well, that is a testament to the drama itself.

(You can find that post over here)

Why is today's GIF post a "Deluxe Edition"?

I couldn't decide.

Reddit only allows 20 images per post and WIFTY is just so good that narrowing down the parts of the drama I wanted to share with you guys... Well, it was just impossible.

I have created a post over on r/CdramaFlashCards with (almost) all of the GIFs I created from this drama.

The philosophy behind this is simple.

WIFTY has so many amazing characters that I believe they all deserve their own spotlight. These characters deserve to be showcased and celebrated. And 20 GIFs just... It's not enough, man.

You can explore the world of WIFTY through 73 GIFs over here.

In Conclusion

I haven't said much about this drama in this post specifically, so please allow me to include a few closing words. This drama has:

• Butterflies, butterflies everywhere.

• Friendship, friendship with which you can happily sail the rocky sea.

And finally -

When I Fly Towards You is a drama that you can watch when you want tension, but you don't want heartache. When you want longing, but you don't want misunderstanding.

It's a beautiful drama that I will forever rave about.

When I Fly Towards You has now officially been crowned "My Favourite Drama"

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The Legend of Rosy Clouds 云秀行 (2026)

I'm paying a lot of attention to each episode, so I've actually only watched episode one so far.

It's just so fun that I wanted to create some GIFs immediately. My storage space is going to suffer!

One critique I do have is that the dubbing feels off and slightly artificial.

It's not enough to put me off though. It's difficult to find information regarding the voice actors right now. I'm expecting My Drama List to update the cast as it airs. Even Baidu doesn't currently have anything about the drama's voice actors.

I can tell that it's Tian Jia Rui's real voice but that's because I know his voice anywhere.

Li Yi Tong is definitely dubbed by a different voice actor, and you can tell.

Other than that, all I can say is that the drama feels nice and light, and while that may change (I have no experience with the source material) I'm enjoying the atmosphere.

Will you be following The Legend of Rosy Clouds?

The Legend of Rosy Clouds 云秀行 (2026)

Many of us have been anticipating this drama for... well, a long time.

Despite its 2026 release, The Legend of Rosy Clouds started filming back in June of 2023 (Baidu). The reason for its delayed release is most likely due to an issue with IP rights, but I don't have a link to a credible source right now, so take that with a grain of salt.

Honestly, I had given up on this drama. I've been waiting for so long that I still remember when it was listed on MDL as "Take me where the Clouds Rise". Weirdly, I'm happy for the delay in its release.

I got excited about this drama after I watched Miss the Dragon - I wanted to watch more Deng Wei dramas, but now, after two years of watching Cdramas, I've watched (and loved) almost every actor in this drama.

Okay, that's enough dribble, prepare to enter (waves hands magically) Information Station.

Li Yi Tong 李一桐

• Sword and Beloved - Qing Tong / "12580" (2025)
• A Dream within a Dream - Song Yi Meng / Song Xiao Yu (2025)
• Tell No One - Zheng Dong Yu (2024)
• Spy Game - Yao Yao (2023)
• Hi Producer - Lin Hai Shan (2023)
• Warm on a Cold Night - Su Jiu Er (2023)
• The Knockout - Meng Yu (2023)
• My Deepest Dream - Tan Jiao (2022)
• Love between Fairy and Devil - Si Ming (2022)
• Glory of Special Forces - Ai Qian Xue (2022)
• Faith Makes Great - Du Fu Jia (2021)
• Court Lady - Fu Rou (2021)
• Go Go Squid 2: Dt. Appledog's Time - Ai Qing / "Appledog" (2021)
• Dear Missy - Lu Ke (2020)
• Fate - Xia Ran Ran (2020)
• Royal Nirvana Special - Gu A Bao / Lu Wen Xi (2020)
• Don't Think Twice, Love's All Right - Xia Ke Ke (2020)
• Sword Dynasty - Zhangsun Qian Xue (2019)
• Royal Nirvana - Gu A'Bao / Lu Wen Xi (2019)
• Blossom in Heart - Gu Hai Tang (2019)
• Bloody Romance - Su Qi Xue / Wan Mei (2018)
• The Legend of the Condor Heroes - Huang Rong (2017)
• Demon Girl Season 2 - Nie Qing Cheng (2016)
• Demon Girl - Nie Qing Cheng (2016)

