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This review may contain spoilers
Standard Xianxia
The delay of this drama was very unfortunate and it's very obvious that it had an impact on the quality. The CGI is outdated, some scenes look weird and the editing has definitely suffered a bit, but I must admit that they did make an effort to salvage this and for the most part I wasn't bothered by these issues.
The thing that bothered me most was how monotone this drama is. It's almost devoid of any dramatic tension. This is especially noticeable in a Xianxia setting, because of how high the stakes are. Because of the way the story is told and what the writers decided to focus on makes some of the things that are happening illogical and forced. The resolutions are anticlimactic.
I did end up liking the main leads for the most part. The recasting of the FL definitely didn't hurt this drama at all. Hu Yi Xuan perfectly fits this role. She's effortlessly adorable when needed and projects strength when required. Liu Xue Yi is another great fit. Jin Xiu is fittingly ethereal and despite his role as the Punisher, there's a very gentle aura that he projects throughout the drama that sets Jin Xiu apart. The chemistry between the two of them is not the fiery, passionate kind. It's more cute, warm and gentle.
Among the supporting cast, Ao Rui Peng definitely stands out. Kun Lun is his brothers opposite in so many ways and his mischievous demeanor and laid back attitude do light up ths screen. While Liu Xue Yi projects gentleness, Ao Rui Pen projects warmth (in direct opposition to his true form of ice). The relationship between the two brothers is also very admirable, especially given the setting and the expectation that the two need to compete for the throne.
Another notable performance was Wang Shi Meng as Empress Yi He. For the limited time she's on screen, her performance does captivate and I would have liked to see more of her soft side, which we only got a glimpse of.
Xu Xiao Nuo was a bit of a disappointment for me. The character was not developed well, but her acting also didn't do anything to save the character. Her screen presence was lacking as well for a character like that. The saving grace could have been her chemistry with Ao Rui Peng, but unfortunately they didn't really share any.
Jing Yan Jun also gave an uneven performance. A lot of misplaced intensity lead to a lot of overacting. Thankfully for the most part Lu Jiu is a very cute and loyal companion.
However, the biggest disappointment among the cast has to be James Yang. Admittedly, his character has to be the most useless to the story and if removed, wouldn't really impact the core story much, but there was a lot to work with. He decided that overacting was the way to go when quiet and creepy would have worked much better.
Overall, I'd say this story could have been told in 30 episodes instead of 40 and I will most likely not rewatch it, but it had it's moments and I did enjoy most it.
The thing that bothered me most was how monotone this drama is. It's almost devoid of any dramatic tension. This is especially noticeable in a Xianxia setting, because of how high the stakes are. Because of the way the story is told and what the writers decided to focus on makes some of the things that are happening illogical and forced. The resolutions are anticlimactic.
I did end up liking the main leads for the most part. The recasting of the FL definitely didn't hurt this drama at all. Hu Yi Xuan perfectly fits this role. She's effortlessly adorable when needed and projects strength when required. Liu Xue Yi is another great fit. Jin Xiu is fittingly ethereal and despite his role as the Punisher, there's a very gentle aura that he projects throughout the drama that sets Jin Xiu apart. The chemistry between the two of them is not the fiery, passionate kind. It's more cute, warm and gentle.
Among the supporting cast, Ao Rui Peng definitely stands out. Kun Lun is his brothers opposite in so many ways and his mischievous demeanor and laid back attitude do light up ths screen. While Liu Xue Yi projects gentleness, Ao Rui Pen projects warmth (in direct opposition to his true form of ice). The relationship between the two brothers is also very admirable, especially given the setting and the expectation that the two need to compete for the throne.
Another notable performance was Wang Shi Meng as Empress Yi He. For the limited time she's on screen, her performance does captivate and I would have liked to see more of her soft side, which we only got a glimpse of.
Xu Xiao Nuo was a bit of a disappointment for me. The character was not developed well, but her acting also didn't do anything to save the character. Her screen presence was lacking as well for a character like that. The saving grace could have been her chemistry with Ao Rui Peng, but unfortunately they didn't really share any.
Jing Yan Jun also gave an uneven performance. A lot of misplaced intensity lead to a lot of overacting. Thankfully for the most part Lu Jiu is a very cute and loyal companion.
However, the biggest disappointment among the cast has to be James Yang. Admittedly, his character has to be the most useless to the story and if removed, wouldn't really impact the core story much, but there was a lot to work with. He decided that overacting was the way to go when quiet and creepy would have worked much better.
Overall, I'd say this story could have been told in 30 episodes instead of 40 and I will most likely not rewatch it, but it had it's moments and I did enjoy most it.
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