Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Moonshine and Valentine

Web Drama: Moonshine and Valentine / The Love Knot: His Excellency's First Love
Chinese Title: 结爱·千岁大人的初恋 / Jie Ai Qian Sui Da Ren De Chu Lian
Broadcast Website: Tencent

Broadcast Date: May 9, 2018

Air Time: Wednesday, Thursday 20:00 (two episodes), members watch next week episodes in advance (See Viewing Calendar)
Genre: Fantasy, Idol, Romance, Science Fiction
Language: Mandarin
Episodes: 25
Director: Leste Chen, Xu Zhao Ren
Screenwriter: Shen Yang
Production Company: Tencent Penguin Pictures, Mango TV, Le Young
Origin: China
Source: Adapted from the novel Jie Ai·Yi Ke Feng Huan by Shi Dingrou
Watch Episodes On: Viki (eng subs), Youtube

Love Meter

Synopsis and Plot Summary

A story revolving around a news intern who crosses paths with the mysterious descendant of the fox tribe and falls into a romance that transcends lifetimes.

Guan Pipi (Victoria Song) has received an extraordinarily difficult assignment to interview Helan Jingting (Huang Jingyu). He is an antique expert shrouded in mystery who never appears before the public. As she gets to know him, Pipi is shocked to learn about his unusual living habits. He survives on flowers for food and takes moonlight baths. He is blind during the day, but has superhuman vision at night. His heart beats three times per minute and he claims to be from another planet. Pipi encounters consecutive blows from her love life to her personal relations. As Helan stays by her side through it all, it paves the way for an eventual romance. However, Helan's past comes back to haunt them and they become embroiled in the internal power play surrounding his planet.

Ending Spoilers

Show

Xiu Xian and Kuan Yong secure the sacred wood but before they kill Zhao Song, they have one important matter to do. They have decided to sacrifice themselves in order to save Jingting. Using their combined powers, Jingting can return to his human form as an ordinary man with no powers and no memories. Xiu Xian and Kuan Yong will also lose their powers to become foxes. Qian Hua is worried that the price to pay is too high but Xiu Xian and Kuan Yong have made up their minds. Pipi steps out of the room completely out of her wits. With Jingting's powers gone, Pipi is an ordinary person again, but she cannot bear the thought of losing Jingting.

Pipi comes up with a plan to lure Zhao Song so that they can light the sacred wood and kill him once and for all. Meanwhile, Xiu Xian and Kuan Yong bring along Jingting (in fox form) as they bid farewell to Xiao Ju. Pipi meets Zhao Song but he easily sees through their plan and gets the upper hand. Qian Hua steps in to stop Zhao Song herself and he tells her that Jingting is not worth all her efforts. She finally admits that she has been doing everything for Zhao Song because she is already in love with him and does not want him to keep walking down the wrong path. He does not believe her but she gives him a passionate kiss that makes him realize the truth. He tells Qian Hua to kill him and she lights the sacred wood while holding up the mirror to kill them both.

Six months later, Jialin has been discharged from the hospital. Tian Xin is the only person to visit him and they talk about their ambiguous plans for the future. Life has gone back to normal for Xiao Ju who works at the coffee shop while being accompanied by two foxes named Xiu Xiu and Kuan Kuan. Pipi gets accepted to the school of her choice to start on the right track to become a real reporter. One day, while Pipi is on the train, she runs into Jingting who no longer recognizes her. She introduces herself as Pipi. He introduces himself as Helan Xi. Pipi: I have a very important friend who told me that the name Xi is a tool used to untangle knots in ancient times. I will never forget it. But the friend left.... Helan Xi: Are you waiting for him? Pipi: I am waiting. Helan Xi: Then I will wait with you.

Fun Facts

Filming took place in Thailand.
In November 2017, Victoria Song was flown from Thailand to China to undergo an emergency surgery. Victoria Song went on social media later on to say that she's alright and to tell fans not to worry. (Source: DramaPanda)
There were rumors around bad blood between the two main leads especially after Victoria Song's manager Jia Shikai went on social media to talk about a certain drama involving one of his artists. Due to Victoria's casting in Moonshine and Valentine, it was said that many of Huang Jingyu's fans started bashing the actress which resulted in escalating fan wars. Without naming names, Jia Shikai declared that his artist will still cooperate in promotions but will not take the stage together. Netizens speculate that Jia Shikai was referring to Victoria Song and Huang Jingyu.
Director Leste Chen admits that they really did have another leading lady in mind at the beginning. The original actress backed out due to some differences so someone suggested Victoria Song who was very agreeable to the requirements for the drama and exceeded his expectations.
The drama is only 24 episodes and includes one additional episode. It is because the Director believes that shorter dramas (around 20 episodes) tell a tighter story.
The cast dubbed their own voices.
Former SM Trainee Song Bingyang composed the music for Zhu Que Jie and his lyrics were combined with Zhi Mo's who wrote the original lyrics for the novel.
The drama is based on the first book of the three-part series by Shi Dingrou called Jie Ai: Ji Si Da Ren. The third book is expected to be published in 2018.

Cast

	Victoria Song Qian as Guan Pipi
	Johnny Huang Jingyu as He Lan Jing Ting
	Xu Kaicheng as Tao Jialin
	Xu Fangyi as Tian Xin
	Liu Yongxi as Xiao Ju
	Li Junxian as Xiu Xian
	Jiang Qilin as Zhao Song
	Zhang Bojia as Shan Qianhua