Completed
unbeliebubble
27 people found this review helpful
Oct 2, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 14
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

NO SPOILER - Is it physical attraction or is it real love connection?

Watching this drama I wondered if sexual tension could ignate real love connections ?

The story : Amidst chaotic political struggle of 3 cities, the most beautiful woman of the desert, gets involved with 3 Influencial men.

Well... This drama is not a slowburn romance like I thought. It is more a story about infatuation with a sprinkle of toxic romance in an unstable desert, where a power struggle is happening.
The main characters begin their journey with sexual tension that develop into something else, as the drama progresses. Intimacy is a big topic of the plot. There is a lot of sexual harrassment as well. Especially in the first half of the drama.
Indeed, in this savage desert, the women's sexuality is a bargaining ship. It can be exchanged as a payment or as a reward for victory. Meanwhile, the rapists are glamorized. So I would say that sex is emphasized more than romance in this drama, at least in the first half.
This is why the dare, here, is to transend the physical attraction into real romantic love while fighting the power stuggles in the desert.

Would this be doable? Indeed, it is, if we take psychology in account.
The "shaking bridge effect" is a psychological effect that can fake attractivness.
Because, a dangerous situation can make people mistake their own physiological sensations for love.
So, being in a life or death situation can arouse them and lead them to desire each other.
ML and FL entanglement is believable and very well enacted in my opinion.


Pros :
- FL is a witty and gifted princess.
- ML is a mysterious city lord/ chief BOA (intelligence service) of the desert.
- Chemistry is good between all the couples. Some MLs know how to bed FLs.
- Acting is wonderful. my favs are FL, Hankiz Omar, who is doing a great job as a cold and proud princess, and Alen Fang who is great as a resourceful chief of spies.
- Great cinematography. The setting is gorgeous. The desert scene were filmed in Gobi desert. It is a feast for the eyes.
- The pacing is quick in the beginning.
- Some scenes are very theatrical. Sometimes it was like watching "Ottelo", "Carmen" other times "Romeo and juliet" or "The phantom of the opera".

Cons:
- The exposition scenes last a lot before the real plot starts.
- Rape culture. Some would say that it takes place in ancient times and they will excuse the multiple men who want to constantly rape the female leads. But I don't agree. This is just annoying to me because it is so repetitive.
- The physical attraction from the start could jeopardize the deep romance. Was it believable? Yes it was and the acting was on point.
- SML and SFL are not complex characters. They are basically like desert Bonnie and Clyde.
- Pacing was a little slow at the beginning but improved after 5 episodes.

Overall:
I was captivated by this drama. This barbaric desert is the worst place to be, especially for a woman like Bei Shuang.
But she is so clever, that she still managed to pursue her goals and it was a bliss to watch her use her wits to outmatch every antagonist.
I had a hard time with the second couple, all their actions was just so annoying or disgusting to me. You'll see what I mean, when you watch the drama. But, I could understand that some people turn like that, in a violent place like this ruthless desert. However, the SFL remains a mystery to me. How can she be a princess and act so wildly and in such a disgusting way. What about the filial piety and the etiquette that every royal should have been tought since childhood? Once again, you will know what I mean as you watch the show. You might went to drop it at some point, because of the second couple but I assure you, this is a great story worth watching.
Even if, at the end I had few doubt about how the antagonists were punished for their misdeeds.
I recommend this drama if you like beautiful epic romance, full of commitments and sacrifices.
Indeed, the fact that it is not a slowburn romance doesn't disturb me. I am a fan of the Lead's love story.

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Completed
Moses ck
24 people found this review helpful
Oct 17, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 17
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Life, all about choices.

Three cities, Yunpei, Tiandu, and Masui reign over the vast desert. Among the listed cities, Yunpei and Tiandu are the ones with strong armies and massive landscapes. Masui is weaker when compared to the other two cities (Tiandu and Yunpei). Princess Huang Bei Shuang of a fallen clan, beautiful, elegant, yet tactical, and skillful gets entangled with three influential men and in the struggle for power. Huang Bei Shuang decides to go against it all, and set a new record if possible.
In this journey, Huang Bei Shuang meets Huo Qing Yu, they hit it off, and eventually fall in love.

