This review may contain spoilers
Revenge is a well-shaken martini
The fl's character really stood out to me. She’s strong, but not in a way that feels overly perfect or predictable, which i find refreshing. Wu Jinyan did a phenomenal job, her emotional depth was genuinely moving, and i couldn’t help but admire her. Now, Wang Xing Yue’s as a ml? Wow. From the beginning, his character felt intimidating, and i assumed his intensity might lessen as the show progressed, but it didn’t. Whether it’s the writing or his performance, his presence remained powerful throughout, and i loved it. Their dynamic was electric—less about romance and more about brains and action, constantly supporting each other. As for the plot, it’s one of the few political dramas i didn’t want to skip. The story is crafted with clear cause-and-effect arcs.
That said, after episode 25, the story did start to veer off in different directions a bit too quickly, but it didn’t feel rushed, so i stayed invested. By the time i hit the 30+ episode mark, i was completely hooked. The tension kept building, and i found myself genuinely anxious about what was coming next. Usually, fl always finds a way to win, but this time, i wasn’t so sure, which added a great element of suspense.
And as for the ending, it felt rushed, as is often the case with shows like this. Introducing key antagonists right at the end didn’t sit well with me. I would’ve preferred more buildup, and the deaths of Duke Su’s guards felt really sudden. The final battle scenes also seemed unnecessary, and the pacing of the last 20 minutes was overwhelming. So much happened in such a short time, it was hard to process. Still, the ambiguous ending left me oddly satisfied, even if the pacing was a bit off.
ofc, there was one issue besides the ending. Shen Yurong’s character felt a bit off. His interactions were so awkward and stoic that it made him feel distant and hard to connect with. While his mysterious nature is important to the role, giving him more dialogue or inner thoughts could’ve added some depth. He ended up feeling more passive than i’d like for an antagonist.
All in all, despite its flaws, this show was an absolute ride and worth watching. 9/10
That said, after episode 25, the story did start to veer off in different directions a bit too quickly, but it didn’t feel rushed, so i stayed invested. By the time i hit the 30+ episode mark, i was completely hooked. The tension kept building, and i found myself genuinely anxious about what was coming next. Usually, fl always finds a way to win, but this time, i wasn’t so sure, which added a great element of suspense.
And as for the ending, it felt rushed, as is often the case with shows like this. Introducing key antagonists right at the end didn’t sit well with me. I would’ve preferred more buildup, and the deaths of Duke Su’s guards felt really sudden. The final battle scenes also seemed unnecessary, and the pacing of the last 20 minutes was overwhelming. So much happened in such a short time, it was hard to process. Still, the ambiguous ending left me oddly satisfied, even if the pacing was a bit off.
ofc, there was one issue besides the ending. Shen Yurong’s character felt a bit off. His interactions were so awkward and stoic that it made him feel distant and hard to connect with. While his mysterious nature is important to the role, giving him more dialogue or inner thoughts could’ve added some depth. He ended up feeling more passive than i’d like for an antagonist.
All in all, despite its flaws, this show was an absolute ride and worth watching. 9/10
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