This week, Mel and Ryan discuss how the 2025 Cdrama, Prisoner of Beauty, was able to execute the well-known trope of enemies to lovers. But did the use of several tried and true costume drama conventions make this drama a stand-out success or a tired attempt at doing the same old thing?

Summary:

Two families form an alliance through marriage, but the bad blood between their clans leads the couple to deeply distrust each other. As they begin to grow closer and learn to find love, they realize the only way for their families to survive is to put the past aside.

Cast:

Wei Shao - Liu Yu Ning

Qiao Man - Song Zu Er

Wei Yan - Liu Duan Duan

Lady Yu Lou - Xuan Lu

This week, Mel and Ryan show appreciation for two dramas that were able to overcome the shortcomings of their source material. Yes, sometimes the TV show is better than the book…or the anime. Both Korean BL drama, "Secret Relationships" and Thai BL drama, "Top Form," do a good job of demonstrating that.

Secret Relationships Cast:

Jung Da On - Kim Jun Seo

Ju Seong Hyeon - Cha Sun Hyung

Kim Su Hyun - Cha Jung Woo

Sin Jae Min - Kim Ho Young

Top Form Cast

Akin - Boom

Jin - Smart

In this episode of the DramaMeans podcast, Mel and Ryan discuss the unorthodox love story of Hong Kong film, "Love Lies - 我談的那場戀愛."

We also advise our listeners not to take any inspiration from the film and become online scam artists in order to find love. That kind of thing only works in the movies!

Summary: A widowed doctor signs up for an online dating app and ends up falling for a hunky French engineer who always seems to say the right things. Just one problem. Her French beau is actually a scammer trying to take her for everything she's worth. But can the two find love and happiness together anyway?

Cast:

Veronica Yu - Sandra Ng 吳君如

Joe Lee - MC Zhang 張天賦

Joan - Stephy Tang 鄧麗欣