Love for Cāng Lán Jué..

This was the first chinese drama that I actually finished and which made me wish it wasn't ending...

I had tried two other C-dramas in the past that I didn't/couldn't finish watching and ended up falling back on my trusted K-dramas...

However. This one...

This one was ... EPIC.

I mean who DOESN'T love a well done enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-lovers story? Right?

There are many other beloved and familiar archetypes and overarching themes that the story relates to, but the above is the core theme driving the drama...

The first half is funny-as (there's a body swap happening and the male lead did an amazing job here)... while the second half is all angst. Have tissues ready...And I mean multiple boxes. I have now watched this 5 times, and the impact doesn't lessen.

AT. ALL.

This is unashamedly a love story... but beyond this main theme, one has comedy, fantasy (backed up by the most amazing CGI), action and adventure (ohh the fight scenes are ?), and the symbolisms throughout it all is wonderfully done.

The female lead is actually intelligent and bold - taking the initiative first in many aspects of the relationship, and also demands for equality and equity not just in their own relationship but in other aspects as well.

She has played three different roles in this drama, and each time, her voice, facial expressions and body language was nuanced to ensure we understood the person at their core identity level...

Same for the male lead. They both actually outdid EVERYTHING they have either done in the past. They GREW here as actors. How much they invested of themselves in this drama, shows in some of the BTS of the truly emotional scenes. Again. Keep tissues ready.

Kudos to the writers ?

Also shout out to the entire team.. from the costumes to the set designs, make up, and also the OST.. everything was a chef's kiss... They took four years to fine tune it all before starting shooting and it shows.

And of course the BEST part (as always with me and what constitutes a true romance) is that there is an HEA, with not one, but two epilogues.

This will be a comfort watch for YEARS to come. I've already watched 5 times in a row now. Because everything else keeps falling short.

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