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Great acting with amazing CGI and OST
I will go straight to the review instead of writing poetic lines. I started watching Legends of Shen Li hoping it to be another cliched Xianxia drama. But it went beyond my expectation. The visual effects was a feast to the eyes. I will go one step ahead and say Legend of Shen Li should be the benchmark for other C-dramas. Chemistry was really "chemistrying". The OST made me think this tune could be my ringtone. You could feel the melody and it complimented the story very accurately.
The overall pace was good. There was nothing which felt unnecessary or has been added to drag the story. The switch from mortal to immortal and divine realm was also quite natural.
Should you watch Legend of Shen Li?
Yes, you must. If you are bored from the usual Xianxia, this drama will make you re-like the genre.
Here's what I liked:
-CGI is amazing. This is the kind of CGI I expect in every Xianxia drama.
-Chemistry hits off differently. The little moments like ShenLi stealing one glance of Xingzhi in the market was implemented very naturally.
-Apart from the two leads, other characters have been cast perfectly. I have read the novel and I can say confidently that this is how I imagined everyone to be.
-Comedy scenes are genuinely funny.
-Good character development. You can feel how Xingyun and Xingzhi are different.
What I didn't like:
-Cannot think of anything except for the sometimes stiff acting of the male lead.
One thing about this drama. You will be too immersed in the main leads' interaction. I actually forgot they were acting.
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A good one-time watch; Don't miss this
*This is my first review on MDL*I started watching Lost You Forever when it was on-air. Initially (13-14 episodes), I found the story to be pretty interesting. While I was figuring out the plot, a lot of things were happening so it kept me hooked. After that, the plot became boring for me for at least 7-8 episodes. Then suddenly, it became interesting. Needless to say, be prepared for a roller-coaster ride in all senses (plot, angst, joy, fun).
What I really liked:
- Acting. Yang Zi, Deng Wei and Tan Jian Ci slayed in their roles. All of them had very different personalities but when they appeared on the screen together, it was really refreshing to watch. I have watched Ashes of Love numerous times, but Yang Zi really surprised me this time with her versatility. Contrary to the popular opinion, I did not find Zhang Wan Yi's character interesting.
-Story. I did not read the novel before so I thought this is a new and different story. You will enjoy the story if you haven't read the novel like me. For novel readers, they will enjoy watching the characters come to life as the portrayal is good.
-Set. A lot of time and money has been spent on the set and you will actually feel this while you watch the drama. The VFX is good. I especially liked the VFX animals because they were really cute.
What I didn't like
-Zhang Wan Yi's character and portrayal. Don't get me wrong. I don't hate him. But I felt I have seen similar acting in Goodbye My Princess. For me, the freshness was missing. I have seen similar characters for Tan Jian Ci's role as well but I found his acting refreshing. So, there is a difference I felt.
-Music. There was nothing special about it.
-Rewatch value. I won't watch this a second time.
That all being said, I am eagerly waiting for the season 2. This is a perfect drama for one-time watch. You will feel their pain, joy, love, and these feeling evolving and changing as the plot progresses. That is why you should not miss it.
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Actors' potential wasted; story is a mess
I liked the initial 6 episodes a lot. I was looking forward to more episodes. But as more episodes passed, I thought "what am I watching?"The positive: The actors did a pretty good job I feel. They kept me hooked initially and I watched till 11th episode only because the acting is good. But acting solely can't carry the show.
The negatives: Everything apart from acting.
The OST doesn't stand out. They did spend money on set and costumes but what's the point? The story is a mess. There are too many couples and the focus keeps shifting every now and then. The direction is similar to the story.
Overall, I didn't feel I should invest more time beyond 11 episodes due to the above mentioned reasons.
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