This review may contain spoilers
A Very Engrossing, Attention-grabbing Wuxia Drama
I usually distance myself from any wuxia drama which is not any of Jin Yong’s adaptations. No reason in particular, it’s just I cannot imagine there’s a good wuxia drama with exciting jianghu conflicts and a complicated love story and revenge usually resulted from it. Moreover, there are not many wuxia dramas (good or not) in this xianxia era so I’ve generally been stuck to historical/palace/mystery/crime/political genres. And to be honest, I was just planning to watch Dear Mayang Street (merely because I’m a fan of Xu Weizhou) but I‘ve never seen Tan Songyun in any drama before (I don’t watch Go Ahead, sorry! >_<) so I thought I’d just watch this drama to get a glimpse of her acting.And here I am now, a month later, crazy over it. And falling so hard for Ren Jialun, too.
One particular factor that made me choose this drama over any other of Tan Songyun’s to try is the theme and the background setting. Yes, it’s about jinyiwei―those (in)famous Imperial Guards of China’s Ming Dynasty. Brotherhood of Blades I & II are my favorite Chinese wuxia movies and this drama is set in the same dynasty with the same jinyiwei background and pretty much the same vibe (even the same style of directing and fighting choreography, if you ask me). So the first time I dived into it I was already hooked up, though the two main leads really provided me with so much laughter. But honestly, the thing that I initially thought was sort of weird about it was its soundtracks. Zhou Shen’s opening song and Heart Wall sang by Ren Jialun himself got me thinking, “why so sad? it’s a mystery wuxia drama, anyway.” But of course, this drama is NOT really about mystery, if you just put aside the female lead’s family background.
It indeed starts with a mystery, though, where the Palace loses an important beachline defense map and the Imperial Guards are investigating it (oh, I so LOVE the opening scene where Lu Yi is doing his job so ruthlessly, and that’s when I fell in love with RJL’s acting at the first sight! >_<). But then the one instigating the theft is reported dead at his home, so the Imperial Police Department takes the case. This is when Lu Yi and our female lead Yuan Jinxia meet for the first time and, of course, do not have good opinions about each other. But then the two (different) security departments under the Emperor have to work together to solve the case, which brings them to even bigger and more mysterious and treacherous cases leading up to the political conspiracy of the higher-ups.
I really, really thought it’s a mystery wuxia drama until later on I realized that there is so much romance and where the entire narrative leads us. But even then I wasn’t sure if I should call it a romance wuxia drama or something, because even if it’s all about Lu Yi and Yuan Jinxia gradually realizing and revealing their feelings for each other and blatantly caring for each other in front of others (poor Cen Fu! :DDD), I sensed that romance is not what this drama is about. And it is proven once we get into what Yan Shifan is doing in Hangzhou―Lu Yi-Jinxia’s romance is all what we see on screen, yes, but deep under the surface it’s about corruption and court politics and rotten officials and revenge and all that. And their love story is entangled in this huge mess, and that’s what makes this drama so much interesting to me.
Truth to be told, the court political conflict here is actually so much more complicated and engrossing than that in Nirvana in Fire. The problem is it’s not as well-written, and pretty badly directed, and very badly edited that sometimes I had to pause and thought, “oh, wait...” because I felt that some parts of certain scenes were missing. But thankfully, the acting of almost the entire cast is just amazing. I already know what Ren Jialun actually is like as a person after watching Back to Field S4 (once again, I watched that show for Xu Weizhou―who was a guest in two eps―but he was there, too, with Tan Songyun), but I’ve never seen his acting before. And that opening scene when Lu Yi is torturing the prisoner has truly caught my heart. I remember being shocked and thinking, “oh, WOW! Ren Jialun!”, because when you can be a very different person on screen and in real life, then you are a good actor. That’s it.
And of course I have to applaud Tan Songyun’s performance. We all know there are just so many dramas with cross-dressing female characters recently, but I can say that TSY is the only actress who can do it really, really well. You want a tomboyish girl, she gives you a tomboyish girl. Almost no make-up, absolutely no pretence, just naturally doing what she needs to do. And, oh yes, please don’t forget about Ye Qing. Her character is not exceptional, but her acting is really good. And even the actress who plays Zhai Lanye has done a very good job! Love her :).
