Rhythm of Life 变奏曲: I’ve GIVEN UP

May 20, 2008 in 2008 Dramas, Dramas

I’ve OFFICIALLY given up on this show.

The first 5 episodes were so slow, and i didn’t feel like watching episodes 6-10. Then last night i decided to watch episode 11, and its the SAME OLD STORY. Whatever which took place last night – about Xiaorou treating Zhiyuan as a substitute for Mingwen, her deceased boyfriend who looked EXACTLY like him, was something I already knew before watching the show.

I expect the same things to be happening throughout the rest of the show. The slow-pace, “peaceful” moments at the wishing pond – absolutely BORING!

The acting isn’t great either. I think Chris, who is trying to play 10 years younger than his real age is not real! It doesn’t feel real. He acts like an “uncle”, not like an undergrad. And Jesseca is playing all sweet and innocent again. Elvin is a ‘wood-block’ policeman without much of a personality. Jeanette is a fiery, lively, yet burdened by her past – nothing new from her previous roles. Dawn — now there’s a change. She’s a con-woman who behaves all sweet in front of those she wishes to con. Err… however small, it’s still a change from her previous roles. Zzen is the only ‘real’ character in this show. I’m quite pleased that he has returned to screen with quite a big role! Julian doesn’t speak like a gangster. But he can look evil, so that’s a consolation.

This is especially disappointing when i found out that this drama was produced by the SAME PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE for my favourite drama of 2007 – METAMORPHOSIS!! It’s such a let down!

If you’re going to continue watching this show, please look out for:

  • the time-travelling parts
  • who dies in the end

If I’m not wrong, Jesseca dies twice, and Jeanette dies once. Does Julian die? I think he does. Zzen goes to jail – did he kill Julian? I can guess that Zzen will end up with Dawn. No one will end up with Jeanette in the end. Ok.

I won’t be watching, but will keep up-to-date by reading the episode synopsis in 8 Days.

Once again, I’m disappointed! This could’ve been such an enjoyable show, because the main storyline has potential!!

Right now, I’m looking forward to LOVE BLOSSOMS!! :)

19 Replies

  1. zh-i-am

    May 23, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    Hey I think you not suit to run those review blog.

    I see other people write good thing, you only write bad thing.

    Plus all the cast did quite well too except people like elvin and jesseca.

    You dont want watch then dont influence the other that want to continue watching.

    Who know this drama can win best drama or highest viewership.

    Reply
  2. qingling

    May 24, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    [zh-i-am]: well i guess everyone is entitled to their own views and i don’t think this show is nice, so i didn’t write nice things about it. But it’s not like i’m always writing negative reviews — there are quite many shows which i’ve given positive reviews.

    these are just my opinions. everyone has a choice on whether to read and continue watching or stop watching all together. i’m not out to influence people and tell them to boycott the show or anything like that.

    well yes, who knows if this drama will win highest viewership or best drama? i still don’t like it, and won’t change my mind even though it’ll win something.

    qingling~

    Reply
  3. cookncream

    May 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    haha qingling!
    dun give up on the show
    i can understand y u dislike the show
    but probably after zhiling dies
    it will become more interesting!

    Reply
  4. qingling

    May 24, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    [cookncream]: haha :) oh. so she hasn’t died yet? ok… i’ll read the synopsis and see when to “jump in” again then

    don’t worry, i’m monitoring the progress… haha :)

    qingling~ :)

    Reply
  5. choco

    May 25, 2008 at 11:10 am

    She’s already died. Jesseca dies twice? I didn’t know that. Anyway, I think you find Episode 11 boring because you’re not supposed to know Zhiyuan resembles Xiaorou/Jeanette’s dead boyfriend before the show even starts.

    Reply
  6. Jas

    May 25, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    hi Qingling

    thk reminder i get the 伍家辉 latest Album got this 虽然我愿意,空缺 and 无家可回 this few song r nice.. any body like this few song should buy it.. haha..