I've got a lot to say about this drama, both the positive sides and the negative sides, but I'll analyze the positive ones first.


POSITIVE
The first episode of Love in the Desert captivated me. Why? There I saw a strong, brave, determined, intelligent, and one of a kind FL. A woman who seeks survival in a cruel world. A woman who wants to make a name for herself in the merciless desert ruled by men. The FL impressed me right from the first episode. After that Huo Qing Yu came into the picture. I saw a kind ML. A man who's willing to feed his horse the water he has left. A man who care for his horse more than he does himself. I said to myself, "a smart and strong FL and a strong and kind ML. Yes, this is the type of the leads I always want to see when watching a drama." These two captivated right from the first two episodes.

A woman can't, shouldn't, and mustn't have aspirations, says who? If a man can do it, why can't a woman? This drama showcase the strong will of Huang Bei Shuang. A woman who wants revenge for the murder of her parents.

"In the desert and under the sky, people live. What if life is a pain? What if life is vigorous? I pick my own path. Since I choose to be this lady. I have to fulfill my responsibility." (Huang Bei Shuang's words). There and then, I knew this drama is about humans choices, sticking with them and staying true to your choice.

If there's one lesson I learnt from this drama, that'll be, "life is all about choices." Some choose power over love. Some choose love over power. Some decides to stick by their principles even if it means they have to die to stick by them, they do it anyway. While some betray their principles for survival. Some decide to die to save their loved ones, while some would rather sacrificed their loved ones to survive. Different stands, different decisions, and different choices.

In Bei Shuang's case, she chose a new identity, a perilous journey to fulfill her dreams, her aspiration, and to get revenge on the killers of her parents. She could have chosen to be on the run, or a much easier life, but she decided to choose a roughy path, a path where survival is uncertain. A path where most women fails. Yes, that's who our FL is, a woman of aspirations and determinations. I love her strong and resilient character.

Bei Shuang and Qing Yu with the wind, moon, and the universe as their witnesses got married. That's another choice yet again.

Hankiz Omar really did her character justice. I've only watched few of her dramas, but I've never really been so captivated by her acting, until now. Her facial expressions, the way she carries herself, I just love her acting. She's elegant, graceful, talented, and beautiful. She portrayed her role as the decisive, tactical, strong, intelligent, brave, yet kind Huang Bei Shuang excellently. And I'm not exaggerating about how good her acting is, she's really good. She deserves each and every praises I'm giving her. She's indeed a rare talent. A diamond among stones.

Allen Fang. What can I say? I've always been impressed by him since I saw him onscreen. He impressed me in so many dramas. I loved his role in The Long Ballad, and A Journey To Love, but that's just to mention a few. I loved him so many more dramas. I was impressed yet again with his role as Huo Qing Yu in Love in the Desert. One of the main reasons I watched this one in the first place is because of Allen Fang cuz he's one of my favorites. Indeed, I made the right choice of picking this drama up. He slayed his role yet again in this one. He added to the list of his dramas that left an impression on me.

Needless I say, I love the chemistry of our first couple?. Their chemistry is natural, unique, and amazing. Their interaction and lovely moments are the true description of love. Yes,their path is not all rosy, neither was it smooth either, but they overcomed it together, hand in hand, in harmony. They overcomed many adversities together. They went through life and death together. Such devoted and strong love mustn't go unmentioned. A pure love.

Not to mention, Love in the Desert's beautiful OSTs. I love the OSTs. Here's the lists
1) Desert wind Chant/ Give me God's wings to conquer the distance by Jess Lee
2) Kiss by Zhang Wei
3) Ask by Jess Lee
4) Recall by Zhang Yu
5) Shadow by Allen Fang
Among all the listed OSTs, the one which I loved the most is "Give me God's Wings to Conquer the Distance." Why? Because I also need God's wings to conquer that distance.
I also loved Shadow by Allen Fang. All the OSTs are emotional and beautiful. I loved them!

