Engaging but not as good as expected

Story:
In my opinion, the story of this drama felt little bit flat. The strong point is the characters. The main characters personality is very strong, both of them and they are very likeable. They are powerful, dominant yet vulnerable at the same time. I found the conflict in this drama is rather absurd, was not developed well enough. And the ending... though I craved more romantic scenes, the ending felt more like an extra than a part of the whole story.

Acting:
Although the chemistry between Zanillia Zhao and Lin Gengxin is cute and addictive (their look also give a huge reason why I shipped them so much), I think their acting in this drama are little awkward. Too many blank stare at each other. I haven't watched their other dramas except Princess Agents which they also collaborated as main characters, but I thought the chemistry in that drama was better than this. Maybe the blank stares are supposed to make the romantic scene more dramatic, however too much portion make this drama feel dragged. I never read the source novel, but I guess this drama supposed to be a fantasy romance drama. Yet in the romantic scenes, somehow I felt the two lead actors were holding their emotions. Zanillia's eyes expression need more improvement.

Music:
I love the music, it gave the scenes more depth either in the battle scenes or the romantic scenes.

Overall:
I enjoyed this drama so much but not loved it. I also thought this drama is a quiet satisfying answer for Princess Agents's couple shipper since it has the ending. I wish they will collaborate again in the future, either in costume drama or modern one.

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Simple and realistic drama yet emotionally engaging

Story:
The plot is simply slice of life and slow burn romance, around the ups and downs of advertising worker, with addition of their family relationship. Instead, it is the main interest, the realistic side of the story. Made me feel extremely connected and can't stop binge watched it.

Acting:
Gosh, I can't say a lot but imho, every actor give a top notch performance. Can't count how many times I laughed and sobbed when watching those 36 episodes. I have never thought that this drama can be tremendously emotional despite the non melodramatic story. The only negative side of this drama is Jian Bing's sister side story, it felt bland.

Overall:
Not recommended if you want to watch a passionate and sweet romantic drama. But if you like coming of age, light hearted story and spiritual lifting romance, you must watch this. And feel Sheng Yang hangover after that :)

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My Favorite Drama of The Year

Story:
Mystery is always an intriguing trope in wuxia drama. In this drama, the mysterious cases continuously hooked me. The script is written very compelling, though they were some plot-holes. Yes you can call this drama a cliche wuxia, the goal of everyone who live in jiang hu is to be no.1. But the process every person go through is not the same, the choice they chose, the action they took based on their personal value make eye-opening thoughts about someone personality. Although I found the court politics an unnecessary trope, overall the story and the emotion's knot they tried to show audience is very much moved my heart.

Acting: Li Lianhua is one of the most hilarious character I've ever met. He is carefree, annoying yet kind, compassionate and smart. It's a pity we don't get many scenes with Li Xiangyi with his arrogant, selfish and stubborn character to show us. Or I will give Cheng Yi two thumbs up for his top notch acting. Joseph Cheng has a big improvement in acting as Fang Duobing. His emotions showed in every scenes with Li Lianhua. Their friendship/bromance is warm-heartedly deep. Yet the relation between Li Lianhua and Di Feisheng is the most fascinating one. I crave for their goofy interactions as enemy to bromance. Can't help but shipped them.

Overall: I recommend this drama if you are action, mystery and wuxia lover. Because this drama is S+ drama, so the production is so much better than other recent wuxia drama. Yet the impressive story and the excellent acting are the most substantial points for this drama.

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The drama with the most fascinating character

At first I feel skeptical about this drama, since I heard that the novel was just another idol fantasy romance. But towards the end, the story become emotionally engaging and the characters become interesting.

Story:
I'm not fond of this kind of story. I feel like the story is too bland, too basic for costume drama. The story that more suitable for audience who was beginner in fantasy idol drama. However, I like most of the characters, especially the mains. The reason why I like them is because they are not intoxicated with love. They still can think of others, their family, friends, despite they have deep attraction for each other. When the trope of mentor-disciple usually fall into passionate love pit, in this drama they really stand for their position as the mentor really guide and teach lessons, the disciple also diligently learning then make her an outstanding one. But, other than these points, I don't think the plot is unique and refreshing. The court politics is shallow, the other characters didn't have an impactful development, the back story of war between races also didn't have depth explanation. So it's hard for me to feel connected to this drama at the beginning.

