4
17
1
5
1
1
1
You want answers? No. Have a clue that leads nowhere! Oh, and it's a nationwide conspiracy now.
So, I might not get on with Chinese dramas that are longer than, say, 25 episodes. This is just the latest example -- and if I could, I would not give a rating with this review at all.
So, on the technical side, this drama is fine. The actors do a good job. I like the clothes that look as if they are actually made of cloth instead of a wisp of nothing; They get wrinkles, have texture and weight. The sets are slightly overdone but serviceable.
But after stalling for two weeks on episode 21, I have to admit defeat.
The first arc was beautiful. I loved the characters and their character delevopment. The romance progression was nicely done and well integrated into the overall plot. The background setting made sense. I liked that it seemed to focus on events in a town of regional importance; a refreshing difference from all the court dramas.
I liked it as a business drama with a revenge plot, cleverly hidden in a wuxia skin. There were fighting scenes, but they were never the focus; instead we got a main character whose only talent lies in his wits.
The characterizations and their development went forward at a steady pace and made sense within the narrative.
The second arc was already much less interesting. The main character is just too flawless, especially given his age. The stakes seem higher, but actually are not. The plotting and counter-plotting feel repetetive. The plot distached from any character development for me, and that was a bad sign already.
And then the next antagonist appeared in episode 20, and I was bored by him as soon as he opened his mouth. Another of the same, and much less of a *character* than the previous two antagonists.
Instead of developing things steadily as they did in the first arc, the screenplay hit us with a few plot twists coming out of nowhere -- felt like Chekhov's gun went off when we didn't even know it had been there.
Also, the script made it obvious that this or the last arc would make it to nation level -- I gave up.
I'm not willing to watch another 15 episodes just to see the same things again.
If the writer had wrapped things up after the first arc, this would have been a solid, tightly-written, enjoyable watch. Instead, they chose to do a Dragonball-move and escalate things without cause.
Or maybe I am just not cut out for these overly long Chinese dramas.
So, on the technical side, this drama is fine. The actors do a good job. I like the clothes that look as if they are actually made of cloth instead of a wisp of nothing; They get wrinkles, have texture and weight. The sets are slightly overdone but serviceable.
But after stalling for two weeks on episode 21, I have to admit defeat.
The first arc was beautiful. I loved the characters and their character delevopment. The romance progression was nicely done and well integrated into the overall plot. The background setting made sense. I liked that it seemed to focus on events in a town of regional importance; a refreshing difference from all the court dramas.
I liked it as a business drama with a revenge plot, cleverly hidden in a wuxia skin. There were fighting scenes, but they were never the focus; instead we got a main character whose only talent lies in his wits.
The characterizations and their development went forward at a steady pace and made sense within the narrative.
The second arc was already much less interesting. The main character is just too flawless, especially given his age. The stakes seem higher, but actually are not. The plotting and counter-plotting feel repetetive. The plot distached from any character development for me, and that was a bad sign already.
And then the next antagonist appeared in episode 20, and I was bored by him as soon as he opened his mouth. Another of the same, and much less of a *character* than the previous two antagonists.
Instead of developing things steadily as they did in the first arc, the screenplay hit us with a few plot twists coming out of nowhere -- felt like Chekhov's gun went off when we didn't even know it had been there.
Also, the script made it obvious that this or the last arc would make it to nation level -- I gave up.
I'm not willing to watch another 15 episodes just to see the same things again.
If the writer had wrapped things up after the first arc, this would have been a solid, tightly-written, enjoyable watch. Instead, they chose to do a Dragonball-move and escalate things without cause.
Or maybe I am just not cut out for these overly long Chinese dramas.
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