A Good Casual Watch

After several starts and drops of various historical dramas, this one was finally able to keep my attention long enough to become invested. The first couple of episodes may be slightly off-putting but it does evolve well and the layer of corniness is part of its charm.

Positives:
- There's a good blend of serious moments and light-heartedness/comedy.
- Most of the actors did a good job with their roles.
- The mystery aspect was decent as well as the action scenes but nothing to write home about.
- Almost no romance.
- A good series if you need a break from heavy politics and melodrama.

Negatives:
- The biggest negative for me was the ML (Ding Yu Xi). His acting became increasingly not believable and he only seemed to utilize 3-4 different facial expressions throughout the series. Unfortunate because this really brought the series down a few notches. (And this is already overlooking the extreme corniness to his cat-human form).
- The story takes a somewhat convoluted turn somewhere in the middle, and the flow became messier. It's as if they spend the first half working on the build-up and then just decided to throw everything that was necessary for the plot all in at once, just to be able to complete it.
- While I may able to overlook things like poor villagers suddenly being able to build a hot air balloon in almost no time at all, it was difficult to overlook the reactions to character deaths. There is almost a zero grieving period or any needed emphasis on the deaths of even relevant support characters. Providing flashbacks that doesn't trigger any emotes doesn't cut it, and the almost instantaneous leap to laughing and having a good time shortly thereafter was just not okay.

However, it is a good series that one doesn't need to take seriously and is good for a casual watch. Despite some significant negatives, it still did provide some actual laugh out loud moments.

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A Bit of a Drag

Based on reviews as well as being recommended by other reviewers who has somewhat similar opinions of other series, I was super excited to embark on this one. And while I can still force myself to continue watching due to it potentially getting better, there's just nothing intriguing enough to keep going even after 10 episodes in.

There's no real major flaw to highlight and there was quite some potential of being a unique undertaking of "royalty" in the beginning. Instead of the usual elegant and noble demeanor of royals , it was quite interesting to see the more "normalized" relationship with leaders that weren't born into it that type of restriction/upbringing. Although they did take it a bit too far and some scenes were just awkward.

While there were many great actors and characters in the series, the one that I just couldn't bring myself to like was the main protagonist, Xu Feng Nian. Even if his character was supposed to "pretend" to be narcissistic and spoiled (and despite them trying to paint him as some sort of kind soul deep down who refuses to kill anyone), he still comes off strongly as a narcissist and is quite abusive to those closest to him for that matter. His level of intelligence isn't believable enough either for it to balance out. As for the plot flow, while the story does move along with setting changes and introduction of new characters, it also somehow feels circular. There's too much emphasis on Xu Feng Nian and not enough on the supports. There's a lot going on but it really isn't going anywhere. So for these two reasons, I decided to do the drop.

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Surprisingly Enjoyable

The summary on the site for this series doesn't do it enough justice. If it weren't for the fact that there are some rare series out there with more intricate and complex plots, I would have given this a higher rating. There really isn't anything negative to point out: the actors were charismatic, the story flow was done well, the action scenes were good, and despite some supernatural aspects, nothing was under or overdone.

The first arc gave a slight undertone of The Addams Family or maybe The Nightmare Before Christmas in the sense of the darker undertone and the protagonists having interesting relationship developments. Nothing was romanticized, which was a breath of fresh air. Because of this, I never felt the need to time-skip at all for the entire 36 episodes. Unlike the summary where it references one particular arc, there are actually multiple mysteries involved that are relatively standalone (where it isn't being forced into being related to the overall plot). This is what really kept the series interesting without the feeling of it being dragged on.

For those who enjoy watching supernatural elements along with case solving as I do, this one is highly recommended. Unlike other series that have a great synopsis and deceivingly high ratings (per my biased opinions/tastes of course) but end up disappointing with a major flaw or more, this one exceeded expectations. Note that despite some darker undertones of the mysteries, it is balanced with comradery and fun. I'm looking forward to season two.

