This is simply great !! You know why?! Because I've finally found the online episodes of one of my favorite childhood drama series which I used to watch on CCTV when I was around 13 years old.
People who love watching dramas will understand my feelings. It's like coming across a book or movie you really liked in your childhood again. You might have searched for it for several months after watching the whole series and were unfortunately unable to find it but ten years later you finally come across it and you'll feel extremely excited about it.
Well this drama series is called 'Ming Yang Hua Gu' (名扬花鼓) in Chinese and Ming Yang is actually the name of the male lead character and Hua Gu is the name of the female main character. According to the internet, this drama was released in 2004.
This drama has many genres including fantasy, historical, romance, friendship and comedy. Now that I think about it, in the historical dramas I've reviewed before i.e. 'The Emperor's women' & 'The Great Doctor' / Faith are not my first historical dramas ^^'', in fact, Ming Yang Hua Gu might be my real first historical drama :)
I don't think that many of you know this series because it is quite old and probably not very popular internationally. It might have been popular at that time in China but I don't think that many people remember it now. Anyway I still remember it after 10 years because I really liked the theme song of the drama, the characters and the story as well (the story might be sort of cliche, but I so fell in love with it when I was a teenager; even today I still like it a lot ^^'')
Just like when I was a kid, I still keep on singing the chorus of the song XD It's so catchy and fun to sing along to; it's a bit like a song for children.
Here is the link to the opening theme song for 'Ming Yang Hua Gu' which I am currently addicted to:
I especially like singing this part of the song which goes like:
Wo qiao gu, ni ta luo
Shou na zhe luo gu lai chang ge
Pie di ge ya
Wo ye bu hui chang
zhi hui chang zhe zhi hua gu ge
Piao long tong piao yi piao
Piao long tong piao yi piao
De Er piao De Er piao De Er piao piao
Piao piao piao yi piao
\(^__^)/
And the following link is the ending theme song of the series, which is quite romantic & gentle song ^^
You can check it out :)
Ok on a side note, I would like to add that I don't really like the video that the Production team of this drama used for their opening or ending songs because there are way too many spoilers in them. A good opening & closing video for a drama should have a good overview of the characters and the style of the drama but not a summary of what is going to happen in the drama.
Come on, it does make sense right! ^^''
I mean in the ending song of 'Ming Yang Hua Gu' you obviously get a glimpse of who is gonna die and which couple will end up together.
For example, there is also the Chinese drama 'Xiao Jun's Spring / Le Printemp de Xiao Jun' which shows too many spoilers in its opening & ending video. I mean even before watching the drama, the opening video already tells you who falls in love with who and who is going to marry who in the end. You can check the Opening & ending theme songs of the drama by clicking on the following links:
I think that they should have kept it a surprise as you watch the drama.
For instance in the Korean drama 'Reply 1997' and 'Dream High' you just could not ascertain with which guy the girl would end up with until you reach the middle or near end of the drama.
Inconvenience about watching this drama:
Alright, coming back to the drama 'Ming Yang Hua Gu', I have to say that during my online search I was unable to find this drama with English subs, it's all in mandarin subs. So if you don't have at least a basic understanding of mandarin to hold a short conversation then it will be extremely difficult for you to watch this drama. Sorry guys but I would suggest that you give up on watching it unless you learn mandarin for at least 1 year.
I guess this drama was from too many years ago for people to have thought about subbing it. For me this drama is like an antique which has not lost its appeal over the years ^^. Anyway I am re-watching the best parts of this drama after ten years so it probably feels like drinking an old wine stored away for ten years.
Also, I was unable to find this drama on Google or Youtube. But I found all the 40 episodes of this drama on Chinese video sharing websites such as Tudou, Youku & CCTV.
P.s: For a drama, 40 episodes is quite long when compared to most dramas today which are 16 to 20 episodes long.
If you would like to watch this drama, click on the following link to the online episodes:
Ming Yang Hua Gu - Episodes - Watch Online
Inconvenience about watching this drama:
Alright, coming back to the drama 'Ming Yang Hua Gu', I have to say that during my online search I was unable to find this drama with English subs, it's all in mandarin subs. So if you don't have at least a basic understanding of mandarin to hold a short conversation then it will be extremely difficult for you to watch this drama. Sorry guys but I would suggest that you give up on watching it unless you learn mandarin for at least 1 year.
I guess this drama was from too many years ago for people to have thought about subbing it. For me this drama is like an antique which has not lost its appeal over the years ^^. Anyway I am re-watching the best parts of this drama after ten years so it probably feels like drinking an old wine stored away for ten years.
Also, I was unable to find this drama on Google or Youtube. But I found all the 40 episodes of this drama on Chinese video sharing websites such as Tudou, Youku & CCTV.
P.s: For a drama, 40 episodes is quite long when compared to most dramas today which are 16 to 20 episodes long.
