Watch if you are a fan of Xiao Zhan
For background context, this drama was highly anticipated for me ever since the trailer came out for it because I am a fan of the original novel and Xiao Zhan. And the trailer combined with the OST really brought out the wow factor further. So while I enjoyed it in general because I am already a fan, it might not be as enjoyable to someone who does not have any prior understanding of the original novel, and I would recommend The Land of Warriors (2024) sequel instead.
Pros
- Stellar acting from Xiao Zhan, for each arc of his journey. It was a treat to see the progress of Tang San from his adolescence (maybe Xiao Zhan looked a little too mature for that segment, but the youthful exuberance he portrayed made it reasonable), to the period spent in Shrek academy and up till the final confrontation towards the end of the show. Be it moments of insecurity and loneliness in his childhood days, to his underlying commitment to justice, the dedication and protection of the FL, to his rage and pain at the antagonist that was charged with emotional intensity - every scene was a treat to watch.
- Evocative and highly complementary OSTs, it was an especially nice touch that some of the OSTs were sung by the cast members too (Xiao Zhan, Wu Xuanyi, Liu Run Nan).
Cons
- Not sure how much the budget for the drama was but....the set design looked quite shabby, and some costumes looked drab and run-down. Like it was to the point where the cast looked somewhat ludicrous,
- The plot is quite different from the original story, and while it was engaging enough, it felt abit jarring because there was not as much context provided within the show itself. So the changes in plot felt somewhat jarring and not cohesive to the story.
- Felt that the romantic chemistry between the leads was a bit lacking...but then again they were in the stage where it was more of a 'sibling' relationship so...perhaps it was more of a directorial decision and not about the acting skill.
Tldr, watch only if you like the leads or the original novel, and if you do not mind moderate changes to the plot. If not the production quality really leaves much to be desired at times and the watch time can be better spent elsewhere, lol.
Pros
- Stellar acting from Xiao Zhan, for each arc of his journey. It was a treat to see the progress of Tang San from his adolescence (maybe Xiao Zhan looked a little too mature for that segment, but the youthful exuberance he portrayed made it reasonable), to the period spent in Shrek academy and up till the final confrontation towards the end of the show. Be it moments of insecurity and loneliness in his childhood days, to his underlying commitment to justice, the dedication and protection of the FL, to his rage and pain at the antagonist that was charged with emotional intensity - every scene was a treat to watch.
- Evocative and highly complementary OSTs, it was an especially nice touch that some of the OSTs were sung by the cast members too (Xiao Zhan, Wu Xuanyi, Liu Run Nan).
Cons
- Not sure how much the budget for the drama was but....the set design looked quite shabby, and some costumes looked drab and run-down. Like it was to the point where the cast looked somewhat ludicrous,
- The plot is quite different from the original story, and while it was engaging enough, it felt abit jarring because there was not as much context provided within the show itself. So the changes in plot felt somewhat jarring and not cohesive to the story.
- Felt that the romantic chemistry between the leads was a bit lacking...but then again they were in the stage where it was more of a 'sibling' relationship so...perhaps it was more of a directorial decision and not about the acting skill.
Tldr, watch only if you like the leads or the original novel, and if you do not mind moderate changes to the plot. If not the production quality really leaves much to be desired at times and the watch time can be better spent elsewhere, lol.
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