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Refreshingly Entertaining

After having seen so many series that follow the recipe of non-stop betrayals, it was quite refreshing to see a solid comradery play out. It was also just as refreshing to see subtle human touches being added to relationships between the mains and the supports. The pacing of the plot was nice and steady, without any overly dramatized cliffhangers or extremely long periods of nothingness. Although there's obvious non-realistic aspects to the autopsies which is one of the main highlights to the theme, it was done well enough to not deter. The other positive is although there was some romance, it wasn't overdone.

The only two qualms I had was that the role of the female coroner was lackluster. I haven't seen the actress enough to know if it's her acting or if it was just how the role was intended. And while the overall actors did a great job, there isn't much character development throughout the series. However, everyone stayed true to character and it was an enjoyable series with an ending that felt both slightly abrupt yet fitting. I look forward to how they plan to expand the story in the sequel.

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Unreliable review

This is likely an unreliable review as I only managed to get through two episodes. But the two episodes were enough for me personally.

The initial scene was relatively intriguing but the actions of our main made no sense from the get-go. Let's say he slaughtered everyone because he was trying to be completely obedient to what he was asked to do. Yet he makes a scene about his regret, and then manages to leave the organization by doing self harm. If those he assassinated were really that important to him to begin with, couldn't he have just done exactly this to prevent himself from being a part of the murders? He makes another scene about how his self harm is part of his redemption, yet when the pain flares up, he does everything he can to ease the pain. Then the odd transition of wearing some mask to disguise himself so he can just drink his life away and be a bum... is pretty distasteful.

Insert the female who starts a fight with him, after an odd and awkward obsession to communicate with a bum. As if she's a two-year old who has never seen bums before. The fight causes damage to the carts of innocent bystanders, and they just prance off as if they are supposed to be respectable good folks. Insert again, some wealthy kid who also just coincidentally happens to be obsessed with befriending the bum out of nowhere after having met him for two seconds. Only for his family to be slaughtered later and this bum just decides to watch for a while until suddenly trying to step in at the last second to be a savior. Insert yet again, the male companion of the aforementioned female. The fight scene between the two is a dramatized dance rather than an actual fight.

Yea... no matter how good the costuming or background is. There's nothing that can redeem these details in only the first two episodes.

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Good but not stimulating

This series is a bit difficult to describe because the acting and character chemistry were pretty good. The plot (with exception of the ending) flowed relatively well. But for a 29-episode series, it was lacking that "entertaining" factor and the entire series felt like it was playing to a single note. The drama wasn't dramatized enough and the humor wasn't humorous enough. The cases and mysteries that revolve solely around the protagonists were interesting in the beginning but started to falter when they began to poorly insert new characters. And the ending is really where it begins to crack because there wasn't great character development for the aforementioned new characters and some existing ones. They made attempts to do so with some flashbacks but unsuccessfully. However, as with other average series, this one was still entertaining enough to complete with some time skips. Not much actions scenes and no romance (which I usually prefer).

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Average but charming

It's a good series to watch if you aren't looking for anything that can cause lack of sleep due to wanting to get to the next episode. Having recently getting back into the Asian series mode, I was super excited to see a new Wuxia series with high ratings. However, the series has the same flaws as with many others. The acting of the main protagonists are just slightly less than average and the only saving grace is they have some chemistry with each other. It feels like actors these days are chosen based on looks and less on their ability to act and draw the audience in. The actions scenes were below average and it made me miss again the days when actors with some actual martial arts skills were chosen for these types of roles. The plot had potential but the transitions were choppy, keeping it lighthearted throughout.

I did appreciate that the historical costume and makeup weren't as ridiculous as some other series, and nothing was too overly dramatized. And despite it being an overall average, it was still entertaining enough to finish.

