amusedbush
This review may contain spoilers
Could Have Been Good; Ruined by Bad Acting and Worse Editing
I. Introduction
I have watched quite a few short-length dramas by now, but this is the first time I found myself fast-forwarding through certain episodes. That is saying something considering each episode is only approximately 10 minutes long. I was intrigued by the premise: A reader (the FL) transmigrates into the cannon fodder character who is set to divorce the novel's villain (the ML) which brings about her subsequent tragic death at his hands when the novel's lead (the drama villain) uses her as a meat shield. She sets out to change her fate by refusing to divorce him and seducing him instead. Meanwhile, the ML is supposedly bewitched by his childhood sweetheart (the drama villainess) and an unknown voice instructing him to stick to the novel's original plot, but somehow falls for the FL instead. The execution of this premise was so underwhelming, I am more interested in watching my pothos grow.
II. Storyline/ Plot
Let me begin by summarising the story: After realising her predicament, the FL attempts to hug the ML's big thigh. The ML is understandably suspicious, but suddenly in episode 7, the ML is ready to sacrifice his childhood sweetheart to save the FL, without any relationship growth between episodes 1 and 7. There is some melodrama: the ML is forced by the unknown voice to proceed according to the novel's original plot and when the FL drags her battered and bruised self back to their residence, she witnesses the ML leading the perfectly dry and unharmed childhood sweetheart down from the carriage. However, they sweetly reunite over a horse ride (of all things) which is promptly interrupted by the childhood sweetheart requesting for the horse as a gift. Despite that, when the ML has to go off to war, the FL follows him "because she likes him that much". In episode 13, the FL discovers that the ML is aware of his ending according to the novel's original plot and they plan to break free. Before they've even sufficiently explored this plot line, in episode 19, the FL discovers her blood is a magical elixir, and the unknown voice tries to drive her out of existence in episode 20 when everyone literally demands for her blood to save themselves and loved ones. This, of course, drives the ML to become the villain he was originally written as. In the finale, the FL attempts to save the ML from hanging by throwing herself off of the parapet (I'm not sure I follow the logic here), and the story is ended quickly with a single PowerPoint slide explaining how the ML is saved in the chaos of people watching the FL fall to her death and how the emperor's last edict was to appoint the ML as regent to assist the third prince as the next emperor and a final scene of the ML wistfully saying he'll wait for the FL forever. If you've seen the extra, the ML somehow copulated with the FL's zombified body to produce offspring and they all live happily ever after. The underdeveloped plot twists are akin to pre-pubescent teens stuffing tissue paper into selected areas.
III. Characters
Overall, poor acting quality all around. SSS is not an actress and her talents do not lie in acting. This is also clearly one of LF's earlier works, as his acting here compared to his acting in My Decoy Bride, The Deliberations of Love, or even A Tale of Love and Loyalty is stilted and lacklustre. The supporting actors were equally bad at their jobs. Was everyone not paid well enough?
IV. Production Aspects
Never mind the actors, the production team was also clearly not paid well enough either. For example, in the penultimate and final episode, the FL is supposed to scar her own face, but the makeup looked like she drew cat's whiskers on her face instead. The editing team couldn't be bothered to piece the ending of the previous episode and the beginning of the next episode. Perhaps the only team that was paid was the costume team.
V. Conclusion
This drama fails to live up to its interesting premise. While the lighthearted tone might offer fleeting entertainment for die-hard fans of the genre, there's simply not enough substance here to recommend this drama. If you're looking for something worth watching while you unwind, look elsewhere.
I have watched quite a few short-length dramas by now, but this is the first time I found myself fast-forwarding through certain episodes. That is saying something considering each episode is only approximately 10 minutes long. I was intrigued by the premise: A reader (the FL) transmigrates into the cannon fodder character who is set to divorce the novel's villain (the ML) which brings about her subsequent tragic death at his hands when the novel's lead (the drama villain) uses her as a meat shield. She sets out to change her fate by refusing to divorce him and seducing him instead. Meanwhile, the ML is supposedly bewitched by his childhood sweetheart (the drama villainess) and an unknown voice instructing him to stick to the novel's original plot, but somehow falls for the FL instead. The execution of this premise was so underwhelming, I am more interested in watching my pothos grow.
II. Storyline/ Plot
Let me begin by summarising the story: After realising her predicament, the FL attempts to hug the ML's big thigh. The ML is understandably suspicious, but suddenly in episode 7, the ML is ready to sacrifice his childhood sweetheart to save the FL, without any relationship growth between episodes 1 and 7. There is some melodrama: the ML is forced by the unknown voice to proceed according to the novel's original plot and when the FL drags her battered and bruised self back to their residence, she witnesses the ML leading the perfectly dry and unharmed childhood sweetheart down from the carriage. However, they sweetly reunite over a horse ride (of all things) which is promptly interrupted by the childhood sweetheart requesting for the horse as a gift. Despite that, when the ML has to go off to war, the FL follows him "because she likes him that much". In episode 13, the FL discovers that the ML is aware of his ending according to the novel's original plot and they plan to break free. Before they've even sufficiently explored this plot line, in episode 19, the FL discovers her blood is a magical elixir, and the unknown voice tries to drive her out of existence in episode 20 when everyone literally demands for her blood to save themselves and loved ones. This, of course, drives the ML to become the villain he was originally written as. In the finale, the FL attempts to save the ML from hanging by throwing herself off of the parapet (I'm not sure I follow the logic here), and the story is ended quickly with a single PowerPoint slide explaining how the ML is saved in the chaos of people watching the FL fall to her death and how the emperor's last edict was to appoint the ML as regent to assist the third prince as the next emperor and a final scene of the ML wistfully saying he'll wait for the FL forever. If you've seen the extra, the ML somehow copulated with the FL's zombified body to produce offspring and they all live happily ever after. The underdeveloped plot twists are akin to pre-pubescent teens stuffing tissue paper into selected areas.
III. Characters
Overall, poor acting quality all around. SSS is not an actress and her talents do not lie in acting. This is also clearly one of LF's earlier works, as his acting here compared to his acting in My Decoy Bride, The Deliberations of Love, or even A Tale of Love and Loyalty is stilted and lacklustre. The supporting actors were equally bad at their jobs. Was everyone not paid well enough?
IV. Production Aspects
Never mind the actors, the production team was also clearly not paid well enough either. For example, in the penultimate and final episode, the FL is supposed to scar her own face, but the makeup looked like she drew cat's whiskers on her face instead. The editing team couldn't be bothered to piece the ending of the previous episode and the beginning of the next episode. Perhaps the only team that was paid was the costume team.
V. Conclusion
This drama fails to live up to its interesting premise. While the lighthearted tone might offer fleeting entertainment for die-hard fans of the genre, there's simply not enough substance here to recommend this drama. If you're looking for something worth watching while you unwind, look elsewhere.
Was this review helpful to you?