Acting:
Xiao Zhan's acting always has a big impact for every drama he played. Including this one. At the peak of this drama, his acting was so emotional hence made me unstoppable sob. Although he supposed to be aloof character, but his eye-expression can tell what's in his mind and his feelings. Undoubtedly, he is the soul of this drama and he really can act.
Ren Min's acting also not bad. Her crying scenes was particularly contagious. Instead of her just ordinary face and appearance, she can act well and suitable for her character as cute, smart and kind person. Well, for actors, you really can change your fate with your acting, good actors depend on their act, not only their face.
Aside of the mains, the side characters such as Zhi Yuan and Chong Ming have an interesting part. Chong Ming is cute and hilarious, and Zhi Yuan as the love rival actually likeable and truly a strong candidate to compete Shi Ying's charm.

Production: I think this drama has one of the finest audio visual from all the costume dramas which aired this year. The CGI is top notch and the music soundtracks are all very suitable for the scenes. The costumes too are stunning, specially Shi Ying's ones.

Overall: I recommend to watch this drama until episodes 15 before you decide to drop it. The beginning's pace is pretty slow and not very engaging, and I admit Ren Min's appearance was a little bit bothering, compare to other female characters who were prettier that her. However, as her character grew, she became more likeable and intriguing. Then you'll know why this drama become one beloved fantasy romance costume drama of this year.

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Mixed feelings

Story: It is an intriguing story. Fast paced, enemies to lovers trope to the max. Although it's a repetition from some dramas in the past, but some points in the story are fresh. The struggling mind of the MC about his identity is very intense which made me feel emphatic for him. And his passionate love for his lover is very pitiful yet infuriating. In the middle episodes, I felt a little bit dragging, but some of romantic scenes from side characters are fun. And the ending felt rush in explanation yet too much repetitive scenes.

Acting: This was the most part that gave me mixed feelings. I admire Leo Luo and Bai Lu's acting, they really can act well as the MCs. The character's depth emotions are portrayed excellently, especially with Leo's eyes expression. But I can't feel the chemistry between them. I can't feel the love and the hate from their interactions. It's very different from the drama when they first collaborated. The productions also have some good and bad parts. The visual is very much pleasing, specially the costumes and CGI. However some scenes were illogical because the costumes was too grand for the setting. At last, I found the editing was the big disappointment for this lush drama, to the point that it feels not coherent despite they already have many benefits from visual and acting.

Overall: I recommended this drama if you like character driven story. The character development is very enjoyable and Leo played it emotionally heartbreaking.

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Can be an unforgettable drama

I write this review for all part of this drama because it's easier to give opinion for the whole completed series.

Story: Not very special one though still has interesting part. I really love the first part when the story is telling about Ying Yuan as sovereign lord and Yan Dan as his attendant. Their relationship's progression is so sweet, how they started to fall for each other and the feelings grow to unrequited love. The second part is half-half for me, some I like yet some are just plain. I like Tang Zhou because he is like an opposite personality from Ying Yuan, but Yan Dan in the second part is so stiff and awkward with her feeling. And it continues to the third part, when Yan Dan still withhold her love and anger for Ying Yuan. The most impressive part is the last couple episodes, when at last Yan Dan and Ying Yuan admit their feelings for each other.

Acting: The reason this drama can be a hot viral drama is the lead actors. Their acting is remarkably exquisite. They can trigger audience's emotion with their eyesight and face expression. Cheng Yi as three different characters, every character has strong characteristic from playful, kind to arrogant. And he plays all characters exceedingly impressive. Yang Zi as Yan Dan just show us her first class acting, emotional and amusing. Their chemistry also very compelling, I just want more for their romantic scenes.

Music: All the original score and soundtrack are very beautiful and suitable for this drama. I have no complaint, love it

Overall: This drama can be an top notch drama if they reduced the episodes. Too long and too many unnecessary side story. I expected this drama can be heavy romance dramatic one like Love and Redemption, but I got disappointed. Perhaps this drama targeted more mature audiences with more mature mind.

