The Borne Identity Action in a Drama!

I was not ready for how good this Action drama was! I'm a big action movie junkie and the action in this is on par with the best of them. Think Borne Identity but as a series.

The whole time I kept watching and thinking "WHERE DID THEY GET THE BUDGET FOR THIS?!" Every episode is thrilling and action-packed with little to no drop-off throughout the whole series. From the high production value, the gritty saturated camerawork, the raw and unbridled fight sequences, edge-of-your-seat gun fights, and explosions, while counter-balanced with a well-paced espionage plotline and actors at the top of their game. Not to mention the exotic film locations. I've never seen anything like this done so well in a drama before - EVER. In any language or country. So if you love action and espionage give this a shot.

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An Ambivalent Sageuk Carousel

I went into this with high expectations with other reviews toting this as the Sageuk of 2021 and even all time. Some seem to absolutely love it while others completely hate it. I fall somewhere along the middle. I think this drama evokes such strong reactions because this drama itself is unsure of what it wants to be. Usually, that means it's trying to do too much, oddly it actually does too little.

So let's begin with the beginning - I almost quit on the first episode. The entire episode is a prologue of the main characters played by children. The children are... well, children. Their acting abilities are limited because they are so young. So maybe giving them tons of heavy dialogue that must fill an entire episode and set up the entire plot of the drama, might not be setting up these young actors, or your drama to succeed. This should have been used as short clips and flashbacks. A strange choice, one of many questionable decisions this drama makes. Yet the greatest flaw in this drama is its inability to make decisive decisions.

But before I get into it, let me just gush about some of the things I really liked. The overall production value is of high caliber. From the set design, the locations, the clothing, and even the small details are highly immersive. The premise of exploring the underbelly of the royal court and its maids is intriguing and novel. The cast is exemplary in pulling us in and making us love and hate them. But the true standout of this drama is the cinematography. It's maybe the best I've ever seen in a drama. The camera work is stunning. Without spoiling, there is a scene where a character stands in front of a window and the sunlight shines through to highlight the window's design to resemble prison bars, with the next shot a closeup of that same design reflected in the eyes of the character. Simply stunning and communicates what a mile of dialogue could not. There are times, particularly towards the end, when the cinematography is like poetry. SO breathtaking!

With all that said, let's get into some of the major issues I had with this drama. I could tell from the onset that this drama wanted to predominately be 1) a forbidden romance sageuk and 2) a more serious sageuk exploring the realities of royal court life. These are reasonable goals, as I've seen many sageuks juggle more and succeed. The problem lies in its inability to yield in either direction at any injunction, ultimately tying the hands of the plot. The romance constantly undercuts any credibility to any attempt at real court struggles, and the realities tie down the romance from soaring. So instead of making decisions, the plot just circles itself like a carousel. Characters just keep having the same conversations because no decisions are being made on which way they want this drama to go. Any conflicts are quickly resolved with little complexity and even less consequence. Characters come and go with the ease of getting on and off a carousel. Not to mention character development or lack thereof. No one changes. No one learns anything. They even explicitly and intentionally say that they do not change.

Ultimately I think this drama had some interesting things to say but didn't bother to explore the very questions it raises. It refuses to risk taking any chances, thereby rendering its potential impotent. It's as if the writer themself couldn't decide the fate of its protagonist so they decided not to decide. So in the end you have a beautiful and intricate carousel that lacks any real thrill or destination, questioning itself with every rotation.

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Entitled Rich Heir has to be saved by others

Entitled rich heir refuses to learn anything his father and elders tell him to. He thinks he's smart but has to be saved by his servants and random people all the time. Other characters wait around to help him. New characters are introduced to help him while he slowly tries to learn things he should have learned growing up. Random people walk in, help him then are gone.

Zhang Rou Yun's acting is good, but everyone else it's hard to tell because it was written to be all about Xu Feng Nian so no one else gets to shine. The other characters seem interesting but you never get to know them because the writers only care about XFN. The Plot is XFN-centric, everything is about him.

The production, locations, costumes, and set design are quality, the VFX and camera work are decent, and the fight scenes are good but short.

I liked the dynamics with his family. The father-son relationship is offbeat, each of his sister-brother relationships is nuanced, and the brother-brother relationship is endearing.

I feel bad for the FL, Jiang Ni. I feel worse for the actress, Teresa Li. She is given so little to do that it can not be considered a "lead" role.

Ultimately this was not terrible but not great. Everything is handed to the ML. And he never fails because he always gets saved by others so there are no stakes. Save your time and just wait for Joy of Life 2.