    Reply
  7. qingling

    May 26, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    [choco]: oh ok. haha :) i guess i missed the time-travel part already. i think he goes back in time again though…

    [Jas]: great! :)

    qingling~

    Reply
  8. rhythm of life

    May 28, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    sry,but I dun agree with u.I believe this show will be great.u see,all the show has it type of movement and characteristics.just lyk metamorphosis,y dya lyk it?it is bcos it is fighting here and there ,with ‘bang bang’sounds of guns evrywhere.that is it.it is nt that it is nt nice,it is that u dun lyk it.but u cant say that it is nt nice.alot of other ppl out there in Singapore lyks this show!!u cant possibly say it is nt nice and u make it seem u wanna ‘kill’ppl hu lyks de show.u get whatI mean?
    at first u make me wanna kill u bcos u lyk,insulted my show.I am a total opposite of u,u see.so I really appreciate nt to write until ppl have hatred in u.u dun wan dat 2 happen,do u?

    Reply
  9. rhythm of life

    May 28, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    sry 4 be so ba 2 u.tks 4 de theme song of love blossoms.have a gd tome watching it.hope u will reply my comments.tks.

    Reply
  10. qingling

    May 28, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    [rhythm of life]: I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinions, and this is what i think. This review is not meant as an insult to those who like it, i’m sorry if you took it that way. I’m still sticking by my review.

    To me, this show lacks many things – a certain pull factor, a good sub-plot, and not so great acting. Btw, i didn’t like Metamorphosis because of the action – ‘bang bang’ guns etc. I liked it because of the storyline and the great acting. I guess some shows just work – they’re put together by a magic formula.

    Others just don’t. they lack something, like The Peak.

    This drama has a fresh plot, but everything other than that is reused, recycled, so much so that it gets tiring and boring (eg. deceased boyfriend who has someone looking exactly like him appearing in her life).

    I’m not forcing anyone to accept what i have to say. But as a reviewer, i can’t say everything is good, so that i’ll be in everyone’s good books. That is my opinion. Agree or disagree, that’s up to you, as my readers.

    Thank you for telling me what you think, but i think it’ll be better if you have your reasons for liking it. I have mine.

    I think it’ll make room for a better discussion, won’t it? :)

    qingling~

    Reply
  11. lovell :D

    May 28, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    haha, i think this isnt too bad a show, at least no more family and problems and quarrellings. thats so…boring! at least this is kinda like, a headstart to less of the i-am-the-hero-and-will-kill-that-bitchy-woman kind of dramas, yeah? i think this show has quite a few kantous. i think the part that christopher turned back time was rather interesting, and the personalities of the characters in the show stood out from each other, and most importantly, there are lots of shuai-ges and mei-nvs in the show! the acting wasn’t that bad either, jesseca played the sweet and innocent well, and elvin did okay, despite his leg injury. christopher did the big-bro role okay, zzen acting was good, and dawn did quite well, considering this is the first time she’s taking such a role.
    as far as i know, elvin dies of illness in the end, jesseca doesnt die again. she has a miscarridge, when dawn pushes her down the steps out of jealously. thats all i want to know anyway. haha. :D

    Reply
  12. John

    May 29, 2008 at 12:45 am

    To zh-i-am : First , who are u to say or judge that qingling is not suited to run a review Blog or to do reviews for Drama Serials ? Just because that she wrote negative reviews and comments about a Drama Serial that u like and u make this type of comments on her !

    The type of comments that u make are so unfair to her ! Very Very unfair to her ! And it is very hurting to one’s pride too ! To me , it is a very irresponsible act and behavoir on your part to make this type of comment ! U ought to be ashamed of yourself !

    Everyone is entitled to their own opinions , be it good or bad ! Nobody is forcing u to accept and agree totally with everything that is being written here in her reviews and to read her Blog if u seriously and really don’t like or agree with what is being written here !