If you would like to watch this drama, click on the following link to the online episodes:
Ming Yang Hua Gu - Episodes - Watch Online
Warning!! Many spoilers ahead, it is your choice to continue reading or not.
Anyway I hope you enjoy the songs for this drama even if you are not going to watch it.
The reason I felt like writing this review is so that even in 2015, people can still get to know this story and its characters created more than ten years ago. I think this drama, deserves to be remembered, so please enjoy reading this post I am sharing with you.
Main Character Introduction for 'Ming Yang Hua Gu':
1. Ming Yang
Ming Yang is a cool looking, brave and fearless character. He is not afraid of danger and is an excellent martial artist. He lives with his parents, older brother and childhood friend Qing Er whom he treats like his little sister.
His older brother is called 'Ming Zhu Er' and he is in fact his half brother because they are both born from the same mother but different father. Despite this, Ming Yang still respects and likes his brother a lot. Ming Yang is a very loyal soldier to the King and his mission is to fight the masked assassin 'Lie Huo' and find the lost princess Hua Gu. He has a very playful personality and likes to play pranks.
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| Ming Yang |
His older brother is called 'Ming Zhu Er' and he is in fact his half brother because they are both born from the same mother but different father. Despite this, Ming Yang still respects and likes his brother a lot. Ming Yang is a very loyal soldier to the King and his mission is to fight the masked assassin 'Lie Huo' and find the lost princess Hua Gu. He has a very playful personality and likes to play pranks.
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| Serious looking Ming Yang |
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| Ranma |
I think his personality slightly resembles that of Ranma, a character created by Rumiko Takahashi in the animated series Ranma 1/2.
Personally, I think that the stylist did a great job in designing Ming Yang's look including his hairstyle, clothing & accessories. You know why I'm praising the stylist for Ming Yang? It's because usually the male characters in Chinese historical dramas have the following types of look:
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| Chinese Historical Drama - Huan Zhu Ge Ge |
I understand that the stylists for these drama are respecting the fashion style during that historical period; this explains the half shaved head and long hair braids for the actors in Huan Zhu Ge Ge and the tied up hair with little hats on top of their head for the actors in Wang de Nu ren. |
Chinese Historical Drama - The Emperor's women / Wang de Nu ren
However, in 'Ming Yang Hua Gu' I think that for Ming Yang's style, the stylist incorporated a touch of modernism. Sometimes in the drama, you'll notice that their is a strand of his hair which is dyed and his pony tail even has various leather hair bands. His clothes are mostly accessorized with belts or wrist straps. There is even pink added to his wardrobe. |
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| Ming Yang's Fashion Style :) |
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| Actor - Chen Kun |
The character Ming Yang is acted by Chen Kun, a Chinese singer & actor.
'Ming Yang Hua Gu' is actually the only drama in which he plays, that I've watched completely. There are other dramas in which Chen Kun acted in but I was not a big fan of, so I only watched a few episodes of them. These dramas include: Vancouver & The stories of a Noble family.
I found his acting really good in 'Ming Yang Hua Gu' and I think he was perfect as 'Ming Yang'. Still, I'm a big fan of 'Ming Yang'.
But I haven't followed his career so I don't really know in which other drama he featured or which songs were sang by him.
After some research I found out that he sang the following songs & I'm quite surprised that he can sing that well ( Click on the following links to check out his songs):
Painted heart - By Vicki Zhao & Chen Kun
Meeting you (遇見你) - By Chen Kun
Butterfly (蝴蝶) - By Chen Kun
2. Hua Gu
Hua Gu accepts the old man's request on the condition that he gives her the Red Ginseng which can cure her long lost childhood friend 'Ying Hua Gu' (who is in fact Qing Er). Hua Gu's objective is to find her best friend 'Ying Hua Gu' and cure her from her illness.
Despite her bad manners and rudeness towards Ming Yang, Hua Gu is actually a very nice and cunning character. She even risks her life to protect Qing Er.
Also, Hua Gu is later revealed to the be the lost princess of the kingdom. However, she refuses to reveal her true identity so that Qing Er can be taken care of as the princess Hua Gu.
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| Qing Er (left) & Hua Gu (right) |
Ming Yang and Hua Gu both started on the wrong foot; they literally hate each other and cannot bear being in the same room together without throwing a row of arguments and sarcastic comments at each other. Their characters are pretty similar in the sense that both like to joke around, are over-confident, adventurous and have a sharp tongue.
Hua Gu's hairstyle is cute, she makes me think of sailor moon with her hair tied into two buns on both sides of her head. She even wears a brooch on her left hair bun ^^
Effectively, her personality is a bit like Sailor moon too. For instance she likes to pick fights with the person she ends up liking, eats like a pig and makes funny over-reactions just like Sailor moon.
Hua Gu is acted out by the actress Bowie Tsang.
