In May 2023, Chinese dramas the wuxia drama Ingenious One 云襄传 ft Chen Xiao and Mao Xiao Tong and the smaller budget fantasy drama Back from the Brink 护心 ft Hou Ming Hao and Zhou Ye are currently airing. More importantly, the highly anticipated season 2 of Joy of Life or 庆余年 has finally started filming 4+ years after the airing of the first season. From initial photos, most of the main cast has returned including Zhang Ruo Yun, Li Qin, Song Yi, Guo Qi Lin etc though Xiao Zhan's return remains a mystery. He was just cast as Guo Jing in a movie remake for Legend of the Condor Heroes. Elsewhere, Yang Mi has finally parted ways with JiaXing Media or Jay Walk Studios which she was a primary stakeholder of after helping start the company in 2012.

The drama time jumps to the 30th year of Emperor Qian Long's reign and we are now focused on the princes in the palace. Ying Luo has given birth to the 15th prince as well as several other children in the palace while also raising the 5th prince who adores his adoptive mother. Meanwhile, the Empress Nala, who has become hyper focused on maintaining her youthful look, has to contend with Yuan Chun Wang's badgering that she should act to ensure that her son, the 12th prince becomes the next Emperor.

Karen and Cathy provide an plot overview of the movie, Piercing Heart Sword 刿心剑, and explore the historical setting during the Ming dynasty as well as the powerful Embroidered Uniform Guard or Jin Yi Wei, the organization that the main characters are a part of.

After Ying Luo hits rock bottom, Imperial Concubine Shun or Chen Bi furthers her plan by creating the opportunity for Ying Luo to escape with Fu Heng from the palace. She sets it all up with both Ying Luo and Fu Heng and then immediately turns around and tells the Emperor. The day of the supposed escape, the Emperor stops the water tank Ying Luo was going to use to escape only to find her eunuch hidden inside. Ying Luo and Fu Heng both arrive separately to uncover Chen Bi's true motivations. Turns out, Chen Bi was selected as a pawn to enter the palace and hates Fu Heng for saving her life.

There's still 2 weeks left before Till the End of the Moon wraps up airing but there has been plenty of controversy both about the drama and about the cast. Karen and Cathy share what's been the latest commentary about the drama and also their viewing experiences which has been negatively impacted by the generally negative commentary mainly due to the extremely high expectations set for this drama.

In episode 62, the tide turns against Wei Ying Luo. Shun Pin successfully manipulates the Empress Dowager and even the Emperor against Wei Ying Luo. Wei Ying Luo is essentially left for dead as the creepy Yuan Chun Wang makes sure that she is given no sustenance. Shun Pin turns her gaze towards Fu Heng and plants the seeds of possibilities with Wei Ying Luo. What is Shun Pin's end game? Listen to our latest podcast episode to find out!

On April 18th, Actor Shawn Do and Founder/ Social Media Influencer Laurinda Ho tied the knot in Bali. Laurinda's father was billionaire tycoon Stanley Ho's personal life was just as gossip-worthy as any Chinese drama. Listen to our latest podcast episode covering the couple and why the Chinese media has been obsessed with this wedding!

Given the popularity of Till the End of the Moon and the various fans it has drawn, Karen and Cathy give a brief run down of the different types of cdrama fans there are in the Chinese language! Let us know what type of fan you are or who you are a fan of!

The pain in Ming Yu's chest from the silver needle Noble Consort Chun left in her body all those years ago is now starting to get worse, at the exact time Ying Luo is working to help Ming Yu get married to Hai Lan Cha. Ming Yu does not want to get married because she doesn't want to harm the ones who love her with her possible death so she decides to end her life instead. This is devastating to both Ming Yu and Hai Lan Cha but they don't realize that Concubine Shun may have had a hand in Ming Yu's death.

The much anticipated Till the End of the Moon or 长月烬明 featuring Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu will air Thursday April 6. Meanwhile, Miles to Go or 人生之路 featuring Chen Xiao and Li Qin has garnered high viewership ratings on network television. Other dramas to highlight include Ming Dynasty drama Pledge of Allegiance 山河之影 that is flying under the radar, Royal Rumors 花琉璃轶闻 and Falling Before Fireworks or 最食人间烟火色。