The ending was pretty dumb and highlights the problems with Chinese costume dramas in recent years. They can't develop a romance story naturally so it has to be these giant gestures and these giant gestures destroy the story, the plot and the integrity of the characters.
The show was building for 5-6 episodes "we must achieve peace so people and soldiers aren't suffering". And what happens in the last two episodes to bring the leads back together? The male lead goes and regains his power and slaughters a whole bunch of Taijin soldiers so we can see his grief. But of course this massive level of violence is okay and doesn't destroy the peace because the show has run out of airtime and needs the leads to be together peacefully.
If all you enjoy is the romance that's fine. But I miss the careful balancing with a story, with a plot.
I'm not hallucinating - the male lead was a doctor to start the show, right? I'm kind of laughing along but hitting the fast forward button a lot, I come back, watch 20 episodes up to the most recent one and take a break and repeat.
I know that everyone has a different opinion, but you dont feel the chemistry between the leads?? 🤯
I think it's okay but it's not spectacular acting or chemistry. It wasn't enough to distract from what I thought was a lackluster story and lackluster character development.
Again I don't think this show is bad if you compare it to other recent costume dramas that focus way more on romance and fun/silliness/lightheartedness. But it's far from what I was hoping which would have been something along the lines of Nirvana in Fire.
Not sure if this show is considered a success in some ways or another, but it appears that both ZY and CL are…
I haven't read the novel so it's hard to compare.
The show has been okay for me and I'll finish it but I think I was hoping for a Nirvana in Fire type of atmosphere where it's serious, somber and it's people working towards revenge.
Instead we got something similar "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" adaptations. Where the atmosphere is sunnier or happier. It makes the leads shallow characters. I was hoping they'd be more focused on revenge but instead they're easily distracted and the show goes too far trying to portray them as selfless. We're so far into this show and all I can see so far is they'll present evidence to the emperor and he'll deal with the problem... which would be an incredibly lackluster resolution when you compare it to even The Smiling, Proud Wanderer adaptations where the male and female leads take it into their own hands and become leaders instead of deferring to an emperor or others.
I’m seeing mixed comments about this drama, is it disappointing? I was really looking forward to it, waiting…
In modern Chinese costume dramas the romance can be overwhelming. That's not the case here. They've made modifications from the novel it seems and some of them are a bit convenient and you might be disappointed at the writers not setting up the show properly or delivering the most consistent story.
I think it's okay. I wouldn't class it as a masterpiece but I'm sure you'll enjoy watching it. I haven't dropped it and will see it through.
I think my one gripe is I wish they'd dramatize being a general a little better and more accurately. But this is pretty typical of Chinese shows where the general is always fighting in hand to hand combat and not making strategic decisions to reposition the army or set up an ambush or whatever.
They hinted it at it in a recent episode with a decision Xiao Jue had to make that ended up having unintended consequences (but was ultimately the right decision to preserve his army). The writers obviously understand what a general's job is given that flashback but I wish we'd get more.
How heavy and sappy do people think the romance will be? I'm more interested in her story and the war/politics of it all and her rise to the top so on the fence about starting it.
I think this is a really good start to the show. Probably my favorite Chinese costume drama in the last few years so far. They've done a good job giving the male lead and female lead "wins" so it's not one swooping in to help the other all the time (usually the male lead swooping in).
Wei State having its patriarch killed, his son killed and just the grandson male lead left looking for revenge. He's right to feel that way. The Qiao family of Yanzhou helped get members of his family killed.
On the other hand the female lead while she might agree when presented evidence her family is guilty... she doesn't want them to be killed, she doesn't want Yanzhou to be occupied by Wei.
The motivations are clear, the actions are clear. They get taken by surprise and aren't invincible geniuses. I hope they keep it up and build an overarching story for the future. And hopefully the world is a bit more complex than Wei vs Yanzhou.
Not bad, wish we'd see a bit more of the youngest two. And the mullet is gone from the annoying couple but it's still frustrating how much screen time that couple is still getting.
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The show was building for 5-6 episodes "we must achieve peace so people and soldiers aren't suffering". And what happens in the last two episodes to bring the leads back together? The male lead goes and regains his power and slaughters a whole bunch of Taijin soldiers so we can see his grief. But of course this massive level of violence is okay and doesn't destroy the peace because the show has run out of airtime and needs the leads to be together peacefully.
If all you enjoy is the romance that's fine. But I miss the careful balancing with a story, with a plot.
I like Song Yi as an actress. The story has flaws for sure but I've enjoyed the ride up to episode 24.
Again I don't think this show is bad if you compare it to other recent costume dramas that focus way more on romance and fun/silliness/lightheartedness. But it's far from what I was hoping which would have been something along the lines of Nirvana in Fire.
The show has been okay for me and I'll finish it but I think I was hoping for a Nirvana in Fire type of atmosphere where it's serious, somber and it's people working towards revenge.
Instead we got something similar "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" adaptations. Where the atmosphere is sunnier or happier.
It makes the leads shallow characters. I was hoping they'd be more focused on revenge but instead they're easily distracted and the show goes too far trying to portray them as selfless. We're so far into this show and all I can see so far is they'll present evidence to the emperor and he'll deal with the problem... which would be an incredibly lackluster resolution when you compare it to even The Smiling, Proud Wanderer adaptations where the male and female leads take it into their own hands and become leaders instead of deferring to an emperor or others.
They've made modifications from the novel it seems and some of them are a bit convenient and you might be disappointed at the writers not setting up the show properly or delivering the most consistent story.
I think it's okay. I wouldn't class it as a masterpiece but I'm sure you'll enjoy watching it. I haven't dropped it and will see it through.
They hinted it at it in a recent episode with a decision Xiao Jue had to make that ended up having unintended consequences (but was ultimately the right decision to preserve his army). The writers obviously understand what a general's job is given that flashback but I wish we'd get more.
What are people's thoughts so far?
At least some of the cast seems to have acting chops and they're giving it 110% to try to sell this steaming pile of....
I'm here though in a kind of laugh at it way. "Oh, hi Mark!". It's legitimately that bad.
The actress playing the female lead is talented.
Probably my favorite Chinese costume drama in the last few years because it has managed the balance well so far.
Wei State having its patriarch killed, his son killed and just the grandson male lead left looking for revenge. He's right to feel that way. The Qiao family of Yanzhou helped get members of his family killed.
On the other hand the female lead while she might agree when presented evidence her family is guilty... she doesn't want them to be killed, she doesn't want Yanzhou to be occupied by Wei.
The motivations are clear, the actions are clear. They get taken by surprise and aren't invincible geniuses. I hope they keep it up and build an overarching story for the future. And hopefully the world is a bit more complex than Wei vs Yanzhou.
Really good start to the show.
Not saying this is a masterpiece by any means but I'd rate it higher than Merry Marriage.