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Under the Power chinese drama review
Completed
Under the Power
0 people found this review helpful
by sharreb
Aug 24, 2020
55 of 55 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5

Rare worthy drama; CP with great rapport & chemistry

You can be put off by the length of drama ( i try to stick to Cdramas less thn 40episodes) BUT

These are why you should give this drama a try:
1. Leads that have something special in terms of character: ML, Lu Yi is someone not just cool but ice cold when it comes to criminal, ruthless and unfeeling as req by his job. He doesn't spare much attention to other things but work to be done, criminals and spies to be caught and justice fulfilled. He's a skilled martial artist but he isn't invincible. He is intelligent and cunning but careful and meticulous. FL is daring, has good tracking skills, is bold but can sweet talk and change her tune to save her own hide. She's also a skilled martial artist as trained by her master and can defend herself. She has an infectious personality and like her name last word means Summer) exuded warmth.

2. Story/plot: The first few episodes developed very well. In very few scenes we got the gist of the main characters. It was vy engaging. And although the Male and Female leads started on the wrong foot, their negative interactions were magnetic. The cases and how ML-FL goes abt solving them adds mystery and intrigue and also becomes the mechanisms that lets the leads understand and overcome their initial misconceptions abt each other. Ep 1 to 45: the story was fantastic, rarely boring. I even like the secondary love story although that arc had some repetitive elements but the 2characters was worthy of your time to see to their own happy ending

3. The love story: Its rare that an investigation, historical C drama can develop such a moving and deep love story. Rarer still that ML and FL are on the same wavelength. Their every interaction was like pilling stone upon stone..until it becomes a strong fort of its own
With each passing case and time working along each other: trust, bond and understanding was built. ML begins to find sth else other than work and crime thats interesting. He begins to have reason for good mood and his smirk turns to fleeting smile. His eyes usually cold and shrewd becomes warm when he looks at the FL. FL comes to understand him. Admires ML's intelligence, sense of justice and finds theres that someone that she could rely on. He would have her back. As the story progresses, the depth and lengths they each go to protect one another (in dangerous situation, in sickness and death) shows how devoted they are to each other. Despite my description, their interactions are sometimes really cute and funny and sweet. You have to watch it to get what i mean

4. The acting: Perfection for the scoring and I couldn't deduct. Tan Song Yun was always likable as an actress but this her role as Yuan Jin Xia was the best yet. She gave life, warmth and depth to her character. Ren Jia Lun was new to me but oh boy did they made an excellent casting in him..he made Lu Yi outstanding. I'm calling this duo Big Eye Couple. And they put their eyes to beautiful use. They were so good with the eye gazing.. so much emotion conveyed even when little or no words were spoken. That chemistry that they could develop from just glancing at each other or smiling at each other or conveying fear was hands down amazing.. it made so many scenes moving and oh so unforgettable. Han Dong was a brilliant antagonist, he was really fleshed out and not your typical puppet villain.. he was scary in intensity, in his cunning and psychotic personality.

Why i deduct little on the score.
Ep 46 to 54: I didn't like the final arc of the story. I felt birth secret thing that was revealed and the repercussion from it detracted the beauty of the story. It was there for heart wrenching and sad reasons. Yet It took away the precious beautiful thing between the leads. Ep 55 was a rewarding episode. That mooncake scene was brilliantly written and delivered beautifully. It concluded well but perhaps a bit rushed.. given the hardships they faced (and viewers had to bear) last 8 episodes it would have been nice if we were given a bigger reward.

Rewatch: I already missed the leads. I love how FL is very open with her affections for ML and openly admires and admits her admiration for him. Given how cold he was in the beginning, his first confession was really moving. And later on how he surprises her when he doesn't mince his words to convey how important she is to him. So worth rewatching.
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