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Wuxia Game Of Thrones

I have seen my fair share of wuxia dramas, and this remains one of the most interesting, refreshing, and ultimately my favorite wuxia series of all time (not including Ever Night 2. I pretend that doesn't exist). I'd like to compare it to Game Of Thrones; a fresh take on a familiar genre, while bringing a sense of grounded storytelling, excellent pacing, and an intriguing cast of rich, diverse, and believable characters, complimented by outstanding action, political intrigue, and fantastical abilities all within a vast and sprawling world.

The first thing that hits you is the exquisite cinematography, engrossing and unique settings, dynamic action sequences, and the witty, cocksure charisma of Chen Feiyu. And you meet the adorable FL (Ireine Song) as the seemingly simple Sang Sang; a hard-nosed yet endearing character that matures into something more nuanced and unique that stands apart from your typical FLs in wuxia dramas. The chemistry between ML and FL is also not the typical dynamic you usually see in wuxia shows. I really loved how they handled their complex relationship. It then unfolds different kingdoms, cities, rulers, generals, families, sects, and tribes. You meet different royals with their machinations and political factions, you meet the different schools and masters of differentiated styles and abilities, and you even meet low-level gangsters and street merchants. Even the antagonists are varied and compelling. I won't spoil who the main antagonist is and in all honesty, it's arguable who actually is the main antagonist.

And like all great dramas, the side/supporting characters feel fully fleshed out and interesting with different backgrounds and perspectives (particular standouts like the scheming Grand Prince Li Pei Yan, The dopey yet affable 12th disciple Chen Pi Pi, the roguishly enigmatic Dragon Gang leader Chao Xiao Shu, or the unyielding Daoist Yi Hong Yu played by the chronic scene-stealing Meng Zi Yi. Also love seeing Hong Kong mega popstar legend Leon Lai as the King!). They all feel like they have their own agency, issues, motivations, and objectives. They aren't just 1-dimensional caricatures to serve as plot fodder or backdrops for the leads. Even a lesser yet significant side character like General Ma is incredibly interesting. You immediately understand the depth of his relationship with the ML, often in scenes where their dialogue is saying one thing but their superb acting and chemistry are telling you something else entirely.

With so many characters, kingdoms and plot points one would worry that the story would be all over the place or unfocused, yet not once did I feel like the narrative strayed or muddied, mainly due to the excellent writing and pacing. Never once did I feel like I'm going from scene to scene of people just talking, regurgitating already known information, and not really adding anything significant to the plot: aka chewing the scenery (something often overused in Ever Night 2 and many other wuxia dramas to stretch the plot, save costs and meet episode count). Ever Night still manages to hit many of the similar beats of the typical wuxia drama, but just manages to do it better, put fresh spins on tired troupes, and explore multiple narratives and character arcs efficiently and effectively while still managing to tell a cohesive and satisfying story. Often I will be watching the latest wuxia drama and think, "Ever Night did it better." Not to mention little to no drop off in quality throughout the series which in itself is a feat. Sometimes wuxia productions will wow you with an early spectacle and then a steep drop-off for the rest of the series.

But ultimately, this is very much the ML's and FL's story as we journey with them through this expansive world of eclectic characters that seem to change and grow along with them. At the heart of this story is the lead's relationship with each other and how their characters endure and evolve through their many trials, tribulations, and adventures. The side and supporting characters are interesting and impactful while not overshadowing the leads. The world is lush and lived in. The action is spectacular. The political intrigue keeps you on your toes and doesn't drag. The cinematography is breathtaking. The production, writing, and pacing are all on point. The OST is iconic, sweeping, and legendary. I don't give out many perfect 10s, this is one of them.

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A Gorgeous Production dripping with nostalgia!

I must preface this by saying I'm no expert in Korean history and the controversy surrounding this drama. So before watching it I did a quick google search and read a few articles regarding the matter just to know what I was getting myself into.

So I went in thinking Id be watching some controversy-ridden, political hot potato of a drama. Instead, I found something incredibly lush and dripping with nostalgia. The OST perfectly sets the stage for a gorgeous production that practically allows you to step back into 80s Korea. The costumes and the set design really enhance the experience, even the sounds of the streets and shops create a rich and full experience that immerses you and draws you in. The camera work is so cinematic, with a slight vintage tinge to it.

The second you meet Ji soo's character, Eun Young Ro, the scene lights up with her buoyant playful energy. Jung Hae In is excellent in this role, stoic and matter-of-factly yet full of conflict. The many side characters are interesting and feel like real people. Even the antagonists are intriguing and varied in their schemes and motivations. And I have to praise Yoo In Na who practically steals any scene she's in.