Zeng Shunxi 曾舜晞

• Veil of Shadows - Wu Shi Guang / Cang Hao (2026)
• Justice Is Mine - Han Lie / Hon Lit (2025)
• Feud - Bai Jiu Si (2025)
• Perfect Match - Song Ren Zong [Emperor] (2025)
• Snowy Night Timeless Love - Huo Zhan Bai (2024)
• A Lonely Hero’s Journey - Gu Yi Zhong (2024)
• Romance on the Farm - Shen Nuo/Shen Yi (2023)
• My Journey to You - >!Xue Chong Zi [Adult] (Ep. 24)!< (2023)
• Mysterious Lotus Casebook - Fang Duo Bing / Fang Xiao Bao (2023)
• Hi Producer  - Zhu Jian Shen (2023)
• Meet Yourself  - Zhang Ming Yu (2023)
• Hi Venus - Lu Zhao Xi (2022)
• Heroes - Wang Xiao Shi / "Little Rock" (2022)
• Rebirth for You - Li Qian (2021)
• Mystery of Antiques Season 3 - Liu Ye (2021)
• Time Flies and You Are Here - Zhao Xiao Qian / Han Chen (2021)
• Ultimate Note - Wu Xie / "Tian Zhen" / "Xiao San Ye" (2020)
• Line Walker: Bull Fight - Yan Tin Haap (Madman) (2020)
• The Journey Across the Night - Li Jia (2020)
• Over the Sea I Come to You - Huang Xiao Dong (2019)
• Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre - Zhang Wuji (2019)
• Take My Brother Away - Shi Fen (2018)
• When We Were Young - Xu Kong Lin (2017)
• Fighter of the Destiny - Tang Tang / Tang 36 (2017)
• Happy Mitan - Zheng Xiao Hua (2016)

Deng Wei 邓为

• Love of the Divine Tree - Su Yi Shui (2025)
• Lost You Forever Season 2 - Tushan Jing / Ye Shi Qi (2024)
• Lost You Forever - Tushan Jing / Ye Shi Qi (2023)
• Till the End of the Moon - Xiao Lin | Gongye Ji Wu | Sang You (2023)
• The Journey of Chong Zi  - Qin Ke (2023)
• Sassy Beauty - Jie Ke (2022)
• I Am the Years You Are the Stars - Qian Cheng (2021)
• Miss the Dragon - Tian Gu Xing / Xue Qian Xun [Lord of Luofeng Pavilion] (2021)

Tian Jia Rui 田嘉瑞

• Veil of Shadows - Ji Ling / Long Shen / Man Man | Ji Can | Yuan Xi Zai (2026)
• Fangs of Fortune - Zhuo Yi Chen / Bing Yi (2024)
• My Journey to You - Gong Yuan Zhi (2023)

Cheng Hong Xin 程泓鑫

• Generation to Generation - You Guan Yue (2026)
• How Dare You!? - A Bai / Lin Xuan Ying (2026)
• Coroner's Diary - Bai Feng (2025)
• Moonlight Mystique - Mu Jiu (2025)
• Dashing Youth - Su Mu Yu / "An He Kuei" (2024)
• Stories with Friends - Di Wu Tian (2024)
• Our Memories - Han Shuai  (2024)
• Secretary Bai Wants to Resign Everyday - Chu Zhe (2022)

