2
MatildediShabran
Cute and Watchable Costume Drama
Costume dramas are my thing. If I see a Chinese costume drama, of course I will give it a go. Mostly, they can't be relied on for acting, cinematography, story, or anything else except costume. There is no way of knowing what a costume drama holds in value until I start watching it. Li Yi Tong annoyed me in "Court Lady" so much so that I held prejudice against watching another drama with her in it.
However, her character here was charming and relatively relatable in its fragility. She was the naive do-gooder archetype, but she wasn't the village idiot, which is what is most important to me.
Anyway, it's a cute story. Nothing unusual. Wish that there wasn't a supernatural aspect to it, as turning into a werewolf is a pretty embarrassing character trait that, let's be honest, wasn't even slightly important for the plot. I found myself getting bored, despite the series being very watchable, which most costume dramas are not.
The ML here... I thought he was going to be a model with no acting skills, but I was wrong. He did a good job with what he was given. Just a bit too good looking to be relatable, in that "characters touch us through their weaknesses" kind of way. He is almost too good looking to be a serious actor (not his fault).
I find it difficult to want the FL and ML to become a couple after the ML brutalises the FL in the first few episodes. I realize it's almost a prerequisite for Chinese dramas, but I hate it. Why does the ML have to strangle, wound, or almost kill the FL at first out of mistrust??!! The FL obviously poses no threat to the ML, yet he must always treat her with suspicion by strangulation, attempted assassination, or duel?!! I don't like it. It's not endearing!!! I can only think of a few C dramas that don't have this trope in them. The SML is always considerate and pleasant to the FL, and the ML brutalises the FL in the beginning, but she still chooses him! Well, it's just a general annoyance I have about tropy C dramas like this one. Make no mistake, this is a tropy drama and this year's version of "The Autumn Ballad".
However, her character here was charming and relatively relatable in its fragility. She was the naive do-gooder archetype, but she wasn't the village idiot, which is what is most important to me.
Anyway, it's a cute story. Nothing unusual. Wish that there wasn't a supernatural aspect to it, as turning into a werewolf is a pretty embarrassing character trait that, let's be honest, wasn't even slightly important for the plot. I found myself getting bored, despite the series being very watchable, which most costume dramas are not.
The ML here... I thought he was going to be a model with no acting skills, but I was wrong. He did a good job with what he was given. Just a bit too good looking to be relatable, in that "characters touch us through their weaknesses" kind of way. He is almost too good looking to be a serious actor (not his fault).
I find it difficult to want the FL and ML to become a couple after the ML brutalises the FL in the first few episodes. I realize it's almost a prerequisite for Chinese dramas, but I hate it. Why does the ML have to strangle, wound, or almost kill the FL at first out of mistrust??!! The FL obviously poses no threat to the ML, yet he must always treat her with suspicion by strangulation, attempted assassination, or duel?!! I don't like it. It's not endearing!!! I can only think of a few C dramas that don't have this trope in them. The SML is always considerate and pleasant to the FL, and the ML brutalises the FL in the beginning, but she still chooses him! Well, it's just a general annoyance I have about tropy C dramas like this one. Make no mistake, this is a tropy drama and this year's version of "The Autumn Ballad".
Was this review helpful to you?
