For better or worse... the main characters will leave an impact on you

Based on a novel that many of us can agree is much better than what we got to watch with the help of novel readers, “The Legend of Anle” will make you laugh, cry, cringe, confused, throw hands, and annoyed BUT most importantly, it will make you fall in love with the actors/actresses who definitely carried the show.

The story telling was not the best and definitely could have used lots more of polishing but I can say that at least they got the gist of it. And that’s being nice. The main issue to me was the disjointed fragments of the show and narratives. I said it before and I’ll say it again, we were TOLD more than SHOWN causing some confusion and fillers. Some plots were dragged on longer than needed including a certain character. At times, it seems the script was split between writers. Some minor details were missed making the dialogues funky. If we’re being super logical, the show will not live up to it but with an open mind it does have some points that tug at your heart.

At first, I didn't want to believe that the Crown Prince could be that "boring" because his actions were not lining up with his words. Plus, he kept talking in riddles. Which I'm always fond of because that usually indicates more. And if done right, it'll be well worth seeing which I think Gong Jun did a great job for Han Ye. He was able to convince me early on that there’s more than meets the eye with his character. The subtle micro expressions and gestures sealed the deal. To patiently see him unfold was well worth the wait! He’s a calculated guy and will always make sure to plan things accordingly to be in his favor. This part stays consistent throughout the show despite a few times he was more controlled by his emotions. But he’s decisive and level headed most of the time. He was hands down my favorite character throughout the whole show. My #1 bias. Some readers say Han Ye was actually the authors favorite character and I can see why. It took patience to understand and decipher Han Ye but it is well worth the wait. He’s upright, loyal and self-less. ?

Ren Anle/ Di Ziyuan in the beginning was shameless, flirty and cringe to some with the overacting but I didn’t mind it. I thought Dilireba managed it well. Anle/ Ziyuan’s character was more emotionally driven than Han Ye and she wavered a lot. But I can’t fully blame her because towards the end, everyone was adamant on protecting her. They kept her out of the loop causing miscommunications. However, they forget that she’s clearly capable of handling things too. Dilireba is the right person to play Anle. She had the most mixed emotions and she can make you cry watching her cry. For all the heartbreak, I truly felt it because Reba didn’t let any tear go to waste.

Their early interactions are the 2nd biggest factor that kept me going. A visually good pair, Dilireba and Gong Jun’s chemistry wasn’t sizzling hot but more so a sweet, adorable type of spark. It’s a romance that slowly builds up and isn’t random. Romantic or not, they still would have been a good pair. They had mutual respect and wits that combined together made for a good duo which we saw in the beginning when they were solving cases. Not only do they have chemistry with each other but all of the supporting casts. From our 2nd ML, Luo Mingxi and his sweet dancing assistant Linlang, Princess Anning, Anle’s assistants, and my other favorite, Wen Shuo, Han Ye’s “son”. They are the driving forces that make this show memorable. Our 3 main leads plus Chen Tao (Wen Shuo) really went above and beyond to understand their characters and bring them to life. By the end of the show, I was shipping the bromances with the main CP.

Overall, the show was not the best in terms of writing or even CGI but if you enjoy multi layered characters with some twists, this one did a decent job highlighting it. I enjoy dramas that have characters with mysterious auras. Which is why I stuck out for so long. Being neutral and patient is needed in order to come full circle with the story. The wrap up isn’t bad but be warned that extra sweeter moments can be seen on Youku with a small fee. I’m not sure this would be a rewatch for me but I appreciated the sentiments that came out of this. The biggest thing I took away from this is a new profound love for Gong Jun and cherishing, Han Ye. I’ll be manifesting for a better production/story Gong Jun and Dilireba deserves! Here’s to my favorite summer CP, Anjuleye!! ?

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Those with defects are likely to have soul

*Cinematography of the drama was so spot on. It was visually appealing and I loved that it kept to the theme of vintage. The styling and tone of the drama had the sherlock holmes type of feel. Plus, some scenes were shot so beautifully, i.e. the forest scenes.*

Focusing on the concept of loneliness, “The Silence of the Monster” a.k.a “Lonely Monster” reveals to us a story of friendship with dark undertones of mystery, and a dash of romance. Centered around our 2 Male leads He Chufeng, the cold yet righteous locksmith, and Robin, the chatty but sincere appraiser, we go on a journey to see these 2 best friend/roommates use their skills to help the community. They are highly skilled in their jobs but when they come together to solve crimes it’s amazing how their work can intertwine. I like the balance that they both have in terms of personality but of course in drama land, what would come of a good duo comes a twist that would lead to the “monster” portion of the title. Although they are super close and understanding of one another, both male leads have secrets that go beyond what one would be able to comprehend if revealed early-on in their friendship. Thus causing the darker and more meaty part of the story in the latter half of the show.

