I definitely won't recommend it
Here's what I was thinking: maybe those creators who resisted Chen Zhe Yuan's participation in this drama were right? Maybe they weren't acting out of spite, but based on experience?Because if the screenwriters changed the concept of the novella—making the main character a self-sufficient and ideological fighter for justice, rather than an intelligent and talented woman living solely for her beloved emperor—then they would have had to change the main character's character as well. The character played by Wu Jin Yan would have been perfectly suited, for example, to Kenny Lin from "Journey with the Phoenix": he spoiled his Qipa the whole way, allowing her to express herself to the fullest. In this drama, however, the emperor had the character from the novella, and his companion was from the screenwriters' imagination. They didn't achieve harmony.
A little about the implementation—what particularly stood out. The nighttime planting of plastic flowers reminded me of the song "I Plant Aluminum Cucumbers in a Tarp Field." I swear I've seen flower pots like these at street markets in Liaoning and Harbin—I think the set designer bought them on the way to the set.
Also, of course, the three "lost ones" from the "special department" looked so cute, but they looked silly: at night, they wandered through seedy places and investigated crimes without people or resources. They should have gained some experience in "The Great Princess"—how to build a ministerial infrastructure!)))
Nevertheless, the drama had its positives: Chen Zhe Yuan's excellent costumes (I suspect the investor forbade skimping on them). And the male cast—I'm glad to see Liang Yong Qi, Sheng Yi Long, and the young, promising Yan Yu Cheng. And, by the way, all the actors were good. And everything bad is the fault of weak creators. After all, take away the budgets of these "weaklings" already!
I definitely won't recommend it.
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I'd say it's shallow, but charming
I'd say it's shallow, but charming.The first half was absolutely top-notch—the plot dealing with ghosts and the main characters' developing relationships. But the second half, with its corporate showdowns and investigations, was a bit dull. The creators failed to maintain the plot's momentum.
Nevertheless, the drama's atmosphere and the characters' interactions were very enjoyable, making it hard to put down.
I really enjoyed the actors' portrayals of the main characters—both Yang Se Jong and Park Eun Bin: occasionally touching and awkward, yet strong and responsible.
The drama is good for light viewing, although the writers did give us a bit of a thrill at the end of some episodes.
As for the visuals, I liked everything. Overall, I enjoyed watching it, and I don't regret the time spent.
I think this series will appeal to rom-com fans, even though the director didn't include a lot of kissing.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
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