goocze
And boy, did I regretted that choice! Not because this drama was a flop, but it was an absolute crack! I find myself marathoning the whole series one episode after another for the entire week without doing much work.
In terms of plot, I have read the novel prior to watching the show, so I came in with the expectation of a highly intricate and well-woven plot. But the changes made in the series has been mostly for the better part and I didn't find any dissatisfying moments at all! In fact, I think they have changed some of the things I could care less from the book and make the entire plot more tightly woven in terms of the narrative with a more focused perspective on the battle to the throne. I know the ending has been slightly controversial and I am glad they have decided to stay true to the original work and kept it the way it is, except for elaborating on truly dealing with how differently each character would react. The ending for this show is one of my top favourites of all time for sure!
For the acting in this series, I have to say I was surprised at the 180º change Hu Ge is able to pull off. He has always been associated as a pretty face in my impression and at most a decent actor. However, this series has officially pulled him out from the slightly-better-than-mediocre crowd and into one of the best actors I've seen in a long while! The fact that he is able to overcome most of his trauma from the accident and is able to show so much more through the way he communicates with both of his eyes is a huge step towards becoming a truly great actor. I think he has the potential to keep up with this quality of work as long as he meets a good script and good director.
This show is a definite must-watch for anyone who is interested in historical dramas or even just for the eye-candy! There are so many different types of men to choose from, it's like a feast of varieties in terms of your own preference. One thing I also really liked is the strong female characters in this show and the romance between the lead characters aren't as forced as it was in the Disguiser (a series which featured many from the same cast and the romance was handled very poorly). The fact that each woman can stand for her own is impressive and that the relationships between characters (not limited to romantic relationships) are so much more realistic and sincere without the forcibly added romance commonly seen in other dramas.
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I quite liked the one story per episode arc with each new charactering bringing in a new perspective on different types of people. Although the trope of this series is quite repetitive and can get quite boring, but all the great food porn definitely compensated for the lack of movement in terms of the plot. After watching 2 episodes, you can pretty much guess the rhythm and direction for the entire series. Very seldom would you be surprised by the overall plot, but the writer keeps inserting little surprises along the way. And I think that's the reason why the story keeps people going back to watch one episode after another.
I would definitely recommend this show to any foodies out there who would like a mini series that doesn't rely heavily on romance to drive the plot forward. Bon appétit!
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One major down point I find in this drama is the hospital politics. It felt too detached from the main point of the story and those parts were so boring that it was painful to watch. I'd rather they have a shorter but more concise drama than stick that politics bit in and make it almost torturous to watch.
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