The drama also covered a lot of heavy topics related to mental health such as depression, trauma, guilt, divorce, etc. It was a good touch to make the story be more realistic. And this point is what I feel would be the deciding factor for many if you like the show or not. The first trailer of the drama painted this more as a lighthearted funny romance drama but there’s more depth once we past all the build-up of the characters. The 2nd half hits you with the darker and flawed side of the characters. You learn of their secrets and see them as any other human being with flaws. They all start to become vulnerable and we discover how the “lonely” aspect really cuts deep for Chufeng and Robin. They happily fall in love but have a hard time maintaining it since they’re new to the “love” department after all the years of being alone. As I keep saying the 2nd half is more of a whirlwind of emotions and pulls you in for a ride. Beware that if you like the pace of the story in the 1st half, the 2nd half kind of flips instantly and focuses on the mystery side of things so prepare yourselves. I know some people didn’t like it but I liked the realistic approach. It keeps you conflicted since you learn to like the characters from the first half and then they are completely different from what you see. The antagonists of the story weren’t strong but the Shifu ticked me off. His obsession was pure madness. A lot of times the bad guys were just petty people. lol

Honestly, the romance aspect wasn’t necessary but I felt it was merely added to be able to instigate other aspects of the story that needed an excuse to push the motives of the characters forward. It’s not the main focus so if you’re looking for something super sweet, you have a better chance watching a Sweet On series drama. There were cute moments between both couples but nothing to really excite the fangirl in me lol. You have a dorky cute awkward couple and a straightforward fiery couple who had better kissing scenes. The bromance was much better and I even enjoyed more of the trio prior to them dating. Had me yelling at the screen for a bit in the last few episodes.

Considering that this was filmed back in 2020 and all 4 leads are still newbies in acting, I think they did a good job. Of all the dramas I’ve seen Bi Wenjun in, I think he did an excellent job towards the end with the high angst scenes. I mean just wow! It was still a bit lacking but he convinced me enough to feel that he really was hurt and about to go crazy. In the beginning he was a bit stiff and awkward but got better once the episodes went on. I hope to see him in more dramas like this one with the mystery because I think he did good and could improve with more roles like these. His character has a lot of depth. Same goes for Zhu Zhengting. I think this one might have been one of his first or even his first drama he filmed but I absolutely loved him as Robin! He might have been my favorite character. He was definitely the chatty but sweet and sensitive guy who makes a great friend. Some people find him annoying as the main cp does too lol but I think his personality is a good contrast to the quiet and cold He Chufeng. He livens up the house. I still am a bit shocked and upset for what happened to him at the end but *sigh*… there’s still somewhat good closure. So proud of both male leads! The ladies did good and their purpose as support for our ML’s was fine. I still scratch my head at Xiao An’s story line but there’s more important things to focus on. Decent acting all around.

OSTs in the drama are so fitting and even though I can’t find it, I absolutely love the English OST that constantly gets played. Fun fact: the ending OST is the song that Esther Yu and Dylan Wang sang for LBFAD.

Overall the story still holds solid even if there are some points that kind of get lost in detailing. I came in to this drama for both ML’s as a NEX7/IP fan and did not leave disappointed. Sure, the show could have improvements but for fairly new actors and screenwriter it was a hidden gem. It was so worth the 2 year wait. It’s not spectacular but I will say it grasps you in with all the mystery, fun side characters and decent subplots. I’d say give it a try because despite some flaws and a bittersweet ending, the story kept me engaged. Plus, there are so many good quotes from this drama. Here's to our monsters! ??

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“Rising with the wind begins with Jiang Hu”. A perfectly imperfect story.

A compelling realistic urban romance story revolved around an elite investor & rich girl whose life gets turned upside down after her father’s death and abrupt bankruptcy. Don’t let the ratings fool you! I had no idea what to expect when I began but it hooked me in early on. The business verbiage in the beginning was overwhelming but the ideas start to fall into place piece by piece the further the story develops. The pacing of this show is amazing. The storytelling is consistent for the most part. It carefully balances between business/love without one overshadowing the other. It is slow burn but with a realistic approach and purpose. You will definitely be going on a roller coaster ride up until the climax hits. In my opinion, these main characters are flawed in their own unique ways. The main focus is seeing their growth and how they will come up to "Rise against the wind". I’m all for growth but this aspect wasn’t well touched upon for our 2nd leads. The leads on the other hand showed tremendous growth.

I cannot stress enough how valuable the theme of growth and value of life has been sprinkled along within the story. The story was told through FL’s POV but in doing so, we were able to watch the progress of Xu Si span over 40 episodes to give us & Xu Si the closure we all needed. If “Rising with the wind” begins with Jiang Hu, then it has been a true blessing for Xu Si to meet JH. Her persistent, confident, loving nature radiates amongst anyone she comes across. Who couldn’t help but admire her? I admire the progress for both of our leads. They both came a long way. They each had their own shortcomings & different ideologies but eventually learned valuable lessons from one another. They do have a big hiccup that will cause a drift between them. That’s my favorite part! Why? It stays true to the theme/message.

