XDRAMAsX’s 2016 Drama Review

Personally I feel 2016 has been a rather lackluster year for dramas, and there wasn’t a single show that had me completely invested. My standards have risen exponentially after a slew of good dramas in late 2015, and I’m hoping some of the shows from the 2017 lineup will make up for the disappointment this year. That being said, I probably have missed out on a couple of gems this year, so feel free to suggest your favourites below.

This is my first time reviewing anything, so do bear with my ramblings as I try and figure everything out. I also owe a huge thanks to the team at CFensi, especially 0kuo0 and idarklight, for patiently answering all my questions and making sure I settled in with minimal hiccups. All productions are listed in the order they aired, and I’ve also included some short commentary on dramas I dropped

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The Imperial Doctress to air

Ignore the historical inaccuracies on the story-side, gawk at successes on the costume-side… and wonder why Chinese drama releases are trying to put dark rings around our eyes…  We’re really all going to need doctors after this for sleep disorders…

The Imperial Doctress is set to air.  Starring Liu ShishiWallace Huo, Huang Xuan, Li Chengyuan, Jin Chen, and Yuan Wenkang, here is to more stills and goodies to drum up to the release.

More stills below the cut. Continue reading

The Imperial Doctress aims for release

At long last… the wait seems to be over!!

The Imperial Doctress, starring Liu ShishiWallace Huo, Huang Xuan, Li Chengyuan, and Yuan Wenkang, is aiming for a February 13th release.  Those of you keeping track of Sinology Sundays and this drama probably know that I have high hopes for at least the costuming from what I have seen so far.

Also, I am just glad that the emperors are not wearing completely golden head-gears but instead black ones with gold embellishments which seems to be more historically accurate.  Although golden ones have been found, the honor of lounging around in one seems to have the requirement of being dead.

More stills below the cut. Continue reading

The Imperial Doctress releases theme song

Speed dating candidates… with a twist.  At the end of the day, all the guys are interested in Liu Shishi…

A theme song has been released for Liu Shishi, Wallace Huo, and Huang Xuan‘s  The Imperial Doctress.  Here’s something to start the new year with!!

Couple more stills below the cut.

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The Imperial Doctress challenges Yu Zheng on the pretty

Well… isn’t this a compromising position…

The Imperial Doctress, starring Liu ShishiWallace Huo, Huang Xuan, Li Chengyuan, and Yuan Wenkang, has decided to challenge Yu Zheng on the pretty and costume accuracy and release stills of their own.  The Imperial Doctress 女医·明妃传 will follow the story of historical figure Tan Yunxian, a female physician, as she builds her knowledge among the common people and elevates her position to an imperial physician.  Expect plenty of imperial infighting as brothers Emperor Zhengtong/Tianshun (Wallace Huo), and Emperor Jingtai (Huang Xuan) vie for the right to rule and for Tan Yunxian’s affections.

Anyhoo, more stills below the cut. Continue reading

Liu Shishi, Wallace Huo back in the Ming for “The Imperial Doctress”

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Hoping to finally have an ending that doesn’t involve the death of either her or her beloved, Liu Shishi becomes a doctor. Little does she know that the greatest irony of them all is when the doctor can’t save her own love.

Liu Shishi and Wallace Huo join hands once more in the Ming dynasty for upcoming Tangren/NewBeauty series The Imperial Doctress 女医·明妃传.  Luckily, her outfits this time is actually more reflective of fashion of the era, with plenty of aofu (upper jacket + lower skirt) and bizi (the outer jackets). Liu Shishi plays the historical figure of Tan Youxian, one of the four famous female doctors of ancient China.  Wallace Huo and Huang Qian play two princes who probably via for her love, with Wallace Huo being the eventual Zhengtong Emperor.  Filming begun  March 25th in Hengdian. Character posters below the cut. Continue reading