This review may contain spoilers
Buckle in, this is LONG; if you don't want to read, at the end, there's a TL;DR.I rarely get emotional over dramas (the only one that's ever made me cry was the Untamed, and I credit that to excellent story writing and Xiao Zhan's acting). And although this drama didn't make me cry, it definitely made me more than a bit emotional.
There's spectacular character development throughout the entire thing. Although flat characters remain rather flat-- for example, Chong Li Ming's father, or his brother, or Xiao Hong--, it's a good thing. It brings more liveliness into our center characters, making them rounder and more full. Chong Li Ming's character isn't a male "Mary Sue"-- he struggles with a lot of issues, such as breaking away from the past as well as letting people go. Ah Yi's character is probably the closest we get to a "Mary Sue"-- he's a better fighter than Chong Li Ming, he's morally upright, he's incredibly kind, and he's committed to his friend. (And Jackson's acting is amazing in this!)
The cast is well chosen and honestly they're amazing together. They have fantastic chemistry together, especially Yu Chu (Hu Bing Qing) with Ah Yi (Jackson Yi). Admittedly, Yu Chu (Hu Bing Qing) is a bit more awkward with Chong Li Ming (Huang Zi Tao), but it works with her character design (to be honest, I'm not 100% sure if the awkwardness is engineered into her acting intentionally or not, but either way, it works really well with the story as well as her character design).
I especially enjoyed the following characters' acting: Yang Zhen (June Wu) (his character is listed as a side character, but honestly, he's more of a main character than Marie), Ke Yan Xin (Liu Yuan), and Xiao Ke (Li Jun Mo). Yang Zhen's character actually made me hate him so much, which is credited more to the actor, June Wu, then the writing (because you can have a well written story, but if the acting is poor, the character will fall flat). Ke Yan Xin's character starts off as very lovable, but then becomes a less lovable character, which the actor carries well with grace and it's very well integrated. Xiao Ke's actor, Li Jun Mo, also does a spectacular job. Although his facial expressions are a bit recycled, he does fantastic nonetheless.
Honorable mentions: Wa Ge Na (Richards Wang), Hua Jiu Qing (Ning Xin), Marie (Ma Li, actor: Miranda Ma)
I'm going to loop back a bit to the story, as I've gone on a LOT about characters. The story is spectacularly written. I see a lot of people get upset because this was a BL story originally, but what did you expect? It's China, so they're going to have to write that out in order to air it. However, unlike the Untamed, it's far more subtle; it's written more like a bromance rather than having romantic undertones. Nonetheless, it's a very well written story, with overarching themes of loyalty and growth and bromance (there's a LOT of bromance).
The music is pretty good as well, especially paired with the more emotional scenes.
TL;DR: It's good. Watch it. Please. Acting, music, story- all superb. If you don't want to because it took away the BL aspect, know that this is still well written enough to be its own story. If you don't want to because of its length and fear of it being dragged out: it's not and honestly, quite binge-able.
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This review may contain spoilers
Drop any expectation you might have, at the door
Somehow I made it through...Did I almost drop it? Many times along the way.
Until the end, I really did not feel a strong, deep connection, friendship or bromance between Prince Chong Li Ming and Ayi.
Chong Li Ming was always the one, showing all of his emotions (Ayant le sensibilité à fleur de peau); however, I could never really read Ayi’s attachment toward Chong Li Ming.
I am not sure if was the actor’s lack of skill or it was the way the character was written...
I was prepared for everyone to die, except Wagner. Wagner was an unnecessary casualty.
*All in all, not the worst turn-of-era, Qing to Early Chinese Republic drama.
However, the complete change of concept from the original storyline and the strange adaptation were rather hard to swallow. Although, the choreographed fighting sequences were excellent.
*Also however atrocious the writing of his dramas might be, no viewer or fan of Z. Tao can stay upset at him... With that glorious honey-colored skin of his;)
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love and hate to this drama
first of all I watched this drama with a mixed feeling. My love plus hatetangle up together till I felt I wish to quit this drama halfway. But what
me stay on until to the end is my intuation promise me the next episode would
be very much exciting. I could felt some climax into it but it is not enough.
The main couprit is the the length of the episodes are too long. 58 episodes
in total.The storyline does not have what we called as express editing which
cuts all the unnesasary scenes and focus towards the objective instead. It explains
the origin of the plot by the most stunning detail. Each details contains a
very comprehensive explainations which left no confusing potholes.
In the last episode. Cong Li Ming said : I made 2 choices leaving or not leaving.
for a decade I served the imperial family. I had been to so many places, I had done
so many things.Witness so many good bye and death, persue on many hard faught things.
In the end I felt so empty. After so many years Yan Shi Fan already decommission.
The imperial government I once served had gone into ashes. Other than guarding this
past imperial relics, what more I could do? What more I could stay on? Does this
country really needs me in the coming future? I Cong Li Ming really could get out
from this tanglement?
The comes his imagination seeing all his dead brothers and family members. All of
them advice him to move forward leaving the past behind. Start a new chapter and
persue a new hope.
I replay this scene 5 times in total and until now I still not yet bored. Personally
it touched my as an human. Most of us experience the lost somewhere at a time. When
we drop, we clean our wound and wipe our tears determine to rise up again. Never
let the past continue to hunt us again. Let it be a lesson to step higher and not
a rope to tie us back from advancing.
I had to admit this drama is really very well made. It slips a lot of real time
genuine human experience in a different way. Suffering is unavoidable. suffering is
everywhere. Suffering is a step to make us to become a better person. It is not made
to watch twice. but it is made to engrave the human experience deep into our mind
reminding us that life is indeed not perfect. Many suffering and sacrifies had to be
made before we could see the light of victory. Yet still once victory comes by there
will be a large void of emptiness to be filled into. Be prepare for new life adjustment
because it would not be same again as it used to be.
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It's unfair for jackson
One word for this film, it's suffocating. I was frustrated to watch this series. Not that it's not good, but I think it's very unfair for jackson. If you see Jackson as one of the main actors, I think that's not true, I'd say he's here as a support player. Yes ! as a support player!. >:\ (upset)I don't know if part of the his scenes is cut or something, as I watched up to 58 episodes, I only saw Jackson once in every episodes. He only popped up only once! And that wasn't long, 1 scenes about 10-20 minutes. It says that he's one of the lead actors but why does he appear only once in every episodes and that wasn't that long!? , even the others players appear more in every scene and they are just supporting players, so why would they put Jackson as one of the main lead? Clearly it's not fair to Jackson. And it's suffocating! I'm a little upset too.
Overall, it's a good series. Worth to watch! :)
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Great story
Let's start....... lol!! I didn't know about huang zitao. Then one day I accidentally (fortunately) found the drama called "brightest star in the sky". Then I fall for him immediately! He has such a handsome face and iincent eyes thst every1 will fall for him! I am not an exceptional case either! Then I watched "negotiator" drama. Then I searched about him and found many unknown facts! Litterally I am amazed to see him as an actor. He did every role so well. This series is not sn exception ofcourse. This series has a very good story with perfect acting and mysic. The music is not as good as his previos drama but still it's one of the best! I really love everythinh about this drama... the flow of story is just perfect. People nowadays like some garbage drama like "GO AHEAD". But if you have a gpod raste about story and acting then you will definitely like it!! I hope my words will inspire you to watch this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
