This review may contain spoilers
It’s Really Good—But It Could’ve Been Incredible
I honestly agree with the general opinion that this show had so much wasted potential. And that’s what makes it frustrating—because it’s actually a good drama. I would still recommend it and say it’s worth watching, but I don’t fully understand the level of hate it gets. I feel like a lot of people who dropped it early (like within the first 5–10 episodes) are the ones who ended up disliking it. This is definitely one of those shows that gets better the more you watch.
The biggest issue is the beginning. The first episode is insanely overwhelming—probably one of the most crowded premieres I’ve ever seen. It feels like they threw everything at you all at once. Within the first episode (and honestly the first few episodes), you’re introduced to 20–30 important characters, expected to remember their names, understand their roles, and follow the plot at the same time. It’s just too much information too quickly. The show does live up to its title—“generation to generation”—with multiple generations and interconnected characters, but the way it’s introduced is messy and confusing.
That’s really the core problem of the drama: the execution. The story itself is strong, interesting, and has a lot of emotional pull—it does make you want to keep watching. But the storytelling? Not great. It’s messy, poorly paced, and sometimes just not engaging enough. The editing especially is rough. You get moments of beautiful cinematography, then suddenly very choppy transitions or scenes that feel out of place or even ridiculous. It’s inconsistent, and it really holds the show back from being something amazing.
The relationship is another mixed point. The leads had amazing chemistry—honestly, they carried the show. They looked great together, acted well together, and had that natural compatibility that makes you want to root for them. But the writing didn’t do them justice. Their relationship felt very push-and-pull, but not in a satisfying way. She forgives him too easily, he keeps using her or keeping her in the dark, and somehow every time they meet, it’s like nothing ever happened. There’s no real emotional consequence. I also felt like their relationship was never clearly defined, which made it frustrating to follow. I really wish the show had explored them more deeply instead of just giving us scattered moments.
That said, I did like how much the people around her cared for her—that was actually really nice to see. And I liked the second male lead as well. The cast overall felt very fresh, with a lot of new faces. Some were really impressive and I’d love to see more of them, while others were just okay. But the youthful energy of the cast definitely added something to the show.
Visually, there were some strong points. The costumes were beautiful and sometimes quite unique, and certain scenes had really nice cinematography. And Zhou Yiran—this was my first time seeing him in a historical drama, and he really suits it. He looked amazing, and you can tell a lot of people noticed that too. His styling was great (even if those two random flying hair strands showed up way too often… seriously, what was that). As for the female lead, Bao she was very cute and did a good job. I personally prefer her in softer roles, but she still worked here and matched well with him.
There are definitely flaws beyond the structure too. Some acting wasn’t the strongest, some scenes felt unnecessary or over-the-top, and certain plot justifications—like everything being done “for Pingshu”—weren’t convincing. It felt like they leaned too heavily on that excuse.
Despite all that, I still think the show is worth watching. Once you get past the first 5–6 episodes (which you really have to push through), it becomes a much easier and smoother watch. The episodes go by quickly, and the chemistry between the leads keeps you invested. It turns into something light and bingeable, even if it never fully reaches its potential.
At the end of the day, it’s frustrating because this could have been so much better. With stronger direction, better editing, and more focused storytelling, it could have been incredible. Instead, it’s a good drama with great moments, carried heavily by its cast and central couple—but still very much a missed opportunity.
The biggest issue is the beginning. The first episode is insanely overwhelming—probably one of the most crowded premieres I’ve ever seen. It feels like they threw everything at you all at once. Within the first episode (and honestly the first few episodes), you’re introduced to 20–30 important characters, expected to remember their names, understand their roles, and follow the plot at the same time. It’s just too much information too quickly. The show does live up to its title—“generation to generation”—with multiple generations and interconnected characters, but the way it’s introduced is messy and confusing.
That’s really the core problem of the drama: the execution. The story itself is strong, interesting, and has a lot of emotional pull—it does make you want to keep watching. But the storytelling? Not great. It’s messy, poorly paced, and sometimes just not engaging enough. The editing especially is rough. You get moments of beautiful cinematography, then suddenly very choppy transitions or scenes that feel out of place or even ridiculous. It’s inconsistent, and it really holds the show back from being something amazing.
The relationship is another mixed point. The leads had amazing chemistry—honestly, they carried the show. They looked great together, acted well together, and had that natural compatibility that makes you want to root for them. But the writing didn’t do them justice. Their relationship felt very push-and-pull, but not in a satisfying way. She forgives him too easily, he keeps using her or keeping her in the dark, and somehow every time they meet, it’s like nothing ever happened. There’s no real emotional consequence. I also felt like their relationship was never clearly defined, which made it frustrating to follow. I really wish the show had explored them more deeply instead of just giving us scattered moments.
That said, I did like how much the people around her cared for her—that was actually really nice to see. And I liked the second male lead as well. The cast overall felt very fresh, with a lot of new faces. Some were really impressive and I’d love to see more of them, while others were just okay. But the youthful energy of the cast definitely added something to the show.
Visually, there were some strong points. The costumes were beautiful and sometimes quite unique, and certain scenes had really nice cinematography. And Zhou Yiran—this was my first time seeing him in a historical drama, and he really suits it. He looked amazing, and you can tell a lot of people noticed that too. His styling was great (even if those two random flying hair strands showed up way too often… seriously, what was that). As for the female lead, Bao she was very cute and did a good job. I personally prefer her in softer roles, but she still worked here and matched well with him.
There are definitely flaws beyond the structure too. Some acting wasn’t the strongest, some scenes felt unnecessary or over-the-top, and certain plot justifications—like everything being done “for Pingshu”—weren’t convincing. It felt like they leaned too heavily on that excuse.
Despite all that, I still think the show is worth watching. Once you get past the first 5–6 episodes (which you really have to push through), it becomes a much easier and smoother watch. The episodes go by quickly, and the chemistry between the leads keeps you invested. It turns into something light and bingeable, even if it never fully reaches its potential.
At the end of the day, it’s frustrating because this could have been so much better. With stronger direction, better editing, and more focused storytelling, it could have been incredible. Instead, it’s a good drama with great moments, carried heavily by its cast and central couple—but still very much a missed opportunity.
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