So sweet I got a toothache
First of all, I would 100% rewatch this again just for the romantic scenes, the two leads have such sweet chemistry together. Pretty much give me anything with Jung Hae In and I’m sold.I hated the OST. A lot of the music doesn’t feel like it fits the tone of the scenes it’s used in. I’ve already seen One Spring Night, which is by the same director, and I had the same complaint with the OST in that one.
Sometimes I had a hard time buying into choices that were being made by the characters. Like a lot of it is just not believable. At times it just feels like, there’s no way this character would say or do this thing in this situation, given everything else I know about them so far. Again, I had a similar feeling watching One Spring Night…
I don’t have a problem with any of the plot/subplot outcomes, even if some are disappointing, because I appreciate that not everything works out in the end and it feels more realistic that way. I do think it would be an easier pill to swallow if the two main characters’ growth was more evident, but at the end I was questioning whether either had REALLY changed or learned anything at all.
All things considered, I would definitely watch it again. This is mostly what I would consider a feel-good drama. It had me laughing and smiling to myself A LOT, and I will be adding it to my “cozy drama” rewatch list.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of my favorite & most rewatched dramas!
This is one of my all time favorite dramas. The story is compelling, all of the actors are perfectly cast and each one has absolutely nailed their character, the soundtrack is amazing, the costumes/character design are gorgeous, not to mention the stunning visuals & cinematography. I've probably watched this one all the way through 5-6 times now. There's so many layers and details woven throughout the story that I pick up on something new each time I watch it, so it never gets old. It's also a good first drama for someone who is new to Chinese historical dramas, as I feel that they explain nuances well and the story is very easy to follow.The two leads have undeniable chemistry, especially if you view their scenes through the lens of "these are two old souls who know each other better than anyone else." There is no pretense between them. There's no shy flirtation or butterflies. Instead, they bicker and jab at each other like old married folks. Because really, that's what they are. There's romance, for sure, including a *particular* scene I was surprised was allowed to make the final cut due to being kind of spicy.
I also want to take a minute to defend the 2nd ML. I truly don't understand why he gets so much hate, in fact, the more I have watched this drama, the more I like and empathize with his character. He is well written and his story arc -- his actions, his motives -- makes sense to me and the actor portrayed him very believably. He's flawed and complex. Not truly a villain but not the hero; he's somewhere in between. I think he's one of the most interesting characters in any drama I've seen.
If you want a good palace intrigue story with lots of lovable characters, shocking plot twists, and a hint of time travel -- look no further!
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I want to be Li Changge when I grow up.
This is one of the most thrilling historical dramas I’ve seen. It has some of the most epic fight scenes — moments that literally had me punching the air and rewinding to play back the action again. That being said, I was not a fan of the animated sequences. I tried to give it a fair chance at first but I just don’t think this drama benefits from them. I More often than not, I felt that they were jarring, out of place, and confusing; and I would have to wait for the live action to resume to fully understand what was happening. As a storytelling element, they just don’t work. And at times, they are cheesy (especially when they superimpose the live actors over the animatiom). It doesn’t feel cohesive and needed better narrative exposition. I know it was probably due to time constraints/budget/paying homage to the source material but there was definitely a better way to execute it.I loved all of the actors and feel that every character was 10/10 perfect, no notes. I know a lot of people hate on the first couple for their “lack of chemistry” but I didn’t really notice this. For one thing — I feel that it fit their characters because they’re both so tough, I don’t need or expect them to be super mushy. Also, I don’t necessarily watch historical dramas for the romance. I watch them for the badass fight scenes, which this one more than delivers.
The music is also so good. Lots of earworms. And I always love playing the “Is this song a Liu Yuning song?” game while watching dramas.
Overall, this is an excellent drama and definitely worth your time.
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