Sirenas

We need more like this...

I almost dropped this halfway through the series. Why? Because the very realistic nature of the main four leads were driving me insane. After having gone through unspeakable trauma, people need a designated someone or destination to hate and to blame. So the deaths and pain the leads caused through their obsessions to fulfill their own needs was quite torturous to watch. Their complete disregard for others and how their own pain blinded themselves to the pain of others made them into absolute hypocrites. But... this is also what made their journeys very real.

The acting was superb, the actions scenes were fantastic, and the production was done well. What makes this one really special for me was this layer of connection to the Shaolin temple. It did a fantastic job in portraying the difficulties in separating the secular way of life from the country's politics. But what continually brought about the heartaches and tears, was watching the very different paths the three male leads took and how each decision they made were layered on their individual pain. I also appreciate how much the series highlights how harmful and dangerous ignorant kindness can be. Those who are passionate in being "righteous" while causing greater harm versus those who take on the heaviest lifting while knowing they'll be enduring the heavy label of villain.

The greatest disappointment here would be the female lead. I kept waiting for when she was finally pushed off her high horse but she was fortunate enough to have so many protectors in her life. She's the only one who never owned up to any of her mistakes, the only one who never thought about anyone but herself, and the one who got away unscathed in comparison to the others. But this is also part of the real world.

This series will take you on a heavy emotional journey of healing and it's added a layer for my own healing. This is also the type of series that makes me biased with my lifelong preference towards Asian series versus American series. Despite many filters and searches, it took a while to finally across this one on MDL. There just isn't enough of them that are subtitled. My review is based on the 38-episode version on YouTube as I couldn't find the 42-episode one.

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Silly, with no other solid categorization

The series started enjoyable with lots of silliness and with an adventure RPG feel. The ML has distinctive eyebrows so I recognize him from the recently watched Moonlit Reunion. He does a much better job in this series and is also much more charming. Not sure why so many reviewers are bashing on the appearance of the FL. I actually think she was a great cast for her role and unlike some other master/disciple romances, this ML/FL pairing made this part of their relationship very believable.

Not familiar with the novel but this series is hard to define into any particular category. The clearest part of the plot is the ML growing in his cultivation with the friends he meets along the way. But otherwise, it actually felt more like a slice-of-life than an adventure or typical wuxia story. A lot of it consisted of the characters lifestyles and bantering with one another. There were a decent amount of action scenes but these were pretty poorly done. The underlying story of the sect and the unraveling of the main antagonist moved along in a zigzag manner on a path full of potholes.

Ironically, the best part of this for me was the FL and how her character is the type who hides her grief and pain behind a paradoxical real facade. The subtleties of when the relationship began to change for the FL/ML was good but it wasn't highlighted enough for it to maximize the impact. I sped through a large portion of the series only to finally get a slightly satisfying moment between the two at the end. Would recommend this only to those who are in the mood for mostly humor and the adventure RPG feel, with no expectations of a very in-depth plot. And if you're looking for real action, this one might be too slow paced.

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Charming but too long

I'm giving this a higher score than I would because compared to many other "female general" series, this one is so much more deserving than other over-hyped ones like Legend of the Female General. The concept of female general being disguised as a male makes so much more sense here and is far more believable.

If it weren't for some hiccups in the plot flow and a sloppy ending, it would have deserved an even higher rating for its uniqueness. Our female lead is the brawn and the brains while our male lead is squishy but cultured and also intellectual. The first quarter of the series is humorous, entertaining, and an added layer of cringe. Some reviews praise how they appreciate the strength of the FL but bash on the ML for weak and incapable but I would like to differ. The FL has very obvious traits to be respected but the ML was raised in a very male-dominated, wealthy, and noble background. Sure, the ML is chauvinistic, spoiled, and spends his time not doing anything really productive. But his personality is what makes him believable as a character in the series. He grew up with a weak body, a mother who imprisoned him at home to protect him, and he grew up feeling like he could never be a "man"... so why not just enjoy life the way he is privileged to? No one ever expected anything out of him and no one ever challenged him. But his core is kind and he has the capacity to be successful. So despite his cringe ways and treatment towards the FL in the beginning, he had the most character growth out of everyone and I really appreciate this. And only when you get to the end, do you understand why the FL has been so tolerant.