    Your comment like what u have said is really uncalled for ! U are in actual fact questioning and undermining one’s ability and professionalism in her line of work , which is I feel , a total disrespect of one’s work and her job scope ! I think U really owe her an apology for your hurtful remarks !

    Reply
  13. rhythm of life

    May 29, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    sry 4 saying all those stuff.I realized y ppl dun lyk rhythm of life.you see,the storyline is abt ppl go back 2 de past,which many ppl dun believe,and so they find it lame.thry think:why r there ppl go back 2 the past?all this are nt true,!and stuff lyk that.so hopefully,there would be a balance between the opposition side and the proposition side.tks.

    Reply
  14. rhythm of life

    May 29, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    to John:I think what u said is true,but dun u find it too exagerating?

    Reply
  15. qingling

    May 29, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    [lovell :D]: hi!

    as i’ve said before, i like the fresh plot, but its not really appealing, ‘cos you can’t be watching the time-travelling parts all the time, neither do they happen all the time. as a love story, i find it too slow-paced, especially the parts with them at the wishing pond, and its kinda slow-motion there, where they remember the past…

    i guess there’s nothing special about the acting. maybe its to do with the characters they’re playing – they’re not too exciting, very stereo. but the change in the role they gave Dawn is fresh. and its great to see Zzen on screen again, with a big role too!

    oh gosh. Elvin dies? so i guess Jesseca married Zzen, that’s why Dawn is jealous? or did she marry Christopher and Zzen is not able to accept Dawn as he keeps thinking about Jesseca? :)

    qingling~

    Reply
  16. qingling

    May 29, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    [John]: hi. oh gosh, what a mouthful! i really don’t want to blow this matter up.

    it’s kinda expected ‘cos opinions differ, and different people have different views about certain things. to me, this is part and parcel of what i’m doing when i’m running this blog.

    i was not hurt by those remarks, nor did it seem unfair or hurtful. and no, it didn’t hurt my pride.

    sometimes people clash because of a different outlook on things. i guess it depends on how you express it.

    but i must say this. thank you for standing up and addressing what you think is unfair to me. it’s appreciated :)

    qingling~

    Reply
  17. qingling

    May 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    [rhythm of life]: your comments got thrown into spam, so sorry if i didn’t reply before the other comments.

    it’s ok, you didn’t offend me. i actually think it’s good that everyone can say their piece on what they think about this show.

    glad you like the theme song of LOVE BLOSSOMS :)

    actually, i have no problem with the whole time-travel thing. it’s a fresh concept which emphasizes the importance of choices, and in going back in time, Christopher Lee’s character hopes to right the wrong. this concept has also been used in movies.

    the problem i have with this show is the slow-pace and the way they piece the story together. it just doesn’t come together right.

    qingling~

    Reply
  18. lovell :D

    May 29, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    hi again :D
    yup, i really agree with you that its running too slowly. For the first few episodes, i kinda got bored watching it. but it did pace up after a while, only by a little bit though. one thing i dunt understand is at the end of every episode, Christopher does like, a kind of confession or something, and it really confuses me.

    haha, and yeah, as far as i know, it’s Zzen’s first time taking such a major role! i thought it was quite well done, rather than him always acting that little gangster kid who has not much impact on the show. :)

    yup. i read i-weekly, and it says that Elvin dies due to an illness, but thats after he marries jeannette in india…and i guess that explains to your question of why there was an indian marriage ceremony. Jesseca marries Zzen, and jesseca gets pregnant. but dawn gets jealous of jesseca, and causes her miscarriage. :(

    i do look forward to how it ends. i think christopher goes to the wishing river or whatever u call it, and makes another wish to turn back time. i think. ：D

    Reply
  19. qingling

    May 29, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    [lovell :D]: yea, the thing about Chris looking straight into the camera, confessing. Like he’s in jail or something – so depressing!

    totally agree! haha :) Zzen is actually a good actor. he proves it here!

    oh gosh. how evil of Dawn!!
    thanks for the info!!

    :) qingling~

    Reply

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Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开 »

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