half point taken off because of Yang Yang's stiff acting.
ML lead actor's attempts at regalness consists of lifting his shoulders and chin and sticking his chest out. YY is great when he's portraying the crushing heartbreak over his father's treatment of him and , he has enough chemistry with Zhou Lu Si (name any actor who's ever worked with her who doesn't -- maybe the side table lamp in that one scene...) to make us swoon for them both. (the scene where she rescues him from the water, case in point) . But once they get together, he really shows no emotion with the exception of him sometimes patronizingly putting his chin down to kiss her head to show deep caring. I know he's a good actor -- haven't seen a lot of his work where he really lets loose his emotions, but I know they're out there, so I believe it was the director's decision, but for me it keeps it from reaching epic love story level that it could otherwise be. Other than that, it's wonderful. Zhou Lu Si schools everyone, once again,Was this review helpful to you?
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Two leads who feel equal in every way
it was such a pleasure to see a male and female lead who were equally capable and could treat each other honestly. No ridiculous drawn-out misunderstandings, no hysterical girls weeping on their man. Limited harem politics. ( yay) Gorgeous sets and costumes and as I know nothing about martial arts, the fantasy style of fighting didn’t bother me. Equally, as I don’t speak Chinese, the dubbing didn’t bother me either. if it wasn’t for the horses and the decline in quality in the last couple of episodes , it would have been a ten. fabulous!Was this review helpful to you?
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Who Rules the World: A Journey of Love and Power"
Introduction:"Who Rules the World" unfolds as a decent series, immersing viewers in a plot revolving around Bai Feng Xi and Hei Feng Xi, two formidable martial arts fighters concealing their true identities as royalty. Their journey from foes to lovers, characterized by mutual understanding and support, offers a refreshing take on relationships with equal strength and status for the main leads.
Plot and Pacing:
The plot delves into the complexities of Bai Feng Xi and Hei Feng Xi's identities, crafting a narrative that balances martial arts prowess with a romantic subplot. The pacing of the series is decent, maintaining engagement throughout.
Conclusion and Anticlimax:
However, the conclusion feels somewhat anticlimactic, particularly in how they defeat the main villain. Numerous unexplored aspects leave viewers wanting more, making it evident that some elements could have been further developed.
Gender Dynamics and Character Exploration:
The series leans towards a male-centric focus, predominantly unfolding in the male lead's kingdom. Unfortunately, the female lead's arc is relatively short, leaving her story insufficiently explored, a source of frustration for the audience. Bai Feng Xi emerges as a well-defined character with a cool temperament and exceptional skills, her other identity, Feng Xi Yun, revealing the poignant responsibility she must shoulder after her family's demise. Hei Feng Xi, a reserved man with a romantic side, brings depth to the narrative with his dual identity as the Prince of Yong Zhou.
Acting and Music:
Zhao Lu Si's remarkable performance, especially in emotional scenes, stands out, while Yang Yang's acting, though decent, may come across as slightly stiff. The series benefits from a well-curated music playlist, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Conclusion:
"Who Rules the World" provides an intriguing blend of fantasy, romance, and martial arts. While it excels in character dynamics and offers a unique take on power and love, it leaves room for improvement in terms of conclusion and gender balance.
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I would like to add the people who read here if this was your yang yang's first drama, plz watch his 'glory of special forces'(100/10), the kings avatar and you are my glory. I would say yang yang, his acting and the script did justice to one another in glory of special forces. You would see a totally different Yang Yang there.
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politics and finance
2021 Chinese drama that explores the dynamics of power, politics, and family in modern-day China. The drama tells the story of a powerful family, the Gu family, who own a successful business and have immense influence in the world of politics and finance.The drama explores the struggles and challenges that come with being part of a wealthy and powerful family, including the pressure to conform, the temptation of corruption, and the burden of responsibility. It also touches upon themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
The drama also features stunning cinematography, with beautiful shots of Shanghai's skyline and the opulent lifestyle of the Gu family.
Overall, "Who Rules the World" is a well-crafted drama that offers an intriguing look into the world of power, politics, and wealth in modern-day China. The strong performances, engaging storyline, and insightful commentary on Chinese society make it a must-watch
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Worlds Collide
"Who Rules the World" is a captivating Chinese drama that offers a perfect blend of romance, action, and political intrigue. Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi deliver standout performances as Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi, bringing depth and chemistry to their roles. The plot is engaging, intertwining political maneuverings with heartfelt romance, and the visuals are stunning, featuring elaborate costumes and well-choreographed action scenes.However, the drama isn’t without its flaws. Some plot points can feel a bit predictable, and certain character arcs may seem underdeveloped or rushed. Additionally, the pacing occasionally slows down, which might test the patience of some viewers.
Despite these shortcomings, "Who Rules the World" remains a compelling watch for fans of epic tales with a romantic twist. Its strong performances and impressive production values make it worth checking out.
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Beautiful mature story, so much I had more hopes for the FL
Beautiful story! Wish there were more episodes…I watched it initially because of the great and believable FL.