The plot flow is a bit choppy because it focuses heavily on the lives of the main couple and would suddenly switch over to palace drama, then suddenly switch to another character's situation, etc. But it all ties to one another so this didn't bother me too much. The humor from the first quarter of the series dissolve into a grimmer environment with lesser sprinkles of lighthearted moments. My biggest disappointment is the last quarter of the series when the palace politics and war politics starts to get really messy. They spent way too many episodes dragging the scenarios on and the final battle was pretty cheesy. The ending was also not very fulfilling for a 60-episode series because it was super abrupt and despite all the effort to build up great relationships, they show pretty much nothing about what happened to anyone after that final battle.

I wouldn't consider this a binge show and the acting was a hit or miss at times, but I still really enjoyed the couple's development because it's quite unique. You also get a bit of mystery/detective work, political drama, war scenes, harem drama, some spicy moments, etc. It's like they blended a bunch of different genres into one series and none of which are really exceptional, but it was nice to have some variation and still have a common base to the overall plot.

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One of my favorite types of shows

I have a soft spot for jianghu series where the world exists of amazing martial artists. One that isn't based off fantasy where their abilities are based off colorful magic but one with realistic skills. And this one definitely did not disappoint.

Positives:
-- The action scenes were amazing - unlike many others where you have to accept the cheesiness because the good-looking actors don't have any type of martial arts background at all.
-- The characters were great and the actors made them come to life. They didn't need to dramatize anyone in particular in order to prove a point. Even the children did an amazing job.
-- The ML doesn't have hundreds of drooling females after him. Instead, he had two very mature women who truly loved him and respected each other's love for him.
-- While the plot isn't particularly unique, everything was done well enough where it doesn't matter.

Negatives:
-- My only slight qualm is the pacing could have potentially been picked up a bit. While I completely understand why they wanted to focus on certain relationship developments and conversations, it sometimes took a bit too long.

I'm quite surprised at how little reviewers/ratings there are for this series. It's really tragic that shows with idol actors who have less than average acting skills or shows that spend a ton on production but cheapen out on actual details of the story are the ones that are more popular. Subtle details used to always be the magic of what makes Asian series surpass Western series for me - such as the gift the ML had for one of the females in which she no longer had use for in the end...

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Started strong and then it starts to melts

Justice Bao has been a childhood favorite figure for me ever since I've watched the 1993 series. So far, none of the other variations have been better but this one looked promising. Unlike the 1993 series, this one starts off with his "legendary" birth and progresses through his career and a few of his famous cases.

Not sure why they depicted him as someone who seems to be on the spectrum but fine. I still thoroughly enjoyed a large first portion of the series as the progression was on point and the politics were intricate. But when it came down to latter two arcs, I don't know what happened but the plot flow just drops off and slowly disintegrated into a melodramatic mess. All the growth of involved characters gets watered down, the events become muddled, and the relationships all become hollow. It is quite disappointing considering how strong the first half or so of the episodes were. Perhaps it's from trying to ram too much into only 54 episodes.

Overall, it's likely a decent watch for those who do not have the type of attachment I have with the Justice Bao variation I grew up with. Note that this is a somber political series with minimal romance and humor.

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A shamble of good and the not so good

The only reason to watch this is for the lore and light entertainment. The actors do a decent job and there are plenty of likeable characters but the plot is all over the place. The pacing is incredibly slow at times and I most sped through it all. The story itself is high-level interesting but has too many huge plot holes, unnecessary deaths, and love obsessions. It also has a tendency to build up a moment for that moment's sake and then it just dissipates with pretty much no impact to the overarching main story. Some of the actions scenes were pretty good but there's not much of it across a 40-episode series. The lore itself is pretty entertaining but they don't explain it much either other than to just indicate that its just part of the demon world. So with this, even the "rules" of the demon world contradicts with different events.

