Hot Shot Review

[Rondillo]

Hot Shot Review

• Title: 籃球火 / Lan Qiu Huo
• English title: Hot Shot
• Also known as: Basketball Fire / Basket Fire Ball
• Genre: Sport, romance
• Episodes: 16
• Broadcast network: CTV / GTV
• Broadcast period: 2008-Jul-27 to 2008-Nov-09
• Air time: Sunday 21:30 - 23:00
  

------(Above taken from Dramawiki)

Synopsis

The story revolves around the lives of two basketball players: Yuan Da Ying (Alan/Show Luo) and Dong Fang Xiang (Jerry Yan). Yuan Da Ying is a nobody, who has a lot of passion for basketball; Dong Fang Xiang is a basketball superstar, AKA War God Dong Fang Xiang, who does not even know why he plays the game. Yuan Da Ying has no skill whatsoever in basketball, while Dong Fang Xiang even has secret Legendary moves that supposedly only he can use. Even though their difference is great, a few turn of events lead them both to Pi Li University where they meet each other and become rivals--in basketball and also for the love of Zhan Jie Er (Zhou Cai Shi), who is Dong Fang Xiang's childhood friend.

War God Dong Fang Xiang is very good at basketball.

Li Ying (Coco Jiang), also known as W, is a very famous (and sexy/foxy woman, I must say) NBA consultant in the United States and decides to coach the then embarrassing Pi Li Basketball team and enlists, Yuan Da Ying, Du Fei (Zhang Yan Ming), Qi Xiao Yun (Lin Pai Yan), Qi Xiao Yu (Lin Pai Yan), and eventually Dong Fang Xiang, after a showdown with Yuan Da Ying.

Yuan Da Ying and his stance of basketball seriousness.

With the formation of the new Pi Li basketball team, the five players become close and go on a great journey to relieve themselves of the title given to the former basketball team before them, the "Pi Li 5 Losers". Oh and there's also another main character, Wu Ji Zun (Wu Zun), who is very mysterious and helps them out occasionally, but his identity would not be known until much later. He is usually accompanied by his brother Wu Ji Wei (George Hu).

Wu Zun should've had more parts

The Review

The series was okay but I have to split the review in two parts because of the increasing differences between the majority of the series to the last few episodes.

The majority of the series was pretty good and hooked basketball addicts like me to the show. However, it was a bit predictable at times and the romance parts could have used A LOT of work. It came off kind of cheesy, like the typical "can't be with you because of class differences" story. It's already 2009 (2008 for the series) and it is hardly believable that the girl can still be worried about that! But the saving point of the series is the basketball action. The special effects, the amazing moves, the intensity of the games, and the funny dialogue and silliness of Yuan Da Ying on the court are well worth it. The amount of "bad guys" that make an appearance to test the 5 heroes also make a good performance and have interesting characters.

However, after *spoiler* Pi Li team wins the Championship, a little past half-way through the series, there was not much left to do *End spoiler*. The last few episodes was about uncovering the secrets about why Jie Er does not want to be with Dong Fang Xiang, which in my opinion would have been better if it was not included and just stuck to the "Class differences" story instead, because her new reasons are kind of really weird (*spoiler* Her dad was actually a spy against his grandfather's company *End spoiler*). All this is happening while Yuan Da Ying was being vengeful as he learns about the past and decides to have nothing to do with Dong Fang's family anymore. Which is kinda weird because later on *spolier*he changes his personality again and helps him anyways *End spoiler*

Yuan Da Ying and Dong Fang Xiang are fighting for her love.

Also, I wish that the relationship between W and Yuan Da Ying could have been expanded. Too many spoilers to say for this one though because I'm sure even with my warnings, readers will end up reading it and I don't want to ruin it... heh.

W. The hot coach.

I think this change of pace in the story is because, after the championships, they ran out of things to do. The last basketball game that ended the show was really good, even bringing back some of their enemies back, at least until the final five minutes. It ended abruptly with many untied knots and loose holes... So either it ended too soon or it dragged on too long.

The music is very catchy and fits the theme well. Nese's "Superman" and "U Got Me" are very catchy, upbeat songs that I makes me feel like playing basketball while listening to them (and I have actually). If there was something good that I'm going to be taking with me even after the show is over, it would be these songs.

Hot Shot is highly watchable though. I recommend watching it especially if you are a fan of basketball and like light-hearted comedies. But those looking for a complex love triangle and a lot of crying moments, this is not the drama for you.

80%... Would have been lower if the basketball scenes were not as great.

[vietshortee]

ok so i had to read this before getting off for hw lol. i gotta say NICE JOB ON THE REVIEW rondillo!!!! i knew you would of done a more detailed review than me, even though i was like more crazy about this serie lol >.<. lol so very great job on that =D. and basically what you said; like your opinions and all were pretty much the same with me too lol. and lol about saying Coco Jiang is sexy/foxy hehe. but chea she was one gorgeous coach i would say so myself haha =]. and weee i like the pics you posted up!!! very niceeeee =]. and HA! totally agree with you Wu Zun should of had more parts!!! lol. but chea very nice job on the review =]

[aquamizu]

HOT cast...o.k. storyline...