As the show progressed, I held that character among the top FL characters I’ve ever seen until her relationship with the ML evolved, where I felt she wasn’t given enough space even if their relationship feels mature !
The story is well paced in the beginning, and feels rushed in the end. I did love the story and the characters. Action, friendship, love, character development and elegance included.
One of my fav historical dramas so far!
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Great idea- disappointing execution
Who rules the world in my mind will always remain as a drama that failed to live up to expectations and the potential it had. the foundation of the story was solid: two famous martial artists in the jianghu world that are actually secretly royalty bond as they engage in a game of thrones in a bid to see who will rule the worldunfortunately the writers failed to match up and deliver a coherent script. i will discuss the cons first and then talk about what i liked about the show
cons:
1. false marketing. i doubt its just me but this show was very much promoted as a wuxia show and the initial eps had all the makings of one as it was featuring two wuxia heroes one from a cultivating sect. however it quickly abandoned its classic wuxia settings for a palace political storyline. it went against expectations and jarred a lot of people including me.
2. the writers are obv not familiar with writing intriguing political conflict coz literally all of the politics in this is incoherent. random alliances, random wars, random resolutions. ofc there were a few fun but not necessarily well written political games like when heifengbaixi went undercover or feng ju's coup but the moments were few and far between
3. the latter half was just a mess of weird pacing, editing, ooc behavior of supporting characters, plot holes after plot holes. just a whole mess. langhua almost killing bai fengxi for no reason, huang chao's unnecessary proposal to bfx, how the trio finally managed to break into imperial capital even tho huang chao failed coz yu wuyuan was using innocent people as buffer to hold him at bay. ywy randomly finding out bai fengxi is feng xiyun. they elevated the scenes that didnt require an elevation and suppressed the reveals that required an elevation. so many logical fails throughout this show that even a watcher like me that likes to switch off my brain for entertainment couldn't stop noticing the plot holes
pros:
1. heifengbaixi: this ties in to the cons. the writers were unable to recognize their strengths ie, romance. since they are incapable of producing a thrilling political drama they should have done what theyre best at and given more space to romantic relationship between the two leads. cdramas rarely have this kinda couple that have no stupid misunderstandings, no third act breakup. this is one of the best heterosexual cps ever coz they're twin flames, equal in every way with a relationship built on mutual respect, tacit understanding and deep friendship.
2. yang yang and zhao lusi have great chemistry and work well off each other. with the script being a snooze, the main attraction of the show remains these two people. they fit their roles and theyre engaging to watch. i doubt anyone would continue this show past ep 20 if these two werent the leads
3. the budget was proved via set design and cinematography. everything looked really royal and the shots were really pretty
4. since i have lambasted the writers this entire review, i want to end it on a positive note and give them kudos for the one thing they did right: foreshadowing. right from the chess game with old taiyin the script already insinuated that feng lanxi would never be the ruler of the world. in the chess game machination when faced with the question of what all he can sacrifice he cut all the strings surrounding his life except one: bai fengxi. once again in the chess game with huang chao, he lost to him on purpose coz his priority will always be bai fengxi. this is what makes the love story at the core of wrtw such an admirable one coz as ambitious as feng lanxi is, his greatest ambition will always be to be by his lady love's side. so even tho the ending is a bittersweet one as he hands over his whole life's work and dreams and ambitions to huang chao and retires to spend what little time he has left with his wife, it is an understandable choice as he has always been telling us in very unsubtle subtext that his greatest dream is not the world, it is bai fengxi.
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The Actors saved the day!
The story itself was crappy. The direction, screen writing, production was shoddy. I don't know what the original novel was like, but if it was anything like this, I wouldn't have read it either. That being said, what carried this drama for me and what made me watch it to the end (albeit fast-forwarding through a lot of the fight and political arguing scenes) was definitely Yang Yang, and then in addition, Zhou Lusi, and a fine cast of actors who did a phenomenal job. You liked the good ones, and you detested the bad ones. The interactions were believable and well done.Some of the reviews made me take a look at the chemistry between the ML & FL - and I am glad I gave it my own chance and didn't follow those opinions. I like how their relationship evolved and there was such an ease of progression in the development of their bond. Without saying a word, they could relay their emotions and feelings for each other. The subtle changes in expression for each of them said so much (if one was paying attention). Some complained about the way the main villain died, but I thought it was pretty well done. Not overdone.
I can't say enough how Yang Yang made this drama work for me. I will watch him in anything (historical romance preferred). In fact, I'd probably watch him simply standing still!
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Zhao Lusi is great in this
My face was like: 😃🥰-->😐🧐 as the show went on.Ever since Bai Fengxi became the Empress, everything started to suck. I'm pretty familiar with cdramas and so the rushed and bullshit ending wasn't a surprise but still disappointing. The first half was very fun and cast was pretty good for the most part. I still rewatch parts of this at times when I'm missing Zhao Lusi's character. I loved it the most when she was in her jianghu disguise, because she had her own story and she was pretty badass.
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