A story in search of a script and director. The show has its moments but does nothing particularly interesting with the genre that hasn't been done before. My overall thoughts on the show. Go to the link if you're interested. https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/island-season-1-2022-23-the-glory
I am surprised that that the romance plays so heavily in this show that is supposedly mainly about the logistical side of air travel. It's a far bigger part than I had previously been led to believe -- it's definitely by-the-numbers. Maybe because it's Wang Kai at the helm but the similarities with When A Snail Falls in Love do stand out. Like When A Snail, it's a Pygmalion story too with all of the same beats with a nod to Jane Austen.
What's different here is that the obstacles to love here are internal not external. Gu Nanting is his own worst enemy. Certainly not Ni Zhan or their status -- when she's no longer his apprentice. The integration of his "healing" arc with the romance would undoubtedly be the cause of some frustration. Of course the heart wants what it wants despite what the mouth says. Whether he thinks he's unworthy or whether he's afraid to take the plunge or whether he's just being disingenuous, the meaning is the same, he's not committed to taking that next step and accepting the ramifications of taking that step. It's not surprising for a control freak like him to calculate every detail to the nth degree. The unpredictability of relationships undoubtedly scares the heck out of him that's why he values the known (Ni Zhan) rather than the unknown (Cheng Xiao).
Normally the stuff put out by Studio Dragon is good but this one took over three episodes to actually get half decent with some proper development for Mi-ho. The actors are definitely doing all the heavy lifting here with a weak script. I'm persevering for Kim Nam-gil. Cha Eun-woo is not bad. Their showdown was definitely a highlight in Episode 4. Not the best thing I've seen this month but still watchable.
I swear this thread is so anti-SQL sometimes. Feel bad for the female actress here cause she's a newbie and not…
I'm not sure why people are so hot and bothered about her either. She's barely in it. If I blink I would almost miss her. She doesn't get in anyone's way. She's not offensive. It's not as if their romance is a big part of the show to warrant all the angst.
For the most part, I did like this show and thought it had some interesting things to say about male-female relationships in the local context. The ending was okay although I'm still not convinced that the leads needed to go their separate ways to resolve whatever underlying issues might be holding Qin Shi back. Not that I really thought she was holding back until the script called for it. It was a plot contrivance -- an unnecessary one at that. The leads could have worked together rather more directly than going through intermediaries with Yang Hua working behind the scenes. The reality is that everybody goes into marriages with baggage and unspoken expectations so the need to reset the relationship comes off disingenuous.
The problem is that C dramas do this all the time now that there's nothing edgy or subversive about it. It's becoming something of an overused cliche. It's a cheap trick -- a joke that's been told too many times.
This is the quintessential crack drama. Binge-watched all available episodes in two days. I wish I had waited until it finished. It's a show with genuine stakes that are escalating with each new episode. Multiple heroes' journeys with a myriad of characters that keep coming out of the woodwork that would bamboozle even the most observant. Apart from Nirvana in Fire, I am constantly reminded of long-running manga/anime series like One Piece and Dragonball. Thankfully it moves a lot more quickly.
And of course, the guy with no martial arts ability is the most intriguing... and my favourite. Wuxin is a lot of fun too -- a terrific sense of humour.
So many cool characters with cool abilities. It's like watching the X-Men at times. The bald guy even harkens back to Charles Xavier. But the most interesting guy is the one who claims he has no martial arts. A veritable walking jianghu encyclopaedia.
4 
My overall thoughts on the show. Go to the link if you're interested.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/island-season-1-2022-23-the-glory
What's different here is that the obstacles to love here are internal not external. Gu Nanting is his own worst enemy. Certainly not Ni Zhan or their status -- when she's no longer his apprentice. The integration of his "healing" arc with the romance would undoubtedly be the cause of some frustration. Of course the heart wants what it wants despite what the mouth says. Whether he thinks he's unworthy or whether he's afraid to take the plunge or whether he's just being disingenuous, the meaning is the same, he's not committed to taking that next step and accepting the ramifications of taking that step. It's not surprising for a control freak like him to calculate every detail to the nth degree. The unpredictability of relationships undoubtedly scares the heck out of him that's why he values the known (Ni Zhan) rather than the unknown (Cheng Xiao).
Not the best thing I've seen this month but still watchable.
The problem is that C dramas do this all the time now that there's nothing edgy or subversive about it. It's becoming something of an overused cliche. It's a cheap trick -- a joke that's been told too many times.
And of course, the guy with no martial arts ability is the most intriguing... and my favourite. Wuxin is a lot of fun too -- a terrific sense of humour.