This review may contain spoilers
I approached "Snowfall" with a fair amount of skepticism. The vampire-inspired premise gave me pause, especially since my past experiences with similar dramas were far from enjoyable. Vampire themes tend to be hit or miss, often leaning into clichés that can feel tiresome. However, I decided to stick with this one for a simple reason: Gao Wei Guang. His involvement in the drama was enough to make me curious, and in the end, I’m so glad I gave it a chance because "Snowfall" turned out to be a compelling and enjoyable watch—though not without its flaws.Gao Wei Guang delivered an exceptional performance as Shen Zhi Heng, a character who is both complex and layered. Shen Zhi Heng is a century-old vampire with a mysterious past, marked by a relentless search for his brother and a cure for his condition. What sets him apart from typical vampire characters is his mix of intelligence, ruthlessness, and a cold demeanor, which makes him a formidable figure. Yet, what makes Shen Zhi Heng truly captivating is the contrast in his character when he's around the female lead, Mi Lan.
Mi Lan, played well by the Ouyang Nana, is not your typical damsel in distress. Despite being blind, she is incredibly headstrong, smart, and resourceful. She’s far from a Mary Sue character; instead, she’s someone who holds her own and refuses to be defined by her disability. Her dynamic with Shen Zhi Heng is what truly elevates the drama. The way Shen Zhi Heng, who is usually so calculating and distant, becomes soft and almost puppy-like when he's with Mi Lan adds a beautiful layer to the story. Their romance is cute and heartwarming, even more so because of the considerable age gap between them. The way their relationship develops—slowly, with an undercurrent of respect and mutual understanding—makes it all the more believable and engaging. My first drama with Ouyang Nana and she did surprisingly well.
However, the plot, which started out strong, took a turn for the worse with the introduction of the Li Ying Liang arc. His character was so annoying and irritating, and he had way too much screen time. Li Ying Liang was hell-bent on revenge for someone he barely knew, all because his expectations of this stranger fell through. His motivations felt flimsy, and I had no pity for him as he continuously made one stupid decision after another. This arc dragged down the pace of the drama, making it feel unnecessarily drawn out. Even with his redemption arc, I felt nothing.
Honorable mention to Situ Wei Lian who was so adorable. I love his cute little friendship with Mi lan, wish we could've gotten more of them on the screen.
While the overall plot was intriguing, the Li Ying Liang filler arc seriously detracted from the show's momentum. It’s a relief that "Snowfall" was only 24 episodes long, but honestly, it could’ve been trimmed down to 16 episodes like many Korean dramas. Cutting out the filler would have made for a tighter, more compelling story.
In the end, "Snowfall" exceeded my initial expectations but was held back by some frustrating elements. It’s a drama that managed to breathe new life into the vampire genre, thanks to its strong performances, especially from Gao Wei Guang, and its well-rounded characters. The romance between Shen Zhi Heng and Mi Lan was a highlight, offering a touching and believable love story despite their vast differences. If you’re on the fence about watching a vampire drama, I’d recommend giving "Snowfall" a try—you might just find yourself pleasantly surprised, as I was, but be prepared for some patience-testing moments along the way.
Was this review helpful to you?
Snowfall
Loved it! The actors were remarkable as always.. Hope to see them in more c-dramas.. Great job!!Didnt find it boring at all. On the contrary looked forward to seeing more videos being uploaded. I dont know whether there will be a s2 but sometimes having a s2 might not live up to ones expectations. A lot of suspense and action. Loved the romantic parts of the series too.
Was this review helpful to you?
Torn
This show had a really good premise and really good subplots occurring throughout the entire series, but I feel that maybe around halfway it started to become a little bit lackluster. On all fronts, a lot of storylines were cut short quickly or toss around and I think overall the chemistry Between Mi Lan and Zhiheng was Not there. There were some points where you saw something blossoming, but it was very small and it never developed the actress portrays the character In a very useful way that’s very childlike, which makes me wonder why the ML. I understand if she’s like a breath of fresh air and brings like a joy you told us to his life that he didn’t have before, but she’s very childlike and he also treats her that way too. Also, the end was very rushed.Was this review helpful to you?
