KO One Re:member Review

Title: KO One: Remember

AKA: KO One 4

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Romance

Episodes: 60

Broadcast period: 2016-Jun to 2016-Sept

Opening song: Boyz on Fire by SpeXial

Ending song: I'm not the one you love by Pets Tseng

Cast: Pets Tseng, Lou Hong Zheng, Huang Wei Jin, Sylvia Wang, Zhao Zhi Wei and Chen De Xiu.

After receiving news about K.O One class being in danger, Lei Ting (Pets Tseng) and Xiu (Chen De Xiu) return to the gold dimension, only to be separated. Xiu manages to return to the class and meets up with Gu Zhan (Lou Hong Zheng), Zhi Ge (Huang Wei Jin) and Qiu Qiu (Sylvia Wang), but unfortunately Ling Tei seems to have disappeared. They soon track her down to a house, where they meet a trio from another school led by Zhi (Zhao Zhi Wei), though the trio admits to finding her, but haven't done anything to her. Tension arise, Lei Ting appears, but she seems to have lost her memories.
While the K.O One class try to help Lei Ting retrieve her memories, there seems to be other forces going about the gold dimension, and soon enough even Lei Ting acts very different than usual...

Out of all K.O. One seasons, this one has the best quality when it comes to the fighting scenes/use of magic. Also, this is the first season without Wang Da Dong (Jiro Wang), which means the storyline follows the "newer" characters that weren't in the very first season. This also means the K.O. series has changed both leads and shifted the narrative. This isn't necessary bad, as it kind of needed some freshness to it, and these actors actually manage to keep it interesting. Unfortunately, the only thing that I really liked in this drama was the couple of Gu Zhan and Qiu Qiu: everything else was way too 'melodrama' and there was a huge lack of fighting. I know that K.O. One isn't only about the fighting, but considering the title "K.O. One", the drama should be about the K.O. ranking, which was only mentioned very few times. And they really saved a lot of fighting for some reason. Even though the acting and the dialogues were good, there were too many fillers to be honest. I was actually yearning for more lead couple moments because of it – which by the is one the reasons for my rating. Another one is because, even if this is on the frivolous side, the overall acting is quite great.
So in all, an okay fourth instalment of the drama :)

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Angel N Devil Review

Title: Angel N Devil

Genre: Fantasy, School, Idol

Episodes: 26

Broadcast period: 2014-Nov to 2015-feb

Cast: Sylvia Wang, Simon Lian, Teddy Chen, Cosmos Lin, Cheng Yu Xi, Lou Hong Zheng, Huang Wei Jin, Chen De Xiu, Lucia Chen, Ting Liu, Allie Jie and Sunnee Yang.

This story is the continuation of the Zhong Ji Series, but in the Copper Dimension.

Kate (Cosmos Lin), Yan Yan (Lucia Chen), Xiang Ning (Ting Liu), Allie (Allie Ji), Ding Dang (Sunnee Yang) and Xiao Yang (Cheng Yu Xi) are six high schoolers, living in the copper dimension. All sic have signed a contract with the guardian of light Xiong Ya (Teddy Chen) in exchange of one wish to come true. They fight the evils and demons, and protect the innocent at night.

One night while fighting a demon, Xiao Yang is attacked and dies as a result. The groups become bent of finding the killer, and soon meet Yin Xiao Feng (Sylvia Wang), who claims to be her younger sister.  At first the group is mistrusting, until they notice her fighting power. They decide to introduce her to the world, but Xiao Feng is reluctant to join. Wondering why her sister would sign a contract that would enable her to get harmed, for one wish, she questions Xiong Ya about it. She is told that her sisters wish is to keep Wang Cha Li (Simon Lian) out of danger and protect him. Soon she meets Cha Li, and finds out that he is Xiao Yangs boyfriend.

The two dislike each other at first, but when Xiao Feng signs the contract to find her sisters killer, the two find middle ground and decide to join forces…

Hmm, not sure of I got all it completely right with the summary, but I think most of it fits.

Continuing the series, this one has all the new actors from the Zhong Ji universe, though the characters are not the same. There is a small resemblance, but I think this series has the new cast in focus, mainly the A’N’D idol group. Though SpeXial is in it (and ends up taking more screen time than the girls), the main story is the girls and Sylvia Wang.

