Not a bad watch

Let me begin by saying this drama was pleasant to look at. The cinematography is rather good and the sets/costumes are lovely.

Some other positives are how the story begins. The first portion of the very lengthy show are extremely interesting. We begin with action (the overthrow situation) and introducing our characters. Everyone introduced has distinguished personalities which makes learning these new faces entertaining. Their acting is pretty darn good too. I love the tease of the two main characters falling in love and all of the turmoil occurring in the background.

Now, that part about everyone being strong personalities and falling in love is also the problem. At some point, I’d say during the wars when the old emperor is ready to die, our main characters have long periods of not being well... themselves? All of the character development and prude personalities go down the drain for our main characters, Zhu Zanji and Rowei. This sucks because the show is about them! Suddenly the confidence and wittiness disappears. Ugh. They get so boring! So unlikable.

Not only that, we’re teased with the possibility of the two main leads falling madly in love , but only to find out Rowei loves someone else— which I must argue a strong love story was not established with this forbidden love she has. It was kinda like.. hey she knew this guy and he likes her. Boom, she’s in love. They could at least make it believable. Romance doesn’t live here guys.

Our main characters not being themselves towards the end of their time together was also strange. The story surrounds the larger than life personality of Zanji. When he passes away, it’s like the focal point, most likable (at least he used to be, he gets weird at the end) person is gone. We’re left with the now quiet Rowei and not one person is likable at all. I MEAN AT ALL. The story should have ended with Zhu Zanjis death. It died after that anyway with frustrating turmoil and pitiful actors playing the next emperors.

It’s worth a watch, but it could have definitely been better with minor changes.

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