Bowie is not just an actress as well since she is also a mandopop singer, TV host and author.
'Ming Yang Hua Gu' is the only drama that I have seen Bowie play in. So I can't tell you much about her.
But I've researched some videos of Bowie's song and I find her songs quite nice. If you understand mandarin, you'll find the lyrics are quite nice as well. To watch the videos, click on the links below:
Wise up (想愛) - Covered by Bowie Tsang
There's nobody (沒有人) - By Bowie Tsang
Without you what should I do (少了你該怎麼辦) - By Bowie Tsang
Hua Gu's hairstyle is cute, she makes me think of sailor moon with her hair tied into two buns on both sides of her head. She even wears a brooch on her left hair bun ^^
Effectively, her personality is a bit like Sailor moon too. For instance she likes to pick fights with the person she ends up liking, eats like a pig and makes funny over-reactions just like Sailor moon.
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| Sailor moon's various expressions |
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| Bowie Tsang |
Hua Gu is acted out by the actress Bowie Tsang.
Bowie is not just an actress as well since she is also a mandopop singer, TV host and author.
'Ming Yang Hua Gu' is the only drama that I have seen Bowie play in. So I can't tell you much about her.
But I've researched some videos of Bowie's song and I find her songs quite nice. If you understand mandarin, you'll find the lyrics are quite nice as well. To watch the videos, click on the links below:
Wise up (想愛) - Covered by Bowie Tsang
There's nobody (沒有人) - By Bowie Tsang
Without you what should I do (少了你該怎麼辦) - By Bowie Tsang
Drama Recap:
I'm going to write about the drama, starting from episode 9. Sorry but it's only when I reached episode 9 that I've began to take notes of what was happening in the story. There are also many parts which I have skipped because I already sort of know the story.So I'm making a recap of mostly the best moments in the drama.
Well, in episode 9, Ming Yang refuses the mere idea of liking Yun Yun (i.e. Hua Gu) and even tells his childhood girl friend Qing Er that if he ever tells her that he likes Yun Yun, then she has to stab him with a knife.
This is how bad of an impression MIng Yang and Hua Gu have of each other.
I remember that in the past I really disliked Hua Gu's hairstyle but now I think it's really cute and suits her bright and cheerful appearance.
Aaaww in episode 12, Ming Yang is starting to see Hua Gu in a more positive light after she put her life in danger to save Qing Er. Anyway they argue less harshly in this episode and actually start a normal conversation whereby Ming Yang learns that Yun Yun likes Kung Fu just like him.
It's the slow beginning of a budding love XD lol
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| Ming Yang & Hua Gu's 1st peaceful conversation - Episode 12 |
Lol in Episode 13, Ming Yang & Hua Gu have their first date (they are going on a date because of their parents' orders. It's not because they have started to like each other. Also Ming Yang is accepting to go on a date wit Hua Gu because he does not want his brother to end up marrying her, thinking that Hua Gu is completely unsuitable for his brother Ming Zhu Er).
But Hua Gu demonstrates her bad eating manners on purpose in front of Ming Yang then tells him that she matches him much better when she acts this way.
But Hua Gu demonstrates her bad eating manners on purpose in front of Ming Yang then tells him that she matches him much better when she acts this way.
Ming Yang tells her that even if she acts this way, he will not let her go until she gives up on marrying his older brother.
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| Still on bad terms & distrustful of each other, Ming Yang & Hua Gu continue their bickering |
But even after arguing harshly with each other, they calm down and start speaking to each other in a more civilised manner again. What a strange, hot & cold pairing XD lol
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| There is so much fiery reaction going on between them that you can't get bored watching them together ^^ They fight, they bicker, they throw insults & sarcastic remarks at each other but then calm down and talk more rationally, I think this is their way of slowly getting to know each other and build trust bit by bit :) |
In the episode 14, Hua Gu realises that she is the real princess that Ming Yang & the king have been looking for. Both Ming Yang & the King have mistaken Hua Gu's frieng Qing Er as the Princess because she owns the purple stone necklace which belongs to the Princess.
Qing Er doesn't remember that this necklace was given to her by Hua Gu when they were children.
Although taken aback by this discovery, Hua Gu decides not to tell Qing Er that she is the real owner of the necklace because she does not want to make Qing Er sad and she believes that Qing Er can be well taken care of by the doctors in the palace.
Ming Yang & Hua Gu go on their 2nd date upon the insistence of the former.
