2
This review may contain spoilers
Entertaining storyline tainted by gratuitous midpoint & lackluster climax | FL's vexing self-guilt
"When the water is too clear, no fish can survive. If one seeks an uncorrupted rule, perhaps the first step is to cast away purity itself." - Mu Tian Ji
Looking back, I must admit I was a little inattentive during the first five episodes of this drama, which mostly incorporated the typical idol drama tropes I've grown tired of. However, everything shifted the moment the second male lead, Situ Ling, was introduced. His arrival was the definitive turning point that captured my attention and drew me completely into the narrative. It was not because I was bored or dissatisfied with the main leads, but rather because the energy and aura he exuded brought brightness to the romance that rivaled the male lead and elevated the drama's overall synergy—leaving me captivated and utterly hooked.
The story as a whole was, in fact, entertaining. I enjoyed the execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope and thoroughly appreciated how the plot gradually and consistently developed the main characters' relationship. It went from:
• Ming Yi trying to figure out how to navigate her life around Ji Bozai.
• To Ji Bozai relentlessly gauging, doubting, and guarding himself against Ming Yi's every action.
• To their mutual cooperation on several occasions to defend themselves against their enemies.
• To him slowly warming up after getting to know her better.
• To them finally developing feelings for one another and, eventually, falling in love.
The overall development of the first half was genuinely fun, gripping, and compelling. This dynamic was made even livelier and more interesting by the initially pure and completely smitten disposition of the second male lead, Situ Ling, toward Ming Yi; the emotional conflict and drama surrounding the second couple, Mu Tian Ji and Yan Xiao; and the combination of the ever-adorable Er Shi Qi (Twenty Seven) alongside the ingenuous and childlike yet charming Bu Xiu—our main leads' Companion Beasts who made the show increasingly enjoyable to watch.
My main issue with the story, however, arises at the midpoint shift, when Ming Yi firmly refuses to reveal her condition—which requires the Golden Millet Dream to cure her—to Ji Bozai. This is where the plot started to shatter and crumble, as it severely disrupted what had been a logically consistent run of the story, leaving me utterly baffled and infuriated by how stubborn the FL was in sticking to her principles.
Believe it or not, I strived to look at Ming Yi's perspective with a pair of objective eyes—trying to understand where she was coming from, while considering and justifying her every action and decision. I thought that it might have been highly influenced by the strong guilt over her continuous lies to deceive him, even after he had laid himself completely bare to her. However, I don't think it was entirely necessary to go as far as letting herself suffer to death just to prove a point on how remorseful she was. It may sound noble, yes, but in reality, it was a display of insanity in the form of self-sacrifice—an act of an overactive conscience that I find to be totally uncalled for. This is why, despite my genuine attempts to consider her upbringing, experiences, and every other aspect there is that must have influenced her to act that way, I always still ended up frustrated. Even Ji Bozai himself had expressed his acceptance, trust, and leniency toward her, hoping that she'd also come clean and be true to him. Yet, she still chose to remain firm and continue with her theft scheme. Like gurl? I am so sorry, but what is this unnecessary extra drama for? *Exasperated sigh*
At one point, I even thought she was just being incredibly egoistic—guilt-tripping herself because, unlike Ji Bozai, she couldn't be completely genuine with him. Which later translates to her character becoming inconsiderate to the people around her. She thought she was the only one who was going to shoulder all the repercussions, but little did she know that her choices and sufferings were connected to and could greatly affect the ones who deeply cared for her—namely Er Shi Qi (Twenty Seven), her companion beast. His sacrifice to keep her safe is what cemented my irritation toward Ming Yi's self-inflicted, dramatic plight. I was so extremely furious at that time; it itched my skin to think they created a dramatic scene for this plot when it was completely avoidable. If she had not been overly self-flagellating and excessively guilt-tripping herself, he would not have had to sacrifice himself, and they would not have been in that miserable situation at all. So, it was such a relief that they created a redemption plot to revive Er Shi Qi later toward the climax. It would have been truly unacceptable if he had died, not in a battle, but by sacrificing himself for a cause that was absolutely preventable.
This is totally uncalled-for, nonsensical writing. It's just not convincing at all, considering that even Ji Bozai lied and deceived Ming Yi for a good amount of time. The only difference is that he gradually learned to accept, trust, and be truthful to her, while she remained forever stuck in the sturdy bubble of guilt she created for herself, until Ji Bozai finally burst it and discovered her true objective and real identity.
