This review may contain spoilers
Too-Perfect Male Lead and a Morally Gray Female Lead
Wonderland of Love is a mix of political drama and romance, following the story of Li Ni, the Seventeenth Prince, and Cui Lin, a strong yet complicated woman. Li Ni is the unfavored son of an emperor who doesn’t respect him. Though Li Ni prefers to live far away from the drama of the royal family, he is forced to take action when his father is taken hostage. On his journey, he meets Lieutenant He—later revealed to be Cui Lin, the daughter of General Cui Yi—who disguises herself as a man to complete her mission. Their relationship starts with clashes and misunderstandings but eventually grows into a partnership and romance.
One thing I liked about this show is its pacing. There are no unnecessary episodes; every part of the story feels important. The fight scenes are exciting and well-shot, and the acting is great, especially from the leads. Even the secondary male characters, though annoying at times, give strong performances. The opening song is also very good and matches the tone of the show.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. Li Ni is a capable and noble character, but I feel like he avoids responsibility too much. He doesn’t want to fight for the Crown Prince position and prefers to stay out of royal politics. While that might seem honorable, it also feels like he is running away from his duties. The Cui family saw him as someone who could bring justice and strength to the kingdom, but his reluctance to act gave his enemies opportunities to strike. His refusal to see the danger in his own family led to the deaths of his soldiers, which could have been avoided if he had taken a stronger stand earlier.
Cui Lin, on the other hand, is a character who grows on you. At first, she seems cold and willing to do anything to complete her mission. But as the story goes on, you see that she’s a survivor, shaped by growing up in a military family that valued men over women. She works twice as hard to prove herself and doesn’t trust people easily. Some viewers think she’s unworthy of Li Ni because of her scheming ways in the beginning, but I think she’s much more realistic. She doesn’t rush into trusting or loving someone, but once she does, she’s all in. A great moment for her is when her father is poisoned, and she defends Li Ni from accusations even against her own people. This shows her fairness and loyalty, which some viewers overlook.
The biggest weakness of the show is the lack of a strong villain. Li Ni is written as such a powerful character that the enemies don’t feel like a real challenge. It makes some conflicts feel too easy and predictable. There are also some repetitive scenes, which can make parts of the story drag.
Overall, Wonderland of Love is a good drama with solid pacing, great performances, and strong action.
One thing I liked about this show is its pacing. There are no unnecessary episodes; every part of the story feels important. The fight scenes are exciting and well-shot, and the acting is great, especially from the leads. Even the secondary male characters, though annoying at times, give strong performances. The opening song is also very good and matches the tone of the show.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. Li Ni is a capable and noble character, but I feel like he avoids responsibility too much. He doesn’t want to fight for the Crown Prince position and prefers to stay out of royal politics. While that might seem honorable, it also feels like he is running away from his duties. The Cui family saw him as someone who could bring justice and strength to the kingdom, but his reluctance to act gave his enemies opportunities to strike. His refusal to see the danger in his own family led to the deaths of his soldiers, which could have been avoided if he had taken a stronger stand earlier.
Cui Lin, on the other hand, is a character who grows on you. At first, she seems cold and willing to do anything to complete her mission. But as the story goes on, you see that she’s a survivor, shaped by growing up in a military family that valued men over women. She works twice as hard to prove herself and doesn’t trust people easily. Some viewers think she’s unworthy of Li Ni because of her scheming ways in the beginning, but I think she’s much more realistic. She doesn’t rush into trusting or loving someone, but once she does, she’s all in. A great moment for her is when her father is poisoned, and she defends Li Ni from accusations even against her own people. This shows her fairness and loyalty, which some viewers overlook.
The biggest weakness of the show is the lack of a strong villain. Li Ni is written as such a powerful character that the enemies don’t feel like a real challenge. It makes some conflicts feel too easy and predictable. There are also some repetitive scenes, which can make parts of the story drag.
Overall, Wonderland of Love is a good drama with solid pacing, great performances, and strong action.
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