This review may contain spoilers
A Good Legal Drama but characters’ development is flawed
Overall, I enjoyed this drama and appreciate the acting from most casts. The legal cases presented were realistic and they were solved with decent depth and explanation. It’s good to see that everyone has conflicts and weaknesses. That’s real life. No such thing as a perfect person. However I feel let down with the over dramatised characterisation of the FL and the young lawyer Xia Shu.What’s good?
1) Acting of key characters including the supporting casts are decent to good. No one is too awkward in portraying their roles. The FL lead can act. I may not like her character (see below) but the actress is good. She is natural and has small talks and movement that make her acting stand out. ML is a good looking mature guy. Acting is good too. Good pairing.
2) Cases are good and realistic in terms of their resolution. Most characters including Mentor Mei is imperfect. That makes the drama interesting as it’s not predictable.
What’s not so good.
1) Character development for FL is not so good. She went through a lot as a betrayed spouse in deep debt. It’s understandable that she hesitated for a long time before accepting ML’s pursuit. However what I dislike is, she verbally abuses him all the time. Initially yes, they didn’t understand each other and he did come across as unscrupulous. But cmon after so long and so many episodes where he helped her and many others, she continued to abuse him verbally, never took him seriously when he gets serious and try to be nice, disrespectful and insensitive towards him eg asked him to accompany her to wait for Xia Shu in middle of the night as she was scared of the stalker then immediately dismissed him like a rag when her friend is back. That’s plain rude and disrespectful. He on other hand has developed into a better person. Hence overall I don’t like the FL . I agree with the ending where ML sort of gave up on their relationship even though he loves her so much because she doesn’t gave him confidence that she will have his back when he is down and invalid. It’s a genuine concern and I feel sorry for him. The love of his life is not reciprocal in terms of emotional attachment. I think FL loved her first husband more. In Season 1 she took almost the entire season to decide to report his blatant fraud and abandonment to the police. It even caused her mother’s live and yet she hesitated .
Second bad character was Xia Shu but it improved a lot in mid season 2. How can a smart person who graduated in Law from USA behaves like a total idiot at work? You get privilege but you also need to show some professionalism. Playing video game in office. Wearing shorts to work, making blatant mistakes during cases. I didn’t believe she even went to high school. And it continued even after she was supposed to fall from grace and became poor. Her car, taken by her ex BF and she had to make such a huge effort to take it back??? Just make a policereport that someone stole your car is probably easier no? Unrealistic.
Since I am here I like Qiu Hua the SFL best. She has grown and is mature and logical. Even marrying the person she didn’t love due to gratitude and yet she did her best to stay in the marriage. It’s realistic to show her marriage dilemma as she deserved better. The husband simply doesn’t align with her in any way. The scriptwriters should have given her a better man who loved her and she could love him back just as much.
Overall a good drama except for some flaws above,
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This review may contain spoilers
Fast Paced and Great Acting.
Many reviewers have written a lot about the plot. To me it is decent and quite refreshingly acted out. Rebirth is not overused. As I see it she might be a Saintress (like some spiritual thing due to her mother’s lineage). Hence she could tell the future and have a glimpse of her past live.FL lead actress has always been a good actress and chemistry queen with her MLs. This drama is no exception. If you have watched Glory of Tang Dynasty with her and Ren Jialun , her character in these two dramas have some similarities in their suffering and love for the eventual emperor. Many people love the ML actor. Truth is this is the first drama where I appreciate his acting. However it annoys me that he only whispers most of the time when everyone is talking at a normal tone. Wish Zhang Wanyi can dial back that unique speaking manner and not make it annoying instead. I am sure many are annoyed at some point.
Why is no one talking about Zhen official and the Princess Fuqing. This Zhen character is so charming. Steadfast. Smart. Pure in his love. Both he and Princess Fuqing really make my heart warm. Love these two.
I have throughly enjoyed this drama. Not to mentioned it’s beautiful sets and costumes. Love the head pieces
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Most beautiful OST
When I first watched this I only knew Vic Chou as someone from F4 fame. His initial appearance didn’t impress me; as he seemed a bit round in the face and his character Yin Xue is a bit strange and Yin Xue’s story didn’t seem to join properly with the plot’s timeline.But wait… be patient and by the end of the drama I cried for Yin Xue (not because he died, don’t worry this is a happy ending drama) I kept rewatching the last episode to see his expression. This guy either knows he is very charming or he is quite playful by nature. So cute!
