Shreya

Let me start by giving an old production warning since it’s something to keep in mind when watching this drama. The Legend of Rosy Clouds was filmed in 2023 and suffered from censorship and copyright issues which means it has some questionable editing, random scene cuts and incoherent storytelling, especially in the initial episodes. To top it all, this drama is fairly low budget so you can expect some mediocre action scenes, beautiful but repetitive costumes and overall, a pretty outdated production quality.

So, if you are a fan of the original work or just a lover of the current high-budget costume dramas, it is best to approach this drama with some caution.

Then what’s good about this drama? I’d say the humour. Personally, the comedy is the biggest strength of this drama, which makes it incredibly engaging and really fun to watch. Sometimes the humour is subtle, sometimes it's loud but it’s thoroughly entertaining and never fails to make me laugh.

The underlying plot is decent and has potential, but the execution is not always the best - and in my experience, this drama is more enjoyable when it’s not taken seriously. The characters are interesting and have really fun dynamics which don't feel forced and are naturally funny thanks to the strong acting by the entire cast.

Which brings us to the strongest attraction of this drama - its stellar cast. Joseph Zeng, Li Yitong, Deng Wei, Riley Wang, Dai Luwa, Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin in one drama, need I say more? As this drama was filmed before most of them had their breakthrough, it’s filled with some big names in supporting roles, so rest assured the acting is in good hands.

I loved Joseph as our male lead, Qi Zheng. He is goofy, expressive and fun but also clever and clear-headed when the situation calls for it. He is sincere in his actions and has such a fun dynamic with literally every single character. While it’s my first time seeing Li Yitong, I liked her as the kind and decisive Fan Yun. She’s smart and rational with big dreams and very little interest in romance. It takes some time for the drama to properly establish the tone of her character, but I think it does get there eventually.

The romance is there but it’s not the central focus of the story. The love triangle is also there but again, not the focus. And I personally found the main couple really cute, so I didn’t care much for the second male lead. Just watch it for Deng Wei’s pretty visuals.

The second couple on the other hand is a total scene stealer. Riley and Dai Luwa were amazing together and have such great chemistry that I need them as leads in another drama.

Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin as a duo or with Joseph as a trio is my most favourite part of this drama. I’m admittedly biased but I really enjoyed their interactions and loved every second they were on my screen.

In fact, this is one of those dramas where I’m more invested in the fillers than the actual plot because everything is just so fun. So, if you have a cast member anchoring you to the story, it's definitely worth watching. If you don’t but are in a mood for something light and fun, it’s still worth a shot to see if you can overlook the imperfections.

Overall, while The Legend of Rosy Clouds is flawed, it’s visually pretty with some really nice osts, great acting and exceptionally good comedy. So, if you are willing to give it some grace, you might actually get surprised by how enjoyable this drama is and for me, I’m honestly just glad that we can finally watch this drama.