I must also mention the biggest and most important character in the drama: The Dorm! The Dorm is like a living breathing character that feels like home with its wooden frames and long hallways. It reminds me of when I first saw Hogwarts and something inside me thinks "I want to live there!" By the time the drama was over, I felt sad because I didn't want to leave the dorm that welcomed me with its warm embrace.

As for the writing and plot, I thought it was a tough task to tackle and they handled it fairly well. Not just the challenge of dancing around the dicey politics, but also just writing for a plot that takes place predominantly in... should I say "limited" (so as not to spoil anything) locations. I also really enjoyed the concurrent "who dun it" secondary subplot, expertly woven into the primary plot. There are times when it does drag but these are built-in to the limits of the plot's scenario.

I have to gush about the OST some more. Every time I hear it I get chills. While I was watching the series, I would find myself humming the OST during the day. That's just how effectual this OST is, it sinks into you and stays with you. I also want to commend Ji Soo's first outing as an actress. While she wasn't perfect for her first time, as a main lead no less, she did a great job.

As for the controversy, after finishing the drama, I really didn't feel the complaints were warranted. At least not worthy of all the outrage. Ultimately, this was a beautiful story regardless of all the fuss surrounding it. I could very well be wrong as I'm not exactly well-versed in Korean history, but give it a shot so you can form your own opinion. But It's definitely one of the most gorgeous productions I've seen in a drama and you'd be sorely missing out if you were put off or hesitant purely due to controversy.

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The Writers are unreliable narrators.

I love Crime/suspense dramas. They are my favorite type of k drama. So when I started seeing promos with the great Lee Seung Gi, I was ecstatic! A dark and gritty crime drama with a sci-fi bent and serial killers sounded right up my alley.

I was really rooting for this to be good. I really was. It had all the potential to be one of the greatest crime dramas. It had all the right elements and ingredients. But the writers had other ideas. What it ended up being was a convoluted wacky mad libs narrative that creates its own plotholes and jumps the shark halfway through the series.

From the very beginning, you feel the writer's intent to try to fool the viewers. It is a thinly veiled attempt through chopped-up flashback sequences. I could already see where they were going but was willing to go along with it as long as they could make it make sense. I was even ok when they introduced the sci-fi element into it with genetics. It was like a precursor to the science seen in Gattaca; totally plausible for real scientific progression. At this point we're good, I'm still on board. Then what happens next is a sequence of scenes that try to dispel and debunk what you originally thought the flashbacks were telling you. This is also fine, new information brings greater complexity and mystery. But then they completely pull the rug under you and throw in a whole new set of flashbacks that completely contradict previously established facts in the story. In other words, they changed the facts of the original plot to fit an all-new reformatted narrative. It's like the writers decided halfway that their original plot twist wasn't good enough so they decided to rewrite the whole dang thing for shock value. Does it make sense? Who cares! It's shocking!!! Usually, it's a character that serves as an unreliable narrator, in this case, it's the writers themselves.

Basically, the writers lie to you.

It's like you got together to play a card game. The writers are the dealer. You're halfway through the game, the cards have been dealt and you've played half the cards already. The dealer then takes some of your cards and replaces them with random new ones. He tells you those were your cards all along. The writers gaslight the audience. This is not clever, It's lazy. This is not interesting, it's inconsistent. These are not plot twists, they're plotholes. It's a flimsy house of cards pyramid scheme. Luckily the only thing we've been scammed out of was our expectations and 20 something hours.

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An Entierly Different Show, And Not For The Better

Let me start by saying Ever Night season 1 was and still is my favorite wuxia drama of all time. I've never been more disappointed and let down by a season 2. If this didn't have the name "Ever Night" on it and Irenie Song, I would have dropped this after a few episodes.

I don't know what happened between seasons 1 and 2, maybe it was cost issues, or investors/sponsors pushing them to finish fast and cheap, maybe there wasn't enough story to tell to fill a season 2, or filming schedules and conflicts and having to replace a significant amount of the cast, maybe the censors and govt got involved to change the story... I have no idea. All I know is season 2 is like an entirely different show, and not for the better.

First of all, the recasting of the ML with Dylan Wang. This was a jarring choice. He is a very different actor from Chen Fei Yu and therefore a very different character from season 1. This dramatic change could have been minimized had they kept the same production style and feel from the first season. Even if they just kept the same storylines and plot from season 1, Dylan Wang could have eventually made a decent run with his own version of Ning Que, but neither of those was left intact.

