Strange Tales of Liao Zhai: A Bao, general thoughts + Liar Game ep 4

[meganbmoore]

A Bao

Watched the last Liao Zhai story, A Bao(mentions that it stars Rainie Yang as the heroine, as she knows several on her flist really like her)  A Bao is about a veterinarian, Zi Chu(take a guess how hard it is for me to NOT say "Zhi Shu" here, ISWAK fans...) who sees the daughter of a wealthy family, A Bao, and falls in love with her after seeing her put an arrogant suitor in his place, and later sees displays of her intelligence.  As "luck" would have it, said suitor injured her pet bird, and the bird is sent to him to get it's wing fixed.  Eventually they're able to meet at a fair when he helps her maid(who brought the bird to him) and become friends(clearly headed towards more).  The rejected suitor(who, incidentally, is too obnoxious for words and deserves a far worse fate than he received), though, is unwilling to accept defeat and has his nurse mother(nanny equivalent, I assume) who is a sorceress place a curse on A Bao so that every day, her memory is reset to the morning she met Zi Chu, and so she doesn't remember him, even the few times she's able to regain her memories, she loses them againthe next day.  So every day, Zi Chu "meets" her and they become friends, and then the next morning, she's forgotten about him.

Eventually, of course, he's able to break the spell(with help) but not only is her father not happy with the idea of his daughter marrying a poor veterinarian, but the suitor is still having rejection issues.

Liao Zhai in general

With one exception(Painted Skin) the 6 stories in this volume of Liao Zhai(there are 500 Liao Zhai stories total, I believe, but there are 2 more series-one with another 6, the other with 4-coming out soon) are romances with supernatural elements. The stories don't feel remotely repetitive or formulaic to me(though I can see that Chinese Paladin drew heavily on these stories at times) but fell into 2 categories: two young lovers meet and fall in love, and then supernatural forces intercede to separate them and they have to conquer them, or a woman of supernatural origins falls in love with a mortal man and she has to protect him from both earthly and supernatural forces, while he tries to protect her and her humanity, such as it is, and save her from other supernatural forces coming to punish her.  Not EXACTLY the stories, but close enough to give you a general feel.

But, basically, they're supernatural, "True love conquers all'(or at least, tries its best) romances with a supernatural twist.  Also?  They almost all manage to get through the piles of angst dumped on them and end HAPPILY.  Which was a pleasant surprise because I was thinking I'd get maybe one happy ending out of the lot.

Anyway, very good series, much recommended.

Liar Game

My download tried to beat me, but hardsubs saved me.  I ADORED the best yet. 

winterspel posted a picspam, including the...uhm...visual highlight of the episode *whistles* yesterday.  But really, as usual, the whole thing was squee worthy.  I had(as most did, I'm sure) guessed who the real X was, and about the teams, already, but it was handled well, as was Akiyama's exposing it.  Also?  How awesome was it when he was exposing X and doing his superior, gloating bit and when he got to the part about how they were all greedy and untrusting he stops and turns to Nao and his voice, face, body language, etc. all change and he goes "You don't count.  I already know you're a special case." then goes right back to sticking it to X(and the other contestants) once he was through taking care of the important stuff.  *flails*  (Why don't I have a flailing icon?  Sigh...)  And the S&M conversation, and his face at her naivette(and hers during the whole thing) too perfect.  *almost couldn't care less about plot at this point*

 

Comments

[wistfulmemory.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I'm so happy I've found someone who's watching Liar Game, too. :) I loved this episode. I'd figured out who was X, but I hadn't really tried to figure out how he was manipulating the game. The S&M talk made me laugh so hard.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yes, that scene was made of awesome. Actually, a faie bit of my flist is watching Liar Game.

[akosikae.livejournal.com]

I've only gotten as far as ep 3 and even though this is a bit spoilery it's okay! I mean I usually don't mind spoilers, but waaaaaaaaaahhhhh I love reading about Nao+Akiyama. I love, love em! I better get HYD fast for more Shota love...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

LOL...they're just so...so squishable and cutethat you can'tresist them.

[lydzi-de-galles.livejournal.com]

" he stops and turns to Nao and his voice, face, body language, etc. all change and he goes "You don't count. I already know you're a special case."

I loved to pieces that bit! I'm so waiting for the next episode. Thanks for the hardsubs really *-*!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

yes, everything about that is "wait, must take care of the kitty."