This review may contain spoilers
Great Remake Drama
I binge-watched this when it reached 18 episodes. From the first episode, I directly know this is a remake from a Korean Drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
The Storyline
Negative:
- Too draggy.
The original packed up in 20 episodes, while this version in a total of 35 episodes. Like the archery plot, while the original only takes 1.5 episodes, this one spends almost 5 episodes.
- Too many unnecessary additional episodes
This version even adds 3 episodes just to show how brilliant Wen Bin is as a novelist. I find this kinda unimportant because they can pack it to 1 ep only, or just delete it
- Slow romance development
While in the original Seon Jun already has a glimpse that he is in love with Yoon Sik at eps 3, even crazy enough to confess his feeling at eps 6. I'm disappointed that the romance start at episode 26.
- Change some cute romance point
They deleted all the sweet things between the FL and Second ML.
Also, the point that Seon Jun is in love with Yoon Sik while he does still not know about Yoon Sik's real identity. But in this drama Cheng Jun in love with Wen Bin after he figured out that he actually a woman... not special at all :(
- Change some cute remarkable details
The most famous thing from the original is the bromance between Yong Hwa and Jae Shin. This version both Le Xuan and Lei Ao is just a childhood friend, no bromance at all :(
Not to mention Jae Shin's woman allergy, Yong Hwa's womanizer..., too many good details got deleted
- No second lead syndrome
Seriously, I wonder why they deleted this part. In the original Jae Shin and Yoon Sik has some cute scenes together and I really feel Jae Shin is better than Seo Jun. But this version gives zero opportunity to Lei Ao. I really feel sorry for Lei Ao
Positive :
- Draggy but still interesting
Some plots make this version better than the original. Like the plot when Wen Xi and Lei Ao were almost expelled due to bar fight. The writer has a lot of time to pictured their effort to be able to stay in the academy.
- Complete some missing parts
In the ending part of the original, Cho Sun just turned out to be an assassin from the Ha's family... where this is all come from?? This version already told that Mu Xiao Man is looking for justice for her father's murder and secretly meet someone in order to do so.
- All characters ending are well explained
In the original, I really wonder what happened to Yoon Sik's family, how's the punishment for Ha's family, how's the rest of the Ha's will do since their father committed some serious crimes, etc.... this version gives good ending for everyone. Even Wen Bin could get his health back
- Love Story between Ha In Soo/Han Zhi Sheng and Cho Sun/Mu Xiao Man
The romance between these two in the original is a bit weird and I feel something missing. But this version portrays it better and the reason why Mu Xiao Man always rejects Zhi Sheng becomes clear and makes sense.
I want to compare the big 4 lead characters
In terms of acting quality, in my opinion, all cast did quite an amazing job. They all create their own version of the character instead of copying the Korean.
Lee Seon Jun and Feng Chen Jun
I can't say much since both characters totally the same. I love both actor's interpretation. In terms of physical looks... I prefer Song Wei Long XD
Kim Yoon Sik/Kim Yun Hee and Xue Wen Bin/Xue Wen Xi
I have no concern about both actresses acting. Both of them did well in playing the character. But, regarding the character, I choose Yoon Sik as the winner. I admitted that I hate Wen Bin sulky personality until the middle part of the drama. At first, I was OK, but then I can't help but feel annoyed. Her sulkiness often put all her friend in trouble.
While Kim Yoon Sik tries her best to hide her identity as a girl, Wen Bin weirdly kinda tries to show her interest to Chen Jun. She even asked some silly questions like "Do think of me as a girl?" What kind of man asked that to a man. Just reveal your identity, silly!
She can accidentally just stop talking and avoid Chen Jun, leaving Chen Jun in complete confusion. If I were Chen Jun, I will just leave this annoyingly sulky friend who seemingly loves to stop talking and avoiding me for no reason. I can't see why Chen Jun treasured Wen Bin because he gains no benefit in being his friend. I even had a thought that Chen Jun insists to be Wen Bin's friend due to his weird desire to befriend with the commoner
Moon Jae Shin and Lei Ao
Jae Shin is my fav character, In the original, he is the youngest child from a strong Noron (noble) family with amazing fighting skills and smartness. He is soo strong but extremely cute, protective and dependable. This character even brought Yoo Ah In to be an A-class actor in Korea. Sadly, I feel nothing special in Lei Ao. He just an ordinary character.
Gu Yong Hwa and Yu Le Xuan
Gu Yong Hwa is also a protagonist character from Noron side. He is a narcissistic womanizer with the famous line "I am Gu Yong Hwa", which means there's nothing he can't do because he is Gu Yong Hwa. Yong Hwa is cunning (in a good way), cute rascal, and strategist. This character also the one reason that made Song Joon Ki as famous as he is now.
Sadly, again in this version, I feel nothing special on Le Xuan. I don't care if the writer made him is a fake noble... I just don't understand why the writer destroys this remarkable character. Despite that, Le Xuan is a great friend and senior, also a great negotiator, he's still lost if got compared to Chen Jun... so, it does lose its special side.
