Fan Service at its Best

First, let me warn you by saying don't look for these to strictly adhere to continuity. It's really fan-centric one-shots meant as a gift by the actors and producers. For example Byeong-In is in one episode as the captain of police at the same time Cheoljong is looking at the Queen's Dictionary which has notations about voting and gold/dirt spoons, which occurred later. In another segment, Hwan is sporting the sunglasses he first wears in episode 20 whereas all but the prequel seem to indicate the stories taking place right before or immediately after the banquet.

Segment 1 - SY and CJ meeting for the first time as adults. More So Yong centric than Cheoljong. At least they did manage to flesh out her character just a little bit. The prequel is beautifully shot with CJ romanticized and looking like Prince Charming from a storybook to the Nth degree. It has a dreamy quality to it.

Segment 2 - An absolute hilarious acknowledgement of the fans' comments about the similarity in looks and build of Prince YP and Byeong-In.

Segment 3 - Focused on the flirtations of the Royal Chef and Lady Choi

Segment 4 - KDramas are known for several tropes, one of which is the jealous lover. Didn't fit into the narrative of Mr. Queen too much, though they did manage to fit in one small scene towards the end, so the producers created this one-shot that is jealous KDrama lover overload. Very, very funny and really showcases the comedic timing of Kim Jung Hyun.

Segment 5 - Card game gone extreme between the Kim powerhouse siblings with poor So Yong's father caught in the middle.

Segment 6 - The most enigmatic one. This segment had some moments of comedy, but it had a strange undercurrent of wistfulness and melancholy as well which is tied into the wishes each character makes upon seeing their first meteor shower.

Overall, it was just fun watching. The comedic elements were ramped up and more campy than usual. The segments were definitely poking fun at the characters and storylines while at the same time trying to give fans elements that they couldn't necessarily incorporate into the main drama.

Looking back, I also feel that it supports my reincarnation theory. Prequel hints at the idea of destiny, middle segment answers the question of where the love and attraction is stemming from, and the last gives us the promise of reunion for the soulmates.

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Couldn't hold my interest

Being a fan of Shen Yue's works and down-to-earth portrayals, I decided to give this show a shot. While not a hard-core fan of coming of age/slice of life dramas, I'd seen some recently that were fantastic, and the trailer for this one looked good. The first few episodes were okay, but the plot soon flatlined into a dull buzz, and I found myself fast-forwarding through a good bit towards the end.

Great acting from pretty much all involved. That's about it for me, honestly, in terms of good points.

As for cons, the biggest is the script. At times it wants to take itself very seriously and tries to set up moments of intense realism/realistic issues but then uses the most ridiculous and fantastical scenarios to "solve" them. The conflicts are repetitive and (without revealing any spoilers) don't really show much growth in the characters - just a dull acceptance from the characters themselves or those around them, which I don't believe was the intended takeaway.

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Deliberately misleading

***I've included my thoughts on where the writers were trying to go with this in the comment section of this review. Still think they could have handled it better, but it does make much better sense now and had me improve my rating. Can't do a perfect 10 though - episodes 17 and onward were weak (not just with the romantic elements) and filled with stupid decisions and too much deus ex machina. Might change this entire review at a later date but for now it stays as it is an honest representation of how I felt at the show's conclusion and how poorly they executed their intent that I had to sit here ruminating for a week to see where they were going with this all.***

I haven't felt this betrayed by writing since the controversial last season of Game of Thrones. The entire premise of this show was built around the love story of SoBong (Bong Hwan in So Yong's body) and Cheoljong. From episodes 1-19, it was a steady progression of these characters falling in love with each other...not with a memory and not the physical appearance but the substance of each of them as they strove to understand and accept each other. It was one of the most beautiful love stories I've watched. The writers perpetuated this idea by various methods:

