This review may contain spoilers
The start of this series was very thrilling, a martially adept, witty, and brave girl brought into a hostile kingdom with internal chaos. The first episode was a thriller. Then there's a cold man who is also a skilled fighter secretly caring for her and also charming prince protecting and chasing after the female lead. What made me want to drop this is that there's too much unnecessary scenes. And the plotting of the maids seem to be endless each episode.
There's no connection between the male and female leads...
And her sisters too annoying.
I'm getting tired of of it ....=( Hope it gets better...
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The good:
It’s completely addictive. I binge-watched it and I almost never got bored, with the exception of some episodes between the 12 and 19 (too much training for me. Everybody knew she was training… why would we need so many episodes with this?)
Even if some people say it is too violent (yeah, it is, no doubt), I liked the first episode. Violent, hard and brutal, but so much action!
The interactions among the main leads are really good. Since the beginning you are going to enjoy them between Yun Wen and Xinh’er, and she and Yan Xun.
I loved the female lead and all the fights, wars and combats she was in. They were amazing. It’s a pleasure to see a female lead that is brave, courageous, honest with her goals and that will do everything in her power to protect what she believes.
The so-so:
The romance. It wasn’t my main interest, so, I wasn’t completely disappointed by the lack of it. But, in my opinion, if you are going to shoot 58 episodes of this, at least the screenwriters could have done their job better. Chu Qiao was with Wen Yue for some time, and she spent three years in isolation with Yan Xun (eight in the novel!). How is it possible we couldn’t be sure she had something with any of them? Or at least, I didn’t get it if she was in love with one or the other. I had the feeling that first she was more in a survival kind of way, and after that, she was following a dream that wasn’t hers but she didn’t know at the moment.
Some of the side storylines were nonsense. The screenwriters started to develop them and they got anywhere. What happened with the concubine who had helped Chu Qiao when she was a kid? In an episode she swore to protect Chu Qiao with her life and almost the next episode, the same concubine suffered a misfortune and although Chu Qiao didn’t do it, she put the blame on her and swore to kill her. And then… we don’t know anything else from here. And unfortunately this is not the only side storyline who goes anywhere…
The “really, the direction and the script should think these things over (and over and over…) and improve them for next time”.
The CGI is deplorable. I think it is the worst I’ve seen since I’ve started watching Chinese dramas. Besides, I saw that there were a lot of scenes from Zanilia Zhao where it was easy to see they were “studio made”. They are not difficult scenes or anything, some of them were just dialogues. For example the FL is in the forest with someone else and Zanilia Zhao is supposed to be talking with this person but you can see the person who is answering back is really in “the nature” instead of Zanilia Zhao, that has the same awful quality as when the characters are flying or riding a horse. I still don’t know why it was like this, if she was sick, or if she is a maniac and could act in front of others… but it is pathetic.
The ending: no spoilers, but the only way I could have stood this ending was looking for the novel online and reading all of it. And that is what I did. So, right now I have a peaceful mind because I could read the book until the end, to know what happened later. In fact, the ending episode was the 194 chapter or so, and the book has 292 chapters… it’s not in the middle but kind of, and there are a lot of things that are still to happen.
What else? I didn’t pay attention to the music, and I’m not sure about the rewatching value, because I loved it very much but there are flaws everywhere. So, even if 58 episodes seem really long, you will be addicted to it in a moment. Try it and don’t get disappointed at the end… there’s a book to finish the job the show didn’t do.
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This review may contain spoilers
My most favorite cast wasted over a bad story. The drama had a great cast with a promising start but goes downhill afterwards. It was the drama I waited every week for and I loved it a lot but after that ending this drama is on my list of bad dramas. The romance was all over the place and there seemed to be no real chemistry between the two leads. The FL had more scenes with the second lead, this really threw me off. The drama focused too much on the side characters and on Yanxuan's story that they neglected Yuwen Yue WHO IS OUR ML! The ending is the worst to ever exist. And till this day I'm still waiting for a season 2 to heal my broken heart. Was this review helpful to you?
Messy plotline
It started good and picture quality is superb but the story is.. meh. Very messy. Especially the end. I think the writers dont even know how to end the story. Also there are times that the story is illogical, almost all males fall for the female lead. I regret trying to finish the series thinking I like how there might be some surprise at the end because of high ratings. Bruhh the ending actually gets worse. This drama must have receive high ratings because of the cast. Honestly they all did well. Strong chemistry between FL and ML. Li Qin is very commendable in this drama. Character development is evident.To sum up, I find that my time is wasted on this drama.
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Actually one of the better Chinese dramas, but still in my eyes not one of best of its best.