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Perfect Realistic Drama

I try to write this review as objective as I can despite I'm a huge fan of Xiao Zhan.

Story:
When I watched the drama trailer for the first time about 2 years ago, I thought this will be like another sweet idol drama, which the main characters are beautiful and dreamy visualized. But the story proved that the first impression is not correct. This drama's story is not contain deep heavy topic, just slice of life theme which is very familiar with our daily relationships matters. It is so realistic yet so philosophical that you even can applied the way they solve conflicts with logical way and healthy emotion. Although the background of character's jobs are in the specific field as doctor and musician, there are no complicated terms of medical or music inserted in the story because it mainly just focus on the relationships, how they built it up and maintain in till the end. This is a sweet romantic drama but not exaggerated in physical passionate love, more about mature and traditional value based love.
The pace of this drama is adequate, with little spark of comedy in almost every episode. The side characters are not much developed, the focus is mainly on two main characters and the FC's family. What I like from the characters are they are not perfect, they have flaws and they never stop learning how to live with each other's flaws.

Acting:
At the beginning, I heard lots of complaint about YZ and XZ acting, either too exaggerated or too stiff. But after entering the quarter of this drama, the audience has learned that it is because of the character's background which made them act like that. The most surprising of YZ's acting is when I thought LZX is mostly another copy of Tong Nian (YZ's character in Go Go Squid), she delivered another character's trait that made me realized that LZX is different and YZ has given a new soul to this character.
I think I will be biased when talking about XZ's acting. XZ never ceased to amazed me with his soulful acting, every character he depicted is not the same, is very unique and has their own life. From the BTS, you can tell that Gu Wei is not Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Zhan is not Gu Wei, they truly have different personality. I'm now in the mode of addicted to XZ acting that I can't wait to watch him in another drama.
The chemistry between characters, specially the two main characters, are natural, so overflow that you almost can't tell the difference of their acting and their real relationships.

Music: The OSTs which were sung by the two lead actors are very stunning songs. Ones of the most beautiful theme song of drama.

Overall: This drama is a masterpiece. One of my all time favorite drama, specially after having drama-slumped for about half a year.

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The Weakest Gu Man Drama

Story: In one word, half of this drama is basically skipable. It was so boring to watch when they playing online game, as the scenes about the aerospace. Unlike other Gu Man's drama, this drama is more plain in the romance side and the career side of the MCs. There were no serious conflicts in this drama except the MCs mental's struggle of showing their feelings. However, as typical Gu Man's drama, the romance is very sweet and addictive for rom-com fans.

Acting: I adore the 2 main actor actress in this drama. Honestly, I haven't watched Yang Yang drama since Love O2O (I dropped Martial Universe). And this drama proved Yang Yang's acting is remarkable. Perhaps Yang Yang is more suitable for modern drama (just my subjective opinion). Dilraba's acting is natural and amusing. She was like acting herself as her role is an actress, therefore she didn't have to put much effort to act. The chemistry between MCs also top notch. I can feel their emotions as if they are real couple. No wonder this CP will be loved by huge fans, not mention their stunning faces.

Music: the OSTs are good, some of it is notable but not very impressive.

Overall: I don't know if the novel's plot is similar with the drama, but my thoughts are this drama has too many unnecessary scenes, like the online game and the aerospace. It took almost half of this drama and that basically no story to tell at all. I also found other dramas which had similar trope are boring, but they didn't insert too many of online game scenes. If this drama didn't cast these 2 top actors, I don't think anyone will hold on to watch until the end.

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Best Xian Xia Drama of This Year So Far

Story: Although this drama is typical xianxia drama in general, the interesting point of this drama is the main character, which is the strong female god. Many of xianxia drama describe the female MC as badass and strong one, but only this drama consistently tell this attitude until the end. The story is middle-pace but gripping me fast enough to finish it only in 5 days in proximate. Almost no grey character in the story, just the good one or the bad one, despite many hilarious ones. I think the production team was playing safe for choosing this drama because the story is easy to digest and probably just as easy to become big fans drama.