Walking far ahead of Ming Yang, Hua Gu keeps on grumbling and when they stop to rest, Hua Gu tells Ming Yang to sit far away from her XD They sure make a cute & comic duo
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| Hua Gu sulking while Ming Yang questions her about the girl named Hua Gu |
The reason why Ming Yang insisted on going on a date with Yun Yun (Hua Gu) is because he wanted to ask her if she knows the real Hua Gu. Qing Er is starting to doubt that she is the real princess as she cannot remember whether the necklace truly belongs to her or not. Thinking only about the welfare of Qing Er, Hua Gu refuses to reveal the truth to Ming Yang. However, Ming Yang is very insistent as well and decides to come to see Yun Yun everyday until she tells him what she knows about Hua Gu. Irritated by Ming Yang's insistence, Hua Gu is concocting some dirty tricks including pepper & chili powder to get rid of him.
Meanwhile, Ming Yang is having a good chat with Yun Yun's father and begins to realize that the quiet & well mannered daughter which the latter is describing does not match at all with the quick-tempered, sharp tongued and sneaky Yun Yun he has gotten to know so far.
Reached episode 15, now on their 3rd date, Ming Yang realizes that Hua Gu is in fact a pretty kind person because she thinks mostly about the welfare of Qing Er.
I remember this funny part where Hua Gu tries to play some dirty tricks on Ming Yang but ends up falling into her own trap.
To get back at Ming Yang, Hua Gu throws some oil on a bridge expecting him to slip and fall into the river but the latter being an expert martial artist manages to regain his balance and makes a somersault to land back on his feet and avoid the chili pepper powder which Hua Gu was blowing into his eyes. Trying to run away, Hua Gu falls into the river pulling Ming Yang along with her. Both are drenched and have to sit by a camp fire to dry their clothes.
To get back at Ming Yang, Hua Gu throws some oil on a bridge expecting him to slip and fall into the river but the latter being an expert martial artist manages to regain his balance and makes a somersault to land back on his feet and avoid the chili pepper powder which Hua Gu was blowing into his eyes. Trying to run away, Hua Gu falls into the river pulling Ming Yang along with her. Both are drenched and have to sit by a camp fire to dry their clothes.
Ming Yang teases Yun Yun who retorts back that she prefers dying from the cold rather than to take off her clothes to dry them near the camp fire. Ming Yang's clothes are already dried up and he can't help but pester Yun Yun, telling her that she looks cute just like little chick which fell into the water and are chirping nonstop XD
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| Ming Yang drying his clothes while Hua Gua is freezing in her wet clothes |
Ming Yang then leaves Hua Gu to look for a solution to her problem and tells her to wait near the fire while he is gone. Hua Gu falls asleep while she is waiting. Ming Yang comes back and can't help but surprise her awake by telling her that her clothes are burning ^^ Lol
Ming Yang came back with man's clothes for Hua Gu to change into. But Hua Gu is reluctant to wear them as they are too large. Ming Yang automatically takes back the clothes and tells her in a sarcastic tone that she is right, that it's better for her to catch cold on the way home rather than to wear dirty, smelly man's clothes.
Hua Gu finally agrees to wear the man's clothes but keeps on tripping on the long pants. Ming Yang teases her again by telling her that now she looks like a mother pig instead of a wet little chick.
On their way back home, they come across an old lady. The lady is actually the person from whom Ming Yang got the man's clothes. The lady tells Ming Yang that he should have told her that it was a girl who needed the clothes then she would have given her daughter's clothes to him.
Hahaha looks like Ming Yang was having fun playing a trick on Hua Gu all along.
Actually, both Ming Yang & Hua Gu have similar playful personalities.
Hua Gu angrily scolds Ming Yang and walks away but trips and falls heavily.
Hua Gu throws angry words at Ming Yang and starts crying while refusing to accept his apologies.
Ming Yang feels sorry and tells her that he didn't know that she would end up crying and tries to comfort her by telling her that he knows that it's inconvenient for her to walk in these clothes so he will carry her.
Upon hearing that, Hua Gu brightens up and allows Ming Yang to wipe her tears away with his sleeve.
Ming Yang carries Hua Gu in a princess style on the way back home. ^_^ Finally after making up, they look so cute together!! How sweet !! XD
Later Ming Yang meets the King and tells him that there is another girl named Hua Gu in the region, but she has been hiding her identity and will not reveal herself easily. I think that Ming Yang is starting to suspect that Yun Yun is Hua Gu ^^
However, Hua Gu and Ming Yang still have a tensed relationship which makes Hua Gu feel irritated when seeing him.Ming Yang keeps following Yun Yun around to get her to reveal information about Hua Gu.
The latter tries everything to avoid Ming Yang but in vain.
Alright, that's it for my first review of the Chinese drama 'Ming Yang Hua Gu'.
I hope you enjoyed it, especially for fans of this series.
See you for the next one, there are still several episodes to go through.
Lately, I've been thinking that there are several dramas which I've seen but have never written about before...hum...maybe next time ^^
I feel more motivated lately to write more posts as the views of my blog are slowly increasing day by day :)
Thank you again for visiting my Blog ^^
Zai Jian (再见)
Bye bye
Alice
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