Perfect Couple (2014) 金玉良缘

Yuenbao had been brought up in the Jin family as their only heir. one day, he was assigned a bride by the Empress. as reluctant as he was with the marriage, he wasn't able to risk the lives of his family to rebel against the marriage. Qilin was brought up in the village by her adoptive mother. grateful towards her love, Qilin was determined to find her mother's son, who was taken by the Jin family. she took the place of the escaping bride and wed into the Jin family under the name of the bride, all in search of the missing son of her adoptive mother.

the series started out slightly exaggerated especially action wise, fortunately with the interesting storyline and captivating characters, i found myself enjoying it in no time. Qilin who started out being a rather annoying character, turned out to be so lovable when her true intention was revealed. the comedic effect that involved her seemed to come naturally as well. Yuenbao on the other hand, was a serious character that got caught up in Qilin's plot. when they started to fall for each other, the series became even more engaging that i was sad when everything came to an end.

The Palace: the Lost Daughter (2014) 宫锁连城

the General's wife had given birth to three daughters previously. if she were to give birth to another girl, her position would highly affected. to her dismay, her forth child turned out to be indeed a girl. she had her nanny exchanged the child with a baby boy before informing the General. the baby boy was named Hengtai and was brought up like her own child, trained to be perfect into serving the Emperor. the baby girl was adopted by commoners and raised in the street, named Liancheng. coincidentally, the duo met and slowly developed feelings for each other. their romance led Liancheng into the General's mansion and her origins was uncovered.

the series was highly addictive as each episodes added a different and often unexpected twists to it. their romance was somewhat complicated with the involvement of the Princess, who married Hentai, and Yuxiu, who wanted revenge by destroying Hengtai and his family. in the meanwhile, Liancheng also held the interest of Yicheng, a man who also grew up in the street. his continuous pursuit often messed things up, but made the challenge towards Hengtai even more interesting nonetheless. despite the unsatisfying twists of having the duo separated twice throughout the series, each reunion was so different and unique in its own way that the wait was very much worthwhile every time.

The Wife’s Secret (2014) 妻子的秘密

the Li family had two brothers, Li Tian and Li Minglang. while Minglang, the younger brother was announced the heir of the Li Enterprise, the elder brother Litian, was vengeful and feeling very insecure especially after finding out that he was adopted. Baihe was Minglang's girlfriend before her parents were killed in a car accident. being framed, she lost all her family's wealth to debts. with the risk of bankruptcy, Minglang's mother was against their marriage initially, especially with the interference of Ningxia, a secretary that's deeply in love with Minglang and vowed to keep him for herself.

the series started out promising, especially with the unchanging love Minglang held for Baihe during her most difficult times facing the threats of debtors. Litian played a huge role in breaking the duo apart, causing them to lack communication by misleading them through the trust they held for him. as much as i sympathized with his character, it was difficult to hate him as much as Ningxia, another main villain for the series. however, Ningxia in comparison, was much more convincing. her desperation for love and acknowledgement made her a highly distasteful character, but her effort was equally admirable. despite the happy ending, the experience was far from satisfying, nor was their reunion heartwarming, just essential after the mass amount of episodes painfully endured.

The Originals: Season 1 (2013)

The Originals (2013) series was a spin-off of the Vampire Diaries (2009-2014) series. the Original family consisted of the Mikaelson siblings - Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah. they were the first generation of vampires created. the story started with Hayley, a werewolf who got pregnant with Klaus child on their one night stand. despite his reluctant front, Klaus looked forward to meeting his first child. at the same time, he had to take back his kingdom, New Orleans, from his protege, Marcel.

surprisingly, The Originals (2013) series was so much more easier to watch than the Vampire Diaries (2009-2014) series. the pace was absolutely fast, from Hayley's pregnancy to the fights against Marcel, and not forgetting the seemingly inevitable and delicious conflicts between the Mikaelson siblings. it was so interesting to see a different light and knowing the true story behind the siblings, especially the misunderstood Klaus, always so blunt and so inconceivable, yet he was so full of emotions and longings he became one of the most lovable characters in no time.