Outstanding Drama
This is an amazing Drama.Not your usual soft, superficial story.
Vango was stunning. A Superb preformance . His female lead was exceptional.
The settings and atmoshere were truly outstanding and wonderful.
This was a 'one out of the box'.
To be honest I was too scared to watch the last 2 Episodes. Will wait until my nervouse system recovers and hopefully there will be a sequel. It is a trully remarkabe Drama. The level of darkness was intense. The acting was briliant.
The setting and time frame was superb and magical
Vango is my new favourite actor. Magnificent.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Promising beginning, falters in the middle and took a nosedive at the end
For the first few episodes, I was so happy that I have found a unique drama. The premise is interesting, music i s good, actors and actresses are amazing (except one), costumes are intricate and beautiful and finally short enough for me to watch and not get bored (that's what I thought). And suddenly when it reaches into it's teen episodes, I was bored and start watching with 2x speed. The plot get repetitive and the villain get so much screen time and our main couple just appear for a few minutes just to remind us that they are the main couple of the story. In one episode, I've watched the villain and his lady story and flash back for almost the whole episode. The director have an amazing story and actors to work with and still manage to mess it up.The following are the things I wished the director have put more focus on:
1. Brotherly love and playful banter between SZH and SWL. SZH could teach SWL about human emotions and SWL could help his big brother to let go of some of the burdens. It's a shame that we couldn't see more of the handsome siblings.
2. Love story between Mi Lan and SZH. It's not passionate love but very serene and quiet affection between them. Because of the age difference, I wasn't expecting passionate scenes between the couple but those subtle affections are more than enough to root for them. Kudos to both actors for an amazing job. It would be interesting to watch Mi Lan adapted to her new life, taught by SZH about moral values and how to control her fiery temper. She could taught our cold looking warm hearted SZH how to show his love ardently.
3. More about the back story about those 3 stones. Their powers, who can wield them and what is their limitations.
Also those excessive screentime of the villain really destroy the story.
That being said there are also good things about this drama although it is fewer. Some of the scenes of our main couple are so beautifully shot and music is amazing. I didn't read the novel before watching the drama. So I wasn't expecting a happy ending from the start. C dramas with fantasy elements tends to opt for open endings in my opinion. But the way the director messed up the ending is beyond words. It's like a curse for C dramas recently to start amazing and crash at the end. Still I might just watch it again for Gao Weiguang and Ouyang NaNa.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
New, exciting, great everything!
First off, let's talk about the cast! Amazing! I literally started watching this just because of Vengo Gao but knew a few others as well. Big bonus: Ryan Ren, in what is, in my opinion, the greatest acting role I've ever seen him in. He blew me away in this character; the tough but scared soldier and the borderline insanity he is portraying in these later episodes is a delight to watch!I am a huge fan of the supernatural genre and this plot just dazzled me. From the vampire element to the stones with "magical" properties to the psycho female villian who really doesn't seem to give any care to her own life eventhough that's what she's fighting for.
Multiple villians, that make you wonder from episode to episode which one took hate the most today, and some characters you just can't really get a handle on; are they really allies or are they going to turn out to be villians in the end?
I'm watching it day by day as the episodes air but so far I haven't found a single one that's let me down in any way. This is a real treat! Enjoy!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Not a Romance!
Excellent casting and superb acting in a deeply allegorical story descriptive of the simmering political upheaval and unrest characteristic of the 1930s, the era in which this drama is set. Contemporary music juxtaposed with stunning sets and costumes make viewing a real treat. The plot and character development give hints of Wuthering Heights for symmetrical storylines, Crime and Punishment for the creation of a mental prison, and… a hint of Mayor Jean Valjean in Vengo’s character. No idea why this only has 7.5 on the MDL site; perhaps people thought it would be a typical trope-y C-drama. But no!!! So glad I watched this.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It's a Hmm Moment...