Wang Yilun 王以綸 Riley Wang

• Fate Chooses You - Jin Lun (2026)
• Whispers of Fate - Fang Ping Zhai (2025)
• A Dream within a Dream - Shangguan He (2025)
• Fangs of Fortune - Ran Yi (2024)
• Egg and Stone - Mu Bing He (2023)
• Back from the Brink - Bai Xiao Sheng (2023)
• Sisters, Bottoms Up! - Wang Tong (2023)
• Choice Husband - Song Xi Yuan (2023)
• Song of the Moon - A Fu Jun (2022)
• Be Yourself - Gao Yuan (2021)
• Love Is Sweet - Li Xiao Chuan (2020)
• First Romance - Yan Ke (2020)
• Everyone Wants to Meet You - Tao Lun (2020)  
• Nine Kilometres of Love - Lin Shu (2019)
• I Hear You - Ye Shu Wei (2019)
• Long for You Season 2 - Ye Gu (2018)
• Attention, Love! - Wang Chin Li (2017)
• Long for You - Li Zhe (2017)

Dai Lu Wa 代露娃

• Unveil: Jadewind - Zhao Yu Di  (2026)
• Blood River - Situ Xue (2025)
• The Litchi Road - Zheng Jin Niang (2025)
• Youthful Glory - Bai Min Min (2025)
• Moonlight Mystique - Fu Ling / Bai Xi (2025)
• Lost You Forever Season 2 - Haoling Yi / A Nian (2024)
• Lost You Forever - Haoling Yi / A Nian (2023)
• Gen Z - Tian Xing Xing (2023)
• Qi Zi Ni Xi Shou Ce - An Qi (2023)
• My Calorie Boy - Xu Jing Jing (2022)
• To Fly with You - Cui En Jing (2021)
• People's Property - Lu Jia Jia (2021)
• Love Crossed - Jiang Ke Le (2021)
• Please Classmate - Yuan Cai Xi (2021)
• Target Person - Ke Tang (2020)
• Cross Fire - Chu Ge (2020)
• The Plough Department of Song Dynasty - Wu Yao Guang (2019)
• When We Were Young - Huang Deng Deng (2018)
• Tomb of the Sea - Zhang Wei Wei (2018)
• The Legend of Zu Season 2 - Tang Xing (2018)
• Perfect Wedding - Feng Xiao Yu (2016)

Jian Yu Xi 简宇熙

• The Ferryman: 10th Anniversary - {Nightwatcher} Da Peng (2026)
• Light beyond the Reed - Qin Nan [Young] (2025)
• Romance in the Alley - Lin Dong Zhe [Child] (2024)
• Echo of Her Voice - Yun Mu [Child] (2024)
• Sword and Fairy 4 - Yun Tian He [Young] (2024)
• Blooming Days - He Lian Xin [Young] (2023)
• Stand by Me - Xu Xiao Bo [Young] (2023)
• Love Is an Accident - Li Chu Yang [Chu Yue's brother] (2023)
• Sunshine by My Side - Sheng Yang [Young] (2023)
• The Legend of Anle - Crown Prince Han Ye [Young] (2023)
• The Longest Promise - Shi Ying [Young] (2023)
• Warm on a Cold Night - Ka Ka (2023)
• Court Lady - Yan Zi Fang [Young] (2021)
• To Be with You - {Xiang Wang} (2021)
• Love Is Sweet - Yuan Shuai [Young] (2020)
• The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty - [Beggar child] (2020)
• I Will Find You a Better Home - Su Tian Pei [Transfer student] (2020)

Fan Jing Wen 范静雯

• A Splendid Match - Chen Yan Ying (2026)
• When Destiny Brings the Demon - Liang Chen (2025)
• The Princess's Gambit - Xiang Qing Ying (2025)
• Moonlight Mystique - Le Zhu (2025)
• The Last Immortal - A Yu (2023)
• Story of Kunning Palace - Zhou Bao Ying (2023)
• Only for Love - Si Tu Yi (2023)

