This review may contain spoilers
Won my heart!
It definitely had a slow start, but once we got to know the characters, the story really began to shine. I won't lie though... I was honestly just waiting for Ji Ling and Lu Wu Yi (A'Wu). I know they aren't technically the main couple, but in my heart, they absolutely are.
This drama put me through every emotion possible. I cried, I got confused, I screamed like a fangirl, and I ugly cried in the corner more times than I can count. There were also way too many characters played by the same actors, so I had to take my time watching it. Looking back, I'm actually glad I did because experiencing this story slowly made it even more enjoyable.
This series is directed by Edward Guo, and he's become one of my favorite directors over the years. I absolutely love how layered and complex his storytelling is. There are so many characters, gorgeous cinematography, and scenes filled with symbolism and promises that come back later in the story. You can definitely feel his signature style from Fangs of Fortune all throughout this drama. The colors, the CGI, the incredible OST, and even seeing familiar actors again immediately pulled me in.
Things I loved:
Ji Ling & A'Wu.
This one is easy. Their relationship completely stole the show for me. Every scene between them had me emotional. Whether Ji Ling was smiling or crying, I was crying right along with him. They own my heart.
Joseph's acting.
This is actually the first drama where I've really gotten to watch Joseph's acting, and wow... I didn't realize how talented he is. He completely won me over, and now I'm actually excited to check out more of his dramas.
The Painted Skin adaptation.
Realizing this drama is an adaptation of Painted Skin made me so excited. If you've been watching Chinese dramas and movies for years, you'll probably remember the 2008 movie because of how heartbreaking it was. I know there have been several adaptations over the years, but that's still the version I remember most. This adaptation starts with that familiar sadness, but it slowly grows into something much deeper. Through Xiao Wei, we see how far people are willing to go just to have one more day with the person they love. I loved Shi Guang and Wang Yan's story, but no matter what, my heart belongs to Ji Ling and A'Wu.
The cast.
There were so many familiar and new faces. Every time someone I recognized appeared, I was literally screaming. Seeing Jolin Jin, Chang Hua Sen, Xia Zhi Guang, and Wang Duo made me so happy.
The OST.
Another huge highlight. It gave me the same emotional feeling as Fangs of Fortune. There are so many beautiful songs, but my favorite has to be "Misty Hours" by Xin Liu. I know it's meant for Shi Guang and Wang Yan, but every time I hear it, I think about Ji Ling and A'Wu instead. The lyrics just fit them perfectly in my eyes.
Overall, I'm giving this drama a pretty high score because I genuinely loved almost everything about it. Even the happy ending had me tearing up. After everything they went through, seeing him cross time just to bring her a huge bouquet of the flowers she loved... yeah, I was crying all over again. It was such a beautiful way to end their journey, and I'm so glad I stuck with this drama until the very end.
This drama put me through every emotion possible. I cried, I got confused, I screamed like a fangirl, and I ugly cried in the corner more times than I can count. There were also way too many characters played by the same actors, so I had to take my time watching it. Looking back, I'm actually glad I did because experiencing this story slowly made it even more enjoyable.
This series is directed by Edward Guo, and he's become one of my favorite directors over the years. I absolutely love how layered and complex his storytelling is. There are so many characters, gorgeous cinematography, and scenes filled with symbolism and promises that come back later in the story. You can definitely feel his signature style from Fangs of Fortune all throughout this drama. The colors, the CGI, the incredible OST, and even seeing familiar actors again immediately pulled me in.
Things I loved:
Ji Ling & A'Wu.
This one is easy. Their relationship completely stole the show for me. Every scene between them had me emotional. Whether Ji Ling was smiling or crying, I was crying right along with him. They own my heart.
Joseph's acting.
This is actually the first drama where I've really gotten to watch Joseph's acting, and wow... I didn't realize how talented he is. He completely won me over, and now I'm actually excited to check out more of his dramas.
The Painted Skin adaptation.
Realizing this drama is an adaptation of Painted Skin made me so excited. If you've been watching Chinese dramas and movies for years, you'll probably remember the 2008 movie because of how heartbreaking it was. I know there have been several adaptations over the years, but that's still the version I remember most. This adaptation starts with that familiar sadness, but it slowly grows into something much deeper. Through Xiao Wei, we see how far people are willing to go just to have one more day with the person they love. I loved Shi Guang and Wang Yan's story, but no matter what, my heart belongs to Ji Ling and A'Wu.
The cast.
There were so many familiar and new faces. Every time someone I recognized appeared, I was literally screaming. Seeing Jolin Jin, Chang Hua Sen, Xia Zhi Guang, and Wang Duo made me so happy.
The OST.
Another huge highlight. It gave me the same emotional feeling as Fangs of Fortune. There are so many beautiful songs, but my favorite has to be "Misty Hours" by Xin Liu. I know it's meant for Shi Guang and Wang Yan, but every time I hear it, I think about Ji Ling and A'Wu instead. The lyrics just fit them perfectly in my eyes.
Overall, I'm giving this drama a pretty high score because I genuinely loved almost everything about it. Even the happy ending had me tearing up. After everything they went through, seeing him cross time just to bring her a huge bouquet of the flowers she loved... yeah, I was crying all over again. It was such a beautiful way to end their journey, and I'm so glad I stuck with this drama until the very end.
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