Brilliant, Heartbreaking, and Difficult to Watch at Times
I have such mixed feelings about this drama. A story can be brilliantly crafted and emotionally rich, but if the emotional cost—especially due to brutality or themes of cruelty—is too high, it creates an internal conflict.
As a whole, the drama is absolutely wonderful—powerful and introspective. The narrative is an odyssey of sorts, telling an epic story across timelines that brings you into the characters’ hardships and evolving lives. The misfortunes speak to your soul and make you feel deeply. And there are comedic pauses and beautiful cinematography that engage the senses so that the trauma isn’t overwhelming.
But what made this drama difficult for me wasn’t the plot, which centered on hate and revenge—it was how the main character, Siling, translated those elements on screen. There was never enough justification, for me, for how she enacted her malice. Though I understood, intellectually, why she felt hatred and pain—I wished her choices had been executed differently. I think she could have delivered the same wrath without the vicious brutality. And that’s where Siling, and Feud as a whole, lost me. It’s just not my cup of tea to watch people be that brutal to one another. That’s also why I’ve struggled with other dramas like Love & Bid Farewell and Goodbye, My Princess.
So while I was immersed and highly engaged in the beginning and end, episodes 17–27 made it hard for me to imagine watching this again. And for a drama to make it onto my top watch list, my personal criteria is that I must be able to rewatch it. With that said, the performances were phenomenal—especially from Bai Lu and Zeng Shunxi. The supporting cast also shone, with many carrying the main storyline at different points. The show wouldn’t have been the same without them.
As a whole, the drama is absolutely wonderful—powerful and introspective. The narrative is an odyssey of sorts, telling an epic story across timelines that brings you into the characters’ hardships and evolving lives. The misfortunes speak to your soul and make you feel deeply. And there are comedic pauses and beautiful cinematography that engage the senses so that the trauma isn’t overwhelming.
But what made this drama difficult for me wasn’t the plot, which centered on hate and revenge—it was how the main character, Siling, translated those elements on screen. There was never enough justification, for me, for how she enacted her malice. Though I understood, intellectually, why she felt hatred and pain—I wished her choices had been executed differently. I think she could have delivered the same wrath without the vicious brutality. And that’s where Siling, and Feud as a whole, lost me. It’s just not my cup of tea to watch people be that brutal to one another. That’s also why I’ve struggled with other dramas like Love & Bid Farewell and Goodbye, My Princess.
So while I was immersed and highly engaged in the beginning and end, episodes 17–27 made it hard for me to imagine watching this again. And for a drama to make it onto my top watch list, my personal criteria is that I must be able to rewatch it. With that said, the performances were phenomenal—especially from Bai Lu and Zeng Shunxi. The supporting cast also shone, with many carrying the main storyline at different points. The show wouldn’t have been the same without them.
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