Story/Plotline: The first half of the storyline was kinda slow to draggy, while the second half was much more interesting and fast paced IMO. Personally I'm positively surprised about the holding back of romance in background, while there's the focus more on the political intrigues, revenge, struggles and war. Also loyalty and ideals seems to be more significant than love (feeling wise of the whole series).Characters/actors:
Chu Qiao/A Chu/ Xing'er is finally a heroine, which is not naive and helpless and fighting for her ideals either physically or mentally- Personally the actress did a solid job but looked kinda fragile that I wonder if it's suitable to portrait a female fighter (problem lies by the director though).
Yuwen Yue: Couldn't understand this calculating character and the actor couldn't shine because the lack of character development in comparison to the 2nd male lead.
Yan Xuan: The most outstanding actor because of the tragic of his character. I think one of the most interesting char because the the drama is showing a gradually change of Yan Xun to fall into the depth revenge step by step.
I couldn't feel the chemistry of all main cast neither between YWY with CQ or YX with QC (but I might be the only one ,who thinks like that).
The supporting cast was fine as well, I really liked the Prince of Liang, who was actually a great comedy relieving char.
All actors did a solid performance but not outstanding enough for me though.
editing/directing: was kinda average for such a high-budget production if I had to compare it with some recent dramas on the same segment.
All in all a good average drama on international terms, one of the better chinese ones. 7/10 to me.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is summary of what happens after the drama according to the novel. ( season 2 of the novel.)
This is not a review for this drama but a summary of what happens after the drama according to the novel. ( season 2 of the novel.) After the cliffhanger ending I badly wanted to know what happened after the frozen lake so I look the luxury of readingthe novel and just noted down the important parts of the story. The novel never mentions any jianghu related stuff unlike in the drama.
After the frozen lake incident Chu Qiao is saved by Yan Xun but she cut ties with him. Yuwen Yue too survived the frozen lake incident and later become the King of Qinghai.
The real fall out between yan xun and chu xiao hapened when YX killed lady Yu and Master Wu and becomes a full out tyrant king. CQ's xiuli army and YX's imperial army engaged in battle and CQ leaves. She gets trapped between yanbei border and the wei borders and saved by Xiao Ce and Yuwen Yue.
Xiao ce now the emperor of Liang take CQ back to his kingdom. From there onwards CQ travels around the world.
During this time CQ meets YY and they professed their love to each other but soon parted promising to meet each other again.
Years later CQ comes back to Liang after XC managed to defect a coup against his reign. But soon after XC is assassinated and Liang state falls into chaos. ( XC dies in the arms of CQ and entrust the state in her hands before his death ). CQ saves both Liang state and XC's 2 sons and help stabilize the Liang state under the rule of XC's son.
After that CQ and YY gets married. (XC had already prepared a dowry for CQ way before his death ) .Soon after that Wei emperor dies and Wei empire falls into its chaos. Taking this opportunity YX attacks Wei and captures it. This is the start of Empire of Yan Bei. The Wei emperor's son Yuan Che establishes a new Wei state in the norther regions.
CQ and YY now has 2 sons and 1 daughters. ( they are such a lovey dovey couple.)
Finally Yan Bei, Wei , Liang and Qinghai is faced with a common enemy and so all the 4 states joined forces under the one leadership of CQ and defeated the barbarians. Later the 4 states entered into a peace treaty and everyone lived happily ever after. Oh and Qinghai become the Qing empire with YY as it's emperor and CQ as the queen.
(YX love for CQ never dies but he choose to be the a**hole he is ).
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This review may contain spoilers
It's now 3 years old show but I have to vent my frustration somewhere...If you haven't watched this show yet, don't, as there is a plenty really good dramas.
Story had a such a good potential but it is all over the place throughout all 58 episodes, which by the way could be easily squished down to less then 40 and nothing will be lost.
Show is essentially "carrot-on-the_stick" where main female protagonist at very young age became very powerful thanks to her Mom's training, Mom was a leader of very powerful organization. but was killed shortly after transferring %80 of her power to her daughter, who in turn got hurt, lost memory and ended up as a slave/maid.
She learned eventually traditional fighting skills but while in one episodes she would defeat skilled assassins, in the next she would get injured by lowly guards - Very poor story line development and characters growth.
Villans seems to be inexperienced actors or script demanded of them to act like 12 years old school yard bullies. If it wasnt for two main leads with great chemistry and few very experienced supporting actors/actresses many more would abandon the show after few episodes or skip through through most episodes.
Ending is not much better either as last 10 episodes were all over the place and instead of main female lead recovering her memories, perhaps in second half of the show, that was left as a cliffhanger for season two which will never materialize.