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As Sequels Do Often

Foremost, I appreciate how the sequel picks up right at the ending of it predecessor. If you enjoyed the first movie, this one is definitely worth the watch as it covers a significant portion of the guardians' past lives. Unfortunately it lacks the same charisma (potentially due to losing Cha Tae Hyun as a main) and the characters all get a bit cornier. Outside of the guardians' backgrounds, the blanketing plot around the grandfather and kid is pretty dull and the lackluster acting for the roles enhance this. The actions scenes however have improved a tad and the animation work feels even better this time around.

Most sites I've used to stream the movie has the same horrible subtitles. It left me guessing incorrectly on what was going on and twenty minutes in, I would have unfairly given the movie a significantly lower rating. Make sure you find one with subtitles that actually make sense (personally went with Viki).

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Unexpectedly Entertaining

When giving series/movie a first watch, I don't really dive into who the actors/actresses are. So seeing Cha Tae Hyun as a main was a nice surprise. He has the perfect expressions for comedy-dramas, my favorite blend of genres.

The movie doesn't have the most complex or intricate plot but it has enough of an unpredictable essence that will keep you on your toes. Why was it unexpectedly entertaining? Because I do have a slight bias toward movies that lean too far into animated work as they tend to be poorly implemented and have even poorer dialogues. If you can stomach a few less than average actions scenes, this one was actually done pretty well. And although Cha Tae Hyun's story is a pretty basic tearjerker, it is one of those that will still jerk those tears. So if you looking for an easy watch with likeable characters that will also have you laughing out loud, definitely recommend. I'm looking forward to watching the sequel.

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This is a classy series. It may seem like an odd word to describe a crime-based genre, but for me, it is a fitting description. This one doesn't have the type of melodrama infusion that is sometimes typical (no intense cliffhangers at the end of each episode) but is instead, a steady captivation. Because of its pacing, it really hones in on the gradual evolution of the relationships, unfolding of linkages, and the peeling back of butterfly effect layers that were caused by a multitude of events.

At the same time, although there really isn't a glaring lull, the first half of the series was particularly prolonged and the flashbacks bordered excessive. I did find myself fast-forwarding every so often but not in the way where it deterred too much from the enjoyment. Instead of repeat flashbacks, providing more background on some of the supporting characters would have taken this up a notch.

Nevertheless, would recommend it for the days when you're in the right mood for its pacing.

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*Very minor and broad spoiler*

The first episode will draw you in immediately with its calm yet increasingly suspenseful atmosphere. It's not an easy series to describe so I'll keep it relatively short. Because the story has such a strong romantic baseline, I half expected it to overpower the crime and suspense as some series do. Fortunately, it was well balanced and it did not disappoint.

The only aspects that made it a bit less than for me was somewhere in the middle when the original flow started to feel rushed. The shifting of Baek Hee Sung's emotions was abrupt (even if there was a trigger) and since that shift, it became less and less believable. Mostly because it was followed by dramatic events clumped too closely together which caused some encounters to become a tad repetitive, and some plot holes to develop.

Nevertheless, this series will draw you in and keep you in enough suspense to want to keep watching in lieu of sleep. I think it's a great one for those who enjoy different genres inclusive of psychology, romance, crime, or mystery. While it isn't a masterpiece in any particular genre, it did equally well in all of it.

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Dropped It Once

The first time I tried watching this many months ago, dropped it relatively quickly after a couple of episodes. Mostly because at the time, I was looking for a series with actual substance. However, this is a perfect series if you enjoy the "mystical" genre and need something very casual to watch (i.e. don't care if you miss out on a conversation or two).

The plot is simple/predictable, and that has its own entertainment factor, especially when the actors are still charismatic. Just go in without any expectations of a tightly-knit execution of a story. This is one where characters just drop in because it is convenient for the plot to progress. The fantasy/action visuals also have the low-budget feel but it does kind of tie into the series' overall comical theme.

Overall, it can still satisfy those days when you just want a couple of laughs, don't want to get in too heavy, and still catch a bit of feel-good moments.

