A good story ruined as it was too slow and drawn out.
This drama initially annoyed me so much I dropped it and went back while waiting for other dramas to drop. The drama is so very slow and boring In parts that it becomes difficult to watch without hitting the Fast Forward button.
The leads have an awful experience growing up and at least the first 10-12 episodes focus on the period when the lead characters are growing up in the 90s. The abuse and neglect by their parents is hard to watch. As the older brother, Chen (ML) does heavy lifting when it comes to protecting and providing a safe home for Miao (FL). As a result Miao (for me) becomes a somewhat annoying helpless female i”but when she returns to Teng city 6 years later she is stronger but still demanding and secretive. The twists and turns as her role starts to gradually reveal itself in episodes 12 onwards is gripping. This is where the drama really starts to develop and become watchable. The love story and chemistry between Chen and Miao is the routine push pull and distracting third parties creating intentional misunderstandings. While some may see this as a main storyline I enjoyed the side plot more and the love story is complementary.
Teng city is a gritty poor environment which is a good change from the glamorous settings of Shanghai and Beijing etc. Chen has been recruited into a world of crime and is trying to break free by running his own small business. The pace is slow and raw. The head gangster (Zhang Bin) is menacing in his calm emotions, and manipulating those around him. He was mesmerising. There are some loud aggressive types but the quiet boss of the underworld is disturbing as his threats are so subtle that one wonders if it is really a threat or good advice.
The three lead actors Song Wei Long, Zhang Ji Yi and Zhou Tie play their roles brilliantly.
Production was generally good and supporting characters never overshadowed the main characters but provided the necessary context for them. I think the Director overused the ‘quiet’ reflection scenes, drawn out scenes such as sickness, death and burial of Miao’s mother and memory flashbacks that contributed to the dragging slow pace of the drama.
Overall I think this drama would have been better if kept to 20 episodes rather than the 32episodes. If it wasn’t so slow and drawn out I would have given a 9.5.
The leads have an awful experience growing up and at least the first 10-12 episodes focus on the period when the lead characters are growing up in the 90s. The abuse and neglect by their parents is hard to watch. As the older brother, Chen (ML) does heavy lifting when it comes to protecting and providing a safe home for Miao (FL). As a result Miao (for me) becomes a somewhat annoying helpless female i”but when she returns to Teng city 6 years later she is stronger but still demanding and secretive. The twists and turns as her role starts to gradually reveal itself in episodes 12 onwards is gripping. This is where the drama really starts to develop and become watchable. The love story and chemistry between Chen and Miao is the routine push pull and distracting third parties creating intentional misunderstandings. While some may see this as a main storyline I enjoyed the side plot more and the love story is complementary.
Teng city is a gritty poor environment which is a good change from the glamorous settings of Shanghai and Beijing etc. Chen has been recruited into a world of crime and is trying to break free by running his own small business. The pace is slow and raw. The head gangster (Zhang Bin) is menacing in his calm emotions, and manipulating those around him. He was mesmerising. There are some loud aggressive types but the quiet boss of the underworld is disturbing as his threats are so subtle that one wonders if it is really a threat or good advice.
The three lead actors Song Wei Long, Zhang Ji Yi and Zhou Tie play their roles brilliantly.
Production was generally good and supporting characters never overshadowed the main characters but provided the necessary context for them. I think the Director overused the ‘quiet’ reflection scenes, drawn out scenes such as sickness, death and burial of Miao’s mother and memory flashbacks that contributed to the dragging slow pace of the drama.
Overall I think this drama would have been better if kept to 20 episodes rather than the 32episodes. If it wasn’t so slow and drawn out I would have given a 9.5.
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