Acting: Maybe because this was her first time acting in costume drama, at first I found Zhou Dongyu's acting was a little bit out of line. Many of her expressions were not match the scene, like too many smiling in serious or touching scenes. But after the halfway, her acting became better and better, specially the crying scenes. I have watched some of Xu Kai's drama and my deepest impression of him is in The Legend. And I think this is another Xu Kai's best costume drama. Though I'm not really fond of his appearance in costume drama, but have to admit that he has magnificent acting skills. For addition, I fell in love with Liu Xueyi's character in this drama. Gosh, he was so cute and hilarious.

Music: This drama has many OST which probably will be my favorite OST playlist. The music score was very beautiful and touching. Special mention for the ones Mao Buyi and Zhou Shen sang.

Overall: There was no doubt that this drama spend big budget on production. The settings and CGI are very exquisite. The costumes also beautifully designed. This drama will be one of my favorite Xianxia drama following TMPB and LAR

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Prefer the second lead

Story:
The story was started pretty promising, yet after the beginning of the second reincarnation part, the story of the main leads became boring. It's the opposite of the second leads story, which I found more interesting. Though they started their love story at the slow burning pace, however in the end I thought their story was much more suitable as main plot.

Acting:
I also prefer the acting of the second leads. Bamby Zhu has more emotional side in her acting that Dylan Wang. She actually did a good job in her three roles, proof she is not just amateur. On contrary, Dylan Wang was a disappointment. His acting was flat, can not feel his deep love for the female lead.

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Good cast but not good production

Story: When I saw the synopsis, I thought this will be heavy political war badass drama. But it turned out more like another fantasy idol drama. The setting of this drama actually could be made a grandeur historical one, yet the production team only put half-hearted effort to create an impressive drama. I really dislike the comical editing, make this drama looks like low budget product. The plot is average, has some interesting point but it's easy to forget.

Acting: This drama is one of Tencent big production, recently there were many critics about Tencent drama which are mostly rely on popular actor but taking cheap script and low budget production. Almost all the actors in this drama have done well in presenting their characters, specially the two lead actors. I always thought that Dilraba has a good acting skill, but she always ended taking an unimpressive drama. Leo Wu is not much different, his only big drama was Nirvana in Fire. The one I thought was not good enough is Liu Yu Ning who played as Hao Du. However he still have a room to improve his acting skill, since this drama is his first acting experience.

Music: I have no complain about the soundtrack and music in this drama, it's suitable and the ending theme which is sung by Zhou Shen is beautiful.

Overall: I wish this drama could focus more on one point, either the political, war-action or romance, thus make this drama has unforgettable point. For me, the plus points of this drama are Dilraba, Leo Wu and Rosy Zhao, they all delivered their acting skill very well.

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Enjoyable

Story:
At first I thought this will be the same premise as Go Go Squid, all about e-sports competition and rom-com. However, I found out that this drama is almost completely different. I prefer Go Go Squid story set-up bcoz online gaming is more interesting than robot stuffs. In this drama, not much of comedic side as GGS, but the romance is far sweeter. Too sweet to make me feel emotional. In my opinion, the downside of this drama is that the story is not congruent with GGS. The conflict in GGS which should be told in this drama, was like a plothole. It's like watching a halfway drama from different source.
Acting:
I haven't watched many of Hu Yi Tian's drama, therefore I can't compare his acting in other drama. But I like his acting as Wu Bai. Not similar to other cool handsome character, Wu Bai is nerdy yet warm guy. And his kindness and feelings touch everyone's heart. This character brought many emotions to this drama. Li Yi Tong is experienced actress. She can act as cold princess, cute girl and badass female lead. Even she didn't show many funny side of her character as this is a rom-com drama, she is into her role as Ai Qing who is older and more mature than Wu Bai.
Music:
In the beginning episodes, the soundtrack editing was pretty annoying for me, makes me feel like I watched some kind of musical drama, since it was too much infused to the scenes. However after reach the middle episodes, this kind of editing was reduced and become like normal modern drama again. Nevertheless the music and soundtrack are pleasing.
Overall:
This drama is more focus on the romance than the sport, unlike GGS which is, I thought, half-half of romance and sport. It is an enjoyable drama, but 38 episodes are too long, as I see it, since it wasn't many conflicts happened in this drama.