Overall, this is an interesting remake and I would like to rewatch this again
The Storyline
Negative:
- Too draggy.
The original packed up in 20 episodes, while this version in a total of 35 episodes. Like the archery plot, while the original only takes 1.5 episodes, this one spends almost 5 episodes.
- Too many unnecessary additional episodes
This version even adds 3 episodes just to show how brilliant Wen Bin is as a novelist. I find this kinda unimportant because they can pack it to 1 ep only, or just delete it
- Slow romance development
While in the original Seon Jun already has a glimpse that he is in love with Yoon Sik at eps 3, even crazy enough to confess his feeling at eps 6. I'm disappointed that the romance start at episode 26.
- Change some cute romance point
They deleted all the sweet things between the FL and Second ML.
Also, the point that Seon Jun is in love with Yoon Sik while he does still not know about Yoon Sik's real identity. But in this drama Cheng Jun in love with Wen Bin after he figured out that he actually a woman... not special at all :(
- Change some cute remarkable details
The most famous thing from the original is the bromance between Yong Hwa and Jae Shin. This version both Le Xuan and Lei Ao is just a childhood friend, no bromance at all :(
Not to mention Jae Shin's woman allergy, Yong Hwa's womanizer..., too many good details got deleted
- No second lead syndrome
Seriously, I wonder why they deleted this part. In the original Jae Shin and Yoon Sik has some cute scenes together and I really feel Jae Shin is better than Seo Jun. But this version gives zero opportunity to Lei Ao. I really feel sorry for Lei Ao
Positive :
- Draggy but still interesting
Some plots make this version better than the original. Like the plot when Wen Xi and Lei Ao were almost expelled due to bar fight. The writer has a lot of time to pictured their effort to be able to stay in the academy.
- Complete some missing parts
In the ending part of the original, Cho Sun just turned out to be an assassin from the Ha's family... where this is all come from?? This version already told that Mu Xiao Man is looking for justice for her father's murder and secretly meet someone in order to do so.
- All characters ending are well explained
In the original, I really wonder what happened to Yoon Sik's family, how's the punishment for Ha's family, how's the rest of the Ha's will do since their father committed some serious crimes, etc.... this version gives good ending for everyone. Even Wen Bin could get his health back
- Love Story between Ha In Soo/Han Zhi Sheng and Cho Sun/Mu Xiao Man
The romance between these two in the original is a bit weird and I feel something missing. But this version portrays it better and the reason why Mu Xiao Man always rejects Zhi Sheng becomes clear and makes sense.
I want to compare the big 4 lead characters
In terms of acting quality, in my opinion, all cast did quite an amazing job. They all create their own version of the character instead of copying the Korean.
Lee Seon Jun and Feng Chen Jun
I can't say much since both characters totally the same. I love both actor's interpretation. In terms of physical looks... I prefer Song Wei Long XD
Kim Yoon Sik/Kim Yun Hee and Xue Wen Bin/Xue Wen Xi
I have no concern about both actresses acting. Both of them did well in playing the character. But, regarding the character, I choose Yoon Sik as the winner. I admitted that I hate Wen Bin sulky personality until the middle part of the drama. At first, I was OK, but then I can't help but feel annoyed. Her sulkiness often put all her friend in trouble.
While Kim Yoon Sik tries her best to hide her identity as a girl, Wen Bin weirdly kinda tries to show her interest to Chen Jun. She even asked some silly questions like "Do think of me as a girl?" What kind of man asked that to a man. Just reveal your identity, silly!
She can accidentally just stop talking and avoid Chen Jun, leaving Chen Jun in complete confusion. If I were Chen Jun, I will just leave this annoyingly sulky friend who seemingly loves to stop talking and avoiding me for no reason. I can't see why Chen Jun treasured Wen Bin because he gains no benefit in being his friend. I even had a thought that Chen Jun insists to be Wen Bin's friend due to his weird desire to befriend with the commoner
Moon Jae Shin and Lei Ao
Jae Shin is my fav character, In the original, he is the youngest child from a strong Noron (noble) family with amazing fighting skills and smartness. He is soo strong but extremely cute, protective and dependable. This character even brought Yoo Ah In to be an A-class actor in Korea. Sadly, I feel nothing special in Lei Ao. He just an ordinary character.
Gu Yong Hwa and Yu Le Xuan
Gu Yong Hwa is also a protagonist character from Noron side. He is a narcissistic womanizer with the famous line "I am Gu Yong Hwa", which means there's nothing he can't do because he is Gu Yong Hwa. Yong Hwa is cunning (in a good way), cute rascal, and strategist. This character also the one reason that made Song Joon Ki as famous as he is now.
Sadly, again in this version, I feel nothing special on Le Xuan. I don't care if the writer made him is a fake noble... I just don't understand why the writer destroys this remarkable character. Despite that, Le Xuan is a great friend and senior, also a great negotiator, he's still lost if got compared to Chen Jun... so, it does lose its special side.
Overall, this is an interesting remake and I would like to rewatch this again
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