Aaaaand, we reached the end! This started off great, especially because I really liked both characters and their interactions were cute, sweet, natural and very believable. Then... well, something got lost toward the end: I really hate these break-up tropes especially when the protagonists are mature adults AND the reasons for breaking up are futile. ^^'
Keishi resulted as a better depicted character, to be honest, whereas Tojo-san (with whom I really empathized at the beginning since I'm a single almost 40yo working adult too) lost his brightness along the way.
Anyway - loved both leads acting, they really fit their roles! The OST was pretty nice too, and the finale was very well-acted! Hope to see more from them! :)
I agreeee and I also watched it when it was airing XD last night I finished repeating the last episode. it was…
There are some scenes that have been living rent-free in my head since 2006... like Makio always shouthing "AGNES" at the wrong timings or him flying down the roof to get a pudding...! Japanese comedy can reach hilarious peaks, and this drama was just it! XD
It started well, got a bit confused, then resurrected along the way and through every episode it got better and better. In terms of aesthethics it cannot compare to some other huge chinese projects, and also in terms of acting (yes the main leads had great chemistry but most of the others were pretty stiff)... BUT given their possibilities this was more heartshaking than many other big-money series - for me it's a 10/10 because the crew managed to keep us glued to the screen from start to finish.
The two main characters dominated the episodes with their raw, deep, torn bond and some amazing pieces of dialogues. I will have to find the force to rewatch and write down some quotes because most of their lines were in between poetic and tragic. Also, both Duan and Shu He were so interesting, so well-built and characterized!
As for the ending - very Romeo&Juliet, we knew it would end up like this and it's the only possible ending for them IN THIS LIFE. But they are each other's yin and yang, two parts of a whole... they will meet again, just like the peartree that blossoms every year and a pair of geese in flight that never part.
Friends I'm confused. What happened in the last episode anyone? Why Shu he took the poison? N Zi ang had a choice…
Shu He took the real poison, instead of the "i'm faking death and coming back" one, because although he loves Duan he also wants to revenge his father and brother and he knows the only punishment Duan will ever really feel, is him not being alive anymore, because he's the most important thing for him.
Shu He is torn between the love/vengeance for his family and the love for Duan, which also exists along the hate he has for the assassin of his family and destroyer of his kingdom (always Duan). Plus, from how I see him, although he knows his limits as a king he is very proud of his descent and he sees death as a final atonment/responsibility as the fallen king of a kingdom that doesn't exist anymore.
As for Duan, he was about to die soon anyway and probably the shock of Shu He's suicide gave him the final strike - he couldn't be saved anyway, given that when he was part of that assassin guild, his way of life/training already consumed his force and there was no way to save him.
Even-though I love Victor and Trin, but Tanwa’s character is NOT useless. The existence of this character drive…
I love your comment and I totally feel you. We can get lost sometimes, and maybe these times might last longer than expected - but at a certain point, we can find our own focus and our own place to be. <3
That said - I came here to say something similar too, talking about Victor/Trin/Tanwa. I know this is Apo/Mile series, BUT I'm really loving Victor's character and his goofy, brave, genuine love for his teacher. I also admire Trin for resisting his smile, to be honest! XD
Up until last week, I was 80% on Victor's side - I couldn't see Trin/Tanwa work in the long run, although they are more similar than what it looks like on the surface. As you said, both are wearing masks and armors.... just, two different kinds. But after ep6 it's clear that, after piercing these masks, somehow, they saw through: they are becoming each other's safe place, because they share the same pain and loneliness.
Oh, wow - the fighting and action scenes in this were amazing!
It felt a bit rushed, it needed at least half an hour more to build the characters and their dynamics a bit better... but it was a great movie for a tranquil night, without heartbreaks and teardrops - which is great for a change while watching wuxia/xianxia series. XD
Pity we won't get the second movie... I would have loved to see Boya and QingMing keep on bickering!
I really like how, in all your comments, you mention different aspects of the drama and its characters, like charismatic…
Awwww thank you! I will do it for sure, but not now… I’m still not ready to mentally go through all the heartbreak again!
As for the characters, I think they were the greatest richness of this series - the plot perse isn’t something new (love conquers all; demons VS humans but in the end we’re all the same; vengeance is never a solution…) but the way in which ALL the characters are vivid and relatable makes the series sink deep into the viewers heart. Even the secondary demons have so much depth, you just can’t avoid feeling for them!
Nope - the male lead and the female lead are a couple.BUT there is an incredible bond between the two male leads…
I agree, ALL the characters feel so real and their interactions are vivid and relatable… even “the bad guys” at certain times can make you cry - everyone walks between shadows and lights, just like in life nobody is really right or wrong. 💛
I saw a lot of bl edits of this series but it doesn't look like bl here :/ is it gay or not? 😭
Nope - the male lead and the female lead are a couple.
BUT there is an incredible bond between the two male leads that falls in that huge "soulmate thing" that makes brotherhood feel like they are more connected than the official couple. XD
I decided to watch ep11 on my lunchtime break and OH MAN it wasn't the best idea. I ate spaghetti with tears sauce.