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Interesting drama for such budget cast

Actually xianxia costume drama based on anime is not my interest. I prefer more serious drama with heavy acting skill (comedy only in modern rom-com). At first I was pessimistic with this drama as I had experienced in other anime-based fantasy drama like Martial Universe and Fight Breaks Sphere. Too many CGIs, silly scenes and blurry story are some negative factors. However, because I really like Xiao Zhan acting, therefore I give this drama a try, just see how far Xiao Zhan can give this drama privilege points for audience.

Story: Before I watched this drama, I've heard that Soul Land is a very popular animation series in China, have been aired for 4+ years and still ongoing. At the beginning I thought the story will be simply like another animation, but I found out that this one was different. The fast pace plot makes this drama addicting and you can get hooked easily after 5-6 episodes. And what I like about the story is the development of the characters and the reveal of the mysteries layer by layer. 40 episodes really not enough, now I craved for season 2.

Acting: You can say this drama depends a lot of Xiao Zhan's efforts. He is the soul of this drama, because his acting really gave this drama more emotions, not just CGI fantasy drama. For Betty Wu's acting, as this is her first drama act, is qualified enough. She nailed the cute acting, some emotional scenes but still lack of chemistry with Tang San character. Other actors are standard for me, special mention for Headmaster and Ou Si Ke. I like their characters, make this drama more hilarious. The production is very well done, specially the CGI, I think it's beyond other fantasy drama on that time.

Music: I hate to say that the music is the one and only factor that bothers me. OST is not bad, but the BGM is not match with the scenes at all. I can tell that the music producesr are either obsessed with pop and folk music or they just thought these kind of music were suitable for youth drama. But it sucks.

Overall: I guess this drama is a little bit overrated, however for youth drama and fantasy drama, this drama has a good story line, many morals and lesson value and suitable for youth generation.

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The most boring trending drama

I have high expectation for this drama since I saw the cast. I love Zanillia Zhao in Princess Agent although I dislike that drama for the ending. And I also expect Wang Yibo will deliver his developed acting since I admire him in The Untamed.
However I am very disappointed with the result.

Story: Even after I finished watched this drama, I didn't know what is the main plot of it. Too many stories they wanted to fill in this drama therefore not even one strong plot to outline the conclusion. Plus the slow pace of character development and too many comedic side stories which are unnecessary make this drama really boring. I thought after 20 episodes this drama will get interesting since we will get into the main plot, on the contrast even the story get a little spark, still too weak to make me hook to it. You can find romance, politics, badass hero/heroine, adventure because this drama mixed it all like a sprinkle on cake but you didn't really know which one is the main line of this drama.

Acting: Imho, Zanillia and Wang Yibo has the same acting habit. They are slow to burn their energy. They have to relied on their partner to make them get into their character and act as it. As a result, we will see their developed acting after episode 20. They only have a little bit chemistry, more like friendship than couple. And this drama is lack of emotional scenes hence there is no memorable scene for me.

Overall: Actually they can make a better drama since the main topic of the story is pretty interesting and the casts are actually good actors. Maybe they were too rush on the production thus failed these assets.

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Thrilling but get weaker

Just write a short review for this drama
* Story: at first it already started with fast pace developed. The middle episodes are the peak, love it so much, very thrilling and touching at the same time. But going toward the end, the plot getting weaker like losing its direction.

*Acting: almost all cast have a good acting in their role. I admit I watch this drama because of Xiao Zhan. And he really give it without disappointment. Can’t wait for his upcoming drama. Darren Wang is experienced actor, I have no doubt for his acting even his popularity lost to Xiao Zhan.

* Music: didn’t expect that the modern style musics are so wonderfully match this drama. Love the soundtrack so much

*Overall: this is a good drama with amazing cast, however the story has weakness in the end, the romance scenes in the last episodes are dragging and cheesy make me almost quit before ending

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