NEGATIVE

Allen Fang has multiple identities, but his story wasn't explored enough. Where's the backstory? Where's our ML's screentime? His screentime is too little for a ML with multiple identities. How he became Huo Qing Yu from Na Yan Xing, how he became a powerful northern lord, all these weren't explored well enough.

Also, I hate to say this, but the SML got too much screentime than he's supposed to get. EP 21, 23, and 25 were like the SML episodes. In some of the listed episodes I hardly saw the ML appear. That really got on my nerves.

There's also the messy plot. The plot was all over the place in this one. Little backstory, little clarifications. It became frustrating at some points.

Ending explained
Towards the end, Huang Bei Shuang finally got her revenge on her father's killer "Ge'er Jiqin." Two stabs, then finally, a slit to the throat. Wow, how ruthless. Ruo Wen died ? Huang Bei and Ge Xin Wei stabbed Na Zhan decisively and brilliantly. Really, I love that scene, he thought he's facing two weak ladies, little did he know he's facing intelligent women. They cut him off guard. Huang Bei Shuang broke her flute into two and stabbed Na Zhan with it, while Ge Xin Wei used Ruo Wen's sword. I really love that scene, Huang Bei Shuang always doing the unthinkable. A woman who accomplished the task of a man. I just can't help but be impressed by her. And for once, I admired Ge Xin Wei. Finally, the desert is at peace with Huo Qing Yu as its ruler. A benevolent and righteous ruler is what a nation needs to prosper, don't you agree? Our main couple lived happily ever after, realizing their dreams, and helping out the weak tribes of the desert. That's a fulfilling life, isn't it? I loved how they accomplished all these hand in hand, it's really great to see.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Love in the Desert thoroughly despite the negatives, I loved it still. I didn't fast forward any part, even though I found the second couple annoying most times, I watch every minute of it and enjoyed it. This drama has its flaws, but it's definitely worthwhile. It's a drama I'd recommend. This is a solid 9/10 for me.
Also, don't let the negative comments sway you from watching this, it's actually a great drama. Love in the Desert delivered in so many aspects. So don't be deceived, this is a worthwhile drama. Hankiz Omar and Allen Fang slayed their roles. Same goes for the second leads, too.

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Completed
Queen
12 people found this review helpful
Oct 11, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Unique Storyline

Chinese historical dramas always amaze me . This drama is not an exception.

POSITIVE- The cinematography is just excellent. The colorful dresses with awesome visuals are eye candy. The storyline is so good. Tension between the ML and FL is breakthrough. The producers make the cinematography just wow . There are so many intimate words and scenes which make this drama a perfect romance series. Both the ML and FL are so handsome and pretty. The chemistry between the second couple is so strong. Sometimes I like the second couple more than the main couple . Both FLs are pretty and the actors are so professional. First five episodes are so good .

NEGATIVE- I just didn't like the way they fell in love with each other so quickly. As I like slow burn romance so this is somehow for me weird . There is another thing which is bad that is the extreme make ups , I mean they are already so beautiful so there is no need for that much make ups . There are so many sexual harassment scenes which makes me want to drop this drama sometimes .If you are a new watcher then you will feel kinda uncomfortable. Few episodes are kinda boring .

OVERALL- You can give it a try , probably you might like it . First few episodes are really good . Overall a solid 8/10 for me . You can say this is a good drama.

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Completed
justjacky
8 people found this review helpful
Oct 16, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 7
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

An Entertaining Chaos: Skinship, Messy Plot, Illogical, Reverse Harem

A promising start but became a hot mess in the second half. This drama is about the female lead that gets involved with the three most influential men in the desert. To avenge her parent’s death, the female lead switches identities and marries the Lord of the Desert (third male lead). Upon her journey, she falls in love with the male lead who has secret identities. She also gets vigorously chased by the most notorious bandit (second male lead) who claims she is the most beautiful woman in the desert.