1. CJ's fascination with SB was completely with the SB personality. The audience saw his fascination with SB's otherness, heard it in his confession of love for them, and saw it in how he treasured those aspects enough to write them down and pour through them to reminisce and help heal his own wounds.
2. The writers made the SY character a stranger to the audience. We get only the barest of flashbacks, and nothing to show us anything but a one-sided love. Even the prequel in the Bamboo Forest leans heavily to this idea. Which is why so many viewers then feel puzzled as to how the ending makes sense.
3. The writers deliberately made it seem as if the SY character was gone. There's a scene where the queen jumps back into the lake in order to regain more memories and SY's "spirit" or whatever appears before her but at the end she sees her close her eyes and falls back to sink to the bottom. Additionally, when the BH character briefly flashes back to present times, SY does not return, even for a minute.
4. The writers showed a true progression of the feelings in SB for CJ. In the last few episodes, there were major milestones to be had and shared with the viewers. The character of SB accepts their feelings. Reciprocates those feelings. Initiates intimacy - which in a story of quasi-gender bending is a penultimate moment. It's all been culminating to this point where you feel as though everything leading up is falling into place and then Wham! We draw a "Go To Jail" card.

Not only is the soul sent back but the contributions of that character are marginalized. Heck, forget marginalized, they're not even acknowledged in the slightest...as if this brash and vibrant personality never existed. The continuity issue with that alone is enough to curse at my screen. The entire story was about Mr. Queen...yet when Mr. Queen "left the building," there was no true sense of loss felt by their friends or even their love. We get one scene where the king looks puzzled for all of five seconds and asks "did I lose something." Yes...the main character of this entire drama. The show had already struggled with continuity issues such as selective fighting skills to fit the narrative and other minor faux pas but this...who just negates the existence of the main lead? Sure, SY's body is still there, and she's conveniently staying mum about the entire thing and letting everyone think it was her the entire time. The fans vilified Hwa Jin Jo when SHE pulled that move, but it's all good now. A few curses interspersed with an annoying high pitched giggle, and we're supposed to buy that she's SB 2.0 as she simpers "jjeona" like a teenager. Meanwhile the main male character, who is brilliant enough to stage a coup against one of the most powerful families in history, doesn't notice a thing.

I can't with this ending. I just can't. It obliterated all of my excitement and joy at seeing this story unfold. Seeing CJ and SY hug at the lake was like seeing Bran crowned king. Felt like I'd been gobsmacked by a 747. All of these feelings of betrayal could have been avoided by better writing. I'm not intransigent. I could have gotten behind a SY/CJ ending, IF it fit the narrative leading up to the finale, but it didn't. So frustrating!!! The acting though. Not a single complaint there. The acting was brilliant. The music too. I still can't listen to "Here I Am" without tearing up, and the comedic scores were on-point. However, I can't raise my rating higher because despite all of these things being components of a whole, the writing is the heart, and this one stopped beating right at episode 20.

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A seemingly satisfying sequel

I'm going to be honest - it's not as good as One and Only. I don't know if it's the modern setting (I do admittedly prefer historical dramas when it comes to Chinese cinema) or if it's seeing the characters I had expected to see mirrored instead take on such different personas in their reincarnated lives, but it just doesn't hit that high note for me that the prequel had.

Music - There were a few songs which I really did enjoy, particularly "Continued." Many of the lyrics of the songs helped carry the theme of reincarnation and finding love again, which was particularly thoughtful, especially given the censorship which prevented too much focus on the past lives element. However, after rewatching scenes from One and Only and then Forever and Ever again, I feel like this drama lacks in having a minimal background score, which is one factor which gives a more polished quality to the ancient times version.

Acting/characters - Bai Lu and Allen Ren are adorable in this drama too, but whereas I was engulfed immediately in their chemistry in One and Only, this was an excruciatingly slow buildup, perhaps because of Allen Ren's character in this life. While Zhousheng Chen of the past was warm and protective, the modern Zhousheng Chen seems more introverted and awkward. It isn't until much later that we see he does retain the same warm personality as his past self, but it's closely guarded due to the circumstances of the plot. Shiyi's character also changes quite a bit. Gone is the eager-to-please little girl pulled by the strings of responsibility and in her place is a rather assertive young woman who is comfortable in her own skin and in standing her ground to get what she wants. Honestly though, the true star of this film was the character of Zhousheng Ren (the male lead's cousin). To say he's precocious would be an understatement. Portrayed as wise beyond his years, his subtle Old Man way of thinking which breaks every now and then - usually when interacting with Shiyi's female cousin - is just adorable to watch.

