This is a series not for everyone. For those familiar with screenwriter Kitagawa Eriko you know how her love stories develop and they are not everyone's taste. I personally love the slow build because it makes the relationship so much more meaningful and interesting. 

Things I love about this series: 

The cinematography is so beautiful and the color makes the series so homely. You know that feeling that gives you comfort and warmth. I love some of the color settings for the scenes, it just draws you into the moment. Personal favorites are when she is inspired by her theme “live in the moment, not the days” and when Oto and Soremame hang out in the yard either playing with bubbles or running into each other after he moved out. 

The cast especially the soremame. I just adore her playfulness, creativity, and the attitude to never to lose oneself. I personally haven’t watched much of oto works so I think he’s a new face. I didn’t know what to expect with his character in the first few episodes but after a while you realize just how comfortable he plays his character and the conversations and the spark between the two just made everything better. And because of that, I can’t hate his character or his acting. Maybe his character was just an average Joe kind of guy?? 

And as I mention the relationship between the two. I especially love the lines they have. Eriko always just knows when to tug at your heart with some of these lines. First episode the line I can’t stop thinking of is “a person’s back is so warm” for those who know you know. 

And lastly, if you’re a fan of the screenwriter like me, you just have to watch this. There are so many tender scenes that I missed so I know I have to go back and rewatch and just enjoy the moment. 

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Has potential

I don’t know how I feel about this series. It has potential, a strong and amazing cast, lots of beautiful cg, and a solid beginning storyline. But it leads on to these hints that underline the issue of reincarnation of immortals and how there this big bad guy, both main leads always injuring themselves and giving up their lives countless times for the three worlds. I don’t know how many times I was like again?? He going to give himself up and she going to do something stupid again and he going to save her. It got boring…very boring fast but I stayed for the second lead and second couple. I was rooting so hard for A Fu and Luo Ning. I knew it was going to be a sad tragic love story between the two of them and it was. I personally like their story way more than the main couples.

The other downside was the ending. Maybe I did skip too much but how many of you were just as confused about the ending and what was going on? Like did time rewind and skip what happened after He Na died after attempting to kill the moon god? Or were they stuck in a dream of a realm of another realm?? I don’t think I want to go back and find out.

This series had potential, it really did but the connection between the storyline and the characters just feel flat. I couldn’t bring myself to give it more than 5/10

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Too much into a small movie

This had potential. The cast is fantastic and I really wish this was a series rather than a movie. There were a lot of details as to what could have happened between the two main leads, but you can only fit so much into a film. As I am writing and deleting what I want to say about this review, I'm starting to understand why the short film. I think the impact of a short film with all the details that could have been expanded in a series was shortened here. But I was left unsatisfied and empty. The unknown as to why the ML died still doesn't make sense to me. Did I miss something? Did I overlook symbolic meaning? Was there a sentence that explained this but I skipped it? Also, what was the reason to film the sunrise? So many unanswered questions that I just didn't understand which is why my rating is low.

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What I like about it:

The fresh faces and the side characters. Often you get too many side characters that it drags away from the main story and causing the series to lose its main purpose and drag on. But the side characters added on to the story, surprisingly they made it work! The two stories that come to mind are the south sea emissary and Qian Mei and Huang Quan and Zi Mo. I think there is something going on with Bi Luo and poison girl but that is probably just my imagination.

Jessica Hsuan playing as the bad guy. The last time I watch any of her works was a long time ago and she was the main lead. So, it was interesting and refreshing to see her play as the bad guy.

The chemistry between the main leads. At first, when I saw who played the ML I was a bit disappointed, maybe it was because I just got done watching good-looking Xu Kai that I was expecting that same kind of wow factor. But he one I like to describe as good looks based on character. I always give characters a chance to “wow me” and boy I’m glad I did. I really enjoy his acting and his character. I know that the story really revolves around FL but I think ML kind of took the spotlight.

I love love LOVE the outfits! I adore the colors in here, especially the red that they had the FL in the entire time. This bright red made me focus so much more on the intensive action scenes. Talking about the action scenes, the cinematography, and the action….what a visual feast! What a wuxia without its awesome action scenes!! I’m a bit bias but I did get a tiny spark of excitement when I saw the ethnic minority outfits in here, mainly because it is close to my heart.

What I found annoying:

Of course, in every series, there has to be that annoying character you despise. I found Xiao Tai to be super annoying, her innocent, selfish, bratty attitude and thinking caused her to lead a rebellion and the guy who adores her to follow suit. It wasn’t until his death that she realized what she did. The only reason why I put up with her was because of Qing Yu or Meng Fei was super cute!