POSITIVE:
- Sexy aesthetics, beautiful styling, good looking cast.
- Skinship and lots of spicy scenes (pretty much the best part of the drama).
- Strong-willed female lead.
- Green flag male lead (except that he lies at the start).
- Nice desert settings (actual shots from the desert).
- Hidden identities.
- Mostly angsty.
- Reverse-harem vibes. The female lead only loves the male lead however she does have a lot of screen time with the other two men. Her se*ual tension and chemistry with the Lord (third male lead) is very noticeable, and she is always chased by the bandit who she always rejects (second male lead).
- Contrasting couples. The two couples are pretty much opposites and they share equal screen time. You would either find the main couple romantic or boring, the second couple exciting or barbaric. There won’t be a middle ground. For me, I enjoyed the main couple’s story more.
- Nice OST.
- Good acting from the main cast (considering the script they were given). The most noticeable for me was Alen Fang, every time he was heavily injured/hurt (which happened a lot), I could feel the pain because his acting was that good.

NEGATIVE:
- A hot mess plot. There was not one defined plot but a merge of sub-plots that made the drama very messy. We had switched princesses (that pretty much served only for the romance), powerful desert scrolls (that seemed like the biggest key in defeating the enemy but ended up being totally useless), male lead’s secret identities (that were not fleshed out or explored), power struggle between tribes (probably the only sane thing in this drama), harem competition (the female lead vs the other concubine), female lead’s revenge arc, the desert’s bandits (second male lead’s story arc + second couple’s story), forbidden love between the main leads. So basically, there were too many things happening, the plot was all over the place and nothing was properly fleshed out or explored.

- Illogical. I’m not someone who cares about logic but this drama has a ridiculous amount of illogical parts. The biggest thing that annoyed me is how the male lead was able to walk around freely in the palace which was supposedly the most secure place in the desert. Another thing that absolutely baffled me was the female lead saying to the second male lead "you have pure love" considering he had repeatedly tried to r*pe her.

- R*pe scenes. The second male lead tried to r*pe the female lead at least 3 times. In the end, all the bandits were glorified and almost made to seem like heroes. There are also attempts to r*pe the second female lead.

- Male lead as a side accessory. Unfortunately this drama gave me horrible flashbacks of The Princess Royal where the male lead gets sidelined and his only purpose is to be a love interest for the female lead. The fact that his character had two secret identities and none of the two were explored or fleshed out was disappointing. At the first half, the two males shared equal screen time but in the second half, all the important/key scenes were given to the second male lead (who is listed as support character, not even main). I truly feel injustice was done to Alen Fang.

- Barbaric second couple. Honestly, if you ignore the fact that the second male lead was going to r*pe her, this couple started off as the cool bickering, comedy-relief type. But after a few episodes, the second female lead kept being degraded/humiliated by him as she kept chasing him with zero self-respect. On top of that, he continuously chased the female lead and tried to r*pe her until the very end of the drama. At one point, the second couple killed people and decided to have s*x right next to their corpses. I honestly don’t know what the writers were smoking while writing that part. In the end, this couple was totally chaotic, non-romantic and didn’t really make sense to me. However I know people who totally enjoyed them compared to the leads, so it's all personal preference.

- Insta-love main couple. Although I liked the main couple, their romance felt physical first and emotional later. Within the first few episodes the couple was already infatuated and kissed. Then they separated and had a forbidden/secret relationship while she was married to the Lord. While I did enjoy their love story, I think it would have been more impactful if it was more of a slow burn.

- Dumbed down characters. The female lead started off as intelligent but in the second half became dumb for the purpose of extra angst. The second female lead started off as an independent and skilful fighter but after a few episodes became a mad woman whose sole purpose was to be with the second male lead + a damsel in distress at times. The Lord of the Desert (third male lead and villain) had a lot of potential but at the important scenes was simply dumbed down for convenience.