Beauty and the Beast: Season 2 (2013)

the story continued after Vincent had been captured by Muirfield. Catherine continued searching for him until they were finally reunited. however, Vincent has changed. his scar was gone, so was his memory. he was now loyal to Muirfield, going on mysterious mission assigned to him, mainly to take out other beast. desperate to recover their romance, Catherine constantly approached the unfriendly beast with the hope of reminding him of their love. in the meanwhile, Catherine also discovered after her father's death that she wasn't his biological daughter.

the second season was faster with its pace compared to Season 1 (2012). it was relieving to get away from their cheesy romance for once and focused more on the mysterious background of Muirfield. seeing Vincent as a beast that was less attached to Catherine was very refreshing, making him more believable. while we expected Muirfield to be some huge complicated organization with a lot of people involved, it was somewhat surprising if not disappointing to find out that it was actually controlled by only one man, apparently someone closer to Catherine than she realized. in this second installment, JT and Tess had more airtime to grow on us, becoming officially our favorite characters, even though Vincent and Catherine were never their competition to begin with.

Beauty and the Beast: Season 1 (2012)

Catherine was a detective who witnessed her mother's murder years ago. she was saved by a beastly looking man. 9 years later, a case led her to discover Vincent, an ex-soldier who was supposedly killed in military action, was actually alive. from his DNA, she found out that he wasn't fully human. but after getting to know him personally, she started to find out more about her mother's murder and how Vincent was linked to it. Vincent was one of the enlisted soldier signed up for the Muirfield project, where else her mother was the scientist that came out with the vaccine to create soldiers with superhuman abilities.

the very idea of seeing a beast outside Disney movies was alluring. Catherine at first sight, was quite an eye-candy to look at, but along the way, her persistent attitude started to make her an annoying character, especially the way she seemed to throw herself at Vincent despite his reluctance to get involved. fortunately for her, Vincent finally gave up fighting her attraction and decided to fall for her, which made things even more delicious, especially when one of Catherine's colleagues, Evan, also felt an attraction towards Catherine. the love triangle barely had time to blossom when Evan started to investigate the DNA he came across when being rescued by the Beast. to stir things up even more, Vincent's ex-girlfriend started taking part after seeing him paying Catherine a visit in the hospital and found out that he wasn't exactly dead. the series started out being slightly frustrating to watch as we saw it traversed down the expected path, but when more casts were added, it turned entertaining and worth the wait.

Bitten (2014)

Elena was a werewolf. she left behind her world of supernatural at Stonehaven, thinking that she could escape her fate by creating a new one as a photographer in Toronto. one day, she received a call from her pack leader, asking her to come back. she returned to Stonehaven, again meeting the other werewolves, protecting her pack, and facing the man that she tried so hard to get out of her system. to make matter worse, she was the only living female werewolf left.

taken from the Women of the Otherworld (2001-2012) book series written by Kelly Armstrong, Bitten (2001) was the book of the series. having been a huge fan of the book series, i had looked forward to seeing it being translated into a series. comparing to the Elena in my imagination from reading the book, the one in the television was far more feminine. while her tough girl attitude took quite a while to sink in, she wasn't a difficult character to love. Clay on the other hand, was surprisingly distasteful where else in the book, he was the pitiful ex that Elena discarded, also the one i rooted for since the very beginning. it was definitely interesting to see how things flow from there onward, not only with their relationship, but also with the werewolves.