The poisoning, I should stop holding my breath each time ML or FL gets poison or injury. They were continuous injury/poison that I had to fast forward through some of these parts.

Everyone wants FL dead, first it was Moon sect leader and now the daughter wants her dead too because she wants to covet “senpai” to herself.

And I know this is just a pet peeve, but I often was upset at the choice that ML made even though it was thoroughly thought out and meant to be the well-being for everyone. As a leader, he shouldered a lot of the decision-making and burden. I had hoped they would have this selfish getaway, to blossom the romance between ML and FL. We only got a small taste of this when FL injury ML for a small getaway to heal him.

What makes me often think about this series after it ends:

The chemistry between the main leads. I like this mature feeling of mutual understanding of one another, making sacrifices for one another, and this natural love that doesn’t seem to be forced. I love just how simple their love is.

Re-watch value: as much as I love the characters in here, I probably won’t be re-watching it.

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Why is the rating so low?

So this is probably one of my current favorite series that I am rewatching. This reminds me a lot of the genre slice of life, something I haven't watch in a while. I am not usually into watching Korean drama because of the eye candy with bad acting but this blew me away!! Park Bo Gum do you have to drive me crazy each time you cry, smile, or just do what you do best! :D

I totally recommend this if you're looking for something that is different. It is not your typical k-drama. The stories between the characters felt so real. Their struggles, their weakness, their relationships, and how each individual portrayed them was probably one of the biggest reasons why I kept watching this series. I can't say enough about how much I love the chemistry between the characters, especially the female and male first lead. It is so beautiful and light-hearted, definitely reminds you of youthful love. I like that it wasn't "wow you're so beautiful and now I'm in love", it wasn't a shallow chemistry between characters. The development of understanding what you like and dislike, coming to understand and come to terms with why the relationship grew apart, I love everything about it.

Story-wise, I think it's a simple story of struggles youths have to go through. They're trying to find their next steps in life, either they're a momma boy living under the light and the protection she gives, or you're struggling to try to live your dream regardless if you young or old like grandpa. Most people probably hate the ending but I found it beautiful and different. The ending was open-ended, left a lot to your imagination. In my mind, it was still a happy ending!

Music I am pretty bias when it comes to this because I love Wheein from Mamamoo. Beautiful voice!

Overall, this is probably not for everyone but if you're looking for a good slice of life, family drama, great chemistry between leads, and acting give this a try!

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Dropping the series

I came for Simon Gong but leaving because of Lu Fang Ning. I really want to enjoy this series, my sister enjoyed it so much because the FL was a strong independent woman. She gets want she wants. I was really expecting more but halfway through I find her action wasn’t one of an independent woman but rather it a childish, spoiled girl.

I'm at a point where I'm debating if I want to keep the series on hold or if it should be dropped. I love Simon Gong, have since Word of Honor, but even his charming smile and good looks won't save me from watching this. I'm planning to drop this.

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On hold....

I started watching this because I thought the storyline was interesting but I had a hard time trying to finish up the second episode. I'm putting it on my hold list and I'll think if I want to come back and re-watch the series.

Thoughts so far:

I get that he has to become a hitman, kind of the main reason for the story but the one thing that I couldn't stop thinking was "how did he become a hitman without going through proper training?" Don’t you need years to become a professional to "maybe" be an accurate hitman? But as you continue watching, you see this hilarious off-timing when he tries to shoot her.

There was also a reference to karate kid wax on wax off. I couldn’t stop laughing. I knew this was going to be more of a funny series rather than serious. Maybe this is why I'm putting it on hold, I was expecting a sad hitman love story. I don't know what to think about it so far so I'm giving it a 5/10. I hope this rating changes if I ever go back and watch.

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On hold...

I came for Steven Zhang and screenwriter Wang Xiong Cheng. I just finished Go Ahead so I was very excited to see that they had another show out there. I truly was excited seeing some of the same actors and actresses in this series but I am kicking myself after watching the first episode. I did not look to see who was cast or read the summary.

First off, I have a very bias opinion of Liang Jie. I have seen two of her dramas and her acting just annoys the heck out of me. She has the same personality, characteristic and I just can't see her improvement so therefore I'm putting this on hold. I'm so disappointed and upset because I think this series would have been up my alley but they chose the wrong actress.

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