If you’re looking for full on fluffy romance, this is not it. All leads are written in a mature manner with strong personalities that will make you laugh, cry, frustrated, & even empathize with them. However, when the leads end up together it’ll be worth it and even have you kicking your feet at the cute flirtiness. Their chemistry exudes on screen whether flirty or hot tension. This is my 2nd drama of Gong Jun after, “The Legend of Anle” and 1st time for Zhong Chuxi. They complimented each other so well & truly brought the characters to life. You could feel the sadness & hurt within their eyes. When they were happily together, you couldn’t help but be happy with them. Some of the best natural chemistry I’ve seen this year.

All other cast members blended right in to make a wonderful story. It truly felt like you were a part of one big family sharing happiness and sorrow together. We rooted for them & came to appreciate the characteristics of each individual. That even includes our all-time favorite doggy, BOSS. No character felt out of place. A special tribute to the platonic friendships & women empowerment representation. In a competitive setting it can get quite nasty. To really have a group of supportive individuals who wish nothing but the best for you & help you succeed is the greatest form of love.

One of the biggest highlights in the show is the small details! From milk tea with double sugar, “wind” references to cactus plants. Seriously. I became obsessed over a cactus that was used to represent the progress of our leads. Even the outfits of all the characters were fitting to their personality & situations. I absolutely love when writers/directors use small details to help give insights on the characters. The production did not disappoint.

Overall, I would highly recommend this drama if you’re into an enemy to lover trope with realistic approaches. This is a refreshing story that will have you conflicted with your own thoughts. Exhibiting the issues of mixing business and emotions & how to keep them separate, you won’t be able to pick sides. These perfectly imperfect characters shine in their own way with the support of one another. They have no competition with each other but their own selves. For an unexpected gem, I will truly miss it. Here’s to my cactus couple! ?

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Wolves and Rabbits who learn to live harmoniously together

An unexpected hidden gem with hints of light hearted moments, comedy, romance, and mystery case solving. Overall storyline was a good idea but could be fleshed out better to maintain some more solid writing. BWJ did not disappoint as Han Zheng and has shown much improvement from his other dramas I’ve seen him in. From the beginning, he convinced me 100% he was the cool, arrogant, fierce prince of Qi who also had a sensitive side. The development of his character was consistent in comparison to Li Yitong but both played their roles well. The character of Su Jiu’er, written with a more contradicting personality style, could be a make it or break it to some with her ditsy ways outside of her work in the inspection bureau. I don’t blame LYT for the character because she convincingly played Su Jiu’er but it’s the character itself. I must admit she was intelligent when cracking the cases but I questioned too many a times when they would try to go undercover. The chemistry of the leads isn’t sizzling but enough to make you ship them. Their promo photos might actually show their true chemistry better. ? Romance though slow burn was endearing once leads finally got together. It improved the strong connection they already had from all the case solving.

The other side characters such as Wenjun, Chilan, Keha, Lao Hu and even CP make up for some good story arcs and comedy. General Chilan does not disappoint and is the true epitome of a strong and capable women. Wenjun as a 2nd ML had me worried for an annoying love triangle but he was a sensible character who was always good at seeing the bigger picture. I applaud him for being mature and fighting for SJR fairly. Not only that but despite his “big brother” being framed he was able to set personal ties aside to deal with the issue at hand. They did him dirty towards the end with the HY chick who didn’t have a good purpose. We could have done without her. But they also never went back to her character so…? Just a bit misplaced writing.

The mystery portions of the show were ok but I wished it was better connected. MY explains it all in the end but it was hard to keep up with how each case helps support the previous one. Each case gets more and more thorough which is what I enjoyed but they also become a tad bit wacky i.e, the ape like case. I do applaud the mastermind because the plot twist at the end was not what I expected. They had us played just like the characters in the show. All the countless predictions we could make and the big reveal was no where near what we thought of. The bonds of all the characters make for a good blend as they each were unique and had their own set of skills that benefitted with the cases.

Budget for this drama may have not been high like other S+ dramas but the quality of the fighting scenes in here is remarkable! Well-choreographed and beautifully shot, you would think otherwise. Not to mention OSTs, opening credit sung by OST King Liu Yiuning was good but my favorite has to be the ending credit song. It fits well with the vibe of the drama as a happy upbeat duet.

There were a few loose ends and rushed explanation of things in the end but overall a good wrap up for the main issue at hand, Qian-Qi relationship and who dunnit? . A show that I'd say wouldn't hurt checking out and feeling like time was wasted. Here's to our wolf and bunny couple! ??

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