And now, can we talk about Yan Shifan? Yes? Okay. We all know he’s the main villain in this drama, surely nothing good can be said about him. A corrupt official? Yes. A cunning politician? Yes. A man with a BDSM sexual preference? Yes. BUT, he only loves one woman in his entire life. This side of him, I think, is very interesting. It makes him more human than what we can see from the outside. And Han Dong does his character very, very, very well. I just LOVE his acting as Yan Shifan. It makes him very eccentric, makes the audience “oh I hate you so much but you are so charismatic just how can I deal with this?!” And his triangle love story with Zhai Lanye and Lin Ling is so much more engaging than that moronic, cliche, annoying one between Lu Yi-Jinxia-Xie Xiao. No joke, really.
I just wish this drama could be better made: better written, better directed, better edited, with better CGI and overall setting (coz seriously, one fake house for almost ALL the officials’ family home setting? one place for both the Imperial Guards Office and Wu Shuoxu’s residence?). And I surely wish they didn’t end the story that way. I mean, it’s not rushed (or, too rushed), it’s just a little bit awkward. Why don’t they show it when Lu Yi confronts the Emperor about the Xia family’s case―the way Mei Changsu confronts the Emperor (played by the same actor, by the way) to clear his family’s name, I mean, that’s pretty much the same thing, right?―and only having Yang Yue tell Jinxia about it in the middle of the street? WHY? And some time after that, the Emperor just pardons everyone like nothing really happens -___-
All in all, however, it’s still a pretty good drama with good premise and good acting and I enjoyed it very very much. It really is a pleasant surprise for me.
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Two different person belonged two different status having common moto brought them together and slowly slowly they fall for each other .Everything went well but their past become the reason of their separation but slowly understanding each other emotion towards each other brought them together and in this way the drama end .
Something I expect from the drama is their marriage because he told her that he wants his children mother was to be her . Indirect proposal how cute . Lovely drama
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One of the reasons I am hooked of this drama was the character and relationship development.
I love how romances was more on the emotions based on how they look in each other and exchanging their dialouges. I am not more into skinship likes lot of kissing.
Especially in Male Lead's character when he Falls in love he became warm but not changing who he is and still be able to express his love thru saving and sacrifing.
And the romance between characters has it's foundation so I love how we see them from the start as nothing-enemies-friends-attraction-lovers.
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needed more in end.
Honestly, for the first time, I liked the villain roles. The bad guy was so bad, I could feel the creeps from the screen. I felt bad for any female near him. I couldn't bring myself to hate him. He was my favourite character out of all.While there was a happy ending. I needed to see more! No wedding or other conclusion. So many things left at the conclusion. So one star out because of semi-happy ending for me. The drama though is pretty awesome. Love the strong female leads who actually know kungfu and how to fight.
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The eye is the window to the soul
I like how the main leads (Allen Ren and Seven Tan) were able to portray their emotions using their eyes. The supporting cast also made some scenes so funny and sad. I finished watching the drama but I can't get it out of my head. From two officials that always butt heads to working together towards a common goal and then helping each other and finally falling for one another, this is the best chinese drama I have seen.I also like the investigative method and reasoning that highlighted the crime solving, the romance that was gradual and touching, the action scene choreography which showed the other actors and actresses face and the properly timed scenes with background song plus the independent women characters and the realization that you can choose how to live your life instead of going with the flow.
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Just Like Sherlock Holmes
I like the story in this drama and especially the female lead. She is strong and what ever happens she keeps her determination on being who she is. You follow the story as a Sherlock Holmes detective movie. The male lead is serious and the female lead is witty and funny but very observant. The female lead breaks away the walls that the male lead has place on himself and she makes him smile, laugh and even fall in love. Each case the leads characters get closer emotionally and the story becomes bigger. Each case is connected in some way. There are many characters, some are easy to follow and some you forget about them. The bad guy is bad but cute. There many couples in the story that you like following just as much as the lead couple. But I felt the drama is to long and I was not happy with the ending when they leave the last 3 minutes to see the Main couple happy. The actors did a great job in their performance. It is a great drama to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
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WHY SO GOOD?!
It took me hours to find this awesome series!If you're looking for a duo WHO WORK SIDE BY SIDE IN CHILL MANNER. Then, try this one.