Witches Of East End: Season 1 (2013)

the story followed the lives of Joanna, a mother of two beautiful daughters, Freya and Ingrid. they were the bloodlines of the powerful and immortal witches. while Joanna had been alive for centuries, her daughters never lived past the age of 30. Freya was the spontaneous daughter, currently engaged to a doctor, Dash. to make things complicated, Freya had been dreaming about Dash's brother, Killian. Ingrid was the intelligent daughter, also a librarian who researched on witchcraft. one day, Wendy, Joanna's long lost sister appeared at their doorstep, indicating that she was here to protect her sister and her family.

the series was fast paced when it wasn't about romance. the triangle love story between Freya and the brothers, Dash and Killian, was somewhat typical. but when it came to reliving their past, or figuring out the shifter who was trying to kill them, it became so engaging. it was difficult to decide which sister was more favorable, because both of them were so different that they were impossible to compare with another. Freya was the wild child but still very good with potion making; where else Ingrid was the quiet child very good with spells. to be honest, Joanne and Wendy's characters were even more attractive compared to the children. they may still have their romance going for them at their age, but it never became a nuisance that hindered their witchcraft.

The Queen of SOP (2012) 胜女的代价

Xiaojie worked in an international supermarket as an unimportant staff. one day, she was assigned a different department and had to handle projects to make the supermarket display more attractive. her hard work paid off when her boss Ziqi helped her out accidentally. one thing led to another, Ziqi became Xiaojie's boyfriend. before she knew it, he proposed under the watchful eyes of the media. in the meanwhile, Jiqing, Ziqi's model girlfriend became jealous, and Tom, Xiaojie's online friend started showing interest in making her life a less miserable one.

the series traversed through different phases, some of it interesting even funny to look at, others boring if not typical. it was quite impressive that the four main actors managed to pull off their awkward relationship rather smoothly. the indecision side of these characters tended to appear more than enough to annoy us to a certain level at a certain time. like most dramas, the characters found it impossible to be honest with each other, especially those they were currently in a relationship with. fortunately the story was expanded to many possible angle, making it somewhat unexpected and interesting to watch how everything would turn out.

666 Park Avenue (2012)

Jane and Henry were the new co-managers of Drake, a residential hotel located at 666 Park Avenue. the Drake was owned by billionaire Gavin and his wife Olivia. with the power of the dark supernatural forces, Gavin was able to grant wishes of his tenants, however with a heavy price to pay. it was said that the children who were born in the Drake could never leave the Drake. soon Jane discovered the evil forces behind the Drake and found out that she was actually one of the children of the Drake as well. it could be the reason she felt lured back after all these years.

the series was very alluring since its very beginning. episodes were divided for some of its tenants, married couple Brian the author and Louis the photographer, a new assistant of Louis named Alexis, Nona a gifted teenager and her grandmother, and some others who vanished or were trapped in the building's wall. the supernatural effect it had especially the dragon mosaic was astounding, i found myself looking forward to know about the world after going down the stairs. unfortunately, little were revealed and we were very much left with plenty of cliffhangers at the very end of the series.

Crazy for Palace (2013) 我为宫狂

the short drama was an extension for the running sequels. like all the other sequels in the series, it brought together the past and the present. xx was a young man in the present time, while Liuli was a girl in the past. one day, xx worked in the museum that was originally a palace in the past. he was assigned to label all the ancient items but accidentally cut himself on a vase. his blood brought Liuli from the past, where she crossed over to the present in seeking her identity.

for all the previous sequels, i enjoyed the past more than the present. unfortunately, this short drama gave little details on the past while focusing all the dramas in the present. Liuli lost her memories when she was brought from the past into the present. xx was the only person that could see her, therefore she followed him everywhere, asking him for help. eventually he gave in and during the search, they realized that their past was entwined. the short drama had me felt eager to watch its real drama again. the characters were so familiar that it was impossible not to miss them after all these while.

Lan Ling Wang (2013) 兰陵王

a thousand years ago, the battle between the northern region continued as the Emperors from Chou and Qi fought to conquer the land that belonged to each other. Emperor Yu Wenyong led the Chou army while the Battle God, Lanling Wang, led the army of Qi, they fought for day and night and eventually Emperor Yu was defeated and returned to his own land. Lanling Wang had won the battle with the help of a young witch, Xuewu that left their hidden village. Xuewu had the chance to get to know both Lanling Wang as well as Emperor Yu during the battle.

the series was one of the most addictive series we had watched in quite a while. the romance between Xuewu and Lanling Wang was so extremely heartwarming and heart wrenching following the storyline. i had laughed so hard and bawled my eyes out for them. while most of the characters did extremely well for their parts, it was sometimes frustrating that they had to always hide the truth from only the one they were closest to. the conflicts always succeeded in breaking everyone up, all due to the lies that was supposed to keep them "safe". fortunately in overall, the series was highly enjoyable, sending our emotions on turmoil while being extremely rewarding and satisfying in return.

