Storyteller923
This review may contain spoilers
Really unique show! Please look out for Wang Yinglu!
PROS:
- Acting stood out to me immensely. I think a lot of young actors/actresses "over-act" or act in ways that are unrealistic for specific scenes/situations. I did not experience that problem here and was totally shocked to know that Wang Yinglu was 22-23(?) at the time of filming this drama. She brought her character Feng BaoBao to life, and I'd argue she's the BEST young actress on the C-drama scheme right now. I'll be looking for more of her work after this drama. Peng Yuchang is not your typical idol/pretty-boy actor either and really embodies the role of Zhang Chulan impeccably.
- Interesting characters. Every character had distinct personalities and motivations, and the character building is pretty top-notch. I think the characters Lv Liang, Zhang Chulan, and Wang Ye were developed particularly well.
- Fight scenes were unconventional but brilliant. Many fights took place with Feng Bao Bao trying to bury people alive or comical (and shameless) Zhang Chulan tactics. They really keep you engaged and make you laugh. Scriptwriting for the humor throughout the drama is pretty consistently great. I'd put it on par with Falling Into Your Smile (surprisingly very very funny) and Fangs of Fortune (I go back to scenes just because they're entertaining).
- Successful and "un-flimsy" merging of contemporary society and Wuxia. The storyline was generally very well-done in terms of keeping consistent plots, though you have to pay attention to the little "time-skip descriptions" and whatnot. A lot of the events are pretty supernatural and need some explaining, so it's easier to watch this drama while paying attention.''
- Really wonderful OST. I enjoy Zhou Shen's song and the collaboration between Hou Minghao and Wang Tianruo (really impressive rhythmic control from Hou Minghao in the beginning). This is probably my favorite OST because it's not only beautiful (like many dramas) but daring/unique. I'd put it on par with Love Between Fairy and Devil, Lighter and Princess, Fangs of Fortune, and the Untamed.
CONS:
- Pacing of the story is a little slow for the first twenty episodes. It sets up what it needs to and is entertaining to watch nevertheless. Most of the important content happens in the last seven episodes. While it doesn't feel rushed, the end feels much more intense than the beginning and required more attention to understand it.
- Some plots felt slightly unfinished and were finished using the descriptions during 'time skips.' I think better pacing would've allowed for more complete feeling plot ends. The ending felt a little bit anticlimactic since the main antagonist was introduced so late (similar lateness as in Fangs of Fortune) and Feng Bao Bao's story never feels fully resolved (though I understand the intention of doing so, the entire drama was kind of building up to that.... this is based on a manhua though, so I don't know how much room for alteration the live action had).
- Generally focused drama, but I think maybe more content could have been fit in. That could make for a more intense/memorable watch (though this was already pretty memorable). I generally think that thrillers are the best-paced of dramas so that's probably why I hold this opinion.
- Acting stood out to me immensely. I think a lot of young actors/actresses "over-act" or act in ways that are unrealistic for specific scenes/situations. I did not experience that problem here and was totally shocked to know that Wang Yinglu was 22-23(?) at the time of filming this drama. She brought her character Feng BaoBao to life, and I'd argue she's the BEST young actress on the C-drama scheme right now. I'll be looking for more of her work after this drama. Peng Yuchang is not your typical idol/pretty-boy actor either and really embodies the role of Zhang Chulan impeccably.
- Interesting characters. Every character had distinct personalities and motivations, and the character building is pretty top-notch. I think the characters Lv Liang, Zhang Chulan, and Wang Ye were developed particularly well.
- Fight scenes were unconventional but brilliant. Many fights took place with Feng Bao Bao trying to bury people alive or comical (and shameless) Zhang Chulan tactics. They really keep you engaged and make you laugh. Scriptwriting for the humor throughout the drama is pretty consistently great. I'd put it on par with Falling Into Your Smile (surprisingly very very funny) and Fangs of Fortune (I go back to scenes just because they're entertaining).
- Successful and "un-flimsy" merging of contemporary society and Wuxia. The storyline was generally very well-done in terms of keeping consistent plots, though you have to pay attention to the little "time-skip descriptions" and whatnot. A lot of the events are pretty supernatural and need some explaining, so it's easier to watch this drama while paying attention.''
- Really wonderful OST. I enjoy Zhou Shen's song and the collaboration between Hou Minghao and Wang Tianruo (really impressive rhythmic control from Hou Minghao in the beginning). This is probably my favorite OST because it's not only beautiful (like many dramas) but daring/unique. I'd put it on par with Love Between Fairy and Devil, Lighter and Princess, Fangs of Fortune, and the Untamed.
CONS:
- Pacing of the story is a little slow for the first twenty episodes. It sets up what it needs to and is entertaining to watch nevertheless. Most of the important content happens in the last seven episodes. While it doesn't feel rushed, the end feels much more intense than the beginning and required more attention to understand it.
- Some plots felt slightly unfinished and were finished using the descriptions during 'time skips.' I think better pacing would've allowed for more complete feeling plot ends. The ending felt a little bit anticlimactic since the main antagonist was introduced so late (similar lateness as in Fangs of Fortune) and Feng Bao Bao's story never feels fully resolved (though I understand the intention of doing so, the entire drama was kind of building up to that.... this is based on a manhua though, so I don't know how much room for alteration the live action had).
- Generally focused drama, but I think maybe more content could have been fit in. That could make for a more intense/memorable watch (though this was already pretty memorable). I generally think that thrillers are the best-paced of dramas so that's probably why I hold this opinion.
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