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BUT LEMME TELL YOU. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY DRAMA I WILL EVER WATCH. i originally wasn't going to watch it because i was like omg it looks dumb as heck but my friend made me watch the first episode with her AND IM SO GLAD THAT SHE DID. THE PLOT IS SO UNIQUE AND I LOVE HOW THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A GIRL THAT CAN KICK SERIOUS ASS. EACH EPISODE NEVER FAILS TO END WITH A SUSPENSEFUL CLIFFHANGER THAT JUST MAKES YOU WANT TO BINGE WATCH THE ENTIRE SERIES IN A DAY. (which i did lmao)
i can't believe the ratings on this tv show are so low, but then again i'm not an experienced drama watcher so i wouldn't know. BUT JUST WATCH IT ITS FUNNY AND ACTION PACKED AND ROMANCE AND I CANT WAIT FOR THE SECOND SEASON AND JUST KJDFSHEUOFB:WNOFHWEBFO
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I cannot wait for season 2!
I am really surprised by the recent low reviews. Amongst historical/period C-dramas produced over the last 5 years, this is in the top 10. The beginning is a bit cruel but besides that the storyline, and acting is phenomenal. For those who hate the ending, please understand that there is a season 2. Thus, there will always be a cliffhanger when a drama or series has additional seasons. I actually thought the ending was phenomenal, I am glad that I watched this drama instead of listening to the reviews. The last episode had me in suspense and tears.I almost forgot to mention that the love story between the female and male lead characters is nothing short of amazing. Like the C-drama, Legend of Fu Yao, the male lead actor knows how to bring chemistry into the relationship. I don't like overly sexualized relationships in dramas but at the same time I don't like the shy romantic cutesy type of relationships in historical dramas. This drama is a perfect blend!
The only con is the actual princess (not the female lead). I don't like the princess character nor do I like the actress acting (respectfully). The actress tends to play a lot of similar roles (e.g. Joy of Life); the damsel in distress types of roles. The good thing is, I was able to skip over most of the scenes with her in it and still understand the storyline.
I am excited about watching season 2. I think season 2 will start airing sometime this week!
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1.) You don't get to see the full potential of Chu Qiao at all!
2.) Can you even say there was really any romance in this series? Because for sure I didn't see any real developments and I watched it until ep 44!!!
3.) The series seemed like it had so many unnecessary scenes and just dragged on and on with no real direction.
4.) Too many side characters had too much screen time when they really didn't need it.
5.) I honestly only made it to ep 44 because I kept hoping the story would actually get interesting but in the end, decided to drop it even though I was almost finished. Like why put myself through more torture when 44 eps couldn't even grasp my attention.
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Story is very interesting. This drama is more of a strategic war movie. What made me really enjoy this drama is that they actually focus well on fighting scenes thoroughly. You don't see a lot of that anymore. Most chick-flick Chinese dramas do not contain good, legitimate fighting scenes, so that really surprised me and I praise that. For example, most Chinese chick-flicks would just do some fighting scenes they would make up without a martial arts professional like just swinging swords left and right, but this one looks like they got some professional martial arts people to come through to train them and make it look very legitimate. So props for that! The story seems to move very slow and the progress just seems like it just gets worse and worse on.
Note: I don't think this drama contains a lot of romance... I've heard many people who seek romance watched halfway have dropped the drama due to that. So there are many frustrations on that.
ACTING/CAST: The actors have done extremely well in this drama, they've done a good job picking the right people for the roles. Here are my thoughts on some of the main leads.
Wow... Zhao Liying is something. I've seen many of her dramas before and thought she was okay, but in this one I'm gonna have to applaud her. I've watched Legend of Lu Zhen and she plays a smart woman in there as well, but this one is on a whole 'nother level. She plays very well as a "person whose gone through a lot"; in this drama you can see it in her eyes as if it is real, so I am very impressed by her.
Lin Geng Xin... I did not think he was attractive at all until near the middle of this drama because I grew to fall in love with the character he plays. I have not seen his other work before, but I think he did a good job portraying a smart, calm loving man to make me fall in love with him.
Dou Shawn... IS SOOO HOT. I really enjoy watching every second of him in this drama. This is the second drama I've ever seen of him. He does a good job as well, I am impressed how he is able to showcase his skills as his character "grows up."
Wang Yan Lin... Omg... I have never seen this guy before until this drama... But LORDY, LORD... I think this guy does the best job ever as a villain... I am so impressed by his acting skills... Truly talented... It's as if he is a natural... And his evil smirk and eyebrow game is the thing that gets me wowed, lmao!
MUSIC: The music is nice... There is a piano song that plays in the background that I am really obsessed with, is no where to be found on the internet but the drama itself... Not even on the soundtrack, what the hell... It only comes out with there is an emotional scene... So if anyone knows what that song is, please comment below or message it to me! I would reallllly love to have it.... I have a lap harp so sometimes I would reminisce about that lovely song and play it... T___T
REWATCH VALUE: I would probably watch it once every 5+ years or so (or maybe even never, maybe for this drama, once is enough). I just feel that this drama is just not enough for me to yearn and obsess over.
OVERALL: Though I enjoyed many of the episodes, this drama didn't sweep me off my feet. I would not recommend to my family and friends at all.
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