Sunbath12
California, USA
This review may contain spoilers
A disappointment
Disappointment is the first word that comes to mind when reflecting on watching this drama. For fans of the original novel, this is not the faithful adaptation you were hoping for. At best, this drama is loosely inspired by the novel. The first half of the drama is watchable when the story is centered on Amai, our fearless female lead, as she seeks revenge for her dead family at the hands of her onetime adopted older brother, Chen Qi. She manages to join the army, and her struggles and triumphs throughout those arcs of the story and the bonds she forges with her sworn brother, Tang Shaoyi, and her army buddies are fun and heartwarming to watch. Her entanglements with the charismatic enemy general Chang Yuqing are also highlights of the show.
It is in the second half of the show that things really do fall apart. The story shifts focus to the male lead, Shang Yizhi (who is really Qi Huan, the son of the former crown prince), and having no solid character arc to lean upon, the story moves from one ridiculous political plot to another until the story goes up in flames at the very end. This is the show's greatest weakness: the writing of Yizhi's character. He begins as a "playboy" silly son of a marquis and becomes emperor almost by accident, but he has no real personality, drive or meat to his character other than the shell we are presented with. One simply does not care about what happens to him because everyone around him is far more interesting and key to moving the story along. He is simply along for the ride.
It is in the final few episodes that I really lost my patience with the ML. He betrays Amai firstly in marrying someone else and then betrays the Zhenbei army in the name of securing peace. At least in the end, Amai freed herself from him and was able to live her own life.
So proceed with caution in watching given the high risk of disappointment by the end, consider skipping most of the second half, or find another drama with better constructed characters and balance of story lines to fill your time. I found the music loud and grating most of the time, so there was not even that to soothe my angry soul by episode 36. It is my consideration of the generally great acting of the cast and the stronger first half that I offer a very general score of 7.5.
It is in the second half of the show that things really do fall apart. The story shifts focus to the male lead, Shang Yizhi (who is really Qi Huan, the son of the former crown prince), and having no solid character arc to lean upon, the story moves from one ridiculous political plot to another until the story goes up in flames at the very end. This is the show's greatest weakness: the writing of Yizhi's character. He begins as a "playboy" silly son of a marquis and becomes emperor almost by accident, but he has no real personality, drive or meat to his character other than the shell we are presented with. One simply does not care about what happens to him because everyone around him is far more interesting and key to moving the story along. He is simply along for the ride.
It is in the final few episodes that I really lost my patience with the ML. He betrays Amai firstly in marrying someone else and then betrays the Zhenbei army in the name of securing peace. At least in the end, Amai freed herself from him and was able to live her own life.
So proceed with caution in watching given the high risk of disappointment by the end, consider skipping most of the second half, or find another drama with better constructed characters and balance of story lines to fill your time. I found the music loud and grating most of the time, so there was not even that to soothe my angry soul by episode 36. It is my consideration of the generally great acting of the cast and the stronger first half that I offer a very general score of 7.5.
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