Those weren't the only changes. Gone is the lush and cinematic camerawork from season 1. That vast and expansive world full of interesting locations and eclectic characters they built up in the previous season? Gone. Now we only have a few characters and are limited to a few locations, often only seen in small sets. Remember those dynamic and exhilarating fight scenes? Those are gone too. Now we have generic wuxia from the 90's style, with cheap-looking VFX.

Not to mention a significant portion of the cast, several of them major players from season 1 were recast. Not only were the actors different but their character's personalities changed as well. Even the actors they managed to keep from season 1 behave like they're from some bizarre alternate universe. I think this leads to the biggest issue of Ever Night season 2: the writing. The writing is atrocious. I honestly feel bad for the actors. It's as if the writers wrote out all the dialogue of what needed to be said, then randomly distributed the lines to different characters. They aren't saying things the characters would say, they're just reading lines. Not only is the dialogue noncorporeal, awkward and unusual, but they also use this terrible dialogue to fill long and drawn-out scenes, often shot in a small 1 room set with just 2 actors spewing exposition at each other, most of it full of unnecessary or repeated information that does nothing to move the plot forward. There were many episodes full of them with just scene after scene of 2 people in a room talking about nothing. I get that this is a cost-saving measure and a tool to stretch a thin plot but this was painfully dull and excruciating to get through. This basically takes up 60-70% of season 2 so brace yourself.

The overall plot also falls victim to odd and nonsensical choices. Characters do things completely out of character, sometimes even with no explainable motivation. They just do things abruptly without reason. Instances happen just to happen. There's an entire arc of 5-10 episodes that could be completely taken out without any consequence to the characters or story. It's like some useless side quest in a game. And the decision to spend a large amount of time with an entirely new actor and character is questionable. Spending long stretches of the season with the ML and FL apart from each other is baffling. Not continuing any of the previously set-up storylines from season 1 and giving us ridiculous narratives that don't go anywhere? Ludicrous. I could say more but that would wander into spoiler territory. I think you get the idea.

I hate to be entirely negative so let me highlight what I did like. Ireine Song. I could watch her watch paint dry. She is the lone saving grace to this travesty of a dumpster fire. She has such range as an actress that there were times when I almost forgot about the shoddy backdrops and painful dialogue and just watched her stretch her acting wings. Season 2 definitely gives her more to do and there is a decided focus on her character. I also warmed up to Dylan Wang's alternate version of Ning Que, which is why I think they could've salvaged season 2 had they kept the preexisting storylines from season 1.

Luckily for those who loved the previous season, Ever Night season 1 stands well on its own. We can just throw this bizzaro alternate universe season 2 straight into the garbage and appreciate what we got in season 1.

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Interesting genre-bending premise but ultimately gives way to tropes... and romance

First of all, I love k dramas that blend genres, and most of the time they succeed. Unfortunately, this is not one of them.

The production value is high, and the cast is high caliber, the premise is intriguing, I also love this time period for dramas, and there's decent action between the long stretches of dialogue.

So herein lies the issue. The tags are Action, Thriller, Historical, and Sci-Fi. I love all those genres. The main genre is actually a Romance. It should be its main tag. It should be at the front of the line. Everything eventually is just about the Romance between the 2 protagonists. Despite having so many other interesting avenues of plot and storylines, it ultimately devolves into a love story. Which doesn't sound terrible but when it takes place in a gritty historical setting with war, atrocities, and monsters, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

It's especially jarring when the ML is a white knight that constantly sweeps in to save the FL despite the FL establishing she is a very competent and capable badass. But then he sweeps in like a male Rey Skywalker in every scene, being good and perfect at everything. Our ML is a Gary Stu (male Mary Sue). He is the best businessman, he's also the handsomest, he's also the best fighter, the best shooter, he knows everyone and everything, he out rebels the rebels and out sleuths the sleuths. At one point he even teleports. I kid you not. He is physically on one level and magically teleports to where the story needs him to be. And all the characters (and I mean ALL the characters) seem to be trying to help the ML get with the FL, all while on the run from soldiers and monsters. It's insane.

And at one point someone seemingly dies. Then they totally do not. What is this!? A MAKJANG???!!! And things like this happen quite a few times.

But in the end, I did enjoy it overall. It's a good production, the action scenes are on point, I'm still a sucker for this time period, and the Sci-Fi and horror aspects I found intriguing. I just didn't expect romance to be the driving plot of the whole story. And the plot logic is all over the place. Just be prepared to suspend your disbelief for a LOT of it and enjoy the ride.

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