Highly recommended, high re-watch value

-Amazing CHEMISTRY between the leads
-Complex relationships, especially between the male leads, and between them and the wife. Even the side characters are well-developed and nuanced.
-Though often listed as a "BL", this story and the relationships transcend that sort of reductive label. This is kindred spirits of the purest, unbreakable kind
-Actions and decisions always stayed true to the nature of the characters. Emotional without the melodrama.
-Superbly cast
-Gorgeous production, authentic feel
-No unnecessary drama, none of the usual trope-y story-telling. Mature, thoughtful, credible story
-More people ought to watch this, and recommend it to others.

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Highly Recommended, high Re-Watch Value. Hot.

-The series that catapulted two relatively unknown actors into the Chinese stardom stratosphere.
-Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu put their hearts, and soul, and creativity, and passion, and improvisation, and their dedication into this series despite many production setbacks.
-The result is INSANE CHEMISTRY, WeiLan, ZhuBai, many swoon-worthy, superbly acted memorable scenes (and many more future well-deserved quality acting opportunities for both Zhu Yilong and Baiyu).
-Guardian sets the stage for later "BL - bromance" type series like Untamed and Word of Honor.
-It's undeniably a romance though Chinese censorship forbids the explicit interpretation of the original novel in those terms. However, the romance or bromance (whatever) is a mature, complex, controlled relationship. The feelings between the two leads never descend into mushy, sappy, melodramatic tropes. There's no sentimental declaration of love/feelings, but the undying, unwavering love between soul mates is always palpable. I love that they are their own strong person, with their own firm convictions, and they take no bullshit from each other. There's always the push and pull in their interactions, whether in bantering, calling each other out, working together. They are in sync mentally and physically.
-You will cry. I cried, copiously.
-If you loved this, as I did, you will re-watch scenes many many times, as I did.

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Overall enjoyable but no re-watch value

-Overall cast acting was wonderful. Everyone did their jobs admirably even if I didn't like all the characters.
-Character development was fine with special shout out for the complex dynamic between Emperor/Empress/Consort, and the nuanced portrayal of Yuan Shen.
-Chemistry between the leads was sweet but no fireworks for me.
-My enjoyment of the romance was diminished by CSS's constant assertion of victimhood. The lack of ownership for her own immature behaviors towards authority got tiring after repeated occurrences. There are other "victims" too, like Lou Yao who had to marry for duty, all the ladies married off to loveless marriages for political reasons, people whose entire clans get massacred etc CSS is loyal and kind towards those who don't oppose her actions but is unrepentant and wilfull when called out for bad or unsafe behaviors. Sort of a cross between Mary Sue and spoiled child. It's only until someone she loves is seriously hurt or near death that she capitulates and becomes remorseful. Overall, CSS characterization is frustrating and hard to root for.
-Series felt draggy in parts with uneven pacing. I started with binge watching the series but by episode 30+, I started to lose steam with zero emotional investment at the end.
-Too many whiny, spoiled princesses and jealous "mean girl" situations. These scenes appear to "justify" CSS's vengeance and make her out to be righteous with petty retributions in disregard to rules and propriety.
-Leo Wu is hot.

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At times riveting

Admittedly, I was on the fence about starting this series because the pairing of Dilraba and Leo Wu seemed odd to me, and I wasn't wild about yet another cliche princess-disguised-as-boy-grows-up story. Generally, this couple pairing works fine with overall cohesiveness in production, whole cast acting, and plot. As in, whatever reservations I have about the main pair chemistry didn't really matter to my enjoyment of the show because the rest of it more than made up for a quality viewing.