Prod: eye capture scene were the best! The transition was awesome to!
So, I would like to put some notes whenever I want while watching because I'm afraid that there wholesome characters might change as the the eps progress.
Stopping to ep 8: Ghad! One of the best FL when it comes to diverse temper and personality. Not your damsel in distress, she dresses like a man but never denies that she's a woman. She points out clues and reveals threads (using her beloved tool!) to solve each cases. Indeed, it's wholesome from the start because she was an officer with wit, strength, quirkiness, and temper! She is treated fairly and does not point her gender to her capabilities. LOVE FOOD and money! I love her already!
Unexpectedly, ML is competing with FL's complex personality. With his cruel and cold behavior, you can see how deep his vengeance and thirst for revenge and anger even without emphasizing it. His calm demeanor yet dangerous portrays, tells me that this is a bomb. I'm curious how he will turn out.
For the progress of their rs. I like that ML does not give a f to what FL does. (IN a good way). I mean, he let her do her job. Well, maybe because they are still not that attached to each other and the fondness is just blooming, but I kinda respect and like the ML because of that.
Then the 2nd character. I hoped that her best friend but he was not. Why did I wish that? because this is my 1st series in watching cdrama that 2nd character annoyed me much. I'm always rooting for 2nd character and wishing that the writer would not wreck them as their love story with the FL was ill-fated. This 2nd character was gutless and baka. For the first eps, he takes advantage of attachments and feelings and his reasons for everything are lame and flop. But I'm not angry though. If the 2nd character is nah, then I'm free from having sympathy with them and just focus on the main leads!
EP 9- talking about maggots while eating was the best ahahaha
So... I forgot to continue taking notes HAHAHA BECAUSE I enjoyed it a lot!
AT the end, I did not become annoyed with 2nd character. On the contrary, I fond to like him because he realized his idiocy and I realized it's not his fault that he's a dumbass. I liked his rs towards the lead at the end. Side characters were the best too. I loved how her brother has happy ending with well deserved sister yieee.
OVERALL, I like that the ending was so good! like all was resolved!My annoyance towards the villain was well spent. They end up together without angsty feeling that why if I want to revisit series, I'll put this on my list. FL the best personality ever! Well, because she was consistent! Love money, food, and good at fighting! Well, the ML was consistent too because he never changed his demeanor even after falling in love. That's the reality here! He was nice up to start, he just don't have someone he cares about not until Jun Xia!
Ghad, I really love this series!
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I will start avoiding dramas with Allen Ren
In all, I've watched four dramas with Allen Ren as the male lead, and with each one, I come away with the same impression.1. He's too old to be playing teenage bopper roles with female leads who are sometimes 10 years younger.
2. He's not a versatile actor and has very limited ways of emoting. Also, how many times can he do the stoic, cold hero before we start to subconsciously label him as a one-trick pony?
3. The industry rumors are that he refuses to do intimate scenes like hugging or any type of skinship. It seems the only part of his body that can be touched freely are his lower legs, I mean, why else did Seven Tan keep holding him by the leg? So stupid
The funny thing is he's not even that good-looking with his big head and round face. Someone like Xu Kai (who is another overrated actor) at least has his height, youth, and dreamy looks going for him whereas Allen is going over the hill and unless he starts taking his craft seriously, no one will cast a 35+ yr old actor when there are many idol actors coming over the horizon.
As for this particular series, it packed a lot of irrelevant scenes into an already convoluted premise with zero redeeming factors (like sizzling chemistry) to bear the brunt.
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This review may contain spoilers
Un drama historique qui vaut la peine d'être vu.
Avant de commencer ma critique (une fois n’est pas coutume x’D), je dois dire que j’ai commencé ce drama un peu sur un coup de tête… Je n’apprécie pas vraiment les dramas historiques. Pourquoi ? Car il s’agit souvent de guerre, complot, trahison & j’en passe. (Si je veux déprimer, je le fais très bien toute seule ! Je n’ai pas besoin d’aide x’D)Vous me direz, pourquoi l’avoir commencé du coup ? Car il s’agit d’une histoire « policière » et que j’ai pu constater au travers de divers critiques qu’il était bien passé auprès du public. (Après ça ne veut rien dire, puisque souvent les critiques trop positives me donnent plus d’apriori & d’attentes… Je suis donc souvent déçue.) Une fois ceci dit, parlons de l’histoire !