To some, Ji Bozai's decision to leave a trap using the Golden Millet Dream to catch Ming Yi may seem like a contradictory action, given how he mentioned he trusted her. But for me, it was his high-stakes gamble on their relationship, born out of desperation. He knew that she was still keeping secrets from him, while he, in numerous instances, never failed to make it clear that he was no longer hiding anything and would understand her objectives as long as she genuinely bared herself to him. It was his final ray of hope to keep his faith in her—a way of telling her that he could overlook everything and that her honesty was all he needed in return. Consequently, this turned from a clever yet petty trap into a tragic confirmation of her betrayal and fake sincerity. By being caught in the act of stealing the GMD, she proved that she was still hiding her real agenda despite feigning disinterest over it on multiple occasions. This turn of events instantly crashed their fragile relationship, the foundations of which greatly relied on Ji Bozai's genuine love and affection but lacked Ming Yi's trust and sincerity. It was like a brutal slap of reality, proving that Ming Yi's true intention and goal all along was the GMD, which automatically invalidated the credibility and sincerity of the feelings she had shown him. It was also an indirect confirmation that she had approached and stayed with him for the GMD, and that alone. What's worse is how she refused to tell him the truth even after getting caught, and despite Er Shi Qi's persuasion to get her to tell Ji Bozai the truth! Good grief!
This brings to mind a scene where Ji Bozai told his master's (Bo Yulan) portrait that he didn't care who Ming Yi was or what her real motive was; all he cared about was that her feelings for him were true. He even went ahead with openly letting her into his spiritual well and undoing the spell on the Golden Millet Dream, ultimately putting his guard down. It could have been the perfect chance for her to confide in him and tell him the truth; however, Ming Yi still opted for an irrationally stupid path instead of sincerely telling him the actual reason why she had approached him. She really made me pull my hair out in frustration! She didn't want him to go against his master's wish of prohibiting the GMD from resurfacing again, so she chose to steal it instead? My goodness! Make that sh*t make sense!! Everything could have gone the peaceful way, keeping the narrative shorter and unspoiled, but she still chose otherwise. I guess, I will never fully comprehend her rationale for choosing that outrageously dumb path, which could have been completely avoided in the first place. In the end, I have decided to label it as her noble yet utterly stupid self-flagellation—her compunctive guilt, which acted up and went far above and beyond!
I understand that the writers wanted to add drama and conflict to their premature relationship; however, the reasoning and the way it was executed were both so stupid that it left me wondering and asking myself: What is up with this unnecessary additional drama? *Shakes my head*
To conclude this part of my review, let me say that the whole midpoint plot greatly derailed the story for me. Her gratuitous penance and extreme exhibition of self-reproach truly pissed me off. It was just extremely baffling how she chose to steal it, even when Ji Bozai had already given her permission to take it and didn't really mind defying his master's will since it was for her. In the end, it was still used to save her, right? Grr! To set the record straight here, let me say that Ji Bozai was open to her taking it, but definitely not through stealing it. He only got mad out of sheer disappointment when she decided to steal it instead of sincerely asking him for it. This is really the plot point that changed the trajectory of the story, and it easily became my biggest frustration with the show.
Fortunately, after all that illogical drama, the narrative finally got back on the right track. The unraveling of both the main leads' true identities was executed flawlessly, untangling and answering all the hidden knots in the plot. This section of the story also greatly exhibits Ming Yi's profound understanding of Ji Bozai, which redeemed her character for me! I'm glad the writers finally came to their senses. If not, I would have had unfinished beef against Ming Yi until the end.
The climax, on the other hand, was a total letdown. They built it up to be the absolute pinnacle of the drama, only for the execution to fall completely flat. My heightened anticipation went right down the drain because the ending was so perplexingly underwhelming and anticlimactic. I can't wrap my head around how a single combined attack—one that didn't even look that formidable—instantly destroyed the massive, seemingly indestructible Sky-swallowing array. Like, how does that even make sense? I am completely at a loss for words. All I can say is that it was incredibly disappointing.