Women of the Tang Dynasty (2013) 唐宫燕之女人天下

the story took place after the Tang Dynasty was being ruled by the female Emperor Wu. Mengfan and Mengfu were two sisters that were forced to work in the palace after their father was killed. they started from the bottom and each with their own ways, strove for a position higher up in their rank. Mengfan disliked the life in palace and was determined to remain uninfluenced by the negativity of the palace. Mengfu on the other hand, didn't mind the influences as long as it brought her a step closer to her dream.

with a distinct role between Mengfan and Mengfu, it was obvious who the Good or Bad sister were. it made their outcome obvious since karma was involved. however, the differences didn't help make these characters lovable. while Mengfan was determined to remain "good", she was quite an annoying character to look at as she separate everything clearly into black and white, and wouldn't take no for an answer. Mengfu was like a wild child, her character often seemed heartless but was highly relatable if compared to Mengfan. in overall, the series was enjoyable and fast paced. but most of the time, the clarity that the series tried so hard to portray just to separate the good from the bad was what ruined the series.

America's Next Top Model #20: Guys & Girls (2013)

the twentieth cycle of America's Next Top Model (ANTM) was named "Guys & Girls" as it was the first cycle to include male contestants. it was also called ANTM 2.0 after being successful aired for a decade. despite the dramas between Tyra and the judges thus far, the transformation for the show from being a random reality show to becoming the start of careers for its contestants were welcoming after going through weeks of stresses and competitions. ANTM had been airing 2 cycles/seasons every year since 2003. for this cycle, there were also more than the usual 14 contestants and also more than the usual 13 episodes. like the previous cycle, this cycle also applied public elimination

Beauty World (2011) 唐宮美人天下

the story started with the mysterious death of the Emperor's newborn daughter. her mother Meiniang was ferocious. and since the princess was last visited by the Empress, she was the most suspicious person in the palace. before she was sentenced to death, her former lover Chongyan and her best friend Xiner, came into the palace to investigate. one case lead to another, they soon found out that the palace was far more complicated than what they expected.

the series was unexpectedly enjoyable, having little dull moments since the very beginning. the mysterious cases and its investigation kept the story going. i was slightly disappointed with the little involvement from Meiniang, who later became the Empress. but fortunately Xiner and Chongyan continued to be entertaining if not mysterious with a hint of fantasy and supernatural twist. at some point, even the Emperor seemed like the bad guy and it kept us guessing until the very end.

War of Desire (2011) 凰图腾

Fengyan was an orphan girl adopted into the Ning family. she became great friends with Caidie, the only child of Ning family. they were both in love with Feihung, their childhood friend, where Feihung returned Fengyan's love. one day, due to certain circumstances, Fengyan replaced Caidie on her tasks of entering the palace to become the emperor's concubine. being in the palace, Fengyan slowly changed as she schemed for attention and power among the concubines, where Caidie joined soon after.

despite having 49-episodes, the series was fast paced and easily watched in one sitting if possible. it was a tale of 3 friends, focusing on their friendship and love as they went through trials in the palace, fighting for survival. things were much more simpler before Caidie joined Fengyan in the palace. her original intention of fighting against Fengyan soon became purely survival. in the end when they thought things could returned to them being children, they couldn't. in many ways, Fengyan and Caidie were opposite characters. Fengyan was tough and often reflective, while Caidie remained innocent and idealistic at times. as for Feihung, he often gave up everything for these 2 girls, even the Emperor's seat. he remained the most frustrating character to watch among the trio.