- Low-budget fight scenes. I think the production tried and some shots were good but most were bad and uneventful.

OVERALL:
I have mixed feelings about this drama. On one hand, it’s very entertaining with great romance, skinship and some strong characters. But on the other hand, the messy plot, many illogical parts and toxic/disturbing scenes make it frustrating to watch. I guess, if you can look past the chaos and are here for the entertainment and beautiful visuals, it’s a decent watch. For me it’s one of those “it’s so bad, it’s actually good” dramas.

TRIGGER WARNING:
Multiple attempts of r*pe (female lead and second female lead).

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Completed
Ari Li
6 people found this review helpful
Oct 7, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 6.0

Unpopular opinion

This drama is one of the most talked about dramas that one sees everywhere and to be honest it really did justice with the concept (especially in the beginning ), the cinematography and the way all the actors performed their roles. Everyone looks perfect and special mention for Allan (ml) who is in his element here. I have seen him in many dramas and this one is really made for him. His chemistry with Omar(FL) is the most outstanding part of the drama for me. The colourful costumes and the overall desert look makes it stand out from the rest especially with their pale looking filters. Now lets move on to the bad part of the drama which could be an unpopular opinion so just bear with me.
-Makeup of FL. The actress is already really pretty and I don't understand what is point of so much makeup especially when we are talking about a desert climate. They could have toned down it a little bit.
-second lead couple. I just can't wrap my head around their romance no matter what. The whole scene was absurd how they met and how it turned them into a romantic partners. That whole scene was so questionable that I felt like dropping the show right then and there. No one falls in love with a person especially a kidnapper whom you just met. Maybe yes, but only if you have Stockholm syndrome! They could have kept it raw made it into something for her to learn and take revenge or something along the lines but no they showed how the tables have turned in her direction and she is the boss. My question is- did she has any other option? She had to be subservient in front of that ranger no matter what or maybe she had to be someone really smart to get out of that situation with her expertise as she was ready to travel alone in that dangerous world leaving problems of her clan in the hands of a total stranger. A normal person can't and won't romanticize such things.
- I felt action scenes were kind of okaish. Now that I have seen many dramas with exceptional action choreography, this one seems pretty normal in front of that. I read people found the dance sequence of FL not that great but for me it was beautiful.
- Loopholes. I am finding so many loopholes in the storyline one after another that I have decided to throw my logic out of the window while watching it. I only and only completed this drama for ML.
-characters turned from dumb to dumber. I can't believe they ruined so many important scenes and especially our FL was the worst hit in all the mess. The weakest part was it's script and editing made it worse. The drama definitely had so much potential but what a let down!
You can try it for the main couple's chemistry and beautiful cinematography but for the rest it will only damage your brain cells.

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Completed
Enigma05
6 people found this review helpful
Oct 15, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 11
Overall 6.0
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.5
This review may contain spoilers

Make Any of it, Make Sense Please! 3rd Dumpster Fire of 2024

I decided to watch it for HK whom I loved since Ultimate Note and YIL who never quite got the romantic role he deserved; thankfully he did here. Though both did what they could here; this show started nicely and then spiraled out of control making it the 3rd dumpster fire I've watched in 2024.

Pros: Other than the beautiful colors, stunning costumes especially for the leads, OSTs, and the chemistry between the leads, this drama had no other redeeming qualities. I'm glad FL returned to her smart self and started to protect ML too not just be hellbent on revenge. Had an HE.

Cons: I don't know what drugs the screenwriter was smoking but this convoluted mess of a script was only slightly better than what readers described as essentially brutality in a book. SML was essentially the Chinese Khal Drogo who murdered anyone and everyone and brutalized all women along with his gang of bandits. The SFL, who seemed like a free spirit followed him and was just as callous. And the absolutely ridiculous thing is that they thought the audience would just forget that part when towards the end he started to regain memories of the past and act good. He never offered any apologies. Like "sure, me and my gang pillaged, raped, and slaughtered our way through the desert but we're the good guys now; no harm, no foul." I gave up on them very soon after meeting them and ffw. I stopped watching at 16 (though through massive fast forwarding resumed on 20 and lord knows how I made it through to 26) because even though all of the characters were connected, there was such a disconnect in the story plus crappy editing that made you feel like other then a small tether you were watching three different shows in a desert like setting. I didn't have any expectations of this show because other than costumes and some scenery, this was obviously very low budget.