Nevertheless, it's a good time-consumer if you are in the mood for this type of setting. It's also one where you can walk away from the screen and do some chores while listening, and still get the gist of what's happening. And at least it does have its sweet moments and funny moments to make up for its many flaw.

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Successfully takes you on a journey

Instead of listing positives and negatives, I'll just list the lingering feelings about this one.

-- While the ML/FL did a great job and had good chemistry, the absolute standout couple for me was Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng. Their relationship growth and their hidden selves were what really brought out those non-stop tears at multiple points.
-- The actress for Cui Shi Jiu was a standout by herself with an incredible set of eyes. She was outstanding with her character and has a great range. Hope to see her in more roles.
-- Around the middle, the plot does hit a high peak and then awkwardly free-falls into a completely different pacing. This shift was really abrupt and it almost made me drop the series but I'm glad I pushed through. The plot flow was a also a bit muddled at times with some farfetched elements but nothing too cringe.
-- There are also some lags here and there that I sped up on; they should have use those times to fill in the background/history of some of the characters instead. Or reduce the number of episodes.
-- The romance was a slower burn and thankfully not overbearing.
-- The ending wasn't laid out very well and the punishments not very satisfactory but it was acceptable.

You have an underlying revenge plot, a complex weave of politics, definitive highlights on bias towards women, class bias, complex characters with tough restrictions (blood isn't thicker than water), difficulties in starting a business against an oligopoly, etc. Altogether, it does its job in taking you on a journey.

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Childish, low-budget, and corny but...

A rare type of series where the acting is subpar, the dialogues are even worse, the camera is often shaky, the special effects felt cheap, and all with a thick layer of corny wrapped around it. I also almost dropped this one after episode 10 when the introduction of the new characters felt really really cringe.

But... for whatever reason, the lore still drew me in. The wave of mysteries behind the characters were intriguing enough that I couldn't help myself but to keep going. They did a pretty good job with the initial introduction of the ML and despite his lack of expressions variety and unique way of talking, it kind of worked for his character. The ML was also hypocritical, inconsistent, and overly obsessed with his sister - but his charm does come around here and there. The new characters introduced after they joined the sect were also incredibly obnoxious but thankfully, they do evolve with some personality growth. Then it becomes a different kind of corny when the team finally comes together as a unit.

There are so, so many things wrong with this one but it does hit an inner child. It's not something you watch for intellectual purposes but for that kid who used to root for superheros and live in a world of imagination. Overall, I made it through by skipping over some nonsensical scenes or draggy conversations but it deserves credit for pushing me through all 40 episodes.

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Potentially triggering for some

This is one of the more in-depth series I've come across that highlights the impact of predators. For the female audience in particular, it may triggering if you've ever experienced similar traumas. But I appreciate the nice dosage of revenge, even more so when it comes from random individuals who come together from different events but towards the same instigator.

The plot flow was pretty done well and they even managed to slide in a few humorous moments despite its somber environment. But with only 24 episodes (should have skipped 25) of the main story, there were definitely events that should have been delved into deeper. The fallen comrades jerked out tears but their deaths was very unsatisfactory... and potentially unnecessary. I wish they dived a little more into how the FL lived out her seven years and her relationship with the main wife. Also don't realize understand her reasoning for leaving her husband.

Some may not find the antagonist's background story very redeeming but ironically, it's quite realistic for me. Not all people who do evil deeds have sad and traumatizing backgrounds that we should feel forced to justify. His final penalty also felt too light and unsatisfactory.

There are also some plot holes but nothing that deters too much from the overall feel. It's worth a watch if you're okay with the triggering topic of SA. As for episode 25, it's an alternate ending for what if none of this happened and none of them really met. Personally I think it diminished the end feel of the series and it can be skipped completely, but some may appreciate it.