On the bright side, I am glad they at least gave us a satisfying happy ending. I particularly adore the Ji Bozai drunk scene. Heaven knows I was feeling kind of sad that I didn't see much of Neo Hou's adorable side in this drama, but I was immediately struck with great joy upon seeing him acting all cute and mushy during the drunk marriage proposal scene. Let me also just commend the cinematography of this scene, especially the backdrop and the high-angle shot. It captured the romantic atmosphere of their kissing scene perfectly. I am so grateful! Cravings satisfied! Therefore, I would say that this greatly compensates for the ridiculous midpoint plot and underwhelming climax they served us with.
I hereby conclude that the writers of the midpoint plot and the climax are either the same person or somehow related. Why? Because they both write such crappy plot.
Lastly, it's ironic how the character (Yan Xiao) whom I initially loathed for being servile turned out to be a genuinely nice person, while the character (Situ Ling/Chao Yuan) I initially adored for his absolute loyalty and purity turned out to be the final antagonist, whom I now hate and pity for how miserable and despicable he has become.
"To cower before the possibility of failure is to set ourselves up for failure. You don't surrender to your fate. You write your own fate." Ji Bozai
Story - 9.0 - Despite the underwhelming execution of the climax and midpoint plot that greatly spoiled my watch experience, I must say that I still enjoyed and was incredibly entertained by this show. I love all of the comical scenes, especially the ones that revolve around Er Shi Qi & Bu Xiu. Their chemistry is really 'giving.' Will it be strange if I say that they're my favorite ship in this drama? I swear, I could create a BL story out of them. Hahaha!
Acting/Cast - 10, The actors' and actresses' execution was spot on! Like, there's nothing more I could ask for. Heck, I can't even bring myself to hate the antagonistic characters because of how brilliant their performances are. My standout performances here are Yu Cheng En, He Nan, and Yu Yao. Special mention to Lu Qi and, of course, Neo Hou, who never fails to captivate me every time.
Music - 10, Truly one of the rare dramas that has an excellent roster of beautiful songs—the ballads! I can literally listen to the entire soundtrack on repeat multiple times.
Rewatch Value - 9.0, The poor writing of the midpoint plot and underwhelming execution of the climax really tainted this drama for me. I still had an enjoyable time watching this, though.
Overall - 9.0, If only they had not messed up a couple of times... I still blame the writers for incorporating such poor, irrational, and cliché writing.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
Looking back, I must admit I was a little inattentive during the first five episodes of this drama, which mostly incorporated the typical idol drama tropes I've grown tired of. However, everything shifted the moment the second male lead, Situ Ling, was introduced. His arrival was the definitive turning point that captured my attention and drew me completely into the narrative. It was not because I was bored or dissatisfied with the main leads, but rather because the energy and aura he exuded brought brightness to the romance that rivaled the male lead and elevated the drama's overall synergy—leaving me captivated and utterly hooked.
The story as a whole was, in fact, entertaining. I enjoyed the execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope and thoroughly appreciated how the plot gradually and consistently developed the main characters' relationship. It went from:
• Ming Yi trying to figure out how to navigate her life around Ji Bozai.
• To Ji Bozai relentlessly gauging, doubting, and guarding himself against Ming Yi's every action.
• To their mutual cooperation on several occasions to defend themselves against their enemies.
• To him slowly warming up after getting to know her better.
• To them finally developing feelings for one another and, eventually, falling in love.
The overall development of the first half was genuinely fun, gripping, and compelling. This dynamic was made even livelier and more interesting by the initially pure and completely smitten disposition of the second male lead, Situ Ling, toward Ming Yi; the emotional conflict and drama surrounding the second couple, Mu Tian Ji and Yan Xiao; and the combination of the ever-adorable Er Shi Qi (Twenty Seven) alongside the ingenuous and childlike yet charming Bu Xiu—our main leads' Companion Beasts who made the show increasingly enjoyable to watch.
My main issue with the story, however, arises at the midpoint shift, when Ming Yi firmly refuses to reveal her condition—which requires the Golden Millet Dream to cure her—to Ji Bozai. This is where the plot started to shatter and crumble, as it severely disrupted what had been a logically consistent run of the story, leaving me utterly baffled and infuriated by how stubborn the FL was in sticking to her principles.