The antagonist (I'd seen the actor in MJTY previously) can play a good villain but boy did they make him ridiculous. Ruthless yes, but he spoke so slowly and stared so much, you think he had a mental challenge of some sort. Nothing about him seemed intelligent or right. This is one of those times when you have good actors but crappy scripts that they have to lower their abilities to get whatever the director is getting at. If they had cast a bunch of unknowns or newbies, it wouldn't have made a difference. I feel bad because I know those 3 actors (am unfamiliar with SFL and SML), can act pretty well and to be given this mess, is just unfair to them. Yes, it adds to their resume, but is it worth it?

They dumbed down FL for a good chunk in the middle which just made you want to punch her. The ML went above and beyond and she still believed the villain over him. I skipped a good chunk of the episodes. I think the only consistent character from beginning to end was the ML. The ending of the antagonist was eye roll worthy at best; he killed SML [while cackling on his horse; y'all know how much I love a good Halloween witch cackle (add extreme sarcasm here)] and SFL (though smokescreen; she's alive!) and FL stabbed him and still he rambled on for like 5 minutes not dying; like why? Just end it! But no; need more over dramatic BS before he spat his magenta blood and dropped. Oh and the main guard that pretended to be ML because ML supposedly sacrificed himself to quicksand was really ML surviving quicksand through underground tunnels, and FL not even realizing it until he kissed her after everybody left and big bed wolf was dead. It literally took seven rewatches to understand any of this. What was that ending though? ML and FL just walking hand in hand in the desert becoming legends? Huh? Why even? After SFL gave birth? What an absolute mess. Even Frankenstein would run away if he saw this.

Would I recommend this? No way! As much as I like HK and YIL, they deserved a much better script and overall production. I'm sure the others do too. Please watch her in UN and decent in Jade's Fateful Love (only love line) while he's great in TLB and AJTL (hope he does a modern); not happy except the one but you can see coherent and decent or good storylines there. Stay away from this please!

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Completed
monstersnroses
3 people found this review helpful
Oct 19, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Great beginning slowly marches toward a predictable and unsatisfying ending.

Starts off with great chemistry and plenty of swashbuckling and sexy scenes peppered here and there. All leads are very good in their roles.

However this director/ screenplay has a hard time balancing the plot with the sense of romance and excitement. As the plot progresses and becomes more involved, the leads gradually lose their spark, and you kind of start to wonder why theyre going through all the trouble.

FL, while pretty and charming, is -imo- not quite right for the part. She is supposed to be a proud, dignified, and vengeful person. But the way this actress portrays it comes off too harsh and awkward and I found several of her "strong proud woman" scenes to be nauseating and tedious. However, she's not THAT bad. She was decent.

Now, the SML / SFL couple is where you will really emotionally invest. Right away you'd notice that they violate the c-drama rules for a happy ending, so logic would tell you from the start that theyre doomed and won't live. And indeed they don't. But it wont stop you from emotionally investing. Therefore by the time they died, I no longer cared about what happened to the main couple. The second couple is funnier, sweeter, more exciting, and WAYYYY sexier.

The plot was involved, but not very gripping. The villain is unpleasant and gets too much screentime. Main couple gets very little screentime together through the middle/end of the story.

It doesn't feel like a happy ending, although technically you could get away with calling it one.

The whole thing lacks a firm artistic vision, and often seems like just a hodgepodge of scenes tromping blindly ahead through the prescribed plotlines, to the point that finishing some episodes felt like a chore. The director on some level knows this, and attempts to use the ost to pump up the emotional amperage of what is basically a somewhat flat story. Which just makes the ost sound aggressive and intrusive.