Story - I honestly found all the awkwardness a bit tiring. Even the potential for more comedic elements was tamed into just a few glances and stunted attempts at teasing. The film does suffer just a bit from diluting the fact that, in the novel, Shiyi remembers her past life and her desire to be with Zhousheng Chen is what drives her forward to pursuing him. It was only after I read the translation of the novel the show is based on - which the show follows very, very faithfully except for the reincarnation remembrance - that I accepted the direction the show was going.

Would I watch again? Eh, probably not. It's nice to know there's a happier ending, but my joy at their pairing isn't for the Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen of the modern era. It's for the reunion of souls and the continuance of love from One and Only as it's the relationship in the past that made me want them to be together. Had this been a standalone drama, I'd have dropped it after the first four episodes.

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Have the Kleenex ready

I haven't cried this much since Goodbye My Princess. The only saving grace for my poor shattered heart is that this is the first of two parts with the modern drama promising a happier ending. Since it's pretty much been touted as such online, even by the actors and studio, I don't feel as if this is in any way a spoiler. Having said that, I'll jump right into what I loved about this show. No cons because honestly, I don't have any.

First of all, the acting. The acting is fantastic with so many familiar faces. I actually found myself trying to pick out all the actors who had starred together in recent dramas together such as Song of Youth or Under the Power. Nobody presented themselves as a weak link here, and the two main leads have amazing chemistry together. I knew that Allen Ren conveys a ton of emotion through his eyes, but I think Bai Liu really shone here as well - she really had to since some of the earliest episodes presented her character as being mute.

Secondly, the plot. Very, very good. Excellent feel-good comedic moments (the look of astonishment on the ML's face as the FL gives her daily obeisances was priceless) and sweetness without artifice in their romance. The tragic parts were unavoidable - the "prequel" and their star-crossed status being what drives the modern installment - but done so well that even as I bawled my eyes out, I could appreciate how it slowly developed and was written in an inescapable fashion but without casting a shadow over the happier moments. I also DEEPLY appreciated that the FL was not a sniveling brat and the ML was not tragically stupid. Not a single pouty, arm-swinging, baby-talking moment in the entire 24 episode run. Whew!

The background score was sweeping and the use of various stringed instrumented gave scenes a melancholy note which was appropriate for the theme. Definitely going to rewatch, but I need to catch Forever and Ever first and give my poor eyes a break from the boo-hoo fest.

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Role Reversal at its Comedic Zenith

I'll keep this short since many other reviews have already hit high points and plot elements. Oh My General very, very silly at times and doesn't take itself very seriously (even makes fun of its own product placements by giving them an almost QVC feel), but there's just something so good about this show. I think it's Sandra Ma and Peter Sheng's performances. They both play the caricaturesque elements of their role (military meat-head and dandy) well but always there's enough there to support the idea that, despite their limitations - her lack of education and his lack of bravery and strength - they're not stupid. When depended on, they're both great at what they do. Even the brattier moments that I normally cringe at have me laughing instead, and I don't know if that's because of the role reversal or because the show consistently has them showing growth in both their personalities and the relationship - probably both. Either way, one of my favorite C Dramas. If I had to cite a flaw, it's not to do with the plot or acting but the sound quality. At many points, the background music is much, much louder than the dialogue, making it impossible to hear or just fluctuating so wildly that I had to toggle the volume up and down at various points. Doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the show, and I've rewatched this now many, many times.

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Weak storyline and weak characters too

I couldn't get past 3 episodes of this drama and dropped it after much eye-rolling and frustration. The storyline wasn't the most exciting (either from a romantic or thrilling aspect), but what killed it for me were the characters that we were supposed to be invested in were just so weak. The FL was just spineless and let her cheating ex walk all over her. How many times is the audience expected to just be satisfied with increasing scumbag behavior from the ex and only get an open-mouthed look of shock from the FL and nothing but acquiescence and silence? Is it her life's mission to not stand up for herself and be treated as a doormat? From reading other reviews, it seems this doesn't change much throughout most of the drama so no. Just no.

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