Story-wise at first it seemed like a typical jianghu drama with endless fighting to be the leader but the real story is a multi-layered story across lifetimes. Brotherhood, Insecurities. Ignorance, Selflessness, Obsession…all played out beautifully in the name of love.
Lastly the OST is so beautiful that I am so glad I know enough Chinese to read the lyrics and sing them everyday whilst driving my car 😊
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Interesting Story Spoilt by irritating FL
Overall the story is interesting and engaging enough. Production is average in budget hence you cannot expect too much from the set (which is ok). However, the acting of the FL is not good. She overacts as the cheerful and cute person. I think this is Xuan Lu’s first FL role and she looks awkward and it shows in her mannerisms and speech. If she tones it down a bit it would be good, like all her other roles. I actually like her before this drama. Hence it’s disappointing. She is better as a SFL. As for the actor Vengo GAO he is extremely handsome but timeline wise it doesn’t look good as he is supposed to be 25 years old max. VG looks more matured than that and just can’t pull off from that age angle. His extremely handsome face and good acting is the savior. Overall if you have nothing to watch or waiting for new episodes of other better dramas (like me) then this is not bad (better than watching those hyper sexual shallow-story mini dramas).Was this review helpful to you?
HELP! female lead is so annoying it killed the drama.
Omg. I have never really liked Li Qin’s often overacting but this is at another level. She not only over expressed her scenes and talks like she is in a pronunciation competition, she also puts in the action of being loud, act too cute and unreasonable all the time. This can pass if her role is supposed to be an airhead bimbo BUT she is supposed to be a doctor! A smart person with brains. Yet she shouts and even throw tantrums in the hospital itself. No wonder some drama reviewers label her as one of those C drama actresses that just couldn’t get fully popular.Story wise it’s fine. Interesting and love all the military stuff. ML is great and cool. His best friend the flashbacks acted by Ou Hao is excellent as both of them are manly unlike those white faces and skinny unbelievable heroes.
I tried very hard to hang on but have to to drop due to FL. It’s ruining my sanity to try to believe a person like ML can actually like a loud and annoying person like her. Please don’t watch unless you enjoy childish FL who doesn’t suit the role she is supposed to play.
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Low Budget, Bad acting except the 2 Male Leads
A total disappointment! I was looking forward to this due to the awesome actors like Wang Qizi and Wang Hong Yi. I have seen both in many dramas and although they are not as well promoted, they have been great. But even both of their power can’t save this one. Although I have only watched 5 episodes, things don’t get better. Instead it gets worse with more characters introduced and they reinforce the issue of low level of acting skills.Storyline
Nothing fresh or exciting. The overused plot of FL family being murdered and ML trying to seek revenge for his framed teacher and a love triangle. This is not an issue if it’s done well. The issue is it’s so lazy. Everything seems too convenient eg someone wants to get to know a VVIP, suddenly his friend has an invitation to the VVIP’s house. There is rain and the carriage broke down. Out of no where a hotel popped up. Cmon! Maybe I haven’t given it more time, but honestly there is zero way this can turn into something better.
Acting
Aside from WQZ and WHY, everyone including the FL is not ready for their roles. They are like C or D level actresses and actors. No expression. Can’t act and frankly sometimes not even fitting the description of their roles eg the handsome prince or beautiful spoilt lady. This makes the MLs carry the entire drama and it shows. Such a waste of talent. This drama must have been on shelf for a while as I don’t think WHY especially would take this role given his current successes.
Production
The budget is next to none. I think they must have rented the cheapest set in Hengdian. It’s super unbelievable for the high minister’s house to have unpolished wooden doors. It’s crazy obvious. And the super rich ladies have maid-level hairpins of better productions. I don’t understand why is this so poorly funded and yet they want to be a full length drama. I don’t even want to mention the costumes. They should have done a mini drama that doesn’t need to do much except lots of hot kisses and romance.
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