Considering its predecessors, this is a bit on the lower side of the bar, though the storyline is good. Unfortunately, there are too many fillers, and not a real guide for the new actors - they really are green. The ending was supposed to be epic, but was rather a headscratcher.  And the saddest part is that the stars in this one is Lou Hong Zheng, Huang Wei Jin and Chen De Xiu, though Sylvia Wang has moments.

All in all, a decent drama, but not that exciting - unless you really like the girl group A’N’D (and boyband SpeXial).

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

The X-Dormitory Review

Title: The X-Dormitory

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Family

Episodes: 40

Broadcast period: 2014-Jun to 2014-Aug

Cast: Pauline Lan, Emily Tsai, Lou Hong Zheng, Xu Ming Jie, Huang Wei Jin and Chen De Xiu.

When the war of the dimensions begins Xiong Ges (Pauline Lan) two sons and husband leave to protect the Iron Dimension. Due to the exposure and tightened rules about Yi Neng users, Xiong Ge decides to open a dormitory to pay her bills, and to help children with Yi Neng powers. Helping her is Han (Emily Tsai), who is yearning for Xia Tian, but staying loyal to the family. Ye Sheng (Huang Wei) and Cang Qiong (Lou Hong Zheng) are both children arriving at the dormitory. Though one is a Yi Neng user, and the other is a Ma Gua (not a Yi Neng user). Unfortunately, they can’t distinguish which is which, and they can’t use their powers to find out as they may get exposed.
Everything seems to fall into place, until there suddenly appears a magical door with the number 206, and the door seems unable to be opened…

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen “The X-Family”, but watching “The X-Dormitory” it all came back to me at once. Unfortunately, this season is not as good as the other one, both because the 4 main actors aren’t in it (the ones that were in X-Family) and because the enormous lack of storyline. They do add a few and try to make it interesting, but since it is the second season, you can’t not compare these two. Another bad thing is the humor: 10 years ago, the slapstick and over reactions might have been funny, but there are just so forced here and not funny at all.
The only light (and interesting part) is SpeXial, and their storylines. Though the unnecessary forced love triangle between Xia Tian, Han and Cang Qiong was horrible, the idea was good, and well executed considering the crappy script and subplot the actors had to work with. The story of Ye Sheng was very enjoyable, and everything involving him (and the other one - no spoiler) was great to watch.
All in all, a bad sequel, though it has great acting prodigies - or just good young idol actors…

☆☆½/ 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

KO One Re-act Review

Title: KO One Re-act

AKA: KO One 3

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Romance

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period:

Cast: Jiro Wang, Pets Tseng, Lin Zo Hong, Xu Ming Jie, Sylvia Wang, Xiao Hou, Lou Hong Zheng, Huang Wei Jin and Chen De Xiu.

This series is a spin-off of season 2, following the same characters, but is the “real” storyline.

With the timeline and KO ranking restored and reset, Wang Da Dong (Jiro Wang) is sent undercover, to investigate a sudden change and rise in the KO ranking, in the current KO One class. Rumors have it that a certain pill is being sold and exchanged from the class which allows a spike in fighting power, so Da Dong is to go undercover as a 28-year-old dropout, repeating the final year. In school, he meets the notorious King (Pets Tseng), known as KO 3, whom he challenges for the spot as the class leader. While trying to establish authority, new transfer students try and do the same but with a different objective. Soon enough more and more mysterious things start to happen, and Da Dong is right in the middle of it all…

Compared to the last season this one is way better. They fixed a lot – like keeping Jiro till the very end – and of course and upgrade in story and acting. Two more members of SpeXial joins the group, one of them being Lou Hong Zheng whom I remember from K.O. 3an Guo – and adored. So, the quality of acting kind of evolved. What is amazing is that the group has grown on me, which I didn’t really think they would. This meant that every time I saw anything that reminded me of the last series, I laughed, rolled my eyes and enjoyed the ‘fan service’. Another thing that made me like this drama is the length – 20 episodes felt just right. Even though it had a lot of those typical fillers, the drama was okay to watch – even emotional sometimes. Pets is awesome as usual – officially my girl crush, and De Xiu is just perfect in this. Jiro looks younger (?), I can’t really explain how and why I feel this, but even with the new idols around him he does not look older. Might be the acting, or his personality, but yeah, I wouldn’t give him more than 20-25 years.