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The only word that kept coming to mind after each episode was "bland". The acting from the mains and supports felt pretty subpar and none of the characters really stood out. In addition to not buying into the acting, the plot felt rushed in areas where it should have had more focus, lingered too long in other areas, and there weren't enough details to glue it together.

This one was tough to write about actually because it had the ingredients to be pretty decent so it's hard to describe or pinpoint what was missing from it. Despite some heart-warming scenes and bonding moments, it somehow felt shallow at the same time. It didn't help that the main character was also pretty obnoxious and unappreciative.

I would normally stick with a series if at least one or two aspects were done well enough especially because this one has a relatively short number of episodes. But the overall feel of this one just didn't intrigue much, and less so with each episode. Onward to the continuous search of good series that involves the afterlife and/or spirits.

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As with many superhero stories, you go in knowing it will be more entertainment than realism. The concept is great, especially since I have a soft spot for vigilantes but the execution in this one wasn't done well. Because it revolves heavily around the taxi, it does have a hint of resemblance to Batman (which they reference themselves in the series).

The first couple of stories were satisfying and the exaggerations went well with that dab of comedic undertone. However, it just felt more and more lame as they entered heavily into the cloud-based firm revenge. While the script being overly basic can be overlooked, when the characters themselves began to lose their flavor, that's when there's really not much else to look forward to.

- The prosecutor was irritating from the beginning and she could have been written out completely with minimal impact.
- They try to humanize your mains by incorporating some type of trigger that causes them to relive their traumas but the way it was executed just made them again, lame. For a team that is supposed to be superior and calmly collected, and who's been doing this for a while, a whistle from some traffic cop is going to cause your main dude to pass out? Then your female main who's seen that online video over and over again in the past, is suddenly so traumatized by coming across it again during a job that she just abandons ship and locks herself up? While trauma does impact someone for a lifetime, this was incredibly excessive.
- The sister's suicide. They paint her out to be a sweet, loving person. But anyone who has enough right mind to make a last meal for a loved one, tuck a blanket over them, and then decides to publicly jump off a building and plop herself horrifically in front of the same loved one, is just a selfish ass.
- Oh, how the flashbacks were misused much too often. Instead of adding anything to the plot, they were just fillers to prolong the minutes. I also didn't buy into the dramatic music that tried to convince the audience into thinking the scene was eventful.

If they had maintained the same pacing as with the first couple of stories or didn't reduce character developments, it would have been much more entertaining. Unfortunate.

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Although the mortician aspect would have been interesting, this series is a poor imitation of The Longest Day in Chang'an. While the dramatics actually worked there, it was poorly executed and unnecessary for this plot. I do appreciate that more Chinese dramas are starting to bring back some of the essence it once had, before they tried to incorporate poor graphics and terrible costume work. The action scenes are feeling more skill-based again instead of the floating around nonsense or having characters with strange hairdos that are ridiculous for any time period. One of the mains here also starred in The Untamed and while that one was also somewhat gimmicky, it wasn't as severe and it made more sense due to the supernatural aspect.

Nevertheless, at least visually, this series was done better than some of the others I've seen but it still had too many gimmicks attached to a poorly written script:

- They make Gao Bing Zhu seem like some brilliant fighter and observer but for some reason, he doesn't realize the guy he killed was wearing a completely different mask and didn't have the wound he inflicted earlier? Ugh.
- Baili Hong Yi ties a flimsy white cloth around Gao Bing Zhu's wrist and tells him it's some type of magical knot that he would never be able to untie himself from? And Gao Bing Zhu is somehow threatened enough to give in to his demands? Ugh again.

For what seems like a fairly expensive production, the camera work was subpar. Each episode also made less and less sense and the cheesy dialogue only became more cringe. This series really felt like they tried to reuse or combine all the elements of what made The Longest Day in Chang'an, Nirvana in Fire, and The Untamed successful, but didn't bother to care whether the effects actually made sense for the plot. Note that what didn't make this one work for me wasn't because of the actors but from the cards they were dealt.

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