Ah so here we go.. first off I want to make known to those who will read this. If you are reading my review to have an in depth description of the pros and cons about this drama you will not find that here. I'm simply here to give MY overall opinion on the drama and how I felt about its ride through the story to the ending. Keep in mind that I rarely do reviews on here but for this one I really wanted to give kinda my own experience on it.Starting off this drama really had my attention cause of the Era and all around genre built around it. This Era in Chinese history was one of my most favorites and sadly I haven't found MANY dramas that fall in this Era so I came into this one really excited. Now I don't want to say I disliked this Drama and I don't but honestly not as a whole it just fell a little. Would I still recommend it yes, however I would warn based off my own experience if you are someone that loves a drama with a strong start but dislikes when it starts to shift at the middle and kinda fall into a muddled slow pace than you won't like it. Honestly just watch clips of the first half of the drama cause anything after it just falls short of what you would expect.
Now that's my opinion someone else's might differ. If you are a true fan through and through that's good, it means you found something in it you liked and no one should tell you how to feel, however humans all differ in different styles and what we enjoy, that's how it should be. But back to the point, the whole story did keep me kinda strung in even though it was a little muddled at the middle and end for me. I do love Shen and MiLan so I wanted to stay and see how they developed and grew together. I mean Shen was kinda like Chinese version of Van helsing (the anime version) for me cause his personality when he would bring down the human veil became more nonchalant in a way. Also his brother is a badass, a little crazy perhaps but who doesn't love a good old fashion psycho with a love string for a pretty girl. Some other characters I was fond of was Liang, a little bit of a rat but compared to a lot of characters you see like him he wasnt terrible and then the mysterious Mo character. He confused me a little but you don't get the see much of him either sadly. Still an interesting man he was.
How the ending happened though was a real kicker for me... I didn't like it cause it left to many questions and I've come to a conclusion through watching many historical or old date Chinese shows that it will end in one of two ways. The female lead Sacrificing herself for the solution or the man they love dying to end the problem. I still have yet to find a old style Chinese show where the lead couple just get to live in happiness together and it's always very sad. As I said still have yet to find, maybe one day I will or someone will suggest one.
My all over opinion on this show is really that it is good, it's just the ending is where I would have liked to see some more background or more clear actions, maybe even a happy walk in their new life together instead of the muddled mess it became. Maybe there will be a second part that starts off in a better light who knows. It could very well happen with how open the ending ended. Only time will tell.
But as stated please keep in mind that this is thoroughly just my views on some things I wanted to talk about and I'm always open to comments that want to talk about it but if your commenting to pick a knot at my opinion and to fight my way of thinking I will not acknowledge or comment back. In exact terms comment with the intent to talk not fight ❤
Was this review helpful to you?
A great vampire, a good start, but a very messy storyline
PLOT: meeting between a century-old "vampire" (the ML, who does not want to become bloodthirsty) and a young girl (the FL) who is blind and mistreated by her mother. The ML is pursued by a group of gangsters, subordinate to a military leader corrupt to the core, because, running a newspaper, he denounced their crimes. This soldier is supported by one of the 3 families having obtained superpowers, led by Mu Lihua (the Great Villain).+++ Vengo is exceptional in this vampire role, which fits him perfectly. Even Ouyang Nana, who I don't like very much, plays a convincing blind FL.
+++ Lots of very good actors.
+++ Stressful, dark, heavy atmosphere, accompanied by suitable OSTs.
+++ A big budget for the sets, even if the costumes sometimes seem anachronistic.
BUT :
### The storyline is incoherent, even for a fantasy drama (where do the ninjas with super powers come from? Why are the ML and his brother going to throw themselves into the wolf's den ? The brother, also a hundred years old, behaves like a teenager; The great villain wants to kill the protagonists, even when she gets what she wants, etc.). Moving on because there are too many ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
### Why dress the FL, a young girl, as if she were 12 years old? To accentuate the age gap with the ML, to make their relationship seem like father-daughter? Ridiculous !
### The 2nd part becomes heavy, with its inconsistencies and illogical twists.
=> Good cast, good plot, ruined by bad writing.
*****************************************************
PLOT : rencontre entre un "vampire" centenaire (qui ne veut pas devenir sanguinaire) et une jeune fille (la FL) aveugle et maltraitée par sa mère. Le ML est poursuivi par un groupe de gangsters, subordonnés à un chef militaire corrompu jusqu'à la moelle, car, dirigeant un journal, il dénonce leurs crimes. Ce militaire est soutenu par une des 3 familles ayant obtenu des super pouvoirs, dirigée par Mu Lihua (la Great Villain).