So: all in all, a funny and entertaining 3^rd instalment of the drama – now to the next!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Love Buffet Review

Title: Love Buffet
Genre: Romance, comedy
Episodes: 13
Broadcast period: 2010-Dec-19 to 2011-Mar-13
Cast: Aaron Yan, Calvin Chen, Yu Hong Yuan and Chen De Xiu.

The story revolves around college freshman Xiao Feng (Yu Hong Yuan), a bubbly girl with a love for kids, and how her life is turned upside down, both in love life and school life, as two new guys move into the same apartment complex as hers. They are cousins, both very attractive and rich. Yi Cheng ‘Ah Yi’ (Aaron Yan) is quiet and basically a genius. Da Ye (Calvin Chen) on the other hand is a very sporty and charming guy, also known as a player.
It circles around whether she should choose Da Ye or Ah Yi, going back and forth, till she finally in the ending decides whom she loves.

I haven’t read the manga, but if it’s like the drama, I’m not reading it. I don’t know why people are so keen on watching these CRAZINGLY boring triangular love stories.. They are NOT good……!
This drama even brings it to the second or third level, I’m not even know which level it’s on to begin with, but she falls for one, he doesn’t love her back, she goes to the other, same thing except he doesn’t reject her, only doesn’t prioritize her, which gets her back to the first! WTF?! GET OVER THEM WOMAN! URGH! I love Aaron Yan, insanely, but seriously, I don’t like this drama, even with him in it! Anyhow, it’s slow passed and basically it goes πr2 = in one freaking circle!
But if you love Aaron Yan (better be the biggest crush in history), and you are able to deal with a badly written and executed story, you won’t die watching this (maybe a bit inside). Just wasn’t worth my precious time *regret*

☆☆ / 2 out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts

K.O.3an Guo Review

Title: K.O.3an Guo
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Wuxia, School, Comedy
Episodes: 53 (3 seasons)
Related shows: KO One and The X-Family
Theme songs: See K.O.3an Guo OST
Cast: Chen De Xiu, George Hu, Lin Bo Yan, Kirsten Ren, Benji, Lee Shiau Shiang, Luo Hong Zheng, Cai Yi Zhen and many many others..

After being thrown out of their 24th school, due to fighting, Guan Yu (George Hu) and Zhang Fei (Lin Bo Yan) meet Liu Bei (Chen De Xiu), who promises to help them enroll in his school, a school for royal people. Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei believe him, even decide to become sworn brothers with him, unaware of Liu Bei's intentions of taking over the world.
At the same time Xiu (also played by Chen De Xiu), Wang Da Dong (Jiro Wang), Wang Ye Se (Calvin Chen) and Ding Xiao Yu (Aaron Yan) from the Gold dimension visit the Silver dimension, the current dimension, going through several dimensions since the three got their powers back. Xiu warns his friends not to do anything that change the flow of the dimension, which they unfortunately do, and a huge rock hits Liu Bei, just as he is to become sworn brother with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. With a righteous mind, Guan Yu wants to end his life, because he believes his sworn brother is dead, but gets knocked out by Zhang Fei. The four from the Gold dimension come to aid and decide to let Xiu take Liu Bei's place in the Silver dimension, until Liu Bei gets better. But the Silver dimension is different than the Gold dimension, and the body switch secret has to be kept hidden, which makes everything much more difficult...

To be honest, and now I’m REALLY honest, this is a pretty fun drama. Yes, the comedy is tacky, the fighting unrealistic and not to mention the silly screen-play sometimes, but seriously, the best K.O drama of them all…I love the ‘main’ actor Chen De Xiu, actually fell in love with him because of this drama, though I’ve seen him in The X-Family. And the female character played by Pets Cheng is soo adorable, makes a sweet couple with De Xiu. Other couples are brilliant too, George Hu and Kirsten Ren are good too, even though occasionally awkward from Kirsten Ren’s side (newbie acting), and the cutes/silliest couple with gave me a lot of ’awwww’ and ’Hahanah!’Huang Niu (Zhou Yu) and Cai Yi Zhen (Xiao Qiao).
This drama is for people who want a decent drama, a bit of the silly side to it and not to mention the goofy side as well…

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3,5 out of 5 hearts