Bonus Appearances

There are a few actor appearances that I am particularly excited for; however, no character posters have been released for these characters yet:

• Jerome Deng 邓孝慈 Deng Xiao Ci: Deng Xiao Ci stole many C-drama watchers'hearts last year when he portrayed a particularly unhinged (and beautifully styled) fox called Xun Ming in last year's drama Love in the Clouds. I, however, am very happy to say that I fell in love long before that. Xiao Ci has some great roles in mini dramas like Palace Shadows: Between Two Princes and The Tower of Whispers.
• Zhai Xiang Yang 翟向阳: Xiang Yang is particularly special to me, since he was one of the main supporting characters in my very first Cdrama - Love You Seven Times. Some of you may be more familiar with him due to his roles in Love Between Fairy and Devil and Blossoms in Adversity.

Previous "You Seem Familiar" posts

• Love of the Divine Tree
• Love Between Fairy and Devil
• The Princess' Gambit

The Legend of Rosy Clouds airs on the 20th of June!

The drama will be hosted by u/not_enough_griffons, u/a_HerculePoirot_fan and u/Alarming_Tea_102. Keep an eye out, and you may see a certain guest host as well <3

The Blue Whisper Parts 1 & 2 (2022) 与君初相识 || 恰似故人归

The Drama:

The Blue Whisper stars Dilraba Dilmurat and Ren Jia Lun and is split into two parts.

Part 1 consists of 22 episodes, and Part 2 completes the drama with another 20 episodes.

Dilraba portrays Ji Yun He, a spiritual master whose life goal is to live free and unrestrained.

Jialun portrays the merman Chang Yi, who has found himself captured and sent to Flower Valley, where he meets Yunhe - the spiritual master meant to "tame" the wild merman.

The Ratings:

The Blue Whisper has a score of 5.7 on Douban with 252,510 ratings.

My Drama List has Part 1 and Part 2 split, with both parts possessing their own page and (by extension) their own ratings.

Part 1 has a score of 8.3 with 7,991 ratings and Part 2 currently stands at 8.4 with 6,915 ratings.

Ruminations

Part 1:

I liked it, I would go so far as to say that I loved it. I loved the world and I enjoyed the pacing of how 'new' characters were introduced. There is a beautiful scene on a cliff with a twist that I really did not see coming. It was highly enjoyable and I loved living in the world.

Part 2:

Holy Plotholes Batman

Is the first thing I said to u/not_enough_griffons when I finished this drama.

It's a shame.

The Blue Whisper starts off so well and with Part 2, it falls apart.

I'm going to quote a review from Douban:

Sidenote: If you haven't watched this drama, the upcoming quote is technically a spoiler but I would still suggest clicking on it if you want to know why I'm criticising this drama.

>!The male lead dies, then the female lead dies; the female lead dies, then the male lead dies; the male lead dies, then the female lead dies again.!<

A more accurate description you will not find.

Although for those who want to know if it's a happy or sad ending>! despite what the quote implies, they are both alive and happy and together at the end.!<

Next, I'll quote my past self (again)

These characters spend zero time >!NOT DYING!<.

All in all, I'm glad I watched this because it is a classic and I don't feel like I wasted my time. But man, by the time the last two to three episodes roll around, all (intended) emotional punches feel like a slight breeze tickling your nose.

Fun Fact

The actress who portrays Luo Jin Sang / "Luo Luo", Hu Yi Xuan is also the second female lead in this year's How Dare You!?. Where YiXuan brought to life the character Xie Yong Er. In slightly less exciting news, I only noticed this because a) I watched the dramas back to back, and b) she has a very distinctive voice that I recognised instantly.

Sidenote: I really like her voice.

The GIFs

As always, feel free to use these where and whenever you like. I played around with some fun techniques for a few GIFs but I'm going to put them in the comments since I wanted to keep the post itself 'pure drama' in a way.

Edit: Here are those special GIFs