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Cute love story of sacrifices

This is pretty straight-forward series of the usual love-story couple who just continuously sacrifice for one another. While it's not one that you'd rave about, it's still watchable. The most interesting aspect would be the story behind how the disciple becomes the master and the ML/FL does have enough chemistry to maintain. I particularly enjoyed the first 10 or so episodes before it started to drag a bit and I sped up quite few scenes. The underlying plot between the sects takes a backseat to the history/relationship of the ML/FL. The dialogue wasn't very sophisticated and it gets messier as it progresses towards the end but the comradery with the characters who played their roles pretty well kept it enjoyable with a touch of corny sweet. There were definitely too many episodes though.

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Cringy but cute

I like indulging in stories where different personalities and backgrounds converge. I also really enjoy shows that involve intelligent and just magistrates who helps commoners solve problems. While the series had both of the above, there are also shortfalls that stained its potential.

Foremost, I almost dropped this series after a few episodes. While the female lead's personality was meant to be over-the-top for emphasis and humor, her violent streak was a big turn off. They could have portrayed her character with the same sass and ruggedness without resorting to such direct abusiveness towards men. Her character also proves how a "spoiled brat" isn't correlated with wealth but with how she was raised. The combination created an uncomfortable and distasteful cringe. However, the rest of the cast did build up enough intrigue for me to continue to give it a try. Thankfully, while she didn't end up becoming as evolved as she could have, there was character growth and she did have plenty of charismatic moments.

The characteristics of the ML and FL didn't feel consistent. The strength of the ML was supposed to be intellect and the strength of the FL was supposed to be brawn. Instead, there were times where the ML was intellectual capable but then completely ignorant and they tried to get the FL to help fill in for him. The characters would have done better if they really focused more on how to blend their individual strengths instead of them just taking turns on who was smarter. For the FL to suddenly be capable of strategizing, making medicine, doing business, and being knowledge of herbs when she grew up as a butcher... is farfetched without any backstory. If she was this capable, then why did they almost lose their store and why wasn't she able to grow her own family business for all those years?

The overall plot itself wasn't actually bad and I quite enjoyed the magnification of certain aspects that other shows don't usually touch on, such as having the little prince join a school of commoners and teaching him a life lesson. There are also plenty of chuckles along the way and some heartwarming comradery. But it also felt as if there were two very different people taking turns at directing the series, so the plot flow was a mixed bag and felt a bit forced. Similarly, the actors were also a mixed bag of those who really emoted and those who were monotone but they all still had decent chemistry with one another.

It is a good casual watch if you need a break from overly somber series. I was hoping for more episodic cases of the magistrate resolving issues but it was mostly around one or two major cases that all end up tying into each other. It also does conclude with a well-rounded ending and won't cause you to overly binge.

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Review for both seasons as one

Not a big fan of romance-heavy plots and definitely not one with a harem. But this one went way above expectations in season one. The majority of the actors did an amazing job and I was really happy to finally see a large cast of younger folks actually doing some serious acting. This series also has enough reviews with substantial plot discussions so I'll just summarize what made this one special and what made it falter for me.

Positives:
- The character for the FL was incredibly charming and loaded with substance especially during her time disguised as a man.
- The three main male love interests were full of complex depth and what connected them to her through her journey were very natural considering the deity/demon aspects. Xiang Liu and Xiyan Cang Xuan in particular were extraordinary and while Tushan Jing fit his character pretty well initially he became bland relatively quickly.
- I've lost count on the amount of tears that were jerked. It managed to drudge up a variety of emotions from my own ancient relationships that I haven't thought about in years.
- The series does a good job with bringing to life the complexities with relationships in general while moving the plot forward with the underlying political issues.