Believe it or not, I strived to look at Ming Yi's perspective with a pair of objective eyes—trying to understand where she was coming from, while considering and justifying her every action and decision. I thought that it might have been highly influenced by the strong guilt over her continuous lies to deceive him, even after he had laid himself completely bare to her. However, I don't think it was entirely necessary to go as far as letting herself suffer to death just to prove a point on how remorseful she was. It may sound noble, yes, but in reality, it was a display of insanity in the form of self-sacrifice—an act of an overactive conscience that I find to be totally uncalled for. This is why, despite my genuine attempts to consider her upbringing, experiences, and every other aspect there is that must have influenced her to act that way, I always still ended up frustrated. Even Ji Bozai himself had expressed his acceptance, trust, and leniency toward her, hoping that she'd also come clean and be true to him. Yet, she still chose to remain firm and continue with her theft scheme. Like gurl? I am so sorry, but what is this unnecessary extra drama for? *Exasperated sigh*
At one point, I even thought she was just being incredibly egoistic—guilt-tripping herself because, unlike Ji Bozai, she couldn't be completely genuine with him. Which later translates to her character becoming inconsiderate to the people around her. She thought she was the only one who was going to shoulder all the repercussions, but little did she know that her choices and sufferings were connected to and could greatly affect the ones who deeply cared for her—namely Er Shi Qi (Twenty Seven), her companion beast. His sacrifice to keep her safe is what cemented my irritation toward Ming Yi's self-inflicted, dramatic plight. I was so extremely furious at that time; it itched my skin to think they created a dramatic scene for this plot when it was completely avoidable. If she had not been overly self-flagellating and excessively guilt-tripping herself, he would not have had to sacrifice himself, and they would not have been in that miserable situation at all. So, it was such a relief that they created a redemption plot to revive Er Shi Qi later toward the climax. It would have been truly unacceptable if he had died, not in a battle, but by sacrificing himself for a cause that was absolutely preventable.
This is totally uncalled-for, nonsensical writing. It's just not convincing at all, considering that even Ji Bozai lied and deceived Ming Yi for a good amount of time. The only difference is that he gradually learned to accept, trust, and be truthful to her, while she remained forever stuck in the sturdy bubble of guilt she created for herself, until Ji Bozai finally burst it and discovered her true objective and real identity.
To some, Ji Bozai's decision to leave a trap using the Golden Millet Dream to catch Ming Yi may seem like a contradictory action, given how he mentioned he trusted her. But for me, it was his high-stakes gamble on their relationship, born out of desperation. He knew that she was still keeping secrets from him, while he, in numerous instances, never failed to make it clear that he was no longer hiding anything and would understand her objectives as long as she genuinely bared herself to him. It was his final ray of hope to keep his faith in her—a way of telling her that he could overlook everything and that her honesty was all he needed in return. Consequently, this turned from a clever yet petty trap into a tragic confirmation of her betrayal and fake sincerity. By being caught in the act of stealing the GMD, she proved that she was still hiding her real agenda despite feigning disinterest over it on multiple occasions. This turn of events instantly crashed their fragile relationship, the foundations of which greatly relied on Ji Bozai's genuine love and affection but lacked Ming Yi's trust and sincerity. It was like a brutal slap of reality, proving that Ming Yi's true intention and goal all along was the GMD, which automatically invalidated the credibility and sincerity of the feelings she had shown him. It was also an indirect confirmation that she had approached and stayed with him for the GMD, and that alone. What's worse is how she refused to tell him the truth even after getting caught, and despite Er Shi Qi's persuasion to get her to tell Ji Bozai the truth! Good grief!
This brings to mind a scene where Ji Bozai told his master's (Bo Yulan) portrait that he didn't care who Ming Yi was or what her real motive was; all he cared about was that her feelings for him were true. He even went ahead with openly letting her into his spiritual well and undoing the spell on the Golden Millet Dream, ultimately putting his guard down. It could have been the perfect chance for her to confide in him and tell him the truth; however, Ming Yi still opted for an irrationally stupid path instead of sincerely telling him the actual reason why she had approached him. She really made me pull my hair out in frustration! She didn't want him to go against his master's wish of prohibiting the GMD from resurfacing again, so she chose to steal it instead? My goodness! Make that sh*t make sense!! Everything could have gone the peaceful way, keeping the narrative shorter and unspoiled, but she still chose otherwise. I guess, I will never fully comprehend her rationale for choosing that outrageously dumb path, which could have been completely avoided in the first place. In the end, I have decided to label it as her noble yet utterly stupid self-flagellation—her compunctive guilt, which acted up and went far above and beyond!
