Adventures in Asia

Oh, how times have changed. I once only watched Korean dramas, content with the innocent modern romance of witty bickering, occasional wrist grabbing, and oh-so-sweet back hugs. Everything I had heard about Chinese dramas was negative: they're dozens of episodes long, poorly written with little plot movement, pretty actors who can't really act, etc. But in the last few months, everything changed. I've fallen for Chinese fantasy dramas. The Untamed , a low-budget BL drama based on an online novel that has become incredibly popular in China and abroad But I have not succumbed to this new genre without assistance! As it turns out, the magical norms of Lord of the Rings / Narnia / Harry Potter do not apply to Chinese fantasy, and while watching some new shows I was often confused -- and not by the translation. My Chinese husband had to explain a lot in the beginning, and I am here to tell you the secrets... How Heroes get their Magic (or, Who are Cultivators and what in the wo...

Ah, I haven’t reviewed a Korean drama in ages! It’s good to be back to watching the best genre of TV in the world. I’ve been sick recently, so I’ve had plenty of time to watch, and chose the well-reviewed “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” also translated “Love in the Moonlight.” “Moonlight” is a historical drama set in the Joseon era, in which a girl disguised as a man is recruited as a eunuch in the palace, the Crown Prince hopes to teach his little sister’s secret admirer a lesson, and the King is constantly manipulated by the sly nobles of the court. The Prince’s only friend is his cool, butt-kicking bodyguard, though he quickly becomes entangled with his new “eunuch.” The grandson of the most conniving noble family also finds himself attracted to the effeminate eunuch, who only has eyes for the Prince. And behind it all is a foggy back-story of a failed rebellion. This drama aired in 2016 and has eighteen episodes, plus a nineteenth behind-the-scenes-and-highlights episode....