Negatives (mostly in season two):
- The character of the FL began to falter in the latter half of season two. But at this point, you're already invested so you're likely to try hard to justify her actions. It was disappointing to see her slowly evolve into self-pity and selfishness.
- The plot gets increasingly muddled pacing and unnecessary out-of-place scenes. Why did they bother "reuniting" her with her mother? It really diminished the build-up of her parents and their history. They would have done a better job with a real flashback.
- The scenes with her chosen love interest starts to get excessive. It should have been used more on Xiang Liu to build out more of his backstory (though I may be biased as he's the main one bringing on those tears and heartaches).
- It was unsatisfying to see the FL's lack of appreciation and empathy toward the other two love interests and their sacrifices when her focuses shift onto just the one.
- While the special effects on the deities/demons were done pretty well, the fight scenes were below average. I wish we saw more of the transformations.

Nevertheless, I was totally hooked on season one against my will which is what keeps the score high. Season two is a direct continuation and I ended up speeding up a few episodes because of the negatives listed above.

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Underrated charm

Some series with over-the-top humor fail easily because of a lack of balance. This particular one is not a slapstick funny but a thoughtful kind of funny that also succeeds in being unpredictable. The majority of the humor hits you right at the first few episodes before it evolves into a more serious tone with an underlying main story - the kind of mix I really enjoy.

The ML and FL really did a great job in their roles and the chemistry was easily felt between the two. The other casts also did an amazing job in bring their characters to life. What's interesting is that the blunt silliness actually brings out much more realism than other series in this genre, such as the bickering between the couples and the "humorous" but confrontational conversations. I initially was about to write the main FL off because her spoiled character was just on the brink of becoming irritating but surprisingly, she had one of the more in-depth character growths I've come across even when compared to other melodramas. In addition, there are many complex characters that I really appreciate that aren't the usual die-hard loyalty kind. They highlight the thin lines of friendship, betrayal, and self-reflection as well as who we become when we live by how others deem our worth.

This series deserves a higher score and the only reason I've personally deducted some points is that there was some slight drag across some of the episodes. I also wished the FL nodded a bit more to how fortunate she was to have the family she did and that she put some more effort into her martial arts skills instead of just on that extreme boost from her curse/gift. It was also disappointing to not have seen more of our ML's skills as well despite his reputation. I think this could have been amazing if they included a bit more history/flashbacks and delved just a bit deeper. But overall, it is easily one of the better historical dramas I've seen that has this level of comedy incorporated into it.

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Great potential but dwindled halfway through...

The series started off as a solid 8.5, particularly around our main lead. His beginnings were intriguing and unique compared to many other cultivation series I've seen. I really appreciate the time they took to build this foundation.

The ML's cultivation journey kept me locked on the screen until about halfway through the episodes. I've never read the novel but the plot started to feel discombobulated as well as his interactions with those around him. His thought process of consistently living for only himself is actually what makes his character quite brilliant. Someone who only wants to continue to surpass himself no matter what methods he needs to take to get there - but without crossing that fine line. However, the execution of this for the latter half of the episodes were poorly done and it wasn't able to maintain that same draw for me. A huge part of this was his reactions to the tons of people who were sacrificed for his growth. While it might make sense for his to have just a fleeting moment of sorrow or perhaps not much at all, it also felt much too repetitive and the timing of the momentary wistful to the excitement of finding yet another artifact was too abrupt. I also appreciate how he manages to overcome not being born as a genius for cultivation by utilizing creative methods but it also doesn't make sense why he's the only one who is capable of them when the same tools and resources are there for others to also take advantage of. He can't be the only one who is ambitious in the entire sect. It didn't help as well when he also became almost everyone's saviors, undermining everyone's abilities and experiences.

Outside of the ML, there are some great supporting characters who brought a lot of fun to the series. But (with exception of the mortal female), all of the other females falling for him were annoyingly distracting to the plot and there were too many unnecessary scenes around this.

Overall, I get the gist of what it's trying to portray and appreciate the thought behind it but they tried to squeeze way too many moving parts into the series. This caused the flow to just fly off and the chemistry to get chopped off. The action scenes were okay - a little corny as usual but not terrible. I finished the remaining half by lots of fast-forwarding only for a meh ending with tons of plot holes. It's always hard to rate shows that start off great with a story of great intentions only for it to dwindle off.

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