I understand that the writers wanted to add drama and conflict to their premature relationship; however, the reasoning and the way it was executed were both so stupid that it left me wondering and asking myself: What is up with this unnecessary additional drama? *Shakes my head*
To conclude this part of my review, let me say that the whole midpoint plot greatly derailed the story for me. Her gratuitous penance and extreme exhibition of self-reproach truly pissed me off. It was just extremely baffling how she chose to steal it, even when Ji Bozai had already given her permission to take it and didn't really mind defying his master's will since it was for her. In the end, it was still used to save her, right? Grr! To set the record straight here, let me say that Ji Bozai was open to her taking it, but definitely not through stealing it. He only got mad out of sheer disappointment when she decided to steal it instead of sincerely asking him for it. This is really the plot point that changed the trajectory of the story, and it easily became my biggest frustration with the show.
Fortunately, after all that illogical drama, the narrative finally got back on the right track. The unraveling of both the main leads' true identities was executed flawlessly, untangling and answering all the hidden knots in the plot. This section of the story also greatly exhibits Ming Yi's profound understanding of Ji Bozai, which redeemed her character for me! I'm glad the writers finally came to their senses. If not, I would have had unfinished beef against Ming Yi until the end.
The climax, on the other hand, was a total letdown. They built it up to be the absolute pinnacle of the drama, only for the execution to fall completely flat. My heightened anticipation went right down the drain because the ending was so perplexingly underwhelming and anticlimactic. I can't wrap my head around how a single combined attack—one that didn't even look that formidable—instantly destroyed the massive, seemingly indestructible Sky-swallowing array. Like, how does that even make sense? I am completely at a loss for words. All I can say is that it was incredibly disappointing.
On the bright side, I am glad they at least gave us a satisfying happy ending. I particularly adore the Ji Bozai drunk scene. Heaven knows I was feeling kind of sad that I didn't see much of Neo Hou's adorable side in this drama, but I was immediately struck with great joy upon seeing him acting all cute and mushy during the drunk marriage proposal scene. Let me also just commend the cinematography of this scene, especially the backdrop and the high-angle shot. It captured the romantic atmosphere of their kissing scene perfectly. I am so grateful! Cravings satisfied! Therefore, I would say that this greatly compensates for the ridiculous midpoint plot and underwhelming climax they served us with.
I hereby conclude that the writers of the midpoint plot and the climax are either the same person or somehow related. Why? Because they both write such crappy plot.
Lastly, it's ironic how the character (Yan Xiao) whom I initially loathed for being servile turned out to be a genuinely nice person, while the character (Situ Ling/Chao Yuan) I initially adored for his absolute loyalty and purity turned out to be the final antagonist, whom I now hate and pity for how miserable and despicable he has become.
"To cower before the possibility of failure is to set ourselves up for failure. You don't surrender to your fate. You write your own fate." Ji Bozai
Story - 9.0 - Despite the underwhelming execution of the climax and midpoint plot that greatly spoiled my watch experience, I must say that I still enjoyed and was incredibly entertained by this show. I love all of the comical scenes, especially the ones that revolve around Er Shi Qi & Bu Xiu. Their chemistry is really 'giving.' Will it be strange if I say that they're my favorite ship in this drama? I swear, I could create a BL story out of them. Hahaha!
Acting/Cast - 10, The actors' and actresses' execution was spot on! Like, there's nothing more I could ask for. Heck, I can't even bring myself to hate the antagonistic characters because of how brilliant their performances are. My standout performances here are Yu Cheng En, He Nan, and Yu Yao. Special mention to Lu Qi and, of course, Neo Hou, who never fails to captivate me every time.
Music - 10, Truly one of the rare dramas that has an excellent roster of beautiful songs—the ballads! I can literally listen to the entire soundtrack on repeat multiple times.
Rewatch Value - 9.0, The poor writing of the midpoint plot and underwhelming execution of the climax really tainted this drama for me. I still had an enjoyable time watching this, though.
Overall - 9.0, If only they had not messed up a couple of times... I still blame the writers for incorporating such poor, irrational, and cliché writing.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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