Had this show focused more on the FL/ML romance, it would have been less successful. More intimate and romantic scenes would only serve to highlight the lack of... intensity? Passion? Sparks? The romance is very one-sided, with Leo Wu's character Sun obviously in love with Dilraba's more reserved character LCG, though she is gradually falling for him too. It's hard to tell how exactly she's in love with him, like a low level attraction that hums along but never raised above tepid. The slow burn in itself isn't the problem, it's just that there isn't enough energy between them to make me feel invested in their relationship **. These scenes - Sun suddenly grabs her in a tight hug and asked her to stay alive, or Sun fighting Shen to win her (as the slave) and then grabbing "his woman" in front of the entire tribe to haul his prize away - hot hot hot. No doubt they are incredibly beautiful people, so every scene is a feast to the eyes. However, the chemistry is less between the characters but more like chemistry between Leo Wu & the viewer, Dilraba & the viewer. All the long eye looks and close encounters are supposed to elicit "feels" but sorry, I don't feel it. There are no kissing scenes for them, with their eventual coupling inferred and left to imagination. That works better than potentially lukewarm kisses. After they have this understanding about their relationship, the romance went into a deep dive from some tension to zero.

Some of the reviews noted that Sun's character didn't really develop over the series. I agree to an extent, but would argue that Sun is already developed as a person. He's already got a good sense of self and gets the big picture. He's not still trying to find himself or stubbornly following a one track mission (unless it's perpetually saving LCG). He's a steady solid rock for LCG. As an imposing, charismatic general, Leo Wu's portrayal is totally believable. Leo Wu's only other series I've watched is Love like the Galaxy, which is a great show, but I couldn't help noticing that he was also an imposing, charismatic general there, whose injury on shirtless muscled bod had to be treated by love interest, and who also rolled down the roof with love interest and catching her. I would love to see him break out of mold.

LCG's character, in the meantime, does develop. LCG is learning what vulnerability is like, figuring out the big picture, and changing her worldview as a result. I love female characters who are strong, smart and not silly/whiny but the disparity between what she is supposed to be (strategic, decisive, smart) and her actions (naive, idealistic, unguarded) makes it hard for me to buy into her character (so far). Add to that impulsiveness, tunnel vision, and terrible choices. Possibly, my bias is due to not seeing how emotions translate into Dilraba's expressions. She has very defined modes - gentle (with the women and the weak), or serious/reserved/determined (with everyone else), or sad (on deaths).

This is one area where Zhao Lusi as the character LLY, has blown it out of the water with all the nuanced, highly expressive emotions on her face and in acting. Whether it's just her alone, of her and LCG, or her and HD, she provides a good counter foil to the other person or to her surroundings. It looks very natural. She's my favorite character so far going from a place of meekness and vulnerability to strength of spirit and mind. The 2nd pairing between the Liu Yuning's character HD and Zhao Lusi's character LLY is only emerging as of mid-series. LYN hasn't gone beyond the stoic, conflicted, stony face body guard yet, so we'll see how he transforms later with increasing proximity to LLY.

[** For superlative chemistry, see Bai Lu/Luo Yunxi (LiS, TTEOTM), Bai Yu/Ni Ni (PW), for e.g. Even Leo Wu/Zhao Lu Si (LLTG) has more sparks)

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Balm for my soul after the tragedy in One & Only

completed series. MUST WATCH sequel to One and Only (周生如故). It is less intense and more romantic, but has emotional weight and once again, outstanding acting from Bai Lu and Ren Jialun.
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ah, Forever and Ever is a balm after my heart got shredded to pieces in One and Only! I am slowly recovering from the tragedy in O & O, because now there is hope for this couple. Am only in Episode 2 of F & E, and already I am smiling. THANK YOU producers for this sequel.

Zhou Sheng Chen as a chemistry professor is such a dork, and I love it. After suffering so much as the stoic, heroic, sacrificial general in O & O, I am glad that in this life his biggest worry is how to write an email to the girl :) I also love that Shi Yi remembers parts of their past and now has a chance to pursue her love interest in their modern lives without the constraint and rigidity of rules of the past.

One of the frustrations I felt for Cui Shi Yi in One & Only was that she was basically helpless against all imperial might and all those rules, and that the only thing she could control 100% was her own will - and we know what she did ultimately. Bai Lu and Ren Jialun *applause* for great, convincing performances.

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