L’histoire est en sommes assez classique pour un drama du genre :
• Des complots politiques qui mène à la destruction de plusieurs clans dont celui de l’héroïne…
• Un empereur qui fait trop confiance à ses ministres, ce qui cause de nombreux désastres pour ses sujets… Ne parlons même pas du fait que l’empereur aie conscience de certaines manigances mais qu’il préfère fermer les yeux pour garder le soutien de certaines familles présentent au pouvoir… (Après on se demande pourquoi je déteste tant la politique x’D !!)
• Des croyances taoïstes fort présentent et qui dirigent une partie de l’histoire… (La croyance étant souvent bien établie dans les dramas historiques chinois)
• Oh ! coïncidence (ou pas) l’héroïne est liée par le sang à un clan qui avait du pouvoir mais qui c’est vu anéanti par le GRAND MÈCHANT de l’histoire ! (Bien sûr, elle ne le découvre que vers la fin du drama !) Et pour compléter le tableau, l’homme qu’elle aime est le fils de celui qui a permis au méchant de réaliser son projet ! (Ba oui, vive les mélodrames… Moi qui déteste ça x’D)
• Un héros des plus antipathique au début mais qui se met à s’ouvrir au contact de l’héroïne. (Plus clichés, tu meurs…) De plus, celui-ci décide (vers l’épisode 48 sur 55) pour ne pas la blesser avec son passé de… (Tenez vous bien !) La quitter ! Ba oui… ça ne la BLESSERA pas du tout d’avoir l’impression d’être prise pour une conne… (Non mais je vous jure…) Bien entendu, je n’oserai signaler qu’en plus d’être une décision des plus stupides, celle-ci fait que l’héroïne devient de plus en plus téméraire et risque plus souvent sa vie… Et finalement, c’est le héros qui s’en mord les doigts x’D !
Malgré ces points assez répétitifs du genre nous pouvons découvrir d’autres facettes :
• Une héroïne loin des clichés de ce qu’on attend d’une femme à l’époque ! Elle a du caractère et refuse de se laisser marcher sur les pieds à cause de son sexe.
• Un univers qui nous donne envie de savoir la suite avec des amitiés et couples secondaires qui donnent une autre dynamique à l’histoire. (Xi Shangguan & Yang Yue ont une romance toute mignonne, par contre, il est vrai que je trouve Yang Yue des plus fades !)
• Des enquêtes policières intéressantes même si elles sont souvent liées au GRAND MÉCHANT.
• Des rebondissements et retournements de situations en continu… (Sauf dans la romance principale où on voit venir les évènements)
Les personnages sont sûrement ce qui m’a le plus convaincu dans ce drama car je voulais savoir ce qu’il allait leur arriver !
• J’avoue avoir un coup de cœur pour Lu Yi joué par Allen Ren (Bien que certaines de ses décisions m’ont laissé pantoise !). Il est le genre de personnage qu’on voit souvent (c’est-à-dire froid avec une personnalité horrible en apparence mais qui possède beaucoup de blessures -> Bienvenue dans le monde des dramas !), cependant, l’acteur a bien retranscrit les émotions ce qui nous donnerais presqu’envie de rentrer dans l’écran pour le consoler x’D ! (Même si vu le caractère du héros, c’est sans doute risqué pour notre pauvre vie x’D)
• Le GRAND MÉCHANT comme j’aime l’appeler en la personne de Yan Shi Fan (Han Dong) est le 2ème personnage qui m’a le plus intéressé ! L’acteur l’a tellement bien interprété qu’on le déteste du début à la fin ! (On en viendra presqu’à regretter que la doctoresse Lin ne lui ait crevé les 2 yeux… Oui, oui, je suis sadique x’D !) Il est vraiment le personnage qui donne le tempo au drama et qui fait que l’histoire avance car sans ses coups fourrés où en serait les héros ? x’D !
En bref, c’est un drama que j’ai apprécié visionner même si j’ai commencé à grincer des dents à l’épisode 48 ! (J’avais d’ailleurs mis mon visionnage en pause tellement ce genre de décision des plus stupides me tape sur le système x’D).
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