+++ Vengo est exceptionnel dans ce rôle de vampire, qui lui va comme un gant. Même Ouyang Nana que je n'aime pas beaucoup, interprète une FL aveugle convaincante.
+++ Beaucoup de très bons acteurs.
+++ Atmosphère stressante, noire, pesante, accompagnée des OST adaptés.
+++ Un gros budget pour les décors, même si les costumes semblent parfois anachroniques.
MAIS :
### La storyline est incohérente, même pour un drama fantastique (d'où sortent les ninjas avec super pouvoirs ? Pourquoi le ML et son frère vont se jeter dans la gueule du loup ? Le frère, centenaire lui aussi, se comporte comme un ado; La great villain veut tuer les protagonistes, même lorsqu'elle obtient ce qu'elle veut, etc.). J'en passe, il y en a trop ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
### Pourquoi habiller la FL, jeune fille, comme si elle avait 12 ans ? Pour accentuer le age-gap avec le ML, faire passer leur relation pour père-fille ? Ridicule !
### La 2e partie devient pesante, avec ses inconsistances et ses retournements illogiques.
=> Bon cast, bon plot, gâché par une mauvaise écriture.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not the best drama, but sure is the memorable one.
I got hooked since the very first part of the series: the three shards that granted different powers to three families. The premise was really promising.The first part of the series did a fantastic job of introducing us to Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan through storytelling. The latter part is alright. I found it puzzling that Li Yingliang, who played the support role, appeared on screen most of the time for the second part. Sure, his fate is intertwined with Shen Zhiheng's and all the character got their own development, but it's just too much to the point i feel like he must be part of the main role instead of supporting role.
Back to the premise. It's a wasted potential for sure. I was expecting more from another clan, specifically Mu Clan. The only Mu that appeared is Mu Lihua, and only by herself, she's already this powerful and able to influence Haidong. This made me wondered about her brother that only mentioned once in the entire series. I didn't read the novel, but i really want to see what will happen if all the three stones fused together.
[spoilers] Let's talk about the last episode. Actually, i can tolerate it. You can clearly see many parts were cut to fit 48 minutes length. The fight was intense and exciting, until the bad cgi came. I was complaining for this part, like, how dare they made this kind of cgi surrounding Vengo? Not to mention the ending, it's not a fulfilling one.
[conclusion] In spite of all of its disappointments, this drama teaches valuable lessons about humanity. I was particularly impressed by Shen Zhiheng's compassion, even though he isn't a human himself. He taught Mi Lan—and us—to protect others and keep our honor as a human, even at our lowest point in our life.
Was this review helpful to you?
Loved It
Very refreshing take on vampires, I loved the chemistry. I wished the series was longer.Hoping for a second season, I know it’s adapted from a book but maybe a sequel will be written.
This is definitely one of m Favorite C drama year .
Gao weiguang's character as Shen zhiheng was absolutely Mature charismatic but also principled, disciplined, kind and dignified, in addition he is generating a really strong aura that made fall in love with him .
Ouyang nana as Milan was such a precious Character, I love how she portray a blind character so well, her eye expressions and body language was so vey convincing. And her love for Shen was very clearly reflected.
Was this review helpful to you?
Absolutely worth the watch!
I just finished this drama and loved it. I wasn't expecting much of a vampire story, but from the very first episode I was hitched.The actors were absolutely amazing, they brought every character to life and completed each other.
My special mention goes to Ryan Ren (Li YingLiang), I just can't decide whether I hate or pity him. His portrayal was topnotch, his fear palpable and his hate and resentment showed in his eyes.
The Story was great, it never got boring, but the last two episodes were quite rushed, it felt as if the end had to be pressed by force into the last hour of the show.
The CGI in the last episode was especially bad, it was quite laughable and didn't fit the rest of the series.
I felt that quite a lot had been cut, probably to pass censorship.
All over all, I finish the series with a good feeling and, despite the last episode, it's a 9/10 for me.
Thanks for reading my very first review.
Was this review helpful to you?