Beauties of the Emperor (2013) 王的女人

the series told the story of Leer and her journey. originally the beloved daughter of a weapon dealer, she came in contact with a general called Yunkuang. they fell in love at first sight, but her knowledge and independent personality sometimes threatened the male pride. her adopted sister Miaoge was since young, jealous of her good fortune and had the intention of taking everything from her. when she found out that Leer and Yunkuang were in love, Miaoge did all she can to intercept so he would fall in love with her instead.

while in general sense, Miaoge was consider the bad guy compared to Leer. but even in that sense, it was often difficult to hate Miaoge for who she had become. with her parents dead, she was accepted into Leer's family but other than Leer, everyone else treated her as an outsider. she fought for what she wanted and it was acceptable, even understandable under the circumstances. Leer on the other hand, was brought up with plenty of love and sometimes naive and idealistic. but because of her confidence and independence personality, she was able to handle the job of an Empress, putting the people before her very own needs. the series started out slow, but soon increased its pace and compensated with the intensity of the plot.

In Love with Power (2012) 山河恋·美人无泪

Taiji was the first Emperor of Qing dynasty. he formed alliances with the Mongols and Manchu clans through marriage. first he married Jerjer, who became his first wife; later he married Jerjer's nieces, Yuer and Lanzhu. Yuer and Lanzhu were half-sisters, but due to the clan's hierarchy, Yuer was a princess, while Lanzhu was a servant. while Taiji's love was divided among his concubines, soon Lanzhu held all his attention and became his favorite. knowing she will never be Taiji's favorite, Yuer focused on her son's upbringing with the help of Dorgon, Taiji's younger brother.

while Yuer was a character easy to love, her naivety was sometimes frustrating to watch. being pampered since young, she trusted too easily, especially her half-sister Lanzhu. with revenge in her mind, Lanzhu was sidetrack many times, switching targets along the way. as for Yuer, having made the mistake of choosing the wrong man to marry, she paid with her happiness. her sense of justice and determination got her through the most difficult times, which led her to bring her grandson, Emperor Kangxi to his throne. despite being an unhappy woman, Yuer was strong, seeking peace in every little thing.

Mystery in the Palace (2011) 深宫谍影

Princess Yidan was a frequent visitor in the palace, loved by the Emperor's mother. Taer was originally appointed to have Yidan's hand for marriage. but one night, she got drunk and accidentally landed in the bed of the Emperor. she got pregnant with twins and left her home in guilt. she hid in the temple for months and the very night she gave birth to her children, Taer set the temple on fire, only 1 child was saved. she was raised as Hanxiang, a goodhearted and hardworking girl who entered the palace in search of her mother's murderer.

with the accumulated cases of mysteries, the series was fast paced and engaging. Hanxiang was unbelievably lucky in most of the harm thrown her way, as she confronted powerful beings such as the Emperor's concubines, who each had their own tactics of staying alive. these women would do anything to kill one another just to keep their secrets safe. despite the engaging scenes and cases, Hanxiang failed to become a likable character. most of the important casts were Cantonese actors, making a China series seemed wrong somehow.

Secret History of Princess Taiping (2012) 太平公主秘史

Princess An was killed by her mother as a baby, however she was found by her caretaker, Zhaoniang to have survived the incident. Zhaoniang secretly ran away with the baby princess. they wandered into the deserted regions, promising the queen that Princess An will return after becoming an adult. after meeting with Axiena, the leader of a small tribe, they fell in love. meanwhile in the palace, the queen gave birth to Princess Taiping. after Princess An learned the truth about her origins, she vowed to seek vengeance on her mother by kidnapping Princess Taiping and replacing her.

having the same appearance, Princess An and Princess Taiping was sometimes confusing to look at if not for their opposite personalities. Princess An was brought up learning martial arts, making her tough and headstrong, as ambitious as her mother. however, Princess Taiping was soft-spoken, believed that women should steer clear of the political issues. the contrast made Taiping much more lovable than An, for despite how much An hated her mother, she was an exact copy of the queen.