XDRAMAsX’s 2018 Drama Review

I didn’t actually watch Secret of the Three Kingdoms, but Wan Qian‘s Fu Shou is so pretty I just had to include her in my post.

It’s that time of year again, when I collect all my thoughts on the dramas I watched over the past year. I vowed to watch many of the shows in the discarded list because they starred my favourites, conveniently forgetting that good actors cannot always elevate the quality of a drama.

On the other hand, dramas that weren’t initially on my radar ended up becoming the shows I was most invested in, probably because I had zero expectations going in. What are your thoughts on this year’s drama offerings?

Collection of Cfensi’s past reviews can be found here.

**Spoilers ahead, do proceed with caution.

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Sniffling Wan Qian is so pretty

This screencap almost looks like an oil painting.

This set of screencaps of Wan Qian sniffling in Lost in 1949 is so cute, I want to give her a big hug. She looks like she came out of an oil painting.

The series has a really slow, low-stakes plot and I ended up quitting a few episodes through, but started rewatching after I saw these screencaps.  Wan Qian nails her character, a timid, simple woman who wants to avoid trouble, but at the same time wants to help her deceased husband’s cause. She doesn’t have big visions of the future or speak in slogans, but just wants to do what she can to help those around her. Chen Kun’s characters were a bit exaggerated earlier on but both have grown on me.   Plus, the three leads now have great chemistry, and now I’m struggling between which Qiao brother I ship more with Wan Qian’s character.

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Promo Round-up: Lost in 1949

In Lost in 1949 (Lost in Love), Chen Kun plays a street smart wastrel who tries to escort his twin brother, a key person to the Communists’ secret plan, safely out of Shanghai. Wan Qian plays a rookie agent who befriends the brothers – it’s also her second time getting involved with twins after Secret of the Three Kingdoms.

The 47 episode drama begins airing tonight.

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Air date update, June 2018

All dates are tentative. Legend of Fuyao may become the only period drama to make it onto network TV this month.

Demon Capturing Record of Zhong Kui 钟馗捉妖记 – Jun 4
Featuring: Yang Rong, Yang Xuwen, Madina Memet
Details: 55 episodes, weekly drama on iQiyi
Zhong Kui, the vanquisher of demons, is demoted to the mortal world, and embarks on exciting new adventures with human monster catcher Lingxi.

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Chen Kun’s Lost in 1949 showcases more brotherly love in new trailer

Lost in 1949 has released more stills and a new teaser focusing on the tense relationship between the twin brothers, played by Chen Kun. Younger brother Qiao Lijie (slicked back hair) is a nuclear physicist who is a key figure in the Communists’ rescue plans, while older brother Qiao Zhicai just wants to live a carefree life.

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Chen Kun protects Chen Kun in first teaser for Lost in 1949

Lost in 1949 has followed its first batch of stills with a trailer. We are first introduced to older brother Qiao Zhicai (Chen Kun), a simple man from a humble background who probably becomes involved with the Communists after he decides to help rookie agent Huang Liwen (Wan Qian) find their underground base.

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First stills for Chen Kun, Wan Qian’s Republican spy drama

Chen Kun (Beautiful Accident) and Wan Qian’s (Guilty of Mind) upcoming drama quietly wrapped up filming in mid-April, and is now going by the official title of Lost in 1949 脱身 (I assume they dropped ‘The/者’ to avoid comparisons with The Disguiser 伪装者).

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Chen Kun returns to dramaland after nine years

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Seems like The Disguiser has reinvigorated the espionage genre.

A-list actor Chen Kun (Chongqing Hotpot, Mojin: The Lost Legend) will be returning to drama land with The One Who Escapes 脱身者 after working exclusively in film for almost a decade. He’s one of those really charismatic and attractive stars who also happens to be very good at his craft, so this is one drama I will not miss a single episode of, come hell or high water.

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