In this case, it was the 4 lead actors who had to hold this crappy story up, and they do a very good job of it, but they cant rescue the drama from its phoned-in direction, muddled script, and letdown ending.

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Completed
FangFangYaoYao
3 people found this review helpful
Oct 12, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

What the hell is going on?

The person who made the trailer of this drama needs a raise, because that trailer said one thing and this drama is doing another.
The shenanigans of the Second Couple is beyond me but I can't even forward their scenes, I'm waiting to see how else they'll outdo themselves from the last time.
The attempts at suspence and mystery doesn't tempt at all, I have so many reasons to drop this drama but I can't and I don't even know why.
Verdict: I came here for the story and stayed for the beautiful cinematography and the muscled men, don't judge me.
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Completed
SupersamuraiSunday
2 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Leave buried in the desert

The cinematography and production quality is great. The desert landscape is a nice change in scenery. The actors and actresses played their roles really well -- even for characters I didn't like. I enjoyed the relationship between the two leads most of the way.

Biggest turnoff: the second leads. It's hard for me to watch or root for a guy who drugs women to have his way with them -- yeah that makes him a real macho stud (sarcastic). Or a lady that chases after him knowing this. And they had so much screen time! Why do many Asian dramas have two to three romances going on at once. It's like a three ring circus, except you can't just focus on the center ring -- you're forced to watch the side rings with the clowns on unicycles too.

I was pleasantly surprised Alen Fang was a likeable ML, since I had only seen him previously in "A Journey to Love" in a supporting role. Unfortunately, towards the end I started disliking the FL --- a shame because she started out so strong and cool. She just became easily manipulated, made poor choices -- even threatened to kill a horse.

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Completed
Mariana
2 people found this review helpful
Oct 19, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5

Hot drama with unique story and problematic characters

First thing, this drama is hot! I have no idea what happened with the censorship, but I'm not complaining. Get ready for some steamy kisses. Although, I think the hot scenes happened more in the beginning.
All the main actors are beautiful! They know how to choose a cast.
The production is very good as well, the alluring visual is a big part of the drama
About the story itself, I have never watched something like this, very different. You have all the classic elements like revenge, secret identity, lovers that can't be together and palace intrigue, but add to it different adventure elements in a whole new context that is the desert.
Unfortunately, by the end of it, there are a lot of plot wholes. A few things could be better explored, I fell like there was a tension created for nothing.
You can also find some characters very problematic, all the abuse thing, but I'm not going to detail it.
The OST is pretty good.
Overall, I'm quite happy with it, it's far from perfect, but kept me curious to the end.

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Completed
StephLor
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 16, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 4.5

Well....

Started nice and then became boring.

I feel like this drama was supposed to be more than 36 episodes but for some reasons that we don't know, the cut many scenes to make it to 26 episodes.

Many things happen that we don't understand how it got there.

The actors did what they could with the script they were given.

This drama is watchable, but there is absolutely NO EXCITEMENT..

The ending was quite blant and kind of : " huh, what just happened, how did he...."

Anyway, if you don't have anything else to watch, you can give it a try.

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Completed
dzzlinq
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 22, 2024
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 4.0
It is difficult to form this review because I'm in half-shock that I actually made it through all the EPs (skipping & 2x speed included). First I gotta say it started off well and interesting. I have a big crush on Alen Fang. I really really hope his next project will be something better than this one. I'd also like to see him in modern shows.

Many things about this show is wrong, but one thing they got right is the main cast: four of them did a great job esp the 2nd couple (..i know but i'm only talking about the acting not the plot). The chemistry is superb and imo better than the 1st couple. I hope also they will reunite in a better project.

This show might be for you if you're in a weird mood like when you get so bored from browsing and then you cant decide what to watch, maybe this one will blow your mind a bit haha

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Love in the Desert (2024) poster

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