Cheng's Musings

I have always been mesmerised by the beauty of Liu Yi Fei, adding her talent in acting and the simplicity she embraces as an actress, it doesn’t take much persuasion to start watching her new series – The Tale of Rose. The series revolve around Huang Yi Mei, portrayed by Liu Yi Fei. Young, beautiful, precocious and having a free spirit, she weaves through her life in a carefree manner.

Until she meets Zhang Guo Dong, a suave high achiever attached to an international company. They fall in love almost at first sight, in aplomb and with much passion. As the passion sizzles, the long distance takes a toll on their trust and relationship. Nursing a broken heart, Yi Mei goes back to university to pursue post-graduate in a different city. During this time, a university mate Fang Xie Wen approaches slowly but determinedly to win her heart. Over time, Yi Mei is won over and decides to marry Fang Xie Wen. Fang Xie Wen works hard to keep Yi Mei by his side, but often has inferior complex due to his background. As their daughter grows older, Yi Mei is keen to start on her own career and the differences in perspectives in life leads them to divorce. At the onset of her new career and life post-divorce, Yi Mei meets an eccentric Pu Jia Ming. Attracted to each other, they start a relationship only to face the end of the road with Pu Jia Ming’s congenital heart disease wreaking havoc. Upon his death, she embraces life to move on and meets a younger pilot He Xi. Although he pursues her relentlessly, she gives it a skip to take on life as is.

At 38 episodes, the series is actually quite long, taking us through the life of the young and vibrant Yi Mei to a more matured woman. As much as I want to like the series, especially the fact that the series embodies women power and love, I did not really like Huang Yi Mei’s character. When she is younger, I take it that she is a little ignorant hence made silly mistakes. Often enough, I see her derisive attitude towards women who are a little more placid in their stance in life and love. However, I really did not like the way she confronts the other women. Good example, when she flippantly eggs on Zhou Shi Hui’s fiance. Do you still want him after all this? Frankly, it is the right question to pose to the poor girl. However I will never condone such confrontational behaviour especially if this comes from the same crush who resulted in the failed registration of marriage. My theory is – Yi Mei does it partly because she feels strongly about it (opinionated more like it), and she takes pride in doing so to teach the girl a lesson too. Due to her age, I partly put the blame on her immaturity.

But as she grows older & more stable, instead of using her brave & confident self in managing her own love life & marriage, it feels that she turns the opposite. Almost becoming placid and obedient, going into the cocoon. This is especially so after her breakup with Zhang Guo Dong. Yes, they have a great passionate love story, but Zhang Guo Dong is a two-timing womaniser who puts his career first and foremost. As Yi Mei breaks up with him on her own accord, she almost falls into a depression-like situation.

When pursued by the humble but scheming Fang Xie Wen, she cannot seem to let go of her past love. And yet, she embarks on the relationship with Fang Xie Wen believing she is over her first love. Again, Fang Xie Wen is also not an innocent dude (adding in all the inferior complex), Yi Mei behaves docilely. Giving in to Fang Xie Wen’s requests, smoothening the conflicts with the mother in law, and even giving up her own career to be a stay-at-home mother. I almost could not recognise the fiery outspoken Yi Mei of the yesteryears. Her behaviour actually show the opposite of an empowered woman, almost like a withered rose. Only when she is pursuing her new career, her old flames sparkles a little. Thereof lies the final straw of bearing with Fang Xie Wen, leading to their ultimate divorce. I really wasn’t sorry that they went separate way. The relationship is wrought with major compatibility issues from the beginning and full of negativity. Why did the two of them not realise this during their years of courtship & marriage, I really do not know.

As if broken out of the trance, once she finalises her divorce, she is already falling head over heel with another chap Pu Jia Ming. In this arc of the love story, her old self – the vibrant & confident Yi Mei returns. As much as you want to root for the two of them, the sob stories on the ultimate death game for the sick Pu Jia Ming comes knocking on the door. Hence, my conclusion that Huang Yi Mei’s character is flawed and not consistent. When she is pursued by the younger pilot, it was already an exhausting love life in my mind. By then, I was actually rooting for her to get back with Zhang Guo Dong. I really doubt that she has ever given up her love for him, although she insists that once the men in her life passes by, she will never look back.

In actual fact, I am more invested in her elder brother’s life story – Huang Zhen Hua. Tong Da Wei portrays Huang Zhen Hua with aplomb, and I totally love his portrayal. Naive, straight forward, protective and a geek at the bottom of his heart. His fumbling ways with women, especially in making conversations with them – all his head-cracking issues with messaging with the lady chemist. And when he falls in love with the fierce Su-su, it was so matter-of-factly. And his perseverance in making the relationship works is what makes this character so loveable. Su-su’s character is difficult to portray, and the hard life that she has had makes it even harder for her to change. But change she did, and all for more positive vibes. I totally love Zhen Hua and Su-su’s chemistry. Opposite does attract, and their way of taking & giving, their communication styles, and most of all – the couple learning along their own relationship. About each other, about their personality, and their family. If the series has one great empowered woman – that would be Su-su (rather than Yi Mei). She faces her own demons, she takes a calculated risk with even greater assessment of her chance in relationship with Zhen Hua. I love that of this character.

If you ever have a brother like Zhen Hua, it is really a great blessing. The series show the great care, but usually more from a brotherly love, while the care from Yi Mei is a little more muted. The Huang family is portrayed as a middle class, learned family. In a way, the children Zhen Hua and Yi Mei are blessed as their resident permit “hukou” provides them the right to stay in the city, access to great education and for a family to own a car in the 90s is probably considered well-off. This is in stark contrast to the difficulties that Fang Xie Wen needs to go. Family economics do shape one’s personality, and whoever says family status does not matter in relationship is probably a full-sworn romantic with less worry on daily struggles on realistic issues.

Conclusion : 6/10

Is it all bad? Not really. For fans of Liu Yi Fei, watching her is already motivation enough. Taper down the expectations, and the series would be a smooth watch. And as usual, Liu Yi Fei’s clothes in the series are great inspirations. She really knows how to flaunt her figures, and her mix of apparels are beautiful.