gaileth
This review may contain spoilers
I am an absolute sucker, (pun most definitely intended), for a vampire theme, whether it be a film, a series, or music video. I didn't know this series existed until it showed up in my YT feed, and I'm so grateful it did. The fact that it is set during the Chinese Republican era, almost guarantees that I wouldn't look twice at it - I love ancient Chinese history, present day China, just not this period. Luckily there was a short in my feed and it played before I realised it. I was totally enamoured with what I saw.
The acting is good, the story is interesting and keeps your attention, the OST is a pleasure to listen to, and scenery/sets are breathtaking.
There are few little things that I could nitpick about, but they are inconsequential... although Shen Zhi Heng is not an immortal, (he was able to consume normal food and drink, at least until the assassination attempt), and daylight doesn't seem to be too big a problem for him, (although he does wear protective cape, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses). He can self-heal, albeit with help from Dr Situ, and he has lived for over 100 years. He has super human strength, and the ability to defy gravity, though it's unsure whether he can actually fly, or to typically transform into even a bog-standard bat - he drives almost everywhere. He seems to be missing some typical vampire traits, such as the ability to hypnotise, or wipe memories... at least, so far - I'm only halfway through the series.
I have a huge dislike of the control exerted by most of the females in the series. Females like Mrs Mi and Old Madam Shen are pretty standard in Chinese dramas, regardless of the time period - domineering, controlling, evil, violent, and totally irredeemable. Likewise are younger controlling females, like Miss Jin, who just can't take no for an answer and Mi Lan's step mother, who rules Mi Lan's weak father with an iron rod. These types of women are usually the biggest reason why C-dramas frustrate the hell out of me. But if I'm honest, the only reason I didn't give the series a perfect score, is the disparity between the ages of certain actors vs their characters. I'm used to seeing a myriad male Asian idols and actors who have seemingly stopped ageing as they officially reach adulthood, but the same can't always be said about females. I assumed that Mi Lan was in her mid-teens, 16 at most, but that was probably due in part to her innocence, her clothes, and her attachment to her doll. Shen Zhi Heng, looked about 40 to me. I was wrong in both instances - she's 18 and he's supposed to be about 30. Ryan Ren also seems to be playing a 30-ish man, and Dr Situ must surely be at least in his mid, (to late) twenties. What makes me smile is that Ryan Ren is only 22 and WinWin is his senior by 4 years. None of these characters are an issue, but given their story, there must be a few years difference in age, between Miss Jin and Li Ying Liang, but Maggie Huang, at 33, is obviously much older than Ryan Ren. Still, these are my personal issues, and probably won't affect anyone else's opinions of the characters.
All in all, this has to be my favourite Asian drama of 2024, so far, and even though I'm only halfway through, I'd be extremely happy if a season 2 was announced.
The acting is good, the story is interesting and keeps your attention, the OST is a pleasure to listen to, and scenery/sets are breathtaking.
There are few little things that I could nitpick about, but they are inconsequential... although Shen Zhi Heng is not an immortal, (he was able to consume normal food and drink, at least until the assassination attempt), and daylight doesn't seem to be too big a problem for him, (although he does wear protective cape, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses). He can self-heal, albeit with help from Dr Situ, and he has lived for over 100 years. He has super human strength, and the ability to defy gravity, though it's unsure whether he can actually fly, or to typically transform into even a bog-standard bat - he drives almost everywhere. He seems to be missing some typical vampire traits, such as the ability to hypnotise, or wipe memories... at least, so far - I'm only halfway through the series.
I have a huge dislike of the control exerted by most of the females in the series. Females like Mrs Mi and Old Madam Shen are pretty standard in Chinese dramas, regardless of the time period - domineering, controlling, evil, violent, and totally irredeemable. Likewise are younger controlling females, like Miss Jin, who just can't take no for an answer and Mi Lan's step mother, who rules Mi Lan's weak father with an iron rod. These types of women are usually the biggest reason why C-dramas frustrate the hell out of me. But if I'm honest, the only reason I didn't give the series a perfect score, is the disparity between the ages of certain actors vs their characters. I'm used to seeing a myriad male Asian idols and actors who have seemingly stopped ageing as they officially reach adulthood, but the same can't always be said about females. I assumed that Mi Lan was in her mid-teens, 16 at most, but that was probably due in part to her innocence, her clothes, and her attachment to her doll. Shen Zhi Heng, looked about 40 to me. I was wrong in both instances - she's 18 and he's supposed to be about 30. Ryan Ren also seems to be playing a 30-ish man, and Dr Situ must surely be at least in his mid, (to late) twenties. What makes me smile is that Ryan Ren is only 22 and WinWin is his senior by 4 years. None of these characters are an issue, but given their story, there must be a few years difference in age, between Miss Jin and Li Ying Liang, but Maggie Huang, at 33, is obviously much older than Ryan Ren. Still, these are my personal issues, and probably won't affect anyone else's opinions of the characters.
All in all, this has to be my favourite Asian drama of 2024, so far, and even though I'm only halfway through, I'd be extremely happy if a season 2 was announced.
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