REVIEW: The Negotiator [C-drama]
Rating: 3.999 out of 5 stars
Re-watch value: 2 out of 5 stars
Synopsis
*partially taken from Dramafever*
Tong Wei (Yang Mi, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) is a genius negotiator. As the star of the US-China Business Council, she brokers deals that bring wealth and prosperity to both countries. She is intelligent, confident, and meticulous in arguing for the best deal possible. In short, she is everything corporate giants do not expect a middle-class girl to be. Xiao Fei Xie (Huang Zitao, EXO) is the sole heir of the wealthy Chinese-American Xie family. As arrogant as he is talented, he wants nothing to do with the family business. Xiao Fe also cares little about his Chinese roots. When he meets Tong Wei, the two collide in a fiery spell of negotiation that goes beyond just the business table. As Tong Wei and Xiao Fei begin to grow closer, a dark reality emerges that forces the couple to separate. The brilliant negotiator breaks off ties with the sole heir and hopes to never meet again. Many years have passed since. Tong Wei is now a battle-hardened warrior at the negotiation table. Xiao Fei, after experiencing a life-changing event, is a more serious and cultured man. When they meet, he is reminded of what they once had and hopes they can have it again. Their love was truly special, but getting it back is going to require some negotiation.
Rambling
*beware of spoilers*
I liked it. But I didn't love it.
Yang Mi was fine as Tong Wei. She could have been more expressive throughout. She's so stony-faced; her face looked like porcelain. Give me some more emotion! Show some wrinkles!
I've never seen Tao act in anything, but I'm convinced his acting improved over the course of the show. He was excessive during the first third, but then he had so much range for the rest. The scene where he meets Tong Wei again in his old Shanghai restaurant and attempts to smooth things over to get her back stands out to me; his wrecked state and bloodshot eyes were superb.
This show had the audacity to come and tell me that Xiao Tian played by Lai Yi was the younger brother to Xiao Fei. Smh. I know they're not biological brothers, but Tao looks like an overgrown teenager. Lai Yi is sophisticated and mature. Bull shit that he's the younger brother. Don't play.
The evil uncle who stole the company from under Xiao Fei and his dad was ousted after Xiao gained Tian Lan's "political" support, yes, but there was this sudden revelation that he was embezzling money from the company as well. Totally random, as it wasn't hinted at or introduced in the plot line until these dubbed white dudes confront the uncle. It was sloppy to do that so late in the game. It almost felt like the writers were trying to justify the uncle's departure more than necessary? Or give him an extra bit of punishment for not just personal injury but business injury as well? Didn't need it.
This Chinese-American company is headquartered in the U.S., but almost every person (white or Chinese) spoke Chinese. The company announcements were done in the Asian style, with a sort of banquet happening instead of a strict press conference. It didn't seem believable as an American company.
Toward the end of the show, Chen Xi drops the bomb that she is breaking her engagement and rushing to Xiao Fei's aid. During that tear-filled emotional revelation there is a horrendous cut where Chen Xi's dad obviously slaps her clean across her cheek, but we don't see it! We just see Chen Xi looking slowly back at her dad as a devastating red mark appears on her face. WHY? Why the cut? It was confusing and took me straight out of the drama.
Tian Yu started much more despicable than I would have expected for a second male lead: hanging out with Tong Wei just to gain information vital to the success of the negotiations, cock-blocking her with Xiao Fei every chance he got, and being super handsy with her. He was absolutely exasperating, clinging to his obsession with Tong Wei for eons despite her insisting she sees them only as friends. I wrote him off so early in the show that I literally gasped when he revealed that he bought Tong Wei's house. It just seemed like a genuine, no-strings-attached gesture. And he played it so well! Dude played dumb when she told him she sold her house! I was quite glad that he finally moved on and ended up with the ethereal Bi Chen. (Zhu Xu Dan plays Bi Chen btw, and I didn't see any trace of her vile Ten Miles of Peach Blossom character, thank God!)
Time got all fudged up at various points during the show. How long were Tong Wei and Xiao Fei living together in Shanghai? How long were Tong Wei and Xiao Fei back in the states after he was reinstated? It seemed like just a couple days, maybe a week with Tong Wei working with her idol Jonathan for a terrifically short amount of time. How long did it take Xiao Fei to end up back in Shanghai after their break-up? It's all pretty muddy to me.
Speaking of Shan Shan, damn. Her story really affected me. This super smart, successful negotiator falls in love with a much-older client and proceeds to get shut out of her industry. She quits to preserve whatever dignity she has left, and begins her life as a kept woman. Her man never marries her, stringing her along with false promises for years. It really pained me to see her so reduced and to see her struggle for what she wanted, no, deserved. I fully blame her man. Her demise could have been avoided, even if it was an accident.
On that note, this is another time fudge. Shan Shan falls at home, drags herself to her phone, and calls 911 for an ambulance. Within minutes, I suppose, she calls Tong Wei and passes out over the phone. I thought Shan Shan would have been taken to the hospital rather quickly, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Tong Wei screams later that had she been brought in sooner, she and her baby could have been saved; Tong Wei fully believes she could have made a life-or-death difference had she been allowed on a plane sooner. Why would she believe that? Shan Shan was already at the hospital when Tong Wei arrived presumably after a 15-hour flight. Did Tong Wei do anything to get her to the hospital? WHY was the hospital staff not doing anything to save Shan Shan once Tong Wei arrived?? It looked like Shan Shan was just wasting away, bleeding out from the look of her, as nurses were standing inside the room doing nothing. It's not until she becomes unresponsive that one nurse runs for a doctor. Are we to believe nothing was done to save Shan Shan or the baby (who was 8 months along) in 15+ hours?
All in all, the romance was fine, but there were a lot of glaring holes so I can't bring myself to give this bad boy any more than 3.999. Can't say I'd sit through 41 episodes again either. I will, however, be more than willing to see what else Tao can dish out. Note: Anything in which his character has a better hairstyle will be considered.
Love this other promo poster!
Did you see The Negotiator? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below!
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