*mild spoilers

Speaking as a general fan of HYD adaptations but a greater fan of the original manga/anime (I've gone through the Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese and Japanese adaptations but barely remember them), this adaptation was generally enjoyable!

Despite some strange pacing (particularly at the start of the drama) and rookie acting, the series managed to hook me for a couple of months during its running (until real life pulled me back and I couldn't find the time to follow it, not of the drama's own fault). The drama is eyecatching (locations, actors, etc), which helps, but I was drawn in most by how closely it aligned to the manga's original plotline. Watching the newest episodes always prompted a rereading of those corresponding chapters in the manga, and then some in anticipation of the next few episodes. Plus, the caricature/ridiculousness present in the manga (which is the nature and norm for manga like HYD) helped me stomach the caricature and sappiness of the drama.
(Likewise, the weakest points of the story (so far) have been moments when they've diverged away from the manga: ex: replacing Shancai's reflective character development in the fishing village with Caina/Terence, removing Daomingsi's double (and with that, character development for Shancai).

Overall: Watch this if you enjoy seeing HYD adapted--enough to accept some flaws. Watch this while reading the manga to appreciate the closeness of the adaptation + how iconic scenes from the manga are adapted to a more modern/contemporary setting. (and help you deal with the flaws)

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