Anyway - I see many people siding with Zi Ang (most of the comments) or with She Hu, but honestly my heart aches for both! They were simple souls in love, longing for tranquility, acceptance and happiness in a shared place to call home, where they could be themselves after a life of drama and obedience..... BUT the only sure thing in life is: "life sucks", and here we got plenty of proofs.
Could they have done things differently? They sure could have, both of them - maybe things would have become better, or maybe worse. They both love each other, and that is crystal clear - but most of the time love isn't enough and for sure it can't either win wars nor save kingdoms.
So this may be controversial but I like this series more than Revenged Love. 😤 ( I'm a grownass woman, I can…
This is way better than RL - although I might be biased because I didn't really like that show (although I watched it till the end to show support to chinese BLs) XD
Anyway, this show has some of the same problems of RL (plot issues and some scene cuts) but it's way more complex and, in less than half of the screentime, it really managed to make the characters so well rounded!
I love the way you think 😍… living under different names, finally getting the youthful life they were denied.…
I might already be in the tunnel, it's too late for redemption.... I even bought a dizi! XD
I actually play the shamisen, so i thought I might try and learn the dizi and the guqin too... but the guqin is pretty big whereas my house is pretty small! XD So, I'll first see how it goes with the flute and then... who knows! XD
1 
This started off great, especially because I really liked both characters and their interactions were cute, sweet, natural and very believable. Then... well, something got lost toward the end: I really hate these break-up tropes especially when the protagonists are mature adults AND the reasons for breaking up are futile. ^^'
Keishi resulted as a better depicted character, to be honest, whereas Tojo-san (with whom I really empathized at the beginning since I'm a single almost 40yo working adult too) lost his brightness along the way.
Anyway - loved both leads acting, they really fit their roles! The OST was pretty nice too, and the finale was very well-acted! Hope to see more from them! :)
It started well, got a bit confused, then resurrected along the way and through every episode it got better and better.
In terms of aesthethics it cannot compare to some other huge chinese projects, and also in terms of acting (yes the main leads had great chemistry but most of the others were pretty stiff)... BUT given their possibilities this was more heartshaking than many other big-money series - for me it's a 10/10 because the crew managed to keep us glued to the screen from start to finish.
The two main characters dominated the episodes with their raw, deep, torn bond and some amazing pieces of dialogues. I will have to find the force to rewatch and write down some quotes because most of their lines were in between poetic and tragic. Also, both Duan and Shu He were so interesting, so well-built and characterized!
As for the ending - very Romeo&Juliet, we knew it would end up like this and it's the only possible ending for them IN THIS LIFE. But they are each other's yin and yang, two parts of a whole... they will meet again, just like the peartree that blossoms every year and a pair of geese in flight that never part.
Shu He is torn between the love/vengeance for his family and the love for Duan, which also exists along the hate he has for the assassin of his family and destroyer of his kingdom (always Duan). Plus, from how I see him, although he knows his limits as a king he is very proud of his descent and he sees death as a final atonment/responsibility as the fallen king of a kingdom that doesn't exist anymore.
As for Duan, he was about to die soon anyway and probably the shock of Shu He's suicide gave him the final strike - he couldn't be saved anyway, given that when he was part of that assassin guild, his way of life/training already consumed his force and there was no way to save him.
That said - I came here to say something similar too, talking about Victor/Trin/Tanwa. I know this is Apo/Mile series, BUT I'm really loving Victor's character and his goofy, brave, genuine love for his teacher. I also admire Trin for resisting his smile, to be honest! XD
Up until last week, I was 80% on Victor's side - I couldn't see Trin/Tanwa work in the long run, although they are more similar than what it looks like on the surface.
As you said, both are wearing masks and armors.... just, two different kinds. But after ep6 it's clear that, after piercing these masks, somehow, they saw through: they are becoming each other's safe place, because they share the same pain and loneliness.
I'm so curious to know how this will finish!
It felt a bit rushed, it needed at least half an hour more to build the characters and their dynamics a bit better... but it was a great movie for a tranquil night, without heartbreaks and teardrops - which is great for a change while watching wuxia/xianxia series. XD
Pity we won't get the second movie... I would have loved to see Boya and QingMing keep on bickering!
As for the characters, I think they were the greatest richness of this series - the plot perse isn’t something new (love conquers all; demons VS humans but in the end we’re all the same; vengeance is never a solution…) but the way in which ALL the characters are vivid and relatable makes the series sink deep into the viewers heart. Even the secondary demons have so much depth, you just can’t avoid feeling for them!
BUT there is an incredible bond between the two male leads that falls in that huge "soulmate thing" that makes brotherhood feel like they are more connected than the official couple. XD
Could they have done things differently? They sure could have, both of them - maybe things would have become better, or maybe worse.
They both love each other, and that is crystal clear - but most of the time love isn't enough and for sure it can't either win wars nor save kingdoms.
I ate spaghetti with tears sauce.
Anyway, this show has some of the same problems of RL (plot issues and some scene cuts) but it's way more complex and, in less than half of the screentime, it really managed to make the characters so well rounded!
I actually play the shamisen, so i thought I might try and learn the dizi and the guqin too... but the guqin is pretty big whereas my house is pretty small! XD
So, I'll first see how it goes with the flute and then... who knows! XD
Thanks! <3